Times of Oman - March 8, 2016 by Muscat Media Group

TUESDAY

March 8, 2016 28 Jumada Al Ula 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

At the Opening of the Fourth Term Session of The Majlis Oman, 2007

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We expect the Council of Oman in general, and the Majlis Al Shura in particular, to take on more comprehensive responsibilities in the ﬁelds of economic and social development. In doing so, we hope that the experience gained will provide an impetus for further beneﬁcial and constructive action in serving this dear nation, which is resolutely engaged in building its present, while looking towards its future, in the light of the ever-increasing demands and established d realities of the modern age.

MORNING MINUTE

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 13

| 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

Plans to make horror crash road safer

H E AV Y R A I N

SCAN THIS TO TAKE PART IN THE ONLINE QUIZ

To prevent crash on Fahud-Ibri stretch,

Staff Reporter

steps are being taken to improve the lighting system and maintenance works SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

Courtesy @RthatWeather

Body recovered from Rustaq wadi REJIMON K FAHAD AL GHADANI

reji@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Rain has claimed its first victim as rescuers recovered the body of a person who was caught in an overflowing wadi in Rustaq on Monday evening. “The body of a person who was caught in the overflowing Wadi Falaj Al Hadith has been recovered by the rescue team,” Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulances (PACDA) tweeted on its official twitter handle. The Ministry of Education has called upon parents to follow updates from the directorate general of areas in which their children’s schools exist before sending them. The ministry calls on everyone to be alert to the instructions given by the authorities con-

cerned for public safety. Four people trapped in their car in Wadi Seeh Al Afiyah in Ibra were rescued by PACDA personnel. One was injured in the incident. Saeed Al Sarmi, the Head of the Research Centre from Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) told the Times of Oman, that heavy rain fell in Tanuf, Bahla, Rustaq, Buraimi, Ibra, Bidbid, Samail and Al Khoud resulting in the overflowing of wadis. National Committee for Civil Defence tweeted that traffic was disrupted on Ibri-Rustaq road due to overflowing wadi. The PACA official said late in the evening that Muscat will witness heavy rain until Tuesday morning and after a short break, heavy rain will return on Wednesday afternoon. “It will continue till Thursday,” Saeed added. >A3

TRAGEDY: The mangled remains of the bus. – Shabin E

FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Officials are discussing a raft of measures to make the road where 18 people died last week safer. Better maintenance of the road, improved lighting system and allocating a wider area for road shoulders are among the measures discussed to prevent accidents on the Qarat Al MilhUwaiﬁya-Ibri road, the scene of a horriﬁc crash last week. Eighteen people were killed and 16 suffered grave injuries in the early morning accident in Ibri. Three vehicles including a bus, a trailer and a car were involved in the accident. As a response to the accident, the Majlis Al Shura held a meeting with the Ministry of TransTOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Sailor battles for life

An Indian sailor who suffered burns in a ﬁre on a ship, is in a critical condition in an Oman hospital. >A2

OMAN

On gender parity path

Women in Oman get equal opportunities as men, said Naashiah Al Kharusi, a member of the State Council. >A3

MARKET New archaeological site discovered

Power capacity boost

Oman’s Rural Areas Electricity Company will invest OMR126m to boost power generation. >B1

VOLUNTEER

Omani woman helping Syrian refugees arriving in Greece TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman is well known for its humanitarian values, hospitable culture, rushing to help victims of horrific traffic accidents and providing for the wardisplaced seeking a safe haven. One such Omani, who is featured in today’s #OmanPride, is Dalal Mohammad Darwish, who since December 2015, has volunteered to help Syrian refugees upon their arrival on the shores of Greece, as well as acted as an associate producer for an upcoming documentary film called Citizen Xenos. Darwish, a U.K. born Omani is the first Omani to volunteer in the refugee crisis that has hit Greece. “I moved to Greece in December 2015, with the initial aim to volunteer helping the refugees of war arriving on the shores. For a long time, a Greek friend of mine,

Valia Charalampidou had encouraged me to do so. She embarked on a mission to document stories from the ground and I was immediately part of the team,” said Darwish. She added, “My views on injustice and my passion for humanity and equality motivated me to become a part of this independent production.” Darwish said there isn’t enough global awareness about the intricate level of human struggle during the crisis and the ﬁlm could

help raise awareness. The team also took it upon themselves to use their personal resources and ﬁnances to document untold stories that the media does not portray about the refugees on a human level. “I found out that the crisis involves more than crowds of refugees lining up for food, sleeping on the streets, the number of arrivals, number of deaths and number of those missing. Refugees have not been portrayed as humans with a beautiful culture and a rich history,” she said.>A6

Answer T20 quiz, win prize

port and Communications to address the issue, a member of Majlis Al Shura confirmed to the Times of Oman. “We have discussed in particular this issue with the Minister of Transport and Communication and he has welcomed our suggestions. A team has been formed to study the issues relating to the road and come out with a report to find quick solutions,” said Ali Al Mashani, the Shura member. He said Shura members’ suggestions included better maintenance of the road, proper lighting arrangements and earmarking a wider area for shoulders along the 214-kilometre road. “Such things will definitely help save more lives in the future,” asserted Al Mashani.

Al Mashani explained that travelling on the Fahud-Ibri road saves almost 56km and around 30 minutes, for motorists travelling between Ibri and Dhofar. However, he cautioned that it is better to lose half-an-hour and avoid risky road than putting one’s life in peril. He added that people tend to avoid the Adam-Nizwa-Thumrait road as it is less busy compared to the other road. “But it’s not worth risking your life for the sake of 30 minutes,” said Al Mashani. “We couldn’t demand the construction of a new road as everybody is aware of the ﬁnancial crisis. We had to be reasonable and ask for possible and quick solutions,” noted Al Mashani. >A6

MUSCAT: Are you an ardent cricket follower? Do you know the record breakers of ICC World Twenty20? Are you aware of the T20 jargon? Then here comes the online challenge for you. Participate in our online quiz (http://timesofoman.com/extra/t20/ quizpart1) to win a health club membership worth OMR100!!! All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is to answer ﬁve questions (each with four options) per week and in the end know how well you have fared. Take a screenshot of the score and send it to us at worldt20quiz@gmail.com with a few details like, name in full, age, gender, nationality, city of residence and phone number. One winner will be picked every week and he or she will get an OMR100 value health club membership from Horizon Fitness.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 There were 11 Indian sailors on board. Two died and ﬁve were injured in the ﬁre. Three are undergoing treatment in Salalah Sultan Qaboos Hospital. Indra Mani Pandey, India’s ambassador to Oman

OMAN

Indian sailor battles for life in Oman hospital The incident happened late on Friday night, India’s ambassador to Oman said

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An Indian sailor who suffered burns in a fatal ﬁre which claimed two lives, while on board a vessel in Yemeni waters, is in a crit-

ical condition at the Sultan Qaboos Hospital in Salalah, India’s foreign minister said in an official tweet. The sailor, along with two others, were brought to Oman for treatment on Friday. “The three sailors injured in

Yemen are all Indians. They are admitted in Sultan Qaboos Hospital Salalah (Oman). Alauddin from Lucknow is out of danger, Tajveer Singh from Ghaziabad is stable while Atul Borker from Chennai is critical. Our mission in Oman is providing all help,” Sushma Swaraj, the Indian minster, tweeted. “Mahesh Kumar Rajagopal and Deepu Lathika Mohan lost their life due to ﬁre in a vessel Al Sadaa. My condolences,” she tweeted. Indra Mani Pandey, the Indian ambassador to Oman, told the Times of Oman that the incident

happened late on Friday night. “There were 11 Indian sailors on board. Two died and five were injured in the fire. Three are undergoing treatment in Salalah Sultan Qaboos Hospital. Our representative in Salalah is following up the case,” the Indian ambassador said adding that the Oman government helped the mission in the admission of injured sailors in Oman. “After the sailors become stable, we will look into other procedures if they want to fly to India or go back to their company in Dubai,” the ambassador added.

FOREIGN MINISTER

German minister arrives in Oman MUSCAT: Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Republic of Germany arrived on an official two-day visit to the Sultanate yesterday. During the visit, Dr. Steinmeier will meet with a number of state officials. The German guest was received

upon his arrival at Muscat International Airport by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Sultanate, the Head of West Europe Department and the Head of the Protocols Department at the Foreign Ministry. -ONA

TA I S M

International Day helps celebrate diverse cultures Times News Service MUSCAT: A diverse mix of cultures from 45 countries in one place brought people together at the International Day organised by The American International School of Muscat (TAISM) last Friday. Visitors had the chance to try some of the best food from these countries, watch several performances by students and shop for homemade items, the revenues of some of which were also donated to charity. The International Day is a way for students and staff at TAISM, who represent 67 nationalities this year, to celebrate being in the school by sharing each other’s culture, Natasha Fernandes, parent volunteer coordinator, explained. While initially the focus was on food, other activities, such as stage performances and typical Omani activities, like applying henna, were added, she explained. She said the event has grown bigger in recent years. “As we have grown to 67 nationalities, everyone wants to represent their culture,” Frenandes said.

The Indian booth for example, focuses on the wedding theme in India and its rituals, she explained. She added that the Arabs had decided to get together and put Oman, being the host country, at the centre, with the hospitality tent serving coffee and dates. The International Day also gives parents the opportunity to showcase their talent for making handicrafts and selling their products. Fernandes said the event is “like Muscat Festival, but on the school grounds.” For a noble cause Some vendors at the International Day donated their revenue earned to charity. “Everything we sell, 100 per cent of it will go to dementia care in Oman,” one of the sellers at the “Bakesale Fundraiser” said. The proceeds raised will help fund the training of Omani nurses who want to become caregivers for people suffering from dementia. Fernandes added that this is the only event where parents and teachers come together to organise the food, activities, as well as stage performances. The event was well received by visitors.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

OMAN

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Share your world with us on Instagram

Oman moving ahead on gender parity path March 8 is celebrated as the International Women’s Day, and this year’s theme is “Pledge for Parity”

DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Women in Oman get equal opportunities as men, said Naashiah Al Kharusi, a member of the State Council, and Oman’s ﬁrst female telecom engineer. March 8 is celebrated as the International Women’s Day, and this year’s theme is “Pledge for Parity.” “In terms of policies, women and men have equal rights and opportunities. It is up to the two genders to grab these opportunities, it is an open ocean and women are allowed to choose what career they want to go for,” Al Kharusi added. Al Kharusi is Oman’s ﬁrst female telecom engineer and a member of the State Council of Oman since 2011. She was also appointed the Chairperson of the Omani Women’s Association from 2012 to 2014. Besides serving these roles, she also helped establish the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and served on the Omantel board for 26 years. “When I was studying, things were different-the people’s mindsets and perspectives were not the same as now, today things have changed and women have better prospects. The only key is to work hard and not complain. There are lots of things Omani women can do today and the government is supporting them in a great way,” she added.

Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, mental health expert

Rumaitha Al Busaidi, adventurer and aquaculture specialist

Naashiah Al Kharusi, Member of the State Council

Al Kharusi stated that if a job advertisement in Oman is published with a gender speciﬁcation, one can go and complain about it. “It is not allowed to specify a gender in job adverts, unless the company has a very strong reason to justify it.” In 2014, Omani women refuted a survey conducted by Bayt.com, a popular career website in the Middle East, which said that 56 per cent of the women receive less pay than their male counterparts. “We have equality in everything as men and I think we are one of the very lucky countries where we have the same job opportunities

and salaries as men. In fact, we have a whole day (Omani Women’s Day-October 17) dedicated to us to celebrate our achievements and successes,” said Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, mental health expert and owner of the Whispers of Serenity Clinic. Due to His Majesty the Sultan’s Royal decrees, women have several privileges, she noted. “Today, Omani women are everywhere and our biggest support is His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. So I think women need to stop complaining and start acting on the opportunities they have around them.

SOCIETY

Cases of marital violence rising in Oman: Experts HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Marital violence is on the rise in the Sultanate, experts have revealed. The growing incidence of marital violence is also attributed to an increase in awareness among Omani women, who are now speaking out more openly against it, with a growing number of them holding firm that such violence must not be tolerated. Dr. Kahwla Al Wahabi, a specialist at the Department of Behavioural Medicine at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), said, “Wives should immediately report any case of marital violence to the police or courts.” Al Wahabi, who receives nearly five cases related to marital violence per month, said marital violence can lead to trauma and psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression and even suicidal tendencies among the victims. One of the reasons women avoid reporting abusive partners to the authorities, is they fear for their children’s future. They also get bogged down by the thought that society tends to blame women for any marital conflict, according to the latest study by Al Wahabi on “Violence against married women in Oman.” “Most women tolerate their spouse’s attitude thinking time will solve their issues,” she explained. The study also revealed that most acts of violence were reported during the first few years or months of marriage, and most of abuse was in the form of repeated acts of violence. Oman is a country, where the population of males and females are almost on parity, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Maisa, a general prosecutor, echoed Al Wahabi’s view, saying many women lacked knowledge about their legal rights, making them vulnerable.

One of the reasons women avoid reporting abusive partners to the authorities, is they fear for their children’s future. They also get bogged down by the thought that society tends to blame women for any marital conflict, according to the latest study by Dr. Kahwla Al Wahabi

According to the study, which involved 140 Omani women, who have victims of violence, 90 of them (60 per cent) were in a traditional arranged marriage. “While violence comes in different forms,” said Al Wahabi, “verbal violence tops the chart in Oman, followed by physical, ﬁnancial and sexual violence, which is increasing dramatically among married Omani couples.” She said the types of physical violence reported to her department involve hitting the body, slapping, pulling hair and punching. Some men also bit their wives and used sharp tools to hit them. The most common form of verbal violence includes insults, shaming family members, comparison with other women, and making fun of the victim’s appearance. What’s more, women with lower levels of education were found more likely to ﬁle complaints of marital violence in the courts. Al Wahabi stressed the need to have a specialised court in Oman that only tackles martial violence. While divorce seems to be the obvious solution, many men and women in Oman prefer having affairs rather than divorce, which is considered a stigma, as old as time, and which forces women to neglect the issue of gender-based violence which, according to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, is “any act of gender-based violence that results

in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” Al Wahabi said cheating among married couples is on the rise mainly due to early age marriages. Since 2013, female victims of violence and discrimination in Oman were being housed in a centre provided by the Ministry of Social Development to keep them safe. Around 54 females joined the centre in 2015, according to a ministry official. However, such cases are not restricted to Oman as the global prevalence ﬁgures indicate that about 1 in 3 (35 per cent) of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Most of this violence is “intimate partner violence.” Worldwide, almost one third (30 per cent) of women, who have been in a relationship, report that they have experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner, according to the World Health Organisation. Recently, the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) held a workshop entitled, “Violence against women in the Omani society,” which highlighted the health, legal and social aspects of the problem.

They can start their own SMEs and operate them from home, not many countries would offer this.” Al Said also hoped that gradually Omani women will be able to spread their reputation far and wide and outside Oman. “Not a lot of people who live outside of Oman know about the amazing things that we have done, so I wish that happens. For that we need to work outwards to bring things inwards.” Rumaitha Al Busaidi, adventurer and aquaculture specialist, said women in Oman need to take up more leadership roles. “I wouldn’t say that we are on par with men, we need more women in executive positions, in lead roles, and we need more women to take the spotlight so that they can pave the way for other women in the country. There are opportunities and the government is doing all it can to help create gender parity in the limits women want, because we do like to be treated as women with the privileges that we have.” When she came back to Oman after completing her studies in “Environment” from the Netherlands, most of the jobs in her specialisation were for men, but she managed to challenge that. “If I didn’t know my rights, I wouldn’t have been able to challenge that but I only managed because of the fact that I was aware of my rights. So I think women need to educate themselves about their rights, that I feel is lacking in Oman.” Speaking further, Al Busaidi also feels that lots of changes have taken place since the time she was little. “Yes, deﬁnitely when we were younger, there was no female minister or an ambassador, however now there are female ministers and it is clearly visible that more women are coming into the workforce and demanding their rights, and are also as powerful as men in formulating strategy, thinking and getting the job done.”

METEOROLOGISTS

< FROM

A1 Flash flood forecast Meanwhile, weather enthusiast Bader Ali Al Baddaei, an administrator of www.rthmc.net, a local Web-based forum that discusses weather in Oman, said that heavy rain fell in Samail, Barka, Quriyat, Amerat and other areas in Muscat. Meanwhile, PACDA, in a tweet on its official twitter handle advised the public to be cautious. “Rescue teams are on alert,” the PACDA tweeted. According to meteorologists at Accuweather.com, a series of disturbances tracking across the Middle East this week will spark heavy thunderstorms, threatening to bring flash flooding to Oman. “Locally heavy thunderstorms

will develop during the next few days, causing normally dry rivers to swell with water and some roads to become impassable. The greatest threat for flooding will stretch from eastern UAE and northern Oman into southeastern Iran,” the meteorologists said. The meteorologists added that cities in northern Oman such as Muscat and Sohar will see the greatest risk for flash flooding this week as thunderstorms develop across the mountains just to the west. “Low pressure passing across Iran from Tuesday into Wednesday will cause an increase in thunderstorms on these days, bringing the greatest threat for flooding,” the meteorologists said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

OMAN

This is the time to look at things in different ways. Our efforts should be invested in where we can control our activities and try to do only the necessary Suleiman Al Tobi, Oil Director of South, PDO

PEOPLE THRONG MODERN MARCH OF OMAN EXHIBITION TO SEE PICTURES

Photos by Mohamed Mostafa

Crisis a chance to look beyond oil, gas sector Experts in asset integrity, inspection, operations and maintenance are participating in the 11th Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit

MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The current economic crisis offers abundant opportunities to expand beyond the oil and gas sector, a top official from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has said. “Never lose the opportunity of this crisis; we have to think of diversification and expand our thoughts beyond oil and gas,” Suleiman Al Tobi, Oil Director of South, PDO, told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of the official opening of the 11th Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit, on Monday. “This is the time to look at things in different ways. Our efforts should be invested in where we can control our activities and try to do only the necessary,” Al Tobi said. “Only through that can we contribute to the country,” he added. He also said it may take some time to overcome the current crisis. “Even these tough times will help our country find opportunities to diversify, which can add value to the country’s economic

DELIBERATIONS: This is the fourth consecutive time Oman is host-

ing the Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit. – OK Mohammad Ali

situation,” Al Tobi asserted. Speaking about the job loss in the market, he said, “We haven’t released any of our staff until now because of the oil price dip.” “When there is some drop in our activities we will relocate our staff to other areas; our workers are still going on and we continue to drill wells.” According to Al Tobi, many people are unaware of the current situation in Oman. People should follow what is happening in Oman and outside Oman and then only can they adapt to the situation, he stated. This is the fourth consecutive time Oman is hosting the Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit. Experts in asset integrity, inspection, operations and maintenance from the leading oil and gas companies in Oman and the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council region are the main participants in the summit. The meeting kicked off with a discussion on how to maintain companies’ existing assets amidst the low oil price market through effective asset integrity management programmes and solutions. The event was inaugurated with keynote addresses by PDO’s Al Tobi, Livio Accattatis, general manager, Technical Services Division, Orpic, Dave Campbell, chief

operating officer (COO) and vice president (VP), Oman Operations, BP Oman, and Chris Breeze, VP and Oman Country Chairman, Shell Development Oman. Other notable speakers included experts from OOCEP, Salalah Methanol, Occidental Oman, Daleel Petroleum, Qatar Petroleum, ADNOC distribution and more. The four-day event will also have presentations from Doosan Babcock, DNV GL, Aveva, Permasense, Integrated Global Services, NMES Oman, Cortec and Texel, Mistras Group, SENES Engineering Consultants Oman, Integrity Smart Services and Al Takamol Al Hadith Cont. Co, who are also participating as sponsors of the event. The Annual Asset Integrity Management Summit is organised by the International Quality and Productivity Centre (IQPC). The ﬁrst day produced a variety of discussions and presentations focused on adopting a lean approach to maintaining assets, implementing cost-optimisation strategies, given the current low oil price market scenario and improving asset utilisation to maximise return on assets. The summit will conclude on Wednesday.

B U S I N E S S I N N O VAT I O N F O R U M

Promoting innovation in logistics to beneﬁt Oman ERIK PRINS

erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman can benefit from cooperation between government, industry and research institutes when it comes to promoting innovation in logistics, research and maritime activities. This was one of the messages delivered by speakers during the first day of the Business Innovation Forum on Monday, organised by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Muscat and under the patronage of Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The forum brought together many Omani and Dutch stakeholders in logistics, academia and industry. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said he sees many opportunities coming from this forum, noting, “As Oman is strongly positioning itself as a gateway for logistics and trade, I think there is so much [to gain] in terms of building a cluster of support for businesses, start-ups and SMEs. There is much to benefit from our Dutch friends.” Barbara Joziasse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, told the Times of Oman that logistics, in particular, is a field which demands cooperation, keeping in mind the interconnectivity of problems faced in the sector. She said the Netherlands would like to bring to Oman the Dutch open cooperation model, in which stakeholders can deliver the innovation necessary to make economic progress. “An example of an issue which, together, we can find a solution for, is the handling speed of goods in ports. You have to cooperate here to find the best solution, you can’t do it on your own,” she said. Mark Frequin, Director General for Mobility and Transport at the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, said he hopes to offer “a lot of knowledge about the way we face the same issues as Oman. How can help you create more

STRONG RELATIONS : The Business Innovation Forum brought together many Omani and Dutch stakeholders in logistics, academia and industry.

economic activities making use of the advantages you have, such as geographical location, port facilities and a government which is eager to invest.” Frequin provided examples of how to compete and cooperate with neighbouring ports and the importance of seamless logistics. “In the Netherlands, we earn by moving fast. Every destination within Europe can be reached within a day,” he said. He introduced the system of collaboration between stakeholders, as alluded to by Joziasse, which enables progress in the field of innovation. Referring to the Dutch polders, lands below sea-level recovered from the sea, he said,“We can’t make progress without cooperation between all the partners that recovered the land”. This now applies to the three partners who are important to the field of innovation: government, industry and research institutes. “You can’t make any progress if you don’t have close cooperation between these three partners”, he said. When asked about his response to the proposed dialogue between government, industry and research, Al Busaidi said such discussions are beneficial to the

economy. “Our strategic aim is to sustain a dynamic and diverse economy. And that undoubtedly requires collaboration between all stakeholders to fulfil that aim. The more we are able to facilitate access to data, information, applications and training, and facilitate a much more effective and efficient support system, the more the environment is conducive for business to flourish and grow,” he said. Michiel den Hond, Special Envoy of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this forum is a next step in advancing the already strong relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. “Especially in the field of transport and logistics, the Netherlands has, throughout its history, developed an enormous amount of knowledge. This field is where we can offer a new boost to our bilateral relations, bringing it to a new level of cooperation,” he said. Den Hond added that many areas can benefit due to this forum. “It’s spreading into many different areas. It’s about technology, but it also has an educational aspect; there’s no limit to the side issues related to this forum.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Tweet all about it

REVIEW TIES

State Council chief takes part in Islamic Summit JAKARTA: As delegated by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council took part in the Extraordinary Islamic Summit currently being held in Jakarta. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo affirmed in his speech at the Summit that the Palestinians have suffered due to the Israeli occupation and that the member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation should proceed well to have a solution for the Palestinian case. He hoped that the Summit will come with decisions that will help in reaching an accord or restoring the rights of the Palestinian people. Iyad Madani, Secretary General of the OIC affirmed the support of the OIC to achieving a comprehensive reconciliation among the

OMAN

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

JA K A R TA

SUPPORT TO PALESTINE: OIC affirmed its support for the formation

of a national unity government for the Palestinians. – ONA

Palestinian faction that will lead to forming a national unity government , joining international agreements and organisations within their legal and political

endeavours to achieve justice, protect the rights of the Palestinian people and expanding international recognition of the State of Palestine. -ONA

Mantheri conveys His Majesty’s message to Indonesia president JAKARTA: Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, received yesterday Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council, on the sidelines of the Emergency Islamic Summit currently being held in Jakarta. During the meeting, Dr Al Mantheri conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the President of Indonesia and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s best wishes of good health and happiness and for the Indonesian people further progress and prosperity. The Indonesian president told the State Council chairman to covey his greetings to His Majesty the Sultan along with his best wishes to him of good health and happiness and to the Omani people further progress and prosperity. They reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries,

BILATERAL TIES: Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, receives

yesterday Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council.– ONA

in addition to the topics of the Emergency Islamic Summit. Sayyid Dr. Ahmed bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its Permanent Representa-

tive to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Sayyid Nizar bin al Julanda Al Said, Sultanate’s Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia and a number of officials attended the meeting. -ONA

ART

Gallery Sarah to represent Oman at Art Dubai 2016 Times News Service MUSCAT: As the leading international contemporary art fair for the Middle East and South Asia, Art Dubai has become the essential gathering place for collectors, artists and art professionals from across the region and beyond. Art Dubai 2016 is being heralded as the most internationally diverse edition to date, with galleries from Ghana, Lithuania, Oman, Palestine, and Sri Lanka, participating for the ﬁrst time. Gallery Sarah will be participating this year with the work of Oman-born artist Radhika Khimji to represent the Gallery at Art Dubai Contemporary. Radhika graduated from the Royal Academy of Art in 2005. Previous solo exhibitions include

B-Sides at Nature Morte Gallery in India (2009), Safe landings at Barka Castle in Oman (2010), Found Gesture at the Katara art Centre in Qatar (2012). Her work was also part of the Jogja Biennale (2013), Fragments 2 at Gallery Sarah (2014), the 4th Ghetto Biennale, Port-AuPrince, Haiti (2015) and more recently at 6th Marrakesh Biennale, Marrakesh, Morocco (2016). Khimji’s work is lodged at a crossroads between multiple polarities. It is at once a painting, a drawing and a collage; it’s also an embroidery and a sculpture. By combining all of these elements, images overlap with one another to create strange, new hybrids. Her work is also informed primarily by the materiality and physicality of the making process. Existing in a state of transit, these works inhab-

it a space of movement and change. They reﬂect upon displacement and identity as a way to render them abstract from their loaded histories. The tenth edition of Art Dubai will take place from March 16-19, 2016, at Madinat Jumeirah. Besides the gallery halls, the fair’s extensive programme includes commissioned projects and performances, artists’ and curators’ residencies, educational workshops, the unveiling of works by the winners of the annual Abraaj Group Art Prize and the critically acclaimed Global Art Forum. Art Dubai has become a cornerstone of the region’s fast-growing contemporary arts community. Recognised as one of the most globalised meeting points in the art world today, Art Dubai places

Fewer ﬂights to Addis Ababa Sami Muctar, Ethiopian Airlines’ country manager in Oman, also admitted that business travel and tourism have also been affected

OFFERS GALORE: To woo more travellers, Ethiopian Airlines is

offering special offers. – Supplied photo

due to the economic downturn

Times News Service MUSCAT: Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier of Ethiopia, is now flying four times a week to Addis Ababa instead of seven from the Muscat International Airport, Sami Muctar, Ethiopian Airlines’ country manager in Oman, said. This comes after Oman stopped issuing visas to domestic workers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon. “Besides this, economic downturn and uncertain future for many has forced us to take such a decision,” he told the Times of Oman on Monday. He also admitted that business travel and tourism has also been affected due to the economic downturn. “Limited people are travelling for business or for leisure,” he said. To woo more travellers, Ethiopian Airlines is offering special offers for travel to Addis Ababa, Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam, Khartoum, Nairobi and Mombasa and to almost all African destinations. “These special offers will help enhance tourism and trade between the two countries and also benefit the Ethiopians currently living in Oman,” Muctar stated. “The Ethiopian Airlines flies to over 50 destinations in Africa and

Sami Muctar, Ethiopian Airlines’ country manager in Oman

our passengers will have a wide range of options,” he said, adding that the carrier has been promoting holiday tour packages to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and South Africa. “We are also promoting our family fare whereby a family of four gets one free ticket for every three tickets purchased,” he said. “Our current price for a return ticket between Muscat and Addis Ababa is around OMR169 but if you purchase a package, you can get a two-way ticket for OMR200 that also comes with a three-night stay in Addis Ababa including airport transfers,” Muctar said. He also explained that in the absence of embassies in the two capitals, Muscat and Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Airlines is now receiving visa applications, and visas are issued.

The actual visa is stamped on the passport of the applicant upon arrival at the Addis Ababa airport. Commenting on the average number of passengers travelling between Muscat and Addis Ababa, the official said, “We are operating a Boeing 737-700, which seats a total of 118 passengers, and a Boeing 737-800, which has a capacity of 154 passengers.” Muctar said Ethiopia is one of the most ancient countries in the world and is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in Africa. He encouraged Omanis and expatriates to explore the many tourist attractions of Ethiopia, saying that the tourism infrastructure in the African country has improved a lot and the available accommodation caters to a wide range of tourists. Muctar said in addition to the pleasant weather, tourists can enjoy a number of historic sites, including in the walled city of Harar, considered one of the holiest places in the Muslim world, and Aksum city, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in Africa. Other places worth visiting include Gondar, which is a city full of ancient castles built by famous kings in the medieval era of Ethiopia, and also Lalibela, home to one of the oldest rock hewn churches, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

an emphasis on maintaining its intimate, human scale while foregrounding quality and diversity. This year, for the ﬁrst time, Gallery Sarah will be representing Oman at the prestigious fair. Located in the historical part of Old Muscat and part of the Bait Al Zubair Museum complex, Gallery Sarah is a unique contemporary art gallery which opened its doors in 2013. The gallery exhibits artworks including, but not limited to, paintings, graphics, calligraphy, installations, sculpture and photography. Apart from trying to create a strong connection between established and emerging Omani artists and the international art world, Gallery Sarah also supports and appreciates work by a wide variety of talented Arab artists from around the Gulf and international artists.

WORK OF ART: ‘Sunken’ by Radhika Khimji who represents Gallery Sarah at Art Dubai this year. – Supplied photo

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

OMAN A L TAW YA H I N WA D I H I B I

I experienced many moments of feeling helpless as I thought no matter how much I do, it is minimal in the face of the larger impact of this crisis on humanity Dalal Mohammad Darwish, Omani volunteer

STRONG WIILL

A1 ‘Helping refugees is a tough job’ < FROM

NEW FIND: The site is a small settlement on an area of about

26,000 square metres. – ONA

New archaeological site discovered SOHAR: A new archaeological site near the town of Al Tawyah in Wadi Hibi was discovered by the Department of Heritage and Culture in the Governorate of North Al Batinah yesterday. The new site’s huge stone foundations together constitute a small settlement on an area of about 26,000 square metres. These foundations are characterised by huge white stones. It is noted that the largest of these trimmed stones exist in corners of rooms and stores of buildings. Rashid bin Saleh Al Shayadi, Director of Heritage and Culture Department in the Governorate of North Al Batinah said that the site is made up of houses and rooms

and storage areas. There is also a place to collect water. It is evident that the agricultural community was proliﬁc in production, Al Shayadi explained. At the entrance to the valley and on the opposite side there is a cemetery, which is Islamic in character and pointing to Al Qiblah. He said that it would be too early to talk about the history of the site, adding that the site could belong to the early Islamic period. It is necessary to send samples of these pieces to the Department of Archaeological Studies at the Ministry of Heritage and Culture to clarify the matter and take decision about it, Al Shayadi further said. -ONA

Speaking about her experience Darwish said, “Being a volunteer helping refugees during this historic event has honestly been tough. I learnt immediately that my sensitive heart needed training to be strong in order to be a pillar for those that are vulnerable and relying on me for help.” “I experienced many moments of feeling helpless as I thought no matter how much I do, it is minimal in the face of the larger impact of this crisis on humanity.” Oman has always set an example for humanitarian values, both locally and globally. An example of this is when Cyclone Gonu hit the Sultanate in 2007 and local residents took it upon themselves to help those affected; by accepting Yemeni refugees amid the ongoing war. When asked about what Darwish had gained considering Oman’s humanitarian values, she said, “Conﬁrmation. ConﬁrmaIBRI ROAD

< FROM

Road built

A1 to serve nearby villages

This road is mostly used by motorists heading from Ibri side as well as visitors coming from the Gulf countries, or trucks travelling between the Gulf countries and Salalah. The Ministry of Transport and Communications also explained that the road was built to serve the nearby villages and it is now making efforts to improve the road in terms of enhancing safety measures, including expansion of shoulders and pavement, providing better lighting at some of the intersections close to service roads, and providing a better communication network, according to the media department at the Ministry. The Ministry will also coordinate with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to look providing coverage in areas where the communication network is not available. The Ministry will also organise public transport, especially bus transportation, in coordination with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) in terms of imposing guidelines and regulations for vehicles and drivers before obtaining the approvals and licences to practice such business. Meeting The meeting was chaired by Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Salim Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, Eng. Salim Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Transport, Mohammed Abu Bakar Al Ghassani, Vice Chairman of the Majlis Al Shura, and other members of the council.

tion that our humanitarian values are strong and stand true to us all; we are united in our values to help others; it is in our blood and our culture.” “I am proud to say that we Omanis accept our diversity and may Allah give him long life, we are blessed with a great example, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who demonstrates humanitarian values on a local and global level,” she added. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, the world has seen the worst refugee crisis since World War II. According to the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees, an estimated 9 million people have fled their homes since the war started, while 6.5 million have been internally displaced. Some of those who fled tried to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, while others fled to Eu-

ropean countries, such as Germany, France and Greece. However, many Europeans have not accepted Syrian refugees entering their countries, judging them by their ethnicity and religion. The film is produced by Valia Charalampidou and directed by Lucas Oldwine. Citizen Xenos, which is Greek for “stranger,” is an independent documentary shot more as a film than a traditional style documentary, which is scheduled to be out in the summer of 2016. The team is aiming to screen it in Oman in September 2016. A human face Usually, films of this calibre cost thousands of rials to make, but the team is trying to spend as little as possible and has an OMR6,500 budget to make the film. “The film puts a human face on thousands of people with the

aim to fight the apprehension that many Europeans feel towards them. The European refugee crisis is a historic phenomenon, with many dimensions and a solution that is difficult to find,” explained Darwish. “The film doesn’t examine the causes nor does it take a position. We focus on the people, this is our call,” she added. Readers can make donations for the film’s production through Paypal at info@citizenxenos.com or wemakeit.com/projects/citizen-xenos. Sponsors and supporters will receive film credit, unless they wish to stay anonymous. “If donations exceed this amount we will directly channel the remaining funds to the refugees we meet along the way. We have already done that in many cases. It is impossible not to help when someone is in need, unless one is entirely apathetic,” Darwish said.

Sultanate does well on poverty removal front OMAN: Millennium Development Goals March 2016

Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger 1.A

Halved between 1990 and 2015, zero per cent projection of people whose income is less than one dollar a day

6.A

6.C Halted by 2015 and began to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases

Halved, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger

Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability 7.A Integrated the principles of sustainable development into country’s policies and programmes and reversed the loss of environmental resources

Ensured that by 2015, children, boys and girls were able to complete a full course of primary schooling

7.B

Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women 3.A

Eliminated gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education by 2015

7.C

Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality 4.A

Haved by 2015 and began to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

6.B Achieved by 2010 universal access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for all those who need it

Goal 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education 2.A

Acheived with challenges

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases

Achieved full and productive 1.B employment and decent work for all, including women and young people 1.C

Acheived

Reduced biodiversity loss, achieving by 2010 a signiﬁcant reduction in the rate of loss Halved by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation

Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Reduced by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-ﬁve mortality rate

In cooperation with pharmaceutical 8.A companies provided access to affordable essential drugs

Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health Reduced the maternal mortality ratio by 5.A three quarters between 1990 and 2015

8.B In cooperation with the private sector made available the beneﬁts of new technologies, especially information and communications

5.B Achieved universal access to reproductive health by 2015 Source: National Centre for Statistics & Information

Graphics

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

Eight goals that have

ARTICLE

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

been met include eradicating poverty, hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women among others

TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Oman’s government has reached several of its own goals, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information’s (NCSI) Millennium Development Goals indicator, which was published on Monday. Eight goals that have been met include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving mental health; combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global

partnership for development. Poverty and hunger As of today, according to NCSI, there is a 0 per cent projection of people earning less than one dollar per day in the Sultanate, as well as the share of the poorest one-ﬁfth in national consumption having increased to 6.1 per cent in 2011, compared to 5.1 per cent in 2000. Part of the eradication of poverty is based upon the government’s working in achieving full and productive employment for all, including women and youths. According to NCSI, the growth rate of the GDP per person employed dropped to 1.8 per cent in 2014, compared to 3.0 per cent in 2000, although the employmentto-population ratio increased to 62.4 per cent in 2014, compared to 56.4 per cent in 1993. The government also reached its goal to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger between 1990 and 2015, noting that in 2014 9.7 per cent of children under ﬁve years of age were underweight, which was a drastic drop from 23 per cent in 1995. Primary Education Education is arguably the most important aspect of a child’s life,and educators in the Sultan-

ate work hard to develop the future of Oman. The government achieved its goal of ensuring that by 2015 both boys and girls will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling, where in 2014, 99.1 per cent of students who begin school in the ﬁrst grade go on to complete the ﬁnal stage of primary school, compared to 89.8 per cent recorded in 1990. The literacy rate has also increased for those between the ages of 15 and 24 to 98.9 per cent in 2014, from 92 per cent in 1993. Gender equality A move to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education was to be met before 2015, but for all levels of education it was achieved before 2015. According to NCSI, the ratio of boys to girls in primary education leapt to 0.96 in 2014, compared to 0.89 in 1990, as well as in secondary schools to 0.95 from 0.83. The largest achievement is the ratio of girls to boys in higher education, where 1.38 was recorded in 2014, compared to 0.83 in 1990. The women’s share in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector also increased to 22 percent in 2010, compared to just 8.2 per cent in 1993. Further, women have a place in the nation’s parliament, where in Majlis Al Shura in Oman 9.5 percent of the seats were occupied by women between 2011 and 2015, compared to 4.9 per cent in 1997.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

REGION

Tunisian authorities sealed off the nearby beach resort town of Djerba, a popular destination for foreign and local tourists, imposed a curfew on Ben Guerdan and closed two border crossings with Libya after the attack.

Militants attack Tunisian forces, 53 killed in raid Tunisia’s hospital and security sources said at least seven civilians were killed along with eleven soldiers TAKING POSITION: Tunisian special forces take position during clashes with militants in the southern town of Ben Guerdane, near the Libyan border, on Monday. – AFP

TUNIS: Dozens of hardline ﬁghters stormed through the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan near the Libyan border on Monday attacking army and police posts in a raid that killed at least 53 people, including civilians, the government and residents said. Local television broadcast images of soldiers and police crouched in doorways and on rooftops as gunshots echoed in the centre of the town. Bodies of dead militants lay in the streets near the military barracks after the army regained control. Authorities sealed off the nearby beach resort town of Djerba, a popular destination for foreign and local tourists, imposed a curfew on Ben Guerdan and closed two border crossings with Libya after the attack. “I saw a lot of militants at dawn, they were running with their Kalashnikovs,” Hussein, a resident, told Reuters by telephone. “They said they were IS and they came to target the army and the police.” It was not clear if the attackers crossed over the border, but it was the type of militant operation Tunisia’s government had feared as it prepares for potential spillover

from Libya, where IS militants have gained ground. Since its 2011 revolt to oust ruler Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has struggled with militancy at home and over the border. Militants trained in camps in Libya carried out two attacks last year in Tunisia. “This was an unprecedented, well-organised attack,” President Beji Caid Essebsi told local radio. “But the people in the south can be confident the army and police will win against this barbarity across the border.” Soldiers killed 35 militants and arrested six, the Interior Ministry said. Hospital and security sources said at least seven civilians were killed along with 11 soldiers. “If the army had not been ready, the terrorists would have been able to raise their flag over Ben Guerdan and gotten a symbolic victory,” said Abd Elhamid Jelassi, vice president of the Islamist party Ennahda, part of the government coalition. More than 3,000 Tunisians have left to fight with IS and other groups in Syria and Iraq. Tunisian security officials say increasingly

they are returning to join the militant group in Libya. Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi five years ago, Libya has slipped into chaos, with two rival governments and armed factions struggling for control. IS has grown in the turmoil, taking over Sirte city and drawing foreign recruits. Tunisian militants are taking a lead role in IS camps in Libya, Tunisian security sources say. Tunisian forces have been on alert for possible militant infiltrations since last month when a US air strike targeted mostly Tunisian IS militants at a camp near the border in Libya’s Sabratha. Western military advisers are starting to train Tunisian border forces to help better protect the frontier with electronic surveillance and drones and authorities have built a trench and barrier to help stop militants crossing. Militant gunmen trained in Libyan camps carried out two of the three major attacks on Tunisia last year, including assaults on the Tunis Bardo museum and a Sousse beach hotel targeting foreign tourists. — Reuters

SYRIA

‘Truce breaches may preclude peace talks’ GENEVA: Syria’s opposition will decide this week whether to attend forthcoming peace talks in Geneva and has complained to the United Nations that Russian air strikes have carried on despite a truce, opposition coordinator Riad Hijab said on Monday. Syrian government forces, backed by Russia’s air force, troops and militias, have continually breached the temporary ceaseﬁre and used barrel bombs and toxic gas, he told reporters on a conference call. Syria’s armed forces have always denied using barrel bombs or chemical weapons. “Just a few minutes before we came on this conference there was a massacre committed by the air forces of the Russians and the regime in Abu Dhuhour,” he said, referring to a settlement in eastern Idlib governorate. — Reuters

IRAQ

Protests intend to help reforms: Sadr BAGHDAD: Powerful cleric Moqtada Al Sadr said on Monday street protests by his supporters demanding the Iraqi government’s resignation were intended to bolster the resolve of Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi to deliver on promised reforms.

“The demonstrations are in support of the prime minister to carry out comprehensive reforms and to form an independent government of technocrats,” Sadr said. “Brother Abadi should use them in his favour before they turn against him.” — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

INDIA I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S D AY C E L E B R AT I O N S

Air India operates ‘world’s longest all-women flight’ NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India on Monday said it flew the “world’s longest” all-women operated and supported flight from the national capital to San Francisco. The flight, which travelled a distance of around 14,500 kilometre in close to 17 hours, was operated as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. The non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight took off from here on March 6. “This year for the first time, on the world’s longest non-stop flight, entire flight operations from cockpit crew to cabin crew, check-in staff, doctor, customer care staff, ATC (air traffic control) and the

entire ground-handling... were handled by women,” Air India said in a release. Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said it was a historic ﬂight and “the longest operated by all-women crew”. “The airline has immense respect for women and it is a symbol of women empowerment,” he added. The ﬂight was under the command of Kshamta Bajpayee and Shubhangi Singh, along with First Officers Ramya Kirti Gupta and Amrit Namdhari. The carrier has about 3,800 women employees, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians, doctors, security personnel and executives. - PTI

The drug has proved to be resistant to four types of dengue virus. Sun Pharma has been tasked with launching the drug commercially after conducting the trials Mohammad Aslam, Senior advisor to DBT

High alert sounded after terror threat Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the internal security situation in the country at a high-level meeting in Delhi attended by top security officials including Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi

NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD: India remained on high alert owing to a terror threat on ‘Maha Shivratri’ on Monday as temples and strategic places were under tight vigil amid inputs that 10 Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists have entered India through Gujarat which saw an unprecedented security cover. Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the internal security situation in the country at a highlevel meeting in Delhi attended by top security officials including Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma. As a multi-city alert remained in place, Singh took stock of the situation and the steps taken to prevent any possible terror attacks. An alert has already been sounded in Gujarat and other major metropolitan centres by central security agencies following reports that the 10 terrorists are on a mission to carry out attacks against high-value targets.

STRICT VIGIL: Police keep vigil at a temple on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri after high alert in Surat on Monday. - PTI

However, so far there is no clue about the suspected terrorists. A similar alert has also been sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. In the national capital, Police presence and patrolling around temples which were teeming with devotees, popular markets, iconic buildings and other places like metro stations, railway stations and bus terminus, which witness very high footfall, have been stepped up, a senior official said. Four National Security Guard teams were stationed in Gujarat where massive police combing operations and robust security

were in place at major temples and other vital installations. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel held a high-level security meeting to review the situation. Inspite of reports that terrorists might strike in Delhi or other places, Gujarat Police has decided to not to let its guard down till they are 100 per cent sure that the state is safe. “We have informed the CM about steps taken by state police to thwart any terror strike in Gujarat. We have also informed the CM about what kind of co-operation we are getting from para-military forces and central agencies in our efforts to intensify the se-

curity cover in the state,” Gujarat DGP P. C. Thakur said. Since Somnath temple in GirSomnath district has remained on the target of terrorists, more than 250 policemen along with State Reserve Police as well as National Security Guard commandos are deployed in and outside the temple since Sunday. Security was also tightened in Jammu and Kashmir, two days after a top army commander disclosed that there were “disturbing” inputs about a terror attack in the country and also after the detection of a tunnel along the international border in Jammu region. - PTI

MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRAL DISEASE

Indian scientists develop breakthrough dengue drug NEW DELHI: In a breakthrough move that can help in the ﬁght against dengue, a herbal medicine against it is claimed to have been developed by scientists in India, which accounts for 50 per cent of the global population estimated to be at risk from the disease. Experts are now gearing up for the next step, which is to hold clinical trials and toxicity studies before seeking permission from the Ministry of Ayush and the Drug Controller of India (DCI) for commercial production. The project was undertaken jointly by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and and Sun Pharma, and employed Ayurveda in devising the drug. “Using the knowledge of traditional Indian medicine — Ayurveda — we developed a systematic bioassay-guided screening approach to explore the indigenous

herbal bio- resource to identify plants with pan-DENV (dengue virus) inhibitory activity. “Results showed that the alcoholic extract of Cissampelos pariera Linn (Cipa extract) was a potent inhibitor of all four DENVs in cell-based assays, assessed in terms of viral NS1 antigen secretion using ELISA, as well as viral replication, based on plaque assays. Virus yield reduction assays showed that Cipa extract could decrease viral titers by an order of magnitude. The extract conferred statistically signiﬁcant protection against DENV infection,” said Navin Khanna, senior scientist at ICGEB and the group leader of the project. He added that preliminary evaluation of the clinical relevance of Cipa extract showed it had no adverse impact on platelet count and RBC viability. It also showed no evidence of toxicity in Wistar rats, when administered doses as high as 2g/kg body weight for up to a week.

“We have tested it on rats and have got positive results, but now it needs to be tested on bigger animals,” Khanna said. Mohammad Aslam, senior advisor to DBT, which funded the project, said since the drug has been made from plant extracts and not chemicals, it has sought permission from both the Ministry of Ayush and also the Drug Controller of India. “The drug has proved to be resistant to four types of dengue virus. Sun Pharma has been tasked with launching the drug commercially after conducting the trials,” Aslam said. Dengue, a mosquitoborne viral disease, poses a significant global public health risk.In tropical countries such as India, where periodic dengue outbreaks can be correlated to the high prevalence of the mosquito vector circulation of all four dengue viruses (DENVs) and the high population density, a drug for dengue is being increasingly recognised as an unmet public health need. - PTI

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

NEXT FISCAL

Fitch lowers India growth forecast to 7.7% NEW DELHI: Fitch Ratings on Monday lowered India’s economic growth forecast for next fiscal to 7.7 per cent, but maintained the GDP projection for current fiscal at 7.5 per cent. Fitch, in December, forecast an 8 per cent GDP growth in 2016-17 supported by the government’s beefed-up capex spending and gradual implementation of a broad-based structural reform agenda. In its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO), Fitch said gradual recovery in 2016-17 and 2017-18 would be supported by higher real disposable income, assuming a normal monsoon after two years of below-average rainfall and a substantial wage increase for central government employees. “Growth is expected to gradually accelerate to 7.7 per cent in FY’17 and 7.9 per cent in FY’18. This implies minor downward revisions from the December GEO but leaves India at the top of the global growth ladder,” it said. Fitch said it is keeping the GDP growth forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2016 at 7.5 per cent. Fitch observed that implementation of legislative reforms has so far been difficult given the government’s limited support in the Rajya Sabha, but executive reforms continue to be rolled out. -PTI

INDIA

Congress hits back at Modi saying ‘when will he hear’ The Congress party said as one evolves from chief minister to prime minister, ‘people certainly expect a certain level of maturity, a PROTEST: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajay Maken along with Party workers during their protest against National Democratic Alliance government in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI

certain degree of willingness to listen and outgrow the love of one’s own voice’

NEW DELHI: Seeking to take the sting out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack, Congress has said “theatrics” in Parliament might be good entertainment for his supporters, but reminded him “it is his job to deliver”.In a scathing commentary where the Congress asks ‘How much does

he hear? When will he hear?’, an apparent retort to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Facebook post ‘How much does he know — when will he know’ targeting Rahul Gandhi, the opposition party alleged that Modi ignored the voices of farmers, Dalits, students and even his own ministers. “It is time to get real. Theatrics in Parliament may be good entertainment for his supporters. But pulses are still selling at more than double the price when he took office. It is his job to de-

G OV E R N M E N T F O R M AT I O N

Alliance with BJP is like father’s ‘will’: Mehbooba SRINAGAR: Hinting at going ahead with BJP in government formation, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said her late father Mufti Sayeed’s decision to have the alliance with the saffron party was like a “will” to be fuﬁlled by his children even if they get “consumed” while doing so. Mehbooba, seen as successor to Sayeed as chief minister, said her father’s decision to ally with BJP was “patther ki lakeer (something carved in stone)” and “I stand by his word”. At the same time, she maintained that forward movement on implementation of the

‘Agenda of Alliance’ by the BJPled central government is a prerequisite for government formation in Jammu and Kashmir which is under Governor’s Rule since January 8. “I want to make one thing clear, that it (alliance with BJP) is a decision taken by Sayeed and I respect it. When a father makes a ‘will’ to his children, it’s their responsibility to fulﬁll that ‘will’ even if they get consumed while doing so,” the PDP leader said. “For me, the decision of my father is ‘Patther ki lakeer’,” she told party workers at Kupwara in north Kashmir.

Mehbooba said the decision of Sayeed to form an alliance government with BJP and “to shake hands with the government at the Centre was for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, to maintain unity of the state, and for peace and development.” However, there is another aspect of that decision that it was aimed at beneﬁting the people of the state through implementation of the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ chalked out between the two parties, she said. “The ‘Agenda of Alliance’ which they (his father and BJP) chalked out is also very important just like Mufti Sahib’s word,” she said. - PTI

liver, and ours to ask questions,” the AICC said. The party said as one evolves from chief minister to prime minister, “people certainly expect a certain level of maturity, a certain degree of willingness to listen and outgrow the love of one’s own voice.” Commentary “But after two years of unease, unrest and numerous confrontations, people have begun to wonder — “how much does he hear? — when will he hear?””

In the commentary posted on its website, Congress said that in May 2014, “India witnessed a phenomenon — a man castigated by the global community for his politics of hatred, was elected to lead the world’s largest democracy.” It noted that there was tremendous hope attached with that victory — hope of a billion plus nation and its young impressionable minds who were enraptured by the billion dreams the man held out to them. The party, however, lamented, “He didn’t hear the impassioned pleas of students who were ﬁghting RSS imposed mediocrity in FTII. He didn’t hear the wails of the family of Mohammed Akhlaq, who was dragged out of his home and lynched by a mob on the suspicion that he had stored beef.” It also accused Modi of “not hearing the agonising pleas” of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula who was forced to end his life “because he had opposed the ABVP.” He responded to Rohith’s pleas ﬁve days after his tragic death, when Dalit students embarrassed the PM by raising slogans during his speech, it claimed. Besides, the party alleged that the prime minister didn’t hear Kanhaiya’s speech at Jawaharlal

Nehru University, but his government chose to listen to the “doctored” videos that were “circulated” by members/supporters of BJP. Targeting the prime minister on his Lahore stopover, it claimed Modi doesn’t even listen to own ministers. “He himself decides when to stop talking to Pakistan and when to restart diplomacy by diverting plane. His ministers have to later scramble to ﬁnd new words like ‘spontaneous diplomacy’ to describe his ill-advised moves hatched mid-air in his mind. The result — attack on our air installation in Pathankot and death of seven brave soldiers.” Posing the question whether the prime minister listened to India’s farmers and the ailing agriculture sector, it replied “if he did, they wouldn’t be committing suicide.” “Does he listen to pleas for action against corrupt Ministers — if he did, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Chouhan and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would have all been sacked by now,” it added. - PTI

A10

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

PAKISTAN 10 killed as militants claim revenge attack Spokesman of Taliban’s Jamaatur Ahrar faction said, the bombing at a court in the northwestern town of Shabqadar ‘was especially done as vengeance for the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri’

PESHAWAR: Pakistani militants said a suicide bombing at a court on Monday in which at least 10 people were killed was revenge for the hanging of a man convicted of the 2011 killing a prominent liberal politician who had called for reform of blasphemy laws. Police said the bomber had intended to enter the court in the northwestern town of Shabqadar, near the Mohmand ethnic Pashtun region, and set off his explosives when guards challenged him. “The suicide bomber was trying to enter the judicial complex and he blew himself up when the police stopped him,” said police official Saeed Wazir. Television news footage showed extensive damage including the charred remains of at least two vehicles. Senior police official Sohail Khalid told Reuters two police personnel, as well as four women and two children were among at least 10 people killed.

CARNAGE: Pakistani security personnel and volunteers move victims injured in a suicide bombing to a hospital in Peshawar on Monday, after an attack on a court complex in the town of Shabqadar. — AFP

Mumtaz Qadri, a bodyguard-turned-assassin, was executed last week for killing Salman Taseer, the then governor of Punjab province, after he had called for reform of blasphemy laws

Nearly 30 people were wounded. The Taliban’s Jamaatur Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attack in the town, about 150 km (90 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad. Group spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said in an emailed statement the bombing “was especially

done as vengeance for the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri”. Qadri, a bodyguard-turned-assassin, was executed last week for killing Salman Taseer, the then governor of Punjab province, after he had called for reform of blasphemy laws. Human rights groups say the laws can be abused by people try-

ing to settle scores or involved in feuds and members of Pakistan’s religious minorities are vulnerable to unfair treatment under the legislation. Ideological clash The laws are at the heart of an ideological clash between reformers and religious conservatives in Pakistan. Conservative leaders have declared Qadri a hero and Ehsan said his faction would continue to attack courts. “The Pakistani courts give decisions against the laws revealed by Allah, and convict and hang innocent people,” Ehsan said. Taliban militants have been waging an insurgency against the state since 2007, in a bid to impose obscurantist rule. — Reuters

DEFECTION

Former minister quits MQM, teams up with Kamal KARACHI: Former Sindh health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed on Monday announced his decision to join the newly-formed political party of Syed Mustafa Kamal. “I have come here today to join Mustafa Kamal and Anis Kaimkhani for the development of Pakistan,” Dr Sagheer, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker in the Sindh Assembly said while addressing media at the former Karachi mayor’s residence in Karachi. In August 2014, the party’s Rabita Committee removed Dr Sagheer Ahmed from the panel, to “give him more time to address the health issues of the province”. The announcement comes days after Kamal blew the whistle on MQM supremo Altaf Hussain in a dramatic two-hour-long press conference last week. Kamal — who won wide support as mayor of Karachi from 2005 to 2010 for his efforts to ease traffic and improve public services — levelled blistering criticism at Altaf’s ‘strong-arm tactics’ and accused him of working for India’s premier spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). “I have seen this city being destroyed and deteriorated, and Kamal and Kaimkhani have provided me with an opportunity to stand up for a change,” Dr Sagheer said. “I think I need to play a clear and constructive role as a Karachiite and a dweller of this city.” Oath of loyalty It is worth mentioning that two days ago, the MQM chief had taken an oath of loyalty from all party leaders, and Dr Sagheer was also among them. “I couldn’t hold myself back from joining these two people. They have spoken the hearts of the people. I have never been in contact with any of them since they left the party,” the former Sindh

The announcement comes days after former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal blew the whistle on Muttahida Qaumi Movement supremo Altaf Hussain in a dramatic two-hour-long press conference last week health minister continued. I stopped calling him bhai because there is no bhai-relationship now, says Kamal He claimed no worker of the MQM or the Urdu-speaking community was working against the country, urging those at the helm of affairs to bring them in the mainstream politics. “I have always disagreed with the exploitation of common workers of the party,” he added. “I could not continue to see exploitation of workers and violence with the community.” The former Sindh health minister said he pleaded several times to the MQM chief to stop the politics of killing people but to no avail. “The politics of strikes devastated the country’s economy,” he said. “Today everyone knows about Altaf’s links with RAW. I don’t want to say anything to any MQM member but I request Altaf to stop having innocent people killed.” Dr Sagheer, who was elected from Karachi’s PS-117 constituency in the May 2013 general elections, also announced his decision to resign from the Sindh Assembly. “I apologise to my voters because I failed to serve them and announce to resign from my post as MPA,” he said. — Express Tribune TERROR ACTIVITY

Red Mosque cleric Aziz’s pre-arrest bail confirmed ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Islamabad on Monday confirmed the pre-arrest bail of firebrand cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz in two criminal cases registered against him. The court also dismissed applications for FIRs against the Red Mosque cleric in three cases pertaining to IS and incitement of sectarian violence. Earlier on February 26, Additional District and Sessions Judge Raja Asif Mehmood granted extension in bail till March 7 to the Red Mosque cleric after he appeared before the court. Exemption The Aabpara Police had registered a case under Section 295A of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) read with Section 3 and 4 of the Amplifier Act against Aziz and others. Further, a separate case under Section 506 (ii) (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the PPC was also registered. When the case was taken up, Aziz’s counsel requested the court to grant extension in the bail as well as exemption from personal appearance before the court owing to security concerns. — Express Tribune

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

ASIA

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

North Korea threatens attack as South, US begin war games The joint US and South Korean military command said it had notiﬁed North Korea of ‘the nonprovocative nature of this training’ involving about 17,000 American troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans MILITARY DRILL: A South Korean Marine amphibious assault vehicle, left, moves to a landing ship, right, as a South Korean submarine, centre, is seen from the southeastern port of Pohang on Monday. - AFP

SEOUL: South Korean and US troops began large-scale military exercises on Monday in an annual test of their defences against North Korea, which called the drills “nuclear war moves” and threatened to respond with an allout offensive. South Korea said the exercises would be the largest ever following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month that triggered a UN Security Council resolution and tough new sanctions. Rejected criticism Isolated North Korea has rejected criticism of is nuclear and rocket programmes, even from old ally China, and last week leader Kim Jong Un ordered his country to be ready to use nuclear weapons in

the face of what he sees as growing threats from enemies. The joint US and South Korean military command said it had notiﬁed North Korea of “the non-provocative nature of this training” involving about 17,000 American troops and more than 300,000 South Koreans. South Korea’s Defence Ministry said it had seen no sign of any unusual military activity by the North. North Korea’s National Defence Commission said the North Korean army and people would “realise the greatest desire of the Korean nation through a sacred war of justice for reuniﬁcation”, in response to any attack by US and South Korean forces. “The army and people of the

SCAN THIS TO VISIT

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

DPRK will launch an all-out offensive to decisively counter the US and its followers’ hysterical nuclear war moves,” the North Korean commission said in a statement carried by the North’s KCNA news agency. The North, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as it is officially known, routinely issues threats of military action in response to the annual exercises that it sees as preparation for war against it. The threat on Monday was in

A1 1

line with the usual rhetoric it uses to denounce the drills. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei noted that North Korea had already said it opposed the drills, adding that Beijing was “deeply concerned” about the exercises. “China is linked to the Korean Peninsula. In terms of the peninsula’s security, China is deeply concerned and ﬁrmly opposed to any trouble-making behaviour on the peninsula’s doorstep. We urge all sides to keep calm, exercise restraint and not escalate tensions,” he told a daily news brieﬁng. The latest UN sanctions imposed on North Korea were drafted by the United States and China as punishment for its nuclear test

and satellite launch, which the United States and others say was really a test of ballistic missile technology. South Korea’s spy agency said it would hold an emergency cybersecurity meeting on Tuesday to check readiness against any threat of cyber attack from the North, after detecting evidence of attempts by the North to hack into South Korean mobile phones. South Korea has been on heightened cyber alert since the nuclear test and the rocket launch. South Korea and the US militaries began talks on Friday on the deployment of an advanced antimissile Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system in South Korea. - Reuters

U N D U E A D VA N TA G E

Pacquiao says TV bout cover will not violate election laws MANILA: Former world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said on Monday TV coverage of his WBO welterweight bout with American Timothy Bradley would not violate Philippine election laws or give him an undue advantage in his bid for a seat on the Senate. In a five-page letter to the election commission, Pacquiao, 37, said that as a candidate for the May elections, he was allowed TV and radio air time for political advertisements and that his fight will not consume all of the allotted time. The commission on Tuesday said it may bar broadcasts of Pacquiao’s bid to win back the world welterweight title next month from reigning WBO welterweight champion Bradley because it could give him an unfair advantage in the elections. “There is obviously no case of undue advantage or undue exposure for Pacquiao as the same rights and privileges are extended by law to all said candidates,” Pacquiao said through his lawyers. The bout will take a maximum of 36 minutes for a 12-round fight, or less if the fight does not go the distance. Under the law, all candidates are given up to 120-minute TV and 180-minute radio advertisements per station. The election commission is expected to make a ruling on the broadcasts soon. On May 9, more than 54 million people in the Philippines will vote for a president, vicepresident, 300 lawmakers and thousands of local government posts. Pacquiao is running for one of 12 vacant seats in the Senate, the upper house of parliament. - Reuters

C O N S E RVAT I V E E S T I M AT E

China CO2 emissions may have peaked in 2014: Study BEIJING: China’s carbon emissions, by far the world’s highest, may have peaked in 2014, according to a study published on Monday, potentially putting Beijing under pressure to toughen climate pledges perceived as too lax. China has promised to bring greenhouse gas emissions to a peak by “around 2030” as part of its commitments to a global pact to combat global warming, signed in Paris last year. Any evidence that the country has peaked much earlier could lead to concerns that its existing targets are too easy. In response to the report, China’s senior climate change envoy said on Monday the country’s emissions were still growing. The study, however, by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the ESRC Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy at the London School of Economics, said the 2030 peak

was a very conservative estimate. “It is quite possible that emissions will fall modestly from now on, implying that 2014 was the peak,” said the report, noting that recent data already showed that China’s emissions fell in 2015. “If emissions do grow above 2014 levels ... that growth trajectory is likely to be relatively ﬂat, and a peak would still be highly likely by 2025,” the authors said. Target Asked about the report during a press brieﬁng on Monday, Xie Zhenhua, the climate change envoy, said the target of “around 2030” was based on national conditions, with China still in the process of industrialisation and urbanisation. “You asked whether our emissions had peaked in 2014 — certainly not,” he said. “In fact, our carbon dioxide emissions are still increasing.”

China has promised to bring greenhouse gas emissions to a peak by ‘around 2030’ as part of its commitments to a global pact to combat global warming, signed in Paris last year While total energy consumption rose 0.9 percent to 4.3 billion tonnes of standard coal in 2015, coal consumption fell 2.2 per cent on a year earlier, according to Reuters calculations based on official data. Chinese carbon experts said

TRAILBLAZER

Philippines signs new GMO rules, food industry relieved MANILA: The Philippines has approved a new set of rules on genetically modified organisms after a top court demanded an overhaul of previous regulations, providing relief to farmers and importers worried that any delay would spark a food crisis. The five ministers that needed to sign the rules had done so as of Monday, Merle Palacpac, chief of the plant quarantine service at the Bureau of Plant Industry, said. The new rules will now be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture, with Palacpac saying they would likely take effect by April. The Supreme Court in December halted the issuance of fresh permits for planting or importing genetically modified crops until the new rules were in place, putting in limbo nearly 1 million corn farmers and buyers of GM soybean meal, the Philippines’ top GMO import. The court was acting on a petition by environmental activists led by Greenpeace, with the move

likely closely watched by governments elsewhere as the Philippines is seen as a trailblazer for GMO. Greenpeace on Monday said it would take further action against the new GMO guidelines. “Deﬁnitely there will be action but we haven’t decided (what it will be) yet,” said Greenpeace campaigner Leonora Lava, adding that it would discuss options with other petitioners and allied groups. The new rules are expected to improve transparency in the approval process for permits to plant, import and commercialise GM products, including enhanced regulations on risk assessment and involvement of local governments, said Palacpac. “The technical working group made sure that these concerns by the Supreme Court have been addressed,” she said. The government had aimed to have the regulations signed by the ﬁve ministers on February 24, but that was delayed as some officials were travelling.

While importers of soymeal welcomed the new regulations, they were concerned it could now take longer to get permission to ship in GM crops. Under the old rules, feed millers were only required to get sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for soybean meal that they shipped in, said an industry source. But it is unclear whether they now will also have to get a separate biosafety permit, the source added. The Philippines was the ﬁrst in Asia to approve commercial cultivation of a GM crop for animal feed and food in 2002 when it allowed GM corn planting. It has also allowed GM crop imports for more than a decade. Around 70 per cent of its corn output is GM. GMO’s critics argue the technology poses risks to public health, while advocates say such fears have not been scientiﬁcally proven and that high-yielding genetically altered crops would help ensure food security as the world’s population grows. - Reuters

any fall in emissions in 2015 would be mainly due to a slowdown in China’s economy, and it was unlikely that emissions had peaked so early. “I would like to believe that the peak will be around 2030, and if

stricter policies for carbon reduction and some reforms in the way local leaders are evaluated on GDP growth, the peak will come in 2025,” said Xi Fengming, a carbon researcher with the China Academy of Sciences.

“But I do not think China has reached peak emissions in 2014,” he said. The government said on Saturday that it would cap total energy consumption at 5 billion tonnes of standard coal by 2020, amounting to an increase of 16.3 percent from 2015. It also said that it would cut carbon intensity — or the amount of CO2 emissions per unit of economic growth — by 18 per cent over the 2016-2020 period. The 2030 peak pledge was made in a joint declaration with the United States in late 2014. China also agreed it would make its best efforts to peak earlier. One of the main bones of contention during the Paris climate talks was a regular ﬁve-year “stocktaking” process that would compel countries to adjust their targets in light of new economic or technological circumstances, with China arguing that any such adjustments must be voluntary. - Reuters

A12

T IME S O F O MAN

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

#TRENDING ONLINE HOT PICKS MOST READ

MOST SHARED

TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

TOTAL VIEWS

TOTAL PAGE LIKES

49,814,074

334,463

1 Three Ibri bus crash victims

1 WATCH: Heavy rain causes

laid to rest

ﬂooding in Bidbid

timesofoman.com/Oman

facebook.com/timesofoman/

2 MUST WATCH: A vehicle

rescued from ﬂooded wadi in Bidbid. facebook.com/timesofoman/

3 A decision that ended one life

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

and left another shattered timesofoman.com/Oman

2 Morning Minute – Flood

4 Rain begins in many parts of

warning issued in Oman

Oman

timesofoman.com/Videos

timesofoman.com/ImageGallery

3 Jet Airways announces

5 Rain begins in many parts of

‘launch offer’ to Delhi

Sultanate

timesofoman.com/Oman

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

4 Indian sailor battles for life in

Oman hospital timesofoman.com/Oman

5 Are we back to 2008 and

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

another global ﬁnancial crisis and recession? timesofoman.com/ Opinion

ADAM MINTER MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS NASA astronaut Scott Kelly talks about the impact on his body after returning from the International Space Station

Richard J. C. Galustian

If there’s any consolation for Donald Trump, it’s in knowing that China’s leaders appeared uncomfortable with Barack Obama’s populist appeal Trump, by virtue of his background, won’t carry that kind of baggage. Rather, he’s just the kind of guy that China’s leaders are accustomed to doing business with

TWEET WE LIKE @AndyRusOfficial Everyday I’m haggling #Muskat #MuttrahSouq #Oman @ Muttrah Souq https://www.instagram. com/p/BCpwchPzWOa/

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

KAMAL SIDDIQI

INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

Addressing her ﬁrst news conference upon her return to Karachi from the Oscars, Sharmeen said there are people in Pakistan who ﬁnd nothing wrong in murdering women. ‘Obviously working on changing that sort of mindset comes with its own set of difficulties,’ she rightly pointed

SHARE THIS!

Photo: Binoy Soman

READERS’ FORUM Pacquiao seeking TV bout coverage akin to poll rigging This refers to the story, ‘Philippine boxer and poll candidate Pacquiao says TV bout cover not a low blow’ (March 7). It is outrageous that Pacquiao wants his match to be shown as this will help voters to think of him positive. It is sad to see that the great sportsman lacks the insight of a visionary. Such a person should stick to the nitty gritties of boxing and not concern himself with governance. By wanting to boost his image this way, it shows Pacquiao is stooping low and is just like election rigging. This tendency shows he is not ripe for public office and needs to stick to boxing. — Scan this QR code Ariel Lopez, Ruwi to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Players, officials need to be vetted This refers to the report ICC launches corruption probe on ‘international’ team (March 7). This inquiry highlights once again that there is no sporting spirit among sports people. Recently, we have seen the FIFA leadership being made to step down in face of widespread corruption cases. Apart from this, doping by athletes is a common news story, which was bejewelled by Russia being booted from the sports’ competition. All this highlights that there is a need for better accountability of officials and players. — Reem Ahmed, Seeb

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com The greatest danger to our future is apathy.

JANE GOODALL

Low oil prices bode ill for environment efforts

MAC MARGOLIS

What helped clinch the case against Cunha and put Lula on the investigators’ radar was the testimony of criminal suspects who agreed to name names in exchange for milder punishment. Brazil is better for this ruling, but you wouldn’t know it from the mood on the street, where public opinion is already sharply polarised

here is a creeping, devastating problem that flows from the low price of oil and is potentially catastrophic for the Middle East: the effect on plans to mitigate climate change. In 1989 a then young medical doctor, Dr Robin Russell-Jones, wrote an editorial for the Lancet entitled “Health in the Greenhouse” It concluded as follows : “Any strategy to combat global warming must be conducted on a global scale and is bound to involve enormous investment in energy conservation, reafforestation, renewable sources of energy and changing patterns of agriculture and transportation. This approach will require a new agenda for world leaders, a new role for the United Nations Environmental Programme, and a new awareness of man’s fundamental reliance on the integrity of world ecosystems. The expense may be considerable, but the cost of doing nothing is incalculable.” Twenty seven years later nothing much has changed except that annual emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, have risen by 60 per cent. Then there is the effect of the falling oil price. Over the past 18 months, oil prices declined from over $100 a barrel to less than $35 a barrel, and are remaining relatively stagnant. There is speculation that the price of oil many go up again by late 2017 or 2018 to $55 a barrel but these are just guestimates. The continuing stagnation of oil prices is hurting all Middle East countries where state budgets are woefully short of necessary revenue leading to an economic imbalance. Significantly, an immense amount of financial damage is the result, resulting in a regional economic flu that is spreading across all economic sectors affecting the ability for both governments and the private sector to develop coherent strategies for dealing with the causes or the effects of climate change. The cascade effect doesn’t stop here. A key point is whether states will postpone or cancel clean energy options and fail to meet carbon reduction targets as regional economies begin to tank. Perhaps not one policymaker or stakeholder understands the connection between the two trends. The low price of oil, with petroleum industry operating at full capacity, is affecting the state budgets of the GCC countries and therefore is influencing the ability of these countries to support climate change “industries” such as solar power, electric

cars, energy storage, energy conservation, waste management and biogas to name just a few. To be sure, low oil prices threaten the development of alternatives to fossil fuels and will have an immediate influence on the viability of strategies to mitigate climate change. However there is also a huge cost to not taking action: There is no country in the world that will be unaffected by global warming If climate change disrupts agriculture in one country, through droughts, extreme storms or flooding, then food prices will rise everywhere. The interconnections between continents and regions are growing due to globalisation. As climate change progresses, as it will in 2016 due to a strong El Nino effect, abnormal weather conditions will put pressure on supply chains , particularly in the Middle East where water resources are already critical. From a regional perspective, climate change poses a global threat, not only to commerce, but to traditional ways of life. In many Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, Governments have traditionally subsidised the price of petrol, which is sold at the pump below cost. However, the IMF have repeatedly emphasised, subsidising petrol prices inhibits the use of fuel-efficient cars, prevents the development of energy saving measures, and deters investment in renewables and other more sustainable sources of energy. In addition there is little incentive to develop technologies such as carbon capture and storage, since it is cheaper to go on burning fossil fuels. This will not change until a carbon tax is introduced that reflects the true cost to health and the environment of fossil fuel combustion. According to the IMF that cost exceeds $5 trillion annually. We release 32 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year (excluding releases from deforestation etc) which places a price of $166 per tonne of CO2 , or approximately $600 per tonne of carbon. Currently the price of a tonne of carbon dioxide on the EU trading scheme is less than 10 dollars Climate change is now a primary security issues for many countries including the United States. In 2015, America’s Department of Defense released a major report on climate change and the impact on global security.

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES MARCH 2001 Desert images on display MUSCAT: ‘Desert Images: Arid Lands of Oman and America’ – a comparative photographic exhibition of Omani and American landscapes by American photographer Tom Till – will conclude today. However, the exhibition will be conducted at Sultan Qaboos University from March 12 to 19. The exhibition, being held at Hotel Inter-Continental Muscat, is organized by the Directorate general of Tourism at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with the US embassy. Tom Till is one of America’s most published photographers, with over 13,000 of his images in print since 1977. His images depict landscape, nature, history and travel subjects worldwide, including all 50 American states ad nearly 40 countries overseas.

Scan this QR for full artcle

PICTOGRAPH Number of Building Permits

AL BATINAH SOUTH 2013

Type of use

2014

Residential

3,638 4,108 Non-Residential

579 622 Mixed

TODAY IN HISTORY INVITATION TO WRITERS We invite our readers to write articles on topics related to Oman. The articles should not exceed 800 words. Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1790: G. Washington delivers ﬁrst State of the Union address.

261 210 10.3%

1855: First train crosses Niagara Falls on a suspension bridge. 1908: The House of Commons, London, turns down the women’s suffrage bill. 1941: Martial law is proclaimed in Holland.

4,478 4,940 Total

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

A1 3

WORLD MOUNTING CONCERNS

ARBIL CITADEL

A picture taken on Monday, shows the Arbil Citadel and the City Park in the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. — AFP

Foreign diplomats voice alarm about Trump WASHINGTON: Foreign diplomats are expressing alarm to US government officials about what they say are inﬂammatory and insulting public statements by Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, according to senior US officials. Officials from Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia have complained in recent private conversations, mostly about the xenophobic nature of Trump’s statements, said three US officials, who all declined to be identiﬁed. “As the (Trump) rhetoric has continued, and in some cases amped up, so, too, have concerns by certain leaders around the world,” said one of the officials. The three officials declined to disclose a full list of countries whose diplomats have complained, but two said they included at least India, South Korea, Japan and Mexico. US officials said it was highly unusual for foreign diplomats to express concern, even privately, about candidates in the midst of a presidential campaign. — Reuters

HARDLINE POLICIES

Hungary plans to cut subsidies for refugees BUDAPEST: Hungary plans to cut subsidies for refugees and radically reduce the space available in migrant detention centres in a move that a human rights body says is aimed at forcing refugees to leave the country. According to draft legislation published by the government on Monday, from April 1 those who were granted some kind of protection or asylum will be allowed to stay in a camp for only one month, instead of two months now. The decree said the maximum space available in holding centres should be identical to that prescribed in prisons. The government, which has imposed hardline policies throughout Europe’s migrant crisis, will also eliminate some subsidies, such as funds aimed at supporting education, for those who receive protection. “The main goal of the tightening is to reduce social subsidies for asylum seekers and those who received international protection,” the government said, adding that this could help prevent economic migrants seeking asylum in Hungary. Last year, just 508 asylum seekers received some kind of protection in Hungary, including asylum, according to data from the immigration office. Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s right-wing government erected a steel fence on Hungary’s southern borders to keep the migrants out and introduced tough legislation to punish those who tried to cross into Hungary illegally. The Hungarian Helsinki Committee, a non-governmental human rights watchdog organisation, said the new rules would effectively abolish the integration of refugees in Hungary and push them to other countries. “The regulation shows the Hungarian government’s intention: no integration help from the state in Hungary,” said Marta Pardavi, the group’s co-chair. — Reuters

Turkey proposes to ‘take back’ non-Syrian migrants Cameron against EU asylum system plan

An emergency EUTurkey summit, originally planned to last half a day, was extended to give Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu a chance to present ‘new ideas’ going beyond Ankara’s commitments so far

BRUSSELS: Turkey offered the European Union greater help on Monday to stem a flood of migrants into Europe but demanded more money, faster accession talks and quicker visa-free travel for its citizens in exchange, diplomats said. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Ankara was willing to take back all non-Syrian migrants denied asylum in Europe as well as all those intercepted in its territorial waters, and to crack down harder on people smugglers, they said. An emergency EU-Turkey summit, originally planned to last half a day, was extended to give Davutoglu a chance to present “new ideas” going beyond Ankara’s commitments so far. The 28 EU leaders would deliberate on his proposals in the afternoon and meet him again to discuss them over dinner, an EU official said. “They (Turkey) are offering more and demanding more,” he said after the first working session. A spokesman for Davutoglu confirmed that there were new proposals but declined to discuss the substance. Diplomats said that

STUCK: Children and women sit on the ground as they waited overnight to register at the makeshift

camp at the Greek-Macedonian borders near the village of Idomeni where thousands of refugees and migrants are stranded on Monday. — AFP

at a preparatory meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday night, Davutoglu demanded more than the $3.29 billion earmarked so far to support Syrian refugees in Turkey. One source said Ankara was seeking 20 billion euros. “I am sure these challenges will be solved through our cooperation and Turkey is ready to work with the EU,” Davutoglu said. “Turkey is ready to be a member of the EU as well. Today I hope this summit will not just focus on irregular migration but also the Turkish accession process to the EU.” Among his demands, diplomats said, was to grant Turks visa-free travel in the EU from June instead of waiting for a planned October review of preparatory measures. One EU diplomat said Berlin and some allies were open to bringing forward the date if Ankara met all the requirements in-

cluding changing its visa policy for Islamic states and introducing biometric passports. With tens of thousands of migrants stranded in Greece by closing borders, the summit may formally declare closed the Balkan route from Greece to Germany, although diplomats said Greek and German officials were fighting to soften the wording. Leaders will pledge help to Athens cope with the backlog and seek assurances that Turkey, with NATO naval back-up in the Aegean, will stop people smugglers putting migrants to sea. Merkel and Rutte, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, spent five hours talking with Davutoglu until 2:45 a.m. to try to nail down commitments to halt the migrant flow after more than one million people - mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans - entered Europe last year, most ending up in Germany. “It’s going to be a proper Turkish bazaar - first we

will throw our hands up in the air expressing shock about Turkey’s demands. Then we’ll offer to meet a tiny, tiny, tiny part of what they want. And then we’ll see how the bargaining goes from there,” said one EU diplomat. Continued divisions There were also continued divisions among EU leaders, with Merkel resisting a push for a public endorsement by the summit of border closures by Austria and Greece’s Balkan neighbours. Fellow EU leaders, long divided over how to end chaotic movements that have put Europe’s Schengen open border system in jeopardy, were to assure Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of help housing migrants now stranded in Greece. Tsipras said the bloc must speed up the process of relocating registered asylum seekers from Greece to other EU countries as promised last September. — Reuters

BRUSSELS: Britain would not join a possible EU common asylum system, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday, adding that his country would be affected by the migrant crisis even if it votes to leave the European Union in June. “We have an absolutely rock-solid opt-out from these things. There’s no prospect of Britain joining a common asylum process in Europe. We’ll have our own asylum approach, our own way of doing things, keeping our borders,” Cameron said on arriving for an EU-Turkey summit aimed at stemming the ﬂow of migrants into Europe. Outside EU “Even outside the EU, we would be affected by a migration crisis like this. But at the end of the day we maintain our borders and our own way of doing things because we have the best of both worlds,” he continued. Under the EU’s current asylum system, known as the Dublin rules and which apply to Britain, individual EU countries must register and process asylum claims on a national basis and that responsibility falls to the ﬁrst EU state a refugee enters. — Reuters

NEW REQUIREMENTS

Real-time tracking for planes toughened after MH370 tragedy MONTREAL: The UN’s aviation agency on Monday announced new requirements for the realtime tracking of civilian aircraft in distress, following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 two years ago. The International Civil Aviation Organisation’s governing council approved proposals for planes to carry tracking devices that can transmit their location at least once a minute in cases of distress.

Plane operators will have to ensure their ﬂight recorder data is recoverable, while the duration of cockpit voice recordings is being extended to 25 hours, ICAO said in a news release. The requirements for the oneminute tracking and ﬂight recorder data are performance-based, meaning individual airlines and plane-makers can choose the best option for them, from among existing and emerging technologies,

ICAO said. The changes will take effect between now and 2021. Last year Malaysia called for real-time aircraft tracking to become a priority for the aviation industry following the loss of MH370. The ﬂight disappeared on March 8, 2014 shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing with 239 people aboard. “Taken together, these new provisions will ensure that in the case of an accident the location of the

site will be known immediately to within six nautical miles, and that investigators will be able to access the aircraft’s ﬂight recorder data promptly and reliably,” said ICAO Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu in the statement. “They will also contribute to greatly improved and more cost-effective search and rescue operations.” Two years on MH370 has still not been found. — Reuters

MISSING IN ACTION: A woman leaves a message of support and hope for the passengers of the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 in central Kuala Lumpur March 16, 2014. — Reuters ﬁles

A 14

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

GLOBAL EYE

UNITED STATES: A view of cars racing during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Koblat 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday in Las Vegas, United States. — Robert Laberge/Getty Images/AFP

FRANCE: A model presents a creation by Stella McCartney on Monday in Paris, France. — AFP

CHINA: People pose on a 3D painting in a parking lot in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on Sunday. — Reuters/Stringer

THAILAND: Panda sculptures are seen outside a shopping mall during an exhibition by French artist Paulo Grangeon in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday. — Reuters

GERMANY: A man pulls children on a sledge through fresh snow

fallen on the clock park, a sculpture by Klaus Rinke made of 24 station clocks, in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Monday. — AFP/dpa/ Maja Hitij

NETHERLANDS: An eagle of the Guard from Above company, grasps a drone during a police exercise in Katwijk, on Monday. The bird of prey can get drones from the air by catching them with his legs. AFP/ANP/Koen van Weel

SWITZERLAND: A ﬁsherman stands by the shore of Lake Leman in Rivaz near Vevey, Switzerland, on Monday. — Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 Prime Minister Robert Fico is likely to try to lure the centrist Siet, the MostHid (“Bridge”) party and the moderate nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS).

A1 5

WORLD

Fico asked to form government Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico faces a tough job as ﬁve of the eight parties elected to parliament have already said ‘no’ to him

SOUTHEAST

Clashes kill 13 militants, two soldiers in Turkey ISTANBUL: Thirteen Kurdish militants and two Turkish soldiers have been killed during two days of fighting in restive southeastern Turkey, officials said on Monday. The militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) were killed on Monday when a firefight broke out in the town of Idil, which has been under a round-the-clock curfew since February 16 in an effort to root the rebels out. The military said on Sunday a soldier had been killed in Idil. On Monday it said a soldier had been killed by a sharpshooter in Sur, a historic district in Diyarbakir, the largest city of the mainly Kurdish southeast. Sur is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and its monuments have been badly damaged since a curfew was imposed on December 2, photographs have shown. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday the lockdown in Sur would end by March 21. Hundreds of soldiers and police officers, PKK fighters and civilians have been killed since July, when the PKK abandoned a 2-1/2 year ceasefire, igniting the worst violence in 20 years. The autonomy-seeking PKK has waged an armed campaign against Turkey since 1984, and more than 40,000 people have died. President Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to continue the operations until the PKK gives up its weapons. Security forces disposed of hundreds of explosives in Idil, a town of two- and threestorey homes with a population of 73,000 people situated 25 km (15 miles) north of the Syrian border, sources said. Militants had built 500 ditches and barricades in the town, they said. — Reuters MURDER CASE

Dissident Irish group claims Belfast bomb attack BELFAST: An Irish militant group opposed to Northern Ireland’s 1998 peace deal claimed responsibility for the attempted murder of a prison officer in a bomb attack on Friday, in a statement to the BBC that warned of more attacks. The prison officer was seriously injured by a bomb which exploded under his van in Belfast. Police said there was a “severe” threat to security forces as the centenary approaches of the 1916 anti-British Easter Rising. The attack was claimed by a group known as the new IRA, one of a number of small militant groups opposed to a 1998 peace deal that largely ended three decades of violence in Northern Ireland between Protestants, who want to remain under British rule, and Catholics favouring uniﬁcation with Ireland. The group said in the statement that it targeted the 52-year-old father of two because he was responsible for the training of prison officers who work in a wing of the top security Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim. — Reuters

BRATISLAVA: Slovakia’s president said on Monday he will ask Prime Minister Robert Fico to try to form a new government, after Fico’s leftist Smer party won the most votes but lost its parliamentary majority in Saturday’s election. Fico faces a tough job as ﬁve of the eight parties elected to parliament have taken an initial stance against working with him. Rotating presidency Slovakia will hold the European Union’s rotating presidency in the second half of the year, giving it a central role in the EU’s migration crisis and, potentially, coping with the turmoil if Britain votes to leave

the EU in a referendum in June. “A complicated situation has emerged, there are several dividing lines between the elected parties,” said President Andrej Kiska, a non-partisan ﬁgure who has the authority to appoint prime ministers. “Some of them cannot

be overcome and it would not be right to try. Some of them will be very hard to overcome but it will be inevitable. Representatives of the parties will have to deal with it,” he said. Kiska will ask Fico to seek to form a government after he returns

from EU summit in Brussels. Fico had hoped an anti-immigration stance and popular measures such as a cut in the sales tax on food and free train rides for students and pensioners would secure him a third term. His party won 28.3 per cent of the vote, down from 44.4 per cent in the 2012 election, as many voters responded to opposition campaigning against corruption and shortcomings in healthcare and education. Part of the anti-immigrant vote went to the far-right People’s Party-Our Slovakia, a party none of the others will deal with as they see it as fascist group. Fico is likely to try to lure

the centrist Siet, the Most-Hid (“Bridge”) party and the moderate nationalist Slovak National Party (SNS). But Siet said on Monday it would not join a Fico coalition and Most-Hid, a centrist party with links to the ethnic Hungarian minority, refuses to work with the SNS due to its nationalistic record. The three biggest centre-right parties -- the libertarian Freedom and Solidarity (SaS), Ordinary People, and a new protest movement “We Are Family” -- said they would also not work with Fico. SaS chief Richard Sulik could be given the next chance to try form a government if Fico fails, but would face similar obstacles. — Reuters

A16

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

WORLD

Tablet lovers add dd us on Google +

British Chambers of Commerce chief quits British Chambers of Commerce director general John Longworth accuses Prime Minister David Cameron of European Union exit ‘hyperbole’

LONDON: The head of a prominent British business lobbying group has quit his post after speaking in favour of Britain’s exit from the European Union and has accused Prime Minister David Cameron of trying to scare voters into supporting continued EU membership. British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) director general, John Longworth, resigned late on Sunday after he breached the group’s neutral stance on the in-out referendum to be held on June 23 by saying that the EU was incapable of meaningful reform and Britain could have a bright economic future outside the bloc. After his resignation was announced, Longworth criticised Cameron, who argues that Britain’s national security and economic stability would be at risk if it votes to leave the 28-nation EU, though his ruling Conservative Party is deeply split. Irresponsible “It is highly irresponsible of the government of the country to be peddling hyperbole,” Longworth told the Daily Telegraph newspaper in an interview published on Monday. “If the government keeps peddling the line that it will be a dis-

PARTING OF WAYS: British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Director General, John Longworth, addressing delegates at the British Chambers of Commerce in central London on February 10, 2015. – AFP

aster if we leave, which it actually won’t be, they are going to put the country in a position where it will be damaged if we do.” Longworth’s comments mark the latest spat in what is becoming an increasingly divisive battle over Britain’s future in the EU. Polls show public opinion is ﬁnely balanced and the issue has split senior members of Cameron’s cabinet, pitting him against popular London Mayor Boris Johnson. Announcing Longworth’s resignation, BCC president Nora Senior said his personal views on the referendum were “likely to create confusion regarding the BCC’s

neutral stance”. Cameron’s ofﬁce rejected media reports which cited people close to Longworth as saying that it had pressured the BCC to remove him from his position. “No pressure was applied,” Cameron’s spokeswoman said. The BCC’s Senior also said “no external factors” had been involved. “No politician or interest group had any inﬂuence on the BCC board decision to suspend Mr Longworth. His subsequent resignation was agreed mutually between Mr Longworth and the BCC,” she said.

Johnson, the ‘Out’ campaign’s most high-proﬁle backer, said on Sunday it was “scandalous” that Longworth had been forced to step aside for what he said was a “a passionate optimistic view” on Britain’s future prospects outside the EU. Conservative lawmaker and former defence secretary Liam Fox, who is also campaigning for ‘Out’, said it was inappropriate to use “the apparatus of the state” to put pressure on those expressing their personal views. The BCC represents thousands of British businesses and its own research indicates a majority of them favour Britain remaining in the EU. Prominent British companies such as BP and GlaxoSmithKline have cautioned that Britain’s $2.9 trillion economy could face years of uncertain negotiations if voters chose to leave the EU. “Out” campaigners say such warnings are overblown. — Reuters

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY ADD IN GOOGLE+

SHOW OF SUPPORT

Japanese submarine to visit Philippines first time in 15 years TOKYO: A Japanese submarine will visit the Philippines for the first time in 15 years, along with two warships that will then sail on to Vietnam, in a show of support for nations opposed to Beijing’s ambitions in the South China Sea, a person familiar with the matter said. The Japanese submarine, which is used for training, and the destroyers will arrive in the Philippines in April. The escort vessels will later sail to Vietnam’s strategic Cam Ranh Bay base on the South China Sea, the source said. “It sends a message. It is important for Japan to show its presence,” the person with knowledge of the plan said on Monday. He asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to talk to the media. A Japanese Ministry of Defence spokesman declined to comment on any submarine visit but said the navy normally conducted training voyages in March and April. “But we are still in the planning stage so are unable to provide details,” he said. The visits were first reported by Japanese media, including the Sankei newspaper, on Sunday. Asked about the visits, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Japan occupied the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea during World War Two so China was on “high alert” for Japan’s military moves there. Regional stability “The cooperation of relevant countries should benefit regional stability and should not be directed at third parties or harm another country’s sovereignty or security interests,” he told a daily news briefing in Beijing. Of the countries bordering the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam are most opposed to China expanding its influence in

IN STRATEGIC WATERS: A Philippine coastguard patrol boat passes the US 7th Fleet ﬂagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) docked at the South Harbor in Manila on Saturday. – Reuters

the region by building bases on reclaimed islands. The Philippine military had not received any official notiﬁcation of a visit by a Japanese submarine, a military spokesman said, though a visit to the Subic Bay naval base was expected. “Informally, we know a Japanese submarine is visiting Subic in April,” said the Philippine spokesman, Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla. Rich in natural resources, the South China Sea is also a major thoroughfare for global trade worth up to $5 billion a year, much of it coming to and from Japanese ports. The United States, which has asked China to halt reclamation work that could destabilize the region, has irritated China by conducting naval patrols close to the man-made outcrops in what are known as freedom-of-navigation operations. Rather than confronting China in such a direct way, Japan instead wants to build the capacity of nations in the region to improve their surveillance of Chinese forces. Japan’s Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani is due to travel to the Philippines in April to discuss cooperation. Japan has already offered to supply the Philippines with aircraft that will help bolster patrols over the disputed sea. - Reuters

GAZA ZOO

Starving animals up for sale GAZA: A Gaza zoo owner is putting the last of his starving animals up for sale. Mohammad Oweida once hosted family and school outings at his zoo in Khan Younis in the southern part of the Palestinian territory. But war and economic hardship intervened to turn the venture into what is now a sad collection of 15 emaciated animals that he can no longer afford to feed. “I have to sell them in order to save them,” said Oweida, 24, sitting near the cage of a tiger who had not eaten for four days. In all, he said, some 200 animals, many of them smuggled across the tightly controlled Egyptian border in tunnels, have starved to death in the zoo since a seven-week war between Israel and Palestinian ﬁghters in 2014 prevented him getting enough food for them. Oweida stuffed 15 of the ani-

HUNGRY TIGER: Palestinian Mohammad Oweida, a zoo owner, looks at a tiger inside an enclosure in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday. – Reuters

mals he lost, including a lion, a tiger and a chimpanzee, and put them on display for children to pet. But the visitors now stay away. He said he was negotiating

to sell the hungry tiger for around $23,000 to a Gaza resident who used to raise lion cubs. Other animals on offer included an ostrich, a turtle and a pelican. — Reuters

LESS GLAMOROUS

Australia’s ugly mammals fail to catch eye of scientists SYDNEY: Pushed out of the limelight by cuddly koalas and kangaroos, Australia’s less glamorous native bats and rodents have failed to catch the eyes of scientiﬁc researchers, a new study shows. Just 11 per cent of scientiﬁc studies on Australian wildlife since 1901 have looked at native bats and rodents, although they make up 45 per cent of all species, says the study published in the Mammal Review Journal. Australia has already had some unique bat species become extinct and there is a risk more could follow without anyone noticing, said Trish Fleming, a wildlife biologist from Murdoch University. “Research funding goes on big animals which are iconic and attract people’s attention because they are cute and charismatic,” Fleming told Reuters. “It’s very

LESS ATTRACTIVE: Can Australian native animal known as a

Ghost bat in this handout picture taken on July 19, 2010. – Reuters/ Department of Parks and Wildlife Western Australia/Handout

hard to make a tourist attraction of a rodent.” Fleming’s study focused on trends in Australia research, analysing 1,400 university and government funded research papers since 1901. Australia’s unique and

obscure marsupials and monotremes, such as the spiky echidna and the duck-billed platypus, which are the only egg-laying mammals in the world, attracted 77 per cent of research over the period. — Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

MARKE

OMAN OIL PRICE RISES

Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) said that Oman oil price (May delivery) reached $35.81 per barrel. The DME said that the price of Oman Crude rose by $2.8 from Friday’s rate, which was $33.73 a barrel. - ONA

Muscat 5,396.36 - 10.17 - 0.19%

Dubai 3,380.55 + 36.37 + 1.09%

Abu Dhabi 4,546.43 - 10.00 - 0.22%

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

DIGEST VIDEO Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

Kuwait 5,264.71 - 15.87 - 0.30%

Saudi Arabia

6,372.58 - 23.78 - 0.37%

Bahrain 1,172.34 - 2.74 - 0.23%

Qatar 10,288.64 + 152.07 + 1.50%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

Type ............................Delivery...........Price

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.33 Pound ............................................1.81 Indian Rs ..............................173.37 Pakistan Rs ........................267.38 Bangla Taka........................210.17

Indian Rs ...................................174.25 Pakistan Rs ..............................271.70 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka........................... 203.40 Phil Peso .................................... 121.40

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......16.50

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........ $34.57 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........ $34.57 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$37.54 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........ $33.57 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$39.05 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$36.39

* Rates are as of Mar. 7 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of Mar. 7 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......15.50 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............152.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............143.25 * Rates as of Mar. 7 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Oman to invest OMR126m to further boost power capacity INACIO OLIVEIRA

inacio@timesofoman.com

Four new power plants at Masirah, Thurmait, Khasab and Mazuna will be completed in 2016, a senior official said

MUSCAT: Keeping pace with growing power demand in Oman, the Rural Areas Electricity Company will invest an estimated OMR126 million to improve power generation capacity in rural areas in 2016, according to a toplevel official. “Various power projects that are in the pipeline include new power plants, expansion of electrical infrastructure like transmission and

MUSCAT BOURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

Muscat bourse on Monday said that the exchange has decided to reduce the number of free ﬂoating days for newly listed shares to one day from three days earlier. The normal share trading, which is subject to a circuit breaker (which is a safety net) of 10 per cent ﬂuctuation, will be applied from the second day in teh case of newly listed shares as well. The circuit breaker helps bring in stability on the Muscat Securities Market as it checks the shares to go down or move up beyond 10 per cent on a single trading session. — Times News Service

PORT OF SOHAR

Agro-terminal at Sohar to enhance agricultural sector ERIK PRINS

erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An agro-terminal, which will come up at the Port of Sohar, will add value to imported agricultural products for re-exports, said a top official of Port of Sohar. This includes a sugar refinery, warehousing and the construction of silos for the Oman Strategic Food Reserve. Andre Toet, chief executive officer of Port of Sohar said that currently, an old container terminal is being converted into an agro-terminal, which will support value addition of imported goods bound for re-exports. He said the agro sector is the fourth pillar of the port, the others being metals, hydrocarbons and logistics, for which the port was established. While the port was focused on upstream activities and hydrocarbons, Port of Sohar is now aiming to increase its downstream activities by expanding the petrochemical complex and free zone near the port. “We are trying to become a gateway port, not only for Oman, but for the entire region. This includes the GCC, India, Pakistan and Iran,” he said. Toet stressed that ease of business should be improved. While the Port of Sohar has implemented a digital port management system and have been the first ones to use the Bayan customs system, he said he was “jealous” of some of the port’s competitors, like Jebel Ali in UAE. “Ease of business is what we need to become the logistics centre of the region. The first steps

Andre Toet. — Times ﬁle picture

have been taken, but we’re not there yet,” he said. Regarding Omanisation, he said that half of all staff working at Port of Sohar are Omanis. “In the short period we have been operating in since 2004, we have created 9,000 jobs in the port. About half of those working in the port are Omani, while the other half is expatriates. For the freezone, 2,000 jobs were created and about half of those employees are Omani as well. As to job creation, Port of Sohar is doing well, above expectations,” he said. Toet added that every job created inside the Port would create three jobs outside the port. “If you look at how Sohar and its surrounding area has developed, and take into account this multiplying of jobs, it is extraordinary,” he said. Toet said that other companies that have started to come up near the port, like service companies, hotels and schools, have also supported job creation for Omanis. He said that the ultimate goal of Port Sohar is to employ “as many Omanis as possible, with the right training and the right attitude”.

distribution networks, sub-stations and renewable energy,” said Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al Maghderi, chief executive officer of the Rural Areas Electricity Company. Eng. Al Maghderi also told ‘Times of Oman’ that four new power plants in the Sultanate — Masirah, Thurmait, Khasab and Mazuna — which are due for completion in 2016, will generate a total of 200 megawatts of power. He pointed out that the electricity sector in the country contin- Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al ued to record growth in 2015 and Maghderi. — Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

managed to reach new geographical areas as a result of population growth and the increased industrial and commercial projects in the Sultanate. “This year, the focus of the rural area electricity company will be in Duqm, as we will be adding capacity and transmission system, with emphasis on the industrial units operating in the Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (Sezad),” Eng. Al Maghderi said. It may be noted that Sezad has been established in 2011 to imple-

ment long-term strategies for the development of Duqm and promote the zone as industrial hub for attracting local and foreign direct investment. The CEO further said that in Musandan, the Rural Areas Electricity Company is continuing the project of connecting all the wilayats with transmission and primary systems.“Renewable projects like solar and wind in Masirah and Thurmait are also part of the company’s ambitious plan this year,” he added. > B4

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

MARKET Iran’s first post-sanctions oil tanker lands in Europe

Vijay Mallya in talks with lenders of Kingfisher MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya, the Indian business tycoon who started Kingfisher Airlines, said he is in talks with lenders to pay the carrier’s dues and slammed the media for what he described as a ‘nearhysterical campaign’ against him. Kingfisher Airlines was one of India’s leading carriers from 2005 until it stopped flying in 2012 as debt and losses mounted. The airline owes about Rs70 billion ($1.04 billion) to lenders, SBICAP Trustee, leader of a 17-bank consortium, said in a notice on its website last month. Efforts are being made to reach a one-time settlement with lenders, and any deal will also cover future payments to them, Mallya said in an e-mailed statement to media on Sunday night. Lenders have a total of Rs24.94 billion of cash and securities available to them.

Crude oil tanker covered the uneventful voyage from Iran to southern Spain with a haul of one million barrels of crude in just 17 days

MADRID: Monte Toledo oil tanker covered the uneventful voyage from Iran to Europe with a haul of one million barrels of crude in just 17 days, but its journey has been four years in the making. On Sunday, the tanker became the first to deliver Iranian crude into Europe since mid-2012, when Brussels imposed an oil embargo in an attempt to force the Middle Eastern nation to negotiate the end of its nuclear programme. The ban was lifted in January as part of a broader deal that ended a decade of sanctions. The 275-metre tanker started offloading its cargo into a refinery owned by Espanola de Petroleos, near Algeciras, a few miles from Gibraltar. By midday, the vessel had already pumped to shore about a fifth of its cargo. In southern Spain, the tanker’s arrival was met with little fanfare. It was a quiet Sunday at the refinery, and for the workers, the Monte Toledo is just one of the eight or so vessels they expect to receive this month. By the time the refinery has taken in all the Iranian crude, another tanker from Algeria will be already waiting. Nonetheless, there’s a wider significance. As the Monte Toledo started to pump to shore through two 21-inch floating hos-

DEBT TRAP

MILESTONE: The Monte Toledo oil tanker delivering a consignment of Iranian oil to an offshore pumping station at the Espanola de Petroleos reﬁnery near Algeciras, in southern Spain, a few miles from Gibraltar, on Sunday. – Bloomberg News

es connected to a giant buoy and a 1.8-kilometre submarine pipeline, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared in Tehran that more oil exports “will be added soon.” Twenty-nine tankers Around Europe, other tankers with Iranian oil are close behind the Monte Toledo. In February, 29 vessels loaded crude from the Middle Eastern nation, according to data. Of them, three are heading toward Europe — the Eurohope tanker is sailing to Constanta, an oil port in Romania, and the Atlantas is on its way to France. Another one, the Distya Akula, is anchored at the mouth of the Suez Canal, and is likely to head into a Mediterranean port. The Monte Toledo and its companions are the vanguard in the return of Iran into the European oil market. Petro-Logistics, a Geneva-based tanker-tracking ﬁrm, estimated Iran exported in Febru-

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

ary about 1.4 million barrels a day, up 350,000 barrels a day from the average 2015 level. Although the increase falls short of the 500,000 barrels a day that Tehran had promised, there are signs that exports into Europe will pick up this month. “It does take a while to get those ﬁelds back up,” said Petro-Logistics director Daniel Gerber. “But I think they’re going to hit the increase of 500,000 barrels a day in March.” Seth Kleinman, head of energy research at Citigroup in London, agreed, saying that in addition to higher export volumes this month, more countries were buying. “You see tankers going to Spain, Romania, Tanzania, France and

the UAE. You got an uptick to India in February too,” he said. Still, hurdles remain. Lingering banking restraints mean some customers are ﬁnding it hard to transfer payments for Iranian crude and the National Iranian Oil Company has offered to swap crude for gasoline to get deals done, according to local reports. Rival suppliers Iran will want to win back customers in Europe, where Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other rival suppliers stepped in after the embargo was imposed. Tehran also faces a rival unknown four years ago: the United States has started exporting crude and companies such as Exxon Mobil are shipping American Crude into reﬁneries in the Mediterranean. Before the embargo Europe imported on average about 400,000 barrels a day of oil from Iran, according to the International En-

ergy Agency. Cepsa alone was buying about 60,000 barrels a day. Total was among the biggest buyers and the French company is waiting to receive the Atlantas tanker later this month in its reﬁnery in Le Havre. Other European top buyers in past, including Repsol, Eni and Hellenic Petroleum, have yet to purchase any. If all goes as Tehran has planned, the Middle Eastern country will boost its production back to the 3.6 million barrels a day it pumped in 2011. After the European embargo was imposed and the US tightened other sanctions, Iranian oil production dropped to about 2.8 million barrels a day. – Bloomberg News

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

Recovery Kingﬁsher’s lenders have recovered a total of Rs12.44 billion in cash from the sale of pledged shares since April 2013, the statement said. In addition, Rs12.5 billion — sale proceeds that Mallya’s United Breweries received from selling United Spirits shares to Diageo — have been deposited with the Karnataka High Court, according to the statement. “Personally, I am not a borrower or a judgment defaulter,” Mallya said, employing a term used to describe someone who has enough assets to pay his bills but chooses not to pay them. Mallya has been called a ‘willful defaulter’ in Indian media reports and accused of causing ‘continuous pain and agony’ to employees for not paying their salaries. Bad loans Mallya is in the spotlight as India’s government grapples with rising levels of stressed assets in the banking system. Mallya resigned last month as chairman of United Spirits, which Diageo bought in April 2014. He received $75 million for signing a ﬁve-year noncompete agreement with Diageo. “I have neither the intention nor any reason to abscond,” Mallya said. Mallya said that by resigning from United Spirits he aimed to ‘gradually’ reduce his business commitments and leave him more time for his family. – Bloomberg News

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

MARKET Riyada and Microsoft agreement to help empower Omani startups Microsoft Oman will provide SME sector with collaboration technologies along with the required skill sets to grow their businesses

Times News Service MUSCAT: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (Riyada) with Microsoft Oman to provide SME sector with collaboration technologies along with the required skill sets to grow their businesses. This MoU comes in line with both institutions’ continued commitment to support the growth and development of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector and promote entrepreneurship B I L AT E R A L T R A D E

Trade mission from Spain to visit Sultanate Times News Service MUSCAT: A trade mission from Spain will visit the Sultanate on March 13 and 14, according to a statement released by the Economic and Trade Office of the Spanish embassy in Muscat. The mission is organised by theTerrasa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The chamber will bring a delegation of four members representing Spanish companies led by the Chamber of Commerce of Tarrasa. The participating companies represent several sectors and services, including lifts, escalators, moving walkways, automatic doors, management and operation of outsourced industrial services for heavy industry, paper, bread and pastry products. The visit seeks to continue to build on the close bilateral relationships. During the mission, the representatives will meet potential distributors and agents. C O R P O R AT E

Bank Sohar revises proposed dividend MUSCAT: Bank Sohar has revised its proposed cash dividend to 5 per cent and stock dividend to 10 per cent (10 shares per every 100 shares held), instead of the 9 per cent cash dividend and 6 per cent stock dividend proposed earlier for 2015. This is based on the advice of the Central Bank of Oman. The proposed dividends are subject to approval of the shareholders of the bank. - Times News Service

PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY: Under the agreement, Riyada and Microsoft will identify potential collabo-

ration projects to promote technology use for micro and small enterprises and support the development of the SME ecosystem in Oman. - Supplied picture

spirit in Oman, said a press release. Supporting SMEs The MoU was signed by Riyada chief executive officer Khalifa bin Said Al Abri and Microsoft Oman general manager Sherif Tawﬁk, in the presence of senior management teams from both organisations. Under this agreement, both parties will be conducting continuous dialogue with the aim to identify

potential collaboration projects to promote technology use for micro and small enterprises as a key enabler for growth and productivity and support the development of the SME ecosystem in Oman. Commenting on this announcement, Khalifa bin Said Al Abri said: “Riyada is committed to support Omani businesses throughout all their developmental stages and allow them to grow and develop by

ACQUISITION

BASF exploring rival takeover

bid for DuPont LONDON: BASF is working with advisers and financing banks on the merits of making a counter bid for DuPont, the $55 billion chemical company that agreed to a merger with Dow Chemical in December last year, people with knowledge of the matter said. The German chemical producer hasn’t made a decision yet about proceeding with an offer, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. No formal approach has been made to DuPont, the people said. The shares fell 1.7 per cent to €62.21 in Frankfurt. They have dropped 12 per cent since the start of the year. BASF, the world’s biggest chemicals company, has been working with advisers since last year to explore a bid for DuPont, said the people. It held talks with the United States company before it agreed to merge with Dow and those talks didn’t progress, the people said. BASF has so far missed out on a wave of consolidation within the industry that has focused on crop products like pesticides and seeds. This has come as years of low commodity prices continue to erode farmer incomes. Buying DuPont would give it more profitable businesses from food ingredients to enzymes as well as the second-biggest producer of seeds such as genetically-

modiﬁed corn. Monsanto is the largest seed company. Considered a deal BASF chief executive officer Kurt Bock said in a Bloomberg Television interview last month that he considered a deal in the ﬁeld of agricultural chemicals before deciding to stay put. Dow and DuPont in December announced the industry’s biggest ever deal, one that creates the world’s largest agriculture business and the second-biggest chemicals company after BASF. Last month, China National Chemical Company agreed to buy Switzerland’s Syngenta for about $43 billion, gaining the biggest pesticide maker. “We look at the industry and try to understand what is our position,” Bock said. “We feel comfortable with what we have. You have to look at multiples, price expectations in the market, and have to make up your mind whether that is something which is really creating value or not.” - Bloomberg News

TO ADVERTISE Call: 24726666

contributing positively to the Sultanate’s economy.” “Microsoft has always been a valuable partner of Riyada and Oman and we are pleased to partner with them on this new initiative to give startups and SMEs access to available technology tools and systems which contribute to creating a nurturing entrepreneurial business environment in Oman,” he added.

Some of the potential areas of collaboration include providing access to Microsoft Build Your Business through Riyada training channels, launching an interactive SME portal through a variety of free Microsoft tools designed to promote SME development and sustainability, linking Microsoft Virtual Academy to Riyada portal to provide a direct channel for SME capacity building in areas of productivity, hosting Microsoftled technology workshops for technology based SMEs, inviting some of Microsoft regional executives to sit on Riyada mentorship programmes with the objective of supporting Omani SMEs with the needed guidance and mentorship to promote their sustainability. Value added services “We are proud to join hands with Riyada to equip the startups and the SME sector in Oman with access to the latest technologies and expertise and help them realise their ideas and grow their businesses,” said Sherif Tawﬁk. “Technology has opened up new avenues of expansion for startups and small businesses around the world; the services and products provided by Microsoft will allow Omani startups and SMEs to be

more productive with enterpriselevel technology and value-added services. We hope this initiative will beneﬁt Omani businesses as it will not only provide them access to genuine technology products but also knowledge exchange and ongoing support to help them focus on managing their core businesses and growing them,” added Tawﬁk. A recent study by the Boston Consulting Group (B-CG) showed that tech-savvy SMEs grew revenues 15 per cent faster, created jobs nearly two times quicker than SMEs using technology lightly. Tech-savvy SMEs were also more likely to have international customers and expand to other countries. The memorandum of understanding between Riyada and Microsoft will provide micro enterprises and SMEs in Oman with the technology tools and help them develop modern skills to better utilise technology in building their businesses and making a difference in the national economy and the overall future of Oman.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,422.90 .............. 5,396.36 ................... 5,396.36 ...................5,406.53................ -10.17 .................. -0.19 Financial Index .................................... 6,665.97 ...............6,628.77 ................... 6,628.77 ...................6,645.54................ -16.77 .................. -0.25 Industrial Index ....................................6,638.75 .............. 6,629.03 ....................6,633.51 ................... 6,630.16....................3.35 ................... 0.05 Services Index .......................................3,097.54 ...............3,081.77 ...................3,086.04 ................... 3,081.77....................4.27 ................... 0.14 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 836.71 ..................834.50 .......................834.51 ...................... 836.54..................-2.03 .................. -0.24 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 17,098,829...................3,019,147 .....................823 ................16,419,641,307 ................ 17 ........................8 .................... 17 .........................42

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, MARCH 7 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... – Times ﬁle picture

MSM index ends lower

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 131,000............ 12,270........................9 ........... 0.093 ...........0.096 ...........0.093........... 0.094 ............. 0.091............ 0.003............. 3.297 ................0.093..............0.093...................0.094 ................... 5,531,262 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 4,102,288......263,920...................107 ........... 0.062 ........... 0.065 ...........0.062........... 0.064 .............0.062 ........... 0.002............. 3.226 ................0.063..............0.063...................0.064 .................. 18,558,761 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 1,437,480 ......284,895......................81 ............0.197 ........... 0.201 ...........0.195 ........... 0.198 .............0.192............ 0.006............. 3.125 ................0.196 .............. 0.195...................0.196................... 18,817,920 .........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................97,000 ................7,317........................7 ........... 0.076 ........... 0.076 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.073 ........... 0.002............. 2.740 ................0.075..............0.073...................0.075....................2,250,000..........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 784,442 .........144,069..................... 39 ............0.185 ........... 0.185 ...........0.176 ........... 0.184 .............0.180 ........... 0.004.............2.222 ................0.178 .............. 0.176...................0.178 ................... 53,479,788 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 1,078,629 ...... 150,728..................... 35 ............0.138 ........... 0.140 ...........0.138 ........... 0.140 ............. 0.137............ 0.003............. 2.190 ................0.140.............. 0.137...................0.140...................43,507,092 .........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 5,500 .............13,750........................5 ........... 2.500...........2.500 ...........2.500 .......... 2.500 .............2.450 ........... 0.050............. 2.041 ................2.500 ............ 2.500...................2.550................. 238,642,988 .......1.000 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............15,000 ............... 1,538........................4 ............0.102 ........... 0.103 ...........0.102........... 0.103 ............. 0.101............ 0.002............. 1.980 ................0.102..............0.102...................0.103....................9,270,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 490,100 ........... 64,053......................16 ............0.131 ........... 0.131............0.130............0.131 .............0.129............ 0.002............. 1.550 ................0.130 ..............0.129...................0.133 .................. 26,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 120,000 ........... 32,880........................7 ........... 0.274 ........... 0.274 ...........0.274........... 0.274 .............0.270 ........... 0.004..............1.481.................0.274............. 0.260...................0.270 .................423,255,622 .......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 238,000 ............56,778......................15 ............0.241 ........... 0.241 ...........0.238........... 0.239 .............0.237 ........... 0.002.............0.844 ................0.238..............0.236...................0.238...................23,900,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 145,948 ........... 45,230......................13 ............0.310 ........... 0.310 ...........0.308........... 0.310 .............0.308 ........... 0.002............. 0.649 ................0.308..............0.306...................0.308 ..................15,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 109,291 ............ 34,037..................... 28 ............0.312 ........... 0.316 ...........0.308........... 0.312 .............0.310............ 0.002............. 0.645 ................0.308..............0.308...................0.310....................6,552,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ............................................................. 500 ..................480........................1 ........... 0.960 ...........0.960 ...........0.960........... 0.964 .............0.964 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.960..............0.948...................0.960 ................ 192,800,000 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .........................................................................1,100 ...................517........................1 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.468 .............0.468 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.470..............0.470...................0.480 .................258,739,248........0.100

The top gainer was Gulf Investment Services,

OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................65,000 ..........100,425........................3 ............1.545 ........... 1.545 ...........1.545 ............1.545 ............. 1.545............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.545 ..............1.540...................1.600..................138,586,500........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................88,050 ...............5,344........................7 ........... 0.062 ...........0.062 ...........0.060........... 0.061 ............. 0.061............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.060...................0.061...................12,636,234 .........0.100

up by 3.30 per cent, while Al Jazeera Steel

OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ...................................5,000 ...............1,405........................1 ............0.281 ........... 0.281 ...........0.281........... 0.285 .............0.285 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.281 ............. 0.280...................0.285...................84,420,899.........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,209,239 ...... 520,518..................... 57 ........... 0.430 ...........0.434 ...........0.428........... 0.430 .............0.430 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.428..............0.426...................0.428 .................985,483,717 ........0.100

was the top loser, down 2.78 per cent

OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 106,815 .......... 170,666......................16 ............1.600 ........... 1.600 ...........1.590 ........... 1.600 .............1.600 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.595 ..............1.590...................1.595 ................1,200,000,000......0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER....................................................................100 .....................33........................1 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.330........... 0.352 .............0.352 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.330............. 0.000...................0.330 .................. 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 243,386 ......... 169,397......................15 ........... 0.696 ........... 0.696 ...........0.696........... 0.696 .............0.696 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.696............. 0.000...................0.696..................453,057,184 ........0.100

MUSCAT: Shares on the Muscat bourse edged down on lack of buying support. The MSM30 Index declined by 0.19 per cent to 5,396.36 points. The MSM Sharia Index ended on a negative note at 834.51 points, down 0.24 per cent. Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Muscat led in terms of turnover. The top gainer on Monday was Gulf Investment Services, up by 3.30 per cent, while Al Jazeera Steel was the top loser, down 2.78 per cent. As many as 823 trades were executed on Monday, generating turnover of OMR3 million with 17.1 million shares changing hands. Out of 42 traded securities, 17 advanced, eight declined and 17 remained unchanged. Omani investors remained net buyers for OMR304,000 while GCC and Arab investors stayed net sellers for OMR294,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR10,000 worth of shares. Financial Index retreated 0.25 per cent to close at 6,628.77 points. Gulf Investment Services, Al Batinah Development, United

Finance, Takaful Oman and Al Sharqia Investments gained by 3.30 per cent, 2.74 per cent, 2.19 per cent, 2 per cent and 1.98 per cent, respectively. Ahli Bank, Bank Sohar, HSBC Bank, Al Anwar Holding and NBO declined by 2.78 per cent, 1.94 per cent, 1.02 per cent, 0.55 per cent and 0.37 per cent, respectively. Industrial Index ended the session at 6,633.51 points, up by 0.05 per cent. Galfar Engineering, Oman Fisheries and Gulf International Chemicals increased by 3.23 per cent, 1.75 per cent and 0.65 per cent, respectively. Al Jazeera Steel declined by 2.78 per cent to close at OMR0.140. Services Index gained by 0.14 per cent to close at 3,086.04 points. Port Services, Renaissance Services, Sembcorp Salalah, Phoenix Power and National Gas increased by 3.13 per cent, 2.22 per cent, 2.04 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.65 per cent, respectively. Shell Oman Marketing and OIFC declined by 2.56 per cent and 0.49 per cent, respectively.

OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 107,947............... 7,899......................13 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.072........... 0.073 .............0.073 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.072..............0.072...................0.074...................12,775,000 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ....................................................2,460 ............... 1,014........................1 ............0.412 ........... 0.412 ...........0.412 ........... 0.412 .............0.412............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.412 ..............0.404...................0.414...................21,630,000.........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 345,000 ........... 92,606......................11 ........... 0.269 ...........0.269 ...........0.267........... 0.268 .............0.269 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.372 ...............0.267..............0.267...................0.270 .................359,310,347 ........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 1,098,198 ...... 223,132..................... 50 ........... 0.205 ...........0.207 ...........0.200 .......... 0.203 .............0.204 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.490 ...............0.200 ............ 0.000...................0.200 ..................40,600,000 ........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,161,554 .......209,466..................... 75 ............0.182 ........... 0.182 ...........0.178 ........... 0.180 ............. 0.181 ............-0.001 ........... -0.552 ...............0.178 .............. 0.178...................0.180...................27,013,500 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ..................................................... 20,000 ...............1,934........................4 ........... 0.096 ...........0.098 ...........0.096........... 0.097 .............0.098 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.020 ...............0.097..............0.097...................0.100..................194,030,341........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 432,936 ........... 65,892......................31 ............0.157 ........... 0.157 ...........0.149 ............0.152 ............. 0.155............-0.003 ............-1.935................0.149 ..............0.149...................0.152..................219,098,880........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ..................................... 6,700 ............. 12,731........................3 ........... 1.900 ........... 1.910............1.900........... 1.900 .............1.950............-0.050 ........... -2.564 ...............1.900..............1.905...................2.000 .................180,500,000 .......0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 278,265 ........... 38,969..................... 38 ............0.141 ........... 0.141............0.139 ........... 0.140 .............0.144 ...........-0.004 ........... -2.778 ...............0.139 .............. 0.139...................0.140....................17,485,714 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ...................................................................... 28,613 ................5,011........................4 ............0.178 ........... 0.178 ...........0.175 ............0.175 .............0.180 ...........-0.005 ........... -2.778 ...............0.176 .............. 0.176...................0.178 ..................249,381,325........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 13,955,541........2,738,902 ............698 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................20,885 ...............2,130........................1 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.102 .............0.100 ........... 0.002.............2.000 ................0.102..............0.098...................0.103...................10,200,000.........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 1,350,338 ........ 76,803..................... 36 ........... 0.056 ...........0.058 ...........0.055........... 0.057 .............0.056 ............0.001 ............. 1.786.................0.058..............0.057...................0.058...................57,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................56,952 ...............3,293........................8 ........... 0.058 ...........0.058 ...........0.057........... 0.058 .............0.057 ............0.001 ............. 1.754.................0.058..............0.057...................0.058....................7,250,000 ..........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 742,764 ..........107,659..................... 47 ............0.144 ........... 0.146 ...........0.144............0.145 .............0.144 ............0.001 ............. 0.694 ................0.145 .............. 0.145...................0.146..................212,077,212 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................73,000 ...............2,336........................3 ........... 0.032 ...........0.032 ...........0.032........... 0.032 .............0.032 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.032..............0.032...................0.033....................2,720,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE.................................................... 424,000............55,120......................12 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.130........... 0.130 .............0.130............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.130 ..............0.129...................0.130................... 32,710,401 .........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING..........................................785 .....................50........................1 ........... 0.064 ...........0.064 ...........0.064........... 0.069 .............0.069 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.064..............0.064...................0.070.................... 5,189,352 ..........0.100 OM0000002580 ...........OMAN EDU. & TRIN. INV. HOLDING....................... 1,713 .................. 281........................2 ............0.164 ........... 0.164 ...........0.164............0.157 ............. 0.157............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.164 ..............0.160...................0.163...................10,990,000.........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 472,051 ........... 32,499......................14 ........... 0.069 ...........0.069 ...........0.068........... 0.069 .............0.069 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.069..............0.068...................0.069..................103,500,000 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,142,488 ...... 280,173...................124 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 9........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS AND SUKUK MARKET ...................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 .......................... 800 .....................72........................1 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.090........... 0.095 .............0.095 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.090..............0.090...................0.095...................30,795,353 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: ......................................................................................... 800 .....................72........................1 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

– United Securities

POWER SECTOR

B1 'Vital to support < FROM

small businesses'

While stressing the need to encourage small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Eng. Al Maghderi said that 150 small and medium enterprises, which provide equipment and services, are registered in the power sector and that the company provides all kinds of assistance to them. “Some of the SMEs are new. We give them guidelines on how to start a project, maintain quality control as well as HSE (Health Safety and Environment) requirements. We also encourage Omanis in the colleges and technical institutes to take up such projects,” he added.

Eng. Hamad bin Salim Al Maghderi, who is also the chairman of the Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP), while announcing the DCRP forum scheduled to take place on March 9, said that number of Omanis working in the electricity ﬁrms registered at DCRP reached more than 4,000 workers. He said that DCRP plans to meet on an annual basis with the companies operating in the sector, including contractors and suppliers to discuss the challenges and developments in the labour market and the mechanisms to facilitate and overcomethem.

ACQUISITIONS

InterCon seeks new Asian luxury hotels BERLIN: InterContinental Hotels Group, the third-biggest hotels operator in Asia by number of rooms, is seeking to add new luxury chains in that region, either by acquiring a competitor or by developing its own brand, according to Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Richard Solomons. “There’s clearly an opportunity to add another luxury brand or two, particularly in Asia,” Solomons said on the sidelines of the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin on Monday. Hoteliers are expanding in Asia to take advantage of rising tourism in region. The Asia and Pacific region had 277 million international tourist arrivals in 2015, ﬁve per cent more than a year earlier,

according to data compiled by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. InterContinental started the luxury Hualuxe brand in the region in 2012. Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza InterContinental, whose brands include Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, acquired US-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants last year for $430 million. It will continue to grow the Kimpton brand globally, after opening in its first location outside the US in January in Amsterdam, Solomons said. “Paris, Rome, London, those are the sorts of markets we’re looking at. It may also open in Asia, he said. — Bloomberg News

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

ROUND-UP

TEDx event inspires OMC students OMC students prove their leadership credentials by bringing TEDx, an international initiative, to the Oman Medical College for the ﬁrst time

MUSCAT: As part of unifying the nation with a mission of “ideas worth spreading”, the Oman Medical College (OMC), hosted TEDx Muscat Salon under the theme ‘Cornerstones’. TEDx Muscat Salon comes under an international initiative, TEDx, in which members who stand out in their communities are chosen to speak about interesting or innovative ideas to motivate audiences, says a press release.

“Our society is full of talent, and our aim is not only to recognise that talent but also to showcase it as an example to the rest of our youth,” said Mohammed Saleem Al Khabori, one of the main organisers of the event. “The objective of TEDx Muscat event is to unify the nation with one brand whose goal is to have ideas worth sharing which could lead to ideas worth doing. This is for the ﬁrst time that we are organising this event and it is a great achievement as far as OMC is concerned,” added Mohammed who is also a student at OMC. The programme was divided into four sessions, where the

speakers explored the theme 'Cornerstones' starting from the building blocks of success in the ﬁrst session which was conducted by Mariam Haji, Bachelor of Health Science and Syed Samir Anis, a medical student at OMC. Dr Khalid Al Hamadani, a surgical resident and Sharif Ba’Alawi, a medical student at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) proved that medical students are more than bookworms in the second session. Another interesting session was conducted by inventor Hilal Al Siyabi and Haider Al Zaabi, a personal development business innovative consultant who focused on how you can discover and market

yourself in the third session. “TEDx Muscat Salon was my lifelong dream, until six months ago it started seeing light. With the help of three of my colleagues we began searching and brainstorming about TEDx Muscat Salon,” said Afaf Rashid Al Hatmi, the team leader. “The planning of the event was not initially easy; it required a lot of effort since the establishment of such events needs an international license. When the vision became clear we have agreed on the date and place of the event. The next step was recruiting organisers who have the passion to work, but the most difficult mission was to

ﬁnd ideas worth spreading,” Afaf pointed out. “The biggest challenge the creative team faced was turning the designs into reality while staying within the limits of the budget. This event eventually proved to me that team work is the secret behind every success. "It taught me that when you believe in your capabilities, you can work through obstacles, overcome challenges and endure hardship,” said Gaitha Saleh Al Rashdi, one of the organisers. Speaking about hosting the event at OMC, Dr Saleh Al Khusaiby, the Dean, said: “As the Dean of OMC, I’m very proud of what

my students have accomplished and thankful for introducing the Ted culture into the OMC society. It was really enjoyable and a good learning experience for all.” “Such programmes should be held more often to inspire and motivate students. It was well organized and attracted many participants from different professions,” said Dr Yassin Al Lawati. “Hosting it in OMC was a goal that was accomplished to inspire the students. Being one of the main organisers, I was impressed with the team dedication,” said Anfal Al Raisi. “As one of the main organisers of the event, I am thankful for having the opportunity to work with such a great team. The event wouldn’t have been as big as it was without their hard work,” added Mohammed Saleem Al Khabori. The event was concluded by two senior consultants trauma surgeons at SQUH Dr Abdullah Al Harthy and Dr Hani Al Qadhi, who shared their secret to a successful career. The event was supported by Orpic, Veolia, Majees, Sohar Port, Oman Oil and Media Star. To conduct a TEDx Muscat Salon event in schools, colleges and corporates, email to community@ tedxmuscat.com

E X PA N S I O N

AMERICAN CHAIN

Al Zaman to bring Fuddruckers to Oman MUSCAT: The Al Zaman Group of Companies has signed up to bring American hamburger giant Fuddruckers in the Sultanate, further expanding its activities. The deal comes close on the heels of the group including topend Indus restaurant in its roster and signing the opening of Caramel Restaurant and Lounge in Oman, says a press release. “Hospitality is one of the areas where Al Zaman Group wants to expand signiﬁcantly as we strongly believe that a robust and successful hospitality sector is very important for national progress and global recognition. Fuddruckers is a unique restaurant – though hamburger is its signature, its engaging menu offers variety for many tastes and likings with an array of sandwiches, platters and salads, all based on the principal of ‘freshly prepared, best ingredients and prepared as the customer wants,’ says, Khalid Zaman, director, Al Zaman Group of Companies. “This casual dining restaurant is also known across the world for its fun and relaxed family-orientated dining experience. Moreover, in this region, Fuddruckers has changed its menu and tastes to

a great extent according to the local milieu. This explains why this chain is doing extremely well in this part of the globe. We are truly honoured to bring Fuddruckers to Oman, with its ﬁrst outlet coming up soon in Qurum, in the heart of Muscat city,” he added. Othman Kolaghassi, managing director, Fuddruckers, expressed his joy: “We are thrilled to be expanding in the Middle East region and look forward to becoming an integral part of the Omani social circles. Fuddruckers is known for

its hamburgers but to many it may be a surprise, that Fuddruckers’ most popular dish is the dynamite shrimp – a recipe par excellence that has been especially selected by Sheikh Saleh – the franchisee owner of Fuddruckers in Arabia. We are very excited to start our outlet in Oman and want to thank the Al Zaman Group for their support and look forward to a longstanding fruitful association.” The ﬁrst Fuddruckers Restaurant was established in 1980 by Phil Romano to cater to discern-

ing gourmets who were concerned about the quality of burger, its ingredients and the way it was cooked. The Fuddruckers Burger was thus created and it came to be known as the 'World’s Greatest Burger' with 100 per cent pure quality freshly ground beef, cooked according to individual requests and served up in a freshly baked bun resulting in a juicy and delicious burger. An additional feature is the Toppings Bar which allows the customer to create the ultimate burger, exactly the way he or she wants. Even today the original concept is the benchmark of the renowned Fuddruckers Burger. Al Zaman is an Oman based business group, active in several key economic areas with global diversity. It owns, operates and manages professionally run businesses in Sultanate of Oman, the UAE, United Kingdom, Italy and Singapore. With its network of associates and subsidiaries, Al Zaman operates a portfolio of businesses that are challenging in their own individual discipline. Some of its operating companies in the retail sector are Ajmal International, Gallery Argan, Summit Hotels and Hospitality.

McDonald’s set to open its new outlet MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants) will soon open its 20th restaurant in Al Somhan North, Barka. The newest McDonald’s will have the world-renowned DriveThru, contemporary design, party area and enjoyable play place for children and a private section for families, says a press release. “We are proud to open the 20th McDonald’s restaurant for our customers in Barka. The new McDonald’s restaurant will provide a delightful eating out

experience and good times for families, young adults and children in Barka and its neighbouring communities. “People in Barka have been looking forward to have a McDonald’s restaurant in the area and now we are proud to open our newest restaurant for them to enjoy McDonald’s great tasting food, value for money and pleasurable family eating out experience,” said Ali K. Daud, development licensee and president of McDonald’s Oman.

‘ F O R T H E M ’ I N I T I AT I V E

FA R E W E L L

Zubair Corporation organises unique training programme for parents with autistic children Valedictory ceremony held at IS Salalah SALALAH: The valedictory ceremony which marks the preparatory phase of the transition from a student to an alumni was celebrated at Indian School Salalah recently on the school premises. The event was attended by Ram Santhanam, president SMC, other members of the SMC, parents of the valedictorians and the staff of Indian School Salalah. The pretty girls clad in their long yards of saree and the young lads in their suits enhanced the elegance of the occasion, says a press release. Anita Rose, (faculty of computer science) before setting off to anchor started the function with a prayer beseeching the blessings of the Almighty to sow the minds with love, faith, hope, light, and joy. Mukesh (faculty of commerce) welcomed the gathering to the ceremony. He urged the students to enjoy the wonders around but never forget responsibilities. This was followed by the candle lighting ceremony. T. R. Brown, principal held the light of wisdom, reality and courage which dispels the darkness of ignorance, falsity and fear. The bright ﬂame was passed on to the

excited group of students while the citations were read out by Rachel Abraham, Royi Antony, C. T. Ramasamy, HOD, English and Mini Ramesh of English department. The citations were eagerly awaited by each and every student and were beﬁtting and often humorous. Ramachandran and Bindukala of the music department rendered a melodious number Saadhanakegulkhilavo, gyaankasaagarbahao. Omana Mathews, vice principal, expressed with concern that the biggest problem today’s generation faces is lack of direction and clarity of vision. She advised the students to have a purpose in life and never to give up. In his speech Brown told the students to believe and have faith in themselves. Yousuf Ali, the school head boy, Nayonika Bhattacharya, the school head girl, Archana Balasubramanian, Jacquetta John, Vishnu Dev, Kavita Kumawat, Arlyn Anto, Shubha Ojha, Aiswarya Devi, Shawn Joshua Samuel, Sasha D’Silva, Duaa Ayaz, Adil Majeed, Aamir Hussain, Mariya John, Shivank Saran Singh were some of them who waded through the fond memories gifted by the school.

MUSCAT: To equip parents of autistic children with skills to better manage their children, The Zubair Corporation (TZC) organised a training programme titled ‘For Them’ at Mudhaibi recently. Over 30 families attended the two-day programme which came out with a number of coping strategies for parents to consider while dealing with their autistic children. Specialists, trainers, parents, community members and officials from The Zubair Corporation attended the programme, says a press release. The training programme ‘For Them’ aimed at helping parents with autistic children was previously held in Muscat, Sohar and Nizwa. ‘For Them’ is designed to train and empower parents of autistic children with best practices. The training at the initiative is provided by a group of people who themselves have autistic children. It may be recalled that The Zubair Corporation had arranged a training programme for a group of parents with autistic children at an international institute in the United States to qualify them as trainers. These trained parents transfer their expertise to other families with autistic children at the ‘For Them’ sessions being held in various governorates of the Sultanate. This initiative ‘For Them’ is part of TZC’s CSR strategy to reach out and engage with society. ‘For Them’ programme is the brainchild of the Social Advisory Committee formed by The Zubair Corporation. The committee consists

of eminent personalities from the Omani society who choose social responsibility projects to be undertaken by them according to the society’s needs and priorities. “To meet our social responsibility we have put in place a process to integrate social, environmental and human concerns into our business operations and core strategy. This community outreach programme organised by the group that focuses on autism has been welcomed by the participants especially the parents. We believe that all people are born different but equal and valuable and we want society to better understand children with autism so they can enjoy equal and harmonious lives,” said Mohammed Al Hasani, chief of Corporate Communication at The Zubair Corporation. “The programme aimed at helping children with autism has received a positive response from parents and society at all the places we have organised the session. For parents of a child with autism, ﬁnding ways to help with everything from diagnosis to coping is vital.

The Zubair Corporation is thankful to the experts and trainers who participated in the initiative and shared valuable knowledge," he added. Emphasising that ‘For Them’ is based on its vision and strategy to serve society Al Hasani said: “The Zubair Corporation is keen to launch such initiatives that are closely linked to the needs of the community. We are certain that this initiative will beneﬁt the community and contribute in raising awareness.” The training team included Walid Al Balushi, Zahrah Al Jerdanih, Mohammad Al Rashidi and Fayza Al Rashidiya. Walid Al Balushi, member of the training team, said: “When a child is diagnosed with autism, many parents feel very upset. While this is a very challenging time, there are steps parents can take to accept the diagnosis and move forward. Our aim as trainers is to help them cope and deal with everyday situation. We shared what we learnt at the institutes we attended.” Thanking The Zubair Corporation for putting together the

initiative, Al Balushi said, “The programme is of immense help for parents with autistic children. At the training sessions parents not only learn from trainers but also engage with others in the autism community. It is very important for families dealing with autism to have an outlet, such as other parents who are going through the same thing. Sometimes other parents can be one of the best sources of support, understanding, and information. At these sessions they also have access to evidence-based information and advice.” Trainers shared real life examples on how to deal with autistic children. Participants were also shown documentaries on autistic children who later become inﬂuential in their communities. Trainers spoke about a number of positive educational approaches that parents can adapt to help children with autism. One of the trainers said: “At every workshop of ‘For Them’ we organise, we see parents being overwhelmed with information they are provided. It really helps them cope with situation. Each one of them extend their gratitude to The Zubair Corporation for their efforts and devotion to the community.” Another trainer said: “It is encouraging that we live in a time when energy and resources are being devoted to better understanding and treating autism. Every parent appreciates that The Zubair Corporation is connecting and empowering effected families with information, resources and opportunities.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

ROUND-UP Nissan X-Trail available with unique incentives

PROMOTION

Auto enthusiasts

Smile Hypermarket picks raffle winners

can now avail guaranteed cash back and exciting unlimited beneﬁts

MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors of Nissan vehicles in Oman, unveiled its most anticipated vehicle last year – The Nissan X-Trail. This compact SUV that comes with a 2.5-litre 4 cylinder engine, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is all set to offer — class-leading comfort, thoughtful technology and a rewarding driving experience with a completely refurbished interior and exterior styling. Auto enthusiasts can now avail exciting benefits on the Nissan X-Trail that include guaranteed cash back of OMR500, periodic maintenance service only up to 2 years/20,000km whichever is earlier (offer includes only on the new service intervals of 10,000km), free registration, six years unlimited mileage warranty and easy financing options, a loan term up to eight years with Bank Muscat attractive interest rates. Flexible EMIs can also be tailor made for any individual requirement from in-house Auto Finance team. The X-Trail not only provides capability with spacious seating for seven, and an intuitive 4 Wheel Drive System, but it also resets the standard for the segment with an unprecedented level of premium style, comfort, fuel economy and thoughtful technology. The X-Trail enters the Nissan range at a time when demand for SUVs in Oman continues to show considerable growth. With the feature-packed all-new X-Trail, Nissan is confident of capitalising on this growth and strengthening its position in the off-road segment. Technology The X-Trail will be one of the most advanced cars on the road. Fully

MUSCAT: Smile Hypermarket, Saham recently announced the winners of the raffle draw promotion. Salah Othman Al Siabi, director of Smile Hypermarket, handed over the keys to two winners of Toyota Land Cruiser. ing standards set by the previous generation model, the new X-Trail adopts Nissan’s advanced electronic four-wheel drive system, all mode 4x4i. Controlled via a rotary switch on the centre console, it offers a choice between two-wheel drive, Auto mode or Lock offering permanent four-wheel drive.

connected, the X-Trail is equipped with the latest generation Nissan Connect in-car navigation, information and entertainment system. Drivers will also beneﬁt from a comprehensive suite of assistance features that make up the X-Trail’s Nissan Safety Shield system. In its latest form, Nissan Connect has evolved to offer smartphone connectivity, to keep owners connected to the outside world wherever their journey takes them. In addition to mobile phone integration, the system also includes Bluetooth audio streaming. The driver also beneﬁts from one of the most advanced meter displays developed. Design The design brief behind the new X-Trail was to blend the sleek and stylish lines of a modern crossover with the robust appeal of a typical SUV. In place of the rugged, squared off lines of the previous generation, the X-Trail has a premium and dynamic appearance. Sculptured muscular lines create a distinctive silhouette framed by elegant curves and high wheel

arches. Its features include a number of Nissan signature cues such as the ‘boomerang’ rear lights, structured headlights with LED daytime running lamps and the characteristic D-pillar shape. LED headlights, for both high and low beams, are standard on high grade models while 18-inch alloy wheels also give new X-Trail an imposing look. Inside, premium features include chrome, geometric metallic and piano black ﬁnishes making the new interior look modern and reﬁned. The use of high quality and soft touch materials, elements like double stitching on the door panel, seats and centre armrest combined with a very classy design puts the new Nissan X-Trail in a league of its own. The spacious interior has theatre-style seating making every row higher than the row in front to increase the visibility of all passengers. The option of two extra seats to make room for seven inside is unique for the category. Chassis In keeping with the class lead-

Drivetrain During the X-Trail’s development; reﬁnement, environment and economy targets were to be best in-class. This has been achieved on all counts by reducing weight wherever possible, even though new XTrail has a larger surface area than the previous model. The tailgate, for example, is largely plastic, saving seven kilograms. A great deal of attention has been paid to the car’s aerodynamics with carefully shaped door mirrors and even a spoiler that covers the exhaust box and rear panel. Engineering innovation will also allow the new X-Trail to lead its class in terms of engine efficiency thanks to downsizing. By reducing power sapping friction in its drivetrains, new X-Trail provides excellent performance from the latest generation of downsized engines, providing the pace of a bigger powerplant with the economy and emissions of a smaller one. SBA is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman.

Bachu Sulaiman, AGM - Smile Hypermarket, Anoop HR manager, Noushad, administration manager, Abdul Mubarak, marketing manager, Ajnas, accounts manager, Anzeer Khan, store manager and other officials were also present, says a press release.

DESIGNER BRAND

Mamas & Papas opens its ﬁrst outlet in Oman

MUSCAT: Mamas & Papas, UK’s designer nursery brand, is thrilled to debut in Muscat with the launch of its ﬁrst store at Muscat City Centre, marking the 18th store in the Middle East. Spanned across more than 3,000 square feet, the store offers a comprehensive range of affordable luxury products including ready-to-wear items for babies, award-winning travel and transportation systems, furniture, toys, gifts, and much more. The spacious store incorporates a wide range of room styles allowing expectant parents to visually determine the best interiors for their nursery, says a press release. ‘Mamas & Papas understands the needs of parents and children and have always championed high quality British design. We

value a parent’s desire to want the best for their baby and our vision is to be accessible to the local population. We aim to deliver quality and style with attention to detail and look forward to opening more branches in the near future,” said Richard Peace – senior vice president – Lifestyle. “Following the success of our current locations in the Middle East, we are thrilled to expand into another market. Mamas & Papas is the one stop solution for expecting mothers and our award winning collections are sure to surprise and delight all expectant and new parents in Oman. We look forward to making their journey to parenthood become smooth and joyful,” said Ander Kloster, International Business director.

U S E R F R I E N D LY

Dhofar Automotive launches its newly designed website MUSCAT: Dhofar Automotive, the authorised dealers of FCA for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, Alfa Romeo and Fiat brands, announced the launch of its newly designed website. The new website www.dhofarautomotive.com is designed to be intuitive, simple, engaging and offer user friendly experience for people looking to purchase a vehicle or source any auto related information on any vehicle, says a press release. The website provides a plethora of information on the wide range of models from Dhofar Automotive which is updated regularly to provide the latest information at all times comprising international and local news, pictorial galleries, aesthetic details, and unique model features. The aim has been to be at par with customers’ requirements and needs. To ensure the website experience is simple and intuitive, the site delivers content that is relevant for individuals.

For example, once a user has decided which model they are interested in, the homepage content will guide them to a relevant page with information pertaining to that particular model like overview, design speciﬁcations, technology, safety features, picture gallery, etc. “Our main aim was to make the new website engaging and user-friendly. We have developed a host of features to help customers make decisions and choose a vehicle that is absolutely right

for them. Tailoring the website to the user allows a relevant and customer-focused digital experience. Our Arabic website will help to increase the number of online viewers and it will continue to complement the demand for Dhofar Automotive vehicles in the future. The new portal is also linked to Dhofar Automotive Facebook page, which will serve as a platform to interact and share information with existing and potential customers,” commented, Chris Edwards, general manager.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

ROUND-UP

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

BankDhofar continues to reward its customers

A D VA N C E D R E S E A R C H

This year BankDhofar increased the

The Savings Scheme 2016 aims to enrich the banking experience of our customers and to reward those who save. There is growing awareness and emphasis on the culture of saving all over Oman

number and value of cash prizes, added customised winner categories and

Khalid Al Amri

allocated prizes

Senior executive manager at Retail Products, Business & Segments

to cover all governorates and branches

MUSCAT: With increasing number of winners and more valuable cash prizes, BankDhofar continues its weekly and monthly prize draws in different parts of the Sultanate as part of its 2016 Savings Scheme. Khalid Al Amri, senior executive manager at Retail Products, Business & Segments, elaborated on the exclusive savings programme. “The Savings Scheme 2016 aims to

enrich the banking experience of our customers and to reward those who save. There is growing awareness and emphasis on the culture of saving all over Oman,” he said. This year BankDhofar increased the number and the value of cash prizes, added customised winner categories and allocated prizes to cover all governorates and all branches in the Sultanate to ensure more customers are included in the scheme, says a press release. “This year we increased the number of winners to 524 through-

out the year, and the total value of cash prizes has also been raised and a new customised prize for Al Riadah priority banking customers has been introduced,” added Al Amri. As per the new scheme, BankDhofar customers who save a minimum of OMR100 in their accounts are eligible to enter the weekly and monthly draws where ﬁve lucky winners will win cash prizes worth OMR5,000 (OMR1,000 for each winner) and ﬁve more lucky winners will win cash prizes worth OMR10,000 (OMR2,000 for each

winner) in the weekly draw. In the monthly draw, one lucky winner will win a cash prize of OMR10,000 while one lucky Al Riadah customer will win a OMR25,000 cash prize. Prize draws will be conducted across BankDhofar branches in all governorates throughout the year. Every week the draw will be conducted in one of the governorates and will exclusively include customers from that governorate, allowing more customers the chance to win.

Senior lecturer of Majan College attends second Asia Paciﬁc conference MUSCAT: Majan University College in furtherance of its policy on research, continually supports academic staff with necessary resources and environment to carry out research and participates in seminars, conferences and colloquiums locally, regionally and internationally. Prof. Venkoba, senior lecturer and director of Studies of the MBA Programme at Majan University College, recently attended the 2nd Asia Paciﬁc Conference on Advanced Research (APCAR-2016) held recently in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, says a press release. Majan University College’s Research Committee is primarily concerned with promoting and

cultivating a research culture in the institution. The main theme of the conference was ‘Making a Difference’. Prof Venkoba’s research paper titled ‘Innovation through Employee Engagement’ was well received by the audience. The paper would be published in Asia Paciﬁc Journal of Advanced Business and Social Studies in its forthcoming issue. The professor also chaired a session during the conference. Sharing his thoughts and experiences, Venkoba commented on the enriching nature of the conference and the opportunity it provided to gain awareness of several contemporary issues across various business streams.

N OV E L I N I T I AT I V E

PRIZED POSSESSION

Solitaire One: An exclusive brand Muscat Finance to set up kiosk at MCC from Malabar Gold & Diamonds MUSCAT: Indian film star Kareena Kapoor Khan recently unveiled Solitaire One, an exclusive collection of solitaires from Malabar Gold & Diamonds showcasing a wide collection of loose solitaires in various sizes, colour and quality. Every Solitaire One gemstone is certified by leading international certification agencies like GIA, IGI and HRD, says a press release. “As a preferred jewellery retailer for diamonds, we have developed Solitaire One to showcase a wide collection of loose solitaires in various sizes, colour and quality,” said Shamlal Ahamed, managing director – International Operations at Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Solitaire is used to describe a single diamond or gemstone set into piece of jeweller. People prefer to buy solitaire diamond rings for their engagement or wedding. A single diamond in which the

size varies from 0.3 to 1 carat is normally used and the fast moving. Solitaire rings are very popular because of their elegance. The conﬁdence of customers in diamonds, especially solitaire diamonds, is increasing day by day and this is a promising trend. The preference seems to be due to the eye catching inherent beauty of solitaires and the fact that solitaires do appreciate its value in

the long term. “While buying a solitaire diamond, the customer should exercise great attention and ensure that they buy only from reputed jewellery retailers. One should also demand certiﬁcates for the diamonds from leading certiﬁcation agencies like IGI or GIA,” said K. P. Abdul Salam, group executive director – Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

A D VA N C E D C O S M E T I C P R O C E D U R E S

Badr Al Samaa dermatologist takes part in cosmetology meet MUSCAT: Dr Shibu Mohammed, leading consultant dermatologist from Badr Al Samaa Hospital, was the key speaker during the recently held cosmetology meet, conducted by EGO Pharmaceutical Company at InterContinental Muscat. Dr Shibu Mohammed, a well known dermatologist, presented advanced cosmetic procedures in skin and explained the merits and demerits of these procedures. Various videos of botox, ﬁllers, and platelet rich plasma were shown to the guests, says a press release. Dr Abdulla Mufti Al Qurashi welcomed the guests with his speech. Haitham, country manager of EGO, was also present in

the meeting. Hossam presented about various dermatology products from EGO. Dr Shibu also showed videos

of various lasers from Italy and France, which he uses in Badr Al Samaa and explained how they work.

MUSCAT: Building on the successful rollout of kiosk-based customer services last year – the first by a non-banking finance company (NBFC) in the Sultanate, Muscat Finance is now preparing to replicate this novel initiative at Oman’s premier retail destination – Muscat City Centre (MCC), Seeb. Effective from tomorrow, a new customer service kiosk will be formally unveiled at the capital’s top shopping address, suitably staffed and equipped to offer a complete and customised solution to the customers’ financial needs, with an array of Muscat Finance’s highly-rated products and services. A key player in the Sultanate’s rapidly expanding non-banking financial services domain, Muscat Finance enjoys a formidable

reputation as a highly-regarded provider of finance for both new and used vehicles, consumer durable finance, plant and machinery, commercial equipment, as well as customised services relating to working capital finance and the financing of receivables.

Heartening response A presence at the retail landmark allows Muscat Finance to connect directly with shoppers and visitors, a significant chunk of who fit the company’s target customer profile. A similar customer service kiosk set up at Muscat Grand Mall in August last year – Muscat Finance’s maiden kioskbased initiative – evoked a heartening response from mall visitors with sizable numbers availing the

company’s products and services. Reaching out Commenting on the underlying goal behind the rollout of customer service kiosks, Bikram S. Rishi, chief executive officer, stated, “As part of our drive towards increased customer centricity, we are no longer waiting for customers to come to our head office or branches, but reaching out to potential customers in locations they frequent. And what better setting to touch base with them than in Muscat City Centre, which offers customers convenient timings as we are open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm. Additionally, business hours at Muscat City Centre extend up to midnight on Thursdays and Fridays.”

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

ROUND-UP

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

Bank Muscat honours merchant partners at PiP awards ceremony AbdulRazak Ali Issa, chief executive, presented the awards to senior executives of winning institutions and companies covering a total of 35 categories ranging from government services to automobiles, airlines, telecommunications, hotels and hypermarkets

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the ﬂagship ﬁnancial services provider in the Sultanate, celebrated the 11th annual Partners in Progress (PiP) awards ceremony at InterContinental Hotel Gardens as merchant partners were honoured for outstanding contributions to card business in 2015. AbdulRazak Ali Issa, chief executive, presented the awards to senior executives of winning institutions and companies covering a total of 35 categories ranging from government services to automobiles, airlines, telecommunications, hotels and hypermarkets, says a press release. The Royal Oman Police was honoured with a special award in recognition as the pioneer in promoting electronic payments in the government sector as well as the frontrunner of e-governance in the Sultanate.

The Landmark Group won the special award for Outstanding Retail Group and Lulu Hypermarket was recognised as the Best Hypermarket in the Sultanate. The winners from the government sector for special contribution in growing card payments and reducing cash were the Ministry of Housing, Muscat Municipality, and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Water Resources. The Special Merchant Contribution awards were shared by Muscat Duty Free, Carrefour and Oman Investment and Finance Company (OIFC). The award in recognition of contributions to e-commerce, which is gaining importance in Oman, was won by Al Madina Development and Supply. Aimed at promoting electronic payments in all parts of Oman, The Best Merchants in Interior awards were shared by Al Badyah Hyper-

market in Suwaiq, Oman International Container Terminal in Sohar, and Al Karama Hypermarket in Suwaiq. The 2015 Partners in Progress award winners include Ooredoo (Telecom Operator), Qatar Airways (Airlines), Muscat Private Hospital (Medical services), AIG Oman Branch (Insurance), Al Shaya International (Perfumes and cosmetics), Homes r Us (Furniture), EXTRA (Electronics), Saud Bahwan Automotive (Automotive Sales and Services), Elegant Rent A Car (Car rentals), Apparel International (Clothing & Fashion), Al Fair (Supermarkets), Pizza Hut (Casual dining), Kargeen Café (Restaurants), Al Lilac Beauty Centre (Beauty salon & spas), Malabar Gold & Diamonds (Jewellery), Horizon Fitness (Health & ﬁtness centres), Global Money Exchange (Best Exchange House), OUA Travels (Travel and Tourism), Muscat China Commercial Centre (Building material suppliers), Oman Oil Mar-

keting Company (Fuel stations), Crowne Plaza (4 Star hotels), Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa (5 Star hotels). AbdulRazak Ali Issa said: “Bank Muscat is proud to celebrate the 11-year journey together and joint successes with merchant partners. The year 2015 was an exciting as well as challenging period for the bank’s Cards and eBanking team as merchant partners recorded a 20 per cent increase in card transaction volumes and merchant outlets network grew by 25 per cent. “In line with the e-governance initiatives by the government, the outstanding growth in card payment reﬂects that electronic payment is fast becoming the preferred mode of secure payment in the Sultanate.” In 2015, the bank continued its journey of enhancing the electronic payment infrastructure in the country. The bank introduced a state-of-the-art and secure unattended point of sale terminal. In line with the latest Chip and PIN

technology standards, the terminal allows customers to conduct transactions at standalone Kiosk machines in a safe and secure manner. The bank’s IP terminals reduced transaction processing time at large volume merchants, leading to signiﬁcant reduction in telecommunication costs. The solution was implemented at several large volume outlets. The bank initiated proactive steps to enhance technical and operational support to merchant partners by deploying more resources. The bank is currently working on mobile POS (mPOS) solution to further enhance innovative payment solutions in the country. mPOS has the potential to provide an electronic payment acceptance instrument to the smallest business owner in the country besides adding value to large retailers as well. The bank’s endeavours to improve card acceptance levels in the interior regions resulted in enhancing the acquiring footprint in these areas. The bank recorded a

T O P T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N S M E R C H A N T

UNIQUE OFFER

Kia offers a chance to own its model at 0% interest on EMI

Ooredoo bags coveted award at ‘Partners in Progress’ event executives from Oman’s largest companies and institutions, says a press release. The ‘Partners in Progress’ Awards are organised by Bank Muscat, the ﬂagship ﬁnancial services provider in the Sultanate, to honour merchant partners in the public and private sector for their outstanding contributions to the card business. The winning institutions and companies were chosen from different sectors.

MUSCAT: For the second consecutive year, Ooredoo was named the top Telecommunications Merchant at the annual ‘Partners in Progress’ awards for its commitment to delivering inspiring and innovative services to customers across Oman. Celebrated at the InterContinental Muscat, the award was accepted on behalf of the company by Johan Buse, chief commercial officer who was joined by leading

APPOINTMENT

VA L U E D E A L S

MUSCAT: If you have been dreaming of owning your favourite Kia but are waiting for the right moment, then this will be the perfect time to strike the bargain. Now purchase any Kia of your choice at 0 per cent interest on EMI, says a press release. According to a spokesperson from Reliable International Automotive, “At Kia we have realised the affection the customers in Oman have for the brand. We have

phenomenal 130 per cent increase in merchant sign-ups showing immense potential for card transactions outside the capital area. Amjad Al Lawati, AGM – Cards & eBanking, said: “Bank Muscat has one of the most competent teams in the payments industry. It is this ‘dedication’ and ‘commitment to service’ that has made Bank Muscat the preferred electronic payment service provider to the nation. Our ability and ﬂexibility to adapt, innovate and provide customised payment solutions have made us unique in the market.” Bank Muscat commenced card acquiring operations in 2002 and since then has crossed many milestones to become the largest acquirer and issuer of cards in Oman. As the leading electronic payment service provider in Oman, Bank Muscat merchant outlet network has grown to over 9,000 with more than 14,000 POS terminals deployed across the country to support e-payment and continues to expand rapidly.

received a lot of feedback from our customers and have introduced this unique offer that gives fans of Kia a chance to own their favourite model at 0 per cent interest on EMI on select models and speciﬁc loan tenure along with cash beneﬁts to further ease the initial down payment. With 0% Interest EMI, all that the customers have to do is to pay only the cash price of the vehicle in instalments.” “Now customer has to just pay

a visit with as low as OMR199 and drive out with a brand new Kia sedan – Cerato, Koup or Optima. Offer is applicable on certain grades of these models.” Other beneﬁts of service and insurance can also be opted in a different package. Terms and conditions will apply. Reliable International Automotive (RIA), the distributor for Kia in Oman, provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers.

Mercedes-Benz Oman announces cash back offer

Specialist general physician joins Kims

MUSCAT: Admirers who seek ‘the best or nothing’ can now fulﬁl their ambition of owning a brand new iconic vehicle with Mercedes-Benz Oman’s special spring cash-back offer of up to OMR2,000. Available on all models, this outstanding new season deal is an exceptional way to experience the exclusivity, luxury and intelligent drive of Mercedes-Benz, says a press release. “Taking inspiration from the new season and also appreciating the fact that Spring is a time of year when many people consider buying a new vehicle, we have created a fresh cash-back March deal which includes our newest and most popular models,” enthused Clive Hammond, Mercedes-Benz Oman CEO. “Our incredible vehicles are renowned for their global leadership in design and engineering but we have also developed a track record for delivering value-added offers to the market. This new offer is a tribute to our customer-centric approach which has and will con-

MUSCAT: Kims Oman Hospital announced the appointment of Dr Vrunda Janardhan, general physician, to join its highly skilled medical staff. Dr Vrunda has completed MBBS as well as MD in Internal Medicine from Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, India. She has also achieved the fellowship in Cardiac Rehabilitation from Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA, says a press release. She gained her rich experience and deep knowledge during her many years of practice in internal medicine while working in several reputed healthcare institutes as well as academic organisations in India and the USA. “I am very happy and extremely excited to be part of Kims Oman Hospital and look forward to serving the Omani community,” said Dr Vrunda.“We are glad to welcome Dr Vrunda in Kims Oman,” stated Dr Hussam Akoum, COO of KOH.

tinue to make Mercedes-Benz Oman the partner of choice to drivers in the Sultanate.” Available only until March 31 or while stocks last, the offer encompasses all the MercedesBenz line-up which includes some of Oman’s favourite luxury sedans such as the S-Class, EClass and the C-Class as well as the top-selling trail-blazing GLE, GLC and GLA SUVs, and the new-generation hot-hatch A-Class. The extraordinary cashback savings are calculated according to the vehicle selected with incredible value-return of up to OMR2,000. Not included in the offer are the G-Class and Mercedes-AMG GTS.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SECTION

HOPE DEFEAT DOES NOT AFFECT US IN WORLD T20, SAYS MASHRAFE >C2

SPOR YOUR GAME

INSIDE LIFESTYLE

ONEIENT ED INGR

FIVE

S WAY

POPCORN

>C8

Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition to focus on administration, development The 2016 edition of the Ministry of Sports Affairs’ ambitious programme will be organised from April 18 to 21

MUSCAT: Sports administration and ﬁnance, and youth development will be major subjects of discussion when the Ministry of Sports Affairs hosts the 2016 Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition in April. The annual event, to be organised by the Ministry of Sports Affairs General Directorate of Sports Development and Welfare, will this year be hosted as two separate programmes — the conference

and the exhibition. According to Fahd Al Raisi, Director General of Sports Development and Welfare, this year’s events will take place from April 18 to 21 starting with the conference. Speaking at a press conference organised at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Headquarters on Monday, Fahd Al Raisi said: “This year we will start with the conference on April 18. This is our fourth edition of the conference and it will be a one day affair to be organised at Grand Hyatt.” Stating that conference will be of higher level than the previous years, he said: “This year’s conference will be different and we trying to take it to the next ‘higher’ level in terms of the themes, objectives, the speakers and participants.” “This year’s conference will focus on three major areas - sports administration, ﬁnancing and funding in sports sector and development of youth sector,” he said. “Each of these three sessions, will have three speakers — all big names in their ﬁeld, and there will be host

AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME: Fahd Al Raisi, Director General of Sports

Development and Welfare at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, speaks as OITE Exhibitions General Manager Tarek Ali, right, looks on during a press conference on Monday. – Photo: JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

of other presenters both local and international,” he informed without revealing the names of the personalities expected to present their papers and deliver the lectures.

He also revealed that the Ministry of Sports Affairs has roped in Oman International Trading Establishment (OITE) Exhibitions to co-ordinate the organisation of

this year’s exhibition. “This year’s exhibition will run from April 19 to 21 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre. “The exhibits will be spread across 600 square metres and will include those from Oman, the gulf region and beyond.” “We are trying to involve as many Omani sports bodies as possible. Besides that there will be a host of international organisations and companies at the exhibition,” he added. Giving further details of local participation, he said: “From within Oman, there will be around 40 sports bodies — including associations, clubs and various committees - exhibiting and marketing their services and facilities.” While starting that Ministry’s plan is to involve as many private sector organisations as possible, he said: “There will also be a Fun Zone, the main objective of which is to ‘exhibit’ different local aspects, including Omani traditional sports and create an awareness in a fun environment.”

Dynamic expo Meanwhile, Tarek Ali, General Manager of OITE Exhibitions, said this year’s event will be a ‘dynamic exhibition’ that will not only bring international expertise into the Sultanate but also promote Oman, country’s sports and the facilities. “The sports exhibition will be held concurrently with Ministry of Higher Education’s Oman Higher Education Summit and GHEDEX Exhibition. So there will be more attention and it will also attract those who come for the other exhibitions, especially the youth.” Stating that OITE is delighted to be associated with the event, he said: “A lot of international sports companies have shown interest and add to that the local participation, it will be a very diverse portfolio from each sector. And most importantly the exhibition will provide an opportunity to share ideas and concepts.” “It is also a great opportunity to promote Oman as an ideal sporting destination with it’s excellent infrastructure facilities,” he added.

CRICKET

ICC conﬁdent about Dharamsala, Delhi hosting WT20 games NEW DELHI: Unfazed by the uncertainty that looms over the World Twenty20 clash between India and Pakistan in Dharamsala, the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday said it is conﬁdent of the marquee game going ahead as scheduled and has no plans of shifting the venue. Besides, the world body is also not too concerned about the logistical issues faced by Delhi’s CRICKET

India to issue 250 visas for Pakistan fans each match NEW DELHI: India will issue 250 visas to Pakistani spectators for each match their team plays during the forthcoming World Twenty20 cricket tournament, including a high-voltage game against the hosts at Dharamsala. “As of now, we have decided to issue 250 visas to Pakistani cricket fans for each match Pakistani team will play in the T20 tournament,” a senior Home Ministry official said. The five-day visa will be issued accordingly after furnishing of tickets of matches, return tickets by road or rail or air transport and accommodation bookings. However, the official indicated that the number of visas to Pakistani spectators may be increased if the team reaches semifinal or final. A strict vigil will be maintained by security agencies on Pakistani fans. - PTI

Ferozeshah Kotla ground. The ICC said it has no intention to change the venues which were decided almost a year back. “Challenges in respect to those two venues, they are there. But we are dealing with those problems,” ICC Chief Executive Dave Richardson said addressing reporters at a city hotel here. “The venues were decided a year back and all arrangements are in

place to stage the matches at those two venues. These challenges have reasons not through the fault of the BCCI or the ICC. But the fact is that we are dealing with these and we are conﬁdent that the matches will proceed at those two venues.” A two-member security team from Pakistan has arrived in India on Monday to review the security situation ahead of the national side’s visit to Kolkata, where they

are scheduled to play their ﬁrst game of the World T20 on March 16 against the winner of the Group A qualiﬁer. The visit comes amid controversy over the India and Pakistan match scheduled to be played in Dharamsala on March 19. The fate of the match became uncertain after Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh wrote to the Home Ministry stating that the state government can-

not provide security for the game in the wake of the recent terror attack on the Pathankot air base during which two soldiers of the state were martyred. “The Indian government has shown a commitment to make sure that adequate security measures are in place at all the venues for all the teams,” Richardson said. He also said the ICC are working closely with the BCCI and PCB to sort out the issue. - PTI

ICC is also not too concerned about the logistical issues faced by Ferozeshah Kotla

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SPORTS

CRICKET

C O M M E N TA RY

How Kohli morphed Dhoni into the mood

fter the dust-storm that hit Dhaka a couple of hours before start of play in the Asia Cup final between India and Bangladesh petered out and the rains died down, and as the Bangla fans got ready for what could have been a nail-biting final two overs and a dramatic triumph at the end of a long, wet night, MS Dhoni sent the first of the 12 balls over the midwicket boundary for a huge six. That may have sucked life out of the sick mind who had posted on Twitter the revolting morphed image of Taskin Ahmed giving out a victory cry holding the severed head of the Indian skipper. That was cocky, cavalier 104-metre-long justice to a pathetic mindset. The Asian issue was ruthlessly settled by Dhoni and Virat Kohli in just five balls, knocking up 20 runs with an over and a ball to spare, denying the home team an honorable chance of taking the matter to the final ball that may have taken some sting off the defeat and offered fresh fodder for the sick mind to morph more mischief. Curiously, the villain of the Sunday piece was Taskin, the man who was morphed into a hero-in-the making soon after the home team had dumped Pakistan and booked

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

a title clash with India. Taskin bowled well. He conceded just 14 runs in his three overs, broke the almost-match-winning partnership picking up the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan in the 13th over and, at that stage, with India needing 22 runs from just 14 balls, it looked like it was the best thing that happened to turn the tide in favour of the home team. The best thing, if only it wasn’t Dhoni who walked out onto the pitch at that tricky, quirky but hopeful moment for Bangladesh. What Dhoni did in seven minutes he was at the crease was magic he was known to conjure up at short notice, but he owed a warm ‘thank you’ to his deputy, Kohli, for building the perfect platform for him to step in and wave the band. Without Kohli walking in at No. 3 when one or both openers perish inside the ﬁrst couple of overs with pretty little to feel at ease on the scoreboard, and then driving the opposition to

the point of hopeless frustration, it wouldn’t have been easy for the lower-order guys to sit comfortably in their seats in the dugout. The difference between Kohli and the others — those who share the dressing room with him at the moment and the ones who turned up in the Indian colours before him — comes down to what it really matters: winning. Kohli is a match-winner on almost all occasions he plays a big game, while most others were or are not, even though they crafted impressive personal scores. It’s this fact, which gets proven match after match, that puts the rivals into a spot of bother as Kohli strolls in and gets used to the pitch and the proceedings. One of the best things that happened to Kohli, as we get know from his frank confession about his perceived limitations, is his acceptance of what he couldn’t do — playing a Dhoni or Chris Gayle kind of game that packs brutish punch and awesome six-appeal — and his adjustment to compensate for the shortcoming. Kohli’s total honesty about his limitations has only compounded his rivals’ problems. Here’s a man who picks the

gaps at will and takes the risk seldom, who’s not going to gift his wicket with any silly rush of blood, and who turns every second he spends at the crease into runs, in singles, twos, fours and that occasional six. And he’s just 27 years and a few months old: the best is yet to be. Now that Ravi Shastri’s boys have got the ‘bloody job done’ the way the team director had wanted them to in the Asian context of things in the shortest format of the game, the world is the next limit. Obviously, Dhoni is feeling cheeky, sassy about “1314 match-winners” at his disposal — what a pleasant, positive turnaround for the Indian skipper who until a year ago used to drag on with a poker face about the lack of resources at his command, both in bowling and at the lower order. Now is the time Dhoni could look forward to walking into the sunset with a cute, naughty smile. The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reﬂect those of Times of Oman

Hope final defeat does not affect us in World T20, says Mashrafe MIRPUR: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza is dejected that his team was not able to gift the cricket crazy home fans a victory which would have been “huge” for them but at the same time wants to quickly shrug off the disappointment ahead of their ICC World T20 campaign. Bangladesh play an ICC World T20 match against the Netherlands in two days time and Mortaza wants his men to go into the tournament with a positive mindset. “We are taking a lot of positives from the tournament as we have a played the final which is a huge achievement. But in two days we have a qualifying match in the World T20. We have to qualify first and then also we will be in the group of death. We have to be mentally ready and ensure that this final loss does not affect us as playing in India is a tough thing,” Mortaza said after losing the Asia Cup final to India by eight wickets on Sunday night. He urged the Bangladeshi supporters to be a bit more patient with the team. “I know they had all kept their work aside and expected that we gift them a memorable victory. But we have a good team and these

prayers have been with us. We would request them to be patient with us. Today had we scored 20 runs more, the contest would have been more even. The toss became crucial and also the pitch became better for batting in the second half,” Mortaza said. He said the ICC World T20 would be a new tournament where they have to start from scratch. “We have to start from zero. We have got a team that has balance and potential. The boys have self belief. But one needs to understand that T20 is such a format where it is very difficult to win every game,” the skipper said. “It was a huge scope for us (Asia Cup) but then a lot of people did not expect us to reach the finals but we did reach the finals. I have full confidence that the future of Bangladesh cricket is very bright,” Mortaza concluded. - PTI FOOTBALL

Carneiro wants public apology from Mourinho LONDON: Former Chelsea team doctor Eva Carneiro has called for a public apology from Jose Mourinho as part of her constructive dismissal and sex discrimination claim against the Premier League champions and the club’s former manager. Carneiro’s barrister also said the club and the Gibraltar-born doctor were nowhere near agreeing compensation over her departure ahead of a hearing at an employment tribunal on Monday. “The two sides are so far apart ﬁnancially. And we want Mr. Mourinho to make a public apology,” Mary O’Rourke, representing Carneiro, said. - Reuters

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SPORTS Rampaging India firm favourites The tournamentproper will begin on March 15 when India take on New Zealand but qualiﬁers before that will ﬁll in two slots for Super 10 stage with the opening day doubleheader featuring Zimbabwe-Hong Kong tie and a match between Scotland and Afghanistan OPENING QUALIFIER: Zimbabwe’s Tendai Chisoro, centre, looks on during a training session ahead of their opening match against Hong

Kong at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Monday. Hong Kong captain Tanvir Afzal, right in right photo, takes part in a training session. – AFP

NAGPUR: Their build-up campaign has been nothing short of spectacular and inaugural champions India would be the firm favourites to be the first two-time trophy winners when the ICC World Twenty20 gets underway with the qualifiers, here on Tuesday.

The tournament-proper will begin on March 15 when India take on New Zealand and the qualiﬁers before that will ﬁll in two slots for the Super 10 stage. The opening day double-header

in qualiﬁers features games between Zimbabwe and Hong Kong besides a Scotland-Afghanistan clash. Both the matches will be played in Nagpur. The other teams in the quali-

CRICKET

Assarain rout Enhance by 192 runs

ASSARAIN HEROES: Arun Poulose, Ramkumar, Kaleemullah and Sindo Michael. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: Assarain routed Enhance CT by a massive 192-run margin in a Muscat Pharmacy and Stores-sponsored Premier Division match at the Ministry of Sports Affairs ground on Saturday. Batting ﬁrst, Assarain team ﬁled up 299 runs while losing all

their wickets in 50 overs. Arun Poulose slammed 105 runs while Ram Kumar contributed 55 runs. Zafar Iqbal claimed four scalps for Enhance. In reply, Enhance CT were bowled out for 107 in 28 overs. Sindo Mical and Kaleem Ul-

lah claimed three wickets each as Assarain sealed an easy victory over Enhance CT. Brief scores: Assarain 299 in 50 overs (Arun Poulose 105) bt Enhance CT 107 in 28 overs (Kaleem Ullah 2/22). Points: Assarain - 3, Enhance CT – 0.

fying round are Ireland and the Netherlands. The top two teams from the qualiﬁers will join India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West

Indies in the Super 10 stage, which will be played alongside the women’s event from March 15 to 28. Although Sri Lanka are the defending men’s champions, they hardly seem to be an intimidating

force having endured a 1-2 loss as recently as in February, to India. On the contrary, 2007 champions India are looking like an unstoppable force which will be further galvanised by the passionate support from its adoring home fans. The Asia Cup triumph, during which Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men did not lose a single match, is the latest confidence-booster that the Indians received heading into the big event after victories over Australia and Sri Lanka in the runup. India are in Super 10 Group 2 along with 2009 winners Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and a yetto-be-decided qualifier. India will launch their campaign in Nagpur against New Zealand on March 15 before they go head to head with Pakistan on March 19. Their other matches will be against a qualifier in Bengaluru on March 13 and Australia in Mohali on March 27. Even though they are placed in a tough group, India are expected to make the semifinals given the stupendous form the team is in coupled with the distinct home advantage. Sri Lanka have been placed in Super 10 Group 1 along with South Africa, West Indies, England and a yet-to-be-decided qualifier. They will open their title defence against the qualifier in Kolkata on March 17, and play West Indies in Bengaluru on March 20, England on March 26 and South Africa on March 28. - PTI

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

SPORTS FOOTBALL

OFA, Oman Oil join hands to ﬁnd Oman’s future beach soccer stars MUSCAT: The Oman Football Association (OFA), in partnership with Oman Oil, on Monday announced a nationwide talent search and community beach soccer tournament to be held in all the regions of the Sultanate. “Every legend has a beginning, and it is with the very purpose of ﬁnding Oman’s next legend that the OFA, supported by Oman Oil, bring you a nation-wide beach soccer tournament which is also a talent hunt,” an OFA statement said. The four-leg tournament, titled the “Oman Oil Beach Soccer Tournament”, will be played in Sharqiya, Al Batinah, Dhofar and Muscat regions. Each leg of the tournament will be scouted by national beach soc-

cer coach Talib Hilal. He will then invite the best selected players to the camp to prepare for the Asian Beach Soccer Championships. The tournament is open to all and will be played on four separate dates. The Sharqiya leg will take place in Sur on April 9, Batinah round in Sohar on April 16, Dhofar in Salalah on April 23 and in Muscat April 30. “It is very important to contribute to the community and be responsible as an organisation. Beach soccer is in the very fabric of Omani culture, one need only go to the beach every evening to see how much people enjoy the sport,” said Jaber Sulaiman Al Busaidi, Corporate Affairs Manager at the Oman Oil Marketing Company.

“Through this tournament, we can take what is a recreational activity and turn it into an opportunity for a young person to represent his country at the highest level. The kind of impact that can create is monumental,” he added. “Beach soccer is a growing sport and Oman side is one of its stronger teams. There are many young Omani players who are nurtured everyday on the Sultanate’s beaches but do not have the opportunity to achieve that potential,” Talib Hilal, Oman national beach soccer coach, said. “With the support of Oman Oil, we are hoping to tap into the vast amount of talent and make those players realise their potential,” Talib Hilal added.

OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH: Oman Football Association CEO and General Secretary Sultan Ameen Al

Zadjali, second right, speaks as national beach soccer coach Talib Hilal, right, and Oman Oil officials looks on during a press conference at Seen Sports Stadium on Monday. – Supplied photo

Casey and Daud win BMW Muscat Ladies Open titles SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

PHOTO GALLERY

The tournament, held

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

under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, featured a 36 hole stableford competition and an academy nine hole competition UNIQUE EVENT: Winners in various categories pose for a group photo along with chief guest Her High-

ness Sayyida Basma Al Said. – OK MOHAMMED ALI/Times of Oman

MUSCAT: Lynn Casey and Jameela Daud emerged winners at the BMW Muscat Ladies Open golf tournament, a two-day event, jointly organised by Almouj Golf and Ghala Golf Club here recently. The tournament, held under the patronage of Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said, featured a 36 hole stableford competition and an academy nine hole competition.

Jameela Daud won the stableford competition with a gross 76, while Yvonne Welling was runnerup with a gross 73. Lynn Casey emerged the gross winner recording a gross score of 148 and Sanjoli Singh secured the runner-up position with a gross 171. The academy competition saw the team of Delaney Leigh, Fiona Burke and Jumana Ibrahim with

64 points emerge winners while Leigh claimed the academy best individual score with 28 points. During the prize-giving ceremony, the organisers honoured some of the Sultanate’s and the region’s best women golfers. “We organised the BMW Muscat Ladies Open 2016 to develop ladies golf not only in Oman but also in neighbouring GCC coun-

tries. We are proud to provide a platform for women to enjoy the timeless game, while develop and nurture their skills, whether amateur golfers or those with a registered handicap,” said Mubarak Hill, Club Manager of Almouj Golf. “Joining forces with Ghala Golf Club, we offered ladies from both clubs the chance to have a unique opportunity of playing both cours-

ISC GOAN WING TO ORGANISE CRICKET TOURNAMENT ON FRIDAY The ﬁrst 8-a-side cricket tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC) Goan Wing will kick-off at the Muscat Glub ground in Al Wadi Al Kabir at 7 a.m. on Friday. The tournament attracted 18 teams. The tournament draw was held on March 5 at ISC hall in Darsait. — Supplied photo

es and enjoy what each has to offer,” he added. Speaking on behalf of title sponsors, BMW, Divyendu Kumar, Managing Director, Al Jenaibi International Automobiles said: “We are honoured to support the efforts of both Almouj Golf and Ghala Golf Club to elevate ladies golf in Oman to the next level. We very much look forward to continuing this collaboration and seeing this sporting and social event develop further in the future.” The traditional Muscat Ladies Open is always held at Ghala Golf Club. This year’s edition was extended to two days of play to include Almouj Golf, offering the golfers more challenges in two of Oman’s biggest clubs. The two golﬁng destinations were also part of the unique Summer Golf Passport initiative in 2015, adding extra levels of excitement and convenience for the golfing community. In addition to title sponsors, BMW, the 2016 Open was sponsored by Muscat Laser Eye Centre, Amouage and Patchi.

FOOTBALL

Arsenal will not give up on title, says Wenger LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to write off his side’s chances of lifting the Premier League trophy this season after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur left them eight points behind leaders Leicester City. A three-game winless run in the league has severely dented Arsenal’s hopes of ending their 12-year wait for the league title.However, they still have nine games to turn their fortunes around. “The championship is far from over,” Wenger told reporters on Monday ahead of his club’s FA Cup fifth round replay against second tier side Hull City on Tuesday. “We have beaten twice Leicester. People have to look at the other teams. We will not give up in the championship. We will fight until the end.” Wenger also confirmed he will make a few changes to his side for Tuesday’s game as they bid to become the first club since Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s to lift the FA Cup trophy three years in a row and only the third club ever to do so. “I will have to make (changes). I’m not concerned by replacing one player for another. I have to rotate a bit and keep the balance in the team,” Wenger said. Wenger heaped praise on goalkeeper David Ospina, who made nine saves during Saturday’s draw with Spurs, after doubts were raised about the Colombian’s ability to fill in for the injured Petr Cech, who has been a major factor in this season’s successes. “I rate him as a world-class goalkeeper and he had been unfairly treated,” the Frenchman said of Ospina. “I played him against Olympiakos (Piraeus) and it’s a shame at that time his stats did not come out in the press, but I never questioned his quality.” - Reuters

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

Dining WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

WHO EATS WELL, LIVES WELL Story Swati Dasgupta

Eatalian Welcome to the new kid in the block. With its bistro-style setup, Eatalian at the Avenues Mall is a new home for pastas, pizzas, and antipasti. Experience some of the mouth-watering and taste fulfilling flavours that include, insalata, picolli piatta, pizza, pasta, piatto and dolci. Try the grilled calamari, cheese ravioli fritte, gnocchi, and the parmesan chicken. If you are too hungry and looking for something really filling try the Mezzo Metro pizza which is a combination of two types of pizza. Classic Italian is equally enticing. Avenues Mall, Ghubra +968 2206 0025

Romano’s Macaroni Grill Have you tried the Penne Rustica at Romano’s Macaroni Grill? If not, this week make sure you make a trip to the Avenues Mall to have a bite. This pasta dish in a savoury cream sauce, served with a green or Caesar salad and homemade garlic bread sticks is out of the world. The portion sizes are large and the menu offers many choices on seafood. If you are a shrimp lover try Pesto Shrimp Avocado Crostini. If not then go for the hot spicy Ricotta meatballs. For those who are real health conscious try the Chicken Florentine salad. Avenues Mall, Ghubra +968 2200 5650

Stagioni The ﬁrst Italian takeaway restaurant in Muscat has home-made pasta, Italian pizzas, grilled panini sandwiches, fresh salads, and delicious Italian desserts. Muscat Grand Mall, Ghubra +968 9425 8440

If someone asks me, what’s that one thing that makes Italian cuisine special in your eyes? I would say its simplicity. The cuisine that was ranked the best in the world by CNN in 2013 has been a favourite of many for years, minimalism being its biggest attraction. And if you are living with the notion that Italian cuisine is all about pizzas and pastas, then visit some of these Italian restaurants in Muscat. Something different and authentic is awaiting you. -swati@timesofoman.com

Volare Pizzeria Start with ‘You rock my world’ salad. It is rich in ﬂavours with fresh rocket leaves, goji berries, walnuts, cheese, and mushroom and topped up with healthy dressing. Try their delicious seafood appetiser, their signature pizza, and the risotto balls. If you have a sweet tooth try the warm Italian cinnamon sugar dough balls with vanilla ice cream. Shatti Qurum + 968 2460 1310

Trattoria The menu of Trattoria offers starters, soups, salads, pastas, other mains, and desserts. Order Penne Con Pomodoro E Manzo (which is penne pasta with beef, artichokes, black olives, asparagus, chilli, and tomato sauces, or Deliziosa, a pizza of Danish mozzarella, tomato sauce, turkey bacon, and gorgonzola cheese on top. Trattoria offers a variety of cakes and gelato for desserts. Al Asalah Towers, Ghubra + 968 2421 0451

Tuscany, Grand Hyatt Try scallop leek tart, pan fried scallop, Alaskan king crab, cous-cous, braised endive and apple curry sauce, fresh maltagliati pasta, broad beans, taleggio cheese, crispy beef bacon or asparagus ricotta ravioli, butter, sage, pumpkin cream from the long list in the menu. There’s more in the list at this exclusive Italian restaurant which has specialty menus from regional areas of Italy, bringing the essence of authentic Italian cooking in Oman. Grand Hyatt, Shatti Al Qurum +968 2464 1234

Italiano Are you in search of traditional Italian dishes? What about having freshly made thin and crispy hand tossed crust pizza, some healthy salads, Italian pasta with a variety of tasty sauces, lasagna, or a creative selection of home-made desserts,? For all of these visit Italiano. Qurum Gardens Centre + 968 2456 0823

Rossini, The Cave If you are looking for a ﬁne dining Italian cuisine, a visit to Rossini at The Cave is a must. Try the tournedos of polenta and mousse of cod ﬁsh, carnaroli rice saffron veloute’, bresaola, meringue, and alba truffle infusion. The Cave Complex, Darsait + 968 2465 1066

Gelo Fredo Italian ice creams, gelatos, sorbets, frozen yoghurt, desserts, burgers, sandwiches and pasta this place situated at Al Araimi centre is famous for. Al Araimi Complex, Qurum +968 2202 2622

O Sole Mio, Raddison Blu Muscat For a true Italian treat O Sole Mio at the Raddison Blu is the place to be, for an ultimate ﬁne dining experience. Though it is difficult to remember the lengthy names, you must sink your teeth in Almone Girgilato Con Salsa Di Zafrano, that is grilled salmon ﬁllet with saffron sauce, Spaghetti Alla Marinara; spaghetti pasta with mix seafood, and tomato sauce and parmesan cheese or Rucola E Parmigiano Ripieni Di Manzo Rotolo Carpaccio Con Al Limone, rucola, and parmesan cheese stuffed beef carpacio roll with lemon dressing. And if you are looking for a bigger spread then opt for the special nights. While Saturdays are steak night, Sundays are seafood special. Raddison Blu Muscat, Al Khuwair + 968 2447 9869

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

@AZAIBA

@PANORAMA MALL

@SHATTI

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

13 Hours: The Secret Soldier of Benghazi (Action, Drama)(2D)(15+) Cast : John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale 6:15, 11:45 pm

Jai GangaaJal (Hindi) (2D) (Action | Drama) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Prakash Jha 3:15, 6:00, 8:45, 10:00, 11:30 PM

Gold Class – 3:00, 7:15, 9:15, 11:15 PM Zootropolis – 3D (PG12) Animation Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba 12:00, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15 PM Race – 2D (PG) Biography | Drama | Sport | Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis 2:05 PM Jai GangaaJal (PG12) Hindi | Action | Drama | Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush, Mahesh Khedekar 8:55 PM PANORAMA MALL London Has Fallen-2D (Action, Crime)( PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3:30, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 PM London Has Fallen-2D (Action, Crime) (PG12)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Gerard Butler, Charlotte Riley 3:45, 9:00, 11:00 PM Always be My Maybe-2D (Romance) (TBC) Cast: Gerald Anderson, Arci Muñoz 5:00 PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (15+) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 6:15, 11:45 PM

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

Marmul

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

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

29 20 Minimum

07:00

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

11.45 13.30 14.00

London Has Fallen (Action / Crime / Thriller) Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart 3.30, 8.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 351 (PG12) 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale 4.30 7.00, 9.30. & 11.55 PM CP No: 352 (15+) Race (Biography / Drama / Sports) Cast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis, Eli Goree 2.00, & 5.30 PM CP No: 353 (PG) Kings of Egypt (Adventure / Fantasy) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Gerard Butler 1.15 PM CP No: 341 (12+)

STAR CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om Action Hero Biju (Mal) (Act\Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anu Emmanuel 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema Main Jai GangaaJal (Hindi) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Priyanka Chopra & Manav Kaul 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema-3 Pokkiri Raja (Tamil) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Jiva & Hansika Matwani 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema -2 Kalyna Vaibhogame (Telugu) (Drama \ Com) Cast: Naga Shourya & Malavika Nair 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Next Change: Puthiya Niyamam (Mal) Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum (Tamil) Programmes are subject to change

WITH LOVE

ISHANYA RAJA March 8, 2009

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

95-50%

MOHD SAFWAAN March 8, 2007

MOHD FARAZ MAHMUD March 8, 2004

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

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204) Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

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

Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

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

06:00 06:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

BURAIMI London Has Fallen (Action| Crime ) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 5.00, 6.45, 9.15, 11.30PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 4.30, 9.00, 11.45PM Zootropolis 3D (Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Gennifer Goodwin, Idris Elba 4.45, 7.00PM Jai GangaaJal (Hindi | Action | Drama) (TBA) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush 8.45, 11.00PM Kings of Egypt (3D) (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler 6.45PM

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

Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Ruwi

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

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

07:00

SUR Zootropolis (3D) (Animation) (PG12) Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba 4:45, 6:45 PM London Has Fallen (Action | Crime) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 9:45, 11:45 PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action | Drama | Thriller) (15+) Cast: John Krasinski,James Badge Dale 7:00, 11:30 PM Jai GangaaJal (Hindi) (Action | Drama) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 8:45 PM King of Egypt - 3D (Action | Fantasy) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler 4:30 PM

BAHJA CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

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

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

Action Hero Biju – 2D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith 6:45PM

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

Daily Daily Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

RUWI Screen 1 Jai GangaaJal (Action) –PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha, Ayush 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 London Has Fallen (Action) –PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 4.00, 7.00, 10.00 PM Screen 3

Neerja (Action / Biography) –PG12 Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

WEATHER

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

Kings of Egypt (3D) (Action | Fantasy) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler 3:30, 6:00, 11:15 PM Jai GangaaJal (2D) (Hindi) (Action) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush 3:15, 6:00, 8:45, 10:00, 11:30 PM Neerja (2D) (Hindi) (Biographical) (PG12) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azami 5:45 PM Pokkiri Raja (2D) (Tamil) (Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Atharvaa Murali, Catherine Tresa 8:45 PM Action Hero Biju (2D) (Mal) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anu Emmanuel, Devi Ajith 8:30 PM

AZAIBA Dead Pool (2D) (Action |Sci-Fi) (12+) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 3:30, 4:45 PM London Has Fallen (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 2:45, 6:45, 8:00, 11:35 PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

London Has Fallen (Action| Crime) PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Charlotte Riley 3:15, 7:45, 9:45 & 11:45PM

Zootropolis (Action) (MX4D) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Idris Elba 3.30, 5.30, 7.30, 9.30 PM Zootropolis-3D (Animation, Action) (PG12) Voice Overs: Idris Elba, Jason Bateman 3:00, 5:30 PM Jai GangaaJal-2D (Action, Drama) (PG12) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush 9:00 PM Kings of Egypt-3D (Adventure) (12+) Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Nikolaj CosterWaldau, Gerard Butler 3:15, 9:15, 11:45 PM Dead Pool-2D (action, Adventure) (12+) Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 7:15, 11:30 PM Dead Pool-2D (action) (12+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin 6:45 PM

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

Destination

12.23pm 3.46pm 6.18pm 7.28pm 5.07am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

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

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

LIFESTYLE

-. Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; , -"Ĺ&#x2014; ,-

ating nutrient-packed pears as a snack or as part of a meal is a great way to meet the daily recommendation of fruit. Sweet and juicy, pears are an excellent source wholesome treat and a perfect addition to sweet and savoury dishes. Pears make the perfect partner for wholesome snacking. Pears are often considered best eaten fresh and just-sliced, making them a perfect partner for wholesome, simple snacking â&#x20AC;&#x201D; think sliced pears atop whole-grain toast, wrapped with prosciutto, dipped in nut butters or partnered with blue or aged, hard cheeses. Here are few interesting recipes:

chicken for a budget- and familyfriendly winter meal.

Pear Lettuce Wraps These chicken and crunchy pear lettuce wraps combine crisp pears with lean, protein-rich ground

Preparation Ä&#x160; In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 3tbsp of water to form a smooth paste and set

Ingredients Ä&#x160; 1tbsp cornstarch Ä&#x160; 2tbsp peanut oil Ä&#x160; 1tbsp minced garlic Ä&#x160; 1-1/2tbsp grated ginger root Ä&#x160; 6 scallions, thinly sliced, green and white parts separated Ä&#x160; 1 pound ground chicken, dark meat Ä&#x160; 1tbsp chilli sauce Ä&#x160; 2tbsp hoisin sauce Ä&#x160; 2tbsp soy sauce Ä&#x160; 1 pear peeled, cored and cut in matchsticks Ä&#x160; Toasted sesame oil to taste Ä&#x160; 12 large tender lettuce leaves, such as bib, butter or red leaf Ä&#x160; Cilantro sprigs

aside. Warm the peanut oil in a skillet or wok over mediumhigh heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and white parts of the scallion and stir-fry until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently until it breaks into small pieces and is no longer pink, about eight minutes. Add the chilli sauce, hoisin sauce and soy sauce, stirring to combine and evenly distribute the ingredients. Add the reserved cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce is clear. Finish with the reserved scallion greens, pear matchsticks and a splash of sesame oil. To serve Ä&#x160; Place a heaping tablespoon of ďŹ lling in the middle of a lettuce leaf with a few cilantro leaves, if desired. Wrap the lettuce around the contents and eat.

BOOK

Lunches with Celebrities: A Meal for the Body and Mind THERE COULD BE no better way to understand someone, especially the people who help shape our world, than engaging with them one-to-one over a relaxed meal. Various reasons unfortunately dictate that for many of us, any such desire is fated to remain an improbable daydream. But there is a way to fulďŹ l it â&#x20AC;&#x201D; vicariously. This book may assuage your wish, offering wide gamut of freewheeling discussions over lunch with an equally wide range of celebrities and newsmakers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ranging from Angelina Jolie to Imran Khan, Jimmy Carter to Jordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Queen Rania, Appleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steve Wozniak to Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon, Donald Rumsfeld to Vaclav Havel, and more. All this grew out of an idea by British daily newspaper, the Financial Times, for its Sunday supplement. The newspaper, which in 1893 (ďŹ ve years after its birth) started the trend of papers focussing more on business and eco-

nomics coming out on pink paper, pioneered in 1994 a new format of interview - over a leisurely lunch. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lunch with the FT was conceived by Max Wilkinson, a crusty, enterprising editor of the Weekend FT with an acute sense of the absurdâ&#x20AC;?, says Barber, who is associated with the paper since 1985 and took over as editor in 2006. The rules were simple â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the guest/ interviewee would choose the restaurant and the paper would foot the bill â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and broken right on the ďŹ rst outing on April 23, 1994 with British celebrity chef-cum-restaurateur Marco Pierre White, who

chose one of his own outlets, refusing any payment but since then mostly followed. In its two decades and more, Lunch with the FT has notched over 1,000 instalments with the latest one being with Ariane de Rothschild, the chief executive of Edmond de Rothschild bank. The idea of lunch has evolved too with the paper â&#x20AC;&#x153;reluctantly and occasionallyâ&#x20AC;? accommodating â&#x20AC;&#x153;the busy lives of the rich, and, powerful by agreeing to a breakfast, tea or the occasional sandwichâ&#x20AC;?. But this has not affected the quality with the interviews crafted as newspaper stories, and hence eschewing the conventional question-and-answer format for a fairly short but absorbingly, atmospheric piece that can allow us to virtually picture the informal interactions. This book, which originally came out to mark the newspaperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 125th anniversary, collects a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of these interviews, or 52, arranged in eight broad categories, but an eclectic and colourful mix. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; IANS

Warm Winter Greens with Balsamic Lentils and Roasted Pears Ingredients Ä&#x160; 2 bunches of winter greens, washed, dried and torn into large pieces Ä&#x160; Lentils Ä&#x160; 2tsp olive oil Ä&#x160; 1 small sweet onion, cut into half rings Ä&#x160; 1/2tsp salt Ä&#x160; Freshly ground black pepper Ä&#x160; 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar Ä&#x160; 3/4 cup brown lentils, rinsed Ä&#x160; 1 cup cold water Ä&#x160; Roasted pears Ä&#x160; 2 ďŹ rm, ripe pears Ä&#x160; 2tsp olive oil Ä&#x160; 2tsp honey Ä&#x160; 6-8 sage leaves, torn Preparation Ä&#x160; Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare greens and transfer to large

bowl. Place saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add olive oil, onions, salt and pepper, and sautĂŠ until onions begin to caramelise. Add vinegar to deglaze pan, stirring to pick up bits that may be stuck to the bottom. Cook until vinegar reduces and pan is nearly dry, about three minutes. Add lentils and water, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15-18 minutes, or until lentils are al dente. Ä&#x160; Spread pears onto sheet pan. Stir olive oil and honey together and drizzle over pears. Add sage leaves, toss pears gently with mixture and transfer to oven. Roast pears for 12-15 minutes, or until just tender. Ä&#x160; When lentils are done, pour atop the winter greens while still hot. Using tongs, toss lentils and greens together until greens are softened and glossy. Ä&#x160; Transfer mixture to a clean bowl and drizzle with more olive oil. Top

the warm salad with roasted pears and sage leaves. Serve immediately. Honey sweet roasted pears and tangy balsamic lentils are tossed with winter greens to make this simple and balanced meal, packed full of essential nutrients, including ďŹ bre, vitamin C, antioxidants, folate and iron. Serve salad warm. If you desire a little more richness, try topping the salad with long curls of parmesan cheese. Think Outside the Box Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Slice pears atop whole-grain toast Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Wrap pear slices in prosciutto Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;Pair pears with blue cheese parmesan or aged white cheddar Ä&#x160; Dip pears into yoghurt Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;Pack a pear with a small portion of nuts Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;Smear slices with almond or cashew butter Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;Sprinkle diced pears onto pudding. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; News USA

TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016

LIFESTYLE Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love eating popcorn?

ONEIENT ED R ING

FIVE

S WAY

It makes for such a great energy boosting snack. Here are few ways to make it tastier.

Chocolate Popcorn Take 1/2 cup popcorn kernels. Pop the kernels and spread it out on the baking sheet and let cool. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt for one minute. Once it gets a smooth consistency drizzle the hot chocolate over the popcorn kernels.

Parmesan Popcorn In a bowl, whisk 2tbsp olive oil, 1 clove minced garlic, and 2tsp chopped rosemary. Take one bag of microwave salted popcorn. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated parmesan and toss to combine, then drizzle the rosemary olive oil. Season with fresh coarsely ground black pepper.

Curried Popcorn In a small bowl take 1/2 tsp curry powder, 1/2 cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp turmeric, and 1/2 salt and combine. In a saucepan, heat 2tbsp oil over medium-high heat and add 1/2 cup kernels and cover. Melt 1tbsp honey and 2tbsp butter in a small saucepan or the microwave. Pour over the popcorn, cover, and shake. Serve this sweet and spicy popcorn.

Wasabi Popcorn Stir sugar, salt, wasabi powder and cayenne pepper, all 1tsp each in a small bowl. Set aside.Take a big pan and add 2tbsp of oil and add 1/2 cup kernels. Once they pop fully toss in the sugar-salt-spice mixture with 2tbsp butter.

Cilantro Lime Popcorn Heat one tablespoon of oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup popcorn kernels, cover the pan and let it heat up. While the popcorn pops, melt the butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add the lime juice and cilantro and stir well. Remove from heat.

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

Luxury flat for rent in Bareeq Al Shatti building Spacious 2 BHK with sea view, split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliance. Near Opera Gallery. Rent RO.900/- negotiable. Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

2 BHK fully furnished ﬂat at Ruwi MBD area. Contact – 93211557 / 24814853 Villa in Al-Khuwair 33. Quality Finishing. Consist 5 Bedrooms, 1 Living room, 3 Lounges, All with A/C, Kitchen and storage. Contact: 90665135

3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent. 18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi. Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use. OMR 295/- month. Call 94477222 Conditioned room with toilets in Al Khuwair. Contact: 92620858 /92605500 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 1BHK at Al Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy contact: 9922474899332297 Flats, shops and basement in MBD area and Honda road. Contact: 92433127/96291778/ 92589235/97293708 1 & 2 BHK Flat in Al.Khuwair. Contact - 99792181 2 BHK ﬂat in Ghobrah. Contact - 99792181 2 BHK ﬂat in Ruwi. Contact - 99792181 Office Space Available in Al Khuwair & CBD.Contact – 99792181 Villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 92125648/25250300

Vila for rent in Al Mabela South near gulf college.contact:95950025

Flats 2 bedroom Majlis, 2 toilet, kitchen balcony near Indian school Darsait new building rent R.O 275/-Contact: 99243059

Commercial/ residential ﬂat for rent in a new building. A warehouse also available, location Muttrah. For more details contact – 99364735 / 95729711

New flats for rent at Al Ghobrah near to atlas hospital the flats includes 2 living room , 1hall , kitchen , toilets , air conditioned room & high Quality finishing rent per flat is R.O 375/-. Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 97093283

Furnished room available for executive bachelor in Ruwi area. Contact - 99054542

4 Bedroom new villa Al Mawaleh 1/2 KM to city center mall High end ﬁt outs split A/C full kitchen ﬁtting all rooms w/ private toilets monthly 600/- R.O. Contact : Hassan 99349990

Furnished flat for rent near City Center Mawalah. 2 Rooms, Majlis, hall, kitchen & 4 bathrooms. Rent RO.400. Contact – 99336776 2 BHK flat with big rooms behind Bank Muscat, Near ISWK. 99373290, 24815012 1bedroom ground floor apartment with sitting & 1 Bath + kitchen close to Indian school near to 1000sqm two rooms with compound well at Misfah Sanaiya. Surround huge open land for trailer movement, Suitable for tile, sanitary ware, building materials etc store. Contact: 99342733 /99795241 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital. Contact: 99342733 /99795241

2BHK and 1BHK ﬂats spilt air conditioners are available for rent in new building in Al Qurum, near rose Garden. Interested persons may content on phone: 9513331/96722449

For rent in Mabela Sanaya road no.6.show room two shutter & warehouse (900m2) & staff accommodation & office with split A.C. reasonable rent Contact: 99318152&99225067.

To spend interesting times with family or friends a new park for rent in Al Amerat near Sultan Center for details. Contact: 99332273 Whatsapp 95806364

2 Bed rooms ﬂats with hall 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat municipality. Contact: 92584715

Building and house in Al Amerat near Bahwan stores suitable for big store and resident for workers for details. Contact: 99332273 Whatsapp 95806364

2 Bed room centrally air conditioned ﬂat in CBD prime location. Contact: 24714625/91173997 Flat for rent 2 room, 2 toilet with A/C, Walja, Honda Road 250/-. Contact: 90465850

2 Room, 2 Bathroom, kitchen cat parking 200 Rails. Contact: 92005298 Two bedrooms ﬂat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street. OMR 330 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955. Four bedroom two ﬂoors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Flat for rent in Hamriya. Contact 99341112 Warehouse for rent at Ghala Ind. Area.800 & 2500 approx sqms Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holiday Ghala. Container can enter. Immediate access to roads & highways. CONTACT: 94583320 Flats for rent 2BHK sitting room, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, big balcony split A/C Wadi AL Kabir 300/R.O. Contact: 99324402 Flats in Darsait. 9405178997201688 1BHK Flat with spilt A/C near star cinema 210/-. Contact: 99358589/95570288 /97079146 Full furniture room for rent for family monthly 200/- . Contact: 99251975 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 94051789-97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). 94051789-97201688 Single room with A/C & WIFI having separate entrance for non –cooking Indian executive, near Rawasco, AL Khuwair rent 130/- (W& E). Contact 92888691/95397442/97201100

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

Commercial ﬂats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/- #91776665

IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT

Brand new villas in Al Ansab. Contact - 94051789-97201688

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

(Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse Θ ƐƚĂī ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟ ŽŶƐ Please contact: G.S.M

99417229/92621039 2BHK split A/C 320/- monthly & 1 BHK split A/C 250/- Ghobrah south near Grand mosque. Contact: 99342661 Flat with two rooms with window A/C, with toilets & car parking way No: 1670 north Al Hail near Dosteen restaurant 1KM Inside. Contact: 99238334 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. Contact: 99342661 3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/Monthly. Contact: 99342661 Flats in Muttrah. Contact: 94051789-97201688 Offices in Ghala. Contact: 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah. 94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29. 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.94051789-97201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab. 94051789-97201688 For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl. Contact: 99323957 / 95490842 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789-97201688 Flat for rent south Al Mabela. Contact: 95331177/95230355 1B/R apartment executive fully furnished at AL Khuwair 33 & 5 B/R villa unfurnished at Madinat Al Ilam & 5 B/R villa furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & rent a car LLC -24834888/ 99249069/92888376/94617563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with 3 room+ 5 toilet+ hall+ living room+ kitchen. Contact 98885055/ 92744168

Flats in WadiKabir. Contact - 94051789-97201688 600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2. Contact 91776665 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. # 94051789-97201688

FOR SALE 00968 - 9898 9532/ 2471 4325

White wood, Red wood, Manhole covers, Hard ware, Electrical items & other building materials for clearance sale (price negotiable) Location Barka – Al Rumais For further details & inspection,

1ST GRADE RUNNING ESTABLISHMENT

info@paramountmuscat.com

Please contact - 96125603

FOR SALE

Concrete Plant & Pump, WŽƌƚĂͲĐĂďŝŶ Kĸ ĐĞ for immediate sale

DRIVING

@ Sanaya/ Hospital Road- Sohar

Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665 Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK ﬂat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/- Contact – 91776665 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. # 94051789-97201688

PLEASE CONTACT:

Spacious 1 BHK ﬂat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking. RO.300/-Contact – 91776665

Fully equipped Signboard Fabrication workshop.

Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah. Contact - 94051789-97201688

Contact – Muhammad

Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789-97201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. # 94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29. Contact - 94051789-97201688

BUYING Bobcat available for rent. Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash. Contact: 90202090

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

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area. Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

MV SALE Pickup for sale, model 2013, diesel engine 4x4. Contact - 94194399

Flat for rent in Al Hail south 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

BMW 525.I 2006. Contact: 99336093

2 BHK Flats for rent, Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

CLEARANCE SALE

Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665

Flats for rent in Ruwi Mumtaz area 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

Shop for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499

220 M2 SHOWROOM

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) #- 94051789-97201688

Hyundai Sonata 2008 model, expat driven & well maintained. Contact: 94222681

tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶĚŝƟ ŽŶ ŽŶĐƌĞƚĞ ĂƚĐŚŝŶŐ Plant Pemat mixer, Econocrete - full set TEKA Concrete Pump mounted on MAN Chassis ZĞĂĚǇ ƚŽ ƵƐĞ WŽƌƚĂͲĐĂďŝŶ Kĸ ĐĞ Ͳ about 450 Square Meter area, with cabins.

90579500 FOR SALE For sale Porta cabin; new & used (wooden steel p.u.panel) Contact-99318152 Email:ahastco@gmail.com A well established automotive service center is for sale in Mabela area of 2850sqm please contact Virat: 94656682 Office furniture for immediate sale 15 workstation, 4 executive desk, chairs & branded 4 TVs. # 94104022 Household & electronic items for sale. Contact – 99421740 Expat leaving. Household items for immediate sale, 99457386 New & used (refurbished) Porta cabin with ablution for sale. Pleases Contact: 97143704 or email: rsttllc@gmail.com Treadmill heavy 120kgs new OMR 140/- with massager. Contact: 92670572 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location. Contact- 99627621, 93240949

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos can be sent 95865457 Luxury Apartments in Bousher (35). 95056808-97201688 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565 HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Villas in Al Khoud. 9505680897201688 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact: +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

NRI Flat for sale 1360 Sq.ft semi furnished 3 BHK Flat with covered car park near Vennala, Eroor North Tripunithura, with close proximity to seaport- Airport road ,info park ,vyttila hub, Ernakulum medical center, gold souk, Oberon & lulu malls-for sale. Contact: 96725458

Well established coffee shop / restaurant prime location at AL Khoud. Contact: 92188777/98700760

Flats villas land for sale in Pune contact: 95272138/918139098275

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430

Furnished Apartment for sale at near Nedumbassery Airport. Contact: 92394014

Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362. Fire rated portacabins and steel caravans. ContacT: 94058574

ACC. AVAILABLE Room for rent with furniture. Al Bustan villeage. # 93687466

Contact Mr Mateen - 92892209/ Mr Sreejith - 99478263/ Mr Aqueel - 99338619

ACC.WANTED Room wanted one bedroom ﬂat with two toilets required near Al Falaj Rex Road area. Contact: 98411825/96245923 Required single room for an executive lady (non cooking) in Darsait, Ruwi, Wadi Kabir. Contact - 98591132

ACC. AVAILABLE Room with toilet for working lady. Contact: 91450718 Sharing single big room for family or couple with separate bathroom near Badr Al Sama clinic Al Khuwair. Contact - 99796500 Accommodation available in Al Khuwair, single room with furniture and A/C, sharing kitchen. Contact - 94297820 Furnished room with AC, Fridge and TV. At Hilat Al Saad near Main road. Contact: 95714202

MATRIMONIAL Hindu Boy -30 Yrs MBA Finance Graduate working in Muscat seeking alliance of Hindu girl only. Contact: 98278401 Kerala Kottayam RC male 28 years Civil Engineer is seeking alliance from suitable family, preference for BDS, Eng & bank employees. Contact 95035953 Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman. Contact: 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726 RCSC female BSC nurse (Christian) working in Sur ministry hospital seeking good alliances from well settled families. Contact: 98055621/97929487 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat. Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single. Contact: 96059801.

LOST

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. Contact: 96202458/96761960

Soﬁqul Islam has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. F0248348. Finder please handover to ROP.

Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor. Contact: 97704794

Selvin Kumar Selva Raj has lost Indian Passport No. M1153671. Finder please handover to ROP.

Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 9304 9849

Prajapati Mahendra Raj has lost Indian Passport No. H2052464. Finder please handover to ROP

Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

Mohammed Irfan has lost Indian Passport No. M2830647. Finder please handover to ROP

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT REQUIRED ACCOUNTS CUM ADMIN

IN-CHARGE (For a service & contracting co) Qualified accountant with 7 to 8 years of experience in accounts, cost control, inventory, procurement, finance up to finalization and admin. Good knowledge of ERP, Tally-9, MS office, and good communication is mandatory.

Apply on

vacancyforoman@gmail.com

OUR CENTER IS LOOKING FOR FULL TIME: ,ĂŝƌĚƌĞƐƐĞƌƐ ;ŵĂůĞͬĨĞŵĂůĞͿ Ͳ ĞĂƵƟ ĐŝĂŶƐ ;ĨĞŵĂůĞͿ

SITUATION WANTED

Engineering Company based in Oman (Muscat) is looking to hire the following position: Position 1 Senior Detail Architect

Years of Experience 7 to 15 Years

2 Senior Contracts Engineer 7 Years

Email: therecuiter@hotmail.com

REQUIRED AN AUDITOR

:Žď ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟ ŽŶ: Hair related treatments DƵƐƚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ ĞǆĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ďǇ ĂƩ ĞŶĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ house training classes. Advises clients on hair care and use of products. Ensures that the high standard of service is maintained. Salary based on skills and experience.

With 6years of experience. The candidates should be a commerce graduate experienced in auditing.

Please submit CV to info@artemishfp.com

auditbureau2016@gmail.com

Interested candidates may mail their CV’s to:

SEEKING SKILLED EMPLOYEES 1. Skilled iron worker 2. Skilled iron welder 3. 3D sign board specialist 4. Skilled painter 5. Skilled carpenter 6. Car wash supervisor Email : creativityeast@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. # 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement. Contact 94834687 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available. Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Kerala male 25 yrs B.com diploma in IATA PGDCA Tally 2 yrs exp accounts in Kerala. Currently in Oman NOC available. Contact: 99323841 Email: rohitpanam@gmail.com Indian male Accountant 8yrs exp in Oman. Contact:93726921 Part time accountant, up to finalization of accounts looking for job after 5 PM (location prefers – MSQ – to AL Hail). Contact: 95694737 Indian Chartered Accountant - with 8 yrs + Exp in Finance/ Accounts/Auditing in Oman & UAE. Seeking suitable position in Muscat/Dubai and available immediately for joining. NOC available. Available till 9.3.16 in Oman. CONTACT #: 98707434 Email: casmart007@gmail.com Jordanian, Senior accountant, 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accountant. Contact: 92881223 Indian male 28 yrs MBA finance/ marketing and graduate in computer experience 3 yrs seeking suitable job, now family visit visa. Contact: 93195378 Email: faisalme.beg677@gmail.com

ADMIN Vacancy for the post of PRO for a shipping company in Sohar 97990844 - mail id: operations@arabianseabridge.com Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law ﬁrm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be ﬂuent in English both written & spoken. Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant with two years of experiencerequired for building material shop .contact no.99318152 Email:ahastco@gmail.com Required Accounts Officer- ensure accurate processing of revenue data into ERP systems and invoicing module. Posting of invoices to customer SAP portal and delivery to customer offices and interface with country manager/ reporting to regional CEO. Qualiﬁcations: BSc accounting. Relevant experience & knowledge on online accounting systems especially the customer SAP system. Submit CV to: me-job@interwell.com Accountant with gulf experience in construction ﬁeld preferred with Oman driving license. Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615

BEAUTICIAN Required Beautician for beauty Saloon at Ghobrah. Clearance / visa available. Contact- 95924910

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid required for caring two babies for Keralite family at Al Hail. Contact: 99423608 /95661254 Looking for a part-time cookcum-housemaid in Azaiba. Call 92450197. Required Cleaners & Office boys. Contact 24707833

Accounts Manager 24 years working experience 8 years in Oman looking managerial position with family status interested to work construction or manufacturing trading organization. Contact: 95919546

REQUIRED PROJECT MANAGER FŽƌ ĂŶ /ŶĨƌĂͬ ůĚŐ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ŝŶ Duqm/Oman Graduate Engineer with 20+ years experience preferably in Oman/ GCC with valid D/L and transferable visa, computer literate. Send CV to Email :

omanproject2011@gmail.com

DRIVER We are looking for a driver for restaurant. Contact - 95048797 Required a expat driver with Omani D/L. Contact – 91409668 Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698 Part or full time Driver Required call us 91120552

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Required Site Inspector (PRO) having Omani D/L. Contact – 24291500 Email: hr16careers@gmail.com Required Hydraulic Mechanical. Contact - 95251213 Civil Engineer with minimum 5/8 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615

EDUCATION/TRAIN The Egyptian school requires chemistry Teacher for IG, English, Science & mathematics. Teacher’s application should be submitted by hand or by email – egyptianschool98@gmail.com / 24603930 Required personal lady Trainer at home in Wadi Kabir. Contact – 94100959

MEDICAL Wanted ORTHODONTIST, IMPLANTOLOGIST with or without MOH License for a polyclinic. Excellent Salary, Commission and Accommodation. Phone: 99006915 Email: alhinaee.clinic@yahoo.com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataﬂow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934

MEDICAL Nurse required for a dental clinic in Al Khuwair. Contact 95114616 Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Omani national Security Staff similar experience for immediate employment for an international school. Contact: 99468907 Urgently required fiber Optic Technician / splicer EXPO OTDR FTB -1 testing & power meter report excellent package get N.O.C or refer splicer from anywhere. Send C.V mathersahra@gmail.com. Contact: 91688007 Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers. Candidates with Omani driving license preferred. Contact 99273774/99202278

SALES / MARKETING Required male / female Marketing person for man power Supply Company with minimum 3 years experience with valid GCC / Oman driving license. Contact: 97158893 / 94148972. Kindly send CV at Email: rastllcmuscat@gmail.com Required Sales Executive knowledge of building materials.Full or part time. Contact: 99421513 Challenging tyres Omani companies seeking for Sales Man only an tyres division sales minimum 2 years experience send CV to saeed@liwainvestments.com Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com An Omani construction company located at Muscat looking for Marketing executive with GCC driving license & NOC send C.V to kwk585@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING TECHNICIAN Sales Executive Required for an office Stationery company in Muscat with Oman D/L and Noc Send your CV to info@centraltvading-oman.com Required Sales staff 2 NOS Having experience in Cosmetics Sales. Send your updated CV to james_kunju@yahoo.com GSM 92683688 We, the storm shield in the talented candidates for the below positions (Indian only): Sales man for mobile devices (male-2) (1 Indian & Philippine) should have 3 years Oman experience knows English & Arabia. Contact: 94441111 Send CV to email: gshield9@gmail.com Omani or European female Sales representative required for part time please send CV to gcpe16@gmail.com with expected salary

Urgently required Electronics Technician with at least 2-4 yrs exp, in network cabling, access control, telephone systems, interested send the CV to info @smartvisionoman.com We, the storm shield in the talented candidates for the below positions (Indian only): Maintenance Technician (male -1) should have knowledge of new mobile devices & 3 years Oman experience Contact: 94441111 Send CV to email: gshield9@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Senior Accountant B.com work exp gulf, 8 years Indian 5 years. Contact: 94364672/95517130

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available. Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement. Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com Sri Lankan Accountant CIMA Inter mediate qualified, on visit. Contact: 90660764 Part-time Accounting assignment.9am-5pm. Contact; 91126314 Indian male MBA (finance) one year exp in Oman with D/L and Noc. Looking for Suitable placement contact: 94103975 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. Contact : 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian male 32 yrs (B.com) having 8 years accountant experience in Oman looking for suitable placement local release Oman D/L available. Contact: 97494322/98093515 Accountant gulf exp 4 years. Contact 96718001 Indian male 7 years Oman exp, Tally ERP 9, Accounting, Inventory Controller/Asset Supervisor & IT Supports seeking suitable job. NOC available. B.COm, PGDCA, location Sohar, having Oman D/L. Contact 98317698. Email: sukuanilkumar@gmail.com Indian C.A finalist having 7 years exp in Finance field, looking for a suitable position with license and NOC. Contact – 98097009 Accounts part time services available to handle all accounts up to finalization, on Monthly basis finalization and consulting works. Contact: 96247295

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah. More than 20 years exp in accounting job (up to ﬁnalization of accounts) 8 years working experience in middle east in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah. Contact - 91325029 25 Years/Male Indian/B.com with 2 Years Experience/Seeking Job in Finance and accounts/Skills Tally ERP9/SAP-FICO/MS Office. Immediately Joining. Contact No: +96897184087 Email: modi_harshal@ymail.com Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/full time accountant job. Contact: 95598477/98803439 Indian male 25 B.Com (graduate) 2 years experience as accountant in country club India with ERP oracle r12, tally knowledge. On visit visa immediately available. Email: shabi.hyd@gmail.com Contact- 9042-1161 Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955 Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

ADMIN Indian male 25 B.B.M 4yrs experience Arabic speaking with Oman/D/L seeking suitable position in accounts Admin sales contact:91266733email: safvank.ka@gmail.com 8 years of intensive Oman experience in procurement & supply chain management looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97755488 Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills. Holding Oman Driving license. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position.Contact: 90196235 Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics. Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786 Indian female Graduate with 4yrs exp, looking for suitable placement in admin/accounts .# 99236071 Female business graduate from UK with four years experience in procurement purchasing expediting logistics and supply chain in UAE seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99581399 Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder. Currently looking for job in Oman. Interested employer contact - 97728418. Indian, 26 yrs , female , 5 yrs exp in HR/ Admin with valid Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98236033 Indian male MBA / HR and marketing 2 years experience in royal bank of Scotland looking for opportunities in banking operating marking and HR services excellent communication Kills. Contact: 90661245 15 years of working experience in Business development in Oman & UAE & UK , marketing plans and strategies & importing firewoks for festivals & preparing government tenders , Operations and logistics , importing and international business trading , CNC engineering & industrial areas , I have dual nationality (I can travel abroad easily without needing visa, for finalizing business trading NOC available. Contact: 94123939 MCA Indian Female on a visit visa seeking suitable job.4yrs exp in office Admin &IT.contact:92286147 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280 Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O , Clerk helper supervisor Admin supervisor , H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license . Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

CATERING Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job. Contact 99531802

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Indian Female 24yrs, AutoCAD draftsman with 3ds max & rivet, 4yrs exp. looking for suitable vacancy in Muscat now in visit visa . Contact: 95601266 Email: reshmanb121@gmail.com AutoCAD Draughtsman seeking job. Contact: 95516807 Interior Designer Seeking suitable job. On visit visa in Oman. Contact - 92166130

EXPERT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

FŽƌ ǇŽƵƌ WZ͕ ŐƵŝĚĞ Į ŶĂŶĐĞ Θ HR Θ ZD͕ ĂĚǀŝƐĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ & CRM, appraise IT system for ƌĞƉŽƌƟ ŶŐ Θ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟ ŽŶ͘

Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres), holding valid Oman D/L.

Contact: Tel - 96500729 Ŭ͘ƉƌŽĮ ƚŽŵĂŶΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Civil Engineer 11 yrs exp in construction field having Oman driving license & NOC. Contact – 94194399 / shiblyrock@gmail.com Indian male 22, Chemical Engineer residing in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92379181 Engineer has 10 years local & international experience in ready mix concrete also in Oil & gas filed also in marketing & sales field , has Omani driving license. Contact : 92534098 HSE Engineer MSc & B.Tech (safety & fire) 6 yrs overall exp in O & G project & construction. Available immediately with clean NOC. Hold valid D/L Oman, owns a car. Contact – 94616721 / aibelg19@gmail.com REVIT (ARCH), Diploma Civil 3yr , in visit visa , exp. Salary : 250 PH : 92279784

Interior designer 3 years experience 1 year in Oman and 2 years in Egypt, experience in interior design, 3D max, AutoCAD, Photoshop. Contact - 94762876 Autocad Drafting, part time/ full time, 2D & 3D, Architectural, Structural, MEP, Shop drawing , experienced. Ph: 90189070

Mechanical Diploma Engineer having 8yrs of exp seeking for suitable currently on visit visa. Contact- 94657806

AutoCAD draftsman experience 2 years. Contact: 93738335 /95809393 Email: mammoosing@gmail.com

Diploma Civil 5yrs exp seeking suitable placement Email:sushbinde86@gmil.com. contact: 96938770

Driver looking for job, speaks English, Hindi & Arabic & 4 yrs Oman exp with valid Oman driving license contact: 92820309 2 Years exp in driving, seeking any job .Contact: 97460056 Bangladeshi male looking for job. Contact - 93822195 20 Years Embassy experience expert driver cum PRO seeks suitable place. Contact – 94297820 Driver cum electrician 7 yrs exp, seeking suitable placement. Contact – 98255214 3 Years driving exp in Muscat, speaks English, Arabic, Hindi& Bengali. Contact- 97462781 Driver job wanted. Contact 96393082 Pakistan driver with car. Contact: 97198672 / 98988208 Looking for job light duty driver 6 years experience NOC available. Contact: 92381696 Pakistani light looking job 3 years experience in Oman. Contact: 93711608 Seeking driver job with own car. Contact: 98031620 Bangladeshi male light driver looking for job 3 exp. Contact: 93254149 Bangladeshi male light vehicle driver looking for job. Contact: 91359624 Driver with car 3 yrs exp, looking part time job. Contact – 97456062 Looking for driver, electrical & plumbing job. Contact - 92360040 Looking for job driver 10 yrs exp. Contact: 99035942 Indian light driver cum house cleaner. Contact: 96255558 /99415443 Light driver. Contact: 96756014 Looking for job car driver. Contact: 98388947

MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in IT solutions, sales & marketing, solution selling, POS, ERP, time attendance, security system, software development projects, websites & mobile apps. Seeking suitable position. Contact - 92103545

Contact - 92789995

ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com

DRIVER

Indian male B.Tech civil engineer (Auto cad 3 max) 4 yrs exp in planning, designing & site Supervision seeks Suitable placement NOC available contact: 95472155 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 6 yrs of exp in India & Singapore as welding inspector. Having NDT level 2, Cswip3.1, 1so 900:2008 leap auditor certiﬁcations .looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa .contact: 98919114 Project Engineer 9 Civil, 7.5 yrs in Oman, need suitable placement, NOC release available. Contact – 91129192 Sudanese Electrical Engineer, granted with distinction, hardworking and can adapt to different work conditions. Contact: 98133281 Electrical & Electronics Engineer with 3 years GCC exp in sales, GCC driving license. Seeking suitable placement. Contact - 90301410 Diploma Civil Engineer 13 years GCC experience NOC available with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 99794456 Network Engineering with 9 years and half experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95249087

Electrical diploma Engineer with 1.5 years experience in AutoCAD designing for LV constructions and diesel generator maintenance looking actively for job in Oman. Contact: 92171858/90595609 Email: nelsondas213@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 919605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available. Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects. Contact – 90164912

Sudanese civil Engineer three years experience with NOC. Contact: 96297316 Email: abdallakoty22@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com

B.Tech Electronics & comm. Engg & MBA Degree in operation management with five years experience in optical fiber planning coordination etc. Contact: 94819139 Indian Male Degree Holder BE (civil) having 11 years of Oman experience with valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable job .NOC available and ready to join immediately. Mobile: 93803950. Mail:kavinvasi2007@gmail.com B.SC Civil Engineer 27 yrs Oman experience as project manager, structural Engineer looking for suitable placement NOC/ LOCAL transfer available. Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com Structural Engineer, 8 yrs experienced in flat slab, post tensioned & slab-beam multi story building design & supervision with driving license. Contact: 98256860 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Omani HSE supervisor. Email: jeebal3000@gmail.com

Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270

Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com

22 Years exp in Gulf civil building construction project manager. Contact – 0097430824610 / arshadjamalkhan@rediffmail.com

Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman. Contact: 97667113

Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable. Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certiﬁcate. Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Indian Engineer, B. Tech (Mech), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), 23 yrs experience, 5 years in Oman in the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager with Oman Driving License seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99744612. E-mail: deleepkumarpk@gmail.com Indian Male B. Tech, 10+ years of extensive work experience in various aspects like Computer Networking, Technical Support, Management and Engineering with good communications, interpersonal and technical skills seeks suitable opportunity. Now in Oman on Visit Visa GSM : 9489 8009,

Email : bios4u@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95345591

Sudanese mechanical Engineer, 2 years experience HVAC ﬁreﬁghting, on visiting visa. Contact 95630047

HSE & Fire Safety Engineer 4 years experience air port operational safety, power & chemical industry. Contact: 94374241

Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323. Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience. Contact 91295802 acmfaslan123@gmail.com

Indian male 31 years Civil Engineer diploma holder 4 years experience in Oman need placement N.O.C available. Contact: 93298395

Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com

Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com

26 yrs Indian Male – B.Tech (IT) - 6 yrs exp -sales & admin -seeks suitable placement 91848460 / 98304080; Email: arun9895431989@gmail.com

Sudanese civil Engineer holding bachelor with two years of experience in Oman has resident visa and valid license. Contact: 94393880

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certiﬁed in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad). Looking for a Suitable position. Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com

Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the ﬁeld of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598

EDUCATION/TRAIN Indian Female, MSc Maths from a central university, B.ED qualiﬁed with over 6 yrs into teaching. Distinction holder and passion for teaching, currently on family visa seeking lecturer jobs. Contact: 91360147. Indian female 25years M.C.A on family visit required suitable placements also interested in teaching. Contact: 90417133 Email: renjitharose04@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Hospitality Degree 5 yrs exp holding Dubai driving license. Contact - 91234870 Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/ Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/ COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

IT Omani 26(M) seeks placement, 6 yrs excellent experience networking hardware software. Contact: 95356166

24yrs Indian male B.SC Computer Science with 2 yrs networking and IT helpdesk support exp, a Cisco Certified, seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 96910605email:shaikzube@gmail.com Pakistani male 26 yrs BS (CS) hold 2 yrs UAE exp in IT software, knowledge in Oracle 1g, MS SQL, C#Net, word press, IT networking and hardware. Looking for suitable job. Contact – 92826049 / m.saifmasood@outlook.com Indian male diploma in computer 4 yrs exp in system admin, tele call support, IT hardware networking. Looking for suitable position, on visit visa. Contact - 95917613 Indian male, IT professional , BE in ECE with 2 yrs of networking and Technical Support EngineerL2’ experience with CNA certification, looking for full time job GSM 92916894 ; Email: salu.mn555@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop. Contact : 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com SAP/ABAP Consultant, BCA, MCA, ASP.Net certification, Indian female 30, having 1.5 yrs exp, family visa, seeking placement. Contact – 99109121/ ashamaryphilip@gmail.com Sudanese net work Engineer holding IT BACHELOR (CCNA, CCNP, and MCSE) has one year experience and license. Contact: 92394485 Indian male 25 years BSC (C.S) with basic hardware and software knowledge seeks suitable placement now on visit visa. Contact: 92319677 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job. Contact :91272867

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 24 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Worked in International Crops Research Institute For The Semi Arid Tropics for project work as trainee. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Diploma in computer, looking for any office job, exp in tele support and sales, on visit visa. Contact - 95917613 B.Com Graduate with ﬁve and half yrs exp in Oman as a purchaser. NOC available. Valid driving license. Looking for suitable placement Contact: 96772166 Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 98805474 A lady entrepreneur with BF Tech 1st Class (Fashion Technology) since 2006 in Kerala like to make change for better. Specialized in designing, Production Management, Fashion Art, Grading, Surface ornamentation, Garment Construction. Email: prettyjinu08@gmail.com Mobile: +919539397097. Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, University M.Com, Working as an Accountant & Administrator in Oman; searching better job. Phone: 94864966 Email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com

MEDICAL Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074 An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

MEDICAL Indian female Dentist specialized endodontic looking for a suitable placement prometric completed. Contact: 96410448 Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data ﬂow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com Indian male Nurse 32 years Oman parametric and data ﬂow completed 8 yrs emergently experience. Contact: 92463190

MANAGER Indian well experienced personal assistant/executive office manager/ senior administrator / commercial executive with license looking for a change. release letter available – 99168054 mbkishore@hotmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 Manager having 12 years experience in Sales & property management with valid GCC driving license looking for a suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 98125226 B.E Arch working as a project manager (interior fit outs) specializing in shop fit outs restaurateur, offices, lifestyle shops etc looking to work in a reputed firm NOC available. Contact: 94274437 Operation & Accounts Manager. Indian 18yrs experiences in Oman –operation, admin, fiancé, purchase, HR& sales looking for SR.position. Contact:99889396Email: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com Indian male 35 years, mechanical engineering diploma, 15 years of total experience, 4 years in Dubai, seeking challenging assignments in business development/management & sales, on visit,phone:95990541,em ail:kckurup.v@gmail.com P.M/Electrical Engineer B.Sc 5yrs exp.(2yrs in PDO area)driving license looking for suitable job mob.:91175016 E.mail:elmuthana@hotmail.com Production Manager 9 years experience in Oman manufacture and development factories .GRB. GRC. GRG rubber molds and false ceilings, fiberglass and executive at site emadadly2000@yahoo. com96149081 General Manager MEP also manage civil, MBA, BE Electrical, 10 yrs exp in Oman valid D/L, release available. Contact – 92447102 Indian male experienced in priority and retail Banking handling HNI/ ultra HNI and SME portfolios as relationship manager in UAE and India, with UAE driving license on tourist visa looking for suitable opportunity. Please contact #90204929 E-mail-hani.leo@gmail.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033 MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license with vehicle, looking for suitable position. GSM :94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Executive Secretary/ assistant Indian female 9 years experience in Oman, Diploma in Business management. Valid D/L. Contact: 96684705

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

SITUATION WANTED SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 23 yeas BBM & Diploma in logistic. Looking for Indore/ Outdoor sales & marketing suitable placement, currently in one month visit visa. Contact: 92634281/ faizanmck@gmail.com Sales Executive 8yrs exp buildings materials group of company in Oman NOC available. Seeking suitable job. With D/L in Oman .email: sameermoul@gmail.com Indian female 23 diploma in tool and die making with one and half yrs exp and also interested in sales & marketing.contact:94443992email:selveena054@gmail.com NOC available looking for opening in sales 10 years experience in Oman with driving license to join immediately. Contact: 95941228 Sales supervisor / Sales man / Cashier Indian male 26 years having 2 years Oman experience in retails looking for suitable placement. Contact: 90318481 SriLankan malebusiness management BA (UK) Graduate.Specializedmarketing, key Accounts,sales, and customer services .4years work experience in England .seeks opportunity in Oman. D/L available. Tell: 94820153. email:inshafmalk@yahoo.com Indian male 33 yrs, 11 yrs exp in Oman in sales ﬁeld, with NOC seeks suitable placement. Contact – 96169598 / adilj.8782@gmail.com MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement. Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian Male 28 MBA Marketing with 4 years of experience in sales with good communication skills now available in Muscat on visit visa. GSM 95840153 / Mail akbarshareef786@gmail.com Indian male (31 yrs) sales supervisor, total 9 yrs gulf exp, 4 yrs in Oman with valid GCC D/L with NOC, release & transferable visa. Contact: 94014327 Email: praveenkotian188@gmail.com Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97897611 B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female MBA Finance, 6 years Oman experience as account looking Full time/part time accounting Jobs. Contact- 99044292 Indian male 26 years MBA ﬁnance, seeks suitable placement. Contact – 92715032 / ajisd@yahoo.com Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com INDIAN-Male 34yrs, M.Com with 14yrs Exp ( 8yrs in Oman & 6yrs in India)Presently working as PROCUREMENT OFFICER for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects in contg & Trdg co LLC, Having Oman LT D/L, NOC available & willing to join immediately within in a month - M:94064650, Email: nagauae@gmail.com Indian male, 16 years Oil & Gas experience (Down Hole Tools), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob: 965 956 18. Civil Draftsman seeking job. Contact-95516807 Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E (CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeks suitable job. Contact: 91170912 Email: sales2@witoman.com Sudanese male. Five years diploma in civil engineeringhave ﬁve years experience in construction industry. Mobile: 96995670 Sri Lankan female looking for a housemaid job. Please send details to s.c.balthaza@gmail.com Contact: 94036979 Land surveyor Experience: 8 years. Contact: 99585265 Email: wajid.mohiuddin5251@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact: 99514286 Indian male, accountant 2 year experience doing accounts in Tally and Excel. Searching for suitable job. Contact: subbayan_r@gmail. com GSM: +918098637908 BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions”Contact-90637918 / 99335742, email: aquasharath@gmail.com Looking for a part time job for drawings struc. BBS Q/S & piping/ pipeline auto cad work. Contact- 92103713. Job Wanted as a Music Teacher Classical Vocal Music, Having 3 years India Exp.Contact- 90310876

Indian male 3 years as sales representative looking for suitable placements. Contact: 94420033 Email: ssidisking@gmail.com

Homeopathic Doctor having 2 years experience seeks suitable placement.Contact-93615169, geethasreenathnn@gmail.com

Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com

A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualiﬁed) with 4 years experience in one of top audit ﬁrms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact: Kamran (hkamran112@gmail.com), +44 7480 1196 74. +968 93595050

Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic ﬁeld with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule). Contact: 92453375

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Mason, SH / carpenter, steel ﬁtter gulf & Indian exp looking job. Contact: 95175192

TOURS & TRAVEL Five years in travel ﬁeld B.Com. IATA & pursuing MBA including experience in the travel desk of (ITC managed) ﬁve star hotel, looking for suitable position. Contact 9470 5767, 9465 2485, 9536 4479

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 25 yrs, MBA (Finance, Marketing), Overall 2 yrs exp in Accounts/Finance ﬁeld, On Visit Visa. Immediately available. Contact - 92989197/94786544. abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com

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

25 year old male B.Com and insurance graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, ﬁnance or operations. Driving license and NOC available. Contact-95236312. lilommca@gmail.com

Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. Salary is negotiable. Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746 mohdnaveed043@gmail.com Indian Male Accountant I have 2 year better experience in accounting ﬁeld. I can do all my accounts in Tally and Excel searching for suitable job. Contact: contactsubbayan5@gmail.com GSM : +918098637908, +919087776759 Indian female 23 BA economics with computer knowledge looking for the post of Administration dept or day care or sales please Contact 96155921 or Email- fysal.nellaya@gmail.com.

Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr with 2 yrs experience in teaching & 14 months in Administration cum Secretary, Currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job. Contact: 92613704/99260702 Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com

92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

Indian Male, 26 years, with 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in Dubai, looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494/ manojmallya999@gmail.com Marine Services / Business Development having more than 15 Years experience in GCC Countries with Indian Male with experience in Operations Management / Sales and Procurement / Ship Chandling / valid GCC Driving License seeks suitable job. Presently in Oman on Visit Visa. GSM : 9053 55 65, Email : raﬁ.vprc@gmail.com Indian Female, 35years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) with 6months experience and BSc & MA seeking position as Insurance Coordinator or suitable positions in pharmacy, pharmacy stores, hospital, polyclinic & pharmaceutical companies or in front office/administration office preferably in hospital. Please contact on 90236481 Indian Male, 26 years, with 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in Dubai, looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. # 90182494 Male Locum Pharmacist with MOH & Driving License. Available on request from March to April 2016; Contact #: +968 9188 5485/+968 9943 8058. Indian male with three years of experience in IT as system administrator seeking for IT administration job placements. Presently in Muscat on visit visa. Contact 90664136 email: szuheabikram@yahoo.com Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support/Indoor sales, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/ Server support/Retail sales. Contact 92607532. Iraqi Civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available. Contact No. 96561306 iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com

MCA with 13+ yrs of teaching. Worked as PGT (Comp Sc.) in CBSE Board Schools, 2 yrs experience in s/w development. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 90477217

Indian male 28 years exp as sales executive & asst accountant. With valid Oman driving license .languages known Hindi and English. Looking for any good job Contact# 96175176

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. # 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com

Indian male AUTO CAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job.#- 99070584 / email: remluvp@gmail.com

Indian male 26, on vist visa, 2+ yrs of experience with UAE D/L, IATA-FIATA,BBA looking for any suitable job. Contact 91324567

BS in Civil Engineering Experience: 3 Year (Road Projects) Omani license: 9 Years. Contact 97427701 Email: hassanrvc1989@gmail.com

IELTS PREPARATION

Iraqi civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq, U.A.E. and Oman) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available.Contact 95626218 Email- amin.sarim007@gmail.com

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

SIT.WANTED Male Indian 27, working as ﬁnance Officer having three years Oman experience with Driving license looking for Finance/Audit/ Accounts position. Mob: 98097009, rameesnm@gmail.com MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. Presently on family visit visa. Contact: - 96259171. Email: bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian Male, total 8+years gulf experience in Document Controller / Coordinator / Secretary. Looking suitable position. Local release available. CONTACT: 94524259 EMAIL: madhuppnair@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. Contact 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com Indian female, holds LLB & Masters in business administration(MBA),2 yrs oman experience as HR & Admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ SOHAR. Contact: 96541959 IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support. Contact 92607532. Accountant. Having 6 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available) GSM. 00968-97010584, Email usman7678@yahoo.com Indian male 23 years Diploma in Mechatronic having 3years experience in production and maintenance department looking for suitable placement #+919597008904 (sachin.valappil92@gmail.com) Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605. E mail: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/networking/server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support. Contact 92607532

MANPOWER

Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop. Contact 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com Diploma (Electrical Engineering) from Government polytechnic. Age 27 years, 6 years Experience in troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 92995899, Female Interior Designer 15 months experience design and management skills ( 3D Max, AutoCAD , Photoshop, Illustrator, Coral Draw (Basic) and Sketch up (Basic) and well versed with M.S Office). 24789883 Email: sasd_shirur@yahoo.com, Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 26years (22years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement. Willing to join immediately Contact: 96328687. 18 years experienced in Shipping, ShipChandling& Marine services. Valied GCC D/L. Languages Known as English, Arabic, Hindi & Malayalam.Now in Visit Visa. GSM : 9053 5565 Indian Male ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Marketing ,construction A/c & sales , 93379044 B.Com 5yrs experience good command on tally, Excel sheet on family visa. Contact: 98002428 Email: lubnakanwal36@gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre ,now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post. Contact 99022484 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. Contact 90139903 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Oman driving license) seeking job. #90139903

SIT.WANTED Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com, Working as an administrator in Oman; searching better job. Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement. Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494, manojmallya999@gmail.com Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com. MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa. Contact :- 96259171. Email:bhumicapandya@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 26years (22years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement. Willing to join immediately Contact : 96328687.

T U E S DAY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED ED ONE STOP SHOP BUSINESS SERVICES Public relation services (PRO), Formation new companies, LLC companies, investor visa, business setup, prepare business & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company.

Contact Saleh: 96723485

GOOD NEWS

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

For rent tripper trailer and water Tanker. Contact: 91770195

RENT A CAR Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba. Contact: 99639695 / 97397320

FOR HIRE

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available for Al Khuwair, Azaiba, Al Hail to Ruwi area. Contact - 94297820 Transportation. Contact 98505294 Transportation, pick and drop. Contact - 96913836 Ruwi, Muttrah, Al Khuwair, Muscat, Qurum, seek transportation. Contact: 91132238 Transportation. Contact 99508282 /93113534 Transportation. Contact 99508282 From Mabela to Mawaleh for school student. Contact: 92757673 Transportation. Contact 92015894

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact: 99078967

Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba. Contact: 91103909

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP speciďŹ cation for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

T U E S D AY, M A R C H 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

DĂƌďůĞ Ɵ ůĞƐ ŐƌŝŶĚŝŶŐ Θ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ͕ DŽƐĂŝĐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ŐƌŝŶĚŝŶŐ Θ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ͕ carpet shampooing, sofa shampooing, pest control treatment & general cleaning of villa & building. Express Building Cleaning Services.

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽǇƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ General cleaning etc. ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> Contact : 94277020

Contact 98480070 / 94134784

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůǇͬ YĞĂƌůǇ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

LEGAL SERVICE An Indian lawyer Provides all legal ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŵƉĂŶǇ ŵĂƩ ĞƌƐ͘ Labour issues, contracts, agreements, >> ĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ůĞŐĂů ŚĞůƉ ĨŽƌ ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues. /ďƌĂŚŝŵ ů DĂƐƐĂůŚŝ͘ůĞŐĂů ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂŶĐǇ Sarafudheen, >> ͕ D , Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

FOR LADIES

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

All maintenance works such as plumbing painting masonry interlock ﬁxing etc. Contact: 91278819

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

Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422

House shifting. Contact: 99708138 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Europe beauty centre offers 50% discount on beauty packages, home services, slimming & post delivery massages. CBD – 24797813 / 97082451 / 94004152. Wadi Kabir – 24815805 / 94004153 / 96761960

House shifting packing. Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064 Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only. Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 Building maintenance. Contact: 96173326

Villa cleaning, shifting, marble crystallization, tiles polishing, shampooing sofa & carpet. Modern Eastern Arms. 92145560

*Classiﬁed Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon

Sahal Al Wadi White Trad. Specialist in repairing of cold store, chiller, A/C & refrigerator. Contact – 94528546

for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability