Times of Oman - June 9, 2015

44

92

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

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

TUESDAY, June 9, 2015 / 21 Sha’aban 1436 AH

CABLE

timesofoman.com

wtimesofoman.com

facebook.com/timesofoman

blog.timesofoman.com

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH

FIRE INCIDENT: A fire broke out in a residential building in the

CBD area in Muscat. – A R Rajkumar/Times of Oman

VIDEO

Instead, shortage

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

Uninsured count losses in CBD fire

hitting 15,000 will be eased by people going on holiday, says water boss

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Sayyid Haitham inaugurates website

1

His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, inaugurated the website of the National Records and Archives Authority. >A2

OMAN

WiFi: Simple route to better signals

2

According to the customer service team at Ooredoo there are three main issues that customers face with WiFi. The first one is securing a WiFi network. >A2

MARKET

Sohar Freezone attracts OMR300m

3

As many as 22 companies have signed with Sohar Freezone for setting up various projects within the free zone. >B1

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

Army call-up on water not needed: PAEW

CBD BLAZE

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to King Abdullah II of Jordan on the occasion of his accession to the throne of the Kingdom.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health, happiness and long life to King Abdullah II, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this and similar occasions on him and the Jordanian people to achieve their aspirations of progress and prosperity. -ONA

twitter.com/timesofoman

REJIMON K FAHAD AL GHADANI

reji@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH

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

MUSCAT: Firefighters used ladders to rescue occupants trapped in a burning residential tower in Ruwi, which once again left some counting the cost of being uninsured.

Residential building The fire broke out on the sixth floor of a nine-floor residential building in the Central Business District (CBD) of the capital city early morning on Monday.

Two people who suffered burn

OCCI helped fire victims >A6 injuries and inhaled smoke were admitted to the hospital.

The blaze started at 6am and was doused by the firefighters by 8:30am. More than a dozen fire engines and dozens of firefighters were pressed into service to contain the flames and rescue the tenants. >A6

TARIQ AL HAREMI

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, chairman of PAEW

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The army will not be called in over the water shortage in Muscat, insists the chairman of Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW), who instead said the situation will ease when people go on holiday.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, chairman of PAEW, also said there was nothing his organisation could do to prevent private water merchants overcharging the around 15,000 peo-

ple affected by the shortage in areas such as Bausher, Muttrah, Ansab, Al Khuwair and Darsait.

On the sidelines of a press conference, he told Times of Oman, “The demand for water will decrease with many residents travelling out of Oman during the summer.”

There has been growing anger over the situation, including private water merchants charging exorbitant rates, while many have

been forced to queue for hours for free supplies. But Al Mahrouqi said, “We provide the water for free, so we do not have a legal policy to regulate prices.”

He also added, “We stress that our services are free in case of a crisis. However, there is a point after which we cannot completely fulfil demands in a short time. But the distribution network is actually getting better.”

There have been suggestions that the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) should be involved in distribution of water to the affected areas, but the chairman said that there was no need to involve them as it was not an emergency.

“We are always coordinating with the armed forces and they support us in such cases and vice versa,” he said referring to the contribution of armed forces during Guno and Phet. >A6

MET PREDICTIONS

Storm heads towards Oman REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A deep depression over the east central Arabian Sea has developed into a cyclonic storm (Ashobaa) and is currently heading in the direction of Oman, global meteorological departments have said.

According to the latest trajectory, the eye of the cyclone is approximately 680km off Oman’s coastline while its outer sphere is nearly 510km from Masirah

Island, as per the Indian Met Department and the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC), respectively.

On Monday, the surface wind speed was between 60 and 80km per hour (kmph). However, JTWC added that in 72 hours, or by Thursday, the system will move west-northwestward with the upper level conditions expected to improve, allowing the system to further intensify to a peak of 130kmph.

The UAE’s weathermen are

also on an alert as the predictions say that its coastline may also be impacted.

“The cyclone has moved northnorthwest wards during the past six hours. It would intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 36 hours,” said the Indian meteorological department. According to the Oman meteorological department, the cyclone will not have a direct effect for the next 48 hours, but there are chances of rain along the Oman coast. >A6

Oman’s squash warrior

C5

A2

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 There are certain things that interfere with the WiFi signal, including objects with a high water content (fish tanks), solid walls and metal pipes.

Simon Baldwin, Director of Consumer Marketing, Ooredoo

OMAN

SAYYID HAITHAM INAUGURATES WEBSITE OF NATIONAL RECORDS AND ARCHIVES AUTHORITY

His Highness Sayyid Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture, inaugurated the website of the National Records and Archives Authority. (Right) The minister also held a meeting with the top officials of the Authority and reviewed the progress of its work.—ONA

G E N E VA M E E T I N G

C O M M E N TA RY

WiFi: Simple route to better signals, security

T

he other day I was chatting with someone over coffee about how quickly she was using up her home internet quota.

Her quota wasn’t small either; 75GB, which is far more than the global average consumption of 51GB per month. Was she streaming TV, I asked her, downloading hours of ‘Game of Thrones’ at the weekend or perhaps uploading all of her photo’s to the cloud? No, none of that, just regular usage.

It turned out that she did not have password protection for her WiFi router so someone was stealing her WiFi (‘piggybacking’ the cooler members of society call it). We found this out by doing a check of all the IP addresses accessing her connection.

Anyway, we fixed this for her, but it got me thinking about WiFi in general and other problems that people have with their connections.

According to our customer service team at Ooredoo there are three main issues that customers face with WiFi. The first one is what I’ve just

SIMON BALDWIN

described, securing a WiFi network.

The second one, but probably the most prevalent, is that the WiFi signal doesn’t reach through the whole house. The thing about many houses here is that they are full of concrete and reinforced steel, which makes it a bit of a challenge for

the signal to even get upstairs.

There are a couple of tips and tricks to use to help with this.

First, try to avoid anything dense. I don’t mean keeping the router away from Dad, but there are certain things that interfere with the signal, including objects with a high water content (fish tanks), solid walls and metal pipes. Even other electrical devices will interfere (baby monitors are a prime suspect).

Your best bet is to position the box somewhere high and clear of obstructions.

If this doesn’t help, you’re going to need an extender. These are great bits of kit which cost around OMR30 and are easy to install. They even have ones which fit into your electrical outlets. Once in place, they will extend your WiFi range by about 20 metres.

The third most common issue is when people have trouble connecting to the WiFi, even when there is a good signal.

This is a common problem, especially after you’ve just upgraded your Operating Software (OS).

Apple users recently had issues when upgrading to

Yosemite, and Windows users had a few problems when they upgraded to Windows 8.1.

It’s a bit trickier to fix these as they are both completely different and I only have 450 words for my column…

However, Apple users should be fine after a quick trip to the Network Settings within System Preferences, and Windows users should take a tour of The Device Manager area of Settings. The good news is, though, that both Apple and Microsoft put a great deal of effort into the user experience, so it is easy to do.

Enjoy the Internet.

Simon Baldwin is the Director of Consumer Marketing at Ooredoo.

He has plenty of useful insights and tips that are easy to understand and essential in today’s mobile connected world. This columns series provides some tips and tricks for all telecoms users; whether browsing or streaming, using apps or travelling and more. If you want to control costs, get a better picture of how things work or even need tips on security and safeguarding, these columns are for you.

UNITED EFFORTS: The meeting reviewed fields of cooperation with the International Training Centre (ITC) and the programmes that would contribute to developing the human resources.–ONA

Oman, ILO officials discuss cooperation GENEVA: Oman’s efforts in promoting labour market with the participation of the three parties of production were reviewed at a meeting here.

Minister of Manpower Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al Bakri, met with Moussa Oumarou, director of Governance and Tripartism Department at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), on the sidelines of the 104th session of International Labour Conference, being held in Geneva.

The meeting also reviewed opportunities of the technical coop-

eration between the two sides in the fields of social dialogue, safety, occupational health and work management, as well as reviewing international work criteria and e-work systems.

Sheikh Al Bakri also met with Giuseppe Casale, Deputy Director of the International Training Centre (ITC) in Italy, on the sidelines of the conference.

The meeting reviewed fields of cooperation with the ITC and the training programmes that would contribute in developing the human resources in Oman.–ONA

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Share your world with us on Instagram

A3

OMAN

Turning organic waste into power Civic garbage can generate biogas that can be converted into fuel or electricity.

This could help reduce the amount of garbage in landfills and prove an asset ENVIRONMENT FIRST: Currently, organic waste is dumped in landfills around Oman. The Oman Environmental Services Holding Company has plans to open four waste

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman produces more than 1.5 million tonnes of municipal solid waste per year but much of it is organic waste that could be converted to energy, say researchers at the Caledonian College of Engineering who have been producing energy in a lab using fruit and vegetable waste.

The research project, which is funded by The Research Council (TRC), is looking primarily at how organic waste from the Mawaleh Central Fruit and Vegetable Market can be treated with a process called anaerobic digestion, in which microorganisms break down the material and generate a biogas that can converted to fuel or electricity.

Professor Joseph Thanikal, who is heading the research, said this process could be applied to waste throughout Oman, reducing the amount of garbage in landfills and providing a sustainable source of energy.

“They say that from all the wilayats (in Muscat Governorate) there are 5,000 tonnes of waste, combining all kinds of biodegradable waste, per day. We have proven that it’s possible to convert it to biogas and we have enough quantity of waste that can supplement the energy so it could be one of the sources,” Thanikal said.

The project included lab scale and pilot scale experiments at the college and has shown significant findings that establish that anaerobic co-digestion is a safe method of waste treatment that can be adopted to convert organic waste

treatment plants. – Photos, video by Sarah MacDonald/TIMES OF OMAN

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

into useful products like reformed bio-solids and energy from biogas.

According to the research that Thanikal and his team have carried out, five tonnes of biodegradable waste per day can produce 240 KW power, worth $100 per day in useable electricity.

Currently, organic waste is dumped in landfills around Oman, though the Oman Environmental Services Holding Company has plans to open four waste treatment plants, Thanikal explained.

The landfills full of waste aren’t just unsightly; they also cause a lot of environmental damage if waste isn’t disposed of properly or in alternative ways such as converting it to energy.

“In the landfills there is some leakage and that affects the groundwater. Secondly, there is methane in the landfill that escapes in the air and that will have an effect on the greenhouse gasses,” explained Hatem Yazidi, one of the researchers on the project.

Jumaa Al Amri, Deputy Director for the Health Department at Mawaleh Central Fruit and Vegetable Market, says the amount of waste produced in the market each day is approximately 50 tonnes, most of it biodegradable.

Some of the unsellable produce is taken away by people as animal feed but most of it ends up in Al

A G R I C U LT U R E

When I added the fat to the vegetable waste I found that it enhanced the production of biogas by 50 to 60 percent. We get good results for biogas production Suad Al Hosni Research scholar

Amerat landfill. “I become very sad when I throw all these vegetables and fruits to the dumping area. We spend time, we spend money on the people who collect, on the cars going to the dump. You feel sad that no one gets a benefit from this organic waste,” Al Amri commented.

Al Amri said that the cardboard is shipped to Dubai for recycling, as is much of the plastic, but that most of the fruits and vegetables that aren’t sold simply go waste. He said he would like to see a wasteto-energy system, like the one be-

ing tested at Caledonian College of Engineering, introduced to the market so that the waste could be used to generate electricity. Given the amount of waste produced there, the market could become self-powered.

“It could have full power. Everything for free, and there would be no need to spend on petrol and affect the environment,” he said.

Much of field research was undertaken by three Omani graduate students from Caledonian College of Engineering (CCE) who spent hour upon hour in Mawaleh Cen-

tral Fruit and Vegetable Market calculating how much waste there was. In the lab they experimented with different fruit and vegetable waste, as well as grease waste from the Saham water treatment plant and animal fat from Muscat’s central slaughterhouse, to see what produced the best results for generating biogas.

Siham Said Al Siyabi focused on watermelon, pomegranates and apples, also using grease sludge from the municipal waste water treatment plant in Saham. She tested the grease sludge, which comes from things like cooking grease, and tried combining it with the fruits to see what combinations make the best gasses that can be converted to biofuel or energy.

She said the oily grease waste can generate a lot of biogas.

Suad Said Al Hosni looked at different vegetables - tomato, lettuce and onion - as well as slaughterhouse fat from the central slaughterhouse, which can also be converted to biogas. She said that the fat is also dumped into landfills, adding to the methane gas and groundwater pollution, but a much better use of the fat is biogas.

“When I added the fat to the vegetable waste I found that it enhanced the production of biogas by 50 to 60 percent. We get good results for biogas production. I hope in the future there will be a plant here in the Sultanate of Oman for the production of biogas from this biodegradable solid waste,” Al Hosni commented.

The research at CCE is in line

with the strategies planned at the Oman Environmental Services Holding Company (Beah), which is the state-owned waste management company which has begun a feasibility study for a waste-to-energy project in Dhofar Governorate.

Speaking at the Oman-Spain Investment and Business Cooperation Forum in April in Muscat, Mohammed Sulaiman Al Harthy, Executive Vice President - Corporate Strategic Development, said: “As a result of the utilisation of waste for energy generation, we will be spending less on developing and maintaining landfills, reducing Co2 emissions, providing economic alternatives to natural gas as a fuel source, saving the subsidy that the government allocates on natural gas use, and tackling the issue of potable water capacity.”

For the Omani researchers, the waste-to-energy project is not just about the scientific research, but about protecting their country.

They have concerns about global warming and environmental damage to the earth and groundwater from organic waste.

“We want a clean environment.

We want to get rid of these types of waste with a good way, not like the traditional way of just throwing them in landfills. We are also looking for renewable energy because as we know oil and gas maybe in the future will disappear. This type of project is the big chance to produce energy such as biogas and it’s very easy to do that,” Al Hosni added.

JO I N T PA N E L M E E T I N G

Oman, Italy to explore new trade avenues

FARM SUPPORT: Oman has more than 4,000 Aflaj systems cater-

ing to 40 per cent of agricultural land in the villages. –File photo

Plan to check soil erosion, protect Aflaj system Times News Service IBRA: A project to check soil erosion and protect the Aflaj system in the villages of Oman is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at a cost of OMR6 million.

This information was shared at a seminar titled ‘Aflaj: Cultural Heritage and Development Necessity’, which began on Monday in Ibra wilayat, of the North Al Sharqiyah governorate.

The two-day seminar has been organised by the Omani Water Society (OWS).

Dr Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri, undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, inaugurated the seminar with the participation of more than 160 experts and officials from concerned institutions and citizens in the governorate.

Zahir bin Khalid Al Slimani, chairman of OWS, said that the seminar aims to highlight the Aflaj systems, their historical and cultural role, ways of developing them, and establishing a platform to bring experiences and exchange ideas in the field of Aflaj

management and sustainability of their water. The seminar also wished to identify the social, agricultural, economic and tourism role of Aflaj in the overall development of the Sultanate.

Dr Ahmed bin Nasser Al Bakri said that the Sultanate has more than 4,000 Aflaj systems catering to 40 per cent of agricultural land in the villages that depend on Aflaj water for irrigation, in addition to 5 Aflaj systems that are in the world heritage List, while noting that what was said in the seminar today reflected and confirmed that Aflaj systems are a historical legacy of the Sultanate and the Omanis.

He said that the ministry is also constructing protection walls in Aflaj-based villages to prevent soil erosion, and ensure the sustainability of the Aflaj system, adding that 6 kilometres of walled protection were built in the past five years, at a cost of OMR6 million and these projects have reflected positively on the Aflaj maintenance system, raising their efficiency and the sustainability of the agricultural land in the villages.–ONA

ROME: Bilateral cooperation between the Sultanate and Italy in economic, commercial and industrial sectors, as well as issues related to subsidising SMEs and the available investment opportunities in both countries will be discussed at a meeting here.

The Omani-Italian joint committee will hold its fifth meeting on Tuesday in Italy to discuss ways to further boost economic cooperation and investment between the two countries.

The Omani delegation is led by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, secretary gen-

eral of the Foreign Ministry. The Italian side will be led by Paolo Gentiloni, the Italian minister of foreign affairs.

They will also discuss bilateral co-operation in cultural, educational, scientific research, and transport sectors, in addition to environment, water, agricultural and fisheries sectors.

The foreign trade statistics now point out that the bilateral trade between the two countries is witnessing constant growth. The Omani imports from Italy increased in 2013 and touched OMR215.6 million compared to OMR174.8

million in 2012. The major imports include water tapes, tools, equipment, and porcelain moulds, apart from pipe connectors, pipes, vehicle mounted cement mixers and air exhaust pump parts.

Lubricant oil materials, gas cookers and polyethylene sheets were also imported.

The Omani exports also increased in 2013 to touch OMR33.4 million compared to OMR15.7 million in 2012. The major exports to Italy include polyethylene terephthalate, aluminium cables, and methyl methacrylate, apart from polymer sheets and scrap steel.

The Omani delegation includes Ahmed bin Salim bin Mohammed Ba Omar, the Sultanate’s ambassador to Italy, Yahya bin Abdullah Al Araimi, head of the Economic Affairs Division at the Foreign Ministry, Hilal bin Marhoon Al Maamari, head of the West Europe Department at the Foreign Ministry, and Abdul Aziz bin Moosa Al Kharousi, deputy head of the Secretary General’s Department for Programmes and Communication, along with a number of officials.

The delegation also includes His Highness Sayyid Taimour bin Asa’ad Al Said.– ONA

A4

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

OMAN

23

Majlis approves Transport Law

students of BSM participated in the show that aimed at teaching students about self-discipline

C O L OU R S O F E D UC AT I O N

The Land Transport Law was approved after some modifications. The Majlis chairman also

ART EFFECTS: Art is an easier way to express oneself and portray emotions visually, said a student

participant at the exhibition.–O.K. Mohammed Ali/TIMES OF OMAN

referred to the water crisis in his speech

MUSCAT: In a major decision, the Land Transport Law, referred by the Council of Ministers and recommended by the Services and Social Development Committee, was approved by the Majlis Al Shura on Monday, under the chairmanship of Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali.

The law was approved after some modifications to some of its articles, with most of the members of Majlis Al Shura in the Services and Social Development Committee agreeing to retaining some articles of the law as they came from the government.

The session began with a speech by the Majlis Al Shura chairman, in which he said that the Shura followed with interest the sudden and frequent water outages and lack of DIPLOMACY

Alawi, Zarif review ties MUSCAT: Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, on Monday received Dr Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at Muscat International Airport.

The two leaders reviewed the bilateral relations between the Sultanate and Iran and means of promoting them in various fields. They also exchanged viewpoints on several regional and international issues.

Oman and Iran have welcomed the ongoing moves to implement Ashgabat Agreement on Establishment of the International Transport and Transit Corridor that includes the Sultanate and some countries of the Central Asia, as well as the Islamic Republic of Iran. The agreement facilitates movement of goods between this region and the world by using the ports of Sultanate. -ONA

LEGISLATIVE IMPACT: The session approved a draft agreement

on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of tax evasion. – Talib Al Wahaibi/TIMES OF OMAN

economic facilities in a number of governorates, including Muscat.

Water crisis The Majlis Al Shura had formed a working group headed by the deputy chairman of the Majlis Al Shura and a number of members met with the chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) on May 7. The chairman had heard their views on activating emergency plans to cope with such a crisis, as well as the progress of the additional station in Al Ghubrah to increase the production capacity to meet the increasing demands for water.

The session approved a draft agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect

to taxes on income between the Sultanate and the Government of Hungary, referred by the Council of Ministers and as recommended by the Economic and Financial Committee. The Committee recommended the approval of the draft convention as stated by the government.

The session also discussed a proposal to amend some of the articles of the Social Insurance Law, submitted by the Committee of Youth and Human Resources.

The session reviewed the response of the Council of Ministers on amending the second article of the Tender Board Act. It also reviewed the response of the Council of Ministers to the report on the flooding in Al Nahdha Hospital. – ONA

TECHNOLOGY

Omantel to hold SME symposium Times News Service MUSCAT: In a bid to enhance the relations between Omantel and SMEs, Omantel will organise the second SME symposium under the theme ‘Omantel Together’ in Salalah, on Wednesday.

This symposium follows the success of the first one which was organised at Omantel headquarters in Mawaleh, Muscat governorate, in the presence of a large number of entrepreneurs.

The workshop provided an ideal platform to discuss the Omantel procurement process and procedures, and designed a special package to enhance SME participation in Omantel procurement transactions. It will also include tips on “How to do business with Omantel”.

“Omantel is making concerted efforts to support the Omani gov-

ernment in enhancing the growth of the national economy and activate the role of SMEs in the economy. Omantel believes that SMEs can play a vital role in implementing the comprehensive and sustainable development,” said Thamer bin Said Al Kathiri, general manager of Procurement and Contracts at Omantel.

Omantel is keen to meet directly with entrepreneurs in the Dhofar governorate to share with them the procedures designed to enhance their involvement.

“The workshop will provide an ideal opportunity to discuss with SMEs the measures required to activate their involvement. This should contribute to the development of local communities and society as well,” he added.

Omantel plans to conducts similar symposia in other governorates . –ONA

British school students pitch for self discipline through art TARIQ AL HAREMI tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: British School Muscat (BSM) held a private viewing of an art exhibition from A level and GSCE students at the Omani Society of Fine Arts on Sunday under the patronage of Nicola Lott, customer contact centre manager at Qatar Airways.

Eighty-five pieces of art, ranging from paintings and compositions to sculptures and dresses, created by 23 students of BSM were aimed at teaching students about selfdiscipline.

“Subjects like art, music, dance and film, along with drama, should have an important place in the curriculum alongside mathematics and science,” said Kai Vacher, principal of BSM. “As we have seen this evening they are wonderful at developing self-discipline, self-expression and self-confidence of students.

These skills are going to be really important when they enter the workplace in the next few years,” he explained.

With mathematics and science being one of the key subjects that all students should learn during the course of their lifetime, Vacher personally believes that art subjects are equally important. He quoted Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google saying: “You need to bring art and science back together.”

“One of the important reasons we need this is because to solve the problems of the world we are going to need scientists and mathematicians, and we are going to need creative mathematicians and scientists,” said Vacher.

He continued explaining: “As problems get more complex, you are going to need good theoretical knowledge and understanding of science and mathematics, and you also have to have a creative understanding of how to come up with creative solutions.”

SCAN THIS TO VISIT

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

Karishma Behera, one of the students standing by her pieces of art, explained that art is an easier way to express oneself and portray emotions visually.

Qatar Airways has been sponsoring BSM events for the past eight years. For this event, the airline bought and installed frames for the art pieces. They displayed the pieces with high exhibition standards. “We have been proud sponsors for years and we recognise the young talents in BSM and the aspiring artists and we are proud to sponsor them,” said Nicola Lott.

D E F E N C E A F FA I R S

Project ‘Atheer’ set to enhance border guards’ communication

TECH BOOST: This telecommunication project will contribute to the performance and functions of

the Border Guard Brigade, thanks to the new technology. – ONA

MUSCAT: In a step towards further modernisation, the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) on Monday launched the Tactical Communications Equipment System Project ‘Atheer’ for the Border Guard Brigade in the RAO, under the auspices of Brig Masoud bin Ali Al Hattali, commander of the Border Guard Brigade.

This project is part of the development and modernisation plans of telecommunications for the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) and to help perform the duties and practical tasks assigned to them more efficiently and effectively.

One of the officers reviewed the

programme, followed by a speech by the Commander of SAF Signal Corps in which he explained the stages and objectives of the project and the role of Signal Corps in the supervision of the project.

The representative of the company executing the project, highlighted the extent to which the company’s commitment to complete the project was on schedule, and the mechanism of the project.

The audience was briefed on the ‘Atheer’ project, followed by a presentation on the advantages of the project’s different devices and their high accuracy in performance and use.

The commander of Border

Guard Brigade said that this project will contribute to the performance and functions of the Border Guard Brigade, thanks to the new technology. He thanked all those who contributed in activating and sustaining the project.

The event was also attended by Brig Saif bin Mohammed Al Shidi, director general of operations and training at RAO, Brig Mohammed bin Rashid Al Balushi, director of electrical and mechanical engineering, a number of commanders of battalions and units, and a number of commissioned and noncommissioned officers and privates of the SAF Border Guard Brigade. – ONA

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5

Tweet all about it

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

A5

OMAN

Oman potential surfing hot spot The height of waves in the seas off the Sultanate’s coasts are ideal for surfing learners and relatively new surfers

TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com ASILAH: While the Sultanate is known for many of its natural wonders and as a paradise of nature, the sea, which beckons the community of surfers who enjoy riding the waves, has made Oman a potential hot spot for surfers.

“Oman has always shown potential. You just have to make the effort to look for the waves,” said Qais Zawawi, a member of the Oman Surfers community.

For surfing to become popular in the waters of Oman, Qais said, “There would have to be more structure in the surfing community. It just needs time to pick up.”

Though the waves in the Sultanate are not of the magnitude of those in Hawaii, the USA or Australia, the three most popular

destinations for professional surfers, they are of an ideal height for beginners and intermediates.

The waves in the Sultanate remain short for most of the year but gain height during seasonal winds which affect South Al Sharqiyah Governorate and both Dakhilyah and Dhofar governorates.

When asked what the hardest aspect of surfing was in Oman, Andreyas Effendi of Oman Surfers said, “The hardest thing is to find the community and get information on the whereabouts of the waves.” “Everyone passes on information when a good wave is found, and we will be there wherever it is,” he added.

Having a large surfing community seems to be the main objective of the group which could see them gaining support from local entities that could spark the beginning of a surfing wave in Oman.

“We need more surfers. We would also like to have competitions one day,” said Maynard Hapon expressing the need for Oman Surfers to get support from organisations such as Redbull.

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) voiced its support for marine sports and the surfer community in Oman saying that it will do what it can to promote any type of marine sports in the Sultanate.

A ministry official said, “The ministry does not mind supporting and promoting this sport. In fact, we will grant tourist licences to establishments and institutions

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

VIDEO

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

WAVE RIDERS: Surfing has health benefits including cardiovascular fitness from paddling, and

strengthening the shoulders, back muscles and legs. It also provides strength and balance to the surfers once they stand on the board. – Tariq Al Haremi

who offer their services for any marine sport.”

As long as their priorities are organised, beaches and bays are chosen and safety measures are taken, the ministry fully encourages tourists and residents to engage in water sports, he added. An increase in tourists would be imminent if proper steps are taken in accordance with regulations and requirements set by the MoT guaranteeing the safety of surfers and sustaining the surrounding envi-

G R E AT D E S T I NAT I O N

large number of companies, media outlets and advertising agencies forming a direct link to promote the Sultanate internationally.

“The MoT has promoted these kinds of sports in the past and is still encouraging companies and institutions as well as SMEs to show interest and invest in them,” said the official.

“Unfortunately, in the last few years they have not shown interest. Therefore, with co-operation from the Public Authority of SME

W E E K LY U P D AT E

Masirah tourism industry eyes guests from the GCC Times News Service MUSCAT: Though Oman is one of the tourist hot spots of the Arabian peninsula, the island of Masirah is barely known among the GCC travellers.

With the aim of strengthening Masirah’s tourism industry, officials from Masirah took part in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, last month.

“The ATM has always been an important platform for us to establish ties with our existing and potential business partners. Masirah is gradually making its mark as a promising tourist destination in Oman,” said Vijay Kumar Handa, general manager of Masira Island Resort.

Masirah Island, located 15 kilometres off the southeast coast of Oman in Arabian Peninsula, is slowly positioning itself to receive more travellers this summer.

“Summer is the right time to visit this beautiful Island in Oman as it hosts all four of Oman’s nesting species of turtles and is world famous as home to the largest population of loggerhead turtles,” he said. From May to September, you can see loggerhead turtles laying eggs. From October to November, baby turtles hatched from eggs are going back into the sea.

“The island is magnificently diverse and offers a wide range of

ronment by collaborating with establishments and institutions that offer these services.

There are two aspects to promoting any marine sport and entertainment in the Sultanate, according to MoT. Firstly, by creating awareness and encouraging local tourism to internationally promoting the sport by participating in travel and tourism exhibitions abroad, and secondly through tourist offices representing the ministry, which are associated with a

Development, Al Raffd Fund, local banks and other interested parties, we hope to support and encourage SMEs to invest in these sports in all wilayats of the Sultanate,” added the official.

Surfing has health benefits including cardiovascular fitness from paddling, and strengthening the shoulders, back muscles and legs. It also provides strength and balance to the surfer once he stands on the board. All three members of Oman Surfers, the Times of Oman spoke to defined surfing as more than a sport.

“Surfing is not really a sport but more a lifestyle. We will go anywhere to catch the waves and it is part of my weekends right now,” said Effendi, while Hapon said it was a passion.

“I used to surf once a month in my country, but I am surrounded by the ocean in Oman, so I can say that Oman has re-ignited my passion for surfing,” he said. “Surfing is life. It is something I started when I began walking in Australia.

It is like breathing,” said Zawawi.

To stay up-to-date with Oman Surfers and information about the best spots for surfing, visit their page at: https://www.facebook. com/omansurfers?fref=ts

PRISTINE NATURE: Situated off the coast of Barr Al Hikman, Masirah Island is a great place for nature lovers. - Supplied photo

nautical sports with excursions into the nearby deserts and hills.

The island is off the coast of Barr Al Hikman area, and can be accessed by a ferry.

“Masirah Island is a great place for nature lovers. The island’s greatest attractions are the natural wealth of wildlife and the rugged coastline, which is home to many marine species, and is also a prime spot for surfing and windsurfing because of the high summer winds,” he said.

The Arabian Travel Market is the leading travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals from across the globe.

The exhibition attracts high level decision-makers and buyers rep-

resenting every aspect of the leisure travel industry.

“We have seen some good guest numbers from the GCC in the first five months of this year, with across-the-board increases. Yet, we are far from where we want to be, and we know we have all the right ingredients to be front of mind for GCC travellers when choosing their holiday destination,” said Handa.

“We are a safe, affordable and an easily accessible destination from Muscat International Airport by road. We are also a competitive destination, with some of the best room rates of the regional market, and we are continuously expanding and enhancing the visitor experience,” he added.

More than 190 illegal workers held MUSCAT: A total 197 illegal workers were held in a week and 302 expatriate workers were deported by the Sultanate’s competent authorities, according to official information.

A joint inspection team of the Ministry of Manpower arrested 197 illegal foreign workers, including 138 commercial workers, 28 farm workers and 31 housemaids and their equivalents. They were

found violating the labour law and were held between May 31 and June 6.

The inspection teams caught 184 workers including 102 absconding workers, 77 astray workers and five workers who had made other kinds of rule violations.

The Governorate of North Al Batinah witnessed the highest number of workers violating the law with 46, followed by the Gov-

ernorate of Al Dhakilyah with 35 workers. The competent authorities at the Ministry of Manpower are have initiated and are proceeding with the legal procedures against all of them.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Manpower statistics as many as 302 expatriate workers were deported for violating the Labour Law and the ministerial decisions executing the law.

A6

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015 Currently we are covering 58 per cent by the pipe network which is a bit disappointing, but we are planning to reach 98 per cent coverage by 2040 Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Mahrouqi, chairman of PAEW

OMAN Saraya Bandar Jissah project on fast track

BRISK PACE: The development will deliver 398 exclusive residential units in five distinct residential zones. - Supplied photo

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

Due for handover in 2017, the signature villas are nestled within the Nameer Island which is a man-made structure, while the lagoon is gravity-fed from a nearby waterfall

Times News Service MUSCAT: Saraya Bandar Jissah, the luxurious ITC (Integrated Tourism Complex) backed by shareholders Omran and Saraya Oman, is on track to deliver a splendid luxury develop-

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

ment with a boutique hotel and resort hotel to be operated by world-class hotel operators, the Jumeirah Group.

What the recent pictures of the bustling construction site have revealed is that it is evolving rapidly.

Complete with five residential zones and a state-of-the-art recreational facility, the project was named ‘World’s Best Mixed Use Development’ by International Property Awards.

With an area spanning 2.2 square kilometres, the development will deliver 398 exclusive residential units in five distinct residential zones — Zaha, Nameer, Wajd, Na’eem and Safa.

With Zaha successfully stirring the market and construction on site meeting the company’s expectations, Saraya Bandar Jissah’s vision to develop a world-class ITC

in the beautiful natural surroundings of Oman is coming to life.

The company looks forward to mesmerising investors, residents and tourists with Saraya Bandar Jissah’s stunning natural beauty a place to escape and relax.

Nameer, the island, surrounded on all sides by the iconic lagoon, offers privacy and family-friendly park areas dedicated exclusively to its residents.

Each villa is delivered complete with a stunning infinity pool overlooking the lagoon, while a generous open-plan design spans nearly 500 square metres of living space over two floors, providing an easy indoor-outdoor flow, ideal for entertaining guests and relaxed family living.

Due for handover in 2017, the signature villas are nestled within the Nameer Island which is a man-made structure, while the lagoon is gravity-fed from a waterfall located nearby the recreation centre.

The Saraya Bandar Jissah construction site currently has five contractors working in synchrony.

These are Nagarjuna Construction Company International, Carillion Alawi, Leighton Middle East, Towell Construction and Ghantout Transportation and General Contracting.

Four consultants, Halcrow Middle East, WS Atkins International & Company, DSA Architects International and KEO International Consultants oversee the work on the contractors.

Saraya Bandar Jissah is located on the outskirts of Muscat on a secluded beach surrounded by the Hajar Mountains.

The ITC will be home spacious hilltop villas, stylish town-houses and luxury apartments - all with attractive waterfront and mountainside views.

The two hotels form the major leisure components of Saraya Bandar Jissah, providing their guests with a luxurious and relaxing home away from the day-today rigours of life. For more information of Saraya Bandar Jissah’s activities, click on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube pages.

WAT E R C R I S I S

A1 Ghubra plant test period from July 2 < FROM

The chairman insisted that the new Ghubra water desalination plant will begin its test period from July 2.

The Times of Oman reported last week how officials had confirmed that the crisis will last through the Holy Month of Ramadan and Eid due to delays in the plant becoming operational.

He added that once it reaches its maximum capacity on September 14, it will be able to produce 191,000 cubic metres (41.79 million gallons) of water per day.

“Then the old Ghubra desalination plant will be emptied gradually to avoid further damage,” he said.

“That plant has been operational since 1974 and since it has reached its operational lifespan it cannot function,” explained Al Mahrouqi to questions about why the old plant was not working.

Water is currently being distributed from the already estab-

lished wells which contribute 84,000 cubic metres of water.

“Still there is a shortage of 43,000 cubic meter per day,” he said. Al Mahrouqi said that they are planning to dig more wells with a capacity of 24,000 cubic metres to reach a total distribution by wells to 107,000 cubic metres. Al Mahrouqi also revealed plans that the PAEW is hoping to achieve by 2040.

“Currently we are covering 58 per cent by the pipe network which is a bit disappointing, but we are planning to reach 98 per cent coverage by 2040,” said Al Mahrouqi.

PAEW will also install eleven new water desalination plants with eight expected to finish by the first quarter of 2019 while the remaining three have undetermined dates of completion.

During the time between 2010 and 2014 the PAEW recorded a 49 per cent growth in water production and 57 per cent growth in subscribers.

FORECAST

A1 Cyclone to intensify < FROM

further: Weathermen

Accuweather meteorologist Anthony Sagiliani warned that if the cyclone tracks into eastern Oman, it could cause major flooding across the mountainous desert terrain.

“Flooding will also threaten areas along the southern coasts of Iran and Pakistan,” added the meteorologist.

As per the latest forecast by Skymet, India’s largest weather monitoring and Agri-risk Solutions Company, the system has the potential to intensify further, however, without posing a threat to the Indian coast.

“The weather system is heading north and is likely to affect Oman. It is moving north-westward at a speed of 15kmph, shifting slightly away from the Indian coast,” said Skymet in its latest update.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has also upgraded the deep depression over east-central Arabian Sea into a Tropical Cyclone (01A), which now lies about 750km south of Karachi.

“The sea conditions along Sindh – Makran coast are likely

to remain rough to very rough with stormy winds from Monday afternoon to Friday.

The Cyclone Warning Centre (Karachi) of the Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned fishermen in Sindh and Balochistan,” said the PMD in its statement.

As per its current trajectory, Pakistan and Iran could be impacted by high waves and strong winds, with the former issuing a cyclone warning, along with an advisory for fishermen to refrain from venturing out into the sea until Friday, June 12.

The Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (DGMAN) in its latest analysis of the National Multi Hazard Early Warning System (NMHEWS), says that there are various predictions for the track to be taken by the cyclone.

However, the probable track is north towards the Pakistani coasts with indirect influence on the Sultanate’s coasts overlooking the Sea of Oman and coasts of the Governorate of South A’Sharqiyah like rough seas and advection of rainy clouds.

CBD FIRE

A1 ‘Smoke alarms < FROM

did not go off’

“The smoke alarms did not go off, and since it was early morning, most of the residents were just getting out of bed. By the time we were alerted, corridors were filled with thick smoke. We all had to run out of the building in our night dress,” said some residents of the building.

“I was alerted by my neighbours, but by then, smoke had filled the corridors of the fifth floor. I ran to the fire exit and managed to reach the third floor, but could not go any further as I developed breathing problems.

However, some police officials saw me and brought me down to the ground floor in the elevator,” said a tenant.

Around 20 families staying on the sixth and seventh floors were badly affected and many were rescued by firefighters who used ladders to reach those floors.

One expatriate woman who reportedly suffered burns and another woman who had suffered uneasiness in breathing were admitted to the hospital.

An official from the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) services said that building owners

should not compromise on the safety aspects.

Safety measures “Smoke alarms and other fire safety measures should be installed and checked periodically in all the buildings. With a possibility of more such incidents in the future, we will launch a campaign in the next few days to ensure the safety of people,” said the official.

Last week, a residential building in Muttrah also caught fire, but there were no casualties. It took two hours for the fire-fighters to control that blaze.

Meanwhile, a senior official from a national insurance company said that out of the total number of personal properties in Oman less than 10 per cent have been insured.

“To insure your personal property, it will cost only a few rials, but many are reluctant to do so.

And when such accidents happen they will be unable to cope with the loss,” said Philip K Philip, group CEO, Muscat National Holding Company. “There are provisions even for tenants to insure his or her flat,” added Philip.

HUMANITY

HELPING HAND: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials provided food to the fire victims. – Supplied photo

OCCI officials help CBD fire victims Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Nearly 60 people who ran out of the CBD building following the fire, were given food and shelter by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) officials.

Tired, worried “When we reached office by 7am, we saw people standing outside the building in their nightdress.

Most of them were looking tired and worried. Some were even

showing uneasiness breathing.

So, we gave them shelter in our halls,” said Khalsa Khalfan Al Hasani, head of the services and maintenance section at OCCI, who along with other officials helped the people.

“Many, including women and children, were hungry. So we provided them with food and other facilities. Most of them stayed until 11:30am,” said Al Hasani, adding that it is everybody’s duty to help fellow human beings when they are in trouble.

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent, answered some of the charges against him. The reporter spoke in English and his answers were translated for the presiding judge at branch 15 of Tehran’s revolutionary court.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency

REGION

No negotiations with Houthi rebels in Geneva, says Hadi The sole item for discussion would be the implementation of a resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in April, said the Yemeni president

SANAA/ADEN/RIYADH: Yemen’s exiled president took a hard line on Monday ahead of weekend peace talks in Geneva, ruling out negotiations with Houthi rebels and denouncing external meddling in his country.

Meanwhile, the United Nations envoy to Yemen said on Sunday that peace talks set for next week in Geneva can end over two months of war and save the coun- REDUCED TO RUBBLE: Yemeni men ride a motorcycle past collapsed buildings following an air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition in the try from permanent division. capital Sanaa on Monday. – AFP President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi said the sole item for discussion would be the implementation ing a news conference in Riyadh these consultations in good faith home, pro-Hadi militia spokes- of ending Arab bombing and internal fighting which have killed of a resolution adopted by the UN that the Geneva meeting would be and without preconditions in the man Ali Al Ahmedi said.

The rebels have been trying around 2,000 Yemenis, but the Security Council in April demand- merely a “consultative” process. interest of all Yemeni people,” his ing the rebels withdraw from the Bahah, who is also vice president, spokesman said. He said the talks for five days to advance towards government in exile presented a large areas of the country they said the exiled government would were aimed at securing a ceasefire, Buraiqa, a strategic part of Aden hard line for the negotiations and head to the meeting with only one agreeing on a withdrawal plan for that houses an oil refinery and a demanded the dominant Houthi have seized.

“There will be no negotiations,” goal -- “implementing 2216 and the Houthi rebels and stepping up port. Medical officials said nine group retreat.

“Geneva is a breakthrough, if people, among them three civilreinstating the state” overran by deliveries of humanitarian aid.

Hadi told Al Arabiya television.

In the capital Sanaa, coalition ians, were killed and 53 were it happens, it can lead to a new Houthis. Once the legitimate government is reinstated, “all politi- warplanes launched new strikes wounded in 24 hours of fighting dynamic, an end to this conflict,” Just a discussion Ould Cheikh Ahmed told the Qa“It will be just a discussion about cal factions return to dialogue to on the Houthis and their allies, across Aden.

The rebels fired mortar rounds tar-based Al Jazeera television. how to implement UN Security resume the political process... and hours after overnight raids hit re“I’m optimistic that Yemen will Council Resolution 2216. We will approve the draft constitution and bel-held military positions north at a western district of third city of the city at Shamlan and Ham- Taez, killing three civilians and remain unified. The conflict has organise elections,” he added. have a consultation.” wounding four others, while nine not reached a point of no return ...

Announcing the talks on Satur- dan, witnesses said.

Asked if his government’s delIn second-largest city Aden in rebels were killed in an attack by This is why we need people to reegation would discuss reconcili- day, UN chief Ban Ki-moon asked turn to the negotiating table and ation with the rebel negotiating all sides to enter them without the south, a woman and three of pro-Hadi fighters, officials said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Ould Cheikh help work to avoid sectarianism her children were killed when a preconditions. team, Hadi said: “Not at all.”

Ban “reiterates his urgent call Katyusha rocket, fired by rebels Ahmed’s interview with pan-Arab and the division between north Yemen’s Prime Minister Khaled Bahah echoed Hadi’s remarks, tell- on all Yemeni parties to engage in from the city’s north, hit their channel Al Jazeera raised hopes and south,” he said. — Agencies WA R - T O R N C O U N T RY

Syrian air strikes kill 49 in Idlib BEIRUT: At least 49 civilians, including six children, were killed on Monday in Syrian government air strikes on a town in Idlib province in the country’s northwest, a monitoring group said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the raids hit a square in the town of Al Janudiyah, in the west of the province, which is now almost completely controlled by opposition forces.

O P P O S I T I O N D E L E G AT I O N

Sudanese team not allowed to go to Europe KHARTOUM: A Sudanese opposition delegation were prevented on Monday from flying to Europe to meet other opposition leaders and address the European Parliament, one of the delegation said.

Siddiq Youssef, a leader of Sudan’s Communist Party, said members of the seven-strong delegation had been due to meet other opposition leaders abroad, as well as representatives of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, an alliance of two rebel factions fighting government forces in the Darfur region.

He said they had also been scheduled to meet the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee in Paris, and to address a session of the parliament in Brussels on June 12.

Security officials at Khartoum airport told the delegation they were on a blacklist and confiscated their passports, Youssef said. The Information Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

“Stopping us travelling shows that the president’s talk at his inauguration about opening up to the West was just talk without action. This government is continuing in its way of being against freedoms and against dialogue,” Youssef said. — Reuters

“It’s a public square, and a lot of people gather there because there are shops,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

He said that people displaced from other areas of Idlib province had also sought refuge in Al Janudiyah. Regime military aircraft fired missiles on the town, he said.

Video uploaded on the YouTube website by activists showed absolute chaos in the aftermath

of the strikes, with the air thick with grey smoke and dust and the square scattered with the rubble of buildings and the body parts of victims.

Meanwhile, Syrian opposition representatives met in Cairo on Monday in a bid to forge a new, broader alliance against President Bashar Al Assad’s regime and agree on a roadmap for ending the conflict. — AFP

A7

SPYING CHARGES

US reporter begins his defence in Iran trial TEHRAN: Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post correspondent accused of spying on Iran, began his defence on Monday in a trial that is taking place behind closed doors in Tehran, local media reported.

Rezaian, a 39-year-old Iranian-American, has been in custody since last July.

In a short report Iran’s Tasnim news agency said Rezaian, who is accused of collecting confidential information, cooperating with hostile governments and disseminating propaganda against the regime, answered some of the charges against him. The reporter spoke in English and his answers were translated for the presiding judge at branch 15 of Tehran’s revolutionary court, it said, noting that the three-hour hearing ended around 1:45pm (0915GMT). The report did not give any details of what Rezaian said in court. The official IRNA news agency, quoting an informed source, said the date of the next hearing would be announced later. The Post has said that Rezaian is being used as a pawn in an internal political power struggle about the ongoing nuclear diplomacy. His lawyer insists that there is “no proof” against him.

Monday’s hearing was the second in Rezaian’s case following the opening session of his trial on May 25 when prosecutors presented the charges against him. Rezaian’s family has dismissed the charges as false and the United States has urged Iran to release the journalist and other Americans detained in the country. Tehran does not recognise dual nationality. Rezaian, who has worked for the Post since 2012, was arrested with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, at their home on July 22, last year. — AFP

A8

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

INDIA

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister was caught in a controversy in the wake of some news channels airing an audio recording of a purported conversation Naidu had with a nominated legislator seeking his vote in the Legislative Council elections

I N T E R N AT I O N A L Y O G A D AY

Yoga answer to need for mental, moral well-being: Pranab NEW DELHI: Amidst preparations for the International Yoga Day on June 21, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday strongly endorsed yoga as a complete answer to people’s need for mental, moral and spiritual well-being.

“Yoga is an art, science and philosophy. It helps to join the powers of body, mind and soul for achieving self- realisation. Modern medical science has validated that the practice of yoga not only reduces stress but has multiple long-lasting beneficial effects.

“Yogic discipline not only helps control the wavering mind but also inspires the pursuit of excellence,” he said at an event where he was presented the first copy of Yogi ka sparsh (yogi’s touch) written by Nivedita Joshi, daughter of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

Help the visually-impaired Noting that the book is a yoga manual in Braille to help the visuallyimpaired, Pranab said the ancient Indian practice offers “a complete answer to people’s need for physical, mental, moral and spiritual well-being”.

He said the United Nation’s decision to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day will help popularise yoga globally and enable people to benefit from this “priceless Indian heritage”.

Marking the occasion in India, about 40,000 people are expected to be part of International Yoga Day celebrations, to be held at Rajpath here, where the government is trying to create a record so that it finds place in the Guinness Book of Records.

Pranab said yoga was arguably the most valuable Indian cultural heritage and it was an art, science and philosophy which helps people in self-realisation.

Speaking on the occasion, Nivedita said she was bed-ridden by a host of crippling ailments for years before she regained health and vigour with practice of yoga under the guidance of noted guru late B. K.S. Iyengar. She was long driven by a quest to take yoga to the blind, 39 million globally and one-third of them living in India, Nivedita said.

“This effort will bring so much more light to those who thought they could not move in that direction (of yoga),” she said.

sion has been given three passes for the function to be held at Rajpath here from 7.30am to 7.35pm where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present, sources said.

Confirmations to attend were still coming-in, they said when asked how many diplomats have confirmed their presence.

However, not every top envoy is expected to be present with some of them travelling or having prior commitments, the sources said.

The UN General Assembly in December had adopted an Indialed resolution declaring June 21 as ‘International Yoga Day’, three months after the Prime Minister had proposed the idea.

As we prepare to celebrate the International Day of Yoga, it gives me immense satisfaction that the Yoga manual in Braille is being offered as a unique gift to the visually impaired GEARING UP: A worker fixes

a camera on a pole at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday as part of preparations for the Yoga Day celebrations. - PTI

Live telecast Around 35,000-40,000 people are expected to participate in the event at the Rajpath besides 5,000 members of the armed police forces. The event will be webcast and telecast live.

Minister for Ayush Sripad Yasso Naik on Monday took stock of preparation for the event.

Close to 1.1 million NCC (National Cadet Corps) cadets are expected to perform yoga across the

Pranab Mukherjee President of India

“As we prepare to celebrate the International Day of Yoga, it gives me immense satisfaction that the Yoga manual in Braille is being offered as a unique gift to the visually impaired,” the president said.

Meanwhile, the government has invited diplomats from 152 foreign missions in the country for the mega event on June 21 to celebrate the UN-declared International Yoga Day. Every diplomatic mis-

Modi draws flak for ‘despite being a woman’ remark BJP defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments, saying he was only complimenting Sheikh Hasina and asked Congress to appreciate his achievements as ‘people of India and world leaders are doing’ IN THE EYE OF STORM: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talking to Bangladeshi Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina, during a signing ceremony in this picture taken on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday drew flak for his remark praising his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina for her resolve against terror “despite being a woman” with Congress accusing him of practicing “male chauvinism” and netizens calling it “sexist”.

“It shows a patronising attitude and male chauvinism. This is insulting to womanhood. He has embarrassed Hasina and insulted woman leaders,” Congress leader Anand Sharma said.

He also called Modi a “multipleoffender”, saying the Prime Minis-

ter has always been making comments on foreign soil which have stoked controversies.

Defended However, Bharatiya Janata Party defended Modi’s comments, saying he was only complimenting Hasina and asked Congress to appreciate his achievements as “people of India and world leaders are doing”.

At an event in Dhaka on Sunday, Modi had said, “It is heartening that Prime Minister of Bangla-

desh, despite the fact that she is a woman, is openly saying that she has zero tolerance for terrorism. I would like to congratulate Sheikh Hasina for her firmness to deal with the menace.”

Attacking Modi for his “derogatory” comments, Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza reminded him that BJP stalwart Atal Behari Vajpayee had hailed former prime minister Indira Gandhi as ‘durga’ after she led India to victory in 1971 war, resulting in the formation of Bang-

- AFP file photo

ladesh. “It shows the RSS’ pettyminded attitude towards women because it has never respected woman and its activities have always been against them. This is derogatory,” she said.

Attacking Congress for its criticism of Modi over the comments, BJP leader Shina N. C. said the prime minister was in fact giving a “compliment” to his Bangladeshi counterpart.

“He (Modi) said it is such a herculean task to fight terror and for a woman it is even more difficult.

It was the biggest compliment he was paying to Hasina. She has taken it as a compliment,” she said, adding she was appalled at the Congress’ attack on the Prime Minister. BJP secretary Shrikant Sharma said Congress should appreciate Modi’s successes abroad like 125 crore people of India and leaders across the world.

Twitter, where Modi enjoys huge following, was full of digs at him for his “sexist” and “patronising” comments. Many women users said sarcastically that they were on Twitter “despite being a woman”. #DespiteBeingAWoman was the top trend on the microblogging site but Modi supporters hit back and #ModiEmpowersWomen soon began trending.

Reacting to Modi’s remark, a Twitter user posted, “Despite being a woman, Kiran Bedi managed to sink BJP in Delhi.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “(I) can’t think of a single wise crack to use the #DespiteBeingAWoman hashtag.”

Foreign media too took note of the remark with Washington Post putting out a story with headline “India’s Modi just delivered the world’s worst compliment”.

Many Modi supporters dug up controversial comments made by Congress leaders on women to attack the Opposition party. - PTI

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

country to mark the day.

In the run-up to the mega event, the government is also set to organise an international conference on yoga for holistic health.

“From the Defence Ministry, over 1.1 million NCC cadets are to perform common yoga protocol while from the Home Ministry, 5,000 members of armed police forces are to participate at Rajpath.

“About 900,000 will also perform in their respective field units under the HRD Ministry, observing International Yoga Day in educational institutions as well as arranging 5,000 school children for Rajpath event,” according to a presentation.

It said while Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Mahila Mandals under the Youth Affairs Ministry are expected to participate in yoga demonstrations in respective districts, yoga exhibition through Sangeet Natak Akademi under the Ministry of Culture has also been planned. The Tourism Ministry is making elaborate arrangements through its offices in India and abroad to publicise the event. - PTI DIMINISHING RESPECT

Jethmalani announces ‘break-up’ with Modi

Ram Jethmalani

NEW DELHI: Noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Monday announced his “break-up” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said his “diminishing respect” for Modi has “ended”.

The expelled Bharatiya Janata Party MP, who had strongly supported Modi’s prime ministerial bid, had been opposed to the appointment of former CBDT chairman K V Chowdary as Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) and said he will now fight the government in Supreme Court after his appointment was cleared by President on Monday.

“Now we shall fight out in the Supreme Court and the court of the people of India. My diminishing respect for you ends today,” Jethmalani wrote in a letter to Modi.

He posted the communication on Twitter and called it “My breakup with Prime Minister Narendra Modi”. Expressing strong reservations over the move to make Chowdary as next CVC, he had written to president and Modi, questioning his credentials. - PTI

B R I B E RY A L L E G AT I O N

Congress demands resignation of Naidu in cash-for-vote scam NEW DELHI: Congress on Monday demanded resignation of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the wake of allegations against him in the cash-for-vote scam and sought an inquiry by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the matter.

The All India Congress Committee also questioned BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why they have been silent on the issue when the leader of their key ally at the Centre and Andhra Pradesh is involved.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza used the occasion to also target Telangana’s ruling TRS. She told reporters that a probe is needed in the wake of a host of allegations against the TRG government including that of snooping and tapping of telephones.

She said that a judicial enquiry must be initiated by an SC judge in the scam and Naidu should step down as chief minister before the probe starts to ensure an impartial investigation.

Besides, she wanted the Andhra Assembly Speaker to go into the charges against a TDP leader.

“When a scam of such magnitude has come to the fore, why is the BJP and the Prime Minister keeping mum?” she asked.

Oza alleged that both the TDP and TRS were resorting to “unconstitutional means” to stay in power.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister was caught in a controversy in the wake of some news channels airing an audio recording of a purported conversation Naidu had with a nominated legislator seeking his vote in the Legislative Council elections.

Phone tapping In a fresh twist in the cash-forvotes scam, Andhra Pradesh police on Monday registered a case against Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao over the alleged illegal tapping of the phones of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart.

In a strongly-worded attack over his name cropping up in the cash-for-votes controversy, Naidu warned Rao that things should not be stretched too far, in an attack that comes after his phone was tapped by the Telangana government.

“I said it earlier. They have indulged in politics of corruption and conspiracy. The Congress, TRS and YSR Congress party are again conspiring against me.

I have lived with honesty and for public service. While Andhra Pradesh develops, this efficient KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) is unable to do anything and is conspiring against me,” he said.

Naidu was addressing the ‘Maha Sankalpam’ (grand vow) public meeting organised by the Andhra Pradesh government near here on the first anniversary of his government’s formation.

A Telegu Desam Party MLA was arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a nominated MLA. - PTI

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

A9

INDIA

Nitish named CM candidate of the JD(U)-RJD combine

REPORT

Weak monsoon to be credit negative for India: Moody’s

Breaking his silence on the issue, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said REVISED FORECAST: School

he cannot contest

students walk under umbrellas during monsoon rains in Kochi on Monday. - PTI

election himself and there was no other CM contender from his family or party

NEW DELHI: Nitish Kumar will be the chief ministerial candidate of the JD(U)-RJD combine in the eastern state of Bihar, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav announced on Monday, resolving a major irritant in the alliance between the two parties to take on the BJP in coming Assembly elections in the state.

“I am very happy about the unity of Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar.

Nitish will be the chief ministerial candidate for Bihar. Laluji has proposed Nitish Kumar’s name for the chief ministership. Laluji said he will campaign.

“There are no differences and we will not allow any differences to crop up,” Yadav said while declaring that they would fight together to root out “communal forces”.

A day after the two parties agreed to fight the Assembly polls in an alliance, Mulayam Singh Yadav disclosed at a press conference here which was also attended by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad and Janata Dal (United) chief Sharad Yadav, that Lalu proposed Nitish’s name for the top job in the state.

Compulsion Breaking his silence on the issue, Lalu said he cannot contest election himself and there was no other chief ministerial contender from his family or party.

“There are no differences between us (between him and Kumar),” he said, downplaying ear-

ALLIANCE CONFIRMED: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav address a press conference on the JD(U)-RJD alliance for Bihar elections, in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI

lier remarks of some RJD leaders expressing discomfiture over projecting Nitish Kumar as CM candidate.

The coming together of the once-bitter rivals is seen as a compulsion for the Janata Parivar, which lost badly in last year’s Lok Sabha elections in which Bharatiya Janata Party won 40 seats in Bihar.

That he had to accept Nitish as CM candidate of the alliance under compulsion was evident when Prasad said, “I am ready to consume all kinds of poison.

“But we will crush this cobra of communalism. We will destroy them unitedly. We will wipe out the BJP from Bihar.”

Rejecting speculation about the BJP egging on him not to tie up with JD(U), Prasad said his identity in politics was due to “crushing the communal forces”.

Holding that “communal forces” occupied the seat of power in Delhi because of “division in forces of social justice,” Prasad, who had ordered the arrest of BJP leader L. K.Advani in 1990 at the peak of the Ayodhya movement, said that incident started “Mandal versus Kamandal politics”.

Prasad said he was repeatedly targeted by the BJP after that.

“I and Nitish belong to the same family. We had our share of fights and differences and we had also levelled allegations against each other. But, despite that, when the JD-U was divided at the time of polls for Rajya Sabha seats in Bihar, I had called up Nitish Kumar in order stop the BJP. I supported him to check these forces,” Prasad said.

Noting that there were some “illusions” in the mind of people, he said, “I want to clear those illusions. Lalu cannot contest elections. I am not a candidate (for CMship). Nobody from my family, my wife, or my children is interested in it. They (his children) are quite young. There was no candidate from our side (party), nor was any from my family.

“But the communal elements speak through the media. All kinds of rumours are being spread. They are saying we cannot come together. I thank Mulayam ji that he made the announcement that Kumar will be our CM candidate,” the RJD chief said.

Downplaying remarks of some of his party leaders including Vice President Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, who was against projecting Kumar as CM candidate as merely an “opinion”, Prasad

CEREMONY

‘Queen’, ‘Haider’ big winners at IIFA awards in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Haider, Vishal Bhardwaj’s modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Vikash Bahl’s coming-of-age drama Queen emerged as big winners at the 16th IIFA awards by taking home three trophies each, including best actress honour for Kangana Ranaut and best actor for Shahid Kapoor.

Queen, a middle-class girl’s journey of self discovery after getting ditched by her fiance, has been winning Kangana accolades all over. She already has a National Award in her kitty for the role.

However, the actress was not present to accept the gong as she rarely attends award shows.

Shahid, 34, re-teamed with his Kaminey helmer for his career’s best role of a man deranged by grief and subsequent betrayal by his close ones. The actor dedicated his award to Bhardwaj for giving him the opportunity and called the film “scary”.

Recognition “I would like to thank Vishal Bhardwaj for this recognition. A very big thank you to him for believing in me. Today I am standing here because of him. It was a scary film to do because we thought people will never love and understand this,” said the actor in his acceptance speech.

Earlier, Shahid, one of the best dancers in Bollywood, took to stage to give a power-packed performance on Bismil. Tabu, who played Shahid’s mother in Haider, won the best supporting actress award for her multi-layered performance, while co-star Kay Kay Menon bagged the trophy for best negative role for his portrayal of a shrewd politician.

Queen won the award for best picture and story (Bahl, Chaitally

ACCOLADES: Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor poses on the green carpet as he arrives to attend the final day of the 16th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards at the Putra Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Shahid won the best actor award for his role in film ‘Haider’. - AFP

Parmar and Parvez Shaikh) apart from the best actress trophy.

Anurag Kashyap, one of the producers and editor of the film, expressed his love for fellow director Rajkumar Hirani, while receiving the best movie trophy for Queen.

“I don’t know what to say. I love you Raju sir (Rajkumar Hirani).I don’t know how this film happened and it happened somehow.

When we started the film we didn’t have any money...,” he said.

Hirani won the best director gong for Aamir Khan-starrer PK, after beating Bahl (Queen), Bhardwaj (Haider), Abhishek Varman (2 States) and Imtiaz Ali (Highway).

“This film fearlessly talked about religion in the country and I want to thank my father and mother for it. Like Subhash Ghai, I also feel a film is incomplete without the help of technicians and actors,” Hirani said.

Deepika Padukone, who was nominated in the best actress category for her stint as a dance

teacher in the multi-starrer Happy New Year, took home the Woman of the Year award.

The 29-year-old actress dedicated the honour to women across the globe.

“This award is for millions of women,” said the Finding Fanny star, who looked gorgeous in a black and maroon saree.

Bollywood’s showman Subhash Ghai was honoured with the Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema recognition. It was presented to him by his Ram Lakhan stars Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor.

“I am going through so many emotions right now. I have so many memories. Over the years one learns, rises and falls.

“This is one of the most wonderful evenings for someone like me, to receive so much love and adulation. I have so many stories to share. I think success and awards are a trap.

“You achieve these for your past work but then you are expected to keep up that work,” he said in his acceptance speech. - PTI

said,”anybody can give an opinion but the decision is taken here.”

Remarks He also appealed to workers and leaders of both parties to “control” their speech and took a dig at leaders like Prem Chand Gupta from his party and K. C. Tyagi from JD-U while asking media to verify their “off-record” statements from either him or JD-U President Sharad Yadav.

Prasad’s remarks came in the backdrop of sparring between leaders of the two parties a number of times in the last few days over the issue of alliance, particularly its chief ministerial face.

The RJD chief said that issue has come to an end now expressed confidence that seat-sharing would also be done amicably.

Without naming his ersthile ally Ram Vilas Paswan, who is now a minister in the NDA government, Prasad said, “Even an insignifcant person, who is now an NDA ally, was saying that they (JD(U) and RJD) cannot come together.”

There was intense speculation about Prasad cosying up to former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who broke away from Nitish Kumar’s JD-U and

formed his own party Hindustani Awam Morcha.

Prasad had even openly invited Manjhi to join the proposed broader secular coalition against BJP in Bihar.

The RJD chief, however, made it clear on Monday that his party will not have any truck with him, saying “Jitan Ram Manjhi told me that I should topple Nitish and they will accept me as leader. I am not going to fall into that trap.”

Referring to the statement of BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj on the Ram temple issue, he said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks something else, the “communal elements” from his party say something different.

‘Secular alliance’ Asserting that he “does not require a certificate” from anybody on his secular credentials, he said, “when I was fighting for Mandal Commission in Bihar, Advani ji had come with a Kamandal.

Responding to a question on whether the proposed “secular alliance” will also have Congress and NCP, the RJD chief said he had worked for the victory of NCP and Congress candidates in the past and hoped that all, including the Left, will come together. - PTI

NEW DELHI: A weak monsoon is likely to be credit negative for India as it is expected to push up food inflation as well as government deficits, global rating agency Moody’s said on Monday.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its monsoon forecast for 2015 from “below normal” to “deficit”.

“A weak monsoon is credit negative for India because it lowers agricultural output, increases food inflation and adds to government deficits,” said a Moody’s Investors Service report.

The magnitude of the negative effect will depend on the actual spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall as well as policy measures the government adopts in preparation and in response, it added. “...a weak monsoon would likely raise food prices, which have been rising faster in India than the global average. Because food accounts for more than 50 per cent of average household spending in India... higher food prices pinch household budgets in India to a greater degree than elsewhere, and hurt GDP...,” the agency said.

India’s inflation touched double digits in 2012 and 2013 partly because of high food prices, but is now below the RBI’s January 2016 target of 6 per cent, it said.

Decline in inflation and flagging private sector consumption as well as investment growth have led the Reserve Bank to cut the policy rate by 75 basis points since January, but the forecast of a weak monsoon season will curtail further rate reductions, the agency said.

Moody’s said that below-average rainfall in 2014 slowed agricultural output growth to 0.2 per cent that fiscal year, compared to 3.7 per cent the previous year. - PTI

A10

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

PAKISTAN TRENDSETTER

Female motorcyclist pitches for helmets, safety awareness KARACHI: Tayyaba, 26, zips through Karachi’s traffic on her motorcycle every day to get to work, with a helmet perched on top of her head.

The traffic law mandates the helmet for both male and female riders and co-rider on a motorcycle. As a woman, Tayyaba can go without the safety gadget but chooses not to.

Campaigners are becoming increasingly vocal about the consequences of the helmet-compulsory drive by the Karachi traffic police. The latter are bent upon making females on motorcycles wear helmets too. This can help save dozens of lives lost each year as well as injuries of hundreds others, they claim.

For a young woman like Tayyaba, who learned how to ride the motorcycle herself, the helmetcompulsory drive of the Karachi traffic police is praiseworthy, but she is not very optimistic about its success. “We are a stubborn society,” she said. “It will be extremely difficult to make the women understand that it is for their own safety.”

According to her, the helmet will not be much of a problem for the women who already wear a scarf or burka. “It’s like wearing a cap,” she said. “Gradually, you become accustomed to it.”

She added that if women kept worrying about how the safety gadget will affect their hairstyle, then one can only feel sorry for their naivety.

Finding it weird Tayyaba said that when she rides her motorcycle on Karachi’s Shara-e-Faisal, the people around show her the thumbs-up gesture.

“If a girl can drive a car, why can’t she ride a two-wheeler?” she questioned. According to her, she has been riding a bicycle since childhood. “When the bicycle turned into a motorcycle, people started finding it weird.”

Tayyaba started riding her friend’s motorcycle in 2009 when she enrolled herself in Karachi University. In 2010, she felt the need to buy her own motorcycle. “I used to live in the campus and had to leave for my job very early in the morning,” she recalled. “I had to wait for hours for a rickshaw and used to get

Three suspects in air base attacks arrested Police are making efforts to control targeted killings in coordination with intelligence agencies, said Balochistan Home Minister

Twenty six-year-old Tayyaba is one of the few women who ride a motorcycle against the norm in Karachi

late for work. Then one day, I bought my own motorcycle and stood against the patriarchal mind-set. It’s better to have your own conveyance than depend on someone else.”

According to her, the government should introduce the Scooty motorcycle in Pakistan, which is one of the best rides for a woman. “It doesn’t matter if you wear shalwar kameez, jeans, or a burka. A Scooty can easily be ridden,” she pointed out.

Road traffic injury research and prevention centre accident investigation officer Irfan Saleem shared that in 2014, 340 cases of motorcycle accidents were registered in which the burka or the dupatta of a female got stuck in the wheel and led to the accident. “Of these, 23 died,” he said, adding that the long dupattas fly with the wind and get stuck in the chain or the wheel.

Mahnaz Rahman, the resident director of Aurat Foundation, agreed. “Most of the motorcycle accidents take place when the huge shawls that women use to cover themselves get stuck in the wheel or chain,” she said. According to her, the helmet is a safety gadget and should not be genderspecific. — Express Tribune

Mir Sarfaraz Bugti

QUETTA: Police have arrested three men involved in the Khalid and PAF air base attacks among other acts of terrorism, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti disclosed on Monday.

“Police are making efforts to control targeted killings in coordination with intelligence agencies,” said Bugti said while addressing a press conference at the Captial City Police office in Quetta.

Among those arrested is Ali Gul alias Ubaida Pathan, who belongs to Kohlu and carried a head money of Rs1 million, whereas Rehman Wali alias Rehman from Waziristan had a bounty of Rs500,000 on him.

Another accused, who carried a head money of Rs1.5 million and wanted in nine cases, was also arrested.

“Rehman Wali was involved in attacks on Khalid Airbase, and PAF Airbase attacks and cases against him were lodged at Airport police station and Cantt police station in Quetta,” said Bugti.

BREAKTHROUGH: Pakistani security officials examine the site of a bomb explosion in Quetta, capital of

Balochistan province, on August 12, 2014. — AFP file photo

Provincial home minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said acts of terrorism had spiked following the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor pact, and all the institutions need to play their role to to prevent terrorist from conspiring against Pakistan and its economic prosperity The third suspect was Zafarullah alias Muzafar Jan,who was wanted in four murder cases, he added. The home minister said police were making efforts and using its resources to eradicate terrorism in Quetta.

“Police carried out a search op-

eration in Eastern Bypass area of the provincial capital and rounded up three suspects with links to a banned outfit,” said Bugti.

The provincial home minister said acts of terrorism had spiked following the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) pact, and

all the institutions need to play their role to to prevent terrorist from conspiring against Pakistan and its economic prosperity.

CCTV cameras He added that four police stations were established in Quetta to facilitate police, saying that as many as 2,050 CCTV cameras were being fixed in the city to control crime and the project was in its final phases. — Express Tribune

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

N O R T H WA Z I R I S TA N

Seven soldiers killed in suicide attack ISLAMABAD: A suicide attack has killed seven Pakistani soldiers in a restive northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border, the military said on Monday.

The incident happened in North Waziristan, where the military has been fighting militants linked to the Taliban since June last year.

“When being chased and cordoned, a terrorist exploded his suicide jacket on Sunday night. Resultantly, seven soldiers embraced shahadat (martyrdom)”, the military said in a statement.

The blast triggered a gunbattle between militants and troops in which 19 insurgents were killed.

The area is remote and off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to verify the army’s claims such as the number and identity of those killed.

Battling extremists Pakistan has been battling a homegrown extremist insurgency for

over a decade following the late 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan. The army began a major campaign against Taliban and other militants in North Waziristan in June last year. Authorities have now vowed to intensify operations both in the border regions and across the country. — AFP

BOX OFFICE SURPRISE

‘3 Bahadur’ becomes Pakistan’s highest grossing animated film KARACHI: Pakistan’s first fulllength animated feature 3 Bahadur has become the highest grossing animated-film ever to release in Pakistan.

It is truly an exciting time for Pakistani cinema.

Over the course of the last year and a half, Pakistani filmmakers have treaded into new and untested waters and unsurprisingly all of them have managed to wow the audience.

Max: Fury Road, a person would usually go and watch the movie with a friend or two but with 3 Bahadur you have whole families coming in and watching the movies,” remarked Khurram Gultasab.

Outdoing Bollywood A few days ago, at the press conference for Moor, Nadeem Mandviwalla had noted how Pakistani cinema had managed to outdo Bollywood with just their first release.

“India has made six animated features to-date but none of them have been successful and our first film has become a big hit.”

The success of 3 Bahadur comes as a welcome sign for a number of animation studios which have emerged within the country and shown an interest in animated feature films.

Musician, Haroon who heads the animation company Unicorn Black, which has produced the TV show Burka Avenger, said that as a person belonging from the same industry it was heartening for him to see that such content was being made in the country and was hopeful more people would follow suit.

“The stuff that Waadi Animations has done is high-quality and I am sure that we would be making world-class content in the near future.”

Stellar run First there was Bilal Lashari’s action-thriller Waar, then Nabeel Qureshi’s game-changing comedy Na Maloom Afraad and last but not the least Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s animated movie 3 Bahadur.

Billed as Pakistan’s first animated feature film, the movie is in the midst of a stellar run at the box office and has now become the highest-grossing animated movie in the history of Pakistani cinema.

Previously the record was held

by Blue Sky Studio’s Rio 2 which grossed an estimated Rs45 million but 3 Bahadur has comfortably managed to outdo the Hollywood movie after only three weeks with a box office collection of Rs47 million up till now.

Watching their own films According to the executive producer of 3 Bahadur Jerjees Seja, the success of the film underlined the fact that Pakistani audiences want to ‘watch their own films’.

“It is really great that a first ever Pakistani animated film has managed to outdo a major Hollywood franchise like Rio 2 in terms of box office,” said Jerjees.

Released in over 35 cinemas the movie has managed to perform well at cinemas in both Punjab and Sindh, with each province contributing 50 per cent to the total box office collection. The film was not

BLOCKBUSTER: Previously the record was held by Blue Sky Studio’s ‘Rio 2’, which grossed an estimated Rs45 million but ‘3 Bahadur’ has comfort-

ably managed to outdo the Hollywood movie after only three weeks with a box office collection of Rs47 million until now. — Express Tribune released in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

“Although the film did perform well in its first week it has picked up tremendously during the last two weeks,” said Khurram Gultasab, the general manager of the chain of Super Cinemas in Punjab.

He identified ‘exams’ as a major reason behind the lesser turnout in the cinemas during the first week.

Released during the highly crowded summer window the movie faced tough competition from other international releases with movies like Piku, Bombay

Velvet, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Avengers: Age of Ultron.

“3 Bahadur was released three weeks ago opposite five other films but despite the stern competition, it is still running in cinemas and is doing remarkable business,” he added.

Box office results and critical response aside the movie has managed to woo audiences of all ages; which according to various stakeholders of the film industry was one of the key factors that have led to the film becoming such a success. “With other movies, like Mad

Great results Jerjees Seja seconded Haroon’s notion saying that the first step is always the hardest and considering that it has yielded great results other people would also start showing an interest in this genre of filmmaking.

With 3 Bahadur only going from strength to strength the makers of the film have already provided themselves with a cushion given that they intend to release a sequel by December next year. — Express Tribune

A12

T IME S O F O MAN

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

COMMEN ARY ISO 9001:2008

Certified Company Founder: Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman and Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Anees bin Essa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali Editorial: 24726666, Fax: 24813153; E-mail: editor@timesofoman.com Advertising: 24726666, Fax: 24812624 Circulation: 24726600, Fax: 24818270; E-mail: circulation@timesofoman.com Printed and published by: Muscat Media Group P.O. Box 770, Ruwi, Postal Code: 112, Sultanate of Oman.

Subscription: RO70 per year.

A detainee describes more CIA torture

A

nyone who had the time to read the summary of the 6,700-page report by Senate investigators on the federal government’s programme of torturing detainees captured after the September 11 attacks knew, or at least suspected, that there was more to the sickening story. This week, a Reuters report added to those suspicions with newly declassified statements from Majid Khan, a high-value prisoner who had been affiliated with Al Qaeda, was captured in 2003 and has been held at Guantánamo Bay since 2006. Over more than seven years of conversations at Guantánamo with his lawyers from the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Khan described even more torture and abuse than is contained in the Senate report. Although the details of his account, as documented in notes by his lawyers, could not be independently confirmed, they corroborate many of the findings of the report.

Soon after his capture, Khan said, interrogators water-boarded him twice, a contention that contradicts the Central Intelligence Agency’s claim that it had already named all detainees who were subjected to that practice. (The CIA has denied that Khan was water-boarded.) As he was moved among a series of CIA-operated “black sites” over the following months, Khan told his lawyers, the torture continued. He was beaten repeatedly. He was hung naked from a wooden beam for three days, shackled and starved. He was taken down once during that time to be submerged in an ice bath. Interrogators pushed his head under the water until he thought he would drown. “I wished they had killed me,” Khan said. Khan confessed to delivering $50,000 to Qaeda operatives who used it to carry out a truck bombing in Indonesia, and to plotting with Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind of September 11, on various planned attacks. In 2012, Khan pleaded guilty to conspiracy, spying, murder and material support of terrorism in a deal that required him to testify against Mohammed. He faces a sentence of up to 19 years, which is set to be imposed by the military commission at Guantánamo Bay in February. But his culpability does not justify the depraved treatment he and other detainees suffered at the hands of the United States, in violation of both federal law and the international Convention Against Torture.

If the story of that treatment ever has a hope of coming out, it won’t be through the American government, which continues to hide key details of torture and abuse from the public. Rather, it will be through men like Khan and Mohamedou Ould Slahi, another Guantánamo detainee, who was recently allowed to publish a diary recounting his experiences at the camp. - The New York Times News Service

WASHINGTON WATCH

The US must listen to Arab public opinion JAMES J. ZOGBY

The Snowden effect

H

istory is going to have an interesting time placing Edward Snowden in context and assessing his relevance. Of all the whistle blowers of the modern era there are none that have had quite the impact that he has had, and two years after he leaked a mass of data relating to the activities of the American National Security Agency (NSA) and its invasion of the privacy of millions, he is still making waves. On June 2, the US Senate passed a bill that will end the bulk harvesting of many millions of phone records of American citizens without prior authorisation. The Bill was passed swiftly and with minimal opposition to plug the gap left by the expiry of several provisions of the Patriot Act that had given carte blanche to the NSA. It is the most significant revision of legislation relating to surveillance since 1978. The scaling back of surveillance systems in the US are in contrast to the heavy penetration of cyberspace by the government in Pakistan. We live in a time where the nature of warfare is evolving faster than at any other, and the weapons of war are increasingly diverse. War is fought increasingly in what is broadly called cyberspace, that ill-defined terrain that is a human construct but far removed from everyday reality. The flow of data in cyberspace, be it phone records or how to build a dirty bomb is of overarching interest to the world’s intelligence agencies who are busy trying to prevent acts of terror and cyber warfare. It is at that interface between the priorities of the security community and the rights of the common man occur that another battle is being fought — that for privacy.

It is of note that analysis of NSA phone surveillance in the US in 2014 revealed that it had no impact on limiting terrorism whatsoever.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has praised the passage of the USA Freedom Act but is apprehensive for the future saying that there were many more intrusive and ‘overbroad’ powers of surveillance that were as yet untouched or debated. None of this would be in the public domain were it not for Edward Snowden, be that for better or worse only history will tell. - The Express Tribune

A similar incident of theft happened four years ago

Muscat was lot safer place at one time with no crimes

This refers to the news story, OMR14,700 stolen from a car parked in CBD locality (June 8).

A similar incident happened with my husband four years ago when OMR7,000 was stolen from his car. He had withdrawn the amount from a bank and kept the sum in his car which was parked outside the bank and went for some other work. He did not carry the amount with him for security reasons.

However, when he came back after a few minutes he found the amount missing — rather stolen — in a similar fashion and also in broad daylight. The fingerprints of the criminals were available and there was CCTV camera too. But the culprits are yet to be caught.

Dilani Cassim Muscat

This refers to the news story, OMR14,700 stolen from a car parked in CBD locality (June 8). I recall that in the 60s, money exchange outlets and jewellery stores in some areas in Muscat would simply leave their stores unattended when the shopkeepers and employees took a short break for offering their prayers. In the 80s, when I saw the same vendors, they would simply put a cloth across the store entrances and go for prayers without worrying about anything.

It would certainly be worthwhile and interesting to go back and check now what those shops do when they take their prayer breaks now. I don’t want to blame anyone in particular .

Khalid Sadary Muscat

Majority in Syria reject IS, Al Qaeda, and the regime in Damascus.

They also express deep concern with the prospect that Syria may fragment into sectarian entities. And because they do not support Western-led military intervention in Syria to defeat IS, the question remains: how to get out from where they are

I

was asked by the Atlantic Council to appear at the launch of their “Middle East Strategy Task Force” (MEST) to present a report on how Arab public opinion views the challenges facing their region as well as their assessment of the role the United States can play in addressing these concerns. The goal of the MEST, according to co-chairs, former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright and former National Security Advisor, Stephen Hadley, will be to develop a long-term US strategy to assist the Middle East achieve stability and prosperity.

One might take a jaded view that this is just another election year effort by a Washington-based “think tank” to develop a policy paper that will, in the end, be nothing more than a restatement of conventional wisdom and existing policy. What, I believe, however, sets the Atlantic Council project apart is the stated resolve of the co-chairs to ground their work in the attitudes and needs of the Arab people.

Instead of projecting policies developed in Washington for the people of the region, the MEST intends, as its starting point, to ascertain what the people of the region say they need and then craft policies that meld America’s interests and capacity with Arab aspirations. As evidence of their seriousness, MEST has formed five working groups — two of which are headed by respected Arab American scholars and composed, in equal measure, of American, European, and Arab academics and analysts.

The recommendations of the working groups will be considered in the task force’s final report.

It was impressive that the launch event itself began with a compelling “vox populi” video produced

by Sky News Arabia featuring interviews with men and women from Tunis, Cairo, Beirut, and Ramallah.

In turn, the interviewees spoke of their aspirations and frustrations for themselves and their countries.

That set the stage for the main part of the launch — a review of Arab public opinion.

I titled my presentation “Confounded, Lacking Confidence, and Conflicted”, three terms which I felt described Arab attitudes toward the traumatic changes that have rocked the region; the Arab loss of faith in the capacity of the United States to “do the right thing” when it comes to intervention in Arab affairs; and despite this, the continuing strong desire of the Arab public to maintain good relations with the United States.

Our polling shows that Arab opinion is largely confounded when it comes to assessing the region’s current crises. They know where they want to be, but they don’t know how to get there.

Poll after poll of Egyptians, for example, demon-

READERS’ FORUM NEW INDIA ASSURANCE New India offers a wide range of HEALTH INSURANCE COVERS to you/family/employee.

strate that they want jobs, improved educational opportunities, and a better health care system. They also rank ending corruption as an important concern. In short, they want a clean government that delivers services and meets their needs. What confounds them is: how to get there.

Iraqis want much the same from their government. Strong majorities of all Iraqi sub-groups reject IS and also express concern with growing foreign influence. They do not want their country to fragment and they want the central government to represent and provide for the well-being of all Iraqis: but they do not know how to get there.

We find similar attitudes when the Arab World looks at Syria. In equal measure, majorities reject IS, Al Qaeda, and the regime in Damascus. They also express deep concern with the prospect that Syria may fragment into sectarian entities.

And because they do not support Western-led military intervention in Syria to defeat IS, the question remains: how to get out from where they are to where they want to be. An obvious concern that must be confronted by any American effort to consider policy options is the Arab publics’ conflicted attitude toward the United States. What comes through in our polling is the fact that while Arabs have strongly favourable views toward the American people, values, culture, and products, they deeply resent American policy toward the region. When we ask Arabs to name the “greatest threats to peace and stability” in their region, in every poll we have conducted during the past 15 years, the top ranked threats are the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict and “US interference in the Arab World”. This, of course, is to be expected, given the disastrous and failed war in Iraq and continued one-sided US support for Israel.

When we ask Arabs, in repeated polls, to identify the areas where they feel the US can be most helpful, they will suggest aiding in job creation, and providing assistance to improve education and health care.

But on the top of the list will also be “resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”. In other instances, however, Arabs will tell us, point blank, “leave us alone”.

This is the definition of being conflicted.

I have long argued that public opinion matters.

Any American effort to successfully engage the Arab World must listen to what Arabs are saying—even when we don’t like what we are hearing. And any effort to assist the region must be demand-driven.

The author is the President of Arab American Institute.

All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman.

One must be very careful while carrying large cash This refers to the news story, OMR14,700 stolen from a car parked in CBD locality (June 8).

We all need to be careful. There are people watching us, especially when we leave banks with such large amount. Roaming around with that much of cash is not safe at all and leaving money in our cars is all the more a bad idea. However, I wish that the culprits are soon arrested and the money is finally retrieved.

Basma Essam Muscat

website: www.newindiaoman.com

Some taxis do not have seat belts at the back seats

The goal of all life is death SIGMUND FREUD

This refers to the news story, Is 500 baizas more really worth a life?

(June 8). I have seen that some of

the taxis here in Muscat do not have seat belts available for use in the back seats. It has often scared me, especially when they drive at a high speed. This apart, I have also noticed that there are taxi drivers who do not bother to indicate when they come into the main road from narrow roads or where the roads are merging.

Magdalene Heidrich Muscat

Taxis in Oman are one of the best in the world This refers to the news story, Is 500 baizas more really worth a life?

(June 8). Taxis in Oman and taxi drivers are one of the best in the world. Taxis here are affordable and drivers are understanding.

Nagendra Pratap Bangalore

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)

T I MES O F OM AN

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5

A1 3

PERSPEC IVE Why the opposition is shy of fresh local government polls R

KAMRAN REHMAT

While Khan predicts that his party would win even better in a more organised poll, the detractors aren’t exactly feverish about starting from scratch for two reasons; one, they are reluctant to compromise the gains they have made, and; two, the consequences of such actions elsewhere

egardless of the white noise surrounding transparency, local government (LG) polls in the troubled province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), most pundits agree, marks a significant step forward solidifying Project Democracy. Governed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) currently, facing the brunt of a united opposition over the fairness of its conduct, the province has been a flashpoint of the ongoing military campaign against terrorism and extremism.

The sheer scale of the numbers involving candidates, deployment of law enforcement agencies and the whole gamut of electioneering exercise evoked fears in the lead-up about how it would pan out. There were more than a dozen casualties to be sure, but while these were regrettable, the fatalities were largely related to poll violence.

In the not-so-distant past, militants had wreaked havoc with a spate of suicide bombings and killings to stop secular parties like the Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from campaigning, leading to their dismal showing at the 2013 general elections. Even though the two parties in government fared poorly going into the polls, the fact that they could not put up a robust campaign did hurt their fortunes substantially. However, while the PPP continues its rapid decline as a political force of national significance, the ANP has regained weight with a showing second only to the PTI. But almost the entire opposition — as well as local level leaders of even its alliance partner Jamaat-e-Islami — have accused the PTI of manipulating the polls and demanded the provincial government’s resignation. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has even ordered re-polling in some polling stations following complaints of wrongdoing. In one highly publicised case, Ali Amin Gundapur, the burly revenue minister from the ruling PTI, was forced to surrender to the police after it registered a case against him for taking away ballot boxes and manhandling a senior cop at a polling station. Gundapur was however, released after he claimed he did not pick up the boxes to stuff it but was, in fact, stopping a rival candidate’s henchman from rigging.

The PTI denies claims of rigging and blames the ECP for failing in its duty to conduct an orderly poll. In a rare rejoinder, the ECP maintained that ensuring law and order was the provincial government’s responsibility and also debunked what it called a “misconception” that it was somehow responsible for holding the entire polls in a single day. The ECP also claimed that given the security requirement in which a large number of polling

staff was involved, it had advised the provincial government to hold the elections in phases. Intriguingly, Imran Khan, the PTI chairman, also uses the same ruse in his defence: that the ECP should have conducted polls in phases if it could not have handled it!

Tens of thousands of candidates were in the fray for 43,000 seats spread across cities and villages in 11,200 polling stations. Considering the numbers, and intelligence reports of possible attacks, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police, in fact, did a commendable job without any outside reinforcement.

Missed in the commotion raised by the opposition over the conduct of the polls leading to a familiar three-way blame game amongst the government, opposition and the ECP was the lack of awareness surrounding new balloting procedures that left the voters high and dry in many constituencies. Clearly, not enough homework was done to wisen them up. But in a daring gambit, Imran Khan has offered the opposition fresh polls, with the willingness of the ECP. Interestingly, as some opposition parties welcomed the move initially, second thoughts also surfaced just as quickly.

While Khan predicts that his party would win even better in a more organised poll, the detractors aren’t exactly feverish about starting from scratch for two reasons; one, they are reluctant to compromise the gains they have made, and; two, the consequences of such actions elsewhere.

The overriding fear for the opposition’s lack of heart is that it would strengthen Khan’s longstanding demands for fresh elections nationally — an issue over which he has raised such a resonant pitch and agitated so successfully that it forced the Nawaz Sharif government at the Centre to set up a judicial commission headed by the country’s chief justice to probe similar charges of widespread rigging. The verdict, which may make or break Khan politically, is due out soon. The likelihood therefore, is that while the opposition will continue to remain vocal about the alleged rigging in KhyberPakhtunkhwa’s LG polls, it may stop short of committing to a full re-run.

The irony is that while these opposition parties have raised a ruckus over the conduct of KhyberPakhtunkhwa polls, two of these — the PPP, which rules Sindh, and Sharif’s PML-N, which rules Punjab — are themselves reluctant to hold LG polls in their provinces, being loathe to the idea of transferring power to the grassroots.

The author is a senior journalist based in Islamabad.

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

FIFA still won’t have a woman president

I

n 2012, the internationally renowned anti-bribery expert Alexandra Wrage was recruited to help reform Fifa. By 2013 she had resigned, publicly citing frustration at an unwillingness to tackle corruption and endemic sexism at the highest levels of the organisation. Wrage has not been the only woman to draw attention to Fifa’s problems with corruption.

The dramatic announcement of the FBI’s investigation came from formidable US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, and last year Michael Garcia’s report into corruption identified two female whistle blowers: Bonita Mersiades and Phaedra Almajid.

Rocked by the latest corruption scandal, is it finally time for Fifa to appoint a female president?

No. Not unless she is the best candidate for the job.

Nonetheless, Fifa’s Executive Committee must diversity. Although Fifa have long acknowledged the need for international representation from all corners of the globe, those representatives

LIZ ELLEN

have an average age of 64 and only one female member. This is despite the fact that international management studies provide strong evidence that boards with female representation are less prone to scandals involving corruption, bribery and fraud, and better at responding to crisis.

Some will argue that there aren’t enough senior women in football to make a convincing challenge for leadership roles.

But for female talent to rise, the industry needs to move with the times, and step away from its misogynistic past.

Last year, when Women in Football conducted the first major survey of women’s experiences in the football industry, it found that over 66 per cent of women in the sport had witnessed sexism in the workplace, and 57 per cent had directly experienced it.

And of those affected, 89 per cent of women said they would not report sexism because they feared they would not be taken seriously.

During the 2014/15 season,

Women in Football reported 61 incidents of sexism, with most of these incidents taking place during the professional game.

Concerns about sexism at under the previous executive at Fifa are nothing new. Former President Sepp Blatter was known for his dated views about females, and infamously suggested that women should play in “tighter shorts” to create a “more female aesthetic” and increase the popularity of the sport.

Chief Executive of the Irish FA John Delaney recently revealed that he had to ask Blatter to “move on” after he stared at his girlfriend for an uncomfortably long time.

Appointing a female president is not going to be the answer to Fifa’s problems.

But football as a whole - not just Fifa - must change its appointment and recruitment processes to be more comprehensive in identifying the best talent available. It’s not about token appointments. It’s about appreciating the value of diversity. - The Independent

Debts must be tackled head on HAMISH MCRAE

I

t is time to start thinking beyond Greece — as the Group of Seven summit in Bavaria will this weekend.

These economic summits go back almost 40 years, when the leaders of what were then the world’s largest six economies — the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK and Italy — were invited by the French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing to the Château de Rambouillet, just outside Paris, in November 1975.

The purpose was to discuss how they might pull together to help the world economy recover from the oil shock of 1973-4. Canada, and then Russia, joined later to make up the G8. Now, thanks to the misbehaviour of President Putin, we are back to a G7. Russia, never naturally a member, has been excluded.

Although the G7 no longer reflects economic might — China is now the No 2 economy — the leaders do have to confront a comparable threat to that of 1975.

Then it was the surging oil price and the threat of runaway inflation. Now it is a developed world overburdened with debts that threatens to undermine the recovery.

The disadvantages of the ultra-easy monetary policies that have fuelled the recovery are becoming more and more evident, particularly their impact on wealth inequality within the developed world.

Assets have soared in value: the German stock market is up 20 per cent since the European Central Bank started its quantitative easing programme me late last year. But those with few assets have been left behind.

The protesters in Munich over the past few days have a point, though I doubt many of them have thought through the link between QE and inequality.

Yet tightening policy and raising interest rates sharply might kill the recovery. It would certainly make the difficulties of Greece seem a sideshow, which in the broader scheme of things, of course, it is.

Why then have the difficulties of Greece, which accounts for about 0.3 per cent of the world economy, loomed so large?

The obvious answer, aside from the fact that many of us know and like the country, is that it exemplifies in extreme form the stresses created by a single European currency, with political expediency trumping economic common sense.

Less obvious, and more alarming, is the extent to which debt overburdens the entire world economy. Greece is an extreme example of a global phenomenon.

We all know what has happened here, with the national debt still rising both in absolute terms and relative to GDP. But while the details differ, the same broad pattern applies to almost every major developed economy, as it does to China.

Of the large economies only Germany is running a budget surplus, and even Germany faces a problem servicing its debts with a declining workforce and rising ranks of retirees.

Similar pressures apply at a personal level. In some countries (including the UK) families have started to pay down their debts; in others this has happened very little.

After all, with money sprayed around at near-zero rates by mortgage-lenders, why wouldn’t you borrow more, and pay more, for a bigger house?

Too-easy money encourages people to make bad investment decisions, just as too-easy money encouraged Greece to do so when it managed to scramble into the eurozone.

So what’s to be done? It is easy to work up a sense of despair, particularly since the world economy faces other headwinds — particularly from demography and the environment.

But the experience after that first economic summit is broadly encouraging. It did not of itself fix anything.

The humiliation of Britain’s bailout by the IMF followed the next year, and the final burst of global inflation of the late 1970s was still to come.

Then followed the long monetary squeeze, led by the chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board, Paul Volcker.

High interest rates did for high inflation, but it took the best part of a decade.

The good news is that we don’t need high interest rates now, or at least not the doubledigit ones we had then. We do need higher ones, as the bond markets recognised last week, pushing up rates sharply.

A rise in long-term rates puts pressure on central banks to increase short-term ones.

The IMF wants the Fed to hold off its first rise in short-term rates until next year. The bond markets think otherwise.

As rates rise, there will have to be debt relief for those who genuinely cannot pay. That, of course, includes Greece.

Lots of great things are happening in the world economy, in particular the use of technology to make service industries more productive, and that will drive underlying growth.

But we have to deal sensibly with debt.

Economic summits tend to get hijacked by politics, but if this one nudges our political leaders to understand that debts must be tackled head on, it will have done a useful job. - The Independent

Drones showcased at Paris Air Show

TODAY IN HISTORY

Aerospace companies from the US, Europe and Israel will exhibit some of the latest unmanned aerial technology at the 51st Paris Air Show MALE UAS Airbus, Dassault and Finmeccanica seeking to build next generation drone to meet European armed forces’ requirements. Israel discussing cooperation on project

MALE = Medium-altitude long-endurance

UAS = Unmanned Aerial System

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

Predator B “Guardian”: Unarmed, extended-range maritime patrol variant of US Air Force’s combatproven MQ-9 Reaper. Endurance 27 hours

Drones not to scale SeaVue marine surveillance radar in ventral radome

Predator C “Avenger”: Stealthy, jet-powered drone under development, capable of long-range reconnaissance and precision strike missions Predator XP Unarmed, export version of MQ-1 Predator

Watchkeeper: Modified version of Israeli-made Hermes 450 Source: Aviation Week, Airbus, General Atomics

Advanced Cockpit GCS Ground control station for remote piloting of Predator drones Graphic News /

Graphics

QATABI INAUGURATES SIX-DAY ARAB ISLAMIC EXHIBITION

MUSCAT: The execution works of Khudh Al Masarrat water lane projects in Dhahira region will bSheikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Qatabi, president of the Majlis Al Shura, formally inaugurated the six-day Arab and Islamic Exhibition at the Oman International Exhibition Centre yesterday. Qatabi, after touring the exhibition, said he was pleased with what he had seen and hope it would allow a good opportunity to promote items from Arab and Islamic countries. He praised the Omani pavilion which he said would help citizens to learn about the local industrial products. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers, the visiting Iranian mines and minerals minister, undersecretaries, honourable members of the State Council, members of the Majlis Al Shura, government and private sector officials and representatives of participating companies. The exhibition, which is the first of its kind, has been organised by Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), in collaboration with Arabian Expo Company. It will be on until May 22.

1064 Coimbra, Portugal falls to Ferdinand, king of Castile.

1790

Civil war breaks out in Martinique.

1863

At the Battle of Brandy Station in Virginia, Union and Confederate cavalries clash in the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War.

1923

Bulgaria’s government is overthrown by the military.

1945

Japanese Premier Kantaro Suzuki declares that Japan will fight to the last rather than accept unconditional surrender.

1986

NASA publishes a report on the Challenger accident.

HISTORYNET.COM

A 14

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

WORLD

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Share your world with us on Instagram

I N N O VAT I O N

World’s first artificial ‘feeling’ leg offers new hope to amputees VIENNA (AUSTRIA): The world’s first artificial leg capable of simulating the feelings of a real limb and fighting phantom pain was unveiled by researchers in Vienna on Monday.

The innovation is the result of a two-fold process, developed by Professor Hubert Egger at the University of Linz in northern Austria.

Surgeons first rewired remaining foot nerve endings from a patient’s stump to healthy tissue in the thigh, placing them close to the skin surface.

Sensors Six sensors were then fitted to the foot sole of a lightweight prosthesis, and linked to so-called stimulators inside the shaft where the stump sits.

“It’s like a second lease of life, like being reborn,” Austrian amputee Wolfgang Rangger, told AFP ahead of Monday’s media launch.

The former teacher, who lost his right leg in 2007 after suffering a blood clot caused by a cerebral stroke, has spent the last six months testing the new prosthesis.

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

obviously missing here. However, the information conductors — the nerves — are still present, they’re just not being stimulated,” Egger said. “The sensors tell the brain there is a foot and the wearer has the impression that it rolls off the ground when he walks. All things considered, the procedure is a very simple one given the results.”

This is not the first time the Austrian scientist has caused a stir with his research.

SECOND LEASE OF LIFE: Wolfgang Rangger, a patient of professor Hubert Egger of Linz University poses with his ‘feeling’ leg prosthesis’ on Monday in Linz. – AFP

“It feels like I have a foot again. I no longer slip on ice and I can tell whether I walk on gravel, concrete, grass or sand. I can even feel small stones,” he said.

The 54-year-old also runs, cycles and goes climbing. When he

moves, the limp is barely noticeable. Every time Rangger takes a step or applies pressure, the small sensor devices send signals to the brain.

“In a healthy foot, skin receptors carry out this function but they are

V I O L E N C E - H I T NAT I O N

Libyan factions ready for talks as G7 calls for ‘bold decisions’ SKHIRAT (MOROCCO): Libya’s warring factions geared up for crunch talks on Monday as world leaders called for “bold political decisions” to prevent the oil-rich nation crumbling into a failed state.

Amid warnings that chaos in Libya has allowed the IS militant group to make inroads on Europe’s doorstep, United Nations envoy Bernardino Leon is pushing for an agreement before the start of the holy month of Ramadan on June 17. “The timing for fighting has passed, the moment for bold political decisions has come,” G7 leaders said in a closing statement after a summit in Germany.

“Libyan leaders must now grasp

the opportunity to conclude these negotiations and form a Government of National Accord accountable to the Libyan people.”

Libya plunged into chaos after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi, with the heavily-armed former rebels carving out fiefdoms across the country.

Militant groups have exploited the lawlessness, which has also prompted a huge influx of migrants trying to make the dangerous crossing to Europe, with shipwrecks leaving hundreds dead and the European Union straining to respond.

Three previous rounds of peace

negotiations between Libya’s rival parliaments and governments have failed to reach an accord.

The talks in the Moroccan seaside resort town of Skhirat “will discuss a new draft” of a political agreement to end the conflict, the UN mission to Libya said on Friday. “UNSMIL is of the firm conviction that this round will be decisive,” the mission said.

Saying Libya was at a “critical juncture”, the mission called on the country’s rivals “to shoulder their historic responsibilities” by reaching a peace deal.

A source close to negotiations said talks would start at 1800 GMT. — AFP

Mind-controlled In 2010, he presented a mindcontrolled prosthetic arm, which the user directed with motor neurons previously connected to the lost limb. For the artificial leg, the principle remains the same except that the process works in reverse: information is guided from the prothesis to the brain, rather than the other way around.

In addition to increasing balance and safety, the prosthesis provides another remarkable function: it has helped eradicate the excruciating pain Rangger had experienced for years following his amputation.

“I was barely able to walk with a conventional prosthesis, didn’t sleep for more than two hours a night and needed morphine to make it through the day,” he recalled. But within days of undergoing the operation last October, the pain vanished.

As Egger points out, phantom pain occurs because the brain gets increasingly sensitive as it seeks information about the missing limb. “Plus the amputation is of-

ten tied to a traumatic experience like an accident or illness, and the mind keeps reliving these memories,” he noted.

The advantage of the “feeling prosthesis” is that the brain once again receives real data and can stop its frantic search. “Rangger is a very different person now to the one I met in 2012,” Egger said.

The two men were introduced to each other at a support group for amputees.

“It struck me that he never laughed and he had these dark rings under his eyes. It was awful.” Importantly, post-surgery recovery is quick and there are no known health dangers associated with the intervention, he added. — AFP

Uncertainty in Turkey after election results

CELEBRATIONS: Justice and Development Party (AKP) supporters light flares at the party’s headquarters in Istanbul on late Sunday. – AFP

The polls outcome augurs weeks of unpredictability as parties vie to form a coalition and possible early elections

ANKARA: Turkey faced the prospect of weeks of political turmoil after the ruling AK Party lost its parliamentary majority in weekend polls, dealing a blow to President Tayyip Erdogan’s ambitions to acquire sweeping new powers.

Instead of the two-thirds majority he had wanted to change the constitution and create a new presidential republic, the AK Party, while remaining the biggest party, failed even to achieve a simple majority. The outcome augurs weeks of unpredictability as parties vie to form a coalition and possible early elections.

The result could also prompt some soul searching in the AKP, Turkey’s dominant political movement for more than a decade, where in recent years religious conservatives, with Erdogan’s support, have gained the ascendancy at the expense of centre-right and liberal elements.

Erdogan, strident in his attacks on opponents he has in the past accused of betraying Turkey, seemed conciliatory in first comments after the poll - a stark contrast to his triumphalist appearances after recent local and presidential elections.

“Our nation’s opinion is above everything else,” he said. “I believe the results, which do not give the opportunity to any party to form a single party government, will be assessed healthily and realistically by every party.

The uncertainty triggered a sharp sell-off in Turkish assets,

SCAN THIS TO VISIT

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

reviving for some memories of fractious, short-lived coalition governments that battered the economy in the 1990s and triggered a string of army coups in the second half of the 20th century.

The lira slid to a record low of 2.8 to the dollar, the Istanbul stock index tumbled 8 percent, and the 10-year benchmark bond yield surged to within a whisker of 10 per cent.

The precarious outcome may also stir concern in Western capitals that see NATO member Turkey as an important island of political stability on the edge of a turbulent Middle East.

Dashed hopes Erdogan, Turkey’s most popular modern leader but not one used to compromise and negotiation, had hoped a crushing victory for the AKP would allow it to change the constitution and create a more powerful US-style presidency. Opponents feared his vision lacked checks and balances, the judiciary already weakened by purges of officials Erdogan accuses of conspiring to topple him.

Decisive was the success of a proKurdish opposition party campaigning on a broad leftist agenda that surged ahead to enter parliament. Deputy Prime Minister

Numan Kurtulmus told reporters the AKP would try to form a coalition government as its first option and was optimistic that it would be able to do so, but added that an early election could be on the cards if it failed.

A coalition without the AKP, he said, was impossible. The rightwing Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is seen as its most likely partner. But its leader Devlet Bahceli all but ruled out such a deal on Sunday, saying Turkey should hold a new election if the ruling party was unable to agree a coalition with other opposition groups. “The possibility of a government coming out of the current situation is very slim,” one senior AKP official said, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and party leaders to evaluate Sunday’s outcome.

“With these results, an early election seems inevitable.”

Two other AKP officials also told Reuters a new election looked unavoidable, while Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek warned a coalition would not be as reformist as a single-party government.

Erdogan has yet to appear in public following the election result, but is expected to meet with Davutoglu later on Monday. He is expected to ask Davutoglu to try to form a government once official results have been published, but could call an early election if Davutoglu is unable to do so within 45 days. “Everything, from the economy to big projects, is currently on hold, and we don’t have the luxury of continuing with an uncertain and weak government at a time when the world is facing great economic risks,” a second senior AKP official said. The AKP’s failure to win an overall majority marks an end to more than a decade of stable single-party rule and is a setback for both Erdogan and Davutoglu. — Reuters

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 Migrants and militants clung to each other protect themselves from teargas during a police operation to evacuate migrants on Monday in front of the Vaclav Havel library in Paris, France. Around 30 migrants were arrested and taken to buses as militants and politics stand in a pacific demonstration against the evacuation. — AFP

REFUSAL TO SIGN

Russia, IAEA at odds over status of Crimean city VIENNA: Russia has refused to sign off on the UN nuclear watchdog’s annual report because the document lists a nuclear reactor near Crimea’s Sevastopol as being in Ukraine, two diplomats present at the meeting told Reuters on Monday.

Russia annexed Crimea last year, but most countries still consider it part of Ukraine.

Monday’s move by Russia is unlikely to block the report, but raises serious questions about jurisdiction in the contested area.

Ukraine protested against Russia’s move at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s quarterly board of governors meeting, one Western diplomat said.

Unwilling to accept At least eight other countries said they were unwilling to accept Russia’s refusal, citing a 2014 UN resolution confirming the territorial integrity of Ukraine, according to the second diplomat.

He added that Russia asked for its views to be reflected in official records of the debate when the IAEA’s annual report processes further at the United Nations.

In Kiev, state-run EnergoAtom which looks after nuclear plants said it has told the IAEA that it cannot accept responsibility for reactors in Crimea because it no longer has access to them since the annexation by Russia. Russia’s energy ministry as well as the Rosatom state nuclear energy corporation declined to comment. — Reuters

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

A1 5

WORLD

US ex-policeman indicted in black man’s killing case commenting on any aspect of the case,” he said.

The death reignited a public outcry over police treatment of African Americans that flared last year after killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, New York and elsewhere

CHARLESTON (US): A grand jury on Monday indicted a white former police officer on a murder charge for the shooting death of a black man in North Charleston, South Carolina, according to the prosecutor overseeing the case.

Michael Slager, 33, was fired from his patrolman job after being charged with murder in the April 4 death of Walter Scott, 50, who was fatally shot in the back as he was running from the officer following a traffic stop.

A bystander using his cellphone captured a video of the shooting, which was widely distributed in the media.

The death reignited a public outcry over police treatment of African Americans that flared last year after killings of unarmed black men in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City and elsewhere.

The video evidence does not guarantee the prosecution a conviction in the case, said Scarlett Wilson, solicitor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit. “Just because you have video in this case, it doesn’t mean it’s the be-all and end-all,” she said at a news conference in Charleston.

MURDER: North Charleston police officer Michael Slager, right, is seen allegedly shooting 50-yearold Walter Scott in the back as he runs away, in this still image from video in North Charleston, South Carolina taken April 4, 2015. — Reuters/Feidin Santana/handout via Reuters

Just because you have a video, it doesn’t mean it’s the be-all and end-all. The issue is the people who were there who were involved, who saw or heard anything, who can demonstrate what they saw and heard Scarlett Wilson Local solicitor

“The issue is the people who were there who were involved, who saw or heard anything, who can demonstrate what they saw and heard.”

If convicted of murder, Slager would face between 30 years and

life in prison without the possibility of parole.

No trial date has been set, Wilson said. Scott was driving a black Mercedes-Benz when Slager pulled him over for a broken tail light.

Video from the dashboard camera in Slager’s police cruiser recorded a respectful exchange between the two men before the officer returned to his patrol car. A few minutes later, after being told

by Slager to stay in the Mercedes, Scott emerged from his car and ran off, apparently unarmed.

The subsequent cell phone video showed the men in a brief tussle before Scott ran off again, Slager fired his handgun eight times and Scott slumped into the grass. There was a gap between the two videos. Before Slager’s arrest, he said through an attorney that he feared for his life when he shot Scott.

The ex-officer’s current attorney, Andrew Savage III, said on Monday his legal team was still waiting to receive the state’s investigative materials in the case.

“Until we have an opportunity to fully evaluate the state’s case and to compare it with our own investigation we will not be

Shot dead by police Meanwhile, authorities on Monday released a video of a black Muslim man shot dead by police and the FBI in Boston, and accused of planning to behead police officers.

The grainy video was filmed by a surveillance camera fixed to a cafe about 50 yards from the confrontation with Usaamah Rahim, a 26-year-old security guard, in a parking lot.

Police say Rahim was killed after he refused multiple demands to drop a military-style knife.

Those demands are not audible, nor is the weapon clearly visible on the video.

The footage shows Rahim walking towards a bus stop, officers approaching him, then retreating and then Rahim falling to the ground.

District Attorney Daniel Conley said he was releasing the video to clamp down on “rumours and bad information” as he investigates whether Rahim’s killing was lawful. It was just one piece of evidence among many, he said.

Rahim’s family, who initially claimed he was shot in the back at a bus stop, was shown the footage last week before his funeral.

“This unravelled very quickly.

I think they made the right call,” Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters Monday. Court papers filed last week accused Rahim of buying three military-style knives from Amazon and deciding to “go after” the “boys in blue” because they were “the easiest target.”

An alleged associate, David Wright, 25, has been charged with conspiring to obstruct a federal investigation.

Court papers said Rahim had been “planning to engage in a violent attack in the United States” since May 26 -- little over a week before his death. — Agencies

A16

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

WORLD H A R D S H I P I N M YA N M A R

Malala demands rights for Rohingyas LONDON: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai on Monday urged Myanmar leaders to take “immediate action” to prevent the persecution of the country’s Rohingya Muslims, most of whom are considered by the government to be illegal immigrants.

The 17-year-old, who was shot by militants in her native Pakistan for campaigning for girls’ rights, said that Rohingyas deserved “equal rights and opportunities” and called for them to be integrated into the country.

“I call on the leaders of Myanmar and the world to take immediate action to halt the inhuman persecution of Burma’s (Myanmar) Muslim minority Rohingya people,” said Malala.

Deserve citizenship “The Rohingyas deserve citizenship in the country where they were born and have lived for generations,” added the teenager, who won the Nobel prize last year for her activism.

“Today and every day, I stand with the Rohingyas, and I encourage people everywhere to do so.” — AFP

Tablet lovers add dd us on Google +

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY ADD IN GOOGLE+

Cameron in a fix over Europe at G7 summit, denies U-turn maining in a reformed EU, or leave his government.

“If you want to be part of the government, you have to take the view that we are engaged in an exercise of renegotiation to have a referendum, and that will lead to a successful outcome,” he told reporters.

“Everyone in government has signed up to the programme set out in the Conservative manifesto,” he said.

Speaking on Sunday, the British PM had moved to head off the first signs of a Eurosceptic rebellion in his party by suggesting ministers would have to back his EU strategy or leave his government

KRUEN (GERMANY): British Prime Minister David Cameron tripped up over Europe at a summit of the Group of Seven industrial nations (G7), appearing to issue an ultimatum to his own ministers over the EU only to swiftly withdraw it, saying he had been misunderstood.

The debacle was Cameron’s first serious setback since he was reelected a month ago and was all

DAMAGE CONTROL: British Prime Minister David Cameron holds

a news conference during the G7 summit at Elmau Castle hotel in Kruen, southern Germany, on Monday. — Reuters

the more awkward because it concerned his flagship policy of renegotiating Britain’s EU ties before holding an in-out EU membership referendum.

His uncertain handling of such an important issue is likely to be interpreted as a sign of how nervous he is to keep his fractious Conservative Party united to avoid a re-run of past splits which helped topple his two immediate predecessors.

Britain’s EU relationship was

not on the G7 agenda which was devoted to issues such as Greece, Ukraine and climate change. Yet Cameron’s closing news conference was dominated by the subject with all seven questioners touching on it, forcing a visibly irritated Cameron to repeat himself.

Speaking on Sunday, Cameron had moved to head off the first signs of a Eurosceptic rebellion in his party by suggesting ministers would have to back his EU strategy, which envisions Britain re-

Misunderstood But on Monday, after senior Eurosceptic lawmakers lined up to criticise his stance, Cameron said he had been misunderstood, saying his warning to ministers had only applied to the EU renegotiation period not the referendum campaign itself.

“It’s clear to me that what I said was misinterpreted. I was clearly referring to the process of renegotiation,” said Cameron.

“I’ve always said what I want is an outcome for Britain that keeps us in a reformed EU, but I’ve also said we don’t know the outcome of these negotiations, which is why I’ve always said I rule nothing out.

Therefore it would be wrong to answer hypothetical questions.”

He declined to say whether ministers would be allowed a “free

vote” in the referendum campaign.

His apparent change of heart drew derision from his country’s press corps who accused him of flip-flopping on a vital issue and of confused policy-making.

Cameron originally spoke out after a group of over 50 of his own lawmakers said they were prepared to join a campaign backing a British EU exit, or “Brexit”, unless he achieved radical changes in the bloc.

Cameron, who has promised to hold the referendum by the end of 2017, says he is confident he can get a deal that will allow him to recommend Britons vote to stay in the EU, which they joined in 1973.

He has said he needs the EU to alter its founding treaties so that any changes he secures are safe from legal challenge. But he is vulnerable on the home front, commanding a mere 12-seat majority in the 650-seat House of Commons and a rebellion over Europe could derail his wider agenda.

Speaking before Cameron’s office tried to clarify his comments, senior Conservative lawmaker David Davis said Cameron’s stance was “unwise”.

“There is a risk what we may end up doing is turning a decent debate into a bitter argument,” Davis told BBC Radio. — Reuters

REPLACE BORIS JOHNSON

Ex-footballer Campbell bids to become London mayor LONDON: Former England footballer Sol Campbell announced on Monday that he will bid to become the Conservative candidate to replace Boris Johnson as mayor of London in 2016.

“I’m in it to win it,” the former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur defender told The Sun newspaper.

The London-born 40-year-old confirmed he will attend a question and answer debate on July 4 with other contenders for the Conservative nomination.

“I know I’m not going to be a frontrunner,” he told the tabloid.

“But I look at people who have been in politics for five, ten, 15 years, see them muck up and think, ‘You guys are supposed to be pro’!

“I bring something new to the ta-

ble. I come from a working class background, it wasn’t easy for me at all, but I worked hard. And now it’s about giving something back.”

Campbell campaigned alongside Tory candidates in the runup to this year’s general election, in which Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron won re-election.

He had been touted as a possible candidate for the London parliamentary seat of Kensington and Chelsea, but said that his “ambitions lie elsewhere in the political arena”.

Tessa Jowell and Sadiq Khan, both from the main opposition Labour party, are the current favourites for mayor.

The Tories have yet to find an

instantly recognisable candidate, although MP Zac Goldsmith has been tipped as one of the favourites if he decides to run.

Quiet on candidacy Campbell refused to speculate on whether Tottenham fans might boycott his candidacy after he left the White Hart Lane club for North London rivals Arsenal in 2001.

“If we keep thinking about football we’re not going to do anything.

We are dealing with people’s lives here,” he told The Sun. Johnson was elected to parliament in last month’s vote and after stepping down as mayor next year is expected to be made a minister in Cameron’s cabinet. — AFP

NEW ROLE: Former Arsenal football player Sol Campbell during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs at White Hart Lane in London on April 14, 2014. — AFP file photo

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

MARKE Muscat 6,464.39 + 10.04 + 0.16%

Dubai 4,016.04 + 27.10 + 0.68%

Abu Dhabi 4,563.90 + 9.93 + 0.22%

Saudi Arabia

9,532.48 - 55.53 - 0.58%

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

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

Kuwait 6,272.80 - 56.68 - 0.90%

Bahrain 1,365.07 - 1.44 - 0.11%

Qatar 11,903.08 - 78.90 - 0.66%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................. 2.31 Pound ...........................................1.69 Indian Rs .............................165.84 Pak Rs ...................................260.28 Bangla Taka.......................199.52

Indian Rs .................................. 166.25 Pakistan Rs ............................ 263.25 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 343.65 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .................................... 116.40

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.05

Oman Crude............. (Spot) .........$61.22 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$60.82 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$63.15 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$60.42 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$62.85

* Rates are as of Jun. 8 Source: Bank Muscat

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$58.61

Now the move is to align the master plan with the multi-modal transport at the port to take advantage of the strategic location, which is called as ‘gateway plan’, said the freezone CEO

A E JAMES

busineseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Sohar freezone is preparing a major plan to take advantage of the port’s planned railway and air connectivity to the rest of the region to become a major logistics hub for the region.

As many as 22 companies have signed with Sohar Freezone for setting up various projects within the free zone, attracting OMR300

Master planning phase “We are currently in a master planning phase. We will then embark on a business case and it is very likely that the business case for the second phase will include railway activities, which is expected to be operational within three years,” Jamal Aziz, chief executive officer of Sohar Freezone told Times of Oman.

“It is tied up a lot with the rail and markets in the future,” he said, adding; “Usually, we take about 500 hectares of land per phase, but the business case will determine whether we go for a bigger land area.”

Aziz also noted that the first phase area of the free zone is almost full and the authorities are embarking on second phase expansion. He said the work on the second phase development would start sometime in 2017, after pre-

Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............. 141.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............134.50 * Rates as of Jun. 8

* Rates as of Jun. 8 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Sohar Freezone attracts OMR300m investment million investments so far.

Although free zone authorities have internally prepared a master plan for the phased development of 4500 hectares of land, now the move is to align the master plan with the multi-modal transport at the port to take advantage of the strategic location, which is called as ‘gateway plan.’

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.50

paring master plan and considering business case. The first two phases are part of a master plan to develop around 4,500 hectares in four phases.

Also, the Sohar Freezone is now focusing on to expand the logistics cluster within the free zone.

“That is important to showcase Sohar as a strategically connected port – by road, sea and in future by railway. Logistics will start to play a bigger role in Sohar for distribution into the rest of hinterland and in the region.”

Referring to the development of a food cluster, he said since the Gulf region is a net importer of food and Sohar is strategically located to rest of the region, there is a great potential.

He said the UAE’s Essa Al Ghurair Investment is working on the drawing to build their food cluster. “They will be engaging with several companies that will be leasing from their area for various food-related projects.” Essa Al Ghurair Investment will lease a 93,000 square metre plot from Sohar Port and Freezone until July 2043. The creation of Sohar Food Cluster Company will allow Essa Al Ghurair Investments to focus on the development of value chains.

We are currently in a master planning phase. We will then embark on a business case and it is very likely that the business case for the second phase will include railway activities, which is expected to be operational within three years Jamal Aziz

Chief executive, Sohar Freezone

N C S I S TAT I S T I C S

Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

CURRENCY MARKET

Indian rupee declines to four-week low MUMBAI: India’s rupee ended at four-week low, by tumbling 33 paise to 64.08 against the American currency, on fresh dollar demand from banks and importers on the back of firm dollar in the overseas market.

Sharp fall in stocks amidst foreign capital outflows also affected the rupee value against the dollar, a forex dealer said.

In the overseas market, the dollar soared against most of its rivals on last Friday, hitting a 13-year high against the Japanese yen, after a strong US jobs report indicated the economy bounced back strongly in May, sparking a surge in treasury yields.

The rupee resumed lower at 64.05 per dollar as against the last weekend’s level of 63.75 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to 64.1675 before ending at 4-week low at 64.08 per dollar, showing a loss of 33 paise or 0.52 per cent.

The domestic currency had last ended at 64.17 per dollar on May 12, 2015.

The local currency moved in a range of 64.00 per dollar and 64.1675 per dollar during the day.

The dollar index was trading lower by 0.22 per cent against its major global rivals on Monday. — PTI

TRADING SUSPENSION CONTINUES

Oman’s inflation declines by 0.4% in May Galfar to conduct

media briefing on settlement details

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s year-on-year inflation rate witnessed a decline of 0.4 per cent in May. On the other hand, compared to April, inflation rate decreased by 0.04 per cent, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Information and Statistics (NCSI).

The May inflation was mainly driven down by the decreasing price of the foodstuffs and non-alcoholic beverages set, which fell by 1.45 per cent, along with the clothing and footwear set which logged a 1.62 per cent decline.

Transport The transport sub-sector too witnessed a 0.55 per cent fall, while the telecommunications prices went down by 0.17 per cent. Goods and miscellaneous services set logged a 0.09 per cent decrease.

Among the most significant sets that recorded an increase in its prices in May compared to the same month of 2014 is the accommodation, water, gas and other fuel types set that logged a 0.16 per cent

Times News Service

WELCOME RELIEF: The May inflation was mainly driven down by the falling price of the foodstuffs and

non-alcoholic beverages. – Bloomberg file picture

rise. The furnishing, household appliances and maintenance set, and education increased by 0.08 per cent and 4.49 per cent respectively.

Finally, the health set price recorded a 2.24 per cent increase; while the restaurants and hotels set recorded a 0.37 per cent increase.

At the governorate level, AlDhahirah governorate witnessed the highest inflation growth at 0.77 per cent, followed by Dhofar at

0.48 per cent. Inflation rate recorded in Sharqiyah North and South governorates, however, decreased 0.8 per cent. Al-Batinah North governorate witnessed a 0.85 per cent decrease; while the decline in Dakhiliyah governorate stood at 0.46 per cent. Al-Buraimi posted a 0.37 per cent decrease in inflation; while the fall was 0.29 per cent in Muscat governorate.

Compared to April prices, the

general index of consumer prices in May decreased 0.04 per cent.

The clothes and shoes set witnessed a fall in inflation of 0.38 per cent; while the transportation set decreased by 0.65 per cent. On the other hand, the foodstuffs and nonalcoholic beverages set increased by 0.46 per cent. The prices of accommodation, water, gas and other fuel types set, as well as health set remained unchanged.

MUSCAT: Trading suspension on shares of Galfar Engineering and Contracting continued on the sixth trading session on the Muscat Securities Market, pending detailed information on the settlement of compensation for Muscat Expressway.

And the board of directors and senior management of the company will hold a press conference on Tuesday on the settlement between the company and Muscat Municipality regarding the Muscat Expressway and the Central Corridor.

The press conference will be held on request by Capital Market Authority (CMA) to explain the issue to investors for more transparency and disclosure.

CMA has suspended trading of Galfar’s shares on June 3 for failure to disclose the amounts

– Times file picture

due in consideration of the settlement offered by Muscat Municipality.

The company has disclosed twice through MSM website that the board of directors has rejected in its meeting dated May 31 Muscat Municipality’s settlement offer without indicating the amount.

The second disclosure indicated the settlement amount is OMR29.9 million without indicating the amounts due to the company recorded in its books.

CAR TECHNOLOGY

Smart car drive still needs to overcome human error SAN FRANCISCO: As companies such as Google, MercedesBenz and Volvo Cars race to develop vehicles that are smart enough to drive themselves, even the most sophisticated systems will sometimes be no match for human error.

In a recent incident, a Volvo employee trying to demonstrate safety features instead ran into a group of people. The driver thought the car was equipped with an option that detects pedestrians and brakes automatically.

It wasn’t, and the way the driver gunned the XC60 sport utility vehicle might have overridden the function anyway.

The mishap wasn’t isolated.

Another of Google’s driverless cars was rear-ended on Thursday,

bringing the total to 13 accidents over six years of tests, with nine being a hit in the backside. While smart cars stand to prevent accidents overall, the incidents illustrate the challenges posed by the interplay between people and computers.

As cars do more of the driving themselves, alternating control between the machine and a distractable human is “going to be a tough issue,” said Philippe Crist, an OECD economist who coordinated a May 28 report on autonomous driving. That’s a big reason why many automakers probably won’t introduce completely automated cars any time soon. Plus, there’s a risk that such vehicles will result in new types of crashes, he said.

Even if robot autos are still a way off, manufacturers are adding more and more systems that can take the wheel in certain situations. The lure for automakers is clear. Demand for features that ease the more tedious aspects of driving, such as steering through stop-and-go traffic, could create a $42 billion market by 2025, Boston Consulting Group estimates.

‘Just rear-ended’ The accidents involving Google’s autonomous cars seem to stem from the fact that they don’t bend traffic rules the way human drivers expect, according to Crist.

“We were stationary” for most of the accidents, Astro Teller, head of the Google research laboratory handling the driverless car effort, said at a May 29 developers’ con-

ference. “The car wasn’t driving.

The human wasn’t driving either.

We were just rear-ended” by another vehicle.

With 94 per cent of crashes currently linked to some kind of driver error, computers taking more control might be a good idea.

“We strongly believe this technology will help reduce accidents,” said Eric Schuh, head of Swiss Re’s Casualty Centre, which analyses risk for the Zurich-based company’s reinsurance business.

Volvo agrees, despite the embarrassing crash last month, which went viral on YouTube with more than four million views.

“There was nothing wrong with this car itself,” the Gothenburg, Sweden-based carmaker said in a statement. — Bloomberg News

TECH ASSISTANCE: A BMW automobile is parked via a mobile device remote control during a parking assist app demonstration at the Robert Bosch driverless technology press event in Boxberg, Germany, in this May 2015 file picture. — Bloomberg News

B2

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

MARKET Sohar delegation visits Germany to explore business opportunities POTENTIAL AREAS Omani and German firms and institutions

Simone Lisker said that Germany is a country that is active in most fields of the economic map and German entrepreneurs are leading across the globe in sectors such as mechanical engineering, automotive and renewable energy technology

can work together in education, including vocational training, logistics, healthcare and tourism, said an AHK Oman official

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A business delegation from the Sohar region recently visited Germany, with the German Industry and Commerce Office – AHK Oman – stepping up its efforts to boost economic ties between the two countries.

“Recently, we organised and accompanied a business delegation visit of small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs together with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) from Sohar to different regions in Germany,” a senior official at AHK Oman told the Times of Oman.

AHK Oman, is part of the German Chamber network that has 130 offices in 90 countries all around the globe. AHK, as it is

called in Germany, is the official representation of the German Industry and Commerce in foreign countries.

German expertise Simone Lisker, head of office and representative of the German Industry in Oman, AHK Oman, explained that AHK is normally always involved if business delegations from Germany come to Oman as it is a government agency and is working closely with government institutions and export business assistance entities in Germany. “We also support and advise Omani delegations or visitors when they visit Germany,” said Lisker.

Commenting on the potential areas for further cooperation between the two countries, she said,

Simone Lisker. – Supplied picture

“There is potential in many fields of business. Germany is a country that is active in most fields of the economic map. To name just a few, German entrepreneurs are worldwide leading in sectors such as mechanical engineering, automotive and renewable energy technology.”

In addition, Omani and German companies and institutions can work together in areas such as education including vocational training, logistics, healthcare and tourism, in addition to environmental technologies and all infrastructure developments, said Lisker.

The official explained that AHK Oman was established in 2009 as a minor representative office in

Muscat and is related to the AHK network of the Lower Gulf Region including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait.

Regular events AHK Oman, which is the official focal point for businessmen planning their market entry, organises regular events to provide a platform for German and Omani businessmen to exchange ideas, experiences and information in order to strengthen the relations and to foster the mutual businesses between the two countries, noted Lisker.

Asked about the short-term and long-term plans of AHK Oman to enhance bilateral trade, she said

that export initiatives supported by the German government will continue to be an area of focus.

Workshops, symposia and conferences on topics of mutual interest such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, healthcare and education will also be held, said Simone Lisker.

Promotion “We will certainly lose no opportunity to inform and promote in Germany the diverse business and investment opportunities in Oman through publication of articles in our newsletters, magazines and speaking at various conferences and occasions in Germany,” she added.

Asked if there is any plan to establish a joint business council, Lisker said, “So far, there is no joint business council existing.

As far as we know an Omani German Friendship Association was founded here in Oman recently.

This association could be a sort of a first step for a joint council.”

Visa facilitation Commenting on visa facilitation initiatives, she noted that the German Embassy is the only authority that is able to provide and issue visas. “But of course we appreciate

it a lot if the process is facilitated and business people and other travellers to Germany can get their visa more conveniently and in a shorter time. Effectiveness is one of the basic elements of successfully doing business and visas are the first step to successful business co-operation,” said the AHK Oman official.

“As far as we can assess the situation, especially during the current peak summer season when both, businessmen and tourists together with persons in need of healthcare, are travelling increasingly at the same time, a bit of a longer waiting time might still probably be unavoidable. We, therefore, always advise our friends and businessmen to plan well enough in advance, especially in this season,” said Lisker.

The German embassy recently introduced a new application form VIDEX which allows for an online completion, aimed at reducing the waiting time during an appointment for visas.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

ECONOMY

Economists warn Japan’s recovery in first quarter could be short-lived TOKYO: Japan posted strongerthan-expected growth in the first quarter as a pickup in capital spending powered the world’s number three economy, but some economists warned that the recovery could be short-lived.

The 1 per cent expansion in January-March — or 3.9 per cent on an annualised basis — was sharply up from an initial estimate of 0.6 per cent growth, according to the Cabinet Office figures.

The upbeat data is good news for Tokyo’s efforts to boost the economy, but household spending remains stubbornly weak as the Bank of Japan struggles to push up prices in a bid to end decades of deflation.

Despite wage rises at big firms and a tighter labour market, convincing people to splash out on consumer goods has been a struggle after Japan raised sales taxes last year to help pay down a huge national debt.

The rise hammered consumer

stone of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s plan to kickstart the deflation-plagued economy — although he insists that healthy price rises are around the corner.

spending and pushed the economy into a brief recession. Japan limped out of the red in the last three months of 2014 with Monday’s surprise figures offering some hope for better times ahead.

“The figures show the Japanese economy is gradually heading for recovery,” said Credit Suisse economist Takeshi Saito. Corporate investment rose 2.7 perc ent from the previous quarter, well above an initial 0.4 per cent expansion.

Growth figures were in line with the Bank of Japan’s assessment that the economy was on the upswing, and may delay any further central bank stimulus. “ At the moment, (the Bank of Japan) is less likely to introduce another round of monetary easing,” Saito said.

However, bank chief Haruhiko Kuroda has been forced to push back a timeline for hitting a 2 per cent inflation target — a corner-

Sharp slowdown In Asian forex trading, the dollar was slightly lower at ¥125.44, against ¥125.56 on Friday in New York where the United States currency climbed briefly to a 13-year high of ¥125.86.

The data on Monday contrasted with revised US figures that showed the world’s top economy contracted an annualised 0.7 per cent in the first three months of the year, with the impact of a ports slowdown and cautious consumer spending worse than originally estimated.

The US is a major market for Japanese exporters and despite the apparent strength of Monday’s figures, they also raised a red flag as firms’ inventories grew from three months earlier. - AFP

GLOOMY OUTLOOK

Employers’ group cuts growth outlook; calls for austerity in UK LONDON: The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), a leading employers’ group, cut its forecast for UK economic growth on Monday but said the government should not delay its push to fix the public finances.

The CBI predicted growth of 2.4 and 2.5 per cent in 2015 and 2016 respectively, down from forecasts of 2.7 and 2.6 per cent it made in February, echoing cuts to growth forecasts by other organisations including the Bank of England.

The group said the downgrade mostly reflected a sharp slowdown in Britain’s official economic growth rate in the first David Cameron. – Bloomberg News three months of this year, which would probably prove a blip. “The recovery has built up a good head public service reforms includof steam,” CBI Director-General ing making savings by devolving John Cridland said. “Our mem- powers to local authorities.

British Prime Minister David bers are feeling more upbeat than some of the recent official num- Cameron says he wants to negotiate reforms of the EU before holdbers suggest.”

Asked at a news conference ing the referendum by the end of whether the government should 2017, or possibly earlier. slow its plans to cut spending, he said CBI members thought Tackling deficit that fixing the public finances re- Finance minister George Osborne mained the most important job. is due to announce new plans for “We don’t want the government tackling the deficit on July 8 afto ease off on austerity. We want ter his Conservative Party won the government to continue to a national election last month. tackle the deficit in the public fi- Last week, the Organisation for nances but to do so in an intelli- Economic Co-operation and Development called on Osborne to gent way,” he said.

After five years of spending spread his budget tightening over cuts, the government now needed a longer period to avoid the risk of to focus on “more imaginative” hurting growth.

Confederation of British Industry projected growth of 2.4% and 2.5% in 2015 and 2016 respectively, down from forecasts of 2.7% and 2.6% it made in February, echoing cuts to growth forecasts by other organisations as well Cridland also said a planned referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union was creating uncertainty for businesses, but there were no broad signs that they were putting investment plans on hold.

He struck a different note to another employers group, the EEF, which recently said the referendum should be held as quickly as possible to minimise the period of uncertainty.

“There is a lot to do. Let’s take the time to do that properly because the CBI is in favour of remaining in a reformed European Union and I want that reform to be meaningful. So no, I am not in favour of an early referendum,” Cridland said. - Reuters

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5

B3

MARKET ISSUE CLOSED

SLOW GROWTH

Huge oversubscription seen in Phoenix Power initial public offering Times News Service MUSCAT: Heavy oversubscription is seen in Phoenix Power Company’s initial public offering (IPO), which closed its one-month subscription on Monday.

The shares have been priced at 110 baisas per share, with the total offer size of OMR56.3 million.

Shares will be allotted to investors on June 18, refund will start on June 21 and listing on June 22.

Market sources expect the financial institutions must have subscribed to the tune of 15 times, similar to Al Suwaidi and Al Batinah Power.

Apart from expectation of stable dividend payout, ample liquidity with institutions also helped heavy subscription of the share offer. Brokerage houses expect the share to list on the Muscat bourse anywhere between 130 baisas and 144 baisas.

Dividend yield Phoenix Power Company projected an attractive 7.3 per cent dividend yield for the next five years, which is the highest among listed power companies in Oman. This compares to an average dividend yield of 5.9 per cent for other pow-

er companies listed on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM).

Research analysts highlighted the strategic importance of the largest power plant to the country’s power sector, stable business profile, attractive dividend yields and proven track record of the strong group of committed founding shareholders as key factors underpinning the positive investment case for the IPO. As many as 65 per cent is reserved for the first category, who apply for shares between 1,000 and 600,000, while the second category is institutions and highnet worth individuals who apply for shares between 600,100 and 51,191,000.

As the largest power plant in Oman, the contracted plant’s power capacity of 2,000 megawatt represents 27.8 per cent of the main interconnected system.

China’s imports and exports slump BEIJING: Chinese imports fell for a seventh straight month in May while exports also sank, according to official data on Monday, as the world’s second biggest economy shows protracted weakness despite government easing measures.

The disappointing figures also come as leaders try to transform the economy to one where growth is driven by consumer spending rather than by government investment and exports.

Imports slumped 17.6 percent year-on-year to $131.26 billion, the General Administration of Customs said in a statement. The decline was much sharper than the median forecast of a 10 percent fall in a survey.

Bloomberg News poll of economists and followed April’s 16.2 per cent drop. “The May trade data... suggest both external and domestic demand remain weak,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, an analyst with research firm Capital Economics, in a note.

Exports dropped for the third consecutive month, falling 2.5 per cent to $190.75 billion, Customs said, although that was better than the median estimate of a four per cent fall in the Bloomberg survey. The sharp decrease in imports meant the trade surplus expanded 65.6 per cent year-on-year to $59.49 billion.

In yuan terms imports fell 18.1

DISAPPOINTING FIGURES: Imports slumped 17.6 per cent year-on-year to $131.26 billion. Exports

dropped for the third consecutive month, falling 2.5 per cent to $190.75 billion. – Bloomberg file picture

per cent, exports decreased 2.8 per cent and the trade surplus expanded 65 per cent. The figures provided further evidence that frailty in the Chinese economy, a key driver of world growth, has extended into the current quarter despite intensified government stimulus measures.

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.4 per cent in 2014, the lowest rate in nearly a quarter of a century, while the new year has shown few signs of a reversal in the slowing trend. GDP expanded 7 per cent in January-March, the worst quarterly result in six years and weaker than the final three months of 2014.

Entrepreneurs in Iran hunt for foreign funding Desire to do more is gripping a rising number of young, tech-savvy Iranians. A support system of mentors, seed funders and venturecapital funds has begun to take shape

BERLIN: Tohid Tasoujian is a co-founder of online fashion store Taxi Moda and one of a growing breed of Internet entrepreneurs in sanctions-hit Iran.

He set out his stall this week at a conference of more than 80 Iranian start-ups in Berlin, the biggest event of its kind outside Iran, as the country gears up for a possible easing of sanctions imposed because of its nuclear programme.

A graphic designer, Tasoujian went back to school three years ago to study for an MBA at the University of Tehran. When he graduated, ecommerce was on the rise, and he persuaded a friend to found the digital shopping platform with him. “I liked graphic design but I thought: ‘We can do more,’” the 38-year-old said.

The desire to do more is gripping an increasing number of young, tech-savvy Iranians, who have used their country’s isolation under United States and European Union sanctions as well as domestic censorship of foreign rivals to develop home-grown versions of Amazon, eBay or YouTube.

A support system of mentors, seed funders and venture-capital funds has begun to take shape, but financing can still be hard to find and, while Iran produces many top-class computer engineers, business experience is still scarce.

“Access to finance for start-ups is still at a very nascent stage,” Mohsen Malayeri, co-founder of the Iran Entrepreneurship Association, said at the iBridge conference. “We have talented engi-

Access to finance for start-ups is still at a very nascent stage. We have talented engineers but understanding market dynamics is different Mohsen Malayeri

Co-founder, Iran Entrepreneurship Association

neers but understanding market dynamics is different.” Some Iranian start-ups have flourished with backing from Sarava, Iran’s first venture-capital fund, which has invested in online retailer Digikala and Google Android app store Cafe Bazaar, two of Iran’s best-known Internet companies.

Digikala investment Digikala went on to attract a $10 million investment from a European fund last year, making headlines as this valued the company at $150 million, while Cafe

Bazaar’s co-founder Hessam Armandehi is a poster child for Iran’s high-tech scene.

“We tried to create a SiliconValley culture inside Iran. It’s a hard thing to create. It’s very different from the mindset of investors and the government there,” said 29-year-old Armandehi, who has founded two other start-ups.

Cafe Bazaar, which offers mostly Iranian apps for social media, messaging and other uses, is already used by 21 million of Iran’s estimated 30 million smartphone owners and is growing at a rate of about 35 per cent every quarter, Armandehi said.

His example has given hope to other entrepreneurs that they need not leave Iran to find success in the United States or Europe — as many continue to do in a brain drain that has been going on for decades. That is also the hope of the conference’s organisers, a community of expatriate Iranians that started in Silicon Valley, home to many prominent entrepreneurs of Iranian origin including former eBay chairman Pierre Omidyar and ex-Yahoo technology chief Farzad Nazem.

Tipping point “We said may be we should hold a conference because whenever Iran is mentioned in the media it’s always bad news,” said iBridges core member Kamran Elahian, co-founder of multiple start-ups including Cirrus Logic and now primarily a venture capitalist and philanthropist.

The first iBridge conference was held at the University of California, Berkeley, last year and just 20 Iranians managed to get visas.

A key reason for holding the next one in Berlin was the German government’s willingness to give 300 visas, he said.

Silicon Valley angel investor Dave McClure, a friend of Alahian’s, was a star attraction at the Berlin conference and found himself surrounded by dozens of

hopefuls frantically pitching their companies.

McClure, though, said he had no imminent plans to invest in Iran, although its 81 millionstrong population dominated by well-educated people under 35 made it an intriguing prospect.

“I’m here to meet people who are interesting and smart,” he told Reuters. “We will do some investment in Iran as soon as the US lets us.” That cautious approach is echoed by most, but not all, foreign investors.

European fund The European fund that bought the Digikala stake — which has not gone public about its investment — got a licence from its home government because the business was not in a sanctioned industry. But the process was difficult, said Griffon Capital cofounder Xanyar Kamangar, who advised on the deal.

Germany’s Rocket Internet, which is building a global ecommerce empire by replicating proven Internet businesses in emerging and frontier markets, is poised to enter Iran through a joint venture with South Africa’s MTN. The venture, Middle East Internet Group (MEIG), was founded in 2013 and has operations in six countries in the region, mainly in the Gulf.

Telecoms operator MTN is a minority shareholder in Iranian carrier Irancell. MEIG however is not operating in Iran yet, a Rocket spokesman said.

Any lifting of sanctions is to be welcomed but will be a mixed blessing for Iran’s still-fragile high-tech scene, said Malayeri, who runs a start-up accelerator firm alongside his work. - Reuters

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

More easing needed Beijing has set the target for the economy to grow by “around seven per cent” this year, lower than its target for 2014, which was about 7.5 per cent.

British bank HSBC’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which tracks activity in factories and workshops and is seen as an important barometer of economic health, contracted for the third straight month in May and economists expect the shrinkage to extend into mid-year.

The government has warned that manufacturing still faces multiple strains even as China’s official PMI gave a different read-

ing, hitting a six-month high in May. Chinese leaders have said they are ready to accept slower but more sustainable growth, as they try to transform an investment-driven expansion model to one in which consumers take centre-stage.

Still, authorities have stepped up stimulus efforts since late last year to try to ensure the slowdown does not get out of hand.

The central People’s Bank of China has cut interest rates three times since November and twice reduced the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve, along with other measures to inject liquidity into the market. - AFP

B4

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

MARKET MSM rises marginally

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,464.50 ...............6,451.63 ...................6,464.39 ...................6,454.35..................10.04 ................... 0.16 Financial Index .....................................7,842.31 ...............7,828.80 ....................7,841.53 ....................7,835.19....................6.34 ...................0.08 Industrial Index ....................................8,327.05 .............. 8,323.38 ................... 8,326.67 ...................8,323.38....................3.29 ...................0.04 Services Index ....................................... 3,497.91 .............. 3,485.28 ....................3,497.19 ...................3,485.28.................. 11.91 ...................0.34 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 996.74 .................. 995.75 .......................996.56 ...................... 996.03....................0.53 ................... 0.05 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 6,779,582 .....................1,859,970 .....................507 ...............14,924,136,859 ................ 16 ........................5 .................... 19 .........................40

Al Batinah Investment was the highest gainer to close up by 4.92 per cent, while Oman

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, JUNE 8

Education & Training, which lost 5.59 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, was the top loser of the day REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 161,568 ............ 20,654..................... 26 ............0.127 ........... 0.128 ...........0.126........... 0.128 .............0.122 ........... 0.006............. 4.918 ................0.128 ..............0.127...................0.128....................3,840,000 ..........0.100

MUSCAT: Oman’s general index, MSM30 Index, ended the day at 6,464.39 points, up by 0.16 per cent. The MSM Shariah Index closed at 996.56 points, up by 0.05 per cent. The Financial Corporation was the most active stock in terms of volume, while Ooredoo was the most active in terms of turnover.

Al Batinah Investment was the highest gainer to close up by 4.92 per cent, while Oman Education & Training, which lost 5.59 per cent in value, was the top loser for the day.

As many as 507 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR1.85 million with over 6.77 million shares changing hands. Out of 40 traded securities, 16 advanced, five declined and 19 remained unchanged.

Omani investors were net buyers for OMR167,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR111,000 followed

by GCC and Arab investors for OMR56,000.

Financial Index closed at 7,841.53 points, up by 0.08 per cent. Al Batinah Investment, the Financial Corporation, Global Finance & Investment, ONIC Holding and United Finance increased 4.92 per cent, 2.73 per cent, 2.61 per cent, 2.16 per cent and 1.43 per cent, respectively.

Bank Nizwa and Bank Muscat declined by 1.33 per cent and 0.36 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index posted mar-

ginal gains of 0.04 per cent to close at 8,326.67 points. National Mineral Water, Construction Materials, Al Maha Ceramics and Gulf International Chemicals gained 3.03 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 1.16 per cent and 0.85 per cent, respectively.

Services Sector Index closed on a strong note at 3,497.19 points, up by 0.34 per cent. Sembcorp Salalah, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power and Omantel increased by 2.98 per cent, 1.98 per cent, 1.46 per cent and 0.29 per cent, respectively. Oman Education & Training, Renaissance Services and OIFC declined 5.59 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.42 per cent, respectively.

Amlak shares gain Amlak Finance’s shares are too expensive, analysts say. That hasn’t deterred retail investors from buying them.

The Sharia-compliant mortgage provider’s stock has risen the maximum allowed for three straight days, soaring 51 per cent since they started trading on Tuesday to Dh1.54 on Sunday.

EFG-Hermes UAE said last week the company’s fair value was less than half its starting price of Dh1.02. Amlak’s shares, which resumed after it restructured $2.7 billion of liabilities, were suspended in November 2008 before the UAEs’ government intervened to rescue the company from insolvency.

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................28,192 .............72,971..................... 10 ........... 2.540...........2.600 ...........2.540 .......... 2.590 ............. 2.515.............0.075 .............2.982 ................2.600..............2.575...................2.650..................247,234,135 ........1.000 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT .................. 87,201 .............10,295........................6 ............0.116 ........... 0.119............0.116 ............0.118 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.003.............2.609 ................0.119 .............. 0.119...................0.120...................23,600,000.........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................ 13,150 ...............6,218........................3 ........... 0.466 ...........0.480 ...........0.466........... 0.472 .............0.462 ............0.010 ............. 2.165 ................0.470..............0.470...................0.000 .................. 81,855,774 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 226,645 ........... 46,594.....................22 ........... 0.204...........0.207 ...........0.204 .......... 0.206 .............0.202 ........... 0.004............. 1.980 ................0.207..............0.207...................0.208 ................. 139,026,811 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 167,788 ............ 34,847......................18 ........... 0.207 ...........0.209 ...........0.207........... 0.208 .............0.205 ........... 0.003............. 1.463 ................0.207..............0.207...................0.209 .................148,596,519 ........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 567,332............ 80,806..................... 47 ............0.140 ........... 0.146 ...........0.140........... 0.142 .............0.140 ........... 0.002............. 1.429 ................0.146 ..............0.146...................0.147...................44,128,622.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 184,800 ............14,379......................11 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.078 .............0.077 ............0.001 ............. 1.299 ................0.077..............0.076...................0.078................... 16,157,808 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................... 6,295 ...............3,288......................12 ............0.516 ...........0.524 ...........0.516 ........... 0.522 ............. 0.516............ 0.006..............1.163.................0.524..............0.524...................0.526...................27,405,000.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS .............. 11,000 ................2,611........................6 ........... 0.235 ...........0.240 ...........0.235........... 0.237 .............0.235 ........... 0.002............. 0.851 ................0.238..............0.236...................0.238....................4,977,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 799,437 ..........151,861..................... 30 ............0.188 ........... 0.190 ...........0.188 ........... 0.190 ............. 0.189.............0.001 ............. 0.529 ................0.190..............0.188...................0.190..................273,873,600........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 173,200 ...........43,222......................31 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.248........... 0.250 .............0.249 ............0.001 .............0.402 ................0.248..............0.249...................0.250 ..................32,625,000.........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................41,838 .............71,696......................21 ............1.710 ........... 1.720 ...........1.700 ............1.715.............. 1.710 ............ 0.005.............0.292 ................1.720 .............. 1.720................... 1.735 ................1,286,250,000......0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ..............................................................253 .................. 393........................1 ............1.555 ........... 1.555............1.555 ............1.555 ............. 1.555............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.555 .............. 1.550...................1.555 ..................311,000,000........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................... 38,517 .............12,557........................3 ........... 0.326 ...........0.326 ...........0.326........... 0.326 .............0.326 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.326..............0.310...................0.326 .................437,071,542 ........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ........................................................ 3,877 .................. 523........................2 ............0.132 ........... 0.135 ...........0.132 ........... 0.132 .............0.132............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.135 .............. 0.133...................0.135 ................. 264,041,288 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .........................................................................3,150 ...............1,506........................1 ............0.478 ........... 0.478 ...........0.478........... 0.478 .............0.478 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.478..............0.478...................0.486..................177,059,469 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 760,607 ............83,744..................... 49 ............0.109 ............0.111 ............0.109............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.110 .............. 0.110................... 0.112 ...................13,406,250 .........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 119,312 ............ 65,606........................9 ........... 0.546 ...........0.550 ...........0.544........... 0.550 .............0.550 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.550..............0.550...................0.570.................. 181,979,991 ........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ............................................................. 1,250 ................1,913........................3 ............1.530 ........... 1.530 ...........1.530 ............1.530 ............. 1.530............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.530 ..............1.500...................1.570....................3,060,000 ..........1.000 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ................................ 40,000 .............17,200........................4 ........... 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 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ............................2,000 ..................484........................2 ........... 0.244...........0.244 ...........0.240 .......... 0.247 .............0.247 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.240 .............0.243...................0.250 ..................30,849,796 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 101,666 .............21,356........................5 ........... 0.209........... 0.215 ...........0.209 .......... 0.210 .............0.210 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.215 ..............0.210...................0.215..................299,257,590........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...........................................90 .................. 180........................1 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 ............ 0.000...................2.090 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ................................................................2,508 .................. 740........................1 ........... 0.295 ...........0.295 ...........0.295........... 0.280 .............0.280 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.295..............0.274...................0.295..................432,523,993 .......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 125,938.............16,979........................8 ............0.134 ........... 0.135 ...........0.134............0.135 ............. 0.135............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.137 .................... 7,943,834 ..........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 677,330 .........273,670........................6 ........... 0.406 ...........0.406 ...........0.404 .......... 0.404 .............0.404 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.404..............0.406...................0.414.................. 24,442,000 ........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER.................................................................1,610 ..................602........................2 ............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....................................................................... 421,136.......... 331,938..................... 35 ............0.788 ........... 0.792 ...........0.784........... 0.788 .............0.788............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.788 ..............0.784...................0.788..................512,944,053........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................... 51,887 ...............4,532........................6 ........... 0.085 ...........0.088 ...........0.085........... 0.087 .............0.087 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.088..............0.088...................0.089...................15,225,000 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 461,558 ......... 254,781..................... 48 ........... 0.552 ...........0.554 ...........0.552........... 0.552 .............0.554 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.361................0.552..............0.550...................0.552................1,265,086,074 ......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 331,800 ........... 79,060..................... 35 ........... 0.240...........0.240 ...........0.238........... 0.238 .............0.239 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.418................0.238..............0.238...................0.240 ..................47,600,000.........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................37,300 ..............12,111........................7 ........... 0.326 ...........0.326 ...........0.320........... 0.324 .............0.326 ...........-0.002 ............-0.613................0.320..............0.310...................0.322 ..................91,398,603 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 5,650,235 ....1,739,314................... 471 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......33........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER .............................. 49,400 ...............3,360........................4 ........... 0.066 ........... 0.071 ...........0.066........... 0.068 .............0.066 ........... 0.002............. 3.030 ................0.066..............0.068...................0.000 ................... 1,836,207 ..........0.100 OM0000002911 ............THE FINANCIAL CORPORATION ...................... 908,880 ......... 102,703........................2 ............0.113 ........... 0.113............0.113 ............0.113 ............. 0.110............ 0.003............. 2.727 ................0.113 ............. 0.000...................0.000 ................... 7,913,385 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ...................... 6,073 ..................249........................2 ............0.041 ........... 0.041 ...........0.041........... 0.041 .............0.040 ............0.001 .............2.500 ................0.041............. 0.040...................0.041....................3,485,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................34,100 ............... 1,876........................5 ............0.055 ........... 0.055 ...........0.055........... 0.055 .............0.055 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.055..............0.055...................0.058....................6,875,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................45,065 ...............4,461........................6 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.099...................0.102.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA .................................................................. 59,129 .............. 4,402......................15 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.075 ...........-0.001 ............-1.333................0.074..............0.074...................0.076..................111,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002580 ...........OMAN EDU. & TRIN. INV. HOLDING....................26,700 ...............3,605........................2 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.135 ............0.135 ............. 0.143............-0.008 ........... -5.594 ...............0.135 ..............0.129...................0.145....................9,450,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,129,347 ...... 120,656..................... 36 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/Bloomberg News

INDIAN STOCKS

Sensex decline continues MUMBAI: Indian stocks fell for a fifth day, led by Reliance Industries, as a technical chart signaled more declines are in store for the $1.5 trillion equity market.

Reliance, owner of the world’s largest refining complex, tumbled the most in four weeks. Vedanta, the country’s top copper and aluminium producer, and Tata Steel were among the worst performers on the S&P BSE Sensex. Tata Motors slid to a 10-month low. Nestle India tumbled 7.4 per cent after capping its worst weekly loss in nine years amid a recall of its Maggi instant noodles.

The S&P BSE Sensex decreased 0.9 per cent to 26,523.09, the lowest close since October 20. The measure retreated 3.8

per cent last week after central bank Governor Raghuram Rajan said he’d assess the progress of the monsoon rains before adding to three interest-rate cuts this year. Deficient showers would be credit negative for India’s ratings as it would lower farm output and stoke food prices, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

“The credit policy was hawkish and monsoon fears have compounded pessimism,” Vaibhav Sanghavi, managing director at Ambit Investment Advisors, said by phone from Mumbai. “There are no catalysts for the market in the near term.”

The Sensex’s 50-day moving average fell below the 200-day mean on Monday for the first

time in 22 months. The formation, known as a death cross, last occurred on Aug. 16, 2013, when the gauge lost as much as 9.8 per cent in less than two weeks before bottoming out, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

A death cross in March 2011 heralded an 18 per cent drop to a 28-month low in December, the data show. The 50-day average for the CNX Nifty was 8,385.29, and the 200-day measure was 8,347.94. The gauge declined 0.9 per cent to 8,044.15.

Reliance decreased 2.5 per cent, the biggest drop since May 12. Vedanta plunged 3.2 per cent and Tata Steel lost 2.8 per cent to its lowest level since October 2013. — Bloomberg News

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

ROUND-UP

Toyota ranked ‘Most Valuable Brand’ again New research by leading brand valuation and marketing consultancy, BrandZ, has ranked Toyota as the most valuable automotive brand

MUSCAT: For the eighth time in the history of the study, Toyota zoomed to the top spot in the automotive world in terms of total brand value at $28.9 billion.

New research by leading brand valuation and marketing consultancy brand has ranked Toyota as the most valuable automotive brand. “Toyota remains the most

appreciated automotive brand by consumers. This is the eight instance of this fact coming to the fore,” remarked an enthusiast.

BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2015 is the only study to combine measures of brand equity based on interviews with over two million consumers globally about thousands of global ‘consumer facing’ brands. According to BrandZ, consumer perception of a brand is a key input in determining brand value because brands are a combination of business performance, product delivery, clarity of positioning and lead-

ership, says a press release.

Although automotive sales improved in some regions, they remained below pre-recession levels in others, adversely impacting overall brand values. In contrast, global sales for Toyota Motor Corporation in 2014 increased by 2.5% to 10.2 million units which positively contributed towards the company’s brand valuation in this year’s report.

According to the report, modern societal trends challenge the industry growth, across car makers product quality has improved significantly, however it is getting

increasingly difficult to differentiate on the market.

Millennials are less interested in car ownership, connected car technology along with online car sales are called in the report to be the “colliding trends” that complicate brand building efforts.

2014 was the year Toyota launched the world’s first commercial hydrogen fuelled sedan Toyota Mirai, which is already available in Japan, and will come to Europe and US in the second half of this year. Toyota also pioneered the world’s first mass produced full hybrid vehicle in 1997 – Toyota Prius. The BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report, commissioned by WPP and conducted by Millward Brown Optimor, surveys some two million consumers in over 30 Countries.

In Oman, Toyota is a household name, a part of people’s lives. On the one hand, Toyota offers enduring quality. On the other, nothing comes close to it in terms of valueretention. It is no surprise; therefore, that Toyota soars far above the rest.

BETTER QUALITY

NDC relaunches Bahar dishwashing liquid MUSCAT: National Detergent Company (NDC) has re-launched its Bahar Premium dishwashing liquid with a rich brand promise of superior ability to wash more dishes with fewer drops.

The new product allows users to enjoy the benefits of a longerlasting dishwashing liquid without sacrificing performance, cost, safety, or natural goodness.

The new product is available in stores across Oman and other Middle East nations. With its unique scientifically engineered formula, the dishwashing liquid available in two variants — Regular and Lemon

— cleans more dishes with less liquid and also helps to keep dishes stain-free and sparkling. It also cuts through tough and stubborn stains, and effectively strips off grease from dishes, pots, pans, cutlery and

glassware, says a press release.

Enhanced with mineral extracts, the liquid safely and effectively protects your family from harmful bacteria on dishes and sponges. Safe, effective, yet gentle on hands, Bahar Premium cares for your family.

The super degreasing range is made with safety cleansing ingredients. Its quick rinse formula does not leave any harsh chemical residue behind. The new and improved formulation employs the latest technology to help break down grease particles into smaller pieces through a built-in soaking

B5

action that removes tough grease within minutes.

Re-launched to better cater to the needs of homemakers, the product reaffirms NDC’s commitment to adopting pioneering technologies and further cementing company’s standing as a leader in liquid detergents industry in the region.

NDC, a well-loved household brand in Oman and Middle East, continues to provide consumers a wide range of excellent quality and value products that caters to different consumers’ needs. The company remains responsive to the changing needs of today’s consumers.

DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS

Oman Oasis hosts ISM students at its factory in Rusayl MUSCAT: Oman Oasis, the nation’s leading water brand produced and distributed by Oasis Water Company, hosted groups of students and faculty members from Indian School Muscat (ISM) at their factory in Rusayl Industrial Estate.

As part of their ongoing community interaction programmes and CSR initiatives, Oasis Water Company has been encouraging and facilitating schools to visit their premises for the completion of their mandatory factory visit exercise in their academic curriculum. This time it was the higher secondary students from Indian School Muscat who were there to witness and understand the purification and production process that water undergoes to become the pure, balanced and high quality drinking water, says a press release.

Upon arrival at the factory, the students and faculty were warmly received by the Oasis Water Company personnel and were taken on a guided tour. During the tour, the students were first given a brief about the company, on the entire production process, the stringent quality control measures, and the international standard and production practices they follow. Post this, they were given a complete walk through

along the production line in the presence of the quality manager and production team, who explained each process thoroughly.

The students were free to ask questions and the Oasis Water Company team ensured that they addressed all the queries in a way the students understood.

The school management extended its gratitude to the team of Oman Oasis.

Alexander Gee Varghese, The Head of the Commerce Department at the Indian School Muscat quoted, “The Oasis Water Company factory visit has proved a valuable experience for our students and gave them an insight into what goes behind the creation of the safe, pure drinking water we consume. He added, “It has also helped our students value their schooling more, develop social skills and consider career options they might have otherwise overlooked.”

It was a rare opportunity for the students of ISM to visit the Oasis Water Company as they got to experience firsthand on how international standards are met and production processes are followed. Oasis Water Company welcomes institutions and schools who are interested in conducting factory visits at their premises.

R A L LY O F P H A R A O N S

INDISPENSABLE COMPONENT

Primax batteries becoming customers' preferred choice MUSCAT: With the onset of summer and the soaring heat, the need for reliable batteries is indispensable. Understanding the demands and hurdles of each region, the manufacturers of Primax batteries make meticulous modifications to produce batteries that can withstand the heat and are suited to the Middle Eastern harsh summers.

A successful division of the WJ Towell Group, Eint Automotive has emerged as the leading and trusted partner in the auto care after market segment. Recognising car batteries as an integral and one of the most important components of auto care, they have introduced to Oman some of the best names in the world. The well-known brand of Primax batteries was introduced in the Sultanate of Oman under the dealership of Eint Automotive, says a press release.

“We work closely with the service engineers from Primax, who cautiously analyse the climatic conditions of Oman to finally come up with the right kind of batteries that are pre-tested and verified especially for Oman roads,” said Shajahan Azeez, Business Unit Head, Eint Automotive-PLB Division.

Since its inception, little more than two decades ago, Primax has grown to be a common and reliable name in the car battery industry. They offer a wide range of battery technologies from VRLA, flooded calcium and selenium, pure lead, tubular and flat plate, in addition to their Ni-Cd technologies such as pocket plate and fibrous plate types.

The new range of calcium maintenance-free batteries is designed to maximise energy capacity.

With an assurance for lasting performance, the batteries are protected against battery failure, helping vehicle batteries stay strong and perform longer. Tailor-

made for extreme climates like Oman, the batteries utilise a full frame grid design that has several advantages over standard batteries. The new calcium tin alloy prevents the grid surface from corrosion while reducing discharge by chemical bonding with grains of calcium. The batteries also feature better resistance to outside impacts and vibrations, thus increasing the life of the battery and reducing maintenance costs.

“Coupled with the dedicated service team at Eint Automotive, Primax batteries have received an overwhelming response from our customers in the Sultanate,” Shajahan added.

SHARING IDEAS

Cultural Exchange Programme promotes art MUSCAT: Paragon Arts in collaboration with Zee Arts Community held their very first Cultural Exchange Programme recently.

The organisers are taking the lead in establishing programmes and activities that will promote art, as well as artistic exchange.

The artists from the UAE and Oman were given the opportunity to display their talent by sharing all their experiences with others, says a press release.

The event took place at the Moorish Cafe in the afternoon.

Then in the evening, there were cultural performances at Muscat Hills Clubhouse. The next day, the artists had a retreat at The Walk in The Wave, Muscat.

Zee Arts joined with Zaahirah Muthy, Amira D. Rahim, Milena Mladenova, Abdulhamid, Ahmed Alhusani, Shefali Ranthe, Kasia Dzikowska for the cultural exchange. The exchange programme showcasing the works of the artists proved that each of

them is gifted with a true talent for the arts.

During the programme, Jalal Luqman, UAE curator, spoke on the subject of the art scene in the UAE, while Omani artist Saeed Al Alawi talked about how to market one’s art and art of Oman.

New Nissan Patrol set for world stage DUBAI: Nissan Middle East has announced that the powerhouse partnership of rallying ace Emil Kneisser and his New Nissan Patrol have recently won the T2 category in the Rally of Pharaons in Egypt.

The Rally of Pharaons was the first stage outside the Middle East, as the team has gone international by signing up for a series of international events in the demanding Cross Country FIA World Cup, says a press release.

Kneisser will compete in the T2 category where he has showered himself with glory in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan and the Sealine Cross-Country Rally of Qatar, both also part of the World Cup competition. The next international test of the mettle of Kneisser, Russian co-pilot Kuzmich and the New Nissan Patrol will be in the Italian Baja from June 25 till June 28.

“We’re taking on the additional challenge of competing beyond

the Middle East and it’s exciting but it will be extremely demanding. I’ve had great success in rallies in the deserts of the Middle East but the international courses will be really different and very gruelling too. But it’s all about having the right vehicle and I’ll be behind the wheel of the very best,” says Kneisser.

“The New Nissan Patrol has power and strength but it also has tremendous versatility. It isn’t called the ‘Hero of All Terrains in Life’ for nothing and this will be in evidence big-time when we tackle the international rallies.

The Lebanese driving champ says: “We’re also still on a high from winning T2 in the Rally of the Pharaons in Egypt. Everyone wants to compete there and win due to the exotic location. It’s very special driving up to the Pyramids and the Sphinx in the rally, but actually there’s not much time for sight-seeing!”

Nissan Middle East managing director Samir Cherfan says the

achievements of Kneisser and the New Nissan Patrol are a source of great pride to the Japanese automaker and “going international is the next logical step.”

“The World Cup rallies will give Emil the chance to expand his already exceptional talents.

His combination with the New Nissan Patrol is one to be reckoned with. Everyone at Nissan is excited at the prospect of the international contests.

“Emil is entering the big league of rallying. We’re happy to support him every step of the way. Emil’s triumphs will inspire many young Arab drivers to give motor sport a go, particularly rallying.”

Nissan is a major supporter of rallies and motor sport in general in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il International Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Nissan also intends supporting more Arab drivers in the manner it has assisted Kneisser, according to the company.

B6

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

ROUND-UP

Dhamani launches signature boutique Dhamani Jewels will satiate the appetite of contemporary and luxury loving fashionistas from across the globe through beautifully crafted pieces

MUSCAT: Premium luxury jewellery house Dhamani opened its signature boutique yesterday at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

Created in 1969, House of Dhamani has a deep understanding of the intrinsic value and cultural importance of jewellery in today’s world. Dhamani Jewels

will satiate the appetite of contemporary and luxury loving fashionistas from across the globe through beautifully crafted pieces, says a press release.

Dhamani Jewels raises the bar in the jewellery industry by presenting a unique selection of handpicked rare gems and diamond en-

crusted jewellery.

Dhamani Jewels also marks the first major step towards positioning this prominent UAE-grown brand on a global platform.

“For 45 years we have been building on our heritage and world class skills in satisfying the needs of our global customers. House of Dhamani has ensured that customers have always had access to the most brilliant stones and perfect cuts through skilled workmanship and ethical sourcing. We are proud to launch the first ever Dhamani Jewels brand in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. With Dhamani Jewels, we are taking our beautifully timeless yet individual styles to international jewellery connoisseurs,” Amit Dhamani, CEO and managing director of Dhamani, said.

RECOGNITION

As part of the exclusive boutique opening, Dhamani Jewels previewed its unique and timeless diamond encrusted bridal collection. Solitaires of up to 20 carats are intricately woven together to create the bridal diamond collection which reflects meticulous design, suitable for the sophisticated and refined woman who has an eye for detail. Dhamani Jewels collections extend beyond just classic jewellery to encompass statement men’s cufflinks and men’s rings to offer a complete experience to all who enter their boutiques.

Launching the boutique — the first international Dhamani outlet outside UAE — the chief guest, Dr Rawiyah bin Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of Higher Education commented, “The opening of this

prestigious jewellery boutique validates Oman’s business friendly policies. Policies that are designed to offer leading international firms like Dhamani growing opportunities in the Sultanate.”

As Oman’s leading luxury mall, Opera Galleria’s newest boutique adds to its diversity of international outlets.

“With the opening of the prestigious Dhamani Jewels boutique, Opera Galleria has further cemented its position as the ‘go to’ place for devotees of lifestyle brands,” commented Ibrahim Al Qasmi, director, Business Development, Opera Galleria. “We invite everyone to discover the magnificent jewellery that places Dhamani and our clients at the forefront of glamour, elegance and style.”

The Dhamani brand has retained its eminent position as jewellers to royalty, high society influencers, celebrities and those that appreciate the finest standards of dazzling craftsmanship. Visitors and jewellery connoisseurs alike are welcome to preview Dhamani Jewels exclusive and exquisite diamond encrusted selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, cuff links and pendants.

“Our prominent boutique location places us at the heart of the Royal Opera House Muscat, attracting tourists, visitors and customers from all over the world.

We invite everyone to discover the magnificent jewellery that places Dhamani and our clients at the forefront of glamour, elegance and style,” said Amit.

SMARTPHONE

TAC wins ‘Best Commercial Huawei launches P8 in Oman Solutions Provider’ award MUSCAT:: Towell Auto Centre (TAC) is a trusted name in auto sales and service through 40 years of service to the industry.

A valuable part of WJ Towell Group, TAC caters to the automotive aftermarket segment with utmost dedication, perseverance and a strong sense of commitment.

TAC’s Bridgestone tyre division is proud to be one of the world’s best in tyres and maintains a flawless record when it comes to quality and service levels.

TAC’s efforts bore fruit at the annual Bridgestone (SBU) conference where TAC was bestowed the title of ‘Best Commercial Solutions Provider’ in the Middle East and Africa for the year 2014. TAC has won the title for a third time including the year 2011 and 2012 as well, says a press release.

Annual conference conducted in Italy, Bridgestone reviews and rewards partners who have outperformed others in the region and in set categories. TAC was chosen from amongst 69 distributors from the region, bagging the award for the best commercial solutions

provider. This prestigious award was presented by Shoichi Sakuma, president of Bridgestone Middle East and Africa to Riyadh Ali Sultan, general manager, Towell Auto Group and Oommen John, assistant general manager, Bridgestone Tyre Division at TAC. The annual Bridgestone conferences provide a platform for distributors worldwide to prove their excellence in different categories.

“It is indeed an honour receiving this highly esteemed award. It serves as a motivation not only to keep up our service levels, but also to aim for better,” said Oommen

John. “We bring to Oman the complete range of tyres from Bridgestone, a well renowned brand that has received international acclaim all over the world. Bridgestone maintains superior quality in tyres, guaranteeing utmost reliability and meeting extreme durability standards and we as sole distributors in Oman, extend value added services to this marvellous brand. We make sure that we work as a complete solution provider to all our customers. We foresee their demand and work to equip ourselves with what our customers want,” he added.

MUSCAT: Huawei unveiled its new flagship smartphone P8 to the Omani market during a launch held recently at the Oman Avenues Mall. This is the latest offering from the telecom giant, boasting aesthetics, cutting-edge technology and a highly optimised camera that is expected to catapult the brand into the highest echelons of smart communication devices.

At an unbelievable 6.4mm thickness, which makes it quite possibly the thinnest smart phone yet, the P8 is a powerhouse of superior performance and avantgarde communications technology. It feels almost weightless in its metallic aluminium uni-body and slim exterior that is constructed using nano-molding technology.

This creates a smooth, seamless, solid and durable integrated shell, says a press release.

The P8 boasts a host of new and evolutionary features such as the double knuckle-tap to capture a screen shot, thus creating an ingenious step-up from ordinary touch screen technology. Another unique feature that had social media buzzing is the option to simply call out if you wanted to find a misplaced phone; the device will

then respond through its speaker.

Perhaps the most outstanding and striking feature is the P8’s high-performing 13-megapixel camera and, possibly for the first time since the advent of smartphones, an eight-MP front camera for the perfect selfie.

The main camera has been highly optimised for high contrast and low light conditions creating the most vibrant images even in dimly lit settings.

Huawei has installed what it refers to as the ‘best-in-class’ optical image stabilisation technol-

ogy and a dual-colour temperature flash that simulates natural light so you get the best pictures anytime, anywhere.

That’s not all the P8’s 8-MP front camera has a built in 10-level beauty enhancement which automatically reduces any blemishes, imperfections and skin tones to give beautiful, perfect photos with every single shot.

The P8 boasts some of the best connectivity features such as the ability to connect with up to three different devices to shoot and record video simultaneously.

I N T E R AC T I V E P L AT F O R M

alizz Islamic bank sets up sales kiosk in Sohar Safeer Mall SOHAR: In its efforts towards bridging the gap between the bank and its customers, alizz Islamic bank has set up its first sales kiosk at Safeer Mall in Sohar.

The sales kiosk serves as an interactive platform, educating customers on Shari’a compliant banking. The sales team was present to assist customers with their inquiries on the bank’s products and services.

Through the sales kiosk, a customer is able to avail home finance, credit cards, personal and auto fi-

nance, says a press release.

“This is a great opportunity for customers as well as the bank in terms of being able to interact and discuss which product suits the customers’ needs and interests,” said Moosa Al Jadidi, head of Retail. “It is important that we convey the unique features and benefits of our products and services, which is unrivalled in the banking sector.”

The bank’s success is generally achieved by effectively communicating information about products

and services.

The kiosk enables the sales team to identify and engage with new customers for the bank. The bank plans to continue to take its sales kiosk on the road across the Sultanate, forging new relationships and solidifying established ones. alizz islamic bank provides Shari’a compliant financial products and services with a focus that lies in offering tailor made and customisable solutions, superior technology and exceptional service to its customers.

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

B7

ROUND-UP

Hyundai delivers fleet of County buses to school bus operators Hyundai County school buses are well equipped with a host of safety related features that are outlined by the Ministry of Education for school buses, such as seat belt for every seat, fire extinguisher and stop alert board

MUSCAT: In a recent event in Hyundai’s Wattayah showroom, a fleet of Hyundai County buses was delivered to various school bus operators. These buses were fitted and modified with various safety accessories as per the requirement of the Ministry of Education guidelines.

In addition to these, Hyundai also proposes to impart a series of driver safety training, as safety is the primary concern for Hyundai and OTE, says a press release.

Hyundai County school buses

are well equipped with a host of safety related features that are outlined by the Ministry of Education for school buses, such as seat belt for every seat, fire extinguisher, stop alert board etc. and are also available in 26 and 30 seats options. Futuristic and unique, County’s styling beautifully harmonizes with its practical personality. Rounded edges and flush fitting surfaces contribute to a clean, simple image With the safety and security of the students becoming a top

priority, County school buses are not only better armed to deliver the required levels of safety for the transport of school children, but also offer high level of comfort and convenience.

The driver is seated in a bucket-type seat with excellent thigh and lower back support. It is fully adjustable and lumbar support is available as an option. This result in creating a cradle of comfort that helps in keeping the driver alert.

The logically organized gauges and

controls provide the ultimate in driving convenience. Tilt and telescopic steering enables the driver to position the wheel at a perfect height and angle for a view of the gauge cluster. The one-touch-type door switch is easy to use. Driver fatigue is reduced by a power clutch and a redesigned gear shift which requires lesser effort. The large wind shield and wipers guarantee better visibility to driver in any weather.

The entry / exit door has a step

‘SHAAM-E-IQBAL’

with textured surface that gives better foot hold for school children. The headliner borrows passenger car technology to create an elegantly contoured surface. The interior trims match the seat upholstery elegantly. Neatly styled overhead shelves provide a handy place for school children to stow away their belongings.

The large sized air-conditioner with the perfectly designed ventilation system provides comfort for the driver and passengers. Airconditioning vents are provided for individual passenger comfort.

Safety is ensured by the new and improved design of seat belts, reinforcement bars & automatic folding doors. County ensures a relaxed and comfortable travel for the school children.

The body is well protected from corrosion by the electrostatic immersion system which ensures 100% coverage. The sturdy body is mounted on a new box-type frame which offers greater resistance against bending and torsional forces. The hydraulic-vacuum

assisted brake system provides safety and stability. Power plant options range from the naturally aspirated D4DC engine which delivers 120ps@3200 rpm to the new CRDI engine which delivers 140ps@2800rpm.

Hyundai County bus with its low initial and running costs scores over competition – miles ahead.

Also a combination of great driver and passenger comfort, combined with good looks, makes Hyundai County a preferred choice amongst the school bus fleet operators.

Hyundai as a brand has made significant strides globally on the back of sophisticated product design, leading-edge quality and safety technology. Satisfied Hyundai owners already know Hyundai stands for uncompromising quality.

OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai Cars, Trucks & Buses in Oman. With a nationwide network of showrooms and service centers, OTE Group ensures that Hyundai customers are never far from getting high quality after-sales service.

R E A L E S TAT E

Engel & Völkers: Your partner in finding a home

Glowing tributes paid to Iqbal in second event of Virsa series Times News Service MUSCAT: Glowing tributes were paid to Sir Muhammed Iqbal, popularly known as Allama Iqbal, in ‘Shaam-e-Iqbal’, an evening organised as part of the Virsa series to acknowledge and appreciate the great poet and philosopher’s work and immense contribution to the Muslim resurgence and creation of Pakistan, at Crystal Suites Hotel in Wadi Kabir.

The speakers acknowledged that Iqbal’s poetry provided a platform for the reawakening of Muslims, offering guidelines for the

youth to become a role model. His thinking and writings showed the way to uplift their spirits, infusing a new life in their struggle for their rights and a separate homeland.

Iqbal’s philosophy of ‘Khudi’, concept of ‘Shaheen’ (eagle) as a role model for the youth and the holy Quran’s influence in his poetry were also discussed. Allama Iqbal is also known as ‘Poet of the East’, ‘Mufakkir-e-Islam’ and ‘Hakeemul-Ummat’.

Chaudhry Shaukat Ali, Counselor, Embassy of Pakistan, was the chief guest of the event organised

by Alpha Events and supported by

A’Saffa Foods Oman.

Virsa series, held in a roundtable discussion format, aims to recount and relive the literary heritage of Pakistan by organising a series of events. ‘A Tribute to Waris Shah’ was the first of the series held a few months ago. Senior journalist Shahzad Raza briefed the audience about the aims and objectives of the Virsa series which will see its next event on ‘Naat’ during Ramadan.

‘Shaam-e-Iqbal’ was conducted by noted poet Qamar Riaz, who also spoke on ‘Different shades of Iqbal’s poetry’.

The other speakers and partici-

pants included Chaudhry Shaukat Ali, Shahzad Raza, Noaman Abdul Majid, Akhmat Hayat Raja, Prof.

Irshad Ahmed, Syed Fayyaz Ali Shaha, Murawwat Ahmad, S.A.S Bukhari, Mohammed Rafique Chaudhry, Faheem Zia and Mian Mohammed Munir.

Maratab Ali, Chaudhry Mohammad Afzal and Rana Shaukat recited Iqbal’s poetry in their beautiful voices. The event also saw a documentary being played to highlight the work of Allama Iqbal as well as some of his poetry sung by eminent singers. In the end, the guests were treated to a sumptuous dinner.

G R A D UAT I O N D AY

Applus Velosi honours Omani trainees MUSCAT: Applus Velosi in Oman, a leading service provider to the Oil and Gas industry and part of the OHI Group of Companies, recorded yet another milestone in its Omanisation journey with a graduation ceremony for its young Omani engineers.

The ceremony was held recently at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Raoul Restucci, managing director of PDO, Abdullah Al Shuely, director Engineering and Operations, PDO and many other senior executives from other E&P companies and other major players in the Oman Oil & Gas sector attended the ceremony. Staff and management from the company were also present, says a press release.

Velosi was represented by Eihab Maqbool Al Saleh, the OHI

Group CEO and Brian Dawes, regional manager of Applus Velosi.

The young graduates were congratulated on the successful completion of their training programme in various fields which included NDT, painting, welding and engineering among others.

For over a decade the company has been assiduously conduct-

ing training programmes for young Omanis and this ceremony marks yet another milestone in the company’s long tradition of empowering them with the required skill sets.

“This recognises the continued efforts of companies to support and encourage programmes to develop the level and performance

of Omani technical graduates to become multi discipline inspectors in the Oil & Gas industry. Applus Velosi serves as a role model in the industry,” said Restucci.

“Training is the foundation to build a stable career and these graduates have the right stepping stone into the Oil and Gas industry. I congratulate them on their achievement and wish them success,” said Al Shuely.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Saleh said: “We have been committed towards employee empowerment and with the right training support it creates an environment that is conducive to growth. Developing our Omani talent is essential towards creating a sustainable future and we are proud of this milestone.”

MUSCAT: “Thinking about selling or renting your property? List it with Engel & Völkers and live your life without stress,” says an official of Engel & Völkers property company.

“At Engel & Völkers, we strive to ease the effort of finding a home or an office. Our outstanding property systems have been developed over the last 36 years, to ensure we provide you with exemplary service.

“With our knowledge of local and global markets, our experience and our extensive networks and well-established databases, we can directly target the specific kind of property you are after, adds the official.

For landlords and property owners, Engel & Völkers offers the best professional expertise, the best choices, and the best attitude to smoothen the task of finding the best offer for property, says a press release.

Customer can have confidence that Engel & Völkers’ sales and leasing teams, part of the largest international real estate fran-

For landlords and property owners, Engel & Völkers offers the best professional expertise, the best choices, and the best attitude to smoothen the task of finding the best offer for property chise in the Middle East and amongst over 400 offices worldwide, will conduct all property dealings on customer’s behalf with the utmost capability and to the highest business standards.

Now operating with 4,700 employees and agents in over 500 offices in 40 countries, Engel & Völkers is one of the world’s finest residential and commercial real estate companies.

B8

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

ROUND-UP

Love us on Facebook

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Nissan Oman announces unique â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Big Jackpot Offerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for customers The current offers give its customers the opportunity to buy a Nissan with a combination of great beneďŹ ts

MUSCAT: In the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan, Nissan Oman from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA) has announced a unique â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Big Jackpot Offerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which comprises a special â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; promotion for all its Nissan customers as they can earn cash rewards up to OMR1,000 (minimum assured amount of OMR500) when purchasing any new Nissan vehicle during Ramadan. The offer lasts till July 31, says a press release.

Commenting on the promotion, SBA senior official said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Suhail Bahwan Automobiles has a tradition of putting together the best deals during Ramadan as part of our celebrations of the holy month. Consumer behaviour is particularly interesting during Ramadan. Our current offers give our customers the opportunity to buy a Nissan with a combination of great beneďŹ ts.â&#x20AC;?

The Big Jackpot this year comprises: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; , . "Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; ÄĄ.1)Ĺ&#x2014; --/, Ĺ&#x2014; gifts): Customers buying any Nissan vehicle will receive a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card which will entitle them to two assured gifts comprising free service up to lifetime of the car (minimum assured 1 year/10,000km PMS) and free fuel up to OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR50) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -"Ĺ&#x2014; !# .-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; /-.)' ,-Ĺ&#x2014; 1#&&Ĺ&#x2014; &-)Ĺ&#x2014; walk away with assured cash gifts up to OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR500) on purchasing any vehicle from the Nissan stables. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; (&#'#. Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ă°.-Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; #-- (Ĺ&#x2014; -sures customers free insurance, free registration, six yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; extended warranty (on select models), easy ďŹ nancing options, a loan term

up to eight years and attractive interest rates. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; #.#)( &Ĺ&#x2014; "#!"&#!".Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ßúÝÿÄ&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; This year Nissan has introduced another exciting line-up of Ramadan beneďŹ t for their valued customers. Customers who already own a Nissan model and want to buy a second one will receive additional incentives from SBA where customers enjoy 10,000km additional service, they will receive special interest privilege card and also be eligible for any trade-in beneďŹ ts.

Grand raffle The grand raffle draw from Nissan is being held in association with Al Wisal and Merge FM where participants can enter the draw to win a sleek Nissan Altima (Two vehicles to be won); just SMS <Nissan Altima> to 90448. The lucky winner can walk away with a brand new Nissan Altima.

Easy ďŹ nancing options SBA designed the Ramadan scheme to add to the pleasure and convenience of owning a Nissan model and ensure hassle and worry-free driving at all times. Nissan customers can also avail easy ďŹ nancing option of a loan term up to eight years with attractive interest rates from Bank Muscat. Flexible EMIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s can also be tailor made for any individual requirement from in-house Auto Finance team.

Nissan Oman has always made pioneering efforts to offer world class facilities and services to its valued customers. As the month of Ramadan is just a few weeks away, Nissan Oman has launched this unique way to shop.

Customers can also get unlimited access to Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious vehicle line-up at the comfort of their homes or offices. Simply visit Nissan Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook page i.e http://www.facebook.com/Sbanissanoman or send an SMS to get updated information on any of the vehicles from the house of Nissan.

SBA speak â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to offer all our customers with maximum beneďŹ ts and be able to make their life simple during the new vehicle purchase process. Also if you â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Likeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; us on our Nissan Oman Facebook page and register online, those customers will get exclusive updates, news, reviews on our entire range of cars. Since this is a special promotion for the month of Ramadan, customers can start registering from today itself to be the ďŹ rst to know of our latest offerings,â&#x20AC;? said a spokesperson from SBA. The initiative is part of Nissan Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment towards its trusted customers and strives to make a difference across the Sultanate in raising the Nissan brand among expatriate and local auto enthusiasts.

For every customer purchasing a Nissan vehicle, it is the beginning of a fulďŹ lling experience as Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top class after sales service makes sure every customer is happy and satisďŹ ed. Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s after sales service in Oman ensures that customers get the advantage of factory trained expertise and genuine Nissan replacement parts always. Customers can expect reliability and assistance, which will help retain Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance and resale value for years to come.

S AV I N G S S C H E M E

Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vehicle line-up Nissan has built up its reputation through innovative technology, and a broad product line-up. In Oman, people have increasingly opted for Nissan models because they come with class leading features, great performance, ideally suited to the local conditions and offer great value for money besides being among the safest cars on the road.

Sedan range The sedan range of vehicles namely Micra, Sunny, Tiida, Sentra, Altima and Maxima come with beneďŹ ts like free registration, cash gift up to OMR1,000 (with min OMR500 assured), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card (Two assured gifts) and six years extended warranty.

The Nissan Passenger Car line up provides customers with a comprehensive product line up and an opportunity to choose from Micra, the all new Sunny, the favorite entry level sedan, the all new Sentra, Tiida , all new Altima and the powerful Maxima. The Altima, available in 2.5 / 3.5L Engine variants, comes with class leading features like remote engine start, lane departure warning, intelligent key with push button ignition, boseÂŽ audio system, built-in bluetooth hands-free phone system, dualzone automatic climate control and steering wheel-mounted controls (includes bluetooth system, audio system and cruise control) Crossover range The crossover range of vehicles namely Juke, Murano and PathďŹ nder come with beneďŹ ts like free registration, cash gift up to OMR500, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card

(Two assured gifts) and six years extended warranty.

The Nissan crossover range provides customers with a comprehensive product line up and an opportunity to choose from.

The PathďŹ nder 3.5L comes with thoughtful technology throughout the interior, starting with Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advanced, class-exclusive Around View Monitor, which provides the driver a virtual 360-degree image of the area around the vehicle. The second generation Nissan Murano made in Japan features a whole range of reďŹ nements and enhancements designed to keep Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popular, ďŹ&#x201A;agship crossover SUV ahead of the growing number of ordinary entries in the segment.

SUV range The SUV range of vehicles namely X-terra, PathďŹ nder Classic, Armada, and Patrol come with beneďŹ ts like free insurance, free registration, cash gift up to OMR1,000/- (with min OMR500 assured), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card (Two assured gifts) and six years extended warranty.

The Nissan X-terra, Nissan PathďŹ nder, Nissan Armada and Nissan Patrol are all part of Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adventurous 4WD Range.

The Nissan 4WD lineup has unprecedented versatility covering a comprehensive range of usage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether as elegant urban transport, off-road warriors, or muscular all-purpose workhorses.

The rugged and powerful Nissan X-terra is a simple but capable SUV that has â&#x20AC;&#x153;everything you need, nothing you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tâ&#x20AC;?; It is the master of all terrains. With a powerful 4.0 litre engine which delivers 291 HP, the Nissan X-terra is

ready for wherever the road or trail takes you. With its impressive new styling and richly appointed interior, the Nissan Patrol will transcend your expectations of a 4WD vehicle. Cruising comfortably on the highways, conquering desert dunes with ease, or manoeuvring through the city at rush hour, Nissan Patrol offers unrivaled off-road capability and on road handling.

LCV range The LCV range of vehicles namely Pickup, Navara, Urvan 15 seater Bus and Panel Van come with beneďŹ ts like free registration (on Pickup and Navara variants) cash gift up to OMR1,000/- (with min OMR500 assured), and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scratch & Winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; card (Two assured gifts) There is extensive commercial activity taking place in Oman and Nissan is favorably contributing to the same with its lineup of dependable and reliable Commercial vehicle models that are being used to transport both men and material.

The Nissan LCV Range comprise of a wide range of vehicles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pickup, Navara, all new Urvan, Patrol Pick-up & Civilian.

SBA commitment Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is largely committed to supporting Nissanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 19 showrooms, 22 service centres and 35 spare parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

36TH STORE

Bank Muscat al Mazyona fulďŹ ls customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; aspirational dreams MUSCAT: The 2015 al Mazyona savings scheme campaign offering the biggest prize money of OMR9 million in Oman and the region has gained momentum with Bank Muscat, the ďŹ&#x201A;agship ďŹ nancial services provider in the Sultanate, fulďŹ lling the ďŹ nancial aspirations of customers through high value weekly, monthly and special prizes.

Simple strategy Over the years, al Mazyona has provided the largest banking family in Oman a means of fulďŹ lling their ďŹ nancial aspirations and improving lives. The legacy of al Mazyona is winning the hearts of customers and rewarding them.

The al Mazyona strategy is simple and consistent as the customerfocused scheme offers winning chances for all segments, including ladies, youth, children and high savings balance customers, says a press release.

The 2015 al Mazyona scheme celebrates Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 45th Renaissance anniversary. Structured on the thematic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;45â&#x20AC;&#x2122; reďŹ&#x201A;ecting the Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 45 years of Renaissance under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the 2015 al Mazyona campaign reaches out with a powerful call to action â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Save more, Dream bigâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

The legacy of al Mazyona is winning the hearts of customers and rewarding them as the scheme offers winning chances to all segments, including ladies, youth, children and high savings balance customers

al Mazyona encourages customers to save and achieve their aspirational dreams, including childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s higher education, homes, vacation and everything that creates a lifetime change. al Mazyona prize money is shared by more winners as customers from all regions are guaranteed to win prizes ranging from OMR45,000 a week to OMR450,000 a month and OMR1.5 million at the end of

the year. A special prize draw offering OMR450,000 in celebration of the 45th National Day is another highlight.

Reaching out The 2015 al Mazyona scheme reaches out to all individual segments with exclusive prizes earmarked for ladies, youth, children and high savings balance customers in all regions where the Bank Muscat branches are located.

The bank understands customer expectations and al Mazyona reďŹ&#x201A;ects innovative customer segmentation based on two principles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; region and demographics â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ensuring a higher winning chance to all customers across the Sultanate, including ladies, youth, children and high savings balance customers.

Lifetime change Over the years, al Mazyona has succeeded in inculcating a strong savings culture in Oman. The objective of al Mazyona is to create a lifetime change for winners and allow them to invest the prize money in things that will make a lasting difference and the well-being of their families. The ďŹ&#x201A;exible scheme makes regular saving easier and is available across the largest network of 140 branches in Oman.

Nesto Hypermarket set to open ďŹ rst outlet in Oman tomorrow MUSCAT: Nesto Hypermarket, the fastest growing retail chain in the region, is all set to open its 36th outlet in Al Mabelah, tomorrow at 6pm. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Shehi, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, will inaugurate the hypermarket.

Announcing this, K. P. Basheer, chairman, Western International Group, the parent company, said this is part of Nestoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall expansion plans in the region and will set new benchmarks by being the ďŹ rst Nesto outlet in Oman with a spread of 240,000 sq.feet.

This initiative will improve lives of the people of Mabelah, and Nesto has plans to open 15 more hypermarkets in Oman, says a press release.

Nesto was established in the year 2004 with a vision of being a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;String of Pearlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of departmental stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our vision is to create a retail chain which is as friendly and accessible as your next door shop and at the same time provide the best quality products at the most competitive prices. Over the years, Nesto has grown to become the trusted and preferred choice for shoppers across the GCC. The new Nesto outlet will have two levels of shopping as well as 500,000 plus SKU assort-

ments across diverse categories including fresh foods, grocery and household items, health and beauty products, fashion accessories as well as consumer electronics. Nesto Mabelah will also have an assortment of ready-toeat food items thereby bringing variety, quality and its signature excellence in customer service to customers. We believe that Nesto offers complete shopping experience and are conďŹ dent that Nesto Mabelah will continue the tradition of offering the best in quality, range, service and price. There is also ample car parking facility and, needless to add, we will provide the best prices and offers in town,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Guiding principle â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cost effectiveness is our guiding principle. We believe in providing our customers a wide range of products at the best possible price in a great shopping ambience. Our scale efficiencies, direct sourcing approach with minimum intermediaries, and supply chain spanning across South Asia, South East Asia and Europe make it possible for us to generate cost efficiencies that are passed on to our customers in the form of attractive pricing. Our fashion section is stacked with the latest trends in apparel, accessories and footwear. We have a wide selec-

tion catering to men, women and children,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The electronics section showcases everything from state-ofthe-art home theatre systems to white goods, laptops and mobile phones. There is a school supplies section, a separate department for home accessories, home fabrics, dĂŠcor and furniture. Customers will also get the freshest fruits and vegetables from around the world, the best cuts of meat and a wide range of local and imported ďŹ sh in a very clean and hygienic environment,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he pointed out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a strong vision for the future. We want to be among the top players in the region and we aim to have a 100 store presence in the next ďŹ ve years. These stores will be a mix of hypermarkets and supermarkets. As per our two year strategic business plan, we plan to open 14 more stores in next two years and that will enhance our presence to 50 stores in the region by year 2017. The support that we have received from our customers is ample testimony to the fact that our expansion plans are on track. Nesto Mabelah is a grand initiative to support Omani localisation by providing them with jobs and nurture their future with high class training standards and also to be the best solution for all their grocery and lifestyle needs,â&#x20AC;?

Basheer concluded.

C

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

S

R RESPECTABLE RANKING IS JAMAL’S AMBITION

Sp Speaking to Times Sport from Dubai, Ja Jamal said he has only one ambition — to tra train hard and play as many international tournaments as possible in the next two tou ye years with the ultimate aim of achieving a very v respectable world ranking. >C5

Al Arouba, Eid Al Farsi win top awards as ‘exciting’ season ends The Oman Football Association celebrated the end of an ‘exciting’ football season with annual awards gala where Al Arouba and their star player Eid Al Farsi won the top awards

for their support during the season.

Earlier, OFA chief Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi described the just concluded football season as an ‘exciting’ one. “Today we are celebrating the conclusion of an exciting season.

There have been many aspects that showed that Oman football is heading in the right direction,” he said.

Sayyid Khalid also thanked all the partners for their ‘support and involvement without which the season would not have happened’.

“We would like to thank all the clubs, sponsors, government and private organisations,” he said while also thanking the referees, coaches and players and fans for contribution the season’s success.

List of awardees

Sports Reporter

MUSCAT: Double title winning Al Arouba Club and their star player Eid Al Farsi bagged the top awards as the Oman Football Association (OFA) celebrated the end of an ‘exciting football season’ with the OFA Awards Gala on Monday.

The Sultanate’s soccer governing body hosted the annual awards ceremony to honour the best of 201415 season at Prince Palace Hall with under the auspices of Sheikh Rashad Al Hinai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Sports Affairs.

Al Arouba who completed a rare double by winning the Omantel Professional League (OPL) as well as the prestigious His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship were handed a cheque of OMR 50,000.

Al Arouba were also presented with a special award under achievements of the year category.

Al Arouba garnered another honour when Eid Al Farsi, who is away in India with the Paul Le Guen’s Oman national team to play a World Cup and Asian Cup qualifier, was declared the best player of the season.

Meanwhile, Fanja, runners-up in the OPL, were presented with a cheque of OMR 30,000 and third placed team Sur were given OMR 20,000.

During the ceremony, the OFA also honoured the best of first and division leagues as well as the age group tournaments. The football body also felicitated the best coaches and referees as well as sponsors, partners, various governmental and private organisations

Omantel Professional League (OPL): 1. Al Arouba (OMR 50,000); 2. Fanja (OMR 30,000); 3. Sur (OMR 20,000); Fairplay: Suwaiq; Best player: Eid Al Farsi (Al Arouba); Top scorer: Kofi Nishat (Al Nasr); Best goalkeeper: Riyad Subait (Al Arouba); Most promising young player: Mohammed Mubarak (Sur); Best coach: Philippe Burle (Al Arouba); Best manager: Hussain Al Mustahail.

Mazda Professional Cup: Champions: Fanja; Best player: Mohammed Mubarak.

1st Division League: 1. Muscat Club (OMR 15,000); 2. Salalah (OMR 10,000); 3. Rustaq (OMR 7,000); Fairplay: Muscat Club; Best player: Venito (Musccat); Top scorer: Imo Philip (Salala); Best goalkeeper: Mohannad Al Huwaidi (Muscat); Best coach: Mohammed Hawali (Muscat); Best manager: Hamdan Bait Said (Salalah).

2nd Division League: 1. Bahla (OMR 7,000); 2. Jaalan (OMR 5,000); 3. Al Salam (OMR 3,000); Fairplay award: Diba; Topscorer: Jermy F (Bahla); Best goalkeeper: Saleh Rasbi (Jaalan); Best player: Osama Al Shukaili (Bahla); Best coach: Abdulaziz Al Riyami (Bahla); Best team manager: Ahmed Al Hinai (Bahla).

Under-16 League: Best coach: Naseeb Rashid (Al Khabourah); Best team manager: Hashil Al Buraiqi (Suwaiq).

Under-19 League: Best coach: Qasim Al Mukhaini (Suwaiq); Best team manager: Salim Mubarak (Seeb).

Under-23 (Olympic): Best coach: Juma Al Khaldi (Saham); Best team manager: Issa Al Foori (Seeb).

Achievers of the season: Special achievement of the season: Al Arouba (for winning both OPL and His Majesty’s Cup titles).

Age group teams achievements: Suwaiq.

GCC Clubs and age group achievements: Seeb.

Best fans: Sohar fans club.

FOOTBALL

India will have to deal ‘with pressure’ of playing Oman BANGALORE: Pitted against formidable Asian powerhouses like Iran and Oman in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, Indian national football team coach Stephen Constantine said that his main aim is to target an all-win record in the home games.

India will start their campaign against Oman here on June 11 followed by an away match against Guam on June 16.

“In these kind of contests like World Cup Preliminary Qualifiers, ideally we would like to win home games. Anyway beating teams like Iran, Turkmenistan and others, at home or away is difficult,” he told reporters here after team’s training session.

The Indian squad are here for a preparatory camp ahead of its 2018 Fifa World Cup preliminary qualification matches against Oman and Guam. India have been clubbed in Group D of the qualifiers along with Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam.

Constantine said Oman is a very good side and boys will be under pressure. “Oman has been a very good side for a very long time.

You don’t go to Asian finals if you are not a good side. Boys will be under pressure playing against Oman. They have to deal with pressure,” he said.

Constantine further said there are no easy games at international level, even teams like Iran and Turkmenistan would be difficult

NO EASY GAMES: Indian football coach Stephen Constantine.

to beat. “There are no easy games for us, whomever we play against.

Oman, Turkmenistan and others will not be easy to beat,” he said.

Constantine said it is not about good or bad team, but about participating regularly.

“It also depends on how active and inactive you are. If we play two games in a year - that is why we are so low because you are not active. It is not just about how good and how bad is the team is, it is about your participation,” he said.

Constantine said he would like to have two to three weeks at his command before going into the match against Oman because he had some new players in his side.

“Obviously, I would have liked two or three weeks. We have new players and obviously takes time to make them understand what we need but there is no point crying about it. We want to do as good as we can in shot span that we have,” he further added.

Replying to a question, Constantine said he had picked players for the national side watching them perform in I-League.

“I-league is the first option where I would have to see players perform and pick them up for the national side. If I don’t find players from I-League, where will I find?” he said.

Asked if he is happy with the kind of players he has in the Indian squad, Constantine said, “Possibly, we have the best players at the moment making into the Indian squad.”

Questioned why he opted for Bengaluru to host India-Oman match, Constantine said it is a good place to play but wished for a training facility at par with international standards.

“I think this is a good place to play. I just wished we had training facility. International teams badly need training centre, where we can always go. I would like to see that happening in some point of time in future,” he said.

Constantine had chose a 26-member squad for the two matches from an initial list of 38 players. — PTI

C2

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

SPORTS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

INDIA TOUR OF BANGLADESH

India team hits the nets in Mirpur on arrival in Dhaka MIRPUR: The Indian cricket team got down to work soon after landing here on Monday for the short series against Bangladesh, sweating it out in a gruelling twohour net session at the Sher-eBangla Stadium.

The side led by Kohli arrived here by a morning flight from Kolkata and they hit the nets at the Stadium in the afternoon.

The Indians will take on the hosts in a one off Test starting on Wednesday followed by a threeODI series. “Since we arrived and the boys wanted to practice, it was decided to train at the Shere-Bangla Stadium as Bangladesh were training at Fatullah.

“Tomorrow, we will be training at Fatullah,” BCCI’s administrative manager Biswarup Dey told PTI. Since Fatullah, which is in Narayanganj district takes about an hour and half to reach from Dhaka city, where the team is staying, it was decided to hit the straps rightaway. The team manager confirmed that all 14 members are fit and Wriddhiman Saha, who has

sustained a hit on the chest during the final training session in Kolkata is absolutely fine and also trained with other members.

The Indian team will be concentrating on getting the bowling combination right.

While Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh are almost certain to play, it will be upto Kohli and Team Director Ravi Shastri to decide on whether India will go with four or five bowlers. If they go with five bowlers, the toss-up will be between speedster Varun Aaron and leg-spinner Karn Sharma.

Opener K L Rahul, originally named in the Test squad, was ruled out with fever and the management decided against his replacement. India have won six Tests out of the seven they have played against Bangladesh with one turning out to be a draw.

All the five-day games have been played in Bangladesh and the last time two teams met in a bilateral series was in 2009-10 when India won 2-0. - PTI

ON JOB STRAIGHTAWAY: Indian cricket players exercise during a practice session in Dhaka. – Reuters

England in search of ODI revival against Black Caps Since they made the third of three losing World Cup final appearances back in 1992, England have struggled to keep up with changes in the 50-over game

LONDON: England, not for the first time, will try to re-launch themselves as a one-day international cricket side when they face World Cup finalists New Zealand in the first of a five-match series at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Since they made the third of three losing World Cup final appearances back in 1992, England have struggled to keep up with changes in the 50-over game.

But this year’s World Cup represented a new low, with England failing to beat a single Test nation in a tournament where they suffered a first-round exit after a defeat by Bangladesh.

An antiquated approach, where 300 was regarded as a par score, was damned as “prehistoric” by Paul Collingwood, still the only Englishman to skipper the side to a global limited overs trophy -- the 2010 World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

It also played a key role in Peter Moores being sacked as England coach by incoming director of cricket Andrew Strauss and replaced by Australian Trevor Bayliss.

For years now, England have tended to regard white-ball cricket as a necessary, money-spinning, evil with results in five-day Test matches all that matters.

But in omitting the likes of senior pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad, as well as experienced batsman Ian Bell, for the New Zealand one-day series and including the hard-hitting Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and Jason Roy, as well as leg-spinner Adil Rashid, England’s squad — still led by World Cup skipper Eoin Morgan — has something of a fresh look about it.

WHO WILL TAKE THE TROPHY? England captain Eoin Morgan, left, and New Zealand captain Bren-

don McCullum pose with the one-day series trophy at Edgbaston in Birmingham. – AFP

The 2019 World Cup will be staged in England, where pitch and overhead conditions sometimes mean that the huge scores achieved in the southern hemisphere are not always within reach.

‘Getting it wrong’ But Buttler, England’s wicketkeeper at the World Cup and one of a new breed of fast-scoring batsmen, accepted the team’s approach to 50-over cricket had to change. “You have to be brutally honest and say we were getting it wrong,” the 24-year-old told the Mail on Sunday.

“We have to be looking at scores of 350 and upwards,” added the Lancashire gloveman, who announced himself on the international stage with a thrilling 74-ball 121 against Sri Lanka in a one-dayer at Lord’s last year.

“That’s the way the game is going. In a few years we’ll look back at the (2015) World Cup and say it was a turning point in 50-over cricket.”

During their run to the World Cup final, where they lost to fellow co-hosts Australia, the Black Caps hammered England by eight

wickets in Wellington.

Tim Southee took a stunning seven for three as England were skittled out for just 123.

New Zealand then pulverised England’s attack, skipper Brendon McCullum striking 77 off just 25 balls, a they raced to victory in a mere 12.2 overs.

“We certainly played well that day. That’s the way we want to play,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, who last week saw his side square a two-Test series with England at 1-1 after a dynamic 199-run win at Headingley.

“Hopefully conditions allow that but if not, we’ve got to try to skin the cat a little differently.”

New Zealand certainly played in familiar fashion when thrashing Leicestershire by 198 runs in a one-day warm-up match on Saturday.

Both Grant Elliott, who hit Dale Steyn for six to seal New Zealand’s dramatic World Cup semi-final win over South Africa, and wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi made 106 not out against the Midlands county.

Mitchell McClenaghan then took four for 31 and the left-arm seamer, fresh from winning the

Twenty20 Indian Premier League with the Mumbai Indians, was eager for more limited overs success in England.

“Winning the title in my first year playing the IPL was awesome,” he told the Blackcaps’ website. “I learnt a huge amount, and loved my time in India.

“But it’s also great to be back with the boys. I’m looking forward to the challenge over here, it’s a massive series.”

England (from): Eoin Morgan (capt), Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wkt) Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, David Willey, Mark Wood New Zealand (from): Brendon McCullum (capt), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Luke Ronchi (wkt), Mutchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Ben Wheeler Umpires: Bruce Oxenford (AUS), Michael Gough (ENG) TV umpire: Steve Davis (AUS) Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND). - AFP

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5

C3

SPORTS European champions Barca feted With fans shouting out the name of their idols, and tourists joining in the party atmosphere the team made its smiling way to their iconic stadium, dancing and singing in the open top bus

BARCELONA: Thousands of fans took to the streets of Barcelona on Sunday to celebrate their club’s fifth Champions League win, decking the Catalan capital out with flags, shirts, scarves and confetti.

“Champions, second treble, we continue to write history” was the triumphant message written on the side of the coach ferrying Luis Suarez, who scored the decisive goal in the 3-1 defeat of Juventus, Lionel Messi, and the rest of the team to the Camp Nou where a crowd of 67,000 were awaiting them.

“The treble of 2009 was magic because it was the first. But to do it twice, that’s enormous,” said one fan, Adrian Llamazares referring to Saturday’s trophy in Berlin coming after the Liga and Cup titles. “I was confident from the start of the season,” chipped in Sara Marco with her grand-daughter enthusiastically waving a Catalan flag.

But the sixty-something grandmother was perhaps the only one to have had belief at the start of January when Barcelona suffered a major internal crisis with frosty relations between coach Luis Enrique and Messi.

But then the Catalan giants pressed hard on the accelerator to become a winning machine after a 2013-14 trophyless season had hinted at their decline.

“We were speaking of the end of a cycle, but the cycle is Messi, regardless of the manager and the rest of the players, Barcelona can always win,” suggested 41-yearold David Blasco.

With fans shouting out the CRICKET

Waqar confident about reaching targets in Sri Lanka tour LAHORE: Pakistan’s coach Waqar Younis expressed confidence the cricket squad would achieve targets in Tests and one-day series as they set off for a tour of Sri Lanka on Monday.

Pakistan will play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20s on their 53-day tour of Sri Lanka, with the aim of qualifying for the 2017 Champions Trophy in England.

Pakistan, currently ninth in one-day rankings, must beat Sri Lanka to get to the eighth spot or better before the September 30 cut off date for the Champions Trophy, which will feature the top eight teams. Waqar said he believed the team would reach the Champions Trophy.

“We have set targets for Tests and ODIs and hope that the team does well on the tour to achieve the targets and qualify for Champions Trophy,” Waqar said. — AFP

GRAND WELCOME: FC Barcelona players parade on a bus through the streets of Barcelona as they celebrate their victory over Juventus one day after the Uefa Champions

League final. – AFP

name of their idols, and tourists joining in the party atmosphere the team made its smiling way to their iconic stadium, dancing and singing in the open top bus.

“Where’s Messi?” a sixyear-old boy asked his mother, Nuria Boada.

“In our house, our hero is Messi, because he’s the best in the world.

He does incredible things, almost without blinking,” the 39-year-old Boada said.

“But we also want to say goodbye to Xavi,” she added quickly, in reference to the record-breaking Barca captain who is leaving the club to join Qatari side Al Sadd.

Xavi’s name, along with Messi, Suarez and the third member of the strikeforce Neymar, were the names that rang out most.

“As long as the three forwards score Barcelona can play as they wish. And next season, they will bring us back the sixth (European crown)!” predicted 27-year-old Eduard Corcelles. - AFP

Luis Enrique will stay as coach, says Barcelona president

EXTENSION GUARANTEED:

Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique stands in the pitch at the end of the celebration parade at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. – Reuters

BARCELONA: Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted Luis Enrique will stay on next season despite the coach refusing to commit to the club after wrapping up a treble of titles on Saturday.

Barca’s 3-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final meant they became the first team to win their domestic league and Cup and Europe’s elite club competition in the same season on two occasions, repeating their feat from 2009.

Luis Enrique is coming to the end of the first year of a twoyear contract but was clearly

TRAINING IN DHARAMSALA

Raju to help Nepal prepare for World T20 qualifier NEW DELHI: Former India left-arm spinner Venkatapathy Raju is all set to guide the national cricket team from earthquake affected Nepal during their ongoing 15-day camp in Dharamsala.

Sharing his knowledge with teams from associate members is not new to Raju, having worked with sides such as UAE and Thailand in his role of a development officer at the Asian Cricket Council.

“We have been told that Venkatapathy Raju is coming on June 11 and he will work with the boys for a week. He is going to work with our spinners and I am sure his contribution will really help us. We hear Monty Desai (coach at Rajasthan Royals) will also join us in the coming days. The BCCI has said that we will be getting help from other experts as well,” Nepal head coach and former Sri Lanka player, Pubudu Dassanayake, told PTI from Dharamsala.

Dassanayake feels Raju’s valuable inputs will help them prepare a good spin-heavy bowling

Venkatapahy Raju.

attack ahead of the World T20 qualifiers in Scotland and Ireland next month.

“Our strength is spinners. We have got two quality left-arm spinners (Basant Regmi and Shakti Gauchan) and couple of off-spinners, so Raju is going to talk to them about how to adjust to the extreme conditions in the United Kingdom.

Overall, we are really pleased with what the BCCI is offering,” said the Kandy-born Sri Lankan, who is now based out of Canada after having represented and coached the North American side.

Captain Paras Khadka too wel-

comed Raju’s presence in the camp. “In India, you have all the big experts you can ask for. It is really nice Mr Raju will be here with us. We need to make the most of his inputs and prepare the best we can for the qualifier,” said Khadka.

Nepal, who finished in third in the qualifier last time to secure a maiden World T20 berth, is looking to win the tournament this time. BCCI is doing its bit in its preparations, lending a help hand to the troubled neighbouring nation which was rocked by a massive earthquake in April.

“We are really happy to be here.

The facilities are fantastic. Everything is in good condition and we hope to to have a productive 15 days,” said coach Dassanayake.

“Last time we finished third and qualified, this time we want to win the competition. This team has kept improving in the last two years. The preparation is very important, we need to do the right things in the one month that we have,” he added. - PTI

unhappy with the sacking of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, the man who appointed him, in January.

He fended off several questions about his future at a news conference after Saturday’s final, saying he was only focused on celebrating the terrific treble.

The uncertainty has been amplified by a looming presidential election and a new chief in place of Bartomeu might want to bring in his own man.

Contract extension Bartomeu told Spanish radio on Monday he would offer Luis Enrique a contract extension if re-elected. “There is no need

to suffer, Luis Enrique will continue,” Bartomeu said.

“His season has been 10 out of 10 and there is no reason to break the contract,” he added.

Barca celebrated their magnificent season with an open top bus tour through the Catalan capital on Sunday, culminating in a spectacular party with fans at their giant Nou Camp arena.

They also announced the signing, pending a medical, of Sevilla midfielder Aleix Vidal, who has impressed for the Europa League winners this term and last month earned a first call-up to Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squad. - Reuters

C4

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

SPORTS OMAN MUSCLEMEN BAG THREE MEDALS AT ASIAN BODY-BUILDING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN JAPAN

The Sultanate’s bodybuilding team bagged three medals at the 49th AFBF Asian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. Abdullah Al Jabri won the gold medal in 70kg category, Faisal Al Mata’eni took the silver in 75kg and Ahmed Al Maskari won the bronze medal in 85kg event. - ONA

Young sailors hope to impress at Oman Sail Ranking Races Featuring around 55 sailors in total from Oman Sail’s Youth Programme, the races will take place from June 14 to 16 and will be preceded by a fiveday training camp for both classes

MUSCAT: Oman Sail’s most promising young sailors will take to the sea next week in Al Musannah for the latest ranking races, organised to test the performances of the Optimist class and prepare to host the Oman Laser 4.7 Championship for the first time where the best talents will be selected to represent the Sultanate.

Featuring around 55 sailors in total from Oman Sail’s Youth Programme, sponsored by Omantel and Oman Shipping Company, the races will take place from June 14 to 16, and will be preceded by a fiveday training camp for both classes.

The training camp will comprise sailors from the Oman Optimist National Squad as well as sailors who have graduated to Laser 4.7, the next class in the pathway, to qualify for selection to fill four Omani spots at the Laser 4.7

EYEING NAIONAL TEAM PLACES: A file photo of young Omanis taking part in a Youth Sailing Regetta. – Supplied photo

World Championships, to held in Holland next August.

Coaching skills It will also provide an opportunity for Oman’s Laser 4.7 coaches to improve their training skills for the young sailors at Oman Sail’s sailing schools around the Sultanate.

“The Optimist is the class that the world’s youth learn to race and

the Laser 4.7 is the first of a series of the Laser sailboats, the most competitive sailing class in the world that has produced some of most accomplished Olympic sailors,” said Rashid Al Kindi, Oman Sail’s National Youth Team Manager.

“Venturing into the Laser 4.7 class this month will be the next stage for our young hopefuls as part of Oman Sail’s Performance

Pathway,” the official added.

“This is an exciting development for Oman Sail and although we only expect to have around ten sailors competing in our first Laser 4.7 Championships, they will in time grow, both in numbers and stature,” he said.

The Laser 4.7 National Championship, the first one to be held in Oman, will provide an excellent

platform for coaches to gain more insight on how to manage training and future events.

To encourage coaches to do their utmost in race management practices, Oman Sail has offered an opportunity for the most promising Laser 4.7 coach to join the national squad and accompany the team to the World Championships in Holland.

Oman Tennis Association felicitates Al Rawahi

certificate to Suleiman Al Rawahi during the felicitation ceremony. – Supplied photo

Uruguay’s Forlan heading for Osaka exit TOKYO: Uruguay’s mostcapped player Diego Forlan is unlikely to be offered a new contract

by Japanese club Cerezo Osaka, local media reported on Monday.

The 36-year-old striker, who played 112 games for Uruguay and scored 36 goals before announcing his international retirement earlier this year, has expressed a desire to remain in Japan.

“If possible I wanted to sign off by getting Cerezo promoted to the J-League first division, but a contract’s a contract,” Forlan told Japan’s Nikkan Sports.

“I’ve done everything I could.

I don’t know what the future holds but (if I stay in Asia) I’d prefer to stay in Japan.”

However, after an illustrious career at Manchester United, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, Forlan has endured a torrid spell in Japan, getting relegated in his first season and failing even to make the bench in the Cerezo’s game at the weekend.

“I’ve informed the player that a contract extension will be difficult,” said Cerezo president Minoru Tamada, likely signalling the end of Forlan’s stay in Osaka. Forlan won the Golden Ball as the 2010 World Cup’s best player and finished joint top-scorer with five goals as Uruguay reached the semi-finals in South Africa, making his final appearance for his country against Colombia at last year’s World Cup in Brazil. - AFP FOOTBALL

Liverpool confirm deal to sign Ings

COACHING COURSE

RIGHT ENCOURAEMENT: Oman Tennis Association chief Mutassim Al Zadjali, third right, presents a

FOOTBALL

MUSCAT: The Oman Tennis Association (OTA) felicitated former Davis Cup player Suleiman bin Said Al Rawahi who has successfully completed Level I Coaches Course held in Bahrain recently.

According to a press release issued by OTA on Monday, Suleimman, who is also the assistant coach of Oman national team, participated in the course as part of the association’s plan to promote tennis and encourage national coaches and referees to join training courses for higher qualifications in the management of the game in the future.

The felicitation ceremony was organised at the association headquar-

ters when OTA chief Mutassim bin Mahmoud Al Zadjali presented a ‘certificate of thanks’ and appreciation to Suleiman Al Rawahi.

He also wished him and all other national colleagues further success in their future endeavours.

Suleiman, on his behalf, thanked the OTA for all the support extended to him since he was a child, during his playing days representing from the Sultanate at the international level and now in his coaching career. Presently the only Omani serving the national team as assistant coach, Suleiman also promised to do his best and train the national players.

LONDON: Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Burnley striker Danny Ings, the Premier League club announced on Monday. “Liverpool FC are delighted to announce that they have agreed personal terms with Danny Ings and, subject to a medical, the striker will join the club on July 1 after his contract with Burnley has expired,” the club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

Ings scored 11 goals in the Premier League last season as Burnley finished 19th and were relegated. He was their only player to score in the last nine games. The previous season he netted 21 times as the club won promotion from the Championship. - Reuters

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

C5

SPORTS

Oman’s squash warrior It will not be an exaggeration to describe Jamal Al Barwani as the Sultanate’s squash sensation.

Considering what the Dubai-based Omani has been accomplishing, Jamal is undoubtedly the best squash exponent. Following are the excerpts from the tête-à-tête T.K. MOHANDOSS had with Jamal...

Q. How did squash happen to you? Are you currently based in the United Arab Emirates?

A. Yes, I have been living in Dubai for nearly five years, whilst working as a teacher. Regarding the game, it is a story. Well if I’m being honest, when I was in primary school I found myself being good at a game called ‘Rounders’ which we used to play during our Physical Education lessons. From there weirdly Rounders I resorted to playing tennis. I became pretty good at that too and even became a qualified LTA tennis coach whilst coaching beginners and international players. Growing up I played everything to be honest from rugby, football and badminton to a good standard for my age category. Squash was another sport I enjoyed playing. I played it casually from the age of 10 until about 15 and then I really got the bug for it. Everything then revolved around playing squash. I played in the Welsh senior leagues from the age of 13 and just wanted to play and improve all the time. I used to bug everyone who was better than me for a game, including a huge mentor and crazy fitness fanatic, who was the coach and No.1 player for Neath Squash Club, a guy named Kevin Williams.

Q. Detail your achievements so far?

A. I played for Swansea University Team as the No.1 player from 2001-2004. I was also No. 1 at the Neath Squash Club (2001 – 2003) and Glamorgan Health and Racket Club (2007-2010). Between 2007 and 2010 I was the head coach at Glamorgan Health and Racket Club and was also the head coach at Llanelli Squash and Racket Club during the same period. After coming to the UAE, I was consistently finishing in the top 4 of UAE squash events and highlight was becoming semifinalist in the UAE Squash Championship 2013 and Abu Dhabi Open 2015. I also won the Sheraton Winter Series in 2013.

Internationally, I played in many tournaments in France with quarterfinal finishes and I was proud to have been invited to the play the Dubai3s in 2010 with all former World top 10 players. I have also completed my dissertation in Analysis of Squash professionals in my Bsc Honors degree and have consistently trained and played with players ranging from top 10 to 200 in the World. My highest world ranking of 404.

Q. In your view point how can this game grow in Oman?

A. If I am being truthful, there needs to be structure. There are boys like Tahir Al Barwani, who are really enthusiastic and are great ambassadors to the sport to push the game forward and are putting an abundance of time, effort and finance in. However for it to progress and move forward a coaching structure needs to be in place from grass roots level. I know league matches have been going on and they still need to happen. There also needs to be steps in place for performance players to compete and play on the international stage, which requires funding.

Take squash into the schools or bring the children to the squash courts. My previous experience with promoting sport in schools, have had a great degree of success

Q. Do you think that the game has attracted renewed interest in Oman?

A. Well since playing in the first tournament I can see that it has definitely brought interest and publicity. The latest squash tournament in Sohar was also highlighted in squashsite. com, in which anyone who’s anyone in squash looks at.

Q. How do you rate national interest in the game?

A. Well I’m not familiar with all the sports that go on in Oman, however the sport gets

Jamal Al Barwani Oman’s top squash player

addictive at every level. I have seen great enthusiasm and a push from all players participating in the two tournaments and who have been keen to organise coaching weekends and travel to Dubai for extra exposure to good squash.

Q. Do you think that Ministry of Sports Affairs should give full support and encourage the game in schools?

A. This is the key to promoting the sport.

Children need to be encouraged and the initial push for this is to go to the schools. Take squash into the schools or bring them to the squash courts. My previous experience with promoting sport in schools, have had a great degree of success.

Q. You were being looked upon as Oman’s best bet to represent the country in international arena. Detail your ambitions?

A. Firstly, I want to train hard and play as many international tournaments in the next two years, to achieve a very respectable world ranking All my training partners are all playing internationally. I also want to do this! To do this properly I do need backing. I would love this to come from Oman.

Even though I have spent 27 years in Wales, Oman is huge part of my heritage and I would feel really proud that Oman is backing me with playing and representing Oman internationally. I have consistently played with players at the highest of levels and I more than know what is required to play squash as a professional. This also gives children and other participants in the game in Oman an aim and goal to try and get to. There needs to be professional role models whether they assist in advertising the sport to top players competing at National level, who will encourage the sport. Along with playing and after I am playing and I would love to share my knowledge to encourage people at a social level and more importantly produce players that can compete at the highest of levels.

Q. Your ideas for tapping young talents in Oman?

A. Going into schools, getting as many children playing as possible. From there setting up squads for age and ability categories.

There also needs to be people playing in the senior categories. When there are all ages playing it just builds a positive vibe surrounding squash. It is looking likely that I will be in Dubai next year, however there is no reason for me coming over for weekends and also inviting groups to train here in Dubai. I think it would also be a great idea to have a resident coach in Oman.

Q. Can frequent tournaments all over the country help?

A. Well I have discussed this with Tahir Al Barwani, who has been fantastic with organising tournaments Q. Other than squash, what do you do in UAE and Oman and how are you helping in developing the game?

A. He...he... (smiles). Well after work, sad as it may sound, but it is a lot of squash. But I love it! But I do like to go to the beach on the weekends, go for dinners, play beach tennis and many more.

Q. Do you run a squash academy in Dubai?

A. I don’t run an academy in squash, no. Currently I am training to compete myself and train with coach Khwaja Maqbool and his son and my dearest friend Adil Maqbool.

— sportseditor@timesofoman.com

FUTURE IS BRIGHT

‘There’s strong growth potential for squash in Oman’ T.K. MOHANDOSS sportseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: PC Thomas, one of the architect of Muscat Squash League, sees strong growth potential for the game in Oman and feels the future is bright.

Thomas, who works in Oman and pursues his passion in squash, while breaking into a conversation with Times Sport, said that lately he was amazed at the standard set by the senior players.

“I was amazed at the senior level of local squash players, which is very high. But unfortunately most of them are at the senior level.

For Oman to excel in squash, we should start at the grass roots level of the sport which is schools and colleges,” he said.

“Local youngsters have great stamina and determination to excel at sports. Squash needs to be introduced to them. We need to spread the sport and have an organisational set up to monitor their growth and training. Squash being a high reflex and pace sport, stamina and agility plays an important factor in physical benefits,” he added.

Thomas, who came to Oman in

2012, said that he loved the country from the first day.

“Having played before, I decided to start playing squash again at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

My father used to play in India at a senior level and take me along initially to watch his game and build the interest of the sport, slowly he started training me and taught me the basics of squash,” detailed Thomas, who picked up his racquet at a very tender age.

“I first picked up the racquet at age 10, a wooden one, and now even after 25 years I still love the game. I participated at a few local tournaments throughout my early years in India and was able to raise my level of game as I grew older,” he said about his first step.

When asked about the renewed interest in Oman, Thomas said: “Definitely, when we started playing at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, there were only a few players. We started spreading the word through our contacts and soon we had a pool of 20 to 30 players from different nationalities.

After we completed the first local tournament many national youngsters have picked up racquets and started playing.

CATCH THEM YOUNG: Squash player PC Thomas calls for tapping

talents at the grassroots level.

“The level of professionalism is very high at the senior level and they are very committed to the sport, they are very keen to see the growth of squash and have high hopes on the next generation.

“With a proper recognised association or federation up and with the help of trained coaches, things can improve further and maybe in the future we will have an Oman

Squash World Champion one day.

On support from Ministry of Sports Affairs, he said: “The ministry has already started to encourage by conducting a Oman squash tournament for the local players which was a very positive step in the right direction.

“The game needs to be spread to schools more and may be have more squash courts and introduce

the game in sports curriculum.

Also setting up a training module for different age groups and monitoring their growth is vital. Squash is a game which can be played all year, many residential buildings and hotels have started building squash courts as fitness centre since it is a sport not affected by the weather,” said Thomas.

On the Muscat League, Thomas detailed that the League in Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex started with a few players coming together and it is held every month.

“Now more and more local players have joined and the League is getting stronger. Being from different countries, we each have a different style of game. For example the Europeans players were better at playing the straight power game down the line, while the Asians were better at the boast and drop game. Having a mix of players allowed all of us to learn from each other.”

He went on to say that to develop young players, all of us put together with the help of Sports Ministry must introduce a 2-3 day coaching session at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

“Once we have identified the

young players, their growth and training modules have to be charted out separately, as each player have their own physical strength and weakness,” said Thomas.

“The next step would be to conduct tournaments at schools and colleges to promote the sport. Seeing their classmates play can be an inspirational factor for other youngsters.”

Highlighting further he said: “The plan of the Ministry of Sports Affairs is to hold frequent tournaments in all parts of the country.

The sport needs to spread out and this will help in unearthing a national hero.”

On his personal front, Thomas said, other than squash he plays football to build stamina. “At the same time I utilise my spare time to impart my knowledge on squash to the upcoming youngsters.”

As a concluding message, Thomas said: “I truly believe, Oman youngsters have great stamina and a strong desire to excel in sports. They are highly motivated to represent their country internationally in every sport. Squash is definitely a sport in which they can excel and bring glory and medals to their country.”

C6

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

SPORTS

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

Tweet all about it

Stan’s great shots, crazy shorts It was Wawrinka’s bizarre red and white checked shorts that stole the limelight during his magnificent run to the French Open title

PARIS: Forget the breathtaking backhands, formidable forehands and astonishing aces that Stanislas Wawrinka produced during his magnificent run to the French Open title —it was his bizarre red and white checked shorts that stole the limelight on Sunday.

Where did he get the design? A pair of pyjamas tucked away in his father’s wardrobe, or was it from a 1970’s wallpaper still hanging on an old relative’s house?

Perhaps it was from a blanket handed down in the family over generations.

The hullabaloo over his “lost property” park-player outfit was not lost on the new champion on Sunday as he draped the baggy shorts over the dais in front of him, placing them next to the gleaming Musketeers’ Cup.

WHERE DID HE GET THE DESIGN? Stanislas Wawrinka joked ‘they (the shorts) will be in the museum of Roland Garros. – Reuters

“I know a lot of people talk about it, and it’s quite funny that they won the French Open,” grinned Wawrinka after joining the likes of Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl in com-

pleting the boys’ trophy-Musketeers’ Cup double at Roland Garros.

A few days after declaring he was going to “swim, play tennis and then sleep in them”, he an-

nounced that the star attraction of the 2015 French Open was heading for a new home.

“They will be in the museum of Roland Garros. You will see my

GETTING TOUGHER

FOOTBALL

Djokovic haunted by Paris ghosts of Sampras, Edberg and Becker PARIS: They came, they saw but never conquered and now Novak Djokovic is staring into the same Paris abyss that swallowed up the Grand Slam ambitions of Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker.

The world No. 1 lost his third final in four years at Roland Garros on Sunday when his hopes of becoming just the eighth man to complete a career Grand Slam were swept away by Stan Wawrinka’s tide of killer one-handed backhands.

His 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 defeat left Djokovic on eight majors — five Australian Opens, two Wimbledons and a single US Open success — against eight defeats in finals at the majors. Djokovic will be back in 2016, when he will be 29, for another attempt, his 12th in total, but statistics and history threaten to conspire against him.

Sampras won 14 majors — seven Wimbledons, five titles in New York and two in Australia.

But 13 times the great American tried to win the French Open and 13 times he failed.

His best was a semifinal in 1996 and his last appearance at the age of 30 was in 2002 when he lost first round to patched-up Italian journeyman Andrea Gaudenzi, who was ranked 69.

shorts every day if you want,” he added to hoots of laughter.

“Everybody talks about those shorts since I put them on. Apparently I’m the only one who likes it.”

Completely crazy Jokes aside, Wawrinka was still struggling to digest the fact that he had won a second Grand Slam title, and did it by overcoming a player who had until Sunday, been unbeatable on clay in 2015.

Novak Djokovic was on a 28 match winning streak.

The world No. 1 had beaten nine-time champion Rafa Nadal and third seed Andy Murray to enter the final with a 16-0 record on clay this year.

The Serb had also beaten Wawrinka in 17 of their previous 20 meetings. Despite the stats stacked against him, Wawrinka showed that what happens in the past does not dictate the future.

“To say that I won the French Open, it’s something completely crazy,” said the 30-year-old.

“Winning this one is really special, playing Novak here in final, the number one player. He won almost everything since beginning of the year.

“I’m still surprised the way I played, because I think I played amazing today.

“I was really nervous but I didn’t choke. I was always going for my shots.”

A slow-starter who won his first major at the Australian Open 18 months ago, Wawrinka added: “It’s quite strange when I tell myself that I have an (Olympic) gold medal, the Davis Cup and two grand Slams. It’s quite amazing. Never expected that so late in my career.” - Reuters

STARING INTO PARIS ABYSS: Novak Djokovic. – AFP

“I don’t want to say it’s a jinx,” said Sampras at the time.

Edberg won twice each in Australia, Wimbledon and at the US Open, but his best Paris performance was runner-up to a teenage Michael Chang in 1989, with his classical serve-and-volley game horribly unsuited to the slow clay.

“At the time I thought I played a great tournament and I thought I would get another chance to win it, but I never really got another chance after that,” the Swede told CNN. Like Sampras, Edberg played 13 times at Roland Garros, the last time as a 30-year-old in 1996.

Becker, who was close at hand on Sunday as Djokovic’s coach,

tried nine times to win the French Open and add the title to his three Wimbledons, two Australian and one US Open.

But he had to settle for three semifinal spots in 1987, 1989 and 1991, playing the tournament for the last time as a 27-year-old.

John McEnroe also flopped in Paris, the four-time US Open and three-time Wimbledon winner having to console himself with a runners-up spot against Ivan Lendl in 1984. When he last appeared as a player he was 33.

Dream deferred Even the traditionally fickle Paris crowd expressed their sympathy

with Djokovic’s plight on Sunday, according him a lengthy standing ovation as he stood for the third time as a runner-up on the podium.

Djokovic was in tears by the end of it, although he insisted he’d keep trying to secure the title.

He may have time on his side -even if the gut feeling remains that this year was his best opportunity, having disposed of nine-time winner Nadal in the quarterfinals and longtime rival Andy Murray in the semifinals.

But there is another statistic that could concern the Serb. He now has a record of eight wins from his 16 Grand Slam finals.

Roger Federer can boast 17 Slam titles in 24 finals and Nadal 14 trophies and six losses.

Djokovic’s defeat on Sunday ended his 28-win streak just as his 2011 semi-final loss to Federer halted a 41-match unbeaten run.

In cricket, that kind of record may be interpreted as one of a “flat track bully”.

But Djokovic insists that it’s getting tougher to rack up the majors.

“I think people tend to create more of a story where it’s just me,” he said. “It feels like I’m the only player who wants to win this trophy and nobody wants to win it as much as I do; this is completely untrue.” - AFP

Hodgson tells Sterling to develop ‘thicker skin’ DUBLIN: England manager Roy Hodgson warned Raheem Sterling he will need to develop “thicker skin” after the under-fire forward was roundly jeered during a goalless friendly against the Republic of Ireland.

Sterling, 20, has become the target of opprobrium since revealing he rejected a contract offer worth £100,000 ($152,695) a week from Liverpool, and his every touch met with a volley of boos at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

With each week yielding a link to a different club, Hodgson warned that life could get harder for Sterling before it gets better.

“I think he’s going through a bad time publicly,” Hodgson said.

“You can’t expect people just to shrug off the criticism he has been receiving, not least from the local press in Liverpool.

“That becomes national pretty quickly,” he said.

“He does ever so well and tries well to shrug it off, let his football do the talking.”

“He needed this game to realise that if he is going to get it out of his system, he’s going to have to work harder still and get a thicker skin than he has at the moment, ” Hodgson added.

Players not robots Sterling was replaced by Andros Townsend in the 66th minute af-

ter a subdued display, but Hodgson said he had “no reservations” about selecting him for this weekend’s 2016 European Championship qualifier in Slovenia.

“I trust Sterling. But players are not robots,” Hodgson told reporters. “He’s done some fantastic things for us, but today (Sunday) he didn’t hit those heights.

It’ll take a lot before I and the English national team sway from Raheem Sterling.”

While Hodgson admitted his side “never got close” to their best level during an insipid game that saw Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy make his England ‘Very decent response’ Rioting far-right hooligans had caused the last meeting between the teams in Dublin in February 1995 to be abandoned after only 27 minutes, but with the Football Association having urged the 3,000 travelling supporters to behave prior to Sunday’s reunion, there was a distinct lack of edge to the atmosphere.

“Two obvious positives were the spirit in which the game was played — competitive, both teams trying to win — and the atmosphere in the stadium,” said Hodgson, who was present at Lansdowne Road in 1995.

“The behaviour of the fans was a remarkable positive.” - AFP

C

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM T U ES DAY, J U N E 9, 2 0 1 5

THE NEW PACEMAKER HELPS OVER-EATERS By blocking the electrical signals sent by the digestive system to the brain, it can fool us into feeling full

I

n January 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new kind of obesity therapy. Vbloc is a vagus nerve pacemaker developed by EnteroMedics, a company based in St Paul, Minnesota (US). It works by intermittently blocking vagal nerve signals between the brain and the stomach. The idea stems from the observation of weight loss among patients who had their vagus nerve cut just below the diaphragm, once a common treatment for duodenal ulcers, because it reduces acid secretion.

Instead of cutting the vagus nerve, Vbloc positions the pacemaker wires on the nerve between the oesophagus and the stomach. Then a pacemaker provides a nerve-blocking stimulus for 14 hours a day. Because the vagus nerve carries information about digestion and

fullness to the brain, the theory is that faulty signals can fool the brain into thinking the body needs more food, so people eat more than they actually need.

Blocking the vagus nerve stops these faulty appetite signals from reaching the brain, which reduces hunger and promotes a feeling of fullness.

Scott Shikora, the chief medical officer at EnteroMedics comments: “The patients in our trial that were receiving vagal nerve blocking didn’t eat different foods, they just had less appetite, so ate less.” Mike Magnant, a machinist from Carver, Massachusetts, was one of more than 200 patients in the Vbloc trial. Magnant had battled with obesity since his teens, tried numerous diets and diet pills, yet at 5 feet 6 inches tall, he weighed 132 kilograms — a body mass index of 47. “Every new diet I tried, I’d lose 20 kilograms and

then within a few months, I’d put it back on,” he says. “Just bending over to tie my shoelaces was exhausting, climbing stairs was an issue, fitting in a plane seat or at a restaurant booth was impossible, and I was suffering from high blood pressure.”

In 2011, Magnant heard a radio ad for candidates to be part of a blind clinical trial for weight loss. He went along to a meeting to see the device and learn more. And he was impressed: “This actually sounded like it might work. It was cutting-edge and like sci-fi to use a pacemaker to tell your brain you were full. I thought, ‘Wow, this is cool!’ I had the surgery on Friday 2 December, and on Monday I was back at work. Friends who have had gastric bypass have been off work for at least six weeks.”

And the results were similarly speedy. “By Christmas, I was struggling

to eat the family dinner — I just wasn’t hungry. Before the surgery I was eating at least 3,000 calories per day and still not feeling full; since, I rarely eat half of that. In the first month I lost 8 kilograms, and after a few months everyone noticed, but I kept the device secret at first in case all the weight piled back on again,” he says. Magnant went down to 93 kilograms, but says people complained he was “looking very thin and drawn”, so he has settled at being a bit heavier and says he is comfortable with this. “I walk three miles a day, I climb three flights of stairs, I don’t feel people are looking at me because of my weight — it’s a brand new experience. I’m 63 and I feel as though I can do anything.”

Trials of the device in people with a body mass index of greater than 35 showed that more than half lost mean-

ingful weight — and they kept it off for at least the 18 months of the study. Unlike a gastric bypass, the vagal implant is fully reversible, doesn’t require a major dietary change and doesn’t cause “dumping syndrome”, in which food moves too quickly from the stomach to the bowel, or hypoglycaemia. Shikora points out that less than one per cent of potential candidates for bypass surgery actually have it because of the risks and lifestyle changes involved. “But this could offer a simpler, safer weight loss alternative.”

“My life has completely changed,” says Magnant. And this is partly because it no longer revolves around food: “Before, I’d stop at a fast-food restaurant on my way home from work, eat a couple of burgers, then go home and have dinner. Now, I’m not hungry enough to want to do that,” he laughs. -Gaia Vince/The Independent

C8

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

EXTRA Edible flowers are catching on.

A shop specialising in these flowers opened in Tokyo this year

Do

edible flowers taste good? How do you eat them?

Pink alyssum and blu- ish-purple violas presented like a salad were displayed at Table, the nation’s (Japan) first edible flower speciality shop, which opened in the Ikebukuro district in January. Jiro Kataoka, the president of the marketing company that runs the shop, became aware of the flavours of flowers about a year ago. Kataoka, who grows herbs as a hobby, casually ate the petal of a begonia and found it had a sweet-and-sour taste like a strawberry. He decided to open the shop, thinking, “I want more people to know about this.” The shop’s main customers are women, but an unexpectedly large number of men come in as well. “I think they want to surprise their wives and girlfriends,” said Kataoka, 46. People around the world eat flowers, with some traditions dating back to the pre-Christian period. In Japan, edible chrysanthemums were imported from China about 1,300 years ago, and the flower became widespread in the Edo period (1603-1867). The famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho wrote, “A butterfly comes and consumes vinegar in a namasu dish using chrysanthemum.” The term edible flowers often refers to Western blooms. They started to become popular in the United States around the 1980s.

Edible flowers are rich in fibre and nutrients such as vitamins and minerals — a nasturtium has about five times as much vitamin A as a tomato, for example. There are many flavours of edible flowers, including sweet, sour and spicy. I ate the petal of a nasturtium, and it had a pungent taste like wasabi. In Japan, the flower is available at department stores or upscale supermarkets.

Edible flower growers established a group in midApril called Nihon Edible Flower Kyokai (Japan edible flower association), comprising six farmers in areas from Hokkaido to Fukuoka. One member is Yuichi Wakisaka, 53, the president of the Wakisaka Engei flowergrowing company based in Agano, Niigata Prefecture.

A producer of seedlings for flower beds such as pansies and marigolds, Wakisaka started growing edible flowers after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Frustrated that he could only send flowers to disaster-affected areas, he recalled a newspaper article that had featured a dish using

edible flowers. He thought, “People can eat edible flowers, and also heal their suffering hearts.” The flowers will be eaten by people, so Wakisaka does not use pesticides. Growing them requires great care, but orders from restaurants and other buyers have been gradually increasing, and Wakisaka’s shipping volume is now three times as much as when he started. “I want to make the people who eat them smile, with flowers grown with the utmost care,” Wakisaka said. Saori Kihara, a 25-year-old part-timer in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, became interested in edible flowers in high school after learning she could eat a purple-red cook town orchid that was served in a glass at a cafe. She wasn’t satisfied doing research with books or the Internet, so she moved to Tokyo from Fukuoka in April and qualified as an edible-flower coordinator. She now grows six kinds of edible flowers, including verbena and chives, in pots on her balcony. “They’re beautiful and attractive, and I can experience various flavours,” she said. “I want to use the knowledge I acquired while studying for the qualification to create new dishes using edible flowers and open a cafe in the future.” I also took a cooking lesson from food researcher Can’Na, trying my hand at Vietnamese spring rolls. I put shrimp and potherb mustard on rice paper, sprinkled them with violas and marigolds, and then wrapped it all up in rice paper. The rolls looked lovely, as the petals of the flowers can be seen through the rice paper. When I ate the spring roll, the subtle aromas of the flowers came through. “It’s also great to mix nasturtiums rubbed with salt into rice or a potato salad,” Can’Na said. She recommended dishes such as spaghetti mixed with verbenas served cold for the coming season. Edible flowers can satisfy people’s stomachs and hearts — the people growing the flowers or cooking them were all smiling. I will also decorate my table with the dishes I learned about and enjoy the early summer season using all five senses.

-Mayumi Oshige/ The Washington Post

FLOWERS SOOTHE THE MIND AND PLEASE THE PALATE

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 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 12:15 pm 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 & 9:45 pm

SCREEN 3 Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 pm

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 & 10:00 pm Alexandra Daddario Burying the Ex – 2D (12+) Comedy 9:15 & 11:30 pm 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 4:00 pm 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 & 11:45 pm 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 & 9:45 pm 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

A tough discard even to consider JAMES WHISTLER said, “If other people are going to talk, conversation becomes impossible.”

If other bridge players are distracting you by talking, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to think of the best play.

Our final deal in this series on discarding is the hardest of all. South is in three no-trump. West leads his fourth-highest club.

Assuming South holds up his ace until the third round of the suit, how can the defenders obtain a topic of conversation for years to come?

South has seven top tricks — two spades, three

hearts, one diamond and one club. He hopes to establish his diamond suit for the loss of only one trick and either find clubs 4-4 or keep West off the lead while setting up his diamond suit.

Suppose East discards the heart two on the third club. Declarer plays a spade to dummy and returns a low diamond. If East plays low, South wins with his ace and leads a second round.

Alternatively, if East puts up his diamond king, declarer plays low from his hand, then cashes the diamond ace next. In both cases, South ends with an

overtrick.

What is the answer? On the third club, East must discard his diamond king!

Then West will gain the lead with his diamond queen to run his clubs.

Yes, that is a tough play to find, but note that if South has the ace-queen of diamonds, East’s king is powerless.

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

31 1 Laird’s daughter 32 5 Fat cat’s frequent 33 victim 36 9 Atlas page 38 12 Four Corners state 39 13 — Lisa 40 14 Molecular biology 43 topic 47 15 Murder and such 49 16 Forms a hard 50 coating 51 18 Novel closers 52 20 Swift-footed 21 Mauna — 53 22 Drab color 54 23 Link hands 26 Backslide 55 30 Word before

“Fire!”

Oxygen source Not just mine Falls for lovers Panorama TV network Team cheer Kind of bull Outcomes Stole the spotlight Kind of squad “Luck — — Lady” Pueblo people First-century emperor Mach 1 exceeder Gave the onceover Kind of leopard

DOWN

25 26 1 Olympic event 27 2 Perched on 28 3 Hindu attire 29 4 Beach finds 31 5 Alpha opposite 34 6 Puts on 35 7 Business mag 36 8 Scolding, so to 37 speak 39 9 Dept. store 40 inventory 41 10 — up (pay) 42 11 Dinosaur’s time 43 17 Radius companion 44 19 Alley from Moo 45 22 The, to Wolfgang 46 23 Paint container 48 24 Caesar’s 52

Rx writers org.

Narrow inlet “The Bells” poet Nearest star Before Equator segment Annoying insect On fire Stockholm carrier Butter makers Started over Ale sources Goodall subject Exam for jrs.

Descartes’ name Mortgage, e.g.

Matador’s foe Stash the bags Author — de Maupassant

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE

CHRIS TIJO THOMAS June 9, 2010

LAKSHMITHA June 9, 2010

MEDHANSH MANJUNATH June 9, 2008

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

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are a highly energetic, imaginative and creative individual, but you are not the type to build your entire life on aspirations, ambitions and illusions. On the contrary, you have your feet firmly planted on the ground, and this enables you to work in a realistic fashion to turn your dreams into reality — for despite your honest, down-to-earth nature, you are surely also a dreamer, as there is a dreamer in every Gemini native, whether he or she wishes to acknowledge it consciously or not! You’re likely to enjoy a quick start to a lucrative career, but not long after your initial success, you will come to a crossroads, and there you will be required to make a decision that may affect you for the rest of your life.

Many doors will have opened to you in your early years — socially and professionally — and it will be difficult for others to anticipate which you will step through, for you have interests and abilities that could lead you in virtually any direction. What is most important is to make a choice — any choice at all!

Also born on this date are: Johnny Depp, actor; Natalie Portman, actress; Michael J. Fox, actor; Les Paul, guitarist; Cole Porter, songwriter; Jackie Mason, comedian; Jackie Wilson, singer; Robert Cummings, actor; Robert McNamara, statesman; Gloria Reuben, actress.

W E AT H E R

C

WORLD

Max 42 Min 34 Max 28 Min 19

Max 45 Min 25

Max 39 Min 29 Max 23 Min 12

Max 36 Min 28

Max 20 Min 12

Max 40 Min 26

Max 39 Min 29

Max 40 Min 24

Max 38 Min 30

Max 36 Min 29

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] Max 32 Min 29

Max 29 Min 18

Max 34 Min 27 Max 19 Min 11

—www.met.gov.om

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

38 40 42 43 36 41

30 25 28 32 26 26

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

26 45 29 19 24 36 30 20 30 23 17 30 26 18 24 29 26 23

19 27 19 11 16 18 26 12 22 16 3 25 16 11 12 26 19 14

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] A faster pace is tempting, surely, but you must be aware of certain dangers that will arise if you try to do anything too quickly.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You may not be understood completely, yet at the same time, you may be misunderstanding what a loved one is trying to tell you.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You must pay attention to one or two sticking points. The success of a current project depends on your ability to maneuver.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may be expecting too much from others. Realise that not everyone is able to keep up with you — at least, not in the way you prefer.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You’re expecting a great deal from teamwork, but you may actually get better results working on your own.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You may find that you’re a hot topic on the rumour mill. This can give you some enjoyment — up to a point.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] You must be ready and willing to step in and ease tensions that arise quickly when someone says the wrong thing.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] There is much you can do at home, but you must tend to business in a certain order — otherwise, mess begets more mess!

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] Don’t let yourself be tempted to do anything that, deep down, you believe is better left to someone else. You know your limits!

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] You’re getting closer to the bull’seye, but there’s still something that is keeping you from hitting dead center.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] You must not let your own emotions keep you from making the correct business decision. Later, you can sort out how you feel.

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

6:52pm 5.19am

High tide Low tide

1:53pm 7:09am

12:37am 7:23pm

and occasionally fresh.

SEA STATE: Moderate to rough along the southeastern coasts with a maximum wave height of 3.0 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coast with a maximum wave height 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming weak during fog, dust and thundershowers.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Chance of convective clouds developments and thundershowers over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas toward afternoon. Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.

Max

OMAN

CANCER

12.11pm 3.29pm 6.57pm 8.20pm 3.52am

AIRLINES

lear to partly cloudy skies over Dhofar governorate with chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog along the southeastern coastal areas. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with chances of convective clouds developments and thundershowers over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas towards tomorrow afternoon and evening that may be associated with hail and fresh downdraft wind, may extend to the desert areas causing blowing dust.

EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be variable light at night becoming northeasterly light to moderate during day and southwesterly moderate to fresh along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea. While over rest of the Sultanate it will be southerly to southeasterly light to moderate

GEMINI You’ve settled on a course of action, but you may still be considering an alternative that can somehow be explored separately.

PRAYER TIMINGS

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

TUESDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

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

WEDNESDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

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

WY648 WY406 WY676 WY672 WY682 WY914 WY916 TK774 4H583 PK229 GF560 FZ035 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY686 G9841 WY144 WY668 WY674 WY132 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY422 WY602 WY342 NL768 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY282 WY226 EK862 WY242 IX549 WY252 QR1128 EY382 IX443 QR8550 WY3922 WY652 9W530 WY918 WY604 WY3302 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 PA450 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 WY670 WY324 WY332 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY348 G9119 FZ045 WY3304 WY656 QR1126 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY254 WY610 GF564 WY216 G9116 WY274 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY632 WY386 WY614 WY848 WY338 FZ049 AI977 KL441 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 WY717 WY328 EY388 WY414 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY636 WY654 WY928 WY816 WY612 WY696

KUWAIT 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 MEDINA 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 LAHORE 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DUBAI 0340 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0635 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 RIYADH 0655 RAS AL KHAIMA 0655 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 PARIS 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 BEIRUT 0805 DUBAI 0805 LAHORE 0825 LAHORE 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0955 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 DOHA 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1035 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KHASAB 1115 DUBAI 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 LAHORE 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 ISLAM ABBAD 1515 SHARJAH 1525 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 MADRAS 1750 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 TRIVANDRUM 1820 SHARJAH 1905 JAIPUR 1910 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 KARACHI 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 AMMAN 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 ABU DHABI 2340 BAHRAIN 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

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

9W539 AI986 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY201 WY685 WY643 WY251 WY341 WY601 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY847 WY241 WY901 WY667 TK775 4H584 PK230 WY331 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ036 QR1133 WY651 GF561 WY3921 G9842 WY603 WY903 WY3301 WY917 WY347 WY669 WY323 FZ044 WY633 WY815 WY291 WY215 WY253 NL769 WY717 WY263 WY385 WY821 WY843 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 IX554 WY337 QR1129 EY383 IX442 WY311 9W533 WY919 QR8550 WY655 GF563 WY273 FZ038 WY3303 IX350 PA451 WY113 WY663 WY143 WY645 WY101 WY423 WY153 WY927 WY413 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 G9110 FZ046 WY631 WY613 QR1127 WY327 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 AI978 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 EY381 LH617

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 BOMBAY 0115 RIYADH 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 LAHORE 0145 DUBAI 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 SALALAH 0215 DOHA 0225 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 LAHORE 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0645 BAHRAIN 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0740 RAS AL KHAIMA 0745 DUBAI 0750 SALALAH 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 ISLAM ABBAD 0830 DOHA 0835 KARACHI 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 TRIVANDRUM 0915 MADRAS 0915 LAHORE 0930 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 MANILA 0955 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1205 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 JAIPUR 1220 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1255 LAHORE 1315 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 BEIRUT 1415 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 AMMAN 1440 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 SHARJAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 ABU DHABI 1640 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 KARACHI 1810 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

ETD

ETA

ETD

T U E S DAY, JU N E 9, 2 0 1 5

C11

EXTRA Are we paying for our privacy, or are we not?

Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter — all services we rely on and all services we believe we don’t have to pay for. Not with cash, anyway, but ad-financed Internet platforms

T

he ad-financed Internet aren’t free, and the price they extract in terms of privacy and control is getting only costlier. A recent Pew Research Centre poll shows that 93 per cent of the public believes that “being in control of who can get information about them is important,” and yet the amount of information we generate online has exploded and we seldom know where it all goes.

Facebook and other social networking sites that collect vast amounts of user data are financed by ads. Just this week Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, announced plans to open users’ feeds to more advertisers.

The dirty secret of this business model is that Internet ads aren’t worth much. Ask Ethan Zuckerman, who in the 1990s helped found Tripod.com, one of the web’s earliest ad-financed sites with user-generated content.

He even helped invent the popup ad because corporations were wary of the user content appearing next to their ads. He came to regret both: the pop-up and the adfinanced business model. The former is annoying but it’s the latter that is helping destroy the fabric of a rich, pluralistic Internet.

Zuckerman points out that Facebook makes about 20 cents per user per month in profit.

This is a pitiful sum, especially since the average user spends an impressive 20 hours on Facebook every month, according to the company. This paltry profit margin drives the business model — Internet ads are basically worthless unless they are hypertargeted based on tracking and extensive profiling of users. This is a bad bargain, especially since two-thirds of American adults don’t want ads that target them based on that tracking and analysis of personal behaviour.

This way of doing business rewards huge Internet platforms, since ads that are worth so little can support only companies with hundreds of millions of users.

Ad-based businesses distort our online interactions. People flock to Internet platforms because they help us connect with one another or the world’s bounty of information — a crucial, valuable function. Yet ad-based financing means that the companies have an interest in manipulating our attention on behalf of advertisers, instead of letting us connect as we wish. Many users think their feed shows everything that their friends post.

It doesn’t. Facebook runs its billion-plus users’ newsfeed by a proprietary, ever-changing algorithm that decides what we see.

If Facebook didn’t have to control the feed to keep us on the site longer and to inject ads into our stream, it could instead offer us

Much of what you read on Twitter is hoax, says study AT LEAST 25 per cent of all the news that you get on Twitter is fake, says a new study.

Also, the study found that 25 per cent of all tweets sent are “not credible”. For frequent Twitter users this might not come as a surprise. People post false information all the time for various reasons — some inadvertent, others deliberate — such as ignorance about a particular issue or if they are curious to know more about a subject. Some people also have malicious intent to mess with people’s heads and then there are all the rumours about celebrities, big brands and politicians. The study appeared in The New Scientist.

Feel virtual reality with new gloves that let you sense things YOU WOULD have sensed virtual reality through sight and sound so far. Now, you can touch the virtual objects, thanks to a new pair of gloves. Gloveone, the new green and black gloves from Spainbased tech company NeuroDigital Technologies, will let you actually feel sensations like shape and weight when interacting with virtual objects. The developers claim that the wearers will be able to feel rain and fire, and also something as ethereal as butterfly wings, Discovery.com reported.

Facebook ‘unfriend’ app could steal your data BEWARE while downloading apps, some of them may steal your data, say experts. Recently, an app, Unfriend Alert — that alerts you when someone “unfriends” you on Facebook — has been found to be collecting users’ Facebook data. The app is free and notifies you whenever someone removes you from the Facebook friend list. But it asks for your sign in and password. The app also displays ads and can instal malicious software on the user’s computer. -IANS

control over this algorithm.

Many nonprofits and civic groups that were initially thrilled about their success in using Facebook to reach people are now despondent as their entries are less and less likely to reach people who “liked” their posts unless they pay Facebook to help boost their updates.

What to do? It’s simple: Internet sites should allow their users to be the customers. I would, as I bet many others would, happily pay more than 20 cents per month for a Facebook or a Google that did not track me, upgraded its encryption and treated me as a customer whose preferences and privacy matter.

Many people say that no significant number of users will ever pay directly for Internet services. But that is because we are misled by the mantra that these services are free. With growing awareness of the privacy cost of ads, this may well change. Mil-

lions of people pay for Netflix despite the fact that pirated copies of many movies are available free. We eventually pay for ads, anyway, as that cost is baked into products we purchase. A seamless, secure micropayment system that spreads a few pennies at a time as we browse a social network, up to a preset monthly limit.

There are other obstacles.

Someone has to build those viable, privacy-preserving micropayment systems — but Silicon Valley is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, right? And we’re not starting from scratch. Micropayment systems that would allow users to spend a few cents here and there, not be so easily tracked by all the Big Brothers, and even allow personalisation were developed in the early days of the Internet. Big banks and large Internet platforms didn’t show much interest in this micropayment path, which would

RESEARCH

Reality doesn’t exist until it’s measured

BY REPLICATING a famous experiment where an object is given a choice for how to behave, physicists found that the object doesn’t actually make its decision until it is seen. The finding proves one of the central parts of quantum theory, a branch of science that has been applied to make much of our modern technology.

Scientists gave an object a chance either to act like a wave or a particle, and looked to find out when the decision was made.

While one might expect that it is either one or the other, quantum physics predicts that it will only act one way or the other when it is measured, after it has decided — and that was confirmed by the experiment. To perform the test, scientists isolated a single helium atom. They then dropped it through a laser beam, and used a random number to decide whether a second set of beams were added that would interfere with the atom’s path.

But the researchers found that number wasn’t calculated until after the atom had passed through the crossroads of lasers and decided which way to go.

Though the atom had already

BRIEFS

decided whether it would behave like a wave or a particle, it wasn’t decided which way it would go until it was measured, the research found. The test is known as the delayed-choice thought experiment, and was proposed by John Wheeler.

When he came up with it in 1978, it seemed impossible that it could ever be put to the test

— but researchers from the Australian National University were able to run a slightly varied version of it in tests. “It proves that measurement is everything. At the quantum level, reality does not exist if you are not looking at it,” Truscott said.

Truscott and his team published their findings in Nature Physics. -Andrew Griffin/The Independent

limit their surveillance abilities.

We can revive it.

If even a quarter of Facebook’s 1.5 billion users were willing to pay $1 per month in return for not being tracked or targeted based on their data, that would yield more than $4 billion per year.

Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, seems to have plenty of money, but I’d like to give him some of mine. I want to pay a small fee for the right to keep my information private and to be able to hear from the people I want — not the sponsored-content makers I want to avoid. I want to be a customer, not a product.

Zuckerberg has reportedly spent more than $30 million to buy the homes around his in Palo Alto, California, and more than $100 million for a secluded parcel of land in Hawaii. He knows privacy is worth paying for. -Zeynep Tufekci/The New York Times News Service

C12

TU ESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015

EXTRA B O L LY W O O D

Salman upset with fake social media users IT SEEMS like Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is upset with those social media users who post abusive messages to other celebrities via fake accounts in order to show unethical support for their favourite star. The 49-year-old, who is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film Bajrangi Bhaijaan, took to Twitter on Monday to show his concern over the issue by asking how many people are following him with fake identities.

“How many of u r on false identities n y,” Salman tweeted. In another post, he added: “Fan who is on a false identity using it to put another actor, friend, colleague down, is no fan of mine, don’t like. Simple funda hai.” In the past few months, many big stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Kangana Ranaut and Yami Gautam have warned their fans over following their fake accounts on various social networking websites.

Shilpa Shetty turns 40, gets ‘Bond’ themed surprise

Scientists produce self-healing aircraft wings The research is an important step in an emerging field which could soon produce self-healing nail polish and a cure for cracked mobile phone screens

E

ven the researchers involved in the project describe it as “verging on science fiction”. A team of British scientists has produced aircraft wings that can fix themselves after being damaged, suggesting that self-healing technology will soon become commonplace.

Their research, due to be presented at a Royal Society meeting in London this week, is being billed as an important step in an emerging field which could soon produce self-healing nail polish and a cure for cracked mobile phone screens.

A team at the University of Bristol has been quietly developing the technology for the past three years. Speaking exclusively to The Independent on Sunday, its leader, Professor Duncan Wass, said he expected self-healing products to reach consumers in the “very near future”. His team specialises in modifying carbon fibre composite materials, the strong but lightweight substances used increasingly widely in the manufacture of everything from commercial aircraft wings to sports racquets and high-performance bicycles.

Professor Wass and his team have been working with aerospace engineers at the university, who wanted to know if there was a way of preventing the tiny, almost undetectable cracks that form in an aircraft’s wings and fuselage.

The team’s ingenious solution

started “on the back of an envelope” but has since developed into useable technology. It involves adding tiny, hollow “microspheres” to the carbon material — so small that they look like a powder to the human eye — which break on impact, releasing a liquid healing agent.

The agent seeps into the cracks left by the damage before coming into contact with a catalyst, triggering a rapid chemical reaction which causes it to harden.

“We took inspiration from the human body,” Professor Wass said. “We’ve not evolved to withstand any damage — if we were like that we’d have a skin as thick as a rhinoceros — but if we do get damaged, we bleed, and it scabs and heals. We just put that same sort of function into a synthetic material — let’s have something that can heal itself.” Laboratory tests have established that the material is just as strong after it has “healed”, raising the possibility of aircraft wings that can repair themselves “literally on the fly” if a bird strike takes place in midflight, Professor Wass said.

The technology could also make airline safety checks far cheaper as a dye could be added to the healing agent causing any damage to an aircraft to stand out like a bruise. This would allow engineers to identify damaged areas quickly — and ensure that they do not miss anything as they examine the plane.

The technology could also make airline safety checks far cheaper as a dye could be added to the healing agent causing any damage to an aircraft to stand out like a bruise Professor Wass said a bruise was a “good analogy” — but accepted that the dye would need to be tweaked to cater for nervous fliers. “We’d probably do it with something which is invisible to the naked eye that you’d need to put an ultraviolet light on, because you don’t want an aeroplane wing with a big red splodge on it showing that it’s been damaged.”

Depending on the outside temperature, the material can take anywhere between a couple of hours and a day to recover. “If you’re on a runway in Dubai it would probably heal in a couple of hours, but if you were on a runway in Reykjavik in winter it would probably be more like 24 hours,” Professor Wass said.

The research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s UK Catalysis Hub, a collaborative project between universities and industry.

This week’s conference, entitled Catalysis Improving Society, will be one of the first events at which the team’s achievements have been detailed in public. Professor Richard Catlow of the University of London, one of the organisers of the meeting, said the research showed that catalysis — which is already used widely in the petrochemicals industry — could offer enormous benefits in other areas, at a “relatively low cost”.

The Bristol team’s advances could be applied to all kinds of carbon fibre composite materials — meaning that self-healing golf clubs, tennis racquets, fishing rods and bike helmets could be just around the corner.

The cosmetics firm L’Oréal has also contacted the team to register its interest in self-healing nail varnish. This would require different technology, but Professor Wass said the general principle would remain the same.

“We’re definitely getting to the stage where in the next five or 10 years we’re going to see things like mobile phone screens that can heal themselves if they crack,” he said.

The dawn of self-healing technology was heralded in 2001, when researchers at the University of Illinois in the US created a plastic capable of repairing itself when it cracked. Last year, the same team created a polymer, inspired by the human blood-clotting system, which patched holes up to 3 centimetres wide. -Chris Green/The Independent

BOLLYWOOD actress Shilpa Shetty, who turned 40 on Monday, received an “unbelievable” birthday surprise party from her husband and businessman Raj Kundra, who made sure that she had the best birthday ever. Kundra planned a surprise birthday party for Shilpa in Montenegro and invited her close friends and family members to celebrate the occasion, without her being aware about it. Shilpa’s sister Shamita Shetty, and actor Harman Baweja were among the ones present at the party. Shilpa took to Twitter to share her happiness about the surprise party on Monday. “UNBELIEVABLE birthday surprise! In Montenegro and all my dearest family and friends flown in to wish me @TheRajKundra u r the “Bestest” she wrote.

My role gives me a unique outlook: Kamal Haasan KAMAL HAASAN who will act in and direct Amar Hai, says his role in the movie will have a unique outlook. “My character, though not that of a conventional antagonist, would present a point of view that is far from ordinary,” Kamal said.

The film will also feature Saif Ali Khan, and it is an intense tale based on politics, business dynamics and underworld equations. Being produced by Virendra K. Arora and Arjun N. Kapoor, the project will be a two-hero project. Two actresses will be cast for the movie. Kamal is currently shooting for Tamil thriller Thoongaavanam, while awaiting the release of another thriller Papanasam. Amar Hai will be actor Kamal Haasan’s second directed Hindi film in 18 years, after Chachi 420.

Malaika wanted to be styled by Gaurang Shah DESIGNER GAURANG SHAH, who showcased his creations at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards’ fashion extravaganza in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, says he was thrilled when actress Malaika Arora Khan said she wished to be styled by him. Shah showcased 26 looks from his latest collection Umrao. “I met many Bollywood stars at the event. When I introduced myself, they said they have heard a lot about me. I was humbled to meet,” he said. -IANS

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, J U N E 9, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

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

CARGO

D7

D2

T U E S D AY, J U N E 9, 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

4 Ware house at Barka Falaij.

Contact: 99337857 Flats for rent in Muttrah near Oman house 2 BHK. Contact: 97009734 / 92629232

1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM, neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent.

Contact Iqrar on 99076557

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

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

MBD area, fully equipped AC Executive office @ RO 200 pm with conference room. Unlimited local calls & internet services. Contact 99451845 / 99232271.

Flats for rent Al Ansab (Ghala) 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets, 1sitting room & kitchen. Contact: 94229023 Villa for rent villa at Al Fay Housing Complex near Al Khodh main police station 4 bedrooms, servant quarter.

Contact: 96419690 3 BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111

2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2 BHK flat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/- Contact – 93191111

Labour Camp or store in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99792181

5000 sqm prime indusial land in Misfah, Bausher, with 550 sqm of covered warehouse and office space, for rent only. Contact: + 968 – 99264162 Brand new 6 BHK villa in Al Azaiba with split A/C & lift. RO.1200/Contact – 93191111 Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314 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

2 BHK near Oman House Khimji H.O. Contact: 95865686 2 rooms, 1 bath room for Indian near Ruwi church. Contact: 99746379 Shop / office near Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

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

Office space in new building at MBD South. Contact : 94460790 / 24714625

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

2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/Contact – 93191111

Furnished 2BHK Amerat 200 rent.

Contact 95113797

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

Flat in Darsait, Mumtaz behind Ministry of Sport 2 bedrooms, living room, 3 bathrooms & kitchen split 400/- R.O . Contact: 92479515

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

Contact: 99366624

Flats in Al Ghubra near 18 Nov .St, 1 bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen with AC 280/- R.O family only. Contact: 92479515

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 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 For rent 3 industrial land.

Contact 92702891/ 95490842 2 bedroom flat new building in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99313274 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 3 flats for rent 3 bedrooms include A/C, near the highway (Bowshar Amerat). Contact 97777911 / 95533777 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

T U E S DAY, J U N E 9, 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

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/-.

Contact 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.

Contact 92275454 Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92277419

Fully furnished 1 BHK Flat available in Ruwi 2 moths only (July/August) Contact: 99369081

4000 sqm building ware house area for sale or rent next to Express highway also used 40 ft seaworthy container for sale in very good condition. Contact 99771466 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 Super market in (Hairoon Hairithi) Thamrith road. Contact 98189810 / 99675190.

Shop for sale in Ibra and Bid Bid. Contact: 95304693 Ice Cream & Juices shop in Ruwi good location for sale 1.5 mt fish display machine unused for sale.

Contact: 92150455

Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

Coffee shop for sale in North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009

Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

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

Furnished single rooms available for Executive bachelors at Ruwi.

Contact: 98049288

Indian restaurant fully furnished and equipped with banquet hall and spacious parking opposite Naseem Garden for sale. Contact Eng: 99771466 Arabic: 99454415

Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact : 92800007

1BHK Mumtaz R.O 250/-.

Contact: 97799175

Family sharing villa room available at Al Khuwair. Contact: 99382008

Running computer shop for sale Souq Sohar. Contact 99420543

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

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

ACC. AVAILABLE

FOR SALE

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

Single bedroom available for veg. family/bachelor at Wadi Kabir, behind Mars. Contact 99877845.

Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 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

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

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

ACC. WANTED Technical Trading Co. LLC is looking for a bachelor accommodation for their 150 staff in Al Hail, Seeb, Maabela, Mawaleh area on immediate basis. Interested parties please contact Mr. Qais Al Rashdi on 99421323 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

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

3bedrooms Al Hail. Contact 92817777 Semi furnished single room for Executive bachelors behind Kamat Restaurant Al Khuwair. #94271085 Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area available for Executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR100/-. Contact: 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. Contact: 95931004

2014 model Toyota Yaris 1.5 fully automatic with power window expat driven Mulkya valid till Nov. 2015 for sale. Contact: 93581825 13- seater Hiace Toyota bus model -83 for sale OR 500 only.

Contact : 99325827

Family room available at Muttrah.

Contact: 24712088 / 99022790

BMW X1 2012 model 20750 km excellent condition, sun roof. Indian lady driven RO 9750 new price 17000. Contact 95865457

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

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285

Independent house with 1 room, kitchen and toilet in Wadi Kabir.

Rent: RO 170. Contact: 96639246

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

Land Cruiser 2012.

Contact GSM- 99336093 Hyundai Accent 2004, fully automatic.

Contact: 99045803

TRANSPORTATION Pick & drop available. Contact 96913836.

Transportation. Contact: 95190627 Pick & Drop anytime Contact: 91653903

2 Rooms with separate bathroom & kitchen for executive bachelors.

Gsm 942-888-63

Transportation available.

Contact: 99867456

LOST

Transportation.

Contact: 91310107

Tho Al figar Islam has lost Pakistan Passport No. AH 5782561. Finder please handover to ROP. Wards Else Baey Aly El Sayad has lost Egyptian Passport No. 4096489.

Finder please handover to ROP

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

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

Driver with vehicle. Contact: 99159277 Pick & Drop any time. Contact: 97014786

D4

T U E S D AY, J U N E 9, 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 Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Urgently required Advertising & Media Sales Executives with Oman D/L. Trainee positions available for Freshers.

Email: jobs@interacoman.com 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 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

ADMIN

Sales man required for printing press preferable with car.

Contact : 97842797

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

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

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

TOURISM Wanted urgently female for Travel agency knowing Sabre Reservation and ticketing system.

Contact : 95878812

ACCOUNTANT

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: Accountant with minimum 5 years experience with operating knowledge of tally.

Email: applyforoman@gmail.com

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

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

Experienced up-to finalization accountant looking for part time job.

Contact : 99002390 Indian Female 25 MBA looking for a suitable opening in Accounts, Admin/ Hr. Contact 97013375

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

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 Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required.

Email: applyforoman@gmail.com

ENGINEER A well reputed company is looking for experienced digital Signage Technicians & Managers. Send CV to hr.oman@yahoo.com Required full time Social Networker for sites like twitter, LinkedIn, face book.

Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com MEP Contractor in Muscat looking for AC Foreman with minimum 5 years experience in Split AC installation. Contact: 92472326 Email:info@4dengineering.net 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 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 Required Gynecology, General Physician, Dentist, Staff Nurses, Lab technicians, Pharmacists, X Ray technicians.

Contact : 95133572 / 96064925 Email: kunoozghala@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a polyclinic in Sohar. Contact :3457270 Required a MOH licensed female Nurse for a private clinic near Al-Suwaiq. Call 93746086 Urgent required staff Nurse in Mabela.

Contact- 95200180.

Email: amanammc@gmail.com

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

Contact: 99383044

SALES / MARKETING Urgently required Sales & Marketing Executive for Electrical & lighting products with Oman driving license. Send CV at Email : albasilinternational@gmail.com 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.

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

Indian male, B.Com, 1 year Exp in Accounts/ Sales, on Visit Visa,..

Contact – 98295101 Indian / Keralite – CMA (US) , CAInter , M.Com, total 20 years experience with 11 years M/ East experience as Finance / A/ Cs Manager, seeks suitable offers from reputed companies in Oman. Sunil V.S. Contact : +91-9526756488 Email: sunil_ramanin@yahoo.co.in Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan.

Contact : 97796394 / 94003247 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 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 Indian male Graduate 26 yrs 5 yrs experience in Accounts and Administration looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91301983 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 Accounts part time works up to finalization on monthly basis. Profit & loss A/C and financial statements, MS Reports Etc. Contact: 96247295 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 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

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ADMIN/HR

Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331

Indian female MBA, 3 Years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com

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 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 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 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 ACCA & B.Com with Noc more than 5 years of experience in accounts & finance looking for a suitable job can join immediately.

Contact: 97012146 MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa. Contact: 99424803 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 Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154 Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

ADMIN/HR Indian female MBA – 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

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 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, 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 female 29 MBA (HR) BSc, 4 yrs exp in HR& Admin looking suitable placement. Contact : 95619537 MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in operations with D/L, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075 Indian female post Graduate with 5 years experience in HR and Admin looking for good opportunity.

Contact: 94692244

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT 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

BEAUTICIAN Indian Beautician looking for job in Oman, with 5 yrs Oman experience.

Contact: 98869716

DRIVER Bangladeshi Driver seeks suitable job K. S.A 12 years Oman 3 years 42 yrs. Contact 95796030 Looking for job driving Bangladeshi.

Contact: 97418036 Pick up and drop anytime.

Contact: 96748967 Light driver for job. Contact: 95779594 Light vehicle driver looking for job.

Contact: 91452930 Driver looking for job, light vehicle.

Contact: 95446207 Driver light. Contact: 91020999 Pakistani driving available.

Contact : 96913836

T U E S DAY, J U N E 9, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DRIVER

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

SALES / MARKETING

Light Driver having own visa looking for job as driver.

Contact: 97073429

Quantity Surveyor with 5 Years experience (one year in Oman) looking for job. Contact 91090036

Driver available with or without car.

Contact 96771598

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

Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

L.T.V driver language, Hindi, Arabic & English. Contact: 98802079 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 Light Driver needs Job. Contact: 93284327

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

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Omani Mechanical Engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500 Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certified, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952 Indian male 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 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 9731

BE Mechanical Engineer 2 years experience in fabrication and erection of heavy structures as project Engineer in India, now on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92151818 B.Tech Civil Engineer Indian male 13 year’s exp seeking suitable job.

Contact 0091 9640973798 Email: firozbakhtiar2@gmail.com Interior Architecture Engineer, 7 years experience (5 years in Oman) expert in exterior & interior architecture designs presented by 3D MAX- V ray AutoCAD Photoshop, fluent in Arabic & English.

Contact: 96519172 Email: eng.interiorarchitect@gmail.com Indian M 25 yrs B.E Mechanical, 3 yrs exp in Oil & Gas project Engineer now on visit visa.

Contact: 96487013 Email: riarun.007@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer Indian 1 year experience HVAC (MEP) available in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable job. Contact : 93670280 Email: jinv.avm@gmail.com Indian male 25yrs, BE Electrical and electronics engg, seeking for a suitable position, with DL, NOC, Contact :98347864 Iraqi female Communication Engineer having 5 yrs of exp in teaching computer program.

Contact : 99132159 Email: marwan.saad39@yahoo.com 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

Indian male, B.Tech Mechanical having 4 years experience with QA/ QC / CSWIP looking for a suitable position. Contact: 99447106 Email: dhanubhasi87@gmail.com

Iraqi Civil Engineer 12 years experience, resident having Omani driving license. Contact : 94695595

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

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

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 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.

B. Tech Instrumentation Engineer more than 4 year experience SCADA, PLC, DCS, ESD (Honeywell, Yokagawa). Contact: 93670890 Email: mojin.a.kabeer@gmail.com

M.B.S (Management) looking for suitable Marketing job.

Contact: 96487152

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

IT

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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

In search of job. Qualification b.com, key skills- MS office, Tally, Internet with valid Oman light driving license. *NOC available.

Contact:92239065

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

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

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 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 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

HOSPITALITY Indian male/30 years with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at 5 star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruseliner as butler.

Contact 91135371

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

4 yrs exp (Money Exch. Services & hospitality services in Oman& India) Indian male 27, Graduate in Hospitality Science, fluent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks job.

Contact 91383167

Indian male Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer having 5 yrs exp with valid Omani D/L & NOC. Contact: 96082604

Indian male fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail. com, Contact 00919567722270

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

Indian female MCA, experience in C#.Net, SQL Server, ORACLE with 4.5 years experience seeking suitable positions.

Contact: 96485923, 99886271. prathibhakp07@gmail.com IT Desktop Support Engineer 2 years Oman 3 years in Indian Exp. Contact 91937060 M.C.A Indian male 36 yrs experience in IT Support/ customer serving support with 5 yrs experience seeking suitable position.

Contact: 92041909 Male 26 completed acter MBA and have 1.5 years experience, good knowledge of computer, software’s, looking for job in procurement / warehousing. On visit visa till 5th Sep /2015.

Contact: 00968 91795092 Email: jameel6345@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 Net work Technician CCTV, UTP, OFC, Flooring work 6 yrs experience (GCC). Contact: +91 9526888134

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR 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, B.Tech, MBA, Prince -2 from UK. 24 yrs exp in EPC project management of oil & gas pipelines, refineries & power plants. Seeking job immediately / on visit/ Contact: + 00968912639 Email: josececy25@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS IT 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 MCA Indian male 24 yrs seeking suitable placement in software / Database support currently on visit visa. Contact 96785261 Email: sudheesh.edakkadan@gmail.com

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

Contact: 96377039 Looking for job building maintenance electric and plumbing.

Contact: 99365092 Ware house In charge or store keeper 27 yrs Gulf experience 4 yrs in Oman NOC available.

Contact: 97657823 Email: rusaikmzm_2009@yahoo.com

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

MEDICAL Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com BSc Staff Nurse with license.

Contact 92765457 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

Indian male over 5 years experience in media marketing sales collection looking for suitable job.

Contact : 95064202 Indian male, 27 yrs, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 91993376 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 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 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 8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535

TOURS & TRAVELS Indian male, IATA qualified & English graduate on family visit looking for a suitable job. Contact no.

93449151, 99475217.

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE Indian male MBA having 10 years experience in Oman as Document controller and 2+ Years experience as Project Assistant / Executive Secretary seeks suitable placement.

NOC available Contact: 95373198, email: sydnvrng@yahoo.com Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING Indian 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.

Contact 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

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

SALES / MARKETING Sr. Manager, MBA, 18yrs professional exp in Building materials, interiors, tiles, sanitary wares, Gypsum in gulf, seeking job immediately/on visit/ Contact - 93364846 / mgrprofessional@hotmail.com Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately Contact: 91991435, 93310821 Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com Indian female B.ED & BCA looking for a suitable placement in school or admin office, having 5 yrs exp in same field. Contact – 97384206 / rani_sweet786@live.com Electronics and instrumentation Engineer 28 year Indian male, electrical, electronic, industrial, building & automation exp of 4+ yrs in India.

Contact - 93154156 CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. #96760618 email: varghese.manthara@gmail.com Indian female with MBA (Finance) on visit visa, seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

D6

T U E S D AY, J U N E 9, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED MISCELLANEOUS Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, Experience in audit/ finance of 2.5 years in Big 6 Firm and Oil industry, looking for suitable permanent placement, Release NOC available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com 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

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED

Female 26 M.Tech bio medical Engineer, 1plus years experience in research and teaching seeking opening. Contact : 91960160 Email: amluprasannan@gmail.com

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

Contact 99196621

7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job. Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com

Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903.

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, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99486374

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

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 Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 MEP Quantity Surveyor-Estimation-Project, 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 Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909

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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED

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

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

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

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

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609

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

8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601 Iraqi Pharmacist with 15 years experience as regulatory affairs and Marketing Manager seeking job in pharmaceutical co. Mobile 96720441 B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position.

94151658

8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement. Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121.

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

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 Indian female, IATA, Bsc, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact-95514305, email idraveendranmala@gmail.com

26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :94501423

Indian male, Engineer, BE Mechanical, having with 21 years of experience in India and 13 years in Oman, In production, project management, quality control and assurance and MR for ISO and API Standards looking out for a suitable placement in Oman. GSM: 00968 97311616.

E-MAIL: fahazasa@yahoo.com

Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years experience in audit/finance and oil company in reputed firms. Looking for suitable permanent placement.

Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

Male, 30 years Accountant, 1 year Oman experience in accountants, finance. Seeking suitable position in Muscat .Can join immediately, NOC available. Email: lalitbls1@gmail.com Call: 97903175

CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 96 76 06 18 Indian male, total experience is 5 years in Retail industry. Currently supervisor in Sun and sand sports Muscat City centre. Contact : 96994345.

Email : jsp.jsr85@gmail.com Indian male, post graduate, currently in Oman on visit visa. Seeks suitable placement.Contact 92388346 Indian male 60 years old have 30 years Muscat experience in all office works with Omani driving license.

Contact: 99024055 Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 year experience in different activities. Contact; +96894549609 More than Ten years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics& Administration.# 91076608 / 99322748 MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. Contact 9588 7051, Email: ashwininakod@gmail

T U E S DAY, J U N E 9, 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

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic massage backache, joint pain & neck pain etc.

Contact: 98254909 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 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

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 Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131

D8

T U E S D AY, J U N E 9, 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

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

Wanted Sub Contractors : Shuttering work, steel, concrete block work, plastering, tile fixing for Buraimi, School project.

Contact : 99427674/ 24700373/ Fax: 24701368

DRIVING

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

Scrap business running scrap business sale with 60 Ton Weighing Bridge in Mabellah.

Contact: 92295780 New Construction Company required investors for financial project.

Contact: 92959251

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 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

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

CLASSES

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 A/C maintenance split A/C servicing. RO. 10 only. Contact 94217681/ 99210141

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

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

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

Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 House shifting packing.

99657644 / 98518013 Learn Cup cakes, exotic cakes, Icing decorations, handicrafts.

Contact 95941515

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

NRI

House shifting. Contact 99708138 Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /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 A/C maintenance & servicing. Fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing. Painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/ 24504281

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