Times Of Oman - March 3, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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TUESDAY, March 3, 2015 /12 Jumada Al Ula 1436 AH

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BULGARIA

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings along with his best wishes to President Plevneliev and his country’s people. -ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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GRIDLOCK

Call to cut intake of students at Indian schools in Darsait

BUMPER TO BUMPER: A regular feature in Darsait during school hours.

OMAN NEW CHARGES: Airlines have started to collect the extra money at check-in counters and in offices

Pact signed to take care of disabled

from departing international passengers. - Photo: Times of Oman

Airport tax to pour millions into coffers International passengers departures (Muscat & Salalah, January 2015)

Passengers are

403,761

already paying the additional tax on arriving

Paid under old tax system

After increase in airport tax

at the airport

OMR

3,230,088 OMR

2,018,805

REJIMON K

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“Collecting money as per the new tax system at check-in counters will be an inconvenience for passengers and us. So, we advise them to contact us in advance if their tickets do not include the new tax,” said B B Kulkarni, country manager of Air India and Air India Express.

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Passengers will be paying out an extra OMR1.2 million per month after Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) raised its departure tax, and ﬂyers are already being forced to shell out new charges. Airlines have started to collect the extra money at check-in counters and in offices from departing international passengers, who have not paid it because they purchased the tickets before the tax was brought in yesterday, said travel agents and airline officials. “We have started to collect the extra OMR3 as per the new tax system at the check-in counters at the airport from those who did not pay while purchasing tickets,” said Riyaz Kuttery, general manager, Jet Airways Oman. “At our offices also, we are informing passengers purchasing

Extra

OMR 1,211,283 Source: OAMC

Graphics

tickets about the tax,” he said. The OAMC had issued a circular stating that from March 2 onwards, all international departing passengers will have to pay OMR8 and transit passengers will have to pay OMR1 as new passenger charges. Avoiding inconvenience A top official from Air India said that passengers who have not paid the new tax have to contact the Air India office or travel agents from where the tickets were purchased to avoid inconvenience at the last minute.

Extra earnings Meanwhile, data reveals that airports in Muscat and Salalah together can earn around OMR1.2 million per month extra with the new tax system. In total, 403,761 departing international passengers from Muscat and Salalah airports in January paid OMR2.01 million under the old tax system, the new amount with the increase of OMR3 will make it OMR3.2 million. “If we consider the number of departing passengers in January as a basis for calculation, then also the OAMC will be able to earn an extra OMR1.21 million,” said a travel agent. “In addition to this, when transit passengers pay OMR1 each as per the new tax system, the total amount collected will be OMR1.21 million,” added the travel agent. >A6 FIRST LARGE-SCALE PLANT

Work on wind power project to start in June A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com

Iraq launches assault against IS in Tikrit

MUSCAT: Work on Oman’s first large-scale wind energy project will start in June this year, a top-level official at the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco) told journalists here on Monday. The $200 million-project, which will generate 50 megawatt of electricity, will be funded by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). The ambitious project, which is aimed at reducing dependence on conventional gas-fired power projects, has reached the tendering stage and a contract to build the project will be awarded by the end of the month, said Raeco chief executive officer Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al Maghderi. “Several international firms are bidding for the project,” he said, adding, “We are expecting to start the work in June and complete the work by 2016.” >A6

A pact has been signed to integrate and rehabilitate people with disabilities into the society. >A2

OMAN

Ajman university ban surprises students

Omanis at the Ajman varsity were shocked to learn that the institution has been removed from the list of approved universities. >A3

MARKET

OMR153m investment for rural power

As much as OMR153 million will be invested by Rural Areas Electricity Company in the next three years. >B1

ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company

FAHAD AL MUKRASHI

fahad@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Indian schools in and around Darsait area will be told to put a cap on intake of new admissions to ease traffic congestion, said a source from the Muscat Municipality. “The decision has been taken in today’s meeting to tell the Indian schools in Darsait to cut down on the number of students and also to put a cap on new admissions,” said the source. “Moreover, to ease traffic congestion in the area, the schools should provide a school bus system and also ﬁnd out certain assembly points to drop and pick up students,” added the source. There are around 13,000 students in different schools in and around Darsait. A majority of the children travel to and from school in private cars, which eventually leads to chaos during peak hours. “We have also decided to urge the Indian School authorities to speed up work on both schools in Bausher and Amerat. Residents of Mabelah and Seeb area have to enrol their children only in the Indian schools at Mabelah and Seeb. They should not try to enrol

their wards in the Indian schools in Darsait,” added the source. Moreover, the Municipal Council, along with the municipality, has decided not to allow any further expansion of the existing Indian School buildings in Darsait. Currently, to enter and exit areas in Darsait near the schools during working hours, it takes at least an hour with long queues of cars seen. According to the source, a request will be made to the Royal Oman Police to provide more policemen in the area to regulate traffic. New roads will also be constructed to ease traffic congestion. Meanwhile, speaking to the Times of Oman, Wilson George, chairman of Indian Schools in Oman, said they have been receiving communications from the municipality and the Ministry of Education in the past regarding traffic issues. “We have already initiated numerous measures and will continue to do so. We are aware that numbers in the Indian School Muscat are pretty high and we have already planned to reduce them in this facility,” said the chairman.

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

OMAN Bangladeshis face passport deadline There are around 543,377 Bangladeshi

For an MRP, physical presence of the applicant is mandatory as it requires all bio-metric information like picture, fingerprint, thumb impression, digital signature, etc.

expatriates in Oman, of which between 1,50,000 and 1,70,000 workers do not have Machine Readable Passports (MRPs)

Sheikh Sekander Ali

Bangladesh ambassador Times News Service MUSCAT: In about nine months, Bangladeshi expatriates in Oman, especially those without Machine Readable Passports (MRPs), may ﬁnd themselves in big trouble. Several years ago, global regulator International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) decided that travellers and expatriates from all countries must have machine readable passports by November 2015. Otherwise, they would not be able to travel and their stay abroad would be illegal. According to latest statistics of the National Centre for Statistics

and Information (NSCI), there are around 543,377 Bangladeshi expatriates registered in the country as of January 2015 of which between 1,50,000 and 1,70,000 Bangladeshi workers do not have MRPs. “We urge everyone to get an MRP passport either from the Bangladesh Embassy in Muscat or when they go home to Bangladesh soon,” Sheikh Sekander Ali, Bangladesh ambassador, told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview. As per existing passport rules in Bangladesh, after a ﬁve-year cycle, each passport requires either re-

newal or a new booklet depending on the status. “As most of the expatriate Bangladeshis live away from Muscat, once they manage to arrive at the embassy in Muscat to renew or obtain a new passport, they prefer to avail the opportunity to get an MRP. For an MRP, physical presence of the applicant is mandatory as it requires all bio-metric information like picture, ﬁngerprint, thumb impression, digital signature, etc. So for people who stay in places like Salalah, Buraimi and Khasab, we are also keeping the

embassy open on Fridays, so that they do not have to come to Muscat on a working day,” he said. Kumar, a Bangladeshi living in Muscat, however, feared that he may become an illegal citizen here. “If we do not get digital passports by November, 1,50,000 Bangladeshi migrant workers like me will become illegal in Oman.” Even Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, expatriates welfare minister, recently admitted in the Bangladesh parliament that ensuring MRPs for all Bangladeshi expatriates is a big challenge.

The ICAO regulation says those without MRPs, one cannot be a regular at their foreign workstations after November. The embassy claims that they are issuing around 400 to 500 MRPs per day in Oman. “We have also requested the concerned authorities in Bangladesh to provide additional workstations from Bangladesh, along with necessary technical personnel such as a computer operator to handle the additional pressure for MRPs,” said the Ambassador. He also hoped that though it is a

challenge, the embassy along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs and Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment will overcome the situation. “It is challenge but not impossible,” he said. The Bangladesh embassy launched the Machine Readable Passport (MRP) facilities in early January 2012. A large number of Bangladeshi workers have been ﬂocking to the Sultanate since 2012 where most of their workers are employed in the construction or the farming sectors.

MUMBAI COURT ORDER

Omani national remanded to jail custody in India Times News Service MUSCAT: An Omani national who is in Indian police custody along with a Saudi Arabian national for allegedly molesting an American woman in a ﬁvestar hotel in Mumbai, was sent to judicial custody by a court on Monday. Speaking to Times of Oman from Mumbai, a senior official of the Mumbai Police said that the two were sent to jail after they were produced in front of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, 8th Court, Mumbai. “But they can appeal against this order in a higher court,” said the police official. Both of them have been booked under Sections 354, 354A, 354B, 452 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for molestation. Both the Arab nationals were arrested by the Colaba police after the American woman alleged that she was molested in her room at the Taj Mahal Hotel at Apollo Bunder early on Thursday morning. In her statement, the 52-yearold victim, owner of a big US ﬁrm, said she had arrived in Mumbai from the US on February 22 and

checked into the hotel, where she met the Omani the next day. On Thursday, at 12.43 am, she had called the Omani to her room for a drink. Around 1.20 am, she returned from the washroom to ﬁnd the Omani waiting in the room with another man who was not known to her. The Omani told her that the man was his friend from Saudi Arabia. At that point, the Omani left the room, but the Saudi stayed on. Hotel security When she asked him to leave, he grabbed her instead and molested her. However, the hotel security came to her rescue. The Saudi national was arrested on the spot, but the Omani was nowhere to be found and was eventually arrested at the airport on Thursday evening. The American woman returned to the US after giving her statement, while a case was registered against both men.

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S O C I A L W E L FA R E

Ministry, NHRC sign MoU to aid disabled people MUSCAT: Ministry of Social Development and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide facilities to people with disabilities and ways to integrate them into society and provide them with rehabilitation and training opportunities. Sheikh Mohammed bin Suayed Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development and Chairman of the National Committee for the Welfare of the Disabled Persons and Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Riyami, member of the State Council, and Chairman of NHRC, signed the MoU. The MoU also aims to enhance the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Sultanate and in accordance with the Basic Law of the State and existing laws and international conventions and agreements. The MoU also aims to prepare national plans and programmes

necessary for the deployment of a human rights culture in the Sultanate. The MoU stems from the belief of the Ministry of Social Development in implementing the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and training, rehabilitating taking care of them for their integration in the community and to develop social, cultural and sports programmes and plans for this category in co-ordination with the competent authorities, based on the provisions of Article 76 of the Basic Law of the State promulgated by the Royal Decree No. 101/96. The MoU is one of the international human rights conventions as stipulated in the Royal Decree No. 124/2008 to establish the NHRC and the terms of reference for the Commission, including the follow-up to protect human rights and freedoms in the Sultanate. –ONA

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

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OMAN

Students surprised over Ajman varsity delisting The ban order was issued due to the low success rate of Omani graduates when it came to job interviews

Times News Service MUSCAT: Omani students who have enrolled at the Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST), were shocked to learn that the institution had been removed from the list of approved universities in the UAE by Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education.

The decision, taken on Thursday last, means students from the Sultanate are banned from studying at AUST starting from the next academic year. The College of Islamic and Arabic Studies (CIAS) in Dubai, was also blacklisted by the ministry. The move came after a study by Oman’s Committee on Qualiﬁcations for Institutions (CQI) showed a low success rate for graduates when it came to job interviews, despite around 10,000 Omanis graduating from AUST since it was founded in 1988. The National newspaper in the UAE reported how some of the 749 Omani students enrolled at AUST said the ban came as a surprise. “When I read the email that I received from my friend, I was surprised,” said Mohammed Al Saeedi, while adding that he found out about the ban from a friend who works at the ministry in Oman.

“Each year, the university has been developing, and before joining AUST many people advised me to study there because its educational levels were better than other universities. When I read the details, I knew that the law did not apply to me because I am a senior and will graduate next semester,” said the 35-year-old graphic design senior. “I studied earlier at a college in Dubai and quit. I see Ajman University as the strongest one and if it was not, I would not be studying there,” he said. Al Saeedi said he intends to continue with his studies and graduate with a Master’s degree despite the ruling. “I would love to get my Master’s degree in graphic design from AUST where I beneﬁtted more than from other universities in terms of theoretical and practical teaching and training, and I advise Omanis and every student to study at this university,” he said.

In a statement, the ministry said that Omani students currently enrolled at AUST and the CIAS will still be qualiﬁed, but degrees will no longer be accredited from next year. Ammer Mohammed Salim, a sophomore law student at AUST, said the university is “resolute in everything”. “Ajman University is the best university in the UAE and has a good reputation,” said the 19-yearold, who is originally from Oman but has held a UAE passport since 2002. “In addition to the availability of everything it has strict rules with regard to cheating,” he said. Salim said that since he lived and studied in the UAE as an Omani, he would leave the university and the country to continue his education elsewhere. The AUST said that the Omani ministry had not communicated with them before taking the decision.

C O N S E RVAT I O N

ESO launches Earth Hour campaign TARIQ AL HAREMI MUSCAT: Environmental Society of Oman (ESO) on Monday announced the launch of its campaign leading to this year’s Earth Hour set for March 28. Their objective is to gather information of the amount of energy conserved by switching off non-essential lighting for one hour. Earth Hour is a global movement that exhorts individuals and businesses to conserve energy and protect the planet. Over 120 organisations, buildings and schools participated in the Earth Hour activities in Oman, saving an estimated twenty thousand kilowatts of electricity. “This is the fourth year that ESO will take part in conserving energy and reducing climate change. This year we are not aiming to break a record but rather gather information,” said Lamees Daar, executive director, ESO, at a press conference. “We are undergoing a monthlong campaign and have revamped our website so that people can join the campaign. I encourage more companies to take the pledge this year,” she added. Switch off lights Earth Hour will begin on March 28 where everyone is required to switch off non-essential lighting from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Awareness of the campaign is being spread across social media and the ESO website as well as through ESO ambassadors, many of whom are college students.

COMMON OBJECTIVE: In Oman, the Earth Hour campaign is being organised by Environmental

Society of Oman (ESO). The conservation event will be held on March 28 where everyone is required to switch off non-essential lighting from 8:30pm to 9:30pm.–TIMES OF OMAN

“Last week we visited 19 colleges to raise awareness for Earth Hour and we will visit 18 more in the next two days,” said Daar. “We are working on creat-

ing awareness in companies and executives. It is important to conserve energy to save our planet,” said Salim Al Asmi, acting head, CSR.

ESO is also planning to hold a family event in Al Mouj Golf for young children to attend on March 28 from 5pm to 7pm. National Bank of Oman (NBO) is this year’s gold sponsor. Leen Al Atassi, head of corporate communication and corporate social responsibility, NBO, said, “We are delighted to support ESO in this move to help save our Earth.” “We are taking the pledge to switch off all non-essential lighting and appliances in our offices and branches for Earth Hour 2015, and going beyond the hour, we promise to continue adopting energy-efficient measures to reduce our environmental impact.” To take the pledge visit: www. omanearthhour.org.

Rare Baobab trees bloom in Dhofar interested in plant life. They are unique as compared to others growing in the mountains of the governorate. The Ministries of Environment and Climate Affairs and Agriculture and Fisheries are keen to look after nature conservation and protection of wildlife, and they play an important in nurturing wild plants and a number of endangered trees in selected sites in collaboration with the government and private institutions and the local population. The Directorate General (DG) for Environment and Climate Affairs in Dhofar has been making efforts in the ﬁeld of protection and rehabilitation of Baobab trees and replanting them in a number of nurseries to preserve and protect them from extinction. The directorate has also implemented the anti-extinction Baobab tree Protection Project in the Dhalkut wilayat. The DG has collected the seeds of the Baobab tree and replanted them in the Niyabat of Qairon Hairiti and in the park in Salalah, in addition to distributing them to a number of governmental and private entities. –ONA

ECONOMIC PLANS

NEW HORIZONS: The flagship event for Oman’s downstream industry, the ORPEC organiser, Omanexpo, in alliance with global organisation World Refining Association (WRA), will be holding Oman’s first international downstream exhibition and conference at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.–Jun Estrada/TIMES OF OMAN

Petro projects set to be showcased at ORPIC exhibition Times News Service MUSCAT: In its efforts to showcase the massive investments being made by the government in the Sultanate’s downstream industry, the Oman Refining and Petrochemical Exhibition and Conference (ORPEC), would provide a timely and beneficial platform to the industry. The organisers of the meet say that the economic thrust is reflected in the current refinery expansion projects such as the Duqm Refinery, Muscat-Sohar Pipeline Project (MSPP) and the Liwa Plastics Project. Set to be the flagship event for Oman’s downstream industry, the ORPEC organiser, Omanexpo, in alliance with global organisation World Refining Association (WRA), will be holding Oman’s first international downstream exhibition and conference at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from March 16 to 18. ORPEC is backed by one of the biggest companies in the Middle East’s refining and petrochemical sector, Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic), and an exhibition roster of over 100 local and international companies, and a sponsorship line-up that includes WorleyParsons Oman Engineering LLC, Special Technical Services LLC (STS), SeaCliff International and DB Schenker Logistics in addition to Chicago Bridge & Iron (CB&I), Albemarle Europe SPRL, Grace Catalyst Technologies, ThyssenKrupp AG and The Linde Group. While exploration and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) activities continue to take centre-stage, the government is placing equal attention on the refining and processing of petrochemicals and crude oil and distribution of its by-products, creating investment and employment opportunities for downstream industries, and boosting downstream facilities. Vital components The conference at ORPEC has been specifically designed to not only highlight the vital components essential to ensure the suc-

C O N S E RVAT I O N

SALALAH: Tabaldi Baobab is a rare, large and endangered tree which is protected in most countries, including the Sultanate. The scientiﬁc name for the tree is dansonia digitata and English common names include dead-rat tree, monkey-bread tree, upside-down tree and cream of tartar tree. Baobab trees, locally known as Ankiji or Al Mashwa, grow naturally in the Hinnah Valley of the Hasheer Mountain in the Mirbat wilayat of Dhofar governorate. They grow alone in the Dhalkut wilayat, as well as in the wilayats of Sohar and Liwa in the North Al Batinah governorate. There are about 200 Baobab trees in Dhofar, which are 15 metres high with trunks that are nearly two metres in diameter. In places such as Africa, the number of such trees is almost double, because there they grow and multiply in large numbers. There are nine species of the Baobab in the world. Seven of them are in the island of Madagascar and one each in Oman, Yemen, and Australia. The Baobab trees in Dhofar attract visitors and researchers

SPRING FLOWERING: There are about 200 Baobab trees in Dhofar,

which are 15 metres high with trunks that are nearly two metres in diameter.–ONA

While exploration and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) activities continue to take centre-stage, the government is placing equal attention on the refining and processing of petrochemicals and crude oil and distribution of its by-products, creating investment and employment opportunities for downstream industries, and downstream facilities

cessful growth of Oman’s downstream industry but also present visions, new projects and perspectives on the refining and petrochemical markets and current challenges. An international faculty of renowned experts has been assembled to address these key themes. Emerging business Hilal Al Kharusi, Oman Oil Company’s EVP of emerging businesses, will be providing insight on the investment opportunities presented by these current projects; while Andrew Horncastle, vice president of strategy will focus on the value of investing in the downstream sector. Henk Pauw, general manager of Liwa Plastics Project, Orpic, will be sharing significant details about the development of the US$ 3-billion project. Underpinning the highly significant conference is the welcome address of Salim Al Aufi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas, followed by Musab Al Mahruqi, CEO of Orpic.

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

OMAN ‘GOUT DE FRANCE’

Chedi to be part of global French fest Times News Service MUSCAT: A global event that will see 1,000 handpicked chefs serving French dishes simultaneously across ﬁve continents will include Muscat’s The Chedi, which has been picked to take part in the prestigious gastronomic event ‘Gout de France’ also known as ‘Good France’. This global event, to take place on March 19 , is supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development as well as celebrated French chef, Alain Ducasse. Chefs of every kind will celebrate the excellence and diversity of French cuisine on the same evening as they delight diners with a specially crafted menu. Sébastien Cassagnol, Frenchborn executive chef at The Chedi Muscat, will be leading the event with his expert culinary team. Born in the south of France and raised in a typically traditional French culinary background, Cas-

Omran’s subsidiaries set to boost tourism The three subsidiaries will help

All these projects in the tourism industry will generate a lot of opportunities for SME owners

Omran position itself Sébastien Cassagnol

as a major investor, master developer and

sagnol’s cooking philosophy and style has evolved over 15 years of international experience, having worked in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon and Indonesia to name a few. In accordance with the guidelines from ‘Gout de France’, the menu will consist of a traditional French aperitif, a cold starter, a hot starter, ﬁsh or shellﬁsh, meat or poultry, a French cheese (or cheeseboard), a chocolate dessert all paired with French vintages.

manager of tourism related projects

Wael Al Lawati

Omran’s CEO SALEH AL SHAIBANY saleh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) is integrating Oman’s diversity, culture and heritage in attracting tourists to celebrate the Sultanate’s unique position and hospitality, said its CEO. Oman is renowned for its rich history that spread to the shores of Africa, Far East and the neighbouring countries. The evidence of the long tradition is scattered throughout country in ancient forts, intricate handicraft as well as natural beauty such as the beaches, the falaj system and picturesque mountains. Omran’s CEO Wael Al Lawati told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview that the stateowned company has established three strategic subsidiaries. “The National Omani Hospitality Company (NOHC) will manage the hospitality facilities of selected Omran properties and the Oman Heritage Development

and Projects Management Company (OHDPMC), will develop and manage a number of heritage facilities in Oman. The third is the Oman Project Management and Development Company (OPMDC), which is responsible for developing small and medium tourism and hospitality projects throughout the Sultanate, some of which are currently under way,” explained Wael. The three subsidiaries will help Omran position itself as a major investor, master developer and manager of tourism related projects across the nation. “The three subsidiaries will create efficiency and overall integration to better manage our investments, resources and the way we forge partnerships with companies who want to join us in the projects,” he said. Omran is the investor and facilitator of major tourism projects and initiatives in the Sultanate,

including its new ﬂagship Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). Last month, Omran awarded a contract to L&T, a subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited, to build a 300-room Crowne Plaza Hotel next to the OCEC. Omran is also planning to build a Five-Star JW Marriott Hotel as part of a wider plan in its tourism effort. Wael added that Omran last year launched its own hospitality brand ‘Atana’ representing quintessential Omani hospitality and generosity. Managed by Omran’s subsidiary, the National Omani Hospitality Company LLC, Atana currently operates two hotels in the northern tip of the Musandam peninsula, AtanaMusandam and AtanaKhasab. The Atana brand is primarily a 4 Star offering and will progressively expand across the Sultanate to cater to increased visitor demand in this segment. “The aim is to oversee the man-

agement of many hotels‚ resorts and tourism assets. But not all of them will be owned by Omran. We will pursue management contracts in the future on behalf of private investors. Our role is to ensure each delivers a fair return to investors and contributes to the long-term success of Oman’s tourism sector,” added Wael. Omran is also planning to build rest areas between major towns and beauty spots to serve as stopovers for travellers, the rest-areas are set to include comprehensive facilities such as fuel stations, restaurants, retail areas, and car parking zones. The ﬁrst rest area Qurayat-Sur is set to be officially inaugurated later this year. Oman is also reviewing proposals to develop more value-oriented hotels in strategic locations, with the aim to establish affordable accommodations across the nation to ﬁt the budgets of all visitors. Wael also said that Omran is entering into joint ventures with international companies to build hotels as part of the effort to increase room capacity. At the moment, Oman has over 14,000 hotel rooms, but it is aiming to add 5,000 more rooms by 2017, according to the latest data from STR Global. The objective of Omran is to build and manage projects that would be a major contributor to employment, Gross Domestic Product and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). “All these projects in the tourism industry will generate a lot of opportunities to SME owners and other businesses. They will also expand the economy, boost the country’s GDP and create jobs for thousands of Omanis,” he added.

TOURISM

New Salalah resort to woo visitors Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Investment Fund (OIF) has announced the development of the five-star Alila Salalah Resort, at an official signing ceremony in Muscat. Due to open in the second half of 2017, Alila Salalah will be a unique, ecologically sensitive luxury destination resort located in Mirbat, Dhofar Governorate. The beach front resort will include a luxury boutique hotel which comprises 100 private suites and 25 villas of different sizes. There will also be a family day centre, a members’ club, a diving club, a selection of fine dining and a significant Spa and Wellness centre. With stunning contemporary Dhofari architectural design throughout, the resort will be a beacon of excellence in hospitality and service, with a distinctive Omani culture in the governorate at its heart.

BEACH BLISS: The beach front resort will include a luxury bou-

tique hotel comprising 100 private suites and 25 villas.

The Alila Salalah Resort project exempliﬁes OIF’s commitment to the local economy. Through the formation of a joint venture company called Alil Salalah SAOC, OIF will launch the project in partnership with a local Omani investor. This project is possible due to the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos for mak-

ing such investments possible and creating the framework and infrastructure. The development and management of the resort will generate approximately 300 jobs, priority for which will be given to Omani nationals. Small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism and construction sec-

tors will have the opportunity to offer their products and services to the development. Preference will also be given to local material suppliers. At an official signing ceremony in Muscat on Monday, Al Nabhani, the CEO of OIF and chairman of Alil Salalah SAOC, said, “We are extremely proud to announce this investment that will signiﬁcantly enhance the product offering and attractiveness of Dhora and Salalah as a major tourism destination. The resort will attract new visitors to the Dhora Governorate providing yet additional growth opportunities to the local market,” he said. “We are pleased that Alila Hotels and Resorts will be the hotel operator, ensuring for our guests the very best hospitality available. I would like to use this opportunity to extend heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty for all the prosperity and security Oman enjoys.”

ROP CRIME REPORT

Six arrested for theft, looting Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Six people were arrested in the wilayats of Barka and Awabi in South Batinah on the charges of theft and looting. The accused had looted a store in Awabi as well as a fuel station in Al Namaan area of Barka. A Royal Oman Police (ROP) ofﬁcial said the accused came from Suwaiq wilayat to Awabi at night wearing gloves and masks and committed theft in the market. They stole the safe, removed cash from it and then dumped the safe in a wadi in Rustaq. They are estimated to have stolen more than OMR4,750. The accused then headed to the residence of fuel station workers while consuming alcohol and threatened them with knives. Locking the workers inside their house, they took away the fuel station office keys. Then they took away more than OMR5,000 from the fuel station, vandalised it and ﬂed. After search and investigations with the help of police dogs, the culprits were tracked down and arrested. Legal action has been

VIDEO GRAB: The miscreants looted a store in Awabi as well as a

fuel station in Al Namaan area of Barka.– Supplied photo

initiated against them and they have been referred to the Public Prosecution for further investigation and trial. Illegals held Meanwhile, the joint inspection team of the Manpower Ministry arrested 387 illegal foreign workers during the period from February 22 to 28. These illegals included 293 commercial workers, 22

farm workers and 72 housemaids and their equivalents. The inspection teams also held 361 workers, including 203 absconding workers, 141 astray workers and 17 workers with other violations. Muscat Governorate witnessed the highest number of workers violating the law with 122, followed by Al Batinah Governorate with 66 workers.

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

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OMAN ACADEMICS

Oman varsity project reviewed MUSCAT: Higher Committee for Oman University project on Monday held its meeting under the chairmanship of His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan, and head of the Committee. The meeting covered a number of issues related to the University plans. The meeting included a presentation on the recommenda-

REGIONAL TIES: There is already a customs link among GCC countries. However, linking traffic,

business and customs can usher in more transparency and also avoid unnecessary delays.–File photo

GCC plan to link traffic, trade and customs lauded GCC e-government ministerial committee meeting in Doha decided to launch a joint portal to link traffic, business and customs systems

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Linking of traffic, business and customs systems among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will provide easier co-ordination and data exchange, said experts and businessmen. “So far, we have not got any official requests, but we are aware of such a plan. If it comes into effect it will surely be a boon for traders. It can avoid unnecessary delays in trade and can act as a catalyst in improving trade among GCC countries,” Mohammed Hassan Al Ansi, vice-chairman of the Committee of Logistics and

Transportation Affairs at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), told the Times of Oman. Last Saturday, the GCC e-government ministerial committee meeting in Doha decided to launch a joint portal to link traffic, business and customs systems next month. Quoting Ali bin Saleh Al Soma, adviser to the Minister of Communications and Information Technology and director general of the Saudi Arabia’s e-government programme (Yesser), it was reported that the system would ease exchange of information. According to the linking plans, the network will serve GCC citizens directly for all services without the need to move from one country to another. The services that were reviewed during the meeting include traffic violations, business and corporate establishment services, country-tocountry customs, tendering services and some mobility services at airports. “There is already a customs link among GCC countries. However, linking traffic, business and customs can usher in more transparency and also avoid unnecessary delays. Violations in cargo transportation can be spotted easily if the new system comes into effect,” said Abraham Raju, managing director at Sohar Shipping. Already, a pilot programme has

been launched to link networks in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to Abdullatif Surayie, director general of the Central Agency for Information Technology in Kuwait, the other countries would join the network over the next two weeks. Recent reports reveal that there has been a massive growth in intra-GCC trade since the first phase of the regional customs union was introduced in January 2003. Trade volume The volume of trade within the GCC states was a high $121bn in 2013, from a mere $15bn in 2002, before the launch of the customs union. Further growth in the trade volume is expected in the years to come since the final phase of the unified customs system was launched on January 1 this year. Recently, Oman had launched the Oman Logistics Centre (OLC), to manage and co-ordinate development of a logistics strategy in Oman. The OLC will focus on four key areas or ‘soft infrastructure’ that has been identified by a task force. These include trade facilitation, technology, education and markets. The Sultanate of Oman is uniquely positioned to play an important and leading role in logistics in the Indian Ocean and as a gateway to the Arabian Gulf.

tions for the proposed scientific research plan, the mechanisms of its implementation, the three scientific fields designated for the University, namely, energy, sustainability, design, technology, medical sciences and public health. The proposed scientific research plan for the first stage of the University operation has 12 research domains that include renewable

energy, exploring minerals, public health, public health services, health e-services, contagious and noncontagious diseases, medicines development, transport, marine sciences, ﬁsheries, agriculture, food production, water resources treatment, mineral treatment, production and developing the IT systems and digital media for Arab language.– ONA

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

OMAN D H O FA R R E G I O N

< FROM

A1 Renewable energy He was talking to the media on the sidelines of a meeting to announce the Distribution Code Review Panel’s annual event for companies engaged in the electricity sector on March 9. The project is coming up in Harweel in Dhofar region and an agreement to build the project was signed between Raeco and Masdar in October last year. “We are just executing the project. But they are investing and developing it.” An earlier report said that Raeco would run the project after completion. Oman government has been encouraging investment in renewable energy since it will contribute immensely in reducing the use of traditional fossil fuel for generating electricity. Thus, the country can divert these precious resourc-

es for other industries, which will add value and generate employment opportunities. It will also contribute to the government’s plan to reduce subsidy, which has been increasing year after year. The proposed wind project will come up in a total area of 200,000 square metres and the power capacity of the plant will be sufficient for about 50 per cent of consumption in Dhofar region during winter season. Eng Al Magdheri earlier said that 15 to 25 turbines would be installed, each with a height of 120 to 145 metres from the surface of the land, depending on topography. The estimated capacity of the single turbine is 2 to 3.2 MW, depending on its location and wind movement.

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Inshallah next year we will enter two cars, an UrbanConcept and this car we will enter again. We hope we get a good result. We’re waiting for next year to win the race, not just to enter Nasr Al Nabhani, team leader

Students do Oman proud at Manila Eco-Marathon Hard work and dedication of 12 GUtech students paid off when their fuelefficient car ﬁnished in ﬁfth place for diesel-powered cars at the Eco-marathon

TA X I N G T R AV E L L E R S

< FROM

A1 Landing charges According to the data available, Muscat International Airport received more than 8.7 million arrivals and departures last year against 8.3 million in 2013, while 841,970 arrivals and departures were logged at Salalah airport in 2014, up from 745,372 the year before. Not only have the passenger charges been increased, but the OAMC has also introduced

new landing charges from March 2 at all airports including Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm. The minimum charge regardless of the weight of the aircraft per landing is OMR5. Aircraft weighing up to 50,000 kg will have to pay OMR1.250 per tonne while aircraft weighing 50,001kg and above will have to pay OMR1.375 per tonne per landing.

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MANILA: Nearly a year of hard work and dedication paid off for 12 students from GUtech when their fuel-efficient car finished in fifth place for diesel-powered cars at the Shell Eco-marathon in Manila which ended on Sunday. The team from GUtech and teams from Caledonian College of Engineering and Sultan Qaboos University were the first Omani teams ever to compete in the event which challenges students to design, build and drive the most fuel-efficient car possible. All three of their futuristiclooking, single-driver Prototype cars made it onto the street circuit by the final day of the competition, but only GUtech’s car finished the required 10 laps needed to be included in the ranking. “We are happy and proud of our result. We did our best to raise GUtech’s name in the world,” said GUtech student Shihab Hasnin. Mobashar Kabir, who successfully drove the car four times to test it for its efficiency, managed to achieve a fuel-consumption rate of 143 km per litre. Though it was far behind the Clean Diesel Team from Hyogo Prefectural Tajima Technical Institute, Japan, which clinched first place in the diesel category with a new record mileage of 1,245 km/l, Kabir was still happy with his result, which he attributed to prayers, teamwork and fuelsaving driving techniques. “Before I entered the car, I prayed a lot and of course our

INNOVATION: Teams from GUtech, Caledonian College of Engineering and Sultan Qaboos University were the ﬁrst Omani teams ever to compete in the event which challenges students to design, build and drive the most fuel-efficient car possible. Photo– Times of Oman

team work, literally everybody worked hard at the university. You have your driving strategy, coasting and lifting and coasting,” he said. The team from SQU came incredibly close to finishing the 10 laps of the track, which was located on the streets surrounded Luneta Park in Manila, but mechanical problems struck their white, red and green gasoline-powered car on the final lap, explained team leader Badar Al Mamari. Technical glitch “We did well but unfortunately on the last lap yesterday we faced a problem with the switch button, it gets burned due to the high temperature here in Manila. Also the computer of the engine gets damaged and that problem can’t be fixed in one or two days,” said Al Mamari. After struggling for nearly 48 hours to fix the computer system that controlled their batteryelectric powered car, the team from Caledonian finally passed the final technical inspection and took their flashy blue Prototype car onto the track. But on the first lap the car broke down when the electrical circuit burned so their dreams were cut short, too. Despite not completing the 10 laps needed to calculate the fuel-efficiency, the Caledonian students were still proud of what they had achieved and were al-

ready looking ahead to the 2016 competition, where they hope to learn from the mistakes they made this year. They even plan on making a second car to compete in the UrbanConcept category, where cars are meant to be more street-friendly. “Inshallah next year we will enter two cars, an UrbanConcept and this car we will enter again. We hope we get a good result. We’re waiting for next year to win the race, not just to enter,” said team leader Nasr Al Nabhani. SQU’s team plans on coming back to the race, too, applying the many things they learned this time to improve their chances of success. Al Mamari said they would have a bigger team with a wider variety of engineering majors, since their team consisted solely of mechanical engineering students, and they would make some technical changes such as making a lighter vehicle, changing the bearings and using bicycle brakes which are less resistant. Plenty to learn Though there were no prize winners from Oman this year, each of the teams who entered learned plenty from the experience from communication and management skills, to practical skills such as building a car and driving it in a fuel-efficient manner. GUtech student Abdurrahim Tanira said

the team learned a lot about communication and management “Those are some of the key processes. It’s not just about working with your hands; it’s how we communicate with each other,” he commented. Perseverance and spirit Tanira added that he also appreciated the value of friendly competition which was prevalent throughout the even. Despite the 129 teams being competitors, they were all happy to share advice, tools, and even spare parts. A team from Alfaisal University of Saudi Arabia even donated their spare engine to a Philippine team who faced sudden problems with their engine, an act that helped them win the “Perseverance and Spirit of the Event” award. “It taught me that the people, even though they’re your competitors, they’re very friendly,” Tanira said. As the competition wrapped on Sunday evening in Manila, the students from Oman said they hoped next year there would be even more colleges and universities from the Sultanate in the competition. “I hope other colleges of engineering in Oman will come here because they will get more experience and more skills. They will be conﬁdent and learn many things,” remarked Caledonian student Ahmed Al Badri.

N O R T H A L B AT I NA H

Asian inﬁltrator arrested in Suwaiq with 12 kg of drugs SUWAIQ: An Asian inﬁltrator was arrested while he was attempting to smuggle in more than 12 kg of heroin through coastal strip in the wilayat of Suwaiq. The Public Administration for Combatting Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances at the Governorate of North Al Batinah Police managed to arrest the drug dealer, an official source at the

Royal Oman Police (ROP) said. 19 capsules On the other hand, the Public Administration for Combatting Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances at the Governorate of Dakhiliyah Police in collaboration with the Public Administration for Combatting Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances, recov-

ered 19 capsules of narcotics from the possession of an Asian in the wilayat of Adam. The Royal Oman Police has called upon citizens and expatriates to call the emergency number or report to the nearest police station to provide any information that may help in the arrest of drug traffickers. or inﬁltrators in the Sultanate. -ONA

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5 One alleged threat was directed to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, NBC reported. Dorsey didn’t address or acknowledge the threats in his latest tweets on Sunday

REGION

A L L E G E D T H R E AT S

IS group supporters threaten Twitter co-founder and employees WASHINGTON: Twitter Inc and law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged threats made by IS militants against the social media network’s co-founder and other employees, the company said in reaction to media reports. IS supporters, in online posts on Sunday, called for attacks against Twitter and its “interests,” including death threats, according

to the online news media company Buzzfeed as well as the NBC news network. “Our security team is investigating the veracity of these threats with relevant law enforcement ofﬁcials,” a representative for Twitter said in a statement on Monday. Buzzfeed ﬁrst reported the story on Sunday. One alleged threat was directed

to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, NBC reported. Dorsey didn’t address or acknowledge the threats in his latest tweets on Sunday. The messages were posted on an anonymous ﬁle-sharing website called Pastebin, according to the media reports. “Your virtual war on us will cause a real war on you,” one post by IS supporters said, according

Iraq launches a major assault to retake Tikrit Iraqi troops and militia pounded positions of IS group militants in and around Tikrit

KIRKUK (IRAQ): Some 30,000 Iraqi troops and militia backed by aircraft pounded militants positions in and around Tikrit on Monday in the biggest offensive yet to retake one of the IS group’s main strongholds. Government forces have been working their way north in recent months, notching up key victories against IS but Tikrit, which has resisted them several times, is their toughest target yet. Building on recent successes, commanders voiced hope that the broadest operation since IS overran swathes of the country last June would be a step towards the liberation of Mosul, the militants’ main hub in Iraq. “Security forces are advancing on three main fronts towards Tikrit, Ad Dawr (to the south) and Al Alam (to the north),” a senior army officer on the ground said by telephone. The operation began in early morning after being announced by Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi the previous evening.

BIGGEST OFFENSIVE: Members of the Iraqi security forces drive

towards Al Dawr area located south of Tikrit to launch an assault against the IS group.– AFP

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The army officer said the forces involved in the battle were from the army, police, counter-terrorism units, a government-controlled volunteer group known as the Popular Mobilisation units and local Sunni tribes opposed to IS group. “The attack is being carried out using ﬁghter jets, helicopters and artillery targeting Tikrit to secure the advance and cut supply routes,” he said. Military sources said Iraqi warplanes were involved but it was not immediately clear whether foreign air support — Iranian or from the

US-led coalition ﬁghting IS — was also called in. According to both Iraqi and Iranian media, Qassem Soleimani -- the commander of the Al Qods Force covert operations unit of Tehran’s elite Revolutionary Guards -- was in Salaheddin province to help coordinate operations. Abadi urged the security forces on Sunday to spare civilians during the offensive. Speaking from Samarra, the other main city in Salaheddin province, he appeared to be addressing fears of reprisals against the Tikrit area’s population. “The priority we gave to the armed forces and all the forces taking part alongside them is to preserve the security of citizens,” he told reporters. On social media, he called “for utmost care in protecting civilian lives and property”. — AFP

to Buzzfeed. “We told you from the beginning it’s not your war, but you didn’t get it and kept closing our accounts on Twitter, but we always come back.” IS militants have relied heavily on Twitter and other social media networks to coordinate and to communicate, including the publishing of shocking videos of beheadings and other violent

acts against its enemies. But social media companies, including Twitter, have also removed content and suspended accounts that post gruesome content, such as executions. Twitter’s user policy prohibits the use of the service for violence and threats, stating on its website: “You may not publish or post direct, speciﬁc threats of violence against others.”

The company does not, however, “proactively monitor content,” a spokesperson for the network said last week, adding that such policies were in place for other similar companies. Twitter’s platform, which allows people to post 140-character messages with pictures and brief video clips, has more than 288 million users across the world, the company says. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

T IME S O F O MAN

T UE S DAY, M AR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

INDIA

T IME S O F O MAN

T UES DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 15 T U E S DAY, MA RCH 3, 2 0 1 5

T U ES DAY, M ARC H 3, 2 0 1 5

Furore in parliament over Mufti’s statement on peaceful J&K polls Declaring Sayeed’s statement “antinational”, Shantaram Naik (Congress) said that immediately after being swornin, Mufti credited “people from across the border”, separatist Hurriyat Conference and militants for the peaceful elections NEW DELHI: Opposition in Rajya Sabha, on Monday created a furore over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s statement crediting Pakistan and Hurriyat for the smooth assembly polls, with the Centre jumping to do damage control by saying security forces and the people were responsible for the peaceful polls. Declaring Sayeed’s statement “anti-national”, Shantaram Naik (Congress) said that immediately after being sworn-in, Mufti addressed a press conference where he credited “people from across the border”, separatist Hurriyat Conference and militants for the peaceful assembly elections. Raising the issue during zero hour, Naik said “this statement is bordering anti-national... this is

MAKING A POINT: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed addresses media after casting his vote during Legislative Council election in Jammu on Monday. - PTI

violative of oath of office as he is showing allegiance to forces which are anti-national”. The people of Jammu & Kashmir, Election Commission and security forces made the elections possible and Sayeed did not give credit to them, he said. The brother of one of the 24 ministers sworn-in is in Hurriyat and has a Pakistani wife, he alleged. Serious issue K. C. Venugopal of Congress said “this is a serious issue” as he quoted Sayeed as saying that he had also had a word with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. He said Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh of BJP was sitting next to the chief minister, but had given no clarification. Venugopal said militants killed six village sarpanchs and mounted suicide attacks on Army units. “This cannot be called creating a

conducive atmosphere,” he said, adding that the credit for smooth conduct of elections should be given to the people of the state, the Election Commission and security personnel. “The prime minister’s silence is shocking...the House should condemn it. We should pass a resolution,” he said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he wanted to make it clear that “the government and his party (BJP) fully disassociate themselves” from the remarks made by Sayeed. Not impressed, the Opposition was on its feet demanding a statement by the prime minister. ‘Prime minister can explain’ Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge said since the Prime Minister was told by Sayeed that he feels that the credit should go to Hurriyat, militants and Pakistan for smooth conduct of J and K assembly polls, Modi should make a

statement. “Only prime minister can explain,” he said. At this, Rajnath Singh said he has spoken to the Prime Minister in this regard and was making the statement with his knowledge and consent. Later he also made it clear that Sayeed had not spoken about this statement with the prime minister. “For the smooth conduct of polls, I congratulate the people of J and K. I credit the EC, the Army and personnel of paramilitary forces...the people have to be credited for the large voter turnout,” Rajnath said. Not satisfied, the opposition staged a walkout demanding that a resolution condemning Sayeed’s remarks be adopted in the House. Stand by comments Meanwhile, a day after his remarks on peaceful polls in Jammu and Kashmir triggered a row, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed said that he stood by his comments and accused those raising a hue and cry over it of trying to“make mountain of a mole hill”. “What I said, I stand by it,” he told reporters after casting his vote for the Council election at the Legislature Complex here. “What I said yesterday about Pakistan and Hurriyat... the recovery and working of democracy in Kashmir and faith in it (was that) they (Pakistan and Hurriyat) have recognised and understood that the voter slip is the destiny of the people, not bullets or grenades,” Mufti said. “And this voter slip has been given to us by the Constitution of India... The people of J&K have more faith in this (right). They (people from across the border and Hurriyat) did not interfere, as was happening in past (elections),” he said. - PTI

JAMMU: Demanding an apology from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for crediting Pakistan, militants and separatists for the smooth conduct of polls, National Conference on Monday termed the statement an “insult” to the people of the state. NC MLA Mohammed Akbar Lone pointed out that militants had tried to scuffle the polls and the Hurriyat had lodged an anti-poll campaign in Kashmir Valley, but the people defied the boycott calls and came out in large numbers to vote. “Mufti sahab should have thanked the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the successful polls. Instead of thanking them, he gave credit to militants, Hurriyat and Pakistan - which is an insult to the people of the state,” Lone said. “The militants did not leave any opportunity to scuttle the polls. Hurriyat lodged an anti-poll campaign and all attempts were made to disrupt the polls,” he said. Calling the statement unfortunate, the NC leader demanded an apology from the chief minister. “It is really unfortunate statement that a politician of the caliber of Mufti Sahab has

This is an insult to the people of the state and Mufti Sahab should not only tender an apology to the people of the state but should also take his words back Mohammed A. Lone

National Conference leader

made. Those who voted and made democracy win in J&K have been denied credit by the chief minister. “This is an insult to the people of the state and Mufti Sahab should not only tender an apology to the people of the state but should also take his words back,” the National Conference leader said. - PTI

Global rating agencies rule out upgrade for India within a year has been not as great as it could have been... We don’t see the rating going up in the next year or so”. Less aspiring Fitch Ratings said while the budget shows this government’s continued orientation on implementation of structural reforms, it could have been more ambitious on the fiscal front, especially given India’s high public debt burden. “The medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy is less aspiring than in the past, which is negative from a sovereign rating perspec-

tive,” Fitch said. Rolling out a new fiscal consolidation roadmap, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said in the budget that fiscal deficit would be brought down to 3.9 per cent of GDP in 2015-16, and then further to 3.6 per cent and finally to 3 per cent by 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. The finance minister had said the government would achieve the 3 per cent fiscal deficit target by 2017-18 as against 2016-17 as it intends to increase public investment to boost growth. Moody’s said the Budget has

prioritised growth over fiscal consolidation but it may not have any impact on the country’s sovereign rating. “The dilution of an already modest deficit reduction plan underscores its view that India’s structural constraints, such as a low tax revenue base and rigidity in expenditures, make fiscal consolidation difficult...,” Moody’s said. The budget prioritises growth over fiscal consolidation, Moody’s said, adding that it was “unlikely to materially change” a rating constrained by “weak fiscal metrics”.- PTI

KEEN INTEREST: Vegetable vendors listening to the Union budget 2015-16 speech on a radio set in Moradabad on Saturday. - PTI

INDIA

RECOGNITION

RAIN KILLS FOUR IN HIMACHAL

An aerial view of Srinagar city after heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley on Monday. Rain accompanied by high velocity cold winds lashed North India claiming four lives in Himachal Pradesh, even as the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed due to heavy snowfall and landslides. - PTI

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FORBES RICH LIST 2015

Mukesh Ambani tops India rich-list NEW YORK: Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as the richest Indian for the eighth year in a row with a networth of $21 billion, while moving up one place on the global rich list that has been topped once again by software czar Bill Gates. Among the 90 Indians on the Forbes Rich List 2015, published on Monday, Ambani (39th globally) is closely followed by pharmaceuticals business tycoon Dilip Shanghvi (44th rank with networth of $20 billion) and Azim Premji (48th with $19.1 billion). Gates with a networth $79.2 billion tops Forbes Rich List. Announcing the list, Forbes said ranks of the world’s wealthiest defied global economic turmoil and expanded yet again, yielding a record 1,826 billionaires with an aggregate networth of $ 7.05 trillion. Indians on the list include Shiv Nadar (66th; $14.8 billion), Hinduja Brothers (69th; $14.5 billion) Lakshmi Mittal (82nd; $13.5 billion), Kumar Mangalam Birla (142nd; $9 billion), Uday Kotak (185th; $7.2 billion), Gautam Adani (208th; $6.6 billion), Sunil Mittal (208th; $6.6 billion) and Cyrus Poonawalla (208th; $6.6 billion). Anil Ambani with a networth of $4 billion is ranked 418th in the list.

Zakir Naik receives Saudi prize for service to Islam RIYADH: Dr Zakir Naik, a renowned Indian Islamic scholar and an authority on comparative religion, has received one of Saudi Arabia’s most prestigious prizes from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his service to Islam. King Salman presented the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) 2015 in five categories on Sunday at a glittering awards ceremony here. The KFIP recognises the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories — Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine and Science. Each prize consists of a handwritten Arabic certificate on the laureate’s achievements, a commemorative 24-carat 200-gramme gold medal and a cheque of $200,000. Ministers, members of the Royal Family, senior government officials, academics and elite scholars were present as King

NC demands apology from Mufti over poll remarks

ECONOMY

NEW DELHI: Global rating agency S&P on Monday ruled out a rating upgrade for India within a year while Fitch said the government’s fiscal consolidation strategy spelt out in budget is “less aspiring” than in the past. After the budget, Moody’s, Crisil and Care Ratings had red-flagged the country’s delayed fiscal consolidation roadmap. Standard & Poor’s Senior Director (Asia-Pacific Sovereign Ratings) Kim Eng Tan said: “In terms of the structural effects of the budget, we see the improvement

T UES DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 15

within the party,

“The total includes 290 newcomers, 71 of whom hail from China,” Forbes said, while adding that the the number of those aged below 40 is on the rise and the average networth of billionaires has, however, fallen to $3.86 billion. Other Indians on the list include Desh Bandhu Gupta ($5.8 billion), Savitri Jindal ($5.3 billion), Micky Jagtiani ($5.2 billion), Adi Godrej ($4.8 billion), Jamshyd Godrej ($4.8 billion), Shashi and Ravi Ruia ($4.5 billion), Subhash Chandra ($4.2 billion) and Benu Gopal Bangur ($4.1 billion). Forbes said the entrepreneurship is thriving globally and 1,191 members of the list are self-made billionaires, while just 230 inherited their wealth. Another 405 inherited at least a portion but are still working to increase their fortunes. - PTI

bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, left, presenting Zakir Naik, president of the Islamic Research Foundation in India, with the 2015 King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam in Riyadh on Sunday. - AFP

Salman honoured Naik for Service to Islam. “Islam is the only religion that can bring peace to the whole of humanity,” Naik said in a video biography aired at the ceremony. Mumbai-born Naik, 49, is the president of the Islamic Research Foundation in India and one of the world’s most renowned non-Arabic speaking Islamic scholars. - PTI

Rift in top echelons of AAP becomes public Some people from

Mukesh Ambani

HONOUR: Saudi King Salman

certain senior leaders, are trying to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of national convener, by targeting him and maligning the party, said senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh NEW DELHI: Struck by internal differences, the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday appeared to be threatening to crack the whip against senior leaders like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan at its national executive meeting on Wednesday, accusing them of attempting to “remove” Delhi Chief

STICKING TOGETHER: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the first session of Delhi Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, recently. - PTI

Minister Arvind Kejriwal from the post of party convener. At a press conference here on Monday, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh also targeted party patron Shanti Bhushan for his comment in an interview that Kejriwal should be replaced by Yadav. “Some people from within the party, certain senior leaders are trying to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of National Convener, by targeting him and maligning the party,” Singh told reporters here. Without naming Bhushan and Yadav, he referred to statements and letters by senior leaders which

amounted to making the party a butt of ridicule and a “joke of us”. Expressing displeasure over the leaking of letters to the media, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) member, said the issues could be discussed in the party forum rather than bringing them before the public through the media. He announced that the party’s national executive would meet on Wednesday and decide on all issues including the latest controversy over differences in the party.Singh parried questions when repeatedly asked whether the two senior leaders would be removed from the Political Affairs Committee (PAC).

“I have only announced the date for the meeting. Have I announced the decisions that will be taken there,” he said in reply to questions on whether action will be taken against the leaders. Singh said that when at its national executive meeting held last week, Kejriwal had tendered his resignation, it was opposed by members who had insisted that he should continue as the AAP national convener. “It was decided at the meet last week that Kejriwal will continue as the party chief and there is no question of removing him from the post. If this is the case, then how will the party work? “Will the volunteers like it. Those wanting to remove Kejriwal as party chief should also take the emotions of party workers into consideration,” Singh said. Crisis in the party intensified after Bhushan, in a letter to the national executive last week, said that the “one person -centric” campaign was making the party look like other parties and called for more “swaraj” within the organisation. Along with Yadav, he also gave a joint letter to the national executive and demanded activation of an ethics and grievance committee. - PTI

T I M E S OF OM A N

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

INDIA RECOGNITION

RAIN KILLS FOUR IN HIMACHAL

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Zakir Naik receives Saudi prize for service to Islam RIYADH: Dr Zakir Naik, a renowned Indian Islamic scholar and an authority on comparative religion, has received one of Saudi Arabia’s most prestigious prizes from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his service to Islam. King Salman presented the King Faisal International Prize (KFIP) 2015 in five categories on Sunday at a glittering awards ceremony here. The KFIP recognises the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five categories — Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine and Science. Each prize consists of a handwritten Arabic certificate on the laureate’s achievements, a commemorative 24-carat 200-gramme gold medal and a cheque of $200,000. Ministers, members of the Royal Family, senior government officials, academics and elite scholars were present as King

FORBES RICH LIST 2015

Mukesh Ambani tops India rich-list NEW YORK: Mukesh Ambani has retained his position as the richest Indian for the eighth year in a row with a networth of $21 billion, while moving up one place on the global rich list that has been topped once again by software czar Bill Gates. Among the 90 Indians on the Forbes Rich List 2015, published on Monday, Ambani (39th globally) is closely followed by pharmaceuticals business tycoon Dilip Shanghvi (44th rank with networth of $20 billion) and Azim Premji (48th with $19.1 billion). Gates with a networth $79.2 billion tops Forbes Rich List. Announcing the list, Forbes said ranks of the world’s wealthiest deﬁed global economic turmoil and expanded yet again, yielding a record 1,826 billionaires with an aggregate networth of $ 7.05 trillion. Indians on the list include Shiv Nadar (66th; $14.8 billion), Hinduja Brothers (69th; $14.5 billion) Lakshmi Mittal (82nd; $13.5 billion), Kumar Mangalam Birla (142nd; $9 billion), Uday Kotak (185th; $7.2 billion), Gautam Adani (208th; $6.6 billion), Sunil Mittal (208th; $6.6 billion) and Cyrus Poonawalla (208th; $6.6 billion). Anil Ambani with a networth of $4 billion is ranked 418th in the list.

Rift in top echelons of AAP becomes public Some people from within the party, certain senior leaders,

Mukesh Ambani

are trying to remove “The total includes 290 newcomers, 71 of whom hail from China,” Forbes said, while adding that the the number of those aged below 40 is on the rise and the average networth of billionaires has, however, fallen to $3.86 billion. Other Indians on the list include Desh Bandhu Gupta ($5.8 billion), Savitri Jindal ($5.3 billion), Micky Jagtiani ($5.2 billion), Adi Godrej ($4.8 billion), Jamshyd Godrej ($4.8 billion), Shashi and Ravi Ruia ($4.5 billion), Subhash Chandra ($4.2 billion) and Benu Gopal Bangur ($4.1 billion). Forbes said the entrepreneurship is thriving globally and 1,191 members of the list are self-made billionaires, while just 230 inherited their wealth. Another 405 inherited at least a portion but are still working to increase their fortunes. - PTI

HONOUR: Saudi King Salman

Arvind Kejriwal from the post of

STICKING TOGETHER: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his

national convener,

deputy Manish Sisodia at the ﬁrst session of Delhi Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, recently. - PTI

by targeting him and maligning the party, said senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh

NEW DELHI: Struck by internal differences, the Aam Aadmi Party on Monday appeared to be threatening to crack the whip against senior leaders like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan at its national executive meeting on Wednesday, accusing them of attempting to “remove” Delhi Chief

“I have only announced the date for the meeting. Have I announced the decisions that will be taken there,” he said in reply to questions on whether action will be taken against the leaders. Singh said that when at its national executive meeting held last week, Kejriwal had tendered his resignation, it was opposed by members who had insisted that he should continue as the AAP national convener. “It was decided at the meet last week that Kejriwal will continue as the party chief and there is no question of removing him from the post. If this is the case, then how will the party work? “Will the volunteers like it. Those wanting to remove Kejriwal as party chief should also take the emotions of party workers into consideration,” Singh said. Crisis in the party intensiﬁed after Bhushan, in a letter to the national executive last week, said that the “one person -centric” campaign was making the party look like other parties and called for more “swaraj” within the organisation. Along with Yadav, he also gave a joint letter to the national executive and demanded activation of an ethics and grievance committee. - PTI

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TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

PAKISTAN CRACKDOWN

‘Registration of seminaries must’ ISLAMABAD: Pakistan government has no plans to shutdown or control seminaries but their registration is a must, an official said amid a crackdown on the seminary system, often accused of fostering terrorism. To check mushrooming of unregistered seminaries, notices have been issued to 53 unregistered seminaries in the capital, said Parliamentary Secretary of Interior Maryam Aurangzeb. After the Peshawar school massacre in December last year in which 150 people, including 134 children, were killed by Taliban militants, there has been renewed concerns about unregulated seminaries system and the need to reform such seminaries. On the government’s National Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism, Maryam said its implementation is the foremost priority to “make the country a cradle of peace”.

She said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is himself overseeing the implementation of the NAP that envisages the establishment of special courts for the speedy trial of terror accused and a crackdown on sectarian outﬁts. Arms licences On arms licences, she said the government has no intention at this stage to restart issuing new licences. She said that previous record of arms licences is being corrected and digitised. She also announced that the government will soon restart a helpline through which people can directly approach the prime minister for the redressal of their grievances. The helpline which was started during the last tenure of Sharif in the late 1990s will be revived, She, however, did not give the exact time to restart the helpline. — PTI

In 1996, then prime minister Benazir Bhutto had discontinued a requirement that new seminaries register with the state. The decision led to the mushrooming of unregistered seminaries

471 parents arrested for refusing polio vaccine ‘Imported vaccines go to waste’

Those arrested on Monday were from suburban areas of Peshawar where militant groups regularly attack police and polio workers and where opposition to vaccination is relatively strong

PESHAWAR: Police in northwest Pakistan have arrested more than 450 parents for refusing to vaccinate their children against polio, officials said on Monday. Riaz Khan Mehsud, deputy commissioner of Peshawar, the main town of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province, told AFP that 471 parents were detained and sent to jail for refusing the vaccine. Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world where polio remains endemic but years of efforts to stamp it out have been badly hit by reluctance from parents, opposition from militants and attacks on immunisation teams. Fresh immunisation drive The virus is most prevalent in the country’s restive northwest and a fresh immunisation drive began on Monday aimed at vaccinating more than 2.7 million children in K-P. The government declared “war” on polio last year and Meh-

There is no mercy, we have decided to deal with the refusal cases with iron hand. Anyone who refuses (the vaccine) will be sent to jail Riaz Khan Mehsud

Deputy commissioner of Peshawar

sud said officials would brook no refusal from parents. Those arrested on Monday were from suburban areas of Peshawar where militant groups regularly attack police and polio workers and where opposition to vaccination is relatively strong. Blank arrest warrants Mehsud said authorities have issued 1,000 blank arrest warrants so refuseniks could be dealt with swiftly. Muhammad Mumtaz, another senior official, conﬁrmed the arrests and told AFP that the detainees would “be freed only after

a written assurance and providing two guarantors” to ensure their children get the drops. Taliban militants claim that the polio vaccination drive is a front for espionage or a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims. They stepped up their attacks after a Pakistani doctor was recruited by the CIA to set up a hepatitis immunisation drive as part of efforts to track down Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Last year, the number of polio cases recorded in Pakistan soared to 306, the highest in 14 years. At least nine new cases have so far been detected in 2015. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has wasted $3.7 million worth of vaccines donated to protect children from deadly diseases because officials failed to store them properly, a senior health official told Reuters on Monday. The scandal is the latest problem to be exposed in Pakistan’s poorly run public health services. “We have suspended the officials concerned and are conducting an inquiry,” Saira Afzal Tarar, minister of state for national health services, told Reuters. Officials said the vaccines were exposed to ﬂuctuating temperatures, possibly because of faulty generators. “There may have been issue with the generators, but the facts will become clear after the inquiry,” said Dr Saqlain Ahmad Gilani, the national programme manager at the Expanded Programme on Immunization. He said 1.3 million doses of vaccine worth $3.7 million had been wasted. They had been donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). — Reuters

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

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5 One of the ﬁrst important steps will be ﬁling a complaint against Israel at the International Criminal Court on April 1 over the (2014) Gaza war and settlement activity Mohammed Shtayyeh, Palestine Liberation Organisation official

WORLD

Prime suspect in Bangladesh blogger murder case arrested A spokesman for the elite Rapid Action Battalion said Farabi Shaﬁur Rahman had been arrested at a bus station in the capital Dhaka over the gruesome killing of Avijit Roy PRIZE CATCH: Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion personnel with Farabi Shaﬁur Rahman, centre, arrested over the murder of blogger Avijit Roy, during a photocall in Dhaka on Monday. — AFP

DHAKA: Bangladesh authorities announced they had arrested an extremist on Monday over last week’s machete murder of an atheist American blogger, accusing him of being behind earlier death threats on social media. A spokesman for the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said Farabi Shaﬁur Rahman had been arrested at a bus station in the capital Dhaka over the gruesome killing of Avijit Roy, describ-

ing him as the prime suspect in a crime that triggered international outrage. “He is the main suspect,” RAB spokesman Major Maksudul Alam told AFP. “He is a fundamentalist blogger,” the spokesman said, adding that according to “primary information” Farabi had threatened Roy through Twitter and Face-

book. “(Roy’s) family told us that he got threats from Farabi several times,” he added. Roy, who earned fame for his blog pieces and for authoring a series of books, was hacked to death with a machete in downtown Dhaka last Thursday. Roy was the founder of the Mukto-Mona (Free-mind) blog. He was born in Bangladesh to a

EXTREMISM

Turkey probes soldier for failure to resist IS rebels ANKARA: Turkish military has launched disciplinary proceedings against a soldier for failing to resist IS insurgents after he went missing on the Syria, border media reported on Monday. Ozgur Ors, a non-commissioned officer, went missing in January after he crossed the border into Syria from the southeastern Turkish province of Kilis in an operation to capture a group of smugglers. Media have speculated that Ors might have been kidnapped by IS militants who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria -- a claim which was not conﬁrmed by either the government or the military. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced on January 5 that the soldier was brought back home after a “successful opera-

‘Milliyet’ newspaper claimed on Monday that the military accused the soldier of ‘harming the state and the army’s prestige for failing to resist’ IS militants. If found guilty, he risks dismissal from the army

tion” carried out by the Turkish spy agency, without providing further details. The Milliyet newspaper claimed on Monday that the military accused the soldier of “harming the state and the army’s prestige for failing to resist” IS militants. If found guilty,

he risks dismissal from the army. In June, IS seized 49 Turks, including diplomats and their children, from the Turkish consulate in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Those hostages were released in September after more than three months in captivity. — AFP

P R I S O N E R S WA P

Fidel Castro finally meets the Cuban Five, spies turned heroes HAVANA: Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, 88, finally met with all five of the Cuban spies who returned home as heroes after serving long prison terms in the United States, 73 days after the last of them were freed in a prisoner swap. It had been highly anticipated as a reunion of Cuba’s most vaunted heroes. Cuban officials have not explained why it took so long to arrange. The meeting took place on Saturday, Castro wrote in an article about the visit that appeared in official media on Monday, accompanied by photos of the get-together. Castro goes by the title of “historic leader” in retirement and the five intelligence agents were recently honored as Heroes of the Republic for spying on anti-Castro extremist groups in the United States and withstanding prison, unjustly according to Cuba. “The five antiterrorist heroes, who never did any damage to the United States, were trying to prevent and impede terrorist acts against our people that, it is well known, were organized by U.S. intelligence services,” Castro wrote. Jailed since 1998, the final three of the agents returned home on Dec. 17, when Cuba and the United States completed a prisoner swap as part of the deal in which they agreed to restore diplomatic relations after more than five decades of confrontation. The other two had already returned home after completing their sentences. In exchange, Cuba freed a Cuban man who spied for Washing-

RECOGNITION: Handout picture released by the official Cuban

website www.cubadebate.cu showing Cuban former president Fidel Castro, centre and his wife Dalia Soto del Valle, right, posing with the Cuban Five -- a group arrested in Miami in September 1998 and convicted in 2001 of spying for Cuba’s communist government -- at his house in Havana, on Saturday. — AFP/www.cubadebate.cu

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ton and spent nearly 20 years in jail. In addition, Cuba freed imprisoned American aid worker Alan Gross on humanitarian grounds plus 53 people that United States considered political prisoners. Fidel Castro stepped down from power in 2008, handing off to his younger brother Raul, 83. Fidel Castro occasionally writes a column and is seen in the official media receiving dignitaries at his Havana home, but he has

not been spotted in public since Jan. 8, 2014. Fidel Castro’s current role in policy-making is unknown. Many Cubans presume Raul Castro consults with his brother on major decisions, and Fidel Castro’s long absence after the announcement raised questions about his health and whether he agreed with ceasing hostilities with the Americans. Intelligence agents Gerardo Hernandez, 49, Antonio Guerrero, 56, and Ramon Labañino, 51, came home on December 17 after serving 16 years in U.S. jails. Two others, Rene Gonzalez, 58, and Fernandez Gonzalez, 51, had previously returned after fulﬁlling their sentences. — Reuters

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family of scholars but moved to Atlanta in the southern US state of Georgia around 15 years ago. He and his blogger wife, who was also badly injured in the attack, had been returning from a book fair when they were both hauled off their rickshaw by two assailants who then slashed them with the machetes. The RAB paraded Farabi before the press at its headquarters in Dhaka where another RAB spokesman, Mufti Mahmud, described him as a member of the banned pan-extremist outﬁt Hizbut Tahrir. “On different occasions, he exchanged (Roy’s) location, his identity and his family’s photographs with various people,” Mahmud told reporters. “He wrote: ‘Avijit Roy lives in America. So it’s not possible to kill him at this moment. But when he’ll return to the country, he’ll be murdered’,” Mahmud said. A source within the RAB, which is mainly tasked with tackling religious militancy in the Muslimmajority nation, said correspondence between Farabi and another person about killing Roy had been discovered. A former physics student at a top university, Farabi was de-

tained in 2010 after he joined Hizbut Tahrir and was arrested again after the murder of another blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider in February 2013, but was released on bail. Roy was the second atheist blogger to have been murdered in Bangladesh in the last two years and the fourth writer to have been attacked since 2004. His killing was greeted by uproar both at home and abroad with hundreds of secular activists holding protests for days to demand the immediate arrest of the perpetrators. They also slammed the country’s secular government for not doing enough to protect humanist writers. The United States condemned the killing as a “shocking act of violence” and an assault on the country’s “proud tradition” of free speech. “This was not just an attack against a person, but a cowardly assault on the universal principles enshrined in Bangladesh’s constitution,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. Roy’s father, Ajoy, said he had warned his son he could face problems in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, where secular activists have expressed concern about the rise of extremism. — AFP

WA R C R I M E S

Palestinians to file ICC case against Israel in April RAMALLAH (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES): The Palestinians are to lodge their first complaint against Israel for war crimes at the International Criminal Court on April 1, a senior official told AFP on Monday. “One of the first important steps will be filing a complaint against Israel at the ICC on April 1 over the (2014) Gaza war and settlement activity,” said Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). On January 2, the Palestinians moved to formally join the Haguebased court in a process which is due to take effect on April 1, setting the scene for potential legal action against Israeli officials for war crimes. Israel reacted furiously, and quickly moved to cut off millions of dollars in monthly tax payments it collects on behalf of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority, exacerbating an already severe financial crisis. There was no immediate response from Israel, with foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon refusing to react to a declaration which he described as “speculative and hypothetical”. — AFP

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ladimir Putin had a nerve writing to the mother of the murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, saying he “shared her sorrow” over her son’s death, and then having his sugary words of condolence put on the Kremlin website. Few people believe that the Russian President would have been so foolish as to directly order the assassination of a well-known critic in front of the Kremlin. But Putin is the man most responsible for creating an atmosphere in Russia in which critics and traitors are increasingly confused with one another. Many Russians, including members of the security services, might well have seen the killing of a man like Nemtsov as a patriotic duty for motives the authorities would surely “understand” even if they had not actually commissioned the deed. It is no accident that Nemtsov was shot dead shortly before he was to attend a rally in Moscow condemning the Russian government’s expansionist policy in Ukraine, or that he was working on a report that he said would prove the Kremlin’s direct military role in the conflict. The fact that tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Moscow and St Petersburg today to mourn him comes as a reminder that even in an atmosphere of oppressive conformity, there is another, more questioning Russia, which refuses to be led blindly by what the Kremlin media cynically serves up as the national interest. While applauding the bravery of these people, we should not misinterpret the political significance of their actions, however. We have a history of rushing to conclusions about protest rallies in Russia, seeing each one as heralding the end of Putinism, which marches on regardless. The unfortunate fact is that most Russians view the Kremlin’s support for pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine — whatever form that support takes — as an almost sacred struggle against Ukrainian “fascists” and their sinister Western backers. Nemtsov’s different reading of Russia’s role in eastern Ukraine — as an egregious violator of international law — flew over most people’s heads. The real danger to Putin will not come from protests organised by the intelligentsia and well-meaning civil society groups against the war in Ukraine, or even against assassinations of the regime’s political opponents. It will be the result of steadily growing discontent with falling living standards and endemic corruption, which have the potential to bring far bigger crowds on to the streets of Russian cities. The collapse in the exchange rate of the rouble and this year’s expected sharp fall in GDP are deadlier threats to Putin’s system than a burst of anger over the death of a principled critic. Russia’s collapsing economy is undermining the regime’s basic trade-off with the population, which is to provide economic stability and a modest rise in prosperity in return for acquiescence. - The Independent

THE INDEPENDENT

Evidence of Russia’s political depravity

WASHINGTON WATCH

Of fractured Israel and divided America JAMES J. ZOGBY

Citizenship for sale

here was a time when the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) was held up as an institution that Pakistan could be proud of, an example of probity and rectitude. Not any more. Investigations have revealed that NADRA has gone the way of all other state institutions and seems to be as corrupt as everything else around it. It has allegedly — though reliably reportedly — issued more than 40,000 computerised national identity cards (CNIC) to unregistered Afghan refugees in the last 10 years. It is impossible to calculate the level of threat and exposure this brings to the fabric of national security in the widest sense, but at the very least, risk levels are elevated as a result of this serious breach in standards. The rot inside NADRA is widespread up and down the system as well as geographically, with officers in Quetta, Sargodha, Peshawar, Sukkur and Lahore all involved in corrupt practices. More than 372 officials have issued tens of thousands of CNICs primarily to Afghans, though they have been issued to other nationalities as well but in nothing like the same number. The team running the investigation has already blocked 22,349 CNICs issued since 2005 and there are another 50,110 on their watch list in every province. They are investigating 42,006 CNICs in Balochistan alone. The NADRA officers issuing the cards were accepting bribes to do so, and the practice is at least a decade old. There is naturally concern in the intelligence agencies at this fundamental breakdown in a baseline security requirement. There are long-standing proven linkages between the communities of Afghan refugees and extremist and terrorist groups. Not all Afghan refugees are terrorists or extremists but some are, and a failure of the primary ﬁlter — NADRA — for no other reason than monetary gain by individuals requires the sternest of action. Those known to have been bribed must lose their posts — and pensions and any other perks they might otherwise be entitled to — and an example made of them. A slap on the wrist and an anodyne admonishment is not the solution, but surgery is. Cut out the cancers. - The Express Tribune

New flight taxes will not bring in lasting benefits This refers to the news story, Oman airport imposes new passenger flight tax (March 2). I cannot understand the logic behind such a steep rise in passenger flight taxes. It may bring in some short-term gains but in the long run, it is likely that there would be no winners from this policy. Thabit Zahran Al Abdulssalaam Muscat

New passenger ﬂight taxes are too steep This refers to the news story, Oman airport imposes new passenger ﬂight tax (March 2). Thanks to the authorities concerned, we in Oman are now getting used to regular news

about such policies. A family of four will now have to shell out OMR32 while departing every time. Isn’t that a bit too costly? Hope they reconsider to make it OMR4 per passenger. Suresh Balakrishnan Muscat

Oromos in Ethiopia are about to launch a struggle This refers to the article, Oromos face chilling oppression in Ethiopia (March 1). I take this opportunity to thank the Times of Oman for highlighting the plight of the Oromos community in Ethiopia and the hardships they are facing on a daily basis. The domination of the northern ethnic groups and the torture they have unleased over others in Ethiopia is indeed horriﬁc. All this started taking place in the

What will likely emerge as the third or fourth largest bloc in the Knesset is the Arab Union — a first ever grouping of smaller Arab parties. Since they are expected to win between 12 and 15 seats in the next Knesset, it will be impossible for the ‘centre-left’ to amass 60+ seats without the agreement of the Arab bloc

aving successfully used his two previous appearances before Congress to announce his intent to scuttle the Oslo peace process (1996) and to sabotage President Obama’s plan to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks (2011), Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apparently intended to use his latest address to stiffen the resolve of those in Congress who are opposed to the current negotiations with Iran. Since the speech was announced, negative reaction has been growing. At first criticised as a “breach of protocol” and an “unseemly partisan move”, the response has developed into an increasingly hostile war of words and action. The While House has charged that the Prime Minister’s behaviour is “destructive of the fabric of the (US-Israel) relationship”. Secretary of State John Kerry chided Netanyahu’s critique of the Iran negotiations as uninformed. And, as of Friday, 36 Members of Congress had announced their intention to boycott the speech. One Representative told me he expected the number of boycotters to grow. Equally significant has been the reaction in Israel, where not only Netanyahu’s opponents have accused him of the risky business of “playing politics inside American politics”. A former head of Mossad charged that the speech was “pointless and counterproductive”. And even Israel’s President recently weighedin criticising the Netanyahu gambit. There have been those who suggest that this is but “a tempest in a teapot” that will soon settle down once the Israeli elections are over. I think not. Netanyahu may still be re-elected, although polls are showing that he will have to scramble to cobble together the 60+ Knesset members he will need to form a government. Since the announcement of his speech to Congress, Netanyahu’s slight lead over his “centre-left” opponents in the Zionist Union has evaporated. The two parties now appear to be running dead even — with each garnering 23 or 24 seats in the next Knesset. Given the fragmentation of Israel’s right wing parties, Netanyahu may be able to forge a coalition of 60+, but it will be a grouping of aggressive ego-driven hardliners who will only serve to exacerbate tensions with the US. As of now, it appears that even if the Zionist Union edges out Netanyahu’s party, they will have no chance of forming a cohesive coalition that will be able to effectively govern and advance peace. This is so for two reasons. For one, the left is too weak. While the positions of the Zionist Union are closely aligned to those espoused by Washington, it is unlikely that they will be able to find enough like-minded Knesset members to establish a ruling majority. Because they will need to include rightist

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Glory is ﬂeeting, but obscurity is forever NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

groupings to reach the 60+ threshold, the government they form will be hamstrung from the beginning. An additional issue is the fact that what will likely emerge as the third or fourth largest bloc in the Knesset is the Arab Union — a first ever grouping of smaller Arab parties. Since they are expected to win between 12 and 15 seats in the next Knesset, it will be impossible for the “centre-left” to amass 60+ seats without the agreement of the Arab bloc. However, it is unlikely that the Arab group will be included in any government formation. Thus, they will be reduced to the same “silent partner” status they had during Rabin’s tenure in the early 1990’s. This will serve to create a dysfunctional situation in which the government can only be sustained by the acquiescence of the Arab bloc. But this will, in turn, inhibit such a government from taking any dramatic steps toward peace lest it be attacked by the right for acting without the support of the “Jewish majority”. The result will be paralysis. This will be Netanyahu’s legacy: a deeply divided Israel which will have either a hard-line government that will continue to take hostile steps provoking Palestinians and further frustrating peace-making efforts or a weak and dysfunctional centrist government that will be incapable of acting decisively for peace. A further impact of Netanyahu’s behaviour will be seen here in the US. Israelis console themselves that polls continue to show that a majority of Americans support their state. What they ignore are the follow up questions which show Americans increasingly frustrated by and deeply divided over Israeli policies. Majorities oppose settlements and oppose Israel actions that conflict with American policy. And when asked whether the US should side with Israel, the Palestinians, or “not take either side”, two-thirds consistently choose the last option. More striking is the fact that 76 per cent and 70 per cent of Democrats and Independents, respectively, say “not take either side” — as do 75 per cent of those under 50 years of age, 76 per cent of non-whites, and 72 per cent of women. Only Republicans believe that the US should take Israel’s side—49 per cent of whom feel this way, against 47 per cent who say “not take either side”. It may very well be that when Netanyahu is finished his big Washington adventure, plenty of officials in Washington will insist that “the US-Israel bonds are unbreakable”. And many in Congress will still jump, when asked, to do Israel’s bidding. But that’s not the whole story, since he will leave in his wake a fractured Israel and a deeply divided America. Such will be the master manipulator’s legacy. The author is the president of Arab American Institute. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman.

country in the 1980s when the northern ethnic groups in Ethiopia started amassing weapons. This tilted the balance heavily towards their side. The Oromos community members are now organising themselves to launch their struggle and they are in need of support. Dereje Bacha Nebraska, USA

Driving in Oman continues to remain a major peril The reckless driving of some people has become a serious problem for those who want to drive safely. Despite the continuing alerts issued and various safety initiatives undertaken by the authorities and corporates, the use of mobile phones while driving continues unabated. The menace of speeding and offensive behaviour on

road are far from over. Driving in Muscat is no longer the fun we used to have earlier. It has become a major challenge to all those who have to drive. Ramachandran Nair Ruwi

Refugees in Israel are living in constant fear In Israel, politics and pluralism—the basic principle of liberal democracy — have never complimented each other. And to that the government and parties in power at present are adding venom, setting the society ablaze. Semi fascist fanatics are regularly attacking the refugee settlements in Southern Tel Aviv — hounding men and targeting women and children for carnal pleasures. Sumit Chatterjee Qurum

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 MES O F OM AN

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE Japanese society remains most sensitive to inequality S

ix months after Thomas Piketty’s book Capital in the Twenty-First Century generated so much buzz in the United States and Europe, it has become a bestseller in Japan. But vast differences between Japan and its developed counterparts in the West, mean that, like so many other Western exports, Piketty’s argument has taken on unique characteristics. Piketty’s main assertion is that the leading driver of increased inequality in the developed world is the accumulation of wealth by those who are already wealthy, driven by a rate of return on capital that consistently exceeds the rate of GDP growth. Japan, however, has lower levels of inequality than almost every other developed country. Indeed, though it has long been an industrial powerhouse, Japan is frequently called the world’s most successful communist country. Japan has a high income-tax rate for the rich (45 per cent), and the inheritance tax rate recently was raised to 55 per cent. This makes it difficult to accumulate capital over generations — a trend that Piketty cites as a signiﬁcant driver of inequality. As a result, Japan’s richest families typically lose their wealth within three generations. This is driving a growing number of wealthy Japanese to move to Singapore or Australia, where inheritance taxes are lower. The familiarity of Japan, it seems, is no longer sufficient to compel the wealthy to endure the high taxes imposed upon them. In this context, it is not surprising that Japan’s “super-rich” remain a lot less wealthy than their counterparts in other countries. In the US, for example, the average income of the top one percent of households was $1,264,065 in 2012, according to the investment ﬁrm Sadoff Investment Research. In Japan, the top 1 per cent of households earned about $240,000, on average (at 2012 exchange rates). Yet Japanese remain sensitive to inequality, driving even the richest to avoid ostentatious displays of wealth. One simply does not see the profusion of mansions, yachts, and private jets typical of, say, Beverly Hills and Palm Beach. For example, Haruka Nishimatsu, former President and CEO of Japan Airlines, attracted international attention a few years ago for his modest

YURIKO KOIKE

Japanese have a deeply ingrained stoicism, reflecting the Confucian notion that people do not lament poverty when others lament it equally. This willingness to accept a situation, however bad, as long as it affects everyone equally is what enabled Japan to endure two decades of deflation

lifestyle. He relied on public transportation and ate lunch with employees in the company’s cafeteria. By contrast, in China, the heads of national companies are well known for maintaining grandiose lifestyles. We Japanese have a deeply ingrained stoicism, reflecting the Confucian notion that people do not lament poverty when others lament it equally. This willingness to accept a situation, however bad, as long as it affects everyone equally is what enabled Japan to endure two decades of deflation, without a public outcry over the authorities’ repeated failure to redress it. This national characteristic is not limited to individuals. The government, the central bank, the media, and companies wasted far too much time simply enduring deflation — time that they should have spent working actively to address it. Japan finally has a government, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, that is committed to ending deflation and reinvigorating economic growth, using a combination of expansionary monetary policy, active fiscal policy, and deregulation. Now in its third year, so-called “Abenomics” is showing some positive results. Share prices have risen by 220 per cent since Abe came to power in December 2012. And corporate performance has improved — primarily in the export industries, which have benefited from a depreciated yen — with many companies posting their highest profits on record. But Abenomics has yet to benefit everyone. In fact, there is a sense that Abe’s policies are contributing to rising inequality. That is why Piketty’s book appeals to so many Japanese. For example, though the recent reduction in the corporate-tax rate was necessary to encourage economic growth and attract investment, it seems to many Japanese to be a questionable move at a time when the consumption-tax rate has been increased and measures to address deflation are pushing up prices. Herein lies the unique twist that Piketty’s theory takes on in Japan: the disparity is not so much between the super-rich and everyone else, but between large corporations, which can retain earnings and accumulate capital, and the individuals who are being squeezed in the process. - Project Syndicate

Utilising social media for a better future According to the Arab Social Media Report published by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, there are about 71 million people out of 135 million internet users in the Arab world who have active social media accounts. While this may seem a fairly small number in contrast to the population of the Arab world, it is growing exponentially thanks to smartphones that are now available and affordable to larger groups of people. As a result of this radical change in communication, many leaders, politicians, decision makers and private sector entities have come to realise the importance of communicating with their target audiences. We are now able to follow the news and latest developments concerning world leaders and public ﬁgures via their social media accounts. Such developments have created the perception that they are now more ‘accessible’ to the public eye. Personally, I have been active on Twitter over the past two years, engaging with Omani youth, highlighting and debating relevant issues and concerns. The level of engagement I have received has been truly enlightening. As I have mentioned in my columns before, my social media conversations have included constructive discussions on pertinent topics such

MOHAMMED MAHFOODH AL ARDHI

ver the past decade, social media has revolutionised the way we communicate taking globalisation to a whole new level and making distances seem smaller, in some cases even insignificant. New platforms have redefined perceptions, and greatly influenced public opinion in political, social and economic spheres. Communication has become easier and more effective than ever before, and social media has given us the ability to measure performance and impact, and analyse the feedback received.

as education, execution of national goals, boosting entrepreneurship, and ﬁghting corruption. Recently, I launched campaigns on Twitter addressing Oman’s achievements and aspirations. It was truly rewarding to see the strong response from Omanis, who contributed more than 5,000 tweets around the topics, many with innovative ideas and solutions. This experience has affirmed my belief in Omanis, and particularly, in our youth. They are welleducated, aware, responsible and knowledgeable and will no doubt be the key factor in propelling our nation to the next phase of its development. The responses I received reﬂected practicality and logic, and many of the suggestions could effectively address our national issues and concerns. I was delighted to come across original ideas that could boost Oman’s position globally and regionally, such as the creation of a historical research centre and the launch of social awareness programs, among others. It is also important to remind my friends and followers on social media about the power of engagement as a means to bridge barriers and conceptualise new ideas and solutions for existing problems. Social media can be incredibly

useful for leaders and decision makers to monitor public opinion and engage with society. We are blessed to live in an era where digital platforms enable individuals and organisations to communicate with people from different backgrounds and cultures. It is therefore imperative that we take all such public suggestions into consideration and involve the youth in the nation building and development process. I encourage officials and ministries to make use of the available digital platforms to build communication bridges. Apart from helping officials keep a ﬁnger on the pulse of the public, these platforms allow people to express their opinions without reservations, thus providing realistic solutions to complicated social problems. The world is heading towards the adoption of interactive smart governments. We need to keep up with these developments in order to unlock the doors to a prosperous future. The author is the Chairman of National Bank of Oman and an International Advisor to the Brookings Institution. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reﬂect those of Times of Oman.

Finally one step forward KAMAL SIDDIQI

inally the Pakistan team won its first match in the current edition of ICC World Cup. We in Pakistan are overjoyed. All is forgiven and now we can once again dream of winning the world cup. We have happily forgotten the poor performance of some and are once again hoping against all hopes of victories ahead. In contrast to the mood in the team and in the country amongst cricket fans on Sunday, just a few days earlier there was anger. Chief selector Moin Khan arrived in Karachi to a very hostile reception because he had visited a Christchurch casino to have dinner with his wife and family friend. One is not clear what Moin Khan’s crime was — to visit a casino or to have dinner outside ahead of a crucial game. The fact that the selector is not a player and nor is he a coach doesn’t mean much. We needed a scapegoat it seems. In the meantime, a local court in Lahore has also issued a notice to the SHO Islampura for failing to register a FIR against the national chief selector. The petitioner, Advocate Saeed Zafar, said Moin has brought a bad name to Pakistan by visiting a casino. “The team lost because of him,” Zafar pleaded, adding that instead of taking action against him, the Pakistan Cricket Board is defending Moin Khan. There are some who say that the real question that needs to be asked is not why Moin Khan was at a casino but why he was there in the first place. And how many other officials have gone to Australia as part of the official contingent. Why is it that these questions get asked when the team is losing? Such queries should be made by the media regardless of team performance. Speaking of the team, one must not forget that eight members of the World Cup squad were fined for violating the team curfew. The eight players include senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi, opener Ahmed Shehzad, Wahab Riaz, Haris Sohail. A Pakistan Cricket Board official confirmed that the players had gone out for dinner with a friend in Sydney before the warm-up game against Bangladesh. After dinner, they went for an outing and returned to the hotel late. They were fined 300 Australian dollars each. The players had returned to the hotel about an hour after the curfew timings set by the manager. Now contrast this with the

There are some who say that the real question that needs to be asked is not why Moin Khan was at a casino but why he was there in the first place. And how many other officials have gone to Australia as part of the official contingent Moin Khan episode. First of all, why did the team players go out in the first place? Given its past record, the Pakistan team should be kept away from any mingling with anyone other than officials and organisers. Despite past promises that the team would be kept away from such outings, it is clear that this was not happening. Second, why are they eating out? Most cricket teams, like other sports teams, follow a strict exercise and diet regimen. This includes rest and the right kind of food intake. But here we see our boys having all sorts of food which they should not. One of the players got into an argument with a fan at the club where they had gone to eat. It was only when that was made public through the social media that the matter came to the attention of the PCB. Was the manager sleeping? Who is responsible? The PCB said that the players have apologised and have promised not to repeat the offence. The team manager told the media that in future whenever they go out, they must have his clearance first. What next, a slap on the wrists? Who can forget the controversy that erupted after fielding coach Grant Luden resigned? It is believed that this happened owing to a heated row with senior players. There was a tiff between three players: Afridi, Shehzad and Akmal and Luden, who is a member of Pakistan coach Waqar Younis’s backroom staff. Luden was hired as fielding coach in May last year on a two-year contract. Earlier he is said to have wanted to leave the team out of frustration. Surely, it is only an act of God that will secure more wins by the Pakistan Team. For its part, both the PCB and the boys in green seem to be working hard to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. - The Express Tribune

Drones buzzing Paris landmarks Sighted Feb 23-24

TODAY IN HISTORY

Sighted Feb 24-25

Unlawful for any aircraft to ﬂy lower than 6,000m over central Paris without permission from city authorities. Flying drones at night is banned completely. Offence carries jail sentence of up to 1 year and ﬁne of €75,000

Feb 25: Three Al-Jazeera journalists arrested for ﬂying drone in park. They say they were ﬁlming report about earlier drone sightings

Porte de Clignancourt

PARIS US Embassy

Place de la Concorde

1803

The ﬁrst impeachment trial of a US Judge, John Pickering, begins.

1857

Under pretexts, Britain and France declare war on China.

1861

FThe serfs of Russia are emancipated by Alexander II as part of a programme of westernisation.

Bois de Boulogne

Eiffel Tower Paris

Porte de Saint-Cloud

Invalides military museum

1863

FRANCE

1878 1km

Montparnasse Tower

President Abraham Lincoln signs the conscription act compelling US citizens to report for duty in the Civil War or pay $300.00. Russia and the Ottomans sign the treaty of Stenafano, granting independence to Serbia.

HISTORYNET.COM Source: Wire agencies

Graphic News /

Graphics

OPINION POLL FROM OUR ARCHIVES ROP INSTITUTES PRIZES FOR BEST POLICE STATION, BEST POLICEMAN

MUSCAT: Lieutenant General Hilal bin Khalid Al Ma’awali, inspector general of police and customs, has issued a decision on introducing annual cash prizes for the best police station, the best policeman and the best security research of the year. A source at the ROP Public Relations Directorate said the purpose of introducing the prizes was to encourage policemen and other personnel at police stations to deliver the best services and adhere to appropriate legal procedures.

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EGYPT: A man ﬂyboards at El Ain El Sokhna during a tourism promotional state programme, in Suez Governorate, east of Cairo, on Sunday. Egypt’s income from tourism, an important sector of the economy,

rose 27 per cent to $7.5 billion in 2014 from $5.9 billion the previous year, the tourism minister said last month. – Reuters

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: A costumed performer takes part in an event marking the closing of national carnival celebrations in the Malecon of Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic, on Sunday. – Reuters

CHINA: A man does morning exercises in a park in Beijing, China, on Monday. – AFP

VIETNAM: US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and

International Security Rose Gottemoeller, left, is guided by nonproﬁt organisation PeaceTrees Vietnam’s chief representative Quang Le during a visit to a mines and bombs education centre in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province, on Monday. – Reuters

UNITED STATES: A worker cleans the snow from the sidewalk in

Midtown Manhattan as snow falls in New York on Sunday. – AFP

SWEDEN: Sweden’s Johan Olsson, left, competes in the men’s 50km Cross Country mass start race of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun, Sweden, on Sunday. Norway’s Petter Northug Jr won the event ahead of Czech Republic’s Lukas Bauer, second, and Sweden’s Johan Olsson, came third. – AFP

MALAYSIA: A Malaysian teen catches ﬁsh as she cools off from

the hot weather in a river in Hulu Langat, outside Kuala Lumpur on Monday. – AFP

FINLAND: Finnish punk band Pertti Kurikan Nimipaivat (PKN)

members Toni Valitalo, left to right, Kari Aalto, Sami Helle and Pertti Kurikka, who have intellectual disabilities, pose in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday. – Reuters

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5 Abdullah Al Khalidi, deputy consul in the southern port city of Aden, who was kidnapped on March 28, 2012, was freed following ‘intense efforts’ by the Saudi intelligence services Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry

A1 5

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AL QAEDA CAPTIVE

Saudi envoy held in Yemen freed after three years

WAITING FOR RELIEF

Afghan survivors of an avalanche receive relief goods distributed by an Afghan army helicopter in the Paryan district of Panjshir province, on Sunday. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani pledged to set up a relief fund for the victims of avalanches that claimed more than 280 lives, and called for international help with the relief effort. — Reuters

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RIYADH: A Saudi diplomat, kidnapped in Yemen almost three years ago and handed to Al Qaeda, has been freed and returned to the kingdom, the interior ministry said on Monday. Abdullah Al Khalidi, deputy consul in the southern port city of Aden, who was kidnapped on March 28, 2012, was freed following “intense efforts” by the Saudi intelligence services, a ministry statement carried by the official SPA news agency said without elaborating. Less than one month after his abduction, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula demanded the freeing of all its members detained in Saudi Arabia as well as a ransom in exchange for the diplomat’s release. His captors initially asked for $10 million but later doubled the ransom demand to $20 million, a tribal mediator said in August 2012. It was unclear if Saudi authorities paid any money in exchange for Khalidi’s eventual release. The interior ministry said the diplomat had been handed over to Al Qaeda “in a suspicious deal” after his kidnap in Aden. He “will undergo medical examinations and be reunited with his family”, SPA said. AQAP was formed from a merger of the militant network’s Yemeni and Saudi branches and is regarded by Washington as its most dangerous arm. — AFP

Solar-powered plane passes new test ahead of world tour Organisers hope that Solar Impulse 2 may head off around the globe as early as Saturday but caution that the launch is dependent on the weather

ABU DHABI: A solar-powered plane made a third successful test flight in the United Arab Emirates on Monday ahead of a planned round-the-world tour to promote alternative energy. Organisers hope that Solar Impulse 2 may head off around the globe as early as Saturday but caution that the launch is dependent on the weather, even in the relatively cloudless Gulf. The hour-long test flight was the plane’s third from the UAE capital Abu Dhabi’s small Al Bateen airport, but the first for Solar Impulse chairman Bertrand Piccard, the descendant of a family of Swiss scientist-adventurers. The pilot reported no problems,

SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT: Bertrand Piccard, one of the two Swiss pilots of the solar-powered plane Solar

Impluse 2, lands at the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi’s small Al Bateen airport during a third test ﬂight early Monday. – AFP

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mission chiefs said. “Hopefully next weekend, if the weather is good, we will be in the air going 35,000 kilometres (21,748 miles) to the east until we come back here,” Piccard told AFP.

The project is the fruit of 13 years of research and testing by Piccard and Andre Borschberg, two Swiss pilots whose idea was initially ridiculed by the aviation industry. Their plane is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings which, at 72 metres (236 feet), are almost as long as those of an Airbus A380 superjumbo. The light-weight carbon ﬁbre aircraft weighs only 2.3-tonnes,

about the same as a family 4X4 or less than one percent of the weight of the A380. The two Swiss pilots aim to demonstrate that “clean technology and renewable energy can achieve the impossible,” Piccard said. The world tour will see the plane ﬂy from Abu Dhabi to Muscat in the neighbouring Gulf Sultanate of Oman before crossing the Arabian Sea to India.

It will then head on to Myanmar, China, Hawaii and New York. Landings are also earmarked for the midwestern United States and either southern Europe or north Africa, depending on weather conditions. “From the operation point of view, this part of the world and the Middle East is the best location for us to start because it gives us the possibility to fly over India and China very early in the season,” said Borschberg. “It also gives us the possibility to be back in summer with relatively good weather,” he said. The plane is the successor to Solar Impulse, a smaller craft which notched up a 26-hour flight in 2010, proving its ability to store enough power in lithium batteries during the day to keep flying at night. The new plane will travel at speeds of between 50 and 100 kilometres per hour (30 and 60 miles per hour), the slower speeds at night to prevent the batteries from draining too quickly. Borschberg and Piccard will alternate at the controls of the aircraft because it can only hold one person. Its pilot will be linked to a control centre in Monaco where 65 weathermen, air traffic controllers and engineers will be stationed. A team of 65 support staff will travel with the two pilots. — AFP

APPOINTED

Retired general Khalifa Haftar named Libya’s army chief BENGHAZI: A once-retired general leading a sweeping offensive against hardline forces has been named Libyan army chief, the speaker of the country’s internationally recognised parliament announced on Monday. “I’ve chosen Major General Khalifa Belgacem Haftar for the post of commander-in-chief of the army after promoting him to the rank of lieutenant general,” Aguila Salah said, adding that Haftar would be sworn in before parliament. New law The internationally backed legislature created the post of army chief under a new law passed last week. A member of parliament said at the time that the law was adopted to “legitimise” Haftar, who calls himself chief of the Libyan National Army. Last May, Haftar launched an offensive against hardliners in the country’s east, prompting the then-government to accuse him of trying to stage a coup. But after hardliners seized the capital following elections in June and the parliament ﬂed to the country’s far east, the internationally recognised authorities have gradually allied themselves with him. Last month, they formally requested that he and 129 other retired officers return to active service. — AFP

S TAT E V I S I T

Prince William accorded warm welcome in China; meets Xi

OFFICIAL INVITATION: Britain’s Prince William, left, meets China’s

President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. – Reuters

BEIJING: Britain’s Prince William met China’s Communist President Xi Jinping on Monday before strolling through the Forbidden City, the former home of the country’s deposed imperial dynasties. Xi warmly welcomed the second-in-line to the British throne, making the highest-proﬁle visit to China by a member of the royal family since Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip in 1986. William was met by the Chinese leader on the ﬁrst full day of a trip which comes as London and Beijing have traded diplomatic barbs over pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, a former British colony. But the differences appeared to be put aside as Xi congratulated the 32-year-old prince on

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the much anticipated birth of his second child — his wife Kate is not accompanying him on the journey, which earlier saw him in Japan. “The British royal family has great inﬂuence not just in Britain but across the world,” said Xi, who is due to visit Britain himself later this year. The royal visitor handed a large envelope containing his official invitation from the Queen for his trip, which foreign office minister Hugo Swire announced to MPs in January. William said he was looking for-

ward to the remainder of his visit, which includes the commercial hub of Shanghai before he heads to an elephant sanctuary in the south-western province of Yunnan. “It’s been a long interest of mine for many years to come and visit China,” he told Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. William’s visit has been seen as an attempt by Britain to improve top-level diplomatic relations with Beijing. London is anxious to improve its trade ties with the economic powerhouse. In Shanghai, William launched a three-day business event focussed on creativity in the arts and industry. “Together, both our countries, both our peoples, and all the companies within the countries will beneﬁt from deeper and closer relationships,” Britain’s Minister

of State for Trade and Investment Ian Livingston told the gathering before William’s arrival on Monday evening. William’s father, Charles, has never visited mainland China, though he attended the handover of Hong Kong. In a leaked diary, he described China’s leaders at the 1997 ceremony as “appalling old waxworks”, and he has been accused of deliberately side-stepping formal banquets during Chinese leaders’ visits to Britain. During the 1986 royal visit to China, Prince Philip was overheard by a reporter making one of his most notorious remarks. “If you stay here much longer, you will all be slitty-eyed,” he was quoted as telling a group of British students. — AFP

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I am afraid that she (Ganna Duritska )will be accused of this murder because they need the Ukrainian trace. They can invent anything they want Inna Duritska, Mother of Boris Nemtsov’s girlfriend

MO IBRAHIM PRIZE

Namibia leader wins African good governance award

Hiﬁkepunye Pohamba

NAIROBI: Namibia’s outgoing president was on Monday named winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for “good governance” in Africa, the world’s richest award that has seen a dearth of worthy candidates. Hiﬁkepunye Pohamba, 79, is only the fourth winner of the $5 million annual prize, launched in 2007 with the aim of encouraging

and rewarding good governance across a continent where the likes of Nelson Mandela -- who bowed out gracefully from office -- remain the exception. While polls are now the rule in Africa, many leaders seek to force through constitutional changes in order to stay in power, sometimes well into old age, while others die

in office or are forced to ﬂee. “President Pohamba’s focus in forging national cohesion and reconciliation at a key stage of Namibia’s consolidation of democracy and social and economic development impressed the prize committee,” said Salim Ahmed Salim, chairman of the Mo Ibrahim Prize committee and a for-

mer prime minister of Tanzania, during the announcement of the award in Nairobi. The award, founded by Sudanese-British telecoms entrepreneur and billionaire Mo Ibrahim, is given to a democratically-elected former head of state who left ofﬁce in the previous three years and who demonstrated “exceptional

leadership” while abiding by constitutional term limits. Winners are given $5 million over 10 years followed by a further $200,000 a year for life -- seen as inducement to good behaviour by offering a sum of money big enough that leaders need not indulge in large-scale corruption before retiring. — AFP

Slain Nemtsov’s murder witness kept under guard Ganna Duritska, 23, said she had given all the information she could to investigators but they were preventing her from leaving Russia, citing

PRIME WITNESS: This picture taken in Kiev on August 28, 2013

her security

shows Ukrainian model Ganna Duritska who was by the side of Russian protest leader Boris Nemtsov when he was shot dead. Duritska, chief witness to the murder, complained on Monday that she was being kept under guard in Moscow. — AFP

MOSCOW: The chief witness to the murder of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov -- the Ukrainian model who was his girlfriend and was at his side when he was shot -- complained on Monday of being kept under guard in Moscow. Ganna Duritska, 23, said she had given all the information she could to investigators but they were preventing her from leaving Russia, citing concerns for her security. “For three days they have escorted me in police cars to the Investigative Committee,” Duritska told the Dozhd television channel, referring to the agency in charge of the probe. “They don’t explain when I will be let go or for what reason I am kept here.” Nemtsov, 55, was gunned down close to midnight Friday in a heavily-policed area on a bridge just across from the Kremlin.

The killers are still at large, despite a citywide manhunt. Speaking via a fuzzy Skype connection from a Moscow apartment, Duritska said she did not see where the assassin came from as the attack took place from a place behind her. But she did notice a light-coloured car quickly drive off, she said. She said there had been no earlier indication of any danger, nor any sign of surveillance, adding that the ﬁrst police car arrived 10 minutes after she called. She said she was immediately taken in for questioning which lasted through the night, with data extracted from her phones by the investigators, adding that she was being questioned as a witness. “I’ve done everything I could,” she said. However investigators told her that it would be unsafe to leave Moscow. “I don’t understand why I am still on Russian territory, because

concerns for

I want to go to my mother who is ill and is in a difficult psychological state,” she said. Afraid Ganna’s mother Inna Duritska, who lives in Kiev, told AFP news agency that her daughter’s de facto house arrest meant investigators might be preparing to make her a pawn in the deepening Russia-Ukraine crisis. “I am afraid that she will be accused of this murder because they need the Ukrainian trace. They can invent anything they want,” she said. A loved one was killed before her eyes,” she said, adding her daughter’s relationship with Nemtsov began two-and-a-half years ago. “Boris was her great love. She is under huge psychological pressure. They checked her telephone and are threatening to take her to a polygraph in handcuffs,” she added, saying her daughter called her in tears. — AFP S PAC E X

All-electric satellites put into orbit CAPE CANAVERAL: A Space Exploration Technologies rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Sunday to put the world’s first all-electric communications satellites into orbit. The 22-story tall booster soared off its seaside launch pad at 10:50 a.m. EST (0350 GMT), the third flight in less than two months for SpaceX, as the privately owned, California-based company is known. Perched on top of the rocket were a pair of satellites built by Boeing and owned by Paris-based Eutelsat Communications and Bermuda-based ABS, whose majority owner is the European private equity firm Permira. Chemical propulsion Eutelsat and ABS shared satellite manufacturing and launch costs, a business arrangement spurred by technological innovation. “The value of electrical propulsion is that it allows the satellite operator to need much less fuel than when the satellite has chemical propulsion,” Eutelsat chief executive Michel de Rosen said in an interview before launch. “You can have a much lighter satellite, so that, in theory, the cost of your launch is much reduced.” — Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, MAR CH 3, 2015

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OMR153m investment for rural power expansions on the sidelines of a meeting to announce the Distribution Code review Panel’s annual event for companies engaged in the electricity sector on March 9.

This was the assured capital expenditure between 2015 and 2017 under a business plan, which is under implementation now, Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco) chief executive officer said on Monday

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businesseditor@timesofoman.com

Salim Al Maghderi, told journalists here on Monday.

MUSCAT: As much as OMR153 million will be invested by Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco) in the next three years to raise the power generation capacity, transmission lines and distribution network in different parts of the country, the company’s chief executive officer Eng. Hamad bin

Development plan Eng. Al Maghderi said this was the assured capital expenditure between 2015 and 2017 under a business plan, which is under implementation now. Power generation capacity of Raeco will be raised by 145 megawatt (mw) under the plan, taking the total capacity to

Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al Maghderi. — Picture by Talib Al Wohaibi/Times of Oman.

427mw by the end of 2017. “We are developing a power plant in Mazyouna, a new transmission line in Haima and network expansion in Duqm,” he said,

Demand for electricity The Raeco chief noted that the growth in demand for electricity is more from industries and tourism projects like hotel, than households. The growth in demand for power varies from region to region. “There are a lot of activities, which require additional power. The country is booming,” he said, adding, “Within the next three years, demand for power will be more from industries and tourism projects, than households.” Eng. Al Maghderi also noted that big diesel-powered power plants would be converted into gas-ﬁred plants, if government makes available natural gas for these units. “The problem is with big diesel plants. We are focussing on

(converting) high capacity power plants and are planning to convert eight power plants,” he added. Capital investments The capital investments in electricity projects implemented by distribution companies amounted to OMR147 million, of which OMR12 million worth projects are awarded to small and medium enterprises.

Raeco is also focussing on renewable energy projects, which will reduce dependence on diesel fuel in the long-run. The government is encouraging the private sector to invest in renewable energy projects either on a power purchase agreement basis or as an independent power project.

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CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN

CBO clears BankDhofar’s capital hike programme Times News Service MUSCAT: BankDhofar’s plans to raise capital up to $300 million have been approved in principle by the Central Bank of Oman. The plan is to issue additional tier I capital securities in the ﬁrm of perpetual tier I securities with a coupon to be determined at the time of issue based on market conditions, the bank said in a disclosure statement on the MSM website. The additional tier I issue, the preferred option for raising capital, had also been approved at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of BankDhofar held on February 26. BankDhofar shareholders at the extraordinary meeting had unanimously authorised the Board of Directors to take the required procedures and actions to implement.

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

MARKET Oil price slide could affect GCC banking system: S&P Banks in Bahrain and Oman are vulnerable indirectly through the potential drop in investments and economic growth, said the rating ﬁrm

LOAN GROWTH: Standard & Poor’s believes that a drop in banking systems’ loan growth and an increase in problem loans are likely to emerge. – Bloomberg News

Times News Service

the potential drop in investments and economic growth, S&P said. On a positive note, the agency said both countries will beneﬁt from disbursements from the GCC Development Fund providing $10 billion to each country over a 10year period, which would offset any capital expenditure cuts and act as a key growth contributor. “Although we do not expect the drop in oil prices to have any major negative implications on these countries’ banking systems, we think banks in Nigeria, Bahrain, Oman, and Brunei are more vulnerable than the rest,” it said.

MUSCAT: Slump in crude oil prices could affect Oman’s banking system along with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, either directly through banks’ exposure to and deposits from oil- or government-related companies or indirectly through lower investments and economic growth. This may weigh on banks’ asset quality and proﬁtability indicators, according to Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Banks in Bahrain and Oman are vulnerable indirectly through

There was significant drop in oil prices over the past few months, reaching around $55 per barrel for Brent crude as of mid-February compared to more than $100 per barrel a year ago. Fiscal buffers The ratings agency said the banking systems of countries with low fiscal buffers, significant economic imbalances, and high dependence on oil-related bank deposits may come under pressure. Fiscal buffers accumulated over the past years, as well as investment projects that are part of stra-

tegic initiatives, such the Dubai Expo 2020 and Qatar World Cup 2022, are likely to remain insulated from the mounting pressure on government budgets, it added. While the direct exposure of the other countries’ banking systems to the oil sector appears limited, S&P said that the risks may be underestimated because some of the oil-related activities fall under the government’s umbrella. “Exposure to government and its related entities is signiﬁcant in some of the GCC countries and particularly Qatar, where it represented almost one-third of the

banking system’s loan portfolio as of November 30, 2014,” the S&P note said. Standard & Poor’s stated that in most of the oil-exporting countries, it looked at government spending and investment projects remain among the main generators of economic growth and opportunities for the banking system. That is particularly true for the GCC countries, where government investments account for a large share of total investments, the agency added. Nevertheless, Standard & Poor’s also believes that a drop in banking systems’ loan growth and an increase in problem loans are likely to emerge. Standard & Poor’s estimates low oil prices will result in decreased government revenues and exports, and will hamper banking systems’ liquidity. It said banks in Qatar, Oman, and the UAE display signiﬁcant concentration in their funding proﬁles, with around 30 per cent to 40 per cent of deposits coming from government.

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R AT I N G AG E N C I E S

Mixed response to India’s budget NEW DELHI: India’s federal budget has received a mixed response from global rating agencies with the United States-based S&P saying that the annual financial document seeks to keep the fiscal deficit in check despite subdued revenue growth. “The 2015-16 budget highlights the government’s commitment to keep the fiscal deficit low despite lower-than-expected revenue growth,” Standard & Poor’s said. Another rating agency Moody’s said the Budget has prioritised growth over fiscal consolidation but it may not have any impact on the country’s sovereign rating. Fitch, however, said that the Budget has both positive and negative elements and that India’s medium-term fiscal consolidation strategy is less inspiring. Rolling out a new fiscal consolidation roadmap, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said in the Budget that fiscal deficit would be brought down to 3.9 per cent of GDP in 2015-16, and then further to 3.6 per cent and finally to 3 per cent by 2016-17 and 2017-18, respectively. The finance minister had said that the government would achieve the 3 per cent fiscal deficit target by 2017-18 as against 201617 as it intends to increase public investment to boost growth. S&P said this commitment moderates the drag on sovereign credit support. - PTI

MOBILE NETWORK

5G is the next big idea by 2020 BARCELONA: Running short of dramatically new phone designs, leaders of the world’s wireless industry agree their next big idea is 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks they expect to have up and running by 2020. But first they’ll have to decide what 5G needs to do that the current, fourth generation of wireless networks will never offer. “It is unclear what the opportunity or weakness that 5G should address is,” researchers at GSMA, the global trade group of mobile network operators, said in a report issued in December that punctured some of the more visionary claims for 5G. There is simply no need for the industry to spend heavily on new network gear or force consumers to upgrade phones unless the new generation of wireless radio standards actually delivers radical improvement in speed or functions, mobile operators say. With discussions on setting 5G technical standards yet to begin, a final standard is expected in 2019, experts say.

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

IN A NUTSHELL

1G gave the world phone calling on the go

2G added text messaging and digital voice, and the ﬁrst tentative steps into email and Web connections

PHOTO GALLERY W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

promised a mobile Internet of pictures and video

4G allows watching video, faster download times and denser network coverage

5G promises to do a lot more of everything users are just coming to expect from 4G

Commercial deployments That will not stop network equipment makers such as China’s Huawei and France’s Alcatel-Lucent and dozens of newer players from touting projects as ready for 5G. Most industry experts expect the ﬁrst commercial deployments of 5G in the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. “What happens before that is a lot of marketing,” Lauri Oksanen,

vice-president of research and technology at Nokia’s Networks business. In that vein, Sweden’s Ericsson and Finland’s Nokia, will join a parade of equipment makers expected to unveil their latest 5G demonstration projects with telecom ﬁrms at Mobile World Congress, the largest annual trade show for the wireless industry. Of course, 5G promises to do a lot more of everything users are

just coming to expect from 4G in terms of watching video, faster download times and denser network coverage. Major vendors predict a 100 to 1,000 fold increase in network capacity. New challenge In a nutshell, 1G gave the world phone calling on the go. 2G added text messaging and digital voice, and the ﬁrst tentative steps into email and Web connections. 3G promised a mobile Internet of pictures and video that did not happen until 4G. But the technology will also have to grapple with a new challenge: the fact that much of the world’s spectrum in lower frequency bands is used up. What remains is higher frequency spectrum that can only carry traffic over shorter distances. - Reuters

MEETING

ON THE AGENDA: The management also informed the board of Ithraa’s recent inward investment and export promotion activities. – Supplied photo

Ithraa discusses work plan, Omani products exhibition Times News Service MUSCAT: Board of directors of Ithraa, the government agency which deals with attracting inward investment and promoting non-oil exports, discussed its work plan for this year, free trade agreement (FTA) with other countries and Omani products exhibition and its impact on the national economy. The meeting held on Monday discussed a series of issues set out in the agenda, led by Dr Salem bin

Nasser Al Ismaily. The management also informed the board of Ithraa’s recent inward investment and export promotion activities including meetings organised, agreements signed, and the participation of Ithraa representatives at trade shows, conferences and business meetings. In discussing Ithraa’s 2015 plan with the board, it was stressed that securing inward investment and promoting Omani non-oil exports relies heavily on develop-

ing strong ties with international business leaders, as well as meeting with them face-to-face. It’s this direct approach that enables us to sell the Sultanate of Oman’s key strengths. “This year will see Ithraa continue to organise as well participate at high-proﬁle business events, activities that are crucial to showcasing Oman’s conﬁdence and credentials as a leading international business destination,” said Sheikh Ali Al Balushi, vicechairman of Ithraa.

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

MARKET Draft law to divest 25% for family-owned firms ready Kunooz group gets regulator’s exemption to dilute 25% stake

This move, aimed at encouraging familyowned companies

Times News Service

to go public, will

MUSCAT: Kunooz Oman Holding, which is owned by Al Rawas family business group, has received a special exemption from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) for diluting their 25 per cent stake, which is against 40 per cent minimum dilution for ﬂoating an initial public offering. Kunooz Oman is a diversi-

ensure continuity in business

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A draft law allowing family-owned businesses to dilute a minimum of 25 per cent stake, from 40 per cent stipulation now, is ready and the authorities are waiting for a ﬁnal approval to enact the amendment. “We hope to see the law soon,” said Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Salmi, executive president of the Capital Market Authority (CMA). “We are considering requests from family-owned businesses (that plan initial public offerings) on a case by case basis,” added the CMA chief on the sidelines of the

third Capital Markets Forum here on Monday. This move, aimed at encouraging family-owned companies to go public, is part of a major amendment in the Commercial Law. He added that the reduction in the minimum initial public offering (IPO) stipulation would encourage family-owned companies to

ﬁed business group with interests in several ﬁelds. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Salmi, executive president of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), said that the company is yet to make a formal application for entering the primary market. The permission is a special clearance given to family businesses on a case by case basis for diluting shares on the market.

go public. Elaborating on the advantages of ﬂoating an IPO by a family business, Al Salmi said that public ﬁrms ensure continuity in business. In the case of family-owned businesses, there is no surety that the business will continue after the death of the main promoter. “We have seen several cases

ANNUAL MEETING

where the company just vanished after the founder passed away. Since these companies are providing services to the society and employment, we need to sustain them,” he added. Advantages Other advantages of converting family businesses into public companies are that these companies will adopt better corporate governance standards and be managed in a professional manner. Further, public companies can raise capital from the market for funding their expansion projects. The third annual Capital Markets Forum commenced here on Monday under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi, the deputy chairman of the Supreme Council for Planning and the Minister of Commerce and Industry. Organised by Muscat Securities Market and Intevents, the forum was held under the theme ‘Empowering Private Businesses towards Long Term Sustainability.’ More than 300 delegates attended the forum which put the spotlight on family businesses going public. Experts from the ﬁeld highlighted the best ﬁnancial strategies for the Middle East and North African region and opportuHONOUR

Awards for real estate sector launched

POWER PROJECTS: Investment in power projects implemented by electricity companies in 2014

amounted to OMR147 million, of which projects worth OMR12 million were awarded to small and medium enterprises. - TALIB AL WOHAIBI/Times of Oman

Meet of electrical suppliers and contractors on March 9 Times News Service MUSCAT: An annual meeting of contractors and suppliers in the power sector will be held on March 9 at the Intercontinental Hotel Muscat. The meeting, organised by the Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP), will be held under the auspices of Eng. Omar bin Khalfan Al Wahaibi, chief executive officer of the Electricity Holding Company (EHC). Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al Maghderi, chief executive officer of the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco) and chairman of DCRP, said that the investment in power projects implemented by electricity companies in 2014 amounted to OMR147 million, of which projects worth OMR12 million were awarded to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As many as 203 companies, which include 47 SMEs, are registered with the DCRP for executing these projects. The meeting, themed ‘Sustainability of performance quality standards,’ is an annual event with companies operating in the power sector. It helps in the exchange of views and opinions and discovers

EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

The meeting, themed ‘Sustainability of performance quality standards,’ is an annual event with ﬁrms operating in power sector. It helps in exchanging views and opinions and discovers obstacles, if any, faced by companies implementing the projects

obstacles if any faced by companies implementing the projects. Eng. Sultan bin Said Al Qatabi, director of DCRP, said it is an entity authorised by the distribution companies and for the authority for electricity regulation to review, discuss and develop the rules governing power distribution in Oman. Protection engineers Eng. Al Maghderi said the DCRP has approved 70 companies engaged in the power sector last year and approved 16 others in the ﬁrst two months of 2015. Also, the DCRP has approved

74 engineers of electricity contracting companies, who specialise in protection, inspections and operations. “Therefore, the number of qualified protection engineers with contracting firms has now reached 42. Last year, the DCRP evaluated more than 57 applications for issuing licenses to protection and operation engineers and approved 16 engineers and another 16 operation engineers, but rejected requests from 22 others. Further, the Distribution Code Review Panel re-evaluated more than 80 electrical products that were approved before the restructuring of the power sector as per Omani and international standards. The laws and standards applied to registering companies operating in the power sector will also be announced at the meeting. Eng. Al Maghderi said the DCRP has played a key role in Omanisation in the power sector. Also, DCRP has adopted the laws on occupational health and safety to be applied by contractors working in the power sector. Al Qatabi said contractors who follow the DCRP best practices and specifications will be honoured at the meeting.

MUSCAT: Oman Real Estate Association (OREA) board of directors on Monday launched Oman Awards for Excellence in the real estate sector. Eng. Mohammed bin Salim Al Busaidi, chairman of OREA, said that the awards will be presented on May 4 at Al Bustan Palace Hotel. Al Busaidi said that the award aims at highlighting achievements of the real estate sector, efforts and contributions of companies as it will help stimulate various companies and individuals working in this ﬁeld to develop and provide optimum quality in real estate projects and make the real estate sector in the Sultanate more vital. The Oman Awards for Excellence in the real estate sector include award for best developer of commercial projects, award for best developer of residential projects, award for the best developer of commercial projects in retail sector, award for best multi-use real estate project, award for the best project or real estate monument and award the for best company in the architectural planning and design. There are also two individual awards. - ONA

nities for developing mutual business and networking relations. The first day of the forum was divided into two sessions. The first session covered sustainability, business growth and case studies, which was addressed by Jürgen De Vyt, chief executive officer of Al Batinah Power; Cristina de Torres, director of Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services – ME, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Arvind Bindra, chief executive officer of Al Maha Ceramics and Dr Josiane Fahed-Sreih, associate professor of management chair, departments of hospitality management and marketing director, Institute of Family and Entrepreneurial Business, Lebanese American University. They discussed challenges faced by family businesses when going public, the need for these businesses to make such a transition, valuable lessons learnt from going public and private sector companies that have championed the cause of globalisation.

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BARCELONA SHOW

Samsung unveils new sleek Galaxy smartphone SEOUL/BARCELONA: Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy S smartphones, featuring a slim body made from aircraft-grade metal, in a bid to reclaim the throne of undisputed global smartphone leader from Apple. Designed from scratch in an operation dubbed ‘Project Zero’, the Galaxy S6 and its curved-edges variant are critical for Samsung’s plans to reverse plunging smartphone revenues that led to its ﬁrst annual earnings fall in three years in 2014. A warm initial reception sent Samsung shares on Monday to their highest in nearly nine months. Some technology publications described the phones as Samsung’s best-looking to date after its previous ﬂagship device, the Galaxy S5, failed to impress. “We listen to our customers and we learn from our missteps,” J.K. Shin, Samsung’s mobile chief, told a packed hall in Barcelona ahead of the annual Mobile World Congress trade show, where the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge were unveiled on Sunday. By some estimates, arch-rival Apple surpassed Samsung as the world’s top smartphone maker in the fourth quarter. - Reuters

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

MARKET MSM index ends lower

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,585.01 ...............6,569.15 ................... 6,569.62 ................... 6,580.41................ -10.79 .................. -0.16 Financial Index .................................... 8,249.60 ...............8,219.20 ................... 8,219.46 ...................8,228.59...................-9.13 ...................-0.11 Industrial Index ................................... 8,726.20 ...............8,710.34 ....................8,711.84 ................... 8,721.80.................. -9.96 ...................-0.11 Services Index .......................................3,569.45 .............. 3,552.00 ...................3,552.00 ....................3,567.01.................-15.01 .................. -0.42 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................998.64 .................. 997.21 ....................... 997.21 .......................997.98.................. -0.77 .................. -0.08 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 20,526,619 ................. 5,868,724 ..................1,439 ................14,919,381,173 .................. 9 ..................... 22 .................... 16 .........................47

The top gainer of the day was Al Anwar Holding, up by 2.90 per cent, while

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, MARCH 2

National Gas, down by 8.23 per cent, ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

was the top loser REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... MUSCAT: The MSM30 Index ended lower at 6,569.62 points, down by 0.16 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 997.98 points, marginally down by 0.08 per cent. Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. The top gainer of the day was Al Anwar Holding, up by 2.90 per cent, while National Gas, down by 8.23 per cent, was the top loser of the day.

A total number of 1439 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR5.86 million with more than 20.52 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded stocks, nine advanced, 22 declined and 16 remained unchanged. Omani investors remained as net buyers for OMR638,000 while Foreign Investors were net sellers for OMR543,000 followed by GCC & Arab Investors for OMR96,000 worth of shares. Financial Index ended the day at 8,219.46 points, down by 0.11 per cent. Global Al Anwar Holding, Global Financial investment , Oman& Emirates and Ahli Bank increased by 2.90 per cent, 2.80 per cent, 2.79 per cent and 1.43 per cent respectively.Al Madina Investment , Al Sharqiya Investment , HSBC Bank Oman and Gulf Investment Services declined by 4.22 per cent, 3.19 per cent, 2.14 per cent and 1.72 per cent respectively. Industrial Index was down by 0.11 per cent to close at 8,711.84 points. Voltamp Energy and Al Hassan Engineering increased by 0.92 per cent and 0.78 per cent respectively. Construction Material industries, Oman Fisheries, Al Maha Ceramics and Galfar Engineering declined by 2.63 per cent, 1.43 per cent, 0.65 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively. Services Sector Index closed at

OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 10,065,711..2,847,310...................469 ........... 0.279 ...........0.285 ...........0.279........... 0.283 .............0.275 ........... 0.008.............2.909 ................0.285..............0.284...................0.285...............36,931,500 .......0.100

3,552.00 points, down by 0.42 per cent. Port Services Corp was the only gainer and was up by 0.33 per cent to close at OMR0.300. National Gas, Renaissance Services, Al Suwadi Power and Al Batinah Power declined by 8.24 per cent, 1.78 per cent, 0.55 per cent and 0.55 per cent respectively. Arabtec shares drop Arabtec Holding. fell to the lowest in more than a month after an Egyptian newspaper said the company’s deal to build one million homes in the country has been put on hold. Shares in the United Arab Emirates’ biggest publicly traded construction company retreated 2.9 per cent to Dh2.97 at the close in Dubai, the lowest level since January 29. It was the biggest decliner on Dubai’s DFM General Index, which also dropped to the lowest in more than a month. Al Masry Al Youm, a Cairobased newspaper, reported on Sunday that Arabtec hasn’t met conditions set by the state for the project, citing General Kamel Al Wazir, head of the Egyptian military’s engineering division. The stalled project is a blow to Arabtec, whose shares never fully recovered from a 65 per cent slump between May and June after Chief Executive Officer Hasan Ismaik resigned top managers were dismissed. The management change threw into doubt an expansion plan that saw Arabtec shares quadruple during the CEO’s 15 months in charge. “Even though this news has been repeated several times, it has impacted the stock, but it isn’t the only reason why the Arabtec is down,” Wadah Al Taha, the Dubai-based chief investment ofﬁcer of Al Zarooni Group, said by phone. — United Securities/Bloomberg News

OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 1,196,200 .......131,145..................... 54 ............0.107 ........... 0.112............0.107............0.110 .............0.107............ 0.003.............2.804 ................0.108..............0.108...................0.109...............22,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 1,600,903 ...... 235,635..................... 74 ............0.147 ........... 0.149 ...........0.145 ............0.147 .............0.143............ 0.004............. 2.797 ................0.146 .............. 0.145...................0.148................17,915,625 .......0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ..................................................................... 50,000 ............ 10,600........................2 ............0.212 ........... 0.212 ...........0.212........... 0.212 .............0.209 ........... 0.003............. 1.435 ................0.212............. 0.209...................0.215..............274,643,330 .....0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ......................................................10,755 ...............4,723........................3 ........... 0.440...........0.440 ...........0.428........... 0.440 .............0.436 ........... 0.004............. 0.917 ................0.428..............0.428...................0.438...............26,620,000 ......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .......................................................................18,758 ...............8,726......................13 ........... 0.464 ...........0.466 ...........0.454........... 0.466 .............0.464 ........... 0.002............. 0.431 ................0.454..............0.454...................0.464 .............156,922,238......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................59,634 .............17,888.....................20 ........... 0.300...........0.300 ...........0.299........... 0.300 .............0.299 ............0.001 ............. 0.334 ................0.300 ............ 0.300...................0.308 ..............28,512,000.......0.100 OM0000001095............DHOFAR INSURANCE ..................................................... 500 ...................110........................1 ........... 0.220...........0.220 ...........0.220 .......... 0.230 .............0.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.220 ............ 0.000...................0.220 ..............46,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ............................................................. 700 ...............1,229........................1 ............1.755 ............1.755............ 1.755 ............1.755 ............. 1.755 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................ 1.755 .............. 1.740................... 1.755 ..............351,000,000 .....0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ...................................13,000 ...............4,706........................1 ........... 0.362 ...........0.362 ...........0.362........... 0.362 .............0.362 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.362..............0.358...................0.362 .............441,215,555 ......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 774,596 .........182,098..................... 59 ........... 0.235 ...........0.238 ...........0.234........... 0.235 .............0.235 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.234..............0.234...................0.238................4,935,000........0.100 OM0000002077 ...........AL OMANIYA FINANCIAL SER. .............................75,492 ............ 24,912........................1 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.330........... 0.330 .............0.330 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.330............. 0.000...................0.330 ..............75,793,980 .......0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................89,100 ............ 44,183......................19 ........... 0.498 ...........0.498 ...........0.494........... 0.496 .............0.496 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.496..............0.494...................0.496..............122,434,989 .....0.100 OM0000002572 ...........OMAN OIL MARKETING ........................................... 11,171 .............24,911........................3 ........... 2.230 ...........2.230 ...........2.230 .......... 2.230 .............2.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.230............. 0.000...................2.230 .............136,643,250......0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................76,102 .............31,150........................7 ............0.410 ........... 0.410 ...........0.408........... 0.410 .............0.410............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.408..............0.408...................0.420 .............. 71,103,533 .......0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA .................................................... 500 .................. 412........................1 ........... 0.824 ...........0.824 ...........0.824........... 0.820 .............0.820 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.824..............0.824...................0.832..............131,200,000......0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 241,419.......... 173,882......................41 ............0.724 ........... 0.724 ...........0.720........... 0.720 .............0.720 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.720.............. 0.716...................0.724..............468,679,846 .....0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 391,695..........689,532..................... 32 ............1.765 ........... 1.765............ 1.755 ............1.760 ............. 1.765 ............-0.005 ........... -0.283 ...............1.760 .............. 1.760................... 1.775 ............1,320,000,000....0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 521,705...........311,470......................71 ........... 0.600 ...........0.600 ...........0.594........... 0.598 .............0.600 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.333 ...............0.598..............0.596...................0.600 ........... 1,305,247,536 ....0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 152,500 ........... 36,606.....................24 ............0.241 ........... 0.241 ...........0.238........... 0.240 .............0.241 ...........-0.001 ............-0.415................0.238..............0.238...................0.240 ..............48,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ........................................... 46,000 .............17,268........................9 ........... 0.380 ...........0.380 ...........0.372........... 0.376 .............0.378 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.529 ...............0.372..............0.370...................0.380 ..............23,012,807 .......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ..........................69,924 .............24,913........................6 ........... 0.358 ........... 0.358 ...........0.356........... 0.356 .............0.358 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.559 ...............0.356..............0.326...................0.356...............44,463,674.......0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ...................................................20,065 ............... 3,331........................5 ............0.166 ........... 0.166 ...........0.166 ............0.166 ............. 0.167............-0.001 ........... -0.599 ...............0.166 ..............0.162...................0.166...............42,095,940 ......0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 444,745 ............70,123..................... 56 ............0.158 ........... 0.159 ...........0.156 ............0.158 ............. 0.159............-0.001 ........... -0.629 ...............0.157 .............. 0.156...................0.157 ............... 41,651,764 .......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 401,480 ............85,919.....................20 ............0.216 ........... 0.216 ...........0.213 ........... 0.214 .............0.216............-0.002 ........... -0.926 ...............0.213 ..............0.212...................0.213..............244,816,000 .....0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 629,100 ........... 92,977......................21 ............0.150 ........... 0.150 ...........0.147 ........... 0.148 .............0.150............-0.002 ............-1.333................0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.148............... 40,701,957 .......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,468,887 .......251,758....................113 ............0.174 ........... 0.174 ...........0.169 ............0.171 ............. 0.174............-0.003 ............-1.724................0.169 ..............0.169...................0.170...............10,062,190 .......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 288,352 ..........127,567......................51 ........... 0.454 ...........0.454 ...........0.434........... 0.442 .............0.450 ...........-0.008 ............-1.778................0.434..............0.434...................0.436..............124,685,749 ......0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 137,000.............18,809..................... 10 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.137 ............0.137 .............0.140 ...........-0.003 ........... -2.143 ...............0.137 .............. 0.136...................0.138..............274,042,852 .....0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............36,685 ...............6,662........................8 ............0.188 ........... 0.188 ...........0.180........... 0.182 ............. 0.188............-0.006 ............-3.191 ................0.180.............. 0.177...................0.180............... 15,746,640 .......0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 220,524 ............15,023......................21 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.068........... 0.068 ............. 0.071............-0.003 ........... -4.225 ...............0.068..............0.068...................0.069...............14,086,294.......0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 414,745..........194,087..................... 88 ........... 0.502 ...........0.502 ...........0.460........... 0.468 .............0.510............-0.042 ........... -8.235 ...............0.460............. 0.000...................0.460 ..............21,322,742 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 19,527,948....5,689,665 ............ 1,304 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 249,971 ........... 32,496..................... 23 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.130........... 0.130 .............0.129.............0.001 ............. 0.775 ................0.130 ..............0.127...................0.130................ 9,777,040 ........0.100 OM0000001228............OMAN HOTELS AND TOURISM ............................ 16,075 ...............3,669........................3 ........... 0.228 ...........0.232 ...........0.228........... 0.228 .............0.228 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.232............. 0.000...................0.236...............12,540,000.......0.100 OM0000003083 ...........AL KAMIL POWER ...................................................... 34,000 .............10,608........................4 ............0.312 ........... 0.312 ...........0.312 ........... 0.312 .............0.312............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.312 ..............0.312...................0.314...............30,030,000 ......0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA .................................................................115,741 .............10,422........................8 ........... 0.090 ........... 0.091 ...........0.090........... 0.090 .............0.090 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.090..............0.090...................0.091..............135,000,000 .....0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH..................................................6,900 .............15,905........................4 ........... 2.305 ...........2.305 ...........2.305........... 2.305 .............2.305 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.305..............2.305...................2.320 ............ 220,028,834 .....1.000 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................35,092 ...............6,372........................8 ............0.183 ........... 0.183 ...........0.181 ........... 0.182 ............. 0.183............-0.001 ........... -0.546 ...............0.181 .............. 0.181...................0.182..............122,829,512......0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................35,022 ...............6,354........................8 ............0.182 ........... 0.182 ...........0.181 ............0.181 .............0.182............-0.001 ........... -0.549 ...............0.181 .............. 0.181...................0.182..............129,307,548......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................78,598 ............ 48,098..................... 48 ............0.612 ........... 0.612 ...........0.608............0.612 ............. 0.616............-0.004 ........... -0.649 ...............0.612 .............. 0.612...................0.616 ...............30,600,000 ......0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 110,000...............9,830........................7 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.088........... 0.089 .............0.090 ...........-0.001 ............-1.111 ................0.088..............0.088...................0.090 ..............15,575,000 .......0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ...................................................... 20,000 ...............1,390........................2 ........... 0.069 ...........0.070 ...........0.069........... 0.069 .............0.070 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.429 ...............0.070..............0.069...................0.070................8,625,000 ........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................69,077 ..............11,718........................8 ............0.165 ........... 0.170 ...........0.165 ........... 0.170 ............. 0.173............-0.003 ............-1.734................0.170 .............. 0.165...................0.170................ 5,100,000 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ................... 20,000 .................. 740........................2 ........... 0.037 ........... 0.037 ...........0.037........... 0.037 .............0.038 ...........-0.001 ........... -2.632 ...............0.037..............0.037...................0.038................ 3,145,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 790,476 ..........157,602................... 125 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......12..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BOND MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ......................................... 131,096 ............. 13,431........................5 ............0.102 ........... 0.103 ...........0.102........... 0.102 ............. 0.101.............0.001 .............0.990 ................0.103 ..............0.103...................0.105...............32,603,553.......0.100 OM0000004487 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES BONDS3.75 ................5,000 ..................600........................1 ............0.120 ........... 0.120 ...........0.120............0.119 ............. 0.119 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.120...............0.115...................0.122...............50,353,860.......0.100 OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ........................72,099 ............... 7,426........................4 ............0.103 ........... 0.103 ...........0.103........... 0.103 .............0.103............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.103 ..............0.103...................0.000 .............. 31,183,158 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 208,195 ............21,457..................... 10 ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 3..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN MARKETS

Sensex falls; rupee depreciates MUMBAI: India’s benchmark Sensex on Monday rose for the third straight session, gaining 97.64 points to end at 29,459.14 and the Nifty index increased 54.90 points to new closing peak of 8,956.75 as investors cheered growth-oriented proposals in the Union Budget. The BSE Sensex resumed ﬁrm at 29,533.42 and ﬂuctuated between a high of 29,576.32 and a

low of 29,259.77 before concluding at 29,459.14 — a smart rise of 97.64 points or 0.33 per cent, over its previous close. It has risen by over 700 points in three successive sessions. The 50-share Nifty also rose by 54.90, or 0.62 per cent to end at new closing peak of 8,956.75. 75. This surpasses its previous record closing of 8,952.35 reached on January 29.

Rupee weakens Bucking the uptrend in stocks, the Indian rupee on Monday weakened four paise to ﬁnish at 61.87 against the United States dollar due to sustained demand for the American currency from banks and importers. Some caution adopted by participants ahead of core sector data outcome also impacted sentiments, said forex brokers. — PTI

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UP IHE unveils two new Renault Truck ranges The C and K ranges bring new levels of driver comfort, reliability, fuel efficiency and durability to the Omani customers

MUSCAT: As a continuation of its global product strategy, Renault Trucks’ importer in Oman introduced two new distinct truck ranges to the Omani market. International Heavy Equipment (IHE), the exclusive importer and dealer of Renault Trucks in Oman, has launched the new C and K ranges at their recreation facility at Seeb to its Omani customers and industry leaders, in the presence of Renault Trucks Middle East team, says a press release. The C and K ranges arrived in the Middle East in November 2014 and were revealed in a spectacular launch gathering VIP customers, industry leaders, importers, journalists, the Renault Trucks President, and teams in Doha, Qatar. The launch shows the commitment to the region by the French manufacturer, being the largest ever launch event Renault Trucks has held in the region. IHE, dealer of Renault Trucks in the Sultanate, has three main after-sales facilities in Muscat, Sala-

lah, and Sohar, in addition to other non-exclusive facilities across the country where the trucks can also be serviced, managed directly by the company or through their group companies under Zubair Automotive Group. To strengthen its customer’s commitment even further, and as part of its growth strategy, IHE is developing a new 3S state-of -the -art facility in Misfa to open by H2 2016. IHE has experienced sustainable growth in the truck business over the past decade, attributed to the company’s dedicated sales and aftersales teams supported by the manufacturer. This local “product show” was attended by over 250 customers, and it showcased IHE’s commitment towards Omani customers to provide the latest and best-in-class technologies and products, not only when it comes to Renault Trucks, but also all the other brands represented by the company. This product show was the perfect occasion to introduce the new C and K ranges setting new standards in terms of robustness and productivity, and with the capacity

to accept a variety of body types, each model can easily be adapted to the wide range of applications and customer demands found within the distribution and construction segments. The C range will enter the market with two options of cabin width, 2.3 and 2.5 m, both of which are designed for specific jobs. The 2.3 m is ideal for distribution and municipal applications, whilst the 2.5 m cab is for long haul, light construction and heavy distribution. At the event, IHE displayed two Euro 3 K Range Trucks, one K 380 HP 6X4 Rigid with 40T GVW ( Gross Vehicle weight) and one K 440 HP tractor head with 100 T GCW ( Gross Combination Weight. At the regional launch in Qatar in November, Bruno Blin, President of Renault Trucks, said, “In developing the C and K ranges, we have deployed significant resources to ensure these vehicles deliver maximum reliability. Each range has undergone rigorous quality trials and have also been exhaustively field tested under actual operating conditions. Ruggedness, driver comfort, payload, pulling capacity,

H E A LT H C A R E

and easy body mounting, are the features which set these trucks apart and make them the perfect tools for demanding businesses.” Bruno Blin, continued: “Both new ranges have been designed and developed in close association with Omani & International customers, who have been involved in the project from the design stage right through to testing under actual operating conditions.” The Renault Trucks C range offers superior driver comfort, exceptional reliability and optimal fuel efficiency, making it ideal for both long-haul and certain construction applications. The K range offers new standards in durability and robustness and has models that suit the harsh demands of the construction industry, for instance, the front bumper is 100% steel with headlamp protection. Ram Mohan, general manager of IHE said, “These trucks have been tested for over a year in Oman in some of the toughest regional settings. Oman presents the type of extreme conditions in terms of heat and topography that are ideal to test a truck to its limits. The new Renault Trucks ranges performed extremely well with no issues reported. This is vital for businesses who need to be able to rely fully on their vehicles for the maximum productivity.” He also added: “I have closely tested the new Renault Trucks range, and I can say that, I’m very conﬁdent in what those new trucks will bring to the very demanding Omani market. I’m sure that in spite the several challenges in the market for heavy trucks, 2015 will be a successful year for IHE with Renault trucks in Oman.”

W O R L D ’ S M O S T A D M I R E D C O M PA N I E S

Toyota claims top spot in Fortune list MUSCAT: Toyota Motor Corporation took the top spot in the Motor Vehicles Sector of Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. The automaker also scored well in a larger pool of peers, No. 24 overall. Toyota's overall rank increased from 25th in 2014, and its No. 1 spot in the Motor Vehicles category also represented a bump (from No. 2 last year). Toyota was also sixth for community responsibility and eighth in effectiveness in conducting a global business across all companies. Toyota is the only Japanese company in the overall Top 50, says a press release. Fortune’s annual list is widely considered to be the deﬁnitive report card on corporate reputation. The survey measures nine attributes considered crucial to a company’s global success, including quality of management, social responsibility, people management and global competitiveness, among others. “We’d like to thank Toyota team members, associates and partners worldwide for helping us achieve this honour,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota Motor North America chief executive officer.

“We are dedicated to our customers, communities, and to leading the future of mobility. We’re proud to be recognised as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies and a leader in our industry.” Fortune’s survey partners at Hay Group start with approximately 1,400 companies: the Fortune 1,000. The 1,000 largest US companies are ranked by revenue and non-US companies in Fortune’s Global 500 database with revenues of $10 billion or more. Hay then selects the 15 largest for each international industry and the 10 largest for each US industry, surveying a total of 668 companies from 29 countries. To create the 55 industry lists, Hay asks executives, directors, and analysts to rate companies in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value to social responsibility. A company’s score must rank in the top half of its industry survey to be listed. In Oman, Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive. No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and well-known brands.

ACHIEVEMENT

KIMS Oman campaign seeks to create diabetes awareness

Oman’s Amna Al Habib shines as ‘Best Performer’ in IATA exam

MUSCAT: In an initiative that aims to raise the public’s awareness on the risks of diabetes, as well as to empower those who are affected KIMS Oman Hospital conducted a free of charge diabetes awareness camp in addition to free blood sugar checkups at KM Trading Hypermarket in RuwiMuscat, recently. The camp witnessed a huge turnout from the Omani community. The diabetes camp featured several educational talks and consultations, in addition to offering free diabetes screening tests which were conducted by specialists of KIMS Oman Hospital. “Due to the poor eating habits

MUSCAT: Amna Al Habib, an Omani student has successfully passed and achieved the Consultant Diploma with distinction in the recently conducted IATA/ UFTAA examination from the ITDI, says a press release. IATA Training and Development Institute (ITDI) is an organisation of the international airlines located in Montreal, Canada, and offers globally recognised, high standard professional training programmes for aviation and travel professionals worldwide. The Consultant Diploma is the second of the three levels of IATA/UFTAA intensive integrated Travel & Tourism

as well as the low physical performance the number of individuals who are suffering from diabetes has been increased dramatically across the Sultanate of Oman and in the Gulf region in general. Thus,

we decided to conduct an awareness campaign to educate the public on how to prevent, deal or treat this chronic disease,” said Dr Hussam Akoum, chief operating officer at KOH.

R E S TAU R A N T

Training Programme. In order to maintain the highest standards of proﬁciency, a candidate has to achieve 60% marks to pass the exam and to

achieve distinction, a minimum of 85% marks is a must. Amna has not only scored more than 85% in this exam in the ﬁrst attempt but she also directly appeared for level two. Along with her, a total of 644 candidates from all over the world have qualiﬁed to appear for the Consultant Exam and just 33 of them passed the exam with distinction. Amna is the only student from Oman to shine among the list of top 5% candidates worldwide. Her achievement in the December 2014 examination has been acknowledged by the Head of Training, ITDI who said that she was one of the students who has performed best.

EXTENSIVE COLLECTION

Al Siraj Hospitality opens ‘Bait Al Luban’ Malabar Gold unveils ‘Stud & Drops Festival’

MUSCAT: Al Siraj Hospitality, opened its door to their new brand restaurant ‘Bait Al Luban’, during the grand opening ceremony held recently, under the patronage of Eng. Mohsin bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Chairman of Muscat Municipality. Situated in Muttrah Corniche, this restaurant serves authentic Omani cuisine in a cultural ambience infused with the fabled scent of the nation ‘Al Luban’ - a source of hospitality, spirituality and pride of our rich heritage. Maitha bint Saif Al Mahrooqi, undersecretary of Ministry of Tourism, the US Ambassador Greta C. Holtz and other distinguished delegates from Oman also attended the occasion, says a press release. Talking about the inspiration of this restaurant, Khulood Mohammed Rashid Al Fannah Al Araimi, Director, Al Siraj Hospitality said, “It is our duty to highlight the Omani culture and heritage to our guests and to instil its value for

the future generations to ensure its sustainability. Globally, food is considered the best means to disseminate any culture as it reﬂects on the national tradition and culture. The House of Frankincense is not just a restaurant, but a house of Omani hospitality impregnated with the fragrance of frankincense. We are proud to be located at Muttrah, the heart of Muscat, where visitors can delve into a unique Omani experience. “ Khalid Mohammed Rashid Al Araimi, Director of Al Siraj Hospitality, added: “The Omani cuisine is the product of our commercial and maritime history, and from each country our ancestors anchored their ships in their long journey, they have brought back spices that have added brilliance and uniqueness to our Omani food.” “Bait Al Luban supports the local industry and therefore we are delighted to source our ingredients in Oman wherever possible. We are delighted to have a network

of local suppliers from whom we select the freshest seasonal products. This network includes fisherman, fruit and vegetable growers, poultry and meat farmers and specialist producers of items such as Omani honey and salted fish,” said the Head Chef Malik Al Jahdhami. The menu showcases dishes from around the country, such as mansheb from Salalah, and gheleambe, from Al Sharqiyah. Bait Al Luban endeavours to cater to all occasions. A guest can choose to sit on the traditional floor seating in true Omani style or enjoy the privacy of one of two cushioned private sitting rooms for more intimate groups or larger parties. The modern style dining area is for those who would like that added touch of luxury to their Omani fine dining. The best part about the restaurant is the balcony seats that overlook the vibrant corniche. The landscapes with various natural textures are a visual treat to the

eye, whilst savouring some authentic and customised Omani food. The view by night is a paradise in itself, with the background of the colourful Muttrah Corniche at dusk. “We’re using our walls in support of the local artists. Omani local artists can display their works of art at our restaurant and interested buyers can purchase these directly at our restaurant. We want to incorporate the Omani touch in all that we do, and hence encourage Omani talent and SMEs in whatever way we can. We welcome you to support this endeavour by dining at our restaurant.” Bait Al Luban is an excellent opportunity to indulge all your senses and enjoy the captivating Luban perfume aroma, while dazzling your eyes with the mystic colourful traditional charms. It’s an opportunity to embrace the serenity of the location and to enchant your palate in an endless and beautiful journey.

MUSCAT: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jewellery retailer announced the details of its unique campaign - ‘Stud & Drops Festival’ in the entire GCC and Singapore showcasing an extensive collection of earrings, giving their customers a unique chance to witness and own studs and drops from over 20 countries in gold, diamond and platinum. This one month long festival runs from March 1 to March 31, says a press release. The jewellery chain presents a marvellous range of ear rings and studs for today’s woman, keeping in mind the different roles she plays at work and at home and the way she adorn herself differently on special occasions and in everyday life. This exclusive festival gives customers a unique chance to choose from a stunning collection of earrings designed and

handcrafted by skilled artisans around the world, ranging from lightweight daily wear to heavy party wear in traditional as well as international designs to suit every occasion. Their branded jewellery, Erauncut diamond jewellery, Ethnix- hand crafted designer jewellery, Mine- diamonds unlimited, Divine- Heritage jewellery, Precia- precious gem jewellery and Starlet- kids jewellery will also be on display during the festival. Malabar Gold is always at the forefront when it comes to promotions and festivals. The immaculate collection of studs and drops are available at their outlets in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Singapore with their unique exchange offers and buyback policies. They offers lifetime free repair and maintenance service for all its products.

ELECTION

ISC, Salalah AGM on March 27 SALALAH: Indian Social Club, Salalah will hold its annual general body meeting at 10am on March 27 which will be followed by an election to the management committee of the club for 20152016. All bonaﬁde members of the club were requested to attend

the meeting and participate in the election, says a press release. The meeting will be held at the Sultan Qaboos multipurpose hall of the club. All members should carry their identity cards or membership receipts issued by the club.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

ROUND-UP Bank Muscat workshop highlights dynamics of investment portfolios Colin Morrison, an internationally recognised investment expert addressed the workshop

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the ﬂagship ﬁnancial services provider in the Sultanate, as part of its commitment to providing insight into the dynamics of investment portfolios, organised a workshop addressed by renowned investment expert Colin Morrison. The workshop which analysed risk and performance of investment portfolios was attended by key representatives of Omani pension funds, leading corporate and business houses, says a press release. The initiative to host the workshop stemmed from the com-

mitment of Bank Muscat Asset Management to provide valued partners with insight into risk and performance analysis, in order to help adopt successful strategies

to grow investment portfolios. Turning the spotlight on prevailing challenges and opportunities in growing investment portfolios, the workshop reiterated the bank’s

focus to further strengthen client relations with high standards of services and support. Colin Morrison is an internationally recognised industry ﬁgure with 30 years hands-on experience of managing, measuring and controlling portfolios and a long history of serving on industry standard setting committees. He provides consultancy for many of the largest asset managers in the world. Bank Muscat Asset Management manages diverse funds and portfolios ranging in size that

cater to a diverse clientele. With $1.8 billion assets under management (AUM), Bank Muscat Asset Management is the biggest fund manager in Oman as well as a leading player in the region. The dominant position endorses the performance of the funds under the mandate of Bank Muscat Asset Management and also the proven ability of the fund managers in challenging situations. Time and again, the performance of Bank Muscat Asset Management has been lauded by the global banking community. FREE EGG MCMUFFINS

BOLD AMBITIONS

Renault unveils expansion plans for the Middle East MUSCAT: Renault wants to triple its market share in Middle East, according to a press release. Announcing its 2017 plan and bold ambitions for expansion in the region, Renault also showcased the various new models that will be available in the area soon. With 11 new vehicles to be launched in the next three years, the French firm is aiming to sell 75,000 vehicles. Renault argues that the region remains a priority market worldwide and wants to triple its market share to 3% by 2017, says a press release. Renault’s offensive launched 2 years ago and has already started to show impressive results, with sales up by 72% in GCC and up by 46% in the region as a whole. Driven by outstanding organic growth, Renault is now the fastest growing generalist car brand. Speaking at the event, Peyman Kargar, Vice-President for the Africa Middle East India Region declared: “The Middle East is a key region for Renault. We have built an ambitious three-step growth plan for the coming years to gradually go from 3% market share and beyond. 2015 will demonstrate Renault’s acceleration and shows the path for the future.” With a line-up focusing on four main assets: seductive design embodied by the recently launched Captur, affordability of entry level models like the popular Duster, the passion for motorsport vehicles such as Clio R.S and innovation through Electric Vehicle solution. At the Yas Marina Formula 1 Circuit, Renault unveiled some of the new models that will be available in the region soon. Hakim Boutehra, Renault Middle East Managing Director declared: “We are confident in our 2017 ambitions for the Middle East Region with brand new models meeting market needs. As a first step in the plan, the recently launched Captur has made a promising debut in the UAE and KSA.” He added: “Renault

partners will continue to make major investments to enhance the network and cover the territory better. By 2016, all Renault showrooms will bear the colours of Renault Store concepts to offer high-end customer service.” New Renault Duster With a 10.5% segment share in 2014 and a growth of 73% vs. 2013, Renault Duster is proving popular in the GCC. In 2015, Renault continued its offensive in the SUV-S segment with the introduction of the brand new Duster phase 2. As the ﬁrst European model sold in the GCC, the new Renault Duster can count on its new exterior design and enhanced features (beige interior, touchscreen navigation, cruise control etc) to continue to entice more and more families looking for an affordable, robust yet fully-equipped SUV. New Renault Symbol Renault is making a comeback in the booming B segment with Renault Symbol, a status-enhancing yet affordable family sedan. Its modern design and attractive equipment package, combined with its roominess and low fuel consumption make the New Renault symbol the perfect sedan for families looking for value for money along with status and style. New Renault Dokker Van LCV leader in Europe for the last 10 years, Renault is bringing its expertise to the Middle East with the New Dokker Van. With comfort worthy of a passenger car, and a modularity catering for a wide range of professional needs, the Renault Dokker Van is the perfect van for SMEs to large companies, seeking an affordable, reliable and practical business companion. New Renault Zoe New 100% Electric Vehicle Zoe, the spearhead of Renault’s Z.E. range, is the brand’s ﬁrst fullyelectric car. It is ideal for daily

urban journeys and embodies Renault’s excellence in electric technology. The mobility-enhancing model features the most advanced technology in terms of range and user friendliness. It is a key symbol of the group’s commitment to the electric revolution. New Renault Clio R.S. The new Renault Clio R.S., the last model from the brand’s hot hatch tradition, is hitting roads in the Middle East. Using a turbo engine delivering 200 hp combined with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox with steering wheel paddle shifters for the ﬁrst time, the Renault Clio R.S. sports a distinctive and dynamic design highlighted by its Formula 1 strip on the front bumper, the rear diffuser with twin exhaust and the special 17” and 18” wheel rims. Packed with technology and fun with its three driving modes and R.S. monitor, the New Clio R.S. immerses you in the exciting world of motor racing. New Renault Captur The latest offensive of Renault in the SUV-S segment is now available in the GCC, already showing promising sales results. In a booming SUV-S segment (+26% in 2014 vs. 2013 in the GCC), Renault Captur brings uniqueness through its modern SUV look associated to its extended interior and exterior customisation programme, allowing customers to choose among 10 two-tone body colours and matching interior colours. Along with high-level practicality worthy of an MPV (Removable upholstery, Easy Life drawer, multi-position boot ﬂoor, sliding rear bench…) and the dynamism of a hatch thanks to its Tceturbo engine matched with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, new Renault Captur offers the best of three segments to demanding customers who do not want to compromise between design, roominess and efficiency.

McDonald’s to celebrate National Breakfast Day on March 9 MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants LLC) announced its participation in the brand’s third annual National Breakfast Day, among more than 6,000 McDonald’s restaurants in Asia, Middle East and Africa. On March 9 all McDonald’s restaurants serving breakfast in Oman will be giving away 1,000 free Egg McMuffins on a first comefirst serve basis, from 6am to 10am, says a press release. Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast–hence the name! Nutritionists eagerly stress on breakfast being the most important meal of the day and strongly advise on having a balanced one. McDonald’s provides a range of balanced breakfast choices to its customers. Ali K. Daud, Development Licensee and President of McDonald’s Oman, said: “We at McDonald’s recognise the value of a nourishing morning meal, and we are proud to serve our high quality breakfast menu daily. Offering a range of products, McDonald’s breakfast caters to a wide variety of customers looking for balanced choices, whether they are on the go, or looking to enjoy a relaxed and satisfying start to the day.” McDonald’s famous McMuffin breakfast range bears the Egg McMuffin, the Sausage McMuffin and Egg, and the ‘Sausage McMuffin all brought together with freshly toasted English muffin for a morning boost.

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

ROUND-UP SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP

Al Injaz School conducts sports meet MUSCAT: As part of its endeavour to inculcate the noble values of patience, determination, conﬁdence and a sense of true sportsmanship during school life in its students, Al Injaz Private School conducted its Sports Day Meet for Grades III - V on February 24 and for Grades VI – XII on February 25 on its Al Ansab premises. It was indeed enthralling to see the young Al Injazians take part in this sports meet with full enthusiasm and spirit, says a press release. Fatma Abdul Abbas Noorani, the Director of Supervision and Evaluation of the Omani Min-

istry of Education was the chief guest on February 24 and Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamed bin Saif Al Mahruqui was the chief guest on February 25. They appreciated

the school’s efforts in inculcating the balance between sports (indoor / outdoor) and academics (IGCSE / Bilingual). The march past and the dif-

ferent drills displaying yoga, ﬂag drill, game skills and aerobics were such a spectacular sight. This was followed by the track events and the fun games where one had the amazing opportunity to see the skills and speed compete at high levels. At the prize distribution ceremony, the chief guests honoured the winners with medals and certiﬁcates. It was a proud moment for the parents. The school having students of the Kindergarten to Grade XII constantly encourage them to take part in different sports activities.

alizz kicks off personal finance promotion The bank offers its customers, salaried and selfemployed, the best proﬁt rate offered by Islamic banks in the Sultanate to purchase furniture, electronics, equipment or other household appliances of their choice from Home Centre and Emax

MUSCAT: Aiming to be a preferred Islamic banking financier for personal needs, alizz islamic bank has announced the launch of its all new personal finance promotion for 2015 in partnership with all Home Centre and Emax outlets across the country. The new customer-centric campaign is designed to help both home furniture buyers and electronic retail and corporate buyers fulfil their financial needs with a competitive profit rate of 5.25%. Emax buyers can now purchase any product with a minimum purchase of OMR700. Home Centre buyers on the other hand need to have a minimum purchase of up to OMR1,000, says a press release. As part of this year’s personal finance campaign, the bank offers its customers, salaried and self-employed, the best profit rate offered by Islamic banks in the Sultanate to purchase furniture, electronics, equipment or other household appliances of their choice from Home Centre and Emax. Customers can finance up to 100% of the

E L A B O R AT E S P R E A D

items value, with fast approvals and simple documentation. Commenting on the campaign, Moosa Al Jadidi, Deputy General Manager – Head of Retail Bank alizz islamic bank said, “As one of the leading Islamic banks in the Sultanate, we are committed to our loyal customers for their commitment and confidence to alizz. alizz personal financing will support buyers to purchase their desired merchandise through easy purchasing.” The personal finance product offered by alizz islamic bank is ISC, SALALAH

The Bollywood offers unlimited Shahi buffet Charity Wing holds cultural programme MUSCAT: Muscat’s leading Indian restaurant, The Bollywood, has announced the all-new, unlimited Shahi buffet. While diners may already be familiar with the restaurant’s daily lunch buffet, the Shahi buffet takes things to the next level both in terms of taste and presentation. The elaborate spread has a wide range of classic vegetarian Indian dishes — from starters to dessert — that will leave guests spoilt for choice, says a press release. The Bollywood, owned by Khimji International, is known for its authentic vegetarian chaats, patties, sandwiches, Southern and Punjabi specialities and sweets. It draws food lovers from all over the city with its philosophy of great choice, taste and value for money. In keeping with this philosophy, the restaurant has launched its new, unlimited Shahi buffet that will be available between 12pm and 2.30pm every day.

It includes chaat, a soup and starter, a dry tandoori dish, two main courses, rice, roti and naan, daal, dessert and accompaniments. Some of these dishes are new additions to the existing lunch buffet offered by the restaurant. The new buffet also gets a boost in terms of presentation, with copper chaﬁng vessels being used to give it a more authentic look-and-feel. Yogesh Shah, GM, Khimji Restaurants Division says, “As the city’s most loved Indian restaurant for the past 16 years, we pride ourselves on understanding our guests like no one else. The Shahi buffet incorporates the most popular elements of Indian cuisine, and therefore offers a complete Indian dining experience at a price too attractive to resist.” The Shahi buffet is also available on takeaway orders. The Bollywood has long established itself as a destination for delectable food offering an array of mouth-watering dishes.

SALALAH: The Charity Wing of the Indian Social Club (ISC), Salalah, conducted their third annual cultural programme recently, at the ISC Open Air Auditorium, Salalah. D. Jagannathan, Convener, of the Charity Wing, welcomed the gathering. Manpreet Singh, chairman of the ISC, Salalah, was the chief guest and spoke on the occasion and detailed the proposed activities of the club in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee year of IndoOman Diplomatic relationship, says a press release. During the programme, Manpreet and Jagannathan jointly presented a cheque of OMR1,000 to Al Noor Association for Blind, Dhofar region and OMR500 to Omani Bhajha Orphan Society, Salalah. The officials of Al Noor and Bhajha Orphan Society spoke on the occasion, thanking and appreciating the kind gesture.

based on the Islamic principle of “Murabaha” and is approved by Sharia Supervisory Board. Under the Murabaha, alizz islamic bank purchases at the customer’s request the goods from the dealer and sell the same to the customer at an agreed price. The advantage is that the customer knows the bank’s proﬁt mark-up and instalment at the time of signing the deal, and it never changes throughout the ﬁnancing term. This arrangement allows for immediate possession and ownership of the goods.

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

ROUND-UP

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Khimji’s Watches brings German masterpiece Kieninger to Oman Kieninger clocks are a great combination of precious materials, exclusive designs and technical precision

MUSCAT: Khimji’s Watches, the one-stop destination for luxury, brings yet another masterpiece to Oman straight from Germany – Kieninger clocks. Founded in 1912 in the Black Forest Germany by Joseph Kieninger, Kieninger is the oldest ex-

isting manufacturer of mechanical movements for grandfather clocks, wall and mantel clocks in the world. A mechanical movement is one of the most powerful engines of the world — it works full 24 hours without any break and on every day of the year compared to other engines that have shorter lives. Kieninger clocks excel with a high level of design and manufac-

turing quality, says a press release. Michael F. Schutz, Managing Director, Kieninger said, “We are extremely happy with our tie-up with Khimji’s Watches. Kieninger clocks are known for their high level of elegance, craftsmanship and reliability. “To uphold these values, Khimji’s Watches is the right choice for us - their brands, their showroom

and their level of services and professionalism is outstanding. “Association with the Khimji’s Watches will do justice to our masterpieces and ensure us guaranteed performance.” Kieninger clocks are a great combination of precious materials, exclusive designs and technical precision. Says Anil Khimji, Director, Khimji Ramdas: “State-

of-the-art technology combined with selected woods, the ﬁnest materials and the experience of more than 100 years in crafting clocks and clock movements – Kieninger is truly a world class brand. Each Kieninger clock is a masterpiece of horology. It has gained its welldeserved reputation due to hard work of its owners. We look forward to a fruitful and lasting part-

nership with Kieninger.” Madhursinh Jesrani, General Manager, Khimji’s Watches expresses conﬁdence: “Our quest to offer luxury and quality to our customers continues and we now expand our portfolio of products by including clocks in it, for the ﬁrst time. Kieninger is the best name for grandfather clocks and wall clocks throughout the world and we want it to attain the same position in Oman too. We are certain that it will achieve a high level of success in the country.” From the very beginning, Kieninger has been manufacturing technically advanced, high quality mechanical movements and clocks. As a result today Kieninger is known around the world. The Kieninger clocks are counted among the classics of the industry and are invariably put on display in famous clock museums.

SUPPORT

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Lulu Salalah celebrated their 4th anniversary with a cake cutting ceremony held by the senior management and staff recently. — Supplied picture

Audi Oman powers PSM’s sports gala Oman, Ahmed Sharieﬁ, GM said: “We were honoured to be involved with a local establishment such as PSM, which is making a name for itself within the region’s sporting arena and would like to congratulate all the winners. It is great to support youngsters who are working hard at something they are really passionate about. We were happy to have been able to support the sports gala and wish the school’s upcoming sports talents every success.” Audi has always been known to support sporting talent and cultural excellence. The prime aim of Audi’s association with PSM’s sports gala has been to support and encourage young athletes.

MUSCAT: Audi Oman sponsored the Pakistan School Muscat’s (PSM) sports gala that was recently organised at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Bawsher. It is the ﬁrst time the school has had any kind of sponsorship for any of its sports events, says a press release. “It’s a privilege to be associated with a premium-brand like Audi. The school was delighted and appreciates the sponsorship of the sports gala event as our students have been working exceptionally hard and the support has deﬁnitely given them the boost they deserve,” said Khalid Jatoon, principal of the school. Speaking on behalf of Audi FOR AUDITORS

MARCH 27

Workshop on ‘Internal Auditing Indian music event planned Techniques’ on March 15, 16 MUSCAT: Al Osool Al Arabia will hold a two-day workshop on ‘Internal Auditing Techniques’ by Jose Chacko on March 15 and 16 at Haffa House Hotel. “The aim of this course is to give auditors systematic guidance on latest ‘Internal Auditing Techniques’. The course will cover all aspects of an auditor’s job right from the planning stage to successful execution,” said Jose Chacko. The course contains IPPF in details which will beneﬁt participants who are preparing to appear for CIA exam. In modern business environment, the internal audit function has become a major support function for management, the Audit Committee, the Board of Directors, the external auditors, and other key stakeholders. When properly designed and impleJ U I C E PA R L OU R

mented, the internal audit function can play a key role in promoting and supporting effective, organisational governance. This two day course is divided into 15 discussion topics and will include the emerging role of internal auditors, the interactions and requirements with the Audit Committee, Internal audit charter and

professional ethics. This course will cover data analysis and text analysis for auditors. With the successful completion of this course the participant will be able to have a thorough understanding of the applicable standards and present practices. Through team exercises, group discussion, and facilitator presentations, attendees will gain a knowledge that will allow them to prepare properly for and conduct a successful audit, using preliminary surveys and evidence-gathering techniques. A basic understanding of how to identify risks and internal controls in auditing will also be stressed, along with interpersonal and team-building skills. Risk management techniques and fraud risk assessment will be discussed in detail.

MUSCAT: Indian Classical Music has always been held in high esteem in the realm of world music. It stands out for its sheer beauty in both melody and rhythm. Adding to it, is the lyrics which when sung or played with the right Bhaava (emotions) and Taala (rhythm patterns) takes rasika (listener) to a different level altogether. It is with this sole objective, that Muscat based music connoisseur and highly reputed percussionist Balaji has planned Saamagana – A Day of Musical Enlightenment. Orbit Events Management, a well known events company, who have been organising mega cultural and corporate shows in Muscat, will be organising and managing the show, says a press release. This event is scheduled for March 27 at the Oman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace. Saamagana will feature two concerts, a child prodigy musician and who has retained his position in the music

S O F T WA R E D E V E L O P M E N T

world even after 40 + years, N. Vijay Siva, and a rising star who is a heart throb with the youth, Ramakrishnan Murthy. Both concerts will take place on the same day in the morning and evening. They will be ably accompanied on the violin by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi (the daughter of the legendary violin maestro Lagudi G. Jayaraman), on the mridangam by Bombay C. N. Balaji and Sumesh Narayananan, on the ghatam N. Guruprasad. All the accompanying artistes are highly sought after musicians and have accompanied many legendary musicians in India and in

various parts of the world. Both these concerts are a ‘must see’ event for all the discerning music lovers in Oman. To facilitate ease of understanding and to break the language barrier, for the ﬁrst time, we will have an interactive pictorial audio-visual presentation in English running along side the performances. In addition to their melliﬂuous voice, melodious accompaniments, understanding the soulful lyrics will make the experience magical. Presenters of Saamagana – A Day of Musical Enlightenment is Minara (Areej Vegetable Oils & Derivatives). Entry is only by invitation.

LUNCHEON

Nortal takes part in SQU software meet

Tropical set to spread wings MUSCAT: After 15 years of excellence in bringing guests the freshest and purest juices, smoothies and shakes, Tropical is spreading its wings to open three additional branches making it the ﬁrst 100% Omani brand of juice and ice cream parlours in the Sultanate. Seeb, Mabelah and Barka are the new stars of the show, says a press release. Tropical has maintained the quality and consistency of their product and have bigger plans to expand their reach in the coming years with a plan to establish more branches in all the regions of the Sultanate.

MUSCAT: Nortal, an international tailor made software development partner for public and private sectors with a highly skilled and active base in Oman, recently participated in the Free and Open Source Software Conference (FOSS) which took place at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) recently. Nortal, an Estonian company, has almost 50 strong staff working in the Sultanate which includes some of Oman’s most innovative software experts. The company has been operating in the Gulf region since 2008, says a press release. The FOSS conference, which was jointly organised by the Communication and Information Research Centre at SQU and the Information Technology Authority, saw an in-depth exploration of the importance of Free and Open Source Software to support the national Initiative on FOSS. The two-day event promoted awareness on the use and development of free and open software for all sectors of society including pro-

fessionals, students and the wider community in Oman. Peter Smitt, MD, Nortal, said of its work in Oman, “We have been working for the Oman market now for some time and we have been extremely successful in bridging the gap for open source technology and reliability. Oman is a great country with huge potential when it comes to open source technology. We are working in partnership with government organisations in the Sultanate in the area of open source technology and the response has been extremely positive.” Nortal enables businesses and organisations to embrace Open Source technology which makes

a positive impact on all aspects of Information and communications ranging from cloud computing to e-learning, e-government and ecommerce applications. Recently, Nortal celebrated achieving the prestigious GITEX award,the region’s leading accolade dedicated to cloud technology, for its work with Government departments in Oman to create a Government managed private cloud where information can be held and managed centrally. This allows all information systems to be maintained securely and easily and cuts down on IT infrastructure costs. Since 2011 Nortal has been working with the ministries across the Sultanate on a number of high proﬁle e-government projects including Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance and remodel the Oman One Stop Shop and to replace the existing back office system. Nortal is also leading a project to implement a new Tax Management System based on Open Source technology which will provide easy and user friendly access to the public.

Yahya Group honours long-term employees MUSCAT: Yahya Group Holding, a prominent company in Oman since 1970, honoured their head office long-term employees at a luncheon recently. Earlier this year Yahya Group division’s, Snowhite Laundry and Yahya Construction, held separate employee appreciation events recognising over 900 strong for their loyal service, says a press release. Yahya Group is an Omani leader in construction, laundry and real estate. They also work in hospitality with hotels in Europe

and North America. Attending the event was Managing Director, Naseeb Yahya Nasib and Directors, Natasha Yahya Nasib and Nashia Yahya Nasib along with the executive staff. Nasib commented how these head office employees have shown dedication in helping make the company what it has developed into, a innovative and dynamic enterprise. He especially wanted to recognise Srinivas Suresh who has worked for Yahya Group and its predecessors for over 39 years.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, MAR CH 3, 2015

SECTION

SPOR

YOUR GAME

AB DE VILLIERS LOOMS LARGE FOR IRELAND Ireland go into Tuesday’s World Cup clash against formidable South Africa in Canberra faced with a question that even fanciful Test nations have struggled to ﬁnd an answer for. >C5

Coach Al Azzani announces Oman U-23 team probables

Figo backs Fifa presidential TV debate proposal

Al Fazari, Hathim Sultan Al Rushdie (Sohar), Fahmy Said Rajab, Ahmad Faraj Al Rawahi (Al Nasr), Bilal Jalal Al Balushi (Oman), Hamad Said Al Habsi (Muscat), Al Harith Hamza Al Balushi (Al Shabab) and Mundhir Rabee’a Al Alawi (Al Wuhda). The Oman delegation also includes assistant coach Mohammed bin Khamis Al Araimi, goalkeepers trainer Harun bin Amor Al Bartamani, team manager Salah bin Thuwaini Al Araimi and physiotherapist Arif Said Al Mukhaini. All matches in the Group A qualifying round will be played at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex from March 23 when Oman begin their campaign against Bahrain in the inaugural match. The ﬁve-team group also comprises Iraq, Lebanon and Maldives. Oman play their next match against Lebanon on March 27. They play Maldives on March 29 and before concluding their engagements with a match against Iraq on March 31.

BERNE: Fifa presidential candidate Luis Figo is willing to take part in a live televised date with his three rivals, the former Portugal forward said on Monday. British broadcasters BBC and Sky have suggested the hour-long debate which would also involve incumbent Sepp Blatter and the other challengers, Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Michael van Praag. “Football is loved and cherished around the world and we owe it to the fans to have an open, honest discussion about the future of Fifa as the international governing body,” Figo said in a statement. “I fully support the idea of a public debate between the candidates as proposed by the BBC and Sky. “For this to work effectively, I believe all four candidates need to participate and I will be writing to the broadcasters to conﬁrm that position.” - Reuters

Oman under-23 team, who are preparing for the Group A qualiﬁers of the AFC Under-23 Championship, will undergo two training camps — in Muscat and in Dubai BIG CHALLENGE: A ﬁle photo of Oman national under-23 team. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: Oman national under-23 team coach Hamad Al Azzani announced a list of 25 probables for theforthcoming training-cum-conditioning camp to be organised in Muscat from March 8 to 12. Al Azzani boys, who are preparBOXING

Mary Kom decides to quit after Rio Olympics

NEW DELHI: Indian’s Olympic medal-winning pugilist M. C. Mary Kom on Monday said she has decided to quit boxing after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games as her body would not be able to cope with the rigours of the sport any further. The 32-year-old has been giving hints for some time that she may hang up her boxing gloves but on Monday she made it clear that the Rio Games next year will be her last competitive event. “I have decided that I will quit after 2016 Olympics. Rio Games will be my last competitive event and I will not continue after that,” Mary Kom said at the launch of a social media campaign here. “My third child is two years old and I think it’s enough for me. Who would have faced the rigours of competitive boxing after having three children? I want to bring happiness to the people of this country by winning a gold in Rio. I want to win a gold there and so I thought of continuing till 2016 Games,” May Kom, who won a bronze medal in 2012 London Olympics, said. Mary Kom said after the Rio Games she will concentrate on her boxing academy set up in Imphal which is expected to be inaugurated shortly by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I have planned out what to do after Rio Olympics. I will give my full time to my academy. I want to produce more Mary Koms, more world champions. I will also be available to support any social cause,” she said. “Prime Minister told me to inform him before the inauguration of my academy. The academy is in the ﬁnal phase of completion and I am expecting the PM to inaugurate it,” Mary Kom said. - PTI

ing for the Group A qualiﬁers of the AFC Under-23 Championship, will also camp in Dubai from March 13 to 19. The Sultanate will be hosting the Group A qualiﬁers from March 23 to 31. The 25 players selected by Al Azzani are: Ahmad bin Khalfan

Al Siyabi, Abdulaziz Mubarak Al Ghailani, Saud Khamis Al Farsi (Sur), Basil Abdullah Al Rawahi, Mazen Masoud Al Qasmi, Azzan Mahmood Al Tamtami (Fanja), Anwar Khusaib Al Hinai, Muhannad Abdullah Al Hassani, Hathim Khamis Al Hamhami (Al Nahda),

Mohammed Faraj Al Rawahi, Nadir Awadh Basheer, Abdulmajid Said Bait Shamas (Dhofar), Mahmood Mabrook Al Mushaifri, Hassan Said Al Saadi, Yasin Khalil Al Shiyadi (Suwaiq), Khalid Ahmad Al Hamdani, Omar Mohammed Al Malki (Seeb), Omar Talib

FOOTBALL

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

SPORTS

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Ahmad’s Al Nabooda Racing eye double success in Bahrain

in Bahrain

who has not had the best of luck in his first season with the team, but he’s a fighter and can play a crucial role for us in Bahrain,” said Rao. Bahrain International Circuit, which hosts the final two rounds of the series on April 18 and 19, has been a happy hunting ground for Al Nabooda Racing. They clinched the team title at the circuit in both of the last two seasons, and Schmid has won seven of the last eight Porsche GT3 Cup races staged in Bahrain. “Clemens certainly has a liking for the track, but Ahmad is looking forward to the last two rounds there as well, and we’re hoping he gets better fortunes because he works hard and deserves it.”

MUSCAT: Al Nabooda Racing believe they have taken a decisive step towards clinching another double title success in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East which is heading for a big climax at Bahrain International Circuit next month. After an incident-packed race weekend at Dubai Autodrome, the defending champions hold an eight-point advantage in the team

Team standings: 1. Al Nabooda Racing (UAE) 351 pts; 2. SKY DIVE Dubai Falcons (UAE) 343; 3. Classic Arabia Racing (KSA) 258; 4. Team Bahrain (BAH) 218; 5. Frijns Structural Steel ME (QAT) 199. Driver standings: 1. Clemens Schmid (UAE) 240 pts; 2. Zaid Ashkanani (KUW) 228; 3. Saeed Al Mehairi (UAE) 177; 4. Charlie Frijns (NED) 170; 5. Hasher Al Maktoum (UAE) 166; 6. Raed Raffi (BAH) 138; 7. Fahad Al Gosabi (KSA) 122; 8. Wolfgang Triller (GER) 121; 9. Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) 111; 10. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 101.

Defending team champions keep sights ﬁrmly on Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East team and driver titles as series heads for a big climax

A CONFIDENT LOT: Al Nabooda Racing’s Omani driver Ahmad Al Harrthy, left, with team manager

Vijay Rao and teammate Clemens Schmid. – Supplied photo

standings while Clemens Schmid leads the drivers’ title race by 12 points. “This puts us in a strong position, and while things can change so quickly in racing, we feel conﬁdent that we can secure the team

championship for the third year in a row,” said Al Nabooda Racing team manager Vijay Rao. “After his back-to-back wins on our home circuit in Dubai, Clemens will be looking to do the same in Bahrain, and he’ll be very hard to beat.”

Schmid’s teammate, Ahmad Al Harthy, was battling for a podium ﬁnish in Round 9 of the GT3 Cup series last Saturday when he was unwittingly barged off the circuit and out of the race. “It was very tough on Ahmad

FOOTBALL

Di Maria will get back to his best: Rooney LONDON: Angel Di Maria is a great player and will rediscover his best form for Manchester United after enduring a difficult time of late, captain Wayne Rooney said. The 27-year-old Argentine has done little to justify the British record transfer fee of £59.7 million ($92 million) United spent to recruit the ﬂying winger from Real Madrid. Di Maria, who has scored three goals in 19 Premier League games this season, was taken off at halftime during United’s 2-0 victory over Sunderland on Saturday but Rooney believes the Argentine will come good at Old Trafford. “It (Saturday) was just one of those days that every footballer has,” Rooney told the club’s website (www.manutd.com). “He is a great player, he has shown that and you don’t lose your talent overnight. Hopefully, he will get back to his best and start giving some great performances for us. “He has got a lot of experience and I think he will ﬁgure it out, we all have to do that sometimes. There is nothing worse than when everyone keeps going on at you. “You have to come to it in your own way and I am sure he will be a big player for us between now and the end of the season.” - Reuters

OMAN CRICKET

ISM A emerge Under-13 champions

MCCC A STAR: Muzahir.

HAPPY BUNCH: ISWK players celebrate their victory over ISAS. – Supplied photos

MUSCAT: Indian School Muscat A (ISM A) thumped Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre B (MCCC B) by 10 wickets to grab top honours in the Junior League Under-13 tournament. Earlier their Under-16 team claimed the top spot in the Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored Under 16 tournament. Opting to bat ﬁrst, MCCC B were bowled out for a measly 68 runs in 17.2 overs. The damage was caused by Vrishab who claimed three wickets in four overs. Chahel and skipper Prathamesh S. grabbed two wickets each. ISM A in reply reached their target scoring 70 for no loss in 4.1 over with a blazing 41 from opening batsman Azam Ali.

MCCC A win thriller Muscat Cricket Coaching Centre A (MCCC A) recorded a thrilling last ball win against Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) in another Junior League T20 Under-13 match. Electing to bat ﬁrst, a ninemember PSM, aided by a brilliant unbeaten 116 off 67 balls from opening batsman Muhammad Basit and 24 from his partner Abdullah Iftikhar, scored 184 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Muzahir Raza picked up two wickets. MCCC A in reply managed to reach their target off the last delivery thanks to a stubborn 84 from No. 3 batsman Muzahir Raza while Tej P. Nikkund chipped in with a useful 20.

TOKURA THRILLS OMANI FANS International freeSCAN THIS QR CODE style footballer Kotaro TO INSTANTLY VISIT Tokuda, affectionARTICLE, PHOTOS ately known as Tokura, W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M wrapped up his twoweek tour of Oman that was action-packed and adrenaline-fuelled until the very last show. With his originality, the Red Bull’s Japanese athlete thrilled the fans, performing several times a day touring universities across the country in Muscat, Sohar, Nizwa and Salalah. He visited a total of six universities including Waljat College, College of Banking and Financial Studies, Mazoon College, Sohar Medical College, Nizwa University and Salalah College of Technology. The 2012 Red Bulls Street Style world champion also performed at various other venues, including Horizon Gym, Left Bank, On the Rocks, Marina Bandar, Muscat Grand Mall, Ooredoo and Sohar Mall. — Supplied photo

Brief scores: MCCC B 68 in 17.2 overs (Vrishab 3/16, Chahel 2/4, Prathamesh S. 2/6) lost to ISM A 70 for no loss in 4.1 overs (Azam Ali 41 n.o). Points: ISM A - 2 (11 games, 20 pts), MCCC B - Nil (10 games, Nil).

Brief scores: PSM 184 for 4 in 20 overs (Muhammad Basit 116 n.o., Abdullah Iftikhar 24; Muzahir Raza 2/37) lost to MCCC A 186 for 4 in 20 overs (Muzahir Raza 84, Tej P. Nikkund 20). Points:

MCCC A - 2 (10 games, 9 pts), PSM - Nil (11 games, 11 pts).

SLSM down ISM B Sri Lankan School Muscat (SLSM) recorded an easy six-wicket win against Indian School Muscat B (ISM B) in a Junior League Under-13 match. Batting ﬁrst, a 10-member ISM B team were restricted to 106 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Varun Deepak top scored with 26 runs. Vehan Dewage claimed three wickets and Yazid Makoon bagged two. In reply, SLSM scored 107 for the loss of four wickets in 13.1 overs thanks to contributions from opening batsman Yazid Makoon (40) and skipper Udantha Palihawadana (34 not out). Bharat Ramakrishnan took three wickets. Brief scores: ISM B 106 for 7 in 20 overs (Varun Deepak 26, Parikat Nalin

24 n.o., Bharat Ramakrishnan 21; Vehan Dewage 3/18, Yazid Makoon 2/12) lost to SLSM 107 for 4 in 13.1 overs (Yazid Makoon 40, Udantha Palihawadana 34 n.o.; Bharat Ramakrishnan 3/16). Points: SLSM – 2 (10 games, 10 pts); ISM B - Nil (11 games, 9 pts).

Easy for ISWK In another Junior League T20 Under-13 match, Indian School Wadi Kabir (ISWK) registered a 31-run win against Indian School Al Seeb (ISAS). Batting ﬁrst ISWK scored 159 for the loss of six wickets in 20 stipulated overs. Skipper Shah Nouman top scored with 77 runs. ISAS in reply were bowled out for 128 runs in 20 overs. Brief scores: ISWK 159 for 6 in 20 overs (Shah Nouman 77, Joshin Vincent 25) bt ISAS 128 in 20 overs (Mohammed Sameer 26, Gaurav Negi 26; Yash Mehta 2/24, Vishnu Gopalakrishnan 2/25). Points: ISWK – 2 (10 games, 17 pts), ISAS - Nil (11 games, 19 pts).

PA I R S E V E N T

Suhail and Nitin clinch bridge crown MUSCAT: Suhail Khan and Nitin Vaidya emerged the champions of a pairs bridge tournament organised by Muscat Bridge League (MBL) at Ruwi Hotel recently. In a tournament, which attracted 12 pairs, Suhail and Nitin took top honours with an impressive score of 66.67 percent. Gautam Mukherji and Raman Giridharadas managed a creditable score of 62.59 percent to take the second place. Ghulam Mohi-

uddin and Suman Pajankar combined well and ﬁnished third with a score of 60.74. Joginder Singh and Harminder Shawney did well to come fourth with 56.3 percent.

The prize for the best ladies’/ mixed pair went to the regular combination of Neeta Khimji and Anjali Talwar. They ﬁnished ﬁfth in the ranking.

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

TODAY’S MATCH POOL B: IRELAND V SOUTH AFRICA (7:30AM OMAN TIME)

CRITICS CRANK UP HEAT ON

WAT SON

The 33-year-old all-rounder divides his compatriots div like no other player and calls for him to be dropped cal from a side expected, by Australians at least, to win a Aus ﬁfth World Cup next month ﬁft have reached fever pitch hav

Australia’s selectors, however, have remained Au steadfastly loyal to Watson — when he has not stead been suffering from one of the many soft tissue injuries injur that have blighted his career. In the t dark days after the 2010-11 Ashes humbling, bling that loyalty may have been down to a lack of choice, but Mitch Marsh and James Faulkner ch are now n genuine threats to Watson’s position as Australia’s premier all-rounder, in the 50-over Austr format form at least.

ustralians might have been stunned by the collapse of their much-vaunted batting line-up in the face of brilliant New Zealand bowling at the weekend but the fall of one particular wicket was no surprise to anyone. Shane Watson, batting at number three, had scrapped his way to 23 runs off 30 balls in threequarters of an hour when he took an almighty heave at a Daniel Vettori delivery and picked out Tim Southee fielding on the legside boundary. The big Queenslander was certainly not to blame for the skittling that followed but exasperation at his ability to throw away a solid start to an innings was soon surging through the Twittersphere on a wave of bile. Watson used to take flak for his inability to convert half centuries to centuries but recently his problem has been progressing from scores in the 20s and 30s, when a batsman is considered to have played himself ‘in’. The 33-year-old all-rounder divides his compatriots like no other player and calls for him to be dropped from a side expected, by Australians at least, to win a fifth World Cup next month have reached fever pitch.

‘Pampered. self-involved’ ‘Pam It is no blind loyalty, however, and his career ﬁgures ﬁgure since his one-day international debut in 2002 stand up to the toughest of scrutiny. With Wi the bat, despite his predilection for being dismissed lbw, he has averaged 50 in three d World Worl Cup campaigns and his overall one-day average avera hovers around the 40 mark. It was w Watson’s record for the fastest 150 in One-day Internationals that AB de Villiers betOnetered with his 162 from 66 balls against West Indies Indie on Friday. Watson’s right-arm medium pace has taken 164 wickets in 182 matches at 31.29 and he has shown over the years an ability to winkle out a batsmen in the middle overs to break-up promising partnerships. “I think they should keep him,” Brian Lara said on Sunday when asked about Watson’s position in the side. “His past performances suggest that at some point in time he is going to come good.” The barrel-chested righthander won the Allan Border medal as Australia’s best cricketer in 2010 and 2011 — only Watson, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke have won the award more than once. That Watson scored 41, 16 and 82 in his three innings before his golden duck against England in the tournament opener could suggest the antipathy towards him in some quarters might not be just about his skills as a cricketer. Watson banked a cool A$4.5 million ($3.51 million) last year as Australia’s best paid cricketer, according to business magazine BRW, and will perhaps be forever tainted by his role “homework-gate” scandal on the India tour of 2013. “He is a handsome player of abundant talent,” Gideon Haigh, the current doyen of Australian cricket writers, wrote of him at the time. “He is also wealthy, pampered, immature and self-involved.” - Reuters

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

C O M M E N TA RY

Player of tournament so far in my book has got to be McCullum

esterday was the first rest day of World Cup 2015 since the tournament began a fortnight ago, and quite a fortnight it’s been. We haven’t seen too many upsets, barring Ireland’s win over the West Indies, even if it’s clear that some of the established teams are doing a lot better than others. Two outcomes look pretty certain to me. New Zealand and India are firmly on course to finish toppers of their respective groups having both come out on top against their strongest challengers over the past week. The current champions have certainly left their recent troubles behind. It’s almost like they woke up the moment they heard the words ‘World Cup’. Australia got off to a rousing start against England but were unfortunate that bad weather led to the abandonment of their second game against Bangladesh. That saw them square off against Trans Tasman rivals New Zealand in Auckland, a match tipped by many as a potential final, after a two week break. The encounter certainly lived up to its billing which was great for the fans who thronged Eden Park and feared the high prospects of a one sided affair when Australia were skittled out for just 151. Without taking anything away from Trent Boult’s incredible display, I felt Australia were a let down with the bat. But you can never write off the four-time world champions from any contest, and the brilliance of another left-arm seamer, Mitchell Starc, dovetailed with some questionable shot selection by a few Kiwi batsmen set the game for a nail biting finish. Starc was really getting it to swing and his double strike just after the dismissal of the dangerous Brendon McCullum must have triggered panic

in the New Zealand dressing room. Pressure can sure do some incredible things! For Australia, the upcoming clash against Sri Lanka is now looking fairly certain to be a battle for the runner-up spot in the group, especially after the latter’s commanding win over England. Scores of 300 have proven hard to chase in this World Cup, but it sure doesn’t offer you any guarantees in this era of ODI cricket with the new rules and when you also consider the smaller grounds in New Zealand. England were given a painful reminder of that by Sangakkara and Thirimanne who executed Lanka’s reply to perfection. Mind you, their life was made easier by an England bowling attack who just haven’t found ways to take wickets and were visibly lacking a plan B. The pressure is back on Eoin Morgan’s men now as defeat in either of their remaining two games could see them suffer an embarrassing early exit. In terms of individual heroics, and there sure have been a good number of them, the performances by Tim Southee against England and Mitchell Starc against New Zealand stand out when it comes to the ball. Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Sangakkara and Shikhar Dhawan headline your list of batting exploits, but the player of the tournament so far in my book has got to be Brendon McCullum. The Kiwi skipper is not a young bloke anymore but he knows his game and has led his team with tremendous aplomb. — PMG

MITCHEL STARC TRENT BOULT

Swing kings offer hope of checking the run riot It was a case of ‘back to future’ as conventional swing bowling from New Zealand’s Trent Boult (ﬁve for 27) and Australia’s Mitchell Starc (six for 28) proved too much for batsmen used to hitting through the line of straight deliveries

SYDNEY: Prior to this World Cup, there were plenty of pundits forecasting the tournament would descend into an orgy of run-scoring, with bowlers reduced to cannon-fodder. Their worst fears appear to have been realised with 14 scores of 300 and over already and the group stage not yet complete. The record for most 300-plus totals in a single World Cup has been broken in each of the last three editions — 2003 (nine), 2007 (16) and 2011 (17) — and 2015 is heading the same way. Yet hope for long-suffering bowlers arrived in the unlikeliest of settings. Before Saturday’s clash between co-hosts New Zealand and Australia in Auckland, there was much speculation about the damage the power-hitters on

both sides might do given Eden Park’s short straight boundaries. But the result was a low-scoring thriller, with just 303 runs made in total, as New Zealand clung on to win the match of the tournament so far by just one wicket. It was a case of ‘back to the future’ as conventional swing bowling from New Zealand’s Trent Boult (five for 27) and Australia’s Mitchell Starc (six for 28), admittedly both something of a rarity given they are left-arm quicks, proved too much for batsmen used to hitting through the line of straight deliveries. New Zealand prevailed after making 152 for nine in reply to Australia’s 151 all out, with the bowlers on both sides well-supported by attacking fields. Significantly, New Zealand’s

Daniel Vettori — whose brand of orthodox left-arm spin has been overshadowed by an emphasis on ‘mystery’ tweakers, played a key role in slowing Australia’s runrate with two for 41 in 10 overs. ‘Defend new ball’ Australia captain Michael Clarke labelled his side’s batting as “horrendous” and said they needed to revisit some old-fashioned basics. “I think sometimes in T20 cricket and one-day cricket you can get caught up working on the power side of your game,” said Clarke. “I don’t think we have had too many training sessions where we have worked on the start of our game and actually defending the brand new ball or the swinging ball and that’s an area we can focus on because I think you face conditions like that all around the world, not just here in New Zealand. “The ball is going to swing and we have some work to do with the bat.” England’s two recent matches in Wellington highlighted the difference between what can happen when the ball swings — and when it doesn’t. Against New Zealand, they were shot out for just 123 as right-arm seamer Tim Southee, getting the ball to move in the air, took seven for 33. Yet on Sunday, with James Anderson and Stuart Broad rarely getting the ball to deviate, England were unable to defend a tar-

get of 310 as Sri Lanka eased to a nine-wicket win on the back of hundreds by Lahiru Thirmanne (139 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (117 not out). There remains a feeling that, with bigger bats, increased ﬁelding restrictions and two new balls, One-day cricket has become unfairly weighted against bowlers. South Africa batting great Barry Richards, speaking before the New Zealand-Australia match, suggested bowlers be allowed to rub the ball in the dirt, something banned under current rules, in one-day games to gain reverse-swing. Richards, who in his 1970s globetrotting heyday used a relatively light bat by modern standards, also called for weight restrictions to the blades wielded by such heavy-hitters as West Indies opener Chris Gayle, who smashed a World Cup record 215 against Zimbabwe on February 24. “The pressing of cricket bats has to be controlled and the thickness in their edges. Maybe there can also be a designated sweetspot area for bats,” Richards told the Sydney Daily Telegraph. “Ours used to be about the size of a 50 cent piece but now they are much bigger...These are just a few of my ideas, because batsmen have it too easy,” said Richards. Those who faced Boult and Starc last weekend might disagree. - AFP

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

De Villiers looms large for Ireland How does one tame the rampaging AB de Villiers before he destroys the rivals’ bowling attack, dents their morale and leaves them dumbstruck by what just hit them?

CANBERRA: Ireland go into Tuesday’s World Cup clash against South Africa in Canberra faced with a question that even fanciful Test nations have struggled to find an answer for. How does one tame the rampaging AB de Villiers before he destroys the rivals’ bowling attack, dents their morale and leaves them dumbstruck by what just hit them? The West Indies once more suffered at the hands of the South African captain who, despite a stomach illness, smashed an audacious 162 off 66 balls with 17 boundaries and eight sixes in Sydney on Friday to fashion a 257-run win. It was against the same team that de Villers smashed the fastest one-day century off 31 balls at home in January, prompting former Australian dasher Adam Gilchrist to call him the “most valuable cricketer on the planet.” The Proteas, one of the pretournament favourites, needed the brutal attack by their 31-yearold captain to steady the ship after they were stunned by India by 130 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground a week ago. De Villiers was run out for 30 in that match by a brilliant throw from the deep by Mohit Sharma, which must make Ireland wonder if that is the only way to see the back of him. But the proud Irish, whose cricket has developed rapidly under their West Indies coach Phil Simmons, will look to run the mighty Proteas closely after winning their first two games in the tournament. Ireland chased down a challenging West Indies total of 304-7 at Nelson with four wickets and 25 balls to spare on the back of halfcenturies from Paul Stirling (92), Ed Joyce (84) and Niall O’Brien (79 not out). Simmons, the former West Indies opening batsman, insisted the result was not an upset because his team was now capable of matching skills with the more established teams. “It excited me the way we played against the West Indies,” said Simmons. “They played four fast bowlers, thinking we would not be able to cope with the speed. It’s the best I’ve seen the team play and it augurs well for the future.” Ireland overcame wayward bowling in their next game in Brisbane to allow the United Arab Emirates to pile up 278-9, but the batsman kept their nerve to win in the final over with the ninth-wicket pair at the crease. If other results go their way, even one win from their four remaining games against South Africa, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe could see Ireland qualify for the quarterfinals. However,

FORMIDABLE TEAM: South Africa, who still remain one of the favourites for this edition, is likely to ease past Ireland in Canberra. FA C T B O X

Strong bench key to South Africa’s World Cup campaign CANBERRA: South Africa’s impressive depth was underlined in their emphatic World Cup win over West Indies on Friday and with paceman Vernon Philander and JP Duminy out injured, the Proteas will again rely on their “bench” to shine against Ireland. Captain AB de Villiers may have grabbed the headlines with his sparkling 162 off 66 balls against the Caribbean side but South Africa’s reserves gave the team a big boost after their conﬁdence was rocked by the 130-run thrashing by India. Rookie batsman Rilee Roussow scored 61 off 39 balls after replacing Duminy in the middle order, while Kyle Abbott, in for seamer Philander, took two wickets, including the prized scalp of West Indies talisman Chris Gayle for three runs. All-rounder Farhaan Behardien said building a strong bench had been an “emphasis” for South Africa for some six months leading into the World Cup. “We played against the West Indies in South Africa, and... our bench was so strong,” Behardien told reporters at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, where they play Ireland on Tuesday. “Rilee, what a wonderful

past records favour South Africa against the Irish, who progressed from the ﬁrst round in their inaugural appearance at the World Cup in 2007 but were knocked out in the group stages four years later. Ireland have lost all three one-

PART OF THE BENCH STRENGTH: South Africa’s middle-order batsman Farhaan Behardien prac-

tises in the nets for their upcoming Pool B match against Ireland at the Manuka Oval. – AFP

player. He came in and scored two hundreds in South Africa against the West Indies when he was on the bench. “(All-rounder Wayne) Parnell was on the bench against West Indies, picked up four wickets in the last ODI, and similarly (leftarm spinner) Aaron Phangiso is waiting in the wings, and when he steps up to the plate, he’ll be asked to do a job. “The squad of 15 is vitally important to our cause, and going forward, you never know there might be an injury or somebody

day internationals against South Africa so far. In their last meeting at the 2011 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Proteas thumped them by 131 runs. Still, the Irish can be expected to blast away at the batting friendly

might pick up a stomach bug or whatever. The emphasis is on the 15 instead of 11.” After playing West Indies in Sydney following the India loss in front of 87,000 at Melbourne, Behardien said the team were enjoying the relative quiet of the Australian capital. Two players, paceman Dale Steyn and batsman Faf du Plessis, have been worried about events back home however, tweeting pictures of a bush-ﬁre near family homes south of Cape Town.

Manuka Oval wicket where West Indies opener Chris Gayle hammered a World Cup record score of 215 against Zimbabwe last week. South Africa’s only worry will be the underwhelming form of pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who

Family members have travelled with the South Africa camp to Canberra and Behardien said a good support structure was in place to help Du Plessis and Steyn, who will play his 100th one-day international against Ireland. “We all know what a wonderful performer he’s been over the years,” Behardien said of the 31-year-old fast bowler. “We’ll try and celebrate his 100th game with a win and we’ll be ﬁghting tooth and nail come tomorrow.” - Reuters

has claimed just three wickets in the ﬁrst three games at a high average of 47.66. With de Villiers’ team almost certain to qualify for the knock-out rounds, Steyn will be needed to be at his best if South Africa are to have a shot at their

IRELAND Captain: William Porterfield Coach: Phil Simmons Squad: Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Beat West Indies by four wickets Beat United Arab Emirates by two wickets Remaining fixtures: Zimbabwe (March 7), India (March 10), Pakistan (March 15) Top performers: Joyce (121 runs), Dockrell (four wickets) SOUTH AFRICA Captain: AB de Villiers Coach: Russell Domingo Squad: De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Beat Zimbabwe by 62 runs Lost to India by 130 runs Beat West Indies by 257 runs Remaining fixtures: Pakistan (March 7), United Arab Emirates (March 12) Best performers: De Villiers (217 runs), Miller (180 runs), Tahir (nine wickets) Head-to-head April 3, 2007 - South Africa won by seven wickets in Providence, Guyana June 24, 2007 - South Africa won by 42 runs in Belfast March 15, 2011 - South Africa won by 131 runs in Kolkata

maiden World Cup title. An unlikely bowling hero for the Proteas is leg-spinner Imran Tahir, whose nine wickets so far is only behind the New Zealand seam duo of Tim Southee (13) and Trent Boult (10) in the leading bowlers’ list. - AFP

IMRPOVING SAFETY

Mooney delves into medieval history for helmet boost CANBERRA: Ireland fast bowler John Mooney has delved into medieval history to improve his own batting helmet at the World Cup in the aftermath of the Phillip Hughes

tragedy, Irish media reported on Monday. The 33-year-old Dubliner designed an attachment, which he calls a “gorget”, to protect the neck at the back and side of the head. A

“gorget”, from the French word for throat, was a crucial part of suits of armour worn in the Middle Ages that protected the neck and throat. “It’s a very simple idea and it’s

designed to attach to existing helmets,” Mooney said. He said he started work on the attachment after a cousin was hit on the neck in a club game last year, and his work in-

tensiﬁed when Australian batsman Hughes suffered his fatal blow in November. “It’s something myself and my father-in-law were working on. He’s an architect and pretty

useful with his hands too and we set about designing an extra grille to ﬁx at the back of the helmet. Safety is something I was very aware of before what happened to Phil.” - AFP

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

We won’t be intimidated by Proteas: Porterfield

FIVE MAGIC MOMENTS

Five magic moments at the 2015 Cricket World Cup as the tournament had its ﬁrst rest day on Monday: Captain Morgan or invisible man? England captain Eoin Morgan was introduced as ‘Eoin Rogers’ by the mayor of Wellington when the team arrived in the New Zealand capital. Morgan, 28, shrugged off the gaffe: “I’ve been called a lot worse. She got the hardest part right.” Rambo inspires Afghanistan Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid Hassan has become a cult hero, charging in with bandanna strapped tightly around his head, with cheeks painted in the colours of the Afghan ﬂag. He admits his hero is Rambo but unlike Sylvester Stallone’s on-screen lone wolf, he performs a nifty cartwheel when he takes a wicket. Hassan was also at the non-striker’s end when Shapoor Zadran hit the winning runs in the historic win over Scotland.

The Proteas, who have won all their three one-dayers against the Irish so

Gayle takes tweet revenge If West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron was trying to get Chris Gayle ﬁred up when he retweeted a call from a fan to pension off the star opener, it certainly did the trick. “Gayle goes... Can’t buy a run. Let’s give him a retirement package ... Can’t fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation,” was the post retweeted by the Windies boss. Two days later, Gayle smashed the ﬁrst ever World Cup double century in the win over Bangladesh. Cameron apologised for his blunder. “No offense intended. Full apologies extended. Rally round the West Indies,” he wrote on Twitter.

far, are overwhelming favourites to win the Pool B encounter at the Manuka Oval that will bring them closer to the quarterﬁnals

CANBERRA: Ireland captain William Porterfield is confident his team will not be overawed by the mighty South Africans in Canberra on Tuesday, saying they had made good plans to contain AB de Villiers’ side. The Proteas, who have won all their three one-dayers against the Irish so far, are overwhelming favourites to win the Pool B encounter at the Manuka Oval that will bring them closer to the quarter-finals. Ireland’s hopes will rest largely on how they keep the rival batsmen quiet, especially de Villiers, who smashed an audacious 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies in Sydney last week. Porterfield admitted it will be a challenge to bowl to the South African captain and other batsmen like Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, but added the task to contain them was not impossible. “You can sit all day and talk about him and different theories and plans and whatever, but you’ve got to stick with your best ball and how you go about things,” he said. “The bowlers have got to back themselves and back the field that’s been set. We have individual plans for each of their batters, and hopefully we’ll see the back of them early.” Ireland have won both matches so far in the tournament, chasing down the West Indies’ 304-7

Joyce freed on bail Ireland’s Ed Joyce had a lucky break when he survived the ball hitting the stumps while batting against the United Arab Emirates in Brisbane. Amjad Javed thought he’d struck with his fourth ball when an inswinger beat left-hander Joyce’s defence and caused the LED lights on the bails to ﬂash. But although the off-bail was disturbed, it landed back in its groove and Joyce, who stood his ground as seamer Javed celebrated prematurely, was not out. Joyce was eventually out for 37.

DANGER MAN: Ireland captain William Porterﬁeld admitted it will be a challenge to bowl to the

South African captain AB de Villiers (in picture) and also Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis.

with four wickets and 25 balls to spare before edging past the United Arab Emirates in a final-over thriller. If other results go their way, even one win from their four remaining games against South Africa, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe could see Ireland qualify for the quarter-finals. Porterfield said his team will take the confidence of those two wins into Tuesday’s game. “South Africa are a great side and we have to be on the money again,” he said. “We’re taking each game as it comes and it’s not going to be any different for tomorrow’s game. “It’s about going through the same processes and being in the same mindset and getting

yourself prepared for the start of ball one tomorrow.” Porterﬁeld said he was not surprised by the support the associate nations like his have got after the International Cricket Council announced tentative plans to reduce the next World Cup from 14 to 10 teams. “I think it was always going to be a talking point coming into this tournament,” the captain said. “You’ve got to grow the game and I don’t see why it (the World Cup) has to be cut down. “We are improving, every nation out here is improving. We’ve just got to go out there and play well to make a statement.” South African all-rounder Farhaan Behardien said his team

rated Ireland highly and looked forward to Tuesday’s clash. “Look, every game is a big game and Ireland are not ones to be taken lightly,” he said. “We have done a good analysis on them...like we do for every other team.” South Africa have won two of their three games so far and former captain Graeme Smith hoped the bench strength will be tested against both Ireland and UAE. “I don’t foresee either Ireland or the UAE causing too many problems,” Smith wrote on the tournament website. “I am certain the entire squad will be given an opportunity to play over these two games also allowing for key players to rest.” - AFP

Afghanistan to win World Cup, says robot A New Zealand robot predicted World Cup glory for Afghanistan although even the machine’s programmer said such an outcome was unlikely. The University of Canterbury’s robot Ikram made the prediction using software developed by doctoral student Eduardo Sandoval. When the ﬂags of the 14 participating nations were placed in front of the robot it selected Afghanistan. “Of course this is unlikely, but with cricket the result can always be unexpected,” Sandoval said. - AFP

S TA N D I N G S POOL A

Teams New Zealand Sri Lanka Bangladesh Australia Afghanistan England Scotland

M 4 4 3 3 3 4 3

W 4 3 1 1 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 1 2 3 3

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

N/R 0 0 1 1 0 0 0

Pts 8 6 3 3 2 2 0

Net RR +3.589 +0.128 +0.130 -0.305 -0.760 -1.201 -1.735

3 3 2 4 4 3 3

3 2 2 2 1 1 0

0 1 0 2 3 2 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 4 4 4 2 2 0

+2.630 +1.260 +0.338 -0.313 -0.723 -1.373 -1.326

POOL B

India South Africa Ireland West Indies Zimbabwe Pakistan UAE

WORRIES BACK HOME

Mountain fires worry Steyn ahead of landmark match CANBERRA: South African fast bowler Dale Steyn plays his 100th one-day international on Tuesday looking to regain top form despite being distracted by mountain fires raging near his home in Cape Town. “Massive fire behind my house in Stonehurst! Plz be safe and watch out for the mountain animals trying to escape it, porcupines, tortoises.” Steyn tweeted. Team-mate Faf du Plessis had the same worries too, tweeting “Crazy mountain fire near my new house. Hope they can stop the fire before it does more damage.” Steyn was slated to address the pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Pool B match against Ireland at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, but was replaced by Farhaan Behardien at the last minute. The 31-year-old Steyn, who was down with flu a few days before the start of the World Cup, has managed just one wicket in each of South Africa’s first three

matches against Zimbabwe, India and the West Indies. There are small pickings for one of the most destructive fast bowlers in the modern game and Steyn will be needed to be at his best if South Africa are to have a shot at their maiden World Cup title. Behardien was conﬁdent the mountain ﬁres were not going to stop either Steyn or du Plessis from celebrating the landmark one-dayer. “Of course it does affect you in some sort of way, but we have quite a strong support structure around us, the people, the friends and the family that’s here,” Behardien said. “If there’s any opportunity to help them out or comfort them, we will do so, but I don’t foresee it being a problem at all for both Dale and Faf. “It’s just one of those things. But the World Cup is quite important, it’s actually very important.”

Steyn’s 100th one-dayer has come 10 years after his debut, indicating how he chose to pace himself in the shorter format to concentrate on Test cricket. Behardien said he had faced Steyn in domestic matches but was glad that they were on the same side more often than not. “It’s not fun facing Dale Steyn when he’s at full tilt,” the allrounder said. “We all know what a wonderful performer he’s been over the last 10 years, the number one Test bowler. “The ﬁre and energy he brings to the bowling unit is awesome. A hundred caps is a wonderful achievement. Something I aspire to do, something most cricketers aspire to do. “One hundred caps playing for your country is a massively proud moment. We will try and celebrate his 100th game with a win. We will be ﬁghting tooth and nail come tomorrow.” - AFP

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 1 5

Faulkner eager to kickstart campaign

RESPECT

Faulkner’s recovery is timely for Australia

All I can control is about getting back out on the park and giving myself a chance of playing again. The rest isn’t my job and it’s not for me to worry. That’s their decision at the end of the day

given fast bowler Pat Cummins is set to miss Wednesday’s match after he suffered a side strain during the thrilling one-wicket Pool A defeat by New Zealand in Auckland last weekend

James Faulkner

Australian all-rounder PERTH: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner said Monday he was raring to go against Afghanistan after fearing his World Cup might be over before it had started. Last month, Faulkner suffered a side strain while bowling during Australia’s 112-run tri-series ﬁnal win over England in Perth — a match where he smashed a 24-ball 50 not out featuring four fours and as many sixes — and left the ﬁeld at the WACA visibly in pain But now the 24-year-old Tasmanian hopes the same ground will witness his 2015 World Cup debut against tournament newcomers Afghanistan on Wednesday. “I’d be lying to say I wasn’t frustrated at the start,” Faulkner told a news conference at the WACA on Monday. “Any time you get injured it’s a shocking feeling. “And to do it at the time it happened, it was obviously quite hard to take at the start. W H O WA S C H O K E D ?

Maxwell mocked for Kiwi ‘choke’ gesture SYDNEY: Australia’s Glenn Maxwell was both mocked and praised Monday after video emerged of him making a ‘choking’ gesture just moments before Kane Williamson launched the giant six that won Saturday’s World Cup clash for New Zealand. Maxwell, a controversial batsman dubbed ‘The Big Show’ by Australian media, was fielding in the deep when he turned to a section of the 40,000 crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park and jokingly placed his hands around his throat to suggest that the home side were about to fail chasing their modest 152-run target. But the Kiwis, who had lost five wickets for 15 at one stage, had the last laugh and claimed a place in the quarterfinals when, with the last pair at the wicket, Williamson sent his match-winning six high into the stands. The video clip was uploaded to Facebook by New Zealand fan Sam Holt and by Monday afternoon had attracted more than 173,000 views, liked by 65,000 people and shared 3,000 times. “This was Maxwell just before Kane Williamson tonked that 6 to win it... How’s that for crowd / player banter?,” wrote Holt. - AFP

“But it has given me some time to freshen up and get my body feeling good again. “Hopefully it holds me in good shape come the end of this tournament.” Faulkner bowled several overs in the WACA nets on Monday and, provided there are no ill-effects, he should be available to face Afghanistan. “I think I was lucky being a left arm bowler and a right arm batsman, it wasn’t the same side (bearing the strain) when I was batting,” he said. Faulkner’s recovery is timely for Australia given fast bowler Pat Cummins is set to miss Wednesday’s match after he suffered a side strain during the thrilling onewicket Pool A defeat by New Zealand in Auckland last weekend.

Fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood looks in line to take Cummins’s place. But with Shane Watson again under pressure after giving his wicket away against New Zealand and Glenn Maxwell not making much of an impression at Eden Park, Faulkner could replace one of his fellow all-rounders. “I’m not too sure what they want to go in with, that’s purely up to the selectors,” Faulkner said. “All I can control is about getting back out on the park and giving myself a chance of playing again. “The rest isn’t my job and it’s not for me to worry about. That’s their decision at the end of the day.” As well as the drama of Saturday’s climax, there was the light relief of Maxwell’s ‘choking’ gesture to spectators as New Zealand lost

nine wickets chasing a mere 152 for victory. But Kane Williams ensured Black Caps fans in a capacity crowd at Eden Park had the last laugh when he sealed victory with a superb straight six off Cummins. Faulkner insisted Maxwell’s gesture and the loss itself had both been consigned to history by his team-mates. “I saw it from the sidelines,” Faulkner said. “After the game everyone put that aside and we knocked that on the head.” Australia will look to return to winning ways with a full haul of points against Afghanistan, having managed just three from their ﬁrst three matches after a 111-run win over England was followed by a washout against Bangladesh and last weekend’s loss to New Zealand. — AFP

O U R WAY

Dhoni wants Team India to remain ‘mentally fresh’ PERTH: Indian team’s irregular sessions may have surprised many but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that it is better to do three days of “high intensity” training rather than six days of “mediocre” workout to keep fresh in a marathon tournament like the cricket World Cup. The Indian team practiced two out of four days (travelling day is used for training) in between their matches against South Africa and UAE. The same two-training-days out of the available ﬁve days is being used by Dhoni and Co for their match against West Indies at the WACA on Friday. “What we’re doing is dividing the workload, trying to practice on alternative days. Three days of high-intensity practice is better than six days of mediocre practice,” Dhoni made it clear after the UAE match as to what exactly his views are on everyday net sessions. In fact whatever the Indian skipper said made a lot of sense. The team has played at all the venues since the start of the Test series and there won’t be any major change in the character of wickets in a space of few weeks which would need them to do any special or extensive homework. “If you extend the Australia series till World Cup, it’s a fourﬁve month tour on the whole. If you talk of conditions, then we

Indian captain MS Dhoni.

know everything about the conditions. We’ve played at almost all the venues so we know how the wickets behave,” Dhoni was categorical in his observation about the rest days that have been interspersed between some of the training sessions. For Dhoni, it is important that the team remains “mentally fresh” for a seven-week tournament. “When you’re constantly playing cricket, then what matters more than net sessions is rest especially, when you’re playing a long series. Being mentally fresh is very important. We’re mixing it. Even an off day is only an off day on the ﬁeld. We do gymnasium or pool sessions or try to play

a bit of tennis - all these things to keep ourselves fresh,” Dhoni explained. During their 2011 triumph, Team India had beautifully phased their campaign and peaked at the right time and Dhoni, with some unavoidable ‘tweaks’, wants to follow the same pattern. “The attempt will be to do the same thing (pacing their campaign) but not everything always goes according to plan. When new challenges crop up, you need to be ready for them. All our plans, our practice sessions, maintaining ﬁtness --everything has so far gone well for us,” the skipper sounded satisﬁed. The main focus for Dhoni right now is to further improve upon their already impressive performance and maintaining the momentum that they have gained. “As we enter the knock-out stages, we’ll need to improve our performance and maintain it,” the skipper insisted. The skipper as usual sounded dismissive about popular opinions on training sessions and strategies going into the knockout phase. “A lot of people have different opinions, but it’s better if we don’t pay heed to others’ opinions and do what we feel within the team is right.” - PTI

HUMBLE: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson

Afghanistan no surprise for New Zealand coach AUCKLAND: New Zealand coach Mike Hesson insisted Monday that the high-flying Black Caps will pay Afghanistan the utmost respect having tracked the Asian minnows’ astonishing progress at close range. Hesson briefly coached Kenya in 2011 and 2012 with the African side coming up against the Afghans in second-tier events. The 40-year-old will renew his rivalry with them in the World Cup in Napier on Sunday. “They have three guys who bowl over 140km/h and they can swing it,” he said of quicks Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan. “Generally, their batsmen don’t die wondering. It should be a good contest. We have to show them due respect and make sure we put in a good performance.” New Zealand have won all four games in Pool A and have already secured their spot in the quarterfinals while Afghanistan can still gate-crash the last-eight, standing just a point behind Australia after losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka before edging Scotland by one wicket. Their next challenge is taking

Generally, their (Afghanistan) batsmen don’t die wondering. It should be a good contest. We have to show them due respect and make sure we put in a good performance Mike Hesson on four-time champions Australia in Perth on Wednesday. “We’ll do our scouting on Afghanistan and we’ll prepare the best we can. We’ve still got a lot to achieve in the next few weeks,” said Hesson, whose team secured their quarter-ﬁnal spot on Saturday with a nail-biting one-wicket win over Australia in Auckland. - AFP

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

Dalmiya seals comeback as India’s cricket board chief The 74-year-old Jagmohan Dalmiya, who turned India into cricket’s financial powerhouse, is credited with helping in transforming the game into a lucrative global sport. He served ICC as president from 1997 to 2000 and as BCCI chief from 2001 to 2004

Dalmiya was elected unopposed as president of the BCCI as part of a deal which observers say will allow the embattled incumbent N. Srinivasan to stay on as head of the ICC

NEW DELHI: Jagmohan Dalmiya, who turned India into cricket’s financial powerhouse before being unceremoniously dumped by his peers, returned as board president Monday in place of the sport’s scandal-hit global supremo. Dalmiya was elected unopposed as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as part of a deal which observers say will allow the embattled incumbent Narayanaswami Srinivasan to stay on as head of the International Cricket Council (ICC). “Jagmohan Dalmiya has been elected as the president of BCCI,” Gokaraju Gangaraju, who was himself elected vice-president of the board at the meeting in the southern city of Chennai, said by phone. “We look forward to working under his leadership.” The election caps a remarkable comeback for Dalmiya, who helped bring about a massive expansion in the BCCI’s financial muscle in the 1980s and 90s by negotiating mega television deals before being ousted a decade ago over allegations of misappropriation of funds. His return was made possible after Srinivasan’s camp mobilised to thwart another former BCCI president, Sharad Pawar. Pawar had been angling for a return but failed to persuade any regional association to nominate him. However one of his close allies, Anurag Thakur, narrowly won the contest for the powerful position of secretary of the board in a sign that Dalmiya and Srinivasan will not necessarily get to call all the shots. Srinivasan had been forced to stand aside after the Supreme Court found him guilty of a conflict of interest over his ownership of a team in the Indian Premier League, the BCCI’s money-spinning Twenty20 tournament. His position had become increasingly precarious ever since his son-in-law was accused of betting on matches involving the Chennai Super Kings, a team owned by Srinivasan’s company India Cements. However, observers say Srinivasan, who cut his teeth under Dalmiya, will remain a powerful

ﬁgure behind the scenes and the board will use its inﬂuence to ensure he can extend his tenure as president of the ICC, the game’s Dubai-based world governing body, in elections later this year. The 74-year-old Dalmiya is credited with helping to turn the game into a lucrative global sport. Dalmiya shot to fame when he, along with bureaucrat Inderjit Singh Bindra, broke Australia and England’s hold on the International Cricket Council to win the

right to host the 1987 and 1996 World Cups on the subcontinent. He went on to become ICC president from 1997-2000 and BCCI president from 2001 to 2004. Television revenue expanded massively under Dalmiya’s tenure and the boards of smaller Testplaying nations — desperate to attract tours by India so they could sell the television rights — would usually fall in line behind the BCCI when it came to key decisions within the game.

Cleared of wrongdoing While Dalmiya effectively handpicked his successor Ranbir Singh Mahendra, he was marginalised the following year when Pawar beat Mahendra to become the president after a bitterly-contested election. Later the same year, Pawar got Dalmiya expelled from the BCCI for alleged misappropriation of funds and for his refusal to provide documents pertaining to hosting the 1987 World Cup.

Dalmiya challenged the decision and in 2007 both the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court cleared him of any irregularities. He returned as president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) in 2007 and was back in the BCCI fold. Veteran cricket journalist Ayaz Memon said the power struggle between Pawar and Srinivasan would effectively continue even though neither man is now an office-bearer. He described Dalmiya as a Srinivasan “proxy”. “They will fight but within the four walls of the BCCI office,” he said. Jayaditya Gupta, executive editor of Cricinfo, said Dalmiya was a consensus candidate but questioned whether he had the same clout as when he was in his prime. “He is a bridge between two very large and very powerful camps,” Gupta said on the website. “Twenty years ago, 30 years ago, yes he was a man with a lot of energy and a lot of ideas and he really changed world cricket then but I think his time may have passed.” Cricket’s status as the dominant sport among India’s 1.2-billion strong population has led to regular power struggles within the BCCI. International news organisations, including Agence FrancePresse, have suspended their onfield coverage of matches hosted by the BCCI after the board imposed restrictions on picture agencies. - AFP

‘BCCI priority is to restore conﬁdence of people’ CHENNAI: Newly-elected BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur today said the Cricket Board’s priority is to restore people’s faith and improve the game’s image in the country. Veteran administrator Jagmohan Dalmiya was today unanimously elected President of the BCCI but the N Srinivasan camp suffered a setback when Thakur, considered close to the rival Sharad Pawar faction, beat Sanjay Patel for the post of Secretary at the Board’s Annual General Meeting. “Every member of the BCCI is committed towards the betterment of the game. I can assure everyone that we will take all necessary steps to strengthen the board, strengthen cricket and take cricket to new heights,” said Thakur. Asked whether it was Srinivasan’s victory or Dalmiya’s, Thakur said, “I think it is the victory of cricket. “Our utmost priority is to restore the conﬁdence of the people in cricket and to work on the image of cricket and the Board.

“I personally feel the members of the Board will join to work in that direction, especially to reach the new heights in the ﬁeld of cricket.” Clear message If he had contested in the elections because he wanted to clean the image of the Board, 40-year-old administrator said: “I think the message is very loud and clear that all of us as the members of the BCCI are keen to work together and change the image or restore the faith of people in the game of cricket.” Thakur, the President of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, insisted that it was an important election at a very crucial time. “It is not about individual’s victory. This is a victory that I dedicate to all the members, who have given me an opportunity to work. I am not a newcomer in the BCCI...I have been here for around 17 years. “I have seen many ups and downs in the Board. I have seen many elections, which

were very very close. This was also one of the very important elections at a very crucial time, which the BCCI is going through. I am sure all the members of the BCCI would give our best to restore the faith of people,” said Thakur. Elaborating on the decisions taken at the AGM, Thakur said: “Many committees have been decided, which are the statutory committees. And for the rest we are in the process of forming those committees. There are usually two ICC meetings, one attended by presidents of each boards and chief executives. Ongoing process But the BCCI has still nominated Srinivasan and not Dalmiya and when Thakur was asked about the move, he said: “this decision has been taken for the next six months till the next AGM takes place. “There is an ongoing process...many committee members who are a part of various committees and still have 6-7 months to go for the next AGM,

which is due in the month of September,” he said. “So all of us agreed to continue with that process, so that the working of the Board is not affected by the change in the committee,” said Thakur. On why it took 20 months for the opposition to come together, Thakur said: “I think it is not about opposition. It is about the timing when the elections are due. “So when the AGM was due and elections were held, I think the members have come forward and voted. You think Dalmiya will be able to act independently, he said: “Why not? He has been in the board for more than last 30 years, so I don’t see any reason.” “He is being elected unanimously,” he signed off. “I have seen many elections, which were very very close. This was also one of the very important elections at a very crucial time, which the BCCI is going through. I am sure all the members of the BCCI would give our best to restore the faith of people.” - PTI

‘POSITIVE INFLUENCE’

Kevin Pietersen

‘No change’ for Pietersen’s England hopes: ECB LONDON: “Nothing has changed” for Kevin Pietersen’s hopes of playing international cricket again, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Sunday, despite incoming chairman Colin Graves appearing to leave the door open for the exiled batsman’s return. Sacked by England a year ago and later released by county side Surrey, the 34-year-old Pietersen appeared to have severed any chance of returning to international cricket following the release of his controversial autobiography. Pietersen berated a number of former teammates and ECB officials in his book, and national selector James Whitaker said late last year there was no way he would “ever get back into an England team”. But in an interview with the BBC, Graves refused to rule out Pietersen’s return. “The first thing he has to do if he wants to get back is start playing county cricket,” Graves said. “The selectors and the coaches are not going to pick him if he’s not playing, it’s as simple as that. “At the end of the day it’s down to the selectors and coaches and what they feel is best for English cricket. “They will make the decisions and I will support them when it comes to that decision.” Pietersen told British media he was excited about the development, but the ECB later issued a statement that appeared to pour cold water on the chances of his reinstatement. “Colin Graves is correct. Nothing has changed -- only players who are playing consistent highquality county cricket and who are seen as a positive influence will be selected for England,” the statement said. The “positive influence” was interpreted by British media as an attempt to row back on Graves’ comments. “Positive influence claptrap proof that some at ECB can’t tell which way wind is blowing,” Daily Telegraph cricket writer Nick Hoult tweeted. Pietersen has existing contracts in the Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League T20 tournaments and was non-committal about forgoing them in a bid to restart his international career. “To be honest it’s only happened in the last three hours and I’m not going to hassle anyone yet. I’ll have to go away and make a few decisions, speak to some people and see where my future lies,” he told Sky Sports. - Reuters IMPRESSIVE

India are big tournament team: Hogg PERTH: Former Australia left-arm spinner Brad Hogg is in awe of the current Indian cricket team’s fielding abilities and feels the defending champions are a “big tournament team” and have become the favourites to lift the World Cup. “The thing which impressed me most about India is their fielding,” Hogg said. “We saw against South Africa the other night, they had two crucial run outs of (AB) de Villiers and (David) Miller and turn the game around. It took the game away from South Africa. “That extra pressure on the field is going to help their bowlers and batters. That’s why I feel they are starting to become the favourites for the World Cup.” Hogg said: “They (India) are big tournament team. I think they probably have settled down. They had had two months here and all their plans on how to go about in Australian conditions are working.” - PTI

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM T U ES DAY, MAR C H 3, 2 0 115 5

MISOPHONIA

the flapping sounds of fury A CONDITION WITH H WHICH CERTA CERTAIN SOUNDS CAN DRIVE SOMEONE INTO A BURST OF RAGE OR DISGUST MAY BE PREVALENT IN MANY OF US

can’t stand it when someone behind me at a movie chews popcorn with his or her mouth open. I mean, I really can’t stand it. I have misophonia, a condition dition with which ich certain sounds sound can drive someone into a burst of rage or disgust. Although only identified and named in the last 20 years, misophonia has been enthusiastically embraced, with websites, Facebook pages and conferences drawing small armies of frustrated visitors. As a primary care physician, I find that misophonia can present some special challenges: At times, my patients can be the source of annoying sounds. At other times, the condition can be a source of special bonding if I realise that a patient is a fellow sufferer. But some experts question whether misophonia really exists. By naming it, are we giving too much credence to a series of symptoms that are no big deal? Coined by the married researchers Margaret and Pawel Jastreboff of Emory University in 2002, misophonia (“hatred of sound”) is sometimes referred to as selective sound sensitivity syndrome. Like me, those with the disorder identify a series of specific sounds that bother them. A 2013 study by Arjan Schröder and his

colleagues at the University of Amsterdam identiﬁed the most common irritants as eating sounds, including lip smacking and swallowing; breathing sounds, such uch as nostril noises and sneezing; and hand sounds, such as sn i typing and pen clicking. The range of responses to these noises is broad, from irritation to disgust to anger. Some sufferers even respond with verbal or physical aggression to those making the noises. One woman reported wanting to strangle her boyfriend in response to his chewing. Researchers are only beginning to understand the science behind misophonia, but early data suggest a hyperconnectivity between the auditory system and the limbic system, a part of the brain responsible for generating emotions. Some studies have found associations between misophonia and other psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, but many sufferers appear to have no other major emotional problems. Schröder and other researchers are developing speciﬁc diagnostic criteria. Like most people with misophonia, I had symptoms long before I had heard of the condition. When I lived in New York City, I was much more sensitive than my roommates to nois-

Are you annoyed by people — eating or chewing loudly, nasal voices, animal sounds, environmental sounds, visuals, and other sounds that seem to drive you crazy?

es from adjacent apartments. When dogs are left outside barking late at night, I ﬁxate on the noise and cannot fall asleep. Chewing noises, particularly from behind me, are enormously irritating, as are people who perpetually sniff their mucus back into their nostrils rather than blowing their noses and ending the noise. Fortunately, I have not — at least so far — experienced nearly the rage of some of my fellow sufferers. For me, one of the most frustrat-

ing aspects of misophonia is what I call the “incredulity incredulity factor.” For years, ye I could not believe that my friends and relatives were not getting as upset at what I considered rude behaviours. They were getting frustrated with me for focusing on sounds they did not really hear. One of the advantages of deﬁning misophonia is that it reminds those with the condition that only a small percentage of the population — no one knows the exact number — is aff fected. As one commentator wrote online, “I had to learn this is MY problem, not the problem of other people.” Sometimes those people are my patients. For example, I recently saw a man whose sleep is interrupted nightly by what he believes is someone moving furniture in the apartment above his. He can rarely fall asleep again, again in part because of his anger. In such cases, talking to my patients about misophonia can help them understand why they are so sensitive to the offending noise. The website misophonia.com offers a sample doctor letter that patients can bring to educate their health care professionals about the condition. Truth be told, I also see patients who exacerbate my misophonia. Loud yawners are particular offenders. I have also seen patients whose saliva is audible every time they

speak. During such encounters, I su work to put aside my negative emotions and focus on the patient’s concerns, reminding myself that some of the sounds that irritate me are involuntary. I also remind myself that I am a professional whose primary responsibility is to the patient. Indeed, this type of behavioural conditioning is one of the recommended approaches to dealing with misophonia. Using cognitive behavioural therapy, patients may learn how to distract themselves or substitute white noise or other sounds to avoid becoming angry at others. If there is an accompanying psychiatric disease, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help. Removing oneself from the source of the noise can work, but is not always practical. Research into better treatments is continuing. continuing So, will misophonia exist decades from now? As knowledge of the brain improves, sensitivity to sounds may be included among other psychiatric or neurological conditions. But for now, the diagnosis remains a godsend to many. “I can’t believe this! There are others!” one woman wrote in response to an online posting. Another commenter agreed. “I am so relieved,” she wrote, “to know I am not crazy.” -Barron H. Lerner/The New York Times News Service

C10

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you seem to know that there is something special in store for you, and this knowledge is likely to drive you to attempt those things that others might call foolhardy or even impossible. No matter! You weather criticism well, and you’re not one of those to be frustrated by others who would tell you “no.” Indeed, “yes” is really all that you hear in life! You see the future as one great opportunity to be explored fully, and you trust that if you allow yourself to do so freely, following your instincts and taking advantage of your remarkable strengths, then you will surely make the most of that opportunity — both professionally and personally. You are possessed of tremendous charm and charisma; there are few who are not affected by you even upon a ﬁrst meeting. Indeed, everyone is likely to remember the very moment you entered his or her life — and how it felt! You are destined to make your mark and be remembered not only for what you do, but for who you are. Also born on this date are: Jessica Biel, actress; Alexander Graham Bell, inventor; Herschel Walker, football player; Jean Harlow, actress; Jackie JoynerKersee, Olympic athlete; James Doohan, actor; Miranda Richardson, actress.

W E AT H E R

WORLD

Max 29 Min 16 Max 1 Min 1

Max 22 Min 12

Max 29 Min 22 Max 8 Min 2

Max 28 Min 21

Max 3 Min 1

Max 31 Min 17

Max 31 Min 14

Max 33 Min 15

Max 31 Min 21

Max 27 Min 17

[Feb. 19-March 20] Max 26 Min 21

Max 17 Min 10

—www.met.gov.om

Max 31 Min 22 Max 28 Min 19

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

27 26 27 26 24 27

18 18 17 13 18 16

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

19 22 4 7 -3 23 31 9 22 13 22 32 16 10 29 30 10 -5

10 9 -7 1 -5 9 24 1 15 3 11 24 9 3 17 23 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] If travel is in the picture for you, you’ll want to give yourself some extra time, just in case. Don’t fall behind!

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] One of those old habits that you rarely think of is likely to impact you quite seriously throughout the day.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] If something goes wrong, you can ﬁx it and get everyone back on track — but you may ﬁnd yourself lagging behind afterward.

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] You are not likely to have the time to transition smoothly from one endeavor to another. Be ready for a rather bumpy ride!

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] A warning received some time ago is remembered as you face a challenge that seems vaguely familiar. A voice rings clearly in your head.

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] You may want to enjoy a little downtime, but there are many pressing matters that will keep you from relaxing completely.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may ﬁnd yourself travelling here and there and back again many times throughout the day to get others properly in position.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] What appears to be only entertainment — at least on the surface — will prove rather educational to you when all is said and done.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You have every reason to think that you’ll come out on top, but one familiar fear may have you considering alternatives.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You’ll see from what others choose to do that your own choices are more than just valid — they are, in fact, superior.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’re counting the days — or perhaps even the hours — until that which you’ve been waiting for is near at hand. Stay focused on assignments.

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

Daily

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

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

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)

6.10pm 6.28am

High tide Low tide

8:43pm 2:40am

7:22am 2:00pm

SEA STATE: Light to moderate along most of the coastal areas of the Sultanate with a maximum wave height of 1.5 metres. HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog formation. THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of Dhofar, southern AlSharqiya, northern Al-Sharqiya and Al-Wusta.

Max

OMAN

ARIES

12.24pm 3.45pm 6.15pm 7.25pm 5.13am

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chance of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches over governorates of southern Al-Sharqiya, northern alSharqiya and Al-Wusta. EXPECTED WIND: Northeasterly light to moderate along Oman Sea coast becoming southwesterly light during night. Southerly to southwesterly light to moderate along Arabian Sea coast. Over rest of the Sultanate wind will be northwesterly light to moderate becoming variable light at night.

PISCES Whatever happens to you, you are likely to see it in a positive light and know that there are valuable lessons to be learned.

PRAYER TIMINGS

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; Ruwi 24811715 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

TUESDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY636 WY406 WY682 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY910 WY916 NL768 PK281 PK225 TK774 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 GF560 FZ041 WY658 4H562 WY638 WY902 WY678 WY686 WY412 WY114 WY144 WY154 WY692 WY674 WY668 WY132 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 FZ043 WY272 G9114 WY236 WY242 WY346 WY252 EK862 QR1128 EY382 WY3302 QR8550 WY604 WY918 G9841 GF562 WY424 WY372 FZ037 IX337 WY904 WY818 PK191 WY606 BG023 WY324 IX817 WY920 WY906 WY3304 KU677 WY632 FZ045 G9119 WY328 WY204 WY292 WY246 WY610 WY264 WY232 WY216 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 WY3306 SV534 WY822 G9116 WY646 TG507 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY224 WY124 WY386 4H561 AI973 WY624 6.00E+81 WY374 WY312 WY914 FZ049 WY254 AI907 QR1134 WY928 UL205 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY672 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY696 WY717

WEDNESDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

ABU DHABI 0005 CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 SALALAH 0125 LAHORE 0130 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0200 KARACHI 0215 ISTANBUL 0215 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0355 ABU DHABI 0405 BAHRAIN 0405 DUBAI 0415 BAHRAIN 0640 JEDDAH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 MEDINA 0700 RIYADH 0700 AMMAN 0705 FRANKFURT 0715 MALPENSA 0720 ZURICH 0720 DAMMAM 0725 JEDDAH 0730 DOHA 0735 PARIS 0800 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 TEHRAN 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 DUBAI 0850 JAIPUR 0855 SHARJAH 0915 HYDERABAD 0920 DELHI 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0930 MADRAS 0940 DUBAI 0940 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 MUKHAIZNA 1045 DOHA 1050 DUBAI 1110 KHASAB 1115 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 BEIRUT 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1200 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 BANGKOK 1305 GWADUR 1320 DUBAI 1330 CHITTAGONG 1345 KARACHI 1355 MANGALORE-ABU DHABI 1440 KHASAB 1445 SALALAH 1445 MUKHAIZNA 1445 KUWAIT 1525 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 SHARJAH 1555 LAHORE 1600 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DELHI 1730 DUBAI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 HYDERABAD 1740 TRIVANDRUM 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 BAHRAIN 1810 MUKHAIZNA 1845 RIYADH 1900 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 SHARJAH 1915 KUWAIT 1925 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1935 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 COCHIN 2045 MUNICH 2105 MALE 2110 DACCA 2115 DELHI 2125 DUBAI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 COLOMBO 2140 CHITTAGONG 2140 SALALAH 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2155 MADRAS 2200 DOHA 2210 SALALAH 2220 COLOMBO 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 MEDINA 2250 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 DAMMAM 2350 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2355

WY636 WY406 WY682 WY676 WY648 WY816 WY910 WY916 PK229 TK776 QR1132 EK866 GF560 EY384 FZ041 WY114 WY658 4H562 WY638 WY902 WY686 WY144 WY674 WY668 WY644 WY132 WY602 WY202 WY432 WY102 NL768 FZ043 G9114 WY342 WY242 WY236 WY226 EK862 WY252 WY282 IX443 QR1128 EY382 IX549 9W530 WY3922 WY604 WY918 G9841 GF562 WY372 FZ037 WY384 IX337 WY904 PA450 WY3302 WY818 WY606 WY324 WY906 WY920 WY632 FZ045 WY348 WY3304 WY656 WY216 WY204 WY292 WY246 WY610 WY264 WY274 WY232 QR1126 WY664 EK864 GF564 WY822 G9116 WY254 WY646 FZ047 WY338 WY614 WY848 WY124 AI977 WY386 KL441 AI973 WY624 6.00E+81 9W534 WY312 FZ049 AI907 WY914 QR1134 GF566 BA073 EY388 WY414 WY908 AI985 WY662 LX242 9W540 LH618 WY612 WY654 WY928 WY696

ABU DHABI 0005 CAIRO 0005 RIYADH 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0010 BANGKOK 0015 SALALAH 0030 SALALAH 0125 LAHORE 0215 ISTANBUL-BAHRAIN 0255 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0355 BAHRAIN 0405 ABU DHABI 0405 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0610 BAHRAIN 0640 JEDDAH 0645 ABU DHABI 0650 SALALAH 0655 RIYADH 0700 MALPENSA 0720 JEDDAH 0730 DOHA 0735 KUWAIT 0735 PARIS 0800 DUBAI 0805 BOMBAY 0815 TEHRAN 0815 LONDON HEATHROW 0820 LAHORE 0830 DUBAI 0850 SHARJAH 0915 LAHORE 0920 DELHI 0920 HYDERABAD 0920 COCHIN 0930 DUBAI 0940 MADRAS 0940 BANGALORE 1000 COCHIN 1010 DOHA 1010 ABU DHABI 1015 TRIVANDRUM 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1035 DUBAI 1110 KHASAB 1115 RAS AL KHAIMA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1200 MALE 1205 CALICUT 1210 SALALAH 1215 LAHORE 1215 MUKHAIZNA 1230 BANGKOK 1305 DUBAI 1330 KARACHI 1355 SALALAH 1445 KHASAB 1445 ABU DHABI 1530 DUBAI 1555 ISLAM ABBAD 1625 MUKHAIZNA 1630 BAHRAIN 1630 TRIVANDRUM 1705 BOMBAY 1710 CALICUT 1720 DELHI 1730 DUBAI 1730 LUCKNOW 1735 JAIPUR 1740 HYDERABAD 1740 DOHA 1745 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1750 BAHRAIN 1810 KUALA LUMPUR 1910 SHARJAH 1915 MADRAS 1920 KUWAIT 1925 DUBAI 1945 KATHMANDU 2010 DUBAI 2030 JAKARTA 2055 MUNICH 2105 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 MALE 2110 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2120 DELHI 2125 DUBAI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 COCHIN 2140 CHITTAGONG 2140 DUBAI 2145 MADRAS 2200 SALALAH 2205 DOHA 2210 BAHRAIN 2240 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2240 ABU DHABI 2250 AMMAN 2255 SALALAH 2305 AHMEDABAD-BOMBAY 2310 DOHA 2315 ZURICH-DUBAI 2320 BOMBAY 2325 FRANKFURT-ABU DHABI 2330 DUBAI 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 SALALAH 2345 DAMMAM 2350

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 LX243 9W539 BA072 SG062 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY423 WY201 WY235 WY601 WY345 WY241 WY431 WY271 WY657 WY821 WY637 WY123 WY371 WY667 NL769 WY691 WY901 PK282 TK775 PK226 ET625 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY3301 4H562 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY917 WY323 WY263 WY215 WY291 WY327 FZ044 WY385 WY245 WY231 G9115 WY815 WY203 WY905 WY605 WY373 WY337 WY717 EK863 WY311 EY383 WY3303 QR1129 WY919 G9842 GF563 QR8551 WY927 WY631 WY223 IX350 WY253 FZ038 WY663 WY101 WY113 WY645 PK192 WY143 WY131 WY609 WY405 BG024 WY3305 IX818 WY671 KU678 WY675 G9110 WY613 FZ046 WY913 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY661 WY647 EK865 WY695 WY653 SV535 G9117 WY909 WY611 WY635 TG508 FZ048 WY915 4H561 FZ050 WY817 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 QR1135 GF567 UL206 WY673 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 AHMEDABAD 0030 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 RIYADH 0105 MADRAS 0110 BEIRUT 0115 BOMBAY 0120 HYDERABAD 0135 DUBAI 0150 ISLAM ABBAD 0150 DELHI 0155 TEHRAN 0155 JAIPUR 0200 BAHRAIN 0205 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 ABU DHABI 0205 MUNICH 0210 COLOMBO 0210 DOHA 0225 LAHORE 0230 DAMMAM 0235 SALALAH 0240 SIALKOT 0300 ISTANBUL 0315 KARACHI 0315 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 MUKHAIZNA 0715 DACCA 0745 BAHRAIN 0745 SALALAH 0800 DUBAI 0800 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0920 LUCKNOW 0920 TRIVANDRUM 0920 CALICUT 0920 LAHORE 0930 DUBAI 0935 MALE 0940 DELHI 0955 HYDERABAD 0955 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 BOMBAY 1030 SALALAH 1030 DUBAI 1030 COLOMBO 1040 KATHMANDU 1040 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 1045 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 MUKHAIZNA 1115 DOHA 1115 KHASAB 1145 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1220 SALALAH 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 COCHIN 1235 CALICUT 1310 MADRAS 1315 DUBAI 1315 DOHA 1330 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 FRANKFURT 1400 KUWAIT 1405 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405 MALPENSA 1415 PARIS 1420 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 CHITTAGONG 1500 MUKHAIZNA 1515 MANGALORE 1530 MEDINA 1535 ABU DHABI-KUWAIT 1625 JEDDAH 1630 SHARJAH 1645 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1735 DUBAI 1820 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DOHA 1900 KUWAIT 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 BAHRAIN 1920 RIYADH 2000 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 ABU DHABI 2040 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2040 DUBAI 2040 SALALAH 2110 JEDDAH 2215 DUBAI 2225 BANGKOK 2235 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 COLOMBO 2335 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350

AI986 LX243 BA072 9W539 LH619 WY685 WY251 WY201 WY225 WY235 WY601 WY341 WY281 WY431 WY241 WY643 WY821 WY657 WY637 WY123 WY371 WY667 WY383 WY901 WY847 PK230 TK777 EK867 FZ042 QR1133 EY385 WY3921 GF561 4H562 WY903 WY603 WY3301 WY917 WY215 WY263 WY323 WY291 WY347 NL769 FZ044 WY385 WY245 WY231 WY843 G9115 WY815 WY273 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY253 WY337 EK863 WY311 EY383 IX554 QR1129 IX442 9W533 WY919 WY655 G9842 GF563 WY631 WY3303 IX350 PA451 FZ038 WY663 WY113 WY101 WY153 WY645 WY927 WY143 WY609 WY405 WY413 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY913 WY623 QR1127 WY681 WY907 GF565 WY647 WY661 EK865 WY695 WY653 G9117 WY909 WY611 FZ048 WY635 WY915 AI978 FZ050 KL442 WY817 WY411 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 QR1135 GF567 WY673 EY381

BOMBAY 0005 DUBAI-ZURICH 0020 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 0025 BOMBAY 0025 ABU DHABI-FRANKFURT 0050 RIYADH 0105 MADRAS 0110 BOMBAY 0120 COCHIN 0125 HYDERABAD 0135 DUBAI 0150 LAHORE 0150 BANGALORE 0150 TEHRAN 0155 DELHI 0155 KUWAIT 0200 KUALA LUMPUR 0205 BAHRAIN 0205 ABU DHABI 0205 MUNICH 0210 COLOMBO 0210 DOHA 0225 MALE 0235 SALALAH 0240 JAKARTA 0245 LAHORE 0315 BAHRAIN-ISTANBUL 0350 DUBAI 0455 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0520 ABU DHABI 0525 DUQUM OMAN 0740 BAHRAIN 0745 DACCA 0745 SALALAH 0800 DUBAI 0800 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 TRIVANDRUM 0845 LUCKNOW 0920 KARACHI 0920 CALICUT 0920 ISLAM ABBAD 0920 LAHORE 0930 DUBAI 0935 MALE 0940 DELHI 0955 HYDERABAD 0955 MANILA 1000 SHARJAH 1005 BANGKOK 1010 JAIPUR 1030 SALALAH 1030 DUBAI 1030 BOMBAY 1030 MADRAS 1040 KATHMANDU 1040 DUBAI 1055 CHITTAGONG 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 TRIVANDRUM 1110 DOHA 1115 COCHIN 1115 COCHIN 1135 KHASAB 1145 BAHRAIN 1210 RAS AL KHAIMA 1210 BAHRAIN 1215 ABU DHABI 1220 MUKHAIZNA 1300 CALICUT 1310 LAHORE 1315 DUBAI 1315 DOHA 1330 FRANKFURT 1400 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 ZURICH 1405 KUWAIT 1405 SALALAH 1415 MALPENSA 1415 DUBAI 1420 CAIRO 1430 AMMAN 1455 JEDDAH 1630 DUBAI 1700 DUBAI 1700 SALALAH 1800 DUBAI 1820 DOHA 1845 RIYADH 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 KUWAIT 1900 DOHA 1900 DUBAI 1905 DAMMAM 1910 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 2005 SALALAH 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2040 ABU DHABI 2040 SALALAH 2110 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 DUBAI 2225 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2230 BANGKOK 2235 AMMAN 2240 TRIVANDRUM 2240 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 DOHA 2320 BAHRAIN 2325 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2350

ETD

ETA

ETD

T U E S DAY, MAR C H 3, 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

Shamitabh - Hindi (Drama) - (PG) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush, Akshara Haasan, 3.45 pm Badlapur – (Action | Drama) – 15+ Cast: Varun Dhawan, Huma ureshi, Yami Gautam 6.45, 9.45 pm

SCREEN 1 Ab Tak Chhappan 2 – Hindi(Act)12+ Cast: Nana Patekar, Gul Panag 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

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

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, 03:30 , 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 2 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

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

SCREEN 3

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, 03:45, 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

The tactics for pairs versus teams

SUDOKU

4 5 3 8 2 9 9 6 7 2 4 5 9 6

1 5 3 4 7 2 4

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

7 9

8 2 1 7 5 1 9 8 4 1 6

6 9 4 3 1 8 5 7 2 5 7 2 6 9 4 8 1 3 8 3 1 5 7 2 6 4 9

1 5 7 4 6 9 2 3 8 9 8 6 2 3 1 7 5 4 2 4 3 7 8 5 9 6 1

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

1 Gossamer thing 4 Home of “Ridiculousness” 7 Thump 11 All corners 12 — you serious? 13 LP player (hyph.) 14 Loafer 16 Thames school 17 DeGeneres sitcom 18 Valuable holding 20 Wear and tear 21 Hindu lute 23 Horror-ﬁlm street 26 Pelts 27 Sandwich cookie 28 Pint-size 31 Was a working cat 33 Got in debt 34 Cabinet part 35 Van — Waals force 36 Gray-barked tree 38 Except 41 Megastars, to fans 43 Durable wood 45 Theory 47 “Break a leg!” (2

wds.) Chicken wire — be an honour! Give the glad eye Household members 53 Drowse off 54 Ernesto Guevara 49 50 51 52

DOWN 1 Merino and angora 2 Napoleon’s fate 3 Eight bits 4 Put a dent in 5 Foots the bill 6 Vice — 7 Thou, objectively 8 Bat swingers 9 Roswell crasher 10 Racket 11 Moldy cheese 15 Come afterward 19 Jr.’s dad 22 Dublin’s loc. 24 Spike or Bruce 25 1960s style 26 Email abbreviation

27 28 29 30 31 32 34

Royal pronoun Bean hull Flock member Most chilling Beaded shoe — and aahed Spanish explorer (2 wds.) 36 A famous Derek 37 British Museum’s

38 39 40 42 44 45 46 48

— marbles Limb Dad’s brother Youngster Morse syllables Coalition Sitter’s handful Billy — Williams Not evenly divisible by 2

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS

JOSHUA JONATHAN FERNANDEZ March 3, 2011

DEV MENON

March 3, 2007

ESHAN BINU

February 28, 2006

4 1 5 8 2 6 3 9 7 3 6 8 9 4 7 1 2 5 7 2 9 1 5 3 4 8 6

Previous puzzle Solution

HENRI Poincare, a French mathematician who died in 1912, said, “Ideas rose in clouds; I felt them collide until pairs interlocked, so to speak, making a stable combination.” In tournament bridge, there are two main forms of scoring (excluding board-a-match). In a pairs event, your results are compared with every other pair sitting the same way. This puts a premium on gaining overtricks. In team events, your score is compared with that of your teammates. You should try to make or break the contract; overtricks are usually insignificant. Today’s deal highlights the difference. In six no-trump, what would you do in teams and pairs after West leads the diamond queen to your ace? You have 12 sure tricks: five spades, three hearts, two diamonds and two clubs. In a team event, you would probably cash the spade ace, play a spade to dummy’s 10, and take a heart finesse. When it worked, you would cross to the spade king and take a second heart finesse. But when West discarded, you would concede one trick — no big deal. In a pair event, though, you must give more thought to the overtrick. Assuming East has the heart king, you may need three dummy entries to take three heart finesses. At trick two, you should lead the spade queen (or jack) from your hand, and when West follows suit, overtake with dummy’s king. Then you take a heart finesse. Given the known 5-0 spade break, you play a spade to dummy’s eight, repeat the heart finesse, cross to the spade 10, take a third heart finesse, and claim all 13 tricks for an excellent score. — By Phillip Alder

WITH LOVE

BORN LOSER

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

C12

TU ESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

EXTRA BRIEFS

How emperor penguins survived last Ice Age A CHANGE in breeding habits and distinct genetic make up may have helped certain populations of the iconic emperor penguins survive the harsh climate during the last Ice Age, a study contends. The Ross Sea in Antarctica was likely the refuge for one of the only three populations that survived, noted the researchers who studied how climate change has affected emperor penguins over the last 30,000 years. The study was published in the journal Global Change Biology.

New species of algae found in Abu Dhabi coral reefs A NEW species of algae has been discovered in the coral reefs off United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi, an organism that helps corals survive seawater temperatures of up to 36 degrees Celsius, temperatures that would be lethal to corals elsewhere in the world. In a collaborative project between New York University Abu Dhabi and Britain’s University of Southampton, researchers have identiﬁed a unique species of symbiotic algae that occurs in corals in the southern Arabian Gulf. The new species has been named symbiodinium thermophilum, after its heatloving properties.

Warrior fungus threatening wheat production: Study WHEAT PRODUCTION faces serious threat from the spread of exotic and aggressive “warrior” strains of a plant fungus, a new research has found. New strains of the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (PST) have recently emerged. They adapt to warmer temperatures, are more aggressive and have overcome many of the major defensive genes in wheat, the researchers said. -IANS

HAITI: WHY TOURISTS ARE RETURNING TO THIS MISUNDERSTOOD COUNTRY Five years after the devastating earthquake that killed 250,000 people and displaced 1.5 million more, tourism is returning to the Caribbean’s most staggering landmark, cautiously

ain lashed the tropical forest and thundered off the cobblestone track. A group of four of us had been embroiled in an animated discussion with a posse of local horsemen for the past half-an-hour. Above us, shrouded in raincloud, was Haiti’s — and possibly the Caribbean’s — most staggering landmark — the mountain-top fortress of Citadelle Laferrière. The track was now too slippery for the horses — the standard tourist taxi — to make it the final few hundred metres up to the fort. Instead our guide, Pierre Chauvet, had conjured up open-top motorised buggies to get us to the top. This did not please the horsemen. “Take a horse. Those buggies are not safe. Better you take a horse,” one man said. You couldn’t blame him for trying. Despite a few short-lived flourishes in the 1980s, Haiti has struggled to attract tourists. Change, though, is coming. Five years after the devastating earthquake that killed 250,000 people and displaced 1.5 million more, tourism is returning, cautiously. The northern city of Cap Haitien, gateway to the gargantuan Citadelle, has a new international airport and hotels in the capital Port-au-Prince include a new Best Western and a soon-to-open Marriott. Tour operators are coming back, too, while a tourist office recently launched to promote Haiti in Europe. I was part of Exodus’s first ever trip to this fragile fragment of the Caribbean. It is one of a small handful of UK opera-

tors that has been encouraged to introduce or reintroduce trips to Haiti by increasing stability and new infrastructure. My group of 11 had chosen to holiday in what is often cruelly dismissed as “the basket-case of the Caribbean” for a number of reasons. One had come to explore family roots, another had come to seek out an alternative to the Caribbean of honeymoon clichés, while a well-travelled couple simply said: “Why not?” At last, the red buggy turned a corner. Standing on the back, I gripped the handrail. We bounced over the cobbles, my knuckles turning white while an end-of-days-rain lashed my face — a bizarre sensation not unlike surfing. Fifteen minutes later, we had climbed 900 metres and were at the top. Soaked through, I gawped upwards as slices of the Caribbean’s largest fortress appeared through shifting clouds. Conceived by slave-turnedself-proclaimed-king Henri Christophe in 1805 after he had defeated the French, the Citadelle was built by 20,000 newly freed slaves. Its 40-metre high walls were built to defend against a potential return of the French army, which Haiti’s new rulers feared had ambitions to re-capture the country. Their fears were unfounded, however, and not one of the 50,000 cannonballs — still piled in pyramids today — was ﬁred in battle. Once inside the ramparts we weaved past burnt-orange, lichen-plastered walls and drip-

ping drawbridges. Colossal, ghostly wood-beamed galleries and mossy stone arches towered around us. Pallid light filtered through arrow-slits, shining on to the cannons and illuminating the grotesque human faces engraved on the end of their barrels. One, decorated with the coat of arms of George I, had belonged to the Duke of Marlborough. The eerie atmosphere was intensified by a silence punctuated only by the pouring rain. Anywhere else in the world, this phenomenal military spectacle might have been overrun with tourists. But here, even on sunny days, there are few visitors. I left in awe of the engineering as we trundled 27 kilometres southwest to Cap Haitien — the richest city in the Caribbean during the French colonial era – passing girls wearing shower caps to protect against the rain. That night, on the black-andwhite tiled terrace of the Hotel Roi Christophe, waiters in bowties served us divine fish with thyme and pirate quantities of local Barbancourt beverage. The torrential rain continued to provide a thumping drumbeat on the canopy above the dining tables. The following day we dropped down to the coast to the capital, Port-au-Prince, described as “a kind of slum Venice” by travel writer Norman Lewis in 1959. Today the city appears to have retained at least some of this forlorn air. The streets and canals are part-theatre, part horror-show. The newly rebuilt Iron Market marks the city’s resurgence, but

tented camps still dot the parched city limits, a grim reminder of the 2010 earthquake. Around 85,000 Haitians still live in makeshift settlements, but even before the tragedy up to 70 per cent of people in the capital lived in slums. Haiti — especially its capital — has historically suffered a hard-boiled mix of slavery, dictatorships, occupation, political instability and natural disasters. The Haitian proverb “dèyè mòn, gen mòn” which means “after the mountains, more mountains” is not just a geographical reference. Its hardships seem all the more poignant when you consider that it makes up a third of old Hispaniola, the island it shares with the relatively prosperous Dominican Republic. However, there is more to Haiti than its troubles. Sedate Petionville was originally a separate city, but is now merged with Port-au-Prince proper. This smart-ish area, up on a hill, is where anyone who had the means ﬂed to after the earthquake. “You can only talk about what downtown used to be,” Pierre explained, referring to the ﬂattened banks and office buildings in the former business district, still waiting to be rebuilt. Brasserie Quartier Latin, in the heart of Petionville, was full of couples waltzing to a live jazz band. After filling up on plates of fried plantain and pikliz – an innocuous looking coleslaw laced with volcano-hot scotch bonnet chillies, we joined in with the dancing. -Caroline Eden/The Independent

a “tonne of maths” in the show which references concepts including Fermat’s last theorem, perfect numbers, mersenne primes and narcissistic numbers. “That equation predicts the mass of the Higgs boson. If you work it out, you get the mass of a Higgs boson that’s only a bit larger than the nano-mass of a Higgs boson actually is. “It’s kind of amazing as Homer makes this prediction 14 years before it was discovered.” The Simpsons may “encourage and nourish” maths lovers, Singh said, adding that he hoped teenagers would be inspierd by the fact the show’s creators shared their interests. He hoped teenagers who loved maths would feel inspired by the fact that the show’s creators shared their interests. Homer Jay Simpson is a ﬁctional character

in the animated television series The Simpsons as the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and ﬁrst appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short Good Night on April 19, 1987. Homer was created and designed by cartoonist Matt Groening while he was waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks’ office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on his comic strip Life in Hell but instead decided to create a new set of characters. He named the character after his father, Homer Groening. After appearing for three seasons on The Tracey Ullman Show, the Simpson family got their own series on Fox that debuted December 17, 1989. -Agencies

THE SIMPSONS

How Homer Simpson discovered the Higgs boson over a decade ago IN THE episode The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace, aired in 1998, Homer becomes an inventor and is shown in front of a blackboard with a complicated equation. “That equation predicts the mass of the Higgs boson” Simon Singh said. “If you work it out, you get the mass of a Higgs boson that’s only a bit larger than the nano-mass of a Higgs boson actually is. It’s kind of amazing as Homer makes this prediction 14 years before it was discovered.” Dr Singh, author of The Simpsons and their Mathematical Secrets, said: “The Simpsons is the most mathematical TV show on prime-time television in history,” adding: “A lot of the writers on The Simpsons are mathematicians.” He said the ﬁrst full episode of The Simpsons had a joke about calculus, adding there was

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 3 , 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

Fully furnished 1 bedroom penthouse Wadi Kabir behind Sana Hassan, monthly RO 300/-. Contact 99349990 Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at Al Khodh, Rent 750/-RO. Contact 92888115 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.

Showroom, 1BHK, 2BHK, Al – Azaiba North behind Al - Fair. Contact 99565364 / 95497323

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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 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khan co. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 For rent from owner directly 4 nos of luxurious spacious 3 BHK plus big family hall apartments, 1 no of luxury spacious 2 BHK plus big family hall apartment in al Khoudh 6 close to Sultan Qaboos university, next to shopping area and has easy access to express highway. Contact: 99436348/97600322 Al.Khuwair studio behind platinum hotel rent 130/-R.O PDC. Contact 99879939 AL Khuwair behind platinum hotel 4 BHK, 3bathrrom, sitting dinning split AC. Contact 99879939 2& 3 BHK Darsait near I.S. M School. Contact 99024730 2& 3 BHK Darsait near I.S.D school new, with A/C. Contact 99024730 1& 2 BHK Wadi Kabir. Contact 99024730 3BR top class ﬁtting ﬂat ideal for top executives Mumtaz area, Ruwi. Contact 92187824 1BHK near Oman house behind Khimji, HO. Contact 95865686 Sharing room available near Oman house – Muttrah. Contact 99467054 1BHK available Ghobrah near Al Maha International Hotel. Contact 99269751

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 1 Bedroom attached toilet Al Khuwair area only for ladies or husband and wife without children. Contact 9:00 pm to 7:00 am 95765719 Deluxe 1 bedroom flat, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 97721313 / 95070421

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 all kind of crockery items for rent. Items include: tables, buffet tables, chair, buffet, plates, glasses, spoons, table clothes, carpets. Call 97180999

We have 2BHK, 3BHK, ﬂats, office & 4 BHK villas available for rent at Ghubra, Ghala, Ruwi , Mabela7 and Darsait. Contact 93329476

Commercial Building in Al Khodh, 35 Apartments and shops. Contact 95202340 Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

2BHK Al Hail North near main road. Contact 99330385 Deluxe apartments in Azaiba villas & office space. Contact 99120014. E mail: www.dreamhomesoman.com Villa with 6 rooms + 2hall, Majlis, 7 toilets, studio in Shatti Al Qurum 2500/- R.O. Contact + (968) 99738881

1BHK ﬂat Wadi Kabir, 250 RO split AC & maintenance. Contact- 95439351

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Flats in Mumtaz 2 bedrooms sitting room, kitchen, toilet, Way no 3352 building no 3447 & 3668 . Contact 98003444 Flat at Athaiba near Al fair, 3BHK living room, 3bath rooms, split ac for family only 430/- R.O Ground ﬂoor. Contact 92479515 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

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Furnished room with AC for expatriate in Al Khuwair. Contact 99689315

New ﬂats Wadi Kabeer 1BHK, hall, kitchen, bathroom with split a/c for family only 250/- R.O. Contact 92479515

Villas & ﬂats at Ansab. Contact 98458542

2BHK with A.C Darsait R.O 300/-. Contact 92144045

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 Beautiful office space available in Ruwi MBD area only on 2/- OMR per sqm.Contact – 95122188 / 96441499 House for rent in behind Oman house Muttrah R.O 120/- BHK. Contact 99354340 2BHK Wadi Kabeer R.O 300/-. Contact 92144045

1BHK Al Falaj R.O 200/-. Contact 92144045 1 & 2 bhk ﬂat in Alkhuwair. Contact 99792181 1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for Ware house workshop. Contact 24700120 / 92584715 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 Flats and shops. Contact 93009999 2BHK apartment fro at Qurum near PDO, Gate 2. # 94057023

4 & 5 Bhk Villa for Rent in Qurum. Contact 99792181

1 / 3 BHK Flat Ghobrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390. Contact 99319880

Flat at Athaiba near Horizon Gym, ﬁrst ﬂoor 3BHK, hall living room, 3bathrooms split ac 550/- R.O family only. Contact 92479515

Villa Al Khuwair, 8 bedroom, 7 bathroom, 3kittchen. 950/-. Contact 99358589/ 5121126/95570288

1 & 2 Bhk Flat in Ruwi. Contact 99792181

6 bedroom villa for rent at Al Mawalah near City Center Seeb. Contact 99654252

Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181 1BHK, 2BHK at Honda road Ruwi at Muscat services building no. 2324 Way - 4331. Contact 99224748 / 99332297 2BHK bldg #1619 Way # 1322 adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait RO 340/-. Contact 99476728

2BHK flat Al Khuwair with split A/C. 350/- Contact 95121126/99358589/97079146 1BHK flat available at Darsait near medical. Contact 24705742/24705639 Family flats and villas at Ansab. Contact 98458542

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

FOR SALE Well running multi – cuisine restaurant in AL Khuwair for sale only serious buyers May. Contact 98519517 Clinic For Sale One Established new Clinic in Muscat, with Valid License & Clearance, for sale ASAP interested Parties can contact 91283188 or send your inquiries to mohamedsfarah@hotmail.com A Reputed & proﬁtable restaurant located strategically in Mabela in industrial state road no 6 is available for immediate sale interested parties may. Contact Mr. .Faisal Khan at phone 99059013 for details & visit. 2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Tel: 97000155 or 92688692 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 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

FOR RENT Villa OPP Grand Mall 2 living room, 2 hall + 3 rooms, kitchen & maid room with AC. Contact 99738881 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526 Industrial Land in Misfah. Contact 93009999

M.V. FOR SALE

We are dealing with sale of all beauty salon equipments, furnitures & cosmetics. Contact 942888 61 / 942888 63 3 floor building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Toyota Camry white 2011 km -51000 R.O 4800/-. Contact 99561562

Want Company engaged in selling food to sell coolers non repairable (scrap) quantity: 192 pieces. Contact 93650084 Offices: 24614874

Prado 2009. Contact 99336093

Dental Clinic with license for sale in Sohar. Contact 92816015

Mazda 323 2001 model. Contact 92582523

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

Prado TXL 2.7L, 2014 km, 27 k for sale. Contact 96498674

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 Running super market & coffee shop for sale in Muscat. Contact 93471848 Building materials shop for sale on 20% discount. Items only or full shop for sale at Ruwi including jotun paint mixing machine. Contact 99421228 A well running coffee shop with 4 clearance for sale at Wadi Kabir Sanayya. Brokers also. Contact 94159356

If require ﬂats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send messages through Whatsapp or call – 99376454

Port cabins – New & refurnished Porta cabin for sale and rent. Contact 96723468

1B/R available for Bachelors in REX ROAD, Ruwi. # 99889590

Shop for sale at Ruwi. Contact 99103077

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished single room with attached bathroom and split A/C available for executive bachelors opposite Mars hyper market Barka. Contact 92973534 Single room, separate bathroom for working girls/couple behind Al Nahdha hospital. Contact 95871148 (after 4 pm) Room with attached bathroom, separate entrance available near Al Nahdha. Contact 92337075 /96987553 Sharing accommodation available in Al Khoudh. Contact 98292798 Single room MBD Ruwi. Contact 95698714 Bachelor Accommodation Available in Bausher area with Free Wi-Fi, Split AC & Bed, Car parking, close to Spar Express. 80 Rials only. Contact: JP 94267848 / Ahmed - 98333093 3 Bedrooms ﬂat in Al Hail- 92817777 Sharing bed room with ac near Hamriya R about main road Ruwi. Contact 93677898.

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 Room for executive bachelors (no Kitchen) including W/E. 125 RO. Contact 98949724 Furnished room with attached bath for non-cooking bachelor in Ruwi, R.O 150/-. Contact 92478852 Flats in Darsait of 1 room, hall, 2 toilets and kitchen. Contact 99357586 / 97500025 Single room with attached bathroom, kitchen near Muscat Palace family or bachelor OMR 90/-. Contact 95094028 Single furnished room in Ruwi. Contact 24833609

WANTED Clinic required, One Established new Clinic in Muscat, with Valid License & Clearance is required to purchase interested Parties can contact 91283188 or send your inquiries to mohamedsfarah@hotmail.com

ACC. WANTED Wanted a 2 bedroom ﬂat in around Ruwi area. Gsm 99761216

ACC. AVAILABLE 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

Rooms for bachelors with A/C bed near CBD/ ONTC, Ruwi R.O 100/-. Contact 96585123

Room for SRI LANKAN Executive at Al Khuwair. Tel 96536307

Sharing family ﬂat near Indian School Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057

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 Toyota car sale 2011, kms 80000, fully automatic 1.6. Contact 99354340

AVAILABLE Established Restaurant for rent with sponsorship. Contact 97628242 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

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

*Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ADMIN/HR

MBA finance graduate Indian male on visit visa one year’s internship experience in financing/marketing looking suitable marketing /finance position. Contact 95394938 safeer. buzz@gmail.com Internal Auditor MBA (fin) Indian male having 8 years Oman experience with valid Omani D/L & Noc available. Contact 92274373 E mail: willy316@gmail.com Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Inventory Management Contact : 96975454, email : ibfcoman@hotmail.com Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job. Contact – 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com Indian female B.com canter 3 years internship completed 2 years accounting experience currently on visit visa seeking for suitable job . Contact 94682798/95736496 Email: giby2605@gmail.com MBA Finance with diploma in accounting PGDM two years experience in India presently in Oman on visit. Contact 99748549/98457670 Indian male with one years experience in logistics, cargo operation and accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact 97826180 Email: nihalsiddheeque@gmail.com

DRAUGHTSMAN

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

AutoCAD Draftsman having Oman experience. Contact 99370565

Urgently required a female nurse with MOH license to work permanent or leave vacancy for a reputed clinic. Salary Negotiable. Contact 94618483

Urgently IT Marketing Eng. 2 years experience in Oman. Driving License. Email - darr_al_maan@yahoo.com GSM 99058770

Indian female MBA finance 3 years experience in account/ finance and knowledge in ERP, SAD, tally, Peachtree, quick box & trade easy seeking suitable position in finance, banking accounts. Contact 97883275/97837143 Email: jairajmungath@gmail.com

Our company CHABROS LLC is seeking for Indian salesman. Have an experienced in building materials. Please send CV to chabros@omantel.net.om

MBA Finance (Indian) with 3 years experience in Accounts & Finance ﬁeld. Looking for suitable position. Contact- 94276956/ irshadbhk@gmail.com

Looking for an experienced sales man for building materials and electrical shop in Amerat, candidate should be ﬂuent in speaking Arabic & Hindi. Contact 92418044

MBA (ﬁnance & accounts) having 3 years working experience as accountant possessing good skills in tally , ERP seeks suitable placement currently available on visit visa. Contact 97095686

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

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 Wanted Doctor with or without MOH license for a Polyclinic. Excellent salary with accommodation and commission. Contact: 97091664. Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com

Wanted driver. Contact 95112461

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Required a private driver from India. Contact 92345861

Shawarma/BBQ/ Tandoor / helpers wanted. Contact 95529970

DOMESTIC HELPER Require House maid in Mabela. Contact. 95200180

ENGI./ELECT./TECH.. Wanted Civil Engineer, Email: almoosaengineering@gmail.com 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

IT Urgently required Omani IT software professional ﬂuent in Arabic and English with 2 years experience Email: mhca@mhabibgroup. com fax: 24564459 IT Sales Executive GCC Experience - 2+ Years Valid Driving license Graduate in IT With MBA or Marketing back ground in IT ﬁeld. E mail : towershr70@gmail.com, info@towersinternationalgroups.com Required IT Technician for computer shop. Send your CV at khalid@rayyancomputer.com

MISCELLANEOUS Required tailor, barber. #96964767

Urgently required experienced store keeper who can look after store and logistics for a reputed company in Muscat. Pls forward your CV to accounts@ies-oman.com Required Electrician for Maintenance Company. Contact 97205114 WANTED: A.C Technician with experience in split and duct A/C for a well established company in Muscat. Salary plus bonus. Email CV to: hralsom@gmail.com For a reputed contracting company urgently required, tiles Mansons, general Mansons, furniture carpenters, painters, carpentry foremen, civil foreman with license, accountant, and electrician cum plumber. Contact: - 99889450/99343461, fax no: 24619716.email:goldenraycontraction@g mail.com

SALES / MARKETING Wanted Salesman with driving licence and car. Gsm : 98805474 or email id: jobssales2015@gmail.com Urgently required out door sales executive for furnishing company with valid Oman license and minimum 3 years experience in furniture field. Contact 93231403 or mail: rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com 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 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.

Required Business Development Executive for a clearing and forwarding company. Please mail CV to wisal.international@gmail.com 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 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

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 WANTSIT. WANTED ED

12 years Oman experience Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 97385562 Indian male 9 years experience in Accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact 94080452 Indian male B.com professional looking for suitable job, 2 years experience ﬁnance and marketing. Contact 95983091 Email: akhil.mathew556@gmail.com

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 A Fresh ACCA Affiliate, Pakistani male, 24 yrs, open for positions of Accounts, Audit and ﬁnance. Contact 94541539 email: wasiqnasir_3@yahoo.com

Indian, Male, 30 Years, B.COM, 8 Years’ Experience as HR / Administration in Oman, seeks suitable placement, NOC Available, Contact No. 00968 94652591

MBA HR&FINANCE Indian Female with 2 years work experience in leading MNC looking for suitable placement in HR / FINANCE, Contact: 99791008 / 93888576

Young Indian male with 5 years Muscat experience in admin, purchase & Masters from UK seeks placement. Possess driving license. Contact 94400671

Pakistani male, 25 yrs, MBA Finance, 1.6 yrs exp in Accounts seeking placement in Accounts, Administration or Business Management. Contact 92651927 / 94250149

Indian male, 27 yrs, MBA(HR & Finance) having 3 yrs experience in advertising company and have through knowledge in office co-ordination & administration, good computer proﬁciency on visit visa looking for suitable placement Contact 91361534, sreejith.mv63@gmail.com

Accountant with bachelor degree in Business Administration & Accounting from Majan College with 1 year experience in Oman. Contact 96132149 Indian male 26 years, with 4 years experience in accounts and administration looking for suitable placement. Contact 93008891 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 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 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

Accountant / Purchase manager (Release Available) 29yrs Indian male having 7yrs experience in Oman seeking suitable placement Mob:95325041,email:vijayapalanbinu.aniyan@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

Looking for part time job as accountant having experience up-to ﬁnalization. Contact. 99002390

Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306

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 8 yrs experience looking for part time job. # 99867456

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 Part time Accountant, up to ﬁnalization, looking for job after 5 pm (location prefer - Qurum to Al Khoudh). Contact 92917574

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 22 years of experience in Multinational Companies & reputed ﬁrms in Financial Management, Project Management, Budgeting and Cost control, seeking a strategic Financial/Management Accounting role in a dynamic organization . Please contact Mob. +971-506178139, Email. georg_vargis01@yahoo.com

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 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 male, 25 yrs,MBA (Finance) 3 years experience as Accountant immediately available. Contact 968 99485943, Email : hyd.mushu@gmail.com Accountant B.Com CIMA ﬁnalist 8 yrs experience. Contact 95522109

ARCHI./ DRAUGHTSMAN 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

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 3D designer Indian male, good experience with 3 omax photo shop 1llustratori. #93909636 /98461278 Indian Female Architect with 3.5 years experience looking for suitable job (1.5 years experience from Oman) B. Arch. Contact 96146645 Email: anjuovil@gmail.com Keralite Bachelor professional building designer with AutoCAD, 3D Max & Accounts. #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 having only visa looking for job as driver. Contact 93308178 Driver available 5 years experience Oman driving light. #92505581 With car driver available and only driver. Contact 96771598 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

Accounting up to ﬁnalization, auditing & contact for tally ERP software Contact– 91720465

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 Over 14 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistic ﬂuent in Arabic & English with D/L , looking for suitable position. Contact 95824598 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 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 B.Sc Graduate with 6 yrs of exp in HR & Administration looking for suitable positions. Contact 91507099

Light driver looking for job. Contact 92791678 Light duty driver looking for job, 2 yrs exp. Contact 98356230 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

ENGG. / TECHNICAL 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 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

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED 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

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male 24 years, Mechanical Engineer,pdms.1 yr experience in pipeline,16years in oman seeking immediate placement Contact 95775742 Elet.Engr 9+ yrs exp Noc available can join immediately. Contact 99148940 Email: jobluk.om@gmail.com Seeking job Indian female B.Tech Civil, 6years experience in Quantity Surveying, vidhugec@gmail.com, 95539608, Al Khuwair M.Tech Manger /Civil Engineer with PMP, Indian male, 18 yrs experience (including 4 yrs in Dubai and 3yrs in Oman) in construction field for multi million projects like five star hotels , waterfront, properties , high rise buildings, luxurious villas and ROP projects seeking placement , Noc available , ready to join . Contact 91158903 / tuminousmercury@gmail.com Qualified Chemical Engineer over twenty years experience in water and waste water with Oman driving license and Noc available for suitable job. Contact 94479435 B.E /B.Tech civil 2-3 years. Contact 93850875 Civil Engineer having 4 and Half years experience in building construction looking for suitable placement valid D/L available. Contact 92153392 Diploma in Architect 2.5 years experience in Oman having driving. Contact 92967404 Project Engineer Indian male 3yrs dip12 yrs experience all kind mechanical civil, interiors decoration job Oman driving license. Contact 93260559 Mechanical Engineer 30 years experience fabrication erection production on visit visa. Contact 93663121 Project Engineer, civil engineer BSC, Building Construction 5 Years Exp in Oman fluent Arabic, English and good Indian .Contact - 97858589 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 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 6 yrs. exp (generators, solar, A/C sales, control) 5 months (HVAC) Omani D/L. Noc vehicle. Contact 97452159 Email: mohamedkarrar.mk@gmail.com Procurement Engineer Indian male, 6 years exp in oil & gas sector in Oman & Bahrain currently on visit visa looking for suitable placement .Contact 92967443 Civil site Engineer diploma holder 9 am want job my exp, 8 years Oman & Dubai. Contact 95714327 Quality Assurance Design, B.Tech Elect, 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 Civil Engineer B.Tech Indian Female with knowledge of AutoCAD, STAAD and MS office seeks suitable placement. Ph: 94688515. 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 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

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 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 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 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 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 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 Looking Part time Job in HVACContact - 93198128 Quantity Surveyor (Civil Building) looking for Part time job Contact no:-94391712 E-mail addressinayathhussain@yahoo.com Indian B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, 26 yrs, 4 yrs experience in HVAC/MEP. Contact 94669629, rajeevhpd15@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 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 Indian Male, 5 yrs exp. Hardware & net working Engineer on short visit requires suitable placement. Contact 92458622 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 Civil Engineer B Tech, Site Engineer Experienced, Drafting on Visit Visa Ph : 91642050 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 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 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 BE 2 yrs exp electrical projects AutoCAD design/ commission available attested. Contact 97835922 Email: anascadd11@gmail.com M. Sc Mechanical Engineer 5 years experience in crusher plants production manufacturing release visa CAD/CAM. Contact 92156387 / 97838220 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 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 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 Mechanical Engineer 11 years exp in oil & gas industry. Contact - 95928035 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 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

EDUCATION

INFORMATION TECH

Indian Female, BE (Electrical and Electronics), M.Tech (VLSI Design and Embedded Systems) with 3.5 yrs experience in teaching/education ﬁeld, seeking suitable teaching/nonteaching job in Muscat. Contact 93686493 Email: n.akshatha12@gmail.com

Indian Female, MCA, 2 years experience in Oman seeks suitable placement in IT or Admin, contact no: 95094154, 99436069, Email: ramanrami@rediffmail.com

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

Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking. Currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact – 94359564 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

Indian female 25 years MSC polymer chemistry holder seeking suitable placement. Currently on visit visa. Contact 96128290 Email ID: najeeb27@gmail.com

Sudanese computer Information System (CIS) Bachelor The American University in London 2.5 years experience. Contact 98178276 Email: khalidsme@gmail.com

Experienced Librarian seeks suitable position. Contact 92887119

Hardware specialist B.Tech M.Tech electronics with 10 years experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations. Contact 91289459 Email: shrn.shrf@gmail.com

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

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 Information Technology IT professional Indian male 23 diplomas in computer hardware and networking maintenance, CCNA, and B.com 2+ years experience in IT infrastructure and security camera instigation currently on visiting visa looking for a suitable job in IT technical . Contact 91583251 Email: shyam111191@gmail.com Omani citizen searching a job in the ﬁeld of computer Especially in data base professional in operating oracle SQL , PL/ SQL , form6i , Report 6i . Contact 96977368 Email: talaloml@yahoo.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 Seeking IT job (on contract basis) having 8 yrs exp , with ( COT NET, SQL SERVER, ORACLE , BO reporting , application maintenance, IT support , ERP support & development) valid IT visa up to 11-07 2016 and D/L Oman. Contact 92064496 India, Male BCA, IT Engineer, hardware, networking MCSA, CCNA, ITIL, Office administration, Accounts Email: e.mustafa@live.com B.Tech IT Engineer, Indian male with 3yrs of exp. as System administrator, IT support, Networking, installing active directory, DHCP, DNS, RAS, exp. in handling SQL database, currently in Oman on visit visa, with valid Qatar driving license and immediate available. Contact: 93925281 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 Required suitable possistion for the experinced B Tech (hard ware) Engineer. Contact: - 99343461/ email: msureshbabumct@g mail.Com 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

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 Looking for job Tunisian Bachelor with experience 5 years in Network/IT. Cont.:91368102

MISCELLANEOUS Philipino male 27 on visit visa is looking for suitable job. Contact 98588717 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 Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR 19years UAE experience in management sales and business development, additional Indian experience valid UAE D/L, on express visa. Contact 91602809 Email: thomasalexander210@gmail.com Indian male, looking for a senior management position, 25 years of experience in GCC with multinational consulting ﬁrms, currently working as contracts/project manager, seeks immediate placement. #99376691 Emails: 1962jobs@gmail.com 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 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 pharmacist with 3 years experience and MOH license currently in Oman , CONTACT 92455124

24 years old Indian BSC Nursing, 2years experience, looking for a job as a staff nurse. Contact 94035637 /95068075 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

SALES / MARKETING Indian male, graduate with 7 years experience in hospitality industry, sales & marketing .M.B.A in human resource management. # 92115860 MBA (marketing & operations) with 2 years experience in marketing & operations looking for suitable placement, presently on visit visa. Contact 97920125 Email: hareeshg111@gmail.com Purchase Manager with 14 years experience in construction industry with valid D/L & NOC. Contact 92884811, Email : bati.rajesh@gmail.com Indian male with MBA in international management and BSC in hotel management & diploma in event management with, 4 years experience in this field looking for job. Contact 96146645 Mail: sarsthmcc549@gmail.com Well experienced restaurant Manager with Ample knowledge of sales and operations seeking suitable placement Noc available. # 92953199 Indian male, MBA in Marketing, 10 years experience with UAE driving license looking for suitable placement. Contact 98125226 Email: jobapplication1199@gmail.com Indian Male 31 Yrs M.B.A having 9 years experience 5 yrs in India and 4 yrs in Oman Having knowledge in Group Marketing/Sales/Media/ Advertising with valid Oman driving license seeking suitable placement .Contact 92016431 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 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 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 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

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Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SKILLED / UNSKILLED Welder, 3G, 6G, TIG, Exp in Fabrication , Gulf Exp Ph : 97103168 Care taker, Gulf Exp knows Hindi, Arabic Ph: 94238840

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Tunisian women looking for job, knows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336 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

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female, Graduate, Certified in IATA, with 8 months experience in Travel and 2 and half years experience in Operations and HR looking for job in Field of Travel/ Office Management. Contact -92816803/ 92459686. Emailvijetadevilishangel@gmail.com MBA (international business) with 2.5 years experience in sales and also experience in vehicle spare parts (in-charge) looking for a suitable job presently on visit visa. Contact 93539456, 95765868, E mail: mathewsantony936@gmail.com INDIAN FEMALE ,Graduate, Certified in IATA, with 2 and half years experience in Admin/ Accounts and Office coordinator looking for job in Field of Travel/Office Management. Contact -92459686/ 92816803, Emailkrupa_patel1984@yahoo.com ACCA-UK, having 2.5 years of experience in Accounts, Bookkeeping 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, Book keeping and Audit. Looking for job in Accounts/Finance or Internal Audit department. Also worked on Oracle R12, Tally, Quick Books and Peachtree. Contact mr.shoaibaslam@gmail.com Gsm: +968-95459488 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 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 B.Com Graduate, 4yrs experience in accounts, admin dept looking for placement in any field 98928220

MISCELLANEOUS 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 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 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. 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 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 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, #968 9808527, 968 96176872 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

SITUATION WANTED 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 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 37 years Indian Male with 10 years PDO experience Store Keeper seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95849804 Indian Female, 24 yrs MS. Software Engg. Currently on family visa, 1 year experience in SAP WM & IT seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95490105 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#+96894560161, Email- 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. #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

PLANNING ENGINEER, 7 years of Experience in project planning and control in oil and gas, PDO & QP Approved Planner,PRIMAVERA-6,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. . Contact 95731665 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

BUSINESS

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 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. #98447045 email:anilavandika@gmail.com

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

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

TOURS

RENT A CAR

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

CLASSES

WEBSITE

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

NRI

DRIVING

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

GOOD NEWS

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. Contact 99839898

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 93405941 Transport to ISWK. Contact 93172589 Transportation available. Contact 98425762 Ruwi to Ghala Gulfar . Contact 99562527 Transportation . Contact 98178135 Transport available. # 95356877

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba.Contact 99639695 / 99117987 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

MATRIMONIAL Muslim boy age 27 height 5,6 B.Tech petroleum engineering , working in Oman parents , residing in Qatar, looking for beautiful professional girls preference , GCC settled family, Ernakulam /Thrissur/ Malapuram Dist. # +974 33446790, 968 91256474 Indian Sunni family with Omani nationality seeking proposals from Indians with Omani nationality for their daughter aged 23. #99641047 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

CHANGE OF NAME Said ali Said Al Mamari & his partners for Trad ASSO Company which is recorded under the commercial register in directorate general for trade industry number 3034020 is going to change its name to Shomokh Al wadi International for Trad ASSO company . This is to inform anybody who concerns about that. Yanabee Al Nasereiah for Trad & Cont joint Company which is recorded under the commercial register in directorate general for trade industry number 1058427 is going to change its name to Yanabee Al Nasereiah for Construction joint company . This is to inform anybody who concerns about that. Suhool Arbad for Trad & Cont Joint Company which is recorded under the commercial register in directorate general for trade industry number 1174313 is going to change its name to Suhool Arbad for Construction joint company. This is to inform anybody who concerns about that.

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 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

Window & spilt unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 96236476

House shifting. Contact 99708138

A/C maintenance & servicing & washing machine & dish washing repairing, painting & painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/24504281

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

For All Your Maintenance Solutions, A/c Servicing & Fixing, Painting, Cleaning, Electric.Contact 99002390

House shifting packing. Contact 99657644, 98518013

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

All maintenance solution. A/c Service & Fitting, Carpenter, Cleaning, House Shifting & Packing. Contact: 99002390

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 GULF INTERNATIONAL LLC. all kind of pest control. #92326955 Feasibility study, market research, ﬁnancial analysis of companies. (968) 99229700

TRANSPORTATION Pick & drop anytime in al Khuwair. Contact 99764307 Transportation available. Contact 95570429 Transportation. Contact 91379976 Pick & Drop any time. # 97014786