Times of Oman - July 5, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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RAMADAN PRAYER TIMINGS

IFTAR 7.03PM FAJR 3.58AM

SUNDAY, July 5, 2015 / 18 Ramadan 1436 AH

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Pay traffic fines before leaving, ROP tells expats To avoid hassles at the airport, expats should clear their ﬁnes before leaving Oman even for short vacation or for good

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Expatriates going on vacation or leaving the country for good must settle all the fines accrued on account of traffic violations, to avoid delay in travel, the Royal Oman Police said in its latest notice. “The traffic fines (local and Gulf Cooperation Council) imposed on them has to be cleared before ending their travel procedures,” the notice said. The rule came into effect on June 1. The Royal Oman Police had put in place traffic fines clearance operation at the airports and borders in January this year for

expats leaving the country on a permanent basis, which was later also used to collect traffic fines from all expats leaving the country temporarily too. “By publishing the notice on collection of traffic fines repeatedly, police is giving expatriates a clear message that they won’t be lenient anymore,” Sunil Kumar KK, an Indian businessman who often travels out of Oman, told the Times of Oman. “While purchasing tickets to fly out of Oman, expatriates driving vehicles should check whether they have any fines or not. It is better to clear these fines in advance rather than facing hassles at the airport or at the borders,” Sunil Kumar added.

In April, reliable sources had revealed to Al Shabiba, the sister publication of the Times of Oman, that the number of traffic violations recorded during 2014 stood at 6,015,323, an increase of more than 64 per cent compared to 2013. In 2013, the number of violations was 3,889,301. According to the traffic law amendments under discussion, violators could face heftier ﬁnes and jail terms. Under proposals to be debated, offences like reckless driving, over-speeding, wrong overtaking, driving on the shoulders of roads, or using cellphones while driving may land drivers in jail for a period ranging from 10 days to three months.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Rain predicted in Dhofar areas

Oman’s tourism Duqm-Jebel Ali feeder potential unexploited service to start soon

Oman meteorological department has predicted rains in Dhofar and adjoining areas in its latest forecast. “Skies will be cloudy along the coastal areas of Dhofar and adjoining mountains. There are chances of rain too. In the rest of Oman, skies will be clear. >A2 5.4 ON RICHTER SCALE

No loss of life, property in Sea of Oman earthquake Staff Reporter MUSCAT: An earthquake measuring 5.4 on Richter scale was recorded at the Sultan Qaboos University’s earthquake monitoring centre at around 4:45am. “Our centre recorded the earthquake. So far we have not received any report of damage due to the earthquake,” an official from the centre said. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was 362km southeast of Salalah, in the Sea of Oman. The earthquake was 10.0 km deep.

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Tourism is still unexploited in the Sultanate largely because many local business people are not yet convinced that the huge natural resources available in the country are enough to attract quality tourists. Three decades on, Oman is still heavily relying on the Khareef in Salalah. >A6

MARKET

A feeder container shipping service planned between Jebel Ali and Duqm will start by the end of the year, said a senior official at the Port of Duqm Company. As many as 70 per cent of the oil and gas ﬁelds are located in the range of 300 km from the port of Duqm. >B1

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CABLES

His Majesty sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Abdelaziz Bouteﬂika of Algeria on his country’s Independence Day anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to the president, praying to the Almighty Allah to return this and similar occasion on him and the Algerian people further progress and prosperity. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Nicolas Maduro of the Republic of Venezuela on his country’s Independence Day anniversary. >A2

Sultanate’s crystallized discomfort

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

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T R AV E L

Duty-free buys count in luggage weight REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Dispelling misconceptions on the hand baggage weight allowance, airline officials and travel agents said that the weight of items purchased from duty-free shops come within the same limit and is not an additional entitlement. “Many passengers believe that the weight of items purchased from the duty-free shops at the airport is excluded from the hand baggage weight. So, they exceed the hand baggage weight limit and ﬁnally land in trouble when they are stopped at the gates. To avoid this, we advise passengers that items purchased from duty-free shops are also included in the hand baggage weight,” BP Kulkarni,

This picture has been used for illustrative purpose only.

country manager of Air India, told the Times of Oman. “Even if it is the case of additional payment for extra baggage, our airline has the lowest charge when compared to others,” Kulkarni added. >A5

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

OMAN W E AT H E R R E P O R T

Rain forecast for Dhofar areas Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman meteorological department has predicted rain in Dhofar and adjoining areas in its latest forecast. “Skies will be cloudy along the coastal areas of Dhofar and adjoining mountains. There are chances of rain too. In the rest of the Sultanate, skies will be clear. However, there are chances of rain,” the forecast said. “There are chances of dust rising winds over the deserts and open areas,” the forecast added. On Friday afternoon, Oman saw rains in Salalah, Samayil, Al Hamra and Rustaq. In Salalah temperature stayed around 30 degree SUMMER RELIEF: Salalah, Samayil, Al Hamra and Rustaq received Celsius. In Muscat, it was over 40 rain on Friday. In Salalah temperature stayed around 30 degree. In degree Celsius. Muscat, it was over 40 degree Celsius.– Photo courtesy Oman Weather Updates R O YA L C A B L E S

< FROM

HM sends greetings

In his cable, His Majesty expressed his wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further prosperity. His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of greetings to Jorge Carlos Fonseca, President of the Republic of Cape Verde on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty has expressed his wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further prosperity. -ONA ACADEMICS

SQU signs major pacts Times News Service MUSCAT: Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has recently signed several agreements with several international higher educational and research institutions for cooperation in different ﬁelds of education and research.

SUN DAY, JULY 5, 2015

TODAY’S DUAA ‘O Allah, on this day, grant me wisdom and awareness, keep me away from foolishness and pretention, grant me a share in every blessing You send down, by Your generosity, O the most Generous.’

Battle of Badr THE MOTHER OF ALL DEFINING MOMENTS The battle of Badr is without a doubt the most important existential battle between good and evil in the history of mankind. The battle, that took place on the Seventeenth of Ramadan, was a deﬁnitive turning point in the history of Islam, writes AFTAB H. KOLA

slam was immeasurably strengthened by the triumph of Battle of Badr as the seventeenth of Ramadan is a reminder of the first major battle fought against the enemies of Islam. Ramadan is not just a month for Ibadah, but also the month with a history showing the first generation of Muslims achieved great victories during this Blessed Month. On one side, was the last Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and just about 300 of his followers. On the other, the idolaters of Quraish with their superior numbers, weapons and wealth. What followed was an epic battle that still resonates with Muslims across the world. This decisive battle laid the foundation for the Islamic State and made Muslims a force to be reckoned with in the Arabian Peninsula. A very important fact for all people to understand is that Islam is the religion of peace and that it is neither imposed nor forced on anyone as clearly stated in the Holy Quran itself. It is a universal fact that history does not record one single episode in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) compelled any human being to convert to Islam. His character and conduct attracted people towards Islam. This peaceful attitude of Islam is quite evident in that Muslims were ordered not to fight unless they were attacked, as Allah says: ‘Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress limits, for Allah loveth not transgressor”. (Al Baqarah 190). It is clear from this verse that there is neither compulsion nor transgression in Islam except

Hadith of the day ABU HURAIRA Related that Rasulullah said: If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his Siyam, for it is Allah who has fed him and given him drink (Bukhari, Muslim).

against the oppressors who harass and fight the Muslims. In other words Muslims are ordered to fight, to defend themselves but they should not be transgressors for transgressors are hated by Allah. We have seen many socalled international writers take the verses from the Holy Quran which talk of fighting but intentionally avoid the preceding and the following verses, which give the context of the entire clause. When talking about the great battles of Islam, we should look deep into them in the light of this fact; namely that Muslims were not transgressors but they only fought against oppressors. The Battle of Badr took place on Ramadan 17, in the second year after the emigration of the Prophet (PBUH) from Holy Makkah to Madinah. The Muslims were able to vanquish their enemies in this battle in which

Allah separated truth from falsehood and it became known as the Battle of Separation. This established the power of the Muslims. Badr is the name of the spot at which the battle took place. It is situated south-west of Madinah, and was a meeting point between Madinah Road and the road used by the caravans coming from Syria to Holy Makkah. It is a plain that is bordered by hills and mountains and is known for the abundance of date palms and water wells. The majority of its people now belong to the Harb tribe. During the Prophet’s (PBUH) time Badr was a watering station at which the caravaneers used to get water for their camels, and once a year there was a market there. Historians say that the cause of the battle was that when the Quraish of Holy Makkah were returning from Syria, the Prophet (PBUH) sent two of his companions to get news of them. They reached a place called Alhawra and waited there until Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, leader of the caravan, arrived, after which the two scouts hurried back to Madinah and informed the Prophet (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have told his followers to go after the caravan, but no one was compelled to do so. He then departed with a contingent of just over 300 men (313-317), and they had between them only two horses and 70 camels. The man who was left behind in Madinah to lead the prayers was Ibn Umm Maktum, and the army consisted of both immigrants (Muhajirin) numbering 86 and supporters (Ansar) of the Awas and Khazraj tribes. The Prophet (PBUH) divided the army into two detachments: the Muhajirin led by Ali ibn Abi Talib and the supporters under the leadership of Saad ibn Muadh. The contingent set off from Madinah until they reached a place called Safra, from where the Prophet (PBUH) sent two of his companions out to scout around and bring him intelligence reports. Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Quraish trading caravan, changed course and headed for the coast and thence to Holy Makkah which the caravan reached safely. But before that he had already sent a messenger to

Holy Makkah to ask for help to rescue the caravan. The Quraish prepared a contingent of 1,300 warriors, with 100 horses and an unknown number of camels. Commanding their army was Aba Jahl. At Juhfa, they received a new message from Abu Sufyan telling them that the caravan was safe and that they should return to base. But when the men were just about to start the return journey, Abu Jahl, in his arrogance, told them not to turn around. He incited and exhorted them to war, and with the exception of 300 members of the Bani Zahrah tribe, the rest of the contingent obeyed his command. The 1,000 men marched on, but when the Banu Hashim also wanted to return to Holy Makkah, Abu Jahl refused them permission. The men reached a hillock situated at Upper Adwa, bordering the Badr Valley. The Prophet (PBUH) learnt that the Quraish army was on its way, and he understood the gravity of the situation. He realised that a confrontation was inevitable. But the important thing was that it all depended on the attitude of the Ansar, because they

had promised him they would protect him as long as he was in Madinah and there was no reference to any place outside it. But the Ansar, under the command of Saad ibn Muadh, were men of integrity and loyalty, for, when the Prophet (PBUH) asked them of their opinion, they made an apt reply and told him that he should fight the nonbelievers and Allah would be with them. Whereupon the Prophet (PBUH) broke the news that Allah had promised victory for them. Thus, the Muslim army moved and hurried to the well of Badr, to be the first to arrive. When they reached there, Habab ibn Al Mundhir advised the Prophet (PBUH) that they should fill all the wells except one, near which a trough should be built, and used only by the Muslims for their drinking water. The Prophet (PBUH) accepted the advice and approved the plan. The numerically superior legion of the non-believers arrived, and when the Prophet (PBUH) saw the huge army he raised his hands in supplication to Allah and beseeched His support and salvation. Thereupon, Allah sent him

a revelation to the effect that He was with them, and that He would fill the non-believers’ hearts with fear and trepidation. Allah made it known to the Prophet (PBUH) that He was sending down His angels to help him. A few men of the Quraish, among them Hakim ibn Huzam and Utbah ibn Rabiah, thought of returning home, but Abu Jahl, incited the non-believers to fight. Then the fighting started, and within a short time it began to intensify. Three of the Quraish noblemen, Utbah ibn Rabiah, his brother Shaibah, and Al Walid ibn Utbah, asked for a sword contest, and suffered defeat at the swords of Hamza, Ali, and Ubaydah ibn Al-Harith. This was a bad omen for the non-believers. They attacked the Muslims ferociously, but the Muslims were steadfast and resisted them. In a narration by Ibn Ishaq, it is said that the Prophet (PBUH) told Abu Bakr that Archangel Jibreel had taken the reins of his horse and led him. Thereupon, the Prophet (PBUH) ordered a counter-attack against the non-believers. He advised his men that whoever fought sincerely and died in the course of duty would be admitted to paradise. The Muslims fought hard and the angels came to their aid, and that was when signs of failure and tension in the ranks of the enemy began to show. Abu Jahl and Umayyah ibn Khalaf were among the first casualties. Then followed Al-As ibn Al Mughira, Abu Albahtari ibn Hisham, and others among the Quraish stalwarts — seventy in all. Another 70 were taken prisoner by the Muslims, among them Abbas, the Prophet’s (PBUH) uncle (who had gone to the battlefield half-heartedly), Utbah ibn Abi Muit, Nadhar ibn Al-Harith, their standard-bearer. The Prophet (PBUH) ordered the dumping of the bodies of the non-believers in a deserted well, and the burial of the 14 (six Muhajirin and eight Ansar) Muslim martyrs. As for the captives, they were given two choices — either pay a ransom, or those who were literate could teach Muslims how to read and write and then be freed.

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GULF GLAMOUR EXISTS

Expats swell Kerala bank coffers REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Fall in the value of Indian currency and increase in the number of Keralites migrating out of the state have made their deposits in the banks cross the Rs1,000 billion mark in the last ﬁscal year. “Non-resident Indians’ deposits in Kerala banks have been growing over the years. From Rs661.90 billion in March 2013, these climbed to Rs938.83 billion by March 31, 2014, and to Rs1,096.03 billion (OMR6.65billion) in the last ﬁscal, a report released by State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) said. Kerala’s State Bank of Travancore (SBT) was leading with BAGGAGE WEIGHT

Duty free A1 purchase < FROM

Many a time, passengers of Asian countries have complained of having been stopped at the gates because of carrying items purchased from duty free shops. “I have seen people being stopped at that gates. Due to their own lack of knowledge, they end up fighting with the officials at the gates. Either they have to drop the items or have to pay additional money for the extra baggage,” Saji Kumar, who recently witnessed the situation at the Muscat airport while flying to his home country, told the Times of Oman. “Mainly, it is the blue-collar workers who are ignorant about the baggage weight,” Saji added. Meanwhile, travel agent officials also confirmed that ignorant passengers lose money and then complain to them upon returning. “We, too, receive complaints from passengers. They never read the weight limit mentioned clearly in the ticket. They have this misconception (about duty free goods) and finally either lose their goods or have to pay extra money,” travel agents said.

deposits of Rs266.13 billion by the state’s immigrants, followed closely by Federal Bank with Rs232.14 billion. “The fall in the value of Indian currency is a factor. But at the same time, more and more Keralites are migrating out of the state and the country. This has made the deposits cross Rs1,000 billion mark,” Tonny George Alexander, country head of UAE Exchange in Oman, said. A recent survey by Centre for Development Studies (CDS) in the state has found that the ﬂight of Keralites to foreign countries continues mainly because of the state’s inability to provide suitable jobs for educated youth and the Gulf glamour still exerting a

strong pull on the state’s youth. The study was conducted by Profs K C Zachariah and S Irudaya Rajan of the Research Unit on International Migration at the CDS in Kerala. “As in the past, Keralites are not spending much in their host countries. In Oman too, it’s the same. People try to send maximum amount in the wake of rupee fall,” Jose Chacko, ﬁnancial analyst in Oman, said. The number of Kerala emigrants is estimated to be 2.36 million according to a 2014 migration survey. The corresponding number was 2.281 million in 2011, 2.193 million in 2008, 1.838 million in 2003 and 1.362 million in 1998.

OMAN

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015 Smokers can quit either in one go or gradually but it is suggested that they do it in one go and, for example, choose a special occasion such as their birthday Dr Ahmed Hamed Al Wahaibi, Senior consultant in Family Medicine at the Ministry of Health

OMAN C O M M E N TA RY

Oman’s tourism potential still remains unexploited SUNDAY BEAT

SALEH AL SHAIBANY saleh@timesofoman.com

ourism is still unexploited in the Sultanate largely because many local business people are not yet convinced that the huge natural resources available in the country are enough to attract quality tourists to visit its hidden treasures. Three decades on, Oman is still heavily relying on the Khareef in Salalah and it is dominating about 70 percent of all of its tourism campaigns. In the short three months of the summer, foreign tourists in Salalah make up more than 75 percent of the total number of visitors coming to the country on annual basis. Oman has many remote areas for those who were privileged to visit the hidden treasures. A recent four-minute video titled ‘12 days in Oman’ made by German ﬁlmmaker Marko Roth put to shame many Omanis who over the years failed to promote the country in a similar way. Roth travelled 4,200 km from one end of the country to the

A recent four-minute video titled ‘12 days in Oman’ made by German filmmaker Marko Roth put to shame many Omanis who over the years failed to promote the country in a similar way. The short video has been widely acclaimed around the world with over 5 million online views other in less than two weeks to highlight what he called the ‘Majesty of Oman.’ The short video has been widely acclaimed around the world with over 5 million online views while many tourism promoters in Oman are still in deep slumber. The white sandy beaches, the meandering mountain roads, picturesque villages, water sports, desert dunes and historical sites got their proper mention and raving international acclaim. However, right here in Oman, the video went largely unnoticed. Millions who have watched it, promised to visit Oman but if the promoters of the tourism industry in the country did not think it was a big deal then these visitors may be disappointed with the reception they get once they reach here.

It is no exaggeration to say that the enthusiasm in setting up tourism ventures and facilities in Oman is weaning off. For example, in the last ten years, the number of tour guides in the Sultanate has been declining by more than 40 percent. This important industry is largely supported by the government’s initiatives but even that effort does not cover the width and breadth of the nation. Most of the facilities and structures for tourists’ mobility and recreation are in the capital while the bulk of attractions are outside Muscat. There are hardly any good hotels or eating places in the smaller towns. Tourists have to sleep in rudimentary camps or drive for many hours and come back to Muscat the same day. Oman tourism also

lacks local knowledge since most of the tour guides are not nationals and visitors have to settle for non-Omanis to take them around. In a major international travel symposium held in Spain in 2012, European tour operators were surprised to ﬁnd expatriates representing the Oman’s tourism exhibition and kiosks. That did not go very well with them. What also slows down the tourism industry in the Sultanate is the underdevelopment of most of the towns. Community improvement is essential to woo tourists in these areas. Tourism

Expansion of Muscat Airport on fast track The new airport – which is two years behind schedule – is being constructed by a consortium comprising Bechtel, Enka and Bahwan Engineering. Meanwhile, in Salalah, ATU Duty Free opened its 727sq m duty free departure and 117sq m arrivals stores, where it is contracted to run the food and beverage areas within the New Salahah Airport terminal. Passenger traffic at Muscat and Salalah airports recorded a growth of 9.1 per cent and 12.1 per cent, respectively.

Muscat International Airport is directly connected to 55 destinations in 27 countries by 33 international airlines, having served 9.1m passengers in 2013 AVIATION BOOM: Passenger traffic at both airports in Oman

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Expansion work at the Muscat International Airport is on the right track and will be completed on time, a senior official from one of the major construction companies involved in the project, said. “Workers’ arrest in the last week of May has not affected the project. The project completion will be on time,” the official said. Last week, the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) extended invitations to retailers and food and beverage traders for ‘duty free services and luxury retail’ at the $1.8bn New Muscat In-

reached 3.51million passengers by the end of April this year.–ONA

ternational Airport, which is due to open next year. Muscat Duty Free (MDF) has been running its trade at the existing Seeb Airport (from departures and arrivals shops) since 2003 as a 50/50 joint venture company between Oman Air and Aer Rianta International Middle East. The existing Muscat International Airport is directly connected to 55 destinations in 27 countries by 33 international airlines, having served 9.1m passengers in 2013. By contrast, the New Muscat Airport will initially have the capacity to handle 12m passengers

annually. The total gross ﬂoor area for the new Muscat International terminal building is 344,995sq m, with an overall airport land area of 21sq km. Three subsequent expansion phases are planned to increase the airport’s annual capacity to 24 million, 36 million and 48 million passengers when projected demand requires it. Around 16,195,637 passengers are expected by 2020, compared to the 9,142,019 handled in 2014. The airport is due for opening by the end of 2016, and will boast of a total capacity of 36 million passengers.

3.51 million passengers Figures released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) show that passenger traffic at both airports reached 3.51 million passengers by the end of April this year. The number of passengers, including both transfers and transit through Muscat International Airport reached 3.22million. The number of international ﬂights at Muscat airport till April touched 26,241, an increase of 9.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2014. The number of arrivals reached 1.49 million while the number of departures touched 1.43 million. Meanwhile, passenger traffic at Salalah Airport till the end of April touched 288,715, travelling on 2,981 ﬂights.–ONA

T H E H O LY M O N T H

Ramadan traditions vary in wilayats MUSCAT: Rituals of the Holy Month of Ramadan vary from one country to another, starting from moon-sighting, and fasting from the first day until the last. There are certain rituals during the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Sultanate, starting with moon-sighting when everyone awaits the announcement by media of the beginning of the Holy Month. The same applies to the end of the month as people await the announcement of the first day of Eid Al Fitr. If the moon is seen, people gather in mosques for evening and Taraweeh prayers. After finishing the prayer, they greet and congratulate each other on the occasion of the advent of the holy month. They also visit their relatives. One of the Ramadan rituals in Oman is the collective breakfast in mosques and the gathering of family members in the house of the

FESTIVE SPIRIT: Children marking the mid of Ramadan and

celebrating what is locally called ‘Qaranshaw,’ a practice prevalent in several GCC states, but known by different names. – ONA

oldest. Families prepare well in advance for the Holy Month of Ramadan, shoring up food supplies. In some of the wilayats of the Sultanate, particularly in the Governorate of Muscat, children visit the alleys in their neighbourhood,

marking the mid of Ramadan and celebrating what is locally called ‘Qaranshaw,’ a practice prevalent in several GCC states, but known by different names. Many traditional markets come up in various wilayats across the

Sultanate, and while some are well-known weekly markets, like Wednesday market, Thursday market or Monday markets, others are held throughout the year, such as Muttrah Market, Nizwa market, the Central Market in the Governorate of Dhofar and others. Seasonal markets are also held on festivals and are locally called ‘Habta Market.’ These are held on ﬁxed dates known to the people. ‘Habta Market’ is an old practice in the Sultanate. ‘Habtat’ (plural of Habta) vary in their timing in some of the wilayats of the Sultanate. Some are held on Ramadan 23rd and continue till the end of the month. A similar Habta is held during Eid Al Adha. At the end of the Holy Month, when the moon is seen, people in some areas people start celebrationg three days before the advent of Eid Al Fitr.– ONA

can spur employment and business prospects but for that to happen, towns like Ibra, Bahla, Sur and Musandam need attention since they are the gates of attractions. To lure tourists in a big way, what is needed is to attract private investors ﬁrst by making it conducive to their business requirements. Local people in the inner towns must also be encouraged to come up with projects as part of community improvement. They know their towns best, the geography of the areas and all the attractions. They should be given the chance and the support to

launch major tourism campaigns to put their regions in the national map. Tourists come to see social integration, the preservation of history, craftsmanship, beauty spots and ancient traditions and the involvement of local people is crucial. In conclusion, the private sector needs to do more with their investments in this sector. The government also needs to reach out to support towns and its people to expand the tourism industry instead of depending on ﬁlmmakers like Roth to make isolated video promotions for the country.

RAMADAN ADVISORY

Two-week challenge is all it takes to beat the smoking scourge ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: If you have been trying to quit smoking for a long time but the ‘right time’ has never arrived for you, Ramadan is the golden opportunity to seize. As an expert says if you can live without smoking for two weeks, you will be ﬁne afterwards. Experience has shown that it usually takes two weeks for the body to get rid of the addicting nicotine, said Dr Ahmed Hamed Al Wahaibi, senior consultant in Family Medicine at the Ministry of Health. Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr Al Wahaibi said the opportunity provided by Ramadan should be utilised by smokers to quit and their families should give them the necessary support. Smokers should have a strong will to give up smoking, he said, adding that they should also throw away all the things that would remind them of smoking such as cigarette packets, and should avoid any situation that would tempt them to smoke. For example, they should avoid other people who are smoking, said Dr Al Wahaibi. It is also important that they change their routine, the expert said, adding, “For example, if a person likes to drink coffee and smoke, then it is better for him to go for tea instead just to disturb the unconscious.” Many smokers are under the false impression that smoking reduces their stress, but the reality is that smoking actually increases their anxiety and tension, he said. Alternatives Even non-smokers are under pressure in their daily life, so it is better to opt for better alternatives such as exercising to reduce the stress, Dr Al Wahaibi noted. He said that smokers can quit both in one go and gradually but suggested that they do it in one go and, for example, set a special occasion such as their birthday or any other important date in their life to stop smoking. Dr Al Wahaibi also encouraged smokers to go to the tobacco cessation clinics where they are offered consultation and nicotine replacement therapy. According to him, one clinic is available in Nizwa which is part of the Nizwa healthy lifestyle project and another one is located in Wadi Kabir in Muscat. Nicotine replacement therapy options include nicotine patches,

Dr Ahmed Hamed Al Wahaibi says that it usually takes two weeks for the body to get rid of the addiction

nicotine gum or nicotine lozenges, which are available over-the-counter, said Dr Al Wahaibi, who has taken specialised courses in family medicine and nicotine addiction therapy in Oman and abroad. However, they should consult with specialists to learn the right way to use them and choose the best option according to the level of their nicotine dependence, he stated. For instance, nicotine gum should not be chewed like a normal gum and there are three types of patches namely 21mg, 14mg and 7mg, he said. “If a person smokes one pack or 20 cigarettes (a day), he should use the 21mg nicotine patch. If he smokes half a pack, the 14mg patch is recommended. If he smokes 5 to 10 cigarettes and his ﬁrst cigarette of the day is after waking up, the 7mg patch is suitable for him,” said Dr Al Wahaibi. He added that the patch should be worn on the upper part of the body on a dry, hair-free area. It should be changed from place to place on any upper part of the body as skin irritation may be caused if it is used on the same place repeatedly, the expert noted. If they are fasting during Ramadan, they can use the patch from Iftar to Suhoor, Dr Al Wahaibi explained. He also warned against the health risks posed by smokeless or chewing tobacco, saying that sometimes the treatment is challenging as there is no exact measurement of the level of dependence. Tobacco users should try again and again until they succeed in their efforts to quit, Dr Al Wahaibi concluded.

S U N DAY, JU LY 5, 2 0 1 5

REGION

I have come to salute the heroes of the armed forces and to express to them my recognition Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Egypt’s President

State of emergency in Tunisia after attack Tunisia’s emergency law temporarily gives the government more executive ﬂexibility, hands the army and police more authority, and restricts certain rights

TUNIS: Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi declared a state of emergency on Saturday to give his government more powers following a militant attack on a beach hotel, where 38 foreign tourists, mostly Britons, were killed. Tunisia’s emergency law temporarily gives the government more executive ﬂexibility, hands the army and police more authority, and restricts certain rights such as the right to public assembly. The attack on the Sousse beach resort last Friday followed a gun attack on the Bardo museum in Tunis in March - two of the worst militant assaults in Tunisia’s modern history, and a pressing threat to its vital tourist industry. Tunisian officials say all three gunmen in those two attacks had been trained at the same time, over the border in militant camps in Libya, where a conﬂict between

TOUGH STAND: Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi speaking during a press conference in Tunis

on Saturday. – AFP/HO/Tunisian Presidency Press Service

two rival governments has allowed militant groups to gain ground. Tunisia last had a state of emergency during the 2011 protests against former leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. In reaction to militant recruiters, the government says it will close 80 mosques that are operating illegally or preaching extremist messages. Tunisian authorities believe militant group Ansar Al Sharia is responsible for orchestrating the attack against the Sousse hotel, which prompted thousands of tourists to leave Tunisia and is expected to cause $500 million in losses to the sector. IS militants, though, have

claimed the massacre on the Imperial Marhaba hotel a week ago when the gunman shot tourists as they sat at the beach and pool in the worst such militant attack in the country’s modern history. Libya link Ansar Al Sharia, an Al Qaeda linked organisation, was blamed for the storming of the US embassy in Tunis in 2012 and the assassination of two Tunisian opposition leaders. But it has mostly disbanded and its hardline militants left to ﬁght overseas in Iraq, Syria and Libya. “For the moment, this was Ansar Al Sharia who were behind

ESCAPED IN RAID

Saudi fugitive killed in shootout RIYADH: A Saudi fugitive was killed in a shootout with police after having escaped a raid on suspected militants, the interior ministry said on Saturday. A policeman was shot dead during Friday’s raid in the eastern city of Taif in which three suspects were arrested and ﬂags of the IS militant group seized. The operation was launched to detain Yousif Abdulatif Shabab Al

Ghamdi but he managed to ﬂee, only to be later tracked down by police and killed in a shootout, said the ministry. It did not specify when Ghamdi died but said he opened ﬁre with an automatic weapon and a pistol prompting police to shoot, it said, quoted by the Saudi Press Agency. Friday’s raid came with Gulf countries on alert against attacks by IS, which has been blamed for

deadly attacks on Saudi policemen and mosque bombings in both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. An-IS affiliated group in Saudi Arabia, calling itself Najd Province, claimed the suicide bombings in May and June at mosques. Gulf interior ministers on Friday held an emergency meeting in Kuwait and called for coordination to confront “this serious epidemic”. — AFP

this,” said the Tunisian security source. IS also claimed the Bardo attack, but the government said it was linked to local Okba Ibn Nafaa brigade. Tunisian officials say all three gunmen in those two attacks had been trained at the same time over the border in militant camps in Libya, where a conﬂict between two rival governments has allowed militant groups to gain ground. While Ansar Al Sharia and Okba Ibn Nafaa are tied to the Al Qaeda franchise, just as in other regions, experts say younger ﬁghters and recruits may be breaking away inspired more by the recent victories and propaganda of IS. — Reuters

SINAI PENINSULA

Egypt’s president Sisi rallies troops after IS attacks CAIRO: Egypt’s president made an unannounced visit to the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday to rally troops following a wave of deadly attacks on security forces by IS group militants, his office said. “President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is inspecting troops and police in the North Sinai,” his office said without specifying where in the restive province. “I have come to salute the heroes of the armed forces and to express to them my recognition,” he was quoted by the army’s spokesman as saying. State television broadcast footage of Sisi, dressed in military fatigues, touring an army base and inspecting captured weapons. The government called in air strikes on Wednesday after a spectacular attack claimed by the Egyptian affiliate of the IS in the North Sinai town of Sheikh Zuweid left dozens dead. The army said 17 soldiers and 100 militants had been killed. But medical and security officials said the death toll was at least 70 people -- mostly soldiers -- as well as dozens of militants. “We are still recovering the bodies of terrorists from the latest attack,” Sisi said, according to the army spokesman. The violence poses a major test for Sisi, a former military chief who has pledged to eliminate the militants. On Saturday, three children and a woman were killed in northern Sinai, medical and security sources said.

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In one incident, the woman and two of the children died when a shell slammed into a house in Sheikh Zuweid. It was not immediately clear who fired the shell, which also seriously wounded another woman and a teenage girl. In a separate incident, a roadside bomb targeting police and army vehicles killed a five-year-old child in the town of Rafah on the border with the Gaza Strip. Three other children and a woman were wounded. Sisi said he saluted “every home, every mother whose child has died a martyr or been wounded for Egypt”. The army, police and even officials have regularly come under fire, not only in Sinai, but in the capital, since then army chief Sisi ousted president Mohamed Morsi two years ago. The militants say they are acting in response to the bloody repression launched by the authorities after Morsi’s overthrow, which has seen at least 1,400 killed and thousands more jailed. Most of the attacks are claimed by a group calling itself the “Sinai Province.” Formerly known as Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, it changed its name when it pledged allegiance to the IS militant group last November. — AFP

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

INDIA

He has a plan to escape from the jail and we are watching it. The trial in the case is going on and lot of precaution is being taken by the NIA whenever Bhatkal and others are produced before the court National Investigation Agency officer

Modi hopes visit to Russia, Central Asia will push ties In Uzbekistan, Prime Minister said, he

Our cultural ties with Kazakhstan are deeprooted. Our films, TV serials and dance are very popular. Yoga is gaining popularity

would be holding talks with President Karimov and the two countries will sign ‘key agreements’ to strengthen bilateral cooperation

Narendra Modi Prime Minister

NEW DELHI: Ahead of his eightday visit to five Central Asian countries and Russia from July 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed confidence that it will further enhance ties with these countries as well as other members of BRICS and SCO whose Summits he will attend. He will travel to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. He will also go to Russia where he will attend the Summits of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the sixnation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Ufa, Russia. “My first visit will be to Uzbekistan, which is the most populous country in Central Asia. India and Uzbekistan enjoy a close strategic partnership,” Modi said in a state-

ment here, adding “I am conﬁdent that this visit will be a major step towards further expanding IndiaUzbekistan ties”. In Uzbekistan, he said, he would be holding talks with President Karimov and the two countries will sign “key agreements” to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Enhance trade “We want to expand our economic ties with Uzbekistan and enhance trade and economic linkages,” he said. Noting that Indian movies, Hindi language and music are very popular in Uzbekistan, Modi said he would be interacting with Indologists, students learning Hindi and members of the Indian community.

There are over 3000 Indians in Uzbekistan. During the visit, he will also be paying his tributes to the “proud son of India” Lal Bahadur Shastri.” It was in Tashkent that we lost one of our most popular and respected leaders, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, who ignited our nation with the clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’,” he said. He will then travel to Kazakhstan, the largest of the central Asian Nations, on July 7. “Kazakhstan is India’s largest trading partner in Central Asia and has been a valued friend of India at various international forums. India and Kazakhstan have a strategic partnership, indicating the importance we attach to rela-

tion with Kazakhstan,” the Prime Minister said. In Kazakhstan, he will be meeting President Nursultan Nazarbayev which will be followed by the signing of documents. “India and Kazakhstan are cooperating in a wide range of sectors including energy and space. I see a huge opportunity for our economic ties to grow further. India and Kazakhstan can also increase ties in agriculture,” he said. In Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister will also address students at Nazarbayev University and inaugurate the India-Kazakhstan Centre for Excellence in Information and Communication Technology. “Our cultural ties with Kazakhstan are deep-rooted. Our ﬁlms,

TV serials and dance are very popular. Yoga is gaining popularity,” Modi said while appreciating the “enthusiasm” with which the country joined Yoga Day celebrations on June 21. “May this visit script a historic chapter in our ties with a valued friend,” he said. BRICS Summit From Kazakhstan, he will travel to Ufa in Russia to attend the 7th BRICS Summit and SCO Summit. “The Summit last year was productive and I am sure we will build on the ground covered during the last Summit. I expect positive outcomes in economic cooperation and cultural ties among the BRICS nations,” he said. He said he will be meeting the leaders individually and will be a part of the various interactions of BRICS leaders with captains of industry and leaders of other invited countries. “India attaches high importance to BRICS. It is a great forum that can contribute effectively to mitigate global challenges. BRICS also has a very crucial role to play in furthering world peace and security and ensuring we leave behind a better planet for our future generations,” Modi said. He will then go to Turkmenistan on July 11, marking the ﬁrst Prime Ministerial visit from India after P V Narasimha Rao’s trip visit in 1995. “I view this visit as an excellent opportunity to strengthen IndiaTurkmenistan ties in several areas,” he said, while noting that some agreements will be signed. -PTI

NEW BOOK

Dulat’s claims a ‘bundle of lies’: Hurriyat SRINAGAR: Terming as a “bundle of lies” the contention made by former Research and Analysis Wing chief A. S. Dulat, hardline Hurriyat Conference on Saturday said he wanted to create “confusion and chaos” in Indian-administered-Kashmir and damage the image of “trustworthy and honest” state leadership. “The claims of the former RAW chief about the Kashmiri leadership in his new book are a bundle of lies... To remain in news even after the retirement, Dulat has written a book based on absolute lies... and by doing this, he has actually once again tried to utilize his professional skills to create confusion and chaos,” Hurriyat said in a statement here. Describing Dulat as “a person having collusive mindset”, the statement said. Dulat actually wants to “damage the image of trustworthy and honest” leadership of Kashmir, it said adding “but he will never succeed in achieving that aim”. Hurriyat also dismissed as “ridiculous and blatant lie” Dulat’s claim that PDP was created by Geelani along with Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is now the chief minister. “PDP is not the creation of Geelani but it was setup by the Indian secret agencies. Hurriyat has information from reliable sources that the decision regarding creation of this party (PDP) was taken at the residence of a top IB officer,”it claimed. It also claimed that Dulat, during his tenure as the RAW chief, “tried his best to meet Geelani” but could not succeed. - PTI

TRAGEDY

Hema Malini to provide financial assistance to Jaipur accident victims MUMBAI: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hema Malini, who was discharged from a Jaipur hospital on Saturday after her Mercedes collided with another car leaving a child dead and injuring five others, including the actress, has offered financial assistance to families of the victims. The 66-year-old actor-politician reached Mumbai on Saturday by a chartered plane, accompanied

by her daughter Esha Deol and Deol’s husband Bharat Takhtani. Talking to reporters outside Hema’s residence in Juhu, Esha said, “My mother will help the families of victims. She is doing this not because she is a neta (leader) but because she is a good human being as well.” On Thursday night, the car in which Hema Malini was travelling rammed into another car com-

ing from the opposite direction in Dausa district of Rajasthan, killing a four-year-old girl and leaving ﬁve others injured, including the veteran actress. “Jab accident hua tab mummy ki jo condition thi wo kisi aur ke baare me kaise soch sakti thi...koi bhi nahi soch pa raha tha...par hame afsos hai us pariwar ne apna khoya hai (When the accident took place, my mother as well as the family was

not in a condition to comprehend anything but we are sad that a family has lost a dear one),” Esha said. “When the accident happened she was asleep. She had told everyone to wear their seat belts. But achanak picche se jor ka dhakka laga (suddenly we felt jolt from the rear side),” she said. “The accident was very bad..It was traumatic so no one was in a state to talk...or think anything,”

she said. Esha informed that Hema has been advised rest for now. “Doctors have asked her to take rest at home. She is a bit better now...she is ﬁne. She wants to rest now. She is not meeting anyone. She will relax for a day or two and then she will meet (people),” she added. Mahesh Chand Thakur, who was driving Hema’s car at the time of the accident, has been arrested. - PTI

DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL:

Bollywood actor Hema Malini (sitting in the car), injured in an accident in Rajasthan, arrives in Mumbai on Saturday. - PTI

PLAN TO ESCAPE

Security tightened at Hyderabad prison to foil Bhatkal’s escape HYDERABAD: Telangana prison officials on Saturday denied reports that jailed IM operative Yasin Bhatkal had called his wife using a mobile phone from Cherlapalli jail in the southern Indian state of Telangana. “The allegation that Yasin Bhatkal called his wife with a mobile phone from inside the Cherlapalli Prison is baseless, factless and there is no truth...it is a false allegation,” Telangana Prisons DIG A. Narasimha told reporters here. The question of bringing in a cell-phone inside the prison does not arise as thorough checks are conducted before anyone enters the premises, Narasimha claimed. Bhatkal, who is one of the accused in the February 2013 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case that rocked the city, is lodged in the Cherlapalli Central Prison here. According to reports, Bhatkal called up his wife using a cell phone from inside the jail and told her that he would get out

of the jail soon with help from “friends from Damascus”. Following the court orders, Bhatkal was granted telephone facility from February this year, wherein prisoners are allowed to speak to their family members twice a week, the DIG Prisons said. “Since Bhatkal availed the landline telephone facility, he spoke on two numbers to his mother and wife on 27 occasions. The phone facility is only for ﬁve minutes and it automatically gets disconnected after completion of the speciﬁed time,” Narasimha said. Conversations recorded The entire conversations have been recorded and the same have been handed over to the investigating and security agencies. “The 27 conversations, which are in Urdu and Arabic have been handed over to investigating agencies,” he said, adding, however, Bhatkal may have spoken during transit (while attending Court proceedings in the case) and “that needs to be ascertained”.

Security around the Cherlapalli prison will be enhanced with deployment of additional forces, the DIG said adding they carried out surprise checks on the jail premises on Saturday, but no cell phone was found. Meanwhile, an intelligence officer said the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case, is taking lot of precautions whenever Bhatkal and other accused are taken to court in connection with the case. “He has a plan to escape from the jail and we are watching it. The trial in the case is going on and lot of precaution is being taken by the NIA whenever Bhatkal and others are produced before the court,” the officer said. Eighteen people were killed and 131 injured in the deadly twin explosions that were triggered by powerful IEDs planted near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar, a crowded shopping area in the city on February 21, 2013. - PTI

SRI RAM COLONY

Communal tension in North East Delhi NEW DELHI: Security has been beefed up in North East Delhi’s Sri Ram Colony following tension between two communities in the area over an event organised by local unit of RSS at a park. Police said that vigil has been enhanced in the area after a clash had taken place in the area following holding of a “shakha” by local unit of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the park on June 28. “We are keeping a close watch on the situation even though

there is no chance of any communal clash. It is a dispute related to sharing of a public space in the congested area,” said Jt Commissioner of Police Eastern Range Sanjay Beniwal. They said a group of young boys from the minority community were playing badminton at the park when some RSS volunteers had gone there to hold the shakha. As per an FIR lodged at the Khajurikhas Police station, a clash had taken place when the

boys refused to vacate the park for RSS to hold the programme. The local minority community members alleged a programme has been organised by a right-wing organisation at the park on July 17-19 which coincides with Eid. Police said minority community traditionally offers namaz at the park and they were apprehensive over the programme, fearing it has been organised to disrupt Eid celebrations. -PTI

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INDIA T V T O D AY G R O U P

DERAILMENT KILLS ONE IN BENGAL, DISRUPTS TRAIN SERVICES

Derailed coaches of a goods train after collision with a truck in Purulia district in West Bengal on Saturday. One person was killed and train traffic in South Eastern Railway’s Adra division affected on Saturday after a truck rammed into a goods train causing it to derail in Purulia. Twelve trains, mostly short distance passengers, were cancelled for the day while long distance mail and express trains have were rerouted or diverted. -PTI

Journalist covering Madhya Pradesh’s Vyapam scam dies JHABUA (MP): A journalist working for a leading Delhibased news channel on Saturday suddenly took ill and died after having interviewed parents of a girl who had been found dead near railway tracks after her name ﬁgured in the infamous Vyapam scam of central Indian state Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place in Meghnagar near Jhabua town. Akshay Singh, who worked for TV Today group, had on Saturday called on the parents of Namrata Damor, whose body had been found under mysterious circumstances near railway tracks in Ujjain district. Namrata’s father Mehtab Singh Damor said Akshay and two others visited their house on Saturday afternoon. After the interview was over, someone was sent to get some papers photocopied. As Akshay was waiting outside Damor’s house, suddenly he started frothing at the mouth.

S PAC E M I S S I O N

ISRO to undertake biggest commercial launch on July 10 BENGALURU: In the heaviest ever commercial mission undertaken by ISRO and its commercial arm Antrix, the country’s workhorse the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will put in orbit five foreign satellites from the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on July 10. With the overall lift-off mass of the five satellites amounting to about 1,440kg, this mission becomes the heaviest commercial mission ever undertaken by Antrix/ISRO, the Indian space agency said. In its 13th flight, PSLV-C28 will launch three identical DMC3 optical earth observation satellites built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), United Kingdom (UK). The three DMC3 satellites, each weighing 447 kg, will be launched into a 647 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) using the high-end version of PSLV (PSLV-XL), ISRO said on its website. Ninth flight PSLV-C28 will be the ninth flight of PSLV in ‘XL’ configuration. In addition, the rocket will also carry two auxiliary satellites from UK - CBNT-1, a technology demonstrator earth observation micro satellite built by SSTL, and De-OrbitSail, a technology demonstrator nano satellite built by Surrey Space Centre, it said. Accommodating the three DMC3 satellites each with a height of about 3 metre within

the existing payload fairing of PSLV, was a challenge, ISRO said. To mount these satellites onto the launcher, a circular Launcher adaptor called L-adaptor and a triangular deck called Multiple Satellite Adapter-Version 2 (MSA-V2), were newly designed and realised by ISRO for this speciﬁc purpose. Customer satellites These international customer satellites are being launched as part of the arrangement entered into between DMC International Imaging (DMCii), a wholly owned subsidiary of SSTL, UK; and Antrix Corporation Limited (Antrix), it said. The DMC3 constellation, comprising three advanced minisatellites DMC3-1, DMC3-2 and DMC3-3, is designed to address the need for simultaneous high spatial resolution and high temporal resolution optical Earth Observation. Launched into a single LowEarth Orbit plane and phased with a separation of 120 degrees between them, these satellites can image any target on the Earth’s surface every day. Major application areas include surveying the resources on earth and its environment, managing urban infrastructure and monitoring of disasters. CBNT-1, weighing 91kg, is an optical Earth Observation technology demonstration micro satellite built by SSTL. - PTI

He was rushed to civil hospital and later to a private hospital, but doctors failed to revive him. From there he was taken to another hospital in nearby Dahod in Gujarat, where he was declared brought dead. Jhabua district’s Superintendent of Police Abid Khan confirmed that a person named Akshay Singh had died in Meghnagar. High profile More than 40 people associated with the scam have died since 2013. The most high-profile death was of Shailesh Yadav, son of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav. Shailesh (50) was found dead at his father’s residence in the Mall Avenue area of Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow on March 25, 2015. The opposition Congress has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the matter. - PTI

Girls take top 4 spots in civil services exam Twenty-nine-yearold Ira Singhal topped the exam in the general category followed by Renu Raj, a doctor from Kerala, and Nidhi Gupta, from Delhi who secured second

PRESTIGIOUS EXAM : Vandana Rao who got the fourth rank in the Civil Services Exams 2014, cel-

ebrates her success with the family at the their residence in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

and third positions respectively

NEW DELHI: Ira Singhal, a physically handicapped IRS ofﬁcer from Delhi, topped the Civil services examination in which the top four positions went to women. Twenty-nine-year-old Singhal topped the exam in the general category followed by Renu Raj, a doctor from Kerala, and Nidhi Gupta, also an Indian Revenue Service officer from Delhi, who secured second and third positions respectively, according to the results announced by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Saturday. Vandana Rao, who is also from Delhi, has got fourth rank while

Suharsha Bhagat, an IRS (Income Tax cadre) officer has got fifth position in the examination. A total number of 1,236 candidates, including 590 in General category, 354 belonging to Other Backward Class, 194 from Scheduled Caste and 98 from Scheduled Tribe, have been recommended for appointment to various central government services, the UPSC said. “I am really very happy. I can’t believe this. I just prepared for the examination. I want to be an IAS officer. I want to do something for the benefit of physically-handicapped people,” Ira said. Renu got the second rank in her first attempt. “I am extremely happy. I have been preparing for the exam for the last one year,” she said over

phone from Thiruvananthapuram. She works in a hospital in Kollam in Kerala and hails from Kottayam. Third rank holder Nidhi said it is a proud moment for her to get selected in the examination.”It is really a proud moment. I put in lot of hard work and ﬁnally it paid,” she said. Nidhi is presently Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise. Vandana Rao, who got the fourth rank, is the topper in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category. “I called up people twice to cross check whether or not I have made it in the exam. It is a pleasant surprise. It is really a result of hard work,” she said Vandana graduated in 2012 and now aspires to be an IAS officer.”I want to be an IAS

officer as it gives you ample scope to do something worthwhile for the country,” she said. It was her third attempt. Bhagat, who hails from Bihar, is a Chemical Engineer from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. “Suharsha got selected in Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) in 2011. In 2012, he took the exam again and got Indian Information Service. In 2013 exam, he got IRS (income Tax). He is posted in Nagpur,” his father Phulendra Bhagat, who is a doctor, said from Bihar’s Samastipur. IAS and IPS officers are selected among others in the prestigious exam. A total of 1,364 posts are to be ﬁlled through the civil services examination. There are 254 candidates in the waiting list. - PTI

TA K I N G S T O C K

PM Modi’s positives should not be swamped by negatives NEW DELHI: So, even as the economy is certified by the Reserve Bank governor to be on the mend, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to take the country into a digital age with more e-governance, it is the daily stumbles of ministers and mandarins that are attracting greater attention. While these missteps may be difficult to prevent, given the casual manner in which rules tend to be flouted by the rich and powerful, a prompt and decisive intervention from the highest levels will be an effective counter to the impression that the government is being overwhelmed by various problems. Tightening norms Modi’s decision to step into the rumpus caused by the deplaning of passengers in Leh, Ladakh, to accommodate VIPs is a sign that the norms are being tightened. But there has to be more such steps at a time when the various controversies range from the Lalit Modi affair to the mysterious deaths of the accused and witnesses associated with a scam in Madhya Pradesh to the holding up of an international flight so

that a member of a chief minister’s staff can fetch his passport from home or the non-submission of e-tenders (even as e-governance is being hailed) by a Maharashtra minister for the purchase of ﬁre extinguishers. Collectively, the drip-drip of allegations can erode the government’s image. It will not be until the economy reaches a high plateau of an 8-9 per cent growth rate, or the prime minister’s fabled penchant for enforcing discipline begins to visibly bear fruit on more than one occasion, that the government will be able to breathe easily. The only success which the government has been able to achieve so far is to prevent a major communal ﬂare-up. This accomplishment cannot but disappoint Congressmen like Mani Shankar Aiyar who was hoping for a “Godhra moment” to tarnish Narendra Modi’s name. Related to this achievement is the government’s success in taming the saffron hotheads. As a result, the incidents of ‘ghar wapsi’ and ‘love jehad’ have tapered off, suggesting that a stern message is all that is needed to bring the doctrinaire elements to book. What is curious, however, is

what may be unpopular decisions, whatever the government has to do on the economic front has to be done now.

ELATED: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during the

launch of Digital India Week in New Delhi on Wednesday. - PTI

why the government has been unwilling to take pre-emptive action against the fundamentalists so that they will not be able to queer the pitch to start with. Had that been done, much of its image problems could have been avoided. The anticipatory steps might have been expected since the umbilical connections between those in the government and the extremists outside would have warned the former what to expect. Yet, we have the instances of madrasas being downgraded in Maharashtra or the National Investigative Agency’s lawyers being asked to go slow on Hindu mili-

tants, which cannot but reinforce the perception of the government being guided by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). State elections Arguably, by the time the economy picks up and the daily gaffes are curbed, the next general election will not be far away. In the meantime, the state elections in Bihar, Assam, West Bengal and elsewhere, apart from the various by-elections, may not always yield results in the BJP’s favour, thereby denting its conﬁdence. Since the run-up to a general election is not the time to take

Time for bitter medicine If any “bitter medicine” is to be administered, as the prime minister said right at the beginning of his tenure, this is the time for it to be given. But as long as the government continues to grapple with the various controversies, any movement even on ushering in governance via mobile phones, as Modi promised, or ensuring Swachh Bharat, let alone on the economy, will be tentative. What the fate of the Congress in the last general election has shown is that the government must always be proactive about its plus points. Otherwise, an accumulation of negative impressions can be fatal. As is known, the poverty reduction under the Manmohan Singh government was the fastest in the country’s history. This was stated by none other than the present government’s chief economic adviser, Arvind Subramanian. Notwithstanding this remarkable achievement, the Congress crashed to its worst defeat in its

history simply because the many scams, big and small, undermined the party’s and the government’s credibility. If the Modi government wants to avoid a similar outcome, it will have to match its performance with promise. And the promise is not only the one on economic growth but also on transparency in official functioning based on trust and credibility. However, trust cannot be gained by rejecting a Right to Information (RTI) application seeking details on the former cricket impresario, Lalit Modi’s passport. Nor can it be enhanced if a minister of state in the external affairs ministry accuses those seeking such information as conducting a “supari” (contract) operation. Hawala transaction This was the point which L.K. Advani made when he recalled how he resigned when a momentary shadow was cast on his reputation with the mention of his name in a hawala transaction. Considering that the octogenarian leader is expected to indicate the ‘marg’ or path which the party should follow, his advice should not be ignored. - IANS

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PAKISTAN C O N V E Y G R I E VA N C E S

LESS RAINS EXPECTED

People rest on benches under the shadow of trees in a Karachi park on July 4, 2015. A met official said this year Karachi and other parts of Sindh and Balochistan were forecasted to receive below normal monsoon rains. — AFP

Altaf ‘deeply hurt’ by PPP leaders not taking calls KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain claims to have been ‘deeply hurt’ by the apathetic attitude of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leadership after he was unable to convey his grievances to them regarding the recent arrest of his workers by Rangers personnel. Altaf had called Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari but was unable to speak to them. According to a press release issued by the party, the MQM chief called Shah but the line was not clear and because of the chief minister’s ‘old-age’, the latter could not hear Altaf Hussain clearly. The MQM chief then told the chief minister that he would call again from his direct phone. When he called the second time, instead of Shah, it was his operator who picked up. The operator made Altaf wait for several minutes, during which time he was forced to listen to recorded speeches of the deceased Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, said the press release. The operator then said that the chief minister would call him back but the call never came. Altaf also called Zardari, several times on his two numbers in Dubai but he did not pick up. — Express Tribune

RUMOURS TRASHED

Government in bid to boost power output, says minister Minister of State

Hina Rabbani Khar

for Water and

Hina conﬁrms she is not quitting PPP

Power Abid Sher

ISLAMABAD: Former Foreign Minister Hina Rabanni Khar on Saturday dispelled rumours about quitting the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and said that she will “swim and sink together” with it. “These are unsubstantiated rumours, please ignore,” Hina Rabbani Khar said. Last week, rumours were rife that Hina might be joining Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). However, the former foreign minister conﬁrmed that she will not be joining PTI. On Friday night, Hina’s father also denied the reports of her exit from the party. “My daughter is sticking with my party (PPP)—she is not going anywhere,” her father Ghulam Rabbani Khar added. “We are sticking with PPP,” senior Khar said. — Express Tribune

of electricity. He

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Ali said efforts are underway to produce up to 21,000MW

stressed that ‘problems in the system’ will be eliminated by 2016

LAHORE: Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Saturday said that the government is trying its best to increase its power output, adding that the issue of low voltage will be resolved by next year. “Efforts are being made to produce more power in the country,” Abid said while addressing the media in Lahore. The minister added that efforts are underway to produce up to 21,000MW of electricity. He stressed that “problems in the system” will be eliminated by 2016. Regarding the provision of funding, Abid said that the gov-

WOES: File photo shows residents set tyres on ﬁre in protest against electricity shortages on a street in Karachi on May 23, 2009.

ernment has ample funds but not much land. “We have the funds. The only issue is the lack of land,” he told reporters. Abid also said that he will meet with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to dis-

cuss the power crisis in the province. During the press conference, the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz leader also justiﬁed that WAPDA employees in Sukkur are well paid, adding that they are paid “Rs3,600,000”. Further, he also said that un-

announced load-shedding in Ramazan has come to a halt in the entire country. Earlier, Abid Sher Ali made similar claims when he said the government is striving to overcome energy crisis and to bring progress and prosperity to the

country on Wednesday. “1,100 kilometre transmission lines and 93 grid stations are being installed to resolve the crisis,” he said. Further adding that ensuring peace in Karachi is a top priority of the government. — Express Tribune

C O M M E N TA RY

Climate change, instability and threats imperil country BY SYED MOHAMMAD ALI

s the death toll from the severe heatwave in Sindh kept mounting during the past week, so did political tensions and blame-shifting, including the opposition seizing the opportunity to criticise the government for its ineptness, and the government in turn claiming that it is entities like K-Electric which are at fault for failing to supply electricity, in turn exacerbating the problem. The minister for climate change has even pointed a ﬁnger at coalpowered plants in Rajasthan, for contributing to the deadly heatwave, which is ironic since our government has ambitious plans to generate power from coal to

overcome the current electricity crisis. As this current heatwave is also being linked to global climate change, it may not be a standalone event, and instead become a more troubling recurrent phenomenon. Security risks Countries like Pakistan could face increasing political instability and security risks as a result of mounting climate change pressures, which have thus been dubbed “the ultimate threat multiplier” in a report commissioned by the Group of Seven (G7) major industrialised countries. Besides urging G7 governments to consider climate change and its associated fragility risks as a primary foreign policy agenda, this

In the last five years, Pakistan has become one of the top 10 countries most impacted by climate change

report points out how failure to prevent and manage disasters has already begun to exacerbate conﬂict and tensions across the developing world. The climate threat has been highlighted in the social upheaval surrounding Egypt’s revolution in 2011 to the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria. In Asia, Thailand’s severe 2011 ﬂoods, which affected two million

people, further instigated ongoing anti-government protests. Looking ahead, states already afflicted by conflict and poverty, such as Somalia, Afghanistan and Niger, and the increasingly water-short Indus River basin in India and Pakistan, are identified as facing some of the biggest risks of instability. In the last five years, Pakistan has become one of the top 10 coun-

tries most impacted by climate change. Global warming has also triggered a Himalayan glacial melt, which will have severe consequences for our nation, given that the Indus River depends on glacial waters for almost half its flow. Threats to food security The ongoing glacial melt is feared to cause more frequent and intense flooding in the short-term, followed by decreasing water flows in the future, threatening agricultural production and national food security. The above report also warns that the changing environmental conditions could disrupt the viability of the existing Indus Waters Treaty between India and Paki-

stan. Indo-Pakistani water interdependence requires collaborative research concerning the predicted effects of climate change, or else growing water stress will increase the threat of unilateral action based on divisive politics, which continue to plague relations between the two countries. Weather related problems have also begun to cause socio-political tensions domestically. The major ﬂoods which have been wreaking havoc across rural Pakistan in recent years, for example, and the lacklustre government and donor response to these calamities, has increased political marginalisation and disaffection among affected groups, especially small and landless farmers. — Express Tribune

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TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS Late in the afternoon on Thursday, a fire broke out in a residential apartment in Darsait. The firefighters from nearby unit rushed to the spot and rescued the members from the flat

B The political freedom resulting from the American revolutionary war was earned on battleﬁelds at Lexington and Concord and beyond, with the help of black soldiers, both free and enslaved, who fought with the Continental Army bit.ly/slavesinamericanrevolution

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Troika’s pressure on Greece is like a coup

CHRISTOPHER ENGMAN

ehind last week’s headlines on Greece – of an economy in meltdown, of stock market losses and British holidaymakers having to hoard Euros before jetting off to Corfu – lies a country besieged by tragedy. People in Greece are suffering. Over 40 per cent of children are living in poverty, up from 23 per cent in 2008. A quarter of the workforce is unemployed and over half of young people don’t have a job. This human tragedy, inﬂicted so deliberately on the Greek people, is compounded by the resounding failure of austerity in economic terms. The Troika’s plan – of enforced cuts to the Greek state- has seen Greece’s government debt to GDP ratio go from 133 per cent in 2010 to 174 per cent today. Since 2010 the Troika has lent €252 billion to the Greek government. Of this, the vast majority of the money was used to bailout banks, pay off the private sector to accept restructuring, and repay old debts and interest from reckless lending. Less than 10 per cent of the money has actually reached the people who need it most. The Troika’s intransigence on austerity amounts to nothing short of an attempted coup. A democratically elected government is being backed in a corner by the servants of capital who are desperate to embarrass the Greek electorate for daring to question austerity. For those of us who believe in the EU as a body which should uphold human rights and value solidarity, this bullying is particularly repulsive. You might be forgiven for believing that there is no alternative to further austerity in Greece. But, as history shows us, countries can escape crippling debt in a just way. In 1953, at a summit called The London Conference, Greece was

among the European nations signing a deal which allowed for the cancellation of German debt, to enable the country to rebuild after the destruction of the World War II. It’s now time for European countries to come together again and allow Greece to cancel debts, and begin the process of stabilisation. Indeed, it’s just been revealed that even the IMF is now saying debt relief must be part of any package to rescue Greece. Sunday’s referendum gives Greek people a choice – but it also places them at the barrel of a gun. Say ‘yes’ to the deal and the remaining social security net will be ripped from them, but a ‘no’ risks bringing the forces of darkness to the door, further punishing Greek resistance by cutting off the country from the support it so desperately needs. A clear no vote, as the Syriza government is urging, would at least mean that the Troika might have to reconsider its plans. If this was a natural disaster we’d be doing all we could to assist Greeks in their time of need. But, because solutions to this economic disaster ﬂy in the face of UK’s obsession with stripping down the state, no help is at hand. No self-respecting democratic can stand by and watch while the Troika dishes out further pain to the Greek people, who are paying the price for a crisis that wasn’t of their making. The Greeks have joined together in these harsh times – setting up health clinics and food banks to support their neighbours – but there’s only so much more that the already crumbling safety net can take before it entirely collapses. If the leaders of European countries really do care about the human suffering in Greece then they’ll cast a failed ideology aside and work for a credible solution to the country’s crisis. - The Independent

READERS’ FORUM Pakistan naive to trust China This refers to the news report on China offering $50 billion to Pakistan to help the South Asian country to build hydro power projects. (July 3). In my opinion it is naive of Islamabad to trust the Chinese. The much used slogan of all-weather friends — to describe the two countries’ ties — is such only on face value. When China ﬁnds Pakistan is not of use to its strategic interests any more it will abandon Islamabad. — Carla Jordan, Muscat

Authorities in Philippines need to curb overloading of ferries

Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi).

This refers to the news report Death toll from capsized Philippine ferry rises to 51. (July 3). I think the government in Manila is not able to implement the laws pertaining overloading ferries. It seems odd that the ferry owners are able to get away by openly ﬂouting rules. It is high time the concerned authorities get their act straight and make sure such incidents do not occur in the future. — Caren Stuarts, Muscat

Online advertising allows EU citizens to access information, educational material and entertainment sites without paying for them directly, and the amount being spent on it in Europe is growing fast. The industry’s revenues have more than quadrupled since 2006 bit.ly/europedataprivacy

FROM OUR ARCHIVES JULY 2000 Gas exploration programme mapped out A gas exploration programme has been mapped out to increase the Sultanate’s gas reserves to 40 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in the upcoming years, said Salim bin Mohammed bin Sha’aban, oil and gas undersecretary. In statements published by the Arabic daily, Al Watan, yesterday, Sha’aban said an existing committee was tasked to prepare annual programmes for external marketing of the Sultanate’s gas after securing LNG reserves.

PICTOGRAPH Wednesday souq of Ibra Oman is the only country to have a women-only souq. It takes place every Wednesday in the city of Ibra. It is the most colourful souq of Arabia. Men are forbidden to even stick around. Women traders sell everything from spices to jewellery and fabrics to women buyers

Rusayl Fanja Bidbid

Muscat

180 km

IBRA

TODAY IN HISTORY

Not knowing a dog from a bear is truly hard to believe

This refers to the news report Farmers raise bears as ‘pet dogs’ for two years (July 3). I ﬁnd this report very hard to believe. However, as it has actually happened, I think the seller of the bear should be arrested while the buyer needs to be sent to school to learn the difference between the two animals. In my view, this story underlines the quality of education in the so called superpower. How is it possible that a person who has been educated does not know difference between a bear and dog?— Anisah Jatoi, Muscat

CLIPPINGS

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

New India’s PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY and PUBLIC LIABILITY POLICIES safeguard the professional hazards of Doctors/Engineers/Architects/ Hospitals/Hotels etc. www.newindiaoman.com

1776: The amended Declaration of Independence, prepared by Thomas Jefferson, is approved and signed by John Hancock–President of the Continental Congress–and Charles Thomson, Congress secretary. The state of New York abstains from signing 1863: The Confederate town of Vicksburg, Mississippi, surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant. 1946: The United States grants the Philippine Islands their independence

Fish m a

rket

Ibra main market

50m

Bank Dhofar

Women's Souq Ibra Medical Centre

Source: omantourism.gov.om

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A calendar-based withdrawal - that would be a tragedy, and in my view, an opening for the Taliban to gain and create success here in Afghanistan John McCain, US Senator of Arizona

Iran, world powers continue talks to clinch nuclear deal All sides say a deal is within reach. But there are other sticking points in addition to sanctions and future monitoring mechanisms

VIENNA: Iran and world powers continued marathon talks on Saturday in an attempt to clinch an historic nuclear accord but remained divided on issues such as lifting UN sanctions and development of advanced centrifuges. Diplomats close to the negotiations said they had tentative agreement on a mechanism for suspending US and European Union sanctions on Iran. But the six powers had yet to agree on a United Nations Security Council resolution that would lift UN sanctions and establish a means of re-imposing them in case of Iranian non-compliance with a future agreement. Resolution not sorted “We still haven’t sorted a Security Council resolution,” a diplomat close to the talks told Reuters. “We don’t have Iran on board yet.” Senior Iranian and Western diplomats echoed the remarks. Iran is in talks with the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia on an agreement to curtail its nuclear programme for at least a decade in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. The negotiators missed a June A F G H A N I S TA N

CLOSETED: An Austrian police officer stands guard outside the Palais Coburg Hotel, venue of the Iran nuclear talks meetings, in Vienna on Saturday. – AFP

30 deadline for a ﬁnal agreement, but have given themselves until July 7, and foreign ministers not already in Vienna are due to return on Sunday for a ﬁnal push. Iran issued a warning about consequences of a collapse in the talks. “The other side has tried all kinds of pressure against Iran and if it intends to test these pressures again, as (President Hassan) Rouhani has said, Iran’s response would be actions harder than what the other side imagines,” said Iran’s nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi, quoted by Iranian news agencies. All sides say a deal is within reach. But there are other stick-

ing points in addition to sanctions and future monitoring mechanisms. One is a stalled UN investigation into the possible military dimensions of past Iranian nuclear research suspected of being linked to weapons development. Another is Iran’s demand to continue research and development work on advanced centrifuges, machines that purify uranium for use as fuel in power plants or weapons. UN International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Yukiya Amano on Saturday said he could issue a report on its investigation into past Iranian research suspected of being linked

NAT I O N AT WA R

Parliament declines to okay defence minister KABUL: Afghanistan’s parliament rejected a second nominee for defence minister on Saturday, leaving a vacuum that has already lasted nine months, while government forces battled the Taliban just 30 miles west of the capital Kabul. The president’s failure to nominate a full cabinet since he took office in September has sown great discontent among Afghans and Saturday’s vote was seen as a test of his government’s influence over parliament. As the Afghan army remained without political leadership on Wednesday, Taliban militants were fighting the government for check points in Wardak province, some 30 miles (50km) west of the capital, the governor’s office said in a statement. At least 24 members of the police were killed in the two-day battle, it said, and fighting was ongoing. Security has deteriorated across the country and many blame the government, for squabbling over key security posts at a time when US military support is severely limited. US Senator John McCain of Arizona, visiting Kabul on Saturday, told reporters that Taliban attacks had increased and US troops should stay longer than planned to prevent the militants from making gains. There are around 9,800 US troops left in Afghanistan, down from a peak of around 100,000 in 2011. The majority are training Afghan forces, but a contingent of several thousand are still engaged in combat. “I think the most serious mistake the US could make... would be to have a calendar-based withdrawal,” McCain said. “A calendar-based withdrawal that would be a tragedy, and in my view, an opening for the Taliban to gain and create success here in Afghanistan,” McCain said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani thanked the United States for its support after meeting with McCain, in a statement released by the presidency. — Agencies

ONE FOR CAMERA: Yemeni ﬁghters loyal to exiled President

Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi pose for a photo in the Dar Saad suburb of the southern city of Aden on Saturday. – AFP

Saudi-led strike on Yemen rebel bastion kills 23 SANAA: A Saudi-led air strike on a Houthi rebel stronghold in Yemen’s northern mountains killed 23 people early on Saturday, tribal sources said. The strike targeted a munitions factory in Saqayn, near Saada, the sources said. Coalition aircraft also bombed the rebel-held capital Sanaa, targeting an arms warehouse and the air defence headquarters, witnesses said. The coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in March, after the Houthis seized control of much of the country prompting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to take refuge in neighbouring Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Houthi movement said on Saturday a pause in ﬁghting to last until the end of the holy month of Ramadan was under discussion with the United Nations to allow for deliveries of humanitarian aid. Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said in a post on his Facebook page he had met UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Friday to discuss the matter. The UN envoy is also holding discussions with the pro-Hadi government in Saudi Arabia to push for a pause, sources said.

The US State Department on Thursday called for a “humanitarian pause” in the conﬂict during Ramadan to allow international aid groups to deliver urgently needed food, medicine and fuel. The European Union said on Friday it supported UN efforts to secure a lasting, predictable and sustainable humanitarian ceaseﬁre and demanded that Saudi-led forces ease restrictions on entry of ships to Yemeni ports. “The details are still unclear in terms of a starting date and duration of a humanitarian pause; however the special envoy believes that there is ground for optimism that the parties will agree in the coming days,” said UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi. Saudi Arabia, determined to thwart any arms deliveries to the Houthis, has imposed a near total blockade on a country heavily reliant on imports. Nationwide fuel shortages have spread disease and suffering in arid Yemen, where access to water usually depends on fuel-powered pumps and more than 20 million people, 80 per cent of the population, needs some form of aid, according to the United Nations. — Agencies

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to nuclear weapons development by the end of the year if Tehran cooperated. Possible dimensions “With cooperation from Iran, I think we can issue a report by the end of the year on the assessment of the clariﬁcation of the issues related to the possible military dimensions,” he said ahead of meetings with some members of the six-power group. Answering the IAEA’s so-far unresolved questions about the “possible military dimensions” (PMD) of past Iranian nuclear research will be a condition for easing some sanctions on Iran if Tehran and the six powers suc-

ceed in agreeing on a nuclear accord in Vienna, diplomats close to the talks say. Amano was in Tehran on Thursday for meetings with Rouhani and other top Iranian officials to discuss the stalled IAEA investigation into Tehran’s past nuclear work. He said that during his trip progress had been made in moving his investigation forward but more work would be needed, echoing a statement the IAEA issued on Friday. US Secretary of State John Kerry, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have remained in Vienna. Senior officials from Iran and the six powers have continued meeting to try to finalise an agreement. Kerry and Zarif met on Saturday and were due to talk again in the evening, a US official said. Western and Iranian officials said there were signs of a compromise emerging on one of the major sticking points: access to Iranian sites to monitor compliance with a future agreement. Another potential emerging compromise relates to Iran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium. Western and Iranian diplomats said Tehran was considering shipping most of the stockpile out of the country, something Tehran had previously ruled out. Regarding the PMD issue, Western diplomats said they were not demanding a public confession that Iran had conducted research into building a nuclear warhead, but that the IAEA had to be satisfied it knew the full scope of past Iranian activity to establish a credible basis for future monitoring. A preliminary agreement reached on April 2 in Lausanne, Switzerland said the PMD would have to be addressed under any final accord between Iran and the six powers. — Reuters

WA R W I T H I N C O U N T RY

Syrian rebels, allies battle regime forces in Aleppo BEIRUT: Two coalitions of Syrian rebels battled to advance in government-held western Aleppo on Saturday, seizing an army barracks in one district, but being pushed back elsewhere. The fighting in the country’s former economic powerhouse is some of the fiercest since the Syrian conflict arrived in the northern city in mid-2012. Elsewhere, government forces launched a major operation to recapture Zabadani, the last opposition-held town in the Qalamun region near Damascus. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported heavy clashes in several parts of Aleppo’s west side. It said fighters from the Conquest of Aleppo alliance of mostly moderate forces had captured on Friday a former research centre being used as a military barracks. Significant strategic step “This is a significant strategic step in terms of the battle that has been going on in Aleppo in the past two years,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said, adding that it opened up lines of attack against several nearby regimeheld districts. A video online showed the capture, with fighters from one of the groups firing in the air, the threestarred flag of the Syrian uprising behind them. The Observatory said government forces had tried unsuccessfully to recapture the facility overnight and launched air raids against it on Saturday, prompting the rebels to partially evacuate. Conquest of Aleppo and a second rebel grouping, Ansar Al Sharia, which is dominated by hardliners and Al Qaeda’s local affiliate Al Nusra Front, began operations against government-held districts of Aleppo this week. The attacks have prompted fierce clashes and heavy bombardment, with rebels firing hundreds of rockets and the government launching dozens of air strikes. — AFP

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Female bombers kill 200 in 3 days in Nigeria village

CELEBRATIONS: A woman waves an American ﬂag as she rides in an antique pickup truck through Barnstable Village on Cape Cod, during the annual Fourth of July Parade celebrating the country’s independence day, in Barnstable, United States, on Saturday. — Reuters

On independence day, US faces security woes clear to everybody that we take clear and credible threats or calls from our citizens and employees very, very seriously,” Lanier said. On the US West Coast, which is already battling wildfires, communities in Washington state and Oregon restricted or banned fireworks out of fear that the dazzling displays of pyrotechnics would spark fresh blazes. Cupertino, California, and Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, cancelled fireworks shows because of such concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued an alert asking local authorities and the

DARK SHADOWS: Police officers patrol Times Square in New York,

United States, on Friday. — Reuters

public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent calls for

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violence by leaders of the IS group

NEW YORK: Millions of Americans readied on Saturday for independence day parades and ﬁrework shows amid worries over possible security threats, a spike in shark attacks on East Coast beaches and the danger of wildﬁres in the West. The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have issued an alert asking local authorities and the public to remain vigilant for possible threats following recent

calls for violence by IS militant group leaders. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered increased monitoring statewide for the holiday weekend under the direction of the New York Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. In New York City, the nation’s biggest police force assigned about 7,000 officers and nearly all its counter-terrorism personnel to handle security around Independence Day events. “We’re constantly seeking to be creative, to be proactive and not just be preparing to respond if something happens,” New York

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said this week. “The name of the game is to prevent it.” Hundreds of thousands of people were expected to ﬂood the National Mall in Washington, DC, for a parade, concerts, and a ﬁreworks display that uses 6,500 shells. The National Park Service is installing 3.4 miles (5.47km) of chain link fencing, 14,000 feet of bike racks and almost 350 portable toilets to cope with the crowds. Washington was shaken on Thursday by an unfounded report of gunshots at the Navy Yard military base, a report that sparked a massive law enforcement response. Police Chief Cathy Lanier told reporters police were in a heightened posture ahead of the holiday. “When we talk to our residents and visitors who want to celebrate independence day in the District of Columbia, it should be very

Shark attacks Revellers celebrating the holiday on the beaches of North Carolina, meanwhile, were warned by the National Park Service to use extra caution after an unprecedented surge in shark attacks. The seven attacks recorded in the state by midday Thursday have already surpassed the previous high of four in 2014, according to the International Shark Attack File. While the news will keep some people from venturing into the water, others won’t give up the surf, said shark ﬁle curator George Burgess. “There are those who have made their decision: ‘I don’t care. I’m going to go in the water no matter what,’” he said. Celebrations in Texas feature country music legend Willie Nelson, and in Oklahoma, a watermelon seed spitting contest. Nelson’s all-day picnic, held this year at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack outside Austin, typically draws tens of thousands of people for a day of drinking and music. — Reuters

KANO (NIGERIA): Several female suicide bombers blew themselves up in the midst of fleeing residents in a northeast Nigerian village, continuing a series of attacks that have killed some 200 people in just three days, witnesses said on Saturday. The latest attack took place on Friday night in Zabarmari village, 10 kilometres (six miles) from the city of Maiduguri, birthplace of the militant group. Local resident Haladu Musa, who fled the attack to Maiduguri, said that “large numbers” of fighters poured into the village, overpowering government forces deployed to prevent the insurgents reaching Maiduguri. “The soldiers were forced to retreat,” he said. Then, as people began to flee, female suicide bombers started blowing themselves up in their midst, killing large numbers of people, he said. “Most of the casualties came from the suicide bombings,” he said, without being able to give a precise figure for the dead and injured. Musa said the militants looted shops and torched “almost half the village” before eventually being repulsed after the military sent in reinforcements. Danlami Ajaokuta, a civilian vigilante helping the military battle Boko Haram and who also witnessed the attack, spoke of heavy casualties. “The main concern now is to evacuate and attend to the injured and later recover the dead

The latest attack took place on Friday night in Zabarmari village, 10 kilometres from the city of Maiduguri, birthplace of the Boko Haram militant group

bodies now lying in the village,” he said, adding that more than 100 people had been hospitalised with injuries. Boko Haram, which is ﬁghting to establish a hardline state in northeast Nigeria and has sworn allegiance to the IS militant group, has intensiﬁed its campaign of violence since President Mohammadu Buhari came to power on May 29. The Zabarmari attack followed a series of attacks across restive Borno state since Wednesday that have been blamed on the militants. Last week, militants gunned down worshippers at evening Ramadan prayers, shot women in their homes and dragged men from their beds in the dead of night. A young female suicide bomber also killed 12 worshippers when she blew herself up in a mosque. — AFP

M A L AY S I A

Attorney general gets Najib case documents KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s attorney-general said on Saturday that a task force investigating state fund 1MDB had passed several documents to him, including ones connected to allegations that money was transferred into the account of Prime Minister Najib Razak. The statement comes a day after a Wall Street Journal report said that investigators had traced nearly $700 million to bank accounts that they believed belonged to the prime minister. In a statement issued on Friday night, Najib denied taking any money from the state fund or any other entity for personal gain. Task force Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said the documents were given to him by the task force made up of members of the country’s anti-corruption commission, police and central bank. “This team have several documents that were passed for me

to check. I have veriﬁed that I have received these documents on 1MDB including documents connected to allegations that money was transferred into the account of the prime minister,” Abdul Gani said in a statement. He did not give any further details about the nature or contents of the documents. The public prosecutor said he had given guidance to the task force to take further action, but did not specify what action would be initiated. Serious allegations Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Saturday that authorities must immediately investigate the allegations made against Najib in the newspaper report. “These allegations are serious because they can affect the credibility and integrity of Najib as PM and the leader of the government,” Muhyiddin said in a statement. — Reuters

24TH TU’I KANOKUPOLU

Tonga’s 1,000-year-old monarchy gets new king in Tupou VI NUKU’ALOFA (TONGA): Tupou VI was formally crowned King of Tonga on Saturday before thousands of people including heads of state and dignitaries from around the world, capping a week steeped in traditional rites. Because it is taboo for Tongans to touch their king’s head, a retired Australian minister was ﬂown in to perform the televised crowning. The new king also becomes the 24th Tu’i Kanokupolu, an ancient Tongan title that pre-dates the monarchy by centuries. Celebrations and ancient rituals leading up to the coronation began last Saturday with a Taumafa Kava, a traditional ceremony in which Tupou VI drank the kava drink to conﬁrm his title as king of Tonga. Historic rite The historic rite -- in which about 150 nobles, wearing traditional ta’ovala mats around their waists, sat in a circle to drink kava from coconut shells -- launched seven days of street parties, black-tie balls, fashion shows and feasting before the king was crowned by Australian D’Arcy Wood.

CORONATION: Tongan King George Tupou VI, second right facing, accompanied by his wife Queen

Nanasipau’u, right, is crowned during the coronation ceremony in Nuku’alofa on Saturday.

“No Tongan citizen can do it as it is forbidden for a Tongan to touch the king’s head,” the 78-year-old retired Methodist minister said last week before ﬂying to Tonga

from his home near Melbourne. Wood was born in Tonga when his father worked there in 1924 and met the new king when he was Tonga’s High Commissioner to

- AFP

Australia in the 1990s. Tupou VI, 55, ascended to the throne following the death of his bachelor brother Tupou V, who died in 2012 after a six-year reign

of major reforms that expanded democracy in the nation of about 110,000 people. An estimated 15,000 people, mainly expatriate Tongans, ﬂew in for the coronation, with the invited guests including Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito, his wife Princess Masako, and European royals Prince Georg von Habsburg from Hungary and Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg from Austria. Hundreds of school children sitting on traditional mats, formed a guard of honour as the robed King Tupou VI and his wife, Queen Nanasipau’u arrived at the Free Wesleyan Centenary Church for the ceremony. The celebrations were to continue in the evening with a Tupakapakanava -- the lighting of torches along the coast line -- and will end on Tuesday with a military tattoo. Although Tonga has economic problems including high youth unemployment, most of its citizens have deep respect for their monarchy and the lavishness of the coronation was not a concern. Auckland-based Ofa Taufo’ou, who returned home for the cel-

ebrations, told Radio New Zealand that Tongans valued their royalty and culture. “I don’t have the words to explain how much it means to me to have royalty, and to have this occasion,” he said. Wood said Tonga’s affection for their monarch was deeply entrenched in their history. “The monarch represents for them continuity and security -- a symbolic role which unites and reassures the people.” Tonga’s monarchy can trace its history back 1,000 years and by the 13th century the nation wielded power and inﬂuence over surrounding islands, including Samoa, nearly 900 kilometres (560 miles) to the east. Tupou I, who converted to Christianity after coming under the inﬂuence of missionaries, was proclaimed king in 1845 after winning control of the monarchy from two other royal lines. By 1900 the country had become a British protectorate and acquired its independence in 1970. It remains the only monarchy among South Pacific island nations. — AFP

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ACCIDENT

Philippine police charge owner, crew of capsized ferry with murder MANILA: Philippine police have ﬁled murder charges against the owner and crew of a passenger ferry that capsized killing 59 people, an official said on Saturday. The charges were ﬁled late on Friday in the central city of Ormoc over the sinking of the Kim Nirvana ship, according to regional police chief Asher Dolina. An initial police investigation

and interviews with survivors indicated the vessel abruptly turned in waters off the central port of Ormoc on Thursday, causing it to capsize, Dolina told AFP. “They were not careful, showing there was an intent to kill. They were reckless on purpose,” Dolina said. A total of nineteen people were charged, including ship operator Joge Bong Zarco, captain

Warren Oliviero, and all 17 crew members, according to Dolina. All members of crew survived and are now in police custody. Under Philippine law, murder is punishable by up to 40 years imprisonment. The police investigation is separate from a coast guard inquiry, which will primarily determine the cause of the mishap.

However, the coast guard may also recommend criminal and administrative charges. “We ﬁled the charges as soon as we could because we don’t want the suspects to leave the country,” Dolina said. The death toll stood at 59, transportation secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya told ANC television on Saturday. - AFP VIRUS DISEASE

Another doctor contracts MERS in South Korea SEOUL: Another doctor at a major hospital that has been the epicentre of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Seoul has contracted the deadly virus, the government said on Saturday. The 25-year-old female doctor at Samsung Medical Centre has become the 185th person infected with the virus in South Korea. The country’s first case was diagnosed on May 20 in the largest outbreak of MERS outside Saudi Arabia, the health ministry said. The gigantic hospital operated by the powerful Samsung business group now accounts for 90 out of 185 confirmed cases. With the doctor included, the total number of infected medics at this hospital now stands at 13. Following four days with no new cases, two nurses at the same hospital were confirmed to be the 183rd and 184th patients on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Alarmed, health authorities immediately ordered 12 of 15 patients being treated at the hospital to be transferred to other facilities. The move was seen as another blow to Samsung Medical Centre whose facilities have been shut down, except for those reserved for the 15 MERS patients. -AFP

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015

MARKE

Duqm-Jebel Ali feeder service to start by year-end the range of 300 kilometres from the Port of Duqm, said Vermeulen. Logistics is another area where the PDC, which is a 50:50 joint venture between the government of Oman and the Consortium Antwerp Port, will be focusing on in the coming years. “Belgium is known for being a logistics hub in Europe, and this is therefore an expertise that we have and are very proud to use here,” said Vermeulen.

Duqm will be the largest port in the Sultanate when fully completed. As many as 70 per cent of the oil and gas ﬁelds are located in the range

Reggy Vermeulen, CEO of Port of Duqm. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

of 300 kilometers from the port

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A feeder container shipping service planned between Jebel Ali and Duqm will start by the end of the year, said a senior official at the Port of Duqm Company (PDC). “There have been some delays due to identification of the ships, identification of the cargo. Now it is going back on track,” ReggyVermeulen, chief executive officer of Port of Duqm Company, told Times of Oman in an interview. “I am confident that before the end of this year, it will be operational. So we are still targeting 2015,” said the official. Vermeulen said that the Port of Duqm decided to start operation before the entire infrastructure is completed as it wanted to contribute to the country’s economy as soon as possible and also due to the fact that the mega project takes a long time to complete. He believes that the port has so

far managed well to strike the balance and is confident that it will succeed over the next two years, which will be a hectic period for the port. Asked about the cargos received by the Port of Duqm, Vermeulen said that the port has received nearly 1 per 15 days, including oil rigs, minerals, steel and machinery. While Sohar has become a major hub for heavy industry and Salalah is more known as a transshipment hub,the chief executive officer of PDC says that oil and gas will be a main focus of the Port of Duqm in the short term. It is true that Sohar and Salalah ports have a clear designated activity but Duqm is different in terms of the size and will be the largest port in Oman when fully finished. “So in theory, we are capable of doing anything because we have the space, capability and the expertise,” he said. Oil and gas However, the port will definitely be extremely active in the field of oil and gas for the short term as 70 per cent of the oil and gas fields are in

Complementary roles The official added that the three ports are trying to define their role in Oman Vision 2040, which aspires to transform the country into a major regional hub, but they actually complement each other. “We are all owned by the government of Oman,” he said, adding, “We do not want to cannibalise each other. We do not want to start a competition with each other. We want to compete with the rest of the world.” Diversification Vermeulen explained that apart from the oil and gas sector, which is still a significant source of income for the country, the port is seeking to contribute to the efforts to diversify the economy. “We are targeting everything. Everything eventually has to happen in Duqm, including health, education, housing, industry and manufacturing,” he noted. Asked about contribution to job creation in Oman, the CEO said, “We are the only port today that has 94 per cent Omanisation rate.”

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REFERENDUM

Greeks deeply divided ahead of bailout vote ATHENS: Greece braced itself on Saturday ahead of a make-orbreak bailout referendum as polls showed the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ camps neck-and-neck and uncertainty rose over the future of the country’s battered economy. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras got a rock-star welcome at an Athens rally late on Friday as he sought to revive support for a ‘No’ vote in a referendum called to strengthen his hand in talks with international creditors. But the most recent polls suggested Sunday’s plebiscite on Greece’s latest bailout offer from its international creditors was too close to call, with the nation of 11 million people evenly divided. EU leaders have warned that a “No” victory could cause Greece to crash out of the eurozone. But Tsipras and his closest ally Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis have accused them of fear-mongering. In an interview published on Saturday, the outspoken Varoufakis accused Athens’s creditors of ‘terrorism’. “What they’re doing with Greece has a name — terrorism,” he told the Spanish ‘El Mundo’ daily. “What Brussels and the troika want today is for the ‘Yes’ (vote) to win so they could humiliate the Greeks.” As tensions rose he was forced to deny a Financial Times report that suggested Greek savers could lose 30 per cent of their bank deposits to shore up the banking system, slamming it a “malicious rumour”. The British business daily, quoting unidentiﬁed bankers and businessmen close to negotiations, reported

CRUCIAL DAY: Referendum campaign posters reading “No” in Greek

are seen in Athens, Greece, yesterday. - Reuters

Athens faces banking chaos FRANKFURT: The European Central Bank (ECB) claims it can calm any regional market turmoil that follows Greece’s referendum on Sunday. Saving the country’s banking system will be harder. With two asset-buying programmes, international swap lines, backstops for eastern Europe and cash tenders in place, the ECB has a wide range of tools at hand should bond yields surge or money

that Greek depositors with over €8,000 ($8,900) in an account may be force to take a “haircut”. Rumours that capital controls imposed by the government were

markets freeze after the July 5 vote. That’s a possible outcome if voters reject the terms of a European Union-led bailout. Yet even if the Greek people back the EU offer, the nation’s lenders, which have been shut and under capital controls for the past week, won’t be able to reopen soon unless the ECB approves more liquidity. To do that, monetary-policy officials would have to take a leap of faith. - Bloomberg News

leading to food and medicine shortages were spooking Greeks, as was growing uncertainty over when the country’s banks would re-open. - AFP

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

MARKET OIL & GAS

Videocon plans $2.5 billion Brazil investment MUMBAI: Videocon Industries plans to invest $2.5 billion in oil and gas ventures in Brazil over the next two to three years, the consumer electronics-to-energy group’s chief said, as part of its strategy to boost the business. “Brazil oil ﬁnding is four times higher thean the largest oil ﬁeld in India ... It’s just (the) beginning,” billionaire Venugopal Dhoot told Reuters at the sidelines of an industry event. A consortium that includes Videocon and Brazilian state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA earlier this year discovered new light crude oil in the Sergipe basin off Brazil’s northeast coast. - Reuters

SUMMIT

Japan vows $6.1b aid to five countries TOKYO: Japan on Saturday pledged $6.1 billion in financial aid to the ‘Mekong Five’ countries as it pushes infrastructure exports and courts influence in a region where rival China has an increasing presence. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled the pledge at a summit with his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — fast-growing economies through which the lower section of the Mekong river flows. “Japan will implement support worth around ¥750 billion ($6.1 billion) in official development assistance for the next three years,” Abe told a news conference following the seventh annual Japan-

‘MEKONG FIVE’ COUNTRIES Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe unveiled the pledge at a summit with his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam — fast-growing economies through which the Mekong river ﬂows.

Shinzo Abe – AFP

Mekong summit. “The Mekong region, which has vast demand for infrastructure, is one of our most important areas,” Abe said. “Japan will contribute to infra-

structure development of the region in both quality and quantity,” he added. “The Mekong region and Japan are partners that will develop together.”

Bolstering economy It was not immediately clear if the pledge included previously-earmarked Japanese financial assistance, or whether it was made up entirely of newly-allocated funds. Abe has upped efforts to sell highways, train systems and power plants around the world, a key element in his bid to bolster the economy and Japan’s standing abroad. Beijing’s growing ﬁnancial muscle, as well as its increasing willingness to throw its diplomatic weight around, have added urgency to Japan’s efforts to step up engagement in the battle for regional sway. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang

said in November at a summit in Myanmar that Beijing’s strategic partnership with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) grouping was entering a “diamond decade leading to broader and deeper cooperation”. Then in March, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China hoped to boost trade with Asean countries to $500 billion this year and $1 trillion in 2020. Beijing’s new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has also upped the stakes, rivalling the Tokyo-backed Asian Development Bank and offering the kind of financial firepower rapidlydeveloping countries are keen to tap. - AFP

Tehran pushes to accelerate sanctions relief One of the diplomats said Iran may get substantial sanctions relief by December, while others said sanctions are unlikely to be eased before 2016

VIENNA: Iran is pushing to accelerate US and European sanctions relief with just four days left to resolve nuclear talks in Vienna, as Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said a lasting accord has ‘never been closer’. Negotiators haven’t yet agreed on the scale and speed of sanctions relief, nor have they settled all the steps Iran must take, according to four diplomats from countries participating in the negotiations. They asked not to be named in line with rules. One of the diplomats said Iran may get substantial sanctions relief by December, while others said sanctions are unlikely to be eased before 2016. “At this eleventh hour, despite some differences that remain, we have never been closer to a lasting outcome,” Zarif said in a video released on Friday and ﬁlmed on a terrace at the Palais Coburg in Vienna, where the talks are being held. The foreign minister earlier told ‘Al Monitor’ website that “the deal will be made or broken on whether the United States wants to lift the sanctions or keep them.”

CANDID: Mohammed Javad Zarif said that at this eleventh hour, despite some differences that remain, they have never been closer to a lasting outcome. – Bloomberg ﬁle picture

The six world powers negotiating with Iran have postponed their deadline for an accord to July 7, and all sides are signaling that goal is within reach. The plan would ease sanctions on Iran’s economy, in return for curbs on its nuclear work. Foreign ministers are due to reconvene in the Austrian capital on Sunday to start hammering out the ﬁnal sticking points. A senior US official said it’s conceivable that process could extend past July 7. Common challenges Zarif, who made similar recorded appeals last year and in 2013, said an agreement will “open new horizons to address important, common challenges” such as the threat of Islamic State. He said Iran’s interlocutors must choose between “agreement or coercion.” The Iranians’ attempt to get faster lifting of sanctions is feasible if they enact curbs on their nuclear program sooner than expected, the officials said. Iran needs to implement wider monitoring protocols, dismantle twothirds of its nuclear capacity and

eliminate 97 per cent of its enriched uranium. In order to comply with its nuclear requirements, Iran is preparing to sell or swap several thousand kilogrammes of enriched uranium in return for cash or natural uranium ore, government spokesman Behrooz Kamalvandi told the ISNA news agency. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday dispatched his chief of staff, Mohammed Nahavandian, to join the talks, though an American official said he hasn’t met anyone with the US delegation. Nahavandian, an economist, was the former head of Iran’s chamber of commerce and has been actively courting foreign investors to return to his country. An Iranian diplomat said that his country recognised the right of IAEA monitors to request visits to sensitive sites. - Bloomberg News

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S U N DAY, JU LY 5, 2 0 1 5

MARKET Electricity generation in Oman grows in the first four months

DEBT ISSUE

Renaissance appoints advisers for bond issue Times News Service

Total generation of electricity increased by 17 per cent, while water output grew 10.6 per cent in the ﬁrst four months ending April 2015, over the same period last year

MUSCAT: Oman’s electricity genetaion and water production showed a robust growth in the ﬁrst four months of this year, compared to the same period of 2014. Total generation of electricity increased to more than 8,500 gigawatt per hour, a 17 per cent growth at the end of April as against production recorded for the same period last year. Similarly, water sector, which recorded a signiﬁcant increase at the end of April to reach more than 107 million cubic metres with an increase of 10.6 per cent compared to the production recorded during the same period in 2014. The latest statistics issued by the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicates that the total production of electricity till the end of April

PRODUCTION RISES: National Centre for Statistics and Information said that total electricity generation till the end of April 2015

reached 8,474.1 gigawatt per hour compared to the same period in 2014, an increase of 17 per cent. The picture is used only for illustrative purpose. – File photo

BRIEFS

2015 reached 8,474.1 gigawatt per hour compared to the production recorded during the same period of 2014, which reached 7,239.9 gigawatt per hour, showing an increase rate of 17 per cent. The net electricity production till the end of April 2015 grew

ECONOMY

17.8 per cent reached 8,097.2 GW per hour, compared to the same period of 2014, which was 6872.3 gigawatt per hour. This production includes the procurements of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) and the procurements

of the Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco). Oman Power and Water Procurement Company is the single buyer of power and water from all independent power and water projects within the country. The Sultanate’s water produc-

tion for the ﬁrst four months ending April 2015 reached 106,617,900 cubic metres with an increase of 10.6 per cent compared to the water production recorded during the same period of 2014, which was 96,421,700 cubic metres. – ONA

OMAN STOCKS

Money supply shows Muscat bourse edges up 2.1% strong growth in first in first half; turnover declines four months of 2015 MUSCAT: Money supply in the financial system showed a robust growth in the first four months of 2015, compared to the same period last year. For instance, narrow money (M1) when measured on year-onyear basis, grew by 13.1 per cent driven by an increase in currency with the public by 9.5 per cent and a growth in demand deposits by 14.2 percent. Quasi-money (RO savings and time deposits, certificates of deposits issued by commercial banks, margin deposits and foreign currency denominated deposits) witnessed a growth of 9.8 per cent during the period. Broad money supply M2 (M1 and quasi-money) stood at OMR14,215.4 million at the end of April 2015, up from OMR12,813.5 million a year ago, registering an increase of 10.9 per cent. As far as domestic inter-

MUSCAT: Renaissance Services, a multinational oil and gas services company listed on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM), has mandated Standard Chartered Bank as sole structuring advisor, and Bank Sohar, National Bank of Oman and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead managers to arrange investor discussions on its behalf starting on July 1. A subordinated perpetual bond issuance, denominated in Americal dollars and or Omani rials, by a wholly-owned overseas subsidiary of Renaissance may follow, subject to market conditions, said a company release. Renaissance is using the Perpetual Notes to finance its offer to buy back the Mandatory Convertible Bonds, issued in 2012. Commenting on the appointment of advisers, Vishal Goenka, chief financial officer of Renaissance, said, “We are pleased to have leading Oman banks like National Bank of Oman and Bank Sohar together with an international bank like Standard Chartered, working with us on this first corporate perpetual issuance by an Omani business group.”

est rate structure of commercial banks is concerned, both deposit and lending rates softened during this period. The Central Bank of Oman’s (CBO) policy interest rate for absorption of surplus liquidity in the form of CBO certiﬁcates of deposits of 28 days maturity was 0.114 per cent in April 2015. CBO’s policy rate for injection of liquidity or repo rate remained unchanged at 1 per cent since March 2012. The overnight RO domestic inter-bank lending rate increased from 0.124 per cent in April 2014 to 0.197 per cent in April 2015. The weighted average interest rate on RO deposits declined from 1.081 per cent in April 2014 to 0.908 per cent in April 2015 while the weighted average RO lending rate declined from 5.281 per cent to 4.945 per cent during the period. – ONA

MUSCAT: Share prices on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) showed a growth with the main index of MSM increasing by 81 points in the ﬁrst half of 2015 despite regional and international political crisis. The index closed at 6,424 points at the end of June, an increase of 2.1 per cent. However, the turnover of the market fell by 85 per cent to OMR707.3 million compared to OMR1.3 billion in the same period last year. The market was affected in the past six months by several local and global factors, such as the decline in oil prices that affected the revenues of the Sultanate, which relies heavily on oil to ﬁnance government expenditure. The market was also affected by the weakness of investmentoriented liquidity with more and more investors fearing a fall in market after the sharp decline in crude oil prices in global markets. The political crisis, the Yemen war and the global economic cri-

sis, most recently the Greece’s debt crisis, affected various markets in the region and outside. Highest trading volume Last February saw the highest trading volume at OMR176.6 million while last May recorded the minimum trading volume at OMR75 million. Muscat bourse recorded in the ﬁrst half of this year OMR463 million gains in its market capitalisation. The total

market value of listed companies in the market by the end of June 2015 rose to OMR15.27 billion. The market listed the shares of Phoenix Power which ﬂoated initial public offering recently. Many companies raised their capital by way of bonus shares, but the decline in stock prices affected the total market value, which was expected for further climb with rising of capitals listed in the market. - ONA

ONIC Holding’s merger notice period reduced MUSCAT: The minister of commerce has approved ONIC Holding’s request to reduce the merger notice period from three months to one month pursuant to Article 13 of the Commercial Companies Law. ONIC Holding and Oman Investment Development and Investment Company will be merging to make a single entity.

Al Hassan subsidiary bags new project MUSCAT: Al Hassan Engineering Abu Dhabi, which is controlled by Al Hassan Engineering owning 49 per cent of its share capital, received a Letter of Intent from Hyundai Engineering & Construction for $10.65 million for electrical work for Satah al-Razboot (SARB) package 4 project. The project duration is 20 months from June 2015, the company said in a stock market ﬁling.

Canada not heading for recession: Minister MONTREAL: Canada’s ﬁnance minister denied that the country is heading for recession, a day after two major banks predicted economic doomsday. Canadahas been hard hit by oil prices. - Times News Service/Agencies

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

MARKET Airbus, Mahindra to make military choppers in India The joint venture will be set up in the coming months, aiming to become the ﬁrst private manufacturer of helicopters in India

NEW DELHI: European aerospace giant Airbus and India’s Mahindra group have inked a deal to jointly build helicopters as the Indian government moves to upgrade the country’s ageing military hardware, the companies said. The joint venture will be set up in the coming months, “aiming to become the ﬁrst private manufacturer of helicopters in India”, the companies said in a statement late on Friday. “The joint venture will be dedicated to supplying the Indian armed forces with Made-in-India, state-of-the-art helicopters of high reliability, quality and safety standard based on combat-proven platforms,” Guillaume Faury, president and chief executive ofﬁcer of Airbus Helicopters, said in the statement. India is in the midst of a vast defence modernisation programme worth some $100 billion, partly to keep up with rival neighbours Pakistan and China.

JOINT VENTURE: The Airbus-Mahindra joint venture will place bids for reconnaissance and surveillance choppers, naval utility and

naval multirole helicopters. – Bloomberg ﬁle picture.

String of contracts Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing government, which stormed to power last May, has approved a string of contracts for new military hardware that had stalled under the previous leftleaning Congress party. Modi, a hardline nationalist, also wants to end India’s status as

the world’s number one defence importer and to have 70 per cent of hardware manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade. Last August, his government lifted the cap on foreign investment in defence to 49 per cent from 26 per cent. The Airbus-Mahindra joint venture will place bids for recon-

BANKING

naissance and surveillance choppers, naval utility and naval multirole helicopters. “Together, we will produce India’s next-generation helicopters that will not only answer our country’s defence needs but will also have the potential for exports in the future,” said S. P. Shukla, chairman of Mahindra

Defence Systems. The companies did not spell out how much they would invest under the deal. - AFP

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SCANDAL

Brazil targets 15 banks in forex fixing investigation BRASILIA: Brazil’s antitrust body announced an unprecedented probe for the country into alleged foreign exchange market rigging by 15 banks including Citigroup and HSBC, which are accused of colluding to form a secret cartel. “There are strong indications of anticompetitive practises of price fixing” and other manipulations between the banks, the watchdog known as Cade said. The alleged cheating lasted from 2007 until at least 2013, authorities said. “The evidence shows that (the banks) formed a cartel” fixing prices, coordinating trades, and impeding other operators involved in the Brazilian market, the watchdog said. There is also evidence that the banks shared sensitive information on contracts, futures prices, clients, negotiating strategies and other confidential material, Cade said. Brazilian investigators say the banks under scrutiny communicated online via the Bloomberg chat platform to organise what they themselves referred to as “The cartel” and “The mafia.” The other 13 banks named inckuded Banco Standard de Investimentos, Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Royal Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Chartered and UBS. The probe is targeting 30 individuals who were not identified. Similar probes around the world, including in South Africa, South Korea, Europe and the United States have targeted much of the same group of banks. - AFP

STOCK MARKET

EU resolution authorities get more discretion in bank rules VIENNA: European Union resolution authorities are getting more flexibility to determine the amount of loss-absorbing liabilities banks must have under rules intended to prevent taxpayer bailouts. The European Banking Authority’s final rules for setting lenders’ minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities, or MREL, allows resolution authorities to deviate from a standard level based on an assessment of a bank’s business and funding models and risk profile, among other factors. The standards allow authorities greater discretion than was foreseen in the EBA’s MREL proposal last November. “The standards have been adjusted following consultation feedback to ensure they provide a clear framework for linking the MREL to capital requirements, including where some parts of capital buffer or Pillar 2 requirements are not relevant to the aims of MREL, and to clarify the treatment of contributions from deposit guarantee

schemes to the cost of resolution,” the EBA said on its website. EU banking law required the EBA to set out technical standards for the amount and composition of loss-absorbing securities banks must hold, both to ward off a collapse and to ﬁnance a resolution if the worst happens. The EU’s bank-failure regulation, the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, set a July 3 deadline for the EBA to submit the report to the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm. Resolution authority The MREL technical standards are part of the EU’s efforts to make it possible to resolve banks in crisis without resorting to taxpayer aid. It complements global efforts that will prescribe minimum levels of loss-absorbing capacity for the world’s biggest banks, as well as the EU’s capital rules. The amount of MREL will be set for each bank individually by the relevant resolution authority,

which for the euro area’s biggest banks will be the Brussels-based Single Resolution Mechanism. “To cater for the diversity of institutions and business models across the EU, the MREL is not a fixed figure,” the EBA said. “Instead, it must be set by resolution authorities on a case-by-case basis for each institution to ensure it is sufficient to implement their resolution plans.” MREL consists of two elements. The first one is meant to absorb losses the failing bank has run up along the way. The second must be available after the first is used up to recapitalise the parts of the bank needed to ensure that functions critical to the working of the financial system can continue. Equity, junior debt and senior debt that’s not protected from bail-in can all count towards MREL. The EBA gives regulators the option of excluding capital buffers when calculating the MREL amount. - Bloomberg News

NEW MEASURES: The move comes after measures to shore up equities failed to stop margin traders

from unwinding positions at a record pace, with the market losing more than $2.8 trillion of value in three weeks. – Bloomberg News

Chinese brokers set up $19b fund to stem market crash SHANGHAI: Chinese brokerage ﬁrms have come together to set up a stock-market fund, the latest effort to stem the biggest threeweek drop in China’s key share index since 1992. The 21 brokers led by Citic Securities will invest the equivalent of 15 per cent of their net assets as of the end of June, or no less than 120 billion yuan ($19.3 billion) in total, the Securities Association of China said in a statement on its website on Saturday. The fund will invest in blue-chip exchangetraded funds, it said. The move comes after measures to shore up equities failed to stop margin traders from unwinding positions at a record pace, with the market losing more than $2.8 trillion of value in three weeks. The People’s Bank of China cut interest rates last week,

while margin-trading rules were eased and trading fees were cut on Wednesday. The new fund to bolster equities may have only “a fleeting effect when daily turnover has reached 2 trillion yuan”, according to Hao Hong, China equity strategist at Bocom International Holdings in Hong Kong. Small-cap stocks “This 120 billion yuan won’t last for an hour in this market,” Hong said by phone from Beijing on Saturday. “It might benefit bluechip stocks, as investors may see them as value, but the bursting of the bubble in small-cap/tech stocks is likely to continue.” The ChiNext index of smaller companies in Shenzhen traded at a record 131 times reported earnings last month — five times the

level of the Shanghai Composite Index — after tripling over the past year. The gauge had lost 33 per cent from its June 3 peak as of Friday, trimming this year’s gains to 77 per cent.“The market’s most acute concern is still these smaller cap stocks, as investors levered up to buy them and now margin lending curbs hit them the hardest,” Hong said. “With their valuation in the stratosphere, nobody is willing to step in and bolster these stocks.” The brokers on Saturday pledged not to reduce any proprietary investments in the equity market as long as the Shanghai Composite Index stays below 4,500, the association said; it closed Friday at 3,686.92. The group of 21 brokers said the fundamentals that had justiﬁed the stock market’s rally before the rout hadn’t changed. - Bloomberg News

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craftsmanship

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and superior

Further beneďŹ ts include free 1st year vehicle registration, six years/ unlimited mileage warranty, free 1st year vehicle insurance (for Oman and UAE) and free AAA / Road Assistance card for the 1st year only and as supported by AAA Oman and UAE. The Q70 is launched with the excellence and luxury grade that features the premium body design. As an added alternative, the sport grade is available with the sport body design. The sport body design features a specially designed front bumper that gives an even lower and wider stance. The trapezoidal bumper intake and apron shape inspired from race car splitters give an athletic presence and bold impression. Black painted turn and fog ďŹ nishers as well as the rear bumper ďŹ nished in high-gloss black paint reinforce the sporty appearance.

Dramatic design The reďŹ ned elegance of the Q70 takes on a new dramatic design which gives the premium sedan an even more upscale image. Its ďŹ&#x201A;owing, emotional lines evoke premium sleekness. InďŹ nitiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature LED headlights imply inner intelligence and human insight, leaving an unforgettable impression. The distinctive design accentuates the new double arch grille, which now takes on a more three-dimensional look due to the elaborate detail of the high-quality waved mesh ďŹ nish and chrome surround. At the rear, the new design of the tail lights creates a horizontal ďŹ&#x201A;ow in motion while the high-quality lighting signature evokes a fresh and classy image. The top line of the trunk lid has been ďŹ&#x201A;attened while the rear bumper has been slimmed down to create a longer and lower visual impression, further emphasising the luxury sedanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sporty and powerful styling. ReďŹ&#x201A;ecting the sensuous lines of the exterior, the new InďŹ niti Q70 continues to serve up a wellappointed and inviting interior with high-quality materials such as handcrafted wood accents and custom leather appointments, meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, as well as usercentred technologies. Important controls and switches are so intuitively located that the driver does

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; B A H A R - 6 0 D AY S ! 6 0 W I N N E R S â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

not have to change driving posture to access them. The instrument panel consists of Fine Vision gauges and a 7-inch full colour vehicle information display, while the driver and front passengerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seats are leather and feature 10-way power adjustment, including 2-way lumbar support. )(.,# /.#(!Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; /&.#0 . Ĺ&#x2014; in-car atmosphere, the Active )#- Ĺ&#x2014; )(.,)&Ĺ&#x2014; ./, Ĺ&#x2014; ')(#.),-Ĺ&#x2014; cabin noise levels and generates â&#x20AC;&#x153;cancellingâ&#x20AC;? sound from four door speakers to reduce noise, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to hold conversations in the car or to better enjoy the music. Premium audio systems include the Bose Studio Surround sound system with digital 5.1-channel decoding and 16 speakers, two of which are mounted in the shoulders of each front seat. Promising performance, the new Q70 is equipped with the 3.7-litre V6 engine, rated at 329 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 363 Nm of torque. The reďŹ ned aluminium &&)3Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ĂźĂžÄ&#x161;0 &0 Ĺ&#x2014; (!#( Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; equipped with Variable Valve Event & Lift (VVEL) that combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance and response. Also available is the 5.6-litre V8 engine ." .Ĺ&#x2014; &#0 ,-Ĺ&#x2014; ĂžĂşĂź"*Ĺ&#x2014; Ä§Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x20AC;Ä&#x2026;ĂşĂşĂşĹ&#x2014; ,*'Ĺ&#x2014; and 550 Nm of torque.

The new InďŹ niti Q70, also comes equipped with the latest in safety advancements that help drivers avoid a collision and further help protect the vehicle occupants if one occurs. The Q70 offers a segment ďŹ rst 1#."Ĺ&#x2014; , # .#0 Ĺ&#x2014; ),1 , Ĺ&#x2014; )&&#sion Warning, that anticipates the speed and distance of two vehicles in front to ensure that in the event of an emergency, the vehicle comes to a safe stop. Other safety features such as Intelligent ,/#- Ĺ&#x2014; )(.,)&Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; #-. ( Ĺ&#x2014; )(.,)&Ĺ&#x2014; --#-.Ĺ&#x2014;. % Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;-., --Ĺ&#x2014;)/.Ĺ&#x2014; of driving so the driver can arrive at his destination relaxed. Yet another first for this segment is the innovative Around View Monitor system shows a birds-eye view of the vehicle in relation to parking lines, creating a 360-degree surrounding view. SBA commitment SBA is largely committed to supporting InďŹ niti Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more ." (Ĺ&#x2014; ĂžĂşĹ&#x2014; -")1,))'-Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; - ,0# Ĺ&#x2014; (tres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

I N S T I L S P O S I T I V E VA L U E

NDC summer promo receives great response McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Spread MUSCAT: National Detergent )'* (3Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ Ä˘Ĺ&#x2014;, #0 Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014;)0 ,whelming response for its summer promotion â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bahar - 60 Days! 60 Winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that offered customers a roster of prizes. Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;)( Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;& #(!Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; companies in Oman, gave away fabulous prizes like three iPhone Ä&#x20AC;Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;ĂťĂşĹ&#x2014; '-/(!Ĺ&#x2014; & 23Ĺ&#x2014; ĂżÄ&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;Ă˝ĂşĹ&#x2014; '-/(!Ĺ&#x2014; & 23Ĺ&#x2014; ĂžĹ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014;Ă°0 Ĺ&#x2014;!, '-Ĺ&#x2014;!)& Ĺ&#x2014; (20 nos) to 63 lucky winners over two months, says a press release. Along with mega and grand raffle prizes, there were 20,000 scratch and win prizes too. As an added attraction, 100 winners received a tablet each for collecting combination of alphabets â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;BA+HA+Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the coupons. ),Ĺ&#x2014; 0 ,3Ĺ&#x2014; */, " - Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; products worth OMR3, consumers received a scratch and win card along with a raffle coupon. For purchase of OMR5 worth products, consumers got scratch and win card and a raffle coupon. The ďŹ rst raffle draw took place on April 29 while the second one happened on June 8. The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bahar 60 Days! 60 Winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; promotion was made available in Lulu Hy* ,' ,% .Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; /&. (Ĺ&#x2014; (. ,Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ,-Ĺ&#x2014; 3* ,' ,% .Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; , ' Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/*Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; K. M. Trading. A. K. Shaji, head of Business

Kindnessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign fosters love for reading

Development and Regional Sales, Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; - # Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä? .Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; *,)/ Ĺ&#x2014; ')' (.Ĺ&#x2014; for us as the campaign generated an overwhelming response from our customers. We have received impressive feedback from our trade partners which gave an indication of the increase of sales during the promotion period.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our regular promotions have been most successful of their kind #(Ĺ&#x2014;, (.Ĺ&#x2014;3 ,-Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; "Ĺ&#x2014;3 ,Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; strives to deliver new and exciting offers that help our customers gain more value from their purchases,â&#x20AC;? he added. 0 ,Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; 3 ,-Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " -Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; providing the residents of Oman

with unmatchable promotions and offers that emphasise companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appreciation for its customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; loyalty. Anwar Sadath, commercial ' ( ! ,Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; /&/Ĺ&#x2014; 3* ,' ,% .Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;- # Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lulu has been at the forefront of supporting Omani products like Bahar. We are glad that local man/ ./, ,-Ĺ&#x2014; &#% Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; , !/& ,&3Ĺ&#x2014; , wards its loyal consumers through such attractive promotions.â&#x20AC;? / &#.3Ĺ&#x2014; )ĂŽ ,#(!-Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; include Bahar Fresh Blossom detergent powder, Bahar Enzymatic low foam detergent, Bahar Ultra Dish washing liquid, Bahar Fabric Softener, Bahar Abaya, Bahar

& (Ĺ&#x2014; #-#( . (.Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; " ,Ĺ&#x2014; (.#septic, No.1 detergent powder, No.1 action plus dish washing liquid, No.1 Abaya, No.1 disinfectant, Dzire Ultra premium soaps and Luv luxury soap. " Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; *,)').#)(-Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; -/*ported and approved by Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). Through its Origin Oman campaign, PEIE promotes products manufactured in the Sultanate. The campaign creates awareness and increases the visibility of Omani products while encouraging residents to buy Omani and avail of the quality services available in the country.

MUSCAT: McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Spread Kindnessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign during the holy month of Ramadan is reaching out to children at Dar Al Hanan, fostering a lifelong love of reading amongst children and promoting valuable lessons that reďŹ&#x201A;ect the virtues of the holy month. Under the same campaign, McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oman is giving away ' (Ĺ&#x2014; "#& , (Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; " ,#.3Ĺ&#x2014; books highlighting values such as family, friendship, honesty, generosity and understanding which aim to inspire children to do simple acts of kindness in everyday life, says a press release. McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team demonstrated simple act of kindness at Dar Al Hanan, reading McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ramadan books and distributing toys to children. McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Birdie character was present to provide kids with fun and memorable experience. Dar Al Hanan is a place that serves as a temporary home for children undergoing outpatient treatment for cancer from out-

side Muscat governorate, and shelter for their families. It is an initiative of the Oman ( ,Ĺ&#x2014; --) # .#)(Ä&#x201E; Ali K. Daud, Development Licensee and President of Mc )( & Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;- # Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014;Ä? ( ,Ĺ&#x2014; Donaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Spread Kindnessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; campaign, we are encouraging the love of reading amongst children; engage their imaginations and spark an enduring love of reading and learning, thereby promoting the value and essence of storytelling and literature; at the same time instilling positive values.â&#x20AC;? Ramadan charity books )( & Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ĺ&#x2014; "#& , (Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; " ,#.3Ĺ&#x2014; ))%-Ĺ&#x2014; " 0 Ĺ&#x2014; )/,Ĺ&#x2014; -.),# -Ĺ&#x2014; carefully developed to reďŹ&#x201A;ect the values of the holy month, and reinforce one common theme â&#x20AC;&#x201D; doing the right thing. Each of the stories focuses on a scenario that children will ďŹ nd familiar. Each book ends with a life lesson from the story, which parents and children can discuss together.

S U S TA I NA B I L I T Y P R O J E C T

AHLIBANK RAMADAN CAMPAIGN

Mohammed Al Kindi, branch manager of ahlibank Ibra branch, presents a cheque to an official (left) from Omani Association for Elderly Friends, Ibra as part of the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Ramadan campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Supplied photo

MEDC takes electricity conservation campaign to Seeb MUSCAT: Muscat Electricity #-.,# /.#)(Ĺ&#x2014; )'* (3Ĺ&#x2014; ÄĄ Ä˘Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; * ,.Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ' Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/*Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; )(.#(/ -Ĺ&#x2014; its electricity conservation campaign with the cooperation of Al "' Ĺ&#x2014; " ,#.3Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/*Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; " Ĺ&#x2014; 'paign focuses on many different activities which aim to educate Seeb residents on the importance of electricity conservation, says a press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the third campaign in the Seeb wilayat which falls under the sustainability project of the company. We held these

campaigns after seeing our previous successes in the wilayats of Amerat and Quraiyat in previous years,â&#x20AC;? stated Eng. Said Abdullah Al Batashi, campaign supervisor ) Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x201E;

He also added that campaigns similar to this will continue in the rest of the Muscat regions in the coming years, with the organisation of the waliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offices and volunteering groups. Ä? Ĺ&#x2014; #-Ĺ&#x2014; ) /-#(!Ĺ&#x2014; #.-Ĺ&#x2014; ĂŽ),.-Ĺ&#x2014; on families with limited income through providing a technical team to do service maintenance on their air conditioning units as well as educating them on the importance of electricity conser0 .#)(Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; /,, (.&3Ĺ&#x2014; 1 Ĺ&#x2014; " 0 Ĺ&#x2014; )( Ĺ&#x2014; ' #(. ( ( Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ĺ&#x2014; Ă˝Ä&#x20AC;ĂžĹ&#x2014; #,Ä&#x161; )( #-

tioning units and the campaign aims to reach 600 more units, beneďŹ ting 200 families in the Seeb district. Our sincere thanks to the Wali of the Seeb wilayat and &Ĺ&#x2014; "' Ĺ&#x2014; " ,#.3Ĺ&#x2014; ,)/*Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014;." #,Ĺ&#x2014; support and efforts to make this campaign successful, we hope to complete this campaign before the end of Ramadan and the winner of the campaign electricity conservation competition will be decided through a comparison of electricity usage of this year with the same period of last year."

SUN DAY, JULY 5, 2015

ROUND-UP Audi Oman reaches out to HCT students

BANGLADESH SECTOR

United Airways appoints Travel Point as its GSA MUSCAT: United Airways (BD) Ltd, the private airline of Bangladesh, recently appointed Travel Point, Oman’s largest travel and hospitality company, as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in Oman, says a press release.

Audi Oman’s staff delivered a lecture to the students at the Higher College of Technology’s Business Studies Department

MUSCAT: Audi Oman’s marketing manager Faisal Nawaz recently briefed over 100 students of Business Studies Department at the Higher College of Technology (HCT) on marketing strategies and trends. The dialogue is part of a series of guest lectures that has been organised by the college’s SAMA (Student Association of Marketing Activities) Hub. Audi Oman is represented in the region by Wattayah Motors. The lecture provided the opportunity for direct interaction between a top automotive marketing executive and the nation’s future marketing experts who study at the popular college, says

a press release. Throughout the lecture Nawaz provided details on how the marketing staff at Audi stays focused on upholding brand principles while innovating at the same time. Furthermore he spoke to the students at length about current marketing strategies and trends. Finally, he shared the secrets to Audi’s success of remaining inspired while integrating itself into company development, production, sales and marketing, and quality control processes. Direct interaction with the students took place via an open Q&A session. “The Business Studies Department offers a wide variety of social

and professional marketing opportunities for students. It helps the students to educate themselves about a broad range of marketing issues, and apply their marketing skills in the corporate world. “This ﬁts perfectly with Audi Oman’s strategy of reaching out to youngsters in the Sultanate, who will not only be our future customers, but also perhaps our future employees,” says Nawaz. A seasoned marketing specialist, Faisal has worked in the automotive business for over 10 years and is responsible for Audi Oman’s management of marketing, advertising and promotional activities at Wattayah Motors.

RAMADAN PROMOTION

Two flights weekly United Airways (BD) which operates from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will have a frequency of two flights a week on Monday and Wednesday to Dhaka, effective July 8. The airline will soon be launching the operations of daily flights for the Muscat-Bangladesh sector. The airline currently offers convenient connections to Kolkata, Kanthmandu, Jeddah, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Doha, with Dubai operations commencing shortly. Convenient travel options Commenting on the occasion, Sunil Prabhakar, CEO, Travel Point said, “With the GSA representation of United Airways (BD) Ltd in Oman, we will be able to offer our customers very competitive and convenient travel options to its destinations, especially between Muscat and Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.

“We will strive towards enhancing the convenience and the travel experience of the large sector of passengers for the Bangladeshi community residing here in Muscat.” Fruitful partnership Talking about the partnership between Travel Point and United Airways (BD) Ltd, Capt. Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, founder chairman and managing director, said: “Travel Point has a huge network across Oman with strong distribution potential, and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the company. “United Airways (BD) Ltd continues to set service standard benchmarks in terms of safety, quality and customer service with an aim to offer convenience to customers with regard to destinations, flight schedules, inflight service at modest fares.” With new aircraft joining the fleet, United Airways (BD) Ltd will be announcing the rapid expansion of its network to various international destinations in the coming months. “We anticipate a significant growth in the migrant traffic from Oman to our entire network this year,” added Capt. Choudhury.

SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR

Buy and win at Al Hashar Electronics MUSCAT: To coincide with the festive mood during the holy month of Ramadan, Al Hashar Electronics Group offers exciting deals to customers for various electronic items. It is not only a season for heightened reﬂection, worship and compassion, but it evinces a higher demand for household electronics items as well. Al Hashar Electronics has announced Ramadan promotion till July 17 at all its showrooms in the Sultanate. Attractive prices The products offered at unbelievably attractive prices are from world renowned brands like Rinnai, Ariston, Mitsubishi, Voltas, Finlux, Desertcool, Ferre, Mastergas, Daytek, etc. Different ranges of home appliances viz. cookers, built-in kitchen, LED television, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, microwaves are available, says a press release. The main attraction of the pro-

The main attraction of the promotion sale is that customers will get a raffle coupon when they purchase products worth OMR50. Soon after the close of promotion sale, a bumper draw will be held on July 27

motion sale is that customers will get a raffle coupon when they purchase products worth OMR50. Soon after the close of promotion sale, a bumper draw will be held on July 27. Two lucky winners of the draw will get LED TVs of 65 and 50 inches. “Our Ramadan promotional offers have proved to be extremely successful in the past and this year no different,” said Rajeev Sharma, general manager, Al Hashar Electronics Group. He also said that the customers who aspire to own

indispensable household items of good quality will be excited while visiting the showrooms. The prime objective of Al Hashar Electronics in conducting the Ramadan promotion is to offer their long standing patrons as well as to the people of Oman very special discount during the holy month. A very attractive package deal on built-in appliances is also being offered as part of the promotion. Installation of all built-in kitchen appliances is completely

free during the promotional period. It helps the customers make saving of substantial amount once the purchase of those items is made. One of the customers present at the showroom mentioned that he arrived with his family to pick up a few items and enjoy the promotion beneﬁts. He said, “I will tell my friends and family to visit the showroom and acquire those products which are good and its prices are unbelievable.” Discerning the feelings and demand of the existing and potential customers, Al Hashar Electronics has undertaken the task of opening new showrooms especially at vantage points across the length and breadth of the Sultanate. These showrooms serve as a platform to showcase all the household appliances needed for a family. According to its general manager, opening of new showrooms across the country is on the anvil.

SPECIAL OCCASION

Bank Sohar sponsors collective graduation ceremony of schools MUSCAT: As part of its objectives to further encourage and promote the importance of education within the country, Bank Sohar recently sponsored a special collective graduation ceremony for 189 students from 44 schools in the Al Dakhiliyah region. The graduation ceremony was held recently at the College of Applied Sciences in Nizwa under the auspices of Sheikh Hamed bin Salim bin Said Al Aghbari, wali of Nizwa. The ceremony witnessed the graduation of 189 students from 30 government schools and 14 private schools, says a press release. Representing Bank Sohar at the event were Haider Mohd Abdullah, senior chief manager, Retail Sales & Distribution, Juma Masood Al Dawoudi, senior branch manager of Nizwa Branch, in addition to Bank Sohar’s Direct Sales Team Nizwa Branch staff. Commenting on the bank’s sponsorship of the graduation ceremony, Munira Abdulnabi Macki, DGM of Human Resources and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar said, “Bank Sohar has always been a strong supporter of educational growth in the Sultanate. Our participation in events such as these stems from our belief in the vital role educa-

tion plays in the development of the youth as well as the country, together with our desire to support excellence in all ﬁelds within the Sultanate.” The graduation ceremony was inaugurated by a welcoming speech, followed by the National Anthem and a recitation from the Holy Quran. Shortly after, school students played a special welcome song followed by a poetry recital. The chief guest then presented each of graduates with their diplomas. The event concluded with Bank Sohar being honoured for its support of the event. “We are proud to support this very special occasion and on behalf of Bank Sohar, I would like to congratulate each and every one of the graduates and wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavours,” added Munira. Being sponsors of the event, Bank Sohar participated as well by setting up a stand to showcase its ‘Ahaln Mualimi’ 2015 campaign. The campaign offers reduced interest rates of as low as 4 per cent on personal and housing loans for employees of the Ministry of Education. In addition, customers of this scheme will also be presented with an instant guaranteed special ‘Golden Box’ full of valuable gifts as a token of appreciation from the bank.

City Centres embrace spirit of Ramadan with month-long activities MUSCAT: Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping malls in Oman - City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum will be opening their doors to shoppers continuously from 10am until 1am encouraging visitors to enjoy a wide range of Ramadan activities this year. Shoppers will be welcomed by coffee and dates every day from Iftar, as well as getting the chance to win fantastic prizes throughout the month, says a press release. In the true essence of Ramadan, mall visitors step into an atmosphere of beautifully themed traditional décor throughout the mall. Highlighting the value of giving and cultivating family togetherness during the holy month, the malls will provide a range of family-friendly activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. With live radio shows, Anasheed, Qaranqashow and Eid activities on offer, visitors will feel immersed in the welcoming ambience. Husam Al Mandhari, senior mall manager of City Centre Muscat, said, “We relish the holy month for focusing on spirituality and family time. Embracing the spirit of Ramadan, we continue our efforts to creating great moments for everyone, everyday by dedicating all our mall activities for families to reconnect and spend quality time with loved ones.” Ladies can enjoy different Henna designs, complimentary for guests during the last week of Ramadan, while children can take part in the Qaranqashow festivities on the 14th day of Ramadan in both City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum. The event allows the kids to hunt for sweets and candies. ‘Areej’ Band will perform Anasheed (religious songs) live in City Centre Muscat on Fridays. Majid Al Futtaim’s shopping malls intend to keep the spirit of solidarity and compassion during this time with the annual charity initiative, ‘Make a Difference

this Ramadan.’ City Centre Muscat and City Centre Qurum are spearheading the largest group effort in the Sultanate by encouraging the community to carry out a good deed, by donating nonperishable goods such as clothes, books and glasses. This initiative exemplifies the core spirit of the most important and reflective time in the Islamic calendar. “The annual charity drive helps us understand the conditions of those who are less fortunate and strengthens our mission to mobilise public support to offer assistance to the community. Each donation is significant and we thank our mall shoppers and retailers for supporting such an important cause,” Watfa Humaid Al Harthy, Senior Mall Manager of City Centre Qurum, said of the initiative. “We are also hosting Ramadan and Eid festivities and we look forward to celebrating the holy month with you.” In addition, City Centre malls will be hosting ‘Hala Ramadan’ show reporting live every day from 10pm-1am. During the shows, your favourite presenters along with guests, artists and celebrities carry out interviews and listeners get to call in to answer questions about Ramadan for a chance to win valuable prizes. Further embracing the spirit of giving for the holy month, lucky shoppers will have a chance to win three brand new Jeep Wranglers during Eid. City Centre malls will be giving away three cars for the ‘Eidiyati’ campaign. To participate, visitors can simply spend OMR30 or more, in shopping, dining or entertainment during Ramadan, at City Centre Muscat or City Centre Qurum and redeem their receipts from the same day at customer service desks to enter the lucky raffle draw. The City Centre malls are open from 10am to 1am throughout Ramadan, and offer a wide range of Arabic and international dining options for Iftar or Sohour.

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ROUND-UP

Feature-packed Pathfinder now comes with irresistible benefits power. The PathďŹ nder is no longer the choice for those who need to venture off-road only. With the introduction of the all-new fourth generation, not only does PathďŹ nder provide capability with spacious seating for seven, and an intuitive 4 Wheel Drive System, but it also resets the standard for the segment with an unprecedented level of premium style, comfort, fuel economy and offer a comfortable experience for families.

The Nissan PathďŹ nder has transformed into a much more familyfriendly vehicle, with a roomy, modern interior, and handling characteristics and impressive power

also walk away with assured cash gifts up to OMR1,000/- (minimum assured of OMR500/-) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; (&#'#. Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ă°.-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; #-- (Ĺ&#x2014; MUSCAT: The Nissan PathďŹ nd- assures customers free registraer 3.5L from the house of Suhail tion, 6 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; extended warranty, Bahwan Automobiles offers a full easy financing options, a loan complement of technology and term up to eight years and attracfeatures that offer auto enthusiasts tive interest rates. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; #.#)( &Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ĺ&#x2014;"#!"&#!".Ĺ&#x2014; a perfect combination of perfect off-road capability (i-Auto 4WD of 2015: This year Nissan has insystem), dynamic design, class- troduced another exciting line up leading comfort, a rewarding driv- of Ramadan beneďŹ t for their valing experience and unmatched in- ued customers. Customers who terior comfort for a perfect family already own a Nissan model and are making a second purchase drive, says a press release. will receive additional incentives from SBA where customers enBeneďŹ t highlights Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; , . "Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; ÄĄ.1)Ĺ&#x2014; --/, Ĺ&#x2014; joy 10,000 kms additional service, gifts): Customers buying the Nis- they will receive special interest san PathďŹ nder 3.5L will receive a privilege card and also be eligible â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card which will for any trade-in beneďŹ ts. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; * # &Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; , . Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; /-.)' ,-Ĺ&#x2014; entitle them to two assured gifts comprising of Free service up to (Ĺ&#x2014; 0 #&Ĺ&#x2014;-* # &Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;, . Ĺ&#x2014;-. ,.#(!Ĺ&#x2014; Lifetime of the car (minimum as- from RO 190/- on the Nissan Pathsured 1 year/ 10,000 km PMS) and ďŹ nder 3.5L ĂźĹ&#x2014; #-- (Ĺ&#x2014; &.#' Ĺ&#x2014; -Ĺ&#x2014; , ( Ĺ&#x2014; Ăš Ĺ&#x2014; Free fuel up to OMR1,000/- (minidraw prize mum assured of OMR50/ " Ĺ&#x2014; !, ( Ĺ&#x2014; , Ăš Ĺ&#x2014; , 1Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -"Ĺ&#x2014; # .-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; /-.)' ,-Ĺ&#x2014; 1#&&Ĺ&#x2014;

place (on the passenger curb side). PathďŹ nderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quiet, comfortable interior beneďŹ ts from a wide range of available features, rich leatherappointed seating surfaces; ventilated, heated and cooled front seats; sliding second row seats and an advanced Bose Audio System with 6 speakers.

(.#Ĺ&#x2014; ,#44& Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; Ăź( Ĺ&#x2014; ,)1Ĺ&#x2014; head restraint-mounted DVD display screens.

Rewarding experience Addressing buyersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; desire for more efficiency in every aspect of their lives, the PathďŹ nderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engine and CVT combination develops 13% better acceleration than the previous generation while returning Safety features Standard safety features on the 30% better fuel efficiency. FeaturNissan PathďŹ nder 3.5L include ing a 3.5-litre DOHC V6 engine antilock disc brakes, stability and mated to a next-generation XtronDynamic design traction control, front-seat side ic CVT (Continuously Variable Along with reduced weight, airbags and full-length side curtain Transmission) the ideal rpm for PathďŹ nderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new unibody plat- airbags that cover all three rows the driving conditions are always form provided the designers an of seats. Rear parking sensors and maintained. All-New PathďŹ nder opportunity to create the more a rear view camera are standard is the only vehicle in class with Nissan is being held in associa- aerodynamic exterior without on all. The vehicle also features selectable 2WD, Auto or 4WD tion with Al Wisal and Merge FM compromising headroom or cargo a blind-spot warning system and Lock modes for its available inwhere participants can enter the capacity. Moving upscale in ap- rear cross-traffic alert, while up- ./#.#0 Ĺ&#x2014;

Ä&#x161; Ĺ&#x2014; Ăž2ĂžÄ&#x161;#Ĺ&#x2014; -3-. 'Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; draw to win a sleek Nissan Altima pearance, the new exterior styl- per grades come with a more deluxe The system lets the driver choose full-time 2WD for maximum fuel (2 vehicles to be won); just SMS ing presents a smart fusion of surround-view camera system. economy, Auto mode to automati<Nissan Altima> to 90448. The signature Nissan styling cues cally monitor conditions and adlucky winner can walk away with a and dynamic strength. The look Thoughtful technology is adventure-ready with wheel- Thoughtful technology is also just the balance of power between brand new Nissan Altima. oriented muscular fenders and a found throughout the PathďŹ nder front and rear wheels for best tracstrong, stable stance. The upper interior, starting with Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tion, or 4WD Lock mode when Easy ďŹ nancing options SBA designed the Ramadan body features an open cabin with advanced, class-exclusive Around the conďŹ dence of full-time 4WD scheme to add to the pleasure large windows which can be com- Vie Monitor, which provides the #-Ĺ&#x2014; -#, Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; #.#)(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ( , Ĺ&#x2014; and convenience of owning a Nis- plemented with an available Dual driver a virtual 360-degree im- Hill Start Assist helps add control san model and ensure hassle and Panoramic Moonroof, to enhance age of the area around the vehicle. when starting and driving away worry-free driving at all times. Ni- the new PathďŹ nderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open, airy The instrument panel includes on a steep incline (both 4WD and ssan customers can also avail easy interior environment. Advanced Drive-Assist Display 2WD models). SBA is largely committed to ďŹ nancing option of a loan term up (standard on every model), feato 8 years with attractive interest Class-leading comfort tures a 7.0-inch LCD colour dis- supporting Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth in the rates from Bank Muscat. Flexible The new PathďŹ nder offers the play, and utilises 3D-effect graph- Sultanate through major emphasis Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; &-)Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; . #&),Ĺ&#x2014; ' Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014; comfort of a larger SUV with its ics to relay key information right on customer satisfaction and by any individual requirement from ďŹ&#x201A;at ďŹ&#x201A;oor enhancing interior pack- in front of the driver. The instru- providing world-class after-sales aging ďŹ&#x201A;exibility. The PathďŹ nderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ment panel includes a large mul- services in Oman. With a national in-house Auto Finance team. unique versatility is exempliďŹ ed in .# /( .#)(Ĺ&#x2014; (., Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; #-*& 3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; 0 #&- network of more than 19 show." Ĺ&#x2014; -#!(Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; & 2Ĺ&#x2014; .#(!Ĺ&#x2014; able Nissan Navigation System, rooms, 22 Service centres and 35 Cross-over for the family The Nissan PathďŹ nder has trans- System, giving 5.5 inches of sliding Streaming Audio via Bluetooth Spare Parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, formed into a much more family- second row seating travel while and Rear View Monitor. friendly vehicle, with a roomy, additionally providing exceptional Other technology includes excellent customer service and modern interior, and handling third row access even with a child ,#Ä&#x161; )( Ĺ&#x2014; /.)' .# Ĺ&#x2014; &#' . Ĺ&#x2014; providing value for money to each characteristics and impressive safety seat remaining securely in Control,Hill Descent control, auto of its customers.

SHARING THE DELIGHT

Ramadan exclusives at Second Cup, Breadtalk MUSCAT:Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; #,4 Ĺ&#x2014; (. ,( .#)( &Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ Ä˘Ĺ&#x2014;, (.&3Ĺ&#x2014;#(.,) / Ĺ&#x2014; a string of delectable exclusives at Second Cup and BreadTalk branches to share the joys of the blessed month of Ramadan ( Ĺ&#x2014; # Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014; #.,Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; )( Ĺ&#x2014; /*Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; BreadTalk will be providing customers with a variety of elegantly designed goods, ranging from sweet to savoury treats, says a press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ramadan is a time when people come together, uniting families and local communities. At #(Ĺ&#x2014; #,4 Ĺ&#x2014; (. ,( .#)( &Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; 1 Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; determined to share the delights of this special season with our customers by catering to their wants through an exclusive as-),.' (.Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; ' (Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; # Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014; Fitr goods,â&#x20AC;? said Jannat Moosa, marketing director at Bin Mirza. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our baked treats are perfect for visiting family and friends and just enough to indulge. Share ." 'Ĺ&#x2014;1#."Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014;!/ -.-Ĺ&#x2014; . ,Ĺ&#x2014; . ,Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;

JOYALUKKAS PROMOTION WINNERS

Joyalukkas officials distributed gold gifts to the winners of its ďŹ rst set of the ongoing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Joyalukkas Drive Your Dreamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; promotion. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Supplied photos

/- Ĺ&#x2014; ." 'Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; & , . Ĺ&#x2014; # Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; savour our assortment of traditional delicacies.â&#x20AC;? Second Cup branches in Oman will provide customers 3 mini treats which include Financier, Date Madeleine and Madeleine with a choice between Turkish coffee or regular brewed coffee. BreadTalk customers can enjoy a combination of Coffee ganache and brioche, Cream cheese and Date brioche, Chicken nugget croissant, in addition to Olive quiche, Chicken sausage quiche, *#( "Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; . Ĺ&#x2014; /(-Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; / chini pizza bites, and Beef shuwa.

M Y H A S S A D S AV I N G S C H E M E

ahlibank lists daily winners of OMR1,000 MUSCAT: ahlibank has announced the names of the MyHassad daily prize draw winners. Khalfan Mohammed Nasser Al Kindi from Nizwa branch, Said -)/ Ĺ&#x2014; " . .Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014; #Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014; ,#Ĺ&#x2014; branch, Abdullah Nasser Ali Al Araimi from Sur branch, Ahmed Abdulla Salim Al Balushi from ,% Ĺ&#x2014; , ( "Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; 3 ( Ĺ&#x2014; #Ĺ&#x2014; /&& "Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014; ,1 (#Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; branch were the lucky winners of OMR1,000 each for the week,

says a press release. MyHassad savings account continues to successfully satisfy the existing customers and attract new ones. MyHassad Saving Scheme was introduced in July 2008 as an extension of the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tradition of product innovation. Opening MyHassad Saving account is simple and easy. Customers need only to open their MyHassad account with OMR100 for their chance to win OMR1,000

in the next working dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s draw hence their chance to â&#x20AC;&#x153;open today and win tomorrowâ&#x20AC;? continues. Further enhancements in March 2009 allows customers to participate in the OMR10,000 monthly draw, by maintaining a minimum OMR250 during the month. Customers can also transfer their salaries to MyHassad saving account and will be eligible to enter in the daily, monthly draw as per the balance maintained.

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

ROUND-UP

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Buying a Ford now offers a chance to win 4 EcoSports Ford’s Ramadan offer is designed to make every new Ford buyer cherish this season for a long time to come

MUSCAT: If you have been waiting for the right opportunity to own a Ford with exciting offers, then this is the right time to make the most of it. Arabian Car Marketing Company (ACM), the dealers of Ford in Oman, have announced their Ramadan offer set to attract a number of enthusiasts looking to drive away with more than just their favourite Ford. Ford’s Ramadan offer is designed to make every new Ford buyer cherish this season for a long time to come, says a press release. To begin with there will be a cash gift of up to OMR1000, up to ﬁve years/100,000km free service, free insurance, OMR25 gift voucher from Lulu and the best of all 4 grand raffles — A Ford EcoSport Ambiente Plus. “This Ramadan, Ford is looking forward to enhancing the ownership experience of customers. For long now Ford Motor Company has remained synonymous with attractive designs, advanced tech-

nology and world-class safety. We wish to take this to a whole new level with beneﬁts that customers can make the most of,” said a spokesperson from ACM. Ford Motor Company has in its range some of the most soughtafter and well-awarded vehicles in the world. These include cars like Focus, Fusion, Taurus and Mustang, while the EcoSport, Escape, Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Ranger and F-150 complete the SUV range. Based on Ford’s global Cplatform, the Focus features an international design pedigree and introduces numerous classexclusive technologies, including a host of premium-level comfort, convenience and safety touches. This Ramadan, the Ford Focus will be available with 3 years /

60,000 kms free service, free insurance (14MY), gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Fusion’s sleek, Europeaninspired design and a wide choice of powertrain options make the Fusion an attractive choice in a ﬁercely competitive segment. The Ford Fusion will be available with 3 years/60,000km free service (14&15my), free insurance (14&15my), gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Ford Taurus delivers more of what large sedan customers really want with even better fuel economy, more technology, design reﬁnement, improved craftsmanship and enhanced driving dynamics. The Taurus will be available with three years/60,000km free service, gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Mustang has progressed to

become one of the most desired brands giving its fans enough reasons to be numbered among the admirers fond of everything that’s much more than the usual. The Ford Mustang will be available with a gift voucher and a rafﬂe coupon. The EcoSport is a contemporary design aerodynamically honed for fuel economy. It is packed with smart technologies, features and craftsmanship that offer customers more than they would expect in this segment. The Ford EcoSport will be available with three years/60,000km free service, free insurance (14my), gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Escape features more cargo space clever technologies like the hands-free liftgate and

active park assist, as well as the SYNC with MyFord Touch connectivity system. The Ford Escape will be available with three years/60,000km free service, gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Ford Edge is a midsize crossover SUV that features a modern-looking interior. It is equipped with standard 3.5-litre V6 that produces 285 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The Ford Edge will be available with ﬁve years/1,00,000km free service, gift voucher and raffle coupon. Sharing its car-based platform with the Taurus sedan, the Ford Explorer is attuned to and exceeds what today’s large SUV shoppers desire. It drives well, returns good fuel economy and retains the versatility that it is known for. The Explorer will be available with three years/60,000km free service (15my), gift voucher and raffle coupon. The Expedition is the most powerful and fuel-efficient Expedition yet, offering customers a full-size utility vehicle with a stylish design and fresh interiors across a diverse line-up that includes Platinum trim level. The Ford Expedition will be available with 3 years/60,000 kms free service, free insurance (14my), gift voucher, raffle coupon. Ford vehicles are known the world over for their exceptional safety, luxury and unsurpassed technological superiority. Ford ploughs in millions of dollars into R&D each year to ensure that every Ford offers maximum safety and motoring pleasure for its customers.

BOARD ELECTION

Filipino Social Club election postponed to July 17 MUSCAT: The election of the new Board of Directors of the Filipino Community Social Club (Filcosoc), which was scheduled to take place on July 11, has been rescheduled on July 17 due to some technical reasons. Moreover, due to some workrelated reasons, Flrention Rhen Cruz is no longer part of the Comelec and is replaced by incumbent BOD Harold Vibal, says a press release. Deadline extended The deadline for the submission of the certiﬁcate of candidacy (CoC) is extended until July 10. All interested members of the Filcosoc who have the calling to serve the community are enjoined to submit their CoC not later than July 10. Consequently, the Miting de Avance is moved to July 16 and the Election will now take place on July 17. Guidelines “The guidelines for the election are posted in the Filcosoc Facebook page as well as the certiﬁcate of candidacy. All the date adjustments had been earlier posted in the Filcosoc FB page. The venues of the Miting De Avance and election will be announced later,” said a Club official. Community service “Again, we invite all the interested Filcosoc members who would like to level-up their community service to come forward and be the next members of the Filcosoc Board,” he added.

ACADEMICS

MCBS offers Master in Islamic Banking and Finance MUSCAT: In a pioneering move Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) is all set to launch the Sultanate’s first ever Master programme in Islamic Banking and Finance in November this year. The programme is designed to offer course participants a thorough understanding of rules and the teachings of Islam ﬁnance related to economics, apart from general banking and ﬁnance concepts, says a press release.

“The programme has been designed to cater for finance and banking sector which is now offering Islamic compliant services which necessitates a sound understanding of the finance Islamic based financial proceedings and modern financial transactions and instruments. Graduates will be adept at interacting with the global financial system and at proposing viable alternatives to existing models and approaches,” said one of senior faculty, at the

Department of Business and Economics at Modern College. The Master Degree in Islamic Banking and Finance will be endorsed by a leading university from Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur —Management and Science University (MSU), which also supported Modern College in designing the course curriculum. Experts from MSU will remain as the main academic partners of the programme and together with experts from this institution will also provide support.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM COM SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015

SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

DU PLESSIS WELCOMES NEW NO-BALL RULE South Africa’s T20 captain Faf du Plessis welcomed the new cricket rule which allows free hits after all kinds of no-balls in limited-over games. The new rule will come in effect on Sunday when South Africa play Bangladesh in the ﬁrst T20 internationals. >C2

TENNIS

Defending champion Kvitova crashes out of Wimbledon LONDON: Petra Kvitova’s reign as Wimbledon champion came to a shock end on Saturday as Jelena Jankovic staged a superb fightback to claim a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 third round victory. Kvitova’s exit marks the first time since 2009 that the twotime Wimbledon winner has failed to make at least the quarterfinals at the All England Club. Jankovic looked down and out when she trailed by a set and was 4-2 down in the second against the Czech world number two. But the Serbian 28th seed mounted a gutsy recovery and will play former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the quarterfinals. “I’m overwhelmed. I’m so excited. My heart is still pumping,” Jankovic said. I cannot believe this just happened but this is what this

sport is all about. “After I won that second set I knew I had it, I just had to keep going. In the last couple of years I played so poorly. But beating her gives me a lot of conﬁdence for the rest of the tournament. Now anything can happen.” With second seeded Kvitova out, only four of the top 10 seeds are left in the women’s draw, providing a major boost to Serena Williams’ bid for a sixth Wimbledon title. The 25-year-old could have no complaints after allowing the match to slip from her grasp with 21 unforced errors, compared to just 11 from Jankovic, who hit 24 winners against only 13 from Kvitova. It was a welcome return to prominence for Jankovic, who was poised to become the sport’s next

Federer gets past Groth, Brown falls

SMOOTH SAILING: Roger Federer was too good for the big-serv-

ing Sam Groth. – Reuters

Dreadlocked German qualiﬁer Brown was unable to follow his triumph over Nadal when he slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Serbian 22nd seed Troicki

LONDON: Seven-time champion Roger Federer defeated bigserving Australian Sam Groth to reach the Wimbledon last 16 on Saturday while Dustin Brown, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal returned to earth with a bump. Second seed Federer clinched a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 victory over world number 69 Groth who fired a 147mph ace in the third game. Federer will next face Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarterfinals. “I am very happy. It has been a hot week the first week but thankfully I have had easy matches going through without too many long four or five setters,” said Federer. “Now we are looking ahead and there are only big matches.” Dreadlocked German qualifier Brown was unable to follow his triumph over Nadal when he slumped to a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 6-3 defeat to Serbian 22nd seed Viktor Troicki. Brown joins Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Nick Kyrgios who all lost their next match at Wimbledon after knocking out Nadal over the last four years. Troicki goes on to face either British wildcard James Ward or Canada’s Vasek Pospisil for a place in the quarter-finals. It is the 29-year-old Serb’s first last-16 run at Wimbledon since 2012 and his best performance at a Grand Slam since returning from a 12-month drugs ban in July last year. Brown came through qualifying at Wimbledon but defeat on Saturday meant a swift return to the daily grind. “The schedule is to go to the airport and take the earliest flight, because tomorrow morning, I have club matches in Cologne, Germany,” said the 30-year-old. US Open champion Marin Cilic took just two games to see off John Isner on Saturday after returning to finish off their third

round match poised at 10-10 in the final set. First timers Croatian Cilic, the ninth seed, beat the US 17th seed 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 12-10 on Court One in a match that lasted four hours and 31 minutes in total after it had been suspended late Friday due to bad light. “I was playing yesterday really good and I was close to finishing it off. I think throughout all the match I was the one who was putting more pressure on the returns,” Cilic said after winning on a fifth match point having had a first match point in the 12th game of the decider on Friday. Cilic sent down 35 aces to Isner’s 37 and next faces wildcard Denis Kudla, the last American man in the tournament, for a place in the quarter-finals. Danish fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki reached the last 16 for the fourth time with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Italy’s Camila Giorgi. “I was very happy to win this one. I know that Camila is such a tricky opponent. She hits so hard. I was just trying to get every ball back. I was really pleased how I managed to keep my composure,” said Wozniacki. The former world number one will face Spain’s Garbine Muguruza after the 20th seed shocked 2012 semi-finalist Angelique Kerber 7-6 (14/12), 1-6, 6-2. Muguruza, who made the French Open quarterfinals this year, saved nine set points in the opener on her way to a first appearance in the second week at Wimbledon. Romania’s Monica Niculescu also made the last 16 for the first time, beating Czech world number 134 Kristyna Plískova 6-3, 7-5. She will face Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky who put out 2013 runner-up Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-2 to book a spot in the last 16 for the first time. - AFP

DISAPPOINTED: Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova reacts after losing

to Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic. – AFP

female powerhouse after rising to world number one in 2008 following a US Open ﬁnal appearance. That run came hot on the heels of last four berths in the Australian

and French Opens earlier in 2008. But those heady days were a distant memory for the 30-yearold, who has plummeted down to 30th in the rankings after failing

to make the semifinals of a Grand Slam since 2010, and losing in the first rounds of the Australian and French Opens this year. Over the last five years, Kvitova had won the title twice, in 2014 and 2011, while also reaching the 2010 semi-finals and twice making the last eight. Kvitova had only dropped three games in her first two matches — quick-fire wins which took a total of just 93 minutes to complete — and the Czech didn’t take long to reassert her superiority on Centre Court. She broke in the fourth game of the match and, unloading some booming serves, eased through the set in a businesslike 29 minutes. When the Czech broke to love in the third game of the second set, she looked set up wrap up another

quick-ﬁre win as she moved 4-2 ahead. But Kvitova’s focused approach completely disappeared at that point and Jankovic recovered to level at 4-4. Spraying unforced errors wildly wide and long, Kvitova started to gesticulate and grumble as her frustration grew. Jankovic was taking full advantage of Kvitova’s collapse, cleverly moving her opponent around the court and tempting her into injudicious shots — such as the rushed forehand into the net that cost her the set at 5-6. Kvitova disappeared off court in a bid to regroup, leaving Jankovic waiting for nearly 10 minutes before returning. But the break did her little good and Jankovic kept up the pressure before securing the decisive break for a famous win in the 10th game. - AFP

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

SPORTS

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Woeful Pakistan hand Sri Lanka advantage SCOREBOARD

Having been bowled out for 278 in the ﬁrst innings, Sri Lanka hit back to reduce Pakistan to 209-9 by stumps on the second day that saw 11 wickets fall

PALLEKELE: Pakistan’s brittle top-order undid the good work of leg-spinner Yasir Shah as Sri Lanka seized control of the seriesdeciding third and final Test in Pallekele on Saturday. Having been bowled out for 278 in the first innings, Sri Lanka hit back to reduce Pakistan to 209-9 by stumps on the second day that saw 11 wickets fall on the evenlypaced pitch. Nuwan Pradeep grabbed 3-26 in 14 steady overs and fellow seamer Dhammika Prasad chipped in another three wickets to cause a dramatic Pakistani collapse. Sarfraz Ahmed returned unbeaten on a gallant 72 and Azhar Ali made 52, but none of the other batsmen settled down to form a sizeable partnership. Last man Imran Khan, who got to bat for the first time in five Test matches, kept Sarfraz company at

Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 272-8): D. Karunaratne st Sarfraz b Azhar 130 K. Silva c Sarfraz b Rahat 9 U. Tharanga c Younis b Yasir 46 L. Thirimanne c sub (Azam) b Yasir 11 A. Mathews c sub (Azam) b Yasir 3 J. Mubarak st Sarfraz b Yasir 25 D. Chandimal lbw b Rahat 24 D. Prasad c Yasir b Azhar 0 T. Kaushal lbw b Rahat 18 S. Lakmal not out 6 N. Pradeep lbw b Yasir 0 Extras: (lb-3, w-3) 6 Total (all out, 89.5 overs) 278 Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Silva), 2-106 (Tharanga), 3-133 (Thirimanne), 4-137 (Mathews), 5-204 (Mubarak), 6-248 (Karunaratne), 7-248 (Prasad), 8-264 (Chandimal), 9-277 (Kaushal), 10-278 (Pradeep). Bowling: Rahat 21-4-74-3 (w1), Ehsan 14-3-37-0 (w1), Imran 16-3-51-0 (w1), Yasir 31.5-4-78-5, Azhar 7-0-35-2. Pakistan 1st innings: S. Masood lbw b Prasad 13

close on zero. Pakistan were struggling at 1527 when Yasir helped Sarfraz add 45 for the eighth wicket, himself contributing 18 with the bat to follow his impressive bowling. Yasir claimed another ﬁvewicket haul as Sri Lanka added six runs to their overnight score of 272-8 before they were dismissed within 20 minutes of the start. Tharindu Kaushal was legbefore to left-arm seamer Rahat Ali for 18 and last man Pradeep fell in the same fashion to Yasir without scoring. Yasir ﬁnished with 5-78, joining his idol Shane Warne as the only

A. Shehzad c Chandimal b Pradeep 21 A. Ali c Karunaratne b Pradeep 52 Y. Khan run out 3 A. Shaﬁq lbw b Prasad 15 S. Ahmed not out 72 Misbah lbw b Pradeep 6 E. Adil lbw b Kaushal 0 Y. Shah c Chandimal b Prasad 18 R. Ali lbw b Kaushal 2 I. Khan not out 0 Extras: (lb-4, w-1, nb-2) 7 Total (for nine wickets, 64 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Masood), 2-40 (Shehzad), 3-45 (Younis), 4-91 (Shaﬁq), 5-135 (Azhar), 6-151 (Misbah), 7-152 (Ehsan), 8-197 (Yasir), 9-202 (Rahat). Bowling: Prasad 19-1-78-3 (w1), Lakmal 141-64-0 (nb2), Pradeep 14-5-26-3, Mathews 4-1-3-0, Kaushal 13-1-34-2 Toss: Pakistan Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Paul Reiffel (AUS) TV umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND) Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

overseas bowlers to claim ﬁve or more wickets in an innings three times during a Test series in Sri Lanka. Yasir had taken 2-79 and 7-76 in the ﬁrst Test in Galle to fashion Pakistan’s 10-wicket win. He then claimed 6-96 and 2-55 in the second match in Colombo which Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. The 29-year-old, who hails from the Khyber region of northwest Pakistan, has already grabbed 59 wickets in a 10-Test career which began in October last year. Pakistan lost both openers, Shan Masood and Ahmed Shehzad, by the score of 40 and star batsman

Younis Khan was run out off the last ball of the morning session to make it 45-3. Younis (three) charged down for a sharp single after tapping a ball from Angelo Mathews to mid-wicket, but failed to make his ground at the non-striker’s end as Kaushal Silva threw down the stumps. Azhar and Asad Shafiq repaired the early damage with a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket on either side of a 19-minute interruption for rain early in the postlunch session. Shafiq fell in the second over after resumption for 15, playing back to a full-pitched delivery from Prasad and was given out leg-before. Unremitting woe for Pakistan A heavy downpour for the second time forced the umpires to call for an early tea, but Pakistan’s woes just refused to end as the next three wickets fell for 17 runs in five overs. Azhar was on 49 and Pakistan still 158 runs behind when he was reprieved by TV umpire Sundaram Ravi after on-field official Paul Reiffel had declared him caught behind off Prasad. But Azhar only managed to add another three runs when he edged a drive off Pradeep to be snapped up by Dimuth Karunaratne at second slip. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq, who came in to bat at number seven due to a mild groin strain, became Pradeep’s third scalp when he was given out leg-before after making six. - AFP

BAD RUNNING: Pakistan cricketer Younis Khan is run out during

the second day of the third and ﬁnal Test match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. – AFP

TWENTY20 SERIES

Du Plessis welcomes new no-ball rule DHAKA: South Africa’s Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis on Saturday welcomed the new cricket rule which allows free hits after all kinds of no-balls in limitedover games. The new rule will come in effect on Sunday when South Africa play Bangladesh in the ﬁrst of the two Twenty20 internationals at Dhaka’s Sher-eBangla National Stadium. Besides the no-ball rule, the International Cricket Council last month approved several changes in one-day and Twenty20 formats, including restrictions on batting powerplay and ﬁeld placements. Only the free-hit rule will apply in the Twenty20 game. Previously a free-hit was given only after a no-ball that resulted from foot fault. Du Plessis said the rule would discourage bowlers from throwing down beamers which he believed could change the games completely in the crucial last overs. “I think it’s a good rule,” Du Plessis said at a news conference in Dhaka on the eve of the game. “Games (are) won and lost

STAGE SET: Bangladesh skipper Mustaﬁzur Rahman and South African captain Faf du Plessis hold the trophy during an unveiling program at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. – AFP

when guys bowl beamers. Obviously when that rules comes in, it will make a huge difference,” he said. Du Plessis said he was happy to kick off the Bangladesh tour with Twenty20 matches that mark the start of a long sea-

son for South Africa leading up to ICC World Twenty20 in India in March 2016. Before the World Twenty20, the Proteas will host New Zealand and England followed by an away series in India. “It’s nice from a

captain’s point of view that the Twenty20 is more important this year,” said Du Plessis. “Last year... the focus was on ODI cricket. It’s nice this year (that) all the big players are available for the games.” Du Plessis’s counterpart Mashrafe Mortaza said Bangladesh was not thinking ahead too much but focusing on the challenges at hand. “Frankly, we are not thinking about World Twenty20 yet, not at least before these two matches,” he said. “There is plenty of time left for the (World T20) tournament. I don’t see any reason for us to think about World Twenty20 before playing these matches.” Mortaza said Bangladesh’s Twenty20 win over former world champions Pakistan in April had boosted the home side’s confidence. “We have got just one option, which is to play them (South Africa) with confidence. If we fear them, better we stay at home,” he said. The second and final Twenty20 will be held on Tuesday at the same ground. - AFP

S U N DAY, JU LY 5, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS England bank on Bayliss to douse Aussie fire in fresh Ashes series England’s captain Cook faces ultimate challenge

Michael Clarke’s touring side will attempt to win the urn on English soil for the ﬁrst time in 14 years and Alastair Cook’s hosts will try to win back the trophy following their crushing 5-0 defeat in the last series Down Under

LONDON: A callow England team with a new coach take on a bullish and streetwise Australia in an intriguing Ashes series which should provide plenty of drama and aggressive cricket. Michael Clarke’s touring side will attempt to win the urn on English soil for the ﬁrst time in 14 years and Alastair Cook’s hosts will try to win back the trophy following their crushing 5-0 defeat in the last series Down Under. Two years ago Australia went into the Ashes with a new coach in Darren Lehman and lost 3-0, but it was a victory margin which ﬂattered England. This time around the hosts will be led by Australian coach Trevor Bayliss who will aim to build on the feelgood factor generated by England’s impressive resurgence in the recent one-day series against New Zealand. Australia all-rounder Shane Watson believes having the 52-year-old Bayliss at the helm will give England an advantage. “He knows a lot of us very well,” Watson said. “He’ll have these ideas about how he can try to expose our team. The edge will be the inside information he will have. But we know that if we are at our best we will be very hard to beat.” England stagnated under former

BIG TASK: England coach Trevor Bayliss will have a big task to boost England’s conﬁdence. – Reuters

coach Peter Moores, drawing a test series in West Indies this year before being held by New Zealand on home soil under Paul Farbrace. After two barren years Alastair Cook has rediscovered his batting form but doubts remain about whether he has the captaincy acumen to outwit the Australians. “I’m not sure how much ﬂair he has,” said former England captain Mike Brearley who masterminded three Ashes victories. “It will be difficult for him if things don’t go well to start with — and if he doesn’t feel he’s got the same spirit that the team have had in the one-day matches recently, and if he doesn’t quite feel in charge. “Alastair Cook is not a big extrovert. He’s not somebody who is going to change things in dramatic ways.” Signiﬁcant advantage Brearley thinks Australia have

a significant advantage in their bowling attack spearheaded by Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Ryan Harris. “Australia are a very tough team,” Brearley said. “On paper, they’re a better team than us. They’ve certainly got better bowling than we have. “But we’re playing at our home grounds, which makes a difference. If we can get that spirit going, and people play to their best, then we’ve got a chance.” England were lifted in the New Zealand series by positive and match-changing innings from their middle-order batsmen. “One of the exciting things is the flair in the young players from number five to number eight -- Joe Root is a terrific player, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali,” Brearley said. Cook will need major contributions from his experienced open-

ing bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad and will be desperate for Gary Ballance and Ian Bell to rediscover their form at numbers three and four. England could be tempted to play leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the first Test in Cardiff starting on Wednesday but it would be a gamble given the prolific form of the Australians. Steve Smith is the top-ranked batsman in the world after a phenomenal run while David Warner, Chris Rogers, Clarke and Watson are proven run-scorers in English conditions. The first Test usually proves to be pivotal. Two years ago England won a thrilling and fluctuating game in Nottingham by 14 runs and in 2009 the hosts’ last-wicket pair Anderson and Monty Panesar survived for 37 minutes in Cardiff to secure the draw which set up a 2-1 series win. - Reuters

ASHES SERIES

Clarke still fired by hunger for Ashes success SYDNEY: Michael Clarke could not have looked less like the “pup” of his nickname as he prepared to depart Australian shores for his seventh and final Ashes series. It may have been the early hour of the May morning, the hangover from a summer battling with injury or the emotional scars from the death of Phillip Hughes but Clarke looked every day of his 34 years as he spoke to reporters at Sydney Airport. He had taken a few weeks off after his team’s World Cup triumph and ahead of him was a two-Test tour of the Caribbean followed by the ultimate challenge for an Australian cricketer, an Ashes series in England. “Success, nothing’s changed there,” he said when asked what he was hoping for in the months ahead. In England, Clarke has the chance to become the first Australian captain to win an Ashes series on foreign soil since Steve Waugh in 2001. Success, something his predecessor Ricky Ponting was unable to achieve in two attempts, would also offer him the perfect moment to bow out of Test cricket after 11

EMOTIONAL: Michael Clarke wants to become the ﬁrst Australia

captain to win Ashes on foreign soil. – Reuters

years wearing the baggy green. Already on the record as saying he would not be playing on into his late 30s, Clarke knows the degenerating disc in his back will not carry him to the next Ashes series in 2017-18. Nothing if not decisive, he quit Twenty20s in 2011 to focus on the test captaincy and called time on his one-day career at the very top after the World Cup ﬁnal in March. The blooming of Steve Smith, already anointed his successor, and resurgence of

Australia’s pace attack means the team are no longer as reliant on his batting as they were for much of his captaincy. He remains a formidable batsman, however, with a test average of 50.66 in the 110 matches since he scored a century on debut against India in Bangalore in 2004. It says much about his views on leading by example that his record in the 41 tests since he assumed the captaincy in the wake of the Ashes debacle of 2010-2011 is even better, 3,769 runs at an aver-

age of 57.10 with 14 centuries. His captaincy has never been just about batting, however, and he is as much the architect of the aggressive style of play that has brought Australia such success over the last two years as coach Darren Lehmann. A great student of the game, Clarke may have lost the role as selector which he enjoyed in the first years of his captaincy but he directs his fielding resources with great energy and creativity from his position in the slips. Clarke’s reign has not always been smooth -- he inherited a team in disarray from Ponting and was booed on to the pitch at his beloved Sydney Cricket Ground in his first innings as captain. Reservations over the diamond earring, bleached blonde hair and celebrity girlfriend of Clarke in his 20s have eased, however, as he became a happily married thirtysomething. And in the tragedy of last December’s death of his “little brother” Hughes, Clarke briefly became the leader not only of a cricket team but an entire nation in grief. - Reuters

LONDON: Alastair Cook faces his biggest ever challenge as England captain when he leads his young team into this year’s home Ashes series against Australia. His country’s highest Test run-scorer, back in the form which made him one of the world’s leading opening batsmen, Cook must try to feed on the positive vibes fuelled by a gripping contest against New Zealand in all forms of the game. With a new-look team, short on experience but long on aggression and conﬁdence, he takes on Michael Clarke’s ruthless Australia with the simple objective of winning back the famous urn. Trevor Bayliss is the England coach charged with master-minding his native country’s downfall and Cook will need to gel quickly with the 52-year-old Australian to work out how to bring down Darren Lehmann’s ultraefficient side. At least Cook the batsman is back. After nearly two years without an international century he made two in two tests against West Indies and New Zealand before moving past his friend and mentor Graham Gooch as England’s leading run-scorer in tests last month. But Cook has personal baggage to deal with as well as leading an inexperienced team which includes only four other players with experience of Ashes success. He has struggled in the last two series against Australia, scoring only 523 runs in 10 matches. Not terrible statistics but without a century and averaging just over 26, a far cry from his overall test record which includes 27

PICTURE FROM PAST:

Captain Alastair Cook kisses the urn when England won the Ashes series in 2013.

hundreds at an average of nearly 47. For inspiration, he should think back to his finest hour on the 2010-11 Ashes tour when he scored an astonishing 766 runs in seven innings as England won a series in Australia for the first time in 24 years. However, Cook’s captaincy will come under intense scrutiny. A reputation as a conservative leader will be hard to dispel but he must be brave and innovative to probe the weaknesses of an ageing Australian side. Cook was outwitted by Brendon McCullum in the recent Test series against New Zealand which ended 1-1, though he can take inspiration from England one-day captain Eoin Morgan whose aggressive tactics brought about a thrilling 3-2 series win over the World Cup runners-up. Morgan was captain cool -- cute and challenging. If Cook can be skipper serene, sharp and streetwise, the Ashes could be reclaimed and his reputation as a fine leader as well as a master batsman will be assured. - Reuters

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

SPORTS Record-breaking Dennis takes opening stage of Tour de France The 25-year-old Australian of BMC Racing scorched around the 13.8km course in just 14min 56sec despite Utrecht being suffocated by a heatwave

UTRECHT: Australian Rohan Dennis set a new record for the highest average speed in a Tour de France timetrial as he won the opening stage of the 2015 edition on Saturday. The 25-year-old scorched around the 13.8km course in just 14min 56sec despite Utrecht being suffocated by a heatwave. “I’ve broken a dry spell of wins and what a way to do it,” said Dennis. He was the only rider to break the 15min mark and set a new Tour record of 55.446kph on average for a timetrial, beating the 21-year-old mark set by Britain’s Chris Boardman over a course that was just over half the length. More important for Dennis, though, will be his opportunity to wear the yellow jersey on Sunday’s second stage over 166km from Utrecht to Zeeland. “I left it all out there; I went off harder than what I thought I should have and I came back harder than what I thought I could,” said the BMC rider. Dennis had said before the Tour began that his whole season had been built around training for this timetrial and that should he win, it would be “the happiest day” of his “life as a cyclist”. And he did so in style, beating three-time world timetrial champion Tony Martin into second by 5sec with four-time world champion Fabian Cancellara third at 6sec. Amongst the overall contenders, reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali surprised his rivals by putting time into Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana. Early marker The first marker was set by 2010 Dutch timetrial champion Jos van Emden, the ninth rider to start, who finished in 15min 11sec. But less than half an hour later, that was bettered by Dennis, even though Van Emden’s time of 7min 27sec at the 7.1km time check would remain unbeaten all day. Dennis was only one second behind but finished stronger to beat Van Emden’s time by 15sec. He had to wait for almost two hours before the true challengers to his time started to roll over the line, but even then, no-one could

match the former Hour record holder. Home hope Tom Dumoulin was a second slower than Dennis at halfway but had lost eight seconds by the end. German Tony Martin was three seconds down at halfway and had lost another two seconds before the finish. Dennis’s predecessor as World Hour record-holder Matthias Brandle of Austria could not trouble the Australian, finishing seventh at 23sec, while his successor, Britain’s Alex Dowsett, was well off the pace at 36sec in 13th. By now there were very few riders left expected to push for the stage victory and even Spartacus, Cancellara, a five-time winner of opening stage timetrials or prologues at the Tour, could not unseat Dennis. Like Dumoulin he was a second behind Dennis at halfway but like everyone else he couldn’t match Dennis’s pace over the second half of the race. Italian Nibali caused a stir by beating the man he deposed as Tour winner, a seemingly outof-sorts Froome, by 7sec. Nibali finished 22nd in 15min 39sec while the other two members of the ‘fantastic four’ lost even more time than Froome, who was 39th. Spanish Giro d’Italia winner Contador was 15sec behind the Italian while Quintana lost 18sec. History making Eritrean pair Daniel Teklehaimanot and Merhawi Kudus gave a respectable account of themselves as the first ever black Africans to ride the Tour for their MTN Qhubeka team, the first African outfit to ride the Grand Boucle. Teklehaimanot finished 146th out of 198 riders in a time of 16min 30sec with Kudus 175th in 16min 47sec. Nibali’s Astana teammate Lars Boom was at the start line after his participation had been in doubt on Friday night due to a low cortisol level in an unofficial test conducted by the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC). Although it does not constitute a doping violation, the MPCC advises it’s member teams — who are aligned to the movement on a voluntary basis — to stand down the rider for eight days on health grounds. The 29-year-old Dutchman finished 23rd at 44sec. - AFP

GOOD BEGINNING: BMC Racing rider Rohan Dennis of Australia wears the race leader’s yellow jersey on the podium after the 13.8 km (8.57

miles) individual time-trial ﬁrst stage of the 102nd Tour de France cycling race in Utrecht, Netherlands.

– Reuters

Historic moment for Africa as Teklehaimanot starts Tour UTRECHT: The sweltering conditions would have been familiar to Daniel Teklehaimanot as he rolled down the start ramp on Saturday but not the wall of noise that hit him seconds later. The first black African to ride the Tour de France was given the honour of being the first of the 198 riders to set off in the medieval Dutch city of Utrecht where crowds estimated at 700,000 gathered to watch a 14-kilometre individual time trial. The 26-year-old is part of debut-making team MTN Qhubeka, the first African procycling outfit to line up in the world’s greatest race. “(The organisers) phoned me last night and said ‘do you want to kick off the race?’,” team president and founder Doug Ryder told Reuters as Teklehaimanot and his team mates, including American Tyler Farrar, Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen and South African Louis Meintjes, sweated on the rollers

MAKING HISTORY: MTN-Qhubeka rider Daniel Teklehaimanot of Eritrea cycles on the opening stage. – Reuters

as the minutes ticked down to the start of the ﬁrst stage. “Most teams don’t want to start ﬁrst, but when they said do you want to kick off the Tour I was like ‘OK, we’d be honoured’. “When I told Daniel he was starting he said ‘fantastic’.” Eritrea’s Teklehaimanot, one of 17 children, is not just mak-

ing up the numbers in a team backed by MTN, the South African telecommunications company, and electronics giant Samsung. He won the king of the mountains jersey at the recent Criterium du Dauphine and will expect to be mixing it with the world’s best climbers when the race reaches the Alps.

The MTN Qhubeka bus, emblazoned with #bicycleschangelives, was thronged with people on Saturday, with Ryder’s pride clear as he explained his dream to the media. Cheered on by fans waving Eritrean ﬂags, Teklehaimanot did not quite produce the ride he would have liked over the 13.8km course — clocking 16 minutes 30 seconds. But along with Meintjes, fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus, the youngest rider in the Tour at 21, and South African brothers Jacques and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, the days ahead will provide many chances to showcase the African continent. “It’s David v Goliath, why not?” Ryder said. “But we are here on merit and not because we are an African team. “We want to be aggressive, show off the team’s colours, show the potential of African cyclists and, of course, our Bicycles Change Lives campaign.” - Reuters

CRICKET

England’s Mr Reliable, ready to make Ashes leap LONDON: Firmly established in the pivotal number five position in England’s batting order, Joe Root is primed for the job of taking on Australia’s vaunted pace attack toe to toe. The Yorkshireman’s consistency is reflected in his statistics after 27 Tests — 2,273 runs and six centuries coming at a highly impressive average of 54.11. Australia have, in Steve Smith, the number one batsman in the world but Root is not far behind having come of age as a test player since suffering the ignominy of being dropped for the final Ashes Test on the dismal 2013-14 tour Down Under. Since being overlooked in Sydney in January 2014, the England man is averaging more than 90 in the five-day format. Once touted as a natural opener, a role he had mixed success

MR RELIABLE: Joe Root

with, Root has now blossomed at number ﬁve. The blond, boyishfaced batsman enjoyed a fruitful ﬁrst two years in Test cricket, a maiden century coming at his

home Headingley ground against New Zealand in his sixth Test. It was an innings that underlined a growing maturity as he followed the likes of Yorkshiremen Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott and Michael Vaughan, who all once batted with distinction for England. His second Test century, a brilliant 180 against Australia at Lord’s, appeared to conﬁrm that Root’s natural place was opening the batting alongside Alastair Cook. But he then endured a torrid time and was taken out of the ﬁring line for the return series in Australia as England were handed a humiliating whitewash. Root did score 87 in Adelaide but failed to get past 30 in seven other innings, struggling against Australia’s battery of pacemen

who exposed his weakness outside off stump. Having been moved up and down the order, he was dropped for the final test in Sydney but was recalled to face Sri Lanka. Root compiled an unbeaten 200 in the first innings at Lord’s, at the age of 23 years and 165 days, to become England’s youngest double centurion since David Gower in 1979. A fine player of spin, Root has continued to thrive this season, hitting an unbeaten 182 against West Indies in Grenada in April before making 98 and 84 in the first test against New Zealand. A dominant performance in a winning Ashes team would add further fuel to the argument that Root has the ability to be one of his country’s greatest batsmen. - Reuters

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SPORTS

Hamilton rules at home to take pole Responding to a below-par run in practice on Friday, the series leader and defending two-time world champion made the most of overnight improvements to his car — and passionate support from his home fans — to beat his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg SILVERSTONE: Lewis Hamilton moved to third place on Saturday in the list of all-time Formula One pole sitters when he secured his eighth pole spot in nine races for Sunday’s British Grand Prix. Responding to a below-par run in practice on Friday, the series leader and defending two-time world champion made the most of overnight improvements to his car — and passionate support from his home fans — to beat his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by a tenth of a second in a tense qualifying session at Silverstone. The 30-year-old Briton clocked a best time of one minute and 32.248 seconds on his first run to beat the German by one-tenth of a second. Neither man improved on their final runs in the final seconds.

Hamilton’s success gave him his second successive pole for his home race. It is also the 46th pole position of his career, a total that took him one ahead of four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel, who has taken 45, and leaves only seventime champion German Michael Schumacher, with 68, and threetime champion Brazilian Ayrton Senna, on 65, ahead. His success also gives him a good chance to increase his 10-points lead ahead of Rosberg in the championship, if he can win Sunday’s 52-laps race. “It’s a very special day, for me to take pole here,” said Hamilton. “The fans give me such motivation and I thank them all for their support. It’s an unbelievable feeling. “Generally, it hasn’t been the

TOP THREE: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, centre, celebrates his pole position in qualifying with

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, right, and Williams’ Felipe Massa. – Reuters

smoothest weekend. I made a change in the car before qualifying, which hopefully will be good for the race.” Rosberg had looked likely to be quickest, but said he had problems with ‘the left front’ of his car. “My ﬁrst lap was really good, but Lewis was one-tenth quicker

ASIAN CHAMPIONS OMAN GEAR UP FOR WORLD CUP Asian Champions Oman, who are in Portugal to play in the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2015 which will be played on the sands of the Praia de Baia from July 9 to 19, were practicing hard on the sands. Talib Hilal-coached team consists of Hani Al Dhabit, Jalal Al Sinani, Abdullah Al Sauti, Khalid Al Orimi, Yahaya Al Orimi, Munther Al Orimi, Khalid Al Rajhi, Haitham Harib, Ghaith Al Alawi, Abdullah Al Balushi, Mohamed Al Busaidi, and Ishaq Al Kasbi. The Omani delegation is headed by Shaikh Mansoor bin Zahir Al Hajri, including Coach Talib Hilal, Assistant Coach Yousef Obaid, Team manager Dawood Salim, Fitness coach Ricardo Da Silva, Phsiotherapist Mazin Al Arfi, Media officer Hamdan Al Ma’ani, Team Videographer Mohamed Al Kindi, and Kit manager Abduljaleel Al Balushi. Oman will face Switzerland in the first Group B match on July 9 followed by match against Italy on July 11 and final group match against Costa Rica on July 13. — OFA

-- which is annoying, but that’s the way it is. There was something wrong and we need to look at it.” Like Hamilton, he praised the crowd. “It’s awesome to see how many people and here and great to see how enthusiastic everyone is about our sport.” Massa was the only leading driv-

er to improve on his ﬁnal run. He said: “It is a fantastic day for us. It is amazing to see how many people are here, it is the home grand prix for the team (Williams) and it is great to see. I hope we can have a strong race and ﬁght with Ferrari.” The Mercedes team’s success gave them a seventh front row

lockout this season, a statistic that confirms the supremacy of the Silver Arrows cars. In a surprising last push, the two Williams cars of Brazilian Felipe Massa and Finn Valtteri Bottas took third and fourth ahead of an all-Ferrari row three to be filled by Finn Kimi Raikkonen and four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel. Russian Daniil Kvyat was seventh for Red Bull ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso, German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull. Ricciardo was one of several drivers who suffered for having a lap deleted for running off circuit at Copse to gain an advantage. Raikkonen also got penalised after posting a fast lap. This left the indignant Finn, who believed he was permitted two wheels on the kerb, facing an exit before the top-ten shootout. He squeezed through in ninth with another lap. The travails of the hapless McLaren team continued apace with both their former world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button failing to qualify even for the second session and will start on the ninth row of the grid. It was the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix in April that both McLarens were eliminated in Q1. - AFP

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

SPORTS

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VENUE OF THE WORLD CUP FINAL: A view of BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, where the ﬁnal of 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup will be staged on Sunday. – AFP

Classic clash of styles in WC final The defending world and Asian champions play a clever, shortpassing, possession game while the rival Americans rely more on their athleticism, individual ﬂair and power in the ﬁnal third WARMING UP: Members of Japan’s national team take part in a training session in Vancouver. – AFP

VANCOUVER: The United States and Japan may be familiar foes but that doesn’t make Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final any less of a tactical conundrum for both teams with the game a classic clash of styles. The defending world and Asian champions play a clever, shortpassing, possession game while the rival Americans rely more on their athleticism, individual flair and power in the final third.

Japan’s style has clearly been inﬂuenced by the successful ‘tikitaka’ approach of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team but has evolved in recent years with coach Norio Sasaki mixing in a more direct element. Likewise, U.S. coach Jill Ellis has eased the team away from extensive use of the long ball with a more ﬂuid style evident, particularly since the decision to place record goal scorer, and classic tar-

get striker, Abby Wambach on the bench. For all Wambach’s goals over the years, and her outstanding ability in the air, her presence attracted as a magnet to long balls into the box and as her mobility declined, so did the effectiveness of hitting the ball at her. Instead, against Germany in the semi-ﬁnal, midﬁelder Carli Lloyd was given a more attacking role, supporting the lone striker

Alex Morgan. Since Morgan is at her most dangerous with the ball at her feet and taking players on, the Americans had good reason for trying to play quality passes on the ground and the approach worked well. With Morgan Brian and Lauren Holiday the holding pair in the centre of the midﬁeld, the Americans had a solid core to their team but they will be forced

IN DISCUSSION: US team during training. – AFP

to cover a lot of ground to press the mobile Japanese. Both Australia and England, in the quarters and semis respectively, showed Japan can be knocked off their rhythm by intense pressing and harrying - but that carries a physical toll and both were caught out late in the game. “It is about ﬁnding a balance, you can’t just chase with your head cut off, they are way too good

for that but they are also too good to just sit off and not go on them,” U.S midfielder Megan Rapinoe told Reuters. Japan’s fluid approach revolves around their forward Shinobu Ohno, who floats around the frontline while the Americans will have to watch for the movement of wide players Aya Miyami and Nahomi Kawasumi, who both like to cut in to central positions. - Reuters

WINS FOR AL NAFEESA, OMAN ENGINEERING, SAUD TRAVEL & AL FAISAL

Al Nafeesa, Oman Engineering, Saud Travel and Al Faisal scores wins in the Pakistan Social Club organised Omantel Ramadan Cricket Tournament 2015. First match saw Huawei Rapper losing to Al Nafeesa by 10 wickets. In the second match, Striker Boys lost to Oman Engineering by 10 wickets and in the third match, Al Faisal trounced DHL by 45 runs. In the ﬁnal match of the night, Khurshid claimed the ﬁrst hat-trick (3 for 13) of the tournament to helped Saud Travel beat Abu Dhabi Travel by 17 runs. — Supplied photo

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

S U N DAY, J U LY 5, 2 0 1 5

Health WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

If you are experiencing a sharp pain on one side of your back or lower abdomen that comes on abruptly and lingers, intensifying over time, you could be suffering from an increasingly common affliction in Oman: Kidney stones

O m a n â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crystallized Discomfort By Hubert Vaz

ain strikes the groin area and lower abdomen in short bouts, then the pain begins to linger for longer periods. There are the other symptoms too: Nausea, vomiting and restlessness. Many try to ignore the pain and explain away the other discomforts, but these symptoms could be pointing to the presence of kidney stones (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis), small, hard mineral deposits that form inside the kidneys. According to Dr Hussein Al Saadi, a Public Health Specialist at Al Hayat International Hospital, kidney stone disease is emerging as a prominent health issue among the Omani population. While kidney stones do not cause any permanent damage, passing them can be quite painful. There is no single cause for kidney stones, but there are several factors that increase oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk of developing them. Dr Hussein explains this increasingly common ailment and the best ways to reduce your risk. PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

LIFESTYLE Kidney stones are emerging as a growing health issue for the Omani population

The risk of kidney stones peaks at the age of

The risk of kidney stones for men continues to increase between the ages of

40 70

for women

*In younger women, stones are more likely to develop during the late stages of pregnancy

Kidney stones are

times more common in men than women

How common are kidney stones in Oman?

Sultan Qaboos University Hospital itself conducts at least 200 kidney stone surgeries every year. And although nearly 80% of kidney stones are calcium-based, with only 20% comprised of uric acid, struvite, or cystine, in Oman at least 10% of the cases are cystine stones, indicative of a rare genetic disease, so it is especially important for those suffering from symptoms to go see their medical provider. According to a study on prevalence of kidney stones among Omani in-patients at Sohar hospital, published in 2014, the results showed that renal stone disease was more common for those between the ages of 30 to 39 and the risk was generally higher in men than in women. There was a signiﬁcant increase in treated kidney stones across both genders between 1997 and 2003. When it comes to children, it is a different story as female children are more commonly affected. And the risk of kidney stones in children younger than six years old is signiﬁcantly associated with hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

How can I decrease my risk?

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK

The best way to ward off new kidney stones is to drink enough water to keep urine clear—at least two litres a day, more during hotter months and for those who are very active. To avoid a calcium stone, you could also try cutting back on salt and sodium, which causes the body to dispense more calcium into the urine. If you are at especially high risk with a family history of stones, your doctor might suggest limiting high-oxalate foods, including chocolate, instant coffee, tea, beans, berries, dark leafy greens, oranges, tofu, and sweet potatoes. Additionally, use calcium supplements sparingly, choose a diet low in salt and animal protein, and drink fresh lemon juice with a sugar substitute once a week.

What causes kidney stones?

Drinking too little water is the most common cause of kidney stones, though diet also plays an important role. Eating a lot of protein, sodium, and high-oxalate foods, such as chocolate or dark green vegetables, can boost the risk for kidney stones in some people. Certain medical conditions, including high blood pressure, gout, and urinary tract infections can up your risk as well, but treating or controlling these conditions generally helps prevent stone formation. Other risk factors include putting on weight, taking certain medications, and family history of the affliction.

If you are experiencing symptoms, play it safe and seek medical advise as early as possible. Dr Hussein Al Saadi

Public Health Specialist at Al Hayat International Hospital Treatment Options

The smaller the kidney stone, the more likely it will pass on its own. If it is smaller than 5 mm (1/5 inch), there is a 90% chance it will pass without need for medical intervention. If the stone is between 5 mm and 10 mm, the odds are 50%. If a stone is too large to pass on its own, the sufferer will need medical treatment. There are three main options available. 1. Medication Drugs known as alpha-blockers relax the walls of the ureter, which widens the passage so a stone can ﬁt through more easily. Other medications can be taken to help prevent new stones from forming. 2. Shock Wave The most common medical procedure for treating kidney stones is known as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). This therapy uses high-energy shock waves to break a kidney stone into little pieces. The small pieces can then move through the urinary tract more easily. Side effects can include bleeding, bruising, or pain after the procedure. 3. Ureteroscopy When a stone has made its way out of the kidney and is close to the bladder, the most common procedure is ureteroscopy, for which a thin tube is passed through the urinary tract to the location of the stone and a surgeon breaks up the stone and removes the fragments through the tube. No incisions are made in the body. 4. Surgery Though uncommon, for very large stones, a surgical procedure may be needed.

S U N DAY, JU LY 5, 2 0 1 5

LIFESTYLE

Try

BRIEFS

Sugary drinks may cause 184,000 deaths a year Sodas and other sugary drinks may cause up to 184,000 deaths a year worldwide, according to a study published Monday in the journal Circulation. Billed as a ﬁrst, the report analysed the global risks of death due to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers linked to the consumption of sugary drinks. Researchers estimated that around 133,000 people died from diabetes due to the consumption of what the report called ‘sugar-sweetened beverages’. - AFP

Why

Here are a few simple, time-tested foods, techniques,

and home remedies to try — and a bit about why. Do you use any of these tricks? Do you have a favourite remedy of your own?

Garlic as Preventative Medicine Garlic is known to have many health beneﬁts, especially the cardiovascular protective properties of reducing arterial plaque formation and decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels. New studies show it also lowers blood pressure by relaxing vein and artery walls, which prevents the clumping of platelets and improves blood ﬂow, thereby reducing the risk of stroke.

Western Europe bakes in heatwave

Tell us about it to hubert@timesofoman.com

Temperatures soared above 40 degrees in Spain and Portugal on Monday prompting health concerns and the scorching heat was expected to move north to France and Britain later in the week. The soaring temperatures prompted Spain’s national weather office to put the region of Cordoba on red alert, the highest level on the scale, meaning the weather posed an ‘extreme risk’ to health. AFP

Longer schooling brakes AIDS spread

Cinnamon to Speed Recovery Time Cinnamon is a spice made from the inner bark of trees called Cinnamomum. It is high in a substance called cinnamaldehyde, which can help the body ﬁght all kinds of infections, but is especially effective counteracting fungal infections. Cinnamon is also known to speed the repair of tissue damage and to reduce the risk of heart disease.

B tt P Better Posture t on th the R Road d To preserve your back and neck health, try improving your driving posture. Move the seat close to the steering wheel to support the curve of your back. The seat should be close enough to allow your knees to bend and your feet to reach the pedals with your knees at hip level. Add a lumbar roll for lower back support and greater comfort.

Longer schooling seems to be an effective and affordable way to cut the risk of HIV infection in AIDS-endemic countries, according to the results of a study in Botswana. Data collected among 7,018 people in Botswana found that an extra year of secondary schooling lowered the risk of HIV infection over the following decade by eight percentage points — from about 25 to 17 percent. The effects were ‘particularly large among women’, for whom the risk was reduced by 12 percent. —AFP

Do You Hear Me Now? DECODING DOCTOR

Mohammed Shafeeqe chats with

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK (5)

Dr Srinivas Bapu, ENT Specialist, KIMS Oman Hospital

VOLTAIRE CALLED THE EAR the “road to the heart.” It seems an apt description. Consider how a child’s cry, a romantic song, or the thump of a neighbour’s stereo at 3am can stir your emotions. Ears not only allow us to hear, they also play a vital role in our ability to maintaining our balance, yet, we often take them for granted until something’s wrong. Dr Srinivas Bapu, an ENT Specialist, KIMS Oman Hospital, talks about hearing loss and preventative ear care. Common Causes of Hearing Loss Hearing loss can be caused by viral infections, induced by drugs, or come about due to simple hereditary bad luck. And though these factors are out of your control, two of the most common causes — impacted ear wax, an accumulation of glue like ﬂuid in the

middle ear, and excess noise exposure — can be prevented. Protecting Against Noise Damage We can protect ourselves from loud noise by using some common sense. Use ear plug or other ear protectors while working with power drills, saws, lawn mowers, and other loud equipment. And turn down your music. Listening to music at 100 db for 15 minutes puts the same amount of strain on the ear as listening to 95 db music for 45 minutes, so even a small reduction in the volume can be beneﬁcial. Preventing Wax Impaction Ears have a self-cleansing mechanism, and the presence of ear wax does not mean your ears are dirty. Wax is a normal component of the ear canal manufactured by

specialised (ceruminous) glands in the outer ear. Its function is to protect the delicate skin of the ear canal. Massaging the ear canal by talking and chewing tends to naturally propel wax out of the ear canal. If you feel that the wax is excessive or is starting to effect your hearing, try an over-the-counter ear wax softening solution. If that doesn’t take care of the problem, visit an ENT specialist who can do a deep cleaning for you. Never use cotton swabs, as inserting anything into the ear canal can cause the wax to compact and harden. Compacted wax requires medical excavation. Recognising Hearing Loss In adults, hearing problem can be recognised if there are three or more of the following symptoms:

1. Problem hearing over the telephone 2. Trouble following a conversation when two or more people are talking at the same time 3. Keeping TV volume too high 4. Straining to understand conversation 5. Having trouble hearing background noise 6. Continually asking people to repeat themselves 7. Regularly misunderstanding others and responding inappropriately Hearing loss in babies is suspected and should be checked by a medical provider if any of the following are observed: 1. They are not startled by loud noises 2. They do not respond to sound by 4-6 months old 3. There is a delay in speech — if they do not utter a word by their ﬁrst birthdays.

C10

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

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

@MGM

@SHATTI

@RUWI

@SUR

BAHJA CINEMA

@BURAIMI

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

Jurassic World (Action / Adventure) Cast: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer, Ty Simkins 9.30 pm CP No: 1495 (PG12) Guardian (Action, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Sarah Carter, Tio Pakusodewo, Nino Fernandez 11:45 pm CP No: 1613 Cold in July (Crime / Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson. 9:30 & 11:45 pm CP No: 659 (15+)

CITY CINEMA

Contact (10 am to 6pm) 24567664 | 68 . www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Jurassic World (Action, Adventure) (3D) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, 9:15 pm

Gold Class: 11:15 pm

9:30 pm

COLD IN JULY

SWORD OF VENGEANCE (Action) (15+) Cast: Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout Misa Beric, 9:30 pm

(2D) (Crime, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard Don Johnson

Cold in July (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson 11:30 pm

Papanasam (2D) ( Drama/Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 9:30 pm

Sword Of Vengeance (Action) (15+) Cast: Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout, Misa Beric 9:30 pm

Cold in July (2D) (Crime, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson Gold Class 11:15 pm

Dark Summer (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Peter Stormare, Grace Phipps, Keir Gilchrist 11:15 pm Papanasam (Drama, Family)(PG12) Cast : Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 9:45 pm

RUWI SCREEN 1 ABCD-2 (Dance/Musical ) – PG Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhudeva, 09.45 pm

MUSCAT GRAND MALL Jurassic World (3D) (Action/Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard 11:15 pm Gold Class: 9:00 pm

SCREEN 2 Second Hand Husband (Comedy/Romance) – PG Cast: Gippy Grewal, Tina Ahuja, Dharmendra, Geeta Basra, 9.00 pm

Just The Way You Are (2D) (Dance/Romance) (12+) (Language - Tagalog) Cast: Enrique Gil, Liza Soberano, Yves Flores 9:15 pm

Papanasam(Tamil) (Drama/Family/Thriller) – PG12 (2D) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani 9.30 pm

SOHAR Jurassic World (3D) (PG12) (Action |Adventure | Sci-Fi) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, 11:30 pm

Laila O Laila - 2D (M) (PG12) Action | Thriller Cast : Mohanlal, Amala Paul, Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew 9:00 pm

Cold in July (2D) (Crime, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson 9:15, 11:55 pm

BURAIMI Cold in July - 2D (Crime/ Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Sheppard, Don Johnson 9:30 pm

Dept time

Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

Papanasam– 2D (Drama/Family/Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 9:30 pm

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Sur Sur

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

Marmul

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

07:00

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Papanasam (2D) (PG12) (Drama, Family, Thriller) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 11:00 pm

Kakka Muttai (Tamil) Cast: Ramesh & Silam Barasan 9.45 pm at Cinema 4

Laila O Laila (2D) (PG12) (Action, Thriller) Cast: Mohanlal, Amala Paul, Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew, 9:00 pm

NEXT CHANGE: 2nd Class Yatra (Mal) Bahubali (Telugu) (Programmes are subject to change)

Sword of Vengeance (2D) (15+) (Action) Cast: Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout, Misa Beric, 1:55 pm WITH LOVE

NIRANJANA SAJEESH July 5, 2013

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

30-80%

AADYA C July 5, 2007

KEITH MELROY LOBO July 5, 2007

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

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

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

Nizwa Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 06:00

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

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

10:25

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

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

Ruwi

Laila O Laila (Mal) (Romance / Thriller) Cast: Mohanlal, Amala Paul, Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew 9.45 pm at Cinema 3

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

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

07:00

Papanasam(Tamil) (Drama/Family/ Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani 9:30 pm at Cinema 2

Second Hand Husband (2D) (PG) (Comedy, Romance) Cast: Gippy Grewal, Tina Ahuja, Dharmendra 9:00 pm

Laila O Laila (Mal) (Action / Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Mohanlal, Amala Paul, Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew 10.30 pm

40 35 Minimum

Premam (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran and Sai Pallavi 10:00 pm at Cinema Main

Cold in July (2D) (15+) (Crime, Thriller) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson, 11:30 pm

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

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

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

SALALAH Jurassic World (3D) (PG12) (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi ) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty 9:15 pm

SUR Cold in July (Crime / Thriller) (15+) Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson. 9:30 pm

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Laila O Laila – 2D (Action/Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Mohanlal, Amala Paul, Sathyaraj, Joy Mathew, 9:00 pm Dark Summer - 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Peter Stormare, Grace Phipps, Keir Gilchrist Timings: 11:55 pm

WEATHER

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

PAPANASAM 2D (Drama/Family (PG12) Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 9:30 pm

Sword Of Vengeance ( Action ) (15+) Cast: Stanley Weber, Wdward Akrout, Misa Beric., 11:30 pm

Sword of Vengeance – 2D (Action) (15+) Cast: Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout, Misa Beric 11:30 pm

Dark Summer (Horror, Thriller) (15+) (2D) Cast: Peter Stormare, Grace Phipps, Keir Gilchrist, 11:30 pm

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

9:30 pm

9:45 pm

LAILA O LAILA (Mal) (Action / Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Mohanlal, Amala Paul

STAR CINEMA

SCREEN 3 Papanasam (Tamil) (Drama/Family/Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani, 9.30

Sword Of Vengeance (Action) (15+) (2D) Cast: Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout, Misa Beric, 9:45 pm

Dil Dhadakne Do (Romance/Drama/ Comedy ) – PG12 Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra 11.00 pm

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

9:00 pm

SECOND HAND HUSBAND (Comedy/ Romance) – PG Cast: Gippy Grewal, Tina Ahuja

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 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 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

S U N DAY, JU LY 5, 2 0 1 5

C11

LIFESTYLE

Do Crunches

Pulse 2 Times

Crunches are a great exercise for building strong abdominal muscles and back muscles. They can be performed anywhere and require no equipment. Do abdominal exercises daily and you'll see and feel the results in no time.

at the top of your crunch for an added challenge

As a bonus, hold the pushup position (also known as a plank) for

Do three sets of

10 Crunches

30 seconds work your way up to a full minute.

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Place your hands behind your head so your thumbs are behind your ears. Tilt your chin slightly, and gently pull your abdominals inward. Curl up and forward so that your head, neck, and shoulder blades lift off the floor. Hold for a moment at the top of the movement and then lower slowly back down. Repeat.

Your abs are part of the

29 ‘Core Muscles’

which include the back and pelvis, so maintaining strong stomach helps keep your back healthy too

FA M I LY A D V I C E

THE FAMILY DOCTOR Do you have a question related to family relationships, depression, anxiety, social phobias, sleep disturbance, or children’s mental health?

Doctor Gerald D’Costa, a family psychiatrist at Badr Al Samaa, is here to help. He believes that attaining positive mental health is essential for maintaining a healthy life and happy relationships. He is passionate about helping people on their mental health journeys.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK (2)

Send your questions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Dr Gerry D’Costa has an MD in psychiatry and a special interest in the areas of anxiety, depression, addiction, and children’s psychiatry. He has practiced as a specialised psychiatrist at Badr Al Samaa hospital in Ruwi for the last 9 years. Starting next week, Dr D’Costa will begin offering his advice and professional insights to the readers of Times of Oman. Send your mental health questions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com.

C12

SU N DAY, JULY 5, 2015

LIFESTYLE GUAVA

ORANGE

WATERMELON

CANTALOUPE

STRAWBERRIES

LEMON

GREEN PEPPERS

TROPICAL SWEET RED PEPPERS GRAPEFRUIT

TROPICAL

BERRIES

CITRUS

FRUIT VEG FRUIT HERBAL NON - CAFFFEINATED TEA FRUIT VEGETABLES WATER VITAMIN C Vitamin C boosts your immune system to help ﬁght off the infection H2O Try to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day and consume other hydrating liquids to ﬂush out toxins and prevent dehydration

Eat to Treat Your Common Cold

MANGO

CANTALOUPE

No matter how well you take care when you go out, or how hard you try to avoid sick co-workers, you are prone to come down with cold at least once a year. Here’s what you can do to ﬁght the ﬂu

VEGETABLES

TROPICAL

LEAFY

FRUIT LETTUCE SEAFOOD

OYSTERS

CHICKEN BETA CAROTENE the body converts it into vitamin A, a great anti-oxidant that boosts the immune system to help ﬁght infections and promotes skin and eye health

SWEET POTATO

ZINC Getting enough of this mineral in your diet may help reduce your risk of infection caused by bacteria and viruses.

DECIDUOUS

POULTRY ROOTS APRICOT

MEAT VEGETABLES TURKEY VEGETABLES

CARROT

LAMB

LEGUMES

BEANS

LEAFY

GRAINS

WHEAT

BARLEY

SPINACH

FLOWERS

BROCCOLI

FRUIT VEG

PUMPKIN

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S U N DAY, J U LY 5 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

92@34237_con_04-07-2015_p01-p08

VACANCY

CARGO

S U N DAY, J U LY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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FOR RENT

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New building in Wadi Kabir, 2 bedroom ﬂats. Contact: 99313274

For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005

Residential /commercial 2 B/R near Medical College Bausher from Owner. Contact: 92158031 256 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi. Contact 99326339 Six bed room twin villa Al Athaiba. Contact: 99207840 4 bed room ﬂat at Al Hail South. Contact: 99207840 Three new three bedrooms ﬂats with servants rooms Al Khuwair 39. Contact: 99207840 Store space available opp. Fatima Shopping Ruwi. Contact: Mr. Sharath 98168577 1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com 1BHK with A/C Mumtaz. R.O 250/-. Contact 97799175

Flat for rent in AL Wadi AL Kabir next to Kuwaiti Mosque 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, balcony & 1 living room 220/-R.O Contact: 99425958

Apartment in Al Khuwair 33/1, 4 bedroom 550/-R.O. Contact : 99340055 / 97557555 Flat for rent in Walja Ruwi, 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets and kitchen for further enquiry. Contact: 95464607

3 bed room ﬂat near ONTC Ruwi. Contact: 99653336

Flat for rent Ruwi near Badr al Sama, 2 bed rooms, attach toilet in rooms big hall big kitchen. Contact: 99345137

Spacious well maintained 2BHK at Rex Road. Contact: 92227165 Deluxe 3 BHK Penthouse with Seaview, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 9772 1313 / 9507 0421 2BHK / I BHK newly renovated ﬂats at Wattaya R/O – Near the Mosque for Families. Preferably for one company. Contact : 96457757 9 am to 7 Pm. Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road. Contact 97293708 / 92433127 1 BHK ﬂat in Al Khuwair, 2 months only. Contact 99792181 3 BHK Flat in Azaiba. # 99792181 Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

2BHK with split AC near PDO Gate no -2 at Qurum. Contact: 94057023 2BHK with split AC at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 94057023 Office / shop near Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 99233116 Ware house 450 sqm behind Majan hyper market near Bridgestone tyre Ghala. Contact: 92088800 3 ﬂats, 2 BHK near Ghala Church, Majan hyper market Ghala. Contact: 92088800 1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new ﬂat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

Deluxe 1, 2 BHK ﬂats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314

For rent in Darsait new ﬂats. Contact: 99777351

4 & 5 BHK villa in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque. Contact: 99366624 506sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in AL Wadi Al Kabir, Suitable for carpentry / Auto workshop and / or electrical shop interested parties may. Contact: 24703981 2 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house. Contact: 97009734/92629232

Contact 98588240

Luxury 3 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking. RO.500/- Contact – 93191111 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/Contact – 93191111 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/Contact 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/Contact 93191111

Fabulous AC ﬂat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/- for rent. Contact: 99334699

2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

Flat in South Al Hail, 2 bedrooms, Majlis, 2 bathrooms, kitchen RO 250/-. Contact 93221474

For rent 3 industrial land. Contact 92702891/ 95490842

2BHK near Oman house behind Khimji, H.O. Contact: 95865686

4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 97616158

Flat in Ruwi Mumtaz 2 BHK RO 300 or 1 BHK 250 RO.

Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th. Contact: 97147240

2 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet & car park in Al Khuwair R.O 200/- . Contact 95154331 Office space at Alasfoor Plaza Qurum. Contact : 24566217 /24564686 Deluxe furnished / unfurnished ﬂats Qurum. Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 For rent in Darsait, new ﬂats. Contact: 99311525 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526

BUYING/SELLING All type of car scanner available easy car diagnostic for professional and self use Authorize LAUNCH and Autel dealer. GSM:92393972 www.omancartools.com Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373

FOR SALE Equipped kitchen showroom company for sale at Ghubrah, Muscat. 6 visa available, Contact owner at 96303747 House hold items. Contact: 97094797 Wall papers, grass carpets sale & ﬁxing. Contact: 99834373 / 97102699 Shawarma Double burner for sale. Contact: 95395378 1.5 Acre full or as plots available for sale at Mulanthuruthy 18 Km from Ernakulam Asphalt road frontage. Contact : 99235701 Email: jacobmathew@gmail.com Turkish MDF door with frame for sale, size 210 x 100 Price: RO 75/-. Contact: 95899296 / 92141514 6 bedroom, 6 bath rooms, sitting & dining villa at Qurum. Contact: 99342733 Grade IT company with 5 clearances & oil Gas activity for sale serious buyers. Contact: 99329216 Fully decorated & Equipped kitchen cabinet and marble showroom for sale at Mabela industrial area road no – 10 only serious buyers can. Contact: 99337670/97763560 Commercial land for sale 3000 m in quriyat road main high way can use as a petrol station license available asking price 350,000 For more information please call on 99070701 with out name

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking ex- bachelor. Contact 94412557 Furnished bedroom with separate bathroom and kitchen on sharing in Darsait for Ex- bachelors. Contact : 95376096 Furnished room attached bath room & kitchen for Executive bachelor / family, Honda road near NBO bank Ruwi. Contact: 98582078 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai. Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

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DAILY GUIDE

AVAILABLE

NRI

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

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

SITUATION WANTMATRIMONIAL Ezhava Divorcee, 37, 5.3”, Pharmacist in Muscat. Email : suryakv2010@gmail.com, +919961176066

ACC. AVAILABLE Executive bachelor bed space available at Mumtaz area. Contact: Mr. Sharath 98168577 For sharing accommodation room with toilet attached, kitchen sharing near clean building next to main road near Indian school Wadi Kabir, Indian couples family or bachelor. Contact: 95345537 / 94672007 Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515 Excellent room, with A/C kitchen available for bachelor / family near ONTC bus station (Ruwi). Contact: 95885736 Furnished room with attached bathroom in W/K. Contact: 97167857 Sharing for non cooking executive bachelor in CBD area WIFI free, Advance deposit. Contact: 95094504

Spacious room with bathroom and kitchen. Contact: 91214537

Christian CSI Syrian boy, 31/178, fair, working as Business Development Officer in a reputed company Muscat. Suitable proposals solicited. Email: jamesmails2010@gmail. com Contact: 98582078, M4 - Marry - 4083713

Single room rear Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 97477670 Spacious bedroom, T& K in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 96098443 A/C room with separate balcony and big wardrobe available for non-cooking bachelor in CBD area (near Stars cinema). Rent OMR125 inclusive of electricity and water charges. Contact 96568110 Rooms available with separate bathroom for executive bachelors in azaiba near al meera hyper market. Gsm 99053844 Single room with sharing kitchen available for executive bachelor near Saud Bahwan Residency Complex, Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99024362, 93166353.

Indian Kerala male 31 years Hindu Ezhava working in Muscat looking for life partner. Contact: 99893119

Suzuki Desire 2015, silver colour, 17000 km, excellent condition, 4 months old for just R.O 3,500/-. Contact: 96473187

ACC. WANTED Required a room in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area. #95405033

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

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285

Toyota Prado 2008, Toyota Corolla 2009, Honda CRV 2009, low mileage available at Bombay Medical, behind Ruwi Police Station. #99326339

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

Chevrolet Epica 2008 very good condition. Contact 92802299

Toyota Corolla 2012 exclusive model, Expat driven done 27,000 kms excellent condition. Contact: 97717152

2014 Grand Cherokee 5.7 liter full option, low mileage, under warranty, agency maintained expat driven. Call 92502684. Immediate sale. Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093

Kerala Hindu Ezhava girl (28 yrs, 164 cm), Staff Nurse (MOH), seeks suitable alliance from Graduates / professionally qualiﬁed boys. Contact: 91 9746343275 / +91 9747801255

Sportage, 2013. Contact: 99336093

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

CHANGE OF NAME I Deepa Digambar Naik (holder of Indian passport No. K 8089420) daughter of Varghese Pulimootil Varkey having permanent residence in B- 110, Satt Adhar Arcade, Peddem, Mapusa, Bardez, Goa 403507 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Badr Al Samaa P.O. Box 330, PC 321, Sohar, Oman (complete postal address in Oman) intend to change my name from Deepa Digambar Naik (old name) to Anitha Varghese (new name) for all practical purposes. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

S U N DAY, J U LY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADVOCATE Law ﬁrm office at Shatti al Qurum looking for Indian legal advisor minimum 5 years experience in Oman. Whatsapp 99772277 sereen38@gmail.com

ADMIN Vacancy for Omani PRO Email: abid673@yahoo.com Mob 94192526 Urgently Required: Administration with an experience minimum in 3 years in building construction, required immediately join and MUST have NOC.Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

ACCOUNTANT Finance Manager required : looking for an experienced CA / Finance Manager with knowledge of the local market, able to take charge of the companies ﬁnance department , must hold valid GCC driving license, NOC required. E mail CV to omanrecruitment1@gmail.com Urgently required female accountant with an experience minimum 3years Email CV on cv.hrcharity@gmail.com Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Wanted experienced Beautician for beauty parlor in Al Amerat 3. Contact: 91107337

CATERING Reduced experience Waiter / Supervisor/ Juice maker, Shawarma maker. Contact: 95395378 Traditional Omani restaurant requires: Waitress for restaurant. Delivery man with bike license preferred. Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Contact: 95892831 Requires experience Cook for an Omani family 1Nos. Contact: 99228046 Email: oman518@gmail.com Family in Muscat seeking to hire an experienced butler. Hotel experience is preferred. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Please send CV’s on vacancyinmuscat@gmail.com

DRIVER Driver required for a Company, 2 years experience. Visa available. Contact 24479922 Driver available with car and without car Education, B. A exp. 5 years, language Hindi, Arabic, English. Contact: 98522914 Driver needed, preferably female. Must hold valid driving license. Contact 95591068 Required Omani Driver light / heavy duty & Marketing Executive. Contact: 24816774 /99020458

DOMESTIC HELPER Office boy , exp. in Dubai, present in India. Contact 96693290 Housemaid wanted for an Indian family in Al Hail. Must be able to cook and take care of baby. Full-time position. 96532872

SITUATION WANTED ENGINEER ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Looking for a Sales Engineer (Mechanical) with 2 to 3 year relevant experience in the Oman market with driving license . Please forward your CV to : mbdeast@gmail.com

Indian male , 16 years of experience and knowledge of tally also having driving license and release, looking for suitable positio n. Contact : 96425101

Required a part time steel Structural Design Engineer for a reputed steel fabrication company in Muscat. Interested person may Contact : 99451158 Leading Construction Company requires Quantity Surveyor (QS) with 4-6 yrs Gulf experience. Send your CV : qsmuscat2015@gmail. com (NOC required). Quantity Surveyor (Civil & MEP) -1 No., Project Engineer – 1No both with 7 yrs. Gulf experience. Contact / Email: omaniantrad@gmail.com Reputed consultancy office require a Mechanical Design Engineer with minimum 8 years experience in design of HVAC systems and plumbing services. Please send your detailed resume to: info@designunitoman.com Required Civil Engineer (buildings) Oman experience 5+ years, BOQ+ Tendering + site supervision. Contact: 95218004 Email: alhilalint@yahoo.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required. Email: applyforoman@gmail.com Leading Construction Company requires Project Engineer, Degree holder with minimum 5 to 6 years experience in building construction line. (NOC require) Send your CV to – degree.engineer2015@gmail.com Required Civil Engineer (BE/ B. Tech) with minimum 2 years GCC experience and valid Oman driving license. Email: careerwithparamount@gmail.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires the following: B.Sc Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience. Civil Site Foreman, minimum 5 yrs experience with operating knowledge of Tally. Please Email CV ; applyforoman@gmail.com

IT IND male WEB developer 5 yrs exp B.Tech (comp science) PHP, HTML MYSQL Java script CSS. Contact: 95990529 Email: renjith341@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Well established company in selling chocolate, Arabian sweets and fresh flowers, opening ITS first branch in Muscat seeking: 1- sweets and chocolates Sales man 2- flower arranger (Asian/ Filipino Nationality) Contact: 94490011 Email: labelleoman@gmail.com

ENGINEER Required for Engineering consultancy office a Supervision Staff for road project at Ibri region: Civil Engineer (B.Sc) RE with 12 years experience & Land Surveyor (Diploma) with 8 years experience. Please email CV & certiﬁcate copy to alsarh@omantel.net.om

Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head of MNC looking for Job. NOC Available. 94047434

A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber. Contact - 99383044

MEDICAL Urgent! Omani healthcare company looking for a smart proactive marketing executive cum product specialist with strong English communication skills, healthcare background and marketing experience in medical/pharmacy/microbiology/ biotechnology ﬁeld. Omani driving license is a must. Mail your CV to: vacancymedeq@gmail.com Specialist physiotherapy is required from the Philippines preferably has a license to practice. Contact :91257624 Email: belgouthii@yahoo.fr Required for a reputed Medical Center in Al Khuwair. General Practitioner Doctor, X- Ray technician. Please send CV: absmc2013@gmail. com Fax: 24488660

MANAGER Urgently Required: Male – handles overall store operations of the Supermarket, Prior Experience a MUST, knowledgeable in MSOffice. Send CV to chanda@dolphin-oman.com or fax to 244-92718.

SALES / MARKETING Commercial Manager required, looking for experienced Commercial Manager with in depth knowledge / contacts within the local market, must be able to deal professionally with clients. Must hold valid GCC driving license, NOC required. Email CV to omanrecruitment1@gmail.com Marketing Manager required, looking for experienced Marketing Manager to work in the insurance ﬁeld, preferable to hold CMA license, must hold valid GCC driving license, NOC required. Contact : 99315069 Wanted part time female Sales Executive with D/L for a reputed company. Contact 94688874 Required Sales Executive, Graphic and Interior Designer in 3D design & PRO for Advertisement company in Oman having experience in Events, media & press conferences. Submit CV to jobs.choiceadv@gmail.com Contact : 95306030 / 24478233 / 22021181 Looking for a Staff has experience in Oman in real estate and real estate valuation. Contact : sms Whatsapp 99109094, aburashid94dd@gmail.com

SKILLED Urgently required a silk Screen printer with good knowledge and release letter or NOC. Contact: 93280288 or send CV to albayanstamps@gmail.com

A leading marketing company is looking for outdoor Sales Executives on part time or full time basis in Salalah. # 92760281 / 96436719 Required Sales Executive with minimum 2 years experience in Rice / FMCG sales. Email: careerwithparamount@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

SALES / MARKETING Required 1 male 1 female experience minimum 2 years, preferable experience in travel tourism, good work ethic, driving license, and knows English & Arabic. Forward your resume or CV to: misfartourism@gmail.com A reputed media company required female Marketing Executives with minimum 3 years experiences in Public relations, publishing & advertising (with driving license). Contact: 93946622 or FW: CV job0808@gmail.com Required male or female candidate with 5 years experience in renting of properties. Interested candidates may please mail to alqurumprop@gmail.com A reputed shipping and forwarding company urgently require Operations Executive valid Omani D/L is must. Experienced hands in shipping ﬁeld are preferred. Send your CV to applymd2015@gmail.com Minimum 2 years of experience with valid gulf light driving license interested candidates please Contact: 99222086 /98585851

Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts. Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co 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 Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Required Sales & Marketing executive with valid D/L and NOC with 2 years Oman experience for Foodstuff Trading Company. Interested may send their CV to virjis@omantel.net.om

TOURS Required exp. employee for travel agency in Saham. Contact :93655939 / 92900021 Required 2 male 2 female experience minimum 2 years, preferable experience in Travel tourism, good work ethic, ﬂuent English, French, German (Dutch), Italian. Forward your resume or CV to: misfartourism@gmail.com

Male 26 yrs, MBA in Accounts and Finance, 2 years Experience in Management and Accounts Fields, and 1 year experience in Operations in Oman Looking for a suitable job. Contact 94374745 Indian male 32 years MBA, 6 out of 14 years experience in Oman in accounts / finance having NOC and Valid Oman driving license last date in Oman 01/AUG/2015. Contact: 94051463 Email: gkvenkatesh83@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com 1 year experience in Accounts, on visit visa. Contact 98295101 Indian male, 30 years, CMA (Inter),M.com.4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/ Accounts/ Finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 , Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Inventory Management Contact : 96975454, email : ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Dynamic, Young Accountant Professional with CPA and ACCA (in progress) 2/3 years experience up to finalization of accounts. currently in Oman on visit. Contact: 94704330 / 99094531 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 Diploma in Computer 10 years experience as an Accountant, female now in visit visa. Contact: 95453643 Accountant Indian male, 9 years experience in Oman can do up to finalization. NOC available can be joined immediately. Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com Chartered Accountant with ICWA Inter having 5 years experience in Finance, Accounts, Costing, Budgeting, Insurance, Treasury & Banking operations - NOC Available + Oman Driving License Contact : 97881548 Email-financecost2@gmail.com Indian female 25 MBA looking for a suitable opening in Accounts, Admin/Hr. Contact 97013375 Accountant 8 yrs experience looking part time job. Contact 99867456 Young, energetic 24, ACCA finalist, Advanced diploma in Accounting and business, seeking suitable placement in accounts, finance or audit. Contact: 92430152 Email: rau_dey@yahoo.com

Indian male, well experienced in accounts and admin looking for a suitable vacancy. NOC available. Contact: 98717938 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 Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan. Contact : 97796394 / 94003247 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 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting . NOC available. Contact 96209331 Indian 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

ADMIN Omani hard working have 6 years experience as PRO and 4 years as Admin officer and transport in change with 6 years as safety office on driving good English and PDO / DL seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92959251 A Lady with 5 years experience in HR/Admin is looking for suitable job and can join immediately. Contact : 94465835 Indian male, MBA, HR seeking immediate placement, on visit visa. Contact 92624333. Email : sheikhadnan@gmail.com Indian Female MBA 3 Year Experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa. Contact - 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com System administrator with 3 years experience hold a degree, MCITP, CCNA , CCTV biometric , seeking job in a company. Contact: 99630084/98129845 Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc, 4 yrs exp in HR& Admin looking suitable placement. Contact : 95619537 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

ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437

AUTO CAD/DRAUGHTSMotivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization. Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

Electrical draftsman AutoCAD switch gear & MEP control panel 7 years experience Qatar. Contact: 92546203/96228100

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DESIGNER

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Architect and Interior designer, 8 years exp capable of managing turn key projects, design, BOQ, Execution. NOC available. Contact : 95273166

Indian male present in Oman can join immediately. Diploma civil with CAD & 3d. #: 92875345 /92887561 Email: jubincivileng@gmail.com

Interior Designer: Indian male 31, 8 years exp. in GCC, NOC available. 95217586

DEEE - Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC, visa transfer and valued Oman red board light driving license. Contact: 968 95298437

DRIVER Bangladeshi male light driver seeking suitable placement 1 yr experience. Contact: 94158238 Driver available with car driver & without car. Contact 96771598 / 94039796 Pakistani male (27) light driver seeking job, 4 years experience in Oman. Contact 96346582 Driver, 42 yrs seeks for suitable job KSA, 12 years Oman 4 years,. Contact: 95796030 Light driver. Contact: 95779594 Light Driver experience 4 yrs. Contact: 98779907 15 years experience driver in Oman can speak Arabic, English & Hindi. Contact: 96656270 Looking for driving job. Contact: 98219182 Driver looking for job. # 99507039 Pakistani driving available. Contact : 96913836

EDUCATION Indian female MCA, Three years experience in teaching ﬁeld, seeks placement currently on visit visa. Contact: 93431567 Email: ﬁvona.mel@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male Civil (B.E) with 2 yrs well known E tabs staad, safe looking for structural position. Contact: 98768045 / 96698342 Email: qadeertom@gmail.com 26 years Oman experienced person in automobiles, showroom & workshop areas seeks suitable replacement. currently working as General Manager in a local company. Contact no: +968-92009700 CARPENTER-15 years gulf exp. Indian male looking for suitable post. Present working in Crown Plaza. NOC available. Please contact Jacob 96940120. jacob.sabu11@gmail.com Chemical Engineer with 04 years experience in petrochemical reﬁnery sector seeking for & suitable position in petrochemical oil & gas, reﬁnery EPC Companies. #00968 91748400 Indian male B.Tech (ECE), MBA (HR) 2 years of experience in CCNA, CCNP and hands on practice in Linux and MCSE, looking for suitable job. Contact: 93487225 B.Tech mechanical Engineer 16 yrs experience 3 yrs exp in Oman now production manager in Galvanizing and steel fabrication area looking for suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 93714500/91395765 Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer, Indian 24 with 2 yrs experience in HVAC- MEP Revit – MEP, AutoCAD – MEP Navis solid works Catia PRO-E primavera. Contact: 96975382 Email: bonny491@gmail.com Indian female, BE, Civil engineer with 1 year experience looking for suitable vacancy, on visit. Contact 95139583, Email : aisushetty09@gmail.com

Indian male Oman D/L 2 years Saudi experience in electrical, ﬁre and safety one year Oman logistic management experience. Contact : 91233475

Indian female 23, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics) & Diploma in Electrical CAD on Visit Visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99278410 / 94027398, Email: renju.raghavan7@gmail.com

B.E computer science, female, 2 years experience in IT/ HR/Administration with GCC driving license, looking job suitable vacancy in IT/ HR/ Administration ﬁled. Contact: 97738624

Indian Civil Engineer (buildings) available immediately as supply contract. Contact: 93263834

Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. Contact 91789465

Civil Engineer, 8 years experience BOQ establishing, 5 years experience in Oman Building and S.T.P experience, good knowledge of computer, MS Excel, AutoCAD . Contact: 99471944

IT Indian Male Web developer with 5 year experience. Indian, Male, 27 years, B Tech(Computer science), professional in php, html, mysql, javascript, css. Contact:95990529 Email:renjith341@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 M.Sc 3+ years exp from France & India in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & Networking / Server support / scientific system support looking for suitable position. Indian, male on visit visa, contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com Indian female BCA, MCA SAP ABAP certification, ASP. Net certification, 2 years of experience looking for a job. Contact: 99109121

Indian male 25 yrs exp in Administration, Telecom, Optical Fiber Communication, Networking, MS Office. Seeks any job. On visit visa. Contact – 91385373 / sridharbsnlma1455@gmail.com Computer Networking/Facility Mgmt 5 Yrs of Exp Holds B.E(ECE), CCNA Looking for Good Opportunity, Indian - Visit Visa. Contact 91911792/ arafakdnl@gmail.com

Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847

Production Manager 13 years experience in cast Aluminium fab. ﬁeld and good track record seeking for a suitable job. NOC ready in Hand. Contact: 96392319

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC. Contact 95245057

Indian female (MTECH) having Gulf experience in family visa seeking suitable placement in Oman. Contact : 94306164 / 91001194 Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com Indian 6 years experience as Sales Executive with 2 years visa, driving license seek suitable job. Contact 92233068

Indian material controller/ store keeper seeking job in Oman NOC / Release available. Contact: 91946174

6 years experienced male holding Masters Degree with experience in customer relationship, real estate, Sales and IT. Contact: 98823248 Email: sajjadhussain@yahoo.com

Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales ﬁeld. Contact : 96108289, shijipaul84@gmail.com

Indian male Graduate with 18 years experience in Sales and Marketing currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact : 91996486 / 99732070

Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact: :98803439

Indian male looking for Sales Executive job 2 years experience in Indian completed B.B.A (visiting visa). Contact : 95462921

MCA, BCA with 2 yrs relevant experience seeking suitable opportunity. Contact: 96377039

Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job. Contact - 92146864

13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed ﬁrms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

Indian male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 9199 3376

Male Indian BBM Graduate 8 years experience in logistics and ware housing in a reputed company valid driving license NOC available looking for suitable position. Contact : 96311786 Email: ubinfs@gmail.com

Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. . Contact 98371144

MEDICAL Business development manager IT & Non – IT, 7 years experience Oman driving license seeks position good prospects. Contact: 99329216

MISCELLANEOUS SALES / MARKETING

Bangladeshi Post Graduate seeks a job good command in English and computer ready to take the challenge. Contact 93982627 Email: saymun.riyad@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

Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained ﬁeld on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com

Female Postgraduate searching suitable job. Contact 97792820

B.E in ECE worked as Junior Scientist Trainee in Chennai worked as System Admin in Berik Honda Nagger coil worked at Technical Support in Samsung Service, presently in Bangalore. Contact : 0091706267513

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.

Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385

MISCELLANEOUS

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Indian male Radiographer 3+ years of experience Diploma in Radiological technology, looking for suitable post. Contact: 98843139 M.Sc Nursing in Obstetrics and Gynecology 3 yrs exp in teaching & 2 yrs at bed side looking for suitable position, Indian female on visit visa. Contact: 96220839 Male BSC Nurse parametric passed ACLS BLS holder now in visit visa seeking for suitable post. Contact: 96516406 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

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 female B.com Graduate having 8 years experience in Indian & 2 years experience in Oman as sales coordinator, secretary, customer service seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95433987

TOURS & TRAVELS 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. Contact 96990368. Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any ﬁeld. Contact : 96710154

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

An experienced person who can handle complete office activities and purchases looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92360524

Content Executive, freshers with good communication skills and willingness to learn may apply on job@socioholics.com

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa. Contact :- 96259171. Email:- bhumicapandya@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any Oman. Contact - 97693456. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available, seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854

32 years, Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post. Contact 99022484

Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer Science) (Diploma Computer Engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle PL-SQL , MS SQL-server, MS visual studio VBA, network. Contact :91415886 BSc Graduate, INDIAN male , seeking suitable jobs. GSM: +91-8589820233. MAIL ID: prajinap45@gmail.com Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91033395 Indian Male, 38 years old, DME – Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob +968 95612870, seeniselvan@gmail.com Indian Male, 34 years old, DEE – Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving licence light, ready to join immediately, Mob +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com BE. Biomedical Engineer, 5 years experience in the same ﬁeld (Hospital/company)looking for suitable placement. Contact:92084807 Email:bonnygeorge1005@gmail.com ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – Indian male seeking Electrical Engineer job with 2 years’ experience. Contact: 94263445, E mail – janardhanan53@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT: Indian male 25 having 4years experience in accounting & having well knowledge in tally. Contact:968094535881, 0091 9037622048 Email: vishnuraj889@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, 2.5years experience in Audit/Finance in Global Big6 Firms and Oil company in Oman, Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release NOC Available. Contact: #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Manager, Young Indian Male, MBA, BBA. Having excellent managerial experience (around 5 years) in leading Multi-National-Company. Looking for suitable positions. Contact: 92700670, fardhaan@gmail.com Indian Female MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. Subject: EnglishSeeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman. Contact 93961142, 92184408, Email:-anoopkesavan78@gmail.com Sudanese/ 26 years/ master of clinical pharmacy(1st class)/ 1 year experience/live in India/excellent communication in English(IELTS Certiﬁcate) and arabic/ pharmacist license/ hassan_kassala@hotmail.com 00919600413966-96387227

24 Years, indian male 2.5 Years experience in admin & accounts, dubai. Currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement in admin & accounts. M: 93016252 EMAIL: shahabaskp@gmail.com Indian male, MBA with 20 years of experience in back office operation, risk and operational management, ﬁnancial management for Finance and Trading companies. Presently available on visit visa. Contact: 91276221 CCNA MCITP network support /network technician with 2 years experience indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. Contact : 93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com Video Editor 29 years Indian male with 8 years experience on visit visa looking for a suitable placement contact: 91275969 leomoorkoth@gmail.com Omani male , BBA ,with 6 year experience in HR &Admin looking for opportunity in HR & Admin in Muscat. Joint date after one month notice period . Mobile 92223279 24 years, Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3 yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Indian male 25 years B.tech computers (Having 3 years of experience in customer service/Admin/IT Support) looking for suitable position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available immediate to join. Contact: 98402389, Mail: naresh6672@gmail.com Having 9+ years exp. in Admin, Purchase, Stores & Warehouse in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact +968 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Innovative Indian Male 29, B.E & M.Tech Web designer / developer with over 5.5 years of work experience in HTML 5, CSS 3, SEO, Digital marketing (DFP & DCM), Magento, CMS, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Can join ASAP. # 00968 9630 3055 / email: aditya.khandkar@gmail.com 10 YEAR Experienced PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER. Currently working at Kerala, India. Seeks placement. Contact: 95872030 , email: - sajith3969@gmail.com Indian male 48yrs with driving license looking for a job to work as driver / salesman. Residing at Al Khoudh. Contact: 99551310 Young Indian Chartered Accountant, female, Having 6 years experience in Oman and India. Accounts and Finance Manager, Auditor. Urgently seeking suitable positions. Contact-92530131, jobcareer44@gmail.com

S U N DAY, J U LY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED 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 Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certiﬁed, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952 Business development Manager/ Executive. Preferably minimum of 2 years experience. Valid driving licence can apply on job@socioholics.com Indian male Diploma, Civil engineer 4.3 year experience at building construction and consulting company with Oman driving licence and N.O.C available seeking suitable placement Contact 95989500 email cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Tunisian women looking for a job, khnows english,frensh, italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Indian female Nurse with 5 yrs of experience, presently working in Oman, seeking for suitable placement. NOC available can join immediately. Contact: 98329941 Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com Looking for part time jobs in Muscat, Auto cad Draughtsman (Civil). contact:-+968-99070584 email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian female MA. B.Ed. with one year three months teaching experience. Subject: English Seeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman Contact: 93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial ﬁeld available in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable job . Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com Indian Male MBA with two year experience in H.R as a H.R Assistant, Now in India, Seeking for an urgent suitable position. Contact:-98620260 / 93895992 , Email:-deepakmb4@gmail.com

Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. # 91789465 PART TIME ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, M. Com, 35 years, 12 Years exp. in Accounts, 8 years in Oman. Knowledge upto ﬁnalization. Having valid D/L, seeks suitable Placement. GSM: 96249124 Egyptian Civil Engineer, total experience 7 years - 2 years experience in Oman. I am looking for Project Engineer, I have good experience in site & office works. Contact number:91148708 Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com. ACCOUNTING – Indian male seeking accounting job with 2 years experience in accounting. Contact: 94263445, E mail – contactantonyxavieranand@gmail. com Sudanese male: 27 yrs, 2 years experience in accounting, other experience (purchasing – HR - Coordinating and Office Management), looking for a job Omani Driving License, NOC. Contact: 94174403 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 Sudanese male (B.Sc, computer science) (diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience DBA oracle PL-SQL, MS SQL - Server, MS visual studio vba, network. # 91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91055584 Over 15 years experience in Gulf. Interior Architect, Lebanese Nationality, on visit visa seeking a suitable Placement. 96268005.

Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job mobile no: 0096899070584 email: remluvp@gmail.com

PRODUCTION OPERATOR – Indian male seeking production operator or related jobs with 4 years of experience in oil & gas ﬁeld. #94263445. Email: tonyxavier4u@gmail.com

8 years successful experience. Senior Accountant, Indian male, 29 years, presently working in oman as a senior accountant with oman driving license. NOC available. seek suitable opportunity. gsm: 97705854

Indian Keralite Male 35 looking for Scaffolding supervisor post having 5 years of Supervisor and HSE experience in GCC Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Fluent in English Arabic and Hindi . Contact 96155921, or mail fysal.nellaya@gmail.com

ACCA Affiliate, Experience in audit/ ﬁnance of 2.5 years in Big 6 Firm and Oil industry, looking for suitable permanent placement, Release NOC available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

Indian Male 28 yrs, having 7 years Gulf + Indian experience in HR and Admin ﬁeld, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com

B.Tech Computer Engineer Wanted job to work on(IT/Banking/Administrator/Technical/Office works) having NOC with the limited time from (04/06/2015 to 13/06/2015). Mobile:98402389 email:naresh6672@gmail.com British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable position. please contact :97175240 Highly Qualiﬁed & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees , CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFA- Financial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Proﬁt Maximizations ( NOC available ) call 94 504505 – 94403270

Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.# :97914340. Email: rajkv30@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial ﬁeld available in muscat on vist visa seeking suitable job . Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com IT system and Printer engineer ME, 5Years bank IT Management exp in India looking for full time job visit visa contact 94462150 Indian male with 8 yrs experience in FMCG in Oman as Sales Supervisor looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Gsm: 96495206

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 MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. 9588 7051, ashwininakod@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, Indian, 2.5Years experience in Audit/ Finance in Big 6 Audit Firm and Oil Accounting in PDO, For Permanent Placement for Finance or Accounts or Audit. Release NOC Available on hand. Contact #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Finance ACCA Affiliate, Worked as an Auditor with 2.5 Years Experience in reputed firm, Handled independent audit/finance assignments, Looking for permanent placement, NOC available. #95140445. a.saran891@gmail.com Piping Design Engineer, 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 Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer science) (diploma computer engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle plsql, MS sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network. Contact :91415886 Indian Male, Graduate, 11 years Sales experience in Lighting / Industrial products, ready to join immediately. GSM: 9710 5356 Indian heavy duty driver with 8 years experience in oman available with NOC. GSM : 93601943 GSM : 94496457 Indian male, 28 yrs MBA (HR/M) 2 years experience in Indian Oman in HR & admin seeks suitable placements. NOC available. Contact 97484159 Email: rameshkapa86@gmail.com M.Sc 3+ years exp from France & India in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & Networking / Server support / scientific system support looking for suitable positions. Indian, male on visit visa, contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com Looking for managerial post (full time ), More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training, planning, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. Contact 91076608 / 99322748. Release & noc available Indian male, 34years having 10 years of experience in Sales, Sales Coordination and Administration. Experienced in SAP and MS Office. NOC available. Contact # 94686594 Indian Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs. Contact: 97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com Indian, Male, 23 years, BE Electrical, having 2 years experience in Electrical Works-H.T. cabling etc, & Construction, looking for a suitable placement. # +968 96927880 (Oman), +91 9765376109 (India), Email: rahulrevi6@gmail.com Indian Female M.Com with Computer Skills and Four Month Experience as Accountant ,Currently On Family Visa Looking for a Suitable Placement, Available Immediately. Contact : 95846642, Email : dhanyashree91@yahoo.com

SITUATION WANTED 27 year Indian female who has 4 years of experience with logistics function in distribution of spares for both heavy machinery & wind turbine parts. Kindly contact me on +91 9790769104 E-mail: joemohana@yahoo.co.in Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903. Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement. Contact 99486374 8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job. Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com Indian female , MCA BCA, certiﬁcation PL SQL , 6months training PHP, date warehouse looking for suitable placement. #95694330 Email: mondkashyapodl@gmail.com B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally. Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com Part- time accountant, well experience senior accountant , doing all type of accounting works, ﬁnalization, budgeting available. Contact : 98803439

HSE Advisor, NEBOSH IGC, Indian male, 4 years experience in construction and oil ﬁelds, seeking suitable jobs. Gsm: 97458900, Mail: miroshbabu@gmail.com

Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA , Professional of Banking, Audits , ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 / 94403270

Female Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary with 27+ experience, worked with top management/Board in ﬁnancial services with shorthand skills & Omani driving license, seeks suitable placement. call 95941515

Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job. # 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@gmail.com Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com MEP Quantity Surveyor-EstimationProject, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626 Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase. Contact 99196621

ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit ﬁrm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Release available Contact :95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proﬁciency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913

Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement. Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com

B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job.# 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com 8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job. Contact : 93790601 Indian, 32 years, completed M.A. English, M.Sc. Psychology and B.Ed in English. Searching for suitable job in the field of teaching. To Contact: 00968 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com 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 :94501423 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 Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years experience in audit/finance and oil company in reputed firms. Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

S U N DAY, J U LY 5 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

RENT A CAR

Butter cup rent a car presents fantastic offers all vehicles are model 2016. Contact : 97249449

RENT A CAR

GOOD NEWS

DRIVING

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

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Manpower supply we can supply mason carpenters plumber’s electrician and all kind of helpers for supermarket & construction ﬁeld on yearly / monthly basis. Contact: 98597124 / 24422208 Email: burjj@omantel.net.om

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

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Pick & drop any time. Contact: 98522914 / 99512270 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Transportation. Contact: 95190627 Pick & Drop any time. # 97014786

S U N DAY, J U LY 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

WE ARE PROVIDING ACCOUNTING/ AUDITING TAX/ CONSULTING CONTACT: 24 567 251 / 95 498 033

COMPUTER

WEBSITE

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

CLASSES

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

Carpet, curtain, sofa, ﬂoor, cleaning, shampooing, marble & mosaic tiles grinding, polishing and painting. Contact : 93630133 / 95821193 House shifting packing. 99657644 / 98518013

Admission Open: CAMBRIDGE / BILINGUAL CURRICULUM admission started in Al Burj Private School, Azaiba for KG and Grade I to IV. Please register soonest. Contact: 93211417 / 92887809.

Pest control Treatments, termites, cockroaches, bedbugs Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723

BUSINESS

Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites. Contact: 98667326

House shifting. Contact 99708138

CLASSES

B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position. 94151658

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517

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

Learn Cup cakes, exotic cakes, Icing decorations, handicrafts. Contact 95941515

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722 Carpet, Sofa Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99884591 AC servicing maintenance ﬁxing. Contact: 99540621

Required investor for new company. Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870