Times of Oman - February 13, 2016

SATURDAY February 13, 2016 4 Jumada Al Ula 1437 AH

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CURTAINS ON MUSCAT FESTIVAL TODAY

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

All the activities of Muscat Festival 2016 will end on Saturday.

The festival began on January 15, amid a significant turnout of visitors from inside and outside the Sultanate. >A3

To the students of Sultan Qaboos University, 2000

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We aimed to establish an educational system as fast as we could, because we knew that Knowledge is Light and light is the opposite of darkness; we must all remember the words of Almighty God when He said: Are they the same those that know and those that do not know?

Founded 1975 . Volume 40 No. 301 | 28 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

C E S S AT I O N O F H O S T I L I T I E S

US, Russia agree on Syria cease-fire, Alawi takes part MUNICH: Russia and the US agreed on Friday during a sixhour long meeting on the cessation of hostilities ‘within a week’ in Syria to revitalise the peace negotiations and to stop the exodus of civilians from the country.

In the meeting, the Omani delegation was led by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was chaired by UN special envoy to Syria’s crisis, Steffan de Mistura, and European and Middle East foreign ministers were also present. US Secretary of State John Kerry

said the cease-fire covers all parts of Syria and the results would be monitored with the actual condition on the ground.

The agreement would not apply to IS and Al Nusra Front, he added. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Syrian government and the opposition have to take necessary steps as Russia and the US would supervise on the arrangements made the for cessation of hostilities.

This truce represents a first step towards a more sustainable cease-fire, Lavrov added. —ONA See also >A4

Meeting on security issues

Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs. -AFP

.OPEN MINDS

Young entrepreneur shares his success story at forum MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Lack of trust and support are the main problems faced by young creative minds said a young entrepreneur from Ireland.

Jordan Casey, the youngest app developer in Europe, was in Oman to attend the .Open Minds thought leadership forum. He said he wanted to encourage other young people to get involved in technology.

Casey is a self-taught programmer, and after convincing his grandmother to buy him an HTML handbook when he was aged nine, he created his own site and a few years later, sought a new challenge, deciding to develop an iPhone app.

With the help of a fictitious letter from an “Apple executive” that he sent to his own parents, after which they duly bought him an Apple Mac, his journey as a young entrepreneur began.

“I developed my first app just for experimentation,” he told the audience at .Open Minds.

“I didn’t see any commercial

MUNICH: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs took part in the inaugural annual security meeting on Saturday.

Twenty presidents, 60 foreign and defence ministers and a number of officials

Calls for overhaul of Arabic teaching Young Omanis are

WHIZ-KID: Jordan Casey of Ireland is the youngest app developer

in Europe. Photo– Shabin E

losing interest in Arabic because

value in it. But then it went on to become the number one app in the App Store (UK games chart) and I realised it could be a huge business opportunity for me,” he added. Since then, Casey has built a number of apps.

After his teacher lost a log book, full of a year’s worth of exam results and attendance records, he was inspired to create a cloudbased service for teachers to store

such records more securely.

Casey’s latest project, KidsCode, is an attempt to get young people involved in programming.

Despite his huge success, Casey admitted that it’s not always been easy for him.

“Being a young entrepreneur has its downsides. Sometimes people don’t take you seriously.

But you also get a head start,” he said. >A3

they find it a bit ‘dry’ while English appears to them creative, interesting and full of fun

TARIQ AL HAREMI RUNNING OF BUSES

tariqh@timesofoman.com

GHUBRA GLOW

A statement from Royal Oman Police

This is not a clip of the Hollywood blockbuster but it is a picture of Ghubra taken by Pradipta Chakraborty during evening. The spic and span roads and buildings are sparkling with street lights on.

FOR MORE PHOTOS

In response to a front-page news on Times of Oman issue of Sunday, February 7, 2016, attributed to an official Royal Oman police source that a plan was being considered to hand the running of all school buses in Oman to a public transport company, Royal Oman Police would like to deny any relation to such statement, as we are not the authority that determines who runs the school students transport.

Royal Oman Police ensures its commitment to enforce the road safety rules on the transport of the school students.

Times of Oman welcomes this clarification and regrets any confusion caused. It wishes to state it is confident of its facts that such a plan is under discussion by the appropriate authorities.

App ‘How to give Zakat’ wins award Times News Service MUSCAT: Mobile app ‘How to give Zakat’, developed by Oman’s Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, got the Best Government Mobile Service Award in the social affairs category.

The award was announced on the last day of the World Government Summit, under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE, and ruler of Dubai.

MUSCAT: There is an urgent need to teach Arabic in a more creative way to arrest the waning interest of younger Omanis in their native language.

The younger generation of Omani children can be seen and heard communicating in English, more often than in their mother tongue, and one of the reasons for this could be the Arabic teaching methods employed by teachers, said Basma Al Said, founder of Whispers Serenity. She is also a mental health counsellor and psychotherapist.

Interest of students Arabic classes, she said, are simply not creative enough to be able to sustain the interest of the students.

“English classes were always fun; they were more creative.

Arabic classes are a bit ‘dry’ and some of the teachers are not creative in that sense,” she noted.

On why the English has become a more popular language among Omani youth in recent years, she answered, “I would

B E S T G O V E R N M E N T M O B I L E S E RV I C E AWA R D

Zakat is a form of religious tax and is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam. With this app, the user can learn about all forms of ‘Zakat’ through its application including Zakat of money, gold, silver, stocks, bonds, fruits, livestock, real estate and others. The application also offers prompt service to see the price of gold, Zakat and opinions related to this Islamic ritual.

It’s an annual award which aims to motivate government agencies to provide creative and innovative solutions in the field of smart phone applications.

representing more than 50 countries took part in the conference. The conference will address a number of issues mainly ways to confront terrorism, the situation in the Middle East and the Syrian refugees’ crisis among other issues. —ONA

honestly say (it is because of ) the way Arabic classes are taught, based on my experience as a student in both government and private schools.”

A college student, Ali Al Zadjali also believed a teacher’s approach is as important as the lesson itself saying, “It (teaching approach) is what got me interested in English, especially when it comes to grammar. The main problem is that the examples portrayed (in Arabic) never feel related so we lose interest.”

Some Arabic teachers are known to make their students memorise their work, rather than understand the same and discuss it with classmates and teachers.

“The way it’s taught has sadly always been like that,” Al Said added.

Influence on children Story books have always had a great influence on children and the youth—from the quality of books to the way they are written.

The story books influence children. But the quality of Arabic books need to be more attractive, said Al Said, adding, “You can see this yourself if you buy a book even as an adult.”

She explained that she herself did not consult Arabic books on the subject of her profession due to what she thinks is, “extreme amount of jargon and unattractive approach to the topic.”

While she admitted that some authors have tried to bring about a marked improvement in quality, she believes they still have a long way to go.

Ali Al Zadjali also felt that his preferred language, like many others, is English while justifying it by saying, “It’s the international language and despite the fact that I believe Arabic is an important language to maintain fluency in, English will help me communicate better.” >A3

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Oman, India boost strategic relations

1

Oman and India are working to intensify their relations in many fields, the Indian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission said. “Oman and India have a good framework and strategic partnership; we are looking to intensify what we are doing,” Gloria Gangte said on board the Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp. >A3

PAKISTAN

MARKET

Pakistan army arrests ‘Gulf needs new about 100 militants financing options’

2

Pakistan army said it had arrested 97 militants involved in several major terror attacks and who were now plotting to free a top Al Qaeda leader from jail. >A7

3

Ratings agency S&P said that Gulf sovereigns, as well as the region’s banks will have fewer resources at hand to support the region’s infrastructure rollout plan. >B1

Care for an elderly person

B5

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

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.Open Minds forum concludes Speakers for the ďŹ nal day of the .Open Minds included Ghassan Fadhil, caricaturist Matt Ryder, Col Abdulwahab Al Balushi besides Jordan Casey, the youngest app developer in Europe.

Here are some images from the leadership forum taken by Shabin E

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

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Oman, India boost strategic relations

G R A D UAT I O N C E R E M O N Y

CONVOCATION: The eleventh convocation of the Waljat College of Applied Sciences(WCAS) was recently. Photo-Supplied

Waljat College fetes graduate achievers Times News Service MUSCAT: Eleventh convocation of the Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS) was held on February 9 at A’ Noor Plaza, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos in academic partnership with Birla Institute of Technology, India.

The function was held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Tobi, adviser to the ministry of education., Dr. Omar bin Abdul Muniem Al Zawawi, founder of WCAS, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra, vice chancellor, Birla Institute of Technology, India, Dr. Zuhoor Abdullah Salim Al Khanjari, chairperson and members of Trustee Council, and Dr. S L Gupta, dean of Waljat College graced the ceremony.

Students who graduated with the highest academic performance in the fields of Management, Engineering and Computer Applications for 2014-2015, were awarded gold medals.

The dean felicitated the toppers with gold medals and certificates.

The recipients of the gold medals were: Awatif Malik Abdullah Al Harthi; Hilal Said Abdullah Al Manwari; Mary Jose Pattara – MBA; Nawar Salman Mohammed Al Rawahi-BBA; Greeshma Vinod Kumar – BBA; Marwa Mohamed Nasser Al Jabri – BCA, and Khushbu Bharat Bhatt – BE.

A total of 371 students received degrees and diplomas in their respective disciplines, of whom 295 were degree holders, 41 were diploma holders and 35 were post graduates.

The Best Project awards were presented to students from Management, Engineering and Computer Applications, to motivate and inculcate a culture of research and innovation among undergraduate students of the college.

The project titled “Mobile Engagement, mobile addiction and FOMO: A Study on College Students in Oman”, guided by Mithun Srivastava, Department of Management, was declared the best project for 2014 and 2015. Students who received this award were Adeeba Suman Siddiq, Sachin Dominic DSilva, Intisar Khalfan Massalam Al Habsi and Intisar Zayid Ali Al Siyabi.

Hajer Ali Juma Al Madaiwi and Ameera Jusab from Department of Engineering received the best project award for the topic ‘Extraction of Biodiesel from animal fat’ guided by Atiya Tabassum.

Marwa Mohammed Nasser Al Jabri and Harpreet Kaur from Department of Computer Science received the best project award for the topic “Furniture Shopping” guided by Sinymol. The winners were awarded certificates of appreciation and a cash award.

MILITARY COOPERATION: Indian Coast Guard Ship Sankalp, an advance offshore patrol vessel, is on a visit to Oman as part of the final leg of its visit to the region. – AR Rajkumar

ICGS Sankalp’s visit aims to consolidate and enhance interactions between Indian Coastguard and Royal Oman Police Coastguard

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman and India are intensifying their relations in a number of fields, the Indian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission said.

“Oman and India have a good framework and strategic partnership; we are looking to intensify

YOUNG ACHIEVER

A1 Children need support < FROM

to achieve goals: Casey “Being young and knowing what you want to do, there’s nothing stopping you. If you know what you want to do, don’t let your age hold you back,” he added.

According to him, children are creative and fearless. A voice of support is enough to achieve his goal.

Speakers for the final day of the .Open Minds were Ghassan Fadhil, caricaturist Matt Ryder, Col. Abdulwahab Al Balushi and a Stand-up comedian, along with Jordan Casey.

Fadhil taught the audience how

to deal with social emotional intelligence while caricaturist Matt Ryder shared his technique for crafting a caricature.

Successful individual According to Al Balushi, to become a successful individual everybody should believe in themselves.

Every day is an opportunity to learn, he explained in his speech.

According to him when an individual opens his mind, all possibilities will open to you and he also gave advice to the audience to

be themselves and not to become a copy of others.

The central theme of this year’s .Open Minds forum was, “Open mind will open doors.”

The two-day event was presented by Areej Vegetable Oils and Derivatives (AVOD).

Other event partners included the Ministry of Tourism and Information Technology Authority (ITA)/e-Oman.

Merge and Al Wisal were the radio partners and the Times of Oman and Al Shabiba were the media partners.

MONTH-LONG

B E C R E AT I V E

< FROM

A1 ‘Arab curriculum

needs to improve’ Offering a simple solution, Al Said stated, “The way Arabic is taught should be creative. It’s a big issue so it needs a lot of work. The entire syllabus needs to change; the quality of books needs to be better.”

Curriculum improvement Adding to Al Said’s solution, Mohammad Mostafa, a retired teacher, who is well known for his teaching methods among the generations of students and has taught for 39 years in the Sultanate said, “The government has come a long way in education and has improved quite significantly through the years, but the Arab curriculum is yet to reach the high standard of quality as seen in other curriculums.”

‘Incite debate’ “When I say the curriculum needs improvement, I mean the subjects that are taught need to interest students and incite debate among them.

“They will need subjects that they can relate to; not just about

the culture and tradition.”

“I’m not saying studying culture and tradition should be eradicated from the curriculum, but we should not be afraid to teach modern subjects in which culture and tradition can be implemented within… the students will be more active and the information will stick to their minds,” he explained further.

He also said in order to strengthen the Arabic language, the student must know how to read and properly pronounce the Holy Quran, since it is “the basis of the Arabic language.”

Serious teachers Al Said also noted, “If you have a good teacher you will love the language and they can make it fun (to learn); but for some reason you have teachers that are too serious. Children become afraid of them.”

To preserve and promote the country’s native language, she said there is a need to improve teaching methods and enhance the quality of teaching materials so that the students stay interested in the subject.

Curtains on Muscat Festival today MUSCAT: All the activities of Muscat Festival 2016 will end on Saturday. The festival began on January 15, amid a significant turnout of visitors from inside and outside the Sultanate, and an array of events and activities geared to different segments of the society throughout the month.

A number of Arab and foreign countries participated in the festival, which presented programmes and performances at various locations of the festival including Al Amerat Public Park and Al Naseem Public Park, Oman Automobile Club Al Madina Amphitheatre and the Cultural Club. -ONA

what we are doing,” Gloria Gangte told the Times of Oman on board the Indian Coast Guard ship Sankalp.

ICGS Sankalp, an advance offshore patrol vessel, is on a visit to Oman as part of the final leg of its visit to the region. It will remain here till February 16 for interaction with the Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies of Oman.

According to Gangte, the Joint Military Cooperation Committee between the Defence Ministries in the Sultanate and the Republic of India, which convened here on February 8 and 9, discussed all aspects of bilateral defence and security cooperation.

Earlier, INS Tarangani and Shabab Oman had sailed from Muscat to Cochin, evoking memories of the ancient India-Oman sea trade. Gangte said the two ships had sailed together to Cochin as part of the 60th anniversary of India-Oman diplomatic ties cementing the relationship between the two friendly countries.

According to the Deputy Inspector General of ICGS Sankalp, through this visit they are planning to consolidate and enhance interactions between the Indian Coastguard and the Royal Oman Police Coastguard.

“We will identify areas of mutual interest while evolving a working and professional relationship in the Maritime Search and rescue, pollution response, anti-piracy, armed robbery and other Maritime Law Enforcement activities to the ICG charter,” Mukul Garg, deputy inspector general, said.

“We also want to develop linkages for sharing of information, expertise and training resources for mutual capacity building and enabling more safe and secure seas around us,” he added.

According to the Embassy officials, this is the third visit by an Indian Coastguard ship to Oman in the last three years.

The Sankalp has 16 officers and 97 personnel on board, and

it is based in Mumbai, under the administrative and operational command of Coast Guard Regional Commander (West), Mumbai.

The 105 metre-long Sankalp, equipped with state-of-the-art navigational and communication sensors, is capable of deploying Advanced Light Helicopters and Chetak helicopters.

Operating at normal speeds, the ship has an endurance of 6,500 nautical miles and can remain at sea for 25 days without refuelling, thus sailing up to her motto— “Extending the Horizon.”

The Sankalp has been extensively deployed on the western seaboard from Gujarat to the Kerala coast, the International Maritime Boundary Line patrol, and for surveillance off the Lakshadweep and Minicoy group of Islands. The word ‘Sankalp,’ means determination, which is symbolic of the Indian Coastguard’s will and motivation to strive for excellence.

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

REGION

Major powers agree to plan for ‘cessation of hostilities’ in Syria United States, Russia

US expects Saudi Arabia, UAE to send special operations forces

and more than a dozen other nations reaffirmed their commitment to a political transition when conditions on the ground improved

MUNICH: Major powers agreed on Friday to a cessation of hostilities in Syria set to begin in a week and to provide rapid humanitarian access to besieged Syrian towns, but failed to secure a complete ceasefire or an end to Russian bombing.

Following a marathon meeting in Munich aimed at resurrecting peace talks that collapsed last week, the powers, including the United States, Russia and more than a dozen other nations, reaffirmed their commitment to a political transition when conditions on the ground improved.

At a news conference, US Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged the Munich meeting produced commitments on paper only.

“What we need to see in the next few days are actions on the ground, in the field,” he said, adding that “without a political transition, it is not possible to achieve peace.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the news conference that Russia would not stop air attacks in Syria, saying the cessation of hostilities did not apply to IS and Al Nusra, which is affiliated with Al Qaeda. IS militants control large parts of Syria and Iraq.

“Our airspace forces will continue working against these organisations,” he said.

The United States and European allies say few Russian strikes have targeted those groups, with the vast majority hitting Westernbacked opposition groups seeking to topple the government of President Bashar Al Assad government.

Lavrov said peace talks should resume in Geneva as soon as posNORTHEM TOWN

Three Iraqi presidential guards kidnapped BAGHDAD: Three members of Iraq’s presidential guard were kidnapped on Friday near a checkpoint run by militiamen close to the northern district of Tuz Khurmatu, police and a local official said.

Four other people, including a government employee, were killed in separate incidents, the police said, in and around the district - about 175km (110 miles) north of Baghdad - where violence has flared in recent months.

Kurdish and Turkmen paramilitary forces have been uncomfortable allies against IS since driving the ultra-hardline militants out of towns and villages in the area in 2014 with the support of US-led airstrikes.

The tensions risk further fragmenting Iraq as it struggles to contain IS, the biggest security threat since a US-led invasion toppled former leader Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Efforts to push back the insurgents have been complicated by sectarian and ethnic rivalries, including a contest for territory which the government in Baghdad claims, but the Kurds want as part of their autonomous region in the north of the country.

The presidential guards were travelling in a private vehicle towards Baghdad when they were taken by unknown gunmen around midday, said Mahdi Taqi, a member of the provincial council in Salahuddin where the district is located. Police from Tuz Khurmatu confirmed the details.

Separately, gunmen opened fire on a car carrying guards from the electricity ministry, killing one and critically wounding four others, police said. — Reuters

BRUSSELS: US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said on Friday he expected both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to send special operations forces to Syria to help local opposition fighters in their drive to retake the city of Raqqa from IS. Carter did not disclose how many commandos he expected them to deploy nor the timing of those deployments.

But he suggested they would play a major role taking back Raqqa, the IS’s defacto capital, from the militants.

“We’re going to try to give opportunities and power to... particularly Arabs in Syria who want to re-seize their territory back from IS, especially Raqqa,” Carter told reporters travelling with him in Brussels.

Carter made the remarks after talks with his UAE and Saudi counterparts on Friday and Thursday respectively.

Four months of Russian air strikes in Syria have helped Syrian President Bashar Al Assad claw back territory from rebels fighting government forces.

Saudi Arabia had concentrated its military efforts over the last year on the conflict in Yemen, where it is leading a coalition battling Houthi fighters who control the capital, Sanaa.

Carter said on Thursday Saudi Arabia committed to expand its role in the air campaign and the United Arab

sible and that all Syrian opposition groups should participate. He added that halting hostilities would be a difficult task.

But British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said ending fighting could only succeed if Russia stopped air strikes supporting Syrian government forces’ advance against the opposition.

Diplomats cautioned that Russia had until now not demonstrated any interest in seeing Assad

CRUCIAL MEETING: US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter, left, meets Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO defence ministers at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on Thursday. – AFP

Emirates said it would restart its participation. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries took part on Thursday in the largest gathering so far of defence ministers from the US-led coalition against IS, which Carter hosted at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Carter said the group collectively approved a campaign plan that aims to recapture the two main IS strongholds of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, as well as grappling with

replaced and was pushing for a military victory.

Interminable conflict Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday raised the spectre of an interminable conflict or even a world war if powers failed to negotiate an end to five years of fighting in Syria, which has killed 250,000 people, caused a refugee crisis and empowered IS militants.

Syria’s main opposition group

the group’s spread beyond its self-declared caliphate.

That plan, however, does not include deployment of largescale foreign ground forces to Iraq and Syria and Carter stressed that coalition commandos were meant to bolster local forces, not replace them.

“We’re not looking to substitute for them, any more than we’re looking to substitute for the Iraqi forces. But we are looking to enable them strongly

welcomed the plan by the world powers on Friday. It cautioned, however, that the agreement must prove to be effective before it joins political talks with government representatives in Geneva.

Russia’s intervention on the battlefield on behalf of Assad since last October has swung the momentum in the fight between the government and opposition forces.

The latest advance over the past two weeks has seen government

and help them organise themselves,” he said.

The US has already deployed a small group of special operations forces to Syria and Carter said other allies, beyond Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were considering commando deployments. “Some don’t even like to acknowledge the operations of special forces, but there are a number of them.

And we are the organiser of them,” Carter said. — Reuters

forces and allies rout rebels and come close to encircling Aleppo, a divided city half held by rebels for years. The first peace talks in two years between belligerents in Syria fell apart last week before they began in the face of the advance by Assad’s forces.

A senior French diplomat said: “The Russians said they will continue bombing the terrorists. They are taking a political risk because they are accepting a negotiation

in which they are committing to a cessation of hostilities. If in a week there is no change because of their bombing, then they will bear the responsibility.”

Washington is leading its own air campaign against IS militants in eastern Syria and northern Iraq, but has resisted calls to intervene in the main battlefields of Syria’s civil war in the west of the country, where the government is mostly fighting against other insurgent groups.

The communique of the plan reached in Munich said the powers had established a ceasefire task force, under the auspices of the United Nations, co-chaired by Russia and the United States, and including members having government and opposition groups.

The communique added that sustained humanitarian aid would begin this week to various besieged areas of Syria.

“Humanitarian access to these most urgent areas will be a first step toward full, sustained, and unimpeded access throughout the country,” the joint communique added.

The Assad government for years has repeatedly promised humanitarian access but has rarely lived up to its promises. Westernbacked rebels have also been accused of that.

Meanwhile, Assad said he would keep “fighting terrorism” while peace talks took place and saw a risk of Saudi and Turkish intervention in the Syrian conflict, according to an interview with news agency AFP published on Friday.

Assad said he would retake the whole country, but that this could take a long time, according to excerpts of the interview published on AFP’s website.

The interview, which AFP said was Assad’s first in about two months, took place in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Thursday before the conclusion of talks in Munich where major powers agreed to a ceasefire in Syria to begin in a week. In the interview, Assad also said that the purpose of the battle for Aleppo was to cut the route north to Turkey. Assad said that the country’s “problem” could be solved in less than a year if opposition supply routes from Turkey, Jordan and Iraq were cut, AFP reported. — Reuters

TECHONOLOGY

New app helps young Iranians avoid police patrols DUBAI: A new smartphone application that helps Iranians dodge the country’s “police” is proving popular with the young tech-savvy population.

The Gershad app allows users who spot checkpoints set up by the morality police, who enforce dress and behaviour codes, to tag their location on a Google map with an icon of a bearded man, enabling others to steer clear of them. The app was blocked by the authorities soon after it was released for Android devices on Monday but many Iranians bypass Internet restrictions by using a Virtual Private Network.

It is already trending on social media and has received almost 800 reviews on the Google Play app store, nearly all of them positive, although Google Play does not show how many times Gershad had been downloaded.

‘Digital protest’ Gershad is seen by some as setting a precedent for “digital protest” in Iran as elections loom and the country emerges from years if isolation following the lifting of international sanctions imposed over its nuclear programme.

“Technology has created an amazing opportunity to forge a cooperative solution to common social problems,” Gershad’s secretive creators said in an email exchange with Reuters.

Gershad is a contraction of the full title of the Gashte Ershad (guidance patrol). “For years the morality police have been causing disturbances for Iranian women,” the Gershad team said. “Avoiding them in the streets, metro stations and in shopping malls is challenging and tiresome.”

Iranian officials have not commented on Gershad but state broadcaster IRIB said the app had been written about on social media and “networks opposed to the

revolution”. “This is an innovative idea and I believe it will lead to many other creative apps which will address the gap between society and government in Iran,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.

Ghaemi said the app’s developers were based outside Iran but had grown up in the country and experienced the problem first hand.

“It’s really an indigenous product... these are the kind of people who have been stopped at checkpoints,” he said.

Turning to technology Gershad is an example of how young Iranians are turning to technology to circumvent checks on their everyday lives.

“It’s showing a trend in digital protest... I see it as a precedent for future apps of its kind,” said AmirEsmaeil Bozorgzadeh, a Dubaibased consultant for app makers in the Iranian market.

Gershad does not describe itself as a form of protest, but its website describes it as a “social movement” and asks: “Why should we give up the most basic right of choosing what clothes to wear?”

An online video advert shows patrol members, rendered as dopey-looking cartoon figures, fidgeting impatiently at a checkpoint as the app diverts the flow of pedestrians away from them.

“Wander freely!” says the tagline. Smartphone messaging applications are popular in Iran, where half of the population is aged under 25.

Tight control Young Iranians use apps to share news and jokes that would not be allowed in the tightly controlled traditional media.

A recent poll suggested that about 20 million Iranians, around

a quarter of Iran’s population, use Telegram, a messaging app with a focus on privacy and security.

Many young Iranians hope the lifting of the nuclear-related sanctions last month will be accompanied by an easing of cultural restrictions, particularly if an election on February 26 ushers in a more moderate legislature.

But hardliners in the establishment have moved to block any relaxation of the social rules, warning of the “infiltration” of Western culture. Thousands of moderate and reformist candidates have been barred from standing in the elections.

Gershad’s interactive map at times shows dozens of checkpoints in Tehran and other Iranian cities but also flags checkpoints in London and Los Angeles, showing the potential unreliability of data provided by an online community.

Some Iranians have expressed concern on social media about Gershad’s digital security in a country where the authorities frequently arrest social media users for sharing what they regard as “immoral” or “subversive” content.

The developers said they were working to better detect false reports. They said their servers were based outside Iran and that they do not collect user information when users report checkpoint locations.

Gershad’s website says it uses Psiphon, a Canadian-made app designed to circumvent censorship. Psiphon co-founder Michael Hull said his company’s technology allows users in Iran to open an encrypted connection to Gershad’s servers outside the country, making their activity harder to block or detect. “Once they have that tunnel, the traffic that’s going back and forth is just mixed in with the rest of the Psiphon network,” Hull said. — Reuters

TRENDING: A handout photo shows a new Iranian app, Gershad, that aims to help users circumvent the Iranian “morality police” by having users upload the locations of their mobile checkpoints.

– Reuters/gershad.com/Handout

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

Tweet all about it

PROBE ON

Abducted executive of Snapdeal reaches home

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INDIA

India, UAE resolve to expand cooperation to fight terror In a joint statement the two countries came out strongly against use terrorism as an ‘instrument of state policy’ and

Deepti Sarna

GHAZIABAD: A female Snapdeal executive, who was abducted from a Metro station here, has managed to reach home from Haryana where she had been taken, police said, adding her friends circle is being investigated to ascertain if anyone known was involved in the crime.

Deepti Sarna, 23, was abducted on Wednesday night while returning home in from the Vaishali Metro station. On Friday morning, she called up her father Narendra Sarna and told him that she had managed to flee from her abductors and had reached the New Delhi Railway Station.

Her grandfather K.N. Sarna said that at 6am, she called up from an unknown mobile number and told him that she had managed to flee and asked him to pick her up from the station. The father, who immediately rushed to Delhi, also informed police.

“On family information, we also reached the railway station and escorted her to her residence.

The SSP also met the girl at the border and inquired briefly,” said Superintendent of Police, City, Salman Taj Patil.

The woman and her family were asked to come with them to Vaishali police post where the SSP questioned the victim and allowed them to go later.

Police are also screening the executive’s personal life and friend circle. - IANS

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called for concerted global efforts to deal with the menace

NEW DELHI: Resolving to expand cooperation in combating terrorism, India and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) on Friday said states must control activities of ‘non-state actors’ and cut all support to terror outfits operating from their soil while strongly condemning use of religion to justify, support and sponsor the menace.

The two countries came out strongly against use terrorism as an “instrument of state policy” and called for concerted global efforts to deal with the menace, in a joint statement issued a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held extensive talks.

Bolster strategic ties It said the two sides agreed to bolster strategic ties by continuing to work closely together on a range of security issues, particularly on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cyber-security, while reaffirming their respect for the “bedrock principles” of national sovereignty and non-interference.

The UAE, which has a sovereign wealth fund of around $800 billion, has also expressed keen

BELL RINGING CEREMONY: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE’s deputy commander-in-chief of the armed forces and Ashishkumar Chauhan, right, Chief Executive Officer of BSE Ltd, pose after hitting the ceremonial gong at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai, India, on Friday. - Reuters

interest in boosting trade ties with India, particularly in investing in sectors like oil, railways, roads, ports and shipping.

On dealing with terrorism, they deplored the “use of double standards” in addressing the challenge and agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism both at the bilateral level and within the multilateral system.

Modi and Al Nahyan also discussed the growing phenomenon of religious intolerance and radicalisation and pitched for sincere efforts to check these, besides agreeing to take steps to contain these bilaterally.

“They reiterated their condemnation for efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries, or to use terrorism as instrument of state policy.

“They further deplored efforts by countries to give religious and

sectarian colour to political issues and pointed out the responsibility of all states to control the activities of the so-called ‘non-state actors’, and to cut all support to terrorists operating and perpetrating terrorism from their territories against other states,” the statement said.

The threat posed by IS also figured in talks on Thursday.

It said the two sides agreed to work together towards the adoption of India’s proposed Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations. The joint statement said the Indian side expressed deep appreciation for the solidarity expressed by the UAE on the issue of Pathankot terrorist attack.

“The two sides noted that the Indian and UAE models act as strong bulwarks against the forces of extremism and radicalism,” it said, adding the leaders

also agreed to establish an annual Policy Dialogue to discuss issues related to peace and security in their region.

Both the countries had on Thursday signed seven MoUs providing for cooperation in a range of areas such as cyber security, infrastructure investment and insurance.

In the area of defence cooperation, the two sides renewed their commitment to strengthening the existing cooperation in training, joint exercises, and participation in defence exhibitions, as well as in identifying opportunities to cooperate on production of defence equipment in India.

“The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean region, which is vital for the security and prosperity of both countries,” the statement said.

Modi also thanked the Crown Prince for the UAE’s support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council.

Assessing that their ties have never been stronger and expressing satisfaction at the direction of engagement, the two leaders announced their decision to enshrine the new strategic direction of the UAE-India ties in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement.

On the trade front, the two sides examined various tariff and non-tariff barriers, and agreed to enhance the trade of priority commodities and expand the access of goods and services in both markets.

The joint statement said Modi invited the UAE to be a partner in India’s growth story, and to participate in projects creating mega industrial manufacturing corridors, including the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor as well as the Digital India and Startup India programmes.

Investment Talking about various initiatives, including signing of an MoU to facilitate investment by UAE companies in India’s infrastructure sector, the two sides described them as important steps towards reaching the $75 billion target for UAE’s investments in India.

Modi and Al Nahyan also discussed possible expansion of air routes in the civil aviation sector and agreed to convene talks between their respective civil aviation authorities in the first quarter of 2016.

Agreeing to expand ties in the oil sector, they welcomed the intention of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) to sign an MoU on establishing a Strategic Petroleum Reserve in India, and resolved to conclude negotiations in the near future. - PTI

SEDITION CASE

Students union president Kanhaiya arrested, sparks outrage NEW DELHI: A university students union president was arrested on Friday in a sedition case over an event at the varsity’s campus against hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, sparking massive outrage among students and criticism from non-BJP parties which dubbed it as an “emergencylike” situation.

While Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh advocated strong action against those who were involved in the alleged “antiIndia” act, the students continued with their protests on the campus for the third day on Friday, saying they are being “witch-hunted”.

The students said their parents are asking them to quit the uni-

versity in view of the “vitiating atmosphere” at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

The arrest of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya, a day after police filed a sedition and criminal conspiracy case on complaints from BJP MP Maheish Girri and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members, was later remanded in three-day police custody by a court.

After the arrest, varsity students and teachers protested outside the Vice Chancellor’s office seeing intervention into the manner in which students are being compared to “terrorists” and picked up from campus by policemen in plain clothes. Equating the events with

an “emergency-like situation”, CPI-M Sitaram Yechury said, “The question is that do you know who raised the slogans? Take action according to law against them. When you don’t know then how are you arresting all the student leaders? “...Male police are going and raiding girls’ hostels. Only during the emergency we saw this happen. That is the sort of Emergency State they are reducing our country to again. This time it is the BJP,” he said.

Questioning the filing of sedition case, Congress leader Kapil Sibal asserted that it was a very serious charge and the government should think before taking action.

On its part, the JNU administra-

tion said the university holds the right to free debate but condemns its use as a platform for activities that violate the Constitution and the laws of the land.

“While the JNU community upholds the right to free debate on campus, the university strongly condemns its use as a platform for activities that violate the Constitution and the laws of the land.

However, there could be aberrations where fringe sections misuse the freedom provided,” the newly appointed Vice Chancellor Jagdeesh Kumar said.

The Vice Chancellor also appealed the students to go beyond this incident and help the campus return to “normalcy”. - PTI

PROTEST: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists protest against an event at JNU supporting Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 It is a big blow (to Congress) and a slap on the face of those who had gone to the court with a plea that the case be quashed. The apex court has maintained that they will face trial as accused in the case Shrikant Sharma, National secretary of BJP

INDIA EXEMPTION FROM PERSONAL APPEARANCE

Relief to Gandhis National Herald case trial to continue NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday provided relief to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul, giving them exemption from personal appearance in the trial court in the National Herald case and expunging certain observations of the High Court but refused to interfere with criminal proceedings before the lower court.

Allowing their plea for exemption from personal appearance before the trial court, which is scheduled to take up the matter on February 20, the apex court added a rider that it would be open to the magistrate at any stage to seek their personal appearance as and when required.

Though BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who is the complainant in the case, contested the plea for exemption from appearance, a bench comprising justices J. S. Khehar and C. Nagappan said that “in the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case and the posi-

tion occupied by the petitioners, we are of the view that the presence of the petitioners before the trial court would cause more inconvenience than convenience.”

“Petitioners shall be exempted from personal appearance and it is needless to say that it will be open for the trial court to seek their presence at any stage if and when their presence is required,” the court said.

The bench, which passed the order after hearing senior advocates Kapil Sibal, A. M. Singhvi and R. S. Cheema, who were appearing for Gandhis and others, and Swamy, said, “So far as determination by the Delhi high court in rejecting the prayer for quashing the proceedings against the petitioner, we do not find justification for interfering with it.”

Before dictating the order, the bench told Sibal that he will have ample opportunity to raise all these issues before the trial court.

Sibal had on Thursday sought

IN THE DOCK: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi leave the Patiala House Courts after a hearing in National Herald Case in New Delhi, recently. - PTI file

urgent hearing of the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Thakur which had assigned the matter for hearing before the present bench.

The High Court had on December 7, 2015 not only refused to quash the summons issued to the Congress leaders, but had also

made observations on their “questionable conduct” on how they took control of the publication.

Subsequently, the Gandhis and others had appeared before a Patiala House court on December 19 last year when they were granted bail.

The High Court, while refusing

the plea of Gandhis and others, had said, “Questionable conduct of petitioners needs to be properly examined at the charge stage to find out the truth and so these criminal proceedings cannot be thwarted at this initial stage.”

Along with the Gandhis, five other accused — Suman Dubey, Moti Lal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Sam Pitroda and Young India Ltd-had challenged the summonses issued to them by a trial court on a complaint by Swamy against them for alleged cheating and misappropriation of funds in taking control of the now-defunct daily.

Swamy had accused Sonia, Rahul and others of conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs 5 million by which Young India obtained the right to recover Rs 900.25 million which the AJL had owed to the Congress party.

Sonia, Rahul, Vora (AICC Treasurer), Fernandes (AICC General Secretary), Dubey and Pitroda

No need for panic, have faith in Indian economy: Jaitley

were summoned under sections 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) read with section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. According to Swamy’s complaint, all of them were directors of Young India Ltd (YI), a company that was incorporated in 2010 and which took over the “debt” of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of National Herald.

Meanwhile, BJP on Friday termed the Supreme Court order in the Herald case as “a slap on the face” of the Congress leadership after it refused to interfere with the criminal proceedings against them before the lower court.

The party also observed that the exemption given to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi from personal appearance in the trial court was conditional as the Supreme Court ruled that the trial court can summon them when required. -PTI DEVELOPMENT

Jashodaben fasts for slum dwellers

Retail inflation hits 16-month high in January at 5.69%

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stressed that the government will soon announce more steps to empower public sector banks to recover bad loans that are hurting their profitability

CALMING NERVES: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley interacts with the media on the volatility of the share market in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Amid continued nervousness in the stock and currency markets, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday sought to calm the frayed nerves saying investors must keep faith in the “inherent strength” of Indian economy rather than getting swayed by the global headwinds.

He also stressed that the government will soon announce more steps to empower public sector banks to recover bad loans that are hurting their profitability.

Talking to reporters at the Finance Ministry a day after the stock market benchmark Sensex saw a massive 807-point plunge and rupee hit its 29-month low, Jaitley said the government will continue to pursue policies to support growth amid global slowdown. “...It would be a part of prudent

investment reaction that the inherent strength of Indian economy is kept in mind by investors, rather than react disproportionately to what the global developments are,” Jaitley said.

The minister said that a major sell-off in global markets has created a chain reaction impacting the markets world over including in India.

After Thursday’s bloodbath, the Sensex lost further ground on Friday morning but managed to close with a gain of 34.29 points at 22,986.12 after domestic institutional investors pitched in to buy shares in afternoon trade.

Rupee ended on Thursday 45 paise lower at 68.30 against the US dollar, but saw some strength coming back on Friday.

“There could be several reasons, which are predominantly outside

the country — The uncertainty in the Fed rate or what’s happening in Europe or the slowdown anticipated in China. Now, these global factors will remain and will have to be tackled globally by those economies. “... there need not be any exaggerated panic in India for the reason that India as an economy even in the midst of global slowdown has clearly stood out to maintain a 7.5 per cent plus growth rate,” Jaitley said.

On the mounting NPAs of public sector banks, he said the government is considering more steps to empower banks to recover bad loans and the problem will be contained soon.

“The bankruptcy law is under active consideration. The government is also considering some further steps to empower banks

NEW DELHI: Rising for the sixth straight month, retail inflation touched a 16-month high of 5.69 per cent in January, mainly due to costlier food prices.

Retail inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), stood at 5.61 per cent in December 2015 and 5.19 per cent in January 2015. The pace of retail price rise in January 2016 is the

to be in a position to recover these monies (non- performing assets).I think it is a problem which will soon come under control,” said Jaitley, who will present his second full budget on February 29.

Observing that there is a problem of NPAs, Jaitley said, “These are the loans, which have earlier been given by these banks and as a part of prudent policy it has been considered the balance sheets should be transparent. The banks are going to take all steps possible to recover the loans from debtors.”

As on September, the gross NPAs of public sector banks have increased to Rs3.01 lakh crore, as against Rs2.67 lakh crore in March.

“I think it is (NPA) a problem which will soon come under control. In any case, the volume and extent of the problem should not

highest since 6.46 per cent in September 2014.

Food inflation, as measured by Consumer Food Price Index(CFPI), quickened to 6.85 per cent in the first month of 2016, government data showed on Friday.

Retail prices of ‘cereals and products’ inched up by 2.19 per cent in January, from 2.12 per cent in December 2015. -PTI

be exaggerated so as to lead to any panic,” he said.

On fund requirement of the banks, he said the government will provide the required capital as they have an important role to play in supporting the Indian economy and their support is also required for further growth.

Last year, the government had announced a revamp plan ‘Indradhanush’ to infuse Rs70,000 crore in state-owned banks over four years, while they will have to raise a further Rs1.1 lakh crore from the markets to meet their capital requirements in line with global risk norms Basel III. As per the blueprint, PSU banks will get Rs 25,000 crore this fiscal and also in the next fiscal.

Besides, Rs10,000 crore each would be infused in 2017-18 and 2018-19. - PTI

SOLIDARITY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wife Jashodaben joined Good Samaritan Mission’s token hunger strike for slum dwellers at Azad Maidan, in Mumbai on Friday. - IANS

MUMBAI: In a development that took many here by surprise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wife Jashodaben on Friday joined members of an NGO on a day-long token hunger strike in support of slum dwellers here.

Jashodaben — whose arrival was not known even to the local police — was flanked by five National Security Guard commandos as she joined ‘Good Samaritan Mission’ non-governmental organisation’s volunteers to demand a halt to demolitions of slums in Mumbai during the monsoon.

“Every year, we witness the inhuman spectacle of hundreds of slums being demolished just before or during the monsoon and people being thrown out in the streets. We are demanding that the authorities concerned should put a stop to this practice,” Brother Peter Paul Raj, Good Samaritan Mission founder and exaide of Mother Teresa, said at the protest venue.

Jashodaben sat on the token hunger strike for a few hours before departing without much fanfare. - IANS

D E T E R I O R AT I N G L AW A N D O R D E R

Bihar BJP vice president shot dead in Bhojpur, driver injured ARA (Bihar): Bihar BJP vice president Visheshwar Ojha was on Friday shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bhojpur district while returning from a wedding.

Ojha, who had unsuccessfully contested Assembly election in 2015 from Shahpur constituency, was fired at by gunmen when he was returning after attending the ‘baraat’ at Parsaura village in Bihar. The incident took place be-

tween Sonvarsha and Parsaura village under Shahpur police station of Bhojpur. Ojha’s driver and another person accompanying him were seriously injured in the firing.

Ojha was taken to Shahpur referral hospital where he died during treatment, the hospital’s incharge Dr Ajay Kumar said, adding a medical board comprising three doctors had been formed to treat him. The injured are being treated

at Sadar hospital and doctors have declared them out of danger.

Angry supporters of the slain BJP leader heckled Bhojpur SP Navin Chand Jha when he visited the hospital where Ojha died.

State BJP president Mangal Pandey told reporters in Patna that the party is giving 72 hours to the state government for arresting Ojha’s killers, failing which it would call for a state-wide agita-

tion on the slide in law and order in the state.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is “holding meeting for controlling crime but the fact is criminals have gone out of control”, senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement in Patna.

The three-day high level meeting held by Kumar to tone up law and order situation ended on Friday in Patna. Ojha’s murder has

come close on heels of killing of Vaishali district LJP leader Brijnathi Singh who was shot dead near Kachhi Dargah locality of Patna on February 5. Lok Janshati Party leader Chirag Paswan hit out at Secular Alliance government alleging that “in whichever government RJD chief Lalu Prasad is a part, such incidents would take place as he is known for giving patronage to criminals.” - PTI

Visheshwar Ojha

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 Six suicide bombers had been enlisted in the attack plan, in addition to 19 involved in facilitating it Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa, Military spokesman

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PAKISTAN

Military foils jailbreak plan, 97 Al Qaeda, other militants held Terrorist groups working in collusion to carry out attacks, says military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa as plan to break US journalist Daniel Pearl’s killer out of jail foiled THE SUSPECTS: Arrested suspected militants are seen in this still image taken from video on Friday.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has arrested 97 Al Qaeda and Lashkar-eJhangvi militants, including three commanders, in the southern city of Karachi and foiled a planned attack to break US journalist Daniel Pearl’s killer out of jail, the army said on Friday.

The men are accused of involvement in major attacks on two Pakistani air bases, the Karachi airport, several regional intelligence headquarters and on police installations between 2009 and 2015, the military said. The LeJ’s Naeem Bokhari and Sabir Khan, as well as Farooq Bhatti, deputy chief of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), were captured by Pakistani forces in recent raids, military spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said.

“Our conclusion is that all of the terrorist groups are trying to cooperate with each other in order to carry out terrorist attacks,” he told a news conference.

The LeJ and AQIS had been working “in collusion” with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban,

Bajwa added. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a hardline group whose sectarian ideology is closely aligned with IS, as it wants to kill or expel Pakistan’s minority community and establish a theocracy.

Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent was formed by global Al Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri in September 2014, and is one of dozens of militant groups, some aligned against Pakistan and others against its neighbours, that operate in the country.

Pakistan has been under domestic and international pressure to crack down on all such groups, and launched a renewed operation against some of them in June 2014.

Bajwa declined to give details of the raids, including their timing.

Several of those arrested, including Bokhari, were in the advanced stages of planning a jailbreak attempt on the Hyderabad Central Jail, Bajwa said.

Khalid Omar Sheikh, who kidnapped and killed the Wall Street Journal’s Daniel Pearl in 2002, is being held at that jail and was to be released during the raid, he said.

Six suicide bombers had been enlisted in the attack plan, in addition to 19 involved in facilitating it, Bajwa said. More than 350kg (772 lb) of explosives had been recovered from a building believed to be a hideout, he said.

The attackers planned to raid the prison compound with two vans filled with explosives, and had a list of about 35 prisoners they planned to kill, Bajwa said, displaying pencil sketches of the prison allegedly made by the militants.

They had a separate list of about 100 prisoners, including Sheikh, whom they were supposed to release, he added.

Video images of the militants’ hideout showed blue plastic barrels filled with explosives, washing machines that had been used to transport arms and ammunition, long lengths of detonating cord and dozens of ball bearings.

The footage also showed several rifles that Bajwa said had been stolen from police in earlier targeted attacks.

“This plan was 90 per cent ready for execution,” he added. — Reuters

– Reuters/PTV via Reuters TV

TIGHT VIGIL: Policemen guard the central jail in Hyderabad, 160km (100 miles) from Karachi, in this July 10, 2002 file photo. – Reuters Files

DECISION

S H O R TA G E O F F U N D S

Austerity takes back seat as 19 projects cleared ISLAMABAD: Despite scarcity of resources, the federal government held two meetings within 72 hours to approve more than one and a half dozen new projects costing Rs54 billion, some of them cleared in violation of Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s own instructions.

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) – the body responsible for clearing the development schemes – met again on Thursday to take up seven development schemes costing Rs28.2 billion. In its Monday’s meeting, the CDWP cleared 12 schemes worth Rs26.4 billion.

The CDWP is holding meetings at a time when the federal government was already struggling to RAISING QUESTIONS: Realised gains from projects were far less than originally envisaged, said a finance the earlier approved pro- former official. – Express Tribune jects due to limitations imposed by the International Monetary Fund. The approval comes at a December, a reduction of Rs122 PSDP 2015-16 approved by the the PSDP. This project will be NEC and the National Assembly administered by the Ministry of time when there is a grave short- billion or 43 per cent.

According to standing instruc- in June last year. He also approved Planning and Development. This age of funds, raising questions tions of Planning and Develop- the Rs265.6 million worth project also raises question over setting over central planning. ment Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the meant for enhancing informa- up a special desk when the minisCDWP will not approve any pro- tion technology export through try can perform the task without Target For the current fiscal year 2015- ject that does not have allocation an industry support programme incurring additional expenses.

During a press conference held 16, the National Economic Coun- under the annual PSDP. However, and Rs1.5 billion establishment of cil had approved Rs700 billion Iqbal, in his capacity as Chairman GSM network in Azad Jammu & on Monday after the meeting, Public Sector Development Pro- of the CDWP, approved on Thurs- Kashmir. Both projects, not part Iqbal had defended the approval gramme including Rs100 billion day three projects in violation of of the PSDP 2015-16, were cleared of the project, saying Rs72.3 milby the Minister in violation of his lion was a nominal amount. for security enhancement and his own instructions.

However, he overran his own He cleared Rs15.9 billion pro- own instructions.

Temporarily Displaced Persons On Monday, the Minister had instructions and approved a (TDPs). Against the half-year ject for provision of coal conveytarget of Rs280 billion, actual de- ing system from terminal to Rail- also cleared Rs72.3 million spe- roughly Rs16 billion project. The velopment spending remained at way Network at Port Qasim. The cial project cell for Afghan pro- transport and communication Rs158 billion from July through project was not part of the federal jects despite it being not part of section of the Planning Commis-

sion had some serious observations against this project. It noted that in July last year, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping had gotten the Prime Minister’s approval at Rs4.2 billion at a total length of the system at 5 kilometre (Km).

However, just seven months down the line, the project cost increased by 278 per cent to Rs15.9 billion while the system length was reduced to 4.5 Km. The project was aimed at transporting coal from the terminal to Railways and loading on the wagons for onwards transportation to Punjab.

The Minister’s instructions were not feasible, as these can only be implemented during the first half of the fiscal year, said a senior ministry official. His argument was that if the Planning Ministry does not approve such projects during the January-June period of the fiscal year, next fiscal year’s PSDP will comprise of unapproved projects.

Former deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Dr Nadeemul Haque wrote in his blog that projects were often approved without due diligence, would seldom be completed on time, frequently had large cost overruns, focused on brick and mortar and their quality was poor.

He argued that consequently, the realised gains from projects were far less than what was originally envisaged. — Express Tribune

Bacha Khan University to reopen on Monday SHABQADAR: Bacha Khan University will reopen on February 15, Monday after a closure of three weeks following a terrorist attack at the university which left at least 21 students dead.

The decision came during a meeting between the management and security heads at the campus on Friday. The university was closed after a terror attack on January 20 which left 21 students and a faculty member dead. It was opened on January 25 but was closed again for indefinite period owing to inadequate security.

“The committee visited the campus prior to the meeting,” public relations officer Saeed Khalil Khan told The Express Tribune.

The committee observed that walls and watch towers had been erected and CCTV cameras installed with its centralised system improved, while local police was also on alert to provide security to the varsity.

The campus will also appoint more security guards in while training will be give to guards deputed to strengthen security, Khan added. According to the vice chancellor, the university will also avail services of a psychiatric specialist to lessen the traumatic effects for the students. — Express Tribune

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READERS’ FORUM Lessons to take in Hanumanthappa’s death Lance Naik Hanumanthappa’s death is occasion for people of India to not only express their gratitude but also to do some thinking. While the braveheart has set an inspiring example of courage and perseverance to youth of the country, India must also ensure that equipment is rovided to those like him who perform their duty of safeguarding the country in hostile terrain and weather, especially in Siachen, the world’s highest battleground, to maximise their survivability in such accidents. Though life of defence personnel is difficult the world over and death an everyday possibility, it need not be Scan this QR code unnecessarily so. to send letters to the — Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Signals perfect just one month before World T20 tournament This refers to the story Oman heads to India with win (February 10). Cricket lovers in Oman are not bothered whether West Indies is in trouble or Pakistan is waiting for Government clearance. Oman debuting in World T20 are focussing on leaving a long lasting impression on the world stage. New teams like Oman will be eager to perform to their best and their first test comes in Bangladesh, where they take part in the Asia Cup later this month. If they do well and their World T20 campaign will be more interesting.

Signals are perfect. — Miranda D’Souza, Ruwi

NOAH SMITH

Most financial institutions, and all of the sophisticated ones, now use factor models to measure their risk.

Many also use them to optimise their returns. For example, so-called smart beta investing strategies, one of the most popular investing fads of the past decade, are mostly just the application of factor models.

W

ith China, Russia, and the United States fine-tuning anti-satellite (ASAT) warfare capabilities, the third round of competition to “seize the high ground” of space is well underway. This round is distinctive, because it has three contestants, whereas the first and second rounds, which occurred during the Cold War, had only two. But, like its predecessors, today’s space race poses the risks of quick escalation and intensification of conflict among major powers.

A set of common-sense rules could help defuse and prevent conflict in space. Unfortunately, Russia and China seem uninterested in negotiating a code of conduct for responsible space-faring countries. The first space race began in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite. US president Dwight Eisenhower’s administration opted to leave Sputnik and its successors alone, recognising that the US could outpace Soviet space programs and had more to gain from not destroying them.

Eisenhower’s successor, John F. Kennedy, arrived at the same conclusion. But he went a step further, joining with the Soviet Union to champion a United Nations resolution on cooperation in space. Kennedy’s eyes had been opened by a July 1962 US atmospheric nuclear test that inadvertently destroyed at least six satellites, including some belonging to the USSR. A few months later, the Cuban missile crisis spurred agreement on a ban on atmospheric testing. In 1967, US president Lyndon Johnson and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev turned UN resolutions into the Outer Space Treaty, which marked the end of the first military space competition.

The second round of competition emerged in the mid-1970s. Brezhnev’s Soviet Union tested a new type of ASAT weapon, and President Gerald Ford’s administration decided to respond in kind.

Under president Jimmy Carter, the US tried diplomacy to limit ASAT programs, but the superpowers couldn’t begin to agree on how to define a space weapon. Then, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan’s administration launched its Strategic Defence Initiative, which ratcheted up the competition. The second wave of competition ebbed in 1987, when Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev agreed to a treaty eliminating intermediate-range missiles, and ended when the Soviet Union dissolved.

The latest round of military competition in space began in 2001, when the US, under president George W. Bush, withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and demonstrated advanced spaceenabled military targeting in its war in Iraq. At that time, Russia was in no position to compete. But the Kremlin gradually boosted investment in “counter-space” capabilities.

China did the same, demonstrating a new “hitto-kill” ASAT weapon system in 2007. China’s test, like the US atmospheric nuclear test in 1962, was highly damaging to the space environment, creating a vast, indiscriminate, and lethal debris field. In 2008, the US used a specially adapted sea-based interceptor missile to shoot down a malfunctioning US intelligence satellite just before its reentry into the atmosphere. The US now uses an unmanned miniature version of the space shuttle to practice “proximity operations”: approaching other satellites without harming them. Russia has launched three satellites for proximity operations. Chinese ASAT tests have succeeded to the point that they are now designed to miss their targets.

The third round of military competition in space remains less intense than the first two, but it is gathering momentum. The question is how to defuse it. Russia and China support an international treaty to prevent the weaponisation of space. But their proposal has significant drawbacks, including the same old difficulty of agreeing on what constitutes a space weapon. Most space-related capabilities, like lasers and proximity operations, have both peaceful and military applications. Monitoring and verifying compliance is another challenge.

And even if provisions could be agreed, ratifying and implementing a treaty could take decades, as with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. A simpler – though by no means easy – approach would be to agree on a code of conduct for space. The good news is that the framework for such an international code – conceptualized by the Stimson Centre (which I co-founded) in 2002 – already exists, drafted in detail by the European Union. The bad news is that China and Russia, along with many developing countries, have voiced strong objections. Developing countries disapprove of the EU’s attempt to avoid a UN-based drafting process. And they have balked at the draft code’s affirmation of a national and collective right to self-defence – a right enshrined in the UN Charter. - Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES FEBRUARY 2001 Maqbool says global recession affected economy MUSCAT: Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said yesterday that the industrial growth in the recent past has not reached the targeted level because of the global economic stagnation.

“The global economic stagnation affected our economy as well during the fifth five-year plan period (1996 – 2000).” “The launch of a number of gas-based projects were postponed considering the low prices of gas-based products.” Maqbool, in a statement after the meeting of Omani industrialists at Al Bustan Palace Hotel yesterday, said the situation has now changed, the prices began to improve and the industries are setting in motion.

TODAY IN HISTORY

PICTOGRAPH AIR TRAFFIC MOVEMENT IN OMAN

FLIGHT LANDING From August to October, 2015 International August

Domestic

September

October

3,706 3,613 3,730

588

455

431

0

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

NELSON MANDELA

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

1945: UK’s Royal Air Force Bomber Command devastates the German city of Dresden with night raids by 873 heavy bombers. The attacks are joined by 521 American heavy bombers flying daylight raids.

1968: The US sends 10,500 more combat troops to Vietnam.

1970: General Motors is reportedly redesigning automobiles to run on unleaded fuel.

Source National Centre for Statistics and Information

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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WORLD

Maynmar transition talks hit power sharing hurdle Myanmar Parliament vote on president pushed back because of slow negotiations as military demands four key chief minister posts

NAYPYITAW: The mood of goodwill evident in early talks between Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s military over the country’s transition to democratic government has soured, as tensions rise over how to divide up power and deal with the legacy of junta rule.

The apparent stalemate has forced Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) to push back the election by parliament of a new president to March 17, cutting close to the April 1 deadline SOURING POLITICAL MOOD: Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, second right, walks along when the new government is sup- with other lawmakers of National League for Democracy party as she arrives to participate in the firstday regular session of the upper house of parliament on February 3, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. – AP/PTI posed to start its term.

While negotiations have been conducted amid tight secrecy, lawmakers say divisions emerged mer senior lawmaker from the the media over whether Myan- amination of Special Matters after the military put forward its army-linked Union Solidarity mar’s junta-drafted constitution, Commission, a powerful panel list of demands to the incoming and Development Party (USDP). which bars Suu Kyi from becom- that advises on legislation.

This choice, some MPs say, government last month.

Suu Kyi’s NLD won a landslide in ing president, should be amended could be problematic for former Myanmar’s first democratic elec- to let her take the highest office.

Ye Htut, the outgoing Minister members of outgoing President tion in a quarter of a century in Mistrust stoked The appointment of ex-general November, kicking off a lengthy of Information and presidential Thein Sein’s government if the Shwe Mann, now a key Suu Kyi transition from the semi-civilian spokesman, said Suu Kyi should NLD decided to use the commisally, to a powerful advisory panel government that in 2011 replaced respect the military as, essen- sion’s expertise to try to amend has also stoked mistrust, some a junta that had run the country tially, the country’s second biggest laws or revisit contracts approved party, and urged her administra- by his administration. say, because his insider knowl- for 49 years.

The issue of not raking over the That transition began with tion not to dwell on the issue of edge could enable Myanmar’s new rulers to delve into the actions of mutual handshakes and speeches the presidency, instead focusing past has been crucial in efforts to establish a working relationship about “national reconciliation”, on economic reform. the outgoing government.

Last week the NLD appointed between Suu Kyi and her former “It seems like all of the mem- but as the talks drag on the tone bers of the previous government of public debate - and that of leg- Shwe Mann, a former speaker of foes in the military, which under are now panicking, so they try islators speaking privately - has the lower house who was purged the constitution retains a bloc of to use the military’s weight to changed. In recent days, the NLD from the USDP last year, as the seats in parliament and control of protect themselves,” said a for- and the military have bickered via head of the Legal Affairs and Ex- key parts of the state apparatus.

POSSIBLE ELECTIONS IN 2017

Ousted Thai premier invites foreign media in bid to boost family’s profile BANGKOK: Former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra opened her home to foreign media on Friday in what analysts said was a bid to boost her family’s profile ahead of a possible election next year.

It was Yingluck’s first press conference for foreign journalists since her government was overthrown by the military in 2014 and took place in defiance of the junta’s ban on political activity.

Yingluck strolled through the vegetable garden at her mansion in northern Bangkok, pausing to pick some lettuce for the cameras in what she said was a “simple get together” with no agenda.

But Kan Yuenyong, an analyst at the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank, said the family was laying the groundwork for a 2017 election campaign.

Housewife “What is simpler than a Yingluck in her garden presenting herself as a housewife and one of the people?” he said.

Yingluck, Thailand’s first female prime minister and sister of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, swept to power in 2011. Shinawatra-backed parties have won every general election since 2001. In a country where the military has banned political

days tending to her vegetables, visiting temples and meeting friends. She regularly speaks to her exiled brother, Thaksin, who fled abroad in 2008 to avoid a jail sentence for corruption. “We were taught to be close through good times and bad,” she said.

Neither Shinawatra can run for office but they will likely boost any Puea Thai Party campaign.

“I think I can do more than watering plants,” said Yingluck.

LETTUCE FOR CAMERAS: Deposed Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra holds lettuce as she gives a tour of her vegetable garden to mainly foreign media who were invited at her compound in Bangkok on Friday. – AFP

activity, the event was nothing if not political, said analysts, and an extension of a publicity campaign Thaksin and Yingluck are ramping up to reconnect with supporters. The Shinawatra family and the Puea Thai Party it backs are despised by Thailand’s military-backed royalist elite but they remain hugely popular in their traditional powerbase in the country’s north and northeast.

The generals running the

country have promised a 2017 election but critics, including political parties, fear that a military-backed draft constitution will weaken their influence and consolidate the military’s wideranging powers.

“We need to keep quiet and give the junta a chance,” she said, adding that she hopes the government will “do as it promised” and hold a general election.

Yingluck said she spends her

A9

Rice subsidy scheme She was banned from politics until 2020 after a military-appointed assembly found her guilty of mismanaging a multi-billion-dollar rice subsidy scheme.

Yingluck faces criminal charges over the scheme that could result in a 10 year jail term.

She maintains her innocence.

“We’ll try to prove ourselves to the court and to the public,” she said.

Many analysts think Puea Thai Party will still win the next general election. “Thaksin and Yingluck don’t have to do much,” said Kan. “They just have to present themselves to the public and some might think that during the Shinawatra administration Thailand was more modern, especially compared to the current military administration which harks back to the 70s or 80s.” — Reuters

When Suu Kyi met former junta leader Than Shwe in December she gave him assurances that the NLD would not focus on the past.

In return, Than Shwe endorsed her as the future “leader” of the country.

Days before disbanding at the end of January, the parliament dominated by Thein Sein’s USDP passed a bill granting life-long immunity from prosecution to the president for actions taken in office, sparking protests from human rights organisations.

“That law only protects the president, but not his ministers,” said the former USDP lawmaker, who is also a member of Shwe Mann’s panel. He said the commission would look into recent budgets.

The military is demanding the positions of chief minister in Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states and, crucially, Yangon, where the bulk of foreign investment is likely to concentrate as Myanmar’s economy grows at a rapid pace, two people briefed on the details of the talks said.

Both Shan and Kachin states are home to powerful ethnic armed groups involved in illicit activities ranging from drug production and smuggling to illegal jade mining.

Control over these states, which also include Special Regions semi-autonomous fiefdoms with their own administrations and armies - is key for Suu Kyi, who has made a ceasefire with ethnic armed groups her top priority.

China, which has important economic and strategic interests in Myanmar, is also anxious to protect its influence, Win Htein, one of the top NLD leaders involved in transition talks said.

“Chinese government representatives and business associations are coming to us all the damn time to talk about the president and business deals,” said Win Htein. — Reuters

SOUTHEAST

Turkish military kills 27 Kurdish militants ISTANBUL: Turkish security forces have killed 27 militants in the mainly Kurdish southeast, the army said on Friday, a day after the interior minister said security operations had finished in the town of Cizre where the conflict has been focused.

The army said 16 fighters of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had been killed in Cizre, near the Syrian border. It said it had retrieved the bodies of another 24 militants killed earlier, along with rifles, machines guns and rocket launchers.

Another five PKK guerrillas were killed on Thursday in the Sur district of the region’s largest city, Diyarbakir, and six in Hakkari province near the Iraqi border, the army said.

Operations completed Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said on Thursday that security forces had completed their operations against militants in Cizre after weeks of fighting, raising hopes that a lockdown could be lifted.

More than 800 militants have been killed in Cizre and Sur since they were placed under a roundthe-clock curfew in December, the army said.

The pro-Kurdish HDP, the biggest party in the region, says 128 civilians have been killed during the curfews.

Authorities imposed the curfews in a bid to root out armed PKK militants who had dug trenches and erected barricades.

The violence has forced thousands of local residents to flee.

A ceasefire with the PKK collapsed in July, wrecking a 2-1/2 year peace process that had been seen as Turkey’s best chance at ending three decades of strife in the restive southeast.

About 40,000 people, mainly Kurds, have died since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state in 1984. — Reuters

A 10

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

WORLD

The 84-year-old executive chairman of News Corp and 21st Century Fox Inc Rupert Murdoch and former supermodel Jerry Hall, 59, announced their engagement last month in a classified advert in the Times newspaper, one of the papers his group owns.

China urges UNSC action to make North Korea pay price We support the UNSC to take further steps and in adopting a new resolution so that North Korea will pay the necessary price and show there are consequences for its behaviour, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

MUNICH: China will back a UN Security Council resolution to make North Korea “pay the necessary price” for recent rocket launches, its foreign minister told Reuters on Friday, adding the goal was to get Pyongyang back to the negotiating table.

Wang Yi also said he was concerned by a possible US deployment of its sophisticated THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defence system to South Korea, saying it could also be used to target China.

North Korea has been under UN sanctions since its first nuclear test in 2006.

It has conducted three more atomic tests since then, including last month’s, and numerous ballistic missile launches.

Washington and Beijing have appeared divided over how to respond to North Korea, with Washington urging tougher sanctions and Beijing stressing the need for dialogue.

However, Wang told Reuters at MALI

Three killed in mortar attack on UN base BAMAKO: Suspected militants attacked a UN base in the northern Mali town of Kidal with mortars and machine guns on Friday, killing three peacekeepers and wounding 30, United Nations and separatist sources said.

The attack is a fresh sign of instability in the desert region that is home to hardline groups including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) who have staged increasingly bold raids in recent months and have targeted the UN base several times. “At about 7am the MINUSMA base in Kidal was the target of a complex attack which, according to provisional figures, caused the death of three blue helmets and around 30 wounded,” Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Mali representative of the UN secretary general, said in a statement. Eight mortar shells were fired at the base and there was also gunfire, said Olivier Salgado, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission, whose acronym is MINUSMA. — Reuters

TOUGH TALK: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Munich, Germany, on Friday.

an interview in Munich that it was time for a “strong” resolution covering a wide range of areas. “(We) support the United Nations Security Council to take further steps and in adopting a new resolution so that North Korea will pay the necessary price and show there are consequences for its behaviour,” the minister said, speaking through an interpreter.

Great effort China has insisted it is already making great efforts to achieve denuclearisation on the “Korean peninsula” and has previously rejected any “groundless speculation” on its North Korea stance, following remarks from US officials that China could do more.

The UN Security Council is dis-

cussing a new resolution. Diplomats say the Americans have been pushing for tough measures that go beyond targeting North Korea’s atomic weapons and missile programs, while China wanted any future steps to focus on the question of nonproliferation.

When asked whether Beijing was ready to support stronger economic sanctions, Wang said the resolution would be wideranging, but its objective should be to curb Pyongyang’s efforts to develop nuclear and missile technologies. “Sanctions are not the end, the purpose should be to make sure that the nuclear issue in the Korean Pensinsula should be brought back to the channel of a negotiation-based resolution,” he said. Tensions have been mount-

ing in the region and on Thursday North Korea said it was evicting all South Koreans from the jointly run Kaesong industrial zone, calling the South’s move to suspend operations, in retaliation for Sunday’s rocket launch by the North, a “declaration of war”.

Talks next week In response to the launch Seoul is set to begin talks with Washington as early as next week on deploying an advanced US missile defence system.

The discussions would focus on placing one Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) unit with the US military in South Korea after the North’s launch last weekend, a South Korean defence official told Reuters

– Reuters

on condition of anonymity. Wang said he was worried by the move and urged the United States to rethink its strategy.

“The facts are clear. The deployment of the THAAD system by the United States... goes far beyond the defence need of the Korean Pensinsula and the coverage would mean it will reach deep into the Asian continent. “This directly affects the strategic security interests of China and other Asian countries,” he said.

He said Washington needed to clarify its motives. “It doesn’t require experts. Ordinary people know that the deployment of the THAAD system is not just to defend South Korea, but a wider agenda and may even serve the possibility of targeting China.” — Reuters

SERVICE

Murdoch, Jerry to celebrate marriage at St Bride’s church LONDON: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former supermodel Jerry Hall will hold a marriage service next month at St Bride’s church on London’s Fleet Street, the spiritual home of British journalism.

The 84-year-old executive chairman of News Corp and 21st Century Fox Inc and Hall, 59, announced their engagement last month in a classified advert in the Times newspaper, one of the papers his group owns.

The couple’s nuptials will be celebrated on March 5 at the historic church, famed for its weddingcake spire and designed by Christopher Wren who was also responsible for the nearby St Paul’s Cathedral.

“He will be having a service to celebrate the marriage,” Claire Seaton from St Bride’s told Reuters. She said the actual wedding ceremony would take place elsewhere. The three-times-married media tycoon and Hall, the former longtime partner of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, got engaged in Los Angeles, where they had been attending Hollywood’s Golden Globes awards ceremony.

Divorce Murdoch divorced his third wife, Wendi Deng, a former executive at Murdoch-owned Star TV in China, in 2013 after 14 years, saying their marriage had been irretrievably broken. Hall was married to Jagger for more than 20 years but in divorce proceedings in 1999 the British musician claimed they were never legally married.

There was no immediate comment from Murdoch’s spokesman, but Britain’s Guardian newspaper said the couple’s former partners were not expected to attend. Among the 150 or so guests would be Robert Thomson, News Corp’s chief executive and Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of his British media arm, the paper said. — Reuters

D E M O N S T R AT I O N AG A I N S T P E N S I O N P L A N S

Greek police fire tear gas at protesting farmers ATHENS: Greek riot police fired tear gas at farmers protesting against pension reform plans on Friday who hurled stones at the agriculture ministry in central Athens ahead of a major demonstration outside parliament scheduled for later in the day.

Under the planned reform of the pension system demanded by Greece’s international lenders, farmers face a tripling of their social security contributions and higher income tax. They have been blockading motorways across Greece for over three weeks.

Greece’s left-leaning government says the step is necessary to ensure future pensions for the group, whose benefits have so far been almost completely subsidised by the state. About 800 farmers from the island of Crete arrived in Athens early on Friday and rallied outside the agriculture ministry waving Greek flags and chanting: “They won’t make us bend”.

Riot police guarding the entrance to the ministry fired teargas to disperse farmers who hurled tomatoes and stones at the

building smashing windows and used shepherd’s crooks to repel police during the tense but brief scuffles. More farmers were heading to the capital to join the main rally, which was scheduled for the evening and was expected to test Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s resolve to push through unpopular reforms. Some of the farmers started setting up tents on Syntagma Square, the scene of many violent clashes during anti-austerity protests over the past few years.

Police said they would not allow farmers with tractors to drive into Athens. The pension reform is a key term of Greece’s bailout review, but has triggered anger among professional groups including lawyers, teachers, doctors and actors. Tsipras, who was elected last year promising to end austerity but was then forced to accept a third bailout in July, is feeling the pressure as he struggles to conclude a bailout review with lenders and also convince angry Greeks that their sacrifices will pay off. He has a tiny parliamentary majority. — Reuters

CLASH: Farmers clash with police amid smoke from tear gas shells in front of the Agriculture ministry in Athens, during a demonstration against the pension reform on Friday. – AFP

CHANGING TRENDS

Presses to fall silent as The Independent goes online only

GOING DIGITAL: Copies of the British newspaper “The Independent” are arranged for a photograph in London on Friday. The newspaper will become digital only, and its last print edition will come out on March 26, owners ESI Media said in a statement. – AFP

LONDON: Britain’s The Independent newspaper is to disappear from news stands next month after its Russian owner said the 29-year-old title would only publish online, in the starkest sign yet of the pressures weighing on the newspaper industry.

The paper launched by a group of journalists in 1986 with the slogan “Independent, it is - are you?” has become Britain’s highest-profile casualty of the change in news reading habits brought about by the internet. From a peak of around 400,000 copies a day, circulation has fallen to little more than onetenth of that figure, despite innovations like moving to a tabloid from broadsheet format and a period of splashing on radically different stories from its rivals.

A move to sell profitable sister ti-

tle i to Johnston Press, announced on Thursday, put the future for the print editions of the loss-making The Independent and Independent on Sunday in doubt. “This decision preserves the Independent brand and allows us to continue to invest in the high quality editorial content that is attracting more and more readers to our online platforms,” said owner Evgeny Lebedev in a statement on Friday. “The newspaper industry is changing, and that change is being driven by readers,” added Lebedev, who also owns the free London daily, the Evening Standard. “They’re showing us that the future is digital.”

ESI Media, the commercial division of the Evening Standard, The Independent, i, London Live and their digital platforms, said it would create 25 new digital con-

tent roles, launch a new subscription mobile App and continue to invest in quality journalism.

New editorial bureaux would open in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and the US operation would be expanded. The Independent’s last paper edition is expected to be on Saturday March 26 with the last Independent on Sunday on the preceding Sunday, March 20, ESI said. “The move announced today has no bearing on the status of the Evening Standard, which continues to grow as a profitable and successful newspaper brand in its own right,” it added. It confirmed that it will sell i newspaper to Johnston Press, subject to Johnston Press shareholder approval. “A significant number of employees are expected to move across to Johnston Press...,” it said. — Reuters

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

S P O R S

India level T20 series

IPL SCANDAL

India bans Pakistani umpire Rauf

Shikhar Dhawan (51 off 25) smashed his maiden fifty in T20 Internationals to fire India to 196/6 and the home team’s strong batting effort came despite Thisara Perera’s hat-trick in the penultimate over of the innings

RANCHI: India regained their winning touch with a spectacular all-round display as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the second T20 International to level the three match series here on Friday.

Shikhar Dhawan (51 off 25) smashed his maiden fifty in T20 Internationals to fire India to 196/6 and the home team’s strong batting effort came despite Thisara Perera’s hat-trick in the penultimate over of the innings.

The other notable performances in the Indian innings came from Rohit Sharma (43 off 36), Hardik Pandya (27 off 12) and Suresh Raina (30 off 19). Sri Lanka could never recover from a poor start and ended at 127/9 in 20 overs.

The visitors made a mess of the steep chase by losing their first three wickets for 16 runs.

Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck in the first legitimate ball of the innings with Dhoni pulling off a split second stumping to send back Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Ashwin had started his spell with two wides. Old horse Ashish Nehra

JUBILANT: Shikhar Dhawan celebrates his half century with Rohit Sharma during the 2nd T20 match in Ranchi. – PTI

SCOREBOARD

INDIA R. Sharma c & b Chameera 43 S. Dhawan c Chandimal b Chameera 51 A. Rahane c Dilshan b Senanayake 25 S. Raina c Chameera b Perera 30 H. Pandya c Gunathilaka b Perera 27 M.S. Dhoni not out 9 Y. Singh c Senanayake b Perera 0 R. Jadeja not out 1 Extras (lb-1, w-9) 10 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 196 Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-122, 3-127, 4-186, 5-186, 6-186 Bowling: Kasun Rajitha 4-0-45-0; Thisara Perera 3-0-33-3; Sachithra Senanayake 4-0-40-1; Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-38-2; Seekkuge Prasanna 3-0-21-0; Milinda Siriwardana 1-0-6-0; Dasun Shanaka 1-0-12-0 SRI LANKA D. Gunathilaka c Dhoni b Nehra T. Dilshan st Dhoni b Ashwin

2 0

had Seekkuge Prasanna on the very first ball of his opening spell before inducing an edge from opener Danushka Gunathilaka to leave Sri Lanka tottering.

Chamara Kapugedera (32) and captain Dinesh Chandimal (31) shared a brisk 52-run stand for the fourth wicket before Ravindra Jadeja got rid of them in successive balls to dash all hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback. Dhoni dis-

S. Prasanna c Yuvraj Singh b Nehra 1 D. Chandimal st Dhoni b Jadej 31 C. Kapugedera c Pandya b Jadeja 32 M. Siriwardana not out 28 D. Shanaka c Raina b Ashwin 27 T. Perera c Rahane b Ashwin 0 S. Senanayake lbw b Bumrah 0 D. Chameera b Bumrah 0 K. Rajitha not out 3 Extras (w-3) 3 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 127 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-16, 4-68, 5-68, 6-116, 7-117, 8-119, 9-119 Bowling: Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-14-3; Ashish Nehra 3-0-26-2; Yuvraj Singh 3-0-190; Ravindra Jadeja 4-0-24-2; Suresh Raina 2-0-22-0; Jasprit Bumrah 3-0-17-2; Hardik Pandya 1-0-5-0 Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss, chose to bowl Umpires: Vineet Kulkarni, Anil Chaudhary Third Umpire: C. Nandan Match Referee: Jeff Crowe

played another quickfire stumping to send Chandimal back in the dressing room.

Unlike the greenish deck for the first T20 in Pune, the dry pitch here aided the strokeplay they are known for. Pacer Kasun Rajitha, who troubled the famed Indian batting on his international debut in Pune, proved to be expensive this time. The 22-year-old bowled short and wide on the very first

HAT-TRICK HERO: Sri Lanka bowler Thisara Perera. – PTI

ball of the match and Rohit comfortably dispatched it to the point boundary.

Dhawan got going with a couple of delightful sixes. He flicked pacer Perera over mid-wicket before sweeping spinner Sachithra Senanayake in the following over for another maximum. There was no stopping Dhawan after that as he got to his maiden fifty in 22 balls.

Rohit did not mind watching Dhawan demolishing the opposition bowlers from the other and by the end of six overs, India had to raced to 70 for no loss.

Sri Lanka badly needed a breakthrough to stop the onslaught of the dangerous opening duo and it was provided by pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who had Dhawan caught behind with a sharp and straight rising ball.

The southpaw thoroughly entertained the Ranchi crowd with his cracking innings that comprised seven fours and two sixes.

Ajinkya Rahane joined Rohit in the middle but suddenly the boundaries were hard to come by with spinner coming into play on a dry surface. Rahane released the pressure by hitting consecutive fours off medium pacer Dasun Shanaka.

The final match of the threematch series will be played in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was handed a five-year ban by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) on Friday over his involvement in an illegal betting scandal that blighted the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Controversy plagued the sixth edition of the lucrative Twenty20 league with former India paceman S. Sreesanth and two other Rajasthan cricketers arrested on suspicion of accepting money to concede a fixed number of runs.

All three were given life bans by the BCCI. The Chennai and Rajasthan franchises were subsequently suspended from the IPL for two years after key officials from both teams were found guilty of illegal betting.

The investigating Mumbai Police also named Rauf in the chargesheet but the umpire’s lawyer said his client had done nothing wrong.

“Mr Asad Rauf has been banned for a period of five years from umpiring or playing or representing cricket in any form or anyway being associated with the activities of the Board and its Affiliates,” the BCCI said in a statement on Friday.

The 59-year-old, who last officiated an international match in the 2013, did not appear before the BCCI disciplinary committee and sent a written statement instead, the board added.

The panel found the umpire guilty of facilitating betting, disclosing inside information and receiving gift or payment that brought the game into disrepute. A Lahore-born first class cricketer, Rauf has officiated in 49 Tests and 98 Oneday Internationals. The BCCI ban does not extend beyond India. - Reuters

TEST CRICKET

Smith, Khawaja drive home Australia’s advantage WELLINGTON: Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja hammered home the advantage their bowlers had established when they took Australia to 147-3, a deficit of just 36 runs, at the close of the opening day’s play in the first test against New Zealand on Friday.

Australia captain Smith, who won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat on a green Basin Reserve pitch, shook off some recent poor form to reach 71 before he was caught and bowled by Mark Craig.

Khawaja scored his fourth Test half century with 57 not out, while Adam Voges (seven not out) was bowled by Doug Bracewell in the final over of the day only to survive because of a contentious no ball.

Television replays showed the delivery was clearly legal.

The tourists had earlier dismissed New Zealand for 183, Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle reducing them to 51-5 in the 12th over and Nathan Lyon polishing off the tail after lunch. Hazlewood finished with 4-42, Siddle took 3-37, while off-spinner Lyon grabbed 3-32 and the tea break was taken 10 minutes early when Trent Boult was caught at long on for 24.

“I thought we bowled really well as a unit,” Hazlewood told reporters. “We’re in a pretty good position.

If we can get another big partnership ... then that will be pretty good.”

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 1st innings: M. Guptill c Smith b Hazlewood 18 T. Latham c Nevill b Hazlewood 6 K. Williamson c Nevill b Siddle 16 H. Nicholls c Nevill b Siddle 8 B. McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood 0 C. Anderson c Khawaja b Lyon 38 B. Watling c Nevill b Hazlewood 17 D. Bracewell c Voges b Siddle 5 M. Craig not out 41 T. Southee c Hazlewood b Lyon 0 T. Boult c Khawaja b Lyon 24 Extras (b-4, lb-1, nb-5) 10 Total (all out, 48 overs) 183 Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-38, 3-44, 4-47, 5-51, 6-88, 7-97, 8-137, 9-137, 10-183 Bowling: J. Hazlewood 14-2-42-4; J. Bird 10-1-52-0 (nb-3); P. Siddle 12-5-37-3 (nb-2); M. Marsh 6-1-15-0; N. Lyon 6-0-32-3

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PHOTO GALLERY AFTER A GOOD DAY: Adam Voges, left, and teammate Usman Khawaja of Australia walk from the field at the end of the first day’s play of the first cricket Test match against New Zealand in Wellington. – AFP

Craig top-scored with 41 not out but the pitch appeared to have lost much of its bite by the end of New Zealand’s innings, which lasted 48 overs. Tim Southee, however, managed to get rid of both Joe Burns (0) and David Warner (5) to leave the visitors 5-2 in the third

over and with the sell-out crowd in full voice. Southee and Boult kept up the pressure on Smith and Khawaja but when they scored 37 runs, from nine fours and a single, in 16 deliveries, the shackles were broken and crowd silenced.

Smith was eventually dismissed

CRICKET

Putting the ball in right place was enough, says Hazlewood WELLINGTON: Australia’s ploy to put the ball in the right spot and let a green pitch do the work for them has helped them take a firm grip of the first test against New Zealand, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said after the first day’s play.

Australia were 147 for three in reply to New Zealand’s first innings of 183, with Hazlewood and Peter Siddle destroying the home side’s top order to set up their batsmen to capitalise on a Basin Reserve wicket that got better to bat on.

Hazlewood finished with 4-42, while Siddle took 3-37 after they had exploited what seam assistance there was to reduce New Zealand to 51-5 inside 12 overs, before Nathan Lyon mopped up the tail.

“It was just about putting the ball in the right areas and letting the wicket do the work,” Hazlewood told reporters. “There wasn’t a great deal of swing but there was a bit of seam movement throughout the whole day.

“I think while the ball is new it will still do a little bit, but once

that shine and hardness out of the ball has gone it’s quite a good wicket for batting.”

New Zealand had also started well when they bowled after tea, with Tim Southee reducing Australia to five for two before a 126run partnership between captain Steve Smith (71) and Usman Khawaja (57 not out) guided them into a strong position.

The visitors could have been in dire straits but Smith was dropped on 18 by Mark Craig at second slip and BJ Watling could not stump Khawaja, then on 34, from the off-spinner. “Looking back I probably owe the boys 50

runs, putting Smith down at second there,” Craig said. “No one likes dropping catches and that is pretty disappointing there personally. That’s the rub of the green,” he added of the potential stumping. “Another day that could have gone to BJ.” Craig, who top-scored for New Zealand with 41 not out, said while they would have liked to have scored more runs, they had learned a lot from the Australian bowlers and would need to emulate them when they return on Saturday. “Once they bowled that fuller length it was doing enough to go either way and take both edges,” he said. - Reuters

about 20 minutes before stumps when he hit the ball back to Craig to end the 126-run partnership.

“We have lost wickets in clumps on these types of wickets and I think they batted brilliantly,” Hazlewood added. “That partnership was very important at that stage of the game.”

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

The crowd began the day celebrating McCullum’s milestone as he became just the third New Zealander to earn 100 test caps and the first man in world cricket to achieve them in succession from debut. Australia, however, seized control of the match shortly after Smith won the toss and simply

Australia 1st innings: J. Burns c Watling b Southee 0 D. Warner c Watling b Southee 5 U. Khawaja not out 57 S. Smith c & b Craig 71 A. Voges not out 7 Extras (b-4, nb-2, w-1) 7 Total (for 3 wickets, 40 overs) 147 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-131 To bat: M. Marsh, P. Nevill, P. Siddle, J. Hazlewood, N. Lyon, J. Bird Bowling: T. Southee 8-1-22-2; T. Boult 10-2-36-0; D. Bracewell 11-1-45-0 (nb-2); C. Anderson 2-0-9-0 (w-1); M. Craig 9-1-31-1 Umpires: Richard Illingworth and Richard Kettleborough TV umpire: Ranmore Martinesz Match referee: Chris Broad

bowled straight and waited for the ball to do just enough to catch the outside edge.

New Zealand’s first seven wickets all fell to catches behind the stumps, but the last three, all Lyon’s victims, were caught in front from mis-timed attacking shots.

“We would have liked a few more runs but moving forward the game is very nicely advanced,” Craig said. “I think if we had managed to get one or two more wickets at the end it would have been a pretty even day.” - Reuters

A 12

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

SPORTS Nine international crews gear up for ‘the best ever’ EFG SATT 2016 With just a few days to set up their Farr 30 boats in readiness for the first in port race at Palm Jumeirah in Dubai on Monday, followed by the first short leg to Abu Dhabi the next day, the talk is already of which parts of the course will shake the fleet up and which one of the nine contenders might take the

PICTURE FROM THE PAST: Action from EFG Sailing Arabia The Tour 2015. – Supplied photo

coveted 2016 crown

MUSCAT: New teams, new route and a surprise or two are set to make 2016 EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (15-29 February) the best yet, according to crews who have arrived in Dubai in preparation for the start of the 730nm sailing marathon around the Gulf on Monday.

With just a few days to set up their Farr 30 boats in readiness for the first in port race at Palm

Jumeirah in Dubai on Monday, followed by the first short leg to Abu Dhabi the next day, the talk is already of which parts of the course will shake the fleet up and which one of the nine contenders might take the coveted 2016 crown.

On past form, EFG Bank Monaco are the favourites having won in 2014 and last year but according to French skipper Sidney Gavignet, his newly-assembled crew will have to work hard to maintain their ‘win’ record.

“I think this might be the best

EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour yet because the standard is higher and there are some very good teams this year who are bound to give us a run for our money,” said Gavignet.

“I love this event because I like putting teams together and I like sailing in the sun but you have to remember I am quite out of practice on the race course these days which gives the other teams a real chance.”

In particular, Al Mouj, one of the new Omani teams, skippered

by Gilles Favennec, could spring a

surprise in the three in port races in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha since they are talented and experienced campaigners, Gavignet said, while the offshore legs will require concentration, patience and perhaps a bit of luck.

“You get a bad start on leg one and it is such a short leg that it will then be difficult to make up time. It is important to get a good start and to score early wins so you show the other teams who you are. But of course, our aim is to win overall!”

For Dee Caffari and the girls

FOOTBALL

on Oman Airports-Al Thuraya, a forecast for light winds will offer a chance to settle in to roles and routines during the first 61nm leg.

“The forecast at the moment has some breeze forecast for Friday but at the weekend when racing starts for real, it looks light again.

“It is still too early to tell about the conditions for the first leg to Abu Dhabi but at 61 miles that is just the warm up as Leg 2 and 3 are much longer. I welcome the warm up as it eases the girls into the racing gently.

We have checked all the safety gear and set the rigs on our boats, collected the sails and cleaned the boat ready for action.

We checked all our sails and mast and instruments and have started to sail the boat as a race team.

“The weather so far has been glorious sunshine with a sea temperature of 21 degrees and the wind has been light between 6 and 9 knots, with a large swell left over from the windy conditions we have seen this week.”

Caffari is resuming her role as the Oman Airports-Al Thuraya Women’s Team skipper after a four year break and is excited about the potential she sees among her crew.

“Every time I come back to see them, they are really nervous at first and then they relax and sail as normal and so our training has been about them relaxing and us communicating as a team.

“They are excited and are looking forward to feeling more empowered and taking more responsibility. That is what I am hoping to achieve with them. I am delighted to be back and am enjoying seeing familiar faces again and I am looking forward to the racing as you can see from walking the dock, just how competitive this fleet has become.

“Let the games begin!” she said.

The action starts on Monday with EFG Bank Monaco (MON), Oman Airports-Al Thuraya Women’s Team (OMA), TU Delft Challenge (NED), Team Averda (UK), Team Bienne Voile (SUI), Renaissance Services (OMA), Team Mangold (GER), Al Mouj (OMA) and Team Zain (KWT) all chasing early points in the opening in port races.

ISC TENNIS

FIFA election heats up as rivals slam Infantino Upset victories for MIAMI: FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino’s plan for an expanded 40-team World Cup came under fire from two of his rivals as the campaign to secure the top job at the corruption-hit organisation heated up on Thursday.

Four of the five candidates to replace Sepp Blatter in the February 26 election in Zurich gave presentations to members of the CONCACAF confederation, which governs the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean, at an airport hotel in Miami.

Normally such meetings take place behind closed doors but CONCACAF officials allowed the media into the room for a rare taste of how the FIFA candidates make their pitch to the electorate -- the heads of national football federations.

The protocol in such occasions is usually for candidates to avoid public criticism of each other.

UEFA general secretary Infantino’s plan to create eight new spots in the World Cup was attacked by both Asian Football Confedera-

tion president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and former FIFA deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne, however.

Salman gave a powerpoint presentation of his manifesto and when he discussed FIFA’s biggest tournament, the words on the screen read “Promises of more World Cup spots during an election period are unprofessional”.

The Bahraini said any changes should be well explained and gain broad support. Champagne was sharper in his condemnation of Infantino’s proposal.

“My programme is not smoke and mirrors,” the Frenchman said.

“They are facts and not the kind of projects that are being thrown around like organising a World Cup with 40 teams when we know that is not the central issue for 150 federations around the world.

“We know that organising a World Cup with 32 teams is already so costly and so difficult. We know also that the international calendar is so complicated,” he added.

Infantino defended his plan.

“Eight more countries would be in World Cup fever,” he said. “It would boost the competition and commercially it means more teams, more matches, more revenue”.

The Swiss’s proposal to massively increase the money FIFA gives to individual federations for development and other projects was also criticised by Salman.

Infantino says he will ensure that half of FIFA’s entire revenue will be distributed to federations with five million dollars over four years for each member association as well as $40 million over the same period for the regional confederations. “Whenever there is an election we hear a lot of promises ... we have to be realistic in what we can achieve and what we can do,” said Salman, who said cash should be targeted at those who needed it most.

“Does Japan, China or Saudi Arabia need financial support? I don’t think so. When we look at countries around the world, you can look at countries like Ger-

many, the U.K. or even the United States, I think they don’t need it as much as the smaller countries do.”

Infantino also hit back at those who suggested his plan to distribute more resources was simply an election tactic. “I was criticised when I made these proposals, they said ‘Ah, you are trying to buy votes’,” he said.

While the candidates mostly stuck to explaining their manifesto plans, they did engage in some more traditional politicking, tailoring their appeal to the CONCACAF audience. Jordanian FA president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein said scandal-plagued CONCACAF, which has seen its last three presidents indicted as part of the U.S. Department of Justice investigation, should not feel it was to blame for FIFA’s crisis.

“Your confederation is not the cause of FIFA’s problems it is a victim of FIFA’s problems. The failure of leadership at the top of FIFA set the tone for the entire organisation,” he said. — Reuters

Siddhant, Surya MUSCAT: J. Siddhant and M. Surya caused two major upsets in the boys under-12 singles at the ISC/Muscat Pharmacy Open Junior Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat. The feat earned Siddhant and Surya a berth in the semifinals of the boys under-12 singles. While J. Siddhant upset third seed Kapil Mansinghani in the quarterfinals M. Surya sent fourth seed Amritya Singh crashing out of the event.

Siddhant opened his quarter final encounter against Kapil on a positive note and broke Kapil twice for a 3-0 lead. Kapil seemed to have lost his way as Siddhant broke him again at love, held for a crucial 7-5 lead and broke Kapil again at love to send the third seed crashing.

In another quarterfinal match, fourth seed Amritya Singh suffered the same fate when M.

Surya handed him a 8-4 defeat.

Top seed Vivek Kolluru took his berth in the semifinal after registering a convincing 8-1 win over Abhinat Raghu in the quarterfinal.

No. 1 seed in the boys under-18 singles, Abdullah Al Barwani sailed into the last eight stage with a comfortable 8-0 win over Ethan Maclure, second seed Younis Al Rawahi also eased into the last eight after leading 7-0 over Sharon Raphel who retired with a twisted ankle, third seed Subash Pillai defeated Muneer Al Rawahi 8-3.

Fourth seed Amaan Kazi was shown the exit by Zakariya Al Suleimani who scored a brilliant 8-1 victory.

Ayaan Malhotra edged to a 8-7 (7-5) win over Hassan Haider.Yash Tanna defeated Shlok Ail 8-4 to line-up a quarterfinal clash against second seed Younis Al Rawahi.

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM S ATU RDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016 2 016

MARKE

CISCO SHARES JUMP AFTER TER ST SALES GROWTH FORECAST Cisco said third-quarter sales may grow as much as four per cent from the preceding period, sending sharess up 9.6 per cent to $24.68 at the close st on Thursday in New York, the biggest 3 single-day gain since May 2013. >B3

AV I AT I O N

Thai Air to keep ‘uneconomical’ Airbus A340s grounded BANGKOK: Thai Airways International will continue to ground 10 Airbus A340s it hasn’t been able to sell because flying the four-engine planes isn’t worth it, even after fuel prices plunged more than 40 per cent in the past year.

“The fuel consumption is so uneconomical,” President Charamporn Jotikasthira said in an interview in Bangkok on Thursday. “All new planes now have two engines that can fly as long as the four engines, with much better fuel efficiency.”

Besides trying to offload the planes, which were used previously for long-haul destinations such as Frankfurt, the money-losing airline has cut routes and sold assets to bolster its balance sheet and operations. Thai Air also aims to increase the portion of revenue

Charamporn Jotikasthira. — Bloomberg News

US ECONOMY

from bookings on its own website to 30 per cent in the next few years, from 16 per cent now, Charamporn said. “We still have a lot of unfilled seats, and need urgent action to spur demand for advance bookings,” Charamporn said at his office. “Promotions for bookings on our website are key to the company’s future, because our current system is so inferior to other competitors.”

Online bookings The airline plans to introduce a new system in the second half of the year to make it easier and faster to book online, Charamporn said. It’s also in the process of selling its holdings in three domestic hotels, including publicly traded Royal Orchid Hotel Thailand.

Shares of state-controlled Thai

Air have fallen 11 per cent this year through Thursday, compared with a 15 percent drop for the Bloomberg Asia Pacific Airlines Index.

The stock, which declined 37 per cent last year, was down 1.2 per cent to 8.20 baht as of 12:23pm in Bangkok, poised for its lowest close since December 24.

“A swift sale of aircraft will offer much-needed funds for Thai Air to repay loans or make investments,” Siam Tiyanont, an analyst at Phillip Securities (Thailand) in Bangkok, said by phone on Friday.

“Its goal for increased online sales is probably too ambitious, because a previous attempt delivered very slow results.”

Thai Air relies heavily on agents and tour companies for ticket bookings, making it harder for the airline to expand sales on its own

website compared with budget carriers, Siam said.

Annual losses The airline has hedged 40 per cent of its 2016 fuel needs at a price that is “not bad,” with the remaining 60 per cent based on spot prices, Charamporn said.

Thai Air has reported losses since 2013 in the face of increased competition from budget and Middle East carriers. An economic slowdown in China and Europe, the airline’s major markets, may renew concern about demand for full-service flights from business travelers, Charamporn said.

The carrier posted a loss of 18 billion baht in the first nine months of 2015, compared to a deficit of 9.2 billion baht in the same period a year earlier. — Bloomberg News

‘Gulf needs new financing options for development’ S&P also estimated

Manufacturing sector has struggled for months, and data indicate softness may be spreading to services, which make up about 90 per cent of the economy. - Bloomberg file picture

that Gulf sovereigns’ overall capital spending over the next four years will

US Fed rate hike forecasts pushed back

be $480 billion. This is one reason why Gulf countries are starting to look at

WASHINGTON: Economists are pushing back their calls for the next Federal Reserve interest-rate hike in droves. Trouble overseas and uncertain economic conditions at home have helped move the median forecast to June from March.

Nearly 68 per cent of economists say the Fed will next raise rates in June, according to a Bloomberg analysis of 53 firms that contribute forecasts. That compares with 30 per cent in January, when a majority estimated the next increase would come at the March meeting.

Economists at Deutsche Bank Securities had the biggest revision in the Bloomberg survey, moving their call for the nearest hike to December after previously seeing an increase next month.

“Forget about March, forget about June,” said Brett Ryan, a US economist at Deutsche Bank in New York. Delivering semi-annual testimony to Congress on Thursday, Chair Janet Yellen “made it clear that it’s going to take some time for the Fed to be comfortable that this most recent bout of volatility isn’t going to materially impact the economy,” he said.

Standard Chartered Bankwhich previously called for one rate hike in March followed by a cut in December-has removed its rate rise forecast entirely.

While “a lot has happened” since the Fed in December raised its benchmark federal funds rate for the first time in nearly a decade, Yellen told the Senate Banking Committee that she hasn’t yet seen enough of a downturn to prompt the central bank to cut interest rates. Fed officials have said that economic data will guide future decisions.

Growth in the US decelerated to a 0.7 per cent annualised rate last quarter, as companies struggle with a slower global economy, the negative effect on exports from a stronger dollar and plunging oil prices that are pushing some firms to cut investment.

The manufacturing sector has struggled for months, and data indicate the softness may be spreading to services industries, which make up about 90 per cent of the economy.

“Weakness in the manufacturing sector often spills over into the services sector,” Deutsche Bank’s Ryan said. — Bloomberg News

alternatives, such as public-private partnerships INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING: Gulf sovereigns are cutting in areas where they can afford to, or for what S&P considered nonessential infrastructure spending. - Bloomberg file picture

Times News Service MUSCAT: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said on Thursday that Gulf sovereigns, as well as the region’s banks will have fewer resources at hand to support the region’s infrastructure rollout plan over the next few years, especially if oil prices decline further or remain low for longer.

“This is one reason why Gulf countries are starting to look at alternatives, such as public-private partnerships,” said S&P credit analyst Karim Nassif in the report entitled, “To Pay For its Big

Infrastructure Bill, the Gulf May Have to Look at Innovative Forms of Finance,” which was published today.

Capital spending S&P also estimated that Gulf sovereigns’ overall capital spending over the next four years will be $480 billion, which includes GCC countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. “We estimate that Gulf governments spending on projects alone—including infrastructure contracts awarded over the

2016 to 2019 period—could cost about $330 billion. Taking this and other research into account, we estimate that about $50 billion out of the $330 billion, we think, will be spent on projects that will be allocated specifically for infrastructure (including transportrelated projects),” S&P said.

“This compares with our estimates of about $604 billion in projects (including $100 billion of infrastructure projects) that will need funding through 2019. The difference between our estimates of capital spending on projects

and project contracts awarded is as large as $270 billion through 2019.”

Diversification strategies “In our view, Gulf governments are protecting capital spending as a share of overall expenditure to support growth and further their diversification strategies.

At the same time, Gulf sovereigns are cutting in areas where they can afford to, or for what S&P considered nonessential infrastructure spending. Saudi Arabia, for example, reduced its

2016 transport and infrastructure budget by 63 per cent from the previous year. This illustrates the challenge Gulf countries will face to pay for infrastructure through traditional sources, including government funding, S&P noted.

Based solely on the developments described herein, no rating actions are currently warranted.

Only a rating committee may determine a rating action and, as these developments were not viewed as material to the ratings, neither they nor this report were reviewed by a rating committee.

EUROPEAN UNION

Rethink on plan to curb multinationals’ tax avoidance BRUSSELS: New rules to tackle multinationals’ tax avoidance should not go beyond the scope of international guidelines, European Union finance ministers said on Friday, raising concerns about some of the proposals made by the European Commission in January.

To reduce corporations’ tax avoidance, which is estimated by the European Parliament to cost EU states 70 billion euros a year in lost revenues, the EU Commission proposed a package of measures to curb some of the most common schemes used by multinationals and to make their tax data more transparent .

Although criticised by some lawmakers and activists for not being ambitious enough, the proposals in some areas went beyond guidelines, known as BEPS, agreed at international level by the G20 group of the world’s largest economies and by members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“I am strongly in favour to implement what has been agreed in

VITAL FACTS

EU finmins call for reducing scope of tax avoidance proposals

EU Commission proposals go beyond international guidelines

Ministers warn of delays and risks for EU competitiveness

UK’s Osborne for public disclosure of tax data

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble. — Reuters

BEPS in the first regulation and nothing else, otherwise it will take a lot of time to take a decision,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said during a public session of a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels. He did not rule out further measures, but only in a second stage.

His remarks were echoed by several ministers, who went even further and warned about the

risks for EU-based companies and the EU economy linked to the application of tax avoidance rules that are stricter than those applied by competing countries outside the EU. Ministers voiced their doubts about proposals to prevent abuses of rules aimed at avoiding double taxation, which are exploited by some companies in a way that results in no taxation at all. The so-

called switch over rule, proposed by the Commission, is however not included in BEPS guidelines.

The Commission proposals also differ from international guidelines on so-called exit taxation, aimed at preventing companies from re-locating assets purely to avoid taxation.

“More work needs to be done,” the chair of the meeting, Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijs-

selbloem, conceded at the end of the talks, partially reverting from his initial commitment to reach an agreement on the Commission’s proposals within the Dutch presidency of the EU which ends in July.

Data disclosure The EU executive is also considering new rules to oblige large companies to disclose their tax and financial data to the general public, as it is already the case in the banking and mining sector. This proposal, that may come in April, is also beyond the scope of BEPS. In contrast to the general criticism of going beyond BEPS, British finance minister George Osborne called for more disclosure of multinationals’ tax and financial data, so that not only administrations but also the general public can access this information.

“I think we should be moving to more public country-by- country reporting. This is something which the UK will seek to promote internationally,” he told the other ministers. — Reuters

B2

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

MARKET ‘Britain’s economy will be worse off if it leaves the EU’ Banks agree ‘Brexit’ will be bad for growth, sterling

All but one of 28 economists in the poll taken this week said the Britain would take a hit if the vote — which could take place

by June — meant exiting European Union. Sole dissenter

UNFETTERED ACCESS: As well as the risk of Britain losing its unfettered access to its biggest trading partner, its companies might find it harder to tap into the pool of potential employees in the rest of the EU to fill their vacancies. - Bloomberg file picture

said the economy would be unmoved, not better off

LONDON: Britain’s economy would be worse off if voters decide the country should leave the European Union, according to an overwhelming majority of economists polled by Reuters who also gave it a 40 per cent chance of happening.

All but one of 28 economists in the poll taken this week said the Britain would take a hit if the vote — which could take place by June — meant exiting the EU. The sole dissenter said the economy would be unmoved, not better off.

Arguments about the economy are central to the debate. Supporters of Britain leaving the EU say companies would be less bound by red tape, the country would be able to strike its own free trade deals and its existing EU partners would not want to hurt bilateral trade. But analysts at some of the world’s biggest banks said an exit could shrink Britain’s economy

by as much as two per cent over the next couple of years and could take as much as 10 percentage points off GDP over the next decade. Most of the mainly UK-based market and academic economists polled expected trade to worsen with Britain struggling to negotiate a favourable trade deal with its former EU partners after renouncing membership of the world’s largest trading bloc.

Against this backdrop, a slim majority of economists see Britain’s hefty current account deficit widening, underscoring a risk highlighted by the Bank of England. Britain has been among the fastest-growing rich economies in recent years. But economists worry that an exit from the EU could hurt its prospects if exporters face higher barriers, a weaker pound makes imports more expensive and uncertainty over the shape of a post-EU Britain curbs investment. “A Brexit outcome will make me more pessimistic for our growth prospects in the second half of 2016 and the medium term,” Costas Milas, professor of finance at the University of Liverpool, said. He said it would trigger

“huge” investor uncertainty and make it more expensive for the government to sell British debt.

“This higher yield will add to the cost of borrowing that companies face and will delay their investment decisions.”

As well as the risk of Britain losing its unfettered access to its biggest trading partner, its companies might find it harder to tap into the pool of potential employees in the rest of the EU to fill their vacancies. Britain could also end up outside an area that accounts for just under a third of the value of all cross-border investment.

Even though some analysts said an exit could prompt a fall in sterling and make British exports more attractive abroad, 23 out of 28 economists expected it to hurt British trade, while 15 said Britain’s current account deficit could widen. At 3.7 per cent of GDP, the deficit is already large by international standards. BoE Governor Mark Carney highlighted the risk in January when he said that “relying on the kindness of strangers” in the current “febrile” global economic environment was not optimal. — Reuters

LONDON: Economists at some of the world’s biggest banks are unanimous that Britain’s economy and sterling will suffer if the country votes to leave the European Union in a referendum widely expected to be held in June. But how bad would the damage be?

Below is a snapshot of estimates from eight nonUK banks on the potential impact of “Brexit” on UK growth and the value of the pound, and the three major credit ratings agencies on the impact on the Britain’s rating.

Societe Generale Gross domestic product (GDP) growth could be 0.51.0 percentage points per year lower on average for a decade.

Morgan Stanley A “significant” consumption and investment shock leading to a 1.3 percentage points hit to growth in 2016-17. A 5 per cent decline in sterling/dollar, falling to $1.39 initially “with weakness persisting”. UK stocks could underperform global peers by up to 20 per cent.

Credit Suisse “In its most extreme that could mean a level drop in GDP of one per cent to two per cent in the short term due to the toxic blend of depressed business confidence, tightening financial

conditions, higher inflation and falling real income.”

The pound would fall to 83 pence per euro and $1.20 per dollar if euro/dollar pushes lower towards parity.

Citi GDP growth cut by 1-1.5 percentage points for 2017, 2018, and 2019, giving a total GDP loss of around four per cent relative to potential.

Sterling could fall 15-20 per cent from current levels.

Unicredit Brexit would cost the UK economy “around six per cent of GDP” over the next decade or so, risk a balance of payments crisis.

Goldman Sachs Trade-weighted sterling would fall 15-20 per cent, potentially dragging sterling/ dollar down to around $1.15$1.20 and lifting euro/sterling to around 90-95 pence.

Nomura “An unwillingness of external investors to finance the current account on current terms could cause a collapse in the currency of 10-15 per cent over several months.”

JP Morgan If the BoE is forced to cut rates, 2-year and 5-year gilt yields could fall 25 basis points and 35 bps, respectively. Sterling could fall to $1.33 and the euro rise to 0.78. — Reuters

INDIAN BOURSE

Sensex posts biggest weekly fall in more than six years MUMBAI: A day after bloodbath, the benchmark BSE Sensex on Friday managed to end 34 points higher at 22,986.12, but logged its biggest weekly fall in more than six years as fears of a global slowdown and disappointing quarterly numbers of blue-chips, especially banks, hammered stocks during the week.

Investors are fleeing risky assets and running to safe havens like gold and bonds. Both the indexes recorded their biggest weekly fall since July 2009 with Sensex falling 1,631 points or 6.62 per cent and Nifty down 508.15 points or 6.78 per cent. Moreover, since the start of the year, the Sensex has lost around 3,131.42 points or 12 per cent and logged weekly fall in five out of six weeks since then.

The Sensex has come off more than 23 per cent from its all-time peak of over 30,000, scaled nearly a year ago on March 4, 2015. A fall of 20 per cent from an all-time peak is considered as a ‘bear market’ — a term used for a sustained slide.

Meanwhile, attributing the recent crash in stock market to global factors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said there was no need for “exaggerated panic” and investors should keep the economy’s inherent strength in mind while investing.

The Sensex resumed higher at 23,060.39 and hovered in a range of 23,161.15 TO 22,600.39 before ending at 22,986.12, showing a gain of 34.29 points or 0.15 per cent. The NSE Nifty moved up marginally by 4.60 points or 0.07 per cent to close at 6,980.95 still closing at 21-month low.

Shares of Tata Motors ended 8.34 per cent higher at Rs298.650, while Bharti Airtel rose 5.40 per cent to Rs 325.25.

Car sales in India fell for the first time after 14 months of continued growth in January as discounts dried up during the month with automakers correcting inventory at dealer levels post year-end freebies dole out. — PTI

N O N - S TA I N L E S S S T E E L S

EU widens trade protection with tariffs on Russia, China BRUSSELS: Russian and Chinese makers of non-stainless steels face European Union tariffs as high as 26.2 per cent after the EU found that imports from the two countries unfairly undercut producers in Europe such as ArcelorMittal and ThyssenKrupp.

The duties punish Russian and Chinese exporters of certain coldrolled flat products of iron or nonalloy steel for allegedly selling the goods in the EU’s 4.5 billion-euro ($5.1 billion) market below cost, a practice known as dumping. The targeted producers of this kind of steel — used in everything from washing machines and air-conditioning equipment to cars and power lines — include Russia’s

Novolipetsk Steel, Severstal and Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works; and China’s Baoshan Iron & Steel, Hebei Iron & Steel and Angang Steel.

‘Material injury’ EU-based manufacturers suffered “material injury” as a result of dumped imports from Russia and China, the European Commission, the 28-nation bloc’s trade authority in Brussels, said on Friday in the Official Journal. The antidumping duties will take effect on Saturday, are for six months and may be prolonged for five years.

The EU is waging a campaign to ease import competition for a European steel industry struggling

with sluggish domestic demand and Chinese overcapacity. While China is the main target with European anti-dumping protection already in force on Chinese goods ranging from stainless steel and reinforcing steel to wire rod and steel wires, the bloc has also hit Russia and other nations with duties on electrical steel.

Expanded share Russian and Chinese exporters expanded their combined share of the EU market for certain coldrolled flat products of iron or non-alloy steel, excluding stainless steel, to 20.1 per cent in the 12 months through March 2015 from 14.3 per cent in 2011, the commis-

sion said on Friday. Russia’s share jumped to 9.8 per cent from 5.9 per cent over the period, according to the commission.

The anti-dumping duties are the preliminary outcome of an inquiry that the commission opened in May 2015. The probe stemmed from a dumping complaint by European steel industry group Eurofer on behalf of producers that account for more than a quarter of the EU’s output of the non-stainless steels targeted.

The provisional duties against Russia range from 19.8 per cent to 26.2 per cent and those against China range from 13.8 per cent to 16 per cent, depending on the company. — Bloomberg News

IMPORT COMPETITION: The EU is waging a campaign to ease import competition for a European steel industry struggling with sluggish domestic demand and Chinese overcapacity. — Bloomberg News

FOURTH QUARTER

Italy’s economy barely expands ROME: Italy’s economy expanded in the fourth quarter below economists’ expectations and at the slowest pace in a year, prompting concerns that the recovery from the country’s longest recession since World War II might falter in coming months.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.1 per cent in the three months through December, Rome-based statistics agency

Istat said in a preliminary report on Friday. That was below the 0.3 percent estimate of 22 analysts in a Bloomberg survey. GDP expanded one per cent from the same quarter of 2014 while its non-seasonally adjusted growth last year was 0.7 per cent, the report said.

Industrial output in the euro region’s third-biggest economy fell for a second month in December

as companies grew pessimistic about the outlook for manufacturing activity despite limited improvements in both labour market and consumer demand. Weaker than expected GDP growth and price dynamic might jeopardise Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s goal of reducing the GDP ratio of Italy’s public debt which climbed in November to 2.21 trillion euro ($2.49 trillion). — Bloomberg News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

B3

MARKET PERFORMANCE

Rolls-Royce shares soar as investors cheer revamp move LONDON: Rolls-Royce Holdings shares surged the most in 14 years as investors shrugged off cutting the dividend in half and instead cheered restructuring efforts that ended a run of profit warnings.

The stock jumped as much as 16 per cent, the biggest intra-day gain since September 2002, as cost cutting that started last year provided welcome consistency for the embattled engine maker. After five profit warnings in two years, RollsRoyce stuck to its November forecast for a 650 million-pound ($943 million) hit to 2016 earnings from sluggish sales of marine turbines and slumping demand for older wide-body jets.

The stable forecast “should help stop the rot in sentiment,” Sandy Morris, an analyst with Jefferies International said in a note.

Rolls-Royce plunged into crisis as the tumbling oil price undermines sales of engines it makes for specialist offshore vessels just as demand for corporate and regional jets slumps and some of the bigger planes it powers reach retirement age. Those issues have given new C O M PA N Y R E S U LT S

Renault profit soars by 44% PARIS: Renault’s profit jumped 44 per cent last year as the French carmaker gained market share in Europe on the back of new models including the Kadjar sport utility vehicle.

Operating profit climbed to 2.32 billion euros ($2.62 billion) from 1.61 billion euros a year earlier, Europe’s third-biggest automaker said in a statement on Friday. That beat the 2.02 billion-euro average of eight analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Renault forecast higher sales and an improved operating margin this year, with European car demand projected to increase by two per cent.

Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn is pushing the French manufacturer to lift margins to balance out its alliance with more profitable partner Nissan Motor.

To this end, Renault is rolling out more SUVs like the Kadjar and plans to revive the Alpine sports car. The profitability push has been hampered by expansion into Russia and other emerging markets such as Brazil, where slumping economies have sapped car demand.

Renault reached its operating margin target of five per cent “sooner than planned,” Ghosn said in a statement.

“We must now achieve our revenue target while maintaining a margin in excess” of that level.

Sales rose 10 per cent to 45.3 billion euros last year. Renault’s 2015 profit margin rose to 5.1 per cent from 3.9 per cent in 2014.

Nissan reported a 6.6 per cent return on sales in the nine months through December. Renault raised its dividend proposal to 2.40 euros per share from 1.90 euros the previous year. — Bloomberg News

Financial Officer David Smith said. The final payout for 2015 will be reduced to 7.1 pence per share from 14.1 pence and the interim payment for this year will also be cut by 50 per cent, the Londonbased manufacturer said on Friday. The reduced payout places the engineer alongside UK companies including grocers Tesco and J Sainsbury and platinum-miner Anglo American in lowering dividends.

INTERIM PAYMENTS: The final payout for 2015 will be reduced to 7.1 pence per share from 14.1 pence and the interim payment for this year will also be cut by 50 per cent, the London-based manufacturer said on Friday. — Bloomberg News

Chief Executive Officer Warren East a free hand to make sweeping changes.

‘Firmer ground’ “I do feel that we’re on firmer ground than I did last year,” said East, who assumed the top post at Rolls-Royce in July. “Fixing the is-

sues is a long-term program. You get through most of it quite quickly, and yes, we’re feeling more confidence in that, but no, the work is not complete by any means.”

The first cut to Rolls-Royce’s annual dividend since 1992 helps Rolls-Royce preserve cash and protect its credit rating. Restruc-

Cisco said thirdquarter sales may grow as much as four per cent from the preceding period, sending shares up 9.6 per cent to $24.68 at the close on Thursday in New York, the biggest single-day gain since May 2013.

Cisco Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins. — Bloomberg file picture

SAN FRANCISCO: Cisco Systems, whose equipment is the backbone of the Internet, jumped the most in almost three years after predicting sales that may beat some analysts’ estimates, countering concern that corporate spending is falling off amid signs the global economy is weakening.

The company said third-quarter sales may grow as much as four per cent from the preceding period, sending shares up 9.6 per cent to $24.68 at the close on Thursday in New York, the biggest singleday gain since May 2013. Cisco on Wednesday also reported rev-

Google urged to come clean on tax

Antiquated tax rules But Stewart Jackson, a Conservative member of the committee, questioned claims that the company was trying to be open about its affairs and supported a rewriting of antiquated tax rules which allow it to shift its profits into Bermuda.

“You sort of pose as an enlightened helper to the public debate ... And that the wicked awful tax system across the world some-

partners, adding that the lowered dividend amounts to an effective “re-basing” and the payout probably won’t rebound immediately to its former level.

The dividend cut and other steps to bolster Rolls-Royce’s cash position means a rights issue isn’t in the works at the moment, Chief

Cisco shares jump by 9.6% after sales growth forecast

enue and profit in the fiscal second quarter that topped analysts’ estimates.

Cisco’s reach in computer networking makes its earnings an indicator of whether government and corporate budgets are tightening. It’s the first large technology company to report earnings following the global selloff in equity markets in January.

“One of the messages that people get out of this is that the global economy didn’t slow quite as much as the stock market indicated,” said Michael Genovese, an analyst at MKM Partners. “It’s en-

U K L AW M A K E R S

LONDON: UK lawmakers accused Google on Thursday of trying to fool Britons into believing it was a proponent of tax reform while remaining a prime beneficiary of loopholes in existing rules, and said if it was sincere the company would be more transparent over its tax affairs.

Google’s president for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Matt Brittin, told the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee that the company had paid all the tax that it should but wanted the international tax system reformed.

turing charges this year may reach 100 million pounds, Chief Executive Officer Warren East said, adding that “further reductions” will be necessary after already cutting about 50 of the top 200 managers.

He also said the company is focused on “execution and transformation” rather seeking out

Underlying profit Underlying profit for last year fell 12 per cent at constant exchange rates to 1.43 billion pounds, while sales fell one per cent to 13.4 billion pounds. Rolls-Royce’s pretax profit for 2015 was within a range of 1.325 billion pounds to 1.475 billion pounds forecast in November.

The company’s shares climbed as high as 614 pence and were up 14 per cent to 602 pence at 9:23am in London.

Prior to Friday’s release, Rolls’s share price had fallen 7.8 per cent this year and 39 per cent since East took over in July. — Bloomberg News

how just happened to Google, whereas actually you’ve made a choice to avoid tax and set up structures specifically so to do,” he said.

Backtax deal Brittin was appearing before the committee for the third time in four years, just weeks after Google had announced a controversial 130 million-pound ($187 million) backtax deal with the UK. News of the deal met with a public outcry, with critics saying the payment of 130 million pounds to cover the last 10 years of earnings was too little, even though finance minister George Osborne described the settlement as a major success for the government’s work on tackling tax avoidance. The opposition Labour party and some members of Osborne’s own Conservative party criticised the settlement, which brought Google’s total tax bill for 2005 to 2015 to around 200 million pounds whereas its UK revenues amounted to 24 billion pounds. — Reuters

Don’t litter a beautiful country like OMAN. Ensure proper disposal of garbage.

couraging for tech in general. Now we have this better data point from Cisco.”

No panic While the company isn’t predicting a surge in growth, its forecasts may be a sign that demand isn’t slowing as quickly as some investors thought. Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins said that Cisco had suffered weaker orders for networking switching equipment in January as some corporate customers decided to suspend their upgrade programs until they have more confidence that the slide in

global stocks isn’t a harbinger of a deeper economic decline.

“I don’t think there’s any sort of a panic,” Robbins said. “I believe that customers are trying to digest what’s going on and trying to understand it. It’s completely connected to the uncertainty.”

Cisco forecast that profit before certain costs in the current quarter will be 54 cents to 56 cents a share and revenue will rise one per cent to four per cent, indicating sales of $12 billion to $12.4 billion. That compares with average analyst projections for profit of 55 cents a share on $12 billion in sales, according to data compiled

by Bloomberg.

“There seems to be an emotional reaction that’s occurring right now,” Robbins said of the economic climate. “You see the markets get rattled, which causes our customers to get concerned, which causes them to tap the brakes, which causes CEOs of publictraded companies to be cautious, which then rattles the markets more — which creates this vicious cycle. We have to be careful that we don’t create some self-inflicted dynamic here.”

Changing technology Outside of choppy economic conditions, Robbins is trying to navigate his company through a change in networking technology that some analysts have argued will continue to hurt Cisco’s ability to return to its historically high growth rates. As more computing and Internet traffic is routed to remote data centers run by a few large providers such as Google

Inc. that write their own software and put together their own equipment, some analysts suggest demand for Cisco’s comprehensive solutions will wane.

The San Jose, California-based company has countered that not all computing needs can be met in the cloud. It has introduced new equipment that’s simpler and cheaper and opened up its software to other programs.

From 2000 to 2010, the networking equipment pioneer averaged 13 per cent annual sales growth. Since then, gains have averaged 4.3 per cent.

Quarterly results In the quarter ended on January 23, Cisco reported net income of $3.1 billion, or 62 cents a share, compared with $2.4 billion, or 46 cents, a year earlier. Sales were little changed at $11.9 billion. Excluding some costs, profit was 57 cents a share, compared with an average analyst prediction of 54 cents a share on revenue of $11.8 billion.

Switching sales, which account for 29 per cent of the company’s total revenue, decreased four per cent to $3.48 billion in the second quarter from a year earlier, the company said.

Gross margin, or the percentage of sales remaining after deducting the costs of production, was 63.8 per cent in the quarter, wider than the 61.7 per cent posted a year ago.

Brian White, an analyst at Drexel Hamilton, cited Cisco’s profitability as evidence that Cisco is performing well in a tough environment. — Bloomberg News

B4

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

FEATURE

MCDONALD’S REVAMPS BUILD-YOUR-OWN BURGER PROGRAMME TO DRAW DINERS

M

cDONALD's, seeking to snap a sales slump by letting diners customise meals, is renaming its build- your-own burger programme and replacing two unpopular flavours.

The programme's name was changed to Chef Crafted from TasteCrafted, Lisa McComb, a company spokeswoman, said in an email.

"The original name 'TasteCrafted' did not resonate with consumers," she said.

"We decided to celebrate our chefs who have created these recipes and highlight the culinary expertise of our in-house and supplier chefs."

The world's biggest restaurant chain is struggling to compete with newer restaurants offering healthier fare and custom meals. Chef Crafted is McDonald's third attempt to figure out a createyour-own sandwich program. The chain also is trying Create Your Taste, which allows customers to choose toppings via large touch-screen kiosks.

Chef Crafted is being tested in about 200 restaurants, with more to come later this year. A few restaurants are still testing the TasteCrafted programme, McComb said, without giving a specific figure. TasteCrafted sounded too

mechanical, said Joel Cohen, owner of Cohen Restaurant Marketing Group in Raleigh, North Carolina.

"There was no emotion to it, no feelings like it came from a human," he said.

McDonald's Chief Executive Officer Steve Easterbrook has tried advertising the chain's upgraded foods, like Quarter Pounders made with more than a quarter pound of meat and Artisan Grilled Chicken sandwiches seasoned with garlic, lemon and parsley.

Still, US same-store sales are falling. They declined two per cent in the company's most recent quarter as new

items and promotions didn't attract more customers. The new Chef Crafted sandwiches are topped with grilled onions, honey dijon sauce, white cheddar and lettuce. The other variety includes blue cheese sauce and crumbles, buffalo sauce, tomato and lettuce.

The Chef Crafted name may not work, either, Cohen said. It's believable in casual and fine-dining restaurants but not for fast food, he said. "It's just another attempt for McDonald's to upgrade itself," he said. "They've gotten away from what's made them famous." — LESLIE PATTON/ Bloomberg News

B

LIFESTYLE

SECTION

SATURDAY, FEBRUA RY 13, 2016

Family WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Care for an Elderly Person It is not always easy caring for the elderly. Their physical condition, health issues, and their emotional state can present challenges for you, the caregiver. There are no doubts that caring for an elderly person is admirable, but it certainly comes with stress and at times can be overwhelming.

F

ar too many people feel guilty that they cannot care for an elderly person on their own. Life presents far too many challenges and more often than not raising a family, paying into a mortgage and keeping food on the table can be challenging enough let alone adding to this caring for an elderly loved one. Although this can be challenging — it is not impossible. Preparing yourself and your family members for the transition is essential in order to make this work well.

Physical Considerations Get informed about the physical needs of your loved one. Talk to the doctor and to anyone else who may have the wisdom and knowledge to help you care for the elderly member of your family. Know what to expect, what medications are required. Using services provided by a certified in-home caregiver from a professional agency can assist you in times that you need that extra help.

Keeping all important information in one file is important and this includes all medical information including test results, names and phone numbers of doctors, appointment dates, hospital cards, and insurance information. If your loved one is taking a lot of medications, make a chart to help keep

track of what medication is to be taken and when. Always be sure the home is safe. If your loved one uses a walker be sure throw rugs are secure, and there are no obstacles for them to trip over. If your loved one can get confused at times, it’s also a good safety precaution to have a baby gate positioned high enough in the door frame at staircases so that they cannot fall down.

Emotional Considerations Spending time caring for the elderly does not have to be all about taking care of their personal needs.

Spend time asking them about their life. Everyone has stories to share about their life and some seniors have great experiences to share. Teach an elderly person about the Internet. The brain likes to stay active and no better way to do this than to play word games, crossword puzzles.

Always remember to be understanding because as we get older we tend to be very set in our ways and this means being stubborn at times. If the person you are caring for is being very stubborn and it is not a big issue, let it go. If the stubbornness is over something that is not negotiable it’s much easier to handle and you’ll have much less stress when you know to expect it.

When you have all the tools you need, it will make caring for the elderly much easier.— Article City

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

B6

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TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

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06:45 08:30 10:00

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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

SALALAH The Finest Hour (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 2:55, 9:00PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (2D) (15+) (Action| Horror) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 1:05, 5:10PM The Choice (2D) (15+) (Drama | Romance) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 11:35AM, 6:45PM The Pack (2D)(12+) (Horror|Thriller) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 12:00, 5:00, 11:55PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D) (18+) Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 11:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:00, 11:35PM Pavada (2D) (PG) (Mal) (Action/Comedy) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran , Anoop Menon 9:05PM Fitoor (2D) (12+) (Hindi|Romantic) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor , Katrina Kaif , Tabu 2:15, 8:55, 11:15PM Bangalore Naatkal (2D) (PG) (Tamil) (Comedy / Drama) Cast Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby, 6:10PM

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

25 17

Daily Daily

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

NABILA IRFAN HUSSAIN February 13, 2014

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

35-70% 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 lifestyle@timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

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

Programmes are subject to change

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

Pavaada (Mal) (Drama\Comedy) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran & Miya George 3:00, 6:30 & 10:00 PM Cinema Main Banglore naatkal (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Arya , Sri Divya & Rana Doggadathi 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 PM Cinema -2 Visaranai (Tamil) (Drama) Cast: Dinehs & Anandhi 3:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Airlift (Hindi) (Act\ Thriller) Cast: Akshay kumar & Nimrat Kaur 6:45 PM Cinema -4 2 Countries (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dileep & Mamta Mohandas 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -3 Jil Jung Juk (Tamil) (Com) Cast : Siddharth & Sanath Reddy 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -3

Minimum

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

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

STAR CINEMA

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

The Pack (Horror / Thriller)(12+) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 2.00, 6.00, 10.00, & 11.55 PM CP No: 321 Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (Action / Horror) (15+) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 2.00, 10.00 & 11.55 PM. CP No: 322 How to Be Single: (Comedy / Romance)(18+) Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann 4.00, 6.00 & 8.00 PM CP No: 323 The Choice: (Drama / Romance)(15+) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer, Alexandra Daddario 4.00 & 8.00 PM CP No: 324

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

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

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

BURAIMI The Finest Hours – 3D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 5:15, 6:45, 9:15PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans– 2D (Action/Horror) (15+) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 3:30, 5:35, 9:35, 11:30PM The Pack– 2D (Horror/Thriller) (12+) Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 5:00, 11:45PM Visions – 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs 3:30, 7:30PM Fitoor – 2D (Romantic/Drama) (12+) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Tabu 3:15, 7:15, 11:15PM Pavada– 2D (Action/Comedy) (PG) Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 9:00PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.26pm 3.41pm 6.06pm 7.17pm 5.25am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

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

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

B7

LIFESTYLE FACT FILE

Bread

(Exploring History, Science, and Nature)

B

.read has been an important food since ancient times.

Making bread is not difficult; the earliest breads were made by grinding a grain into flour, adding water or milk, and baking the dough on hot stones. A bread’s taste, texture and nutritional value depend largely on what type of grain is used to make it. Grains are the seeds or fruits of grasses. Bread can be made from many kinds of grains. Historically, the type of bread people made was determined by what type of grain was grown in their region.

Breads of the world Pretzels are thought to have originated in German monasteries of the middle Ages. The traditional pretzel is a distinctive looped form though now it comes in different shapes.

Tortillas are a flat, unleavened bread of Mexico. This bread has been made for thousands of years.

According to legends they were invented by a peasant for his hungry king and were made of maize with dried kernel. They ground the maize, and used the cornmeal to make a dough.

Focaccia bread originated in Italy and the Mediterranean. It is a flat oven-baked and similar to pizza doughs.

Rye bread originated in Germany and is a hearty alternative to white bread. Farmer’s bread is often darker and more textured, being made from whole grains.

Pita is one of the most ancient of breads. It originated in the Middle East, but is found worldwide today.

Soda bread is traditionally a yeastfree bread made with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

Native Americans used potash as the leavening agent to make this bread.

Anpan is a Japanese sweet bun filled with red or white bean paste.

Bagels are found worldwide. They are often topped with sesame or poppy seeds.

Naan is an oven-baked flatbread popular in India and the Far East.

Bao, also known as baozi, is a steamed bun from China.

Cuban bread has a toasty crust and soft middle, similar to white French and Italian breads.

-lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Questions & Answers

One thing that puts me off...

When I’m bored

When I’m in doubt...

I would try to clear it

If I win a lottery...

I would save it for my career

One movie/book I can watch/ read over and over again...

Three mistakes of my life

CDUR

Crossword Puzzle

If I met an alien I would...

Request him to frighten my friends

The scariest thing that I have done...

Tried to call a ghost by switching of the lights and by holding a candle

One skill I would like to learn...

Sky diving

I go crazy when...

I’m over excited

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

It’s better not to argue with...

Me

ACROSS

If I could go back in history, I would like to meet My ancestors

ATHIRA KRISHNA If I had treasures I would hide them...

No idea

If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be...

Strawberry

One person I would trade places with (real or fictional) My cousin sister Nidhila

The best way to my heart is...

Smile

Send your contributions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com. A good quality photo is compulsory. Lifestyle reserves the right to publish the contributions.

DOWN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 17 19

— — disadvantage Web addr.

Incisor Aquatic mammal Hunt’s partner Thole filler Shoat’s home Type of question Misgivings La femme Fail to hit a target Dainty ornament — Wiedersehen

21 22 23 24 27 29 30 31 33 34 39 42 44

Successor to Claudius Blissful spot One-moon planet Microwave, slangily Antarctic sea “—, shucks!”

Hockey structure Leered at Subway cousin Protest song singer V.J. employer Less than Came unglued

45 46 47 48 49 51

Melancholy poem Projects “Diana” singer Menial worker Pointed arch Bachelor’s last words (2 wds.)

52 Pen point 54 Funny Charlotte — 55 Some ER staff

1 5 9 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 23 25 26 28 32 35 36 37 38 40 41 43 46 49 50 53 56 57 58 59 60 61

Garage contents Pretend to be Not masc.

Jog Diner sign Inventor — Whitney Oodles (2 wds.)

Snowflakes Durable wood Buenos — First P.M. of India “Orinoco Flow” singer Newspaper VIP Herr’s wife Marathon or 10K Bulrush Mork’s planet Out of town Exclusively Curb Appliance brand Sumptuous Cornered “Shogun” setting Egg-shaped Continuous Lysol target Boxing win (abbr.)

Singer — Brickell Old-fashioned expletive Kyoto honorific Pajama coverer Batik needs

B8

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2016

LIFESTYLE

Children up to the age of 16 who would like to have their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Art for the Ages

Children’s Poetry

Precious Time

By Alex Roy Grade 10, ISWK Time runs fast with speeds we can’t compare, At times, it can be quite selfish and unfair.

No feelings it has to wait for our progress, But we have to keep pace with it, nevertheless.

Anagha Prasad, Grade 2, ISWK

Srinidhi Jaganath, Grade 2, Al Injaz School, Al Khuwair

Dharmik Maniyar, Grade 5, ISWK

All are given an equal twenty-four into seven, right?

No one can have a tussle with it or fight.

It’s all on us how to utilise it, As time is unbiased, at the same time never cares a bit.

Don’t keep work aside for tomorrow, Ensure that today’s happiness, in future doesn’t change to sorrow.

It’s not too far, for the wave of trouble to seize us, If there’s no systematic plan, we’ll miss the bus.

Lost money can somehow be recovered, But time once lost, will never be discovered.

Can’t afford time slipping away, as it is so precious, Or else, will have to repent, it’s obvious.

So start now and take hold of the work you get, For now is the right time, at the end don’t regret.

We have to complete life’s race by running, As time doesn’t wait, it just keeps on ticking.

Karthik Jayaram, Grade 7, ISAS

Sudoku How to play Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

Roshan Bilal, Grade 4, Indian School Al Maabela

Kashyab Jayaram, Grade 4, ISAS

Send your contributions for Children’s Poetry to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Teleword All the words below appear in the puzzle - horizontally, vertically, diagonally, even backward. Find them and circle their letters.

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

P L A Y E K C O H S L A S H J

N T S T A N L E Y T E I G A O

O Y N U I E E N E E I C N R N

CLUE: WAYNE GRETZKY

I A I E P E V P A R T E I E E

P M WA P E O N R O E B E R E E R S A K T A A T K E N A S T

A K R A U E D S C O R E R R I

H A L G D M I R T P U C K S C

C E N A O S E R O A R T N R K

P R L N T P O S S F R Y I E E

O B T B O P T R E H T A F G S

I O E R H O O K E H O N N N E

N S T I E S N E F E D T A A U

T S S S E A T P S N A O F N S E DM R O O N C E E H R P L B

SOLUTION: 10 LETTERS

Arena, Assist, Best, Blade, Blues, Brantford, Breakaway, Brent, Champion, Clever, Create, Defense, Edmonton, Fastest, Father, Hero, Hockey, Hook, Ices, Janet, Jones, Keith, Kings, Knee, Line, Nagano, Pass, Phenomenon, Play, Points, Post, Proud, Pucks, Rangers, Records, Reports, Roar, Scorer, Shot, Skate, Slash, Sniper, Sore, Stanley, Stick, Superstar, Talk, Trap, Trophies, Years.

Answer: Ninety-Nine

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

C2

S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 3 , 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

Luxury flat for rent in Bareeq Al Shatti building Spacious 2 BHK with sea view, split A/Cs, fixed wardrobes, kitchen appliance.

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

High quality Warehouses for rent at Mizfa 550 sqm to 3400 sqm.

Contact

96046951 / 99332291

Flat for rent in CBD area - Ruwi Two rooms and a large hall

Contact No: 96177505

1 BHK near medical Darsait Muttrah House. R.O 180/-.

Contact: 95076261

FULLY RENOVATED 5 BHK VILLA For Rent in Azaiba, behind Al Sawa Towers. WITH Majlis, Living room, Dining, Kitchen, Laundry, Store.

CONTACT: 93332444, 95166141

Flat for rent south Al Mabela.

Contact: 95331177/95230355 Villa 2bedroom, 1 sitting room, small hall, Kitchen & 2 bathroom behind Sultan center south Mawalah 300/- O.R. Contact: 92757673 /99388138 2bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120 1000sqmtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc.

Contact 24700120 /92584715 5 B/R villa available in Mumtaz area. Contact: 97296105

(Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse & staff accommodations

•2 bed room flats in Qurum 29 for rent next to ABA New building -split AC - Good location

Spacious 5 bedroom villa Al Khuwair, 1BHK flats Ruwi and Darsait. Contact: 99369081

Brand new Twin deluxe villas, excellent location in Madinat Qaboos 4 bedrooms, housemaid room, 2 kitchens, 2sitting rooms, study room, full A/C, remote control car parks. 1,600 RO each villa Contact 00968 92503825

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT

•Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road On the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail

One / two B/R , RES / Comm flat near Bank Muscat Bausher directly from owner. Contact: 92158031

Showroom, readymade office with ACs & free internet 2 B/R flats with split ACs & free internet available at Al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket. Contact: 99460330

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

Spacious 160 sq meter office with pantry and toilet built in eagle eye view of Al Khuwair on 7th floor Jasmine Building near Radisson Blu. 1,100 RO per month. Contact 00968 92503825 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Villa for rent in Al Hail South consist of two floor, can rent each floor separate or together. Each floor consist of two bedrooms, Majlis with dining room, living room and kitchen for every floor 400/-R.O. Contact: 99546777 Flats for rent at Mawaleh near Omantel main office opposite Lulu bandar comprises 3 rooms, 2 toilets and one kitchen OMR 250/Per month. Contact: 93131497 or 99203435 Villa is composed of 5 bedrooms and sitting toilets and 5 living room, kitchen and Seeb (North Al Hail). Contact: 91130875

FLATS FOR RENT

INDUSTRIAL LAND FOR RENT (BARKA)

Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787

1 BHK and 2BHK Flats with Split ACs Opp. to MOD Near Lulu Darsait

1100 SQ MTR free industrial land for all purpose is available with compound and furnished office in Barka Contact:

2 BHK in MSQ opposite Al Fair with split AC. Contact: 96708000

CONTACT :

93202733 Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq.mtr.

Contact:- 91398925 Restaurant for rent or sale in Al Ghobrah with its equipments and permitions for workers. For details contact: 95094062 1B/R apartment executive fully furnished at AL Khuwair 33 & 5 B/R villa unfurnished at Madinat Al Ilam & 5 B/R villa furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & rent a car LLC 24834 888/99249069/92888376/94617 563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com Flats for rent in Ruwi Mumtaz area 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

24707088, 98283896 For rent 1 B/R Apartment Executive Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 33, 5 B/R Villa – Unfurnished @ Madinat Al Ilam 5 B/R Villa – } Furnished @ Madinat Al Ilam Please Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC 24834888/ 99249069 / 92888376/94617563 / Email: info@alshahiintl.com Four bedrooms villa in Al Athaiba 300 m away from Shell Petrol Station in an excellent condition.

Contact: 97755586 1 BHK Ghubra R.O 250/.

Contact: 97799175 2 BHK Flats for rent, Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

2 BHK in Bareeq Al Shatti with split AC. Contact: 96708000 1 & 2 BHK Ruwi C.B.D. Contact: 99024730 Two bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi MBD Honda road.

Contact: 92433127 / 97293708 1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Wadi Adai, Al Khoud, Mabela & shop at Al Khoud & land line Contact: 24834644 GSM 93994401/02/03 3 lines 3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288

New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats include 1 living room, 2 Bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets every room with split A/C & high Quality finishing, rent per flat is R.O 340/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 92225523

Villa for rent in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 96571151

3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra.

Contac: 99328070

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

One bedroom flat with big balcony in al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 280 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq. mtr. Contact: - 91398925

2 clean & spacious flats with A/C, first flat is behind City center Al Seeb consist of 2 bedroom and living room second flat is in Al Khoud 3 consist of 1 bedroom and living room. Contact: 93366421

Brand new deluxe flats located near Seeb flyover on the right hand side the main road coming from the Seeb palace round about, 2 bedrooms family, hall, kitchen, 3 toilets & split unit.

Contact: 97755586

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

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi, MBD area & Honda road.

Contact: 92589235/ 94579531

Flats & offices for rent in CBD Ruwi. Contact: 92820734 / 95345909

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

Please contact: G.S.M

99417229/92621039

1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats two bed room for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact: 96571151

600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2.

Contact: 91776665 Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665 Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665 Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665

S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

C3

DAILY GUIDE

BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALE Running shop with paint machine for sale in kadra -

FOR RENT

Prime location with good daily sales 260 Square meters Warehouse facility Staff accommodation Interested parties may call 9322 3382 or mail to cs@mpesllc.com

SCRAP COMPANY

AVAILABLE

FOR SALE OR RENT

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

BUYING

(BARKA) An excellent Grade 1 Scrap Company, fully certified is available with compound and furnished office, in Barka Industrial Area.

Contact:

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

24707088, 98283896 Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299

FOR SALE Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090 Carpentry workshop with all basic equipments, tools, amenities and a work force of 15. Total area 1600 SQ.M and a built up area of 800 SQ.M. Accommodation for workers within the compound. Excellent goodwill and reputation created in the market since the last 14 years.

Contact 95219895 or Email: mci.carpentry@yahoo.com Cradle lift for external Building painting, almost new height up to 100 Mts six mtr cradle. Contact : 99235701 / 90648313 1& 3 BHK Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99024730

Restaurant items for sale.

Contact: 96772479 /98428507

2 BHK apartment in Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact 93252324, 99364041.

A well Established Indian restaurant with all necessary equipments well qualified staff furnished party hall (capacity 150) is up for immediate sale at MBD area. #92978956

Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/Contact – 91776665 Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking.

RO.300/-Contact – 91776665 Flats in Darsait.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. Contact: 9405178997201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact: 9405178997201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. Contact: 9405178997201688

Sale of shop with interiors and basement go down in Wadi Kabir near to Lulu Market, on the Juma Masjid road. Contact: 99344106 Special Dental Center for sale.

2 Dentist room, dental lab, full brand instruments with external public pharmacy in Muscat.

Contact no. 99019144 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 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278 Running company with construction fire & safety license.

Contact: 99319670 Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Fire rated portacabins and steel caravans. ContacT: 94058574 Ladies Beauty parlour for sale.

Contact: 96392978 / 96700192

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

ACC. AVAILABLE Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area SPAR available for executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR 110/-. # 98958586

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Excellent room, kitchen with A/C couple / bachelor ONTC bus near Ruwi. Contact: 91657455 Flats 3 bedroom available at Ghobrah near Indian School.

Contact: 99236718 Sharing accommodation near Hamriya flower shopping supermarket. Contact: 98985763 Single room attached bath at Mumtaz area. Contact 95212017 / 90562744 Furnished room for an Indian in Al-Khuwair33 - 95234062 Room with kitchen, bath available in Ruwi for a couple or single working lady. Contact: 91450718 / 91429608 Accommodation available at Al Hail Keralite family only.

Contact: 96234708 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir 9304 9849 Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera hypermarket, Azaiba 150/-R.O. Contact: 99455735 Single room attached bath, kitchen in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99336206 Accommodation for couple or working lady, near Al Nahda hospital. Contact 95871148 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

Partner wanted 10 to 30% share handover for running Construction Company. Contact: 97491117

NOTICE I Kamat Sameer Suhas (holder of Indian passport No. M 8970249) S.O. Kamat Suhas Manohar having permanent residence in At and post 162 B. Mathewada Tal Sawant Wadi Dist. Sindhudurga M.S. 416510 (Complete postal address in India) and presently residing in PO Box 405 PC 118 AL Harthy complex Muscat ( Complete postal address in Oman) intend to marry Ms Tabana Nilza Maglinte holder of Pilipinas passport bearing No. EC 4523424 D/O Norma Maglinte Tabana in EMBASSY OF INDIA, MUSCAT. , I swear that I am marrying her at my own free will and not under any duress and intimidation. Any objection towards change change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, PB No. 1727 , PC 112 , Ruwi , Sultanate of Oman within 30(thirty) days of publication of this news paper advertisement.

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

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

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S AT U R D AY, F E B R UA RY 1 3, 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT URGENTLY REQUIRED

SALES / MARKETING

Mobile Technician

Required marketing Executives females in Muscat with Oman driving license. Email: excellentchoice1ccs@gmail.com

Contact: 91577519/99737812 Wanted female GP, female Gynecologist, female Staff Nurse, female X- Ray Technician With MOH license for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre in Musanna.

Contact -91262604 Email: chillapalli76@gmail.com

Required male / female Marketing person for man power Supply Company with minimum 3 years experience with valid GCC / Oman driving license.

Contact: 97158893 / 94148972.

Kindly send CV at Email: rastllcmuscat@gmail.com

LOOKING FOR

SALES EXECUTIVES & SALES ENGINEERS WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENTS, CRUCHERS, QUARRY & MINING INDUSTRY.

Email: applyinggchr@gmail.com

URGENTLY REQUIRED HR Manager (Omani National) Minimum 2 years experience good command over English & Arabic.

Should be capable of handling Administration, all type of correspondence & routine office works independently, and good skill in MS-Office is must.

Interested candidates may send in their CVs to Fax # 24600217 or email on:

zeeshan@starslightllc.com

A leading company in travels & tourism, accredited by IATA requires: Sales Executive for Travels & Tourism: Experience not less than 3 years in one of the travels & Tourism, must have a driving license.

URGENTLY REQUIRED

LIGHT DRIVER Aged between 25 to 35 years with a good command of English Please send your CV to:

Sales Executive for Car Rental: Ticketing consultant: Must have at least 4 years experience in the travels, professional in GDS (Sabre, Amadeus, Galelio).

Tourism consultant:

Accountant with knowledge of Tally. Driving license preferred.

Send C.V to info.rsttllc@gmail.com QHSSE ADVISOR - International Oilfield Services Company requires a NEBOSH qualified QHSSE Advisor (Omani National) to ensure continual improvement in our Muscat base. Main duties to include Journey Management, supporting implementation of policies and procedures, mentoring staff, training coordination, reporting, audit & inspection and risk assessment. Submit CV to me-job@interwell.com

BEAUTY Urgently required a Gulf experienced professional hair dresser cum beautician (lady) for a reputed beauty salon, immediate appointment. Contact: 99816262 / 98557585 Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair.makeup@gmail. com Wanted experienced beautician and hairdresser for the reputed ladies beauty center at Qurum.

Contact: 97453246 Email: souzawilfred@gmail.com

CATERING Required Cook, Omani food & continental experienced. Visa available. Contact: 99190190 Demi Chef needed urgently for seafood and fish and chips 2 male Filipino Waiter needed urgently with experience. Contact 92382239 / 98260306

Part time up to finalization.

Contact: 91126314 Indian Accountant with experience in financial/cost accounting, Administration, HR and Material Management in construction (more than 30 years) seek suitable placement. Contact 98598099 Indian male 7 yrs Oman exp, tally ERP 9, Accounting, Inventory controlling & IT Supports seeking suitable job. NOC Available. B.Com, PGDCA. location Sohar having Oman D/L. Contact 98317698, Email: sukuanilkumar@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

Young 24, ACCA affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business, seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or audit With valid driving license.

Contact - 92430152, Email - rau_dey@yahoo.com Indian male having good experience in accounts and in accounting and in accounting software’s ready to join immediately Contact +91 9444965126

CA with 16 years experience in finance / audit, seeking suitable senior position and available for immediate joining. Contact: 96320588

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Email : nrtvacancies@gmail.com

Reputed organization is looking for heavy duty drivers for trailers Omani / expat (3 nos) and outdoor Sales Executive for hardware and general trading with valid D/L (1 no).

Send your CV on ocm@theocmgroup.com Urgently required one Omani driver for a reputed trading company in Ghala. Contact: 24502710 Fax: 24502609, GSM 99763251 Email: sharlu.entp@gmail.com

Required Cleaners & office boys.

Contact 24707833 Urgently required House Maid Cum Cook for an Indian Business Family.

Call for Interview 99471085 Keralite house maid required for 3 hrs evening part time job at Ghubra.

Contact:92448315

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Wanted female Ayurvedic therapist with or without MOH. Contact: 97263637/93309131

MISCELLANEOUS Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

EDUCATION SKILLED / UNSKILLED Required Female Teacher to teach Physics and Maths for grade 11 girl, studying at Al Ibdaa PS. Tel 99227839)

ENGINEER Décor Company looking for an Engineer or Technician decorated with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com Senior Factory Control Room Operator Required for a Manufacturing Company in Oman. Candidate should possess a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with minimum 5 years of experience.

Candidates who have experience in Oman are preferred. Kindly forward relevant resumes to info.companyoman@yahoo.com

IT Required Electrician ITI experienced in L.T works or M.E.P with MEDC license. Contact: 99364007 / 99454425 Developers needed with experience in .net, C#, EF Code First, WCF, MVC 4/5, WebAPI, SQL and WF 4.5 must. Work from home role for an Australian company.

Send resume to Email: atif.saad@mis.technology

MEDICAL

Wanted Driver. Contact 91025698

Indian male, 28, Post Graduate, 6 years exp. in Oman in Sales and Credit Control , with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements.

NOC available. Ph: 9206 6523

Indian male, 26 with MBA (Finance / Marketing) having 2 years experience in (Accounts / Finance) on visit visa looking for suitable position immediately joining available.

Contact: 92989197 Email: abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com

DRIVER An Indian light driver. Contact: 24705605, Ruwi

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

Notes: -You must determine which position did you applied for it as email subject -The company will not see at any demand without subject.

DOMESTIC HELP

Audit Assistants.

Email: aoabmuscat@gmail.com

Required Yacht Captain for a marine tour company in Muscat, English speaking and valid boat driving license. Contact: 92014572

26/Pakistani Male/MBA-HR having 2 years of experience in HR with MN Insurance Company and banking industry is currently in OMAN on VISIT VISA & looking for a suitable job in HR, ADMIN or FINANCE. Email ahmadraja010@gmail.com GSM 91716268/93228785

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Required experienced Accountant for group of restaurant.

Visa available. Contact: 99190190

TOURS/TRAVELS

Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687

Experience not less than 5 years in tourism domain, very good knowledge in Tourism systems (DOTW,GTA…etc).Having relationships with suppliers in different countries in the world.

DRIVER

Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law firm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English both written & spoken.

Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

ADMIN

Experience not less than 4 years in one rent a car company, must have a driving license.

driveroman4@gmail.com

ADMIN

Urgently required Marketing Executives with driving license for sales in artificial grass & steel fabrication. Contact 99104577 Email: info@greencover.net

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Vacancy dermatologist doctors & internal medicine for inquiry or send CV. Contact: 24571094/ Fax: 24571097 Email: zmczahara@yahoo.com

Need master cutter, tailor for tailor shop. Contact: 99825211 Wanted A/c Mechanic, Electrician / Plumber, Carpenters, Driver.

Contact 94147874 / 97014234, globalaccessunited@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING

Indian male 25 B.Com IATA diploma 2 yrs exp in accounts, good looking currently in Oman, NOC available. Contact: 99323841 Email:rohitpanam@gmail.com B.Com 32 yrs male Accountant having 8 yrs Oman experience in Construction Co. seeking immediate change (NOC available).

Contact: 98624850 Indian male (25) B.com 3 years experience as Accountant seeking placement accountant / Admin / sales visit visa. Contact: 98437731 Email: falsalcpsy@gmail.com Indian male Accountant having B.Com, M.Com with 7 years experience up to finalization looking job, on tourist visa ready to join immediately.

Contact: 91651695 Email: danishpa2005@gmail.com Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

Indian female Accountant 8 yrs exp in Oman. Contact: 93726921

Building material company looking for a Marketer with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com

Indian male, MBA in finance with more than 6 years of experience, proficiency in accounting software like tally, focus SAP (FICO) etc seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98665219 Email Id: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com

Urgently required Marketing Executive with driving license for sales of furniture. Contact: 97164554 / 99452755 Email: aliasgar.tarwadi@yahoo. com

Indian male 12 yrs exp in accounts location Sohar .

NOC available. Contact :91212471, Email: rennyj6@gmail.com

Wanted experienced Sales Person for show room related to safety products (PPE) having knowledge of computer, driving license is an added advantage.

Contact: 99344106/99893938 Required building material outdoor sales man with Omani driving license 3 years experience in outdoor.

Contact: 24817708 Office furniture Sales Executive with minimum 5 years experience & valid Omani driving license, should have experience in handling office furniture projects, Tenders & Retail. Candidates should have NOC from the current employer. Interested candidates can apply by mail: info@smartvisionoman.con Fax: 24818818

Bangladeshi male having MBA (finance) & M.com (accounting) with 2 yrs exp. looking for suitable placement have valid D/L & NOC. Contact :968 92491009, Email: rasubiswas4@gmail.com Indian female B.Com, ACCA affiliate fresher seeking for job in Auditing finance & accounting in family visa holding Oman driving license. Contact: 92264638 / 99858867 Email: mira.somya@gmail.com Pakistani male 11 yrs experience in accounts, finance looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91479315 Email: bilalnazir65@hotmail.com Finance Manager 22 years Oman experience available. Transfer possible. Contact: 95631834 / 91302906

Indian male 35 years, BBM, diploma in accounts management & banking, 5 years experience in Oman as sales executive & accountant, with valid Oman D/L, seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Contact: 98163037/ 92683606 Email: abhi.abrahan09@gmail.com Chartered Accountant - Indian, 9 yrs + Exp (7 yr in Oman & UAE) in Finance, Accounts & Auditing, seeking suitable position in Muscat/ Dubai ASAP, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available, Contact : 98707434 /casmart007@gmail.com Chief Accountant looking for full / part time job.

Contact: 95598477/98803439

Indian female Graduate over 6 years experience in Admin operations support with excellent communication skills looking for suitable job. Contact: 94231020 Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics. Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786 Indian legal adviser drafting cases / contract administrator job experience computer knowledge Oman experience / India suitable job NOC. Contact: 91171650 Indian female 27 yrs Masters in computer, 2 yrs exp in admin.

Looking for full-time or part-time jobs Contact: 99417993 Pakistani male 7 yrs experience in purchase & HR looking for suitable job with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 91020279, Email: afaiz7345@gmail.com Indian male, Graduate having more than 10 years experience in logistics & freight forwarding with GCC license, looking for a suitable job. Contact: 91714980 Email: medileep@gmail.com Looking for H.R Admin Assistant post or any related position, currently on visit visa, available for immediate placement Qualification MBA H.R. Contact: 94665450 Email: paulwesleywilliaams@yahoo.com Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/ HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030

ARCHITECTURE

Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955

Architect / Site Architect 12 years experience in Supervision the implementation of major projects & design, looking for work in construction or consulting.

Contact: 96049397

M.Com & MBA finance Indian 10 years of experience in finance & accounts up to finalization currently available in Oman. #90501642, Email: bobykkj@gmail.com

Indian female diploma in architecture having 5 years of working experience in Oman (Engg Consultancy having valid Oman driving license. Contact: 96683293

Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com

ADMIN young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O , Clerk helper supervisor Admin supervisor , H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license . Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

BEAUTY Beautician, Indian exp. required visa. Contact 95175192

CATERING Indian Kerala male 39 well exp commis chef /cook / supervising in hotel / catering seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98137476 Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DRIVER Light driver 10 years experience looking for suitable job, can speak English, Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 92360040 Driver, 2 yrs exp looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97133246 Light driver need job knows Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 95145988 Looking job L.T.V with car, without car. Contact: 94436276 Driver, 5 years experience in Oman looking for job.

Contact : +968 99139890 Job for driving. Contact: 98982410

S AT U R DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED DRIVER Indian heavy duty driver having 15 years experience in Oman NOC available. Contact: 91395329 /94730087 Driver with car 2015 model, speak British English.

Contact: 94039796 Embassy experienced driver with 17 years experience seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92191698

EXPERIENCED TEAM TO PROVIDE TECHNO- COMMERCIAL BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, FEASIBILITY, ERP WITH BI TOOLS, ADVISE ON FINANCIAL, HR, RISK Ι GENERAL MANAGEMENT, GUIDE STARTUPS Ι RESTRUCTURING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. Contact – 96500729 Email: k.profitoman@ gmail.com

Driver with release Oman 4 years, K.S.A 12 years exp.

Contact: 93885404 Pakistani light driver looking for job with 5 years experience.

Contact: 92617293

Civil Engineer 6 years experience, 4 years in Oman, driving license available. Contact number 92553263

Looking job for driving with car.

Contact: 90436094

Offshore Structural Engineer (M. Tech) Indian 27 yrs 1 year experience looking opportunity in Oman.

Contact: 93653629

Light driver looking for job experience 8 years.

Contact: 94297563 Light driver. Contact: 99141481 Light driver looking for job.

Contact : 95494310

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Interior Designer 4 years experience design and supervision skills (3D Max, AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 95246737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com

EDUCATION Indian Lecturer Lady, MTECH with 5+ years teaching experience in Electrical engineering - RUWI95073922 / chithrarakeshkumar@gmail.com Looking for part time tutoring on Mathematical & Statistics.

Contact: 99229700

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid & Driver, valid GCC D/L (couple) overseas looking for job. Contact 95175192 Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job.

Contact 99531802

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Electrical designer Indian male 25 yrs experience of oil & gas field in Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99605127 Email: Gerard.baptist@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian male with 3 years experience skilled in the area quantity surveyor, primavera, MS Excel, AutoCAD. Contact: 00968 94853061, E mail: arunmohan.13990@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (4 years exp) (3 years HVAC 10 months Piping Engineer) job visa Indian Muslim (27). Contact: 90486758 Email: afsalhyder@gmail.com Indian Civil Eng., (BE) 16 years exp in Oman const. having driving license & NOC. Contact : 99446335 Email: sonymathew76@yahoo.com Technical Analysis Trainer with automated trading system (NSE) looking for a job. Contact: 91285811 Diploma in Civil Engineering having an experience 16 years (8 years in Oman) looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 95900744 / 98028329 Email: skalam744@gmail.com B.E .Mechanical Engineer Indian over 4 yrs of exp in HVAC design auto cad drafting on visit visa.

Contact 90305596, Email: shaikrizwan330@gmail.com Mechanical Eng. Diploma 31 years experience (22 Oman) Steel fabrication, steel furniture, Powder coating, Production and Planning.

Machine shop, looking for Managerial position in Sohar.

Contact 99314899 Seeking for Job: Male Bachelor of Science In Industrial Technology Graduate Job Exp.6yrs water safety rescue/lifeguard/scuba diving Contact: 96094260 / 96023570 Electrical Engineer B.Tech with 4 yrs experience in India available on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94741401 / 97239852 Email: sobinthomask05@gmail.com

Contact No: 97203531, +923352855176

SPECIALIST AVAILABLE FOR EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN TERM OF RESTRUCTURING ALL MODULES OF BUSINESS WITH 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, MANUFACTURING, TRADING, APPLICATIONS, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. CONTACT – 93343251 / profitoman@ gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 919605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com

Looking for job car driver.

Contact: 98388947

Finance / Project/ Program Manager Professional Qualifications : MBA, PMP, Six Sigma Country Exposure Canada & Middle East, Industry Any Nationality Canadian, In Person Interview on Sundays

Telecom Engineer, Indian, M.Tech (Communication System) 2 years exp O& M of Ericsson BSC, RNC equipments seeking suitable job, presently on visit visa.

Contact: 968 93615443 Email: shabnaspk@gmail.com Diploma Engineer looking for job (Civil) 7 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 92076339 Process Engineer Chemical Engineer, MBA certified in supply chain (MGT) 6 years experiences in operation. Contact: +968 94690325 Email: phahad.hashim@gmail.com HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+ Diploma Safety + NEBOSH+ OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement. Contact :97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer with MBA (Mktg) having 4 and half years experience in technical commercial and marketing fields with valid GCC D/L, NOC available seeking placement.

Contact: + 968 96547828 Email: deva0234@gmail.com Indian male, Electronics Engineer with 16+ yrs experience in ELV systems looking for suitable position in Sales, Business Development or operations, having valid license & local release. Contact 98143907 or mazher2005@yahoo.com Indian male 26 yrs have 6 yrs exp in technical assistant in tyre production, visit visa at Ruwi.

Contact: 92600859 Indian female (22) BE Computer Science & pursuing MBA in symbiosis, looking for a job in HR & IT with 2 years experience in IT field.

Contact: 92649477 / 96043223 Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375 Chemical Engineer Sudanese male 29 yrs. Master degree in chemical engineering , Experience 1 yrs and 2 months OSHA Course ,HACCP Course , look for suitable job in Oman. Contact 96533430 Indian male, Age 22, B.Tech, Mechanical Engineer, seeking for job on any position presently on family visa. Contact 94597785 Highly experienced Indian Civil Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 95715278 Iraqi Architect with 10 years of experience in Engineering designs and Construction Supervising professional in 3Ds Max, AutoCAD Photoshop. Contact: 96011716 Civil Engineer 4 years experience (Site Engineer). Contact: 94703391 Soft ware Engineer available, 1 year experienced in Oracle –DB, VB. Net, SQL. Interested contact: 97440378 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Experience in the power plant and any types of the Mechanical work, looking for mechanical jobs.

Contact: 92827254 /94641669 MEP Engineer 5 years exp in Gulf driving license NOC. Contact: 97838220

Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 HSE Engineer B.Tech (safety & fire) M. Sc 8 years experience Indian 31 years presently occupied on notice period available with clean NOC, holds Oman driving license & owns car. Contact: 94616721 Email: aibelg19@gmail.com B.Sc Civil Engineer, 27 yrs Oman experience as Project Manager, Structure Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC / LOCAL transfer available.

Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 11 years experience in building construction, looking for a suitable placement , having Oman driving license. Noc available. # 95075365 Email: azharraaz@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95345591 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Sudanese Architectural Engineer 2 years experience in Oman, Revit, AutoCAD 3Ds max Archicad looking for suitable job. Contact: 94722356 Email: maya40999@hotmail.com Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im

Electrical Testing Engineer (B.Tech) having 7 yrs Gulf experience expertise in testing pre-commissioning commissioning of electrical systems, currently on visit visa seeks suitable job in Muscat.

Contact: 90188231 Mechanical Engineer male 26 yrs, with 4 yrs of experience in manufacturing oil & gas retail, brand promoting, marketing, logistics having valid Omani D/L seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 97098676 Email: ja237le@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Hotel Management Degree holder, Indian Male, with 4 years work experience (Kuwait & India) looking for “Supervisor” position in F&B Department. Contact 96278739 or email anand786x@yahoo.com Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

IT IT Service Desk Management with 3 years experience now on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95917613 Email:shithin.kanakadas@gamil.com Indian female 28 years, MCA, B.com, 3 years experience in the field of computer hardware, ERP software and windows networking where planning, implementing and troubleshooting with multiple platform of OS Microsoft XP /7/8 on visit visa. Contact: 95089170 Email: anjuretnakar@gmail.com Indian male 25 years BSC (C.S) with basic hardware and software knowledge seeks suitable placement now on visit visa.

Contact: 92319677 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com Indian male having B. Tech C.C.NA M.C.SA 3years Saudi experience in IT System Administrator, 2 years experience in Networking (routing & switching) & server administrator presently on visit visa looking suitable placement.

Contact: 92339064 Email : anshadsainullabdeen@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact : 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com

IT

MEDICAL

Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867

Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com

Indian male, MCA, 15 years experience in Oracle, developer, Orion Sage ERP, 5 years in Oman working as IT In charge, with NOC release and transferable visa.

Contact: 95398567, Email: anasa4@gmail.com SAP / ABAP certified Indian female (30), BCA, MCA, ASP. Net certification having 2 yrs of experience family visa, seeking placement.

Contact: 99109121 Email: ashamaryphilip@gmail.com

LOGISTICS Indian Male, 36 years, over 16 years’ Stores, Logistics and Import Export experience with US based MNC, seeks suitable placement.

Mob: 9822 6568

MANAGER Procurement Manager / Commercial Manager / G.M Indian male having 26 years of experience in Import, procurement, logistics, Commercial activities, Warehousing, TRD & Sales. # 90502724 Email: tk.sasi@gmail.com Office Manager / personal Assistant with extensive experience in overall admin, commercial activities, purchase, accounts with driving license seeks suitable change.

Local release available. #99168054 Showroom & Office &Purchase manager with legal background and operation management-6 years experience inside Oman -An ongoing relationship with a number of customers & supplier in Oman-with valid Omani driving license. Contact: 97792871 – email : m.hossam1986@gmail.com Store Incharge / Store keeper 8 years experience in Oman, NOC & release is available looking for good job. Contact: 98178804 / 96703816 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033

An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

MISCELLANEOUS Filipina lady very urgently looking job only in boutique, release available ready to join immediately.

Contact: 97122152 / 91240759 Office boy, exp, knows English/ Hindi, can work on current visa 94263603 Sudanese male 43 PHD Business Management DiPCii, CITIP, ARM54, 12 years experience in insurance field, seeking insurance post or risk management or teaching in University.

Contact: 96796630 Email: brhomalkhoozamy@yahoo.com Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Major in Animal Science, Male, 5yrs experience in poultry farm, seeking for job.

Contact 96093752.

A Filipina lady having experience in call center, airline booking and reservations, secretarial and real estate is now looking for a job in any fields. Contact: 93839304 Sh. Carpenter, steel fitter, helper, seeks visa.

Contact 95175192, email : oman.manpower@yahoo.com Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement.

Gsm 98805474

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE A dynamic professional, female,MBA,8 yrs MNC exp in Purchase, Secretary, Sales Coordination, Office Assistant, Logistics, Petty Cash, Stock, Dispatch, Project management, Documentation, residing in oman with valid NOC from current company, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately. Contact:phone:-94157662 Email: shiji4123@gmail.com Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761 Indian female B.C.A having exp in Office Assistance cum Secretary looking for job.

Contact: 97384206 Email: rani_sweet786@live.com Indian male experienced Office Asst with D/L looking for suitable job. Contact: 97718658

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

Contact: 95175192

MEDICAL SALES / MARKETING Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074 Indian male Nurse Prometric 70% with MOH license. Smart & fluent in English. Ready for immediate joining. Contact – 92194649 Female Nurse Indian, total 15 yrs experience, 6 yrs in KSA, prometric passed with 66% ready to join immediately. Contact: 95525004 / 98146565

Experienced Indian male with Oman driving license and NOC looking for sales & marketing or purchase jobs. Contact: 97360689 Indian male 27 yrs, B.Com, tally 4 years sales exp in electrical & building materials with valid D/L. Contact: 98462052 Indian male, experienced Sales Executive with D/ L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97853426

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SALES / MARKETING Marketing exceutive BBA, MCOM, Tally, exp in accouting (can continue in current visa) ph : 98269281 Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 Indian female, MBA in Garment Manufacturing Technology, having over 8years exp in Merchandising & Marketing, worked for brands Zara, H&M, DKNY, Even & Odd, Soya Concept & many more, now on family visa looking for a suitable position.

Pls contact: 95604511. email: richagandhi25@gmail.com MBA gradate (Indian male 25 yrs) having two years experience in sales and marketing looking for suitable position. Contact: 92129799 Email: nabu096@gmail.com Indian male 23 Graduate with 1 year experience with valid Oman driving license looking for a placement. Contact: 93379169

Indian male 4 years sales experience & Business development look forward for suitable position.

NOC & Oman D/L available.

Contact: 97198976 Email: qubaisakhan@gmail.com

MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license, looking for suitable position.M:94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com

B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com

Indian male, Graduate, experienced Sales person (FMCG) with valid UAE driving license, on visit seeks suitable position.

Contact 92419491 / 94881950, Email : pranilpp76@gmail.com

MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com

Indian male, BBM, MBA, having 3 years experience in Sales looking for suitable job.

Contact: 92796046

Indian male 26, with more than 3 years experience in Counter Sales & Marketing with valid N.O.C Cont: 94704522, 97826454 & Emailmd.noman.mansoori@gmail.com

Indian male plumbing sanitary ware & building materials experience in outdoor sales (9 years) with valid D/L UAE. Contact: 98723456

Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

26 years male MBA in Marketing & Finance Graduate having 2 years exp in sales & marketing in Mitsubishi Motor seeks suitable placement. Contact: 94676974 Email: dabdulmuqsit@gmail.com

Indian male B. Pharm 15 years sales experience MOH Pharmacist license driving license looking for opportunities in Pharmacy or Sales and marketing can get NOC. Contact: 99694865

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

Contact: 92453375

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

TECHNICIAN /MECH.

TOURS/TRAVELS Indian male 26 yrs, 7 yrs experience in airfare, audit, air ticketing well verse with Microsoft Office Windows application seeking for suitable position.

Contact: 94894170 / 95618311

Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com

Indian Male, 27 Years, MBA Finance pursuing, BCA, 6 years working in Airline Cargo Operations, Airline Passenger Ticket Auditing domain, looking for a suitable placement, currently on visit. email: jeevamal89@gmail. com, Phone:- 91713489

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

Marble tiles grinding & polishing, Mosaic tiles grinding & polishing, carpet shampooing, sofa shampooing, pest control treatment & general cleaning of villa & building.

Express Building Cleaning Services.

Contact 98480070 / 94134784

SERVICES

House shifting. Contact: 99708138

We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020

Muscat Driving School.

Contact: 97026581 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

MATRIMONIAL LEGAL SERVICE An Indian lawyer Provides all legal services in company matters.

Labour issues, contracts, agreements, LLC formation, legal help for starting new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326 Cleaning services sofa, carpet, shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

FURNITURE SHIFTING Maintenance, Dismantling, Packing, Shifting & Fixing furniture with expert technicians.

Pest Control Treatments Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723

Contact: 99041337 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.# 24793614/ 99314807 Marble, Grinding, Crystallization.

Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only. Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 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

Keralite Hindu Ezhava Parents invites suitable alliance for their son 26 yrs, Nakshtaram Rohini employed in Muscat.

Girl, resident of Oman is preferred.

Please write to: satishkumar@altesoman.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

SITUATION WANTTOURS ED

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636

DRIVING

We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320

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

MANPOWER

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store In-charge in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre ,now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job.

Contact 90139903 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605.

E mail: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com

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

Experienced 10 Shuttering carpenters, 10 Steel Fixers and 10 mason to ready to joined with our organization with release & NOC. Salary will be fair, food and accommodation is available.

Contact 90234289 / 91496549 / 24494900

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

Contact: 99839898

Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131

TRANSPORTATION From Mabela to Mawaleh for school student. Contact: 92757673

MV SALE

Transportation. Contact: 96248040

MV SALE Toyota Haice delivery van 2015 model, high roof in condition.

Contact: 99471699 / 95339183 / 94082616

2007 Nissan Tiida in good condition for sale. Contact 98241569 Hyundai Santafe 2010 model, 2.7 litres, Black Colour, Expat driven, well maintained, 86000 kms.

Contact - 93304439.

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

Transportation in Muscat.

Contact: 96004045

Transportation Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92711421

Transportation. Contact :98505294

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Transportation.Contact: 99099714

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DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

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