Times Of Oman - May 5, 2015

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Majlis united on call to end expat grip on top jobs Most of the companies are having expatriates at top level for decades.

Why do the expatriate managers think that top level posts should be reserved only for them forever?

But an Omani CEO, Omani trade union leader and Omani economic expert urge caution on the plan

Tawfiq Al Lawati, Majlis Al Shura member REJIMON K /TARIQ AL HAREMI

reji@timesofoman.com tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: “We at the Majlis Al Shura are unanimously supporting the Omanisation move at the top positions in the private sector.

We have understood that there is a resistance from the expatriatedominated managers to hire Omanis in their companies.”

These were the words of Taw-

fiq Al Lawati, a Shura member, to Times of Oman yesterday after day two of talks with the Minister of Manpower. At the meeting, the Majlis Al Shura unanimously urged the ministry to go ahead with the Omanisation of the top managerial posts in the private sector.

But outside the Majlis, the plan has received less enthusiastic

support with an Omani trade union leader, an Omani investor, and an Omani economic expert saying the move should be carried out cautiously. That message has been echoed by a leading expat HR professional.

“Most of the companies are having expatriates at the top level for decades,” Tawfiq Al Lawati said. “Why do the expatriate man-

agers think that top level posts reserved only for them forever? It is surprising to see that companies who are having expatriates at the top levels for the last two or three decades have failed to find even a single Omani CEO. How can they justify or explain this?”

On Monday, citing statistics, Shura members requested the Ministry of Manpower to study

the reasons on why Omanis are leaving private sector jobs.

Top five positions “Most of the expatriate managers will avoid hiring smart Omanis who are fit to grow in their career.

The expatriate managers will hire only Omanis who will never be a threat to their positions. A plan should be sought from companies now itself stating that top five positions in Oman will be reserved only for Omanis from 2020,” the Shura member added.

Meanwhile, in Monday’s meeting, Minister of Manpower Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, assured Shura that the government is giving prominence in offering jobs to Omanis.

The minister revealed that the number of job seekers registered at the Public Authority of Manpower is around 142,000 but those who are active and do follow ups are around only 62,000, mostly women. >A6

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CBO chief dismisses currency dip rumours

‘Education key to dispel asthma myths’

‘We’ll go ahead with privatisation plans’

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Hamoud bin Sangour Al Zadjali, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman, has dismissed speculations about the depreciation of local currency due to declining oil prices. He affirmed that the Omani economy is flexible and liberal. >A4

More awareness is needed to dispel some commonly held misconceptions about asthma, the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease which has been ‘underdiagnosed’ and ‘under-treated’ in Oman and globally, says a physician. >A5

The Sultanate ’s government sees privatisation as a way to share the wealth with the people and therefore would move ahead with its plans in due course, said Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Oil and Gas. >B1

A R A B I A N T R AV E L M A R K E T

‘Infrastructure investments boosting growth of tourism’

DESTINATION OMAN: Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday. -Supplied picture

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com DUBAI: Five million tourists are expected to visit the Sultanate of Oman per year by 2030, a senior official from the Ministry of Tourism said on Monday.

Speaking exclusively to the Times of Oman, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary, Ministry of Tourism, said that Oman will attract 1.5 million more tourists in the next five years.

“By 2030, we expect the number to go up by five million,” she said, on the sidelines of the Arabian Travel Market which began yesterday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Around 2.1 million tourists visited the Sultanate last year.

The Arabian Travel Market kicked off yesterday, providing business opportunities to entrepreneurs. The four-day event will also have seminars and ministerial discussions.

With more than 400 confirmed exhibitors, the 2015 edition is set to welcome around 23,000 visitors. The show has grown in size and an extra hall has been added

Tourists visiting Oman In millions 2014

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2030

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this year to accommodate 86 countries, 64 national pavilions, and 113 new exhibitors.

From Oman, more than 26 companies, including a range of Omani hotels, are sharing the space with Oman Tourism, according to Maitha Al Mahrouqi.

These include Al Bustan Palace, Six Senses Zighy Bay, IHG Oman and The Chedi Muscat

apart from Atana Hotels, Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts, Ibis Hotel and Park Inn by Radisson.

Millennium Resort Mussanah is also present at the event.

Next to the Oman Tourism enclosure is a big Oman Air pavilion which is drawing huge crowds.

“Despite some problems in the region, the Oman tourism sector is witnessing strong growth and will continue to grow because of strong government policies,” she told the Times of Oman.

She hoped that the tourism sector would continue to grow given the raft of projects in the pipeline and the rapid development of Oman’s aviation sector, with Oman Air expanding its network all over the Asia.

“Besides that, the opening of new hotels and airports is also contributing to the growth,” she said. Regarding the participation at Arabian Travel Market, she said that Oman will aim for more tourists from its neighbouring GCC countries.

“We intend to strengthen and solidify our presence even more in the regional market through our participation in this very important event,” added Al Mahrouqi. >A6

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HM receives message from UAE MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a written message from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, related to the strong relations between the two countries, and means of enhancing them in all spheres.

The message was received on behalf of His Majesty by Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, when he received Hamad Abdulrahman Al Madfa, Secretary General of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Envoy of UAE President, in his office on Monday. -ONA See also >A6 SINGAPORE

HM receives greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a written congratulatory message from Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore.

Lee Hsien Loong expressed his sincere congratulations and that of the Singaporean people on the auspicious return of His Majesty to the homeland.

The message was received by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs when he received Albert Chua, second permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs of Singapore, on Monday. -ONA

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Shihab leads Oman team to GCC meeting MUSCAT: Representing His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said will leave on Tuesday for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to head the Sultanate’s delegation in the 15th consultative meeting of the GCC leaders,

scheduled to be held in the capital, Riyadh.

Sayyid Shihab will be accompanied by Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Dr Ali bin Mas’oud Al Sunaidi, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr

Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Legal Affairs, Ahmed bin Yousef Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Diplomatic Affairs and Sayyid Dr Ahmed bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Sultanate’s ambassador to KSA. -ONA

Oman team helps Nepal’s quake-hit Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey praised the relief efforts carried out by members of the PACDA team

HELPING HAND: PACDA tweeted photos of the rescue operations carried out by its team. – PACDA

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MUSCAT: A team from Oman’s Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) continued with its efforts in the search and rescue operations in earthquake-hit areas of Nepal.

PACDA tweeted photos of the rescue operations carried out by its team. On Sunday, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, minister of foreign affairs of Nepal, received Farhat bin Nasser Al Riyami, an envoy of the Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate, as well as Lt Col Mubarak bin Salim Al Araimi, commander of the national team for search and rescue, and Captain Mohammed bin Hamoud Al Mahmoudi, the team leader.

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A rescue worker from PACDA at work in Nepal. –PACDA

Nepal’s minister of foreign affairs praised the relief efforts carried out by the Omani team and expressed his deep appreciation for the Sultanate and the Government of His Majesty Sultan Qa-

boos bin Said. He wished progress and development for the existing friendly relations between the two countries.The Sultanate expressed its sympathy for the victims of the earthquake, stressing solidarity with the friendly Nepalese people in this ordeal and its participation in the humanitarian efforts.

As part of the international relief programme, Lt Col Al Araimi led the team that comprises 40 members representing the Royal Oman Police (ROP), PACDA and the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF). - (With inputs from ONA)

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Oman jobs to rise despite oil slump Growth forecast Salary increases (%)

The government

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priority to creating jobs for the locals

Employment growth by sector(%) 2014

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Real Estate

Hospitality

Source: GulfTalent Survey

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MUSCAT: Oman is set to create more jobs in 2015 despite the fall in oil prices, according to a survey released recently.

Private sector salaries are also expected to rise by 6.9 per cent in 2015, with employees in Qatar and Oman expected to receive pay

rises, revealed the survey.

Not just Oman, overall employment across the GCC is on the increase in 2015, despite the fall in oil prices, stated the latest edition of the research report “Employment and Salary Trends in the Gulf”, released on Monday by GulfTalent, the Middle East’s leading online recruitment portal.

Addressing the Majlis Al Shura on Monday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, Minister of Manpower, reiterated that the government is according top priority to creating job opportunities for locals. The report found health-care to be the fastest growing sector across the region, with 82 per cent of employers in the sector increasing their headcount last year and

1ST SEGMENT OF OMAN RAIL PROJECT

Oman Rail considering financial bids MUSCAT: Oman Rail Company is considering the financial bids of the companies that technically qualified for the first segment of Oman Rail project, which will connect the Wilayat of Al Buraimi to the Wilayat of Sohar, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Rail Abdul Rahman Al Hatmi has said.

He affirmed in a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) that Oman Rail Company opened bids for the five companies that have U P D AT E

ROP arrests 74 infiltrators MUSCAT: A total 74 infiltrators of different nationalities were arrested by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) last week, in collaboration with other military and security departments, from a number of wilayats.

They had all entered the country illegally.

Deportations The ROP also deported 98 infiltrators after taking the necessary legal action, in coordination with their respective embassies.

The ROP has called upon the people to come together and provide more cooperation to the police to combat the phenomenon of illegal. -ONA

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been technically qualified from among 18 bidders.

Qualifiers These companies are: Salini Imperegilo S.R.A, China, State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) (leader) and SK E&C of United States of America, Saipem SPA (leader) of Italy and Rizzani De Eccher S. P. A and Dogus Insaat of Turkey, Larsen & Toubro Ltd (leaders) of

India and FCC Construction SA of Spain and Khalid bin Ahmed & Sons of Oman, PORR BAU GmbH (leader) of Germany, Yuksel Insat of Turkey and Sarooj Construction Company LLC and Daewoo E&C LLC of Korea.

He hoped that segment 1 of the project (170 km from Sohar to Al Buraimi, including a number of tunnels and bridges) would be awarded and implemented by the end of this year. -ONA

79 per cent planning to do so in 2015. Key drivers of this growth were found to be massive government investment, the region’s fastgrowing population, and regulatory changes in most GCC countries requiring companies to provide health insurance to employees.

Impact of the oil price Among GCC countries, Qatar is seen enjoying highest rate of job creation in 2015. With the uncertainty over the World Cup finally over and major infrastructure projects getting the go-ahead, 66 per cent of employers in Qatar reported plans to increase the headcount.

GulfTalent’s research found that, while the oil price slump had re-

sulted in a slowdown in the oil and gas sector and some cut-backs in Oman and Bahrain, most employers in the region were as yet unaffected by it. This is consistent with data from Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), which reported a 10 per cent increase in projects awarded across the GCC during the first quarter of 2015, compared to the same period last year. A significant portion of these comprised projects awarded in Qatar.

The governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have this year been drawing on their vast cash reserves to make up for the lower oil revenues in order to meet their planned spending and investments.

Bahrain and Oman have experienced a greater impact, due to their lower reserves and higher dependence on oil revenues. According to data from the International Monetary Fund, the government of Bahrain needs to sell its oil at $125 per barrel to balance its budget, compared with the current price of oil at $66.

Salary increases Across most of the GCC, private sector salaries are forecast to rise at a similar pace in 2015 compared with the previous year. Qatar is expected to see the highest average pay increase at 8.3 per cent, driven by rising cost of living and the growing need to attract talent for completion of projects.

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The children, who

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are students at the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities, were participating in a fashion show organised by FACES magazine, with the support of Ooredoo, Shell and R&B

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Young models strutted, twirled, flashed peace signs, and posed on a runway at Muscat Grand Mall on Sunday night, proving to the cheering audience that despite the fact that each one has disability, they are still very able children.

The children, who are students at the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities, were participating in a fashion show for organised by FACES magazine with the support

VERY ABLE: The 15 models, aged from three to nine years, have a range of disabilities including Down Syndrome, hearing impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder, among others – AR Rajkumar/Times of Oman

of Ooredoo, Shell and R&B, whose clothes the children modelled. The aim of the event was to bridge the gaps between people with disability and the rest of society, explained Suzy Fontes, from FACES. “The children are already doing these things within their campus. When it comes to children with disabilities we tend to be

very sceptical. The idea is that they’re as normal as you and me,” Fontes said.

The 15 models, aged from 3 to 9 years old, had a range of disabilities including Down Syndrome, hearing impairments, autistic spectrum disorder, and other developmental disabilities.

Sabah Al Bahlani, CEO at the

Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities, said it’s very important to have public events in which children with disability can be seen actively participating and accomplishing different activities, dispelling the myth that they are incapable of doing anything themselves.

Al Bahlani said too many fami-

ECONOMY

lies who have children with disabilities are reluctant to take their children out in public, and she had high praise for the parents of the 15 young models.

“I’m proud of the parents who are courageous to come out here and do this. When people in public see them they say ‘Miskeen, miskeen (helpless)’ which is not right.

Our kids are not ‘miskeen.’ They are capable,” said Al Bahlani.

Idris Al Balushi’s son Al Ameer was one of the models. Al Ameer, who is 4 years old, has speech and concentration problems and he is very shy, so he doesn’t interact much with others. Al Balushi thought that participating in the fashion show might be a way to help his son engage more with other people.

“He has difficulty with his speech and interacting with other kids sometimes. I wanted him to join them to be more sociable, and make the future easier for him,” Al Balushi explained.

It was the first time Al Ameer

was involved in an activity like this, and Al Balushi said he was curious to see how his son would respond to it. The experience turned out to be positive, because even though Al Ameer was a bit shy on the runway at first, he was joining in with the other kids.

“Now he started relating with the children and learning from them and I’d really like to thank the Association of Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities for making a real difference to Al Ameer,” Al Balushi said.

Six-year-old Hussam Nasser Al Amri, dressed in a blue and green plaid shirt, took to the stage like a natural, striking pose after pose.

His father, Nasser Al Amri, had a big smile on his face as he took pictures of his son, who has Down Syndrome.

“I’m very proud and really I was surprised because I didn’t expect him to spin around. He’s like a professional,” Al Amri commented.

Al Amri also said events like this were vital because it allowed children with disability to be engaged with society, and he hoped it would encourage other families to treat them like normal children, rather than keeping them at home.

“It’s very important because in our country people feel ashamed to say they have kids with disability. It’s a very good initiative.

We have to be proud of them,” he concluded.

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CBO refutes currency Oman development depreciation rumours projects showcased MUSCAT: Speculations about the local currency depreciating due to declining oil prices, have been dismissed by Hamoud bin Sangour Al Zadjali, Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO).

The statement was made during a regular meeting of the CEOs and GMs of commercial banks operating in Oman, held at the CBO headquarters on Monday.

He affirmed that the Omani economy is flexible and liberal and has strong fundamentals that enable it to face any potential difficulties. He said that the meeting comes within the existing cooperation among banks, financial

institutions and the CBO. He also affirmed that all are working to find sound solutions to the challenges and issues facing the banking sector.

He pointed out that the meeting provides an ideal opportunity to senior managers and banking policy makers to meet and exchange views on issues of mutual interest for the sector.

Commenting on the performance of the Islamic banking, he said that the assets of the Islamic banks grew by 67 per cent in 2014. Deposits also increased by 305 per cent from OMR170 million in 2013 to OMR688 million in 2014. -ONA

Times News Service MUSCAT: Various development projects are being undertaken in Oman to complement the rapid rise of Oman’s tourism sector, which is burgeoning with activity.

To familiarise visitors, Oman’s Ministry of Tourism is showcasing several important projects during its participation in the 2015 Arabian Travel Market, the leading international travel and tourism show that runs until May 7, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Center. These include: the international airports in Muscat and Salalah, the ports of Sultan Qaboos, Salalah and Khasab along

with the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center.

According to Business Monitor International’s Oman Tourism Report Q2 2015, Asia has emerged as the largest market for inbound travel with strong potential for future growth; arrivals are set to increase further between 2014 and 2018.

The study indicates that this will have a positive effect on Oman’s inbound tourism. Having established itself as a hub for short-breaks for the GCC tourists, Oman is eyeing to become a global destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE).

C U LT U R E

Iranian folk music troupe to make its debut at ROHM Times News Service MUSCAT: In the first of two concerts dedicated to music from Iran, Rastak, one of the country’s leading contemporary folk music ensembles, will make its Omani debut at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) for a performance that brings the diverse richness of Persian culture to the stage on May 7.

Rastak began as an experimental music group in 1997 by a group of Iran musicians who shared a passion for sharing traditional Persian folk music with an international audience. Their music and performances combine language, culture and history while merging traditional instruments with contemporary rhythms.

Rastak is the first Iranian ensemble to play at the ROHM and their concert will introduce a number of Persian folk instruments to the audience, including the tar, which is a long-necked string instrument, the balaban, which is a type of flute, the tonbak, which is a drum, and the gheychak, a stringed instrument played with a bow, just to name a few. Their program will include a number of songs that reflect the different regions and cultural influences in Persian culture such as Kurdish, Balushi, Shirazi and Arabic.

ROHM’s Acting Director General and Artistic Director Umber-

FROM IRAN WITH LOVE: Rastak began as an experimental music group in 1997. – Supplied photo

to Fanni stated: “Rastak brings a high music quality, a love of playing, and a unique approach to traditional Persian music, blending old folk music with more modern beats. They have a wonderful energy on stage which I am sure our audience will love.”

Rastak is comprised of: Siroos (Siamak) Sepehri (Band Leader and Tar); Seyed Farzad Moradi (Vocals, Tanbour, Setar, Dotar, Ghopoz and Dohol); Seyed Behzad Moradi (Vocals, Daf, Dohol, Damam, Desarkoten, Tonbak and Kakhon); Akbar Esmaeilipour Farsangi (Tar); Sepehr Saadati (Contrabass); Negar Ezazi (Daf and other percussions); Yaser Navazandeh Gorji (Ney, Sorna, Neyanban, Labak, Balaban, La-

leva and Doneli); Saba Jamali (Qanoon); Maedeh (Dina) Doosti (Kamanche and Gheychak); Sara Naderi Asfarjani (Dotar, Setar, Naghareye Azari, Tonbak and Damam); Farzad Khorshid Savar (Daf and other percussions); Mohammad Mazhari (Kamancheh); Bita Ghasemi (Gheychak); and Mir Omid Mostafavi Kooche Bagh (Tonbak). Many of the musicians graduated from major Iranian universities where they studied Iranian folklore songs.

Rastak will perform for one night only on May 7 at 7:30pm.

For more information about Royal Opera House Muscat, tickets, and frequently asked questions, please visit the website at www. rohmuscat.org.om.

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‘Education key to dispelling asthma myths’ If asthma remains undiagnosed and is not treated, the patient’s lungs may undergo a process known as ‘remodeling’ whereby the reversibility of the airways is lost

MUSCAT: More awareness is needed to dispel some commonly held misconceptions about asthma, the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease which has been ‘under-diagnosed’ and ‘under-treated’ in Oman and globally, says a physician.

“It is a prevalent disease in Oman. 4,848 asthma patients were admitted to hospitals all over the country in 2013,” Dr Shadha S. Al Raisi, the chronic respiratory disease programme manager at the Ministry of Health, told Times of Oman in an interview.

It is a disease which needs to be taken seriously as early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial, she said on the occasion of World Asthma Day, observed on May 5. The theme this year is ‘You Can Control Your Asthma’ and the sub-theme ‘It’s Time to Control Asthma.’

Prevalent According to the World Health Organization, some 235 million people currently suffer from asthma, and it is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses.

The programme manager said that the ministry had planned a number of workshops, training sessions and activities in various governorates in the lead up to World Asthma Day to raise awareness among the medical community and the public.

Al Raisi, who has studied in Ireland, explained that the causes of asthma are still not completely understood but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

According to her, the symptoms of asthma varies from person to

SPREADING AWARENESS: According to the World Health Organization, asthma cannot be cured but appropriate management will help the patient enjoy a good quality of life. – Times of Oman

person, but the most common ones include shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, which are usually worse at night or early in the morning.

Reduced activity and productivity as well as irritability and refusal to eat or drink are other symptoms that present themselves in asthmatic patients, especially in children, she said.

Al Raisi said that there are many trigger factors that can lead to asthma exacerbation. These include tobacco smoke, pollution, dust and bakhoor, which is used commonly in Oman. Exposure to pets, some food additives, chocolate, caffeine or any other substance that may provoke allergic reactions are other trigger factors in some individuals, she noted.

Diagnosis According to the World Health Organization, asthma cannot be cured but appropriate management will help the patient enjoy good quality of life.

Al Raisi says that in order to control asthma, early diagnosis and effective treatment are necessary and asthma triggers should be avoided. “If asthma remains undiagnosed and is not treated, the patient’s lungs may undergo a process known as remodeling whereby the reversibility of the airways is lost,” she said.

It is unfortunate that people are still dying of asthma around the world when it can be controlled by medication, added Al Raisi.

The expert believes that more educational programmes are needed to dispel false notions about asthma, which is still surrounded by a social stigma.

Al Raisi said that still some parents think physical activity will

cause the patient to develop an attack and therefore they stop their children from attending physical activity classes or even being involved in any sports.

“Although exertion may be a trigger factor in some individuals, a patient who is well controlled will be able to live a normal life and be as active as he would like.

There are many footballers who have asthma but are well controlled and have a big name in the sport,” she added.

Obesity The chronic respiratory disease programme manager also noted that lack of physical activity in a child or adult with asthma will lead to the individual becoming overweight or obese and this in turn will hinder the management of asthma. There is also a misconception about the inhaler device used by asthma patients, she added. Contrary to what some people think, the device does not contain any addictive substance, Al Raisi said, noting that it is a much better and more effective medication in the treatment of asthma than tablets or syrups, which carry a higher risk of side effects. Inhaler is a better choice over nebuliser machines as well, she added.

Nebuliser machines “Over-reliance on nebuliser machines without using the regular controller medications is not good. Sometimes patients spend a lot of time and money going to health centres on a regular basis to get this treatment, while using an inhaler is a less expensive and more effective option,” said Al Raisi. However, the patient should consult the doctor and learn the right technique to use it .

OMAN CRUISE SHIP ‘NAUTICA’ IN SALALAH Cruise ship ‘Nautica visited Salalah Port on Monday with 1,000 passengers on board including 600 tourists, as part of its tour programme of the Middle East and Europe. -ONA

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The project that you are doing is not only going to benefit you.

If you form a company probably 20 people will get a job, so the efforts you are actually making are going to help society Salim Humaid Al Mahrooqi, Technical Director of Ray Precision Engineering LLC

SAYYID SHIHAB RECEIVES YEMENI VICE-PRESIDENT

HM RECEIVES MESSAGE FROM UAE PRESIDENT

On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said received Khalid Mahfouz Bahah, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the Yemeni Republic, in his office on Monday. The Yemeni vice-president started his three-day visit to the Sultanate yesterday. During the meeting, the Yemeni leader conveyed the greetings and best wishes of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi to His Majesty the Sultan and the Omani people. Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq asked him to convey the greetings and best wishes of His Majesty to President Hadi and the Yemeni people. The meeting reviewed the strong relations binding the two countries and the existing cooperation between them in all areas. They also discussed matters of common concern. The meeting was attended

by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Badr bin Mohammed Al Manthri, Sultanate’s ambassador to the Yemeni Republic, and the delegation accompanying the guest. -ONA

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a written message from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, related to the strong relations binding the two countries, and means of supporting and enhancing them in all spheres. The message was received on behalf of His Majesty by Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, when he received Hamad Abdulrahman Al Madfa, Secretary General of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Envoy of UAE President, in his office on Monday. During the meeting, the leaders exchanged cordial conversations and reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries. -ONA

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A1 Oman to boost tourism < FROM

“During the four-day exhibition, we will feature the natural beauty and diversity of our country, our main tourist destinations, major tourism projects, and other activities designed to provide holiday makers with the most memorable experience. Our neighbours in the GCC have always been an important market for us as we continuously

witness a steady increase in regional tourist arrivals year-on-year.

We hope to attract more tourists regionally and globally in our bid to become one of the world’s top-ofthe-mind destinations,” she added.

This year, Oman will showcase its holiday destinations and other activities in line with the show’s theme of ‘Family Travel.’

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of Engineering’s second annual Tech Fest is aimed at promoting innovation among youth in the Sultanate

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Students from colleges around Oman shared their inventions at Caledonian College of Engineering’s 2nd annual Tech Fest, a symposium aimed at promoting innovation among youth in the Sultanate.

Tech Fest kicked off on Monday morning under the auspices of chief guest Dr Saif Abdullah Al Hiddabi, Assistant Secretary General for Programs and Research at The Research Council, and keynote speaker Salim Humaid Al Mahrooqi, Technical Director of Ray Precision Engineering LLC. Tech Fest includes a number of events including a competition for the best new innovations in engineering, following which the winning projects will be taken up for further research

NEW INNOVATIONS: The students’ ideas included a wide range of inventions, such as wind turbines to generate energy, grey water treatment machines, homemade air conditioners and fans, and solar-powered cars. Photo- Ismail Al Farsi

and funding, a quiz on general and scientific knowledge, a colloquium on new and emerging trends in engineering, and photography, media and entrepreneurship contests.

“I’m really happy to see the faces who are looking to the future for bringing solutions to the problems of the world. This is an innovative approach and I think we need to see more of these activities in the region,” Al Hiddabi told the students and faculty who gathered for the launch of Tech Fest.

Al Hiddabi said there are many problems in the world that need solutions, on both global and local levels, and thus a great need for research and innovation. He en-

couraged the students to pursue knowledge and become inventors and entrepreneurs.

Falaj system Al Mahrooqi also spoke about the need for innovation, a concept that has long existed in Oman, such as with the development of the falaj system to bring fresh water from the mountains for drinking and irrigating farms.

He said students may have wonderful ideas and inventions but rather than keeping them as class projects, they need to look outwards and try to market their innovations.

The challenge for the students is to commercialise their ideas and benefit society, he noted.

“The project that you are doing is not only going to benefit you. If you form a company probably 20 people will get a job, so the efforts you are actually making are going to help society,” said Al Mahrooqi.

The students’ ideas included a wide range of inventions, such as wind turbines to generate energy, grey water treatment machines, homemade air conditioners that use iceboxes and fans, solar-powered cars, and online attendance systems based on face recognition, just to name a few.

Caledonian student Omar Al Jabri created a human prosthetic arm assistance device to help people who had suffered from strokes and had paralysis or limited movement in one arm.

The exoskeleton arm would help with arm and wrist movements, providing valuable therapy and aiding in recovery.

Al Jabri said Mustafa Sultan Enterprises had already shown some interest in his invention for the medical supplies branch of their company, so he hoped his exoskeleton arms would be able to help many people in Oman.

“They want to adapt this idea and enhance it,” he said proudly, demonstrating his creation.

The Tech Fest continues until May 6 at the Caledonian College of Engineering campus in Al Hail and is open to the public.

NAT I O NA L I S AT I O N

A1 ‘Talent, experience and skills should be top criteria for posts’ < FROM

Meanwhile, responding to the Shura proposal, a trade union leader said that the private sector should carry out the proposal cautiously.

“We need to focus on the vehicle that we will use to make Omanis reach the top managerial positions. It should be built on talents, skills and experience.

It should not be on the basis of the time. In the ministry, after certain period, a promotion is guaranteed. But the private sector should not follow this. Just for the sake of nationalisation, if you use wrong tools, then we will end up as a disaster,” said Saud Salmi, chairman of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) trade union and chairman of oil and gas sector, trade union.

“You have to hire locals. But should also not forget that a process of training Omanis and making them capable of going up in the ranks should also be there,” Saud added.

Meanwhile, an Omani investor said that the proposal cannot be implemented immediately.

“It needs time. We have to prepare a plan, set a time frame and move ahead,” chairman of Anvwar Asian Investment Group, said.

Nader Al Rawahy, account business development leader and advisory head of government and private sector at EY Oman, said that Omanis should be given a chance to take up top level positions if they have experience.

Foreign investment However, Nader also added that if the Sultanate is going to issue an order in one day that all managerial and leadership positions have to be filled by Omanis, it could prove detrimental to Oman’s foreign investment and economy.

“It will affect foreign direct investment. It will affect the economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tonia Gray, general manager at Competence HR, said that it is important for Oman to protect its nationals in terms of employment, but, this needs to be undertaken in a measured and logical way and to support

the growth and development of business.

“In my opinion, it is vital that top management positions are filled with individuals who have the appropriate qualification, skills and experience to undertake the role effectively, otherwise there will be a detrimental effect on the business and ultimately the economy. I am sure there are already individuals who can meet the necessary requirements and this should be considered,” Tonia said.

“To place inexperienced individuals without the right skills in top management and without the necessary competence is very risky for Oman’s future. To have a ‘blanket approach’ to this without the necessary development in place is a very risky strategy,” Tonia added.

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

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

A7

REGION

We call for a serious investigation into what happened with the strikes on Birmahle, because this is a massacre Rami Abdel Rahman, Director, British-based Observatory

Saudi Arabia considers pause in Yemen bombing for aid delivery against Houthi rebels and their allies after they seized control of large parts of the country including the capital Sanaa.

President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fled Yemen as the rebels advanced on his southern refuge of Aden, and anti-government forces have refused to concede territory or down arms despite international pressure.

Riyadh will consult members of the coalition on finding specific areas inside Yemen where all air operations will be paused to allow delivery of aid

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is considering temporary halts in coalition air strikes against rebels in Yemen to allow for aid deliveries, Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said.

ALL SET FOR FIGHT: Armed Yemeni tribal gunmen of the Popular Resistance Committees sit on a pick up truck mounted with a machine gun on Monday in the Khor Maksar near Aden. – AFP

The kingdom will consult members of the coalition on “finding specific areas inside Yemen... where all air operations will be paused at specific times to allow

for the delivery of aid,” Jubeir said on Monday in a statement.

The Saudi-led coalition of Gulf Arab countries launched air strikes in Yemen in late March

Warning The United Nations has repeatedly warned that impoverished Yemen faces a major humanitarian crisis and calls have been growing for efforts to increase aid deliveries.

Jubeir said Saudi Arabia “plans to establish a centre on its territory to be in charge of coordinating all humanitarian aid efforts” with the UN, donors and other relevant agencies.

He warned the rebels against “taking advantage” of any pause

NGO, OPPOSITION DEMAND

‘Probe US-led raid deaths in Syria’ BEIRUT/AMMAN: A monitor and Syria’s opposition have called for an investigation into a US-led coalition strike last week that allegedly killed 64 civilians, nearly half of them children, in northern Syria.

The US military on Sunday acknowledged coalition strikes in the Birmahle area but said it was unaware of any civilian deaths.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor that tracks deaths in the war, said the strikes in the village in Aleppo province overnight Friday needed to be investigated.

“We call for a serious investigation into what happened with the strikes on Birmahle, because this is a massacre,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Not certain Syria’s opposition National Coalition, which is backed by Washington, said it could not be certain who was behind the raids on Birmahle.

But it said available information “lends credence to reports that it

SUICIDE BOMBING SITE: A member of forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad secures the site of a suicide bombing in Rukn Al Din quarter in central Damascus on Monday. – Reuters

was a US-led coalition air strike”.

“It is absolutely vital, therefore, that such reports are taken seriously and a full investigation into the incident is carried out immediately,” Coalition spokesman Salem Al Meslet said in a statement.

The Observatory reported on Saturday that the US-led coalition fighting the IS militant group

had killed dozens of civilians in strikes on Birmahle between April 30 and May 1.

On Monday, Abdel Rahman said the toll had risen to 64 civilians, including 31 children, with no IS fighters among the dead.

The Observatory relies on a broad network of sources, who Abdel Rahman said are able to

B O O S T I N G R E A LT I O N S

France, Qatar sign $7b jet deal RIYADH: French President Francois Hollande sought to boost ties in the Gulf region on Monday as he oversaw the signing of a warplanes deal with Qatar and arrived in Saudi Arabia for a summit.

Hollande was to be the first Western head of state to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) annual gathering when it meets in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The summit comes at a crucial time for the six-nation GCC, with a Saudi-led coalition bombing rebels in Yemen, concern over the rise of militants and regional worries. With Hollande in attendance, the CEO of French aerospace firm Dassault, Eric Trappier, signed the $7-billion (6.3-billion-euro) deal with Qatari defence officials in Doha.

The agreement includes an order for 24 Rafale fighter jets, with an option on a further 12.

“Good choice,” Hollande said as the deal was signed.

“If we are present here in Qatar... it is because there has been a long tradition, and because France is seen as a reliable country which a partner country can have confidence in.”

Having struggled for years to sell any Rafales abroad, Dassault has recently scored several lucrative high-profile contracts with Egypt, India, and now Qatar.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said recently that talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on buying Rafales were also headed in the “right direction”.

Hailed At the signing ceremony, Hollande hailed France’s ties with Gulf countries and his invitation to the GCC summit. “It is an honour for France, a sign of friendship and of confidence,” he said.

Hollande met Qatar’s Emir

WARM WELCOME: French President Francois Hollande, left, arrives with Qatar’s Emir His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to attend a signing ceremony at the Diwan Palace in Doha, Qatar on Monday. – Reuters

His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani before flying to Saudi Arabia. He was also to meet Yemen’s exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Tuesday’s GCC summit will bring together leaders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The GCC is expected to discuss what steps can be taken as the Yemeni rebels hold out despite weeks of air strikes.

The UN has repeatedly warned that already impoverished Yemen faces a major humanitarian crisis, and Action Against Hunger on Monday urged Hollande to push for a ceasefire. “Faced with the current disaster, there is now a humanitarian imperative that must take precedence over any political or military objective,” said the French aid group.

It called on Hollande “to do everything possible to obtain a ceasefire and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance”.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said meanwhile the kingdom was considering temporary halts in coalition air strikes against rebels in Yemen to allow for aid deliveries. Most GCC nations are also members of the US-led coalition bombing Islamic State group militants in Syria and Iraq, and Tuesday’s summit will lay the groundwork for talks between the group’s leaders and US President Barack Obama at the White House later this month.

Obama is expected to reassure GCC members on the framework accord reached on Iran’s contested nuclear programme.

Hollande’s visit comes as Paris deepens political and economic relations with the energy-rich Gulf countries, in particular Qatar. Qatari investors have taken stakes in major French companies including oil firm Total and luxury goods giant LVMH, and also own French football club Paris Saint-Germain. — AFP

identify air strikes by the coalition. A US military spokesman said on Sunday that 50 IS fighters had been killed but “we currently have no indication that any civilians were killed in these strikes.”

He added that Kurdish forces had “reported that there were no civilians present in that location”.

Abdel Rahman said Kurdish militiamen and Syrian rebel fighters based nearby had given the coalition inaccurate information regarding IS positions in Birmahle.

“They told the coalition that there was a convoy of 10 IS cars entering the village in the middle of the night, but village residents said only a few cars unaffiliated with IS had entered,” he said.

IS had advanced in areas around Birmahle throughout the day before the strikes, but the group had no positions within the village itself, he said.

A spokesman for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) denied that Kurdish forces were in the area and said there was no coordination with the coalition on Birmahle. — Agencies

in the bombing. Saudi Arabia “will deal with any violations in connection with the suspension of air strikes or movements that hinder humanitarian efforts”, he said.

The United Nations has called for a humanitarian pause in the conflict, as relief agencies say they desperately need supplies, including fuel to run infrastructure such as hospitals.

It warned that key infrastructure in the war-torn country, including water supplies, health services and telecommunications, are on the verge of breaking down due to a major fuel shortage.

Arms embargo The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Johannes van der Klaauw, told AFP in Djibouti on Saturday that an arms embargo was affecting delivery of supplies, urging a humanitarian pause “at least for a couple of days”.

Russia proposed last week a draft statement at the UN Security Council calling for an immediate ceasefire or at least humanitarian pauses, and an urgent return to political negotiations, but it failed to win endorsement.

Russia’s diplomacy Russia’s diplomacy has been greeted with some suspicion given the country’s close ties to Iran, which is supporting the Houthis.

A US diplomat said Washington supports humanitarian pauses and was urging Saudi Arabia to take measures to ensure aid deliveries reach civilians trapped in the fighting.

At least 1,200 people have been killed in fighting in Yemen since March 19 and thousands more have been wounded, according to the UN. It estimates that at least 300,000 people have been displaced by the conflict. - AFP

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

A8

INDIA NAT U R A L C A L A M I T I E S

21 KILLED AS BUS FALLS INTO GORGE IN MADHYA PRADESH A bus catches fire after falling into a gorge near the Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh. Twenty-one people were charred to death and 13 others sustained burn injuries when the private bus they were travelling in fell into the gorge and caught fire in the district on Monday. - PTI

India loses $9.8 billion every year due to the multi-hazard disasters NEW DELHI: India loses $9.8 billion every year due to multihazard disasters as its 58.6 per cent land is prone to earthquake and 8.5 per cent area is vulnerable to cyclone.

As per the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNISDR) Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) 2015, risk profile of India estimates that Average Annual Loss (AAL) from multi-hazard disasters in India is approximately $9.8 billion per year, according to a Home Ministry note.

Of this, the AAL from floods is $7.4 billion every year.

These figures are not an analysis of the impact of past floods in the country and are not vetted by the government.

A Home Ministry official said

HIT-AND-RUN CASE

Rs2b investment riding on Salman as judgement day nears

who is facing the

During Delhi Assembly election, we were also defamed by the BJP to gain political gain. A private TV channel is running a baseless story against me ... I have sent a defamation notice to it

heat over another controversy, said the allegations against him were false and MUMBAI: As a local court is set to pronounce verdict in the hitand-run case involving Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on May 6, the film industry is keeping its fingers crossed as an investment of about Rs2 billion is riding on him.

“The film industry is hoping that nothing terrible happens. Either he is pronounced innocent or the least punishment is given,” said trade analyst Komal Nahata.

His two upcoming films, Bajrangi Bhaijaan which stars Kareena Kapoor and Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo opposite Sonam Kapoor, are currently in the last “schedule” of shooting. In all, an investment of Rs2 billion is riding on Salman, who has delivered a string of box office successes in the last few years, according to Nahata.

The actor is accused of ramming his car, while drunk, into a roadside bakery in suburban Bandra in Mumbai in the early hours of September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others.

The maximum sentence he can get is a ten years’ jail term, on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

He is also facing trial in a Rajasthan court for hunting a black buck during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain. - PTI

Vulnerable As per the vulnerability Atlas of India published by Building Materials and Technology Promotion Council (Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation), India is vulnerable to various types of disasters like 58.6 per cent of its land is prone to earthquake, 8.5 per cent is vulnerable to cyclone and 5 per cent vulnerable to flood, the Home Ministry’s note said. - PTI

AAP activist asks Vishwas to come clean on relationship The AAP leader

Salman Khan

the central government has not appointed any agency to estimate economic losses from disasters.

The damage and losses due to natural disasters are assessed by the state governments concerned, as they are primarily responsible for management of natural disasters.

baseless and it was part of a defamation campaign against the AAP by rival parties

Kumar Vishwas NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party was on Monday grappling with yet another raging controversy after a party volunteer accused senior leader Kumar Vishwas of not rebutting “rumours” about an illicit liason with her and ruining her reputation, giving a handle to Congress and BJP to attack it.

The Delhi Commission for Women summoned Vishwas, considered close to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and his wife, asking them to appear before it on Tuesday after the volunteer approached it seeking its intervention in forcing the AAP leader to dispel the allegations.

Allegations The woman, who claimed to have campaigned for Vishwas in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi constituency in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, said she had also written separate letters

Senior AAP leader

to Kejriwal and Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi on the issue but neither of them have responded.

Facing the heat, Vishwas, a member of AAP’s Political Affairs Committee, said the allegations against him were false and baseless and it was part of a defamation campaign against the AAP by rival parties.

DCW Chairperson Barkha Singh said, “It is the same volunteer who has been coming to us for quite some time now. He (Vishwas) should come since the complainant is his own party’s volunteer. The volunteer’s marriage is falling apart because of him, she has alleged.”

Delhi Police said it has already registered an FIR and investiga-

tion was underway on the complaint filed by the woman.

The ruling AAP in Delhi has been battling internal strife apart from a string of controversies including over the educational qualification of its law minister and suicide of a farmer at a rally here in Jantar Mantar last month.

“The allegation against Vishwas is totally false and baseless.

AAP is being targeted. There is no basis for the allegation. Please spare our families,” AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, addressing a press conference.

Besides slamming Vishwas, Congress targeted Kejriwal accusing him of showing insensitivity as the victim had “knocked” at his door seeking help.

“The victim approached Chief Minister Kejriwal but he remained silent when her own party volunteer approached him for justice...Such apathetic and insensitive behaviour from him is very unfortunate,” party spokesperson Shobha Oza said while demanding a thorough investigation into the issue so that the “culprits” be punished.

Delhi BJP leader Vijendra Gupta said that Vishwas and the Delhi chief minister should come forward to clarify.

The woman said, “Just because of this allegation my husband has left me. I have two kids. I come from a middle class family where they feel that since Kumar Vishwas is AAP spokesperson and a known face, maybe there was something between the two of us.

“I am unable to explain. That’s why I want Kumar Vishwas to speak on this but he is not doing so. That’s why I had to go to the Women’s Commission.”

Threatened The woman also sought police protection citing an alleged threatening call from a certain “close aide” of Vishwas.

“I received a call at around 10.30 pm last night and I was threatened. The person who made the call stays with Vishwas and manages his party work. “Since I have been threatened, I would also want police protection.However, I haven’t made any formal demand in this regard yet because the call came late night,” she said.

The woman claimed after her complaint to the Women’s Commission, people from the AAP leader’s side were putting in efforts to get in touch with her.

She castigated Kejriwal say-

ing, “You claim to protect the country’s women but you cannot even protect your own party’s female worker”.

Viswas, who has in the past too courted controversy over his alleged derogatory remarks against women, accused the media of playing into the hands of the BJP and of being “extortionist”.

“She registered a complaint 15 days back, but police has not taken any action yet. She had sent me a mail saying Kumar bhaiya, what should I do now? Thereafter, our AAP’s legal cell asked her to register an FIR in this regard,” said Vishwas.

Vishwas said he was hurt by the “baseless allegations”.

“During Delhi Assembly election, we were also defamed by the BJP to gain political gain. A private TV channel is running a baseless story against me...I have sent a defamation notice to it,” he said.

Slamming Delhi Police, Vishwas said the woman in her complaint even named some persons who were behind defaming her, but Delhi Police is not taking action against them.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the woman had named four persons in her complaint to Delhi Police on March 31, accusing them of maligning her image on social media. “When nothing happened, she made a complaint to the woman commission,” he said.

He said in none of her complaints, the woman had talked about any illicit relationship.

“Despite that it is being made as if an illicit relationship has been unearthed... The woman has complained about maligning her image. She has accused a BJP spokesperson of tweeting her photo,” he added. - PTI

CRIME

Protesters demand CBI probe into Moga bus molestation MOGA: The day long bandh seeking registration of criminal case against owners of Orbit bus in which a teenage girl was allegedly molested and pushed to death, evoked a mixed response on Monday. The protesters have also demanded for a CBI probe into the incident.

The bandh called by opposition Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) and other social organisations saw few commercial establishments shut their shops, while it was business as usual for others at other pockets in the area.

However, Orbit buses remained off the roads on Monday.

Meanwhile, expelled AAP leader Yogendra Yadav met with the victims’ family on Monday and expressed solidarity with them.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Moga as the girl’s death has taken political overtones even as ruling SAD-BJP brokered a compromise with the aggrieved family.

Ending a four-day protest on Sunday against the ruling Badal family, father of the victim accepted Punjab government’s offer of compensation and a job and also

agreed for the post-mortem and cremation of his daughter.

The body of the teenaged girl was consigned to flames at her village Lande Ke amid tight security.

Accused arrested Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had described the incident as “intolerable” and “painful” while the police said all the four accused had been arrested.

The girl was pushed off a moving bus last week along with her mother after they resisted molestation attempts.

The bus belongs to Orbit Aviation, the company owned by relatives of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.

In another development a Punjab and Haryana High Court bench on Monday recused from hearing the Moga bus molestation case in which a teenage girl died after being allegedly thrown off a bus.

The high court here had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written to it regarding the Moga incident in which a teenaged girl died on Thursday after she and her mother were allegedly molested and thrown off a bus, belonging

PROTEST: Aam Aadmi Party’s women activists display placards during a protest against the Punjab government over the Moga molestation case, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, on Monday. - PTI

to Orbit Aviation which is owned by relatives of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

As the matter came up for hearing before the division bench of justices Satish Kumar Mittal and

Harinder Singh Sidhu on Monday, it withdrew from the matter and referred it to the Chief Justice to be assigned to some other bench.

No reason was given for recusing from the matter.

Now the Acting Chief Justice of the high court will decide which bench will take up the case.

The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.

Close on the heels of the Moga

incident involving a teenage girl, a 35-year-old woman was allegedly molested in a moving bus in Khanna, about 40km from here.

In a complaint lodged at Khanna police station, the woman said the incident took place after she boarded a Ludhiana-bound private bus at Mandi Gobindgarh on Sunday. She alleged that a man sitting next to her started molesting her.

After she complained to the bus conductor, the seat of the accused was changed but he allegedly continued to pass lewd remarks, police said. The woman even slapped the alleged molester, who was in twenties, they said. The accused then alighted from the bus at the next stop. The woman accused the driver and the bus conductor of being in hand in glove with the alleged molester and helping him escape, they said.

DIG Ludhiana Range N. S. Dhillon said on the basis of the woman’s complaint, the bus driver and conductor have been arrested and the bus has been impounded.

However, the main accused was still at large, police said, adding a manhunt has been launched to nab him. - PTI

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INDIA

Nepal relief is India’s largest such operation Indian ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae said more than 1,170 victims have been treated at Barpak, the epicentre of the earthquake LENDING A HELPING HAND: Indian army personnel with Nepalese security forces during rescue operations in Barpak on Sunday. - PTI

KATHMANDU: More than 2,600 earthquake victims in Nepal have been treated so far by Indian medical teams, the Indian envoy said here on Monday while providing details of the largest ever relief operation mounted

by India in response to a natural disaster abroad.

More than 1,170 of the victims have been treated at Barpak, the epicentre of the earthquake, Indian ambassador to Nepal, Ranjit Rae, said while briefing the international community about rescue and relief work carried out by India.

“Operation Maitri is the largest ever support operation by India in response to a natural calamity abroad. It represented not only the deepest commitment at the highest political level in India but also overwhelming outpouring of support from the people of India and over a dozen Indian states including those bordering Nepal,” Indian ambassador to Nepal said.

The 7.9 magnitude quake on April 25 killed at least 7,365 people, including 41 Indians, while 14,355 others have been injured

in the tragedy which has affected around 8 million of the 28 million population of Nepal.

Support Reiterating India’s stand, he stated that India was ready to offer any support to the government of Nepal within its means and rescue and relief efforts carried out by India are being closely monitored in India and are also being coordinated with the international community.

After the devastating earth-

TA X C O N C E S S I O N S

Modi government’s policies will not work, says Yechury NEW DELHI: The Modi government’s policies to attract foreign investment and “humongous” tax concessions to corporates will not work because it will not create productive capacity and there is no purchasing power with the people, says CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Its policies have given the opportunity to opposition parties to get together because it has failed to fulfil the people’s aspirations the BJP had generated during the Lok Sabha election campaign and its steps have further worsened the situation, he said.

Yechury, who was recently elected the CPI(M) General Secretary, took on the government on its ‘Make in India’ slogan and said “the slogan should be ‘Make for India’, that is by India and for India”.

“It (policies) cannot work. I will give you the reasons. You are giv-

Sitaram Yechury.

ing concessions to attract more foreign investments. You are also giving concessions to Indian corporates to invest more.

“The logic given by the government, even the Manmohan Singh government earlier, is that greater investments will create new job opportunities and thereby greater economic growth.

“But there is a serious flaw in this argument, why this can’t work,” he said in an interview.

Even if this investment comes in, it would be “meaningful only if it comes into productive sector and not to loot our resources and expand their profits, without creating productive capacities in India.”

“If they produce goods, these need to be sold. But where will you sell them? There is global stagnation, our exports have declined by 26 per cent last year.

“You can’t sell these goods abroad, you can’t sell them in India because the people’s purchasing power is declining as a result of these policies and growing unemployment.

“So greater investment does not create greater growth, unless you economically empower our own people, which can only be done through a very high dose of public investment which has stopped for a long time,” Yechury said. - PTI

COPYING

Kerala top cop caught cheating in exam KOCHI/KOZHIKODE: An Inspector General of Kerala Police was found allegedly trying to copy during an LLM examination on Monday, following which he has been asked by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala to proceed on compulsory leave immediately.

Inspector General, Thrissur range, T. J. Jose, who was allegedly caught copying, however, rejected the charge.

He said he had written the examination and would appear for Tuesday’s paper as well.

“The incident is an insult to Kerala and Kerala police. The IGP has been asked to go on compulsory leave immediately”, Chennithala told reporters at Kozhikode on Monday.

Additional DGP (North) Shankar Reddy will investigate the incident and file a report as early as possible, he said.

The invigilator concerned was apparently not aware that the person in question was an IPS officer. Jose was allegedly trying to copy answers from the papers in

his possession during MG University LLM examination Crime -II paper examination held at St Paul’s College, Kalamasseri.

Taking a serious note of the incident, Mahatma Gandhi University has sought a report from the Kalamasseri St. Paul’s College Principal.

“We have sought a report from the College authorities,” university Vice Chancellor Babu Sebastian said. Jose will be debarred, if he is found guilty, university sources said. - PTI

A9

quake hit the Himalayan nation, India sent the first air force flight which landed in Kathmandu with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue teams and relief material within six hours of the quake.

Thereafter, IAF 32 flights brought in 520 tonnes of relief materials containing tents, blankets, medicines, cooking material, food, water, heavy engineering equipment, ambulances, RO plant, oxygen generators, two full-fledged army field hospitals with 18 medical teams, 18 army engineering teams and 16 NDRF teams.

These teams have been working round-the-clock since their deployment in close coordination with the government of Nepal.

Reacting to the Nepal government asking foreign rescue teams to leave the country, an Indian Embassy spokesperson said, “We have received a letter from the Nepal government regarding this and our rescue teams will be soon leaving the country. The Nepal government has issued similar letters to all the embassies”.

Meanwhile, India’s NDRF on Monday began withdrawal of its men from Nepal after the country asked foreign rescuers to end their humanitarian efforts. - PTI

REACHING OUT

Modi makes debut on ‘Chinese Twitter’ BEIJING: Reaching out to Chinese people ahead of his first visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made debut on ‘Sina Weibo’, becoming the first Indian leader to open an account on the popular Chinese miocroblogging site.

“Hello China! Looking forward to interacting with Chinese friends through Weibo,” Modi wrote in his first post in Chinese language on the platform — which is akin to Twitter and Facebook— evoking mixed response with majority welcoming his move.

Over 25,000 people posted their comments to Modi’s first post on Monday. Indian officials said about 3.56 million people read his comments by afternoon on Sina Weibo which has over 500 million registered users.

Weibo, meaning microblog has virtually become an alternative media to the China’s state-run media. Weibo has emerged as the biggest social media platform in China as Twitter and Facebook are banned.

Modi followed up his first post with a second one later in the day highlighting the links forged

by Buddhism between India and China its potential to make this century an Asian century.

“I would like to convey my greetings to all of you on the occa-

ENGROSSED: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reads a book at ‘International Buddha Poornima Diwas Celebrations 2015’ in New Delhi on Monday. -PTI

sion of Buddha Purnima. Today we remember the august ideals & mission of Lord Buddha, who spread the message of harmony & brotherhood & envisioned a peaceful world. Buddha is a binding force that connects us, Asian Nations. It can emerge as a strong unifying force to make this century an Asian Century.”

Seasoned observers of Weibo said vast majority of users reacted with positive emoticons, while few others also wondered when the Chinese leaders themselves will open Weibo accounts to interact with people. Modi is expected to make his first visit to China from May 14 to 16 as prime minister, though he was regular visitor to Beijing when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. - PTI

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TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015 We have learnt that the government has already started implementation on the project by diverting its route from the western to eastern side Haji Mohammad Adeel, Awami National Party leader

PAKISTAN R E S E RVAT I O N S

‘Work on changed China corridor route has begun’ ISLAMABAD: A senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) has expressed consternation about the much-trumpeted China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, saying the government is already moving towards implementation of the modified route from western to eastern side of the country.

“We have learnt that the government has already started implementation on the project by diverting its route from the western to eastern side,” said ANP leader Haji Mohammad Adeel.

He stated that they have strong reservations about the government’s intention to change the original route, adding that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is also toeing the government line.

ANP and some nationalist parties of Balochistan have been raising hackles over their claims that the original route of the corridor from Islamabad to Gwadar has been changed from western side,Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to Balochistan, to eastern side, Punjab and Sindh.

TWO PAKISTANI INMATES KILLED IN GREEK PRISON RIOT A riot police officer patrols outside Koridallos prison in Athens on Sunday. According to Greek Police, two inmates of Pakistani nationality died, and 21 were injured during a brawl among inmates on Sunday. — Reuters

They allege that the two major political parties, the PPP and the Pakistan-Muslim-LeagueNawaz, are implementing this project to benefit only Punjab and Sindh, by bypassing the interest of the considerably underprivileged and small provinces.

All-parties conference “We have sent our delegation to Quetta to hold meeting with the Balochistan government and other political parties as we have planned to call another allparties conference in Quetta this month,” said Haji Adeel.

He stressed that “we know there would be a long-term plan to construct a route from Dera Ismail Khan, but we cannot wait for another 15 years till 2030 because these areas need immediate economic developments through such initiatives.”

He also questioned as to why the government did not make the original image of the multibillion-dollar project public to remove the doubts in the minds of people. — Express Tribune

Railways Minister Saad is disqualified, repoll ordered “It took us two years to get justice,” the candidate, Hamid Khan, told reporters outside the court.

“A victory for the people of Pakistan,” Khan’s party said in a posting on Twitter.

Mohammad Hussain Chotia, the lawyer representing Hamid, hailed the ruling as a victory for the party.

An election tribunal disqualified him from his seat in the city of Lahore and called for a re-election within 60 days, setting the scene for a battle for votes between Sharif’s party and Khan’s

LAHORE: An election tribunal disqualified a senior minister and ally of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday for vote rigging in the 2013 election, a decision the opposition is likely to trumpet as vindication of its complaints.

Protests last year over cheating in the election, which brought Pakistan’s first transition between civilian governments, were led by cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and raised fears about stability in the country.

The tribunal disqualified Railways Minister Saad Rafique from his seat in the city of Lahore and called for a re-election within 60 days, setting the scene for a battle

CHANGE OF FORTUNES: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Khawaja Saad Rafique, centre, speaks to media alongside leaders of Canada-based preacher Tahirul Qadri after a meeting with Qadri amid anti-government protests in Islamabad on August 24, 2014. — AFP file photo

for votes between Sharif’s party and Khan’s.

Rafique denied irregularities, saying election organisers were responsible for any mistakes and he would challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.

Punishing my party “The tribunal is punishing my party and my voters for the incompetence of the returning and presiding officers,” Rafique told Reuters by telephone.

The judge overseeing the tribunal issued a one-page verdict disqualifying Rafique and calling for a by-election.

Television channels reported that the judge castigated election workers and said ballot bags had been opened with a sharp object and records had been tampered with.

Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, which denied any rigging, won the 2013 election with a sizeable majority while

Khan, whose party came third, alleged widespread fraud. He organised a sit-in protest in central Islamabad to demand a new election.

The rally turned deadly in September when demonstrators clashed with police near government buildings and embassies and three people were killed.

Khan was not available for comment but his candidate who lost in the Lahore constituency in 2013 welcomed the ruling.

Sit-in protest The PTI has waged a national campaign calling for the investigation of rigging and staged a 126-day sit-in protest in front of parliament last year. The party says results were changed at least in four constituencies including Rafique’s through fraud.

Pakistan last month formed a nationwide judicial commission under the Supreme Court chief justice to investigate rigging in elections throughout the country.

The commission has asked political parties to provide evidence and is due to start examining witnesses later this week.

The decision to unseat a close ally of the prime minister comes at a difficult time for Pakistan, already plagued by an extremist insurgency, sectarian tension and recurrent power shortages, with many people deeply unhappy with the government’s performance since it came to power. — Agencies

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T W O - D AY V I S I T

Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom

Maldives president to arrive tomorrow ISLAMABAD: Maldives president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom will embark on his first state visit to Pakistan this week during which the two countries will sign a number of agreements to combat drug trafficking and promote cooperation in education and health sectors.

The visit on Wednesday and Thursday is taking place at the invitation of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Foreign Office has said that Gayoom will hold talks with Sharif and also meet President Mamnoon Hussain who will hold a state banquet in the honour of the visiting dignitary.

“During the visit, Pakistan and Maldives will review all important aspects of their bilateral relations.

A number of documents on cooperation in sports, health, education and illicit drugs and narcotics trafficking, will also be signed,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan and Maldives enjoy close and cordial relations. The relations are based on mutual trust, common faith and understanding, the statement said. — PTI

FINDING BY US AND INDIAN RESEARCHERS

‘Indus Valley people kept moving from one place to another’ WASHINGTON: Ancient people in the Indus Valley apparently did not stay put, as was previously thought, a team of United States and Indian researchers has found by examining 4,000-yearold teeth.

When tooth enamel forms, it incorporates elements from the local environment — the food one eats, the water one drinks, the dust one breathes, the researchers said.

When the researchers looked at remains from the ancient city of Harappa, located in Pakistan’s Punjab province, individuals’ early molars told a very different story than their later ones, meaning they had not been born in the city where they were found.

Previous work had thought the burial sites represented local, middle-class people. There was no notion that outsiders were welcomed and integrated by locals within the city (Harappa). It’s not clear why certain young hinterland people were sent to the city Benjamin Valentine University of Florida reseacher

Undeciphered text The text of the Indus Valley Civilisation remains undeciphered, and known and excavated burial sites are rare.

The new study illuminates the lives of individuals buried more than 4,000 years ago in those rare grave sites by providing a novel

comparison of the dental enamel and chemical analyses of the water, fauna and rocks of the time, using isotope ratios of lead and strontium. In its heyday, Harappa

held a population of 50,000, although the number of individuals represented by skeletal remains across the entire culture area totals in the hundreds.

“The idea of isotope analysis to determine the origin of individual migrants has been around for decades.

But what people haven’t been

doing is looking at the different tooth types, essentially, snapshots of residents during different times of individuals’ lives,” said researcher Benjamin Valentine from

the University of Florida.

The researchers, including Vasant Shinde and Veena MushrifTripathy, from the Department of Archaeology, Deccan College PostGraduate and Research Institute, Pune discovered that the people in the Harappa grave sites were not born there, but migrated there from the hinterlands.

“Previous work had thought the burial sites represented local, middle-class people. There was no notion that outsiders were welcomed and integrated by locals within the city.

“It’s not clear why certain young hinterland people were sent to the city.

Novel methods “All told, these novel methods provide windows into the life history of past people and underscore the role of interdisciplinary approaches to illuminate dynamics of human migration,” Valentine added.

The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE. — PTI

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, said their official residence, Kensington Palace

Royal baby named Princess Charlotte Britain had been on tenterhooks waiting to discover what names the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would give their little princess, who was born on Saturday

LONDON: Prince William and his wife Kate announced Monday that their new baby princess will be called Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, as the sound of gun salutes and bells pealing rang out over London.

Britain had been on tenterhooks waiting to discover what names the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would give their little princess, who was born on Saturday and is fourth in line to the throne. The names announced after two days of feverish speculation will be interpreted as a tribute to William’s parents and Queen Elizabeth II. Charlotte had been the bookmakers’ late favourite and will be seen as a tribute to William’s father Prince Charles, being the feminine form of the heir to the throne’s name.

Great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II has yet to meet the latest addition to the royal family, but the first middle name is a clear link to the sovereign.

She has been on the throne since 1952 and is set to become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch on September 9, overtaking Queen Victoria. Many royal

ROYAL WELCOME: Soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery mark the arrival of Britain’s new royal baby with a forty-one round Royal Salute in Hyde Park, London, UK, on Monday. — Reuters

watchers hoped the baby would carry the name Diana after William’s late mother, whose death aged 36 in a car crash in Paris in 1997 prompted a global outpouring of grief. Diana gave birth to William in the same hospital where Kate delivered Charlotte.

When William proposed, he gave Kate Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, and as usual she wore it on Saturday, when it was clearly visible in pictures of her holding baby Charlotte. “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana,” said the brief statement from their official residence, Kensington Palace.

“The baby will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge.”

Diana’s brother Earl Charles Spencer, who memorably delivered the eulogy at her funeral, said they were “perfect names”.

“My 2-year old Charlotte Diana will be thrilled at cousinly namesharing. Is at an age where thinks world revolves around her!” he tweeted. The name Charlotte, which is also the middle name of Kate’s sister Pippa, has historic royal standing.

King George III’s wife Queen

Charlotte (1761-1818) was an amateur botanist who used her middle name instead of her first name Sophie. Their son King George IV named his only child Princess Charlotte but she died following childbirth at the age of 21 in 1817.

According to the Office for National Statistics, Charlotte was the 21st most popular name for girls in England and Wales in 2013. The name announcement came an hour after gun salutes rang out in London to celebrate the birth.

‘Isn’t she lovely’ song Forty-one shots were fired from World War I-era field guns in Hyde Park after a military band played Stevie Wonder’s hit Isn’t She Lovely, a song he wrote to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha. The field guns were pulled by horses in a military procession that went past Buckingham Palace. Artillery units at the Tower of London also fired a ceremonial 62-gun salute at the same time, with the boom reverberating across the River Thames.

The standard royal salute is 21 rounds -- a tradition dating back to cannon fire from ships -- and an extra 20 are fired from a royal park or residence. At the Tower of London, a further 21 rounds were

added on to show the city’s loyalty to the sovereign.

At London’s Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate tied the knot in April 2011, a “Cambridge Surprise Royal” peal of bells was played to mark the birth.

After resting for a few days at Kensington Palace in London, William and Kate plan to travel to Anmer Hall, their secluded 10-bedroom mansion on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England.

William is not due back at work as an air ambulance pilot in the region until June 1. The new baby is behind the Queen’s eldest son Charles, 66, grandson William and great-grandson George in the line of succession. Kate, 33, gave birth within three hours of being admitted to St Mary’s Hospital in London on Saturday.

William, 32, was present for the birth at 8:34 am (0734 GMT) and the princess weighed in at eight pounds and three ounces (3.7 kilos). The Royal Collection Trust has unveiled the official royal baby chinaware. Hand-gilded with 22-carat gold, each piece bears the words “Celebrating our new royal baby” and is decorated with a lion and a unicorn. A coffee mug is £20, while the official velvet cushion is £95. — AFP

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WORLD RESCUE MISSION

Migrant gives birth to baby girl on Italian rescue ship ROME: Around 6,800 migrants were rescued from overcrowded boats crossing to Europe over the weekend, including a mother who gave birth to a baby girl on an Italian navy ship, the coast guard said.

Numbers risking the journey in search of a better life have continued to rise two weeks after as many as 900 people drowned in the worst Mediterranean shipwreck in living memory.

Crew from the Italian naval vessel Bettica found the woman in labour on a boat overnight -- one of 34 vessels intercepted over the weekend. A photo posted online showed her new daughter sleeping in a makeshift cradle decorated with a pink bow.

“Both mother and daughter are in good health,” the navy said in a statement.

Anarchy in Libya Growing lawlessness and anarchy in Libya -- the last point on one of the main transit routes to Europe -- is giving free hand to people smugglers who make an average of 80,000 euros ($90,000) from each boatload, according to an ongoing investigation by an Italian court.

Mild spring weather and calm summer seas are expected to push total arrivals in Italy for 2015 to

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200,000, an increase of 30,000 on last year, according to an Interior Ministry projection.

Police said officers rescued 21 immigrants in a boat off the southern coast of Spain on Monday.

Bodies found On Sunday, seven bodies were found on two large rubber boats packed with migrants and three others died after jumping into the water when they saw a merchant ship approaching, the Italian coast guard said.

Many migrants who have made the sea crossing this year have been Eritreans, Somalis, Afghanis, Syrians and Nigerians, according to the UN refugee agency. Few details were available regarding the nationalities of those rescued over the weekend.

About 1,800 are estimated to have perished during the crossing already this year, the UN refugee agency said. Some 51,000 have entered Europe by sea, with 30,500 coming via Italy. — Reuters

SOMALIA GOVERNMENT’S ORDER

Al Shebaab renamed ‘group that massacres’ MOGADISHU: Somalia’s government has ordered journalists to call extremist Shebaab insurgents “the Group that Massacres the Somali People,” or “Ugus”, the acronym of the phrase in Somali.

“The meaning of Al Shebaab is ‘The Youth’, and that is a good

name,” Somalia’s intelligence chief Abdirahman M. Turyare said.

“We cannot allow that good name to be blemished, so the enemy we are fighting is called Ugus, an acronym of ‘The Group that Massacres the Somali People’,” he said. — AFP

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Shocking data on alleged police assaults in the UK

W

hen confronted with the shocking news that more than 3,000 police officers are being investigated for alleged assault, it is hard not to be nostalgic for the gentler era of law enforcement symbolised by the 1950s TV series Dixon of Dock Green.

Constable George Dixon seemingly needed little more than common sense and a dose of human understanding to keep criminals in line in his patch of London. Fiction this may have been, but how rare and urgently needed both these traits seem in the real-life police forces of Britain today. The police face great challenges, headed by a mix of budget cuts, fragmented community cohesion and the growth of gang culture. We also recognise the under-reported and under-appreciated fact that Britain is getting safer, the crime rate having largely fallen for 20 years. But it is 10 years since the Macpherson report first raised the issue of “institutional racism”. Today — in the cases of the 3,000 police officers being investigated for alleged assault — black and Asian citizens are still three times more likely to have made the complaint than their white peers. Old habits, it seems, die hard.

Professor Lee Bridges at the University of Warwick’s School of Law recently analysed the figures disclosed by the Metropolitan Police for its Gangs Matrix, the intelligence database used to combat gang violence. It showed 85 per cent of the capital’s gang members are believed to be black or Asian. The figure for white Londoners was only 439. This includes anyone engaged on an organised basis in “violence, criminal offending and gang membership” and is meant to feature all those involved in such organised crimes as drug-dealing, fraud, vice and football hooliganism. The Met’s figure, it must be said, does not capture the entire picture. This matters as it is investigative tools such as the Gangs Matrix which are behind the Met’s new much-hailed “intelligence-led” investigating approach. If, as Professor Bridges’ analysis implies, there remains a racial bias in the statistics being used, then a racial bias is inevitable in its results, and therefore also in the mind-set of the officers out on patrol armed with such information.

Greater London and the West Midlands, the UK’s two largest police forces, accounted for almost half of the assault cases under investigation. But in London, black, Asian and minority ethnic officers make up only 11 per cent of the force compared with 40 per cent of the population, while West Midlands Police admitted last month it had recently selected only one black officer from 162 recruits. Last year the London Mayor, Boris Johnson, raised the prospect of half of all new Met police recruits coming in future from a minority ethnic background.

The time has come for his successor to take the steps required to implement a similar policy, and for other forces with a similar disconnect between those serving and those communities being served to act likewise. It is the common-sense approach, one that also shows a human understanding of the reality of modern Britain. - The Independent

THE RIOTS

Baltimore taught me a lesson about hope SONJA SOHN

Politics as usual

C

olorado is now reliving, in the trial of James Holmes, the 2012 shooting at a movie theatre in Aurora in which a military-style assault rifle was used to murder 12 people and wound 70. Yet even in this painful moment, the new Republican majority in the State Senate seeks to repeal one of the gun safety laws enacted after the massacre. The law, enacted a year after the shooting, banned large rapid-fire ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.

Despite the tragedy, repeal of the ammunition limit became a priority among Republicans, who gained a majority in the Senate last year.

They voted to repeal the limit in March. Fortunately, the Democratic House did not follow suit. “We’re not going backwards,” the House speaker, Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, vowed. The standoff dramatized the disconnect between state politicians in thrall to the gun lobby and the carnage suffered by their constituents.

In Wisconsin, the Legislature is in the process of passing a bill that would eliminate the current two-day waiting period for a gun purchase — a repeal sought by the gun lobby, but opposed by citizens concerned that this will worsen the risk of impulsiveness among buyers intent on suicide or community mayhem. In Texas, lawmakers have approved open carrying of firearms in public.

A few states have passed universal background checks since the shooting of 20 schoolchildren in Connecticut, but legislatures overall seem determined to approve the concealed carrying of weapons, supposedly to help guard against civil disorder.

The idea that this improves public safety is firmly rebutted by the latest figures from the Violence Policy Centre, a gun safety research and advocacy organisation, which found that at least 743 non-self-defence deaths since 2007 were attributable to individuals with permits to carry concealed weapons. These included 222 suicides. Twentynine of the incidents were mass shootings of three or more victims that resulted in 139 deaths. The death toll for law enforcement officers was 17. - The New York Times News Service

Some positions should be given to expatriates only This refers to the news story, Call for Omanis to have all the top jobs (May 4). I think we are still not ready for this move. In my experience I have noticed that some positions should be given to expats only like HR as this would stop people from hiring their relatives or friends even if they are not qualified.

Hamed Al Nadabi Muscat

Omanis have enough skills to replace the expatriates This refers to the news story, Call for Omanis to have all the top jobs (May 4). No citizen of a country will accept the idea of being managed by expatriates.

How would the expatriates feel if this were to happen in their

native countries? I am sure that there are lots of Omani talents out there who can efficiently replace the expatriate managers and are just waiting for the chance to come. To be honest, I have seen so many expat managers who do not deserve their positions but are making money and enjoying all the benefits. I am, however, in support of hiring deserving, skilled and qualified expatriates if a suitable Omani candidate is not found for a particular position.

Hamoud Abdali Muscat

One cannot become a manager overnight This refers to the news story, Call for Omanis to have all the top jobs (May 4). To become a manager, one needs more than

There is, without question in my mind, a genealogy to the anger that has been on display since Freddie Gray was killed. It’s rooted in a history that is dominated by years of voting for inept and disrespectful politicians.

Campaign promises for better schools and more employment opportunities never quite seemed to materialise once the politicians took office

G

O ... go. Sonja — go! I hear my name, and sprint out into the middle of the projects. I’m supposed to kick the man in front of me, as hard as I can.

It’s a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. The reason I’m having trouble isn’t because I’m worried about hurting him. He’s wearing body pads.

He is an actor and in this sequence of events his character, a low-level drug dealer named Bodie, has just hit a cop. I’m playing a cop who’s supposed to rough him up — do anything it takes to defend my brethren.

But something about this scene turns my stomach. Really? I gotta defend a cop — and like it? If this were just acting, it would be a piece of cake. But the weight of it feels too heavy. I’m caught in some netherworld between my past and my present as I try to talk myself into this bit as quickly as I can.

We are on set in West Baltimore in 2001, shooting the first season of HBO’s “The Wire,” where I am working on my first big television job, playing the role of Detective Kima Greggs. We are shooting here because it conjures just what we need for the show: an inner city that has been abandoned and neglected for too long.

I lived and worked in the city for almost a decade. It is where I became a first-time home buyer, where I sent my daughter to public school, where I discovered that I had the soul of an activist.

It’s the place where I drained my bank account to the tune of almost $200,000 to start a non-profit organisation that served formerly incarcerated youth from 2009-2014.

For all the time I was there, I twisted my brain to not only do my part, but to also try to figure out why the underserved citizens of Baltimore seemed so apathetic.

It took five years of working in those communities for me to learn what I had sensed to be true — what working on “The Wire” should have taught me — that there was a hopelessness on the streets of Baltimore that ran so deep that it seemed to have killed the spirit of the people.

Hopelessness is not something that simply pops up out of nowhere. It has a source.

It is never meaningless, and it is never created within a vacuum. I remember seeing it on

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I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament ALANIS MORISSETTE

the faces of the young people I worked with, who travelled by bus across the city, some with kids in tow, to do exactly as we had been instructing them — stay out of trouble by attending GED classes, look for employment and participate three evenings a week in our anti-recidivism programme — only to come up empty-handed every time they applied for the few jobs available to them.

There is, without question in my mind, a genealogy to the anger that has been on display since Freddie Gray was killed. It’s rooted in a history that is dominated by years of voting for inept and disrespectful politicians. Campaign promises for better schools and more employment opportunities, often made at church services and community meetings during election time, never quite seemed to materialise once the politicians took office.

It is this public betrayal of trust that I believe was at the root of the violence, even more than the culture of police brutality that was so pervasive that underserved Baltimoreans accepted it as a fact of life.

Now, however, I am hopeful. I’m hopeful because it seems as though Gray’s family might see justice.

And I am hopeful because I have seen what the people of Baltimore can do in small flashes of fighting against apathy.

One snapshot of that fight: In the fall of 2012, I worked with more than 100 AfricanAmerican citizens on an initiative called the Baltimore Wake Up that gave funding to people to improve their neighbourhoods.

A group of formerly incarcerated men living in a halfway house worked to revitalize an empty lot, and a group of established women worked with adolescent girls from East Baltimore on a self-esteem-building project. On Friday, one city official seemed to finally answer the desperate pleas of poor Baltimore residents. With the chief prosecutor’s announcement that she was charging six police officers in the death of Gray, I sensed something lift. It is a break from the defeat I felt when I had to take a breather from my nonprofit. It’s a reprieve from the despair that I felt all those years ago, struggling to act in the reality of the Baltimore poor.

And now, I know that when I return to hit the city streets I love, finally, I will be able to breathe. - The New York Times News Service

the university degrees. One needs experience, ability to take decisions, and an ability to lead with example and performance.

I am sure that there are enough well qualified Omanis with the potential to become fine professionals sometime in the future.

However, to assume that they can handle managerial positions soon after they walk out of university, lacks logic. One doesn’t become a manger overnight; it takes years. I hope to see young Omanis becoming managers tomorrow. However, they have to hone their skills before that.

Sumit Chatterjee Ghala

Airlines deserve praise for helping amnesty-seekers This refers to the news story, Special fares for amnesty-seekers

(May 4). It is a good gesture on the part of the airlines to help illegal workers go back home to their respective countries and travel without much financial burden. I am sure journey back home will be much less stressful.

Ramachandran Nair Ruwi

Spirited Hyderabad team stunned mighty Chennai No one thought that Hyderabad could defeat Chennai in the IPL tournament under way now. But that was exactly what happened.

Chennai, with its dream team, lost to Hyderabad with the latter winning very convincingly. In fact, Hyderabad’s performance this year has been very impressive thus far.

Ashok Panicker Seeb

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

T I M E S OF OMAN

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

A13

PERSPEC IVE Urgent need for more Indian schools in and around Muscat F

or the Indian expatriates in Oman, the education of their children is a big challenge. Limited resources, limited funds and lack of human resources are some of the reasons.

The Indian embassy in Oman has been doing a commendable work for the past 60 years for the education of children of Indian expatriates. The Government of the Sultanate of Oman, under the benevolent leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, granted permission under the Royal Decree no. 116/81 to Indian Embassy to run Indian community schools on a no profit basis. It also allotted free land for this purpose at Darsait and that’s how the Indian School Muscat came into existence.

The Indian School Constitution was written and the Board of Directors was appointed by the Indian embassy and the schools started functioning. Today, there are 19 Indian community schools, providing education to more than 42,000 Indian children in the Sultanate, of whom nearly 27,000 students are enrolled at schools in the area of Muscat Governorate.

The Indian community has limited options for educating their children. The international schools in Oman do not follow the Indian syllabi and these schools are mostly prohibitive to most Indians working in the Sultanate.

The only purpose of starting Indian community schools at different locations in Oman is to serve the Indian community members staying in these areas. However, if the authorities are unable to give admissions to all children staying in the area, and parents are forced to send their children to other schools far away from where they live, then the purpose of setting up so many Indian schools gets woefully defeated.

If children are forced to travel a long distance every day to go to schools, they get tired and are left with little energy and time to partake in other activities, or even study, at homes.

Given the climate of Oman, where we experience summer for eight months, it is cruel to expect children to travel long distances to go to schools.

During my tenure as a member of the board, I had strongly recommended two

SANJAY DALAL

Most of the Indian schools in Oman are overcrowded.

Many of the classes are bursting at the seams with almost 45 students in each class. Teachers find it tough to pay proper attention to individual students and the quality of education gets adversely impacted

shifts in all existing schools. This was a very important recommendation.

If this would have been adopted a decade back, getting admission into Indian schools would not have been such a challenge. We could have ensured admission to every single child willing to study. And this would have brought in multiple benefits — the premises and resources would have had optimum utilization, more space would have been available, and more children could have been admitted.

Most of the Indian schools in Oman are overcrowded. Many of the classes are bursting at the seams with almost 45 students in each class. Teachers find it tough to pay proper attention to individual students and the quality of education gets adversely impacted. So critical is the situation that we are in dire need of fresh and massive investments. With each passing day we are feeling the pressing need to have new Indian schools only to accommodate the growing demand for admission. School fees are, consequentially, increasing.

A few schools have now started the second shift. Still, I feel they are not doing it the right way. For example, having primary classes in both the shifts is a wrong move because this is making things difficult and complicated, rather than helping people.

Efficiency is going for a toss as the same set of teachers is being shunted from one shift to another, which is only tiring them and sapping out their ability and willingness to teach with efficiency.

Running primary classes in both the shifts, I feel, is not a long-term solution to a snowballing admission crisis.

The situation today warrants a few more Indian schools in and around Muscat.

The Indian embassy and the Board of Directors should take steps and seek permission to start more community schools in the larger interest of the Indian community in the Sultanate of Oman.

The author is a former member of the Board of Directors of Indian schools in Oman. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman.

Story of this birth won’t top the news for long

M

ost births do not make the BBC’s main news bulletin or the front pages of the papers. I had a son two weeks ago and this will be the only mention of him — until he becomes England cricket captain in 2040.

A royal baby, however, is a different kettle of fish altogether. The arrival of a princess on Saturday was greeted with cheers from the crowds outside St Mary’s Hospital in London and banner headlines from the press pack.

The Independent has historically been largely uninterested in the shenanigans of the monarch and her family. Its editorial position has tended towards a desire for a much more modern style of monarchy — and only the most significant of royal stories are likely to make the cut.

For some readers, this is an important matter of principle, not necessarily because of anti-royal feeling per se, but on the basis that there are usually more important

WILL GORE

things going on in the world.

Sure enough, a complaint arrived on Saturday morning from a reader who was dismayed that a report of the royal labour was the top item on The Independent’s website.

There are two issues here.

First, is it unethical to give overriding prominence to a story that, for many, is anodyne at best, especially when set against a general election and the aftermath of Nepal’s disastrous earthquake?

No doubt some might find the decision distasteful but it is hardly immoral to highlight — for a limited time — a parochial breaking story, even if it is not as significant as other global matters.

This takes us into the second point, which is why The Independent website’s approach to the story might be different from The Independent print edition, where news of a royal birth would never get top billing.

They are, of course, fundamentally different beasts, each with their own editor

and teams.

While editorial values are shared in most key ways, the newspaper and the website target different audiences.

The online readership is global after all, and many users arrive at the site via internet searches.

Moreover, websites change by the minute. A story which is top dog at 10 o’clock in the morning may well have slipped down the homepage by midday.

Regular visitors expect frequent updates.

The paper, by contrast, provides a once-a-day commentary on the key stories of the last 24 hours — and has only limited space to play with.

Whether the fourth in line to the throne will trouble the headline writers again for a while remains to be seen.

But when Tristan James Gore smashes the Aussies all round Lord’s in about 25 years’ time, just remember that you read his name first here: and nowhere else.

Education in Pakistan is in tatters KAMAL SIDDIQI

W

hile our private education system has gained in size and reputation over the past two decades, unfortunately this has come at the expense of public education which has suffered from a number of problems over the years.

Private schools are not the answer. They are also part of a larger problem.

For all intents and purposes, the government has absolved itself of its responsibility to provide free and quality education to its citizens.

The exceptions to this may possibly be Punjab and KP where there is some semblance of governance left.

In Sindh, by contrast, functional government schools are far and few, as is the case with Balochistan.

We have heard of ghost schools, of teachers being hired but not paid, of crumbling infrastructure and how hundreds of schools have been encroached by different persons.

In the past there has been talk about limited resources, but this is not the real issue when it comes to public education.

According to Mosharraf Zaidi, who runs the Alif Ailan education initiative, there are 25 million boys and girls out of school. This is nearly half of all children in the country.

Of those children who do go to school, the vast majority receive an education of poor quality. 48 per cent of government schools are in a dangerous or dilapidated condition and lack basic facilities such as furniture, bathrooms, boundary walls, electricity and running water.

The findings of Alif Ailan show that on any given day, 18 per cent of teachers are absent from the classroom.

At the same time, corporal punishment is widespread and remains unchecked. Significantly, budget allocations for education are insufficient and funds that are available are not spent effectively.

Our own media group has started the Aao Parhao education initiative which celebrates and recognizes teachers across the country.

This campaign, which is a CSR initiative of the Express Group, has received a tremendous response from all corners of Pakistan.

But the findings of the campaign leave us food for thought.

Amongst findings of the Aao Parhao campaign is the understanding that merely increasing education budgets will not solve all the

problems that our education system is facing. Budget increase needs to be supplemented with its proper utilization, earmarking significant amount of funds for development and non-salary components and spending more on in-service and preservice teacher training.

These are some of the steps which, if undertaken, can ensure a better educational system in the country in the days to come. So far this is not happening.

In a report written by Abdullah Alam for Aao Parhao, Pakistan is spending around 2 per cent of its GDP on education, which in fact is quite low, when compared with our neighboring countries.

This year, in 2014-15, the federal and provincial governments allocated Rs641 billion for education which is an increase of 11 per cent compared with the previous year’s allocation.

This is not enough. Considering this huge public spending on education, a question that pinches the common man is why the educational situation is not improving in public sector institutions.

Although, many factors contribute to it, underspending is one of the issues which needs to be addressed by all the provincial governments especially Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) who could not spend 23 per cent and 16 per cent of their allocated education budgets in 2013-14.

The underlying issue remains corruption and poor governance.

While there is an increasing awareness to focus on education by the government, which comes from constant prodding from external sources like the World Bank and a number of other international organisations, that will remains to be translated into action.

Money continues to be siphoned or not used. Teacher hiring remains a controversy because ministers want to sell the jobs to the highest bidder.

We only revise our textbooks to suit our ideological beliefs but little is done in terms of quality improvement.

Cheating remains a problem in most examinations conducted by the government. That is why almost all institutes of higher education now have entry tests in place.

One wonders how long we will continue to treat education in this way. Governments may come and go but if we have a generation of poorly educated people, they will remain a headache for us for years to come. - The Express Tribune

- The Independent

Europe top for investment The eurozone has been recognised as the best market to invest in for the first time since at least 2009, in a Bloomberg poll of investors

Which markets will offer investors best opportunities over next year? * April 2015 poll

January 2015 poll

TODAY IN HISTORY

OPINION POLL Do you think Omanis are now ready to replace expats in all managerial positions?

1494 Christopher Columbus lands on the

EU

island of Jamaica, which he names Santa Gloria.

US India

China

1821

Napoleon Bonaparte dies in exile on the island of St. Helena.

1862

Mexican forces loyal to Benito Juarez defeat troops sent by Napoleon III in the Battle of Puebla.

Japan

Russia

1886

A bomb explodes on the fourth day of a workers’ strike in Chicago.

1945

Holland and Denmark are liberated from Nazi control.

1961

Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space.

Brazil

UK

0%

10

20

30

40

50

60

*Respondents could choose one or two markets from supplied list

HISTORYNET.COM Source: Bloomberg

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Graphics

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FAWZIA TO REPRESENT OMAN AT WEF

MUSCAT: Dr Fawzia bint Nasser bin Juma’a Al Farsi, undersecretary for public education at the Ministry of Education, will represent Oman at the World Education Forum (WEF), at Dakar, Senegal, a United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) report said yesterday. The WEF will be held from today to Friday and will bring together senior government officials (including heads of state, ministers of education and other ministries).

LAST POLL RESULT No

69.4%

Can’t Say

3.2%

Yes

27.4%

Can Oman ever solve the problem of illegal workers as long as they remain in demand?

A 14

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

GLOBAL EYE

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AUSTRALIA: The full moon rises over the Pacific Ocean as Sorrel Hayes walks across the sand dunes of Wanda Beach after a surf in Sydney, Australia, on Monday. Australia’s largest city Sydney is experiencing temperatures in the mid-20s as the southern hemisphere enters winter. – Reuters

THE NETHERLANDS: Canadian World War II veteran Sandy Sanderson, 93, poses at the Government of Canada ceremony of remembrance at the Canadian war cemetery in Holten, the Netherlands, on Monday. – Reuters

UNITED KINGDOM: Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, eats a strawberry tart in a bakery during an election visit to Kirkcaldy in Scotland, Britain on Monday. Britain will go to the polls in a national election on May 7. – Reuters

CHINA: An elderly man sits on a hobby horse in a residential area

in Beijing, China on Monday. – AFP

CHINA: A group of 1,000 customers receive a facial massage at a

KENYA: US Secretary of State John Kerry takes a selfie with a baby elephant while touring the Sheldrick Center Elephant Orphanage at

the Nairobi National Park on Monday, in Nairobi. The center’s Orphans’ Project hand rears elephant and rhino orphans in a rehabilitation programme to help protect Kenya’s threatened animal populations struggling against poaching and loss of habitat. – AFP

sports centre in Jinan, Shandong province, China, on Monday. A group of 1,000 women were given a 30 minutes facial beauty treatment together on Monday that achieved a Guinness record for the largest group of people having beauty treatment in the same location, according to local media. – Reuters

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

10,000

A15

WORLD

US military trainers and counterterrorism forces, which are the main obstacle to a ceasefire

Afghan Taliban office to be reopened Delegates agreed that Taliban should reopen a political office in Doha that caused a furore in 2013 when it was briefly inaugurated

AL KHOR (QATAR)/PESHAWAR (PAKISTAN): Representatives at preliminary talks aiming to end Afghanistan’s long war have agreed that Taliban insurgents should open a political office for negotiations, but disagreement over foreign troops still clouds the prospects for a ceasefire.

A statement issued on Monday outlined the agreements reached by at least 40 delegates to a “nonofficial meeting” bringing together Taliban representatives, Afghan government figures and UN representatives at a two-day meeting held in Qatar.

The dialogue was a step toward a peace process that has proved elusive during a war that has killed tens of thousands of Afghans since the Taliban were driven from power by a 2001 US-led military operation.

Delegates agreed the Taliban should re-open a political office in Doha that caused a furore in 2013 when it was briefly inaugurated as part of a previous, failed attempt to start negotiations.

At the televised inauguration ceremony, the Taliban representatives raised the flag of their former regime, enraging then-presi-

dent Hamid Karzai and dooming hoped-for talks.

Afghanistan’s new leader, Ashraf Ghani, has made negotiations a priority since taking office last year.

UN blacklist The delegates also called for the removal of key Taliban leaders’ names from a UN terrorism blacklist so they could travel to negotiations, according to the statement by the Pugwash Council, a global organisation that promotes conflict resolution. It co-hosted the talks with Qatar’s government.

Pugwash said more than 40 representatives including several Afghan women had attended the Qatar meeting.

However, there was no progress on the main obstacle to a ceasefire - the continued presence of around 10,000 US military trainers and counter-terrorism forces.

The talks ended on Sunday with pledges to hold a similar dialogue in the future.

The informal talks came as fighting escalated after the withdrawal of most US and allied troops. The Taliban recently launched an offensive in northern Afghani-

stan that brought its fighters to the outskirts of Kunduz city, a provincial capital.

The Afghan government has made no official statement on the meetings, though members of the country’s High Peace Council attended.

One Taliban participant in the talks told Reuters an eight-member Taliban delegation had held direct talks with Afghan officials.

“The Afghan delegation and Qayyum Kochai, uncle of (Afghan) President Ashraf Ghani, demanded we stop our fighting and announce a ceasefire,” he said. — Reuters

B

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‘We’ll go ahead with plans for privatisation’ Companies can implement their privatisation plans when they achieve sustained profitability to share the generated wealth

Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi.

— Shabin E/Times of Oman

with as many people as possible, Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, said on Monday

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s government sees privatisation as a way to share the wealth with the public and therefore will move ahead with its plans in due course, said a senior official at the Ministry of Oil and Gas. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, undersecretary at the ministry, was speaking at a roundtable meeting held at the Occidental office on

Monday to discuss the main challenges facing local service companies in the oil and gas sector.

The event, organised by the ministry, Oman Society for Petroleum Services (Opal) and the Oil & Gas Year, was attended by senior officials from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Oxy, BP, Daleel Petroleum, Mitsui, Halliburton as well as renowned local companies.

Asked whether Oman plans to focus more on privatisation of state-owned companies in the face of lower oil prices, Al Aufi said that the government looks at it as more of a strategy to share the generated wealth with as many people as possible and the companies can implement their plans in this regard when they

achieve sustained profitability.

He referred to the earlier announcement that Oman’s government may sell off part of Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) and said that the plan has not been scrapped but will be implemented only after the company becomes profitable.

Sustained profitability “Orpic needs to have a few years of sustained profitability before they start privatising part of it.

The plan is still there. We have not moved away from it.”

The official said, adding further that the same is true for other companies such as Oman Oil Company which may be considering privatising some of its industries. > B2

M U S C AT P R O P E R T Y M A R K E T

Infrastructure spend fuels demand for residential units Times News Service MUSCAT: Investment activity in Muscat remains the key driver in the capital’s residential market as institutional investment and infrastructure spend continue to fuel sales, according to the latest research report by leading international real estate consultancy, Cluttons.

Clutton’s Spring 2015 Muscat Residential Property Outlook report highlights the steady growth of Oman’s sales market, with Muscat’s integrated tourism-complexes (ITCs) developments attracting a mixture of genuine end-users and investors seeking to make use of rental yields, which stand out at circa 6 to 7 per cent.

Philip Paul, head of Cluttons Oman said, “We are currently seeing a lot of activity in the sales market with non-resident Indians from the UAE, in particular, purchasing one-bedroom retirement properties in order to benefit from

Muscat average rental values Q1 2015 (in OMR)

0

1,000 2,000

Ruwi Qurum Shatti Al Qurum Madinat Qaboos Al Khuwair Bausher Azaiba / Ghubrah North Muscat Hills The Wave Al Hail / Mawalleh Maabela Sur Al Hadid Source: Cluttons

Graphics

the accompanying renewable residency visa. At an institutional level, banks too are showing greater interest in acquiring buy-to-let assets in the capital’s ITCs.” “Bank Muscat, for instance, has recently completed a deal worth

OMR30 million to acquire 230 apartments spread across four buildings at The Wave as part of its plans to develop a OMR75 million property portfolio,” he added.

According to the report, integrated tourism-complexes such as The Wave Muscat and Muscat Hills continue to attract investors through their capital gains potential, attractive residential yields, and community lifestyle offerings.

Away from the ITC submarkets, other areas of the capital continue to attract a high level of investment from both Omani and GCC buyers, with Omani nationals being the most active group.

Faisal Durrani, international research and business development manager at Cluttons, said: “The strong track record of investment demand for non-ITC properties appears to have resulted in banks being more amenable to both funding more real estate development, and offering more off-plan mortgage products.” > B3

B2

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

MARKET LOGISTICS FORUM

Symposium to focus on future of shipping industry in Oman Times News Service MUSCAT: Sohar Freezone CEO Jamal Aziz will deliver a keynote speech at the Symposium on Ports in Oman 2015 at Rustaq College of Applied Sciences, due to be held on May 5-6, 2015. The inaugural event will bring industry leaders, investors, researchers, and policy makers together to discuss the fu-

ture of the Sultanate’s shipping industry, and offers an opportunity for the logistics hub to showcase its contributions to the economy.

“The Symposium on Ports in Oman promises to be a great opportunity for us to assess the progress that the shipping industry in Oman has made as a whole, and to refocus our attention on the business potential, the challenges, and

opportunities that will emerge as the economy continues to strive towards diversification.“ Global insights “For SOHAR, supporting this event is indication of our desire to contribute the global insights we’ve gained during a decade of successful partnership with Port of Rotterdam, including efforts to

promote investment; supply chain management, entrepreneurship, and economic integration, among others,” said Aziz.

Having attracted $21 billion in foreign investment, SOHAR is now one of the world’s largest port and freezone development sites and boasts a rapidly expanding portfolio of petrochemicals, metals, and logistics operations.

A multibillion dollar food industry is under construction, and investment in bringing rail, air, and improved road transport networks to SOHAR, continue to increase connectivity.

SOHAR has also created 12,000 direct job opportunities, and Aziz paid tribute to the supporting role that scientific institutions in Oman have played in shaping and

Duqm Development awards design consultancy contract tor, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.

AECOM will work in conjunction with DDC to develop a dynamic and economically viable master plan that will bring the company’s vision for the Duqm Frontier Town

Times News Service MUSCAT: The Duqm Development Company (DDC) has awarded a contract to AECOM, a leading professional and technical services consultant, to develop the feasibility study, master plan and detailed design for Phase II of the Duqm Frontier Town, Oman.

“To deliver this modern residential community, we have partnered with a consultant that ranks among the top design consultants

in the world,” said Sheikh Ibrahim Sultan Alhosni, chief executive officer of DDC. “AECOM will work in conjunction with DDC to develop a dynamic and economically viable master plan that will bring our vision for the Duqm Frontier Town to life,” he added.

The first stage of the contract includes a feasibility study and multiple concept master plans.

Thereafter AECOM will be responsible for the detailed master

VITAL PACT: Contract was signed to develop the feasibility study, master plan and detailed design for Phase II of the Duqm Frontier Town, Oman. — Supplied picture

plan, detailed design, preparation of the tenders, and supervision of construction contracts.

“AECOM is delighted and honoured to have been awarded

the project to provide consultancy services for Phase II of the Duqm Frontier Town,” said Riad Nashif, executive vice president, Middle East and managing direc-

Strategic significance “This confidence in AECOM is a testament of our long history in Oman and our commitment to actively participate in the country’s development. Given the strategic significance of the development of Duqm to Oman, we have actively sought out such exciting opportunities there, and with DDC in particular, to support its development utilising our full, and best in class, range of services.”

Phase II will cover an area of 29.2 hectares and will include residential units and an international school.

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

defining growth at SOHAR. “That we are to convene at a college of applied sciences is significant for a number of reasons; most of all for the acquired talent that is essentially needed in growing Omani economy. The thirst for knowledge and the ability to successfully apply that knowledge through applied sciences has been the bedrock of our success at SOHAR.”

R O U N D TA B L E D I S C U S S I O N

< FROM

B1

Privatisation plan to be pursued

Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, minister of oil and gas, had announced earlier this year that an initial approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Finance and 15 to 20 per cent of Orpic may be offered to the public.

Oman Oil Rumhy was also quoted as saying that Oman Oil Company might sell shares in Abraj Energy Services, which provides drilling and well operation services. Commenting on whether privatisation plans will help cover the budget deficit, Al Aufi said that Orpic, for example, is financing itself predominantly from the market and not so much from the government.

“The Ministry of Finance is not putting so much money on Orpic so that is not really putting a lot of strain on the government,” he said.

mINSURANCE SERVICE

Al Madina Takaful launches mobile insurance app and self-service kiosks Times News Service MUSCAT: Al Madina Takaful launched a feature-packed advanced mobile application that puts insurance right in the hands of customers. mInsurance is Oman’s first mobile application for insurance, and elevates the reputed service standards of Al Madina to a higher level. The new app promises to set a benchmark in the industry, and will enable the company to stay closely connected to its customers, communicate with them, serve them, and also educate them on new Takaful products from time to time.

Dedicated call centre Along with this, the company has also introduced self-service kiosks that will be set up at key locations in Oman to help consumers avail services quickly, easily, and round-the-clock ably supported by a dedicated call centre facility for assistance.

Usama Al Barwai. — Supplied picture

The mobile app is packed with many features that are convenient for customers. These include buying and renewing policies, processing claims effortlessly, getting quotes, identifying locations of branches, garages and hospitals and much more.

Speaking at the launch of mIn-

surance, Usama Al Barwai, deputy CEO, Al Madina Insurance Company, said, “Al Madina is in the forefront of innovation in the Insurance industry, and in a series of firsts we are proud to introduce mInsurance, a power-packed mobile app, and a self-service concept in the form of a kiosk, which again will take us further up in the service levels. Both these channels are also supported by a dedicated call centre, which again will help us strengthen our relationship with clients by being there for them whenever they need.”

The event also witnessed the first transaction completed through the app, with a customer completing the renewal of his motor policy in a few minutes. As a special, limited-period offer, the company is offering competitive rates on motor, housemaid and travel policies to be renewed or bought through the app. mInsurance is available for both Apple and Android users, and can be downloaded from the

respective stores online using the search string “mInsurance”.

Refund payment The customers can cancel the policy bought online if they are unhappy with the product and the delivery method, provided it is done within 15 days of purchase. This will be conditional to no claims having occurred during this trial period. The refund payment will be done by way of a refund cheque that will be issued within five working days from the date of the cancellation of the advice. This can be done through an email or by calling the call centre.

“We are positive that both existing and new customers will find the mobile app very useful and will make the most of what it has to offer. As a flag bearer of an emerging industry sector, we realise our responsibility towards educating customers on Takaful and the potential it holds. This tool will help us achieve even more in this respect,” added Al Barwai.

LIFE INSURANCE

Oman Insurance’s plans for aircrew Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Insurance Company (OIC) announced its selection as a preferred provider for Aircrew Protection International (API) offering airline pilots life insurance and investment plans.

Each of the 1,700 members will have the opportunity to subscribe to a comprehensive life insurance policy up to the maximum of $500,000. Eligible members will also participate in an investment platform designed to complement their wealth management and retirement planning goals.

Integrated solution “Oman Insurance’s Workplace and Retirement Plan is a fully integrated solution allowing members to have access to world class fund managers and to participate in cutting-edge asset allocation choices such as ETF’s,” stated Katy Hallside, employee benefits manager at Expat Cover Insurance Consultancy (part of the

Mondial Group), consultants for API and architects of the Plan.

Simple online access “Members will have simple online access to complete all administrative tasks. Additionally, the Plan is totally portable, which means pilots can retain it even if they change employer or country of residence.” added Katy Hallside.

Speaking about the partnership Patrick Choffel, OIC Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to have earned the trust of the pilot group. Oman Insurance’s Investment Plan will give them a comprehensive and unique solution for their long term savings.”

“The majority of UAE residents are inadequately prepared for life after work. We believe that investing for the future is one of the most important subjects for the coming years and it will have a profound impact in the regional economic development.” Patrick Choffel further added.

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

B3

MARKET CLUTTONS REPORT

< FROM

B1

Considerable demand for off-plan units

“This may, however, be curtailed sharply over the coming months should the low oil price environment persist and dampen economic growth as forecast. For now, however, off-plan properties outside designated ITCs continue to attract high levels of interest from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) buyers,” he added.

Cluttons report highlights that, with oil prices continuing to hover around $50 per barrel, there is growing concern around the economy’s ability to sustain the robust level of job creation and overall growth seen over the past 12 to 18 months.

Subsequent impact “The subsequent impact on the rental market is expected to be a stabilisation or even a weakening in demand, particularly as jobs generated by the hydrocarbon industry still form the cornerstone of lettings demand . With evidence from the office market suggesting that nervousness from the weakness of oil prices is starting to filter through in the form of stalled expansion plans, the rate of job creation is expected to slow over the course of the year, which will have implications for demand in the residential market over the short to medium term,” said Durrani.

According to the Cluttons report, tenant demand continues to focus on good value, high quality properties.

At the Al Fardan Building in Azaiba, there is a long waiting list for the two and three-bedroom semi-furnished apartments.

These are leased for between OMR750 to -OMR850 per month, with tenants repeatedly honing in on the scheme due to its perceived high quality finishing and attractive rents.

For those on lower budgets, more central submarkets such as Qurum, Ruwi, Al Khuwair and Azaiba and Ghubrah North remain popular submarkets, while monthly rents start from as little as OMR175 for a onebedroom apartment in the western suburb of Maabela.

“Western expatriates continue to dominate the bulk of requirements at Muscat’s integrated-tourism-complexes (ITCs), with most being allocated corporate housing allowances. That said, the lack of school places within the vicinity of ITCs such as The Wave and Muscat Hills is prompting some families to consider alternate locations,” concluded Paul.

The general shortage of school places may start to compromise the performance of these two ITCs in particular with their full rental potential being curtailed until the authorities address the problem.

For now, however, The Wave Muscat and Muscat Hills remain the two most desirable ITCs in Muscat.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

DON’T WASTE A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY LIKE OMAN.

Plastic takes 1,000 years or more to break down

B4

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

MARKET MSM index ends higher Monday’s top gainer was Renaissance Services, up by 4.47 per cent while United Power down by 5.88 per cent was the top loser

ments increased by 3.17 per cent, 0.97 per cent and 0.78 per cent respectively. Oman Fisheries, Al Hassan Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals decreased 1.72 per cent, 0.89 per cent and 0.44 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index showed strong gains of 0.59 per cent to close at 3,457.57 points. Renaissance Services, Ooredoo, OIFC and Omantel increased 4.47 per cent, 1.63 per cent, 1.30 per cent and 0.31 per cent respectively.

United Power, Port Services and Sembcorp Salalah declined 5.88 per cent, 1.32 per cent and 0.41 per cent respectively.

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,345.36 ............... 6,317.33 ...................6,342.34 ................... 6,318.28................. 24.06 ...................0.38 Financial Index .....................................7,732.00 ................7,712.21 .................... 7,719.34 ....................7,731.83................-12.49 .................. -0.16 Industrial Index ................................... 8,368.52 .............. 8,338.00 ................... 8,358.79 ................... 8,331.10..................27.69 ................... 0.33 Services Index ....................................... 3,461.01 .............. 3,436.25 ....................3,457.57 ................... 3,437.36..................20.21 ................... 0.59 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................975.87 ..................972.84 .......................975.74 ...................... 972.84....................2.90 ...................0.30 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 9,979,851 .................... 4,866,858 .....................667 ...............14,870,236,392 ................ 13 ......................12 ....................24 .........................49

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, MAY 4 ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 141,978 .............53,221......................12 ............0.374 ...........0.380 ...........0.360........... 0.374 .............0.358 ............0.016 .............4.469 ................0.360..............0.362...................0.370..................105,503,326........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 791,888...........102,718..................... 63 ............0.130 ........... 0.133 ...........0.128........... 0.130 .............0.126............ 0.004............. 3.175.................0.129 ..............0.128...................0.129................... 37,697,483 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 166,350 ............10,364......................12 ........... 0.062 ...........0.063 ...........0.062........... 0.062 ............. 0.061.............0.001 ............. 1.639 ................0.063..............0.062...................0.066...................12,843,386 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 214,956 ..........161,010......................18 ............0.740 ........... 0.752 ...........0.740............0.748 ............. 0.736.............0.012 ............. 1.630 ................0.748 ..............0.740...................0.748................. 486,906,284 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 116,100 .............27,015......................18 ............0.231 ...........0.234 ...........0.231 ........... 0.233 .............0.230 ........... 0.003............. 1.304 ................0.231 ..............0.231...................0.233...................46,600,000 ........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 203,000...........84,448..................... 10 ............0.416 ........... 0.416 ...........0.416 ............0.416 .............0.412............ 0.004............. 0.971 ................0.416 ..............0.412...................0.416..................123,224,892........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................62,370 ............ 32,432........................4 ........... 0.520 ...........0.520 ...........0.520........... 0.520 ............. 0.516............ 0.004............. 0.775 ................0.520..............0.520...................0.534..................172,053,809........0.100

MUSCAT: MSM30 Index rebounded to close at 6,342.34 points, up by 0.38 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index increased 0.30 per cent to close at 975.74 points. Al Suwadi Power was the most active in terms of volume while Sembcorp Salalah was the most active in terms of turnover.

Monday’s top gainer was Renaissance Services, up by 4.47 per cent while United Power down by 5.88 per cent was the top loser for the day.

A total number of 667 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR4.86 million with more than 9.97 million shares changing hands. Out of 49 traded securities, 13 advanced, 12 declined and 24 remained unchanged. At the session close, GCC & Arab Investors were net buyers for OMR614,000 followed by Foreign Investors for OMR62,000 while Omani Investors were net sellers for OMR677,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index declined 0.16 per cent to end at 7,719.34 points.

Al Madina Investments, Takaful Oman, Gulf Investment Services, NBO and Bank Muscat increased by 1.64 per cent, 0.91 per cent, 0.70 per cent, 0.63 per cent and 0.38 per cent respectively. Al Sharqia Investments, Al Anwar Holding, Oman & Emirates Holding, Bank Nizwa and Global Financial Investment declined by 2.10 per cent, 1.95 per cent, 1.72 per cent, 1.28 per cent and 0.86 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index advanced 0.33 per cent and closed at 8,358.79 points. Galfar Engineering, Al Anwar Ceramics and Oman Ce-

Saudi stocks advance Saudi Arabian stocks traded near a six-month high as investors awaited an announcement by the country’s regulator on rules opening up the market to foreigners for the first time.

The Tadawul All Share Index rose as much as 0.3 per cent and fell as much as 0.4 per cent before closing 0.2 per cent higher in Riyadh. Al Rajhi Bank, the lender with the biggest weighting on index, added one per cent. The Riyadh-based Capital Market Authority will publish the final regulations today to allow foreigners direct access to its stock market starting June 15. The rules will be enacted June 1.

“There is nervous anticipation in the market,” Mohammed AlSuwayed, a Riyadh-based financial analyst and partner at SPT Investors, a market-analytics company, said by phone. “Investors are not very sure what sort of changes there will be, hence the fluctuation.”

Opec’s biggest oil exporter is removing barriers to one of the world’s most-restricted major stock markets as it pursues a $130 billion spending plan to boost non-energy industries.

Investors from outside the sixnation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)currently access shares listed on the country’s $572 billion market through equity swaps and exchange-traded funds.

The CMA may allow institutional investors with a minimum of $5 billion under management to invest directly in the stock market, according to the draft rules published in August. — United

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,117,659 ....... 160,706......................51 ............0.143 ........... 0.145 ...........0.142........... 0.144 .............0.143.............0.001 ............. 0.699 ................0.142.............. 0.141...................0.142.................... 8,473,423 ..........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ...................................54,092 ............. 17,149........................5 ............0.310 ........... 0.318 ...........0.310............0.318 ............. 0.316............ 0.002............. 0.633 ................0.316 .............. 0.316...................0.318................. 426,345,860 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 487,318..........260,493..................... 93 ........... 0.532 ........... 0.536 ...........0.532........... 0.534 .............0.532 ........... 0.002............. 0.376 ................0.536..............0.532...................0.536................1,223,833,267 ......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 537,776 .......... 875,351..................... 70 ............1.625 ........... 1.630 ...........1.625 ............1.630 ............. 1.625............ 0.005.............0.308 ................1.625 .............. 1.625...................1.635 ................1,222,500,000......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 350,600 .........105,286..................... 27 ........... 0.302 ...........0.302 ...........0.300 .......... 0.300 .............0.300 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.300 ............ 0.300...................0.302 ..................30,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ............................................................... 5,082 ...............2,039........................9 ........... 0.402 ...........0.402 ...........0.400 .......... 0.402 .............0.402 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.400............. 0.400...................0.402 ..................20,100,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................12,500 ............. 19,813........................1 ............1.585 ........... 1.585 ...........1.585 ............1.585 ............. 1.585............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.585 .............. 1.575...................1.585 ..................317,000,000........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .........................................................1,341 ...................174........................1 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.130........... 0.130 .............0.130............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.130 ...............0.131...................0.133................. 260,040,663 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ......................................................................31,490 .............14,359........................2 ........... 0.456 ........... 0.456 ...........0.456........... 0.456 .............0.456 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.456..............0.420...................0.456..................168,910,289 ........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY............................................100 ..................209........................1 ........... 2.090...........2.090 ...........2.090 .......... 2.060 .............2.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.090............. 2.090...................2.150..................184,782,000........0.100 OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS............................................................. 1,000 ............... 1,497........................2 ............1.495 ........... 1.500 ...........1.495 ........... 1.500 .............1.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.500..............1.400...................1.500...................72,244,596.........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ........................................ 700 ...............1,400........................1 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 ............ 0.000...................2.000 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ...................................................... 50,000 ...............6,250........................8 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 ..............0.123...................0.124...................38,845,618 .........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................31,000 ............ 14,260........................5 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.460........... 0.460 .............0.460 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.460..............0.440...................0.470................... 79,774,695 .........0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ................................................21,515 .............17,987........................3 ........... 0.836 ........... 0.836 ...........0.836........... 0.836 .............0.836 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.836..............0.836...................0.840 .................133,760,000........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ................................................... 11,000 ............... 1,562........................1 ............0.142 ........... 0.142 ...........0.142........... 0.142 .............0.142 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.142..............0.142...................0.150...................36,009,780 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR....................................................................... 424 .....................76........................2 ............0.182 ........... 0.182 ...........0.179 ........... 0.182 .............0.182............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.179 .............. 0.179...................0.182................. 262,342,080 .......0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER...................................................................... 53 .................... 20........................1 ........... 0.368 ...........0.368 ...........0.368........... 0.370 .............0.370 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.368..............0.334...................0.368................... 81,773,700 .........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ................................15,000 ............ 49,350........................3 ........... 3.290 ...........3.290 ...........3.290........... 3.290 .............3.290 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................3.290..............3.290................... 3.615 ................... 32,176,911 .........1.000 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 1,188,292 ......226,954........................8 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.190............0.191 ............. 0.191 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.190............. 0.000...................0.192..................128,903,499........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 1,257,897 ......240,258........................8 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.191 ............0.191 ............. 0.191 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.191 .............. 0.191...................0.193.................. 136,451,611 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................. 60,000 ............32,040........................8 ........... 0.534 ...........0.534 ...........0.534........... 0.534 .............0.534 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.534..............0.524...................0.534...................28,035,000.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 171,830 ............ 39,252..................... 27 ............0.231 ........... 0.231 ...........0.228........... 0.228 .............0.229 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.437 ...............0.228..............0.227...................0.228 ...................4,788,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING .........................61,451 ...............8,324........................9 ............0.136 ........... 0.136 ...........0.134............0.135 ............. 0.136............-0.001 ........... -0.735................0.134 .............. 0.133...................0.134....................4,050,000..........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................. 50,000 ............... 5,750........................1 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.116 ............-0.001 ........... -0.862 ...............0.115 .............. 0.112................... 0.116 ...................23,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................39,875 ...............8,988........................6 ........... 0.228 ...........0.228 ...........0.225........... 0.225 .............0.228 ...........-0.003 ............-1.316................0.225..............0.223...................0.225 ..................21,384,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 299,500 ...........34,223......................15 ............0.116 ........... 0.116............0.114 ............0.114 ............. 0.116 ............-0.002 ............-1.724................0.114 ...............0.113................... 0.115 ................... 13,893,750 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 572,818.......... 143,967..................... 45 ........... 0.252 ...........0.254 ...........0.250............0.251 .............0.256 ...........-0.005 ............-1.953................0.250..............0.250...................0.252 ..................32,755,500 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............66,493 ...............9,332......................15 ............0.143 ........... 0.143 ...........0.140........... 0.140 ............. 0.143............-0.003 ........... -2.098 ...............0.140..............0.140...................0.142...................12,600,000.........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER .............................................................2,306 ...............3,690........................5 ............1.600 ........... 1.600 ...........1.600........... 1.600 ............. 1.700............-0.100 ........... -5.882 ...............1.600..............1.580...................1.700 ....................3,200,000..........1.000 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 8,195,754........2,771,968 ...............570 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......37........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................54,215 ...............6,009........................6 ............0.110 ............0.111 ............0.110 ............0.111.............. 0.110.............0.001 .............0.909 ................ 0.111 .............. 0.110................... 0.111 ................... 11,100,000 .........0.100 OM0000001111 .............GULF HOTELS (OMAN) ...................................................339 ...............3,558........................7 .......... 10.495 .........10.495 .........10.495......... 10.495 ...........10.495 .......... 0.000.............0.000 ...............10.495...........10.495...................0.000 ..................35,980,239.........1.000 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 135,186 ...............5,553........................8 ............0.041 ...........0.042 ...........0.041........... 0.041 .............0.041 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.041..............0.041...................0.042 ...................3,485,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 2,355 ................1,181........................5 ........... 0.502 ...........0.502 ...........0.500........... 0.502 .............0.502 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.500..............0.500...................0.502 ..................79,065,000.........0.100 OM0000001897 ............MAJAN COLLEGE .......................................................... 3,278 ............... 1,639........................1 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.500............. 0.000...................0.000 ..................15,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES .............................................20 .....................13........................1 ........... 0.648 ...........0.648 ...........0.648........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.648............. 0.000...................0.648..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000003083 ...........AL KAMIL POWER .......................................................10,000 ...............3,120........................2 ............0.312 ........... 0.312 ...........0.312 ........... 0.312 .............0.312............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.312 ..............0.312...................0.314...................30,030,000.........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.............................................. 835,860 ..... 2,014,326........................6 ............2.410 ........... 2.410 ...........2.400 .......... 2.400 .............2.410 ...........-0.010 ............-0.415................2.400 .............2.360...................2.400 .................229,097,268........1.000 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 128,902 ............14,358......................19 ............0.113 ........... 0.114............0.110 ............0.111.............. 0.112............-0.001 ........... -0.893 ...............0.110 .............. 0.110................... 0.113 ....................8,348,088 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 420,642 ........... 32,439..................... 23 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.077 .............0.078 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.282 ...............0.077..............0.077...................0.078..................115,500,000........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 168,300 ..............9,595......................18 ........... 0.058 ...........0.058 ...........0.056........... 0.057 .............0.058 ...........-0.001 ............-1.724................0.057..............0.056...................0.057.................... 7,125,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,759,097........2,091,790................. 96 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 11........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004487 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES BONDS3.75 ............. 25,000 ...............3,100........................1 ............0.124 ........... 0.124 ...........0.124........... 0.124 ............. 0.123.............0.001 ............. 0.813 ................0.124..............0.124...................0.125...................52,469,568 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: ................................................................................... 25,000 ...............3,100........................1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Securities/Bloomberg News

N E W C A M PA I G N

Dubai steps up marketing to attract Russian travellers DUBAI: Dubai, home to the world’s tallest building and biggest shopping mall, is wooing tourists with new flights and easier visa policies as it seeks to make up for a decline in visitors from Russia.

Russian tourists declined 23.5 per cent last year as the value of the ruble plunged, and the drop continued in the first quarter this year, Helal Al Marri, director general of Dubai Tourism Commerce and Marketing (DTCM) told reporters at a conference on Monday. Dubai is increasing its marketing spending in Russia because the nation’s woes will eventually fade, he said.

The promotion is part of Dubai’s effort to diversify its economy away from oil and into tourism, logistics and trade, and within tourism to attract travellers from more markets. Visitors to Dubai, which permitted visas on arrival to more European countries in March 2014, grew 8.2 per cent to 13.2 million last year, according to a report by the DTCM, even as the euro’s slump made travel outside the euro region more expensive.

“The challenges in tourism are many and every year one market is affected,” Al Marri said. “This year it is the euro and the rouble.

There was a big drop in visitors from Russia in 2014 and in 2015 we expect this to continue, especially in the first quarter.”

Russians account for three per cent of Dubai tourist visits, Al Marri said. Dubai has seen growth in tourism from China, Africa, India and Europe, he said.

“We expect a very strong growth in 2015,” he said. “We will keep on track, and there will be no negative growth impact after the

PROMOTION TO ATTRACT TRAVELLERS: Dubai is increasing its marketing spending in Russia because the nation’s woes will eventually fade. — Bloomberg file picture

first quarter with the increase in flights, new routes and new visa policies.” The emirate’s budget airline flydubai scaled back flights to Russia by 30 per cent to 40 per cent last year, but forecasts improvements this year, Chief Executive Ghaith Al Ghaith said in an interview. The carrier last month announced it will begin direct flights to two new destinations in Russia, the cities of Novosibirsk and Nizhniy Novgorod.

“We’ve seen improvements and forecast a better season coming up,” he said, citing improvements in currency and demand as the airline operates on routes not served by others. flydubai also is benefiting as competitors scale back on common routes, he said.

“Strategically, Russia is a very important market,” Al Ghaith

said. “It gave us lots of growth.

We’ve scaled down but the commitment is there. We’re making it work because there’s less competition, there’s true demand for Dubai and our view is not for the next one or two months.”

Dubai, which is known for ultra-luxury hotels such as Burj Al Arab and Atlantis, the Palm, wants to increase the number of hotel rooms by eight per cent to 12 per cent, Al Marri said. In 2014, it had 659 hotels and 93,000 rooms, according to DTCM data.

— Bloomberg News

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TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

B5

ROUND-UP NEW PRODUCT

Oasis Trading launches new Cat machines at customers’ meet

Make every day an adventure with all-new Mitsubishi ASX The Mitsubishi ASX also offers renowned triple-diamond

MUSCAT: Oasis Trading and Equipment, Cat dealer in Oman, is poised to strengthen its construction products and solutions market leadership in Oman as it launches its new line of Cat machines over a two-day customers’ event.

Dubbed as ‘Experience and Believe,’ Oasis had invited all its customers to see and have an actual one-on-one experience with its new line of hydraulic excavators, wheel loaders and motor graders, says a press release. Oasis, together with Caterpillar, culminated the event with the theme, ‘Our Innovation, Your Success’.

“Innovation has always been one of our core values and we continue to develop, enhance, create new products and solutions giving more options to the customers on their applications, requirements and business needs. We provide these industry-leading innovations which time and again have proven to translate into our customers’ success,” said Bashar Barghouti, general manager, Oasis Trading.

According to Gary Martin, Caterpillar Africa-Middle East Product Application specialist, Cat customers’ needs have always been part of the design and upgrading process. “We have listened to the voice of the customer and created a new product line that has superior durability and reliability combined with fuel savings in every application they work.”

The customers enjoyed the rest of the night with dinner, chats and photo opportunities with the Oasis and Caterpillar teams.

reliability combined with a stylish design and class-leading safety and fuel saving technology

MUSCAT: With the Mitsubishi ASX, General Automotive Company, the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Oman, offers new car buyers the practicality and space of an SUV with the dynamic handling and on-road comfort of a passenger car.

The Mitsubishi ASX also offers renowned triple-diamond reliability combined with a stylish design and class-leading safety and fuel saving technology coupled with dynamic handling and performance, making every journey an adventure, says a press release.

As a part of its limited time ‘Summer Knockout Deals’ promotion, which ends on May 21, Mitsubishi is offering the ASX with free insurance for one year, a free 2-year / 30,000km service package and special cash gift offers of up to OMR500 per vehicle. The ASX also comes as standard with 6-year unlimited mileage warranty and 6-year roadside assistance.

Commenting on the Mitsubishi ASX, Rajesh Sharma, the National Marketing Manager of General Automotive Company, said: “Whilst the evergreen Pajero

S TA F F D E V E L O P M E N T

and L200 heavy-duty 4x4s are known for their workhorse abilities targeting essentially professional users, the ASX represents a sharper, smaller and sportier alternative, more akin to traditional passenger cars yet remaining consistent with the Brand’s sporty 4x4 heritage. As a result, the ASX has a smart and energetic design, earth-conscious engineering, and amenities to satisfy even the most active lifestyle.”

Featuring a design optimised for space, aerodynamics and efficiency, the ASX’s grille shares a strong family likeness with the Lancer’s or Outlander’s. However, it is framed within a more substantial looking clip, itself merging with a sculptured bonnet featuring a double bulge: this serves the dual purpose of contributing to better pedestrian safety, short overhang notwithstanding, and also to make the body more visible

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THE VIDEO W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N .C O M

to the driver, improving manoeuvrability around town. At the rear, the ASX offers a low and wide silhouette highlighted with a sharp aerodynamic lip at the bottom of the backlight and slim slanted combination lamps.

Consistent with the exterior, ASX’s cabin reflects a clear sense of ‘dynamic quality’ as expressed through the hooded meter cluster shared with Outlander, the soft padding around the centre instrument panel itself extending to the door trim or the carefully applied silver accents either side of the audio system or along the door panels. Stylishly restrained, ASX’s interior is also a very pleas-

ant place to lounge in, whether in its layout, its functionality or its features. The ASX also provides a surprisingly elevated seat position that, with the sloping hood design that gives a better view of the road for easier manoeuvring and greater safety.

The raised hip point also allows for smoother entrances and exits, and greater comfort.

Making the best use of agenerous 2.67m wheelbase, the 5-seater ASX brings a comprehensive set of utility features well suited to both its nimble size and the likely loading needs of lifestyle drivers with up to 384 litres of available cargo capacity available with five passengers on board.

The tailgate is wide enough to provide ample space for even the bulkiest items, and the low floor height makes it convenient to move heavy cargo in and out. To carry even larger items, the rear

seat can be folded down completely flat to create an expansive cargo space.

The lounge-like cabin atmosphere continues with equipment such as; radio CD w/MP3, AUX-in and 4 speakers, automatic air conditioning, 2 airbags, floor console box, rear parking sensors, power steering with audio and cruise control, Bluetooth hands free and much more.

When it comes to performance and fuel economy, ASX is equipped with a 2.0-liter MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control) engine that uses a lightweight aluminium block for optimum performance as it puts out 110kW (150PS), allowing it to take control of city streets and open highways alike. MIVEC technology provides optimal valve timing at both low and high rev ranges, to give the most of every curve and straightaway out there.

C U T T I N G - E D G E I N N O VAT I O N

alizz Islamic bank World’s thinnest mechanical watch implements new is now available at Khimji’s Watches grading structure MUSCAT: alizz Islamic bank recently implemented a grading structure for staff in the bank, based on individual roles and responsibilities, while simultaneously aiming to adopt a rational and competitive salary structure to keep its employees motivated in a highly competitive and challenging market.

With the help of world class management consultants Hay Group, alizz Islamic bank conducted job evaluations, undertook a market survey, developed a salary structure and assigned appropriate grades to staff based on the size of their jobs, says a press release.

“I believe that staff satisfaction and motivation are vital for the bank to deliver strong results.

Therefore, our desired objective was to implement a salary and grading structure based on rational methodology so that the outcome is fair and impartial.

This will help us to lay the foundation for solid career development and succession planning.

As a result of the exercise, 86 staff salaries and grades were aligned/

Mohamed Al Balushi

adjusted based on their job evaluation,” said Mohamed Al Balushi, Chief Human Resources Officer of the bank.

“Our staff are our most valuable assets and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are fairly rewarded. As the newest entrant in the Omani banking sector, alizz Islamic bank appointed Hay Group to work on a grading and compensation structure that is benchmarked against industry standards, to ensure that we attract and retain the best talent,” commented Salaam Al Shaksy, Chief Executive Officer of alizz Islamic bank.

E X PA N S I O N

Air Arabia celebrates inaugural Multan flight SHARJAH: Air Arabia celebrated its inaugural flight to Multan, Pakistan’s fifth largest city and home to more than three million people, says a press release.

The flight took off from Sharjah International Airport at 04:45 on Friday, May 1, and landed in Pakistan at 08:20 local time .

Multan joins Air Arabia’s extensive network of Pakistani cities covered by regular direct flights from its hubs in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, including Karachi, Peshawar, Sialkot, Lahore and Islamabad. Multan services operate on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

MUSCAT: Neither entirely a movement nor exactly a case — or rather both at once — Piaget’s Altiplano 38 mm 900P, the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, is now available at Khimji’s Watches.

Merging the hand-wound calibre with the case elements, it is designed as a single entity in order to achieve record-breaking slenderness at just 3.65mm thin, says a press release.

Representing a crowning achievement in over half a century of virtuoso skills displayed in the realm of ultra-thin watchmaking where Piaget reigns supreme, it conveys the excellence of the two integrated manufactures run by the Maison — one based in La Côte aux Fées, where the movements are traditionally made; and the other in Plan-les-Ouates, where the cases are crafted.

“Making an ultra-thin watch is a constant challenge. Right from the first project sketches, all those involved must anticipate functional, aesthetic and durability con-

the watchful eye of the in-house designers. Piaget belongs to this exclusive circle and we are proud to be their partners in Oman,” said Madhursinh Jesrani, general manager, Khimji’s Watches.

Piaget Altiplano 38 mm 900P indeed is a model that is set to defy the conventions of ultra-thin Fine Watchmaking for many years to come. While clearly geared towards cutting-edge innovation, it is also a nod to history, since it gets the 900P part of its name from Calibre 9P, which was the first ultra-thin hand-wound movement made by Piaget in 1957.

straints involved in paring down parts to the extreme. Very few manufacturers are tempted to adopt such an approach, and even fewer develop and produce in-house both their calibres and their cases under

Jewellery version The jewellery version of the Altiplano 38 mm 900P totalling 4.71 carats sets a new record for slenderness, since it is the world’s thinnest Haute Joaillerie watch at just 5.65 mm thick. 304 diamonds set the stage for subtle plays on cuts – baguette for the bezel and brilliant for the lugs and profiles.

On the dial, 33 baguette-cut dia-

monds form the chapter ring.

Piaget takes things as far as to even gem-set the screws on the bridges and wheel-trains. Proclaiming its bejewelled nature right the way through to the smallest details, the watch also features delicate gem-setting on the folding clasp of its alligator leather strap, thereby putting the ultimate finishing touch to a model that is destined to remain a highly exclusive work of art.

You can view these exquisite timepieces at Khimji’s Watches showroom located at Way No. 3036, Building No. 2825, Al Ufouq Building, Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat. Khimji’s Watches is one of Muscat’s leading franchisees for luxury watches, jewellery, accessories and writing instruments.

Set up in 1973, Khimji’s Watches offers a range of global designs from Rolex, Cartier, Chopard, Piaget, Mikimoto, Girard Perregaux, Tudor, Oris, Frederique Constant, Bell & Ross, Caran d’Ache and Kieninger clocks.

SUCCESS STORY

ISD excels again in Science India Fiesta MUSCAT: Indian School Darsait put up an exhilarating performance in Science India Fiesta 2014-15 organised recently by Science India Forum Muscat. Of the various competitions held at Indian School Al Wadi Kabir, ISD emerged as the champions winning three first positions, and two second positions .

Out of 10 schools that participated in the most prestigious competitions ISD won the School of Excellence Award securing the highest number of points for the second consecutive year. It’s yet another story of success that has added one more feather to its crown, says a press release.

Gopika Ganga Nair (XI) and PriyaKumari (XII) won the first and second position respectively in Science Debate in the senior category while Benson George (XII), Nima Begum(XI), Harikrishnan Lal Pillai (X) and Harikeshav Pramod

(IX) grabbed the first position in ‘On the Spot Science Project’.

First in junior category ISD left an indelible imprint in Science exhibition also when its little innovators secured the first position in the junior category. The participants were Deepika Hema Ramesh (VIII), Devanshi Sharma (VII) and Niranjana Pramod (VI).

The school is also proud of senior inventors who mustered the second slot in the same competition.

Participants were Syed Ali Shabir S (XI), Bhadra Ashok Kumar (X) and AbhimanyuBhatti (IX) Principal Dr Sridevi P. Thashnath was full of appreciation for the winners who took the school to yet another pinnacle of success. She congratulated the

teachers of Departments of Science for training and guiding the participants to such a memorable achievement. She also commended the leadership of Sreekala Manoharan, HoD, Chemistry, for ensuring excellent supervision and team work and Harikrishnan the senior teacher in Chemistry for the smooth and successful coordination of the teams.

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TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

ROUND-UP Newly-launched Renault Symbol now available across Sultanate A status-enhancing yet affordable family sedan, Symbol is a great new package from Renault

MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors of Renault vehicles in Oman, launched the all-new Renault Symbol across the Sultanate in Sur, Barka and in Sohar — a breakthrough vehicle in the booming B segment.

The Renault Symbol is a statusenhancing yet affordable family sedan. Its modern design and attractive equipment package, combined with its low fuel con-

sumption make the new Renault Symbol the perfect sedan for families looking for value for money along with status and style, says a press release.

Competitive advantages such as roominess, boot space, modern equipment and engine displacement ensure it has everything required to make it a hit with customers in the Region.

The Symbol, a smart vehicle from every angle, will be offered

SPCIAL OFFER

with unique features, sophisticated technology and an attractive design. “New Renault Symbol will deliver a level of equipment normally associated with vehicles from the next segment up. It is the ideal vehicle for all who wish to own a stylish yet economic car,” stated a senior SBA official of Renault Oman team.

Symbol is packed with topnotch technology and innovation. It offers an enjoyable ride, significant

power while maintaining low levels of fuel consumption. It is fitted with an automatic gearbox and a1.6L16V engine; placing it among the highest size of engines available on the B Sedan segment. The compact sedan offers as well spacious interior with seating for five adults, a 510 litres bootspace, and the possibility to increase it up to 1,257 litres with the rear bench seat folded.

The new Renault Symbol also

offers plenty of safety features. It is equipped with front driver and passenger airbags, driver seatbelt unlock alarm, ISOFIX attachments for child seats, three points rear seatbelts with three rear headrests in addition to a central locking system and a speed sensitive door lock. It also boasts as standard front fog lights, daytime running lights, and most importantly an antilock braking systems (ABS).

To top it all, Renault Symbol will

be available in various colors to satisfy all customer preferences and desires. It comes with the new Radio Arkamys 3D Sound CD/ MP3/USB and Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, a cruise control and speed limiter.

It is also furnished with an automatic air-conditioning system that was tested to meet the challenges of the region’s harsh climate conditions.

The new Media Nav multimedia system also gives easy access to highly practical features thanks to it 7” touchscreen: GPS, audio streaming music, as well as access to your phonebook and call history thanks to Bluetooth.

This new car in the Renault lineup has been specially designed to meet the needs of customers who want an elegant, spacious, lowmaintenance family car. Modern equipment specification and engine range ensure it has all the ingredients to make it a hit with customers in the region.

HELPING HAND

Ooredoo offering Sultan Center joins hands with Dar reduced call rates Al Atta to support local communities

to quake-hit Nepal MUSCAT: Ooredoo has lowered prepaid and postpaid tariffs on calls to Nepal in response to the devastating earthquake that ravaged the country. This special offer will help keep callers in Oman connected to loved ones in the Himalayan nation, with a flat rate of 45 baisas per minute when using the company’s International Direct Dialing, 0902, More International, and Mousbak International services, says a press release.

“The reduction in charges took effect less than 24 hours after the earthquake struck and will be active until 3 May and will apply to all Ooredoo users,” said Feras Al Shaikh, director of Consumer Sales at Ooredoo.

“All of us have been saddened by the great loss of life and destruction witnessed in Nepal, which is why we launched this initiative as quickly as possible.

There are 2.2 million Nepalese

Feras Al Shaikh. – Supplied photo

working outside their country with over 12,000 of them living here in the Sultanate. This is part of our efforts to reach out to the Nepalese community and support them in their time of need.”

The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which hit Nepal last week, has so far claimed 5,000 lives and caused colossal damage to infrastructure.

An estimated eight million people have been affected by the quake, amounting to more than a third of the country’s population.

N E T W O R K E X PA N S I O N

FRiENDi aims to reach all customers in Oman MUSCAT: Keeping its promise to deliver nothing but the best service in the telecom industry, FRiENDi mobile, Oman’s third largest mobile service provider, is dedicated in its effort to be close to customers.

With new stores opened in the recent months and several others to be inaugurated soon, FRiENDi mobile promises to increase its distribution coverage throughout the Sultanate. Apart from the new stores and fully owned kiosks at Muscat airport and City Centre’s, FRiENDi mobile has also signed up with prominent distributors and dealers across the country; from those located in the busiest town centers to those that cater to a very limited population, says a press release.

“Our aim is to reach all our customers, from every nook and corner of the Sultanate. All our customers are equally special to us

Adnan Al Alawi

and their needs are our priority.

To meet their needs, the very first step is to be easily accessible to them,” said Adnan Al Alawi, COO, FRiENDi mobile. “With dedicated store locations and trained distributors and dealers spread across the country, we are never too far from our customers.”

FRiENDi mobile is now available in over 7,000 shops across the Sultanate.

MUSCAT: In its constant endeavour to reach out to citizens in need, The Sultan Center has teamed up with the local organisation, Dar Al Atta to support local communities.

The retail giant recently distributed gift vouchers to underprivileged families across Oman.

“From the moment it began operations right through its transition into a successful retail chain, The Sultan Center has been keen to support local communities. It forms part of our philosophy to ensure that the less privileged members of our society receive the assistance they need to live better and healthier lives,” said Mahmoud Musbah Al Sheikh, Marketing Manager at TSC. Valid for six months, the vouchers entitle recipients to purchases of their choice from all of the different TSC branches across the Sultanate, says a press release.

NETWORKING

Insta8 showcases best of social media at Ozone, Omantel stand in COMEX MUSCAT: Social media started with the idea of connecting the youth and while the corporate companies have also jumped into the bandwagon, it continues to be the domain of the young.

More than ever, the youth of Oman have been making the most of the amazing channels, in particular Instagram – a fact that was reiterated by Ozone, Omantel at Comex 2015 where Insta8 presented a series of interesting figures and information .

For those new to Insta8, it is when 8 motivators speak for 8 minutes in 8 moments addressing topics within the instagram sphere. It is an informal gathering where people gather to network, share abilities and skills and most important, to follow and get followed, says a press release.

The brainchild of Fahmi Al Ma’awali, owner of Eventus, Insta8 addresses how Instagram can impact the community and be used for business development.

But the most important fact is that Insta8 is an Omani chapter.

Fahmi believes, Instagram is

a very effective platform that inspires professionalism in general public. “So, if you provide them with a platform, they will come on board as long as it is kept simple.”

A believer in the adage that a picture says more than a thousand words, Fahmi says the aim of Insta8 is to constantly improve oneself.

“The good thing about Insta8 is that it directly impacts the target audience of Ozone, which is the youth segment. There are different speakers today from the field of technology, comedians and positivity speakers who are going to add an element of technology

in their presentation,” said Sahar Khalfan Al Asmi, acting manager applications and Data Services at Ozone, Omantel at Comex.

After the opening of Insta8 by Sharifa Al Abri, Marketing team leader ITA, Sultan Al Subhi, an inventor, unveiled his invention that cleans ablution places. Sultan is the only Omani to be featured on MBC4 and was the second winner of the reality TV show ‘Stars of Science’.

“I’ve been on social media and what I like about Insta8 is that it specifies each and every category that is easy to navigate,” he said.

The Insta8 speakers are chosen

from the Instagramers who are active in Oman. Four are nominated by public once the theme is announced and four are chosen

by Fahmi himself. This way, each time, eight different speakers get to speak on a topic, which is their forte. However, this year, the theme predominantly has been tech related and what better place than COMEX to talk about what ITA is doing, said Tufool Abdullah Mohamed Al Dhahab, director of Marketing & Events, ITA who is actively involved with Insta8.

“Two years ago, we started the Instagram page and found it was a more engaging communication channel – visual, powerful and informal and has grown by leaps and bounds since,” she added.

For anyone new to Instagram or wanting to promote their business via this medium, the group is an excellent platform as it reaches out to over 50,000 Instagramers in three hours!

The Insta8 gathering at Ozone, an innovative service by Omantel targeted at Hayyak youth customers, drew a lot of interest at Comex.

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

B7

ROUND-UP BOUQUET OF BENEFITS

Bank Sohar launches credit card promotion

BankDhofar wins ‘STP Award 2014’ Commerzbank of Germany presents the STP Award to banks and financial institutions that showcase exceptional quality and also meet the highest global standards

MUSCAT: In recognition of its high quality Straight-ThroughProcessing (STP) of Euro payments and financial transactions, BankDhofar has received the prestigious ‘STP Award 2014’ from Commerzbank, Germany.

Commerzbank is a leading international commercial bank with branches and offices in more than 50 countries.

The bank presents the STP Award to banks and financial institutions that showcase exceptional quality and also meet the highest

global standards for automatic processing of international payments in euro, says a press release.

The accolade was handed over to Abdul Hakeem Omar Al Ojaili, acting CEO of BankDhofar, by Gabriele C. Schwegler and Ertugrul Goezelel from Commerzbank, at BankDhofar head office in CBD area, and was attended by Kamal Hassan Al Murazza, DGM - Wholesale Banking, Bashir Said Al Subhi, AGM –Treasury & International Banking, Mondher Al-Huraibi, head of Central Operations Divi-

sion, and Saikumar Sukumaran, head of International Banking.

“At BankDhofar we are committed to offer best customers experience, and we work to ensure that our transfers are instant, less costly, and simple. That, for sure, makes banking with us more convenient, faster and easier,” said Abdul Hakeem Omar Al Ojaili.

“It means a lot to us to receive such a prestigious award, and we are proud to see BankDhofar leading the market in e-channels convenience and security,” Abdul Hakeem Omar Al Ojaili added.

Aspiring to be the best bank in the Gulf, BankDhofar has directed all its efforts and resources towards these objectives.

Today it is considered one of the best banks in the region, catering for customers’ needs and requirements, and setting the standards for the best customers experience within the banking industry in the Sultanate through creative solutions and innovation.

MUSCAT: Adding value to its Excel Credit Card line-up and rewarding customers for making purchases using their credit cards, Bank Sohar has announced the launch of a new promotion for all its credit cards holders, with 60 lucky winners set to receive OMR300 each over a period of three months, starting from May 1 till July 31, says a press release.

With the newly launched promotion titled ‘Cash in on your spends’, Bank Sohar has introduced a rewarding way to shop using any of its Excel Classic, Gold, Platinum, Internet or Infinite credit cards. For every minimum purchase of OMR50, either through point of sale (POS) or over the internet, customers get a chance to enter into a monthly draw. Each draw will see 20 customers win OMR300 each, and with three draws in total, the promotion will see 60 winners receive cash prizes totalling OMR18,000 once the promotion comes to a close end of July 2015.

Highlighting on the newly introduced promotion, R. Narasimhan, DGM and head of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar, commented, “We introduced this new promotion in 2015 as part of our ongoing commitment to provide value-added services to our customers. Such offers showcase Bank Sohar’s commitment towards customising promotions to suit client requirements as well as continually improving their overall banking experience. By introducing this promotion, we also aim to highlight the advantages of using Bank Sohar Excel Credit Cards when making purchases, by not only providing customers with an easy payment mechanism

APP LAUNCH

In the promotion for all its credit cards holders, with 60 lucky winners set to receive OMR300 each over a period of three months, starting from May 1 till July 31. For every minimum purchase of OMR50, either through point of sale (POS) or over the internet, customers get a chance to enter into a monthly draw

but also periodically rewarding them for their spends.”

Travel insurance Alongside this special offer, Bank Sohar Excel Credit Cards also provide an array of other benefits to customers including travel insurance, purchase protection, zero lost card liability, free priority pass and online shopping security via Verified by Visa and more. Bank Sohar credit cards are also accepted worldwide for making payments and can also be used for cash withdrawals at more than 800,000 ATMs worldwide. As such, customers can use their credit cards while making purchases, whether they are in Oman or abroad. Together with

the bank’s best-in-class services, this latest service will add to the appeal of Bank Sohar credit cards Synonymous with excellence, Bank Sohar features 26 branches across the country together with an extensive network of 47 ATM nationwide. Bank Sohar customers continue to enjoy the privilege of free-of-charge withdrawals at over 1,000 ATMs under the ‘OmanNet’ platform. Bank’s ATMs at Buraimi and Wajajah borders continue to operate with the ‘Dirhams Dispensing’ facility; thus adding immense convenience to businessmen who travel and transact business across the border on a regular basis, as well as to customers who visit the United Arab Emirates.

VA L U E A D D E D F O O D S

NBO unveils latest technology innovation MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman unveiled its latest banking technology innovation with the launch of an Augmented Reality mobile app (NBO AR) to help customers find their nearest branch or ATM and locate the best offers and deals as they walk into a mall or in any street anywhere in Oman, says a press release.

The technology uses a mobile phone to provide a view of the real-world with elements augmented by computer-generated inputs such as information overlays or GPS data. Once the app is installed on a customer’s phone, and as you move your mobile around, it provides useful information, such as where to find the latest offers and deals, and how to navigate your way to the closest National Bank of Oman ATM, CDM or branch.

Customers will be able to scan

NBO’s adverts to experience rich video experience of the products or service being offered. The application is available for Apple and Android mobile platforms and can be easily downloaded from Apple Store or Google play by searching for ‘NBO AR’. The application is available for both NBO and non-NBO customers.

“The investments we are making into our digital platforms are to enhance our customers’ banking experience while positioning National Bank of Oman as the bank of choice in the Sultanate,” said Ahmed Al Musalmi, CEO of National Bank of Oman.

“This Augmented Reality app has been engineered internally

and allows customers to see the bank in a different perspective.

This is another example of our commitment to leadership in banking technology. We strive to be early adopters of new technology to deliver customer excellence and we expect this latest innovation to be no different,” he added.

“NBO is continuing to set new standards for customer experience through its yet another innovative digital product, which we believe is a regional-first,” said Faizal Eledath Chief Information Officer of National Bank of Oman.

This is the second major app launched by National Bank of Oman in 2015. Earlier this year, the Bank launched a comprehensive Mobile Banking application providing a full range of banking services including the unique EZ pay service enabling customers to transfer funds to a mobile number.

FRESH PRODUCE

TSC launches first Spring Festival MUSCAT: With spring in Oman off to a sunny start, The Sultan Center has launched a line-up of events to celebrate the season. To kickstart the Spring Festival.

The Sultan Center will be offering its customer a chance to win a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, says a press release.

“We are always thinking of new and innovative ways to ensure that our customers get the best service at TSC. This is best represented through our vast range of products, seasonal and fresh produce and recently, the opening

up of our organic line – TSC Naturals. The objective of the Spring Festival is to invite customers to take full advantage of the wealth of fresh produce available within our stores and have an opportunity to win their dream car. In short,

it is our way of saying ‘Thank you’ to our customers for their continued and loyal support,” said Mahmoud Al Sheikh, Marketing Manager, TSC. TSC shoppers, who spend OMR10 at any of its seven outlets across Oman till May 20, will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze.

For the coming few weeks, TSC’s Wholesale Center in Al Khoud will host the draw every Thursday. During the last week of the event, TSC will double the excitement with two raffle draws

and two cars to be won.

The second draw will be held on Thursday, May 7 at TSC Wholesale Center Al Khoud to announce another Cruze winner.

The Sultan Center Food Products is a regional conglomerate in retail, restaurants, distribution, real estate, telecom, and security services with revenues over $1 billion. With a commitment to the core values of an open and diverse culture and a focus on respect and excellence in service, TSC became Kuwait’s largest independent retailer and supplier.

A’Saffa’s fried food range offers purity, great taste MUSCAT: A’Saffa Foods, Oman’s leading producer of poultry and value added products, reinforces its brand promise by offering customers more variety and diverse food products.

The brand’s fried food range comprising Chicken Popcorn, Zingle Chicken Fillet, Zingle Chicken Lollypop, and Zingle Chicken Drumettes is immensely popular across Oman and beyond. A’Saffa’s processed products are made pure, natural and tasty ingredients, says a press release.

“A’Saffa Foods is known for producing ‘tasty and wholesome meal’ options in the sultanate, and this is what we strive to provide to our consumers in everything we produce, and our fried products range is no different. We believe that A’Saffa’s processed products for frying are superior in taste and are tenderer and crispier, as they are produced using the latest innovative food production processes making a crispy and savory dish for families,” said Sidhartha Lenka, Head Marketing and Sales of A’Saffa Foods.

“Whether one is shallow-frying,

browning, or deep-frying, one can be assured that A’Saffa processed product are produced using the finest and healthiest of ingredients that A’Saffa is famous for using across our range of poultry products,” added Lenka.

“It is our humble endeavor to ensure that families have a much wider range of products to choose from during meal times, which is instrumental in encouraging healthy eating habits among young children thanks to our most natural ingredients,” he explained.

Being pioneers in fully integrated poultry production and farm management systems, A’Saffa Foods has built its competence and expertise in food production, processed food technology and innovative food recipes helping them to deliver new, flavorful choices that consumers can enjoy at all times.

As a market leader, it is A’Saffa Foods’ constant endeavor to provide consumers with food products that are wholesome and processed hygienically from natural, pure, halal, healthy and premium ingredients.

B8

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

ROUND-UP

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EXCITING OFFER

Kia cars now available with Summer Delights MUSCAT: Kia customers have reason to feel delighted as they can benefit from a wonderful summer offer from Reliable International Automotive, the distributor for Kia in Oman, together with a chance to line their pockets with a cash gift of up to OMR1100.

In the Summer Delights offer, the cash gift amount can be used as part of down payment. Customers can choose any one option. In the first option, one can avail only cash gift where the amount varies from OMR300 to OMR1100 depending on the model and model variant, says a press release.

Customers who wish to choose the second option can avail one year comprehensive insurance (Oman Only) on all models except Cerato Koup, Kia Quoris and K4000. They also get service benefit of 18 months/30,000Kms (maximum of 6 service), whichever is earlier on all models except Kia Quoris and K4000. Additionally, one gets cash gift from OMR150 to OMR500 depending on the model and model variant. The scheme is valid till May 13.

In the welcoming ambience of the Kia showroom, customers can choose a Kia model best suited to their needs. Kia’s exciting and ena-

Bank Muscat signs pact with AXA to offer life insurance bling range includes the Picanto, a fresh and vibrant car to turn up the colours in life; the Kia Rio, a smartly styled car that makes absolutely no compromises; the Cerato, a vehicle that moves one into the good life.; the Cerato Koup, a car in tune with one’s emotions; the Optima, the car with a sporty stance and style that conveys confident individuality; Cadenza, a car that reassures with its innovative attention to detail; Kia Soul that gives freedom to express one’s personality and to connect with an urban lifestyle; Sportage for appeal that’s ahead by many miles; Kia Carens, a car that lets one live life to the fullest; all new Sorento, an SUV built for urban living; Kia

Mohave that puts one at the peak of performance; all-new Kia Carnival, an elegant all-in-one tool that makes one’s life a whole lot easier; K4000G, a highly polished work horse. And at the top of the list is the recently launched game changer, the new Quoris that unlocks an experience of new luxury.

Reliable International Automotive provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers.

Excellent product attributes and unmatched 18 facilities easily ensure their absolute satisfaction, every mile of the way. No wonder then that Reliable International Automotive has been ranked amongst the top Kia distributors worldwide.

AXA Gulf signed a 10-year partnership agreement to offer life insurance and health products to Bank Muscat customers

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, and AXA Gulf, one of the largest international insurers in the region, signed a 10-year partnership agreement to offer life insurance and health products to Bank Muscat customers.

The formal agreement was signed by AbdulRazzak Ali Issa, Chief Executive of Bank Muscat, and Jérôme Droesch, CEO of AXA Gulf, at the bank’s head office attended by senior officials from Bank Muscat and AXA Gulf, says a press release.

The strategic partnership between Bank Muscat and AXA Gulf marks an important milestone for both companies and a

significant step in the local insurance sector. The alliance combines the regional expertise and footprint of Bank Muscat with the global knowhow and technical capabilities of AXA, to create a unique platform for growth. The agreement is designed to deliver greater value and service to Bank Muscat customers, who are increasingly seeking quality insurance solutions.

In his comments on the agreement, AbdulRazzak Ali Issa said: “Bank Muscat is proud to sign this unique partnership agreement with AXA and widen the scope of partnership offering a wide range of bespoke bancassurance products for customers. The Oman insurance market which recorded 15 per cent average growth in the last five years is projected to grow at a rate of 18 per cent in the next five years. With global insurance partners like AXA Gulf, Bank Muscat is in a position to offer comprehensive insurance products catering to all customer needs. The bank’s unique and largest distribution footprint and the global knowhow of AXA add significant value for the partnership.”

Jérôme Droesch said: “We are very pleased to partner with Bank Muscat to offer life insurance products. Our collaboration started in December 2013 with a successful partnership to offer

health insurance to Bank Muscat customers. This strategic agreement will reinforce our relationship with Bank Muscat, allowing us to expand our life insurance solutions in the Sultanate of Oman and at the same time ensure peace of mind, serenity and stability through unique products to Bank Muscat customers. With the wide distribution network of Bank Muscat and under their leadership, we are convinced that we can increase risk awareness and promote the benefits of insurance in Oman to ensure each and every customer is well protected.

We look forward to working with Bank Muscat and we are sure that this partnership offers a lot of opportunities in Oman leveraging two leading brands in their respective industries.”

Bank Muscat customers will be able to purchase insurance through a phased roll-out in the extensive network of 140 branches of Bank Muscat, with access to AXA Insurance advisors for quality service.

In December 2013, Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider, in partnership with AXA Insurance, launched a first-of-itskind health insurance product in Oman offering full coverage for treatment ranging from simple medical check-ups to chronic illness for individuals.

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TU ES DAY, M AY 5, 2015

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SPOR YOUR GAME

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YEAR’S FIRST PODIUM FINISH FOR AHMAD Ahmad Al Harthy and teammate Daniel Lloyd celebrated a richly deserved first podium finish of the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Rockingham on Sunday, after racing strongly to an excellent second place in round three of the season >C4

Classic Chennai back on top SCOREBOARD

A sensational bowling effort by Chennai Super Kings saw them defend a modest total as they crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 24 runs to regain their position at the top of the IPL table

CHENNAI: A sensational bowling effort by Chennai Super Kings saw them defend a modest total as they crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 24 runs to regain their position at the top of the table in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament, here on Monday.

Having posted a modest 148 for nine in 20 overs, Chennai bowlers led by Ashish Nehra (3/19 in four overs) and Dwayne Bravo (2/19 in 3.4 overs) exhibited brilliant death over skills to bundle out RCB for 124 in 19.4 overs.

Such was the dominance of

MAN OF THE MATCH: Suresh Raina struck form to give Chennai a decent total. – BCCI

Chennai bowlers at the back end of the innings that Bangalore lost as many as seven wickets for 27 runs in only 5.5 overs.

From a relatively comfortable 97 for three with another 52 runs to get, Bangalore’s slump started when Bravo effected a superb reflex run-out off his own bowling to get rid of opposition skipper Virat Kohli (48, 44 balls).

Kohli had hit two fours and a six during his knock as he added

D I S A P P O I N T I N G D AY

Yet another loss for Oman in Asian Beach Handball

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Action from the match between Oman and Iran at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

MUSCAT: Oman suffered their second successive defeat at the ongoing Asian Beach Handball Championships when they were beaten by a battling Iran at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Monday.

In a crucial match of the sixteam tournament, which also serves as the qualifying event of the World Beach Handball Championship in Hungary, Oman started off well winning the first session but after that it was Iran all the way as they latter took the honours beating the hosts via penalty shootout in a 2-1 victory.

Oman won the first session 14-10 before Iran fought back to take the second at 14-12. In the shootout, Iran won by a 7-6 margin.

The defeat was Oman’s second in three outings.

Oman, started with a victory over Vietnam but lost their sec-

ond match to Bahrain, will take on Pakistan on Tuesday.

For Iran it was their second win in three matches. They lost their first match to Pakistan and recorded their first victory against Vietnam. Iran will play fancied Qatar on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Oman coach Hamood Al Hassani refused to blame the players for defeat.

“We have won the first session and came very close to winning the match. Unfortunately we couldn’t seal it,” he said.

“The team will not give up easily. They will fight till our last match and are ready to do what it takes to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

The championships concludes on Thursday when Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, chairman of Oman Olympic Committee, will preside over the closing ceremony.

EXCITING MOMENT: Action from the match between Oman and Iran at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

63 runs for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (23) after they were left tottering at 34 for three.

Once Kohli was gone, the procession started, with Karthik being snapped up in the deep off Nehra’s bowling in the 15th over.

In his very next over, the veteran seamer removed Safaraz Khan (8) and Harshal Patel (0) to take his wickets tally to 17 in the tournament.

Bravo, on his part, bowled an

exceptional 18th over with clever change ups and the off-cutters which led to Mitchell Starc playing four dot balls.

On his part, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni read the pitch perfectly as he knew that it would slow down with passage of time and strokemaking would be extremely difficult in the second half.

His intuition turned out to be spot on as his bowlers vindicated his decision. — PTI

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS D. Smith b Starc 0 B. McCullum c Abdulla b Wiese 20 S. Raina lbw b Patel 52 F. du Plessis b Patel 24 MS Dhoni c Starc b Wiese 29 R. Jadeja c Kohli b Chahal 3 P. Negi b Starc 13 D. Bravo c Wiese b Starc 2 M. Sharma run out (Karthik) 0 A. Nehra not out 0 Extras (w-5) 5 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 148 Did not bat: Ishwar Pandey Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-34, 3-98, 4-101, 5-122, 6-139, 7-147, 8-148, 9-148 Bowling: M. Starc 4-1-24-3; Y. Chahal 4-036-1; D. Wiese 4-0-29-2; H. Patel 4-0-19-2; Iqbal Abdulla 3-0-34-0; V. Kohli 1-0-6-0 ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE N. Maddinson b Pandey 4 V. Kohli run out (Bravo) 48 AB de Villiers c du Plessis b Pandey 21 Mandeep Singh run out 0 D. Karthik c Smith b Nehra 23 S. Khan c Smith b Nehra 8 D. Wiese c Negi b Bravo 17 H. Patel c Dhoni b Nehra 0 M. Starc c Raina b Sharma 1 I. Abdulla c Negi b Bravo 0 Y. Chahal not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-1) 2 Total (all out; 19.4 overs) 124 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-34, 3-34, 4-97, 5-97, 6-111, 7-112, 8-124, 9-124, 10-124 Bowling: I. Pandey 4-0-28-2; A. Nehra 4-0-19-3; M. Sharma 4-0-29-1; R. Jadeja 2-0-11-0; P. Negi 2-0-19-0; D. Bravo 3.4-0-17-2 Player of the match: Suresh Raina (CSK)

IPL

Kolkata beat Hyderabad KOLKATA: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 35 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) game at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.

Sent into bat, KKR scored 167 for seven and then restricted Sunrisers to 132 for nine in the allotted 20 overs at Eden Gardens. Chasing Sunrisers were never in the hunt as they were foxed by the guiles of Brad Hogg (2/17) and Umesh Yadav (2/34). Earlier, Yusuf Pathan’s unbeaten late blitz (30) helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) amass a challenging score.

For Sunrisers, Karn Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed two wickets each.

The Knights were quick to get off the block as the openers, skipper Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa, started on a high. Some wayward bowling from the Sunrisers seamers helped their cause, as both Gambhir and Uthappa kept on disdainfully dispatching the leather to the ropes.

Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 167 for 7 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 33, Gautam Gambhir 31, Robin Uthappa (30) and Yusuf Pathan (30); Karn Sharma 2 for 29, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2 for 42) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 132 for 9 in 20 overs (Moises Henrique 41, Karn Sharma 32; Brad Hogg 2 for 17, Umesh Yadav 2 for 34). — IANS

C2

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

SPORTS

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West Indies show great promise in drawn Test series against England Moores may face the music

West Indies cricket had been close to disintegration after last year’s cancelled tour of India and the bitter dispute between the players and the board

BRIDGETOWN: After so many false dawns, West Indies cricket fans will be wary of reading too much into Sunday’s third Test win over England but in drawing the three Test series, the Caribbean side showed some significant signs of improvement.

West Indies cricket had been close to disintegration after last year’s cancelled tour of India and the bitter dispute between the players and the board.

The regional team has also suffered from the preference of several players for the shortest form of the game — Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine were among those on duty in the Indian Premier League during this series.

It may have been undiplomatic but it was not unreasonable for ECB chairman Colin Graves to describe West Indies as “mediocre” prior to the series.

But the appointment of former West Indies test batsman Phil Simmons as the new coach looks a smart move and together with bowling consultant Curtly Ambrose, the backroom team appear to have instilled some much needed professionalism into the team.

Sunday’s successful run chase,

JUBILANT: Denesh Ramdin and Jermaine Blackwood celebrate victory against England in the third Test match. – Reuters

with the home side set a target of 192 on a wicket offering plenty of encouragement to the bowlers, was exactly the kind of situation that might have led to collapse under pressure for West Indies teams of the recent past.

Instead, Jermaine Blackwood and Darren Bravo knuckled down for a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership, scoring at steady rate in 31.5 overs, to set up the victory.

There was focus, discipline and skill in that partnership and Blackwood, by instinct a classic Jamaican strokeplayer, showed with his crucial unbeaten 47 he could also play the kind of sensible knock that was needed. The 23-year-old’s 85 in the first innings and his un-

beaten 112 in Antigua in the first Test, illustrated that he could become the middle order presence that West Indies have so sorely lacked in recent times.

Jason Holder shows great promise with both bat and ball, his unbeaten 103 to save the first test was his only big score but his five wickets in Barbados were vital.

Kraigg Brathwaite would ideally have an experienced opening batting partner to guide him through this early stage of his career but he too will be encouraged by a century in the second test in Grenada.

Jerome Taylor, whose career looked almost over due to injury two years ago, now looks back to his best as his performance in

Barbados, where he picked up six wickets, illustrated. There is still a fragility to the batting, as the second test collapse in Grenada showed, but this is, by test standards, a very young team.

The opening batting pair in the third Test, Bajans Brathwaite and Shai Hope, were 22 and 21-yearsold respectively, an unusually youthful combination to head a batting line-up. They will have to grow up quickly though — next up in June is a two Test series against Australia which will offer a stern test of their technique and composure.

At least they will go into that mini-series in a positive mood after drawing with the third-ranked team in Test cricket. - Reuters

BRIDGETOWN: England cricket captain Alastair Cook has denied there is any need for a review of the team’s failure to win the Test series against West Indies but coach Peter Moores may feel uneasy on the flight back from the Caribbean. Incoming board chairman Colin Graves promised in March there would be serious questions asked should England not beat a team he termed “mediocre”.

While Cook showed a promising return to form with the bat, striking a century in the third Test loss in Barbados, Moores may feel the heat after the series ended a disappointing 1-1.

In his second stint as coach, Moores has had his share of inquisitions and was already under scrutiny after England’s group-stage exit from the World Cup. That scrutiny intensified with the departure of managing director Paul Downton, who appointed him last year.

Cook said Moores had brought “a lot of good stuff ” but admitted decisions about his own future and that of the coach were out of their hands.

“I don’t think it’s inquiry time when you look at how we played over the 13 days, but I think we can all sit in that dressing room and know we’ve let an opportunity go,” Cook said in comments published by British media.

Pundits and former players were less sanguine.

“How much Moores?” asked British tabloid, The

IPL PREVIEW

FEELING UNEASY: England coach Peter Moores

Sun, in a headline on its website. “Sometimes you have to accept it’s not working,” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted.

If hauled before Graves, Moores will have to defend his team on a number of fronts.

Some issues he can claim were beyond his control. England wilted under pressure, said Cook, perhaps an understandable reaction from a young and still-developing team.

Yet batsman Jonathan Trott’s reinstatement will be harder to justify after the veteran’s poor series.

Selectors are also under scrutiny for not picking another spinner after parttimers Moeen Ali and Joe Root struggled.

While the England board are quiet on whether there is space for a coach under the new more powerful ‘director of cricket’ role to be filled, questions about Moores’ future ahead of home Test series against New Zealand and Australia will continue. - Reuters

DISAPPOINTED

I could not sleep after my shot against MI, says Rahane

FULL OF CONFIDENCE: High on confidence after their third consecutive win Mumbai Indians will hold a clear edge over Delhi Daredevils in their key IPL cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium. – PTI

Resurgent Mumbai take on patchy Delhi in key contest MUMBAI: High on confidence after their third consecutive, Mumbai Indians will hold a clear edge over the inconsistent Delhi Daredevils in their key Indian Premier League cricket match at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. The comprehensive 23-run victory over bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab at Mohali has given the resurgent MI the perfect shot in the arm to take on Daredevils who have blown hot and cold this season and were beaten convincingly

by Rajasthan Royals last night.

MI can take a lot of positives into tomorrow’s game against a rival which is placed one rung above because of a superior net run rate ? both having 8 points from 9 games and occupying the sixth and seventh slots after yesterday’s games.

The return to form of struggling opener Parthiv Patel, who made his first half century of the season besides putting on a nearcentury stand with fellow-opener

Lendl Simmons, bodes well for the home team. MI seem to have hit the right combination after the loss of a few key players due to injury and no-show but will be a tired lot after travelling to Mohali.

On the other hand, Daredevils, who had a poor game yesterday overall and fielded woefully, need to regroup quickly and take advantage of the travel-weariness of Mumbai Indians. Both Delhi captain Jean-Paul Duminy and key all-rounder Angelo Mathews spoke about the need for consistency in their display.

“Unfortunately when we win, the next game has not been good.

We need to break that pattern.

Consistency hasn’t been there.

If we start winning a couple of games in a row we can turn it around,” said Mathews confidently ahead of MI’s game.

There’s a question mark over the poor run of Yuvraj Singh who hit Royals’ Dhawal Kulkarni for three silken-smooth boundaries

in one over, before departing immediately afterwards.

Duminy skirted the query while also backing the under-performing national discard.

“It’s just 15 minutes now after the game and all options are open.

At the end of the day he’s a match winner and I still believe he can come good and have to back him to do that,” he said on Yuvraj.

Mumbai, on the other hand, go into the game with their tails up but are aware of the pitfalls as another defeat could scuttle their qualifying hopes.

They have a very good middle order in place to take advantage of a good start. Death bowlers in Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan, besides the wily and experienced Harbhajan Singh, can strangle the scoring in the middle overs.

In short, Daredevils have a huge task in front of them to stop MI’s winning run and resurrect their own qualifying hopes. - PTI

MUMBAI: Left sleepless the last time he played a bad shot against Mumbai Indians, inform Rajasthan Royals batsman Ajinkya Rahane said he was desperate to set the record straight which helped him notch up the sublime 91-run knock in an IPL match here. “I was really hurt when I got out (for 16 to R Vinay Kumar) in the last game. I could not sleep that night and was all the time thinking about my shot and about the loss (by 7 wickets).I just wanted to make it count I knew I was batting really well. Once I was in after 6-7 overs, I was planning to bat for 20 overs,” said Rahane after piloting the Royals to a matchwinning score of 189 for 2.

Rahane, who crossed 400 runs in the IPL season during the fine unconquered knock and now has 430 under his belt, said he did not think about his 100, that would have been only the second by all batsmen this season. “I was not thinking about a century at all. I just wanted to play as many shots as possible in that last over.

We knew 190 -95 would be a good score,” said Rahane.

Rahane also complimented Royals’ bowling in which Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny and James Faulkner secured two wickets each while captain Shane Watson bowled superbly in taking 1 for 25. “It was a team effort. Our bowlers bowled well.

The wicket was a bit helpful, but once set it was easy for batsmen. We have to give credit to our bowlers. After the first six overs it was not so easy to bowl.

With good bounce and pace, the wicket was in favour of batsmen. They took wickets at regular intervals,” he said.

“Even our fielding was very good tonight; we saved 5-7 extra runs. The bowlers also bowled in right areas. It was a great team effort, I would say,” he concluded. - PTI

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

C3

SPORTS

REAL TO RELY ON RONALDO POWER: In this file photo Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, celebrates in front of Marcelo, left, and Javier Hernandez ‘Chicharito’ after scoring against Sevilla. – Reuters

CONFIDENT CHAMPIONS: Juventus’ players celebrate winning a fourth successive Serie A crown, and their first under coach Massimiliano Allegri by beating Sampdoria 1-0 on Saturday. – Reuters

Real face another defensive barrier Champions League 2014 - 2015 On Tuesday, they

Juve believe in final chances, says Morata

Serie A champions on Saturday with four games to spare after conceding only 19 goals in 34 games

TURIN: Having battled to break down one of Europe’s meanest defences in the quarter-finals, Real Madrid will have to do it all over again when they face Juventus in their Champions League semifinal.

The defending champions took just under three hours to break down Atletico’s resistance in the previous round, wining 1-0 on aggregate with a goal in the 88th minute of the second leg.

On Tuesday, they face a Juventus side who were crowned Serie A champions on Saturday with four games to spare after conceding only 19 goals in 34 games.

Juve’s defence has been just as impressive in the Champions League with only five goals against in 10 games and six clean sheets.

However, Juventus are also a more refined outfit than Atletico, less prone to rough-arm tactics and capable of coming out and attacking depending on the circumstances. Central defenders, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli

MILAN: Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata believes Juventus can put their comparatively poor Champions League record behind them and squeeze past the record 10-time winners and into this year’s final.

Indeed, the last time Juve claimed the last of their two trophies from the competition was in 1996, when they ousted Real in the quarter-finals before dominating Ajax in the final after a penalty shoot-out.

Despite Juventus also losing

five finals, the gulf between the sides in terms of trophies remains immense but Madridborn Morata said Juventus’s belief they can go all the way remains intact.

“The fact Juventus haven’t won the Champions League in a long time doesn’t count for anything. We’re in contention right now and we’re totally focused on the job,” said Morata, who switched the Bernabeu stadium for Turin last year despite being given increased playing time by former coach

Carlo Ancelotti.

“We want to win the title.

We’re in the semifinals and we’ve already shown we’re among the four best sides in Europe. Let’s hope we make it to the final two.”

Coach Massimiliano Allegri was quick to bring his players back to earth after their celebrations following a 1-0 win at Sampdoria on Saturday. But the 48-year-old also stressed that the opportunity to defy the competition’s most successful side is there to be seized. — AFP

Win

Draw

Lose

JUVENTUS v REAL MADRID Juventus Stadium Head-to-head Won 7 13 / 5

Drawn 1 Won 8 Form Goals for / against

22 / 6

COMPETITION STATISTICS (per match) Shots on target

5.00

7.70

Shots wide

5.60

5.60 518

Passes

459

Crosses

4.30

5.9

Possession

57%

57%

MAY 6

BARCELONA v BAYERN Camp Nou Head-to-head

and Leonardo Bonucci, have been playing together for four seasons for both Juventus and Italy, winning four successive Serie A titles.

“I think we have the best defence,” Bonucci said ahead of their semifinal first leg against Real.

“We know and understand each other perfectly after playing together for so long.”

The question is whether it is good enough to stand a Real Madrid attack led by the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo, who sounded another warning by firing his 25th La Liga hat-trick in the 3-2 win over Sevilla on Saturday.

Juventus will also have to worry about breaking down Real’s defence, which has not conceded an away goal in the competition since their 2-1 win at Ludogorets Razgrad on Oct. 1, a total of 444

minutes’ playing time.

Although Juventus are the dominant force domestically, Italian football has been in the doldrums for several years and they cannot compete with Real’s spending power. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since Juventus last played in the semi-finals 12 years ago when, coincidentally, they also faced Real and won 4-3 on aggregate. The only two surviving players from those ties are the respective goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas.

Altogether, Juventus and Real have met 16 times before, all in the European Cup/Champions League, since their first meeting in the 1961/62 quarter-finals.

Those games have included one in the final in 1998, when Real Madrid won 1-0 to claim their sev-

enth title. The most recent was in the group stage last season when Real won 2-1 at the Bernabeu and drew 2-2 in Turin. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has surpassed expectations in his first season at the club, was happy to accept the underdogs’ role.

“It’s not every day you get to play Real Madrid so we have to keep our heads to reach the final. If we don’t get there, it’ll be expected,” he told reporters.

“We are among the top four teams in Europe, have won the Scudetto and are in the Coppa Italia final. Nobody would have bet on us at the start of the season.

“Many thought we would be eliminated in the group stage but instead we are facing the reigning champions for a place in the final.” - Reuters

WORRIED TEAM

Bayern falter ahead of Pep’s Barca return BERLIN: Bayern Munich head to Spain for Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal — and Pep Guardiola’s return to Barcelona — showing cracks in confidence following back-to-back defeats.

After wrapping up their 25th German league title last Sunday, Bayern’s costly penalty shoot-out defeat to Borussia Dortmund last Tuesday in the German Cup semifinal was followed up by a 2-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

It has been the worst possible run-in to the match at Camp Nou where Guardiola will be making his first return to the club where he won 14 cups and titles in his four years in charge up to 2012.

“We aren’t going to talk ourselves into a corner, the season has been awesome until now,” said Bayern’s director of sport Matthias Sammer. “The players and coach have deserved every compliment that has come their way more than any criticism.”

But the Dortmund defeat brought injuries to two stars.

Arjen Robben limped off — and out for the rest of the season — after lasting just 16 minutes of the second-half.

Having recovered from torn abdominal muscles, the Dutch winger, who has 19 goals this season, tore his left calf to end his season.

Then Robert Lewandowski, Bayern’s top scorer with 23 goals, fractured his nose and cheekbone in an extra-time clash with Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak. Sammer says the decision as to whether Lewandowski plays at

Form

MAY 5

face a Juventus side who were crowned

SEMIFINAL, 1ST LEG:

Pep Guardiola has already won five titles with Bayern Munich and his second season isn’t over yet pointed out Bayern’s director of sport Matthias Sammer

Barcelona with a protective mask will be made by the player.

Guardiola gave reserve team defender Rico Strieder and striker Lukas Goertler senior debuts at Leverkusen while resting stars Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, Juan Bernat and Xabi Alonso.

“The main thing is that no one else got injured,” admitted Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger as Bayern headed back to Munich. While Bayern were struggling in Leverkusen, Barcelona ran riot at Cordoba with Luis Suarez claiming a hat-trick while Lionel Messi hit two and Neymar also netting in Saturday’s 8-0 thrashing.

“With all due respect, Barcelona got that result against the bottom side,” insisted Sammer.

“We played with two youth team players against a Champions League side. There’s a difference.

“We have the necessary respect for Barcelona and their many world-class players, but we also have a few world champions.”

Bayern’s Spain international Javi Martinez came off the bench to make his first appearance after nearly nine months out with injury. But it is probably too soon for him to face Suarez, Neymar and Messi. Centre-back Medhi Benatia is set to feature in Barcelona after a leg injury.

“I played against Suarez in the Europa League, when he played for Liverpool,” said the 28-year-old.

“I haven’t played yet against Messi and Neymar, but there is always a first time for everything.

“Personally, I respect them, but that’s not valid for the 90 minutes on the pitch, there will be no respect then.”

This is not the first time Bayern have suffered a dip after winning the league title under Guardiola.

Having wrapped up the 201314 title with a record seven games to spare, Bayern suffered a rare league defeat at Augsburg which was followed by a 3-0 mauling in Munich by Dortmund.

Two weeks later, they lost 1-0 at Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League semifinals first leg before being routed 4-0 in Munich. Sammer insists the new back-to-back defeats have had no impact on the squad, other than ending their hopes of winning the treble. - AFP

Won 1

Drawn 2

Won 5

Form 23/7

30/8

Goals for / against COMPETITION STATISTICS (per match)

Shots on target

6.00

7.40

Shots wide

5.90

5.70

Passes

631

623

Crosses

3.00

6.80

Possession

62%

62%

TROPHY CABINET: ‫ ؛‬Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful coaches in European football securing 19 major trophies since 2008 Spanish La Liga (3) German Bundesliga (2) Champions League (2)

2009, 2010, 2011 2014, 2015 2009, 2011

Fifa Club World Cup (3)

2009, 2011, 2013 Copa del Rey, DFB-Pokal, Super Cup

Others including:

Guardiola has arguably made his Bayern team more dominant than his Barca side

72% 79%

Win %

2.57 2.71

723 760

Goals*

Passes*

*Per match, all competitions Source: UEFA, Infostrada Sports

Graphic News /

Graphics

C4

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

SPORTS Ahmad celebrates year’s first podium finish at Rockingham Delivering superb pace, Ahmad Al Harthy actually ended his stint with the fastest lap time of all up to that point — one minute and 26.955 seconds — and shadowed the leading BMW of reigning champion Marco Attard for almost the entire duration of the run up to the driver change pit-stops

MUSCAT: Ahmad Al Harthy and teammate Daniel Lloyd celebrated a richly deserved first podium finish of the 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship at Rockingham on Sunday, after racing strongly to an excellent second place in round three of the season.

Having qualified a highly competitive third fastest for the twohour contest, Ahmad took the opening stint of the race and after moving into second place on lap 12 with a great move in the No. 2 Oman Racing Team Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 he remained in contention for the lead throughout.

Delivering superb pace, the 33-year-old Omani actually ended his stint with the fastest lap time of all up to that point — one minute and 26.955 seconds — and shadowed the leading BMW of reigning champion Marco Attard for almost the entire duration of the run up to the mandatory driver change pit-stops.

Attard and Ahmad pitted at the same when the pit window opened after the 50-minute mark and when Lloyd ventured back out onto track behind the wheel of the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-backed Aston, he held the lead of the race from Attard’s teammate Alexander Sims.

Fending off the attentions of the BMW factory driver with some excellent driving, Lloyd’s sterling work was undone on lap 52, with

SUPERB RACING: Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy leads the pack at the Rockingham. – Supplied photo

FIRST PODIUM: Oman’s Ahmad Al Harthy, right, and teammate Daniel Lloyd display their trophies after winning the second place at Rockingham. – Supplied photo

40 minutes of racing remaining, when he ran too deep into Deene Hairpin after being forced onto the dirty part of the track as he lapped slower GT4 Class traffic.

Managing to recover in second position, Lloyd remained there to the chequered flag — staying unflustered through a mid-stint Safety Car period which bunched the pack up — to not only record the partnership’s first podium fin-

ish, but also victory in the Silver Cup classification. “It was really important we got a good start and could hold position, and also keep pushing as at that time we had great pace in the car,” explained Ahmad. “I let the race come to me, as soon as we had an opportunity to pass Andrew [Howard] for second I took it cleanly and then it was a matter of just keeping everything in control passing the backmarkers and looking after

the car. “I knew we would pass the BMW in the pits, so it wasn’t worth risking anything in the race.

“The team did a great job in the pit-stop and Dan had the lead after that which was great, but we always knew it would be tough to hold onto that with the extra 70kg we have to carry on the car. He did a great job, though, and to bring the car home for our first podium this year is fantastic.”

Importantly, with 150 percent points up for grabs this weekend due to the longer duration of the race, Ahmad and Lloyd have rocketed up from 11th position in the championship into the top five and have also substantially increased their lead in the Silver Cup division.

In the team standings, the Oman Racing Team holds a 33 point advantage at the top of the table.

“I have to thank all of the supporters back home in Oman, my wonderful sponsors and my family who have all stood by us through the winter,” added Ahmad. “Now we’re back on the podium it’s something very special for them too and this gives us a lot of confidence and extra motivation for the next round.”

Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit will host the 180-minute duration fourth round of the British GT season on May 31. One week earlier, Ahmad and the Oman Racing Team will be in action at the Northamptonshire track for the second round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Driver Standings: 5. Ahmad Al Harthy/Daniel Lloyd 28 pts.

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Silver Cup Standings: 1. Ahmad Al Harthy/Daniel Lloyd 40.25 pts.

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Team Standings: 1. Oman Racing Team 99.5 pts.

CRICKET

Bangladesh look to build on ‘turning point’ draw DHAKA: Bangladesh’s superb rearguard action that led to an unlikely draw in the first Test against Pakistan last week could well be the “turning point” their coach believes will inspire the side to build on a brilliant run of form.

Considered one of the minnows among the 10 Test playing nations, Bangladesh’s realistic goal at previous World Cups had always been to beat teams ranked lower than themselves while trying to cause an upset against one of the major sides.

However, they performed admirably at the recent tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, ousting England in the group phase and reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.

Despite bowing out to powerhouse India, if that showing was not enough to convince all about their rising stock in world cricket, Bangladesh silenced many of the remaining doubters with their recent results against Pakistan at home.

After beating Pakistan in a one-day international for the first time in 16 years, the hosts went on to blank the tourists 3-0 in the series and followed that up with a maiden Twenty20 victory against the opponents.

Although Pakistan had been weakened by the retirements of senior players and the unavailability of some frontline batsmen and bowlers due to injuries, the margins of victory underlined Bangladesh’s utter dominance.

The hosts then came into the two-Test series having lost all their previous eight matches against Pakistan and that record looked set to continue before they overhauled a huge first innings deficit to force an incredible draw at Khulna.

“I think it is a very big turning point in Bangladesh cricket,” coach Chandika Hathurusingha said after the match.

“We recently made some history but it is mostly beating our own records. The significance here is the biggest opening partnership in the second innings.”

Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim hoped the result would spur them on to achieve even better results in the future, starting with the second Test in Dhaka on Wednesday.

“We dominated this draw and it was nothing less than a win, against such a team and with 296 runs behind,” Rahim said.

“Such a performance gives you belief as a group that we can overcome future goals.

“There is no end to improvement.” - Reuters

CRICKET

Boycott warns against new England role for Strauss LONDON: England great Geoffrey Boycott said he feared “everything will stay the same” were Andrew Strauss put in charge of reviving the country’s cricket fortunes, as speculation continued about a role in the national set-up for former Australia paceman Jason Gillespie.

Former captain Strauss appears to be the front-runner to fill the new position of England director of cricket, a post created by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month following Paul Downton’s sacking as managing director.

Strauss’s fellow former England skippers Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart have also ex-

pressed an interest in the role. But Vaughan appeared to rule himself out after being severely critical of the current set-up in a column for Monday’s Daily Telegraph following England’s defeat by the West Indies in the third Test in Barbados on Sunday.

Boycott, briefly England captain but best-known as an obdurate opening batsman, said the 38-year-old Strauss — who for several years was current skipper Alastair Cook’s partner at the top of the order — was too close to the present regime to make the major changes needed.

“We have a cautious captain (Alastair Cook) and a cautious

coach (Peter Moores). If it is Strauss, he’s the same,” Boycott told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special.

“He likes Cook, so he’s going to go with Cook and everything stays the same,” added Boycott. “Nothing changes, they’ll just go on with the same people. Andrew Strauss will come in, Cook’s his mate and everything will go on just the same. Sad.” Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves takes up his post having previously held a similar position at Yorkshire, where he installed Gillespie as coach.

Last season Yorkshire, under Gillespie, won English cricket’s first-class County Championship and talk that the one-time scourge

of many an England top-order might replace Moores intensified when he turned down an approach from South Australia to become their coach.

Prior to the Test series in the Caribbean, Graves labelled the West Indies a “mediocre” side and warned their would be a review if England failed to win the threematch series.

But West Indies, ranked eighth out of the world’s 10 Test nations by the International Cricket Council, ended all square at 1-1 after a fivewicket win in Barbados, achieved with more than two days to spare, following England’s slump to 123 all out in their second innings.

The England management came under fire for recalling Jonathan Trott, whose return to Test cricket from the “situational anxiety” that led to an early exit from the 2013/14 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia yielded three ducks, and for not playing leg-spinner Adil Rashid in any of the three Tests in the Caribbean.

England’s failure to win the series left many observers wondering how they would fare in the upcoming English season against the seemingly sterner challenges set to be posed by both New Zealand and Australia.

Among the doubters was Vaughan, who wrote in his Tel-

egraph column: “England denied their problems and weaknesses for so long in one-day cricket and said it will come good on the night at the World Cup. It did not, so let’s get real about the Test team.”

Vaughan also queried Cook’s captaincy, saying: “I have been concerned hearing Alastair Cook point to past successes.

“What worked in 2009-2012 is irrelevant now, but if you keep playing attritional cricket you produce attritional characters who can’t think any other way.

“I actually don’t blame the selectors. They do not have a massive say on the final XI. You have to look at the captain and coach.” - AFP

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

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SPORTS Oxy Oman and Oman Sail join forces to promote eves’ sailing The company will sponsor the training of six new women sailing instructors and introduce sailing to 40 girls as part of a shared vision to empower women across the Sultanate

MUSCAT: Occidental of Oman Inc. (Oxy Oman) and Oman Sail have joined forces to enable more Omani women to realise their ambitions on the water.

As part of Oxy Oman’s corporate social responsibility programme, the company will sponsor the training of six new female sailing instructors and introduce sailing to 40 girls as part of a shared vision

NEW DEAL: David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, right, and Hussam Al Nabhani, Vice-President for Corporate and External Affairs at Oxy Oman, shake hands after signing the contract. The officials pose for a photo along with Oman Sail’s women sailors. – Supplied photos

to empower women across the Sultanate and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

The women instructors will teach sailing and motivate the young girls by sharing the fundamentals of sailing and encouraging them to develop valuable life skills

such as confidence, leadership and teamwork. Oxy Oman is also sponsoring Oman Sail’s Community Programme for 40 girls from government schools. These training sessions will take place once a week for a period of five weeks, with students from schools lo-

CRICKET

cated within a one-hour radius of Oman Sail’s sailing schools in The Wave, Muscat, Bandar Al Rowdha, Sur and Al Musannah.

Speaking about the new partnership, Hussam Al Nabhani, Vice-President for Corporate and External Affairs at Oxy Oman,

said: “Our partnership with Oman Sail is aligned with our strategy to promote sustainable, responsible businesses and support our local communities. Empowering women and generating new employment opportunities have consistently been at the top of our

list of objectives. We view this as a long-term partnership that will make a real difference for women in Oman.”

“This is a meaningful partnership that will open up opportunities for Omani women,” David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, said.

“From the time we set up our Women’s Training Programme in 2012, our aim has been to engage women in sailing and promote the sport as a fun and healthy activity that could also provide career opportunities. We are delighted to welcome Oxy Oman on board. This initiative will increase the contribution of Omani women to the nation’s sporting prowess.”

Oman Sail is rekindling Oman’s maritime heritage by creating opportunities for the Sultanate’s sailors to succeed at international levels, as well as develop life-affirming skills that will enhance their future careers and personal development.

The partnership with Oxy Oman aims to deliver long-term social and economic benefits to the community as a key component of the Sultanate’s vision to enhance the work skills and self-confidence of Omani women.

HOCKEY TESTS

India aim to impress against Japan

EXCITING CRICKET: Champions Al Faisal and runners-up Ruwi Kings, below, celebrate with their trophies after the FRiENDi Mobile Champions Cup. – Supplied photos

Al Faisal down Ruwi Kings to lift FRiENDi Mobile title MUSCAT: Al Faisal defeated Ruwi Kings in an exciting final to clinch the title at the FRiENDi Mobile Champions Cup cricket tournament organised by Jazz Boys Cricket Club.

Ruwi Kings would have rued their decision to field first as Al Faisal powered their way to 109 for the loss of eight wickets in eight overs.

In reply, Ruwi Kings managed to score 83 runs for eight wickets.

The tournament was mainly sponsored by FRiENDi Mobile, Strabag Oman, Al Hajiry Group and The Body Shop, and co-sponsored by Khurshid Trading, Unilever, Tile Marine, Al Faisal Group and Al Jarwani Hospitality.

The guests of honour at the prize-distribution ceremony were Jospeh Rajan, Brand Man-

ager of FRiENDi Mobile, Jason Varghese, Executive Director of Al Hajiry Group, Nishant Bhavsar, Director of Tile Marine, Feroz Oliyath, Finance Head of Khurshid Trading, and Manoj, AGM – Finance of Al Faisal Group.

Vinu Mathew of Jazz Boys Club congratulated the winners and thanked all the sponsors for their continued support.

He also thanked the scorers, the umpires, the commentators and helpers for their wonderful contribution to the success of the tournament.

Results: Round of 16: Masters XI 102 for 5 lost to National Gas 107 for 6.

Man of the match: Mubin of National Gas. OEC 50 for 9 lost to Al Faisal 52 for 1. Man of the match: Zaheer of Al Faisal.

Quarterfinals: Asad XI 49 all out lost to Cheers XI 50 for 3. Man of the match:

Clive, Cheers XI. Asfandyar 63 for 7 lost to Ruwi Kings 66 for 7. Man of the match: Anpuraj of Ruwi Kings. Attic Outdoors 51 for 8 lost to National Gas 52 for no loss.

Man of the match: Ahmed of National Gas. Al Faisal 110 for 4 bt HCC 61 for 5.

Man of the match: Irfan of Al Faisal.

Semifinal: Ruwi Kings 111 for 5 bt Cheers XI 53 for 7. Man of the match: Anburaj of Ruwi Kings. National Gas 42 for 7 lost to Al Faisal 43 for 3. Man of the match: Adnan of Al Faisal.

Final: Al Faizal 109 for 5 bt Ruwi Kings 83 for 8. Man of the match: Irfan of Al Faisal.

Individual honours: Best batsman: Mubin of National Gas. Best bowler: Clive of Cheers XI. Best fielder: Ayood of Al Dasser Friends. Best spectator award: Sweety. Outstanding catch: Suhail of Asfandyar XI. Maximum Sixes: Irfan of Al Faisal. Best wicketkeeper: Rahim of Ruwi Kings. Man of the series: Irfan of Al Faisal.

BHUBANESWAR: After playing a 1-1 draw against lower ranked Japan, India will look to put up a strong show in the second of the four-match hockey Test series at the Kalinga Stadium here on Tuesday.

In the first match, both the Asian teams fought neck-and-neck to take control of the ball. World No. 9 India started the match with their attacking game but it was world No. 16 Japan that scored the first goal. India equalised thanks to V.R. Raghunath’s successful penalty corner conversion but failed to add another as the visitors’ defence stood tall.

In Tuesday’s match, Indian players have to tackle Japan’s long passes as well as contain them in their half to create maximum goalscoring opportunities.

Against Japan, India are stronger in penalty corner executions

due to the presence of Raghunath, Rupinder Pal Singh and Harmanpreet Singh.

On the other hand, Japan could not materialise a single penalty corner on Sunday and found it difficult to get past world class goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh, whose impressive run is continuing.

India chief coach Paul van Ass insisted on not thinking about Japan’s inferior ranking.

“We didn’t play very good yesterday and faced strong challenges from the Japan side. As I told you earlier, don’t see the ranking, they are a very good Asian team, who play in European style speedy hockey,” he said Monday.

Van Ass also felt that his team needs to execute his defensive strategies properly to avoid conceding early goals like it happened on Sunday.

“We didn’t play as per our expectations in the first half, that’s why we conceded the goal. But we came back after the half-time and played well,” the Dutchman said.

“The first match was like testing each other’s strength and we now know the Japanese better.

“We are working harder on our defence side and in the next match, we will step on the field with better strategies against the opponents.”

Japan chief coach Keonwook Kang said: “Though we drew the match yesterday, we were not happy with our performance and we need to improve in various areas.

“We have a good defence but we need to work harder on attacking.

We have a better understanding of Indian players now and we will make strategies around their style.

We are looking forward to tomorrow’s game.” - IANS

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TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

SPORTS

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Oman’s Al Saidi wins Wings For Life World Run in Dubai More than 700 runners endured temperatures of 40+ degrees Celsius at the

Wow, that was tough in this heat but I felt strong at the end and the idea of racing where there is no finish line makes it mentally tougher, but that’s what this event is all about, to push you to limits you haven’t experienced before

Dubai Autodrome, when the UAE joined 32 other countries and more than 75,000 runners globally to take part in Wings for Life World Run

DUBAI: Oman’s Sami Al Saidi won the men’s competition at the Wings For Life World Run in Dubai.

More than 700 runners endured temperatures of 40+ degrees Celsius at the Dubai Autodrome on Monday, when the UAE joined 32 other countries and more than 75,000 runners globally to take part in Wings for Life World Run. With a global start time of precisely 11.00 am UTC (3.00 p.m.

UAE time), runners from around the world simultaneously set off on 35 different tracks in 33 countries on six continents with Dubai being the only Middle Eastern city to take part.

The unique format of the race meant there was no finish line, instead a catcher car was dispatched to chase the contestants. For the UAE, Nissan supplied an X-Trail which was driven by the world record holder for the longest drift and Lebanese rally champion, Abdo Feghali.

All proceeds from the global run go to help find a cure for spinal cord injuries which affect nearly three million people around the world. Dubai’s participation has been in partnership with Emirates NBD, Nissan, the Rashid Centre for the Disabled, Puma, Garmin and exclusive broadcasters, Dubai Sports Channel.

In the men’s division, Omani runner Sami Al Saidi covered

44.92 kms. Skirmantas Sukackas claimed second position, having run 37.04 kms, while Demehin Adebanjo took the third place after coverning 35.70 kms.

“I know there are runners in so many countries competing at the same time and for such a great cause, but I reckon we did it tough in these temperatures,” said Al Saidi. “It must be over 40 degrees out here but it was all for a worthy cause and the concept of no finish line and just running until you’re passed by Abdo (Feghali) in the Nissan X-Trail is really unique.”

In the women’s division, Katie Sloane ran 30.08 kms while Ruthie Fischer covered19.25 kms which was good enough for second place while third went to Patricia Gomez with 17.40 kms.

“Wow, that was tough in this heat but I felt strong at the end and the idea of racing where there is no finish line makes it mentally tougher, but that’s what this event is all about, to push you to limits you haven’t experienced before,” women’s winner Katiesaid.

Feghali left 30 minutes after the runners at a steady 15kmph which increased to 16kmph after 60 minutes and 17kmph after two hours at which point the runners had completed 31kms. By 2.30 p.m. (UCT time) the catcher car upped its pace to 20kmph and at 4.30 p.m. Feghali drove at 35kmph. Being passed by

Sami Al Saidi Omani runner

the catcher car signaled the end of that particular runner’s race.

Competitors taking part in Dubai included Junior World Rally Championship driver, Mohammed Al Mutawaa, Saudi Arabia Porsche Cup racer His Highness Prince Abdulaziz Turki Al Faisal and Dubai’s Kris Fade.

Anita Gerhardter, CEO of the Wings for Life Foundation, said it had been an unforgettable day.

“It was a great day for Wings for Life and a great day for spinal cord research with 4.2 million Euros raised and donations are still coming in,” she said.

“It exceeded all my expectations. There were so many thrill-

ing, touching moments today but my personal highlight was the Swedish wheelchair competitor Aron Anderson.”

Monal Zeidan, Regional Marketing Director of Nissan Middle East, said: “The event proved to be a successful one and we are proud to be associated with ‘Wings for Life’ foundation. Seeing thousands of people running for such a great a cause was an exciting moment for Nissan Middle East. Motoring should be about fun, enjoyment and excitement, not just going from A to B. That’s certainly what the Nissan X-Trail as the ‘catcher car’ was all about during the event”.

Worldwide, millions of people

are dependent on wheelchairs after having sustained a spinal cord injury. The leading causes are traffic accidents and falls. Wings for Life is a not-for-profit spinal cord research foundation and its mission is to find a cure for spinal cord injury.

Vikram Krishna, Head – Group Marketing and Customer Experience, Emirates NBD, said: “Supporting community programmes that make a positive impact in our communities is a commitment we take seriously at Emirates NBD. We are delighted to be a part of the initiative to help raise much needed awareness on the Wings for Life foundation in the UAE and the great work it does in the spinal cord research domain.

“I would like to congratulate each and every one who participated in the run today.”

Chris Khouri, a Dubai-based Wings for Life ambassador who suffers from a spinal cord injury himself said: “I’m proud to be one of those who worked hard to promote this event and participate.

This is a huge event for people with spinal cord injuries. Runners could not see the finish line as it came from behind and eliminated them. To me, this represents people using wheelchairs and the cure for spinal cord injuries where we cannot see when it will happen but some day it will happen.”

“With people participating in events like this, it gives us hope that one day this line will be clear.”

Since 2004, the Wings for Life Foundation funds life-changing research projects and clinical trials around the globe where the foundation has made steady but valuable progress to find a cure.

During the inaugural World Run in 2015, €4.2 millions ($4.7 millions) were raised with all future entry fees and sponsorship of this global running event working towards that ultimate goal.

Every step taken at the Wings for Life World Run is a step in the right direction.

S E R I O U S LY I L L

Greaves in hospital after suffering stroke LONDON: Messages of support have flooded in for former England, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea forward Jimmy Greaves who is seriously ill in hospital after suffering a severe stroke.

Greaves, 75, is being treated in intensive care after being taken ill on Sunday.

“Everyone at the club wishes Jimmy Greaves a speedy recovery after he suffered a stroke yesterday,” Tottenham said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Jimmy and his family at this difficult time.”

Having established himself as a prolific striker with Chelsea for whom he scored a then club record 124 league goals, Greaves moved to Tottenham in 1961 and scored 266 times in 379 appearances — a record that still stands.

He won 57 England caps, scoring 44 times and is fourth on the all-time scorers list behind Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney.

Greaves was part of England’s 1966 World Cup winning squad but was injured in the group stage and replaced by Geoff Hurst.

He originally missed out on a medal because they were only awarded to the 11 players who featured in the final, although he finally received one in 2009.

Geoff Hurst, who replaced Greaves, said on Twitter: “Thinking of my friend and one of our greats this morning, wishing him all the best and a speedy recovery.”

Messages of support also came in from Chelsea and West Ham United, another of Greaves’s former clubs.

Greaves, who also had a short spell with AC Milan, was at his most deadly while with Tottenham and is still revered there.

He scored in the 1962 FA Cup final and 1963 European Cup Winners Cup final and added a second FA Cup in 1967. - Reuters

FOOTBALL

Mourinho steels Chelsea for challenges ahead LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes his newly crowned Premier League champions will face a challenge just to secure a top-four finish next season due to the English top flight’s competitiveness.

Chelsea claimed their first league title since 2010 on Sunday when Eden Hazard’s goal on the cusp of half-time secured a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace that gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the table.

Mourinho’s side have dominated the division from starting gun to finish line, but with Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all likely to strengthen during the close season, he knows the battle for Champions League qualification will be fierce in 2015-16.

“We have to try to be a strong team, because if you are not a strong team, we have no chance to finish top four, which is the first target for the top teams in this country,” he told reporters at Stamford Bridge.

“When you fight for the top four, you have chances to be champions, so we need to be strong again next year, to try to be a good team.”

Mourinho has now won three Premier League titles, following back-to-back successes with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006 during his first stint at the club, but he shied away from comparisons with those teams.

“This one is completely differ-

NEED TO BE STRONG: Jose Mourinho

ent,” he said. “The Premier League is different, Chelsea is different, the opponents are different.

“And my team, so many of them win the Premier League for the first time, which is something that they have to learn how to do.”

Told that he has now won as many English league titles as greats Stan Cullis, Bill Shankly and Arsene Wenger, the current Arsenal manager, Mourinho responded simply: “I will try (to win) another one.”

Chelsea’s players cavorted on the pitch at the final whistle and can now look forward to a postseason parade, when they will also be able to show off the League Cup trophy. But with fixtures against Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion

and Sunderland still to be fulfilled, Mourinho warned his squad that they still have duties to the rest of the division.

‘The dogs bark’ “Against West Brom is a game where both teams are champions.

We are champions of our league, West Brom are champions of their league,” he said.

“But when we play against Liverpool, it’s an important match for them, for Man United, for Tottenham, for Southampton.

“When we play Sunderland, maybe it’s an important game for them and for other teams. As champions we have even more responsibility to follow Crystal Palace’s attitude, which was fantastic.”

Mourinho cut a rather subdued figure after the game and revealed that he had flown to Portugal earlier in the week to be with his 76-year-old father, also called Jose, who had to undergo surgery on his head after falling seriously ill.

Mourinho has faced accusations that his team, flamboyant during the first part of the season, have become ‘boring’ in recent months, but he said they had demonstrated their worth over the course of the campaign.

“I think we showed absolutely everything since day one,” he said.

“Everything football demands from a team, we had.

“We had fantastic attacking football, we had fantastic domination, we had high percentages of ball possession, we had low percentages of ball possession, we gave the ball to the opponent strategically, we defended amazingly well. “We do everything that a team needs. That’s why we deserve so much to be champions and I think everybody knows that.

“And (to) the ones who say we don’t deserve it, in my country we say: ‘The dogs bark and the caravan goes by.’”

Palace manager Alan Pardew said that criticism of Mourinho’s methods was misplaced.

“That’s why he earns the money he does — he wins,” Pardew said.

“It will have to be a very good side that tops this team next year and I’m sure Jose will add to his depth as well.” - AFP

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LIFE & STYLE

T U ES DAY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

A KINDRED SPIRIT TO SHARE THE ROAD Sometimes friends make for the best travelling companions, though it may take a bit of trial and error to find the right ones g of prin the s uld be n i o w n ne ew ively ected w ons whe a p i relat was yet I sus compan plating e m at 2009 l travel s conte awaii b d e wh e a s wif travm o d i d h e w u n t t o H h o u rs a n by hi er a a j sked rned aft e with 8 s he u t e a f re e 4 a c min as he le in Fran erald, last- he had irfare. ane. I w g g a e s ellin ott Fitz gway u ible e on a pl ess. Now t ca n s c i i S s m d r in e re h F. an ir n we we as in bus m behin s wit st H Erne o on trip Soo . He w ared fro g crack g h o e e c l t p t a ’t r p o o .”

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C8

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

EXTRA Is exposure to chemicals a real ticking time-bomb?

All too often the use of the word ‘chemicals’ in news, advertising, and in common usage, has the implication that they are bad

Y

ou never hear about chemicals that fight infections, help crops grow or lubricate engines. That is because the chemicals doing that job are called antibiotics, fertilisers and engine oil, respectively.

As a result of the emotive language often used in conjunction with “chemicals”, a series of myths have emerged. Myths that Sense about Science and the Royal Society of Chemistry are debunking with the publication of Making Sense of Chemical Stories. Here are five of the worst offenders.

1. You can lead a chemical-free life Despite the many products that claim otherwise, using the term “chemical-free” is plain nonsense.

Everything, including the air we breathe, the food we eat and the drinks we consume, is made of chemicals. It doesn’t matter if you live off the land, following entirely organic farming practises or are a city-dweller consuming just processed food, either way your sur-

roundings and diet consists of nothing but chemicals.

2. Man-made chemicals are dangerous So we have established that there is no way to lead a chemical-free existence. But surely natural chemicals are better than synthetic ones?

Nope. Whether a chemical is manmade or natural tells you precisely nothing about how dangerous it is.

Sodium thiopental, for example, is used in lethal injections but it’s about as toxic as amygdalin, which turns up in almonds and apple seeds.

What makes one of these chemicals dangerous and the other part of your healthy five-a-day is quite simply the quantity that you consume.

Granted there are many documented cases of man-made chemicals that have been banned due to health concerns. But on balance chemicals have done far more good than harm. A good example is brominated flame retardants which are no longer used in furniture due to allegations of unpleasant side-effects.

However these worries should be balanced against the estimated 1,150

lives saved because the chemical stopped furniture fires spreading.

Even substances that are upheld as terrible cases of chemical pollutants, such the pesticide DDT, have their place. The World Health Organisation support its use for control of malaria transmitting mosquitoes stating: DDT is still needed and used for disease vector control simply because there is no alternative of both equivalent efficacy and operational feasibility, especially for high-transmission areas.

3. Synthetic chemicals cause cancer News outlets are fond of reporting about research showing “links” between particular chemicals and occurrences of cancer and other diseases. Sometimes the stories even claim that a substance definitely causes cancer or definitely cures it.

But more often than not these reports only cover part of the scientists’ conclusions. They just mention that an effect on cancer (either positively or negatively) was seen in the presence of a chemical. This is what

we call a correlation, but it does not necessarily imply a causal link.

For example, the number of diagnosed autism cases correlates with sales of organic produce, but no one would seriously suggest that manmade chemicals used on farms somehow protects people from autism.

The point is that correlation on its own isn’t that useful, unless it is accompanied by other observations such as a plausible mechanism to explain it. But once a correlation is seen then scientists can start looking for that other supporting information.

4. Chemical exposure is a ticking time-bomb Phrases such as “cocktail of chemicals” and “time-bomb” are pretty emotive, and they certainly make for good headlines. But we permanently live among a cocktail of chemicals and have done so ever since life first evolved in a chemical soup.

So why have we suddenly become more aware of all the chemicals in our environment? In part, it is due to amazingly sensitive technologies that allow minute quantities of

chemicals to be detected. It really isn’t difficult for a chemist to find minute quantities of antibiotics in a swimming pool or cocaine in water supply. 5. We are subjects in an unregulated, uncontrolled experiment There is no conspiracy. The reality is that the use, manufacture and disposal of chemicals are strictly regulated and controlled.

Each new synthetic chemical used as a food ingredient passes through a series of safety tests before it is allowed by the relevant body, such as the UK Food Standards Agency. New medicines go through clinical trials, which are even more rigorous tests, before the drug agency, such as the US Food and Drug Administration, allows it to be marketed. Even the tiny amount of waste chemicals produced by university research labs are managed according to the hazardous waste management rules of local governments.

Chemists in academia and industry have to adhere to these regulations in the process of inventing or manufacturing amazing new chemicals to better our lives.

-Mark Lorch/The Independent

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

C9

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Avengers Age Of Ultron (3D) (Action, Adventure)(PG12) Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 2:15, 6:10, 8:50, 11:30 pm Avengers Age Of Ultron (2D) (Action, Adventure)(PG12) Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans 3:30 pm She’s Funny That Way (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposito, Imogen Poots 2:00, 6:45 pm Fast & Furious 7 (Action, Crime) (12+) Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson 6:45 pm Tracers (Action)(12+) Cast: Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos, Adam Rayner 5:00, 11:45 pm Lemon Tree Passage (Horror)(15+) Cast: Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gunn, Pippa Black 4:00, 11:45 pm Gabbar Is Back (Action, Crime) (PG) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 9:15 pm Uttama Villain (Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Dr. K. Viswanath, K. Balachander 8:30pm

Fast & Furious 7 (12+) Cast : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson 11:30 am Avengers Age Of Ultron (3D)PG12 Cast : Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 4:00, 6:35, 9:10, 11:45 pm

SCREEN 3

Avengers Age Of Ultron(2D) PG12 Cast : Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 10:00 am Avengers Age Of Ultron (3D) (PG12) Gold Class Cast : Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 1:15, 6:00, 8:35, 11:15 pm She’s Funny That Way (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposito, Imogen Poots 12:40, 2:15 pm Lemon Tree Passage (15+) Cast: Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gunn, Pippa Black 2:30, 11:45 pm Gabbar Is Back (PG) (Hindi) Cast : Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 9:15 pm Uttama Villain (Tamil) (Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Dr. K. Viswanath, K. Balachander 6:00 pm

Uttama Villain – Tamil ( Comedy/Drama)– PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Parvathy Nair, 3.30, 6.35, 9.45 PM

SCREEN 1 Gabbar Is Back - Hindi (Action/Drama) – PG Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor, 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Avengers: Age of Ultron (3D)( Action, Adventure, Fantasy)– PG12 Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

Fast & Furious 7 - 2D (12+) Act/Cri Cas : Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne 6:30 PM Avengers: Age of Ultron – 2D (PG12) Action |Adventure |Sci-Fi Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans 03:40 pm Avengers: Age of Ultron – 3D (PG12) Action |Adventure |Sci-Fi 6:15, 8:50, 11:30 PM Tracers - 2D (12+) Action Cast: Taylor Lautner, Marie Angelopoulos, 6:50, 11:45 PM She’s Funny That Way -2D (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposito, Imogen Poots 3:00, 5:00 PM May in the Summer - 2D (12+) Com |Dr Cast: Hiam Abbass, James Garson Chick, Cherien Dabis 2:30, 4:45 PM Lemon Tree Passage – 2D (15+) Horror |Mystery | Thriller Cast: Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gunn, Pippa Black 3:00, 6:45, 11:45 PM Ott We Far - 2D (Arb) (PG12) Com Cast: David Walliams, Pudsey, 4:30 PM Oru Vadakkan Selfie - 2D (M)(PG) Comedy Cast: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, 9:00 PM Gabbar is Back- 2D (TBC) (Act |Cri |Dra)

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 8:45, 11:15 PM Uttama Villain – Tamil ( Comedy/Drama)– PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Parvathy Nair, 8:30 PM

Avengers: Age of Ultron- 3D (PG12) Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 6:45, 9:15, 11:45 PM Avengers: Age of Ultron- 2D (PG12) 3:15pm In Fear (2D) (15+) Cast: Iain De Caestecker, Alice Englert, Allen Leech 3:00, 5:25, 11:30 PM She’s Funny That Way (2D) (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposito, Imogen Poots 7:00 PM Gabbar is Back (2D/PG) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 4:30, 8:45, 11:20 PM Uttama Villain – Tamil ( Com/Dr)PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Parvathy Nair, 2:45, 8:25 PM Oru Vadakkan Selfie (2D) (PG) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Vineeth Sreenivasan 5:45 pm

Avengers: Age of Ultron (3D) (Act | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo 6:30, 9:00, 11:30 PM Avengers: Age of Ultron (2D) (PG12) Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans,

Mark Ruffalo, 4:00PM Gabbar is Back (Action ) (PG) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K Haasan, Kareena Kapoor; 8:45 PM She’s Funny That Way ( Com) (15+) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposite, 4:15 PM Oru Vadakkan Selfie (Malayam) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese, Vineeth 6:05 PM Uttama Villain (Tamil) (Comedy) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Dr. K. Viswanath, K. 11:15 PM

Avengers :Age Of Ultron (3D)(PG12) (Action, Adventure,Sci-Fi) Cast: Robert Dwney Jr,Chris Evan 2:45, 6:30, 9:00, 11:35pm Avengers :Age Of Ultron (2D)(Action) 10:45AM; (PG12) Tracers (2D)(12+) (Action) Cast: Taylor Lautner, Marie Avgeropoulos, Adam Rayner 10:30AM, 7:00, 10:05PM Fast & Furious 7 (2D) (12+) (Act/Crime) Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson; 12:10, 4:30PM She’s Funny That Way (2D)(15+) (Comedy) Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Esposito, 1:00, 2:45, 5:15PM Lemon Tree Passage (2D) (15+) (Hor ) Cast: Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gunn 1:15, 5:00, 11:45PM Gabbar is Back (2D)(PG) (Action/Crime) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 10:45AM, 2:35, 11:20PM Oru Vadakkan Selfie (2D)(PG) (Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Aju Varghese 8:45PM Uttama Villain (2D)(PG12)( Comedy) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Dr. K. Viswanath, K. Balachander 7:00pm

FAST & FURIOUS 7 (Act/Crime ) Cast: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, 11.55 pm, CP No : 819 ( 12+ ) BARELY LETHAL ( Act / Adv) Cast: Samuel L.Jackson, Sophie Turner, Jamie King 10.00 pm, CP No: 1077 ( 12+ ) CYMBELINE (Drama) Cast: Ethan Hawke, Ed haris, Milla Jovovich 4.00 pm. CP No: 1076 (12+) SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY (Com / Dr) Cast: Oven Wilson, Imogen Poots, Jennifer Aniston 2.00 & 6.00 pm, CP No: 1121 (15+) MAY IN THE SUMMER (Dr / Ro) Cast: Hiam Abbas, James Garson Chick, Cherien Dabis 2.00, 6.00 & 8.00 pm. CP No: 1122 ( 12+ ) LEMON TREE PASSAGE (Horror) Cast: Jessica Tovey, Nicholas Gun 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No : 1123 ( 15+ )

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776

Oru Vadakkan Selfie (Mal) (Rom/ Com) Cast: Navin Pauly, Manjima, Aju 3:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main, 6:45pm at Cinema 3 Uthama Villain (Tamil) (Rom/Com) Cast: Kamal Hassan, Jayram, Pooja Kumar and Urvashi 6:15 pm at Cinema Main; 3:45pm at Cinema 3, 9:30pm at Cinema 2 O Kadhal Kanmani (Tamil/Rom) Cast:Dulqar Salman & Nitya Menon 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm at Cinema 4 Ennum Eppozhom (Mal/Com) Cast: Mohanal, Manju Warrior, Lena 9:45pm at Cinema 3 Kanchana (Tamil) (Com/Horror) 3:30, 6:30 pm Cinema 2 Next change: Dohchay (Telugu)

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

WITH LOVE

If you bid up, play up also

K

halil Gibran, a Lebanese artist, poet and writer, said, “The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”

That is so true.

At the bridge table, after bidding, you must apply your mind to winning the requisite number of tricks. In today’s deal, South pushes into six hearts.

West leads the spade 10 to South’s ace.

How should declarer continue?

In the auction, South’s

two-heart rebid was forcing, since North’s two-over-one response guaranteed a rebid.

When South heard about respectable heart support, he plunged into Blackwood. He upgraded for his secondary club fit.

If trumps are 2-2, there will be no problems. If they are 4-0, the contract has no chance.

But what if they are 3-1? Then it looks as if declarer would need the club finesse to work. However, there is another possibility.

South cashes his heart ace, plays a diamond to dummy’s ace, ruffs

a diamond in his hand, leads a heart to dummy’s king (getting the bad news), and ruffs the last diamond.

Then declarer plays off his other two spade winners. With his preparations complete, South exits with a trump, giving East the lead.

Here, East has only clubs left in his hand, so must play away from his queen into dummy’s ace-jack.

Note, though, that if East still has a spade or diamond in his hand, declarer would ruff and take the club finesse.

— By Phillip Alder MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 Gooey road covering 4 Libra’s birthstone 8 Something to peel 12 Bravo, in Spain 13 Nat “King” — 14 Modicum 15 Ramble around 16 Sang like the birdies sing 18 Battery terminal 20Gets nosy 21 Did lunch 23 Flora’s sci.

24Old trading post goods 27 Grain crop 29 On a rampage 33 Summer in Quebec

34 Mosquito protection 35 Fossey friend 36 Blow gently 38 Hobby ender 39 Dilettantish 40 Draw on 42Be human, according to a saying 44Penniless traveller 46Make void 50 Goods transporter (2 wds.)

54 Ms. Merkel of Germany 55 Store sign 56 Twinge 57 Geog. feature 58 Piece of chicken 59 Linger

60— choy DOWN 1 Gaius’ garb 2 Mr. Greenspan 3 Hire a decorator 4 Four duos 5 Wham!

6 “The Greatest” 7 — on (pretend) 8 Nap in Nogales 9 Kind of chop 10 Salt Lake City team 11 Tie recipient, often 17 Chinese “way” 19 “— Boot” 22Kermit colleague 23 Midler or Davis 24Hardly any

25 Ms. Hagen of films 26 Lib. section 28 Oui, in Boston 30 Deface 31 Choose which 32 Essential 37 Floating downriver 39 Comics prince 41 Daughter’s brother 43 Long-limbed 44Noted potters 45 Type of mitt 47 Frostbitten 48A law — itself 49Limp, as hair 50 Neaten the lawn 51 JAMA readers 52 Wine cask 53 Santa — winds

BORN LOSER

MOHD MAHMOUD May 5

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

C1 0

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

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

BORN today, you know how to make the best of an unfortunate situation.

You can always be counted on to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start over again when you have the opportunity to do so, but with more knowledge and experience that can help you travel swiftly down the road to success. You understand that life is a series of trial-and-error opportunities, and that nothing is as good the first time as it can eventually be with a little practice. You are always willing to pay your dues and put in the time you need to become an expert at something. You will work hard, confident that the effort will pay off eventually — allowing you to play hard, too! You know how to turn failure into success.

You may sometimes be thought to have a more retiring nature, but this certainly doesn’t last for long!

It results, of course, from your occasional forays into quiet intensity — but soon your true, colorful self resurfaces, making misidentification all but impossible.

Also born on this date are: Chris Brown, singer; Adele, singer; Ann B. Davis, actress; Karl Marx, philosopher; Tammy Wynette, singer; Brian Williams, journalist; John Rhys-Davies, actor; Tyrone Power, actor; Pat Carroll, actress; Michael Palin, actor and comedian; Alice Faye, actress; Nellie Bly, journalist; Tina Yothers, actress; Lance Henriksen, actor; James Beard, chef.

W E AT H E R

M

WORLD

Max 36 Min 26 Max 26 Min 16

Max 43 Min 23

Max 37 Min 29 Max 16 Min 7

Max 36 Min 29

Max 15 Min 8

Max 40 Min 26

Max 41 Min 29

Max 41 Min 23

Max 42 Min 29

Max 36 Min 26

[APRIL 20-MAY 20] Max 32 Min 26

Max 19 Min 14

Max 34 Min 27 Max 25 Min 14

—www.met.gov.om

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

38 33 38 34 34 38

27 24 25 24 25 23

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

29 34 25 24 22 31 32 27 25 18 25 31 17 19 20 30 21 15

16 17 13 14 11 15 25 9 23 11 7 25 10 10 11 26 12 9

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[MAY 21-JUNE 20]

CANCER [JUNE 21-JULY 22] You’re looking forward to something that is scheduled to take place in the coming days. Use the time to prepare properly.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You have the ability to shine, even when you are working under pressure. The clock is ticking, but you can still gain many style points.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] A harmonious attempt to do something with others may fall a bit flat. Perhaps it takes a bit of conflict to get the juices flowing!

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] Those in your care may challenge you in ways that you do not expect — and continue to challenge you in the ways they have before.

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

[[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You may feel that there is nothing new under the sun, but indeed what counts most is the fact that you are doing it your own way.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You’re used to hearing others complain; today, someone may bring to your attention something that you’ll want to complain about!

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] A slow and steady approach will allow you to see things as they are even as you pass them by. The journey counts for much.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ve been apologising far too much lately. Perhaps it’s time to change your ways, rather than make excuses as you have in the past.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] Though the technical demands of a new endeavour may be quite daunting, you’re sure to appreciate the aesthetics of it.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] Now is the time for you to give someone the truth and nothing but the truth. It’s not likely to sit well at first, but time heals all wounds.

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00

SCORPIO S

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

6.36pm 5.31am

High tide Low tide

9:22pm 4:02am

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

TUESDAY

Min

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

It may be time for a changing of the guard, of sorts. What comes to you later in the day may be more valuable than expected.

12.09pm 3.34pm 6.41pm 7.58pm 4.10am

10:04am 3:51pm

wave height of 3.0 metre, and slight along the rest of the coasts with a maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Clear to partly cloudy skies over northern part of the Sultanate with chances of convective cloud development over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas may be associated with isolated rain and occasional thundershower. Chance of blowing dust over desert and open areas of governorates of south AlSharqiya, Al-Wusta and Dohfar. Chance of early morning low level clouds or fog patches along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea and Oman Sea.

Max

OMAN

GEMINI

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

AIRLINES

ainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate with chances of high cloud advection over northern parts of the Sultanate and chance of convective clouds development over Al-Hajar mountains during afternoon. Chance of blowing dust over the desert and open areas of south Al-Sharqiya, Al-Wusta and Dhofar governorates due to the wind.

EXPECTED WIND: Wind will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming light southerly during night along the coastal areas of Oman Sea, while it will be southerly to southeasterly light to moderate over rest of the Sultanate occasionally fresh over south Al-Sharqiya, Al-Wusta and Dohfar governorates.

SEA STATE: Rough along the Arabian Sea coastal area with maximum

TAURUS The more you distract yourself, the more someone else is going to get frustrated by your inability to focus.

Do you really want that?

PRAYER TIMINGS

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY406 WY648 WY676 WY682 WY914 BG021 WY916 NL768 TK774 4H583 PK281 GF560 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 FZ041 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 4H562 WY902 WY644 WY326 WY686 WY154 WY144 WY678 WY668 WY132 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY602 WY346 WY342 WY272 WY202 G9841 WY236 G9114 WY282 EK862 WY242 WY252 QR1128 IX817 EY382 9W530 WY3302 WY604 WY918 WY652 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 WY384 WY822 WY705 WY904 WY634 WY818 BG023 WY670 WY324 WY332 PA950 PK191 WY606 WY906 WY920 FZ045 WY632 WY656 QR1126 WY3304 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 WY216 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY610 WY694 GF564 TG507 SV534 G9116 WY374 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY386 WY224 WY614 WY338 FZ049 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 WY254 BA073 WY624 UL205 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 EY388 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY696 WY612

WEDNESDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

CAIRO 0005 KUWAIT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 DACCA 0100 SALALAH 0120 LAHORE 0130 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0300 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0515 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 JEDDAH 0645 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 KARACHI 0650 RIYADH 0655 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 MEDINA 0710 DOHA 0715 PARIS 0735 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 DUBAI 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 LAHORE 0825 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 RAS AL KHAIMA 0855 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 MANGALORE 1010 ABU DHABI 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1045 MUKHAIZNA 1050 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1125 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 MALE 1210 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215 SALALAH 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 BANGKOK 1220 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 SIALKOT 1310 GWADUR 1320 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 DUBAI 1535 ABU DHABI 1605 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 MUKHAIZNA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 TRIVANDRUM 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 DUBAI 1800 DAMMAM 1805 BAHRAIN 1810 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900 RIYADH 1900 SHARJAH 1905 COLOMBO 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 COCHIN 2025 DUBAI 2025 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 MADRAS 2135 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 COLOMBO 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ABU DHABI 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

WY648 WY406 WY676 WY672 WY682 WY914 WY916 TK774 4H583 PK229 GF560 FZ035 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY686 G9841 WY144 WY668 WY674 WY132 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY422 WY602 WY342 NL768 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY282 WY226 EK862 WY242 IX549 WY252 QR1128 EY382 IX443 QR8550 WY3922 WY652 9W530 WY918 WY604 WY3302 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 PA450 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 WY670 WY324 WY332 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY348 G9119 FZ045 WY3304 WY656 QR1126 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY254 WY610 GF564 WY216 G9116 WY274 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY632 WY386 WY614 WY848 WY338 FZ049 AI977 KL441 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 WY717 WY328 EY388 WY414 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY636 WY654 WY928 WY816 WY612 WY696

KUWAIT 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 MEDINA 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 LAHORE 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DUBAI 0340 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0635 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 RIYADH 0655 RAS AL KHAIMA 0655 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 PARIS 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 BEIRUT 0805 DUBAI 0805 LAHORE 0825 LAHORE 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0955 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 DOHA 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1035 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KHASAB 1115 DUBAI 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 LAHORE 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 ISLAM ABBAD 1515 SHARJAH 1525 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 MADRAS 1750 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 TRIVANDRUM 1820 SHARJAH 1905 JAIPUR 1910 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 KARACHI 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 AMMAN 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 ABU DHABI 2340 BAHRAIN 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 9W539 SG062 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY685 WY201 WY643 WY251 WY345 WY271 WY601 WY341 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY325 WY901 WY241 WY667 WY383 BG022 NL769 TK775 4H584 WY331 PK282 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ042 QR1133 GF561 WY651 WY3301 WY903 4H562 WY603 WY917 WY323 WY669 FZ044 WY633 WY373 WY215 WY815 WY291 WY263 WY385 G9842 WY821 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 WY337 IX818 QR1129 EY383 WY311 WY919 9W533 GF563 WY223 WY655 FZ038 WY631 IX350 WY253 WY113 WY693 WY3303 WY663 WY131 WY143 WY645 WY101 BG024 PK192 PA951 WY927 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 FZ046 WY671 WY613 QR1127 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 SV535 WY913 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 WY411 WY421 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 AI974 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 LH617 EY381

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 AHMEDABAD 0030 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 RIYADH 0115 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 ISLAM ABBAD 0125 JAIPUR 0135 DUBAI 0145 LAHORE 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 KARACHI 0210 SALALAH 0215 DELHI 0215 DOHA 0225 MALE 0230 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0230 LAHORE 0230 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 KATHMANDU 0350 SIALKOT 0400 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0715 BAHRAIN 0730 MUKHAIZNA 0730 SALALAH 0740 DACCA 0745 DUBAI 0750 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0835 DOHA 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 COLOMBO 0900 TRIVANDRUM 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 RAS AL KHAIMA 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 MANGALORE 1100 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 CHITTAGONG 1140 KHASAB 1145 COCHIN 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 COCHIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 ABU DHABI 1240 CALICUT 1255 MADRAS 1255 FRANKFURT 1320 DAMMAM 1330 MUKHAIZNA 1330 DOHA 1330 PARIS 1345 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 DACCA 1400 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405 SIALKOT 1430 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 MEDINA 1705 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 RIYADH 2000 SALALAH 2000 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 AMMAN 2205 BEIRUT 2215 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 COLOMBO 2305 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355 ABU DHABI 2355

9W539 AI986 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY201 WY685 WY643 WY251 WY341 WY601 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY847 WY241 WY901 WY667 TK775 4H584 PK230 WY331 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ036 QR1133 WY651 GF561 WY3921 G9842 WY603 WY903 WY3301 WY917 WY347 WY669 WY323 FZ044 WY633 WY815 WY291 WY215 WY253 NL769 WY717 WY263 WY385 WY821 WY843 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 IX554 WY337 QR1129 EY383 IX442 WY311 9W533 WY919 QR8550 WY655 GF563 WY273 FZ038 WY3303 IX350 PA451 WY113 WY663 WY143 WY645 WY101 WY423 WY153 WY927 WY413 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 G9110 FZ046 WY631 WY613 QR1127 WY327 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 AI978 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 EY381 LH617

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 BOMBAY 0115 RIYADH 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 LAHORE 0145 DUBAI 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 SALALAH 0215 DOHA 0225 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 LAHORE 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0645 BAHRAIN 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0740 RAS AL KHAIMA 0745 DUBAI 0750 SALALAH 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 ISLAM ABBAD 0830 DOHA 0835 KARACHI 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 TRIVANDRUM 0915 MADRAS 0915 LAHORE 0930 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 MANILA 0955 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1205 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 JAIPUR 1220 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1255 LAHORE 1315 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 BEIRUT 1415 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 AMMAN 1440 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 SHARJAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 ABU DHABI 1640 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 KARACHI 1810 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

ETD

ETA

ETD

TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015

C11

EXTRA

Unreleased songs of Atif Aslam set to be unveiled this year

B O L LY W O O D

Katrina, Sonam all set to grace Cannes red carpet ACTRESS Katrina Kaif, who is set for her maiden outing at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, will not only walk on the red carpet on the fest’s opening day, but will also do so the following day. The Bang Bang! star will make her presence on the red carpet on May 13 and 14. Her fellow L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador Sonam Kapoor will grace the red carpet of the prestigious festival on May 16 and 18, read a statement.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will complete 14 years at Cannes with L’Oréal Paris and will walk on the red carpet on May 17 and 20. As far as Hollywood is concerned, Naomi Watts will also attend Cannes on May 13 and 14. Actress Fan Bing Bing will accompany The Ring star on May 13 and 14 and so will Julianne Moore. Singer-TV personality Cheryl Cole will make her Cannes appearance on May 15, actress Jane Fonda on May 16.

Dhanush on the lookout for the ‘right’ Bollywood script HE PICKED unconventional roles to venture into Hindi filmdom debuting as an obsessive lover in Raanjhanaa and a dumb and mute person in his second Bollywood outing Shamitabh. Now actor Dhanush says he is waiting for the right script to come his way. “I’m waiting for the next script. So, lets see when the right script comes,” Dhanush told IANS.The actor was in the capital to receive the National Film award for his co-production Kaaka Muttai. The Tamil drama, which narrates the tale of two children and their journey to get their first bite of pizza, won the award in the Best Children’s Film category.

No writer is bigger than Shakespeare: Bhardwaj HIS LOVE for Shakespeare’s classics is evident from his movies like Maqbool and Haider, and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj says Shakespeare is one of the best writers in the literary world. “There is no writer bigger than Shakespeare,” Bhardwaj said at the red carpet of the 62nd National Film Awards ceremony late on Sunday. Haider won the Best Male Playback Singer for Sukhwinder Singh for the song Bismil; Best Dialogues and Music Direction for director Bhardwaj; Best Choreography for Norway-based Sudesh Adhana; and Best Costume Designer award for Dolly Ahluwalia. -IANS

The popular Pakistani crooner hasn’t released any album since ‘Meri Kahani’ (2008) despite having a library of 150 songs

T

he ‘Tere bin’ crooner says the trend has now shifted from albums to singles and music lovers prefer downloading from online platforms to purchasing physical copies from brick-and-mortar stores.

“All these years — I’ve composed my music as well. I have a complete library — a library of 150 songs at the moment. I haven’t released them because the business model has completely changed,” Atif, who made his Bollywood singing debut with Woh lamhe in the 2005 film Zeher, told IANS. “I’m again trying to do independent music now. I’m working on a couple of songs. I will release them by the end of this year. They are not going to be an album — just singles. That’s the trend now,” added the Lahorebased star, who was in India for the Royal Stag MTV Bollyland multi-city concerts.

Consisting of youth anthems like Aadat and Bheegi yaadein, Jal Pari released in Pakistan in 2004. Two years later, his Doorie album hit the stores in India too and after Meri Kahani, his fans — whom he fondly calls aadeez — have been waiting patiently for the rocker to unveil his new collection of self-composed tracks.

“You don’t want to waste your effort. You have to follow certain rules and regulations and business model. You don’t run them.

As far as creativity is concerned, of course, I can have power — but

Launched in Bollywood

by Mahesh Bhatt, the singer also hopes to work with the renowned Indian filmmaker and his team again after ‘Zeher’ and ‘Kalyug’

I can’t run the whole business,” said the former Indian label Tips Music artist.

“Not too many people buy CDs now. They are just into downloading and they need a gap of about a month or so for the next song because they get tired of the album.

“They (listeners) don’t want to hear the same sort of music and there is so much music happening at the moment —so, they don’t have time,” added the 32-year-old, who isn’t “in favour of remixes” and likes “organic music”.

While his fans have to wait for his original work till the yearend, a new single titled Zindagi aaraha hoon main, featuring Bollywood’s budding actor Tiger Shroff, will be launched soon.

Talking about the new track, Atif said: “It’s not a preachy song.

It’s just about how you enjoy your life — whatever you are doing, just enjoy yourself.”

Since his arrival on the music scene in 2004, he has also delivered many heart-touching Bollywood songs like Jeena jeena and Pehli nazar mein, and has featured in most of the videos too.

Has he — with droopy eyes and an infectious smile — ever thought of acting in Bollywood?

“I might act in a Bollywood film. I’m listening to quite a few scripts now, but nothing has intrigued me so far. Let’s see — I probably could do anything other than chocolate boy kind of roles,” said Atif, who acted in Pakistani drama movie Bol (2011).

Launched in Bollywood by Mahesh Bhatt, the singer also hopes to work with the renowned Indian filmmaker and his team again after Zeher and Kalyug (2005).

“I love the Bhatt company.

I’ve always thanked them for introducing me to India and they’ve been very kind,” said the musician, whose elder brother Shahbaz Aslam often designs for the star.

Also known for sporting chic clothes, Atif gives credit to Shahbaz for his sartorial taste. And like him, the younger brother wants Shahbaz to showcase his talent in India.

“If there is a demand for it (Shahbaz’s work), I would love to help him in opening a store in India,” said Atif.-IANS

C1 2

TUE S DAY, MAY 5, 2 015

EXTRA BRIEFS

Scientists think Internet is on the brink of collapse THE INTERNET is heading towards a ‘capacity crunch’ and could reach its limit in just eight years, say scientists. The cables and fibre optics that relay information to our laptops, smartphones and tablets will have reached their limit within eight years, and fibre optics can take no more data from a single optical fibre, scientists warned. “At the current usage rate, all of a country’s power supply could be consumed by Internet use in just 20 years,” scientists said. Leading engineers, physicists and telecoms firms have been summoned to a meeting at London’s Royal Society later this month.

Facebook opens up its Internet.org for developers

FLYING SKILLS OF BATS INSPIRE NEW-AGE AIRCRAFT Did you know that bats have sensors in their wings that help them perform those mind-boggling mid-flight stunts?

T

his unique array of sensory receptors in the wing provides feedback to a bat during flight, finds a new study.

Understanding in detail the mechanisms behind bats’ flight can help build the next generation of fighter aircrafts, researchers say.

“Humans cannot currently build aircrafts that match the agility of bats, so a better grasp of these processes could inspire new aircraft design and new sensors for monitoring airflow,” said co-senior study author Ellen Lumpkin from the Columbia University.

The findings also suggest that neurons in the bats’ brain respond to incoming airflow and touch signals, triggering rapid adjustments in wing position to

optimise flight control.

“This study provides evidence that the sense of touch plays a key role in the evolution of powered flight in mammals,” Lumpkin said.

“This research also lays the groundwork for understanding what sensory information bats use to perform such remarkable feats when flying through the air and catching insects,” the researcher added. Bats must rapidly integrate different types of sensory information to catch insects and avoid obstacles while flying.

Recently, the researchers discovered that microscopic wing hair stimulated by airflow, are critical for flight behaviours such as turning and controlling speed.

But until now, it was not known

Humans cannot currently build aircrafts that match the agility of bats, so a better grasp of these processes could inspire new aircraft design and new sensors for monitoring airflow

how bats use tactile feedback from their wings to control flight behaviours. The bat wing has a unique distribution of hair follicles and touch-sensitive receptors, and different parts of the wing are equipped to send different types of sensory information to the brain, the researchers said.

“While sensory cells located between the ‘fingers’ could respond to skin stretch and changes in wind direction, another set of receptors associated with hairs could be specialised for detecting turbulent airflow during flight,” said co-author Susanne Sterbing-D’Angelo from the Johns Hopkins University.

The study was published in the journal Cell Reports. -IANS

FACEBOOK on Monday opened up its Internet.org for developers to easily create services that integrate with its site. “Our goal with Internet.org is to work with as many developers and entrepreneurs as possible to extend the benefits of connectivity to diverse, local communities. To do this, we’re going to offer services through Internet.org in a way that’s more transparent and inclusive,” Facebook said in a post. This decision by the international giant comes at a time when the entire nation is debating on net neutrality. The company said: “We’re building an open platform and anyone who meets these guidelines will be able to participate.”

German researchers develop invisibility cloak A GROUP of German researchers has developed a Harry Potter-type portable invisibility cloak that can effectively shield objects while being small enough to use in classrooms.

The cloak works using diffused scattered light and like frosted window panes, it lets light in but hides the source of light. By scattering light, the material slows down the propagation speed of light waves through the medium. The light can then be sped up to make up for the longer path length around the hidden object. “Our cloak takes advantage of the much lower effective propagation speed in light-scattering media,” said Robert Schittny, from Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, who led the project. -IANS

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FOR RENT

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Contact 92158031

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Contact: 93221054, 99229263, 95215289

2BHK flat available for rent, near Hamriya roundabout Contact-99366191

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Industrial land for rent in Wadi Kabir 7000 Sq mtrs.

Contact 99354340

Flat at Darsait. contact 99326879 3 bedroom flat for rent in Al Hamria Contact: 99341112

Showroom for rent 200 m in Al Misfah, Bousher facing the main road. Contact 95202430 New building, residential apartments and offices, in Al Khoud Souq.

Contact 95202340 Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence.contact 99369081 /99142314 2BHK with split AC in W. K behind Sana Fashion. contact 96708000 Independent rooms in Qurum /Al Hail. Contact 95529970 1BHK, 2 toilets at South Ghubra include E/W and AC split with fully furnished OMR 350/-.

Contact 92811110 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 1, 2, 3, BHK flats. Contact: 97799175 Ground floor flat in Mabela South with 2 big room & living room, 3 toilets, kitchen, small store & hall.

Contact 93295953 6B/R villa in Al Ghubra / 3B/R flat in Ruwi Mumtaz / 4B/R (2flats bldg) in Al Khoudh.

Contact 99776071/ 99057348 2 BHK Muttrah behind Oman house. Contact 95915154

Furnished A/C Office for rent in MBD with Meeting Room and other facilities. Rent R.O.200/ per month.

Contact: 99232271/99624180.

One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra with attach and common bathroom. For Indian family.

Contact - 92322096 1/3 BHK Flat Ghubrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through whatsapp or call 99376454 Al Khuwair (17) a room and hall, kitchen, toilet with ACs ground floor owner. Contact 99385553 2 bedrooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Ruwi behind Boys school.

Contact 92584715 / 24700120 1BHK flat near star cinema with split A/C 230/- O.R. Contact 99358589/ 97079146/ 95570288 Studio flat Wadi Kabeer 160/-O.R. Contact - 99358589 / 97079146/ 95570288 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 New flat at Wadi Kabir near Indian school 1bedroom + 1 sitting, 2 attached bathrooms and big kitchen.

Contact 98011224

First floor one unit flat 3 bed, 3 bathrooms, hall, sitting, dining at Ghubra South. Contact 98087644 2 BHK (with split AC) residential flat at Honda road. Contact 98087644 / 99795241 1B/Room flat for rent in Darsait near Indian School R.O 190/-.

Contact 99224702 Covered space available near Misfah INDL, NCPT 100sq, mtr, ideal for ware house. Contact 93965831 Fully furnished school for rent, with license or not and 1BHK near Al Fair super market Al Khoud Souq.

Contact 95490049/91290464 Furnished flats for rent in Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly.

Contact 97819981 / 93593336

Flats and villa for rent in North Ghubra, the first line on 18 November Street opposite of chedi hotel suitable for offices.

Contact 96130361

2BHK available Ghubra near Indian School, 1BHK Mumtaz Ruwi.

Contact 99269751

New 3 bedroom flats split AC, attached toilets available behind Kims Oman Hospital. contact 95225662

New furnished flat at Amerat 3BHK, 3Toilets RO230 pm.

Contact 95113797

Room with attached bathroom Al Khuwair 33 area.

Contact 96059431

Shop for rent Misk house bldg Walja area near Honda road. Contact 99312674 / 96917934

1BHK R.O 250, Bldg # 1619 Way # 1322 adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait.contact 99476728 / 24705453

1 Bedroom bachelors, sharing K & T in Al Khuwair R.O 100/-.

Contact 95154331 Room main road, Al Khuwair R.O 110/-. Contact 97799175

For rent flats, shops, villas in Al Hail, Mawalih, Ruwi, Khuwair, special prices, fast service.

Contact 98588240 / 24487033

Labour camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99797422 Family flats in Wadi Kabir, MBD, Ruwi, Muttrah, AL Khuwair, Al Hail and Seeb. Contact 96055889 /95250300 / 92125648 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms with parking area near Tuimur Mosque.

Contact 99366624 1 Bedroom flat in Azaiba. Contact 99385835/99428143 Flats shops and store for rent in MBD area, Honda rood and Rex Road. Contact 92433127 / 97293708/ 95150632 Ghubra near Al Maha hotel & Indian school (2BHK with 5 split ac units).

Contact 94652485/ 99273774 / 99202278 Flat for rent 1 & 2 bedroom available behind Zaker Mall Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99530405 For rent 3 industrial land. Contact 92702891/ 95490842 1BHK with A/C in Ghubra 250/- R.O. Contact 97799175

New 2B/R flats with split unit D/C & free Internet & office space available at Al Khuwair near Mustafa Sultan Philips showroom.

Contact 99460330 2BHK at Azaiba, 2 bedrooms, 1 hall, dining, 3 bath rooms.

Contact 99224748 / 99425665 Big flat in Al Khuwair 33, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sitting, dining, family lounge, kitchen, store with A/C, rent 550, 000/- OMR. Contact 97278169 2BHK at Honda road, 2 bedrooms, 1 hall, 2 bath rooms. Contact 99224748 / 99332297 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly.

Electricity and boundary wall will be provided. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Residential land for sale 21000 sqm, best for housing complex at Al Harm – Barka, opp to Khimji logistic. Contact 99438397 2BHK Flats for families at Azaiba next to Al Meera Hyper Market.

Contact : 96457757 2 BHK & studio flat at Darsait 1SM. Contact 99024730 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526 Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499

T U E S DAY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

BUYING / SELLING Used household & office furniture and electronic items.

Contact 99834373, 97102699

Expat leaving, furniture for sale.

Contact 995224702 For running beauty saloon for sale.

Contact 97786792 / 96914627 Restaurant for sale Al Hail North.

Contact 94148970 / 94148972

Used Furniture of Ready made showroom for Sale.contact 24704370, 99798452 (Ashwin) Port cabin new & refurbished – porta cabin for sale & rent.

Contact 96723468 / 97775501 / 97775502 House hold shop / Empty shop for sale Al Hail Zam Zam line.

Contact 97039497 Road Safety concrete barriers for sale for best quote available in sizes 2 meters and 3 meters.

Contact : 94546200 Solid metal scrap & scaffoldings/ jacks for immediate sale. Contact 94652485 / 99273774 / 99202278.

Fabrication machinery & tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. Contact 94652485 / 99273774 / 99202278.

Furnished office for sale at Walja.

Contact 99024272 / 95604205 A Building in CBD opposite to the central bank of 3100 Sq mtr built up area of expected rent of 205 K per annum for 1 million 350 thousands.

Contact 95330200 The used household items like Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Sofa Set, Dining Table & Chairs and other items are available for disposal on “as is where is basis”. Interested parties are requested to contact GSM 95475591 for further details.

Barber shop for sale in Al Khuwair good running business & located in main location, location near AL Aktham restaurant.

Contact: +968-99616650 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir. First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 1 Million. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Bousher: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 2 residential Lands together, one 610 and the other 600 sq mtrs, in Al Haram on way to Barka. OMR 49 Thousand both. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Restaurant for sale well running with open area and good parking area. 3 new clearance also in Wadi Kabeer near Mars hyper market.

Contact 99656863

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing for non-cooking Executive bachelor in CBD area with free advance deposit. Contact 95934642 Furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking Executive bachelor.

Contact 94412557

NRI

BUSINESS

Single room & AC attached bath at Mumtaz area. Contact 95212017 & 93103337

5.1 cents land with a house at Tripunithura hill palace for immediate sale. Contact 0091 7736764525 Email: utham@yahoo.com

Building of 2floors in Al Hail, each 3Bedrooms, 3bathrooms, Sitting room, lounge, kitchen, store 92817777

56 cents plot for sale at NH 47 Eramallour Ernakulam – Cheethala road. Contact 0091 7736764525 Email: utham@yahoo.com

Road construction Demolition Company invites equipments for long term on rental basis. 10 Nos. Tipper 18 Cu. M, 5 Nos. 3 Axle tippers, 5 Nos. Excavators, Showel, Roller & Grader. Payment - 60 days.

Contact 99454425

Fully furnished single room with all amenities available behind Sheraton.

Contact 92162623

Residential land for sale in Chennai Kundrathur and Poonamaalee, we construct house in your budget.

Contact 98753366

Sharing accommodation available opp. to oman house at Muttrah, for executive bachelors.

Contact 92506852 Independent room available for Executive/small family.

Contact 968 96996179 Single room available at Hamriyah.

Contact 92390266

Sharing accommodation available Wadi Kabir attached room with sharing, kitchen. Contact 96575016 1B/R available for bachelors in REX ROAD, Ruwi. contact 99889590 Sharing acc. Available in Muttrah behind Oman house.

Contact 99354340

3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Sharing family accommodation in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Room for rent in flat for bachelor / bachelors near ISWK primary wing, Way 6930 rent 100 OMR per month. Contact 97687055 / 98001645

558 Sq mtrs residential land in Barka (Al Jenainah) near Lulu and near to school. OMR 32 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Beauty parlour for sale.

Serious buyers.

Contact 99609265 Shop for sale Al Khoudh.

Contact 92820541

Accommodation available for South Indian family, one bedroom with attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160

ACC. WANTED Wanted a family sharing accommodation for Keralite in Ruwi area.

Please contact: 92558541 Near Ghala / azaiba, require sharing accommodation for executive bachelor contact : 99138352

L.L.C upgrade and formation of foreign investor company.

Contact 95586937 6.5 cents north & east faced prime plot for sale at Coimbatore – gated community. Most of the plot owners are NRIs. Contact 95277505 For sale 3BHK 1205’ builtup at Goregaon Mumbai. +96899850753 2pm – 4pm.

MATRIMONIAL Kerala Syro Malabar Catholic girl 28 years working in MOH Salalah seeks suitable alliance from Keralite professionals in Muscat.

Contact 99436476 / 99357901 Wanted Groom- Alliance invited from a middle class Hindu Nair girl 20 years, 5.5 H/ 45 kgs/ Thiruvathira/ BBA. Currently staying with family in Oman. Contact 96283490 / 95273175 / Email – tharayilrk@gmail.com We are Muslim family seeking alliance for our son interested families.

Contact 97664009

M.V. FOR SALE

Local company based in Ghala requires business development Manager with good experience and driving license.Contact 99166930 / 93782735 Software development based on requirements such as: Web development & cloud computing, SAP implementation & services. Android App development networking.

Contact 97423932 Looking for a genuine investor for an IT company. Good prospects.

Contact 99329216 Email: sales@aditsllc.com A construction company since 2008 with 40 employees is looking for a construction engineer as business partner. Contact 99373727 Required business Researcher. contact 99229700 Email: kjaaraimi@hotmail.com Business Consultant, feasibility study. Contact 99229700 We have some companies for rent with the following activities: press publishing & advertising, information consultancy, organizing event management & conference, real estate, landscaping, maintenance etc Contact 93946622 / 91408005

TRANSPORTATION Pick & Drop any time.

Contact 97014786

2010 Camry GCC 94000 KM, automatic, valid insurance price RO 3700. Contact 91322757

For sale 18 Ton Mitsubishi 2014.

Contact 95292503 call between 5 pm -10 pm

Mercedes delivery van 2002.

Contact 99755644

Freezer Trucks Volvo Scania Mercedes Benz 10 & 12 & 18 Ton & 40 Ft good condition. Contact 99890151 / 99814635

Hyundai Elantra model 2015 km 37712, 1.6 cc, 10 months used, price 4650. Contact 99170202 Nissan Sunny 2007, 1.6, automatic, good condition km 1,48000.

Contact 99781671 Toyota Camry 2010, 55000km full option white colour. Contact 99738373 Mazda 3 model KMS 140,000 fully automatic single driven company maintained.

Contact 92302159 MAZDA CX9 39000KM 2012 Grey Color No.1 FULL OPTION for sale.

Contact 99752695

Expat owned car for sale in Sohar.

Nissan-Altima 3.5V-SL (Topend).

2013 Model, bought Jan 2014. Only 25000 km. As good as showroom condition. Contact +968 97752903.

2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. contact 97000155 or 92688692 Kia Rio, Maroon Colour, 7300 kms Done, Very good condition, Insurance valid till March 2016, Price OMR 3800/- Contact 95793970 Land Cruiser 2012. #99336093

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 98505294

Transportation. Contact 94087276

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Transportation. Contact 99664703

Transportation. Contact 99508282

Transport to ISWK. Contact 93172589

D4

T U E S D AY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Wanted urgently Full Time Cook for an Omani family Salary R.O.250/-

SALES / MARKETING Media company need for Salesman having drive license + car. Contact 94216866 /94221420 Email: magicfingerprint1@gmail.com

Kindly send your CV to

Software company looking for Telesales Executives – Female, with minimum 2 years of experience. Suitable candidates can send their resume to omanerpsales@gmail.com

alraid@alraidgroup.com

or contact 24567070

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

TOURS Wanted an experienced person in reservations and ticketing using airlines Sabre system for a new travel agency; please send your CV to sunairways1@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANT

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

Urgently required: Junior Accountant and Store keeper with 3 years experience in building construction and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Required urgently qualified and skilled Accountant having suitable experience in accounts / finalization / audit management and knowledge in tally for a reputed express industry. Email: info@atsglobex.com

ADMIN Young experienced English speaking telephone operator wanted.

Contact 99466062

ARCHITECT Urgently required an Architect with experience. Contact email: engineering_district@yahoo.com

BEAUTICIAN Female beautician required.

Contact 94050001

CATERING Shawarma /BBQ/Tandoor /helper wanted. Contact 95529970

EDUCATION A school requires teachers for English, Science, Math, IT and Science Laboratory technician minimum requirements masters degree IELTS (band6).

Contact send CV to: 96606121.

Email: fred-cate2@yahoo.com

ENGI./ELECT./TECH..

Required Quantity Surveyor for Salalah, min 5 years experience.

Email: hussainbaomar2@gmail.com Urgently required a SERVICE ENGINEER with B.Tech or Diploma for a heavy equipment trading firm.

Applicants should have 3-5 years experience. Apply to jobtechoman@gmail.com Available heavy equipment Mechanic Driver’s Operators Civil Engineers with Oman GCC license ready.

Medical and hundred helpers.

Contact: 98408488 / 97784397 Email: alkubratrading@gmail.com We are looking for the post of diesel mechanic -2, thermo king mechanic -2, denting worker -1, Painter -1, Marketing & Sales -1 (with Oman light license), GCC experience 3 years clearance are available. Contact : 99890151 / 95160851/ 99814635 Email: hiralal.rajgor@yahoo.com Required Civil Foreman with electrical/plumbing 5 yrs experience with Oman driving license.

Contact 94652485 / 99273774 / 99202278.

Road construction Demolition Company invites equipments for long term on rental basis. 10 Nos. Tipper 18 Cu. M, 5 Nos. 3 Axle tippers, 5 Nos. Excavators, Showel, Roller & Grader. Payment - 60 days. Contact 99454425 Required heavy Driver, Operators for Excavator, Grader, Dozer & Showel. Contact : 99454425

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in banking operational, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075

ENGI./ELECT./TECH..

Looking for civil engineer with Diploma from India, Pakistan Indonesia or any of these Southern Asia countries to work with small company in Ibri, Oman.

Contact 99251428 email: almarshoudi4@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Wanted for immediate appointment HSE officers - degree in safety engineering, Electrical site engineers- degree in electrical engineering, linemen class Ctransmission – basic qualification.

Gulf exp is preferred for all posts.

Apply with bio data to – hr_oman1@yahoo.com immediately

MEDICAL General Practitioner, Dentist and Pharmacist with MOH license and NOC required for a reputed Specialised center in Muscat forward your CV to alqaimtrd@gmail.com or fax to 24571119 Urgent! Omani healthcare company looking for a smart proactive marketing executive cum product specialist, with strong English communication skills and clinical microbiology/biotechnology background, for medical equipment division. Omani driving license is a must. Candidates with experience in laboratory diagnostics will be given preference. Mail your CV to: vacancymedeq@gmail.com Aesthetic and laser center in Oman seeking full time dermatologist with experience in cosmetology (Botox Fillers) good English as MOH license required. Package upon the experience and skills. For more information. Contact 00968 95233442 email: history@omantel.net.om Urgently required qualified two male home Nurse.

Email: jvacancy05@gmail.com Immediate placement ( with or without MOH) A. Pharmacist 3 nos B. Asst.pharmacist - 2 nos Contact Tel.99338219 , 93240949 Urgently required, General Practitioner (Male), Gynecologist, Pediatrician, LAB, Technician, Philippine, nurses, marketing executive for a reputed medical center Salalah.

Email: hrmdimc2010@gmail.com Urgently required Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and endodontist Female Staff nurse, Pharmacist and endodntist with MOH License/ Prometric exam passed with 60% and above. Contact 24780088, 97374459 Email : karamadental@gmail.com Wanted female Gynecologist, female Staff Nurse -2 no, Dentist, Dental Technician with MOH license for Al Saadi specialized Medical Centre in Mussana.

Contact 92025033

MEDICAL Wanted Nurse for polyclinic in Mabella South ph 97339965

ACCA affiliate & B.Com hons with NOC, morc than 5 years of experience in accounting & finance looking for a suitable job car join immediately. Contact 97012146 Indian female B.Com PGDCA, Tally -9, 10 years exp in Accounts & HR at Oman. Contact 93726921 / 99058722

SALES / MARKETING Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com A leading software company urgently requires marketing person with minimum 4-5 years experience in Oman market with good communication skills and driving license - Omani / expats with release. Fax 24564459 Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com Reputed firm in Oman is looking out for experienced Sales Executives with driver’s license (knowledge in building materials will be added advantage) and an experienced Secretary. Please forward your CV along with recent photograph to: Email: sivakumar649@hotmail.com A company at Muscat looking for a senior salesman of building materials who has minimum 3 years experience & NOC as well.

Contact no 93991932 A reputed media advertising & publishing company looking for female Sales Executives. Send CV to job08080@gmail.com or Contact 91408005 A REPUTED TRADING & CONTRACTING CO. requires urgently Sales Executive (male) having at least 3 years experience of building material products specially in paints in Oman, with valid driving license.

Send CV through Fax 24495411 or email: info@styletrading.net Required Salesman for a press and preferably if he has valid driving license. Kingdom of Creative Press.

Contact 99520777 Email: alibda.d@gmail.com Requires a Sales and Marketing person (Female) for Home linen Company with minimum experience. Please send your CV on e-mail zeyanaalharmaly@yahoo.com A leading Marble & Granite Trading company looking for Experienced Sr. Sales Executive with D/L. Send CV with details : jskanchan01@gmail.com immediately.

Wanted young and energetic sales executive having Oman work experience good communication skill and valid D/L. Email: info@mwpoman.net Required IT, sales / marketing executive driving license Oman 3-5 years experience.

Contact 99329216 Email: sales@aditsllc.com

30 yrs Indian B.Com 7 yrs experience looking for job in accounts, Admin department. Contact 91935828 Indian Chartered Accountant post qualification experience 22 years working in Muscat since July 2011.

Senior position seeks suitable change.

NOC available. Contact 94201290 Email: chakjain37@yahoo.com M.Com, CA (Article ship), 15 years Gulf experience looking for suitable position in finance & account on visit visa, valid up to 10/07/2015. Contact: 97135855 / 94097305 Email: altabhossain2008@hotmail.com Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant 3 month successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154 Masters Criminology with experience of 1.5 years in Litigation & Recovery department with Standard Chartered Bank in Karachi is looking for a job. Contact # 94677814 Indian male management (banking & finance) worked with multinational bank skill in MS Office SQL etc.

Contac 94693310 MBA (finance) Indian female currently under family visa B/B in Muscat.

BBA, MBA studied in Muscat (Birla) 2 years experience in Oman, having Oman D/L. Contact 96504080 Part time Accountant with 15 years experience in accounts, finance tax, audit management.

Contact 95857199 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available.

Contact 96209331 Indian male MBA having more than 5 years experience in Indian automotive finance construction having valid UAE, D/L currently on visit visa seeking suitable job.

Contact 96787992 Email: reeyasoceekey@gmail.com Master in economics having 9 years banking experience in finance, operations and audit with Bank Al falah Pakistan, looking for suitable job.

Contact 91960412 artaqvi@hotmail.com India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment. contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant, Indian male 10 years experience, 6 years in Oman with Oman driving license, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973 Indian male MBA finance, 6 years experience finance & accounting, specially in Oil & Gas now on visit visa. Contact 94327063 Email: shabab3939@yahoo.com Indian female qualification BBA Finance exp 7 years in Media Advertising (Branch Manager) looking job in Media Accounts / HR /Admin.

Contact 91342861 Email: indrabhushan23@gmail.com Education M.Com Finance experience 4 years, 7 months, 3 other course IELETS British Council, software ERP Oracle Tally ERP designation Chief Accountant.

Contact +968 96744752 Email: rehmanmushtaq786@gmail.com Accountant 35 years India male 8 years experience in accounts up to finalization & Admin with Oman D/L. Contact 92838233 Email: salihkkc@gmail.com Sri Lankan, male (28 yrs), 8 years experience in banking and finance / Administration sector seeks a suitable post presently on family visit visa. Contact 91321872 and 99279468 (family).

ADMIN/HR Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 Indian Female, 34 yrs, B.Com, Knowledge in MS Office & Tally, exp in accounting & admin seek suitable placement 99199710/96744965 Indian female Post Graduate with 5 years experience in HR & Admin looking for good opportunity.

Contact 94692244 Omani experience in the legal, administrative, public relations, education. Contact 97243393 Email: mwm3003@gmail.com Female Expat, 10 yrs exp in Oman with valid driving License as a project co ordinator, tenders documentation, Admin & HR.NOC available, looking for suitable job.

Tel no.93285538.

Email:shabana1405@gmail.com Over 15 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598 Indian female graduate 7 years work experience admin operation retail customer service looking for suitable job. Contact 94231020

Indian male 26 Years, MBA Finance with 3 years experience in Accounting Field, on visit visa, looking for an opening - Contact 96435141

B.A graduate with 8 years experience (2 years in Oman) in admin / business development and sustainably (green buildings) on visit visa. Contact 91626216

Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com

Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement.

Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

Finance / Accounts Manager 12 years experience at senior position in leading companies 9 years in Oman CPA – USA& modern accounting certificate from AUC. Contact 99139926

Indian male, 30 yrs, MSW, total 6.7 yrs experience 2.5 yrs in Qatar as Welfare and Recreation Coordinator with an MNC seeking suitable man management jobs in top – notch hotel / restaurants, Labour camps etc . Contact 97460880 Email: jjkam8@yahoo.com

Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780 Senior Accountant Indian male 43 years B.Com Graduate + DCA. Total 15 years exp, 7 years in Oman, 4 years in Bahrain knowledge in tally 9, Peachtree & MS Office having NOC, seeks placement.Contact 97060826 Email: tomnedum71@yahoo.co.in Indian CA,( Finance Manager ) More than 8 Yrs Exp ( Oman, UAE, India) in Accounts, Audit, Finance, seeking suitable senior position in Muscat, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available , Contact casmart007@gmail. com/98707434

ADMIN/HR Female 26, 3 yrs exp in HR & Admin, with Oman D/L, looking for a suitable opening. Contact 98236033

ARCHITECTURE Architect - Female, Indian. 8 years of total experience (6 years in Oman), looking for suitable placement.

GSM: 95230293. email: dhanooty@gmail.com

AUTO CAD Indian male draft man, 3 D visualiser, 18 month experience in Oman driving license. Contact 96285891 / 98414107 Email: prasadvv4u@ gmail.com Indian male 25 years diploma Auto CAD draughtsman interior design 5 years exp here on visit visa looking for job.

Contact 98360268/99881264

CATERING Young Bangladeshi male 26 knowing coffee shop work as waiter or sandwich maker or juice maker, presently in Bangladesh if any employer need. Contact with his brother 92278538

T U E S DAY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER Light driver available, 4 years experience in Oman language English, Hindi & Arabic. Contact 96162027 Looking for job light duty driver well experience in Oman. #96749970 Need job LTV exp driver Pakistani.

Contact 94436276 Driver looking for job exp 15 years.

Contact 95904566 Light driver, 4 years exp need job.

Contact 94208089 Bangladeshi male looking for driving job. Contact 98066704 Pakistani male Light Duty Driver, past 4 years at Oman.# 96134311 White car with driver.

Contact 96771598 Looking for job light duty driver and office boy experience 2 years.

Contact 95789583 Driver looking for job. Contact 99748264 Indian male looking for driver job.

Contact 93051674 Driver looking for job. contact 94435912 Light Vehicle Driver requires job in any transportation / private co.

Contact 96015617 Light duty driver 2 years experience in Oman looking for job. #93131542

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian female, 24 yrs, B.Tech Engineer excellent academic qualification 2 yrs experience at IBM India, SAP- ABAP, currently under dependent visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 99450960 Email: sajyodine@gmail.com Indian male, mechanical Engineering, two years experience in fabrication and erection of heavy structures as a project Engineer now on visiting visa seek suitable placement. Contact 92151818 Email: krishnakumarkk9@gmail.com Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Expatriate male MBA marketing and engineering working in Oman having valid D/L available to join immediately with NOC and release.

Contact 94553097 Bachelor degree B.SC (Honours) Telecommunication Engineering CCNA , CISCO, Certified network associate experience installation operation maintenance, ATMS & Electronics, Surveillance Security systems Nationality Sudanese age 25.

Contact: 92617282 Male Civil Engineer (B.Sc) having 10 years Gulf experience 2 years in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact 99561877 Email: zahid_ruet@hotmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Indian- B.E.-MBA having 25 years Experience. Last 12 years in Oil & Gas Sector in Oman. Indian Male ,4 year experience as Safety Officer with NEBOSH currently on visit visa.

Contact 9565910,email: yadavchandan287@gmail.com Marine Engineer, Filipino, 33 years old, seeking for suitable job in Oman with 8 years work experience.

Contact Number-96627685 B.Tech mechanical Engineer + QAQC, NDT (level-2) done hvac course and work at HVACs project Engineer seeks job with a year of exp on visit. Contact 98235575 Email: sajinclement12@gmai.com Sudanese fresh Graduate with a degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Malaysia fluent in Arabic (Native), English (IELTS 7.5) and intermediate in German.

Contact 95667610 BE Civil 35 yrs experience with consultant seeking senior level position in project management with client consultant structural Engineering background NOC available. Contact 95455681 Email: sm_comp@hotmail.com Electrical engineer (construction) diploma with 11 years experience (2 years GCC + 9 years Indian job seeking from India. Contact 0091-994309844 Email: ganesh_dectrical@yahoo.com B.Tech biomedical Engineering having Omani driving license.

Contact 91352248

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male 24 years, Mechanical Engineer,pdms.1 yr experience in pipeline,16years in oman seeking immediate placement #95775742 B.E (Mechanical), Indian male 8 years experience (HVAC – 4 years, operation / production / maintenance, 4 years) looking suitable position. Contact 96696190 Email: faisalmnz@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Indian male 18 yrs hotel experience Dubai procurement logistics stores suitable position NOC available.

Contact + 968 96573591 Email: namraj1973@rediffmail.com

IT Network Engineer,Female,CCNA,3 yrs exp specializing in DHCP,DNS,NTP also desktop level 3 assistance in different OS.94525630 / 93215372 Indian male 22 yrs fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites. email: jlaxmimenon@gmail.com Contact 00919567722270

Driver looking for job. #92137431 Light duty driver looking job experience 4years Oman.

Contact 96088707

DESIGNER 8 years of experience as a Web Graphic designer looking for a part time job in a reputed company after 4 pm contact 97276004 email info@studiodesignz.com Interior Designer Syrian Nationality one year experience in design.

Contact 95246737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com Female architect bachelor, 4 yrs experience (internal & external design, project coordinate, office management) with valid Oman D/L NOC available. Contact 94348074

DOMESTIC HELPER Lady from Mumbai available for household work only in Al Khuwair.

Contact 95896415 House maid looking for full time job Sri Lankan. Contact 99865938

EDUCATION Indian female Graduate 26 yrs having 3 years exp in teaching seeks a suitable position in the field of biology. Contact 99341926 Indian female B.Ed M.SC Organic Chemistry 3 years experience looking for suitable job. Contact 91006851 Indian female M.A, B. Ed professionally qualified currently on visit visa, seeks suitable placement in the field of education. Contact 96753257 Email: sreechitrarmohan2@gmail. com Indian female 32 yrs, BSc, MCA , 3+ years teaching experience in India and 3 yrs exp in technical side in Muscat, Oman seeks suitable placement in teaching. Contact 96124929 Bioinformatics Lecturer: Master Degree, 5+ years experience from FRANCE & INDIA as a Lecturer in Bioinformatics and Research, looking for suitable position.

Indian, Male on visit visa, Contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com B.Ed & BCA Indian female with 5 yrs exp in teaching primary section in Dubai currently looking for appropriate placement in teaching.

Email: rani_sweet786@live.com contact: 97384206 Sudanese male BSC electronic Engineer 2 years experience in GSM, 10 years experience in oil industry (Drilling & Measurements).

Contact 91198104 Email: husseintalat@hotmail.com Sudanese BSC industrial Engineer experience 4 yrs in QA /QC and 8 yrs in production. Contact 94041960 Email: mekkimedani@hotmail.com / mekkimedani78@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer (B.Tech) looking for suitable vacancies, Now in Oman on visit visa. Contact 93293597.

Email: subinjohn26@gmail.com Business Development /Sales.

Looking opening in Oil Gas Trading/ Drilling Service Companies as GM/ Country Manager/ Business Development Manager. gmbdm2015oilandgas@gmail.com; Contact -94688594.

Indian male 25 B.Tech ( IT) Engineer 3 years experience in networking (MCSE- CCNA) certified currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 91006851 Indian male 25 diploma Civil Engineer 6 years experience in India looking for suitable placement.

Contact 96750429 Indian / male B. E / B. Tech Civil / Site Engineer 3 years D.L. NOC available. Contact 93883136 email:mohammedcivilengineer.mct @gmail.com Iraqi Civil Engineer with more than 25 years experience in (Iraq ,U.A.E. and Oman) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available. Contact 94043735, amin.sarim007@gmail.com Omani 9 years as PRO & 8 years safely HSE Officer with PDO, D/L seek good job. Contact 96996938 Network / system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certifiedwith 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact : 92589502 Email : jeganscareer@gmail.com Indian, M 25 yrs BE mechanical 3 yrs exp in Oil & Gas now on visit visa. Contact 96487013 Email: riarun.007@gmail.com Electronics & Communication Engineer with 14 yrs exp (10+ yrs Oman) experienced in sales & marketing of extra low voltage systems (CCTV, Structured Cabling, PA system, access control etc. Contact 99771815 Email: teledata1978@rediffmail.com Fresh Graduate holder of bachelor degree in mechatronics Engineering from Malaysia, Sudanese holder of a valid driving license, fluent in Arabic and English. Contact 96322507 Civil Engineer 8 years experience estimating and costing good knowledge stabling B.O.Q.S. Contact 97468213 B.Tech, instrumentation Engineer, Indian male with 4 yr experience in EPC and Sales / 2 yr Oman experience having valid Oman driving license. Contact 94145460 Email: jgeevarughese@gmail.com Management professional with 25+ years of gulf ( UAE) experience in operations inventory management supply chain warehouse management with SAP , SBO experience seeking opportunity in Oil & Gas FMCG industrial automobile construction industry.

Contact 97100682 Email: m367.kareem@gmail.com

Project (Electrical) Engineer with BE 10 years of experience (8 years in Oman).Driving license and NOC available. Looking for job.

GSM- 92197288 Civil Engineer Female, 3 yrs experience in structural design, on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact 99195433 Indian Engineer B.Tech & diploma in instrumentation & control having one & half years experience seeking for suitable post. Contact 98873416 Email: afsalp_06@gmail.com Male civil Engineer 6yrs experience 4 yrs in Oman (B.B.S and steel shop drawing prepare, M.Q.C sit management, D, W, M report) with valid Oman D/L NOC available.

Contact 99870370 B.Sc Mechanical Engineering, 17 yrs exp in Oman, 30 yrs exp in production management, erection and maintenance of refineries, stock piling equipments, belt convoying systems structures, power transmission equipments gear boxes Contact 98214442; Email: mohusak@gmail.com Diploma in electronics & Telecom, Engineering with 5 years experience in Engineering & sales, marketing.

Contact 95932219 Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Education +2 Diploma Mechanical Engineering skills 2 C (Non destructive testing) experience 1 year 6 months company GB Engineering Pvt Ltd S.D Engineering pvt ltd.

Position Production Engineer, Production Supervisor.

Contact 99799237 Indian male Instrumentation Engineer having 2 years experience in process instruments, seeks suitable placement. Contact 95954385 Electrical and Electronics Engineer (BE) 1+ year of experience now on visit visa seeking suitable opportunities Email: djnitheesh@gmail.com Contact 99254469 25 yrs (f) B.Tech (Civil) 2 yrs in Oman (QS & Tendering) Estimation.

Contact 91228615 Electrical Engineer: Indian male 29 years having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.

Contact 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

Indian 25 yrs B.Sc computer science 2 yrs exp in computer hardware and networking and CCTV looking for job. Contact 93243372 Indian male 22 years BCA graduate, CISCO Certified Network Associate and COMPTIA A+ (Installing, configuring and troubleshooting). Fresher with good computer proficiency seeking for suitable opportunities.

Ready to do other office routines and work anywhere in Oman. Valid Indian driving license.

Currently on visit visa.

Contact 99704508 / 91258708 Email: chiran280293@gmail.com IT works, IT maintenance (OFC cable splicing) data cable CCTV, works, 5 years, GCC 3 years India job seeking from Indian.#0091-9751761084 Email: spsathiya1@gmail.com Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502 Email: careersjegan@gmail.com IT System Support Engineer,28 Years, Indian male,7.8 years experience,3 years from Oman, NOC available, having driving license, ready to join immediately, Mob : 93551182, E-mail: aniljose4u@gmail.com IT Network and Security Engineer with a master degree, CISCO and Linux red hat certified seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact 99818601

MISCELLANEOUS

Joinery & Interior Manager seeking opportunities Indian male 10 years industry experienced, excellent knowledge in technical line, production, materials and machinery. Good experience in business strategy, well experience in factory setting up. # 93974701 Email: gemct2015@gmail.com

MEDICAL GM/Head of Business with experience in developing and managing group of healthcare companies in Oman actively seeking fresh opportunities in healthcare related companies. Contact 93504997, Email: josephstergin@gmail.com BSc male Nurse with MOH license and NOC on visit visa. #96414215 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Doctors available for immediate placement Internist MBBS, MD with Oman MOH license with NOC and release and a lady Paediatrician. Available immediately. Contact 96276347 nadakkavil1984@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Indian male looking job in Sales & Marketing on visit visa having Qatar experience with driving license.

Contact 96669152 Indian male 10 years experience in Welding Supervisor NDT Technician, MIG Welding specialist seeking suitable job. Contact 96771841 Indian male B.com 24 years, 2 years experience in sales operations in Indian on visit visa. Contact 97032977 Indian male 24 years, B.Com + ACCA level 1 on visit visa seeking for suitable job. Contact 91883811 Sales & marketing professional with 14 years exp in Oman market seeking for a suitable placement.

Immediate release available (NOC).

Contact 92679055 Egyptian male 11 years in five stars international hotels management sales marketing D/L available residency visa. Contact 93577497 Email: elkomy82@hotmail.com Indian male 26 yrs BSC Maths with 5 yrs exp in sales / operations / banking looking for a suitable job currently on visit visa. Contact : 96673159 / 95602012 Graduate Indian male 25 with Good communication skill looking for suitable placemen in sales or marketing field in a reputed organization.

Contact 98558648 Email: risham54@gmail.com Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864

Indian male 26 yrs PGDM, B.com, 2yrs exp. Contact 91694170

Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa.

Contact 93086105/33016546

Indian male 36 years with visit visa having 16 years experience in training (soft skills) Admin marketing looking for a suitable job.

Contact 99644501 / 96974356

Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

Experience Restaurant Manager with valid driving license and NOC for immediate placement.

Contact: 92953199

Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

Indian Graduate (32) computer literate seeks any official job presently on visit visa. 95697715

Indian male Graduate with Oman work experience for 10 years in construction trading, automotive Industries seeking mid management position in business development, sales & marketing.

Contact 92133277 Email: bijum973@yahoo.com Store manager 6 years experience in Oman (BCS) good knowledge of ERP seeking placement. Contact 95197303 NOC available. Living in Oman more than 20 Years, With Valid Drivers license and more than 3.5 Years Working Experience in Logistics/ Operations/ Supply chain/ QHSE. Contact : 98515670

TOURS & TRAVELS Indian female, B.Sc in Travel & Tourism, 9 months exp in Oman as Travel Consultant .GDS-Sabre, Amadeus, Galileo, seeking suitable Job. GSM-95883404.

25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing. Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job. #96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Female British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable situation.

Contact 97175240 Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately contact: 91991435, 93310821 Indian female BA graduate. My total experience is 4 and half year in Call Center looking for jobs in admin and HR. Contact : 96089143, Email: sharanjit_kaur2009@yahoo.com Civil supervisor-8 year’s experience in commercial and residential building, including portable cabin, natural and artificial play ground’s, and Oxy petroleum field, at sultanate of Oman. GSM :91249005. Mail :sandeep88joseph@gmail.com Indian Male 28yr age having 6year gulf+ Indian experience in HR field.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com ACCA affiliate & Bsc (Oxford Brookes University), 2.5 years experience in oilfield & audit/finance in Big6 firm, seeking permanent placement. Release available. #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian male 21 Diploma in Mechanical Eng with HVAC certified having 6 yrsexp and seeking job in HVAC field as a supervisor. Currently on visit visa. Contact 92835952/ 92734863 Indian Female: MCA, 3 Years Exp. as Asst. Professor, Specialization in C # (sharp).net, Data Comm.& Networking, Knowledge about Web Development, ASP.Net, Oracle, SQL,VB.net.

Seek Immediate Placement. Now on Visit Visa.9588 7051 ashwininakod@gmail.com Indian female, B.Com. Knowledge of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in accounting & admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 Indian male, 28 years, 7 years experience in transporting & heavy equipment renting company. Having Omani driving license seeks suitable positions. Contact 94410485 Sudanese/Bsc IT/26/2 years experience/excellent Eng-Arb speaking/ Omani driving license/96387227/ henrykarrar@gmail.com Sudanese / 29 years old / Bsc English language and Translation / 3 years experience in Oman teaching & translation / have driving license.

94211377. hosam.karar.1@gmail.com Indian Male 27, Piping Design Engineer looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll, AutoCAD. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Indian female B.Com graduate, 4years experience in accounts & administration department looking for suitable placement. #98928220 Mechanical Engineer B.E fresher( QA, QC , Piping & NDT + 1 month practical training in production & oil field) seeking immediate placement currently on visit visa. Contact – 0096896107833, Email albinalbin.thomas@gmail.com Civil Autocad draughtsman looking for part time job. Mobile: 95218737 Indian Male 33 looking for Scaffolding Supervisor vacancy in Oil & Gas field in Oman. Having 5 years experience in CCC Qatar and 3 years in Saudi” contact fysal.nellaya@gmail. com or 96155921 Well experienced hair dresser/ beautician required, visa available.

Contact – 96524717 Sharing accommodation available for ladies opposite Al Nahda hospital.

Contact - 96524717 Indian male, 34 yrs, ca inter pass, with 14 yrs experience, is seeking suitable placement, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact: 95585069 or 95630747 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :93359371

D6

T U E S D AY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED Indian female MBA finance currently on visit visa, seeks immediate placement# +(968) 9843 0089 Omani mechanical engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500 Sudanese/Diploma/Electronics Engineering Communication/Optical Fiber Cable/Installation and Survey new towers/Experience 3 years.

Contact 00968 95932219 Indian Male 25 B-Tech(IT) Engineer 3 years experience in Networking(MCSE,CCNA-CERTIFIED)currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. # 99570776 Indian female, B. Ed-M. Sc organic chemistry 3years Experience looking for suitable job #99570776 7 Years successful experience.

Accountant, Indian male, 29 years.

Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license seek suitable opportunity.

GSM: 97705854 Indian female, B.SC, PGDCA currently on family joining visa. Two years working experience in Oman as customer care / sales coordinator.

Immediate joining seeks suitable placements. Contact no. (968) 95573205 /95949230/ 95800792 Indian Pune based 29 years looking for job in Travel industry or any good company as a front office reception.

Contact: 93221054, Email: rufinabhavania@gmail.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of Ms. Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in A/Cing & admin dept .looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 Accountant, Indian Male 24 , 2 Years successful experience in Oman with Oman Driving License.

NOC Available seek a suitable opportunity. GSM : 9340 9315

Indian male MBA 32 yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking suitable placement in Admin/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics etc. Holding valid Oman D/L .Contact - 99054786 Indian female, well experienced in secretarial, administration, customer care & supervisory jobs. 5 years experience in Muscat. Immediately available for joining. contact 92139298 22 years of experience in Multinational Companies & reputed firms in Financial Management, Project Management, Budgeting and Cost control, seeking a strategic Financial/Management Accounting role in a dynamic organization .

Contact : +971-506178139, Email.georg_vargis01@yahoo.com M.Tech Civil (structure) with 3 yrs experience looking for a suitable job with reputed consultants or contracting companies. #93137035, Email : mdshahzar.khan@gmail.com Generator maintenance in charge with 4 yrs experience with Cummins, caterpillar, kirloskar and voltas. Contact - email: shibinmundakkal@gmail.com Experienced female Electrical Engineer. Contact 93800906 Aircraft Maintenance Technician with one year experience seeks suitable placement. Contact amaljohn2002@gmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 11 years exp in oil & gas industry.

Contact - 95928035 Telecom Engineer with 4.5 years Oman experience looking for a suitable opportunity, interested even in Marketing also. Possess valid Oman driving license. Contact 94145460 Civil Engineer with 12 years Experience Looking For Job.#98162295 DAE (Civil) having 3.5 years Experience 2 years from Oman with driving licences, seeking for suitable position in Construction field NOC and release available . Contact 96968554 Email: mehranahmad26@yahoo.com

An Indian expatriate female, Graduate with TEFL certificate seeks suitable openings with Language centres or schools. Email : write2nishanair@ gmail.com, Contact : 97216963

24 years Indian female diploma in computer science and engineering now on visit visa seek suitable placement.

Contact 96314974/99107369

Indian Female, MBA with 2.5 years of experience in Marketing seeking a suitable placement in sales/media/administration. Have Oman experience & valid driving license.#92460623

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer (Automobile)&Diploma in QC with 2yrs experience in oil & gas company seek suitable placement job currently on Visit Visa.#.96071081, 99214308 , Email: rahulvarikkat@gmail.com

Indian male, 29 yrs, MBA in Marketing, 6 yrs exp. in Marketing/ Sales presently on family visa seeks suitable placement. #92345569, Email : tapankumarupadhyay@gmail.com

Diploma of Associate Civil Engineering, Diploma of AutoCad, having 3.5 yrs experience, 2 yrs experience of Oman in Building Construction, valid transferrable ID Card. #94378581

Tunisian women looking for job, knows english, frensh, Italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838

Indian male, 26 yrs B-Tech (ECE) with MBA in Marketing / HR looking for a suitable placement. Currently on visit visa valid up to 30 January 2015. Contact 93754428, email : shijosirius709@gmail.com

Indian Accounts / Audit assistant with 2 years of experience currently on a visit visa looking for suitable job openings.# 94677338, 97041086 Email: ajeeshkcy1989@gmail.com Indian Male, 27 yrs MBA (Fin), SAP, 4 Yrs Exp in Finance Seeking Suitable Job with a Reputed Firm Currently on Visit Visa #92481230 A Fresh ACCA Affiliate, Pakistani male, 24 yrs, open for positions of Accounts, Audit and finance.

Contact : 94541539 email: wasiqnasir_3@yahoo.com ACCA finalist and BSc from Oxford Brookes University UK, having 18 months working experience, currently in Muscat on visit, seeking immediate and suitable position.

Contact : 95375282

B.com doing CA Accounts/ office job male now working in Oman Noc, release available. Contact 92715465 Email: alsabathehm@gmail.com Indian female (Aviation and hospitality management) with excellent communication skill, confident, dedicated to works and enthusiastic and 1 year experience in admin department looking for immediate placement . Contact 93351256 email : hinakhan.hk88@gamil.com LV Driver- 2 yrs Exp-know English- Contact 95292064 Accounting up to finalization, auditing & contact for tally ERP software Contact– 91720465

Hardware specialist B.Tech M.Tech electronics with 10 years experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations.

Contact 91289459 Email: shrn.shrf@gmail.com

Light driver looking for job.

Contact 91376612

IT Prof, MCA having 6+ yrs exp, seeks suitable position. #94543668

Indian male- B.Com/B.Ed/15 years Exp – 5 in Oman, seeks job in Accts/Sales/Logistics have NOC and Oman D/L with car. #92919625/93511425/ 93424828; Email- seshadricpioman@gmail.com

B.Tech IT Professional, Indian Male with 3 yrs of Exp. In System Admin, IT Support, Networking, Installing Active Directory, DHCP, DNS,RAS, configuring maintaining and managing servers, configuring cisco routers, Exp in handling SQL database, With Valid Driving Licence. Contact -968 98863507

Accountant: a well experienced Indian male, M.Com, more than 20 years experience in accounting field (GCC & India), looking for job as accountant or accounts manager in oman. presently working in India and ready to join immediately.

Contact :99087175

Indian male Graduate (BSc. IT) 25 years new on visit visa in Muscat.

1 year experience in Accounts looking for suitable position. #95752827 Email: mhdfsrn@gmail.com

Indian male 26 years, with 4 years experience in accounts and administration looking for suitable placement. Contact 93008891

Female pharmacist with 3 years experience and MOH license currently in Oman, #92455124 Indian male 25 B.Tech (IT) Engineer 2.5 yrs exp in hardware networking.

Currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact – 94359564 Indian female with nine years of experience in 5 Star hotels as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager looking for a suitable placement in a reputed Star hotel. Contact: 91219787 Medical- Indian female, 27 yrs, masters in hospital administration, fellowship in HTA studied in a super specialty medical sciences and research center in India and done project in an established hospital in sultanate of Oman.

Contact 93200827, 91026506 Welder, 3G, 6G, TIG, Exp in Fabrication , Gulf Exp Ph : 97103168 Indian Male, MBA 2 yrs experience in Accounts, Admin & HR on visit visa. Contact 92045306 1 year experience in teaching all subject to KG classes, currently working as a teacher in Oman, seeking suitable placement, Family visa. #92178304 / 99036256 Care taker, Gulf Exp knows Hindi, Arabic Ph: 94238840 Logistics Officer, Experience in Store keeping. Contact : 99505934 Keralite Bachelor professional building designer with AutoCAD, 3D Max & Accounts. #96535497, email : bhaviwky90@gmail.com Indian cook, Tandoori cook, male, 32 yrs, having 4 yrs of experience in Muscat in India, looking for a cook job in Hotel. Contact 93753523 / 98744307 / 92175119 Young Indian male with 5 years Muscat experience in admin, purchase & Masters from UK seeks placement.

Possess driving license. #94400671 Pakistani male, 25 yrs, MBA Finance, 1.6 yrs exp in Accounts seeking placement in Accounts, Administration or Business Management. # 92651927 / 94250149 Indian Male, 25 yrs currently in Oman on visit looking for suitable vacancies in accounts, B.Com completed 1 yr experience.

Contact 92024380 Indian male, 15 years experience in managing department stores, in Karnataka, India, looking for placement.#93086105 or 99016546 Female with MBA finance, financial and tax professional four and half years of experience seeks suitable opportunities in reputed organizations. Contact- 99792457 Email: msparveen1@gmail.com

Indian male, B.Com, Accountant – 6yrs exp in Oman, NOC availableReady to join.contact: 98162671 ; email: prasanths3@gmail.com Results-oriented professional, 11 years Oman exp in reputed companies handling Administration, Operations, General Management, International Procurement, Credit, Business Dev, etc seeks role in MNCs/Reputed Companies/ International Organizations. Quick Joining, Release. # 98179887 Professional Manager, highly qualified, quality communication & English, excellent 11 years Oman exp in EPC/Media/Services/ Healthcare industries handling important portfolios, seeks Senior Role in reputed companies. Immediately available, NOC. contact 98179887 Pakistani Male having 6 years experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Mobile Crusher Incharge looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. Email : umar_um44@yahoo. com Mob: +96895133167 Indian Male, B.Tech IT Engineer.

10 yrs experience as Computer Teacher & Project Manager. Good Knowledge on Computer.

Looking for suitable position. currently on Visit Visa.

Contact: 93120348, 97068258. swarnabadampudi@gmail.com Civil Draughtsman expecting parttime job (quantity as per specification and infrastructure jobs. Contact 95914642 Indian female 25 years MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement.

Contact: +(968) 9843 0089 / (968) 97851940 Indian female 25 years MBA finance currently on visit visa.

Seeks immediate placement.

Contact: +(968) 9843 0089 Indian Female MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience, English seeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman.#93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately.

Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Experienced Housemaid available to look after elderly persons. On visit visa (Goan-Ind).

Contact :98238579 23,male,ACCA affiliate,2.5 years of experience in Finance and Audit in an audit firm ,looking for permanent replacement. Contact +96895140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

2 years experienced B.Com graduate looking for a Job in Accounts/Sales. Now on visit visa.#98546162.

Indian Male 29 yrs, having 7year India + Gulf experience in Procurement Engineer, looking for suitable placements. # 96035370, Email: samyram1986@gmail.com Indian male, 14 yrs experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available.

Contact : 95253640 Diploma in Fire and Safety Engineering, having 3.5 years of experience as an Safety Advisor.

Having PDO PASSPORT and IOSH. Have valid Omani driving license is looking for job.

Contact number 968 96176872, 968 9808527.

Indian male, 22 years, B.com graduate, Knowledge of Tally ERP9, MS Excel & MS word.

Currently in Oman on visit visa, looking for suitable placement. #99894250, email: fouzishaque@gmail.com 3 years experience B. Pham Pharmacist, Passed Pometric written exam, require suitable post.

Contact: 9561 3245 E.mail:saaji777@gmail.com Indian, male, Business Management graduate with 10 years UAE experience in supervisory/ administration position in Electronic Card Personalisation projects, seeks jobs in banking/ financial sector. Contact: 00971505250274/ naushers@yahoo.com Indian male, 14 yrs experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel ( Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). Contact 95253640 B.tech Mechanical Engineer, Keralite bachelor with B.tech looking for job in Oman with three year of experience on visiting Visa.

Contact no.-0096891296354, Email-manurpr88@gmail.com Indian Male 25yrs, having 3year Indian experience in Accountant Shipping Company, looking for suitable placement. Contact:919632529484, Email: bangerasavan@gmail.com Pakistani Male having 5 years exp. Valid Omani Driving license working as a Logistic Officer looking for a suitable position.

Salary is negotiable. Email : naveedmuhammad037@gmail. com, Mob: +96893363316 Mechanical Engineer, Gulf Exp in Design and Manufacturing Ph: 97097688 OPTOMETRIST, 27 years Indian female, 3 years experience looking for suitable placement in Muscat.

Contact: 92066532 Email: aradhanaarun88@gmail.com Indian female 25 years MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement.

Contact: +(968) 93316493 Civil Engineer Indian with 12years experience in building construction having valid driving license. sureshudreams@gmail.com, 91305025 /93839731 Part- Time Accountant, well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available Contact : 98803439 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately.

Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com

Indian Male 26 Years, having 2 year experience in accounting field Looking for suitable placement.

Currently working in Oman. NOC available, immediate joining.

Contact: 94282980, Email: shirasvelliyath@gmail.com Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) mob : 95253640 Pakistani Male having 5 years experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Logistic Officer looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. naveedmuhammad037@gmail.com #93363316 /94202746 Indian Male, 58 years, Oman experience in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position.Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 23 yrs old Pakistani bachelor in accounts and marketing 3.5 yrsexp 2 yrsexp in Oman, looking for a job.

Contact- 99374062 Indian female 25 yrs MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement. # +(968) 9843 0089 Indian Male 58yrs, Oman experience 31yrs in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations, seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 Indian male 27 years, MBA, having more than 5 yrs experience in sales and marketing, looking for suitable job. Contact no.99224057, +919824823734 Indian male 21 IT Engineer Networking & Computer hardware course 01 yr experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 96036273, E mail faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com Sales/ Marketing Executive : 35 years old Indian male, MBA, having experiences in UAE and India in sales and marketing field, presently on visit visa, looking for a suitable job in Salalah or in Oman.

Contact 91233648 Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available mob : 95 25 36 40 . email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com Part- Time Accountant, well versed with all accounting, Finalization, Budgeting available.# 98803439 ACCA affiliate,male,2.5 years experience in an audit firm in Finance & Audit, looking for suitable immediate placement. Release available.

Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian female MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement.# (968) 9843 0089 ACCA affiliate, male, 23, 2.5years of vast experience in finance & audit in audit firm,seeking suitable placement immediately.

Contact+96895140445, a.saran891@gmail.com 30 years Indian male with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at five star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruiseliner as Butler . Currently in Muscat on visit visa. Contact 91075704 Indian Female looking for an Internship or Part time opportunity in any Interior Design, Architectural or Design Firm . Contact 95811820

T U E S DAY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

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Rent a car in Salalah with or without driver. Contact 93970005

D8

T U E S D AY, M AY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WEBSITE

CLASSES

COMPUTER

DRIVING

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

CHANGE OF NAME MANPOWER I Kuniyil Kandy Usman, son of Ermullan Azhungal holder of Indian Passprt No K0852582 date of issue 2/4/2012, place of issue - Muscat, presently residing in P.B.No 596, PC 311 ,Sohar, Sultanate of Oman and having permanent residence in Nelloly House Mundalure, Kannur (Dt), Kerala 670622,India, hereby solemnly affirm and declare that Shaheera and the name of my wife Thayyil Saheera appearing as per her Indian passport K 4458325 are the same individuals and not two different individuals. Any objection towards the name change of my wife please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PO Box 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

We , Krishnakumar Gopalakrishna Pillai (name of father as per the passport holder of Indian passport No L1161625 and Shobhana Krishnakumar (name of the mother, holder of Indian passport No. G 0661376) having permanent address in Changavilayil Thattakkattu, Cherukole, P .O, Mavelikara, Kerala, India. Pin 690104 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Muscat, P.B. No. 282 P.C. No. 100, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child miss Aishwarya (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. J 6496163 date of issue 14/08/2011 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Aishwarya (Given name) Krishnakumar Pillai (sur Name) (new name) for all purposes. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

We , Krishnakumar Gopalakrishna Pillai (name of father as per the passport, holder of Indian passport No L1161625 and Shobhana Krishnakumar (name of mother, holder of Indian passport No. G 0661376) having permanent address in Changavilayil Thattakkattu, Cherukole P .O, Mavelikara, Kerala, India. Pin 690104 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Muscat, P.B. No. 282 P.C. No. 100, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Master Vishnu (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. J 6496164 date of issue 14/08/2011 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Vishnu (Given name) Krishnakumar Pillai (Sur Name) (new name) for all purposes. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112 , Ruwi , Sultanate of Oman.

We, Vadakkenchery Narayanan Lakshmy Narayanan (name of father as per the passport, holder of Indian passport No Z 1859878) and Sindu Lakshmy Narayanan (name of the mother, holder of Indian passport No. J5347782) having permanent address in 5D, Soorya Heights, Kalmanpam, Palghat, Kerala, 678013 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Muscat, P.B. No. 282 P.C. No. 100, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Abhirami ( name as per present passport) , holder of Indian passport No. M4816378 date of issue 27/01/15 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Abhirami (Given name) Lakshmy Narayanan (Sur Name) (new name) for all purposes. Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112 , Ruwi , Sultanate of Oman.

LOST Valiyaparambath Sheero has lost India Passport No. F 2225610. Finder please handover to ROP. Geral Dine Milca Asne has lost Philippines Passport No. XX 2543996.

Finder please handover to ROP

CANADIAN MANPOWER CO. based in Oman Recruitment for legal jobs - Hotel staff ,Construction staff, Medical staff ,Gas & Oil Free consultancy, 2 years contract, work visa, free tickets, accommodation, social & medical ins.

Contact us on 93392630 , pls send CV to margholdingoman@yahoo.com

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi offers genuine & effective treatment for back pain, paralysis, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis, joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, allergic problems, varicose vein and all other health related problems.

Kerala massage and rejuvenation package available. For details please Contact 92197920/ 24799689

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.contact 24793614/ 99314807 WINDOW & SPLIT unit A.C servicing & repairing. contact 99557080 SPLIT & WINDOW A.C servicing & maintenance. contact 96236476

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517

SPLIT & WINDOW A.C servicing & maintenance.contact 93769089 / 95323517

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.#ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

We do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663

House shifting packing.

Contact 99657644/ 98518013

A/C maintenance & servicing.

Fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing. Painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/ 24504281

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/ 24788722

Sewage remove tanker sewage tank cleaning & block remove all maintenance sewage tanks. Contact 97412505 / 98852238 Electric, Plumbing, painting & all kinds of building maintenance.

Contact 93896787 / 97924862

A/C maintenance split A/C servicing. RO. 10 only. contact 94217681/ 99210141 House shifting. Contact 99708138

Learn driving with professional only automatic.

Contact 94022250 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

Painting- building maintenance & management - excavation.

Contact : 99057348

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