Times of Oman - February 6, 2016

SATURDAY February 6, 2016 27 Rabi Al Thani 1437 AH

6 085010 120010

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

MAKE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION A LASTING ONE

Before The Council of Oman, 2001

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

Physical appearance is the first thing people observe before an introduction. Always dress appropriately for the occasion, whether it’s a casual lunch or a formal business meeting. >B5

Our call, since the dawn of the Renaissance is to develop our human resources and remove all barriers that impede their development. This will contribute effectively and positively in the development of the community and in the development of its learning, practical abilities, technical skills and experience, and will result in better employment opportunities especially in the private sector.

Founded 1975 . Volume 40 No. 295 | 28 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

DANCING TO DRUM BEATS

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

Muscat Festival is a platform for everything from cultural shows and entertainment to business. Omani artists dancing to the drum beats at the venue. – Taleb Al Wahibi

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

Muscat Festival visitors urged to watch children Parents should keep track of their children and first make efforts to find them on their own rather than leaving it to the ROP

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Police have told parents to supervise their children while visiting the Muscat Festival amidst reports that some are neglecting their children as they know that event staff will find them and take care for them if they get lost.

“Instead of searching the park for their children, many parents continue with their picnic, reassured that their children are in safe hands,” said Abdullah Al Rawahi, a member of the Festival’s organising team at Al Naseem Park.

Al Rawahi told the Times of Oman that many parents think of the Festival’s reception offices as a “free” child care service, reassured that nothing will happen to their children even if they are lost for some time.

As a result, some children are being kept for more than three

60 complaints of children being lost are reported per day during the weekends at the Muscat Festival venues

hours at the reception, before their parents finally decide to check their whereabouts. “Our rooms get packed with more than 10 children at a time. It is difficult to baby-sit this big number,” Al Rawahi noted.

A Royal Oman Police (ROP) official said most of the reports received at the Muscat Festival parks were regarding lost children, followed by the loss of valuables.

He said carelessness on the part

of parents could result in their little ones being harmed, hence risking their safety.

“Children should not get separated from their guardians at any time,” the ROP official stressed.

According to organisers at Al Naseem Park, most children being reported lost are between the ages of three and nine.

“We receive around 60 complaints of lost children per day during weekends,” said a staff member at the Al Naseem Park.

“We first try to contact the child’s parents. If the child can’t talk, we announce through the speaker and describe the child’s appearance (age/colour of dress) so that their parents become aware,” she explained.

Contact numbers She added that some parents even write their contact numbers on their children’s arms to facilitate communication in case the child is found by the authorities.

While the Muscat Festival management provides children with food and toys, many of them are upset and keep crying until their parents arrive.

The ROP recently tweeted on its official account urging parents to keep an eye on their wards at the festival venues.

The Muscat Festival started on January 14 and will continue until February 13.

The venues for the festival include the Al Naseem and Al Amerat parks, the Al Hail Beach and Oman Automobiles Association.

‘HUG A BEAR’ FUNCTION

Number of cancer patients in Oman on rise: Rawahi MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The number of cancer patients in Oman is on the rise, said Yuthar Al Rawahi, founder and chairperson of the Oman Cancer Association (OCA).

“Oman is witnessing a growth in the number patients who suffer from cancer every year,” Al Rawahi told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of the “Hug a Bear” function held for children at the Royal Hospital Oncology Centre to mark World Cancer Day. She also confirmed that OCA’s initiatives to educate nurses in the Sultanate was about to conclude.

“In association with Petroleum Development Oman, we have been training 180 nurses from all around the Sultanate to take care of cancer patients and they will complete their course in the middle of this month,” she asserted.

OCA is also planning to train doctors in March. According to her, breast cancer is the most com-

Yuthar Al Rawahi, founder and chairperson of the Oman Cancer Association.

mon form of cancer seen in Oman, but more and more cases of prostate cancer in men are also being reported nowadays.

OCA will also organise a free mammography for women aged 40 years and above at the Avenue Mall today. A mobile mammography unit will offer screening services outside the Mall between 9 am and 9 pm. It is the part of the OCA’s cel-

ebration of the 40/40 GCC Cancer Awareness initiative.

“Efficient doctors will be available to clear the doubts of every person, who comes in for the test,” Al Rawahi said.

According to her, only through awareness programmes can the public identify any changes in their body and make them to go to hospital early for a diagnosis.

“The best chance of survival with cancer is in the initial stages,” Al Rawahi added.

She also noted that the GCC countries’ health ministers have decided to run a one-week awareness programme every year because each country plans to spend 30 per cent of their budget on the treatment of cancer and related diseases. “A cancer patient is spending nearly OMR30,000 for the treatment,” she pointed out.

The OCA’s annual “Hug a bear” party was attended by 26 children and parents from the Oncology paediatric ward of the Royal Hospital and Dar Al Hanan. >A2

Good response to tourism ministry’s summer campaign

A2

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

‘SMEs, start-ups central to diversification’

1

Perseverance while setting up a start-up business can only be done with the help of other entrepreneurs, speakers at a meeting organised by Startup Oman said. >A2

WORLD

SPORTS

Free Assange: UN

Gold for Oman

2

3

Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free immediately. >A10

Oman’s Issa Al Adawi and Abdulrahman Al Kulaibi struck gold. >A12

SMOULDERING IN FORGOTTEN

Bahrain heavy metal band fancies show in Sultanate TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman has long attracted people of different nationalities, ethnicity, races, religions and backgrounds to its tourist attractions and nature that is rarely seen in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

For one, the Sultanate is a perfect venue for holding concerts, considering the vast, clean beaches and isolated mountain tops.

Featuring in our #OmanPride campaign today is Omar Zainal, a Bahraini national and co-founder and guitarist of well-renowned extreme heavy metal band Smouldering in Forgotten (SIF), who

LOVE TO PLAY: From left, Omar Zainal (guitar and vocal), Mohammad Tael (guitar and vocal), Mohammad Mardi (vocal), Mohammad Ishaq (drums)and Husam Al Abbasi (bass). – Supplied picture

recently visited the Sultanate and had nothing but praise for the country’s natural wonders and friendly atmosphere. His band has played at several venues in Dubai,

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will perform for the first time in Cairo, Egypt. They have recently opened for Finnish melodic metal band Insomnium, who themselves

have a big following in Europe and the Americas.

“My first visit to Oman was 10 years ago and I must say the Sultanate stands out from the rest of the nearby countries. The beautiful scenery of Oman is very different and the people are the friendli-

est and nicest I’ve ever met,” said an ecstatic Zainal.

“My recent visit included a two-day camping trip by the beach in Sifah, which was something I had never experienced before and I would love to do that again,” he added.

He also hopes the country will open up to heavy metal music, considering the diverse culture of people living in the Sultanate just as it is in his hometown, Manama and have the opportunity to perform in a show here.

“We’d love to play in Oman.

I think an outdoor event would be perfect whether on the beach or on top of a mountain,” said Zainal. >A2

A2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

OMAN PROMOTIONAL OFFERS

Summer Campaign, launched by the Ministry of Tourism has been attracting interest from tourism companies and stakeholders Summer campaign gathers interest

ASSIGNED BY HIS MAJESTY

Minister of Legal Affairs takes part in Syrian Donors Conference in London

TAPPING MARKET: Packages for cruises, adventure tourism, forts tourism and cultural attractions in Oman are included in the offers primarily targeting families and young people. -Supplied picture

Good response to tourism ministry’s summer campaign Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s Summer Campaign, launched by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) two weeks ago, has been attracting interest from tourism companies and stakeholders, eager to tap into attractive promotional offers that could herald a large tourist turnout during the summer. The campaign, started internally in coordination and cooperation with various companies and, will be launched externally at the beginning of next March.

It will focus on the most promising tourism markets in the region and the world since the Sultanate is one of the world’s top countries in terms of security and safety, compared with many countries in the region.

Tourism companies announced attractive promotional offers, with different tourist packages during the summer. In turn, the ministry coordinated and communicated with the companies and stakeholders to develop these offers and incorporate a number of tourist and cultural activities therein.

These offers include a package for cruises, adventure tourism, forts tourism and various cultural attractions in the Sultanate targeting families and young people primarily.

Tourism market The campaign focuses on the tourism market in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to attract more tourists to the Sultanate by providing powerful alternatives and offers to tourists of these two Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) countries.

To this end, the ministry will cooperate and coordinate with Oman Air and other companies and stakeholders that have expressed their full readiness to participate vigorously in the campaign.

The promotional campaign “Oman Summer 2 Offers” involves specialists from the Ministry of Tourism and representatives at the ministry’s overseas offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, Oman Air, Oman Sail, Royal Opera House, in addition to representatives of travel and tourism companies and tourist establishments operating in the Omani tourism sector.

Competitive offers In this context, the ministry has contacted Omani tourist establishments desirous of participating in the campaign and received their competitive offers that match the criteria set by the ministry and which has a February 9 deadline.

The ministry shall then select the establishment that provided the best offers to participate in the campaign and the accompanying on-the-move promotional events, and media and marketing campaigns. It is noteworthy that the media and promotional campaign will include mobile joint workshops held by the Ministry of Tourism, travel and tourism companies and hotel facilities in four GCC destinations, namely Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates over four consecutive days.

The provisional commencement date for these events is March 21 in Dammam, while the closing date is March 24 in Dubai.

LONDON: Assigned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Legal Affairs, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Charitable Authority (OCO), chaired the Sultanate’s delegation at the 4th Syrian Donors Conference in London on Thursday.

Kuwait, the UK, Germany, Norway and the United Nations co-chaired the conference, which was held under the title of Supporting Syria and the Region.

It was attended by Ban Kimoon, Secretary General of the United Nations, David Cameron, British Prime Minister, Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, John Kerry, US Secretary of State and Mohammed Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran, along with leaders and officials from more than 70 countries.

The Minister of Legal Affairs delivered the Sultanate’s speech during which he pointed out that the Sultanate took part in the pre-

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS: Police patrol a security fence surrounding the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre the venue of the 4th Donors Conference for Syria in London. -Reuters

vious three international conferences in support of the humanitarian situation in Syria.

The Sultanate carried out during the past years a still-going

programme to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian refugees by providing cash and in-kind assistance to the needy and the provision of mobile homes in the

camps, through OCO, in coordination with relevant international organizations. He noted that the allocations of the programme exceeded so far $50 million. -ONA

‘SMEs, start-ups vital for diversification’ Loulou Khazen took the stage and shared her story with an audience made up of entrepreneurs, hopeful youth, and prominent stakeholders from Oman. Focusing on her personal journey starting with Nabbesh, Khazen highlighted the importance of the founding team in the life of a start-up.

“People can make or break your company, so make sure you invest in choosing the right team,” she said.

Khazen’s talk also drew questions from the audience about her emotional journey and disclosure about her most challenging times.

Startup Oman hosted their second Startup Grind, featuring Loulou Khazen, founder of Nabbesh, before an energetic crowd

Times news service MUSCAT: Persevering while setting up a start-up business can only be done with the help of other entrepreneurs, speakers at a meeting organised by Startup Oman said.

Startup Oman hosted their second Startup Grind, featuring Loulou Khazen, founder of Nabbesh, before an energetic crowd.

Sherry Colbourne, managing partner of Startup Oman, told the Times of Oman that people who want to start a business here need the support of the entrepreneurial community, as their path to success is often a long and difficult one.

“We are here to help them get inspired by other start-ups that have been successful and get the necessary energy to move ahead,” she said.

Colbourne explained that Startup Oman is an informal organisation that helps starters expand

DIFFICULT PATH: A start-up business can be sustained in a better way with the help of other entrepreneurs, speakers at a meeting said. – Supplied photo

their network and learn from others. She explained that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in the economy.

“Start-ups and SMEs are the backbone of the diversification of the Omani economy and therefore critical,” she said.

Colbourne further said that

in currently turbulent economic times, hope and inspiration in entrepreneurship has never been more important.

“What others might perceive as a negative crisis, entrepreneurs recognise as an opportunity to become the emerging superheroes,” she said.

D E A D LY D I S E A S E

ROCK BAND

A1 Metal music fans long to be heard < FROM

He added that it will give first time visitors the chance to camp and experience the beauty of Oman at the same time.

Oman seldom sees live music, especially rock bands, performing in one of the many possible locations within Muscat and surrounding areas.

Misconceptions A common misconception about heavy metal music is that it is far too extreme and offensive, but a long time Omani rock and heavy metal fan Nasser shot down the delusion saying, “Pop, hip hop and RnB music almost always has drugs, drinking, crime and other illicit content. Metal music talks about real world problems and social issues in addition to just good old fantasy stories.”

“How is our music offensive while it is perfectly fine to sing about such content?” he added.

“People who think that way shouldn’t judge what they don’t understand,” Zainal further said.

Freedom of choice “There was a time when I was unable to pay my employees because of not completing a round of funding on time. I had to make a decision on whether I wanted to stay in the business or just let Nabbesh go. I spoke to my team, I explained to them the situation, and gave them the freedom to make their choice. They decided to stay with me, and they are with me still today. I couldn’t be more appreciative of them and their work,” she noted.

According to Colbourne, the meeting demonstrated that “an incredible entrepreneurial movement is coming from Oman” and that “the ecosystem is about to become a booming hub of innovation, leadership and new startups.”

The next Startup Grind event is scheduled to take place on February 28 and will feature Rabea Ataya , founder and chief executive officer of Bayt.com.

Elaborating on the type of music and lyrical themes SIF plays to, Zainal said, “Our topics revolve mainly around fantasy and real world problems written in ways that resemble a destructive and chaotic theme, which reflect the type of music we play. It’s more or less an extreme version of dark poetry.”

The Omani metal community had longed to have their voices heard and many are hoping that one day the country would host the first metal band.

“That’s how all metal scenes started at some point. It starts to grow as long as there are frequent activities and events. This is how we try to keep our scene alive in Bahrain,” he explained.

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

< FROM

Children

A1 forget pain Children and parents got a chance to enjoy themselves and for a moment forget their discomfort, pain and the stress of being in the hospital.

Children played games and one of the highlights of the day was the magician. He made them laugh and curious.

There was a beautiful bearshaped cake donated by the Al Bustan Palace-Ritz Carlton that was cut and each child received a gift from the Association to honour them for their strength and determination to overcome this deadly disease.

Joy for children “I am very happy to say that Oman Cancer Association was able to bring joy and happiness to their little hearts; to see the joy and happiness on these children’s faces is an award enough for us at OCA,” Al Rawahy further said.

She also thanked the Director of the Royal Hospital for providing the venue for hosting the event.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Share your world with us on Instagram

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

A3

OMAN

Facets of a festival Muscat Festival is a platform for everything from cultural shows and entertainment to business. Some facets of the festival captured by the camera of Talib Al Wahibi

FOR MORE PHOTOS

A4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

REGION

Thousands flee as offensive threatens to besiege Aleppo

Hotel fire leaves 17 people dead in Iraq’s Kurdistan ARBIL (IRAQ): A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan region killed 17 people on Friday, the governor of Arbil told a local media network, and the hotel manager said they included foreigners.

Governor Nawzad Hadi told Rudaw TV that 14 of the victims were not from the autonomous region, but that their nationality was not yet known.

The cause of the fire was not clear, but Hadi said an electrical fault was suspected.

The manager of the Capitol Hotel told Rudaw the fire had started in a massage parlour next door and that some of those killed were from the Philippines.

Many foreign workers came to Kurdistan after 2003. — Reuters

Tens of thousands of Syrians head for Turkey as government forces’ assaults, Russian bombardment in south and north have intensified

BEIRUT: Tens of thousands of Syrians fled an intensifying Russian assault around Aleppo on Friday, and aid workers said they feared the city which once held two million people could soon fall under a full government siege.

Iran reported one of its generals was killed on the front line assisting government forces.

The government assault around Aleppo, and advances in the south of the country, helped to torpedo peace talks this week in Geneva.

President Bashar Al Assad’s forces and their allies are making a new bid to achieve victory on the battlefield after Russia’s intervention ended months of stalemate.

The last 24 hours saw government troops and their allies fully encircle the countryside north of Aleppo and cut off the main supply route linking the city - Syria’s largest before the war - to Turkey.

Ankara said it suspected the aim was to starve the population into submission.

Aleppo would be the biggest strategic prize in years for Assad’s government in a conflict that has killed at least 250,000 people and driven 11 million from their homes. Video footage showed thousands of people, mostly women, children and the elderly, massing at the Bab Al Salam border crossing. Men carried luggage on top of their heads, and the elderly and those unable to walk were brought in wheelchairs. Some women sat on the side of the road holding babies and awaited to be allowed into Turkey.

“It feels like a siege of Aleppo is

TRAGIC

VIOLENCE

Israeli troops shoot dead Palestinian

DEADLY ATTACK: People inspect the damage after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al Sakhour neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria on Friday. – Reuters

about to begin,” said David Evans, Middle East programme director for the US aid agency Mercy Corps, which said the most direct humanitarian route to Aleppo had been severed.

The leader of a prominent rebel group active in northwestern Syria confirmed that governmentallied forces were tightening their grip on the northern Aleppo countryside, and that heavy Russian bombing carried on unabated.

“The Russian (air) cover continues night and day, there were more than 250 air strikes on this area in one day,” Hassan Haj Ali, head of Liwa Suqour Al Jabal, a group that fights under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army, told Reuters.

“The regime is now trying to expand the area it has taken control of... Now the northern countryside (of Aleppo) is totally encircled, and the humanitarian situation is very difficult,” he said.

Syrian state TV and a monitor-

ing group said the army and its allies had seized the town of Ratyan north of Aleppo, building on gains made earlier in the week.

Haj Ali said the town had not yet fallen, but that there were “very heavy battles”. The Syrian army and its allies broke a three-year rebel siege of two towns in Aleppo province on Wednesday, cutting off a major supply line from Turkey to Aleppo. Aleppo, Syria’s commercial hub, has been divided for years between a section under government control and areas that are in the grip of rebels. Much of Aleppo, including a UNESCO heritage old city, is largely in ruins.

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier-General Mohsen Ghajarian has been killed in Aleppo province, as had six Iranian volunteer militiamen. Since 2014, the IS militant group has run a self-proclaimed caliphate in eastern Syria and Iraq, under air

assault from a US-led coalition.

Russia launched its own separate air campaign four months ago to aid its ally Assad, transforming the battlefield and tipping momentum his way.

But swathes of the country are still in the hands of armed rebels, including IS in the east, Kurdish militia in the north, and a mosaic of groups in the west who have been the target of many of the Russian air strikes.

In addition to the advance in the north near Aleppo, Syria’s government forces and allies made further gains in the southern province of Deraa, recapturing a town right outside Deraa city.

That advance could provide a more direct supply line for the army from Damascus and allow it to assert control over most parts of the city. It has been backed by some of the heaviest Russian air strikes since it began its bombing campaign in September, a rebel

spokesman in the area said.

Peace talks convened this week in Geneva were the first diplomatic attempt to end the war in two years but collapsed before they began in earnest. The opposition refused to negotiate while Russia was escalating its bombing and government troops were advancing. NATO said Moscow’s intensified bombing campaign undermined the peace efforts and warned Russia was creating tensions by violating the air space of Syria’s neighbour Turkey, a NATO member which shot down a Russian warplane in November.

Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia’s own “crimes”. Aleppo was threatened with a “siege of starvation”, and Turkey had the right to take any measures to protect its security, it said. — Reuters

OCCUPIED RAMALLAH: Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank on Friday, hospital officials said, and the Israeli military said he had been about to throw a petrol bomb.

More than four months of intensified violence in the region have raised concern of wider escalation, a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided.

The Israeli military said soldiers spotted the youth holding a lit Molotov Cocktail and about to throw it at vehicles travelling along a main occupied West Bank highway where Israeli cars are often targeted by Palestinians hurling rocks and petrol bombs.

“The force responded to the immediate threat, prevented the attack, and shot one of the assailants,” an Israeli military spokeswoman said. The Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed his death and age.

Stabbings, shootings and carrammings carried out by Palestinians has killed 27 Israelis and a US citizen since October. Israeli forces have killed at least 156 Palestinians, 101 of them assailants, according to authorities. — Reuters

D E S P E R AT E F O R R E F O R M S

Many Iranians disillusioned over parliamentary vote ANKARA: Many Iranian women and young people are disillusioned about the upcoming elections, desperate for reform but losing hope in their pragmatic president and his promise of a freer society.

The February 26 parliamentary poll will see pro-reform candidates, who broadly back President Hassan Rouhani, attempt to overturn the majority held by conservatives in the 290-seat assembly. It will be a test of public support for Rouhani himself ahead of presidential elections next year.

While the vote might not have an influence on foreign policy, which is determined by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the election of a reformist parliament could strengthen Rouhani’s hand to push through economic reforms to open up the country to foreign trade and investment.

Rouhani won the presidency in 2013, bolstered by the support of many women and young people who were encouraged by his comments that Iranians deserved to live in free country and have the rights enjoyed by other people around the world. “I am not going to make the same mistake twice. I have decided not to vote,” said Setareh, a university graduate in the northern city of Rasht. “I voted for Rouhani - was he able to improve my situation? No.” Social change Rouhani’s supporters hoped that his election victory would lead to social change in country where women have lesser rights than men in areas including inheritance, divorce and child custody and are subject to travel and dress restrictions, and strict law is enforced by a “morality police”.

But rights campaigners say there has been little, if any, moves to bring about greater political and cultural freedoms as the president

WAITING TO VOTE: Iranian women wait in line outside a polling station during the Iranian presidential election in Tehran, in this June 12, 2009 file photo. – Reuters/Files

has focused on striking the nuclear accord wit world powers to end the international sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.

Iran rejects any allegations it is discriminating against women, saying it follows law.

Now Rouhani and his moderate allies are struggling to mobilise two of their main support bases women and young people.

The president’s promises to loosen Internet restrictions have not been met. Access to social media remains officially blocked, though Rouhani and Khamenei have their own Twitter accounts.

This has been a particular grievance among those under 30, who represent more than two-thirds of

the 78 million population and were born after the 1979 revolution.

“I am not going to vote. What is the use of voting? My hopes are shattered,” said a 27-year-old engineer in Tehran, who refused to give his name.

The president’s constitutional powers are limited, with ultimate authority in the hands of Khamenei, who has lambasted the West for using women as a tool to advertise products and satisfy “disorderly and unlawful needs”.

The February 26 elections will also see the public vote for members of the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that could play a pivotal part in determining Iran’s future path in both domestic

and foreign policies - as at some point it will have the job of selecting a successor to 76-year-old Khamenei.

Iranian women, who make up more than half of the population, are among the most highly educated in the Middle East; they have a literacy rate of over 80 per cent and account for over 50 per cent of university entrees.

But under Iranian law, men can divorce their spouses far more easily than women, while custody of children over seven automatically goes to the father.

Women have to get permission from their husbands to travel abroad. They are obliged to cover their hair and the shape of their

bodies, their testimony as a legal witness is worth half that of a man, and daughters inherit half of what sons do.

While they cannot run for president, they are however able to hold most jobs including other government positions, and can vote and drive.

“What will change if I vote?” said Miriam, 26, who could not win custody of her eight-year-old son after getting divorced in the central city of Isfahan. “Can reformist candidates give me equal rights?”

A report by the UN special rapporteur on Iran last year said human rights in the country “remained dire” under Rouhani, while separately a UN child rights watchdog said this month that girls faced discriminatory treatment “in family relations, criminal justice system, property rights”.

Iran denies any infringement of human rights.

Retired government employee Fariba Khamesi, from Tehran, said that even if there had been little evidence of social change, she would not give up her hopes for a freer Iran. “Of course I will vote in the elections. There are many problems like the economic pressure, discriminatory laws against women, but if we don’t cast our vote, conservatives will gain more power,” the 58-year-old said.

Rouhani’s hardline rivals accuse him of having encouraged moral corruption in the society by advocating social tolerance.

Faithful to system Moderate politicians remain faithful to Iran’s theocratic system, but they advocate improved relations with the West, more freedom of expression and a loosening of strict rules governing dress and mingling. “As an Iranian female candidate it is my duty to fight for their rights,” said Soheila Jelodarzadeh,

a pro-reform female candidate.

“Women are determined to build Iran. And by casting our votes, we can reach that goal.”

International sanctions were lifted last month under a deal reached with six major powers in 2015 in return for Tehran curbing its nuclear programme, but it will take time to bring down high unemployment and raise living standards.

Student Hosseini, 17, whose father is a construction worker in the city of Mashhad, said moderate politicians had neglected the poor.

“I will vote for those candidates who believe in pillars of the revolution. They will never forget people like my father and will understand our pain and problems,” he said.

Rouhani has called for curbs on the state’s involvement in business and a push to end corruption and increase competition to end Iran’s international isolation and help rescue the economy.

He has invited foreign investment - including from US companies - risking a confrontation with powerful conservative factions in the country’s multi- tiered political system oppose his plans to open the Iranian economy to the world, fearing an infiltration of Western values and influence.

Some pro-reform politicians have told Reuters that by securing Khamenei’s consent to the nuclear deal, Rouhani depleted his political capital with the supreme leader, leaving nothing for domestic reforms.

“Rouhani may want to create some changes but he is by no means a political opposition figure to the clerical establishment,” said a senior Western diplomat in Tehran. “No matter which political faction wins the majority in the parliament. The ultimate power will remain in the hands of Mr. Khamenei.” — Reuters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

Tweet all about it

ANNUAL SALARY

Welder’s son from Bihar bags Rs10.02m Microsoft job KOTA (Rajasthan): In an inspiring tale of triumph against adversity, a final-year student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, whose father is a welder in Bihar, has bagged a job with US-based Microsoft at an annual starting salary of Rs10.02 million.

Twenty-one-year-old Vatsalya Singh Chauhan, who bagged the dream job, hails from Khagaria village in the eastern state where his father runs a small welding workshop. IIT Kharagpur Director Partha Pratim Chakraborty in his Facebook page on Thursday congratulated Vatsalya.

Vatsalya says he had overcome a poor performance in 2009 at a coaching institute here to clear the Indian Institute of Technology entrance exam with an All-India Rank of 382.

‘Credit to teachers’ “I was offered Rs1.02 crore per annum salary package by Microsoft and I will be joining in October this year,” he said. He credits his success to two teachers who mentored and motivated him to pull himself together when he had decided to give up and return home.

Vatsalya’s father, Chandra Kant Singh Chauhan, said he is elated at his son’s success and wants him to bring pride to his country.

“My 20-year-long devotion has yielded result and my dream has come true. My son is now going out of India and I want that he should work for the country to glorify the nation’s name abroad,” he said.

Chandra Kant, who has two more sons and three daughters said he has now sent one of his daughters to Kota to prepare for medical entrance exam. - PTI

INDIA

One family stalling House to avenge poll defeat, says PM Modi alleged that ‘one family’ was indulging in ‘negative politics’ as he claimed that there are leaders in opposition parties other than Congress who want Parliament to function even though they oppose him

MORAN (Assam): Singling out the Sonia Gandhi and her family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress President and her son Rahul Gandhi of disrupting Parliament to avenge defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and hence blocking the passage of bills aimed at benefiting the poor.

Addressing tea garden workers in this poll-bound state of northeastern state of Assam, he alleged that “one family” was indulging in “negative politics” as he claimed that there are leaders in opposition parties other than Congress who want Parliament to function even though they oppose him.

“Those who have lost the election (in 2014) and have come

CULTURE CONNECT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being presented a replica of the historical building of the Ahom era, Rang Ghar, by Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Dibrugarh town of the northeastern state of Assam on Friday while Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi makes a point. - PTI

down from 400 to 40 have decided not to allow Modi to work. They have decided to create obstacles and difficulties. The conspiracy for the same is going on,” he said, referring clearly to Congress.

Revenge on people “They have now decided to take revenge on people, from the poor workers” for voting the Congress out of power, Modi said at the public meeting that was virtually an election rally.

His remarks came against the backdrop of washout of the last two sessions of Parliament because of which key economic reform measures, including Gooods and Services Tax (GST), have been pending and are expected to

be pushed by the government during the upcoming Budget session starting on February 23.

“There are many leaders and parties even in the Opposition who oppose Modi, the BJP and the government but they want Parliament to run and carry out is business. But one family is so rigid that they do not allow the Rajya Sabha to function and let the nation’s agenda of development to be taken forward because people of the country have defeated them,” Modi said.

Though the prime minister did not name the “family”, the reference was obviously to the Sonia Gandhi family. He listed a number of pending bills, including one for increasing the income ceiling for

CONTROVERSY

bonus to workers and the other related to river transport on Brahmaputra, and put the blame for their pendency squarely on Congress and particularly the Gandhi family.

“The country is not going to benefit from this politics of negativism and obstructionism. There is only one family with such a thinking, which has brought this kind of destruction. Leaders in the other Opposition parties are not like this,” Modi said.

“If anybody in politics engages in such negativism and obstructionism, it is not going benefit either them or the nation,” he added.

Modi used the occasion to flag the issue of “Assamese pride” and urged people to give a chance to BJP to form a government in the

state. He contended that laws for the welfare of the state can be put in place only when there is a government in Guwahati which listens to Centre.

Tea garden workers form a major chunk of voters in Assam.

When it comes to people’s welfare, there cannot be any scope for politics, the prime minister said as he criticised the Congress government of Assam for attacking the Centre every now and then even after getting funds from it.

“There is a central law, which I want to implement here. But that will happen only when there is a government, which listens to the government in Delhi,” he said.

He said it does not serve any purpose if some state government engages in sweet talk with Centre, gets the monetary benefits and then keeps on cursing it. Underlining that the Centre and state governments should work in tandem, Modi said, “politics should not come as a roadblock while working for people’s welfare.”

He said had the bill on National Waterways been passed by Parliament, it would have benefited Assam as it would have provided cheapest water transport in Brahmaputra river.

“It was passed in Lok Sabha but a family, even while talking much about the welfare of Assam, did not allow the Rajya Sabha to function and hence it got stuck there.

“We got a law for bonus for labourers. But those who have been defeated (in polls), reduced to around 40 seats, are determined to not let things work,” the prime minister said. The prime minister said if Parliament is not allowed to function, the maximum loss will be to the poor. - PTI

SUSPECTED RAIL FRACTURE

Jet Airways suspends five cabin crew over Sonu Nigam’s in-flight singing NEW DELHI: A controversy raged on Friday over Jet Airways suspending five cabin crew members after singer Sonu Nigam was allowed to belt out Bollywood numbers using the in-flight public address system on a chartered flight with the action being slammed by him as “Real Intolerance”.

The Bollywood fraternity and social media reacted with outrage to the punishment handed out by the private airline after aviation regulator DGCA took serious note of the episode but the Civil Aviation Ministry justified the action.

The incident occurred on a chartered flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai on January 4, when the “errant” crew members allowed Nigam, 42, to hold a sort of musical concert on board following a request from fellow passengers, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources said.

A5

The matter came to DGCA’s notice after a video of Nigam singing on board the flight went viral on social media.

Violation of safety norms Action has been initiated against the crew members since allowing a passenger to use the public address system on board a flight amounts to violation of safety norms, the sources said.

“All cabin crew on the flight have been taken off flight duty for inquiry and corrective training to reinforce strict adherence to operating procedures,” Jet Airways said in a statement.

As per a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on training and licensing of cabin crew, issued by DGCA in 2010, “the PA (public address) system and interphone system are tools for relaying safety information”. But Nigam in a sharp retort

said that when he sang there were no announcements that needed to be made and the action against the cabin crew was “utter nonsense”.

“To suspend crew members for asking me to sing on the address system, when the seat belt signs were off, and no announcements were to be made, is nothing less than punishing someone for spreading happiness.

“Pity there’s no one to question such harshness except the Media perhaps. Indians, need to loosen up. This act of lack of Common Sense, according to me, is Real Intolerance,” Nigam said in a statement.

“I have witnessed an elaborate fashion show in an aircraft. I have heard of small concerts happening in an aircraft.

“I have seen pilots and crew members cracking humorous jokes to loosen up passengers in

other countries, which is so cool.”

Defended action Civil Aviation Minister Mahesh Sharma defended the action by the airline, saying safety protocols have to be followed.

“If at all... these hostesses should have gotten a raise. Life cannot be so stiff -thoda chill karo yaar,” said actor Riteish Deshmukh.

“Totally agree Riteish we all need to laugh a lill more. Chill & live a little.@sonunigam when are u flying next? tweeted actor Dino Morea. On the social media, one tweet said, “Personally not a fan of Sonu Nigam but suspending airhostesses for his singing is over reaction.”

“Why would Jet Airways suspend air hostesses because Mr Sonu Nigam sang? What did he or they do wrong,” said another tweet. -PTI

No death as 11 coaches of train derail in Tamil Nadu VELLORE (Tamil Nadu): Eleven coaches of a Bengaluru-bound train derailed on Friday near here in southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, leaving several people injured and affecting rail traffic.

According to a railway spokesperson in Delhi, eleven coaches of the Kanyakumari-Bangalore city express derailed between Somanayakanpatti and Patchur in Tamil Nadu.

However, local police said that no casualty has been reported in the incident. The railway spokesperson said that the injured have been moved to nearby hospitals while senior officials have rushed to the site of the derailment at Natrampalli, about 140km from Bengaluru. Police said that arrangements are being made to transport the passengers to Bengaluru. According to sources, the derailment occurred due to suspected rail fracture but the railway spokesperson said that the

RESCUE OPERATION: Rescue work underway after Kanyakumari Bangalore Island Express derailed in Vellore district in Tamil Nadu on Friday. - PTI

cause behind the incident is yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, railways announced complete or partial cancellation of about 15 services, including the Chennai- Bangalore double decker expressRailways have also operationalised helpline numbers following the incident, the spokesperson said, adding that further details are awaited. - PTI

A6

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

INDIA

There are problems within problems. To face these difficulties, we need to have support and to have that conducive atmosphere (for forming government). If we get that, it is fine but if that does not happen, we will continue to move as we are moving today Mehbooba Mufti, Peoples Democratic Party chief

India, Sri Lanka sign pacts in education, health sectors External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera discussed the entire gamut of bilateral ties during the 9th Commission meeting

AHEAD TOGETHER: President Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, left, shakes hands with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera during the Sri Lanka-India Joint Commission meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Friday. - Reuters

COLOMBO: India and Sri Lanka on Friday reviewed the progress made in their bilateral ties discussing various issues including that of fishermen, a major irritant in the relations, as the two countries signed MoUs in education and health sectors.

External Affairs Minister Sush-

ma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera discussed the entire gamut of relationship during the 9th IndoLanka Joint Commission meeting here co-chaired by them.

“The fishermen issues was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved,” officials said.

Indo-Lanka Joint

India invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, the officials said.

The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed the issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation,

social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-topeople contact.

Two Memorandums of understanding (MoU) were signed after the meeting — one on renovating 27 schools in the Tamil-dominated Northern province and the other on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East.

Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in aviation sector.

Swaraj, who arrived here on Friday on her second visit to the country within a year, earlier held talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Prime Minister’s Office ‘Temple Trees’, and the two leaders had a “fruitful exchange of views”.

During their 50-minute long meeting, the Prime Minister sought Indian investment in Sri Lanka and proposed partnership in setting up a SEZ in Trincomalee. Wickremesinghe also proposed to make the Joint Commission meeting an annual affair.

The two leaders also talked

about state university linkages.

The Joint Commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013.

The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the IndoLanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974.

Though the fishermen’s associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem.

India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The two sides also discussed plans to enhance cooperation in aeronautical research and use of Indian satellite system ‘Gagan’

by Sri Lanka.

“The joint commission has acknowledged the depth and intensity and uniqueness of this relationship,” the officials said. - PTI

G UJA R AT

37 dead as bus falls into river

FATAL MISHAP: Rescue work being carried out after a bus fell off a bridge into the Purna river in Navsari on Friday. - PTI

NAVSARI(Gujarat): Thirty seven people were killed and 24 injured, four of them seriously, when a state transport bus in which they were travelling plunged from a bridge into Purna river in Navsari district of South Gujarat on Friday, police said.

“Thirty seven people have died in the incident, while 24 others are injured when a bus fell from a 20 feet high bridge on Purna river,” Navsari Superintendent of Police M. S. Bharada said.

Though police are investigating the cause of the mishap, some survivors and eye-witnesses said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle when it was passing the bridge and it hurtled down into the river after breaking iron railings. -PTI

DEFICIENT RAINS

Pranab expresses concern over decline in farm output NEW DELHI: Ruing that despite advancements, Indian agriculture is yet to be completely out of the “clutches of weather”, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday expressed “grave concern” over likely decline in farm output for the second-straight year due to deficient rains.

With a most of the cultivatable area at the mercy of climatic conditions like drought, floods and cyclones, he called for serious efforts to overcome the challenge and make Indian agriculture sector resilient to weather fluctuations.

He urged the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) scientists to develop climate resilient technological solutions by leveraging opportunities from frontier science like biotechnology and nano-technology.

Mukherjee also spoke about import dependence on pulses and edible oils.

Addressing the 54th convocation of IARI, he said: “Despite the advancements made, Indian agriculture is yet to be completely get out of the clutches of weather.”

President also pointed out that the country’s foodgrain production fell to 253 million tonnes in 2014-15 crop year (July-June) from a record 265 million tonnes in 2013-14 on account of 12 per

CONVOCATION: President Pranab Mukherjee with Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and other dignitaries arrives at the 54th convocation of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

cent deficit in rainfall.

“Nature has not been kind to us this year as well. A deficient monsoon followed by a further dry spell is likely to affect agricultural production for the second year in a row. This is an area of grave concern. The time is ripe for some serious efforts as 80 per cent of the area under cultivation in India is in the grip of severe climatic conditions like drought, floods and cyclones,” he said.

Stating that global climate

change could aggravate these problems, Mukherjee said the IARI must leverage opportunities from frontier sciences such as biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, computational biology, sensor technology and geo-spatial technology to develop climate-resilient technological solutions.

Innovation “Innovation in agricultural techniques and practices must be supported through infusion of funds,

mentoring of ideas, and technical assistance. The risk-taking ability of farmers must be boosted. The newly-launched crop insurance scheme will leverage technology to provide risk cover to the farmers,” he said.

Speaking about India’s dependency on pulses and edible oils, Mukherjee said the demand for these items is expected to increase in future substantially while expressing confidence that the new technologies of IARI will address the problem.

“IARI has developed mustard varieties suitable for unconventional areas that can boost oil seed production. The institute has also initiated the development of synchronous-maturity pigeon-pea hybrids and varieties, apart from chickpea. I am confident these technologies will enhance the productivity of pulses and edible oils to meet our domestic requirements fully,” he said.

Concerned over high malnutrition in children, Mukherjee said: “45 per cent of children below the age of three years are under-nourished in India. A large number also suffer from Vitamin-A deficiency. To address malnutrition in children, foodgrains must be bio-fortified with quality protein and micro-nutrients.” -PTI

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

No government if Centre does not support: Mehbooba JAMMU: Hardening her stance, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday made it clear that she will not form the government with BJP in Indian-administeredKashmir if the Narendra Modi dispensation does not create a “conducive atmosphere” by committing confidence building measures (CBMs) for the state.

“There are problems within problems. To face these difficul-

ties, we need to have support and to have that conducive atmosphere (for forming government).

If we get that, it is fine but if that does not happen, we will continue to move as we are moving today,” Mehbooba told party leaders at a meeting here on Friday.

Flanked by her brother Tassaduq Mufti and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, she indicated that she was not looking

for any financial package but the CBMs sought by her should focus on political aspect of the problem.

“It is not the matter of money.

How much money has come and how much we have spent? When and how it came? But the issue is how will we create a conducive atmosphere so that the new government gets a new path and fillip to go ahead and create a goodwill among the people,” she said.

Her remarks reflect hardening of stance over forming coalition government with BJP in the state which is under Governor’s Rule since January 8, a day after the demise of her father and the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member Assembly and BJP with 25 legislators, ran a coalition government headed by Sayeed for 10 months before his death. - PTI

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

A7

PAKISTAN RESEARCH REPORT

PAKISTANI CONTINGENT AT SOUTH ASIAN GAMES 2016 The Pakistani contingent takes part in the march past at the opening ceremony of the 12th South Asian Games 2016 being held at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium at Guwahati in the northeastern Indian State of Assam on Friday. — PTI

Two Pakistani think tanks among top 20 in the world ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani institutions have clinched positions among top 20 think thanks of the world, according to a research report published by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) was ranked 15 while Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) secured the 18th position among 95 other think tanks in South Asia and the Pacific region in 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report published on January 29.

While the PIIA’s area of focus is foreign policies of regional and other countries as it hits the changing political policies in scenario of geo-political circumstances, the SPDI provides global sustainable development community with representation from Pakistan as well as South Asia as a whole.

The TTCSP conducts research on the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world. — Express Tribune

RED MOSQUE CLERIC

Controversy over anti-ISI video by Aziz ISLAMABAD: A district court issued a notice to the capital police on an application seeking registration of a case against firebrand Red Mosque cleric Abdul Aziz for allegedly spreading hate against Pakistan’s security forces on sectarian basis through the social media.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Asif Mehmood issued the Aabpara state house officer (SHO)a notice to appear in the next hearing, which is scheduled for February 11.

Petitioner Khurram Zaki, through his counsel, filed a petition under section 22-A of the Criminal Procedure Code for the registration of a first investigation report against Aziz, while listing the Aabpara SHO as a respondent.

The petitioner contends that Aziz had shared a video — through the Jamia Hafsa Facebook page — wherein he “leveled baseless and hateful allegations on Pakistan’s superior intelligence agency, the ISI.” He added that Aziz intentionally tried to spread hate against Pakistan’s security forces on a sectarian basis.

“He has knowingly tried to divide Pakistan’s security organs, which is harmful and dangerous,” he stated. — Express Tribune

Thousands of passengers left stranded, PIA flights stay put More than 200 flights had been cancelled as of Thursday evening, and the airline was still compiling data on stuck passengers, Pakistan International Airlines spokesman said

ENRAGED: Employees of Pakistan International Airlines chant

slogans during a protest against the privatisation of the company outside the PIA offices in Peshawar, Pakistan on Thursday. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: About 2,500 people were stranded in Europe, the US and Canada after workers at Pakistan International Airlines called a strike protesting the proposed privatisation of the world’s least-productive national carrier.

More than 200 flights had been cancelled as of Thursday evening, and the airline was still compiling data on passengers stuck at other locations, Pakistan Airlines spokesman Daniyal Gilani said on Friday.

Each of PIA’s 15,000 full-time employees earns the airline 61,000 rupees a year ($585), the lowest among 72 listed peers tracked by Bloomberg -- making it the world’s most overstaffed by this measure.

The crisis at the state-owned airline shows no sign of abating as labour leaders pressure Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to halt plans to sell a 26 per cent stake.

Despite deadly protests this week, the airline’s shares have

risen after Sharif vowed to press ahead with the sale, which is key to meet conditions under a $6.6 billion International Monetary Fund loan.

“This could be the start of a much broader opposition, both political and union coalition, against the privatisation programme,” said Sakib Sherani, chief executive officer at Macroeconomic Insights in Islamabad.”It will affect Pakistan’s credibility.”

PIA has made efforts to find all of its stranded passengers.

It agreed on Thursday with Etihad Airways PJSC and is in talks with Turkish Airlines to fly passengers stranded in Europe, the USA and Canada, Gilani said.

Saudi Arabian Airlines is helping fly back 2,000 passengers from the kingdom.

The airline also agreed with Pakistan-based private carriers AirBlue and Shaheen Air International to accept PIA’s confirmed ticket passengers for flights to Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Dubai, Muscat, Jeddah and Riyadh, a PIA spokesman said in a statement on Thursday. Saudi Arabian Airlines is helping fly back 2,000 passengers from the kingdom.

The government owns a 92 per cent stake in PIA and the employees own 3.9 per cent.

Losses more than tripled to Rs27.8 billion in 2015 from 2010, director Amir Ali told lawmakers in January.

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament last month passed a bill permitting conversion of PIA into a public limited company, seen as the first step toward privatiSation.

The proposal now awaits approval by the opposition-dominated Senate.

The government plans to seek

bids for the stake sale by May 15, Privatisation Minister Mohammad Zubair said in an interview on Wednesday.

“Pakistan is trying to bring a strategic partner who could contribute more aircraft,” Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told reporters in Dubai on Thursday. ”There is no plan to sack employees of PIA or make them redundant.”

Complex endeavour The IMF also sought to calm the situation, saying it doesn’t impose deadlines for privatisation.

The government had earlier conveyed that it had planned for a sale in June.

“Privatisation is always a complex endeavour,” the IMF’s Pakistan chief Harald Finger told reporters in Dubai.”It’s always important to get them right, than to do them fast.” Employees don’t seem reassured.

Hundreds of them protested outside PIA offices across the country on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of two workers.

While union leaders claim they were shot dead by the paramilitary, spokesmen for the force and the police denied that shots were fired.

Either way the strike continues, as does PIA’s search for stranded passengers. — Bloomberg News

NOT SEEN IN FILMS SINCE ‘BOL’

Not true that I do not want to act, says singer Atif Aslam KARACHI: It’s not only Ali Zafar and Fawad Khan who have a flair for singing and acting, Atif Aslam expressed that he too wants to perform on-screen, as opposed to people’s widely held belief that he doesn’t want to act.

Not like the singer is new to acting, he has already starred on the big screen in Bol. Now Atif, who has lent vocals to numerous Bollywood hits, is ready to venture again into acting after a five year hiatus.

In an with Times of India, the singer revealed that he would love to act provided he gets good scripts.

“I think main pehle ek kaam theek tarah se kar loon (first I should do one think properly) ...,” he quipped, adding, “I had debuted with Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol. It was critically acclaimed. Post that, I haven’t gotten the right kind of script.

“I would love to act. I am looking to something that intrigues and

interests me. I don’t know why but people feel that I don’t want to act — that’s not true. I am looking for an intense story,” he said.

Choice of music Atif also spoke at length about his choice of music. The singer was asked if he is more comfortable with melancholic numbers, to which he replied saying, “I am comfortable doing both kinds of songs — sad as well as peppy.

It is just that for a happy song you need to gear yourself up.”

“You can try different styles and experiment with it or sing it in many ways — that is the reason it takes longer to record such numbers. Sad, emotional songs come easily to me,” said Atif.

“I am working on singles and am planning to go back to my roots. I have recorded a couple of songs and will do a few more,” he added.— Express Tribune

CANDID: In an with ‘Times of India’, singer Atif Aslam revealed that

he would love to act provided he gets good scripts. — Express Tribune

A8

TIMES O F O MAN

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

#TRENDING ONLINE HOT PICKS MOST READ

MOST SHARED

TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

TOTAL VIEWS

TOTAL PAGE LIKES

45,391,594

305,235

1 Royal Oman Police clarifies

1 News Rewind: Clarity

rule on family joining visa

on NOC rule dominates headlines this week

timesofoman.com/Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

2 Oman tourism: Wonders of

Wadi Musawi timesofoman.com/Lifestyle

3 Just do it for Oman, Pankaj

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

tells national cricketers timesofoman.com/Sports

2 Royal Oman Police aims for

4 Oman Tourism: Mountains

clarity over No Objection Certificate

and more at Sharaf Al Alamayn and Balad Sayt

timesofoman.com/Oman

timesofoman.com/Hi

3 Water shortage feared in

5 Oman’s PACP recovers

Muscat today

OMR961,974 for consumers

timesofoman.com/Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

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

4 Oman perfume seller suffers

OMR200,000 loss in blaze timesofoman.com/Oman

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

5 Whatsapp call ‘working’

in Oman timesofoman.com/Oman

JONATHAN BERNSTEIN MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS

Moving Zika virus out of existence Faye Flam

Companies are looking for ways to cut costs in terms of bonuses, annual leaves, and air tickets.

The first hour of Thursday’s debate between Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton was full of fireworks — Clinton clearly came out ready to brawl, and Sanders was eager to take her on. The debate was substantive. It was the least policyspecific hour of a Democratic presidential debate ever

TWEET WE LIKE @BlakeStemm One of the most amazing experiences running through the hills of oman with a great bunch of… https://www.instagram.com/p/BBZz2AmGEHx/

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

This as a good time for Putin to stop juggling some of the crises he has struggled with: Ukraine, Syria or the stifling government control of the economy in the interests of his cronies. Yet he persists, even though domestic public opinion seems to be showing alarming signs of weariness with the government

«

SHARE THIS!

Photo: Renu Singh

READERS’ FORUM Ukraine should rethink its pro-West leaning This refers to the story, Blow to Ukraine’s reform hopes as economy minister quits (February 3). The cracks, which are appearing in the former Soviet republic were bound to come one day or the other. The current government of Western cronies does not really care about their national interests. Just to please Brussels and Washington, the leadership is against whatever they are against. Their opposition of Russia and her interests is simply foolhardy.

Throughout history, Moscow has been the region’s overlord. It would be much safer for these leaders to stick to their known Scan this QR code enemy instead of playing into the hands of to send letters to the powers who are known to disrupt societies.

Readers’ Forum, — Olga Stevens, Qurum containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

BILL EMMOTT

Rather than going to Athens, IMF officials are now heading for Baku. Central Asia’s oil-producing dictatorships, including Azerbaijan, have been among the countries hardest hit by the drop in prices – especially because, as ex-Soviet states, they remain heavily dependent on trade with Russia, another oil producer

Do not keep animals in zoos This refers to the story, Asian elephant found dead at Oklahoma zoo (February 2). It is a pity that we humans continue to make animals suffer because of our inhuman nature. Wild creatures should not be kept in captivity for entertaining crowds of people. It would be better, if the animals are kept in their natural habitats far from human settlements. This is reasonable as animals have a right to live, which we human take as our birthright and are intend on destroying everything on this planet. — Ravi Saxena, Ruwi

I

n a handful of labs around the world, scientists have quietly invented a new and powerful biotech weapon against disease-carrying mosquitoes. Called gene drive, it goes far beyond ordinary genetic modification, bending the rules of inheritance to spread modified genes through vast populations of organisms. If it works as expected, it could be used to extinguish the population of mosquitoes rapidly spreading the Zika virus through South America.

An even more consequential deployment would spread an altered gene through the world’s population of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, endowing them with resistance against the parasite that now kills more than 400,000 people every year.

This is heady stuff to consider for a public that has yet to come to terms with genetic modification. While some scientists allegedly want to “sic” gene drives on Zika-carrying mosquitoes, most biologists involved hope for something less dramatic -- the chance to gradually ramp up testing while encouraging public discussion about the issue. It remains to be seen whether the Zika threat will mushroom into a problem that would justify the risk of rushing a new technology. However, the death and suffering caused by malaria already justifies continued investment in gene drive research, and given enough testing, it might prove safer than spraying insecticides.

The power of the technology comes from the way it breaks the rules of normal reproduction.

In most species, animals carry two versions of each gene on two matched sets of chromosomes. Each copy passively accepts a 50/50 chance of getting shuffled into an egg or sperm, and from there, to progeny. But with gene drive, a modified gene carries instructions to attack the opposing chromosome, snip it, and insert a second copy of itself.

In the face of Zika, gene drive might boost the effectiveness of genetic engineering solutions already being explored by the British company Oxitec. The company was originally looking for ways to control the spread of another mosquitoborne disease, dengue fever. It’s experimenting with genetically modified male mosquitoes carrying a gene that’s lethal to larvae. But their field

trials have led to tabloid press accusations that they’ve caused the Zika problem.

Beyond the PR hassles, the company faces a hurdle posed by evolution. If the introduced gene is lethal to offspring, natural selection will weed it out, favouring the healthy version of the gene.

But there are tricks -- ways the lethal gene could kill only male offspring or only females, while being carried on through the other sex. Gene drives could accelerate the spread of such a gene so that it might cause a population to crash before evolution would weed it out.

Last April, scientists demonstrated an effective gene drive in laboratory fruit flies -- the fastspreading gene had the striking effect of turning most of the population yellow. They published the results in the journal Science. Last November, the same researchers, collaborating with scientists working on malaria resistance, demonstrated an anti-malaria gene drive could work in mosquitoes.

But moving such a novel and powerful technology into field trials will have to wait for an unprecedented level of public trust and international cooperation.

“The greatest risk is not technological or ecological -- it’s social,” said Kevin Esvelt, who developed one of the most promising versions of gene drive while at Harvard University and is now a professor at MIT’s Media Lab. Not that we human beings haven’t already made profound global changes in the environment -- we’ve wiped out species, allowed others to take over new islands and continents, and even changed the composition of our planet’s atmosphere. But in most cases, these changes have been both unintended and harmful.

Esvelt’s gene drive uses so-called gene editing, or Crispr, which gives modified genes a particularly efficient toolkit for inserting themselves into their partner chromosomes. Endowing genes with special equipment to foil the rules of genetics may sound magical, but biologists have simply co-opted tools that other living things invented through evolution. — Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES FEBRUARY 2001 Higher Education Council meet held MUSCAT: The Higher Education Council held its first session of the year under the chairmanship of Sayyid Saif bin Hamad bin Saud Al Busaidi, minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, at the premises of the Diwan. The council discussed several topics on the agenda including the annual report of the council presented by the secretariat general, reports presented by the planning and follow-up committee of the council which included a report on the implementation of the system project at the technical industrial colleges and a report on lands and financial grants to higher education private establishments.

Scan this QR for full story online

PICTOGRAPH

NEW REGISTERED MOTORBIKES From September to November, 2015 September

October

72

November

64

55

TODAY IN HISTORY NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com The best defence against misguided arrogance is a keen sense of humour.

KATHRYN L. NELSON

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

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

1904: Japan’s foreign minister severs all ties with Russia, citing delaying tactics in negotiations over Manchuria.

1941: The RAF clears the way as British take Benghazi, trapping thousands of Italians.

1964: Cuba blocks the water supply to Guantanamo Naval Base in rebuke of the United State’s seizure of four Cuban fishing boats.

0

Source National Centre for Statistics and Information

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

WORLD

US defence system to track North Korea rocket launch We will, as we always do, watch carefully if there’s a launch, track the launch, and have our missile defence assets positioned and ready, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said

SEOUL/TOKYO: United States has deployed missile defence systems that will work with the Japanese and South Korean militaries to track a rocket that North Korea says it will launch some time over an 18-day period beginning on Monday.

North Korea has notified UN agencies that it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between February 8 and February 25, triggering international opposition from some governments that see it as a long-range missile test. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. But it is barred under UN Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology.

Coming so soon after North Korea’s fourth nuclear test, on January 6, also barred by Security Council resolutions, a rocket launch will raise concern that it plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to strike South Korea, Japan and possibly the US West Coast.

China has told North Korea that it does not want to see anything happen that could further raise

RISING TENSIONS: A man watches a news report on North Korea’s planned rocket launch as the television screen shows file footage of North Korea’s Unha-3 rocket which launched in 2012, at a railway station in Seoul on Wednesday. – AFP

tension, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, describing “a serious situation”, after a special envoy from China visited North Korea this week.

China is the North’s sole major ally but it disapproves of its nuclear programme. The United States has urged China to use its influence to rein in its neighbour.

Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted Pentagon officials as saying that fuelling of the rocket appeared to have begun, citing satellite footage showing increased activity around the missile launch and fuel storage areas, suggesting preparations for a launch could be completed within “a number of days” at the earliest.

A launch would draw fresh US calls for tougher UN sanctions that are already under discussion in response to the nuclear test.

What would likely be an indigenous three-stage rocket will be tracked closely.

South Korea and Japan have put their militaries on standby to shoot down the rocket, or its parts, if they go off course and threaten to crash on their territory. “We will, as we always do, watch carefully if there’s a launch, track the launch, (and) have our missile defence assets positioned and ready,” US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said on Thursday.

“We plan a lot about it. We and our close allies - the Japanese and the South Koreans - are ready for it.”

South Korea has said its Aegis destroyers, its Green Pine anti-ballistic missile radar and early warning and control aircraft Peace Eye are ready.

A US Navy spokesman confirmed the missile tracking ship

USNS Howard O. Lorenzen arrived in Japan this week but declined to say if it was in response to the North’s planned launch.

Boosters and other parts will also be tracked as they splash into the sea, in the hope they can be retrieved and analysed for clues on Pyongyang’s rocket programme.

“Retrieving parts or objects from the launch vehicle are the most important part of the rocket analysis,” said Markus Schiller, a rocketry expert based in Germany.

North Korea said the launch would be during the morning and gave coordinates of where the boosters and payload cover would drop in the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula’s west coast and the Pacific to the east of the Philippines.

The US Navy has sonar equipment and unmanned vehicles

A H E A D O F S Y N G E N TA D E A L

China cracks down on illegal GM crops BEIJING: Chinese officials have issued warnings to seed dealers and farmers not to use unapproved genetically modified seeds in the country’s main crop belt, shortly after Greenpeace said it had found widespread GM contamination in corn.

The unprecedented action by rural authorities in the past two weeks also comes as state-owned ChemChina agreed a $43 billion deal for seed and agrichemicals giant Syngenta AG, a move seen as bringing leading technology and know-how to China’s fragmented seed industry as it grapples with a divisive GM policy.

China does not allow cultivation of any GM varieties of corn or other staple food crops although it does permit the import of some GMO crops for use in animal feed.

Despite Beijing’s strict official position on the issue, Greenpeace last month said almost all samples taken from cornfields in some parts of the north-east, China’s breadbasket, tested positive for GMO contamination.

Beijing has not explicitly commented on the Greenpeace findings, but local authorities in Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces issued notices to farmers and seed companies warning them ahead of the spring seedbuying season against dealing in genetically modified products.

Liaoning’s seed management bureau said any business or person found engaging in illegal

STRICT WARNING: A woman looks at an ear of corn before buying it from a vendor, left, at a morning market in Beijing in this April 8, 2013 file picture. – Reuters Files

activity with fake or genetically modified seeds would be “strictly investigated and prosecuted”.

The notice was posted on China’s Twitter-like Weibo and an official at the bureau reached by phone said the notice was authentic. A similar notice was received by a farmer in Faku county in Liaoning, said Greenpeace food and agriculture campaigner Zhang Jing. It was the first time the local government had taken such action, she said, but it is not clear how effective such a move will be.

As the world’s largest grain producer and consumer, China places heavy strain on its fragmented

farm sector in order to feed its nearly 1.4 billion population.

Years of intensive farming combined with overuse of harsh chemicals has degraded cropland and poisoned water supplies, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable to crop shortages.

China’s crop-productivity gap is particularly evident in corn, where average yields remain over 40 percent below those of the United States due to poorer seed stock, smaller land parcels and ineffective pest management, according to the USDA. Despite spending billions of dollars on research into biotech-

A9

nology, widespread public opposition means Beijing has no timeline for the commercialisation of new GMO crops.

The policy limbo has both frustrated a handful of domestic biotech firms, and led other seed companies to simply peddle unregistered GMO seeds to farmers eager for solutions.

“We have heard that GMO corn is very popular in the west of Liaoning and a small area of west Jilin. Those areas are traditionally infested by the Asian corn borer,” a moth that can devastate crops, said Liu Shi, a seed industry veteran. — Reuters

that could be used to help recover parts, according to Navy officials.

It was not clear if that equipment is in the region.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending what it described as a communications satellite into orbit.

South Korea’s navy retrieved the section of the first stage booster that was part of the fuel tank and one of the four steering engines that confirmed the presence of technology and materials that North Korea had not been known to possess.

Analysis pointed to a launch vehicle capable of carrying a payload of about 500kg (1,100 lb) more than 10,000km (6,200 miles), according to South Korea.

A typical nuclear warhead weighs about 300kg, although North Korea is not believed to have been able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to that size.

Recovered parts allowed experts to conclude that the second stage booster likely used Sovietera Scud missile technology and did not use advanced propellant, indicating the rocket was suited for satellite launch but unfit to deliver a warhead.

“My guess is that if you took the rocket they used last time and put a warhead on it you probably would not be able to reach the United States,” said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The search for information on the North’s rocket programme will not be easy.

“Some of the more interesting parts, high-efficiency engines and guidance systems, are in the upper stages, and those usually fall far out to sea, at high speed into deep water,” said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer. “Harder to find than that Malaysian airliner everybody has been looking for all last year.” — Reuters

STRANDED

Sixth sperm whale dies on British beach LONDON: A sixth sperm whale has died on a British beach, the latest of nearly 30 to have become stranded in shallow waters on the coastline of Europe’s North Sea over the past month.

As marine pathologists cut samples from the whale’s carcass on the windswept expanse of sand at low tide, scientists said it was too early to know exactly why so many whales had taken a wrong turn into the North Sea. Since mid-January, 29 sperm whales have died on beaches in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Britain. They are thought by experts to be members of the same pod, a group of young males migrating south from sub-polar waters. “What we’ve got here is a bunch of teenagers out having a good time but taking a wrong turning into the North Sea,” said British Divers Marine Life Rescue operations manager Stephen March. “They should have gone a bit further west and into the open Atlantic,” he told Reuters.

Mass strandings of sperm whales are not uncommon in the region historically, with sightings dating back to the 16th century. In the 1760s, six of the 15 metre-long, 35-ton whales swam into the river Thames before dying. Experts said the latest beachings could be a sign of a recovery in the sperm whale population following protection measures passed in the 1980s.

The species is currently listed as “vulnerable” by nature authorities.

“It is quite possible that we will see more sperm whale strandings in the North Sea in future and we will have more mass strandings if the population is recovering,” said Paul Jepson, a reader at the Institute of Zoology in London.

At Hunstanton, in eastern England, crowds gathered to see the doomed sperm whale - the same species that inspired Herman Melville’s classic 19th century novel “Moby Dick” - while rescue workers waded in the shallows, powerless to help. — Reuters

A 10

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

WORLD

Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a public health institute, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika, the mosquito-borne viral infection that has sparked a global health scare.

Assange calls on Sweden, UK to allow him freedom UN panel says WikiLeaks founder was detained arbitrarily, should be awarded compensation

LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a UN panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation.

Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden.

Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily.

Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy.

Assange, an Australian, appealed to the UN panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous.

Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange’s favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself.

Speaking via video link from his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the UN

DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appears on screen via video link during a news conference at the Frontline Club in London, Britain on Saturday. – Reuters

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

panel’s decision. “We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face,” Assange said. “It is now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom... to implement the (UN) verdict.”

Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open.

“The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention,” the group’s head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. “(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation.”

Ecuador’s foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. “What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?” he told South American

broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical US appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family.

In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 400,000 US military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973.

The UN Working Group does

not have the authority to order the release of a detainee - and Friday’s ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange - but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments.

“Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy,” British foreign minister Philip Hammond said. “This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it.”

Swedish prosecutors said the UN decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A US Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. — Reuters

D E A D LY V I R U S

Scientists find Zika in saliva of patients RIO DE JANEIRO: Zika has been identified in saliva and urine of two patients infected by it, a leading Brazilian health institute said on Friday, adding that further studies are needed to determine if those fluids could transmit the virus.

Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a public health institute, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika, the mosquito-borne viral infection that has sparked a global health scare. It is the first time the virus has been detected in saliva and urine, scientists told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection, but the scientists stressed that it was too early to say whether Zika could be transmitted by either fluid.

“That fact that the virus was found with the capacity to cause infection is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids,” said Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery. The foundation made the discovery after analysing samples from two patients and carrying out a partial genome sequencing of the virus, said Paulo Gadelha, foundation president.

The discovery adds to concern that Zika, which is predominantly spread by the Aedis aegypti mosquito, could also be transmitted by other means. Scientists are researching reports earlier this week that an American had transmitted the virus to a partner in Dallas County, Texas. Also, Brazilian health officials said on Thursday they had confirmed two cases of transmission through blood transfusions. The ongoing outbreak of Zika infections, which has been linked to more than 4,000 suspected cases of a birth defect in Brazil, started in Brazil’s Northeast and has since spread and been locally transmitted in more than 30 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).— Reuters

M A L I A N C O M M A N D E R , F O U R AT TA C K E R S K I L L E D

SAN DIEGO

Hungry sea lion pup takes a booth at restaurant SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

LOS ANGELES: A skinny sea lion pup with a taste for the finer things in life turned up on Thursday inside a fancy San Diego restaurant, where it settled down into a booth.

The malnourished mammal appears to have arrived at The Marine Room after sauntering down a ramp from the beach and going through a door left open by a cleaning crew, said Chef Bernard Guillas.

The early morning guest quickly made an impression on the establishment’s staff, as the female pup climbed into a booth “almost like she wanted to have dinner,” he said.

The menu at the white tablecloth restaurant, which juts out into the Pacific Coast and is buffeted by waves during high tide, includes rarified dishes like “ginger kalbi lacquered tofu” and “ahi tuna and foie rossini.” But the pup was hardly given a chance to get comfortable. A rescue team from the SeaWorld San Diego theme park was called in to pull the barking mammal from the booth and place it in a net. — Reuters

UN police base in Timbuktu retaken from militants BAMAKO: Malian troops backed

by UN helicopters stormed a UN police base in the city of Timbuktu and recaptured it from suspected militants who had seized it hours before on Friday, the United Nations said.

Malian Defence Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly told reporters that an army commander was killed in the rescue operation as well as three of the attackers, whom he called terrorists but did not identify. A fourth assailant blew himself up while others were being sought, he added.

The incident followed a series of bold attacks by Al Qaeda militants in West Africa, including a hotel siege in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou last month in which 30 people including many foreigners were killed.

A group of around six militants drove up to the UN base in the former Hotel Palmeraie at the entrance to Timbuktu at dawn and detonated a car bomb before holing up inside, security sources said. A gunbattle ensued.

Nigerian contingent “It’s over now,” said UN mission spokesman Olivier Salgado. “They are now inspecting the site and looking for explosive devices.”

The former hotel had been taken over exclusively by a Nigerian UN police contingent.

In an apparent lucky break for the United Nations, Salgado said the premises were empty at the

ATTACK SITE: Malian soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint at the entrance to Timbuktu, Mali, after unknown assailants attacked and

withdrew from inside a UN police base in the city, on Friday. – Reuters

time of the attack, barring a few guards, as the contingent was in the process of moving out. A military source at the site said Nigerian policemen at the site had managed to flee and were never taken hostage.

Militants briefly held Timbuktu, an ancient trade and cultural hub, in 2012 and other northern

towns until French forces drove them out a year later. But the militants have stepped up attacks in Mali in recent months as part of a growing regional insurgency. During the invasion, Timbuktu’s famous mausoleums were destroyed by militants and restoration work was only officially completed at the UN-

ESCO site this week. However, residents have in recent weeks voiced concern that militants from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb known to operate in remote areas near Timbuktu are infiltrating the city.

In a sign of the dangers, a Swiss missionary living in the city was kidnapped last month.

“This city is infested with terrorist collaborators,” a street vendor who declined to be named told a visiting Reuters reporter in late January. Malian forces launched “Operation Martine” last month to secure the area around Timbuktu, including two forests thought to be used as militant hideouts. — Reuters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

S P O R S

India gamble on paceman Shami for World Twenty20 The 25-year-old Shami has not played international cricket since finishing as India’s second most successful bowler at last year’s 50over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with 17 wickets

NEW DELHI: India have gambled on the fitness of Mohammed Shami by including the injuryprone paceman in the 15-man squad named on Friday for next month’s World Twenty20 tournament on home soil.

The 25-year-old Shami has not played international cricket since finishing as India’s second most successful bowler at last year’s 50over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with 17 wickets.

Shami underwent surgery on his injured knee after returning from that tournament last March and was named in the squad for the limited-overs series in Australia earlier this year, only to be ruled out with a hamstring problem.

India, who recently completed a 3-0 Twenty20 series sweep in Australia, will use the same squad for the T20 format Asia Cup against other countries from the

ANNOUNCING THE SQUAD: BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur with BCCI chief selector Sandeep Patil addressing the media after a selection committee meeting to pick the Indian squad for T20 World Cup and Asia Cup tournaments, in New Delhi on Friday. – PTI

region later this month. “We have 30 days before we start the T20 World Cup,” chairman of selectors Sandeep Patil told reporters. “We have good time before taking a call on Shami. He’s been one of our best bowlers. He has recovered, he has started bowling. That’s all I can say at the moment.”

While batsman Yuvraj Singh and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh were picked for their experience, uncapped 23-year-old Pawan Negi was also included for his up-tempo leftarm spin bowling and power hitting capabilities lower down the order.

Young all-rounder Pawan Negi was the surprise pick.

Other young players such as Jasprit Bhumrah and Hardik Pandya, who impressed in the recent series against Australia, also found a place in the squad announced by BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur after a meeting of the selection committee in New Delhi.

“This is the best combination of 15 we can think of,” chairman of the committee, Sandeep Patil,

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

said in a press conference after the meeting. Interestingly, the pace duo of Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were ignored.

Also, Manish Pandey, who featured in the T20 series against Australia, was left out of the team to be captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh from February 24 to March 6, followed by the World T20 from March 8 to April 3 in India.

Patil expressed his faith in Dhoni’s leadership despite the recent mixed run. “We have no right to tell people when to retire, we have total faith in Dhoni’s captaincy. He is the right person to lead in Asia Cup

and World T20,” Patil said.

The 23-year-old Negi, who bowls left-arm spin and is a decent batsman, was rewarded for his consistent performance in the domestic circuit.

That Negi will be a contender for the World Cup team had become obvious when he was selected for the three-match series against Sri Lanka this month.

Ajinkya Rahane also found a place in the squad ahead of Pandey, who hit a match-winning century in the last ODI against Australia.

Pandey got his break owing to an injury to Rahane and even though he made it count, the selectors opted to go with the more experienced

player. “Manish Pandey performed exceptionally well in Australia, his name was also discussed,” Patil said.

“When selectors pick a team, we always give importance to domestic performance. It is not that we are only looking at seniors, we have looked at the performance, fitness and record of the domestic players as well. We have taken into account all the performances of not just 15-16 guys but all the domestic players and then picked these 15,” he added.

Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been retained in the side despite not getting a single T20 in the series against Australia.

“Harbhajan has been a part of this team. The selectors, the team management and the captain have faith in Harbhajan, his record and the contribution he has made to the team,” Patil explained.

Patil said the team management had done its share of experimentation during the Australia tour.

“We experimented during Australia and discussed which players would be good for replacements.

For the T20 format, where you won’t get too much time, we discussed a few names.

In the shorter format, horses for courses has worked,” he said.

India have been pooled alongside Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and a yet-to-be-decided qualifier in Group 2 of the Super 10 stage of the March 8-April 3 tournament. They open their campaign against New Zealand in Nagpur on March 15.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya.- Reuters, PTI

O N E - D AY I N T E R N AT I O N A L S

Overlooked for New Zealand opener, Khawaja gets his chance to play

BIDDING WAR: Veteran Yuvraj Singh could be the most sought after player.

Yuvraj is star attraction; Mustafizur, Negi, Pant dark horses in IPL auction BANGALORE: Veteran Yuvraj Singh and rookie all-rounder Pawan Negi could be among those who trigger a bidding war when 351 cricketers go under the hammer in the Indian Premier League players’ auction here on Saturday.

Negi, who has just been named in the Indian team for the World T20 and is known to hit big sixes apart from his accurate wicket-towicket bowling, has a base price of only Rs 300,000. The 23-year-old is likely to fetch way beyond that amount when the eight franchises bid for players of their choice.

This year’s auction will see two new franchises — RPG owned Rising Pune Supergiants led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Intex mobiles’ Rajkot based team Gujarat Lions led by Suresh Raina.

With a base price of Rs 20 million, Yuvraj, who is the biggest Indian draw in the eight-player marquee bracket, has notched up the highest price at the two previous auctions for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Daredevils.

It is expected that Yuvraj, along

with Kevin Pietersen (Base Price of Rs 20 million) are likely to hit the million dollar mark once again.

Pietersen, who has a huge draw in India, is also a big name from the marketing perspective of all the franchises.

Some of the lesser known names who could find franchises interested in them are Bangladesh leftarm pacer Mustafizur Rahman (BP Rs 500,000), who has enjoyed a lot of success against India, and stockily built Delhi wicketkeeperbatsman Rishabh Pant (BP Rs 100,000), who recently hit the headlines with the fastest 50 in the U-19 World Cup. With Indian players available at a premium, even mediocre performers like Dhawal Kulkarni and Stuart Binny, with base prices of Rs 20 million, could see teams fighting for them.

Irfan Pathan has always gone richer from every IPL auction and at a base price of Rs 10 million, it may not be different this time.

Among the foreign players, explosive New Zealander Martin Gup-

till, with a modest base price of Rs 500,000, may find takers along with Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch (BP Rs 10 million) and South African speedster Dale Steyn.

While a minimum of 16 and maximum of 27 players could be taken in each of the teams with a maximum of nine overseas players.

Each team has a budget of Rs 660 million for players’ salaries.

Perennial woodenspooners Delhi Daredevils again have the maximum purse of Rs 371.5 million to shop from while defending champions Mumbai Indians only have a kitty of Rs 144 million.

Sunrisers Hyderabad also have Rs 301.5 million to shop for players while KKR will be able to spend Rs 179.5 million. Kings XI Punjab have Rs 230 million while Royal Challengers Bangalore have Rs 216.25 million respectively.

It will be interesting as to how Pune and Rajkot build their teams as they would be needing a minimum of 11 players and a maximum of upto 22 players with a purse of Rs 270 million each. - PTI

WELLINGTON: In-form batsman Usman Khawaja has been selected to play his first One-day International in three years when Australia meet New Zealand in the second match of their series in Wellington on Saturday.

Khawaja will replace opening batsman Shaun Marsh in the side after being overlooked for the first match at Eden Park, which the tourists lost by 159 runs.

The 29-year-old has been in sparkling form during the home summer, hitting three centuries in four tests against New Zealand and West Indies before blasting a couple of Twenty20 tons to help Sydney Thunder capture their first Big Bash League title in Australia’s domestic competition.

Khawaja played the last of his three one-dayers against West Indies in Feb. 2013 and is keen to improve upon his record in the format, which has yielded two scores of three and a high score

SET FOR ODI DEBUT: Australia’s Usman Khawaja.

of eight not out. “It’s a new challenge out there so nothing I did previously has any effect on what I hopefully do tomorrow,” he told reporters on Friday.

“The past is done. I’m feeling really good right now but that doesn’t always mean I’m going to score runs.

“I’m just going to try and contribute to the team to hopefully

get us a win in this second game.”

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who created waves last month by running a player out in a Big Bash match when the ball deflected off his nose onto the stumps, will make his international debut in place of the injured James Faulkner. The third and final match of the series is in Hamilton on Monday. - Reuters

TEST SQUAD

Nicholls in line for Test debut WELLINGTON: Left-handed batsman Henry Nicholls is in line to make his Test debut against Australia next week with Ross Taylor ruled out of the side for the match at the Basin Reserve with a side strain. Nicholls has impressed in limited overs matches over the New Zealand summer and would likely slot into Taylor’s position at number four in the batting line-up, one ahead of captain Brendon McCullum.

The 24-year-old could cement a permanent position at number five in the lineup with a strong performance against the Australians given McCullum will retire at the end of the series.

“Henry has been very impressive the way he’s made the step up to international cricket and we’re confident of the job he can do for us in the top order,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson.

The 13-man squad includes just one specialist spinner in Mitchell Santner, who is more of a batting all-rounder, with test wicketkeeper BJ Watling battling a sore back and bracketed with limited overs specialist Luke Ronchi.

Fast bowler Matt Henry has also been rewarded for some strong performances in the limited overs matches he has played, though Tim Southee has returned from injury and is expected to

lead the attack. All-rounder Corey Anderson has also been named after he recovering from a back injury and returning to the bowling crease in the limited overs series.

“Tim’s a leader within our group and our most experienced bowler, so we’re excited to have him fit and a part of our pace bowling attack,” Hesson said. “Matt also comes back into the squad after some really strong performances throughout the summer.

Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling/ Luke Ronchi, Kane Williamson. - Reuters

A 12

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

SPORTS Olympian Sarah Ayton carves out new career as Extreme Sailing coach As tactician, Ayton took the ‘fifth crew’ position on ‘The Wave, Muscat’ catamaran during the Extreme series, a concept introduced in 2012 to give a platform for female sailors, sailors under 24 and amateurs. The new GC32s have no ‘fifth crew’ position at the moment

LONDON: British sailor and double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton is carving out a new career as a coach in the ultra-competitive, male-dominated world of highperformance sailing — a kind of Formula One on water.

The only woman to race in the Extreme Sailing Series fleet, tactician Ayton was named female ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year in Beijing in November, the highest award any sailor can receive.

With her four male crew mates, she capped last year by winning the Extreme series — a high-speed racing championship of 40-foot catamarans — after dominating the season.

Now it is out of the boat and into coaching, just as the Extreme Sailing Series switches to smaller, faster 32-foot GC32 catamarans which rise out of the water as they accelerate.

NEW AMBITIONS: Sarah Ayton on board The Wave, Muscat, during the 2015 Extreme Sailing Series. – File photo

“It was a really good ending to 2015. I’d had my eye on Rolex sailor of the year for some time and it was a really big deal and special moment for me to get recognised and we finished off the job in Sydney winning the Extreme 40 Sailing Series,” she said in an interview with Reuters.

Ayton, now 35, scored Olympic success sailing with all-female crews in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. She retired from sailing in 2011 to look after her two young sons, but returned to competitive racing in 2014.

Sailing in the Yngling Olympic class with an all-female crew has the same intensity and commitment as racing the Extreme 40

catamarans - but not the physicality demanded of the latter.

“Getting back into competitive sailing in a really male environment has required me to be mentally tough and physically, I’ve really had to up my game,” Ayton said.

Women struggle Women’s sailing has made huge strides in the last decade, with the all-female Team SCA winning a leg of the Volvo race in 2015. But top female sailors still struggle to compete with their male counterparts, in part because of the increasingly demanding requirements of strength and bulk at the top level.

As tactician, Ayton took the ‘fifth crew’ position on “The Wave, Muscat” catamaran during the Extreme series, a concept introduced in 2012 to give a platform for female sailors, sailors under 24 and amateurs. The new GC32s have no ‘fifth crew’ position at the moment.

The team decided to move Ayton off the boat into a coaching role as it learns to sail the challenging new boats, which can do speeds of up to 39 knots (74kph) and require greater strength and bodyweight to sail. “I’m not as strong as a guy physically and these new boats are tough,” Ayton said.

Ayton’s change of tack this year reflects the wider issues around career progression for top women

SWIMMING

in sailing, which is crowned by the America’s Cup, the world’s longest-standing international sporting competition, which typically has all-male crews.

“I look at the guys who have similar achievements and they are all on America’s Cup teams and that’s sometimes quite hard because that’s the pinnacle of our sport,” Ayton said.

Ayton’s new coaching role is about to start with the launch of the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series in Dubai on February 10 and the first race in Muscat, Oman in mid-March. She has, however, got her eye firmly on getting back in the boat. Re-introducing the fifth position on the new GC32 boats

I’m a firm believer that if you’re good enough you’ll be on the good boats, male or female.

I just have to hope that next year they make it compulsory to have a female on board Sarah Ayton Olympian

could create up to nine spots for top female sailors to target post Olympics and possibly feed into the America’s Cup. “I’m a firm believer that if you’re good enough you’ll be on the good boats, male or female. I just have to hope that next year they make it compulsory to have a female on board,” she said. - Reuters

SUPER LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Concerns as European clubs flex their muscles

GOLDEN DAY: Oman’s Issa Al Adawi, centre, poses with his 200m freestyle gold medal. – Supplied photo

IMPRESSIVE: Oman’s Abdulrahman Al Kulaibi, centre, after winning the 400m gold. – Supplied photo

Issa, Abdulrahman strike gold for Oman MUSCAT: Oman national team won two more gold medals in the 13th GCC Swimming Championship (short course), which is underway in Doha, Qatar.

According to information received here, Oman’s Issa Al Adawi and Abdulrahman Al Kulaibi struck

gold, raising the national team accomplishments to five medals including four golds and one silver.

Oman therefore are placed third in the competition which concludes on Saturday.

Issa Al Adawi swam to golden finish in the 200 meters freestyle

competition in a close contest. Al Adawi finished with a timing of 1:54.62, followed by the Bahraini swimmer who crossed the same distance in 1:55.03. The Emirati swimmer Yousif Omer came third in 1.58.77.

On the other hand, Abdulrahman

Al Kulaibi won the second gold medal on the day finishing first in the 400 meters competition.

Al Kulaibi crossed the distance in 4:43.30, followed by the Qatari swimmer Abdulrahman Hisham (4:44.70) and UAE swimmer Omar Al Hammadi (4:47.19).

ZURICH: Europe’s biggest soccer clubs have been flexing their muscles with talk of a so-called European Super League and criticism of the international calendar ahead of the general assembly of their umbrella group ECA in Paris next week.

The ECA meeting on Monday and Tuesday could show whether the elite clubs are seriously considering a power grab, or have merely been posturing to pressure European soccer’s body UEFA into granting them a larger slice of the proceeds from their lucrative competitions.

Last month, ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, whose association represents more than 200 clubs including all the major ones such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and Bayern Munich, said a European League could be created in the next few years. He said it could be organised with or without UEFA. The idea was also discussed in private in European Club Association meetings in Switzerland in January, sources close to the clubs said. Another idea that was floated was to create captive places in the UEFA Champions

League for the biggest clubs.

This would mean that the richest clubs would take part in the competition no matter where they finished in their domestic league, avoiding a scenario where teams such as AC Milan and Liverpool miss out because of a poor season. The idea alarmed the world players’ union, FIFPro. “The clubs are acting through pure self interest, supported by governing bodies who do their utmost to limit the influence of players and fans in how the game is run,” it said in a statement.

“We want as many players and fans as possible to enjoy competitions such as the UEFA Champions League. Access must not to be restricted to the fans of a small oligarchy of clubs.”

“Commercial interests are threatening football’s rich history.”

Proposals for a so-called European Super League have come and gone over the years - but with world governing body FIFA in disarray over multiple corruption investigations that have hollowed out a slew of top officials, clubs may see an opportunity to exercise their power and press for change again. — Reuters

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

MARKE

TOSHIBA SHARES FALL AS LOSS FORECAST WIDENSS Toshiba shares dropped to a 36-year ar low in Tokyo after widening its 0 annual loss forecast to a record 710 nese billion yen ($6 billion) as the Japanese he industrial group restructures in the B2 wake of an accounting scandal. >B2

ECONOMY

Currency devaluation could prove too risky for Saudi Arabia RIYADH: A devaluation of Saudi Arabia’s currency could cause such political instability that Riyadh has little choice but to stick to its promise to use vast foreign exchange reserves to defend the riyal’s 30-yearold peg to the US dollar.

Currency traders have been betting against the Saudi peg, and those of other regional oil producers, in the wake of oil’s price collapse. Societe Generale said on Thursday it saw at least a 25 per cent chance of a near-term devaluation or 40 per cent if oil prices stay at current levels throughout 2016.

But in Saudi Arabia’s largely dollar-denominated economy breaking the peg would immediately raise the price of goods, hitting living standards.

Combined with other pending painful economic reforms, this could lead to unrest in a country where the unwritten social contract swaps citizens’ obedience and allegiance to the king for good government services and a share in oil wealth.

“Devaluation of the currency or de-pegging would self-inflict destructive economic pain. It would be catastrophic,” said John SfakiACQUISITION

anakis, a Riyadh-based economist.

Some diplomats living in Saudi Arabia say privately that a break in the peg is the single biggest political risk facing a country already embroiled in a war in Yemen and suffering periodic deadly attacks by militants.

The biggest Arab economy has only a small manufacturing base and almost all goods come as dollar-priced imports, so a cheaper riyal would instantly make normal Saudis feel poorer without providing any benefit to the wide economy via cheaper exports.

Saudi citizens have so far been mostly insulated from the impact of lower oil prices.

The cost of fuel is cheap, even after a 50 per cent rise in petrol prices, and the cuts in spending have yet to be felt in employment.

But change is coming. Riyadh promised in its 2016 budget statement to slow increases in the state payroll, meaning few new government jobs, and as Saudi private sector growth closely tracks government spending, this means few private sector jobs.

The impact of a sudden rise in living costs and a collapse in pur-

chasing power in such circumstances from a devaluation could be explosive.

“Especially at this time, because of the difficult reforms coming down the road, it would be very hard to sell to the public,” said Jamal Khashoggi, head of Al Arab news channel.

Asset cushion The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), the central bank, has vowed to maintain the peg of 3.75 riyals to the dollar come what may. With access to $609 billion of foreign exchange reserves built up during years of higher oil prices, it has a way to go until these are exhausted.

“We think the high level of reserves allows the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) to maintain the current exchange rate regime for the time being,” UBS research said.

“However, challenges are significant, since fiscal buffers might be exhausted within five to six years without any adjustments.”

One-year dollar/riyal forwards — contracts used by counterparties to lock in a future exchange

rate — were around 550 points on Thursday, well down from the record 1000 points earlier this year as some banks and funds hedged against the risk that Rihadh would scrap the peg.

The previous record was 850 points hit during a bout of speculation against the riyal in 1999.

Still, some Saudis say friends or colleagues have started to transfer cash overseas — a sign of fears about the riyal’s resilience.

Absent an agreement with a wide array of other oil producers to rein in output, Saudi Arabia appears set to continue its strategy of defending its share of the crude export market, meaning energy prices are likely to stay low.

Societe Generale’s report said that unlike in past periods of stress, when Riyadh maintained its currency peg despite low oil prices, it was this time running far higher fiscal deficits in an energy market that had less room to recover.

“The probability of the pegs failing is one of ability and willingness to defend the regime at all costs.

The market is testing the authorities’ willingness, and rightfully so,” the French bank said. - Reuters

HANDS-FULL: A Saudi man poses with Saudi riyal banknotes at a money exchange in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. - ReutersNasser/Files

US unemployment rate drops to eight-year low 2.5 per cent followed a 2.7 per cent jump in the 12 months ended in December, which was the biggest advance since mid-2009.

The 151,000 advance Terry Gou. — Bloomberg file picture

Foxconn offers $5.6b deal to purchase Sharp

in payrolls, while less than forecast, largely reflected payback for a seasonal hiring pickup in the final

OSAKA /TAIPEI: Taiwan’s Foxconn is aiming to finalise a deal to acquire Japan’s Sharp by the end of the month, after the two firms reached a consensus on most points, Foxconn Chief Executive Officer Terry Gou said.

Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, has been given preferred negotiating rights and most remaining issues to be resolved were legal and regulatory, Gou said after meeting with executives of the struggling electronics maker on Friday.

The Apple supplier has offered to invest around 659 billion yen ($5.6 billion) in Sharp, sources familiar with the matter have said - which would make it Foxconn’s biggest deal to date and the largest acquisition by a foreign company in Japan’s insulated tech sector.

“We have a consensus,” Gou told reporters. “The rest is a process ...

I don’t see a problem completing this process.”

The meeting with Sharp executives came one day after Sharp’s board decided to focus on Foxconn’s offer over a rival bid from a Japanese state-backed fund.

While many investors have faith in Gou’s business acumen, noting he has built up the world’s biggest contract maker of electronic gadgets from scratch, buying Sharp is seen as carrying as many, or more, risks than potential benefits.

Cutting-edge technology A deal would give Foxconn access to the Japanese display maker’s cutting-edge technology at a time when clients such as Apple are likely looking ahead to more advanced flexible screens.

However, key concerns include slowing global sales for smartphones as well as fierce competition from South Korea and Chinese rivals that have hammered demand for Sharp’s liquid crystal displays and hindered it from making a recovery despite two major bank-led bailouts in the last four years.

The macro environment is not so great,” said Vincent Chen, head of regional research with Yuanta Research in Taipei. “Terry is very calculating. He has guts, but I really think there is still a big risk,” he further added. — Reuters

two months of 2015, Labour Department figures released on Friday showed

WASHINGTON: Job growth settled into a more sustainable pace in January and the unemployment rate dropped to an almost eight-year low of 4.9 per cent, signs of a resilient labour market that’s causing wage growth to stir.

The 151,000 advance in payrolls, while less than forecast, largely reflected payback for a seasonal hiring pickup in the final two months of 2015, Labour Department figures showed on Friday. The jobless rate fell to the lowest level since February 2008.

Hourly earnings rose more than estimated after climbing in the year to December by the most since July 2009.

The moderation in hiring still leaves the job market on solid footing and shows companies are

SOLID FOOTING: Retailers added almost 58,000 jobs last month, the most since November 2014, and the health care industry took on another 44,000 workers. - Bloomberg News

confident about the outlook for domestic sales. A further tightening of labor conditions that sparks wage gains would help assure Federal Reserve policy makers that inflation will reach its goal.

Unemployment rate “The pace in payrolls has just been outstanding — it’s been way too good for the state of the economy and the world,” Bricklin Dwyer, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York, said before the report. The slower rate of job growth is still “enough to push down the unemployment rate, so that’s what matters for the Fed.” While employment at tempo-

rary-help agencies and couriers declined in January following a ramp-up leading into the yearend holidays, leading to a slower pace of payrolls for the month, the labour market showed strength elsewhere.

Retail industry Retailers added almost 58,000 jobs last month, the most since November 2014, and the health care industry took on another 44,000 workers. Perhaps most surprising was a 29,000 gain in hiring at manufacturers, the biggest increase since August 2013.

Payrolls picked up at producers of fabricated metals, auto-

mobiles, food and furniture. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a 190,000 gain in overall payrolls last month, with estimates ranging from gains of 142,000 to 260,000.

December payrolls were revised down to 262,000 from 292,000 and November employment was revised up to 280,000 from 252,000. The revisions to these months subtracted a total of 2,000 jobs to overall payrolls.

Friday’s data showed a muchawaited pickup in wage growth is starting to manifest itself. Average hourly earnings rose 0.5 per cent from a month earlier to $25.39.

The year-over-year increase of

Spending outlook “Job growth is very strong, real incomes are strong, productivity is very poor, but nevertheless, people have money in their pockets,” Dwyer said. “They’re going to spend that now.”

The report also showed the average work week for all private employees increased by six minutes to 34.6 hours, the longest since August. A longer workweek often amounts to greater takehome pay for many employees.

The revision showed the economy created 206,000 fewer jobs from April 2014 to March 2015, in line with a preliminary projection of 208,000. Still, for all of 2015, the economy created 2.74 million jobs.

Participation rate The labour force participation rate, which indicates the share of working-age people who are employed or looking for work, increased to 62.7 per cent from 62.6 per cent.

Fed policy makers are tracking the labor market as part of their dual mandate for maximum sustainable employment and stable inflation. The jobs data take on added meaning as other parts of the economy have shown signs of slowing.

Economic growth decelerated to a 0.7 per cent annualised rate in the final three months of 2015 after growing at a two per cent pace in the third quarter. The manufacturing sector has contracted for four months. — Bloomberg News

MONEY MARKET

Egypt currency dealers for easing of dollar crunch CAIRO: Egypt’s currency dealers have requested the central bank to ease restrictions they say will lessen a dollar shortage gripping the country that’s forced businesses and individuals to turn to the black market.

Representatives of about 25 foreign-exchange businesses in Egypt asked central bank officials at a meeting on Sunday for permission to swap other foreign currencies for dollars at banks, reviving a mechanism that was phased out in 2013, according to Mohamed El Abiad, the head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce’s foreign-exchange division. That would boost the supply of greenbacks available to their clients since about 30 per cent of cash they hold is in currencies other than dollars, he said.

have businesses now with a variety of Gulf and European currencies for which they have no use and no demand. Converting those to dollars can make a difference.”

Central Bank of Egypt officials weren’t available to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News on Thursday.

– Bloomberg file picture

The dealers also requested that the trading range within which they can buy or sell dollars be doubled to 10 piasters from the official rate, El Abiad said in an interview.

That would give them more room to trade within the legal limit for the US currency, which is oth-

erwise being sold at a 92-piaster premium in unregulated trading.

“We think these suggestions can help increase the amount of dollars available to foreign-exchange offices, which would ease the shortage and help strengthen the pound,” said El Abiad. “We

Devaluation pressure Egypt has come under renewed pressure to weaken the pound as foreign investment slumps and tourism, one of its major hardcurrency earners, languishes. In the past 12 months, the Egyptian exchange rate has fallen 2.5 per cent against the dollar, compared with a retreat of 13 per cent in a gauge tracking 20 emerging-market peers. Countries including Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Ar-

gentina abandoned currency pegs to the dollar last year.

The selloff eased this month as amid a slump in the dollar that’s boosted appetite for riskier assets. Egypt’s foreign-currency reserves, too, stabilized at $16.4 billion in the last quarter of 2015 after slumping 19 per cent in the previous three months. They remain at less than half of their level before the Arab Spring. The dollar was going for a record-low 8.75 pounds in unregulated trading on Tuesday, according to a Bloomberg survey, who asked not be named because unofficial currency trading is illegal. That compares with an official rate of 7.8301 per dollar, which the central bank has kept unchanged since November following three devaluations in 2015. — Bloomberg News

B2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

MARKET Toshiba shares fall as loss forecast widens Toshiba’s new forecast is 29 per cent wider than an earlier projection for a 550 billion yen shortfall and the 505.5 billion yen loss average of 10 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg Toshiba President and CEO Masashi Muromachi. - Reuters

TOKYO: Toshiba shares dropped to a 36-year low in Tokyo after widening its annual loss forecast to a record 710 billion yen ($6 billion) as the Japanese industrial group restructures in the wake of an accounting scandal.

Shares fell 11 per cent to 176.3 yen, the lowest close since December 1979, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Toshiba’s new forecast is 29 per cent wider than an earlier projection for a 550 billion yen shortfall and the 505.5 billion yen loss average of 10 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Revelations that management was complicit in padding profits for almost seven years has rocked the conglomerate, prompting writedowns and the departure of executives. President Masashi Muromachi is cutting jobs, selling Toshiba’s medical unit and considering a reorganisation of its PC and TV operations as the company’s shares languish near a 35-year low.

To get to a healthy balance sheet from this point will take many years of work, so we are just coming to the end of the beginning of a very long race Damian Thong Analyst, Macquarie Group

“To get to a healthy balance sheet from this point will take many years of work, so we are just coming to the end of the beginning of a very long race,” said Damian Thong, an analyst at Macquarie Group in Tokyo. “They’ve got to complete the medical sale and find a way to permanently resolve the overhang in the appliances and consumer electronics businesses.”

Disappointing loss On Thursday, Toshiba posted a net loss of 516.7 billion yen for the three months ended on December, based on Bloomberg calculations from nine-month results.

That compares with a 54.6 billion yen profit a year earlier and the 111.5 billion yen loss average of four analysts’ estimates compiled

by Bloomberg.

Toshiba, which was founded

140 years ago, is soldiering on with its internal overhaul. The company said it was offering buyouts or reassignment to 90 healthcare workers and 150 employees in its hard-drive business, while an unknown portion of its executives and managers will have to take pay cuts from this month. It will book a one-time restructuring charge of four billion yen.

In addition to workforce cuts in the lifestyle business, the company has said previously it will reduce its corporate division by 1,000 people and chip operations by 2,800 workers. Toshiba had about 198,700 employees as of March 31, the lowest since the end of fiscal 2008, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

It’s in the process of hiving off assets. Muromachi has said Toshiba is considering selling a majority stake in Toshiba Medical Systems, a maker of diagnostic imaging systems such as MRI, Xray and ultrasound equipment, to outside investors. — Bloomberg News

ECONOMY

Bank of England cuts growth outlook LONDON: Bank of England (BoE) cut its growth forecasts on Thursday and the only policymaker who had been pushing for a rate hike reversed his position, suggesting rates will stay on hold for the foreseeable future.

BoE Governor Mark Carney said officials still expected the next move in interest rates to be upwards, but echoed downbeat comments from central banks around the globe, warning that global growth would be modest as emerging economies struggled.

Highlighting risks from China’s economic rebalancing and the financial market turmoil, he said risks to Britain were rising even if domestic demand remained strong.

“All of these developments pose downside risks to growth in the United Kingdom via trade, financial and confidence channels,” Carney told a news conference. “The outlook for trade is particularly challenging.”

The Bank said its Monetary Policy Committee voted 9-0 to keep rates on hold at a recordlow 0.5 per cent, where they have been for almost seven years. MPC member Ian McCafferty, who had voted for a rate rise since August, unexpectedly fell into line this week, citing a temporarily weaker outlook for wages.

Central banks around the globe have pared back growth and inflation expectations, openly discussing the need for more accommodation and erasing hopes that policy normalisation could start later this year.

The Bank of Japan last week cut rates into negative territory, the ECB hinted at a further cut in March and dovish comments from New York Fed Governor William Dudley overnight suggested that no US rate hike could come at all this year.

Britain has stood out from Europe’s economic weakness with relatively healthy growth, little spare capacity and a jobless rate near the long term equilibrium,

VITAL FACTS

BoE cuts growth outlook for 2016 and 2017

MPC member McCafferty abandons call for higher rates

Next move still likely to be a hike

Inflation seen returning to 2 pct in two years

Fears of global risks, domestic demand seen strong

for a while raising expectations that it would soon follow the Fed’s December hike.

“Next move is up” Global market turmoil has since dashed those prospects but Carney said the next move was still more likely up than down.

Moreover he said that if the BoE followed recent market bets for a rate hike only late next year, it would end up slightly overshooting its two per cent inflation target. “We’ll do the right thing at the right time on rates,” he said.

“More likely than not, the next move is up.”

Asked if he stood by repeated remarks that the next rate move is likely to be up rather than down, he said: “Absolutely. The whole MPC stands by that.”

Since the BoE finalised its forecasts a few days ago, markets have pushed out bets on a first rate rise until mid-2018. There was little change in pricing after Carney spoke.

Economists, however, still mostly expect a much earlier move and RBC’s Sam Hill said Carney’s comments strengthened his conviction that rates would start to rise in around a year. — Reuters

AV I AT I O N

India’s domestic passenger traffic grew by 20.2%: IATA NEW DELHI: India’s domestic air passenger traffic grew by a whopping 20.2 per cent in 2015 over the previous year, helped by higher economic growth and increase in number of flights across domestic airlines network, the global airlines body IATA said.

“Total domestic travel grew by 6.3 per cent in 2015, although there was a wide dispersion in performance by market. The India and China domestic markets led the way, with both registering double-digit annual growth (20.2 per cent and 10.9 per cent respectively),” the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in its latest report.

Globally, international passenger traffic rose 6.5 per cent during 2015 compared to 2014 while capacity (addition of aircraft in the network) increased by 5.9 per cent. As per the IATA, Indian carriers also recorded a higher seat occupancy during 2015 over 2014, IATA said. The growth in India’s domestic air traffic was more than three-folds of the global average of 6.3 per cent.

“All markets (globally) showed growth, led by India and China but there was wide variance. Capacity rose 5.2 per cent and load factor by 0.9 per cent over 2014 to a record 81.5 per cent,” it said.

In the case of India, rise in do-

mestic traffic was strongly helped by solid economic growth and an 8.3 per cent increase in the average frequency of flights on each route over the year, the airlines’ body said.

India’s economic growth for the fiscal 2014-15 stood at 7.2 per cent against 6.6 per cent recorded in FY14.

According to IATA, the domestic load factor of Indian airlines’ jumped by 6.7 per cent from 2014 to a record high of 83.2 per cent.

Aviation delivered strong results for the global economy in 2015, enabling connectivity and helping drive economic development, he said. - PTI

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

B3

MARKET BIENNIAL EVENT

More than 80 new models to be unveiled at Delhi’s auto expo NEW DELHI: The biennial automotive show auto expo opened on Wednesday with more than 80 new models slated to be unveiled. While the first two days are open to the media and business visitors, the expo will be thrown open to the public from Friday until Tuesday.

The show, jointly organised by SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), ACMA (Automotive Components Manufacturers Association) and the Confederation of Indian Industry, is taking place at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.

Tata Zica Tata Motors said it will rebrand its new Zica hatchback because of the rise of the similarly-named Zika virus, which has been linked with rare birth defects in infants.

The carmaker noted the “hardships caused by the recent Zika virus outbreak across many countries” and said in a statement that it would announce the vehicle’s new name in a few weeks from now.

S A M E - S T O R E S A L E S D ATA

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

MAJOR ATTRACTION: Signage for the Auto Expo 2016 is displayed on a window at the motor show in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on Thursday. The motor show opened to the public on Thursday and runs through until Tuesday. - Bloomberg News

Renault Kwid Renault has received 100,000 orders for the Kwid and is raising production capacity to meet the demand, according to Sumit Sawhney, CEO of Renault India.

The model is targeted at consumers with a taste for adventure and has an “SUV-inspired’’ stance that offers a high driving position and greater visibility.

Maruti Suzuki will begin selling

the Vitara Brezza compact SUV in the next few months. Less than 4 meters long and powered by a 1.3 liter diesel engine, the Brezza will attract the lower taxes that apply to small cars in India.

The Supreme Court banned the registration of diesel vehicles with engines bigger than 2 litres through March 2016 in the nation’s capital as a way to reduce air pollution.

Besides the ban on large diesel vehicles, the government has doubled a levy on diesel vehicles entering New Delhi and barred those registered before 2005.

Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen thinks the secret to cracking the Indian market is a compact SUV. So it’s introducing the Tiguan, one of four new models the company plans to bring to the country by March 2017.

The Tiguan’s engine will meet EU 6 emission standards and will go up against the Hyundai Tucson and Mahindra’s XUV500. Indian consumers looking to upgrade from traditional compact sedans are embracing smaller SUVs and crossovers.

Crossovers are popular for their blend of space, power and fuel efficiency, while buyers pay less taxes on compact SUVs. UM India’s Renegade UM Motorcycles, the Indian unit of American motorcycle maker UM International, has formed a joint venture with Lohia Auto to sell motorcycles in India.

The two companies have invested Rs2.5 billion ($37 million) to expand their business in the country.

The company expects to sell as many as 15,000 motorcycles this year, according to Rajeev Mishra, director at UM. During the show, UM introduced three variants of its cruiser motorcycles.

The Renegade Commando is a low-slung cruiser powered by a 279 cc single-cylinder watercooled engine developing 25 bhp.

Jaguar XE Jaguar Land Rover has begun deliveries of its smaller XE saloon, which will go head to head with BMW’s 3 series and Mercedes Benz’s best-selling C class. - Bloomberg News

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

Toyota raises profit outlook on rising SUV, Lexus sales

– Reuters

McDonald’s edging out KFC and Pizza Hut in China

Net income may rise

SHANGHAI: Yum Brands, the home of KFC and Pizza Hut, is falling behind rival McDonald’s as the pair battle to revive flagging sales in China — a headache for Yum as it looks to spin off operations in its biggest market.

A Reuters analysis of samestore sales data suggests McDonald’s is recovering faster in China than larger rival Yum as both seek to bounce back from a slew of food safety scandals dating back to 2012.

McDonald’s said last week fourth-quarter same-store sales in China rose four per cent, a second straight quarter of growth. On Wednesday, Yum said its samestore sales, reflecting underlying growth, also returned to growth in the second half - but more slowly, leaving annual China sales falling for the first time. Researchers and consumers said there’s no simple answer to explain why McDonald’s is faring better than Yum. A weaker economy and strengthening local rivals are among a complex cocktail of issues both firms must deal with in future strategy, including Yum’s China spinoff, due later this year. — Reuters

2.25 trillion yen, the

to 2.27 trillion yen for the year ending in March, from an earlier forecast for company said in a statement on Friday

TOKYO: Toyota Motor raised its profit forecast after surging sales of RAV4 sport utility vehicle (SUV) and Lexus luxury models, putting it on track to become the first Japanese company to top three trillion yen ($25.7 billion) in annual operating profit.

Net income may rise to 2.27 trillion yen for the year ending in March, from an earlier forecast for 2.25 trillion yen, the company said in a statement on Friday.

Analysts predict the world’s largest automaker will probably earn 3.07 trillion yen in operating profit in the 12-month period, the average of 26 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The company said it will buy back up to 0.74 per cent of its shares.

Third-quarter net income rose 4.7 per cent to 628 billion yen, beating the 619.9 billion average analyst estimate. The company

ROBUST DEMAND: A man looks at Toyota Motor’s cars at the company’s showroom in Tokyo, Japan on Friday. Toyota raised on Friday its full-year sales forecast for North America due to strong demand in the United States, while posting a lower-than-expected operating profit for the third quarter due to an increase in expenses. - Reuters

said its full-year forecasts don’t take into account the impact of a production halt this month due to a shortage of parts.

President Akio Toyoda is steering the maker of Prius hybrids toward its third-straight record year, out-earning all other Japanese automakers combined. With sport utility vehicles drawing unprecedented demand in the US, Toyota is positioning its compact

DEBT-REDUCTION PLAN

ArcelorMittal plans to raise $3 billion LONDON: ArcelorMittal plans to raise $3 billion from investors and sell a $1 billion stake in Spanish auto-parts maker Gestamp as the world’s largest steelmaker looks to ride out an industry slump caused by record Chinese exports.

Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, the chief executive officer who owns about 37 per cent of the business, has committed to maintain his stake and his family will take up about $1.1 billion, the Luxembourg-based company said in a statement on Friday. Full-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation declined 28 per cent to $5.2 billion.

“This capital raise, combined with the sale of our minority shareholding in Gestamp, will accelerate the company’s debt-reduction plan,” Mittal said in the statement. “This will help ensure that the business is resilient in any market environment and puts ArcelorMittal in a position of strength from which to further improve performance.”

Shares of ArcelorMittal, which

Honda BR-V Like VW, Honda is also tapping India’s SUV habit with the introduction of its BR-V later this year.

The Honda BR-V will go up against Maruti Suzuki’s Brezza and Hyundai’s bestselling Creta, two other crossover vehicles.

Sales in this category have risen 44 per cent to 337,205 units in the three years through 2015, even as total passenger-vehicle sales have stagnated at about 2.8 million units, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

supplied steel for New York’s One World Trade Center and London’s Wembley stadium, have dropped 58 per cent in the last 12 months. They’ve been hit by declining prices for steel as China pushes the material onto the world market at record levels to counter its slowing economy.

Prices for the iron ore ArcelorMittal mines have also dropped as demand for the steelmaking ingredient fell and supplies from exporters expanded.

Underwriting arrangements

Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that the company was planning to raise capital, citing people familiar with situation.

Goldman Sachs International, BofA Merrill Lynch and Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank are joint global coordinators for the share sale and will underwrite the portion not taken up by the Mittal family, subject to conditions. The share sale, which should be completed in the first half, will cut debt to less than $12 billion. — Bloomberg News

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

RAV4 to supplant the Camry sedan as the new volume leader in its largest market. Lexus had its best year globally in 2015 and finished just behind BMW in the US. Toyota’s period of prosperity hasn’t stopped the company from shaking things up. It plans to discontinue the Scion brand that targets young American buyers in August, re-badging all but one model as Toyotas, while buying

out Daihatsu Motor for about 389 billion yen in stock to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. The goal will be to transform Daihatsu into a global small-car brand as valued as BMW’s Mini.

Deepen its partnership Toyota also is looking to deepen its partnership with Mazda Motor. The two companies have assembled a panel to study potential

alliances for green cars and other technologies, Tetsuya Fujimoto, a Mazda executive officer, said on Thursday. Toyota already owns stakes of Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries and truck makers Hino Motors and Isuzu Motors. The automaker began California sales of its Mirai fuel cell vehicle and production of a redesigned Prius hybrid in the quarter. Toyota could parlay the heavy investment it’s made in hydrogen fuel cells and gasoline-electric autos into more joint production or development projects to lower costs.

Toyota still faces major challenges as it looks to close out the rest of its fiscal year. It’s shutting down all Japan assembly plants for at least one week after an explosion at affiliate Aichi Steel’s plant relied on for engine, transmission and chassis components.

Trading company Toyota Tsusho warned the disruption to production could compare with Japan’s earthquake and tsunami almost five years ago.

The company also is among more than a dozen automakers embroiled in an air-bag recall crisis involving Takata. The Japanese supplier is preparing to present a restructuring plan to automakers in early May and is seeking to reach an agreement with Toyota and other customers on the sharing of costs related to the callback of more than 20 million vehicles in the US alone, according to people familiar with the matter.

Toyota said that orders for its new Prius have reached almost 100,000 units. — Bloomberg News

B4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

FEATURE Should business travel be obsolete?

T

hink about it: You can call, email, and even watch your counterparty on FaceTime, Skype, or GoToMeeting. So why do companies fork out more than $1.2 trillion a year — a full 1.5 per cent of the world’s GDP — for international business travel?

The expense is not only huge; it is also growing — at 6.5 per cent per year, almost twice the rate of global economic growth and almost as fast as information and telecommunication services. Computing power has moved from our laptops and cellphones to the cloud, and we are all better off for it. So why do we need to move brains instead of letting those brains stay put and just sending them bytes? Why waste precious work time in the air, at security checks, and waiting for our luggage?

Before anyone starts slashing travel budgets, let’s try to understand why we need to move people rather than information. Thanks to a research collaboration on inclusive growth with MasterCard and an anonymised donation of data to the Centre for International Development at Harvard University, we are starting to shed some light on this mystery. In ongoing work with Dany Bahar, Michele Coscia, and Frank Neffke, we have been able to establish some interesting stylised facts.

More populous countries have more business travel in both directions, but the volume is less than proportional to their population: a country

with 100 per cent more population than another has only about 70 per cent more business travel. This suggests that there are economies of scale in running businesses that favour large countries. By contrast, a country with a per capita income that is 100 per cent higher than another receives 130 per cent more business travellers and sends 170 per cent more people abroad. This means that business travel tends to grow more than proportionally with the level of development.

While business people travel in order to trade or invest, more than half of international business travel seems to be related to the management of foreign subsidiaries. The global economy is increasingly characterised by global firms, which need to deploy their know-how to their different locations around the world. The data show that there is almost twice the amount of travel from headquarters to subsidiaries as there is in the opposite direction.

Exporters also travel twice as much as importers.

But why do we need to move the brain, not just the bytes? I can think of at least two reasons. First, the brain has a capacity to absorb information, identify patterns, and solve problems without us being aware of how it does it. That is why we can, for example, infer other people’s goals and intentions from facial expressions, body language, intonation, and other subtle indicators that we gather unconsciously.

MORE POPULOUS COUNTRIES HAVE MORE BUSINESS TRAVEL IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, BUT THE VOLUME IS LESS THAN PROPORTIONAL TO THEIR POPULATION: A COUNTRY WITH 100 PER CENT MORE POPULATION THAN ANOTHER HAS ONLY ABOUT 70 PER CENT MORE BUSINESS TRAVEL. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THERE ARE ECONOMIES OF SCALE IN RUNNING BUSINESSES THAT FAVOUR LARGE COUNTRIES

When we attend a meeting in person, we can listen to the body language, not just the spoken word, and we can choose where to look, not just the particular angle that the video screen shows. As a consequence, we are better able to evaluate, empathise, and bond in person than we can with today’s telecom technologies. Second, the brain is designed to work in parallel with other brains. Many problem-solving tasks require parallel computing with brains that possess different software and information but that can coordinate their thoughts. That is why we have design teams, advisory boards, inter-agency taskforces, and other forms of group interaction.

Conference calls try to match this interaction, but it is hard to speak in turn or to see one another’s expressions when someone is talking. Conference calls have trouble replicating the intricacy of human conscious and unconscious group interactions that are critical to solve problems and accomplish tasks.

The amount of travel should then be related to the amount of knowhow that needs to be moved around.

Countries differ in the amount of know-how they possess, and industries differ in the amount of knowhow they require. Controlling for population and per capita income, travel is significantly more intense to and from countries and industries that possess or use more know-how.

The countries that account for the most travel abroad, controlling for

population, are all in Western Europe: Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, and the Netherlands. Outside of Europe, the most travel-intensive countries are Canada, Israel, Singapore, and the United States, a reflection of the fact that they need to deploy many brains to make use of their diverse know-how. Interestingly, countries in the developing world differ substantially in the amount of know-how they receive through business travel.

For example, countries such as South Africa, Bulgaria, Morocco, and Mauritius receive much more know-how than countries at similar levels of development such as Peru, Colombia, Chile, Indonesia, or Sri Lanka.

The fact that firms incur the cost of business travel suggests that, for some key tasks, it is easier to move brains than it is to move the relevant information to the brains. Moreover, the fact that business travel is growing faster than the global economy suggests that output is becoming more intensive in know-how and that know-how is diffusing through brain mobility. And, finally, the huge diversity of business travel intensity suggests that some countries are deploying or demanding much more know-how than others.

Rather than celebrate their thrift, countries that are out of the business travel loop should be worried.

They may be missing out on more than frequent flyer miles. - RICARDO HAUSMANN/Project Syndicate

B

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

SATURDAY, FEBRUA RY 6, 2016

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Make your First Impression a Lasting One Within the first few seconds of meeting someone, an opinion is immediately formed that can last forever. This encounter often sets the tone for the relationship that follows. So how can you make your first impression a positive one? Here are some tips to help you knock your first meeting out of the park.

Take Pride in your Presence Physical appearance is the first thing people observe before an introduction. Always dress appropriately for the occasion, whether it's a casual lunch or a formal business meeting. A go-to suggestion is to maintain a clean and crisp appearance for most events because you can't go wrong — think business casual. This look can be trendy and professional and will position you in a positive light.

Being mindful of your appearance will give you more confidence to help make a great first impression.

Share your Best Smile A warm, genuine smile is your best tool in making a first impression unforgettable. "A self-assured and convincing smile starts with regular oral care practices to keep your teeth clean and your breath smelling fresh," says Dr. Christopher Ramsey, Doctor of Dental Medicine. An easy way to do this is by adding a mouthwash with extra deep clean to your daily routine. "These advanced mouthwash formulas strengthen teeth, kill germs and freshen breath, so you are guaranteed to have and maintain an impressive smile," says Dr. Todd Snyder, a dental surgeon.

Showcase Positive Attitude For people who get nervous when interacting with others, it is essential to sustain a calm attitude and optimistic outlook. Go into the meeting with an open mind and learn something new. Contribute to the conversation and maintain engagement. Showing attentiveness is often contagious, as the person you meet catches on and reciprocates.

Good Body Language Body language is a crucial element in daily human interaction. From the way you walk to a meeting, to the hand gestures used while you speak — body language is just as important as the words you say.

Start by standing tall, making appropriate eye contact, and giving a firm handshake. Demonstrate open body postures by keeping your head up and relaxing your shoulders. Crossed arms and legs make you appear closed off and unapproachable, so be mindful of how you might appear to others.

Be Yourself Being true to yourself is the best way to be presentable to others. Be comfortable with your personality.

If nervousness kicks in, take a few deep breaths and remember to be calm and confident. A composed demeanour will put anyone at ease, sealing the deal on an excellent relationship as you move forward.

Making an everlasting first impression is simply about being at peace with who you are and being ready to meet others. Try some of these above tips at your next meeting, networking event or job interview.-BPT

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

B6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL @MGM

@SHATTI

Airlift (Action / Thriller) –12+ Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur 3.45. 6.45. 9.45PM

@SOHAR

SHATTI The Finest Hour - 3D (Action) PG12 Cast : Christopher Whitelaw, Casey Affleck 2:45, 9:00 & 11:45PM The Finest Hour - 2D (Action) PG12 7:00PM Jane Got A Gun - (Action| Drama) 12+ Cast: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor 5:00,9:45 & 11:30PM Ghayal Once Again - (Action) PG12 Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:00 & 9:15PM Ashby - (Comedy | Drama | Romance) 15+ Cast: Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff 3:15 & 7:00PM Intruders (Drama | Horror | Thrille) 15+ Cast: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez, Jack Kesy 11:45PM Concussion (Biography | Drama | Sport) 12+ Cast : Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Albert Brooks 5:30PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Animation) PG 5:15PM Ride Along 2 (Action | Comedy) 15+ 7:15PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Wild Horses - 2D (PG12) Crime| Drama Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco 12:15, 3:30,11:45 PM The Finest Hour - 3D (PG12) Action | Drama Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 2:15, 9:30, 11:30 PM Gold Class - 3:30, 8:45,11:00 PM Everything About Her - Taglog (TBC) Comedy | Drama 12+ Cast: Angel Locsin, Xian Lim, Vilma Santos 4:30 PM Ride Along 2 - 2D (15+) Action | Comedy

Everything About Her - Taglog (TBC) Comedy | Drama 12+ Cast: Angel Locsin, Xian Lim, Vilma Santos 4:30 PM

Jane Got A Gun - (Action| Drama) 12+ Cast: Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor 5:00, 9:45 & 11:30PM

7:15 PM Ghayal Once Again - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra , Om Puri 9:00 PM Gold Class - 6:15 PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (Animation) (PG) 12:00, 5:30 PM Capture the Flag - 3D (PG) Action| Comedy Voice over: Dani Rovira, Michelle Jenner.

1:45, 7:30 PM

Jane Got A Gun (Action, Drama) (2D) (12+) Cast: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton 2:30, 9:45, 11:45 PM Ghayal Once Again (Action) (2D)(PG12) Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:30, 6:15, 8:45, 11:15 PM Ashby (Comedy, Drama) (2D)(15+) Cast: Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff 4:15, 7:45 PM Ghayal Once Again (PG12)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 8:30 PM

PANORAMA MALL The Finest Hours (action)(MX4D)(PG12) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 3.30, 6.15, 8.30, 10.45 PM The Finest Hours 3D (action, Drama) (PG12)-VIP LOUNGE 3:30, 6:15, 11:00 PM The Finest Hours 3D (action, Drama) (PG12) 4:30, 9:15, 11:30 PM Everything About Her (Tagalog) (TBC) Cast: Angel, Xian Lim, Vilma Santos 6:45 PM Alvin & The Chipmunks – The Road Chip (Animation,) (2D) (PG) 2:30, 6:00 PM

Ghayal Once Again - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 2:30, 6:30, 9:15, 11:15 PM

SOHAR Airlift - 2D (12+) Drama | History | Thriller 4:30 PM Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (PG) Animation 4:45 PM The Finest Hour - 3D (PG12) Action | Drama Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 2:45, 9:00, 11:45 PM The Finest Hour - 2D (PG12) Action | Drama 7:00 PM Ashby - 2D (15+) Comedy | Drama | Cast: Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff 2:45, 5:00 PM Ghayal Once Again - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 2:30, 6:30, 9:15, 11:15 PM Wild Horses - 2D (PG12) Crime| Drama Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco 2:30, 9:45 PM Jane Got A Gun - 2D (12+) Action| Drama Cast: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton 7:00, 11:30 PM Adi Kapyare Kootamani- 2D (M) (PG12) Comedy / Drama Cast: Dhyam Srinivasan, Namitha , Aju 8:55 PM Intruders - 2D (15+) Drama | Horror | Thrille Cast: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez, Jack Kesy 5:00, 11:45 PM Bangalore Naatkal - 2D (T) (TBC) Comedy

Bangalore Naatkal (Tamil) (2D) (TBC) Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 12:00, 6:30, 8:30 PM Adi Kapyare Kootamani (Mal) (2D) (Comedy | Drama) (PG12) Cast: Dhyam Srinivasan, Namitha , Aju 12:15, 9:20 PM Airlift (2D) (Drama | History) (12+) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Nimrat Kaur 6:00, 11:30 PM RUWI Screen 1 Ghayal Once Again (Action) –PG12 Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Ghayal Once Again (Action) –PG12 Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 1.15 PM Sanam Teri Kasam (Romance) –PG12 Cast: Mawra Hocane, Vijay Raaz 3.45, 6.45. 9.45PM Screen 3 Sanam Teri Kasam (Romance) –PG12 Cast: Mawra Hocane, Vijay Raaz 12.45PM

AZAIBA Wild Horses (2D) (Crime) (PG12) Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco 2:45, 4:30, 6:30, 11:45 PM Capture the Flag (2D) (Animation) (PG) Voice over: Dani Rovira, Michelle Jenner 2:30, 4:45 PM Ghayal Once Again (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 12:10, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00, 11:30 PM Sanam Teri Kasam (Hindi) (2D) (PG12) Cast: Mawra Hocane, Vijay Raaz 3:00, 8:30 PM

Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 6:45 PM

SUR The Finest Hours 3D (English) ) (PG12) CP# Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 3.00,7.30,11.30PM. Ghayal Once Again (Hindi)) ( PG12 ) Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra , Om Puri 3.15, 8.55, 11.15 PM Intruders (English) (Drama) (15+) Cast: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez, Jack Kesy 5.15, 9.45PM Wild Horses (Crime| Drama) (PG12) Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco 7.00PM. Alvin and the Chipmunks – The Road Chip (Animation) ( PG) 5.45PM

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

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

SALALAH The Finest Hours (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 11:35AM, 2:45, 6:45, 9:30&11:30PM Capture the Flag (3D) (PG) (Animation) Voice over: Dani Rovira, Michelle Jenner 11:00AM, 4:45PM Ashby (2D) (15+) Comedy | Drama) Cast: Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff 11:45AM, 6:45PM Jane Got A Gun (2D) (12+) (Action| Drama) Cast: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton 12:45, 5:00, 11:45PM Ghayal Once Again (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra , Om Puri 2:05,7:00,9:00&11:15PM Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2D) (PG12) (Malayalam) (Comedy / Drama) Cast: Dhyam Srinivasan, Namitha , Aju 8:45PM Airlift (2D) (12+) (Drama, History, Thriller) 4:15PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2D) (PG) (Animation) 2:00PM

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

25 18

0

AREENA AFNAN February 5, 2015

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

30-65%

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Adi Kapyare Koottamani ( Mal) ( Drama) Cast :Dhyan Sreenivasan, Mukesh 3:00, 6:30 & 10:00 PM Cinema Main Bangalore Naatkal ( Tamil) (Comedy\Drama) Cast : Arya , Sri Divya & Rana Doggbathi 9:30 PM Cinema – 2 Ghayal Once Again (Hindi) (Action) Cast : Sunny Deol& Anchai Munjai 3:45 ,6:45 & 9:45 PM cinema- 3 Visaranai (Tamil) (Thriller) Cast: Dinesh, Anandhi & Samuthirakail 9:45 PM Cinema -4 2 Countries (Mal) (Com) 3:30& 6:30 PM Cinema -2 (Only Thursday) Irudhi Suttru (Tamil) (Sports \ Drama) Cast: R. Madhavan & Ritika Singh 3:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4( Only Thursday) NEXT CHANCE: PAVADA (MAL) SANAM RE (HINDI) MIRUTHAN (TAMIL) Programmes are subject to change

Minimum

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

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

0

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

STAR CINEMA

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Intruders: (Horror / Thriller) Cast: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez, Jack Kesy 4.00, 10.00 & 11.55PM CP No: 316 (15+) Wild Horses: (Crime / Drama) Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco, Josh Hartnett 4.00, 10.00 & 11.55 PM. CP No: 318 (PG12) Ashby (Comedy / Drama / Romance) Cast: Mickey Rourke, Nat Wolff, Emma Roberts 2.00. & 6.00 PM. CP No: 317 (15+) Capture the Flag: (Animation / Adventure) Voice over: Dani Rovira, Michelle Jenner.

2.00. & 6.00 PM. CP No: 315 (PG Standoff: (Thriller) 8.00 PM. CP No: 138 (12+) Ride Along 2: (Action / Comedy) 8.00 PM. CP No: 112 (15+)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

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

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

BURAIMI The Finest Hours – 3D (Action/Drama) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 3:30, 7:30, 11:30PM Jane Got A Gun – 2D (Action/Drama) (12+) Cast: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton 5:45, 9:45PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip – 2D (Animation) (PG) 5:15PM Intruders – 2D (Drama/Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Rory Culkin, Leticia Jimenez, Jack Kesy 5:30, 9:30, 11:45PM Wild Horses – 2D (Crime/Drama) (PG12) Cast: Robert Duvall, James Franco 3:30, 7:00PM Ghayal Once Again – 2D (Drama) (TBC) Cast: R Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:15, 7:15, 11:15PM Adi Kapyare Kootamani – 2D (PG12) Cast: Dhyam Srinivasan, Namitha, Aju 9:00PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.26pm 3.38pm 6.01pm 7.13pm 5.28am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

B7

LIFESTYLE FACT FILE (Exploring History, Science, and Nature)

PEACOCKS • Peacocks have spurs on their feet that are primarily used to fight with other males.

Key Facts Found in: India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Central Africa.

• The Indian Peafowl, with its iridescent, bright blue feathers, is often seen in parks and zoos around the world.

Habitat: Forests and rain forests.

• Reflection of light causes the feathers to shimmer and change colour when viewed from different angles.

• The peahen makes a nest of sticks, leaves and grasses. She lays three to eight eggs, which are incubated for 28 to 30 days. Immediately after hatching, peachicks are able to walk and follow their mother on foraging trips.

• The peafowl is one of the largest flying birds in the world. Despite the long tail, it flies very well. The green peafowl can sustain flight for long distances and is known to have complex flight patterns.

• Peacock is the name for the colourfully plumaged male peafowl and females are called peahens. They are smaller and grey or brown in colour.

• The Congo peafowl of central Africa is a shy and rare bird. It is listed as threatened due to hunting and habitat loss.

• The Indian peacock has blue feathers on its head and neck, while the green peafowl has green feathers.

• The Indian peafowl is the national bird of India and is a protected species in that country. In the Hindu religion, the peafowl is a sacred bird.

• A group of peafowl is called a party or a pride. A family of peafowl is called a bevy.

• The green peahen is more colourful than the Indian peahen. Her colours are similar to her mate’s, but not quite as bright.

Size: 27 to 51 inches long, depending on species.

Babies: Peachicks —lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Food: They eat grain, insects, small reptiles and mammals, berries, figs, leaves, seeds, and flower parts.

• Peacock feathers accounts for 60 percent of the bird’s total body length and it is one of the largest flying birds in the world.

• A peafowl can live to over the age of 20 years.

Questions & Answers

One thing that puts me off...

Home work

When I’m in doubt...

I sit quiet

I go crazy when...

Someone scolds me

If I win a lottery...

I will buy a mansion

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

Blue Streak

CDUR

Crossword Puzzle ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

It’s better not to argue with...

The elders in my family

The scariest thing that I have done...

When my finger got stuck in a very tiny hole

If I met an alien I would...

Shake hands with him

ACROSS

If I could go back in history, I would like to meet Malcolm X One skill I would like to learn...

Video games

LAVAN SINGH

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

Mango

One person I would trade places with (real or fictional) Tintin

If I had treasures I would hide them...

In a hole in the garden of my mansion

The best way to my heart is...

Loyalty

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

DOWN

1 Commanded 2 PC operating system 3 Break suddenly 4 Ironing accident 5 Kemo Sabe’s pal 6 Exclamation of discovery 7 Deli staple 8 Bunk preference 9 Ick! 10 Corporate big shot, briefly

11 16 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 32 33

Fan’s shout Six — a-laying ...

Muddy track Matrix Ger. or Fr. Thrust-and-parry sword Annoys Tick off Dogmas Sum total Was a worrywart White-water craft

35 Mia in “Pulp Fiction” 36 Polite bow 38 Dwelling 39 Croc’s cousin 42 Argue for 43 Close off 44 Dust devil 45 Squeal on 46 Tall Australian bird 47 Bird beak 49 Conquistador’s quest

1 Mass-transit vehicle 4 Iffy attempt 8 Miss Van Pelt of Peanuts 12 Landers or Jillian 13 Salmon variety 14 Curved moulding 15 Slanting 17 Cowboy’s shout 18 Master hand 19 Metal in the rough 21 Environmental prefix 22 Brook’s sound 26 Hibernian 29 Emmet 30 Chat, slangily 31 Small hill 32 Marlins’ st.

33 Movie showplace 34 Dutch airline 35 Home page addr.

36 Borrow without intending to repay 37 Tahini base 39 Thug’s piece 40 Dracula, at times 41 Sound the alarm 45 Vegas rival 48 Wobbled 50 Among 51 Son of Aphrodite 52 Ramble around 53 Float downriver 54 Fishing boat 55 Miss America host of yore

B8

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016

LIFESTYLE

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

Art for the Ages

Children’s Poetry

Pretty New Moon Soorya Dayal Sajeev Grade VI Indian School Darsait

Purvi Sadanand, Grade 4, ISM

K. R. Parinitha, Grade 1, ISD

You are my friend White shiny face Looking at me at night.

The white glitter Sprinkled on your face Makes my eyes shimmer Like yours.

The white star friends Beside you in the night Makes me think of Me and my friends in the dark.

The white round face Makes me think of My grandmother’s old White plate she has.

Oh, my moon I adore you so much Do not go away from me As your face is unforgettable for me.

Alfred Benoy, Grade 2, ISM

Dharmik Maniyar, Grade 5, ISWK

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

SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

Send your contributions for Children’s Poetry to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SOLUTION: 12 LETTERS

Albums, Alive, Altaunbay, Conan, Create, Dance, Edge, Eighties, Energetic, Flame, Funk, Hair, Heat, Hits, Image, Island, Jamaica, Love, Model, Mood, Movies, Muse, Music, Neat, Nightclubbing, Paris, Portfolio, Posing, Press, Rave, Recording, Reggae, Rhythm, Score, Seventies, Sharp, Singer, Soul, Spirit, Style, Success, Syracuse, Title, Tours, Twin, Vamp, Voice, Warm.

Answer: ELECTRIFYING

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

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

C2

S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 6 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

Luxury flat for rent in Bareeq Al Shatti building Spacious 2 BHK with sea view, split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliance.

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT (Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse & staff accommodations

Flat for rent in CBD area - Ruwi Two rooms and a large hall

Please contact: G.S.M

99417229/92621039

•Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road On the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail

RESTAURANT AVAILABLE FOR RENT Of area 500 Sq mts with well equipped kitchen and dining facility on Ground Floor at DARVESH Building, Near Royal Hospital.

Contact Person Mr.Mudassir :99314330 Mr.Joao Pereira: 99435952

FOR RENT FOR RENT

•2 bed room flats in Qurum 29 for rent next to ABA New building -split AC - Good location

OFFICES PRIME LOCATIONS: AT: WALJA - HAMRIYA – SEEB - BARKA

Contact No: 96177505

CALL:

STORE FOR RENT

99332242

500 sqm store with 200 sqft office & 200 sqm covered shed for rent at Mabella Ind No-11 on main road, direct from owner.

We have staff accommodation in Bowshar 30 to 40 people can stay easily commercial building.

Contact: 93782735/ 99208033

We have 150 sqm offices in Ghubra prime location already partition done rent 650/- O.R. Contact: 93782735/ 99208033

We have 1 BHK, 2BHK flats for rent in Mabela 7, 1BHK 175 RO, 2 BHK 200/- RO, new building.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

3 & 2 Bedroom Townhouse with Swimming pool, free Wi-Fi for Rent near British Council in Madinat Sultan Qaboos. #92197959 / 92502497.

We have 2 BHK flats, office available in Ghala, Azaiba new building.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

We have 2BHK flat in Ghubra near Indian School 325/- R.O Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

One / two B/R , RES / Comm flat near Bank Muscat Bausher directly from owner. Contact: 92158031

Office for rent located in Prime location of Azaiba Main Highway.

Contact: 92197959 / 92502497.

CALL: 99332242

khamisco@alkhamis.com.om

khamisco@alkhamis.com.om

FOR RENT

FLATS FOR RENT

3 BHK @ Ghobrah -18th November St 2 BHK @Bousher - Bousher Shabia Studio Flat - Alkuwair 33 Shop for Rent 156 SQM Bousher Shabia

CONTACT - 99278002

OFFICES & SHOWROOMS MAIN ROAD PRIME LOCATION: BARKA - OPPOSITE MARS

GSM: 99 014 885 / 92 871 744 Villa in Al Khoud for staff accommodation, like nurses or teachers can accommodate 30 to 35 people.

Rent RO.1200/-. Contact - 91178282

1 BHK and 2BHK Flats with Split ACs Opp. to MOD Near Lulu Darsait CONTACT :

93202733 2 Bedrooms Flat for rent located in Prime location of Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92197959 / 24527852.

S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6

C3

DAILY GUIDE

PDO APPROVED PORTABLE OFFICE FACILITIES ON SALE

FOR RENT

PORTA CABIN OFFICE

– 1200 SQ.M – 32 SECTIONS

PORTA CABIN OFFICE

– 900 SQ.M – 24 SECTIONS

PORTA CABIN OFFICE

– 700 SQ.M – 16 SECTIONS

PORTA CABIN OPEN HALL – 500 SQ.M – 14 SECTIONS

High quality Warehouses for rent at Mizfa 550 sqm to 3400 sqm.

Contact

96046951 / 99332291

FOR RENT FULLY RENOVATED 5 BHK VILLA For Rent in Azaiba, behind Al Sawa Towers. WITH Majlis, Living room, Dining, Kitchen, Laundry, Store.

CONTACT: 93332444, 95166141

2BHK flat at Darsait nearby Indian School RO 290/-. Contact: 94232344

3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact 95755953 / 95555162

2 BHK in MSQ opposite Al Fair with split AC. Contact: 96708000

4 BHK villa in AL Khuwair RO 525.

Contact: 94232344

2 BHK in Bareeq Al Shatti with split AC. Contact: 96708000

We have shops for rent in Ghala.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787

Family flats in Wadi AL Kabir, Hamriya, Muttrah, Al Khuwair, Ghubrah, Bowshar, Al Hail North & Al Seeb.

Contact: 95250300 / 92125648

Perfect 5 BHK villas in Azaiba RO 800/-. Contact: 94232344 Flats & offices for rent in CBD Ruwi. Contact: 92820734 / 95345909 Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq.mtr.

Contact:- 91398925 2 Bedroom centrally air conditioned flat in CBD prime location.

Contact: 24714625 / 93527328 Flats for rent at Mawaleh near Omantel main office opposite Lulu bandar comprises 3 rooms, 2 toilets and one kitchen OMR 250/- Per month.

Contact: 93131497 or 99203435

Two bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

One bedroom flat with big balcony in al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 280 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Four bedrooms villa in Al Athaiba 300 m away from Shell Petrol Station in an excellent condition.

Contact: 97755586 Shop / office nr Oman house & Khimji H.O Muttrah.

Contact: 99233116

Brand new deluxe flats located near Seeb flyover on the right hand side the main road coming from the Seeb palace round about, 2 bedrooms family, hall, kitchen, 3 toilets & split unit. Contact: 97755586 Villa is composed of 5 bedrooms and sitting toilets and 5 living room, kitchen and Seeb (North Al Hail). Contact: 91130875 Flat with 3 bed rooms, sitting room, dining room, store, kitchen, 3 toilets Al Ghubra, opposite Chedi Hotel. Contact: 99321264 1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-.

Contact: 92144045 2 BHK Ghubra R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045

1 & 2 BHK Ruwi C.B.D. Contact: 99024730 1,2 BHK Darsait. # 92144045 Flat in Hamriya. # 99341112 1000sqmtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc.

Contact 24700120 / 92584715 Flat for rent in Wadi Al Kabir next 5 Al Hassan company, 2 bed room & 3 toilets. Contact: 99210008 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715 / 24700120 02 BHK Commercial / Residential (with split AC) flat at Honda road.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241

Contact Person - S. Sundaram- 00968 93221934 - Viral Desai - 00968 93221397

CONTRACT BUSES REQUIRED FOR TRANSPORTATION OF WORKMEN One of the leading construction companies in Oman requires 65/30 seater buses on contract basis for transportation of their workmen from camps to various sites located in Muscat region. Those interested may please contact within one week from the date of this advertisement.

Contact Number : 97970935, 94306683

FOR SALE Running carpentry workshop with CNC machine and 5 skilled labours in Barka industry area.

Running Aluminum workshop with three skilled labours in Barka industry area

Contact: 98084356 FOR RENT 1BHK Wadi Kabir R.O 200/-.

Contact: 92144045 1,2,3 BHK. Contact : 92144045

CONTD ON PG 6

QSR OUTLET FOR SALE Capital Area in a well known Mall.

Interested buyers may contact

on 99077960 or 94306216

C4

S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT Looking for experienced Sales Executive, Driver for joinery & Décor Company.

Interested candidates in similar field with driving license

Contact: 99328494 Email: malsinani@tibiaan.co.om

Senior Management Executive An Omani Road Construction Contracting Company Seeks GM/ Senior Contract Manager.

Mail : info@anwaarfahud.com GSM 94293031

REQUIRED PROJECT MANAGER For an Infra/ Bldg project in Duqm/Oman Graduate Engineer with 20+ years experience preferably in Oman/ GCC with valid D/L and transferable visa, computer literate.

Send CV to Email :

omanproject2011@gmail.com

ADMIN Required urgently an Indian Junior Legal Consultant /Lawyer for a reputed Law Firm in Muscat &Sohar. Candidates should have 3-5 years local experience in Oman as Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English. Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail.com Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law firm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English both written & spoken.

Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE QHSSE ADVISOR - International Oilfield Services Company requires a NEBOSH qualified QHSSE Advisor (Omani National) to ensure continual improvement in our Muscat base. Main duties to include Journey Management, supporting implementation of policies and procedures, mentoring staff, training coordination, reporting, audit & inspection and risk assessment. Submit CV to mejob@interwell.com

BEAUTY Wanted experienced beautician and hairdresser for the reputed ladies beauty center at Qurum.

Contact: 97453246 Email: souzawilfred@gmail.com Beauty expert required to work in Salon in Al Amerat.

Contact : 93336061

CATERING Chinese / Arab/ Grill, Cooks.

Contact: 95529970

DOMESTIC HELP Required Cleaners & office boys.

Contact 24707833 Housemaid required for Keralite family. Contact 95405033 Indian family urgently needs a full time Housemaid who knows cooking. Should be skilled in preparation of Non-Veg dishes.

Preferably from Hyderabad, India.

Company visa, good salary + bonus, air –ticket for leave travel provided by company. Contact 99349924

DRIVER Wanted Driver. Contact 91025698

Wanted female GP, female Gynecologist, female Staff Nurse, female X- Ray Technician With MOH license for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre in Musanna.

Contact -91262604 Email: chillapalli76@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ADMIN

Well reputed Marble Company looking for

3 SALESMEN

Indian female, M.Tech electronics 6.5 IELTS experience as VLSI / Electronics project trainer & institute administration currently in family visa. Contact: 90195131 /24551290 Email: chinj.89@gmail.com

Requires minimum 3 years experience and valid Omani driving license.

Interested candidates please Fax your CV to 24601724 or Email on saab2803@gmail.com

Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics.

Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786

REQUIRED GENERAL MANAGER For a leading Insurance Broking Company in Oman for immediate appointment.

Omani, male, 20 yrs exp. in PR, Admin etc. seeks suitable placement. Contact 91221773

Candidate with Insurance Qualifications, good experience and market knowledge with proper documents for local transfer may send C.V. to

Looking for H.R Admin Assistant post or any related position, currently on visit visa, available for immediate placement Qualification MBA H.R. Contact: 94665450 Email: paulwesleywilliaams@yahoo.com

email: iscoman@omantel.net.om Leading Medical Services Company in Oman is looking for the following staff:1. General Practitioners (Male & Female) 2. Nurses (Male & Female) 3. X Ray Technician

4. Lab Technician 5. Insurance Coordinators 6. Omani Receptionist

Preference given to candidates in Oman with MOH/Oman prometric for medical openings. Interested candidates kindly forward your resume to

athira@babylon-om.com, athirababylon@gmail.com, info@babylon-om.com.

Contact :24613069 for further details.

URGENTLY REQUIRED A well reputed British Company in Oman, looking for an experienced

“CIVIL PROJECT MANAGER” preferably for an Indian nationals having minimum 10 years’ experience as a Civil Project Manager for commercial & residential buildings with B-tech/BE. Attractive salary for the right candidate, Arab speaking will be a preference but not necessary.

Only serious applicants, who hold above criteria in related field, may apply:

recruitmentmep1@gmail.com ENGINEER/TECH/MECH

SALES / MARKETING

Wanted: HEAD OF QA/QC & SALES ENGINEERS : Candidates with Minimum 5-7 Years Experience in one of the leading manufacturing company in Sohar Industrial Area, suitable candidates send their CV to the below email : soharcreative@gmail.com

Wanted marketing personnel for acquiring Premium customers for MNC. Should have communication/sales skills and must possess Oman D/L. Contact 96545020.

Require LAB TECHNICIAN ,The desired candidate must be a graduate/diploma in Civil Engineering with minimum experience of 3 to 5 years as Lab Technician having Experience of testing construction materials on Building/ Road projects. Send your CV to: rakesh@uniqueom.com.

Wanted A/C Technician with local experience.

Contact : 95779616

IT Developers needed with experience in .net, C#, EF Code First, WCF, MVC 4/5, WebAPI, SQL and WF 4.5 must. Work from home role for an Australian company.

Send resume to Email: atif.saad@mis.technology

MEDICAL Required male Nurse part / full time to take care of male, 95 yrs old. Contact 99333292, Email : topraniav@gmail.com Urgently required for a Medical Centre in Muscat & Salalah GP Doctor, Pediatrician (male / female) Gynecology, Nurses (male / female) with or without MOH license, salary negotiable. Send your CV : moc.hrd2015@gmail.com or contact 92681842 Wanted female Ayurvedic therapist with or without MOH. Contact: 97263637 / 93309131 Required X RAY Technician, Lab Technician, General Practitioner, Gynecology, Staff Nurses.

Contact: 95133572 Email: kunoozghala@gmail.com Wanted urgently lady Doctor GP or DGO for immediate appointment. Contact : 99310590 Email: tjmaluke@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Required Marketing Executives.

Send your CV Email: ocean@omantel.net.om

Urgently required Marketing Executives with driving license for sales in artificial grass & steel fabrication. Contact 99104577 Email: info@greencover.net Delegate must hold a driving license. To fill the shelves of shops (merchandiser) one year experience in similar field, good salary, allowances an employment contract Contact: 24810474 / 95872588 Experienced Sales Executive required for Restaurant Marketing.

Send CV : Deepak@jashnoman. com, call 96500750 Employee marketing company engaged in the design, promotion and advertising is required.

Contact: 96656972 / 99719973 Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Wanted A/c Mechanic, Electrician / Plumber, Carpenters, Driver. Contact 94147874 / 97014234, globalaccessunited@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male MBA finance / marketing 34 yrs, 7 years experience in India Accounts / Administration / office jobs currently in Muscat on family visa. Contact: 98104991 Email: sureshkr01@gmail.com Indian Accountant with experience in financial/cost accounting, Administration, HR and Material Management in construction (more than 30 years) seek suitable placement.

Contact 98598099 B.Com 32 yrs male Accountant having 8 yrs Oman experience in Construction Co. seeking immediate change (NOC available).

Contact: 98624850 Indian male 7 yrs Oman exp, tally ERP 9, Accounting, Inventory controlling & IT Supports seeking suitable job. NOC Available. B.Com, PGDCA. location Sohar having Oman D/L. Contact 98317698, Email: sukuanilkumar@gmail.com

Part time accounts qualified experience accountant.

Contact: 91126314 SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com Indian male, MBA (finance), 1 year experience in Oman having Oman D/L and NOC on visit visa looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94103975

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact – 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Presently working as Senior Accountant having 16 years experience in Oman with Oman D/L looking for new placement, NOC available. Contact : 95060390

Indian male 25 B.Com IATA diploma 2 yrs exp in accounts, good looking currently in Oman, NOC available. Contact: 99323841 Email:rohitpanam@gmail.com

Indian male ,34yrs B.com MBA (Awaiting result), with 8 yrs experience in accounts with license looking for suitable position. Immediate joining and NOC available. Contact -97463145 or joseph12a3@gmail.com

Indian male 32 yrs having 8 years experience in Oman looking for suitable placement NOC & Oman D/L available (release available if required). Contact: 98093515

Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 ,Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com

Indian male having good experience in accounts and in accounting and in accounting software’s ready to join immediately #+91 9444965126

Indian male 30 yrs, B. Com, 6 yrs accounts exp in East Africa & 1 yr exp in Oman, NOC available looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 94613626 Email: sharis.saheer@gmail.com

15 years experienced in finance & treasury management CPA, CMA, ACCA, MBA, qualified Chartered Accountant available for immediate joining as head of finance, financial advisor, financed consultant.

Contact: 94872345 Email: mfta27@gmail.com Indian male - M Com and More than 5 year experience in Finance and Accounting seeking suitable placement immediately. Now in Oman on visit visa. Contact:97724457 / 99886476 nidhink85@gmail.com A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact: Kamran hkamran112@gmail.com, +44 7480 1196 74/ +968 93595050 Indian accountant professional with 3 years experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable job openings. Contact: 92390604 Email: sachinkokkatt@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687

M.Com & MBA finance Indian 10 years of experience in finance & accounts up to finalization currently available in Oman.

Contact: 90501642, Email: bobykkj@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com

Indian female Accountant B.Com P.G.D.C.A Tally 8 years exp in Oman. Contact: 93726921 B. Com Diploma Computer 3 years experience as an Accountant Indian male (25) seeking placement Accountant / Admin / sales on visit visa.

Contact: 98437731 Email: faisalcpsy@gmail.com Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. #90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Young 24, ACCA affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business, seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or audit With valid driving license.

Contact - 92430152, Email - rau_dey@yahoo.com Part time Accountant, up to finalization, looking for job after 5pm (location prefer – MSQ to Al Hail). Contact: 95694737 Finance & Accounts Indian male 35 years B.Com MBA (F) 7 years experience tally ERP9 with valid D/L family visa.

Contact: 93257426 / 95230114 Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com Indian male B.Com with 1 year experience in Oman as Account having driving license seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 93415880 Email: nithin_thomas1992@hotmail.com

young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O , Clerk helper supervisor Admin supervisor , H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license . Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288 Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280 Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder.

Currently looking for job in Oman.

Interested employer pls call 97728418.

Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030 Indian female PGDHRM MSW having 5+ experience in HR Assistant Administration customer support good computer skill DOA, CIT Tally now on family visit visa looking for suitable position. Contact: 95352527 Indian Gulf experienced in construction site admin, HR and Store keeping on visit visa seek suitable placement. Contact 92196001 Indian female 27 yrs with 5 yrs HR /Admin experience seeking suitable placement with valid Oman driving license.

Contact: 98236033

ARCHITECTURE Indian female diploma in architecture having 5 years of working experience in Oman (Engg Consultancy having valid Oman driving license. Contact: 96683293

CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DRIVER Driver, 2 yrs exp looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97133246 Light driver need job knows Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 95145988 Looking for job driver K.S.A 7 years Oman, 5 yrs, education S.SC. Contact: 93940319 Light duty driver looking for job, 5 years exp. Contact: 97170619 Indian Keralite male 25 yrs, light driver looking for job.

Contact: 91616786 Light duty driver looking for job.

Contact : 95827886 Indian light driver having 2 years experience in Oman knowing language English, Hindi & Arabic, seeks job. Contact: 97366822 Looking job L.T.V with car, without car. Contact: 94436276 Driver, 5 years experience in Oman looking for job.

Contact : +968 99139890 Driver with car, full time / part time job. Contact: 96320385

S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6

C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER Driver with land cruiser, Indian seeks placement.

Contact: 99725003 Light driver need job knows English, Hindi & Arabic.

Contact: 92820309 Job for driving. Contact: 98982410 Pakistani male light driver 10 yrs in UAE & 1 yr in Oman.

Contact: 93709393

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Civil AutoCAD Draughts man 5 years experience on visit visa.

Contact: 99759284 Email: ahmedimran945@gmail.com Interior Designer 4 years experience design and supervision skills (3D Max, AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 95946737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com

EDUCATION Looking for part time tutoring on Mathematical & Statistics.

Contact: 99229700 Indian : female – MBA in foreign trade ,BE Computer Science, sap trained bi/bw with one year experience seeking for job.

Contact 90228586 email:fathimasha16@gmail.com teaching also preferred.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. UPS Technician Electronics, Electronic technician, Solar power products 11 years experience in power electronics looking for job Oman.

Contact: 99680821 Email: joshypulikkottil@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer with MBA (Mktg) having 4 and half years experience in technical commercial and marketing fields with valid GCC D/L, NOC available seeking placement.

Contact: + 968 96547828 Email: deva0234@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 91 9605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Iraqi Architect with 10 years of experience in Engineering designs and Construction Supervising professional in 3Ds Max, AutoCAD Photoshop. Contact: 96011716 Civil Engineer 4 years experience (Site Engineer). Contact: 94703391 Soft ware Engineer available, 1 year experienced in Oracle –DB, VB. Net, SQL. Interested contact: 97440378 Indian male 30 yrs ( I.T.I Fitter) 8 years Gulf experience in U.A.E Steel Structural fabrication foreman in oil field presently on visit visa in Oman needs immediate placement. Contact: 92456027 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Indian male, Electronics Engineer with 16+ yrs experience in ELV systems looking for suitable position in Sales, Business Development or operations, having valid license & local release.

Contact 98143907 or mazher2005@yahoo.com Sudanese Civil Structure Engineer, 3 years experience with residence and Omani license, good at AutoCAD Etabs Staad.

Pro looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97906770

EXPERIENCED TEAM TO PROVIDE TECHNO- COMMERCIAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, FEASIBILITY, ERP WITH BI TOOLS, ADVISE ON FINANCIAL, HR, RISK Ι GENERAL MANAGEMENT, GUIDE STARTUPS Ι RESTRUCTURING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. Contact – 96500729 Email: k.profitoman@ gmail.com

Finance / Project/ Program Manager Professional Qualifications : MBA, PMP, Six Sigma Country Exposure Canada & Middle East, Industry any (experienced in Banks (Islamic) Telecom Transport Nationality Canadian, In Person Interview on Sundays Contact: 97203531, +923042955747

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer 11 years experience in construction having driving license & NOC. Contact: 94194399 Email: shiblyrock@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 years experience, 4 years in Oman, driving license available. Contact 92553263 Electrical Testing Engineer (B.Tech) having 7 yrs Gulf experience expertise in testing pre-commissioning commissioning of electrical systems, currently on visit visa seeks suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 90188231 Mechanical Engineer male 26 yrs, with 4 yrs of experience in manufacturing oil & gas retail, brand promoting, marketing, logistics having valid Omani D/L seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 97098676 Email: ja237le@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Experience in the power plant and any types of the Mechanical work, looking for mechanical jobs.

Contact: 92827254 /94641669 Indian male 23 years PG diploma in Petroleum Engineering & B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering seeking employment as Entry level field engineer.

Contact: 95084905 / 95880127 Email: vijith2573459@gmail.com MEP Engineer 5 years exp in Gulf driving license NOC. Contact: 97838220 Indian female diploma in tool & die making with 1 1/2 years experience looking for suitable job. Contact : 94743992 Email: selveena054@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer , having 10 years experience in QMD (piping, steel structure, static & rotary equipments) ASNT-L-II ( UT/ RT/PT/DPT) & Visual inspection, material inspection, finalization of handing over documents, available on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact: 95415062 / 92838396 Electrical Engineer B.Tech with 4 yrs experience in India available on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94741401 / 97239852 Email: sobinthomask05@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95345591 Indian male diploma in Mechanical Engineering have 12 years experience in oil and gas in GCC on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 92932763 Email: pnpraveen@yahoo.co.in

Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Diploma Engineer (Civil) looking for job 7 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 93017821 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com B.Tech Chartered Electrical Engineer, AMIEI with 5 years of experience in electrical power transmission and distribution in industrial, residential & commercial sectors. Expertise in load designing BOQ, Estimations, transformer and switchgear selections. Leadership skills in project execution & management. Contact: 94638744 Email: ceng.shaz@gmail.com Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113 10 years experience in Dubai & Bangladeshi as a BSC Engineer on structural designer & construction having Dubai municipality approval & driving license. Contact: 91206763 Future 008801758846027 Email: engr.masud.civil.@gmail.com Diploma in Electronics, 2 years exp in telecommunication.

Contact: 94519571 Email: telecommunicationvishnumadhull @gmail.com Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 11 years experience in building construction, looking for a suitable placement , having Oman driving license. Noc available.

Contact: 95075365 Email: azharraaz@gmail.com Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270

Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im

Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com

Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com

7 years teaching experience in Political Science at University level, 5 years experience as Intellectual property lawer 20 years experience of Arabic / English visa versa , translation / interpretation / Editing , 20 years of experience in management, Tri lingual (Arabic / English / French) Contact : 92175153

Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com

B.Tech Civil, 25 yrs female, 3 yrs exp in qty survey have valid GCC license. Contact: 91309475 Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 Sudanese Architectural Engineer 2 years experience in Oman, Revit, AutoCAD 3Ds max Archicad looking for suitable job. Contact: 94722356 Email: maya40999@hotmail.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com

SPECIALIST AVAILABLE

SALES / MARKETING

FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN TERM OF RESTRUCTURING ALL MODULES OF BUSINESS WITH 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, MANUFACTURING, TRADING, APPLICATIONS, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. CONTACT – 93343251 / profitoman@ gmail.com

Indian male plumbing sanitary ware & building materials experience in outdoor sales (9 years) with valid D/L UAE. Contact: 98723456 Indian male diploma in logistics management looking for an opening, presently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 93373421

HOSPITALITY

MEDICAL

Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

Female Nurse Indian, total 15 yrs experience, 6 yrs in KSA, prometric passed with 66% ready to join immediately. Contact: 95525004 / 98146565

Indian male, MBA Marketing having 9 years’ experience in India in marketing is seeking suitable placement. Currently in Muscat on business visa. Contact: 92417523

Indian male GP Doctor looking for suitable post. Dataflow & prometric completed. Contact: 90377433

Indian male, BBM, MBA, having 3 years experience in Sales looking for suitable job. Contact: 92796046

An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

Indian male B. Pharm 15 years sales experience MOH Pharmacist license driving license looking for opportunities in Pharmacy or Sales and marketing can get NOC. Contact: 99694865

IT Indian male 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator and 1 year experience in Amazon EC2, cloud at Wipro technologies Bangalore looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 Sudanese Male 29 yrs B.Sc Computer Science, diploma computer engineering 6 yrs. experience , DBA oracle PL-SQL, Oracle SQL developer, MS sql-server ,visual studio vb, network ,driver license Oman.

Email: chastity643@gmail.com , Mob: 91415886 Indian male, MCA, 15 years experience in Oracle, developer, Orion Sage ERP, 5 years in Oman working as IT In charge, with NOC release and transferable visa.

Contact: 95398567, Email: anasa4@gmail.com

MANAGER Procurement Manager / Commercial Manager / G.M Indian male having 26 years of experience in Import, procurement, logistics, Commercial activities, Warehousing, TRD & Sales. Contact: 90502724 Email: tk.sasi@gmail.com Office Manager / personal Assistant with extensive experience in overall admin, commercial activities, purchase, accounts with driving license seeks suitable change. Local release available. Contact 99168054 Safety Manager B.Tech (safety & fire) M. Sc 8 years experience Indian 31 years presently occupied on notice period available with clean NOC, holds Oman driving license & owns car. Contact: 94616721 Email: aibelg19@gmail.com Store Incharge / Store keeper 8 years experience in Oman, NOC & release is available looking for good job. Contact: 98178804 / 96703816 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com Camp Supervising 6 years looking for a good job. Contact: 98178804 / 96703816

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Sudanese male 43 PHD Business Management DiPCii, CITIP, ARM54, 12 years experience in insurance field, seeking insurance post or risk management or teaching in University.

Contact: 96796630 Email: brhomalkhoozamy@yahoo.com A Filipina lady having experience in call center, airline booking and reservations, secretarial and real estate is now looking for a job in any fields. Contact: 93839304 Filipina lady very urgently looking job only in boutique, release available ready to join immediately.

Contact: 97122152 / 91240759 Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement.

Gsm 98805474

MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement. Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE A dynamic professional, female,MBA,8 yrs MNC exp in Purchase, Secretary, Sales Coordination, Office Assistant, Logistics, Petty Cash, Stock, Dispatch, Project management, Documentation, residing in oman with valid NOC from current company, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately. Contact:-phone:-94157662 Email: shiji4123@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

TECHNICIAN /MECH. SALES / MARKETING Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 Indian female, MBA in Garment Manufacturing Technology, having over 8years exp in Merchandising & Marketing, worked for brands Zara, H&M, DKNY, Even & Odd, Soya Concept & many more, now on family visa looking for a suitable position.

Pls contact: 95604511. email: richagandhi25@gmail.com Indian male 26, with more than 3 years experience in Counter Sales & Marketing with valid N.O.C Cont: 94704522, 97826454 & Emailmd.noman.mansoori@gmail.com Indian male, experienced Sales Executive with D/ L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97853426 Experienced Indian male with Oman driving license and NOC looking for sales & marketing or purchase jobs. Contact: 97360689 Indian male 27 yrs, B.Com, tally 4 years sales exp in electrical & building materials with valid D/L. Contact: 98462052 Marketing exceutive BBA, MCOM, Tally, exp in accouting (can continue in current visa) ph : 98269281 26 years male MBA in Marketing & Finance Graduate having 2 years exp in sales & marketing in Mitsubishi Motor seeks suitable placement. Contact: 94676974 Email: dabdulmuqsit@gmail.com Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375 MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license, looking for suitable position.M:94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com

Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

TOURS/TRAVELS Indian male 26, on vist visa, 2+ yrs of experience with UAE D/L, IATA-FIATA,BBA looking for any suitable job. Contact 91324567

MISCELLANEOUS Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. mail: mohdnaveed043@gmail.com, Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746 Indian male 25 yrs, MBA (Finance, Marketing), Overall 2 yrs exp in Accounts/Finance field, On Visit Visa. Immediately available.

Contact - 92989197/94786544. abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement.

Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494, Manojmallya999@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com.Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in Oman; searching better job. Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532.

C6

S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 6 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting.

Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

SIT.WANTED Light Driver looking for job.

Contact:99594946 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 26 years old (male) with 4 years experience as Mechanical engineer , Sales engineer and Call center agent seeking suitable placement.

Contact: +968.90644235 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Oman driving license) seeking job. #90139903 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in man; searching better job. Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264.

Email:- yv.dixit@yahoo.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Purchase Executive Professional, Indian male having 6 Years of Experience in Oman Having Valid Driving Licence working as a Purchase officer, Looking for a suitable Position, NOC/LR Available.

Contact: 95132564/96456071, E-mail: naji1988@gmail.com Light Duty Driver Professional, Indian male having 5 years of experience with valid Oman driving licence.NOC Available. #91652481

MATRIMONIAL

FOR RENT Commercial flats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/Contact: 91776665

Villa 2 room, 1 sitting room, 1 lobby, 2 bathrooms at South Mawalleh behind Discount Supermarket. # 92757673 / 99388138

600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2.

Contact – 91776665

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi MBD Honda road.

Contact: 92433127 / 97293708

Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665 Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/Contact – 91776665 Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665 Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/Contact – 91776665 Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking.

RO.300/-Contact – 91776665 Flats in Darsait.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. Contact - 9405178997201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact: 9405178997201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. Contact: 9405178997201688 3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra.

Contac: 99328070 New flat in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact: 98185135 1&2 BHK flat in Walja.

Contact: 98218279

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

Keralite Hindu Ezhava Parents invites suitable alliance for their son 26 yrs, Nakshtaram Rohini employed in Muscat.

Girl, resident of Oman is preferred.

Available in Haima two shops with 500 SQMTR work shop at the back facing main road next to Zawawi Service Centre. Contact : 99087329 / 96228586

satishkumar@altesoman.com

Flat for rent in Al Ansab 1, 2 rooms, living room, kitchen & A/C. Contact: 91256340

FOR SALE

Please write to:

1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Wadi Adai, Al Khoud, Mabela & shop at Al Khoud & land line Contact: 24834644 GSM 93994401/02/03 3 lines

Dental X- Ray Almost new for sale.

Contact: 91232778

3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288

Expat leaving household items for sale, 3 ACS, fridge, gas cylinder, 5 computer tables & sofa bed and other. Contact: 94412557

1000 sqm industrial land with compound wall & two rooms at Misfah. # 99342733 / 99795241 Single room attach bath with kitchen in Muscat 100/- R.O. Contact: 95094028 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 96571151 02 BHK Residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 / 99795241 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454 1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi, MBD area & Honda road.

Contact: 92589235/ 94579531 Flats two bed room for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact: 96571151 New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats include 1 living room, 2 Bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets every room with split A/C & high Quality finishing, rent per flat is R.O 340/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 92225523 2 bedrooms, kitchen, toilet, car park R.O 220/- & 1 bedroom, kitchen, toilet R.O 140 in Al Khuwair. Contact: 95154331

Used supermarket shelvings .

Contact: 97752395 / 97752395

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

3BHK flat for rent / sale at Dar Al Maha (Greater Muttrah).

Contact: 99321792 Running family restaurant for sale / rent in Wadi Kabir with party hall, total capacity around 200 people around 300 sq mtrs.

Contact: 95061994 Excavation contracts worth RO 2 million + Big Volvo Excavators & 2015 Astra 5 tippers for sale.

Contact: 99120532 / 98867530 Restaurant & Coffee Shop for sale in Ghala area. For details contact 99072003 Well running Ayurvedic clinic for sale, Ruwi. Contact: 97312231 Well running restaurant with 100 mess for sale at Misfa.

Contact: 95212017 / 99608600

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/COMPUTER/WEBSITE Porta cabin for sale in Misfa.

Contact: 99442438 / 96578799 Marble factory for sale location Misfah. Contact: 98586828 Restaurant items for sale.

Contact: 96772479 /98428507 Supermarket for sale in Amerat (5) for part-time workers does not have required 35/000 retractable negotiate. Contact 96656972 / 99719973

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 LEGAL SERVICE An Indian lawyer Provides all legal services in company matters.

Labour issues, contracts, agreements, LLC formation, legal help for starting new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Pest Control Treatments Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723

Contact: 99041337 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326

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

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Maintenance, Dismantling, Packing, Shifting & Fixing furniture with expert technicians.

Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

FURNITURE SHIFTING

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

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Marble, Grinding crystallization.

Contact: 99344723 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 Cleaning services sofa, carpet, shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6

C7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

ACC. AVAILABLE Accommodation for couple or working lady, near Al Nahda hospital. Contact 95871148 Room for rent with attach B/R & kitchen for R.O 75/- without Elect/ water, near BP Petrol Pump Mabellah . Contact: 91516775 / 99772515 Sharing accommodation near Hamriya flower shopping supermarket. Contact: 98985763 Single room attached bath at Mumtaz area. Contact 95212017 / 90562744 Furnished room available for Executive bachelor in Ruwi area.

Contact: 99054542 Furnished room for an Indian in Al-Khuwair33 - 95234062 Room with kitchen, bath available in Ruwi for a couple or single working lady. Contact: 91450718 / 91429608 Accommodation available at Al Hail Keralite family only.

Contact: 96234708 Furnished bedroom with attached bath and kitchen, separate entrance available for Executive bachelor for R.O 150/- per month all inclusive in a villa OPP star cinema. Contact: 99314807 Hail Independent rooms RO 140/& 160/-. Contact 95529970 A big room available for Muslim couple / small family executive bachelor near Hamriya R/A rent 130/- OMR, including water / Electricity. Contact: 99495131 Ghubra. Beautiful Room. Indian Lady/Couple/Bachelor. Non-cooking, Vegetarians. Contact 99283938 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for executive bachelor opposite OC centre Ruwi. Call: 92273779 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

SITUATION WANTTOURS ED

DRIVING

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

MV SALE Hyundai Santafe 2010 model, 2.7 litres, Black Colour, Expat driven, well maintained, 86000 kms.

Contact - 93304439.

NRI Flats for sale Kerala Trichur fully furnished 3BHK flat 1575 sq ft ready to occupy. Contact: 99073124 Ready to occupy flat, 3BHK 1600 sq ft 1No & 3 BHK 1200 sq ft 1No. at heart of Trichur N.H road frontage.

Contact: 99073124 Located about 1/2 km behind Cherplasseri town bus stand (Palakkad) 8 cents or 16 cents of residential plot for sale @ 3 lakh per cent.

Contact 97375638.

TRANSPORTATION Transportation in Muscat.

Contact: 96004045 Transportation. Contact :98505294 Transportation.Contact: 99099714 Transportation Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92711421 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact 92015894

MANPOWER

GOOD NEWS FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).Contact: 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area. Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact: 99839898

C8

S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 6, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

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