Times of Oman - June 4, 2016

SATURDAY

June 4, 2016 28 Sha’aban 1437 AH

OMAN AIR OPENS OFFICE

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

MASHHAD: On the sidelines of the launch of the new terminal in Mashhad, Oman Air celebrated the opening of its office in the city yesterday under the auspices of Mohammed Jawad bin Hasan, advisor at the Ministry of Finance. He said that the opening of Oman Air office in Mashhad will have an appreciable economic significance for Oman Air. —ONA

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 88

On the occasion of the 7th National Day, 1977

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We must continue to devote ourselves with complete dedication to the service of Oman, our Arab family and mankind, conscious always of the humble duty we owe to God, our holy religion and society.

| 28 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

TRANSFERS AND PLACEMENTS

HM issues three Royal Decrees MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on Thursday issued three Royal Decrees as follows: Royal Decree No. 29/2016 on transfers and placements in the diplomatic corps.

Article (1) states that the ambassadors named below shall be transferred to the general diwan of the Foreign Ministry: 1. Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

2. Mohammed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Wahaibi, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

3. Hussain bin Omar bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim, the Sultanate’s Am-

QATARI PM CONVEYS EMIR’S GREETINGS TO HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers with Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister, Minister of Interior of Qatar in Muscat on Thursday. The Qatari leader conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, along with his best wishes of success to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani people further progress and prosperity. -ONA >A2

bassador to Tunisian Republic.

4. Sayyid Qais bin Salim bin Ali Al Said, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey.

5. Riyadh bin Yousef bin Ahmed Al Raisi, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

6. Khalid bin Sulaiman bin Abdurrahman Ba’Omar, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.

7. Mohammed bin Khalil bin Mohammed Al-Gazmi, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.

8. Ahmed bin Barakat bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim, the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon. >A2

Sultan Qaboos Mosque in Bukha inaugurated

A3

LIFELINE FOR THE POOR?

TRUCK OVERTURNS

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Last day for medical tests for Haj pilgrims

If Shura plan is approved, poor families will get financial aid to meet their daily needs

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Families on the breadline in Oman could soon be receiving government assistance, if a plan by a Majlis Al Shura member gets the green light.

Some families with more than eight children are living on as little as OMR80 a month, according to the Services and Social Development Committee.

The committee plans to grant financial support to families earning less than OMR264 a month.

“The committee had a discussion and held different meetings to discuss what kind of support these families require, especially in the current situation,” said Nasir Al Khamisi, the vice-chairman of the Services and Social Development Committee at Majlis Al Shura.

He added that the committee came out with different types of support but will start now with financial support to cover electricity and water bills.

“Such families, especially big ones, get high bills and they really

SOCIAL SECURITY LAW Family members

Money (Omani rials)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 Source: Royal Decree No. 87/1984

80 124 150 172 190 208 226 242 254 264 Graphics

struggle to cover them along with meeting their daily needs,” said Al Khamisi.

He explained that the suggestion raised by the committee is to grant OMR50 for families with 10 members or more to cover the bills, while families with fewer children will get OMR35.

“We know that it is not that much but we have to ask the government for possible ideas,” said Al Khamisi. He added that the support will not only cover social insurance families but all national families with salaries less than the maximum salary for social insurance which is OMR264.

Living allowance In future, the committee wants to provide low-income families with living allowance too.

“It’s in our minds but for now let’s finish the support bill and then we can sit again and discuss the living allowance issue as it is also really important, especially under the current financial situation of the country,” said Al Khamisi.

“We came across families of 10 members with monthly income of OMR80,” said Al Khamisi. He added that such families struggle in meeting their daily needs.

“We have suggested the Public Authority for Social Insurance PASI to meet the criteria followed by the Ministry of Social Development,” said Al Khamisi. >A2

CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

Ban on Ibra farms lifted Staff Reporter

1

Today is the last day to undergo medical tests and vaccinations for people wishing to perform Haj. >A2

WORLD

Paris museums move art works

LPG tanker driver killed in Liwa crash Staff Reporter MUSCAT: A truck driver carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) died in an accident in Liwa, North Al Batinah governorate on Wednesday, the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) reported.

According to the PACDA Twitter handle, the truck was loaded with LPG. Experts dealing in hazardous materials in cooperation with the officials of the vehicle company are working since yesterday to empty the dangerous cargo. The accident had occurred at 17:11pm.

2

The Louvre and Orsay museums in Paris moved scores of art works and precious artefacts to safety. >A10

MARKET

Middle East carriers to post $1.6b profit

3

Middle East carriers are expected to post a $1.6b profit, up slightly from the $1.4b reported for 2015. >B1

MUSCAT: Quarantine imposed on seven farms in Ibra has been lifted after it was confirmed that livestock are now free of the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), according to the officials.

A number of livestock farms were shut down in South Al Sharqiyah recently to limit the spread of CCHF. Last May, an Asian expatriate died after he contracted CCHF in the wilayat of Ibra, a senior official of Ibra Municipality told the Times of Oman.

“The expat who died was a butcher in one of the livestock farms, owned by his father, and died from the fever. It is a solitary case, and we are checking to see if the disease has spread to other animals or people,” the official added.

From early 2016 until the end of April, the Sultanate recorded six cases in which people three people suffering from CCHF have

CONTROLLING MECHANISM: A number of livestock farms were

shut down in South Al Sharqiyah to limit the spread of CCHF.

died. CCHF is a disease caused by a tick-borne virus. The virus is transmitted to people, either through tick bites or contact with infected animals. This disease is endemic to the Sultanate, with the first case reported in 1995.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Oman said there was an urgent need for formulat-

ing a comprehensive prevention and control strategy to combat Congo fever in the region, in view of the increasing incidents.

The Ministry of Health works together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to monitor CCHF, as well as in providing the public with educational brochures about the disease.

A2

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

OMAN Sultanate, Qatar sign agreements to expand ties in various fields The Omani-Qatari talks touched on several fields that serve the joint interests of both countries, including economy, trade and joint investments BILATERAL TALKS: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers with Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister, Minister of Interior in Qatar in Muscat on Thursday.–ONA

MUSCAT: Oman and Qatar held talks to expand co-operation in various fields at the Council of Ministers in Muscat on Thursday.

The Omani side was chaired

by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers while the Qatari side was led

by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister, Minister of Interior in Qatar who conveyed greetings of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar along with his best wishes of permanent success to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the Omani people further progress and prosperity.

Good fraternal spirit and firm desire in supporting and enhancing avenues of existing cooperation between the two countries in several

fields prevailed over the talks.

Sayyid Fahd began the meeting by welcoming Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and his accompanying delegation. He hailed the growing strong bilateral relations and continuous keenness accorded by the wise leadership in the two countries to develop such relations at best levels.

The Omani-Qatari talks touched on several fields that serve the joint interests of both countries, including economy, trade and joint investments. The talks also reviewed situations in the regional and international arenas, as well as the efforts exerted to encourage constructive dialogue in a bid to end disputes via peaceful methods to support security and stability.

Sayyid Fahd asked the guest to convey greetings of His Maj-

esty the Sultan along with his best wishes to the Emir of Qatar and the Qatari people further growth and welfare.

MoUs signed Oman and Qatar signed a number of agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel on Thursday.

Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, signed a MoU in the field of culture with Ahmed Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Trade of Qatar.

The MoU is related to exchanges of information, publications, booklets, cultural and scientific bulletins, references and the organisation of bilateral symposia and seminars for professionals in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

The MoU also aims at exchanging expertise in indexing, manuscript preservation, and maintenance and restoration of materials.

Further, an agreement was signed to begin cooperation in the cinema field, and to exchange expertise and invitations and take part at events and activities in cinema.

This also includes exchanges of visits among writers, men of letters, poets, artists, as well as theatre and music delegations.

Also, Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, signed a MoU in the field of environment and its preservation with Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Romaihi, Minister of Municipality and Environment in Qatar. The MoU is related to exchanging national expertise and information in environmental

SOCIAL INSURANCE

< FROM

A1

protection, climate affairs and environmental preservation.

The MoU calls for exchanges of expertise in monitoring climate changes, organising a forum for joint environmental cooperation, developing an integrated work programme for two years to identify and begin proposed activities and fields for cooperation, enhancing environmental awareness, evaluating the environmental effects for industrial and development projects, exchanging expertise in the field of tourism and its integration with biodiversity.

Further, Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, Chairman of Special Economic Zone Authority in Duqm (SEZAD), signed an agreement with Khalid Al Hail, Chairman of Karwa Automobiles, by which SEZAD will provide the company with the

right to set up an auto assembly factory with some OMR160 million in investments.

Al Jabri, SEZAD Chairman, confirmed that the agreement enhances cooperation and the economic partnership between the Sultanate and Qatar.

“We are happy to sign the land agreement with Karwa Company, whose investment will be an important addition to the existing investments in the Zone”, Al Jabri said in a press statement.

Karwa Company and Oman Investment Fund will provide capital for the project, including 30 per cent for the Sultanate and 70 per cent for Qatar.

Under the agreement, SEZAD allocated land of about one million square metres in the medium industries area for the factory, which will have an annual capacity of some 2,000 units of various types of cars, large and small buses, school buses, trucks and other vehicles.

The project includes the construction of a number of administrative support services, staff housing, and a yard to conduct operational tests for cars, in addition to other benefits associated with the project.

The agreement is for 25 years, subject to renewal. It is expected that 400 to 500 jobs are to be created. Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Mining (PAM) and Qatar Primary Materials Company (QPMC) also signed a memorandum of understanding on the two queries in Khatmat Milaha in the Wilayat of Shinas to provide support to assist the company in receiving approvals and permits to carry out its excavations in the quarries. -ONA

R O YA L O M A N P O L I C E

‘Family welfare budget has grown’ Pipe burst to hit supply

Nasra Nasir, a 75-year-old widow, said that the salary she usually gets from the social security hardly covers her daily needs.

However, she feels with the continuous rise in prices of products and services it is becoming hard for her to survive with such amount of money.

“Though the support will absolutely benefit huge number of social insurance families,” said Nasra. She added that the such families can’t depend on anything but only on such financial support by the government.

“I really thank everyone involved in this move and appreciate the government response too,” said Nasra.

Monthly salary Considering the number of lowincome family groups and based on that the monthly salary is determined. 84,600 families were covered under the social insurance programme in 2015 by the Ministry of Social Development, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information NCSI. Among them, the majority

60,000 are elderly people. Other notably large groups include divorced women, who make up 12,000 of beneficiaries, and orphans, who make up 3,000.

The minister’s website also shows that beneficiary categories of the social insurance system are orphans (children whose parents have died and their age does not exceed eighteen years) widows less than 60 years old, divorcees who have nobody to support them financially; abandoned woman and unmarried girls between 18 and 60 years old with no

obligated provider who can support them financially.

The system also covers elderly with no obligated provider who can support him financially, family of the prisoner for more than six months with no obligated provider who can support him financially and disabled.

The minimum payment for social security is at the base level of OMR264, and the countrywide family welfare budget has grown considerably over the decades, rising to OMR130 million in 2013.

Times News Service MUSCAT: A water pipeline burst in Muttrah on Friday morning, causing gridlock, a Royal Oman Police official confirmed.

The road, near Al Shira’ roundabout, has been flooded with water since the early hours of this morning. “The rupture in the pipeline affected traffic in the area. Police personnel have been deployed to control the traffic while authorities are on the spot to plug the leak,” the source added. Pictures of the damaged road are circulat-

ing on the social media.

The burst will affect water supply in the wilayats of Muscat and Muttrah, according to the Public Authority for Electricity and Water.

The authority has added that all areas in the Muscat governorate will be affected except for Qantab and Al Bustan. “It may take approximately 48 hours to fix the damage,” PAEW said in a tweet, calling residents in Muttrah and Muscat to rationalise consumption of water in the upcoming hours.

R O YA L D E C R E E

< FROM

A1

HM promulgates law on combating money laundering

Article (2) transfers the following ambassadors and appoints them as stated here: 1. Lyutha bint Sultan bin Ahmed Al Mughairiya, Sultanate’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.

2. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Al Harthy, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

3. Dr Khalid bin Said bin Salim Al Jaradi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

4. Badr bin Mohammed bin Badr Al Mantheri, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Yemeni Republic, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Lebanon.

5. Dr. Qassim bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Salhi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the State of Libya, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the

Republic of Turkey.

6. Saud bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Ruqaishi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, to be transferred and appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Tunisian Republic.

Article (3) appoints Dr. Ali bin Ahmed bin Harib Al Issa’ee, as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, and Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Sulaiman Al A’mri, as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal.

Article (4) grants the following

the title of Ambassador and appoints them as stated here: 1. Plenipotentiary Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Omar bin Ahmed Al Marhoon, to be appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

2. Plenipotentiary Minister Ali bin Abdullah bin Salim Al Mahrouqi, to be appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to Tanzania.

3. Adviser Imad bin Hamoud bin Salim Al Abri, to be appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil.

4. Adviser Najeeb bin Yahya bin

Zeerok Al Balushi, to be appointed as the Sultanate’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

Article (5) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on its date of issue.

Royal Decree No. 30/2016 promulgates Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing.

Article (1) stipulates that the provisions of the Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing attached to this decree shall be enforced.

Article (2) says that this de-

cree shall be published in the Official Gazette.

Ratifies the agreement Royal Decree No. 31/2016 ratifies the Agreement on Foundation of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank signed in Beijing on June 29th 2015.

Article (1) ratifies the aforementioned agreement in accordance with the version attached to this decree.

Article (2) says that this decree shall be published in the Official Gazette and enforced on its date of issue. -ONA

M I N I S T R Y O F H E A LT H

Last day for medical tests for pilgrims going on Haj FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Today is the last day to undergo medical tests and vaccinations for people wishing to perform Haj, according to the Ministry of Health regulations.

The Ministry of Health had earlier issued a statement, noting that medical examinations and vaccinations can be received between May 22 and June 4, 2016.

“Persons who have received a text message approval from the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, should go to health institutions,” the statement said.

The vaccinations, which are

required, include the Quadravaccination to protect against meningococcal meningitis and the seasonal Influenza vaccine.

Vaccine “The Quadra-vaccination for meningococcal meningitis provides a three-year-immunity.

Hence, all those who have been vaccinated within a period of three years and hold relevant documents to prove this are exempted from receiving this vaccine,” the statement said.

Regarding the seasonal Influenza vaccine, the statement said the vaccine provides a seasonal immunity and should be repeat-

ed annually. “These vaccines are essential to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as requested from healthcare authorities there,” it added.

The requirements to visit health institutions include an identity card or passport for Omanis and a resident card for non-Omanis that should be completed as part of the procedures from the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

“All pilgrims for this year need to adhere and comply with the instructions in order to prevent the spread of these preventable diseases and to protect the public’s health,” it added.

TURQUOISE OMANI SEA WATER

Oman is among the tourism world’s top destinations due to its turquoise sea water and beautiful and clean beaches. An amateur photographer Renu Singh captured this picture in her camera while moving along the Oman coast.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

Share your world with us on Instagram

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

A3

OMAN

Sultan Qaboos Mosque opens in Bukha; Al Zuhd in Al Mudhaibi Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Shahi, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources presided, yesterday, over the opening of Sultan Qaboos Mosque in the Wilayat of Bukha in Musandam Governorate, in the presence of Sayyid Khalifa bin Al Mirdas Al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam; Habib bin Mohammed Al Riyami, Secretary General of Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science; Shaikh Saif bin Himier Al Malik Al Shahi, Governor of Al Dhahirah and a number of officials, dignitaries and citizens in the wilayat. The mosque has a built-up area of 3, 836 square metres on a plot area of 12, 536 square metres and can accommodate 1,088 worshippers. It also has a separte a prayer area for women that can accommodate 120 women. -ONA

AL ZUHD MOSQUE: The new Al Zuhd Mosque was opened at Al Zaheb village in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi yesterday, under the auspices of General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office, in the presence of citizens at Al Zaheb and the neighbouring villages. The mosque builtup area amounts to 500 square metres and is situated on a plot of 1,260 square metres. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ONA

A4

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

REGION NOT TO BE TRUSTED

No intention of cooperating with US, UK on regional issues ANKARA: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday Tehran had no intention of cooperating on regional issues with its main enemies, the United States and Britain.

Khamenei also accused Washington of not being committed to a nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six major powers, including the United States, in 2015 that aims to curb the country’s disputed nuclear programme.

“We will not cooperate with America over the regional crisis,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast live on state TV, adding that: “Their aims in the region are 180 degrees opposed to Iran’s.”

Relations with Washington were severed after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and enmity to the United States has always been a rallying point for hardliner supporters of Khamenei in Iran.

Tehran and Washington have common interests and threats across the Middle East.

They have cooperated tactically in the past, including when Tehran helped Washington counter Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and IS in Iraq. Following the end of the sanctions on Iran, the country has started to increase trade with the West. But some US sanctions remain and US banks remain prohibited from doing business with Iran directly or indirectly because Washington still accuses Tehran of supporting terrorism and human rights abuses.

“They use human rights, terrorism... as pretexts to avoid fulfilling their commitments,” Khamenei said.

“If we remain strong and united and revolutionary, those who are trying to bully Iran and are against us will not succeed,” he told a gathering to commemorate the anniversary of the death of the revolution’s founder, Ayatollah Rouhollah Khomeini, in 1989. — Reuters

‘Two-state solution chance fading’ as France hosts meet Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative but Israeli officials have said an international conference will not work and that only direct talks between the old foes can bring peace

PARIS: A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may soon be impossible, France warned on Friday as it held an international conference to revive the quest for a deal despite Israel’s warning that the effort is doomed to failure.

With US efforts to broker an accord in deep freeze for two years and Washington focused on its November presidential election, France hosted an conference with the aim of breaking the apathy over the impasse and stir new diplomatic momentum.

Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative but Israeli officials have said an international conference will not work and that only direct talks between the old foes can bring peace.

Neither Israel nor the Palestinians were invited to the conference, though the objective is to get them to negotiate after the US elections.

“The two-state solution is in serious danger. We are reaching a point of no return where this solution will not be possible,” French

DEADLOCKED: French President Francois Hollande delivers a speech at the opening of an international meeting in a bid to revive the

Israeli-Palestinian peace process in Paris, on Friday.— AFP/POOL/Kamil Zihnioglu

Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told a news conference after convening some 25 ministers mainly from the Arab world, Europe and the United States.

A final communique said all countries present had reaffirmed the need for a negotiated twostate solution and that direct negotiations between the two sides should be based on existing UN Security Council resolutions.

It warned that the status quo - a lack of headway towards a Palestinian state in territory occupied

by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war - was not sustainable.

Ayrault said the powers wanted work to begin by the end of June on a set of economic incentives and security guarantees to encourage the two sides to resurrect peace talks.

Arab offer in 2002 They would also seek ways to break deadlocks that scuttled previous negotiations and look at whether other peace efforts such as a 2002 Arab offer of peace to Israel in exchange for its withdrawal from all occupied land remain viable.

“The Arab peace initiative has

all the elements for a final settlement,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told reporters, and it could not be watered down to suit Israel. ”It is on the table and a solid basis for resolving this long-standing dispute. It provides Israel with a lot of incentives and it’s incumbent on the Israelis to accept that.”

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said it was the duty of international and regional players to find a breakthrough since the two sides appeared incapable of doing so alone.

Palestinians say continuous Israeli settlement expansion in occupied territory since then has dimmed any prospect for the viable state they seek in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with a capital in Arab East Jerusalem.

The interim 1993 Oslo peace accords were meant to yield a “two state solution” within five years.

“The policy of settlement expansion and demolitions, violence, and incitement tells us very clearly that the perspective that Oslo opened up is seriously at risk of fading away,” Mogherini told reporters. — Reuters

CONFLICT

UN set to ask Damascus to approve airdrops of aid

NO END IN SIGHT: Men inspect damage after an airstrike on Aleppo’s rebel held Al Hallak neighbourhood, Syria on Thursday. — Reuters

UNITED NATIONS / WASHINGTON: The United Nations will ask the Syrian government on Sunday to approve airdrops and airlifts of humanitarian aid to besieged areas, UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien told the Security Council, according to diplomats in the closed door meeting on Friday.

Nearly 600,000 people are besieged in 19 different areas in Syria, according to the UN, with two thirds trapped by government forces and the rest besieged by armed opposition groups and IS militants.

O’Brien told the council the UN would ask permission from Syria to airdrop or airlift aid into besieged areas where only partial or no land access has been granted

by President Bashar Al Assad’s government, said the diplomats.

There was no immediate response from Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja’afari when asked to comment on the announcement.

It was not clear why Assad’s

government would consider agreeing to airlifts for areas where it has blocked overland aid convoys.

Syria gave the UN and the Red Cross approval on Thursday to send humanitarian aid convoys into at least 11 of the 19 besieged areas during June after the United States and Britain called for airdrops.

Several Western diplomats said the Syrian announcement may be a ploy to deflect discussions on airdrops, noting that Assad’s government has a track record of reneging on promises to permit full access to needy people.

Last month members of the International Syria Support Group, which includes Russia and the United States, agreed that the UN World Food Program should airdrop aid to Syria’s besieged communities from June 1 if land access was denied.

UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura, who also briefed the 15-member council, backed

O’Brien’s comments, saying the UN needed to pursue airdrops and airlifts of humanitarian relief, the council diplomats told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

At least 250,000 people have died in Syria’s five-year civil war in Syria, while more than 6.6 million have been internally displaced and another 4.8 million people have fled the country.

Vitaly Churkin, the UN ambassador of Assad’s close military ally Russia, told the council that airdrops and airlifts of aid could be carried out if safely and correctly organized, the diplomats who attended the meeting said.

Meanwhile, regarding a new offensive the US military said, if successful US-backed fighters in bid to to clear a strip of land along the Turkish border would free up to 40,000 civilians from IS control.

The US-backed force was comprised of about 3,000 Syrian Arab fighters, or about 85 per cent of the total force. — Reuters

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

Tweet all about it

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

INDIA

Mathura violence toll climbs to 24, more than 320 arrested The Centre sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the incident while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Akhilesh Yadav and assured the state government of all necessary help IN FLAMES: Several huts caught fire after clashes between police and encroachers who were being

evicted from Jawahar Bagh in Mathura on Thursday.

MATHURA: Twenty four people, including an SP and an SHO, have been killed in Thursday’s massive clash between police and members of a sect who had encroached on government land here, even as tension prevailed in the area with police seizing a large cache of munition from the site and arresting 320 people.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered a probe by the divisional commissioner of Mathura into the violence at Jawahar Bagh where nearly 3,000 people had illegally set up camp on an over 260-acre plot since last two years.

The Centre sought a report from the UP government on the incident while Union Home Min-

ister Rajnath Singh spoke to Yadav and assured the state government of all necessary help.

Encroachers According to state Director General of Police Javed Ahmed, there was “unprovoked” firing by encroachers who pelted stones and attacked the policemen with lathis as they arrived at the site for a recce to carry out the eviction, leading to the death of Superintendent of Police, City, Mukul Dwivedi and Station House officer, Farah, Santosh Yadav.

“The police teams reorganised themselves. After two shelters were vacated, the protesters set

A5

- PTI

afire gas cylinders and munition stored there which led to several explosions. Twenty two rioters were killed in the violence. These include 11 persons who were killed in a fire started by the agitators,” he said. The deceased also included a woman.

“Our two young officers laid down their lives while protecting the law and with a heavy heart we bid adieu to them,” the DGP told reporters after paying tributes to the slain officers. He said 23 police personnel have been hospitalised and many among them have suffered bullet injuries.

“We have recovered 47 guns, six rifles and 178 hand grenades from

the area,” he said, adding “124 people have been arrested for creating disturbances. Another 196, including 116 women, have been arrested under 151 CrPC,” he said.

Section 151 CrPC deals with preventive arrests.

The encroachers, who were protesting under the auspices of Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi, were being evicted on the directions of the Allahabad High Court.

They were believed to be members of splinter group of Baba Jaigurudev sect had occupied the land on the pretext of ‘dharna’.

Their demands included “cancellation” of election of president

and prime minister of India, replacement of existing currency with ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ currency, sale of diesel at the rate of 60 litres for one rupee and petrol at 40 litres for one rupee.

“Ram Vriksh Yadav, Chandan Bose, Girish Yadav and Rakesh Gupta are the main culprits and leaders of this group and if alive they will be caught by the police,” the DGP said, adding the 22 people killed in the violence are yet to be identified. Police said some vehicles bearing Madhya Pradesh registration number have been found and they would be probing all angles including if there was Naxalite connection. “Fifteen cars and 6 motorcycles have been recovered,” the DGP said.

“The local people were angry with encroachers and they helped the police. When the rioters were retreating, they were severely beaten up by the public,” he said.

The chief minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 million to the family of the deceased policemen.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was in Barabanki to launch government schemes and address a rally, said that administration officials held talks several times in the past with the encroachers to convince them to evict the area in the wake of the high court order.

“Police were attacked at the recce stage itself. Officials had spoken to them (encroachers) and given them several warnings, but they stoked violence. It is a serious incident and I have briefed the union home minister,” Yadav said. - PTI

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Three killed in ambush of security force’s convoy SRINAGAR: Three Border Security Force personnel were killed and four others critically injured when terrorists ambushed their convoy near Bijbehara on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Indian-administered-Kashmir on Friday.

“Its an unfortunate incident.

The BSF convoy was attacked on the national highway by terrorists who fired at it from the by-lanes near Bijbehara,” Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K. Rajendra said. Officials said that three BSF personnel identified as Head Constable Girish Kumar Shukla, Constable Mahinder Ram and Havaldar Dinesh were killed while four others were injured in the incident which took place at 4.30pm near a government hospital, 52 km from here.

BSF Director General K. K. Sharma is rushing to the spot to take stock of the situation. The BSF convoy comprising 23 vehicles was coming from Jammu to Srinagar ferrying jawans who were returning to join their duties after their leave.

Additional forces have been rushed to the area which has been cordoned off by Central Reserve Police Force and Rashtriya Rifles.

No terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack but the security establishment believe that it could be the handiwork of cadres of banned Hizbul Mujahideen group led by Burhan Wani.

The attack comes 10 days after the Hizbul Mujahideen had killed three policemen in two separate incidents in Srinagar city. - PTI

A6

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

INDIA TA M I L NA D U

17 die in road accident CHENNAI: Seventeen people died and several others were injured on Friday in a pile-on involving a passenger bus, truck and a number of cars in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, police said.

Police and fire fighting personnel rushed to the accident spot and undertook rescue operations.

The injured have been admitted to a nearby government hospital.

Krishnagiri district is about 260 km from here.

According to police, the passenger bus was travelling from Krishnagiri to Hosur while the truck was coming from the opposite direction. The truck driver lost control of his vehicle when one of the tyres burst and hit the bus and also some cars that were coming behind the bus. -IANS

We have to help each other secure our cyber space, and minimise the use of Internet and social media for terrorist activities Hamid Ansari, Vice president

‘Terror as state policy a matter of concern’ Vice President Hamid Ansari said that International terrorism can only be defeated by coordinated international action

TUNIS: Flagging terrorism as an area of common concern, Vice President Hamid Ansari on Friday voiced concern over the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy by some countries and said the menace can only be defeated by organised international action.

Delivering a lecture on ‘India and the World’ at the Tunisian Institute of Strategic Studies here, vice president also spoke on the much-awaited UN reforms and said any global forum which does not include India has limited relevance.

Ansari said that “as one sixth of the humanity and in keeping with the growing capacities and aspirations of our people, India has a much larger role to play in charting a more equitable and sustainable future for our world.”

While emerging economies have secured a role in the global economic system, the UN Security Council remains a captive of its five Permanent Members, he added.

“India is not a rejectionist power that stands outside the global order but that her interests lie in working to change reform and improve the global order, which demands increased external engagement within the ambit of a

TETE-A-TETE: Vice President Hamid Ansari and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid during their meeting at the prime minister’s office in Tunisia on Thursday. - PTI

non-intrusive policy,” he said.

“India has been a major contributor to international peacekeeping operations under the United Nations flag, has engaged with our partners in shaping the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda, and continues to work with like-minded countries to make the global financial and trade systems more equitable and transparent, and to address our common challenges such as environmental degradation,” he said.

On the issue of terrorism, Ansari said that it has “emerged as a principal global challenge. Your country, like my own, has suffered the horrors of this scourge of humanity. Terrorism today has global reach, no city remains safe. There is a new level of threat to pluralist and open societies. Old structures of terrorism also remain.”

Ansari said, “There are countries that still use it as an instrument of state policy. There can be no distinction between good and bad terrorists. A terrorist is a terrorist; one who commits crimes against humanity cannot have any religion, or be afforded

any political sanctuary.”

He said that International terrorism can only be defeated by organised international action.

Intelligence sharing “We need to restructure the international legal framework such as by adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to deal with the challenges of terrorism,” he said and called for increased cooperation in intelligence sharing among societies that stand for peace.

He said all countries should strengthen efforts to prevent supply of arms to terrorists, disrupt terrorist movements, and curb and criminalise terror financing.

“We have to help each other secure our cyber space, and minimize use of Internet and social media for terrorist activities,” he added. The vice president said that India had vital stake in the stability, security and economic well-being of West Asia and North African region and was willing to expand its strategic and economic partnership.

“We share common principles and have a similar approach on

many issues. India had extended strong support to the Tunisian struggle for freedom, and today, India stands ready again to provide all possible support as you embark on a path of freedom and democracy,” he added.

Ansari said that Tunisia can also be a regional hub for trade with both Europe and Africa.

“I see a prosperous and peaceful future as our commercial and political interactions deepen. It will open a new era of peace and prosperity, not only for our two countries but the entire region,” he added.

The vice president also said that although inter-state conflicts have admittedly declined, the experience of the past quarter of a century shows the manner in which the expectations of a more comprehensive corrective have been belied.

“There has been a phenomenal increase in lower intensity civil conflicts; an increase in violence against unprotected civilians and some of these conflicts have spilled across state boundaries and their principal victims are civilians.” - PTI

PROGRAMME

Protectionism is a hurdle in Indo-US trade, says minister HYDERABAD: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit, starting on June 7, India on Friday said “protectionism” was creating hurdles and called for a shift from the conservative mindset to boost the Indo-American trade relations.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said this while addressing a programme organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce here.

“There should not be protectionism. Protectionism is one the biggest hurdles between India and US trade relations. There is a need to keep away from it, because the whole world has now become a global village. In order to keep the free flow of trade globally, we should give up our conservative mindset and have an open mindset,” Singh said.

“On outsourcing policy, I expect USA’s approach to be more rational,” he said after releasing a report titled ‘India-US trade — a formidable economic force’

by KPMG. Singh also said that as a part of ease of doing business, the Home Ministry is thinking of replacing the existing 10-year security clearance for foreign investors with one-time clearance.

The minister hoped bilateral trade between India and the US to touch $500 billion in future as both nations have huge potential.

Of late, the industry has been accusing the US and other developed nations of implementing some rules that have become an impediment for Indian traders.

The industry has alleged that some of the recent rules by the US including hike in visa fee and restriction on job visas are part of the “protectionism” being observed by the North American country.

Singh said the US can take the advantage of Indian pharma industry’s success in reducing its health-care bills.

“USA is one the biggest markets for Indian generic medi-

Rajnath Singh

cines. If US allows Indian generic drugs without much restrictions in their market, then definitely the cost of health-care will go down in that country,” he felt.

He said there has been a lot of upsurge in Indo-US relations during the past 14 years.

The bilateral trade was $90 billion in 2009, which has now crossed $100 billion.

“It is a fact the China-US bilateral trade crossed $500 billion in 2013 itself. We also hope that the Indo-US trade would reach $500 billion. Now India is considered as one of the fastest growing economies due to its strong leadership with a vision,” he said.

He said the NDA government is trying to eliminate “bureaucratic procedures” to pave way for smooth flow of business in the country. He said the government is mulling to give security clearance to foreign investors at the time of entry.

“We have minimised bureaucratic hurdles or bureaucratic procedures as part of the ease of doing business in India. We will have to do some more improvement in that direction. Earlier security clearance for investors that come from outside was for three years. Now it has been made for 10 years. I want, and will try that it should not be for ten years. Once they (foreign investors) get security clearance there should not be any more (security) clearances,” he said. - PTI

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016 Speaking to Gharida Farooqi on her show, G for Gharida, Maryam said on Thursday that she was willing to contest 2018 elections if her party, PML (N), considered her worthy.

S P E C U L AT I O N

Will contest polls in 2018 if party elders want me to, says Maryam LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz, who has been updating the nation on the progress of her father, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, since he underwent an open heart surgery, lent some credence to rumours that she will be her father’s political successor.

Speaking to Gharida Farooqi on her show, G for Gharida, Maryam said on Thursday that she was willing to contest 2018 elections if her party, PML (N), considered her worthy. Answering a question as to whether she would be contesting the elections in 2018, Maryam said, “What I think does not count, what party elders, senior members and the head of the party think matters more. If they would like me to contest elections, then I’m always available. However, if they think it would be better that I stay in the background and assist them wherever I can, then that is also acceptable to me.”

She further added that she was confident that her father’s government will complete its five years and will form the next government as well. Dismissing rumours about rifts within the family, she said, “Mine and Hamza’s relationship is just like Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif’s.”

She also said that Chaudhry Nisar’s political journey had started with Nawaz Sharif. When asked if there was a threat of an imminent martial law in the country, Maryam replied, “Disruptive elements are present everywhere but the government will complete its tenure.” - Express Tribune

PAKISTAN

Pakistan budget targets tax hikes to shore up finances Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said total spending for the 2016/17 year was estimated at Rs5.08 trillion, while the defence budget would rise 11 per cent year-on-year to Rs860 billion DOCUMENTS: Employees unload documents before they are distributed for the presentation of the 2016-17 budget in the National Assembly in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday. - Reuters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is targeting a near 16 per cent rise in tax revenues in the fiscal year ending June 2017, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday as he unveiled a budget aimed at shoring up the South Asian country’s finances.

Dar said Pakistan would cut its fiscal deficit to 3.8 per cent of gross domestic product for the coming financial year, down from the 4.3 per cent envisaged for this year, and helped by a planned rise in tax collection to Rs3.95 trillion ($37.8 billion).

Pakistan’s economy is growing at its quickest rate in eight years after a slide in oil prices and expansion in industry and services

boosted demand. Investor confidence has slowly returned to a country that was battered by the global financial crisis.

“The dangers to the economy are now far behind us. Economic growth has hit an eight year high.

This would have been even better if it had not been for a 28 per cent fall in the cotton crop,” Dar told parliament.

Still, the economy remains structurally weak, hamstrung by poor infrastructure, struggling exports, the threat of militant violence and a very narrow tax base.

The GDP growth rate of 4.7 per cent in the year to June 2016 was less than the government’s 5.5 per

COURT

Kazmi gets 16 years in jail for Haj pilgrimage kickbacks ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court jailed a former religious affairs minister for 16 years on Friday for taking kickbacks in arranging the annual Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, media reported.

Hamid Saeed Kazmi was an influential minister in the government of the Pakistan People’s Party that was in power from

A7

2008-2013. He was charged with hiring a substandard building to house Pakistani pilgrims to Mecca in 2009, charging exorbitant rents from the travellers and receiving kickbacks.

A special court also convicted two other former officials of the religious affairs ministry and jailed them for 16 and 40 years,

respectively, Dawn newspaper reported on its website.

All three were taken into custody after the court announced the verdict. They have the right to appeal the order at Islamabad High Court.

Each year, more than 100,000 Pakistanis perform the Haj pilgrimage. - Reuters

cent target, and a contraction in the agricultural sector this year meant many Pakistanis do not feel much better off.

Pakistan’s economy needs to grow at more than 6-per cent per annum to absorb new entrants coming into the workforce, experts say.

Priority Dar said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government’s priority in the year ahead was to push Pakistan’s persistently low tax-toGDP ratio to above 10 per cent and raise taxation revenues. Pakistan’s financial year runs from July to June.

Khurram Husain, a Karachibased analyst, said the government was proposing to raise taxes on turnover and financial transactions, which could hurt economic activity. It had largely left income and consumption taxes alone, he said. “I see it more as a fire-fighting budget. The government is having a very hard time transiting out of fire-fighting mode into producing a growth-inducing budget.

And this budget speech appears to confirm that,” Husain said.

Successive governments have promised to rein in tax evaders and boost revenues but face fierce resistance to change, including from the many politicians and businessmen believed to be among those dodging their taxes.

Fewer than one per cent of Pakistan’s 190 million people pay income tax.

The low level of collection and the hefty cost of funding its military has left Pakistan with insufficient money to spend on modernising its schools and hospitals, to the dismay of donors who end up financing much of the social infrastructure.

Dar said total spending for the 2016/17 year was estimated at 5.08 trillion rupees, while the defence budget would rise 11 per cent year-on-year to 860 billion rupees.

Some economists predict that Pakistan will miss its fiscal deficit targets over the coming years and start hiking spending after it exits an International Monetary Fund programme later this year and heads into a general election in 2018. - Reuters

KEY POINTS

Fiscal deficit seen at 3.8 per cent of GDP in 2016/17

GDP growth seen at 5.7 per cent year-onyear in 2016/17

Aims to push tax to GDP ratio over 10%

Tax revenues estimated at Rs3.96 trillion

Tax total revenue estimated at Rs4.92 trillion

Tax revenue from privatisation budgeted at 50 billion

Total spending in 2016/17 estimated at Rs5.08 trillion

Defence budget for 2016/17 set at Rs860 billion

Minimum wages increased to Rs14,000 per month from Rs13,000

To renew ‘Super Tax’ on corporations reporting more than Rs500 million in pretax profit

A8

T IME S O F O MAN

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

#TRENDING ONLINE HOT PICKS MOST READ

MOST SHARED

TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

TOTAL VIEWS

TOTAL PAGE LIKES

63,056,512

392,484

1 Driver killed in petrol

1 Muttrah pipe burst: Water

tanker crash

supply to be disrupted in many parts of Muscat

timesofoman.com/Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

2 Five Wadis To Try In Oman timesofoman.com/Oman

3 Muttrah pipe burst: Water

supply to be disrupted in many parts of Muscat

2 Sweltering heat forces

Indian School Muscat to announce early summer holidays

timesofoman.com/Oman

Founder: Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman / Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Anees bin Essa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali EDITORIAL Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24813153 E-mail: editor@timesofoman.com ADVERTISING Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24812624 E-mail: advertising@timesofoman.com CIRCULATION Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24818270 E-mail: circulation@timesofoman.com

timesofoman.com/Oman

4 His Majesty Sultan Qaboos

issues three Royal Decrees

timesofoman.com/Oman

3 Well educated Omanis make

up just 10 per cent of private sector

5 Man battles for life after

beach rescue in Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

Printed and published by: Muscat Media Group Post Box: 770 Postal Code: 112

4 Petrol price hike

fuels frustration at pumps in Oman timesofoman.com/Oman

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

5 Oasis Mall to create 350

new jobs in Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

FRED PLEITGEN MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/TIMESTV Gas station fined OMR2,000 for charging higher rates.

K S Dakshina Murthy While Russia has moved some of its strike aircraft out of Syria after Vladimir Putin’s withdrawal announcement they have moved a lot of additional assets into the country. This large contingent appears to indicate that Russia has no plans to leave Syria any time soon

TWEET WE LIKE @Mercurytravels Discover #Oman, a magical country in the Arabian Gulf. @ OmanTourism #Travel #luxury #solotravel #familytravel

TAHA KEHAR INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

Chabahar and Gwadar will unlock the doors and windows for positive change. If the assurances of Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost’s are anything to go by, the pact signed between Iran, Afghanistan and India will not seek to rival Gwadar Port or undermine the fundamental aims of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

«

SHARE THIS!

Photo: Neejum Khan/ Ras Al Hamra

READERS’ FORUM Bose speakers are innovative This refers to the online article, Bose home theatre systems: Not the best (May 29). I would like to mention that though some of the technical specifications are not declared, Bose speakers are innovative, elegantly designed and give superb quality of sound irrespective of size and dimensions. I personally own a variety of Bose speakers including models 301, 901, Soundlink 3. For real listening pleasure of music, I felt the Bose 901 was the best. - Krishnan R, Muscat Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Good news for Pakistanis in Salalah This refers to the online article, Pakistan International Airlines plans Salalah service this summer (June 1). This good news for the Pakistani community in Salalah because previously there was no such flight.

Everybody used to fly from Muscat after 12 hour bus journey from Salalah. - M. Tahir Raza, Muscat via Facebook

ADAM MINTER

In 2015, half of city residents in Indonesia had access to piped water, and only 2 per cent of urban areas had access to sewage lines and treatment facilities. Industrial pollution is rife. In rural areas, about 37 million people drink from what World Bank characterises as “unprotected sources”

Been waiting for a long time This refers to the online article, Pakistan International Airlines plans Salalah service this summer (June 1). I had been waiting for this to happen for a long time. For many years, I have been surprised why there was no such flight. - Ali Mir, Muscat

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com Television enables you to be entertained in your home by people you wouldn‘t have in your home.

DAVID FROST

Modi government flatters to deceive I

n the two years since coming to power, India’s Narendra Modi government has flattered to deceive on several fronts. Modi, who led the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian Peoples’ Party) to victory in the 2014 general elections had raised popular expectations to a feverish pitch. This worked in his favour.

There are several ways of assessing the Modi government’s performance. If one takes the academic route, there can be considerable quibbling, say whether the GDP has gone up or down, if foreign investment has increased etc etc. The realm of statistics is always open to manipulation and any figure can be conjured by mandarins to prove or disprove a point. The other method is to rely on ministers who obviously will make claims to show they have been successful while opposition politicians dig out information that project the government as a failure.

An alternative way of examining how the government has fared is to go by events that have hogged the limelight since its coming to power.

Eventswise, the BJP dispensation has managed to rake up several controversies, polarise opinion on issues that were thought to be well-settled and surreptitiously push its majoritarian agenda a.k.a Hindutva.

A pet Hindutva project, the ban on beef-eating, was drummed up into a feverish pitch leading to the lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq of Dadri village in Uttar Pradesh state on suspicion that he had stored beef in his refrigerator. Some of Modi’s handpicked colleagues have made statements directed against minority communities triggering widespread resentment and insecurity. Modi himself has chosen to remain silent on most issues giving the impression he did not mind these controversies or that he was unable to keep his colleagues in check.

One BJP criticism against the Congress’s Manmohan Singh was that as prime minister he was silent, never reacting to anything. Ironically, Modi has surpassed Singh. In fact, the prime minister has not addressed a single media conference since coming to power – a practice followed by his predecessors. These conferences are an opportu-

nity for the media to question the prime minister on any issue. They also make it possible for the prime minister to have his say, enabling transparency.

Instead, Modi has taken the safer way out by inviting select journalists for informal interactions or preferred one-to-one interviews.

The BJP government has not exactly covered itself with glory, thanks to its obsession with educational institutions, their autonomy and the attempt to exercise control over students of top universities. Its move to appoint a small-time actor, a BJP supporter, to head the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) triggered a prolonged battle with students leading to violence, arrests and academic disruption. The government at the instigation of the BJP’s student wing, came down heavily on the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Using doctored videos, students were made to look as if they were anti-national giving the government the excuse to clamp down on them. A diktat from the central government triggering events that caused the death of Rohit Vemula, a student from the underprivileged Dalit caste, was a serious goof up that officials found hard to explain.

Modi supporters point to his innumerable official tours abroad to declare what a great success his foreign policy has been. This would have been understandable if India under the previous governments had been in isolation. On the contrary, since the 1990’s India has opened up extensively to foreign investment and collaboration. So, Modi’s high-pitch tours abroad defy explanation. If at all, he has succeeded in reinventing the wheel many times over. Overall, despite the Modi government’s professed dislike for its predecessor UPA, the policies it follows are those of the previous government – the unique identity card (Aadhar) project, financial inclusion of the marginalised and the rural employment generation project (MGNREGA), among others. The BJP, in two years, has yet to come up with a genuinely original programme that has the potential to make a difference to the poor and marginalised.

K S Dakshina Murthy is an Independent journalist based in Bangalore, India

CLIPPINGS

PICTOGRAPH

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

SOHAR AVERAGE HUMIDITY (%)

JUNE 2001 Business forum for women in October MUSCAT: The Sultanate will host a gathering of businesswomen under the auspices of Queen Rania, the wife of King Abdullah II of Jordan, from October 28 to 30. Isila bint Zahir Al Harthy, head of the exhibitions committee at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the idea behind the planned meeting was to bring together businesswomen from the Middle East and rest of the world to discuss issues related to the commercial works and business administration. She said the organising of the meeting will be under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the OCCI.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Maximum

92

91

94

87

92

TODAY IN HISTORY INVITATION TO WRITERS We invite our readers to write articles on topics related to Oman. The articles should not exceed 800 words.

Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1647: Parliamentary forces capture King Charles I and hold him prisoner.

1859: The French army, under Napoleon III, takes Magenta from the Austrian army.

1911: Gold is discovered in Alaska’s Indian Creek.

1919: The US Senate passes the Women’s Suffrage bill.

Minimum

3

4

3

3

5

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

WORLD

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

A9

PUNISHED FOR BEING NAUGHTY

IRAQ FIGHTS IS GROUP TO LIBERATE FALLUJAH

Iraqi government forces take a position outside Al Shuhada neighborhood, south of Fallujah, during an operation to regain control of the area from the IS group on Friday. Iraqi forces on May 22-23 launched a vast offensive aimed at retaking the IS bastion of Fallujah, a city only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad that was the first to fall out of government control in 2014. — AFP

Libya will defeat local IS by own forces: Seraj Prime Minister Fayez Seraj said his Government of National Accord was working with forces from the western city of Misrata and the eastern city of Ajdabiya that were advancing on the extremist movement in their coastal stronghold of Sirte

ANARCHY: Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed unity government keep watch during clashes with

extremists of the IS group around 23 kilometres (14 miles) west of Sirte on Thursday. —AFP

Fayez Seraj also said Libya should retain sovereign control over tackling the crisis of illegal migrants crossing from Libya to Italy in creaking old boats that have frequently sunk, killing many hundreds of people

TRIPOLI: Libya is uniting its various armed factions and will be able to eradicate IS militants on its territory with its own forces, the head of the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli said on Friday.

Prime Minister Fayez Seraj said his Government of National Accord (GNA) was working with forces from the western city of Misrata and the eastern city of Ajdabiya that were advancing on the extremist movement in their coastal stronghold of Sirte.

National army No one would be excluded from a national army as long as they submitted to central political authority, he told Reuters in his first interview with international media since arriving in Tripoli in late March.

He also said Libya should retain sovereign control over tackling the crisis of illegal migrants crossing from Libya to Italy in creaking old boats that have frequently sunk, killing many hundreds of people.

“We are sure that the battle and

the eradication of Islamic State (IS) will be carried out by Libyans,” he said.

“I think that what was achieved from Ajdabiya to Sirte and from Misrata to Sirte was a good achievement, given the capabilities that the fighters have.”

Seraj’s government is the result of a UN-mediated deal to stop the anarchy and conflict plaguing Libya since the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s four decades in power. Western states

see it as the best hope for uniting Libya’s many political factions and armed groups to tackle IS and crack down on people-smuggling.

Both crises have been highlighted in the past two weeks, with armed forces loyal to the GNA pushing IS back around their stronghold of Sirte and hundreds of migrants dying in a fresh wave of boat departures from western Libya.

Seraj said destroying smugglers’ boats on Libya’s shores was

“not a solution” and the problem must be dealt with in the migrants’ countries of origin.

The GNA is also striving to revive Libya’s oil production and rescue its faltering economy.

Seraj said the new government was working to amalgamate rival offices of Libya’s key institutions, but no decision has yet been taken about the future leadership of the central bank, National Oil Corporation, or sovereign wealth fund. — Reuters

Boy abandoned by parents in dense forest found alive TOKYO: A Japanese boy abandoned in a dense forest by his parents for being naughty was found alive and unharmed on Friday, nearly a week after his disappearance set off a massive search that kept the nation riveted.

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered in a building on a Japanese military base around 4 km (2.5 miles) from where he disappeared last Saturday after his parents left him by the side of a road, reportedly as discipline for throwing stones at cars.

“One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and opened the door of a building on the base, and there he was,” a member of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces told NHK national television.

“When he asked ‘are you Yamato?’ the boy said yes. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and riceballs.” Yamato was taken to hospital for checks but was healthy except for low body temperature and would be kept overnight as a precaution, a doctor told a news conference.

A tearful Takayuki Tanooka, the boy’s father, thanked rescuers for their efforts and apologised for causing trouble. “We’ve reflected on what we did and it was really excessive,” Tanooka said, his voice shaking.

“We - well, we loved him before, but I hope to give him even more attention now,” he said.

Yamato’s parents first said he disappeared while they foraged for edible plants, but later told police they had left him by the road to discipline him after he threw stones at people and cars.

They said when they drove back a few minutes later the boy had disappeared. The area is so remote that residents of the region say they rarely go through it.

The boy somehow managed to survive for nearly a week in the densely forested area, where night

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered in a building on a Japanese military base around 4 km from where he disappeared last Saturday temperatures fell as low as 7 degrees Celsius (45 Fahrenheit) and heavy rain had fallen, despite wearing only a T-shirt and jeans. Yamato said he had “walked through the mountains” until he found the building, which was unlocked. He drank water from a nearby faucet and slept on mattresses spread on the floor.

The search for Yamato gripped Japan. At its peak, it involved several hundred shouting rescuers beating through heavy bush, as well as soldiers on motorbikes and police on horseback. News programmes gave regular updates throughout the week, and NHK sent a news flash when he was found.

The incident set off a flood of social media comment, with most of those posting comments lambasting the parents for their carelessness. On Friday, most expressed relief.

“To be honest, I was certain of a sad result. As the parent of a 7-year-old myself, all I can say is that I am really, really happy,” one wrote. — Reuters

A10

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

WORLD TIGER TEMPLE

Thailand police charge 22 with wildlife trafficking KANCHANBURI (THAILAND): Thai police have charged 22 people, including three Buddhist monks, with wildlife trafficking and removed more dead animals including a bear and a leopard from the infamous Tiger Temple, authorities said on Friday.

The temple in Kanchanaburi province, west of the capital, Bangkok, has been a major tourist attraction for more than two decades, with visitors paying 600 baht ($17) admission to pose for photographs with the tigers.

Wildlife activists have accused the temple of illegally breeding the tigers while some visitors on online forums complained that the tigers appeared sedated. The temple denies the accusations.

Three monks Adisorn Nuchdamrong, from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, said 22 people had been charged with wildlife possession and trafficking, including 17 members of the temple’s foundation and three monks trying to flee with a truckload of tiger skins.

It followed the grim discovery on Wednesday of the bodies of 40 tigers cubs inside a freezer.

It remains unclear why the dead tiger cubs were being stored, though tiger bones and body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Evidence “We’ve confiscated all the hard discs of closed circuit cameras in this temple for police to find evidence of wrongdoing,” Adisorn said. The temple officially opened in 1994 close to a wild tiger habitat. It received its first tiger cub, which had been found by villagers, in 1999. The cub died soon after but villagers kept bringing cubs to the temple, usually when the mothers had been killed by poachers, the temple said.

Repeated efforts to shut down the temple have been blocked by the monks. Thailand is a well-known trafficking hub of illicit wildlife products, including ivory. Thailand’s wildlife department began raiding the temple on Monday. There were 137 tigers inside the temple and 119 have been removed. The World Wildlife Fund said in April that the number of wild tigers in the world stands at around 3,890, with more than 100 wild tigers in Thailand. — Reuters

DISAPPOINTED: Tourists stand in front of the closed doors of the Orsay museum on Friday in Paris, after the rain-swollen River Seine

reached its highest level in three decades. — AFP

Paris museums move art works due to floods Both the Louvre and Orsay museums overlooking the Seine were closed to the public on Friday

SCANDAL: A sedated tiger is carried on a stretcher as officials

continue moving them from controversial Tiger Temple, in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday. - Reuters U S C A N D I D AT E T E R M S A L L I A N C E O B S O L E T E

NATO commander denounces Trump SINGAPORE: NATO’s top military officer, General Petr Pavel, denounced US presidential candidate Donald Trump on Friday for criticising the alliance as obsolete and said such comments played to the hands of its opponents.

In unusual criticism of a presidential candidate, Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said in an interview that Russian “President (Vladimir) Putin and some others may be pleased by this approach”.

“To take such an approach would be a great mistake,” he said.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee in the November 8 US presidential election, has

criticized the decades-old NATO alliance with mainly European nations — a cornerstone of US foreign policy — as obsolete and too costly for the United States.

Not useful Pavel, a former Czech Republic army chief, said the NATO alliance formed in 1949 was not perfect but it had great potential as well as the chance to be improved.

“Statements like these are not necessarily damaging, but they are not useful,” Pavel said in Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s biggest security summit. — Reuters

PARIS: The Louvre and Orsay museums in Paris moved scores of art works and precious artefacts to safety and soldiers evacuated residents trapped in some of the capital’s outlying suburbs as the swollen river Seine hit its highest level in 30 years.

France’s environment minister, Segolene Royal, said the Seine had breached 6 metres (19 feet) in central Paris, submerging roads running along the river, swamping small businesses on quaysides and forcing the closure of an underground commuter line.

The worst affected areas lie to the south of the capital.

In Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, located near to Paris’ Orly airport, soldiers and Red Cross volunteers helped stranded residents as floodwaters rose above knee level.

In nearby Corbeil-Essonnes, locals kayaked along streets littered with abandonned cars.

“It’s a bit frightening, everything that’s happening,” said one woman from Marseille who identified herself only as Odile.”Not long ago they ran a flood simulation, how to evacuate museums, residents. And now it’s happening for real.”

Insurance claims for damaged

FLOODED: A photo shows a placard announcing the closure of the Louvre Museum on June 3, 2016

in Paris, after the rain-swollen river Seine reached its highest level in three decades, spilling its banks and prompting the museum to shut its doors and evacuate artworks in its basement. — AFP

properties and cars will run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, two consultancy groups said.

Both the Louvre and Orsay museums overlooking the Seine were closed to the public on Friday.

In the Louvre, workers stacked dozens of boxes marked fragile and containing valuable statues, vases and art works. Crates could be seen stacked in corridors, overlooked by classical marble statues.

“For the museums, even if fortunately there isn’t any flooding of storerooms as of today, there is an automatic process above 5.50 metres to move works in the deepest storerooms higher,” Bruno

Julliard, Paris’ deputy mayor, told France Inter radio.

Mona Lisa The Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay are both home to world-renowned art collections, the former including the celebrated Mona Lisa painting and Venus de Milo statue.

Even as the Seine flooded higher, it remained well below the record high of 8.6 metres reached in 1910, when thousands of Parisians had to flee flooded low-lying areas of the city.

Officials said the river could peak at 6.50 metres later on Friday, and warned flood waters

could take several weeks to recede after the wettest May in France for 100 years.

“What’s going to be even more painful for the families who have lost their homes, the heads of companies who have lost their businesses, the employees who will be unable to go to work, is that the drop in the water level will be very slow,” she said.

The retreating waters could reveal further victims, Royal, the minister, added.

In Evry-Gregy-sur-Yerre, a man on horseback drowned on Thursday, becoming the second fatality.

— Reuters

S TA R K WA R N I N G

‘Brexit could set damaging precedent for Central Europe’ BUDAPEST: A decision by Britain to leave the European Union could set a “devastating” precedent for central Europe as some countries, particularly Hungary, could consider following suit, a leading economist there said on Friday.

While “out” campaigners in Britain, a net EU contributor, say the country would be financially better off, nationalism and concerns about immigration could tempt some states, even net beneficiaries of EU funds, to talk about leaving, Gyorgy Jaksity, chairman of investment firm Concorde, said.

Analysts say a “leave” vote in the June 23 British referendum would upset financial markets, cause credit spreads to widen, trigger a rush into safe assets and bolster the dollar.

Jaksity said: “Longer-term, the consequences for the EU can be quite devastating. If there is a major player leaving the EU, and Britain is definitely a major player, it does have a long-term effect on the EU in many different ways,” he said at the Reuters Eastern Europe

If there is a major player leaving the EU, and Britain is definitely a major player, it does have a long-term effect on the EU in many different ways, said Gyorgy Jaksity, chairman of investment firm Concorde

Investment Summit.

“In Central Europe I would not exclude any country, sometime in the future, being in a position where a politician says we go out,” Jaksity said, adding that Hun-

gary was “number one” on his list of those potentially opting out in such a scenario.

Hungary referendum Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has clashed several times with the European Union over policies affecting the media, the judiciary and the central bank.

His government, which has called for a referendum against an EU scheme to resettle migrants coming to Europe among member states, is running a billboard campaign calling on Hungarians to “send a message” to Brussels.

However, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the weekly Figyelo in an interview published on Thursday that Hungary’s future was within the European Union.

The next election is due in 2018 and Orban’s Fidesz party has a firm lead in the polls.

Under the EU’s current financing cycle, which ends in 2020 Hungary gets some 25 billion euros over seven years. If that largesse diminishes, anti-EU sentiment could increase, said Jaksity, — Reu-

CONTROVERSIAL VOTE: Illustration picture of postal ballot papers on Wednesday in London

ahead of the June 23 Brexit referendum when voters will decide whether Britain will remain in the European Union. — Reuters

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4, 2 0 1 6

S P O R S CRICKET

Panyangara out of India series, Cremer named captain HARARE: Medium pacer Tinashe Panyangara has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series and three T20 internationals against India with a back injury, while Graeme Cremer returned to lead the side in both forms of the game.

The 30-year-old Panyangara will not be part of the three ODIs and three T20Is owing to a back injury’. Taurai Muzarabani, who has played six ODIs and seven T20Is, was picked in Panyangara’s place. Though he was sacked as captain, Hamilton Masakadza retained his place in both sides. Graeme Cremer, who missed the 2016 World T20 with injury, returned and will lead both squads of 18 men each.

In addition to Cremer’s legspin, Zimbabwe have left-arm spinners Wellington Masakzadza and Tendai Chisoro and another legspinner Timken Maruma as slow bowling options. Tendai Charata, Donald Tiripano and Neville Madziva will be the seamers.

The ODIs will be played from June 11 to 15 and the T20s will be played from June 18 to 22. All six matches will be played in Harare.

ODI: Graeme Cremer (capt), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Taurai Muzarabani, Chamu Chibhabha, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro, Hamilton Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Craig Ervine T20I: Graeme Cremer (capt), Richmond Mutumbami (wk), Taurai Muzarabani, Brian Chari, Peter Moor, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Luke Jongwe, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Tendai Chisoro, Hamilton Masakadza, Tendai Chatara, Malcolm Waller. - PTI

It’s Djokovic vs Murray and Serena vs Muguruza in final The Serbian world number one comfortably contained the 22-year-old Thiem to set up a heavyweight final against second seed Andy Murray

PARIS: Novak Djokovic was in unplayable mode as he cantered into the French Open final by crushing Austrian tyro Dominic Thiem 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 on Friday, moving closer to the only grand slam title missing from his collection.

The Serbian world number one comfortably contained the 22-year-old Thiem to set up a heavyweight final against second seed Andy Murray.

Djokovic, who will be playing his fourth Roland Garros final, wasted no time in the first two sets, proving too consistent for the erratic 13th seed.

The Austrian opened up a 3-0 lead in the set courtesy of his stunning single-handed backhand. But he was brought back down to earth as the 11-times grand slam champion claimed five games in a row before wrapping up the match when Thiem smacked a backhand wide.

“I think it was the first time in my career I played a semi-final on (Court Suzanne) Lenglen, it was special,” said Djokovic, who had to play away from the main show court after terrible weather wreaked havoc on the tournament’s schedule.

While in the preceding women’s semifinal Garbine Muguruza beat Samatha Stosur in a half-empty stadium, the crowd turned up for the clash between Djokovic and a youngster who has been widely tipped to reach the top of the world rankings one day.

“I had to play my best tennis on some points,” Djokovic said.

“I did not start this tournament the way I wanted but today I played my best match of the tournament,” said Djokovic after calling the ball girls and boys to join him for a twoarm salute to the crowd.

“I have been dreaming all year long of reaching the Roland Garros final.”

Thiem was playing his first grand slam semifinal, Djokovic his eighth at Roland Garros and experience proved to be paramount as the Serb perfectly handled the important points.

The Austrian lost the first three games, allowing Djokovic to gain confidence and the Serb maintained the pressure.

Djokovic had another chance to steal his opponent’s serve at 4-1 but Thiem saved the break point with an exquisite backhand down

ALL SET FOR THE FINALE: Men’s singles finalists Andy Murray, top left, and Novak Djokovic, top right, women’s singles finalists Serena Williams, bottom left, and Garbne Muguruza will be vying for the pennant at Roland Garros. – AFP

the line. He lost the set on his serve when he buried a forehand into the net. Despite dropping jaws in the crowd with fine backhand winners and a few stunning forehands, Thiem was just too inexperienced as Djokovic blazed through the second set. Thiem got his first break in the third set but that spurred a purring Djokovic back into action and his opponent, who won the Nice tournament last month, had no answers.

Merry for Murray Britain’s Andy Murray ended the French Open reign of Stan Wawrinka on Friday, downing the defending champion in four sets to reach his first Roland Garros final, where he will face the might of world number one Novak Djokovic.

Breaking his claycourt jinx against the Swiss, second seed Murray also becomes the first Briton to contest the Roland Garros crown since the 1930s -- a landmark he did not think he would achieve. “I am extremely proud.

I never expected to reach a final here,” he said courtside after a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory that cemented his growing reputation on a surface he once mistrusted.

“I knew today if I wanted to win I would have to play one of my best claycourt matches. I played

one of my best matches today.”

Murray bested Djokovic in May’s Italian Open final, their most recent encounter on clay.

Looking re-energised after a rest day that the pair on the other side of the draw missed out on, both Murray and Wawrinka started brightly, the Scot pacing in monochrome while the Swiss lit up a dull Philippe Chatrier showcourt in fluorescent yellow.

Murray came close to losing his very first service game, which he took after five deuces. But he then broke his third-seeded opponent and consolidated with a pinpoint lob to lead 3-1, winning the set in an epic 10th game in which Wawrinka held three break points.

With Wawrinka’s trademark booming backhand slightly misfiring, Murray, who held a winning 8-7 record against the Swiss but had lost their three contests on clay, then took a firmer grip on the match. With Wawrinka’s range increasingly deserting him -- he ended the match with 43 unforced errors against the Scot’s 22 -- Murray closed out proceedings in the fourth set with two further breaks of serve.

Serena in final Serena Williams outlasted gritty Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens in

two tough sets on Friday to reach the French Open final, where she will play fourth seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza with her 22nd grand slam singles title at stake.

Defending champion Williams, who won the first of her three Roland Garros crowns in 2002, started slowly for the second day running, her early play littered with the unforced errors that had characterised Thursday’s laboured three-set quarterfinal win against Kazakh Yulia Putintseva.

The champion was broken in the first game by her unseeded opponent who, entering the contest on a 12-match winning singles streak in all competitions, showed no sign of nerves in her first major semifinal. Williams eventually took the first set 7-6 on a tiebreak that she edged 9-7, settling into a more comfortable rhythm in the second set, which she won 6-4.

“The first set was not very easy but I think that today I played better. (Bertens) played very well,” Williams said courtside.

For 58th-ranked Bertens, Friday’s defeat marked the end of an unprecedented major run she dubbed “crazy” after her quarterfinal win on Thursday over Swiss eighth seed Timea Bacsinszky.

Serena will attempt to equal Steffi Graf’s professional-era re-

cord of 22 grand slam singles titles.

Muguruza through Garbine Muguruza controlled a late bout of nerves to reach her second grand slam final on Friday, beating Australian Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals.

The Spanish fourth seed, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, became the first Spanish woman to reach the Roland Garros final since Conchita Martinez in 2000.

“I have learned a lot how to control my emotions inside the court and outside the court. I think it’s very important, because sometimes it’s not too good to show them or not controlling them,” Muguruza told reporters. “In a tournament like this you have to be very focused. It’s very long. Even longer with this kind of weather that you have to wait a lot. Here I’m learning.

Here just I’m putting everything into that and it’s going well.”

Muguruza, 22, made the most of 2010 runner-up Stosur’s early jitters on Court Suzanne Lenglen and used her booming forehand to race into a 4-0 lead in the opening set. She was also well ahead in the second set before Stosur finally made her sweat.

“I played very well until I led 5-2 in the second set and I became a bit nervous,” Muguruza said. - Reuters

TA B L E T E N N I S

Kenneth eyes four titles as he faces Karan in men’s final MUSCAT: Talented Kenneth Vaz will feature in both finals tonight on the concluding day of the Annual Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club and sponsored by Muscat Insurance Services LLC and Oman United Insurance Company. The final starts at 7.30 pm.

Two finals are scheduled to be played this evening, the boys under-17 between Kenneth Vaz and Shounak Kelkar and the men’s singles in which Kenneth will take on Karan Negi.

Kenneth will aim to defend the men’s singles title after making it to the final with a hard-fought 11-7, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 8-11, 11-9 victory over P. Saisaran in the semifinal while Karan Negi, earned his

place in the title clash after rallying to defeat Arvind SM 9-11, 1412, 11-6, 7-11, 12-10, 13-11 in the second semifinal.

Kenneth advanced to the final of the boys under-17 singles after downing Subash Pillai11-6, 117, 11-8, 11-7 in the semifinal. In the final he will take on talented lefthander Shounak Kelkar who scored a brilliant 11-8, 11-9, 11-

9, 11-8 victory over in-form MV Saiprem and avenged his defeat to the same player in the final of the under-15 event.

With two titles at stake, Kenneth hopes to add both titles to the men’s doubles and family doubles which he has already won.

The organisers have extended an open invitation to all table tennis enthusiasts to attend the final.

READY FOR PENNANT CLASH: Men’s finalists Karan Negi, left, and

Kenneth Vaz. – Supplied photo

A12

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

SPORTS Infantino not being investigated as raid on at FIFA headquarters The Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) said the investigation concerned people named in previous statements and also unknown suspects in the corruption probe that has engulfed FIFA over past year

ZURICH: FIFA president Gianni Infantino is not under investigation after the headquarters of soccer’s governing body was searched as part of an ongoing investigation, Swiss authorities said on Friday.

The Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) said documents and electronic data had been seized the previous day.

It said the investigation concerned people named in previous statements and also unknown suspects in the corruption probe that has engulfed FIFA over the past year.

TO CONTINUE

Kuwait ban unlikely to be lifted in time for Rio: IOC LAUSANNE: Kuwait’s chances of competing at the Rio Games were dealt a severe blow on Thursday with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) saying a ban imposed last year was unlikely to be lifted in time.

Kuwait’s athletes would not, however, be banned from the Games starting on August 5 but would compete as independent athletes under the Olympic flag, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said.

Kuwait and the IOC have been at loggerheads over a new sports law that the Olympic body says will undermine the autonomy of sport in the country. Kuwait argues it will strengthen the independence of sports bodies.

“The situation with Kuwait is not improving,” Adams told reporters. “Since the last IOC executive board there has been no positive development due to the attitude of the government.”

“It is unlikely to be resolved by the time of the Games in Rio. We believe Kuwait will remain suspended,” he said. The ban, which was imposed in October, means the country’s Olympic Committee and consequently its athletes are not eligible for any funding from the IOC and cannot take part in any IOC-linked event. — Reuters

UNDER SCANNER: FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“As part of the ongoing criminal investigations in the FIFA affair, the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) carried out a search of FIFA’s headquarters on 2 June 2016 with the aim of confirming existing findings and obtaining further information,” the OAG said in a statement.

FIFA was not immediately available for comment. This week FIFA’s ethics committee said there were no formal proceedings against In-

fantino, the recently-elected president of soccer’s global body, after a German newspaper reported that he was facing a provisional ban for unethical conduct. The committee would not confirm or deny whether preliminary investigations had taken place.

German newspaper Die Welt said on Thursday that Infantino, elected in February, was facing investigation over possible ethics breaches. “We are not in a posi-

tion to indicate if we have or have not preliminary investigatory proceedings against an individual,” said the ethics committee’s investigatory chamber in a statement to Reuters.

“We would, however, like to point out that there are no formal proceedings going on against Mr. Infantino.”

Die Welt said it had seen emails suggesting that Infantino had ordered senior FIFA officials to

delete recordings of a controversial meeting of the FIFA Council, formerly the executive committee, before last month’s Mexico City Congress.

FIFA was swept into new controversy when the Congress in Mexico passed a resolution giving the FIFA Council the power to appoint or dismiss members of its independent watchdog.

This effectively gave the Council, headed by Infantino, the right to fire ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert and ethics investigator Cornel Borbely and the head of the audit and compliance committee, Domenico Scala.

Scala, who had overseen the FIFA reforms, resigned in protest the following day.

Former UEFA general secretary

FOOTBALL

EPL

Barcelona confident Neymar will commit to long-term deal BARCELONA: Barcelona are convinced Brazil captain Neymar will commit his long-term future to the Nou Camp as protracted negotiations between the Spanish champions and the striker continue over an extension to his current deal, which expires in June 2018.

The 24-year-old forward, who just completed his third season at Barca, has attracted the attention of several leading European clubs but his present employers are keen to play down talk that Neymar could soon be plying his trade elsewhere.

“Neymar will stay,” Barca sport-

ing director Robert Fernandez said on the club’s official website (www.fcbarcelona.com).

“He will reach an agreement with Barca and he will be here for a long time,” he added. “The club will make it public when the extension is to be made.”

Neymar scored 31 goals in 48 appearances last season to help the club win a domestic league and cup double.

Fernandez is also confident that central defender Javier Mascherano, who has two years left on his current deal with the Catalan giants, will remain at the club.

Mascherano has been linked in

the Spanish media with a move to Italian side Juventus but Barca will not want to lose another defender after Brazilian right back Dani Alves was confirmed to be leaving the club after eight seasons on Thursday.

When asked about Mascherano, Fernandez said: “We are clear.

We will reach an agreement. He is a vital player for us and I don’t have any doubts about whether he will stay.”

The 31-year-old, who can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder, has been a regular for Barca since his arrival from Liverpool in 2010. - Reuters

Brazil captain Neymar.

NEW PROFILE

Di Matteo named new Aston Villa manager LONDON: Roberto Di Matteo has been handed the task of restoring Aston Villa’s fortunes after the seven-times English champions announced the Italian as their new manager on Friday.

The 46-year-old, who won the Champions League during a short spell in charge of Chelsea in 2012, takes over weeks after the club were relegated from the Premier

Infantino replaced Sepp Blatter in February promising to clean up an organisation tainted by years of corruption and scandal.

Criminal investigations in the United States and Switzerland have resulted in the indictment of dozens of soccer officials and other entities for corruption, many of them serving or former presidents of national or continental associations.

FIFA has also been forced to investigate controversies surrounding the awarding of its showpiece, the World Cup finals, especially the decision to grant the 2018 tournament to Russia and the 2022 finals to Qatar.

Swiss authorities are reviewing more than 150 reports of suspicious financial activity linked to those awards. - Reuters

League. “It’s a wonderful honour for me to become manager of this great football club, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of taking Aston Villa back to its rightful place,” Di Matteo said.

Former Chelsea team mate and coach Steve Clarke has also been appointed as Di Matteo’s assistant. Di Matteo has previously worked as a manager in the sec-

ond-tier Championship, gaining promotion with West Bromwich Albion in 2009-10.

Villa will be hoping he can have a similar impact after a dreadful season in which they finished bottom with only three wins and sacked two managers, Tim Sherwood in October and his replacement Remi Garde in March.

Swiss-born Di Matteo played for

Lazio and Chelsea and once scored after 42 seconds in the 1997 FA Cup final against Middlesbrough.

He won two FA Cups, a League Cup and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup while at Stamford Bridge and returned to Chelsea as assistant manager to Andre Villas-Boas in 2011, stepping up as interim manager when the Portuguese was sacked in March 2012. — Reuters

‘Mourinho will be a success at United’ MADRID: Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is excited about the new era that is about to begin at his club with coach Jose Mourinho.

The former Chelsea manager last week signed a contract until June 2019 with the record 20-times English champions.

“To speak of Jose Mourinho is to talk about a winning coach and that is United’s philosophy and mine,” De Gea told Marca.

“With that idea in mind, I’m certain we can build a great team. I welcome him.”

Titles have been scarce for De Gea since the Spaniard moved to Manchester from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

He won the Premier League in 2012-13, Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge of the team.

David Moyes was then sacked 10 months after replacing Ferguson and his successor was Louis Van Gaal.

United finished fourth in the Premier League in the 2014-15 campaign and were eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages this season.

They were fifth in the league and must settle for the Europa League, but they did lift the FA Cup last month. — Reuters

CRICKET

ICC panel raise concerns over ‘home advantage’ in Tests LONDON: Test teams are excessively exploiting ‘home advantage’ by preparing pitches that favour the strengths of the host nation, an International Cricket Council (ICC) panel representing various stakeholders within the sport said on Friday.

India manipulated conditions to thump South Africa 3-0 last year amid dissatisfaction over the nature of the turning tracks used in the series, including the strip in Nagpur which was rated ‘poor’ by match referee Jeff Crowe.

The ICC Cricket Committee, headed by former India captain Anil Kumble, is unhappy with the quality of Test pitches “and in particular the common practice of home countries overtly preparing surfaces to suit their own teams”.

The panel was also worried about the growing imbalance between bat and ball and has requested the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the game’s laws, to curb the use of

ICC PANEL HEAD: Anil Kumble.

oversised bats. “The Committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger ‘sweet-spots’.

“The committee’s view was that MCC should strongly consider limiting the dimensions of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance between bat and ball.”

During the two-day meeting which concluded at Lord’s on Wednesday, ICC medical consultant Craig Ranson made a presentation to the panel on injury surveillance trends.

Bat dimensions The ICC Cricket Committee, chaired by former India captain Anil Kumble, has suggested that Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) should “strongly consider” limiting the dimensions of bats to restore balance in the game.

Tall scores in T20s and ODIs and even mishits from batsmen landing in the galleries have been

a cause of concern for the experts who feel that cricket is increasingly becoming a batsman’s game.

“MCC sought the committee’s guidance on the desirability of making changes in order to redress the balance between bat and ball.

The Committee received a research paper from MCC citing a wealth of scientific and statistical evidence showing bats have become more powerful in recent years, primarily due to having larger ‘sweetspots’,” an ICC release stated detailing the deliberations by the Cricket Committee at the Lord’s.

“The committee’s view was that MCC should strongly consider

limiting the dimensions of cricket bats to help achieve a better balance between bat and ball.”

The committee consisting of former international captains like Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardene, Andrew Strauss along with former Indian Team Director Ravi Shastri (media representative) also expressed concerns that a lot of batsmen are not using helmets which conform to British Safety Standard (BSS).

“The committee considered the matter of helmet safety following a presentation on injury surveillance trends by ICC medical consultant Dr Craig Ranson.

The committee expressed concerns that there were still too many instances of international cricketers wearing helmets which did not meet the latest British Safety Standard (BSS).It recommended that the ICC should enforce the wearing of the latest BSS compliant helmets in all international cricket,” the release stated.

The committee considered a proposal from Cricket Australia for a “concussion substitute” to be trialled for two years in domestic first-class cricket.

“The committee acknowledged the seriousness of the issue of concussion in cricket, and stressed the need for consistent concussion policy to be implemented in all countries, but its view was that the current Laws and playing conditions allow players to receive the best possible medical treatment, and further change to the regulations in this area is not required at present,” it was stated.

The member countries were praised for their work on suspected illegal bowling actions.

“The committee noted considerable progress in policing suspect actions in international cricket and encouraged all countries to continue their efforts to screen bowlers in domestic competitions before they reached international level. - Agencies

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM SATUR DAY, JUNE 4, 2016

MARKE

US FED LIKELY TO AVOID RATE HIKE BEFORE BRITAIN VOTES

The US Federal Reserve may be forced to delay a rate hike at its June meeting because of mounting concern over the economic fallout from Britain’s vote on whether to leave the European Union. >B2

I ATA R E P O R T

Middle East carriers to post a $1.6 billion profit for 2015 Times News Service MUSCAT: Middle East carriers are expected to post a $1.6 billion profit, up slightly from the $1.4 billion reported for 2015.

The capacity of carriers is forecast to grow at 12.2 per cent, outpacing an expected 11.2 per cent expansion of demand, a latest report of IATA shows.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised its 2016 financial outlook for global air transport industry profits upwards to $39.4 billion (from $36.3 billion forecast in December 2015).

That is expected to be generated on revenues of $709 billion for an aggregate net profit margin of 5.6 per cent. 2016 is expected to be the fifth consecutive year of improving aggregate industry profits, the report said.

For the Middle East carriers efficient hubs continue to gain market share on connecting markets for the region’s major carriers, although local markets have been weakened by the impact of falling commodity revenues. Economic changes in the region’s oil econo-

mies are manifesting themselves in a spate of increases of charges and taxes which could dampen the region’s cost competitiveness, the report stated.

IATA said that in 2015 airlines generated a global aggregate profit of $35.3 billion (re-stated from $33.0 billion estimated in December 2015). All regions are making a contribution to the $4.1 billion boost over 2015 profits with improved results; but there are stark regional differences in performance.

More than half of the industry profits will be generated in North America ($22.9 billion) while African carriers are forecast to continue generating an overall loss (-$0.5 billion).

“Lower oil prices are certainly helping—though tempered by hedging and exchange rates. In fact, we are probably nearing the peak of the positive stimulus from lower prices. Performance, however, is being bolstered by the hard work of airlines. Load factors are at record levels,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “New value streams are increasing ancillary revenues. And

Tony Tyler. — Bloomberg file picture

joint ventures and other forms of cooperation are improving efficiency and increasing consumer choice while fostering robust competition. The result: consumers are getting a great deal and investors are finally beginning to see the rewards they deserve,” he added further.

On average, airlines will make $10.42 for each passenger carried.

“In Dublin, that’s enough to buy four double-espressos at Starbucks. Looked at from a different

angle Starbucks will earn about $11 for every $100 in sales while airlines will make $5.60. We don’t begrudge Starbucks their profitability. But here is clearly still upside for airline profits,” said Tyler.

For the second year in a row and only the second time in the airline industry’s history, the return on invested capital (9.8 per cent) will exceed the cost of capital (estimated to be 6.8 per cent). This is the minimum expectation level for investors. The airline industry is beginning to generate profits that would be expected of any normal business.

“The job of shoring up resilience by repairing balance sheets is under way. We have had a few years of good profits and some airlines have started to pay down debt. It will, however, take a longer run of profits before balance sheets are returned to full health,” said Tyler.

Repaying accumulated debt will take several years of profitability to achieve. Airlines in North America and in some parts of Europe have seen the gearing of their balance sheets fall towards investment grade levels. But for much of

the rest of the industry, it is a continuing challenge.

“Airlines are producing solid results even with some strong economic headwinds. It’s an impressive performance and the mood of the industry is generally optimistic,” said Tyler.

Main forecast drivers The outlook is based on oil averaging $45/barrel (Brent) over the course of the year which is significantly lower than the $53.9 average price in 2015. The full impact of lower fuel prices is still being realised as hedges mature. Overall, fuel is expected to represent 19.7 per cent of the industry’s expenses, down from a recent high of 33.1 per cent in 2012-2013.

The Global Economy Weak economic conditions prevail. Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to expand by 2.3 per cent in 2016. That is down from 2.4 per cent in 2015 and the weakest growth since 2008 when the global financial crisis hit.

Consumer spending is relatively strong, but the corporate sector is

Job creation in US falls to lowest level in five years Nonfarm payrolls increased by only 38,000 jobs last month, the smallest gain since September 2010, the Labor Department said on Friday. Employers hired 59,000 fewer workers in March and April

NOT SO ROSY: Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising 164,000 in May and the unemployment rate falling to 4.9 per cent. — Bloomberg file picture

WASHINGTON: The US economy created the fewest number of jobs in more than five years in May, hurt by a strike by Verizon workers and a fall in goods producing employment, pointing to labour market weakness that could make it difficult for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by only 38,000 jobs last month, the smallest gain since September 2010, the Labor Department said on Friday. Employers hired 59,000 fewer workers in March and April.

The government said the monthlong Verizon strike had depressed employment growth by 34,000

jobs. The goods producing sector, which includes mining and manufacturing, shed 36,000 jobs, the most since February 2010.

Even without the Verizon strike, payrolls would have increased by a mere 72,000.

Verizon workers The Verizon workers, who were considered unemployed because they did not receive a salary during the payrolls survey week, returned to their jobs on Wednesday. They are expected to boost June employment.

The jobless rate fell threetenths of a percentage point to 4.7

per cent in May, the lowest since November 2007. The decrease in the unemployment rate was in part due to people dropping out of the labor force.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising 164,000 in May and the unemployment rate falling to 4.9 per cent.

Fed Chair Janet Yellen has said monthly gains of roughly 100,000 jobs are needed to keep up with growth in the work-age population. The US central bank has signaled its intention to raise rates soon if job gains continued and economic data remained consist-

ent with a pickup in growth in the second quarter.

Rate increase Yellen said last week that a rate increase would probably be appropriate in the “coming months,” if those conditions were met. Data on consumer spending, industrial production, goods exports and housing have suggested the economy is gathering speed after growth slowed to a 0.8 per cent annualised rate in the first quarter.

The Fed hiked its benchmark overnight interest rate in December for the first time in nearly a decade.

There is still no sign of meaningful wage growth. Average hourly earnings rose five cents, or 0.2 per cent, last month. That kept the year-on-year rise at 2.5 per cent.

Economists say wage growth of between 3.0 per cent and 3.5 per cent is needed to lift inflation to the Fed’s 2.0 per cent target. There are, however, signs that inflation is creeping higher as the dampening effects of the dollar’s past rally and the oil price plunge dissipate.

There was little change in other measures of labor market slack. A broad measure of unemployment that includes people who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot find full-time employment held steady at 9.7 per cent in May. The labour force participation rate, or the share of working-age Americans who are employed or at least looking for a job, fell 0.2 percentage point to 62.6 per cent.

The gains in May were broadly weak, with the private sector adding only 25,000 jobs, the smallest since February 2010.

Mining employment maintained its downward trend, shedding 10,000 positions. Mining payrolls have dropped by 207,000 since peaking in September 2014, with three-quarters of the losses in support activities.

Manufacturing employment fell by 10,000 jobs. The Verizon labour dispute reduced information sector jobs by 34,000.

Retail payrolls rose 11,400 after shedding jobs in April for the first time since December 2014. Temporary help jobs fell 21,000. — Reuters

conserving cash and, despite some easing of government austerity budgets and low interest rates, there is little evidence of an acceleration in infrastructure spending.

Passenger Demand Passenger demand is robust with 6.2 per cent growth expected in 2016. That is, however, a slowdown from the 7.4 per cent growth recorded in 2015. Capacity is expected to grow slightly ahead of demand at 6.8 per cent. Load factors are expected to remain high (80.0 per cent), but with a slight slip from 2015 (80.4 per cent).

Yields are expected to fall by 7.0 per cent. Unit costs, driven by lower fuel prices, are expected to fall by 7.7 per cent. Overall the passenger business is projected to generate $511 billion in revenues, down from $518 billion in 2015.

The cargo side of the business remains in the doldrums with 2.1 per cent growth in demand. Airlines are growing their fleets with long-haul wide-body aircraft to meet strong passenger demand growth. This adds cargo capacity to a flat air cargo market.

S T R AT E G I C I N V E S T M E N T

Qatar Airways content with 15% IAG stake DUBLIN: Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said he’s happy with the level of the company’s 15 per cent stake in British Airways owner IAG and won’t seek a seat on the Londonbased company’s board.

Al Baker said he views the holding as a strategic investment that will aid cooperation in areas such as joint fleet purchases, rather than a financial stake, and has no plans to raise it beyond the current level.

Fuelled speculation Qatar Air bought 9.99 per cent of IAG in January last year before building its position via a series of further purchases. While the Gulf carrier can’t take a majority holding because of European Union rules limiting foreign ownership to 49 per cent, the move has fuelled speculation in Britain about Al Baker’s aims.

‘We are not a hedge fund,” the CEO said in a briefing in Dublin, where he’s attending the International Air Transport Association’s annual meeting. “We are not an investor that wants to get in and get out quickly and make big bucks.”

IAG CEO Willie Walsh said separately at IATA that there’s no prospect of the UK company taking a reciprocal stake in Qatar Airways, given the Gulf airline’s 100 per cent state ownership.

‘Completely separate’ “The way we need to look at Qatar is that there are two distinct elements to the relationship,” he said.

“The equity stake is completely separate to the cooperation we have, which we’d do whether they had a stake or not.” — Bloomberg News

R E A L E S TAT E M A R K E T

Gulf investors hold back from UK property deals on Brexit fears

DEMAND EASES: The value of residential property in upmarket areas popular among Gulf investors fell between 3.5 and 7.5 per cent on the year in May, according to estate agent Knight Frank.

— Bloomberg file picture

DUBAI/LONDON: Gulf Arab investors, some of the biggest buyers of British real estate, are holding back from new deals because they fear a property price slump if Britain leaves the European Union, according to legal and investment sources.

Sovereign and private investors from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have been prolific buyers of British assets in the past decade, snapping up billions of dollars worth of property, mostly in London.

“Sovereign wealth funds are concerned that Brexit is taking its toll on the property market in London,” said a London-based lawyer who works with some of the largest Gulf funds. He declined to be named, citing the confidential nature of his work.

Brexit vote “The situation will further deteriorate if there’s a Brexit vote.”

The value of residential property in upmarket areas popular among Gulf investors — including Chelsea, South Kensington and Knightsbridge — fell between 3.5 and 7.5 per cent on the year in May, according to estate agent Knight Frank.

Gulf family businesses and private investors are heavily involved in London real estate.

Investors from the UAE accounted for more than 20 per cent of buy-to-let property sales in the UK in 2015, said Amit Seth, the Middle East and North Africa head of international residential developments at London-focused real estate agency Chestertons.

“At the moment it seems clear

people are little bit more sceptical on making an investment today because of Brexit,” said Seth, who is based in Dubai, referring to private Gulf investors in residential real estate.

He said investors were still researching opportunities and discussing them with his company, but not finalising deals.

London landmarks Gulf investors also have broader worries about their investments in other sectors and how a possible Brexit in a June 23 EU referendum could affect the British economy, the sources said.

A YouGov poll for the Times newspaper showed an even split between “Remain” and “Leave” voters on Wednesday.

There is no suggestion long-

term investors from the Gulf will exit assets en masse if Britain votes out, but many are worried about the impact on portfolios and wider economic effects, a senior Gulf government official said.

“Of course we are worried about what will come next if the British decide to leave the EU,” the official said. “We think that there will be a negative impact on our investments in the UK because the selling (prices) will go down and the banks in England will face some difficulties.”

Asked to comment on Gulf investor concerns, Tobias Ellwood, a British Foreign Office minister, said the EU referendum was a significant event that had been discussed as part of regular bilateral engagements covering a wide variety of areas. — Reuters

B2

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

MARKET MEDIA REPORT

Industrial cooperation can directly benefit India, China

NEW PARTNERSHIP: China and India’s industrial cooperation will usher in a new climax of globalisation. — Bloomberg file picture

ECONOMY

Brazil recovery on track despite political turmoil BRASILIA: Interim Brazilian President Michel Temer will press ahead with ambitious plans to balance the budget, reform pensions and draw private money into the energy sector despite the loss of two ministers to a corruption scandal, his chief of staff said on Thursday.

Presidential chief of staff Eliseu Padilha said in an interview the government enjoys a solid twothirds majority in both chambers of Congress to push through legislation needed to plug a record deficit inherited 20 days ago from suspended President Dilma Rousseff.

Padilha said the Temer government is very confident the Senate will vote to convict Rousseff for breaking budget laws in an impeachment trial, and it hopes this will happen as quickly as possible to remove any doubt about Temer’s legitimacy.

“The government will then have more political authority to act,” Padilha said. He hoped the vote could come as soon as the end of July, before Brazil’s holds the Olympic Games in August.

“I am not worried about the impeachment vote, but we have to work hard to make sure the economy starts to grow again, which appears to be the case,” Padilha said.

The Temer plan to revive the economy includes a ceiling on public spending, a reduced role for the state and more room for private investment. Latin America’s largest economy shrank for a fifth straight quarter in early 2016 as political turmoil and the sweeping corruption scandal centred on Petrobras weighed on activity. Gross domestic product fell 5.4 per cent from a year earlier and unemployment has hit 11.2 per cent.

Austerity measures Within the space of one week, Temer had to drop Planning Minister Romero Juca, a key figure in getting austerity measures approved

by Congress, and the minister in charge of fighting corruption, Fabiano Silveira, after leaked recordings suggested they had tried to derail the Petrobras investigation.

Passage last week of the 2015 budget, authorising an unprecedented deficit of 170 billion reais ($47.1 billion) this year, was a signal that Temer’s government does enjoy the majority it needs to push through austerity measures.

Brazil could balance its budget by 2018 without having to raise taxes, according to Padilha.

Brazil has one of the heaviest tax burdens among emerging economies and the government has ruled out any increases for now that would be very unpopular. Padilha said only piecemeal changes are possible, such as simplifying complex taxes.

Pension system The biggest item weighing on government accounts is Brazil’s generous pension system, which Temer is committed to tackling.

Pension reform will be enacted before the end of the year, even though a proposal that is being drawn up with labor unions has been delayed for an additional 15 days, he said.

The sale of assets and greater involvement of the private sector in Brazil’s oil and gas industry will come soon once legislation is enacted reducing the role of Petroleo Brasileiro , as Petrobras is called, Padilha said. — Reuters

BEIJING: Greater industrial cooperation can help reduce distrust between Indians and Chinese, directly benefit their growth and usher in a new climax of globalisation, a state-run Chinese daily said on Thursday.

“Industrial cooperation can help reduce distrust between Indians and Chinese. The future direction of the Sino-Indian relationship depends on whether the nations’ economic activities can alleviate their long-standing concerns,” an article in the state-run Global Times said.

It said the industrial cooperation can directly benefit the growth of both countries, weaken nationalist sentiments embedded in both societies, and offer new perspectives on each other’s rise.

“China and India should be en-

couraged to look at the big picture rather than a disputed patch of land. China and India’s industrial cooperation will usher in a new climax of globalisation.”

It said Apple CEO Tim Cook and Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou recently made trips to India, reportedly announcing plans to relocate their factories from China to India.

“Foxconn plans to build 10 to 12 factories in India by 2020. What’s more, many Chinese enterprises are showing interest in investing in India.”

“There are two countries that have the highest potential to replace China’s position in the global value chain — Vietnam and India.

Their labour costs are lower, and they have already begun taking low- and middle-end manufacturing from China,” it said.

“The rise of ‘Make in India’ will probably bring China and India into more fierce competition in some industries, but it will also create more space for mutual development,” the article said.

It said the key to maintaining the upward trajectory of their economic ties is to reduce direct rivalry and find more industrial connections.

Such joint efforts in different industries will produce unprecedented benefits and reinforce the value chain of shared interests, it added.

“Many Indians fear China’s growing presence. Such a sentiment arises from years of estrangement despite being neighbours.

Conservatism emerges in fear of competition. When competitiveness of ‘Make in India’ is lower than ‘Made in China’, the railways will ignite concerns among Indi-

ans about China-made products,” it said. “Such concern is one of the major barriers that obstructs India from introducing more foreign investments into local manufacturing and hinders the revenue streamlining process,” it said.

“Surpassing China is no longer a long shot for the Indians. When the growth of the Indian economy speeds up, and manufacturing becomes more competitive, the Indians will be more open-minded toward China,” it said. “As the Chinese steel, construction, machinery, textile and electronics industries are eager to enter the Indian market, and India’s IT, pharmacy and chemical industries are waiting to tap into the Chinese market, there is a great need for a platform where industries, capital and technologies can connect.” — PTI

US Fed likely to avoid rate hike before Britain votes The geopolitical risk is expected to push any rate increase until at least July, despite apparent consensus among Fed officials that a hike is warranted by

US Federal Reserve Board Governor Daniel Tarullo. — Bloomberg News

stronger US growth and tight labour markets. The Fed’s June 14-15 ratesetting meeting comes just a week before the British vote on June 23

WASHINGTON: The US Federal Reserve may be forced to delay a rate hike at its June meeting because of mounting concern over the economic fallout from Britain’s vote on whether to leave the European Union.

The geopolitical risk likely will

push any rate increase until at least July, despite apparent consensus among Fed officials that a hike is warranted by stronger US growth and tight labour markets.

June 14-15 meeting The Fed’s June 14-15 rate-setting meeting comes just a week before the British vote on June 23. A “leave” vote is expected to roil financial markets, cause credit spreads to widen, trigger a rush into safe assets and bolster the dollar.

The dollar’s recent stability is one reason the Fed has become more comfortable with raising rates, and officials may want to let the threat of Brexit pass before moving to tighten financial conditions.

Fed Board Governor Daniel Tarullo on Thursday joined the chorus of those warning of his

concerns over the British vote, telling Bloomberg that Brexit would be a “factor” he would consider at the Fed’s June policy meeting and said that the British vote’s impact on markets would be key.

The most recent poll found that voters in Britain — Europe’s second biggest economy and its most influential financial center - were evenly split on whether to stay in the EU or to leave.

By the time the Fed meets on June 14 and 15, at least four of the five Washington-based governors will have aired their views on the outlook for rates, with Lael Brainard due to speak Friday and Chair Janet Yellen appearing in Philadelphia next week.

Fed officials will release their latest economic projections at the June meeting along with a policy statement, and Yellen is sched-

uled to hold a post-meeting news conference.

The two governors who have addressed the Brexit vote so far have sounded notes of caution.

“I do see the possibility of a real hit to economic growth both in the UK and the EU,” Fed Board Governor Jerome Powell said last week.

“I can imagine the upcoming Brexit vote as presenting a factor in favour of caution about raising rates.” Secret meetings across Europe reveal uncertainty over what would follow a vote that British Prime Minister David Cameron calls a “leap in the dark” — and also concern about what happens if Britain stays in.

If Britain remains in the EU, it could lead to continued infighting in the ruling Conservative party and destabilizing battles with the rest of the EU. Waiting on the Brexit vote is a “no-brainer,” said Jon Faust, a former Fed staffer and now a professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University. “Why move now as opposed to a few weeks from now?”

Consensus on caution With few exceptions, the message from regional Fed bank presidents has been consistent: the upcoming Brexit vote may tip the scales against a June increase.

This is only the latest obstacle to the Fed’s two-year struggle to normalise US monetary policy after dropping rates dramatically during a protracted downturn.

In 2014, the crash in oil prices and a rapid spike in the value of

the dollar crushed US exports and drove inflation into a ditch.

China’s economy Last year, a surprise slowdown in China’s economy, alongside the malaise in Europe and Japan, sparked global market turbulence and broader concerns about a worldwide recession. That vexing landscape kept the Fed on hold until December.

Now, Brexit aside, the prospect of a rate hike soon appears all but certain. Unemployment dropped to 5 percent in April; inflation appears to be gaining traction as the drag from cheap oil and a strong dollar fades; and the lull in growth over the past few months has proved temporary, with consumer spending and the housing market showing particular strength.

July over June If the Fed does indeed take a pass at its June meeting, officials have signalled they’ll be ready to move in July.

Minutes of the Fed’s March policy meeting showed officials preparing the ground for higher rates sometime in the summer months.

After July, the next option would be September, in the middle of a US election campaign, in which the Fed and Yellen could well become targets of debate.

Four of the Federal Reserve’s 12 regional bank presidents have asked to raise the interest rate charged to commercial banks for short-term loans — a proxy for saying the target rate should move higher. — Reuters

EUROPEAN UNION

ECB tweaks growth and inflation forecasts higher VIENNA/FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday nudged up its expectations for growth and inflation in the euro area this year, but kept its main interest rate unchanged in negative territory and said it would press on with its unprecedented stimulus effort.

Speaking after a meeting of the Bank’s governing council in Vienna, ECB President Mario Draghi said he expected rates to stay at present or lower levels well beyond the duration of asset purchases, which are due to last till at least March 2017.

“Economic recovery in the euro area continues to be dampened by subdued growth prospects in emerging markets, the necessary balance sheet adjustments ... and a sluggish pace of implementation of structural reforms,” he told reporters.

Additional stimulus “Additional stimulus... is expected from the monetary policy measures still to be implemented and will contribute to further rebalancing the risk to the outlook for growth.”

Inflation has missed the ECB’s target of nearly two per cent for years as high unemployment keeps a lid on wages, high debt levels choke investment, demand for goods and services remains weak and sharply lower oil prices drag down prices.

But with first quarter growth beating all expectations, eco-

at 0.00 per cent while the rate on the marginal lending facility — or emergency overnight borrowing rate for banks — remains at 0.25 per cent.

MAKING A POINT: European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and President of the Austrian National Bank and European Central Bank Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny (left) attend a news conference in Hofburg palace in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday. — Reuters

nomic sentiment rising, investments recording a surprising surge and household consumption holding up, the euro zone economy is on its best run since the global financial crisis.

Yet his carefully nuanced statement underlined how fragile that recovery remains and how vulnerable it is to risks which Draghi listed as including a slowdown in the global economy and possible fall-out from Britain’s June 23 EU referendum.

Growth forecast The Bank upgraded its 2016 euro zone growth forecast to 1.6 per cent this year from the 1.4 per cent it predicted in March, maintaining its forecast of 1.7 per cent next year and trimming it for 2018 to 1.7 per cent from an earlier 1.8 per cent forecast.

It also raised its 2016 inflation forecast to 0.2 per cent from 0.1 per cent, citing factors including the base effect of a recent rise in oil prices. Asked at the news con-

ference for the Bank’s stance on a possible exit of Britain from the EU, or Brexit, Draghi said the ECB was ready for such an eventuality but believed it was economically preferable for Britain to remain in the bloc.

Earlier, the ECB kept its rate on bank overnight deposits, now seen as its primary interest rate tool, at -0.40 per cent.

The main refinancing rate, which determines the cost of credit in the economy, was unchanged

Unanimously expected The decision to leave rates on hold was unanimously expected by the 65 analysts polled by Reuters after the ECB cut its deposit rate deeper into negative territory in March, decided to buy corporate bonds and unveiled a new ultracheap corporate loan scheme.

Buying assets to the tune of 1.74 trillion euros ($1.94 trillion) and keeping rates negative, the ECB is trying to boost inflation, which has been stuck in negative territory for months, raising the risk that the 19-member currency bloc sinks into a deflation spiral.

In its next move, the ECB starts buying corporate debt on June 8, probably starting small before ramping up as more issuers come to the market. Then it will offer longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO) towards the end of the month, giving banks access funding at zero or negative rates.

Draghi said the bank had postponed a decision on whether to grant euro zone-member Greece, currently in the throes of protracted negotiations with lenders over economic reforms, access to cheap money.

He said it would be discussed after lenders had determined whether Athens had adopted the agreed reforms. — Reuters

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

B3

MARKET SECOND-QUARTER

Little change expected in Citigroup’s profit: Chief NEW YORK: Citigroup’s secondquarter net income probably will be unchanged from the previous three-month period, Chief Executive Officer Michael Corbat said.

Trading and investment-banking revenue for the period should be “up slightly” compared with the first quarter, Corbat, 56, said on Thursday at an investor conference in New York.

If second-quarter net income under generally accepted accounting principles remains flat with the prior three months at $3.5 billion, that will be a drop of about 28 per cent from the same period in 2015. Trading revenue in last year’s second quarter was about $3.7 billion, compared with about $3.8 billion in the first quarter of 2016. Investment banking revenue was $875 million in the first three months of the year and $1.29 billion in the second quarter of 2015.

Citigroup shares, which closed up three cents in regular trading on Thursday in New York, dropped 0.8 per cent to $46.61 at 6:18pm after Corbat’s remarks.

Wall Street banks have been chopping costs and cutting jobs in debt-trading operations as stricter regulations and persistently low interest rates have strangled revenue. The world’s biggest investment banks generated $70 billion in fixed-income revenue last year, half the 2009 peak, according to Coalition Development.

Bank of America’s (BofA) second-quarter trading revenue is on track to rise by “mid-single digits” from a year earlier, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said on Thursday at the same conference, following optimistic comments a day earlier from JPMorgan Chase.

“We feel good about it,” said Moynihan, 56. Trading in April and May was “consistent with what you’re hearing out there. We feel that for the quarter, we might be mid-single digits up over the last year.” — Bloomberg News

BMW revamps car division to focus on self-driving tech While Tesla’s Model 3 will hit showrooms in 2017, and as rivals Porsche and Audi are working on all-electric cars for release by 2019, BMW appears to have put such cars on the back burner for now. Its next fullyelectric car is not due until 2021.

FINISHING TOUCHES: An employee polishes an i8 concept automobile, a sub-brand of BMW, during its unveiling in Frankfurt, Germany.

— Bloomberg file picture

MUNICH: BMW has transformed its “i” division into a development centre for self-driving cars, a board member told Reuters, a major strategic shift for the unit previously focused on making a family of lightweight electric vehicles.

While Tesla’s Model 3 will hit showrooms in 2017, and as rivals Porsche and Audi are working on all-electric cars for release by 2019, the German carmaker appears to have put such cars on the back burner. Its next fully-electric car is not due until 2021.

The company has changed tack after its only fully battery-powered car, the i3, failed to gain traction with the public, with only 25,000 sales last year. By contrast, Tesla has already received more than 370,000 orders for its Model 3.

Now, rather than seeking to match the likes of Tesla and Porsche with a new zero-emissions

sports limousine for release within the next two years, its main focus will be on developing an electric car with the next generation of technology: autonomous driving.

Relaunched In an interview at the company’s headquarters in Munich, BMW board member Klaus Froehlich, who is in charge of development, said he had relaunched the i division in April as a unit devoted to producing cars that drive themselves. “It is now in ramp-up stage.

We call it Project i Next.”

The revamp also follows at least four high-profile staff defections from the division this year. Dirk Abendroth, manager of BMW’s “i” powertrain group, Henrik Wenders, vice president product management BMW “i”, and Carsten Breitfeld, vice

president engineering, head of the i8 vehicle programme, were poached by a Chinese electric vehicle startup.

As part of its autonomous driving push, BMW is hiring experts in machine learning and artificial intelligence. It is also integrating the functions of existing computer driven assistance systems like cruise control, emergency braking, lane-keeping support and automatic parking.

Ride-hailing With a fully autonomous vehicle, BMW could launch a ride-hailing business without having to pay drivers, Froehlich said, giving carmakers a competitive edge over new ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft which are eroding car sales by making part-time use as convenient as ownership.

REDESIGN PLAN

Earlier this month Toyota Motor Corp said it would invest in Uber, and Volkswagen announced a $300 million investment in Gett, a smaller ride-sharing company.

BMW too may partner with a ride-hailing firm, particularly in markets like China, but the Bavarian carmaker’s strategy on potential partnerships with companies in this space is still being worked on, Froehlich said.

Sales of highly autonomous vehicles — ones where permanent active input from the driver is not required — are not expected to gain traction until 2020, but could then rise to around nine million a year by 2025, according to analysts at Exane BNP Paribas.

China, the world’s largest car market, is likely to be the market where autonomous cars will first emerge on a large scale, Froehlich said.

“China is extremely fast implementing technology. Last year more electric cars were sold in China than in all the other global markets combined,” he added.

BMW is also considering expanding in the area of reserving parking spaces and electric car charging stations over mobile phones, a market which is still fragmented within countries. The carmaker has already invested in ParkNow and Parkmobile, two digital parking and payment services.

“We want to actively participate in a consolidation process,” Froehlich said. — Reuters

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

SMARTPHONE MARKET

Airbus could shrink its A380’s grand Micromax sets eyes stairway to add more space for seats on overseas markets DUBLIN: Airbus Group is exploring ways of carving out extra space on its A380 superjumbos in order to boost capacity and enhance margins for operators, among them modifying the staircases that connect the doubledecker jet’s two passenger floors.

Feedback from existing A380 customers suggests that curved steps located toward the rear of the world’s biggest jetliner are rarely used since passengers have little need to move between levels, opening up the possibility of making them less of a design feature to create more room. The planes also feature double-width stairs at the front reminiscent of those from on ocean liner.

ALL SMILES: Lufthansa cabin attendants stand for a picture in front of the first Lufthansa Airbus

A380 airplane in Frankfurt, Germany. — Bloomberg file picture

Re-arranging fixtures Re-arranging fixtures and fittings within the A380 could accommodate 60 more customers without reducing the width or pitch of its seats, according to Kiran Rao, Airbus’s director of strategy and marketing. The planemaker is working with clients including Qantas Airways to boost perflight revenue.

Many early A380 operators chose to customize the plane with perks such as showers, found on Emirates aircraft, and lavish duty-free displays, on Korean Air-

lines Co. While that established the model as a fleet flagship it held back capacity, with Korean offering 409 seats on a plane designed to carry 525.

Narrow-body tweaks Airbus has already added nine berths to the 150-seat A320 shorthaul model and 20 to the A321, which previously held 185 people.

Measures such as moving lavatories or crew rest areas helped achieve those increases and would

work just as well on the A380, Rao said. The Toulouse, France-based company could bring in another order or two for the A380 this year, most likely from existing clients, the executive said in an interview at an International Air Transport Association gathering in Dublin.

Dubai-based Emirates, the biggest A380 buyer with 140 in service or on order, has already taken steps to increase the capacity of its superjumbo fleet, lifting the

seat total from 489 in three classes on its first planes to 517 on later ones and the 615 in a two-class configuration.

Airbus is currently making about 25 A380s a year, versus more than 500 A320s. Even then backlog will start to run out in 2018, though the superjumbo has had some sales success of late, with All Nippon Airways ordering three planes at the end of 2015 and Iran saying in January it wanted 12. — Bloomberg News

BANGALORE: Micromax Informatics has become the latest Asian smartphone company to broadcast its global ambitions.

The Indian company known for cut-rate phones and a frenetic pace of new-model launches is evaluating an entry into several overseas markets including China, en route to becoming a topfive player internationally.

While India’s smartphone market remains relatively under-penetrated, Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain said prices were “headed south” because of an influx of foreign competition. But it’s sticking to its plan of becoming one of the world’s five biggest sellers — a goal that would entail a presence in major markets like China.

Smartphone sales are sputtering even as Asia’s largest brands, from Huawei Technologies to Xiaomi, narrow the gap with Apple and Samsung Electronics Just this week, Huawei said it hoped to unseat the dominant players within five years. Micromax, No. 3 in Russia currently, has considered markets like Indonesia and even the United States in the past but hasn’t made that much headway beyond India. “We do keep evaluating about two to three international markets. Not to say we’re definitely going to launch in any of the three,” Jain, one of Micro-

max’s four founders, told Bloomberg Television. “If we have a vision of being in the top five, we can’t be ignoring the China market.”

“Sooner or later, we should see a presence in the China market.”

Replicating the expansive distribution network it employs in India will be a challenge.

Micromax, which sells about three million devices a month and is ranked just 10th in sales worldwide, shot to prominence by selling cheap phones from the shopping malls of India’s biggest cities to the street corners of its smallest towns. But the company recently weathered the departure of several top managers, including Chief Executive Officer Vineet Taneja, as intensifying competition squeezed margins.

Phone makers are increasingly focusing on India with markets like the US and China plateauing.

Micromax already trails Samsung and is now trying to fend off Chinese players from Xiaomi to Huawei and Oppo. Those companies are trotting out inexpensive models aimed at the very segments Micromax targets. While still number two in India, the Indian company’s shipments fell more than 20 per cent in 2015 while Lenovo’s, for instance, climbed almost 60 per cent, according to researcher Canalys. — Bloomberg News

B4

$

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

FEATURE

THE C RAS HIN G

T

he private jet Janine Iannarelli is selling for a Russian client has leather seats, wood panelling, a satellite phone and can fly non-stop from Tokyo to Los Angeles. The price has dropped by $3 million since September and is still falling.

Iannarelli today is hawking the 10-year-old Bombardier Global 5000 for $14.5 million but recommends that her client cut the price further as the market for large-cabin business jets keeps weakening. A new Global 5000 lists for $50.4 million.

“There’s absolutely no evidence of a recovery on the horizon,” says Iannarelli, founder of Houston-based aircraft brokerage Par Avion Ltd. “None of the jet models has hit bottom.”

Rarely seen bargains abound for big corporate aircraft as tumbling oil wealth, a stronger dollar and a downturn for emerging-market giants from Brazil to Russia cripple demand.

As owners from foreign tycoons to ArcherDaniel-Midlands Co. try to sell their planes, Bombardier Inc., General Dynamics Corp.’s Gulfstream unit and other planemakers are cutting output and chopping list prices to cope with a glut of new and used business jets.

Former prize The slump extends even to the Gulfstream G650 - just two years ago an aircraft so covet-

PRICES OF PRIVA TE JETS

ed by well-heeled buyers that some would pay $10 million above list for a used jet rather than wait four years for a new model. Now there are 19 G650s for sale, about 11 percent of the global fleet in operation. One 2013 plane that first was posted for sale in June at $68 million has had its asking price cut twice, to $58.8 million.

“It’s probably one of the best times I’ve seen in my career to get the values for a big-cabin jet,” says Brian Foley, a business-aircraft consultant who spent 20 years as director of marketing for the North American jet unit of France’s Dassault Aviation SA. That marks a turnabout from the 2008-09 recession, when large planes - some spacious enough to let almost 20 people roam around - weathered the storm better than smaller jets, which cram as few as five passengers in too tight a space to stand up. Sales of bigger aircraft jumped with the economic surge of Brazil, Russia and other developing countries, plus a jump in oil prices and a commodities boom that fed China’s surging exports.

Fortunes reverse Now, with many emerging markets faltering, oil companies trimming costs and commodities prices trending down, the tables have turned. Prices of used, large-cabin business jets fell 16 percent last year, according to AircraftPost Inc., which compiles data on the in-

dustry. Business-jet sales tumbled 16 percent to $3.53 billion in the first quarter, the biggest drop in almost five years, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers’ Association. Large-cabin jets led the decline.

“Have prices come down? Yes. Have they come down quicker than usual? I’d say yes,” says Steve Varsano, an aircraft broker in London who is helping to sell three preowned G650s. “But the activity level is still there.”

Gulfstream, which is based in Savannah, Georgia, has reduced production and prices of its G450 and G550 models but doesn’t intend to cut prices for new G650s, said Phebe Novakovic, chief executive officer of parent company General Dynamics. The jet remains a “hot plane,” with about a two-year wait for a new one, she said on a conference call last month.

The average value of a used jet currently falls about 8 percent to 10 percent a year, compared with a 3 percent to 4 percent drop before the market slumped, says Jay Mesinger, who is based in Boulder, Colorado. The steeper decline may last for years, he says. “This is going to take a while to correct itself.”

Prices have dropped most sharply for older models, says Neil Book, chief executive of JSSI, which manages 1,800 corporate, commercial and private jets. A Gulfstream GV - one of the largest, longest-range corporate jets - fetches about $10 million now, down

from $18 million two years ago, he says.

Bombardier Bombardier has been the biggest culprit for the drag on prices, analysts and consultants say. The Montreal-based company overproduced business jets last year and has been discounting heavily to raise cash as its grapples with a C Series commercial-jet programme that’s over budget and behind schedule, according to Varsano and Rolland Vincent, an aerospace consultant in Plano, Texas.

Bombardier jet prices have been helped by the company’s decision to cut output of largecabin planes last year, says spokeswoman Anna Cristofaro. She declined to comment on production rates. Vincent estimates the company will produce about 50 Global jets, down from 80 last year.

With the large price gap between new planes and late-model preowned jets, it makes less sense for buyers to purchase aircraft straight from the factory, says Iannarelli, the broker trying to sell a Russian client’s Bombardier Global 5000. That may put pressure on original-equipment manufacturers to discount further.

“The OEMs are eating their young,” she he says. “People are waiting on the sidelines elines and are wondering when the next ext price cut will be coming.” – Bloomberg rg News

B

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

D

uring the first year, parents of the little baby get to know her moods very well.

But as the baby celebrates the first birthday, she starts throwing tantrums that can actually take even the most attentive parents off guard. A happy baby can suddenly have a change in the mood and be in a full-on-meltdown as if the switch has been flipped.

Besides that, children are usually loud, embarrassing and annoying as it shows that your kids are out of control. These baby tantrums can

be really frustrating and stressful for the parents and especially when the child hits their terrible twos. According to child psychologists, most children don’t throw a tantrum to be naughty; they do it to express their anger or frustration when they don’t achieve something that they want. Remaining calm and identifying the cause behind such behaviour can help you to handle the situation efficiently.

Some important tips on how to handle baby tantrums: Understand the child’s needs: Al-

ways remember that your child will not throw a tantrum unnecessarily. It could be the result of lack of attention, any kind of frustration, physical problems or any kind of pain. Your child may be teething or is too tired and needs a nap. In that case it is good to provide what is needed for the baby and the tantrum will gradually subside. It is a good idea to carry some healthy snack items whenever you are out and allow the baby to sleep during the scheduled naptime.

Don’t say no, explain things:

There are many parents who just say a big no whenever their kids throw tantrums. But this is not a good thing. You should always explain the reason behind that no. You don’t have to give a huge explanation, but offer a reason for your actions and this will help the child make sense and also bring the situation under control.

Screaming back at your children will only worsen the situation.

So, stay calm and let them know the reason of your denial.

Don’t let the child take advantage of the tantrum: Often it is

seen that while shopping, little kids demand toys or their favourite chocolates and saying a no, leads to a baby tantrum. So, how to handle baby tantrums in such cases? Tantrums are often horrible and embarrassing in public places and this is what children take advantage of. They know that if they start crying and screaming in public, their parents will fulfil their demands.

And they will start using this as the best means to satisfy their demands. But you should not allow them to take advantage of it. Let

them understand that screaming or crying will not change your mind and always stick to your decision.

Find a distraction: If you can understand that your child is about to start a tantrum, then find something to distract his or her attention. This could be like seeing some birds in the sky or flowers in the garden. You can make sounds like animals and make it interesting for your child.

You can also open up a story book and flip through the pictures.

-Courtesy of Artipot

B6

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

PRAYER TIMINGS

@ SOHAR

@RUWI

SHATTI Me Before You - (2D) (Drama ) (15+) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 3:30 & 7:30PM High Strung - (2D) (Drama | Music) (12+) Cast: Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour 5:30 & 9:45PM Go With Me - (2D) (Thriller) ((12+) Cast: Julia Stiles, Anthony Hopkins, Alexander Ludwig, 3:30, 5:45, 9:45 & 11:30PM Elly Ektasho Mato - (2D) (Arabic) (15+) Cast: Ghada Abdelrazek, Abeer Sabry 7:30PM Housefull 3 - (2D) (Hindi | Romantic ) (PG12) Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ritesh Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan 8:45 & 11:30PM Warcraft - (3D) (Action| Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 3:45, 6:15 & 11:45PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Warcraft – 3D (PG12) Action| Adventure Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 12:15, 9:15, 11:45 PM Gold Class : 6:15 PM Money Monster – 2D (12+) Crime | Drama | Cast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts 4:30, 11:30 PM Housefull 3 – 2D (PG12) Hindi | Romantic Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan 9:00 PM Gold Class : 3:30, 8:45, 11:30 PM X-Men: Apocalypse – 3D (PG12) Action | Adventure |Fantasy Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 2:15, 6:30 PM The Angry Birds Movie – 3D (U) Animation |

High Strung - (2D) (Drama | Music) (12+) Cast: Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour 5:30 & 9:45PM

Housefull 3 (2D) (Comedy / Drama) –PG12 Cast : Akshay Kumar, Ritesh DeshmukhNargis Fakhri, Jacqueline Fernandez, Abhishek Bachchan 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

Born to Dance (12+) (Action | Sport) Cast : Tia Maipi, Stan Walker, Kherington Payne 5:15 & 10:00PM

Action |Comedy Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess, Jason Sudeikis 12:15, 2:30, 5:00, 7:00 PM

3:45 & 11:30PM Warcraft - (4D) (Action| Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) MX4D Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 3:45, 6:30, 9:00 & 11:30PM Warcraft - (3D) (Action| Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 7:30 & 11:45PM The Nice Guys - (2D) (Action | Comedy | Crime) (15+) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling 6:15PM The Nice Guys - (2D) (Action | Comedy) (15+) Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling 3:30PM The Jungle Book - (3D) Adventure) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 5:45PM

3:45, 5:45 PM King Liar (Mal) (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 6:00 PM Houseful 3 (Hindi) (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jacquline Fernandes 3:30, 6:15, 8:50, 10:30, 11:30 PM Iravi (Tamil) (2D) (Drama | Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Vijay Sethupati, S J Surya, Kamalinee Mukherjee 8:45 PM A. Aa (Telugu) (2D) (Romance | Comedy) Cast: Nithin K Reddy, Samantha Ruth Prabhu 6:00 PM (TBC)

PANORAMA MALL Me Before You - (2D) (Drama ) (15+) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 5:30 & 9:45PM High Strung - (2D) (Drama | Music) (12+) Cast: Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine, Jane Seymour 3:45 & 7:45PM Go With Me - (2D) (Thriller) ((12+) Cast: Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig, Anthony Hopkins 9:30 & 11:45PM Housefull 3 - (2D) (Hindi | Romantic |Comedy) (PG12) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Akshay Kumar 8:45PM Housefull 3 - (2D) (Hindi | Romantic) (PG12) Cast: Akshay Kumar,Ritesh Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:15PM Warcraft - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster

AZAIBA X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) (Action |Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:30, 11:45 PM Warcraft (3D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 3:45, 9:30, 11:45 PM The Jungle Book (3D) (Family) (PG)

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

Minimum

11.45 13.30 14.00

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om King Liar ( Mal) (Comedy) Cast : Dileep ,Siddique & Madonna Sebastian 3-45 Pm Cinema -4; 9-30 Pm Cinema-2 Housefull-3 (Hindi) (Drama\Comedy ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -3 Jacobinte Swargarajyam ( Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly Renji Panicker 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -4 Iraivi (Tamil) (Comedy\ Drama) Cast: Vijay Sethopathi & Anjali 3-30 pm Cinema- 2; 6-30 & 10-00 pm Cinema Main A.AA (Telugu) (Comedy\\Drama) Cast: Nithin and Samantha 3-00 pm Cinema Main; 6-30 pm Cinema -2 Programmes are subject to change

WITH LOVE

0

NIVEDA SUDHEESH June 4, 2013

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

60-20%

CHARMIE KAPADIA June 4, 2010 Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 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

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

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 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

10:25

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Ruwi

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

07:00

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

38 32

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

SOHAR X-Men: Apocalypse PG12 (2D) (Action) Cast: James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence 11:45PM X-Men: Apocalypse PG12 (3D) (Action) 6:15PM Warcraft PG12 (Action| Adventure | Fantasy) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 3:45, 6:00, 9:00, 11:30PM

Go With Me (Thriller) Cast: Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig, Anthony Hopkins 2.00, 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55p.m.

CP No :1136 (12+) Rock the Kasbah (Comedy / Music) Cast: Bill Murray, Leem Lubany, Zooey Deschanel 1.00, 3.00 & 5.00 p.m.

CP No : 1137 (15+) Me Before You (Drama) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 4.00 & 8.00 p.m.

CP No : 1138 (15+) Warcraft (Action / Adventure / Fantasy) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 7.00, 9.30 & 11.55 p.m.

CP No : 1129 (PG12)

SALALAH Rock the Kasbah (15+) (Comedy | Music) Cast: James Bill Murray, Leem Lubany 3:45, 6:30PM Go With Me (12+) (Thriller) Cast: Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig 2:15, 6:15, 10:00, 11:55PM Warcraft (3D)(PG12) (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 1:00, 9:15, 11:45PM High Strung (2D) (12+) (Drama | Music) Cast: Keenan Kampa, Nicholas Galitzine 1:30, 4:15, 8:00PM Housefull 3 (2D) (PG12)( Hindi ) (Romantic) 3:45, 6:15, 8:30, 11:15PM Iravi (2D) (TBC) (Tamil) (Comedy| Drama) Cast: Vijay Sethupati , S J Surya, Kamalinee Mukherjee 6:15PM

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

SUR Warcraft 3D ( Action | Fantasy ) ( PG12 ) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster 5:30, 9:30 PM Born to Dance (12+) Cast : Tia Maipi, Stan Walker 7:45 PM Go With Me ( Thriller ) ( 12+ ) Cast : Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig 3:30, 6:45, 11:45 PM Housefull 3 ( Hindi | Comedy ) (PG12) Cast : Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan 3:45, 8:30, 11:15 PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Warcraft (2D) (Action / Adventure) –PG12 Cast : Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton 3.45, 9.45 PM Baaghi (2D) (Action) –PG 6.45 PM

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

BURAIMI Iravi TBC (Tamil) (Comedy / Drama) Cast: Vijay Sethupati , S J Surya, Kamalinee 7:00 PM Housefull 3 PG12 (Hindi) (Romantic) Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline 3:30, 9:15 & 11:15 PM Go With Me 12+ (Thriller) Cast: Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig 3:30, 10:00 & 11:45 PM Warcraft PG 12 (3D) (Action| Adventure) Cast: Travis Fimmel, Paula Patton, Ben Foster.

3:45, 6:30 & 8:45 PM Rock the Kasbah 15+ (Comedy | Music) Cast: Bill Murray, Leem Lubany 5:15, 7:15 & 11:45 PM

WEATHER

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36) Quriyat Sur Jaalan

Go With Me - (2D) (Thriller) ((12+) Cast: Julia Stiles, Alexander Ludwig, Anthony Hopkins 9:30 & 11:45PM

RUWI Screen 1 Housefull 3 (2D) (Comedy / Drama) –PG12 Cast : Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Baaghi (2D) (Action) –PG Cast : Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoor 3.45 PM A. Aa (2D) (Telugu | Comedy | Romance) Cast : Nithin K Reddy, Samantha Ruth Prabhu 6.45, 9.45 PM –TBC Screen 3

BAHJA CINEMA

Housefull 3 PG12(Hindi |Comedy) Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez 3:30, 7:15, 8:30, 11:15PM Me Before You (15+) (Drama) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 3:15, 7:15PM Born to Dance (12+) (Action | Sport) Cast : Tia Maipi, Stan Walker, Kherington Payne 5:15, 10:00PM A Aa (TBC) (Telugu | Comedy | Romance) Cast: Nithin K Reddy, Samantha Ruth Prabhu 9:00PM Iravi TBC (Tamil | Comedy / Drama) Cast: Vijay Sethupati , S J Surya, Kamalinee Mukherjee 7:00PM

@ PANORAMA MALL

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

Destination

12.10pm 3.29pm 6.56pm 8.17pm 3.53am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@SHATTI

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK) Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

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 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 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 International Hospital, Al Ghubra 22004000, 94267068/97049520 Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

B7

LIFESTYLE FACT FILE

Owl

(Exploring History, Science, and Nature)

Silent Flight and Haunting Calls

T

hese mostly nocturnal birds of prey are known for their silent flight and haunting calls. There are more than 200 species of owls found in a variety of habitats around the world.

There are 16 species of barn owls.

These owls are easily recognised by their heart-shaped faces. This distinct facial shape helps the owl collect and amplify sound, giving it a keen sense of hearing, which it uses to locate prey. These medium-sized birds have a wingspan of about 3.5 feet (1m).

Like all owls, barn owls feed on a variety of small animals, including mice, moles, rabbits and squirrels.

There are about 190 species of true owls. True owls range in size from the tiny elf owl, with a wingspan of about 10.5 inches (27cm), to the large Eurasian eagle owl, with a wingspan of about 6 feet (1.8m). True owls have a large head with a round facial disc. Their feathers are usually a mottled brown or grey, which serves as a form of camouflage.

All owls lay pure white, round eggs.

They do not build nests, but will use ready-made sites like the abandoned nests of other birds or the holes in trees made by woodpeckers. Owlets sometimes leave the nest before they can fly.

They stay in touch with their parents with peeps and calls. If you find a baby owl on the ground, resist the temptation to touch it, and let nature take its course.

Owlets are quite good at looking after themselves.

The great gray owl is also known as the great gray ghost, phantom of the North, cinereous owl, spectral owl, Lapland owl, spruce owl, bearded owl and sooty owl. This owl is the official bird of Manitoba, Canada. It tends to fly close to the ground, and can be aggressive if it thinks its nest is in danger.

Just 19 owl species are native to North America. In mythology, owls are often associated with wisdom or evil spirits. Ten to 16 hours after eating, owls throw up hard pellets (or castings) of bones, fur, teeth, feathers, and other indigestible material.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Welcoming Ramadan 1

2

“Seek forgiveness.”

“Be kind.”

3

4

“Ramadan kareem!”

“Study and recite.”

Winie Ariany

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

Crossword Puzzle

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12

Polishes and shines Open a gift package Had redecorated Reno’s st.

Hatcher or Garr Answers Mo. fraction Rite sites Brewing need Over-publicised Prized rug

13 16 22 24 26 27 29 30 31 32

Fiesta shouts Devious Knights’ wives Competes in a tug-ofwar Crow’s cry “Mad Max” Gibson Crystal-filled rocks Alto and tenor Hit the tab key Scuba gear

33 34 35 36 38 40 41 47 49

Picks Golf ball feature Give a lift Pore over Backless slippers Turn aside Punch Eau — cologne Univ. degree

ACROSS 1 Consumed by fire 6 Lawn mower path 11 Like some paving stones 13 Deadeye Annie 14 Remote control button 15 In a crude way 17 Drum, as fingers 18 “To” opposite 19 Wall-climbing plants 20 Fossey friend 21 Pulverized rock 23 Pacino namesakes 24 Nudge forward 25 Jim-dandy 27 Is obliged to 28 — Tse-tung 29 Hairstylist’s goo 30 Desirable hotel room feature 32 Did a lumberjack’s job 35 Practically forever 36 Sugarloaf locale 37 Like some chances 39 Kitchen topper 40 Sells from a stand 42 Down Under bird 43 King beater 44 Atelier accessory 45 Noncom 46 Had an inclination 48 Not blatant 50 Organic compound 51 Volcanic output

B8

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2016

LIFESTYLE Children up to the age of 16 who would like to have their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Art for the Ages Sai Madhav Kota, Grade 7, ISG

Abhigyan Basant Kumar, Grade 3, ISM

Sudoku How to play Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

Pragya Gautam, Grade 7, ISM

Vignesh, Grade 6, ISS

Alfred Benoy, Grade 3, ISM

Akshara Rajesh, Grade 1, ISM

Manasvi S. Praveen, Grade 5, ISD

Niranjana S., Grade 7, ISWK

Teleword All the words below appear in the puzzle - horizontally, vertically, diagonally, even backward. Find them and circle their letters.

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

MH T G E V NWA I S M B R P B E R U G E L N S C I S T S C H E A G F W I I B N A H Y S N CLUE: GRACE JONES

Y O R G L I S R U O T N A I F

H I M A G E R R M N U R Y T L

R C S E C E S I R A P O S S A

E E O C E E R L T N I E E L M

C F U N K S E L O L I I I U E

O R D S M U L E D E A T C T I U C A A D T R F M O O E V N C T E I V E T S Y E L I H MO O

I B O A N R A V E I S L A N D

N L M C O Y E I G H T I E S G

G A E P O S I N G I R E D G E

J E T A E R C I T E G R E N E

SOLUTION: 12 LETTERS

Albums, Alive, Altaunbay, Conan, Create, Dance, Edge, Eighties, Energetic, Flame, Funk, Hair, Heat, Hits, Image, Island, Jamaica, Love, Model, Mood, Movies, Muse, Music, Neat, Nightclubbing, Paris, Portfolio, Posing, Press, Rave, Recording, Reggae, Rhythm, Score, Seventies, Sharp, Singer, Soul, Spirit, Style, Success, Syracuse, Title, Tours, Twin, Vamp, Voice, Warm.

Answer: ELECTRIFYING

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

C2

C4

CARGO

C7

FOR RENT 1. Flat Wadi Kabir / MBD Area 2. Villa @ Muscat Hills 3. Warehouse Ghala 4,000 Sqm

Contact : 9076 5656 / 951 22 666

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

C2

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

FURNISHED OFFICES FOR RENT ǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ Ă ƉƌŝŵĞ ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶ ŽŶ Azaiba Service Road (Previously OĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ ďLJ ͛^Ăī Ă &ŽŽĚƐͿ near Al Turky and Mazda showroom.

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ 95215289, 99229263, 93221054

*Tourist visa arranged

ʽ ^ãÊÙ ZÊÊÃÝ

¥ÊÙ Z Äã

ǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ Ă ƉƌŝŵĞ ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶ ŽŶ azaiba service road ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ ŽĐĐƵƉŝĞĚ ďLJ ͛^Ăī Ă &ŽŽĚƐͿ ŶĞĂƌ ů dƵƌŬLJ ĂŶĚ DĂnjĚĂ ƐŚŽǁƌŽŽŵ

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ 95215289, 99229263, 93221054

Spacious 4BHK with split A/C’S, 4 bathrooms & storeroom, near Church roundabout, Mumtaz area.

Rent:R.O 575, Contact:99349672

Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM.

Office for rent in Al Ansab near bank Muscat. Contact: 99466173

Office 55SQ.Mtrs & 2B/R at Bausher directly from owner.

Contact: 92158031

3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent.

18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi.

Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use. OMR 295/- month.

Call 94477222 Athaiba 2 bed, 1 bath room, sitting, kitchen with split AC behind Zubair Showroom rent 310 R.O. Contact: 99879939 Athaiba 2bed, 2 bathroom, sitting, kitchen with Split a/c behind Zubair show room rent 350/-R.O. Contact: 99879939 Wadi Kabeer Industrial 80 sm show rooms for rent 400/- R.O. Contact: 99879939 Apartment 2 bed room + sitting room with split A/C at Al Ansab heights R.O 300 monthly.

Contact: 93993354 3 BHK, 1BHK with A.C new building behind Muscat Bakery Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 99338133 / 92103604 Deluxe 1 & 2 bedroom flats, ideal for office or residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 97721313 / 95070421 Flat for rent in Ruwi Al Mumtaz area 300/-R.O 2BHK, sitting room, hall, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with A/C Contact: 99268676 / 93294878 / 93294877 Flat for rent in Al Wadi Kabir near to the Kuwaiti Mosque 225 R.O, 1BHK, sitting room, bathrooms, kitchen with A.C. Contact : 93294878 / 93294877 2 BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi & Ghubra near Al Maha Hotel.

Contact: 99269751

Flat for rent in Al Wadi Kabir near to the Kuwaiti Mosque 300 R.O, 2 BHK, sitting room, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with A.C. Contact: 93294878 / 93294877 Flat for rent in Al Wadi Kabir near to the Kuwaiti Mosque 390/- R.O, 3 BHK , sitting room, three bathrooms, kitchen with A.C. Contact: 93294878 / 93294877 For rent flat in Darsait & Ruwi, Office CBD. Contact: 95345909 / 92820734 Flat for rent in Ruwi Al Walja near to the Honda road RO 200/-, 1 BHK, sitting room, bathrooms, kitchen with A.C. Contact: 93294878 / 93294877

Just 2 OMR / Sqm, Showroom / store for rent Ground floor & basement, area - 1100 Sqm, location Seh Al Ahmer, 20 km to Rusayl.

Contact: 97714433 / 93437982

Shop for rent at Wadi Kabir Industrial area. Contact: 99888390

Flat for rent Al Hail North to the Wave Muscat ground floor with furniture the price RO 250/-.

Contact: 99353433

Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

Flats in Al Khuwair, Al Ghubra, Azaiba, Wadi Kabeer, Darsait, Hamriya, Al Hail & Seeb.

Contact: 24182000 / 95250300 / 99110600

Flat for rent in Al Khoud, 2 rooms & hall. Contact: 917633665 1BHK Flats for rent, behind Sheraton hotel in Ruwi, rent R.O 250/per month. Contact: 96051941

Flat for rent in Darsait 1BHK. Contact: 99357586 / 97500025 / 97500021

Plot at Barka next to Germany College & next to Aramex Company, next to Bahwan Warehouse, next to Omasco warehouse 37,074 SQM2 required 0.250 Baiza per SQM. Contact: 99888390

Ruwi office space for rent, Saravana Bhava Building.

Contact: 95729549

Flats for rent at Just RO 160/- 2 Bed room, hall, kitchen , 2 toilets, location Seh Al Ahmer, 20 KM to Rusayl, including AC & roof Garden.

Contact: 97714433 / 93437982

Shop in Seeb market. Contact: 24182000 / 95250300/ 99110600

House in North Al Hail with 3 rooms, living room, hall, 4 toilets 300 RO. Contact 99738881 / 99439568

Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

2 & 3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair & Ghubra. Contact 99792181

Flats in Ghobrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flats, shops & store for rent in MBD area Ruwi, Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Offices and Flats in Ghala.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flat for rent in Al Qurum, 3 rooms & hall. Contact: 91763660

Villa in Seeb near Dreams Resort and close to the sea. Contact: 24182000 / 95250300/ 99110600

5 BHK Villa in Al Khuwair, for Staff Accommodation. Contact 99792181

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

For rent New flats at Darsait Al Sahail. Contact: 99777351 House in Darsait 3 rooms, kitchen, 1 bathroom with A/C. Contact: 95522405 Flats in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

3 Bedroom well maintained flat (villa Type only 2 flats in villa) in Al Khuwair, behind Al Akhtam Restaurant villa No 1841, Way No 3922--- block no 239.

Contact: 99462980

Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92277419

Flat for rent in Wadi Al Kabeer including 3 rooms with ACs. Contact: 99333639

Villa for rent in Al Khoud, 6 rooms, hall. Contact: 91763665

Villa for rent in Al Ghubrah, 5 rooms, hall. Contact: 91763665 Flat for rent 2 bedrooms in Ruwi Mumtaz area. Contact: 91409667 / 24291500

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 94051789 / 97201688

3000 Sqr mtrs compound land in Misfah. Contact 99792181 Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Four bedroom two floors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Villa in Al Khoud consists of 6 bedrooms, 1 sitting & living room. Contact: 91153933 1700 sqr mtrs open Land + small store + garage for Rent in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661 Shop for rent good location main road behind wholesale hyper market Amerat space 11 MT long, 4 MT Width. Contact: 92877449 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

4 BHK Villa in Bowsher Heights.

Contact 99792181 Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel : 00 968 95158570 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 1 BHK and 2BHK Flats available near Lulu Darsait (Main road, Opp. to Min. of Defense). Contact : 93202733 Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569 1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair.

Contact: 95154331 Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 2 BHK flat at Ruwi Mumtaz area RO 320/-. Contact: 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khood.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Villa in Bousher consists of 5 rooms, 1 hall & living room.

Contact: 91153933 Villa in Al Ghubra consists of 5 bedrooms, 1 hall and living room.

Contact: 91153933 Room with 9 bathrooms in Bousher for rent. Contact: 91153933 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

C3

DAILY GUIDE

WANTED Description - used 80 mm UNI interlocking, Quantity 5000 Sq . Mtr. Contact person Mr. Farook Shaikh .

Contact: 00968- 99899724 Email: fairdeal@omantel.net.om Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact: 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778 IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/ 99012165

FOR RENT

MV SALE

FOR SALE

Company for sale service& maintenance LLC installation & maintenance of fire fighting systems include ROP license.

Contact: 99433540

Shop for sale at Ruwi high street.

Contact: 98787853 Used & Refurbished Porta cabins, Toilets unit available for sales. Contact: 99215560 Email: omegaunitedoman@gmail.com Working beauty parlor for sale Al Ghubra. Contact: 98178135 Running pharmacy for sale on main road in Barka with Pharmacist. Contact: 99452755 603 sq mtrs residential land in Al Hail North Block 45 NE near Radio station. OMR 95 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Ladies fashion boutique for sale in Al Khuwair. Contact: 24702870 Villa for sale in Mabela 6 rooms, living room & hall.

Contact: 91763665

3BR villa Al Khoud with A/C 350 R.O. Contact: 99024730 2 & 3 BR Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99024730 1& 2 BR in C.B.D. Contact: 99024730 2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

Apartment in Al Khoudh consists of 2 room & hall. Contact: 91153933 Flats In Qurum.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 2BHK split A/C for rent Muttrah near Oman House.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 1BHK Studio flat near Star Cinema RO 180/-. Contact: 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288

Audi A3 2003 automatic gear 138,000 kms, Expat driven for RO 600/-. Serious buyers can Contact 96248179

Shop for sale, Honda road building materials beside NBO, Ruwi.

Contact: 99018075

Running clinic for sale at Samail.

Contact saemomar@gmail.com / 95498105

Ground flat in Azaiba, 2 rooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen with air conditioner. Contact: 97788666

Mazda 2 Sedan, 2014 model, metallic silver, automatic, expat lady driven, 44,000 km RO 3,000, negotiable, for sale. Contact: 94619163

Dental chairs for sale sparingly used dental units for sale.

Contact Mr. Ansari 92616343.

Kumar 99570284 Dental clinic for immediate sale doctor going abroad. Contact: 92882209 / 96373097 2 Shops for sale at prime location in Ghobra. Contact: 96381294 Bozlur 6 Villas of six bedrooms each under construction in one compound in Bausher near Muscat Private hospital. Prices range from 165 thousand to 179 thousand for each villa. Each villa has three floors and 369 sq mtrs build up area.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 2 Nos brand new sea water reverse osmosis plants 500m3/ day, containerized in knock down condition with American PD pumps & process pumps for immediate sale. Serious buyers may Contact: 99445367

Mitsubishi Pajero model 2006, full option, 6 cylinders, 3800 CC in a very good condition.

Contact 99376567

FOR SALE 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand.

Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

ACC. AVAILABLE Room, bathroom for Executives in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99336206

Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 95056808 / 97201688

Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794

Double Shutter 80 sq mtrs corner textile shop in Seeb Souq for sale.

Contact 99326339 1No brand new containerized package type STP 100 m3/ day with blower equipments (suitable for camps). Serious Buyers may.

Contact: 99445367 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale. Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact 92881849 /What`s up No 97290565 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter.

Photos can be sent 95865457

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished sharing accommodation available at Walja family / Ex bachelor. Contact: 93223278 Bachelor sharing accommodation available at Misfa.

Contact: 99215560

ACC. AVAILABLE Room available for family / bachelor opposite to o.K. Center, Ruwi.

Gsm 942-888-63 Sharing Accomodation avaiable for a working lady near indian school wadikabir.

Contact 99652740 Fully furnished room with access to kitchen is ideal for a bachelor or couple situated in Al Bustan village, and is close to the beach and the hotel.Plz contact 99378964 / 96607448 Furnished accommodation available at Walja with bath & sharing, kitchen for family.

Contact: 99725804 Fully furnished showroom space available at Al Qurum near Sabco Center. 100 sq. m ideal for travel office, money exchange, jewellery, foot wear, perfume shop, Computer Shop etc. Contact: 96108593 Furnished single / sharing room for Exec. bachelor at Rex Road (Kannada, Telugu, Tamil).

Contact: 92873832 Accommodation for Ladies or couple in Ruwi. Contact: 91450718 Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 97167857 Executive lady room & Bathroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99336206 Room available with attached bath & balcony for an Executive bachelor near MBD area.

Contact: 95779616

1 big room with attached bathroom with sharing kitchen available for small Muslim Family, Near Spar, Mumtaz area, Ruwi, Muscat.

Contact 99662698.

1 BHK appartment for rent in Al Khoud Shabiya near mazoon mosque for rent (next to alkhoud medical center and squ) MOB: 93913224 Small old house for rent in Ghobra. Contact: 97165972 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir.

Contact 93049849 Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

Contact 99336776 Sharing accommodation near ISD. Contact: 99657340 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90.

Contact 96524717 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket.

CONTACT 96202458/96761960 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail.

Contact 96234708

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Used office house furniture & electronic items.

Contact: 99834373 / 96642500 Buying cars for cash.#90202090

MATRIMONIAL Muscat based Ezhava girl, MCA seeking alliance for Ezhava girl, 25 years working in MNC Muscat, staying with family from parents of professionals in Muscat / UAE. (Preferably from Kannur Distt). Contact: 99665200 Parents of 28 yrs, Indian Boy from Mumbai, ACCA working as a senior accountant in Muscat, seeks alliance from an Indian Sunni Muslim family. Contact no.(parent): 96408642 email id: khaledaoman@gmail.com Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact 96059801.

Parent of Thrissur based Hindu Ezhava girl aged 20, Slim,Atham star, Studying for B. Pharm seeking alliance from well employed Graduates, preferably in Engineering Contact :96425102 Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

NRI 910 sq ft furnished flat at Qupem Goa. Contact: 97094797 NRI selling his properties : Bangalore (Sobha Garnet, 4 bed room apartment), Hosur (25 cents) Cochin (20 cents), Trivandrum (11 cents, opposite to KIMS Hospital), Shertala (20 cents), Kanyakumari (175 cents along National Highway), Nagercoil (3 plots of 11 cents, 100 cents and 20 cents). Send e mail to drkpraman@gmail.com or call Pradeep 94194071 Two properties at Bangalore for sale (1) 3 BHK Senior living apartment with full fledged facilities & services in Ozone Urbana Serene project for the cost price of Irene project. Handover by August 2016. (2) 4 B/R villa (BUA 3600sq.ft, 4 floors, 3 Livings, 5 bathrooms, maid’s room & car park) for sale at JP Nagar. Contact Mrs. Mangala Ph: 97903127, Email: ravichandran.mangala@gmail.com

C4

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

WANTED Excellent Grade Construction Company Requires the following.

Site Manager, Project Engineer, Civil Site Engineer, QS/QC Engineer, HSE Officer, Civil Foreman Interested Candidates send CV to below email-info@durat.om

ACCOUNTS Omani Female required as Asst.

Accountant cum Secretary. English communication and writing, typing skills required. Email CV to: s.safar@celarwater.com, 24613371.

CATERING Wanted Cooks urgently for a Coffee shop, visa ready.

Email : souman7@yahoo.com, GSM : 97158376

DOMESTIC HELPER Wanted experienced Philipino Housemaid with visa release.

Contact: 99466062 House maid for Omani family.

Contact: 99773100 A full time living Housemaid required for an Indian family in Ghobrah. Contact: 97335255

DRIVER Wanted Indian light driver with visa salary R.O 200/.

Contact: 99215560 Email: bvcsmuscat@gmail.com Driver required for a leading Courier company. Send CV to info@atsglobex.com Contact: 00968-97461515 Salary: Negotiable.

Required Omani Driver for a restaurant. Contact 95929911 Wanted a experience Driver for Capital and Interior work.

Gsm : 942-888-63

MAINTENANCE

MEP CAD Draftsmen required, with experience in Pipeline and Electrical drawing for a reputed water treatment company in UAE. Email CV to : s.safar@celarwater.com, 24613371

EDUCATION/TRAINING Medical/Engineering Entrance coaching: Teachers for Chemistry, Physics, Maths & Biology required urgently call 91396893 or email :medengca@gmail.com

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Urgently required for Construction in Muscat Civil Engineer & Architect with 5-10 years experience with bachelors degree or diploma, good knowledge & a valid Omani driving license. Send your CV to aalamri24@gmail.com Air Conditioning Company required experienced A/C Technician Send CV to nationalhvac. mep@gmail.com Fax: 24799442 Required female Office Assistant with good computer knowledge.

Send CV to Fax: 24799442 nationalhvac.mep@gmail.com Wanted Indian Engineer & Marketing person for steel workshop in Saham. Contact 91339401 Wanted Marine Engineer for yacht in Muscat. # Whatsapp 95887572 Email: alibadawy@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Masons, Helpers, Shuttering, Carpenters, Steel fixers with 5 yrs experience in Oman.

Contact: 97491117 Urgently Required: MEP Manager Engineer- minimum 10years experience with NOC in Oman for immediately join. Interested candidates may call us to our office telephone: 00968- 24696584/ 24696585 or fax: 0096824605955 or email us to sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Required Electrical Engineer with minimum 5 years Gulf exp. & Electrician with ITI - Industrial & MEDC license. Contact: 99454425

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MANAGER For a reputed company Well experienced in building & villas all type of maintenance.

Please send your C V to

hralsom@gmail.com

Sales mechanical executive

Omani Driving license

With MOH Licence and Data Flow for Al Saadi Specilised Medical Centre, Musanna.

Contact # 92025033, Email : dr.srininvas76@gmail.com

IT Required Shop Sales man + Hardware Technician for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Urgently required GP Doctor, Gynecologist, Female Nurses with MOH license & NOC for a reputed specialized center based in Muscat. Please forward your CV to alqaimtrd@gmail.com Urgently required Physiotherapist & Pharmacist for a reputed polyclinic. Send CV to carecare003@gmail.com or call 97706453 Urgently required Pharmacist & MOH licensed female Dentist for a reputed polyclinic. Send CV : manageribnalhaitham@yahoo.com or call 96721709.

Care Medical Centre Al Seeb requires Gynecologist and General Practitioner. Mail CV to:sarita_h23@yahoo.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Require a qualified Nurse to take care of an elderly female.

Contact: 99425200

MISCELLANEOUS The following vacancies are urgently required for a printing press in Wadi Kabir General Manager & Sales Representatives with well knowledge and experience in printing press, holding valid Omani driving license. Please send your CV to: aalamri24@gmail.com Urgently required a Painter and a Denter for workshop (Garage).

Contact: 96042322 Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278 Wanted Steward / Deckhand for Yacht in Muscat, Housekeeping & Guest service duties. Contact: Whatsapp 95887572 Email: alibadawy@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant with driving license present in Oman.

Salary + food+ accommodation.

Contact: 99454425

Part Time Accountant, up to finalization of accounts, looking for job after 5 PM (location prefer MSQ to Al Hail). Contact: 90935099

Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. Contact: 99284193

Kindly forward your CV to omancareers2016@gmail.com

WANTED Female Gynaecologist, Female GP- Two Female Staff Nurse (From India or Pilipino)and One Female Dental Assist and Female Lab Technician.

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394

For industrial trading company With minimum 5 years’ experience.

Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING Required smart, young, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience for a reputed manufacturing company in Oman, having its Head Office in Ruwi. Experience in building materials is an added advantage. Omani Driving License and NOC is a must. Attractive remuneration package. Apply with photograph to E-mail: salesjobds@gmail.com Well reputed Kitchen fabrication company required the staff for showrooms as follow.

(1) Sales Manager with valid driving license. (2) Sales Executive (Male) with valid driving license.

(3) Sales Executive (Female) Philippine Secretary (Female) Send the CV’s at “hrik711@gmail.com Required marketing / PR manager for a modern restaurant group in Oman , proficient in illustrator & Photoshop charismatic , proactive , creative & flexible excellent writing / Editing skills degree in relevant area fluent in English. Send CV to marketingpr2016@gmail.com Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each. Contact: 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778

Urgently required Printing & Stationary Salesman (minimum 3 years experience in field.

Contact: 93218176 / Email: joboman88@gmail.com Required female person to work at the retail shop/Marketing. Please send your CV on e mail: zeyanaalharmaly@yahoo.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Urgently required Offset Printer (5 years experience in the same and well versed in any related jobs. Contact: 93218176 / Email: joboman88@gmail.com Required Indian Mason – 5 nos., eligibility (minimum 5 yrs experience in road construction field).

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com

TOURS & TRAVEL Urgently required Travel agent (1 position) with 5yrs experience & command on Sabre and IATA. Applicant must be professional and have expertise in Hajj, Umra & Tourism packages. Sound communication skills in English & Arabic will be given preference. Send CVs : hr.muscat2015@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED

Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.

Contact: 96976240 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084

ARCHITECT

Senior Architect or Designer looking for suitable job, Nationality Syrian. Contact: 94698508 Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com Indian female diploma architect 6 years exp in Oman Engineering consultancy, valid Oman driving license. Contact: 96683293 / 97750870

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

5 Years experienced front office & Banking, Indian male 28 yrs, hotel management Graduate. Searching for suitable position, English, Hindi, Malayalam & Arabic fluent. NOC available. Contact - 91383167 Indian (Male) having 17+years Experience in Trading & Healthcare seeking senior Position in Accounts (11 years GCC Experience ) currently on Resident Visa (NOC Available ) and has a valid Omani Driving Licence. Contact: 91335026; skumartp@gmail.com Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail.Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Part time Accountant Indian Senior Accountant up to finalization Tally 9. Contact: 93064975 Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact: 94743790 Indian female, M.Com, DCA having 10+ years experience as Senior Accountant in leading Construction & Trading L.L.C in Muscat seeking suitable job, Oman driving license NOC available. Contact : 91609799 Fresher 24, ACCA Affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or Audit with Oman driving license.

Contact - 92430152 Email - raju.rd619@gmail.com

Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Chief Accountant well experienced with reputed group.

Contact : 98803439 / 97413784.

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT/Ast. Finance Manager-M. Com FinanceIndian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to Finalization. Experienced in facilitations & banking. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com Accountant 2.5 years exp in Oman, NOC available with valid D/L. Contact: 98870112 Email: rashadmeethal@gmail.com American Certified Manager (6 sigma, CPPM) with MBA, PMP trained having 10 years, UAE cross functional experience in procurement, projects management, supply chain, facilities & Administration with UAE D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact: 90772927 Email: callshebin@gmail.com 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Autocad works freelance, MEP, Civil works, Interior, 2d/3d, BOQ etc.

Contact 97103168

DRIVER Driver light license looking for job. Contact: 94035746 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 98219182 Looking for driving job 6 months experience. Contact: 93782260 Looking for driving job with Toyota Camry car, driver available with car or without car. # 97224035 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 99518533 Bangladeshi male looking for driving job. Contact: 98140379 Light driver looking for job Gulf exp.

Contact: 91929556 Driver Pakistani exp 4 years, looking for job. Contact: 94356465 Driver looking for job, 3 years experience. Contact: 97468646 Bangladeshi driver looking for job.

Contact: 97418036 Looking for driving job light 2 years exp. Contact: 91625977 Looking for driving job with G.C.C experience 6 years with car, without car. Contact: 94085449 For light vehicles. #92789805 Light vehicle driver. #95891087

Architect female 5 years experience seeking job.

Contact: 96146645 Email: anjuovil@gmail.com

ADMIN

26 years Gulf experience Indian Finance Manager B.Com, MBA English, Arabic speaking driving license, NOC available. Contact: 99811679

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

Indian male 34 yrs, M.Com – Finance with 5 yrs experience in Accounts in India, presently in visiting visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 93671785 Email: jeyan903@gmail.com

Accounts part time services, available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis.

Finalization and audit works.

Contact: 96247295

REQUIRED

Wanted driver. Contact: 97165972

DRAFTSMAN

SITUATION WANTED

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235 Indian, 20 years experience in Oman as Personal Assistant / Office Manager / Executive Secretary / Senior Administrator / Business Development Asst. seeks job change. Release available.

Contact 99168054.

Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

CATERING Filipino Cabin steward / Linen vallet is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: +968 91065438 or email: blonglive@gmail.com

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Indian Female, 3yrs exp. In AutoCAD draftsman with 3ds max & rivet,. Looking for suitable placement in Muscat now in visit visa .Contact:95601266 Architectural Draftsmen diploma in construction technology with 6 years experience in drafting and detailing as per British standard in Oman with valid Omani license looking for suitable opportunity Noc available. Call 94375897.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer, B.Tech, 6 yrs experience with Omani driving license, local release available.

Contact: 91693008 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com Project Manager Electrical with 6 years experience with EHV & MV substation projects. NOC available.

Contact 91398559 Civil Engineer fresh Graduate with Omani driving license looking for job in any company. Contact: 91745797 / 99190898 Email: alio_abdo@hotmail.com Quantity Surveyor (QS)- Srilankan, 6 years of experience (4 years Oil & Gas in Oman), Contact- 98142760 Procurement Coordinator Indian male 30 yrs B.Com (Computers) 4 years experience in Saudi Arabia Construction Company looking for any suitable position on visit visa till 18 June 2016.

Contact: 0968 98590811 Email: ibrahimhashmi220@gmail.com HSE Officer more than 10 yrs experience in Construction, oil & gas looking for suitable job, NOC available. Contact: 99626821 Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male 25 years having over 2 years experience in calibration, testing and maintenance of field instruments, looking for a suitable position, available in Oman for visit.

Contact: 91228010 Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male with 1 year experience looking for job, qualifications in QA – QC, HVAC & Piping Engineering. Contact: 90510800 Email: muhammedjaseem07@gmail.com B Tech Electronics and communication,1.5 years experience in India as site engineer in automation system of Reliance, Looking for a suitable job. Currently in India, Contact:-95657292 Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ

E'/E Z With 2 years exp in Telecom sector, currently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϯϵϭϵϵϰϯ ĂŐŶĞůũĞƌŝŶΛLJĂŚŽŽ͘ĐŽŵ ^ƵĚĂŶĞƐĞ DĂůĞ ϯϱ LJƌƐ ͘^Đ ůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐ ^LJƐƚĞŵ ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌŝŶŐ with 11 yrs. Experience in Gov/Private. /^ K ; EWͲZΘ^Ϳ ĂŶĚ ƚŚŝĐĂů ŚĂĐŬŝŶŐ ; , ǀϴͿ ĞƌƟ Į ĞĚ͘ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ /d services management. ŵĂŝů͗ ŐĂďĂƌŽŬŝϮŬΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ DŽď͗нϵϳϰϱϬϰϳϱϬϯϰ

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711

Indian male MBA

With 13 years experience in GCC and Oman. Competent in Sales, DĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ͕ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ Interested employer please call

Finance & Marketing 25 yrs having 1.9 years of experience Finance & Marketing Contact: 95206140/ 96992013

Indian male, Diploma Engineer with BBA & 16 yrs experience in Oman, worked with MNC in retail (Telecom/ Lubricant sales) and with construction industry handling various products & subcontract projects.

Holding valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

97728418

bonnythomas007@gmail.com

Email:

Contact 96960991, Email : sunap1968@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

HOSPITALITY

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com

Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree, 3 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler. Has Oman driving license. Contact 99859150

IT

MANAGER

An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com

Indian 25 years BCA Graduate with 3 years IT experience (Desktop Support) seeking suitable job. Contact: 94170892

Workshop Manager having 30 years gulf and abroad experience in plants & machineries, heavy duty trucks, readymix batching plants & crushers, water well drill rigs, rock blasting machineries etc. kindly contact @ 97145088.

Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine.

Available NOC release.

Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com

Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable.

Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912

HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer steel fabrication & erection 6 years experience with Oman D/L seeks placement. Contact 97917250 B.Tech Civil Indian, 4 years experience in Oman with D/L. Contact: 90902809, Email: ackn1234@yahoo.com Indian B.E Civil Engineer 1 year Indian 5 months Oman experience seeking Site Engineer position, local release available.

Contact: 96411591 Indian Diploma Civil Engg 3 years Indian exp 6 months Oman exp seeking Site Engineer position, local release available.

Contact 96411950 Indian female on family visa having M. Ttech degree in Biotech seeking suitable placement in any field. Contact: 91287047 Computer Hardware Technician, experienced Indian Male on visit visa seeking for suitable placement as hardware technician and Store Incharge. Contact: 95711667 Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 mail: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer having 8 years exp having Oman driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97841963 Electrical Engineer with 16 years experience in switchgear / transformer / over head lines & trading, looking for sales / procurement & project planning & Execution with NOC & D/L. Contact: 95994727 Email: qurm340@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman.Contact:98921022 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 33 with 6+ years experience in GCC in MEP building construction field (execution and design of HVAC,firefighting,plumbing), with D/L, NOC available 96978380;prajithks@gmail.com Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization.

Contact 96570891

Sr. Sales & Marketing Specialist

D E ' Z, CIPD HR

Young Indian, Engineering in Bio-technology, Bio-chemical and Chemical, looking for a challenging placement in Oman.

Contact 97607000. Email: sivasankarjayakumar@gmail.com Diploma Engineering Instrumentation Technician, 2 years experience skills calibration & installation etc.

Contact: 98963344 / 96946408 Email: anfeeranfu4@gmail.com

4 years as Network Engineer (CCNA- MCTIP) very good in Arabic & English, having valid license.

Contact: 99813988 Indian male 40 years BSc & diploma in logistics, 16 yrs experience (6 yrs in GCC) in logistics, storekeeping & spare parts, seeking suitable placement.

NOC available.Contact: 98966849

IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact: 94672759

SALES / MARKETING

Omani 26(m) seeks placement 6 yrs experience IT specialist.

Contact: 99025044

Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961

Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area.

Contact: 98660672

B.Sc Civil Engineer, MBA experience 5 years (15 months in Oman) English & Arabic, driving license looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94162443 Indian 24 yrs exp SR civil Engg with NOC, searching suitable job, in any project Supervision.

Contact: 96602718 mishteyaqh@yahoo.co.in Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact: 91176187 syam036@gmail.com Automobile Mechanic ITI 3 years experience marine mechanical fitter 2 yrs experience.

Contact: 93674847 Indian 14 yrs exp SR MEP – Elect Engg with NOC, searching suitable job, in field PMC, Fire consultants , Testing & com, project supervision.

Contact: 92437865 Email: maimran.mtech@live.com Indian male B-tech 8 years experience as senior electrical project engineer / QC engineer on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94094543 Email: anwar425@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact : 99739415 / 92091528 Teacher available in Seeb, Al-Mwalah, Al-Hail and Al-Khod Areas. Contact: 93848364 Indian male, M.Tech Graduate in Chemical Process Control Engineering looking for lecturing jobs, currently in Oman. Contact : 98352288 Experienced Indian female Teacher, B.Sc (Botany) & B.Ed on visit seeks suitable placement.

Cont: 98312255 / 94495305 Email: sajnasachu786@gmail.com Indian male in English, M.Phill, B.Ed with 5 years experience in College teaching & good administrative skill is looking for a suitable placement in Education Institutions or offices. Contact: 98260529 / 97297939 Email: samsundarlit@gmail.com

Indian male Graduate 10 years experience in Oman seeks mid management position with trading / automobile organization.

Contact: 92133277 Email: bijuma73@yahoo.com Operations Manager – Interior designing, Indian male, 20 years experience in Interior Decoration, Joinery, Gypsum Works, MEP Works, BOQ preparation, costing, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97608867

Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973

Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available.

Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Biotechnology, 1yr exp. in Microbiology, Looking for suitable job.

Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Nithin Issac (Indian male) bachelor degree & MSW Medical & Psychiatry Hospital experience for 4 years in public relations and one year experience as Psychiatric Social Worker.

Contact 98937662 / 90188131 Email: nithsknur@gmail.com Indian B.Tech 37 years Project Engineer , 12 + years experience in construction, maintenance of STP, Pumping stations, sewer lines, drinking water distribution and service reservoirs & pipe lines.

Contact: 99364007 / +91-887422635 Email: mdzubair01@gmail.com Indian male, 16 years experience in Telecom vas industry on different Vas products, services & Enterprise solutions, looking for managerial position in relevant field, visit visa on hand for three months. Contact: 99744870 / 0091-9959171939, Email: tsbabu@airhub.com BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable lacements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523

MEDICAL Staff Nurse seeking job for nurse with 2 years experience in India with visit visa, passed with 51% Oman prometric. Contact: 91451935 D- Pharm Pharmacist 17 years experience Ayurvedic Panchakarma Masseur’s 3 years experience.

Contact: 93672452 Indian female Dentist specialized Endodontist looking for suitable placement, prometric completed.

Contact: 96410448

With over 25 years in varied industries, presently working with a reputed group in Muscat, looking out for a suitable change.

ŽŶƚĂĐƚ Ͳ ϵϲϰϵϭϬϯϬ

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support / CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact: 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com

System IT Engineer with Linux & UNIX System Administration skills transferable visa. Contact: 99109332

Ŷ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ŚĂƌƚĞƌĞĚ ĐĐŽƵŶƚĂŶƚ

Indian male good experience in Sales, Marketing, Admin & Accounts looking for suitable job.

Contact: 96199690 35 years male, Lebanese holding British passport, 10 years of experience in procurement, Omani Government tenders, setup marketing plans & strategies, importing, Organizing events, management, have car, NOC available.

Contact 94123939 Email: 002015r@gmail.com Indian male more than 10 years experience in Sales and Administration with NOC & D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97205114 Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity. NOC available.

Contact: 96001877 Indian male 24 years B.com 2 years of experience in Sales & Office Admin knowledge of Tally ERP 9 & MS Office. Contact: 98613373 / 97359814, Email: syedismailnoor@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India.

Contact: India:-+918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820

SKILLED LABOR Plumber / Electrician 10 years experienced, NOC available.

Contact: 91636185 20 years experience in Oman S.T.P Operator. Contact: 93089468

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

Pakistani Male, Land Surveyor with work experience in Dubai Seeks suitable job in Oman.

Contact: 94347288

Filipino I.T. with 5 years experience looking for suitable job in Oman.

Contact: +968 91183514 or email delarama_ryan_t@yahoo.c om

Indian Male, Post graduate with 10yrs experience in gulf & 4.6yrs in Oil & Gas experience with SAP and ERP exposure. Finalisation, MIS, Auditing, Budgeting, AP &AR, Tax, etc., with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 91743376

Indian male 33 years, B.Com, having 6 years experience in Oman.

Tally & ERP looking for suitable placement. Mobile no :98492921

Indian male diploma in automobiles & MBA in insurance motor claim surveyor and processor, looking for a suitable placement in Insurance company 15 years of experience working in Middle East, Dubai & Saudi Arabia.

Contact : 95467981

Indian male with 5 year Oman Sales Experience with valid Oman D/L, looking for suitable position. Mobile:97221624, Email:saileshpkhanna@gmail.com

Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher on visit visa, looking for a job in sales. Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support/Retail sales.

Contact 91496939 Indian male, 25 yrs, more than 5 years experience in Dubai, Looking for a suitable placement for jobs related to sales, marketing, coordination and support.

Contact: 95140445, syedfaraz97681@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech Computer Science, 5 years experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable position in teaching, IT or administration.

E mail: rincy87@gmail.com Indian Male 47 years MBAOperations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC available , seeks challenging position in SCM/ Logistics/ Procurement in any Sector.

GSM-94236414.

Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com Accountant male Indian, 2 years experience, doing accounts in tally & excel seeks suitable job.

EMAIL – regin1690@gmail.com, Contact +91 7373387282 B.E (Mechanical) 12 years industrial sales, 1 year Muscat experience, presently in India , immediately ready to join. Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com Indian female B.Com, 1 year experience in Oman, experience in wings account package and knowledge of tally. Looking for Accounting job. Presently in Family visa.

Contact: 93491124 & 92054531 Indian male, M.Com, 7 years Oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, Oracle, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 ACCA affiliate, B.Sc Degree holder, 3 years experience in audit and finance at Big 6, Male, Looking for suitable placement. NOC release available. Contact:95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate with approx. 2 years experience in India and UAE is looking for job in sales / marketing.

Contact: 94032041; Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail ; antonyajin15@gmail. com. Antony Ajin.G, Contact: 91 8148336160 / 91 8300136160 Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher, looking for a job in sales (indoor). No driving license.

Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Male Indian, 8 years of experience doing desktop engineer, software implementation, system admin, searching for suitable job. Email: thiruvazhimarban.ciet@gmail. com, mobile: +919171447997 / +919894357260

Looking for a part time accounting job, additional experience in admin & store - purchase. #99196621

B.E. (Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience, Presently in India, Immediately ready to join.

Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com Male, Indian, 25, 5 years experience in Dubai; looking for permanent placement in Oman for jobs related to sales, coordination and marketing. Contact: +971563664701 syed97681@gmail.com Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041 Sr. Accountant, WITH Oman D/L & 8.5 yrs exp, 7.5 yrs Oman & 1 yr India in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, independently handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement, srjob12@gmail.com Procurement/Tender & Contract Procurement /logistics & freight Specialist /Oil Field / petrochemical/Engineer /MBA /SAP certify / 15yrs Rich Experience/ Import &export Specialist / Oil Field experience/ coordinator / World Wide supplier network /Noc available Looking for challenging Position Contact: 97813849, Email Id:vved76@gmail.com Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041 Indian Male Accountant. Completed MBA with 1 year experience, good working knowledge in Tally & Excel. Searching for suitable job. Email : jovin8910@gmail. com, Contact : 919715874548 , 918015907437 Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail antonyajin15@gmail. com, : Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Electrical & Electronics diploma Engineer Indian male 23 years, 2 years experience in Electrical field/good experience in Electronics MCU projects currently in visit visa please do not hesitate to Contact; 93047707 Email: adilm89@gmail.com Indian male 30 yrs, holding valid driving license, having 5 years of experience in sales, looking for suitable position.

Contact # 90552942/94355626 Indian male Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field, also worked in construction company Mabela for 6 months as supervisor, trying to get driving license. Contact: - +96897017866.

Business Management Graduate with 12 years of experience in Oman, Worked with catering, medical, IT groups seeks suitable placement in Finance/purchase/ insurance sector, NOC Available.

Email, saima.gangawali@gmail. com, Mob 94258301 Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male,5 years experience in GCC & India, looking for permanent placement in Oman. NOC Release Available. Contact: 00968-95140445; noorullahanas@gmail.com Indian male Network Cabling Technician (19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement. mobile no: 0091-8089909265 (India), email: mohithavp@gmail.com

C6

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian female (27 yrs) MBA(IT), BCA,CCNA.2year experience in IT operations in Oman. Graduated from Oman with good analytical, communicating & programming skills, presented in international conference, seeking suitable positions. contact:93672143.e-mail id:fathima. shoukath@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experienced senior accountant ,capable of doing all type of accounting works up to finalization, Budgeting, Bank financing requirements, taxation work etc available. Contact : : 98803439 Indian Female seeking a job in Back Office and Accountancy, 8+ years proven experience as a dynamic candidate with excellent Excel & Communication skills.

Quick learner and Team player.

Currently on Family Visa.

Contact 94093154, 91746890, Email: joyjohn_hhh@yahoo.com Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken) .

Contacts: 99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com

HSE Engineer, Indian male, 5.5 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas. Working in Shclumberger.NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail. com Mobile- +91 9867016808

Indian male with 10+ years of working experience (security solutions, event management) on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 97945269, hkkrishna@gmail.com

Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken). #99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com

Petrochemicals Specialist, Chemical, MBA 18 YEARS EXPERIENC IN OIL FIELDS COM, RAW MATERIAL , polymer, SPACIALISED IN Procurement /COMMECIAL/ PURCHASE / LOGISTICS / SCM/Planning & sound knowledge of technical requirement for any manufacture plant Forecasting, Distribution, Vendors Development, LC opening/ establishment coordination with NOC available. Contact:97813849

Indian male, M. Com with 3 yr Oman Exp in Accounts with valid NOC & D/L on Visit Visa, available to join immediately . GSM :94744575 BS in Electrical engineering, experience : 6 years in electrical installation and maintenance #99817032, Email : engmmg24@yahoo.com Senior accountant ,NOC available, more than 5 years exp., born & bought up in Oman, Accounting upto finalization, computer skills tally9, Sage ERP accpac 500(6.0A), Vcams , Audit ,valid Oman D/L, languages known English ,Arabic, Hindi. can join immediately. Tel: 96339599, mailahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com

SCM / LOGISTICS/ PROCUREMENT - 25 Yrs exp - Indian Male - Oil & Gas, Manufacturing Sector - Having valid Oman D/L & NOC available. Seeks Challenging senior position. GSM-94236414, Email ID - jayamurli@gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Tele performance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Local contact 99022484

Indian Male 28 years, Mechanical Engineer (Diploma) with 2 years’ exp., Automobile ITI NCVT, CSWIP-BGAS Painting QC Grade-2, NDT Level-2, ISO Lead Auditor QA (IRCA), Piping QC & Isometric Drawings, WPS & WPQR, available on Visit Visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 90653733, libinthomaslt@gmail.com

ing for a job, currently in Muscat in visit. No: 97210361 / 95357513, Email: sharanshetty3@gmail.com

Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic. Well knowledge of Oman Areas looking for suitable placement. Contact 97950869

Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

IT Administrator with 6 yrs of GCC experience, now in Dubai (visit visa).seeking suitable placement in UAE. Contact :00971-565598176, email:aneeshngr@gmail.com

B.E(Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience ,Presently in India ,Immediately ready to join ,Mobile no :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

Indian Male, 24 yrs, looking for any type of job, qualification is Diploma in Electronics with 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an also worked in construction company Mabelah for 6 months as supervisor, having valid D/L. Contact : - +96897017866.

Indian Male: 23yrs, MBA in Marketing from UK (United Kingdom), look-

Highly experienced mechanical/ steel structural fabrication engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 99860714, hussain20173@gmail.com.

Electrical & Electronics diploma engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience currently in visit visa. Contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com Fresh B.Com Graduate in visit visa looking for a job. Contact: 93518923 / 99075027. email: sheikcok@yahoo.com

Planning Engineer, BE Mech Engg.

Indian Female having total 11 yrs exp in oil & gas projects (8+ yrs in Gulf) with valid Oman D/L, Seeks a Suitable job. Contact: 92456003 Indian Male 48 Yrs with over 25 Years Oman experience in Sales & Marketing with NOC & valid Oman D/L Also Fluency in Arabic, seeks suitable placement. Contact no.: 92210661/99224057 B.S.C in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 Years (Power Plant).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Indian male,B.Com + Dip. Logistic 2year experience looking for a job in Accounts/Logistics Field. Presently on Visit Visa # 93884951, Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com Admin Assistant. Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-98404122, mail panduru.jeevankumar@gmail.com Looking for a part time accounting & admin job. Contact 99196621.

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDUCATION/CLASSES

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. Contact: 98294551

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů Θ ƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ DĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJͬ YĞĂƌůLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰ0 ů ,ƵƐŶ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ >͘>͘ Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. # 99344723

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

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

Split unit A/C & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 93769089 / 95323517

Split & window A/C servicing, repairing, installation ducted, package etc. Contact Abbas : 98667326

CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

A/C servicing maintenance.

Contact: 92279370

A/C Maintenance & Servicing, Fridge, Washing machine & Dish washer repairing, Painting & Cleaning services, Electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Regular container transportation from Sohar sport to anywhere in Muscat area OMR 100 per container. Contact: 93731363 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC Contact: 99344723

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC Contact 99344723 House shifting. Contact 99708138 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Cleaning services, Sofa, carpet, shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064 House Shifting Packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

SERVICES tĞ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ ůĞĂŶĞƌƐ͕ Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϰϮϳϳϬϮϬ

MANPOWER

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

C7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS ONE STOP SHOP BUSINESS SERVICES Public Relation Service (PRO) Document Clearance, Business setup, Formation new Companies, LLC Companies, Investor Visa, Legal Services.

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

RENT A CAR

Contact Saleh:

96723485 INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required.

Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman Coffee shop for sale 7 visa available at Al Khuwair.

Contact: 98826793

DRIVING

Omani investor has a real estate company in Shatti Al Qurum, looking for a financial investor to participate in the real estate company. For more details contact me by 00968 96225852 Email: aburashid94dd@gmail.com

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact: 94510847 Transportation. Contact 9508282

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

Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898 Al Ibtisama rent & leasing.

Contact: 91374879 / 96627562/ 99382001/ 24751177/ 24751188

GOOD NEWS

RENT A CAR

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, Spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

AVAILABLE 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. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

C8

S AT U R D AY, J U N E 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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