Times of Oman - March 5, 2016

SATURDAY March 5, 2016 25 Jumada Al Ula 1437 AH

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OIC EMERGENCY SUMMIT

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

MUSCAT: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, State Council chairman will leave today for Indonesia to take part in the OIC Emergency Summit in Jakarta on March 6 and 7. -ONA Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 10

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We are determined – with God’s assistance and guidance – to preserve the achievements made by our states for the benefits of our citizens. And we will work for the implementation of more strategic comprehensive development programmes in their national and collective contexts.

| 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

Bus driver relives Ibri crash ordeal

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Battery-run car

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Omani students unveiled a car which runs only on electric battery. >A2

SPORTS

Oman beat Scotland

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In a Twenty20 warmup match, Oman beat Scotland by 14 runs. >A11

MARKET

Desalination plant

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Barka desalination plant will boost water security in the Sultanate. >B1

Historic Bahla fort

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Writhing in pain and thrown out of the bus under the impact of collision, the Omani bus driver regretted

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SQU students first to hit Manila track, car exceeds expectations

he couldn’t help the injured passengers as both his legs were broken, making

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

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hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Competing with more than 100 teams, the Sultan Qaboos University’s (SQU’s) students were the first team to hit the tracks in Manila in the prototype category on Friday after smoothly passing the technical inspection at the Shell Eco-marathon 2016 held in the Philippines for the third, and final time.

The car showed marvellous performance, finishing at third place in the first round out of four others remaining.

Ahmed Al Hadhrami, a team member, said that such accomplishment is a huge motivation for the SQU team.

“This will lead us to more success in the upcoming trials,” he said, adding that his team aims at breaking high scores.

As the competition was about to begin, the six-student team was asked to wait for two hours following the management’s decision to postpone the chal-

On the occasion of the Opening of the 29th GCC Summit, 2008

him immobile

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

REJIMON K

lenge due to rain, which made the street circuit wet. Nevertheless, the young engineers successfully cleared the first round with their red, white and green machine, which can reach a speed of 60 kilometres an hour.

SQU ECO WHEEL, a gasoline-run car made by Omani students at an estimated cost of OMR2,000, attracted international photographers looking to photograph the machine covered with rain drops.

Talal Al Subhi, the SQU team’s leader said his team had successfully reduced the cost from last year’s design, which exceeded OMR5,000.

The purple coloured machine weighs around 80kg, which is 20 kg lighter than last year’s model.

Al Subhi added that he and his friends are thrilled to compete with more than 100 teams and for making Oman proud.

He pointed out that his team had needed to fix a minor leak on Friday morning, before passing the technical test and setting their prototype on track. >A2

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Ibri-Fahud singlelane road stretch is risky for driving, said Shauakat Hassan Al Belushi, the Omani driver of the ill-fated bus, which met with an accident on Tuesday.

The bus heading to Dubai from Salalah was involved in an accident with a truck coming from the opposite direction in which 18 people had lost their lives.

“Even a small mistake can lead to a disaster on these roads. Accidents can happen at any time as there are no street lights,” Al Belushi, a Muscat resident and who has been driving heavy vehicles for the last two decades, said.

A day after the accident many drivers plying heavy vehicles on the Salalah-Dubai road had also echoed the same opinion.

RECUPERATING: Shauakat Hassan Al Belushi, the Omani driver of the ill-fated bus, which met with an accident on Tuesday.

Out of the 1,200km SalalahDubai road stretch, around 800km is single-lane highway that is poorly lit.

According to the drivers, lack of lights, single-lane, faded road surface markings and wadi (valley) rubble are some of the threats on the Salalah-Dubai road, which pose threat to lives.

Talking about the accident, Al Belushi said even though he had flashed the headlights of bus thrice, the truck driver did not respond.

“Realising the situation, I tried to steer my vehicle to the left side and avoid a head-on collision but the truck rammed into my bus right side, tearing it into pieces,” he said.

Due to the impact of the crash, Al Belushi said he was thrown out of the bus.

“My legs were broken and I was in severe pain. I couldn’t see anything as my face was covered with my blood. I was in a semi-conscious condition. Until help came,

I was cursed to hear people crying for help and all I could do was to just wait as my legs were broken.

Everywhere, I could smell metal burning,” Al Belushi added.

According to him, help came within an hour.

“I could hear ambulances’ sirens and the sound of helicopters coming. I saw the rescue team pulling out dead people and the injured ones from the bus. After a few minutes, they saw me and I was sent to the PDO health unit in an ambulance,” Al Belushi added.

He was later on shifted to the Nizwa hospital.

“They didn’t know that I am the bus driver. They took my wallet while I was undergoing treatment at the PDO unit. As I was in a critical stage, I couldn’t tell them either that I am the bus driver,” Al Belushi said.

According to him, the car had hit the bus after the truck collided with the bus. “It was dark and dusty too. This might have led the car to ram into our bus,” he added.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

OMAN

Our concept serves green energy and am sure my eight students will do a great job especially after we have modified our controller this year Amuthak Kanan, associate professor at Caledonian College of Engineering

Omani students unveil in Manila their environment-friendly car The street circuit in Manila tests the boundaries of fuel efficiency and the winners are not measured by speed, but on who can design a car that can drive the farthest on one litre of fuel SHELL ECO-MARATHON: The environment-friendly, yet beautiful and colourful machine placed Team Sadarah at the forefront as more than six months were spent crafting

the vehicle. -Photo-Supplied HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: In Manila, a city where air pollution has become a major concern, Omani students from the Caledonian College of Engineering unveiled a state-of-theart car, which runs only on an electric battery.

It, therefore, does not contribute to the growing amount of pollution, which is usually caused by diesel-run vehicles.

The environment-friendly, yet

beautiful and colourful machine placed Team Sadarah at the forefront after more than six months spent crafting the vehicle.

On Friday, young and optimistic Omanis competed with thousands of students from all across Asia and the Middle East, who have arrived in Manila for the Shell Ecomarathon, and to put their selfbuilt fuel-efficient vehicles to the test on a street circuit in the heart of Philippines.

The street circuit in Manila tests

the boundaries of fuel efficiency and the winners are not measured by speed, but are based on who can design a car that can drive the farthest on one litre of fuel.

While teams can select different sources of energy to run the car, including gasoline, diesel and ethanol, team Sadarah has chosen a battery to move their car via generating electricity.

Asked about why they chose such a challenging option, Amuthak Kanan, associate professor at

the college, said battery-run cars are the only ‘real’ environment friendly cars as they don’t require burning any material, and produce no smoke.

“Our concept serves green energy and am sure my eight students will do a great job especially after we have modified our controller this year,” Kanan said.

Speaking about the challenges they faced, he added that his team had encountered difficulties transporting the battery after some

INCENTIVES IN OMAN

He then highlighted the key investment areas in the Sultanate of Oman and the various economic clusters for the investors’ consideration.

Dr. Mohammad Javad Omidi, vice president, Technology Development at ISTT, who is from the Iranian side, addressed how one can build bridges of cooperation and open joint channels between Oman and Iran. He also stressed on the importance of exploiting the knowledge-based economy through IPM.

Times News Service

Opportunities available In his presentation, Al Khabouri focused on the investment opportunities available at IPM and explained how one can achieve investment and economic cooperation between the Sultanate and Iran.

With regards to the investment opportunities in the Sultanate in general and the benefits and elements of the work environment,

An annual event, the Shell Ecomarathon dates back to 1939 when Shell Oil company employees in the United States made a friendly wager over who could travel furthest on the same amount of fuel.

“I would like to express my big thanks and appreciation for Nuhas Oman, Yubil Muscat, Faris Al habsi, Alpha performance, Auto ceramic, Best choice and of course, Shell Oman,” Omar Khalaf Al Jabri, Caledonian College’s team leader, added.

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Investment opportunities offered to Iranian delegation in science, tech MUSCAT: In cooperation with the Isfahan Science and Technology Town (ISTT), the Innovation Park Muscat (IPM), which is an initiative of The Research Council (TRC), received a delegation of Iranian investor representatives concerned with different research and development activities.

The first day of the visit started with a presentation delivered by Dr. Abdulbaqi bin Ali Al Khabouri, director of Science Parks at TRC. The presentation highlighted the concept of science and technology parks, Innovation Park Muscat’s facilities and investment opportunities in key four areas of the project: energy, heath science, food and biotechnology, water and environment.

flight agencies banned the transportation of some chemical materials, which were used to build the car’s battery.

“Nevertheless,” he said, “Our Filipino friends managed to find an alternative battery here in Manila and we bought a new one.”

However, Team Sadarah will have to make some tweaks and adjustments on Saturday to join the Sultan Qaboos University team and pass the detailed technical and safety inspections.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION: The first day of the visit started with a presentation delivered by Dr. Abdulbaqi bin Ali Al Khabouri, director of Science Parks at TRC. – Supplied photo

Faisal bin Ali Al Hinai, head of Promotion and Industrial Investments Department at the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa), gave a presentation describing economic growth and urban development and the prosperity reflected in the tourism and advanced infrastructure of the Sultanate, especially in the past few years following the beginning

of the Renaissance Age of Oman.

This was followed with a presentation by Faisal bin Ali Al Hinai, head of Industrial Investment Promotion at Ithraa.

He pointed out the reasons for investing in Oman, such as the ease of doing business and also listed some of the incentives Oman offers, such as a five-year tax exemption and 100 per cent foreign ownership in free zones.

Special offers The meeting also included presentation of a variety of special offers by Iranian companies are interested in investing in the Sultanate, in terms of their identities, nature of the activities they practice, in addition to explaining its economic feasibility and upcoming plans and potential.

The first day of the visit was concluded with taking the visiting delegation on a tour inside the corridors of IPM, looking through the divisions and contents of both the innovation building, visiting the entertainment centre and the workshops and manufacturing building, and finally concluding the visit with a stop at Sultan Qaboos University.

Reconnecting people with night sky photo Times News Service MUSCAT: A workshop on Astrophotography, the first of its kind in Oman, will be held at the Oman Avenue Mall today. Astrophotography, like all areas of photography, has changed significantly in the digital age.

The workshop will be led by Babak A Tafreshi, an award-winning photographer working with the National Geographic magazine, who captures the world at night and merges art and science, connects the Earth and sky in elegant nightscape views.

Tafreshi is also the founder and leader of The World at Night or TWAN (www.twanight.org) international programme, which tries to reconnect people with the night sky as a natural heritage and important element of our life, using some of the world’s best and pioneer nightscape photographers.

TWAN has promoted the idea broadly across the world since 2007 and many in the astronomy and art community now refer to this type of photography as TWAN-style.

During the past two decades, nightscape photography has developed from being Tafreshi’s teenage hobby to a professional skill—and then to an interna-

tional programme. For him, nightscape photography is about more than just recording a part of outer space or our environment; it has become a lifestyle where he starts working when “normal” people enjoy parties, watch TV or go to sleep.

“The night sky is my second home,” Tafreshi said.

“Sixty to 90 nights of the year I am doing night sky shooting and the night sky is very calm and peaceful,” he added.

He also said that the places which are packed and noisy in the daytime have a completely different atmosphere at night.

“You are connected not only to nature, but also to the universe, and that’s a very unique feeling for me,” Tafreshi said.

Tafreshi is also a freelance science journalist and astronomy communicator using all media.

As a science photojournalist he frequently works with the Sky & Telescope magazine and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

Photography, science stories, and eclipse chasing has taken him to all continents. Born in 1978 in Tehran, he is based in Boston, United States (and previously in Germany), but could be anywhere on the planet seeking stars capes.

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A1 Great learning experience < FROM

for enginerring students

The aim of the contest was to design and build a car that would drive the furthest distance with the smallest amount of fuel or battery power.

Expressing his excitement, Tariq said this competition was a big opportunity for young engineering students to learn how to be accurate and critical about every detail.

“The inspectors treat and judge us like we are professional engineers, not only students,” Al Subhi added.

Teams of students are allowed to participate in the Prototype or UrbanConcept vehicle categories of the competition.

The three Omani teams, SQU, Caledonian College of Engineering, and GUtech, have chosen to take part in the Prototype category, which will see student teams displaying cars of the future – streamlined vehicles focused on maximising fuel efficiency through innovative design elements, such as drag reduction.

The UrbanConcept category focuses on more “roadworthy” fuel-efficient vehicles. Aimed at meeting the real-life needs of drivers, these vehicles are closer in appearance to the higher-mileage cars seen on the roads today.

A total of more than 100 vehicles–composed of the Prototype and UrbanConcept models– have been entered for this year’s competition.

Prototype, UrbanConcept For both the Prototype and UrbanConcept categories, teams may enter vehicles using any of the following energy types: gasoline, diesel, alternative gasoline (ethanol 100), alternative diesel (Shell Gas-to-Liquid or fatty acid methyl ester), battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell.

Results for the electricallypowered vehicles are expressed in km per kilowatt hour (km/kWh), and in km per litre (km/l) for the other energy types. Students will have the freedom to exercise their

creativity in the technical and design aspects, on the condition that all vehicles entered meet specific safety rules.

The Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2016 will see 24 On-Track awards with prize money of $2,000 for winners in both the Prototype and UrbanConcept categories. In addition, teams will also be vying for five Off-Track awards in: Communications, Vehicle Design, Technical Innovation, Safety, and Perseverance and Spirit of the Event.

This year also marks the third edition of the Shell Powering Progress Together Forum at Shell Eco-marathon Asia, where 250 thought leaders, young talent and representatives from around Asia Pacific gathered this morning to discuss challenges and potential solutions surrounding global energy, water and food resources.

Running alongside the Shell Ecomarathon, the event featured eminent speakers from the Philippines and beyond.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

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Historic Bahla Fort BAHLA FORT, in the Wilayat of Bahla of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, is included in the World Heritage Sites List. Dating back to the third millennium BC, the fort has a South Facade of about 112 kilometres, and an eastern facade of about 114 metres. The 12 kilometre long Bahla Wall, with its terraces, apertures for opening fire and guardhouses, were evidently designed for defence purposes.

Here are some images of the historic fort taken by Times of Oman’s Shabin E

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

REGION

Around 200,000 people rallied at the entrance to the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, demanding reform, better services and an end to corruption in response to a call by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr.

Assad’s forces shell rebel areas despite truce deal Government is mobilising forces for attacks, say rebels as UN envoy aims to hold talks on March 9

BEIRUT/PARIS/LONDON: Syrian government forces fired rockets close to a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria on Friday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, in an expansion of operations that have continued in that area despite a deal to cease fighting.

Heavy shell and rocket fire landed around the town of Ghasaniya, which is between the Turkish border and the rebel-held town of Jisr Al Shughour in Idlib province, the Observatory said. It said there was no news on casualties.

Earlier in the day, a major Syrian insurgent group said the government was mobilising forces to capture more territory, and a ceasefire was not possible while Damascus and its allies kept up attacks.

The comments by the Jaish Al Islam group, an influential player in the Syrian opposition, demonstrate the challenge facing foreign governments hoping “the cessation of hostilities” agreement will allow for a resumption of peace talks next week.

At odd The Syrian opposition appears at odds with its Western backers over the success of the truce.

European leaders told Russian President Vladimir Putin they welcomed the fact the fragile truce appeared to be holding, and it should be used to try to secure YEMEN

4 Indian nuns among 15 killed in Aden ADEN: Four gunmen attacked an old people’s home in the Yemeni port of Aden on Friday, killing at least 15 people, including four nuns from India, local officials and medical sources said.

The gunmen, who first told the guard they were on a visit to their mother, stormed into the home with rifles and opened fire, one local official said. As well as the nuns, the dead included two Yemeni women working at the facility, eight elderly residents and a guard.

The motive of the gunmen was not immediately known. They fled after the attack, the official said.

The bodies of those killed have been transferred to a clinic supported by medical group Medecins Sans Frontieres, medical sources said.

Yemen’s embattled government is based in Aden but has struggled to impose its authority there since its forces, backed by Gulf Arab troops, expelled Houthi fighters who still control the country’s capital, Sanaa.

Meanwhile, a drone strike killed four suspected Al Qaeda militants in a car in the southern Yemeni province of Shabwa on Friday, local officials and residents said.

The car burst into flames and plumes of black smoke were billowing above the main road where the drone struck, they said. — Reuters

IN SHADOW OF WAR: Syrians ride their motorbike as smoke billows in the background following reported air strikes on rebel-held village of Al Chifouniya, on the outskirts of Damascus, on Friday. – AFP

peace without President Bashar Al Assad.

The agreement that came into effect on Saturday has slowed the pace of the war in Syria, but rebels fighting Assad say the government has kept up attacks on strategically important frontlines in northwestern Syria. The opposition has yet to say whether it will attend peace talks planned for March 9.

Assad, his war effort buoyed by five months of Russian air strikes, has said the army is respecting the agreement. The truce does not cover the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front or IS, two groups which Moscow and Damascus have said they will continue to fight.

The Nusra Front is widely deployed across western Syria in close proximity to groups that agreed to cease fire and are viewed as moderate by the West. Syrian state media have said very little

about operations in western Syria since Saturday.

Mohamad Alloush, head of Jaish Al Islam’s political office, told Reuters “big violations by the regime” had allowed it to take new areas using “all types of weapons, particularly planes and barrel bombs in some areas”.

There were also “mobilisations to occupy very important strategic areas”, he said.

His group, in a separate statement, said the war had not stopped as far as it was concerned, and that a ceasefire was not possible while “militias and states kill our people”.

The head of another rebel group, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said 40 army vehicles loaded with weaponry were seen heading northwards on Thursday night.

“The regime is moving forces

from place to place, preparing for operations,” said the commander, whose group has also committed to the cessation of hostilities agreement.

The agreement is the first of its kind during a conflict that has killed more than 250,000 people and created refugee crises in the Middle East and Europe.

UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday the agreement was holding but remained fragile and incidents had been contained. The US State Department said on Thursday there had been no significant violations in the preceding 24 hours.

Assad said earlier this week that the militants had breached the deal from the first day and the army was refraining from responding to give the deal a chance.

The commander of the second rebel group said the government

operations were “focused on Homs, on the coast mostly”, while Aleppo - the target of a major government offensive a month ago was relatively calm.

Much of southern Syria, including areas near the border with Jordan, have also been calm, though a rebel spokesman said government forces were also mobilising. “If the truce ends, the regime is ready to attack in a number of areas right away,” said Abu Ghiath Al Shami of the Alwiyat Seif Al Sham group.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based organisation that tracks the conflict, said warplanes on Friday mounted the first air strike against the rebel-held town of Douma near Damascus since the start of the cessation. It did not say whether the planes were Russian or the Syrian army’s. The government, backed

by Russian air power and fighters, made significant territorial gains against rebels since the new year, focused in areas of western Syria near the borders with Turkey and Jordan.

De Mistura attempted to hold peace talks a month ago but these failed before they had even started in earnest.

France, Britain and Germany called on the opposition to attend the talks, but warned that the negotiations would only succeed if humanitarian access were granted and the ceasefire respected.

“If these two conditions are not met, then the negotiation process is bound to fail, which we do not want,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told journalists in Paris.

The opposition council, known as the High Negotiations Committee, has said humanitarian demands previously listed as conditions for peace talks have still not been met. These include free access for humanitarian aid to opposition-held areas blockaded by government forces and a release of detainees. — Reuters

M A S S I V E R A L LY

Iraqi cleric Sadr calls for overthrow of government BAGHDAD: Powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr called for the “government of corruption” to be overthrown on Friday in the biggest show of opposition yet to Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi’s authority.

Around 200,000 people rallied at the entrance to the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, demanding reform, better services and an end to corruption in response to a call by Sadr.

Abadi promised political and economic reforms last summer after mass street protests, but quickly ran into legal challenges and systemic resistance to change.

Last month he vowed to appoint technocrats to replace ministers appointed on the basis of political affiliations but that pledge too remains unfulfilled and frustration with the government has increased. “A chance should be given to efficient independent people, and those who took Iraq to the abyss should step aside,” said Sadr, whose Al Ahrar bloc holds 34 seats in parliament and three cabinet posts.

Sadr’s speech was broadcast on huge screens set up in the street and protesters waved Iraqi flags outside the entrance to the Green Zone, which was guarded by riot police standing behind razor wire.

Sadr, whose opinion holds sway over tens of thousands, including fighters who fought US troops in 2006-07, threatened to break into the Green Zone unless Abadi took action. The Green Zone houses government buildings and foreign embassies including that of the United States and has also become a symbol of the isolation of Iraq’s rulers from its citizens.

After a 100,000-strong protest held by Sadr last week, Abadi said it was his critics that stood in the way: “The political blocs are still holding on to their ministers and by doing so we cannot reform the country,” Abadi added. — Reuters

C I T Y O F S A B R AT H A

Two Italian hostages in Libya freed after raid ROME: Two Italian civilians held hostage in Libya since last July were freed on Friday, just 48 hours after two fellow captives were allegedly executed by IS militants in the north African state.

The four were employees of Italian construction company Bonatti and were seized last year near the western Libyan city of Sabratha, near a compound owned by the energy group Eni. The families of Gino Pollicardo and Filippo Calcagno confirmed the pair had been released and photos posted on Facebook showed the bearded men calling home. “We are free and physically OK, but psychologically we are devastated,” said a handwritten note written by Pollicardo and published online by the Sabratha Media Center.

A spokesman for security forces in Sabratha, Sabri Kshada, said the two men were released during a raid early on Friday. “(They) were found alive during a raid by the local fighters against one of the hideouts of IS in Sabratha,” he said. There was no immediate confirmation of this.

FREEDOM AT LAST: A handout picture provided by the Sabratha Municipal Council shows Gino Pollicardo, left, 55, and Filippo Calcagno, 65, two Italians kidnapped last July in Libya, following their

Firefight release on Friday in the Libyan city of Sabratha. – AFP/HO/Sabratha Municipal Council On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said the two other Bonatti Italian officials believe the four reported on Friday that part of a Libyan security forces atworkers, Fausto Piano and Salvatore Failla, had probably died in tacked IS militants in Sabratha on Bonatti workers were taken by a ransom had been handed over pria firefight on Wednesday. Their Wednesday and Kshada said two criminal gang hoping to secure or to Wednesday’s attack. There was no immediate official confirbodies have been taken to Tripoli of the Italians were shot dead by a ransom.

Corriere della Sera newspaper mation of this. the hardliners shortly beforehand. for eventual repatriation.

Sabratha is one of several Libyan cities in which militants loyal to IS have established a presence, taking advantage of the chaos that has plagued Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in an uprising five years ago.

Libya is a former Italian colony, and Rome is working with other Western powers and the United Nations to try to convince two rival Libyan governments to create a single, unity coalition and focus their energy on the fight against IS group.

Italian officials have said Italy sent some 40 secret service agents to Libya in recent weeks, with an additional 50 special forces operatives set to join them. US, French and British special forces are also present in the country, officials and media have said.

Italy has said it is ready to send a much larger contingent there to help train local forces as soon as the UN-backed unity government is formed. In an interview with Corriere della Sera on Friday, the US ambassador to Italy, John Phillips, said: “Italy could send up to 5,000 troops. We need to make Tripoli safe and ensure that ISIS is no longer free to strike.”

In background briefings, Italian officials have indicated that any such force would be much smaller. They also say they would only send troops if asked to by the Libyans and would not have a frontline combat role. — Reuters

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

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INDIA

Assembly polls in 4 states, Puducherry announced Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam and union territory of Puducherry will be held between April 4 and May 16 with counting of votes on May 19

ELECTION SCHEDULE: Chief Election Commissioner, Nasim Zaidi announces the schedule for assembly polls in four states, and union territory of Puducherry at a press conference, in New Delhi on Friday as Election Commissioners O. P. Rawat, right, and A. K. Joti look on. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam and union territory of Puducherry, with a lot of stakes for Congress and BJP in at least two of them each, will be held between April 4 and May 16, spread over 43 days.

It will be a single-day polling in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry on May 16 while it will be in six phases in West Bengal and two in Assam.

Counting of votes in all the states will be held on May 19, Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announced on Friday unveiling the poll schedule.

Congress is in power in Assam

and Kerala while the BJP fancies itself as being a top contender in Assam in alliance with AGP and some small outfits.

The BJP is seeking to emerge as a major player in West Bengal, where there are possibilities of Congress and Left joining hands directly or indirectly to take on Trinamool Congress.

Like in 2011, West Bengal will have polls spread over six phases.

The first phase to be held in Left wing extremism affected areas will have two polling dates — April 4 and April 11.

The other phases will be held on April 17, 21, 25, 30 and May 5.

Assam will go to polls in two phases on April 4 and 11.

Zaidi said two dates in the first phase of polling in West Bengal have been decided keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the area and the availability of security personnel as they would also be deployed in Assam which is also considered sensitive.

Delimitation exercise He maintained that West Bengal will have polls in “overall” six phases. While refusing to specify the strength of central forces deployed in West Bengal for the assembly polls, Zaidi said their number has increased as compared to 2011 polls.

He also said following delimitation exercise in Cooch Behar

district of eastern Indian state of West Bengal, 16,000 people who became Indian citizens following of exchange of enclaves with Bangladesh, will be able to cast votes in the polls.

The law which allows EC to hold delimitation exercise to put these people in various assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies came into force on Friday morning. The CEC said due to the delimitation exercise, Cooch Behar has been kept in the last phase of assembly polls to be held on May 5.

As part of measures to ensure neutrality of officials during polls, the EC has already ordered transfer of officials above the rank of sub inspectors and inspectors to

B ATT L E O F B A L L O T

be moved out of areas where they have served for over three years.

To poser on ‘proximity’ of certain officials in West Bengal with the ruling party there, he said he would not go into names of officials or any particular state, but the Commission will ensure that only those who are neutral and impartial are associated with pollrelated work. “We will take appropriate action...we are keeping a watch,” he said.

He was asked about duplication repeat duplication of voters in Kerala to which Zaidi said the Commission has used a latest software to delete multiple entries. “We will now investigate whether it was an inadvertent mistake or a mischief,” he said.

Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry assemblies have 126, 140, 234, 294 and 30 constituencies respectively. The elections will also see for the first time a symbol, which has been created by the National School of Design, allotted to NOTA (None of the above) that will be placed at the bottom of the list of candidates.

Noting that voters are in the focus of the Commission, Zaidi said all booths will have seven basic facilities and there will also be allwomen polling booths.

If possible polling centres will be set up in blind schools, leprosy centres to ensure inclusiveness.

Mobile squads will have GPSfitted vehicles and be accompanied by central forces to ensure that they quickly attend to complaints. A total of 17 crore voters in the five states will use over 1.18 lakh polling stations to cast their votes. - PTI

LOK SABHA

Former Speaker P. A. Sangma passes away

NEW DELHI: Former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma, who had a chequered political career in which he constantly shifted allegiance in the last two decades, died here on Friday following a massive heart attack.

Sixty-eight-year-old Sangma, who was elected nine times to Lok Sabha from Tura in Meghalaya and who became the first Speaker from the North East, breathed his last here on Friday morning.

The news of his death was broken by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who made obituary reference to him and adjourned the house for the day as a mark of respect. Later setting aside protocol, the Rajya Sabha also adjourned after lunch for members to pay homage to Sangma, whose body will be taken to his home in Meghalaya.

Sangma leaves his wife Sorodini, two sons — Conrad, a former finance minister in Meghalaya, James, a sitting MLA, and daughter Agatha, who was the youngest minister in Manmohan Singh’s ministry when she was inducted in 2009. As Speaker, Sangma was known to disarm agitated members with his spontaneous wit, affable disposition and a sense of impartiality. - PTI

CONTRIBUTION TO FILM INDUSTRY

Trinamool Congress to fight West Bengal assembly elections alone KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress will go it alone in next month’s Assembly election in West Bengal, party supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday said and declared the list of TMC candidates which included sports personalities, actor and journalist.

Soon after the Election Commission announced the six-phase poll schedule, Mamata in a press conference made public TMC candidates ahead of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress and the Left which were yet to stitch the much-talked about alliance for the election to defeat TMC. Unlike 2011 when TMC had contested the Assembly election in alliance with Congress, the party will go on its own this time, she said. Mamata will contest from Bhabanipur constituency in the metropolis from where she was elected in 2011.

Madan Mitra, former minister and an accused in the Saradha chit fund scam will contest from his old Kamarhati seat in North 24 Paraganas district.

Former Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia, former Bengal cricket captain Lakshmi Ratan Shukla, footballer Rahim Nabi, Bengali cine actor Soham and journalist Prabir Ghosal made it into the TMC list of candidates.

Expelled CPI(M) leader and former minister Abdur Rezzak Mollah who had joined the party, will contest from Bhangar constituency on TMC ticket while the name of Baishali Dalmiya, daughter of former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Jagmohan Dalmiya figured in the

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UPBEAT: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee with party leaders during the release of the party’s list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, in Kolkata on Friday. - PTI

TMC list. Mamata expressed her displeasure over the six-phase election saying “CPI(M), Congress and BJP who can’t fight us politically always spread canards against Bengal.”

Step-motherly treatment “Whatever the Election Commission decided we will follow it.

But we don’t like it that Bengal is always treated in a step-motherly manner. We welcome Election Commission’s decision to go for six-phase poll. We will fight the battle. But In Bengal, which is a peaceful state, elections are being held in six phases spread out in seven days.

“It is the prerogative of the Election Commission. I have nothing to say against them as it is a constitutional body. We will fight the battle,” she said when

asked to comment on the EC’s decision to hold six-phase poll.

Mamata said, “In Assam where there are communal riots, elections are being held in two days.

In Tamil Nadu which has so many seats it is only one day. In Kerala it is also one day.

“The Kerala election has been turned into a farce by CPI(M) and Congress,” Mamata said, adding that she will visit Kerala to expose the “nexus” between the two parties. Referring to the proposed Congress-Left tie up in Bengal, she said, “The candidates of the unholy alliance will lose their deposits in the assembly election.

Let them form a joint venture government in Kerala.”

“It is the challenge of the TMC to ensure that candidates of alliance lose their deposits in Bengal. I want to ask the Congress

and CPI(M) why are they fighting against each other in Kerala when they are having an alliance here. They could have divided the seats between themselves in Kerala and formed a joint venture government and saved the money of the Election Commission,” Mamata said.

Turning to the BJP, she said, “It (BJP) is also with them as it does not want a peaceful and secular government in Bengal.”

Mamata said that in 2011, TMC had won 184 seats. Later, it had won various bypolls and some MLAs from other parties had also joined the party.

“Right now our MLA strength is about 200. Last time we had fought with Congress. This time we are fighting on our own. But we are not alone, we have the people with us,” she said.

The seats of some sitting party MLAs have been changed while a few of them have been dropped this time.

Mamata said the number of woman candidates has been increased from 31 in 2011 to 45 while the number of minority candidates has gone up from 38 in 2011 to 57. Reacting to EC’s decision to deploy central forces in each and every booth, Mamata said, “Why not in other states also? They can send 10 crore police for every voter. We don’t have problem with that.”

On how many seats TMC expects to win this time, Mamata said it is for the people to decide.

Trinamool Congress will come out with its poll manifesto on March 11, she added. - PTI

Manoj Kumar to get Dadasaheb Phalke Award NEW DELHI: Veteran Bollywood star Manoj Kumar, best known for his patriotic films Purab Aur Paschim, Upkar and Kranti, was on Friday chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award, the highest official recognition in Indian cinema.

The 78-year-old actor became the 47th recipient of the award, which consists of a golden lotus, a cash prize of Rs1 million and a shawl, an official announcement said here. Kumar’s name was unanimously recommended by a five member jury consisting Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Salim Khan, Nitin Mukesh and Anup Jalota.

Kumar was born as Harikrishna Giri Goswami in Abbottabad, which was then a part of Pre-Independent India. At the age of 10, his family shifted to Delhi.

He graduated from Hindu College and decided to make a career in showbiz.

The actor got his first big break 1960 with Kaanch Ki Gudia but it was Hariyali Aur Raasta that finally established him.

He went on to star in romantic hits like Honeymoon, Apna Banake Dekho, Naqli Nawab, Do Badan, Paththar Ke Sanam, Sajan and Sawan Ki Ghata. The actor later shifted his focus to films with patriotic theme by acting in films like Shaheed, which was based on the life of Bhagat Singh.

Kumar made his directorial debut with Upkaar, which is said to be inspired by the then Prime

HONOUR: File photo of Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar who will be conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke award for his contribution to the film industry. - PTI

Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri’s popular slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kissan. His other films that explore the idea of patriotic duty include Purab Aur Paschim, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Kranti, in which he got a chance to work with his idol Dilip Kumar.

Kumar’s career started to decline after Kranti. He quit acting after his appearance in the 1995 film Maidan-E-Jung but returned as a director to launch son, Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 film “Jai Hind” which had a patriotic theme.

The film, however, did not do well at the box office. The actor won a National Film Award for Upkaar and was honoured with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1992. - PTI

A6

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

INDIA Modi: Poverty is the biggest challenge for environment Suggesting a balanced approach in combating climate change, Prime minister Narendra Modi said every country has its own challenges and ways to dealing with them

NEW DELHI: Asserting India’s stand in tackling climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said same set of rules cannot be applied to all countries “uniformly” even as he identified poverty as the biggest challenge for environment.

Modi said sometimes the concern for environment was defined “narrowly” while making a strong pitch for “climate justice”, addressing a conference on sus-

CONFERENCE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Justice of India Justice T. S. Thakur, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar releasing a report at the “International Conference on Rule of Law Supporting the 2030 Development Agenda/Sustainable Development Goals” in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

tainable development which was attended by Chief Justice of India T. S. Thakur among others.

Suggesting a balanced approach in combating climate change, he said every country has its own challenges and ways to dealing with them and “If we apply the same set of rules for all countries and for all people, it will not work.”

Noting that a path becomes sustainable, if all stakeholders are benefited, he also added a word of

caution saying the stake should be natural and inherent and it “cannot be stretched to include those who may be working with ulterior motives.”

India has been maintaining that the developed countries have been historical polluters and they should contribute more to address the problem of climate change.

“The rule of law dictates that no one can be punished for another’s misdeed. We need to recognise

that there are many people who are least responsible for the problem of climate change. They are also the people who still wait for access to modern amenities,” the prime minister said.

He said the poor, vulnerable and marginalised groups have fewer resources to cope with climate disasters and that their present and future generations are also burdened by laws and agreements on environment.

“That is why I talk about Climate Justice. Moreover, the rules, laws, practices and principles of one country cannot be applied to another uniformly,” Modi said.

The prime minister also chose the occasion to highlight his government’s commitment towards poverty eradication and linked it with environment protection.

“I am sure all of us agree that poverty is the biggest challenge for environment. Therefore, eradication of poverty is one of the fundamental goals of my government. Guided by our core values, we are working towards achieving this goal with sincerity. We want to ensure a conducive environment for 1.25 billion Indians to develop, and prosper,” he said.

Speaking at the event, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said judiciary, legislative and executive must respect each other, see each other’s restraint and concerns as he talked about the gap between India’s population and natural resources available for development. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley pitched for achieving balance between developmental needs and environmental concerns to reconcile the contradictions between “ideal ecology and ideal economy”. - PTI

A N T I - NA X A L O P E R AT I O N

Three CRPF men killed in Chhattisgarh RAIPUR: Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been killed and over a dozen injured after multiple encounters took place between security forces and Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s worst Maoist violence-affected Sukma district.

Officials said while two commandos, identified as constables Linju N. and Fateh Singh had succumbed to their bullet injuries on Thursday, their colleague Lakshman Singh died on Friday.

At least 15 others, including CoBRA Comamnder P S Yadav and the chief of the state polices’ District Reserve Group (DRG), have been injured in the encounter which ended early on Friday.

The patrol squad that came under fire on Thursday noon in the jungles of the district, has been brought to the Kistaram police station from the encounter site of Dabbanarka in Sukma early on Friday by multiple Mi-17 helicopter sorties, they said. Inspector General (Bastar range) S. R. P. Kalluri and Sukma Superintendent of Police D Shravan are camping at Kistaram, about 500km from the state capital to monitor the operations, they said. Officials claimed that several Naxals were killed in the encounters, but other rebels took away the bodies. -PTI

JAWA H A R L A L N E H RU U N I V E R S I T Y

Afzal Guru is not my icon, Rohit Vemula is, says student leader NEW DELHI: “Afzal Guru is not my icon, Rohith Vemula is”, said Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday, while asserting that there is huge difference between treason and being antigovernment.

A day after he walked out of the Tihar jail in Indian national capital Delhi to a grand welcome, the 29-year-old research scholar, addressed a press conference at the JNU where he deftly handled a number of tricky questions, including speculations about his entry into mainstream politics.

Coming down hard on the Modi Government for “maligning” the image of JNU, Kumar said efforts to patenting of nationalism must be defeated and that there is a huge difference between “treason” and speaking against the government.

‘Condemn incident’ “We strongly condemn what happened on February 9th. It’s for court to decide if that was ‘raaj droh’ or not. But I urge the govern-

BRIEFING: Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union president Kanhaiya

Kumar and vice president Shehla Rashid address a news conference at the university campus in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

ment not to use serious charge of sedition to ruin future of students,” Kumar said adding he is “a resident of India and not a terrorist.”

Kumar was arrested on February 12 in connection with the February 9 event organised to protest the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on his third death anniversary during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

Kumar was granted interim bail for six months by the Delhi High Court on Thursday on condition that he will cooperate in the ongoing investigation. He was released from Tihar on Thursday.

“If you ask me, Afzal Guru is not my icon, Rohith Vemula is,” Kanhaiya said responding to barrage of questions on his view about Guru.

“For me, Afzal Guru was a citi-

zen of the country who was punished under the law. Whether that punishment was right or wrong, anyone can debate that as the law permits the same.”

Asked whether he will join politics, Kumar “I am not a politician, I am a student,” he said, insisting JNU students can never be antinational as they understand the meaning of freedom of speech and meaning of freedom.

He said “my task is to study and fight for those who wish to study but are unable to do so. Since the fight is long, there can’t be a victory march but a unity march on that.”

Reacting to remarks that taxpayer’s money was being wasted in running the university, Kumar said “I want to tell the people of the country that the taxes they pay are being invested in the right place.”

To a question, he said “I am against patenting of nationalism and the concept of Akhand Bharat propagated by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and select sections of society.” - PTI

S TA G E D K I D NA P P I N G

‘Missing’ Noida fashion designer traced to Gurgaon GURGAON: Four days after she went missing from Delhi under mysterious circumstances, a Noida-based fashion designer has been traced to a village near here even as police probed various angles including whether she staged her own kidnapping or left home due to family rift.

Shipra Malik, 29, was reported by police to be safe. A Noida police team found Shipra at a house in Sultanpur village, around 30 km from Gurgaon, near a bird sanctuary, late on Thursday night.

She had gone missing on Monday afternoon shortly after she dialled Delhi Police helpline number from near Lajpat Nagar.

According to Laxmi Singh, DIG, Meerut, who is heading investigations in the case, “Shipra was unhappy and disturbed due to heavy loans, debt and property disputes between her husband and father in-law. In the last four days, she stayed at an ashram in Jaipur...

After she mysteriously left Noida, she took a bus to Dhaula Kuan from where she boarded another bus to Jaipur.”

Singh said, “Her last location was traced yesterday night to a house in Sultanpur Village on Jhajjar road near Sultanpur bird sanctuary. She called up her husband Chetan Malik who in turn informed Noida police.”

She has been taken to Noida.

“Police are trying to verify the sequence of her locations and statements. There are no visible injury marks on her body,” the police officer said, ruling out that she had been kidnapped. While going to Jaipur, she reached near Lajpat Nagar... She also tried to dial 100 — Delhi Police control room — to circulate the message that she was going on her own but, in the meantime, her phone got switched off due to non-availability of battery,” Singh said. On Monday, she had left her home in Sector 37 Noida for Chandni Chowk in Delhi and had been untraceable since then.

Singh said Shipra scripted her

own kidnapping story drawing inspiration from TV show Crime Petrol and the recent case of abduction of 25-year-old Snapdeal employee Deepti Sarna from Ghaziabad. While Noida Police claimed that Shipra called her husband from Sultanpur, Gurgaon Police had a different version.

According to Gurgaon Police, “Malik knocked the door of a house in Sultanpur around 11 pm and said she was abducted by three to four unidentified persons in a Maruti van and was later dumped near the village. She sought help from villagers who informed Gurgaon Police control room.” - PTI

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

A7

PAKISTAN Senate rejects bill to privatise national airlines The bill now goes of parliament next week, where it is expected to pass LOSS-MAKING: A Pakistan International Airlines plane at the Benazir International airport in Islamabad, Pakistan. – Reuters Files

The privatisation of 68 stateowned companies, among them loss-making enterprises such as PIA, is a crucial part of the 2013 IMF bailout and was meant to put the country’s finances back on track. The government has made some progress, for instance by raising more than $1 billion from the stake of its entire stake in Habib Bank Ltd, but has struggled to find buyers for most of the companies in the face of opposition from labour unions and other political parties.

Sell-off The PIA sell-off required amending a 1956 law that barred private ownership of the national airline.

Instead of an amendment, the government on December 5 issued a presidential decree to turn

the national flag carrier into a limited company.

The move prompted bitter criticism from political opponents who accused the government of bypassing parliament by opting for a decree over an amendment that would require lawmakers to vote. The ruling party then moved the PIA Corporation Conversion Bill 2015 in the lower house of parliament in January, where it passed.

On Friday, however, the Senate rejected the bill, with votes from the opposition Pakistan People’s Party, which has a majority in the upper house.

The PPP opposes the privatisation of PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills, saying they can be restructured and revived, rather than sold off. — Reuters

PROTEST AGAINST EXECUTION Supporters of convicted murderer Mumtaz Qadri shout slogans during a protest against his execution in Islamabad on Friday. Qadri, a police bodyguard to Punjab governor Salman Taseer, shot him 28 times at an Islamabad market in 2011. — AFP

FOUR ARRESTED

Nine-year-old girl rescued from compensation marriage LAHORE: Pakistani police rescued a nine-year-old girl from being married off to a 14-year-old boy to settle a family dispute on Friday and arrested four village elders who had ordered the “compensation wedding”.

The intervention in Pakistan’s largest province, Punjab, is rare in a country where it is often culturally acceptable to use marriage to build and strengthen alliances, settle disputes or pay off debts.

Police arrested all four members of the village council who had decreed that the girl be given in vani, or compensation marriage, to settle a dispute between two families in Rahim Yar Khan

Women’s protection bill challenged ISLAMABAD: A prominent Pakistani lawyer has filed a petition in the top Sharia court seeking that it strike down a new law that gives unprecedented protection to female victims of violence.

The Women’s Protection Act, passed by Pakistan’s largest province of Punjab last week, gives legal protection to women from domestic, psychological and physical violence.

Toll-free hot line It also calls for the creation of a toll-free abuse reporting hot line, women’s shelters and districtlevel panels to investigate reports of abuse and mandates the use of GPS bracelets to keep track of offenders.

to a joint session

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s upper house of parliament on Friday rejected a bill to privatise the cashstrapped national airline, another delay for the country’s stalled privatisation agenda under the terms of an IMF bailout.

Loss-making state enterprises drain about $5 billion from state coffers every year, around an eighth of the government’s fiscal revenues of about four trillion rupees ($38.2 billion) last year.

The bill now goes to a joint session of parliament next week, where it is expected to pass, because Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ruling party holds a majority in the combined assembly.

“Government advisers have failed to present a revival plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), instead their complete focus is on privatisation,” opposition Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said in a statement.

PETITION FILED

district of Punjab province.

“The girl’s brother’s wife died due to some health problems a few weeks ago, and (the wife’s) relatives suspected foul play and accused her family of murder,” deputy superintendent of police Mamoonur Rasheed told Reuters.

“On March 3, the village council decided to give the little girl in vani to settle the suspected murder.”

The council decided that the girl would be married to a 14-year-old cousin of her brother’s deceased wife, while the brother would pay 150,000 rupees ($1,430) to his dead wife’s family.

Three per cent of girls in Paki-

stan are married before they turn 15 and 21 per cent before the age of 18, according to UNICEF data.

The parents of child brides are often poor and use marriage as a way to provide for their daughter’s future, especially in areas where there are few economic opportunities for women.

In January, a powerful religious body that advises the government on the compatibility of laws blocked a bill to impose harsher penalties for marrying off girls as young as eight or nine.

Under existing laws, parents of child brides are punishable by only a month in prison and a fine of 1,000 rupees ($10). — Reuters

But since the law’s passage in the Punjab assembly, many clerics and religious leaders have denounced it as being in conflict with the constitution.

Latest opponent The latest opponent is Supreme Court lawyer and professor of Islamic law, Mohammad Aslam Khaki, who petitioned the Federal Shariat Court to strike down the law for not providing adequate protection for men.

“No mechanism for filing a complaint against the wife for causing mental and psychological violence to the husband has been provided,” Khaki said in the petition. “The impugned act will further create a gap and confrontation among

families while the constitution provided for their integration.”

The petition goes on to say that victimising the husband through this law would lead people to avoid marriage altogether and turn to “unlawful alternates”.

It also says mandating the use of GPS bracelets to track offenders was “against the dignity of the man and hence against the constitution”.

On Thursday, the Council of Islamic Ideology, a powerful Pakistani religious body that advises the government on the compatibility of laws, declared the Women’s Protection Act un-Islamic.

Several clerics major religious leaders have called for the law to be repealed. — Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM Wild animals may carry deadly viruses This refers to the Times of Oman Lifestyle section article about tourism in Dhofar’s Sadah region. The serendipitous finding of a hamlet by the visitors must have been like seeing an oasis in the desert. I had this very feeling while visiting Masirah island. There were no animals in sight and suddenly I saw a horse-sized donkey. It was really a pleasant surprise as I thought in this country only camels occurred in the wild. However, many people who I have met believe wild animals are not good for the environment. The reason, according to them, is that they re very likely to be carriScan this QR code ers of deadly viruses. to send letters to the — Sarah Ali , North Al Hail Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

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Squeezed by low oil prices and Western sanctions, Russia’s fiscal position is crumbling fast, forcing the government to take increasingly drastic measures to contain the budget deficit’s growth. Government spending has already been cut 8 per cent in real terms this year, relative to 2015 – large, but not nearly enough to balance the budget.

Mega projects and new hotels to boost employment in Oman This refers to the news report ‘Tourism Sector to create 500,000 jobs by 2040’ (March 3). Oman’s ministry of tourism along with Omran and other companies operating in the hospitality and tourism industry can achieve this target as Oman is yet to tapits full tourism potential . Several mega tourism and ICT projects across the Sultanate as wall as a host of new hotel projects are some of the developments that can help the to country achieve this target. — Mohammed Sultan, Ruwi

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What would president Trump actually mean?

I

t’s hardly a certainty, but it’s now a real and startling possibility – what should the world expect if Donald Trump is elected US president? America’s most unpredictable candidate could turn into America’s most unpredictable commander-in-chief.

“We’re not going to be the dummies anymore,” he told voters in late February. “We’re going to be the smart ones.” Trump has been many things – a billionaire real-estate developer, a brash realityTV star and a best-selling author – but he’s never held elected office or delved extensively into foreign policy.

“I don’t think he’s drawing on a deep reservoir of knowledge on these issues,” said former American diplomat Christopher Hill. “He comes across as someone with a lot of instincts and not a lot of reserve about acting on those instincts.” Trump vows to champion US economic strength and military power -- “to make America great again,” as he says.

He’s giving voice to many voters’ frustrations and fears about America’s place in the world. What he would do about those fears is sometimes less clear.

The centrepiece of Trump’s presidential campaign is the plan to build a wall along the US border with Mexico as a barrier against illegal migration, criminals and narcotics trafficking. Trump insists Mexico will pay for it. A spokesman for Mexico’s president says his government will not.

Whatever the ultimate source of the financing, it would almost certainly involve billions of dollars passing through the coffers of the US government, which only Congress has the authority to approve.

And there has been no rush of Washington lawmakers to embrace the plan. Trump vows to bomb IS out of Iraq -- especially the oil wells it’s captured there -- to deprive the terror group of income. In Syria, Trump says he would leave the job of fighting IS to the Syrian government and — alone among major presidential candidates — he has welcomed Russia’s military support for the regime. Under Trump, the US would also refuse to accept Syrian refugees (and, at least temporarily, all Muslims from anywhere in the world). Instead, he proposes a safe zone for civilians inside Syria that Washington would help fund but other nations would build and defend.

Trump would resume the widely condemned interrogation technique known as waterboarding,

adding that “it’s not nearly tough enough.” He’s told voters that “torture works.” He would also maintain the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and add more prisoners.

Trump says that the US is being exploited by its trading partners -- reserving the worst of his wrath for China. He told the New York Times he plans to impose a crushing 45 per cent tariff on Chinese imports. Trump later denied saying this, but the Times had taped the interview and released the recording. In 2011, Trump urged US intervention to help Libyans topple Muammar Gaddafi. Last month, he denied it. But once again, there is a recording of his original remarks. Now a vocal critic of the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Trump couldn’t explain supportive comments that he’d made about it beforehand. “That was a long time ago,” he told NBC News, “and who knows what was in my head?” Trump subsequently told CNN he changed his mind before the war began.

Trump is frustrated with the cost of the US military presence in Europe and the pressure to lead NATO. “Where’s Germany? Where are the countries of Europe leading? I don’t mind helping them.

I don’t mind being right behind them,” he said.

He also wants South Korea to support more of the cost of its American military protection. “We get nothing for this. I’m not saying that we’re going to let anything happen to them. But they have to help us,” he said. In fact, the US receives more than $800 million annually from South Korea for its troop presence, according to Politifact.Com If there is any consistent theme that emerges, it’s grievance: America’s borders are too open to foreigners, its economy too easy for them to exploit, and its military alliances too one-sided in their favour, according to Trump. If there is any other theme, it’s that Trump speaks his own mind on major international issues -- and sometimes disagrees with his own mind too.The tough-talking tycoon is probably the most polarising figure in American public life today so it’s no surprise that experts don’t agree on what he would bring to the White House. - Exclusive to Times of Oman

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES MARCH 2001 ‘Zero’ — discount campaigners losing grip MUSCAT: The latest news on the airline front is that discounts ranging from 3 to 6 per cent are liberally being offered by most travel agencies here. Whether this means that the zero discount rule is broken still remains to be seen, but, one thing sure: the stranglehold that the discount camp seems to be slightly slipping. The zero discount campaigners seems to have missed the writing on the wall for sometime and finally after more than six months of uncontested rule, the prodiscount camp seems to be getting bolder by the day and trying to pull the rug from under the former.

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748 755 Non-Residential

54 106 Mixed

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1944: Berlin is bombed by the American forces for the first time.

54 41 5%

1963: Six people get the death sentence in Paris plotting to kill President Charles de Gaulle.

1963: Queen Elizabeth II knights Charlie Chaplin.

1987: President Reagan takes full responsibility for the IranContra affair in a national address.

856 902 Total

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

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WORLD

Kim orders military to be in ‘pre-emptive attack’ mode North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stressed ‘the need to get the nuclear warheads deployed for national defence always on standby so as to be fired any moment’

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his country to be ready to use its nuclear weapons at any time and the military to be in “pre-emptive attack” mode in the face of growing threats from its enemies, state media said on Friday.

The comments, carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency, marked a further escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula after the UN Security Council imposed harsh new sanctions on the isolated state for its nuclear programme.

North Korea, known for belligerent rhetoric, has previously threatened pre-emptive attacks on its enemies, including South Korea and the United States.

Military experts doubt it has yet developed the capability to fire a long-range missile with a miniaturised warhead to deliver a nuclear weapon as far as the United States.

Newly developed Kim made the comments as he supervised military exercises involving newly developed rocket launchers, KCNA reported. It did not mention the date of the drills but said the new weapons had South Korea within range.

South Korea’s defence ministry said on Thursday the North launched several projectiles off its coast into the sea, up to 150km (90 miles) away, an apparent response to the UN sanctions.

Kim said North Korea should

ESCALATING TENSION: This undated picture released from North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, centre, inspecting a test-fire of the new-type large-caliber multiple launch rocket system at an undisclosed location. – AFP/KCNA via KNS

“bolster up (its) nuclear force both in quality and quantity” and stressed “the need to get the nuclear warheads deployed for national defence always on standby so as to be fired any moment,” KCNA quoted him as saying. “Now is the time for us to convert our mode of military counteraction toward the enemies into a pre-emptive attack one in every aspect.”

Kim criticised South Korean President Park Geun-hye in his first direct published mention of her by name for acting “in league with the US scoundrels,” adding, “her hysteria will precipitate only her ruin in the long run”, KCNA said.

Domestic audience A spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said Kim’s comments were not helpful and may have been intended for the domestic audience, to boost morale in the face of the new UN sanctions.

Responding to the report, a US Defence Department spokesman,

Commander Bill Urban, said, “We urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions that aggravate tensions and instead focus on fulfilling its international obligations and commitments.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that given the sensitive and complex situation on the Korean peninsula, China hoped the parties would maintain restraint, and “be careful in their words and actions, and not take any actions that would exacerbate tensions in this situation”. The latest UN sanctions, drafted by the United States and China, the North’s main ally, punish the isolated country following its fourth nuclear test, in January, as well as last month’s satellite launch, which the United States and others say was really a test of ballistic missile technology.

Later on Friday, North Korea rejected the Security Council resolution as a “criminal act” masterminded by the United States and vowed to continue boosting its nuclear deterrent and move forward on the path to become a

INTERVIEW

Mugabe will not pick successor, says still fit, wants to live to 100 HARARE: Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe says his successor must be chosen democratically and that his wife will not automatically inherit the role, a warning to feuding members of his ZANU-PF party that he is still in charge after 36 years in power.

The comments from Africa’s oldest leader, now aged 92, are his clearest indication that he wants to be president for life.

In a two-hour interview with state broadcaster ZBC TV late on Thursday he said: “Why successor? I am still there. Why do you want a successor? I did not say I was a candidate to retire.” Leaders were elected not appointed, he said.

“In a democratic party, you don’t want leaders appointed that way to lead the party. They have to be appointed properly by the people, at a gathering of the people, at a congress.”

Mugabe said he was not behind his wife Grace’s quick rise within ZANU-PF, which has led to re-

ports that she has plans to succeed her husband.

“Others say the president wants to leave the throne for his wife.

Where have you ever seen that, even in our own culture, where a wife inherits from her husband?”

Mugabe said.

The former liberation fighter was chosen in 2014 to lead his party for another five years, automatically becoming the ZANUPF presidential candidate for Zimbabwe’s 2018 presidential vote. He will be 99 if he wins and completes that term, his last under a new constitution. He also told ZBC TV he wanted to live to 100, that he was fit and still did daily morning exercises.

Keen interest Zimbabweans follow his health with keen interest and some fear the government could be paralysed and the country riven by instability if he dies without resolving the succession issue.

“I am happy because I am about

to reach the age I want. You know the age I want to reach - 100 years.

So only eight years remain,” Mugabe said.

Fighting over leadership of a post-Mugabe ZANU-PF has intensified since late 2014, when Mugabe accused his deputy, Joice Mujuru, of plotting to oust him and fired her. Mujuru launched a new political party this week.

Mugabe said Mujuru’s party was doomed to fail and that ZANU-PF was still intact. The infighting was “peripheral”, he said.

Critics blame Mugabe for many of the Zimbabwe’s problems.

They say his policies, including the seizures and redistribution of white-owned commercial farms, drove one of Africa’s most promising economies into an 8-year recession and almost halved output. In the same interview, Mugabe said his government would take possession of all diamond operations, a week after his mines minister ordered a halt to mining in the Marange diamond fields. — Reuters

A9

“satellite superpower”. “Our response will involve the full use of various means and tools including a strong and ruthless physical response,” KCNA quoted an unnamed government spokesman as saying. South Korea and the US militaries are set to formally begin talks on Friday on deployment of the advanced anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system with the US military in the South.

China and Russia oppose the deployment of THAAD, which has powerful radar capable of penetrating deep into their countries, but South Korea and the United States have said it is needed in response to the heightened missile threat from the North.

Johns Hopkins University’s 38 North project, which monitors North Korea, said recent commercial satellite imagery showed new activity in the isolated country, including a convoy of trucks at its satellite launch station that could be preparations for a rocket-engine test. The site on the North’s west coast is the upgraded rocket

station where it launched a longrange rocket on February 7 that put an object into space, but was condemned by the Security Council as violation of past resolutions that ban the use of ballistic missile technology by the North.

On Thursday, South Korean President Park repeated a warning to the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions and said she would work to “end tyranny” by its leader.

They were the toughest-ever comments against Pyongyang

by Park, whose recent hard line against the North is a shift from her earlier policy of “trustpolitik” that focused on trying to engage in dialogue.

North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun, the official daily newspaper of the ruling Workers’ Party, on Friday carried three pages of a report and photographs of leader Kim supervising the rocket launch drills.

It also ran a full-page commentary insulting Park as “a wicked woman who does everything evil against the compatriots in the North”. — Reuters

M I S S I N G PA S S E N G E R S

Families sue Malaysian airline as deadline nears KUALA LUMPUR: Families of 12 passengers aboard missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 filed suits against the airline on Friday before a two-year deadline for legal action expires.

MH370 disappeared en route to Beijing on March 8, 2014, with 239 passengers and crew on board.

Multiple suits have been filed in the United States, Australian, Chinese and Malaysian courts in the past few weeks and more are expected as the deadline approaches on Tuesday.

Family members of two Ukrainian passengers filed suits in the Malaysian High Court against Malaysia Airlines (MAS). The families of a Russian, a Chinese and eight Malaysian passengers are suing the Malaysian government, the airline, the Civil Aviation Department director-general and the Malaysian air force.

Sangeet Kaur Deo, a lawyer for the Russian, Chinese and Malaysian families, said they were seeking unspecified damages for negligence, breach of contract and breach of statutory duty. She said even though the plane had not been found, the passengers and crew were presumed to be dead.

“I think a lot of families were trying to negotiate settlements but nothing reasonable has been forthcoming from MAS. And for that reason, to secure their legal rights, they’ve all decided to file before Tuesday,” Sangeet Kaur told reporters after the hearing.

A wing part recovered from Reunion island off Madagascar last year is the only debris from MH370 that has been found, but it offers little clues over what actually happened to the plane.

This week, a piece of debris found off the southeast African coast was sent to Australia for testing. The High Court on Friday also heard a bid by the Malaysian government and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB) to strike out a suit filed by two teenage children of two passengers.

In their application, the government and MAB argued that it has no liability in relation to MH370 as it was set up eight months after the plane disappeared. MAS transferred all its assets and operations to MAB last year as part of a restructuring exercise. — Reuters

A 10

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

WORLD

With talks between Brussels and Berne still deadlocked, the Swiss government has now laid out a plan to go it alone on immigration controls but called this “Plan B” and stressed that an agreement with the EU was by far the preferred option.

Brazil’s ex-president Lula queried in anti-graft bust Police picked up Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at his home on the outskirts of Sao Paulo and released him after three hours of questioning

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA: Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was briefly detained for questioning on Friday in a federal investigation of a vast corruption scheme, fanning a political crisis that threatens to topple his successor, President Dilma Rousseff.

Lula’s questioning in police custody was the highest profile development in a sweeping graft probe that has rocked Brazil’s political and business establishment and deepened the worst recession in decades in Latin America’s biggest economy. The investigation threatens to tarnish the legacy of Brazil’s most powerful politician, whose humble roots and anti-poverty programmes made him a folk hero, by putting a legal spotlight on how his left-leaning Workers’ D E TA I N E D I N C H I NA

Missing bookseller returns to Hong Kong HONG KONG: One of five missing Hong Kong booksellers specialising in gossipy publications about Chinese leaders and detained in China returned home on Friday, Hong Kong police said.

They did not give further details, other than to say he wanted his missing person case dismissed.

Lui Por was one of five men associated with Causeway Bay Books to go missing and then resurface in police custody in China, sparking fears that Chinese authorities had abducted them.

Two of the men, Gui Minhai and Lee Bo, had been outside mainland China when they disappeared. Gui was in Thailand and Lee in Hong Kong. “I have deeply reflected on what I have done and very much regret the illegal book trading I have carried out with Gui Minhai,” Lui told Phoenix Television on Sunday.

Police had said on Wednesday that authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong had told them Lui and his colleagues, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee, would be released on bail in coming days. Lui’s release comes just a day before the opening of China’s annual parliamentary session, the National People’s Congress, in Beijing. — Reuters

IN TROUBLED WATERS: Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, gestures to thousands of followers as he rides past them with his wife, Marisa, after he received the presidential sash, in Brasilia, Brazil, in this January 1, 2003 file photo. – Reuters Files

Party consolidated its position since rising to power 13 years ago.

Police picked up Lula at his home on the outskirts of Sao Paulo and released him after three hours of questioning. They said evidence suggested Lula had received illicit benefits from kickbacks at state oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA in the form of payments and luxury real estate.

The evidence against the former president brought the corruption investigation closer to his protegee Rousseff, who is fighting off impeachment for allegedly breaking budget rules, weakening

her efforts to pull the economy out of a deepening downturn. News of Lula’s detention sparked a rally in Brazilian assets as traders bet that the political upheaval could empower a more market-friendly coalition. The real currency gained more than 3 percent against the US dollar and the benchmark Bovespa index climbed nearly 5 per cent. Shares of the state oil giant Petrobras led the rally with a 14 per cent surge.

A spokesperson for Lula did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Lula’s foundation said in a

statement that his detention was “an aggression against the rule of law and Brazilian society.” The foundation, which has consistently denied any wrongdoing by Lula, called the detention “arbitrary, illegal and unjustifiable.”

“Ex-president Lula, besides being party leader, was the one ultimately responsible for the decision on who would be the directors at Petrobras and was one of the main beneficiaries of these crimes,” a police statement said.

“There is evidence that the crimes enriched him and financed electoral campaigns and the treas-

ury of his political group.”

Rousseff has also repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Workers’ Party leaders jumped to the former president’s defence, and the Labor Minister Miguel Rossetto said the detention was “a clear attack on what Lula represents.”

“This is not justice, this is violence,” he said in a public statement.

In the street outside Lula’s home, television showed his supporters clad in red shirts exchanged chants, insults and even blows with opponents, underscoring the deep political passions surrounding the former president.

Dozens of police arrived to break up the altercations, clearing the street by force. Pro-Lula protesters also gathered at Congonhas airport in Sao Paulo where he was taken for questioning by police.

As the founder and figurehead of the Workers’ Party, Lula’s image has been central to huge street protests over the past year, for and against Rousseff ’s impeachment, and powerful unions have marched repeatedly in his name.

“Lula is a politician who polarizes Brazilian society,” said Rafael Cortez, a political analyst at consulting firm Tendencias in Sao Paulo. “Whether he goes to jail or not, the allegations against Lula will mobilize political forces onto the streets.”

Federal prosecutors who ordered Friday’s raids said there was evidence that the former president received funds from the graft scheme at state oil giant Petrobras through work on a luxury beach-side penthouse and a country home. — Reuters

D R A FT L E G I S L AT I O N

Swiss unveil tough plan for curbs on immigration ZURICH: Switzerland on Friday unveiled tough draft legislation for unilateral curbs on immigration, raising the stakes in talks with Brussels on limiting the influx of foreigners from the European Union (EU).

Switzerland is two-thirds of the way through a three-year timetable to enforce a binding 2014 referendum vote in favour of immigration quotas which would violate a bilateral pact guaranteeing freedom of movement for EU workers.

With talks between Brussels and Berne still deadlocked, the Swiss government has now laid out a plan to go it alone on immigration controls but called this “Plan B” and stressed that an agreement with the EU was by far the preferred option.

“A mutual agreement is the only good solution for us,” Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga told a news conference.

Talks are on hold until EU member Britain’s June 23 referendum on whether to leave the bloc. Brussels is unwilling to show any flexibility in the Swiss talks that could encourage the British ‘Out’ camp.

The European Commission did not react immediately. After a net inflow of more than 100,000 Europeans last year, around 1.3 million EU citizens already live in Switzerland, which is not a member of the 28-country bloc but has signed up to a host of bilateral agreements. Factors ranging from concerns over a more competitive labour market to longer traffic jams due to overcrowding have stoked anti-foreigner sentiment. — Reuters

M A L AY S I A

Mahathir joins Anwar, others to push out Najib KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad on Friday joined hands with long-standing foes, including the party of the jailed Anwar Ibrahim, to crank up pressure on scandalplagued Prime Minister Najib Razak to quit, marking a seismic political shift.

In a dramatic flourish, Mahathir read a statement signed by 58 politicians and anti-corruption activists at a news conference where he was flanked by opposition leaders and some members of the ruling party he has now quit.

“We call upon all Malaysians, irrespective of race, political affiliation, creed or parties, young and old, to join us in saving Malaysia from the government headed by Najib Razak,” the statement said.

Former protege One of those beside Mahathir was a close aide of his former protege, opposition leader Anwar, with whom he fell out when he was prime minister in the late 1990s. Anwar issued a statement from prison a day earlier, saying he would “support the position” of those in civil society, political parties and individuals, including Mahathir, in the push to remove Najib. Besides demanding the resignation of the prime minister, the so-called “core” group demanded the removal of those who had covered up misdeeds, the repeal of laws that violate fundamental

DEMANDING REMOVAL: Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, centre, speaks during a press conference with members of the opposition party in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. – AFP

rights and the restoration of institutions it said had been undermined, including the police and anti-graft agency.

The rainbow alliance had come together under Mahathir because its members were not powerful individually to loosen Najib’s grip on power, said Oh Ei Sun, a senior fellow of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

“Dr Mahathir is pulling together everybody with the lowest

common denominator - dislike of Najib, as he did not succeed in earlier attempts to topple Najib,” he said.

A government spokesman criticised the move by Mahathir and his former enemies, saying it “demonstrated the depth of their political opportunism and desperation”.

“There is an existing mechanism to change the government and prime minister. It’s called a general election,” the spokesman

said. “And it is the only mechanism that is lawful, democratic and fulfills the people’s will.”

Najib has faced sustained pressure to resign since the middle of last year over allegations of corruption linked to the debt-laden state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and deposits into his private accounts worth around $680 million.

He has denied any wrongdoing, maintains that he did not use the funds for personal gain, and this

year he was cleared of any criminal offence or corruption.

The 1MDB scandal has fuelled a sense of crisis in a country under economic strain from slumping oil prices and a prolonged slide in its currency last year.

Mahathir, Malaysia’s longestserving leader, was once Najib’s patron but has become his fiercest critic and, because of his enduring popularity, a thorn in the side of the prime minister.

Last week, he quit the United Malays National Organisation, which has led every ruling coalition since Malaysia’s independence in 1957, saying it had become Najib’s party and he did not want to be associated with corruption.

Also at Friday’s news conference was Muhyiddin Yassin, who was sacked as deputy prime minister last year after he openly questioned Najib on the 1MDB scandal. Another was Lim Kit Siang, an opposition leader and longtime nemesis of Mahathir.

Most striking was the attendance of Mohamed Azmin Ali, a right-hand man of Anwar, whom Mahathir sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 and had jailed on sodomy charges that many observers said were politically motivated.

A year ago, Anwar was jailed again on sodomy charges he said were concocted by Najib’s government to eliminate the threat he posed to its hold on power. — Reuters

MEDIA MOGUL

Rupert Murdoch marries former model Jerry Hall in London

HAPPY COUPLE: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall pose for a photograph in London, Britain

on Friday. – Reuters

LONDON: Rupert Murdoch wed former supermodel Jerry Hall in a low-key ceremony in central London on Friday, the fourth marriage for the media mogul.

The 84-year-old executive chairman of News Corp and owner of 21st Century Fox Inc, and Hall, 59, smiled happily for photographers after the ceremony at Spencer House, an 18th century mansion built for an ancestor of Princess Diana. Hall was previously in a long-term relationship with Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger.

Murdoch, dressed in a navy suit, and Hall, who was wearing a palegrey trench coat and flat shoes, began dating last summer after being introduced while in Australia and were first seen in public together at the Rugby Union World Cup Final in London in October.

They got engaged in Janu-

ary in Los Angeles where they had been attending Hollywood’s Golden Globes awards ceremony, announcing the news in a classified advert in the Times of London newspaper, one of the many titles his group owns. On Saturday, the couple will celebrate the marriage with a service at London’s historic St Bride’s church, famed for its wedding-cake spire.

The spiritual home of British journalism, St Bride’s was designed by Christopher Wren, who was also responsible for nearby St Paul’s Cathedral. The church is located on Fleet Street, where Britain’s major newspapers were located from the 1700s to the 1980s.

Murdoch himself hastened Fleet Street’s demise as a press hub when he moved his print works to east London. “Within months the printing dinosaur that was Fleet

Street was dead. By 1989 all the national newspapers had decamped as other proprietors followed Murdoch’s lead,” the church’s own website says.

Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald reported this week that the couple’s 10 children from previous relationships would be at Saturday’s service, with the six daughters acting as bridesmaids.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Murdoch divorced his third wife, Wendi Deng, in 2013 after 14 years, saying their marriage had been irretrievably broken. Deng is a former executive at Murdochowned Star TV in China.

Texan model and actress Hall was married to Jagger for more than 20 years. However, in divorce proceedings in 1999, the British musician claimed they were never legally married. — Reuters

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

S P O R S

Consolation victory for Pakistan in Asia Cup In reply to Sri Lanka’s 150 for 4, Pakistan produced a collective batting performance to win the match in 19.2 overs. Umar Akmal (48 off 37 balls) and veteran Shoaib Malik (13 not out) added 56 runs to take Pakistan home

MIRPUR: Pakistan’s batting finally came good as they successfully chased down a competitive total posted by Sri Lanka to win by six wickets in an inconsequential final round robin league encounter of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament here on Friday.

Batting first, Sri Lanka scored a decent 150 for four, riding on a century opening stand between TM Dilshan and Dinesh Chandimal.

In reply, Pakistan produced a collective batting performance to win the match in 19.2 overs. Umar Akmal (48 off 37 balls) and veteran Shoaib Malik (13 not out) added 56 runs in 6.1 overs to take Pakistan home.

Akmal’s innings had four boundaries and two huge sixes.

Mohammed Hafeez (14) hit three boundaries before off-spinner Shehan Jayasuriya dismissed him off a delivery that stopped as

MAN OF THE MATCH: Man of the match Umar Akmal steered Pakistan to a consolation win. – AFP

the batsman failed to check his shot. Left-hander Sharjeel Khan hit five boundaries and a six, in his 31 off 25 balls as he added 35 quick runs for the second wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed (38).

The stockily-built Sarfraz has been the only Pakistan batsman who played consistent cricket in the tournament. After 25 against India and 58 against Bangladesh, Sarfraz’s 37 came off 28 balls with six boundaries as he set up the game nicely for Akmal and Malik to provide finishing touches.

Akmal hit a brilliant six to level scores but was dismissed to an outstanding catch by Thisara Perera. It was left to Malik to hit the winning runs but was lucky as the mid-off fielder dropped a dolly.

Earlier, Tillekaratne Dilshan carried his bat through the 20 overs with an unbeaten 75 off 56 balls that was laced with 10 boundaries and a six.

He added 110 runs for the opening stand with stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal (58) as Sri Lanka scored a decent 150 for four after being put into bat. — PTI

SCOREBOARD

SRI LANKA D. Chandimal c Sharjeel b Riaz 58 T. Dilshan not out 75 S. Jayasuriya c Sharjeel b Malik 4 C. Kapugedera b Irfan 2 D. Shanaka b Irfan 0 T. Siriwardana not out 4 Extras (lb-6, w-1) 7 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs; 87 mins) 150 Did not bat: N Dickwella, T. Perera, N. Kulasekara, R. Herath, P. Chameera Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-117, 3-125, 4-125 Bowling: Mohammed Amir 4-0-31-0; Mohammed Irfan 4-0-18-2; Shahid Afridi 4-024-0; Mohammed Nawaz 3-0-38-0; Wahab Riaz 4-0-30-1; Shoaib Malik 1-0-3-1 PAKISTAN Sharjeel c Kapugedera b Dilshan 31

W O R L D T 2 0 WA R M - U P

M. Hafeez c & b Jayasuriya 14 S. Ahmed lbw b Siriwardana 38 U. Akmal c Perera b Kulasekara 48 S. Malik not out 13 I. Ahmed not out 0 Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-2) 7 Total (4 wickets; 19.2 overs; 85 mins) 151 Did not bat: Shahid Afridi, Mohammed Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammed Irfan, Mohammed Nawaz Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-58, 3-94, 4-150 Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-20-1; Perera 2.2-025-0; Jayasuriya 1-0-13-1; Shanaka 1-0-6-0; Chameera 4-0-32-0; Herath 4-0-28-0; Dilshan 1-0-2-1; Siriwardana 20-20-1 Player of the match: Umar Akmal (Pakistan) Umpires: AK Chaudhary , Enamul Haque TV umpire: Sharfuddoula

ASIA CUP

Current India T20 team is ready to play anywhere in world: Dhoni MIRPUR: India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels the current Indian team is a “balanced” side which can “take on any team anywhere in the world” at least in the shortest format of the game after they notched up their ninth win out of 10 matches.

“Well if you see, more often than not, the team that we have played with (this year in T20’s), looks like a team that can play in any condition, especially in this format. Let’s not talk about the 50-over format. But in T20s, we can play with this team anywhere in the world,” said Dhoni after India crushed UAE by 9 wickets in Asia Cup. “We now have three proper seamers, two spinners and if needed part-timers. I think it is the right combination. And even if you go for a few extra runs, with the batting that we have - till No 8, I think we can look to get those extra runs if the opposition scores off us. So I think this team is set for playing in any conditions, whether you are playing in India or outside India. It looks like a very balanced team.”

Dhoni was in playful mood when a Bangladeshi scribe asked a long and winded question with basic intent of trying to know if this is the last time that the limited overs skipper will be playing in this country.

“I’m not getting rid of myself so soon. Bangladesh will have to face me more often than not.

This is one occasion when the question was longer than the answer,” he smiled as everyone present in the conference room had a good laugh. — PTI

CRICKET

Maqsood, Lalcheta help Oman beat Scotland PCB chief blasts SCOREBOARD

GOOD START: Oman team pose for a photo ahead of match against Scotland in Mohali. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: A fine half century by Zeeshan Maqsood (58) and classic spell by Ajay Lalcheta (3 for 26) ensured Oman notch a 14-run win over Scotland in a World T20 warmup match at Mohali on Friday. Put into bat, Oman openers Zeeshan Maqsood and Khawar Ali (29) put on 72 runs for the opening wicket setting a good platform for the batsmen to follow deliver the goods.

However, despite Adnan Illyas (29 not out) and Mehran Khan (18) none of the others really helped in boosting the total.

However, skipper Sultan Ahmed

(9) came in the end to strike two boundaries to take the total to 161 for 6 in the 20 overs.

Jatinder Singh (6) and Aamir Kaleem (1) were run out, while Amir Ali contributed only 4 runs.

Scotland’s Watt picked up three wickets and also had a hand in running out Kaleem. Chasing 162 for win, Ajay Lalcheta set the tone by picking up three wickets with his opening spell to reduce Scotland to 13 for 3 and a scalp by Bilal Khan spelt doom with the team reduced to 14 for 4.

Berrington (32) and skipper

Mommsen (30) repaired the damage but the task was daunting, though a late flourish by Munsey (48 not out) took Scotland closer to the target.

With Davey, who was giving good company to Munsey, caught stranded by a beautiful effort from Mehran, the story ended and Scotland were 14 runs short.

In an earlier warm-up match at the earlier venue, Afghanistan beat Netherlands by 16 runs.

Oman will face Afghanistan on Sunday in another warm-up game before heading to Dharamsala.

OMAN Zeeshan Maqsood c Coetzer b Watt 58 Khawar Ali c MacLeod b Berrington 29 Jatinder Singh run out (Berrington) 6 Adnan Ilyas not out 26 Aamir Kaleem run out (Watt) 1 Mehran Khan c MacLeod b Watt 18 Amir Ali c Berrington b Watt 4 Sultan Ahmed not out 9 Extras (lb-2, w-8) 10 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 161 Fall of wickets: 1-72, 2-86, 3-97, 4-98, 5-140, 6-145.

Bowling: Watt 5-0-36-3, Davey 3-0-26-0, Evans 2-0-28 -0, Sharif 2-0-16-0, Taylor 1-0-15-0, Machan 3-0-15-0, Berrington 4-0-23-1.

SCOTLAND K. Coetzer lbw b Lalcheta 11 C. MacLeod b Lalcheta 1 M. Cross lbw b Lalcheta 0 M. Machan c Sultan b Bilal Khan 0 R. Berrington c Kaleem b Khawar Ali 32 P. Mommsen c Jatinder b Amir Ali 30 H. Munsey not out 48 J. Davey run out (Mehran Khan) 18 S. Sharif not out 1 Extras (lb-1, w-4, nb-1) 6 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-11, 3-14, 4-14, 5-71, 6-96, 7-140.

Bowling: Bilal Khan 4-0-31-1, A. Lalcheta 4-0-26-3, M. Ansari 3-0-20-0, Khawar Ali 4-0-35-1, M. Khan 1-0-12-0, A. Kaleem 3-0-14-0, Amir Ali 1-0-8-1.

‘painful’ Pakistan KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan has slammed the team’s performance at the Asia Cup but admitted it was too late to make sweeping changes ahead of the World Twenty20 this month.

The 2009 World Twenty20 champions lost to arch-rivals India and hosts Bangladesh, and only managed to beat United Arab Emirates, raising serious doubts about their potential to challenge for the title in the March 8-April 3 tournament.

Shaharyar said everyone from the coach to those involved in the selection process would be held accountable but added there would not be no knee-jerk reaction.

“It wasn’t just a matter of disappointment but it was a painful experience to watch Pakistan play like that,” Shaharyar told reporters in Lahore. “The performance was very poor, other then a few individuals’ performances, but I can assure that accountability is inevitable and whoever is responsible has to answer.

“Changes are important in the electoral process and lead-

ership but we have to sit and think wisely.”

The PCB chairman, who has emphasized the importance of conditioning in the shortest format of the game, said at least three to four players in Shahid Afridi’s team appeared unfit.

While the pace attack was impressive in the tournament, Pakistan’s batting let them down.

They were bundled out for 83 against India and managed 1297 against Bangladesh which saw them miss out on a place in Sunday’s final. “We will bring changes in selectorial process, coaching process and leadership process,” Shaharyar said.

Pakistan added fast bowler Mohammed Sami and batsman Sharjeel Khan to their original squad for the World T20 following injuries to Babar Azam and Rumman Raes but the PCB chairman did not rule out further changes.

Afridi has also come under intense scrutiny due to his failures with the bat but Shaharyar said he will captain the side in India.

“I understand there is a lot of criticism but I am not going to change anything,” Shaharyar said.- Reuters

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

SPORTS Bowlers beware! World Twenty20 seeks to satisfy lust for boundaries With 35 matches spread over 27 days, starting with eight “minnows” battling it out for two spots in the Super 10 round, the tournament looks set to illustrate once again just how skewed the 20-overs game is against bowlers

NEW DELHI: Batsmen will be encouraged to satisfy contemporary cricket’s seemingly insatiable lust for boundaries and bowlers reduced to mere cannon fodder when the sixth World Twenty20 gets underway in India on Tuesday.

With 35 matches spread over 27 days, starting with eight “minnows” battling it out for two spots in the Super 10 round, the tourFOOTBALL

UEFA names Theodoridis as interim replacement for Infantino

Theodore Theodoridis

NYON: European football’s governing body UEFA confirmed on Friday that Theodore Theodoridis will take over as acting general secretary from Gianni Infantino who was elected as FIFA president last Friday.

Theodoridis, a 50-year-old Greek citizen, had been Infantino’s deputy since October 2010, having joined UEFA in 2008 and initially working in the national associations division.

He will effectively be responsible for running the day-to-day operations of UEFA, a task that includes overseeing this year’s European Championship in France which will feature 24 teams in June-July.

UEFA also faces a year that could be critical for the future of the Champions League.

The format for the competition’s 2018-2021 cycle must be decided by the end of the year and there have been suggestions that big clubs are pushing for radical changes, which could include automatic places for some of them.

Theodoridis said UEFA would hold a presidential election as soon as Michel Platini’s appeal against his six-year ban had been heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the highest tribunal in sport. — Reuters

NEW INDIAN LOOK: From left to right, Harmanpreet Kaur, Shubhlakshmi Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Mitali Raj, Ajinkya Rahane and R. Ashwin in the Indian kit for ICC World T20 Championships 2016.

The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams will take the field in the upcoming World Twenty20 Championships wearing brand new kits which were unveiled by Nike on Thursday. – PTI

nament looks set to illustrate once again just how skewed the 20-overs game is against bowlers.

There is more chance of discovering life on Mars than in the docile Indian tracks, which will be rolled out for a tournament that concludes with the April 3 final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

While cricket purists may look on it with disdain, there is a growing acceptance that the format is the only way the game can expand beyond its current stagnation in

former British colonies.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) last month received a status report on its ongoing dialogue over the game’s possible inclusion at Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

Like rugby sevens before it, there seems little doubt that cricket’s best hope of being given a place at such international multi-sport events is to push the shorter form of the game. That Twenty20 has the potential to break new ground

was evident in November when “All-Stars” games featuring retired greats such as Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar drew an aggregate crowd of 83,900 to three matches in the United States.

The ICC, who have had little success selling the game in the land of baseball, lauded the All-Stars series, convinced it would “help cricket to reach its significant potential in the United States”.

The format has long proved a smash hit in cricket’s traditional

heartlands, spawning franchisebased leagues across the cricketing globe. India were the last major team to embrace the format but went on to win the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007.

They top the current rankings and recent series wins over Australia and Sri Lanka suggest they have sorted out their death bowling issues and are a good bet for a second crown.

Sammy’s challenge Darren Sammy will attempt to bring a second title to West Indies but the ever-smiling all-rounder will have to inspire a team who just weeks ago were planning to boycott the tournament over a contractual dispute.

The 2012 champions averted the crisis but Sammy is likely to miss spinner Sunil Narine’s guile and all-rounder Kieron Pollard’s power-hitting down the order.

Sri Lanka will be defending Champions in India but skipper Lasith Malinga must marshal a team in transition since the retirements of stalwarts Kumar Sangak-

kara and Mahela Jayawardene.

Australia’s spectacular lack of success is one of the most intriguing points in the short history of the tournament, which has seen three Asian champions in the five editions. The reigning 50-over world champions have responded by putting test and one-day captain Steven Smith in charge of a squad boasting an explosive lineup that also includes David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner.

England will look to the experience of skipper Eoin Morgan, who was part of Paul Collingwood’s victorious 2010 team and has been playing in the Indian Premier League.

Few teams can match the flair that a mercurial Pakistan team under Shahid Afridi brings to the table and the 2009 champions have also been boosted by paceman Mohammad Amir’s return after a fiveyear spot-fixing ban.

Fellow contenders South Africa and New Zealand will have to overcome a tendency to flop on the big stage if they are to take home the trophy. - Reuters

GOLF

Viren qualifies for Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Times News Service MUSCAT: Turkish Airlines conducted its qualifying tournament for the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, an amateur tournament at the Almouj Golf Club, here on Thursday.

Viren Agarwal won the individual competition with 34 points and progressed to the Grand Final in Antalya, Turkey, this October and November. Carl Ainscough was runner-up, Frank Gargan was third and Tim Maddern won the nearest-the-pin prize.

The 18-hole tournament is part of a worldwide series of qualifiers put up by Turkish Airlines.

The sixth of 100 qualifiers for the global amateur event featured more than 70 players.

All the participants for the qualifier are personally-invited guests of Turkish Airlines that include CEOs of major companies, businessmen etc.

Now into its fourth year, the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup (TAWGC) 2016 has become the largest corporate golf tourna-

ONE FOR THE ALBUM: All participants of the qualifying tournament for Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup at the Almouj Golf. – Supplied photo

ment in the world with over 7,500 competitors expected to take part in 100 global qualifiers in a bid to claim one of 100 spots at the Finals.

“We would like to congratulate everyone who took part in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup qualifier in Muscat,” said Mehmed Zingal, General Manager for Turkish Airlines Muscat.

“It was a brilliant day and well done to our winners,” he added.

“Winners of the Grand Final

will also get once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the Turkish Open pro-am and play alongside the world’s top players,” the Regional Marketing Manager of Turkish Airlines, Ihsan Gorgun told the Times of Oman.

Turkish airlines officials also said that all the finalists are eligible to enjoy a seven-night stay in an all-inclusive hotel, two rounds of golf and VIP passes to the Turkish Airlines Open, the $7,000,000 European Tour event.

According to the participants this is a fun time for them and to test their luck to become one of the winners to Turkey.

“For me it’s a test of luck and to get some relaxation; this also helps us to meet some of our friends and to have some time in this hectic life,” one of the participant said.

“This tournament is giving a unique opportunity for us to network with some of the business people from around the world in a relaxed environment while enjoy-

ing a round of golf,” another participant added.

Established in 2013 with just 12 events, the global amateur golf series is now played in more countries worldwide than any other corporate amateur event of its kind, mirroring the truly global reach of Turkish Airlines.

Due to its resounding success during the past three years, the series is continually expanding and will take place in 100 destinations and 60 countries worldwide this year.

The current edition of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup Amateur Series kicked off in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on 26th February 2016. The event is backed

by Global Sponsors Porsche and the Financial Times, with Conte of Florence Official Clothing and Fashion Partner.

The 2016 series takes place across the globe, in destinations including Hong Kong, Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, China, Spain, the United States, Portugal, Italy, France, Greece, Argentina, Brazil and Turkey.

SAEKO KAMURA OF AL MOUJ CLAIMS TOP HONOURS IN INTER-CLUB WOMEN’S GOLF Muscat Hills hosted the first Inter-club competition of 2016 for the lady golfers of Oman. 38 ladies attended the competition and wore their team colours with pride. The winners were to be the team who scored the most stableford points over the 18 holes, with individual prizes on offer as a bonus. Gamebook, a live leaderboard, was used so all the teams could keep an eye on the competition and see how they fared in the field. All was going well and the day was looking bright until a thunderstorm struck the course and washed the ladies out! Rain stopped play and in light of keeping things fun, the clubs reverted to a 15-hole competition for the ladies prizes and agreed on a friendly draw all round for the team scores. The winners were on third place Jenny Wilson (Muscat Hills) with 31 points, 2nd was Rahira Ellison (Al Mouj) with 32 points and in first place with 39 points was Saeko Kamura (Al Mouj). Two points were awarded to each team for their efforts, making the current standings in the inter-club level going into the second round to be played at Ras Al Hamra in October. — Supplied photo

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

PAYROLLS IN US SURGE Employers added more workers in February than projected but wages unexpectedly declined, dashing hopes that reduced slack in the labour market was starting to benefit all Americans. The 242,000 gain followed a 172,000 rise in January that was larger than previously estimated. — Bloomberg News

MARKE

AIRBUS TOUTS 400-SEAT ‘A350-8000’ JETLINER Airbus is seeking airline support for a new 400-seat jetliner provisionally dubbed the A350-8000 as competition escalates with Boeing over the world’s largest two-engined jets, airline and aviation industry sources said. >B3

OMR115m Barka desalination plant to boost water capacity Slated for commercial operation in April 2018, the independent water project will increase Oman’s water capacity by 20%

INACIO OLIVEIRA

The project is anticipated to create jobs for nationals and opportunities for business owners, including small and medium enterprises. — Picture by Shabin E/Times of Oman

The desalination project, which will use reserve osmosis as water purification technology, will be implemented by a consortium. — Picture by Shabin E/Times of Oman

inacio@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s largest desalination plant, which is coming up in Barka, will boost water security in the Sultanate’s northern region by adding approximately 62 million gallons of potable water per day to the existing water capacity of the country.

Slated for commercial operation in April 2018, the independent water project will increase Oman’s water capacity by 20 per cent, said Ahmed bin Saleh Al Jahdhami, chief executive officer (CEO) of

Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP), at an agreement signing ceremony.

OPWP, the sole procurer of new power generation and water desalination capacity, on Thursday signed OMR115 million ($300 million) agreement to establish the Barka Desalination Company with a consortium led by the ITOCHU Corporation.

“The project is the largest desalinated water capacity ever procured in the Sultanate. As such, it

will be a vital addition to the main system and will positively contribute to the security of water supply in the country,” the OPWP CEO said.

Create jobs for nationals “The project is anticipated to create jobs for nationals and opportunities for business owners, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” CEO Al Jahdhami added.

The agreements were signed

by OPWP CEO Al Jahdhami, and

Toshiyuki Kosugi of the ITOCHU Corporation. Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mahrouqi, chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), was also present at the event.

The desalination project, which will use reserve osmosis as water purification technology, will be implemented by a consortium comprising the ITOCHU Corporation, SUEZ, ENGIE and W.J. Towell & Company on a build-own-operate basis under the terms of water

OIL SUPPLIES

purchase agreements with OPWP, the company said.

Water purchase agreement Under the independent water project, OPWP will purchase potable water produced by the project under a water purchase agreement with a term of 20 years.

“The Barka Desalination Company consortium members are proud of their commercial success and the competitiveness of their offer, which gathers international

and local expertise to propose the most suitable technical and financial solutions to meet the Oman’s needs for clean potable water,” Kosugi, advisor, ITOCHU Corporation and representative of the Barka Desalination Company Consortium, said.

With water demand in Oman exceeding supply, the new project is expected to ease water shortage. The demand for potable water in Oman’s northern region is projected to grow by 6 per cent in the seven years up to 2020. Previous seven-year forecasts had pegged the average annual growth in the range of 3 to 5 per cent.

Earlier, OPWP had started the procurement process to develop the desalination project in February 2015, with 12 companies participating in the prequalification process. The project was awarded to the consortium led by the ITOCHU Corporation, which owns a 36 per cent stake, SUEZ and ENGIE own 27 per cent each and the W.J. Towell & Company holds the remaining 10 per cent stake in the project.

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

TA K E O V E R A G R E E M E N T

‘Iran’s return to global crude market not yet fulfilling its grand promises’ the country’s port of Kharg Island last month and is sailing around the Horn of Africa on its way to Europe, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg.

That’s a longer journey than Iranian crude used to take to European ports because of another logistical hurdle — Egypt and Gulf Arab crude producers have yet to let Iran resume oil shipments through a pipeline connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean.

LONDON: Iran’s return to global oil markets after sanctions were lifted isn’t living up to the country’s grand ambitions, or at least not yet.

Six weeks after the historic nuclear deal that allowed Iran to resume oil sales around the world, the Opec member is shipping barely a third of the extra 500,000 barrels a day it had vowed to unleash within weeks of sanctions being lifted. The country faces hurdles at every step, whether reviving output from aging oil wells or overcoming lingering banking constraints that have forced it to sell crude in barter arrangements, according to BNP Paribas.

CLOSE WATCH: Petrol attendants serve customers at a gas station operated by the National Iranian Oil in Tehran. — Bloomberg file picture

Short-term obstacles “Iran is facing short-term obstacles in regaining market share lost to other Opec members, and in restoring production to presanctions levels,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy at BNP Paribas in London. “Longer term, the legal and regulatory framework is an obstacle.”

Iran was the second-largest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) when Europe banned imports of the nation’s crude and the US tightened financial sanctions in 2012. Its crude production averaged 2.8 million barrels

a day last year compared with 3.6 million in 2011. Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh has stressed the importance of regaining lost markets, rejecting an initiative between some Opec countries and non-members to freeze production to boost prices from a 12year low.

When the trade restrictions were still in place, Iran had pledged to increase its one million-barrel-a-day crude exports by about 50 per cent once sanctions were lifted. They actually only shipped an extra 130,000 barrels a day in February, bringing the total to 1.42 million a day, ac-

cording to shipping data compiled

by Bloomberg.

Expected struggle Iran’s struggle is in line with the expectations of oil watchers such as Goldman Sachs Group and Barclays, who had warned the export recovery would be limited. The Middle Eastern nation will boost production by 285,000 barrels a day for 2016 as a whole, Goldman estimates.

Iran loaded its first cargo of oil to Europe since 2012 last month onto a tanker chartered to French oil company Total. The Atlantas, a very large crude carrier, loaded at

Suez pipeline The SuMed pipeline provides a shorter transit than the African route for oil cargoes from the Gulf region to the Europe that are carried in ships too large to sail through the Suez Canal. The tankers can transfer some of their oil into the pipeline, thus lightening their loads for passage through the canal, or fully discharge cargoes that can be collected by smaller vessels at the far end.

Arab Petroleum Pipelines Co., which operates the link, is still reviewing terms of the agreement that removed sanctions on Iran in January, according to a company official. The operator is seeking to ensure Iran complies with sanctions regulations before resuming oil shipments halted since August 2012, said the official, who asked not to be identified citing company policy. — Bloomberg News

TA X P O L I C Y

Facebook to pay millions more in UK tax LONDON: Facebook, which used to pay just a few thousand pounds in tax in Britain, has been forced to cough up millions of pounds more after the social networking giant agreed to stop routing its UK sales through Ireland that allowed it to keep its tax bill extremely low.

From April this year, the Silicon Valley headquartered firm will restructure its tax policy so that revenue generated from its largest advertisers displaying content on Facebook will be routed through the UK rather than Ireland.

The change, which will generate higher taxable profits in Britain, follows accusations that the US firm was paying far too little tax in the country.

Facebook paid just 4,327 pounds ($6,116) in corporation

– Bloomberg file picture

tax in 2014 in Britain. “On Monday we will start notifying large UK customers that from the start of April they will receive invoices from Facebook UK and not Facebook Ireland,” Facebook said in an internal post seen by the BBC. “What this means in practice is that UK sales made directly by our UK team will be booked in

the UK, not Ireland. Facebook UK will then record the revenue from these sales.

“In light of changes to tax law in the UK, we felt this change would provide transparency to Facebook’s operations in the UK. “The new structure is easier to understand and clearly recognises the value our UK organisation adds to our sales through our highly skilled and growing UK sales team,” the statement added.

Smaller business sales where advertising is booked online, with little or no Facebook staff intervention, will still be routed through Ireland, which will remain the company’s international headquarters. Corporation tax is levied at 20 per cent in the UK on the profits a business makes.

As the latest changes will be put in place from April, Facebook’s first higher tax bill will be paid in 2017.

At this stage, it is not clear how much tax Facebook will pay as it is not under regulatory obligation to reveal the size of its UK business until it reaches 10 per cent of its global operations, which generate revenues of nearly $18 billion a year.

But the UK is an important market for Facebook, where it employs 850 people and is also building a new headquarters in London. Before the new structure, Facebook’s UK revenues were based on a fee payment from Facebook Ireland, which meant that its actual sales here did not affect its tax bill. — PTI

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou. — Bloomberg News

Foxconn finalising $6b deal approved

by Sharp’s board TOKYO: Foxconn Technology Group and Sharp are aiming to sign their $6 billion takeover agreement as early as Monday after deciding the deal won’t require major changes, according to people familiar with the matter.

The two sides have been going through a list of potential liabilities and concluded they will be much less than initial concerns they could exceed $2.6 billion, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. That would pave the way for Foxconn to proceed with its proposed deal of paying about 500 billion yen for a majority stake in Sharp, along with additional payments for preferred shares.

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has pursued Sharp since at least 2012 and had appeared on the verge of grasping his prize when the Japanese company’s board approved his deal last week. But Foxconn a few hours later said it would postpone the final agreement until it had got to the bottom of material new information provided by Sharp just a day earlier.

That information is about contingent liabilities that the company could incur through layoffs or restructurings, people familiar with the matter have said.

Dwindling cash Sharp has been losing money for years and its need for financial support set off the takeover battle last year between Foxconn and the government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan. The company’s cash totaled 208.5 billion yen at the end of December, and it

Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has pursued Sharp since at least 2012 and had appeared on the verge of grasping his prize when the Japanese company’s board approved his deal last week

is projected to lose more than 100 billion yen in the fiscal year that ends this month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Sharp also faces the expiration of 510 billion yen in credit lines and loans on March 31. The company’s banks have pushed for a bailout agreement before those loans are renewed, people familiar with the matter have said. The banks, Mizuho Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, could finish the renewals by the deadline if Sharp and Foxconn reach final terms next week, said the people.

Terms for Sharp’s creditors may be revised from the original takeover agreement, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, without specifying what those changes could be. — Bloomberg News

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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

MARKET Economy to be worse off if UK leaves European Union Britons will vote on June 23 whether to quit the EU, and none of the 45 strategists polled by Reuters this week said the economy would benefit if the “Out” campaign wins.

Thirty-nine said it would damage the economy and six said it wouldn’t make much difference

LONDON: Britain’s economy would be worse off if the country left the European Union, according to foreign exchange strategists who said a so-called Brexit might also cause a sterling crisis.

Britons will vote on June 23 whether to quit the EU, and none of the 45 strategists polled by Reuters this week said the economy would benefit if the “Out” campaign wins.

Thirty-nine said it would damage the economy and six said it

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: The negotiating period would be far longer than some have suggested. There was a government report earlier this week that said it could take as long as a decade, so you would have that uncertainty hanging over businesses. - Bloomberg file picture

wouldn’t make much difference.

All but one economist polled by Reuters last month said the economy would suffer; the exception said it would have no effect.

Negotiating period “The negotiating period would be far longer than some have suggested. There was a government report earlier this week that said it could take as long as a decade, so you would have that uncertainty hanging over businesses,” said Ryan Djajasaputra at Investec.

The prospect of Britain’s leaving the EU rattled the country’s dominant services industry last month, driving growth to a near three-year low, a survey showed earlier on Thursday .

Strategists were less sure a departure would lead to a sterling crisis, with 35 saying there would be and 34 not.

“It depends on the definition of what constitutes a crisis, but sterling has the capacity to drop sharply enough to create significant uncertainty about inflation

STOCK MARKETS

suggesting much of the risk may already be factored in.

Sterling is forecast to trade around $1.40, where it currently hovers, in a month’s time and still be there in three months, just before the vote. A year from now cable will be trading at $1.46, the poll predicted.

Those forecasts are all a cent or two weaker than predicted a month ago, after a chain of recent data delayed some calls for further policy tightening from the Bank of England. — Reuters

Indian visitors to Australia grow by 18.6% MUMBAI: The total number of Indians visiting Australia has increased by 18.6 per cent in 2015, making India the eighth largest inbound market for the continent nation.

The number rose 2,33,100 last year as compared to 1,97,000 Indian tourists who visited Australia in 2014, according to data from Tourism Australia.

Australia is now eyeing over 2,50,000 visitors from India visiting the country’s dramatic landscapes, culinary delights and culture.

Last year, about 68 per cent of Indians travelled to Australia for leisure (1,58,500), while 26,400 went for business, 14,800 shortterm education and 33,500 for other purposes.

Of the leisure travellers, 60,500 visitors were on holiday in December while 98,000 visited friends and relatives.

Indian visitors contributed over A$1.1 billion to the continent nation’s economy in 2015, up 38 per cent over the previous year, the data showed. In terms of expenditure, India is the 10th largest source market for Australia.

For the year 2015, Indian visitors spent a total of 14 million nights in Australia, an increase of 38 per cent over 2014.

It also revealed that the average length of stay for all visitors from India was 65 nights, with a 46 per cent doing a repeat visitation.

Indian leisure visitors stayed an average of 56 nights, it added.

The top five Aussie attractions that appeal to Indian travellers are the beaches, iconic landmarks, wild life, food and beverages and the Great Barrier Reef. — PTI

I B G E S TAT I S T I C S

Asian shares poised for gains TOKYO: Asian shares look set to post a third straight weeks of gains on Friday as investors scaled back cautious bets on the global economy after a string of positive US economic data and a recovery in oil and commodity prices.

The rebound in risk asset prices could continue if the upcoming US employment report points to solid job gains, but not strong enough to encourage rate rises in the near term.

MSCI’s broadest index of AsiaPacific shares outside Japan was up 0.1 per cent, hovering just below its two-month high hit the previous day. Japan’s Nikkei slipped 0.3 per cent.

“Globally markets are rolling back the extreme risk-off trading they did in January and February.

Part of the reason is that the Fed seems to be easing its insistence on raising rates,” said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

On Thursday MSCI’s world equity index covering 46 markets touched a two-month high.

and investment,” said Jane Foley at Rabobank.

Recent polls put the outcome close but narrowly in favour of staying in. Even so, the pound sank to a seven-year low last week after London Mayor Boris Johnson put himself at the front of the “Out” campaign.

The currency has lost around nineper cent against the dollar since the Conservative party won power in May last year, with Prime Minister David Cameron promising a vote on membership,

2 0 1 5 D ATA

rose 0.35 per cent to a two-month high of 1,993.4.

– Reuters

The rally was led by emerging markets, with a measure of emerging-markets shares rising 1.4 percent on Thursday for a fifth day of gains, its longest winning streak this year.

The biggest move came from Brazil’s Bovespa index, which rose more than five per cent, its biggest gain in six years, on news that President Dilma Rousseff could be implicated in a sweeping corruption scandal.

That encouraged investors who blame her administration’s policies for driving Brazil in deep recession.

On Wall Street, S&P 500 Index

US data The US data published on Thursday was positive on the whole, with factory orders rising and the service sector index showing a continued expansion.

Somewhat dimming the optimism, however, the service sector survey showed the employment in the industries fell in February for the first time in two year.

But that was not necessarily bad for US stocks, as it helped to reduce expectations of the Federal Reserve’s rate hikes and pushed the dollar lower.

The dollar’s index against a basket of six major currencies stood at 97.656, having slipped 0.6 per cent on Thursday.

The euro jumped back to $1.0947 from Wednesday’s onemonth low of $1.08255.

The yen traded at 113.59 to the dollar, recovering from Wednesday’s two-week low of 114.56.

Gold hit a 13-month high of $1,268.30 per ounce. — Reuters

Brazilian economy’s steep drop raises depression risk BRASILIA: Brazil’s economy contracted sharply in 2015 as businesses slashed investment plans and laid off more than 1.5 million workers, official data showed on Thursday, setting the stage for what could be the country’s deepest recession on record.

Gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 3.8 per cent last year, capped by another steep contraction in the fourth quarter , according to Brazilian statistics agency IBGE. It was the worst performance of any G20 nation in 2015.

The annual contraction, which matched market expectations in a Reuters poll, was also Brazil’s largest since 1990, when the country was struggling with hyperinflation and a debt default. The outlook for 2016 is nearly as bad, with a central bank survey forecasting a 3.45 per cent contraction.

Back-to-back annual drops of that magnitude would amount to the longest and deepest downturn since Brazil began keeping records in 1901.

Brazil is “replicating the lost decade of the ‘80s in just two years,” Goldman Sachs economist Alberto Ramos said in a research report. He added that the economy was close to an outright depression, as defined by the length of the current downturn — nearly two years — and the more than seven per cent GDP drop experienced during that time.

A paralysing political crisis, rising inflation and interest rates and a sharp drop in prices of key commodity exports have formed a toxic cocktail for Latin America’s largest economy. The disastrous

ECONOMY CONTRACTS: Brazil’s economy shrank 3.8 per cent in 2015, government statistics agency IBGE said on Thursday, in the worst annual performance in 25 years as businesses slashed investment plans and laid off more than a million workers. — Reuters

burst of a major mining dam and the biggest oil strike in 20 years added further strain in 2015.

Brazil’s government said the downturn had been expected and added that it was focused on boosting the economy this year.

“The government has taken all the necessary measures for an economic recovery,” the Finance Ministry said in a note.

However, a private survey on Thursday showed services activity in February fell at the steepest pace on record, suggesting the economy had yet to hit bottom.

“We will probably see a similar contraction this year. There are no growth engines yet. The only one could be exports. But Brazil’s economy is relatively closed, so we don’t see that taking us out of

this hole,” said Joao Pedro Ribeiro, Latin America economist with Nomura Securities.

Unemployment and loan delinquency rates are likely to rise further this year as the recession drags on, economists forecast, potentially feeding public discontent. Meanwhile, debt restructuring firms are expecting a record amount of business this year as companies seek protection from creditors and go through painful reorganisations.

Analysts say banks appear well-capitalized to weather the crisis but could tighten credit to stay safe, which could delay an economic recovery.

Stocks on the Sao Paulo exchange shrugged off the poor GDP data, posting sharp gains. — Reuters

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

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MARKET AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Google’s self-driving car team beefs up auto experience SAN FRANCISCO/DETROIT: Google’s self-driving car team is expanding and hiring more people with automotive industry expertise, underscoring the company’s determination to move the division past the experimental stage.

The operation now employs at least 170 workers, according to a Reuters review of their profiles on LinkedIn, the business-oriented social network. Many are software and systems engineers, and some come from other departments at Google.

More than 40 of the employees listed on LinkedIn have previous automotive industry experience, with skills ranging from exterior design to manufacturing. They hail from a wide range of companies, including Tesla Motors, Ford Motor and General Motors.

Google has not disclosed details about the size or composition of its self-driving car team, and Johnny Luu, spokesman for Google’s car team, declined to comment.

The team could have additional members who do not publish profiles on LinkedIn.

SELF-DRIVING CAR: Google has not disclosed details about the size or composition of its self-driving car team, and Johnny Luu, spokesman for Google’s car team, declined to comment. - Bloomberg file picture

Google has said previously that it intends to ready the technology for a marketable self-driving car by 2020, but it may never manufacture vehicles itself.

The tech giant is more likely to contract out manufacturing — much like Apple does with iPhone — or to license technology to existing car manufacturers, automotive industry experts said. Licensing would follow the model Google has

used with its Android operating system for mobile devices.

In the past four weeks, Google has advertised nearly 40 new positions on the team, and many are related to manufacturing. The team currently has six people with such experience, including purchasing, supplier development and supply chain management.

Hires with manufacturing skills could help Google find and coordi-

nate with a partner to build a vehicle, said Paul Mascarenas, a former Ford executive who is president of FISITA, the International Federation of Engineering Societies.

Google is also engaged in discussions with federal and state regulators about how to revise motor vehicle safety standards to accommodate autonomous cars.

The competition for technical talent is intensifying as tech

and automotive companies race to build driverless vehicles. Beyond Google, the players include Tesla, established car makers such as Daimler AG and GM and, and technology companies such as Apple Inc and Uber Technologies.

Google’s team is being assembled by John Krafcik, an industry veteran who previously headed Hyundai Motor Co’s US operations and is an expert in product development and manufacturing. Krafcik joined Google in September 2015.

Another senior executive with previous automotive experience, Paul Luskin, was hired last month as operations manager, according to his Linkedin profile. An engineer with stints at Jaguar Cars, Ford and Japanese supplier Denso Corp , Luskin most recently was president of Ricardo Defense Systems, a unit of Britain’s Ricardo PLC, according to the Linkedin profile.

Google hired industry veteran Andy Warburton in July to head the vehicle engineering team, according to his Linkedin profile.

Warburton spent two years as a senior engineering manager at Tesla and 16 years as an engineering manager at Jaguar.

A third auto veteran, Sameer Kshisagar, joined Google in November as head of global supply management on the self-driving car team. Kshisagar is a manufacturing expert who previously worked for GM, according to his Linkedin profile.

Luskin, Warburton and Kshisagar did not respond to requests for comment.

Google’s self-driving car group also has tapped people with experience beyond the auto industry, including aerospace (Boeing, SpaceX, Jet Propulsion Lab) and electronics (Intel, Samsung, Motorola), according to LinkedIn profiles.

Krafcik and Chris Urmson, director of the car team, have said they want to forge partnerships with established automakers and others to build vehicles. Krafcik made a public pitch for alliances at an auto industry conference in Detroit in January. — Reuters

Airbus touts 400-seat ‘A350-8000’ jet plane

BANKING

After talking up the possibility of a new member of its A350 NEW STRATEGY: Bank of America showed some progress in

family, the European

2015, it still has to prove it can generate consistent performance under Moynihan, who took the helm in 2010. - Bloomberg file picture

planemaker has

Bank of America to boost auto lending NEW YORK: Bank of America is making a big push into auto lending just as regulators are sending warning signals, losses from auto loans are rising, and rivals are growing more cautious after years of strong returns.

The bank tapped mortgage executives Matt Vernon and John Schleck to lead the auto lending business last May, saying they would be able to sell auto loans alongside other products such as checking accounts and home equity loans.

In interviews, the executives and their boss, D. Steve Boland, who oversees a broad swath of consumer lending, said they still see room for growth from borrowers who have good credit.

They have hired extensively in recent months, adding dozens of loan officers and salespeople.

But some competitors and bank analysts said hiring doesn’t make sense at this stage, because auto sales may be close to peaking, and consumer credit is showing signs of weakness.

Industry-wide, banks classified $1.1 billion worth of auto loans as uncollectible in the fourth quarter, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC). That is up 15 per cent from the year-ago period, and up 39 per cent since the fourth quarter of 2011. Ultimately, much of that bad debt turns into losses for the banks. “I’m not actively hiring or growing our operations across the platform. That’s for sure,” said Andrew Stuart, head of TD Auto Finance, which is slightly smaller than Bank of America’s auto business.

At a February 10 conference, Capital One Financial Corp CEO Richard Fairbank said that while auto loans provided “once in a lifetime type returns” after the financial crisis, the business has begun to lose strength. In a January interview on CNBC, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon called the market “stretched.”

Portales Partners analyst Charles Peabody said Bank of America is late to the auto loans party. But in its defense, he noted that the bank’s Chief Executive Brian Moynihan and his management team were too busy trying to resolve mortgage-related issues when the auto lending business seemed like a smarter bet.

swung into an active pre-marketing phase as it responds to a recent upgrade in the competing Boeing 777 jets MAKING A POINT: Fabrice Bregier (right) speaks as John Leahy looks on. - Bloomberg file picture

They should have been beefing this thing up two years ago, but two years ago Moynihan was still trying to stabilise the ship Charles Peabody Analyst, Portales Partners

“They should have been beefing this thing up two years ago, but two years ago Moynihan was still trying to stabilise the ship,” Peabody said.

Slowing momentum All banks are struggling to boost revenue during a period of stubbornly low interest rates and tough post-crisis regulation, but Bank of America has felt the pain more acutely than most of its peers.

The second-largest US bank by assets, Bank of America trades at just 50 per cent of book value, compared to 90 per cent for JP Morgan Chase and 130 per cent for Wells Fargo. Bank of America took bigger losses than those rivals during the crisis, and still lags them by other key metrics, including return on equity and costs in relation to revenue.

While Bank of America showed some progress in 2015, it still has to prove it can generate consistent performance under Moynihan, who took the helm in 2010. During his tenure, the bank has paid tens of billions of dollars in fines and settlements related to mortgages that were issued before he became CEO. Bank of America ranks 10th among US auto lenders, with just 1.84 per cent of the market in the fourth quarter of last year, according to data released on Thursday by Experian Automotive. — Reuters

PHOENIX: Airbus is seeking airline support for a new 400-seat jetliner provisionally dubbed the A350-8000 as competition escalates with Boeing over the world’s largest two-engined jets, airline and aviation industry sources said.

After talking up the possibility of a new member of its A350 family, the European planemaker has swung into an active premarketing phase as it responds to a recent upgrade in the competing Boeing 777.

While Boeing has scored successes in the Gulf with its biggest ever twin-engined jet, the 406seat 777-9, Airbus is expected to aim its design at airlines that do not always require the performance needed for extreme Gulf conditions.

Lower seat-mile costs “It would have similar capacity and range (as the 777-9) and substantially lower seat-mile costs,” Airbus sales chief John Leahy said in an interview. “We are showing it to airlines right now.”

The project is the latest move in a game of leapfrog played by Airbus and Boeing over the past decade in the market for big twinjets, valued at about $1.9 trillion over 20 years.

It marks a shift in priorities after the oil price collapse eased pressure on Airbus to upgrade its

larger four-engined A380, output of which is declining because of slow sales.

Two airlines whose feedback could be decisive in whether Airbus launches the new jet are Singapore Airlines and British Airways.

Singapore took delivery of its first smaller A350-900 model this week and has long been weighing up the 777-9, while putting pressure on Airbus to offer it a choice.

Both airlines declined to comment.

Airbus planemaking president Fabrice Bregier was visiting Singapore on Thursday, where a spokesman declined to comment.

The A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body) family was launched after a string of setbacks in 2006 to compete with Boeing’s mid-sized 787 Dreamliner and the larger 777.

Boeing responded to the all-new jet by upgrading its existing 777 series to include the 777-9, which has outsold the A350-1000 by about 40 percent but has entered a lean period.

Boeing has disclosed 306 sales of 777-9s and a similar variant, while Airbus has sold 181 of its A350-1000s. “It is clearly an airplane that is on its own in the marketplace and the airplane is selling very well,” Boeing marketing chief Randy Tinseth told the Istat Americas air finance conference, referring to the latest 777 model.

Key decisions The new, bigger A350 would use a derivative of the latest RollsRoyce Trent XWB planned for the A350-1000. One person briefed on the plans said it would boost thrust from the current 97,000 pounds to just over 100,000 pounds.

Airbus believes this would compete well for the majority of airline needs and head off further 777-9 sales.

But some analysts said a key to the project would be how easily Rolls-Royce could expand a full slate of projects as it strives to cut costs, even if leaving the Gulf business to Boeing.

“This sounds like they are making a virtue of its lack of hot-andhigh performance compared to 777-9 when maybe it’s the case that Rolls can’t afford, or doesn’t want to, do a much bigger and substantially new engine,” said Nick Cunningham of UK-based Agency Partners.

One engine expert estimated the upgrade could cost half a billion dollars and require a bigger fan and new materials.

Rolls-Royce was not immediately available for comment.

To give the new A350 more capacity and compete with the 777-9 on long trips, Airbus would boost the maximum take-off weight to just over 319 tonnes, compared with 308 tonnes on the Airbus

A350-1000, the person briefed on the plans said. However it would sacrifice some range compared with the 8,000-mile A350-1000.

Airbus says it has not made a final decision on whether to launch a new A350 and will provide an update at the Farnborough Airshow in July.

A350 XWB family Meanwhile, it has been weighing up what to call the new member off the A350 XWB family, reflecting deeper decisions on market positioning that can affect billions of dollars in sales.

It needs to strike a balance between protecting sales of the A350-1000, by emphasising differences without weakening its long-held mantra of commonality between related aircraft.

Until now, the possible new model was widely known in the industry as the A350-1100, continuing a sequence from the 276-seat A350-800 to the 315-seat A350900 and 366-seat A350-1000.

Now, sources say it is being pre-marketed with a surprise new identity, the A350-8000, though a final decision has yet to be taken. An earlier working title was A350-1000 XL. Leahy confirmed that Airbus was reluctant to ratify the industry’s nickname of A350-1100 but declined to give details. — Reuters

B4

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

FEATURE

SELF-DRIVING CARS WILL THRIVE WITH REGULATION

Y

ou don’t often hear a libertarian praising a federal regulator when it starts offering “guidance” and “coordination” for some innovative industry.

Well, mark your calendars, folks, because here goes: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is preparing to get deeper into regulation of self-driving cars.

And that’s great news.

Readers know that I’m a sort of sceptical booster of self- driving cars.

I think that we will get there, eventually. And I’m certainly hoping it happens before I shuffle off this mortal coil. But I think that it will take longer than the less skeptical boosters hope, and that the road will be rockier than they are expecting, particularly in the US. The goal is to get to what experts call “Level 4 Automation,” a car that can truly pilot itself at all times without driver intervention. No commercially available car even yet has Level 3 automation, where the driver can cede control and read a novel while the car does the work, ready to take over when the car moves into a tougher environment, such as an urban street. “Self-driving” functionality in current cars is Level 2: The car does the work, but you have to have a hand on the wheel, ready to take over in a split second.

Level 2 automation is not really a self-driving car, and from the driver’s perspective, sitting there staring at the road and waiting for something to happen is probably worse than just driving the car. Moreover, since people don’t actually pay as much attention as they’re supposed to when using these features, these systems will probably also cause some accidents, even as they prevent others.

SOME BIG CHALLENGES ON THE WAY TO LEVEL 4

'Self-driving' functionality

Technology We think that computers are smarter than us, but what they actually are ferociously single minded. This makes it hard for them to deal with conditions that a human handles easily — like snow that obscures lane markers, or an emergency detour sign. Cars are already better than us at quickly noticing and predicting the movements of other cars. They’re much worse at dealing with the less expected adventures, the splendiferous array of surprises that fill everyday life. There are still a lot of gaps to fill in before a car can handle an urban street, or even a suburban culde-sac, where the computer has a lot more things than cars to deal with.

Regulation Regulators are by their very nature risk averse. Tragedies get laid at their door, while the main result of a success is that someone else gets the credit for whatever great new thing the regulator didn’t prevent from happening. Innovating in a heavily regulated area, such as the national highway system, is thus a bit of a challenge. In the US, this difficulty is compounded by the fact that state and local governments also like to get in on the action. To get self- driving cars on our roads, we need a comprehensive federal framework that encourages innovation.

Liability Self-driving cars will probably prevent thousands of accidental deaths every year. You would think that this would mean that liability costs would go down. However, it’s more

in current cars is Level 2: The car does the work, but you have to have a hand on the wheel, ready to take over in a split second.

complicated than that. Right now, in the overwhelming majority of car accidents, the liability resides with the driver. That places sharp limits on how much a plaintiff can expect to recover, because most people do not have much in the way of assets in excess of the value of their liability insurance. The expected value of an average personal injury suit is therefore modest.

Suing Ford, on the other hand, is a very different matter. Ford has a lot of assets, and juries are not shy about giving it to sympathetic people who have had something terrible happen. Self- driving cars will move the liability for accidents from drivers to deep-pocketed companies, so even though the number of accidents will go down, the expected value of filing a lawsuit will go up.

Ideally, regulators will establish some sort of safe harbor for companies that make these systems: comply with these standards, and you will be deemed to be shielded from judgment. Even more ideally, we’d move toward a no-fault standard for self-driving car accidents, something like our national vaccine injury programme: Everyone pays into the pool, and people who, say, get hit by a self-driving car that met applicable regulatory standards, will be eligible for scheduled damages without having to prove fault on the part of the manufacturer.

As you can see, there’s a long way to go before you can climb behind the wheel of a car, say “Home, Jeeves,” and take a nap. The good news is that, pegged to the State of the Union address, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced an initiative to help streamline the process. The presi-

dent’s fiscal 2017 budget proposes $4 billion for developing connected car systems, and that will certainly help.

More important, however, is that the NHTSA is moving forward to offer more regulatory guidance on how we get there.

That’s good news. As much as I love de-centralised, spontaneously ordered innovation, self-driving cars cannot be a free-form jazz odyssey.

There are too many human drivers still on the road, and too big a patchwork of state and local laws to handle. A federal agency with a clear vision needs to be at the helm.

The bad news comes in two pieces.

First, they’re pledging to develop better guidelines and work with states to come up with a consistent national policy.

We could still end up with stateby-state guidelines that are needlessly restrictive (like California’s insistence that self-driving cars must have steering wheels), or individual states could balk.

The other bad news is that the word “liability” appears nowhere in the regulator’s announcement.

That’s not surprising, really. NHTSA is a safety regulator, not a court of law, so liability isn’t really in its purview; that’s the job of state lawmakers. But someone needs to get a handle on this problem, lest the lawyers prevent automakers from putting more highly automated cars on the road — or early lawsuits set back the process by years.

Nonetheless, we are moving forward, and frankly, faster than I thought regulators would ever allow.

So two cheers for NHTSA. I’ll save the third cheer for when I see the actual guidance. — MEGAN MCARDLE/Bloomberg News

B

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

CONQUERING THE TOP 5 REASONS PEOPLE FAIL AT FITNESS Everyone can agree that regular exercise is important, so why do so many people struggle to stick with their fitness goals?

1 2 3 4 5 Challenge 1: I don’t have enough time to exercise.

Setting aside time to exercise can be a challenge, so it’s important to use a little creativity to get the most out of your time.

Squeeze in short walks: If you don’t have time for a full workout, don’t sweat it. Shorter spurts of exercise, such as 10 minutes of walking spaced throughout the day, offers benefits too.

Get up early: If your days are packed and the evening hours are hectic, get up 30 minutes earlier twice a week to exercise.

Drive less, walk more: Park in the back row of the parking lot or even a few blocks away and walk to your destination.

Revamp your rituals: Your weekly Saturday matinee with the kids could be reborn as your weekly bike ride, rock-climbing lesson or trip to the pool.

Challenge 3: I’m self-conscious about how I look. Fitness isn’t just about what you look like on the outside, it’s the inside as well. Remind yourself what a great favour you’re doing for your cardiovascular health, or focus on how much stronger you feel after a workout.

Challenge 2: I think exercise is boring. It’s natural to grow weary of a repetitive workout day after day, especially when you’re going it alone. But exercise doesn’t have to be boring.

Choose fun activities: You’ll be more likely to stay interested.

Remember, anything that gets you moving counts.

Vary the routine: Rotate among several activities - such as walking, swimming and cycling - to keep you on your toes while conditioning different muscle groups.

Join forces: Exercise with friends, relatives, neighbours or co-workers. You’ll enjoy the camaraderie and the encouragement of the group.

Explore new options: Learn new skills while working out.

Check out exercise classes or sports leagues at a recreation centre or health club.

Avoid the crowd: If you’re uncomfortable exercising around others, go solo at first. Try an exercise video or an activity-oriented video game.

Make an investment: Consider investing in home exercise equipment like a stationary bicycle, treadmill or a stair-climbing machine that you can use at home on your own time.

Focus on the future: Praise yourself for making a commitment to your health. Remember that as you become fitter and more comfortable exercising, your selfconfidence is likely to improve as well.

Challenge 4: I’m too tired to exercise. No energy to exercise?

Without exercise, you’ll have no energy. It's a vicious cycle. But breaking the cycle with physical activity is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Try a morning workout: Hop on the treadmill or stationary bicycle while you listen to the radio or watch the morning news.

Challenge 5: I can’t afford health club fees. You don’t need a membership at an elite gym to get a great workout. Consider easy and free alternatives. Do strengthening exercises at home: Use inexpensive resistance bands - lengths of elastic tubing that come in varying strengths - in place of weights.

Do pushups or squats using your body weight.

Make lunchtime count: Keep a pair of walking shoes at your desk and take a brisk walk during your lunch break.

Start a walking group: Round up friends, neighbours or coworkers for regular group walks. Plan routes through the neighbourhood, along local parks and trails, or in a nearby shopping mall.

Be prepared: Make sure you have comfortable shoes and loose-fitting clothes for exercising readily available at home and in your car.

Take the stairs: Skip the elevator when you can and climb the stairs.

Try your community centre: Exercise classes offered through a local recreation department or community education are often more budget-friendly than an annual gym membership.-BPT

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 2016

B6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL London Has Fallen (Action) –PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 1.30 PM Neerja (Action / Biography) –PG12 Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

@SUR

@RUWI

@STAR CINEMA

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI London Has Fallen (Action| Crime) PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3:15, 7:45, 9:45 & 11:45PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action | Drama | Thriller) 15+ Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 4:30 & 11:30PM Zootropolis (Animition) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 2:30, 4:30 & 5:30PM Very Big Shot – Arabic (Action| Drama) PG12 Cast: Alain Saadeh, Wissam Fares 6:30PM Jai GangaaJal (Hindi | Action | Drama) PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 8:45PM Kings of Egypt – 3D (Action) PG12 Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler 9:15 & 11:45PM Dead Pool (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) 12+ Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 2:30 & 7:15PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Dead Pool – 2D (12+) Action | Sci-Fi | Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 11:45 PM Gold Class – 5:00PM Theeb 2D (12+) Documentary Cast: Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhiyeen 4:35 PM Kings of Egypt – 2D (12+) Adventure Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster 12:15, 6:30 PM London Has Fallen – 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 9:30, 11:30 PM Gold Class – 3:00, 7:15, 9:15, 11:15 PM

Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Jiva & Hansika Matwani 3:30 & 9:30 PM Cinema -2 \ 6:30 PM Cinema Main

Jai Gangajal (Action) –PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha, Manav Kaul, Rahul Bhat 1.15 PM

Zootropolis – 3D (PG12) (Animition) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 12:00, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15 PM Race – 2D (PG) Biography | Drama | Sport | Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis 2:05 PM Jai GangaaJal (PG12) Hindi | Action | Drama | Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bha 8:55 PM

Zootropolis (3D) (Animation) (PG12) Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba.

12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:45 PM

3.30, 5.30, 7.30, 9.30 PM Zootropolis-3D (Animition) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 3:00, 5:30 PM Jai Gangaajal-2D (Action, Drama) (PG12) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 9:00 PM Kings of Egypt-3D (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster 3:15, 9:15, 11:45 PM Dead Pool-2D (action, Adventure) (12+) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 7:15, 11:30 PM Dead Pool-2D (action) (12+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 6:45 PM

PANORAMA MALL London Has Fallen-2D (Action, Crime)( PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3:30 ,7:30 ,9:30 ,11:30 PM London Has Fallen-2D (Action, Crime) (PG12)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3:45 ,9:00 ,11:00 PM Always be My Maybe-2D (Romance) (TBC) Cast: Gerald Anderson, Arci Muñoz 5:00 PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi 2D(15+) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 6:15, 11:45 PM Zootropolis (Animition) (MX4D) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba

Jai Gangaajal (2D) (Hindi) (Action) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, 12:30, 3:15, 6:00, 8:45, 10:00, 11:30 PM Neerja (2D) (Hindi) (Biographical) (PG12) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azami 5:45 PM Pokkiri Raja (2D) (Tamil) (Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Atharvaa Murali, Catherine Tresa 12:45, 8:45 PM Action Hero Biju (2D) (Mal) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith 8:30 PM RUWI Screen 1 Jai Gangajal (Action) –PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Jai Gangajal (Action) –PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha, Manav Kaul, Rahul Bhat 1.15 PM London Has Fallen (Action) –PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 4.00, 7.00, 10.00 PM Screen 3

AZAIBA Dead Pool (2D) (Action |Sci-Fi) (12+) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 3:30, 4:45 PM London Has Fallen (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 12:30, 2:45, 6:45, 8:00, 11:35 PM Kings of Egypt (3D) (Action | Fantasy) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 11:15 PM

Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 3:15, 8:45, 11:00PM Action Hero Biju – 2D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith 6:45PM

BAHJA CINEMA

SUR Zootropolis (3D) (Animation) (PG12) Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba.

12:30, 2:30, 4:30, 6:45 PM London Has Fallen (Action | Crime) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 2:45, 9:45, 11:45 PM. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: John Krasinski,James Badge Dale.

7:00, 11:30 PM. Jai Gangaajal (Hindi) (Action | Drama) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 12:00, 8:45 PM. King of Egypt - 3D (Action | Fantasy) (12+) Cast: Gerard Butler, Brenton Thwaites 4:35 PM.

BURAIMI London Has Fallen (Action| Crime ) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3.15, 5.00, 6.45, 9.00, 11.30PM. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 3.30, 9.00, 11.45PM. Zootropolis 3D (Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Gennifer Goodwin, Idris Elba 3.00, 5.00, 700PM. Jai GangaJal (Hindi | Action | Drama) (TBA) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 8.45, 11.00.

Kings of Egypt (3D) (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler.

6.30PM.

London Has Fallen: (Action / Crime / Thriller) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3.30, 8.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 351 (PG12)

SOHAR London Has Fallen – 2D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 2:45, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45PM Kings of Egypt– 2D (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coste 9:30PM Kings of Egypt– 3D (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster 11:35PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi – 2D (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 2:30, 8:15, 11:55PM Dead Pool– 2D (Action/Sc-Fi) (12+) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 6:00PM Zootropolis – 2D (Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 2:45PM Zootropolis – 3D (Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 4:45, 6:45PM Very Big Shot – 2D (Arabic) (PG12) Cast: Alain Saadeh, Wissam Fares 4:45PM Jai GangaaJal – 2D (| Action | Drama) (PG12)

SALALAH London Has Fallen (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 12:00, 2:15, 6:35, 9:45, 11:45PM Kings of Egypt (3D) (12+) (Action) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj Coster 6:35, 11:55PM Dead Pool (2D) (12+) (Action | Sci-Fi) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 4:25PM Race (2D) (PG) (Biography | Drama | Sport) Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis 4:15PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2D) (15+) (Action|Thrille) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 11:30AM, 2:00, 8:30, 11:15PM Zootropolis (3D) (PG12) (Animation) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin,Idris Elba 11:45AM, 2:15, 4:45PM Jai GangaaJal (2D) (PG12) (Hindi) (Action) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush, Mahesh Khedekar 9:00PM Action Hero Biju (2D) (PG12) (Mal) (Action) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith 7:00PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

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) Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

28 20

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

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

11.45 13.30 14.00

Action Hero Biju (Mal) (Act\Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anu Emmanuel 3:00 & 10:00 PM Cinema Main\ 6:30 PM Cinema-2 Jai Gangajal (Hindi) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Priyanka Chopra & Manav Kaul 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema-3 Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Jiva & Hansika Matwani 3:30 & 9:30 PM Cinema -2 \ 6:30 PM Cinema Main Kalyna Vaibhogame (Telugu) (Drama \ Com) Cast: Naga Shourya & Malavika Nair 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Next Change: Puthiya Nitamam (Mal) KADHALUM KADANDHU POGUM (TAMIL)) Programmes are subject to change

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

90-70% 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 lifestyle@timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

STAR CINEMA

0

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Kings of Egypt: (Adventure / Fantasy) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Gerard Butler 1.15 PM CP No: 341 (12+)

Minimum

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

Race: (Biography / Drama / Sports) Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree 2.00, & 5.30 PM CP No: 353 (PG)

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi: Cast: John, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale 4.30 7.00, 9.30. & 11.55 PM. CP No: 352 (15+)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

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

WITH LOVE

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.23pm 3.45pm 6.17pm 7.27pm 5.10am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

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 Polyclinc LLC 22004000 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, MARCH 5, 2016

B7

LIFESTYLE

T

iger is the biggest and one of the most endangered large cats. The word “tiger” comes from the Greek word “tigris,” which may have a Persian source.

Just 100 years ago, tigers roamed in large numbers across Asia, from Turkey to the eastern coast of Russia.

The numbers since have shrunk by 93 per cent. Nine subspecies of tigers once inhabited the forests of Asia. Now there are only six. Bali, Javan and Caspian tigers were driven to extinction in the past 50 years. Tiger subspecies include Bengal (Indian), Amur (Siberian, Manchurian, Ussurian and Northeast China tigers), Indochina, South China (Amoy and Chinese), Malayan and Sumatran.

FACT FILE (Exploring History, Science, and Nature)

Tiger

A popular icon The sheer size and beauty of the tiger has inspired myths in many cultures.

They are often depicted as emblems on flags and coats of arms. The Bengal tiger is the national animal of Bangladesh and India. Today, many sport teams use the tiger as a mascot. Since ancient times, tigers have been captured for royal menageries and trained for circus acts. Today, the practice of training wild animals for entertainment is highly controversial.

Life in the wild Females reach sexual maturity at 3 to 4 years of age, and males mature at 4 to 5 years. The tiger’s gestation period is about 3 months. Cubs are born blind and are around the size of a house cat.

An average litter size is three or four cubs, but usually only one survives to adulthood. The young leave their mothers at about 2 years. Tigers can

live up to 26 years. Humans are the greatest threat to tiger populations.

Did you know?

The legs of a tiger are so powerful that they can remain standing even when dead.

• After birth for the first week tigers are blind.

• The saliva of a tiger is antiseptic.

• Tigers never move in groups.

• Their tongue is covered with numerous small, sharp, rear-facing projections called papillae.

• Tigers can imitate the call of other animals and attract their prey.

• The weight of a tiger’s brain is over 300g and it is the second largest brain of all carnivores, the largest being the brain of a polar bear.

• On average, a tiger makes a large kill

every eight days, eating about 50 prey animals a year.

• July 29 is marked as Global Tiger Day. • Tigers shed their hair once or twice a year.

• The tail helps a tiger balance when it has to turn suddenly during a chase.

• A tiger can eat 60 pounds (27kg) of meat in one go.

• Sumatran tigers are the smallest tigers and have the darkest coats.

• Unlike most cats, tigers like water and are good swimmers.

-lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Questions & Answers When I’m in doubt...

I ask my father

I go crazy when...

I get something I wanted badly

One thing that puts me off...

Getting scolded by any adult

If I win a lottery...

I would buy a quad bike

One movie/book I can watch/ read over and over again...

Kung Fu Panda

CDUR

Crossword Puzzle ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

It’s better not to argue with...

Anybody

If I met an alien I would...

Run away

The scariest thing that I have done...

Went to the deep end of the pool when I didn’t know how to swim

ACROSS

If I could go back in history, I would like to meet My greatgrandfather

One skill I would like to learn...

Clicking selfies

JOHN FREDRICK

If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be...

Sweet ‘N’ Sour

One person I would trade places with (real or fictional) The wizard from Clash of Clans

If I had treasures I would hide them...

In a safe

The best way to my heart is...

Always being happy

Send your contributions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com. A good quality photo is compulsory. Lifestyle reserves the right to publish the contributions.

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 17 19

Pause Essayist’s pen name Coleridge friend Choir selections Graphic Zipped through Likewise not Makes catty remarks Speaker’s place Toast topper Hardy’s dairymaid Heroic deed Acorn bearer

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 34

Oktoberfest need Casper’s st.

Grope for words Quaint lodging Astronaut — Grissom Mdse. bars Aunt or bro.

Dolly the clone Not saying a word “Cradle of Love” singer 35 Mackerel cousin 36 Kiel conjunction

37 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 48

Pestered Rx directives Abandon, as a lover Erelong “Out, cat!”

Spreadsheet unit Facilitate Ceremony Parka closer Today

1 5 9 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 26 30 31 32 33 36 38 39 40 43 47 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Beatles tune UPS trucks Finish a “j” Woe is me!

Mouse target?

Stein filler Andean capital Reviews for correctness Scandal sheet Acapulco cash Impractical Large green parrot Brush off Give a high sign Desire Countenance Hard bench Anthology Cry of surrender Mr. DeLuise Double helix Golden Fleece seeker Geezers Deviates from the vertical Stock price increase Hawaii’s Mauna — Decorated tinware This, in Barcelona Explosive letters They fly by night Low-pitched

B8

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 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

Children’s Poetry

Pranav Sivakumar, Grade 3, Modern Intl School

Call Out My Name

Mihika Saraf Grade 3 Cbse-i - ISG

Snehith Jayakumar, Grade 6, ISAM

Alfred Benoy, Grade 2 , ISM

D.Maharadhi, Grade 1 , ISM

Call out my name, I will be the same, Together we look at the moon, When we met again soon.

We are sure to meet again, Every bite of grain, You will remember me, Listen to my words, Listen to me.

I will recognise you, And we will soon drive through.

I will weep a little, but I will be strong, In true friendship, nothing is wrong.

I will make you see the puppet show, Which you liked when we were small, You know sometimes our choices will change, Because we grow, Time goes further, And we will be best friends forever.

Gayathri Harikumar, Grade 2, ISM

V. Ria Thanmayee, Grade 6, ISWK

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

Send your contributions for Children’s Poetry to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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.

N A M K R A T S T I B J O H N

A C J T N E D L O G N O I K O

M T Y A N S H L L A H N N C T

OW Y O R N A I N R E O C R S E K A R C R T G N MA B K B F R R A A S T P X O E I E L I M

CLUE: AL PACINO MOVIES

Y T S E B E G P I R D N N E O

T R O S B I E N L V A O K E S

F O M B G U M T E L E S G F H

E S N L U O R A A L E N C F I

L S I Y N R M K R C G W I O M

H E A T E O N O E V O L O C S

E C A F R A C S E N I V E L E

T N A H C R E M L L I J D O L

A A U T H O R E D I S N I A F

SOLUTION: 7 LETTERS

Actor, Advocate, Author, Bank, Bergman, Best, Bits, Brasco, Burke, Burns, Coffee, Corleone, Frank, Gigli, Glengarry, Godfather, Golden, Hall, Heat, Himself, Insider, Insomnia, Jack, Jill, John, Jonas, Lefty, Levine, Limos, Lion, Love, Lowell, Merchant, Milton, Montana, Park, Roma, Ross, Scarface, Scent, Seat, Sonny, Starkman, Text, Tony, Venice, Vincent, Woman.

Answer: Serpico

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, M A R C H 5, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

SALE OF OWNERSHIP OF INSTITUTE A new fully furnished institute with one UK brand English learning franchise program with study materials at prime location, near City Center, near Shell Petrol Pump, Mawelah, Muscat.

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

infoduqumoil@gmail.com or call on GSM 92828693

C2

S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 5 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

Luxury flat for rent in Bareeq Al Shatti building Spacious 2 BHK with sea view, split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliance.

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

New deluxe 2 BHK flats with swimming pool gymnasium at Athaibah, Bousher spacious 5 BHK villa at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 99369081 Villa for rent four spacious bedroom attached bath, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) with electrical equipment and free maintenance, secured compound at Madinat Al Illam. Contact – 98027975 2 BHK flat for rent Darsait near Muscat Pharmacy, ISM. Contact: 95158570 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 Conditioned room with toilets in Al Khuwair. Contact: 92620858 /92605500 1bedroom ground floor apartment with sitting & 1 Bath + kitchen close to Indian school near to Maya supermarket Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99485834 Flats in Al Khuwair, Al Ghobrah, Al Hail & Seeb. Contact: 92125648/95250300/24182000 Villa in Seeb near the beach and Dreams Resort.

Contact: 92125648/95250300 Flats in Wadi Kabeer, MBD, Darsait, Hamriya & Sidab. Contact: 92125648/95250300/24182000 Villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92125648/25250300 2 BHK Muttrah near Oman House with A/Cs. Contact: 95915154

2 BHK fully furnished flat at Ruwi MBD area. Contact – 93211557 / 24814853 1BHK near medical Darsait R.O 180/Contact: 95076261 Villa in Al-Khuwair 33. Quality Finishing. Consist 5 Bedrooms, 1 Living room, 3 Lounges, All with A/C, Kitchen and storage.

Contact: 90665135 1000sqm two rooms with compound well at Misfah Sanaiya.

Surround huge open land for trailer movement, Suitable for tile, sanitary ware, building materials etc store. Contact: 99342733 /99795241 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241 1000 SQMTRS industrial land in Ghala suitable foe ware house work shop ETC. Contact: 24700120/92584715 2 Bed rooms flats with hall 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat municipality. Contact: 92584715 Villa and flats for rent in AL Amerat (Al Atkeya). Contact: 99425184

WELL FURNISHED OFFICE SPACE & CAMP ACCOMODATION

AVAILABLE FOR RENT IN GHALA INDUSTRIAL AREA Ideal for workers, staff members Catering facility option available &

4WDs/Pick up’s/Heavy Vehicles are available for sale on as is where is basis.

The vehicles can be inspected at our premises at Ghala.

Contact : 94057473

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT (Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse & staff accommodations Please contact: G.S.M

99417229/92621039

Flats 2 bedroom Majlis, 2 toilet, kitchen balcony near Indian school Darsait new building rent R.O 275/Contact: 99243059

Room wanted column one bedroom flat with two toilets required near Al Falaj Rex Road area.

Contact: 98411825/96245923

To spend interesting times with family or friends a new park for rent in Al Amerat near Sultan Center for details. Contact: 99332273 Whatsapp 95806364

Flat for rent 2 room, 2 toilet with A/C, Walja, Honda Road 250/-.

Contact: 90465850

Building and house in Al Amerat near Bahwan stores suitable for big store and resident for workers for details. Contact: 99332273 Whatsapp 95806364 New flats for rent at Al Ghobrah near to atlas hospital the flats includes 2 living room , 1hall , kitchen , toilets , air conditioned room & high Quality finishing rent per flat is R.O 375/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 97093283 Inducting Land in Misfah near Hal services & Al Awazi 950 sqm with 3 rooms , 5 bathroom, boundary wall 2 sides road facing & large parking in front.

Contact: 99454425/99364007

2 Bedroom flat for rent (OMR 330) at Mumtaz area, Ruwi, along with full furniture (OMR 1000) for sale. Interested families contact 92180281 2 Room, 2 Bathroom, kitchen cat parking 200 Rails.

Contact: 92005298 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

2 BHK A/C split, available near Al Nahdha Hospital.

Contact: 96987335/99572460 1 BHK flats for rent behind OTE service station Wadi Kabir.

Contact - 98027975

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 Flat for rent in Hamriya.

Contact 99341112 Warehouse for rent at Ghala Ind. Area.800 & 2500 approx sqms Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holiday Ghala. Container can enter. Immediate access to roads & highways.

CONTACT: 94583320 Flats for rent 2BHK sitting room, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, big balcony split A/C Wadi AL Kabir 300/R.O. Contact: 99324402 Flats in Darsait. 9405178997201688 2BHK split A/C 320/- monthly & 1 BHK split A/C 250/- Ghobrah south near Grand mosque.

Contact: 99342661

Warehouse at wadi Kabir 300SQM – 6 MTR, height. Contact: 99711949 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). 94051789-97201688 Single room with A/C & WIFI having separate entrance for non –cooking Indian executive, near Rawasco, AL Khuwair rent 130/- (W& E). Contact 92888691/95397442/97201100 Room Al Khuwair R.O 110/-.

Contact: 97799175 Flat with two rooms with window A/C, with toilets & car parking way No: 1670 north Al Hail near Dosteen restaurant 1KM Inside.

Contact: 99238334 3 BHK flats 2Nos with A/C new building behind Muscat bakery opposite Mars supermarket at Wadi AL Kabir.

Contact: 99338133/92103604 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. Contact: 99342661

Full furniture room for rent for family monthly 200/- .

Contact: 99251975

3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/Monthly. Contact: 99342661

Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 94051789-97201688

Flats in Muttrah. Contact: 94051789-97201688

S AT U R DAY, M A R C H 5, 2 0 1 6

C3

DAILY GUIDE

BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALE Running shop with paint machine for sale in kadra

FOR RENT Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665 Wadi Kabir new building 2 bedrooms rent. Contact: 99313274 2 BHK flat behind Nesto hypermarket with split A/C R.O 220/.

Contact 91642157/97653524 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Flats for rent in Ruwi Mumtaz area 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500 Flat for rent in Al Hail south 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500 Shop for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 2 BHK Flats for rent, Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 Offices in Ghala.

Contact: 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.94051789-97201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

94051789-97201688 For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789-97201688 Ghobrah. Big bedroom, bathroom, huge terrace. Non-cooking Indian female/male - Manager/Sr. Exec.

Vegetarian non-drinkers only.

Contact 99283938 Flat, 1 bedroom, kitchen, toilet in AL Khuwair family bachelors R.O 160/-. Contact: 95154331 House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with 3 room+ 5 toilet+ hall+ living room+ kitchen.

Contact 98885055/ 92744168

Commercial flats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/- #91776665 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex.

RO.3.5 per m2. Contact 91776665 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact - 9405178997201688 Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665

-

Prime location with good daily sales 260 Square meters Warehouse facility Staff accommodation Interested parties may call 9322 3382 or mail to cs@mpesllc.com

FOR SALE New & used (refurbished) Porta cabin with ablution for sale.

Pleases Contact: 97143704 or email: rsttllc@gmail.com Treadmill heavy 120kgs new OMR 140/- with massager.

Contact: 92670572 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location.

Contact- 99627621, 93240949 Steel rack sets (Godown).

Contact: 94521205 Well established coffee shop / restaurant prime location at AL Khoud.

Contact: 92188777/98700760 Big shop for sale near K.M Trading Ruwi. Contact: 99636476 Nursery School for sale. Well established Nursery school running for over 18 years in Muscat with all Furniture, Play Equipments, Licenses & Permits for immediate sale. Whatsapp: 99353017 Email: nurserymuscat@gmail.com Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665

Fire rated portacabins and steel caravans. ContacT: 94058574

Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/- Contact – 91776665

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos can be sent 95865457

Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact 9405178997201688

Luxury Apartments in Bousher (35). 95056808-97201688

Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking.

RO.300/-Contact – 91776665

Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278

1BHK Flat with spilt A/C near star cinema 210/-. Contact: 99358589/95570288 /97079146

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. # 94051789-97201688

Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565

Flat for rent south Al Mabela.

Contact: 95331177/95230355

Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

Dental clinic for sale in Seeb.

Contact: 92882209/96373097

1B/R apartment executive fully furnished at AL Khuwair 33 & 5 B/R villa unfurnished at Madinat Al Ilam & 5 B/R villa furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & rent a car LLC -24834888/ 99249069/92888376/94617563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com

Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789-97201688

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

Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. # 94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished room with AC, Fridge and TV. At Hilat Al Saad near Main road. Contact: 95714202 Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Sharing acc. Available near Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 97242114 Self contained furnished room in decent villa for rent at Ghobrah North, Contact 92595830/24495667.

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket.

Contact: 96202458/96761960 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for executive bachelor opposite OC centre Ruwi.

Call: 92273779 Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan villeage.

Contact: 93687466 Single rooms with kitchen available at Ruwi. Contact: 91214897/98049288 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 9304 9849

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

NRI Furnished Apartment for sale at near Nedumbassery Airport.

Contact: 92394014

ACC.WANTED Required single room for an executive lady (non cooking) in Darsait, Ruwi, Wadi Kabir.

Contact - 98591132 Accommodation required with food for 1 month, bachelor for March month. Preferably Al Ghobrah area. Contact: 99335742

FOR SALE Villas in Al Khoud. 9505680897201688 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact: +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

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

MANPOWER

Land for Sale. House Plots for Sale in Athrampuzha, Kottayam very close to MG University. Please contact 99412383(Oman) or 00918129917061(India) Flat for sale Kerala Thiruvananthapuram 3 bed room Flat in cyber Palm (SFS) Area 1860sqf Flat in cyber gate way, Area 1159.

Cont no +91 99-95-674657, 00968 92967614.

MATRIMONIAL Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom.

Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

AVAILABLE

Hindu Boy -30 Yrs MBA Finance Graduate working in Muscat seeking alliance of Hindu girl only.

Contact: 98278401 Pentecostal girl 27 yrs / 154 cm, MSC soft Eng, working in Muscat invite proposal from Pentecostal parents of highly qualified God fearing boys. Contact: 95227395 RCSC female BSC nurse (Christian) working in Sur ministry hospital seeking good alliances from well settled families.

Contact: 98055621/97929487 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact: 96059801.

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash. Contact: 90202090

CHANGE OF NAME I John Mohammed Tanki (holder of Indian passport No. G 7945542) Son of Nazir Ahmad Tanki having permanent residence in Mir Mohalla Malarata P/O SR. Gunj (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in P.B No 381, postalcode 121, Seeb (complete postal in Oman) intend to change my name from John Mohammad Tanki (old name) to Tanseer Ahmad Tanki (new name) for all practical purpose.

Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, diplomatic Quarters, AL Khuwair, P. Box No, 1727 postal code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

LOST Sahinur Begum has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. F 0779623.

Finder please handover to ROP

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

C4

S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 5, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

URGENTLY REQUIRED A leading Electrical Contracting Company urgently required an

Electrical Engineer with 5 to 8 years experience in HT & Substation works for Medc & Mazoon jobs.

A valid Oman driving license & NOC is mandatory.

Contact- Email: recruitmentmuscat2015@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED

A leading Oil and Gas EPC company is looking to hire competent and energetic candidates who have an experience in EPC Oil& Gas projects with mechanical and piping background. The Candidates should have gulf experience and preferably with GCC driving license.

Project Manager Construction Manager QA/QC inspector HSE supervisor Piping supervisor Piping foreman

: : : : : :

Minimum 20 years experience Minimum 18 years experience Minimum 12 years experience Minimum 5 years experience Minimum 15 years experience Minimum 15 years experience

Kindly send your CV to: recruitmentoman123@gmail.com

For an Infra/ Bldg project in Duqm/Oman Graduate Engineer with 20+ years experience preferably in Oman/ GCC with valid D/L and transferable visa, computer literate.

Send CV to Email :

Vacancy for the post of PRO for a shipping company in Sohar 97990844 - mail id: operations@arabianseabridge.com

Indian male 32 yrs (B.com) having 8 years accountant experience in Oman looking for suitable placement local release Oman D/L available.

Contact: 97494322/98093515

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid required for Keralite family in Sohar with good package.

PH: 97034674, 93558111 Looking for a part-time cookcum-housemaid in Azaiba.

Call 92450197.

Required Cleaners & Office boys.

Contact 24707833

DRIVER We are looking for a driver for restaurant. Contact - 95048797 Light duty driver for office work.

Contact: 92341826 Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698 Part or full time Driver Required call us 91120552

ENGINEER Civil Engineer with minimum 5/8 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615 MEP Engineer minimum Diploma 5 years experience in building construction and with driving license. Contact- Fax- 24478522 / Email – gh1.careers@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

SALES / MARKETING

Urgently required fiber Optic Technician / splicer EXPO OTDR FTB -1 testing & power meter report excellent package get N.O.C or refer splicer from anywhere.

Send C.V mathersahra@gmail.com.

Contact: 91688007

We, the storm shield in the talented candidates for the below positions (Indian only): Sales man for mobile devices (male-2) (1 Indian & Philippine) should have 3 years Oman experience knows English & Arabia.

Contact: 94441111 Send CV to email: gshield9@gmail.com

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

MEDICAL Nurse required for a dental clinic in Al Khuwair. Contact 95114616 GP doctor needed for reputed clinic.

Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Wanted Nurse for a dental centre in capital area. Interested may contact – 93431024 or send CV to – drasyanaseem@gmail.com Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Challenging tyres Omani companies seeking for Sales Man only an tyres division sales minimum 2 years experience send CV to saeed@liwainvestments.com Required male / female Marketing person for man power Supply Company with minimum 3 years experience with valid GCC / Oman driving license.

Contact: 97158893 / 94148972.

Kindly send CV at Email: rastllcmuscat@gmail.com Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

Omani or European female Sales representative required for part time please send CV to gcpe16@ gmail.com with expected salary An Omani construction company located at Muscat looking for Marketing executive with GCC driving license & NOC send C.V to kwk585@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING We, the storm shield in the talented candidates for the below positions (Indian only): Maintenance Technician (male -1) should have knowledge of new mobile devices & 3 years Oman experience Contact: 94441111 Send CV to email: gshield9@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Diploma (Electrical Engineering) from Government polytechnic.

Age 27 years, 6 years Experience in troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 92995899,

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Part time Accounting / Data entry services. Contact: 93477447 Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization as per IFRS, Audit Preparation, Project Report, Training for Accountants, Internal Audit, Accounting System for New Companies, Contact: 96975454, email:ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian male 28 yrs MBA finance/ marketing and graduate in computer experience 3 yrs seeking suitable job, now family visit visa.

Contact: 93195378 Email: faisalme.beg677@gmail.com

Jordanian, Senior accountant, 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accountant. Contact: 92881223

Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder. Currently looking for job in Oman. Interested employer contact - 97728418.

ADMIN Indian, 26 yrs , female , 5 yrs exp in HR/ Admin with valid Oman D/L seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98236033 Indian male, MBA (HRM) Bilingual (Arabic / English) 15+ Oman experience HR Admin, office coordination, secretarial, inventory etc.

Contact: 94663657 Indian male (26) diploma, 6 years experience as office asst & Admin asst. Now on visit visa looking for suitable position.

Contact: 92600859

Indian male 40years experienced about 12 years in banking credit risk department UAE and INDIA with UAE driving license, on visit visa looking for suitable opportunity, please contact mobile# 91305978 E-mail Hani.leo@gmail.com

Indian C.A finalist having 7 years exp in Finance field, looking for a suitable position with license and NOC. Contact – 98097009

15 years of working experience in Business development in Oman & UAE & UK , marketing plans and strategies & importing firewoks for festivals & preparing government tenders , Operations and logistics , importing and international business trading , CNC engineering & industrial areas , I have dual nationality (I can travel abroad easily without needing visa, for finalizing business trading NOC available.

Contact: 94123939

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah.

More than 20 years exp in accounting job (up to finalization of accounts) 8 years working experience in middle east in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah. Contact - 91325029 Experienced Accountant seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 96902860 Accounting Asst, BBA Mcom Tally Peach Tree ph: 98269281 25 Years/Male Indian/B.com with 2 Years Experience/Seeking Job in Finance and accounts/Skills Tally ERP9/SAP-FICO/MS Office. Immediately Joining.

Contact No: +96897184087 Email: modi_harshal@ymail.com Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/full time accountant job.

Contact: 95598477/98803439 Indian male 25 B.Com (graduate) 2 years experience as accountant in country club India with ERP oracle r12, tally knowledge. On visit visa immediately available.

Email: shabi.hyd@gmail.com Contact- 9042-1161 Indian male MBA (F) with 6 years of experience as accountant proficiency in A/C software like tally, focus, Sap (FICO) seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98665219 Email: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com Indian Male 28, M. Com with 3 yr Oman exp in Accounts with valid D/L on visit Visa available to join immediately. GSM: 94744575.

Email:sidharth673@gmail.com

8 years of intensive Oman experience in procurement & supply chain management looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97755488

Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

Indian male 7 years Oman exp, Tally ERP 9, Accounting, Inventory Controller/Asset Supervisor & IT Supports seeking suitable job. NOC available. B.COm, PGDCA, location Sohar, having Oman D/L. Contact 98317698.

Email: sukuanilkumar@gmail.com

Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization, on Monthly basis finalization and consulting works.

Contact: 96247295

Indian female (25) M.com Finance, 3 yrs, exp in accounts / finance seeks suitable position in corporate finance / Banking / consulting purchase coordination / Admin. Now in family visa.

Contact: 96953705 Email: prapullasuvarna@gamil.com

Female business graduate from UK with four years experience in procurement purchasing expediting logistics and supply chain in UAE seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 99581399

Accountant gulf exp 4 years.

Contact 96718001

Sri Lankan lady experienced in key accounts, Market Demand planning & Communications, Brand/Sales in multinationals seeks placement in Muscat.

Contact 98250829

ADMIN

Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955

Indian male MBA / HR and marketing 2 years experience in royal bank of Scotland looking for opportunities in banking operating marking and HR services excellent communication Kills.

Contact: 90661245

Senior Accountant B.com work exp gulf, 8 years Indian 5 years.

Contact: 94364672/95517130

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Required Beautician for beauty Saloon at Ghobrah. Clearance / visa available. Contact- 95924910

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

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

Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law firm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English both written & spoken.

Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

BEAUTICIAN

Accounts Manager 24 years working experience 8 years in Oman looking managerial position with family status interested to work construction or manufacturing trading organization. Contact: 95919546

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com

ADMIN

Accountant with gulf experience in construction field preferred with Oman driving license. Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615

Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687

Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com

omanproject2011@gmail.com

Required female Accountant postgraduate in commerce email: mailcv7@gmail.com fax: 24784202

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. # 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com

REQUIRED PROJECT MANAGER

Required Accounts Officer- ensure accurate processing of revenue data into ERP systems and invoicing module. Posting of invoices to customer SAP portal and delivery to customer offices and interface with country manager/ reporting to regional CEO. Qualifications: BSc accounting.

Relevant experience & knowledge on online accounting systems especially the customer SAP system. Submit CV to: me-job@interwell.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian male 40 years MBA with 11 years experience in Admin & HR as HR & Admin manager with valid Oman license seeking suitable placement release/ NOC available . Contact: 97782843 Email: vinodhpkd@yahoo.com Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030 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

CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job.

Contact 99531802

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Interior Designer Seeking suitable job. On visit visa in Oman.

Contact - 92166130 Interior designer 4years experience design and supervision skills (3D Max AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 95246737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com Autocad Drafting, part time/ full time, 2D & 3D, Architectural, Structural, MEP, Shop drawing , experienced. Ph: 90189070 AutoCAD draftsman experience 2 years. Contact: 93738335 /95809393 Email: mammoosing@gmail.com

DRIVER Pakistani light looking job 3 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 93711608 Seeking driver job with own car.

Contact: 98031620 Bangladeshi male light driver looking for job 3 exp.

Contact: 93254149 Bangladeshi male light vehicle driver looking for job.

Contact: 91359624 Driver with car 3 yrs exp, looking part time job.

Contact – 97456062 Looking for driver, electrical & plumbing job.

Contact - 92360040 Pakistani light driver looking job.

Contact 95604741 Light driver. Contact: 96756014 Pakistani male 30 years with 4 years experience in driving license (Oman) light.

Contact: 97469730 Light vehicle driver GCC license seeking for job. Contact: 94801679

Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics. Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786

Looking for job driver 10 yrs exp.

Contact: 99035942

Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position.

Contact - 99897280

Light driver with car.

Contact: 96379697

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 license .

Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288 Indian Male, B.Com, MBA with 3 years GCC experience seeks Administration job in Muscat. Valid Oman & UAE D/L available.

Visit visa & can join immediately.

Contact: 00968 98896847 mail: tssavad@gmail.com

Indian light driver cum house cleaner. Contact: 96255558 /99415443

Looking for job car driver.

Contact: 98388947

EDUCATION/TRAIN Indian female 25years M.C.A on family visit required suitable placements also interested in teaching. Contact: 94017133 Email: ranjitharose04@gmail.com Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

S AT U R DAY, M A R C H 5, 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Diploma Electrical candidate looking for suitable job having two years experience in electrical utilities maintaining and plant maintenance.

Contact: 94652387

EXPERT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech Indian male 5 years experience Indian and Oman (PDO projects) currently on visiting visa & NOC available (as per new rule). Contact: 94258289

HSE Engineer MSc & B.Tech (safety & fire) 6 yrs overall exp in O & G project & construction. Available immediately with clean NOC. Hold valid D/L Oman, owns a car.

Contact – 94616721 / aibelg19@gmail.com

Electrical diploma Engineer with 1.5 years experience in AutoCAD designing for LV constructions and diesel generator maintenance looking actively for job in Oman.

Contact: 92171858/90595609 Email: nelsondas213@gmail.com

HSE Engineer (BE Mech + Dip in Safety+ NEBOSH + OSHA), 10 yrs exp, NOC Available, seeking suitable placement: Mob: 97061817; email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com 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.SC civil Engineer, road construction field with 13 years experience in Oman. Contact: 92200485 Indian male having 8 years experience in Electronics & Communication looking for job in Muscat, having engineering degree in Electronics & communication and diploma in Electronics.

Contact: 92524668 BE Electrical Engineer looking for suitable job experience in plant electrical utility maintenance Trans for men PLC driver panel control wiring or crane air compression. Contact: 90628814 Sudanese mechanical Engineer, 2 years experience HVAC firefighting, on visiting visa.

Contact 95630047 Sudanese civil Engineer holding bachelor with two years of experience in Oman has resident visa and valid license. Contact: 94393880 Indian male 31 years Civil Engineer diploma holder 4 years experience in Oman need placement N.O.C available.

Contact: 93298395 HSE & Fire Safety Engineer 4 years experience air port operational safety, power & chemical industry. Contact: 94374241 22 Years exp in Gulf civil building construction project manager.

Contact – 0097430824610 / arshadjamalkhan@rediffmail.com Civil Engineer B.E 12 years experience with valid Oman driving license NOC available.

Contact: 93843448 Sudanese civil Engineer three years experience with NOC. Contact: 96297316 Email: abdallakoty22@gmail.com Architect Engineer 8 years experience in construction field, designing and supervision (AutoCAD, Archi CAD, 3D Max).

Contact: 94370767 B.Tech Electronics & comm. Engg & MBA Degree in operation management with five years experience in optical fiber planning coordination etc. Contact: 94819139 Engineer in 14 yrs experience in project execution & operation all kinds of Mech / civil & interior decoration with license.

Contact: 97070527 Pakistani male seeking job site supervisor (civil) age 24 years with 2 years experience ( Oman) valid Oman driving (license ) light.

Contact: 94712273 Indian Male Degree Holder BE (civil) having 11 years of Oman experience with valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable job .NOC available and ready to join immediately. Mobile: 93803950.

Mail:kavinvasi2007@gmail.com

Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 98805474

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

Engineer has 10 years local & international experience in ready mix concrete also in Oil & gas filed also in marketing & sales field , has Omani driving license.

Contact : 92534098

AUTOCAD D/MAN, diploma civil engg. 3 Yr , certificate attested , in visit visa , expecting salary : 200 omr. Contact - 99506977

Chemical laboratory analysis acquired knowledge of laboratory and chemical safety Sudan university of science and technology. Contact 90644755

Contact: Tel - 96500729 k.profitoman@gmail.com

Indian male 22, Chemical Engineer residing in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92379181

REVIT (ARCH), Diploma Civil 3yr , in visit visa , exp. Salary : 250 PH : 92279784

MISCELLANEOUS

For your BPR, guide finance & HR & RM, advise product marketing & CRM, appraise IT system for reporting & communication.

Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 919605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil Engineer (B.sc) 5yrs exp. in const. with Oman D/L. Contact: 96045025 Email:talal.faroug@gmail.com

Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com 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 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 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Indian male, 36 years, BE (electrical), MBA 12 years exp (maintenance of electrical equipment, transformer, grid & sail, RSP exp in India, looking for suitable job in Oman, please Contact: 00919437648101 Mail Id: kushikkumarsahoo@rediffmail.com

Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270

B.SC Civil Engineer 27 yrs Oman experience as project manager, structural Engineer looking for suitable placement NOC/ LOCAL transfer available. Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com

Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com

BE Mechatronics and robotics Engg and basic knowledge in computers and CNC Operations. multilingual skills age 23, looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92552789 Email: ashwinreghu3@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

Mechtronics Engineer, Indian male 2 yrs exp in industrial automation & maintenance, seeking suitable job. Presently on visiting visa. Contact – 97315735 / jithinm717@gmail.com

Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com

Indian B.E civil Engineer 25 years experience in gulf looking for a suitable placement with driving license noc available.

Contact: 94867039

Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com

B. SC Building & architectural Engineer male 26 having 2 years of experience in architectural designing & construction supervision of building projects currently on visit visa seeking suitable position in Muscat. Contact: 95626378 Email: waqasbashir65@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (male) with 2 years experience in project & production field seeking suitable jobs now on visit visa.

Contact: 94823009/94223483 Email: jisso.joseph@outlook.com

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598

Civil Engineer 5 Years exp 2 years in Oman as QS. Seeking for part time job as QS. Contact- 91507508

Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113

Structural Engineer, 8 yrs experienced in flat slab, post tensioned & slab-beam multi story building design & supervision with driving license. Contact: 98256860

Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com

Indian male 23 years B.E in mechanical fresher and have CSWIP certification on visit visa seeking employment foe mechanical jobs as entry level.

Contact 98422072 Email Id: j-joel92@yahoo.com

Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Omani HSE supervisor. Email: jeebal3000@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95345591

Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

Indian Engineer, B. Tech (Mech), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), 23 yrs experience, 5 years in Oman in the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager with Oman Driving License seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99744612. E-mail: deleepkumarpk@gmail.com Indian Male B. Tech, 10+ years of extensive work experience in various aspects like Computer Networking, Technical Support, Management and Engineering with good communications, interpersonal and technical skills seeks suitable opportunity.

Now in Oman on Visit Visa

GSM : 9489 8009, Email : bios4u@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Hospitality Degree 5 yrs exp holding Dubai driving license.

Contact - 91234870 Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/ Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/ COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

IT IT Administrator B.Tech C.C.N.A, M.C.S.A, 5 years experience in GCC, looking suitable placement.

Contact: 92339064 (+919633836307) Sudanese net work Engineer holding IT BACHELOR (CCNA, CCNP, and MCSE) has one year experience and license.

Contact: 92394485 IT support Eng graduate 5 yrs exp, Oman D/L, NOC available Indian.

Contact- 92101839 INDIAN Male 25 B.com (graduate) hold 2 years experience as accountant with ERP oracle R12, Tally, focus knowledge. On visit visa immediately available.

Email shabi.hyd@gmail.com Contact- 968-9042-1161 Pakistani male 27 years IT Engineer computer skill ms office, excel, word, net working installation for mating, window, intent and data curtly, Oman experience 2 years. Contact: 94568628 Indian male 25 years BSC (C.S) with basic hardware and software knowledge seeks suitable placement now on visit visa.

Contact: 92319677 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact : 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com

LOGISTICS Indian Male, 36 years, over 16 years’ Stores, Logistics and Import Export, experience with US based MNC, seeks suitable placement.

Mob: 9822 6568

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, University M.Com, Working as an Accountant & Administrator in Oman; searching better job. Phone: 94864966 Email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com

A lady entrepreneur with BF Tech 1st Class (Fashion Technology) since 2006 in Kerala like to make change for better. Specialized in designing, Production Management, Fashion Art, Grading, Surface ornamentation, Garment Construction.

Email: prettyjinu08@gmail.com Mobile: +919539397097.

MANAGER Indian Female, M.B.A, 8 Yrs of Exp in Oil and Gas sector, working as an Unit Manager for MNC, also worked as a BDM, seeking suitable placement immediately.

Contact 99179709 20 years experience in Oman plumbing Foreman N.O.C Release available.

Contact: 93054511/95441583 Indian well experienced personal assistant/executive office manager/ senior administrator / commercial executive with license looking for a change. release letter available – 99168054 mbkishore@hotmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license with vehicle, looking for suitable position.

GSM :94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com

MEDICAL Indian female Dentist specialized endodontic looking for a suitable placement prometric completed.

Contact: 96410448 Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com Indian male Nurse on visit visa having 8.5 years of experience with valid parametric ACLS, BLS dataflow completed seeking jobs in Muscat.

Contact: 96925790/95579716 Email: libinmvarghese@gmail.com Indian male Nurse 32 years Oman parametric and data flow completed 8 yrs emergently experience.

Contact: 92463190 Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074 Female Biomedical Engineer Be with 4 years experience in India, Tamil Nadu ( TN MSC) looking for a job in biomedical hospital Field.

Contact: 92942479 /+918122572471 An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761

SALES / MARKETING Sales supervisor / Sales man / Cashier Indian male 26 years having 2 years Oman experience in retails looking for suitable placement. Contact: 90318481 Indian female 24 B.Com, M.Com having 1 year exp, customer relation executive, seeks suitable placement. Contact – 95128242 / naiji43@gmail.com Salesman cum driver with car.

Contact: 91362320 MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian Male 28 MBA Marketing with 4 years of experience in sales with good communication skills now available in Muscat on visit visa. GSM 95840153 / Mail akbarshareef786@gmail.com MBA (UK) with 2 years experience in Oman seeks placement in Business development / sales.

Omani D/L.Contact: 98108979 Indian female having 10 years experience in logistics & sales coordinator exp in SAP Ms Office valid D/L currently on visit visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact 95251911 Indian male (31 yrs) sales supervisor, total 9 yrs gulf exp, 4 yrs in Oman with valid GCC D/L with NOC, release & transferable visa.

Contact: 94014327 Email: praveenkotian188@gmail.com Indian female, MBA Marketing with 4 years experience with NOC & D/L seeks employment with visa.

Contact: 92460623 Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com Indian male 3 years as sales representative looking for suitable placements. Contact: 94420033 Email: ssidisking@gmail.com MBA / UGC, NET / Male /25 .2 years experience in channel sales / relationship management with a leading Indian telecom company schooling form Oman Now on visit visa. Contact: 96914068 Email: mailanasap@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com Indian male, 6 years of sales experience in Oman with Oman driving license, NOC / Release available.

Contact: 95440908 Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, accountant 2 year experience doing accounts in Tally and Excel. Searching for suitable job. Contact: subbayan_r@gmail. com GSM: +918098637908 BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions”Contact-90637918 / 99335742, email: aquasharath@gmail.com Looking for a part time job for drawings struc. BBS Q/S & piping/ pipeline auto cad work.

Contact- 92103713.

Job Wanted as a Music Teacher Classical Vocal Music, Having 3 years India Exp.Contact- 90310876 Homeopathic Doctor having 2 years experience seeks suitable placement.Contact-93615169, geethasreenathnn@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact: Kamran (hkamran112@gmail.com), +44 7480 1196 74. +968 93595050 25 year old male B.Com and insurance graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations.

Driving license and NOC available.

Contact-95236312. lilommca@gmail.com MCA with 13+ yrs of teaching.

Worked as PGT (Comp Sc.) in CBSE Board Schools, 2 yrs experience in s/w development. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 90477217 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. Salary is negotiable.

Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746 mohdnaveed043@gmail.com Indian Male Accountant I have 2 year better experience in accounting field. I can do all my accounts in Tally and Excel searching for suitable job. Contact: contactsubbayan5@gmail.com GSM : +918098637908, +919087776759 Indian female 23 BA economics with computer knowledge looking for the post of Administration dept or day care or sales please Contact 96155921 or Email- fysal.nellaya@gmail.com.

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr with 2 yrs experience in teaching & 14 months in Administration cum Secretary, Currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 92613704/99260702 Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 years, with 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in Dubai, looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494/ manojmallya999@gmail.com

Marine Services / Business Development having more than 15 Years experience in GCC Countries with Indian Male with experience in Operations Management / Sales and Procurement / Ship Chandling / valid GCC Driving License seeks suitable job. Presently in Oman on Visit Visa. GSM : 9053 55 65, Email : rafi.vprc@gmail.com Indian Female, 35years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) with 6months experience and BSc & MA seeking position as Insurance Coordinator or suitable positions in pharmacy, pharmacy stores, hospital, polyclinic & pharmaceutical companies or in front office/administration office preferably in hospital. Please contact on 90236481 Indian Male, 26 years, with 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in Dubai, looking for suitable placement.

Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. # 90182494 Male Locum Pharmacist with MOH & Driving License. Available on request from March to April 2016; Contact #: +968 9188 5485/+968 9943 8058.

Indian male with three years of experience in IT as system administrator seeking for IT administration job placements. Presently in Muscat on visit visa.

Contact 90664136 email: szuheabikram@yahoo.com 18 years experienced in Shipping, ShipChandling& Marine services.

Valied GCC D/L. Languages Known as English, Arabic, Hindi & Malayalam.Now in Visit Visa.

GSM : 9053 5565 IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support/Indoor sales, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/ Server support/Retail sales.

Contact 92607532.

Indian male AUTO CAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job.#- 99070584 / email: remluvp@gmail.com Iraqi Civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available. Contact No. 96561306 iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com

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

Indian male 28 years exp as sales executive & asst accountant. With valid Oman driving license .languages known Hindi and English.

Looking for any good job Contact# 96175176 Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. # 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman 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

IELTS PREPARATION Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE 92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

DRIVING

Male Indian 27, working as finance Officer having three years Oman experience with Driving license looking for Finance/Audit/ Accounts position. Mob: 98097009, rameesnm@gmail.com MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. Presently on family visit visa. Contact: - 96259171. Email: bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian Male, total 8+years gulf experience in Document Controller / Coordinator / Secretary. Looking suitable position. Local release available. CONTACT: 94524259 EMAIL: madhuppnair@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job.

Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. Contact 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com Indian female, holds LLB & Masters in business administration(MBA),2 yrs oman experience as HR & Admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ SOHAR. Contact: 96541959 IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 92607532.

Accountant. Having 6 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available) GSM. 00968-97010584, Email usman7678@yahoo.com Indian male 23 years Diploma in Mechatronic having 3years experience in production and maintenance department looking for suitable placement #+919597008904 (sachin.valappil92@gmail.com)

GOOD NEWS 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 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

SIT.WANTED Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com Iraqi civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq, U.A.E. and Oman) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available.Contact 95626218 Email- amin.sarim007@gmail.com

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Indian male 26, on vist visa, 2+ yrs of experience with UAE D/L, IATA-FIATA,BBA looking for any suitable job. Contact 91324567

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

LEGAL SERVICE An Indian lawyer Provides all legal services in company matters.

Labour issues, contracts, agreements, LLC formation, legal help for starting new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 All maintenance works such as plumbing painting masonry interlock fixing etc. Contact: 91278819 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Marble Crystallization & Grinding, Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. # 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 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 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

Marble tiles grinding & polishing, Mosaic tiles grinding & polishing, carpet shampooing, sofa shampooing, pest control treatment & general cleaning of villa & building.

Express Building Cleaning Services.

House shifting. Contact: 99708138 Pest Control Treatments Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact 99344723 Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact 99344723 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Contact 98480070 / 94134784 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

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

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED ED ONE STOP SHOP BUSINESS SERVICES Public relation services (PRO), Formation new companies, LLC companies, investor visa, business setup, prepare business & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company.

Contact Saleh: 96723485

MV SALE

Hyundai Sonata 2008 model, expat driven & well maintained.

Contact: 94222681 Vehicle for sale Ford Focus, 2012 automatic expat driven.

Contact: +968 92187371 Nissan pathfinder 2010 model.

Contact: 94521205 Honda CRV 2009 Dec model rend for sale 78000 Km full options price 4500/- R.O. Contact: 96530006

TRANSPORTATION

For rent tripper trailer and water Tanker. Contact: 91770195

RENT A CAR Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

BMW 525.I 2006. Contact: 99336093

FOR HIRE

RENT A CAR

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact: 99078967

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 98505294 Transportation, pick and drop.

Contact - 96913836 Transportation in Muscat area.

Contact: 94297820 Ruwi, Muttrah, Al Khuwair, Muscat, Qurum, seek transportation. Contact: 91132238 Transportation. Contact 99508282 /93113534 Transportation. Contact 99508282 From Mabela to Mawaleh for school student. Contact: 92757673 Transportation in Muscat.

Contact: 96004045 Transportation. Contact 92015894

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS