Times of Oman - June 6, 2016 by Muscat Media Group

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EIGHT MALALA SHOOTING SUSPECTS ACQUITTED Eight of the 10 men supposedly convicted and jailed for attempting to murder schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai were actually cleared, officials said on Friday. >A7

SATURDAY, June 6, 2015 / 18 Sha’aban 1436 AH

SAUDI ARABIA, GHANA

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Cases of scarlet fever rise amid hot weather

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HM sends condolences MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the death of Princess Jawahir bint Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, praying to the Almighty Allah to rest her soul in peace and grant her family patience to bear the loss . Ghana His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana for the victims of blast at a ﬁlling station in Accra. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the president, his country’s people and the families of the victims, wishing the injured persons a speedy recovery .—ONA

Patients with scarlet fever symptoms are rushing to clinics in Muscat. The fever can be easily treated

DOs

with antibiotics,

say city doctors SWEDEN

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to King Gustaf and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. —ONA

RESPECT FOR THE LEADER: The event was organised to celebrate His Majesty the Sultan’s return to Oman from Germany and the 45th anniversary of his leadership. Photo - Shabin E

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sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Painting of people waving Omani ﬂags, calligraphy with the word Qaboos, and multimedia artwork with photos and coins ﬁlled little canvases as artists gathered at the Omani Society for Fine Arts on Wednesday evening to pay tribute to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The event was organised to celebrate both His Majesty’s return to Oman in March after eight months in Germany for medical treatment and the 45th anniversary of his leadership. Artists, both Omani nationals and expatriates, were provided with paints, brushes and little square canvases. “We are celebrating His Majesty’s return but in an artistic

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way to show the others how we love our Sultan and how we care about him. The artists are going to express their loyalty and their joy to His Majesty,” explained Enaam Ahmed, from the Omani Society for Fine Arts. Calligrapher Sultan Al Dafaei ﬁlled his canvas with beautifully scripted words that remind him of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos such as love, peace, and honesty. “I feel such love for this man because he did many things for this country. For that I have to do a small thing and transfer what we feel through words or design,” Al Dafaei said.

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Hilal Al Sabhani painted His Majesty’s portrait on a background of blue, red, purple and white. He said he was happy to participate in the event because it was a good opportunity to create art for his leader. “He means everything to us. He raised Oman and put it ﬁrst. He’s so thoughtful and wise,” Al Sabhani commented. Many Omani artists, including children, joined the event, but it also attracted a number of expatriate artists who are proud to live in the Sultanate. Parizad Berlin said it was an honour to be allowed to participate in the noteworthy event. “Forty-ﬁve years of His Majesty’s rule is something to be proud of, whether you’re an expat living here in the safety of this wonderful country or a citizen,” she said. >A3 T W O R E S C U E D AT QU RU M

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Keeping alive the camel bones craft

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Love, loyalty for His Majesty ﬁnd expression on canvas

SAI –Times of Oman winners get prizes

More than 300 children got prizes for winning in the 12th edition of SAI –Times of Oman Open Essay and Poster Making Competition – 2015 on value-based themes. >A3

Rain in parts of Sultanate FAHAD AL GHADANI

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MARKET

Houthis agree to talks

Stake in Vitol

Houthis and Yemen’s exiled government agreed to attend peace talks. >A4

Oman will take control of an oil-trading venture it owns with Vitol Group. >B1

SHERATON FLYOVER OPENED FOR TRAFFIC The Sheraton flyover near the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been opened for public. Vehicles were seen moving on the flyover on Friday. A Muscat Municipality official had told ‘Times of Oman’ recently that the flyover would be opened soon. Photo-A R Rajkumar

MUSCAT: Moderate to heavy rain fell in Ibri, Yanqul, Dhan, Dima wa Tayeen, Behla, Nizwa and Hamra on Friday. Some roads in Rustaq were blocked due to overﬂowing wadis. “More rain is expected in the northern parts of Hajar Mountains,” according to the Met department. Meanwhile, PACDA reported that two persons were saved at Qurum beach from drowning by the Coast Guard. The rescued people have sustained medium injuries and have been admitted to a hospital. Tropical depression Oman’s Meteorology Department has issued a statement about a low pressure area in the Arabian Sea. According to the Met office, satellite images show the existence of a tropical depression in the south east Arabian Sea. The centre of depression is 1,400 km away from the Oman’s shores. The images indicate the depression may deepen as it will move northwards in the next three days. “There is no connection between the rainfall in some parts of Oman on Friday and the low depression in the Arabian Sea,” the statement said. The Met department is monitoring the situation.

Drink plenty of water Eat light food Include fruits and vegetables in diet Take medical advice once fever shoots up

MUSCAT: High levels of heat and humidity have unleashed scarlet fever in the city with many clinics are witnessing a rush of patients with symptoms of this disease. The fever, which lasts for a week, is accompanied by a host of symptoms. Hundreds of child and adult patients are turning up at city clinics with scarlet fever symptoms such as sore throat, gastroenteritis and skin rashes. “We have seen around 150 to 200 cases last month,” conﬁrmed Dr Ankit Modi, Specialist – Paediatrician, Starcare Hospital. If left untreated, doctors said that scarlet fever can cause serious complications, including: rheumatic fever, ear and skin infections, throat abscesses, pneumonia and arthritis. “Most of these complications can be avoided with the intake of antibiotics,” Dr Modi said. Doctors said that scarlet fever is an upper respiratory tract infection associated with a characteristic rash. “The rash appears within 24-48 hours after the on-

DON’Ts

Oily food Chilled water Antibiotics without doctor’s advice Staying in the sun for a long time

set of symptoms, although it may appear with the ﬁrst signs of illness. It often begins around the neck and spreads over the body. The skin has a goose-pimple appearance and appears rough. The tongue turns strawberry in colour,” Dr Modi added. “There is no vaccine against the disease, but it is effectively treated with antibiotics,” said Paul Joseph of Badr Al Samaa Hospital, Ruwi. Doctors say that the scarlet fever is extremely contagious and can be contracted from an infected person’s coughs and sneezes, touching the skin of a person, sharing contaminated towels, baths, clothes or bed linen. >A3

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

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Keeping alive the camel bone craft Keeping alive the ancient art of camelbone carving in Oman is the Dhahdoon Craft Centre, located at Thumrait in the southern region of Dhofar. The centre has trained women in the once dying art to create works of art like necklaces, pendants, pen holders etc as Times lensman Cio Datan found out

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015

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CABLE

SCHOOL FUNCTION

His Majesty congratulates the Queen of Denmark

48 American school students graduate

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the occasion of her country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to Queen Margrethe and the friendly people of Denmark further progress and prosperity.

Times News Service

HM sends condolence cable to Belarusian president MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Alexander Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus on the death of his mother. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Lukashenko, his family and the friendly Belarusian people.

HM condoles with Chinese president over river tragedy MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on victims of the Chinese ship that sank in Yangtze River. In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Xi Jinping, families of the victims and the friendly Chinese people. –ONA

MUSCAT: Forty-eight Grade 12 students from The American International School of Muscat (TAISM), representing 27 nations, graduated in the presence of Greta Holtz, US ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, recently . More than 500 parents, faculty, and students attended the event, which was held in the school’s Bosch Centre for the Performing Arts. The 48 graduates have been accepted and plan to enrol in universities around the world, including the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia, apart from Asia, the GCC and Oman. Keith Boniface, principal of the high school, presented two special awards to the graduates. The award for Academic Excellence was given to senior Josephine Baltimore, who ended her academic record with the highest honours (GPA greater than 4.0). The Outstanding Senior Award, selected by faculty, went to a student who best embodied the mission of the school. This year the award went to Vanessa Seymour.

SMILES OF SUCCESS: More than 500 parents, faculty, and students attended the school graduation function.– Supplied photo

Seymour and Baltimore spoke at the ceremony. Lauren Hovland, a graduating senior, was selected by the faculty to be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. The TAISM Concert Band, under the baton of Dr Michael Buck, band director, performed the prelude and processional music, including Edward Elgar’s popular Pomp and Circumstance. In

honour of the graduating seniors, the TAISM High School Choir, directed by Melanie Brink, performed the school’s choral anthem, Like an Eagle. Earlier that day, TAISM held the awards ceremony for the students who were named as the most outstanding in the following subjects: Arabic as a Foreign Language: Sargon Goriel (11), Arabic

as a Heritage Language: Saif Al Hajri (12) and Mithaq Al Balushi (11), Art: Mai Al Harthy (12) and Athletics: Outstanding Athletes – John Awe (12) and Tania Olier Souza (12), in addition to Choral Music: Maria Chalhoub (12) and Lauren Hovland (12), Drama: Lauren Hovland (12) and Joshua Lee (12), English: Joshua Lee (12), and French: Virginia Attina (12). The outstanding students in other categories were: Instrumental Music: Saif Al Hajri (12), Mathematics: Hajin Hyun (11), Physical Education: Ahmed Qaiser (11) and Asya Eminkahyagil (10), and Publications: Lauren Hovland (12), along with Science: Mohamed Abdelhamid (11), Social Studies: John Awe (12) and Josephine Baltimore (12), Spanish: Josephine Baltimore (12) and Kristin Wilson (12), and Technical Theatre: Lauren Hovland (12) and Maria Rodrigues Soares (12). Technology: Chevontia Raju (11), Community Service Leadership Award – Vanessa Seymour (12) and the Principal’s Award – Saif Al Hajri (12) made up the rest of the awardees.

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The audience at

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the contest was presented with glimpses of the competition that was held in April 2015 WINNING GLORY : From among 4,500 students registered for the event from 275 schools in Oman, 670 made it to the prize winners’ list.–Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 300 children received prizes for winning in the 12th edition of SAI–Times of Oman Open Essay and Poster Making Competition–2015 on value-based themes, at the Indian School Al Ghubra on Wednesday evening. Siddiqa Abdulmajeed Abdullah Al Lawati, director, International Schools’ Office, Ministry of EducaL O YA LT Y P L E D G E

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Paintings honour HM

Berlin said His Majesty represents a “safe haven,” a person who cares deeply about his people by caring about their wellbeing. Her painting featured a gold coin with His Majesty’s face on it in the centre, with rays of light emanating from it, including rays in the colours of the Omani ﬂag, red, green and white. She described it as simple and understated, like the man it represents. “I would say the light had gone out of Oman with him not here. We all bask in the glory of the rays he gives out. Without him Oman would not be what it is,” she said. The paintings will be displayed in November for the 45th National Day celebrations. Enaam Ahmed added that she hoped His Majesty the Sultan would see from the artwork just how much his people care for him. H E A LT H S C A R E

< FROM

Heat causes viral fever

It can also be caught from carriers - people who have the bacteria in their throat or on their skin but do not show any symptoms. He also said a dose of antibiotics should be prescribed immediately after a patient is diagnosed with scarlet fever, adding “This should continue for 10 days without a break.” Dr Santosh Ramaswamy, paediatrician, Atlas Medical Hospital, Ruwi, said that he is also seeing a large number of children suffering from viral fever with rashes. “Some are also suffering from gastroenteritis and vomiting because of the rising temperatures,” he said.

tion (MoE), was the chief guest at the awards ceremony. The function was graced by Sadeq Jawad Sulaiman, renowned speaker and former ambassador of Oman to the United States of America (USA), who was the guest of honour. The function was attended by officials from the MoE, Papri Ghosh, principal of the Indian

School, Al Ghubra, Dr Taghreed Turki Al Said, assistant professor in psychology, at the Sultan Qaboos University and owner of ‘My Book and Me’, Oman’s ﬁrst edutainment centre, besides the judges of the competition and teachers from various schools. The parents of the prize winners came in large numbers, some from places quite far away, to capture the moments

I N I T I AT I V E

‘Invest Easy’ service for easier registration MUSCAT: ‘Invest Easy’, an e-commercial registration service, which is part of the comprehensive development project for a single window clearance, was launched here recently. The launch was held under the auspices of Darwish bin Ismail Al Balushi, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs, in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb, undersecretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and head of the supervisory committee for the single window clearance project, said in a speech that ‘Invest Easy’ project is being implemented as per

the master plan in six stages. The project has completed the three basic stages during which it provided 23 electronic self-services that enable investors and entrepreneurs to access it through the Internet and other modern communication systems. The technical integration project now covers 15 public organisations that will be increased to 29 government departments and private organisations in the final stages of the project. He pointed out that ‘Invest Easy’, which had numerous achievements, is the first project of its kind in the Sultanate to support and issue the esigned certificate. –ONA

R E A L E S TAT E

Indian properties exhibition opens Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 100 projects across various cities of India and other International cities are on display at a property show here. The Indus India Properties 2015 pavilion which opened on Friday at the Hotel Muscat Holiday, in Al Khuwair will be open on Saturday also between 10.45 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. The pavilion, which is part of International Property Expo, will enable both buyers and investors to meet and talk to over 25 leading developers and builders representing India and other international cities. The exhibition offers

visitors a wide choice of properties ranging from Rs500,000 to Rs15 crore. Whether you are looking for a beachside villa, a city apartment, a studio or a luxury golf resort condominium, there are properties to suit all budgets. With so many properties on display, it is an ideal time to wander around and compare designs, locations and prices. The exhibition has been organised by Indus Fairs & Events (India) Private Limited, World National Exhibitions, Oman and Lynx Ads. Indus is the pioneering exhibition company established in 1995.

of their children receiving prizes. The awards ceremony started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. A. V. Manohar from the SAI Group welcomed the gathering and traced the journey of the competition from its inception in 2003. Recalling a quote, he said: “Human value is an inﬁnite circle whose circumference is nowhere but its centre everywhere.”

Speaking on the occasion, Al Lawati said, “This is a very useful competition as it spreads human values. SAI group is doing a wonderful job in organising this contest and MoE is pleased to support them.” Sadeq Jawad Sulaiman, in his keynote address stressed the need for values in education. “With knowledge, you can build a bridge or a bomb. But with values integrated in knowledge, one always builds bridges and not bombs,” he said. Quoting the late US President John F. Kennedy at his inaugural address to the nation, Sulaiman said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” From among 4,500 students registered for the event from 275 schools in Oman, 670 children made it to the prize winners’ list. Of these, 271 winners from the

Muscat governorate and 60 winners from the interior regions collected their prizes. The prize comprised an attractive plaque and a certiﬁcate. The prizes to winners from the interior regions will be handed over to the respective schools. A certiﬁcate of participation was also handed over to all the participants. The guest of honour distributed plaques to the judges and others who supported this competition. The prize winning essays and posters were displayed on the school premises for the public to view. Besides, at the onset, the audience was presented with glimpses of the competition that was held in April 2015, in Muscat, Sur, Sohar, and Nizwa, in addition to Salalah and Buraimi. “This event has given the SAI Group an opportunity to serve the student community in Oman and we thank the MoE and others for their support and dedication. We sign off the 12th year’s event, with satisfaction in our hearts and eagerly wait for another year to witness this great day again,” said a SAI coordinator.

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015 Tariq Aziz arrived at Al Nasiriya Educational hospital suffering from a severe heart attack. He had heart complications that led to his death at 3pm (1200 GMT) Dr Saadi Al Majid, Head of the health department of Dhi Qar governorate in Iraq

REGION

Houthi rebels, Yemen government agree to UN-brokered peace talks scribed Yemen’s humanitarian crisis as “catastrophic,” with 20 million civilians — 80 per cent of the population — in need of aid.

The Geneva meeting, provisionally set for June 14, would be the first significant effort to stop the fighting

SANAA: Houthi rebels and Yemen’s exiled government agreed on Friday to attend UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva aimed at ending weeks of war that has cost more than 2,000 lives. The Geneva meeting, provisionally set for June 14, would be the first significant effort to stop the fighting, which has led to what the United Nations called a catastrophic humanitarian situation. A Saudi-led coalition has been bombing the Houhti rebels and their allies for 10 weeks, while rights groups have expressed concerns about the extent of civilian casualties. “We accepted the invitation of the United Nations to go to the negotiating table in Geneva without preconditions,” said Daifallah Al Shami, a senior member of the rebels’ political wing. Speaking to AFP, he added that the rebels “will not accept conditions” from other parties. Ezzedine Al Isbahi, information minister of the Yemeni government exiled in the Saudi capital, said it would also send a delegation to Switzerland. UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the Security Council on Wednesday that the government would attend but that he was still in consultation with the rebels. “The government agreed to participate in the Geneva talks,” Isbahi told AFP.

RUINED: A destroyed oil installation is seen after Saudi-led coalition aristrikes on the northern outskirts of Aden, in the south of Yemen, on Thursday. A senior member of the rebels’ political wing on Friday said, “We accepted the invitation of the United Nations to go to the negotiating table in Geneva without preconditions,” said Daifallah Al Shami, a senior member of the rebels’ political wing. – AFP

He said the meeting would involve “consultations on implementing Resolution 2216” which the Security Council passed in April. It imposed an arms embargo on the Houthi rebels and demanded they relinquish seized territory.

Former deputy PM of Iraq Tariq Aziz dies in jail

Ill health He had long complained of ill health during his detention. Dr Saadi Al Majid, head of the health department of Dhi Qar governorate, where Aziz was being held, conﬁrmed Aziz’s death: “Tariq Aziz arrived at Al Nasiriya Educational hospital suffering from a severe heart attack. He had heart complications that led to his death at 3pm (1200 GMT).” Routine procedures The governor of Dhi Qar, Yahya Al Nasiri, said the body would be handed over to Aziz’s relatives in Iraq “as soon as our routine procedures and investigations are concluded”. Aziz’s son Zaid told Reuters in Amman that Aziz’s wife had visited him in prison on Thurs-

Since overrunning Sanaa in September, the Houthis have seized much of the country, prompting the bombing campaign in support of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Pro-government forces have

been ﬁghting the rebels and their allies in a war the United Nations says has forced more than half a million people from their homes. The Security Council this week heard a report from new UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien who de-

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

PA S S E D AWAY

BAGHDAD: Tariq Aziz, who was foreign minister of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, has died in prison, Iraqi officials said on Friday. He was 79. Aziz surrendered in April 2003 to the US invasion force that overthrew Saddam. He was sentenced to death seven years later for the persecution of parties under Saddam.

The negotiations would try to secure a ceaseﬁre, agreement on a Houthi withdrawal plan and increased deliveries of humanitarian aid, according to diplomats who attended the closed-door Security Council brieﬁng.

Confirmation Confirmation that the government and rebels would both send delegations to Switzerland follows a flurry of diplomacy after the UN was forced to abandon plans to convene talks last week. In line with Resolution 2216, Hadi’s government refused to attend unless the rebels pulled back from at least some of the territory they have seized. On Tuesday, Washington said Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson had met Houthi representatives to try to persuade them to join the proposed Geneva conference. Patterson also travelled to Saudi Arabia for talks with the kingdom’s leaders as well as Hadi, who fled Yemen in March when the rebels moved on the port city of Aden, which had become his sanctuary. UN envoy Ould Cheikh Ahmed met with Hadi this week after holding talks in rebel-held Sanaa. The US meeting with the rebels, who have boycotted talks in Riyadh and insisted on a neutral venue, followed a mission last week by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. A diplomat said the Houthis told the US they wanted a halt to the bombing and unrestricted access for deliveries of humanitarian aid. While momentum builds towards the peace talks, killing continues on the ground. Medical and military sources said at least 21 people have died in violent combat since Thursday in the Aden area, while there were intense coalition air raids against Daleh and Shabwa provinces. The aid group Action Against Hunger reiterated its demand for the coalition to lift its air, land and sea blockade of Yemen, “of which civilians are the first victims”. — AFP

day and had asked the prison authorities to take him to hospital. He said the prison had refused, though this could not be conﬁrmed independently. “His voice was deteriorating but he was not dying,” Zaid said. Fluent English speaker Aziz, a ﬂuent English speaker, played a prominent diplomatic role in the run-up to the 1991 Gulf War, when a US-led coalition drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, as well as in the long-running disputes over United Nations weapons inspections in subsequent years. A Chaldean Christian, he was born in the village of Tal Keif, near Mosul in northern Iraq. His association with Saddam dated back to the 1950s, when the two men were involved in the thenoutlawed Baath party. Aziz was appointed minister of information in the 1970s. In 1977, he joined the Revolutionary Command Council, the committee of senior Baath party officials ruling Iraq, and in 1979, he became deputy prime minister. Aziz was number 43 on the US list of most wanted Iraqi officials when he gave himself up just two weeks after Saddam was toppled. — Reuters

IS advances on Syrian city despite air raids BEIRUT: The extremist IS group fought fierce battles on Friday with Syria’s armed forces in a bid to seize control of Hasakeh, a key provincial capital in the country’s northeast. “Fierce clashes continued on Friday between regime forces and IS south of Hasakeh city. The regime is violently and intensely bombarding militant positions from the air,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor said the regime was using barrel bombs -- large containers packed with explosives -- against militants edging towards the city, which is divided between Kurdish and government control. Since their offensive began on May 30, IS fighters have advanced to the southern outskirts of Hasakeh using deadly suicide attacks and heavy mortar fire. Citing a military source, Syria’s state news agency SANA said the army had used “aerial weapons... to destroy equipment belonging to the IS terrorists”. The seven-day assault has killed at least 71 government loyalists and 59 extremists, including 11 who drove car bombs -- IS’s signature weapon -- towards regime positions, the Observatory said. The militants, which have expanded their control in central and eastern Syria and in neighbouring Iraq, seized a number of key posts, including a prison and power plant.

UNSAFE STREETS: A family walks at a site hit by what activists said was an airstrike by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad, at the eastern Ghouta of Damascus on Friday. – Reuters

Hasakeh has since been without power, local activist Arin Shekhmos said. Kurdish militia, locked in battles with IS in other parts of Hasakeh province, have yet to take part in the clashes south of the city. “For the moment, the Kurds are not taking part in the ﬁght as

the battles have not reached their area,” Abdel Rahman said. Al Watan, a Syrian daily close to the government, has criticised Kurdish militia for not coming to the army’s aid. The loss of the city would follow a string of defeats in major cities for Syrian President Bashar Al As-

sad, including the ancient site of Palmyra last month and the northwest provincial capital of Idlib in March. It would also be the second provincial capital to fall to IS after Raqa, which extremists declared the capital of their self-styled “caliphate” last year. — AFP

SUPERCAR

Abu Dhabi to introduce Lykan HyperSport in police ﬂeet

IN A NEW ROLE: Abu Dhabi Police took delivery of the car on Monday. – Courtesy Security Media

ABDU DHABI: The last time you saw a Lykan HyperSport, Vin Diesel was driving it through a window of an Etihad Towers skyscraper in the movie Furious 7. The next time you see one it might be driven by an Abu Dhabi Police officer. The force is thinking of adding the supercar to its ﬂeet. “We brought it into the country last week for pilot-testing,” said Brig Hussain Al Harthi, director of central operations. “We haven’t

bought it yet because we want to test it ﬁrst to see if it ﬁts Abu Dhabi Police’s requirements.” W Motors, a Dubai company, produces the car in Turin, Italy, with Magna Steyr. It costs Dh12.5 million. Abu Dhabi Police took delivery of the car on Monday, according to a report in the National. “It will be on tour in Abu Dhabi from this week onwards,” a spokesman for W Motors said. The Lykan HyperSport is the

first Middle Eastern supercar and one of the world’s fastest. Powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine, it goes from 0 to 60kph in less than three seconds and has a top speed of 395kph. It was first displayed at the Dubai Motor Show in November 2013, and was recently in the spotlight at the Shanghai Auto Show 2015. In Furious 7, the latest instalment of the Fast and Furious franchise, the car has diamond-coated

LED headlights. The pilot-testing of the Lykan comes on the heels of unveiling a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a 999 number plate to mark the opening of the GCC Traffic Week in March. The luxury car is being used for special events and not on daily patrols. Dubai Police chief Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina said the cars were used to patrol heritage sites as well as other places visited by tourists. — The National

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POWER TUSSLE

Kejriwal says Modi taking ‘revenge’ for losing Delhi polls NEW DELHI: Locked in a bitter standoff with the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being “revengeful” towards his government and the people of Delhi after BJP’s staggering defeat in Delhi polls. Kejriwal was even more strident in attacking Delhi’s Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, calling him as BJP’s “polling agent” who had turned his official residence into “BJP headquarters”. “Delhi people have voted for us and the rest of the country supported Modi. So please let us run Delhi and you (Modi) run the country. Don’t create trouble for us everyday through the LG. This is not being a good Prime Minister. Taking revenge for losing Delhi from people and AAP is not right,” he said, sending out a message to Modi. Slamming Jung, Kejriwal said he does not give time even to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia or other Delhi ministers for a meeting or take his calls. “But if the ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) of (BJP President) Amit Shah calls him (LG), he will crawl and go.” Alleging that the “LG house has become another BJP headquarter”, Kejriwal said, “He (LG) is acting like a poll agent of BJP.” Tussle for power Kejriwal, who led his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to an unprecedented poll victory in Delhi last year bagging 67 out of 70 seats, has been locked in a tussle with the LG over transfer and posting of officials. “Narendra Modi is after us... He doesn’t want us to be successful... If we replicate our success (of 67 out of 70 seats) elsewhere, it will be a big problem for BJP. That is why they have come down to take revenge against Delhi

INDIA

India, Netherlands chalk out cooperation road map Prime Minister Naredra Modi described the talks

Narendra Modi is after us... He doesn’t want us to be successful... If we replicate our success (of 67 out of 70 seats) elsewhere, it will be a big problem for BJP. That is why they have come down to take revenge against Delhi public Arvind Kejriwal Delhi chief minister

public,” he told NDTV. He said Jung’s actions are “exposing” Modi because people are accusing the Prime Minister for the ﬁght between the LG and Kejriwal’s government. Alleging that the Central government is trying to “corner us using the LG”, Kejriwal asserted, “Narendra Modi should know that I am not Rahul Gandhi.” He dared the Prime Minister and the Union Home Ministry to go to court over the transfer and posting of officials, which has been a bone of contention because of jurisdictional issues. - PTI

as ‘comprehensive and productive’ and said they discussed bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of mutual interest COMMON CONCERNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte during their joint statement at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, on Friday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Indian and The Netherlands on Friday decided to set up a joint working group on counter terrorism as the two countries set a road map for their cooperation in diverse ﬁelds, including infrastructure, investments, agriculture and renewable energy. During talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from The Netherlands Mark Rutte, which covered a wide range of issues, the visiting leader expressed support to the ambitious ‘Make in India’ programme, including in the defence sector. Modi also announced e-visa for tourists from The Netherlands. At a joint media interaction later, Modi described the talks as “comprehensive and productive” and said they discussed bilateral relations as well as global and regional issues of mutual interest. Diverse ﬁelds He said a Joint Statement issued after the talks “outlines our road map for cooperation in priority sectors of mutual interest, including infrastructure development, shipping, ports and inland water-

ways, renewable energy, science and technology, health and sports. “We have agreed to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, which will hold its first meeting on June 19,” Modi said. He said both the countries stand to benefit from closer bilateral and multilateral collaboration, including in areas such as countering terrorism and extremism, defence, maritime security and cyber security. “Our two countries are bound by history and shared values. We have similar concerns like terrorism and common aspirations for a secure and stable world,” he added. Rutte, while describing the two countries as close economic partners, said the trade between them now stands at 6 billion euros and growing everyday. “These are impressive numbers but we need to step up and do more and still there are many areas where we can work more closely,” he said. Later, the Dutch Prime Minister told reporters that India and Netherlands are going to work shoulder-to-shoulder to fight ter-

POSTER ROW

Protestors defy prohibitory orders, Jammu tense JAMMU: Situation in Jammu was “tense” on Friday as Sikh youth deﬁed prohibitory orders and held protests in various areas as part of a three-day old agitation which is spreading and saw one more policeman being stabbed and his AK riﬂe taken away. Protests were also held in Indian-administered-Kashmir besides Poonch, Rajouri and other parts of Jammu region on Friday over the death of a youth in clashes that erupted in Jammu on Thursday after hundreds of Sikhs blocked road and pelted stones at cops over removal of posters of Khalistani militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Defying prohibitory orders, Sikh youth on Friday took to streets for the third day as protests spread over various areas in Jammu, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri districts. In Jammu, protests were held in various areas like Digiana, Gangyal, Canal, Tallab Tilloo, Rehari, Bakshinagar, Narwal and Gole Gujral areas. Streets of Jammu wore a deserted look and business establishments remained closed. Mobile and internet services were also suspended in Jammu. Schools and colleges in several districts of the region were closed. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas of Jammu city where the situation is described by authorities as “tense but under control”.

UP IN ARMS: Sikh community members shout slogans at Amira Kadal, in Srinagar, on Friday during a protest against the killing of a Sikh youth in an earlier clash with the Jammu police. - PTI

Army late last night staged a ﬂag march in parts of Jammu following violent clashes. Authorities had clamped Section 144 of CrPC, which bars gathering of more than four persons at a place, in the entire Jammu district and curfew like situation prevailed in violence-hit areas of Satwari-Ranibagh-Gadigarh-R S Pura belt and elsewhere. Meanwhile, some miscreants

among the protestors stabbed a policeman and fled with his AK rifle in Gangyal area of Jammu city late last night, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Jammu East Mohmmad Rafiq said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who hails from Jammu, on Friday briefed Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the situation. Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, said

the Home Minister has offered all possible support to the Jammu and Kashmir government for dealing with the situation. Rajnath Singh has spoken to Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and offered him sufficient number of armed forces personnel in case the need arises, Jitendra Singh said, adding “I hope the situation will be brought under control very soon.” - PTI

rorism, cyber crime and on many other issues. Asked what kind of anti-terrorism cooperation he was looking at, Rutte said, “Primarily, at the moment we are working on exchange of information. How do we deal with the issue of foreign terrorist fighters in Netherlands, what has been your experience in India”. Share information He said his country’s experience in fighting IS in Iraq will also be shared. He said intelligence agencies of both the countries will also share information. Referring to Modi’s upcoming visit to Bangladesh, Rutte said Modi finds it “particularly important” because Bangladesh is a democracy and he wants to support it in every field, “particularly also in the area of fighting terrorism”. Talking about the defence industry sector, he said there are many possibilities for Dutch companies because India permits FDI in the sector. A joint communique said both the leaders welcomed the ini-

tiative of setting up an EU-Ganga platform to coordinate efforts among European partners, in which the Netherlands committed itself to play a leading role. A team of Dutch experts will be visiting India for finalising and advancing the identified areas of collaboration with the National Mission on Clean Ganga. The leaders also hailed an agreement between Bharat Immunologicals and Biologicals Corporation Limited and Intravacc on vaccine development and manufacturing vaccines against Measles-Rubella in India, with transfer of technology. The communique also talked about a collaboration between the Netherlands and Maharashtra in infrastructure development and delivery in and around the City of Mumbai, including integrated approach to challenges related to Coastal Road and Metro. The two prime ministers took particular note of the significant expansion in economic and commercial engagement in the last decade. - PTI

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

INDIA A S S E M B LY S E AT

MARKING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY Prime Minister Narendra Modi planting a Kadamb sapling (Neolamarckia Cadamba), at the Race Course Road lawns to mark the World Environment Day, in New Delhi on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said people should take pride in the number of trees planted by them the same way they take pride in worldly possessions. He said that living in harmony with nature is the only way to avoid a catastrophic situation on Mother Earth. -PTI

Jaya files papers for June 27 by-election CHENNAI: Making her way past hundreds of joyous supporters, AIAMDK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday filed her nomination papers for June 27 bypoll to the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency here. In what is expected to be cakewalk for her in the wake of major opposition parties deciding to boycott the bypoll, the 67-yearold Jayalalithaa aims to make her debut from a constituency in this metropolis. Jayalalithaa, who was accompanied by close aide Sasikala, filed her nomination at the Corporation Zonal office here. The entire route beginning from her residence was decorated with festoons as All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members braving the scorching sun waved the party flag and greeted her amid playing of traditional south Indian music instruments. Acquitted Having been acquitted in a wealth case that threatened to derail her political career, Jayalalithaa returned as chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu for the fifth time last month and has to be elected as MLA within six months. P. Vetrivel of AIADMK had quit as MLA of RK Nagar on May 17, paving the way for Jayalalithaa to contest from a city constituency and return to the 234-member

India bans Maggi instant noodles after safety scare The Food Safety and Standards Authority

We decided to take off the noodles from the shelves as there was confusion about the safety. The safety of our consumers is paramount. We are working with the authorities to clear up this confusion

of India said that it was ordering Nestle to halt manufacturing after tests by some states found lead levels above statutory limits

NEW DELHI: India’s food safety regulator on Friday banned Nestle from making and selling its hugely popular Maggi instant noodles, calling them “unsafe” and “hazardous” after tests found they contained excessive lead. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said it was ordering Nestle to halt manufacturing after tests by some states found lead levels above statutory limits. Nestle, which denies the charges and says the noodles are safe to eat, had already announced it was pulling the product from sale as it seeks to contain growing safety concerns. Recall An FSSAI statement said it was ordering Nestle India to “withdraw and recall all the nine approved variants of its Maggi Instant Noodles from the market...

STEPPING IN: Global Chief Executive Nestle, Paul Bulcke gestures during a press conference, in New Delhi, on Friday. Bulcke said the product was “safe for consumption”. - AFP

and stop further production”. It said tests had found the noodles to be “unsafe and hazardous for human consumption”. Nestle, which says the lead content in its Maggi noodles is well below the limit, had already announced it would withdraw the product from sale as it tries to contain the growing scandal. On Friday its global chief executive Paul Bulcke said the product was “safe for consumption”. “We decided to take off the noodles from the shelves as there was confusion about the safety,” he said at a press conference in New

Delhi. “The safety of our consumers is paramount. We are working with the authorities to clear up this confusion.” At least six states including India’s capital have announced temporary bans on the sale of the instant noodles in the past few days, after officials said test results showed high lead levels. ‘Unsafe and hazardous’ The FSSAI said the presence of lead “beyond permissible levels” could make the product “unsafe and hazardous”, citing risks of damage to the kidneys and the

Paul Bulcke Global Chief Executive Nestle

nervous system. Activists in Kolkata on Thursday burned packets of the noodles in protest, underscoring the scale of public anger. Nestle has been selling its Maggi brand for over three decades in India, and has 80 per cent of the country’s instant noodle market. The product — marketed as a quick and healthy snack — grew increasingly popular as more and more Indians moved away from their homes to study or seek work. It emerged as one of India’s ﬁve most trusted brands in a consumer survey conducted last year. Several celebrities have en-

dorsed Maggi over the years, including Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. The scare met with a mix of outrage and disappointment in India, where it was one of the top trending topics on Twitter on Friday. Many users welcomed the ban and the best-selling novelist Chetan Bhagat tweeted that Maggi was “junk being sold as emotional nectar to Indians daily”. Others defended the product and said they had been eating it for decades with no ill effects. “My work often involves travel and odd hours, which over the years made Maggi my favourite snack,” 30-year-old IT worker Puneet Raheja said. Controversy “I think that this controversy will soon blow over.” The scare began when food inspectors in Uttar Pradesh said they had found high lead levels in two dozen Maggi noodle packets during routine testing, along with the ﬂavour enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate), which is not listed in the ingredients. Nestle has said it does not use MSG in its Maggi products sold in India, but that glutamate is a naturally occurring substance and may be present in some of the ingredients. The FSSAI said Nestle had disputed the conclusions on the basis that the noodles and ﬂavouring were tested separately, even though they are consumed together. Shares in Nestle India, the subsidiary of the Swiss giant, fell nine per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Wednesday as the crisis escalated. - AFP

DUE PROCESS: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa ﬁling her nomination papers for the R K Nagar by-election at Tondiarpet zonal office, in Chennai, on Friday. -PTI

state Assembly in which her party enjoys a strong majority of 150. While Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)and Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) have announced boycotting the boypoll, Communist Party of India (CPI) with the support of Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to contest while National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) are yet to make up their mind. This is the ﬁrst time Jayalalithaa is contesting for the Assembly from any constituency here. In 1989, she had represented Bodinayakanur (Theni) and later Bargur (Krishnagiri) and Andipatti (Theni), all rural constituencies. - PTI RAINY SEASON BEGINS

Southwest monsoon hits Kerala NEW DELHI: Southwest Monsoon hit Kerala on Friday marking the start of the rainy season, four days after its normal onset date. “Southwest Monsoon has set in over Kerala, today, June 5, 2015 as against the normal date of June 1,” the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday. “It has further advanced into entire south Arabian Sea, some more parts of Central Arabian Sea, entire Lakshadweep area and Kerala, some parts of coastal and southern interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, remanining parts of southeast Bay of Bengal and some parts of central and northeast Bay of Bengal,” it said. The IMD added that conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, some more parts of Rayalseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh, and northeast India in next 48 hours. The MET department had initially predicted that this year the rainy season would make its fall on May 30 with “below normal” Monsoon, but later downgraded its forecast to “deficient” rainfall. Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced it will offer subsidy on diesel, power and seeds to farmers in case of deficient monsoon affecting crops. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Friday held a meeting with senior officials of India Meteorological Department (IMD), which earlier in the week had revised monsoon forecast to “deficient”, triggering drought fears. Officials from power, water resource, rural development, food and fertiliser ministries, among others were also present in the meet. - PTI

D E A D LY AT TA C K

Army launches hunt for militants after 20 soldiers killed in Manipur GUWAHATI: India’s army launched an operation in the northeastern state of Manipur on Friday to hunt tribal separatist guerrillas who killed at least 20 soldiers in the deadliest attack on security forces in the state in more than two decades. The operation involves hundreds of soldiers on foot with the support of helicopters in the remote mountainous forests close to the border with Myanmar, where insurgents are demanding autonomy for their tribal groups or independence, army and intelligence officers said.

The central government asked the army to “trace and eliminate the insurgents” involved in the attack, a military commander said, asking not to be identiﬁed because he is not authorised to speak to the media. As in much of India’s remote and underdeveloped northeast, Manipur has been the scene of recurring strife between ethnic and religious groups since independence. Manipur is one of seven northeastern provinces attached to the rest of the India by a thin strip of territory arching above Bangladesh. About 2,000 people have been

killed in the violence in Manipur over the last decade, according to the South Asian Terrorism Portal. A senior intelligence officer said about 50 tribal guerrillas were involved in the ambush of the threevehicle convoy on a narrow road on a remote hillside about 100 km from the state capital, Imphal, on Thursday. The militants ﬁred rocketpropelled grenades, detonated improvised explosive devices and peppered the trucks with machine guns, army officials said. Two of the military trucks carrying soldiers caught ﬁre.

The militants may have escaped across a porous border to hideouts in Myanmar, a trek of at least four hours through thick forest from the site of the attack, according to intelligence officers. Three rebels groups active in the area, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and Kangleipak Communist Party, claimed responsibility for the attack. Recently several rebels groups from the region formed a uniﬁed group named United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia. - AFP

SCENE OF AMBUSH: Weapons of the Indian army personnel who were killed by militants lie at the scene of an attack on a military convoy in a remote area of Manipur’s Chandel district, about 120km southwest of the northeastern state’s capital Imphal. - AFP

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015

11%

increase in its military budget as Pakistan continues to ﬁght an insurgency in its embattled northwest

PAKISTAN

Ishaq Dar unveils Rs4.3 trillion 2015-16 budget The budget, with a Rs4.313 trillion outlay, is expected to focus on spurring economic growth and attracting investment

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presented the budgetary proposals for financial year 201516 before the National Assembly on Friday. The new budget, with a Rs 4.313 trillion outlay, is expected to focus on spurring economic growth and attracting investment. The National Economic Council has already approved the Public Sector Development Programme of Rs700 billion for the next financial year. The country will target growth next year of 5.5 per cent when it unveils its 2015-16 budget, with historically low interest rates and infrastructure spending expected to fuel the fastest expansion since the global financial crisis. Defence budget increased Dar announced an 11 per cent increase in its military budget on Friday as it continues to fight an insurgency in its embattled northwest. The finance minister told parliament in his annual budget address that the country would take its defence budget from Rs700 billion to Rs780 billion for the financial year 2015-16. “Keeping in view the security situation and security forces’ needs, we have increased the defence budget from Rs700 billion to Rs780 billion, which is an increase of 11 per cent,” Dar told parliament. Pakistan has been fighting a homegrown insurgency for over a decade, with heavy deployments of troops in the border area near Afghanistan. The insurgency has killed more than 50,000 people and thousands of others have been made homeless because of ongoing military operations. The finance minister

BUDGET SPEECH: A handout photograph released on Friday by Pakistan’s Press Information Department shows Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, right, presenting the annual budget at the National Assembly as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, left, reads a copy of the budget in Islamabad. - AFP

also announced Rs100 billion to be allocated for the rehabilitation of thousands of families who have been forced from their homes by the insurgency. Amidst last-minute changes to accommodate Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s directions, the federal government has allocated Rs700 billion for the Public Sector Development Programme(PSDP) for fiscal 2016 — up by 29 per cent or Rs158 billion over the outgoing fiscal year’s revised budget. While the total number is the same, there is marked difference between the PSDP document that the government unveiled on Friday and the one approved by National Economic Council last Monday. After the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, the Ministry of Planning and Development had to make over Rs50 billion in adjustments to create the fiscal space for two state-owned Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fired power plants to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs163 billion. The NEC has authorised the Planning Ministry to make adjustments in proposed allocations. Initially, the Planning Ministry had conditioned the inclusion of the LNG-fired power plants into the PSDP on the Finance Ministry’s willingness to increase

the development budget’s size to Rs758 billion. The Finance Ministry, however, refused to budget and the Planning Ministry had to retreat and added both the projects into the PSDP, allocating Rs45 billion for fiscal 2016. To make room, it slashed the allocations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s proposed budget by Rs20 billion and cut the proposed development allocations of other ministries and agencies, mainly the National Highway Authority. Special programmes For fiscal 2016, the government has proposed a Rs100 billion allocation out of the development budget for special development programmes for temporarily displaced persons and security enhancement. Another Rs20 billion has been allocated for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. For discretionary development projects identified by parliamentarians, another Rs20 billion has been allocated. Compared with the NEC-approved document, the federal government reduced the allocations of federal ministries and divisions by Rs13 billion to Rs253.2 billion in the new budget. The Water and Power Ministry’s water development projects have

seen their allocations reduced from Rs46 billion to Rs31.2 billion. However, the power sector allocation to the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has been increased to Rs112.2 billion in the new budget, including Rs45 billion for the LNG-fired power projects. The development budget for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) budget has also been reduced from Rs59.3 billion to Rs30.4 billion for fiscal 2016. The government also made a second downward adjustment in the development budget for the National Highway Authority for fiscal 2016. It had originally proposed a Rs200 billion allocation, which was first reduced to Rs184 billion and now the final allocation is Rs160 billion. It also reduced the allocations for Special Development Programmes in the provinces from Rs30 billion to Rs28 billion. Pakistan Railways will get a Rs41 billion bailout. The Higher Education Commission has been given Rs20.5 billion, Rs4.5 billion less than this year’s HEC development budget. Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan have been allocated Rs23.2 billion and Rs19.7 billion to the State and Frontier Region’s Division. - Agencies

M I N G O R A S C H O O L B U S AT TA C K

Eight out of 10 Malala shooting suspects acquitted PESHAWAR: Eight of the 10 men supposedly convicted and jailed for attempting to murder Pakistani schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai were actually cleared, officials said on Friday. Malala was shot in the head in October 2012 by Pakistani Taliban militants who boarded her school bus in an attack that also wounded two of her friends and shocked the world. In April, legal and security officials announced that a court had sentenced 10 men to life imprisonment over the attack, following a trial in Malala’s hometown of Mingora, in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat district. The suspects had been detained by the army during a major antimilitant offensive and the existence of the trial was kept secret until after its conclusion. No media were present for any hearings. Salim Khan Marwat, the Swat district police chief, said that contrary to the earlier announcement, the anti-terrorist court had cleared all but two of the suspects. “Two of them were sentenced to life imprisonment while eight others were acquitted,” he said. “I have no knowledge where the eight persons are now — either in military custody or released.” Azad Khan, the deputy inspector general of police for Malakand division, of which Swat forms a part, confirmed the details and said the trial had been held under military supervision. Confirmed A senior court official with close knowledge of the case also confirmed the news, which emerged in a report in Britain’s Mirror newspaper. “Two of them were convicted and eight others were acquitted because of insufficient evidences and no proofs,” the official said. “The two, Israrullah and Izhar were sentenced to 25 years jail term, which is equivalent to life imprisonment.” A senior security official in Mingora insisted the court had sentenced all 10 men to life imprisonment, accusing the police of lying. Malala, now aged 17, survived the attempt on her life

Malala Yousafzai

Two of them were sentenced to life imprisonment while eight others were acquitted. I have no knowledge where the eight persons are now — either in military custody or released Salim Khan Marwat Swat district police chief

and in October last year became the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in history for her courageous and determined ﬁght for children to have the right to go to school. The man suspected of actually ﬁring the gun at Malala, named by officials as Ataullah Khan, is believed to be on the run in Afghanistan, along with Pakistani Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who ordered the attack. Pakistan’s military announced the arrest of the 10 suspects in September 2014 as part of an operation that involved the army, police and intelligence agencies.-AFP

RARE ONE

A decades old love story connecting Myanmar to Pakistan DHUDIAL (Punjab): Now aged in her 90s, Ayesha Bibi doesn’t remember her real name, who her father was or much about her hometown in Myanmar. What she does remember is that in the 1940s, as Allied forces fought one of the bloodiest battles of the Second World War, against Japanese forces, she fell in love at ﬁrst sight with a soldier from what is now Pakistan. Her parents had been buried alive after their house collapsed in bombardments by Japanese forces. Distraught, she left the site and came upon a nearby barracks — where she met Sepoy Muzaffar Khan of the British Indian Army, which provided some 2.5 million soldiers for the Allies. Eventually they married and settled in Dhudial, a village in the heart of Pakistan’s breadbasket province of Punjab. Khan died a few weeks ago, ending a love story that began in the chaos of war. “When my parents died during bombardment and nobody was left in my family, I simply walked into the soldiers’ camp and asked Muzzaffar to take me along. Because I trusted him,” Bibi, a small spar-

row of a woman with papery skin and cloudy blue eyes, said in ﬂuent Punjabi. “I liked Muzaffar. We initially started communicating in sign language because I didn’t know his language.” More than 100,000 women, mostly from across Europe but also Asia Paciﬁc, moved to the US as “GI brides” after the war under a new law for military wives. Less common But marriages within Asia between colonial forces and other subjects of the empire were far less common. Retired General Abdul Majeed Malik, who joined the British Indian Army in 1939 and later served as a government minister, said such cases were exceptionally unusual. “I never heard about any brides coming here with soldiers who went for WWII,” he said. “If any WWII bride from Burma exists here that is an individual case and I must say the most rare one.” The couple’s love story spanned more than 70 years -- a period which saw both Myanmar, then called Burma, win its independence from Britain in 1948 and the

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Manzoor Hussain, 75 and oldest nephew of Muzaffar Khan, recalls a happy couple who never quarrelled during their lifetime.

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

THOSE DAYS: Ayesha Bibi, wife of a late Pakistani man who served in the British army during World War II, speaking to AFP in the village of Dhudial in Chakwal district some 150 km south of Islamabad in this photograph taken on April 28, 2015. - AFP

birth of Pakistan in 1947. But in Dhudial time seems almost to have stood still. Arriving a timid young girl, Bibi spent months learning the language and her husband’s religion,

Islam, among the shimmering ﬁelds. Outside, farmers harvest the golden wheat crop and cattle graze. The tractors roar as they plough the ﬁelds around her house and women collect water in a typical

rural scene that has been Bibi’s life as the wife of a Pakistani farmer for decades. “Muzzaffar always wanted me to die in his hands. He did not betray me, it’s God’s order that he has died. It would have been better if I died before him,” she sighed, gazing into the yard, bathed in late spring sunshine. Muzaffar died almost a month ago, leaving the old woman a small landholding and a heart full of sadness. Her family and neighbours believe she won’t last long. Because they had no children, the property will be divided among Muzaffar’s nephews when after Bibi dies. For now she is living in the house of their nephew Sajid Mehmood, whom they were closest to. And she has no fears about the future. “I will now die with the orders of God in the hands of these relatives, they have taken care of me well,” she said.

Good life “They loved a lot each other. They lived a very good life, they never quarrelled for whole their life,” he said. “After his death, she was crying a lot: ‘Muzaffar Khan, who are you leaving me with? I have nobody here except you’.” Bibi remembers little of her family or her former life. Only that her mother’s name was Sita and she lived in a town called Meiktila, where her father had a small grocery shop. She remembers going to a temple with her mother. Then there was the bombing and their whole neighbourhood was destroyed and many people including her parents died. “I had left no belongings in Burma. I heard they even killed children. Why should I have gone back there? I asked Muzzaffar to marry again for children, but he never agreed. So this was my fate, our fate. I am happy with it,” Bibi said. - AFP

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Lost opportunity on nuclear disarmament

he United States and other nuclear powers failed to use a recent United Nations conference to advance the cause of nuclear disarmament. The meeting in May was supposed to strengthen international efforts to contain nuclear weapons. Instead, it was a reminder of the deep divisions over the future of nuclear weapons and what efforts should be made to eliminate them. The conference is held every five years to review compliance with the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the agreement known as the NPT under which the countries recognised by the treaty as having nuclear weapons — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — committed to pursue nuclear disarmament. The other 186 signatories promised to forgo nuclear weapons. India and Pakistan did not sign the treaty, and both have nuclear weapons. Neither did Israel, which refuses to admit that it has a nuclear arsenal, and South Sudan, which has none. North Korea, once an NPT member, withdrew in 2003 and is now believed to have perhaps as many as 16 nuclear weapons. This year’s conference, after four weeks of often acrimonious debate and finger-pointing, collapsed on May 22 without the members formally agreeing on a plan of action. All decisions must be made by consensus, and the United States, Britain and Canada rejected the final communiqué. One reason for the failure was a dispute between Egypt and Israel, which was backed by the United States, over banning nuclear weapons in the Middle East. This was not the first time Egypt and Israel had clashed over a proposal for a nuclear-weapons-free zone. The 2010 NPT review conference called for a meeting in 2012 on a regional weapons ban, infuriating Israel. Israel eventually agreed to attend planning sessions, but the 2012 meeting never took place, which angered Egypt and other Arab nations. During this year’s NPT conference, Egypt and its allies tried to accelerate the process by proposing that the United Nations secretary general convene a meeting on a Middle East weapons-free zone by March 2016, even if Israel refused to agree on an agenda; Israel insisted on including the broad range of security challenges in the region. The conflict is unfortunate because both nations view Iran’s nuclear programme as a major threat. The problems with the nuclear conference went beyond this dispute. Relations between the United States and Russia have deteriorated in recent years, and efforts to further reduce their nuclear arsenals have stalled. The Russian government has not only refused President Obama’s offer to negotiate a further one-third cut in deployed nuclear weapons beyond the 2010 New Start treaty limits of 1,550, Russian officials have made outrageous threats about using nuclear weapons in the confrontation with Nato over Ukraine. Russia has also been violating the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty by testing a new cruise missile, and Washington and Moscow have embarked on costly programmes to modernise their nuclear stockpiles. - The New York Times News Service

DRAGON’S QUEST

China’s pursuit of a new economic order ZHANG JUN

Amoeba alerts

he outbreak of Naegleria fowleri, which causes a fatal brain infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, seems to have spread from Karachi to other areas, with the latest deaths occurring of people belonging to Hub and Thatta. And, voila, we have yet another committee with officials who have been assigned different tasks to look into the matter. On the other hand, citizens continue to fear the death grip of the brain-eating amoeba, due to the perpetual lack of preparedness of the authorities, who in the past as well have lagged behind in combating any man-made or natural catastrophe. The experience that was gained in dealing with Naegleria last year should have told us that the infection could return again. At the same time, the authorities should know the nature of the amoeba by now, which thrives in warm standing water, so as to take preventative measures. By comparison, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between the 10-year span from 2005 to 2014, only 35 cases were reported in the US, despite hundreds of millions of people visiting pools and other recreational swimming sites annually. Clearly, in Pakistan, and in Karachi in particular where most of the deaths have been reported, officials have failed to adequately prepare for and combat the disease. The lackadaisical attitude and overconfidence of officials will need to be eliminated in order to save lives. While officials have claimed that chlorination drives have been carried out in Karachi, it is clear that these were inadequate. Chlorination should be mandated across households and businesses and it behoves the health authorities to go as far as providing chlorination tablets to households, especially with the ongoing issue of the shortage of water supply in the city, which renders Naegleria to be even more threatening. We should not have to face basic problems such as a deficiency in safe water supply and the authorities need to take on board experts who can document findings and devise long-term preventative solutions for the future. - The Express Tribune

A gory proxy war is now being fought over Syria Syria has indeed become the first conflict of the post-superpower era over which the world has sharply polarised into two equal halves and are fighting a proxy war. And it is this intervention of outside forces in a quintessentially domestic affair of Syria has made the country sit atop a mountain of gun powder ready to implode. Four years ago when a section of the Syrians burst into revolt against the regime in the border town of Deraa it wasn’t an armed resistance; neither was it an armed insurrection. It was, on the contrary, a continuation of the trend set in by the opposition in Tunisia and Egypt — angry but peaceful and unarmed. As the mutiny spread out to other cities the Syrians

were goaded to turn courageous and pick up arms by forces who intervened in Libya. Their appetite for gore and violence seemingly was not satisﬁed in Libya and they intervened even in Syria. Javed Ali Al Khuwair

Today, China is the world’s largest economy (based on purchasing power parity) and the largest participant in world trade, and its government has been actively promoting renminbi internationalisation, such as through the relaxation of foreignexchange regulations

READERS’ FORUM

Privatisation is not the panacea for all problems Privatisation of everything is now the trend across the world. I am appalled to note that even governments’ information dissemination systems and government web sites are increasingly getting privatised or are being outsourced to private handlers. Even at the risk of being criticised as conservative I would like to reiterate that privatisation is not a panacea for all

conomists are increasingly divided over China’s economic future. Optimists emphasise its capacity for learning and rapid accumulation of human capital. Pessimists focus on the rapid decline of its demographic dividend, its high debtto-GDP ratio, the contraction of its export markets, and its industrial overcapacity. But both groups neglect a more fundamental determinant of China’s economic prospects: the world order. The question is simple: Can China sustain rapid GDP growth within the confines of the current global order, including its trade rules, or must the current US-dominated order change drastically to accommodate China’s continued economic rise? The answer, however, remains unclear. One way that China is attempting to find out is by pushing to have the renminbi added to the basket of currencies that determine the value of the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset, the Special Drawing Right (SDR). As it stands, that basket comprises the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound, and the US dollar. The SDR issue was the audience’s main concern when IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde spoke in Shanghai in April. Her stance — that it is just a matter of time before the renminbi is added to the basket — garnered considerable media attention. (Regrettably, however, the media read too much into her statement.) Former US Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke faced the same question in Shanghai last month. He was purposely vague in his response: the renminbi’s inclusion in the SDR would be a positive step, he said, but it could not be taken until China makes much more progress in reforming its financial sector and transforming its growth model. The IMF is expected to vote on the renminbi’s inclusion in the SDR this October, at its regular fiveyear review of the SDR basket’s composition. But even if, unlike in 2010, a majority votes to add the renminbi to the basket, the United States may exercise its veto power. Such an outcome would not be surprising, given that US opposition (though in Congress, not within the Obama administration) blocked reforms, agreed in 2010, to increase China’s voting power within the IMF. Limited use of the SDR implies that adding the renminbi would be a largely symbolic move; but it would be a powerful symbol to the extent that it served as a kind of endorsement of the currency for global use. Such an outcome would not only advance the renminbi’s internationalisation; it would also provide insight into just how much room there is for China within the existing global economic order. So far, it seems that there is not enough. In a 2011 book, the economist Arvind Subramanian projected that the renminbi would become a global reserve

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Only fools are positive MOE HOWARD

currency by the end of this decade, or early next decade, based on his observation that the lag between economic and currency dominance is shorter than traditionally believed. Today, China is the world’s largest economy (based on purchasing power parity) and the largest participant in world trade, and its government has been actively promoting renminbi internationalisation, such as through the relaxation of foreign-exchange regulations. And yet the renminbi is used internationally much less than Subramanian’s model predicted. As a result, China remains subject to US monetary policy. If the Federal Reserve raises interest rates, China must follow suit to keep capital from flowing out, despite the negative impact of higher interest rates on domestic growth. Given the US dollar’s dominance in international transactions, Chinese companies investing abroad also face risks associated with exchange-rate fluctuations. In fact, over the last decade, international trade rules have created significant friction between China and many other countries, including the US. Now, free-trade agreements are being negotiated — namely, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership — that will undermine the continued expansion of Chinese exports to the extent that they raise entry barriers for Chinese firms. Clearly, China has faced major challenges within the existing global system as it tries to carve out a role befitting its economic might. That may explain why, with its “one belt, one road” initiative and its establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China’s government is increasingly attempting to recast the world order — in particular, the monetary and trading systems — on its own terms. The “one belt, one road” initiative aims to re-create the ancient overland and maritime Silk Roads that carried goods and ideas from Asia to Europe. Given that the project will entail significant Chinese investment affecting some 50 countries, its appeal in the developing world is not difficult to fathom. The AIIB, too, has proved appealing — and not just to developing countries. In fact, 57 countries — including major powers like France, Germany, and the United Kingdom — have signed up as founding members, which may reflect a growing awareness of the US-dominated order’s diminishing returns. From China’s perspective, sustained domestic economic growth seems unlikely within the existing global system — a challenge that Japan and the other East Asian economies did not encounter during their economic rise. Indeed, the only country that has encountered it is the US, when it replaced the UK as the world’s dominant economic and financial power before World War II; fortunately, that precedent is one of accommodation and a peaceful transition. - Project Syndicate

maladies. And as one who has signiﬁcant and proven track record of running highly popular news website for years I can say that even privatisation of the work or any kind of outsourcing doesn’t really help. I have had extremely bad experience in this matter. And I am more than certain that if the governments outsource their information management system, maintenance of all their websites etc. information lag will still remain. Nirmala Srinivas Wadi Kabir

Child soldiers are often the symptoms not the causes The reasons why children are recruited to participate in and precipitate civil wars are complex. The hypothesis that

child soldiers are brought into conflicts by pathological, predatory leaders addresses only a small piece of the problem. Both governments and rebels employ child soldiers to fill their depleted ranks, and often compete with one other over what they see as a resource within the conflict. This treatment of children as a commodity in part explains why both governments and rebels engage in massive forced recruitment campaigns to fill their ranks with child soldiers. Child soldiers, therefore, are symptoms of conflicts and decaying value systems and not the causes. Much as we need to end the use of child soldiers we must realize that if we don’t precipitate root causes of conflicts Asadul Iqbal Latif Muscat

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

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WORLD

China ship tragedy toll rises to 97, focus on finding bodies relatives and passersby on the street outside. “The next step is to concentrate on doing a good job of purging the water, raising the boat, overall salvage and looking for victims’ bodies,” Transport Ministry spokesman Xu Chengguang said just before Xia’s dramatic intervention. Rescuers, many from the military, worked through the night to right the ship. Pictures on state television showed the ship, which had capsized completely, sitting upright in the water. Large dents and gashes scarred its blue roof. Most of the four-deck ship remains under water, sitting on the river bed.

Rescue mission has become an operation to recover hundreds of bodies from the ship, which was carrying 456 people when it overturned

JIANLI (CHINA): The death toll from a Chinese cruise ship that capsized on the Yangtze River climbed to 97 on Friday as authorities righted the battered vessel and turned their efforts to recovering bodies still on board amid simmering anger from distraught families. The rescue mission has become an operation to recover hundreds of bodies from the ship, which was carrying 456 people when it overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night. Only 14 survivors have been found, including the captain. Frustration over the lack of information has grown among

ILL-FATED VESSEL: An aerial view of rescuers working on righting the capsized cruise ship Eastern

Star, in Jianli, Hubei province, China, on Friday.

families of the missing. Seventyyear-old Xia Yunchen burst into a room where senior officials had just ﬁnished a media conference, screaming and yelling and demanding answers. “Is it necessary to treat the common people, one by one, as if you are facing some kind of formidable foe?” said Xia, whose sister

– Reuters

and brother-in-law were on board the Eastern Star. Xia, from the eastern city of Qingdao, told reporters she had wanted to get into the news conference to hear for herself what the government was saying, and that she wanted an honest investigation because family members doubted the weather was the real

cause of the disaster. “You view the common people as if we are all your enemy. We are tax payers. We support the government. You had better change your notion of this relationship. You are here to serve us. You need to be humane,” Xia said, before being escorted out. Police then kept reporters back while they moved away

200 divers at work More than 200 divers have groped through murky water after cutting through the hull, searching every cabin on board, but have found no more survivors. The weather improved markedly on Friday, after days of heavy rain, which should help rescuers. However it was forecast to worsen again at the weekend. About 1,200 relatives have come to Jianli county in Hubei province where the disaster happened. — Reuters

TOUR

Suu Kyi to visit China from June 10 BEIJING: Myanmar’s opposition leader and democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi will visit China next week, Beijing said on Friday, amid cooling relations between the two countries. Beijing was a key backer of Myanmar’s military junta while it was under Western sanctions, but President Thein Sein has bolstered ties with the United States since launching political reforms in 2011. Suu Kyi’s opposition party is set to contest elections in November, which the US has backed as a key stepping stone towards democracy. Invitation “At the invitation of the Communist Party of China, a delegation of the National League for Democracy of Myanmar led by Chairperson Aung San Suu Kyi will pay a visit to China from June 10th to 14th,” China’s ruling Communist Party said on an official website. It was not clear from the statement which Chinese officials Suu Kyi would meet. In recent months relations between China and Myanmar have cooled as an ethnic insurgency raging in the southeast Asian country spilled over its border with the Asian giant. — AFP

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

South Korean authorities squabble as MERS kills fourth person SEOUL: South Korean authorities squabbled on Friday over their handling of an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as a fourth person died and ﬁve new cases were reported. The government has promised to do everything it can to end the outbreak which began in South Korea last month when an infected South Korean man brought it back from a business trip to the Middle M A L AY S I A

137 climbers stranded as quake hits popular peak KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities raced on Friday to try to reach about 137 people, some of them injured, who were stranded atop the popular climbing peak of Mount Kinabalu after a strong earthquake triggered dangerous rockfalls. The 6.0-magnitude quake struck near the mountain around 7:15 am Friday (2315 GMT Thursday), jolting a wide area of the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island, causing widespread but relatively minor damage. No deaths had been reported as of late Friday afternoon. But Sabah state tourism minister Masidi Manjun told AFP the quake had triggered landslides and sent huge boulders tumbling down the 4,095-metre (13,435-foot) mountain’s wide granite crown. Unable to descend Around 137 people including foreigners were stuck just below the picturesque summit, unable to descend due to lingering danger from rockfalls and because a key trail had been cut off, Masidi said. “Its very tricky now. We can’t land a helicopter up there because visibility is so bad, but the people can’t come down on their own because the main route is now impassable,” he said. — AFP

East. With 41 cases, South Korea has the most infections outside the Middle East where the disease ﬁrst appeared in 2012, and where most of the 440 fatalities have been. As the number of infections in South Korea rises daily, fear and anger are growing. South Korea’s neighbours are also increasingly concerned. Memories are still fresh in Asia

of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which emerged in 2002-2003 and killed about 800 people worldwide. MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that caused SARS. Health Minister Moon Hyungpyo accused authorities in the capital, Seoul, of giving out incorrect information about a case which he said would spread alarm

and undermine the ﬁght against the disease. On Thursday, city officials accused national authorities of being slow to share information, in particular about a doctor who had treated a MERS patient and subsequently went to a May 30 gathering attended by 1,565 people. The doctor was later diagnosed with MERS and the people at the gathering have been advised to

COMPLEX SURGERY

Doctors perform world’s first skull-scalp transplant in US WASHINGTON: US doctors hailed a complex operation as a world first after performing a skull and scalp transplant on a cancer patient who also received a new kidney and pancreas during the procedure. James Boysen, a 55-year-old software developer, underwent 15 hours of surgery performed with the help of more than 50 medical professionals, the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston said on Thursday. It said that the historic surgery made Boysen the “first patient to receive the simultaneous craniofacial tissue transplant together with solid organ transplants”. The operation, performed at Houston Methodist Hospital, was conceptualised almost four years ago, but wasn’t carried out until May 22, some 20 hours after doctors were told appropriate organs had become available. “This was a very complex surgery because we had to transplant the tissues utilizing microsurgery,” said Michael Klebuc, lead surgeon from the Houston Methodist Hospital plastic surgery team that helped perform the skull-scalp transplant. “Imagine connecting blood vessels 1/16 of an inch under a microscope with tiny stitches about half the diameter of a hu-

PIONEERING EFFORT: The operation, performed at Houston Methodist Hospital, was conceptualised almost four years ago, but wasn’t carried out until May 22, 20 hours after doctors were told appropriate organs had become available. – File Picture

man hair being done with tools that one would use to make a ﬁne Swiss watch,” he said. Boysen, a resident of Austin, was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that attacks smooth muscle, on his scalp in 2006. The cancer was treated successfully but left a large wound on his scalp and skull. The Texas man, who was also diagnosed with diabetes at age ﬁve, had undergone a previous double-organ kidney and pancreas transplant in 1992, but those organs were needing transplanting again. Because of his skull and scalp wounds, however, that procedure was not possible. Mean-

while his kidney and pancreas issues and the immunosuppression medications he was on because of them, made scalp reconstruction difficult. Doctors solved the dilemma by carrying out all procedures at once. “When I ﬁrst met Jim, I made the connection between him needing a new kidney and pancreas and the ongoing antirejection medication to support them, and receiving a full scalp and skull transplant at the same time that would be protected by those same medications,” said MD Anderson’s Jesse Selber, one of the lead surgeons. “This was a truly unique clinical situation,” he said. — AFP

stay in voluntary quarantine. Moon rejected assertions his ministry had mishandled the case. “The announcement by the city of Seoul yesterday has parts that are not factual and can increase public concern,” he said. The comments would only hurt the credibility of the government’s effort to stamp out MERS, he said. The most recent MERS patient to die was a 76-year-old man who

had been in the same ward as other MERS patients and had been suffering from various ailments, the Health Ministry said. Five more people were conﬁrmed to be carrying the disease. More than 1,000 schools have shut as fear has spread. Traffic was light on Friday in parts of Seoul where schools are located and many people wore face masks on the streets. — Reuters

A 10

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

WORLD

Analysts say President Maithripala Sirisena may now be forced to dissolve parliament and call fresh general elections, which he promised when he was elected in January.

Ghana petrol station blast, floods kill more than 150 station in Accra late on Wednesday, causing an explosion at the pumps that killed dozens of people seeking shelter from torrential rains and widespread ﬂooding

Bus passengers engulfed The ﬁre, which is thought to have spread from a nearby residence, appeared to have engulfed a bus full of passengers that was waiting at the station, an AFP reporter at

DESTROYED: A car damaged when it skid off the road as a result of heavy flooding and fire at a petrol filling station killing over 150 people, in Accra, on Friday. – AFP

the scene said. Dozens of charred motorcycles and cars were visible on the forecourt. Local residents said many people had sought refuge under the filling station canopy from days of heavy rains that have engulfed Accra. Flood waters had reached knee level on the road beside the Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) petrol station in the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area of the city before the fire, which caused an explosion at the pumps, according to eyewitnesses. The inferno quickly spread to a nearby pharmacy and several buildings next to the filling station. The explosion was heard and seen across the capital. It was not immediately clear exactly how the victims died, with reports that some had drowned after being knocked unconscious and falling

I N D I A N O C E A N I S L A N D NAT I O N

Scientist sworn in as Mauritius’ first woman president PORT LOUIS (MAURITIUS): Prominent scientist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was sworn as president of Mauritius on Friday, becoming the first women to hold the ceremonial position in the Indian Ocean island nation. “My ambition is to bring the Mauritian nation together around the national flag,” Gurib-Fakim after her inauguration, held at the presidency outside the capital Port Louis. She said she was dedicating her appointment to her parents, “who had the vision to educate their daughter at a time when it was boys who were given the priority,” and added she was “proud and filled with humility”. Gurib-Fakim, 56, is the first female president of the island, which gained independence from Britain in 1968 and replaced Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state in 1992. Mauritius is one of the richest — and least corrupt — countries in Africa, a middle-income nation of some 1.3 million people with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000 (7,200 euros). Strong outsourcing Once dependent on sugar exports, the island has built up a strong outsourcing and financial services sector, and an important tourism industry. GuribFakim is currently director of the Mauritius-headquartered Centre for Phytotherapy Research (CEPHYR), which carries out research on plants for use in cosmetics, nutrition and therapy. An alumni of the universities of Exeter and Surrey in Britain, she is also the chair of organic chemistry at Mauritius Univer-

Sri Lankan premier faces no-confidence motion COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s opposition said on Friday it has filed a motion of no confidence against the country’s new prime minister, a move likely to hasten the dissolution of parliament in the politically divided country. Ranil Wickremesinghe took over this year at the helm of a new minority government that has depended on the opposition’s support to push through political reforms. But he has also launched a series of investigations into alleged corruption by the country’s former rulers — now in opposition — and would be all but certain to lose a no-confidence vote in parliament. The no-confidence motion already has the support of 112 of the 225 members in the house. “We have listed several charges against the prime minister, including the use of the police against his political opponents,” opposition spokesman Manusha Nanayakkara told reporters.

The ﬁre hit a ﬁlling

ACCRA: More than 150 people have died in a devastating petrol station blast during heavy flooding in Ghana’s capital, prompting the nation’s leader to call three days of national mourning over the “catastrophic” loss of life. The fire hit a filling station in Accra late on Wednesday, causing an explosion at the pumps that killed dozens of people seeking shelter from torrential rains and widespread flooding in the area that also claimed numerous victims. “As of yesterday (Thursday) we have recovered more than 150 corpses. Sixty people have been taken to the hospital,” Red Cross disaster management coordinator Francis Obeng told AFP on Friday, raising the toll from Thursday’s count of at least 90 killed. As he toured the scene of the disaster, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama described the loss of life as “catastrophic and almost unprecedented” and announced three days of national mourning from Monday, with flags flying at half-mast, after rescue operations finished. “A lot of people have lost their lives and I am lost for words,” he told reporters.

I N T R O U B L E D WAT E R S

INAUGURATED: New President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim smiles during her swearing-in ceremony at the State House, in Reduit, south of Port Louis, on Friday. – AFP

sity, and has worked with the World Bank and other international institutions. Former president Kailash Purryag, who had been put in place by the previous government, stepped down as the island’s ﬁgurehead last week, having served as president since July 2012, when he was appointed by the island’s previous Labour party government of former premier Navin Ramgoolam. The Labour party lost elections to new Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth last December, with voters rejecting a constitutional reform plan that would have strengthened the powers of the president. Ramgoolam himself had hoped to eventually run for the new, more powerful position. Since his election defeat Purryag has been seen as an unwanted ﬁgurehead, while Ramgoolam has been embroiled in corruption allegations that have shocked the island. — AFP

into the ﬂood waters. Obeng said rescuers as well as dozens of volunteers were currently providing relief materials to those displaced or affected by the disaster. President Faure Gnassingbe of neighbouring Togo on Friday began a tour of the scene of the tragedy and the hospital in company of his host, Mahama. One man at the 37 Military Hospital, Kwame Adu, said he lost eight people in the tragedy -- colleagues and friends. Mahama has extended his condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones and said “precautionary measures” needed to be taken against the ﬂooding that hits the city every year. “Our current priority now is to save lives and prevent any further suffering of our people. Beyond

that, we will take the tough measures that are necessary to prevent such disasters in the future,” he said. The GOIL filling station is next to a large open drain that carries water from surrounding areas to the sea. But like many gutters in the city, it was blocked with rubbish, causing water to spill onto the streets. Flooding is exacerbated by construction work in the city. One witness, Edgar Wiredu, told GTV 24 television: “Because of the construction work, the whole of (Kwame Nkrumah) Circle was flooded. “When the fire service got to the scene, they got stuck. They struggled to gain access to the scene.” At least two days of rains have caused chaos in Accra, leaving many suburbs submerged

and people stranded, with roads blocked and cars swept away or overturned by the ﬂood waters. Already sketchy power supplies had been cut to some communities as electricity sub-stations were under water, said communications minister Edward Omane Boamah. “The general public is kindly advised to avoid fast-moving rainwater and areas they know have big drains. Stay on higher ground, where necessary, to prevent loss of life,” he added. Ghana police spokesman Arthur Cephas said the situation was under control. “Police are protecting lives and properties as well as ensuring that evidence that would assist in the investigation is not tampered with,” he told AFP. — AFP

Fresh elections Analysts say President Maithripala Sirisena may now be forced to dissolve parliament and call fresh general elections, which he promised when he was elected in January. Sirisena appointed the then opposition leader Wickremesinghe as his prime minister soon after defeating former leader president Mahinda Rajapakse, who had been in power from 2004. Wickremesinghe’s United National Party had depended on opposition support to bring about constitutional reforms, but the two sides are poles apart when it comes to investigating past actions of Rajapakse’s regime. Rajapakse’s younger brother, former Economic Development minister Basil, is already in custody in connection with misappropriating state funds, while several other immediate family members are also under investigation for corruption. Parliament passed reforms in April to curb the powers of the president, including restoring a two-term limit — reversing changes made by Rajapakse during his rule. But the ruling UNP was forced to compromise on other reforms to secure the support of the opposition, whose votes were crucial to gain a mandatory twothirds majority in parliament. — AFP

WA R - T O R N NAT I O N

UN calls for upholding ceasefire as fighting flares in eastern Ukraine UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Friday urged all sides in Ukraine to fully uphold a Europe-brokered ceasefire, as the warring parties accused each other of jeopardising the truce. UN political chief Jeffrey Feltman warned during an emergency Security Council meeting: “We are either looking at a return to a deepening intractable conflict or a momentary upsurge in parts of the conflict zone. “We cannot afford either scenario.” The latest flareup in east Ukraine has left at least 28 dead and sparked fears that the escalation will derail the hard-won ceasefire brokered by France and Germany four months ago. The Ukrainian military accused pro-Moscow rebels of targeting its positions around Donetsk on Friday, while separatists said Kiev’s forces had used Grad rockets against them. “The adversary is actively using 120-millimeter mortar launchers, 122-millimeter guns and tanks firing virtually without a pause at our positions,” Ukrainian army spokesman Andriy Lysenko said in Kiev. Lysenko said four Ukrainian soldiers had been wounded over the past 24 hours, while separatist commander Eduard Basurin told reporters one rebel had been killed and four wounded. One child was killed and three adults were wounded during the shelling of the village of Telmanove late Thursday, Basurin added. At the Security Council meeting in New York, the UN official declared: “The ceasefire must be fully respected and the protection of civilians a priority.” At the United Nations, Russia and the United States traded barbs over who was responsible

KEEPING WATCH: Ukrainian servicemen on an Armoured Personal Carrier patrol through the small eastern Ukrainian city of Mariinka, Donetsk region, on Friday. – AFP

for the latest upsurge in ﬁghting. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin accused Kiev’s forces of targeting civilians in shelling attacks and of failing to fulﬁll its commitments to reach a political agreement. “A critical moment has come,” said Churkin. “If we allow Kiev to continue to not implement the absolutely necessary political measures with regard to Donbass, the situation could fall out of control with unpredictable consequences,” he warned. US Ambassador Samantha Power shot back. “The recent violence is rooted in a combined Russian-separatist assault,” she said. Amid growing alarm over the fate of recent peace gains in east Ukraine, Power is due to travel to Kiev next week to

meet with Ukrainian politicians and get a ﬁrst-hand account of the situation. Fighting surged on Wednesday near the village of Maryinka, but clashes subsided in Thursday and Friday in the Donetsk region. President Petro Poroshenko has warned of a full-blown Russian invasion in the east of the country, accusing Moscow of deploying more than 9,000 troops in support of the separatists. The Kremlin has accused Kiev of seeking to torpedo the fragile truce ahead of an EU summit in June to discuss whether to extend sanctions against Russia that are to expire in July. The United States, the EU and Germany all expressed alarm over the renewed violence, with

Washington warning Russia it would face new punishment if the crisis escalates. The Ukraine crisis will be high on the agenda of a G7 meeting that will be held in the Bavarian Alps without Russia this weekend. Poroshenko said he would speak by phone with US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the gathering. On Saturday, Poroshenko is also expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is to visit Kiev ahead of the G7 summit in a show of support. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called on Russia to stop supporting separatists, while a French diplomatic source suggested that rebels were behind the escalation. — AFP

SATU R DAY, J UN E 6, 20 1 5 M U R A L I S AY S

S P O R

OMAN LOSE TO SYRIA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER BUILD-UP Oman, who were preparing for the opening match of the World Cup qualiﬁer against India on June 11 in Bangalore, India, on Friday were unimpressive in a friendly against Syria at the Seeb Sports Stadium, losing 2-1 and also missing a penalty in the second half. Paul Le Guen coached team did not look like a team with purpose as by half-time Syria were up by two goals. In the 67th minute of the second half Oman earned a goal due to a serious defensive lapse on part of the visitors and with one of the Syrian defenders scoring an own goal. Oman will leave for India on Sunday and coach Paul Le Guen will have to do a lot of homework to get the national team ready and gain full points against India. — Times of Oman/ ISMAIL AL FARSI

KOLKATA: Hailing the return of Harbhajan Singh to team India after a two-year hiatus, cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan has said the way forward for the Indian side in the one-off Test against Bangladesh is to play two off spinners. The biggest surprise in the Bangladesh-bound squad for the only Test from June 10-14 at Fatullah was the inclusion of the most successful Indian offspinner, who had last played a Test in 2013. Murali feels there’s no harm in picking Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan in the same XI. “Ashwin has been keeping up with his consistency, and now you have Harbhajan back as well. I think he (Harbhajan) will have a good opportunity to play in Bangladesh because you can very well ﬁeld two off-spinners in the playing XI. “Harbhajan has been bowling really well, not just in IPL, but also otherwise. He has already proved himself by taking 400-plus (Test) wickets,” the 43-year-old said on the sidelines of CAB Vision 2020 camp, at the Jadavpur University second campus ground in Salt Lake on Wednesday. Citing the example of him bowling in tandem with Kumar Dharmasena, he said: “If two off-spinners fall among the best bowlers in your side, you have every reason to ﬁeld them.” Muralitharan was also impressed with left-arm spin allrounder Akshar Patel, who was part of the Indian World Cup squad in Australia and New

CRICKET

Yadav is India’s first genuine fast bowler, says Roberts Asked about Indian quicks from the time he has been playing cricket, Roberts made it clear that there weren’t too many on the horizon before Umesh Yadav came along

NEW DELHI: Very impressed with India’s tearaway quick Umesh Yadav, legendary West Indies fast bowler Andy Roberts feels he is the “ﬁrst genuine” pacer from the country but needs to be a tad more aggressive. “I am very impressed with Yadav. He is the ﬁrst genuine fast bowler that India has got. I don’t think before him India had a genu-

ine fast bowler. Another boy (Mohammed) Shami is also good. But I want both of them to be a bit more aggressive. And when I mean aggressive, I don’t mean one needs to swear,” Roberts, one of the fearsome fast bowlers of all time, told PTI during an interaction. Asked about Indian quicks from the time he has been playing cricket, Roberts made it clear that there

weren’t too many on the horizon before Yadav came along. “Let me just tell you that there is a lot of difference between a fast bowler and quick bowler. Kapil Dev was a swing bowler but he was not a quick bowler. India’s ﬁrst ever quick bowler that I saw was Javagal Srinath but again he was not in that league of fast men like Yadav, who can hit mid-90’s. “You have to know one thing, no one can teach you how to bowl fast and develop an aggressive atti-

tude,” Roberts sounded like a typical fast bowler, still gunning for an opposition batsman. The 64-year-old Roberts, who would ‘Mentor’ St Lucia Zouks side in upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL), also gave a peek into his thoughts about how he would have bowled to a Chris Gayle or an AB de Villiers. “The kind of heavy bats that these guys use, I would have forced them to go for hook shots. I would have used the short ball more ef-

fectively. The kind of heavy bats they use, it’s not easy to quickly get into position for a hook shot. But nowadays, even fast bowlers are trying to hit the length rather than bowl bouncers,” he lamented. And that’s the reason why Roberts is not at all happy that in the name of variation and change-ups, bowlers are delivering slower balls. “Variety is not about slowing up but also quickening up. I always see that for bowlers, the change-ups mean delivering a slower ball. Why can’t change of pace be if someone who is bowling around 88-90 mph increases it up to 95 mph. “It’s a sudden increase of pace and that’s also a variation. It just can’t be a batsman’s game. Cricket is played between bat and ball and not just the ‘Bat’,” said the man, who Sunil Gavaskar had termed as the best fast bowler of his generation. - PTI

SCHOOL SPORTS

India’s Ram Kumar to train ISM cagers MUSCAT: For students training in sports, their coach is an inﬂuential element of the competitive experience. At their best, coaches can help their players improve their skills, perform to their best ability, develop strong character and gain conﬁdence. That is, they can maximise the positive value of sport and can enhance the intrinsic motivation to play it as well. The intrinsic values of sport and the experience of mastery are more likely to generate fair play and good sportsmanship. Indian School Muscat invites national coaches from India to help students develop prowess in various games. It is a great news for ISM stu-

Harbhajan, Ashwin must play together

dents when its under-16 and Under-19 basketball teams are going to be trained by the legendary basket ball player Ram Kumar from Saturday, June 6 to Monday, June 15. The inauguration of the 10-day camp will take place on the June 6. Oman Basketball Association chairman Fareed Al Zedjali will be the chief guest for the grand inauguration. Ram Kumar is the current coach of the Indian Junior Basketball Team. He played for India from 1985 to 1996 and represented the Indian national basketball team at several international championships. He also served as the Captain of Indian National Basketball team from 1991 to 1995. He played the

EXPERIENCED COACH: Ram

Kumar from India.

position of shooting guard. In the National Championships, Ram Kumar represented Indian Railways. During his playing days, Indian Railways won eight gold, three silver, and three bronze medals. A

spectacular shooter known for his impeccable three point shooting, Kumar emerged as one of the top shooting guards in the Asian circuit. He is a recipient of Dhyan Chand Award in 2003 for the lifetime achievement in Indian basketball. He started his career in the year 1983, when he played his ﬁrst National Championship at Calicut. He was honoured by the Government of India with the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award in the year 2003 and also Maharana Pratap Award in the year 1989 for being the best sportsman of Rajasthan. Kumar was top scorer at many national and international championships for India. Ram Kumar is

one of the ﬁnest shooters India has ever produced and India has never seen a shooter of Ram Kumar’s calibre in its history. In 2010, he was the coach of Indian team that won the Asia zone qualifying round for the 21st Fiba Asia Cup Basketball Championship to be held at Yemen and coached the Under-18 Indian National Basketball Team at Junior Asian Basketball Championship held at Tehran in 2004. Ram Kumar in his 10-day stint is sure to hone the students’ skills. He would help the players of the ISM teams develop strategies that will help to perform better at CBSE cluster and national levels.

Eye injury forces Kieswetter to retire

LONDON: England and Somerset wicketkeeper/batsman Craig Kieswetter has been forced to retire due to an eye injury, he announced on Friday. The 27-year-old South Africa-born player was left with vision problems after breaking his nose and damaging his cheekbone while batting in a County Championship match against Northamptonshire in July last year. “Having gone through that experience of my eye injury and everything it entailed, I feel mentally I will never again be the player that I was,” Kieswetter said in a statement on the Somerset website. “I have had a terriﬁc career, with plenty of ups and occasional downs, and I am calling time on my career and walking away with no regrets.” Kieswetter played in 46 one-day internationals and 25 Twenty20 internationals for England, but was never capped at Test level. In ﬁrst-class cricket and list A cricket, he averaged just under 40 with the bat, while his average in Twenty20 was just under 32. Behind the stumps he claimed 308 catches and 11 stumpings. He scored 497 runs in the domestic T20 Blast in 2014 and 419 runs in the County Championship prior to suffering his injury at Wantage Road, when a bouncer went through his helmet grille and struck him in the face. “This is sad news for all concerned,” said Somerset director of cricket Matt Maynard. — AFP

A 12

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Wawrinka sinks French hopes Serena favourite to cough up third French title

The French Open semiﬁnal between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray was suspended on Friday as a severe storm approached Roland Garros. World number one Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 3-3 when play was halted. The winner will face Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s ﬁnal

PARIS: Stan Wawrinka shattered French hopes of a first men’s singles champion in 32 years on Friday when he outlasted Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 in the first of the semifinals. It was a consummate performance from the Swiss stylist and he will harbour high hopes of taking a second Grand Slam title on Sunday when he goes up against either top seed Novak Djokovic or third seed Andy Murray, who will complete their match on Saturday The French Open semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Andy

JUBILANT: Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka celebrates winning the semiﬁnal match of the French Open tennis tournament against France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. – AP/PTI

Murray was suspended on Friday as a severe storm approached Roland Garros. World number one Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 3-3 when play was halted. The winner will face Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s final. The 2014 Australian Open winner reached the final in Paris for the first time having lost just two sets along the way. For Tsonga, the dream of emulating Yannick Noah, the last Frenchman to win at Roland Garros in 1983, was over for another year. The last Frenchman to reach the final was Henri Leconte in 1988. “It was a huge battle, very difficult physically, a lot of intensity on both sides and it could have gone either way,” Wawrinka said. “He had chances to break me in the third set, but he had a great tournament and deserves just as much as me to be in the final.” The semifinalists, both aged 30, had met twice before at Roland Garros, each winning in five sets,

but their most recent encounter was a superb four sets Davis Cup final win for Wawrinka in November. That sent Tsonga’s form into a tailspin made all the worse by a bad wrist injury that sidelined him until March. But Roland Garros saw him back to near his best, defeating fourth seed Tomas Berdych and fifth seed Kei Nishikori to reach the semis for the second time. Wawrinka, a straight-sets winner over countryman Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, struck first, clawing his way back from 0-40 down to break Tsonga’s serve for a first time in the fourth game. That was enough to give him the first set on a baking hot day which saw the temperature nudging above 30 degrees. The Swiss eighth seed was clearly on top and he broke again to start the second set. Wawrinka’s first serve was regularly in the 210215 kph range and that, coupled with the fast, bouncy conditions, left Tsonga struggling to cope.

But the Frenchman was ﬁnally given a look in when Wawrinka twice double-faulted in the eighth game and he took full advantage to level the set scores when Wawrinka shanked a forehand wide. The Swiss player failed to convert ﬁve break points in a marathon 11th game and he paid a full price in the ensuing tie-break which Tsonga dominated to win 7-1. The roles were reversed in a bruising third set with Tsonga comfortably holding serve and Wawrinka needing to stave off a succession of break points. But this time it was the Swiss who handled the tie-break better, taking four points in a row from 3-3 to go two sets to one up. That proved to be a hammer blow for Tsonga who immediately dropped his serve to open the fourth set. Tsonga adopted the drop shot as his weapon of choice to get back on serve, but he failed to convert two more break points as Wawrinka moved 2-0 up. - AFP

PARIS: Serena Williams is overwhelming favourite to win her third French Open on Saturday but after a tournament of surprises and an untimely bout of illness for the American, Czech Lucie Safarova will sense a rare opportunity. World number one Williams, 33, could not practise on Friday, still suffering from an illness that left her coughing and spluttering during her three-set semifinal win over Swiss Timea Bacsinszky. Thirteenth seed Safarova, meanwhile, warmed up for the biggest day of her career by winning the women’s doubles title alongside American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Williams has laboured to the final, losing the first set in four of her six matches against opponents with an average world ranking of 67. Yet in a tournament where high seeds were scattered liberally by the Paris winds, she survived, showing the hunger to add to her 19 career grand slam singles titles is insatiable. Safarova, on the other hand, arrived in her maiden grand slam final without dropping a solitary set and her six opponents, including defending champion Maria

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINA:

N O T ATT E N D I N G

Juventus, Barca clash for the treble in Berlin Champions League 2015 June 6, Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany JUVENTUS

BARCELONA

Head-to-head (Including Fairs Cup)

2 4

Coach Massimiliano Allegri Captain Gianluigi Buffon

Coach Luis Enrique Captain Andres Iniesta

TREBLE CHANCES

Champions League record W70 D41 L37

Both teams looking to completetreble-winning season after securing domestic cup trophies and league titles

European Cup pedigree Winner 1985, 1996 Last season Europa League semiﬁnal

Hoping to mark 30th anniversary of ﬁrst European Cup victory by lifting trophy after streak of three ﬁnal defeats, including loss to Italian rivals AC Milan in 2003

Champions League record W70 D41 L37 European Cup pedigree Winner 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011 Last season Ch. League quarterﬁnal

Looking to claim fourth title in nine years, to equal Real Madrid record of Champions League era wins. Faced Italian opposition in 1992 ﬁnal, beating Sampdoria

ROUTE TO FINAL Group F winner Round of 16 2-1 (h), 3-0 (a) 2-1 (a), 1-0 (h) Man City

Group A runner-up Dortmund Monaco Real Madrid Top Scorer

Quarterﬁnals 1-0 (h), 0-0 (a) 3-1 (a), 2-0 (h) Semiﬁnals 2-1 (h), 1-1 (a) 3-0 (a), 2-3 (h) TEAM STATISTICS (12 matches) Goals scored 16 28 Goals against 7 10 61 72 Shots on target 63 66 Shots wide 5388 Passes completed 7101 Corners 56 56 55% Average possession 59%

Carlos Tevez 7 goals PROBABLE LINE-UPS Defensive line of Buffon, Bonucci, Chiellini and Evra Pogba Alves Suarez Lichtsteiner have Chiellini Morata Rakitic Pique played every minute Ter Stegen of this season’s Messi Buffon Pirlo Vidal Busquets Champions League Iniesta Tevez (1,080 mins) Bonucci Marchisio Lichtsteiner Source: UEFA, Infostrada Sports

Sharapova in the fourth round, had average rankings of 24. That is where the good news ends, though, for the 28-year-old Czech whose six career titles are dwarfed by the 66 belonging to the woman who will be on the other side of the net on Saturday. She has lost all eight previous meetings with Williams, 16 of the 19 sets they have contested and the last time they met in a final, three years ago in Charleston, she lost 6-0 6-1. “It’s first time for me, so it’s kind of new,” Safarova told reporters. “I mean, Serena is number one in the world, a great player. I will just go there and play my game and obviously try to get the trophy.” The outcome, as it usually is when Williams is playing, will largely be decided by her racket. If the American is fit and firing, it is hard to see lefthander Safarova being able to cope with her power and the occasion simultaneously. Williams, winner in Paris in 2002 and 2013, not only has another French Open crown to win, she also has Steffi Graf’s professional era record of 22 grand slam titles within reach. — Reuters

Mascherano Neymar Alba

PSG Bayern Top Scorer

Lionel Messi 10 goals Attacking threat of Messi, Neymar and Suarez have accounted for 120 of 172 goals in all competitions this season (70%)

Graphic News /

Graphics

BERLIN: Both Juventus and Barcelona are looking to cap fantastic seasons by completing rare trebles when they meet in the Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday. Juventus are appearing in their first Champions League final in 12 years as they look to win the European Cup for the third time, but Barcelona, inspired by Lionel Messi, are the favourites to win a fifth European Cup and fourth in the last decade. Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri and his Barcelona counterpart Luis Enrique have already enjoyed excellent debut seasons in charge of their respective clubs, both winning domestic league and cup doubles, and both are now within touching distance of making it a glorious treble. For Barcelona, it would be a second such treble following their fantastic first season under Pep Guardiola in 2008-09, but such an achievement is very rare indeed. Only six other clubs have ever won a domestic league and cup double and the European Cup in the same season, with Celtic’s Lisbon Lions of 1967 the first. Since then, Ajax (1972), PSV Eindhoven (1988), Manchester United (1999), Inter Milan (2010) and Bayern Munich (2013) have repeated the feat. Barcelona can therefore become the first club to do it twice, and their current team contains several members of that 2009 vintage under Guardiola. “We are still a young team. There are still quite a few players from the Guardiola era,” said Luis Enrique. “This could turn out to be an historic season for us.” Juventus, meanwhile, will either join that elite group of clubs or become the first club to have lost six European Cup finals.

Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri and his Barcelona counterpart Luis Enrique have already enjoyed excellent debut seasons, both winning domestic league and cup doubles, and both are now close to making it a glorious treble The Italian champions’ main task is to blunt Barcelona’s razorsharp attack of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez which has sliced through defences on the road to Berlin. The South American trio have scored a stunning 120 goals between them this season, compared to the 103 managed by the entire Juventus team. With 58 goals in all competitions, four-time world player of the year Messi is in the best form of his illustrious career, but Juventus can ill-afford to focus on containing his talents alone. Messi destroyed Guardiola’s Bayern Munich with two goals in the first leg of their semi-final before setting up Neymar for the third at the Camp Nou. But in the return it was Suarez and Neymar who did the damage, combining for two first-half goals at the Allianz Arena which put the tie beyond Bayern. To make Juve’s task even harder, centre-back Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out of the final after tearing a calf muscle in training.

‘Game of our lives’ But Juventus have neither flown to Berlin just to witness Messi’s magic first hand nor do they wish to see him become the first player to score in three Champions League finals. “This is the game of our lives,” said Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, their sole survivor from their last Champions League final, the defeat to AC Milan in 2003. “I would always want to be starting off as a favourite, but we have our weapons to try and make Barcelona’s job more difficult,” added Buffon, who along with Pirlo won the World Cup at the same stadium with Italy in 2006. With four consecutive Serie A titles behind them, Allegri’s side carry a wealth of experience. “They have that Italian competitive edge. It is always difficult to overcome that because they are very, very competitive,” said Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano. “They are very tactical. They understand football and on top of that they have a lot of talent.” Four of their squad have already won the Champions League with other clubs — Andrea Pirlo with Milan in 2003 and 2007; Patrice Evra and Carlos Tevez with Manchester United in 2008 and Alvaro Morata with Real Madrid last year. Despite celebrating his 36th birthday last month, Pirlo remains a menace in midfield and his potential battle with Xavi Hernandez, on his final appearance for Barcelona, promises a fascinating sub-plot to the Berlin final.Juve, who reached the final by knocking out holders Real Madrid 3-2 on aggregate in their semi-final, welcomed Andrea Barzagli back to training on Wednesday after a spell out with a thigh strain. - AFP

Blatter to skip IOC meeting in Lausanne

Sepp Blatter

BERLIN: Sepp Blatter, who is resigning as president of world soccer’s embattled governing body Fifa, will not attend an International Olympic Committee meeting next week, the IOC said. “He informed the IOC president some time ago he will not be attending,” an IOC official told Reuters. The IOC is holding an executive board meeting as well as a meeting for the 2022 winter Olympic bid cities between June 7-10 in Lausanne. Blatter, as head of Fifa, is an IOC member. Fifa said in a statement that the decision had been taken in April, before the current crisis erupted at soccer’s governing body. “Back in April the Fifa President informed the IOC that he would not be attending in person the session in Lausanne. His plans have not changed,” said Fifa. “Future travel plans of the Fifa President will only be conﬁrmed in due course.”- Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, JU N E 6, 2 015

MARKE

SLUMP IN CRUDE PRICES FORCES DEEP COST CUTS Slump in crude prices has jolted the oil industry into deep cost cutting which, unlike the previous downturn, could last for a few years at least. >B2

3 0 P E R C E N T S TA K E

Oman to take full control of Vitol’s stake in oil trading arm DUBAI: Oman will take full control of an oil-trading venture it owns with Vitol Group, the world’s largest independent energy trader, in the latest sign of the rise of state-owned commodities traders. The Oman Trading International Ltd. venture will be fully owned by the state after it buys from Vitol the 30 per cent it doesn’t already hold, according to people with knowledge of the transac-

tion. Oman had planned since the venture’s start in 2006 to take full control once operations were established and successful, according to the people, who asked not to be identiﬁed as the deal is private. The acquisition reinforces the emergence of a new cadre of state enterprises to buy and sell natural resources. Countries from Saudi Arabia to China are building large government-owned commodity

ECONOMY

Job growth in US picks up in May WASHINGTON: US job growth accelerated sharply in May and wages picked up, signs of momentum in the economy that could put a September interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve back on the table. Nonfarm payrolls increased 280,000 last month, the largest gain since December, the Labor Department said on Friday. While the unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent from a near seven-year low of 5.4 per cent in April that was because more people, likely new college graduates, entered the labour force, indicating conﬁdence in the jobs market. Payrolls for March Payrolls for March and April were revised to show 32,000 more jobs created than previously reported. That together with an eight cent gain in average hourly earnings suggest a September rate hike is now a possibility. The Fed has kept overnight rates near zero since December 2008. Officials from the US central bank will meet on June 16-17, but the economy’s sluggishness has left ﬁnancial markets doubting whether the Fed will be able to raise rates this year. US gross domestic product

contracted at a 0.7 per cent annual pace in the ﬁrst quarter, although the drop probably exaggerated the economy’s weakness given a mix of temporary factors at play. Slow start Even so, growth is off to a slow start in the second quarter, in part because of the lingering effects of a strong dollar and spending cuts in the energy sector. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls rising 225,000 last month and the unemployment rate steady at 5.4 per cent. May payroll gains lifted job growth above last year’s average of 260,000 jobs per month. The labour force participation rate, or the share of working-age Americans who are employed or at least looking for a job, increased 0.1 percentage point to 62.9 per cent last month. A broad measure of joblessness that includes people who want to work but have given up searching and those working part-time because they cannot ﬁnd full-time employment was unchanged at 10.8 per cent. The increase in average hourly earnings took the year-on-year gain to 2.3 per cent, the largest rise since August 2013. - Reuters

trading groups in direct competition with established houses. “Saudi Arabia started the trend in the Middle East for state-owned ﬁrms getting into trading,” said Tom James, managing director at the London-based consultant Navitas Resources. “The big question is really how customers of OTI will perceive the ﬁrm without Vitol involved.” Calls to Oman Oil for comment

Decision to maintain output levels, made at a key production meeting in Vienna

VIENNA: Opec on Friday again deﬁed calls to cut output despite the low oil price, extending its new strategy to preserve market share and fend off cheaper competition from the US shale energy boom. The decision to maintain output levels, made at a key production meeting in Vienna, leaves Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (Opec) official collective target at 30 million barrels per day — where it has stood for more than three and a half years. “The ceiling is the same. You will be surprised how amicable the meeting was,” Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali Al Naimi told reporters after the gathering of the 12-nation oil producers’ group that pumps one third of the world’s crude. The global oil market, plagued

US admits hackers accessed data on 4 million federal staff officials as saying that Chinese hackers were behind the breach. But the Chinese embassy in Washington countered that such attacks would not be allowed under Chinese law. Hypothetical accusations “Jumping to conclusions and making hypothetical accusations is not responsible and counterproductive,” embassy spokesman Zhu Haiquan said. “Chinese laws prohibit cyber crimes of all forms. China has made great efforts to combat cyber attacks in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations,” he added. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are said to be leading the investigation. The FBI in a statement said it “will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace.” Officials refused to assign attribution or motive, but pointed affected parties to measures that

products, according to its website. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Saudi Aramco, started its trading unit in 2012 to deal in refined products and petrochemicals. While most other Middle Eastern states use the marketing arms of their state oil companies to buy fuel for domestic demand or to sell excess refined products, Oman Trading and Aramco Trading seek to make a profit dealing with third parties.

Also in the region China Petroleum & Chemical., known as Sinopec, operates a joint venture oil storage facility in the UAE coast from Oman, giving it a base to compete for cargoes in the Middle East market. Sinopec’s trading arm Unipec is set to use crude oil storage tanks at the facility at the port of Fujairah and the company also regularly wins Yemen’s oil supply tenders. – Bloomberg News

Opec keeps taps open despite low oil price

C Y B E R -AT TA C K

WASHINGTON: The United States government on Thursday admitted hackers accessed the personal data of at least four million current and former federal employees, in a vast cyber-attack suspected to have originated in China. “As a result of the incident,” uncovered in April, the Office of Personnel Management said it “will send notiﬁcations to approximately four million individuals.” It added that additional exposures “may come to light.” The government’s personnel department handles hundreds of thousands of sensitive security clearances and background investigations on prospective employees each year. It was not immediately clear whether the hack affected President Barack Obama, other senior government officials or the intelligence community. The Washington Post and other US media cited government

went unanswered and a media official at Oman’s oil ministry did not immediately comment. State-owned Oman Oil Co. and Vitol trade Omani crude and refined products for the governmentowned refinery company, as well as dealing in other regional crudes and fuels. Oman Trading, based in Dubai, handles about 160,000 barrels of crude a day and about 40,000 barrels a day of refined

could prevent fraud and identify theft. The government will, through a third party, offer $1 million in identity theft protection services at no cost. “Protecting our federal employee data from malicious cyber incidents is of the highest priority,” Office of Personnel Management director Katherine Archuleta said. Latest in series of breaches The new measures include restricting remote access, screening business connections and deploying anti-malware software. It is just the latest in a series of major breaches that have shown the vulnerability of the federal government. Last year Russian hackers are believed to have accessed unclassiﬁed computer systems at the White House and State Department. Hackers stole information on 100,000 taxpayers from the online computers of the US Internal Revenue Service. - AFP

– Bloomberg ﬁle picture

with demand worries, oversupply and booming US shale output, collapsed 60 per cent between June 2014 — when West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude stood at about $106 per barrel — and late January, when it hit a six-year low under $45. They have since recovered, but only to around $60, putting the budgets of many oil-producing nations under pressure while giving the battered global economy a much-needed ﬁllip. But Opec, which has traditionally defended price levels by cutting output if needed, dramatically switched strategy last November when it opted to leave

production unchanged -- despite a dramatic oil price collapse that slashed revenues for its members. “There is a commitment from all the ministers that they will adhere” to the target, Opec Secretary-General Abdullah El-Badri said on Friday. “As a matter of fact for the last four years we have been enjoying 100 plus dollars,” he told reporters, noting that Opec was now facing a “new reality” of lower price levels. “At a certain stage we needed to lose our market share for less efficient producers,” added El-Badri. “As we see now, the demand is getting stronger so we respond to

the demand.” Opec — which comprises nations from Africa, Latin America and the Middle East — is actually pumping 31.2 million bpd, due to increased supplies from Saudi Arabia and Iraq, according to International Energy Agency data. In response to Friday’s decision, oil prices rebounded at ﬁrst, but then fell back into negative territory. Brent oil for delivery in July dipped 30 cents to $61.73 per barrel in early afternoon London deals, while New York’s WTI for the same month shed 47 cents to $57.53. “It was a very good decision,” said Kuwait’s Oil Minister Ali Al Omair, upon leaving the meeting. Venezuelan Oil Minister Asdrubal Chavez said there was “total solidarity within the group.” Ministers however declared this week they would be happier with prices between $75 and $80 a barrel to boost revenues and help their public ﬁnances. Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq and Venezuela have all appealed for higher prices that encourage investment. But Badri said on Friday: “The reality now is that we cannot have this $100 any more...we have to take an action.” - AFP

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

MARKET GALLOPING DEMAND

India to become one of top three global oil consumers continuing to increase here and will keep growing.”

LONDON: India’s growing middle class will soon make it the thirdbiggest oil consumer, reshaping the global energy map as China uses less and the US produces more. India will overtake Japan this quarter, International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates show. The country’s galloping demand growth may eventually surpass China’s, a shift that was unforeseen just a few years ago. As living standards improve, the number of Indians buying cars and trucks has risen, boosting gasoline use by 19 per cent in April alone from a year earlier. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts the economy will swell by 7.5 per cent this year as Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes business reforms, beating Chinese growth for the first time in a quarter-century. Growth is unbelievable India “reminds me of China a decade ago,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil HUNGRY FOR MORE: As living standards improve, the number of Indians buying cars and trucks has risen, boosting gasoline use by 19 per analyst at London-based consult- cent in April alone from a year earlier. — Bloomberg file picture ants Energy Aspects. “The demand growth is unbelievable.” The country’s unbridled thirst consume about 4.1 million barrels ganisation of Petroleum Exporting Opec is meeting to discuss produc- na, whose annual growth is estition limits. India imports about 85 mated at 295,000 barrels a day by for oil has helped bolster crude of oil a day this quarter, compared Countries (Opec) conference. per cent of its oil, with the majority the IEA. prices as they start to recover from with Japanese demand of 3.8 mil“India is growing: We have a new coming from Opec countries. a six-year low. It’s a further jolt to lion barrels a day. The US and Chi- Price recovery Oil has rebounded to about $60 a In April, the country’s oil use government, a new confidence in the energy market after the US na are the world’s top oil users. “India will be a big centre of oil barrel from $45 a barrel in Janu- rose by about 300,000 barrels a the economy, people are driving shale revolution pushed Russia out of the top spot for natural gas and gas demand growth in the next ary. A price of $65 would be “eq- day, similar to the growth rate seen more,” said Lalit Kumar Gupta, production and paved the way for few years,” IEA Executive Director uitable,” Indian Oil Minister in January and February. If that chief executive officer of MumbaiMaria van der Hoeven said in Vi- Dharmendra Pradhan said on pace is maintained for the rest of based refiner Essar Oil Ltd. “Even the first American exports. The IEA estimates India will enna, where she’s attending an Or- Wednesday in Vienna, where the the year, India may overtake Chi- with oil prices rising, demand is BUNDESBANK

REPORT

German growth upgraded FRANKFURT: Economic growth in Germany has picked up faster than expected thanks to low unemployment, higher wages and the weak euro, raising forecasts for the coming years, the German central bank, or Bundesbank, said on Friday. The German economy, Europe’s biggest, was projected to expand by 1.7 per cent in 2015, 1.8 per cent

in 2016 and 1.5 per cent in 2017, the Bundesbank said. Economic projections That marked an “appreciable” upgrade from the central bank’s previous economic projections in December, when it had pencilled in growth of 1.0 per cent for this year and 1.6 per cent for next year, the German central bank. — AFP

Car sales Passenger-vehicle sales rose about 16 per cent in April, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. It expects vehicle sales to grow as much as 8 percent this financial year. “Cars are cheap and finance is available,” said Anand Dorairajan, a 32-yearold human-resources executive at a shipping firm in Mumbai. He bought a Hyundai car eight months ago to add to the Suzuki his family already owned, paying about $11,300. “When young people start working, they want to buy a vehicle with their first salaries. That’s what I did.” As part of his ambitions for economic growth, Prime Minister Modi has proposed an end to government controls on fuel pricing, putting more money in the hands of state-run refiners. He has called on them to expand to meet demand as he works to shift the economy more towards manufacturing. New refinery Indian Oil. started a 300,000-barrel-a-day refinery on India’s east coast in April and plans to add capacity at a plant in Gujarat in western India. Bharat Petroleum Corp. intends to expand its refinery in central India and Chennai Petroleum Corp. will boost capacity in the south. — Bloomberg News

Slump in crude prices forces deep cost cuts After overspending by the industry during the boom years, the collapse in prices in the second half of last year laid bare the need to reduce costs and introduce more efficiencies

LONDON: The slump in crude prices has jolted the oil industry into deep cost cutting which, unlike the previous downturn, could last for a few years at least. After overspending by the industry during the boom years, the collapse in prices in the second half of last year laid bare the need to reduce costs and introduce efﬁciencies. Oil producers globally have embarked on billions of dollars in savings in recent months, forcing oil service providers and contractors, in turn, to slash rates by as much as 50 per cent in some cases. Partial rebound A partial rebound in crude prices this year will give service companies such as Baker Hughes, Schlumberger and Petrofac little respite. Unlike the previous collapse in 2009, when prices plunged 75 per cent only to rebound within months, industry analysts forecast a very gradual recovery in prices this time, which means costs will need to fall a lot further still.

UNCERTAIN TIMES: Well drilling costs in the North Sea are expected to drop by an average of 30 per cent by the end of next year due to a surplus of rigs in the market. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

“Higher prices have led to cost inﬂation over the past years and now we need to reverse that trend,” BP’s Chief Executive Ofﬁcer, Bob Dudley, told the Opec seminar in Vienna on Wednesday. “This will be tough and will require some very new thinking, but I believe it will lead the industry leaner and thinner into the future to use capital more efficiently.” Rig rates and service costs rose by up to 35 per cent between 2010 and 2014 as oil prices held above $100 a barrel. Since prices reversed companies are scrambling to trim costs wherever they can: from hardball negotiations with rig suppliers and contractors, to cutting rig workers’ onshore leave and changing supply ship travel patterns.

Some rig operators are now sharing vessels and helicopters to shuttle staff offshore. But that may be only the tip of what’s to come, and service providers could be hit hard. In the North Sea, an area that has suffered in recent years from particularly high operating costs, well drilling costs are expected to drop by an average of 30 per cent by the end of next year due to a surplus of rigs in the market, according to Malcolm Dickson, Principal North Sea Analyst at oil consultancy Wood Mackenzie. “The industry has been through ups and downs before, but this is a different situation,” Dickson said. “We believe there will be a more sustainable deﬂation effect from this drop-off because companies have realised you need to focus

more on costs and value over volume. The supply chain has realised that as well and is collaborating more.” Brent crude, at around $65 a barrel, is still 40 per cent lower than a year ago and a Reuters poll sees it rising only to $75.90 on average in 2017 as ample supply and US. Wood Mackenzie sees Brent still well below $100 in 2018, at $85 a barrel. The current downturn has forced major oil companies to cut hundreds of jobs in the North Sea alone. - Reuters

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SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015

MARKET ENERGY NEEDS

US lawmakers push for export of natural gas to India WASHINGTON: Influential American lawmakers have pushed for removing of restrictions on export of natural gas to India and sought to implement the civil nuclear deal to meet the country’s ever growing energy needs. Referring to fast tracking of economic reforms and acceleration of development by India, Chairman of powerful House Foreign Relations Committee Ed Royce said Nuclear energy is important to have uninterrupted power supply. Speaking at a Congressional briefing on India-US nuclear trade organised by the US-India Political Action Committee, Royce and other Congressmen hoped that the remaining hurdles in the implementation of the civil nuclear trade would soon be removed so that the full potential of nuclear energy could be realised by India. Congressman Mike Honda exuded confidence about the optimistic future of civil nuclear cooperation. ‘Important impact’ The lawmakers also pushed for export of natural gas to India. “Export of liquefied natural gas would have a very important impact on India,” said Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress. Excited about the prospects of increase in energy trade with India, Congressman Pete Olson hoped that before this year end the first ship with American natural gas would be shipped to India. Olson said the US has energy and technology to ensure that every Indian has the electricity they need.”I am committed to improve India US relationship,” he said. Congressman Ted Poe from Texas also batted for export of natural gas from the US to India. Calling for expediting the process of exporting natural gas to India, he said he has introduced a legislation in this regard. - PTI

Aviation passenger demand witnesses robust growth Air freight momentum slows

Total revenue passenger

Times News Service

kilometres rose 5.9 per cent. April capacity of available seat kilometres or ASKs increased by 6.1 per cent, and load factor slipped 0.1 percentage points to 79.4, IATA said Tony Tyler, IATA’s DG and CEO. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

Tyler, IATA’s director general and chief executive officer.

Times News Service MUSCAT: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger trafﬁc results for April showing robust demand growth compared to April 2014. Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 5.9 per cent. April capacity of available seat kilometres or ASKs increased by 6.1 per cent, and load factor slipped 0.1 percentage points to 79.4. Domestic demand grew 7.2 per cent, outpacing international demand which grew 5.2 per cent compared to April 2014. “Demand for connectivity remains strong. That’s positive news. But the performance of the industry is multi-tiered. Middle East and Asia-Paciﬁc based carriers led with growth well above the 5.9 per cent average, while carriers in Europe and the Americas were below it. And African airlines reported a contraction compared to the previous year,” said Tony

International markets April international passenger demand rose 5.2 per cent compared to April 2014. Airlines in all regions except Africa recorded growth led by the Asia-Pacific and Middle East. Capacity climbed 5.9 per cent and load factor dipped 0.5 percentage points to 78.6 per cent. Asia-Pacific airlines’ April traffic jumped 9.0 per cent compared to the year-ago period. Capacity rose 6.0 per cent and load factor surged 2.2 percentage points to 78.3 per cent. To date the sharp reversal in regional trade activity after strong gains in late 2014 has not had an adverse impact on business-related international air travel. European carriers experienced a 3.7 per cent demand increase in April versus April 2014. Capacity rose 4.7 per cent and load factor declined 0.8 percentage points to 80.7 per cent, still the highest

among the regions for the month. Although signs are that a positive response to the European Central Bank stimulus has faltered owing to ﬁrming in the Euro and oil prices, economic stimulus is helping ease downward pressure on demand. North American airlines had just a 0.7 per cent rise in traffic compared to April a year ago. US economic growth turned negative in the ﬁrst quarter of 2015 while the stronger dollar is likely hampering inbound leisure travel. Capacity rose 4.1 per cent and load factor fell 2.6 percentage points to 78.1 per cent. Middle East carriers Middle East carriers’ demand climbed 8.2 per cent in April but this was exceeded by a 13.3 per cent jump in capacity with the result that load factor dropped 3.6 percentage points to 77.2 per cent. Economies in the region are reasonably well positioned to withstand the plunge in oil revenues

M O B I L E WA L L E T

MUSCAT: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing a 3.3 per cent increase in cargo volumes (freight tonne kilometres or FTKs) in April 2015 compared to April in the previous year. While there is growth compared to the same month in 2014, there has been no actual growth in aggregated global cargo volumes since late last year. At a regional level, only the Asia-Paciﬁc and Middle Eastern airlines reported growth in April. North American carriers reported essentially ﬂat demand, while Europe, Latin America and Africa all reported declines when compared to 2014. The April data also revealed a slowdown from the

and regionally-based carriers continue to gain market-share. Latin American airlines saw a 6.3 per cent rise in traffic compared to April 2014. Capacity rose 7.3 per cent, however, causing load factor to slip 0.7 percentage points to 77.7 per cent. Regional trade volumes have been improving but Brazil’s economy remains a trouble spot. African airlines’ traffic fell 3.2 per cent in April year-toyear, while capacity dropped 5.0 per cent, resulting in a 1.3 percentage point rise in load factor to 67.5 per cent. Negative economic developments in parts of the continent, including Nigeria, which relies heavily on oil revenues,

growth for the first quarter of 2015, which averaged 5.3 per cent, in line with a recent weakening in world trade growth. Despite a cyclical pick-up in the global economy, acceleration in trade and air freight demand is unlikely in the near term as business confidence and export orders are flat or declining. “After a volatile start to 2015, the market is settling down, and it is clear that momentum in air freight growth is being lost. First there is the structural challenge of world trade no longer expanding at a faster rate than domestic production. Layered on top of that trend we now see a weakening of economic indicators in the crucial air cargo markets of Asia-Pacific and Europe,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s director general and chief executive officer.

are likely contributing to the depressed results. The Bottom Line “As we head into the traditionally strong summer travel season in the Northern Hemisphere, the outlook for aviation is a mixed picture. Lower oil prices are helping to keep the cost of air travel down. Stronger dollar, may dampen demand in some markets. And it remains to be seen how long demand can stand up in the face of a trio of bad economic news: unexpectedly poor ﬁrst quarter performance in the US, continuing weakness in the Eurozone and slowing regional trade in Asia Paciﬁc,” said Tyler.

RESTRUCTURING

Many retailers sceptical of Apple Pay Hewlett-Packard is hiring more abroad CHICAGO: In a January earnings call with investors, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook made a conﬁdent prediction: “2015 will be the year of Apple Pay,” he said. Since then, the company has aggressively courted retailers — and claimed signiﬁcant success. “We’ve spoken to all of the top 100 merchants in the US, and about half will accept Apple Pay this year, with many more the following year,” a company spokesperson recently told Reuters. But interviews with analysts, merchants and others suggest that Apple’s forecast may be too optimistic and that many retailers remain sceptical about the payment system.

payments market for in-store retail transactions in the US. How that market is divided up among the major players is not entirely clear. An ITG Investment Research study conducted in November, soon after Apple Pay was launched, found that the service accounted for 1 percent of digital payment dollars, while Google Wallet accounted for four per cent.

GROWING MARKET: Neither the companies offering payment systems nor credit card issuers will disclose usage data details. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

Big bet The service is one of Apple’s biggest bets, a chance to tie customers more tightly to its phones and its new smart watch, as well as to take a tiny bite from every retail transaction. To assess Apple’s progress, Reuters worked from the National Retail Federation’s list of the top 100 US retailers, surveying the 98 that had brick-and-mortar outlets (two of the top 100 sell only online). Eighty-ﬁve supplied detailed responses, and 11 others supplied information only about whether or not they accept Apple Pay. While some of the country’s top merchants said they use and like the mobile payment system,

fewer than a quarter of the retailers said they currently accept Apple Pay, and nearly two-thirds of the chains said categorically they would not be accepting it this year. Only four companies said they have plans to join the programme in the next year. The top reasons retailers cited for not accepting Apple Pay were insufficient customer demand, a lack of access to data generated in Apple Pay transactions and the cost of technology to facilitate the payments. Some merchants said they were holding out because they plan to participate in a new mobile payment system to be launched by

a coalition of retailers later this year. A growing market Reliable statistics on mobile wallet payments are difficult to obtain. Neither the companies offering payment systems nor credit card issuers will disclose detailed data about usage. But analysts agree that they are used for only a tiny percentage of US retail transactions. An online survey conducted by Verifone and Wakeﬁeld Research released in January 2015 found that mobile wallets accounted for about four per cent of the overall

More acceptance Since then, analysts agree, Apple Pay’s market share has grown dramatically. “In the last six months or so there has been more acceptance of Apple Pay,” said Steve Weinstein, senior internet analyst for ITG. “Google Wallet has kind of stalled out.” In January, Apple’s Cook, citing internal data, said Apple Pay accounted for two out of three dollars spent in “contactless payments,” but the company did not provide data to back up those numbers. Still, it is clear Apple Pay has made considerable progress in signing up vendors, with more than 700,000 sites as of March 9, the last time Apple updated its numbers, including selfservice terminals such as vending machines, laundromats and parking meters. Interviews with retailers suggest that the company has relied on aggressive marketing to recruit participants. — Reuters

SAN FRANCISCO: HewlettPackard (HP) is hiring more people abroad as the company prepares to embark on a new round of restructuring, in a move that will save cash and bolster research and development. About 4,700 positions are listed for international jobs or internships, compared with around 2,500 in the US, on the Palo Alto, California-based company’s website. That’s in line with HewlettPackard’s own business, which gets about 65 per cent of its sales overseas. It also indicates the future of Hewlett-Packard’s employment strategy, with more people being hired abroad in fastergrowing markets as the company seeks savings of around $1 billion through restructuring and the potential for an additional $2 billion in cost cuts from trimming the services business. “We have to have a cost structure that allows us to compete,” Meg Whitman, Hewlett-Packard’s chief executive officer, said in an interview with Bloomberg News. “We needed to take more people out of the enterprise services group because of the change the IT outsourcing market, so that is one place which will over time have less people. But we hope we’ll have more people in security, big data and the transformation area to a hybrid environment.”

Meg Whitman. — Bloomber ﬁle picture

A few locations stand out, based on open positions, forming a set of regional hubs. These include wellestablished places such as the UK (about 250 jobs) and India (1,400), as well as emerging ones such as Mexico, Costa Rica and Brazil. Emerging markets “Emerging markets tend to be faster growth markets than the United States,” Whitman explained. “We need to have people where we are going to grow.” Hiring more people in emerging markets — India, China, the Philippines, Latin America and other places — also helps to keep costs down, letting Hewlett-Packard compete with other providers “from IBM to Huawei, from EMC to Lenovo,” he said. — Bloomberg News

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

FEATURE

BANANA UNDER THREAT The United Nations says the disease threatens supply, and Latin American growers are taking steps to limit the risk. They met in March to create a regional defence effort and will gather again in September or October, said Eduardo Ledesma, director of the Banana Exporters’ Association in Ecuador

ix decades after a banana-killing fungus all but wiped out plantations across Latin America, a new strain threatens to destroy global harvests. A type of Fusarium wilt appeared this year in Australia’s main banana-growing state after spreading to Asia and Africa. While the fungus has been around since the 1990s and has yet to affect top exporter Ecuador, Fresh Del Monte Produce called it a potential “big nightmare.” The United Nations says the disease threatens supply, and Latin American growers are taking steps to limit the risk. The industry survived the demise of the topselling Gros Michel banana in the 1950s by switching to a different variety, called the Cavendish. But this time, there’s no ready substitute. Americans now eat bananas almost as much as apples and oranges combined, and are the biggest buyers in an export market valued at more than $7 billion. “We don’t have anything that can replace the Cavendish,” said Gert Kema, a plant research leader at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, who studies banana diseases. Part of the problem is the way the market evolved more than a century ago, relying on a single breed rather than several varieties. In 1870, the founder of what became Chiquita Brands International imported 160 bunches of bananas from Jamaica to the US that he sold at a proﬁt, kicking off an American industry built around perishable tropical fruit from overseas that competes with cheap, locally grown apples. Increased risk While there are more than 1,000 types of bananas, many are consumed where they are grown or are inedible. To make money on exports, growers had to rely on a single variety to ensure uniformity and keep production costs low. Until the 1960s, that was the Gros Michel, which all but disappeared after a decades- long spread of what came to be known as Panama disease. “The monoculture, the reliance on a single banana breed that makes all this possible — that makes the low margins work — also makes that fruit very susceptible to disruption,” said Dan Koeppel, who has travelled to 30 countries to sample varieties and wrote ‘Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World’. “The biggest problem is disease.” A lack of plant diversity isn’t unique to bananas. After a history in which more than 7,000 species were cultivated for human consumption, today just four crops — rice, wheat, corn and potatoes — are responsible for more than 60 per cent of human energy intake, the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates.

The monoculture, the reliance on a single banana breed that makes all this possible — that makes the low margins work — also makes that fruit very susceptible to disruption. The biggest problem is disease Dan Koeppel Author, who has travelled to 30 countries to sample varieties and wrote ‘Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World’

Less tasty Losing breeds can be costly. When Gros Michel was killed off, the Cavendish proved immune to the fungus strain, though the bananas were smaller, less hardy and not as tasty, Koeppel said by phone from Los Angeles. It allowed the industry to recover, but the new variety required shipping in smaller boxes rather than big containers, he said. It took years to convert operations from farms to retailers. Still, demand took off. Global banana production surged ﬁve-fold from 1961, with increases in India and China, which together account for 37 per cent of output, FAO data show. The US and European Union are the top importers, while Ecuador and the Philippines are the top shippers. The FAO estimates bananas provide income or food to about 400 million people worldwide. Over the past two decades, a new strain of Fusarium wilt — called Panama disease Tropical Race 4 — emerged to threaten the Cavendish, including in the Philippines and China and in parts of Africa. This year, it was found in Queensland state, where more than 90 per cent of Australia’s A$600 million ($467 million) crop is grown. Playing defence TR4 enters the plant’s roots and spreads, invading vascular tissue. The ﬁrst symptom is irregu-

lar yellowing of older leaves, which later turn brown and dry out. The disease poses no threat to humans. Growers from across Latin America met in March to create a regional defence effort and will gather again in September or October, said Eduardo Ledesma, director of the Banana Exporters’ Association in Ecuador. No specific regional measures are in place, though Ecuador growers have asked the government to fumigate all containers, he said. “If we carry out these controls at a regional level, then it will be very difficult for it to spread,” Ledesma said from Guayaquil, Ecuador. “Not impossible, because nothing is impossible in life, but very difficult.” Researching options The strain is easily spread by people — through dirt on shoes, tires on trucks, shipping containers or other infected equipment — as well as through rain, floods and run-off water. Because most of the world’s Cavendish bananas are clones, a disease affecting one plant affects them all, the FAO says. Dole Food Co. said the disease isn’t present in the Americas or western Africa, from where the company imports supplies, and it’s looking at how to develop a disease-resistant banana. Fresh Del Monte said none of its company farms in Latin America had been impacted and there’s no reason to believe that will change in the immediate future. The company said it’s taking steps to prevent contaminated material entering its farms and container yards. An external spokesman for Chiquita, now owned by Cutrale Group and Safra Group, declined to comment on how the company is managing the risk. Australian quarantine In Queensland, where residents are affectionately known as banana-benders, a farm in Tully, about 800 miles north of Brisbane, was quarantined and some plants were destroyed after TR4 was detected on March 3. Another quarantine 112 miles north of the farm was revoked after final tests were negative, and no other cases have been disclosed. After an initial shutdown of the infected farm, the first truckloads of fruit left in April with harvesting allowed to resume under strict biosecurity arrangements. The government says it’s not feasible to eradicate the fungus. Researchers like Wageningen’s Kema say the disease will continue to spread, despite efforts to contain it, as long as susceptible varieties are being grown. “History is repeating itself,” banana author Koeppel said. “If you look at the map, this disease is marching.” — Bloomberg News

B SECTION

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LIFE & STYLE

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 6, 2 0 1 5

From left, Gigi Hadid, Nadja Swarovski, Rosie Assoulin, Shayne Oliver, Floriana Gavriel, Rachel Mansur, and Zacharay Quinto — Charles

Designer Tom Ford (L) and Joshua Jackson. Jackson presented Tom Ford with the menswear designer of the year award. — Larry

Sykes/Invision via AP

Busacca/Getty Images

INSTAGRAM CHANGED FASHION; FASHION SAID THANK YOU Instagram is part of the great democratisation of fashion, helping to create an entire class of fashion professionals who did not hone their chops as junior editors or assistants

From left, Pharrell Williams, Helen Lasichanh, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. —Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Designer Stacey Bendet. —Dimitrios Kam-

Actress Taraji P. Henson — Evan Agostini/Invision

Designer Tory Burch.

bouris/Getty Images

via AP

Images

—Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Fashion designer Betsey Johnson accepts the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. — Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

very year the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) honours the achievements of veteran designers and celebrates the potential of a class of newcomers. Monday night’s ceremony highlighted the old-school craft of clothes, the gut-instincts of an enduring merchant and a wave of American designers who are informed by the street. It was also a slog through long speeches, stuttering gratitude, affectless reminiscences, grudging laughter and fear of Kanye. Ultimately though, Instagram was the most interesting win of the night. Its impact says the most about fashion in our popular culture. The CFDA ventured boldly into new territory. It gave its media award — typically presented to a writer, editor or photographer — to a company, or more precisely, an app: Instagram. Voted on by the CFDA board, Instagram had the support of some of the industry’s most influential voices, said the organisation’s chief executive Steven Kolb. Launched in 2010, Instagram was created as a photo-sharing device with a selection of filters and other doo-dads to doctor images to a user’s aesthetic tastes. Kevin Systrom said that he and co-founder Mike Krieger never envisioned Instagram’s effect on the fashion industry: “There’s a funny picture of Mike and I wearing baggy shirts and pants. So to say we were thinking about fashion would be an overstatement.” “We started it to be for everyone,” Systrom said in an earlier interview. “The universality of images is something we hold near and dear.” But Instagram, Systrom acknowledges, has changed fashion. “Designers are thinking of things to put in shows to encourage people to take Instagrams,” Systrom says, noting the recent Chanel show in which designer Karl Lagerfeld created an entire supermarket set including details such as boxes of Chanel rice, shopping carts and displays of produce. There have always been designers who created elaborate sets for their fashion shows. But in recent years, in addition to Chanel’s French bistro, Givenchy’s auto carnage and Dries Van Noten’s hippie sit-in, designers are giving audiences carefully orchestrated group shots of models — perfect for Instagram. Where it was once de rigueur for models to make one final pass down the runway at the end of a show, now they come out as a group and pose. Often they remain in position even as the audience is leaving — more opportunities for guests to swarm around a model to capture a perfect close-up for Instagram. “I went to the Burberry show in LA and I was talking to (creative director) Christopher Bailey,” Systrom says. Production values of fashion shows have gone up, Bailey told him, now that images

Kelly Osbourne, right, presents fashion designer Betsey Johnson with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. - Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Busacca/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian and Instagram founder Kevin Systrom. Instagram won the CFDA media award. — Charles Sykes/Invision via AP

are disseminated instantly — or as quickly as all that ﬁltering and editing will allow. Pictures go far beyond newspapers and magazines and websites to be shared — and re-shared — millions of times in ways that are not just regurgitating what the designer says but from a new point-of-view. A designer no longer lectures. Instagram helps spark a conversation and a debate. Instagram is part of the great democratisation of fashion, helping to create an entire class of fashion professionals who did not hone their chops as junior editors or assistants. They are untethered to speciﬁc publications. Their message is wholly visual and it is personal. And for some people, such as Leandra Medine and Chiara Ferragni it has become lucrative, as they become tastemakers to their hundreds of thousands of followers, brand ambassadors for labels, collaborators with fashion designers and even designers, themselves. Instagram has given models a tool for creating a public personality long before they sign big advertising contracts, sit down for a chat on a late night talk show or other-

wise raise their voice. With Instagram, they can be heard without ever having to open their mouth. As designer John Bartlett noted, just after he posted a photo on Instagram, the fashion industry has a natural affinity for the app, with its focus — not just on the visual, but also on personal aesthetics. After all, designers can share all the photos they want via Twitter, for instance; the obsession with Instagram is in altering those images to reflect their point-of-view. Kim Kardashian, dressed in a Proenza Schouler dress, presented the media award to Instagram. Systrom noted that while he might be the CEO of the company, she is the queen of Instagram, someone who has turned the selfie “into a science.” For better and worse, Kardashian has, with the aid of Instagram and her nearly 35 million followers, left fashion transfixed. She can hijack fashion headlines simply by showing up. She became a new kind of fashion celebrity — one without a model’s physique. She so mesmerised Vogue with her tail feathers that it declared this the era of the big booty — essentially gone blind to an entire history of prominent derrieres and

Designer Michelle Smith and model Hannah Davis. —Larry

Actress Katie Holmes — Mike Coppola/Getty Images

their appreciative admirers. Kardashian, the queen of Instagram can do that; Instagram can do that. The speeches were long and meandering — although undoubtedly sincere — and where there was sweet joy and surprise, the winners were often reduced to stuttering fragments. Shayne Oliver of Hood by Air was named best new menswear designer for his gender blurring luxury street style, while Rosie Assoulin took the honours for her structured and artful womenswear. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen of The Row won for their restrained luxurious womenswear. Other honorees included Millard “Mickey” Drexler, the master merchant of J. Crew and Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli. When the awards ended, Corden dispatched the audience to the atrium of Alice Tully Hall, where a party awaited. Folks slowly ﬁled out to ﬁnd waiters passing a light supper. It was time for congratulations and hugs before venturing out into the rain. Everyone pulled out a phone. They started taking pictures. And posting them to Instagram. — Robin Givhan/The Washington Post

S ATUR DAY, JUN E 6, 2 015

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Entourage (Comedy) Cast: Andrian Grenier, Jeremy Priven, Kevin Connolly 2:00, 4:00, 8:00 pm CP No: 1474 ( 15+ )

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:45 pm Spy (Action, Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy 11:45 am, 03:45, 08:15 pm Dil Dhadak Ne Do (Drama, Romance) (TBC) Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shetty, Priyanka Chopra 02:00, 08:20 pm Entourage (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly 02:00, 06:10 pm Insidious Chapter 3 (Horror) (15+) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson 04:15, 11:30 pm Woman In Gold (Drama) (PG) Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl 01:40, 06:00 pm Survivor (Action, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan McDermott 11:45 am, 02:00, 04:00 pm San Andereas (Action, Adventure) (3D) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 6:00, 08:15 pm (PG) Jungle Master (Animation, Adventure) (2D) PG

Alexandra Daddario 10:00 am, 06:05 & 09:35 pm Gold Class: 03:45 pm Jungle Master (2D)(Animation) (PG) Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade 12:15 pm Entourage (2D) (Comedy) Cast: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven 10:00 am & 04:00 pm; Gold Class: 11:45 am Survivor (2D)(Act/Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan 02:15 pm, Gold Class: 2:00 pm Spy (2D) (Action/Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi 02:05 pm & 08:15 pm Gold Class: 11:15 pm Woman in Gold (2D) (Horror) (PG) Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds 04:30 pm, Gold Class: 06:00pm Insidious Chapter 3 (2D) (Hor) (15+) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott 11:45 pm, Gold Class: 06:00 pm Dil Dhadakne Do (2D) (Dr/Roma) Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shetty, Priyanka Chopra 06:30 pm, Gold Class: 08:00 pm

SCREEN 1 Dil Dhadakne Do (Rom/Dr/Co) – PG12 Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma Priyanka Chopra 12.30, 3.45, 7.00, 10.15 PM SCREEN 2

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:30 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2D) (Co) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz Khan 02:00 pm (PG) San Andreas (3D) (Act/Thriller) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino,

Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom) – PG Cast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan 1.00, 6.45 PM Dil Dhadakne Do (Rom/Dr/Co) – PG12 Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma Priyanka Chopra 3.30 PM UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs.

JUVENTAS @10:45 pm SCREEN 3 Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 6.45 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom) – PG Cast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan 3.30, 9.45 PM

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:45 pm San Andreas - 2D (PG) (Act | Dr ) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 03:15 pm San Andreas - 3D (PG) Act | Dra Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 9:15, 11:30 pm Jungle Master - 2D (PG) Animation Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade 04:00 pm Survivor - 2D (PG12) Action | Thriller Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan McDermott 12:15, 05:20, 09:45, 11:45 PM Cut Bank - 2D (12+) Thriller Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer, Billy Bob Thornton 02:10 pm Entourage - 2D (15+) Comedy Cast: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven 05:20, 07:15 pm Woman in Gold - 2D (PG) Drama Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds 05:35 , 07:45 PM Insidious: Chapter 3 - 2D (15+) Hor Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson 03:10, 11:30 PM Spy - 2D (18+) Action | Comedy Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy 12:00, 07:15 , 09:30 PM

Dil Dhadakne Do - 2D (TBC) Drama Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shetty, Priyanka Chopra 12:10, 02:15 , 07:15 PM Chandrettan Evideya - 2D (M) (PG) Co Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod 12:45 , 05:00 PM

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:30 pm San Andreas – 3D (PG) Act, Drama, Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 04:45, 09:30 pm Spy - 2D (18+) Action, Comedy Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy, 3:15, 07:15, 11:30pm Survivor – 2D (PG12) Action, Thriller Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan 05:30, 08:45 pm Burying the Ex – 2D (12+) Com, Horror Cast: Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene 03:00 pm Woman in Gold – 2D (PG) Drama Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds 02:45, 06:45 pm Insidious: Chapter 3 - 2D (15+) Horror Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, 04:45, 11:45 pm Chandrettan Evideya – 2D (PG) Com Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod 06:30pm Dil Dhadakne Do – 2D (TBC)Dra Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra 08:45 pm

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:30 pm San Andreas (2D) (Act| Adv) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 06:10 pm Survivor (Act | Thriller) (PG12)

Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan 04:20, 07:00 pm Insidious: Chapter 3 (Horror) (15+) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, 02:30, 11:45 pm Spy (Action | Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jason Statham, Jude Law 02:30 pm Dil Dhadakne Do (Hindi) (Dr ) (TBC) Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra 11.30 AM, 08:45 pm Chandrettan Evideya (Mal) (Co) (PG) Cast: Anusree, Dilip 12:15, 04:45 pm

UEFA FINAL-2015: BARCELONA vs. JUVENTAS @10:30 pm San Andreas (2D) (12+) (Act, Dra) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 11:15AM San Andreas (3D) (12+) (Act, Dr) 1:45, 8:15pm Spy (2D) (18+) (Action, Comedy) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi 4:00, 6:15, 9:30pm Cut Bank (3D) (12+) (Thriller) Cast: Liam Hemsworth; 3:15pm Survivor (2D) (PG12) (Act, Thriller ) Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, 10:00AM, 11:45AM, 6:15pm Woman in Gold (2D) (PG) (Drama) Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds 12:30, 06:30pm Insidious: Chapter 3 (2D) (15+) (Hor) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott 2:30, 11:45pm Jungle Master (2D) (PG) (Anim) 11:00am Entourage (2D) (15+) Comedy Cast: Adrian Grenier; 4:20, 7:20pm Burying the Ex (2D) (12+) Com Cast: Anton Yelchin, 1:30pm Chandrettan Evideya (2D) (PG) Com Cast: Anusree, Dilip, 5:00pm Dil Dhadakne Do (2D) (PG12) Dra 8:30pm

Cut Bank ( Thriller ) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teressa Palmer, John Malckovitch 4:00 & 8.00 pm CP No: 1476 (12+) San Andreas (Action / Thriller) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Deddario, Carla Gugino 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1381 (PG) Survivor (Action / Thriller) Cast: Milla Jovovitch, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan Mc Dermott 2:00, 6:00, 10:00 & 11:55 pm CP No: 1475 (PG 12)

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776

Chandrettan Evideya (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dileep, Namitha & Anu Sree 3-00, 6-30 & 10-00 pm At Cinema Main Pandaga Chesko (Telugu)(Act/Rom) Cast: Ram, Rakul Preet Singh & Sonal Chauhan 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema -3 Masss (Tamil) (Act/Hor) Cast: Surya & Nayanthara 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema-2 Bhaskar The Rascal (Mal) (Rom) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara & Isha Talwar 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema -4 NEXT CHANGE: Premam (Mal); Romeo and Juliet (Tamil); Humari Adhuri Kahani (Hindi)

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

It is honourable to play honour GEORGE Bernard Shaw said, “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” At the bridge table, it can be a mistake not to make an honour-able play when one is available — as in this deal. South is in four spades. West leads the heart ace. What should East discard? North, with six-card support, should shut his eyes and bid four spades. Who knows who can make what? East wonders if his side can do well in a minor, especially as North’s jump to four spades

suggests that West has some minor-suit cards, but the vulnerability is unfavourable. If East does bid, four no-trump should show both minors, not be Blackwood. Note that ﬁve clubs can be made unless the defenders immediately take their three diamond tricks. It is all right to discard a spot-card, but it is much better to signal with an honour-card — partner won’t miss it. Here, East should pitch his club king, top of touching honours. This makes it easy for West to cash another heart trick and the club ace before leading a second

club for down one. On any other defence, declarer has at least 10 tricks: six spades and four diamonds. True, if East discards the club eight before the club three, this ought to persuade West to shift to clubs. But why not make partner’s life easy? Phillip Alder is combining in May 2016 with Kalos to run a bridge and golf river cruise starting from Bordeaux, France. Details are available on Phillip’s website: www.phillipalderbridge. com. - By Philip Alder

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 Hollow rock 6 Clemens pseudonym 11 Hush-hush 12 Tower designer 14 Carpet thickness 15 Lama’s melody 17 Geometry symbol 18 My mind — — blank 19 Birthday no. 20 Codgers’ queries 21 “Wool” on clay sheep 23 Rx writers 24 Borscht veggie 25 Gridiron gain 27 Is gusty 28 Hall-of-Famer Mel

29 30 33 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 49 51 52

— Exec’s degree Class Laptop maker In a while Cargo unit Accident reminder Indent key Greenhouse purchase Famous cathedral town Cosmic sound Treacherous person Sidekicks Gives feedback Peaks Virginia caverns Everglades wader

DOWN 1 Teahouse hostess 2 Cream-ﬁlled pastry 3 Copper source 4 Esprit — corps 5 Handy abbr. 6 Rips 7 Beats the ﬁeld 8 Fore opposite 9 Possibility 10 Male relative 11 Like gingersnaps 13 Memory joggers 16 Jekyll’s alter ego 20 Fair-hiring letters 22 Festoon 23 Co. honchos 24 Mild case of the blues 26 Gulped down

27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 41 44 45 46 48 50

Air riﬂe ammo Sun. follower Croc cousin Tooth coating Head, slangily Big handbag Mountaineer’s tool (2 wds.) “Swan Lake,” e.g. Yawning gulf — -turvy Gyro bread TV hookup of yore Charlotte of “Bananas” For each Gold, in the lab Film rating

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE

MANU JOHN

PAVITHRA PRADEEP

June 6, 2003

June 5, 2014

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2015

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are usually content with doing good work, developing your skills and pursuing opportunities in such a way that you progress incrementally without attracting a great deal of attention to yourself or your endeavours. As a result, it is likely that you will seem to burst onto the scene fully formed, ready to take the world by storm with remarkable demonstrations of skill and conﬁdence. You’re not the kind to let others see your mistakes if it is at all possible to conceal them. Because of this, then, it may seem to others that you never make them — but nothing could be further from the truth! You do make mistakes, but you learn from each and every one of them, and it is your accomplishments, not your learning process or your errors, that you put on display for the world to observe and marvel at! You may go through certain periods marked by confusion and doubt. These are the result of being knocked off balance by unexpected world events and subtle changes in rhythm and dynamics that take you by surprise. These periods are unlikely to last long, however; you are quick to regain your footing. Also born on this date are: Robert Englund, actor; Thomas Mann, author; Jason Isaacs, actor; Paul Giamatti, actor; Nathan Hale, soldier; Bjorn Borg, tennis player; Natalie Morales, journalist; Harvey Fierstein, actor and writer; Alexander Pushkin, author; Sandra Bernhard, comedian and actress.

12.10pm 3.29pm 6.56pm 8.18pm 3.53am

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

6:51pm 5.20am

10:51pm 5.40pm

FIND-IT-ALL

12:26am 5.36am

W E AT H E R

AIRLINES

lear to partly cloudy skies along coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains and mainly clear skies over most of the Sultanate chance of convective clouds developments and thundershowers over al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas toward afternoon may associated with hail and fresh winds and hazy along the coastal areas with chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog. EXPECTED WINDS: Along the coastal areas of Oman sea winds will be easterly to northeasterly light to moderate occasionally fresh, and southerly to southwesterly moderate to fresh along the coastal

areas of Arabian Sea, while it will be southeasterly light to moderate occasionally fresh over the rest of the Sultanate. SEA STATE: Moderate along all Oman coast with maximum wave height of 2.0 metres. HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Moderate over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during dust rising and thundershowers. THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Chance of convective clouds developments and thundershowers. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds along coastal areas.

Max

OMAN

WORLD

Max 42 Min 29 Max 25 Min 13

Max 39 Min 27

Max 38 Min 33 Max 21 Min 8

Max 38 Min 32

Max 21 Min 10

Max 41 Min 28

Max 42 Min 29

Max 40 Min 23

Max 38 Min 31

GEMINI

Max 34 Min 27

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] A planned rendezvous of sorts may get a little messy until you are able to remind all key players of their common motives.

Max 32 Min 27

Max 22 Min 14

Max 34 Min 26 Max 20 Min 9

Source: www.met.gov.om

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

43 41 38 46 37 45

31 29 31 32 29 27

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

28 42 31 22 18 33 32 30 31 22 15 30 31 24 21 32 24 18

21 27 18 14 11 21 26 14 27 18 2 24 19 10 9 27 18 11

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[JUNE 21-JULY 22] What you have in the works may cause some anxiety until you remember just why you came up with the plan in the ﬁrst place!

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] Tending to one thing after another, in sequence, is the best approach. You don’t want tasks to become confused or indistinct.

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] They say it takes a village — and indeed, today you may ﬁnd that you are part of a well-organised and synchronised team.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] Communication efforts may be thwarted for a time, but you can certainly get your messages through if you are persistent and clear.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You don’t want to proﬁt from another’s misfortune, but you don’t want to ﬁnd yourself suffering, either. Balance is key.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] Your willingness to help out in ways that go above and beyond will be recognised and appreciated — if not today, then very soon.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] Give yourself a pat on the back, for you have achieved something that you may only have dreamed of in times past.

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00 TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ll be ﬁguring out probabilities and odds throughout the day as you work toward achieving something that others consider a long shot.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] You have a great deal on your mind, especially concerning a family member who simply isn’t playing by the rules.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] Others may ask you questions that are easy to answer, but the questions you ask yourself are likely to be much more difficult.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] Now is the time for you to do something that you’ve considered in the past, but have been too cautious to commit to outright.

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 4537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah. Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musaﬁr Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 Sifawy Hotel +968 24749111 Juweira Hotel +968 23239600 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

SATURDAY

Min

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

CANCER

Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines: 24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp ﬁsh market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm. National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

SUNDAY

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY406 WY648 WY672 WY424 WY676 WY682 WY914 WY916 TK774 4H583 PK225 GF560 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 MS930 FZ041 WY114 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY154 WY144 WY668 WY692 WY132 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY602 WY432 WY346 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY282 PK191 EK862 WY210 WY242 WY252 IX549 QR1128 EY382 IX443 WY844 WY652 9W530 WY604 WY918 GF562 FZ037 IX337 WY384 PA450 WY705 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 BG023 PK291 WY670 WY324 NL771 WY332 WY606 WY3302 WY906 WY920 FZ045 SV532 WY344 WY656 QR1126 WY204 WY632 WY292 WY216 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY694 WY664 GF564 G9116 WY274 WY374 WY386 FZ047 WY908 PK259 RG125 WY646 WY224 WY614 WY338 FZ049 WY124 KL441 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 WY254 UL205 WY684 AI907 WY264 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 WY717 WY328 EY388 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY696 WY612

CAIRO 0005 KUWAIT 0005 MEDINA 0005 BEIRUT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 KARACHI 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 CAIRO 0410 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 DAMMAM 0715 PARIS 0735 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0805 TEHRAN 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 TURBAT 0930 DUBAI 0930 GOA 0935 DELHI 0935 MADRAS 0955 TRIVANDRUM 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 MANILA 1020 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 CALICUT 1155 MALE 1210 LAHORE 1215 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DACCA 1230 ISLAM ABBAD 1235 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 PESHAWAR 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 DUBAI 1340 MUKHAIZNA 1350 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 DUBAI 1535 JEDDAH 1550 LAHORE 1605 BAHRAIN 1615 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 ABU DHABI 1710 CALICUT 1710 TRIVANDRUM 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 DAMMAM 1805 DOHA 1805 BAHRAIN 1810 SHARJAH 1905 JAIPUR 1910 COLOMBO 1915 MALE 1935 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 PESHAWAR 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 KUWAIT 2010 COCHIN 2025 DUBAI 2025 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 MUNICH 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2150 COLOMBO 2155 RIYADH 2200 MADRAS 2200 LUCKNOW 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 KARACHI 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

WY406 WY648 WY676 WY672 WY682 WY914 WY916 WY910 TK774 4H585 NL669 PK225 GF560 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 FZ041 WY114 4H586 CV732 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY326 WY644 G9841 WY686 WY154 WY144 WY692 WY668 WY674 WY132 WY102 FZ043 WY602 NL768 WY272 WY202 WY3932 WY236 G9114 WY282 WY226 EK862 WY210 WY242 WY212 WY252 IX549 QR1128 IX817 EY382 IX443 9W530 WY3922 WY3302 WY604 WY918 GF562 FZ037 IX337 WY384 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 WY670 WY324 WY332 WY652 WY606 KU677 WY906 WY920 WY348 FZ045 WY3304 WY344 QR1126 WY204 WY632 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY246 WY232 WY610 GF564 WY656 TG507 G9116 WY374 WY646 FZ047 WY908 WY614 WY848 WY338 WY386 WY434 FZ049 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 WY254 BA073 WY624 UL205 AI907 WY312 QR1134 LX242 GF566 LH616 EY388 WY414 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY696 WY612

CAIRO 0005 KUWAIT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 MEDINA 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 SALALAH 0130 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 SIALKOT 0200 KARACHI 0210 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 DOHA 0600 LUXORE 0635 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KARACHI 0650 KUWAIT 0650 RAS AL KHAIMA 0655 RIYADH 0655 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 DAMMAM 0715 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 PARIS 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0805 LAHORE 0830 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 SOHAR 0840 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 GOA 0935 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0950 MADRAS 0955 TRIVANDRUM 0955 DOHA 1000 MANGALORE 1010 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1045 DUQUM OMAN 1045 MUKHAIZNA 1110 DUBAI 1110 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 CALICUT 1155 MALE 1210 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 BAHRAIN 1330 DUBAI 1340 KUWAIT 1405 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 ISLAM ABBAD 1515 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 LAHORE 1605 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 ABU DHABI 1710 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 DELHI 1750 HYDERABAD 1750 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 BAHRAIN 1820 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900 SHARJAH 1905 COLOMBO 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 MALE 2045 TEHRAN 2055 DUBAI 2100 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 MADRAS 2135 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 COLOMBO 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 DOHA 2225 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ABU DHABI 2300 AMMAN 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

ETD

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

9W539 AI986 SG062 WY657 WY637 WY281 WY235 WY201 WY251 WY643 WY345 WY601 WY431 WY123 WY901 WY241 WY667 WY691 TK775 WY383 WY209 4H584 PK230 WY331 ET625 EK867 EY385 MS931 FZ042 QR1133 WY651 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY917 WY669 WY323 FZ044 WY373 WY633 WY215 WY815 WY343 WY291 WY717 WY821 WY385 G9115 WY3301 WY231 PK192 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 IX554 WY337 QR1129 EY383 IX442 WY311 WY919 9W533 GF563 WY223 WY655 WY273 FZ038 IX350 WY253 PA451 WY113 WY693 PK292 WY631 WY131 WY663 WY143 WY263 BG024 WY101 WY153 WY927 NL668 WY405 WY645 WY907 WY675 FZ046 WY683 SV533 WY671 WY613 QR1127 WY327 WY681 WY623 WY647 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 PK226 WY915 WY909 FZ050 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 AI974 LX243 GF567 QR1135 BA072

BOMBAY BOMBAY AHMEDABAD BAHRAIN ABU DHABI BANGALORE HYDERABAD BOMBAY MADRAS KUWAIT ISLAM ABBAD DUBAI TEHRAN MUNICH SALALAH DELHI DOHA DAMMAM ISTANBUL MALE GOA DACCA LAHORE KATHMANDU ADDIS ABABA DUBAI ABU DHABI CAIRO DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN SALALAH DUBAI KHASAB DOHA KARACHI DUBAI COLOMBO ABU DHABI TRIVANDRUM BANGKOK LAHORE CALICUT ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR MALE SHARJAH MUKHAIZNA HYDERABAD TURBAT-GWADUR SALALAH DUBAI BOMBAY DELHI DUBAI TRIVANDRUM KATHMANDU DOHA ABU DHABI COCHIN CHITTAGONG KHASAB COCHIN BAHRAIN COCHIN BAHRAIN JAIPUR DUBAI CALICUT MADRAS LAHORE FRANKFURT DAMMAM ISLAM ABBAD ABU DHABI PARIS DOHA MALPENSA LUCKNOW CHITTAGONG-DACCA LONDON HEATHROW ZURICH SALALAH SIALKOT CAIRO KUWAIT SALALAH JEDDAH DUBAI RIYADH RIYADH-JEDDAH MEDINA DUBAI DOHA KARACHI RIYADH DUBAI KUWAIT BAHRAIN DUBAI DAMMAM DOHA BAHRAIN SHARJAH SALALAH ABU DHABI DUBAI DUBAI ABU DHABI KARACHI SALALAH SALALAH DUBAI DOHA-AMSTERDAM BANGKOK TRIVANDRUM BOMBAY MADRAS COLOMBO DELHI DUBAI-ZURICH BAHRAIN DOHA ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW

0020 0020 0030 0055 0105 0110 0110 0115 0120 0120 0125 0145 0155 0200 0215 0215 0225 0225 0230 0230 0255 0300 0315 0350 0450 0450 0500 0510 0510 0515 0645 0715 0750 0750 0815 0835 0835 0845 0900 0900 0900 0905 0915 0915 0940 0945 0945 0955 1000 1000 1015 1020 1020 1025 1040 1045 1045 1050 1100 1105 1120 1140 1145 1145 1215 1215 1220 1220 1225 1255 1310 1315 1320 1330 1335 1345 1345 1350 1350 1400 1400 1400 1420 1430 1430 1440 1440 1540 1615 1620 1620 1650 1705 1710 1750 1810 1840 1840 1845 1855 1910 1915 1920 1920 1955 2000 2015 2025 2035 2045 2100 2100 2110 2145 2220 2225 2230 2245 2300 2305 2310 2325 2325 2330 2330

AI986 9W539 WY657 WY225 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY211 WY685 WY201 WY643 WY251 WY271 WY601 WY123 WY325 WY847 WY241 WY901 WY691 WY667 WY383 TK775 WY209 4H585 PK260 NL772 WY331 ET625 EK867 EY385 FZ042 QR1133 WY3931 4H586 GF561 WY3921 G9842 WY903 WY603 WY3301 CV732 WY917 WY347 WY669 WY323 FZ044 WY373 WY815 WY291 WY343 NL769 WY651 WY263 WY821 WY843 G9115 WY231 WY605 WY905 WY203 WY385 WY245 EK863 IX554 WY337 QR1129 IX818 EY383 IX442 WY311 9W533 WY919 GF563 FZ038 WY3303 WY253 IX350 WY633 WY113 WY663 WY631 WY143 WY645 WY655 WY101 WY153 WY927 WY405 WY413 WY433 WY609 KU678 WY907 WY675 FZ046 WY671 WY613 QR1127 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY653 WY661 G9117 WY913 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY611 WY915 FZ050 WY421 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 AI974 WY705 GF567 LX243 QR1135 BA072 WY673 EY381 LH617

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 COCHIN 0105 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 TRIVANDRUM 0110 RIYADH 0115 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 JAIPUR 0135 DUBAI 0145 MUNICH 0200 KARACHI 0210 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 SALALAH 0215 DAMMAM 0225 DOHA 0225 MALE 0230 ISTANBUL 0230 GOA 0255 DOHA 0300 PESHAWAR 0310 PESHAWAR 0330 KATHMANDU 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0450 DUBAI 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 SOHAR 0635 DACCA 0700 BAHRAIN 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0745 RAS AL KHAIMA 0745 SALALAH 0750 DUBAI 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 HONG KONG 0800 KHASAB 0815 ISLAM ABBAD 0830 DOHA 0835 KARACHI 0835 DUBAI 0845 COLOMBO 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 LAHORE 0915 LAHORE 0930 BAHRAIN 0935 LUCKNOW 0940 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 MANILA 0955 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 DUBAI 1020 SALALAH 1020 BOMBAY 1025 MALE 1040 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 MANGALORE 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 MADRAS 1255 CALICUT 1255 ABU DHABI 1300 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 ABU DHABI 1345 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 BAHRAIN 1400 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 AMMAN 1440 TEHRAN 1445 DUBAI 1445 ABU DHABI-KUWAIT 1505 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 MEDINA 1705 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 BAHRAIN 1920 DOHA 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 BEIRUT 2215 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 COLOMBO 2305 DELHI 2310 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 DOHA 2330 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

WY673 EY381 LH617

JEDDAH ABU DHABI DOHA-FRANKFURT

ETA

2350 2355 2355

ETA

ETD

S ATUR DAY, J U N E 6, 2 015

EXTRA BRIEFS

Gulshan Devaiah moves us to tears: Mahesh Bhatt

KEY TO TACKLING SLEEP LOSS Insomnia could be cured with one simple therapy session, a new study has claims

simple one-hour therapy session improves the sleeping patterns of people suffering from insomnia, a new study has shown. A team at Northumbria University believe millions could benefit from a study showing one cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) session “cured” acute insomnia in 73 per cent of participants. Acute insomnia is defined as difficulty getting to sleep and staying asleep for between two weeks and three months. Anything longer than this is classified as chronic insomnia. A group of 40 participants suffering from acute insomnia and not taking medication to help them sleep were split into two groups for the study. One group received a one-hour CBT session delivered by the lead author Professor Jason Ellis and a

FILMMAKER Mahesh Bhatt was moved by Gulshan Devaiah’s performance when the actor was shooting for Pooja Bhatt’s upcoming ﬁlm Cabaret. Bhatt says that he was moved “to tears” as the actor faced the camera. The 66-year-old shared a sneak peak of the shoot along with a photograph, in which Pooja is seen staring at the screen while Gulshan was seen enacting his character. “Cabaret: Day 2. Gulshan Devaiah faces the camera and moves us to tears,” Bhatt tweeted on Friday. The ﬁlm also features Richa Chadha.

When singer Mika Singh met ‘legend’ Anupam Kher

self-help pamphlet about CBT to read at home. The control group did not receive the treatment until after the study was completed. Sixty per cent of participants reported improvements in their sleep quality one month after the therapy. The effects were even more pronounced three months after the study, with 73 per cent reporting an improvement in their sleep. Only 15 per cent of the control group did not go on to develop chronic insomnia. Professor Ellis said: “Chronic insomnia is a considerable health burden both on the individual and the economy and has been linked to the development of, or worsening of, a number of physical and psychiatric conditions. “The results of our study clearly showed that a single therapy session had successful results, with an improvement in sleep quality for some 60 per cent of those with acute insomnia within one month. The longer-term beneﬁts were even better with almost three quarters of those who received the intervention not developing chronic insomnia.” The study was published recently in the journal Sleep. — Heather Saul/The Independent

TECHNOLOGY

Internet-shamers just upstaged a bride at her own wedding SINGER Mika Singh, who is having a “great time” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) celebration is taking place, was happy to meet veteran actor Anupam Kher. He has called the senior actor a “legend”. The Gandi Baat singer took to micro-blogging website Twitter, where he shared a post alongside a photograph of himself with the 60-year-old actor. Mika sported a rough look, while Anupam ﬂaunted a formal demeanour in a white blazer and a blue check shirt. “Met the #legend and wadde bhaji @AnupamPkher ji... Having a good time in #Malaysia,” the Tu mere agal bagal hai singer tweeted.

Rajkumar Hirani to make Sanjay Dutt biopic next year BLOCKBUSTER director Rajkumar Hirani, who delivered the successful PK last year, says he will begin a biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt next year. Clarifying news related to the project, Hirani told media persons here: “I’m working on the script of Sanju’s biopic. And we’ll be starting the film next year.” About the casting, Hirani said: “I haven’t even thought about casting till now. We are writing the script and only once it finishes, we’ll be able to see how the characters come across and who would be apt to play the characters.” There were reports that Ranbir Kapoor has been finalised to play Sanjay, but Hirani cleared: “Ranbir is the only one I’ve spoken to about the film.” -IANS

A SINGLE PHOTO, posted ﬁrst to Imgur and later to Reddit, seemed to tell the entire story: A woman in a coral dress with one hand clamped over her tearful face; a man on his knee in front of her with arm outstretched, grinning broadly; and in the background, sitting down, upstaged, an actual bride and groom — the bride’s head tilted, grimacing slightly. “Any girl’s wedding nightmare,” read the caption on Imgur, which has since been viewed more than 2.5 million times — and been labelled, in various corners of the Internet, as “selﬁsh,” “blood-boiling” and “so rude.” Except, as is so often true on the Internet, this one 960-by690-pixel picture did not, in fact, tell the whole story. The “wedding guests” rudely upstaging someone else’s wedding are actually the sister and future brother-inlaw of the bride. And according to the New York Post, who spoke to the Iowa family over the weekend, it was all the bride’s idea. That’s not a grimace you’re seeing — she’s trying not to cry. Are we surprised by any of this, really? Misplaced shaming is now such a deeply entrenched practice of Internet culture that it seems passé to even note it anymore; better to shrug and “meh” and move on, amnesic, to the next presumed faux pas, the

next “terrible” picture. Which is horribly ironic, when you think about it, because in the process of policing other people’s etiquette, we’re committing gross breaches of etiquette ourselves. The man proposing, in that photo, didn’t “upstage” the bride — but the wedding guest who took the photo and unceremoniously uploaded it to Reddit most deﬁnitely did. (No small

surprise, then, that the uploader in question has since deleted his account from Reddit.) “The sharing of the photo is a psychological reﬂection of the person taking the picture, not the photographed,” the psychotherapist and cultural theorist Aaron Balick wrote of online shaming earlier this year. On one hand shame is a natural human practice: We do it to enforce cul-

tural norms and to identify ourselves as part of some superior “in group.” But there’s something new, Balick argues — something “frightening” — about the addition of social media. “(We’ve begun) seeing other people and other things as a representation of ourselves rather than as full subjects unto themselves,” he writes. And as smartphones and social networks become more prevalent, they’ll keep allowing us “to take and distribute photographs of others and share them with friends and strangers without pausing to think that other person has feelings, and more importantly, without even bothering to ask them for consent.” We can hope, of course, that incidents like this one will nudge future shamers the other way: that the accumulation of all these misplaced shaming narratives will eventually encourage people to pause, think, say — “eh, maybe this is OK.” More than likely, though, we’ll all move on to the next thing. “It was sad to see,” the woman in the photo told the New York Post. “I guess if I didn’t know the whole story, then I would feel the same way as some of them. “However, I wouldn’t voice my opinion about it because it’s none of my business.” — By Caitlin Dewey/ The Washington Post

B O L LY W O O D

Shraddha Kapoor to promote ‘ABCD2’ at IIFA gala event ACTRESS Shraddha Kapoor, who is currently very busy promoting her forthcoming ﬁlm ABCD2, has landed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to spread more buzz about the movie at the three-day IIFA gala. The Ek Villain actress wants her fans to wish her good luck as she will be doing a “special tribute on the main awards show night” on Sunday. “Hyderabad to Malaysia, #ABCD2 promotions to #IIFA. Doing a very special tribute on the main awards show night. Fingers crossed, wish me luck,” the 26-year-old actress tweeted on Friday. Directed by Remo D’Souza, ABCD 2 is a sequel to ABCD - AnyBody Can Dance, which is releasing on June 19. ABCD2 also features Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhudheva. -IANS

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, J U N E 6, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

S AT U R D AY, J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

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2BHK in Ghoubra South behind Extra (350/- R.O). Contact: 99342661

Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at Al Khodh, Rent 600/-RO.#92888115

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Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

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

New building, residential apartments and offices, in Al Khoud Souq. Contact 95202340

Showroom for rent 200 m in Al Misfah, Bousher facing the main road. Contact 95202430

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new ﬂat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

Big ﬂats in Darsait near Al Falaj hotel, 3BHK living room, dining room, 2 bathrooms, Kitchen AC FAMILY only 500/-R.O .Contact : 92479515

2000 sqm Commercial land for lease in Ghala. Please contact 98154444

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For rent in Darsait new ﬂats. Contact: 99777351

Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque. Contact: 99366624

For rent in Darsait, new ﬂats. Contact: 99311525

2 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 250/-. Contact : 98748925

4 Ware house at Barka Falaij. Contact: 99337857

Room for rent family /ex bachelor/ sharing in Ruwi. Contact : 99777496

Nice two bedrooms ﬂat near Lulu Seeb split A/Cs R.O 300/- P.M . Contact: 95278815

4 BHK Villa in Al khuwair. Contact 99792181

We have 5 BHK villas in Al Khuwair near Taymour Mosque commercial villa good for office, companies & families. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 Flats in Wadi Al Kabir Lulu Height Street. Contact: 92022816/ 99468133/ 99719471

3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

5000 sqm prime indusial land in Misfah, Bausher, with 550 sqm of covered warehouse and office space, for rent only. Contact: + 968 – 99264162

Flat for rent with 2 bed rooms and hall, attach bath rooms, split A/C near bridge stone Ghalla top of Majan Hyper Market. Contact: 95928800 Flats for rent in Muttrah near Oman house 2 BHK. Contact: 97009734 / 92629232 Villa for rent at Al Ansab 3rd 4 bedrooms total 230 sqm, air conditioned 1 living room, 3 toilets, kitchen, store only RO 700/-. Contact 99299689

Flat in Darsait, Mumtaz behind Ministry of Sport 2 bedrooms, living room, 3 bathrooms & kitchen split 400/- R.O . Contact: 92479515 Flats in Al Ghubra near 18 Nov .St, 1 bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen with AC 280/- R.O family only. Contact: 92479515 3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair 33. Contact 99792181 Labour Camp for Rent in Wadikabir. Contact 99792181

2 BHK Flat in Rex Road. Contact 99792181 2 BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181 Executive 3 bedroom ﬂat all attached with bathroom, air condition curtains, sitting room and big varanda R.O 400/- Athaiba round about behind bank Muscat Sohar Building way No 4216 HSE No 1067. Contact: Owner 99331413 / 99105169 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Apartments for rent Ghubra : near Indian School Ghubra & Al Maha International Hotel (2BHK with 5 split A/C units).Contact 99273774 / 99202278 /94652485

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 6, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172 Labour camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99797422 Room main road, Al Khuwair R.O 110/-. Contact 97799175 2 BHK & studio ﬂat at Darsait 1SM. Contact 99024730

FOR RENT

1/3 BHK Flat Ghubrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390. Contact 99319880

Furnished ﬂats for rent in Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly. Contact 97819981 / 93593336

Studio ﬂat Wadi Kabeer 160/-O.R. Contact - 99358589 / 97079146/ 95570288

Flat 1BHK for rent, Opp Omani School near Al Tajaweed Furniture, bldg No 1057, Way 5917, Hamriya. Rent 150/- P.M. Contact: 99350946

1BHK ﬂat near star cinema with split A/C 230/- O.R. Contact 99358589/ 97079146/95570288

2BHK ﬂat + store room in CBD, Ruwi with Split A/c’s, secured access, car parking. Rent 400/-. Contact 99603696

Villa in Al Khuwair and Seeb. Contact 95250300/ 99119699 / 92125648 Industrial land for rent in Wadi Kabir 7000 Sq mtrs. # 99354340

Villa for rent - Al Seeb/Al Mawelah - Block 5 - 4 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, Majlis, 2 halls, kitchen and storeroom. split Ac and carpark. Contact 99564616

Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526

Flat for rent in Ruwi, CBD. Contact: 92820734

1st ﬂoor ﬂat in Amerat Phase 5, 4 rooms, bathrooms (3), kitchen with A/C for family. # 95522405

3 rooms with attached bath room, hall Brand new in Mabelah near Sharahe Noor. Contact 99663905/ 99415119

FOR SALE

2 bedroom flat new building in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99313274 3 bedrooms flat for rent near NIT Institute Darsait. Contact 93494098 506 sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in Al Wadi Al Kabir. Suitable for carpentry / auto workshop and /or electrical shop. Interested parties may Contact 24703981 Ghubra near Al Maha hotel & Indian school (2BHK with 5 split ac units). Contact 94652485/ 99273774 / 99202278 Flat with 2 rooms, toilet & kitchen in second floor in Souk Al Khoud behind bank Al Ahli 200/- R.O . Contact : 99738881 1& 2BHK for rent at Wadi Kabir, Hilal Al Sad and Al Khoud areas . Contact Office: 24834644 Mobile: 93994401/02/03 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through whatsapp or call 99376454 3 flats for rent 3 bedrooms include A/C, near the highway (Bowshar Amerat). Contact 97777911 / 95533777

For rent 3 industrial land. Contact 92702891/ 95490842

2BHK flat with store room, split A/cs in CBD, Ruwi near QNB. Rent 400/-.Contact 99603696 One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra with attach and common bathroom. For Indian family. Contact 92322096 1 BHK Flat in Wadi Kabir. Contact 92275454 Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 92277419 Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer. Contact : 92800007 2BHK at Al Azaiba, 2bedrooms, 1 hall & dinning , 3 bathrooms. Contact : 99224748 / 99425665 Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road. Contact 97293708 / 92433127 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Flat for rent 1 & 2 bedroom available behind Zaker Mall Al Khuwair. Contact - 99530405

Used Supermarket Gandolas RO 40/- per pc, Double tube light ﬁtting RO 2/- per pc. Contact: 97752395 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Super market in (Hairoon Hairithi) Thamrith road. #98189810 / 99675190. Shop for sale in Ibra and Bid Bid. Contact: 95304693 Restaurant for sale well running with open area and good parking area. 3 new clearance also in Wadi Kabeer near Mars hyper market. Contact 99656863 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land Wadi Kabir Main Road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Ice Cream & Juices shop in Ruwi good location for sale 1.5 mt ﬁsh display machine unused for sale. Contact: 92150455 Shopping center for sale at Bousher by good price 400 m2 with all equipment. Reason for selling part-time. Contact 92916490

We have planned industrial lands in a prime location (Bowshar / Al Misfah) the space 8575 SQ. M for each plot, meter price 120/- OMR only. Contact: 99883338 Running restaurant going for sale in Ibri. Contact: 96774871 Best Investment opportunity in Muscat a brand new furnished show room for electronics building, material mobiles etc available for sale at prime location. Contact 91710624 / 98873484 Shfandish & tables for sale. Contact 99368907 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each. Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Coffee shop for sale in North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009 Well equiped and running condition Restaurant for sale. Contact: 97710015 / 92934027 near Missfah Khanco Road Cement Factory 558 Sq mtrs residential land in Barka (Al Jenainah) near Lulu and near to school. OMR 32 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

ACC. AVAILABLE

AVAILABLE

Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera Hypermarket, Azaiba R.O 150/-. Contact: 99455735

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chaﬁng Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area available for Executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR100/-. #93079877 Room for rent 130/-RO, A/C, E/W kitchen Including bachelor only. Contact: 95423391 Furnished single room for Exe. bachelor or small family at Rex Road. Contact 92873832

ACC. WANTED Required villa for office in Mawallah. Contact : 96996938

ACC. AVAILABLE

Independent ﬂat (1 Bed Room + Bath) is available at Mawaleh (Behind City Centre) for a Non Cooking Executive Bachelor. #95931004

2 Rooms with separate bathroom & kitchen for executive bachelors. Gsm 942-888-63

Family room available at Muttrah. Contact: 24712088 / 99022790

Sharing acc. Available in Muttrah behind Oman house. # 99354340

Fully furnished room attached bath for Executive bachelor behind Al Meera hypermarket Azaiba R.O 150/-Contact : 99455735 Furnished room available for Executive bachelor in Ghala near Oman LNG building. Contact: 93980990 Sharing for non-cooking Executive bachelor in CBD area wi ﬁ free, advance deposit. Contact 95934642 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor - Al Falaj area & for lady at Wadi kabir (Al Maya) 95941515. Accommodation available for South Indian family, one bedroom with attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160 Sharing family accommodation in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057 Sharing accommodation available opposite Mars at Al Ghubra for Executive bachelor or small family sharing, kitchen.#94474351 / 96237050

MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for a nair boy 28 yrs 165cm working with a leading business group in Muscat. Contact : 91717912 Alliance invited for a Hindu Ezhava girl 24 years, 5’ 2”, slim, B.Tech, MBA (Star Makayerium) joining shortly to an international ﬁrm for work , reputed family of Thrissur dt. currently settled in Muscat, from parents of well educated & employed Ezhava boys preferably from Thrissur, EKM, Palakkad. Contact : 98986547 We are Muslim family seeking alliance for our son interested families. Contact 97664009

LOST Somon Jamal has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AD 9861870. Finder please handover to ROP

S AT U R D AY, J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SALES / MARKETING

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

BEAUTICIAN

Urgent required Sales staff with good communication skill for Building materials showroom. Attractive salary + incentives. Contact: 91408823/91408817, ECC Mart, Opposite Al-khuwair Garden, Near Rawasco. eccoman@eccholding.com

Sr. Accountant M.com (ﬁnance) 15 years experience (2years in Oman with a reputed ﬁrm) NOC available. Contact: 92404608 Email: jin_75@rediffmail.com

Indian Beautician looking for job in Oman, with 5 yrs Oman experience. Contact: 98869716

Urgently required Marketing Executives male / female Acrylic bender. Contact: 95453949 Sales Coordinator : Mechanical Diploma holder with 3-4 yrs exp. in sales department preferably in Metal fabrication Company. Omani D/L is must. Contact: 99102383 hr@khancogroup.com Urgently required Advertising & Media Sales Executives with Oman D/L. Trainee positions available for Freshers. Email: jobs@interacoman.com Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com

ADMIN

DOMESTIC HELPER

ENGINEER

Indian Manager is required to work an administrative and real estate valuer in properties office in Shatti al Qurum. He has to be qualiﬁed and speaks English with experience in Oman. Contact : 99109094

Urgent required House maid in Mabela. Visa available.# 95200180.

Construction Company require Civil Engineer, minimum 2 year’s Gulf experience. Contact: 93806556

Omani lady HR Manager for a leading metal fabrication company. Min. 5 yrs exp, familiar with Oman labor Laws. Responsibilities – Making HR policies, Training of Omanis, liaising with various Ministries. Contact: operation@khancogroup.com

ACCOUNTANT A reputed shipping and forwarding company urgently require following personals 1) Accountant 2) Operations Executive valid Omani D/L is must. Experienced hands in shipping ﬁeld are preferred. Send your CV to applymd2015@gmail.com Required an Accountant B.Com + Tally. Fluently English speaking & computer. Having valid N.O.C. Send CV and contact information to arrange interview. Email: info@alrabiyahrealestate.com A leading Company in Ruwi looking for Accounts Assistant, B Com with min 3 years of exp. Female candidate preferable. Please send your CV’s to hrruwi2015@gmail.com Assistant Accountant experience: 2 years. Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Urgently required Indian experience beautician, good salary + Accommodation + Food visa Available location Al Hail. Contact: 92284899 / 92139922

CATERING Family in Muscat seeking to hire an experienced butler. Hotel experience is preferred. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Please send CV’s on vacancyinmuscat@gmail.com

DESIGNER IT Urgent required Offset printer / binder / designer. Good experience in printing press industries. Please send C.V to fax: 24453227 Contact: 92872940 Email: kkh104@hotmali. com / mgayaz19@gmail.com

DRIVER Heavy duty driver Oman experience. Contact: 99453617

Teachers required (B.A, BEd, BSc, and B.ed) for Omani Pvt. School Al Hail (North).# 95141554/ 96653118

ENGINEER Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Sudanese Electrical Engineer, 2 years experience. Contact: 91211592 Email: aymanhamza1990@gmail.com Mechanical / Civil Site Supervisor; diploma / ITI fitter; 3-4 year’s exp in supervision of Erection work of sheds, customer coordination, and project execution. Omani D/L is must. Contact: hr@khancogroup.com / 99102383 Reputed consultancy office required a Mechanical Engineer with 10 to 12 years experience in design of HVAC Systems and plumbing services. Please send your detailed resume to: info@designunitoman.com Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction and MUST have NOC. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

Looking for a Restaurant Manager for a well known restaurant in Muscat, with atleast 2 years of work experience in Oman. Candidate must have a valid Omani driving license, excellent marketing and communication skills and an eagerness to work. For enquiries and interview Contact: 92978956 or 94027151.

Required a diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering. Fluently English speaking & computer, having valid Omani driving license & N.O.C. Send CV and contact information to arrange interview. Email: info@alrabiyahrealestate.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Wanted full time Indian Housemaid for Indian Muslim family. 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.

Sales man for electrical and building material Items, experience: 2 years with driving license. Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@gmail.com

Website Graphic Designer, .Net/ Oracle Certiﬁed Developer, Systems Analyst, Software Business Developer/Marketer. hr@takweenit.net

Required Indian Salesman for a Spare parts Company, Good salary package and visa will be offered for suitable candidates. Can send CV on alrabhe@omantel.net.om

MEDICAL

A leading Company in Ruwi looking for Accounts Assistant, B Com with min 3 years of exp. Female candidate preferable. Please send your CV’s to hrruwi2015@gmail.com

Shawarma /Arabic/Chinese/ cook & helper. Contact 95529970

Urgently required Omani IT Software professional ﬂuent in Arabic and English with 2 years experience email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com, fax: 24564459

EDUCATION Qualiﬁed female Teacher required for Maths & Science with 3 years minimum experience and IELTS school in Al Khuwair. # 99353961

A leading business group in Omanis looking for Civil Engineers (Diploma/Degree Holders) with 4-5 yrs experience for their Civil Engineering division. Please apply to kumar@muscatsteel.com MEP Contractor in Muscat looking for AC Foreman with minimum 5 years experience in Split AC installation. Contact: 92472326 Email:info@4dengineering.net

An Indian family in Al Ghubra requires a full time living housemaid. Contact : 97084023

A reputed water treatment company is looking for 10 years experienced Civil Engineer with driving license. Knowledge of civil works, QS. Apply : md.mohamed@gmail.com

Required looking for full time Housemaid for Omani family at Mabela, visa available. Contact: 92454170

Electrical Engineer having 3 years gulf experience with driving license. Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@gmail.com

Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualiﬁcation. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com

Wanted Female Nurse with or without MOH license for a Polyclinic. Salary negotiable.#97091664, 97327175. Email: mmcmuscat@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a polyclinic in Sohar. Contact :3457270 Female dentist vacancy in a private clinic. Send CV to dentalclinic1212@gmail.com Wanted Nurse for MCT area for GP Clinic Cont: 9670 9401 Required a MOH licensed female Nurse for a private clinic near Al-Suwaiq. Call 93746086 Wanted Nurse for a dental centre in Mawaleh South. Interested may contact 93431024 Email: drasyanaseem@gmail.com Urgently required a Staff Nurse for a clinic at Hamriya area who has passed prometric exam with 60% or more. Contact: 99031408 Email: ranjitbarua63@yahoo.com Urgent required staff Nurse in Mabela. Contact- 95200180 email: amanammc@gmail.com Urgently required Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and endodontist Female Staff nurse, Pharmacist and endodntist with MOH License/Prometric exam passed with 60% and above. Contact 24780088, 97374459 Email : karamadental@gmail.com Immediate placement ( with or without MOH) A. Pharmacist 3 nos B. Asst.pharmacist - 2 nos Contact Tel.99338219 , 93240949 Wanted Lady Doctor GP or Gynecologist with MOH license. Immediate opportunity. # 99310590

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

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

Salesman experienced 5 yrs in Oman, in the ﬁeld of industrial & oilﬁeld service, garage equipment tools & spares, safety wears & rescue equipments. Please forward your CV to almaadhi.trd@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head for MNC looking for suitable job. NOC available. 94047434 Male 24 years MBA in Accounts and Finance with 2 year experience looking for job in Oman. Knows about accounts and Business related reports. Contact me Name: Saqib Shakeel, GSM: 94374745 and E.mail:saqibshakeel5@gmail.com M.Com, CA (Article ship), 15 years Gulf experience looking for suitable position in finance & accounts on visit visa valid up to 10/7/2015. Contact: 97767828, knowledge of quickbooks, Tally 9, Focus V.5 Email: altabhossain2008@hotmail.com Indian female 25 years married, MBA Finance, Diploma in foreign accounting 3 months experience in a CA firm on family visa. Contact: 95916769 Email: sikhapadoor@gmail.com ACA,ACMA & ACS qualified with rich experience in Finance & Accounts, more than 14 years in gulf, seeks suitable opening. Contact: 00968-95591523 Email:anush123@hotmail.com ACCA & B.Com with Noc more than 5 years of experience in accounts & finance looking for a suitable job can join immediately. Contact: 97012146

MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa. Contact: 99424803 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job. Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting . NOC available. Contact 96209331 Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available. Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa. Contact – 91967213 / 99064780 Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment. contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154 Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

ADMIN/HR Indian female MBA, 3 Years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa. Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc, 4 yrs exp in HR& Admin looking suitable placement. Contact : 95619537 MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in operations with D/L, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075 Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437

Required experience (minimum 3 years) holiday staff for an IATA Approved Travel agency for the holiday department. Preferably Arabic speaking please forward the CV : kttjobs@gmail.com

An Indian lady Chartered Accountant with ﬁve years experience (including article ship) on family visa in Oman looking for a suitable job. Please Contact 9621 0347 / 9943 5346, shincycrajan@gmail.com

Driver looking for job with visa, release available, 5 yrs driving experience. Contact: 96261895 Faruqu. Light vehicle driver looking for job. Contact: 91452930 Driver looking for job, light vehicle. Contact: 95446207 Driver looking for job, with driving license of Oman. Contact : 98007513 Driver 6 yrs exp knowing English, Arabic, Hindi Education B. A. Contact: 99512270 Driver with car 10 years experience part and full time looking for job light driver. Contact: 95897233 Light Driver needs Job. Contact: 93284327 Driver light. Contact: 91020999

DOMESTIC HELPER Looking for job for House maid. Contact : 93599302 Laundry Housekeeping professional looking for a opening in Oman with 18 years experience. Contact : 91957861 Housemaid & houseboy, Indian with 4 yrs exp looking for job. Contact 91299288

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Omani Mechanical Engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500 Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certiﬁed, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952 Indian male, B.Tech Mechanical having 4 years experience with QA/ QC / CSWIP looking for a suitable position. Contact: 99447106 Email: dhanubhasi87@gmail.com

Graduate Electrical Engineer having 6 years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081

Indian female MBA – HR 1 and half years experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 99257214

Indian Civil Engineer (building) available immediately as supply contract. Contact : 95218004

Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer 10 years experience in underground cables extension and distribution substation and terrestrial station available in Oman, on visit visa. Contact : 95471606

Indian Female 23yrs, Autocad draftsman with 3ds max & rivet , 3yrs exp, Looking for suitable vacancy in Muscat, now in visit visa .Contact:95601266 Email : reshmanb121@gmail.com

Part time Accounts job & ﬁnalization work Muscat. Contact: 92917448

Heavy duty driver valid license Omani need job & visa. Contact: 91139936

Indian female post Graduate with 5 years experience in HR and Admin looking for good opportunity. Contact: 94692244

Male 24, B.Com / PGD having 2 years experience in accounts and inventory ﬁeld, looking for suitable job, on visit visa. Contact: 94129550

TOURISM

Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver. Contact: 97073429

Electrical Engineer, 2 years as Project Engineer office works proposals / contracts site jobs installations/ maintenance. Contact: 96209298 English/ Arabic languages

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT

Indian male 25 yrs B.com having experience in accounts for 3 yrs currently on visit looking to job. Contact: 97937868 Email: rehman.naseer999@gmail.com

L.T.V driver language, Hindi, Arabic & English. Contact: 98802079

Over 14 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, ﬂuent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.Contact 95824598

Indian male, 27 M.Com, MBA, 4.5 years experience in ﬁnance & accounts, tally & SAP currently on visit visa. Contact: 93484048

Indian male 26 years having 2 years of experience in ﬁnancial accountant looking for accountant job. Contact: 00968 97483234

DRIVER

Indian Female Architect (Interior Design), Knowledge in AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Photoshop, 3D Max Studio, Adobe in design, Google Sketch up, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office etc.. Currently on family dependent visa up to November 2015. Contact: 95959494 , E-Mail: rasha.k973@gmail.com Autocad D man, Gulf exp in major projects, knows arch, structural, MEP, NOC available ph: 98225740 Female architect (27) 4 years experience seeking for suitable job in Oman experience in Oman, India & UK. Contact: 96146645 Email: anjuovil@gmail.com

Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained ﬁeld on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 6, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609 Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Quantity Surveyor with 5 Years experience (one year in Oman) looking for job. Contact 91090036 Civil Engineer, Indian Female, 3 yrs experience, on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99195433 BE Mechanical Engineer 4/5 years experience in Planning Engineer. Interested companies kindly contact 95403146 / 99426840 candidate available till 12.06.2015 Sr Manager, B.Tech, MBA, PRINCE-2, British National. 24 yrs exp in EPC Project Management of Oil & Gas, Pipelines, Reﬁneries & Power Plants. Seeking job immediately/on visit/Contact- 0096891263952/ josececy25@gmail.com Toms Davis-Indian, Diploma in Mech Eng, 4+yrs exp in Projects & co-ordination, 1yr exp in HVAC Design & Draughting, Mob-92068508, tomsdavispullan@gmail.com B.Tech Civil Engineer, Indian female 2 yrs experience in Oman, looking for suitable position. # 91690345 Structural Engineer 4 years experience Indian, will handle projects independently, able to get Municipality approvals easily. Contact: 91668044

Indian female 28 yrs having 2 yrs experience as Estimation and Design Engineer (BMS) with valid Omani driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99047570

Indian male 30 years Mechanical Engineering Diploma with 4+ years of Experience in Fabrication drawings using CAD Software’s in India, now on a visit visa seeking for a suitable placement in OMAN. Will be available till 12/6/15 for interview. Contact 99013952, vineetf56@gmail.com Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male having 2 years experience in process instruments and sales seeks suitable placement on visit visa. Contact: 95954385 Email: irfancisinn@gmail.com Indian male B.Tech (ECE), currently working in HCL Chennai India, as Engineer Product Support Officer with 2.5 yrs experience looking for a suitable placementMobile: 92625379 ; Email: mekala.kashyap@gmail.com 24 years Indian EEE Diploma with Auto CAD, B.Com completed required any suitable job. Contact : 94015346 / 93276916

Indian male diploma in Computer Engineering seeking suitable placement immediately now on visiting visa .# 97317844 / 92580948

Civil Engineer male 13 years exp Indian seeking suitable job. Contact: +919640973798 Email: ﬁrozbakhtiar2@gmail.com

BSC. Mechanical Engineering, 17 yrs exp in Oman, 30 yrs exp in production management, erection and maintenance of reﬁneries, stock piling equipments, belt convoying systems structures, power transmission equipments gear boxes contact 98214442; Email: mohusak@gmail.com

Diploma in Civil Engineer with 10 yrs experience, valid Omani driving license, NOC available. Contact: 94052815.

Adarsh.B , B. Tech Mechanical N.D.T ASNT level 2, 2 years 10 months experience in New Delhi. Contact adarsh320480@gmail.com Indian male 28 years Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer 4+ years experience in Industrial automation (SCADA) seeking suitable job. Contact: 93154156 / 98416190 Network Engineer, Security Engineer with a Bachelor degree seeking a suitable job in a good company. Contact: 98129846 Sudanese Industrial Engineering & Management, experience 12 years in QA/QC and production. Contact: 94041960 / 94044784, Email: mekkimedani@hotmail.com / mekkimedani78@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, 24 years with piping engineering, autocad & PDMS now on visiting visa seek suitable placement. Contact : 99168054 / 96684345 email: mbkishore@hotmail.com Indian male B.Tech Electronics Instrumentation, studied till 12th in Oman, presently on family visa seeking suitable position. Contact: 99639646 / 99067950 Email: prajeeshpp12@gmail.com Electrical Engineer : Indian male 29 years , having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

Indian male 32 yrs, 6 years experience instore in charge with Indoor salesman looking for suitable job. Contact: 97385874

Electronics Engineer with 4 years experience in product development looking for in instrumentation and industrial automation now in Oman visit visa. Contact : 968 95218030 Email: ronymreji@gmail.com

Quantity Surveyor (Civil Diploma) 2 yrs experience in Oman, looking for full/ part-time job.# 96936793

Indian male 29 years Civil Engineer diploma 4 years Oman experience, 2 years road construction looking placement. Contact: 93298395 N.O.C available

Indain Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs. # 97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com

5 years experienced Q.S ENG with driving license looking for suitable position. Contact: 98142595 Indian male 25, Diploma Civil Engineer 2 years experience insite Engineer looking for suitable placement. Contact: 96750429

HOSPITALITY Indian male/30 years with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at 5 star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruseliner as butler. Contact 91135371 4 yrs exp (Money Exch. Services & hospitality services in Oman& India) Indian male 27, Graduate in Hospitality Science, ﬂuent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks job. Contact 91383167 Indian male fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail. com, Contact 00919567722270

IT Software Engineer 6+ Exp.(MCA with Distinction) interested in IT/ Teaching Contact-92656246 27 years Pakistani male, having bachelors B.Com IT and Nebosh IGC – Level 3 looking for placement in HSE in construction for experience having valid visa with NOC. Contact: 92064233 MCA Indian male 24 yrs seeking suitable placement in software / Database support currently on visit visa. Contact 96785261 Email: sudheesh.edakkadan@gmail.com 25 yrs, Omani male, 5 years exp seeking job in IT and AutoCad all info in website. Contact: najeeb719.weebly.com

Civil Foreman, maintenance, 15 years Oman, 2 yrs Kuwait with Oman driving license. Contact 00968-96405865 / 91 9464255409 Email: sukhwinder9@yahoo.com

Indian female 27 yrs B.Tech (IT) MBA one years of experience as a software analyst. Contact 91234864 Email: ashwinirathnam2011@gmail. com

Sales Engineer (37), 15 yrs (12 yrs Oman) experience in structured cabling ﬁber optics, data centers, security & AV, Telecom, Network & datacom, OSP, Industrial Connectivity. Contact: 99771815, Noc.

Networking technician with driving license, with Noc, having 2 experiences in data & telephone structured cubing EPABX & CCTV installation is looking for suitable jobs. Contact: 96027516

IT Net work Technician CCTV, UTP, OFC, Flooring work 6 yrs experience (GCC). Contact: +91 9526888134 Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certiﬁed with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502 Email: careersjegan@gmail.com

MEDICAL Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Indian male MBA having 10 years experience in Oman as Document controller and 2+ Years experience as Project Assistant / Executive Secretary seeks suitable placement. NOC available Contact: 95373198, email: sydnvrng@yahoo.com Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 10 years experience in Welding Supervisor NDT Technician, MIG Welding specialist seeking suitable job. Contact 96771841 Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR B.Com Graduate with 12 years experience in overseas / local purchase, logistics, warehouse seeks suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 94657319 Sr Manager, MBA, 18 yrs professional exp in building material, tiles, sanitary wares, bath, turnkey projects, interiors, modular kitchens, hardwares & tools. Project sales in Gulf countries with GCC license on visit visa looking for job assignment. Contact 93364846 Sr Manager, B.Tech, MBA, Prince -2 from UK. 24 yrs exp in EPC project management of oil & gas pipelines, reﬁneries & power plants. Seeking job immediately / on visit/ Contact: + 00968912639 Email: josececy25@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female 30 Yrs (Master in Hospital Administration) Lead Auditor ISO 9001:2008 QMS; ISO 14001:2004 EMS Certified Having Total Exp. of 6+ years ( Last 3 Years In Oman ) In Healthcare Administration ,Quality , Training , HR & Healthcare Audit .Well versed In JCI (U.S.A.) Accreditation/NABH Accreditation . Seeks Opening in Quality /Training / Auditing /HR&A Department.Currently on Family Visit Visa (Received NOC). GSM: 96683277 / 93747007 E-Mail: smsraza819@gmail.com Ware house In charge or store keeper 27 yrs Gulf experience 4 yrs in Oman NOC available. Contact: 97657823 Email: rusaikmzm_2009@yahoo.com MCA, BCA with 2 yrs relevant experience seeking suitable opportunity. Contact: 96377039 Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field. Contact : 96108289, shijipaul84@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact 98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

Indian female B.Com Graduate having 8 yrs experience in India & 2 yrs experience in Oman as Customer Service, Office Asst, Sales Coordinator, Secretary seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95433987 Indian male MBA with versatile dynamic target driven personality having rich and In-depth experience of 5 years in marketing, sales, office, administration team handling and recruitment looking for challenging and suitable position. Contact: 96145933 Sales man looking for a opening in Oman with 18 years Gulf experience. Contact: 91957861 Indian male 22 years, B.Com graduate (fresher) Well versed in English, Arabic & Hindi with Oman D/L , seeking a suitable job in Oman . Now on visit visa. Contact:- 97660518 Indian male, 32 years having 3 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman, holding valid Oman driving license. NOC available. Contact: 97615497 / +919894436645 Email: faraj7@gmail.com Result oriented male M. Com 25 yrs experience sales marketing, admin building material seeking immediate suitable placement having L /D. Contact : 92882408/ 92715831 Indian female 28 years experience Sales Coordination, Administration, Secretarial and Accounting Software knowledge with Oman D/L. Contact : 96751993 8 years purchase experienced Indian male looking for job. N.O.C. available. Contact: 98161323 Graduate Indian male 25 yrs, looking for a suitable placement for an Executive or Sales support job in a reputed organization. Contact : 98558648 Email: risham54@gmail.com Salesman cum Driver 6 yrs exp Know English, Arabic, Hindi, Education B.A. Contact: 98522914 33 years male looking for a suitable position holding driving license, sales man by nature, experience in storekeeping, supervision skills, well aware of health & safety management, ﬂuent in English, familiar with MS Office & good communication skill .Contact : 93556794 Email: faisal.khan2092@gmail.com Indian male 5 years gulf experience in Admin / vehicle insurance coordinator and sales having driving license looking for suitable placement. Contact : 95870476 Email: mubaris.abdul@gmail.com

An Indian male having rich experience in procurement, Sales marketing and office administration seeking suitable position. Contact: 93689602 Indian 23 years B.Com Graduate, 2 years experience in Sales knowledge of TALLY, ERP & MS Office. Contact: 93134643 Email : syedismailnoor@gmail.com 8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. Contact - 9837 1144 Indian male, B.Sc (Mathematics) PGDBM (Marketing). 9 yrs of Oman experience in sales in midlevel management, NOC available. Valid Oman D/L. Contact: 95278838 Email: anup2p4p@yahoo.com Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa. Contact 93086105/33016546 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job. Contact - 92146864

TOURS & TRAVELS Indian male, IATA qualiﬁed & English graduate on family visit looking for a suitable job. Contact no. 93449151, 99475217. 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing. Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job. Contact 96990368. Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job. Contact 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@ gmail.com Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase. Contact 99196621 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903. Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement. Contact 99486374 B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally. Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com Indian Male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 9199 3376 Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 MEP Quantity Surveyor-EstimationProject, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@gmail.com

8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job. Contact : 93790601 Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913 Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Release available Contact #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position. 94151658 Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com Indian, 32 years, completed M.A. English, M.Sc. Psychology and B.Ed in English. Searching for suitable job in the field of teaching. To Contact: 00968 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement. Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com 8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com

GOOD NEWS Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131 Ayurvedic massage backache, joint pain & neck pain etc. Contact: 98254909 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi offers genuine & effective treatment for back pain, paralysis, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis, joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, allergic problems, varicose vein and all other health related problems. Kerala massage and rejuvenation package available. For details please Contact 92197920/ 24799689

S AT U R D AY, J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WEBSITE

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

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

NRI

NRI Ready / under construction apartments / villas. Near guruvayur. Contact: 00919846877773 Ready / under construction apartments / villas / row houses / shops, available for sale in North / South Goa (India). tel # 95867021 E- mail tonynoronha@rocketmail.com

BUSINESS

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

Specialist available for explosive growth in term of restructuring all modules of businesses with over 30 years of experience across continents with a decade in Oman. Contact 96733578 Email : proﬁtoman@gmail.com

New Construction Company required investors for ﬁnancial project. Contact: 92959251 Software development based on requirements such as: Web development & cloud computing, SAP implementation & services. Android App development networking. Contact 97423932

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

CLASSES Scrap business running scrap business sale with 60 Ton Weighing Bridge in Mabellah. Contact: 92295780

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 A/C maintenance split A/C servicing. RO. 10 only. Contact 94217681/ 99210141 Tailoring churidar, anarkali, salwar kameez dance co stumes shop 32 Dhofar bldg, Ruwi. Contact: 99740196

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 95190627

Churidar, Anarkali, Salwar Kameez, Dance costumes, shop 32, Dhofar building, Ruwi. Contact 99740196

Pick & Drop anytime @ 91653903 Transportation available. Contact: 99867456

Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815

Transportation. Contact: 91310107

Available for longer period : Mig Welder 5 nos, General worker with PDO pass 10 nos, Helper 10 nos, Mason 8 nos. Contact 99610703

Driver with vehicle. Contact 99159277

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422 Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 House shifting. Contact 99708138

DRIVING

A/C maintenance & servicing. Fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing. Painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/ 24504281

P.R.O services. Contact 99368907 Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 / 92682970

Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786 Learn Cup cakes, exotic cakes, Icing decorations, handicrafts. Contact 95941515

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

Pest Control Treatments, Termites, Cockroaches, Bedbugs. Contact Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99344723

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

S AT U R DAY, J U N E 6, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

RENT A CAR

MV. SALE

2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

Toyota Yaris 2006, 1.3 cc Automatic, Gray, 101000 k.m, accident free, well maintained & sparingly used by diplomat. All services done through Toyota. Contact 96249208.

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

Hyundai Accent 2004, fully automatic. Contact: 99045803

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285

S AT U R D AY, J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Indian, Arabic, Chinese dishes, BuďŹ&#x20AC;et Lunch (On Friday) Indoor & Outdoor, Catering, Party hall available Take Away & Home Delivery

Party booking & sugges ons 99320065, 99341643

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