Times of Oman - July 11, 2016

MONDAY July 11, 2016 6 Shawwal 1437 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the Occasion of 7th National Day, 1977

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ Oman is playing and will increasingly play an important role in world affairs; the growing impact of the 20th century on every aspect of the life of our country is evident to every one of us.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 117 | 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

CABLES

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of the Republic of Mongolia on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes to President Elbegdorj and the people of his country. -ONA

HM receives thanks MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in reply to His Majesty’s condolences cable on the death of Princess Lulwa bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

In his cable, King Salman expressed his thanks for His Majesty’s noble feelings and sincere prayers, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the deceased’s soul in peace and protect His Majesty against all harms. -ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Healthcare cost to rise by 12.9% annually

1

Oman’s healthcare expenditure is expected to reach $4.3b by 2020, from $2.3b in 2015, which translates into a five-year Compound Annual Growth Rate of 12.9 per cent. >A3

OMAN

China accounts for 50% of Oman exports

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China purchases 50 per cent of Omani exports every year, according to the Foreign Trade Statistics Report 2015.

Exports to China in 2015 stood at OMR 5304,689,889. >A5

REGION

Osama’s son seeks revenge against US

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The son of slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has threatened revenge against the United States. >A7

Economy fares well despite oil price fall: CBO Staff Reporter

Debtors in jail as campaigning group mothballed With rise in default cases in Oman due to the economic downturn, many debtors are languishing in jails as donations from companies to rescue them have dried up DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com Muscat: A campaign to free loan defaulters from prison has been mothballed, as banks report that more Omanis and expats are falling into the debt trap.

Fak Kurbah has not been active in 2016 because companies cannot afford donations, according to Moham-

med Al Zadjali, head of the campaign and also head of the legal committee at the Majlis Al Shura.

Fak Kurbah was launched in 2012 by the lawyers committee in Oman in coordination with the Supreme Committee for Judiciary to help those imprisoned over money troubles.

“Although it was not able to operate this year because of

the economic situation, the campaign has so far managed to secure the release of 44 prisoners in its first phase in 2012 and improved in its second phase in 2014 to end the struggles of 304 prisoners.

“Next year we are planning for a better and bigger campaign and another session of Fak Kurbah. This year we couldn’t make it because of the current situation, as we can foresee that the number of companies which support the campaign will be less,” he added.

“Fak Kurbah helped almost 500 prisoners in the past two sessions. We help those who were sentenced by the court to be imprisoned for failing in paying some financial dues.

We have nothing to do with criminal cases.

“Our only condition was to pay not more than OMR5,000 for one case, Al Zadjali added.

Recovery officials at Omani banks report that the Sultanate has witnessed a rise in default cases thanks to the economic downturn with many banks being forced to go to court to chase debtors.

One bank official, who declined to be named, said there has been an increase in defaults in the past 12 months, as the downward spiral of the economic slump continues.

“There has been a huge increase in the number of debtors and this has been happening from the second half of last year. Some people are just burdened with so much debt and we - as humans - feel sorry for them,” the official added . >A6

MUSCAT: Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman (CBO), Hamood bin Sangoor Al Zadjali, said the “sharp and sustained decline” in oil prices since mid-2014 has put significant pressure on the economy of Oman.

In his address following the publication of the Central Bank’s annual report, Al Zadjali said that despite this, the economy of Oman had “fared fairly well and without much damage.”

He said this had been made possible because Oman had proactively kept high fiscal buffers, higher capital requirements for banks, low government debt, and flexible wage contracts.

Al Zadjali added: “A turnaround may be achieved by fiscal consolidation combined with relaxing counter-cyclical measures adopted earlier. Nevertheless, the prevalent imbalances in the global economy and diminished fiscal space in oil exporting countries, including Oman are a cause for some concern. The developments on both of these fronts are being vigilantly monitored by the CBO and fiscal authorities.”

“As a result of the twin deficit during 2015 and subsequent rating downgrades, Oman has introduced fiscal reforms to consolidate its fiscal position in the medium term,” he said. >A6

MORNING MINUTE

O M A N A I R P O R T S M A NAG E M E N T C O M PA N Y

Drive to ease delays at Oman’s airports TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com

TRAVEL TIPS FOR HAPPY JOURNEYS >A4

MUSCAT: A series of campaigns planned to be launched by the Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) will help prevent a chain of recurring delays at Oman’s airports due to negligence of passengers and provide tips for a safe and hassle-free travel. On June 1, 2015, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) implemented a new rule saying expatriates must pay their traffic fines prior to departing Oman.

The ROP has set up traffic fines clearance operations at airports and borders for expats leaving the

country, both permanently and temporarily.

Yet some expats fail to pay their fines, which result in delaying the departure of their flights. Similarly, some passengers do not adhere to the norms of airline travel as some arrive at the check-in counter with large boxes weighing more than the standard weight of 30kg.

Additionally, every ticket has a luggage limit, which you can check in at the counter, as well as individual carry-on luggage that should not weigh more than 10 kg. >A6

M WA S A L AT

ROP declares parking at bus stops illegal HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Motorists who park their cars at public bus stops will be fined, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has warned.

The warning follows a complaint made by the Oman National Transport Company (Mwasalat) saying car drivers were found blocking the company’s desig-

nated parking lots during the Eid holiday. “Mwasalat has appealed to the Royal Oman Police to take necessary action against vehicles that hinder (space for) bus stops,” the company said in tweet.

In less than two hours, the ROP’s Traffic Department responded to the tweet, saying the act is illegal and will be considered a traffic violation.

The fine for parking at a public

bus stop is OMR15, according to an ROP source.

The ROP later shared an image of a police patrol near a bus stop in Muscat with a caption that read, “Police officers are keeping a close eye on the bus stops for motorists who hinder the buses’ movement.”

Social media users in the Sultanate hailed the “quick and transparent” communication between the two government bodies. >A6

OOC chairman praises Barakat ahead of Rio

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

OMAN UNITED KINGDOM

RAFO officer visits Fairford MUSCAT: Air Vice-Marshal Mattar bin Ali Al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) visited the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), which is being held at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in the United Kingdom (UK). He attended Tattoo of the British Royal Air Force accompanying the RIAT.

The RAFO took part in activities of the RIAT with a transport aircraft (CASA C-295).

The exhibition included a pavilion showcasing Omani-British relations, Oman’s ancient history and the achievements of the blessed renaissance, in addition to the tourist potentials and ancient history of the Sultanate.

On the sidelines of the exhibi-

tion, the RAFO Commander visited the RAFO pavilion.

Air Vice-Marsha hailed the efforts of the organisers that highlight the role of the Sultanate of Oman during various international forums.

The RAFO commander also met with air forces commanders of friendly countries taking part in the exhibition. -ONA

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

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OMAN

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H E A LT H V I S I O N 2 0 5 0

Oman’s long term healthcare plan ready, says ministry MUSCAT: Oman’s long term healthcare plan “Health Vision 2050,” which is a transit stage for the health system to ensure that it is in line with the world medical and technological developments, has been developed, according to a Ministry of Health’s report.

The report pointed out that the healthcare system in the Sultanate

consists of three integrated levels namely the primary, the secondary and the tertiary level.

The primary health care level is the effective and high quality level provided by the health centres, polyclinics and hospitals that cover all areas in the Sultanate.

The secondary health care level is provided by the referral hospi-

tals in the governorates, as well as the hospitals in the wilayats. They provide healthcare services for specialised health problems. They provide more specialised healthcare than the primary healthcare.

The tertiary healthcare level is the high-tech specialised services provided by major hospitals, like the Royal, Khoula, Al Nahda and

Healthcare cost to rise by 12.9% annually: Report billion (OMR11.9 billion) in 2016.

As Oman reviews its five-year plan for the healthcare industry, the country’s health expenditure will rise until 2020

TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s healthcare expenditure is expected to reach $4.3 billion by 2020, from $2.3 billion in 2015, which translates into a five-year Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.9 per cent, according to Alpen Capital’s GCC Healthcare Industry Report 2016.

As the Sultanate reviews its five-year plan for the healthcare industry, the country’s health expenditure will rise until 2020 as additional beds and hospitals are expected to be added and construction of a medical city is currently being considered.

Expenditure is set to rise as the population grows, with the Sultanate expected to experience a 3.1 per cent population growth rate between 2015 and 2020, which is considered as one of the key drivers for the surge in expenditure.

“Healthcare in GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is in the midst of a positive transformation. We are seeing significant investM A N P O W E R D I R E C T O R AT E

New service outlet opens in Dhofar Times News Service DHOFAR: A new service outlet has been opened by the Directorate General of Manpower in Dhofar Governorate in the Al Mazyouna free zone.

The Directorate General of Manpower in Dhofar Governorate, a branch of the Ministry of Manpower, opened the new outlet on Sunday to serve as a gateway to offer manpower services and receive enquiries from citizens.

Important border cities Khalid Al Rawahi, Director General of Manpower in Dhofar, said, “The launch of this outlet comes in light of the efforts and new expansions that the ministry is undertaking, which highlights the importance of offering ministry services in important border cities like this one.”

He further added, “It is important to offer various services that Omani or foreign investors need when they come to invest in this city, and we hope there will be an increase in commercial traffic due to this new addition.”

He noted that the outlet’s main focus is in offering services to different companies and establishments that operate in the area, and assist in providing services for businesses so they do not need to travel to the main office in Salalah.

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

ments from both government and private entities towards an improvement in infrastructure and the recruitment of talent,” said Dr. K. P. Raman, founder and senior cardiologist, Al Hayat International Hospital.

“These investments are bearing fruit as the number of citizens and expats availing of medical services locally is increasing steadily,” he added.

“Two major healthcare projects worth one billion dollars each are under construction. While one is a healthcare cluster to promote inbound medical tourism, the other is a medical city comprising five major hospitals that cater to the residents.

Additionally, there are other small projects underway, which once operational, will boost the healthcare sector’s revenue,” the report stated.

In January 2016, the Omani government allocated $3.4 billion (OMR1.3 billion) of its expenditure on the healthcare sector, which accounts for about 11 per cent of the total budget of $30.8

Mandatory insurance “Like its GCC allies, Oman is planning to introduce mandatory health insurance for expatriates.

This policy is expected to be implemented in phases over a period of 5 to 10 years. Consequently, the number of patients visiting private hospitals is set to increase.”

“The concept and usage of medical insurance is still in its infancy in several countries in the GCC. Once medical insurance becomes more widely available and mandatory, it will drive significant growth to this sector,” said Raman.

“In addition, governments in the GCC are encouraging the privatisation of medical care and services. Both these factors when coupled together create an environment of significant growth and innovation,” he added.

Hiring Talent Raman went on to say that medical talent usually does not see the Middle East as an ideal place to work, however some are changing their view because of the advancement in healthcare.

“While the challenge has always been recruitment of talent in the form of highly specialised doctors and medical staff, they often do not consider the GCC because of a dearth in research and learning opportunities, due to which the scenario is now changing,” said Raman.

Al Masarah hospitals. At present, the number of hospitals in the Sultanate has reached 69 and 49 of them are affiliated to the Ministry of Health.

The number of beds in all these hospitals stands at 6,468 which works out to 15.5 beds per 10,000 people. Of these, 4,998 beds or 77 per cent are affiliated to the Min-

istry’s hospitals. 326,000 in patients received treatments in 2015.

About 102,000 surgical operations were conducted in 2015.

The report added that the Ministry expanded the number of primary healthcare institutions at the different governorates and enhanced their development to ensure providing high quality pri-

mary healthcare. By the end of 2015, the number of health centers, complexes and local hospitals managed by the Ministry of Health stood at 235.

The report further said that as per world class standards, the Sultanate is one of the leading countries in terms of improving lives of its population. -ONA

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

OMAN TRAVEL TIPS FOR HAPPY JOURNEYS DEPARTURES

Reach the airport 3 hours early

Pay your traffic fines

Know the right car park Long term / short term

Each individual bag should not weigh more than 10KGs

Porter service available

If you are exiting the country permanently arrive 4 hours early to finish formalities

ARRIVALS

Carry and use your resident card through e-gates

For special needs groups there is a dedicated desk

Do online check in

Mobile app for updated flight information

Check your luggage it should not be more than specified in the ticket

Check e-visa procedures

Check the customs regulations

Source: Oman Airports Managment Company

Graphics

OUR PURPOSE

Oman Airports Managment Company is a government-owned company, responsible for the management and operation of the civilian airports in the Sultanate of Oman. The infrastructure of the airports such as the terminal buildings, cargo buildings, runways, aprons, car parking and other facilities are directly under the OAMC’s management.

“Growing gateways to beauty and opportunity”

OUR VISION “To be among the top 20 airports of the world by 2020” For parking information, please scan the QR code.

2015 Airport Excellence New Salalah Airport (OAMC)

2012 The best airport award for staff service Middle East region

OMANAIRPORTS.CO.OM FACEBOOK.COM/OMANAIRPORTS YOUTUBE.COM/OMANAIRPORTS

+968 2434 1000

+968 2451 8088

TWITTER.COM/OMANAIRPORTS

OAMCINFO@OMANAIRPORTS.COM INSTAGRAM.COM/OMANAIRPORTS

LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/OMAN-AIRPORTS-MANAGEMENT-COMPANY

Million plus shorebirds visit Barr Al Hikman and Masirah Island Located at the crossroads of some important bird migration routes, Masirah Island attracts birds from India and Pakistan in the east and from Africa in the west, and wintering birds from as far north as Siberia

Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 1 million shorebirds flock to the Barr Al Hikman and Masirah Island every year, according to experts.

Dr Andy Yaw Kwarteng, director, Remote Sensing and GIS Centre, Sultan Qaboos University, said this comprises about 3 per cent of the world’s flyway population. “It has now become a famous place for bird watchers in the Sultanate,” he stated.

Both these places have been designated an Important Bird Areas (IBA) and are home to numerous bird species, both resident and migratory. “This factor is drawing tourists from all over the world,” said Vijay Kumar Handa, general manager of the Masirah Island Resort.

Located at the crossroads of some important bird migration routes, Masirah Island attracts birds from India and Pakistan in the east and from Africa in the west, and wintering birds from as far north as Siberia. “The island provides a perfect stopover point for travelling birds that cross more than one continent,” he said.

Perfect place Handa added that the island provide a perfect place for the migratory birds because of the intertidal and sub-littoral mudflats and the shallow coasts in the region.

“Then, Masirah is also home to the

HOTSPOT: Both these places have been designated an Important Bird Areas (IBA) and are home to numerous bird species, both resident and migratory.

– Photos: Derrel Pinto

Egyptian vulture, which is fast declining all over the world,” he said.

Varieties The other birds, which are found in these places, include Crab Plover, Eurasian Oystercatcher, BlackWinged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Sociable Lapwing, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lesser Sandplover, Eurasian Curlew and many others.

Recently, a team of professional bird catchers caught 10 bar-tailed godwits, ringed and fitted them with five gram Solar Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs).

“All these birds are currently in the air,” Kwarteng said, adding that their tags have been properly fitted and are working properly.

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OMAN

China top importer of Omani goods OMAN’S EXPORTS BY COUNTRY (In million Omani rials)

Oman’s exports to China in 2015 stood at

5,304.69

China

cent of the Sultanate’s total exports. Oil,

1,014.32

Korea

OMR5304,689,889, which was 49.12 per methanol, paraxylene and polypropylene

UAE

626.23

Taiwan

612.00

Japan

were the major items of the shipments

559.13

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com India

399.63

Saudi Arabia

375.00

Singapore

Half of Omani exports go to China

262.76 China

Thailand

USA

186.90

49.12%

Other countries

50.88%

179.99

Source: Foreign Trade Statistics 2015

Graphics

MUSCAT: China purchases 50 per cent of Omani exports every year, according to the Foreign Trade Statistics Report 2015.

Specifically, exports to China in 2015 stood at OMR5304,689,889, accounting for 49.12 per cent of total Omani exports.

China is followed by South Korea, with exports valued at OMR1014,320,504, UAE –OMR626,230,399, Taiwan –OMR612001218, Japan–

TOURISM

More Asian tourists visited Salalah than Omanis: NCSI Times News Service MUSCAT: More Asian nationals visited Salalah than Omanis, said the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Citing data provided by the NCSI, around 58,867 tourists had visited the southern city until Saturday, July 9.

Breaking down the figure, 23,636 visitors were of Asian nationality, compared with 20,909 Omanis.

Emirati citizens topped the number of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourists at 5,628, compared with 2,179 Saudis.

Around 482 Qataris, 512 Ku-

waitis, 566 Bahrainis and 4,041 other Arabs visited Salalah during the same period.

Around 349 people from a diverse group of nations also travelled to Salalah since June 20.

Last year, Omanis made up for 73.4 per cent of total visitors to Salalah. However, they made up only 35.5 per cent of the total visitors during the first three weeks of the Khareef (monsoon) season.

Road trips The total number of visitors last year stood at 514,777, compared with around 431,000 in 2014, reflecting an increase of 19.4 per cent.

According to NCSI, most of them came on road trips.

Around 92 per cent of visitors last year said they have come for entertainment purposes.

According to the NCSI, 5,000 visitors per day were recorded in 2015. A total of 83.9 per cent of visitors arrived in Salalah through the land borders, compared with 71.1 per cent in 2014.

A total of 72,000 vehicles crossed the border into Dhofar.

However, according to the NCSI, between May 1 and October 31, a total of 89 registered traffic accidents took place along the NizwaSalalah main highway, 79 per cent of them during the festival.

C O N S U M E R A F FA I R S

PACP launched 56 campaigns to recall cars until June 2016 MUSCAT: Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) carried out 56 campaigns aimed at recalling about 121,408 cars during the first half of this year, in collaboration with a number of automobile dealerships.

The recalls were made because of some malfunction or to make improvements in the products recalled, as indicated by the annual report for the first half of 2016 recalls, issued by the General Directorate of Consumer Services and Markets Authority Control.

Hamoud bin Said Al Jabri, in charge at General Directorate of Consumer Services and Market Surveillance explained that during the month of January, about 50,413 cars were summoned during the first half.

Also, 2,404 cars were recalled during the month of February, and 47,932 vehicles were recalled in March, in addition to 10,621 vehicles during the month of April, another 4,251 cars were recalled in the month of May, and 5,787

The recalls were made because of some malfunction or to make improvements in the products recalled, as indicated by the annual report for the first half of 2016

cars during the month of June.

He pointed out that the reasons for recalling the cars varied from defects to technical fixes that were later discovered by the manufacturer at the original pro-

duction country/source, which requires them to bring the vehicles to authorised dealers of those cars around the world.

These recalls were made under the provisions of Article 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, which obliges the provider/company to stop trading the item immediately after discovering a defect in the item or service that could damage the consumer or waste his money, and to inform consumers of the defect and pull the defective item from the market immediately.

Al Jabri stressed that the body was keen to perform audits/revisions continuously for all products offered and services provided in the Sultanate’s markets, starting from maintaining the rights of consumers in line with quality and safety standards.

It is focusing its attention on the issue of cars being recalled, which has been implemented in collaboration with various companies and agencies in the Sultanate, he added. -ONA

OMR559,134,634 and India OMR399,638,116.

The country with the lowest level of exports from Oman was Slovakia, at OMR1 of export goods, while Finland imported OMR194 of goods and Rwanda received OMR300 in goods from Oman.

Very important Businessmen say exports to China are very important to Oman.

“They are ready to buy almost everything,” a businessman said, adding that oil, methanol, paraxylene and polypropylene are the

major Omani exports to China.

In return, the most important commodities imported from China include steel piping, cell phones and spare parts for excavation equipment.

Heavy Chinese investments Meanwhile,China has also begun heavily investing in Oman in several sectors, including oil and petrochemicals, and has spent money to train Omani engineers and upgrade the efficiency of petroleum extraction.

Recently, a land lease agreement was signed between Oman and China to establish a major industrial park in Duqm, which will attract a series of mega investments that include an oil refinery with a capacity of some 230,000 barrels per day.

The proposed industrial park in Duqm is expected to attract as much as $10 billion in investments by 2022.

The rise in business between the two countries is one of the reasons that the national carrier of Oman, Oman Air, is introducing its first

route to China, to begin in November 2016, serving the southern city of Guangzhou.

“The dates have not been fixed, but we will be flying to China beginning in November 2016,” said an official of Oman Air. Further, other airlines are experiencing significant traffic from Muscat to several cities in China.

“We are also having a good number of people travelling to China on our flights via Colombo,” said a senior official of Mihin Lanka in Muscat.

Recently, Emirates also expanded its services to mainland China with four weekly flights to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou,offering Boeing 777-200LR air service.

Khalid Al Jashmi, acting general manager of the Export Credit Guarantee Agency of Oman (ECGAO), said the company is focusing on data and research to strengthen its marketing strategy, since there are many gaps in the market.

“ECGA is taking a new direction in defining the path of marketing, and by not being just a service provider, but by creatinga partnership with its customers,” he said.

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

OMAN N O R T H A L B AT I NA H

Police station to be opened in Sohar today SOHAR: Royal Oman Police (ROP) will celebrate on Monday the opening of Sohar Port Police Station in the Governorate of North Al- Batinah.

The opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of Said bin Hamdoon Al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications for Ports and Maritimes Affairs in the presence of Maj. Gen Hamad bin Sulaiman Al Hatmi, Assistant Inspector General of Police and Customs for Operations.

A number of ROP senior officers, military and security units will be present on the occasion. -ONA SQAPS

Results of general diploma declared The Ministry of Education pointed out that 373 cases of violation during the examinations were noted and necessary actions were taken in this regard

Ministry of Education has said that the reevaluation of examination papers of interested students could be done through the applications forms available at the

New course

Ministry’s portal

ANNOUNCED: Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education has approved the general indices of the results of the general education diploma examinations.

MUSCAT: The Sultan Qaboos Academy for Police Science (SQAPS) initiated a course on Operational and Management Skills for officers representing various formations of the Royal Oman Police (ROP) under the patronage of Brigadier Salim bin Rashid Al Alawi, Commander of SQAPS. The course aims to upgrade performance of the participating officers. -ONA

MUSCAT: Results of the general education diploma were made available through SMS (Oman Mobile and Ooredoo) from 4pm yesterday.

The students have to send an SMS containing the roll number of the student to (90200). The results are also available at the Ministry of Education’s portal.

The Ministry of Education has

pointed out that the reevaluation of examination papers of interested students could be done through the applications forms available at the Ministry’s portal.

Applications should be submitted from July 10 to July 14.

The success rate in the general education diploma for the school year 2015/2016 amounted to 83.

95 per cent. The success rate in the general education diploma

(bilingual private schools) for the school year 2015/2016 amounted to 84.86 per cent.

In the technical general education diploma of the college of the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO- Bilingual) the success rate amounted to 100 per cent.

In the general education and Islamic sciences diploma the success percentage amounted to 98. 3 and in the general education

diploma (private education) the percentage was 100.

Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shibaniyah, Minister of Education has approved the general indices of the results of the general education diploma examinations and their equivalent for the first term for the school year 2015/2016.

The Ministry of Education said that 373 cases of violation during the examinations were noted and the necessary actions were taken in this regard. —ONA

OAMC

< FROM

Extra weight

A1 causes delays

Departing passengers are also advised to arrive at the airport three hours early and are expected to be at the gates on time.

“Some passengers arrive at the gate a few minutes before departure. The airline then has to unload their luggage and take off without them or wait for the passengers, which could cause extra delays for the flight and other passengers,” said OAMC. “Airlines have slots and a specific time to be in and out of the airport to ensure a smooth flow of ground and air traffic,” it added.

Smooth flow OAMC also has other initiatives in place to ensure the smooth flow of passenger, air and ground traffic.

Some initiatives will serve as an awareness campaign for passengers. A common problem faced at Oman’s airport is that some passengers come in with very large boxes instead of suitcases. The luggage belt cannot handle those boxes, and they might get jammed and consequently damage the conveyor belt.

OAMC is striving to become one of the top airports in the world by 2020 and launching such initiatives and campaigns for the benefit of the company and public will boost its chances of achieving such a target.

TOURISTS FLOCK TO WADI BANI KHALID The Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah is visited by tourists all year-round.

During the Eid Al Fitr holidays, 9,438 tourists visited the water ponds in the area.

Talal bin Khalfan Al Shu’aibi, Director of Tourism Department in the Governorate of North A’Sharqiyah said that 9,438 tourists of different nationalities visited the ponds. The highest number of visitors was recorded on the second day of the Eid Al Fitr. -ONA

EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BANK OF OMAN

A1 Banks maintain growth momentum < FROM

As Oman follows a fixed exchange rate regime, therefore, maintenance of the peg against US dollar is a primary policy objective. As of December 2015, only one-third of CBO’s reserves were deemed sufficient to support the Omani rial,” the CBO executive noted.

“The banking sector continued its domination in the financial landscape of Oman. Despite challenging economic conditions, the growth momentum in the bank-

ing sector continued. The sector remained well capitalised, profitable and fairly liquid. Credit risk is well contained, with a net NPL ratio of less than 0.5 per cent, while the quantum of market risk remained subdued.

“The stress testing exercise showed that the banking sector has remained resilient to a range of stressed scenarios. The banking sector and the economy can, however, benefit from extending more credit to SMEs,”he said.

“Oman continued on its voyage to upgrade its micro and macroprudential regulations and supervision. The apex Joint Committee for Financial Stability met twice during 2015 to assess the stability of the macro-financial system. CBO has fine-tuned several regulations considering the changing circumstances. The Basel III implementation is proceeding as planned.

“CBO upgraded the suite of its stress testing to incorporate real-

ECONOMY

PA R K I N G

A1 Number of < FROM

debtors to rise

“One 28-year-old Omani father lost his OMR400 a month job after taking a OMR20,000 loan.

He is now being chased for payment and offered the bank OMR50 a month.

“Many took loans without even thinking and were unable to pay back later. The minimum amount of salary required was later raised to OMR500 by the banks, considering the scores of people applying for loans,” a bank official added.

Downturn “There is a likelihood of an increase in the number of debtors, especially when there is a fall in the economy. In terms of GDP and government revenues and tightening of expenditure in companies, it is likely that greater default will come in the coming period. Banks should be cautious and frequently review trends in defaults of these borrowers.” said a financial expert based in Oman.

Besides the survival issues, psychologists say that non-payment of debt and the constant

estate stress testing. The first phase of Recovery and Resolution Planning of the identified Domestic Systemically Important Bank is complete and an Early Warning Mechanism for Oman is in the advanced stages of development,”he added.

“Other than some concerns mentioned above, on balance, it is satisfactory to note that we do not foresee any immediate threat to the financial stability in Oman,” Al Zadjali stated.

pressure which comes with it may result in chronic depression and stress.

“When people are unable to pay back debts, that causes them to worry and think about it, and this creates a pattern of negative thinking, where you start thinking of the consequences. This negativity causes depression, sometimes chronic, anxiety disorder and stress, and if you consider the ill effects of stress, it will not just affect you mentally but also physically.” said Roma Fernandes, psychologist at the Whispers of Serenity Clinic.

< FROM

A1 ROP praised for fast response Praising the two parties, Twitter user @nassir458rr said, “How wonderful is this transparent communication between two public institutions. God bless you and we hope that other institutions do the same.”

“This is a nice utilisation of new technology between the two institutions. Earlier, such issues were solved through paper work, which took weeks to be done,” Oman TV news anchor Ahmed Al Kindi said on his official Twitter handle.

Mwasalat has recently increased the number of daily trips to Salalah, providing a total of 225 seats a day, about seven thousand seats a month.

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

A7

REGION Former UK deputy premier says Iraq war was illegal In 2004, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said that as regime change was the prime aim of the Iraq War, it was illegal. With great sadness and anger, I now believe him to be right

I will live with the decision of going to war and its catastrophic consequences for the rest of my life, said John Prescott

LONDON: Britain broke international law when it invaded Iraq in 2003, its deputy prime minister at the time, John Prescott, said on Sunday in the wake of a critical report on the decision to go to war.

A seven-year inquiry concluded on Wednesday that former British prime minister Tony Blair’s justification, planning and handling of the Iraq War involved a catalogue of failures, but did not rule whether the war was legal.

Eight months before the 2003 invasion, Blair told former US President George W. Bush “I will be with you, whatever”, eventually

CHANGE IN VIEW: Britain’s former deputy prime minister John Prescott in this file photograph. – Reuters file

sending 45,000 British troops into battle when peace options had not been exhausted, the long-awaited British public inquiry said.

Prescott, writing in the Sunday Mirror newspaper, said he had now changed his view about the legality of the war and criticised Blair for stopping his ministers from fully discussing in advance

whether the war would be legal.

“In 2004, the UN SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan said that as regime change was the prime aim of the Iraq War, it was illegal. With great sadness and anger, I now believe him to be right,” Prescott wrote.

“I will live with the decision of going to war and its catastrophic

FEARS OF FULL-BLOWN CONFLICT

consequences for the rest of my life,” he added.

Many Britons want Blair to face criminal action over his decision to take military action that led to the deaths of 179 British soldiers and more than 150,000 Iraqi civilians over the following six years.

“The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, came to the Cabinet,

verbally announced it was legal, but provided no documentation,” Prescott said. “The timing of the decision was clearly designed to endorse an almost immediate action for us to go to war.”

Prescott added that he backed the decision by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn — a veteran anti-war campaigner and critic of Blair — to apologise for the war on behalf of the party.

Meanwhile, a cross-party group of lawmakers said they would seek next week a vote declaring Blair in contempt of parliament for misleading it in the run-up to the decision to go to war.

“Saying one thing to George W. Bush in private and a totally different thing to parliament and people in public, that is the parliamentary crime, the offence, and it is time for parliament to deliver a verdict,” Scottish National Party lawmaker and former party leader Alex Salmond told ITV television.

The possible implications of such a vote were not immediately clear, but the Sunday Times newspaper said it could see Blair barred from public office or stripped of his membership of the Privy Council, a largely ceremonial body that advises Queen Elizabeth. — Reuters

L AW S U I T

Family of killed US journalist sues Syria BEIRUT: The family of American journalist Marie Colvin, who died in Syria in 2012, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in a US court, accusing the Syrian government of deliberately killing her.

Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in the besieged Syrian city of Homs in 2012 while reporting on the Syrian conflict, now in its sixth year.

The lawsuit filed in Washington on Saturday said Syrian officials deliberately targeted rockets against a makeshift broadcast studio where Colvin and other reporters were living and working. The suit alleged the attack was part of a plan orchestrated at the highest levels of the Syrian government to silence local and international media “as part of its effort to crush political opposition”. The lawsuit included as evidence a copy of an August 2011 fax which it alleges was sent from Syria’s National Security Bureau instructing security bodies to launch military and intelligence campaigns against “those who tarnish the image of Syria in foreign media and international organisations”. “This case is about carrying on Marie’s work,” plaintiff Cathleen Colvin, Marie Colvin’s sister, said. — Reuters

AUDIO MESSAGE

‘Bin Laden’s son threatens Renewed fighting breaks out in South Sudan’s capital revenge for father’s killing’ JUBA: Renewed fighting erupted in South Sudan’s capital on Sunday and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar said his residence was attacked by the president’s troops, raising fears of a slide back into full-blown conflict in the five-year-old nation.

There was no immediate response from the government of President Salva Kiir to the statement by Machar’s spokesman.

Earlier, Kiir’s information minister, Michael Makuei, said the situation was under control and urged people to stay at home.

The two leaders, who fought each other in a two-year civil war that started in late 2013, had made a joint call for calm after clashes between rival factions broke out late on Thursday. At least 272 people have been killed in the fighting, a Health Ministry source told Reuters early on Sunday. Residents of Juba’s Gudele and Jebel districts reported heavy gunfire near the barracks where Machar and his troops have their headquarters. A Reuters witness saw helicopters overhead but did not see them firing. Hundreds of city residents sought shelter in a UN base.

The Health Ministry source said 33 civilians were among those killed in the latest clashes, which have fueled fears about renewed conflict and raised concerns about the extent the two

CLASHES: Journalists sit inside the conference room as fire broke out near the presidential palace in Juba on Friday. – AFP

men can control their troops in the world’s newest nation.

“Dr Machar’s residence was attacked twice today including using tanks and helicopter gunships. Helicopters from Kiir’s side attacked the residence twice,” Machar’s spokesman James Gatdet Dak told Reuters, speaking by phone from abroad.

Calm He added that the situation in Juba had subsequently calmed, echoing comments from residents who said gunfire had eased later on Sunday after several hours of shooting.

Residents saw hundreds of people seeking shelter in a base of the UN mission UNMISS. “I saw dead bodies of civilians, and

others ... moving with blood on their bodies,” one man, who gave his name only as Steven, said by telephone.

Another reported seeing troops looting a shop in Juba, but it was not clear if they were loyal to Machar or Kiir. The fighting first erupted on Thursday, when troops loyal to Kiir had stopped and demanded to search vehicles of Machar’s loyalists. That standoff led to clashes.

Gunfire broke out again on Friday between the vice president’s bodyguards and the presidential guard, while the two men were holding talks at the presidential State House to defuse tensions.

Both men said at the time they did not know what had prompted the exchange of fire. — Reuters

DUBAI: The son of slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has threatened revenge against the United States for assassinating his father, according to an audio message posted online.

Hamza bin Laden promised to continue the global militant group’s fight against the United States and its allies in the 21-minute speech entitled “We Are All Osama,” according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

“We will continue striking you and targeting you in your country and abroad in response to your oppression of the people of Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and the rest of the Muslim

lands that did not survive your oppression,” Hamza said.

“As for the revenge by the Islamic nation for Sheikh Osama, may Allah have mercy on him, it is not revenge for Osama the person but it is revenge for those who defended Islam.”

Major blow Osama bin Laden was killed at his Pakistani hideout by US commandos in 2011 in a major blow to the militant group which carried out the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Documents recovered from bin Laden’s compound and published by the United States last year alleged that his aides tried to reunite

the militant leader with Hamza, who had been held under house arrest in Iran.

Hamza, now in his mid-twenties, was at his father’s side in Afghanistan before the 9/11 attacks and spent time with him in Pakistan after the US-led invasion pushed much of Al Qaeda’s senior leadership there, according to the Brookings Institution.

Introduced by the organisation’s new chief Ayman Al Zawahiri in an audio message last year, Hamza provides a younger voice for the group whose ageing leaders have struggled to inspire militants around the world galvanised by IS. — Reuters

A8

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

INDIA India, Tanzania to bolster energy, food security ties India also extended

Prime minister interacts with ‘Solar Mamas’ of Africa

its full support to the country to meet its development needs and signed five agreements, including one for providing a Line of Credit of $92m million in the water resources sector

DAR-ES-SALAAM: India and Tanzania on Sunday agreed to deepen their partnership in agriculture and food security and work together in the development and use of natural gas as New Delhi committed more aid for this east African country’s water supply projects.

India on Sunday also extended its full support to the country to meet its development needs and signed five agreements, including one for providing a Line of Credit of $92 million in the water resources sector.

Describing India as a trusted partner in meeting Tanzania’s development priorities, the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he along with President John Pombe Joseph Magufuli “agreed to deepen our overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain”.

“We agreed that our common desire of economic prosperity for our societies is creating new opportunities for expanding our cooperation,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a joint press statement with Tanzanian President John Magufuli following delegation-level talks here.

“For this, both of us felt that we need to: One, deepen our partnership in agriculture and food security, including through enhanced export of pulses from Tanzania to India; two, work together in development and use of natural gas; three, partner in building of industrial economy, capacities and institutions in Tanzania; and four, deepen our trade and investment partnership by encouraging greater industry-to-industry ties,” Modi said.

The partnership in the area of

DAR-ES-SALAAM: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with ‘Solar Mamas’, a group of nearly 30 rural women solar engineers from six African countries who have been trained under India’s developmental support for harnessing solar energy.

“Celebrating the Solar Mamas! PM interacts with women trained in vocational skills under India’s developmental support,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The ‘Solar Mamas’, who come from across Africa, are trained at Barefoot college in the north Indian Rajasthan state’s Tilonia village or the centre in Tanzania. Modi interacted with each woman who have been trained to fabricate, install, use, repair and maintain solar lanterns and household solar lighting systems in their villages.

The group of about 30 ‘Solar Mamas’ from Tanzania and a few other African countries demonstrated their skills in fabrication, repair and maintenance of solar lanterns and household lighting system in presence of the prime minister.

natural gas development and use is significant as Tanzania has been emerging as a gas giant with a series of finds since 2011. In March this year, a Dubai-based company said it has discovered 2.7 trillion cubic feet of gas in Ruvu Basin in the country’s coastal region.

Modi said that India was already a substantial economic partner of Tanzania and the whole range of economic ties were healthy and on the upswing. “Our two-way annual trade stands at around $3 billion, Indian investments in Tanzania already total around $3 billion and Indian businesses in Tanzania continue to grow and expand,” he said.

Water supply project Modi described as a ‘good achievement’ completion of a water supply augmentation project in Dares-Salaam with the Indian aid of $I00 million.

“We have just now also signed an agreement on water supply project in Zanzibar for a line of

BRIEFS

Amarnath yatra suspended for second day JAMMU: Amarnath yatra remained suspended for second consecutive day on Sunday from Jammu in the wake of the killing of a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir Valley.

“The yatra is suspended for the second consecutive day today from Jammu. No fresh batch of pilgrims has been sent from Jammu,” Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh, said.

Delhi police to crackdown on ‘begging mafia’

SOLAR ENGINEERS: Prime Minister Narendra modi during a visit to Barefoot College and Solar Mamas of Africa, in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday. – PTI

They also presented their honey-extraction and stitching practices and sung a song “we shall overcome”.

The presentation was also attended by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Tanzania Dr Susan A Kolimba and Zanzibar Minister of Land, Housing, Water and Energy, Salama Aboud Talib. Modi, who arrived here in Tanzania on Saturday as part of his four-nation Africa tour aimed at enhancing ties with the continent, particularly in the economic sphere,

posed for photographs with ‘Solar Mamas’ following the interaction.

The women are also trained in solar electrification and other entrepreneurial skills such as bee-keeping and tailoring. Under Government of India-supported programmes, the college in Rajasthan has been promoting and training rural women solar engineers from Africa in household solar lighting systems.

A barefoot women vocational training college in Zanzibar

DRUMMING SKILLS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and his host Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, right, beat drums at the entrance of State House during an official welcome ceremony in Tanzania on Sunday. – PTI

credit of $92 million,” the prime minister said.

“We are also working on a number of other water projects for 17 cities. And for this, India is

willing to consider an additional $500 million line of concessional credit.” India and Tanzania signed five agreements after the delegation-level talks, including two on

Islands of Tanzania and other countries in Africa has also been setup for imparting solar electrification skills and distributing solar kits. These colleges also support various entrepreneurial skills such a bee-keeping and tailoring among others.

The barefoot trained solar mamas have fabricated and installed solar kits, and now maintain on self-sufficient basis these solar electrification systems in their communities. - PTI

water supply and water resource management. Modi flagged public health as another important priority in India’s engagement with the east African country.

“We are ready to meet the healthcare priorities of the Tanzanian government, including supply of medicines and equipment,” he said, adding an Indian radio-therapy machine was being installed at Bugando Medical Centre in the country’s Mwanza city to treat cancer patients.

The prime minister said education, vocational training and skill development were other areas of priority in which India was willing to offer all assistance.

“Being neighbours across Indian Ocean, President and I agreed to deepen our overall defence and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain,” Modi said.

“Our in-depth discussions on regional and global issues reflected our considerable convergence on issues of common interest and concern,” he said. - IANS

NEW DELHI: Delhi police is all set to crack down on the ‘begging mafia’ operating in the national capital, despite the state government claiming there is no such organised racket in the city. The operation will be led by the Crime Branch, which had earlier worked on initiatives like reuniting missing children with their parents, a senior police official said. The official said not much can be disclosed about the operation “at this point” but we have some crucial leads and teams are working on that.

AirAsia offers 20% discount on fares CHENNAI: Budget air carrier AirAsia today announced a 20 per cent discount on fares across its flights for passengers taking up journey during the Diwali festival.

The promotion campaign which begins today would run till July 17 for passengers travelling between July 18 and November 24, 2016, AirAsia said in a statement.

The campaign is applicable across its operations in the region including India, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Woman fights off leopard with stick DEHRADUN: Putting up an exemplary show of courage, a woman survived a leopard attack after she fought off the animal with a stick, officials said on Sunday. The incident happened at Sunyara village in Pithoragarh district on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, the Forest department officials said. The leopard entered to the house and went to upstairs where Prema Devi was sleeping in her room and attacked her.

Devi bravely fought the big cat with a stick but sustained injuries in her face and neck in the process. She has been admitted to district hospital.

- Agencies

MONSOON

Madhya Pradesh, Assam reel under floods; toll mounts to 17 NEW DELHI: There was no let up in flood misery in the central Indian Madhya Pradesh state and the north-eastern Indian state of Assam with the death toll climbing to 17 on Sunday while heavy rains lashed parts of the north Indian Rajasthan state as the Northern Limit of Monsoon crossed Jodhpur.

While monsoon continued to be active over Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana, north interior Karnataka and Kerala, rains eluded the national capital where it was a sultry day with maximum temperature settling at 36.7 degrees Celsius.

Seven persons died due to floods in different parts of Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours.

On Saturday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had confirmed eight deaths in incidents related to heavy downpour in past couple of days.

IMD Bhopal Director Anupam Kashyapi told PTI heavy to very heavy rains are likely to lash Indore, Ujjain and Hoshangabad divisions, besides some parts of the state capital on Monday.

Federal Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh spoke to Chouhan and assured him of all help in rescue and relief operations. In Assam, Brahmaputra waters have submerged 60 per cent of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary located in Morigaon district and damaged around 50 per cent infrastructure of the world’s densest habitat of the

MONSOON FURY: Flooded locality after heavy rains in Nashik, in Maharashtra, on Sunday. - PTI

Great Indian one-horn rhinoceros.

Two persons were washed away in Assam on Saturday. Over 135,000 people have been affected in Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Morigaon, Barpeta and Jorhat districts. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed the flood situation.

Low pressure In the east Indian Odisha state, heavy rainfall is likely at some places due to a low pressure area formed over Jharkhand and adjoining areas North Odisha.

Strong gusty surface wind from southwesterly direction with speed 45-55 KMPH and reaching up to 60 KMPH would prevail along and off Odisha Coast, the MeT office in the state said.

It asked fishermen not to venture into sea in view of rough weather condition. In Rajasthan,

at least three places received rains in excess of 10cm in the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday.

Maximum rainfall was recorded at Jhalawar (23cm) followed

by Bakani (15cm) and Jhalarapatan (10cm). Heavy rains drenched parts of the north Indian Himachal Pradesh state and more rainfall is predicted in the coming week. Jubbar Hatti received 21mm of rains and Dharamsala 18mm since Saturday.

However, in the north Indian states of Haryana and Punjab, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, there has been no significant rainfall, leading to a rise in mercury level during the past few days.

Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in the two states recording a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, up two notches against normal. - PTI

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CORRUPTION CASE

Court sends Kejriwal’s ex-official to one day’s custody NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Sunday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s former Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar and six others, arrested in an alleged corruption case, to one day’s judicial custody (JC).

The order was passed by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Shunali Gupta. Kumar, a 1989 batch IAS officer from the UT cadre, Deputy Secretary in Kejriwal’s office Tarun Sharma, Kumar’s close aide Ashok Kumar and owners of a private firm, Sandeep Kumar and Dinesh Kumar Gupta, arrested in the case, were remanded in JC till Monday.

It also sent R. S. Kaushik and his predecessor G K Nanda, present and former Managing Directors of a PSU respectively, to JC till Monday, asking all the seven accused to be produced before the special CBI court tomorrow which will consider the agency’s plea for their police remand.

“Earlier, the police custody order for five accused was passed by the designated CBI court.

“The application for the extension of their police custody and another application for the police custody of two accused who were arrested on Saturday will be considered the designated court itself.

“Meanwhile, all the seven accused be sent to one day’s judicial custody,” the court said. CBI has alleged in court that Kumar, an “influential” officer, was intimidating witnesses.

Invetigating agency had registered a case against Kumar and others in December last year alleging that the officer had abused his official position. - PTI

FA C I N G H A R A S S M E N T

1969 law can help women in NRI marriages NEW DELHI: A law enacted in 1969 offers a ray of hope for distressed women facing harassment in Non Resident Indian (NRI) marriages, a parliamentary panel has been told.

The Rajya Sabha Committee of Petitions was on Friday told by the Law Ministry that the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 has provisions to help women married to NRIs facing problems abroad, a panel member said.

In most of the cases reported in media, the husband is already married and marries again in India. In certain cases, the husband marries another woman abroad and abandons his first wife.

Abuse for dowry is another problem Indian women face after marrying NRIs. The committee had met to hear top officials of the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry on a petition “praying for solution of the problems arising out of marriage of Indian women with Non-Resident Indians”.

Key clause Members who attended the meeting said most people are not aware of existence of such a law. The law was enacted “to make provision relating to marriages of citizens of India outside India.”

One of the key clauses is Section 14 which states that whenever a marriage is solemnized under the law, the marriage officer will have to certify it in the Marriage Certificate Book which will be signed by the parties to the marriage and three witnesses.

The certificate will be “deemed to be the conclusive evidence of the fact that a marriage under this Act has been solemnised, and that all formalities respecting the residence of the party concurred previous to the marriage and the signature of witnesses have been complied with.”

‘Matrimonial relief’ The law also provides for ‘matrimonial relief’ for spouse. Sources said while various personal laws in the country can also apply, marriages solemnised under the Foreign Marriage Act will be governed by that law.

The government, meanwhile, has decided to set up a committee to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) to be followed while dealing with cases of NRI men abandoning their wives, after the Women and Child Development Ministry received several such complaints.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi had recently met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and requested her to constitute a joint committee to develop an SOP. Once the SOP has been prepared, it will be shared with various Indian diplomatic missions abroad. - PTI

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COMPETITION

India-origin girl among child geniuses on British TV show LONDON: A nine-year-old Indian-origin girl is among a select group of child geniuses chosen for a television show wherein children compete with each other to be crowned Britain’s brainiest youngster.

Rhea, whose surname was not made public to protect her identity, is one of the stars of the ‘Child Genius’ series on Channel 4 that starts next week in which children compete to be crowned Britain’s brainiest youngster.

She recently warmed up for the contest by beating 8,000 chil-

dren to a national art prize. She has been studying for up to 10 hours a day to prepare herself for the programme in which she will compete with 15 young rivals, The Sunday Times reported.

Among the challenges they will face is memorising 155 UK train stations.

“Doing Child Genius was probably the most incredible experience of my life. It was tense at times but it was incredible. I have made friends with some of the children,” Rhea told the newspaper.

Her mother Sonal, who went to

university at 16 and gave up her job as a doctor to support Rhea’s education said, “The school did not have a programme for gifted kids so they designed one. Now she reads GCSE-level books for stimulation. We are starting to get advice on her taking GCSEs early”.

Sonal rejects concerns that programmes such as ‘Child Genius’ can put too much pressure on youngsters. “Rhea loved doing it. The show gives them a chance to be with kids like them, to be in that room and feel normal,” she added. - PTI

A9

INDIA ‘Sizeable decline in black money stashed abroad’ Finance minister said the action being initiated by G-20 countries coupled with ‘technological intervention’ will make it difficult to keep black money both at home and outside the country

AHMEDABAD: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government’s ‘activism’ against black money in the last two years has resulted into a ‘sizeable dip’ in illegal assets stashed abroad by Indians.

He also said the action being initiated by G-20 countries coupled with ‘technological intervention’ will make it difficult to keep black money both at home and outside the country.

“Today there is a panic among people who hold illegal assets outside the country. If you take from 1947 to 2014, the cumulative effect of all steps taken would not be even minuscule percentage of what the government has done in the last two years,” Jaitley said.

He was speaking at a programme here to sensitise people on government’s Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) whereby tax evaders are given opportunity to dis-

If you take from 1947 to 2014, the cumulative effect of all steps taken would not be even minuscule percentage of what the government has done in the last two years Arun Jaitley Finance minister, India

close their unaccounted income and pay 45 per cent of it, which is applicable till September 30.

“Recent reports have indicated that there is a sizeable dip in Indian holdings outside the country,” the minister said.

“If you consider the kind of activism in the last two years, the first decision that PM Narendra Modi took was to accept the direction of the Supreme Court and constitute SIT with two retired Supreme Court judges,” he said.

Compliance window Jaitley added that government’s collective efforts, including making available a compliance window for black money and taking action based on the HSBC, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Panama Papers disclosures, have helped in bringing back the illegal wealth stashed abroad, “with many (people) even

facing trial”. “We first took steps to provide chance to those who keep country’s assets abroad to bring it back home and pay for the same.

Information about HSBC accounts has been assessed and people are prosecuted....Around Rs80 billion has been detected.

“Next, ICIJ made big disclosure in which Indians were found putting abroad Rs5,000 crore. Many will be prosecuted. Now, Panama papers are being revealed, on the basis of which those who have kept illegal assets can be prosecuted as per new law,” he said.

Jaitley said G-20 countries have decided to cooperate with each other.and by 2017 real-time information will be available of people with assets abroad “which will make people avoid being secretive for the fear of being declared non-compliant”. He said IDS is an opportunity for people to become compliant tax-payers. - PTI

A 10

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

PAKISTAN Edhi centre children orphaned once again

C O M M E N TA RY

Education budget of Balochistan is one step backwards FARRUKH KHAN PITAFI

Our job is tough but Edhi sahib has set the principles on how to serve humanity keeping aside cast and creed, said rescue worker Asad Jahangir

KARACHI: A blank expression strikes the faces of volunteers as Abdul Sattar Edhi is lowered into a grave he chose for himself 25 years ago. They have just said their final goodbye to the man who was to them much more than their father.

Broken but still managing to console each other, Edhi Foundation volunteers sat in groups after the burial.

“How can we avoid crying when someone who was more than a father to us has left this world,” says ambulance driver Muhammad Kashif, as he steps back after hugging one of his colleagues.

“He taught us how to serve humanity, his advices and directions will remain in my heart forever. Edhi sahib will be proud of us when we meet him on Judgment Day.” Recalling Edhi’s leadership qualities, rescue worker Asad Jahangir remembers how the philanthropist ordered all of them to stay back and went ahead himself when the rumour of a bomb was spread at the Jinnah hospital after a blast in December 2009.

“He was always there to protect us and guide us,” Jahangir said.

“Our job is tough but Edhi sahib has set the principles on how to serve humanity keeping aside cast and creed.”

Another rescue worker Faizan Adil, who has been working at the Edhi Foundation for 20 years, recalls how Edhi always took charge when the volunteers were unable to deal with mutilated or decomposed corpses.

“We have seen Edhi sahib cleaning open wounds of leprosy patients. Who could have done that except Edhi himself?”

Pall of gloom At the Edhi Village – a 200-acre piece of land housing an orphanage, old-age home, women shelter and a drug rehab, a pall of gloom has descended since its residents came to know about the death of their messiah, who used to light up their lives with his pleasant smile and mystical personality.

Kamran, the eldest at the orphanage, sits on the side of a long corridor staring outside through the iron grille.

HERO: In this photograph taken on February 15, 2016, Abdul Sattar Edhi, speaks with his wife Bilquis Edhi in his office in the port city of Karachi. — AFP file photo

Malala, Musharraf appeal for posthumous Nobel ISLAMABAD: Two iconic figures representing Pakistan abroad, Malala Yousafzai and General Pervez Musharraf, have joined a growing chorus for posthumously awarding Abdul Sattar Edhi with the Nobel Prize for his humanitarian work.

Abdul Sattar Edhi was the ‘most deserving person’ for the award of Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistani Nobel Peace Laureate Malala Yousafzai said in January this year. Malala said that she had nominated Edhi for the Nobel Prize for 2016 because she believed he was the “most deserving person for this award.”

Malala Yousafzai told a media outlet on Saturday that the state should take over the Edhi Foundation.

She said that no award for late Abdul Sattar Edhi would justify his humanitarian contributions.

“Abdul Sattar Edhi’s

‘Amir ki Ammi’ sits on a chair in the centre of the corridor, wiping off tears rolling down her cheeks.

A few kids sitting a bit further pray for Edhi.

No one knows the real name of ‘Amir ki Ammi’ as she is speechimpaired.

She came to the Edhi centre about 10 years ago with her child named Amir, who now is a volunteer at the Edhi Foundation.

She gestured to one of the teachers at the orphanage, Nasreen, she will leave as Edhi sahib is no more.

Kamran was brought to the

Pervez Musharraf

Malala Yousafzai

services and sacrifices are unparalleled.

“He has been serving humanity irrespective of class, creed or gender,” she had told reporters in Birmingham.

Amplifying people’s demand for bestowing posthumous Nobel prize to the legendary humanitarian and social worker, former president Musharraf insisted that Abdul Sattar Edhi deserved Nobel Peace Prize during his life. According to him, Edhi deserved Nobel Prize more than Mother Teresa.

The former president said

that the philanthropist’s death was a great loss to Pakistan.

According to Nobelprize. org, official website for Nobel Prize, since 1974, statutes of the Nobel Foundation stipulate that a Prize cannot be awarded posthumously, unless death has occurred after the announcement of the Nobel Prize.

Before 1974, the Nobel Prize was only awarded posthumously twice: to Dag Hammerskjold (Nobel Peace Prize 1961) and Erik Axel Karlfeldt (Nobel Prize for Literature in 1931). — Express Tribune

Edhi Village 16 years ago. Grieved by the death of Edhi, Nasreen said the boy had not spoken to anyone since the moment he heard the tragic news.

Nasreen then recalls the last visit of Edhi to the shelter in an ambulance six months ago. “He was unable to walk but his love for the children brought him all the way to the village,” she said with a smile on her face.

The kitchen in-charge, Mobeena Anjum who has been working for 17 years, said when the staff asked Edhi to rest at home, he responded that he had

come to see his children.

Initially, she recalled, Edhi used to come to the orphanage daily and when his health deteriorated he started coming on Sundays.

Nasreen said the children have been glued to the TV, curious to know about Edhi’s burial. “The children used to call him ‘Baba’,” she added.

Anjum said the entire staff used to call Edhi ‘Abu’.

“The children at the orphanage have become orphans for the second time,” she said. “Today, the tree under which we felt safe has been removed.” — Express Tribune

The purpose of this writing is to look at the Balochistan education budget 2016-17 is to highlight what has improved (or otherwise) in this year’s budget. Budgets highlight the government’s priorities. A look at the estimates of expenditure can easily point out the sectors which will receive higher focus during the year.

The budget estimates for 201617 show that education is not one of those priority sectors. The total outlay of Balochistan’s budget for 2016-17 is Rs289 billion, an increase of 19 per cent in comparison with the estimated budget of Rs244 billion for the previous year.

The Balochistan government has earmarked a budget of Rs49.1 billion for education in 2016-17 which is a mere increase of two per cent compared with the allocated budget of Rs48.3 billion in 2015-16.

This increase of two per cent is the lowest among the four provinces. Sindh and K-P have each increased their education budgets by 19 per cent followed by Punjab with a nine per cent increase.

Over the last six years, the Balochistan government consistently increased the percentage share of education in its provincial budget.

From 13 per cent share of education in 2010-11 to 20 per cent in 2015-16, it showed the commitment of successive governments to improve the state of education in the province.

However, in 2016-17, the percentage share of education has been reduced substantially to 17 per cent of the provincial budget.

A 20 per cent share (same as was allocated in 2015-16) would have meant an extra Rs9 billion for education this fiscal year. In comparison with other provinces, Balochistan has allocated the lowest percentage share of its provincial budget for education.

Looking at the other provinces, education has received a 20 per cent share of provincial budget in Sindh (Rs176 billion allocated for education out of the provincial budget of Rs869 billion).

Punjab has allocated 19 per cent of its budget for education (Rs313 billion for education out of Rs1,681 billion). The K-P government has earmarked 28 per cent of the total provincial budget for education (Rs143 billion for education out of Rs505 billion).

Considering the infrastructural needs of the education system in Balochistan and the importance of non-salary budgets for quality education and services, it is important that the government allocates sufficient funds for development purposes and non-salary budget.

While an increase of 11 per cent has been recorded on the recurrent side, a major cut in Balochistan’s education budget has been made on the development side.

The total development budget of Balochistan for 2016-17 is Rs71

Considering the infrastructural needs of the education system in Balochistan and the importance of non-salary budgets for quality education and services, it is important that the government allocates sufficient funds for development purposes and non-salary budget billion out of which education affairs and services will receive only nine per cent i.e., Rs6.4 billion.

This year’s development budget is 36 per cent lower than the allocated budget of Rs10 billion in 2015-16.

Looking at the allocated development budget for school education only, in 2015-16, Rs7.5 billion were apportioned for development purposes. In 2016-17, the development budget has been slashed by 42 per cent to Rs4.4 billion. Out of the recurrent education budget, Rs37.4 billion have been apportioned for salaries and related expenditure in 2016-17.

This constitutes 88 per cent of the recurrent education budget.

Owing to salary increase and new appointments, the salary budget has increased by 15 per cent. On the other hand, the non-salary budget (used for daily expenditures of schools and operation and maintenance of the department’s offices) has been reduced by nine per cent i.e., from Rs5.8 billion in 2015-16 to Rs5.3 billion in 2016-17.

Despite a significant increase of 19 per cent in the total outlay of the Balochistan budget, the education budget shows reduced allocations for non-salary and development budgets. While the global focus is on increasing education budgets so that children have better access to quality education, Balochistan has substantially decreased its provincial share of education this year.

The cuts on development and non-salary budgets for education, raise a question mark on the commitment of the Balochistan government towards education. One cannot hope to achieve targets like quality education for all in the near future with such poor commitment. — Express Tribune

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KILLING OF SUFI SINGER

Shoaib Akhtar deplores celebrities becoming victims of hate NEW DELHI: He feels “sportspersons or artistes” are a reflection of the society they represent and enter foreign shores as “ambassadors of their country”. Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, popularly known as ‘Rawalpindi Express’, says it is “unfortunate and deplorable” when they become victims of hate or crime.

Renowned Pakistani Sufi singer Amjad Sabri was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Karachi, Pakistan, last month. And soon after that another Pakistani actor and television presenter Nadeem Jafri was shot and wounded outside his house during a robbery.

“Sportspersons or artistes are a reflection of the society they represent.

“They are the ambassadors of their country but it is unfortunate and deplorable when they become victims of hate or crime. Amjad Sabri was a great loss to Pakistan,” Akhtar told IANS in an email interview from Rawalpindi.

Renowned Pakistani qawwali singer Amjad Sabri was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the southern port city of Karachi last month.

Soon after, Pakistani actor and television presenter Nadeem

I think we’re all extremely sensitive to any kind of violence, act of terror or a loss of a life. No one likes that. We will all have to shed our differences and fight as one; otherwise things will slip out of our hands. I was distraught when Medina blasts happened, said former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar

Jafri was shot and wounded outside his house during a robbery attempt.Akhtar, who will be seen judging upcoming comedy show “Mazak Mazak Mein” on Indian television, termed such incidents unfortunate.

Be it India, Pakistan or any other country, Akhtar feels that the world has to unite its forces to

fight the growing violence around the globe.

“I think we’re all extremely sensitive to any kind of violence, act of terror or a loss of a life. No one likes that. We will all have to shed our differences and fight as one; otherwise things will slip out of our hands. I was distraught when Medina blasts happened,” said the

40-year-old, who hopes “better sense prevails and this world becomes a peaceful place”.

For now, Akhtar will be seen on the Indian small screen judging the comedy show with Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. The show will soon go on air on Life OK channel soon.

On the relevance of having him

on a show on humour, Akhtar said: “Humour is an inherent part of a human being’s life...It is not about a cricketer or cricket, I think it is about an individual.”

This is not his first outing on Indian TV. The cricketer, who got the Rawalpindi Express moniker for his skills as a fast bowler, was earlier seen on “Comedy Nights with

Kapil” TV show as a guest.

So, will we see him as a strict judge?

“My natural side is friendly, funny and easy going. So, in short, you will see a friendly and a compassionate judge in me.”

Many comedians are criticised for crossing the line of decency by way of either taking digs at women or making fun of a profession. But Akhtar emphasises that “Mazak Mazak Mein” will be a “clean comedy”.

“No humour should be hurtful or derogatory. I think people have to be mindful of each other’s sentiments.

“I am sure the makers of the show, the participants and the network are mindful of that.

“A successful show is the one where a father and a daughter can watch it together. To me that is a yardstick of a clean comedy show,” he said.

After the small screen, can we expect Akhtar on the silver screen?

He says for now, he is only focusing on the show. “It is not something that I am not thinking about. At the moment my whole energy is channelised in making ‘Mazak Mazak Mein’ the best comedy show on TV.” — Express Tribune

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ASIA

US offers expertise to fight terrorism in Bangladesh Ali and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

Nisha Desai Biswal,

School, colleges told to report absent students

who is on a visit to Bangladesh, offered US expertise in bolstering its counterterrorism capabilities following a string of terror attacks recently

DHAKA: The United States on Sunday offered its expertise to Bangladesh in bolstering its counterterrorism capabilities following a string of terror attacks, including the country’s worst terror attack on a cafe here that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners.

The US offer to was conveyed

by Nisha Desai Biswal, theAssistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, during her meeting with Foreign

DHAKA: Bangladesh government on Sunday ordered all educational institutions in the country to give lists of students who have been absent for over 10 straight days following reports that some of the militants who carried out recent terror attacks joined militant groups after running away from home.

The decision to demand the lists of students was taken at a meeting of Education Ministry officials, chaired by Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, at the Secretariat.

The ministry later issued an order in this regard, which

Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Foreign Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque here soon after her arrival.

Biswal, Washington’s point person for South Asia, offered US expertise in building Bangladesh’s

said the institutions will have to make the lists of the absentee students and submit them to the Upazila education officers, the bdnews reported.

The five militants who killed 22 people, including an Indian, after attacking an upscale Gulshan cafe on July 1 night and whose photos the IS reportedly released, had been missing or not contacting their families for several months, their relatives have said.

The suspected attacker of Sholakia Eid gathering last Thursday, who was killed in a firefight, had also been missing since March, police

counterterrorism capabilities in the wake of the July 1 terror attack in Dhaka, BD News reported.

“Our commitment to Bangladesh remains as robust as ever,” Biswal said. Her two-day visit comes a week after two recent

said. Four of these six youths were students of top English medium schools in Dhaka.

Two of them were students of private North South University and another of BRAC University.

Security forces have also alerted parents to report their missing children. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also asked people to inform police if any of the children in their families are missing.

After the cafe terror attack, parents of 10 more youths, who have been missing for several months, have sought police help to find them. - PTI

terror attacks in the country, including one on a cafe here and another at the country’s biggest Eid gathering at Sholakia in northern Kishoreganj district.

Biswal would meet Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood

Spate of attacks Earlier, the State Department said Biswal will meet with government officials to discuss “issues of shared concern” and offer US assistance to the Bangladeshi government’s efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism.

She will also meet with the embassy community, local business and other diplomatic representatives. Bangladesh has witnessed a spate of attacks in recent days. As many as 22 people, including 17 foreigners, were killed in the brutal late-night attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan area of the capital on July 1.

During a joint commando operation, six of the attackers were killed. The IS has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, Bangladesh government says the attacks were carried out by homegrown terror outfits.

Seventeen foreigners were among the victims. - PTI

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‘ P R OVO C AT I V E ’

Government bans televangelist Zakir Naik’s Peace TV DHAKA: Bangladesh government on Sunday banned the broadcasting of India-based controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s Peace TV channel after reports that his ‘provocative’ speeches inspired some of the militants who carried out the country’s worst terror attack at a cafe here.

The decision to ban the India-based preacher’s ‘Peace TV Bangla’ was taken during a special meeting of Cabinet Committee on

Law and Order, Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu, who chaired the meeting said.

In the meeting, attended by senior ministers and top security officials, it was also decided to monitor the sermons given during the Friday prayers to check whether any provocative lectures are delivered, Amu told reporters.

Naik’s speeches are believed to have inspired some of the Bangladeshi militants, who killed

SHOT DEAD

22 people, mostly foreigners, at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka on July 1.

Security forces Besides senior ministers, the meeting was attended by chief of police and head of the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), paramilitary border guards and top officials of different security agencies. Deployment of additional security forces at export processing

A11

zone was also ordered.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan had on Saturday said that Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies were investigating the preacher Naik. “He is on our security scanner... Our intelligence agencies are investigating his activities as his lectures appeared provocative,” Khan had said.

Khan said the investigators were also probing Naik’s financial transactions in Bangladesh.

The activities of Naik’s Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation are also under the scanner of Indian Home Ministry amid allegations that funds from abroad received by it have been spent on political activities and inspiring people towards radical views.

The Maharashtra state government has also ordered a probe into the sermons by the 50-year-old televangelist that has kicked up a storm. -PTI

B ATT L E F I E L D

Afghan forces’ casualties rising in 2016 KABUL: Afghan forces are suffering rising levels of battlefield casualties this year after unprecedented numbers of police and soldiers were killed and wounded in 2015, the top United States commander in Afghanistan said.

US Army General John Nicholson, in some of his first remarks since the United States last week scaled back its withdrawal plans, told a small group of reporters that the rising casualties were largely the result of Taliban attacks on fixed Afghan positions.

“This year, we’re seeing more tactical success (by the Afghans) on the battlefield but more casualties as well,” Nicholson said late on Saturday when asked about how Afghan forces were faring this year compared with 2015. He did not disclose figures.

A spokesman said on Sunday that Nicholson was referring to an increase so far in 2016 compared to the same period in 2015, and noted how fighting was more intense due to the milder winter this year. “It’s when they’re in a defensive posture, such as in checkpoints being overrun, is where the majority of the casualties are occurring,” Nicholson said.

5,000 forces killed More than 5,000 forces in Afghanistan were killed in action and over 14,000 were wounded in 2015, when the Taliban staged a series of attacks that upended US assumptions about the ability of Afghan forces to secure the country after more than 14-and-a-half years of war.

On July 6, US President Barack Obama scrapped plans to slash the number of US forces to 5,500 troops from 9,800 before he leaves office, citing precarious security in Afghanistan. Obama now plans to leave around 8,400 US troops.

United States allies are also renewing their commitments, and Nato agreed on Saturday to help fund Afghan forces to the tune of around $1 billion annually over the next three years. Nicholson praised Afghan forces. - Reuters

PA R L I A M E N TA RY P O L L S

Government critic killed in Cambodia PHNOM PENH: A critic of the Cambodian government was shot dead in the capital on Sunday at a time of rising political tension between Prime Minister Hun Sen and an opposition hoping to challenge his grip on power in elections as soon as next year.

Kem Ley, 46, the head of a grassroots advocacy group, ‘Khmer for Khmer’, was shot two times in a store at a gas station in Phnom Penh, police said.

“Kem Ley was shot dead,” Eng Hy, a spokesman for the National Military Police, said, but declined to provide further details. A 38year old suspect has been arrested, and has admitted to killing Kem Ley in a dispute over money, Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said.

On social media, Hun Sen condemned the attack, ordered an investigation into the killing and urged authorities to clamp down on firearms and explosives. “I pay my condolences over the death of Kem Ley, who was shot by a gunman,” Hun Sen said on his Facebook page.

“I condemn this brutal act.”

Videos of the attacker’s confession spread widely on social media soon after the killing. Reuters was unable to independently verify the video. In a news conference, police brought in the suspect before journalists. The suspect, who had blood on his head and shoulders, was identified as Chuop Somlap, which means ‘meet to kill’.

“It’s hard to believe that this is his

name, it may be fake,” Phnom Penh’s Police Chief Chuon Sovann said.

“We continue our investigation into people who are behind this.”

A witness saw Kem Ley’s body lying in a pool of blood on the floor of the store, with hundreds of onlookers gathered around it. A water bottle and a cellphone were strewn nearby. Kem Ley’s pregnant wife, Pou Rachana, wept.

“I don’t know what happened, somebody just called me and said that he’s shot,” Pou Rachana told Reuters. “He’s already dead,” she added, as investigators kept her away from the body of her husband.

Thousands of supporters formed a procession as Kem Ley’s body was taken to a local pagoda inside his own car, covered with flowers, fruits and incenses. The United States embassy in Phnom Penh said Kem Ley was one of Cambodia’s most prominent political analysts while Britain’s envoy called his death a serious loss to the country.

Political tension is growing between Hun Sen and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which wants to take on the prime minister in local elections in 2017 and a general election in 2018.

A popular political commentator and researcher, Kem Ley was frequently critical of Hun Sen’s administration, having most recently commented on a report by anti-corruption group. - Reuters

GRIEVING: Relatives of Kem Ley, anti-government figure and the head of a grassroots advocacy group, ‘Khmer for Khmer’ sit inside a gas station after he was shot dead in Phnom Penh, on Sunday. – Reuters

COUNTING: Election officers count votes at a ballot counting centre for Japan’s upper house election in Tokyo, on Sunday. – Reuters

Japan’s ruling bloc wins landslide in upper house election: Exit polls TOKYO: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition won a landslide victory on Sunday in an election for parliament’s upper house, media exit polls showed, despite concerns about his economic policies and a goal to revise the pacifist constitution.

Some of the exit polls also showed Abe’s coalition and likeminded parties had won the twothirds ‘super majority’ needed to try to revise the post-war constitution for the first time, though others only said the threshold was within reach.

Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a simple majority for the first time since 1989, according to the voter surveys, a victory that will bolster the premier’s grip over the conservative party that he led back to power in 2012 after three years in opposition.

A push to ease the charter’s constraints on the military operating overseas could lead to tension with China, where memories of Japan’s past militarism still arouse anger.

Tomomi Inada, the LDP’s policy chief, noted that the party had already crafted a draft revised constitution. “Our party is one that calls for reforming the constitution,” she told local television shortly after the polls closed.

In Japan, financial market players fear amending the charter will divert Abe’s energy away from reviving the stuttering economy.

Some voters who backed Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said the economy’s health was also their biggest concern.

‘Abenomics’ “Especially since I see economic growth as the priority, I have little hope for the opposition parties,” said Yoshihiko Takeda, a 36-yearold IT company employee.

Abe had cast the election as a referendum on his ‘Abenomics’ recipe of hyper-easy monetary policy, spending and reform. With signs the strategy is failing, the government plans to compile a post-election stimulus package that could exceed ¥10 trillion ($99

billion). But economists worry the government will choose big-ticket infrastructure projects rather than implement tough structural reforms.

Cabinet changes?

Abe is expected to reshuffle his cabinet after the election and speculation has emerged that Abe might replace Finance Minister Taro Aso, 75, among others. His minister for Okinawa, Aiko Shimajiri, was set to lose her seat, Kyodo news agency reported, citing early results.

The loss is a slap at a United States-Japan plan to relocate a controversial US-Marines airbase on the island, reluctant host to the bulk of America’s military forces in Japan.

A big win nationwide, however, will allow Abe to assert he has a mandate, but any such claim would be undermined if turnout in the election — which received minimal media attention — is low, as early estimates suggested. The voting age was lowered to 18 from

20 for the first time, another factor that could yield low turnout.

The opposition Democratic Party linked up with three smaller parties including the Japanese Communist Party to try to stop the pro-constitutional reform camp getting a super majority.

Conservatives see the constitution as a humiliating symbol of Japan’s defeat in World War II. Its admirers consider it the source of post-war peace and democracy.

Revising the charter needs the approval of two-thirds in both houses of parliament and a majority in a public referendum.

But most voters see no need to revise the constitution and the LDP’s dovish partner is reluctant to change its pacifist Article 9.

Noriko Okada, a 66-year-old interior decorator, said she voted for a Japan Communist Party candidate to show her opposition to constitutional revision. “ My ballot came from despair, rather than hope. I’m concerned about the Abe government,” she said. - Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM No words can explain Edhi’s personality This refers to the report ‘Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi mourned by residents in Oman’ (July 9). May Allah Bless his soul as he was a great man who lived just for humanity. He was poor but had the biggest foundation in the world for poor people with more than 15,000 ambulances, helicopters and homes . We don‘t have words to explain this personality.

— Adil Hussain Ghumman, Muscat via Facebook Maids like all workers should be paid and treated with dignity Scan this QR code This refers to the online report ‘Omani to send letters to the families turn to Uganda for hiring cheaper Readers’ Forum, housemaids’ (July 9)This is depressing. containing not more than 200 words with Most housemaids already receive very low full name, address salaries and are extremely overworked. and telephone Maids like all workers should be paid and number, may be sent treated with dignity. In fact having someby e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). one to give a hand cleaning or ironing once a week is considered a huge privilege in Europe. Only the absence of proper daycare systems here forced me to have a maid or I would not be able to work but i make sure she works five days a week, eighthours a day, has paid hollidays and all extra hours (babysitting) being paid extra. — Ana Jesus, Muscat via Facebook

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com The scientific name for an animal that doesn‘t either run from or fight its enemies is lunch.

MICHAEL FRIEDMAN

How to end hunger in a sustainable manner

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

Putin may be impressed by Donald Trump, but, judging by this tirade, he wouldn’t have been allowed to run for the State Duma. No one particularly colourful is. As Fyodor Krasheninnikov noted in a column for the daily ‘Vedomosti’, business figures are remarkably scarce on major party lists -- a major change from previous elections

L

ast September, world leaders made a commitment to end hunger by 2030, as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It sounds like a massive undertaking. In fact, the world already produces enough food to feed everyone. So why does the problem persist?

Poverty and hunger are intimately connected, which is why the SDGs target elimination of both.

For someone living at the World Bank’s poverty line of $1.90 per day, food would account for some 50-70 per cent of income. The Bank estimates that almost four-fifths of the world’s poor live in rural areas, though those areas account for less than half of the world’s population. The obvious conclusion is that raising rural incomes sustainably is required to eradicate hunger.

That will not be easy. Most developing countries nowadays are burdened by high rates of unemployment and underemployment. And with current economic prospects bleak, especially given low commodity prices, and insistence on fiscal austerity continuing in most places, downward pressure on rural incomes is likely to worsen.

But even if countries do manage to achieve inclusive growth, it will not be enough to eliminate hunger by 2030.

The only way to do that will be to implement well-designed social protection and scale up propoor investments.

According to the World Bank, one billion people in 146 low- and middle-income countries currently receive some form of social protection. Yet 870 million of those living in extreme poverty, mainly in rural areas, lack coverage.

Unsurprisingly, the greatest shortfalls are in low-income countries, where social protection covers less than one-tenth of the population, 47 per cent of which lives in extreme poverty. In the lower-middle-income countries, social protection reaches about a quarter of those living in extreme poverty, leaving about a half-billion people without coverage.

In the upper middle-income countries, about 45 per cent of those living in extreme poverty receive social-welfare benefits.

This is clearly not good enough. Improved social protection can help to ensure adequate food consumption and enable recipients to invest in

their own nutrition, health, and other productive capacities. As such investments sustainably raise incomes, they enable further increases in productive personal investments, thereby breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger.

Governments, too, have investments to make, in order to ensure that those who are currently mired in poverty reach the point where they can invest in themselves. An early big investment push would generate additional incomes sooner, reducing longer-term financing costs. Moreover, it would boost aggregate demand in a world economy that badly needs it.

The world can afford the needed investment.

According to estimates by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP), it would cost the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of the world’s 2014 income.

All that is needed is for wealthier countries to provide budgetary support and technical assistance to the low-income countries that need it.

(Most middle-income countries can afford the needed financing themselves.)

It should not be difficult to generate the political will to provide the needed support, at least in theory. After all, it has been more than a half-century since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and its Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which treats the material needs of all persons as a fundamental human right. A few years earlier, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “freedom from want” – which, presumably, includes freedom from hunger – one of four essential freedoms of which people “everywhere in the world” should be assured.

Now, with the adoption of the SDGs, governments everywhere are obliged to take responsibility for ending poverty and hunger, as well as for creating the conditions for ensuring that both are permanently overcome. The upcoming High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development presents an important opportunity to forge the path ahead, setting near- and mediumterm priorities.

Ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way is morally right, politically beneficial, and economically feasible. For world leaders, inaction is no longer an option. - Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JULY 2001 Corrupt recruiting agents are behind most problems related to labour MUSCAT: They had spent huge amounts back home to obtain their tickets and to pay the agents concerned to come to Oman.

Some of them have to sold off their properties, pawned their spouse’s gold, borrowed from many sources…in short, even when they go back they would have to deal with innumerable problems while these poor labourers are facing an increasingly uphill task in trying to solve their problems here, the sad part is that even when they go back, their existence was bound to be mired in further difficulties.

PICTOGRAPH PROPORTION OF OWN-ACCOUNT AND CONTRIBUTING FAMILY WORKERS IN TOTAL EMPLOYMENT

4.5% 1993

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

1708: The French are defeated at Oudenarde, Malplaquet, in the Netherlands by the Duke of Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy.

2.5% 2010

1942: Fourty-four British Lancaster bombers attack the Polish port of Danzig..

1995: Full diplomatic relations are established between the United States and Vietnam.

Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

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GLOBAL EYE

UNITED KINGDOM: Members of the British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, perform ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, United Kingdom, on Sunday.— AFP

NORTH KOREA: North Koreans sit on rides at a fairground in Pyongyang, on Saturday. — AFP

SOUTH KOREA: Panda Le Bao plays with his ice cake during a birthday event for a pair of giant pandas at South Korea’s Everland Amusement and Animal Park in Yongin, near Seoul, on Sunday. — AFP

KENTUCKY: Firefighters work to extinguish a car fire in the parking lot during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday in Sparta, Kentucky, United States.

— Dylan Buell/Getty Images/AFP

PORTUGAL: Canadian band Arcade Fire’s Regine Chassagne per-

forms during a concert at the Alive Festival in Oeiras, near Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday. — AFP

THE NETHERLANDS: Dutch girl Sofiye Boyuksimsek, 10, concentrates as she plays with Charlie Robot, who is helping her learn how to manage her diabetes at the Gelderse Vallei hospital in Ede, The Netherlands, on June 28, 2016, in this picture released on Sunday.

Cheeky Ruben is just seven and learning to read. But thanks to his new knee-high buddy Charlie robot he can expertly measure his blood sugar and count carbohydrates in a glass of milk. — AFP

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GLOBAL EYE

INDIA: A participant rides through a pool of water while taking part in the Monsoon Scooter Rally in Mumbai, India on Sunday. — Reuters

TEXAS: James Butler drives a vintage Vespa scooter with his Goldendoodle Nelson in the sidecar in Dallas, Texas, United States, on Saturday. — Reuters

CHINA: An aerial view shows a lotus field in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on Saturday. — Reuters/Stringer

CHINA: Goats fight with each other during a local event in Linquan county, Anhui Province, China, on Saturday. — Reuters/Stringer

FRANCE: France supporters pose prior to the Euro 2016 final football match between Portugal and France at the Champ-deMars fan zone in Paris, France on Sunday. — AFP

FRANCE: This picture taken on Sunday shows the international tapestry centre in Aubusson, France. — AFP

CANADA: Western cowboy artist Rosanna Marmont paints and sells her art works at the western art exhibit during the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Saturday. — Reuters

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

A15

WORLD Egypt offers help to revive Middle East peace process Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called for confidencebuilding measures that could lead to renewed peace negotiations during a rare visit to Israel

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Egypt’s foreign minister paid a rare visit to Israel on Sunday, offering Cairo’s help to revive peace talks with the Palestinians, in a sign of strengthened ties between two countries sharing deep concern over regional unrest.

Sameh Shoukry’s visit was the first made by an Egyptian foreign minister in nine years and he travelled to occupied Jerusalem for two meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

As Netanyahu looked on, Shoukry said the vision of a twostate solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “is not far-fetched” and he called for confidencebuilding measures that could lead to renewed peace negotiations that collapsed in 2014.

“It is no longer acceptable to claim that the status quo is the most that we can achieve of the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” Shoukry said. The current state of affairs, said the Egyptian diplomat, who held talks in the occupied West Bank on June 29 with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, “is neither stable nor sustainable”.

In May Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi urged both sides

WARM WELCOME: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, left, in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday. – Reuters

to seize the opportunity to make a historic peace, offering Israel the prospect of warmer ties if this were achieved.

Sisi offered the 2002 Arab peace initiative as a potential way ahead.

The initiative offered full recognition of Israel but only if it gave up all land seized in the 1967 Middle East war and agreed to a “just solution” for Palestinian refugees.

Shoukry said Egypt was offering “all possible forms of support” to achieve peace and security in the Middle East.

“A multitude of ideas and initiatives have been proposed to make it a practical reality - particularly the Arab peace initiative,” he said.

“However, achieving this vision requires serious steps to build confidence, as well as a genuine will that does not waver or wane under any circumstance.”

Netanyahu has said he would be willing to discuss the Arab peace plan but that changes would have to be made. Greeting Shoukry on Sunday, Netanyahu repeated his call for Palestinians to resume di-

P L A N F O R L A R G E R A S S A U LT

Dallas killer deftly improvised during attack, says police chief DALLAS: The suspect who killed five police officers in Dallas last week had prepared a larger assault on law enforcement, the city’s police chief said on Sunday, citing evidence gathered from the killer’s home that showed he had practiced with explosives.

“We’re convinced that this suspect had other plans,” Police Chief David Brown told CNN, adding that the recent deaths of AfricanAmericans at the hands of police in Minnesota and Louisiana led the Texas shooter to “fast track” his plans. Brown also vigorously defended his decision to use a bomb mounted on a robot to kill the gunman while he was holed up after killing the five officers.

He said he approved the plan to detonate a bomb with “about of pound” of C-4 explosives after two hours of fruitless talks with the suspect, who sang, laughed and taunted with police negotiators. The sniper, Micah X. Johnson, a black US military veteran of the Afghan war, said he wanted to “kill white people” following the fatal shootings of two black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota, officials said.

His attack came on Thursday evening during a protest in downtown Dallas against the fatal shootings of African American men in Baton Rouge and a Minneapolis suburb. The shooting spree amplified a turbulent week in the United States, as the issues of race, gun violence and use of lethal force by law enforcement again convulsed the nation. The fatal shooting of the five officers has not slowed the protests, and more demonstrations against police violence broke out in several US cities on Saturday.

Nearly two dozen law enforcement officers were injured and more than 100 protesters arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota, overnight as demonstrators blocked a major highway. Dozens of protesters were arrested overnight in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and angry demonstrators marched from New York’s City Hall to Times Square.

During Thursday’s demonstration, Johnson demonstrated

Shootings cast shadow over Obama’s visit to Spain MADRID: US President Barack Obama met the king of Spain and acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Sunday, but the trip that was meant to show solidarity with Europe has been overshadowed by violent events in the United States.

The visit is Obama’s first to Spain as president.

White House officials said it was important for Obama to make the trip, because Spain, which has been without a functioning government since December, was the only major European country he had not travelled to during his presidency.

Obama was supposed to

an ability to improvise by “leapfrogging” ahead of marchers and choosing a number of optimal positions from which to open fire on police, Brown told CNN. Police had expected the Dallas protesters to remain in one area of the city centre, but demonstrators spontaneously decided to march in a different direction, Brown said.

Authorities believe the shooter drove until he was well ahead of the protesters, stopping where he saw an opportunity to take “high ground” in buildings, Brown said.

Because police had not planned to close streets, officers became exposed when engaged in crowd control, Brown said. Johnson’s military training aided his ability to shoot and rapidly move to other positions to fire again, single-handedly “triangulating” his fire so that police at first believed their were multiple shooters. “We don’t normally see this kind of running and shooting from crimi-

spend two days in Spain after attending a NATO summit in Warsaw where the United States, Spain and other allies pledged to stand united in the face of threats from Russia and fallout from Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

But, after a sniper killed five police officers in Dallas on Thursday following the fatal shootings of two black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota, the White House cut short the trip so Obama could go to Dallas.

Plans for sightseeing in Seville and a town hall meeting with Spanish citizens were cancelled. — Reuters

nal suspects,” Brown said.

Although police believe Johnson acted alone, “we still have not ruled out whether or not others were complicit,” Brown said.

Brown also revealed in the CNN interview that Johnson wrote the letters “RB” in his own blood when engaged in a standoff with police, a mysterious clue that remains under investigation, the Dallas police chief said.

“He wrote some lettering in blood on the walls, which leads us to believe he was wounded on the way up the stairwell,” Brown said, adding that police were trying to decipher what RB meant. In taking personal responsibility for approving the plan in the aftermath of Thursday’s attack, Brown said he was convinced the gunman would have sought to harm other police officers if he had hesitated to give the go-ahead. “I approved it and would do it again if presented with same circumstances,” Brown told CNN. — Reuters

rect negotiations with Israel, and welcomed Egypt’s efforts to resolve that conflict and achieve “a broader peace in our region”.

Egypt was the first of a handful of Arab countries to recognise Israel with a US-sponsored peace accord in 1979, but Egyptians’ attitudes to their neighbour remain icy. However, cooperation between the two governments has strengthened under Sisi, with Egypt facing insurgents in Sinai near its eastern neighbour’s border and both countries wary of

Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

“The situation of the Middle East is becoming ever more volatile and dangerous, particularly as the phenomenon of terrorism continues to grow and proliferate, representing an existential threat to the peoples of the region and the world at large,” Shoukry said.

In a report published on July 1, the Quartet of Middle East peace sponsors hailed the Arab peace initiative’s “vision for comprehensive settlement” of the ArabIsraeli conflict. — Reuters

UNITED KINGDOM

Labour Party heads for bitter leadership contest LONDON: Britain’s opposition Labour Party is set for a bitter battle over its future after leader Jeremy Corbyn said he expected to be on the ballot automatically for a leadership contest and would fight any attempt to prevent him entering the race.

Labour has been thrown into crisis since Britain’s vote last month to leave the European Union, with Corbyn refusing to step down despite mass resignations from his policy team and a no-confidence motion passed by an overwhelming majority of his party’s lawmakers. One of them, Angela Eagle, has said she will formally launch a bid on Monday to replace Corbyn as party leader, saying he has failed to lead Labour parliamentarians as an organised and effective force to hold the government to account.

Eagle said an election, due in 2020, could come early and her party needed to be ready. “(Corbyn) doesn’t connect with Labour voters, he doesn’t connect enough to win an election ... and I really think now the time is for him to consider his position,” she said.

Corbyn told the BBC: “I’m expecting to be on the ballot paper because the rules of the party indicate that the existing leader, if challenged, should be on the ballot paper anyway.” He said legal advice he had received backed this view.

Eagle said she had the 51 nominations by lawmakers required to mount a challenge and that while she believed it was party precedent that Corbyn would need the same level of support from colleagues to take part in the leadership ballot, it would be up to the party’s national executive committee to decide.

Some Labour lawmakers fear Corbyn, who spent three decades on the hard-left fringe of the party before a surprise wave of grassroots enthusiasm swept him to victory in a leadership contest last September, will be voted back in by the party membership if he makes it on to the ballot. — Reuters

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WORLD

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China medical costs forcing patients into crippling debt Personal medical expenditure expected to hit $1.9 trillion by 2025 as public health insurance broad but shallow

SHANGHAI/LONDON: As China’s medical bills rise steeply, outpacing government insurance provision, patients and their families are increasingly turning to loans to pay for healthcare, adding to the country’s growing burden of consumer debt.

While public health insurance reaches nearly all of China’s 1.4 billion people, its coverage is basic, leaving patients liable for about half of total healthcare spending, with the proportion rising further for serious or chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

That is likely to get significantly worse as the personal healthcare bill soars almost fourfold to 12.7 trillion yuan ($1.9 trillion) by 2025, according to Boston Consulting Group estimates.

For many, like Li Xinjin, a construction materials trader whose son was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2009, that means taking on crippling debt. Li, from Cangzhou in Hebei province, scoured local papers and websites for small lenders to finance his son’s costly treatment at a specialist hospital in Beijing, running up debts of more than 1.7 million yuan, about 10 times his typical annual income.

“At that time, borrowing money and having to make repayments, I was very stressed. Every day I worried about this,” said Li, 47,

COSTLY TREATMENT: A cancer patient pushes his drip stand as he walks down the hallway of a hospital in Beijing, China on July 12, 2011. – Reuters file

adding that he and his wife had at times slept rough on the streets near the hospital. “But I couldn’t let my son down. I had to try to save him,” he said. Li’s boy died last year.

The debts will weigh him down for a few more years yet.

Medical loans are just part of China’s debt mountain - consumer borrowing has tripled since 2010 to nearly 21 trillion yuan, and in eight years household debt relative to the economy has dou-

bled to nearly 40 per cent - but they are growing.

That is luring big companies like Ping An Insurance Group, as well as small loan firms and P2P platforms, as China’s traditional savings culture proves inadequate to the challenge of such heavy costs. The stress is particularly apparent in lower-tier cities and rural areas where insurance has failed to keep pace with rising costs, said Andrew Chen, Shanghai-based healthcare head for

consultancy Parthenon-EY. “It’s a storm waiting to happen where patients from rural areas will have huge financial burdens they didn’t have to face before,” he said, adding people would often take second mortgages on their homes or turn to community finance schemes.

China’s government has moved to ramp up rural health insurance, boost coverage for major illnesses and put pressure on drug companies to slash prices, but it is an uphill battle. Official data show up to 44 per cent of families pushed into poverty were impoverished by illness. The Ministry of Health, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment, is currently investigating the impact of these costs on the country’s labour force.

“Typically, what happens in

China is the whole family contributes when someone gets a severe disease like cancer,” Severin Schwan, chief executive of Roche Holding AG, the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, told Reuters. “When it comes to innovative medicines, the financial burden is just too much. Families can go broke.”

Roche itself has schemes in China to make cancer drugs more affordable, including an insurance scheme developed with Swiss Re. There are no reliable figures for total healthcare lending, as lenders do not usually advance the money for healthcare-specific purposes. “If you want to use it for medical bills, cosmetic surgery or plastic surgery that’s all fine,” says Ping An Puhui, which advertises that its loans can “alleviate the pain of illness” and “bring new hope to sick families”.

But there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from online lenders that it is a growing segment.

“Our loan numbers have risen steadily, and no small number of people have used these for medical purposes,” said Li Jin, a customer service worker at peer-topeer (P2P) lender ppdai.com.

“Healthcare costs are high, and lots of people don’t have good state cover, so they need a loan.”

China Minsheng Banking Corp has launched a healthcare loan scheme in the western city of Chengdu, while Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co Ltd rolled out a loan scheme in April to help patients access expensive drugs.

Some desperate patients are pawning their personal belongings. “They use things of various value from jewellery to purses and even cars,” said Chen Yi, an office worker at online lender minbaodai.cn.

“Previously the majority of people were looking for extra cash flow for their business, but last year and this we’ve seen a rise in healthcare loans.” — Reuters

TURKEY

Kurdish militant attacks kill six in southeast DIYARBAKIR (TURKEY): Two bomb attacks by Kurdish militants ripped through a military outpost and an army vehicle in southeast Turkey on Sunday, killing six members of the armed forces, the military said, showing no let-up in a conflict which flared a year ago.

It was the third such attack in the last 24 hours in the mainly Kurdish region, where a two-yearold ceasefire between the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and the state collapsed last July. Since then, thousands of PKK fighters, security force members and civilians have died in fighting across the region.

In the latest violence, a roadside bomb planted by PKK guerrillas ripped through a military vehicle and killed four soldiers on the road between Semdinli and Aktutun in Hakkari province, along the border with Iraq, an army statement said.

It said one soldier was also wounded in the attack, which occurred at 12:05pm (0905 GMT).

Security sources said army border units were put on alert and an airbacked operation was launched to find those responsible.

The attacks come after reports that senior PKK commander Fehman Huseyin was killed on Friday in a bomb attack on a car in which he was travelling in northeast Syria. The report by Turkey’s staterun Anadolu Agency has not been confirmed.

Elsewhere in southeast Turkey, PKK militants carried out a car bomb attack on a military outpost in the Ercis district of Van province overnight, killing one soldier and a member of the state-sponsored village guard militia, the army said. It said ten soldiers and five village guards were wounded.

Further west, along the border with Syria, PKK guerrillas staged a car bomb attack around midday on Saturday targeting a military installation in Mardin province, killing two soldiers and a civilian and wounding dozens, security sources said. — Reuters

ELECTORAL COMMISSION DECISION

Zambia halts campaigning in capital over violence LUSAKA: Zambia’s electoral commission has suspended campaigning in two areas, including the capital Lusaka, due to escalating political violence before the August 11 elections, it said late on Saturday.

Police in Lusaka on Friday shot dead one opposition supporter in a group that took to the streets, harassing motorists and attacking police after their political party was denied permission to hold a rally, police chief Kakoma Kanganja said in a statement.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) said it was suspending campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala south of the capital for 10 days until July 18 when the situation would be reviewed.

“During the suspension there shall be no public rallies, meetings, processions or door to door

UNREST: Zambian Police patrolling near the Chawama Compound where residents have attacked and looted foreign-run shops in Lusaka in this file photo taken on April 19, 2016. – Reuters

campaigns,” it said in a statement.

The ECZ said all vehicles carrying political party campaign messages in the two areas should be parked. “Campaigns shall be restricted to electronic and print

media publicity and hate speech will not be entertained,” it said.

The ECZ had received reports of political violence in three other towns in southern Zambia and warned it would halt campaigning there if violence persisted, it said.

“The commission appeals to all political party leaders to counsel and control their cadres in the interest of making peace in our country,” the ECZ said in a statement. The ECZ on June 19 threatened to bar campaigning due to growing cases of violence, after clashes between supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front party and the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

President Edgar Lungu has been in power for just over a year after winning a ballot triggered by the death of his predecessor, Michael Sata. — Reuters

S PA I N

Two gored on fourth day of San Fermin bull-run festival PAMPLONA (SPAIN): Two people were gored on Sunday on the fourth day of the San Fermin festival in northern Spain, where bulls chase red-scarved runners through the streets of Pamplona.

A man also died after being injured in a local bull-run the night before, the same day as a bullfighter and another man participating in a village event were killed in two of the many summer festivals in Spain.

San Fermin is the most famous of the festivals, attracting thousands of revellers who visit from around the world to witness the bull runs spread over eight days along an 825-metre route through Pamplona’s old town.

The two men were gored in the neck and chest respectively, the festival’s organisers said on their Twitter account. Three others suffered trauma-related injuries.

DEADLY REVELERY: A ‘recortador’ puts a ring on a wild cow’s horn during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Sunday. – Reuters

Authorities said on Sunday that a 65-year-old man had died in a bull-run the previous night in the small town of Fuentesauco close to the university city of Salamanca.

The man was pronounced dead in hospital after the bull’s horn pierced his chest three times when it caught him in a blind alley, a local newspaper, La Opinion de Zamora, said. — Reuters

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM M ON DAY, JULY 11, 2016

SAUDI ARABIAN STOCKS RISE

MARKE

Saudi Arabian stocks had their biggest gain in two weeks as trading resumed in most Gulf Arab equity markets and investors prepared for release of financial results in the kingdom.

The Tadawul All Share Index led the advance, adding 0.7 per cent at 11:28am in Riyadh. — Bloomberg News

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

‘Energy efficiency key for Sultanate’s power sector’ and building long lasting partnerships.

Due to population growth people need new homes, which Siemens can help by supplying electricity with more energy efficiency, the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Siemens Middle East and

Energy efficiency will remain a key topic in Oman and other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Our technology can provide innovative solutions to customers to protect their investments.

This is where our innovation comes in and we can add value to our customers Alia Al Rifai Chief Financial Officer for Siemens Middle East and UAE

the United Arab Emirates, said

said, adding that the power sector is rapidly growing in Oman, Al Rifai added.

MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

Siemens Technology Siemens Technology has helped Oman save 31 per cent of its gas in power generation and our technology saves a big percentage of Oman’s gas reserves for export rather than for power generation,” newly appointed CFO Alia Al Rifai told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

“Energy efficiency will remain a key topic in Oman and other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. Our technology can provide innovative solutions to customers

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman is a market that is brimming with opportunities across different sectors, particularly in energy, said the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Siemens Middle East and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Due to the population growth people need new homes, which we can help by supplying electricity with more energy efficiency, she

to protect their investments. This is where our innovation comes in and we can add value to our customers,” she added.

Speaking about the current business of Siemens during the economic downturn, Al Rifai said, “We will continue doing what we do best—supply great technology and create value for the region’s countries.”

“Our company’s Vision 2020 is also very much in line with the ambitions of local countries to look at energy efficiency and their economies after oil. We want to help them implement those visions with the right technologies,” CFO Al Rifai added.

M E M O R A N D U M O F U N D E R S TA N D I N G

– Supplied picture

Deal signed to achieve synergy in oil and gas upstream sector Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production (OOCEP), a subsidiary of Oman Oil Company (OOC), and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company (PTTEP), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 10, 2016.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, both parties will share information and experience in the relevant areas and also exchange technical information and data to identify and progress areas of mutual

interests. The agreement was signed by Eng. Isam Bin Saud Al Zadjali, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Oil Company and Somporn Vongvuthipornchai , chief executive officer of PTTEP. Potential opportunities Commenting on this agreement Eng. Isam Al Zadjali said, “By way of this MoU, OOCEP and PTTEP will explore potential cooperation opportunities between the two parties to achieve synergy in oil and gas upstream sector. Both parties will discuss areas of mutual interest to identify business

initiatives and investment areas.”

Somporn said: “We are delighted that OOCEP and PTTEP, the two national oil companies, have come up to this Memorandum of Understanding. PTTEP has been operating in Oman for over 10 years. And it is PTTEP’s intention to explore for more business cooperation and opportunities for mutual benefit of the two parties, both in Oman and Thailand.”

OOCEP is one of the core verticals of OOC driving investments in exploration and production in operated and non-operated assets both inside and outside Oman.

Speaking about her new role in Siemens as its CFO, Al Rifai said, “I’m very excited about taking on my new responsibilities.

We have a lot of potential to strengthen our presence in the region, which continues to present great opportunities for Siemens across different sectors.”

“My job is to continue building on our past successes, focusing on different topics, including people development, energy efficiency and digitalisation,” she added.

The key areas that Al Rifai is looking to strengthen at Siemens in this region is to build and develop local talent, creating a strong sustainable presence in the region

Healthy competition According to the new CFO, competition is very healthy in the region. “Siemens has been in the region for a long time and we’re here to stay. We have a long-term strategy and are fully committed to the region. The region is full of opportunities and we have the right technologies to help our customers meet current market challenges across different sectors,” Al Rifai said.

With Al Rifai’s career at Siemens spanning close to two decades, she had witnessed the growth of Siemens in the region.

“We have strengthened our local presence in the region and specifically GCC countries tremendously. We have local presence in every country and we play a major role in the different sectors we operate in,” she stated.

“Our workforce has expanded to more than 6,000 people, who are based in the region.

This has made us closer to our customers and helped us understand their requirements and serve them faster and better,” she added. “Siemens in the region has grown along with the countries it operates in, assisting them with their infrastructure development and contributing to local value creation.

We look forward to doing more and to assisting countries in their drive towards economic diversification and building knowledge-based economies,” she further said.

TRADE MINISTERS MEETING

Global investment poised to fall by 15% in 2016: G20 SHANGHAI: Global crossborder investment will probably decline by as much as 15 per cent this year as trade remains sluggish, China’s commerce minister said after a Group of 20 trade ministers meeting Sunday.

The G-20 representatives pledged to increase their efforts to facilitate trade and urged other World Trade Organisation member nations to do likewise to enable global commerce, Gao Hucheng said at Sunday’s briefing.

The ministers had met in China’s financial capital for two days of talks on how to boost investment cooperation before heads of state convene for a September 4-5 leaders summit in the eastern city of Hangzhou.

The ministers projected a 10 per cent to 15 per cent drop in crossborder investment this year, Gao said. Britain’s referendum in favor of leaving the European Union will crimp global trade in the short term, and a G-20 workshop will study the potential impact, China’s Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said at the briefing.

In February, finance chiefs and central bankers from the group agreed to consult closely on foreign-exchange markets and reiterated pledges to refrain from competitive devaluations. Since then, currency markets have been roiled

by Brexit, which caused the pound to plunge and helped drag down China’s yuan.

The G-20 opposes protectionism and supports establishing new investment principles that are open, non-discriminatory, transparent and predictable, the group said in a statement.— Bloomberg News

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,818.45 ...............5,813.84 ................... 5,816.26 ....................5,811.82....................4.44 ...................0.08 Financial Index ..................................... 7,327.10 ...............7,306.62 ................... 7,306.62 ...................7,320.60................ -13.98 .................. -0.19 Industrial Index ....................................7,478.95 ...............7,467.24 .................... 7,471.21 ................... 7,468.07.................... 3.14 ...................0.04 Services Index ...................................... 3,254.48 ...............3,247.93 ....................3,253.74 ................... 3,247.93.................... 5.81 ................... 0.18 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................896.12 .................. 895.13 .......................895.13 ...................... 894.69....................0.44 ................... 0.05 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 9,573,830....................2,090,253 .....................596 ............... 17,066,082,817 .................. 8 ......................11 ....................24 .........................43

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JULY 10 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture

REGULAR MARKET .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ..........................61,000 ............. 14,011........................7 ........... 0.236 ...........0.236 ...........0.225........... 0.230 .............0.225 ........... 0.005.............2.222 ................0.225..............0.223...................0.228 .................. 28,726,531 .........0.100

MSM index ends higher

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 420,000........... 49,560........................5 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............0.118 ............0.118 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.002............. 1.724 ................0.118 .............. 0.112................... 0.118 ....................6,943,500 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................27,000 ...............2,025........................2 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351.................0.075..............0.073...................0.075...................13,125,000 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 443,691 ............62,713..................... 43 ............0.141 ........... 0.145 ...........0.140............0.141 .............0.140 ............0.001 ............. 0.714 ................0.141 ..............0.140................... 0.141 ...................12,690,000.........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................96,037 ............ 55,808.....................22 ........... 0.580 ...........0.584 ...........0.580........... 0.582 .............0.578 ........... 0.004............. 0.692 ................0.582..............0.582...................0.584...................32,010,000.........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 168,396 ......... 278,170.....................22 ............1.650 ........... 1.670 ...........1.650 ............1.650 .............1.640 ............0.010 ............. 0.610 ................1.670 ..............1.660...................1.665 ................1,237,500,000 ......0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 433,353 .........323,092..................... 26 ............0.744 ........... 0.748 ...........0.744........... 0.744 .............0.740 ........... 0.004............. 0.541 ................0.748 ..............0.744...................0.748................. 484,302,507 .......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 112,600............28,600........................3 ........... 0.254 ...........0.254 ...........0.254........... 0.254 .............0.254 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.254..............0.254...................0.279...................25,400,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................ 11,000 .............14,630........................2 ............1.330 ........... 1.330 ...........1.330 ........... 1.330 .............1.330............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.330 ..............1.330...................1.460................. 266,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 214,199.............42,179..................... 10 ............0.197 ........... 0.197 ...........0.195 ............0.197 ............. 0.197............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.196 .............. 0.195...................0.197...................39,400,000.........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 1,764,332 ...... 310,065...................105 ............0.175 ........... 0.178 ...........0.175 ............0.176 ............. 0.176............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.176 .............. 0.175...................0.176 ...................30,800,432.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............32,250 ............... 8,127........................3 ........... 0.252 ...........0.252 ...........0.252........... 0.252 .............0.252 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.252..............0.252...................0.260 ...................5,292,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................63,479 .............15,996........................3 ........... 0.252 ...........0.252 ...........0.250........... 0.252 .............0.252 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.252..............0.250...................0.252 ..................74,645,848.........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ......................................................................83,001 .............14,857........................2 ............0.179 ........... 0.179 ...........0.179 ............0.179 ............. 0.179............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.179 .............. 0.175...................0.179 ..................255,081,470........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 100,330 ........... 23,277........................4 ........... 0.232 ...........0.232 ...........0.232........... 0.232 .............0.232 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.232..............0.232...................0.250 .................394,214,725........0.100

Construction Materials was top gainer, up

OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 494,097 ..........187,750................... 101 ........... 0.380 ...........0.380 ...........0.378........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.378..............0.378...................0.380 .................948,575,098........0.100

3.23 per cent, while the top loser was Al

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 322,969 ............56,517........................7 ............0.175 ........... 0.175............0.174 ............0.175 ............. 0.175............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.175 .............. 0.175...................0.180..................280,787,385 ........0.100

Hassan Engineering down 2.44 per cent

OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION .................................. 1,500 ...............7,050........................1 ........... 4.700 ...........4.700 ...........4.700........... 4.700 .............4.700 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................4.700............. 0.000...................4.850 .................. 45,967,015 .........1.000

OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .........................................2,970 ...................891........................2 ........... 0.300...........0.300 ...........0.300 .......... 0.302 .............0.302 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.300 ............ 0.290...................0.300 .................. 87,776,608 .........0.100

OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ...........................................................165 .....................71........................1 ........... 0.432 ...........0.432 ...........0.432........... 0.432 .............0.432 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.432..............0.432...................0.000 ..................26,136,000 .........0.100

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.............................................. 186,130 ............ 44,676......................12 ........... 0.240...........0.245 ...........0.240 .......... 0.240 .............0.240 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.240 ............ 0.240...................0.260 .................229,097,268........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................... 5,131 ...............1,044........................4 ........... 0.204...........0.204 ...........0.203........... 0.203 .............0.203 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.203............. 0.202...................0.203 .................145,024,487........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................31,050 .............14,594........................4 ........... 0.470 ...........0.470 ...........0.470........... 0.470 .............0.470 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.470..............0.462...................0.470...................24,675,000.........0.100

MUSCAT: The MSM30 Index remained stable amid subdued trading volume to close at 5,816.26 points, up 0.08 per cent.

The MSM Sharia Index gained 0.05 per cent to finish at 895.13 points. Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Ooredoo was the most active in terms of turnover. Construction Materials was Sunday’s top gainer, up 3.23 per cent, while the top loser was Al Hassan Engineering down 2.44 per cent.

A total number of 596 trades were executed on Sunday, generating turnover of OMR2.1 million with 9.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, eight advanced, 11 declined and 24 remained unchanged. At the session close, Omani investors were net buyers for OMR21,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR10,000 while GCC & Arab Investors were net sellers for OMR31,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index declined 0.19 per cent to close at 7,306.62 points. Gulf Investment Ser-

vices, Al Madina Takaful and Al Sharqia Investments gained 1.72 per cent, 1.35 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively. Al Madina Investment, Oman & Emirates Holding, Al Batinah Development, HSBC Bank and Global Financial Investment declined 1.61 per cent, 1.45 per cent, 1.23 per cent, 1.01 per cent and 0.74 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index was stable at 7,471.21 points, up 0.04 per cent. Construction Materials and Al Jazeera Steel gained 3.23 per cent and 2.22 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering, Oman Fisheries, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cement decreased 2.44 per cent, 1.59 per cent, 0.91 per cent and 0.42 per cent respectively.

Services Index gained 0.18 per cent to close at 3,253.74 points.

National Gas, Omantel and Ooredoo increased 0.69 per cent, 0.61 per cent and 0.54 per cent respectively. Al Jazeera Services and Port Services declined 1.86 per cent and 1.64 per cent respectively. — United Securities

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 22,200 .............10,483........................3 ............0.474 ........... 0.474 ...........0.470........... 0.472 .............0.474 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.422 ...............0.470..............0.428...................0.470.................. 156,171,919 ........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................. 50,000 ...............6,750........................4 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.135 ............0.135 ............. 0.136............-0.001 ........... -0.735................0.135 ..............0.132...................0.135 ...................27,000,000.........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 2,232,781 ...... 243,733..................... 66 ............0.109 ........... 0.110............0.109........... 0.109 ............. 0.110............-0.001 ........... -0.909 ...............0.109..............0.109...................0.110 ................... 31,607,889 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 653,834 ........... 64,126......................21 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.098........... 0.098 .............0.099 ...........-0.001 ............-1.010................0.098..............0.097...................0.098..................196,030,653 ........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 179,970.............14,425........................5 ............0.081 ........... 0.081 ...........0.080........... 0.080 ............. 0.081............-0.001 ............-1.235................0.081 ..............0.081...................0.089....................2,400,000..........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 198,400 ...........26,940......................19 ............0.135 ........... 0.137 ...........0.135 ............0.136 ............. 0.138............-0.002 ........... -1.449 ...............0.136 .............. 0.135...................0.137 ...................16,575,000 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................35,000 ............... 2,135........................2 ............0.061 ........... 0.061 ...........0.061 ........... 0.061 .............0.062 ...........-0.001 ............-1.613 ................0.061 ..............0.061...................0.062 ..................12,636,234 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................ 50,000 ............ 12,000........................1 ........... 0.240...........0.240 ...........0.240 .......... 0.240 .............0.244 ...........-0.004 ............-1.639................0.240 ............ 0.240...................0.244 ..................22,809,600.........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................19,400 ...............4,086........................4 ............0.214 ........... 0.214 ...........0.210............0.211 ............. 0.215............-0.004 ........... -1.860 ...............0.210..............0.205...................0.210................... 12,914,102 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 8,516,265.......1,940,380 ............... 516 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................... 29,748 ..................940........................4 ........... 0.032 ...........0.032 ...........0.031 ........... 0.032 ............. 0.031.............0.001 ............. 3.226 ................0.032.............. 0.031...................0.032 ...................2,720,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001152 ............OMAN NATIONAL ENGINE. INVT. ...................... 10,663 ...............2,079........................3 ............0.195 ........... 0.195 ...........0.194............0.195 ............. 0.195............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.194 .............. 0.187...................0.195 ...................19,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000001806............MUSCAT NATIONAL HOLDING ............................18,642 ............ 33,526........................2 ............1.770 ........... 1.800 ...........1.770 ........... 1.800 .............1.800 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.800............. 0.000................... 1.795 ....................9,000,000 ..........1.000 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 157,557 .............12,414........................9 ........... 0.080 ...........0.080 ...........0.078........... 0.079 .............0.079 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.078..............0.078...................0.079..................118,500,000........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................72,893 ...............4,385..................... 10 ........... 0.060 ........... 0.061 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.059...................0.060 ..................60,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................10,000 ...............1,220........................1 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.122........... 0.122 .............0.122 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.122.............. 0.118...................0.122...................12,200,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 450,141............ 72,998..................... 26 ............0.162 ........... 0.163 ...........0.162 ........... 0.162 .............0.162............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.162 .............. 0.161...................0.162..................236,941,437........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 167,600.............10,459......................11 ........... 0.064 ...........0.064 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.063 ...........-0.001 ............-1.587................0.062..............0.062...................0.063.................... 7,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 112,130 ...............8,967..................... 10 ........... 0.080 ...........0.082 ...........0.079........... 0.080 .............0.082 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.439 ...............0.079.............. 0.071...................0.080 ................... 6,016,640 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,029,374 ...... 146,987..................... 76 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 9........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS AND SUKUK MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ............................................. 9,502 ...............1,007........................2 ............0.106 ........... 0.106 ...........0.105 ........... 0.106 .............0.106 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.105 ..............0.105...................0.000 ..................33,882,124 .........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ..................... 18,689 ............... 1,879........................2 ............0.101 ........... 0.101............0.100............0.101 ............. 0.101............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.105...................32,740,323 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................... 28,191 ...............2,886........................4 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

MONTH OF JUNE

China inflation eases, more policy stimulus anticipated BEIJING: China’s June consumer inflation grew at its slowest pace since January as increases in food prices eased, while producer prices extended their decline, reinforcing economists’ views that more government stimulus steps will be needed to support the economy. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.9 per cent in June from a year earlier, compared with a 2.0 per cent increase in May, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Sunday. Analysts had expected a 1.8 per cent gain, a Reuters poll showed.

Consumer inflation has remained low compared with the official target of around 3 per cent for this year, indicating persistently weak demand in the world’s second-largest economy.

Food prices were up 4.6 per cent in June, compared with a 5.9 per cent gain in the previous month.

Prices of China’s staple meat rose 30.1 per cent, compared with a 33.6 per cent increase in May. But recent flooding in China “is likely to push vegetable and fruit prices higher in the coming

months,” ANZ economists Raymond Yeung and Louis Lam wrote in a research note.

Non-food prices inched up 1.2 per cent in June versus May’s 1.1 per cent gain.

“In our view, while China reiterates the importance of supply-side reform due to debt and overcapacity concerns, the authorities still need to stimulate demand in order to achieve its growth target,” Zhou Hao, senior Asia emerging market economist at Commerzbank in Singapore, said in a note.

Slowing economic growth The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) last cut interest rates on October 23, the seventh time since late 2014, as the government took steps to counter slowing economic growth. China’s leaders have set an economic growth target of 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent for 2016. The economy expanded 6.9 per cent last year, its slowest pace in a quarter of a century.

A top government-backed think tank forecast in late June that consumer prices will likely rise 2 per

ECONOMY SLOWS: China has set an economic growth target of 6.5 per cent to 7 per cent for 2016. The economy expanded 6.9 per cent last year, its slowest pace in a quarter of a century. — Bloomberg file picture

cent for the year, while the long decline in producer prices will ease.

“Of course, further policy easing is still on the cards, and we hold our view that the PBOC will cut both interest rates and reserve rate re-

quirement this month,” Zhou said.

Other economists say authorities should use fiscal policy to boost growth, adding that question marks remain over the effectiveness of further monetary easing.

Producer prices In June, the producer price index (PPI) dropped 2.6 per cent from a year earlier. Analysts had expected PPI to fall 2.5 per cent.

The decline extended a falling

streak to 51 consecutive months, though it continued to moderate, suggesting strains on companies’ profits may be easing. The PPI eased 2.8 per cent in May. Producer prices for mining fell 8.2 per cent in June from a year earlier, while raw materials dropped 6.1 per cent.

China is due to release its second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data on July 15, along with figures for June’s industrial output, investment and retail sales. Most analysts say GDP growth likely edged lower in the second quarter from 6.7 per cent in the first on a year-on-year basis, with June data showing a slight loss of momentum from May. The China Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) predicted that the economy will grow about 6.6 per cent in 2016, decelerating from last year.

Worries about a potential economic fallout from Britain’s decision to leave the European Union last month have reinforced expectations Beijing will roll out more policy support soon. — Reuters

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

B3

MARKET V E R I TA S C H A N N E L AWA R D

IT solutions provider gets major award from Veritas Times News Service MUSCAT: STME, the Middle East’s leading IT solutions provider and systems integrator (SI), headquartered in Dubai, received the Veritas ‘Enterprise Partner of the Year Award’ at the recently concluded gala ‘Veritas Channel Award Night 2016’.

The Veritas award recognises STME’s perseverance and deliverance of services, products, and solutions to clients, especially focusing on enterprise clients.

“It is an honour to receive this award and recognition from Veritas. We look forward to deepening our partnership and developing our service and solutions offerings with Veritas for our existing and new clients,” said Ayman Al Bayaa, CEO of STME. “Veritas has a strong set of global partners and we are thrilled that STME won the Veritas Enterprise Partner of the Year for Saudi Arabia award at our Gala Dinner,” said Amer Chebaro, Senior Country Director at Veritas.

“STME is a key partner for Veritas, and a leading solutions provider and systems integrator in the Middle East. STME resells a great variety of products from multiple vendors, and has created an end to end data centre offering with Veritas’ technology at the heart of its solution,” he said.

“Customers benefit from the stability, reduced risk, and expertise Veritas has to offer, as well as STME’s support for additional products and services. This award highlights the value STME adds to our enterprise business as well as how proud we are to work with them. STME’s proactive focus on Veritas helped us increase business across Saudi Arabia and this recognition is thoroughly well deserved,” added Chebaro.

STME has a working partnership with Veritas for decades and has provided clients with industry leading storage management, backup and recovery, and business continuity solutions.

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NAT I O NA L B U S I N E S S C E N T R E

NBC signs pact to incubate Let’s Go Company Times News Service MUSCAT: The National Business Centre (NBC), which falls under the umbrella of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), recently signed an agreement to guidethe Let’s Go Company.

The company began as a group project developed by students from the Higher College of Technology, and it participated in the Injaz Oman competition (Sharikati). Let’s Go Company aims at supporting camping and developing tourism in the Sultanate and the region by creating innovative and modern solutions for the problems tourists face and offer

modern products to assure simple solutions.

The company’s first product ‘Go Adventure’, is an innovative camping chair that uses solar energy and enjoys distinctive features, including electrical accessories.

Omani entrepreneurs The NBC is an initiative launched by the PEIE during Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) to offer promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas and move them into growing ventures.

The centre offers a premier platform for Omani entrepreneurs by providing business de-

velopment supportand guidance, training and mentoring, access to markets and industry experts, and state-of-the-art and fully equipped office space, meeting rooms and presentation facilities.

The objectives of the centre include facilitating and supporting the growth of ideas for investment and growing them 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.

MAJOR SUPPORT: Let’s Go Company aims at supporting camping

and developing tourism in the Sultanate and the region by creating innovative and modern solutions for the problems tourists face and offer modern products to assure simple solutions. - Supplied picture

Augmented, virtual reality to be ‘widespread’ in Gulf Augmented reality and virtual reality will be adopted across industries by 2025, the new report from Frost & Sullivan predicts FUTURE TECHNOLOGY: Research reports corroborate predictions

Times News Service MUSCAT: The next 10 years of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology development are set to re-define the future of both business and consumer processes and interactions in the region. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) organisations are leveraging the new technology to enhance end-user experiences, according to new research conducted by Frost & Sullivan in collaboration with Gitex Technology Week 2016, states.

From AR-enabled surgery to VR-powered education, ex-

that the AR and VR market is booming, with IDC reporting that AR and VR hardware revenue is topping $2 billion globally for the first time this year. - Supplied picture

perts from across industries will take the stage at Gitex Technology Week this year to share their innovative use cases of AR/ VR technologies and provide a glimpse into the future of this game-changing technology, the report said. Augmented reality — contextual information on mobile devices, projections, or wearables — and virtual reality which provides a fully-immersive digital environment, will be adopted across

industries by 2025, the new report from Frost & Sullivan predicts.

In response to the interest in AR and VR technology in the region, Gitex Technology Week 2016 will showcase the largest area in show history for AR and VR technologies with 560 square metres of the show committed to AR and VR exhibitors.

Research reports corroborate predictions that the AR and VR market is booming, with IDC re-

porting that AR and VR hardware revenue is topping $2 billion globally for the first time this year.

The firm further predicts that device shipments are set to grow 11-fold to 110 million by 2020.

“AR and VR will be a giant step in transforming and democratising education and businesses, especially in medicine, where immersive technology can facilitate education and access-at-adistance for medical care,” said Dr Rafael Grossmann, who will be headlining Gitex’s Healthcare Monday – an industry vertical conference dedicated to healthcare technology.

Dr Grossmann was the first person to stream a live surgical procedure with Google Glass. At Gitex, he will explain how UK-based healthcare company Medical Realities, led by colleague Dr Shafi Ahmed, live-streamed the first VR surgery from The Royal London Hospital, with 54,000 viewers virtually in the operating theatre.

Surgical event “From all around the world, they gained an exclusive point-of-view demonstration and interacted in real-time with the surgical event.

Imagine how this level of interaction can deliver next-generation education for students world-

wide, especially in developing countries,” added Dr Grossmann.

In the GCC, organisations no longer need to imagine the impact of AR and VR – they are already deploying the technology in fascinating new ways. Programmes across industries in the GCC are eager to adopt AR and VR technologies to streamline processes and support the lives of employees, students and the general population. The new report from Frost & Sullivan highlights a number of unique AR and VR initiatives and projects in the region.

Public agencies have been quick on the uptake of AR and VR technology in the GCC, Frost & Sullivan says, highlighting a number of cutting-edge initiatives in the region. Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, the agency that provides Emirati housing, has launched the My Virtual Home App, which uses AR to allow users to virtually tour readymade 3D housing models.

The Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched Wojhati, a trip planning mobile app with GPS to help users plan, track, and share their mass transit routes. The RTA is also partnering with the Dubai Future Foundation for 25 per cent of Dubai’s road trips by driverless vehicles by 2030.

B4

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

FEATURE

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR BREXIT JUST MADE DUBLIN LOOK EVEN MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR TECH

D

ublin’s commissioner for start-ups, Niamh Bushshnell, reacted to the UK’s shock decision to exit the European Union by issuing a press release with “Thanks to Brexit” as a headline. Her point was that hat after last week’s vote, question marks hang over almost all the key ingredients that make London so attractive for technology companies. As the sole remaining English-speaking ing capital in the EU, already Alphabet’s Google and Facebook’s ok’s home-away-from-home in Europe, Dublin will have a chancee to be a winner in London’s messy divorce from Brussels.

So should the Irish capital get ready for a fresh influx of entretrepreneurs and founders?

Who chose Dublin as a base already?

Twitter, Airbnb, Slack and other notable tech companies have ave their European headquarters in Dublin, close to the city’s socalled Silicon Docks, which lies near a neighbourhood dubbed bed “Googletown” because of Google’s vast campus there. Apple employs about 5,500 people in Ireland, Google about 6,000, Microcrosoft about 2,000, and Dell about 2,500. Technology companies nies collectively employ more than 80,000 people in Ireland, accordording to IDA Ireland, which has responsibility for attracting oververseas investment.

What’s the attraction to Dublin for tech companies? ?

Dublin has a number of soon-to-be-unique attractions within hin the EU. A young, native English-speaking, tech-savvy populaulation of 4.6 million people, an openness to overseas talent and a government largely in thrall to tech companies. But perhaps aps most notably, Ireland offers the lowest corporate tax in Westestern Europe: 12.5 per cent. It also offers an attractive place for licensing intellectual property rights, with patent and copyright ght income subject to just 6.25 per cent tax in many circumstances, ces, and 25 per cent tax credits available for research and developopment spending.

That’s why many US tech compa nies use Ireland as the base for licensing their technology to all their European subsidiaries. li

As the sole remaining English speaking capital in the EU, already Alphabet's Google and Facebook’s home-away-fromhome in Europe, Dublin will have a chance to be a winner in London’s messy divorce from Brussels.

IIs Dublin not affected by Brexit?

IIt’s not clear yet what deal the UK will reach with the EU tthroughout its exit negotiations. But as limits to immigration was a core component to the Leave campaign, there’s every w cchance talks will seek to enforce stronger rules than exist today iin the UK. But that doesn’t apply to Ireland.

While tech companies based in the UK may be forced to navigate a labyrinthine work permit system, Ireland will n ccontinue to allow European talent to base itself there, and bring ccolleagues.

Coincidentally or not, the Irish government this week laid out a plan to spend about two million euros ($2.2 million) in a bid tto attract about 3,000 additional technology workers to Ireland, with the target markets including central and southern Europe. w IIs Dublin the obvious choice then?

IIt’s not quite that simple. Sterling’s plunge makes London that bit cheaper for big tech companies. Plus, with the UK departing b tthe EU, Ireland will lose a valuable ally in the fight to keep its 12.5 per cent tax rate, long targeted by the likes of France. p Other tech hubs in EU countries are also fighting to attract ttech talent. Berlin in particular has a thriving startup scene and has also attracted large numbers of founders and engineers from h tthroughout the EU and beyond.

IIsn’t the EU fighting its own battle over tax in Ireland?

Yes. The European Commission is probing Apple’s tax dealings Y iin Ireland. With a decision expected as soon as next month, both IIreland and Apple are bracing for a loss. But the EU is probing a very specific so-called “sweetheart deal” Apple allegedly recceived from Ireland — there’s no broader threat to the nation’s ttax system. — Bloomberg News

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A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

IMES TECH STUFF

Robots to begin delivering food and parcels in Europe

SAMSUNG PROFIT EXCEEDS ESTIMATES Samsung Electronics reported its biggest operating profit in more than two years, bolstered by brisk demand for its Galaxy S7 smartphones, cost controls and sluggish iPhone sales. Shares in the world’s largest maker of phones and memory chips rose after it reported operating income of 8.1 trillion won ($6.9 billion) in the latest quarter, exceeding the 7.38 trillion-won average of analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg and 6.9 trillion won a year earlier. — Bloomberg News

T E C H U P D AT E S

Microsoft reshapes its senior management Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella announced a broad reorganisation of the company’s senior executive ranks as long-time Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner prepares to leave for another job. Instead of naming a new COO, Nadella appointed two executives to divvy up the sales responsibilities and report to him.

Jean-Philippe Courtois will be in charge of global sales, marketing and operations spanning Microsoft’s 13 business areas, Nadella said in a note to employees on Thursday.

Judson Althoff will lead the worldwide commercial business, including government and small and medium-sized businesses. Courtois, a 32-year Microsoft veteran, is a long-time international sales executive at Microsoft, having run both Microsoft International and Microsoft EMEA previously. Althoff previously ran Microsoft North America and is a former Oracle executive. Other executives already reporting to Nadella will take on parts of Turner’s job, with Chris Capossela leading worldwide marketing, Kurt DelBene leading IT and Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood taking over the sales and marketing team’s finance group, which had been separate. At Microsoft, Turner, 51, was known for instilling rigor and discipline in sales and operations organizations that had lacked it, and helping boost sales of enterprise software. But he also presided over declining sales growth in the final years of CEO Steve Ballmer’s reign as the company’s flagship businesses aged and it lost out on mobile and operating system sales to Google and Apple. — Bloomberg News

Analysts at odds on Wall Street predicting Apple’s iPhone sales ON THE MOVE: Children on scooters follow a prototype self driving parcel delivery robot, developed by Starship Technologies, as it drives

along a sidewalk during testing in a residential district of Tallinn, Estonia, on April 12, 2016. The electric-powered robots intend to help short-range low cost deliveries and ultimately aim to make the local delivery of goods free. — Bloomberg News

Created by two Skype co-founders, Starship has been testing its robots in 12 countries over the past nine months. This will be the first time businesses will be using the technology to deliver real orders

Apparently forecasting iPhone sales is harder than it looks. Analysts on Wall Street can’t seem to agree on whether demand will be strong, weak, or flat. A lot goes into predicting sales for Apple’s most popular product. From the health of the consumer to the average time it takes a current user to upgrade, analysts covering the stock have much to consider when making their estimates. And yes, that includes Brexit. “We are lowering our estimates for June and September quarters given potential for lower demand from macro uncertainty (Brexit related), currency volatility and lengthening replacement cycles,” Citigroup Inc. analyst Jim Suva said in a note. He also points out that the average iPhone replacement rate has risen from roughly 24 months in 2013 to 28 months now. Furthermore, his models suggest that range could increase to as much as three years— not good news for Apple. Here’s a look at his replacement forecasts: Brian White at Drexel Hamilton was a bit more optimistic, calling the recent dip in Apple’s stock a good time to buy, though recognising that the older the current iPhone model gets, the worse it can be for the stock. “Although we recognise the weakness that typically occurs in the late stages of an iPhone cycle can be discouraging, and the macro environment remains more of a headwind than a tailwind, we believe Apple’s valuation remains very attractive and the upcoming iPhone 7 ramp will ultimately return the company back to positive year-over-year iPhone unit growth by the second quarter of fiscal year 2017 based on our current model.” (The new version of the iPhone is expected to be released later this year.) — Bloomberg News

Telefonica sells China Unicom stake valued at up to $367m

to paying customers JEREMY KAHN

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HE next time you order food using the delivery app Just Eat in London, don’t be surprised if it’s brought to your door by a small, six-wheeled robot. London-listed Just Eat will join German retail chain Metro, logistics company Hermes Group, and UK food delivery start-up Pronto Technology, in trialing delivery using self-driving robots.

Starship Technologies, the company that makes the droids, said on Wednesday that Just Eat and Pronto will be using the robots in London, while Metro and Hermes will deploy them in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Bern, Switzerland, as well as another undisclosed German city.

Created by two Skype co-founders, Starship, which is headquar-

HERE YOU GO: An engineer loads parcels into the trunk of a prototype self driving delivery robot, developed by Starship Technologies, before a test run in Tallinn, Estonia, on April 12, 2016. — Bloomberg News

tered in London and has its engineering research and development office in Tallinn, Estonia, has been testing its robots in 12 countries over the past nine months. This will be the first time businesses will be using the technology to deliver real orders to paying customers.

Allan Martinson, Starship’s chief operating officer, said in a telephone interview that each business’s trial will involve a fleet of between five to 10 robots in one or two areas of each city. He said Starship would likely announce further customers, including some in the US, within months.

The little robots, which are designed to operate on sidewalks

rather than roads, make deliveries within a two- to three-mile radius.

They can carry loads weighing as much as 20 pounds, at speeds of up to four miles per hour.

Monitoring their progress Starship will operate the robots on behalf of the first customers, monitoring their progress remotely and standing by to drive the vehicles remotely if they encounter situations they can’t handle in autonomous driving mode.

During test driving, the robots have encountered more than 400,000 people without having a single accident, the company said.

Ahti Heinla, one of Starship’s co-

founders as well as its chief executive officer and chief technology officer, said in a statement that these pilot programs with customers were “the next phase” of the robot delivery company’s development.

“We will now develop know-how on running real robotic delivery services,” he said.

“We are continuously looking for ways to use technology to make our customers’ lives easier,” David Buttress, the chief executive officer of Just Eat, said in a statement. “Starship is at the forefront of innovation in the delivery sector so it’s a natural fit for us to be partnering with them to bring delivery robots to our high streets.” — Bloomberg News

Telefonica, facing roadblocks in the planned sales of its assets following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union, is paring a stake in China Unicom (Hong Kong) to raise as much as $367 million. The sale of 361.8 million shares began today and the stock is being offered at HK$7.75 to HK$7.85 apiece, according to terms of the deal seen

by Bloomberg News. The deal has demand for all the stock on offer, said people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named while the transaction is underway. Telefonica risks having its credit rating cut if the carrier doesn’t come up with a clear way to reduce debt by year end, Moody’s analyst Carlos Winzer said last month.

Telefonica shelved plans to sell a stake in its UK wireless carrier O2 amid market volatility following the country’s referendum. The firm also delayed a listing of its Spanish infrastructure unit Telxius, people familiar with the matter had said. Bank of America Corp. is managing the sale of shares in a rare weekend deal. A spokesman for Telefonica declined to comment. Since the referendum, Telefonica has declined 7.9 per cent, underperforming the Stoxx 600 Telecommunications Index of European companies. — Bloomberg News

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

ROUND-UP Benefits on 2017 Nissan Altima to end on July 14

REDESIGNED RESOURCE

Customers who choose to buy the

OAB’s new website to enhance online customer experience

2017 Nissan Altima this season are guaranteed of a cash gift of OMR1,500 and besides they can own a car with a fuel economy of 17.7km/l

MUSCAT: Confirming its commitment of offering customers an unmatched buying experience, Nissan Oman from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), is offering a wide range of deals for the patrons of 2017 Nissan Altima.

Customers who choose to buy the 2017 Nissan Altima this season are guaranteed of a cash gift of OMR1,500 and besides they can own a car with a fuel economy of 17.7km/litre.

As testament of the brand’s pledge to its customer and as part of the ongoing ‘Season of Rewards’ offer, Nissan Oman has worked out deals that customers of Nissan Altima are sure to find attractive.

Benefits on offer including attractive cash gift, free periodic maintenance service package, fuel card, free registration and extended mileage warranty makes wanting to own a Nissan Altima known for enhanced performance, fuel economy and new safety features.

The offer will continue till July 14, says a press release.

‘Season of Rewards’ offer Under the ‘Season of Rewards’ offer, customers can avail an assured cash gift of OMR1,500 on buying Nissan Altima.

Customers buying a Nissan Altima will get a scratch and win card which will entitle them to two assured gifts comprising free periodic maintenance service upto lifetime of the car (minimum assured 1 year/ 10,000km PMS; offer includes new service intervals of 10,000km) and free fuel up to

OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR50).

Customers can avail a special EMI rate of OMR122 (terms and conditions apply) on Nissan Altima with seven years finance.

Nissan Altima can enjoy extra benefits such as free registration (on select models), 6 years unlimited mileage extended warranty (on select models), and loyalty card benefits among others.

Loyal customers stand to enjoy additional benefits on purchase of a second Nissan vehicle in the family. To avail additional benefits under the scheme, the second car can be purchased either in the name of existing Nissan owner or his/her immediate family members.

Nissan patrons have a chance to win two X-Trails 2.5S 7STR CVT 16 MY in the “grand SMS and win raffle draw” at Qurum showroom.

Anybody can SMS to 90466 to enter the contest.

In Oman, Nissan Altima 2017 is offered in 2.5 litre Variants (S, SV & SL). It stands out as being the best-in-class with standard fuel economy of 17.70km/litre.

SBA has designed some easy and convenient financing options to ease the convenience of owning a Nissan Altima. Flexible EMIs can also be tailor-made for any individual requirement from in-house auto finance team.

New appearance It may be recalled that the new 2017 Nissan Altima redesigned with innovative technologies was unveiled in Oman recently. Nissan Altima 2017 comes with a fresh new appearance including the ‘Energetic Flow’ exterior styl-

ing theme and ‘Gliding Wing’ interior layout, ‘Class Leading Fuel Economy’ and ‘Improved Driving Dynamics and Safety Technology’.

The front end of the 2017 Altima offers the most dramatic change with its energetic flow design, since all panels and pieces forward of the A-pillars are new – fascia, bumper, fenders, hood and lights.

Two key elements are the redesigned V-Motion grille and boomerang-shaped headlights, similar to those found on the Maxima.

The look is dramatically different from the previous Altima design, with a wide, deeply sculpted lower bumper, integrated fog lights (2.5SV, 2.5SL models) and prominent chrome-trimmed grille.

Nissan committed to adding value, incorporated customer’s feedback and added comfort features such as the standard Zero Gravity front seats which have been reshaped, the woven cloth seating and door panel materials feature a more open weave pattern, providing a premium look and feel throughout the Altima interior. Twin cup holders on the centre console now accommodate mug handles in response to customer input.

Along with the revised appearance, The X-Tronic D-Step CVT equipped in the new Nissan Altima is among the quietest in its segment. Altima has also improved in its coefficient of drag – to 0.26 Cd from the previous 0.29 Cd (currently similar to the GT-R). The changes come from the addition of an active grille shutter (three percent gain), underfloor aero cover additions (three percent) and the new front and rear fascia and

T R AV E L I N S U R A N C E

Refined interior The 2017 Altima’s refined interior design follows the new ‘Gliding Wing’ design language. Central to the new look is the revised C-stack with available 5.0-inch and 7.0inch displays for the navigation with mobile apps. Finishing off with the Acoustic windshield that provides a new level of cabin isolation and quietness.

Nissan vehicles are known to offer smoother ride comfort, more refinement and benchmark fit and finish, while delivering breathtaking performance and road-holding.

A refined vehicle in its own right, the Nissan Altima aims to attract a wider audience with its contemporary good looks, eye-catching exterior colour range, spacious and fashionable interior, in addition to a powerful high performance engine and a range of other options to make city driving easier.

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.

With this new redesigned and improved website we offer our current and prospective customers an exciting new level of banking ease, keeping them informed Fahd Amjad GM Retail Banking - Oman Arab Bank

exceptional experience and high standards the bank strives to deliver every day in its wide network of branches and other touch points, reinforcing its strong relationship with customers and taking OAB excellence in customer service to a new level.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Skysouq.com partners with Tune Protect MUSCAT: Skysouq.com, Oman’s new online travel portal offering flights, hotels, car hire and travel packages, has partnered with Tune Protect, a regional online facilitator of travel insurance, to offer smart travel insurance plans to travellers either visiting Oman or travelling from Oman to anywhere in the world either for leisure, business or adventure travel.

Skysouq.com, a Suhail Bahwan Group enterprise, was launched recently and has been witnessing encouraging number of customers buying flights, hotels and travel packages online, says a press release.

“With the launch of Skysouq. com, Oman has reached out to a vast majority of online shoppers who are looking for a variety of travel options and value-for-money products. Skysouq.com believes that booking a trip should be as easy as the trip itself and offer a worry-free travel experience. With Tune Protect travel insurance, we have come another step closer by providing an excellent value added service,” said Gururaj S. A., general manager of SkySouq.com.

windshield designs (four percent).

All of this defines into being best in class with standard fuel economy of 13.2 km/L. The Altima have stepped up the safety technology by adding its first in class predictive forward collision warning, the blind spot warning, forward emergency braking, and rear cross traffic alert. The new steering has been reshaped and tuned to provide real time road input and precision (available only on SL grades).

MUSCAT: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, offering an improved customer experience and providing an enhanced online resource.

The attractive site, which can be navigated with ease via desktop, tablet or mobile device, offers customers and visitors clearer and more informative content in both Arabic and English including details on products and services and online application for accounts, loans, and credit cards.

Login for account holders is now more straightforward and both branches and ATMs are quickly located on the dynamic location map, says a press release.

On the occasion of the website launch, Fahd Amjad, GM Retail Banking - Oman Arab Bank, commented, “We are improving our presence in the digital world seeing demand from our customers.

Recognising and responding to the increasing importance of online channels in daily life, we have endeavoured to enhance customer experience and increase customer convenience through the introduction of a variety of new digital services such as e-loans and paperless electronic statements to name but a few.”

He added, “Recently, we have reached out to customers through a variety of social media platforms, and now, in the latest stage of our technological journey, with this new redesigned and improved website we offer our current and prospective customers an exciting new level of banking ease, keeping them informed, and facilitating the management and arrangement of their personal finances.”

Fahd went on to say that the new OAB website reflects the

Skysouq.com believes that booking a trip should be as easy as the trip itself and offer a worry-free travel experience. With Tune Protect travel insurance, we have come another step closer by providing an excellent value added service Gururaj S. A. General manager, SkySouq.com

Tune Protect offers comprehensive travel-related insurance benefits such as personal accident, 24-hour emergency assistance, medical support, travel inconvenience, baggage delay or loss through a network of Insurance partners.

“We are extremely excited about the partnership with SkySouq. com by offering our travel insurance products so that customers can travel with peace of mind.

Tune Protect has similar online projects with other travel management companies based in Qatar, UAE, Jordan and Kuwait. Tune Protect has a geographically diverse presence within the region and maintains business relations with insurance companies in over 50 countries. It facilitates airline travel insurance for the travellers of Air Arabia, AirAsia and Cebu Pacific Air,” said Arijit Munshi, general manager of Tune Protect.

Tune Protect and its affiliate insurance partners are 100% focused on developing and providing travel insurance through various B2B partnerships particularly through online or hybrid travel agency community.

Bank Sohar launches new staff development programme ‘Kafa’a’ MUSCAT: Bank Sohar, in its endeavour to further develop the skills and competencies of its valued staff, has launched a new specialised development programme titled ‘Kafa’a’ (Arabic for ‘Competencies’). This new training programme will see the participation of 60 Bank Sohar staff and will be directly overseen by bank’s management.

Commenting on the direction of the programme, Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of Human Resource and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar, said, “In light of the competitive environment in the banking sector, competencies of a bank’s staff and their subsequent relationships with customers are the determining factors of its success and profitability. As such it is vital to determine which competencies are important, both within the organisation and the specific position. Furthermore, we believe competencies should be objective rather than subjec-

tive, so that they are measured quantitatively. This is exactly what our ‘Kafa’a’ programme was designed to do – identify development opportunities and gaps to be filled in the competencies of our staff and provide them with a personalised development plan and necessary support to grow personally and professionally.”

Scientific evaluation The ‘Kafa’a’ programme is being supported by various coaches, bank’s human resource department, various divisional heads, and the bank’s learning centre.

The on-going programme will involve 60 of the bank’s staff undergoing a comprehensive scientific evaluation to identify the staff member’s current competencies, capabilities, developmental opportunities, and gaps.

A specially customised development plan will then be drafted for each individual staff member based on results. They will then

undergo a personalised training programme, 70% of which will be conducted on the job with the remaining 30 per cent being taken up as other development activities.

“We have always considered our staff as the main contributors to our success and, as a result, have always given top priority to staff care, developing and training. However, not every competency can be improved through standard training and development programmes. This new training programme, because of its personalised nature, helps us effectively overcome this hurdle. Furthermore, since the programme isn’t time bound, each person is provided with personal attention and given the required time frame needed to develop more efficiently. As a result I am confident in the program’s effectiveness and success; transforming each of the 60 participants into the financial leaders of tomorrow,” added Munira.

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ROUND-UP

0% interest on EMI on Yaris, Corolla & Camry ‘Biggest Excitement Ever’ promotion to end on July 21 MUSCAT: During the ‘Biggest Excitement Ever’ promotion, the 2016 YM models of Yaris hatchback, Yaris sedan, Corolla and Camry are available with 0% interest on EMI for two years through select finance companies for short-term tenure and an attractive assured cash gift, says a press release.

In addition to this the 2016YM Corolla is available with a service

package for 2 years / 20,000km (whichever is earlier), while the 2016YM Camry comes with one year insurance (Oman only). Alternatively, a customer can also choose to avail ‘Cash Gift in Lieu’ of the service and insurance as applicable for respective models.

In case customer chooses service, insurance (as applicable), he/ she will not be eligible for ‘cash gift in lieu’. Cash gift can also be used as

part of down payment.

Customers also get a gift voucher for spending at a prominent shopping mall and a chance to win an all-new Toyota Prius E as a part of a grand raffle. (Conditions apply) This promotion ends on July 21.

Benefits are applicable for all purchases except those made by government organisations and ministries. Customers will be eligible for raffle only upon taking delivery of

the vehicle during this campaign period after completing necessary formalities and not against booking.

Vehicle specifications may change without prior notice.

In Oman, Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive.

No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and wellknown brands.

C O R P O R AT E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

Bank Muscat Tadhamun support reaches beneficiary homes in Dahirah and Buraimi MUSCAT: Bank Muscat’s Tadhamun corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan reached beneficiary homes in the governorate of Dahirah.

Reiterating the bank’s dynamic ‘Let’s Do More’ vision and values of accountability and partnership, the Tadhamun convoy of vehicles carrying the bank’s employees and volunteers distributed basic electronic home appliances to beneficiary families identified by the Ministry of Social Development.

The distributions will be carried out across Oman through the holy month along with Eidiyah provided to beneficiary families as a gift

from the bank’s employees, says a press release.

Bank Muscat has lined up a series of programmes under the banner of ‘Ramadan Al Kheir’ to benefit different segments of society

during the holy month of Ramadan. In the third leg of Tadhamun programme, basic electronic home appliances and Eid gifts were distributed to beneficiary homes in the wilayats of Yanqul, Buraimi,

RECRUIT QUOTES If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.

— Sheryl Sandberg Every great dream begins with a dreamer.

Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

— Harriet Tubman I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply.

Being willing is not enough; we must do.

— Leonardo da Vinci We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.

— Marie Curie

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Ibri and Dhank in the governorate of Dahirah, providing them with an opportunity for a better quality of life. The objective of the CSR initiative is to address the requirements of beneficiary homes which do not have basic home appliances.

The Tadhamun initiative is a fine example of the public-private partnership launched by the bank in association with the Ministry of Social Development to strengthen the hands of beneficiaries. Through the Tadhamun programme, the bank seeks to reiterate its dynamic vision, striving to reach out to different segments and ‘doing more’ for society as a whole.

POSITIVE RESPONSE

Hyundai’s Ramadan promotion continues to enthral customers across Sultanate MUSCAT: Owning a brand new Hyundai under its Ramadan promotion becomes even more convenient, affordable and hassle free. Hyundai’s Ramadan promotion scheme continues to enthral customers across the Sultanate, says a press release.

“Hyundai cars have a reputation for quality, durability and cutting edge technology. Our customers appreciate these values and the result of it is in the overwhelming popularity of Hyundai in Oman- just like in other parts of the globe. Our Ramadan promotion scheme has been well received as reflected in the very positive response from customers and fans. We look forward to welcoming many more enthusiasts into the Hyundai family, this Ramadan,” said Anil Dua, managing director of OTE. Offers The promotional scheme offers an attractive interest rate of 3.29 per cent coupled with an extended seven year payment periodwhile a zero per cent interest rate has been announced for loans up to two years.

The promotion also offers cash as gift of up to OMR2,000 which can be used as part of the down payment, along with benefits including warranty of up to 2 years /

30,000 kilometres, complimentary insurance coverage for the first year, AAA roadside assistance package, as well as a gift of an LG Sound Bar. Promotion elements may vary for different models and exact details are available at all Hyundai showrooms.

Online access Visit Hyundai Oman on Facebook or call 80050003 to get your hands on one of the coolest looking cars from Hyundai. Customers can register themselves to receive updates from Hyundai Oman. What’s more, customers can also ‘Like’ HyundaiOman on Facebook to get real-time access to news, updates and latest information from Hyundai.

Hyundai line-up Hyundai offers a full array of sedans in Oman including the Accent, Elantra, Sonata and Azera.

Cars like the Hyundai Veloster & Veloster Turbo cater to special audiences while its ‘i’ series offers the compact cars from the Hyundai stable. The Hyundai SUV range features the Tucson, Santa Fe and Grand Santa Fe. The premium cars, Centennial and Genesis in the luxury car segment have also carved a niche for themselves and won the hearts of analysts and customers alike.

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Masterful Murray

O FA E L E C T I O N S

The world number two, champion in 2013, was in control throughout the two hour 48 minute contest as the power game that sixth seed Raonic employed to WILL HE CONTEST AGAIN? OFA chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi.

crush Roger Federer in the semifinals

Sayyid Khalid silent on running for chairman’s post MUSCAT: Oman Football Association (OFA) chairman Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad Al Busaidi did not disclose his candidacy for a fourth term as the OFA board elections are due to he held on September 29.

Sayyid Khalid in his remarks to a local newspaper after a session in Saham, said this was not the time to speak on the forthcoming elections and his candidature.

“There will be another opportunity to talk about the elections,” he said.

Sayyid Khalid was first elected chairman of the Omani Football Association on August 30, 2007 and his second term began on August 25, 2011.

However, he faced some trouble and the administrative court overturned the issue and in the following election he was once again elected on August 16, 2012.

He contests again in September it will be the fourth time.

Dates announced Meanwhile, OFA announced that candidates’ applications for the next elections will be opened on August 1 to 14. The elections will be conducted on September 29 at the Hormuz Hotel.

The elections shall be held on the basis of commitment to the principles of the independence of the electoral process in accordance with the principle of separation of powers in OFA, and transparency in the exercise of the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the OFA Board has issued Administrative Decision No. 48/2016 on formation of the elections committee and the appeals committee.

Hamad bin Mohammed Al Hadhrami Chairman of the OFA Discipline Committee is the chairman of the elections com-

Applications for OFA elections will be accepted between August 1 and 14, while the elections will be held on September 29 at Hormuz Hotel

mittee and Salim Mohammed Al Sinani representative of the OFA appeals committee as vice-chairman of the elections committee and membership of Mohammed bin Saif Al Rashidi (representative of the OFA disputes settlement committee) and Ibrahim bin Ali Al Akhzami representative of the OFA football court and the three with good experience who are Talal Al Mamari (Al Rustaq Club), Tareq Al Hashmi (Chairman of Al Kamil Wal Wafi Club) and Mohammed Al Shukairi (Itifaq Club) and their substitutes are Hilal Al Busaidi (Chairman of Al Rustaq Club), Dr. Mohammed Amer Al Ameri (Mirbat Club) and Ahmed Salim Al Busaidi (vice-chairman of Fanja Club).

Ismail bin Ahmed Al Balushi is the chairman of the appeals committee, Talal bin Ahmed Al Busaidi (chairman of OFA appeals’ committee) as vice-chairman and membership of Saleh Sulaiman Al Salmani from Al Rustaq Club, Talib Al Wahaibi ( Chairman of Ahli-Sidab ) and Sheikh Amer Said Al Alawi (chairman of Yanqul Club) as substitutes. — ONA

made little impact on the 29-year-old Scot

LONDON: Britain’s Andy Murray put the finishing touch to an almost faultless fortnight to claim a second Wimbledon title with a 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) defeat of bigserving Canadian Milos Raonic in the Centre Court sunshine on Sunday.

The world number two, champion in 2013, was in control throughout the two hour 48 minute contest as the power game that sixth seed Raonic employed to crush Roger Federer in the semifinals made little impact on the 29-yearold Scot.

Unlike three years ago when near hysteria broke out as Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s singles champion, there has been an air of inevitability about title march since top seed Novak Djokovic crashed out early.

Murray did not disappoint as he claimed a third grand slam title in almost routine fashion as he blunted Raonic’s 140mpnh serve and made only 12 unforced errors in the final.

“This is the most important tournament for me every year.

I had some great moments here and tough losses too so that makes FAULTLESS FORTNIGHT: Britain’s Andy Murray poses with the winner’s trophy after his men’s singles it extra special,” Murray, who final victory over Canada’s Milos Raoni. –AFP sobbed into his towel on his courtside chair as the triumph sank in, two break points at 2-2 in the third said on court. set, but Murray saved both and “I’m proud to get my hands on held — roaring angrily towards his the trophy again.” coach Ivan Lendl.

The final was billed as a showTwice Raonic held serve to stay down between one of the world’s in the match, at 4-5 and 5-6, but biggest servers and arguably the Murray again upped the ante in best returner. the tiebreak, winning the first five Murray broke the Raonic serve points as he surged towards victory. only once, midway through the Raonic saved one match point opening set, but always seemed in control as the Canadian struggled and he deserves to be winning here netted a forehand volley to hand but Murray wrapped it up when he forced the Canadian to net a Murray a break. for the second time,” he said. to lay a glove on the elusive Scot.

The Scot pressed repeatedly for backhand.

“This one is going to sting so I’m Second best Murray’s win meant he avoided Raonic had been hoping to be- going to make sure that as long as another break in the second set but come Canada’s first grand slam these courts are green I’ll do every- Raonic showed great resilience to becoming the first man to lose in singles champion and while he thing I can to be back here for an- take it to a tiebreak, only for Mur- the final of the first three majors of ray to raise his game to a new level. the year in the professional era -battled gamely to the end he con- other chance.”

The first chink Raonic’s armour The match was more than two having succumbed to Djokovic in ceded he had been second best.

“Andy has been playing great came in the seventh game when he hours old when Raonic finally had Australia and France. - Reuters

AT H L E T I C S

OOC chairman lauds Barakat ahead of Rio Games MUSCAT: Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC), met Sultanate’s leading sprinter and lone qualifier for Rio Olympics Barakat Al Harthy at his office recently.

Also present during the meeting were Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni, vice-chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee and chairman of Oman Athletic Association, Taha bin Sulaiman Kosheri, Secretary General of the Oman Olympic Committee and Oman national athletics coach Mohammed Hooti.

The OOC chairman expressed his confidence in Barakat Al Harthy and his capabilities and said that the Omani athlete can cause ripples in the star-studded track event of the Olympic Games, which begins in Rio de Janerio on August 5.

Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair also praised Barakat for setting his personal best record of 10.05 seconds during training sessions and hoped that he will improve further

MORAL SUPPORT: Oman’s ace sprinter Barakat Al Harthy with Oman Olympic Commitee chairman Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair and other of-

ficials. – Supplied photo

and bring laurels for the Sultanate.

“Barakat has lots to offer,” said the OOC chief during the meeting and at the same time lauded the efforts of Oman Athletic Association and the training programme pro-

vided to Barakat under the Bulgarian coach Yanko Bratanov.

Barakat will continue to compete further in his build-up to Rio Games and is hoping to improve on his personal best timing.

The OOC chief also said whatever Barakat has achieved is due to extra efforts he has put in and “I believe he will give tough competition to his star rivals.”

Meanwhile, Barakat Al Harthy

thanked the OOC chairman for his word of encouragement and also lauded Oman Athletic Association for “its full support in providing me the right platform to train and prepare for the Olympic Games.”

“I also would like to thank Ministry of Sports Affairs for their continuous support,” said Barakat.

“My training schedule in Bahrain under Yanko was good and fruitful, during which I won a silver medal in the Riyadh GCC Games. My preparation is going on well and I hope to do better in Rio,” he said.

“I will strive hard to keep the Sultanate’sflag high. My aim is to qualify for the sprint final and then target the medals,” said Barakat promising to continue his hard work.

Praising the athlete, OOC vicechairman and OAA chairman Sheikh Saif bin Hilal Al Hosni said: “Barakat is full of enthusiasm and I am sure he will do wonders for the Sultanate. I also thank Shiekh Khalid for meeting the athlete and encouraging him.”

Coach Mohammed Hooti too hailed Barakat and thanked the OOC for supporting him all through since he qualified for Olympics during the World Military Games in October 2015.

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

SPORTS GREETINGS

Praising Gavaskar, Viru switches to top gear NEW DELHI: As Sunil Gavaskar turned 66, former India cricket star Virender Sehwag paid a glowing tribute, saying what the batting legend did without wearing a helmet the best of batsmen on Sunday would not be able to do with all their equipments on.

“What Gavaskar did without helmet,its difficult for ppl these days to do with all equipments.If cricket were a film,Sunil Gavaskar is Sholay,” Sehwag wrote on his twitter handle. To start with, the Nawab of Najafgarh said, “Happy Birthday to one of the greatest batsmen of all time,Sunny Paaji!

Wish you a long and healthy life.”

The first man to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket and the first player to score more than 30 centuries, Gavaskar was among the best batsmen in the world during his playing days.

He still holds the record for the most runs made in a debut Test series and the most Test centuries against the West Indies and is the only player to have scored a century and a double century in the same Test match twice.

The BCCI called him the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’. “Here’s wishing the legend, India’s Rock of Gibraltar, Sunil Gavaskar a very happy birthday!” — PTI

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Dumoulin wins ninth stage as Froome leads Giant Alpecin rider Dumoulin, sixth in last year’s Vuelta, was the strongest of the day’s breakaway riders, taking a solo victory in a deafening hailstorm after riding most of the day in temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius

ARCALIS: Tom Dumoulin of the Netherlands attacked near the foot of the final climb to claim victory in the ninth stage of the Tour de France in extreme weather conditions as Alberto Contador pulled out of the race on Sunday.

Giant Alpecin rider Dumoulin, sixth in last year’s Vuelta, was the strongest of the day’s breakaway riders, taking a solo victory in a deafening hailstorm after riding most of the day in temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius.

Briton Chris Froome retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after controlling his closest rivals in the ascent to Arcalis, a 10.1km effort at an average gradient of 7.2 percent.

Contador, who had crashed twice in the two opening stages and had a fever in the morning, called it quits 104km from the finish line after trying his luck one last time with a vintage early move. “I have not recovered from the crashes, I’ve been sick overnight, that’s why I made this decision. I could not continue,” said the Spaniard.

Other top favourites had a tough time with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Italian Fabio Aru (Astana) and American Tejay van

GREAT WIN: Netherlands’ Tom Dumoulin celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the 184.5 km ninth stage of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race. – AFP

Garderen (BMC) losing ground in the ultimate climb of the first summit finish of the Tour.

Overall, Froome, who made a few brief attacks in the finale, could not distance himself from last year’s runner-up Nairo Quintana (Movistar) of Colombia, former team mate Richie Porte (BMC) of Australia, fellow Briton Adam Yates (Orica-Bike Exchange) or Ireland’s Dan Martin (Eticc-Quick Step).

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, who lost all hope of a decent overall finish in Paris in the first Pyrenean stage, snatched the polka dot jersey for the best climber with a strong ride in the breakaway.

Contador exit Alberto Contador’s hopes of claiming a third Tour de France title vanished into thin air on Sunday when the Spaniard abandoned during the ninth stage.

Contador, who had a fever in the morning and had crashed twice in the two opening stages, got off his bike and stepped into his Tinkoff team car with about 104km left in the 184.5km ride from Vielha Val d’Aran.

The Spaniard, who was 20th overall, 3:12 off the pace, had launched an early attack along with compatriot Alejandro Valverde as they looked to unsettle overall leader Chris Froome.

Contador, one of only six men with titles in all three grand tours (France, Italy, Spain), quickly faded away though and rolled down to his team car several times.

He called it quits on the second of the day’s four climbs in the Pyrenees.

“It’s bad news for me, it was my last chance to win the Tour de France,” said team owner Oleg Tinkov, who is pulling out of cycling at the end of the year.

“But who knows maybe I’ll come back in a few years.”

Contador, 33, crashed out of the Tour in 2014 and finished fifth last year after winning the Giro d’Italia. - Reuters

BASKETBALL

Serbia’s nugget Jokic ready to shine at Rio BELGRADE: Nikola Jokic capped a dream year in his fledgling career when he helped Serbia qualify for the Olympic Games after a fine rookie season in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets.

Jokic, who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds in 21.7 minutes on the court for the Nuggets, was named the most valuable player of an Olympic qualifying tournament in Belgrade which hosts Serbia clinched emphatically.

The 21-year-old poured 23 points in Saturday’s 108-77 rout of Puerto Rico which sealed Serbia’s Rio berth, the week-long event being his first involvement with the national team.

“I am at a loss of words to describe how I feel,” the delighted power forward told Reuters after the match.

“I am lucky to be on this team with these guys, who I met just three weeks ago.

“I have to thank them and the

coaching staff for helping me blend in so seamlessly.”

“This is a great bunch with a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing room. A few days’ rest and then we are off to Mount Kopaonilk (in southern Serbia) for the Olympic build-up.”

The versatile Jokic, who can also play as a centre, took a road less travelled to the NBA. Instead of honing his skills in a stronger European league, he went across the Atlantic last year straight from Serbia’s nondescript side of Mega Leks, who are fast becoming a production belt of top talents.

Based in Belgrade but playing their home games 75 kilometres north of the capital in Sremska Mitrovica, a town with a population of just 41,624, Mega Leks finished as last season’s runnersup in a regional league incorporating teams from the former Yugoslavia.

Apart from Jokic, they have nurtured players such as Detroit Pistons centre Boban Marjanovic, who moved up north after a debut season with the San Antonio Spurs.

Jokic pointed out how important the time at Mega Leks was for his career.

“It was my springboard,” he said. “I had all the freedom in the world there to develop the right way as a player.

“I didn’t know what to expect having gone straight to the NBA but things panned out perfectly.”

Although fans and pundits heaped praise on Jokic for his outstanding performances, he said very little had changed in his daily routine and game skills.

“I play the same way, I just gained a bit of muscles and speed to match NBA standards. I do everything I can to help my team on the court, whether it’s the Nuggets or Serbia.” - Reuters

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

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SPORTS CRICKET

Buttler suffers broken thumb

ENJOYING HOME TURF: Lewis Hamilton is in full control of his Mercedes. – Reuters

Hamilton rules home Grand Prix from pole The triple Formula One world champion’s fourth home win, from pole position in tricky conditions, was the 47th victory of his career and cut Rosberg’s overall lead to four points after 10 of 21 races

SILVERSTONE: Lewis Hamilton won his home British Grand Prix for the third year in a row on Sunday with Mercedes team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg finishing second but under a stewards’ investigation.

The triple Formula One world champion’s fourth home win, from pole position in tricky conditions, was the 47th victory of his career and cut Rosberg’s overall lead to four points after 10 of 21 races.

Rosberg was slowed by a gearbox problem five laps from the end and crossed the line 6.9 seconds behind, with a question mark over his result after Mercedes seemingly broke the rules on radio advice by telling him to avoid seventh gear.

MY TREASURE: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium with the trophy after winning the race. – Reuters

Red Bull’s Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was third, 1.3 seconds behind Rosberg, in a race that began behind the safety car after heavy rain before starting properly at the end of the fifth lap.

“I don’t know if you can be as happy as me but I’m really happy,” Hamilton told the 130,000-strong crowd that stood and cheered him all the way round the final lap with the sun shining brightly at last.

The Briton got even closer to

the fans, who flooded onto the track, after parking up at the finish, and then enjoyed some celebratory crowd-surfing after the podium presentation.

“I’m glad that the good English weather came out. It was so tricky in those conditions. When we started the race, I was the first one who had to attack it,” said the champion. “It’s never plain, smooth sailing - that’s why the British GP is the best.”

Radio rules Hamilton is now the closest he has been to Rosberg this season and that gap could narrow even further if stewards rule Mercedes erred in telling the German what to do.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner said the radio rules were “pretty clear” and questioned where Rosberg, who was booed by some in the crowd as he stepped onto the podium, would have finished had Mercedes not given him their advice.

But Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the governing FIA would have to decide.

“We know what is allowed on the rules. The gearbox was about to fail. We think we should be OK, but we’ll wait,” the Austrian told the BBC. Rosberg, who had a stirring battle with Verstappen that involved each overtaking the other, said he was confident the team had acted within the rules.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull, 17.9 seconds behind his team mate, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen fifth.

Mexican Sergio Perez was sixth for Force India, with team principal Vijay Mallya able to attend a race for the first time this season, having previously had his passport withdrawn, with German team mate Nico Hulkenberg seventh.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz was eighth for Toro Rosso, with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel ninth after being handed a five second penalty for forcing the Williams of Brazilian Felipe Massa off the track.

Sainz’s Russian team mate Daniil Kvyat took the final point. - Reuters

TENNIS

Serena is back — at long last LONDON: If Serena Williams’ rivals were hoping that the American would take some time out to savour drawing level with Steffi Graf’s professional-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles, her coach Patrick Mouratoglou fired off an immediate warning.

“Now that she has 22, Serena is not someone who equals records.

She is someone who beats records,” the Frenchman said after watching Williams at Wimbledon finally crack that magic number following three failed attempts over the past 10 months.

“What makes her the champion she is, is this ability to immediately forget what she has achieved and focus on something else.

That’s what makes Serena.”

Since winning her 21st singles major at Wimbledon last July, Williams admitted she experienced many “sleepless nights” as she had been haunted by the spectre of “number 22”.

She stumbled at last year’s U.S. Open semifinal, faltered in January’s Australian Open final and yelled out in frustration after falling in last month’s French Open final.

But that Roland Garros loss to Spain’s Garbine Muguruza finally snapped her out of the brain fog that had plagued her since last September when her pursuit of the calendar Grand Slam ended with a shock Flushing Meadows defeat by Roberta Vinci.

It was no surprise, therefore, that Mouratoglou was mightily relieved with Saturday’s triumph because had she lost, it would have been the first time since 2011 that Williams would not have held at least one grand slam title.

“We were in a situation in the last eight months that was not comfortable. I was not feeling Serena being herself and this is what I was looking for to find back the

CHEERFUL SISTERS: US player Serena Williams, left, and her partner US player Venus Williams, right, pose with the winner’s trophies after beating Hungary’s Timea Babos and Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova to win the women’s doubles final. – AFP

real Serena,” Mouratoglou said after Williams hoisted the Venus Rosewater Dish for a seventh time. “The most important thing is that we got Serena back.”

“Finding Serena” is nothing new for Mouratoglou, though.

Before Williams hired him, following a first round loss at the 2012 French Open, she had been going through a lean spell having drawn a blank at the majors for almost two years. Mouratoglou wasted little time in giving her the confidence boost she needed to return to the winners’ circle.

Once again armed with the belief that made her such a destructible force on court, she has gone on to win nine grand slam titles under Mouratoglou’s guidance -which is no mean feat considering she is now aged 34.

“Serena is like no other player, she is an unbelievable champion for many reasons,” said the coach.

“But one of her characteristics is her ability to raise her level on the key moments. When she is threatened on her serve she hits aces, and when she gets the break points she plays the best tennis of her life and that’s what she did today.

“This ability to win the big matches, that’s what champions are made for and she showed that she was back.”

Icing on the cake Serena Williams put the icing on the cake of another magnificent Wimbledon campaign by teaming up with sister Venus for a sixth doubles crown at the All England Club on Saturday.

The reigning Olympic champions beat Timea Babos of Hungary and Kazakhstan’s Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court — hours after Serena claimed a record-equalling 22nd grand slam singles title by defeating Germa-

ny’s Angelique Kerber 7-5, 6-3.

Serena has now won both the Wimbledon singles and doubles (with Venus) in the same year on four occasions. Together, the American duo have a perfect 14-0 record in grand slam doubles finals.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Serena.

“It’s a feat even I couldn’t have thought would have happened. It’s amazing.”

For Venus it was a consolation after she lost to Kerber in Thursday’s singles semi-finals -- denying her a first grand slam singles final since losing to Serena at Wimbledon in 2009.

“It’s a privilege, it’s an honour,” said Venus. “When you enter the doubles draw, you dream of winning. Then we enter the singles, we dream of winning.

“To have Williams on both of those, somehow in 2016, it’s another dream come true.”

The sisters, who paired up again this year after a two-year absence, have won 14 grand slam doubles titles together — moving them level with American Gigi Fernandez and Belarussian Natasha Zvereva in second place on the all-time list.

They still have some way to go, however, to match the 20 of Martina Navratilova and fellow American Pam Shriver.

“I didn’t know about that stat until yesterday, that we were 130,” said Venus. “It’s not something you really think about. You just get to the final and try to win.

“I don’t think it made us nervous. You got time. If you get down a break, you always have time to get the break back. You can always go to a third (set).

“When you’re out there, you probably realise you have a chance to go for it again.”

The Williams sisters are now 22-1 in all doubles finals they have played together. - Reuters

LONDON: England’s wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has suffered a broken thumb on his left hand while playing for Lancashire in their NatWest T20 Blast cricket tournament win over Worcestershire.

Standing up to the stumps in the 17th over at New Road on Friday, Buttler was inadvertently struck by a bottom edge from Ben Cox’s bat, leaving the 25-year-old in visible discomfort for the remainder of Worcestershire’s innings.

However, the injury did not prevent Buttler from making his mark with the bat as he blasted a 20-ball half-century, Lancashire’s fastest fifty in Twenty20 cricket.

Opening the innings, as he had done for England in their T20 International at Southampton on Tuesday, Buttler bludgeoned seven fours and four sixes in his 57 off 23 deliveries to inspire the defending champions

to a seven-wicket win.

“Lancashire and England’s Jos Buttler received a blow to his left thumb during Friday night’s NatWest T20 Blast match against Worcestershire Rapids at New Road,” England and Wales Cricket Board said in their website on Friday.

“X-rays later revealed he sustained a small stable fracture which will be managed considerably.”

Buttler was in fine form during the recent T20 match between England and Sri Lanka.

Buttler’s heroics were a continuation of the fine displays he made for England in the limited-overs matches against Sri Lanka.

His 73 not out after being promoted to open against Sri Lanka earlier this week was his highest score in T20s, while knocks of 93 and 70 proved crucial in the ODI series. - IANS

FOOTBALL

Wales can win 2018 World Cup: Williams CARDIFF: Wales football team captain Ashley Williams is dreaming of more international success and believes they can win the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The Swansea City defender played a crucial part in his side’s stunning adventures in the European Championship in France, which saw Wales end a 58year wait to qualify for a major tournament.

Chris Coleman’s charges surprised as they went all the way to the semi-finals after topping a group including England and Russia. Portugal eventually ended their run with a 2-0 win but Williams feels that won’t hinder their progress.

“We’ve said to ourselves on the

bus: imagine if we had won the tournament’.Because looking at the streets, it feels like we have,” Williams was quoted as saying by goal.com as the team was paraded around Cardiff on its return home.

“After the Russia World Cup hopefully it will be the same again, but with a trophy.”

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen echoed the sentiments of his team-mate, insisting Euro 2016 campaign has to become the benchmark.

“We can keep this momentum going,” he said.

“We are all very proud of what we have done and hope this is the benchmark and that we can look forward to more future success,” he added. - IANS

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

SPORTS TRUST OILFIELD TOURNAMENT

Al Khoud CC champions MUSCAT: Al Khoud CC lifted the Trust Oilfield Champions Cup beating Ruwi Kings by six wickets at the Al Hail CT ground.

The exciting tournament was sponsered by Trust Oilfield and the winners trophy was presented by Neil Paily, manager of Trust Cricket Team, while the runners-up trophy was presented by tournament coordinator Jacon Denson.

Sialkot and Klair are champions of Omantel Cricket

Comfortable win Batting first in the final, Ruwi Kings scored 46 runs in 8 overs and Al Khoud CC chased it comfortably in six overs. It was totally a one-sided match.

Best batsmen, best bowler and man of the match trophies presented by members of tournament committee (Sadhik PM, Aaju Vipin, Jebin James, Sanoop K. and Sadath PM) Earlier in the semifinals, Ruwi

ALL SMILES: Al Khoud captain receiving the trophy. – Supplied photo

Kings (95 for 4 in 8 overs) beat Rising stars (76 for 6 in 8 overs).

Al Khoud CC (91 for 5 in 8 overs) trounced Masters XI (40 all out).

Man of the final was Nasser of Al Khoud CC, while Musafir of Ruwi Kings was adjudged best batsman and Sameer of Al Khoud CC was named best bowler.

FOOTBALL

In the Tape Ball category final, Sialkot Stallion (58 for 1) defeated Bisya lions(58 for 7) by 9 wickets, while Klair XI (85 for 3) beat Al Nahdha (65 for 5) by 20 runs for MRI title

MUSCAT: Sialkot Stallion clinched the tape ball title, while Klair XI won the MRI trophy of the Omantel Ramadan Cricket Tournament organised by the Pakistan Social Club at the Pakistan School Muscat ground.

In the Tape Ball category final, Sialkot Stallion (58 for 1) defeated Bisya lions(58 for 7) by 9 wickets, while Klair XI (85 for 3) beat Al Nahdha (65 for 5) by 20 runs.

Pakistan Ambassador to Oman Ali Javed was the chief guest for

the final evening.

He along with, Hassan Ali Al Lawati of Omantel, Madhu Jesrani, Oman Cricket general secretary, Dad Mohammed Al Balushi of Oman Cricket and Pakistan Social Club chairman Main Munir Mohammed, vice-Chairman Akhmat Hayat Raja and secretary Mohammed Zaeem with other PSC officials distributed the prizes and trophies.

Imran Butt (best batsman), Bilal Khan (best bowler) and Shoaib Al Balushi (best all-rounder) won the individual prizes in the tape ball catgeory, while Faisal (best batsman), Shamas (best bowler) and Imran Nasser (best all-rounder) were the stars of the MRI ball category.

OFA officials for International Coaching Course in Japan MUSCAT: The Japan Football Association (JFA) has invited officials from the OFA for an International Coaching Course between July 12 and 17.

Two OFA representatives have been selected for the same out of the three that were nominated for the course from Oman.

Haroun Al Bartmani, AFC and FIFA Accredited coach, as well as Shakir Mohammed Al Balushi

have been selected to represent the OFA at the course.

Experience Al Bartmani, who will conducting two sessions at the course — both theoretical and practical in nature, will also present a paper on the different roles of the Goalkeeper in the game.

The two Omani representatives have been selected by the JFA

on account of their experience, qualification and good reputation when it comes to the supervision of coaching and lectures.

The international coaching course will have two representatives from each Asian country.

The coaching sessions will also include visits organised by JFA to football teaching academies as well as Sports and Medical Colleges in Japan.

AT H L E T I C S

Gatlin wins 200 metres showdown with Merritt EUGENE: Justin Gatlin won a 200 metres showdown with LaShawn Merritt and 41-yearold Bernard Lagat made his fifth Olympic team by winning the 5,000m at the U.S. athletics trials on Saturday.

World record holder Aries Merritt narrowly missed the men’s 110m hurdles team, while Allyson Felix kept her hopes of a rare 200-400 Olympic double alive by advancing through the women’s 200m semifinals.

World silver medallist Gatlin, remembering a narrow loss to Usain Bolt in last year’s Beijing world championships 100m final, held off the charging LaShawn Merritt to win the 200 final in 19.75 seconds.

“About 40-50 metres (to go) I started seeing LaShawn’s legs coming,” Gatlin said. “I just had a flashback of Beijing all over again.

I was like ‘Oh no we not!’

“I just kept me poise and dove for the line.”

Merritt clocked 19.79 seconds as both the sprinters qualified for Rio in a second event. Merritt earlier won the 400 and Gatlin the 100.

Merritt would not say whether

TOP THREE: From left, first placed Justin Gatlin, third placed Ameer Webb and second placed LaShawn Merritt celebrate after the Men’s 200 metre final during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field. – AFP

he, like Felix, would try for a 200400 double in Rio. “I had three days between the 400 and the 200 (here), and at the Olympics it’ll be one day,” he said. “I’ll talk to my coach and see how he’ll adjust training headed towards Rio, and just handle it a round at a time.”

Ameer Webb rounded out the 200m team with an even 20 second run. Kenya-born Lagat pulled to the front on the final straight to

claim the 5,000 in 13 minutes and 35.50 seconds.

“I train with young guys and I don’t believe I am old,” said Lagat.

“If you believe you are old, I am going to run like an old man.”

Lagat had represented Kenya for his first two Olympic teams and now will be going for a third Games with the U.S. Hassan Mead and Paul Chelimo joined him on the Rio team.

Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist Galen Rupp faded to ninth after leading early. He was already qualified for Rio in the marathon and 10,000.

Hurdler Meritt out Reigning Olympic hurdles champion Aries Merritt, who underwent a kidney transplant in September, missed the Rio team by a hundredth of a second as he

came fourth in the final. Only the top three finishers qualify for the Olympics in the cut-throat U.S. trials.

“I thought I had finished second or third,” said the 30-year-old, who was leading with two hurdles to go.

Officials re-read the finish photo but did not change the results.

Home-town collegian Devon Allen surprisingly won the race in 13.03 with Ronnie Ash and Jeff Porter finishing second and third, both in 13.21.

Favourite David Oliver did not start the final after injuring his hamstring in the semifinals.

Felix, not happy with her curve running, clocked the third best 200m semifinal time of 22.57 seconds to advance to Sunday’s final.

“I was not as sharp as I would like to be but I am moving on,” said Felix, who has been slowed by a sprained ankle in April.

Tori Bowie was fastest at 22.27 seconds. Olympic silver medallist Will Claye overtook London triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor with a big fifth-place jump of 17.65 metres as both advanced to Rio. Taylor leaped 17.39. - Reuters

De Grasse dips under 10 seconds at Canadian trials EDMONTON: Andre De Grasse ran his fastest 100 metres of the year to book his place at the Rio Games while world champions Shawn Barber and Derek Drouin also won their events at the Canadian Olympic trials on Saturday. De Grasse, co-bronze medallist at the 2015 world championships, clocked 9.99 seconds to defeat Aaron Brown in the meeting at Edmonton, Alberta. Brown, who ran 9.96 seconds in Florida, finished second in 10.07 seconds. — Reuters

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LIFESTYLE

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

Gear WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

A FRESH TOUCH BLACKBERRY PRIV

Story Faisal Mohammed Naim

Finally giving in to Android, yesteryear hero Blackberry’s new flagship – Priv promises the best of both worlds – best OS amalgamated to trusted Blackberry encryption. The game is not over yet for the Canadian cellular giant.

I

t is better late than never. While Nokia met a sad demise recently, another former Smartphone mogul Blackberry has returned a prodigal son to Android. Once used to sitting on the most sophisticated palms, with none other than US President Barrack Obama being its poster boy, the brand in the last few years had almost reached its end.

But just before its obituary could be written, the brand came to its sense, and bowed to Android’s supremacy, and came up with the Priv (a short for its slogan – Privilege Privacy) that ditches BlackBerry 10 OS to run Android Lollipop, and yet delivers top-notch security only to be expected from a BlackBerry.

Launched recently in this part of the world (first quarter of 2016 in the west), the phone packs a punch, with the trademark Blackberry hardened enterprisegrade software (the encryption created enough panic to lead many countries mulling to ban the brand) mated to the world’s most happening and interactive interface: Android. The end result is a Smartphone that makes a better statement than the most.

The inaugural Blackberry Android phone sporting Google’s stock Android platform, and with it access to the apppacked Play Store, is coupled with a crispy 5.4-inch QHD display, handy BB apps and the BB’s legendary keyboard.

Loaded with a Snapdragon 808 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage and 18MP rear camera, the Priv can defi-

nitely dare to stare right into the eyes of the other mighty flagships out there. And while some may yammer about it being a bit too late (most of the competition had the specs launched in 2015), we say it is still a gem of a Smartphone.

The Priv makes of itself an exciting prospect as it brings something freshly different to the Android market. All the others literally keep beating around the bush with nothing substantial to put them apart from each other. At best one could boast of a bit higher display resolution, or a bit better camera, or a few extra widgets (useless most of them). In general they are all the same.

But the Priv offers many things different, completely absent in other devices. Being a Blackberry, the best part about is the security. With a system called DTEK, it’s meant to secure your personal data and monitor for any foul play from apps. DTEK automatically watches over your phone (in real time), but takes it a step further by notifying the user when an app requests sensitive information and providing a log of the app’s behaviour.

The security system allows customised personal data permissions, giving the users more control over what applications they can access in the phone. The system also provides a clear, concise break-down of what phone features downloaded applications want access to and why. Furthermore, the S/MIME Support allows on to digitally sign and encrypt e-mails, adding another level of security to communications. The Priv even offers media card en-

TECH SPECS: Blackberry Priv Operating System Android 5.1.1 Lollipop (Android Marshmallow update) Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 (8992) Hexa-Core, 64 bit GPU Adreno 418, 600 MHz Display 5.43-inch curved AMOLED, 2560x1440 resolution (540 ppi) Memory 3GB low-power RAM Storage 32GB Flash storage, MicroSD up to 2TB Rear Camera 18MP, f/2.2, OIS, phase-detect autofocus Front Camera 2MP, f/2.8, 1.75um pixel size Battery 3,410 mAh, Non-removable Charging Quick Charge 2.0, Qi wireless Connectivity Wifi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, USB 2.0

cryption support – the feature means the phone content remains protected, in case the device gets stolen.

That said, the Priv performs outstandingly given all that power. It may not be on top of the charts in the performance categories, but it is a strong contender that won’t disappoint. The handy BlackBerry apps such as BBM, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, Tasks, make organising and performing tasks even easier.

Camera is another attraction on the Priv, especially it being a Blackberry, whose devices quite curiously posed themselves as too serious and seriously low on the entertainment part, especially the camera. That’s not the case with the Priv however.

The 18MP rear camera with SchneiderKreuznach-certified imaging sensor on the PRIV is so far the best to be sported by a Blackberry. Images are sharp and detailed with plenty of settings and effects for augmenting shots both before and after taking the shots. The UX (User Experience design) is pretty easy to use with a slew of nice filters to lend the shots a more professional touch. Matching the best of rivals, the Priv camera also features optical image stabilisation (OIS), phase-detect auto focus and the ability to record 4K video at 30fps.

On the design front, the Priv takes you back to the early days of the Smartphones, when sliders used to mean business.

Pushing the slight metal ridge at the bottom reveals the physical QWERTY keyboard, which we are sure the Priv has for

no other than being a Blackberry (we are after all living in the age of touch screens virtual keyboard).

The metal rimmed glass front – raised at the top and bottom to protect the screen when it’s face-down; gives the Priv a premium touch. The back and sides of the Priv are clad in what Blackberry terms as tensile weave. Having a Kevlar like appearance, the stuff is neither metal nor glass; it rather has more of a plasticy, rubbery feel to it (nothing like the cheap plastics on the earlier Samsungs). The tensile weave material makes the phone extremely grippy. The rounded edges further make the phone to be held securely in hand.

Seemingly inspired by Samsung, the Priv also sports dual-curved sides on the screen; although not as pronounced as Samsung’s. Swiping the edge gives a sneak peek at info from BlackBerry’s Calendar, Messages, and Tasks apps. You can also set favourite contacts on to it.

All in all, the Priv, though it may not be the bestest and the mightiest Android smartie out there; it still turns out to be a great option in the slew of top-running Androids today. It is in fact the best option for those who are even one bit concerned about the safety of their content amidst all that Android fun.

More exciting prospects are going to be there soon from Blackberry, with BB CEO confirming the brand would be launching two more new Android-based Smartphones in 2016. Feels like Blackberry is soon going to be back in business, if not already. —faisal@timesofoman.com

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

C6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

@ MGM

Cast: Ali Alghurair, Khalil Alromaithi, Abdulla Waleed 7:00PM

@ BURAIMI

@ PANORAMA MALL

SHATTI Now You See Me 2 (2D) (Action | Comedy | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo 1:30 PM Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3:45, 8:30, 11:45 PM Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman 2:15, 7:00, 9:15 11:45 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Out of the Shadows (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 4:45, 7:00, 9:15 PM Finding Dory (3D) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) GOLD CLASS Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 11:15AM, 1:30, 7:00 & 11:30PM Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman 10:00AM, 9:30 & 11:45PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi) GOLD CLASS Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 3:45PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi | Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 6:15 & 8:45PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action ) (PG12) GOLD CLASS Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 9:15PM

Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Marko Zaror, 2:00, 4:30, 5:05, 7:45, 8:15, 11:00, 11:30 PM

Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:00AM, 12:00, 2:00 & 6:45PM

Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) MX4D Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, , Bill Pullman 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15PM

The Purge: Election Year 12+ (Action /Horror/Sci:Fi) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson 2.00, 5.00 & 11.55 PM

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:15 & 4:00PM Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:00AM, 12:00, 2:00 & 6:45PM The Purge: Election Year - (2D) (Action) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell 12:15, 4:30 & 11:55PM (12+)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:45, 6:00, 9:45 & 11:50PM Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 1:45, 3:45, 5:45 & 7:45PM Me Before You - (2D) (Drama) (15+) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 5:00PM

PANORAMA MALL Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 9:15 & 11:30PM Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15PM (PG12) MX4D Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pm Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 2:45 & 6:00PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi | Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 2:45, 8:15 & 11:30PM

AZAIBA Happy Wedding (Mal) (2D) (Romance) (PG) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir, 6:45, 9:15, 11:00 PM Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 2:00, 4:30, 5:05, 7:45, 8:15, 11:00, 11:30 PM Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 2:00, 4:30, 11:45 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Out of the Shadows (3D) (Action | Adventure ) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:15, 7:00, 9:00 PM Finding Dory (3D) (Animation) (PG) 3:00, 5:00 PM

RUWI Screen 1 Sultan (2D) (Action, Drama, Sport) –PG12 Cast : Marko Zaror, Salman Khan 3.30, 6.45, 10.00 PM Screen 2 Independence Day: Resurgence (2D) (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi) –PG12 Cast : Maika Monroe, Liam Hemsworth 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM Screen 3 Housefull 3 (2D) (Comedy / Drama) –PG12 Cast : Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

SOHAR Independence Day: Resurgence – 3D (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman 3:45, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45PM Finding Dory – 3D (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 3:00PM Finding Dory – 2D (Animation) (PG) 5:00PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – 3D (Action/) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 5:00, 9:30, 11:45PM The Purge: Election Year -2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti 3:00, 11:45PM Now You See Me: the Second Act – 2D Cast: Jesse Esinberg, Lissy Caplan, Daniel 5:30PM (Action) (PG12) Sultan -2D (Hindi/ Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 2:15, 6:15, 8:00, 11:15PM Happy Wedding -2D (Romantic/Drama) (PG) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Sharafudheen 9:15PM Swaief Tafash -2D (Arabic) (PG)

SUR Independence Day 3D ( Action) ( PG12 ) Cast : Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 3:15, 7:30, 11:45 PM Sultan (Hindi) ( Action ) ( PG12 ) Cast : Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3:30, 8:30, 11:30 PM Finding Dory 3D ( Animation ) (PG) 6:30 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Out of the Shadows 3D ( Action ) ( PG12 ) Cast : Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 5:30, 9:45 PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

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) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

43 37

AASHIKA KIRAN NAIR July 9, 2005

Minimum

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

85-25% SIVANI LEKSHMY July 10, 2009

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

Sur Sur

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

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

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

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

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

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Sultan( Hindi) ( Act\Sports) Cast: Salman Khan & Anushka Shama 3-30 PM Cinema -2; 6-30 & 9-30 Pm Cinema Main Happy Wedding ( Mal) (Comedy) Cast : Willson Joseph, Soubin Shahir & Sharafudheen 3-00 Pm Cinema Main ; 6-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema -2 School Bus ( Mal)( Thriller) Cast : Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 PM Cinema -3 Kammati Paddam ( Mal) ( Act) Cast: Dulquer Salman & Anjali Aneesh 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -3 Next Change : Kabali (Tamil) Programmes are subject to change

0

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

STAR CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

The Asian Connection (Action) Cast: Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White 1.00 p.m.

CP No : 1764 (15+) The Purge: Election Year (Action/Horror/Sc:Fi:) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizebeth Mitchel 4.00, 8.00 & 11.55 pm CP No : 1810 (12+) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Action/Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Amet, Tyler Perry 12.00, 2.00, 6.00 & 10.00 pm CP No : 1811 (PG12 ) Sultan (Hindi Film) (Action/Drama/Sport) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3.00, 6.00 & 9.00pm CP No : 1812 (PG12) 30 Years Ago (Arabic Film) (Action/Thriller) Cast: Ahmed El Sakki, Mona Zaki, Sherif Mounir 11.55 pm CP No : 1813 (PG12)

WITH LOVE

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

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

SALALAH Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (PG12) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 10:15, 2:30, 6:00, 8:35PM Finding Dory (3D) (PG) (Animation) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:30, 12:30, 4:45PM Sultan (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 2:45, 8:45, 11:15PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (3D) (PG12) (Action | Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 12:30, 9:00, 11:30PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2D) (PG12) (Action | Adventure) 4:10PM The Purge: Election Year (2D) (12+) (Action ) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti 12:05, 2:05, 11:55PM Abu Shanab (2D) (PG12)( Arabic ) (Action ) Cast: Yazmin Abdel Aziz, Dhaffer L Abidine 6:45PM Happy Wedding (2D) (PG) (Malayalam) (Romantic |Comedy |Drama) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir 6:15PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

BAHJA CINEMA

BURAIMI Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) PG12 (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 2.45, 9.00 & 11:30 PM The Purge: Election Year 12+ (Action) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell 2.00, 5.00 & 11.55 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (3D) PG 12 (Action | Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 3.00, 7.00 & 9.30 PM Sultan PG12 (Hindi) (Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 4.00, 8.55 & 11.15 PM Finding Dory (3D) PG (Animation | Comedy) Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 5.00 & 7.00 PM Happy Wedding PG (Malayalam) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir 7.00 PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

Destination

12.17pm 3.37pm 7.02pm 8.23pm 4.01am

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

@ AZAIBA

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

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

C7

LIFESTYLE

THE WORLD IN A BOX

Putting the digital world from up front to right around us, the VR devices with their immersive experience are taking entertainment to the next level – redefining how we see the virtual world.

Story Syed Haitham Hasan

BRIEF

Nativ launches Bit-Perfect CD ripper Offering another amazing gadget for music lovers, audio brand Nativ has come up with the ‘Nativ Disc’, a one of its kind, ‘quite beautiful’ bit-perfect CD Ripper, which allows music lovers convenient access to large CD collections in lossless quality and with rich metadata experience.

Simply insert the CD into ‘Nativ Disc’ and the device automatically imports it into the user’s Nativ Vita music server in the format of choice, tagged with detailed information about the album, artist and beautiful album artwork. Launched last week, the device allows users to import up to 12,000 CDs in to the high-resolution music player/server ‘Nativ Vita’, connected via bus-powered USB. Speaking of the device, Michael Li, CEO and Co-Founder of Nativ, said “Although most people stream or download music today many of us still have large CD collections at home.

Nativ Disc provides a simple

way to add those CDs to one’s digital music libraries. As a result of our relationship with Gracenote, users can also access the world’s most extensive music database and innovative playlisting capabilities that deliver a more immersive experience and help them re-discover music like never before.”

The imported CDs are automatically copied as bit perfect copies to the built-in hard disk drives in lossless FLAC, un-

compressed WAV or lossy MP3 format. Gracenote automatically recognises the imported content and delivers detailed album information and beautiful cover art for more than 200 million tracks to Vita’s stunning 11.6” touchscreen UI. Through descriptive information including genre, origin, era, tempo, and mood, Gracenote also curates mood and activity-based playlists for Vita users.

—lifestyle@timesofoman.com

D

ating its conceptual origins back to the pre 1950 era, the dawn of Virtual Reality (VR) is now upon us. The iconic tech giants are already battling for market share in the industry expected to rise well above the billion dollar mark by the turn of the decade. Recently heavyweights Google, Sony, and Samsung have released VR headsets that offer incredible 3D experience of a simulated environment. If one has been in a small module in kids’ entertainment parks with weird names such as 7D, they are slightly acquainted with the concept of Virtual Reality. The idea is to create an environment which isn’t reality but a simulated world with the objective of immersing the individual into it to the extent that the brain perceives it to be real, unlike when on TV or computer. It is basically a computer generated interactive simulation of a certain environment using electronic devices such as gloves, helmets, goggles, and provides some of the most memorable experiences to users who can find themselves as astronauts on Moon or combatants in a battlefield, all in their living rooms.

But how do they achieve this? In theory it is very simple. There are essentially three things required, a console, PC or a Smartphone to run the application or game, a headset that allows the display to be secured in front of the eyes and an input including sensors, head tracking, and hand tracking.

The visual input is provided by the PC or console through an HDMI cable or by the Smartphone itself depending on the type of Head Mounted Display (HMD). These displays, often referred to as goggles due to lens fitted into them, contain LCD displays for each eye or receive two feeds to one display.

The lens placed between the eyes and the visual input help in focusing on the image to create a stereoscopic 3D vision by capturing the same image with different angles,

identical to how the eyes perceive the real world. Even the field of view is important in VR to mimic the real world much as possible, which is a 180 degree view when both eyes are open. The closer it is to the human eye perception, the more immersion for the user. Most headsets currently provide a 110 degree field of view which is nearly enough for the total captivation of the user into the simulated world.

headsets available. Even though its wired and lacks motion sensors creating a rather static virtual experience, the Oculus Rift makes up for it with a high quality experience with a smooth image input preventing eye strain. It plays both movies and games and is comparatively cheaper.

Pros: VR pioneers Excellent quality and experience Cons: No motion controls

So far, following are our gateways to the virtual world:

Google Cardboard: The most basic of the VR headsets is the Google cardboard. The best part is, you can nearly make it yourself. Yes, as the name suggests, it’s just cardboard attached to a Smartphone. All you have to do is construct the headset as per the instructions and slot your phone into it. The experience may be far from an immersive one but if you have a high resolution phone, you could have a decent one.

Pros: Cheap, as in very cheap, Hobbyist fun Cons: Quality far from premium, Limited Functionality

HTC Vive: By far the most comprehensive VR package in the market, in terms of the immersive experience including motion sensors that track the motion of head with a crisp 1080p display, is the cordless HTC Vive, able to play movies and games. The outstanding feature in the Vive is that it allows movement in a room 4.5x4.5m so instead of moving a joystick, you can move around with your legs.

Be careful not to run into walls, that is if you have an empty room of that size. On the downside, the HTC Vive is rather expensive and requires a high end GPU discouraging customers to procure it.

Pros: Best VR experience, Motion sensor enabled Cons: Requires a high-end GPU, Expensive Playstation VR: The cabled VR is compatible only with the PS4. The unbeatable aesthetics and indulging display of the PSVR are a boon only for a PS user. For the others, doesn’t sound as good of a prospect considering one would have to buy the gaming console as their dedicated GPU. The enthusiasts may have to wait for it as it is available for preorder and arrives in October 2016.

Pros: Excellent level of interaction, 120Hz refresh rate Cons: Only works with PS4, can cause motion sickness Oculus Rift: The revolutionary VR manufacturer produces one of the lightest and most comfortable VR

Samsung Gear VR: Powered by the Oculus technology, the Samsung Gear VR promises to provide a decent VR experience, though considering its wide range of compatibility with different Samsung devices, the image quality is always subjected to the phone. Playing both games and movie, like Vive, it is completely wireless.

Pros: Value for money Cons: A bit bulky, low interaction, content pixelated Constant developments in technology including motion sensors, head tracking, sound and eye sensors can make Virtual Reality as immersive as reality. It certainly has an appeal to a huge audience and with more advancement; days of TV and computer for visual entertainment may be numbered. After all, who doesn’t want to escape the real world?

-haitham@timesofoman.com

C8

MONDAY, JULY 11, 2016

LIFESTYLE

KILLER

Trusted antivirus brand AVG lists the top 10 battery killing apps, analysing anonymous data from over one million AVG Android app users. And not just battery, the apps significantly eat up your space and data too.

Facebook ‘Mis-Manages’ A consistent top performer on the charts, Facebook has a new contender: its monitoring app, Facebook Pages Manager. The app stores a lot of local content as it tracks page statistics, followers, and comments, while on the move.

APPS INITIATED

BY THE USER 1. Snapchat 2. Amazon Shopping UK 3. Sotify Music

AUTO START APPS OR RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND 1. Facebook 2. Google Play Services

Instant snaps kill performance Though its pictures are gone in an instant, its effect on your smartphone lingers. Snapchat is revealed as the number one performance killer.

3. Facebook Pages Manager

4. LINE: Free Calls & Messages

4. BBM

5. Samsung WatchON (Video)

5. Words with Friends A bad forecast Both the Weather Channel and Words with Friends were surprise entrants in the list, with the apps having no clear need to run invisibly in the background.

6. Netflix 7. Clean master

6. Instagram 7. Messenger

8. Amazon Kindle

8. ooVoo Video call Text & Voice

9. Amazon Shopping (Global)

9. ChatON Voice & Video Chat

10. BBC News

10. The Weather Channel A drain on your wallet and Smartphone With two of its shopping apps on the ‘run by user’ list, if you want to save data and battery life on the go, you might want to steer clear of Amazon.

Source: now.avg.com

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

SECTION

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

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

D2

M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

1 BHK Flats are available near Lulu Darsait (Opp. to Min. of Defense) Contact: 93202733 / 94771769 Spacious 3 BHK apartment + store room with split A/C Al Seeb, Mabelah South near Goat market, near Expressway R.O 320 negotiable.

Contact: 96920789 / 98309890

New 2B/R behind bank Muscat, Bausher directly from owner.

Contact: 92158031

1000,00 M2 Industrial plot compound wall & two room at Misfah I/A. Contact: 99342733

Ruwi office space for rent, Saravana Bhava Building.

Contact: 95729549

Flat for rent in Al Mawaleh South 3, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, hall, kitchen & store with air condition.

Contact 98575157

Commercial/Residential land (24000 sqm) at Izz for lease.

Contact 92334696

Flat for rent in Al Khoud, 2 rooms & hall. Contact: 91763665

1,2,3 BHK flats & villas.

Contact: 91760884

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 Flats for rent, location: Darsait AENT. Contact: 99885957 / 24488075 Luxury fully furnished 2 bedroom flat at Al Khuwair, for short or long term lease contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC. Contact 99436312 /92888376 / 94617563, tel: 24833848 Villa available –Built up 300m2, 3 bedrooms, sitting, family lounge, kitchen, 3 toilets, near 100 meters from Indian School SoharContact: 26843530, 95856630 3 bedroom well maintained flat (villa type only 2 flats in one bldg) in Al Khuwair, behind Al Aktham restaurant villa no 1839, Way no 3922 block 239. Contact: 99462980 2 Bedroom, 1 sitting room, 1 toilet, 1 kitchen at Darsait.

Contact: 99022487 10 studio apartments & 12 fully furnished executive apartments ready for occupation - location at Falaj Al Qabail Contact 22092638 /94532131; Email: nitsohar@gmail.com

1 BHK flat in Al Khuwair for 2 months. Contact – 99792181

3BHK Al Khuwair R.O. 350/-.

Contact: 91760884 / 92144045

Flats, shops & store for rent in MBD area Ruwi, Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

2BHK Darsait R.O 315/-.

Contact: 91760884 / 92144045

Flats in Darsait.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

1BHK Mumtaz R.O 225/-.

Contact: 92144045 / 91760884

Ghubra & Al Khuwair, 1 bed room, hall. Contact: 90991079

1 &2 BHK Ghubra 250/- , 275/& 300/-.Contact: 92144045 / 91750884

Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

110 SQM shop for rent next to Honda Signal light.

Contact: 99061408 / 99024039 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 I BHK Flat -3 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 175/-3 Bed Room/ 3 Bath room/ Very big sitting area/ kitchen - Villa 1st floor with A/C at Al Khuwair Near Rayyan Residence.

R.O 360/-For families. Contact: 94934353 - 9 am to 7 Pm. Email – forrentksd@gmail.com Offices and flats in Ghala.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 1 BHK fully furnish flat in Hamriya for short terms.

Contact – 99792181 5 BHK Villa in Al Khuwair, for Staff Accommodation.

Contact 99792181 1 Room for sharing accommodation in Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99792181 3 & 5 BHK villa staff accommodation in Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99792181

Flats for rent in Mumtaz, 2 bedrooms , hall Way no 3352 building no. 3447 & 3668.

Contact: 90991079 Two bedrooms flat behind German Embassy near to Al Nahda Hospital. Contact: 99209354 Wadi Kabeer Industrial 80 sm show rooms for rent 400/- R.O. Contact: 99879939 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khood.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Ghobrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact 94051789-97201688 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 Flats in Al khuwair.

Contact 94051789-97201688

2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661 Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346 2 BHK flat at Wadi Kabir behind Pioneer Hotel apartment.

Contact: 99857332 /99261522 3000 Sqr mtrs compound land in Misfah. Contact 99792181 1700 sqr mtrs open Land + small store + garage for Rent in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181 Labor Camp available with all facilities near Sohar Port.

Contact: 98050654 / 99015826 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Darsate Tel : 00 968 95158570 Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 2BHK split A/C for rent Muttrah near Oman House.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/in AL Khuwair. Contact 95154331

Warehouse at Wadikabir total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120 2 & 3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair & Ghubra. Contact 99792181 4 BHK Villa in Bowsher Heights.

Contact 99792181

MV SALE Toyota Corolla 2006, 1.3, full automatic Expat driven.

Contact: 99045803 Mazda 2; 2013 ; 4 Door Hatchback ; Grey color ; Low Mileage : 4350 Kms; Single Expat Driven; Excellent Condition; Price: 3000 OMR(Negotiable).

Contact 99857123 TOYOTA Camry for sale, 2010, 1,00,000 kms, full option, silver colour, warranty up to Sept 2016, full showroom service, Indian expat leaving the country.

Mob 97462122 TOYOTA CAMRY : Good condition,Colour White, Make 2004, Automatic Transmission, Done 236000 Kms. Contact: 93667236 Nissan Qashqai 2013 Kms 30,000 VGC comprehensive Insurance UAE / Oman. Contact: 96995430

FOR HIRE JCB 426 TOOL CARRIER with Operator available.

Contact 92334696

FOR SALE Dental chairs for sale sparingly used dental units for sale.

Contact Mr. Ansari 92616343.

Kumar 99570284 A clinic and pharmacy located in Al Amerat is for sale. Interested parties can contact 92704439.

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 Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35) / Ghala / Qurum. Contact 95056808 / 97201688 1No brand new containerized package type STP 100 m3/ day with blower equipments (suitable for camps). Serious Buyers may.

Contact: 99445367 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair.

Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale. Contact: 99273774/ 99202278 Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

Restaurant for sale heart of Ruwi.

Contact 93687466 Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter.

Photos can be sent 95865457 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact 90202090

M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

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

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

Contact 99336776

GOOD NEWS

FOR SALE SHUTTERING PLYWOOD SIZE : 4’ X 8’ X 18MM GSM: 92835445,93205253,93205423

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS

Fully furnished two bed flat for 4 - 6 months rent available, location KFC building, Wadi Kabir, Ruwi.

Contact: 98763645 / 93894257

One single room available for executive bachelor at CBO area fully furnished and WIFI available.

Contact 92779732

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Fully furnished room available for executive bachelors opp. Star Cinema. Contact 92886715

MATRIMONIAL

Room, bath room for executives in Wadi kabir. Contact 99336206 Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 97167857

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. Contact: 96202458/96761960 1 BHK appartment for rent in Al Khoud Shabiya near mazoon mosque for rent (next to alkhoud medical center and squ) MOB: 93913224 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90.

Contact 96524717 Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail.

Contact: 96234708 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom.

Interested please contact 92680041 Mr. Altaf Sharing accommodation near ISD. Contact: 99657340

ACC. WANTED Accommodation Wanted for an Executive Bachelor, Single Flat / Sharing Room @ Wadi Kabir.

Pls call: 93883674 / 98103169

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, Spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320

Furnished rooms with kitchen at Ruwi. Contact : 91214897 / 98049288.

Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir. Contact 93049849

Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair.

Contact 97263637 / 93309131

INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required.

Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com ONE STOP SHOP BUSINESS SERVICES Public Relation Service (PRO) Document Clearance, Business setup, Formation new Companies, LLC Companies, Investor Visa, Legal Services.

Contact Saleh:

96723485 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each.

Contact: 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778 IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile # 92927880/99012165

Parent of Thrissur based Hindu Ezhava girl aged 20, Slim,Atham star, Studying for B. Pharm seeking alliance from well employed Graduates, preferably in Engineering Contact :96425102 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact 96059801.

Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. available. (Ruwi) Contact 92430239 Transport. Contact: 94510847 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation available Al Khuwair, Ghobrah, Azaiba, Al Hail & Al Khoud. Drop & pick.

Contact 95250161 Transportation. Contact: 96538078

DRIVING

MANPOWER

Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation. Contact 94510847 Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

Manpower available: cleaning male/female staff, loading unloading and helpers staff available on contract basis. Contact- 94636086

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M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

WANTED Female Gynaecologist, Female GP- Two Female Staff Nurse (From India or Pilipino)and One Female Dental Assist and Female Lab Technician.

Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com

With MOH Licence and Data Flow for Al Saadi Specilised Medical Centre, Musanna.

Contact # 92025033, Email : dr.srininvas76@gmail.com

ACCOUNTS An Omani Audit firm is seeking audit partner to join the firm, the candidate should be completed any certificate course CIA,CPA, CA, ACC, and 4 years’ experience, interested candidates to submit their CVs to : auditbureau2016@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Beauty salon needs lady for henna. Contact: 93336061

CATERING Shawarma / grill / Salad / Asian Cook. Contact: 95529970

DOMESTIC HELPER House maid for Omani family.

Contact: 99773100

DRIVER Wanted a experience Driver for Capital and Interior work.

Gsm : 942-888-63 Required Omani Driver for a restaurant. Contact 95929911

ENGI./TECHNICIAN Wanted service Technicians for diesel generators and diesel air compressors for a fast growing rental company persons having thorough knowledge with Perkins / Cummins engines, ELGI compressors with Oman driving preferred. Contact: 95442846/95041935

MEDICAL

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Care Medical Centre Al Seeb requires Gynecologist and General Practitioner. Mail CV to: sarita_h23@yahoo.com

Required Indian Mason – 5 nos., eligibility (minimum 5 yrs experience in road construction field).

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com

General Practitioner with MBBS degree, Prometric passes & dataflow completed, wants to join any hospital or polyclinic in and around Muscat, Sohar or Salalah.

Contact dr.saiful.bd@gmail.com, 960775 9159 Wanted Staff Nurses (Female) with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent salary & accommodation.

Contact – 99006915/ Email - alhinaee.clinic@yahoo. com A medical centre is looking to hire immediately a talented Nurse to join our successful team, required 3 years of experience, Oman prometric, data flow. Send your CV to- issalibi@gmail.com or Whatsapp - 91254820 Required GP Doctors, Gynecology, X ray Tech staff nurses.

Contact: 99681325 Email: altaqwamedicalcentre@gmail. com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

Testing / Protection Engineer with minimum 05 years of experience and should have Oman DCRP license, Interested candidates send resume to krishivan@gmail.com

Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com

EDUCATION/TRAINING

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Urgently required experienced and trained kindergarten Teacher for a well reputed bilingual school in Mabela area Muscat interested and suitable candidates must reply to Email: anitasuresh11@yahoo.com

Tailor shop requires Master Cutter & hand embroidery.

Contact – 99359700

Required English, computer and science female Teachers up to grad 4. Contact - 95054916, aa77345@gmail.com. contact time after 5PM

IT IT Engineer, min 4 years experience in Biometric Attendance System and CCTV camera, preferably with D/L. Apply to hr@unitedsystemsit.com or call 99423442.

Required Shop Sales man + Hardware Technician for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Supervisor required for Construction Company having Omani driving license, fresher’s can apply.

Contact: 92888337

MISCELLANEOUS Advertising company required Graphic designer knowledge of designing, Photoshop, illustrator, coral draw & Salesman with D/L. Send CV to suroordigital@gmail.com Contact No: 94771366/95338210 Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278 Looking for Female Journalistic or advertising & media background. Contact 99342237/ 9394 6622/ Email: ali.matani2@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

SALES / MARKETING Wanted Sales Man for an elevator company 3 yrs exp English language must has NOC required send resume to pioneersoverall. operationl@gmail.com Contact: 968 94496661 Required smart, young, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience for a reputed manufacturing company in Oman, having its Head Office in Ruwi. Experience in building materials is an added advantage.

Omani Driving License and NOC is a must. Attractive remuneration package.

Apply with photograph to E-mail: salesjobds@gmail.com Required marketing / PR manager for a modern restaurant group in Oman , proficient in illustrator & Photoshop charismatic , proactive , creative & flexible excellent writing / Editing skills degree in relevant area fluent in English.

Send CV to marketingpr2016@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ARCHITECT Junior Architect (female), from NIT looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 99329289 Architect and 3D visualize three years experience 1.5 in Oman fluent in Arabic and English have Omani driving license looking for job with consultancy office or interior design firm.

Contact: 94673937 Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Chief / Senior Accountant, having 12 years Oman experience looking for a job NOC / Release with D/L available.

Contact: 97385562

Indian male B.Com, MBA 4 years in Larsen & Toubro total 26 years Gulf experience English, Arabic speaking with driving license, NOC available.

Contact: 95588565

Indian female 24 yrs, MBA finance B.Com Computer currently on family visa looking for suitable placements. Contact: 93839846 Email: abmiesummy92@gmail. com

Indian (Male) having 17+years Experience in Trading & Healthcare seeking senior Position in Accounts (11 years GCC Experience)currently on Resident Visa (NOC Available) and has a valid Omani Driving Licence. Contact: 91335026; skumartp@gmail.com

Part Time Accounting, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Monthly Reports, Accounting set up for new companies, GSM : 96975454, email: ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian/MBA/male Chief Accountant 18Yrs Experience, MIS, C.Flow, Budgeting, ERP, Cost accounting &Liasing with auditors. NOC available.

Contact: 92254691/97826674 email: khader2305@gmail.com Srilankan female, 26 yrs, B.Sc, Mgt Degree, 4 yrs experience as Accounts & Admin Executive, looking for a suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or Administration fields. Contact 92544237 / 99640850 Accountant B.Com Indian male 10 yrs experience in Oman with D/L & NOC, local change is available specialized in Tally ERP9 & focus up to finalization. Contact: 99622639 Chief Accountant well experienced with reputed group available. Contact : 98803439.

Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact :94743790

Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail.

Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients.

On visit visa in Muscat.

Contact- 90191628 / 96175780 Part time accounting workers up to finalization, on monthly basis & yearly finalization works.

Contact : 96247295 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact : 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact: 97712084 Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian male 31 chartered Accountant having 2 years Oman experience looking for suitable placement in finance and audit field NOC available.

Contact: 96357827 Email: ubaiskeeran@gmail.com 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 Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.

Contact: 96976240 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance.

Contact: 99284193 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Indian male age 24, B.Com. Accountant having 2 year experience and currently in Muscat. Looking for suitable placement in finance or Audit.

Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com Indian Male 22 , Graduate , Specialized in Tally ERP 9.0, SAP B 1& Professional in Indian & Foreign Accounting (CPIFA) with 1 year work experience , on visit visa in Muscat , Contact no:91782545

ADMIN

SITUATION WANTED DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

ENGG. / SUPERVISOR

Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

B.Tech Instrumentation & control (Engineer) (course completed) on family visit experience as control room operator / plant operator looking for suitable position.

Contact: 98686090 / 98423284 Email: shehinsha.k.b@gmail.com

DRIVER Looking for driving job.

Contact: 94706179 Search job as light driver, experience 3 years language Hindi, English, Arabic. Contact: 97941771 Looking for driving job light 2 years exp. Contact: 91625977 Looking for job light vehicle driver. Contact : 94554216 Light Duty Driver looking for driving job. Contact: 00968 97671459 L/D having 5 years exp in Oman seeks job. Contact: 94608755 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 91122145 / 95992137

Indian female 33 years with 9.5 years experience (1yr in Oman) as Executive Secretary, Administration, Sales Coordinator, and HR coordinator seeks suitable placement. Contact 97985059 sarithajbinu@gmail.com

Light Driver/Supervisor Fluent in English/Arabic- well knowledge of Oman Roads. Tariq: 97950869

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

Pakistani male, 30 age, driver (light vehicle) company or residential experience 4 years experience in Oman. Contact: 96147520 / 96907013

With 15 years of gulf experience in HR- Admin logistics looking for suitable position fluent in Arabic & Eng NOC available. Contact: 95824598 Indian male, 20 years experience in Oman as personal assistant / Executive Office Manager / Executive Secretary / Administration/ business development asst with Omani driving license & valid visa. local release available – 99168054 Education M.B.A (HR) experience 1 year & 11 months exp. in HR, 24 yrs. Contact: 98746259 Indian male with 11 years experience in Data Entry, Admin / HR currently on Visit visa from 9 to 23 July seeking suitable job.

Contact 95669937

Light duty driver, 1 yr experience seeks placement.

Contact: 94284645

Bangladeshi looking for job, Muscat experience 4 years.

Contact 96356280 Driver light veh, store keeper, sales man, shop keeper, supervisor 8 years exp knows English, Arabic, Hindi. Contact: 91615715 Light driver job exp 4 years, know Hindi, English, Arabic, Education B.A. Contact: 98522914 Light Driver / Supervisor Fluent in English & Arabic, Well knowledge of Muscat Areas Looking for suitable placement.

Contact Tariq: 97950869 Looking for driver job.

Contact: 99035942 /97383016

DIETICIAN 7 yrs Exp Office Admin / HR/ IT Admin, MCA, BCA, MBA NOC Available, With Driving License PH: 97086686 Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Architectural Draftsmen 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.

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

Indian female dietician with 3 years experience in India seeking a suitable placement preferable in Muscat. Contact: 99104209

EDUCATION/TRAINING Mathematics Lecturer , Indian Female, M Sc Mathematics from a Prestigious University, B.Ed qualified, distinction holder with 7 yrs teaching experience in colleges.

Contact: 91360147.

Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99739415 / 92091528

B.E Mechanical Engineer, 6 years experience in piping and structure job, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 96115463 Email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com Diploma in Civil Engineer looking for job. Contact : 93148323 Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male with 2 year experience, AREA OF INTEREST Work on Oil Rigs, Work as an QA/QC inspector, Ultrasonic testing, Radiographic testing. Contact: +91 9567526566 Email: adujohnson10@gmail.com Agriculture Engineer 2 8rs, with 5 yrsexp in the field of agriculture, landscaping & irrigation. Since 2 yrs working in different projects.

Having valid UAE driving license.

Currently in Oman (Salalah) on visit visa. Contact – 94120190 / Muhammad.irfan3786@yahoo.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available.

Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Iraqi Civil Engineer with 30 years experience looking for a job, N.O.C available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male 24 Engineering Graduate in Mechanical, being a fresher searching for a suitable placement to grow up my career.

Contact: 97277067 Email: roshan_job_09@yahoo.com Power Systems Engineer experience in digsilent, Cymcap & Etap, Graduation with distinction.

Contact: 98133281 Indian, 30 yrs, male B.E (Electrical Eng) Project Engr & Design Engr total experience 6 years Gulf experience 1 year, 2 months, NOC Available. Contact: 97225924 Email: nsasi55@gmail.com Electrical Engineer with 8 years Experience Looking for a suitable job. (Driving License and NOC available). Ph#91293519, Email: nomee987@gmail.com BE mechanical Engineer having 6+ years experience in structural and piping job looking suitable position. Contact: 96115463 Email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (Sudanese) 3 years experience : Fire fighting, HSE, Design, Production.

Contact: 93642704 Email: mohamedfdl87@gmail.com Fresh Engineering graduate MTech in mechanical Automation and automobile Engineering now in Oman on visit seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95853514 / 98280794 Fresh Engineering graduate B.Tech mechanical engineering now in Oman on visit seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95853514/98280172

M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED An MBA (MĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ Finance)

Indian Male MBA (UK),

An MBA (MĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ Finance)

Contact -

AŌ Ğƌ Žŵ ;Oĸ ĐĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĐƌĞƚĂƌŝĂů ƉƌĂĐƟ ĐĞͿ GƌĂĚƵĂƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ^ W ZW ĂŶĚ ĐĐŽƵŶƚƐ ;^ W ĞƌƟ Į ĞĚͿ͕ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂ ŝŶ IŶƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ZĞƉŽƌƟ ŶŐ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ ;/ WͲh<Ϳ͕ ƉĞĂĐŚ ƚƌĞĞ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƐĞĞŬƐ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚ͘

9 years experience in Dubai/London/ Mumbai in Management Consulting, Sales & Marketing, Business Development for Real Estate/Banking seeks similar placement with D/L.

With SAP erp and accounts ;^ W ĞƌƟ Į ĞĚͿ͕ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂ ŝŶ ůŶƚĞƌŶĂƟ ŽŶĂů &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂů ZĞƉŽƌƟ ŶŐ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƐ ;/ WͲh<Ϳ͕ ƉĞĂĐŚ ƚƌĞĞ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƟ ŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĂďůĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƐĞĞŬƐ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ƉůĂĐĞŵĞŶƚ

97281023 / 90631567

Gsm:+958 98103250

Contact: 95168205

Gsm: +968 98103247

Administrator, 30 yrs experience as Office Manager Project Executive Secretary, document Controller, Commercial Officer with driving license on release.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. PROJECT ENGINEER - CIVIL - 13 years experience in construction at Oman seeking suitable position NOC available - Contact 94427535 (sbmkandan7@gmail.com) Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711

HOSPITALITY

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 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com

B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com

Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com

Young Indian, Engineering in Bio-technology, Bio-chemical and Chemical, looking for a challenging placement in Oman.

Contact 97607000. Email: sivasankarjayakumar@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 Electrical Engineer: Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in Indian, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical with 11 years experience in Automotive Engineering and Industrial Maintenance in Oman with valid driving license seeks suitable job.

On release in Oman-92880593 Civil Engineer B.Tech with 6+ years in supervision designing planning and QC expert in Mech, civil software. Contact: 90719263 Project co-odinater & AutoCAD draftsman Indian male, 8 yrs exp in Oman in civil, interior, precasting with D/L & NOC. Contact: 92188496, Email: vimalg.kannur@gamil.com Quantity surveyor (B.E Civil) 5+ years experience in buildings and mosque N.O.C available ready to join immediately. Contact: +97826597 / +919171430681 Email: sai.praba.777@gmail.com For preparing Civil / MEP Auto CAD drawings.

Contact -93480346.

Email: cadjobsoman@gmail.com Electrical Engineer B.Tech, Indian available in Oman, 2+ years Oman exp (MEP) Light D/L. Contact - 93832935 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact: 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact:-94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com

Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912

Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784

Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree, 03 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler.

Has Oman driving license.

Contact No 99859150.

IT Female, 31, B.Tech- ECE/CCNA/ GSM, 5 yrs Oman experience in IT support (AD, exchange, TMG, UNIS Server admin, In-house apps support, project placement, Transfer NOC available. Contact: 95742398 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact: 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact: 94672759 3 years experience in IT Software field, seeking suitable jobs.

Contact: 96350234, Email : greeshmavkannan@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Senior Land Surveyor 23 yrs Oman, UAE & Egypt GPS, T.S Construction roads infrastructure oil feed electric works OHL, UGC grid , primary substation processing data. #95326927 / 92928981 Email: sdsda802@gmail.com

Chief Accountant/Finance Manager – Indian male, CA Finalist, having 20 years’ experience in Finance, Accounts, Audit, Finalization of Accounts, preparation of Project Reports etc., looking for immediate placement.

12 yrs. in Oman in Construction and Consultancy co., have Omani D/L, knows Tally. Contact 94041048, email: jobmuscat49@gmail.com

Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283

Male - 44, MBA /CIM (UK) qualified business Manager in FMCG with 3 years’ experience across Oman and 10 years in GCC looking for a suitable position. Contact -99160550

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. Contact 96570891

Indian male - 8 yrs exp as HSE office/supervisor -on visit visa- seeks suitable opening in Sohar - Contact 94532131 / 98317698; Email: jaseerhse@gmail.com

IT Indian Male, B.Tech IT, 4 years Oman Experience in IT & NETWORKING, holding Oman D/L, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 92462578 Indian male 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator & 1 year experience in Amazon EC2 Cloud at WIPRO technologies Bangalore seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com Indian female, bachelors in IT with CGPA of 8.3%, pursuing CCNA & doing Masters in IT, good knowledge in networking & Web designing. Contact: 94909075 BSC Software Engineer 2 years experience in ASPN. NET, C#, SQI server, mysql , crystal report, visual studio , capable of Jave, Php, HTML and roid looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 90696220/ 92729744 Indian male ERP Consultant 15 yrs exp, 11 yrs in gulf looking for IT management jobs, local release, Oman D/L. Contact: 94618761 Indian female, MCA currently on family visit visa skills in ASP , NET , DBMS, AutoCAD civil seeks suitable placement NT, Interested in teaching. Contact: 90417133 Email: renjitharose04@gmail.com Indian male 22 years B.A. Animation & Graphic Adobe suites and Maya, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 90930015 Email: rahu.pamachandran50@gmail.com

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

Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available. Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com

Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022

Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area.

Contact 98660672

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Biotechnology, 1yr exp. in Clinical Microbiology & 6 months working exp. in international crop reserch institute of semi arid crops (ICRISAT) Looking for suitable job.

Contact 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com Nebosh, IOSH Occupational Management safety on family visit looking for suitable position Contact: 98686090 / 98423284 Email: shehinsha.k.b@gmail.com Indian Keralite, B.Com, male 25 yrs looking for suitable job in Muscat currently on visiting visa.

Contact: 90931930 27, Indian female B.com graduate with 4 years experience in procurement and purchases on family visa looking for immediate and suitable placement. Contact: 95828986 Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable lacements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523 Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation.

Contact: 92956848 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Indian male 28yrs Bcom 3yrs exp. in warehouse operations (including pharmaceutical). Well knowledge in WMS & ERP, looking for suitable job. Ph. 95576686, E: sijofranz@gmail.com (UAE visa holder, currently in Oman)

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

MISCELLANEOUS

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

MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int.

Standards, B.Tech in Mech engg.

Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917350860889

Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

SALES / MARKETING Indian female, MBA Marketing with 4 years experience with 4 years experience with Oman experience, NOC and D/L looking for suitable opening with visa.

Contact: 92460623 Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India.

Contact India:-+918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 / 95774854 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 Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact: 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Indian male graduate, 10 years experience Oman seeks job in Sales & Marketing.

Contact: 92133277 Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity. NOC available.

Contact: 96001877 Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95337665 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. Conatct 95792820

MISCELLANEOUS Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Indian male, M.Com , 7 years oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC . Good knowledge in SAP,Tally, oracle , MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 Fire & Safety Technician, 22 Years old, Indian expatriate seeking for a suitable placement. 2 years of experience. Ready for immediate joining. Please Contact : +968-97682273, Email: maniavbah555@gmail.com MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified, Contact arn9895@gmail.com, Mob 00919895233155

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Looking for suitable job.

Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

Indian female 23 ORACLE ERP Technical consultant 2+exp skills: oaf, forms reports and bipublisher.

Contact - 91156571 email: ramyaoracleapps02@gmail.com

Indian female MCA, seeking placement in IT, Admin.

Contact: 94133849 Fresh Mechanical Engineer B.Tech with Omani driving license on visit, seeking suitable placement. Contact:: 99417584 / 97792809 Indian male, 24 yrs Civil Engineering Graduate, on visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92724814 Indian male, 25 years old, (exp.)

Civil Engineer diploma, looking suitable position. Contact: 00919746443745 / 92861980 Indian, Keralite, female, M.Com, Montessori trained now on family visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93101269 Email: sreeja.l.u@gmail.com Electrical Foreman, 25 years experience, Indian male currently in Oman looking for suitable position.

Gsm – 96718013 Email: manikandan1196@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant, doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact: 98803439 Indian male 21, Graduate in commerce (B.com ) having 2 years of experience in cash counter (National trading & spare parts)looking for a suitable placement on a visit visa. Contact 95919647, 94245753/ uzairzain786@gmail.com Indian Male, 23, BBA Graduate, fresher, no D/L, looking for a suitable job. Contact: 94032041; Email: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Project Engineer, Mechanical Indian Male, 26 years 3 Years experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int.

Standards B.Tech in Mech engg Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com Mob-00917350860889 25, Indian female (BCA- Computer Application). 1yr experience as teacher and graphic designer.

Knowledge in Photoshop, illustrator, in design. Looking for suitable job in office administration, teaching and graphic designing.

Contact - 98426509 Filipino Cabin steward / Linen vallet is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: +968 91065438 or email: blonglive@gmail.com Indian male Administrative officer Four years experience in same field. Well known MS office tools, Specialization in handling back office operations, inter office correspondence, confidential mails, Quotations, Monthly billing.

Searching for suitable job in Oman.

Contact: +91 9750572088/ E-mail id: vijaypmk99@gmail.com

Indian Male B-Com graduate 2 year experience in various Fields Valid Oman Driving License.

Looking for any suitable post.

Please contact: 94409500

Indian Driver, with Oman driving license having 10 years experience in Oman, looking for suitable positions. Contact-91519047

Indian Male, B.Com + Dip. Logistics 2year experience looking for a job in Accounts/Logistics Field.

Presently on Visit Visa Contact 93884951 Email:mehreenraiz@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 25 years- BE- Computer Engineer with CISA and CCNA, having 3 years work experience in Oman, valid Omani driving license, seeking for suitable placement in IT companies or Audit companies for IT Audit job, NOC can be obtained.

Contact:99253011

HSE Engineer, Indian male 5 years experience in Oil & Gas. Working in Shclumberger, NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. Contact-krish.569@gmail.com +91 9867016808

4years and 7months experienced Female seeking job related to Office Job, Data Entry and Desktop Administration. Completed diploma in Computer Science.

Contact: 94653264 Master in Aeronautical engineering (PhD) having 4 years experience. Seeking job in universities, colleges, schools and industries.

Contact 98259462 binoaero87@gmail.com Indian Male 30 year GCC driving license and past experience as project coordinator looking for a suitable position. Project coordination, Sales executive, marketing executive or any other suitable post. Contact -97070427 Master in Aeronautical Engineering (PhD) having 4 years experience. Seeking job in universities, colleges, schools and industries.

Contact 98259462 binoaero87@gmail.com Qualified banking & Accounts management profesional seeking suitable job opportunities. Currently working in India with ICIC Bank.

Email: sheemoljohn@rediffmail.com Contact# 919755550181 Mechanical Engineer 3 years of experience in HVAC mechanical engineer one year experience in Auto Cad B.E (mechanical engineering) revit mep, auto cad, stcw, huet.mobile: +97430384909 email: kijomonc@gmail.com Indian Male 24 years, HSE , 3 years Experienced as WELDING SUPERVISOR, PIPE FITTER, NONDESTRUCTIVE TEST, ASNT-NDT level II, per SNT-TC-LA (Radiographic Testing (RT)Penetrate testing (PT) Magnetic Particle Testing(MT)Ultrasonic Testing (UT)RTFI, looking for a suitable job.

Contact 99334770 Indian Male, 22, Experienced, Looking for job in sales (no DL).

Contact: 90801420; Email: anwaar223969@gmail.com

Indian male MBA, 24 yrs having experience in Sales & marketing seeks suitable placement.

Contact GSM: 93833563 email: arundulala@gmail.com.

Indian male, 24 yrs, B. Com Graduate more than 1 year experienced in accounts planning to come for a family visit in oman seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact 99334770/ 99743709 Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.) on visit visa, seeking suitable post. Contact no: 99534733 email: rajesh92prince@gmail.com Indian male 33 years, B.Com, having 6 years experience in Oman.

Tally & ERP looking for suitable placement.

Mobile no :98492921 Economics Specialist: Female , MA & M.Phil/PhD_ in ECONOMICS .

10 years experience Banking/Lecturer/Customer Service/Trainer currently Looking for job Call: 97457248 Female Architect on visiting visa, two years’ experience, graduated from School of Planning and Architecture (under MHRD). Proficient in AutoCAD, Google Sketchup and creative visualization. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com.

Contact 00968-94057427.

Economist: Female, MA & M. Phil/ PhD_ in ECONOMICS. 10 years experience Banking/Lecturer/ Customer Service/Trainer, currently looking for job contact: 97457248 Indian Architectural Engineer with 2.5 yrs experience in architectural consultancy firms, currently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement Contact no: +96894955793 hassanfaizalthariq@gmail.com.

Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 2 years of experience in purchase (supply chain management) looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa. Contact: 93979084 / 97351786 / E-mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com

D6

M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female 23 Years, Post Graduated in Sanskrit (language), Seeking for Suitable Jobs, (Teaching or Clerical), Knowledge in MS Office, Good Communication Skill Contact 96141317, 94614317, Email: sou93madam@gmail.com

Indian male, 44 Years, Plumbing Supervisor, holding Omani Driving license, having 14 Years of experience in Oman and 8 years in India.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 95154414 Email- pthariff@yahoo.com

Indian male electrician (EEE), 2 years good working experience searching for suitable job. Gmail id ; antonyajin15@gmail.com, Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160

B.E (Mechanical) 12 years industrial sales, 1 year Muscat experience, presently in India , immediately ready to join. Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

Indian male Electrician(EEE) 2 years good working experience searching for suitable job. mail ; antonyajin15@gmail.com, Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Indian male 33 yrs, MBA - HR, worked on Recruitments,Training,Site-HR, Omanisation and development plans of nationals ,10 yrs exp.

Seeking a job.NOC avl.

Contact 94179499 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Indian Male, 23, BBA Graduate, Fresher, on visit visa looking for job in sales/marketing.

Contact - 94032041; Email azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 4 years of experience in Office Administration (admin) looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa.

Contact: 93979084 / 97351786 E-mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male, 30.System administrator/desktop support professional.5 years of GCC exp.

Visa status: visit (Dubai) mob: 00971565598176/ aneeshngr@gmail.com Indian male, 26 years 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech Engg. Contactrahulkunnath23@gmail.com Mob-00917350860889 Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 4 years of experience in same field looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa. Contact : 93979084 / 97351786, E-mail : mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 2 years of experience in same field looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa.Contact 93979084 / 97351786, mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male Electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail id ; antonyajin15@gmail. com, Name; Antony Ajin.

G : 918148336160 /918300136160 Female Architect on visiting visa, two years’ experience, graduated from School of Planning and Architecture (under MHRD). Proficient in AutoCAD, Google Sketchup and creative visualization. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com.

Contact 00968-94057427.

Sudanese male, 5 years experience in supply chain (warehouse management, logistics and procurement) Contact : 90644186 Indian female , M.B.A, 8 Yrs of Experience in Oil and Gas industry, Trading & contracting companies. working as an Unit Manager for MNC, HR Coordinator and Office admin for local companies. seeking suitable placement immediately.

Contact 99179709.

Filipino Male, 28 years Old. Looking for job, Have experience in Rent a Car/ Cargo & Logistics / Real Estate/ Customer Care Executive / Sale Executive & Marketing/ Shop In- Charge. Hard working w/ good computer and communication skill.

GSM: 97761075 Chief Accountant, well experienced available.#95598477 Indian male 27 yrs, MBA finance with 4 years experience currently in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable placement in finance / admin.

Contact: 90921724 Indian male 43 yrs accountant presently on tourist visa looking for suitable placement in a company 18yrs experience in managing finance in Indian and abroad. Contact 90190648 Indian female having D/L with 12 years experience in corporate / retail sales & B/D. Looking for a suitable job in training / IT / Education companies. Contact: 91751077 Email: alamelusara@hotmail.com Indian male Accountant 2.5 years exp in Oman with valid D/L NOC available. Contact: 98870112 Sales & Marketing executive MBA with 3 years exp , 6 months exp in Oman with NOC , looking for suitable placement. Contact: 91345727 Sales & Marketing Executive Indian national with valid Omani D/L with good command of languages, 18 yrs exp in Middle East. Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 98103829 Indian male 1.5 yrs exp a sales & merchandising in Oman looking for best opportunity NOC available.

Contact: 93039342 Indian male 5+ years of experience as a sales & marketing executive with valid Oman D/L. #95434902 Indian male 4 years experience in IT as programmer / Web support / CCNA / Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact: 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Indian female MCA having 3 yrs experience in teaching looking for any suitable job in reputed organic station on visit skilled in programming language VB, JAVA ,C,C,TT & also WEB development.

Contact 90595322 Mechanical Engineer 2 years experience as HVAC design & drafting, CAD, MEP Engg.

Contact: 90150913 Civil Engineer with 6+ years in Supervision designing & Q.C expert in much civil softwares, NOC available. Contact: 90719263 Automobile Mechanic ITI 3 years experience marine mechanical fitter 2 yrs experience.#93674847 Indian male 24 years dynamic & professional B.Tech (Mech. Engg) with 1 year experience working on BPCL project in India seeks opening for suitable post, currently in Oman. #: 93672286 / 97772272

Mechanical Engineer experience maintenance of pumping stations production line machinery turbine for power plant good communications skills, planning follow up Engineer projects HSE awareness trained multiple design software looking for job. Contact 949064473 / 96654019 Accountant male Indian, 2 years experience, doing accounts in tally & excel seeks suitable job.

EMAIL – regin1690@gmail.com, Contact +91 7373387282 Indian male (B.E) Quality Controller and Supervising. 3 year good working experience. Better knowledge in quality control technique.

Searching for suitable job. Mail: muthujagadeeshjkm@gmail.com, Contact: GSM : +91 9786418033 / 968 91894487 Regin Accountant male Indian, 2 years experience doing accounts in tally and excel searching for suitable job. No : +91 7373387282 EMAIL – regin1690@gmail.com, Indian male, 25 yrs, more than 5 years experience in Dubai, Looking for a suitable placement for jobs related to sales, marketing, coordination and support.

Contact: 95140445, syedfaraz97681@gmail.com Indian Male, Post graduate with 10yrs experience in Gulf & 4.6yrs in Oil & Gas experience with SAP and ERP exposure. Finalization, MIS, Auditing, Budgeting, AP &AR, Tax, etc., with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 91743376 Pakistani Male, Land Surveyor with work experience in Dubai Seeks suitable job in Oman.

Contact 94347288 Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher, looking for a job in sales (indoor). No driving license.

Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Skilled multilingual individual with 33years of excellent experience in management and banking at a nationalized bank; seeking better job opportunities with challenging responsibilities.

E-mail: leena3857@yahoo.com, call : 97848075 Indian Male, 24, B.Com Graduate with 1 year experience in Oman looking for a job in accounting.

Contact – 96619348 Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail ; antonyajin15@gmail.com.

Antony Ajin.G, Contact: 91 8148336160 / 91 8300136160 Sri Lankan female, 27 years, qualified English Language professional with 6 years of lecturing, managerial, marketing experience, seeking suitable position in education industry. Contact (+968) 93017330, (+968) 98445287 Email: wijayawardane.bhagya@ gmail.com Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS ,Low current systems and has good knowledge of HV and LV, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact : 94737033, mail : mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Indian male, M.Com, 7 years Oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, Oracle, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male, Post graduate with 10yrs experience in gulf & 4.6yrs in Oil & Gas experience with SAP and ERP exposure. Finalisation, MIS, Auditing, Budgeting, AP &AR, Tax, etc., with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 91743376 Indian female B.Com, 1 year experience in Oman, experience in wings account package and knowledge of tally. Looking for Accounting job. Presently in Family visa.

Contact: 93491124 & 92054531 Indian female, B.Tech Computer Science, 5 years experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable position in teaching, IT or administration.

E mail: rincy87@gmail.com Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate with approx. 2 years experience in India and UAE is looking for job in sales / marketing. #94032041; Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Senior accountant ,NOC available, more than 5 years exp., born & bought up in Oman, Accounting upto finalization, computer skills tally9, Sage ERP accpac 500(6.0A), Vcams , Audit ,valid Oman D/L, languages known English ,Arabic, Hindi. can join immediately. Tel: 96339599, mailahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com Male Indian, 8 years of experience doing desktop engineer, software implementation, system admin, searching for suitable job. Email: thiruvazhimarban.ciet@gmail. com, mobile: +919171447997 / +919894357260 Sr. Accountant, WITH Oman D/L & 8.5 yrs exp, 7.5 yrs Oman & 1 yr India in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, independently handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement, srjob12@gmail.com B.E. (Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience, Presently in India, Immediately ready to join. Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support/Retail sales. Contact 91496939 Looking for a part time accounting job, additional experience in admin & store - purchase. #99196621 ACCA affiliate, B.Sc Degree holder, 3 years experience in audit and finance at Big 6, Male, Looking for suitable placement. NOC release available. Contact:95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian Male 47 years MBA-Operations 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 Indian male with 5 year Oman Sales Experience with valid Oman D/L, looking for suitable position.

Mobile:97221624, Email:saileshpkhanna@gmail.com Male, Indian, 25, 5 years experience in Dubai; looking for permanent placement in Oman for jobs related to sales, coordination and marketing. Contact: +971563664701 syed97681@gmail.com Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041 Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher on visit visa, looking for a job in sales. Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Procurement/Tender & Contract Procurement /logistics & freight Specialist /Oil Field / petrochemical/ Engineer /MBA /SAP certify / 15yrs Rich Experience/ Import &export Specialist / Oil Field experience/ coordinator / World Wide supplier network /Noc available Looking for challenging Position #97813849, Email Id:vved76@gmail.com Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041

Indian Male Accountant. Completed MBA with 1 year experience, good working knowledge in Tally & Excel. Searching for suitable job. Email : jovin8910@gmail. com, Contact : 919715874548 , 918015907437 Electrical & Electronics diploma Engineer Indian male 23 years, 2 years experience in Electrical field/good experience in Electronics MCU projects currently in visit visa please do not hesitate to Contact; 93047707 Email: adilm89@gmail.com Indian male 30 yrs, holding valid driving license, having 5 years of experience in sales, looking for suitable position.

Contact # 90552942/94355626 Indian male Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field, also worked in construction company Mabela for 6 months as supervisor, trying to get driving license. Contact: +96897017866.

Business Management Graduate with 12 years of experience in Oman, Worked with catering, medical, IT groups seeks suitable placement in Finance/purchase/ insurance sector, NOC Available.

Email, saima.gangawali@gmail. com, Mob 94258301 Indian male Network Cabling Technician (19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement. mobile no: 0091-8089909265 (India), email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian female (27 yrs) MBA(IT), BCA,CCNA.2year experience in IT operations in Oman. Graduated from Oman with good analytical, communicating & programming skills, presented in international conference, seeking suitable positions. contact:93672143.e-mail id: fathima.shoukath@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male,5 years experience in GCC & India, looking for permanent placement in Oman. NOC Release Available. Contact: 00968-95140445; noorullahanas@gmail.com

M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

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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

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 WANTSIT. WANTED Part- Time Accountant, well experienced senior accountant ,capable of doing all type of accounting works up to finalization, Budgeting, Bank financing requirements, taxation work etc available. Contact : : 98803439 Indian Female seeking a job in Back Office and Accountancy, 8+ years proven experience as a dynamic candidate with excellent Excel & Communication skills.

Quick learner and Team player.

Currently on Family Visa.

Contact 94093154, 91746890, Email: joyjohn_hhh@yahoo.com Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken) .

Contacts: 99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com HSE Engineer, Indian male, 5.5 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas. Working in Shclumberger.NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail. com Mobile- +91 9867016808 Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken). #99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com Indian male, M. Com with 3 yr Oman Exp in Accounts with valid NOC & D/L on Visit Visa, available to join immediately . GSM :94744575 B.S.C in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 Years (Power Plant).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com BS in Electrical engineering, experience : 6 years in electrical installation and maintenance #99817032, Email : engmmg24@yahoo.com Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail antonyajin15@gmail. com, : Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Indian male with 10+ years of working experience (security solutions, event management) on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact;97945269, hkkrishna@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED SCM / LOGISTICS/ PROCUREMENT - 25 Yrs exp - Indian Male - Oil & Gas, Manufacturing Sector - Having valid Oman D/L & NOC available. Seeks Challenging senior position. GSM-94236414, Email ID - jayamurli@gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Tele performance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Local contact 99022484 Indian Male 28 years, Mechanical Engineer (Diploma) with 2 years’ exp., Automobile ITI NCVT, CSWIP-BGAS Painting QC Grade-2, NDT Level-2, ISO Lead Auditor QA (IRCA), Piping QC & Isometric Drawings, WPS & WPQR, available on Visit Visa, seeks suitable job. #90653733, libinthomaslt@gmail.com Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic. Well knowledge of Oman Areas looking for suitable placement. Contact 97950869 IT Administrator with 6 yrs of GCC experience, now in Dubai (visit visa).seeking suitable placement in UAE. Contact :00971-565598176, email:aneeshngr@gmail.com Petrochemicals Specialist, Chemical, MBA 18 YEARS EXPERIENC IN OIL FIELDS COM, RAW MATERIAL , polymer, SPACIALISED IN Procurement /COMMECIAL/ PURCHASE / LOGISTICS / SCM/Planning & sound knowledge of technical requirement for any manufacture plant Forecasting, Distribution, Vendors Development, LC opening/ establishment coordination with NOC available. Contact:97813849 Indian Male, 24 yrs, looking for any type of job, qualification is Diploma in Electronics with 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an also worked in construction company Mabelah for 6 months as supervisor, having valid D/L. Contact : - +96897017866.

Indian Male: 23yrs, MBA in Marketing from UK (United Kingdom), looking for a job, currently in Muscat in visit. No: 97210361 / 95357513, Email: sharanshetty3@gmail.com

RENT A CAR

Highly experienced mechanical/ steel structural fabrication engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available.Contact 99860714, hussain20173@gmail.com.

B.E(Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience ,Presently in India ,Immediately ready to join ,Mobile no :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

RENT A CAR

Planning Engineer, BE Mech Engg. Indian Female having total 11 yrs exp in oil & gas projects (8+ yrs in Gulf) with valid Oman D/L, Seeks a Suitable job.

Contact: 92456003 Electrical & Electronics diploma engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience currently in visit visa. Contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com Indian Male 48 Yrs with over 25 Years Oman experience in Sales & Marketing with NOC & valid Oman D/L Also Fluency in Arabic, seeks suitable placement. Contact no.: 92210661/99224057 Indian male,B.Com + Dip. Logistic 2year experience looking for a job in Accounts/Logistics Field.

Presently on Visit Visa #93884951, Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com Admin Assistant. Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-98404122, mail panduru.jeevankumar@gmail.com Looking for a part time accounting & admin job. Contact 99196621.

Indian male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally & ERP- looking for suitable placement ( NOC and Oman driving license available) Tel- +91 89 43 109897 Rajeev. 252002@gmail.com Import & Export professional, Experienced as Asst. Commercial Manager for 15 years, Proficient in MS office, Male Indian, Seeks suitable placement, on Visit, Contact 95484684

Gulf link rent car get the best rate daily weekly monthly & long term.

Contact: Tel: 24348106 G.S.M: 98265073 /96023931 Email: gulflink403@gmail.com 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. # 99839898

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M O N DAY, J U LY 1 1 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDUCATION/CLASSES

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

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

in Azaiba and Ruwi

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

earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WE SERVE OMAN

WĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů Θ BƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJͬ YĞĂƌůLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰ0 ů ,ƵƐŶ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ >͘>͘ GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. #24793614/ 99314807 A/C Maintenance & Servicing, Fridge, Washing machine & Dish washer repairing, Painting & Cleaning services, Electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC Contact: 99344723 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064

SERVICES

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

tĞ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ ůĞĂŶĞƌƐ͕ Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϰϮϳϳϬϮϬ

Pest control Gulfa international.

Contact: 92326955 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644/98518013

All Maintenance and services electric, CCTV Camera, Plumbing A/C service and gas installation, painting tiles. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064

Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC Contact 99344723

Cleaning services sofa shampoo, carpet shampoo, new house, old house. Contact: 92179395

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. Contact 99344723

CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

House shifting. Contact 99708138

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability