Times of Oman - April 10, 2016

SUNDAY

April 10, 2016 2 Rajab 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 20th National Day, 1990

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ The great ambitions of nations and peoples are not achieved accidentally or by depending on others. They are only achieved by self-reliance, hard work, creative efforts, wholehearted and responsible participation.

MORNING MINUTE

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 41

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

W E AT H E R U P D AT E

Heavy rain in many areas of Sultanate MUSCAT: Moderate to heavy rain fell in a number of wilayats of the Sultanate, leading to overflow of wadis.

Heavy rain fell in Tanuf, Su’al, Hayy Al Ain, Ghubrat Nizwa, Al Rahba, Taimsa and Firaq in the wilayat of Nizwa of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.

Heavy rain was also reported in the Niyabat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, leading to overflowing of the wadi of Bani Jaber.

Heavy rain was also reported in the wilayats of Bahla, Izki and Sumail.

Light to moderate rain also fell in the wilayat of Mahut in Al Wusta Governorate, leading to overflow of Wadi Dangar.

Earlier on Friday, two people died following heavy rainfall in Oman on Friday, according to the official account of the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).

The bodies were found in the early afternoon hours on Friday by citizens after being drowned in the Wadi Al Khabil in the wilayat of Quraiyat. —ONA

OMAN AIR TO LAUNCH SECOND DAILY SERVICE TO LONDON

The new service, to be launched on April 12, will complement Oman Air’s existing daily, non-stop and direct service between the two capitals. It is being launched in response to the overwhelming demand from air travellers for flights between Muscat and London, and to onward destinations. — File picture See page 6

Life term may not be for life under proposed law FAHAD AL GHADANI & REJIMON K

TECHNOLOGY SHOW

100 firms to participate in Comex 2016 MUSCAT: More than 100 companies will take part in the Comex 2016 IT, the Telecom and Technology Show (Comex 2016) scheduled to kick off on April 12 at Oman International Exhibition Centre..

The five-day event is organised by Oman International Trade and Exhibitions and aims at showcasing the latest developments and solutions in the world of information technology (IT).

The exhibition includes this year two pavilions namely business and shoppers. They include public and private companies in the IT and telecom areas.

A new section will be launched for e-economy. It will focus on the importance of e-purchase for small projects. The exhibitors will present products and services in relation to payment portals, financial and banking services platforms, retail sale and customers dealing systems, as well as Comex smart offers. Elite speakers will discuss major issues related to latest developments in the ICT. The last version of the event witnessed a large turnout as visitors exceeded 120,000. — ONA

New suggestions include changing the tariff for a life sentence from all of a prisoner’s remaining years to 25 years

fahadnews@timesofoman.com reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Life in prison may no longer mean life under changes to the legal system proposed by the Majlis Al Shura.

Shahm Al Shahoomi, member of the Legal Committee at the Majlis Al Shura, said that a raft of suggestions included changing the tariff for a life sentence from all of a prisoner’s remaining years to 25 years, in line with similar

the life sentence to 25 years only.

The meeting came out with many important changes including the change to life imprisonment and the committee worked towards equalising crimes with penalties.

“Many crimes were not equal with the penalty and vice versa.

The committee came out with proportionality between crimes and penalties imposed for violators,” said Al Shahoomi.

Al Shahoomi also explained that this suggestion, if activated, will not deal with existing sentence but only those coming after the

imposing of the new panel code.

Last week, a new draft Omani penal code, which has been prepared to compliment the modern era, has been discussed and approved by members of the Shura Council.

The new penal code will extend the purview of the current law, which was issued in 1974.

“We currently abide by the penal code issued in 1974, whose essential focus was on securing the safety of the society in the past,” said Dr. Mohammad Al Zadjali, head of Legal Committee in Shura Council. >A6

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

BUSINESS

SPORTS

More needs to be done to fight child abuse

Non-oil export revenue dips 27%

Chess legend Anand to visit the Sultanate

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Much more needs to be done to support victims of child abuse and help them bring to justice offenders of this undetected crime. Victims of child abuse live with the agony and scars for the rest of their lives knowing that their abusers got away with it without being punished. >A5

Oman’s non-oil exports fell by 27.2 per cent to OMR3,003.9 million in 2015 from OMR4,125.5 million in the previous year.

A fall in commodity prices, which constitute a sizeable share of Oman’s exports, must have caused the fall in export revenue last year. >B1

Viswanathan Anand will be visiting Oman from May 12. The chess maestro from Chennai, or Tiger of Madras, as he is popularly known among legions of his fans, Anand will be in Muscat on an invitation from International Chess Academy of Oman (ICAO). >C1

OMAN PRIDE

Ace racer finds Oman fantastic

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QUALIFYING ROUNDS

Omani doctor wins US award for paper on social media use MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

Times of Oman mega school quiz all set to begin on Sunday Times News Service MUSCAT: The Times of Oman Inter School Quiz (TOOISQC) contest begins on Sunday at Indian School Darsait. Quiz Master Lloyd Saldanha will be hosting the first quiz event.

Sending his best wishes to all the students in the Sultanate, quiz master Saldanha said, “The qualifying rounds begin today and I am looking forward to the teams doing well. I hope you have all been preparing for it and I wish you luck.

See you there.”

Saldanha started his career with Asia’s largest on-stage quizzing company Greycaps India Pvt. Ltd in 2004 and went on to become a prolific young host. As quizmaster and head of research, he has worked on several format innovations and software in quizzing introduced by the company. He has led large client projects on quizzing to build powerful brand and audience engagement platforms for the Tatas, Infosys, and the Adi-

punishments in countries around the world.

“We have suggested the change as we feel that life sentence means execution but in a slower way. The committee held several meetings with experts and specialists of such laws from Sultan Qaboos University SQU, Supreme Court, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Legal Affairs and the council legal experts,” said Al Shahoomi.

He also said that the committee has studied panel codes of other countries before reaching its conclusion of the need to change

tya Birla Group to name just a few.

In 2010, he took a sabbatical to move to the United Kingdom and pursue an MBA at the University of Liverpool. On his return, he led several new quiz assignments for the National Stock Exchange, Hindu Business Line, BBC, Hindalco

and the Telegraph among others.

Saldanha is a charismatic young quizmaster known for his entertaining questions and characteristic wit. He has become one of the most sought after quizmasters in the minds of young India in the last few years. He has presented over 600 shows across 92 destinations in India, the United Kingdom, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Canada.

He is regularly seen on CNBC TV18, hosting NSE’s Funancial Quest and has also hosted shows on the History Channel.

As in previous years, TOOISQC is drawing huge participation from schools. The participating schools are the American British Academy, Bangladesh School Muscat, Bangladesh School Sohar, Beacon House School, Indian School Darsait, Indian School Ghubrah, Indian School Ibra, Indian School Maabela, Indian School Muscat, Indian School Seeb, Indian School Sohar, Indian School Salalah and Indian School Rustaq. >A6

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: “My achievement proves that Omanis and Arabs can do research that draws the attention of an international audience,” said Dr Ali Al Badi, who won the “Excellence in Research Award” from Clute Institute, Colorado, USA, in recognition of his research.

“While attending international conferences with students, I received many positive comments and appraisals from other researchers and fellow faculty members,” added Al Badi, an associate professor in the Information Systems (IS) Department at the College of Economics and Political Science (CEPS), Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

“Many of them are surprised that our undergraduate students can produce such excellent research,” he added.

According to Al Badi, this success is one of the important events in his life. “This is one of those moments that I am proud of and I worked hard to achieve it. I dedicate it to my family, my supervisors in the USA and UK, my friends and colleagues and all those who helped me in one way or another,” Al Badi said.

“When it was announced, I

Dr Ali Al Badi. — Supplied picture

received many congratulations, prayers and best wishes from many of my friends and colleagues at SQU and elsewhere,” he added.

This award was in recognition of a paper that Dr Ali co-authored with two of his students, Elham M. Al Mukhaini and Wafa S. Al Qayoudhi, which has been downloaded more than any other manuscript from the Journal of International Education Research).

The paper is entitled, “The Adoption of Social Networking in Education: A Case Study of the Use of Social Networks by Higher Education Students in Oman”. According to Al Badi, this paper also received the ‘Best Paper Award’ when it was presented in the 52nd Clute Institute International Academic Conference in Paris.

Speaking about the reason, he

chose this topic for the research, Al Badi said, “It is a ‘hot topic’. It was an interesting topic for my students and it is also of interest to publishers,for conferences and journals.”

“Elham M. Al Mukhaini and Wafa S. Al Qayoudhi are among my exceptional students; they worked very hard to produce an excellent piece of research,” the professor noted.

His research interests are in social media, cloud computing, web usability and accessibility, big data, portal development,IT disaster recovery and business continuity. Since 2007 he has encouraged students to perform research and he managed, with the help of the previous two deans, Dr. Darwich Al Muharbi and Dr Faheem Al Marhoob, as well as the current dean, Dr Said Al Maharami, to urge many students to conduct scientific research and present their work at international conferences. >A6

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

OMAN ENVIRONMENT

Endangered lynx found in South Al Batinah Times News Service MUSCAT: Officials of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, in coordination with citizens in South Al Batinah governorate, have found a lynx in the wilayat of Rustaq.

The lynx is an endangered animal, which is rarely seen anywhere in this region.

In specialist care The spotted animal has been handed over to specialists at the Diwan Royal Court.

It is a solitary cat that is found

in the remote northern forests of Asia, North America and Europe.

The animal is covered with beautiful thick fur that keeps it warm during the harsh winters.

The rather large paws of the animal are very furry.

The lynx is known for avoiding humans and hunting at night that’s why they are rarely seen.

S TAT E M E N T

Arab tourism boss praises infrastructure in Sultanate SHARM EL-SHEIKH: Oman’s progress in the tourism sector has been praised by the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO).

Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al Fahid, Chairman of the Arab Tourism Organisation (ATO) hailed the remarkable progress being made by the Sultanate in the tourism sector due to the attractive tourism potentials and distinguished infrastructure in the Sultanate.

In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA) he said that the Sultanate enjoys quality tourism services, in addition to Oman Tourism Strategy, which was approved by the Ministry of Tourism. He pointed out that there is cooperation and coordination between ATO and the Ministry of Tourism in several fields, such investment development, training and rehabilitation, marketing and promotion.

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‘Reaching out to community vital’ Reaching out helps us learn more about their concerns, said Indra Mani Pandey, India’s envoy to Oman

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Reaching out to the Indian community is a top priority for the mission house, the Indian ambassador to Oman Indra Mani Pandey has said.

“By reaching out to the Indian community in Oman, we learn more about their concerns and is-

sues. Only by knowing the hurdles they face can we address them in cooperation with the local authorities,” the ambassador said.

According to Pandey, thanks to the assistance extended by the local authorities, visits to the detention centre undertaken by the mission house have been made a regular feature every month.

Community meetings are being held in other cities, too. For a few months now, the embassy officials have been regularly visiting the jail in Samail every month to know about the jailed Indians.

Community meetings were being held in Jalan and Mudhaibi. “In the coming days, we will be holding a community meeting in Ibri where company workers and officials will be present,” the Indian ambassador added.

According to National Statistics and Information Centre data released in February, there are

680,830 Indian workers in Oman.

Currently, the embassy has been extending help to the Indian workers through its free bi-weekly legal sessions and monthly open houses.

The embassy has a 24-hour helpline service for workers in distress. It will continue to provide requisite assistance to Indian nationals in distress, including financial assistance. In 2014, to ensure better service delivery to Indians residing in Oman, the Indian embassy in Muscat had extended its ‘Open House’ facilities to be held on all working days between 10 am till 12 noon.

‘Open House’ is an informal meeting held once a month at the embassy where officials from different wings, including the ambassador and a panel of lawyers, are present to listen to the Indians’ consular and community welfare issues in Oman.

ROHM

Massenet’s Werther comes to Muscat

The opera, Werther, is based on a novel by the great Romantic poet Goethe.

Times News Service MUSCAT: A beautiful opera about the heartache of unrequited love comes to Muscat with one of the world’s most prestigious opera companies – the incomparable Vienna State Opera. Vienna is the birthplace of classical music.

The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will host two performances –on April 14, and April 16 at 7.30 pm.

Vienna is where masters like Mozart and Beethoven worked, and from where the Vienna State Operadraws its inspiration and musicianship.

The orchestra of the Vienna State Opera is the orchestra from which the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the most celebrated symphonic orchestra in the World, recruits its members from.

It is especially famous for its annual New Year’s Concert which is broadcast live to many millions of viewers around the world.

The plot of the opera, Werther is based on a novel by the great Romantic poet Goethe, The Sorrows of Young Werther. With unprecedented depth of feeling, the novel was a sensation in its time, causing a passionate phenomenon known as ‘Werther Fever’, with young men throughout Europe adopting the smart blue and yellow clothes worn by Werther.

Masterfully composed by Jules Massenet, the music for opera, Werther, endows the story with powerful poignancy and a dramatic impact.

Completed in 1887 Werther presents the fateful story of the poet Werther’s hopeless love for Charlotte, the loyal wife of a close friend.

The opera relates this deeply tender story with music of great beauty and eloquence.

Understood to be in part autobiographical, Goethe’s epistolary novel, in which the story is told through letters written

by Werther, offers a revelatory glimpse into the psychological impact and consequences of unfulfilled love. Although the novel has inspired many operatic versions, it is Jules Massenet who most brilliantly catches the spirit of Goethe’s literary masterpiece.

For further information and booking, consult the ROHM website www.rohmuscat.org.om

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

OMAN

I think it’s been a fantastic trip to Oman, we’ve had the opportunity to discover the kind hospitality of the Omanis and the passion they have for motorsports David Coulthard, UK Formula 1 driver

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Oman’s first Red Bull F1 Showrun driver Coulthard finds it fantastic Drenched fans lined the Muttrah Corniche on Friday for the Red Bull F1 Showrun which saw British racer David Coulthard pilot the RB7 on the iconic streets Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 10,000 motorsport fans turned out in full force on Friday to see the Red Bull Formula1 Showrun, despite heavy rainfall that started shortly before the event was due to start.

The RB7 took to the iconic streets of Muscat for the first time along the beautiful Muttrah Corniche. David Coulthard piloted the F1 car past crowds on the 1.1km strip weaving past Riyam Park.

Of his experience in Oman for the first time, David Coulthard said: “I think it’s been a fantastic trip to Oman, we’ve had the opportunity to discover the kind hospitality of the Omanis and the passion they have for motorsports.”

He added: “The amount of people who stood in the rain shows that there is a much bigger passion for cars in general, so I hope this event will help develop that culture of racing going forward.”

Taking about Oman, Coulthard said: “From a personal point of view I will definitely be coming back to Oman because I think that the coastline and mountains and the people have been fantastic.”

Harthy on Vulcan hypercar Also part of the event action was Oman’s premier motor racing driver, Ahmad Al Harthy, on board the Aston Martin’s Vulcan hypercar.

Unfortunately all other planned side acts had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions including the Soul Flyers canopy jump act. The three time World Champion Base Jump World Record holders were in Oman to

perform synchronised loops from a helicopter. An Xtreme Riding Xibition, that demonstrates the skill and control of modern trials, by Brian Capper was also cancelled along with a go-karting parade by the Oman Automobile Association. The overall length of the event track also had to be shortened as a safety precaution.

More in the pipeline Suleiman Al Rawahi, Oman Automobile Association Managing Director, said: “The last three years have seen Oman AutomobileAssociation and Red Bull Oman work together to bring motorsports to a different level and this event is a result of that and will only bring more events in the future. The heavy rain was not a disappointment as it was great to see how many people attended showing the growing interest in motorsports in Oman.”

The action started the day before during ‘Fire Ups’ hosted at Oman Automobile Association and Omantel Headquaters. During the events, members of the public were able to get up close to the car and hear the roar of the engine.

Hamdan Moosa Al Harasi, Acting Vice President Corporate Strategy at Omantel, explained, “Everyone at Omantel was fired up to see the awesome Formula 1 car for the very first time in the Sultanate. Omanis of all ages love motorsports, so this was a special opportunity for employees and public to get up close and experience the stunning roar of this car.

We work closely with sporting groups and organisations to make a meaningful difference to the future development of the nation, so we were very pleased to bring this exciting event to Oman. As part of our innovative 3.0 transformation strategy, we want to demonstrate our commitment towards promoting Oman on the world stage, and promoting sports of all disciplines to Omani youth.”

The highly anticipated Red Bull F1 Showrun was held under the patronage of His Highness Sayyid Taimur bin Assad Al Said and under the umbrella of the Oman Automobile Association and Royal Oman Police; with the support of the Ministry of Tourism. The event was in partnership with Omantel, Khimji Ramdas, HiFM, Hala FM, Times of Oman, Shabiba, City Vago and Holiday Inn Muscat Al Seeb.

– Joe Morrison, Supplied photos

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

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Much more needs to be done to fight child abuse in Oman SUNDAY BEAT SALEH AL SHAIBANY

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uch more needs to be done to support victims of child abuse and help them bring to justice offenders of this undetected crime. Victims of child abuse live with the agony and scars for the rest of their lives knowing that their abusers got away with it without being punished.

Most of the abuses are never reported because there is a stigma surrounding the discussion of the issue.

In May 2014, the Child Protection Law came to force and a helpline was established but two years later, just barely 50 cases have reported since then. The subject is culturally sensitive and it is never discussed openly. Rarely are such incidents reported to the police because most of the time the abusers are known to the family of the victims. There are also incidents that happen in schools but parents are reluctant to go beyond reporting to the principal.

This is where a national campaign would play a crucial role, not only to prevent further abuses but encourage families to pick up the phone and report offenders. It should also offer psychological counselling to young victims.

But most importantly, Oman needs to fight the social taboo and openly talk about child abuse. Putting the issue under wraps encourage offenders to repeat the act. There is a conflicting conception of what constitutes abuse and what not. The existing helpline

should offer a full support from training, arranging workshops, distribution of leaflets and do talks in schools.

No government body has statistics on how deep the malaise is because of the lack of openness. Community leaders such as the Women’s Society, the Teachers’ Association and Parents’ Groups should take a lead role in conducting campaigns to spread awareness.

Powerful political bodies such as the Shura Council and the State Council must join in. As a matter of fact, the two councils have a political obligations as well as moral commitment to lobby to the upper echelon of power to get the authoritative endorsement to fight child abuse more effectively.

Unaware Sometimes a youngster does not have the courage to report the abuse to parents or even to a teacher. Other children might not even know what is happening around them is wrong. A dedicated campaign would educate them to distinguish between a legitimate and inappropriate action towards them.

It will also give them the confidence to talk openly so they could report incidents at early stages. The sad fact is that there will always be people who try to take advantage of a child for their pleasure and interests. The communities in Oman can no longer afford to turn a blind eye and pretend it does not happen. Attitudes

need to change. But this is not the challenge of the government alone. The truth is that the communities have a bigger role to play.

Child abuse support does not come cheap. Investments from business companies would be needed to help as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The Ministry of Social Development can play a pivotal role, too. It would need to create a department of Child Abuse Prevention to unleash an army of social workers across the country to monitor the problem. The stigma surrounding child abuse seems to be more prominent outside the capital.

For a vast majority in smaller towns, what is happening within the family is viewed as private and is never acknowledged. Abuses in their families are often repressed and they struggle with it receiving no help. To them, family secrets are preserved rather than exposed. People in those towns may be reluctant to use helpline or attend workshops but social workers can successfully infiltrate and open them up.

The most effective part of fighting abuse is to convince people that it is not a shame to report it. Families should be convinced that it is their religious obligation to fight it and report it to the authority. They should also know that they are letting down their children when they keep quiet.

Sur college hosts food safety event Times News Service SUR: Students of Public Relations at the Sur College of Applied Sciences organised a food safety exhibition and cookery competition as a part of an awareness campaign called ‘Thuluthn Lethaamik’ on the college campus recently.

Inaugurated by Dr. Ahmed Al Riyami, dean of the college, the campaign’s main aim was to raise awareness about food safety and wastage.

The major participants of the exhibition are the Omani Women’s Association Sur, Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO), Diet Nutrition Centre Sur, Indian School Sur, Ahmed bin Majid School, Oman Medical College,

Muscat Holiday Resorts, along with the Sultan Qaboos University and the Department of Applied Biotechnology at College of Applied Sciences Sur. Safety and wastage The exhibition displayed various themes related to food safety and wastage. Pesticides in food, nutrients and preservatives, water quality, food allergies, organic food were some of the key themes on display.

“We participated in this campaign to raise awareness about food safety. Also, we wish to offer some suggestions about reducing food wastage. The highlight of the exhibition is the diversity of topics discussed, based on the theme of

the campaign, said Omar Al Araimi, an employee from OMIFCO. Another attraction of the exhibition is the “Children Corner” to build awareness through education and fun games, to which children from nearby schools have been invited.

A media centre at the exhibition venue will distribute informative flyers on food safety and wastage. A cookery competition held as a part of this event will have 10 teams competing in the competition.

A panel of of four food experts will evaluate the results. The competition is aimed at spreading awareness among students about safety measures during food preparation.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

OMAN

I am amazed by the number of volunteers, who work for this project. From a small beginning, this has today become a national event.

Rafiq Kositji, Member of the judging panel

Oman Air to fly twice daily to Heathrow from Tuesday The second daily service to London is being launched by Oman’s national carrier in response to the overwhelming demand from air travellers for flights between the capitals of the Sultanate and the United Kingdom

MUSCAT: Oman Air is set to launch a second service between Muscat and London’s Heathrow Airport from Tuesday, April 12.

The new service will complement Oman Air’s existing daily, non-stop and direct service between the two capitals.

The service will be launched in response to overwhelming demand from air travellers for flights between Muscat and London, and from London to onward

destinations. Bookings for the new service are now available online at www.omanair.com, or through local travel agents.

Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer (CEO) of Oman Air, announced the new service, saying: “We are delighted to be launching a second daily frequency between Muscat and London. The popularity of Muscat as a destination for British travellers has never been greater.

Furthermore, the longstanding links between the Sultanate and the United Kingdom ensure that London remains one of the most popular destinations for Omani travellers.”

“Oman Air’s second daily service between these two great cities will therefore be warmly welcomed in the UK and Oman. In addition, customers flying to and from other destinations within our growing international network will enjoy greater choice and convenience, as well as easier connections at Muscat.”

Gregorowitsch continued: “Our customers have expressed a strong desire for a second frequency into London and we are very pleased to be meeting that demand with this new service.

Whilst our existing service operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow, the new service will operate from Terminal 4.

“We believe that it is vital to offer our customers this increased

choice now and, in the short term, that means flying out of two terminals in London. However, we are working closely with the airport authorities at Heathrow to accommodate all of Oman Air’s operations at Terminal 4 from the earliest possible date. After those arrangements are agreed upon, we will provide clear information to our customers about which terminal they are due to fly from.”

Oman Air’s first service to London was launched in 2007 and was, alongside Bangkok, one of the airline’s first two inter-continental destinations. Regarded as a flagship route, the Muscat to London service has experienced rapid growth and is regularly sold out in each of its three classes.

The second frequency will enable thousands of customers a year to experience Oman Air’s awardwinning products and services, and its warm Omani hospitality.

The Muscat to London route is operated with Airbus A330-300s,

SAI-TIMES OF OMAN CONTEST

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Selecting right topic important

So far, more than 99 research papers have been published in peer reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Academic experience He added that he has more than 22 years of practical and academic experience in the IS/IT field.

“Researchers should select the right topic, follow the right research methodology, and target the right conference or journal,” he noted. “Our ancestors have done a great job by leaving us with so many manuscripts, books and articles that the world is still using as reference material, so we should follow in their footsteps,” he added.

Research activities He also said that academic achievements will promote and encourage research activities at the College of Economics and Political Science (CEPS) and will help in enhancing the ranking of Sultan Qaboos University among the world’s universities.

I M P O R TA N T D E V E L O P M E N T

2,000 children from 200 schools take part in mega essay, poster contest Times News Service MUSCAT: Indian School, Al Ghubra wore a festive look on Saturday, with close to 2,000 children representing more than 100 schools from all over Muscat gathering there to participate in the 13th edition of SAI-Times of Oman open essay writing and poster making contest on human value themes, conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

With an overcast sky and the smell of rain in the air, participating children enjoyed going to the venue and were seen posing merrily for photographs on the lush green lawns of Indian School Ghubra (ISG)—the venue for the first phase of the event.

What followed through the next few hours as the contest progressed was a bright, sunny day, with students trying to focus their entries on contest’s theme of human values.

Dr. Hamad Saif Musallam Al Busaidy, director general for Curriculum Development, Ministry of Education (MoE), Oman inaugurated the competition.

Khadeeja Ali Mohammed Al Salami, assistant director general for Educational Affairs, Directorate General of Private Education, Siddiqa Abdulmajeed Abdullah Al Lawati, director, International Schools’ Office, Ministry of Education, other senior officials from the MoE, teachers and guests from corporate houses graced the inaugural ceremony.

Students from Omani Arabic, private (monolingual, bilingual and global), international and special education schools in the Muscat Governorate participated in the event. As in earlier years, children from the special education schools showed keen interest in the competition.

Four students—two girls and two boys from a special education school—the Omar Bin Al Khatab Institute enthusiastically took part in an essay contest through the Braille method.

“Last year, we had two students who attended using the Braille method. They were quite excited after last year’s event and they encouraged others to participate.

In fact, the students were after me enquiring about the event, months in advance,” said Samia Abdul Rahman Al-Zadjali, English teacher at the school, who accompanied the children and had the pleasant task of converting the essays written in Braille to normal text for the purpose of evaluation by the judges.

Speaking on the occasion, Sreekumar, vice-principal, ISG appreciated the role of the SAI group in organising this mega event and said, “Value-based contests, such as this, help in moulding the overall personality of the students.”

Rafiq Kositji, a member of the judging panel of the event since inception said, “I am amazed by the number of volunteers, who work for this project. From a small beginning, this has today become a national event. I wish such events reach higher levels and one day,

each of which offers outstanding onboard comfort and amenity.

Spacious, fully lie-flat seats—each with direct aisle access—are offered in both First Class and Business Class, whilst comfortable, fully adjustable seats are fitted in a 2-4-2 configuration in the Economy Class. Mobile phone and WiFi connectivity, pioneered by Oman Air in 2010 on the Muscat-London route, is available throughout each aircraft. In addition, a la carte cuisine is offered in every class, with First Class dining on the MuscatLondon service being singled out for praise in the Reader’s Choice category of Saveur magazine’s Culinary Travel Awards 2014.

Oman Air is currently engaged in a major fleet expansion programme, which will see the airline’s fleet increase its size to 70 aircraft by 2020.

The fleet size currently stands at 40 aircraft, which includes Oman Air’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliners. — ONA

OMAN PRIDE

ALL SMILES: The event was conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. – Supplied pictures

are organised worldwide with the support of the United Nations.”

Commenting on the event, Dr. Hamad Saif Musallam Al Busaidy, the chief guest said, “It’s a huge event and a wonderful opportunity for students to participate in a competition that focuses on human values. Values, as we all know, are important in a society.

Moreover, the event encourages them to focus on human values by way of preparation, where families and teachers also take part. “ He added, “I think education is a sharing process—among families, schools, teachers, students themselves and society as a whole. Students learn values from around them—parents, schools, their curriculum and also the society.

Integrating all these elements will make students appreciate human values.” The chief guest felt that students should take up volunteering work, of their own accord, as it will help them in gaining values and shaping their character.

Anuradha Surla, a coordinator of the SAI group explained to the chief guest that workshops conducted by the SAI group for various school teachers on the need and methodology of inculcating human values in teaching.

Acknowledging the efforts, the Chief Guest said, “Our curriculum development department is very keen on integrating human values in the curriculum so that the entire student community of Oman will benefit.” He suggested that the SAI group can share their experience in value education and work closely with MoE in achieving this objective.

A.V. Manohar and Shankar Shetty explained various activities of the SAI Group and about the progression of the essay, poster contest over the years from taking baby steps in 2003. “We would like to conduct a walk for values throughout Oman to create more awareness about human values,” suggested A.V. Manohar.

MoE officials requested the SAI group to formally take it up with the Ministry. Shankar Shetty profusely thanked the MoE for its cooperation and support in conducting the mega event. He also thanked the Times of Oman, ISG, Oxygen and Oman Printers and Stationers, Desert Dreams and other Indian Schools for their great support.

The second phase of the com-

New law drafted A1 also to combat ‘modern’ crimes < FROM

“Looking at the immense development in different aspects of life, such as the economy, technology and society, the Sultanate feels that we need to keep up with the development by legislatively developing a law that we can adhere to in this era,” he explained.

The new law was drafted to also combat “modern” crimes.

While welcoming the amendment to lower the maximum life sentence to 25 years’ imprisonment, a Human Rights Watch researcher, said that Oman should move towards abolishing the death penalty from its law books and not just change the method of execution.”

“Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because it is an inherently irreversible punishment,” a researcher at HRW in the region told Times of Oman.

One of the excerpts of the draft states that the law will criminalise an Omani citizen if he commits a crime outside the Sultanate’s borders, which is also a crime in Oman, and if the action is illegal in the state he committed it in.

Concerning residents Concerning residents, an expatriate will be punished if the crime committed outside the Sultanate is also a crime in Oman, as well as it being punishable in the state of the crime to at least one year if he has not been claimed.

The project also includes that the maximum jail sentence should be no more than 25 years, as well as

petition will be held for international, private and government schools in the regions of Batinah, Dhahira and Dakhliya at the Indian Schools in Sohar, Ibri and Nizwa, respectively on April 16 and the third and final phase, for the regions of Sharqiya, Dhofar and Buraimi at the Indian Schools in Sur, Salalah and Buraimi, respectively on April 23.

Three-tier valuation Entries for the competition will be passed through a three-tier valuation, by a panel of three judges, drawn from the Community, MoE and from the organising body.

First, second and third prizes will be awarded in every age group, for each category of schools by the Omani Government (Capital, Batinah, Sharqiya, Dakhliya, Dhofar, Dhahira /Buraimi regions separately), bilingual (Capital Region), international (Capital Region and Rest of the Regions) and special education (Capital Region) for poster making, as well as essay writing. In addition, consolation prizes will also be given in each of the categories. The result of this competition is expected to be announced during the third week of May 2016 and the award function will be held during the last week of May 2016.

The SAI Group, Oman comprises of a team of volunteers

committed to human values in all walks of life. It has been conducting blood donation camps during the last two decades (recognised by the Ministry of Health) and Health Awareness and Education Campaigns for the needy.

Besides, the SAI Group has been conducting workshops on Education in Human Values under the SSEHV model and value parenting seminars in various schools in Oman. It also conducts regular programmes on human values to various schools and has participated in showcasing human values at the MoE pavilion of the Muscat Festival.

To commemorate the passage of 40 years since the Renaissance, the SAI Group, authorised

by MoE, has completed 45 workshops on human values for school teachers of various schools. The SAI Group has also put in considerable effort to spread awareness about autism.

Regular interactions by the SAI volunteers with such parents and special children, the awareness workshops conducted with experts visiting from India, the United Kingdom and the United States and observing ‘World Autism Awareness Day’ with a variety entertainment programmes being organised by these special children are some of the salient steps in this direction.

removing the minimum and maximum fine to fix all fines between OMR100 and OMR1,000.

A special text was also added to apply the law to the advantage of the accused and his case.

Instigators of a crime will be also be criminalised since they are the originators of it. They will face fines and a jail term of no more than three years.

The project will also be applied to life sentences, instead of executions, for most crimes that threaten the security of the Sultanate internally or externally, unless the judge determines otherwise.

Crimes of piracy and assault on shipping vehicles/vessels and public utilities has its own independent section in the new law.

Honour crimes, as well as inherent crimes, such as indecent assault, rape, exploitation and adultery and crimes that insult family, faith and the society will be extended and a harsher punishment put in place.

The law also distinguishes between accidental harm and purposeful harm.

Crimes of insults and profanity have been improved to specify whether they are committed on purpose or by accident.

Finally, the new law will implement executions by a firing squad instead of executions by hanging.

“The new law project is an important development for the judicial system and considered one of the main legislative documents in the Sultanate, which will protect the society,” said Al Zadjali.

SCHOOL QUIZ

Winning school A1 teams to lift the Rolling Trophy < FROM

Also, Indian School Wadi Kabir, Modern International School, Pakistan School Muscat and Pakistan School Sohar are participating in the event.

“As we prepare for the school quiz I am reminded of the saying, ‘Remember, if you are not playing your heart out, someone else is.

And when you meet him, he will win.’ Keep this in mind and give it your best”, said Giri Balasubramaniam, quiz master and chief executive officer of Greycaps.

Greycaps is Asia’s largest onstage quizzing and knowledge services company. Since 1999, it has successfully adopted and implemented quizzing and other programmes as an alternative platform for education in India to enhance and sustain awareness and interest levels related to happenings across the world, aided by appropriate technology.

These innovations have found considerable success, both in urban and rural areas of India, to de-

liver knowledge and enhance the confidence levels of the youth.

The winning school teams for TOOISQC will lift the Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Rolling Trophy for their school.

The contest is powered by Creme 21. Major sponsors include the Muscat Pharmary, Pcari Sweat, Denim, Al Mudhish, Suroor and R&B. The co-sponsors are Kwality Ice Creams and Chiko.

The official host is Radisson Blu Hotel, Sohar and the official renta-car is Sixt rent-a-car while Travel City-Travel Point is the travel partner. Venue sponsors are Al Maya, Malabar Gold, Oasis water, Sapil and Nabil. Other sponsors are Hoshan Pan Gulf, Parker Pens and Al Nahda.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

51,824

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OMAN

was the number of passengers who travelled by National Ferries Company vessels during the first quarter of 2016

TOURISM

COSTA LUMINOSA VISITS SALALAH

Italian cruise ship Costa Luminosa anchored at Salalah port, yesterday, with 1,608 tourists of different nationalities on board. The tourists on board the vessel, which is on its way to Jordan, visited to the historic landmarks in Dhofar Governorate as well as the beaches and Souqs in the wilayat of Salalah. —ONA

Cargo shipping clocks big rise National Ferries Company statistics also showed a 512.5 per cent rise in the volume of cargo traffic to 7,130 tonnes by the end of the first quarter of the current year, compared to 1,164 tonnes in the same period of 2015

MUSCAT: Ferry trips registered a rise in passengers to 51,824 during the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 15.23 per cent, compared with 42,083 passengers in the same period of 2015, according to statistics released by the National Ferries Company (NFC).

The statistics indicated an increase in the total number of vehicle shipped on board of the ferries during the first quarter of this year to 12,383 vehicles, an increase of 27.17 per cent, compared to 10,559 vehicles in the same pe-

riod last year. The statistics also showed a 512.5 per cent rise in the volume of cargo traffic to 7,130 tonnes by the end of the first quarter of the current year, compared to 1,164 tonnes in the same period of 2015.

The statistical bulletin showed that Shanna-Masirah route recorded the highest proportion in passenger traffic during the first quarter of this year, as the number of passengers reached on this route 38,739 passengers, with an occupancy rate of 45 per cent.

As many as 11,086 vehicles were shipped on board of this route, with 54 per cent occupancy rate, followed by Lima-Diba route, which recorded 5.056 passengers with 74 per cent occupancy rate. Passenger occupancy rate on Khasab-Shinas route reached 43 per cent.

The route transported 2,594 passengers.

The route also transported 653 vehicles, with an occupancy rate of 54 per cent, followed by Muscat-Khasab route, which transported 1,726 passengers, with 63 per cent occupancy rate.

The route transported 442 vehicles, and 79 per cent occupancy rate. Shinas-Diba route transported 1,710 passengers and 173 vehicles. The total number of passengers transported by KhasabLima, Lima-Shinas and Khasab –Diba were 1797.

Khasab-Bandar Abbas route transported 202 passengers of the Iranian delegation participated in the Omani-Iranian Exhibition held in the Wilayat of Khasab. -ONA

Taqah Festival 2016 begins TAQAH: Taqah Festival 2016 kicked off this evening.

The event took place under the auspices of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar, in the presence of Sheikh Khalid bin Omar Al Marhoon, Minister of Civil Service and Sheikh Salim bin Mustahil Al Ma’shani, Advisor

at the Diwan of Royal Court. The opening ceremony included an operetta based on the idea social cohesion and harmony experienced by the Wilaya.

Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar and a number of ministers and undersecretaries toured the festival venue.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Saif Al Busaidi, Wali of Taqah and the Supervisor general of the festival said, “The festival this year comes in continuation of previous festivals, which were concerned with the deep-rooted heritage of the Wilayat of Taqah, stressing that Taqah Festival is to enrich the tourist and economic movement.” - ONA

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

REGION IRAN INTERNATIONAL MARATHON

(Left) Iranian girls wave their national flag and posters as they support Iranian and foreign runners competing in Iran’s first international marathon in Marvdasht; (Right) Iranian and foreign runners leave the starting line. The run is a 42 kilometre circular course starting and finishing at the ancient Achaemenid necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Marvdasht, about 12 kilometres northwest of Persepolis. — AFP

Syria rebels seize town from IS collaborators

Q ATA R

Anti-regime alliance had by late on Friday taken control of Tasil in Deraa province DEPLOYMENT: A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale

Air Force Base, Louisiana, touches down at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on Saturday. — Reuters/US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Corey Hook/Handout via Reuters

that is near the Jordanian border and

US deploys B-52 bombers for fight against IS militants

the Israeli-occupied

WASHINGTON: The US Air Force deployed B-52 bombers to Qatar on Saturday to join the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria, the first time they have been based in the Middle East since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

US Air Forces Central Command said it last flew the longrange bombers operationally in the region in May 2006 as part of the war in Afghanistan, and during a US-led military exercise in Jordan in May 2015.

“The B-52 demonstrates our continued resolve to apply persistent pressure on Daesh (IS) and defend the region in any future contingency,” said Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Brown, commander of US Air Forces Central Command.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Karns, spokesman for the Central Command, said he could not

Human Rights said

provide the exact number of B-52 bombers to be based at Al Udeid Air Basein Qatar due to “operational security reasons.”

Washington’s decision to deploy its powerful B-52 bombers to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar came as the US military stepped up the fight against IS in Iraq and Syria.

Brown said the bombers would be able to deliver precision weapons and carry out a range of missions, including strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, and maritime operations.

Karns said the bombers would enable US forces to drop one or two munitions in an area, rather than use carpet bombing.

“Accuracy is critically important in this war,” he said.”Carpetbombing would not be effective for the operation we’re in because Daesh (IS) doesn’t mass as large groups. — Reuters

Golan Heights, a rebel source and the British-based Syrian Observatory for

DAMAGED SOULS: Syrian children run with balloons past heavily damaged buildings in the neighbourhood of Jobar, on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus on Saturday. — AFP

BEIRUT: Rebels seized a town in southern Syria from groups loyal to IS just a day after fighters captured another town from the extremist militants in a separate insurgent assault in the north, a rebel source and a monitoring group said.

The rebels had by late on Friday taken control of Tasil in Deraa province that is near the Jordanian border and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the source and the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

They drove out militants from the Yarmouk Martyrs’ Brigade and the Muthanna Movement, which they said were groups loyal to IS. “Our battle continues against

Our battle continues against them (IS militants), until we have cleansed the area of them, said Abu Ghiath Al Shami, a spokesman for the Alwiyat Seif Al Sham group that is part of a rebel alliance in the south

them, until we have cleansed the area of them,” said Abu Ghiath Al Shami, a spokesman for the Alwiyat Seif Al Sham group that is part of a rebel alliance in the south.

He described the latest at-

tacks against the extremists as a “widened campaign against Daesh (IS)”.

It was the second blow dealt by insurgents fighting against IS or IS-linked fighters in as many days.

In a separate assault in the north of the country near the Turkish border on Thursday, rebel forces took over a town that had been the main stronghold of IS in the northern Aleppo countryside. A cessation of hostilities agreement in Syria that began on February 27 has slowed fighting in some areas in western Syria but has not halted the violence.

Not included in truce IS and the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front are not included in the truce.

Syria’s army and allies, backed

by Russian air power, are separately fighting against IS. — Reuters

CONFLICT

17 Yemeni government soldiers executed by Al Qaeda insurgents ADEN: Suspected Al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen seized and executed 17 soldiers loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Saturday, local officials and residents said.

The soldiers were detained while travelling from the southern port of Aden to Al Mahra province in eastern Yemen via Ahwar, a city in Abyan province under Al Qaeda control.

The militants took them to a remote area and killed them by firing squad, the officials and residents said.

They said 17 other captive soldiers were wounded in the incident and some managed to escape and get help from local tribal leaders.

Rebel denial Ansar Al Sharia, an Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, later issued a statement denying responsibility for the attack and blamed a local armed fighter named Ali Aqeel.

“We entered Ahwar around

LOCK DOWN: Yemeni loyalist forces man a checkpoint on a road

in the Mansoura residential district of Yemen’s second city of Aden on Saturday. — AFP

two months ago to chase this corrupt individual and his gang,” the statement said. The soldiers had been visiting family in Aden and were returning to their base in Al Mahra to draw their salaries, security sources said.

They were not dressed in military uniform and were not riding in military vehicles.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Pen-

insula (AQAP) has exploited the Yemeni war to expand areas under its control, seizing Mukalla, the capital of Hadramout province, last year and recruiting more followers.

Houthi forces have been battling forces loyal to Yemen’s Saudi-backed President Hadi since March 2015 in a conflict that has cost more than 6,200 lives. — Reuters

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

INDIA

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Shoe hurled at Kejriwal, attacker detained, quizzed SOFT TARGET The incident

In November 2013, a man who claimed to be a supporter of Anna Hazare attacked Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders with ink.

In March 2014, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi, an unidentified group of men threw ink and eggs on Kejriwal. He escaped unhurt.

In April 2014, while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections, he was punched on his back by a man in Dakshinpuri.

Earlier in January this year, Bhavana Arora, a member of the Aam Aadmi Sena, had thrown ink at the Delhi chief minister at an event held to celebrate the success of the first phase of Odd-Even vehicular scheme in the national capital.

In February 2016, his car was attacked by a group of men in Punjab while he was in the state for campaigning.

happened during a press conference at Delhi Secretariat here addressed by Kejriwal on roll out of the second phase of the Odd-Even scheme from April 15

RAGE: A youth, claimed to be of Aam Aadmi Sena, hurls shoe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: A shoe was hurled at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday by man who claimed to be from Aam Aadmi Sena, a breakaway group of Aam Aadmi Party, during a press conference but it did not hit the AAP chief. The attacker, identified as Ved Prakash, was detained by police, which quizzed him.

He talked about alleged irregularities in distribution of CNG stickers and claimed that no action has been taken though a complaint was filed by him with the Chief Minister.

The incident happened during a press conference at Delhi Secretariat here addressed by Kejriwal on roll out of the second phase of the Odd-Even scheme from April 15. The shoe fell short of the chief minister, who had earlier been targeted with ink and was slapped

during a press conference at Delhi Secretariat on Saturday. - PTI / TV GRAB

by a man during campaigning for last Assembly election. The attacker, who is about 26-27 years of age, shouted as he was being whisked away. Kejriwal later continued with the press conference.

Sting operation “Arvind ji one minute please, I have conducted a sting on CNG sticker scam. One CNG sticker is being distributed for Rs1,000.

Why are you doing this? Why don’t you take action against this?,” Ved Prakash Sharma said before throwing a ‘CD’ and shoe at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Later, he claimed that he is from Aam Aadmi Sena.

After he threw his shoe at the chief minister, some AAP volun-

teers and police personnel immediately rushed towards him.

Party volunteers thrashed Prakash and, thereafter, police personnel took him out of the Media Centre of Delhi Secretariat.

According to Ved Prakash, he has conducted a sting operation on alleged irregularities in distribution of CNG sticker at a CNG station near CGO complex in Lodhi Road. He alleged that a CNG sticker is being sold for Rs1,000 and there was a major scam.

As per the odd-even rule, CNGrun cars are exempted from roadrationing plan, but they should have a sticker issued by IGL. Reacting to shoe attack on Kejriwal, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra claimed that Ved

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Prakash had called a Delhi BJP leader before throwing his shoe at the chief minister.

“Call details of Ved Prakash Sharma should be probed. He called BJP Delhi leader right before attacking,” Mishra tweeted.

A senior government official said that police should have checked identity cards of journalists attending the CM’s press conference. The official said that government will only allow journalists having Delhi Information and Publicity (DIP )card to attend the Delhi chief minister’s press conference. Government said that it is “shameful and dangerous” that a person claiming to be journalist could use a press conference to target the chief minister. - PTI

BEYOND 50%

Nitish for extending reservation in private sector PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday stressed on increasing the reservation quota in jobs beyond 50 per cent in view of the increasing population of Schedule Castes and also advocated extending the facility in the private sector.

“The order of the Supreme Court on (50 per cent ceiling) reservation is accepted...but there should be discussion on reservation issue...the laid down quota should be increased,” Kumar said addressing a function in which he was honoured with K. Veeramani award for 2015.

“If population of SC is increasing the quota of reservation should also increase like in Tamil Nadu where it is 69 per cent,” he said.

The laws are made taking into account the prevailing environment at the time.

“But, it changes later on as per the need,” he said and cited example of the Bihar government enacting a new liquor law replacing the existing one of 1915.

“Likewise, the limit of reservation could be increased above 50 per cent through an amendment in Constitution,” said Kumar, who hails from OBC caste. Kumar, a senior JD(U) leader, also made a strong case for extending reservation in private sector too.

“In today’s time of economic liberalisation if reservation is not provided in private sector then it would be playing a joke with the concept of social justice,” he said to drive home the point.

Kumar said as member of 14th Lok Sabha he had raised the issue of providing reservation to Dalit Muslims. - PTI

S I T UAT I O N I M P R OV I N G

Demand of outstation students for shifting NIT rejected SRINAGAR: Human Resource Development Ministry of India officials have rejected the demand of outstation students of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar for shifting the institute out of Indian-administered-Kashmir but assured them of addressing their “genuine” issues.

A group of outstation students of the NIT met Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar along with officials from Union HRD ministry on Friday night to discuss the situation at the institute.

“The demand for shifting the NIT out of Kashmir has been outrightly rejected by the HRD minis-

try officials. It has been made clear to the students,” official sources said on Saturday.

The sources said the ministers and HRD officials however assured the students that their genuine demands like better amenities inside the campus and improving the academic atmosphere will be addressed. “The Board of Governors of the NITs will be meeting on April 11 where all these issues will be addressed,” the sources said.

They said the ministers told the students that security has never been an issue at the NIT but the state government will ensure that concerns on this front will also be addressed.

“The ministers asserted that students of the institute have been here at the peak of militancy and no one has ever been harmed,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, an official of the NIT said the meeting was a positive development as the situation inside the campus was improving.

The situation is calm but the outstation students are seemingly still on protest, Registrar, NIT Srinagar, Fayaz Ahmad Mir said.

Mir said as there were no protests at the campus on Saturday morning. The students are in their hostels as there was no class work today as Saturday and Sunday are off days, he said.

L O A N D E FA U LT C A S E

Mallya skips ED again; seeks time till May to depose NEW DELHI: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for the third time on Saturday as he sought time till May to depose before it in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.

The beleaguered businessman informed the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case in Mumbai that he will be unable to depose personally as scheduled on Saturday citing the ongoing legal proceedings going in the Supreme Court over settlement of loans, officials said. However, it is understood that he has suggested his legal team can help ED in taking the probe forward.

Sources did not immediately comment as to what next step the agency will take now as he has sought time till May, a request he made to the IO last week too and which was turned down.

“The next action will be decided in due course,” they said.

The agency had issued fresh summons last week to Mallya asking him to appear on April 9 after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2 citing official reasons.

Officials had, however, earlier said that the agency has by and large two options in case an accused skips appearance on summons thrice, the maximum time allowed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency had issued fresh summons last week to Mallya asking him to appear on April 9 after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2 citing official reasons Vijay Mallya

The options include revoking his or her passport and/or getting issued a non-bailable warrant.

ED officials had earlier hinted that the April 9 summons could possibly be the last to Mallya.

The IO of the case had allowed his plea to postpone his appearance till now, they said, both on technical and legal grounds.

Sub-judice It is understood that Mallya, while seeking extensions, had informed the IO that cases related to bank loans were currently subjudice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans

with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time.

Mallya was first summoned by the agency to “appear in person” at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2.

Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over Rs9,000 crore from various banks, was also directed by the Supreme Court to disclose all assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad

by April 21. - PTI

The Registrar said it was a positive point that there was no confrontation between non-local and local students. There have been no group confrontations and that is a positive point, the Registrar said.

He said the administration has been approached by few injured students who want to go home and as per the directions of the Union HRD ministry, arrangements are being made for them.

Remaining students, who want to go, may also submit their details so that necessary action may be taken, he said.

Chairman, Board of Governors, M J Zarabi has appealed the students to help restore normalcy at

the campus and help the institute scale great heights.

“I have been very distressed at the recent turn of events at this institute. As chairman board of governors NIT Srinagar, my dream and indeed my endeavour would be to see the institute improve its standard,, excel at least in certain areas and improve its rating further,” Zarabi said in his appeal to the students.

He said Kashmir is known as an abode of saints and it is “my dream that NIT Srinagar grows into an institution that serves as a leading example of amity among people from different regions and faiths.”

Amidst the unrest in NIT here,

separatist leader and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yaseen Malik on Saturday sought to assure outstation students about their safety, saying Kashmiris will uphold their values of secularism and brotherhood at any cost.

“Kashmir is famous for brotherhood between various communities and secularism and we will uphold them at any cost,” Malik told reporters here.

The JKLF chairman said the separatists in Kashmir did not want to indulge in politics over the NIT issue and people from outside the state have never been put to any harm. -PTI

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 We must, therefore, remain alert to communal tensions rearing its ugly head anywhere. Rule of Law must form the sole basis for dealing with any challenging situation. It is our democratic underpinning that must prevail at all times Pranab Mukherjee, President

INDIA COMMUNAL HARMONY

Pluralism and tolerance hallmark of Indian civilisation: Pranab NEW DELHI: Pluralism and tolerance have been the hallmark of Indian civilisation, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday asking people to remain alert to communal tensions rearing its “ugly head” anywhere.

Delivering the Arjun Singh memorial lecture at the Nehru Memorial museum in honour of the Congress veteran, he also stressed that democracy is not all about numbers but also calls for consensus building.

Mukherjee said in a pluralistic democracy, it was important that the values of tolerance, respect for contrary views and patience are inculcated amongst the citizens particularly the youth.

“Pluralism and tolerance have been the hallmark of our civilisation. This is a core philosophy that must continue undeterred. For, India’s strength lies in her diversity.

“Diversity of our country is a fact. This cannot be turned into fiction due to the whims of a rigid few. Plurality of our society has come about through assimilation of ideas over centuries,” Mukherjee said.

LECTURE: President Pranab Mukherjee, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the 1st Arjun Singh Memorial Lecture organised by the Arjun Singh Sadbhavna Foundation in New Delhi on Saturday. Arjun Singh’s wife Saroj Singh is seen at right. - PTI

He said India derives its strength from tolerance. It has been part of its collective consciousness for centuries and it was the only way it will work well for the country.

“There are divergent strands in public discourse. We may argue.

We may not agree. But we cannot

deny the essential prevalence of multiplicity of opinion. Otherwise, a fundamental character of our thought process will wither away,” he said. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Mukherjee said at times, communal harmony will be put to test by vested interests.

“We must, therefore, remain alert to communal tensions rearing its ugly head anywhere. Rule of Law must form the sole basis for dealing with any challenging situation. It is our democratic underpinning that must prevail at all times,” he said. The function

was attended by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah and host of Congress leaders. Mukherjee said democracy is not all about numbers but also calls for consensus building.

“A phenomenon seen in recent times is the way the common man is engaged with affairs of the nation. While we must wield no space to anarchy, efficient democratic machinery must have the means and wherewithal to absorb public opinion for formulation of sound policies,” he said.

Earlier, Sonia in her speech expressed apprehension that democracy and secularism of the country was in danger.

Sonia recalled her association with Singh and said she misses him wherever she has to take a tough decision.

The President also that Singh was one leader whose heart and mind was rooted to the ground. He never lost his simplicity to power, nor did he lose his concern for the common man.

Campaign ends in Assam, 31 Bengal seats for April 11 vote BJP’s campaign was marked by an appeal to the electorate to vote for ‘parivartan’ (change) to bring development while the Congress highlighted its achievements like restoring peace in Assam during the last

WOOING VOTERS: BJP president Amit Shah with party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma and party’s

Assam chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonwal at an election rally at Sualkuchi in Kamrup district of Assam on Saturday. - PTI

15 years of its rule

GUWAHATI/KOLKATA: The high-decibel campaign ended on Saturday in Assam where BJP is locked in a riveting contest to wrest power from Congress, with remaining 61 of 126 Assembly constituencies going to polls on April 11 in the second and final phase.

In West Bengal, canvassing ended in 31 assembly seats spread over three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Burdwan where voting will be also held on Monday in the second part of phase one which will see many state opposition leaders in the fray.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the campaign from the front for the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance in both the phases in Assam, addressed four election rallies.

Infiltration issue The issue of infiltration was in focus in this phase. There is a predominant minority population in several of the constituencies spread across Lower and Central Assam. The BJP pledged to resolve the infiltration issue by completely sealing off the IndoBangla border while the Congress’ contention was that there were no Bangladeshis in Assam and it

was the Tarun Gogoi-led government that took initiative to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to resolve the issue.

BJP’s campaign was also marked by an appeal to the electorate to vote for ‘parivartan’ (change) to bring development while the Congress highlighted its achievements like restoring peace during the last 15 years of its rule.

The two sides also traded charges on issue of corruption and nepotism with Modi accusing Gogoi of favouring his family while the chief minister attacked the prime minister over Panama papers. For the Congress, it was par-

ty President Sonia Gandhi, VicePresident Rahul Gandhi, state unit president Anjan Dutta along with former UPA ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, Sachin Pilot among others who campaigned for its candidates.

The Congress chief targeted BJP over its alleged “communal” politics and accused Modi of “spreading hate”.

About 10,435,271 people, including 5,391,204 males, 5,044,051 females are eligible to exercise their franchise in the phase to decide the fate of 525 candidates — 477 males and 48 females.

In West Bengal, altogether 163 candidates, including 21 women, have been wooing about 7 million voters, including 3.36 million women. For Trinamool Congress, party supremo Mamata Banerjee, who is the face of the party, has been campaigning extensively daily. Besides the Saradha chitfund scam, opposition parties have been targeting the TMC government on the recent Narada sting operation where party leaders were purportedly seen accepting bribe.

Mamata is making a determined bid for a second successive term in the state where polling will be held in five more phases after April 11. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Surjya Kanta Mishra, a five-time MLA from Narayangarh seat, senior state Congress leader Manas Bhuniya (Sabang constituency), whose party is jointly fighting with the Left Front against the ruling Trinamool Congress, are among the high-profile contestants.

At Dubrajpur in West Midnapore district, a Trinamool Congress worker was on Friday beaten to death allegedly by a group of Congress and CPI(M) supporters.

Fighting electoral battle yet again at the age of 91 from Kharagpur Sadar seat is sitting Congress MLA Gyan Singh Sohanpal, who is the oldest among all candidates in this Assembly poll.

The first phase of Assembly polls in West Bengal and Assam on April 4 passed off peacefully, with a high voter turnout of 80 and 70 per cent respectively. - PTI

Mukherjee said the role of educational institutions goes beyond mere pedagogy and classrooms.

“It is incumbent on them to mould students into responsible human beings. They have to instill in the students the civilisational values of love for motherland; performance of duty; compassion for all; tolerance for pluralism; respect for women; honesty in life; self-restraint in conduct; responsibility in action; and discipline,” he said.

Talking about higher education system in the country, the President said none of our universities earlier found a place amongst the top two hundred positions in world university rankings. “I have been repeating like parrots in my interactions with institutions of higher learning that the rankings process must be accorded due importance,” he said.

Mukherjee said world-class institutions have world-class governance structures.”In India, we need to create a governance mechanism for our institutes of higher learning that supports growth, collaboration and innovation,” the President said. - PTI KERALA

85-year old man kills wife, son over use of air conditioner ANGAMALY (Kerala): An 85year old man allegedly killed his wife and ailing son in their house here for using the air conditioner disregarding his diktat against it to bring down the rising power bill, police said.

Paul Painadathu also allegedly made an attempt to commit suicide after fatally attacking his 74-year old wife and 54-year old son with a sharp edged iron bar at around 1 am.

The octogenarian, a retired railway official, has been detained and investigations were on, police said.

Paul telephoned his other son working in Qatar and informed him about the incident and also told him that he was going to commit suicide.

The panic-stricken son immediately telephoned their relative staying in the neighbourhood, who in turn alerted the police.

Escalating electricity bill According to police, Paul had warned against excessive use of air conditioner in view of escalating electricity bill.

But both his wife and son, who had recently undergone treatment for heart problem, ignored his advice and switched on the AC last night, police said.

Enraged over this, Paul entered the room in which the two were sleeping and hit them with the iron bar. Both died on the spot. After the incident Paul allegedly tried to kill himself by hanging from the roof but could not climb the ladder due to his old age, police said. - PTI

DRY REGIME

Jaya announces prohibition in Tamil Nadu if voted back to power CHENNAI: Seeking to turn the tables on the opposition which is promising prohibition if voted to power, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) supremo and chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday assured a dry law in Tamil Nadu in a staggered manner.

Launching a tirade against arch rival and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi for supporting prohibition,

she pointed out that he had relaxed the dry law in 1971 and was raking up the matter for political reasons.

“Listen voters, prohibition was launched in Salem in 1937 and was extended in a phased manner and on January 30 1948, total prohibition was launched in TN,” she said launching her party’s election campaign at the Island grounds here. Jayalalithaa noted that prohibition was relaxed in 1971 August by the Karunanidhi govern-

ment. Assuring implementation of prohibition in Tamil Nadu, where beverage sales fetches about Rs30 billion revenue, she said “when AIADMK assumes power again, total prohibition will be implemented in a phased manner,” drawing loud applause. “Always, my policy is to implement total prohibition. However, this cannot be done through a single signature. This can be done only in a phased manner,” she said.

Recalling that beverage was

introduced in 1971 by DMK and was available in Tamil Nadu for generations, she said “that is why this cannot be done away with in a single day.” Assuring that it would be done in a staggered manner, she said that as a first step, working hours of retail liquor outlets would be reduced, followed by cutting down their numbers.

“As a first step, the timing of outlets and then their numbers will be cut down and later bars attached to

retail outlets will be shut.

Rehabilitation centres will be opened to treat liquor addicts and after taking all such measures, in a phased manner we will attain our goal of total prohibition,” she said.

Jayalalithaa’s assurance assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of a sustained campaign by NGOs and persistent demand by Opposition parties, including DMK and PMK, for a dry regime. - PTI

SPELLING OUT: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa addressing a public meeting after launch of her poll campaign in Chennai on Saturday. - PTI

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READERS’ FORUM Best way to stem migrant inflow is by not interfering This refers to the report, ‘More migrants return to Turkey from Greece under EU pact’ (April 8). It is surprising that the controversial deal has not caught the attention of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. It is more likely he and other crony organisations of the West are simply turning a blind eye. The main problem behind influx into Europe is not the conflict but rather who started the chaos itself.

The West continues to interfere in other countries affairs and by doing so has been successful in creating war-like conditions whereby ordinary people have to flee. The Scan this QR code only way the influx can be stemmed is to send letters to the by leaving other countries alone. — Ravi Readers’ Forum, Nair, Ruwi containing not more

MARCEL FRATZSCHER

In the current refugee crisis, European Union countries have shown a distinct lack of solidarity with Germany, with many refusing to take on even a small share of the burden. Despite the recent deal with Turkey aimed at reducing the flow of Syrian refugees, most Germans do not expect their EU partners to change course

than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Complaints against bowlers made to damage the player’s confidence This refers to the report, ‘Narine’s bowling action cleared by ICC, relief for KKR’ (April 8). I cannot understand why so much noise is made over bowlers action after the players have been playing professionally. It seems these exercises are made just to damage the player’s confidence. Such referrals need to be stopped and the complainants be punished. — Rabia Saleem, Seeb

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.

ISAAC NEWTON

Sowing seeds of Syria’s future by education W

e are at risk of producing a lost generation of young Syrians. Nearly six years of civil war have displaced them from their homes, denied them the chance to plan for their future, and stolen their hopes. And in hopelessness, as we now know all too well, lie the roots of future violence in the Middle East.

The end of Syria’s brutal war may seem far off.

But we must not behave as if peace will never come, because, when it does, Syria will have to call upon its best and brightest – the generation at risk of being lost – to rebuild their country.

Today, almost all of those young people have been denied training in the skills they will need in the future. If there is to be any hope for meaningful reconstruction, it will have to be built on the bedrock of a higher education.

We must, of course, be realistic and acknowledge the obstacles in the way of delivering higher education to refugees outside their country. There are language barriers. Academic credentials must be documented or verified in some way. And significant new funding will be necessary (with just 1.3% of global humanitarian aid directed toward education, such funding will be hard to come by).

Notwithstanding these challenges, there is one significant step we can and should take immediately: the creation of an international clearinghouse dedicated to providing access to higher education. The existing, if limited, resources available to refugees must be brought together in one place, providing comprehensive information for Syrians seeking to begin or resume their studies.

Many important initiatives are already underway. Turkey recently unveiled plans to open three institutions tasked with offering higher education to Syrian refugees. In Lebanon and Jordan, a European Union-funded programme is providing 3,000 young Syrian adults with the skills necessary for higher education. And a coalition of Canadian higher education institutions and providers has joined with the World University Service of Canada to increase financial support for refugees.

With the support of Jusoor, an organisation led

by Syrian expatriates, the Institute for International Education has created the Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, a consortium of colleges and universities providing scholarships for Syrian students whose education has been disrupted by the conflict. The institute also provides

educational opportunities to Syrians through its Emergency Student Fund, which issues grants to ensure that students from Syria can continue their studies in the United States. At the grassroots level, individual donors such as George Soros have been generous in their support. Moreover, universities have offered scholarships, and organisations like the Dutch NGO Spark are reaching out to Syrian refugees still in the region to provide opportunities for higher education. The Scholar Rescue Fund offers fellowships to academics to continue their work in safety outside of Syria.

Meanwhile, digital advances are helping to close the gap between refugees and a university education. The University of the People is an accredited US university dedicated to providing a quality, traditional college education online at no cost (except for a small fee for processing exams) to students with no other accessible alternatives. It has created a scholarship program to cover the cost of the examination fees for 500 refugees, with the goal of serving 12,000 in the future.

To make these chances available to more young people, we need a clearinghouse linking refugees in need with universities and organizations in a position to help them. John Sexton, President Emeritus of New York University, is dedicating himself to creating such a clearinghouse; and, under his guidance, the newly formed Catalyst Trust has provided seed funding.

The reasons to support this effort are manifold.

Jorge Sampaio, a former president of Portugal, has spearheaded the Global Platform for Syrian Students, connecting universities offering scholarships with refugees. Sampaio says that a clearinghouse could increase awareness and mitigate the risks faced by refugee students, with dramatic positive effects. By the time the World Humanitarian Summit takes place in Istanbul in May, we must establish a funding facility for education in emergencies. In addition to ensuring that conflict does not disrupt the education process, such a fund could provide ongoing support to the global clearinghouse – perhaps even providing financial aid to talented young people.

We cannot wait for the war to end to pick up the pieces and rebuild. By removing barriers to information we will provide refugees with the opportunity to continue their studies. And, as hope takes root among Syria’s lost generation, they will lay the groundwork for the reconstruction and revival of their country. - Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES APRIL 2001 Oman, Pakistan discuss educational cooperation MUSCAT: Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, minister of higher education, received here yesterday Zubaidah Jalal, Pakistani education, woman development and social welfare minister. They reviewed bilateral relations in the field of higher education and ways of boosting them. They also discussed aspects of the existing cooperation between the two countries and means of promoting them in the interest of the two peoples. The two sides also reviewed the possibilities of increasing coordination in scientific fields via exchange of visits to further bolster cooperation in higher education between the two countries.

The Pakistani minister gave a briefing about public and government university and private education in Pakistan.

PICTOGRAPH

OMAN’S MINING AND QUARRYING Total end of September (Million rials) 2014

2015

87.9

95.3

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

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

1866: The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is formed.

1912: The Titanic begins her maiden voyage which will end in disaster.

1930: The first synthetic rubber is produced.

1938: Germany annexes Austria.

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

A1 3

PAKISTAN ECONOMY

SBP keeps benchmark interest rate at 6% for two months KARACHI: In line with analysts’ expectation, the Monetary Policy Committee of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) decided on Saturday to keep the policy rate unchanged at 6 per cent for the next two months. One of the major reasons for the central bank to maintain the benchmark interest rate is a rising trend in inflation.

This is reflective of a pickup in aggregate demand in the wake of an improved security situation and real incomes, it said.

The policy rate is the interest rate that the SBP tries to maintain in the interbank market to control money supply in the economy and achieve price stability and economic growth targets.

Pakistan, China start joint training exercise DRILL : Pakistan wants to upgrade its air force, now dependent

on a mostly outmoded fleet of US, French and Chinese fighter jets. – Reuters file photo

Chinese defence ministry said the exercise, called ‘Shaheen V,’ would run until April 30

SHANGHAI: China’s air force on Saturday began joint training exercises with that of Pakistan, China’s defence ministry said, as the two nations’ militaries strengthen operational ties.

The countries call each other “all-weather friends”, with ties underpinned by long-standing wariness of their common neighbour, and a desire to hedge against US influence in Asia.

“China’s Air Force hopes to widen the scope of cooperation and dialogue with all countries and regions,” the Chinese de-

fence ministry said in a statement on its website, adding that the exercise, called “Shaheen V,” would run until April 30.

China has long urged Pakistan to weed out what it says are militants from its far western region of Xinjiang who have holed up in lawless ethnic Pashtun areas on Pakistan’s Afghan border, home to a mix of groups, including the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

For its part Pakistan wants to upgrade its air force, now dependent on a mostly outmoded fleet of US, French and Chinese fighter jets that Pakistani officials fear can do little against enemy craft or help target domestic insurgents.

In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Pakistan Air Force second-in-command Muhammad Ashfaque Arain said the bulk of the burden was now borne by a fleet of US made F-16 aircraft.

He saw the purchase of more F-16s as economically unfeasible, however. Instead, Islamabad plans to invest in a joint fighter built with China, the JF-17. -Reuters

E N H A N C E N AV Y ’ S C A PA B I L I T I E S

Anti-ship ‘Zarb’ missile test-fired successfully ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy conducted on Saturday a successful test-fire of shore-based anti-ship missile ‘Zarb’, a statement released by Director General Public Relations said.

The missile was launched from coastal site and successfully hit the surface target in the Arabian Sea, the statement added.

Felicitating the Naval staff, Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah said the launch of new missile system was part of Pak Navy’s continu-

ous effort to enhance its capabilities, and terming the successful test as hallmark of Pakistan Navy’s preparedness.

Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi said with this successful test launch significant capability has been added to the Pakistan Navy’s arsenal which would further bolster the defence mechanism of the country and contribute towards peace and stability in the region. - Express Tribune

It reduced the policy rate from 6.5 per cent to 6 per cent last September after bringing it down by 300 basis points in 2014-15.

The central bank has maintained it at 6 per cent in the subsequent monetary policy announcements in November, January and April. After bottoming out in September 2015, the year-on-year

Consumer Price Index (CPI) is on a rising trend.

Similarly, both core and noncore inflation indicators have shown an upward trend in recent months. “Nevertheless, this rise in inflation was anticipated and the benign inflation outlook for the remaining months of 2015-16 remains largely unchanged,” the SBP

said in the statement. The increase in aggregate demand, the SBP said, is reflected in the acceleration in construction activities, rising demand for consumer goods and expansion in the services sector.

Credit to the private sector is on the rise on account of the low borrowing cost, the SBP pointed out, as the benchmark interest rate is

hovering at record-low levels.

In particular, fixed investments have increased for the fifth quarter. “With positive consumer sentiments and incremental lending rates at considerably lower levels, the uptake of credit by the private sector is expected to end 2015-16 on a higher level than that of 201415,” the SBP said. - Express Tribune

A 14

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Kerry in Afghanistan, aims to ease crisis over unity pact The political deal that Kerry brokered suggested that their power-sharing arrangement would end in September 2016, which has fuelled political manoeuvring in

POLITICAL CRISIS US Secretary of State John Kerry, right, speaks with officials as he walks across the tarmac after arriving at Kabul International Airport in Kabul on Saturday. - Reuters

Kabul

KABUL: US Secretary of State John Kerry made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan on Saturday to show support for the government and to try to defuse a political crisis fuelled in part by a national unity deal he brokered in 2014.

The visit comes at a difficult moment for Afghanistan, with President Ashraf Ghani’s government weakened by infight-

ing between political rivals, the economy sinking and the resurgent Taliban stronger than at any time since they were toppled from power in late 2001.

In announcing the visit, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said Kerry would “emphasise US support” for the government and its security forces, which NATO officials say fully control no more than 70 per cent of Afghanistan. At the same time,

US forces in Afghanistan are due to be almost halved to 5,500 from the current 9,800 by the start of 2017, and the new commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, is conducting a review of security before making his recommendations to Washington some time in June.

Kerry was scheduled to meet Ghani, the victor of Afghanistan’s disputed 2014 election, and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, the

runner-up. The pair share power under the 2014 National Unity Government agreement.

The political deal that Kerry brokered suggested that their power-sharing arrangement would end in September 2016, which has fuelled political manoeuvring in Kabul.

An opposition movement close to former president Hamid Karzai is pushing to have a say on the way forward. The legal decree that en-

acted the deal, however, provided no clearly binding time limit, leaving open the possibility that the National Unity government, in one form or another, could continue on for the rest of Ghani’s five-year mandate.

Kerry is expected to make that point while in Afghanistan, a stance that US officials hope may help quell some of the infighting.

“Though the political agreement calls for this to be a twoyear agreement, the decree doesn’t spell out an end date,” said a senior US official on condition of anonymity.

“We ourselves here don’t view that there is going to be an end ... in September.” US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olsen made a similar point more obliquely with reporters in Washington on Monday.

“The secretary wants to signal continuing US support for the national unity government,” he said.

“It’s at the 18-month mark in a five-year term.” In July, the NATO Western security alliance is expected to decide how to fund Afghanistan’s security forces in the coming years and donor nations will gather in Brussels in October to make civilian aid pledges to Afghanistan. - Reuters

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Sri Lanka requests equity swap for some of its $8b China debt BEIJING: Sri Lanka has asked China to swap some of the $8 billion the Indian Ocean country owes Beijing for equity in infrastructure projects and offered to sell stakes in Sri Lankan companies to Chinese ones, Sri Lankan officials said on Saturday.

The ouster of president Mahinda Rajapaksa, who steered Sri Lanka toward China until 2015, was a setback for ties, as his successor reviewed projects to check if they were fair and legal.

Current President Maithripala Sirisena’s government, faced with falling foreign reserves, a balance of payments crunch and few, if any, alternative investors, is heading back into China’s embrace, albeit asking for better terms. In Beijing, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his indebted country was suffering because of global economic uncertainty.

“We’ve been talking with some companies and also the government of China about the possibility of some infrastructure projects becoming public-private partnerships, in which part of the debt will become equity held by the Chinese companies,” he said. — Reuters

I N D I G E N O U S LY D E S I G N E D R O C K E T

Kim supervises test of new engine for ballistic missile

CLAIM: In this October 10, 2015, file photo, what is believed to

be an improved version of the KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile is paraded in Pyongyang, North Korea, during the 70th anniversary celebrations of its ruling party’s creation. North Korea said on Saturday, it has successfully tested a new intercontinental ballistic rocket engine that will give it the ability to stage nuclear strikes on the United States. - AP/ PTI

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a successful test of a new engine for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state media said on Saturday, in their latest report of advances in an arms programme that has attracted UN sanctions.

South Korea and the United States have shown scepticism over the North’s statements about rapid progress in its nuclear and missile programmes ahead of a ruling party congress in May, where analysts expect it to declare itself a major nuclear weapons state.

Simmering tension Tension has remained high on the Korean peninsula after the North’s nuclear test and a longrange rocket launch earlier in the year and South Korean and US troops conducted large-scale joint drills amid harsh rhetoric from both rival Koreas.

The engine was ignited at Kim’s command and released a fiery blast, and the test showed the indigenously designed rocket fulfilled all required conditions, the North’s official KCNA news agency said.

“Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un said now we can mount an ever more powerful nuclear warhead on a new intercontinental ballistic rocket and put the den of evil in the United States, and all over the world, within our strike range,” the agency said.

The test was conducted at the North’s missile station near its west coast, where, in February, the country launched a longrange rocket that put an object into space orbit, KCNA said.

South Korea’s defence officials

did not immediately provide comment on the authenticity of Saturday’s report.

The North said in March it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead to be mounted on ballistic missiles and conducted a simulated re-entry test of a ballistic missile, which could indicate advances in its ICBM programme, if true.

Questioned But South Korean officials questioned those assertions and said the North was several years away from developing an ICBM. The United States said there was no proof of the North’s statements and urged Pyongyang to halt actions that fuel tension.

The North conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and the rocket launch in February, in defiance of international warnings and past UN sanctions, triggering a new Security Council resolution that imposed more punishment.

Despite its assertions, the North has yet to conduct a flight-test of a long-range missile or an ICBM and show mastery of the technology needed to bring a missile back into the atmosphere and hit a target with precision. The North said its January nuclear test was a successful hydrogen bomb test, but many experts and officials in the South and the United States said the blast was too small to have been from a successful test of such a weapon. -Reuters

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A1 5

WORLD SpaceX rocket booster makes first landing at sea in breakthrough tended, descending over the ocean before settling itself upright on the barge-like platform, roughly eight minutes after launch.

“The rocket landed instead of putting a hole in the ship or tipping over,” Musk told reporters at the Kennedy Space Center a short time later.”We’re real excited about that.”

The successful autonomous touchdown of the booster at sea marked another milestone for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his privately owned Space Exploration Technologies

SUCCESS: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on Friday in this handout

photo provided by SpaceX. — Reuters/SpaceX/Handout via Reuters

CAPE CANAVERAL: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida on a NASA cargo run to the International Space Station on Friday, and its reusable main-stage booster landed on an ocean platform minutes later in a dramatic spaceflight first.

The successful autonomous

touchdown of the booster at sea marked another milestone for billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and his privately owned Space Exploration Technologies in the quest to develop a cheap, reusable rocket, expanding his edge in the burgeoning commercial space launch industry.

The liftoff at 4:43 p.m EDT (2043 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Station also marked the resumption of resupply flights

by SpaceX for NASA following a launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed an earlier cargo payload for the space station. About 2-1/2 minutes after Friday’s launch, the

CELEBRATIONS IN INDONESIA

The Indonesian Air Force’s aerobatic team performs during celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Saturday. — Reuters

TOURIST AREAS

US warns citizens about ‘credible threats’ in Turkey ISTANBUL: The United States warned its citizens on Saturday about “credible threats” to tourist areas in Turkey, particularly in Istanbul and the southwest coastal resort of Antalya.

Turkey has been hit by four suicide bombings already this year, the most recent one last month in Istanbul.

Two of those have been blamed on IS, while Kurdish militants have claimed responsibility for the other two.

The US Embassy emailed what it called an “emergency message” to Americans.

“The US Mission in Turkey would like to inform US citizens that there are credible threats to tourist areas, in particular to public squares and docks in Istanbul and Antalya,” it said in

Armed special police units were deployed outside foreign consulates in Istanbul, including the German and Italian missions

the statement.”Please exercise extreme caution if you are in the vicinity of such areas.”

Armed special police units were deployed outside foreign consulates in Istanbul, including the German and Italian missions.

Last month’s attack in Istanbul’s main shopping district killed three Israelis, two of whom held dual citizenship with the United States, and one Iranian.

A separate attack in the city’s historic heart in January killed 12 German tourists.

Turkey is facing multiple security threats. As part of a US-led coalition, it is fighting IS in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.

It is also battling Kurdish militants in its southeast, where a 2-1/2-year ceasefire collapsed last July, triggering the worst violence since the 1990s. — Reuters

main part of the 23-story tall, twostage SpaceX rocket separated, turned around and headed toward a landing platform floating in the Atlantic about 185 miles (300 km) northeast of Cape Canaveral.

A live video feed broadcast on NASA television showed the rocket booster, its four landing legs ex-

Failed attempts Four previous at-sea landing attempts had failed. But a Falcon 9 main-stage rocket achieved a successful ground-based touchdown in December, the first ever during an actual commercial space mission.

President Obama hailed the latest accomplishment on Twitter, saying, “Congrats SpaceX on landing a rocket at sea.

It’s because of innovators like you & NASA that America continues to lead in space exploration.”

The reusable rocket booster should arrive back in Florida on Sunday and will be test-fired about 10 times, then likely re-launched, probably on a commercial flight, as early as May, Musk said.

SpaceX plans to plans to start launching rockets about every two weeks from its sites in Florida and California later this year as the

company tackles satellite-delivery orders worth some $10 billion, company officials said. Roughly half the upcoming missions will leave the Falcon 9’s booster with too little reserve fuel to fly all the way back to the launch site for a return landing, so the ability to land at sea is essential, Musk said.

He estimates each Falcon 9 booster should be good for 10 to 20 launches, possibly up to 100 with minor refurbishment.

SpaceX also plans to debut a heavy-lift version of the Falcon rocket this year, equipped with 27 engines powering its first-stage, compared to the nine currently used.

The cargo ship that lifted off on Friday, a capsule dubbed Dragon, was due to arrive on Sunday at the space station, the $100 billion laboratory flying about 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

It is packed with about 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) of food, supplies and experiments, including a prototype inflatable habitat.

Built by Nevada-based Bigelow Aerospace, the lightweight fabric habitat will be tested to see how it compares with more traditional orbiting enclosures made from metal in the hostile environment of space. — Reuters

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

WORLD PA R I S AT TA C K S

Belgium holds four people on terror charges BRUSSELS: Belgium’s public prosecutor on Saturday charged four people with being part of a terrorist organisation, including a man suspected of helping prepare the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

They added it was still not clear whether the man, Belgian Mohamed Abrini, was also suspected of being involved in last month’s Brussels airport bombings.

“He is charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist group and terrorist murder,” the Belgian federal prosecutors office said in a statement. Prosecutors added it was still not clear whether Abrini was the “man in a hat” seen on CCTV footage with two of the suicide bombers at Brussels Airport on March 22.

Apart from Abrini, prosecutors said they also charged Osama K, who local media said was a Swede named Osama Krayem, adding they were able to identify him as the man present at the time of the attack on the Brussels metro station that same day. Prosecutors also continued to hold a Rwandan national, identified as Herve B.M., and 27-year-old Bilal E.M., while two other people detained on Friday together with Abrini were released after being questioned.

Earlier, Belgian police raided an apartment complex in central Brussels without further arrests being made. Prosecutors had suspected an apartment there to be used as a safe house though no explosives or weapons were found.

The sixth person arrested late on Friday was Bilal El Makhoukhi, who was convicted in January last year for being involved in Sharia4Belgium, a now disbanded organisation.

Originally sentenced to five years in prison, with three years suspended, El Makhoukhi was allowed to serve his remaining term at home under electronic monitoring and was released last month, Justice Minister Koen Geens told reporters. — Reuters

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Cameron in damage control over Panama Papers leak Speaking at a meeting of members of his Conservative Party, the British PM said I know that I should have handled this better, I could have handled this better. I know there are lessons to learn and I will learn them

LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Saturday he should have handled scrutiny of his family’s tax arrangements better, seeking to reassert his leadership after days of negative media coverage and calls for his resignation.

After four days and four different statements over his late father’s inclusion in the “Panama Papers”, Cameron said on Thursday he once had a stake in his father’s offshore trust and had profited from it.

“Well, it’s not been a great week,” Cameron said, speaking in London at a meeting of members of his Conservative Party. “I know that I should have handled this better, I could have handled this better. I know there are lessons to learn and I will learn them.”

As hundreds of protesters from rival parties gathered outside with banners demanding his resignation, Cameron said he would publish the information used to compile his annual tax returns, past

SCANDAL: Demonstrators hold placards during a protest outside Downing Street in London, Britain on Saturday. — Reuters

and present, because he wanted to be “completely transparent about these things”.

The protest, in which many waved banners saying “Cameron must go”, briefly blocked the street outside the venue, with delegates advised to remove their identification before leaving.

Cameron’s candid admission of fault, during which he said he had been angered at how the media had portrayed his late father, comes after a torrid period for the Conservative government.

Divided over a June 23 referendum on whether to remain in the European Union, forced to back-

track on welfare cuts and criticised for not protecting the steel industry, Cameron sought to rally party unity ahead of regional elections next month.

“We have a huge responsibility over the coming months and the coming years to settle this issue over Europe... to show the discipline and unity and purpose that is vital for government,” he said.

But the splits over Europe were in plain sight at the party’s spring forum — a key event in the party calendar at which members discuss future policy.

Outside, before the event began, rank and file Conservative Party

members had to walk between lines of rival “In” and “Out” campaigners offering bags of campaign literature, with each side cheering when a delegate took one of their leaflets.

Boris Johnson Inside, chief “In” campaigner Cameron and de-facto “Out” campaign head Boris Johnson tried in vain to avoid the debate.

“Boris and I agreed we weren’t going to talk about Europe.

Did Boris keep his promise?,” Cameron said to laughs from the audience soon after Johnson referred repeatedly to the referen-

dum in a speech at the event.

London Mayor Johnson, who opted in February to oppose Cameron and campaign for a British exit from the EU, called June 23 “independence day” during his address.

Interior minister Theresa May, making the final public speech, urged members not to let the EU debate dominate the party’s term in office.

“The referendum is a question to which the answer will define our country for years to come,” she said.

But we mustn’t allow it to define our Party. — Reuters

US ELECTIONS

Blocking Trump could hurt GOP in election: Survey NEW YORK: A third of Republican voters who support Donald Trump could turn their backs on their party in November’s presidential election if he is denied the nomination in a contested convention, according to a Reuters/ Ipsos poll.

The results are bad news for Trump’s rivals as well as party elites opposed to the real estate billionaire, suggesting that an alternative Republican nominee for the November 8 presidential race would have a tougher road against the Democrats.

“If it’s a close election, this is devastating news” for the Republicans, said Donald Green, an expert on election turnout at Columbia University.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted March 30 to April 8 asked Trump’s Republican supporters two questions: if Trump wins the most delegates in the primaries but loses the nomination, what would they do on Election Day, and how would it impact their relationship with the Republican Party?

Sixty-six per cent said they would vote for the candidate who eventually wins the nomination, while the remaining third were split between a number of alternatives such as not voting, supporting a third-party candidate, and switching parties and voting for the Democratic nominee.

Meanwhile, 58 per cent said they would remain with the Republican Party.

Another 16 per cent said they would leave it, and 26 per cent said they did not know what they would do with their registration.

The online poll of 468 Republican Trump supporters has a credibility interval of 5.3 percentage points.

Trump has topped the national polls throughout most of the race for the Republican nomination, and has won more delegates than any other Republican so far.

A Reuters/Ipsos online poll from April 4-8 showed that 42 per cent of Republicans support Trump, compared with 32 per

The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted March 30 to April 8 asked Trump’s Republican supporters two questions: If Trump wins the most delegates in the primaries but loses the nomination, what would they do on Election Day, and how would it impact their relationship with the Republican Party?

cent for US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and 20 per cent for Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Cruz and Kasich have both said their paths to victory rely on winning at least enough votes to block an outright win for Trump and force a decision at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

But Trump, whose supporters have remained loyal even as he rankled women, Hispanics, Muslims, veterans and others with his fiery rhetoric on the campaign trail, predicted last month there would be riots outside the convention if he was blocked.

“If they broker him out, I’ll be fed up with the Republicans,” said Chuck Thompson, 66, a Trump supporter from Concord, North Carolina, who took the poll.

Thompson, a lifelong Republican, said he admires Trump’s independence from big campaign donors and takes that as a sign that the front-runner will be able to think for himself if he were to become president.

If Trump loses the nomination, Thompson said he would quit the party.”The people want Donald Trump. If they (Republicans) can’t deal with that, I don’t need them,” he said.

Green said the departure of

even a small number of Republicans would make it tough for the party to prevent the Democrats from winning the White House, especially if the election is again decided by razor-thin margins in a handful of battleground states.

In 2012, President Barack Obama won Florida by less than 1 percentage point and Ohio and Virginia by less than 4 percentage points.”The Republicans don’t really have any margin of error,” Green said. Trump and Cruz both trail Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton among likely general election voters in a hypothetical general election matchup, but not by much, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos polls.

Generally, a convention battle is a bad sign for the health of a political party, said Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of the book, “Primary Politics: How Presidential Candidates Have Shaped the Modern Nominating System.”

“When a party gets to a point when it has a contested convention, it almost always hurts them,” Kamarck said. “It’s a confirmation of some really deep fissures within the party that were unable to be dealt with during the primary season.” — Reuters

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Oman’s non-oil export revenue declines 27% to OMR3 billion A fall in commodity prices, which constitute a sizeable share of Oman’s exports, must have caused the fall in export revenue last year

A. E. JAMES

OMR572.8 million last year.

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s non-oil exports fell by 27.2 per cent to OMR3,003.9 million in 2015 from OMR4,125.5 million in the previous year.

A fall in commodity prices, which constitute a sizeable share of Oman’s exports, must have caused the fall in export revenue last year. Among various non-oil product categories, mineral exports plunged by 54.4 per cent to

Export revenue The country witnessed a marked fall in export revenue from chemical, plastics, rubber and base metal products, according to the latest monthly statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Total exports also showed a 34.7 per cent fall to OMR13.35 billion in 2015 from OMR20.46 billion in the previous year, mainly on account of a 41.9 per cent plunge in oil and

gas exports at OMR7.78 billion last year, in the aftermath of a dip in international crude prices.

The Sultanate has been taking several initiatives to raise its nonoil exports, especially to untapped African markets.

Ethiopia expo Oman is seriously considering raising its non-oil exports to Ethiopia by holding a high-profile exhibition in the country this week between April 11 and 14, following a detailed market study. The Sultanate exported goods and services worth $40 million to Ethiopia in 2014.More than 100 Omani firms are set to participate in the exhibition from various industries including natural resources, minerals, wood products, manufacturing products, furniture, food, medical and pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, plastic and metal equipment, perfume, leather, and logistics.

SOHAR REFINERY

Evoqua bags major supply contract from Sohar refinery Times News Service MUSCAT: Evoqua has been selected to provide carbon adsorption equipment for the $2.1 billion Sohar Refinery Improvement Project (SRIP) in Sohar Port.

Scheduled for commissioning in late 2016, the SRIP project will add five new units to the Sohar refinery, improving its production volume, environmental performance and ability to process heavier Omani crude oil, said a company release.

Evoqua will provide the equipment to an energy contractor of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) directing the project for Orpic, the owner of the refinery.

Evoqua has been asked to provide Vent-Scrub Vapour Phase carbon adsorption systems, proven to be the simplest and most cost-effective way to treat malodorous and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission problems. The systems will be used for removing hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans and other sour gases created as byproducts of the

REFINERY IMPROVEMENT: Evoqua has been selected to provide

carbon adsorption equipment for the $2.1 billion Sohar Refinery Improvement Project. – File picture

refining process.

The contract includes eight Vent-Scrub VSC-200 units, four VSC-2000 units, and two VSC8000 units, to be manufactured at Evoqua’s facility in Red Bluff, CA and distributed through Evoqua’s Singapore operations.

In addition, Evoqua will supply nearly 15 tonnes of its sustainable VOCarb 48C coconut shell-based granular activated carbon (GAC).

The granular shape of this GAC maximises its geometric surface area, significantly increasing its ability to adsorb VOC’s.

“This project will help Orpic reach the next level in responsible energy production,” said Chris Rinaldi, VP and general manager, Evoqua Environmental Solutions.

“We’re proud to be part of this important growth effort that is committed to sustainable practices.”

STOCK MARKET

Muscat bourse gains in first quarter MUSCAT: Muscat bourse rose 61 points in the first quarter of 2016, benefiting from gains in February and March, which made it rising again after severe losses recorded in January.

The MSM 30 Index recorded a better performance in the first quarter of 2016 compared to that achieved in the corresponding period of last year during which it lost 105 points. The index closed at the end of March with 5,467 points.

Despite the gains, the main index is still below its level at the end of March 2015 at 6,238 points. MSM suffered a fall of 937 points last year mainly due to the influence of regional and global stock markets amid a slump in oil price and the decline in global

economic growth.

However, the rise in oil prices since the end of February and the dividends announced by the companies and financial results achieved in 2015 brought optimism to investors reflected on a significant rise of shares.

Below 5,000 points During the first quarter of 2016, MSM general index hit its lowest level in seven years when it fell below the level of 5,000 points for the first time since 2009 to close by the end January 21 at 4,867 points, the lowest level recorded since April 2009. This was caused by a fall in oil prices to the level of $20 a barrel. But the rise of oil prices on one hand and the

financial results announced by the listed companies on the other hand supported price levels, thus pushing significantly the prices of shares and the index. The total trading volume in the first quarter amounted to OMR263.7 compared to OMR411.3 million for the same period in 2015.

Bank Muscat topped the most actively traded companies with OMR47.9 million, accounting for 18 percent of trading, followed

by Oman Telecommunications Company with OMR25.3 million.

The market capitalisation of listed firms on the market rose at the end of March 2016 to OMR16,436.0 million, up by OMR657.3 million from its level at the end of last year. - ONA

The Sultanate’s export promotion agency, the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (popularly known as Ithraa) had conducted a market study in Ethiopia to assess the export potential of 59 Omani products. The survey was based on different sectors, such as foodstuffs, building material, furniture, marble, stones, textiles and vegetables. The study was also conducted to find the consumption, demand and logistics patterns for these sectors.

Omani products Furthermore, in April last year, Ithraa had organised a businessto-business meeting for Omani businessmen in Addis Ababa, which was mainly aimed at showcasing Omani products for Ethiopian businessmen and traders.

Ithraa has been conducting a series of Omani product exhibitions,

mainly in Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) countries, since 2012 to raise non-oil exports from the country and has drawn growing participation with each passing year.

As many as 120 companies participated in an Omani products exhibition in Jeddah, with 100 Omani firms taking part in a Dubai exhibition in 2014.

Also, 60 companies from Oman attended the first Omani products exhibition in Riyadh in 2012 and 65 per cent of participating companies secured contracts, while 85 companies took part in an exhibition in Qatar the following year and 70 per cent of the participating firms signed new business deals.

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Service sector contributes OMR9.5b to GDP MUSCAT: Oman’s service sector has contributed OMR9.5 billion to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2015, as against OMR9.15 billion in the previous year, data shows.

The value of total imports of non-oil materials stood at OMR11.15 billion in 2015 as compared to OMR11.26 billion in 2014.

From January to September 2015, Oman imported from 124 countries. - ONA

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

MARKET BRIEFS

Iran delegation to visit the Sultanate on April 16 MUSCAT: An Iranian delegation will reach Muscat on April 16.

The delegation represents a tourism group specialising in the tourism, healthcare and aviation sectors and will explore joint ventures opportunities in the Sultanate. The Iranian delegation will be headed by Ghulam Ibrahim Salami, member of the Iranian parliament, and director general of the Group. The Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) is preparing a schedule for the delegation, which includes meeting with officials of targeted sectors and getting acquainted with available investment opportunities. They will also get familiarised with locations designed for tourism investment and services offered by Ithraa to investors.

Oman chamber trade team to visit Turkey on Tuesday MUSCAT: Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) will lead a trade delegation to Turkey on April 12. The delegation will visit a four-day exhibition dealing with confectionary, ice-cream, bakery and their related equipment and technologies. The OCCI delegation will be led by Saif bin Said Al Badi, deputy chairman of the OCCI branch in Al Dhahirah, and head of the Tourism Committee. He said the OCCI’s Turkey visit is an initiative for developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) projects. Turkish exports to the Sultanate stood at OMR127.7 million at the end of 2014, whereas Omani exports to Turkey during the same period touched OMR56.3 million. As for the joint ventures between the two countries at the end of 2014, the total venture capital stood at OMR53.8 million whilst the value of Turkish contribution to the sectors of trade, construction, transport, industry and services stood at OMR49 million.

Oman business delegation seeks ties with Tanzania MUSCAT: An official business delegation comprising businessmen and industrialists, which will be led by Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, minister of commerce and industry, will head to Tanzania on Tuesday. During the three-day visit, the delegation will utilise the opportunity to explore trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries. The visit aims at enhancingeconomic and investment cooperation, particularly in areas of realestate investment, foodstuff, transport and logistics services. It also aims at open new markets in the African continent through Tanzania, which overlooks the Indian Ocean as a gate to several African countries. Besides it aims at finding investment partnerships between the ports of Duqm, Salalah and Sohar and the Dar-es-Salaam port. The delegation includes Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshadi, chief executive officer of the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF); Said bin Saleh Al Kiyoumi, chairman of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officials from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Foreign Ministry, as well as officials from ports and Oman Oil Company, and businessmen operating in the areas of food processing, plastics, real-estate development and transportation.

Yellow metal set to decline WASHINGTON: The rally in gold, which had its best quarterly performance in three decades, may run out of steam as the world economy improves and the Federal Reserve lifts US interest rates, according to a forecast. Average prices will decline for the next five years, dropping from $1,185 an ounce in 2016, to $1,105 in 2017 and $1,003 by 2021. - Times News Service/Bloomberg News

Moody’s cuts ratings of three energy firms Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell had their ratings reduced by one level, while Total’s was cut two steps, the rating agency said

CHICAGO: Three of the world’s largest energy companies had their credit ratings lowered by Moody’s Investors Service on the expectation that oil prices will stay low for longer and cause leverage concerns.

Chevron and Royal Dutch Shell had their ratings reduced by one level, while Total’s was cut two steps, according to statements by the New York-based rating company on Friday.

Chevron will generate negative cash flow amid rising debt for at least the next two years, while Shell will have elevated leverage following its acquisition of BG GROWTH FORECAST CUT

Italy to miss previous debt target

Group, Moody’s said. Prices are expected to stay low through this year and next and continue to pressure Total’s operating cash flows and credit metrics, Moody’s said.

Crude price slump Oil companies big and small are having their credit ratings cut as the collapse in crude prices reduces cash flows and limits their ability to sustain debt payments.

Prices in New York are down by more than 60 per cent from a mid2014 peak.

Chevron and Shell’s ratings were lowered to Aa2, the third-

slowly, Moody’s analysts led by Terry Marshall said in a March 30 report. If US crude rises above $50 a barrel, investment by lowercost, short-cycle producers will undercut the effort by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to bring down the global glut, the analysts said.

- Bloomberg News

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INVESTMENT

Riyada and NBC aided firms explore investment in Duqm Times News Service

ROME: Italy will fail to reduce its debt load this year as much as previously targeted due to lower than expected economic growth.

The debt ratio, the euro region’s second-highest, will slip to 132.4 per cent of gross domestic product this year from 132.7 per cent in 2015, Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan told reporters in Rome on Friday after the cabinet met to pass the government budget plan.

The new forecast for 2016 compares to 131.4 per cent target published by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. - Bloomberg News

highest grade, from Aa1. Total’s rating was brought down to Aa3, from Aa1. BP’s rating was confirmed at A2, as its credit metrics and business profile compare favorably with its major oil peers and the July 2015 settlement over the Macondo spill reduced legal uncertainties and gave clarity on its business, Moody’s said.

The actions conclude reviews started in January and February

by Moody’s, which expects that global oil prices will remain weak over the medium term. The world is “awash in oil” and high inventories and production are declining

MUSCAT: As part of the monthly ‘Reyooq with CEO’ initiative, the National Business Centre (NBC) which is part of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), organised a two-day field visit for the incubated companies in NBC and Riyada incubator to the wilayat of Duqm.

The visit aimed at highlighting investment opportunities available at Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (Sezad) and meeting the officials at the authority — Oman Drydock Company and Port of Duqm.

A presentation was made by Mulkie Al Hashmi, Marketing Director at NBC, who highlighted NBC’s vision which is to become the premier platform for Omani entrepreneurs by providing business development support and guidance, training and mentoring, access to markets and industry experts and state-of-the-art, fully equipped, office space, meeting rooms and presentation facilities.Al Hashmi also underlined the objectives of NBC which comprise facilitating and supporting the growth of investable ideas into successful businesses; building entrepreneurial skills through dedicated and focused training, coaching and mentoring; and providing business support facilities

from office space, administrative support, financial support and consultancy services that are crucial in ensuring the success and survival of new ventures.

Officials at Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority delivered a presentation underscoring the various investment opportunities available in Duqm. It should be noted that SEZAD manages, regulates, and develops all economic activities in Duqm.It plans, designs, and implements longterm strategies for infrastructural development and attracts investments to promote a wide spectrum of economic activities.

It also oversees the urban expansion of the modern Duqm city while protecting the environment, thereby ensuring Duqm its rightful place as the best location to visit, live, work,and invest in the Middle East.The Special Economic Zone at Duqm is a regional hub for maritime transportation and logistics services; a safe haven for investments in export processing industries based on petrochemicals, mineral resources and fisheries; and an attractive tourism destination on the Arabian Sea; thus acting as an important lever for the economic growth of Oman and the enhancement of the quality of life of the local communities of Al Wusta Governorate. The mission of

SEZAD is to improve the business environment of Duqm; develop its infrastructure services; manage its strategic assets and facilities; and build its human-resource capabilities in order to attract local inward and foreign direct investments in transportation and logistics services, high-value-added industries, and tourism in accordance with the approved master plan, best international practices, good governance and the sustainable use of natural resources.

‘Reyooq with CEO’ initiative consists of visits to high profile Omani companies and factories in cooperation with Riyada to meet with the CEOs and decision-makers of these companies.

The incubated companies at NBC shall get acquainted with various opportunities available for entrepreneurs. NBC is an initiative launched by PEIE at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) to offer promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas and advance them into growing ventures. The centre offers a premier platform for Omani entrepreneurs by providing business development support and guidance, training and mentoring, access to markets and industry experts, and stateof-the-art and fully equipped office space, meeting rooms and presentation facilities.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

UK economy slows down in first quarter LONDON: The UK economy may have grown at the slowest pace in more than three years in the first quarter, according to new estimates that could put a further cloud over the outlook.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research estimated on Friday that gross domestic product rose 0.3 per cent, half the pace recorded in the last three months of 2015.

That would be the worst performance since the fourth quarter of 2012, which was the last time the economy shrank.

The institute published the estimate after data showed the trade gap widened to the most in eight years and there was an unexpected decline in industrial production. With question marks over the pace of global growth and domestic confidence taking a hit in the buildup to Britain’s European Union membership vote in June, the economy may be losing momentum.

The 0.3 per cent drop in industrial output in February followed

a 0.2 per cent increase in January, smaller than initially reported.

Based on the current figures, output would need to surge 3.1 per cent in March just to come in flat for the quarter, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Trade deficit Kallum Pickering, an economist at Berenberg in London, said the figures suggest downside risks to his first-quarter GDP forecast of 0.4 per cent. The ONS also said that the trade deficit in goods and services widened to 13.7 billion pounds ($19 billion) in the three months through February, the most since the first quarter of 2008.

“The weakest points of the UK economy just got weaker,” said Daniel Vernazza, an economist at UniCredit in London.

Weak trade and manufacturing numbers in recent years have raised concerns about the UK’s imbalanced economy. The future of British industry is now under an even darker cloud. - Bloomberg News

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

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MARKET EXPORT

Etihad Rail transports 5m tonnes of sulphur granules is a testament to the strength of the partnership between Etihad Rail and Adnoc, who are committed to the UAE’s continued economic diversification and stand aligned with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021,” Eng. Al Mazrouei added.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE’s $11 billion national railway network, announced that it has transported more than 5.24 million tonnes of granulated sulphur in the first 18 months of Stage One operations for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), from sources at Shah and Habshan to its point of export at Ruwais.

Equivalent to more than 330,000 truck trips, the transport of granulated sulphur is the workhorse of Etihad Rail’s Stage One, which received approval for commercial operations from the Federal Transport Authority’s (FTA) – Land and Maritime in December last year.

Two trains depart daily under the current timetable, each carrying 11,000 tonnes of granulated sulphur and capable of reaching a top-speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Etihad Rail is the country’s

RAIL NETWORK: Equivalent to more than 330,000 truck trips, the transport of granulated sulphur is the workhorse of Etihad Rail’s Stage One, which received approval for commercial operations. - File picture

latest and most robust facilitator of sulphur movement, which is rapidly growing as an integral part of the UAE economy.

Sulphur is a by-product of oil and gas production and Adnoc and its

affiliates export tonnes of sulphur.

“Surpassing the 5.24-milliontonne mark with the transport of granulated sulphur is a significant milestone for Etihad Rail and stands as an emblem of our unwa-

vering commitment to facilitating economic connectivity across Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” said Eng. Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, chief executive officer of Etihad Rail.

“Stage One’s continued progress

Multi-billion dollar project Stretching a distance of 264-kilometre, Stage One links the sulphur sources of Shah and Habshan to the export point of Ruwais via the Mirfa depot, which was recently awarded the Estidama 2 Pearl Construction Rating by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) for its seven sustainable buildings. Stage One utilises seven state-of-the-art locomotives from US-based Electro-Motive Diesel, with wagons supplied by China’s CSR Corporation.

The multi-billion dollar integrated rail network project, which will span approximately 1,200 kilometres when complete, is un-

dergoing construction in three stages. The UAE will witness the development of a secure railway transportation network capable of transporting large volumes of goods and materials while linking the UAE’s principle centres of population and industry, along with the greater GCC railway network.

Etihad Rail is being developed in line with the core tenets of Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Vision 2021, which collectively chart a course for economic diversification through strategic initiatives set to catalyse UAE socio-economic growth.

At full capacity, Stage One of Etihad Rail is slated to transport more than seven million tonnes of granulated sulphur annually.

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AV I AT I O N

Four planemakers compete to sell aircraft for US-based Delta Air Lines

SIZABLE GROWTH: The total output of Oman Oil Refineries & Petroleum Industries Company’s regular and super petrol stood at 2.02 million barrels and 23.34 million barrels, respectively. – File picture

Regular grade petrol output in Sultanate rises Production of regular (90) petrol in January and February 2016 surged to 1.03 million barrels compared to 388,100 barrels produced in the same period of last year

MUSCAT: Oman recorded a whopping 166 per cent year-onyear increase in the production of regular (90) petrol during the first two months of 2016, with output surging to 1.03 million barrels compared to 388,100 barrels produced last year, according to the latest data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Super (95) petrol output too logged a 2.1 per cent growth over the period to touch 3.43 million barrels as against 3.36 million barrels in 2015.

Last year, the aggregate output

by Oman Oil Refineries & Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic) of regular and super petrol stood at 2.02 million barrels and 23.34 million barrels respectively. It may be noted that last year, regular petrol accounted for just 2 per cent of Orpic’s total petroleum products output, while super petrol had a share of 28 per cent.

The first two months registered a 12.8 barrels increase in the out-

35%

was the growth in production of jet fuel (aviation fuel) by the end of February, which surged to 890,500 barrels from 658,400 barrels in the same period of 2015.

put of petroleum products (petrol, jet fuel, oils, LPG, propylene, naphtha, long residual and others taken together) compared to last year, with production increasing to 13.90 million barrels compared to 12.32 million barrels achieved in 2015.

There has been a marked increase of 35.2 per cent in the production of jet fuel (aviation fuel) by the end of February, which

surged to 890,500 barrels from 658,400 barrels in the same period of 2015.

Fuel oil production On the other hand, fuel oil production rose 33.9 per cent to hit 258,400 barrels as against 193,000 barrels from 156,000 barrels last year. However, in the case of gas oil output, the growth rate was confined to 13.6 per cent at 3.73 million barrels.

Meanwhile, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) production increased 15.8 per cent to 446,700 barrels from 385,900 barrels recorded in the January-February period of 2015.

In contrast, Oman enhanced its SR naphtha output by a significant 107.1 per cent over the two months, driving production to 783,700 barrels compared to 378,400 barrels during the same period last year.

At the same time propylene production fell 11 per cent to 198,700 barrels while long residual declined 6.6 per cent to 3.05 million barrels.

Other products showed a 59.4 per cent slump in output over the first two months compared to the figures last year. - ONA

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CALIFORNIA: Delta Air Lines is nearing a decision on upgrading its single-aisle fleet as four planemakers bid furiously to win the order, people familiar with the matter said.

Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer are competing for the sale as the second-largest United States carrier seeks to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-88 workhorse jets for shorter domestic flights, three people said. Delta could make a decision as early as this month, two people said.

The stakes are highest for Bombardier, which is still trying to land a marquee US customer for its struggling C Series jetliner. United Continental Holdings Inc. twice this year opted for Boeing’s 737 rather than the Bombardier plane.

The Delta order would be the first since Ed Bastian was named in February to be the airline’s next chief executive. The carrier has gained a reputation as a savvy buyer of new and used aircraft under chief executive officer Richard Anderson, who is retiring next month. Delta said in January that it was considering the C Series as

the airline phases out some of its smallest jets. The airline is considering ordering new narrow-body planes in installments rather than replacing its 116-jet fleet of MD88s with a single purchase, one of the people said.

Shopping around “Delta has been evaluating new and used aircraft acquisition opportunities in the roughly 100seat gauge as we’ve continued to replace our 50-seat regional fleet with larger, more customer friendly mainline aircraft,” spokesman Michael Thomas said Friday. He declined to address the Atlanta-

based carrier’s strategy for replacing the MD-88 fleet. Representatives for Airbus and Boeing declined to comment.

Embraer has been “working very hard” to place its largest jets, the E190 and E195 at Delta, the Brazilian planemaker said in an emailed statement. The US carrier doesn’t operate any Embraer jets in its mainline operation, although regional affiliates fly them under the Delta Connection brand.

Bombardier brought a C Series jetliner to Atlanta earlier this week, one of several stops it made in the US, the spokeswoman Marianella Barrera said. - Bloomberg News

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

FEATURE

INDIA’S GOLD MINE I

ndia vies with China as the world’s biggest buyer of gold jewelry, thanks in large part to its cherished status in marriage ceremonies. Imports of the metal came to $35 billion last year, and were equivalent to about 43 per cent of the country's current account deficit in the September quarter. In November, Modi launched a programme to lure private gold holdings onto the market by getting banks to offer interest on items deposited in their vaults.

If he really wants to limit the amount of gold imported into the country, here is a smarter way of doing it: Make it easier to produce the stuff domestically.

At the start of the 20th century, India was the world’s sixth-biggest gold producer, according to the country’s Geological Survey. Since then, production has slipped so dramatically that the likes of Sweden, Nicaragua and Kyrgyzstan are bigger miners. According to the Geological Survey, about 80 per cent of the country’s gold output in 2006-2007 was a by-product of smelting imported copper.

You’d think, given this backdrop, that the government would be doing everything it could to encourage local miners. Far from it: Deccan Gold Mines, which has not dug up an ounce in 13 years because of the difficulty of obtaining permits from state governments, told Bloomberg's SwansyAfonso, Rajesh Kumar Singh and Archana Chaudhary that it has no incentive to explore for gold after laws passed last year forced miners to bid for the right to mine the deposits they find. Finding mineral deposits is risky, cost-intensive business. As with pharmaceuticals, movies or venture capital, there is a long tail of failed investments behind every blockbuster. While miners worldwide have been cutting back on exploration costs because of the slump in commodities prices, they will still spend about $8 billion in 2016, according to SNL Metals & Mining. The only reason companies risk this capital is because they hope to get first refusal on the right to dig up what they have found.

India has long-standing problems with corruption around the free allocation of mining leases, which helps explain the desire to change the law. But doctors need to be careful they don’t administer medicine that’s more harmful than the disease itself. If a country can only stop corruption in mining by removing the industry’s incentive to develop new mines, it's guaranteeing a future of rising import dependence.

This is a problem that goes beyond gold. China greeted its economic growth with a drive to increase domestic production of almost every raw material. Gold production has jumped four-fold over the past two decades, making China the world’s biggest miner of the metal. That has left it less dependent on imported materials and less exposed to foreign capital flight, thanks to a current account that has been in surplus for decades.

Of course, it is possible that India simply has a poor endowment of gold that was all tapped early in the 20th century. Mines, like oil wells, eventually run dry. And as anyone who has visited the ghost towns of Western Australia or California’s Sierra Nevada can testify, a history of gold mining does not necessarily indicate a future of gold mining. The problem at the moment is that without robust private-sector exploration, it is hard to be sure what the problem is: A paucity of resources in the ground, or a lack of capital to develop them. Only about 13 percent of the country’s 575,000 square kilometers of land with geological potential has been explored in detail, according to the Indian Mineral Federation. The country could be sitting on a gold mine, and not even know it.

– David Fickling/Bloomberg News

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

ROUND-UP

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Nissan Sunny available with exciting incentives

VIRTUAL DESKTOP INFRASTRUCTURE

Oman LNG signs pact with Applied Sciences College

As the best-selling vehicle for four years in a row in the highly competitive subcompact segment, the Nissan Sunny could rest on its reputation for value, roominess and mid-size vehicle technology without a mid-size price

MUSCAT: The Nissan Sunny from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles now comes in a refreshed appearance with subtle changes to the styling and the inclusion of new features in the cabin.

As the best-selling vehicle for four years in a row in the highly competitive sub-compact segment, the Nissan Sunny could rest on its reputation for value, roomi-

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ness and mid-size vehicle technology without a mid-size price. Yet the quest for constant improvement continues.

Auto enthusiasts can now avail exciting benefits on the Nissan Sunny that includes cash gift of OMR500, free registration, six years’ unlimited mileage extended warranty, easy financing options, a loan term up to eight years with Bank Muscat attrac-

tive interest rates and periodic maintenance service only up to two years/20,000km whichever is earlier (offer includes only on the new service intervals of 10,000km). The offer is applicable on private registrations or personal vehicles only.

Customers can also get unlimited access to Nissan’s prestigious vehicle lineup at the comfort of their homes or offices. Simply visit

Nissan Oman’s Facebook page i.ehttp://www.facebook.com/Sbanissanoman or send an SMS to get updated information on any of the vehicles from the house of Nissan.

Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman.

MUSCAT: Oman LNG, in support of teaching, learning and research, signed an agreement to finance the development and implementation of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) in the laboratories of the College of Applied Sciences in Ibri, which ultimately buoys academic education toughed at the college.

Oman LNG will provide the college with the next generation of desktop computing platforms offering increased flexibility in computing resources and security, says a press release.

Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sarmi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, signed the agreement with Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Massan, chief executive officer of Oman LNG Development Foundation.

“Through these initiatives we

hope to provide support where communities feel it is most needed. Our aim is to serve the community and contribute to all segments of society wherever possible,” said Al Massan.

The signing of the project reflects the drive towards youth development and capacity building efforts; an address delivered

by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, to the Council of Oman in November 2008, in which he described that “giving attention to human resources, including the provision of the various tools required to enhance their performance, incentives to develop their capabilities, diversifying their creative talents and to improving their scientific and practical qualifications, is the basis of real development and the cornerstone in its structure which is based on solid foundations".

S TA F F S P O R T S D AY

S I LV E R S P O N S O R

Mercedes-Benz promotes healthy lifestyle among staff

Bank Sohar sponsors 18th Oman International Dental Exhibition MUSCAT: Reinforcing its commitment towards supporting the health sector in Oman, Bank Sohar recently participated as the silver sponsor of the 18th Oman International Dental Conference & Exhibition, held under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health.

The 18th Oman International Dental Conference & Exhibition was held at the Grand Hyatt Muscat with the opening ceremony attended by guests including ministry officials and leading dental experts from around the country, says a press release.

Representing Bank Sohar at the honouring event were Fahad Abdullah Al Hooti, district manager of the Muscat Region, and Amjad Mahmood Al Raisi, senior branch manager - Oman Avenues Mall.

As part of its sponsorship, Bank Sohar also had a stand present at the exhibition.

Manned by members of its Retail, SME and Privilege Banking staff, the stand provided visitors with key details on the market leading products and services offered by Bank Sohar.

Commenting on the bank’s sponsorship of the conference, Rashad Ali Al Musafir, acting CEO of Bank Sohar said: “The bank has always been a communityoriented organisation with a great focus on both personal and financial wellbeing. As such we aim to continuously support events that help in laying the foundations for a healthy and strong society while also encouraging innovation in Oman’s healthcare sector. The 18th Oman International Dental Conference & Exhibition was just such an event, and one that we were glad to have the opportunity to support.”

The two-day conference was specifically designed to be of in-

terest to all dentists. It included an exciting and extensive lecture programme organised by the Scientific Committee which covered all scopes of dentistry.

Sessions were conducted where distinguished international and regional speaker had been invited to share their knowledge through their invaluable lectures and presentations. Leading specialists and practitioners were also invited to present their experiences in specialised workshops.

These sessions and workshops as a whole provided attendees with insight into some of the latest developments in dental care while also exploring how some of these techniques might be introduced in their practice to enhance patient care. An exhibition featuring a fantastic array of companies from the dental industry showcasing their products and services was also present throughout the event.

MUSCAT: Mercedes-Benz Oman staff members came together to take part in its recently held Staff Sports Day at the Bausher Rugby Ground.

A component of the leading brand’s ‘Our Passion’ platform, the day promoted the health benefits of an active lifestyle among its employees through a series of cricket, football, touch rugby, and team building activities under the watchful eye of expert sports trainers and coaches, says a press release.

“Recognising that our highly skilled and dedicated team is the engine of our outstanding and ongoing success, the ‘Our Passion’ platform ensures they have the best job satisfaction, in the best workplace, with the best development and career opportunities,” said Clive Hammond, CEO, Mercedes-Benz Oman.

He explained that all aspects of ‘Our Passion’ are driven by values of teamwork, keeping promises, and treating one another with care and respect. “With a team build-

ing and health focus, the annual sports day is an extremely popular component of ‘Our Passion’ platform and was once again a great success. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the excellent Muscat Rugby Football Club, of whom Mercedes-Benz Oman is the proud official sponsor, for their logistic and operational support and the part they played in making the day so very memorable.”

Other recent ‘Our Passion’

activities include the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz Oman Training Foundation Programme, focused on the development of the basic skill-sets of employees, such as communication and customer service skills. Part of the platform also are the Moukafa’ah Programme, recognising employees who have delivered outstanding customer service or quality, and the ‘Race Through the Desert’ team building challenge.

M U S I C TA L E N T

Melody Music Centre holds ‘Melody Ensemble’

MUSCAT: Melody Music Centre, the oldest music school in Muscat organised their 80th ‘Melody Ensemble’, a performance platform for students, recently at the Melody recreation hall in Darsait.

Many of the students and

teachers performed in the Ensemble showcasing their music talent and enthusiasm towards the art form, says a press release.

The programme was ornamented by many solo performances and group performances.

Around 100 gathered in the au-

dience group and supported the performing group.

“These kinds of performances give the opportunity to eradicate the stage fear and thus advance our student’s public performing skills,” said the management team of Melody Music Centre.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

ROUND-UP

Attractive offers add to Ford SUVs’ appeal

ANNIVERSARY

Ford vehicles are known the world over

Emirates celebrates 30 years of connecting Sri Lanka to the world

for their exceptional safety, luxury and unsurpassed technological superiority

MUSCAT: Ford fans looking forward to owning their dream SUV can now visit any Ford showroom and realise their wish.

Ford recently announced a range of offers that can make owning a Ford SUV fun and memorable, says a press release.

“SUVs from Ford Motor Company have been one of the most reliable in the industry. Depending upon the need, Ford SUVs have time and again proved their superiority at getting the job done, whether on or off-road,” said a spokesperson from Arabian Car Marketing Company. “Now with special offers like up to three years/ 60,000km free service, up to OMR2,500 cash gift and free insurance, Ford SUVs have now become even more attractive to own. The offer will last until April 30,” he added.

In Oman, Ford has the latest range of SUVs that are making a huge impression on their fans. It includes the Expedition, F-150, Explorer, Edge, Escape, EcoSport and Ranger.

The Expedition is the most powerful and fuel-efficient Expedition yet, offering customers a full-size utility vehicle with a 3.5L EcoBoost Engine, stylish design and fresh interiors across a diverse line-up that includes limited trim level. The Ford Expedition is available with three years/60,000km free service (15 & 16 MY), free insurance (15MY) and cash gift.

The F-150 5.0-litre V8 with twin independent variable camshaft timing has improved power and efficiency and features several innovative and smart technologies, including smart trailer tow module with dynamic hitch assist, class-exclusive 360-degree camera with split-view display, highwattage outlets, led spotlights, blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, lane-keep-

ing system, twin panel moonroof, stowable bed extender and more.

The F-150 is available with three years/60,000km free service (15MY), and cash gift.

The Ford Explorer comes standard with a 3.5-litre engine and an option of 3.5L EcoBoost Engine. The Ford Explorer now sports abundant new features; better cargo space behind the third row; strong turbocharged V6 engine and quiet highway ride. The Explorer is available with three years/60,000km free service (15 & 16 MY), and cash gift.

The Ford Edge is a midsize crossover SUV that features a modern-looking interior. It is equipped with a standard 3.5-litre V6 engine. The Ford Edge will be available with three years/60,000km free service (14YM), free insur-

ance (14YM), and cash gift.

The 2.5 L engine Ford Escape features more cargo space, clever technologies like the hands-free liftgate as well as the SYNC with MyFord Touch connectivity system. The Ford Escape is also available with a 2.0 L engine. Fans of the Ford Escape can look forward to three years/ 60,000km (15 & 16 MY) free service, and cash gift.

Ford vehicles are known the world over for their exceptional safety, luxury and unsurpassed technological superiority.

Ford ploughs in millions of dollars into R&D each year to ensure that every Ford offers maximum safety and motoring pleasure for its customers.

In Oman, Ford vehicles are brought to you by Arabian Car Marketing Co.

DUBAI: On April 1, 1986, an Emirates Boeing 727-200 Flight EK800 departed Dubai International Airport touching down in Colombo, Emirates’ fourth global destination.

Thirty years later, Emirates has logged 56 million miles, transported thousands of tonnes of cargo and continues to connect Sri Lanka to the world, with 34 flights a week to Dubai, Malé and Singapore, says a press release.

With approximately 12,000 seats and 780 tonnes of cargo carried per week each way, Emirates’ service to Sri Lanka has proven to be an indispensable resource for travellers, exporters and importers over the years.

The airline has already announced it will increase capacity further with the addition of a fifth daily flight between Colombo and Dubai from August 1, 2016.

“We would like to thank all our customers and industry partners in Sri Lanka for their long-standing support over the years. We are proud to contribute to the country’s thriving tourism and trade industry, connecting Sri Lanka with more than 150 destinations

across six continents. Over the past few decades, we introduced new products on the route and provided an award-winning inflight and on ground experience to Sri Lankan travellers.

“It’s been a remarkable journey and we look forward to offering further choice and excellent value for money to our customers in Sri Lanka,” said Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ senior vice president, Commercial operations - West Asia and Indian Ocean.

“West Asia has always been an important growth region for SkyCargo. Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen the route perform very well, with increasing volumes of cargo carried out of Colombo to important markets in Europe and the Americas via our hub in Dubai.

When combined with the efficiency of one of the youngest fleets in the skies, unrivalled ground-handling facilities, and the very latest information technology, Emirates SkyCargo is the ideal partner for Sri Lankan-based businesses as they look to boost trade,” said Jassim Saif, vice president, Cargo Commercial - West Asia and South East Asia.

QUALITY PRODUCTS

BUSINESS EXHIBITION

Smart conversations likely to be highlight of Smart talks at Comex MUSCAT: Themed ‘Smart gateway to growth and innovation’ Comex Smart talks powered by Telecom Oman will be focused on Internet of Things, Smart City, Enhancing tourism through ICT, Banking innovation and e-tailing.

The event will be held on April 12 to 14 from 10am to 2pm at Oman International Exhibition Centre alongside the Comex Business exhibition. The event is organised by OITE Trade Fairs, says a press release.

A special session on digital learning would also be held with the support of Ministry of Education with the theme ‘Future of Digital learning’ on April 14 from 4pm onwards at the same venue.

“It is a privilege for Telecom Oman to participate at the 2016 Comex. We consider this event to be an important forum for all the latest ICT developments in Oman.

Our senior management team are presenting at Smart Talks, and we see this as a strong opportunity to present ourselves as one of the thought leaders on the digital economy. We look forward to networking with our fellow presenters, as well as the audience, on how telecom companies like ours can act as catalysts to drive innovation in infrastructure, products and services here in Oman. We see huge potential for Oman in the digital economy of tomorrow, and wish the very best to all participating exhibitors,” said Darren Tong, Acting CEO, Telecom Oman.

“Through the Comex Smart talks, we would like our visitors to experience the glimpse of the future through wide range of topics

covered in each session. By bringing together industry professionals, experts, vendors, and other stakeholders, the Comex Smart talks aims to discuss the hottest industry trends, share best practices and innovations, debate on the industry’s pressing challenges and changing business models to transform Oman’s Industry sectors through ICT,” said Zaheer Ahmed, OITE Trade Fairs.

On the first day the attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the latest IoT trends, topics and innovations towards building a smarter digital business.

Designed in a presentation format within the Comex Business pavilion, each of the session will be conducted by industry insiders.

The speakers confirmed for this session will include Selcuk Cetinel, solutions executive, Cisco; Ali Kashoob, senior manager Product Development, Omantel; Muhammad Atif Jamil, director of Smart City and IoT/M2M Solutions, Middle East Region, Huwaei; Raid Al Lawati, senior service delivery manager, Microsoft; Timothy Ricketts, solutions consultant, IBM Watson-IOT Middle East Africa; Qais Al Bahrani, senior pre-sales consultant, Oman Computer Services; and Saba Al Busaidi, Viral Oman.

The second day would have two sessions focused towards Smart City – A step towards Smart Oman and Enhancing the tourism experience through ICT. The attendees could learn the latest concept of building future cities and also experience the latest innovations such as augmented reality and vir-

tual reality enhancing the tourism experience. The speakers for the Smart City include Dr. Essam Mitwally, regional director MENA, Quanergy Systems and Senior Consultant, Akhet Consulting; John Hoonhout, general manager, Cisco Oman; Muhammad Atif Jamil, director of Smart City and IoT/M2M Solutions, Middle East Region, Huwaei; Shahab Javanmardi, CEO, Fanap; Juan Martin Sanchez, business development director, Reach-U. The speakers for the tourism session include Elias Tang Abdullah, managing director, ASM Technologies; Ahmed Al Mufarji, application manager, National Centre for Statistics and Information; Farha Deeba Hassan, Nizwa College of Technology; Satyabrata Acharya, general manager, Bluecode Technologies.

The third day of Smart talks would explore the future of banking innovation and e-tailing with the speakers Scott Manson, head of architectures for Middle East and Turkey, CISCO; Amir Mohammad Zohrevand, international business director, Fanap; DR. Siraj K.K., head of department - business studies, Ibra College of Technology, talking about the application centric infrastructure, one stop shop for payment industry and customer’s expectation from a modern bank. Whereas, Scott Manson; Jessica Asher, business director, Socioholics; Ahmad Fahad Al Shagra - co-founder & CEO of Nadrus.com; Ghalib Nomani, category manager, Sharaf DG, would share their views on the current global trend of e-tailing and its future prospects in Oman.

Takaful Oman Insurance expands network with yet another branch SALALAH: Salem bin Aufait Al Shanfari, head of Dhofar Municipality, inaugurated the Salalah branch of Takaful Oman Insurance recently.

With this branch expansion the fast growing Islamic risk protection provider will offer quality Takaful products in Dhofar region, says a press release.

Sheikh Rashid bin Saif Al Saadi, the chairman of Takaful Oman, who was present at the event said, “We are very happy with the continuing growth of Takaful Oman and are pleased to bring our brand of service to Salalah.”

O. G. Ravishankar, general manager of Takaful Oman presided over the launch event at Crowne Plaza hotel in Salalah. Speaking on this occasion he said: “This new branch shows our commitment to all regions of Oman and reiterates the fact that Takaful is for people of all backgrounds and we are proud to start our operations in the Dhofar governorate.”

The new branch in Salalah is

conveniently located on 23rd July Street Salalah. The company aims to leverage its expanding presence in the market with its slew of Islamic insurance offerings.

The company offers a range of Islamic risk protection products such as Motor Takaful, Marine Cargo Takaful, Property Takaful, Group Health Takaful, Domestic helpers Takaful, Work-

men’s Compensation Takaful among others.

The company’s mobile app, launched last year, directs motor Takaful customers to the nearest garage and route to the nearest healthcare providers for health takaful customers.

The app also integrates with maps to show the route to any of its branch office locations.

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ROUND-UP

Bank Muscat bags coveted award due to factors such as the adaptive and flexible nature of services. The bank is focused on adding value and engaging customers through their preferred banking channels.”

The bank’s state-of-the-art mobile banking service has made banking truly mobile for the largest banking family in Oman who can bank 24/7 ‘anytime, anywhere’. Notably, the mBanking application works on most of the mobile phones and is customised for iPhones, BlackBerry and Android based phones with simple icons and menus. The mobile banking service is available in both English and Arabic.

Al Lawati added: “In step with the Sultanate’s e-Government initiative, Bank Muscat has been at the forefront, facilitating electronic payments. The bank enjoys an edge in electronic banking services in tune with the requirements of a young, tech-savvy generation.

A keen perception of customer requirements enables Bank Muscat to develop products in line with the current and emerging needs to further increase efficiency.”

The mBanking services include real time bill payment and presentment facility for Oman Mo-

The bank has won the Best Online Service in Oman award by Banker Middle East

MUSCAT: In recognition of the state-of-the-art electronic banking service, Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has won the Best Online Service in Oman award by Banker Middle East.

Marked by speed, convenience and security, the electronic banking channels, notably mobile banking, online banking and ATM/ CDM network enable financial transactions anytime from anywhere, says a press release.

Amjad Al Lawati, AGM – Cards & eBanking, said: “Bank Muscat is proud to be endorsed for the Best Online Service in Oman. Bank Muscat customers are increasingly moving to electronic banking channels, the preference being mainly

bile, Ooredoo, OIFC; fund transfers across the world via the bank’s SWIFT network; speed transfer to India, the Philippines and Sri Lanka; mutual fund purchases; instant credit card bill payments; Zakat calculator and charity payments.

Customers also have the option to set up standing instructions for future dated and recurring transactions on mobile banking for most of the key services like bill payments, funds transfer and remittances.

Winner of the coveted His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Award for the Best Public eService, mBanking is Oman’s preferred mobile banking

SECONDHAND GOODS BUSINESS

MUSCAT: Omani residents have good understanding of the secondhand market, said Abdallah Touqan, Senior Public Relations and Communications Lead at OLX Mena.

“Residents of Oman are very interested in buying and selling secondhand goods and this makes OLX Oman one of the leading online classifieds platforms in the Mena region,” Touqan said.

“People are selling many items that they are not using any more through OLX Oman platform.

OLX also provides its users in Oman with the ability to upgrade for an item with higher value by selling the current ones and buy other items higher in value like selling their cars and upgrade to a better car they want to buy and this applies to other goods as well like mobile phones, tablets and Furniture,” Touqan confirmed.

According to him, residents of Oman are very keen to check the property section on OLX Oman.

“We have almost 500 thousand visitors in the property section per month,” Touqan asserted.

“We can say that one person in every eight people in Oman uses OLX property section, which makes us the number one property portal in the Sultanate,” he added.

According to the statistics, property listings on OLX have facilitated thousands of property deals in Oman in 2015 with 27,183 2BR apartments, 10,901 3BR apartments and 10,737 1BR apartments listed for rent.

Abdallah Touqan, Senior Public Relations and Communications Lead at OLX Mena. – Shabin E./TIMES OF OMAN

Abdallah Touqan also said that OLX Oman’s auto section proved to be one of the most popular among the residents of Oman.

“The most searched cars on OLX Oman were Toyota, Nissan, Lexus followed by Mercedes and Hyundai,” he said.

According to Touqan, the five most frequent keywords used in the auto section were Prado, Pajero, Toyota, Lexus and Camry.

He also said that 70 percent of the ads in their online site get a reply in the first few days.

“It shows our reach in the people of Oman,” Touqan asserted.

Speaking about the future of OLX Oman, Touqan said: “We would like to change the culture of ownership in Oman.”

“We like to educate the people that there is no need to buy everything new and to sell the products that are unnecessary and make some cash out of it,” he added.

take place by authentication by the Bank Muscat Secure Token which makes the system very safe to use.

Retail customers are provided with an online registration facility so that the registration can be done by customers themselves without having to fill any forms. The online service facilitates fund transfers between own accounts, to third party accounts in Bank Muscat, to other bank accounts in Oman, international transfers and speed transfer to India.

For corporate customers, the online service provides total control of finance 24 hours-a-day. In

H O S P I TA L I T Y C O N C E P T

‘OLX Oman one of leading online classifieds platforms in Mena’ STAFF REPORTER

service with more than 410,000 registered customers.

Driven by the latest technological features offering a wide range of options, the enhanced online banking service helps Bank Muscat customers bank at convenience from ‘anywhere, anytime’. For people constantly on the move, the online banking service is a boon.

The simple-to-use 24/7 service is available in both English and Arabic at https://www.bankmuscatonline.com The online service is highly secure with multiple level of validations. Moreover, any third party transaction can only

addition to managing and transferring between own accounts as well as other accounts within Bank Muscat, corporates can also arrange for local and international transfers, bill payments, transfer of salaries, vendor payments and much more in a secure environment. Corporate customers can also specify an authorisation matrix for carrying out transactions, whereby initiators and authorisers for transactions can be defined.

Online bill payment facility covers instant inquiry and payment for utility services such as electricity, water, mobile, landline, internet and Bank Muscat credit cards.

The service also provides instant mobile top-up facility for Ooredoo and Omantel service along with school fees payments.

ATM/CDMs form a pillar of customer service and Bank Muscat can proudly claim that its largest network of 650 ATMs, CDMs and Integrated ATM/CDMs spread across the country is the preferred choice. Being a member of OmanSwitch and GCCNet, customers from any bank in Oman, the GCC countries and from around the world can use Bank Muscat ATMs for their cash requirements.

According to OLX official, the secondhand market can help country’s economy.

“Selling the secondhand goods will improve the gross domestic product; you can reduce the number of goods imported and can increase the domestic product,” Touqan pointed out.

He also said that they found out that 67 per cent people use the English version of their online site and 32 per cent utilise the Arabic version.

“This shows that the English speaking expats in Oman show more interest in the secondhand market than the Arabic residents,” Touqan said.

“So we would like to educate the Arabic residents on how to explore from the second hand market,” he continued.

According to him, people are holding their products because of three reasons; some think they can use it later, others underestimate the value of their items while some people feel shy about selling and buying secondhand goods because of social pressure or some cultural reasons.

Abdallah Touqan also said that the platform had launched useful and unique features to provide its users in Oman with an enhanced experience so they can buy and sell easier and faster.

“We listened to the feedback from our users in OLX Oman, and we gave them five new features that will assist them and allow them to get the best of our platform. Each new feature was designed to serve a unique need,” explained the official.

Smart Meetings & Events at Park Inn Oman MUSCAT: Smart Meetings and Events hospitality concept for both Park Inn by Radisson Hotels in Oman, offers consistent connection, choice and community for modern business gatherings.

Smart meetings and events are designed to deliver the right type of smart food, drinks, event

spaces and technology to support guests’ life and work styles, says a press release.

“Fresh, colourful and engaging, Park Inn by Radisson, offers a selection of diverse destinations, flexible spaces, a valuable selection of packages and a nutritious Smart Food menu. Our main focus

is to provide a well improved connection and choice to our valued guests to satisfy their meeting requirements and to be responsible business in our community,” said Rabih Zein, cluster general manager at Park Inn Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Duqm.

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SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

ROUND-UP Bank Sohar completes nine years of banking excellence as real star Love us on Facebook

Reaching out to customers, it has emerged as a key player on the Oman banking scene

MUSCAT: Since its inception, nine years ago, Bank Sohar has placed great emphasis on building strong relationships with its customers.

It has since emerged to become a key player on the Oman banking scene, not only succeeding in growing into one of the leading banks in the country, but also garnering a reputation for its customer oriented products and services, financial strength and as a pioneer in the banking sector, says a press release.

“At Bank Sohar we have always placed customers at the very heart of our business. As such we continue to invest heavily in our branch and ATM network, as well as our online, SMS Banking and direct channels in order to provide improved convenience and accessible banking services for our customers. We are also focused on enhancing our customer support and achieving excellence in overall customer experience,” said Rashad Ali Al Musafir, the acting CEO of Bank Sohar. “We believe that, in order to achieve true banking excellence, introducing the correct products and implementing the right strategies at the right time can make all the difference.

Doing so correctly will allow us to better align our structure and business focus with the needs of our customers and communities, and in so doing, position us for long-term success. As such we will continue in our quest, building on our successes while continuing to deliver excellence in customer service. I am confident that, through the wise guidance and bold vision set forth by our Board, the trust of our stakeholders, commitment of our staff, and the loyalty of our customers, Bank Sohar will surge forward towards yet another year of banking excellence in 2016.”

Over the course of 2015, Bank Sohar received 16 recognitions comprising local, regional, and international awards; and has already received four new recognitions in just the first three months of 2016. These recognitions range from excellence in performance, quality, customer service, social media and CSR, which serve as a testament to the bank’s commitments in upholding excellence in all its endeavours and strategies and hard work of its management and staff.

Reiterating its financial strength, Bank Sohar witnessed impressive gains in key areas while mitigating and controlling any drops despite the challenging market conditions globally and the drop in oil prices in 2015. As a matter of fact, Bank Sohar registered a net profit of OMR27.746m and an operating profit of OMR37.899m in 2015. Net interest income during the year climbed to OMR49.846m compared to 47.592m representing an increase of 4.74%, while the operating income for the year 2015 increased by 0.83% to OMR70.910m.

Impressive gains were also achieved in other areas of the bank’s business with net loans and advances jumping 15.74% during the year to touch OMR1.647b, against the previous year’s level of OMR1.423b. The overall gross loans stood at OMR1.683b as of end 2015 compared to OMR1,455m in 2014, representing an increase of 15.67% for the year. However, customer deposits remained stable at OMR1.464b during 2015.

Further contributing to its accomplishments were some subtle yet successful alterations to the organisational structure of certain divisions within the bank, coupled with the introduction of numerous innovative and unique retail and corporate products. In addition, the bank’s Islamic Banking window – Sohar Islamic, continued to offer customers a wide choice of everevolving products and services to choose from, further strengthening the promise of continued growth of the bank’s business. Furthermore, given its popularity and as a key means of communication to its customers and fans, the bank

made significant strides in its social media platforms; witnessing tremendous growth and a high level of engagement from customers and fans alike.

Stemming from its strong belief that corporates are socially responsible towards the community they serve, Bank Sohar has donated to and supported the initiatives of various local associations and their branches in different regions during the year. The bank also actively contributed towards events and initiatives aimed towards the development of the economy and the communities in which it operates and has even been actively involved in several SME initiatives.

Retail Banking The Retail Banking Division continues to be one of the key contributors to Bank Sohar’s success offering an array of customer-centric products and services to satisfy the diversified requirements of clients. In 2015, the key focus of the bank, and subsequently the Retail Division, was on enhanced ‘customer service’. As such, a significant portion of the division’s efforts were directed towards enhancing customer satisfaction and their overall experience across the bank’s retail network. This encompassed the bank’s branch network, products and services, online banking services as well as social media channels.

Further, in order to improve customer service and satisfaction levels, the Retail Division identified two branches in major locations namely Salalah and Rustaq; to be shifted with a focus on customer benefits, convenient parking and easy accessibility to other amenities. Later in the year, Bank Sohar also celebrated the formal opening of its 27th branch at the Oman Avenues Mall, Al Ghubra. This was the first ever branch to be opened inside a mall offering extended business hours.

Significant milestones were achieved on the Card products front, mainly the launch of the bank’s ‘Mukaaf’aat Al Mumayaz’ Credit Card Loyalty Programme available through two premier credit cards – the Excel Platinum Credit Card and Excel Diamond Infinite Credit Card. The year 2015 also witnessed the introduction of various value added services and campaigns promoting the use of plastic payment instruments instead of cash for the daily transactions such as the ‘Spend and Win’ promotion and the ‘Visa London Promotion 2015’. The bank’s continued success was also in no small part due to the unique Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme, which last year saw over 1,000 winners from all bank branches before it came to a close at the end of the year. Following the resounding success of last year’s campaign, and based on the overwhelming response from customers, the bank comprehensively improved the Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme for 2016. Launched in January, the new scheme now offers the highest number of prizes and the broadest spectrum of winners of any Al Mumayaz Savings Scheme to date; totalling well over 1,500 winners, encompassing hourly, children’s, general, branch guaranteed, ladies, and exclusive draws.

In addition to the savings scheme, the bank also launched a number of other offers and promotions, primarily focusing on its loan products and services. These included personal Loan special offer for customers, Al Mumayaz Auto Loan special offers for Ramadan and National day, and the ‘Smart Loan’ offer for personal loans in November.

Bank Sohar also strives to ensure that customers have easy access to its comprehensive portfolio of products and services, offering various channels of interaction across the Sultanate. These include a network of 27 conventional branches, Call Centre, Internet Banking, SMS Banking and 48 ATMs operating under the ‘OmanNet’ platform. The bank’s ATMs at Buraimi, and Shinas borders continue to operate with the ‘Dirhams Dispensing’ facility; thus adding immense convenience to businessmen who travel and transact business across the border on a regular basis, as well as to customers who visit the United Arab Emirates. Customers also enjoy the advantage of a 24/7 Cash Deposit facility at all Bank Sohar branch ATMs as another value-added service.

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At Bank Sohar we have always placed customers at the very heart of our business. I am confident that, through the wise guidance and bold vision set forth by our board, the trust of our stakeholders, commitment of our staff, and the loyalty of our customers, Bank Sohar will surge forward towards yet another year of banking excellence in 2016 Rashad Ali Al Musafir Acting CEO of Bank Sohar

Corporate Banking The Corporate Banking Division addresses the requirements of a broader range of Bank Sohar’s corporate customers and has applied a more focused approach on domestic business, ranging from Large, Mid, Emerging Corporate and SMEs to Project Financing.

Bank Sohar has been considered to be one of the most specialised banks in the country; offering financial services, through its Large Corporate Banking (LCB) unit, to various large corporates operating in fields such as oil & gas sector, large infrastructure projects, retail projects, mining projects and more; all of which are the backbone of the country’s economy. In addition to this and in line with the present focus of the country, the bank’s involvement in large value hospitality and educational projects has been substantial and clearly noticeable. These include the development of key resorts in large scale mixed-use developments, supported and promoted by the government through Omran. The bank also provides its services to the expansion projects for educational institutes, and financing of several manufacturing units; while also playing an active role in various industrial projects based in the regions of Sohar, Salalah, Rusayl and Duqm.

The Mid Sector Corporate Banking unit has the necessary skills to cater to the banking requirements of groups which are considered medium in asset size and have specialised requirements like trade and structured finance. The MSC team has the necessary skills to cater to the oil and gas, hospitality, education, retail and contracting sectors.

Over the course of 2015, the group had major success in sourcing business in the oil and gas, retailing and hospitality sectors.

The major focus of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Unit at Bank Sohar has been to provide knowledge about banking to this industry as well as sectorial specialisation. The unit has played an advisory role to nascent industrial clusters in Oman and has emerged as a trusted guide, continuing to focus its vision to follow the government’s directives in deviating away from an oil dependent economy. In 2015, Bank Sohar’s SME Unit aimed at becoming a knowledge partner, provide total business solutions to budding entrepreneurs, and introduce SMEs to entry level risk management through educating them on early warning signs. Promoting the ‘one bank approach’ to ensure cross-selling of products has been another key advice shared by the specialists employed by the unit.

During 2015, the SME Unit also participated and supported several SME initiatives and was involved in a number of industry events.

The bank had also previously witnessed a significant MoU being signed with The Zubair Corporation for providing cooperation and financial support to the SME sector. In order to service the segment effectively, SME desks have been functioning at the bank’s branches in Sohar and Salalah whilst plans are in motion to open services in Nizwa and Sur. Since having set up the department in 2013, the Project Finance & Syndication Unit has already demonstrated its skill in project appraisal and its capability of syndicating large scale projects and finance transactions. As a result of the unit’s efforts, Bank Sohar has created a unique position for itself

in the syndication market. Taking forward the Sultanate’s vision on 2020 tourism, Bank Sohar committed OMR70 million towards funding of two luxury hotel project both developed in the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat.

The bank’s strategy to keep a dedicated Government Institutions & Public Sector unit to address the banking needs of this important segment has been appreciated by the market. Currently, leading PSGs and government departments are associated with Bank Sohar. If required, the unit can partner with leading local Omani banks for syndications to address large sized finance requirements of nationally important projects. These include large projects under shipping, oil & gas, hospitality industry and more; and also includes large scale projects such as the Oman refinery.

The Trade Finance Unit prides itself in being one of the most responsive and client-driven trade teams in Oman. As a matter of fact, the unit, over the course of 2015, has received admirable performance awards for impressive accuracy and quick turnaround times. This includes the coveted ‘Trade Award 2014’ from Commerzbank, Germany, in recognition of the operational excellence displayed when handling Letters of Credit. The unit processes both; fund based services such as working capital finance, LTRs and bill discounting, and non-fund based services such as Letters of Credit (LCs) and Letters of Guarantee (LGs). These services are available for both; normal operations of corporate clients, as well as their project and capital investment needs. Further, a separate system provides similar services to clients of Sohar Islamic – Islamic window of Bank Sohar. It is through these specialised units that corporate operation’s offers an entire range of services to assist the bank’s corporate customers at all levels. Furthermore, as part of the resource development strategy, Bank Sohar’s Corporate Banking Department ensures to sustain talented and professional consultants that are aware of the market and client requirements. Manned by such a cohesive and knowledgeable team of professionals, the bank is more than capable of guiding companies on services that most efficiently meet their desired financial requirements. As a result, the Corporate Banking Division has over the years, managed to garner a reputation for its unmatched turnaround time, focused approach, corporate advisory and tailor-made facilities. Additionally, the division has earned a reputation for finding solutions and structuring appropriate facilities for the smooth operation of any company within its scope of business.

Investment Banking The Investment Banking team handles investments and capital market related needs of retail and institutional clients. It comprises three primary units – the Asset Management Unit, Capital Markets Unit, and Wealth Management Unit. The team aspires to adopt the highest standards of ethics, since trust, reliability and effort are the cornerstones of any investment banking business. It is also in the process of implementing a software solution that will enhance its capabilities of reporting to and communicating with clients.

The Asset Management Unit sets up innovative funds that seeds

and nurtures green field manufacturing projects for long-term gain.

The Unit set up the Oman Development Fund (ODF) in order to facilitate green field manufacturing projects that would eventually aid in the diversification of the Omani economy, in turn reducing dependence on the oil and gas sector. ODFis therefore a synergistic combination of a private sector initiative with a positive social impact. In 2015, ODF completed its incorporation with a committed capital of about OMR15 million from Omani institutional investors. The first investment into a green field iron and steel project has now been initiated and the project has achieved financial closure from a mix of conventional and Islamic sources and is expected to commence construction in the Sohar Industrial Estate soon.

The Capital Markets team seeks to provide asset management solutions to cash surplus entities.

The team understands investor requirements and implements solutions through trust accounts or specific mandates. The team also attracts investments into the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) from regional and international investors, and is focusing on building volumes and establishing a strong track record. Both of these are crucial to a sustained and profitable asset management business.

The Wealth Management team sources and provides international investment opportunities for local investors. The team maintains an inventory of global funds and other specialised investment vehicles that provide exposure to various geographies, asset classes, industrial sectors and investment themes. These are matched to the clients’ specific requirements in terms of risk, return, liquidity and time horizon.

Financial Institution Group The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) continued to strongly support the bank with its growing network of foreign correspondents and relations. Relationships were forged with additional banks all across the globe in order to support the remittance, trade and treasury businesses of the conventional bank as well as the Islamic Window. Increased due diligence on account of Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer principles has imposed additional compliance and regulatory checks being vitally important.

The group was also instrumental in raising $250 million as a Syndicated Term Facility which was lead by Bank ABC, Bahrain, and serves as a measure of strategic diversification of funding sources for the bank. The group continues to engage with rating agencies – FITCH and Capital Intelligence; both of which continue to rate the bank as investment grade. It also acted to further diversify and increase the committed lines from foreign banks and maintain an income-generating portfolio of syndicated loan assets to foreign banks. This portfolio earns the bank a positive risk-adjusted net income and, looking ahead, the emphasis will be to generate additional income from financial institutions across the globe in a risk-controlled framework.

Islamic Banking Commencing operations in May 2013, Sohar Islamic was established with the aim of undertaking all banking business and services

which are permitted for banks under applicable laws and regulations, and subject to the Islamic Sharia principles. It functions as a bank within a bank on the basis of Islamic principles and opened its first branch in Falaj Al Qabail, in the Sohar region. Three more branches were subsequently opened covering Muscat, Salalah (Saadah) and Dakhiliyah (Firq) regions. More recently Sohar Islamic also opened its fifth branch in Al Khoud. Furthermore, the existing branch network is being further augmented with internet and mobile banking, for which a mobile application was also recently launched.

Sohar Islamic strives to maintain the highest standards throughout its branch network and as such conducts regular training sessions for its staff. In line with its efforts, several in-house training sessions have been held in 2015 to enhance the level of understanding of staff in Islamic products and services.

In addition, selected staff have been sent to attend external training programmes on Islamic Banking. The Sharia Supervisory Board also expressed its satisfaction on the level of training imparted to the staff of Sohar Islamic on Islamic products and services.

Human Resources The Human Resources Division (HRD) continued to enhance competencies and skills of the Bank’s employees. Throughout the year, the department continued its advancements in new methods and techniques in its approach towards employee development. It also continued to enhance its competency based HR practices, using the best available training sources and methods in order to achieve the bank’s vision.

As a matter of fact, in 2015, the bank organised 157 training programmes which provided 1,196 open spots for employees to attend. Of these, 118 programmes were conducted by the bank’s inhouse training centre in Qurum, thereby making training more cost effective and job relevant. Additionally, the bank sponsored 22 young Omanis for further education in banking studies at Collage of Financial Studies (CBFS). Fifty five members of the staff were also sent overseas for training purposes to specifically meet their education requirements, since these programs were not available within the country.

Bankman, a fact-driven initiative, was also introduced by Bank Sohar in 2015, providing a solution that ensures staffing levels are benchmarked to activity levels in order to improve efficiency.

Currently used at all Bank Sohar branches, Bankman calculates efficiency and productivity of each branch; which in turn determines the manpower requirement per branch and department based on the number of transactions and the volume of work. Doing so allows the bank to make more informed business decisions that will address any potential areas of development.

The business of Bank Sohar has grown exponentially over the past few years with an ever increasing clientele base on both the retail and corporate front. In order to efficiently support this growth trend, a major restructuring of the bank took place in June 2015.

This restructure saw the bank’s senior management structure being streamlined, with an enhanced focus on strategy, business growth, operational efficiency and people development. This restructuring also facilitated the career development of many Omani staff at the senior management level as well as help the bank improve in its business performance.

Omanisation continues to be the HR cornerstone of all future strategies. As a result, the bank maintained an Omanisation rate of over 92% as of the end of 2015.

Underlining Bank Sohar’s strong commitment towards providing job and training opportunities to young Omanis, 21 of its new Omani recruits were fresh university graduates. In addition, 130 of the bank’s Omani staff were promoted to higher positions, subsequently seeing them take on greater responsibilities within the bank.

With such focused developments in the pipeline, Bank Sohar will continue to position itself as a niche provider of products and services with an objective to be different, whilst ensuring speedy delivery to meet customer expectations.

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It’s official, chess legend Anand to visit Sultanate from May 12

CHIEF SPONSOR: Alawi Enterprises’ Alawi Al Zawawi, left, seen in this file photo with Garry Kasparov, has ‘readily agreed’ to support Anand’s visit to Oman.

CHESS MAESTRO: Viswanathan Anand’s visit will inspire the chess enthusiasts.

will be played at Indian School Al Ghubrah where students of Modern International School will also be competing.

Thanks to the support from Zawawi Group’s Alawi Enterprises, chess maestro from

I would like to thank Zawawi Group and Alawi Enterprises, especially Alawi Al Zawawi, for making this possible. Without their support it would not have been possible to realise our dream of bringing Vishy (Anand) to Oman

Chennai will be here on an invitation from International Chess Academy of Oman. During his visit, which begins on May 12, Anand will play a simultaneous exhibition match

A. SESHAGIRI RAO

raoas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: It’s confirmed. Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand will be visiting Oman from May 12.

The chess maestro from Chennai or Tiger of Madras, as he is popularly known among legions of his fans, Anand will be in the Sultanate’s capital on an invitation from International Chess Academy of Oman (ICAO).

The former multiple world champion’s visit, which according to International Chess Academy of Oman is made possible by the sponsorship of Zawawi Group’s Alawi Enterprises, will be a five-day affair with the possibility of it getting extended by a couple of days.

The ICAO is bringing Anand to Oman with the primary objective of promoting the game in the Sultanate and to provide encourage-

ment to the children to continue to play the game they love.

Confirming the news of Anand’s visit, Academy’s manager and chief coach Ismael Karim said, ‘Vishy is visiting Oman from May 12’.

Ismael Karim, an International Master who previously served as Oman national team coach, first thanked Zawawi Group and Alawi Enterprises for ‘readily agreeing’ to back the ambitious project.

“I would like to thank Zawawi Group and Alawi Enterprises, especially (Director) Alawi Al Zawawi, for making this possible. Without their support it would not have been possible to realise our dream of bringing Vishy to Oman,” he said.

“When we approached Alawi (Al Zawawi), he readily agreed to the proposal as was the case when Kasparov visited Oman,” he said referring to former Russian world champion Garry Kasparov’s trip to

Ismael Karim ICAO chief coach

the Sultanate in 2014 which was also made possible by Alawi, who is also an avid chess enthusiast.

Then the ICAO coach sat down with the Zawawi Group CEO Kasiraman Swaminathan to work out the modalities.

“Thanks to their interest and knowledge in chess they gave a go-ahead for our plans. All they wanted was to run the whole affair professionally, which I assured that’s what ICAO stands for,” Ismael Karim said.

“So here we are preparing for Vishy’s visit now. We have to thank Alawi Enterprises and their brands Muscat Pharmacy,

Zahara Travel and DHL.” Anand’s challengers Giving details of the actual activities planned for Anand’s visit, he said: “Vishy will be here on a fiveday visit and probably two additional days which will be more of a private affair.

“Anand will arrive on May 12 and the following day, he will play a simultaneous exhibition match at the Avenues Mall,” he said.

Asked about who will get the opportunity to challenge Anand, who became India’s first Grandmaster in 1988 and then went on to win five world championship ti-

tles (2000-02, 20007, 2008, 2010, 2012), he said: “Our primary aim is to encourage the children and to inspire the kids who play chess with Vishy’s words of wisdom. So majority of them will be children as well as top Omani talents.

“We will be conducting five tournaments in Indian schools, which will be like selection events for the exhibition match,” he said.

“From each of these five events, the top boy and the girl will play with Vishy in the exhibition match.”

The five tournaments will start with the first one on April 16 at Indian School Al Seeb. The second one is scheduled for April 21 and

Annual affair They will be followed by competitions at the Indian School Muscat (April 23), Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir (April 30) and Indian School Darsait (May 7).

“In addition to the ten schoolchildren, we will be picking eight Omani talents. To select the Omani players, who will come from all over Oman, we will have a tournament on May 12 and the winners will stay back to play with Vishy the following day,” Ismael Karim said.

There will be a couple of slots for the sponsors, he informed.

The ICAO coach also said: “On May 14, Vishy will deliver a lecture and will be involved in an interactive session with the children at the academy. This session will not be an open event but an exclusive one for the academy students.”

On May 15, Anand may visit a few schools but the programme will ‘depend on how things work out’.

Stating that Anand’s visit is going to be a great opportunity for the children to learn and get inspired by the legend, Ismael Karim said: “As I said our aim is to popularise the game and visit of Vishy will surely inspire the children. Our ultimate idea is to make such visits annual affairs. I have no doubt, if everything works out well, we will achieve that objective.”

IPL OPENER

Pune outclass Mumbai Indians MUMBAI: Rising Pune Supergiants produced an impressive all-round performance to outclass Mumbai Indians, defeating them by nine wickets in the opening match of the ninth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.

Batting first, Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 121 for eight in 20 overs. Harbhajan Singh (45 not out) was the top scorer for the home side.

In reply, riding on Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten 66, Pune chased down the target comfortably posting 126 for one in 14.4 overs.

Chasing the target, Pune got off to a flying start with openers Rahane and Faf du Plessis (34) smashing the bowlers to all parts to post 57 for no loss in powerplay.

The duo kept the run flow going without losing any wickets by striking boundaries at regular intervals to post 76 after completion of nine overs.

But a bowling change by skipper Rohit Sharma worked well as Harbhajan cleaned up Du Plessis to leave Pune at 78 for one in 9.4 overs and keep Mumbai in the game.

However, Rahane along with incoming batsman Kevin Pietersen

UNBEATEN: Rising Pune Supergiants’ Ajinkya Rahane raises his

bat after scoring a fifty during their Vivo Indian Premier League match against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. – BCCI

kept on rotating the strike followed by couple of boundaries and big hits to take their team close to victory line.

Ajinkya Rahane played sensibly to bring up his half century in just 32 balls. He remained unbeaten alongside Pietersen (21 not out) to take the team to their first victory of the season.

Opting to bat first, Mumbai Indians got off to a disastrous start

losing their first four batsmen — Lendl Simmons (8), Rohit Sharma (7), Hardik Pandya (9) and Jos Buttler (0) — inside first five overs of play to have the team tottering at 30 for four.

New batsmen Kieron Pollard (1) and Ambati Rayudu held on for couple of overs but the West Indian’s stay in the middle was cut short by medium pacer Rajat Bhatia in the first ball of the eighth

over to have the home side in spot of bother at 40 for five.

The home side’s batsmen failed to stop their wickets from tumbling as Shreyas Gopal who looked to give some sort of support to Rayudu departed in the 11th over to have team in trouble at 51 for six and leave the packed stadium shell-shocked.

From there on, Rayudu and incoming batsman Harbhajan Singh played sensibly by sneaking in with couple of ones and twos without losing any wickets to help team cross the 65-run mark in 15th over.

With the dismissal of Rayudu, Harbhajan used his experience to best effect to stay put and pile on some useful runs with couple of boundaries and sixes for the hosts in the final overs to take team past 120-run mark.

Ishant Sharma and Mitchell Marsh picked two wickets each and Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhatia, Murugan Ashwin and R.P. Singh claimed one each for Pune.

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 121/8 in 20 overs (Harbhajan Singh 45 n.o.; Mitchell Marsh 2/21, Ishant Sharma 2/36) lost to Rising Pune Supergiants 126/1 in 14.4 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 66 n.o., Faf du Plessis 34; Harbhajan Singh 1/24). - IANS

FANJA ON TOP, SUWAIQ HELD, AL SHABAB EDGE SOHAR

Fanja moved to the top of the Omantel Professional League table with an easy victory over Al Musannah in the Week 24 action at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Saturday. On a day when the title rivals Suwaiq slipped up, settling for a draw against Al Arouba, Fanja hammered Al Musannah 5-0 to take their points tally to 45, same as Suwaiq, who were held to a goalless draw by Al Arouba in Sohar. But Fanja now occupy the top spot thanks to their better goal average of 19 against Suwaiq’s 11. Al Arouba are just a point below the leading duo in the third place. In the day’s other matches, Al Khabourah defeated Sur 1-0 and Al Shabab edged Sohar 3-2. In Sunday’s matches, Muscat meets Saham, Al Nasr take on Dhofar and Al Nahda play Salalah. — JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

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SARCO squad defeat E&Y in a high-scoring thriller Batting first, E&Y put on 199 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. In reply, SARCO scored 200 for seven in 20 overs

MUSCAT: SARCO recorded a three-wicket victory over E&Y in a Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division match at the Municipality Ground I during the morning session on Friday.

Batting first, E&Y put on 199 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs.

Omar Sarfaraz top scored with 85.

In reply, SARCO scored 200 for seven in 20 overs with Akshath and Hafiz Mohammed scoring 83 and 74 respectively.

Hassan Kamdar claimed three wickets for E&Y. Brief scores: E&Y 199/5 in 20 overs (Omar Sarfaraz 85) lost to SARCO 200/7 in 20 overs (Akshath 83, Hafiz Mohammed 74; 3/43). Points: SARCO – 2 pts, E&Y – 0.

Future Oilfield post win In an Enhance-sponsored D Division match, Future Oilfield defeated OCT Hail A by two wickets.

Batting first, OCT Hail A were bowled out for 109 in 16.3 overs.

Shuaib Al Balushi top scored with 36 runs.

Amir Khan claimed three wickets each for Future Oilfield.

In reply, Future Oilfield scored 112 for eight in 16.5 overs.

Imran Ali top scored with 53. Haroon Al Balushi claimed five wickets for Al Hail.

Brief scores: OCT Al Hail A 109 in 20 overs (Shuaib Al Balushi

D DIVISION: Future Oilfield after their win over OCT Al Hail A. – Supplied photo

19.5 overs with Shahid Mehmood top scoring with 43.

Ruban Durai and Ragunath M. claimed three wickets for RAY. In reply, RAY managed to score 144 for two in 14.2 overs. Ruban Durai top scored with 70.

Brief scores: Trust Oilfield 142 in 19.5 overs (Shahid Mehmood 43; Ruban Durai 3/19) lost to RAY 144/2 in 14.2 overs (Ruban Durai 70). Points: RAY – 3, Trust Oilfield – 0).

G DIVISION: RAY International who defeated Trust Oilfield.

36; Amir Khan 3/23) lost to Future Oilfield 112/8 in 16.5 overs (Imran Ali 53; Haroon Al Balushi 5/9). Points: Future Oilfield – 2, OCT Hail A - 0

RAY down Trust Oilfield In a G Division match, RAY International defeated Trust Oilfield by eight wickets. Batting first, Trust Oilfield were bowled out for 142 in

Easy for Khalsa United In an I Division match, Khalsa United won by 57 runs against ONEIC. Batting first, Khalsa United scored 176 for eight in 20 overs.

Sushil Kadam top scored with 60.

Awais Ahmed and Nadeem Qureshi claimed three wickets each for ONEIC. In reply, ONEIC were bowled out for 119 in 17.5 overs. Aravind and Sukhmeet claimed three wickets each for Khalsa.

Brief scores: Khalsa United 176/8 in 20 overs (Sushil Kadam 60; Awais Al Ahmed 3/19) bt ONEIC 119 in 17.5 overs (Sukhmeet 3/10). Points: ONEIC – 0, Khalsa United – 3.

Mani’s Azad win In a J Division match, Mani’s Azad posted a four-wicket win over Bronze Rock. Batting first, Bronze Rock were bowled out for 112 in 16 overs. Vineet Pal top scored with 39. Romail David claimed three wickets for Mani’s Azad. In reply, Mani’s Azad scored 114 for six in 13 overs. Anil Samoon top scored with 52. Abdur Rahawan claimed two wickets for Bronze Rock.

Brief scores: Bronze Rock 112 in 16 overs (Vineet Pal 56; Romail David 3/13) lost to Mani’s Azad 114/6 in 13 overs (Anil Samoon 52; Abdur Rahawan 2/15). Points: Bronze Rock – 0, Mani’s Azad – 3.

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HOCKEY

Boosted by Manpreet’s return, India look to dominate IPOH: Bolstered by the return of midfielder Manpreet Singh, India will seek to dominate the hard-tackling Canada on Sunday and boost their standing in the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament here.

The bereaved Manpreet last night returned from India after his father’s funeral to join his teammates for a training session this morning, giving coach Roelant Oltmans some options of tackling the rivals, who on Saturday overtook India on the round-robin league standings.

Canada defeated Japan 3-1 to take their points tally to four from three outings, having lost 1-3 to Pakistan and holding defending champions New Zealand to a 1-1 draw.

India have three points from two matches, having defeated Japan 2-1 in their opening outings and then suffering a 1-5 defeat by World champions Australia.

Manpreet brings a lot of stability to the India’s game-plan as he often takes up the centrehalf’s duties from Indian captain Sardar Singh when the team is seeking to dominate.

When under pressure, Manpreet is adept at playing a deep defender’s role and falls back to be the third full-back.

The news of his father’s demise reached Manpreet just hours before India’s opening fixture on Wednesday. He left for home just as the Indian team stepped on to the turf wearing black arm bands and observed a minute’s silence.

In Manpreet’s absence, the Indian midfield lost its semblance of competitiveness against World champions Australia in the last outing.

The Canadians have often proved to be troublesome to the Indians as they pack the defence and bank on quick counter-attacks to exert pressure on the rival citadel.

Defending against the quick turnovers has been problem for India and coach Oltmans is seeking to teach the young players in the squad ways to plug the gaps when falling back to defend on counters.

Oltmans was on Saturday seen observing the Canadians from the sidelines, trying to get acquainted with the opponents, whom India do not get to play often. India’s last encounter with Canada was a year ago here at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup when India prevailed 5-3.

This is the first time the Indian team under coach Oltmans will be taking on Canada, who no longer claim to be the Pan American champions, but are among the four teams at this tournament to have qualified for the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro.

But Canada, generally regarded as minnows, will be no pushovers. They started the tournament with a 1-3 loss to Pakistan.

But they staged a strong comeback by holding defending champions New Zealand to a 1-1 draw in their second match before overtaking India on the points table with a 3-1 win over Japan on Saturday.

They are sitting pretty at the second spot with four points from three matches, the same as hosts Malaysia who are on top spot due to superior goal difference. The Canadians play counter-attacking hockey and rely on a strong defence. They are quite fast on the counter and could pose a tough challenge for the inexperienced Indian defence. - PTI/IANS

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

C3

SPORTS KKR to miss Narine against Daredevils Skipper Gambhir also shed light on the availability of all-rounder Andre Russell saying that he would be here for the IPL encounter on Sunday

KOLKATA: West Indian mystery spinner Sunil Narine will miss the opening game of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) against Delhi Daredevils on Sunday, captain Gautam Gambhir said on Saturday.

The Trinidadian was cleared to bowl by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday but he had to fly back to his country to attend his father’s funeral.

Gambhir also shed light on the availability of all-rounder Andre Russell saying that he would be here for the IPL encounter on Sunday.

“Narine is not available for the first game, he is only available from the second. Russell is available,” Gambhir told reporters in the prematch media conference. “I am more confident of Narine this year than I was last year and he will be comfortable with a remodelled action. Obviously he has bowled with the action.

“This year you will get to see the best of him as he knows the monkey is off his back.”

Delhi Daredevils have roped in West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, who turned out to be a match-winner for his regional outfit in the final of the recently concluded World Twenty20.

The burly cricketer hit four consecutive sixes at the Eden last Sunday to help West Indies lift the trophy. But Gambhir insisted they are not solely focusing on the 27-year-old.

“We do not talk about individuals. Daredevils are not only about Brathwaite, there are other quality players as well. If we have to win

READY FOR THE OPENER: KKR’s bowling coach Wasim Akram speaks to team member Morne Morke during training session at Eden Garden in Kolkata. – PTI

we have got to beat the eleven players in their side,” he said.

Asked if Gambhir is looking forward to using the IPL as a platform to get back into the Indian team, the skipper quipped,” I play IPL to win it and I do not see it as a platform to get back into the Indian team. It is about winning it for KKR and scoring runs for my franchise.”

The Delhi left-hander who has now led the Kolkata franchise for five years said they would not want to repeat the same mistakes they did last year.

CRICKET

Comparing Kohli to Sachin not right: Kapil KOLKATA: India’s first cricket World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev on Saturday said it is unfair to compare batting icon Sachin Tendulkar with current national superstar Virat Kohli at the present moment.

“Why do you need to compare the two? Sachin is a legend. Kohli is still playing at an early stage. I believe at present it is wrong to compare the two,” Kapil said here at an event.

Asked if Mahendra Singh Dhoni should continue as captain of the side after India failed to make it to the World T20 final, Kapil said the decision should rest with the skipper and the selectors.

“You have to let him and the selectors decide. The selectors will make the change if need be. So it should rest upon them,” he said.

Commenting on India’s performance at the world event, Kapil said: “It was fabulous. Very good. But on that given day, the opponents outplayed us. They were brilliant.”

Virat Kohli

“If the rival team plays better, you must respect that. Every time India lose, I feel bad. But at the end of the day, it is cricket.”

The former India star allrounder also insisted that T20 cricket is not spoiling the longer version of the game.

“Have you ever seen so many sixes being hit or such huge totals being chased down? So long as the cricketing world is there, I am for it,” he said. - IANS

“Very excited, looking forward to a good start. If you get off to a good start it takes a lot of pressure of you.

We saw it last year when where we were at the top and in the last two games we slipped to number five.

So hopefully we will try to start of well and continue that into the entire tournament,” Gambhir stated.

The skipper also did not want to dwell upon what impact former coach Trevor Bayliss had on the side.

“A successful team makes a successful coach. For Bayliss a lot of credit goes to the players in the

dressing room. It is the same for the captain,” he said.

Gambhir also stressed on the huge support they have got from the crowd at Eden Gardens and thanked them for sticking by the side through thick and thins.

“People, fans, have been the biggest strength. The amount of loyalty they have shown for the first three years and then sticking by us.

Feeling sad when you lose, happy when you win. Hopefully we will try and give them a lot of happiness,” he said. - IANS

IPL

Privilege to have Dravid as mentor in Delhi camp, says Brathwaite KOLKATA: West Indies allrounder Carlos Brathwaite, who shot to fame with four consecutive sixes in the final of the World Twenty20 last week, says having Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid as his mentor in Delhi Daredevils is a privilege.

Dravid took up the job a few weeks back along with Paddy Upton who has been roped in as the head coach.

“I am privileged to be in the team as a World Cup winner. I hope to impact a youngster in the dressing room. I am privileged to have Rahul Dravid as the mentor — we had a couple of chats with him.

“I want to become better as a person and a player and hopefully will go back to the West Indies better equipped on how to play spin,” Brathwaite told the media.

Delhi will start off their campaign against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday and the 27-year-old would get to play on the same pitch where he clobbered England’s Ben Stokes for those massive sixes in the World T20 final.

“It is the same place and the same fans but it is a completely different tournament, different teams and oppositions. So I will treat the game with respect. But I hope it happens again. But I am not thinking about it much,” he said.

Asked how he dealt with the media attention after becoming an overnight hero for the West Indies, the Barbados lad said: ”Personally it has been a bit of challenge. I have had a few problems initially with time management. Dealing with all the interviews and attention was a challenge. But now I am aware of what stardom brings with it. If I am successful these things are something I need to cope with.

“Everyone wanted to know what was going through my mind, how I did it. I tried to do as much interviews I could.”

He, however insisted he has moved on from all the hype and is now focussed on the job ahead.

“It has been a challenge, constant interviews, reliving four

I want to become better as a person and a player and hopefully will go back to the West Indies better equipped on how to play spin Carlos Brathwaite

Delhi Daredevils all-rounder

sixes every day. It has been a challenge to get off the hype and move on. I am in my mental space now to be ready for the game tomorrow,” insisted Brathwaite.

Brathwaite said he is willing to shift up and down the batting order depending on the team’s need.

“Whatever our team requires (on where he would like to bat).

If the team wants me to bat at a certain position, I will try my best and adapt and make sure Delhi comes out on top,” he said.

Asked to compare Tests and the shorter forms of the game, Brathwaite said,”I love Test cricket. But every format has its space. T20 is a good spectator sport. Better cricketers are those who can adapt in all three.“ - IANS

C4

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

SPORTS

Arsenal title hopes hammered, Aston Villa all but relegated Needing a storming

Carroll is best header in world, says Bilic

finish to the season and a Leicester City wobble to have any chance of finishing top, Arsenal seemed on course for a third consecutive victory when they led 2-0 but the Gunners were rocked by Carroll’s quickfire hat-trick

LONDON: Arsenal’s title hopes were virtually extinguished in a 3-3 draw at West Ham United and Aston Villa’s top-flight status is merely mathematical after an eighth successive defeat all but sealed their fate on Saturday.

Needing a storming finish to the Premier League season and a Leicester City wobble to have any chance of finishing top, Arsenal seemed on course for a third consecutive victory when they led 2-0 but the Gunners were rocked by Andy Carroll’s quickfire hat-trick.

Laurent Koscielny’s equaliser against the Hammers spared thirdplaced Arsenal a defeat in the last London derby at Upton Park but

LONDON: Slaven Bilic described Andy Carroll as the best header of a ball in the world after the striker fuelled talk of a place in England’s Euro 2016 squad with a hattrick for West Ham United against Arsenal on Saturday.

Carroll was unstoppable, netting twice just before halftime and again early in the second half, as West Ham recovered from 2-0 down to draw 3-3 in a rivetting London derby at Upton Park.

The former Newcastle United and Liverpool forward made the last of his nine England appearances in November 2012 since when a succession of injuries have disrupted his career.

But he proved on Saturday that, when fit and firing, he is a real handful for defences, particularly with his aerial ability.

they remained 10 points adrift of Leicester with six games left.

“We have to keep going no matter what, and hope. You never know what can happen,” said manager Arsene Wenger although his priority now seems to be about sealing a 19th straight season in the Champions League by finishing in the top four.

The relegation trapdoor is not completely nailed down on bottom club Villa but after an eighth

BEST IN BUSINESS: Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel, left,

vies with West Ham United’s Andy Carroll during their English Premier League match at Upton Park on Saturday. – AFP

“Andy Carroll has everything.

It’s impossible to stop him,” West Ham manager Slaven Bilic said.

“Heading, he’s maybe the

consecutive league defeat, 2-1 at home to Bournemouth, they can start making plans for life in the Championship.

Villa are marooned on 16 points with five games left and the most they can now attain is 31, the haul that fourth from bottom Norwich City have after they went down 1-0 at Crystal Palace.

The former European champions also have a minus-41 goal difference compared to Norwich’s

best in the world. He has to stay away from those injuries.”

Carroll, who played at Euro 2012 and scored a majestic header against Sweden,

minus-22 so only a surreal set of circumstances can save them.

Lacklustre Newcastle still have a modicum of hope but it is fading fast after they lost 3-1 at Southampton to leave Rafa Benitez’s side second from bottom, six points behind Norwich and two adrift of Sunderland who host Leicester on Sunday. Swansea City effectively secured their safety as Gylfi Sigurdsson’s goal meant they

reduced Arsenal’s defence to nervous jitters at Upton Park.

Carroll’s eight-minute hattrick equalled the fastest one seen this season by Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero and he managed 10 attempts at goal in a display that will re-open the debate about his England credentials.

“Without a doubt,” Carroll told BT Sport when asked if he was still thinking of a call-up.

“You have to keep that in the back of your head but I have to play each game here and see how it goes.”

Former England forward Ian Wright, summarising for BT Sport, said Carroll offered a unique threat.

“He can cause any central defensive partnership in Europe problems if you get that kind of service into him.” - Reuters

became the first side to beat Chelsea in the league since Guus Hiddink took charge in December.

Injury-hit Chelsea produced a lacklustre display as their 15-match unbeaten spell under Dutchman Hiddink ended in disappointing fashion in Wales.

Elsewhere, FA Cup semifinalists Watford and Everton drew 1-1.

Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester United, who are fifth, on Sunday. - Reuters

LA LIGA

Ronaldo sets goal record as Real thrash Eibar BARCELONA: Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to hit 30 La Liga goals in six consecutive seasons as he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-0 thrashing of Eibar on Saturday.

The Portugal forward netted in the 19th minute and also provided passes for Lucas Vazquez and Jese to score as the hosts stormed into a 4-0 halftime lead.

James Rodriguez had opened Real’s account with a curling free-kick in the fifth minute.

Real are second in the league on 72 points.

Brazilian right back Danilo was booed by the home fans for his disappointing display at Wolfsburg when he came on in the second half but it was an otherwise positive afternoon for Real who host Wolfsburg in their quarterfinal second leg on Tuesday.

Rodriguez was criticised for being caught laughing on the sidelines in Germany in midweek but the Colombia international lifted the crowd by scoring early on, his first goal in just under two months.

A fine piece of skill from Ronaldo allowed Vazquez to pass the ball into an empty net in the 18th minute before the record-breaker finished off a cut-back from the lively Jese a minute later.

Ronaldo returned the favour for the 23-year-old in the 39th minute as Real made it 4-0.

Eibar’s top scorer Borja Baston hit the crossbar in a rare attack for the visitors who are 10th in the table. - Reuters

SECOND EDITION

Oman tent pegging team reach Cairo to take part in World Cup

MUSCAT: Oman national tent pegging team arrived in Cairo to take part in the 2nd International Tent Pegging Federation World Cup scheduled to be organised at the Equestrian Club of the Armed Force in the Egyptian capital from April 11 to 18.

The Sultanate squad compriss-

es Hilal Al Balushi, Safwan Al Ma’amari, Ali Al Balushi, Yousef Al Maamari and Hamad Nasser Al Riyami.

The Omani delegation is led

by Ahmed bin Saif Al Abri and comprises officials Mohammed Al Balushi, Mohammed Al Maliki, Hamood Al Riyami, Khamis

Al Baulushi, coach Mansour Al Mahrooqi and assistant caoch Mohammed Al Maliki.

Ten countries are taking part in the championship and they are the UAE, Yemen, Iraq, Sudan, Jordan, the UK, India and Australia bdesies Oman and hosts Egypt. — ONA

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

Health WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

THE DRO PPING Story Swati Dasgupta Do you experience aches and pains in your joints, bones, and muscles periodically? Do you often feel tired, fatigued, and depressed? How often do you ignore these discomforts?

A simple blood test can tell if your body is low in vitamin D.

VITAMIN D is an essential vitamin, the deficiency of which can cause serious diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and autoimmune disorders. It is also linked with multiple sclerosis, diabetes, depression, and schizophrenia.

Vitamin D deficiency tops in the list of the most diagnosed health problems in the Middle East, and also in Oman. According to the reports of Vitamin D Council, vitamin D deficiency is very common in Oman. Being close to the north of the equator, though the geographical location of the Sultanate is beneficial for people to produce vitamin D, its deficiency is still very rampant in this region as exposure to direct sunlight is very limited. The researchers recommended combating the deficiency with better sun exposure habits, more fortified food, and better supplementation habits.

So are you getting enough vitamin D? While assessing vitamin D still does not fall in category of regular medical checkups, knowledge about one’s vitamin D status is one of the most important health-protecting steps. All you need to do is a simple blood test that can tell if your body is low in vitamin D. The fact that makes vitamin D all the more important is that our bodies doesn’t make it, and we need to get it from our environment.

While the primary source of vitamin D is the sun, we can also get it from some foods. Highlighting this, Jishy Seby, diet consultant at KIMS Oman Hospital, said that in Oman even exclusively breastfed newborns lack in vitamin D because breast milk is deficient in it.

“They should be supplemented with 400IU (International units) of vitamin D till they are weaned,” she said.

-swati@timesofoman.com

While children need vitamin D to build strong bones and prevent rickets, adolescents and adults too need them and are equally at risk of developing a deficiency because of lack of exposure to sun.

“The possible ways to prevent vitamin D deficiency is to make sure one gets some sun exposure and to make the diet rich in vitamin D rich or vitamin D fortified foods,” she adds.

Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from foods. In older adults a daily dose of calcium and vitamin D prevents fractures and brittle bones. Children need vitamin D to build strong bones and prevent rickets, a cause of bowed legs, knock knees and weak bones. Researchers also link between low levels of vitamin D and multiple sclerosis which is an auto im-

mune disorder which affects nerves.

“There is also a link between low vitamin D and higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes. Obesity also leads to vitamin D deficiency because body fat traps vitamin D making it less available for body,” she tells.

Vitamin D is also essential for brain development. It helps in keeping depression away. Recent studies shows that people with high levels of vitamin D have low risk of having colon cancer and prostate cancer.

Most of the vitamin D is produced in body from sun exposure.

Fair skin has greater advantage in converting sunshine into vitamin D. Vitamin D in sunlight is high between 11am to 3pm and exposure to sun for 10 to 15 minutes can make daily vitamin D. Glass is a barrier for vitamin D, so avoid window side and avoid sunscreens since that will also prevent the body from absorbing vitamin D. Talking about the nutrition that can help in giving us vitamin D, Jishy Seby lists few vitamin D rich foods.

These include mainly oily fish like salmon, sword fish, and mackerel.

“Small amounts of vitamin D are present in sardines, tuna, egg yolk, beef liver, fortified cereals, and milk products,” she informs. Sun grown mushrooms also contain some amounts of vitamin D. The adult recommended dose is 600IU of vitamin D till the age of 70 and 800 IU above that age. The vitamin D can be checked for anyone by blood test and if found to be low can be easily supplemented with vitamin D supplements, says the diet consultant.

C6

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

@ AZAIBA

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Rocky Handsome (Action/ Thriller) –12+ 3.45 PM Cast : John Abraham, Shruti Haasan Ki & Ka (Drama/ Comedy/ Romance) –PG12 Cast: Kareena Kapoor,Amitabh Bachchan 6.45 PM Kapoor & Sons (Drama / Family) –PG12 9.45 PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Mr. Right (Action Comedy| Romance) 15+ Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:00, 7:15, 9:45 & 11:45PM Before I Wake (Horror| Thriller) 15+ Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane 11:30PM The Boss (Comedy) 18+ Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell 3:30 & 9:30PM Beeba Boys (Crime |Drama | Thriller) 15+ Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 3:45 & 9:30PM Shaket Daboos (Arabic| Mystery) PG12 Cast: Khaled Selim, Mai Selim, Nesreen Amin 5:00 & 7:45PM Eddie the Eagle (Biography| Drama) PG Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman 5:45PM Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice – 3D (Action) PG12 6:45 & 11:15PM Kung Fu Panda 3 – 3D (Animation) PG 5:30PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Mr. Right – 2D (15+) Action|Comedy Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 2:00, 11:45 PM Gold Class – 6:15, 11:15 PM Beeba Boys – 2D (15+) Crime | Thriller Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 9:30, 11:30 PM Gold Class– 3:45 PM Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice – 3D (PG12) (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) 11:30 AM, 3:55, 6:30, 8:45 PM Gold Class – 8:15 PM Kung Fu Panda 3 – 3D (PG) Animation 12:00, 2:15, 6:45 PM The Boy and the Beast – 2D (PG) Animation Voice Overs: Bryn Apprill, Kumiko Asô

Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) (2D) (Comedy | Action) (PG12) Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Kajal Agarwal 6:00, 8:55 PM

4:15 PM PANORAMA MALL Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice3D (Action, Adventure) (PG12) 3:30, 6:15, 9:00, 11:45 PM Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice3D (Action, Adventure) (PG12)-VIP LOUNGE 6:45 PM Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (Action, Adventure) (MX4D) (PG12) 5:45, 8:30, 11:15 PM Kung Fu Panda 3-3D (Animation) (PG) 3:15, 5:45 PM Eddie the Eagle-2D (Biography) (PG) Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman 5:00 PM Ki & Ka-2D (Romance, Comedy) (15+) Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor 8:45 PM MR. Right-2D (Action, Comedy)(15+) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:45, 9:30 PM MR. Right-2D (Action) (15+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:45, 9:30, 11:30 PM The Boss-2D (Comedy) (18+)

Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) ( Action | Comedy) (PG12) Cast : Prithviraj Sukumaran, Chandini Sreedharan 11:00 PM

Mr. Right (Action Comedy| Romance) 15+ Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:00, 7:15, 9:45 & 11:45PM

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell 7:30 PM The Squad-2D (Action, Drama) (15+) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir 3:45, 7:00, 11:15 PM The Dead Room-2D (Horror, Thriller) (TBC) Cast: Jed Brophy, Jeffrey Thomas 11:30 PM

Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Chandini Sreedharan 6:00, 8:45 PM Sardar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) (2D) (Comedy | Action) (PG12) Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Kajal Agarwal 6:00, 8:55 PM

AZAIBA Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action |Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 3:15, 8:45, 11:30 PM Kung Fu Panda 3 (3D) (Animation) (PG) 3:00, 5:00 PM Beeba Boys (Eng) (2D) (Crime) (15+) Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 6:45, 11:45 PM Rocky Handsome (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: John Abraham, Shruti Hassan, Nishikant Kamat 3:30, 11:30 PM Ki & Ka (2D) (Romance | Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor 2:45, 5:15, 7:45, 10:15 PM Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) (2D) (Action |

RUWI Screen 1 Ki & Ka (Drama/ Comedy/ Romance) –PG12 Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor 3.30, 9.30 PM Kapoor & Sons (Drama / Family) –PG12 Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt 6.30 PM Screen 2 Kapoor & Sons (Drama / Family) –PG12 Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt 3.45 PM Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Action) –PG12 Cast: Pawan Kalyan, KajalAgarwal 6.45 PM Rocky Handsome (Action/ Thriller) –12+ 9.45 PM Screen 3

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

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

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

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

Daily Daily

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

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

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

08:40 11:00

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

11.45 13.30 14.00

STAR CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) (Action) Cast: Pawan Kalyan & Kajal Aggarwal 3:30 & 6:30 PM Cinema Main \ 9:30 PM Cinema -2 Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Prithviraj & Chandini Sreedharan 3:30 & 6:30 PM Cinema-2\ 9:30 PM Cinema Main Thozha (Tamil) (Comedy \ Drama) Cast: Karthi, Nagarjuna & Tamanna 3-45 PM Cinema -3; 6:45 PM Cinema -4 Action Hero Biju (Mal) (Act\ Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anu Emmanuel 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema - 3 Maheshinte Prathikaram (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Fahad Faasil & Anusree 3:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema-4 Next Change: Thire (Tamil) Fan (Hindi) Programmes are subject to change

ANOKHI R. MANJESHWAR April 10, 2010

TARANGINI SINGH YADUVANSHI April 10, 2009

SHUBHAM (PREET) April 10, 2005

SHELA SEKAR April 9, 2004

0

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75-30%

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Daily Daily Daily Daily

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

Minimum

Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

Nizwa Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 06:00

Mr. Right (Action / Comedy / Romance) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockwell, Tim Roth 2.00, 3.45 & 8.00 PM CP No : 1094 (15+) Before I Wake (Horror / Thriller) Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane 5.30, 10.00 & 11.55 PM CP No: 1096 (15+) Beeba Boys (Crime / Drama / Thriller) Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 10.00 & 11.55 PM CP No: 1093 (15+) The Boss (Comedy) 2.00 & 6.00 PM Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell CP No: 1095 (15+) The Boy and the Beast (Animation / Action) Voice Overs: Bryn Apprill, Kumiko Aso 4.00 PM CP No : 1097 (PG) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Action / Adventure / Fantasy) 7.15 PM. CP No: 375 (PG12)

Daily

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Ruwi

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

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

07:00

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

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

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

31 25

SALALAH Batman Vs Superman (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 6:25, 11:45PM Kung Fu Panda 3 (3D) (PG) (Animation) 1:05, 4:35PM Anti-Squad (2D) (15+) (Action | Drama) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir 4:35, 10:00PM Mr. Right (2D) (15+) (Action| Comed) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:00, 6:30, 11:55PM Before I Wake (2D) (15+) (Horror| Thriller) Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane 2:45PM Beeba Boys (2D) (15+) (Crime |Drama) Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 2:35, 11:15PM The Boss (2D) (18+) (Comedy) Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell 1:00, 4:50PM Ki & Ka (2D) (PG12) (Romance | Comedy) 9:15PM Sardaar Gabbar Singh (2D) (PG12) (Telugu) 7:00PM Darvinte Parinamam (2D) (PG12) (Mal) 8:25PM

BAHJA CINEMA

WITH LOVE

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 16:50 19:30

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

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

SOHAR Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice– 3D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12) 3:30, 8:30, 11:30PM Mr. Right- 2D (Action, Comedy) (15+) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 3:00, 6:50, 11:45 PM The Dead Room - 2D (Horror, Thriller) (15+) 5:45, 11:45 PM Kung Fu Panda 3 - 3D (Animation)(PG) 5:00PM The Boss- 2D (Comedy) (18+) Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, 3:15, 7:00PM Beeba Boys-2D (Crime, Drama, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Randeep Hooda, Ali Momen, Sarah Allen 3:45, 6:30, 11:55PM Darvinte Parinamam - 2D (Action) (PG12) 9:00PM Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Chandini Sardaar Gabbar Singh- 2D (Action) (PG12) 8:45PM Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Kajal Agarwal The Squad - 2D (Thriller) (15+) 5:15, 10:00PM Ki & Ka- 2D (Romance, Comedy) (PG12) 7:30PM

BURAIMI Kung Fu Panda 3 (Animation |Action|) (PG) 5:15PM Mr. Right -2D (Action, Comedy) (15+) Cast: Anna Kendric, Tim Roth, Sam Rockwell 4:45, 7:00, 11:30PM The Squad Aka (Anti Gang) -2D (Action) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino 7:15, 11:45PM The Dead Room-2D (Horror, Thriller) TBC Cast: Jed Brophy, Jeffref Thomas 10:15PM Beeba Boys -2D (Crime, Drama) (15+) Cast: Randeep Hooda,Ali Momen,Sarh Allen.

5.30, 9.00PM Darvinte Parinamam-2D (Mal) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran 7:30PM Ki &Ka -2D (Romance, Drama) (PG12) Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor 11:00PM Sardaar Gabbar Singh-2D (Telgu)TBC Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Kajal Agarwal) 8:45PM

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

SUR Mr. Right (Action | Comedy | Romance) (15+) 4:45, 10:00 PM The Dead Room (Horror | Thriller) (TBC) Cast: Jed Brophy, Jeffrey Thomas, 6:30 PM The Squad (Anti Gang) (Action) (TBC) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir 5:30, 11:30 PM Darvinte Parinamam (Action) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran 11:00 PM Sardaar Gabbar Singh (Telugu) (TBC) 7:15 PM Batman Vs Superman 3D (Action) (PG12) 8:15 PM

WEATHER

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.13pm 3.41pm 6.31pm 7.43pm 4.33am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK) Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334 Apollo Medical Centre,

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al Hayat International Hospital, Al Ghubra 22004000, 94267068/97049520 Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

C7

LIFESTYLE H E A LT H N O T E S

Irregular heart rhythm leads to poor physical performance Older adults who develop irregular heartbeat are likely to have more age-related declines in walking speed, strength, balance, and other aspects of physical performance, new research has found.

The ďŹ ndings showed that the elderly who are suffering from atrial ďŹ brillation â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the most common type of irregular heartbeat â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are especially vulnerable to losing strength, balance, gait speed, and coordination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Particularly in older adults, we need to be mindful that the effects of atrial ďŹ brillation (AFib or AF) go beyond increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke,â&#x20AC;? said & Ĺ&#x2014;, - , " ,Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; !( (#Ĺ&#x2014; --#-. (.Ĺ&#x2014;*,) --),Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; )-.)(Ĺ&#x2014; (#0 ,-#.3Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; .,# &Ĺ&#x2014;Ă° ,#&& .#)(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;" ,.Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014;.1)Ĺ&#x2014;-' &&Ĺ&#x2014; upper chambers (atria) beat irregularly and too fast, which may increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other conditions.

Need Readers?

Here are key facts to know before you buy reading glasses.

Reasons for diabetic kidney disease revealed

Y

our 40th birthday was a while ago and since then, *,#(.Ĺ&#x2014;&))%-Ĺ&#x2014;&#% Ĺ&#x2014;#.Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014;! .ting smaller. Moving printed matter farther from your eyes to bring it into focus worked for a while, but ()1Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014; -., . "#(!Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; ,'Ĺ&#x2014; -Ĺ&#x2014; ,Ĺ&#x2014; -Ĺ&#x2014;#.Ĺ&#x2014;1#&&Ĺ&#x2014;, "Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; #( Ĺ&#x2014;." .Ĺ&#x2014; ,'Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; not going to get any longer, it may be time to get some reading glasses.

A visit to an eye doctor can conĂ°,'Ĺ&#x2014;# Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014; 2* ,# ( #(!Ĺ&#x2014;*, - 3)pia, a natural side-effect of growing older. As you age, the lens inside our eye loses ďŹ&#x201A;exibility and becomes less effective at helping you focus.

Most people will develop presbyopia in their early to mid-40s; in fact, the number of people who wear corrective lenses spikes in the 40s, and 93 per cent of people ages 65-75 wear corrective lenses, according to the Vision Impact Institute in the Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; )/,- Ĺ&#x2014; %()1#(!Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014; ,Ĺ&#x2014; from alone in your need for reading glasses might not make you feel any better about wearing them. You may be tempted to sneak into the

local pharmacy, grab the ďŹ rst pair of readers you see and hope you can pay for them and get out of there before anyone you know sees you. /.Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " -.3Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; ")# Ĺ&#x2014; of reading glasses. A recent study 3Ĺ&#x2014; )-. ,Ĺ&#x2014; , (.Ĺ&#x2014;#( # . -Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;, ers you wear can have a signiďŹ cant impact on your productivity and quality of life.

Here are some important facts to help you choose reading glasses that , Ĺ&#x2014;,#!".Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ä&#x2020; Ä&#x160; #(!Ĺ&#x2014;!& -- -Ĺ&#x2014;! ( , &&3Ĺ&#x2014;)ĂŽ ,Ĺ&#x2014;' !niďŹ cation between +1.00 and +2.75, in increasing increments of .25. Ä&#x160; ,3Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;*/, " - Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;&)1 -.Ĺ&#x2014;& 0 &Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; magniďŹ cation that works for you; a magniďŹ cation that is too strong may cause headaches and eye strain. Ä&#x160; )(!Ĺ&#x2014; !)( Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; 3-Ĺ&#x2014; 1" (Ĺ&#x2014; &&Ĺ&#x2014; reading glasses looked like something your granny would wear. Today, reading glass designs in a variety of shapes, colours, sizes and styles to ďŹ&#x201A;atter any facial structure and appeal to virtually every preference. Ä&#x160; "#& Ĺ&#x2014; , ,-Ĺ&#x2014; " &*Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ĺ&#x2014; ) /-Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ĺ&#x2014;

*,) / .#0#.3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; ' $),#.3Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; 1 ,ers said in the survey. The arrival of reading glasses with multiple strengths is changing the way people use readers. Now users can keep the glasses on and still be able to focus comfortably on things farther 1 3Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; ().Ĺ&#x2014; ( -- ,3Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; , ')0 Ĺ&#x2014; the glasses in order to refocus from printed matter to something else, sparing users the time and aggravation of removing glasses and putting them back on. Since you remove the !& -- -Ĺ&#x2014; & --Ĺ&#x2014; , +/ (.&3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ." , Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; & --Ĺ&#x2014; chance of misplacing them â&#x20AC;&#x201D; so you no longer need to buy multiple pairs to leave around the house or keep replacing pairs you took off and lost.

For most people, reading glasses printed matter, they can actually make it difficult to see other things, are an inevitable part of growing such as a computer screen or the )& ,Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; /.Ĺ&#x2014; ." 3Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; " 0 Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; -)' )( Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014; . &%#(!Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; #,,#. .#)(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014; -)' ."#(!Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014; 'In order to refocus your eyes from barrassed to wear. A little shopping printed material to something else, around can help you ďŹ nd readers you have to remove single-focus in a style, magniďŹ cation and focus options that work best for your lifereaders or peer over the lenses.

Having to remove readers is ir- style. Consult your eye doctor beritating, embarrassing and hinders fore doing.-BPT

As you age, the lens inside our eye loses flexibility and becomes less effective at helping you focus. Most people will develop presbyopia in their early to mid-40s

A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, has identiďŹ ed key inďŹ&#x201A;ammatory mechanisms underlying Type 1 diabetes and obesity-related kidney dysfunction. Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease ( Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;' $),Ĺ&#x2014;,#-%Ĺ&#x2014; .),Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014; , #)0 - /& ,Ĺ&#x2014; #- - Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; " Ĺ&#x2014;, -/&.-Ĺ&#x2014; also showed that deďŹ ciency in the production of insulin in the body or the resistance to externally induced insulin leads to an increase in amounts of sphingomyelin. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We found that insulin deďŹ ciency and insulin resistance, two hallmarks of diabetes, seem to be associated with increased sphingomyelin in the kidney, which trigger damaging inďŹ&#x201A;ammatory mechanisms,â&#x20AC;? was */ &#-" Ĺ&#x2014;)(&#( Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;$)/,( &Ĺ&#x2014;EbioMedicine.

Eat pears to improve BP, heart functions Consuming pears everyday may improve blood pressure and vascular function in middle-aged people with metabolic syndrome (Mets), a study has found. Mets is a cluster of ma$),Ĺ&#x2014; , #)0 - /& ,Ĺ&#x2014; ,#-%Ĺ&#x2014; .),-Ĺ&#x2014; "#!"&3Ĺ&#x2014; &#(% Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; 0 &)*ment of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes. Among the most popular fruits in the world, pears are an excellent source of ďŹ bre and a good source of vitamin C, for only 100 calories per serving. One medium pear provides 24 per cent of daily ďŹ bre needs. The researchers analysed 50 participants aged between 45 and 65 year with three of the ďŹ ve symptoms of Mets. They were randomly assigned to receive either two medium-sized fresh pears or 50g pear-ďŹ&#x201A;avoured drink mix (placebo) per day for 12 weeks. The randomised, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial evaluated the antihypertensive effects of fresh pear consumption in middle-aged participants with Mets. -IANS

HOME REMEDIES

When Struggling with Poor Memory Most people suffer from occasional forgetfulness, especially in later life when slower brain processing may make it harder for them to store and remember information. However, absentmindedness is not an inevitable part of ageing, nor is it conďŹ ned to the elderly. Poor memory can also be due to lack of sleep; an underlying condition such as depression; stress; a thyroid disorder; excessive use of alcohol; or prescribed drugs. In most cases, memory improves again when the underlying problem is treated. There are also techniques that help protect and sharpen memory skills at any age.

When memory deterioration occurs with symptoms such as confusion, intellectual decline, and a change in personality, it may be a sign of dementia.

name after you are introduced, Ä&#x160; ). Ĺ&#x2014;. -%-Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; 0 (.-Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;$)/,( &Ĺ&#x2014; See your doctor if repeat the name back, then try to ." .Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014;1#."Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; &&Ĺ&#x2014;.#' -Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160; )/,Ĺ&#x2014;' '),3Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014; . ,#), .#(!Ä&#x201E; make a picture from it incorpoÄ&#x160; )/Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; . %#(!Ĺ&#x2014; ' # .#)(Ĺ&#x2014; ." .Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; ), ,&3Ä&#x2020;Ĺ&#x2014; *Ĺ&#x2014; -- (.# &Ĺ&#x2014; ,rating the person in front of you. ticles in their own place, such may be affecting your memory. as keys and glasses by the front Ä&#x160; )Ĺ&#x2014; , ' ' ,Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; &#-.Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; /- Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; - .Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; locations in your home and put door. Have ďŹ xed days and times What you can do yourself an item from the list in each one. for important tasks.

There are no instant cures for forMake the mental images incongetfulness, but these techniques Ä&#x160; 0 Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; 0#-#)(Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; " ,#(!Ĺ&#x2014; gruous and exaggerated. For exchecked regularly. Seek further and lifestyle changes can help preample, to remember a shopping medical advice. serve and improve your memory. list you could visualise a huge Ä&#x160; .Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;!)) Ĺ&#x2014;(#!".Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014;-& *Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;! .Ĺ&#x2014;, !/block of butter melting on your lar exercise, and include plenty Practical techniques bed; a loaf of bread baking in the of fresh fruits, green leafy veg- Ä&#x160; 3Ĺ&#x2014; .. (.#)(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;* ,.# /& ,&3Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;-#.ďŹ replace; or a giant tea bag in uations where you feel excited etables, nuts, olives, wholegrain the sink. To recall the list in the or under stress. Ask people to bread, and cereals in your diet. supermarket, visualise walking , * .Ĺ&#x2014; #( ),' .#)(Ĺ&#x2014; ." .Ĺ&#x2014; ) -(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160; ,3Ĺ&#x2014;().Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;1),,3Ĺ&#x2014; )/.Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014;' 'through your home and ďŹ nding register immediately. Then reory failures; anxiety and lack of each item in its strange location. peat it in your own words. Note conďŹ dence will only make them landmarks along your route in Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 2 , #- Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; ' '),3Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; *Ĺ&#x2014; worse. Figure out why you forgot track of your money by rememunfamiliar surroundings, such something and organise yourself. bering how and where you spent as a large building or driving Ä&#x160; ,3Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;#'*,)0 Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014;' '),3Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; 2 ,it since you last went to the through a new town. cise your brain with word games. bank.â&#x20AC;&#x201D; lifestyle@timesofoman.com Ä&#x160; Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/Ĺ&#x2014; . ( Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; ),! .Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; * ,-)(Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014; Read rather than watch TV.

C8

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016

LIFESTYLE

Eat Right, Sleep Tight Whether it’s owing to stress, our hectic lifestyle, or any other reasons, lack of good sleep wreaks havoc in our lives. Sleeplessness can cause several health issues and tweaking our diet towards sleep inducing foods is sure to make a difference.

Milk

Don’t rubbish it as an old wives tale. There is a truth in the fact that drinking a glass of warm milk before going to bed helps us to sleep better. The calcium in it helps to regulate melatonin, the hormone linked to sleep.

Bananas

Almonds

Go nuts to regulate your sleep.

These crunchy nuts contain magnesium and tryptophan which relaxes the muscles and helps to sleep. Either have it raw or have almond butter before going to bed.

Either way its beneficial.

You can call them a natural sleeping pill in a peel. Bananas contain tryptophan, B vitamin, magnesium and potassium that has been linked to sleep quality. It helps to relax muscles.

Pineapple

Fish

Cherries

Have you ever noticed that after having salmon or tuna for dinner, you get a better sleep than other days. That is because these are high in vitamin B6, which helps the pineal gland produce melatonin, essential for a good sleep.

Most sleep issues result due to low levels of melatonin. Pineapple is a melatonin-boosting food.

Eat few slices of pineapple before going to bed to sleep better.

We all love to have cherries, especially as a dessert but do you know it can also help you have a hearty sleep? Being an excellent source of melatonin a study done recently found that those who drink cherry juice sleeps faster and also longer.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are high in vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness. If you don’t like them in raw form, make hummus instead.

Green Tea

Green tea contains theanine, an amino acid that helps to reduce stress and promote relaxation. So it can lull you to sleep.

Walnuts

Like almonds walnuts too are a natural source of melatonin, and help us to sleep better. You can toast them in a dry skillet until they’re golden brown for extra flavour. -lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ njĂŝďĂ ;ďĞŚŝŶĚ D E ^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϲϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ 'ŚŽďƌĂ ;ŶĞĂƌ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ^ĐŚŽŽůͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϱϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;ďĞŚŝŶĚ ĞŶƚƌĞ WŽŝŶƚͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϰϯϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;ŶĞĂƌ dĞĐŚŶŝĐĂů ŽůůĞŐĞͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϱϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;ďĞŚŝŶĚ <& Ϳ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϲϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ů <ŚƵǁĂŝƌ ;ďĞŚŝŶĚ ^ĂŐĂƌ WŽůLJ ůŝŶŝĐͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϮϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ŽǁƐŚĞƌ ;ŶĞĂƌ ů ŵĞĞŶ DŽƐƋƵĞͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϰϬϬͬͲ͘ Ϯ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ Ăƚ ů &ĞůĂũ Λ Z͘K͘ ϯϱϬͬͲ͘

ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ ͻ

ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ tĂƩĂLJ ; ŶĞĂƌ ,ŽŶĚĂ ^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϮϱϬͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ,ŽŶĚĂ ZŽĂĚ Λ Z͘K͘ ϮϯϬͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ ŵĂƌĂƚ Λ Z͘K͘ ϭϳϱͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ 'ŚŽďƌĂ ;ŶĞĂƌ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ^ĐŚŽŽůͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϮϳϱͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚƐ ŝŶ DĂǁĂůĞŚ ;ďĞŚŝŶĚ sĞŐĞƚĂďůĞ DĂƌŬĞƚ Ϳ Λ Z͘K͘ ϮϬϬͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚ ŝŶ ů <ŚŽĚŚ ;ŶĞĂƌ ^ƚĂĚŝƵŵͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϮϬϬͬͲ͘ ϭ ĞĚƌŽŽŵ ŇĂƚ ŝŶ DĂďĞůĂŚ ;ŶĞĂƌ dŚLJŵŽŽƌ DŽƐƋƵĞͿ Λ Z͘K͘ ϭϴϬͬͲ͘ ;W͘ŶŽƚĞ ͗ dŚĞ ĂďŽǀĞ ŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƌĞ ͗ ZĞŶƚ ƉĞƌ ŵŽŶƚŚͿ͘

For Enquires Please Contact : 24 702 666

Fax: 24-703666. Email: manju@alhabib.om

COMEX 2016 VISIT US AT STALL

N.O: 1629 Printers, Laptops & PC’s, CD’s, DVD’s & Flash Drives & Cartridges

All HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung Cartridges also available.

Ruwi: 24 792 792 Sohar: 2684 2420

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

Available on very GOOD prices

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

RENT

GOOD PRICE!!!

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DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

Top Finish New- Res-5 apartments- 2 bhk/maid room 550/450, 3 bhk- 550, 1 BHK-350 2. Al Kuwair New 3 bhk, posh. Kit.fur,s.pool-700, 3 bhk +maid,ind.villa-650/3. Wadi Kabir 1/2 bhk-250/300/350 4. Al Kodh Villa 5 Bhk- Compounded 550/5. Qurum(Comm) Sama Center-Brand New 114/122/129 sq.mt 6. Azaiba (Comm) 'h dĞĐŚ ďůĚŶŐͲ ͘ ͬ͘ŇŽŽƌŝŶŐͬĐĞŝůŝŶŐ

FOR RENT

1. Qurum

Tel: 24571962/63 Mob: 94289050/ 95495281 Email: samain009@yahoo.com

DĂĚŝŶĂƚ ^ƵůƚĂŶ YĂƐ ͗^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵͬKĸĐĞ Ăƚ 'ƌŽƵŶĚ &ůŽŽƌ͕ ϯϰϬ ^Ƌ Mtr. Facing main Road HAR Complex MSQ : 2,3-BHK Flats and 2 & 3 BHK villas with

ͬ ͕ĐĂƌ ƉĂƌŬŝŶŐ͕ ^ǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ WŽŽů ;'ĂƚĞĚ ŽŵƉůĞdžͿ Qurum : 6 BHK villa with garden, split Acs, shaded car parks, servant rooms DĂďĞůůĂ ͗ Ϯ ,< &ůĂƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ;ďƌĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐͿ Darsait : 1 & 2-BHK Flats with AC & Shop Ruwi : 2-BHK & 3-BHK Flats and shops Al Amerat : 2 & 3-BHK Flat , 3 & 4-BHK Villa with A/C

For viewing please call 99466729, 99316410, 92841690, 91313271, 24694088 or email us on :hartc@omantel.net.om

OFFICES FOR RENT AT AZAIBA Prime location on service road (previously occupied by A'Saffa Foods) near Al Turky and Mazda showroom.

*Tourist visa arranged

- 2 BHK flat available directly from the owner, at Azaiba.

Contact: 99229263, 93221054, 95215289

FOR RENT Store space in Al Wattayah.

Contact 99382489 / 99263443

3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent. 18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi. Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use.

OMR 295/- month. Call 94477222 Office & 2B/R with 3 toilets directly from owner, near Dolphin Complex Bausher. Contact 92158031 Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabeer near India Primary School 2B & 1K. Contact: 92222922 150 Sq mtr available GF + MEZ Office + showroom + store location Honda road Ruwi. Contact: 99345044 / 91480682 Villa at Azaiba 7 rooms attach bath at 18th November road. Contact: 9224748 / 99332297 1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

1BHK Mumtaz. Contact: 92144045

Warehouse for rent at Ghala Ind. Area. 800 & 2500 approx sqms Near Hotel Al-Madinah Holiday, Ghala. Container can enter. Immediate access to roads & highways.

Contact : 94583320

Brand new villas in Al Ansab. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Mutrah.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flat for rent Al Khoud room 3, hall, kitchen & bathroom. Contact: 91153933

2 Bhk Flat in Alkhuwair. #99792181

Duplex villa in QURUM 29. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

1BHK Ghubra R.O 275/-. #92144045

3 Room with kitchen & Bathroom in Alkhuwair, short terms. #99792181

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/-. Contact: 92144045

Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel : 00 968 95158570

One room, bathroom for rent Bousher. Contact: 91153933

1&2 BHK Darsait. #92144045

Semi furnished 2 & 3 BHK flats at Bausher near Atlas hospital. #99348493 / 93200424 / 24502254

2Bedroom centrally air conditioned flat in CBD prime location.

Contact: 24714625 / 91173997

Furniture flat for rent Bousher 1 room, 1 bath room, Kitchen & hall.

Contact: 91153933

New flat for rent in Al Amerat, 2 bedroom, 1 dining room & 1 kitchen. Contact: 91141097

Flat for rent Bousher, 2 rooms, 1 hall, dining hall, 2 bathrooms & Kitchen. Contact: 91153933

Room in Al Khuwair R.O 110/-.

Contact: 97799175

Flat in Mumtaz 1 bedroom, hall, kitchen, toilet Way No. 3352 building no 3447 / 3668. Contact : 98003444 / 91979580

1 BHK M.B.D R.O 250/-. Contact: 92144045

2& 3 BHK in Al Khuwair RO 375/-, RO 400/-. Contact: 92144045 1BHK at Al Falaj R.O 190/-. Contact: 92144045 Single room for rent 50/RO water & electricity near Khimji Mart Muttrah. Contact: 97477670 Full furnished four apartment for rent in Sohar Falaj area, for Executives three room two bathroom, & kitchen contact 94150267 Flat for rent well maintained 2/3 BHK flats at Wadi Kabir near Indian School (Main). Contact: 91274090 / 24793982

Studio flat for rent in Al Khoud R.O 150/- PM inc , W/E. #92815139 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). #94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices in Ghala. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flat in Al Khuwair, bedroom, hall.

Contact : 91979580 / 98003444

Villa for rent 6 rooms, hall, living room, kitchen, 7 Bathroom in Al Khoud. Contact: 91153933

Shops / flats available in Honda Road, Ruwi & Mabellah Industrial area. Contact 24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448 Room for rent,1 bed room with separate toilet (in flat) for small family Qurum Mars hypermarket building. #95711449 or 96570147 1BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 175/-. Contact: 95076261 1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in Al Khuwair. contact 95154331 2 BR, 2 bath, a kitchen, a yard , with AC, separate enterance, AlKhuwair near Ibis hotel. PDC. RO 250 .. Call 97056443

2BHK with split / AC in W.K behind Sana Fashion. Contact: 96635026

2 bed rooms for family with split units with car parking shaded at Al Hail North. Contact: 92676707

Readymade office space for rent (240sm) in Bank Melli Iran Building, MBD area, Ruwi, opposite Center point. Contact: 99011352

Villa for rent Ghubra 5 rooms, 5 bathroom, kitchen & hall. Contact: 91153933

Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346

Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE Dental Clinic for sale in Seeb. Contact: 96373097 / 92882209 Show room for sale in Ruwi main rood big space around 200 sqm.

Contact: 93333951 / 93333957 An excellent condition portacabin 1 x 40’ for sale in Ghala. Rate negotiable contact 99509460 Coffee shop for sale in Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 92994415 Villas in Al Khoud.#95056808 / 97201688 Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35).

Contact 95056808 / 97201688 For Sale sophisticated office furniture used for 1 year. Contact: 90946764

2BHK Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-. Contact: 92144045

Dental chair and mobile dental X Ray for sale. Contact: 92737149

Excavators 3nos (Hitachi 240/350, 2008/2013 model), Tipper 1 no.

(Astra 2013 model). All are good condition, sell on the maximum offer.#98999503 / 99782930 / 98981112

Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580

New building Wattayah main road, showroom & office space. contact 94300909

Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair.#92881849 /What`s up No 97290565

2,200 sq mtr factory area & 800 sq mtr store with 8 accommodation rooms and 10 office cabins available for rent in Barka industrial area. Contact 91398381 / 80 / 78, email - agsan2005@gmail.com

New flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes, 1 living room, 2 bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets, every rooms with split A/C high quality finishing rent per flat is R.O 340/- . Interested candidates please CONTACT 00968 92225523

Furniture and other treatment items for Ayurvedic clinic. #97986525

FOR RENT

2 BHK & 1 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 2 BR flats with 2Baths Kitchen Al Amerat Aster Hospital #99366142 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street.

OMR 330 Monthly.#99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair. #95154331 Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- contact 91776665 Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. #97007934 / 92629232 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278

For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842 Four bedroom two floors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/- contact 91776665 Flat for rent, 3 bedrooms, kitchen & bathroom in wadi kabir for 260 RO. Contact : 97771444 New commercial Exhibition possible divided to shops in Sohar market close Bank Muscat.# 93305643 / 94734801 600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2. Contact 91776665 Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/-contact – 91776665

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

Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher.

RO.550/- #91776665

3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/Monthly. Contact: 99342661

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

2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. Contact: 99342661

2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Mus-

cat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale # 99273774/ 99202278 Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos can be sent 95865457 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand. CONTACT 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location. Contact- 99627621, 93240949 Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly #+968 96725423 for viewing the items.

HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

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

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

CANADIAN CO.- FREE CONSULTANCY FOR LEGAL JOB - For Hotel Staff, Construction Staff, Medical, Gas & Oil Staff.

- Free recruitment - free tickets, accommodation, work visa, contract for 2 (two) years.

Contact : 93392630 Send CV on muslimatservices@gmail.com ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MEDICAL

Looking for a young dynamic Accountant with knowledge of AX Package for a multinational shipping company. Email your CV to: shippingseas@yahoo.com

Lab Technician, Omani Female PRO cum Receptionist, Male Receptionist cum Insurance Coordinator, Specialist Doctor Radiologist, General Practitioners, Cont.95220350, bmdcsg@yahoo.com

Required urgently an experienced Accountant having 2-3 years experience. Send your resume by e-mail : sasiram@seehsarya.com Wanted a male Accountant with knowledge of ďŹ nalization. Contact : 91067751, email - georgyjacob7@ gmail.com

AGRICULTURE Required certiďŹ ed Fumigator who can handle all types of fumigation services for a reputed trading company in Muscat. Should have relevant educational qualiďŹ cation, certiďŹ cates exp. in fumigation service good coordination skills and having D/L. Send CV with copies of educational certiďŹ cates & work experience within 10 day to: almarooj@omantel.net.om

BEAUTICIAN Very urgently required a Gulf experienced professional Hair dresser cum beautician (lady) for a reputed beauty salon. Immediate appointment visa available.

Contact: 99816262 /98557585 Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair. makeup@gmail.com Required Pedicurist, Manicurist lady urgently, experience should not be less than two years. Salary: RO 170 + commission, location Muscat Grand Mall, Nationality : Filipina, Tickets : every 2 years, medical Transport & accommodation company provided. Applicant must be in Oman & can join immediately. Contact: 00968 99475599 / 00968 96447037

Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.#95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with DataďŹ&#x201A;ow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934

HOUSEMAID for Indian family of 4 only. Visa and all other beneďŹ ts will be provided as per the law.

Contact 92725141.

DRIVER Wanted driver. Contact :91025698

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Site Supervisor with knowledge (Civil/Elect Diploma) in reading Site Drawing for excavation. Call 91396893 Email CV excavation330@ gmail.com A well reputed building material & contracting Company in Oman is looking for staff: Project Manager (more than 10 yrs experience), Engineer (more than 5 years of experience), Purchase Manager (more than 10 yrs of experience). #99808868 Email: amtcbarka@gmail.com Decoration Company looking for Interior Design Engineer with experience in 3D and Supervision. Send your CV with the design which you have done and after the implementation. Email: alrih16@hotmail.com

MEDICAL Urgently required MOH licensed Lab technician, Dietitian and Nurse for a reputed center at Azaiba. Please contact: 92724345 / 91960401 Urgently required Pharmacist & MOH licensed female Dentist for a reputed polyclinic. Send CV : manageribnalhaitham@yahoo.com or contact 96721709.

Required Gynecologist, Lab technician, X Ray technician. #99030773 Email: kunoozghala@gmail.com

Expatriate Furniture Carpenters, for a well established furniture manufacturing company.

Minumum experience of 2/3 years required in the same ďŹ eld.

1. SALES EXECUTIVE- 01 NO 2. ACCOUNTANT- 01 NO Minimum 3 years experience in same ďŹ eld. Salary negotiable, good communication skills, driving license is must for Sales Executive.

Interested candidates may please forward their CVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s to:

nft49@yahoo.com Required Temporary

Instructor for summer camp Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022; Ĺ&#x2022;Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2022; Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022; Ĺ&#x2022;

Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2022;

Suitable and interested candidates shall send their updated resume with a recent picture and copies of degree & experience to: mustafaw.hr@gmail.com within 10 days.

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male well experience in accounts, Admin & ERP Tally 9 looking for a suitable vacancy NOC available.

Contact: 92650835`

Required A/C Technicians, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers, Painters, General Helpers. Contact 94147874 / 24504281. Email : globalaccessunited@gmail.com

22 years B.Com with 1 year exp in accounting, auditing with good working knowledge in Tally ERP-9 looking for a suitable placement now on visit visa. Contact: 97189500

A Leading company selling printing consumables looking for Sales Executive. Preferred candidate with experience in selling digital wide format printing consumables & offset printing consumables and with Omani driving license. Send CV to hrgmuscat@gmail.com Urgently required Sales Executives, Operations Executive import & export, for a reputed freight forwarding company in Muscat candidates with Oman D/L and minimum 2 yrs experience in similar ďŹ eld preferred. Interested candidates may send C.V to recruitment.oman@yahoo.com Required Sales and Marketing Manager must possess excellent communication skills. Fluent English speaking, Arabic speaking is preferred. Minimum of 2 years of professional experience.

Candidates are requested to send their CVS to polyplas@omantel. net.om

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ ďŹ nance ďŹ eld. On visit visa. Immediately available. CONTACT 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com 28/male/MBA - ďŹ nance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. #90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, Graduated with specialization in Accounting 2 years experienced C.A.CPT completed. #94628086 / 97315091 Indian female 25 looking for Accountant / Admin job having 5 years experience in Audit, Accounts and Admin departments presently on family visit visa. Contact : 95656455 Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084

A highly reputable Landscaping Company in Oman has a vacancy for an experienced and technically sound Project Manager to oversee multiple landscaping and irrigation projects in Oman.

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, 5 yrs Oman, 12 Yrs UAE experience in Manufacturing & construction companies Valid D/L Immediately available. Email: Irfan_syed2000@hotmail.com, Call: 95389018

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers. Candidates with Omani driving license preferred. #99273774/99202278

WANTED LANDSCAPE MANAGER

The ideal candidate should be a Graduate Engineer in the relevant ďŹ eld with 15 years of experience out of which at least 5 years in Oman. Hands on experience in successfully bidding for projects is preferred. A valid Oman driving license is essential for this position.

Reputed contracting company requires following: Q.S swimming pool (auto cad exp), pool technician and pool cleaners. Minimum 5 years Gulf experience preferred. Contact: asdekamuscat@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Intreseted candidates please mail CV to mds@zakoman.com or call 94250003 for appointment.

For further details kindly contact Mr.babu 99380374 or fax 24593277

UPVC windows & doors factory operator with Gulf exp. Contact: 99010141 Email: mazin@alsahib.net

SKILLED LABOUR

SALES / MARKETING

DOMESTIC HELP

Urgently Required

Indian male 34 years MBA ďŹ nance & marketing 7 years experience in Indian accounts / Administration currently in Muscat on family visa. #98104991 Email: sureshkr01@gmail. com

CATERING Wanted a Catering Supervisor with experience in Oman. Contact : 91067751, email georgyjacob7@gmail.com

URGENTLY REQUIRED For a reputed Food Stuff whole seller and Catering Supplier.

Omani college girl looking for Accountant work in Muscat, no experience. Contact: 98298722 Part time Accountant up to ďŹ nalization. Contact: 91126314 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience ready to join immediately. Contact: 98263394 Male CA ďŹ nalist B.Com having 5 years experience with big four audit ďŹ rms looking for suitable job on visit. Contact: 92230543 Email: m.naveednaseer@gmail.com BBA ďŹ nance 2 years experience Accountant looking for jobs accountant 2 years stay visa. Contact: 90291297 BBA ďŹ nance experience 2 years Assistant accountant 24 years, 2 years stay visa. Contact: 93150918 Indian male: B.Com. with 4 years experience in Tally ERP Accounts, Ready to join immediately for Accounts, Store & Sales. Contact: 94813962, Email:rajeshkumawat166@gmail.com M. Com Accountant 3 years experience, 3 Star hotel Tamil Nadu Indian immediately available. Contact : 92831400 / 96051737 Chief Accountant well experienced with reputed group available for immediate joining. Contact : 98803439 / 97413784.

M.B.A male looking for immediate Placement in Accounts,Valid GCC Driving License Mob.94625495 Indian male B.Com having 14 years experience seeking for suitable position in accounts handling, stores, sales logistics, banking sectors.

Contact: 96417641 Email: nileshsuares@gmail.com Indian male M.Com with 3 yrs Oman exp with valid D/L and NOC on visit visa looking for suitable jobs in Accounts and sales. #94744575 Jordanian Senior Accountant 15 yrs experience in Oman ďŹ nance & accounts. Contact : 92881223 CA ďŹ nalist Indian with 7 years experience having D/L & NOC looking for Senior Accountant / Chief Accountant position. #98097009 Email: rameesnm@gmail.com Fresher 24, ACCA Affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or Audit with Oman driving license. contact - 92430152 Email - raju.rd619@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male 24 yrs B.Com, TallyERP9 with one year exp seeking for suitable placement. Now on visit visa.Contact:94469269 Indian female, MBA Finance, HR having 2 years experience as an Administrative Officer with Computer skills, now on visit visa, looking for suitable job. #93235507 / 90649533 Indian male, 22 years of experience in ďŹ nance dept is looking for a suitable placement, valid Oman D/L & release available , ready to join in short period. Contact : 99641119 Indian, Executive with 5+ years experience in HSBC etc, done with MBA, M.Com, DMM, M. Phil seeks a suitable position. Contact: 90369540 Email: abilashraji@gmail. com Indian female 32, MBA Finance, 7 yrs of experience in one of the leading bank in India in Treasury(in FX, derivatives and money market), Risk and Asset Liability Management , with valid Oman D/L seeking suitable placement contact 92206513 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian Female recently pass out BBA+MBA (Dual degree) International Business and Finance, looking for suitable opportunities, presently in Muscat on family Visa. #+968-95907828.

Email : stuti28sinha@gmail.com Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately. contact 98263394 10 yrs of Oman experience capable of handling large accounts, looking for suitable placement in senior sales / business development position. Contact : 98987654 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in ďŹ nance. #99284193

ADMIN MBA HR & logistics Indian male currently on 2 months visit having experience on Admin / HR activities looking for Admin / Management / Non â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Management / HR related jobs. Contact: 90653264 Indian male, 25, 4+ years of experience as an Office Administrator looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92600859 Indian male, 31 yrs, 8 yrs experience in Oman as Admin Officer in a contracting ďŹ rm with valid D/L seeks suitable placement. #97841805

Indian male 30 yrs, 6 yrs experience in Office Oman work at MBA (H.R & organizational behavior), BSc Food technology (food science & Quality control). Contact: 97632020 Teacher female 27 yrs, MCA 5 yrs experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96709509 Email: viyannifd@gmail.com Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235

Omani National looking for a suitable placement in Sales or Administration. Contact: 94700691 A young dynamic post graduate with 2 years work experience in business operations looking for suitable placement. Contact 98564880 or maccmuscat@gmail. com Indian male 32, looking for Admin Assistant, Sales job having 9 years of Sales / Admin experience in Muscat. NOC available. #95116586 B.Com 3 years business process outsourcing. Contact: 94657273

Seeking job 17 years Oman experienced MEP draftsman. Contact: 91110270 Electrical Draughtsman (Diploma), Indian Male having more than 8 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience (4 years in Oman). NOC available. Contact 93957480, 96903942. Email : dennydavid007@gmail.com

CAD Technician Looking for Job Diploma holder. experience: 5.5,Oman,Total12 years.

Mob:96534071 tayyab341@gmail. com Autocad, revit (arch) 3d, dip civil engg (cert attested) exp salary :250 OMR. Contact : 9227 9784 Revit autocad d/man , diploma cert attsd. exp salary 200-acco. ph: 9227 9784 Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please contact 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

2D autocad Drafting (free lancer / part time) arch, MEP, Shopdrawing.

Contact : 97103168

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

DRIVER Available camp boss visa transfer rable with Oman driving licen 15 years exp. Contact: 98335796 /99328223

Pakistani looking for driving job with 3 yrs experience. Contact: 95776320 Light Duty Driver seeks job. Contact: 94182497

Bangladeshi male light driver exp 16 years need job. Contact: 99165961 Driver 3/6 years experience, I have 2 years experience out door sales man in led light, Pakistani, Oman experience 6 years. Contact: 94565993 / 92627855 Available L.M.V driver with 2 years exp. Contact: 94603496 / 96573622

Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in Muscat seeks placement. Contact: 91659265

Indian male, MBA with 3 years GCC experience seeks job in Muscat.

Posses Valid Oman D/L. Currently under visit visa and can join immediately. E mail : tssavad@gmail.com contact: 00968 98896847

Driver having experience in Embassy seeks suitable placement in Sales or driving, NOC available.

Contact: 92191698

ARCHITECT

Indian, 20 years experience in Oman as personal assistant / office manager / administrator seeks change of job with release 99168054, mbkishore@hotmail.com

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

MBA Graduate with 2 years experience in HR and general Admin seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98820248 Email: sm24blue@gmail.com

ADMIN Indian male 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator at Wipro Technologies with handson experience in Amazon EC2 & Oracle Virtualization looking for a suitable placement. #92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

Architect exp.7 years, 4 years in GCC Architectural design interior sites 3D Max AutoCAD, Photoshop.

Contact: 93238813 Email: mohammedbardab@gmail.com INDIAN male Architectural technician diploma in construction technology with 6 years experience in drafting and detailing as per British standard in Oman with valid Omani license looking for suitable opportunity Noc available. Call 94375897.

DOMESTIC HELP Indian female 34 yrs single, 12 yrs exp in Oman presently working in Nursery baby sitter (Nany) in Muscat, looking a job visa + ACC, NOC available. #96516743 / 98802081

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN 3D & Multimedia Designer looking for job, currently using family visa. Contact : 95844940 Email: chrisrimas@yahoo.com

Driver Indian 15 yrs Oman experience light vehicle. contact 98023050

Light Duty Driver, exp 1.5 years, Language knowing English, Arabic & Urdu seeks placement Contact: 96011572 / 94484181 Family driver available. contact 92943094

Pakistani male light vehicle driver with 5 years experience looking for job. Contact: 92171166 Looking for light driver. contact 99753474

EDUCATION/TRAINING Experienced teacher looking for job M.Com B.Ed. Contact 97948330 nubinafaizal@gmail.com Teaching or companies or training centers. chemical laboratory analysis acquired knowledge of laboratory and chemical safety Sudan university of science and technology. #90644755. rehammrwan04@gmail.com Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact : 99739415 / 92091528 Math Teacher 30 years experience IGCSE, A& AS IB Bilingual. Contact: 98016336

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Sales & Marketing specialist with 16 yrs experience in Oman in MNC retails telecom lubes construction related industry handled various projects, holding valid Oman driving license, release available.

Contact 96960991 EDUCATION/TRAINING Indian male 38 years B.Ed (English) MBA (HR), 8 years experience as English, Business Studies Teacher, currently in Oman on visit visa, #96982726, shiljujohn@gmail.com Indian female 29 yrs MSc, MED science on family visa 2 yrs experience in teaching field looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 93717403 Email: sharipanidcer08@ gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Civil Engineer, 6 yrs experience with Omani driving license, local release available. Contact: 91693008 An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available.

Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com HSE officer, Indian male 27, 1.5 years exp call: 90649152, 98205818 Indian Mechanical Engineer (B.tech)23. With qualification in Qa-QC,HVAC and Piping.1 year experience. Ready to join immediately.

Contact: 92365040 Electrical Engineer, Indian male 24 years, BE (Electrical & Electronics) having 3 years of experience, seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 91917369 Road Engineer 10 years experience in Oman. Contact: 91274706 Civil Engineer 14 years of experience 8 years at GCC at Dar Al Handasah Consultant, Al Raghi Construction building & infrastructure culverts, bridges & road.

Contact: 93068195 Email: hamadamans2007@yahoo.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available. #96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. contact 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Indian female Quantity Surveyor Civil 11 years experience, local release available NOC.#95719108 Email: jishashibunair@gmail.com Graduate civil Engineer having 19 years Gulf experience seeks immediate employment in reputed firms in Muscat, NOC available. Contact: 99446786 / 93251306 Engineer Civil & M. Arch (RED) Indian (F) 25 yrs, B.Tech (Civil), now pursuing M. Arch - RED (Real Estate Development final semester thesis) completing by June 2016, now available till 15th of April on visit visa seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact: 968- 92743004 Email: tina. navya199ann@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs B.Sc Computers Science, 3 yrs work experience in Computer hardware & networking & CCTV, telephone system looking for job (NOC) available. #93243372

seeking suitable placement anywhere in Oman, now on visit visa.

Indian History graduate with diploma in Safety with valid Oman Driving licence seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92319677, Email : ismabsc@gmail.com

dheerachpadikkala@gmail.com

Indian male, MCA (Post Graduate) fresher

Contact-93361624, Email-

NDT / QA / QC Supervisor / Radiographer DAE Mechanical piping- vessel LPG Bozer Storage tank inspection experience 10 years. #96954202 Email: nasirarain86@ yahoo.com BE Mechanical Engineer, 6 years experience in piping & structural work release available. Contact: 96115463 Email: jijoraju085@ yahoo.com Civil Engineer 6 years experience.

Contact: 90183630 B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, on visit visa looking for job, who has done certification courses in quality control, basic pipeline engineering, ASNT NDT Level II, also good knowledge in HVAC. Contact:94743373 Email:akasharavind1@gmail.com Electronic Security System Tech C.C.T.V telephone presently working in Oman with NOC. Contact: 99803912 Email: bijumonjk1@ gmail.com B. Tech mechanical Engineer having 8+ years exp having Omani driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97841963 In Oman since 2010 March, building site supervisor with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91507828 B. Sc Civil Engineer 27 yrs, Oman experience as Project Manager, Structural Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC / local transfer available. Contact : 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Indian male with 5 yrs experience in CCTV (AV Technician) & 4 years experience as Supervisor / Billing section on visit visa now. #93570126 Indian male B-tech 8 years experience as senior electrical project engineer / QC engineer on visit visa seeks suitable placement. contact 94094543 Email: anwar425@gmail.com DAE Civil engineering profession surveyor experience 3 years, 2 years in Pakistan, 1 year in Oman road experience. Contact: 94791214 DAE Civil engineering profession surveyor experience 5 years, 2 years in Oman 3 years in Pakistan road and building experience. #90334894

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer, on visit visa looking for job, who has done certification courses in quality control, basic pipeline engineering, ASNT NDT level II, also good knowledge in HVAC. Contact:94743373 email:akasharavind1@gmail.com Electrical Engineer having 5 years experience in the field of managing , supervising , testing & commissioning of Electrical distribution & substation projects. Contact: 92322906/90377916 Email: mshameerbm@gmail.com Diploma in civil M/ 32 Indian keralite 2 years experience as site Engineer at Muscat with D/L Seeking civil job. Contact: 97914623 B.E Mechanical with Automotive & Industrial Maintenance specialization -11 yrs exp in Oman with Driving license. Seeks suitable job on release in Oman. Contact 92880593 Civil Engineer (B. Sc) Iraqi looking for job with 2 years experience in the practical field & design, professional use engineering programs fluent in English valid driving license. Contact : 90187915 Email: alhasan.kh@live.com Diploma in Civil Engineering 13 yrs exp with valid Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact : 99612163 Indian female, 25 yrs M.Tech Structural Engineer 3 yrs experienced in Analysis design & RCC structures seeking for suitable placement.contact 97163040 / 96357196

SALES / MARKETING

MISCELLANEOUS

with over 25 years in varied industries, presently working with a reputed group in Muscat, looking out for a suitable change.

Indian male, completed bachelor of business management with 2 years of work experience, currently on visiting visa in Oman and seeking suitable placement for immediate joining. #94647421

Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont. 00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

96491030 IT

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Structural Engineer, ME, with 2 yrs exp proficient in ETABS, STAD, SAFE & Prokon, seeks job.

Contact: 050-9984535

An experienced Chartered Accountant

Indian female Project Engineer 15 yrs experience in Project Management Quality database management data analytics marketing business development haying Omani driving license seeks suitable placement presently on family visa having Omani experience. Contact : 95783792

24 years Indian male B.SC (computes science) with 2 years of networking and IT help desk support experience with Cisco certification seeking a suitable placement. Contact 96910605 Email: shaikzube@gmail. com

Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 ph : 9227 9784

Indian male B.Com Graduate seeks suitable position in Computer networking & IT support with 4 years of experience. Contact: 91282879 Email: ryazrh@gmail.com

Indian female 23 years Mechanical Engineer with 1.5 year’s experience looking for suitable jobs. Also interested in Sales & Marketing. Contact: 94743992 Email: selveena054@ gmail.com

Sudanese Network Engineer holding IT Bachelor with 1 year experience CCNA, CCNP, MCSA certified have valid driving license. #92394485

Electrical Engineer 6 years experience in Oman experience in MEDC / MZEC Projects. Contact: 91249329 Male QC inspector Mechanical, NDT 20 years experience valid Oman D/L , release available. # 91001104 Indian female 24 yrs B.Tech (CSE) having 1 year experience in PHP Programming seeking suitable jobs.

Also interested in teaching, available on family visa. #98676713 Indian female (M. Tech, Power system) having Gulf experience seeking suitable placement in Oman currently in family visa. Contact: 94306164 / 91001194 An Electrical engineer with 4+ yrs of experience in Electrical network (MT, LT) with professional computer skills seeking for work.

Contact: 99841736 / 93955381/ +149922698343 Email: e.kmmh@hotmail.com Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 2 years experience, fire fighting HVAC on visiting visa. Contact : 95630047 Indian male (23), completed B.E Electrical and Electronics Engineering have no experience and studied MEP, E-CAD AutoCAD P6 now on family visa looking for a desirable job. Contact: 98209070 Email: panivinlal@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer holding bachelor with 2 years of experience in Oman have valid driving license and residency with NOC looking for job. Contact: 94393880 Male QC Inspector Mechanical, NDT 20 years experience valid Oman D/L, NOC available. #91001104 Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. contact:98921022 Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Electrical & electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit. PH:93837973

INDIAN FEMALE COMPLETED M.C.A seeking for suitable jobs. Contact: 91409481 / 97308719

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED LABOUR

Female 24 yrs, 3 years in IT programmer now in Oman looking for suitable job. Contact: 96350234

Sudanese looking for a suitable job holds the safety and health of OSHA certificate and computer exp. in Sales & safety and health (HSE).#91318822

M.B.A (MARKETING) with 1 year of FMCG Sales Experience in Oman looking for immediate joining in the same industry, Salary Negotiable Mob.94625495

General/Divisional Manager MEP & Civil, MBA Operation, BE Electrical, 10 years experience in Oman & 10 years in India. Valid DL, release available. GSM. 92447102

Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. #95792820

Purchase/Planning & Logistics Manager MBA (Finance), 14yrs. Oman Exp. with D/L, NOC available, looking for suitable position.#93826090, jskanchan01@gmail.com

Indian male 40 yrs SSLC, PDC knows MS Office & Tally 1 year Oman experience in Accounts & 2 yrs marketing experience valid Oman D.L. NOC available seeks suitable placements in marketing. contact 92409891 Email: danomon@yahoo.co.in

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 40 yrs degree &

diploma in logistics 16 yrs experience (6 yrs GCC ) in storekeeping and inventory control with computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement NOC available. Contact 98966849 / 96186573

MEDICAL Indian female dentist specialized Endodontist looking for a suitable placement, prometric completed.

Contact: 96410448 Female Indian MOH licensed dentist looking out for job opportunities in Nizwa. Has 14 yrs experience as dentist after graduation.

Can be contacted on 93329964 Indian female (MSC – Microbiologist) seeking suitable job. #96791162 / 90618567

HOSPITALITY Indian male B.H.M graduate 12 years exp in hospitality industry G.C.C license release available looking for suitable post in hospitality or F.M.C.G. Contact: 94525463

TOURS & TRAVEL Filipina lady having exp in ticketing and preservation, call center, secretarial and real estate is now looking for job please call.94054080

MISCELLANEOUS BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian lady Dentist with MOH License and Gulf experience looking for a job. Contact: 96698073.

Male job Nurse MOH license PDO familiarization8 yrs experience in Oman, release letter. #99385197 Email: waqar1010@gmail.com

Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills.

Holding Oman Driving license. Looking for suitable placement. contact 99709336

IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India. #94672759

Sales Executive seeking suitable placement Oman driving license. Contact 93533786

Egyptian male 36 years Warehouse Manager, 7 years in Sultanate of Oman, 1 year in UAE, and 3 years in Egypt. Contact: +968 97200468 Email: ayman_mano1979@yahoo.com

Network Engineer CCNA-MCSA exp computer science with NOC. Contact : 92346191

Omani 26 (M) Seeks placement 6 yrs experience IT specialist. #99025044

5 yrs experience in software and 2 yr in administration/accountant, looking for any part time or work from home official jobs contact no: 91711326

MANAGER

Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement. #94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com

INDIAN FEMALE, 23 years, BSCCS Diploma in IAD graphics, well knowledge in computer applications 6 months experience presently in Sohar seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96670907.

Email: ammuch.4@gmail.com

Indian male 10 yrs experience in Sales, marketing manager field with D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97205114

Young Indian male 24 yrs having 4 yrs marketing & sales experience in Oman looking for suitable placement holding valid driving license. Contac: 96913806 Email: shuhaibrajesh@ gmail.com

S.T.P Operator 20 years experience in Oman. Contact: 93089468

Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. #96570891

IT

35 years male, Lebanese holding British passport, 10 years of experience in procurement, Omani Government tenders, setup marketing plans & strategies, importing, Organizing events, management, have car, NOC available. #94123939 Email: 002015r@gmail. com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

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

SALES / MARKETING Indian male, 5 yrs exp in marketing & trading (Oman), dealt with International companies & product also having good knowledge in logistic and Admin with D/L & car, NOC available.

Contact 93639385 Email: faizenqidwai@gmail.com

Indian Female on a visit visa having master degree seeking suitable placement in any field, 1 ,5 year experience in HR .

Contact : +968 91467576.

Indian male physiotherapist with 3 years of experience, with (moh license and NOC available. seeking suitable placement. contact 99767528, 91317863 Electrical diploma Engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience in control panel contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com Indian Male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally &ERP- looking for suitable placement ( Local release and Oman driving license available. Tel- 92469789 Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont.

00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm,1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India. On visit Visa, Looking For a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176 E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Indian male Physiotherapist with MOH license and NOC looking for suitable job. Contact: 92617235 NOC available, Indian Male - MBA (HR) and B.E (E.I.E) with total 9 years of experience in HR & Admin and Business Development (3 yrs of Gulf exp.) can join immediately - 91240251 / kvaradhan@hotmail.com M. Sc Computer Science – 2 year Experience – in India, looking suitable Placement. Email:-elvisgt6@ gmail.com, Mob:-+91 9497482305 (INDIA), Oman:-98291626.

Indian, 30 years, B. Com with 2 years Oman experience in Tally ERP-9 available in Muscat seeking suitable positions. # on 95186652 Indian male B.Tceh (ECE) MBA (HR) 2 years experience CCNA, CCNP, MCSE looking for suitable job , presently on employment visa release available. #95584814 Email: syedllizarat7@gmail.com Indian civil Engineer BE, with 16 years of Industry experience in design , Quantity surveying , billing looking for suitable job. #90302823 Email: prince.n@engineer.com ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm, 1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India, On visit Visa, looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176, Email:prathyushkp9@gmail.com B-tech Civil with honours, Civil Engineer (structures) Experience more than six years. #91431483. Email mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas .Working in Shclumberger NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@ gmail.com #+91 9867016808 Indian male Network cabling technician ( 19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian Pediatric consultant, md with 20 years experience and wife gynecologist md with 15 years plus experience seeking opportunities with reputed hospitals in Muscat. deemaild@gmail.com 14 years experienced light driver with valid Oman license looking for suitable job. Contact 99442481 PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs work Exp.(8 yrs in Oman) working in Construction Co LLC( for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects ) and having valid LT D/L, NOC available & ready to join within a month-M:94064650,Email: nagauae@gmail.com Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E(CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeking for the suitable job. Contact: 91170912, Email id: sales2@witoman.com Filipino Male, 24 Years Old.. looking for job, have experience in Cargo & Logistics/ Rent a Car/ Real Estate/ Finance & Accounts/ customer service and as Travel Agent. Hard working and with good computer and communication skills having Omani driving license. GSM: 95370052 Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job. mobile no: 0096899070584. email: remluvp@gmail.com Civil Engineer (roads and structures) Education B. Tech Civil Engineering with honours experience more than six years.

Contact no 91431483 ,Email mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com Indian male 6 years exp in different field, with valid Oman driving license. Languages known Hindi, English, looking for any job(Driver for executives). Contact 98696795 HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4 Plus years Experience in Oil & Gas .Working in Shclumberger.

NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE, #krish.569@gmail. com Mobile- +91 9867016808

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

IELTS PREPARATION Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE 92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

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

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

Experienced B.Com graduate + IATA Diploma holder looking for Accounts/Admin/Travels related job. Mob. 91142997. NOC available.

Indian male B.A degree & diploma in hotel management with 16 years experience as restaurant & catering manager in Oman & Saudi with V/L Oman D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact : 92100141 MBA Graduate (Indian male 26 years) having 2 years experience in Qatar as admin assistant looking for suitable placement. #93041141 Email: mahinmehboob@gmail.com Indian female, MBA with 9 yrs of experience in finance & procurement currently on family visa looking for suitable position in finance & supply chain. Contact 95622568 Draughtsman, 15 years’ experience, Indian male currently in Oman looking for suitable position.

Gsm – 95358115, 96977289, Email : pillairp41@gmail.com Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/ full time accountant job. Contact: 95598477 / 98803439 Indian Female living in Ghubra Muscat near Emirates Shopping Center. 20 years of experience in Teaching. Able to handle all subjects till grade 6. Need suitable job.

Contact- 94406552 PART TIME ACCOUNTANT available, well experienced in accounting up to finalization. knowledge in tally also. contact. 92643875 MBA Marketing, 10 years in marketing, consulting strategy, corporate communications, content management, UX , Product launch, digital marketing. Indian female on visit. Contact : 95431357 Indian 32 years passed M.A. English , M.Sc Psychology and B.Ed in English having 4 years experience in teaching searching suitable job.

Contact: 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Indian male,16 years Oil & Gas experience ( Down Hole Tools ), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob : 965 956 18.

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605. email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com 8 plus years of experience in Events /Marketing Communication /conferences / Trainings / Media representation. Having UAE D/L. seeking Suitable Placement: Contact: 95792820. suheal.ma@ outlook.com Indian Male,Kerala,B.COM & B.PE having 13Years of Physical Education Teacher experience. Currently on visit visa Looking for a suitable job. Contact:- 968 94106834. email:-akhilrajkj@gmail.com.

Sudanese male, 5 years experience in warehouse management and logistics services #90644186 14 years experience in 5 star hotel as sales manager in UAE & INDIA on tourist visa looking for suitable opportunity please contact mobile contact 91305978

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED

ACC. AVAILABLE

MISCELLANEOUS

Room available semi furnished room with air conditioner cupboard and bed available for bachelor in good flat in Al Khuwair near Radisson Blue. #96930219

Admin Assistant. Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-98404122, Email panduru.jeevankumar@gmail.com Indian Female on a visit visa having master degree seeking suitable placement in any field, 1 and half year experience in HR .Contact : +968 91467576 .

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr with 2 yrs experience in teaching & 14 months in Administration cum Secretary, Currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 92613704/99260702, Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com Indian male, 8.5 yrs experience, B.Com Graduate with GCC exp & valid driving license looking for better job opening in Muscat. Contact: 92609935 / 94771365 2 years experienced male seeking job related to safety. M. Tech in HSE, MSc in Environmental Science and IOSH certified. #94653264 Sri Lankan Male 34 BSc. (Physics) 5 years experience as a site manager and administration supervisor in Oman with valid D/L looking for a suitable position. #99153061 or v.chandramohan@yahoo.co.uk Female Junior Architect Graduated from School of Planning & Architecture, Vijayawada. Excellence in Autocad, Sketching & Modelling. Internship - KHAM Designs, Bangalore. Presently with Atulya Architects & Associates. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com #00968-94057427.

Indian male 37 YEARS, BSC COMPUTER SCIENCE having More than 8yrs of experience with well exposure in PDO, DALEEL & OXY as IT SUPPORT / DESKTOP SUPPORT ENGINEER. Seeking suitable placement. Contact rangaraj_vck@ yahoo.co.in / 968-99758320 Indian Female Electronics System Eng. UK Graduate. Programmer Micro Controller Robot, Eng. Analysis, Instrumentation & Control, Eng. Projects, Integrated Circuit Eng., Electrical and Fluid Drives, Analogue Electronics, Wireless Systems. Seeking suitable post. Contact: 97848075, s.dinesh1508@ gmail.com 6 YEARS EXPERIENCE HR/Finance Indian female[29Years]MBA. On family visa, Seeking suitable placement-93908191, email:aswathi. wnd@gmail.com Indian/male (25)/ MBA/2 years experience in channel sales and distribution management. on visit visa. available for immediate joining. Contact: 96914068, E mail: mailanasap@gmail.com 32year Indian Male MSC,MBA-HR having 8yrs Exp(HR / Payroll / Admin) with Oman valid DL. Seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/ backend jobs. Contact:00968-99322978 Sr Material controller, having 13 years experience in material controlling in reputed companies.

Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). # 00968-92944026, Email charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in Physiotherapist with MOH license looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 92617235

Indian, BE Mechanical Engineering with 1 yr exp as service Engineer, looking for suitable positions. Contact-90637918, E mail: aquasharath@gmail.com Senior Accountant, 5 yrs Oman, 10 yrs UAE experience in manufacturing & construction valid D/L immediately available. Email: irfan_syed2000@hotmail.com, call: 95389018 Indian male with 1 yr exp looking for job in I.T as Web developer, presently in Muscat on visit visa. #92312978 Indian Male ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital ,Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Markeing ,construction A/c & sales , 93379044 HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 plus years experience in oil & gas, working in shclumberger Nebosh, ISOH & NDT certified, M. Tech in HSE. contact-krish.569@gmail. com mobile- +91 9867016808 BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions. contact 90637918 / 99335742,email: aquasharath@ gmail.com Indian/male (25)/ MBA /2 years experience in channel sales and distribution management. on visit visa. available for immediate joining. Contact: 96914068, email: mailanasap@gmail.com Indian male network cabling technician (19 years Gulf experience), seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian male, Kerala B.Com & B.PE, looking for suitable Job in Sales, Accounts, Admin etc. #93301023 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com B.Com Graduate with 4 year experience as an Accountant in Oman. Also have Oman Driving License. Best fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi& Malayalam. Looking for Job. Currently in Oman. #+968 93943448, murshid4u@gmail.com Commercial or Operation Manager 18 yrs in Oman – finance, purchase, sales, HR & Admin exp. contact 99044724.

E mail: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com Indian male at a Managerial position having 12 yrs exp in sales & marketing, Property Management looking for a suitable position, MBA qualified with Oman driving license. NOC available. #98125226 Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer having 6 yrs exp in piping and structural construction work, looking suitable position, release available. #96115463-email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Indian Male, 24 years, B.Tech in computer science.3Years of experience in technical support, software development, troubleshooting and managing, seek suitable placement. Contact GSM- 98184170 Indian Male,B.Com & Diploma Logistics & supply chain management 2years experience looking for job in Accounts/logistics field.

Presently on Visit Visa. Software knows MS office & Tally7.2 .#:93884951-Email:mehreenraiz@ gmail.com

Room with attached bathroom available in Ruwi for Executive bachelors. Contact 95527969 Single room non cooking bachelor, near Darsait round about. Contact: 92120626 Fully furnished bachelor sharing at Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99325387 Available sharing accommodation, opposite Al Maya Wadi Kabir in 2 bedroom flat. #95470129 Furnished room with separate bathroom for Indian family or Executive bachelor, near Honda Road (Walja). Contact 99016546 OMR-130.for family/ladies in Darsait room w/AC, toilet & S/ kichen.95323562 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90. #96524717 2 room for rent bachelor Al Khuwair with A/C water & electricity, RO 115/95. Contact: 94843712

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 31 yrs with over 10 yrs sales & marketing exp seeking suitable placement NOC & Oman D/L available in audition have proficiency in Arabic language. Contact:95760969 Looking for QHSE – Manager / Asst. Manager job, Indian Male – 39.Yrs, With 17.Yrs Experience & NOC, NEBOSH – UK, MR – ISO 9001, 14001 & 18001, HSE Trainings, Audits, Pls Contact – haree. krishnan9944@gmail.com B.A. in Accounting, Experience: 5years of Business/Accounts tutoring and 2 years of Accounting License: 70914186. contact 96389047, Email: sharanizareen@ gmail.com Export Manager/DM Indian Male 38 Yrs B.Sc /CIPET 13 Yrs Experience in Business Development &Production with Oman D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact : 97221058 / 92058065, E-mail : ckabdulmajeed@gmail.com

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

GOOD NEWS

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

FOR HIRE Hiab truck, payload 10 ton, unloading boom 2 ton, available on monthly rent. Contact Mb. 94052819, Email: mmanjani8@ gmail.com Grader, roller, bobcat, JCB 3CX, JCB 4CX with breaker & water tanker for rent.#93218705 / 24478450

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished bedroom with attached bathroom available for working ladies or small family at Mabela near Nesto.

Contact: 92214060 Small old house for rent in Al Ghoubra. Contact : 97165972 Room for rent available in a flat for Executive bachelor at Azaiba behind Al Meera Hypermarket with attached bath with cot & A/C , rent inclusive of water & electricity.

Contact 96404166 / 97433992 Sharing for Executive females at Mumtaz area. Contact: 97094797 2 bedrooms flat near Kuwait Masjid Wadi Kabir. contact 97608564 / 98498823

New flats in prime location near Pushpagiri Medical College Thiruvalla. #Abraham - Owner Tel 95919122.

Land sale in Kerala 1.65 acre land for sale at Ramapuram price 82 lakhs negotiable.# 91 9446822251 2.45 acre of land near 1 Km from MES College Erattupetta good for housing.

Price 2.45CR negotiable. Contact: 91 9446212255 / 91 9995000609 1 B/R - 890 S.FT fully furnished flat at Best Western Quepem. #97094797 Flats villas land for sale in Pune Contact: 95272138/918139098275

MATRIMONIAL Kerala Christian Marthoma boy from Adoor, working in Oman MBA graduate seeks suitable alliance.

Contact: 99852167 Mumbai settled Hindu Ezhava parents invite proposals for their son MBA 29 years 5.9 Star Bharani working with a reputed company in Muscat Contact 91235911.

Tamil Hindu Brahmin Iyer Boy. Parents invite proposal for their only son 25 yrs / 6.1 ht / B.Tech (NIT), MBA (IIM), EX- ISM student, employed MNC Bangalore Star Uttirathdhi seeks suitable alliance fom Iyer/Iyenger families. Parents in Oman #98288925 / 92264915 Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman. #968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail. contact 96234708

Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.contact 96059801.

Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah. #99336776

WANTED

Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir. #97167857

B.Com Graduate with 4 year experience as an Accountant in Oman.

Also have Oman Driving License.

Best fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi & Malayalam, looking for Job. Currently in Oman. Cont: +968 93943448, murshid4u@gmail.com

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

Mechanical Engineering 6 years experience. contact 00968998907110091 9841867534 Email: sayed.fortuner88@gmail.con

NRI

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

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320

HSE Engineer: 3.8 years experience in Oil & Gas. NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE,B Tech in Mechanical Engg.

CONTACT-krish.569@gmail.com, Mobile- +91 9867016808

Electronics service Technician , 4 Years experience as Electronics service engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items. Looking for suitable placement. contact 99105043

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan village.contact 93687466

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

DRIVING

Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 93049849 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf

BUYING Bobcat available for rent. contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.contact 90202090

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

TOURS

TOURS

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

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS Investment Required Minimum OMR 500,000 to transfer 5 Excavators big + 5 Tippers 2015 Astra, working on good profitable Excavation projects. Assured income 36 %.

98867530 / 99120532 engrfaheem@hotmail.com

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. #99839898

MV SALE GMC Sierra 4-Door Pick-up 2010 Model, 177,000 Kms - RO.8,000/-.

Contact: 92564199 Honda CRV SUV 2008 model automatic, first registered in April 2009. Single owner, expat lady driven. 72.000 kms. agency maintained. Free service contract valid till October 2016. RO.4000/- negotiable. Serious buyers #92737854.

TRANSPORTATION

ACC WANTED

Pick and Drop Al Khuwair to Rusayl# 96733572 / 91287470

Looking for a villa in Amerat area.

Contact : 95405033

Picking and dropping any time.

Contact: 97403088

MANPOWER

Transportation. contact 99508282

Rav4 Indian lady Doctor owned Pearl white May 2011 No. 2, 34,000 km under Toyota Service Contract till 2017, 4 nos. brand new tyres R.O 8000/- negotiable. #91001129 Peugeot 206, 2006 model for sale Reserve Price RO 400. #94052819, Email: mmanjani8@gmail.com Volkswagen Tiguan 2012 White 70,000Kms Expat Driven Insurance: Oct 2016 Price: Rial 7500 Contact: 95121146

Transportation. contact 92015894 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. #94087276

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

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϰϮϳϳϬϮϬ

WĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů Θ BƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJͬ YĞĂƌůLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰϬ ů ,ƵƐŶ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ >͘>͘

CATERING SERVICES We do industrial catering service, Canteen / mess, 3 times packed meals and all types of catering events.

Contact: 92188777 / 99249899

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED

Split & window A/c installation & maintenance specialist package & ducted units. Contact 98667326

MISCELLANEOUS MBA Indian male 2 years experience in firefighting & security systems sales & marketing. Seeking suitable job. Contact – 90634050 INDIAN MALE, 26 years, BBA graduate, seeks suitable position in automotive spare parts, Have 3 year experience. Phone no: 96026400, Bineeshpn@gmail.com Master’s in Petroleum Geology looking for relevant job ready to join ASAP, valid drivers license. Email : mehdi.poorjahangiri@gmail.com Diploma(Electrical Engineering) From Government polytechnic.

Age 27years, 6 years Experiance in Maintenance, troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer.Seek suitable placement. Contact GSM92995899,(a.abbas31@gmail.com) Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. #91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com 25 years, male B.Com and insurance Graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations related only. Driving license and NOC available. contact lilommca@ gmail.com and 95236312.

Admin Assistant, Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). GSM. 00968-98404122, Email - panduru.jeevankumar@ gmail.com IT/Telecom Manager, BE, MBA 13+ Years of experience, Valid Driving License. Available immediately.

Phone: +91205211, Email: ghulamqasimali@gmail.com Indian male network cabling technician (19-years gulf experience) Seeking for suitable placement. Contact - 0091-8089909265 (India) email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian Engineer, B. Tech (Mech), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), 23 yrs experience, 5 years in Oman in the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager with Oman Driving License seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99744612. E-mail: deleepkumarpk@gmail.com Indian Male 47 years MBAOperations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC available , seeks challenging position in SCM/ Logistics/ Procurement in any Sector. GSM-94236414. Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com

Structural Engineer Education B-Tech in civil Engineering, Work Experience More than 6 yrs # +968-91431483 E-mail: mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com Indian Female Accountant, now in Oman on Visit Visa, looking for suitable placement, #94250871 Indian Female MBA Finance, 6 years Oman experience as account looking Full time/part time accounting Jobs. Contact99044292 Indian Male B. Tech, 10+ years of extensive work experience in various aspects like Computer Networking, Technical Support, Management and Engineering with good communications, interpersonal and technical skills seeks suitable opportunity. Now in Oman on Visit Visa GSM : 9489 8009, Email : bios4u@gmail.com BBA MBA.Male, Indian Human Resource/ Administration/ Office work1 Year Experience Knowledge in MS-Office, Photoshop Searching for suitable job E-mail: antonyshajan11@gmail.com.

Contact: +91 9655469680 +91 8754086178 Indian male 26 years MBA finance, seeks suitable placement. #92715032 / ajisd@yahoo.com

Engineering Drawing preparation Service for Civil Building, Interiors, Steel Structure, Steel Equipment etc at Genuine Rate.

Contact Mb. 94052819, Email: mmanjani8@gmail.com Workshop in Muscat, Expertise in Aluminum Automatic Gates, Manual/Swing Gates, Security Grills, Louvers, Handrails, Contact Mb. 94052819, Email: mmanjani8@gmail.com Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC contact 99344723

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, 16 years Oil & Gas experience (Down Hole Tools), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob: 965 956 18.

Ocean center LLC contact 99344723 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. contact 24793614/ 99314807 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 House shifting. contact 99708138 Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing. Ocean center LLC.contact 99344723 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064 Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 / 24788722 All MEP & Civil shop drawings. Contact : 93070771 Email : designjob2014@gmail.com CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975 Cleaning Services, Sofa, carpet shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. contact 96236476 Split & widow unit A.C servicing & maintenance.contact 93769089 / 95323517 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. # 93769089 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/ 24792998 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/ 24788722 House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Pest control treatments,