Times of Oman - June 8, 2015

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MONDAY, June 8, 2015 / 20 Sha’aban 1436 AH

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Is 500 baizas more really worth a life?

Campaigners, passengers and even taxi drivers have hit out at colleagues risking public safety

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FORECAST

Arabian Sea low pressure may hit Oman REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A depression that formed in the Arabian Sea, 1,200km south east of Masirah Island, has strengthened into a tropical cyclone and may impact Oman and Pakistan coasts in the coming days, say global meteorological departments.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre has said tropical cyclone 01A (one) has been tracked northwards at 05 knots over the past six hours and the maximum significant wave height will be eight feet.

Rain brings relief >A3

for a few baizas more TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

Visa fee payment

elham@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Passengers’ lives are being put at risk, sometimes for the sake of less than 500 baizas, by taxi van drivers who flout the law and install an extra seat in the front of their vehicles.

Oman Road Safety Association (ORSA) has joined calls by passengers to put an end to the illegal practice, saying it increases the risk of accident and injury and should be strictly banned by the authorities.

Passengers in Muscat have been complaining that some taxi van drivers have added an extra seat next to the main front seat to accommodate more passengers.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) is clear on the fact that this is illegal, saying, “If they put an extra seat, they will be fined. They have to stick to the allocated number (of seats) specified by the manufacturer.”

Extra money But commuters report that some drivers even ask an individual sitting in the main seat to pay for two persons if they do not allow another passenger to be seated in the extra seat. “Some drivers even do not care when a female passenger is sitting in the front. Sometimes they ask her to allow a male passenger to sit next to her in the extra seat, and if she does not, the driver would expect her to pay for two persons,” said Muna, a female expatriate who once faced this

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There is no law that mandates staff to pay any specific amount. >A2

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DARING THEFT

OMR14,700 stolen from a car parked in CBD locality Times News Service MUSCAT: In a daring theft in broad daylight, criminals broke open the window of a car and took away OMR14,700 from the parked vehicle in CBD area of Ruwi last week.

The incident happened when the owner of the vehicle had parked his vehicle in front of a bank and gone inside to withdraw money. “After withdrawing OMR14,700 from one bank, I had kept the money in the boot of the car. Then I realised, I needed more money, so I went to another bank to withdraw the money,” the victim, K Ahmed, said.

He told the authorities that he was into construction, trading, earth works, hotel, and restaurants businesses in Oman for the past 30 years. “Within 20 minutes, I returned to the car after withdrawing OMR1,000, when I discovered that someone had broken the rear window and opened

The broken window pane of the car. -Shabin E

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the boot of the car, and fled with the envelope containing the cash,” Ahmed said. He lodged a complaint with the ROP, who are now searching for the criminals. >A6 Safe banking tips >B1

OMAN

The Netherlands visa

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More than 6,000 people applied for visas at the Dutch embassy. >A3

DANGEROUS PRACTICE: The extra seat is dangerous for both the passenger and the driver. -Supplied picture

problem while taking a taxi van from Ruwi to the airport.

It is dangerous for both the passengers and the driver as the extra seat does not have any seat belt and also little room is left for the driver to change gear, she said.

Another expatriate, Irfan, says that he once almost hit his head when the driver applied the brake suddenly as he was sitting in the extra seat which is not safe at all.

Saeed, a taxi driver, said that he does not approve of his colleagues who endanger the lives of the passengers for some extra money, at times even less than 500 baizas.

“If an accident happens, they will be in trouble,” he added.

Call for punishment Speaking to the Times of Oman, Shaima Murtadha Al Lawati, chief executive officer of Oman

Road Safety Association (ORSA), warned about the many consequences of this practice and called for a crackdown on both the drivers and those who assist them in installing these seats.

“Authorities must stop this by educating the taxi drivers and imposing fines upon those who have installed these seats. Also, there should be follow-ups on removing these additional seats from the vans. As an effective measure, vehicle garages providing such a service should be shut down and their owners educated on the matter,” she said, encouraging involvement of the Public Authority for Consumer Protection to stop car garages offering this service.

The CEO of ORSA says that offering additional passenger capacity is ‘very dangerous’ for many reasons. >A6

REGION

45 killed in Yemen

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Forty-five people were killed in Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen. >A7

Camel, the pride of the community

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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The government has only declared amnesty for illegal immigrants for three months to leave the country without paying any fines Legal column

LEGAL COLUMN

No law mandates that expatriates need to pay visa fees I am writing on behalf of the workers of a cleaning company. The company has 450 workers, mostly Bangladeshis. They are not happy with the company as they are getting salaries once in two months. They are also not getting proper food, housing and other facilities.

They want to go back to their country, but the company insists they need to deposit OMR240, which they say was the cost of visa charges. The management says that since they have not completed two years in the company they have to pay the visa charges.

Does the labour law in Oman require expatriates to bear the cost of visa charges if they leave before two years?

tain period, such amounts shall be paid by the employee as per his/her contractual obligations.

It is the prerogative of any of the contracting parties to terminate the contract (whether employment or any other contract) and any contract which does not provide for an exit route is defective in law.

Times of Oman, in association with Khalifa Al Hinai Legal Consultants, will answer the legal queries of readers every Monday.

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There is no law in Oman that mandates that the employees shall pay any specific amount to the employer as visa or labour card charges if he/she does not

complete two years service with the employer. Such demands by employers do not have the sanction of law and are, therefore, illegal. However, if the contracting

parties have agreed on a certain sum as training and familiarisation fee borne by the employer to be reimbursed by the employee in case of non-completion of cer-

Expatriates are happy to hear that there is some relaxation in the labour law for three months, that is until the end of July. Can an employee, who has not completed two years in a job, exit the country and come back to Oman before July, without NOC or release?

There are no relaxation in the rules and the government has only declared amnesty for illegal

immigrants (those who are without any valid documents and those who have overstayed in the country) for three months to leave the country without paying any fines. No legal action would be taken against the illegal immigrants during this period. Those who are living in Oman without valid documents (for any reasons whatsoever) may leave the country through this scheme.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this column are for general guidance purposes only. They are based on facts presented to us and are not substitute for expert legal advice. Readers are advised to seek legal assistance for specific legal issues. Times of Oman and Khalifa Al Hinai Advocates & Legal Consultancy do not assume any responsibility towards anyone on this matter.

Oman Air to operate record number of flights to Salalah This year Oman Air will operate a

This season, we will not only utilise narrow-body aircraft on the route, but also our awardwinning Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft

record 284 return flights from Muscat to Salalah. This represents an 11 per cent increase compared to 2014 GREENER PASTURES: In 2014, 84 per cent of the additional seats that Oman Air offered during the

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Air is set to increase its flights between Muscat and Salalah during southern Oman’s monsoon season, known as the Khareef. The busier schedule will mean that Oman Air operates more flights to Salalah than ever before. The Khareef season, which brings cooling rains and an outpouring of colourful plant and animal life between June and September, is a major attraction for tourists from all over the Gulf region. For many years, Oman Air has increased the number of flights it offers to Salalah during this period.

Between June and September, Oman Air will operate a record 284 return flights from Muscat to Salalah. This represents an 11 per

Khareef were purchased. As a result, 11,000 more visitors arrived in the region compared to the previous year.–ONA

cent increase in flights compared with 2014, and also means that as many as 352,738 passengers will have the opportunity to fly with Oman Air to Salalah. Chief Operating Officer for Oman Air, Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, said, “Salalah is one of the most important destinations within Oman Air’s network, and we are delighted to be offering more air travellers than ever before the opportunity to visit this wonderful city.

“Throughout the Khareef, visitors are drawn to Salalah and the surrounding Dhofar region to experience its cool temperatures and stunning scenery. Oman Air is proud to have supported, for many

years, the growing popularity of the area, by offering unrivalled access to Salalah.

New aircraft “Each year has seen us operate more flights to the city and, this season, we will not only utilise regional and narrow-body aircraft on the route, but also our awardwinning Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft. We will be able to bring a record number of visitors to Salalah, and offer them the ultimate passenger experience en route.

This year, passengers can also check-in directly to Salalah, irrespective of where they are starting their journey from, on the Oman

Air network. They no longer have to clear baggage and recheck-in at Muscat International Airport “Tickets can be booked through local travel agents, or online at www.omanair.com. You will also find a range of outstanding packages on our website, offered in partnership with some of Salalah’s finest hotels. Demand is expected to be high and we advise early booking to avoid disappointment.”

In 2014, 84 per cent of the additional seats Oman Air offered during the Khareef were purchased.

As a result, more than 11,000 more visitors arrived in the region than in the previous year. And many travelled not only from other ar-

Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy Chief Operating Officer, Oman Air

eas of the Middle East, but also from as far away as Europe and South-East Asia.

Salalah is the principal city in Oman’s most southerly Governorate, Dhofar. Salalah and its surrounding area is rich in history and visitors can explore historic sites, such as Job’s Tomb; one of the lost palaces of the Queen of Sheba; the blow holes of Mugsail; the frankincense trail and others.

Dhofar is also the centre of the ancient frankincense trade. Its tradition of commerce is today reflected in the growth of the Port of Salalah and the increasing importance of Salalah Airport as a hub for Oman Air’s cargo operations.

C I V I L AV I AT I O N

Muscat, Salalah airport traffic increases MUSCAT: Registering an increase in air traffic, the number of travellers through Muscat International and Salalah Airports recorded a growth of 9.1% and 12.1% respectively during last April.

Passengers who travelled through the two airports during the same period reached 3,516,627, according to the latest data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The number of travellers passing through Muscat International Airport, including the transferred and transit travellers, increased to reach 3,227,912 last April.

The number of international flights recorded through Muscat International Airport last April were 26,241; with an increase of 9.7% compared to the figures recorded during the same period of 2014. The number of passengers amounted to 2,956,632, an increase rate of 9.6%. The incoming passengers totalled to 1,499,826; while the number of departing passengers reached 1,439,998. The number of transit passengers reached 16,808 persons, recording an increase of 28.5% since 2014.

The number of travellers at the Salalah Airport until the end of last April reached 288,715, who travelled on board of 2,981 flights. The number of international flights through Salalah Airport was 1,120, an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period last year. The incoming travellers reached 45,387 passengers; with an increase rate of 18%; while the departing travellers reached 54,389 travellers with an increase rate of 24.8%.-ONA

UN INSTITUTE

Sultanate to host education meeting

NEW ERA: The meeting will discuss ways of strengthening

cooperation between the International Institute for Educational Planning and various educational agencies in Oman.–Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: Education policies will be in focus as Oman, represented by the Ministry of Education, will host a meeting of the council of Unesco International Institute for Educational Planning in Muscat on Wednesday.

The meeting will be held in the presence of the Chairman of the Institute Directors’ Board, Director of the Institute, and a number of international figures, as well as Dr Madiha Al Shibaniyah, minister of education, who is a member of the Institute Directors’ Board.

The institute, founded in 1963, is supervised by an independent board of management that sets polices, programmes and budget for the institute and provides periodic reports on the progress of the Institute to the General Conference of Unesco.

It is one of the world’s pioneering institutions, developing policies, planning and management fees in the field of education, and is dedicated to supporting governments of the member states in the planning and management of educational systems.

A joint meeting will also be held under the auspices of Dr Rawia Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education, on Tuesday morning.

The meeting will discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the International Institute for Educational Planning and various educational agencies in Oman. The meeting is to be held in the presence of the Chairman of the Institute Directors’ Board and the Director of the Institute, along with members of the Board of Directors, including Dr. Madiha Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education.

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W E AT H E R C O N D I T I O N S

Rain brings much-needed respite in Mudhaibi and Sohar REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Rain and thundershowers brought much-needed relief from the searing heat for residents in Sohar and Al Mudhaibi on Sunday afternoon.

“Wadis in Sohar are overflowing following the rain which started at around 1pm. Roads in Al Mudhaibi are flooded,” said Bader Ali Al Baddaei, an administrator of www. rthmc.net, a local Web-based forum that discusses weather trends in Oman.

According to Oman meteorological department’s latest advisory, thundershowers are expected in Buraimi, Fahud, Rustaq, Ibra, Madha, Saiq, Samail, Bahla, Ibri, Nizwa, Adam, Suwiaq, Mudhaibi,

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Mhout, Sunaynah, Saiq, Al Amerat, Bidiya, Qurriyyat, Bidbid and Saham. Last Friday, hailstorms and medium to heavy rainfall lashed the northern parts of Oman. Ibri, Yanqul, Dhank were hit by a heavy hailstorm which lasted for more than two hours.

According to Public Authority of Civil Defense and Ambulances (PACDA) services, two persons were saved by Coast Guard at Qurum beach from drowning. The rescued people had sustained medium injuries and are admitted to a hospital.

WELCOME RAINS: Roads in Al Mudhaibi were flooded following the rains. Wadis in Sohar too were overflowing which started at around

1pm. According to meteorological department’s advisory, thundershowers are expected in some regions on Monday. - Photo courtesy www.rthmc.com

‘New visa centre to boost service’ To facilitate issuing more visas to Omanis and other applicants in Oman, Netherlands government has outsourced the services to VSF Global

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: More than 6,000 people applied for visas through the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands last year but that number is expected to double thanks to the opening of the Netherlands Visa Application Centre at VSF Global in Muscat Grand Mall.

The new visa application centre, located on the 1st floor of the Tilal Complex, opens to the public Sunday and will provide Schengen visas to travel to the Netherlands, the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.

“Omanis are most welcome in my country, the Netherlands.

Dutch people feel very much at home here in Oman, we feel welcome, and we want Omanis to have the same feeling when they visit our country,” said Barbara Joziasse, ambassador of the Netherlands.

In 2009 there 800 visa applications submitted to the Dutch embassy. By 2014 this number had increased to 6,100, a sign of a growing demand for visas. To facilitate issuing more visas to Omanis and other applicants in C B S E I N T E R NAT I O NA L

ISG students excel in exam

Times News Service MUSCAT: Students of CBSE International at Indian School Al Ghubra (ISG) came up with an impressive performance at the CBSE Grade 10 and 12 Examinations held in March.

Nadha Zainab Thope, Suryadev Arunkumar, and Swayamprava Satpathy scored CGPA 10.

In the first group of Grade 12 students, Joy Joseph Mullapally topped with 87.4 per cent.

GLOBAL PARTNERS: Barbara Joziasse, the Netherlands ambassador, expects the number of visa applications to double with the setting up of the new centre.–OK Mohammed Ali/TIMES OF OMAN

the Sultanate, the Dutch government has outsourced the services to VSF Global.

“We all realise that the consular section is the face of the Netherlands so we feel that professional, high quality and efficient service is needed. Therefore, I am assured...that in future high quality, friendly services will be rendered to all people coming in for a visa,” Joziasse added.

Strong demand With the new centre the Netherlands embassy expects that the number of visa applications will double, Joziasse said.

There is a strong demand for visas and the centre will reduce the waiting times.

The VSF Global Schengen Visa Application Centre has a dedicated website for easy access to information, including visa categories, requirements and check-list, applicable fees and application status, a call centre and email support, tracking of application status and SMS alerts for visa status update on mobile phones, prime time appointment service allows applicants to lodge their applications beyond the normal processing hours, a premium lounge service for people

wishing for faster services for an extra fee, and door-step delivery of passports.

“VFS Global is honoured to be the trusted partner to the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to be able to extend our services to Oman and Dubai.

We are committed to offering a convenient and accessible service with modern facilities for travellers in Oman,” said Ajit Alexander, of VSF Global.

Christian Winter, ambassador of Switzerland to Oman, said his government was also pleased with the opening of the new visa application centre, which will issue visas to people making Switzerland their country of arrival into the Schengen area.

“We are very grateful to have this cooperation. Switzerland is a well-known and popular country among Omani citizens and residents alike in terms of business, tourism and international conferences. I’m confident that with the new arrangement with VSF Global will run smoothly,” he said.

The visa office will be open from Sunday to Thursday, from 8am to 4pm.

For more information visit http://vfsglobal.com/netherlands/oman/.

US CONTEST

Winners of Mars project honoured MUSCAT: Winners and supervisors of the “Supporting Life System in Mars Project” in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2015 competition, were honoured by Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Chairman of the Council of Education, in his office on Sunday.

The winners include students of Umm Al Khair School for Basic Education in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah.

The honouring ceremony was held in the presence of Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed al-Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education.

The competition was organised from May 5 to May 10 in Pennsylvania in the USA. The Sultanate took part in the 66th edition of the competition with three projects.

The competition had the participation of 78 countries.-ONA

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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6,000

trees have been planted across Dhofar as part of the Native Tree Planting Campaign was initiated in 2012.

‘You can see all layers of history in Cyprus’

ECOLOGY

Cyprus is keen to boost tourism GREEN CAUSE: The Native Tree Planting Campaign is aimed at planting indigenous trees and spreading awareness about environmental conservation.– Supplied photo

cooperation with the Sultanate. There are a variety of festivals and water activities that tourists can indulge in during their stay in Cyprus

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI elham@timesofoman.com

Tree planting drive to boost Dhofar’s habitat Times News Service MUSCAT: Aiming to protect Dhofar’s natural habitat and raising awareness about environmental sustainability, the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) recently planted 900 indigenous trees in Dhofar Governorate, as part of its Native Tree Planting Campaign.

ESO worked with partner Nama Group, that sponsored this phase of the project.

More than 80 volunteers participated in the drive, in a bid to revitalise Dhofar’s ecosystem and protect its biological diversity. Trees were planted at seven sites, including Salalah College of Applied Sciences, Salalah College of Technology, and Dhofar University.

“Indigenous trees face numerous threats, including overgrazing, desertification, and declining water levels. This initiative is important, as it gives us the opportunity to safeguard the local environment, in addition to combatting climate change and producing more oxygen,” said Dr. Hamed Al Gheilani, Community Outreach Manager at ESO. He added, “I would like to thank our partners, including the

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, Royal Court Affairs, and Nama Group, as well for their commitment and volunteers.”

Ghada Al Yousef, Executive Manager, Communications and Sustainability at Nama Group said, “The tree planting activity fits very well with our environmental objective under our sustainability programme. We believe in the importance of involving our staff in many sustainability activities in order to promote a culture of volunteering throughout the organisation, which will effectively create a positive ripple effect in the community.”

The Native Tree Planting Campaign was initiated in 2012 and has a joint focus of planting indigenous trees and spreading awareness about environmental conservation through workshops.

Each year, the initiative has become more popular and has, so far, planted over 6,000 trees across Dhofar. The plantings have contributed significantly to conservation efforts aimed at safeguarding more than 800 indigenous tree species found in Oman’s southernmost region.

MUSCAT: Every year, around two and a half million tourists visit Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea which lies at the crossroads of three continents. The country has a lot to offer to Omani travellers, the ambassador of Cyprus to the Sultanate has said.

“In Cyprus, you can see all the layers of history. You can step back in time and enjoy the rich culture,” said Costas A. Papademas, who spoke proudly of his country, which has one of the oldest histories in the world.

The first signs of civilisation in Cyprus traced in archaeological excavations and research date back 11,000 years to 9th millennium BC. “At the same time, you can enjoy the Cypriot legendary hospitality, and you will be given the warmest of welcomes in Cyprus,” the ambassador said in an interview to the Times of Oman.

Tourists will be impressed by the stunning landscapes and ancient historical and cultural sites as well as the peaceful coexistence among people of different religions, he said, adding that Cyprus is keen to boost tourism cooperation with the Sultanate.

“Last year, Cyprus’ minister of energy, commerce, industry and tourism visited Oman and held meetings with a number of senior officials to explore the opportunities that exist in the tourism sector and other fields,” the ambassador said.

Papademas said the visa process is very simple and most of the times, the visa is issued on the very day the application is submitted.

Cyprus, which became a member of the European Union (EU) in 2004, is one of the countries that have supported a decision to elimi-

ANCIENT MEMORIES: Cyprus’ painted churches, archaeological museum, exquisite floor mosaics of Roman villas depicting scenes from mythology, are a big attraction. – Photo courtesy Cyprus Tourism Organisation

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You will be given the warmest of welcomes in Cyprus... and hopefully Omanis can visit Cyprus and the EU without visa soon Costas A. Papademas

Ambassador of Cyprus to the Sultanate

nate visa requirements for Omanis travelling to the EU, he said.

“The decision is there. It will take maybe a year to complete, and hopefully Omanis can visit Cyprus and the EU without visa soon,” Papademas added.

Expansive coastline According to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, the island state is famous for its expansive coastline with a wide variety of beaches ranging from lively resorts to secluded bays, sandy beaches and rocky coves.

There is also a myriad of fes-

tivals and activities that tourists can indulge in during their stay in Cyprus, which include snorkelling or diving in the warm crystal clear seas, windsurfing, sailing, coastal cruising, deep-water fishing and bungee jumping.

Tourists visiting Cyprus can also plan a visit to Choirokoitia, one of the best preserved sites of a prehistoric settlement found in the Eastern Mediterranean, which, according to Cyprus Tourism Organisation, gives a vivid representation of what life was like at the dawn of civilization. They can also see the ancient cities of Kourion

or Amathus, the Temple of Apollo and many other sites.

Cyprus’ painted churches, Archaeological Museum, the exquisite floor mosaics of the Roman villas depicting scenes from mythology and the underground Tombs of the Kings nearby are other sites worth visiting.

The ambassador said tourism attractions are only part of what Cyprus has to offer.

Medical tourism The country receives many medical tourists from all over the world every year due to its excellent healthcare system that offers value for money and quality medical treatment at affordable prices, said Papademas.

Available treatments in Cyprus include elective surgery, cardiology, orthopaedic surgery, dentistry, cosmetic and plastic surgery, eye surgery, advanced reproductive technology and climatotherapy treatments. Education is another field where Papademas would like to see further cooperation between Cyprus and the Sultanate.

“In Cyprus, we have very highstandard, internationally accredited institutions. We offer an opportunity to Omani people who are interested to study in Cyprus,” he said, adding that the island spends more than the EU average on education per capita.

E N V I R O N M E N T D AY

PDO launches waste management drive Times News Service MUSCAT: As part of its drive to be a more sustainable operator, Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) marked the World Environment Day by rolling out a major recycling programme in its offices.

The company is installing 35 metallic waste segregation bins across its Mina Al Fahal headquarters to collect papers, plastics,

cans and general waste. More bins will be set up in interior locations by the end of the year.

The waste management drive, “Reduce....Reuse....Recycle,” is part of PDO’s new “Bea’tona” (Our Environment) campaign that aims to target PDO staff, contractors, visitors and the wider Omani public.

Other recent ‘green’ initiatives of PDO include a clampdown on

water wastage in response to the recent shortages in Oman, with an increased focus on reporting water leaks and guide lines to reduce water usage in company office and residential areas.

In addition, the company is trying to cut back on its use of paper by discouraging staff from printing reports and presentations.

In the interim, it has introduced black-and-white printing only,

which is five times cheaper than colour. Managing Director Raoul Restucci said, “The new measures to cut waste make both good environmental and financial sense.

“We are dedicated to greater sustainability in the way we work – and this extends from the amount of energy, water and materials we use to produce oil and gas right down to the number of paper cups and plates we throw away.”

The PDO is partnering with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs (MECA), the Environment Society of Oman and the Oman Environmental Services Holding Company, Be’ah, in the matter of the Bea’tona campaign, which will focus on different themes every year such as littering, energy conservation, renewable energy, and water conservation.

The new measures to cut waste make both good environmental and financial sense.

G C C - S TAT

Common statistical surveys planned for GCC countries Times News Service MUSCAT: Common statistical surveys are being planned for the next five years in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

This was discussed in the board meeting of the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-STAT) held recently in Muscat. The meeting discussed the implementation of the road map for the statistical system in GCC countries for the period 2015 to 2020 and the action programme for 2015.

The meeting also reviewed the recommendations of the meetings of the technical committees and the working groups, and also discussed the most important

developments in the field of statistics, the role of the GCC-STAT and the national statistical centres in all GCC States in enhancing statistical work in the region.

Census 2020 The meeting also discussed the progress of the Harmonised Gulf Register-based Census 2020.

In addition, the meeting approved a number of policies for the Centre such as the policies of information technology, and statistical analysis along with the green policy.

The roadmap includes the implementation of a number of common statistical surveys in the GCC countries during the next

five years in order to supplement the users of statistics inside and outside GCC countries with coordinated statistics in various fields. The road map also includes the preparation phases for the GCC population census that will be carried out in 2020.

The GCC-STAT began its operations in May 2013, in the development of statistical work in the region through co-operation and coordination with other GCC statistical centres, and by working on improving the quality of statistical indicators and data, regulating the mechanisms of data collection and dissemination using the best international practices in this area.

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SEMINAR

Focus on developing public organisations’ vision and mission MUSCAT: Means to develop public performance is the focus of a five-day seminar that opened on Sunday at the Institute of Public Administration.

The seminar was opened by Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service, and is being organised by the Ministry of Civil Service for the e-conversion teams at the public organisations.

The seminar covers the public departments’ vision and mission.

Public performance The seminar comes in implementation of the recommendations on developing public performance in light of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s Royal Vision and the action work team’s recommendations, which were ap-

proved by Council of Ministers.

In a statement to reporters, the Minister of Civil Service said the Royal Directives always highlight the importance of increasing the level of public performance and expediting the implementation of e-government to ensure speedy processing of transactions by the respective stakeholders.

He added that efforts are being

made now to implement the Royal Directives as the Council of Ministers has recently approved the recommendations submitted by the action team which was formed of representatives from a number of organisations to discuss the recommendations of the seminar on ‘Mechanism for Developing Governmental Performance,’ which was organised earlier by

‘I Wish’ plans party for children with cancer two weeks, but since we have to look after our own jobs, this is not always possible. So we try to fulfil wishes and meet the children when we have free time. Our goal is to expand to different wards and help people affected by all sorts of conditions, and give them a reason to smile when there are a thousand reasons for them to be sad,” Puja explained.

The event will be held at the Royal Hospital on Thursday and there will also be entertainment and gifts for these children

Times News Service MUSCAT: “I Wish,” a group formed to grant wishes of children suffering from cancer as well adults suffering from long term illnesses, is all set to host a preRamadan party.

“This time we are having a get together for the kids with cancer, and their mothers and siblings, at the Royal Hospital on Thursday, 11th June, from 10am to 12.30pm.

It will be held at the hospital recreation centre. We will have food and drinks for all, and there will be entertainment and gifts for

ALL FOR THEIR SMILES: ‘I Wish’ was formed to grant wishes of

those who need it the most, including children suffering from cancer or adults suffering from long term illnesses. – File photo

the children,” said Karen van de Ruit and Puja Khimji, founders of the group.

They explained that “I Wish” was formed to grant wishes to those that need it the most, whether it be children who suffer from cancer or adults suffering from long term illnesses. The aim is to help the needy and give them something to smile about.

“I Wish” currently helps children at the Royal Hospital, who suffer from cancer. The wishes range from iPads and mobile phones to basic strollers for parents who can no longer make the commute from the interior to the hospital by simply carrying their child in their hands.

“We aim to make trips to the hospital to visit the children every

Donors buy the wish Saying that it’s always nice to be able to get the community involved, Karen said, “For this reason the wishes are put up on Facebook, giving our followers a chance to contribute to the well being of others. No funds are collected directly by us. Instead, the donors buy the wish and we always try to get them to come to the hospital to hand over the wished for object directly as we feel this is an integral part of the process.”

“We are two people acting as middle men between those who need help and those who can help.

We hope to expand and bring smiles to many more people with the help of our community. You can be part of this initiative by logging onto our Facebook page facebook.com/iwishoman,” Karen and Puja said.

the Ministry of Civil Service.

Vision and mission The recommendations include developing a vision and mission for each public agency. These visions and missions should be inspired by the government’s vision and mission which focus on providing public services efficiently.

Sayyid Salim bin Mussalam

Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Civil Service for Administrative Development Affairs, delivered a speech in which he said the meeting comes within the efforts made to develop public performance and follow up on the best practices that facilitate procedures at all ministries, as directed

by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. -ONA

K H O U L A H O S P I TA L E V E N T

Progress made in orthopaedics services reviewed Times News Service MUSCAT: Progress made in providing orthopaedics services in Oman was one of the main topics of discussion at a meeting here on Sunday.

The Directorate General of Khoula Hospital, represented by the Orthopaedics Department, held the meeting at the hospital to discuss the topic “Journey of Orthopaedics in the Ministry of Health.”

The meeting was sponsored under the patronage of Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Hosni, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Affairs. Dr. Ali Al Mashani, Director General of Khoula Hospital, and some 60 doctors from regional hospitals were present at the meeting.

The meeting sought to review progress made in providing orthopaedics services in Oman and reviewing the Oman National Joint Registry, as well as the achievements and vision of Khoula Hospital and regional hospitals, such as those in Sohar, Rustaq, Nizwa, Sur, Buraimi, Ibri, Ibra and Salalah.

Dr. Mohammed Al Lami, Senior Consultant and head of the Or-

TAKING STOCK: More than 60

doctors from regional hospitals attended the meet. – Supplied photo

thopaedics Department at Khoula Hospital noted, “This meeting is a celebration of the fruitful cooperation between Khoula Hospital and the referral hospitals in the Sultanate, under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. The Orthopaedic Department has witnessed remarkable development in all its services”.

A6

M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

OMAN

After they have created their pieces, I will then market their creations and they will receive their share of the profit as well as my share to buy materials Muna Zayed, Jordanian expatriate

Jordan expat in Oman wins creativity award

ARABIAN SEA

< FROM

A1

Depression is to intensify further Wind speed (km/h)

ARABIAN GULF Abu Dhabi

based on helping

I make these baskets for wrapping gifts in a decent manner and at the same time, the cost is much less for the customer

the community by coming up with creative ideas that could benefit the community

TARIQ AL HAREMI

Muna Zayed

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A Jordanian expatriate living in Oman has won Philadelphia’s ‘Creativity for a Cause’ competition held in the UAE. She talked exclusively to the Times of Oman about her winning idea and future plans.

Muna Zayed, a science and biology teacher from Al Ibdaa International School, participated in the competition for the second year and submitted her idea on creating well-wrapped gift baskets for anything and any occasion.

The competition is based on helping the community by coming up with creative ideas that could benefit the community.

“Many women don’t have a spouse, or the spouse cannot fully support the family, or cannot leave her house for one reason or another; whether due to restric-

June 11 10:00am June 10 10:00am

Muscat

The competition is

Jordanian expatriate

tions or kids. You also have people who are physically disabled and use a wheelchair; they can’t keep going out,” Muna said.

“So why can’t they produce and earn money like any other person in the community?” she added.

Her winning idea teaches women to make handicrafts from their own home, by wrapping inexpensive gift baskets and selling them to make a profit.

“My idea is to help them. Nowadays, people buy costly gifts and pay a lot for it to be perfectly presentable. So I make these baskets for wrapping gifts in a decent manner and at the same time, the cost is much less for the customer,” Zayed said.

“So instead of paying a large

sum, you could pay half of what you would originally pay and, at the same time, have the satisfaction of having someone work, who isn’t working to start with,” she said.

Muna is ready to train any woman who is interested to learn the art of wrapping using any material creatively.

“After they have created their pieces, I will then market their creations and they will receive their share of the profit as well as my share to buy materials. They will make money for their creations,” she said.

Muna is currently looking for sponsors and supporters for her idea such as banks, goodwill foundations, and societies to send

people who wish to learn the art, or supply materials for the handicrafts or provide market for her creations.

Women are encouraged to join her in learning the art of gift wrapping and they, too, will benefit from the project.

The Oman resident left the competition with over OMR5,000 in winnings and is looking to start helping women of the community to produce and profit from their production.

“I want to thank Philadelphia for their support and their efforts for making this competition possible for us to actually help contribute to society,” Zayed said, thanking the organizers of the competition.

CBD AREA

Tropical storm in the Arabian Sea (Oman time)

60 - 90 Tropical storm

June 12 10:00am

SEA OF OMAN

Sur

90 - 120 Severe cyclonic storm

June 9 10:00am June 8 10:00pm

Masirah Duqm

Salalah

June 8 10:00am ARABIAN SEA

Source: tropicalstormrisk.com

At present, the system lies centred at 15.5N 68.5E in the Arabian Sea. However, an official from the Oman meteorological department said at least 48 more hours are needed to say whether it would impact Oman or not.

“We cannot say anything now.

Maps show the development of the Arabian Sea depression into a deep depression. At present it is located at 1,200 km far from Oman coast.

The speed of the wind is 25 to 35 knots,” the official added.

The Indian meteorological department has forecast that the depression would move northnorthwestwards and intensify further into a deep depression during next 24 hrs.

The tropical storm risk centre has also projected that the depression is moving towards Muscat coast, adding that the tropical storm may convert into a Category 1 storm on June 10.

The wind speed of Category 1 storm will be ranging between 119153 kilometres per hour.

A meteorologist from Accu-

June 7 10:00pm Graphics

weather.com said the storm is expected to move northwards on Monday, but then numerical forecast models diverge on a solution.

“Some models take the storm into Oman, and others into southern Pakistan. What that means is still too early to predict, but there is a threat of impact from Oman to Pakistan,” Anthony Sagliani, the international meteorologist at Accuweather.com, wrote in an email to the Times of Oman.

On Sunday, the Pakistan’s meteorological department has updated its cyclone warning statement and has advised the fishermen of Sindh and Balochistan not to venture in open sea.

According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, the system is intensifying rapidly and the cloud configuration is indicating all the features of a tropical storm.

“We now expect the weather system to strengthen into a tropical storm shortly,” the statement from Skymet said. “If it forms into a cyclone, it will be named Ashobaa,” the Skymet said.

DANGEROUS DRIVING

Front seats don’t A1 have seat belts < FROM

BROKEN GLASS: Daylight robbery form a car. – Shabin E

‘Money was kept A1 in an envelope’ < FROM

“I think someone may have tailed me and watched me place the cash in an envelope,” he added.

He suspects that his auto’s front window may have been smashed with a hammer or cut open with a glass cutter.

“But surprisingly, all this happened in broad day light and that, too, in front of a reputed bank’s parking area,” he added.

Ahmed was withdrawing the money to pay the salaries of his employees.

“I have a large number of peo-

ple on my payroll, so I thought of paying them before the weekend,” he said.

He also claimed that this is the second such incident that happened within a span of 20 days.

“On May 14, one of my employees, with a hired driver, withdrew OMR6,500 from a bank in Al Ghubra to pay salaries. On the way to Al Amerat, he stopped at a coffee shop in Al Amerat for breakfast. Then the driver fled with the money, along with the car keys,” he said.

“This seat does not have a seat belt since it was not installed from the beginning in the car. It was probably added later on by a local garage. Passengers who do not wear seat belts and have a frontal crash are most likely to suffer a head injury,” said Al Lawati.

Even if the seat had an installed seat belt, it would not be effective as seat belts have to be installed by the manufacturing company to stay effective in case of crashes, she added.

“Such seat belts simply come undone in case of a crash due to high speed. When a crash occurs, occupant of a vehicle without a properly installed seat belt will continue to move at the same speed at which the vehicle was travelling before the collision. They can be ejected from the vehicle completely,” Al Lawati noted.

Being ejected from a vehicle drastically increases the probability of sustaining severe inju-

ries or being killed, she added.

In a typical seat belt system, the belt webbing and the retractor mechanism keep the passenger’s body in the seat during the crash, the official explained.

In addition, Al Lawati said increasing the load of the vehicle is likely to affect its performance.

Also, stopping distances become greater, which increases the possibility of a crash occurring, the road safety expert added.

Accessibility is another concern as Al Lawati says that adding a seat will reduce the space available for riding and getting off the taxi van.

“This is very dangerous, especially in emergency cases of crashes. It takes longer to evacuate the vehicle with increased possibilities of being injured,” she said.

There must be no auxiliary seating accommodations such as temporary or folding jump seats in any vehicle, the CEO of ORSA concluded.

CAMEL

The pride of the community WADI BANI KHALID: This is an animal that reminds us of the past, of the days of hardships, of tradition, as also of the resilience of Omani people. Camel, the ship of the desert, enjoys a special status in Oman.

The Sultanate accords special status to camels, the pride of the community.

Camel racing as a local sport is eagerly followed by the public and raising of camels is seen as a matter of pride as the animal’s links with the Omani people go back to ancient times.

The relationship between the Omanis and camels is deep rooted. Nicknamed the “Ship of the Desert,” the camel is an evidence of living and bearing with hardships, as reflected by its unique ability to withstand thirst, and trot long distances.

Special attention Thanks to the policies and attention of the government of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who takes a keen interest in the welfare of these animals through the establishment of veterinary clinics, camels enjoy great care in the Sultanate.

The ‘Ship of the Desert’. – ONA

Also, there is the Royal Camels Corps which looks after camels in the Sultanate. Along with the Omani Camel Racing Federation, these two are the most important government institutions tasked with caring of camels in Oman.

Camels are classified as per their age. Haja’ej camels are those under the age of three; Laqaya are 3-4 years old; Yeada’ 4-5 years old; Thanaya 5-6 years old and Hool are more than 6 years old.

A six-month old camel is called Hawar; a one-year-old is called Makhlool; from one to two years Mafrood ; from two to three Hiq ; a four-year-old camel is called

Jitha; from five to six years old Thnai, while Al Fatir camel is a she-camel that has given birth more than five times and is considered old.

The Royal Camel Corps pays special attention to authentic Omani camels by offering care and following scientific methods of breeding that are available at “The Camel Breeding Centre.”

The Royal Camel Corps keeps records of camels in terms of type, ancestry and other details.

It takes part in local and regional races, and keeps records of results of races and encourages camel racing as a sport in the Sultanate.

A camel race called -- His Majesty’s Cup is held annually.

The Omani Camel Racing Federation was set up in 2006. As the OCRF activities began, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said allocated OMR1,000,000 to the camel racing sector to be spent on establishing race tracks.

The Royal Camel Corps expanded the races in various governorates and regions of the Oman, a move that led to spreading the sport and enhancing the enthusiasm of citizens to acquire the best camels and breed them. -ONA

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

REGION

It’s the first time that the international coalition has supported non-Kurdish opposition forces fighting the IS Rami Abdel Rahman, Director, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

Coalition raids kill 45 in Sanaa, 100 injured The raids on the army headquarters in central Sanaa came a day after the kingdom’s air defences shot down a Scud missile fired from Yemen

SANAA: Twenty civilians were among at least 45 people killed in Saudi-led air strikes on the rebelheld armed forces headquarters in the Yemeni capital early on Sunday, a medic said.

The raids on the army headquarters in central Sanaa came a day after the kingdom’s air defences shot down a Scud missile fired from the war-torn country.

They also followed the UN confirmation of June 14 as the start date for peace talks between warring Yemen factions in Geneva, which both the country’s Houthi rebels and its exiled government said they will attend.

“At least 20 civilians and 25 soldiers and officers were killed” in four raids that hit the headquarters in the Tahrir residential neighbourhood in central Sanaa, the medic said.

Residential buildings hit The raids hit residential buildings, including five houses that were completely destroyed, witnesses said.

The rebel-controlled Saba news agency said 44 people were killed and more than 100 wounded “including woman and children”.

Seven Sunday air raids targeted

UP IN SMOKE: Smoke billows following an air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition on an army arms depot, now under Houthi rebel control on Friday, east of the Yemeni capital Sanaa. – AFP

the Jumaineh military base, east of the capital Sanaa, according to witnesses. The base belongs to the elite Republican Guard that has remained loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has allied himself with the Houthis.

Other raids hit an arms depot at Nahdain, south of Sanaa.

Several rebel positions in the north, mainly in the Houthi stronghold Saada province and the provinces of Hajja and Amran, were heavily bombarded overnight by the coalition, witnesses said.

In the south, coalition jets targeted rebel positions on the northern and western outskirts of second city Aden in support of southern fighters backing exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. Fighters from the southern

Popular Resistance were attempting to prevent rebels from advancing towards the neighbourhoods of Al Masnoura, Dar Saad, Sheikh Othman and Al Buraiqa, according to a pro-Hadi military commander.

“Several Houthi rebels and allies were killed or wounded,” said General Fadhl Baesh.

Riyadh said the Houthis fired a Scud missile at Saudi territory on Saturday, a day after their rebel allies killed four Saudi soldiers in cross-border attacks.

Yemen has been engulfed in turmoil since the Houthis seized the capital in September and advanced on the southern city of Aden, forcing Hadi to flee into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition has carried out air strikes on Yemen since

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A7

March 26 to push back the Houthis and restore Hadi’s authority. More than 2,000 people have died since the air campaign began.

The United Nations urged Yemeni parties to engage in talks in Geneva without preconditions.

The meeting would be the first significant effort to stop the fighting, which has led to what the UN says is a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

Houthi rebels said they will attend the talks, and Yemen’s government exiled in Riyadh also said it would take part.

In line with UN Security Council Resolution 2216, Hadi’s government had refused to attend unless the rebels pulled back from at least some of the territory they have seized. — AFP

WA R - T O R N C O U N T RY

US-led raids hit IS battling Syrian rebels, Al Qaeda BEIRUT: US-led aircraft bombed IS militant group fighters as they battled rival Syrian rebels, including Al Qaeda loyalists, for the first time overnight, a monitoring group said on Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor described the raids in northern Syria’s Aleppo as an intervention on the side of the rival rebels, even though they include forces that have previously been targeted

by US-led strikes. “The coalition carried out at least four strikes overnight targeting IS positions in the town of Suran,” the Britainbased group said.

“It’s the first time that the international coalition has supported non-Kurdish opposition forces fighting the IS,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. He said at least eight IS fighters were killed in the strikes and another 20 were injured.

IS seized control of Suran a week ago, and has since been fighting an alliance of hardline rebels including Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front and the Ahrar Al Sham movement in the surrounding area.

Targeted Both Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham have been targeted in USled raids, including as recently as May 20, when a strike in Aleppo province killed 15 Al Nusra fighters. Like IS, Al Nusra is blacklisted as a “terrorist organisation” by Washington. IS has been seeking to expand its territory by seizing the Aleppo province towns of Marea and Azaz, which lie on key supply routes for the rival rebels.

Online, IS supporters accused Al Nusra and Ahrar Al Sham of collaborating with the US-led coalition, denouncing them as “America’s spies” and collaborators with the “crusader coalition”.

Despite sharing a militant ideology, Al Nusra and IS are fierce rivals, with IS seeking to expand in territory it holds in Syria and Iraq. Al Nusra pledges allegiance to Al Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahri, but has for now confined its ambitions to Syria and has allied with conservative hardline groups fighting the regime and IS. Air campaign The US-led coalition began its air campaign in Syria last September but the majority of its strikes have been confined to areas where IS has undisputed control or is battling Kurdish forces.

Syria’s conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government demonstrations but descended into a war after a regime crackdown.

It has evolved into a complex battle with multiple fronts, and involving the regime, rebels, militants and Kurdish forces.

On Sunday in northeastern Syria, the Observatory and Syrian state media said government troops had pushed IS fighters back from Hasakeh city after fierce fighting.

IS began an assault on city, which is capital of the province of the same name, on May 30, that has left 119 dead, among them 71 regime forces and 48 IS fighters, 11 of them suicide bombers.

By Thursday IS had advanced to the city’s southern entrance.

“IS, which has been at the southern entrance of the city since Thursday, was forced to pull back two kilometres after fierce combat with regime forces,” the Britain-based monitor said.

Syria’s official SANA news agency also reported the fighting, saying the army had retaken several positions captured by IS in recent days, including an electricity station and a prison being used as a military base. — AFP

A8

M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

INDIA

It is a matter of great satisfaction to our Chairman, Subrata Roy Sahara, that the Indian flag will continue to fly on these three globally-renowned hotels Sahara group spokesperson

R A I S E F U N D S T O S E C U R E R E L E A S E O F S U B R ATA R O Y

HOT WEATHER PREVAILS IN NORTH INDIA

People jog as the sun rises over the Ganges river in Allahabad, on Sunday. Heat wave conditions prevailed across north India on Sunday with the mercury hovering above 40 degrees Celsius mark in many areas. It was a hot Sunday for Delhiites, with the mercury settling over 42 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal. According to the weather office in Jaipur, Churu recorded the highest temperature at 45.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Barmer which sizzled at 44.8 degrees. - Reuters

Sahara group averts Grosvenor House sale LONDON/NEW DELHI: In a major deal for Sahara, billionaire brothers David and Simon Reuben are set to take over the crisishit Indian group’s Bank of China loan for its three hotel properties — thus averting a ‘defaulttriggered’ sale of the iconic Grosvenor House hotel in London.

When contacted, a Sahara group spokesperson confirmed that a “last-minute deal” has been negotiated with the Reuben brothers and the talks are in final stages now, but did not comment on the deal size.

A report in the Sunday Times, however, pegged the debt refinance deal at $850 million.

The Grosvenor House hotel was put on sale by its lender Bank of China earlier this year after a ‘technical default’. Sahara Group has been trying to raise funds to secure release of its Chairman Subrata Roy, who has been lodged in Tihar Jail for over a year, through monetisation of its various assets, including the three overseas hotels.

When contacted, a Sahara group spokesperson said in a statement that the group has “successfully managed to avert the enforced sale of the iconic Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

“A team led by Group Chairman has successfully negotiated a last-minute deal with the Reuben Brothers, who are now in the final stage of taking over the loan portfolio from the Bank of China.

The other properties owned by the group are the New York Plaza hotel and the New York Dream hotel.”

The group further said that the “deal restores Sahara’s ability to renegotiate the loan terms with the new lender, or with third parties.

The negotiations that are already underway are expected to generate new money for meeting the Group’s immediate requirements in the Supreme Court of India.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction to our Chairman, Subrata Roy Sahara, that the Indian flag will continue to fly on these three globally-renowned hotels,” it added. - PTI

Modi accuses Pakistan of creating ‘nuisance’, promoting terrorism SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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The Prime Minister’s

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sharp criticism came during the course

to India’s role in peacekeeping operations across the world, noting that Indian soldiers had fought alongside ‘Mukti Jodhas’ (freedom fighters) as well for Bangladesh.

“Yet India has still not got a permanent seat on the UN Security Council,” Modi said.

of his address at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre here when he vowed to combat terrorism in the region jointly with Bangladesh

COURTESY CALL: Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid, left, talks with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at presidential residence Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Sunday. - AFP

DHAKA: In a blunt attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused it of creating “nuisance” and “constantly” troubling India by promoting terrorism.

The prime minister’s sharp criticism came during the course of his address at the Bangabandhu International Convention Centre here when he vowed to jointly combat with Bangladesh terrorism in the region.

“Pakistan aaye din (constantly) disturbs India, jo naako dum la deta hai (creates nuisance), terrorism ko badhawa (deta hai)...ki ghatnaayein ghatti rehti hain (promotes terrorism and such incidents keep recurring),” Modi said

in his address to Dhaka University.

Recalling that 90,000 Pakistani prisoners of war were in India’s captivity during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Modi said, “if we had a diabolic mindset, we don’t know then what decision we would have taken.”

“Terrorism has no boundaries.

India has been troubled by it for the last 40 years. So many innocent people have died and what did those associated with terrorism gain and what have they given to the world... terrorism has no values, no principles, no traditions and it has only one motive and that is enmity against humanity,” he said.

A Joint Declaration issued on the last day of Modi’s maiden twoday visit to Bangladesh reaffirmed

the two countries’ “unequivocal and uncompromising position against extremism and terrorism in all forms and manifestations.”

Committed The two sides also committed to cooperate with each other by sharing information about groups and persons indulging in terrorism.

“They reiterated their commitment that their respective territories would not be allowed to be used for any activity inimical to the other,” the declaration said.

In his address, the Prime Minister came out strongly against expansionism, saying there is no place for it in today’s world.

“The world has changed, there was a time when may be expan-

sionism was used to be the symbol of a country’s power as to which one is expanding how much and reaching which place...but times have changed.

Now in this era there is no place for expansionism and the world wants development not expansionism and this is the basic vision.

Making a strong pitch for re forms of the UN and its Security Council, Modi said India has still not got a permanent seat in the UNSC. “India is a country which never fought to gain land. 75,000 Indian soldiers had sacrificed their lives for others in the First World War, and 90,000 in the Second World War,” he said.

The prime minister also referred

Settlement On the settlement of the 41-yearold land boundary dispute by swapping of documents regarding the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), he said, “If people feel LBA is a pact of few kilometres of the land it is not true, it is a meeting of hearts rather than just an agreement in the world where all battles were fought for land.

“On the long-pending Teesta water-sharing deal, Modi said the issue has to be solved with a humanitarian perspective. Water issues need to be resolved from humanitarian perspective. I am confident we will be able to do so,” he said, adding that, “It is the responsibility of both sides to ensure that a solution is found.”

The prime minister, who held bilateral talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina after which 22 pacts were signed on Saturday, said, “while people thought we were just near (paaspaas) to each other, now the world would have to acknowledge that we are not just paas-paas but also saath-saath (together).” -PTI

Bangladesh honours Vajpayee DHAKA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received on behalf of Atal Behari Vajpayee Bangladesh’s prestigious Liberation War Honour for his “active role” in the country’s freedom struggle, saying the Bharatiya Janata Party veteran was an “inspiration” to him and other political workers.

President Abdul Hamid handed over the Bangladesh Liberation War Honour to Modi at a glittering ceremony at Bangabhaban, the President’s house, as 90-yearold Vajpayee is ailing and unable to travel.

The function was attended by Premier Sheikh Hasina, her Cabinet colleagues, eminent citizens, diplomats and top Bangladeshi officials.

Modi, while receiving the honour, hailed Vajpayee’s leadership, saying the “great leader” was a source of inspiration for political workers including him. - PTI

EXCESS LEAD

India seeks damages from Nestle after noodle scare NEW DELHI: India’s government has filed for damages from food group Nestle after a food scare involving reports of excess lead in Maggi noodles forced a nationwide recall, government officials said on Sunday.

“It’s a serious matter concerning public health and the law allows us to take suo moto legal steps, or legal actions, against erring entities,” said one official in the consumer affairs department of the food ministry.

The claim, made on behalf of Indian consumers, was not filed through the courts but with the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), which has semi-judicial powers and will decide on the merits of the case and the size of any damages.

The officials said Nestle was being accused of unfair trade practices, adding this is the first case in which the Indian government has sought damages from a multinational.

TOTAL RECALL: A shopkeeper removes packets of Nestle’s ‘Maggi’ instant noodles from the shelves in his shop in Siliguri on Friday. - AFP

A Nestle spokesman in India said the company had not received any official notification as of Sunday, and could not comment. The food ministry sources said NCDRC would notify the company when the case comes up, likely next week.

Nestle has been under fire in India since one regional regulator said in May that it had found evidence of excess lead and monoso-

dium glutamate (MSG) in some packets of Maggi instant noodles, a cheap and hugely popular snack.

Since then, several state regulators have followed, and Nestle said early on Friday that it would temporarily withdraw all Maggi noodles from the country’s shelves, though it reiterated the products were safe.

Total Maggi sales in India, including sauces and condiments, account for less than 1 per cent of Nestle’s group annual sales, but brand damage could be significant in a country where the noodles are ubiquitous, in homes and roadside eateries.

Nestle fielded its global chief executive on Friday to help quell one India’s most high profile food scares in a decade.

Indian newspapers reported separately on Sunday that the national food safety agency planned to inspect all Nestle’s manufacturing facilities across India as a result of the scare. - Reuters

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INDIA

Modi more of an EM (events manager) than a PM: Aiyar Since the NDA government assumed

But as I have watched him from the sidelines, I persist with the view that he has not risen to the occasion and that the country would be well-advised to turn him down at the next opportunity

power, there has been dissatisfaction among people, particularly farmers, said the Congress lawmaker

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Mani Shankar Aiyar sees Narendra Modi more as an EM, or events manager, than a PM and says the best thing about the one year of his government is that “there are only four years left” and the countdown to the end of his ‘achhe din’ has begun.

“Since the NDA government assumed power, there has been dissatisfaction among people, particularly farmers,” he says.

He claims that every indicator of economic growth is either staggering or falling.

“The only aspect of the Indian economy that has risen is the Sensex. Every indicator is either staggering or falling except where international conditions have been exceptionally helpful like declining trend in oil prices and revival in the global economy,” Aiyar, whose stint in the Rajya Sabha will end next year, said.

Mani Shankar Aiyar Congress leader

Aiyar’s new book, Achhe Din? Ha! Ha!!, a collection of his articles on various topics, including the government’s performance and the Congress, will be released this week by Palimpsest.

In the foreword, he writes, “I believe his (Modi’s) penchant for self-praise and self-publicity will redound on him.

“People will start asking whether this is a PM or an EM — an events manager.

“As action trails far behind rhetoric, his credibility has already

started its downward spiral. The momentum will get accelerated as the gap widens between his flair for clever lines and his inability to match words with delivery.”

Wrong prediction Aiyar, however, accepts that he “went hopelessly wrong in thinking he (Narendra Modi) could not possibly win.

“He did get the mandate to run the country. But as I have watched him from the sidelines, I persist with the view that he has not risen

A9

to the occasion and that the country would be well-advised to turn him down at the next opportunity.”

He also sees the prospects of a newly-minted Congress only improving.

“We are now consolidating ourselves before we start preparing for the 2019 elections. The best thing about the Modi government is that there are only four years left.We will start positioning ourselves in 2017 to take on Modi,” the former union panchayati raj minister says.

On Rahul Gandhi’s sabbatical,

he says it was argued that it was eccentric, at best, and thoroughly irresponsible, at worst, for the Congress vice president to vanish just as the Land Acquisition Ordinance was capturing national attention but it was “not as unusual as is being made out”.

Confidence “The confidence with which Rahul spoke at the April 19 kisan rally, and the attentiveness with which he was heard, demonstrated that his absence notwithstanding, the Congress, under the leadership of his mother, had built up the momentum for Rahul’s homecoming to be a memorable occasion,” he writes.

Aiyar terms as the “worst of a coalition of opposites” the BJPPDP government in Indian-administered-Kashmir where the partners are “indulging in what can only be described as competitive communalism”.

He is not too optimistic of another Rajya Sabha term, going by the numbers the Congress has.

“But, I will continue to make myself available to the party.

“I also have a number of writing assignments.

“I am doing a major book on panchayati raj and also an updated version of my book on Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 25th death anniversary which falls next year.

“Besides I have been asked by a major publisher to pen my autobiography. I have a tentative title in my mind — Leaf in the Wind:The autobiography of an unsuccessful politician,” he says. - PTI

SUBJUDICE

‘Only court will decide Ayodhya issue’ NEW DELHI: Ayodhya issue cannot be resolved by bringing a legislation and would be decided only by court, All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Sunday said after Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and some BJP leaders demanded that the government step in to build Ram temple.

“It has been said that a legislation should be brought in Parliament to build a Ram temple but it is not possible because the matter is before the apex court.

The matter will not be resolved through legislative means but by the court,” Board’s spokesman Abdul Rahim Qureshi said.

The apex Muslim body stressed that the matter was subjudice and it will accept the decision of the court.

“The matter is before the Supreme Court and whatever verdict it gives will be acceptable to us,” he said.

Raking up the Ram temple issue, BJP MP Vinay Katiyar who was the face of the Ayodhya movement of 1990s, had recently said the Modi government should “move to resolve” the matter without waiting for the Supreme Court verdict.

He said the government should address the issue either through legislation or talks, fulfilling the BJP’s promise.

Katiyar, now a Rajya Sabha member, earlier represented Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency, under which Ayodhya falls.

Taking a dig at Katiyar, Qureshi said the BJP leader was making such statements to gain attention after he was sidelined in government formation at the Centre. - PTI

MARS MISSION

Mars mission spacecraft to enter 15-day ‘blackout’ phase BENGALURU: Starting Monday, the country’s low-cost Mars mission that is in a rendezvous with the red planet for an extended period will enter the “blackout” phase snapping communication with the satellite.

From June 8 to 22, the sun will block Mars from the earth snapping communication with the satellite. The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) during this period will go

into an “autonomous mode” and will take its decisions, a senior Indian Space Research Organisation official said.

“This will be for the first time that there will be a communication break for such a long period of about 15 days. During this period, there will not be any communication with the satellite,” he said.

Expressing confidence about regaining control over the satellite

once the blackout phase is over, he said, “the scenario has been tested for earlier; line of communication will be established.”

Configured The spacecraft’s life was extended for another six months in March due to surplus fuel.

Stating that the spacecraft has been “configured” for the blackout, the Isro official said, “we are

TIE-UP

Nitish, Lalu forge alliance to contest Bihar assembly polls NEW DELHI: Ending suspense over the issue of a tie-up, Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday decided to contest the state assembly elections in alliance and constitute a six member committee to finalize seat-sharing.

“It has been decided in today’s meeting that a committee of three members each from RJD and JD-U will decide seat sharing and leaders of both parties will give a final shape to it. It has been decided now that both parties will fight the election in Bihar in alliance,” Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said.

He was talking to reporters after a two-hour long meeting between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad at the residence of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was approached by the two parties to broker peace after days of sparring between leaders of the two parties.

Asked about the contentious issue of chief ministership, the SP general secretary said, “There is no dispute (Koi gahma gahmi nahin hai).These things will be taken care of later. The real thing is seat sharing...”

Seat-sharing arrangement Emerging from the meeting Ram Gopal expressed confidence that the leaders of the two parties will complete the task of devising an effective seat-sharing arrangement very soon.

The SP general secretary was reading from a resolution adopted at the meeting which was also read out separately by JD-U general secretary K C Tyagi.

Leaders from the three parties refused to elaborate on the

JOINING HANDS: Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav. – PTI file photo

matter further. These decisions were taken after back to back meetings here.

Nitish Kumar, who had arrived in the national capital on Saturday, drove down to the residence of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi where they held discussions for almost an hour-and-a-half.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Prasad had landed in the national captial when Kumar was meeting Rahul.

After weeks of sparring by leaders of their parties, Kumar and Prasad, who had not met for quite some time, on Sunday sat across the table at Mulayam’s residence in order to remove the irritants in the path of forging an alliance to thwart BJP’s attempt to wrest power in the politically sensitive state.

Congress has lent its weight behind the Bihar chief minister, making it clear that while it would like a grand alliance with Lalu and Kumar, it would rally around the latter if an alliance between the two Bihar-centric parties fails to materialize.

While Kumar immediately left for Patna after the meeting, Lalu Prasad stayed on and was later

joined by Sharad Yadav for another round of talks at Mulayam’s residence.

Kumar, who came out of the meeting smiling, did not talk to reporters. After weeks of sparring by leaders of their parties, Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad sat across the table at Mulayam’s residence in order to remove the irritants in the path of forging an alliance to thwart BJP’s attempt to wrest power in the politically sensitive state.

JD(U) president Sharad Yadav was also present in the meeting.

The meeting, first between Lalu and Nitish in many weeks, apparently failed to resolve the differences between the two leaders on the issue of chief ministership.

While JD(U) has been insisting on Nitish to be declared as the chief ministerial candidate, Lalu has maintained that the issue can be addressed later.

The RJD leader had his way as the matter has been kept pending.

Sunday’s meeting came after Sharad Yadav’s assertion on Thursday that RJD, JD(U) and Congress will contest the elections together. - PTI

not sending any commands to the spacecraft now, till 8th (June) few hours of signals will be sent by the spacecraft-that will be for about two to three hours per day.”

In May next year, the mission will have to go through a similar phase once again, if there is another extension of mission life when the Earth will come between the Sun and Mars. Scripting space history, India on September 24 last

successfully placed its low-cost Mars spacecraft in orbit around the red planet in its very first attempt, breaking into an elite club of three countries.

The Isro spacecraft was launched on its nine-month-long odyssey on a homegrown PSLV rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on November 5, 2013 and had escaped the earth’s gravitational field on December 1, 2013. - PTI

AUTONOMOUS MODE: The Mars

Orbiter Mission from June 8 to 22 will go into an ‘autonomous mode’. - PTI file

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

PAKISTAN B A L O C H I S TA N

Five gunned down in Quetta attack

BRIDAL COUTURE WEEK

Models present creations by Pakistani designer Shabnam Naz during Bridal Couture Week in Karachi, on Saturday. — Reuters

QUETTA: At least five people belonging to the Hazara community were gunned down in Quetta’s Circular Road area near Meezab Chowk on Sunday evening.

Unidentified armed men on two motorcycles opened indiscriminate fire on the victims, who were sitting outside a tea shop in the area.

Died on the spot Four of them died on the spot, while one person was shifted to Combine Military Hospital Quetta, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Bodies of the deceased were shifted to the civil hospital and the CMH. They have been identified as Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Idrees, Kazim, Zeeshan and Nematullah.

As news of the attack spread, the main bazaars of Quetta shut down.

Police and FC have cordoned the area, and have initiated an investigation.

Earlier on May 27, two Hazaras were shot dead near Meezan Chowk.

On Saturday, gunmen shot dead four policemen — including a sub-inspector — in a targeted attack in a troubled suburb of the provincial capital. — Express Tribune

Improper urban planning impacts Islamabad climate Islamabad and its surrounding territory is exposed to a host of factors accelerating climate change impacts such as marked changes in the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation and floods

ISLAMABAD: The urban areas of the capital, compared to the surrounding rural areas, have become an island of heat because of increase in local atmospheric and surface temperatures.

This is said to have been caused by an increase in residential bulk from 60 per cent with floor area ratio (FAR) 1:0.5 to 170 per cent from FAR 1: 1.7. FAR is used to limit the intensity of land use to lessen environmental hazards.

Islamabad and its surrounding territory is exposed to a host

ISLAND OF HEAT: Women carry pots full of water as they walk on Margalla Hills in Islamabad on January 13, 2014. A UN report said in absence of proper planning and development of effective rainwater drainage systems, urban flooding occurs roughly once every three years as a result of overflow of the Nullah Leh which causes loss of human lives and damages properties. — Reuters file photo

of factors accelerating climate change impacts such as marked changes in the intensity, frequency and variability of temperature, precipitation and floods.

Excessive amounts of atmospheric aerosols, ozone depleting substances emitted by industries, brick kilns, stone crushing units and automobiles exceed the permissible limits prescribed under the national environmental quality standards in the urban areas.

This was revealed in a study

titled Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of Islamabad launched by the United Nations Human Development Programme (UN Habitat) at the Ministry of Climate Change on Friday.

The report says that the extreme events recorded so far in Islamabad include a highest maximum temperature of 46.6 degree centigrade on June 24, 2005 and the lowest at -4.3 degree centigrade on December 1984. In 2001, the heaviest rainfall was recorded

at 621mm falling in just 10 hours.

An analysis of climate change trends from 1961 and future projected scenarios up to year 2100 revealed that temperature has become substantially warmer.

The mean annual temperature change in the capital from 1960 to 2010 was by one degree centigrade whereas in the central area the temperature rise in the same period has been 3.5 degrees centigrade.

“This temperature rise is dou-

ble the global average,” the reports said.

The climate change impacts have been aggravated due to human-induced actions which are the root cause of global warming, said the report, adding that Islamabad presents an ideal case for triggering and intensifying climate change impacts due to a significant violation of the city’s original master plan. That plan provided provision to preserve and enhance ecological conditions, particularly in Zones III, IV and V, but several revisions in the master plan relaxation were allowed.

The report also states that in absence of proper planning and development of effective rainwater drainage systems, urban flooding occurs roughly once every three years as a result of overflow of the Nullah Leh which causes loss of human lives and damages properties..

An estimated 45,000 vehicles are being registered annually in Islamabad while the CO2 emission from consumption of diesel/ petrol and CNG in the transport sector is estimated at 3 million tonnes per year.

It was also estimated that the emission of greenhouse gases from brick kilns, other industries, transport and land use change in Islamabad and Rawalpindi is about one billion tonnes per annum.

Health related climate change impacts in Islamabad and the ICT is evident from increasing number of respiratory skin and eye diseases. — Express Tribune

B I R T H D AY C E L E B R AT I O N S

17 perish on first day of Sufi saint festival SUKKUR/HYDERABAD: Sweltering heat and a road crash claimed the lives of 17 people in Sehwan town of Sindh, as the annual birthday celebrations of 13th century Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar began on Saturday.

At least 10 people fell prey to the temperatures, as the mercury surged to 44 degrees celsius in the small town located in the foothills of Khirthar mountains, some 146 kilometres off Hyderabad.

Another five died on the Indus Highway’s 136km stretch between Jamshoro and Sehwan when two cars crashed into each other. Two more bodies were brought to the Sehwan taluka hospital whose identities could not be ascertained.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah confirmed 11 deaths while talking to the media in Mirpurkhas district. He said an inquiry has been ordered into the deaths as well. “The inquiry committee will submit its report within three days and we will take action if official negligence is established,” he added. Mairaj, Edhi Foundation’s regional in-charge, confirmed 10 deaths and identified eight of the victims as Noor Khatoon, 50, Javed, 45, Amjad, 46, Sabir Hussain, 40, Muhammad Sharif, 80, Muhammad Anwar, 35, Fakeer Hussain, 70, and Muhammad Nawaz Marri, 36.

A road accident between a highroof van and a car left five passengers, including two policemen, dead and six others injured.

The car also caught fire after the accident which was doused by the people nearby. — Express Tribune

M AY 2 0 1 3 E L E C T I O N S

PTI rejects PPP’s claim about rigging in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreeke- Insaf (PTI) has rejected Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) claim that the May 2013 elections were rigged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

In its reply submitted before the inquiry commission probing alleged rigging in the last general elections, the PPP had claimed that the polls were rigged and the results were a shocking surprise, especially in Punjab and the K-P where returning officers (ROs) and presiding officers were used to subvert the result.

“The PPP will examine the witness at the appropriate time, if so minded. The material and record it relies on is contained in the electoral bags of the constituencies in the Punjab and the K-P. In addition, it will submit an analysis

by experts drawn from statistics given in a DVD obtained from the ECP (Election Commission of Pakistan),” it had stated.

The PPP had also alleged that the elections were rigged in the K-P in both national as well as provincial assemblies’ constituencies.

Generalised allegation Submitting a rejoinder to the PPP’s reply before the inquiry commission, the PTI’s counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said that other than an inchoate, generalised and unsubstantiated [allegation] against the PTI, the PPP’s reply does not mention or provide any evidence or material to substantiate any such insinuation or interference in the conduct or organisation of general election 2013 by or on behalf of the PTI.

The PPP had claimed that the polls were rigged and the results were a shocking surprise, especially in Punjab and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where returning officers and presiding officers were used to subvert the result

“The PTI has offered that if the PPP has any direct or admissible proof of any direct or indirect role or involvement of the PTI in the manipulation of last general elections then it should bring on record before the commission for the consideration at the earliest possible opportunity and if it (PPP) does not bring such evidence then

in all propriety formally withdraw the insinuations and allegations against the PTI,” the reply said.

It also submitted that neither the PTI was in the K-P government prior to the general election and nor it had any direct involvement in the selection and appointment of caretaker government.

“Therefore, it did not have the

means or opportunity to unduly influence or manipulate the last general elections in the province of the K-P,” it said.

The reply also claimed that the percentage of extra ballot papers in constituencies’ situation in the K-P was the lowest as compared to the constituencies situated in other three provinces.

Duty of poll body The PTI agreed with the PPP that it is the duty of the ECP to answer the questions related to the elections rigging.

“If the PPP examines ay witness or brings any documents or material on record then the PTI reserves the right to produce evidence and witness in rebuttal,” the reply further stated.

Meanwhile, the top court has

fixed the writ petition against the return of the PTI lawmakers to parliament after an absence of many months. Zafar Ali Shah, who recently retired from the upper house of the parliament, contended in his petition that these MNAs were aliens to the National Assembly and have no right to attend the parliament’s session.

The Islamabad High Court has already rejected his plea, declaring it not maintainable. Later on, the PML-N leader filed an appeal in the apex court against the high court’s order. — Express Tribune

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5 A man sits in front of the sea as dark clouds brought by Hurricane Blanca hover in the sky, in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Sunday. Hurricane Blanca weakened to a category 1 storm on Sunday morning as it approached Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to the latest update form the US National Hurricane Center. — Reuters/Stringer

NEW YORK

Manhunt on in US as two convicts escape prison NEW YORK: Police backed by K-9 units and helicopters staged a manhunt Sunday for two convicted murderers who escaped from New York state’s biggest maximum security prison by cutting through cell walls with power tools and escaping along tunnels.

Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, pulled off the unprecedented breakout from the allmale Clinton Correctional Facility in the small town of Dannemora sometime between Friday night and early Saturday.

Police said the discovery was made during a pre-dawn bed check and warned the duo should not be approached. The inmates reportedly left a taunting note behind on a yellow Post-it saying: “Have A Nice Day.” Adjoining cells The pair, who lived in adjoining cells, used power tools to drill through walls and pipes and left sweatshirts and other clothing in their beds as decoys to make it appear they were still in their cells, officials said.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Twitter he had toured the route the pair took to freedom, posting images of the path the men were believed to have cut to escape.

Overnight on Saturday, police with bulletproof vests and rifles manned roadblocks on routes leading into and out of Dannemora, a village of 1,700 people located 170 miles north of the state capital Albany, near the Canadian border.

No one has ever previously escaped from the maximum security portion of the prison, which opened in 1865, according to Cuomo.

“These are two dangerous individuals, one was incarcerated for killing a sheriff, so these are dangerous people,” said Cuomo, who cancelled a scheduled appearance at the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday to travel to the prison.

“And they are nothing to be trifled with.” He added: “By definition, it was an extraordinary act.”

Tactical support More than 200 law enforcement officers were deployed in the search, assisted by a variety of tactical support, including K-9 units, SWAT teams and helicopters.

Matt and Sweat were found missing during a 5:30 am bed check, according to state police.

“Both are considered to be a danger to the public. If located DO NOT approach them. Contact 911 or the New York State Police immediately,” authorities said in a statement. — AFP

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

WORLD

Erdogan’s vision for nation at stake as Turkey votes They say ‘If Erdogan gets what he wants on Sunday he will be unstoppable.

They actually mean Turkey will be unstoppable’, said the Turkish president

ISTANBUL: President Tayyip Erdogan sought a crushing victory for his vision of a “new Turkey” at parliamentary elections on Sunday, a vote that could furnish the country’s most divisive modern leader with sweeping executive powers.

The mood was tense at some polling stations, particularly in the mainly Kurdish southeast, after a bombing on Friday killed two people and wounded at least 200 at a rally for the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

The attack has sharpened attention on the HDP, which is look- CRUCIAL VOTE: A Turkish woman casts her ballot as she votes in Turkey’s general election at a polling station in a primary school in ing to enter parliament for the capital city Ankara, on Sunday. — AFP first time as a party. Its success could put an end to 12 years of due at 1800 GMT although au- heartland, including the city of single-party rule by the AK Party thorities could lift a reporting ban Konya where Davutoglu voted.

Erdogan founded.

Erdogan may lose votes of some before then.

Erdogan hopes the AKP can win While constitutionally required Turks, especially the secularly a resounding majority to change as president to stay above party minded. the constitution and create a U.S.Others impressed by democratpolitics, Erdogan has held ralstyle executive presidency. Oplies throughout a confrontational ic reforms in his first two terms of ponents say his vision would lack campaign, joining Prime Minister government may now be disennecessary checks and balances Ahmet Davutoglu in attacking op- chanted by a clampdown on the from other branches of state. media and apparent intolerance position parties.

“They say ‘If Erdogan gets what of criticism. he wants on Sunday he will be unSome conservatives see him ‘New Turkey’ stoppable’,” Erdogan told a rally in The two have portrayed the elec- as too conciliatory towards the northeastern province of Artion as a choice between a “new the Kurds. dahan on Saturday.

The PKK is designated a terTurkey” or a return to a history “They actually mean Turkey marked by short-lived coalition rorist organisation by the United will be unstoppable.” governments, economic instabil- States and EU as well as Turkey. “I While the AKP is expected to ity and coups by a military whose am worried. I don’t want the HDP again be by far the largest party, CONFIDENT: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan casts his ballot influence Erdogan has now reined to cross the threshold because of it may be unable to secure an out- at a polling station during the parliamentary election in Istanbul, in. HDP leader Selahattin Demir- their links with terrorists,” said right majority if the HDP crosses Turkey, on Sunday. — Reuters tas, voting in Istanbul, saw abuse 45-year-old Tahsin Karaman, the 10 per cent threshold to enter a night security guard, voting of electoral process. parliament. The HDP has wid“The election campaign did not in Istanbul. ened its appeal beyond its Kurd- gion, Haram said her priority was strength of our democracy,” Er“I used to support the AK Party ish core vote to centre-left and ending conflict between Ankara dogan told reporters after voting happen in the framework of a just and fair contest.” Erdogan has but this time I am voting for the secularist elements disillusioned and the rebel Kurdistan Workers on the Asian side of Istanbul.

He also said he believed turn- championed religious conserva- MHP. It’s a warning vote,” he said, Party (PKK), which took up arms with Erdogan.

“I am certain the HDP will ex- in 1984 in an insurgency that has out was strong, something that if tives who he says were treated as referring to the rightist Nationalborne out could favour AKP. Er- second-class citizens over dec- ist Movement Party. — Reuters ceed the threshold. My only worry killed 40,000 people.

Ankara launched peace talks dogan wants the AKP to secure ades of secularist rule. is the theft of votes,” said Bahar He cultivates an image of TurHaram, a 25-year-old social ser- with the PKK more than two years 400 of 550 seats, a supermajority key that draws more on its Ottovices worker voting in Diyarba- ago. The HDP’s presence in parlia- which looks unlikely.

HAVE YOUR SAY At the last parliamentary elec- man history and culture, orienting kir, the biggest city in the south- ment could be crucial to pushing Send us your comments at tion in 2011, the party won 49.8 it to the Middle East rather than east, where the HDP draws most that process forward. facebook.com/timesofoman “God willing, our nation’s deci- percent of the vote. Polling ended the West. The message resonates of its support. blog.timesofoman.com Like many people in the re- sion this evening will confirm the at 1400 GMT. First results were with voters in Turkey’s Anatolian haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

W E A LT H Y D U C H Y

Luxembourg rules out full voting rights for foreigners LUXEMBOURG: Luxembourg overwhelmingly rejected in a referendum on Sunday giving full voting rights to foreign nationals, who make up nearly half the population.

Almost 78 per cent of voters in the tiny European country said “No” to allowing foreigners the vote, according to results from 91 polling stations.

Had the vote been carried, the tiny landlocked country of over half a million people would have been the first in the European Union to grant foreign-born residents the right to vote in all the country’s elections.

Prime Minister Xavier Bettel had billed the referendum as a chance to boost the democratic credentials of the wealthy duchy, which is nestled between Belgium, France and Germany.

A “Yes” vote would be “a yes to more democracy, a yes for the youth, a yes for diversity,” Bettel told AFP during campaigning Saturday in the capital, also called Luxembourg.

“There is no other European country where only 40 per cent of the population elects its representatives,” Bettel told journalists ahead of the referendum, in which 244,382 people were eligible to vote.

About 46 per cent of the total population of 565,000 people are foreigners. — AFP

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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UNIQUE: A picture taken on Sunday in Luxembourg city shows

posters asking Luxembourg’s citizens to vote ‘yes’ in a referendum on giving voting rights to expatriates. — AFP/ BELGA/ANTHONY DEHEZ

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T IME S O F O MAN

M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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Rise of anti-Muslim incidents in the West

THE INDEPENDENT

T

he recent spate of incidents in the West, mainly in the US, does not augur well for the safety and security of millions of American Muslims. One feels reassured by the responses to some of these incidents at the institutional level, with the US Supreme Court giving a ruling in favour of a Muslim woman’s right to don the headscarf at her workplace and an airline apologising to a Muslim passenger for the behaviour of a flight steward. But the conduct of institutions strikes a rude contrast with that of the public in the US who, despite being the most democratic polities, seem to have become increasingly wary of Muslims. Moreover, the very democratic nature of these societies, in the wake of such unhealthy mind sets, may have the potential to adversely influence the behaviour of institutions as well.

Which is worrying.

Recently, about 250 mostly-armed anti-Muslim demonstrators — many wearing T-shirts bearing a profanity-laced message — faced off against a crowd of roughly the same size defending Muslim sensibilities in front of a Phoenix mosque. It was deemed a patriotic sign of resistance by the organiser. The incident occurred after two Phoenix residents carrying assault rifles were killed by the police outside a cartoon-drawing contest in suburban Dallas. The organiser of the protest claimed that he had received threats from ‘terrorists’ on Twitter, and that he and his family no longer felt safe in their home. Although the event was marked by inflammatory messages and a tangible divide between the two sides, it wasn’t without some reconciliation. However, one of the members of the group defending the mosque was quoted as saying: “A lot of them, they’ve never met a Muslim, or they haven’t had interactions with Muslims. So when you sit down and talk like rational people, without all these slogans, without being bigots, without bringing guns, they will find out that they’re talking to another human.”

The radical registers of liberal thought in the US continue to propagate a ‘freedom’ which fails in freeing anyone. It colonises the sensitivities of millions of Muslims and disowns their sentiments. It capitalises on one-off tragedies to trigger permanent misery. Poisoning the lives of peaceful Muslims in the West is no way to battle the atrocities of terrorists. But the blame for this disconnect between American Muslims and mainstream Americans also rests on the shoulders of the former. It has been widely observed in the US that most American Muslims tend to live within their own tightly-knit, exclusive communities. Many make it a point to avoid social contacts with non-Muslim communities of the US. In such an arrangement, even the slightest misunderstanding between the two communities can turn into red-hot conflict within no time, threatening to break out into armed clashes. So, it is in the political, social and religious interest of the American Muslims and Muslims living in Western societies to closely interact and engage with their non-Muslim countrymen at all levels, so as to let them know that you are as humane as any civilised human being.- The Express Tribune

COMMENTARY

Avoiding conflict in the South China Sea JOSEPH S. NYE

Europe’s shared responsibility

T

he European Commission’s proposal last week of a system of quotas to distribute migrants among the European Union’s 28 member states is a welcome step toward a permanent, more equitable process for dealing with the waves of migrants seeking safety and opportunity in Europe. EU regulations now stipulate that it is the responsibility of the country where migrants arrive to accommodate them and process asylum requests.

That has left Italy and Greece overwhelmed by the recent tide of migration from Africa. The commission‘s proposal would provide emergency relief to Italy and Greece by relocating 40,000 Syrian and Eritrean asylum seekers (economic migrants would be repatriated) who arrived there after April 15 to other European nations over the next two years, while working on a permanent plan. That is very little to ask of the countries that are not doing their share.

Yet, several countries that are run by right-wing governments, or are facing rising anti-immigrant sentiment, are having none of even this modest proposal.

Hungary, Poland, Latvia and the Czech Republic have all protested any use of mandated quotas. Voluntary quotas, as these countries know, are meaningless. Britain and Ireland have the option under EU treaties of “opting in” — hardly likely in the case of Britain, given the anti-immigration stance of Prime Minister David Cameron’s government and Cameron’s pledge to hold a referendum on whether Britain should leave the European Union. The new proposal has strong backing from Germany, which took in 203,000 asylum seekers in 2014, the most of any European country. Germany’s support is appropriate, given its relatively robust economy. But even Germany has expressed concern, together with France, that the plan should take into consideration how many asylum seekers countries have already taken in. This is a reasonable demand. - The New York Times News Service

It would be better if the ban is reduced to 6 months This refers to the news story, Will two-year ban on NOC drop to one year? (June 7). Yes, the two-year ban should drop to one year or six months if possible. Employees who have completed the agreement with their existing companies should be able to change jobs without an NOC. Suhail Ahmed Muscat

Ban and NOC rule have not augured well for Sultanate This refers to the news story, Will two-year ban on NOC drop to one year? (June 7). The NOC rule should not be made applicable for those who have already completed two years with a particular company and have honoured the

contract. It is time to review the rule and make the job market as competitive as possible.

Sameer Shah Muscat

Conflicting information is only adding to confusion This refers to the news story, Will two-year ban on NOC drop to one year? (June 7). I wonder what benefits the ban and the NOC rule have brought to business in Oman.

I have been hearing all sorts of conflicting things about the ban and NOC rule for the past several months. Some say the government isn’t really considering reviewing the rules while others are saying that the ban and the NOC rule may be withdrawn soon or, at least, reduced. I have also been hearing that the ban may not be appli-

When the dispute over Mischief Reef erupted, Chinese officials failed to clarify the meaning of the nine-dashed line, but, when pressed, they agreed that the dashes demarcated areas where China had sovereign claims

W

hen a US Navy P8-A surveillance aircraft recently flew near Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, it was warned eight times by the Chinese Navy to leave the area. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that, “China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity is as firm as a rock.” US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter replied that, “(T)here should be no mistake about this: the United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows us, as we do all around the world.” So, is a USChina conflict in the South China Sea imminent?

In 1995, when I was serving in the Pentagon, China began building structures on Mischief Reef, which is claimed by the Philippines and lies much closer to its shores than to China’s. The US issued a statement that we took no position on the competing claims by five states over the 750 or so rocks, atolls, islets, cays, and reefs that comprise the Spratlys, which cover a vast area — 425,000 square kilometers (164,000 square miles) — of the South China Sea. We urged that the parties involved settle the disputes peacefully. But the US took a strong stand that the South China Sea, which includes important sea lanes for oil shipments from the Middle East and container ships from Europe, and over which military and commercial aircraft routinely fly, was subject to the United Nations Law of the Sea Treaty (UNCLOS).

To back up its territorial claim, China relies on a map inherited from the Nationalist period — the socalled “nine-dashed line,” which extends nearly a thousand miles south of mainland China and sometimes as close as 40 or 50 miles from the coastline of states like Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. All of these states claim the 200-mile exclusive economic zones granted under UNCLOS. When the dispute over Mischief Reef erupted, Chinese officials failed to clarify the meaning of the nine-dashed line, but, when pressed, they agreed that the dashes demarcated areas where China had sovereign claims. At the same time, they agreed that the South China Sea was not a Chinese lake, and that it was governed by the UN treaty. On this basis, the US and China avoided conflict over the issue for nearly two decades. But China did not avoid conflicts with its maritime neighbors. Although it pledged to adhere to a code of conduct negotiated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2002, it used its superior military might in disputes with the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2012, Chinese patrol vessels chased Philippine fishing boats away from Scarborough Shoal off the Philippine coast, and the Philippine government has taken the dispute to the International Tribunal

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for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which China claims has no jurisdiction. In 2014, after China stationed an oil rig in waters claimed by Vietnam, ships from the two countries engaged in ramming and water-cannon battles at sea; anti-Chinese riots in Vietnam followed.

The region’s smaller states sought American support. But the US remained careful not to be drawn into the competing claims over sovereignty, some of which are tenuous, while on others China sometimes has a stronger legal position. Moreover, the US had to focus on larger issues in its relationship with China.

This began to change when China initiated an active policy of dredging sand to fill in reefs and build islands in at least five locations. Earlier this year, analysts released images of what is expected to be a 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) runway on Fiery Cross Reef. The US argues that UNCLOS grants foreign ships and planes free access beyond a 12-mile territorial limit, while China claims that military flights cannot cross its 200-mile economic zone without its permission. If China claimed such a zone for each of the sites it occupies, it could close off most of the South China Sea. As one US official put it, China seems to be trying to “create facts on the ground” — what Admiral Harry Harris, the US commander in the Pacific, calls a new “great wall of sand.”

China correctly declared that it was within its sovereign rights to dredge, and that it was merely following the lead of its neighbors, whose governments had also been creating structures to bolster their claims.

But American suspicions were heightened by the fact that in 2013, in a separate dispute between China and Japan over the Senkaku/Daiyou Islands in the East China Sea, the Chinese government unilaterally declared an Air Defense Identification Zone without prior warning. The US response was to fly two B-52 bombers through the unrecognised zone. This set a precedent for the recent naval reconnaissance flight (which had a team of CNN reporters on board).

The US response was designed to prevent China from creating a fait accompli that could close off large parts of the South China Sea. Nevertheless, the original policy of not becoming embroiled in the sovereignty dispute continues to make sense. The irony is that the US Senate’s failure to ratify UNCLOS means that the US cannot take China to ITLOS over its efforts to convert reefs into islands and claim exclusion zones that could interfere with the right of free passage — a major US interest.

But, because China has ratified UNCLOS and the US respects it as customary international law, there is a basis for serious direct negotiation over clarification of the ambiguous nine-dashed line and the preservation of freedom of the seas. With properly managed diplomacy, a US-China conflict in the South China Sea can and should be avoided. - Project Syndicate

cable to those who have already honoured their contracts and have stayed on with a company for at least two years. However, these are all unconfirmed reports as the government has not yet come out with any statement on this. As for rumours, they are only increasing.

A.M. Shah Wadi Kabir

water. But the common people affected by this crisis are yet to be told when this ordeal shall be over; when shall we receive normal supply of water again? The holy month of Ramadan is approaching and we still do not know how we shall be coping without adequate water.

Nadeem Al Ghubra

When will the city have normal supply of water?

Juventus were no match to the champions Barcelona

This refers to the story, Who is to blame for water crisis in Oman?

(June 7). The crisis, with each passing day, is intensifying and affecting normal life across the spectrum and all over Muscat. I am sure that the authorities are aware of how people are coping with the crisis and how they are paying through the nose to procure

The manner in which Barcelona beat Juventus to claim the European championship for the fifth time showed the mettle the champions are made of. The attacking trio of Barcelona proved too strong for Juventus defence. They showed why they are so feared.

Haitem Azaiba

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

TIMES O F OMAN

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

A1 3

PERSPEC IVE Britain’s defence chiefs face tough choices ahead A

merica is anxious about Britain’s defence expenditure. Perhaps the problem is the escalating cost of overly complex equipment. Prior to the 1992 British election, discussing the case for cancelling the increasingly expensive Anglo-European Eurofighter aircraft with Labour’s defence spokesman, I suggested the defence requirement for this aircraft to be out-dated with the fall of the Berlin Wall; and the shifting Russian political and military landscape.

Labour’s defence spokesman — later Tony Blair’s Secretary of State for Defence — highlighted the lower front-line servicing costs of the Eurofighter, whilst I advocated that Britain could speedy possession of the lower cost American, General Dynamics F-16 aircraft; significantly enhancing RAF strike capability. Had I debated with the former Conservative Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Heseltine, a more a European instinct would have been demonstrated. He would have contended that Eurofighter was essential for the preservation and future development of Pan-European, technologically advanced, aviation industries to counter American dominance in this sector.

Presently the US and Britain are developing an advanced stealth aircraft known as the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Britain intended ordering 150 F-35 fighters, with deliveries starting in 2012, but to date has only ordered eight.

The RAFs current Eurofighter Typhoon closely matches the F-35’s capabilities, but epitomises better value for money with a lower price tag, operating costs and superior reliability.

According to Admiral Lord West, former First Sea Lord, Britain requires a “minimum” of 48 F-35s, totalling £4.1bn, to equip its new aircraft carriers.

These shall replace the Harrier jump-jet prematurely withdrawn from service in 2011; leaving the Royal Navy devoid of seaborne fighter capability.

This Anglo-American ‘Joint Strike Fighter’ programme is plagued by technical difficulties, including engine malfunctions, weapon system software problems and escalating costs. Three years late, not one built so far is combat ready. The cost of a single F-35 has also risen from £33m to £87m.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon CBE, former Chief of the Air Staff at the inception of the F-35 programme, believes these jets are now close to “unaffordable” and “it will be token numbers we will be able to afford unless there is a radical change in thinking by the Government.”

Moreover, a former Labour member of the Commons Defence Select Committee recently warned:

GARY SMITH

Presently the US and Britain are developing an advanced stealth aircraft known as the F-35, manufactured

by Lockheed Martin.

Britain intended ordering 150 F-35 fighters, with deliveries starting in 2012, but to date has only ordered eight

“Our skies and seas are vulnerable. It is time to reassess our priorities for the defence and security of the UK.” Government radical thinking, and reassessment of defence priorities, may endorse a back to the future freshly manufactured Harrier or Tornado, with redesigned modern sophisticated software and weapons systems, as more affordable, reliable and less expensive to operate over the lifetime of the aircraft. The carrier-capable Dassault Rafale and cost-effective Saab Gripen equally provide contemporary options.

Providing value for money these newly manufactured and updated European aircraft would complement the RAFs Typhoons, of which greater numbers and variants could be ordered. The Typhoon in actual combat situations has surpassed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, which is America’s most recent, advanced and expensive fighter to date. This is not a new phenomenon. Every decade has verified the superiority of simpler aircraft time and again. The 1960’s Vietnam War revealed that McDonnell Douglas F4s later equipped with a simple canon delivered more MIG kills than when only fitted with complex, expensive air to air missiles.

A 1970’s conflict demonstrated the humble British Gnat capable of outperforming the more expensive French Mirage in dogfights.

The later 1980’s Falklands conflict confirmed the unsophisticated McDonnell Douglas A-4’s ability to inflict significant missile damage on Royal Navy ships; sinking many. And in 2015 the less expensive Eurofighter Typhoon equals or outstrips certain F-35’s capabilities; but is not a stealth aircraft.

The US expects Britain to have a “projected procurement” of 138 F-35s, costing some £12bn at current prices. Present and impending levels of UK defence expenditure render this an extremely unlikely prospect.

As the Ministry of Defence prepare to embark on another ‘Strategic Defence Review’, political code for defence cuts, it is clearly appropriate for Britain’s defence chiefs to ponder purchasing and deploying a clever combination of sophisticated and simpler aircraft in tandem. On balance the US Pentagon’s strategic commanders might prefer their principal defence partner to deploy 200 — 250 aircraft of modest to outstanding capability; rather than 48 or fewer, complex and potentially unreliable American combat aircraft.

The author is a freelance contributor based in Britain.

All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely his and not of Times of Oman.

The homeless need help, not hounding

W

hen neighbourhoods smarten up, longstanding residents can sometimes find it difficult to keep up. For most it’s a gradual realisation, but in the London borough of Hackney, where I was born and lived until getting priced out around five years ago, the council came up with a more efficient way of letting undesirables know they’re not wanted — and no fixed address was required to deliver the message.

It’s called a Public Space Protection Order or PSPO and — until Hackney bowed to pressure from a residents’ petition on Friday — it included a provision to fine rough sleepers as much as £1,000 for the crime of not having a home to go to.

Hipster Hackney is ever ahead of the trend, so it should come as no surprise that criminalising homelessness has gone global.

Last week, councillors for the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu voted to widen a ban on sitting or lying down in public, designed to deter the homeless from areas frequented by tourists.

Why so hard-hearted? In a

ELLEN E JONES

statement on their website before the U-turn, Hackney defended its actions by insisting fines are a last resort for the most “entrenched” and “anti-social” rough sleepers. “In some of these very difficult cases, the threat of legal action has been the push that has persuaded them to seek the help that they so desperately need.” So it’s all for their own good, see?

Yet even in the realms of quick-fix, cosmetic solutions to complex problems, there are better ways. Much has been written, for instance, about the US’s Housing First programme which has cut homelessness (by 72 per cent in Utah) and costs via simple means. They give the homeless permanent housing, no strings attached.

But that’s another story. In the UK, the sorry truth is that councils aren’t acting without impetus. Measures such as the PSPO reflect a hardened public mood that expects cities to prioritise the leisure of the wealthy over the basic needs of the poor.

And, as in Hackney, it take public pressure to force a reconsideration. It was British holidaymak-

ers, remember, who last month complained about the migrants ruining their Mediterranean sea view, and it was Sheffield shoppers who insisted a Big Issue vendor be moved from his patch outside a branch of Waitrose, because his presence made them uncomfortable.

We should feel uncomfortable when we see people sleeping rough, but we should also be able to direct our discomfort not at the individuals, but at the obscene inequality which their presence represents. If “urban regeneration” only means investing in property, not people, then the number of homeless will continue to rise, even as our cities grow wealthier. Recorded instances of rough sleeping rose by 37 per cent in London in 2014.

Until we find the courage to confront this contradiction, it’s only right that Hackney’s “difficult cases” remain in view, swigging from White Lightning bottles like the world is their al fresco cafe and bringing down the property prices — the smellier and more anti-social, the better. - The Independent

Hillary’s rivals need courage ROSS DOUTHAT

B

efore anything else is said, they deserve the thanks of a grateful nation. Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, even Lincoln Chafee: They are stepping up where others quailed, laying their bodies on democracy’s altar, saving their party’s nominating contest from resembling a presidential reelection in Kazakhstan.

But if they aspire to more than just holding Hillary Clinton below the 97.7 per cent of the vote that Nursultan Nazarbayev claimed in his last trip to the hustings, her primary rivals will need more than courage. They’ll need a plan.

A little while ago, the plan for a not-Hillary candidate looked obvious: While Clinton played it safe and hugged the political center, her challenger would run hard to her left, channel the energy of the party’s grass-roots activists, campaign against the frontrunner’s establishment instincts and her husband’s triangulating past.

This road map did not promise victory. (Only Hillary herself can stop Hillary from winning — and even then not without a lot of work.) But it promised, at least, a meaningful battle of ideas, and maybe even a chance to make things close in Iowa.

Since her official entrance into the race, however, Hillary has moved aggressively to shrink the space for that kind of battle.

Her big policy statements — on criminal justice reform, immigration, and now universal voter registration — have all aligned her explicitly with the party’s activists, and to an extent many of them did not expect.

Her theory seems to be that the political centre has moved leftward, and that mobilising Democratic constituencies will matter as much in the general election as reaching out to swing voters; she may also be haunted, understandably, by memories of 2008.

(There’s no reason to think she isn’t sincere in her new stances, but with the Clintons it’s always fair to analyse strategy before belief.)

Whatever the motivation, this new positioning has made it even harder for the notHillarys to run against her.

They can move further to her left (Sanders, in particular, won’t have trouble doing so), but then their campaigns will seem even more quixotic.

And if Hillary stays committed to their major goals, the party’s activists will have clear incentives to just take her “yes” for an answer.

So what remains for our brave few, our band of brothers? Well, they can attack her as a latecomer, a flip-flopper, a fair-weather progressive.

But such charges are rarely politically effective; if they were, Mitt Romney would never have been the 2012 GOP nominee.

At some level, voters know that they’re voting for the platform more than for the candidate. And the left, in particular, has philosophical reasons to be comfortable with flip-flops: If you think the Arc of History is bending toward your ideas, then it’s actually a kind of vindication when a politician bends your way.

Alternatively, our antiHillarys can focus on foreign policy, where her Iraq War vote helped doom her seven years ago. Here they’ll have a stronger case, since she probably remains more hawkish (see her role in our Libyan war for evidence) than her party’s dovish base.

But Clinton can find shelter by associating herself with the current president: She’ll just say (as she’s already saying) that she’s exactly as hawkish as Obama, no less and no more.

If he escalates against ISIS, she’ll support it; if not, she won’t. Ditto Putin, Assad, you name it.

This won’t protect her left flank fully, but so long as she’s hugging the president she’ll lose more left-wing intellectuals than actual progressive voters.

So all that really remains for her would-be challengers is to attack her ethics.

There, at last, the anti-Hillary argument becomes an easy one: From the Nixonian style of her State Department operation to the way her family fattened itself on global tribute during her recent public service, her rivals can point to sins and misdemeanours that would have already disqualified a lesser candidate.

But will many Democrats really want to hear that argument? The advantage of making an ideological case against Hillary is that progressives can accept it — yes, she’s not as liberal as we would like, we’re glad somebody’s pressing her, and maybe we’ll cast a protest vote for them — and still feel OK about her inevitability and about voting for her in the general election.

The ethical case, on the other hand, is more personal, discomfiting, and easily repurposed by Republicans. So any time Hillary’s rivals offer those kinds of critiques, their audience will hear intimations of GOP attacks to come.

And since she’s almost certainly going to be the nominee, Democratic voters may not be particularly grateful for the foretaste; they may, instead, dismiss the men offering it for giving aid and comfort to the enemy. In which case those men will still deserve our gratitude. Because then, at least, whatever happens in a Clinton presidency, her supporters won’t be able to say that they weren’t warned. - The New York Times News Service

US avian flu outbreak claims 45 million birds Health officials are scrambling to contain the worst-ever outbreak of bird flu in the United States, which has left 45 million chickens and turkeys dead in 16 states, mostly in Iowa and Minnesota

TODAY IN HISTORY

LABORATORY-CONFIRMED AVIAN INFLUENZA FINDINGS In poultry and captive wild birds since December 2014 (data as of Jun 4) H5N2 virus

H5N8 virus

Commercial flocks affected

Montana

Oregon Washington

South Dakota

North Dakota

Minnesota: Leading turkey producer.

Total of 106 farms struck by avian flu, affecting nearly 9 million birds C A N A D A* Wisconsin

Idaho

California

Iowa: Top eggproducing state.

73 farms hit, affecting 29m birds

Nebraska Kentucky

UNITED STAT E S Kansas

Indiana

Missouri

*H5 virus detected in Ontario and British Columbia

Arkansas $5.7 billion export market in poultry and poultry products hit hard as top consumers impose trade restrictions Source: US Department of Agriculture

Graphic News /

Graphics

FROM OUR ARCHIVES OMAN TO ATTEND INVESTMENT MEET

MUSCAT: The Sultanate will participate in the sixth annual conference on investment and Arab capital market due to be held in Lebanon between May 18 and 20, under the auspices of the Lebanese Premier Dr Saleem Al Huss. The Sultanate’s delegation to the conference will be headed by Mohammed bin Nassir Al Khusaibi, secretary general of the National Economy Ministry. The event is organised by Lebanon Bank, in cooperation with the economy and business group, the Lebanese Bank’s Association, the international finance establishment of the World Bank and the International Chamber of Commerce. It will discuss the priorities of economic reform, privatization trends, foreign investment in Arab markets, deregulation of financial services markets and e-commerce. A number of finance ministers and central bank presidents will take part in the conference as well as heads of Arab and international financial and investment institutions, Arab and foreign experts.

452

Attila the Hun invades Italy.

793

The Vikings raid the Northumbrian coast of England.

1861

Tennessee votes to secede from the Union and join the Confederacy.

1866

Prussia annexes the region of Holstein.

1908 King Edward VII of England visits Czar Nicholas II of Russia in an effort to improve relations between the two countries.

1915

William Jennings Bryan quits as Secretary of State under President Wilson.

HISTORYNET.COM

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China cruise ship disaster death toll reaches to 431 Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday

JIANLI (CHINA): Chinese officials, rescuers and family members gathered in mourning on Sunday for those lost on a cruise ship which capsized during a storm in the Yangtze River, as the death toll from the disaster reached 431, with 11 still missing.

Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night in Jianli in Hubei province.

Most of the passengers were elderly tourists.

The four-storey ship was righted and raised on Friday, allowing rescuers onto to it to clear away debris, break down cabin doors and look for bodies. The river is being swept to as far away as Shanghai looking for the missing.

DNA tests Government spokesman Hu Kaihong told reporters that DNA tests were being carried out to identify the bodies. Sunday marks seven days since the Eastern Star went down, and according to Chinese tradition this a key date on which to mourn the dead.

State television showed rescue workers and government officials standing on a barge facing the battered boat, removing their hats and bowing their heads, as

PAYING TRIBUTES: Rescue workers hold a moment of silence at a ceremony to mark seven days since the Eastern Star went down in the Jianli section of Yangtze River, in Hubei province of China, on Sunday. – Reuters

surrounding boats sounded their horns. At separate locations along the river, emotional family members also got together to burn joss sticks and make offerings of food to the spirits of the deceased.

More than 1,400 relatives have come to Jianli, with many expressing frustration at the lack of information from the government. On Friday, one burst into a just-concluded news conference, publicly accusing the government of treating its people like enemies.

The government says that it is doing everything possible to help

the relatives, including providing free accommodation and medical services, and Vice Premier Ma Kai has been dispatched to meet family members personally.

Some relatives, speaking to foreign reporters in the presence of officials, praised the government’s efforts.

“It made me feel incredibly warm. When he shook my hand and said a few words to me, told us to keep on going. I felt that he didn’t seem like a political leader at all. He was so genial. He was like my own father,” Wang Hua, 42,

who lost both parents on the ship, told Reuters of her meeting with Ma. Major state newspapers on Sunday carried the same lengthy story by the official Xinhua news agency on their front pages, headlined “Bearing great responsibility to the people” and detailing the government’s efforts.

“In the midst of disaster, we are all of one heart, the whole nation helping each other, staunchly moving forward,” it wrote.

The company which operated the ship has apologised for the disaster and said it would “fully”

cooperate with the investigation.

Beijing has pledged there would be “no cover-up”.

Police have detained the captain and chief engineer for questioning as part of the investigation. An initial probe found the ship was not overloaded and had enough life vests on board.

The disaster has now caused a higher toll than the sinking of a ferry in South Korea in April 2014 that killed 304 people, most of them children on a school trip. It is China’s worst shipping catastrophe in seven decades. — Reuters

CROSSINGS CLOSED

Israeli jets hit Gaza after rocket attack GAZA CITY: Israeli warplanes struck Gaza early on Sunday for the second time in three days after cross-border rocket fire by a group which is locked in a power struggle with Hamas.

It was the third time Israel had staged retaliatory air strikes on the war torn Gaza Strip in the past fortnight after three instances of rocket fire, all of which were claimed by gunmen loosely allied with the IS militant group.

During the raids, the air force hit “infrastructure” in northern Gaza, the military said. The government also ordered the closure until further notice of the Erez crossing for people and the Kerem Shalom crossing for goods. Israel said it held Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from the Palestinian enclave, where it is the de facto power, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that nobody would prevent Israel from defending itself. “I have not heard anyone in the international community condemn this firing; neither has UN said a word,” he told ministers at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

“It will be interesting if this silence continues when we use our full strength to uphold our right to defend ourselves. Let it be clear: The spreading hypocrisy in the world will not tie our hands and prevent us from protecting Israel’s citizens.”

Palestinian security sources and witnesses said the raids targeted a training site belonging to Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, in the northern Beit Lahiya area. The rocket fire on Saturday evening struck open ground near the southern port of Ashkelon, causing no casualties. The same area was targeted by three rockets on Wednesday, which also prompted retaliatory air strikes. After that attack, the military deployed batteries of its Iron Dome air defence system around Ashkelon as a precaution, Israeli media reported on Friday. — AFP

BARTER ARRANGEMENT

IS INSURGENCY

Iraqi forces advance Iran to start Russia oil-for-goods exports in key town of Baiji KIRKUK: Iraqi forces advanced against the IS militant group in Baiji on Sunday as they battled to retake the strategic town for a second time, officers said.

Also on Sunday in Baquba, a suicide car bomb ripped through roadside restaurants at the entrance to the town of Baladruz in eastern Iraq, killing at least 15 people, police and provincial officials said.

Baghdad regained control of Baiji — located on the road to IS hub Mosul and near the country’s largest oil refinery — last year, but subsequently lost it again.

“Our security forces arrived to the centre of the town of Baiji around 10:30 am (0700 GMT) and raised the Iraqi flag,” an army major general told AFP. The officer said that Iraqi forces were shelling “terrorists hideouts” in the town with mortar rounds. A police colonel confirmed that Iraqi forces were making progress, saying they were in control of the city centre and were “advancing

toward the northern neighbourhoods of the town.” Security forces are also fighting to push IS out of the nearby Baiji refinery, a vast complex, which once produced 300,000 barrels per day of refined products meeting half of the country’s needs.

Meanwhile, the attack took place late Saturday at the entrance of Baladruz, which lies about 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Baghdad, and was claimed by the IS group.

“It hit a string of restaurants on the eastern side of town... Most of the people there were truck drivers transporting goods between Baghdad and Kurdistan,” a police officer said. The officer said 37 people were also wounded in the explosion. Khidhr Muslim Abed, a member of Diyala provincial council, confirmed the toll. IS claimed the attack in a statement posted on its forums on Sunday and said that one of those killed was a member of the counterterrorism unit in Iraq’s police. — AFP

DUBAI/TEHRAN: Russia will begin importing Iranian oil under a long-heralded oil-for-goods barter arrangement in the coming week, Iran’s oil minister was quoted as saying, more than a year after negotiations began.

Implementation The Kremlin announced in April it had begun to implement the deal, in which Iran would export up to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to Russia in exchange for goods of an equivalent value, but traders said they saw no signs of it.

“Russia will begin oil imports from Iran this week,” the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Bijan Zanganeh telling Bloomberg on Saturday evening, as he returned to Tehran from an OPEC meeting in Vienna.

Agreed “We agreed with (Russian Energy Minister) Alexander Novak in Vienna that Russia will buy less than 500,000 bpd from Iran in exchange for cash, and Iran will use this cash to buy Russian goods such as steel, wheat and oil products.”

MAKING A POINT: Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh speaks to journalists before a meeting of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna, Austria, on Friday. – Reuters

Iran’s oil exports have fallen by more than half to around 1.1 million bpd since 2012, when Western powers imposed sanctions aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran and six countries, including Russia, reached an interim agreement in early April and are working towards a final deal by

the end of this month that could see sanctions lifted.

But the two sides still disagree on several issues, and Tehran has been working in parallel to develop what its leaders call a ‘resistance economy’ that can survive under sanctions.

Sources said more than a year

ago that Iran was working on the barter deal with Russia, which they said could be worth up to $20 billion. Russia also lifted a self-imposed ban on selling the advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile system to Iran shortly after the interim nuclear agreement, a move criticised by Western powers. — Reuters

TRAGIC INCIDENT

Six Singapore students among 16 killed in Malaysia peak quake

CURIOUS ONLOOKERS: Local residents gather as they watch Malay-

sia’s Mount Kinabalu in Kundasang, a town in the district of Ranau on Sunday, where a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit on June 5. – AFP

KUNDASANG (MALAYSIA): Six Singapore primary school students and one teacher were among 16 people so far confirmed killed by an earthquake that rocked Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu, government authorities said on Sunday.

Malaysian officials said the death toll from the earthquake that struck on Friday morning had risen to 16, from an earlier 13, with two still missing.

The Singaporean students were part of a school excursion to the popular climbing destination, which was jolted by a 6.0-magnitude quake just as the 4,095-metre-high (13,435-foot) mountain was crowded with hikers.

The tremor triggered thunderous landslides that obliterated sections of trail on the peak, located in the state of Sabah on Borneo island. Singapore Foreign Minis-

ter K. Shanmugam confirmed the bodies of six students had been identified. Singapore’s government also has said a teacher and a Singaporean adventure guide perished, while another student and a teacher remained missing.

Malaysian officials have said the students were aged 12 and 13.

“Looking at the photos of these children -- such young lives, full of promise, snuffed out,” Shanmugam said in a Facebook posting, calling the episode “Singapore’s tragedy in Sabah”.

Malaysian police say the dead or missing also include several Malaysians, and one each believed to be from China, Japan and the Philippines. But they were yet to provide a detailed breakdown, saying the poor state of some remains made identification difficult. Mohammad Farhan Lee Abdullah,

police chief of the town of Ranau near the mountain, said body parts had been found on sections of the mountain, suggesting the awesome power of the landslides.

“They are in parts probably because of rocks and boulders falling on them but we need to do forensics first,” Mohammad Farhan said. Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper said some of the Singaporean students were taking a route to the summit known as the Via ferrata, Italian for “iron road”, that traverses a steeply sloping rock face. “Initial investigations show that the worst-hit area was at Via ferrata. There were many boulders that came down there,” Masidi Manjun, tourism minister for Sabah state, told reporters.

Rescuers Saturday had escorted down to safety 137 hikers who were stuck on the mountain for up

to 18 hours by the rockfalls.

But an Australian climber accused Malaysian authorities of a slow and chaotic response. “(Official rescue crews) were looking rather lost really, and it was the mountain guides who did most of the work attending to the injured, strapping people into stretchers, getting ready to take them down the mountain,” Vee Jin Dumlao told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “The whole government emergency response was a farce,” she said, asking why hikers were not reached by helicopter.

Officials have said poor visibility made a helicopter mission dangerous. Sabah state tourism minister Masidi Manjun said on Twitter: “It’s easy to pick on weaknesses of S&R effort and I’m sure they are many. Now is not the time to blame.” — AFP

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Resistance to migrants up in Italy The imminent arrival of an extra 4,000 people at southern ports sent the migration crisis back to the top of the political agenda as three big northern regions refused to house new arrivals

ROME: The number of migrants arriving in Italy this year after being rescued at sea is set to top 50,000 by Monday after another frantic weekend for the multinational flotilla of boats trying to prevent more drownings in the Mediterranean.

The imminent arrival of an extra 4,000 people at southern ports sent the migration crisis back to the top of the political agenda as three big northern regions warned they will refuse to house any of the new arrivals.

Lombardy president Roberto

Maroni said he would be writing to local mayors and prefects in his region on Monday to warn them not to accept any more “illegal immigrants” allocated by the government upon pain of having regional funding cut.

Giovanni Maroni, the newlyelected president of Liguria, backed that stance. “I have already said it: we will not receive any more migrants, and Lombardy, Veneto and Val d’Aosta will do the same thing.”

Luca Zaia, the right-wing president of Veneto, said the region that

CRISIS: Migrants board a boat of the Coast Guards during a rescue operation off the coast of Sicily on Saturday. — AFP/GUARDIA COSTIERA

includes Venice was: “Like a bomb ready to go off. The social tensions are absolutely crazy.”

British Royal Navy ship HMS Bulwark was on Sunday engaged in an operation to save at least 500

people from four boats in waters between Italy and Libya.

The Bulwark’s action followed the rescue on Saturday of just under 3,500 migrants from 15 packed boats in a stretch of water

45 miles (70 kilometres) off the coast of Libya. Italy’s coastguard said boats from the Italian, German and Irish navies took part in the rescue operation, which was coordinated in its initial stages by MOAS, a privately-funded mission operating out of Malta in partnership with the Doctors without Borders (MSF) charity.

There were no reports of casualties but one Italian navy boat which was ferrying 475 migrants to Sicily reported that it had seven pregnant women on board who will be transferred to hospital on landing.

The latest operations will lift to just over 50,000 the number of arrivals in Italy since the turn of the year and the cost and other problems involved in processing them is becoming a hot political issue.

The figure represents an increase of around 10 percent on the same period last year, which, after a summer surge, ended with an unprecedented total of 170,000 migrants arriving on Italian soil.

The country’s reception facilities are at breaking point with

nearly 80,000 asylum seekers or recently arrived migrants currently accommodated across the country. Government attempts to get regions to open up new facilities are increasingly running into opposition; mainly from right-wing politicians but also at a grassroots levels from communities which don’t want refugees housed in their neighbourhoods.

The small region of Val d’Aosta in the Alps has refused to take any more, citing a lack of adequate facilities. If Lombardy, Veneto and Liguria act on their threats to follow suit, the government will have a major problem on its hands at a time when it is also grappling with growing evidence that organised crime has been siphoning off public funds allocated for the accommodation of migrants during their processing. — AFP

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Anti-migrant protests planned in Rakhine MAUNGDAW (MYANMAR): Buddhist hardliners in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state are planning a day of protests against moves to help desperate migrants found adrift on boats in the Bay of Bengal, organisers said on Sunday.

Rakhine, one of Myanmar’s poorest states, is a tinderbox of tension between its Buddhist majority and a heavily persecuted Rohinghya Muslim minority, many of whom live in displacement camps after deadly unrest erupted there in 2012.

Fragile equilibrium A regional migrant crisis is upending a fragile equilibrium that has since settled on the state. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar in recent years, alongside Bangladeshi economic migrants, mainly headed for Malaysia and Indonesia.

The exodus was largely ignored until a crackdown on the people-smuggling trade in Thailand last month caused chaos as gangmasters abandoned their human cargos on land and sea.

Trapped at sea Some 4,500 Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants have since washed ashore in the region while the UN estimates around 2,000 others are still trapped at sea. After years of turning a blind eye to the exodus, Myanmar’s navy in the last fortnight discovered two boats with more than 900 migrants who were brought to Rakhine. — AFP BOKO HARAM HAND SEEN

Bomb blast kills 16 in Nigerian city MAIDUGURI (NIGERIA): A bomb blast hit a cattle market in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Borno late on Saturday, with as many as 16 people dead, hospital and military sources said, in an attack that bore the hallmarks of extremist Boko Haram militants.

Boko Haram has killed thousands of people and displaced some 1.5 million in an insurgency to establish an extremist state in the northeast of Nigeria but appears to have lost most of the territory it seized to government counter-offensives this year. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which followed two weekend bombings that killed at least 30 people.

“At about 4:30pm on Saturday they brought casualties from the blast scene...16 bodies were deposited with 24 injured,” Lawal Kawu, a paramedic at the teaching hospital in Maiduguri said. — Reuters

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

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

First sugar refinery to open in early 2018 modern facility and will use the latest production technology to produce the highest quality refined sugar. The contract will be managed on behalf of OSRC by Bosch Projects of South Africa.

State-of-the-art, modern sugar refinery will have a capacity of one million tonnes of refined sugar per annum

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s first sugar refinery will start operation in the first quarter of 2018, even as the promoters have signed a $300 million engineering, procurement and

CRUCIAL PACT: Promoters have signed a $300 million engineering,

procurement and construction contract with China’s Sinolight Corporation on Sunday. — Picture by A R Rajkumar/Times of Oman

construction (EPC) agreement with China’s Sinolight Corporation on Sunday to build the refinery at the Port of Sohar.

Construction work on the refinery will start in the third quarter of this year, said Ashwin D Rana, chief executive officer of Oman

Sugar Refinery Company (OSRC).

18 hectare plot The new sugar refinery, which will have one million tonnes of refined sugar per annum and is coming up in an 18 hectare plot near Sohar Port, will have state-of-the-art,

EPC contract Rana said that the capital expenditure of $300 million, which is also the value of EPC contract, will be met by way of both equity and debt. An institutional investor from China will also partly fund the project.

According to the plan, the company will import raw sugar, refine it using different processes and the finished product of white sugar will be packed to sell it as a branded product. OSRC, which is using a proven technology, has several advantages, including a strategic location and port facilities.

OSRC earlier signed agreements for natural gas and for the land for building the factory. > B4

BANKING TRANSACTIONS

Bank Muscat urges customers to follow secure banking tips Times News Service MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the Sultanate’s biggest bank, as part of its commitment to ensure the highest levels of security for banking transactions, has urged customers to follow secure banking tips frequently communicated through various channels.

Personal identity number Bank Muscat reiterated that customers should always exercise caution and must never divulge their password or personal identity number (PIN) linked to cards, online banking or any other service. The bank under no circumstance asks customers to provide their password or PIN and also does not contact cus-

tomers by phone or e-mail asking them to change their account information and log-in details, said a bank release.

Bancassurance purchase Bank Muscat also never asks customers to provide their full 16 digit account number and instead requests to only confirm the last 8 digits of their account number for certain transactions like purchase of bancassurance products through the bank’s telemarketing sales channel.

As part of the bank’s innovative marketing and sales initiative, a telemarketing campaign is under way to promote bespoke insurance products in association with a leading international insurance company. > B4

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

MARKET C O M M O N T R A D E PAC T

Africa’s free trade pact to have far-reaching benefits CAPE TOWN: A free trade agreement by three African economic blocs in Egypt this week will be an important step towards a potentially game-changing common market spanning the continent, supporters say.

The deal between the East African Community, Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa will create a market of 26 countries with a population of 625 million and gross domestic product of more than $1 trillion. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) will be inaugurated at a summit of heads of state and government on Wednesday in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt after four years of negotiations to establish a framework for tariff preferences and other commitments.

“The launch of the TFTA is a significant milestone for the African continent,” the South African government said.

“We believe that this sends a powerful message that Africa is committed to its economic integration agenda and in creating a conducive environment for trade and investment.”

The move was welcomed by business leaders at the World Economic Summit for Africa in Cape Town last week, with participants

Deal between the East African Community, Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa will create a market of 26 countries with a population of 625m and GDP of $1tr highlighting the fact that just 12 per cent of African countries’ total trade is with each other — compared to some 55 per cent in Asia and 70 per cent in Europe.

“The tripartite trade agreement is really important as a first step for Africa... which then can engage with the European Union and others on a global basis,” Michael

Rake, BT Group chairman and a co-chair of the forum, said. Africa’s share of global trade stands at around three per cent.

Boosting trade has long been an ambition of the African Union (formerly the Organisation of African Unity), and backers of the latest move are aware of scepticism surrounding its prospects.

“I think Africa will surprise the world,” Fatima Haram Acyl, the African Union’s commissioner for trade and industry, said at the WEF. “We’re going to have our continental free trade area.”

British colonialist Cecil Rhodes originally dreamt of unifying Africa from ‘Cape to Cairo’ in the 19th Century under imperial rule from London — a far cry for the diverse group of nations that will make up the Tripartite Free Trade Area.

Member states will range from relatively developed economies such as South Africa and Egypt to countries including Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique, which are seen as having huge potential growth.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said in a 2013 report that one reason for weak intra-African trade is that the focus has been more on the elimination of trade barriers than the development of capacity. - AFP

Ruling leaves huge debt for Argentina A ruling by a US judge has increased the total Argentina owes holdout bondholders to $5.2b

BUENOS AIRES: A new ruling by a United States judge has increased the total Argentina owes holdout bondholders to $5.2 billion — a massive responsibility that if upheld likely will fall to the next government, experts said.

In a 26-page ruling, US District Court judge Thomas Griesa ruled that by refusing to make payment to some hedge fund and individual bondholders of its defaulted debt, while making payment to other creditors, Buenos Aires was in violation of an equal treatment provision in its contracts.

Griesa in a 2012 ruling sided with a group of hedge funds, led

by NML and Aurelius Capital Management, who for years have been trying to force Argentina to

pay off $1.3 billion in defaulted bonds they hold.

The judge said that his 2012 ruling should also apply to more than 500 ‘me-too’ bondholders who were not covered under the original decision.

Argentina has been refusing to pay the two hedge funds, arguing that they relinquighed their claim when they refused to join a restructuring of nearly $100 billion in debt the country defaulted on in 2001. “It really was just a matter of time for this to happen,” said Argentine economist Nicolas Dujovne.

Ruling slammed “It makes sense for the ruling to be the same, since what was being sought was the same. And with the months having gone by, the bill has risen to eight billion dollars,” he added.

Under mounting pressure, the Argentine government was quick to slam the latest ruling and said it would appeal, branding Griesa’s ruling “illegal” and “unfortunate.”

Buenos Aires has consistently accused the judge of bias. Griesa has said he wants to deal with 100 per cent of the holdouts. But those benefitting from Friday’s ruling are about one-third of the hold-

outs, according to Dujovne.

Some analysts predicted the legal wrangling could drag on for years. But “in any event, this government is not going to do anything — except wave its ‘I am against the hedge funds’ flag,” said Dujovne.

“The next government will be the one to sit down and talk with the holdouts, will want to try to get Argentina on good terms with the world, and will want to decrease the total of the amount being sought,” he added.

Last month, Argentina’s economy minister went to the United Nations to accuse so-called vulture funds of gaining “extortionate power” over countries seeking to restructure sovereign debt.

With the country still refusing to pay, last year US courts also gave the hedge funds the right to seek out and identify Argentine assets they might be able to seize.

NML took similar action in Belgium in 2012, but a local court ruled against the company. - AFP

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MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

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MARKET TECHNOLOGY

Apple likely to turn up music dial SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on Monday is expected to unveil a ramped up music service that builds on the iPhone maker’s strengths in a challenge to Spotify, Pandora and other established players.

In the biggest overhaul of iTunes since it was launched in early 2003, the service was anticipated to include an option of subscribing to streaming music for $10 monthly.

Analysts and industry insiders believe rebranded “Apple Music” will be introduced on Monday during a keynote presentation kicking off the company’s weeklong Wordwide Developers Conference.

“I absolutely think we will see a streaming music service,” Gartner analyst Van Baker said. “Apple is late to the game on this but it may not matter.” - AFP

Sohar Port industrial area attracts $21b investment pany (SPIC), while addressing a function to sign an EPC contract for building Oman’s first sugar refinery here on Sunday.

Deputy CEO of Sohar Industrial Port Company said the industrial area has grown

Connectivity to Saudi, UAE Aziz, who is also the chief executive officer of Sohar Freezone, said Sohar has road connectivity to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and by the end of 2018, there will be a railway connectivity to the markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.

into several industrial clusters, which include petrochemical, metal and food

A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Sohar Port industrial area and its free zone have attracted $21 billion worth investment in the last one decade ever since industrial development started at the port, said a senior official of the port and free zone.

“So, you can imagine the rapid development and growth in this facility in Sohar. We took full advantage of the (strategic) location of Sohar, which is just outside the Strait of Hormuz. It is excellent for big ships, which can reduce their logistics costs,” said Jamal Aziz, deputy chief executive officer of Sohar Industrial Port Com-

OIL

UPBEAT: Jamal Aziz.

- A. R. RAJKUMAR/Times of Oman

Iranian market “We focus on Saudi Arabia because Saudi is the largest market in the Gulf region. We want to make sure that we have a quick connectivity to the market. We also look very closely at the Iranian market because it will open

up soon. And Oman can be the springboard for imports into Iran,” he explained.

Aziz also noted that Sohar industrial area has grown into several industrial clusters, which include petrochemical, metal and food. The petrochemical cluster will be further developed with the implementation of expansion and new petrochemical projects by Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (Orpic). The food cluster, Jamal Aziz said, is strategic for the region since the region is a net importer of food items.

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IT SOLUTIONS

Verint Systems betting on skills in helping corporates tackle hackers

Oman’s crude production grows 1.5 per cent in May 25.41m Times News Service

MUSCAT: Oman’s total oil and condensates production grew 1.53 per cent to 30.22 million barrels in May compared to the previous month. The average daily production stood at around 974,990 barrels, according to the monthly report released by the Ministry of Oil and Gas. The report said that Oman’s total crude oil exports in May increased by 3.73 per cent compared to the preceding month and reached 25.41 million, registering a daily growth of 819,587 barrels.

Asian markets were the largest importers of Oman Crude.

For the second consecutive month, China’s oil imports from the Sultanate reduced and showed a fall of 4.99 per cent compared to April.

Imports of Oman’s oil by Thailand and Japan continued to fall

Was Oman’s total crude oil exports in May, which increased by 3.73 per cent compared to the previous month

by 0.95 per cent and 0.10 per cent, respectively, in May. Taiwan’s imports Taiwan took the largest share in May as its import of Oman’s crude oil increased by 3.28 per cent.

As far as oil prices in May are concerned, the average WTI price on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) settled at $59.96 per barrel in May, an increase of $4.31 compared to April.

On the Intercontinental Ex-

change (ICE) in London, Brent Crude settled at $65.91 a barrel, up by $4.14 against the month of April. The increase in crude oil prices in the trading month of May can be attributed to several factors, which positively affected the prices.

Perhaps, the most important factor has been the fall in crude oil inventories in the United States for the first time this year, with the decline in imports and US dollar currency exchange rate.

Prices were volatile during this month due to fluctuation in US dollar currency exchange rate.

Further, the average price of Oman oil (July delivery 2015) has stabilised at $63.62 per barrel, $4.94 higher than June delivery.

Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract on Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) showed an increase, being traded between $66.55 and $61.02 per barrel.

NEW YORK: A company that helps governments monitor their citizens is now peddling its expertise to corporate America.

Verint Systems, which makes software that sifts through communications such as text messages, phone calls and e-mail to help combat terrorism and crime, is touting its intelligence expertise to help companies defend themselves against hackers.

“Advanced cyberattacks are well-planned, targeted and stealth,” chief executive officer Dan Bodner said on a June 3 conference call with analysts. “The mitigation approach needs to be based on intelligence tactics.” Bodner said he plans to unveil the new cybersecurity products for corporations at a conference in Las Vegas this week.

Verint’s sales push comes as the United States government is trying to balance the fight against terrorism with concerns over the privacy of its citizens.

With corporate America besieged by computer-systems intruders from around the world bent on stealing confidential information, bringing business to a halt or simply embarrassing ostensibly sophisticated enterprises, Verint is betting its skill at helping governments will give it an edge in the competition for private-sector contracts.

Intelligence demand “This is a natural tangential market opportunity for Verint,” Daniel Ives, an analyst with FBR Capital Markets who has a buy rating on Verint, said in an e-mail.

“While clear challenges are ahead given the competition in the space, we believe Verint has the right product arsenal and strategy to be successful.” Congress voted last week to stop its top spy or-

Advanced cyberattacks are well-planned, targeted and stealth. The mitigation approach needs to be based on intelligence tactics Dan Bodner

Chief executive officer, Verint Systems ganisation, the National Security Agency, from collecting bulk data records on Americans’ phone calls.

Even so, privacy concerns haven’t curbed demand for cybersecurity intelligence in either the public or private sectors, said Jeff Kessler, an analyst with Imperial Capital in New York.

“Despite the fact that privacy is a primary concern among Western states, the growth of analytics to decipher abnormal events and abnormal communications has not stopped in any of these Western countries, and has not slowed either,” he said.

Verint, based in Melville, New York, went public in 2002 as the security unit of Comverse Technology Inc., which sold recording software to help call centers monitor customer service.

Government customer Verint’s lawful interception business, which enables phone companies to tap lines for law enforcement, has evolved into a communications and cyber intelligence segment that made up 31

per cent of revenue in the previous fiscal year. About sixty percent of sales came from using data to help companies improve interactions with customers and make work flow more efficient.

The company surpassed $1 billion in sales for the first time in the fiscal year ended on January 31, 2015, and plans to double its revenue from cybersecurity this year, Bodner told investors June 3.

Even if it achieves that goal, revenue from cybersecurity will be less than $100 million and come mostly from government clients, he said. $100 million contract Verint delighted analysts on a March 25 conference call when it announced a contract for a cybersecurity project with a government valued at more than $100 million. The stock shot up 6.2 per cent the next day.

One challenge for Verint may be bringing those types of projects to a smaller scale that individual companies can afford, said Jonathan Ho, an analyst with William Blair & Co. in Chicago.

Alan Roden, head of investor relations for Verint, declined to comment. on the company’s cyberstrategy. Verint’s chief competitor, Ra’Anana, Israel-based Nice Systems, is taking an opposite tack.

It sold its own communications intelligence business last month to Israeli defense company Elbit Systems for as much as $158 million.

By contrast, Verint’s communications intelligence business had $359 million in revenue in fiscal year 2015.

“The business model of selling software to enterprises, versus collection and interception projects to governments, is very different,” Nice CEO Barak Eilam wrote in an e-mailed response to questions about the sale - Bloomberg News

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

MARKET MSM index edges lower

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OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,462.85 ...............6,452.91 ................... 6,454.35 ...................6,462.00...................-7.65 .................. -0.12 Financial Index .....................................7,860.21 ............... 7,835.16 ....................7,835.19 ................... 7,853.46................ -18.27 .................. -0.23 Industrial Index ................................... 8,330.33 .............. 8,322.57 ................... 8,323.38 ................... 8,330.41...................-7.03 .................. -0.08 Services Index .......................................3,487.05 ...............3,481.20 ................... 3,485.28 ................... 3,487.05...................-1.77 .................. -0.05 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 997.86 ..................995.94 ...................... 996.03 ...................... 997.50...................-1.47 .................. -0.15 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 3,974,993 ....................1,047,140 .....................359 ................14,910,171,685 .................. 3 ......................14 ....................22 .........................39

Renaissance Services was the highest gainer

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 7

on Sunday and closed up by 1.24 per cent, while Oman Fisheries, which lost 3.51 per

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

cent in value, was the top loser of the day REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................31,600 ............ 10,292........................5 ........... 0.320 ...........0.326 ...........0.320........... 0.326 .............0.322 ........... 0.004............. 1.242 ................0.326..............0.320...................0.324 ..................91,962,792 .........0.100

MUSCAT: Oman’s Muscat Securities Market Index (MSM30 Index) closed at 6,454.35 points, down by 0.12 per cent on thin trading volumes. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 996.03 points, down by 0.15 per cent . Oman & Emirates Investment Holding was the most active stock in terms of volume while Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of turnover. Renaissance Services was the highest gainer on Sunday and closed up by 1.24 per cent while Oman Fisheries, which lost 3.51 per cent in value was the top loser for the day.

A total number of 359 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR1.04 million with over 3.97 million shares changing hands. Out of 39 traded securities, three advanced, 14 declined and 22 remained unchanged.

GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR153,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR43,000 worth of shares while domestic investors were net buyers for OMR196,000 worth of stocks.

Financial Index closed at 7,835.19 points, down by 0.23 per cent. Oman Takaful was the only loser in the sector and was up by 0.85 per cent to close at OMR0.119. Al Batinah Development, Al Izz Bank, Al Madina Investment and Al Anwar Holding declined by 3.17 per cent, 2.38 per cent, 1.28 per cent and 0.80 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 8,323.38 points, down by 0.08 per cent. Oman Fisheries, National Mineral Water, Al Hassan Engineering and Al Maha Ceramics declined by 3.51 per cent, 2.94 per cent, 1.00 per cent and 0.77 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index was down by 0.05 per cent before closing at 3,487.05 points. Renaissance Service and Sembcorp Salalah increased by 1.24 per cent and 0.20 per cent respectively. Port Services, OIFC and Omantel declined by 3.15 per cent, 0.42 per cent and 0.29 per cent respectively.

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH...................................................1,106 ............... 2,781........................2 ............2.515 ........... 2.515 ...........2.510............2.515 .............2.510............ 0.005............. 0.199 ................2.510 ..............2.510...................2.590 ................ 240,074,845 .......1.000 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ................................................................1,152 ..................449........................1 ........... 0.390 ...........0.390 ...........0.390........... 0.390 .............0.390 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.390..............0.390...................0.400 ..................19,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS .............. 20,000 ...............5,600........................2 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 .............0.280 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280..............0.268...................0.280 ...................9,400,006 ..........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .............................................................. 25 ....................... 3........................1 ............0.133 ........... 0.133 ...........0.133 ........... 0.132 .............0.132............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.133 .............. 0.133...................0.136................. 264,041,288 .......0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................ 37,150 ............20,424........................5 ........... 0.550 ...........0.550 ...........0.540........... 0.550 .............0.550 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.550..............0.542...................0.550.................. 181,979,991 ........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ................3,000 .................. 708........................1 ........... 0.236 ...........0.236 ...........0.236........... 0.235 .............0.235 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.236..............0.236...................0.239....................4,935,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ................................ 60,000 ............ 25,800........................6 ........... 0.430 ...........0.430 ...........0.430........... 0.430 .............0.430 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.430..............0.424...................0.428 ................. 127,371,883 ........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .......................................................15,800 ...............2,212........................3 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.140 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.140..............0.140...................0.142...................43,507,092 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................. 20,000 ...............5,600........................1 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 .............0.280 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280..............0.272...................0.308 .................432,523,993 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 495,062 ......... 274,133..................... 56 ........... 0.554 ...........0.554 ...........0.552........... 0.554 .............0.554 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.554..............0.552...................0.554................ 1,269,669,719 ......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 161,830.............21,798......................11 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.133 ............0.135 ............. 0.135............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.133 .............. 0.133...................0.135 .................... 7,943,834 ..........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE ........................................................ 980 ...................139........................1 ............0.142 ........... 0.142 ...........0.142........... 0.142 .............0.142 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.142..............0.142...................0.000 ..................36,009,780 .........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ...........................................................865 .................. 348........................3 ........... 0.402 ...........0.402 ...........0.402........... 0.404 .............0.404 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.402..............0.402...................0.416.................. 24,442,000 ........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER....................................................................530 ...................198........................1 ............0.374 ........... 0.374 ...........0.374........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.374..............0.374...................0.380 ..................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 205,302 ..........161,626..................... 26 ............0.788 ........... 0.788 ...........0.784........... 0.788 .............0.788............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.788 ..............0.784...................0.788..................512,944,053........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ......................................331 ................1,159........................1 ........... 3.500 ...........3.500 ...........3.500............3.610 ............. 3.610............ 0.000.............0.000 ................3.500..............3.500...................0.000 ..................35,306,580.........1.000 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................49,349 ...............4,293........................4 ........... 0.087 ...........0.087 ...........0.087........... 0.087 .............0.087 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.087..............0.087...................0.089...................15,225,000 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................35,594 ............... 7,190........................6 ........... 0.202...........0.202 ...........0.202 .......... 0.202 .............0.202 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.202 ............ 0.202...................0.205 .................136,327,261 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................29,704 ...............6,089........................5 ........... 0.205 ...........0.205 ...........0.205........... 0.205 .............0.205 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.205..............0.205...................0.210..................146,453,300........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................69,025 ...........118,016..................... 28 ............1.710 ............1.710............1.705 ............1.710 ............. 1.715 ............-0.005 ........... -0.292 ............... 1.710 ...............1.710................... 1.715 ................1,282,500,000......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 343,000 ............81,822..................... 23 ........... 0.237 ...........0.240 ...........0.237........... 0.239 .............0.240 ...........-0.001 ............-0.417................0.240 .............0.238...................0.240 ..................47,800,000.........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ......................................................................50,192 ............ 10,540........................3 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.210........... 0.210 ............. 0.211............-0.001 ........... -0.474 ...............0.210..............0.210...................0.214..................299,257,590........0.100

Qatar, Dubai stocks fall Qatari stocks declined a third day as investors continued to fret over whether the Gulf nation will retain the right to host the soccer World Cup. Most Middle Eastern equity markets also retreated.

The QE Index dropped 0.9 per cent to 11,981.98, only the second time since April it has closed below the 12,000 level. The gauge earlier slumped as much as two per cent before a late rally pared losses. Industries Qatar led the slide since January.

Tadawul All Share Index in Saudi Arabia, which will begin allowing direct foreign investment starting next week, fell 0.8 per cent at 1:38pm in Riyadh. Bahrain’s BB All Share Index fell less than 0.1 per cent and. Kuwait’s SE Price Index added 0.1 per cent.

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 171,102 ............ 32,367......................12 ............0.190 ........... 0.190 ...........0.188 ........... 0.189 .............0.190 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.526 ...............0.188 ..............0.188...................0.190..................272,432,160........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................... 7,808 ...............4,027......................13 ............0.516 ...........0.520 ...........0.514 ............0.516 .............0.520 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.769 ...............0.514 .............. 0.514...................0.520 ..................27,090,000.........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 302,000............75,276..................... 26 ........... 0.250 ........... 0.251 ...........0.248........... 0.249 ............. 0.251............-0.002 ........... -0.797 ...............0.249..............0.247...................0.249 ..................32,494,500.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 804,623 ........... 88,363......................51 ............0.111 ............0.111 ............0.109............0.110 ............. 0.111 ............-0.001 ........... -0.901 ...............0.110 ..............0.109...................0.110 ...................13,406,250 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 342,782 ........... 26,367......................16 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.076........... 0.077 .............0.078 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.282 ...............0.076..............0.077...................0.078................... 15,950,657 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION .........................15,000 ...............3,225........................2 ............0.215 ........... 0.215 ...........0.215 ............0.215 .............0.222 ...........-0.007 ............-3.153................0.215 ..............0.207...................0.215...................20,433,600.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ....................... 22,000 ...............2,684........................2 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.122........... 0.122 .............0.126............-0.004 ............-3.175................0.122..............0.123...................0.129....................3,660,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 3,296,912 ...... 993,531................... 317 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......30........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ................................ 7,500 .................. 893........................3 ............0.119 ........... 0.119............0.119 ............0.119 ............. 0.118 .............0.001 ............. 0.847 ................0.119 ...............0.115................... 0.119 ...................11,900,000 .........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................10,900 .................. 436........................2 ........... 0.040...........0.040 ...........0.040 .......... 0.040 .............0.040 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.040 .............0.039...................0.040 ...................3,400,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 430,834 ........... 32,349......................15 ........... 0.076 ........... 0.076 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.075 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.075..............0.074...................0.075..................112,500,000........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING................................... 68,000 ...............6,734......................12 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.098........... 0.099 .............0.100 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.000 ...............0.098..............0.098...................0.100.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 120,000 ..............9,840........................3 ........... 0.082 ...........0.082 ...........0.082........... 0.082 .............0.084 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.381 ...............0.082..............0.076...................0.084 ................. 82,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER ................................. 7,600 ..................502........................1 ........... 0.066 ...........0.066 ...........0.066........... 0.066 .............0.068 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.941 ...............0.066..............0.066...................0.000 ................... 1,782,201 ..........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ....................................................... 31,700 ............... 1,750........................4 ........... 0.056 ........... 0.057 ...........0.054........... 0.055 .............0.057 ...........-0.002 ........... -3.509 ...............0.057..............0.054...................0.057....................6,875,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 676,534 ........... 52,503.....................40 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000003810............BANK MUSCAT SUBORDINATED BONDS .......... 1,000 ...............1,050........................1 ............1.050 ........... 1.050 ...........1.050 ........... 1.050 .............1.050............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.050 ..............1.050...................1.060...................78,750,000 .........1.000 OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 ..............................547 .....................56........................1 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.104 .............0.104 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102..............0.103...................0.109...................31,485,908 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................1,547 ............... 1,106........................2 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/Bloomberg News

SUGAR REFINERY

< FROM

B1

New project set to bridge the gap in demand and supply in the Gulf

Rana said the total annual consumption of sugar in the Gulf and larger Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region is estimated at 14 million tonnes per annum, but the refining capacity is approximately nine million tonnes. Therefore, there is a gap of 5 million tonnes every year, which is met by imports from other countries.

Export plan “We are looking at selling 35 per cent of the company’s production in the domestic market, 40 per cent in GCC and remaining

in Iran and Iraq,” he noted talking about its export strategy.

Employment opportunity OSRC will create employment opportunities for 500 people once it starts operation and the initial Omanisation level will be 25 per cent, which will eventually be raised to 92 per cent. This will create employment for Omani citizens, diversify the economy of the country, create many downstream opportunities and above all enhance food security in the country.

The company also plans to sell

its sugar as a branded product.

“We are working with a branding company at the moment and will announce (the branding plan) in the future.”

Also, the company has reached draft agreement on purchase of raw sugar and offtake agreement.

The company has already found a partner for offtake arrangement.

The refinery will take advantage of the excellent facilities provided by the strategically located port of Sohar, which include a deepwater port, adjacent container terminal and agro-bulk terminal. The refinery will be wholly-

owned by Omani promoters and will produce an Omani branded product for the local, regional and international markets.

The agreement for building the sugar refinery was signed by Nasser Al Hosni, managing director of OSRC with a senior official of Sinolight Corporation here on Sunday.

The signing ceremony was attended by China’s ambassador to Oman Yu Fulong, chief executive officer of Sohar Freezone Jamal Aziz, several senior officials from OSRC, Sohar port and freezone and Chinese embassy in Muscat.

SAFE BANKING

‘Bank Muscat committed to highest B1 levels of security for transactions’ < FROM

The telemarketing concept adopted by Bank Muscat is an effective marketing and sales method wherein all calls, both sales and non-sales, are performed on a recorded line. Accurate and relevant product information is provided by trained telemarketing sales employees through calls.

When a customer responds

positively, the bank representative confirms the sale, by requesting the last eight digits of the account number, the customer’s date of birth, the National Identity (ID) number and beneficiary details only.

Under no circumstances does the bank ask for the customer’s personal identification number

(PIN) or password. The bank never requests this information from customers and in turn customers should never provide their password or PIN to anyone, irrespective of who makes the request.

Through the telemarketing campaign, the bank offers a pre underwritten personal accident plan which provides a range of

protection benefits to be availed by the bank’s customers for themselves and their family members.

The telemarketing concept is gaining momentum in view of convenience offered to customers and the bank’s credibility. Customers can contact the bank 24/7 on 24795555 to seek clarification on any bank related matter.

MANAGMENT CHANGE

Deutsche Bank officials plan to quit LONDON: Deutsche Bank coCEOs Anshu Jain and Juergen Fitschen are planning to resign, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The bank’s supervisory board will meet to discuss who will succeed the pair, according to the person, who asked not to be identified before an official announcement is made. Jain is said to be leaving at the end of June, with Fitschen departing at the bank’s next annual general meeting.

“Anshu was always viewed with suspicion in Germany, where a lot of people thought the problems, like Libor and foreign exchange, were all down to the investment bank, which he ran for a very long time,” Christopher Wheeler, a London-based analyst at Atlantic Equities, said in a telephone interview.

The Wall Street Journal earlier reported the departures of Jain and Fitschen on its website, citing unidentified people familiar with

the matter. John Cryan, the former chief financial officer at UBS, will succeed Jain, the Financial Times reported, without saying where it got the information.

The resignations come as Deutsche Bank has struggled to rein in costs and resolve litigation issues.

At the bank’s last annual shareholder meeting in May, 61 per cent of investors voted to support management, the lowest level since 2002. — Bloomberg News

B

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

STREAMING MUSIC FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF TASTES

Spotify may be the best known of the bunch.

Instead of having just a few music files stored on your phone, you can get access to the roughly 20 million songs in Spotify’s catalogue and listen to the tracks streamed over the airwaves to your device

A

pple, which helped popularise digital music, has watched from the sidelines in recent years as consumers have moved toward streaming music services and away from music downloads through its iTunes service. Next week, Apple is expected to begin a streaming effort of its own, based on Beats Music, which it acquired last year.

So it’s a good moment to take stock of the streaming music apps that are already available. There are many that you can try, and they are often free.

Spotify may be the best known of the bunch. Instead of having just a few music files stored on your phone, you can get access to the roughly 20 million songs in Spotify’s catalogue and listen to the tracks streamed over the airwaves to your device.

The app — free to download on iOS, Android and Windows Phone

— is similar on all three operating systems. You can search for a particular track or artist, and stream free music. You can build a playlist of various tracks like a mix tape, or just play a single song or album. A social media feature lets you see what music your friends have been listening to, and share your music choices.

In addition, Spotify has a radio stationlike system that will play a sequence of tracks from a particular artist, a genre like pop or even moods like “chill.” The downside is that you may find yourself frequently pressing skip because of poor track choices.

On Spotify’s free service, you cannot play a single track at a time; you have to shuffle-play a particular artist or playlist, and you are allowed only six skips an hour. Ads embedded in the audio stream can become annoying and might encourage you to buy the

ad-free service for $10 a month.

Rdio is similar to Spotify, with more than 35 million tracks. It can be searched for songs, albums or artists, or users can take advantage of recommendations to find new music based on a chosen genre or mood.

Rdio has a “You FM” radiolike streaming service that is particularly good because it is tailored to your musical taste. It also has some social media features based on Twitter and Facebook, so you can see other users’ listening habits and share your own. Like Spotify, it has an offline mode so if you know you are going off the grid for a while, you can download tracks you want to listen to then. And the interface is less complex than Spotify’s.

The app is free on iOS, Android and Windows Phone. It offers good audio quality as part of its free ad-supported subscription level, but if you pay for the premium levels, you can choose higher quality. Premium services start at $5 a month for an ad-free experience that has limited offline downloads and rise to $10 a month for a level without restrictions.

Google streaming system Google, too, has its own music streaming system, Google Play Music. The system has about the same number of tracks in its catalogue as Spotify, with similar audio quality. The app works best on Android devices, as you might expect since Google helped develop Android. If you already buy music from Google Play, Google Play Music is a great

companion service. There is a limited iOS version of the app.

While Google Play Music has a free listening subscription level, you still have to enter your credit card details. The app is also less visually attractive than its rivals.

Tidal, backed by Jay Z and other artists, is a newer streaming music app. The selling point for Tidal is its high-quality audio; it also pays artists more than other services. Tidal has more than 20 million songs in its catalogue, as well as thousands of music videos and interesting articles. Yet its interface is nothing special, and there is no free listening tier. Subscriptions start at $13 a month, and very high-quality audio costs $25 a month. The app itself is free on iOS and Android.

Lastly, Noon Pacific is an unusual streaming service. This app delivers a playlist of 10 songs every Monday at noon, Pacific time. The tracks are curated by a team that scans top music blogs to discover the most interesting new music. Though Noon Pacific updates weekly, you can also listen to more than 100 previously curated playlists.

Quick call The productivity app expert Readdle has a new email offering for iOS called Spark. The intent is to take the strain out of managing your email accounts. Spark also has Apple Watch integration, which allows you to respond to emails from your watch. Try it free.

— KIT EATON/The New York Times News Service

SNAP YOUR SELF PORTRAIT USING ‘SELFIE STICKS’ Those telescoping monopods typically connect to the phone wirelessly over Bluetooth, or by a cable that plugs into the phone’s headphone jack. Once the phone is linked electronically to the accessory, you press a button on the end of the stick to capture your self-portrait. Some models include a small Bluetooth remote control to use as a shutter button. Certain cheap selfie sticks are basically just long poles with clamps to hold the phone; you take a photo by setting the timer in the camera app.

SMARTPHONE APPS

Upload the pictures, and let Google photos do the rest I DON’T take a lot of photographs. I have a pretty decent camera with me at all times — my iPhone 5s — but organising hundreds or thousands of photos has never seemed worth the effort.

My habits may change now that I’ve tried Google Photos, a free service introduced last week that may do for image storage what Gmail did for email.

The premise behind Google Photos is simple, and it works.

Take all the photos you want, back them up automatically into the cloud and use Google’s powerful image search abilities to find them later — no sorting necessary.

Photos has its roots in Google Plus, the company’s less-than-popular social networking service, which had photo backup and editing tools, although not to this degree. But Katie Watson, a spokeswoman for Google, said Photos was “more than just a shift over from Google Plus Photos and rather an entirely new experience.”

My photo library wasn’t exactly bursting at the seams, so to give this software something to work with, I uploaded about 8,000 of my wife’s photos from my desktop computer using some additional software Google offers. The uploading ran overnight and was finished by the time I woke up in the morning.

The experience is simple and clean and will be familiar to Google users. The photos initially are displayed in a chronological stream. Scroll down and the years roll by. Pinch to zoom and the display can show just a few pictures or zoom out for smaller thumbnails and quicker scrolling.

Searches are impressive. I knew I had a lot of dog photos, but I didn’t realise I had so many photos of waterfalls and mountains. It automatically sorts the pictures into People, Places and Things, and the facial recognition is eerily accurate. It showed me dozens of people who recur in my photographs and did a pretty good job of sorting them accurately.

The photos are easy to edit.

Click a picture and tap the icons for editing and filters, or

post the picture on Twitter or send it as a Snapchat.

Google says there is free unlimited storage, and that is true with a couple of caveats: Photos can be no bigger than 16 megapixels and high-definition movies can top out at 1080p.

Since Photos seems aimed primarily at smartphone shutterbugs, this should not be a major concern.

The iPhone 6 has an 8-megapixel camera and shoots up to 1080p video. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, the latest model of this popular Android phone, has a 16-megapixel camera — right at Google’s ceiling for photo resolution.

However, the S6 Edge shoots video in the ultrahigh-definition format known as 4K, so those video clips stored free with Google will be downsized.

Even at the smaller file sizes, some of the photos and videos get compressed, losing some detail if you want to print them large. To store photos and videos at their original size without compression, or above those size limits, they count against Google’s storage meter.

The first 15 gigabytes are free, and after that, 100 gigabytes will run $2 a month; 1 terabyte costs $10 a month.

All that free storage is great.

But the real magic of Google Photos lies in search and the service’s array of features known as the Assistant.

With the 8,000 images I uploaded, the Assistant — part editor and part wizard — had been hard at work. The feature automatically creates stylized photos, making a pretty landscape into something more surreal, or a Las Vegas street scene gritty and black and white. (There are filters the user can apply as well, in a solid but simple suite of editing tools). The Assistant will also automatically stitch together photos it suspects are suitable for panoramas, put together collages and create animations from sequences of photos.

The animations aren’t always perfect. I wish I’d taken more photos at the far turn during the Kentucky Derby a few years back. — E JUSTIN SWANSON/ The New York Times News Service

B6

MON DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

ROUND-UP New India Co. welcomes new COO Dr K. P. Sebastian, who holds an excellent professional record in the fields of animal husbandry and insurance sector, has been with New India Assurance for more than 27 years in various capacities

MUSCAT: New India Assurance Company Ltd. Sultanate of Oman organised a grand welcome party for Dr K. P. Sebastian, the newly joined Chief Operating Officer (COO) clubbed with a farewell to the outgoing COO, K. V. Francis with its staff members and the sub agents at Banquet Hall, Mumtaz Mahal, Muscat.

Dr Sebastian in his introductory speech briefed about his professional experience and expertise in the field of general insurance sector. With an excellent professional record in the fields of animal husbandry and insur-

ance sector, he has been with New India Assurance for more than 27 years in various capacities, says a press release.

Dr Sebastian completed A.I.I.I. with gold medal and completed fellowship also with gold medal.

Prior to his foreign assignment Dr Sebastian was the senior divisional manager, Auto Hub, Cochin.

He introduced ‘Automobile Tie Up’ arrangement with the largest automobile dealer in India (Maruti), in Kerala and established a new divisional office, exclusively for servicing automobile Industry, which have become the No. 1 in India within a short span of time.

Dr Sebastian has introduced innovative and need-based covers for various sections of the general public as well as for corporate sector and was also instrumental in introducing a special insurance

scheme – ‘Pravasi Suraksha Policy’, for the benefit of non-resident Indians, particularly for the Gulf NRIs, in association with NORKA. He has specially trained in health insurance management at National Insurance Academy (NIA) and he was also a member of special committee constituted by Government of Kerala for devising agricultural insurance schemes for the benefit of farmers.

His main agenda includes providing customer satisfaction ‘beyond industry standards’, ensuring issuance of ‘zero defect’ policies, as well as increasing the market share without compromising quality underwriting.

In his speech Dr Sebastian assured that during his period, the New India-Oman operations will scale further heights in Oman’s general insurance market by in-

ducting constructive ideas and providing 100 per cent customer satisfaction with the support and cooperation of his excellent work force and sub agents/intermediaries. He stressed that New India health insurance policy, ‘Better Health’, a healthcare insurance programme for corporate clients, is one of several attractive policies in its vast array of products and services. ‘Family Health’ is a medical insurance scheme with portability facility to existing customers by which customers can continue with health insurance schemes back in India, upon their return. ‘New India’ constantly promote value-added products and services as it is its tradition to achieve customer satisfaction and value addition. Dr Sebastian further emphasised that the New India-Oman has a very good com-

GRAND EVENT

mitted customer base – large, medium and small corporate clients as well as cash customers.

The company builds up good and strong customer relationship and is able to maintain the reputation of being one of the most customer friendly insurance companies in Oman market. For about four decades of operation in Oman, ‘New India’ has carved out a reputation of not only being customer friendly, but also for being trustworthy and stable in all aspects. He once again reiterated that New India Assurance is committed to ensuring social and economic/financial security to the citizens, expatriates, householders, trade, commerce and industry of this great nation by offering quality products and services at most competitive rates. Further, New India shall also strive to ensure that the protection

of general insurance does not remain restricted to trade and industry alone. It shall be taken to the doorstep of the ordinary citizen by spreading its network far and wide to unrepresented areas.

Francis thanked and conveyed his gratitude towards the support and cooperation received from each and every one of the staff members for discharging his duties and attaining various goals during his service period in the Sultanate of Oman. Francis recalled the wonderful association with sub agents and the staff members since 2010. He also acknowledged the support and cooperation extended by each and every person for attaining various milestones during his tenure in the Sultanate of Oman and urged the members present to extend the same to the incoming COO too.

Wison Raj, CFO, Majid Group, in his speech read out the message of chairman Majid Abdul Rahim Jaffar, who missed the get-together due to preoccupied commitments and conveyed his thanks and regards to the excellent service rendered by the outgoing COO, Francis and wished him all the very best for his future endeavours. Further Wilson expressed and conveyed best wishes to Sebastian for his new assignment and assured all support and cooperation.

I. M. Jacob, general manager, expressed his gratitude towards the support and cooperation extended

by Francis.

SUMMER PROMO

ISD Alumni gears up to celebrate Allo launches new promotional offer fifth anniversary on December 18 Times News Service MUSCAT: ISD Alumni is gearing up to celebrate its fifth anniversary on December 18 in Muscat with aplomb.

The ISD Alumni Meet titled ‘Yesterday Once More’ is being organised by JK Films. ISD Alumni is an association of former students of Indian School Darsait and the organisers are now preparing to make the reunion memorable.

“Ever since we formed ISD Alumni in 2010, we have been organising reunions and other events regularly. In 2013, we organised a mega event and had more than 800 former students, teachers and well-wishers attending this event.

That turned out to be a grand success and it also carved a niche among other alumni associations in Oman,” said Betsy Watson, vicepresident of ISD Alumni.

The highlight of the previous event was the performance of iconic Indian musician Stephen Devassy who enthralled the audience. “The feedback we received about that event was so over-

whelming. It captured everyone’s imagination and people still talk about it. So we decided to host the fifth anniversary in a bigger way,” Betsy added.

As part of the fifth anniversary

this year, ISD Alumni is planning to sponsor a few deserving students who are finding it difficult to pay their school fees.

“There are so many students in the school whose parents are finding it difficult to fund their education. These students are very good in studies. This mega event will be organised for these students. In a way we are giving something back to the school,” she noted.

The organisers also have plans to felicitate the teachers, who have completed several years of service in school, and former management committee members. During the event, the ISD Alumni officials will also honour former student achievers who succeeded in the areas related to their work.

“Even last year we honoured a few teachers and former students who made a mark in their own field,” Betsy added.

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION

Sohar Islamic SME financing grows in popularity MUSCAT: In line with the government’s initiatives to boost the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector in the Sultanate, Sohar Islamic — Bank Sohar’s dedicated Islamic banking window — continues to provide a boost to entrepreneurs in Oman and support the sector as a whole with its SME line of services, whilst enabling these companies to fully conform to the precepts of Shari’ah law, says a press release.

Sohar Islamic’s SME services provide financing up to 90% at competitive profit rates for a maximum tenure reaching up to five years allowing SMEs to invest in construction equipment,

machinery and commercial vehicles, enabling them to realize their ambitions in line with Shari’ah principles. The product is underpinned by simple application and approval process, thus ensuring quick turnaround time (TAT), tie ups with major dealers of equipment and commercial vehicles, collateral-free financing (financed asset constitutes the primary security), and Less documentation.

“SMEs hold great potential to host the majority of employment opportunities in the country together with making significant contributions to the Sultanate’s GDP. This is why we, at Sohar Islamic, encourage all entrepreneurs

and provide them with essential financial support through our network of branches and Shari’ah compliant SME Financing products and services. In addition to availing the range of SME services, our customers can also look forward to meeting our experienced team of relationship managers who can assist them in managing their finances more effectively,” said Mohammad Haris, AGM of Sohar Islamic.

Through SME Financing Services, Sohar Islamic is encouraging entrepreneurial Omanis to actively participate in the rapid growth of the SME sector, in line with the Royal directives of His

Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and on the recommendations of the Central Bank of Oman, which has advised all banks in the Sultanate to support and ease the processes for SMEs. In addition to the SME finance, Sohar Islamic has a comprehensive range of banking solutions that cover a wide array of retail and corporate financing needs. These include auto finance, term deposits, savings accounts, current accounts and construction and housing finance for the bank’s retail customers. For its corporate clients, Sohar Islamic offers asset finance, working capital finance, trade finance, treasury and investment products.

TECHNOLOGY MARVEL

Hisense launches ULED TV in Oman Times News Service MUSCAT: Hisense, a world leading manufacturer of flat panel TVs, household appliances, and mobile communications, ushered in a new era in home entertainment in the Sultanate with the launch of its revolutionary ULED TV, the ultimate name in unprecedented television viewing experience.

At a glittering launch event, Hisense also underlined its cutting edge competencies as the tech-pioneer of innovative televisions with the unveiling of its latest curved TV and the 4K ultra-HD smart TV. The Hisense ULED televisions,

featuring the 4K ultra-high definition technology, was presented earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

They provide unmatched television quality at unbeatable prices, assuring the best-in-class innova-

tion and quality.

“We are delighted to mark the launch of our ULED TV and our latest range of state-of-the-art televisions in Oman, a country that is central to our operations in the Middle East region,” said

Terry Wang, managing director of Hisense Middle East FZE. “Hisense has defined its unique niche in the television industry globally and we are honoured to partner with them to bring such an extensive range of hi-tech televisions to Oman. The new range of television being launched has exceptional features that will guarantee a spectacular viewing experience. With demand for smart TV and curved TVs also on the rise, Hisense will meet the needs of all customers in the country,” said, Anil Sharma, VP of Sands International, the authorised distributor of Hisense in Oman.

MUSCAT: Allo, Oman’s first over-the-top (OTT) international calling service and the flagship brand of Integrated Telecommunications Oman (TeO), unveiled a new promotional offer for international calls to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Launched under the campaign ‘International calling has never been so affordable’, the promotion offers Allo customers up to 60 minutes of international talktime to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh from their home and office fixed lines and up to 45 minutes of international talk-time from their mobiles for just OMR1, says a press release.

The unique service from TeO allows anyone in Oman to avail the very attractive international calling rates from their existing landlines or mobiles without having to acquire a separate SIM card or connection.

Interested customers can simply purchase an Allo card, available for OMR1 and OMR5 from various recharge card outlets, supermarkets and convenience stores across the Sultanate and immediately be able to make international calls at the lowest

rates available from Oman.

“Our team has been working hard to take the Allo products all over the Sultanate and we are happy to announce that now we are available across all the regions of Oman from Buraimi to Dhofar. We have also recently extended our presence in supermarket chains to include Mars Hypermarkets and Muscat Bakery Markets among others. We are very glad to see our product now being used all across the country and that we are able to add a little bit of joy to our customers’ lives by allowing people from all segments of society to regularly stay in touch with their loved ones back in their home countries,” commented Ali Al Mamari, sales manager at TeO.

PA R T N E R S H I P

MPS set for growth in ME

MUSCAT: MPS, a well-known, high quality brand of flexo and offset press solutions for label and flexible packaging printers from Netherlands, recently announced the appointment of Anoop Plastic Products Trading Establishment as its exclusive agent in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. The partnership ensures local technical support and positions MPS for growth in the Middle East, says a press release.

Anoop, based in Sharjah, UAE, is a well-established leading, printing materials supplier and the first specialised supplier of flexo printing solutions and prepress equipment in this region.

Its product portfolio includes printing presses, pre-press and post-press equipment, accessories and consumables from industry-leading suppliers such as Stork, Flint Group, Lohmann,

Cheshire Anilox Technology, Zeller+Gmelin and many more.

Anoop, with its team of electronics and software engineers, provides prompt local technical service in addition to pre-sales and after-sales consultation.

With a wide range of supplier representation, Anoop is closely associated with label printers throughout the Middle East.

Anoop represented MPS at the just concluded Gulf Print & Pack Show 2015 with a team of 11 staff members who received initial indepth product training. Anoop was able to successfully promote MPS flexo and offset printing presses during the show in Dubai.

The partnership between Anoop and MPS is completely customer aligned, with one a leading customer-centric supplier in the Middle East and other a worldclass manufacturer of flexible packaging print solutions.

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Attractive summer offers for BankDhofar Visa cardholders For a lump sum of AED 1,595 BankDhofar Visa cardholders can enjoy an unlimited array of privileges and family packages (up to four family members) at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai Hotel & Resort

MUSCAT: Adding to the extensive benefits and unbeatable offers available for BankDhofar Visa cardholders, the bank recently revealed more attractive offers that customers can enjoy at Atlantis, The Palm Dubai Hotel & Resort.

BankDhofar’s credit card facilities have accrued a number of benefits to further add to customers’ lifestyle and to enrich their experience. This promotion gives all BankDhofar Visa cardholders access to exclusive offers, including discounts and other benefits.

For a lump sum of AED 1,595 BankDhofar Visa cardholders can enjoy an unlimited array of privileges and family packages (up to four family members) at Atlantis, says a press release.

Khalid Al Amri, head of Retail Products, Business & Segments

Department at BankDhofar, stated: “The promotion is valid till September 30, offering customers AED 3,000 worth of benefits across a wide range of services and facilities. Package benefits include a one-night stay in a deluxe room, full buffet breakfast at either Kaleidoscope or Saffron every day of guests’ stay, lunch per day at Kids Club for children between 3 and 12 years and at

C O N V E N I E N T L O C AT I O N

phones and other related accessories from the store.

All accessories are genuine Samsung products and customers can be assured of only the most authentic of electronics. A well-trained and knowledgeable team of service engineers makes sure customers receive the needed attention and are earnestly assisted when enquiring about the products.

“We have moved to this new location only to be of better service to our customers,” said Ajay Ganti, CEO. “The Azaiba branch is any easily accessible location. In addition, the ample parking area, bigger showroom space and its position very next to the main highway,

all contribute with more advantages than one. As a customer service plaza, our main focus will always be our customer’s best interest.”

Sarco has been responsible for marketing, distribution and retailing of Samsung products since its entry in the Oman market. Samsung, having risen as one of the most popular brands in the Sultanate and in the world, demands a strong, dedicated and expert customer service plaza to support their existing customers.

Sarco diligently performs this role through their service outlets making sure that Samsung has nothing but satisfied customers with all their enquiries tended to.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y O G A D AY

ISWK organises yoga event MUSCAT: To mark the International Yoga Day, Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (ISWK) organised a mega event of yoga in collaboration with The Art of Living Muscat Chapter at the primary wing playground of the school recently.

The invite was open to all aspirants to energise their mind, body, heart and soul through the austere postures of yoga. The event started with a discourse on the significance of yoga and the purpose of marking the International Yoga Day, says a press release.

Proficient yoga teachers At the outset students demonstrated different yogic postures to the accompaniment of mellifluous music. The august audience also got a flavour of benefits of yoga by categorically carrying out the postures under the supervision of proficient yoga teachers from Art of Living Foundation Muscat Chapter. As the final curtain fell everyone was found respiring deeper, and was revitalised and calmer than ever.

Jotun rated Oman’s No. 1 paint brand MUSCAT: Jotun Paints was honoured as the No. 1 paint brand in Oman at a ceremony held recently as part of the launch of the ‘Top Brands in Oman’, a comprehensive directory of the best brands in the country issued by Al Omaneya Advertising and Public Relations, says a press release.

Bjorn Skjelby, General Manager, Jotun Paints Oman received the top brand award from Dr Ibrahim Al Kindi, CEO, OEPPA. Jotun Paints Oman, among other brands in different categories, was chosen through a brand survey and questionnaire model which encompassed different strata of the society. Through advanced Research and Development (R&D), Jotun is working continuously to improve its existing technology, explore new technology and move towards a green future.

E X PA N S I O N

Samsung customer service centre relocated to Azaiba MUSCAT: Al Seeb Technical Establishment (Sarco) the distributors of Samsung products in Oman have relocated their customer service plaza from their old location in Ghala Industrial Area to a brand new customer service plaza in Azaiba.

The new outlet located next to Al Meera Hypermarket and MHD Jaguar Land Rover showroom on the Sultan Qaboos Highway was strategically chosen keeping in mind customer’s convenience.

The inauguration of this modernistic customer plaza took place recently. The event saw a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony by Bassam Fahmi Masood, Regional CEO, alongside key members from the management team and other employees from the company, says a press release.

The new customer service plaza provides the same flawless service that Sarco has always been reputed to offer. The outlet comes well-equipped to service all the needs for the complete range of TVs, printers, laptops and mobile phones from Samsung. Customers can also choose and buy from an extensive range of Samsung

Club Rush for teens between 13 and 18 years of age, in addition to unlimited access to Aquaventure Waterpark, dinner choices from a selection of 14 restaurants for each day of guests’ stay, access to The Lost Chambers Aquarium, two-for-one Spa massage (once per stay); and preferential rates at Dolphin Bay. The booking period is till September 30.”

Among the various benefits, in

addition to high security features and global interoperability of the BankDhofar debit cards, the bank offers a diverse range of services that include, but not limited to, cash withdrawal in OMR (AED & USD in some ATM’s), requests for mini statement, balance inquiry, self-fund transfer, third party transfer, card-less cash withdrawal.

Additionally, BankDhofar has an extensive network of cash deposit machines (CDM) to further ease transactions such as cash deposit in OMR, bill payment (water, electricity, internet and phone bills), mobile phone top-up, donation to registered charities that maintain an account with the bank, credit card payment, American Express card payment and cheque deposit.

RECOGNITION

Oman Lights opens third outlet in Mabelah MUSCAT: Oman Lights, a division of Al Zahra Group of Companies, recently opened its third showroom in Mabelah.

The first showroom was set up in Ruwi High Street while the other much spacious outlet with lighting solutions is located in Darsait. All the showrooms are open from 8.30am to 1pm and 4.30pm to 8.30pm, says a press release.

Oman Lights is a trusted supplier of electrical and building material products to market sectors such as construction and infrastructure, power projects, ministries and hotel projects in the Middle East.

The accurate study and implementation of light performance together with aesthetics and functional design contributes to the high added values in Oman Lights products.

Their execution pattern of any requirement of customers has earned them a reputation as most reliable supplier. Their trained and committed staff always coordinate quickly and efficiently with customers. Oman Lights’ network with worldwide suppliers ensures timely delivery of materials and execution of jobs.

Oman Lights mission is to raise

the profile of their valued Omani customers by opening more showrooms to offer comprehensive and competitive product range through sharing their combined experience and technical expertise with worldwide associates and manufactures.

Oman Lights plans to open new showrooms in Amerat, Barka and Sohar.

N E W Y E A R C E L E B R AT I O N

ISC Kachchhi Wing to stage comedy drama on June 12 MUSCAT: Kachchhi Wing of Indian Social Club, Muscat celebrates its New Year ‘Aashadhi Beej’ in a traditional way every year and it has been decided to celebrate this New Year in a unique way at Le Grand Hall, Al Falaj Hotel on June 12 at 4.30pm.

The wing will honour the senior citizens of the community who have been serving society since long. J. S. Mukul, Indian ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, will be the chief guest and a felicitation will be held for the outgoing envoy, says a press release.

This year’s new year programme will stage a super hit Gujarati comedy drama Wah Mummy Wah. Omkar Production under the banner of Manikant Patel presents the play. It is a record breaking comedy drama with more than 2,000 shows performed so far throughout the world.

The drama is written and directed by late Bimal Mangaliya.

Actor Khelrangara will come to Muscat to perform and make the audience laugh. Comedy queen Amitabh Pratima T with Jitu Kotak, Archana Pathak, Mitul Gupte, Amar Trivedi and Chan-

dan Dasani, all renowned artists, are part of the play.

Hiten Dutia, co-convener of Kachchhi Wing, had an opportunity to chat with lead actress Pratima and Jitu. Pratima said that she was proud to have learned so much from her guru late Bimal Mangaliya, who passed away in the year 2010. Her acting career goes back to 35 years creating a record of being in the same group ever since. She received the award of Lady Amitabh from the British government along with the group being awarded with ‘the most travelled drama troupe throughout the world’ at famous Bigben Tower.

Jitu, marketing manager cum actor, said that the drama group has made 63 trips throughout the world, wherever Gujaratis are settled. The first drama in which she acted was Parka Baira Sau Ne Game in the year 1977. The group travelled to UK for the first time in the year 1978 and then onwards they visited the UK regularly almost every year. The group is aiming to gain Guinness record for the highest number of acts performed throughout the world.

This year, they have already presented 35 shows and are set to perform in another 20 shows.

“Do not miss this hillarious comedy play. Pratima and Jitu Kotak, the kings of comedy, will conquer the stage. It will be a huge loss for those who cannot make it for the show,” said Hiten.

On behalf of all committee members and convener of the wing Hemlata thanked the sponsors for their overwhelming response and their generous support. The entry for the drama is only by invitation for members and invitees. Members can collect their invitation on June 9 and 10 from ISC office between 7.30 and 9pm.

SPECIAL OCCASION

Turkish Airlines claims ‘Your Favourite’ YouTube advertisement of past decade DUBAI: Turkish Airlines announced yesterday that it has been awarded the ‘Your Favourite’ YouTube ad of the past decade with its selfie shootout video, as part of YouTube’s 10 years of great branded videos. The ad was developed by Crispin Porter + Bogusky, says a press release.

The ad, Kobe vs. Messi: The Selfie Shootout, has received more than 140 million views on YouTube. The spot was a follow up to the 2012 Legends on Board campaign. The video features two of the world’s biggest sports su-

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perstars, Kobe Bryant and Lionel Messi,in a face-off game for selfie supremacy. The combination of the selfie trend along with wellknown superstars who showcase just a few destinations where Turkish Airlines travels across the globe, resulted in the ad becoming an instant hit, receiving 25 million

views within the first three days.

“This YouTube ad was about increasing awareness that Turkish Airlines serves more countries than any other carrier. For US travellers this means, one-stop connections from our seven US gateways through our hub in Istanbul to 260 global destinations. Kobe and Messi did a fantastic job of allowing us to highlight the fact that no other airline offers this type of access to destinations around the world for US travellers,” said Zeki Cukur, senior vice president, Corporate Communications.

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LEARNT ENOUGH, NEED TO ACHIEVE NOW: KOHLI

Not quite convinced about the idea of counting the positives after a lost match, India’s new Test captain Virat Kohli on Sunday said the days of learning are long over and his cricket team would be solely focussed on delivering results. >C3

Wow...Wawrinka The 30-year-old Swiss claimed a famous 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory to secure his second career major after the 2014 Australian Open.

It ended world number one Djokovic’s bid to become only the eighth man to secure a career Slam as he slumped to his third defeat in a Roland Garros final in four years

PARIS: Stan Wawrinka spectacularly shattered Novak Djokovic’s dream of a career Grand Slam on Sunday when he became the oldest winner of the French Open in 25 years.

The 30-year-old Swiss claimed a famous 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory to secure his second career major after the 2014 Australian Open.

It ended world number one Djokovic’s bid to become only the eighth man to secure a career Slam as he slumped to his third defeat in a Roland Garros final in four years.

Wawrinka became the oldest champion in Paris since Andres Gomez in 1990 after just his fourth win in 21 meetings against the Serb. “It’s really hard to believe but it has finally happened,” said Wawrinka, who fired 60 winners past the Serb.

“It was the match of my life. But bravo to Novak, it’s a great challenge, the biggest one to play him.”

“It’s a special moment for me.”

Sunday’s shock defeat, meanwhile, was only Djokovic’s third in 44 outings in 2015 and ended his 28-match win streak.

It was also his eighth loss in 16 finals at the majors.

“It’s hard for me to speak right now,” said Djokovic who was in tears on the presentation podium.

“I’d like to say well done to Stan.

He has a great heart and I have all respect for him. He is a deserving winner.” “But I’d like to say I will be back next year and I will try again.”

Under siege Djokovic, playing in his 16th Grand Slam final to Wawrinka’s second, had the Swiss player under siege in the first set. Eighth-seeded Wawrinka had to save break points in the opening game — which featured a 39-shot rally — and the fifth.

But the world number one broke through for a 4-3 lead when Wawrinka served up a double fault.

The battling 30-year-old Swiss saved two set points in the 10th game — one after a botched forehand put-away by Djokovic — and then carved out a first break opportunity. That was swiftly saved and

CUP OF CHEERS: Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka celebrates with the trophy following his victory over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after the men’s singles final of the 2015 French Tennis Open at the Roland Garros in Paris. – AFP

the Serb gobbled up the opener after 43 minutes, celebrating with a mighty, arena-shaking roar.

Wawrinka cranked up the forehand winners early in the second set but was unable to convert two break points in the fourth game as Djokovic’s renowned powers of recovery made him an intimidating target to pass.

Wawrinka saw another break point disappear in the sixth game.

In the eighth, it was the same story as Djokovic saved another break point causing Wawrinka to violently smash his racquet into the net in frustration.

But he wasn’t to be denied as Djokovic surrendered the set in the 10th game with a wild backhand,

collecting a warning for destroying his racquet in the Paris clay.

Djokovic was playing for the third day in succession having needed five sets to beat Andy Murray in the semi-finals.

He looked suddenly jaded and unplugged, fighting off three break opportunities in the second game of the third set.

He dropped serve again to trail 4-2 and when he carved out a break point in the next game it was his first such morsel since the seventh game of the opener.

It was no surprise when Wawrinka wrapped up the set in the ninth game with Djokovic having no answer to his opponent’s lethal battery of down the line backhands

and pinpoint accurate forehand winners. Djokovic found a late lease of life for a break at 2-0 and held for 3-0 in the fourth set.

But back stormed Wawrinka, retrieving the break on the back of a 30-stroke rally before Djokovic saved two more break points to go to 4-3. In a rollercoaster fourth set, the Swiss saved three break points in the eighth game and on the back of three of probably his finest ever backhands broke for 5-4.

And it was another textbook backhand that won him the title on a second match point.

Compatriot Roger Federer, the 2009 champion who lost in the quarterfinals to Wawrinka this year, tweeted simply: “CHAMP.” - AFP

MISSES OUT AGAIN: Novak Djokovic acknowledges the crowd after receiving his runners-up trophy. – Reuters

Safarova teams up with Mattek-Sands to win women’s doubles crown

SO SWEET: US Bethanie Mattek-Sands, right, and Czech Republic’s Lucie Safarova kiss the

trophy after winning against Australia’s Casey Dellacqua and Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova during their women’s double final match. – AFP

PARIS: Lucie Safarova made sure she left Roland Garros with at least one winner’s trophy after the Czech left-hander and Bethanie Mattek-Sands won the women’s doubles title on Sunday.

Less than 24 hours after losing to Serena Williams in the singles final, Czech Safarova and American Mattek-Sands beat Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in front of a sparse crowd on Philippe Chatrier Court.

It was their second successive major title following success at the Australian Open in January.

On Saturday, Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Brazilian Marcelo Melo clinched their maiden grand slam title by defeating brothers Bob and Mike Bryan 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 7-5 in the French Open doubles final.

Cheered on by triple Roland Garros champion and compatriot Gustavo Kuerten, Melo ended a tight contest with a splendid half volley to deny the American Bryan brothers their 17th major.

Dodig becomes the first Croatian to win a title at the French Open while Melo is only the second Brazilian to triumph on the Paris clay after Kuerten’s success in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

Dodig and Melo lost the 2013 Wimbledon final against the Bryan brothers.

The top-seeded Americans got off to a solid start and claimed the first set on a tiebreak only for their thirdseeded opponents to level in the same fashion. Dodig and Melo then broke decisively in the 11th game of the decider and closed the match out to claim the trophy. - Reuters

IN FOCUS

Spurs, West Ham eyeing free agent Ali Al Habsi Times News Service

MOST FAVOURED: Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi. – Times of Oman

MUSCAT: Former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi is set to move on following their relegation to League One. According to reports published

by Daily Mail on Sunday, Tottenham, West Ham United and Reading are interested in free agent Ali Al Habsi.

The 33-year-old is out of contract at Wigan Athletic and is a proven performer at Premier League and Championship level.

Tottenham and West Ham are weighing up replacements for Brad Friedel and Jussi Jaaskelainen, while Reading need to replace Adam Federici who joined Bournemouth.

New challenges In early May, Ali Al Habsi’s brother Ahmad Al Habsi told Times Sport the Omani captain is looking for another challenge in the new football season.

Speaking right after Ali confirmed that he will be leaving rel-

egated English Championship side Wigan Athletic, Ahmad said his younger brother is now looking forward for a new challenge.

“He was thinking about this (leaving Wigan) for some time now. His contract is expiring this summer anyway. He is looking for a new challenge now,” Ahmad said without revealing any details.

Ahmad who is also an Oman Football Association board member, said Ali is “looking for options” to join a new club soon.

“As Ali said in social media, he

will be announcing the details in June. But frankly, there is nothing concrete yet. Options are still open and we are hoping to come out in detail in a month’s time,” Ahmad said.

When asked if Al Habsi informed him prior to announcing his decision via social media, Ahmad had this to say: “Of course, he spoke to me before he did that and he told me he wanted a change and that he wants to look for another challenge. I said we are always with him and go for it!”

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Age no barrier for supreme Serena It is a clear sign of how dominant Serena Williams, the 33-year-old American, has become in the women’s game, 17 years after making her debut in Grand Slam tennis

PARIS: Serena Williams has won Wimbledon five times and will be a hot favourite to make it six when the grasscourt classic gets underway in three weeks time in London.

If she makes the punters happy by doing so she will, for the second time in her career, hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time — and will stand halfway to becoming just the fourth woman to win all four in the same year.

It is a clear sign of how dominant the 33-year-old American has become in the women’s game, 17 years after making her debut in Grand Slam tennis.

To date she has won 20 Grand Slam titles, just two shy of the Open era record of 22 held by Steffi Graf, and most worringly for her opponents, she seems to be accelerating.

Seven of those have come since she hooked up with French coach (and boyfriend) Patrick Mouratoglou in June 2012 after a stunning first round upset at the hands of Virginie Razzano in the French Open — the first, and to date only time, she has gone out of a Grand Slam event at the first call.

Injuries At that time Williams had been beset with a succession of injuries and lack of motivation and she credits Mouratoglou with turning things around for her.

“Beforehand her career was full of ups and downs,” he said after her three sets win over Lucie Safarova in Saturday’s French Open final — her 20th Grand Slam title.

“I had the impression that she lacked motivation at times and also she was very often carrying an injury.”

Now, he says, she is perfectly capable of winning five Grand Slams in a row at Wimbledon and New York, although he cautions that it is still a big ask.

Helping Williams’s cause — and worringly for women’s tennis in general — the opposition is not exactly of the highest quality.

Part of the problem stems from the early retirements of Belgian pair Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters, both of whom were capable, at their best, of going head to head with Williams Nowadays long-time foes and prematurely annointed successors, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki

both seem incapable of beating her, mid-twenties challengers Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka both have problems with the pressure that comes at the top and young guns such as Eugenie Bouchard and Sloane Stephens have both taken backward steps this year.

That left a Paris tournament that had no player under the age of 25 in the semifinals.

The stage therefore looks set for Williams to continue her domination of women’s tennis, at least for the next couple of years, as long as she stays healthy and motivated.

Then the debate can be engaged over who is the greatest female tennis player of all time -- Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova, Graf and Williams being the likeliest choices.

Ideally placed Navratilova, who presented the French Open trophy to Williams at Roland Garros on Saturday, believes the American is ideally placed.

“She has really dominated the sport in the last three years,” the 18-time Grand Slam winner said.

“What is impressive to me is that she’s doing it at this age.

“It remains to be seen how deep she can go into the 20s (Grand Slams), depending on how her body holds up and on motivation.

Even if she gets to 22, passing Margaret Court (24) is still a long way away.

“It definitely gets harder when you are in your 30s but at the same time, the new generation hasn’t quite caught up to Serena so she has a nice window there.” - AFP

PERFECT POSE: Serena Williams of the U.S. poses with her trophy near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, after winning the French Open women’s singles final at the Roland Garros. – Reuters

CRICKET

Rahul Dravid to shape the next generation of Indian cricketers MUMBAI: Rahul Dravid has been entrusted with shaping the future of Indian cricket and agreed in principle to coach the country’s under-19 and A teams.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) last week named a threemember advisory committee comprised of former cricketers Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman but the absence of former captain and batting great Dravid had surprised many.

BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur laid the concerns to rest by confirming that the modalities of Dravid’s contract will be finalised in the next few days.

“The good news is that Rahul Dravid has agreed to coach India A and India under-19 in the future,” Thakur told reporters in Kolkata after a meeting with the advisory committee on Saturday.

The 42-year-old Dravid, who has over 13,000 runs in tests and close to 11,000 in the 50-over

format, will start by preparing the India A side for a home series against Australia A and South Africa A in July and August.

Dravid said the role suited his family life fine and he did not see it as a platform to groom himself for the national team’s head coaching job which remains vacant after the departure of Duncan Fletcher in March.

“I think it is really exciting because it has been an area I have always been interested in,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo of his new role.

“I feel it is a very important stage of development of a lot of cricketers, having been through myself, and I am just hoping that ... I will probably be able to help some of these young cricketers on their journey.

“I don’t see this as any stepping stone, I just see this as an opportunity to work with young players over the next few months, six weeks of an A tour and may be six or seven weeks, with the under-19

MAN FOR FUTURE: Indian veteran Rahul Dravid.

team.” With India widely known as poor travellers, Dravid’s role will be crucial.

The new advisory panel has recommended increasing the

overseas trips of junior teams and organising tours a year earlier in countries where the senior team would be scheduled to play a major tournament or series.

“One of the suggestions by the legends was to increase the number of India A tours overseas so that we can give more and more exposure to our A players and they can play competitive cricket,” Thakur said.

“In the past few years, the performance of the Indian team was not up to the mark overseas, so our focus would be on India A tour overseas.

“For example, if we have to play Champions Trophy in England, then India A must tour England or nearby countries one year in advance.”

The panel has also suggested identifying a pool of 30 bowlers, comprising of 15 pacemen and the same number of spinners, to be groomed for international cricket over a four-year cycle. - Reuters

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

C3

SPORTS

WARMING-UP: Cricketers warm up during their fitness Test at Eden Garden in Kolkata ahead of the Bangladesh tour. – PTI

Learnt enough, need to achieve now, says Indian skipper Kohli I might be there longer than expected: Shastri

Addressing a predeparture press conference here on Sunday ahead of the tour of Bangladesh, which starts with a one-off Test from June 10, Kohli said his focus is on results CONFIDENT: Skipper Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan on eve of

KOLKATA: Not quite convinced about the idea of counting the positives after a lost match, India’s new Test captain Virat Kohli on Sunday said the days of learning are long over and his cricket team would be solely focussed on delivering results.

Addressing a pre-departure press conference here on Sunday ahead of the tour of Bangladesh, which starts with a one-off Test from June 10, Kohli said his focus is on results.

“We have learnt a lot, I don’t think we need to play with a mindset of playing to learn.

Obviously, we learn about the game all the time, even when we are watching it on TV. But we have played long enough now, we know what we want to achieve as a unit.

departure to Bangladesh. – PTI

So, we really want to achieve rather than go out of a match thinking what we have learnt from it,” Kohli said when asked about his expectations from the team.

Insisting that the team is in good shape for the Bangladesh tour, which will also have three ODIs, Kohli said fitness is a prime concern to ensure that his side keeps a steady look. “The team is looking in good shape. We conducted a fitness test yesterday because we feel that fitness is one area where we need to strengthen,” he said.

“Everyone is really excited for a fresh beginning.

I am certainly excited about leading the team,” he added.

On his own expectations from

the short tour, Kohli said he is looking forward to strategise for the gruelling Test format.

“I have captained teams before. At a certain level, you learn while doing the job. Tests are a difficult ball game compared to ODIs or T20s because you have to strategise for a whole day in one go,” he said.

“I have learnt a lot while captaining in Australia. The team’s skills are good and I am looking to continue with the consistency.

It’s all about how you improve on your mistakes,” he added referring to his stint Down Under when he took over captaincy after the shock retirement of Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the format. - PTI

KOLKATA: Asserting that the Indian cricket team does not require “more coaches” than what it already has right now, Director Ravi Shastri on Sunday said he might just be there “longer” than expected.

Shastri was retained as Director of the team for the tour of Bangladesh, which starts with a one-off Test on June 10 and also features three ODIs after it. Addressing a pre-departure press conference here, Shastri said the team is not exactly hard-pressed for a chief coach right now.

“We have got three coaches, we don’t need another coach.

I will double up as head coach if need be, so there is no issue whatsoever,” said Shastri when asked whether the side would miss having a national coach after Duncan Fletcher’s tenure came to an end earlier this year. “Speculation, perception, that is your problem, not my problem. As far as coach is concerned, we don’t need one.”

Quizzed further on how long he will continue with the team, Shastri said, “When we come back from Bangladesh, I will sit with them (the BCCI) and decide. I don’t rule out anything.

I might be there much longer than what you think.”

We have got three coaches, we don’t need another. I will double up as head coach if need be Ravi Shastri Team India Director

Asked whether the team is confident of a good show against the lower-ranked Bangladesh, Shastri said, “We respect every opponent and Bangladesh is another opponent.” A talking point ahead of the tour has been the Test comeback of veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and asked whether he would be leading the Indian attack, Shastri said it would be a combined effort.

“We welcome Harbhajan back in the side, he is a good operator and will bring plenty

to the plate.(But) it’s going to be an India bowling outfit, not anyone in particular leading the pack,” he said.

On to other developments in Indian cricket, Shastri welcomed the appointment of batting great Rahul Dravid as the new India A and Under-19 coach. “I have already had a chat with Dravid. There is no better news for Indian cricket.

There cannot be a better man for that job. He will be with the youngsters and that will help the senior team,” he said. - PTI

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

SPORTS Enrique overcomes doubts and revolt to emerge on top Barca’s new direct play does the trick in second treble

Enrique has not for the first time in his career followed in

BARCELONA: Winning goals from Luis Suarez and Neymar on the counterattack to sink Juventus in the Champions League final encapsulated the new direct play from Barcelona that saw them become the first European side to win the treble for the second time.

Suarez has provided an acute understanding and extra fire power following his comeback from a biting ban last October and is the final piece of the jigsaw in an attacking trident for Barca that is devastating to watch.

The Uruguayan perhaps did not have his best game for Barca but he was still heavily influential in defeating Juventus with his predatory instincts seeing him pounce and slot home the ball after Lionel Messi’s initial shot was saved by Gianluigi Buffon.

When Barca last won the treble in 2009 they accomplished it through ball possession and short passing but now they are at their most dangerous on the breakaway.

It was after Alvaro Morata had equalised for Juventus and the Italians were bossing the game at 1-1 that Messi found the space in the lead up

Guardiola’s footsteps by landing the treble: Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of Juventus added the Champions League to La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs

MADRID: When Luis Enrique was hired as Barcelona boss just over a year ago his challenge was a daunting one; to bring back the glory years of Pep Guardiola.

Fast-forward 12 months and Enrique has not for the first time in his career followed in Guardiola’s footsteps by landing the treble: Saturday’s 3-1 defeat of Juventus added the Champions League to La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs.

Enrique succeeded Guardiola as Barca captain in his playing days in the 1990s and as Barca B coach when the Bayern Munich boss took the top job at the Camp Nou in 2009.

Yet, they took different routes to delivering Barca’s two best seasons in a storied 115-year history.

Whereas the fiercely proud Catalan Guardiola was loved not only for winning, but imposing a style of play that saw many round the world hail his side as the best in the history of football, Enrique has had to overcome doubts and dressing room revolt before ending the season on top.

Even now he has doubts about his future. After leaving star duo Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench for a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad and January, Enrique was rumoured to be on the verge of the sack.

Uncertain future In the week following the Sociedad defeat he saw a trusted ally in sport-

to Suarez’s goal and similarly in injury time Neymar sealed the win on another counter.

“We knew about his quality and his record,” said Luis Enrique, referring to Suarez in a news conference, who joined Barca from Liverpool ahead of this campaign.

“The only doubt was whether he was going to be able to adapt here. You can now see it has worked out. He has an incredible hunger and desire to win trophies.”

The coach also praised the contribution of Messi and Neymar.

“Messi is our key player and the second goal was his. We are very happy with him and he gave us what he has been giving us all this season,” he said. “Last year (Neymar) had a very good season despite it being the first (at the club).

Now he has developed and he has been spectacular. He demonstrated that he is one of the best players in the world.”

Barca have found solidity in defence and the impact of Luis Enrique’s work on strategy at set-plays has clearly worked as it is no longer such a weak point. But still it has been the three forwards that have made the difference. - Reuters

SUPERIOR RECORD: Luis Enrique

ing director Andoni Zubizarreta sacked and another former teammate Carles Puyol walk out on the club in solidarity with Zubizarreta.

A stubborn character who once turned his back on Real Madrid to cross Spanish football’s great divide, the 45-year-old appears not to have forgotten that criticism as he has ruled out leaving the club.

“The truth is I don’t know if I will continue,” he said.

Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu called club elections for this summer when under pressure in January. And whether it is he

or a new face in charge of the club come July is likely to influence Enrique’s decision.

“It has been a difficult year and I’m very thankful to the people who have believed in me. I never thought we would win the treble, but one always tries to do their job to the best that they can.”

Enrique’s record of 50 wins in 60 games is far superior to the 42 in 62 matches Guardiola managed his treble-winning debut campaign.

Barca’s front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar outgunned the previous club re-

cord of 100 goals by a forward line that season by Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o with a sensational 122.

Meanwhile, Enrique’s men were even meaner at the back with 33 clean sheets in all competitions.

“I hate comparisons,” said Gerard Pique when quizzed on the differences between this Barca and Guardiola’s side.

“There are people that would prefer we played like a few years ago but it works.”

And Andres Iniesta is hoping Enrique is not quite done fol-

lowing Guardiola’s example just yet and stays on to mark an era at Barca.

“Both trebles are special. The first time you think you’ll never do it again, and yet we have,” said the Spaniard, who was named man-ofthe-match against Juventus.

“For us he is our coach and we hope that next year he will be there with us. He hasn’t said anything to the contrary and next year we will have new challenges.

“It has been a spectacular season in every aspect, it is a spectacular day for us.” -AFP

KHIMJI RAMDAS FELICITATE MUSCAT CRICKET TEAM

RECORD-BREAKER

Leaving Barca tough for Xavi BERLIN: Record-breaker Xavi Hernandez says it will be tough to leave Barcelona after lifting the Champions League trophy on his final appearance in the famous strip.

The 35-year-old came on in the 78th minute to set a new record of 151 Champions League appearances in Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Juventus in the final in Berlin which was the fourth time he had won European club football’s most prestigious trophy.

Having started at the Catalan giants as an 11-year-old, Xavi will join Qatari side Al Sadd next season. He admitted that leaving Barcelona will hit him hard having won his 25th title with the club.

The final took a dramatic turn when an early goal by Barca’s Ivan Rakitic was cancelled out

by Juventus’ ex-Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata with the equaliser on 55 minutes.

But Xavi says Barcelona’s superstar Lionel Messi made the difference as his brilliant run led to Luis Suarez making it 2-1 to the Spaniards in the secondhalf before Neymar scored their third at the death.

“To leave this way is amazing, but I have a bit of nostalgia thinking I’m never going to play for this side again and I really wanted to lift the cup,” said Xavi, who lost his place in the starting side to Rakitic this season.

“We suffered a lot, because Juve put pressure on us, but Leo (Messi) popped up again.

“The side is sensational and Messi is outrageous.”

Xavi said the best thing for Barcelona now is for Luis Enrique to stay on with the head coach having left his future open, despite winning the treble of European, cup and league titles in his debut season.

“Luis Enrique deserves this because he’s had a lot of criticism, but he’s been a great leader for the side. The best thing for next year is for Luis Enrique to stay,” said Xavi.

Defender Gerard Pique said that Xavi was part of a “unique generation” at Barcelona. “Xavi deserves everything,” he said.

“He is leaving us with an important legacy: how to play football and take on victory and defeat.

He will always be with us.” - AFP

Khimji Ramdas Group felicitated the members of the Muscat Cricket Team who finished runners-up in the Muscat Pharmacy & Stores-sponsored A Division 50 overs-a-side cricket tournament organised by Oman Cricket. Anil Khimji, Director of Khimji Ramdas, Madhursinh Jesrani, Oman Cricket Secretary and General Manager of the Watches Division at Khimji Ramdas, were present on the occasion. — Supplied photo

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

C5

SPORTS Barcelona eye more history after bagging second European treble claim a winners’ medal at the 12th attempt, into another save as it finished 1-0 at the break.

Barcelona have now won five European titles, four of which came in the last decade. Enrique says they want to make more history by becoming the first team to win backto-back Champions League titles

BERLIN: Luis Enrique says Barcelona aim to become the first team to defend the Champions League title as the head coach considers his future despite steering them to an historic treble.

Luis Suarez and Neymar scored second-half goals to give Barcelona a 3-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus on Saturday as the Spaniards became the first team to twice win the European treble.

Enrique capped his first season as Barcelona’s head coach by matching Pep Guardiola’s feat from the 2008-09 season when the Catalans captured the European, Spanish league and cup titles.

An early goal by Barca’s Ivan Rakitic was cancelled out when Juventus’ former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata equalised on 55 minutes.

But Suarez put the game beyond the Italian champions with a 68th minute strike off a rebound at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium before Neymar added the third with the last kick of the game in the 97th minute.

CHAMPS: Barcelona players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin on Saturday. – AFP

Barcelona have now won five European titles, four of which came in the last decade after their 2006, 2009 and 2011 triumphs.

Enrique says their hunger for silverware is insatiable and they want to make more history by becoming the first team to win backto-back Champions League titles.

“This is our 60th match (this season) with six defeats and four draws,” said the 45-year-old.

“Those figures show that this has been one of Barcelona’s best campaigns. In the last ten years, this has been the most successful club in Europe.

“These players have shown hunger for victories and they’ve shown they enjoy it so much, we have to nourish them with more titles.”

Enrique is yet to commit to a second season ahead of the club’s

presidential elections as he has had a tense relationship with current incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu.

“I want to celebrate the win, but the time will come when decisions must be made,” said Enrique.

“It’s been a difficult year with lots of transition, but I have to thank all those who have trusted me to lead Barcelona.”

Juventus suffered the unwanted fate of becoming the first team to lose six European Cup finals, 30 years after winning the trophy for the first time which was overshadowed by the Heysel Stadium disaster.

On the streets of Barcelona, where you could have heard a pin drop during the final, thousands of ecstatic fans dressed in their team colours of blue and red celebrated with cheers, chants and fire crackers.

“It’s a dream, I still can’t believe it!” said Eduard Ocana, a 23-yearold student, in the Catalan capital, as cries of “champions, champions!” echoed around the famous party street of Las Ramblas.

Suarez triumph For Suarez it was a triumphant end to a first season with the Spanish champions after his ignominious biting ban at the World Cup. “It’s incredible, it’s something unique,” he said. “The best thing about this side is the spirit and the fact we’ve been united since the start of the season.”

In 2009 Barcelona joined the elite club of treble winners that include Celtic, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Now, they are the first to have done that twice.

BRIGHT FUTURE

Juve lost to world’s best team: Buffon BERLIN: Gianluigi Buffon insists his Juventus side lost to the ‘world’s best team’ in their 3-1 Champions League defeat against Barcelona after the Italian champions were outgunned.

For the 37-year-old goalkeeper it was a second Champions League final disappointment as he also tasted defeat to AC Milan in the 2003 final.

“There was a moment, a tenminute spell, when we thought we had the match in our hands and that’s exactly when we lost it,” rued the Juventus captain as Barcelona claimed the treble with their fifth European title.

“It would have been an extraordinary result. We didn’t manage to win, but not because we didn’t’ try: we gave everything we had.

“Barcelona are the best team in the world in my opinion, but we have proved that we could compete.”

Buffon says the team has a bright future. “We conceded early on, but we were always in the game. This performance gives us hope and confidence.

“We can make sure we stay at this level next season and within the next two or three years — who knows? — maybe I’ll manage to make some other dreams come true.” - AFP

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

Despite brief moments of magic, Lionel Messi failed to become the first player to score in three Champions League finals as he along with captain Andres Iniesta and Barca icon Xavi Hernandez — in his final match for the club — equalled Dutch star Clarence Seedorf’s tally of four winners’ medals.

Barcelona showed early nerves with two uncustomary mistakes in defence straight from kick-off before Rakitic gave the Catalan giants the lead with just four minutes gone.

Neymar fed Iniesta from the left wing and the Spain international squared for Rakitic to drill home from close range, past Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon.

Juve came back into the game midway through the first half, but Suarez forced Buffon, who failed to

Touch of Messi magic Juve got the equaliser they had threatened when defender Stephan Lichtsteiner’s cross found Carlos Tevez, whose shot was parried by Barca goalkeeper MarcAndre ter Stegen, only for Morata to rifle home the loose ball on 55 minutes. It was his first goal against Barcelona despite four years at the Bernabeu having left Madrid last year.

The goal breathed life back into Juve’s ambitions, but it was a touch of Messi magic which led to the decisive goal.

The Argentina international attacked the Juve defence with a mazy run and although Buffon blocked his shot, Suarez fired home the rebound on 68 minutes.

“Unfortunately when you play against great players, you think you have things under control, then they can turn the game, as happened tonight,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

“We’re sorry to have missed our chance, but I can’t criticise the team,” he said.

Xavi came on for his final game in the Barca shirt in the dying stages as he made history with a record 151st Champions League appearance before joining Qatari side Al Sadd next season.

“To leave this way is amazing,” said the Spain international, who lost his place in the starting side to Rakitic this season.

The scene was set for Neymar to cap his first Champions League final with Barcelona’s third just before the final whistle.

Juventus hailed the achievement of Allegri in getting the team to the final during his first season in charge, and beating 2014 winners Real Madrid in the semis.

“You gave us a dream. Thanks, mister,” said Juventus’s official Twitter account. - AFP

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M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

SPORTS

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Bribery claims stack up against former Fifa official Jack Warner Russia, Qatar could lose World Cups: report

In the latest allegation against

ZURICH: Russia and Qatar could be stripped of their World Cup hosting rights if evidence emerges of bribery in the bidding process, Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of Fifa’s audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper.

The FBI’s investigation of bribery and corruption at Fifa includes scrutiny of how soccer’s governing body awarded World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar, a U.S. law enforcement official said this week. “If evidence should emerge that the awards to Qatar and Russia only came about thanks to bought votes, then the awards could be invalidated,” Scala told SonntagsZeitung in an interview on Sunday.

“This evidence has not yet been brought forth.”

Warner, Egyptian former sports minister Aley Eddine Helal said Warner asked Egypt in 2004 to pay a $7 million bribe in exchange for seven votes to host the 2010 World Cup

PARIS: Disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner was accused Sunday of asking Egypt for a $7 million bribe for votes to host the 2010 World Cup, as allegations piled up against the man at the heart of the corruption scandal engulfing football’s world body.

The BBC also claimed that the 72-year-old Trinidadian pocketed a $10 million payment made by South Africa through Fifa which was intended to pay for football development for the African diaspora in the Caribbean.

Warner, a former schoolteacher and Trinidadian justice minister who has been indicted by the U.S. authorities on corruption charges, has denied all the allegations against him.

But he has emerged as a key figure in the scandal that erupted last month as one of 14 current or former Fifa officials and sports marketing executives accused by U.S. prosecutors of taking part in a sweeping kickbacks scheme going back 20 years involving a total of $150 million in bribes.

The scandal, which also involves a Swiss probe into the awarding of

Russia and Qatar have denied wrongdoing in the conduct of their bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, which were not the subject of charges announced by U.S. prosecutors last week against Fifa officials.

Scala made similar comments in 2013 but events over the last two weeks, which included a dawn police raid in Zurich and the arrests of several Fifa officials on U.S. charges, have added urgency to his remarks.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he supported Qatar hosting the 2022 tournament but said Britain would work with another country if Fifa re-opened the bidding process. “We would offer our support to any country that has been chosen to host the World Cup,” Hammond

told BBC World Service radio, saying the final decision would be for Fifa to make. He ruled out any British bid to host the 2022 competition if Qatar was stripped of hosting rights.

Sepp Blatter unexpectedly announced on Tuesday he was resigning, just four days after securing a fifth term as Fifa president and shortly before it emerged that he too was under investigation by U.S. law enforcement.

In a separate interview with Swiss paper Sonntags Blick, Scala floated the idea of term limits for the Fifa presidency.

“If a Fifa president does two or three cycles that is enough,” Scala was quoted as saying.

A representative for Scala confirmed his remarks. Fifa did not immediately respond to a request for comment. - Reuters

DISGRACED: Jack Warner

the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar, has led to the resignation of veteran Fifa boss Sepp Blatter last week, just four days after his reelection for a fifth successive term.

In the latest allegation against Warner, Egyptian former sports minister Aley Eddine Helal said Warner asked Egypt in 2004 to pay a $7 million bribe in exchange for seven votes to host the 2010 World Cup. “Warner was the one who approached us from Fifa. He said he could guarantee us seven votes...

He asked for one million dollars for each vote,” claimed Helal, who on Thursday told an Egyptian TV channel that Warner’s offer had been rebuffed.

Egypt, one of the countries dominating African football, was a candidate to host the 2010 World Cup, but it received no votes in the

2004 Fifa ballot and South Africa was eventually chosen to host the tournament — the first in Africa.

‘Laundered the payment’ The BBC, citing documents it has seen, also said on Sunday that Warner laundered the payment from South Africa through a supermarket chain, made cash withdrawals, paid off his credit cards and took personal loans.

U.S. investigators suspect the $10 million was a bribe to help secure the 2010 World Cup for South Africa. But South Africa says the money, paid in 2008, was intended to pay for football development for the African diaspora in the Caribbean, where Warner was the longtime football baron.

In three transactions in 2008 funds totalling $10 million were moved from Fifa’s bank into an ac-

count of Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf ) which was controlled by Warner, then its president.

The BBC said JTA Supermarkets, a large chain in Trinidad, received $4.86 million paid in instalments, while nearly $1.6 million was used to pay Warner’s credit cards and personal loans.

Trinidad’s Sports Minister Brent Sancho, a former international footballer, said he was appalled by the revelations.

“He (Warner) must face justice, he must answer all of these questions. Justice has to be served,” said Sancho, who played in all three of Trinidad’s matches at the 2006 World Cup finals.

‘A travesty’ “I’m devastated because a lot of

that money should have been back in football, back in the development of children playing the sport,” Sancho told the BBC, describing the revelations as a “travesty”.

Warner was arrested on May 29 at the request of U.S. authorities and is currently free on bail of $400,000 bail pending a decision in his extradition case.

Warner — still a powerful member of parliament in Trinidad and Tobago — has taken out paid advertisements in the Trinidadian media, published articles in local newspapers and held rallies with his Independent Liberal Party to defend himself.

The South African federation issued a statement on Sunday denying the accusations levelled at them by another disgraced former Fifa executive Chuck Blazer.

In testimony released by the U.S.

justice department on Wednesday, the former North American football supremo claimed he and other Fifa executives agreed to accept bribes during bidding for the 1998 and 2010 events.

South Africa has strongly denied that it paid bribes to secure the football extravaganza — the first hosted in Africa and a key plank of Blatter’s pledges when he took over as Fifa president in 1998.

“We categorically deny that this was a bribe in return for a vote,” the South African federation said.

“It belittles the hard work done

by Madiba (Nelson Mandela), Archbishop Tutu, the South African Government and numerous others who sacrificed their time and money and family lives to make our country proud! It tarnishes their images in the most unscrupulous manner.” - AFP

SUPERVISING COMMITTEE

Panel on the documentation of Oman sports history meets MUSCAT: The Supervising Committee on the documentation of Oman sports history held their third meeting here on Sunday under the chairmanship of Sheikh Rashid bin Ahmed Al Hinai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs and head of the committee.

The meeting included a follow up of the implementation of the recommendations of the first and second meetings.

It also reviewed and approved the distribution of work and all the requirements of the book to mem-

bers of the committee who were hired, in addition to the formation of working teams.

Sheikh Saad bin Mohammed Al Mardouf Al Saadi, Minister of Sports Affairs, had issued a ministerial decision to form a committee to oversee the documentation of sports history in the 45 years of the Sultanate’s blessed Renaissance period.

The committee includes Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai (chairman), Rashid bin Said Al Ismaili, Advisor to the Minister for Sports Planning, Awad bin Mohammed

Al Sayari, Advisor to the Minister for Sports Planning, Mohammed bin Saed Al Manwari, Director General of Planning and Projects, Fahd bin Abdullah Al Raisi, Director General of Sports Care and Development, Mohammed bin Elias Faqeer, Shanoona bint Mohammed Al Barwaniyah, from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), and journalist Nasser bin Hamad Darwish as members, in addition to Hamza bin Ali Aidroos, Director of Public Relations and Media member and coordinator to the committee. - ONA

CRUCIAL MEETING: Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai, third left, presides over the meeting of the Supervising

Committee on the Documentation of Oman Sports History. – ONA

C

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MON DAY, J U N E 8, 2 0 1 5

Any marketing or political campaign, a conflict between countries, tension at workplace, or a couple’s quarrel can be described as a game.

This is an important insight that contributed to the game theory

I

met John Nash for the first time in 1995, a few months after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and long before he became a renowned, worldwide celebrity. Although I had not met him before, it was easy to identify him from a distance in the enormous conference hall. He stood off to the side and alone, casually dressed in shorts and staring down, wide-eyed, at the floor, as if he was trying to calculate how many tiles had been used to cover the expanse beneath his feet.

Throughout the years, this encounter was followed by many subsequent meetings with John where we discussed game theory, politics and life. These discussions were consistently both fascinating and frustrating. They were fascinating because of the captivating stories he liked to tell about Princeton in the early 1950s, or about his one-time meeting with Albert Einstein, and also because of his unique perspective on the various topics we discussed (including politics, one of his favourite topics, on which he was always scrupulously neutral). The discussions were frustrating because no emotional expression on John’s part, either facial or verbal, ever accompanied our talks.

John Nash was one of the founders of game theory, a field of research that many

also refer to as the theory of interactive decision-making. Any marketing or political campaign, a conflict between countries, tension in the workplace, or a couples quarrel can be described as a game for which game theory provides insights.

Nash’s brief academic career, before his illness with schizophrenia, led to two research papers published in 1950. These two publications arguably remain the most important and most influential publications in the field.

Game theory is divided between two branches; "non-cooperative" and "cooperative." These two sub-fields represent not only two different research approaches but also, to a certain extent, different social orientations. The first approach, the non-cooperative one, is descriptive.

It seeks to predict how rational and selfinterested individuals will behave in situations of conflict. The second approach, the cooperative one, seeks to recommend reasonable and fair solutions for conflict situations between rational and self-interested individuals.

The first approach stresses prediction, the second one recommendation. The first focuses on an individual’s selfish behaviour, the second on a fair solution. The first approach aims at revealing the reality of social conflicts; the second seeks to

change it. Finally, the non-cooperative approach believes that conflicts are resolved by themselves, for better or for worse, through the sovereign decisions of the parties involved. The cooperative approach assumes the presence of a third party who can implement a fair and unbiased resolution for the conflict. If the US Congress could have determined the development of game theory, Republicans would have probably supported the first approach while the Democrats would have voted for the second. In the UK, the Conservatives would have voted in favour of non-cooperative game theory, while Labour would undoubtedly have campaigned in favour of cooperative game theory.

But John Nash didn’t have to choose.

He was the founder of both sub-fields. His seminal paper on equilibria in games, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize, laid the foundations of non-cooperative game theory and is considered one of the most important concepts in modern economics. His other paper, on the solution to the bargaining problem, is a fundamental building block in cooperative game theory and a vital contribution to economic theory. While on the face of the matter it might appear that the gap between these two approaches is wider than that between heaven and earth, it turns out that, in many

environments, the two approaches often lead to the same conclusions.

This is one of the most important insights that modern research has contributed to game theory. In many situations, self-centred behaviour leads to bridging between opposing interests and the conflict is resolved with more or less the same outcome that a fair arbitrator would have imposed. In cases where the two approaches provide different conclusions, none of the two is overwhelmingly better than the other. In some cases, the noncooperative approach delivers a more reasonable conclusion, while in others it is the cooperative one that performs better.

This is an important truth, which I believe can be carried beyond the boundaries of game theory, in particular into politics.

Game theory, in its two branches, can also be viewed as the theory of putting oneself in someone else’s shoes. To manage a conflict or to resolve it you have to understand the motives of all the parties involved: you have to be able to assess the benefits that each party might gain and the costs that they will have to incur as a result of any possible action that they might choose to undertake. In many economic applications, when the parties to the conflict are corporations, these costs and benefits are concrete and measurable.

But real life presents us with very different types of conflicts – eg, between friends, family members or colleagues, or between political parties, countries, even terror organisations. In these conflicts, costs and benefits become significantly more amorphous. They are affected by emotions, moral sentiments and ideologies.

Three months ago, I received an e-mail message from John soon after my book was published. John wrote that finding ways to measure these types of costs and benefits poses a great challenge to us game theorists. Most people, in their intuitive use of game theory, manage to assess these costs and benefits quite well with the help of their emotional intelligence and empathy.

However, schizophrenia patients lack this ability. A deficiency in emotional intelligence and empathy is one of the most prominent symptoms of the disease. John Nash understood his disease and the ramifications of its symptoms.

He understood that he would never be able to use empathy as a means with which to fathom the behaviour of other people.

But he also refused to relinquish his desire to understand human behaviour, and he did this by using his own tools – his mathematical ingenuity and the magical theory that he founded: game theory.

-Eyal Winter/The Independent

C8

M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

EXTRA

PROSOPAGNOSIA What is it like to live with face blindness? Hazel Plastow tells the agonies of not recognising her own family

R

ecognising our nearest and dearest comes naturally to most of us. But for an estimated one in 50 like Hazel Plastow, a 57-year-old charity executive from Caterham in Surrey, face blindness challenges her daily.

Hazel has a curious condition that means she is unable to recognise her husband, parents, friends and colleagues. She can’t even identify her own face in a photograph. Face blindness, or prosopagnosia, is a spectrum condition that can affect someone relatively mildly or, as in Hazel’s case, severely.

Yet despite its relatively high prevalence, the condition remains fairly unknown. A new support group, Face Blind UK – established by a group of people with the condition – hopes to raise awareness and highlight support and coping strategies for those in need.

Hazel first learned about face blindness four years ago after hearing a radio report on an American research project.

Understanding completely what she heard, she contacted a researcher specialising in the condition at the University of London and was diagnosed.

It was a huge relief. “It shows people it isn’t just that you aren’t trying hard enough,” Hazel says. “Without knowing there is a reason, you end up doubting yourself.”

The frustration felt by herself and others towards their inability to recognise anyone has been lessened by the understanding that the condition is permanent and beyond their control. “It’s like being short. You wouldn’t criticise someone for that,” she says. Hazel is now also more able to control her own anxieties. But the feeling of disorientation remains a familiar one. “Your reality is shifting all the time,” Hazel says. “We were at a family meal recently and I thought the waitress had come over. Actually it was my sister but I hadn’t seen her get up from the table.”

In a few cases, face blindness develops after a brain injury such as a stroke (known as acquired prosopagnosia), but the vast majority of cases are lifelong – due to a particular part of the brain not having developed in the normal way.

Hazel has had the condition as long as she can remember and as a child, she was always seen as very shy. “All my life I

Hazel Plastow

have been fitting around the face blindness,” she says.

At school, she always sat at the back and was only able to form a few friendships: “I was very insecure in the social melee, even in a small school, and I relied heavily on the routine and context to try and work things out.”

Often, she explains, prosopagnosics seek out the company of people with distinguishing features. One boyfriend was six foot four with a large beard. “That was easier. It gave me more confidence walking into the pub to meet him,” she laughs.

As she grew older, Hazel found her condition increasingly limiting. The developing relationships and social life of the late teen-

age and early adult years were stressful. “I worked very hard at covering up,” she says. “I thought everyone else was just better at social things.”

Hazel has developed many tactics to help herself: “Often I can tell from the way someone acts that I must know them. I have people walk up and hug me but I have no idea who they are.

I ask general questions hoping for clues – some family names or something.” On many occasions, though, she says she walks away none the wiser.

At work – where she regularly has to attend meetings and conferences – she is particularly good at remembering names and uses notes and diagrams as triggers.

But people can take offence when she is unable to recognise them.

Certain settings are particularly challenging. “Funerals are the worst. It isn’t the place to start talking about your own issues and there are people you ought to know and people you’ve never met.”

At her mother-in-law’s funeral last year, Hazel found herself in conversation. “I asked the woman how she had known Muriel. She was my cousin.” Dr Sarah Bate, director of the Centre for Face Processing Disorders at Bournemouth

University, believes awareness of prosopagnosia is growing, slowly: “It is perhaps where ADHD was 20 years ago.” There is, she says, much work to be done.

“Without understanding and support, young people can experience difficulty in making friends, social anxiety and depression,” says Dr Bate. “We work with teenagers who tell us they are unable to form relationships and fear they’ll make errors that ruin their chances. The adults who come to us say they want to make it easier for the next generation.”

There is currently no treatment, and patients approaching their GPs are referred to university researchers rather than medical specialists (assuming they are given any referral at all), but Dr Bate says departments such as hers can really help.

They can suggest compensatory strategies to ease social difficulties and create support networks among those with the condition. Schools and workplaces can be asked to use seating plans, name tags, even coloured ribbons or badges for children, to help them identify others.

Dr Bate hopes the growing body of research will lead to better support. Developmental

prosopagnosia was thought to be rare until the start of the century, when the Internet led to a deluge of reported cases. “But a lot of people still don’t realise they are different. They assume everyone recognises people by their hair, their shoes, their voice,” she says.

Researchers are trying to identify why the condition develops.

In some cases, there appears to be a genetic link, with the condition running in families.

An early history of visual problems is also common.

“In childhood, it appears critical to have normal interactions with faces. If that is missed, they may miss a window for developing normal face-recognition skills,” explains Dr Bate.

How severely an individual is affected varies widely: “We have parents who can’t recognise their children. One mother told us she went to the wrong child at the nursery. That is very hard emotionally.” It is, Hazel Plastow believes, easy to underestimate the impact of the condition.

“Children, in particular, are very vulnerable,” she says. “They can feel lost and alone. That is why we need to talk about it – we can change that.”

— Giulia Rhodes/The Daily Express

MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

C9

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Spy (Action, Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy 09:30 pm /11:45 pm Dil Dhadak Ne Do (Drama, Romance) (TBC) Cast : Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shetty, Priyanka Chopra 02:00 pm /08:20 pm Entourage (Comedy) (15+) Cast: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven, Kevin Connolly 02:00 pm /06:10 pm Insidious Chapter 3 (Horror) (15+) Cast : Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson 04:15 pm /11:30 pm Woman In Gold (Drama) (PG) Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl 05:15 pm /07:25 pm Survivor (Action, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Dylan McDermott 03:30 pm /05:30 pm /07:30 pm San Andreas (Action, Adventure) (3D) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 9:30, 11:45 pm (PG) Jungle Master (Animation, Adventure) (2D) PG Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade 1:45 pm

Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Comedy/Romance) (PG) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan 02:00 PM San Andreas (3D) (Action/Thriller) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 10:00 AM, 07:15 & 09:35 pm

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

SCREEN 1 Dil Dhadakne Do (Romance/Drama/ Comedy ) – TBC Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, , Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma Priyanka Chopra 3:30, 6:45 & 10:00 PM SCREEN 2 Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Romance/ Drama/Comedy) – TBC Cast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45PM

SCREEN 3 Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45PM

Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Shetty, Priyanka Chopra 02:15 & 08:15 PM Chandrettan Evideya - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod 07:25 PM

San Andreas – 3D (PG) Action, Drama Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 09:30 & 11:45 PM San Andreas (2D) (12+) (Action, Drama) Spy - 2D (18+) Action, Comedy Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Cast: Jude Law, Melissa McCarthy Alexandra Daddario 03:15, 07:15 & 11:30 PM 3:15pm Survivor – 2D (PG12) Action, Thriller San Andreas (3D) (12+) (Action, Drama) Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, 2:45, 5:30, 8:15 & 10:00PM Alexandra Daddario Burying the Ex – 2D (12+) Comedy 9:15 & 11:30PM Cast: Anton Yelchin, Ashley Greene Jungle Master (2D) (PG) (Animation, 04:30 PM Adventure, Comedy) Woman in Gold – 2D (PG) Drama Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds 4:00AM 02:45, 06:15 PM Survivor (2D) (PG12) (Action/Thriller) Insidious: Chapter 3 - 2D (15+) Horror Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan, Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott Dylan McDermott 04:45, 11:45 PM 5:20, 9:45 & 11:45PM Chandrettan Evideya – 2D (PG) Cut Bank - 2D (12+) Thriller Comedy Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod 02:30 PM 06:30 PM Entourage - 2D (15+) Comedy Dil Dhadakne Do – 2D (TBC)Drama Cast: Adrian Grenier, Jeremy Piven Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali 05:20 & 07:15 PM Shetty, Priyanka Chopra Woman in Gold - 2D (PG) Drama 08:45 PM Cast: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Brühl 04:15 & 06:15 PM Insidious: Chapter 3 - 2D (15+) Horror Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, San Andreas (3D) (Action | Thriller) Angus Sampson (PG) 02:10, 05:30 & 11:30 PM Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino Spy - 2D (18+) Action | Comedy 07:30 PM Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa Survivor (Action | Thriller) (PG12) McCarthy Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan 07:15, 09:30 & 11:30 PM 4:45 & 9:45PM Dil Dhadakne Do - 2D (TBC) (Drama)

Entourage (Comedy) Cast: Andrian Grenier, Jeremy Priven, Kevin Connolly 2.00, 4.00, 8.00 pm CP No: 1474 (15+) Insidious: Chapter 3 (Horror) (15+) Cut Bank (Thriller ) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teressa Palmer, 06:30 PM John Malckovitch Spy (Action | Comedy) (18+) 4.00 & 8.00 pm Cast: Jason Statham, Jude Law CP No: 1476 (12+) 05:15, 11:30 PM San Andreas (Action / Thriller) Dil Dhadakne Do (Hindi) (Drama) (TBC) Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Shefali Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Shetty, Priyanka Chopra Deddario, Carla Gugino 08:15 PM 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm Chandrettan Evideya (Mal) (Comedy) CP No: 1381 ( PG ) (PG) Survivor (Action / Thriller ) Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod Cast: Milla Jovovitch, Pierce Brosnan, 11:15 PM Dylan Mc Dermott 2.00, 6.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1475 (PG 12) San Andreas (2D) (12+) (Action, Drama) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 2:45pm Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com San Andreas (3D) (12+) (Action, Drama) 9:15 & 11:30PM Spy (2D) (18+) (Action, Comedy) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi 5:00 & 9:30PM Cut Bank (3D) (12+) (Thriller) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer 11:00AM & 3:15PM Survivor (2D) (PG12) (Action, Thriller) Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Cast: Milla Jovovich, Pierce Brosnan 12:45 & 7:15PM Chandrettan Evideya (Mal) ( com ) Woman in Gold (2D) (PG) (Drama) Cast: Dileep, Namitha & Anu Sree 12:30 & 06:30PM 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30pm at Cinema Main Insidious: Chapter 3 (2D) (15+) (Horror) Pandaga Chesko (Telugu) (Act/Rom) 2:30 & 11:45PM Cast: Ram, Rakul Preet Singh & Sonal Jungle Master (2D) (PG) (Animation) Chauhan Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade 3:30 & 6:30pm at Cinema -2 11:00AM Oru Vadakka Selfie (Mal) (Com\Drama) Entourage (2D) (15+) (Comedy) Cast: Navin Pauly, Manjima & Vineeth 4:20 & 7:20PM Sreenivasam Burying the Ex (2D) (12+) (Comedy) 9:30pm Cinema -2 1:30PM Masss (Tamil) (Act/ Hor) Chandrettan Evideya (2D) (PG) Cast: Surya & Nayanthara Cast: Anusree, Dilip, Namitha Pramod 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 pm at Cinema 3 5:00PM Dil Dhadakne Do (2D) (PG12) (Drama) Bhaskar The Raskal (Mal) (Rom/Com) Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor Cast: Mammootty, 8:30PM Nayanthara & Isha Talwar 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45pm at Cinema-4 Next Change: Premam (Mal)… Romeo & Juliet (Tamil…Humari Adhuri Kahani (Hindi)

STARS CINEMA

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

ACES ON BRIDGE

When leader knows, he tells partner

H

enry Morgan, a 17th-century Welsh pirate who along the Spanish Main became a multimillionaire in today’s dollars, said, “A kleptomaniac is a person who helps himself because he can’t help himself.”

In yesterday’s deal, East had to help West steal the contract from South.

In today’s deal, West can return the favour — how?

South is in three notrump. West leads a fourthhighest spade six, which is covered by the three, 10 and jack. South immediately attacks diamonds. What should happen after that?

North was a tad

aggressive in jumping to three no-trump, but he hoped his diamond suit would provide five winners.

East does not know the strength of West’s spade suit. If West has acequeen- or ace-jack-fifth, the defenders can capture one diamond and four spades.

Here, though, that does not happen.

If East returns a spade after taking the diamond ace, South makes his contract.

First, West should play high-low in diamonds to show his doubleton. Then East should hold up his diamond ace until the third round to give West a chance

to make an informative discard.

If West has strong spades, he pitches a low heart or club. Here, though, he must throw a spade to warn East that that suit is not a source of tricks. Then East should shift to the heart three, which gives the defenders four more tricks to defeat the contract.

Phillip Alder is combining in May 2016 with Kalos to run a bridge and golf river cruise starting from Bordeaux, France. Details are available on Phillip’s website: www.phillipalderbridge.com.

— By Phillip Alder MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 Heckle 5 Clump of dirt 9 Icy remark?

12 Nautical position 13 Surfing hub 14 Debtor’s letters 15 Triangular sails 16 Won narrowly (2 wds.)

18 AAA suggestions 20 Hangs in 21 Laughs loudly 23 Price tag 25 Hawkeye st.

26 Fall softly 28 Depot info 32 Omelet base 35 Festive night 36 Splinter group

37 38 40 41 43 46 49 50 53 56 57 58 59 60 61

One of the noble gases Peddle Flint’s st.

Skip over Aisle guide Pulpy fruit Run in neutral Cuspidor Blarney Stone site Dues payer, for short Herr’s abode Prevent errata Informal wear Mini-play Driftwood bringer

DOWN 1 Gandhi opposed it

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 17 19 21 22 23 24 27

Rope-a-dope boxer Serengeti grazer Piquant Scams Thai language Sighs of distress Occasions for seconds “Who’s Who” entries Send packing Deep tracks Evenings out Clairvoyance Good, in Guatemala Latest fad Feel envious Unlocked Name in blue jeans

29 30 31 33 34 39 42 44 45 46 47 48 49 51 52 54 55

“Tao — Ching” Summit Follow the cookbook Take off Blow, as a horse Lead balloon Joseph Campbell forte Winter precip Alpine moppet Cellar, briefly Rapier “The — of the Ancient Mariner” Scholarly org.

Furniture wood Yes, to Yvette Free of Dog days in Dijon

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE

GHAITH

June 8, 2014

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

KIDSPOT

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

C10

MON DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY BORN today, you are in many ways a classic Gemini native in that, at different times, you present to the world two very distinct personalities that seem to conflict with each other but, in fact, actually support and complement each other quite nicely. Indeed, it is possible for two people to be talking about you, and for the listener to think that they are talking about two completely different people — that is how distinct the two sides of your character actually are! On one hand, you can come across as flighty, mercurial, irresponsible and unrealistic in your outlook; on the other, you are serious, consistent, reliable and utterly realistic in your views of yourself and the world. What reconciles these seemingly irreconcilable traits? You are, above all, an honest individual — and one who shoots from the hip.

It is likely that you will be no stranger to hardship in your lifetime, yet you may become quite an expert at coping with difficulty and adversity — both personal and professional. One of your most successful tactics in life is reinvention; you know how to remake yourself to suit changing circumstances.

Also born on this date are: Joan Rivers, comedian and television host; Keenen Ivory Wayans, actor and writer; Frank Lloyd Wright, architect; Bonnie Tyler, singer; Julianna Margulies, actress; Nancy Sinatra, singer; Jerry Stiller, actor; LeRoy Nieman, artist; Barbara Bush, US first lady; Sonia Braga, actress; Boz Scaggs, singer and musician; Robert Preston, actor; Byron White, US Supreme Court Justice; Griffin Dunne, actor.

W E AT H E R

C

WORLD

Max 41 Min 34 Max 24 Min 20

Max 44 Min 27

Max 35 Min 29 Max 24 Min 14

Max 35 Min 28

Max 22 Min 12

Max 42 Min 26

Max 41 Min 29

Max 40 Min 24

Max 38 Min 29

Max 36 Min 28

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] Max 33 Min 29

Max 31 Min 18

Max 34 Min 28 Max 20 Min 14

—www.met.gov.om

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

37 39 37 42 36 42

27 28 27 31 31 26

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

25 41 31 19 20 40 30 22 30 22 15 30 26 21 21 29 25 24

18 28 18 11 15 19 26 10 26 16 2 25 19 11 11 24 19 16

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[JUNE 21-JULY 22] You may find yourself doing something you don’t really want to do, simply because you’re following orders. Is that reason enough?

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You are able to use every moment of the day to your advantage, particularly before others rise and after they retire for the night.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You may have to accompany someone on a trip that he or she is loath to take — but you both understand that it is necessary.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may not have enough money to throw at a certain problem, so you’re going to have to come up with a creative solution.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Your standing within your professional community is on the rise. Others are waiting for you to do something big. When can it happen?

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You know one or two things that others don’t, and that’s likely to make all the difference. A family member applauds.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] If you insist on taking everything literally, you’ll surely fail to understand the real meaning behind most things.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] Some things were meant to be done in tandem with others, and some things were meant to be done alone.

You must know which is which!

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] Your willingness to put yourself front and centre, making yourself a target for critics and others who would put you down, is admirable.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] Avoid making judgement calls. Stick to the facts, and reward others based on achievement — and what they do for you.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You may find yourself shooting ahead of the competition quite unexpectedly. Perhaps it’s the early start that does the trick.

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow) High tide Low tide

1:08pm 7:23pm

6:52pm 5.19am 12:37am 7:09am

SEA STATE: Moderate along southeastern coast with maximum wave height of 2.0 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coast with maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during fog and thundershowers.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Chances of convective clouds developments and thundershowers over al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas towards afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.

Max

OMAN

CANCER

12.11pm 3.29pm 6.57pm 8.19pm 3.53am

AIRLINES

lear to partly cloudy skies along coastal areas of Arabian Sea and mainly clear skies over the rest of the Sultanate with chance of convective clouds developments and thundershowers over al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas towards afternoon associated with hail and fresh winds.

EXPECTED WINDS: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming variable light at night and along the rest of the Sultanate wind will be southerly to southeasterly light to moderate occasionally fresh.

GEMINI Your ability to fix things quickly — especially where relationships are concerned — allows you to win the day. Timing is key.

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

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

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

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

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

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

10:20 12:30

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

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

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

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

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

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

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

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

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

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

Daily

16:50

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

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 4537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

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

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 Sifawy Hotel +968 24749111 Juweira Hotel +968 23239600 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore

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

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

MONDAY

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MEDINA 0005 KUWAIT 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 LAHORE 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 ADDIS ABABA 0350 DUBAI 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 BEIRUT 0805 DUBAI 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 LAHORE 0825 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 GOA 0935 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0950 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 MANILA 1020 TRIVANDRUM 1045 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 LAHORE 1215 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 ABU DHABI 1220 BANGKOK 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 ABU DHABI 1335 DUBAI 1340 KHASAB 1445 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 BAHRAIN 1635 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 MADRAS 1750 BANGALORE 1750 DUQUM OMAN 1755 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 SHARJAH 1905 RIYADH 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 TEHRAN 2055 DUBAI 2100 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 MUNICH 2105 DACCA 2115 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 SALALAH 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 DOHA 2225 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 AHMEDABAD 2300 ABU DHABI 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 SALALAH 2320 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

WY406 WY648 WY676 WY682 WY914 BG021 WY916 NL768 TK774 4H583 PK281 GF560 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 FZ041 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 4H562 WY902 WY644 WY326 WY686 WY154 WY144 WY678 WY668 WY132 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY602 WY346 WY342 WY272 WY202 G9841 WY236 G9114 WY282 EK862 WY242 WY252 QR1128 IX817 EY382 9W530 WY3302 WY604 WY918 WY652 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 WY384 WY822 WY705 WY904 WY634 WY818 BG023 WY670 WY324 WY332 PA950 PK191 WY606 WY906 WY920 FZ045 WY632 WY656 QR1126 WY3304 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 WY216 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY610 WY694 GF564 TG507 SV534 G9116 WY374 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY386 WY224 WY614 WY338 FZ049 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 WY254 BA073 WY624 UL205 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 EY388 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY696 WY612

CAIRO 0005 KUWAIT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 DACCA 0100 SALALAH 0120 LAHORE 0130 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0300 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0515 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 JEDDAH 0645 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 KARACHI 0650 RIYADH 0655 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 MEDINA 0710 DOHA 0715 PARIS 0735 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 DUBAI 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 LAHORE 0825 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 RAS AL KHAIMA 0855 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 MANGALORE 1010 ABU DHABI 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1045 MUKHAIZNA 1050 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1125 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 MALE 1210 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215 SALALAH 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 BANGKOK 1220 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 SIALKOT 1310 GWADUR 1320 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 DUBAI 1535 ABU DHABI 1605 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 MUKHAIZNA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 TRIVANDRUM 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 DUBAI 1800 DAMMAM 1805 BAHRAIN 1810 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900 RIYADH 1900 SHARJAH 1905 COLOMBO 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 COCHIN 2025 DUBAI 2025 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 MADRAS 2135 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 COLOMBO 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ABU DHABI 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

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AI986 9W539 WY657 WY225 WY637 WY211 WY235 WY201 WY643 WY345 WY271 WY341 WY601 WY371 WY123 WY901 WY847 WY241 WY667 TK775 WY209 4H584 PK226 WY331 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ042 QR1133 GF561 WY603 WY903 WY3301 WY917 WY323 WY669 FZ044 WY633 WY815 WY253 WY291 WY263 WY717 WY821 G9115 WY231 WY283 WY631 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 WY337 QR1129 EY383 WY311 9W533 WY919 GF563 WY655 FZ038 WY3303 IX350 PA451 WY113 WY663 WY683 WY131 WY645 WY143 WY101 WY153 WY927 WY405 WY609 WY433 WY3921 WY675 FZ046 WY613 WY905 QR1127 WY681 WY623 WY647 WY909 GF565 WY907 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 WY635 FZ048 WY611 WY411 WY915 FZ050 AI978 4H561 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 WY677 WY705 AI974 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 LH617 EY381

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 COCHIN 0105 ABU DHABI 0105 TRIVANDRUM 0110 HYDERABAD 0110 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 ISLAM ABBAD 0125 JAIPUR 0135 LAHORE 0145 DUBAI 0145 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 SALALAH 0215 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 DOHA 0225 ISTANBUL 0230 GOA 0255 DACCA 0300 KARACHI 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0715 DUBAI 0750 SALALAH 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0835 DOHA 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 BANGKOK 0905 MADRAS 0915 CALICUT 0915 LUCKNOW 0940 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 BANGALORE 1000 ABU DHABI 1015 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1255 LAHORE 1315 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 RIYADH 1335 PARIS 1345 KUWAIT 1350 MALPENSA 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 TEHRAN 1445 DUQUM OMAN 1455 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 DUBAI 1710 SALALAH 1735 DOHA 1750 RIYADH 1840 DUBAI 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 SALALAH 1900 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 AMMAN 2100 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 JEDDAH 2215 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 MEDINA 2310 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 2310 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355 ABU DHABI 2355

AI986 9W539 SG062 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY685 WY201 WY643 WY251 WY345 WY271 WY601 WY341 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY325 WY901 WY241 WY667 WY383 BG022 NL769 TK775 4H584 WY331 PK282 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ042 QR1133 GF561 WY651 WY3301 WY903 4H562 WY603 WY917 WY323 WY669 FZ044 WY633 WY373 WY215 WY815 WY291 WY263 WY385 G9842 WY821 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 WY337 IX818 QR1129 EY383 WY311 WY919 9W533 GF563 WY223 WY655 FZ038 WY631 IX350 WY253 WY113 WY693 WY3303 WY663 WY131 WY143 WY645 WY101 BG024 PK192 PA951 WY927 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 FZ046 WY671 WY613 QR1127 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 SV535 WY913 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 WY411 WY421 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 AI974 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 LH617 EY381

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 AHMEDABAD 0030 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 RIYADH 0115 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 ISLAM ABBAD 0125 JAIPUR 0135 DUBAI 0145 LAHORE 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 KARACHI 0210 SALALAH 0215 DELHI 0215 DOHA 0225 MALE 0230 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0230 LAHORE 0230 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 KATHMANDU 0350 SIALKOT 0400 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0715 BAHRAIN 0730 MUKHAIZNA 0730 SALALAH 0740 DACCA 0745 DUBAI 0750 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0835 DOHA 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 COLOMBO 0900 TRIVANDRUM 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 RAS AL KHAIMA 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 MANGALORE 1100 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 CHITTAGONG 1140 KHASAB 1145 COCHIN 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 COCHIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 ABU DHABI 1240 CALICUT 1255 MADRAS 1255 FRANKFURT 1320 DAMMAM 1330 MUKHAIZNA 1330 DOHA 1330 PARIS 1345 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 DACCA 1400 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405 SIALKOT 1430 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 MEDINA 1705 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 RIYADH 2000 SALALAH 2000 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 AMMAN 2205 BEIRUT 2215 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 COLOMBO 2305 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355 ABU DHABI 2355

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY672 WY648 WY406 WY676 WY682 WY914 WY916 TK774 4H583 PK229 GF560 QR1132 ET624 EK866 EY384 FZ041 WY114 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY154 WY144 WY668 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY422 WY602 WY346 WY342 WY272 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY226 EK862 WY210 WY242 WY212 WY252 QR1128 EY382 WY844 9W530 WY604 WY918 WY3302 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 PA450 WY705 WY822 WY634 WY818 WY904 WY670 WY324 WY332 WY632 WY606 WY920 FZ045 WY3304 WY656 QR1126 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY254 WY284 WY3922 WY610 GF564 G9116 WY684 WY646 FZ047 WY614 WY848 WY338 WY434 FZ049 KL441 AI977 WY124 4H561 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 WY906 AI907 WY312 QR1134 LX242 GF566 LH616 WY717 SG061 EY388 WY910 9W540 WY908 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY612 WY696

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MO N DAY, JU N E 8, 2 0 1 5

C11

EXTRA BRIEFS

Friendship hinges on individual personality

Gucci cruise 2016 show The Italian luxury label joins the phenomenon of the pre-collection and presents a show with ‘realistic’ clothes in New York

A

lessandro Michele is the new man at Gucci, thrown headlong into fashion’s current breakneck schedule. In less than six months he’s shot two advertising campaigns and sent out two catwalk collections. By the end of the month, a third - purely menswear - will be added to the tally. They’re coming thick and fast - today marked his second, for Gucci’s latest pre-collection, the ranges that make up the majority of every designer brand’s clothing sales. Michele chose to stage it in New York.

It’s an odd locale, you may think, for a label that made its mark as the ne plus ultra of Italian razzmatazz. However, the phenomenon of the pre-collection - like so many canny commercial fashion ideas - was born in America. And a multi-billion pound juggernaut like Gucci didn’t get where it is today by ignoring commerce.

Besides which, there was interesting discussion post Michele’s uneven Gucci de-

but in March, of the fact many of his deliberately grannified clothes looked like stuff you’d see girls wearing on the streets of New York’s Williamsburg. I’d say London’s Dalston - I’m sure most cities have a local coterie of girls who wear oversized glasses for aesthetic affectation rather than astigmatic correction, and team them with fusty brocade coats, musty chiffon dresses and knitwear that generally looks like it should be binned before the moths get the rest. As if to emphasise that point, for Cruise Michele had those girls literally wandering into his show venue straight off a Chelsea street. They wore clothes in much the same ilk as that autumn/winter show three months hence: namely, a rag-bag parade of vintage. I get Michele’s point, which is to reiterate his new direction for Gucci, but there’s a fine line between consistency and repetition. This collection occasionally crossed it. That’s understandable.

Michele’s predecessor, Frida Giannini, left Gucci suddenly in January, meaning he had

H E A LT H

More accurate ways to test blood glucose available now ALTHOUGH the way diabetics test their glucose levels has gone through dramatic changes over the past 50 years, there is still a long way to go, say researchers.

Earlier, the only way to assess diabetes control was by testing for the presence of sugar in a person’s urine, today there are numerous, far more accurate ways to test blood glucose levels.

It including the non-invasive A1C method which measures average blood glucose levels over a three-month period.

“Despite the enormous growth in our understanding of diabetes and its complications, we are still only able to manage the disease,” noted Robert Ratner, chief scientific and medical

officer for the American Diabetes Association.

The reason diabetes is a serious health problem is because of the complications.

“If there were no complications, diabetes would be like hypothyroidism and other easily managed diseases. You would take a tablet to replace the hormone and everything would be fine,” said Michael Brownlee from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Diabetes Research Centre.

New treatments must provide optimal glucose and metabolic control without the risk of hypoglycaemia and complications of diabetes should become historical memories. -IANS

only a month to pull together his womenswear debut. Naturally, you’d now want regroup and refine your message - backstage after the show you had the chance to inspect his lionhead frogging, piped linings, and pearl buttons set in a tiny golden double-G. Michele has a fetish for finicky detailing, for clothes made in the oldfashioned way. It’s endearing.

As garments, these were often beautiful. But the message was muddier. What was Michele trying to say - moreover, what does Gucci want to represent in today’s luxury marketplace?

You can rest assured it’s not the provocative, borderline Gucci of old. That’s the point.

Rather than making a decisive singular message, Michele’s Gucci is an assemblage of clothes, from which it’s easy to pluck what you like and discard the rest - both ideologically, and physically if you’re on a shop floor.

They’re trying to please most of the people, most of the time, with some of their stuff. They’re being realistic.-Alexander Fury/The Independent

ONE’S PERSONALITY decides whether one would strike a chord with a stranger, says an interesting study.

Those who score low on neuroticism — the personality dimension related to anxiety and selfconsciousness — are more likely to open the channel of interaction in response to eye contact, the findings showed.

On the other hand, those who are more anxious and self-conscious may find eye contacts discomforting and may even experience high levels of anxiety when they are the focus of someone’s gaze.

“Our findings indicate that people do not only feel different when they are the centre of attention but that their brain reactions also differ,” said corresponding author Jari Hietanen from the University of Tampere in Finland.

For some, eye contact tunes the brain into a mode that increases the likelihood of initiating an interaction with other people.

“For others, the effect of eye contact may decrease this likelihood,” Hietanen added.

Eye contact plays a crucial role when people initiate interaction with other people.

If people look each other in the eye, they automatically send a signal that their attention is focused on the other person.

However, in some individuals, eye contact may also trigger brain activity associated with avoidance motivation.

In this study, the researchers set out to study what lies underneath these individual psychological differences.

Powerful people respond to injustice selectively POWERFUL PEOPLE respond quickly to unfair treatment when they are the victims. However, they are less likely to notice injustice when others are victimised, says the study.

“The findings help explain the persistence of income inequality and ‘white privilege’,” said lead researcher Takuya Sawaoka, a doctoral student in psychology at Stanford University.

In one online experiment with 227 participants, the high-power group wrote about a time when they had power over someone else while the low-power group wrote about an experience when someone had power over them. Each participant then played a computer game where their reaction times were measured in deciding the fairness of the distribution of coins between the participant and two computer-generated players. The high-power group responded more quickly than the low-power group when they were the victims of unfairness but not when they benefited from an unfair distribution of the imaginary wealth. “Our findings also suggest that powerful people are slower to notice unfair situations that victimise other people. -IANS

C12

M O N DAY, JUNE 8, 2015

EXTRA B O L LY W O O D

Parents resisted when I joined filmdom: Priyanka Chopra SHE IS one of the most soughtafter Bollywood actresses today, but Priyanka Chopra says her “conservative Punjabi family” was not excited when she entered the film industry over a decade back.

The 32-year-old shared that her family initially resisted.

“I come from a conservative Punjabi family. There was a lot of resistance when I joined the industry. But later my parents gave me wings and let me do what I wanted to,” Priyanka said after the screening of Dil Dhadakne Do at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards.

She also shared that her onscreen character Ayesha in Dil

Dhadakne Do represents most women in India. “Girls are put in a box ... no matter what you are or what you want,” she said about her character, who doesn’t vocally give her opinion much.

Her co-star Anushka Sharma is also happy to be a part of the Zoya Akhtar directorial.

“It feels good to be a part of good cinema. People are talking about gender equality shown in the film.

My character wasn’t allowed to take up dancing as a profession as it isn’t considered to be ideal for girls from a good family, so she had to run away from her house to pursue her dream,” Anushka said.

“You just need to follow your dream and be happy,” she said.-IANS

‘WHY WOULD YOU MAKE ANOTHER SEQUEL?’ Colin Trevorrow, director of ‘Jurassic World’, talks about bad scripts, revealing trailers and Steven Speilberg

I

t has been fourteen years since Jurassic Park III hit cinemas – long enough for Steven Spielberg’s $2b-grossing dinosaur franchise to seem extinct.

It was set on two islands off Costa Rica, where the tyrannosaurus rex and others were reborn for the ultimate safari, and there have been numerous failed attempts to hatch a fourth instalment. And so scepticism precedes this summer’s Jurassic World. Even from its characters. As Bryce Dallas Howard’s corporate drone Claire Dearing notes: “No one’s impressed by dinosaurs anymore.”

After the BBC’s series Walking With Dinosaurs recreated these ancient beasts for television, it no longer seemed so special when a triceratops or brontosaurus mooched across the small screen.

So it’s no surprise that Spielberg and an army of film-makers underneath him have struggled to bring a fourth outing of the franchise to fruition.

One script boasted ideas so ludicrous it made Harrison Ford hiding in a refrigerator to shelter from a nuclear blast in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull look sane. The esteemed John Sayles (director of Lone Star) and William Monahan

(who won an Oscar for scripting The Departed) worked on a story that involved a top-secret genetics lab’s programme to cross-breed humans with dinosaurs.

Other efforts attempted to see pteranodons make it off the islands of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna and head to the mainland.

But it was only when screenwriters Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver took a crack that it began to take shape. Inevitably, the ideas came from Spielberg: that the dinosaur park would finally be open to the public, that a trainer would be able to tame those vicious velociraptors and that a dinosaur would escape – “three key ideas” as incoming director/writer Colin Trevorrow says.

Previously known only for the 2012 time-travel indie Safety Not Guaranteed, the 38-year-old Trevorrow doesn’t hold back when it comes to the earlier drafts. He calls events in the Sayles/Monahan work “bananas” and comments about the Jaffa/Silver script, “I read that but I knew if I directed that movie, I’d make a bad movie”.

Trevorrow and co-writer Derek Connolly penned their own version – one that slyly comments on its own creation.

Aubrey Plaza with co-star Jake

Johnson in Safety Not Guaranteed Aubrey Plaza with co-star Jake Johnson in Safety Not Guaranteed. The plot of Jurassic World sees the park a decade into its existence. But with visitor numbers dwindling, the owners face the same problem as Spielberg and co: interesting audiences in a spectacle that’s now old news.

The solution? A genetically engineered dinosaur, the “indominus rex” – a hybrid creation, straight from the lab, that blends DNA strands of various creatures.

The way Trevorrow sees it, inherent in Jurassic World is a story about blockbuster culture.

“We’re always waiting to be entertained by the next thing – what is bigger, better and faster? I felt like we ultimately made a movie about Jurassic Park IV. It is the indominus rex! Why would you make another sequel to one of these movies?

“It’s a horrible mistake. Well, because there’s a lot of money on the table. Why would you rebuild a park? We re-make our mistakes because somebody somewhere is going to make a lot of money.”

Needless to say, the indominus rex escapes from its enclosure – a “containment issue” as the script wryly puts it. -James Mottram/ The Independent

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

RENT

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CARGO

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M O N DAY, J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

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

Deluxe 3 Room Penthouse with Seaview, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 9772 1313 / 9507 0421

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

Contact: 99366624

1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM, neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent.

Contact Iqrar on 99076557

2 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 250/-. Contact : 98748925 Room for rent family /ex bachelor/ sharing in Ruwi. Contact : 99777496

Deluxe 1,2,3,4 bedroom flats, villas at different places.

Contact: 99142314 / 99369081

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

1BHK flats at Muttrah near Oman House. Contact: 93231403

1BHK in Darsait near ISM (220/R.O). Contact: 99342661

Flats and shops for rent in rent, Honda road and Rex Read. Contact: 97293708/ 94579531 /94141943

1BHK in Ghoubra South behind Extra (280/- R.O). Contact : 99342661

Flat in Amerat, Phase 5, 4 rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen with A/C. Contact : 95522405 Well maintained spacious 2 BHK at Rex Road. Contact 92227165 Flats in Wadi Al Kabir Lulu Height Street. Contact: 92022816/ 99468133/ 99719471 3 bedroom well maintained flat (villa type – only 2 flats in one Bldg) in Al Khuwair, Behind Al Akhtam restaurant villa No 1839, Way No 3922, block No 239. Contact: 99462980 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/- Contact – 93191111

Luxury 3 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking.

RO.500/- Contact – 93191111 Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/Contact – 93191111

Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314 1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126 5000 sqm prime indusial land in Misfah, Bausher, with 550 sqm of covered warehouse and office space, for rent only. Contact: + 968 – 99264162 Shop / office near Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/Contact – 93191111

Office space in new building at MBD South. Contact : 94460790 / 24714625

Brand new 6 BHK villa in Al Azaiba with split A/C & lift. RO.1200/Contact – 93191111

Furnished 2BHK Amerat 200 rent.

Contact 95113797

2 BHK near Oman House Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686 2 rooms, 1 bath room for Indian near Ruwi church. Contact: 99746379

4 Ware house at Barka Falaij.

Contact: 99337857 Flats for rent in Muttrah near Oman house 2 BHK. Contact: 97009734 / 92629232

500 sq mtrs office space on mezzanine floor near Royal Hospital. OMR 6.500 per sq mtr. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 bedroom at Al Khuwair 33. House No. 866, Way No. 4712. Contact Mohamed : 99580484, Ahmed : 99486805, Awadh 95525509 For rent in Darsait new flats.

Contact: 99777351 For rent in Darsait, new flats.

Contact: 99311525 Villa for rent at Al Ansab 3rd 4 bedrooms total 230 sqm, air conditioned 1 living room, 3 toilets, kitchen, store only RO 700/-. Contact 99299689

Flat in Darsait, Mumtaz behind Ministry of Sport 2 bedrooms, living room, 3 bathrooms & kitchen split 400/- R.O . Contact: 92479515 Flats in Al Ghubra near 18 Nov .St, 1 bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen with AC 280/- R.O family only. Contact: 92479515 Big flats in Darsait near Al Falaj hotel, 3BHK living room, dining room, 2 bathrooms, Kitchen AC FAMILY only 500/-R.O .Contact : 92479515 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 rooms with attached bath room, hall Brand new in Mabelah near Sharahe Noor. Contact 99663905/ 99415119

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 506 sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in Al Wadi Al Kabir. Suitable for carpentry / auto workshop and /or electrical shop.

Interested parties may Contact 24703981 Flat with 2 rooms, toilet & kitchen in second floor in Souk Al Khoud behind bank Al Ahli 200/- R.O .

Contact : 99738881 1& 2BHK for rent at Wadi Kabir, Hilal Al Sad and Al Khoud areas .

Contact Office: 24834644 Mobile: 93994401/02/03 3 flats for rent 3 bedrooms include A/C, near the highway (Bowshar Amerat). Contact 97777911 / 95533777 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact : 92800007 2BHK at Al Azaiba, 2bedrooms, 1 hall & dinning , 3 bathrooms.

Contact : 99224748 / 99425665 Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road.

Contact 97293708 / 92433127 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172

For rent 3 industrial land.

Contact 92702891/ 95490842

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

2 bedroom flat new building in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99313274

1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-. Contact: 97799175

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DAILY GUIDE

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished single rooms available for Executive bachelors at Ruwi.

Contact: 98049288

FOR RENT Furnished flats for rent in Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly.

Contact 97819981 / 93593336 Al Khuwair (17/1) a room & hall, kitchen, toilet with ACs ground floor.

Contact Owner : 99385553 2BHK Darsait R.O 325/-, 300/-.

Contact: 92144045 1BHK Ghubra R.O 275/-.#92144045 3 BHK villa and 2 BHK flat with A/ Cs at Muttrah, near Oman house.

Contact : 95915154 Flat 1BHK for rent, Opp Omani School near Al Tajaweed Furniture, bldg No 1057, Way 5917, Hamriya.

Rent 150/- P.M. Contact: 99350946 Villa for rent - Al Seeb/Al Mawelah - Block 5 - 4 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, Majlis, 2 halls, kitchen and storeroom. split Ac and carpark.

Contact 99564616 2BHK flat with store room, split A/cs in CBD, Ruwi near QNB. Rent 400/-.Contact 99603696 1 BHK Flat in Wadi Kabir.#92275454 Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92277419

FOR SALE Running computer shop for sale Souq Sohar. Contact 99420543 Commercial land for sale 3000 m in quriyat road main high way can use as a petrol station license available asking price 350,000 For more information please call on 99070701 with out name Running business material shop for sale good location & profitable business. Contact : 92249983 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Super market in (Hairoon Hairithi) Thamrith road. #98189810 / 99675190.

Shop for sale in Ibra and Bid Bid. Contact: 95304693 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land Wadi Kabir Main Road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Ice Cream & Juices shop in Ruwi good location for sale 1.5 mt fish display machine unused for sale.

Contact: 92150455

Shopping center for sale at Bousher by good price 400 m2 with all equipment. Reason for selling part-time. Contact 92916490

Fully furnished 1 BHK Flat available in Ruwi 2 moths only (July/August) Contact: 99369081

Used Supermarket Gandolas RO 40/- per pc, Double tube light fitting RO 2/- per pc. Contact: 97752395

Single bedroom available for veg. family/bachelor at Wadi Kabir, behind Mars. Contact 99877845.

Best Investment opportunity in Muscat a brand new furnished show room for electronics building, material mobiles etc available for sale at prime location. Contact 91710624 / 98873484

Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515

Shfandish & tables for sale.

Contact 99368907

Semi furnished single room for Executive bachelors behind Kamat Restaurant Al Khuwair.

Contact: 94271085

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Coffee shop for sale in North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 We have planned industrial lands in a prime location (Bowshar / Al Misfah) the space 8575 SQ. M for each plot, meter price 120/- OMR only. Contact: 99883338

3bedrooms Al Hail.

Contact 92817777

Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area available for Executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR100/-. #93079877 Room for rent 130/-RO, A/C, E/W kitchen Including bachelor only.

Contact: 95423391 Independent flat (1 Bed Room + Bath) is available at Mawaleh (Behind City Centre) for a Non Cooking Executive Bachelor. #95931004 Family room available at Muttrah.

Contact: 24712088 / 99022790 Fully furnished room attached bath for Executive bachelor behind Al Meera hypermarket Azaiba R.O 150/-Contact : 99455735 2 Rooms with separate bathroom & kitchen for executive bachelors.

Gsm 942-888-63

AVAILABLE

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

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

ACC. WANTED Required villa for office in Mawallah. Contact : 96996938 Semi furnished room with attached bathroom for Executive bachelors at CBD area behind chamber of commerce. Contact: 96389375/93554942

ACC. AVAILABLE Independent house with 1 room, kitchen and toilet in Wadi Kabir. Rent: RO170.

Contact: 96639246

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

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

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M O N DAY, J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT SALES / MARKETING Urgently required Marketing Executives male / female Acrylic bender. Contact: 95453949 Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Salesman experienced 5 yrs in Oman, in the field of industrial & oilfield service, garage equipment tools & spares, safety wears & rescue equipments. Please forward your CV to almaadhi.trd@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNTANT Experienced up-to finalization accountant looking for part time job.

Contact : 99002390

A reputed shipping and forwarding company urgently require following personals 1) Accountant 2) Operations Executive valid Omani D/L is must. Experienced hands in shipping field are preferred. Send your CV to applymd2015@gmail.com

Senior Accountant 10 years experience 4 years experience in GCC now working with trading & project based concern holding Oman driving license. Well experience all accounting software’s. Contact: 94079432

Required an Accountant B.Com + Tally. Fluently English speaking & computer. Having valid N.O.C. Send CV and contact information to arrange interview.

Email: info@alrabiyahrealestate.com

Indian male B.Com MBA (HR), 2 yrs experience in HR & Accounts department, on visiting visa seeking for job in any field.

Contact: 96491347 Email: aswinsajeev@hotmail.com

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

DOMESTIC HELPER Required looking for full time Housemaid for Omani family at Mabela, visa available. Contact: 92454170 Urgent required House maid in Mabela. Visa available.

Contact 95200180.

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

DRIVER Required light driver, Excavator Operators & heavy drivers.

Contact: 99454425 Required Light duty driver from Kerala with construction experience.

Contact : 98294695 Heavy duty driver Oman experience. Contact: 99453617

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

Contact: 99353961 Teachers required (B.A, BEd, BSc, and B.ed) for Omani Pvt. School Al Hail (North).Contact: 95141554/ 96653118

ENGINEER MEP Contractor in Muscat looking for AC Foreman with minimum 5 years experience in Split AC installation. Contact: 92472326 Email:info@4dengineering.net

ENGINEER Mechanical / Civil Site Supervisor; diploma / ITI fitter; 3-4 year’s exp in supervision of Erection work of sheds, customer coordination, and project execution. Omani D/L is must. Contact: hr@khancogroup.com / 99102383

MISCELLANEOUS A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Reputed consultancy office required a Mechanical Engineer with 10 to 12 years experience in design of HVAC Systems and plumbing services. Please send your detailed resume to: info@designunitoman. com Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction and MUST have NOC. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

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

MEDICAL Wanted Staff Nurse for a polyclinic in Sohar. Contact :3457270 Wanted Nurse for MCT area for GP Clinic Cont: 9670 9401 Required a MOH licensed female Nurse for a private clinic near Al-Suwaiq. Call 93746086 Urgently required a Staff Nurse for a clinic at Hamriya area who has passed prometric exam with 60% or more. Contact: 99031408 Email: ranjitbarua63@yahoo.com Urgent required staff Nurse in Mabela. Contact- 95200180.

Email: amanammc@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber.

Contact: 99383044

A leading tissue paper and food stuffs company requires Sales and Marketing person with minimum 5 years exp in Oman with good communication skills & valid Oman D/L. Candidate with Interior market knowledge & experience preferable.

Send CV: allub@alhosnigroup.com Fax: 24451430 Urgently required outdoor Sales Executive for furnishing company with valid Oman D/L and minimum 3 years experience.

Contact 93231403 / rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com Required urgently energetic Marketing Executive for acquiring new customers. Should possess a Valid Omani D/L. Contact 96545020.

Sales man required for printing press preferable with car.

Contact : 97842797 Required Senior Sales Executive 2nos focused with successful track record in this industry. 2-3 years experience in similar capacity with valid driving license. Attractive salary package for the right candidates.

Contact : 92673856 Email CV: oman.ms.sharad@gmail.com Required male candidates to work full / part time in an international Café “franchise”. They will be trained for the job.

Contact 97673395 Sales Coordinator : Mechanical Diploma holder with 3-4 yrs exp. in sales department preferably in Metal fabrication Company. Omani D/L is must. Contact: 99102383 hr@khancogroup.com Urgently required Advertising & Media Sales Executives with Oman D/L. Trainee positions available for Freshers.

Email: jobs@interacoman.com

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ADMIN/HR

MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780

Filipino Female, 30 yrs, with 8yrs experience in Payroll/Admin/HR and 2yrs experience as Technical Support/Cashier/Secretary. Currently in Muscat on Family Visit Visa, Seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96708114 Email: lucy08_tm@yahoo.com

Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment. contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head for MNC looking for suitable job. NOC available. 94047434 M.Com, CA (Article ship), 15 years Gulf experience looking for suitable position in finance & accounts on visit visa valid up to 10/7/2015.

Contact: 97767828, knowledge of quickbooks, Tally 9, Focus V.5 Email: altabhossain2008@hotmail.com

Indian female MBA, 3 Years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Indian, male, 26, Commerce graduate, three years experience as Administrative Assistant in UAE, seeks a suitable job in Oman.

Contact: tkjasbeer@gmail.com; +971-558291437.

Indian female, Postgraduate in HR, with 8 years working experience in Oman(HR and administration), looking for suitable placement.

Contact 97411008

Indian male Graduate 26 yrs 5 yrs experience in Accounts and Administration looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91301983

Indian female 25 years married, MBA Finance, Diploma in foreign accounting 3 months experience in a CA firm on family visa.

Contact: 95916769 Email: sikhapadoor@gmail.com

Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc, 4 yrs exp in HR& Admin looking suitable placement. Contact : 95619537

Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com

Indian male 25 yrs B.com having experience in accounts for 3 yrs currently on visit looking to job.

Contact: 97937868 Email: rehman.naseer999@gmail.com

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

Accounts part time works up to finalization on monthly basis. Profit & loss A/C and financial statements, MS Reports Etc. Contact: 96247295

ACCA & B.Com with Noc more than 5 years of experience in accounts & finance looking for a suitable job can join immediately. Contact: 97012146

ACCA affiliate , BSc Honors in applied Accountancy advance diploma in Accounting and Business, CAT Affiliate 1 year hand on working experience of Oman, with Oman driving license looking for a suitable placement in Audit firm. Having NOC can join immediately. Contact : 98989970

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

Indian male well experienced in accounts & Admin looking for a suitable vacancy. NOC available.

Contact: 98717938 Indian male 25 years BBM (Finance) 2 years experience in accounts & inventory controller now in visit visa. Contact : 94176838 Email: shillukidavan@gmail.com Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available. Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154 Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa. Contact: 99424803 An Indian lady Chartered Accountant with five years experience (including article ship) on family visa in Oman looking for a suitable job. Please Contact 9621 0347 / 9943 5346, shincycrajan@gmail.com

ADMIN/HR MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in operations with D/L, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075 Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 Over 14 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598 Indian female post Graduate with 5 years experience in HR and Admin looking for good opportunity.

Contact: 94692244 Indian female MBA – HR 1 and half years experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 99257214 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement.

Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT

Indian Female Architect (Interior Design), Knowledge in AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Photoshop, 3D Max Studio, Adobe in design, Google Sketch up, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office etc.. Currently on family dependent visa up to November 2015.

Contact: 95959494 , E-Mail: rasha.k973@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Indian Beautician looking for job in Oman, with 5 yrs Oman experience.

Contact: 98869716

DRIVER Light vehicle driver looking for job.

Contact: 91452930 Driver looking for job, light vehicle.

Contact: 95446207 Pakistani driving available.

Contact : 96913836 Driver available with or without car. Contact 96771598 L.T.V driver language, Hindi, Arabic & English. Contact: 98802079 Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver.

Contact: 97073429 Heavy duty driver valid license Omani need job & visa.

Contact: 91139936 Driver looking for job with visa, release available, 5 yrs driving experience. Contact: 96261895 Faruqu.

Driver looking for job, with driving license of Oman.

Contact : 98007513 Driver 6 yrs exp knowing English, Arabic, Hindi Education B. A. Contact: 99512270

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D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DRIVER

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Driver with car 10 years experience part and full time looking for job light driver. Contact: 95897233

Quantity Surveyor with 5 Years experience (one year in Oman) looking for job. Contact 91090036

Light Driver needs Job. Contact: 93284327

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, 24 years with Piping Engineering, Autocad, Ansys NX- Cad, pro-e, Catia & PDMS now on visiting visa seek suitable placement. Contact: 99168054 / 96684345 Email: : mbkishore@hotmail.com

Driver light. Contact: 91020999

DOMESTIC HELPER Looking for job for House maid.

Contact : 93599302 Laundry Housekeeping professional looking for a opening in Oman with 18 years experience.

Contact : 91957861 Housemaid & houseboy, Indian with 4 yrs exp looking for job.

Contact 91299288

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Omani Mechanical Engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500 Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certified, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952 Civil Engineer male 13 years exp Indian seeking suitable job.

Contact: +919640973798 Email: firozbakhtiar2@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer with 10 yrs experience, valid Omani driving license, NOC available.

Contact: 94052815.

5 years experienced Q.S ENG with driving license looking for suitable position. Contact: 98142595 Indian male 25, Diploma Civil Engineer 2 years experience insite Engineer looking for suitable placement. Contact: 96750429 Indian male, B.Tech Mechanical having 4 years experience with QA/ QC / CSWIP looking for a suitable position. Contact: 99447106 Email: dhanubhasi87@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, 2 years as Project Engineer office works proposals / contracts site jobs installations/ maintenance. Contact: 96209298 English/ Arabic languages Graduate Electrical Engineer having 6 years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Indian Civil Engineer (building) available immediately as supply contract. Contact : 95218004 Electrical Engineer 10 years experience in underground cables extension and distribution substation and terrestrial station available in Oman, on visit visa. Contact : 95471606 Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Indian female 28 yrs having 2 yrs experience as Estimation and Design Engineer (BMS) with valid Omani driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99047570 Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained field on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Indian male MBA having 10 years experience in Oman as Document controller and 2+ Years experience as Project Assistant / Executive Secretary seeks suitable placement.

NOC available Contact: 95373198, email: sydnvrng@yahoo.com

Indian male 25yrs, BE Electrical and electronics engg, seeking for a suitable position, with DL, NOC, Contact :98347864

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

HOSPITALITY

Iraqi female Communication Engineer having 5 yrs of exp in teaching computer program.

Contact : 99132159 Email: marwan.saad39@yahoo.com

Sr Manager, B.Tech, MBA, PRINCE-2, British National. 24 yrs exp in EPC Project Management of Oil & Gas, Pipelines, Refineries & Power Plants.

Seeking job immediately/on visit/ Contact- 00968-91263952/ josececy25@gmail.com

4 yrs exp (Money Exch. Services & hospitality services in Oman& India) Indian male 27, Graduate in Hospitality Science, fluent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks job.

Contact 91383167

Iraqi male Medical Equipment Engineer one year of exp in Iraq looking for suitable job in Oman.

Contact: 99132159 Email: marwan.saad39@yahoo.com Electrical Engineer Pakistani male 4 years B. Tech & 3 years’ diploma seeking a suitable placement. Contact: 96752080 Email: ilyasoader97@gmail.com Civil Engineer 7 years experience valid Omani D/L looking for job immediately, ready to join.

Contact : 96936406 B.E (Civil Engineer) with 5 yrs experience, valid Omani driving license.

Noc available. Contact: 91693008 Iraqi Civil Engineer 12 years experience, resident having Omani driving license. Contact : 94695595 Land Surveyor, one and half year experience in India, well handle total station, auto level and AutoCAD. Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 95140761 / 99208290 Email: binu.brijiv@gmail.com B. Tech Instrumentation Engineer more than 4 year experience SCADA, PLC, DCS, ESD (Honeywell, Yokagawa). Contact: 93670890 Email: mojin.a.kabeer@gmail.com Indian, male, Civil Engineering graduate with 8 years Dubai experience in Estimation, Project/Design Co-ordination seeks suitable job in Oman. Hold UAE driving license.

Contact: shibupnbr@ gmail.com; +971-501426982 Indian male Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer having 5 yrs exp with valid Omani D/L & NOC. Contact: 96082604 Civil Engineer, Indian Female, 3 yrs experience, on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 99195433 BE Mechanical Engineer 4/5 years experience in Planning Engineer.

Interested companies kindly contact 95403146 / 99426840 candidate available till 12.06.2015 B.Tech Civil Engineer, Indian female 2 yrs experience in Oman, looking for suitable position.

Contact 91690345 Structural Engineer 4 years experience Indian, will handle projects independently, able to get Municipality approvals easily.

Contact: 91668044 Quantity Surveyor (Civil Diploma) 2 yrs experience in Oman, looking for full/ part-time job.Contact 96936793 Indian male diploma in Computer Engineering seeking suitable placement immediately now on visiting visa .Contact 97317844 / 92580948 BSC. Mechanical Engineering, 17 yrs exp in Oman, 30 yrs exp in production management, erection and maintenance of refineries, stock piling equipments, belt convoying systems structures, power transmission equipments gear boxes contact 98214442; Email: mohusak@gmail.com Indian male 29 years Civil Engineer diploma 4 years Oman experience, 2 years road construction looking placement. Contact: 93298395 N.O.C available

Toms Davis-Indian, Diploma in Mech Eng, 4+yrs exp in Projects & co-ordination, 1yr exp in HVAC Design & Draughting, Mob-92068508, tomsdavispullan@gmail.com

Indian male/30 years with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at 5 star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruseliner as butler.

Contact 91135371

Adarsh.B , B. Tech Mechanical N.D.T ASNT level 2, 2 years 10 months experience in New Delhi. Contact adarsh320480@gmail.com

Indian male fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail. com, Contact 00919567722270

Indian male 30 years Mechanical Engineering Diploma with 4+ years of Experience in Fabrication drawings using CAD Software’s in India, now on a visit visa seeking for a suitable placement in OMAN. Will be available till 12/6/15 for interview.

Contact 99013952, vineetf56@gmail.com Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male having 2 years experience in process instruments and sales seeks suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact: 95954385 Email: irfancisinn@gmail.com Indian male 28 years Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer 4+ years experience in Industrial automation (SCADA) seeking suitable job.

Contact: 93154156 / 98416190 Network Engineer, Security Engineer with a Bachelor degree seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact: 98129846 Sudanese Industrial Engineering & Management, experience 12 years in QA/QC and production. Contact: 94041960 / 94044784, Email: mekkimedani@hotmail.com / mekkimedani78@gmail.com 72Indian male B.Tech Electronics Instrumentation, studied till 12th in Oman, presently on family visa seeking suitable position.

Contact: 99639646 / 99067950 Email: prajeeshpp12@gmail.com Electrical Engineer : Indian male 29 years , having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Civil Foreman, maintenance, 15 years Oman, 2 yrs Kuwait with Oman driving license.

Contact 00968-96405865 / 91 9464255409 Email: sukhwinder9@yahoo.com

IT Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Omani Citizen searching a job in the field of computer especially in data base professional in operating Oracle SQL, PL/ SQL, form6i, Report 6i. Contact 96977368 Email: talaloml@yahoo.com Indian female MCA, experience in C#.Net, SQL Server, ORACLE with 4.5 years experience seeking suitable positions.

Contact: 96485923, 99886271. prathibhakp07@gmail.com Computer Networking/Facility Mgmt 5 Yrs of Exp Holds B.E(ECE),CCNA Looking for Good Opportunity, Indian - Visit Visa.

Contact 91911792/ arafakdnl@gmail.com IT & Media Sales specialist looking for job opportunities also decent exposure to H.R & customer relations currently in Muscat on visit visa kindly. Contact : 96238199 or 99874205 Email Id: m_cadri@rediffmail.com 27 years Pakistani male, having bachelors B.Com IT and Nebosh IGC – Level 3 looking for placement in HSE in construction for experience having valid visa with NOC. Contact: 92064233 MCA Indian male 24 yrs seeking suitable placement in software / Database support currently on visit visa. Contact 96785261 Email: sudheesh.edakkadan@gmail.com 25 yrs, Omani male, 5 years exp seeking job in IT and AutoCad all info in website.

Contact: najeeb719.weebly.com

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

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

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

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

Indian male B.Tech (ECE), currently working in HCL Chennai India, as Engineer Product Support Officer with 2.5 yrs experience looking for a suitable placementMobile: 92625379 ; Email: mekala.kashyap@gmail.com

Net work Technician CCTV, UTP, OFC, Flooring work 6 yrs experience (GCC). Contact: +91 9526888134

24 years Indian EEE Diploma with Auto CAD, B.Com completed required any suitable job.

Contact : 94015346 / 93276916 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847

Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 92589502 Email: careersjegan@gmail.com

MEDICAL BSc Staff Nurse with license.

Contact 92765457

MEDICAL Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Dentist with MOH license looking for locum post. Contact 93571021.

Indian male Nurse, 31 years Oman prometric passed 6 yrs ICU experience. Contact : 94195150 / 92758895 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR B.Com Graduate with 12 years experience in overseas / local purchase, logistics, warehouse seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 94657319 Highly Qualified & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees, CPA , ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFA- Financial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Profit Maximizations (NOC available) call 94 504505 – 94403270 MSc qualified female on female joining visa good experience in Administration, Advertising media and branding at managerial level with 13 years experience. Good knowledge in the field of marketing looking for a suitable position.

Contact : 91980400 Sr Manager, MBA, 18 yrs professional exp in building material, tiles, sanitary wares, bath, turnkey projects, interiors, modular kitchens, hardwares & tools. Project sales in Gulf countries with GCC license on visit visa looking for job assignment.

Contact 93364846 Sr Manager, B.Tech, MBA, Prince -2 from UK. 24 yrs exp in EPC project management of oil & gas pipelines, refineries & power plants. Seeking job immediately / on visit/ Contact: + 00968912639 Email: josececy25@gmail.com

Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 10 years experience in Welding Supervisor NDT Technician, MIG Welding specialist seeking suitable job. Contact 96771841 Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com Indian male MBA Marketing currently on visit visa seeking for Sales & marketing job 2 years experience.

Contact: 94460405 Email: arshidmohammed222@gmail.com Indian female B.Com Graduate having 8 yrs experience in India & 2 yrs experience in Oman as Customer Service, Office Asst, Sales Coordinator, Secretary seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95433987 Indian male MBA with versatile dynamic target driven personality having rich and In-depth experience of 5 years in marketing, sales, office, administration team handling and recruitment looking for challenging and suitable position. Contact: 96145933 Sales man looking for a opening in Oman with 18 years Gulf experience.

Contact: 91957861 An Indian male having rich experience in procurement, Sales marketing and office administration seeking suitable position.

Contact: 93689602 Indian male 22 years, B.Com graduate (fresher) Well versed in English, Arabic & Hindi with Oman D/L , seeking a suitable job in Oman . Now on visit visa. Contact:- 97660518 Indian male, 32 years having 3 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman, holding valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Contact: 97615497 / +919894436645 Email: faraj7@gmail.com Result oriented male M. Com 25 yrs experience sales marketing, admin building material seeking immediate suitable placement having L /D. Contact : 92882408/ 92715831 Indian female 28 years experience Sales Coordination, Administration, Secretarial and Accounting Software knowledge with Oman D/L. Contact : 96751993

MISCELLANEOUS In search of job. Qualification b.com, key skills- MS office, Tally, Internet with valid Oman light driving license. *NOC available.

Contact:92239065 Ware house In charge or store keeper 27 yrs Gulf experience 4 yrs in Oman NOC available.

Contact: 97657823 Email: rusaikmzm_2009@yahoo.com MCA, BCA with 2 yrs relevant experience seeking suitable opportunity.

Contact: 96377039 Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field. Contact : 96108289, shijipaul84@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact 98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

8 years purchase experienced Indian male looking for job. N.O.C. available. Contact: 98161323 Graduate Indian male 25 yrs, looking for a suitable placement for an Executive or Sales support job in a reputed organization.

Contact : 98558648 Email: risham54@gmail.com Salesman cum Driver 6 yrs exp Know English, Arabic, Hindi, Education B.A. Contact: 98522914 33 years male looking for a suitable position holding driving license, sales man by nature, experience in storekeeping, supervision skills, well aware of health & safety management, fluent in English, familiar with MS Office & good communication skill .Contact : 93556794 Email: faisal.khan2092@gmail.com Indian male 5 years gulf experience in Admin / vehicle insurance coordinator and sales having driving license looking for suitable placement. Contact : 95870476 Email: mubaris.abdul@gmail.com 8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535

D6

M O N DAY, J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED SALES / MARKETING Indian male 32 yrs, 6 years experience instore in charge with Indoor salesman looking for suitable job.

Contact: 97385874 Indian 23 years B.Com Graduate, 2 years experience in Sales knowledge of TALLY, ERP & MS Office.

Contact: 93134643 Email : syedismailnoor@gmail.com Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. #- 98371144 Indian male, B.Sc (Mathematics) PGDBM (Marketing). 9 yrs of Oman experience in sales in midlevel management, NOC available.

Valid Oman D/L. Contact: 95278838 Email: anup2p4p@yahoo.com Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa.

Contact 93086105/33016546 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864

TOURS & TRAVELS Indian male, IATA qualified & English graduate on family visit looking for a suitable job. Contact no.

93449151, 99475217.

25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing.

Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job.

Contact 96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS B.Tech Computer Engineer Wanted job to work on(IT/Banking/Administrator/Technical/Office works) having NOC with the limited time from (04/06/2015 to 13/06/2015).

Mobile:98402389 email:naresh6672@gmail.com MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. 9588 7051, ashwininakod@gmail.com Highly Qualified & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees , CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFA- Financial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Profit Maximizations ( NOC available ) call 94 504505 – 94403270 27 year Indian female who has 4 years of experience with logistics function in distribution of spares for both heavy machinery & wind turbine parts. Kindly contact me on +91 9790769104 E-mail: joemohana@yahoo.co.in Looking for managerial post (full time ), More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training, planning, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. Contact 91076608 / 99322748. RELEASE & NOC AVAILABLE Female 26 M.Tech bio medical Engineer, 1plus years experience in research and teaching seeking opening. Contact : 91960160 Email: amluprasannan@gmail.com 7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job. Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Indian male, 28 yrs MBA (HR/M) 2 years experience in Indian Oman in HR & admin seeks suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact 97484159 Email: rameshkapa86@gmail.com Indian female , MCA BCA, certification PL SQL , 6months training PHP, date warehouse looking for suitable placement. Contact : 95694330 Email: mondkashyapodl@gmail.com Part- time accountant, well experience senior accountant , doing all type of accounting works, finalization, budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439 HSE Advisor, NEBOSH IGC, Indian male, 4 years experience in construction and oil fields, seeking suitable jobs. Gsm: 97458900, Mail: miroshbabu@gmail.com Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA , Professional of Banking, Audits , ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 / 94403270 Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job.

Contact 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@ gmail.com Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase.

Contact 99196621 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903.

Indian male seeking suitable vacancy in office works 30 years Muscat experience. Contact: 99024055 Indain Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs. #97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99486374 Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally.

Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com Indian Male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 9199 3376 Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 MEP Quantity Surveyor-EstimationProject, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909 Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available.

Contact: 99654913

Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Release available #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609 8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601 B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position.

94151658 Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job.# 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com Indian, 32 years, completed M.A. English, M.Sc. Psychology and B.Ed in English. Searching for suitable job in the field of teaching. To Contact: 00968 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Iraqi Pharmacist with 15 years experience as regulatory affairs and Marketing Manager seeking job in pharmaceutical co. Mobile 96720441

GOOD NEWS

GOOD NEWS

Ayurvedic massage backache, joint pain & neck pain etc.

Contact: 98254909

Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi offers genuine & effective treatment for back pain, paralysis, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis, joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, allergic problems, varicose vein and all other health related problems.

Kerala massage and rejuvenation package available. For details please Contact 92197920/ 24799689

MATRIMONIAL Kerala Nair girl, B.Com, 22 yrs, 5.2” very fair, slim, (Star Uthrattathi) Presently working in infosis, Chennai. Financially sound, from parents of nair boys from Trissur, Palakkad and Eranakulam & Calicut dist. .

Contact :0091 8301865688 email: raveendrandr@yahoo.com Alliance invited for a Nair girl 24 yrs, 5ft, 1”, fair, slim, B.Tech graduate reputed family of Ernakulam dist. (Star Thiruvonam Sudhajathakam) financially sound, from parents of B.Tech nair boys from Trissur, Palakkad and Eranakulam dist. .

Contact :00919495924302 email: raveendrandr@yahoo.com Hindu Ezhava family, settled in Muscat looking for suitable groom working within Oman for their daughter 25 yrs (MBA) working with a reputed company in Muscat.

Contact : 98689663

M O N DAY, J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

MV. SALE

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

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

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

Hyundai Accent 2004, fully automatic.

Contact: 99045803

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285

D8

M O N DAY, J U N E 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WEBSITE

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

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

BUSINESS

Wanted Sub Contractors : Shuttering work, steel, concrete block work, plastering, tile fixing for Buraimi, School project.

Contact : 99427674/ 24700373/ Fax: 24701368

New Construction Company required investors for financial project.

Contact: 92959251

DRIVING

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

Scrap business running scrap business sale with 60 Ton Weighing Bridge in Mabellah. # 92295780

MATRIMONIAL Alliance invited for Ezhava girl, Anizham star, 27 years, B.Tech (Civil), employed with Kollam Engineering College, Kollam, from parents of same community. Contact: 99030647 Nair 36 yrs, Accountant in Muscat (M.Com) need suitable brides BSc Nurses preferred. Contact : 96146560

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

NRI

Alliance invited for a nair boy 28 yrs 165cm working with a leading business group in Muscat.

Contact : 91717912 Muslim family seeking alliance for our son interested families. Contact 97664009

SITUATION LOSTWANTED

Specialist available for explosive growth in term of restructuring all modules of businesses with over 30 years of experience across continents with a decade in Oman.

Contact 96733578 Email : profitoman@gmail.com

Arfan Yousaf has lost Pakistan Passport No. BW 6912011. Finder please handover to ROP. Ashley D. Souza has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. F 6583693.

Finder please handover to ROP.

CLASSES

SITUATION CHANGE OFWANTNAME ED

We, Raju Kallarakkal Joseph (name of father as per the passport, holder of Indian passport No M 5715840 and Laizy Raju (name of mother, holder of Indian passport No. K 9306892) having permanent address in India Kallarakkal House, Kanimangalam, Thrissur -21, Kerala (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at the following address in Al Ghubrah, P.B No. 364 P.C No. Villa 5, Sultanate of Oman, hereby solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Master Jerin (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. K 9306874 date of issue 2/3/2013 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Jerin Kallarakkal Raju (new name for all purposes). Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat , Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

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

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

Contact 99740196 Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815

Ready / under construction apartments / villas. Near guruvayur.

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

P.R.O services. Contact 99368907 Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 / 92682970 Learn Cup cakes, exotic cakes, Icing decorations, handicrafts.

Contact 95941515

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

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 House shifting packing.

99657644 / 98518013

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 House shifting. Contact 99708138

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

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

Pick & drop available. Contact 96913836.

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

Transportation available.

Contact: 99867456

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

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation. Contact: 95190627 Pick & Drop anytime Contact: 91653903

Transportation.

Contact: 91310107 Driver with vehicle. Contact: 99159277 Pick & Drop any time. Contact: 97014786