Times of Oman - July 13, 2016

WEDNESDAY July 13, 2016 8 Shawwal 1437 AH

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FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

To Senior State Officials, 1978

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ We will accept no excuse from anyone who is remiss in carrying out the duties he is required to perform in the service of this country and its citizens, and he will be punished for his failings in whatever manner we see fit.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 119 | 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

$2.5 billion Omagine project set for 2017

MEGA PROJECT: The Omagine Project will have three hotels, a boutique mall, an open air amphitheatre, exhibition venues, a harbour and marina area, offices and more than 2,000 residences.

1,000

Located in Seeb, the project will have 7 pearl shaped buildings, each with a different theme

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Construction work on the multi-billion dollar Omagine Project is scheduled to begin in 2017 and should be complete by 2024, according to the Ministry of Tourism (MoT).

Located in Seeb, the project features seven pearl-shaped buildings which will host hotels, offices, residences and entertainment venues on one million square metres of land, the MoT said.

The project is expected to create more than 1,000 jobs for nationals when it is completed in seven

jobs are expected to be created for nationals when it is completed in seven years

year’s time. The slump in global oil prices has meant project managers have been seeking further funding globally, according to Omagine chairman Frank J. Drohan.

Speaking to Times of Oman, Drohan said that they are in ad-

vanced discussions with several institutional and private entities in the United States, Europe and China to finance the project as a quite rational response to the present regional banking environment. “Other companies and

NCSI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Almost half of Omanis said the increase in petrol prices has “significantly affected them”, the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) revealed.

In June, a whopping 45 per cent of Omani nationals said the rise in fuel price has “significantly affected them and their families” compared to 24 per cent last May, according to the NCSI. Cutting on use of cars Underprivileged families in Oman are travelling less in their cars, following the rise in petrol prices, an activist working with a local volunteer group said.

“Some have replaced their 4X4 vehicles with cheaper V4 sedans to save money,” Khalid Al Syiabi told the Times of Oman.

Al Syiabi said that families supported by taxi drivers are the worst affected as their profession

cial banking institutions began to crowd out commercial borrowing capacity of private companies.

The largest banks of course weathered this storm more handily than the mid-size or smaller banks,” the statement said.

Drohan said that the longer term project finance is needed only after the detailed master planning and architectural design is completed. “And that is the reason we are working hard on many fronts with Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) and other investors in Oman and the GCC, Europe, the US and China to make that happen,” he said. >A6

ACCIDENT

Man run over by police vehicle, dies

Fuel price hike affects almost 50 per cent Omanis: Survey HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

governments regionally are quite rationally also reaching out to the international financial markets,” he said.

In a quarterly report submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March 2016, Omagine LLC, reported that “with the sudden fall in deposits from oil sales, bank liquidity at local banking institutions in the GCC came under immense pressure as deposits fell dramatically while simultaneously governments became large borrowers (where they were not before).

“Such sudden and large government borrowings from commer-

SURVEY Impact of rise in fuel prices on consumers.

Not affected

March June

31%

17% 38%

Slightly affected

45%

Significantly affected

24%

Source: NCSI

45%

Graphics

depends highly on fuel price fluctuations. The data also showed that 38 per cent of locals were slightly affected by the increase, while the remaining 17 per cent said they have not been affected.

This jump in prices has led to

more people selling their vehicles and changing their driving habits as 44 per cent of Omanis have already changed, or are thinking of changing the fuel type they use for their cars.

Moreover, 34 per cent of Omanis believe that altering the petrol price has had a negative impact on the country’s economy.

Al Syiabi further said that many families may not even be able to drive all the way to Salalah to enjoy the Khareef (monsoon) season.

NCSI said around seven out of 10 Omanis know that petrol prices in the Sultanate are being altered every month.

High fuel and other product prices are driving young, aspiring people to sell their vehicles to make some extra cash during these difficult times. Yaqoob Al Suleimi, an Omani national, said fuel prices are the number one reason why he has placed his car for sale in public. >A6 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Wadis not meant for dumping garbage

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Rubbish being thrown at Wadi Hoqain was highlighted recently. >A4

WORLD

Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton

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Democrat Bernie Sanders endorsed former rival Hillary Clinton. >A15

MARKET

Highest number of loans to Dhofar 20 killed, dozens injured as trains collide in Italy

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ODB said that Dhofar came first in number of loans provided. >B1

Staff Reporter

MORNING MINUTE

MUSCAT: A senior citizen died after he was knocked down by a police patrol car yesterday. The 69-yearold man died in hospital after a Royal Oman Police (ROP) patrol vehicle accidentally ran over him.

According to reports, the man was in a hurry to cross the road and the patrol vehicle did not have

time to stop which resulted in the man being run over. He was admitted to Al Khaboura health centre and later shifted to Sohar Hospital where he died of his injuries.

“We confirm that the patrol did run over the elderly citizen after trying to avoid the man while on duty,” said the ROP tweet. “We offer our sincere condolences to the family,” added the tweet.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

OMAN

They thought that a menu is needed for the blind because they usually enter restaurant, sit there and listen while the menu is read to them Abdullah Al Hadhrami, Marketing Manager for Italian Barista Café

Italian Barista Cafe introduces menu in Braille The idea came during the Hand in Hand initiative which is organised every second week of Ramadan, as part of the competition from a team called Enamel Mubsira

TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com

the blind.

MUSCAT: Braille menus are being used to cater to the blind and could be found in Italian Barista Café in Al Mouj Road.

The idea came during the Hand in Hand initiative which is organised every second week of Ramadan, as part of the competition from a team called Enamel Mubsira, so they thought that a menu is needed specifically for

Much-needed “They thought that a menu is needed for the blind because they usually enter restaurant, sit there and listen while the menu is read to them,” said Abdullah Al Hadhrami, Marketing Manager for Italian Barista Café.

“So they came to us and asked us for the things they need to get the menu done. So we immedi-

ately complied and they took care of the job and prepared the menu,” he added.

He added further that there is a big acceptance with the menu since it made it more efficient for the blind to ‘read’ off the menu using the Braille method instead of listening to their counterparts reading off the list. Al Hadhrami also said that they welcome 10 to 12 blind visitors every week in their café.

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

853 job contracts registered at ministry portal until June Times News Service

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

MUSCAT: Ministry of Manpower’s website had registered 853 job contracts for Omanis electronically by the end of June this year.

The ministry approved 872 contracts during the period June 26 to 30 period, where 853 contracts were registered on the ministry’s electronic portal.

A total of 316 establishments

had their contracts approved and the Security and Safety Services Company registered the highest number of contracts electronically at 103.

The e-employment contract system was implemented from March 1, 2016 and is mandatory for first, excellent, international and consultant grade job seekers and on June 1 for second, third and fourth-grade establishments.

NON OIL SECTOR FIRMS

Ithraa to hold meetings in Singapore MUSCAT: Business to business meetings for Omani nonoil sector companies will be organised in Singapore next week

by Ithraa.

Ithraa, or the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, is organising the meetings in collaboration with the Singaporean Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

To be held in the middle of next week, the business to business (B2B) meetings for 33 Omani companies will be held under the auspices of Sheikh Zakariya bin Hamad Al Sa’adi, the Sultanate’s General Consul in Singapore.

The meetings come in response to the outcomes of an study conducted by Ithraa on 59 Omani non-oil products at the Singaporean market. The study identified Singapore as one of the promising markets for Omani products.

It includes organising a seminar for the Omani exporters on doing business and the work culture of Singapore. It also includes visits to the Singaporean import companies and the wholesale centres in a bid to familiarise with the work system there and enhance relations among the Omani exporters and the Singaporean importers.

The programme also includes B2B meetings among representatives of Omani and Singaporean tourism and logistics firms to explore available business opportunities and to promote the investment in Oman.

The value of the Omani non-oil exports to Singapore stood at OMR39.8m in 2015; an increase by 10.5 per cent over 2014. -ONA

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

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Break violation fine for 170 firms The mid-day break rule, which became effective from June 1 and will last until the end of August, bans work at outdoor sites between 12.30pm and 3.30pm when the summer heat is at its peak

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Manpower Ministry has found 170 companies in violation of the mid-day break rule during the period of June 1 to July 10, according to a senior ministry official.

“The ministry visited 1,376

companies and found 170 of them violating the rule,” the official said.

The rule, which became effective from June 1 and will last till the end of August, bans work at outdoor sites between 12.30pm and 3.30pm when the summer heat is at its peak.

In 2015, 391 companies were

penalised by the ministry for violating the mid-day break rule, which included 138 businesses in Amerat, 122 in Seeb, 98 in Bausher and 33 in Muttrah.

Earlier, the Ministry of Manpower had told the Times of Oman that violations can be reported at 80077000.

According to the Article 118 of the Oman Labour Law, violators can be penalised with fines ranging from OMR100 to OMR500, or a jail term of not more than one month, or both. The penalty will be doubled for repeat violations.

With temperatures hovering around 48 degrees in different parts of Oman, places such as Mudhaibi and Um Zamaim recorded a high of more than 48 degrees on Monday, according to the Oman Meteorological Department.

AUGMENTED REALITY APP

3D image of Al Alam Palace on new Omani rial note Asked if she plans to go commercial with her artwork, Rashid said the app is a gift to the public to have fun with.

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A three-dimensional (3-D) image of the Al Alam Palace will emerge from the new Omani rial note with the help of a mobile application developed by a young app developer.

The augmented reality app has become popular among social media users in Oman.

The app allows users to point their smartphone cameras at the new purple-coloured one rial note and see a virtual miniature of the famous landmark of Al Alam Palace with a fireworks display in the background.

When one flips to the backside of the banknote, one can see two

APP MAGIC: Flip to the backside of the banknote, and you can see two golden butterflies hovering around.

golden butterflies flying around it.

The hype around the app has been “amazing,” according to Aisha Rashid, the 23-year-old app designer.

Have fun “We had fun making it, let everyone have fun using it!” she added.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Rashid said the game will not be officially launched anytime soon as “it was made for fun only.”

However, the computer graphics artist explained that some similar serious projects of hers will be available officially on the android market and app store.

“We didn’t expect the hype!

Everyone loves it,” she concluded.

Link to video: https://t.co/ iqYLGzmH0x

OMAN

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

OMAN

It aims at decreasing the chance for smugglers from the safe and responsible advantage for these resources.

Dr. Fouad Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries

I N N O VAT I O N

App to help you stay up-to-date with events in Oman TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Locals and residents will now be up-to-date with the latest events in Oman thanks to a new application called ‘The 365’.

Residents Mohammad Imran Jalaluddin and Warren Fernandes worked for 6 months to get the application up and running where it will feature events occurring during the day and other upcoming events in the Sultanate, such as product launches, corporate events, concerts and many more.

“Companies will be able to log in to the app and start uploading their events. We are constantly working to make sure the events are attended by the maximum number of people possible,” said Imran, one of the creators. “We believe in short and simple methods to make things work easily,” he added.

The application, which will be launched today, will also have a shared box which will allow users to share events with one another and allow them to send messages freely. Imran said that in the fu-

ture they would like ‘The 365’ to be a hit worldwide where Oman will be the first to feature in the application followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“When you enter the app, Oman will always be the first country you see. If you want to see what is happening in other countries you will just have to change the option,” said Imran about future developments.

“According to your (businesses) needs, this application will show you exactly what you want the user of the application to see even if you want it to be shown in other countries,” he added.

When asked whether businesses will have to pay to display their

events, he said, “At the moment there are no charges, but in the future, there will be a fee.”

He said that phase three of the project is expected to be completed by the end of August where the companies who wish to advertise or display their event will have to pay a small fee of not more than OMR 10 – OMR 15.

The fees will cover the operational cost of the application. In addition to that, users will be able to book online and buy tickets (if available) after the completion of phase three.

The android version of ‘The 365’ is available for download while the IOS version will be released on July 25.

ALL SMILES: Mohammad Imran Jalaluddin and Warren Fernandes worked for six months to get the application up and running where it will feature events occurring during the day and other upcoming events such as product launches, corporate events, concerts and many more. – Supplied photo

Residents report sorry state of Wadi Hoqain

DIPLOMACY

Everything from bits and pieces of foodstuff to dirty baby diapers were littered openly in the

GLOBAL MEETING: Dr. Fouad Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, headed the delegation representing the Sultanate in the 32nd conference for fishing in the Italian capital Rome which started on July 11. – Supplied photo

Wadi, which made it look like a large

Oman reaffirms commitment to combat illegal fishing activity

waste dump

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Rubbish being thrown all over Wadi Hoqain, which is a popular picnic spot in Al Rustaq in the Al Batinah region of Oman, was highlighted recently, after a few visitors to the spot noticed the growing levels of trash at the site.

Abdul Aziz was delighted to have planned a family trip to the picturesque spot of Wadi Hoqain during the holidays.

However, he was shocked to see the site strewn with leftover plastic waste dumped by careless picnickers.

According to Aziz, everything from bits and pieces of foodstuff to dirty baby diapers were scrounged openly in the Wadi, which made it look like a large waste dump.

“We were super excited to visit this place known for its magnificent beauty, but when we reached our destination, we were flabbergasted to see the sorry state of the vicinity; everywhere we could see abundance of trash and litter.”

“The panoramic view of this leisure spot had been brutally converted into a vista of contamination. We were so distressed to watch the countryside full of filth and debris and that no proper trash bins had been installed at the location,” he noted.

Although Aziz saw notice boards, which listed the rules on

FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS Shell Rimula recently launched a campaign called ‘Shell Rimula Care’ offering truck drivers free basic health check-ups during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Organised in Muscat, Nizwa, and Salalah, the campaign came to a close recently, and was directed at truckers in Oman, offering them health check-ups that included body mass index, eye exams, and blood pressure tests. — Supplied photo

Times News Service DISREGARD: There are notice boards that list the rules on picnicking in the area but everybody

seemed to disregard them. – Photo courtesy Abdul Aziz

Abdul Aziz was delighted to have planned a family trip to the picturesque spot of Wadi Hoqain during the holidays. However, he was shocked to see the site strewn with leftover plastic waste dumped by careless picnickers

picnicking in the area, everybody seemed to disregard them.

“We saw the rules listed, but not a single person seemed to be concerned about implementing those written rules. The place was stinking with heaps of rubble.

The malodorous condition of the place penetrated deeply into our hearts. Even though this relaxa-

tion place is open to the public free of cost, not a single person seemed to feel obliged to preserving its dazzling charm.”

“My point of view is that some strictness should be maintained and awareness should be created among the public, in order to save this picture of the countryside.

This fascinating piece of land is

bestowed to us by nature to add joy to our stressful lives. However, if we continue to practice this act of negligence, there are chances that people will stop coming here for their leisure trips.”

Mohammed Ragheb, an environment activist expressed that it was really sad because people don’t pay heed to the instructions laid out by the government and just do whatever they feel like.

However, he also said that some younger people were thinking about the issue which was a good thing.

“There are dustbins everywhere for you to throw your garbage and in some places they are located at a distance; you are by no means allowed to throw your trash anywhere you feel like.

“It’s important that people take responsibility for their actions,” Ragheb emphasised.

ROME: In a bid to combat illegal fishing, Oman is ready to cooperate with the international community to get rid of the practice of illegal fishing.

Dr. Fouad Al Sajwani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, headed the delegation representing the Sultanate in the 32nd conference for fishing in Rome which started on July 11 and will go on until July 15.

“The Sultanate, being the first in the Middle East and North Africa region, joined the Port State Agreement since 28 April 2013 and by order from the Royal Decree 26/2013, in order to prevent and combat illegal fishing which is depleting our marine resources that the Sultanate considers of importance to the food security of the country and economy,” said Al Sajwani.

He assured that the Sultanate is ready to cooperate to fulfill the agreement while also highlighting the necessity of combating illegal fishing while cooperating with internationally under the umbrella of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

About the agreement, Al Sajwani said, “It aims at decreasing the chance for smugglers from the safe and responsible advantage for these resources.

“This is a clear message to all, there is no room to use other country’s ports and market your products in unofficial methods because they (ports) have become

under the Port States monitor.”

“With that being said, no fishing vessel will be able to enter the ports before obtaining prior permission to enter the specified for any reason and will have be subjected to inspecting their fishing equipment registrations and documents.”

Spontaneous fishing, according to FAO statistics, show 25 million tons of fish caught while illegal fish trade makes more than $23 billion annually which Al Sajwani said that efforts must be intensified.

Bilateral meeting Dr. Fouad met with the South Korean Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, on the sidelines of the meeting.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and areas of cooperation. Dr. Al Sajwani touched on available investment opportunities in the fisheries sector and the potentials of aquaculture in the Sultanate.

The South Korean Minister expressed interest in cooperation in these aspects, reviewing his country’s project to create a fisheries university, in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which has put the required financial resources, hoping that the world would support this approach.

Dr. Al Sajwani welcomed this vital project due to its great importance in the development of the sector especially with regard to the research side.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and areas of cooperation. – Supplied

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

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Donations for poor increase in Ramadan Charitable organisations expressed gratitude towards the public for actively donating money, food, clothes and basic necessities during the holy month

TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI MODHAHER AL AJMI

tariqh@timesofoman modhaher@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The Holy Month of Ramadan saw an increase in charity giving, and thousands of people are already being helped thanks to Omani generosity.

According to data from the national donations portal, donate. om, a total of OMR221,951.36 was raised from the beginning of June until the end of July 5, 2016 on the occasion of the month of Ramadan from 5,529 donors.

Gratitude Charitable organisations expressed gratitude towards the public for actively donating money, food, clothes and basic necessities during the holy month that there is a surplus of donations.

Speaking to May Al Bayat, Marketing Director for Dar Al Atta’a, she said that the donations are immediately given to the appropriate people in need in the moment.

“We don’t hold on to the charities and we immediately distribute them. The public hands us the donations for a specific purpose

DONATIONS: During the first week of Ramadan, the public donated more than OMR43,000 which went for Sadaqa, meals for Iftar, helping Syria campaign as well as Zakat and orphans’ care.

The Zakat which goes to the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs made OMR56,219 for distribution and Dar Al Atta’a followed with OMR56,140.95 whether is it sadaqah, zakat, iftar meals or otherwise,” said Al Bayat.

Surplus “During Eid we do have a surplus of donations and we will keep them with us until the next Eid (Eid Al Adha). We will not and cannot use the donations for anything else other than the specific purpose it was given to us for,” she added.

Saleh Al Qanobi, Vice President of the Charity and Alms Fund in Suwaiq said that they too received a surplus or donations and they distribute it in their hometown of Suwaiq.

“We distribute the donation we collect to the people in Suwaiq during the holy month. Whenever we have a surplus were distribute it continuously during the two months leading to Eid Al Adha,”

said Al Qanobi. He further added, “During the Friday prayers we distribute leaflets to encourage people to donate.”

During the first week of Ramadan, the public donated over OMR43,000 which went for Sadaqa, meals for Iftar, helping Syria campaign as well as Zakat and orphans’ care. Since the beginning of the year until July 12 a total of OMR375,832.05 were donated by 12,222 donors so far.

Oman Charitable Organisation leads the list of charities with OMR114,750 made since the beginning of the year follow

by Al Rahma Charity Team with OMR79471.95 made.

The Zakat which goes to the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs made OMR56,219 for distribution and Dar Al Atta’a followed with OMR56,140.95.

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OMAN PRECAUTIONS

Take special care to avoid heat-related illness: Medics MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: With the heat and humidity on the rise, doctors in the Sultanate have urged people to take use extra care to avoid heatrelated illness.

“People suffer heat-related illnesses, such as heat strokes and heat exhaustion when the body’s temperature-control system is overloaded,” Dr Jawid Ali Abdul Hameed, specialist, Internal Medicine at the Badr Al Sama Hospital, said.

“Sweating is the body’s natural way of cooling itself. In some situations, especially during periods of high humidity, sweating alone will not provide an adequate release of body heat,” he added.

The Nizwa Badr Al Sama Hospital has already attended to a patient, who was suffering from a heat stroke, according to a doctor.

Heat stroke “The highest risks for heat stroke or heat exhaustion are infants and children up to four years old, people 65 years and older, people who are overweight, people who overexert during work or exercise, people who are ill or on certain medications,” the doctors asserted, according to medics.

“Dehydration is a big problem,” said Dr VCP Mohamed, specialist, Internal Medicine at Atlas Hospital. He advised people to wear loose cotton clothes and drink ample amounts of water with salt, sugar, and lemon.

Drink water “Active people should drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour,” Mohamed suggested. “Avoid fluids that contain alcohol or caffeine, because they can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illness,” he added.

He advised people to avoid going out between 12 pm and 3 pm.

“Plan outdoor activities in the early morning or the evening,

SAFETY TIPS: Doctors have advised people to wear loose cotton clothes and drink ample amounts of water with salt, sugar, and lemon. -Supplied picture

when the sun is less direct, wear loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing, move to the shade or into an air-conditioned building at the first signs of heat illness,” Mohamed advised.

“Heat-related symptoms can come on quickly,” Dr Hameed from Badr Al Sama Hospital said.

“Symptoms of heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or fainting,” he added.

Heat stroke is a potentially lifethreatening condition, according to Dr Jawid Ali. “Heat strokes are characterised by a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher; red, hot and dry skin with no sweating; rapid pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; un-

consciousness; and gray skin colour,” he asserted. According to the Oman Meteorological Department, the temperature has already crossed 48 degrees in many parts of the Sultanate. On Monday, places, such a Mudhaibi and Um Zamaim recorded a temperature of more than 48 degrees Celsius.

Extreme temperatures Dr Mohamed also noted that people who are visiting Oman for the first time should be extra careful to not be exposed to such extreme temperatures.

“They should use protective clothes, such as hats and sunglasses, whenever they go out and if they feel any discomfort should be moved to a cool place,” he recommended.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

OMAN PROPOSALS

TRC approves research projects of students worth OMR73,282

RAFO COMMANDER MEETS MICHAEL FALLON Air Vice Marshal Matar bin Ali Al Obaidani, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) during his visit to the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) in the United Kingdom met with Michael Fallon, UK Secretary of State for Defence. They discussed a number of matters of common concern. — ONA

MUSCAT: As part of the student research subsidy programme, The Research Council (TRC) approved 41 research proposals for students of the fourth year at a cost of OMR73,282 The Research Council received 180 research proposals through the electronic system for application used by the higher education institutions.

Academic institutions The research proposals submitted by 18 academic institutions were distributed in six research categories; nine within the energy and industry sector, five within health and social service sectors, nine within environment and biological resources sector, nine at the culture, social, science and basic sectors, six within communication and Information and Technology sector and three within education and

BOOSTING RESEARCH: TRC received 180 research proposals

through the electronic system for application used by the higher education institutions. -ONA

human resources sector.

The number of university students that took part in these research proposals stood at 122 distributed onto research teams for

MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Probe into registration via Invest Easy Portal MUSCAT: Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that 310 companies added loading and unloading activities and 110 new commercial registrations for these activities have been made during the last week.

This figure is unprecedented via Invest Easy Portal, says the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that it is believed that the aim behind adding this activity is to get visas for expatriates and later lease them to other companies.

The statement added that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower and the Royal Oman Police, is following up owners of these commercial reg-

istrations to identify the reasons behind adding this business and how far their businesses are compatible with loading and unloading business activity.

The statement stressed the importance of abiding by the rules and regulations and not to manipulate the facilities provided through Invest Easy Portal as the system has been designed to be interactive and issue reports and statistics daily on all transactions processed through the portal. -ONA

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each research proposals.

The total number of research projects funded by TRC from 2013 to 2016 stood at 251 at a cost of OMR516,606. -ONA

Shura reviews budget, ninth five-year plan Shura reviewed several ministerial replies, including that from the ministers of manpower, tourism, financial affairs, regional municipalities and

DISCUSSION The 24th regular meeting was chaired by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura. -ONA

water resources

MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura office yesterday reviewed several issues referred by the Government, including the Council of Ministers’ reply to visions and remarks made by the Council of Oman on the 9th five-year development plan (2016-2020), and the budget for the fiscal year 2016.

NAJEH PROGRAMME

many oversight methods and tools, including the request by one of the members of Majlis Al Shura to the PAEW Chairman about lack of water networks, the request of one of the members of Majlis on the development of Jabal Shams, which included the development of the sectors of agriculture and livestock, tourism, roads, housing, and the regional municipalities in the

The meeting reviewed several ministerial replies, including that from the Minister of Manpower, Minister of Tourism, Minister Responsible for Financial Affairs, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, and the reply of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW).

The meeting also discussed

mountain, as well as developing and strengthening government efforts to increase economic and social returns.

The Majlis Al Shura office reviewed several letters and memoranda from some councils and international organisations.

The 24th regular meeting was chaired by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of Majlis Al Shura. -ONA

CAIRO

ITA celebrates graduation of trainees

Omani ambassador presents credentials to Arab League

Times News Service

CAIRO: Ambassador Ali bin Ahmed bin Hareb Al Is’aei presented his credentials as the Sultanate’s permanent representative to Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League at the organisation’s headquarters yesterday.

MUSCAT: Information Technology Authority (ITA), represented by the Digital Society Development Division, celebrated on Tuesday, at Grand Millennium Muscat, the graduation of 15 trainees of the 11th batch of the Najeh Jobseeker Programme.

The programme is carried out in cooperation between ITA and Exceed IT Services, as a part of the Microsoft Licensing Agreement (2015-2018).

The ceremony was held under the patronage of Dr. Salim bin Sultan Alruzaiqi, chief executive officer (CEO) of ITA.

Cooperation They discussed ways of joint cooperation and enhancement of existing relations between the Sultanate and the Arab League.

The ambassador conveyed to the Arab League Secretary General greetings of Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs. —ONA

MEETING: Ambassador Ali bin Ahmed bin Hareb Al Is’aei pre-

sented his credentials as Oman’s permanent representative to Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary General of the Arab League. – ONA

OMAGINE PROJECT

RISE IN PRICES

A1 Contract agreement ready < FROM

Drohan also said CCC may still be the general contractor for the Omagine Project with a United States, European or China based contractor working as a substantial sub-contractor under CCC Oman.

It was in October 2014, Omagine LLC, signed a development agreement with the Government of Oman for the development of a $2.5 billion real-estate and tourism project known as the Omagine Project.

In March 2015 the Ministry of Finance in Oman ratified the development agreement.

In July 2015 the development rights to the 245 acres of beach-

front land were registered with the government of Oman.

The actual contract agreement is now fully drafted and is ready to be signed. “During the past month, I and our staff have been in Washington, Europe and Beijing with investors and to negotiate the terms of a construction sub-contract to CCC,” he told Times of Oman.

In May, Omagine Inc. also sponsored The World Summit on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (WSIE) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The Omagine Project will have three hotels (which will include serviced apartments

and chalets), a boutique mall, an open air amphitheatre, exhibition venues, a harbour and marina area, offices, more than 2,000 residences and a large number of cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues. The Omagine Project will have seven pearl shaped buildings, each with a different theme, such as the Oman Pearl, Innovation Pearl, Energy Pearl, Culture Pearl and Earth, Sea and Sky Pearls.

The Pearls will feature a wide range of tourism experiences, simulations, games, interactive demonstrations, multi-media presentations and a planetarium and a multiplex.

< FROM

A1 Vehicles on sale “Petrol prices are too high. I used to fill up my car for 4 to 5 rials, but now it goes up to OMR8.5. The quality of the fuel doesn’t seem right either because my car was responding differently to it,” said Al Suleimi, a Honda Civic owner selling his car.

“I have two cars, a Civic and a Corolla. I decided to sell the Civic because it consumes too much petrol and its service and spare parts are too expensive. Everything is becoming expensive and I need the money, so putting one of my cars up for sale is the only option,” explained Al Suleimi.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

A7

REGION SAUDI ARABIA

Prosecutors bring charges over Grand Mosque crane disaster RIYADH: Suspects including engineers and two government employees will face trial in Saudi Arabia over the deaths of 107 people when a crane toppled over at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca last year, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The Arabic-language Al Riyadh newspaper quoted a source as saying that investigators and the prosecution had completed an eightmonth investigation into the case.

“The court is in the process of deciding the (date of the) first hearing in coming days after the judge studies the case,” Al Riyadh said. It said those charged included engineers and two officials working for two government bodies in Mecca, but did not specify what the charges were or how many people would face trial. — Reuters

Syrian rebels brace for long government siege in Aleppo The city council has stockpiled essential commodities and residents were being urged to adapt to the new situation CIVIL WAR: A Syrian boy stands in front of an empty vegetable market in the rebel-held area of Aleppo. – AFP

BEIRUT/AMMAN: Rebel areas of Aleppo have stockpiled enough basic supplies to survive months of siege by pro-Syrian government forces that cut off their half of the city last week, even though some goods are already in short supply, an opposition official said.

Syrian government forces

backed by the Russian air force last week advanced to within a few hundred metres of the only road into the rebel-held area of Aleppo, making it impassable for the several hundred thousand people living under rebel control in Aleppo.

WA R - T O R N NAT I O N

Shelling, air strikes hit IS militants in Libya’s Sirte MISRATA (LIBYA): Libyan forces allied with the UN-backed government have been shelling and carrying out air strikes on the centre of Sirte city in a siege of IS militants there, an official said on Tuesday.

Militants defending IS’s last stronghold in Libya have been keeping Libyan forces back with sniper fire and mortars in Sirte where they are now surrounded after a two month campaign to take the city.

The fall of Sirte would be a major blow to IS, which took over the city a year ago in the chaos of a civil war between rival factions who once battled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. “Our forces have...targeted militants with artillery and air force around Ouagadougou complex, Ghiza Asskariya district, and in the city centre,” said Rida Issa, spokesman for Misrata forces fighting in Sirte.

“They have targeted IS members, vehicles, ammunition stores, and control rooms.”

He said one Misrata fighter was killed and 20 others wounded in a mortar strike on their position in the Zaafran frontline, near the roundabout where IS once crucified victims.

The bodies of around 13 IS fighters were found, but Misrata forces were driven back by

STRIKING HARD: Fighters from forces aligned with Libya’s new unity government scan for an IS position in Sirte, Libya. – Reuters file

sniper fire. Western powers are backing Prime Minister Fayaz Seraj’s government that moved into Tripoli three months ago in an attempt to unify two rival governments and various armed factions. Seraj is working with a unified National Oil Corporation to restart the oil industry.

But while powerful brigades from Misrata city support Seraj for now and lead the fight to liberate Sirte, other hardliners to the east are still opposing him and his government has made little progress in extending its influence.

After a rapid success in driving IS back from a coastal strip of territory it controlled, the battle

for Sirte has slowed to street-bystreet fighting as Misrata forces clear out residential areas.

Misrata commanders say a few hundreds militants are dug in around the Ouagadougou complex, the university and a city hospital. They are cautious of advancing rapidly after more than 200 fighters died in the campaign so far. While forces from the city of Misrata are fighting IS in Sirte, rival brigades allied to General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army are fighting to the east on another front in Benghazi and around another eastern town.

Haftar’s hardline backers reject Seraj’s government. — Reuters

Rebel forces are fighting back in an attempt to reopen the Castello road. The opposition does not expect the Syrian army and its allies to storm the populous, rebel-held sector of Aleppo, and is preparing for the possibility of a long siege.

As prices sky-rocket, opposition authorities are seeking to ration consumption, to prevent hoarding, and to regulate prices so traders do not overcharge, said Brita Hagi Hassan, president of the city council for oppositionheld Aleppo.

He said opposition authorities were also moving towards opening “alternative ways” into the rebel-held part of the city.

“We have the capability to open new ways because the situation is still under control,” Hassan told Reuters. The plans were secret, he added, speaking from rural areas west of Aleppo after twice failing to enter the city last week.

Prices of non-perishable staple foods have tripled and fresh produce has gone up by even more - if it is can be found at all.

A kilo of tomatoes, which are now in season, cost at least five times more than they did before

the blockade. The city council had stockpiled flour, wheat, fuel, sugar and rice, and residents were being urged to adapt to the new situation, Hassan said.

“I reassured people on this matter... we can remain for several months without a problem,” he said. “There are posters, pamphlets and there will be a press conference about this matter, so that the people are aware of the new situation, because the situation is very bad.”

Operators of generators had been told to cut back their use to two hours a day, and the council had set aside fuel for essential uses such as bakeries. As part of their counter attack, rebel groups had heavily shelled governmentheld areas of Aleppo, where the population is estimated at slightly over 1 million people. Air strikes have also targeted rebel-held areas of the city. — Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

INDIA RESHUFFLE EFFECT

Najma Heptulla,

Siddeshwara resign from Modi cabinet

BAMBOO BRIDGE Khasi tribal villagers using a bamboo bridge to cross Shree River for buying goods from Ukiam market in Kamrup district of Assam. The Khasi are an indigenous or tribal people, the majority of whom live in the State of Meghalaya in northeast India, with small populations in neighbouring Assam. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla, who had crossed 75 years, resigned on Tuesday from the cabinet along with Minister of State for Heavy Industries G. M. Siddeshwara.

Announcing their resignations, a Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said these have been accepted. There was speculation last week when Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook the reshuffle that Heptulla and Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Kalraj Mishra, who had recently turned 75, could be asked to quit.

Modi is believed to have set an age bar of 75 years for ministers and had kept veterans like L. K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi out of the cabinet and co-opted them in ‘Margdarshak Mandal’.

The Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was Heptulla’s deputy, has been assigned the Independent charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

According to government sources, Heptulla (76) was out of country and therefore could not submit her resignation on July 5 though she had decided to do so.

G. M. Siddeshwara (64), Minister of State of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, too was out of Delhi and could not submit his resignation on July 5, sources said, adding on Tuesday on return of the Prime Minister from abroad, they submitted their resignations, which have been accepted. - PTI

Curfew-hit Kashmir faces medicines, food shortages Shops remained shuttered on Tuesday too while cellphone and mobile Internet services continued

Tamil Nadu can create 9m jobs in five years CHENNAI: Over the next five years, Tamil Nadu has the potential to create more than nine million jobs, attract investments of around Rs22 trillion and log double digit growth, a study by industry body Assocham states. The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India and Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on Tuesday released a paper titled ‘Action Agenda for New Government of Tamil Nadu’.

CPI-M and BJP workers hacked to death in Kerala

to be suspended in large parts of the crisis-hit valley

SRINAGAR: With shops shut for a fourth day due to official restrictions and separatist-called shutdown, curfew-bound parts of the Indian-administered Kashmir are facing several shortages of essential items, including medicines.

Shops remained shuttered on Tuesday too while cellphone and mobile Internet services continued to be suspended in large parts of the crisis-hit valley in the wake of mass protests against the death of a top rebel.

Scores complained they were not being allowed to move out of their homes even to buy food and medicines from shops located in the interiors of their neighbourhoods. The crisis has exploded into health emergencies with chemists and druggists — in certain areas where they were allowed to open their stores -—complaining that they were running out of supplies.

A chemist store in uptown Hyderpora - where no curfew was imposed - said three buyers for life-saving insulin vials visited him on Tuesday morning. But he had only one in his refrigerator and naturally two had to return empty-handed. “I could not help.

I am running short of supplies,” Shabir Bhat, the owner of the medical store, said.

The predicament is shared by thousands of patients and their relatives in the Kashmir, which saw widespread violent protests and counter-violence by security forces following the Friday killing of Burhan Wani, 22, who had emerged as the new face of Kashmir’s separatist campaign.

More than 30 people have been killed and nearly 1,500 injured in the vicious cycle of violence since Saturday. Doctors at various hospitals said medicine shortage had

BRIEFS

UNREST: A woman with her daughter crossing a deserted bridge during restriction and strike on fourth consecutive day in Srinagar on Tuesday. – PTI

Kashmir remains on edge as prime minister appeals for calm SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appealed for peace in Jammu and Kashmir where more than 30 people have been killed in widespread protests after the killing of rebel Burhan Wani.

Modi chaired a high-level meeting in New Delhi and voiced concern over the incidents of violence in the Kashmir Valley, where curfew continued for a fourth consecutive day. “Prime minister has appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to maintain calm and peace so that normalcy returns and no innocent lives are

begun to hit health facility centres, particularly in rural areas, due to the large numbers of injured, some of them critically.

A doctor at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) who did not want to be named said that the rush of wounded despite a shortage of essential medicines has complicated the problem. Patients other than those injured in protests

disturbed,” Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh told reporters after the meeting. The meeting was attended by Modi’s senior cabinet colleagues.

Police said “strict curfew shall continue” almost all across the valley to prevent the spillover of street violence and counter-violence. Train services were also suspended for a fourth day as protesters damaged railway tracks at many places in south Kashmir. There was an eerie calm on Srinagar’s deserted streets, with no reports of fresh protests in the STRATEGY: Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Home state capital. - IANS Minister Rajnath Singh at a meeting on Tuesday. – PTI

also complained. “My father was supposed to get operated today in SKIMS. But the hospitals are already so full of the injured people that our treatment has been delayed,” said Saniya, revealing only her first name. Not only life-saving drugs, people also complained of shortage of food items like milk, bread and vegetables.

“I came out at 7am to buy bread and milk but the shops were as

usual closed. Security forces do not allow shops to open and there has been no relaxation in restrictions,” Nisar Ahmad, 30, who lives in curfew-bound Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar, said.

Amid all these crises, a ray of hope has emerged from roadside kitchens set up by young volunteers, providing food to the needy.

“We provide food and juice to people voluntarily. We collect rice and

spices from various families and cook in large quantities,” Hakeem Ahsan, one of the volunteers, said.

Ahsan said voluntary groups have also supplied food at hospitals in Srinagar where attendants with patients “are suffering the most as they are not being able to get anything to eat”. Officials claimed that at least 1,000 truckloads of essential commodities were on the way to the valley. - IANS

KANNAUR: Two workers of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been hacked to death in what is suspected to be a fall out of the political rivalry between the two parties in Kannur district. In the first incident, CPI-M worker C. V, Dhanaraj (38) was attacked by some unidentified assailants, who came in a jeep and motorcycles, with machetes around 10.30 PM on Monday when he was entering his house at Payyanur, police said.

300 ‘Fever clinics’ to be set up in Delhi NEW DELHI: With national capital region recording 39 cases of dengue so far, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said that his government will set up 300 ‘Fever clinics’ across the national capital to tackle cases of the vector-borne disease. Jain further said, like last year, government will fix the rates for platelet and dengue tests in private hospitals so that they are not able to charge more than Rs50 for platelet and Rs600 for dengue tests.

Pokhara-Delhi direct bus service launched KATHMANDU: New Delhi and Nepal’s famous tourist spot Pokhara are now connected by road after a direct bus service was launched between the two cities, following the signing of an agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit here in 2014. The first direct bus service between Pokhara and NewDelhi, was flagged off by Nepal Home Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet and India’s ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae on Monday from Pokhara. - Agencies

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INDIA

Retail inflation edges up, factory production rises With inflation remaining at an elevated level and above the 5 per cent mark, the central bank’s next monetary policy review in August would be keenly watched

NEW DELHI: Retail inflation inched up to a 22-month high level of 5.77 per cent in June on increase in food prices including that of key kitchen staples like vegetables and cereals.

Industrial production also grew by 1.2 per cent in May after seeing a contraction in the previous month, mainly due to uptick in consumer durables output. Factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had expanded by 2.5 per cent in May last year, the data released by the Central Statistics Office showed on Tuesday.

With inflation remaining at an elevated level and above the 5 per cent mark, Reserve Bank of India’s next monetary policy review in August would be keenly watched as inflation targetting has been the main objective of the

COSTLY: Inflation in vegetables was up at 14.74 per cent against 10.77 per cent in May and in cereals and related products was 3.07 per cent compared to 2.59 per cent in the previous month. – File

apex bank. The retail inflation measured on Consumer Price Index (CPI) was marginally lower at 5.76 per cent in the previous month, while it was 5.40 per cent in June last year.

In August 2014, consumer inflation was at 7.8 per cent.

The overall food inflation moved up to 7.79 per cent in June from 7.47 per cent in the previous month, a government data showed on Tuesday. Inflation in vegetables was up at 14.74 per cent

against 10.77 per cent in May and in cereals and related products was 3.07 per cent compared to 2.59 per cent in the previous month.

Pulses However, the rate of price rise in pulses declined to 26.86 per cent during the month while it stood at 31.57 per cent in May. Protein rich items, like meat, fish, eggs, milk saw a marginal decline in comparison to May. Inflation in fuel and light bas-

A9

ket was 2.92 per cent in June as against 2.94 per cent in the previous month. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation collects data from selected towns and villages to calculate CPI-based retail inflation.

In its bi-monthly policy released last month, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had maintained status quo in key policy rate citing higher upside risks to ‘inflation trajectory’. The retail inflation in rural areas was at 6.2 per cent and

in urban areas it was 5.26 per cent in June, showed the data.

The manufacturing sector that constitutes over 75 per cent of the index saw a growth of 0.7 per cent in May compared to 2.1 per cent a year ago. - PTI

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UNREST

Arrangements for evacuation of Indians from South Sudan NEW DELHI: Government has made arrangements for the evacuation of Indians from South Sudan and set up a task force to closely monitor developments in the war-torn country, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday.

Sushma held a high-level meeting, which was attended by both Ministers of State V. K. Singh and M. J. Akbar, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, during which ways to coordinate emergency assistance to Indians there were also discussed.

A task force has been set up to keep a close tab on the developments there, she said. The task force, comprising Singh, Akbar, Jaishankar and other senior ministry officials, held a meeting.

“We have made all arrangements to evacuate Indians from South Sudan in case the situation deteriorates further,” Sushma said.

According to the minister, there are around 600 Indians in South Sudan, of them 450 are in Juba (capital city of South Sudan) and nearly 150 are outside Juba, where the fighting is taking place at present. South Sudan’s capital is witnessing heavy fighting due to clashes between former rebels and government soldiers in several parts of the city.

In case of absence of Internet, please text to +211955589611, +211925502025, +211956942720, +211955318587, it added. “The security situation in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan, has deteriorated since July 7, 2016. We have reports of gun fire and fighting on the streets of Juba making any movement virtually impossible. - PTI

DOS AND DON’TS

Russia’s handbook for Indian tourists MUMBAI: The Russian Information Center in India (RIC) has issued a handbook with a detailed list of Do’s and Don’ts for Indian tourists visiting the country.

Based on the opinion of the Consulate General of Russian Federation here, the booklet aimed at reducing stressful situations and misunderstanding in predominantly non-English speaking and non-vegetarian country.

The RIC creates a detailed list of Do’s and Don’ts for Indians travelling to Russia. The handbook that will be shared with tourism departments and associations and all travel agencies, says “the mentality and traditions of Russian and Indian people are similar in many ways - despite the significant difference in the lifestyles”.

“These differences, as well as language gap, according to RIC experts, often create unnecessary problems for both Indian tourists and tour operators in Russia for whom RIC has issued a separate guidance on working with Indian tourists,” it said.

Ekaterina Belyakova, head of RIC in India, said “We have been working on promoting bilateral tourism between Russia and India for over three years and have noted

RESCUE OPERATION Three Passengers being rescued after a speedy Bollero jeep fell down in Machna river in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh state, on Monday. — PTI

many cases of misunderstanding, concerns, that we’ve tried to address in this handbook. We felt warning people about some cultural traditions, social norms and customs, sentiments, even tastes, especially when it comes to food, is very important.”

Immigration and passport The handbook contains information and recommendations on how to go through immigration and passport control after arrival in Russia, how to take care of meals and where to find vegetarian options in Russia, how to behave with Russian authorities and common people and how to read their behaviour, which is often misleading.

“Smiling to strangers is not a part of Russian culture. Russians are polite and professional, and they do smile whole heartedly after they come to know you - which often takes time,” the handbook says.

The handbook also deals with situations often leaving Indian tourists in Russia outraged - such as, for example, paid toilets or paid water.

“Drinking water is not free anywhere, like in other parts of Europe. You will have to buy small quantities which is expensive or stock up 5-litre cans.” - PTI

SUMMONING DOCUMENTS

Delhi court sets aside orders in National Herald case NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside a trial court orders summoning documents from Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministries and other agencies and the balance sheet of the Congress party for 2010-2011 in the National Herald case.

Justice P. S. Teji set aside the trial court’s January 11 and March 11 orders saying they were “passed in a casual manner”, “without application of mind” and were “nonspeaking” which makes the two decisions “ineffective, redundant and not sustainable in the eye of ACCUSED: The other two accused in National Herald case are Conlaw and liable to be set aside”. gress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi. – File “The applications (for summoning of documents) were moved in a casual manner and the or- pugned orders being non-speaking set aside,” the court said. It further der passed on the same were also and without due application of said, “In view of the above discuspassed in a casual manner without mind as per the law laid down by sion and law laid down, as referred the apex court, culminates into above, this court is of the considdue application of mind.

“The facts and circumstances the impugned orders as ineffec- ered opinion that while the passmentioned above, non-issuance tive, redundant and not sustain- ing order under section 91 of CrPC of notice to opposite side and im- able in eye of law and liable to be for summoning the documents, if

the other party has already joined the proceedings, it is entitled to be heard.

“Consequently, the orders dated January 11, 2016, and March 11, 2016, are hereby set aside along with proceedings consequent thereto.” The high court’s order came on the pleas of Congress leaders Motilal Vora, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and a company Young Indian who are accused in the case filed

by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy.

Complainant Swamy The other two accused in National Herald case are Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi, but they had not moved the high court against summoning of the documents and balance sheet.

The High Court, in its verdict, also said “undisputedly the com-

plainant (Swamy) always has the right to invoke provisions of section 91 of Cr PC and court is always empowered to pass an order in the facts and circumstances of the case, keeping in view the necessity and desirability of document in situations as discussed above and by granting an opportunity of hearing to the other party”.

It also made it clear that “right of complainant to move a fresh application shall not be curtailed in any circumstance.” Swamy has accused the Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul, of allegedly conspiring to cheat and misappropriate funds by just paying Rs5 million by which YI obtained the right to recover Rs 903 million which Associated Journals (AJL) owed to the Congress party.

All the accused have denied the allegations leveled against them

by Swamy. Congress leaders, Vora, Fernandes, Dubey and Sam Pitro-

da had argued through their lawyers that there were “no reasons or objects” in the application filed

by Swamy in which he had sought summoning of these documents.

Their lawyers had contended that there was “no application of mind” by the trial judge while allowing the plea and the high court was entitled to reverse the order.

They had also argued that the orders passed by the trial court were “non-speaking” and, hence, cannot be sustained.

“Courts can summon the documents if they are relevant. These documents can be misutilised for other purposes. Do not permit this litigation to be a launch pad for other things,” they had said while urging the court to set aside the orders passed by the trial court.

Swamy had earlier argued that the high court should dismiss these pleas seeking stay on two decisions of the trial court. - PTI

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

PAKISTAN MALALA VISITS REFUGEE CAMP NEAR KENYA-SOMALIA BORDER (From left to right) Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai addresses refugees during celebrations to mark her 19th birthday at the Juba Sports Complex in Dagahaley area of Dadaab refugee camp near the Kenya-Somalia border, on Wednesday; Somali refugees gather to celebrate with Malala. —Reuters

RUMOURS

Unknown people turn up in identity card re-verification A massive re-verification drive of nearly 25 million registered families of Pakistanis was launched under the pretext of national security after a Pakistani identity card and passport was found in possession of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21

Over 400,000 Imran Khan

individuals have

Will fete publicly when I tie knot: Imran

checked their family

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Information Secretary Naeemul Haque on Tuesday refuted reports of Imran Khan’s third marriage as baseless.

“These reports are baseless and his family members aren’t even aware of any such decision made by him,” Haque said while speaking to Express News.

Shortly after, the PTI chairman also took to Twitter to also deny rumours of a third marriage. “Rumours about my marriage are absolutely baseless. I have not gotten married. When I do I will announce and celebrate publicly,” he said.

to statistics released

Maneka family Media reports suggested Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf cheif has married for the third time to a girl from the “Maneka family” of Pakpattan, according to a Pakistan Today report.

The report said Imran visited Pakpattan thrice this month to visit his alleged bride Maryam, who is a sister of Imran’s ‘spiritual guide’ Bushra.

According to sources quoted in the report, the new bride is also divorced and has two children. — Express Tribune

records since the re-verification drive was formally launched, according on Monday by the National Database and Registration Authority

ISLAMABAD: The top citizen registration body has received over 13,000 complaints of inclusion of unknown members in families of Pakistani nationals since the launch of a CNIC re-verification drive on July 1.

Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification drive was formally launched, according to statistics released on Monday by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).

Around 3.25 per cent of these individuals have complained about the presence of aliens in their family trees.

“NADRA has received over 13,000 complaints, where citizens have pointed out aliens in their family record,” said a NADRA statement issued.

A massive re-verification

SCANDAL: Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification

drive was formally launched. — File photo

drive of nearly 25 million registered families of Pakistanis was launched under the pretext of national security after a Pakistani identity card and passport was found in possession of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21.

Earlier, the country’s premier spy agency had also sent a report to NADRA, informing the authority about the recovery of Pakistani CNICs from several foreign terrorists associated with Al Qaeda and Taliban who had been killed in counter-terrorism operations in

areas bordering Afghanistan.

Later investigations unearthed more claims about foreigners managing to obtain Pakistani CNICs by bribing as low as Rs10,000 to NADRA officers. The situation forced Pakistan’s interior ministry to re-verify the family records of all Pakistanis.

The citizens have been asked to simply send an SMS writing their CNIC number to 8008. In response, NADRA would inform about all the individuals registered in the family with the authorities.

A progress report since the launch of the drive was shared on Monday during a meeting held at

the interior ministry on Monday.

The meeting was chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

About one-third of the 13,000 complaints about unknown members were about confirmed aliens, NADRA representatives told the minister. More than 50 cases have been referred to NADRA’s Vigilance Cell for re-verification and further scrutiny.

Minister Nisar reiterated the CNIC re-verification was a national security drive aimed at cleansing NADRA’s database from all aliens who had managed to get themselves registered as Pakistan-

is. “No doubt it is a difficult task.

But it is vital for ensuring the security of the state,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.

“Privacy of the callers [individuals] should remain paramount during the drive since citizens will be disposing their national duty by providing information to the state institutions over aliens holding Pakistani CNICs and passports,” Nisar directed NADRA. The interior minister also approved nationalisation of three Cessna planes and their inclusion in the interior ministry’s air wing strength for counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics operations. — Express Tribune

G OV E R N M E N T O F T E C H N O C R AT S

Posters seeking military coup raise eyebrows ISLAMABAD: Banners with pictures of Army chief General Raheel Sharif are on display in major cities across Pakistan, urging him to impose martial law and take control of the country.

Interestingly, the banners sprung up overnight on all major boulevards in the cities despite the presence of several security checkpoints and patrol.

The banners have been put up in Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, etc, by the Move on Pakistan party.

Thousands of banners The chief organiser of the campaign, Ali Hashmi, claimed thousands of banners have been put up across Pakistan. Activists involved in this exercise told The Express Tribune that the goal of their campaign was to implore the army chief to impose martial law and install a government of technocrats with General Raheel

nounced he would step down later this year, banners were put up on the streets of the capital urging him to extend his tenure.

CONTROVERSY: Pakistani commuters drive past posters of army chief General Raheel Sharif in Peshawar on Tuesday.— AFP

personally supervising it. “There is no choice but to enforce martial law and to form a government of technocrats.”

“The absence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the country for more than a month proves that there is no need of a political government,” they added.

This is the second time banners have cropped up requesting the army chief to amend his retirement decision. In February, days after General Raheel Sharif an-

Continue to serve On January 25, General Raheel Sharif laid to rest speculation that he would continue to serve as the military chief beyond November 2016 when he is due to retire, insisting he preferred to relinquish the job – unlike two of his predecessors.

“I do not believe in extension and will retire on the due date,” Chief of Army Staff General Raheel said in an unprecedented statement.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the military’s media wing, General Raheel said: “Pakistan Army is a great institution. Efforts to root out terrorism will continue with full vigour and resolve. Pakistan’s national interest is supreme and will be safeguarded at all costs.” — Express Tribune

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

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ASIA

Beijing has ‘no right’ over South China Sea: UN-backed tribunal AT A GLANCE China, which

South China Sea is a resource-rich strategic waterway through which more than $5 trillion worth of world trade is shipped each year

boycotted the hearings at the

The deep waters between the Spratly and alsodisputed Paracel Islands are the most direct shipping lane between northeast Asia‘s industrial hubs of China, Japan and South Korea and Europe and Middle East

Permanent Court of Arbitration in The

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including reefs and islands also claimed by others

Hague, vowed again to ignore the ruling

Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei make competing claims to territory in South China Sea

and said its armed forces would defend

PROTEST: Protesters display placards while marching as they chant anti-China slogans during a rally

its sovereignty and

by different activist groups over the South China Sea disputes, along a bay in metro Manila, Philippines, on Tuesday. – Reuters

maritime interests

AMSTERDAM/BEIJING: An arbitration court ruled on Tuesday that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea and that it has breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights with its actions, infuriating Beijing which dismissed the case as a farce.

China, which boycotted the hearings at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, vowed again to ignore the ruling and said its armed forces would defend its sovereignty and maritime interests.

China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said shortly before the ruling was announced that a Chinese civilian aircraft successfully carried out calibration tests on two new airports in the disputed Spratly Islands.

And China’s Defence Ministry announced that a new guided missile destroyer was formally commissioned at a naval base on the southern island province of Hainan, which has responsibility for the South China Sea. Legal blow “This award represents a devastating legal blow to China’s jurisdictional claims in the South China Sea,” Ian Storey, of Singapore’s ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute, said.

“China will respond with fury, certainly in terms of rhetoric and possibly through more aggressive actions at sea.”

China claims most of the energy-rich waters through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.

The Philippines, which brought the dispute to the tribunal in 2013, welcomed the ruling, while China has reacted angrily to reject the award

THE HAGUE VERDICT beginning to end and put the dispute into dangerous territory of worsening tensions and confrontation.

But Wang, in comments carried by state media, struck a more conciliatory tone too, saying the time had now come to put things back on the right track and noting the new Philippine government’s sincerity in taking steps to demonstrate its willingness to improve ties.

CAUTIOUS: Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay gives a

brief statement regarding the tribunal ruling on the South China Sea at a news conference at the Department of Foreign Affairs headquarters in metro Manila, Philippines. - Reuters

Finding for the Philippines on a number of issues, the panel said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, which covers much of the South China Sea. It said China had interfered with traditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal, one of the hundreds of reefs and shoals dotting the sea, and had breached the Philippines’ sovereign rights by exploring for oil and gas near the Reed Bank, another feature in the region.

None of China’s reefs and holdings in the Spratly Islands entitled it to a 200-mile exclusive economic zone, it added.

China’s Foreign Ministry comprehensively rejected the ruling, saying its people had more than 2,000 years of history in the South China Sea, that its islands did have exclusive economic zones and that it had announced to the world its ‘dotted line’ map in 1948.

“China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards. China opposes and will never accept any claim or action based on those awards,” it said.

Freedom of navigation However, the ministry also repeated that China respected and upheld the freedom of navigation and overflight and that China was ready to keep resolving the disputes peacefully through talks with states directly concerned.

China’s Defence Ministry said in a bilingual Chinese and English statement shortly before the ruling was made public that the armed forces would “firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and maritime interests and rights, firmly uphold regional peace and stability, and deal with all kinds of threats and challenges”.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the case had been a farce from

Coral reef ecosystem The ruling also said China had caused permanent harm to the coral reef ecosystem in the Spratlys, charges China has always rejected.

The judges acknowledged China’s refusal to participate, but said they sought to take account of China’s position on the basis of its statements and diplomatic correspondence.

“The award is a complete and total victory for the Philippines ... a victory for international law and international relations,” said Paul Reichler, lead lawyer for the Philippines. Vietnam said it welcomed the ruling. Taiwan, which had maintained the island it occupies, Itu Aba, is legally the only island among the hundreds of reefs, shoals and atolls scattered across the seas, said it did not accept the ruling, which had seriously impaired Taiwan’s territorial rights.

Ground-breaking ruling The ruling is significant as it is the first time that a legal challenge has been brought in the dispute, which covers some of the world’s most promising oil and gas fields and vital fishing grounds.

It reflects the shifting balance of power in the 3.5 million sq km sea, where China has been expanding its presence by building artificial islands and dispatching patrol boats that keep Philippine fishing vessels away. - Reuters

China has no ‘historic title’ over the waters of the South China Sea Specifically, that the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea supercedes China‘s ‘Nine-dash line’ — its 69-year-old claim to roughly 85% of South China Sea None of the features of the Spratly Islands off the Philippines‘ west coast give China any right to an exclusive economic zone China has interfered with traditional Philippines fishing rights, notably at Scarborough Shoal Chinese oil exploration near Reed Bank violated the Philippines‘ sovereign rights China damaged parts of the ecosystem of the Spratly Islands with activities such as overfishing and creating artificial islands China‘s actions have aggravated its conflict with Manila at a time it was meant to be resolving them

WHAT OTHERS SAY PHILIPPINES: The Philippines foreign minister called for ‘restraint and sobriety’ in the South China Sea after the court issued a decision favourable to Manila and condemned by Beijing. „Our experts are studying this award with the care and thoroughness that this significant arbitral outcome deserves,“ Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay told a news conference TAIWAN: Taiwan said it does not accept a tribunal’s ruling on the South China Sea, saying the decision on Itu Aba, Taipei‘s sole holding in the disputed Spratly Islands, had ‘seriously impaired’ its territorial rights VIETNAM: Vietnam welcomed a ruling saying it strongly supports peaceful resolution of disputes, while reasserting its own sovereignty claims JAPAN: The Hague tribunal ruling is final and legally binding, and the parties to the case are required to comply, Japan said

NINE-MONTH GOVERNMENT

VERDICT

Singapore jails four Nepal government is in crisis after Bangladeshis for alliance partner withdraws support terrorism financing SINGAPORE: A Singapore court jailed four Bangladeshi men for between two and five years for terrorism financing on Tuesday in a case that has put the city-state’s most marginalised migrant-worker community in the spotlight.

Authorities said the men contributed from S$60 ($45) to S$1,360 ($1,000) to fund attacks in their homeland in the name of IS in Bangladesh. It was Singapore’s first case of terrorism financing.

“The amounts were significant relative to the salaries of the accused persons,” said the prosecutor, who did not give his name for security reasons. The sentences would send a “strong message that every and all terrorism financing will be dealt with”, he said.

The four were among eight Bangladeshi men detained under the Internal Security Act in April for planning attacks in their home country. The colonial-era law allows suspects to be held for lengthy periods without trial.

Group’s leader The group’s leader, Rahman Mizanur, 31, a draftsman earning S$1,800 ($1,300) a month, was jailed for five years. “I wanted to learn my religion but they show me the wrong way, the wrong activities,” Mizanur said in court.

“My intentions were wrong ... I’m very remorseful.” Two others were jailed for two and a half years and

the fourth for two years.

Bangladesh, a deeply religious but mostly moderate country of 160 million people, has faced a series of militant attacks over the past year, the most serious on July 1 when gunmen stormed a cafe in the capital, Dhaka, and killed 20 people, most of them foreigners.

Low-skilled workers Wealthy, multi-ethnic Singapore, has not faced any successful militant attacks in decades. There were no indications the men had planned to carry out attacks in Singapore.

Most Bangladeshis in Singapore are low-skilled and employed in construction and shipping.

Of the other four Bangladeshis detained in April, two who have yet to face trial pleaded not guilty when charged, saying they were unaware where their money was going.

The remaining two have yet to be charged and remain in detention.

No other details have been given.

Singapore authorities said the eight men, aged 26-34, plotted attacks in parks where they shared radical propaganda and videos.

Five other Bangladeshis who came to the attention of authorities attention during the investigation were sent home in April and arrested up their return.

Bangladesh police said they were being investigated for connections to the Ansarullah Bangla Team militant group. - Reuters

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister K. P. Oli-led coalition government on Tuesday plunged into a serious crisis after its alliance partner CPN-Maoist Centre withdrew support to the nine-month old government, accusing him of failing to implement past agreements.

CPN Maoist chairman Prachanda announced the withdrawal of support from the CPNUML-led coalition government, saying Oli’s party was hesitating to implement the past agreements — the nine-point agreement signed between CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre in May and the gentlemen’s agreement for the change of guard.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Prachanda referred to the promulgation of new Constitution and the past agreements, and said his party was always in favour of forging a national consensus.

He further said the party’s decision to withdraw support from the government would help build the national consensus.

“Our party saw the need for national consensus to implement the new statute, complete the remaining tasks of peace process along with the transitional justice, resolve the issues raised by Madhesis, Janajatis and Tharus, and provide relief to the people and carry out reconstruction of the country in the wake of the last year’s devastating earthquake,” reads the letter signed

ing change in government leadership), it would be politically inappropriate for our party to remain in this government. Thus, we withdraw our support from this government now.”

IN TROUBLE: Prime Minister K. P. Oli. – Bloomberg News

The Nepalese prime minister and the Maoist chief had reached a verbal agreement in May to hand over the leadership of the government to the latter after the Parliament endorses the new budget

by Prachanda. “And the spirit of nine-point agreement that the Maoist party and CPN-UML forged in May was also national consensus,” he pointed out.

“But as the leadership of the existing government was not ready to implement the nine-point agreement and the three-point gentlemen’s agreement (includ-

Verbal agreement Prime Minister Oli and the Maoist chief had reached a verbal agreement in May to hand over the leadership of the government to the latter after the Parliament endorses the new budget, according to sources close to Prachanda.

However, Prime Minister Oli turned his deaf ear towards the top Maoist leader and asserted that he would continue in power till the new election is held in one and a half year’s time.

The Maoists have also called back all of its ministers from the Oli-led government.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the CPN-UML’s leadership, the Maoist Centre had recently intensified intra-party and inter-party dialogues to form a new government in its leadership.

Maoist chief Prachanda had met Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday and held discussion on the issue of the latest political developments in the country.

During his talk with Deuba, Prachanda is learnt to have sought the support from main opposition Nepali Congress to form a new government under the leadership of his party. - PTI

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READERS’ FORUM Drivers not to blame as pedestrians ignore warnings This refers to the report, ‘Oman accident: Man dies after being run over by police car’ (July 12).It was quite an unfortunate incident resulting due to ignoring very basic road safety warnings. However, one must remember the risks involved while crossing roads as this has been a frequent scenario in the capital area. In certain places in the busy stretch between Ruwi and Qurum, there are hardly any over bridges or zebra crossings. In the busy morning hours people crossing the road is a common scene and motorists find it difficult to even slowdown their vehicles. Motorists cannot be blamed Scan this QR code for incidents when people are crossing to send letters to the unauthorised parts of the road. It is the Readers’ Forum, responsibility of public choosing the right containing not more than 200 words with options to reach their destinations, and full name, address safety must be given priority. The public and telephone must opt for the designated places to cross number, may be sent the road rather than be in a hurry whereby by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). ignoring all safety warnings. It would be ideal if authorities try to locate areas where pedestrians crossing the road is frequent and statistics of accident cases have been reported in the past. This would help find suitable remedial measures in the best possible manner to avoid similar instances in the future.

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Dallas: Crime scenes and weapons of war

JUSTIN FOX

Can you really square innovation and transformation with a vast government effort to shape, obscure and suppress all information that doesn’t adhere to’correct guidance’?

To some extent you can, clearly -- Inke and China’s legions of other, often quite-inventive internet companies are testimony to that

G

iven the horror of the murder of the five police officers in Dallas last Thursday, it may seem absurd or distasteful to ask whether it was a good idea to kill the sniper with a bomb mounted on a robot.

Surely anything that stopped the carnage was justified in the moment, and the police seem to have had no clear shot at the sniper. But the issue is more complicated, and it deserves to be considered carefully.

There’s a legal difference between targeting a crime suspect and targeting a wartime enemy.

There’s also a difference between using a weapon that can be aimed and using one that puts bystanders at greater risk.

And a precedent set under emergency conditions can easily expand in future cases.

The step from the robot bomb to a drone strike is barely even incremental: Morally and technologically, they’re basically the same.

Bombs and missiles aren’t new. There are reasons they are hardly ever used for domestic law enforcement in the US. Those reasons have to do with precision, scale, and the difference between apprehending criminals and fighting wars. We should be cautious and thoughtful about the expansion – even when we’re using the tools of war to save innocent lives.

We need rules and protocols to govern their use, both to protect the public and to make sure the police have guidance and don’t have to improvise under extreme pressure.

We don’t yet know exactly the circumstances that led the Dallas police to resort to use of the bomb. But we do know that the sniper was by legal definition a suspect. He hadn’t yet been arrested or convicted. He could have been legally insane, or he might not have been the shooter at all.

The police were operating under emergency conditions, trying to save innocent lives. Lethal force is legally justified in trying to stop a suspect who is using lethal force. That’s why it would have been perfectly acceptable for police sharpshooters to shoot the sniper in the head or heart.

And it’s the reason that, on the surface, there seems to be nothing troubling about killing him with a bomb. But there’s an important caveat to the principle that a suspect may be stopped with lethal force. The legal force has to be necessary to

stopping the suspect. It would almost always be more convenient for police to kill a violent felon in the course of committing a crime than to apprehend him. But a police force that systematically and intentionally killed all such suspects would be guilty of executing them extrajudicially.

The United Nations would investigate, and international law, which prohibits extrajudicial killing, would be invoked.

Nobody is accusing the Dallas police of extrajudicial killing; lethal force may well have been necessary to stop the sniper there. That is a judgment that’s hard to make and only the authorities at the scene can make it.

Ideally, it would have been better to use a police shooter, who might have been able to wound or incapacitate the sniper without killing him, and might have been in the best position to determine whether killing him was legally necessary.

Using a shooter would also probably have reduced the chance that others could be hurt. But it’s quite likely that it wouldn’t have been possible to put a shooter into position without endangering the lives of more officers.

If the police had a video camera on the robot that showed them that the suspect was alone, then the collateral damage worry may have been mitigated. In that case the bomb could have functioned just like a lethally aimed bullet. In fact, sometimes technology might even allow deploying less lethal force than a bullet, in the form of a stun grenade, for example.

So I’m not saying the use of the robot was legally unjustified here. I’m simply noting that the use of lethal force has to be necessary.

War is different from police work. Under the laws of war, a soldier is allowed to kill his enemy without worrying about trying to incapacitate him (unless he’s in the process of surrendering).

He or she must exercise proportionality with respect to collateral damage. But soldiers are entitled to what’s called battlefield immunity when it comes to lethal force. Then there’s the question of the precedent created by the use of the bomb in Dallas. A robot with a bomb attached is no different from a drone that fires a missile. — Bloomberg View

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JULY 2001 Qatabi signs three agreements MUSCAT: Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Qatabi, minister of state and governor of Dhofar, signed at his office yesterday three agreements worth around RO1.917 million to establish an administrative centre, mosque and a school with all required utilities at the niyabat of Sharbatat of the wilayat of Shaleem and Al Halaniyat islands. The implementation of these projects comes as part of the extended efforts to modernize infrastructure projects and administrative apparatuses in the Sultanate. The signing ceremony was attended by Sheikh Hamed bin Ali Ghafri, deputy governor of Dhofar, a number of senior officials and mangers of the companies which will implement the projects.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

A13

WORLD ILLEGAL REFUGEE FLOW

‘Migrant flows to EU eased after deal with Turkey’

‘MANHATTANHENGE’ SUNSET A view of the ‘Manhattanhenge’ sunset from Hunters Point South Park, on Monday in the Queens borough of New York City. ‘Manhattanhenge’ is created when the setting sun aligns with the city’s street grid. — Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP

PARIS: The flow of refugees and migrants to Europe has slowed since April when the European Union sealed a deal with Turkey to halt illegal traffic across the Aegean Sea, the region’s border agency chief said on Tuesday.

Since then, Italy has replaced Greece as the migration “front line”, with hundreds crossing the Mediterranean from Libya every day, Fabrice Leggeri, head of Frontex, the agency in charge of protecting the EU’s external borders, said. “For the first six months of 2016, there were 360,000 illegal entries in the EU, which is higher than what we saw last year, but the influx has been diminishing since April,” Leggeri told France’s Europe 1 radio.

In 2015, Frontex recorded more than 1.5 million irregular crossings into Europe, mostly by people entering Greece before heading north to Germany and Sweden, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere. Leggeri said the “new front line” was now Italy where about 750 people arrived each day compared with about 50 in Greece.

Malta-based charity Migrant Offshore Aid Station said one of its rescue ships had recovered the bodies of four migrants and rescued around 400 people from an overcrowded wooden boat en route to Italy from Libya. — Reuters

Merkel prods May on UK-EU ties after exit

UNANNOUNCED VISIT

Now easier for US troops to target Taliban rebels in Afghanistan: Carter

Theresa May, 59, will on Wednesday replace David Cameron, who is resigning after Britons rejected his advice and voted on June 23 to quit the European Union

LONDON: German leaders stepped up the pressure on Britain’s incoming prime minister Theresa May on Tuesday by demanding she swiftly spell out when she will launch divorce proceedings with the European Union.

“The task of the new prime minister... will be to get clarity on the question of what kind of relationship Britain wants to build with the European Union,” Chancellor Angela Merkel told a news conference.

Her finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said clarity was needed quickly to limit uncertainty after Britain’s shock choice for ‘Brexit’, which has rocked the 28-nation bloc and thrown decades of European integration into reverse.

May, 59, will on Wednesday replace David Cameron, who is resigning after Britons rejected his advice and voted on June 23 to quit the EU. On arriving and departing from Cameron’s last cabinet meeting, she waved a little awkwardly from the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, shortly to become her home.

She will face the enormous task of disentangling Britain from a forest of EU laws, accumulated over more than four decades, and negotiating new trade terms while limiting potential damage to the economy. The German leaders spoke after May’s ally Chris Grayling appeared to dampen any hopes among Britain’s EU partners that her rapid ascent might accelerate the process of moving ahead with the split and resolving the uncertainty hanging over the 28-nation bloc.

Grayling, the Leader of the House of Commons, said there was no hurry to invoke Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, which

LAST DAY IN OFFICE: Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron is pictured during a visit to Reach Academy Feltham in south west London, on Tuesday. — AFP/POOL/ CHRIS J RATCLIFFE

The task of the new prime minister... will be to get clarity on the question of what kind of relationship Britain wants to build with the European Union Angela Merkel

delivering a surprise outcome that reflected anti-establishment sentiment and deep disenchantment with an EU that the Leave campaign portrayed as bureaucratic, undemocratic and mired in permanent crises.

May, who had favoured a vote to stay in the EU, was left as the last woman standing after three leading rivals from the referendum’s winning Leave campaign self-destructed in the course of a shortlived leadership race.

Her last rival, Andrea Leadsom, dropped out on Monday, removing the need for a nine-week contest to decide who would become leader of the ruling Conservative Party and prime minister.

Apart from the task of leading Brexit, May must try to unite a fractured party and a nation in which many, on the evidence of

BOOST: US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, left, speaks during a joint news conference with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday. — Reuters

requested emergency assistance.

“Whereas previously he waited until a situation had developed in which Afghan forces really needed our enabling support, now he’s able to look ahead,” Carter said at a talk with American troops at Bagram air base. “That’s a better way of making use of what we have here now,” he said.

Americans have been backing up Afghan troops fighting Taliban militants in hotly contested southern regions, including Uruzgan and Maiwand in Kandahar province, as well as helping push insurgents back from areas around the northern city of Kunduz. In addition, they were striking IS in the eastern province of Nangarhar. “I think all the uses have been right in line with the intended purpose that the president gave us,” Nicholson told scribes at Bagram. — Reuters

IS INSURGENCY

German Chancellor

will formally launch the process of separation and start the clock ticking on a two-year countdown to Britain’s actual departure.

“I think Article 50 should be triggered when we’re ready. The most important thing right now is we do what’s in our national interest,” Grayling told Sky News.

“We get ourselves ready for the negotiation, we decide what kind of relationship we want to negotiate, and then we move ahead and trigger Article 50. We’ll do it right, we’ll do it in a proper way, we’ll do it when we’re ready.”

Cameron and a host of ministers, policymakers and thinktanks had warned Britons before the referendum that going it alone would plunge the economy into a self-inflicted recession by cutting it off from the world’s biggest free-trade bloc. They ignored him,

KABUL: The senior US commander in Afghanistan will have greater freedom to strike at the Taliban under broad new powers approved last month by President Barack Obama, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday.

Carter, on an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, said the powers granted to General John Nicholson would allow “much more efficient use and effective use of the forces we have here as well as the Afghan forces”.

Nicholson himself said the new broader authorities were being used “almost daily” in support of Afghan orces, pointing to a significant pickup in the pace of US operations, 18 months after the end of the main NATO combat mission.

A US military official said the new authorities had been used a couple of dozen times since they were approved by the White House in June. Carter’s visit comes days after Obama shelved plans to cut the US force in Afghanistan nearly in half by year’s end, opting instead to keep 8,400 troops there through to the end of his presidency in January.

Under the authorities previously granted to Nicholson, who commands both the NATO-led Resolute Support mission and a separate US counterterrorism mission, his forces could generally only intervene against the Taliban when Afghan government troops

the referendum, feel angry with the political elite and left behind by the forces of globalisation and economic change.

Among her first acts will be to name a new cabinet which will need to find space for some of those who campaigned successfully on the opposite side of the referendum. That could mean significant roles for Grayling and former defence secretary Liam Fox, two Leave advocates who threw their support behind her leadership bid.

Both are seen as candidates to head the Brexit ministry she has promised to create to oversee divorce negotiations with the EU, while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Sajid Javid are tipped as contenders to replace George Osborne as finance minister. — Reuters

Car bomb kills nine in north of Baghdad BAGHDAD: At least nine people were killed and 32 wounded on Tuesday when a car packed with explosives was detonated in a district just north of Baghdad, security and medical sources said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast in Rashidiya, but IS regularly carries out such bombings in the capital and other parts of Iraq, where it seized large swathes of territory in 2014.

Baghdad is on high alert for attacks after a blast in the central Karrada district on July 3 killed at least 292 people.

IS has turned increasingly to ad hoc attacks, which US and Iraqi officials have touted as proof that

CONFLICT: A member of the Iraqi security forces stands guard at the site of a car bomb attack in Rashidiya, a district north of Baghdad, Iraq on Tuesday. - Reuters

battlefield setbacks are weakening the militants. But critics say a global uptick in suicide attacks attributed to the group suggests it may adapt and survive. — Reuters

A 14

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

WORLD

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AUSTRIA: The art installation ‘F Lotus’ by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is pictured in front of the Upper Belvedere palace in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday. From July 14 to November 20, 2016, the 21er Haus museum presents Ai Weiwei’s solo show “translocation - transformation”, with the central exhibit of a tea merchant family’s ancestral temple from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), whose main hall will be reconstructed in the 21er Haus. - AFP/APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT

FRANCE: Protesters throw eggs and block access to SODIAAL, a dairy cooperative, to protest against the plunging prices of milk on Tuesday in Le Mans, western France. — AFP

FLORIDA: Awful smelling algae is seen along the St. Lucie River on Monday in Stuart, Florida.

The algae which is thought to be coming from from Lake Okeechobee as water is released has fouled coastal waterways, created angry communities, closed beaches and has had an economic impact as tourists and others are driven away by the smell and inability to enjoy some of the waterways. — Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP

UNITED KINGDOM: Lockheed C-130 Hercules, left, and a Lockheed Martin F-35B take part in a flying display at the Farnborough Airshow, south west of London, United Kingdom, on Tuesday. — AFP

CALIFORNIA: Ducklings and their mother swim in Echo Park Lake during the 36th annual Lotus Festival, on Sunday, in Los Angeles, California in this picture released on Tuesday. — AFP

NORTH KOREA: A bride and groom pose for photos with a horse at the Mirim riding school on the outskirts of Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday. — AFP

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

A15

WORLD Sanders endorses Clinton for White House in show of unity Five weeks after Clinton clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, the US senator from Vermont ended his upstart campaign and joined her at a rally in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH: Democrat Bernie Sanders endorsed former rival Hillary Clinton for president in a belated show of party unity on Tuesday, saying it was critical that Democrats come together to defeat Republican Donald Trump in the November 8 election.

“She will be the Democratic nominee for president, and I intend to do everything I can to make certain she will be the next president of the United States,” Sanders told a raucous crowd that included plenty of vocal Sanders supporters.

Five weeks after Clinton clinched the Democratic presidential nomination, the US senator from Vermont ended his upstart campaign and joined her at a rally in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to put their bitter primary battle behind them.

“I have come here to make it as clear as possible as to why I am endorsing Hillary Clinton and why she must become our next president,” Sanders said.

Sanders’ endorsement brought the most prominent holdout in the party’s liberal wing into Clinton’s

JOINT APPEARANCE: Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders stand together during a campaign rally where Sanders endorsed Clinton in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, US, on Tuesday. – Reuters

camp less than two weeks before the opening of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where Clinton is expected to become the party’s nominee.

Clinton hopes the joint appearance will help her win over Sanders supporters, some of whom carried Sanders signs into the rally and frequently drowned out her supporters. In recent Reuters/Ipsos polling, only about 40

percent of Sanders backers said they would back Clinton, and the crowd at Tuesday’s rally made it clear she still had work to do.

“I am absolutely certain I will not vote for Hillary Clinton,” said Gale Bailey, a Sanders supporter and an unemployed graphic designer from Rochester, New Hampshire, who attended the rally in a Sanders T-shirt.

“She’s a crook, and I’m not going

to vote for a crook,” Bailey said, adding that she would write in Sanders’ name on the November ballot. The appearance in Portsmouth concluded weeks of negotiations between the two camps as Sanders pressed for concessions from Clinton on his liberal policy agenda. It came after Clinton last week adopted elements of Sanders’ plans for free in-state college tuition and expanded affordable healthcare coverage. Sanders also successfully pushed to include an array of liberal policy positions in the Democratic platform, which a committee approved on Saturday.

Sanders did not win all of his policy fights, most notably failing to win support for blocking a vote in Congress on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. But he

told reporters at the rally in Portsmouth that “our job now is to see that platform implemented by a Democratic Senate, a Democratic House and a Hillary Clinton president - and I am going to do everything I can to make that happen.”

Top Democrats, including President Barack Obama and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, a favourite of the party’s liberal wing, have already announced their support for Clinton, leaving Sanders at risk of being left behind in the Democratic battle against Trump.

“I think all signs point to the fact that we’re going to have a very united party going into Philadelphia,” Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said on CNN earlier on Tuesday, “and when you compare it to the Republicans, we’re going to be miles ahead of them.”

Trump has struggled to unify the Republican Party after alienating many establishment figures with his stances on immigration, Muslims and women. A number of prominent Republicans are skipping the party’s convention in Cleveland next week.

In another sign of the Democrats’ growing unity, two prominent liberal groups that had backed Sanders, the Communications Workers of America labor union and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, announced their support for Clinton on Monday. The congressional group is led by two of Sanders’ biggest backers in Congress: Raul Grijalva of Arizona, who already had endorsed Clinton, and Keith Ellison of Minnesota.

New Hampshire is where Sanders first served notice of the strength of his campaign by beating Clinton handily in the primary.

In 2008, Clinton and Obama held their first joint rally in the state after his victory in that brutal primary race. To make sure everyone got the point, it took place in the town of Unity. — Reuters

T R A N S AT L A N T I C T R A D E

EU-US data transfer pact enters into force BRUSSELS: A new commercial data pact between the European Union and the United States entered into force on Tuesday, ending months of uncertainty over cross-border data flows, and companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft can sign up from August 1.

The EU-US Privacy Shield will give businesses moving personal data across the Atlantic - from human resources information to people’s browsing histories to hotel bookings - an easy way to do so without falling foul of tough EU data transferral rules.The previous such framework, Safe Harbour, was struck down by the EU’s top court in October on the grounds that it allowed US agents too much access to Europeans’ data.

Revelations three years ago from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden of mass US surveillance practices caused political outrage in Europe and stoked mistrust of big US tech companies.

In the months that followed the EU ruling companies have had to rely on other more cumbersome mechanisms for legally transferring data to the United States.

The Privacy Shield will underpin over $250 billion of transatlantic trade in digital services annually.

Google and Microsoft said they would sign up to the Privacy Shield and would work with European data protection authorities in case of inquiries. A person familiar with social network Facebook’s thinking said the company had not yet decided whether to sign up. “It’s too early to say as we haven’t seen the full text yet but like other companies we will be evaluating the text in the coming weeks,” the person said.

The Privacy Shield seeks to strengthen the protection of Europeans whose data is moved to US servers by giving EU citizens greater means to seek redress in case of disputes, including through a new privacy ombudsman within the State Department. — Reuters

A 16

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

WORLD

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20 killed, dozens injured as trains collide in Italy Three carriages were torn apart by the violence of the impact after the two trains hit each other head-on as they travelled down the same stretch of track

BARI (ITALY): Twenty people died and dozens were injured on Tuesday when two passenger trains collided at high speed in southern Italy, sending debris flying into surrounding olive groves.

Three carriages were torn apart by the violence of the impact after the two trains hit each other headon as they travelled down the same stretch of track that links the small towns of Corato and Andria in the region of Puglia.

“Unfortunately the death toll has risen to 20,” said Giuseppe Corrado, deputy head of the local province. He appealed for blood donors to go to local hospitals, with at least 30 people hurt in the crash. There was no immediate indication of what had caused one of Italy’s worst train disasters in recent years, but the government promised a full and swift investigation.

“Tears and grief for the victims and their families, but also a lot of anger. We demand clarity over what happened in Puglia this morning,” Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said on Twitter.

The crash happened at around 11.30 am (0930 GMT) on a fiercely hot summer’s day.

Both trains were made up of four carriages. The front carriages

TORN APART: Rescuers work after a head-on collision between two passenger trains, near Corato, in the southern Italian region of Puglia on Tuesday. – AFP

on each were pulverised as they slammed into one another. Sky Italia TV quoted sources as saying one of the drivers had died, with no word yet about the fate of the other one. “It looks like there has been a plane crash,” said the mayor of Corato, Massimo Mazzilli.

Rescue services parked their ambulances and fire trucks among the olive trees and set up a field hospital to treat the injured. The

sound of crickets rang out as the first bodies were extracted from the site in metal caskets. “I dug through the wreckage and managed to save my husband. But I saw people cut to pieces,” said an elderly woman standing alongside her husband, whose head was swathed in bandages. Another survivor said he was thrown to the floor by the impact. “When I got up, I saw hellish scenes around me.”

Kicking up clouds of dust, helicopters landed in a nearby field to pick up the most seriously injured.

It was not clear how many people had been on the trains at the time of the collision. By mid-afternoon a giant crane had arrived at the scene to start lifting the smashed carriages to see if any bodies were still trapped under the wreckage.

The stretch of track is operated

by a small, private rail company Ferrotramviaria. Italian media said the European Union had earmarked funds to build a second track along the route but that the work had been delayed. The last major rail disaster in Italy was in 2009 when a freight train derailed in Viareggio, in the centre of the country, and more than 30 people living close to the tracks died in the subsequent fire. — Reuters

REPORT

Singapore is safest country to do business CHICAGO: Singapore is the safest nation to do business, according to global risk management company Pinkerton’s new tool to help corporate clients assess threats on a country-by-country basis.

The Pinkerton Risk Index Report, which the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based unit of Securitas AB announced on Tuesday, lists Switzerland as the second-safest country. The United States ranked seventh. At the other end of the scale, Chad has the highest overall risk, followed by Zimbabwe and Guinea, according to the index, which uses data based on factors including natural disasters, disease, terrorism, social unrest and economic problems. Pinkerton said its report would take into account 83 different variables to help companies make decisions on relocations, expansions, investment and business travel.

The report could also help insurers determine risk for providing coverage around the world.

Pinkerton President Jack Zahran said terrorist attacks and natural disasters were becoming more frequent, potentially causing widespread disruption to supply chains. “If you look at how our clients are operating, they’re more global, and things are more connected,” Zahran said in an interview. “You can’t just look at your country in a silo anymore because things happening around the world are going to start impacting you directly and indirectly.”

Pinkerton will publish an overall risk index annually, which covers more than 60 countries, while clients can receive daily updates.

Jeff Spivey, president of Security Risk Management Inc and cofounder of the Global Security Risk Management Alliance, said the index could provide companies with more visibility to help them manage risk.

“The companies that have better risk management programs like this make more money,” Spivey said, “and they’re more profitable, successful companies.” — Reuters

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W EDN ES DAY, JULY 13, 2016

MARKE

OMAN OIL PRICE RISES Oman Crude (September delivery) declined by 89 cents to $43.49 per barrel, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (July delivery) stabilised at $44.33 per barrel, $4.93 higher than June delivery. – ONA

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Muscat 5,848.89 + 28.55 + 0.49%

Dubai 3,437.51 + 44.61 + 1.31%

Abu Dhabi 4,528.98 - 11.29 - 0.25%

Saudi Arabia

6,623.52 + 53.18 + 0.81%

Kuwait 5,377.75 + 12.28 + 0.23%

Bahrain 1,167.97 + 11.52 + 1.00%

Qatar 10,140.79 + 35.27 + 0.35%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................. 2.31 Pound ........................................... 1.97 Indian Rs ............................. 174.25 Pak Rs ....................................267.67 Bangla Taka.......................201.09

Indian Rs ...................................174.40 Pakistan Rs .............................272.00 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka........................... 203.50 Phil Peso ................................... 122.80

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) ....... 17.30

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$43.23 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$43.23 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$45.53 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$43.83 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ......... $47.76

* Rates are as of Jul 12 Source: Bank Muscat

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$46.01

* Rates as of Jul 12 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......16.55 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 164.00 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............ 154.00 * Rates as of Jul 12 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

ODB disburses highest number of loans to Dhofar governorate Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Development Bank’s efforts to strengthen investments in the private sector, with special focus on industrial and service segments, across the Sultanate is paying off.

Oman Development Bank (ODB) said in a statement that Dhofar governorate came first in terms of the number of developmental loans provided by ODB in the first quarter of the current year.

They numbered 254 loans forming 18 per cent of the total number of

They numbered 254 loans forming 18 per cent of the total number of loans issued by the bank, with a value of over OMR1.35 million GOVERNMENT TREASURY BILLS

CBO issues tenders worth OMR67.5m MUSCAT: A tender of Government Treasury Bills, issue number 446, was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week.

The total value of the allotted Treasury Bills amounted to OMR67.5 million, for a maturity period of 91 days, from July 13 until next October 12, 2016.

The average accepted price reached 99.794 for every OMR100, while the minimum accepted price arrived at 99.785 per OMR100. Whereas the average discount rate and the average yield reached 0.82716 per cent and 0.82887 per cent, respectively. The Treasury Bills are shortterm highly secured financial instruments issued by the CBO on

behalf of the Government, which helps the licensed commercial banks to gainfully invest their surplus funds, with added advantage of ready liquidity through discounting and repurchase facilities (Repo) offered by the Central Bank. Furthermore, Treasury Bills promote the local money market by creating a benchmark yield curve for short-term interest rates. Additionally, the Government (MOF) may also resort to this instrument whenever felt necessary for financing its recurrent expenditures.

The interest rate on the Repo operations with CBO is one per cent for the period from July 12, 2016 to July 18, 2016. — ONA

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

– Supplied picture

NBC signs major incubation deal with Omani firm Times News Service MUSCAT: National Business Centre (NBC), which pertains to the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), signed on Tuesday an incubation agreement with Advanced Safety Solutions. The company shall benefit from the services offered by the Riyada incubator, which is managed by NBC. The agreement was signed between Malak Al Shaibani, director general of NBC, and Adil Khan, director of Advanced Safety Solutions.

“Advanced Safety Solutions is an independent fire protection engineering and life safety code consulting firm, authorised by the Fire Risk Prevention Department of Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance Services (PACDA),” said Khan.

“Advanced Safety Solutions was established in the middle of 2014 to provide unbiased expert analysis, advice and solutions on a wide range of fire safety issues

to promoters, owners, developers, architects and consultants.

Ever since, Advanced Safety Solutions has steadily grown to be one of the most renowned fire protection consultancy firms in Oman.

We aspire to benefit from the incentives offered by National Business Centre to develop and expand our efforts in this field,” he further added.

NBC is an initiative launched

by PEIE at Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM) to offer promising Omani entrepreneurs a platform to develop their business ideas and advance them into growing ventures.

The National Business Centre offers a premier platform to Omani entrepreneurs by providing business development support and guidance, training and mentoring, access to markets and industry experts, and state-ofthe-art and fully equipped office space, meeting rooms and presentation facilities.

loans issued by the bank, with a value of over OMR1.35 million (10 per cent of the total value of loans provided by the bank).

According to bank officials in the first quarter of the current year it has disbursed 1,394 loans totalling OMR13.60 million.

Ash Sharqiyah North governorate followed with 231 loans, forming 17 per cent of the number of loans, and valued at over OMR1.70 million.

Al Batinah North governorate received 210 developmental loans (15 per cent of the number of de-

velopmental loans) worth over OMR2.30 million (17 per cent of the total loan value).

Musandam governorate came fourth at 154 loans forming 9 per cent of the total number of loans, valued at OMR588,780, while Muscat came fifth with 130 developmental loans, forming 9 per cent of the total number of loans worth over OMR4.68 million.

The governorate of Al Batinah South received108 loans (8 per cent of the total number of loans), worth OMR776,921, which is 6 per cent of the total value of loans.

The number of loans sanctioned in Al Wusta governorate reached74, forming 5 per cent of the total loans, with a value of OMR223,910, while the number of loans issued in Al Buraimi governorate stood at 69, forming 5 per cent of the total number of loans, and valued at OMR391,000.

Ad Dhahirah governorate received 58 loans, forming 4 per cent of the total loans, valued at OMR603,840, while Ash Sharqiyah South governorate received 54 loans, forming 4 per cent of the total number of ODB loans, and with

a value of OMR262,300. Ad Dakhiliyah governorate received 52 loans (4 per cent of the total loans) worth OMR706,653.

Industrial sector The ODB press statement further states that the industrial sector topped the list of beneficiaries with 606 loans valued at over OMR7.59 million, constituting nearly 43 per cent of the total development loans issued by ODB in the first quarter. The sector received as much as 55 per cent of the total loan value.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,848.89 ...............5,819.02 ................... 5,848.89 ...................5,820.34................. 28.55 ...................0.49 Financial Index .....................................7,383.62 ............... 7,337.96 ....................7,383.62 ....................7,337.96................. 45.66 ...................0.62 Industrial Index ....................................7,484.12 ...............7,449.90 ....................7,465.06 ....................7,484.11................ -19.05 .................. -0.25 Services Index .......................................3,258.77 .............. 3,250.48 ................... 3,258.77 ...................3,250.48....................8.29 ...................0.26 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 896.77 ................. 894.02 .......................896.77 .......................895.61.....................1.16 ................... 0.13 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 10,905,490 ..................3,327,668 .....................867 ............... 17,109,964,682 ................ 14 ........................6 .................... 18 .........................38

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, JULY 12 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

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

OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................70,400 ...............6,124......................12 ........... 0.085 ...........0.088 ...........0.085........... 0.087 .............0.080 ........... 0.007............. 8.750 ................0.088..............0.088...................0.000 ...................2,610,000 ..........0.100

Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture

OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 202,855 ............56,764.....................20 ........... 0.278 ...........0.282 ...........0.278........... 0.280 .............0.268 ............0.012 ............. 4.478 ................0.281 ..............0.281...................0.282 ..................28,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 429,913 ......... 263,418..................... 49 ........... 0.608 ...........0.620 ...........0.608............0.612 .............0.598 ............0.014 ............. 2.341 ................0.612 .............. 0.612...................0.620 ..................33,660,000.........0.100

MSM index ends higher

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 266,500 ............47,799........................6 ............0.177 ........... 0.180 ...........0.177 ............0.179 ............. 0.175............ 0.004.............2.286 ................0.180.............. 0.177...................0.182..................287,205,382........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................ 75,773 ..........103,945..................... 10 ............1.340 ........... 1.380 ...........1.340............1.370 .............1.340 ........... 0.030.............2.239 ................1.380 ..............1.380...................1.460................. 274,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 339,000 ........... 83,208......................13 ........... 0.240...........0.248 ...........0.240 .......... 0.245 .............0.240 ........... 0.005............. 2.083 ................0.248..............0.245...................0.248 .................361,321,412 ........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 988,932 ......... 145,887..................... 65 ............0.148 ........... 0.150 ...........0.146 ........... 0.148 ............. 0.145............ 0.003.............2.069 ................0.147 ..............0.146...................0.147...................13,320,000.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 261,175 .............19,593......................11 ........... 0.076 ........... 0.076 ...........0.075........... 0.075 .............0.074 ............0.001 ..............1.351.................0.075..............0.075...................0.076...................13,125,000 .........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 201,410.......... 337,085..................... 53 ............1.665 ........... 1.685 ...........1.665 ............1.675 .............1.660.............0.015 .............0.904 ................1.685 .............. 1.675...................1.680................1,256,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 237,548 ............61,590.....................42 ........... 0.256 ...........0.264 ...........0.254........... 0.259 .............0.257 ........... 0.002............. 0.778 ................0.260..............0.258...................0.260 ...................5,439,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ......................................311,191 ............ 92,433......................18 ........... 0.295 ...........0.298 ...........0.295........... 0.297 .............0.295 ........... 0.002............. 0.678 ................0.298..............0.288...................0.298 ..................86,323,353 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,403,055 ...... 533,165................... 172 ........... 0.380 ...........0.382 ...........0.380........... 0.380 .............0.378 ........... 0.002............. 0.529 ................0.382..............0.382...................0.396..................948,575,098........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 103,416 .............20,516......................12 ............0.199 ...........0.200 ...........0.198 ........... 0.198 ............. 0.197.............0.001 ............. 0.508 ................0.200 .............0.198...................0.199...................39,600,000.........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 207,147.............46,561..................... 23 ........... 0.227 ...........0.227 ...........0.224 .......... 0.225 .............0.224 ............0.001 .............0.446 ................0.225..............0.225...................0.227 ..................28,102,041 .........0.100

Al Batinah Development, up 8.75 per cent,

OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 700,600 ........... 68,659........................8 ........... 0.098 ...........0.098 ...........0.098........... 0.098 .............0.098 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.098..............0.097...................0.098..................196,030,653 ........0.100

was top gainer while with a loss of 3.13 per

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 334,461 ..........157,892..................... 32 ........... 0.472 ........... 0.476 ...........0.472........... 0.472 .............0.472 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.472..............0.460...................0.472.................. 156,171,919 ........0.100

OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY..................................... 50,000 ............ 91,000........................4 ............1.820 ........... 1.820 ...........1.820........... 1.820 .............1.820 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.820.............. 1.780...................1.820..................163,254,000 .......0.100

OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 918,228 ..........161,651..................... 66 ............0.176 ........... 0.177 ...........0.175 ............0.176 ............. 0.176............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.176 .............. 0.176...................0.177 ...................30,800,432.........0.100

cent, Construction Materials was the top loser.

OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 212,000 ........... 38,390........................7 ............0.181 ........... 0.185 ...........0.181 ............0.181 ............. 0.181............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.185 .............. 0.181...................0.185..................257,931,542 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................13,442 ............... 2,851........................5 ........... 0.220...........0.220 ...........0.211 ........... 0.212 .............0.212 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.212.............. 0.211...................0.212...................12,975,306 .........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ..................................... 3,992 ............... 7,585........................1 ........... 1.900 ........... 1.900 ...........1.900........... 1.900 .............1.900 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.900............. 0.000...................1.940..................180,500,000 .......0.100

MUSCAT: Local and regional interest in financials drove the MSM30 Index to 5,848.89 points, posting gain of 0.49 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 896.77 points, up 0.13 per cent.

Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Al Batinah Development, up 8.75 per cent, was Tuesday’s top gainer while with a loss of 3.13 per cent, Construction Materials was the top loser.

A total number of 867 trades were executed on Tuesday, generating turnover of OMR3.3 million with 10.9 million shares changing hands. Out of 38 traded securities, 14 advanced, six declined and 18 remained unchanged.

At the session close, GCC & Arab Investors were net buyers for OMR265,000 followed by Omani investors for OMR144,000 while foreign investors switched to net sellers for OMR409,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index advanced 0.62 per cent to close at 7,383.62

points. Al Batinah Development, Oman United Insurance, Bank Sohar, NBO and Al Sharqia Investments gained 8.75 per cent, 4.48 per cent, 2.29 per cent, 2.08 per cent and 2.07 per cent respectively. Takaful Oman and Oman & Emirates Holding declined 1.64 per cent and 1.45 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index retreated 0.25 per cent to end at 7,465.06 points.

Raysut Cement, Gulf International Chemicals and Al Jazeera Steel gained 2.24 per cent, 0.78 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. Construction Materials, Al Anwar Ceramics, Galfar Engineering and Al Hassan Engineering declined 3.13 per cent, 2.78 per cent, 2.73 per cent and 2.50 per cent respectively.

Services Index ended positively at 3,258.77 points, up 0.26 per cent. National Gas, Omantel, Renaissance Services and OIFC increased 2.34 per cent, 0.90 per cent, 0.68 per cent and 0.51 per cent respectively. — United Securities

OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .........................................................2,000 ..................302........................1 ............0.151 ........... 0.151............ 0.151 ............0.151 ............. 0.151 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.151 ............. 0.000................... 0.151 ................... 49,271,781 .........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES .......................... 70,000 ...............8,260........................7 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............0.118 ............0.118 ............. 0.118............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.118 ...............0.115................... 0.118 ....................6,943,500 ..........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .......10,580 .............15,792........................2 ............1.495 ........... 1.495 ...........1.490............1.495 ............. 1.495............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.490 .............. 1.475...................1.490..................103,155,000 ........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE .................................................. 50,000 ...............6,300........................2 ............0.126 ........... 0.126 ...........0.126........... 0.126 .............0.126............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.126 ..............0.122...................0.126...................31,952,340 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 701,286 .........522,238..................... 26 ............0.744 ........... 0.760 ...........0.744........... 0.744 .............0.744............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.752 ..............0.748...................0.752................. 484,302,507 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................83,428 .............39,378......................12 ........... 0.472 ........... 0.472 ...........0.472........... 0.472 .............0.472 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.472..............0.426...................0.472...................24,780,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............. 50,518 ...............6,882........................8 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.135 ............0.136 ............. 0.138............-0.002 ........... -1.449 ...............0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.139...................16,575,000 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 652,703 ........... 69,966......................41 ............0.109 ........... 0.109 ...........0.106........... 0.107 ............. 0.110............-0.003 ........... -2.727 ...............0.106..............0.107...................0.109...................31,027,928 .........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 513,956..........125,902..................... 36 ........... 0.242...........0.246 ...........0.242 .......... 0.245 .............0.252 ...........-0.007 ........... -2.778 ...............0.243............. 0.242...................0.245 ..................72,572,352.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,465,509 ....3,141,136...................764 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......30........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................73,500 ...............4,557........................8 ........... 0.062 ...........0.062 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.062 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.062..............0.061...................0.062 ................... 7,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001897 ............MAJAN COLLEGE ..........................................................5,000 ...............2,520........................1 ........... 0.504 ...........0.504 ...........0.504........... 0.510 ............. 0.510............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.504..............0.500...................0.520 ..................15,300,000.........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 305,000 ........... 23,697......................17 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.079 ...........0.077........... 0.078 .............0.078 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.078..............0.077...................0.079..................117,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK..................................................5,000 ..................300........................1 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.061 ............. 0.061............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.059...................0.060 ..................61,000,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 895,983 ..........145,164..................... 55 ............0.162 ........... 0.163 ...........0.160........... 0.162 .............0.162............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.160.............. 0.159................... 0.161 ..................236,941,437........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE .............................. 11,440 ............... 1,378........................3 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.118 ........... 0.120 .............0.122 ...........-0.002 ............-1.639................0.118 ..............0.120...................0.122...................12,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING................................... 94,000 ...............7,364......................12 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.079 ...........0.078........... 0.078 .............0.080 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.500 ...............0.079..............0.079...................0.080 ...................5,866,224 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................50,058 ............... 1,552........................6 ............0.031 ........... 0.031 ...........0.031 ............0.031 .............0.032 ...........-0.001 ............-3.125................0.031 ..............0.030...................0.031....................2,635,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,439,981....... 186,532...................103 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 8........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

MOBILE GAME

Pokemon Go was an April Fool’s joke before it became a hit TOKYO: Pokemon Go, the location-based mobile game that has become a massive hit, began as an April Fool’s joke.

In 2014, Google unveiled “Pokemon Challenge” for Google Maps complete with a promotional video, inviting users to find and capture the cutesy fictional monsters within the application. The feature was active for a short while before it ended.

John Hanke, chief executive officer of Niantic Labs, took it seriously though. The company that was then part of Google had already scored a hit with the location-based game Ingress, and combining the world of Pokemon with such gameplay was an obvious step. He asked Masashi Kawashima, director of Asia operations for Niantic, whether “it could be done in the real world.”

Released last week, Pokemon Go grabbed peoples’ attention by blending the spheres of Pokemon and mobile gaming. There’s a ready-made generation of fans, nurtured on playing cards, video games and cartoon shows, familiar with the story-line of finding,

training and pitting “pocket monsters” against each other. With the new game, players are encouraged to traverse their physical surroundings, phone in hand, to find new characters. The game’s exploding popularity has sent people into pizzerias, led to the discovery of a dead body and may even be helping robbers target victims.

“This is probably the first smartphone game that has spawned a social phenomenon,” said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo.

“The key thing is that this is happening globally. And Nintendo has proven that it can still come out with hits that have broad appeal and can earn money.”

Nintendo was at the nexus of the efforts to introduce Pokemon Go. A team of developers from Nintendo, Pokemon (which is partly owned by Nintendo) and Niantic was assembled to build the game.

In 2015, Niantic was spun out of Google, backed by funding from Nintendo, Google, Pokemon and other investors. The project had the full support of Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s president who died last

HUGE HIT AMONG GAMERS: Released last week, Pokemon Go grabbed peoples’ attention by blending the spheres of Pokemon and mobile gaming. — Bloomberg News

year. Iwata, who was instrumental in turning Nintendo around by bringing hits such as the handheld Nintendo DS and motion-based Wii to market, had always advocated for games that got people out of their seats and moving.

“Please watch from the sky, as we find out how many people start

going outside,” Kawashima wrote in an online blogpost.

While Pokemon Go is free to download, people can enhance their performance within the game by buying Pokeballs and other items that make it easier for players to find and capture Pokemon. That’s helped boost Ninten-

do shares by more than 50 per cent since Wednesday, when the game debuted in the US, Australia and New Zealand and shot to the top of download charts.

Niantic was already familiar with the challenges of building an app that combines real-world locations with game play, having amassed more than 14 million downloads for Ingress. That game, which is being played in more than 200 countries, requires players to move through cities and towns to capture “portals” at landmarks such as public art institutions or monuments, essentially turning the entire world into a virtual game board. The same idea has been applied to Pokemon Go. Even before it was spun out of Google, Niantic was formed as an internal startup by Hanke, who joined Google in 2004 when he sold the mapping company he founded, Keyhole Inc., to the search giant. Keyhole later become Google Earth, and its core technology was used for Google Maps and other location-based products from the web company.

Niantic, named after a whaling

vessel that berthed in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush, got as much as $30 million in its first round of funding after separating from Google last year.

Earlier this year, Hanke mapped out his ambitions for the company, saying that new software and hardware will soon emerge that will “blur the lines between games, cinema, apps, fitness and even navigation and commerce.” That’s strikingly similar to Iwata’s vision.

“As I look toward Pokemon Go and beyond, I am as excited as I was on day one about how the idea of ’Real World’ games can help us meet new people and forge connections in our home towns and around the world while also giving us a nudge to stay active and explore those less travelled paths, in our backyard and sometimes far beyond,” Hanke wrote.

— Bloomberg News

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

B3

MARKET N O T - F O R - P R O F I T I N I T I AT I V E

Three new global business leaders join the ‘B Team’ Times News Service MUSCAT: The B Team announced on Tuesday that Oliver Bäte of the Allianz Group, Andrew Liveris of The Dow Chemical Company and Arif Naqvi of The Abraaj Group will join co-founders Richard Branson, Jochen Zeitz, and 18 other global leaders from business and civil society in their collective effort to redefine the role of business as a force for social, environmental and economic benefit.

The B Team is a not-for-profit initiative formed by a global group of business leaders to catalyse a better way of doing business, for the wellbeing of people and the planet.

The new leaders represent a range of geographies and sectors, enriching the diverse perspectives P C I D S S C E R T I F I C AT I O N

Arab Financial Services bags top certification

which help drive The B Team’s work. Oliver Bäte is the CEO of the Allianz Group, one of the world’s largest insurance companies and asset managers, serving 85 million customers in more than 70 countries.

He has been a vocal advocate on climate change and the need to manage associated risks as a central part of the business strategy.

Andrew Liveris is the Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, a multinational corporation which, under his leadership has worked to combine the power of science and Arif Naqvi. — Supplied picture technology to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean agricultural productivity. water, clean energy generation Arif Naqvi is the Founder and and conservation, and increasing Group Chief Executive of The

Abraaj Group, a leading private equity investor operating in global growth markets. He is a member of the board of the UN Global Compact, the Interpol Foundation and the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.

“The addition of these purposedriven and accomplished leaders adds invaluable depth of knowledge and fresh perspectives to our team,” Zeitz said.

“We’re excited to work alongside them as we push toward a Plan B for business in which sustainable, resilient business models are the new global norm.”

All three leaders will join the Net Zero by 2050 initiative, which seeks to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to preserve land and ocean

resources by measuring business impacts and dependencies on natural capital. Bäte and Liveris were among 79 prominent CEOs who signed an open letter released before last year’s Paris climate conference that called for world leaders to pursue “a low-carbon, sustainable future while keeping the rise in global temperature to under 2 degrees Celsius.”

Bäte and Naqvi will also work on the 100 per cent Human at Work initiative, which seeks to inspire a movement of business leaders who will lead their businesses through the principles of equality, respect, growth, belonging and purpose.

Naqvi will also participate in initiatives which address The B Team Challenges of ‘Fostering Collaboration’ and ‘Creating thriv-

ing communities,’ which seek to create dialogue and build open and engaged communities through a multi-stakeholder process.

Liveris will also work on the team’s Governance & Transparency initiative, which focuses on fighting corruption by ending anonymous companies, and seeks to create and maintain environments in which governments and companies are responsive and accountable to informed, empowered citizens.

“Both Allianz and I personally have long been committed to managing the risks of climate change and advancing equality and social inclusion, and I am delighted to be able to contribute our expertise to The B Team’s initiatives,” said Oliver Bäte.

Boeing, Airbus duel for $12b order from India’s SpiceJet

Times News Service MUSCAT: Arab Financial Services (AFS), the leading provider of electronic payments and consumer finance outsourcing services, became the first Payment Processor in the Middle East to achieve the prestigious PCI DSS certification on its latest version release 3.2.

“AFS is proud to be among a handful of organisations globally that are certified under PCI-DSS 3.2, one of the most stringent security standards globally.” said AFS Chief Executive Officer B Chandrasekhar.

Ensuring compliance “The certification is a natural outcome of the systematic procedures we have always followed and promoted to provide high level security while ensuring compliance for all our clients,” he said.

“Security measures applied to payment cards in the framework of PCI DSS standard are deployed in all Arab Financial Services solutions, including the new Debit Processing platform and its range of Value Added Services such as Mobile Payments, Analytics, Loyalty to name a few,” AFS Chief Executive Officer further added.

Boeing and Airbus Group are locked in a battle to supply SpiceJet with as many as 100 planes, and both are offering

FLYING HIGH: SpiceJet needs to ramp up its 43-plane fleet quickly to pose a meaningful threat to IndiGo, which controls 38.5 per cent of the market and flies 108 aircraft. — Bloomberg file picture

aggressive discounts in negotiations that have intensified in the past few months

FARNBOROUGH, (ENGLAND): Two years ago, SpiceJet was fighting for survival as creditors retreated and oil companies refused to refuel its airliners. Today, the world’s biggest planemakers are wooing the recovering Indian budget carrier for a potential blockbuster order worth about $12 billion.

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Boeing and Airbus Group are locked in a battle to supply SpiceJet with as many as 100 planes, and both are offering aggressive discounts in negotiations that have intensified in the past few months, according to people with direct knowledge of the talks, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private.

A win would be key for Boeing, with the US manufacturer lagging behind its European rival in India’s burgeoning budget-airline market, one of the key sources of industry growth globally. Segment leader IndiGo and the local units of Singapore Airlines and AirAsia, which fly only Airbus jets, have

squeezed Boeing’s prospects in a market where air travel is growing at a pace faster than in China or the US. “Losing SpiceJet would be a big blow to Boeing,” said Amber Dubey, a New Delhi-based consultant heading aerospace at KPMG. SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh “knows this and hence is perhaps having interesting conversations with both.”

Ramping up The Indian discount airline needs to ramp up its 43-plane fleet quickly to pose a meaningful threat to IndiGo, which controls 38.5 per cent of the market and flies 108 aircraft. IndiGo’s

owner, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., has placed orders for 430 Airbus A320neo planes, with a target to build a 1,000-jet fleet eventually.

A SpiceJet spokesman confirmed that Singh is attending this week’s Farnborough Air Show in the UK, but declined to say whether an order announcement is imminent. “We will continue to work with them on the fleet needs and look forward to delivering their first 737Max,” Dinesh Keskar, Boeing’s senior vice president for sales, said in an e-mail.

“Airbus enjoys 70 per cent market share in India and most Indian carriers are growing their business with us,” said Airbus spokes-

man Justin Dubon. “We’d be delighted to help SpiceJet too.”

Bombardier, which is enjoying a revival with its C Series narrowbody jet starting service and winning a benchmark deal with Delta Air Lines, is in a separate race for more than 50 smaller planes that SpiceJet is buying. The Canadian aircraft producer will be competing against Brazil’s Embraer and the Avions de Transport Regional, or ATR, joint venture of Airbus and Italy’s Leonardo-Finmeccanica. At least eight budget carriers dot the skies of India, where air travel grew more than 20 per cent last year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In comparison, passenger traffic in China rose about 10 per cent and less than 5 per cent in the US, IATA said in December.

India also poses risks, with some carriers failing due to fuel taxes, tariffs and low fares. As many as 17 airlines in India have shut down in the past two decades, while accumulated losses of operating airlines have reached $8.9 billion, according to a research paper published in June by consulting company KPMG and the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India. — Bloomberg News

B4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

FEATURE

FREEDOM HAS MORE THAN ONE MEANING IN TODAY'S

THE BRONZE STATUE of Deng Xiaoping at the Shenzhen Museum is a little larger than life. But unlike the giant, striding Deng who towers over the city from a hill in a nearby park, there’s nothing imposing about it. It depicts the former Chinese leader planting a tree, something he did at a botanical garden in Shenzhen during a famous visit in 1992. The actual shovel and pail he used are in an adjacent display case.

The statue is part of the museum’s permanent exhibit on “Reform and Opening-up History in Shenzhen,” to which I paid a visit during an Independence Day tour of this giant city on the border with Hong Kong. I didn’t go on July 4 — the museum is closed Mondays, and the people of Shenzhen are all at work — but I figured July 3 was close enough.

While I was gazing upon Deng and his shovel, a teenage girl

walked up to the statue and, ignoring the “No Touching” sign, rested her hand gently on Deng’s arm. A guard started yelling at her, but the girl kept her hand there for a while. Finally she gave the guard a withering look and moved on.

After that, several others walked up to the statue and touched Deng in the same place on his upper arm. In a couple of cases they posed for photos. The guard had by this point given up and moved on to another part of the exhibit.

Maybe all I was witnessing was the Chinese proclivity for ignoring petty rules. But in my Independence Day mindset I couldn’t resist reading a little more into the relationship between Deng, who died in 1997, and the inhabitants of this city that he played such a big role in creating.

Deng came to Shenzhen and planted that tree less than three years after ordering the violent

crackdown on unarmed protesters in Tiananmen Square. He had retired as the Communist Party’s leader a few weeks after Tiananmen and, at age 87, no longer had a formal political role. But as his successors in the Party’s leadership began to proceed from silencing political dissent to squashing the country’s other experiments with openness and reform — of which the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, created in 1980, was the most prominent — Deng decided he had to do something.

In January 1992 he left Beijing, without telling any top government officials what he was up to, and embarked on a tour of the economic-reform zones of southern China. By the time he got to Shenzhen, 50 to 60 news photographers were trailing him and crowds gathered to cheer him wherever he went. As Ezra P. Vogel put it in his 2013 biography of Deng:

To many officials in Beijing, Deng was viewed as a stern commander, but the crowds in Shenzhen cheerily greeted “uncle Deng” (shushu hao) (and, for younger people, “grandpa Deng,” yeye hao), whom they found warm, witty, and eager to soak in all the latest developments.

The southern tour worked as Deng had hoped. Shenzhen’s experimentation with market economics was allowed to continue and was steadily embraced by the rest of the country. And, to the surprise of many outside observers, Deng’s uneasy balancing of political repression with ever-growing economic freedoms has now outlived him by almost 20 years.

You may find this compromise cynical. You may find it unsustainable. I have held such views from time to time, and probably will again in the future. But take a tour of Shenzhen on a summer Sunday,

as I did, and it’s really not hard to understand the fondness here for Uncle Deng.

This was a railroad-station town of 30,000 before the Special Economic Zone was created.

Residents were constantly leaving to swim across the river to Hong Kong. Now, Shenzhen has 11 million inhabitants. They (or their parents — this city is bursting with children and teenagers) emigrated from all over China in search of economic opportunity here.

In the early days, they came for factory jobs and Shenzhen was a tough, grimy place. In recent years, though, the manufacturers have ceded ground to research centres, financial firms, corporate headquarters and startups, and Shenzhen’s leaders have been aggressively upgrading the city.

It now boasts a great (and stillgrowing) subway system, beautiful parks, monumental buildings

by famous architects, lively shopping district after lively shopping district — and let’s not even get started on the theme parks.

To paraphrase a couple of famous economists, capitalism is freedom (that’s Milton Friedman) and development is freedom (that’s Amartya Sen). Shenzhen has witnessed an awful a lot of capitalism and development over the past three decades. Its leaders have also been granted ample room for policy experimentation What Shenzhen hasn’t enjoyed are Western-style free speech or political self-determination. But the people of Shenzhen now have far more choices, and more autonomy, than their parents could ever have imagined. Thanks to Uncle Deng and their own achievements, they are freer. That may not be enough, but it does seem worth noting on this Independence Day. — Justin Fox/Bloomberg News

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B5

ROUND-UP

Nissan Juke benefits on offer till tomorrow

MOU SIGNED

LG and Volkswagen commit to jointly develop connected car service platform

With its compact dimensions, ease of operation, intelligent use of space and importantly its huge personality, Nissan Juke has proved to be extremely popular in Oman and across Middle East

MUSCAT: Nissan Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), had launched an attractive Ramadan package on the award-winning new Nissan Juke crossover. The offer which started on May 15 will end tomorrow, says a press release.

With its compact dimensions, ease of operation, intelligent use of space and importantly its huge personality, Nissan Juke has proved to be extremely popular in Oman and across Middle East.

Nissan Oman’s ongoing ‘Season of Rewards’ offer ensures that customers can enjoy attractive cash gift, free periodic maintenance service package, fuel card, free registration and extended mileage warranty. With its comfortable ride and with rapid, sporty response, now is the right period to own a Nissan Juke to see how it stands out in the crowd.

Assured cash gift Under the ‘Season of Rewards’ offer, customers can avail an assured cash gift of OMR500 on buying Nissan Juke.

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

OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR50).

Extra benefits Nissan Juke patrons can enjoy extra benefits such as free registration, 6 years unlimited mileage extended warranty and loyalty card benefits among others.

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

Special EMI rate Customers can avail a special EMI rate starting at OMR103 on the Nissan Juke.

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

Grand raffle Nissan patrons have a chance to win two X-Trails 2.5S 7STR CVT 16 MY in the “grand SMS and win raffle draw” that will be held at Qurum showroom. Anybody can SMS to 90466 to enter the contest.

Nissan Juke – Built to thrill The upgraded Nissan Juke has retained signature aspects including its dramatic front-end design.

The Nissan Jukes is available in 1.6-litre engine and 1.6-litre turbo engine with 115hp and 187hp re-

spectively. Three driving modes – normal, sport and eco – are available, along with a new audio system, the Japanese auto maker’s latest-generation NissanConnect connectivity technology.

Exterior revisions include tweaking the upper front lamps (now with LED daytime runners), updating the grille, toughening up the under-bumper trim, redesigning the door mirrors (adding LED repeaters and new rear view camera) and creating a more aggressive rear bumper to match the revised tail-lights which now have LED ‘light guide technology’.

Revisions in the cargo area have increased space while versatility is further enhanced with a flat-folding rear seat. Nissan has also built in a two-stage floor in the luggage compartment. With the secondrow seats up and cargo floor lowered, there is plenty of space in the back for large luggage.

Fold the seats down and you can adjust the floor to a higher position, creating a flat cargo. Lastly the sunroof adds an element of fun and adventure.

Standard features include cloth upholstery, four-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with AUX port, power windows, electric mirrors, rear-view camera and the 60/40 folding rear seats. Also available is leather upholstery, NissanConnect, sunroof, fog lamps, automatic a/c and intelligent keyless entry with starter button. Safety features include front airbags, ABS disc brakes with EBD, and stability control and optional side-curtain airbags.

The Juke now also comes with a personalisation pack.

Award-winning crossover At the Kelley Blue Book, the 2012

C U S T O M I S E D PAC K AG E S

Nissan Juke won ‘Total Cost of Ownership Award’ in the Compact Crossover division. Establishing their selections on the combined cost of fair purchase price (FPP), financing costs, state fees, insurance costs, project depreciation, and the anticipated costs of repairs, scheduled maintenance, and petrol, the 2012 Nissan Juke was a clear winner.

Although the fair purchase prices in this division were quite similar, the 2012 Nissan Juke was a standout in long-term fuel cost and insurance. Apart from winning the Total Cost of Ownership Award, Kelley Blue Book also showcased some of their favourite aspects of the 2012 Nissan Juke.

On the other hand, the Nissan Juke was deemed safe by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2011. The IIHS awarded the 2011 Nissan Juke a ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating.

As always, the rating is only given to vehicles that achieve the agency’s highest rating of ‘Good’ in front, rear and side impact protection as well as being equipped with electronic stability control and earn a good rating in roof strength.

A decade of promise Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is largely committed to supporting Nissan’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 19 showrooms, 22 service centres and 35 spare parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

SEOUL: LG Electronics (LG) and Volkswagen AG have entered into a memorandum of understanding signalling their commitment to cooperate on the research and development of a next-generation connected car service platform.

Key LG executives present at the signing at Volkswagen HQ in Wolfsburg, Germany included Richard Choi, head of LG Cloud Center, Lee Sang-yong, head of LG Vehicle Infotainment System Research Lab. Representing Volkswagen were Prof. Thomas Form, head of Electronics and Vehicle Research and Robert Kattner, head of Vehicle Information Systems Research, says a press release.

Enhancing vehicle connectivity and convenience The two companies will work together to develop Volkswagen’s Cross-Over-Platform to enhance vehicle connectivity and convenience. Using the latest in cloud technology, the goal of the new platform is to offer drivers a seamless digital life with access to features such as smart home services and location based services from their vehicles Over the course of the next few years, LG and Volkswagen will collaborate to: • Develop technologies that bring together the connected car and the smart home, giving drivers the ability to control and monitor smart devices in their homes — such as lights, security systems and household supplies — from the road.

• Develop a notification centre that understands context and delivers notices in an intuitive and safe manner and also provides optimised recommendations for drivers to respond based on realtime situations.

• Develop optimised next generation infotainment technology for connected cars.

“Volkswagen is pressing on with the digitalisation of its brands,” said Professor Form at the official signing of the agreement. “Our focus in doing so is always on our customers. For them, comfort, safety and energy

efficiency play a central role. LG is a strong, reliable partner in the implementation of new features and one of the drivers of innovation in the networked household.

We look forward to working with LG and to developing in future simple, easy-to-use smart home solutions for our customers integrated into our vehicle systems.”

Smart home services “LG Electronics and Volkswagen are teaming up to develop the next generation of connected car platform that allows wide integration with smart home services and adoption of open IoT connectivity technologies,” said Richard Choi, head of the LG Cloud Center. “We think LG’s expertise in smart technology together with Volkswagen’s leadership in the automotive space will revolutionise the way drivers interact with their vehicles.”

Beneficial relationship This latest agreement is an example of the long and mutually beneficial relationship LG and Volkswagen have developed over decades. LG was one of the first electronics companies to commit itself to the automotive industry with the launch of its Vehicle Components division in July 2013. Even before then, LG has been working closely with Volkswagen since 2007, supplying advanced audio-visual products for vehicles and establishing a reputation for reliability and technological innovation.

In March in 2015, Volkswagen subsidiary Italdesign Guigiaro unveiled its GEA concept car at the Geneva Motor Show with seven key components supplied

by LG Electronics, including the holographic display, connected smart watch, rear lamp and camera. In July, LG was selected as Volkswagen’s strategic electronics supplier and also listed as a partner company on its FAST (Future Automotive Supply Tracks) programme. At CES earlier this year, the two companies successfully demonstrated an advanced smart home service that could be controlled remotely from a vehicle.

BMW WINNER

Safeer Mall Sohar reveals grand winner of its shopping promotion

Spaloon: A brand new luxury spa, salon exclusively for men MUSCAT: Think spas are strictly reserved for women? Think again.

Who said that men can’t have their own little oasis where they can get special treatment as well as relaxation ala spa? Men spa exists and it exists for a good reason.

Today’s male expects more than a pressed dishdasha and suit. Men today are more assertive about expressing their desire to look and feel good at any age. Looking your best and presenting well is a form of personal packaging designed to enhance career and propel the confident man to his rightful place in the ranks.

The human body possesses amazing healing powers. And the greatest way to experience these energies is by allowing it to rest and work its magic. Hence the need for some aromatherapy, muscle caressing, and restoration. But while the idea of being pampered at a spa

is something that universally resonates with all men (and women), even the most well-groomed gentleman can become overwhelmed by the limitless number of treatment options, uncertain of which best suits their needs.

Here is where Spaloon: Spa + salon for men comes to the rescue.

A brand new luxury being offered to men who wish to have a special time taking care of themselves. Its target, men, and only men.

By employing experts in the spa and salon field, Spaloon and carefully crafted and selected the best services that a man wants.

From the single blade classic shave, hair cutting and styling, express and anti-aging facials, massages and hamams, and several others, Spaloon has the ability to offer customised packages that suit each and every individual based on his needs.

Spaloon was opened in 2011.

Qurum witnessed the birth of a new type of spas in Oman and maybe the world. Most spas offer you only spa services, and most salons offer only salon services, but Spaloon has created a hybrid haven, where spa meets salon. It was a daring idea at the time that no other dared to think about.

Fast forward to 2016, the second branch was opened. This time raising the bar even higher. Spaloon in Ghubra has dared to be more comprehensive, adding the latest technology in laser hair removal making it a spa, a salon, and a clinic.

Spaloon in Qurum also has introduced a new machine The OXY Peel, the first of its kind in Oman.

By using natural oxygen it helps energise, hydrate, rejuvenate and lift the fiscal skin giving our patients a healthier and younger look.

For me, shopping with Safeer Mall Sohar really resulted in big reward and it is a joyful memory to share with my favourite mall. It is the first ever time in my life that I have won a prize and I am really happy Khalfan Al Rushdi BMW 318i winner

SOHAR: Safeer Mall Sohar, a family destination and popular shopping mall in the Al Batinah region, recently revealed the grand winner of its Ramadan shopping promotion 2016.

Khalfan Mubarak Humaid Al Rushdi, an Omani national who hails from Sohar, was over the moon on the night of the awarding, says a press release.

Upon winning the BMW 318i, Khalfan said, “For me, shopping with Safeer Mall Sohar really resulted in big reward and it is a joyful memory to share with my

favourite mall. It is the first ever time in my life that I have won a prize and I am really happy and at the same time thankful to Allah.

Al Humdulillah.”

The promo, which ran for 50 days from May 18 to July 6, gave away an all new BMW 318i 2016 and awarded 50 lucky winners with a total gift vouchers worth OMR2,500.

Other than the shopping promotion, there were a lot of activities and social initiatives successfully held by the mall which included, one week long Holy Quran Recital Competition, Qaranqasho celebrations, charity campaigns, blood donation drive and multi cultural performances that created captivating moments for the customers and patrons throughout the Ramadan period and even during the Eid holidays.

Ramadan campaign received

thumbs up from customers on social media channels of the company. These activities clearly demonstrated mall’s support in promoting Omani culture which embarks on showcasing camaraderie among the community and its cultural background and practices during this festive period.

“Safeer Mall Sohar has been a preferred choice for customers over the several years and we are proud to have regular promotions like this to constantly reward our loyal customers.

We would like to congratulate the winners and thank all who participated in this promotion.

We’ll remain committed in providing our mall shoppers with unforgettable shopping experience by regularly organising shopping promotions and entertainment activities,” said a senior official from Safeer Mall management.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

ROUND-UP Lexus hybrid cars cross one million sales mark

LOW-COST CARRIER

This major milestone has been achieved

Air Arabia expands European network with launch of new services to Batumi

by Lexus’ firm commitment to hybrid technology with more than a decade of development experience and a wide range of hybrid models

MUSCAT: Lexus announced it has sold over 1 million hybrid vehicles since the world’s first luxury hybrid vehicle, the RX400h, went on sale in April 2005.

This major milestone has been achieved by Lexus’ firm commitment to hybrid technology with more than a decade of development experience and a wide range of hybrid models, says a press release.

“The hybrid drive system continues to be our core vehicle technology to help reduce CO2 emissions, while providing a pleasurable driving experience.

We have set ambitious environmental goals for 2050, and hybrid popularity worldwide is extremely important if we are to achieve those goals. I am pleased that over 1 million customers worldwide have put their faith in our hybrid line-up,” said Tokuo Fukuichi, president of Lexus International.

Speaking on this occasion, Takayuki Yoshitsugu, chief representative of Middle East & North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “Our hybrid technology delivers not only great fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions, but it also provides a smooth, comfortable and engaging driving experience, which leads to the highest satisfaction rates from our customers. We truly appreciate the support of our customers and their faith in our hybrid vehi-

The hybrid drive system continues to be our core vehicle technology to help reduce CO2 emissions, while providing a pleasurable driving experience. We have set ambitious environmental goals for 2050, and hybrid popularity worldwide is extremely important if we are to achieve those goals. I am pleased that over one million customers worldwide have put their faith in our hybrid line-up Tokuo Fukuichi President of Lexus International

cles, which has enabled us to reach this major milestone.”

After the debut of the RX400h, the brand gradually expanded its hybrid line-up by launching the first luxury hybrid sedan, the GS450h, in 2006, followed by many other popular models like the powerful luxury hybrid sedan, LS600h, and the luxury hybrid compact, CT200h. The latest RX450h model

is also representative of Lexus’ excellence for hybrid performance.

The model has redesigned powertrains, sophisticated safety technologies, driver aids as well as new convenience and technology features, while standing out with its sharp lines and contemporary styling to create a futuristic new look.

Historically, hybrids have been known for having certain strengths

- fuel economy being one of them.

These days, though, the models are more ambitious, promising great mileage, and are sweetened with a sportier driving experience.

Hybrid technology may be complex, but understanding how it works is not particularly difficult.

What is difficult is making it work so well that it wins engineering awards and the hearts of drivers.

So what makes Lexus Hybrid Drive exceptional? The answer is its Electronic Control Unit (ECU) a sophisticated electronic brain.

Like the conductor of an orchestra, the ECU makes sure the hybrid components work in harmony - seamlessly and reliably.

Compact packaging and unmatched flexibility also distinguish Lexus Hybrid Drive from other hybrid systems, improving efficiency and allowing a wide range of configurations, not found in any other luxury automobile brand.

Earlier this year, Lexus premiered its latest hybrid model, the LC500h, which features a new generation performance hybrid technology called Multi Stage Hybrid System (MSHS). The MSHS expands further hybrid advantages by delivering more power, greater acceleration, traction and higher efficiency.

In Oman every Lexus vehicle comes with special benefits and privileges such as six years unlimited extended mileage protection and 24 hours on-road assistance from AAA.

SHARJAH: Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, touched down in Batumi, the second largest city of Georgia.

The airline operates two weekly flights to the famed Black Sea port city from its primary Sharjah International Airport hub on Thursday and Saturdays at 13:15, arriving at Batumi at 16:40. The return flights are scheduled to leave Batumi International Airport at 17:30 to arrive in Sharjah at 20:50, says a press release.

A fascinating seaside resort city steeped in history and blessed with abundant natural beauty, Batumi has built a reputation as a safe, affordable destination, helping it find a niche among travelers looking beyond traditional tourist spots. The city’s varied charms include a cluster of classical 19th century edifices dotting its historic Old Town, including museums, monuments, cultural centres, and mosques and cathedrals. Batumi is equally known for its stunning beaches, parks and squares, and the surge in tourism over the last decade has seen a number of modern buildings, including five-star hotels and resorts from international chains, take their place alongside the historical town that offers a window into Batumi’s rich past.

Adel A. Ali, group chief executive officer, Air Arabia, said, “We are glad to expand our connectivity in Georgia.

Batumi is a growing tourism destination and is popular during the summer months.

Air Arabia’s new flights to Batumi will allow people and busi-

We are glad to expand our connectivity in Georgia.

Air Arabia’s new flights to Batumi will allow people and businesses across the Arabian region to discover this beautiful city while positively impacting tourism and economic growth Adel A. Ali Group chief executive officer, Air Arabia nesses across the Arabian region to discover this beautiful city while positively impacting tourism and economic growth.”

Air Arabia already operates daily to Tbilsi, the capital and largest city of Georgia, which is rapidly emerging from the margins of Europe’s tourism landscape to become its fastest rising star, with a 2014 report by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) showing Georgia to have recorded the largest increase in international visitor numbers of any European country.

C O R P O R AT E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

Bank Sohar supports Oman Cancer Association MUSCAT: Under the framework of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and marking its eighth CSR-related donation for the current year, Bank Sohar recently extended its support to Al Dakhiliya Branch of the Oman Cancer Association.

This latest donation will support the association’s cancer awareness workshops that will be held in different locations across the region throughout the year. The donation also marks the first collaboration the bank has had with the Al Dakhiliya Branch of the Oman Cancer Association, says a press release.

The donation cheque was handed over at Bank Sohar’s Nizwa Branch to Nasser Said Al Shakily, chairman of Oman Cancer Association – Al Dakhiliya Branch by Mazin Mahmood Al Raisi, AGM & head of Marketing and Customer Experience at Bank Sohar, in the presence of Juma Masaaod Al Dawudi, Senior Nizwa Branch manager, Bank Sohar.

Commenting on the bank’s contribution to the association, Munira Abdulnabi Macki, GM of HR and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar said, “Cancer is a disease

that has a lasting effect not just on the patients, but also on their family and friends. Through associations such as the Oman Cancer Association, and their various initiatives, awareness can be spread on the disease while reaching out to cancer patients and offering them the much needed support.

We, as a community oriented bank, are truly glad to be in a po-

sition to support such valuable initiatives.” Thanking Bank Sohar for its support, Nasser Said Al Shukaili, chairman of Al Dakhiliya Branch of the Oman Cancer Association said, “These workshops play a significant role in spreading awareness on this life-altering disease and its early diagnosis and prevention. As a result obtaining as much support as possible

for such programs is vital to their success. This is why, on behalf of the Oman Cancer Association, I would like to thank Bank Sohar for their continued support for this program as well as their support to the association over the past years. “We also look forward to their continued and invaluable support and partnership for the foreseeable future.”

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ROUND-UP

Maisarah wins Oman’s Islamic Bank of the Year Award for 2016 The fast-growing financial services provider has been selected among Islamic finance institutions nationwide after achieving striking growth figures

MUSCAT: Reiterating its commitment to lead the Islamic finance market in the Sultanate, Maisarah Islamic Banking Services has been announced the winner of ‘Islamic Bank of the Year - Oman’ award for 2016 by The Banker Magazine.

The fast-growing financial ser-

vices provider has been selected among Islamic finance institutions nationwide after achieving striking growth figures. Maisarah has also witnessed year-onyear remarkable capital, assets and profitability growth, says a press release.

“We have set our vision to be the best financial solutions provider in Oman, and we have taken concrete steps in that direction. Our team of dedicated and highly qualified professionals offers a wide array of banking solutions, innovative products and services. As a part of our operational strategy, we have maintained high standards of corporate governance, research and development, corporate social responsibility and customer service that placed Maisarah on top of the best Islamic banking services providers in the Sultanate,” said Sohail Niazi, Maisarah’s chief Islamic banking officer.

Maisarah offers a wide range of Sharia-compliant financial solutions, products and services that cater to the needs of its retail and corporate customers, including: home finance, auto finance, goods

As a part of our operational strategy, we have maintained high standards of corporate governance, research and development, corporate social responsibility and customer service that placed Maisarah on top of the best Islamic banking services providers in the Sultanate Sohail Niazi Chief Islamic banking officer, Maisarah Islamic Banking Services

finance, personal finance, education finance, travel finance, savings account, current account, fixed deposit, Ameen term deposit, call deposit, working capital finance, corporate goods finance, prop-

erty, equipment & project finance, contract finance, Wa’ad product (alternate to forward cover), as well as trade financing solutions such as letter of credit and letter of guarantee services.

As part of its plans to boost its presence nationwide, the Islamic window celebrated the inauguration of five new branches this year alone, bringing the total number of Maisarah branches to 10 branches

that are strategically located in major cities across Oman. As part of its future growth plan, the Islamic banking service provider plans to distinguish itself by focusing on prominent customer service, developing and launching new products, and investing in technology to provide the best customer experience in timely and convenient manner.

Demonstrating a high degree of product innovation and best services, Maisarah has been recognised for its commitment to lead the Islamic finance market in the Sultanate, earning prestigious awards and titles from leading local and international organisations including the award for ‘Islamic Bank of the Year – Oman’ in 2015 by The Banker, the ‘Best Islamic Bank in Oman 2015’ by Global Banking & Finance Review, ‘Best Islamic Banking Window Oman 2015’ award by the London based International Finance Magazine, ‘Best Islamic Community Support Bank 2014’ by Global Financial Market Review and ‘Best Islamic Window in Oman 2013’ by Global Financial Market.

BENEFITS

Attractive Ramadan promotion on Infiniti Oman to end soon MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive dealer of Infiniti in the Sultanate, has a special offer on all Infiniti purchases made till July 31.

The Ramadan package includes best offers for customers to enjoy more value, making Infiniti one of the most admired and desirable brand of vehicles. Explore Infiniti Oman’s special Ramadan offer and find an Infiniti car of your choice, says a press release.

A senior spokesperson at Infiniti Oman, said, “There has never been a better time to buy a new car than now and our special Ramadan offer gives our patrons an opportunity to treat themselves and their families with a brand new Infiniti.”

“We are offering an absolutely unbeatable promotion for our customers to choose from the entire range of category-defying Infiniti vehicles,” he added.

Terms and conditions The scheme is applicable for all customers purchasing Infiniti vehicles for their personal use only.

This is not applicable for rent a car/ taxi/ driver trainer segment.

eligible for free first year vehicle insurance (for Oman and UAE).

AAA/ Road assistance card Free AAA/ Road Assistance card will be given on the purchase of Infiniti saloon cars and SUV vehicles only. This will be for the first year only and as supported by AAA in Oman and UAE.

Assured gifts All customers purchasing Infiniti Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80 in the scheme period are eligible for a Fredrick Constant Men’s and Women’s watches.

Assured cash gift All customers purchasing Infiniti Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80 in the scheme period will get an assured cash gift. It will be OMR 1000 for Q50 2.0 TURBO Q50 3.7 V6 and Q60 3.7 V6; OMR1,500 for Q70 3.7 V6, Q70 5.6 V8, QX50 3.7 V6, QX60 3.5

RECRUIT

V6, QX70 3.7 V6, QX70 5.0 V8; and OMR 2000 for QX80 5.6 V8.

Vehicle maintenance Customers purchasing Infiniti Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80 in the scheme period will get free periodic vehicle maintenance for three years or 60,000km (whichever is earlier).

This offer excludes battery, and wear and tear components.

Free registration All customers purchasing Infiniti Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70

and QX80 in the scheme period will be eligible for free first year vehicle registration.

Warranty All Infiniti vehicles: Q50, Q60, Q70, QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80 purchased in the scheme period will have an extended six years/ unlimited mileage warranty.

Free insurance All customers purchasing Infiniti Q50 3.7 MY15, Q60 3.7 COUPE MY15, QX50 MY15 and QX60 MY15 in scheme period will be

Infiniti promise Every Infiniti design model seduces the senses. From the smooth incline in the front grille to the charismatic flared wheel arches and a subtle hint of a samurai sword in the chrome door strip, all conspire to leave an abiding impression of magnetic muscularity and enthralling performance.

A unique and rare combination expressed by every Infiniti model – the vehicles are engineered, designed and refined to transform raw power into a virtuoso performance. Infiniti combines design flair, rewarding driving dynamics and high levels of technology, which are embedded into the DNA of their stand-out true seven-seat luxury vehicles.

Infiniti undergoes comprehensive approach to safety and it includes rigorous crash testing, over 50 standard safety features on every vehicle and available advanced safety technologies.

Infiniti Safety Shield is designed and developed into every vehicle they build to help protect passengers. Get acquainted with the pinnacle of Japanese economy. Each Infiniti model unifies luxury and automotive innovation in the most elegant of ways to form designs that inspire you at every term. Visit your nearest showroom to witness the entire range and the fascinating mix of season compliments which bring the signature luxury driving experience right within your reach.

SBA is largely committed to supporting Infiniti Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 40 showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

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ROUND-UP

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Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board approves new products and services The board approved reports of Sharia audit and commitment units, distribution of the amount of the charity fund account and contracts on real estate development projects

MUSCAT: The Sharia Supervisory Board of Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman, conducted its third meeting of 2016 in Bank Muscat’s head office under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr Ali Qaradaghi and in the presence of members as well as Sulaiman

Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Meethaq Islamic Banking along with other officials from Meethaq. The board approved reports of Sharia audit and commitment units, distribution of the amount of the charity fund account, contracts on real estate development projects in addition to new products and services. The board also discussed investments in the secondary market sukuk, says a press release.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive Officer – Meethaq Islamic Banking, said: “The Meethaq Shari’a Supervisory Board discussed many important topics to consolidate the leading position of Meethaq Islamic Banking in terms of financing receivables, branch network, products and services, IT infrastructure and human resources.

Meethaq is proud to have on board some of the brightest minds on Islamic finance to chart the way forward. The Sharia Board has made valuable contributions in establishing Meethaq as the leading Islamic banking service provider in Oman.”

The board also reviewed new products and services to be intro-

duced in 2016, especially electronic banking services aimed at further adding value and convenience to Meethaq customers. The meeting also reviewed corporate finance.

In 2016 Meethaq recorded many achievements relating to financing major projects in various fields, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the Sultanate’s economy. The bank has invested in staff, systems and controls to ensure the service is delivered in a professional, seg-

regated and fully Sharia compliant manner. Meethaq offers a full suite of Islamic banking products and services, including savings account, current account, home finance, auto finance, credit card and mobile banking.

Meethaq has adopted the best practices in Islamic banking and finance worldwide to combine a robust model which protects customers and complements the Islamic banking industry. Every Meethaq product goes through

MAIN SPONSOR

the process of Sharia compliance certification by the Sharia Supervisory Board and is created in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Oman.

Meethaq launched many products and initiatives as well as signing agreements with key partners in the region. The bank and Hayil for Ceramic, an Omani Qatari company, have recently signed an agreement on OMR18 million financing facilities provision to build the largest factory for the

production of ceramic and porcelain tiles and fittings in Wilayat Sur. The signing ceremony translates Meethaq’s strategy and commitment to present finance and banking facilities for its clients, pertaining Islamic principles and regulations in various areas.

The agreement plays an essential role to strengthen the relationship between the Sultanate and Qatar government.

In addition, Meethaq has launched a first-of-its-kind salary bonus scheme for customers who can get five per cent of salary as cash bonus when they transfer their salary to Meethaq savings account. The maximum salary bonus will be OMR500 and the cash bonus will be paid once to customers after the first salary credit to the account. Meethaq also functions with the new iMal core banking system. The bank upgraded its core banking system, resulting in a host of cutting edge Islamic banking services covering ATM/CDM, debit card and mobile banking for Meethaq customers. With this upgrade, the bank is able to fulfil numerous new business requirements and customer demands.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

Omantel extends its support to Salalah Tourism Festival 2016 MUSCAT: Omantel announced its support as a main sponsor of the Salalah Tourism Festival 2016, set to kick off on July 15.

The Salalah Tourism Festival is a rapidly growing annual event that takes place during the Khareef season, which in itself attracts over half a million visitors from both Oman and neighbouring countries.

As part of the festival, Oman’s most trusted telecommunications operator will feature demonstrations on the latest digital devices and smart technologies on offer, as well as the complete range of Omantel services available to Khareef visitors, says a press release.

As per Telecom Regulatory Authority’s ‘Network Performance Report’ that has been conducted in the last Khareef season, Omantel has the best mobile network coverage in both voice and broadband in Salalah.

Commenting on Omantel’s principal support for the annual festival, Hamdan Moosa Al Harrasi, acting VP Corporate Strategy Unit at Omantel said, “Salalah Tourism Festival is one of the main international events of the year for Oman’s tourism calendar.

Last year the Dhofar region wel-

We are proud to participate in this festival as a main sponsor as part of our commitment to support the different activities in the Sultanate as well as connecting with our customers wherever they are Hamdan Moosa Al Harrasi Acting VP Corporate Strategy Unit at Omantel

comed over 500,000 visitors during the Khareef season, and the 2016 season so far has seen a 166 percent increase in numbers from the corresponding period last year.

Evidently there is a great need to capitalise on the large numbers of people arriving and to encourage even more to visit through festivals and events such as this. There is no doubt that the festival plays a huge role in our rapidly expand-

ing tourism sector. We are proud to participate in this festival as a main sponsor as part of our commitment to support the different activities in the Sultanate as well as connecting with our customers wherever they are.”

Hamdan Al Harrasi continued, “We are delighted to showcase the innovative technologies where visitors can view the very latest smartphones and digital devices

as well as check out the complete range of services with innovative demonstration. For visitors to the Khareef, be they residents of Oman or visitors from abroad, the innovative Omantel stall provides an interactive experience for all.”

“To make the festival even more enjoyable for visitors, this year Omantel will also host weekly family-friendly activities at the main festival ground. These fun events will help to foster a real sense of community among visitors and help make the Salalah Tourism Festival even more memorable,” added Al-Harrasi.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and the rest of the world. Omantel is the Sultanate’s first and leading integrated telecommunications services provider, enabling the digital society to flourish, allowing new ways of doing business and delivering a world of information, news and entertainment.

Today, Omantel boldly innovates to deliver the highest levels of customer satisfaction, the broadest and most reliable nationwide network while investing for Oman’s future development.

‘MEALS AND MEMORIES’

A’Saffa’s campaign receives overwhelming response MUSCAT: A’Saffa Foods, the Sultanate’s largest fully integrated poultry and value added ready to cook delicacy products producer, had recently launched an engaging series of videos #MealsAndMemories, featuring its brand ambassador Chef Issa Al Lamki.

The campaign received an overwhelming response with its videos going viral across social media channels and with 2.5 million impressions since the launch.

Through the ‘A’Saffa Meals and Memories’ videos on Facebook and YouTube, the brand brings its patrons delicious innovative fusion food recipes, fun tips, easy cooking hacks and much more.

The campaign has successfully taken over the Internet and touching the hearts of many a household.

The videos have received around 100,000 views on Facebook and a similar number on YouTube, says a press release.

Sidhartha Lenka, head of Marketing and Sales at A’Saffa Foods, said, “We are both humbled and overwhelmed by the impact of this campaign. At A’Saffa Foods, we have been creating communication under the broader brand philosophy of – core values of healthy food, health and happiness.

“We value the family relationship as it is for the love and security of one’s family that an individual buys the freshest, healthiest, saf-

est and tastiest product available in the market. “‘Meals and Memories’ is an ode to this spirit of family, and is a continuation of our celebration of families, friends, relationships and memories.” “A’Saffa chicken are 100% fresh, all natural chicken products that have been raised ethically, fed on natural feed and have their signature tenderness and taste guaranteed. A’Saffa Foods does not use any kind of recycled animal waste by-products feed and no other feed substi-

tute to feed the birds in the farm.

Through ‘Meals and Memories’, it is A’Saffa’s sincere endeavour to encourage families in the Sultanate and beyond to cook and eat fresh and healthy food.

“We hope we continue to add value to their lives through our videos and that they continue to build fond food memories with their families and friends,” said Chef Issa Al Lamki.

A’Saffa’s ‘Meals and Memories’ campaign has been conceptualised keeping in mind A’Saffa Foods

corporate philosophy ‘core values of healthy food, health and happiness’; and the aim was to extend the same and successfully leverage it on social media by intertwining it within popular culture.

The campaign is grounded in real people and A’Saffa’s commitment to delivering the best possible poultry product to them.

The brand ideology of ‘Healthy Heating and Healthy Living’, emphasises this commitment, the campaign videos also highlight A’Saffa’s brand values.

Alizz offers Eidiya notes to customers through Interactive Teller Machine MUSCAT: For the first time in the Sultanate, Alizz Islamic Bank made it possible for customers to receive Eidiya notes from Oman’s only Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) without having to wait in queues at a bank branch.

The Alizz Live ITM at Muscat Grand Mall provided notes of 1, 5, 20 and 50 rials from 10am to 3pm and from 8pm to 10pm during the holy month of Ramadan.

The service comes in line with the bank’s efforts to offer its customers the best facilities driven by cutting-edge technology, says a press release.

Alizz Islamic Bank is the first bank in the Sultanate to provide ITMs, which are manufactured

by NCR Corporation, a pioneer in consumer transaction technologies. The most prominent feature of the ITM, which is equipped with video technology, is its ability to create direct link between customers and bank staff. It allows customers to conduct a variety of transactions such as cash withdrawal above the daily limit, cash deposits, check encashment, credit card payment and money transfers.

Commenting on the bank’s electronic services and technologies, Moosa Al Jadidi, deputy general manager and head of Retail Banking at Alizz Islamic Bank, said: “We work constantly to offer the most modern technology to keep our customers satisfied. Our motto is ‘Customers first and their service foremost’.

We ensured that customers get their Eidiya notes from an ITM to spare them the time spent in visiting branches.”

Al Jadidi stressed that Alizz Islamic Bank electronic channels have been used widely by customers because they offer a unique customer experience and allow customers to pay bills, make domestic and overseas money transfers, credit card pay-

The Alizz Live ITM at Muscat Grand Mall provided notes of 1, 5, 20 and 50 rials from 10am to 3pm and from 8pm to 10pm during the holy month of Ramadan ments, deposit checks and withdraw up to OMR10,000. The bank will continue to develop its products and electronic technologies in line with the government etransformation plan.

Electronic transactions have been gaining rapid prominence due to the exponential growth in electronic government transactions. With knowledge becoming the primary form of capital and key driver of economic growth, countries utilising technology are benefiting from increased return on investment and achieving sustained high growth rates.

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Ahmad Al Harthy satisfied with preparations for ‘24 Hours of Spa’ With less than three weeks to go for the

It was a very important test, vital track time before we go back to Spa at the end of the month.

We are hoping for a strong result

biggest race of the season at the worldfamous Belgian track, the 34-yearold from Muscat is relishing the prospect of making his fourth appearance in the

Ahmad Al Harthy

renowned twiceround-the-clock challenge which gets underway on July 30

MUSCAT: Arab motor racing star Ahmad Al Harthy says the Oman Racing Team powered by Motorbase is preparing as well as possible for this month’s fourth round of the Blancpain Endurance Cup, the prestigious Total 24 Hours of Spa, where the squad aims to return to the Pro-Am podium.

With less than three weeks to go for the biggest race of the season at the world-famous Belgian track, the 34-year-old from Muscat is relishing the prospect of making his fourth appearance in the renowned twice-round-the-clock challenge which gets underway

on Saturday, July 30. Last week, Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador Ahmad was joined by fellow Oman Racing Team drivers Jonny Adam and Devon Modell at Spa for the official pre-event test day which featured a magnificent entry of close to 70 cars.

During the three-hour morning run, the No.44 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 was second fastest in Pro-Am and impressively inside the overall top five. With rain after the lunchbreak adding a variable to proceedings, the track did dry out fairly quickly and the Oman Racing Team completed a very full day satisfied with the knowledge gained and pace shown.

“Generally the official test went very well and it was a good day overall”, said Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Oman Air, National

Bank of Oman (NBO), Barr Al Jissah and Omantel-supported racer Ahmad, “I took to the track during the earlier running but then, unfortunately, it did rain just after I put new tyres on so we couldn’t get the benefit of those.

“Even so, everything went well in terms of working on set-up and focusing on the key areas we need to get right in the 24 Hour – we learnt a lot. It was a very important test, vital track time before we go back to Spa at the end of the month, and I’m confident we’re in the right position to begin the weekend with. We’re all hoping to score as many points as we can and to push for a strong result.”

Aston Martin ‘works’ driver Turner drafted in to Oman Racing Team for 24 Hour Bolstering the Oman Racing Team’s line-up for this year’s Total

24 Hours of Spa will be Aston Martin factory driver Darren Turner, a two-time class winner with the marque at the Le Mans 24 Hours and a multiple class race winner with Aston Martin in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The 42-year-old British racer is no stranger to working with Ahmad and ORT, having joined the Omani and Jonny Adam during last year’s Gulf 12 Hours in Abu Dhabi where the trio claimed a superb top three podium finish on the squad’s first competitive outing in the Middle East region.

“It’s fantastic for the Oman Racing Team to have Darren back with us for the 24 Hour at Spa, I’ve obviously worked with him before and we did well in Abu Dhabi last December”, commented Ahmad, “He is a world class driver, a top professional, and his experience and

TESTING THE TRACK: Oman Racing Team personnel getting the car ready for official test at the Spa circuit in Belgium. – Supplied photo

pace are a huge asset to the team – it adds even more strength to our already very strong line-up.”

Heading into the Total 24 Hours of Spa weekend just over a fortnight from now, Ahmad, Adam and Modell are fourth in the Pro-Am driver standings in the Blancpain Endurance Cup with the Oman Racing Team powered by Motorbase fifth in the entrants’ title race.

After finishing fourth in ProAm during round one at Monza in Italy, the trio secured the squad’s maiden Pro-Am podium at Silver-

stone in the UK in the second race of the year – a true breakthrough performance. Last time out at Paul Ricard in France, they had to settle for 13th in class as a result of a lengthy delay caused by unfortunate suspension failure.

2016 Blancpain Endurance Cup Pro-Am Driver Standings (after Rd3): 4th Ahmad Al Harthy/Jonny Adam/Devon Modell, 30pts 2016 Blancpain Endurance Cup Pro-Am Team Standings (after Rd3): 5th Oman Racing Team powered by Motorbase, 30pts.

HOCKEY

GOLF

Oman golfer Fahad Al Kitani seeks OHA to organise National experience from R&A Junior Open Hockey League draw today MUSCAT: Fahad Al Kitani, Oman’s one of the most successful golfers, is all set to make the most of the prestigious R&A Junior Open that started on Monday and will continue till Wedensday in the picturesque venue of Kilmarnock (Barassie) Golf Club in Barassie, Scotland.

Fahad is the lone representative from the Sultanate, bearing the flag of the country. He is accompanied by his father Harib Al Kitani. Fahad is elated to take part in such a glorious and historical event that witnessed the participation of current top golfing stars like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Carly Booth and Paula Creamer over the past.

A record 80 countries are represented this week with the field made up of 148 emerging boy and girl junior golfers. This is the biggest ever turnout in the history of the competition. The inaugural Junior Open took place in 1994 and to date seven players have gone on to compete in The Open Championship.

Some of the world’s best golfers have featured in the Junior Open over the years, including 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year Rory McIlroy, 2015 US Open and Masters Champion Jordan Spieth, seven-time European Ryder Cup player Sergio Garcia, 2010 US Women’s Open Champion Paula Creamer and 2012 Ladies Scottish Open winner Carly Booth.

“Yes, this is a great tournament. I am elated to represent my country in this prestigious competition. No doubt that it is a very tough competition because so many great talents are here to compete and win the glory,” says Fahad from Barassie, Scotland.

Fahad arrived at the venue on Saturday to attend the practice session on Sunday and to get accustomed with the conditions.

In the opening ceremony, 2015 Champion Golfer of the Year Zach Johnson and Darren Clarke, who won golf’s oldest Championship and lifted the Claret Jug in 2011, welcomed the junior golf-

MUSCAT: The draw ceremony for the Oman National Hockey League will be held on Wednesday at the Oman Hockey Association headquarters. Eight clubs — AhliSidab, Seeb, Bousher, Sohar, Salalah, Al Nasr, and Dhofar — have

BIG OPPORTUNITY: Oman’s young golfer Fahad Al Kitani on the first day of the R&A Junior Open in Scotland. – Supplied photo

ers to the event. Fahad informed, “The practice round went well.

But the course is very challenging and weather conditions are very difficult. It’s very cold and windy and it’s continuously raining. I am not at all used to this kind of conditions.

“It is just the opposite of what we get in our country. So it’s very, very unusual for me. But despite these conditions, I will try my best and take it as a great experience gathering event for me.”

Fahad had emerged champion in the individual gross category in the GCC Junior tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March last year. He finished champion in the team event as well. The young gun continued his sparkling form with the team in the GCC Cup Kuwait in April finishing third in the team event.

In 2014, Fahad combined with two other Oman teammates to win the Under-15 GCC Cup in Muscat by beating Kuwait by a huge margin. Fahad himself went close to bagging the individual champion’s trophy, finishing just one point behind a Saudi Arabian competitor.

“I am happy with my perfor-

mance in the GCC tournaments, but this is different ball game. Coming out from the heat and adjusting to these conditions,” said Fahad.

The young gun from Oman practiced hard in a practice venue in Oman despite fasting during Ramadan.

He said, “I was practicing in the evening after school and exams were going on. It was tough to balance everything, but I had to do it, I was eager to participate here.”

Fahad’s father Harib Al Kitani says, “I want to take this opportunity to thank the Oman Golf Committee (OGC) for selecting my son to represent Oman and also want to thank the Ministry of Sports Affairs for all the support.”

Mundhir Al Barwani, the Chairman of OGC says, “It’s nice to see Fahad in this tough competition. We wish him all the very best and hope he gains positives from the tournament to make his game more sharp and matured.”

Fahad too aims to do his best at the competition.

“I know hopes are bestowed upon me, I want to take this enriching experience to face more international level competitions and represent my country.”

been confirmed for the annual eevnt which will kick-off on July 20 and conclude on August 21.

The clubs will be divided into two groups comprising the first four clubs each. Meanwhile, in the Junior League, 11 clubs including

Nizwa, Ahli-Sidab, Seeb, Bousher, Sohar, Oman, Salalah, Al Nasr, Dhofar, Mirbat, will take part.

The 11 teams will be divided into two groups of six and five clubs each. Nizwa and Sohar will be part of the Muscat region. - ONA

C2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

SPORTS

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India series tough challenge for our inexperienced team: Holder West Indies started their training

It’s going to be a tough series. They have a quality batting line-up and a quality bowling as well.

It will be a tough challenge for us

camp on Monday and Holder said he is ready for the gruelling Test series which begins with the opening Test on July 21 at Antigua

Jason Holder BASSETERRE: West Indies captain Jason Holder believes it will be a tough challenge for his young and inexperienced team to face the quality bowling and batting attack of World No. 2 India during the four-Test series starting at Antigua on July 21.

“It’s going to be a tough series.

India is ranked number 2 for a reason. They have a quality batting line-up and a quality bowling as well. It will be a tough challenge for this young Test team,” said Holder.

West Indies captain “Our Test team is a very inexperienced one, it is one that needs time to gel together and needs time to put performances together and get to know one another a little bit more.

We’re practically in a transitional phase and we’re trying to groom a Test team and it will take time.

“One of the big things we fell down in the past is batting 90 overs in a day and setting up a good first

innings total. That is something I want to keep stressing in the dressing room. It is important we set the tone whether batting first or bowling first,” he was quoted as saying in ‘Barbados Today’.

Asked about his expectations from the series, Holder said: “For me I need some runs. I scored a hundred last year and haven’t had one for a while. I’m at least looking

to get a century this series.

“In terms of bowling, I’m yet to get a 5-wicket haul in Test cricket.

So there are a few milestones for me to look ahead to and to look to accomplish. Personally for me it is to pick up that first 5-wicket haul and to look to continue on and score some runs.”

Holder had suffered a hamstring injury in the middle of the tri-se-

ries against South Africa and Australia last month but made a come back in the penultimate game.

West Indies started their training camp on Monday and Holder said he is ready for the gruelling Test series which begins with the opening Test on July 21 at Antigua.

“Yeah, I’m ready for the series. I feel well rested and it’s work time.

Again it’s a quick turnaround time, just 2 weeks at home, would’ve loved to have a bit more time off but that’s how the international schedule goes.”

Holder, who made a Test debut in 2014 before becoming the captain in 2016, said he is not too disappointed with his progress so far.

“To be fair, I’m not too disappointed with my progression. I’m still relatively young, 24 years old, and in to the international circuit full on. Seeing where I was in 2014 to where I am now is a significant improvement.

“I probably didn’t expect to have a Test century at this stage batting at number 7 and 8 because it’s tough to get a century in those positions, so I’m not too disappointed with my progression.

“Obviously I think it could’ve been a lot better. Ideally I would like to average 35 plus with the bat and be able to pick up a few more wickets. - PTI

FOOTBALL

Loew to stay on despite Euro disappointment

Despite the disappointment, the team didn’t disappoint Joachim Loew German coach

BERLIN: Germany’s Joachim Loew said he would stay on to lead the World Cup winners to their title defence in Russia in 2018 despite an initial hesitation on whether to continue after a disappointing semi-final defeat to France last week at the Euro 2016.

Loew, who has coached Germany for 10 years and to five straight semifinal appearances at World Cups and Euros, said in a statement on Tuesday he planned to continue, ending some speculation that the 56-year-old might step down.

“Despite our disappointment, the team didn’t disappoint,” said Loew, who was Juergen Klinsmann’s assistant coach for two years before taking over the reins in 2006. “It was the youngest team

in the tournament and I continue to see great potential,” added Loew, referring to his team’s average age of 25.4 years, which was next to England the youngest at the tournament. Italy had the oldest team with an average age of 29.4 years.

“I’m sure that they’ll give us plenty of joy in the future and that’s why I remain enthusiastic about continuing to work with these players until the 2018 World Cup in Russia.”

Loew had triggered speculation that he might step down right after Germany lost to France 2-0 in the semifinal when he was asked about his future. “I don’t know,” he told ZDF television just minutes after the final whistle.

Those non-committal com-

ments prompted a wave of support for Loew and an opinion poll by the Emnid polling institute for Bild am Sonntag newspaper showed that 84 percent of Germans wanted the man they call “Jogi” (pronounced ‘Yogi’) to continue.

Also known as the “Bundestrainer”, Loew has led his team to at least the semi-finals in every tournament they have played in since he took over after the 2006 World Cup, where Germany under Klinsmann also reached the semifinal before losing to Italy.

Loew also led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title — the country’s fourth after 1954, 1974 and 1990. Loew’s record stands at 137 matches with 90 wins and 23 defeats. — Reuters

CRICKET

Stuart Broad.

Anderson should have been in England squad for Lord’s Test, says Broad LONDON: England should have gambled on seamer James Anderson’s fitness and included him in the squad for the first test against Pakistan at Lord’s, paceman Stuart Broad has said.

Anderson, England’s most successful test bowler with 454 wickets, was left out of England’s 12-man squad for the first match of the four-test series beginning on Thursday.

In his absence, Toby RolandJones or Jake Ball will make a Test debut at Lord’s.

“I would have been tempted to have Jimmy in the 13, then you have him around working with the bowlers, pushing his fitness to maybe play on Thursday,” Broad told British media.

“I saw him (last week) and he was doing OK. He was pretty certain he would be included. I don’t want to speak for him but he will be disappointed he is not in the squad.

“I think he has probably been told he has to play some cricket to be 100 per cent because the sensible thing is you do not risk him in the first (test) and have him out of the rest, you get him right for Old Trafford (the second test).”

The first Test at Lord’s on Thursday is likely to be a tense occasion as it marks the return of Pakistan’s Mohammed Amir to the scene of his spot-fixing scandal of 2010, for which he was given a five-year ban. - Reuters

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

C3

SPORTS Musandam-Oman Sail set sights on another record Before the David and Goliath match

The conditions are looking fantastic so I think it is currently looking like less than seven days. Hopefully both Musandam-Oman Sail and Spindrift can set new records Sidney Gavignet

begins on the open seas, the team will have to navigate the spectacular St Lawrence River which is dotted with sand banks, logs and various whales and is regarded as a

Skipper, Musandam-Oman Sail

navigator’s challenge

MUSCAT: Fresh from setting a stunning new Round Ireland record in June, Musandam-Oman Sail have set their sights on another milestone record in the Transat Quebec-St Malo (TQSM) with a match against the world’s largest trimaran Spindrift 2 expected to push them to the limit.

The Omani MOD70 – which at 70 foot (21m) is almost half the size of Spindrift 2 (130ft/40m) and will be crewed by seven fewer sailors – will leave Quebec in Canada on Wednesday at 1500 local time and head out on the 2,897 nm (5365 km) course across the North Atlantic to St Malo in France with the aim of breaking the existing record of 7 days 20 hours and 24 minutes set in 1996 by Loïck Peyron.

The forecast for the passage looks favourable for a new record and the prospect of a battle against Spindrift 2 was creating a real buzz among French skipper, Sidney Gavignet’s crew of Damian Foxall, Fahad Al Hasni, Alex Pella and new crewmember Mayeul Riffet, as they prepared for the off.

“Spindrift 2 is wider than we are long!” commented Gavignet who has completed three TQSM races in his career. “We have beaten them in the past during the Round Britain and Ireland where there are lots of corners, but an Atlantic crossing is more like an Autobahn and with a speed difference of up to 5 knots, they will be very hard to beat. They should beat Loïck Peyron’s record and MusandamOman Sail also has a chance to finish ahead of 7 days, 20 hours and 24 minutes.”

Before the David and Goliath match begins on the open seas, the team will have to navigate the

spectacular St Lawrence River which is dotted with sand banks, logs and various whales and is regarded as a navigator’s challenge.

“We saw a boat grounded at the monohull start and on our way in, we saw two minkies, a hump back and a bunch of belugas so we are going to have to be diligent,” warned Foxall.

“It will take us a couple of days to get down to the Grand Banks and they are allowing us to cut across the Banks on a route where there is less ice which will be good news if we want to get the record. There is also a series of lows coming off Canada to create the train we need to blast across the Atlantic.

“The conditions are looking fan-

FRESH ATTEMPT: Oman Sail-Musandam MOD70 skippered by Sidney Gavignet is seen in action in one of the previous events. – Supplied photo

H O N I N G N E W TA L E N T S

Beach soccer camp for fresh talents concludes

TALENT HUNT: Oman national beach soccer coach Talib Hilal

tastic so I think it is currently looking like less than seven days.

Hopefully both MusandamOman Sail and Spindrift can set new records.”

Fantastic conditions do not necessarily mean comfortable conditions, added Gavignet so with the icebergs, big seas and marine life, they are in for a great adventure.

“For us the conditions will feel extreme; we are constantly soaking wet and to get from the cockpit to the helm, we will be crawling on our hands and knees. We are all very competitive so we will be aiming to have the best possible adventure and the best possible race.

“For a sailor, the Quebec-St Malo is one of the classics; it is like

rounding Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope, it is one of the mythical races in a sailor’s career.”

Oman’s leading offshore sailor Fahad Al Hasni is no stranger to transatlantic races and started his helming career on Oman Sail’s first race in their MOD70, the Krys Ocean Race from New York to Brest in 2012. “It was my first transatlantic and I remember being very cold and wet so this time I know what to expect and I’m really excited about it,” he said.

“We will be downwind all the way across the North Atlantic to the Fastnet Rock and then over to St Malo for the finish. The weather is looking good for a record so hopefully, we can get our second record for Musandam-Oman Sail this year.”

The Transat Québec - Saint Malo is staged every four years and in 2016 has attracted 24 entries, both monohulls and multihulls, from across the world.

The bulk of the fleet started their race on Sunday but MusandamOman Sail and Spindrift 2, both competing in the ‘Ultime’ class start on Wednesday in the hope that the entire fleet will be nearing the finish in St Malo at around the same time.

Last month, Musandam-Oman Sail set a new Round Ireland record when they beat two other MOD70s Phaedo 3 and Concise 10 to win the Volvo Round Ireland Race, setting a new time of 38 hours 37 minutes and 7 seconds, which was more than two hours faster than their previous time of 40 hours, 51 minutes and 57 seconds set the previous year.

The Transat Quebec-St Malo ‘Ultime Class’ start is at 1500 local time on Wednesday.

MUSCAT: Oman’s Beach Soccer coach Talib Hilal completed the selection camp for the chosen players from all four legs of the Omanoil Beach Soccer Cup. The camp was held for two days with coach Talib Hilal and his staff and the 20 selected players were invited for the same.

The players were taught basic beach soccer techniques and then evaluated on the basis of their performance in the camp as they were put through a series of tests and game simulations.

“I am quite satisified with the camp and the quality of players.

I am going to call up some players immediately to the National team and also have some players to join us at a later date. This will allow me to have a bigger squad and pool of players and build a stronger national team” said coach Talib Hilal about the success of the camp.

The camp was also graced with a visit by officials from Omanoil as each player was handed a memento for their achievement.

The camp concludes what has been a very successful talent search for the National Beach Soccer Team in the Omanoil Beach Soccer Cup.

WORLD BEACH HANDBALL

Croatia edge past Oman in opener BUDAPEST: Oman began their Group B campaign in the 2016 Men’s IHF Beach Handball World Championship on a losing note, but the Sultanate team produced a brilliant performance before going down to Croatia through penalties at the Margaret Island in Hungary.

Luck too did not favour Oman as Croatia prevailed 6-4 in the penalty shootout after both the teams winning one set each.

Croatia’s Ivan Dumenic saw his penalty hit the bar but the Oman custodian Munir Baloch saw the ball rebound of his back into the net.

Croatia won the first set 2416, before Oman drew parity wit Croatia losing 18-26. However, Croatia had the better off Oman in the shootout.

Oman coach Hamoud Al Hassani said that the national team has performed well in the match.

“The lapse in concentration during the shootout was reason for the downfall,” said Al Hassani.

“We performed well and I wish them best for the forthcoming matches,” he added.

Oman has been clubbed in Group B along with 2014 silver medallist and reigning European champion Croatia, 2015 European Championship runner-up Spain, hosts Hungary, Uruguay

and Australia.

In Group A, defending world champion Brazil will face Qatar, Ukraine, Egypt, the US and Bahrain.

Meanwhile, in the same group hosts Hungary eased to victory against Uruguay 2-0.

Spain won their game against Australia, but the 2-0 score says little about the second period in which Australia led for long periods before finally succumbing at the end. They also suffered bad luck too as a good save from the Spanish goalkeeper rebounded the whole length of the court and into an empty Australian net as the team from Oceania were transitioning from attack to defence.

In Group A, Brazil opened their title defence with a win against Egypt but were made to work hard, eventually winning in a shootout 7-5. Nailson Amaral top-scored with 18 points.

The all-Asian contest between Qatar and Bahrain ended in an easy 2-0 win for the Qataris, as Anis Zouaoui smashed home 18 points.

The final match of the morning session saw a little bit of Pan American history as the USA team, appearing in their first-ever world championship, won 2-0 against Ukraine as Andrew Donlin top-scored on 12 points.

CRICKET

Ban match-fixers for life: Pietersen LONDON: Banned Pakistan bowler Mohammad Amir would not have the chance to return to the sport on Thursday after serving a five-year ban for spot-fixing if former England batsman Kevin Pietersen had his way. He believes any player caught fixing the outcome of matches or incidents within a game should be given life bans.

“People always deserve a second chance in life but sport is different,” the 36-year old wrote in his column in the Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.

“We are paid to play a sport we love and are damn lucky to lead the life of a professional cricketer. There can be no way back.”

Amir returns for Pakistan in the first Test against England at Lord’s after a five-year exile imposed after he admitted deliberately bowling a no-ball in the fourth Test against England in 2010. Pietersen, who played in that match, which England won, said spot-fixing revelations dampened the mood in the victo-

rious dressing room. “The story broke on the Saturday night and we all felt sick on the final day of the game. We felt empty when we took the wickets to win the match and did not celebrate,” he added.

“The relationship between the two teams was fractured because we all knew the damage it would do to cricket.”

Pietersen, who last played for England in 2014, said there was no excuse for cricketers. “In cricket the education players receive is so thorough. I have sat through so many (anti-corruption lectures) that I could probably give my own, so ignorance of the rules is no defence,” he said.

“I understand that in the subcontinent cricketers come from villages where there is poverty and deprivation.

“They get the chance to play international cricket and earn massive sums of money and are exposed to temptation. But to bowl a no ball to earn more money is just greed.” - Reuters

C4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

SPORTS Sreejesh to lead India at Rio as Sardar loses captaincy Asked if Sardar’s off-field controversy bogged him down, the Dutchman reacted in affirmative.

“Of course those things did affect him,” he said, pertaining to the legal tangle that the former skipper finds himself pertaining to the rape allegation.

Roelant Oltmans said the move to relieve the ace midfielder from captaincy was purely taken to free him from excess responsibilities

NEW DELHI: In a significant but surprise move, India today named senior goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as the captain of the national team for the Rio Olympics, removing longstanding skipper Sardar Singh.

Sreejesh, one of the finest custodians in world hockey at the moment, was rewarded after the team, under his leadership, ended up with a silver medal at the Champions Trophy in London, their bestever result in the 38-year-history of the blue riband six-nation tournament. The team played a brilliant final where they held eventual champions Australia to a goalless draw in the regulation time before losing in a controversial shoot-out.

Playmaker SV Sunil, who is also a key component in the team, has been named vice-captain. He was Sreejesh’s deputy in the Champions

MAN IN CHARGE: P.R. Sreejesh, one of the finest custodians in world hockey at the moment, was rewarded after the team, under his leadership, ended up with a silver medal at the Champions Trophy in London, their best-ever result in the 38-year-history of the blue riband six-nation tournament.

Trophy. While there were rumours that Sardar’s axing was a result of his dip in form in recent times, Indian hockey team’s chief coach and High Performance Director Roelant Oltmans said the move to relieve the ace midfielder from captaincy was purely taken to free him from excess responsibilities.

“The philosophy behind changing the captain is that we felt

GOLF

people need to take more responsibilities on the pitch and off the pitch. Sardar was taking too much responsibilities because of which he was not performing at the level that is expected of him,” Oltmans told reporters during a gliterring fucntion organised by Hockey India to announce the men’s and women’s teams for the Rio Games.

“By changing the captain I be-

lieve Sardar will play a much better Olympic Games. Sardar took the decision (of him being removed from captaincy) very sportingly.

He understands what’s required from him.”

Off the field too, Sardar had been going through tough times following allegations of rape after promising marriage were levelled against him by a British national.

Complete faith “For me, it is important that we perform as a team. We tried this combination of players in Champions Trophy and it worked for us.

This is the time to fine tune our processes and I have complete faith in our processes. I believe in this group of players,” Oltmans said.

Oltmans also said that he believes in shared leadership.

“I need shared leadership. I need players who take responsibility on and off the field and that’s the reason I felt we need to change the captain. We changed the captain in the Champions Trophy and that’s worked out really well.”

“I believe at this moment this is the best solution for Sardar and the team. For me there is only one thing and that’s the team and individuals are part of the team.

Squad: PR Sreejesh (goalkeeper and Capt), Harmanpreet Singh, Rupinderpal singh, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, VR Raghunath, SK Uthappa, Danish Mujtaba, Devinder Walmiki, SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Ramandeep singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah.

Stand Byes: Pradeep Mor, Vikas Dahiya (Reserve Goalkeeper). - PTI

FOOTBALL

Pogba ‘may stay put’ at Juventus

PARIS: Paul Pogba may stay put at Juventus despite talks about the French midfielder’s possible move to England or Spain, his agent Mino Raiola has said.

The 23-year-old Pogba, who played a pivotal role in France’s run to the Euro 2016 final, has been strongly linked with a return to English Premier League club Manchester United with Champions League winners Real Madrid also eyeing him.

However, a fee touted to be around a world record 100 million pounds ($130.65 million) could see Real priced out of a move for Pogba, according to British media reports.

“There is a lot of talk about Paul’s future, but maybe he will not leave Juventus,” Raiola told The Times.

“He is in no rush to leave, and Juventus do not want him to go. They want him to renew his contract. Paul is not desperate to move. We are very happy at Juventus and they are a club that want to keep their star players.”

Pogba’s contract at Juventus runs until 2019, while Raiola has worked closely with United during the close season as he wrapped up deals for his clients, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. - Reuters

CYCLING

Matthews breaks Tour de France jinx as Froome stays in yellow GEARING UP: Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell. –Reuters

Late Lytham lapse still haunts McDowell TROON: European Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell goes into this week’s 145th British Open looking to make amends for the day he let victory “slip through his fingers” in the 2012 edition at Royal Lytham.

The Northern Irishman was in the thick of things towards the top of the leaderboard with nine holes to go four years ago but had to make do with a share of fifth place behind eventual winner Ernie Els after dropping four shots on the back nine. McDowell featured in the same final-round group as Adam Scott who dominated the tournament from day one before suffering an agonising late slump that saw the Australian toss away a four-stroke lead over the closing four holes.

“Lytham was disappointing,” McDowell told Reuters in an interview at Troon.

“Standing there on the 10th tee I was ahead of Ernie. I was playing with Adam, his name seemed to be on the trophy. I felt my opportunity to win the Claret Jug had gone and I didn’t focus very well on the back nine — that’s probably one of my regrets I look back on.”

McDowell could have drawn

on the positive experience of winning the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2010, his only major championship triumph, but admits he suffered a costly lapse in concentration when the heat was on at Lytham.

“I feel as though the Claret Jug slipped through my fingers,” said the 36-year-old.

“I was trying to press the issue, go for broke, when all was not broken at that point. It was a little bit of inexperience that kicked in.

“I’ve learned from that day that anything can happen especially in majors,” McDowell told Reuters at a MasterCard event where he was trying out the latest developments in wearable contactless payment technology.

“It was a little bit of over-reaction I suppose but in the majors especially you have to stay in the moment, focus on the process and the results will take care of themselves.”

One stroke summed up McDowell’s mood on the back nine in 2012. Standing in the middle of the fairway on the 11th hole with a three-wood in his hands, he lost his ball after sending a wild hook sailing into the trees on the left. — Reuters

REVEL: Michael Matthews turned the page on years of bad luck in the Tour de France to complete his set of grand tour victories when he won the 10th stage after a royal breakaway on Tuesday.

The Australian, with three Vuelta and two Giro d’Italia stage wins to his name, outsprinted his breakaway companions after 197km from Escaldes-Engordany, Andorra, benefiting from the support of two of his Orica-Bike Exchange team mates.

World champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff ), who reclaimed the green jersey for the points classification from Briton Mark Cavendish, took second place and Norway’s Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) finished third.

Matthews missed the 2014 Tour after sustaining injuries in training and last year, he abandoned after breaking four ribs.

“And this year already I had crashed twice. I was almost giving up on this race, thinking maybe the Tour de France is not for me,” he said.

Briton Chris Froome (Team Sky) retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey after finishing safe in the main peloton 9:39 off the pace.

“The start was pretty full on, there was a lot of work for my team mates to control the race,” said Froome. “But it was pretty straightforward from there. However, it’s a good day to tick off.”

The stage got off to a nervous start on the category-one climb to the Port d’Envalira, as riders were keen to win places in the day’s breakaway which took its final shape after about 60 kilometres.

Royal break It was a royal break as six of the 15 fugitives had already worn the yellow jersey and nine of them were Tour stage winners.

With 24km left, Sagan’s brutal

HURRAH: Orica-BikeExchange rider Michael Matthews of Australia celebrates on the finish line. – AFP

acceleration on a small rise split the group and only seven, including two of Matthews’s team mates, remained in front.

Matthews benefited from compatriot and team mate Luke Durbridge’s work to keep the chasers at bay and then stayed in Sagan’s wheel as his other team mate, South African Daryl Impey,

led the group in the lead-up to the final sprint.

Impey also attacked on the short climb up the Cote de Saint Ferreol close to the finish, forcing Sagan to make efforts that probably left the Slovak short of juice in the finale.

Matthews then delivered with an impressive burst of speed over the final 200 metres.

“I would not have won without Luke Durbridge, and Daryl Impey attacking in the climb and leading out the sprint,” said Matthews.

Wednesday’s 11th stage is a 162.5-km ride between Carcassonne and Montpellier that should favour the sprinters before Thursday’s trek up to the intimidating Mont Ventoux. - Reuters

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

Leisure WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

A COASTAL ESCAPADE Sur is an ideal destination for tourists and residents alike for being home to the most intriguing tourist spots in Oman. Pristine beaches, monumental cliffs, traditional markets and places of heritage and culture, the city reflects Oman’s natural beauty and culture. One such iconic tourist spot located a few miles before Sur, is Wadi Shab. We capture the action by paying a visit to the most famous wadi in Oman.

STORY SYED HAITHAM HASAN • PHOTOS SUPPLIED

O

man happens to be one of the few countries in the world which offer a contrasting range of scenic beauty, from high rise mountains to the endless shoreline at such close proximity.

This maybe a resounding feature but what makes it even more special is the accessibility to these natural wonders. It is safe and effortless to get there, thanks to some proactive measures taken by the government. One such widely known tourist friendly location is Wadi Shab, the name doesn’t cascade a fraction of excitement it beholds for the visitor.

The drive Heeding to suggestions from family and friends, against my repulsive unyielding nature, I set out to

Wadi Shab on a Friday morning along with two others. Getting down from my house in Muscat, I was jubilant to see my friend in his Jeep, a remarkable off roader with which I had conquered Wahiba Sands, waiting to pick me.

The next couple of hours went talking about our thrilling school days and the monotonous work life presently.

Our conversation about the futility of everything seized at the entrance of Sur, marked by a magnificent beach and cylindrical storage structures of the Oman LNG. I can’t help mentioning another irrelevant fact, that road is just sublime, wide and smooth without any bumps or vertical excitations. Forgive my terminology; I was an engineer once.

Continue to Page 7 >

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

C6

PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

@ MGM

Cast: Ali Alghurair, Khalil Alromaithi, Abdulla Waleed 7:00PM

@ BURAIMI

@ PANORAMA MALL

SHATTI Now You See Me 2 (2D) (Action | Comedy | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo 1:30 PM Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3:45, 8:30, 11:45 PM Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman 2:15, 7:00, 9:15, 11:45 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Out of the Shadows (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 4:45, 7:00, 9:15 PM Finding Dory (3D) (Comedy) (PG) Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 2:30, 4:30, 6:30 PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) GOLD CLASS Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 11:15AM, 1:30, 7:00 & 11:30PM Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman 10:00AM, 9:30 & 11:45PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi) GOLD CLASS Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 3:45PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi | Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 6:15 & 8:45PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action ) (PG12) GOLD CLASS Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 9:15PM

Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma, Marko Zaror 2:00, 4:30, 5:05, 7:45, 8:15, 11:00, 11:30 PM

Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:00AM, 12:00, 2:00 & 6:45PM

Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) MX4D Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, , Bill Pullman 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15PM

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (3D) PG 12 (Action | Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 3.00, 7.00 & 9.30 PM

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:15 & 4:00PM Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:00AM, 12:00, 2:00 & 6:45PM The Purge: Election Year - (2D) (Action) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell 12:15, 4:30 & 11:55PM (12+)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - (3D) (Action | Adventure | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:45, 6:00, 9:45 & 11:50PM Finding Dory - (3D) (Animation) (PG) Cast: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 1:45, 3:45, 5:45 & 7:45PM Me Before You - (2D) (Drama) (15+) Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer 5:00PM

PANORAMA MALL Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 9:15 & 11:30PM Independence Day: Resurgence - (4D) 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15PM (PG12) MX4D Independence Day: Resurgence - (3D) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) 7:15, 9:30 & 11:45pm Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi) VIP LOUNGE Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 2:45 & 6:00PM Sultan - (2D) (PG12) (Hindi | Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 2:45, 8:15 & 11:30PM

AZAIBA Happy Wedding (Mal) (2D) (Romance) (PG) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir, 6:45, 9:15, 11:00 PM Sultan (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 2:00, 4:30, 5:05, 7:45, 8:15, 11:00, 11:30 PM Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 2:00, 4:30, 11:45 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-Out of the Shadows (3D) (Action | Adventure ) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 2:15, 7:00, 9:00 PM Finding Dory (3D) (Animation) (PG) 3:00, 5:00 PM

RUWI Screen 1 Sultan (2D) (Action, Drama, Sport) –PG12 Cast : Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3.30, 6.45, 10.00 PM Screen 2 Independence Day: Resurgence (2D) (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi) –PG12 Cast : Maika Monroe, Liam Hemsworth 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM Screen 3 Housefull 3 (2D) (Comedy / Drama) –PG12 Cast : Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

SOHAR Independence Day: Resurgence – 3D (Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Bill Pullman 3:45, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45PM Finding Dory – 3D (Animation) (PG) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 3:00PM Finding Dory – 2D (Animation) (PG) 5:00PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – 3D (Action/) (PG12) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 5:00, 9:30, 11:45PM The Purge: Election Year -2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti 3:00, 11:45PM Now You See Me: the Second Act – 2D Cast: Jesse Esinberg, Lissy Caplan, Daniel 5:30PM (Action) (PG12) Sultan -2D (Hindi/ Action) (PG12) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 2:15, 6:15, 8:00, 11:15PM Happy Wedding -2D (Romantic/Drama) (PG) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir, Sharafudheen 9:15PM Swaief Tafash -2D (Arabic) (PG)

SUR Independence Day 3D ( Action) ( PG12 ) Cast : Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 3:15, 7:30, 11:45 PM Sultan (Hindi) ( Action ) ( PG12 ) Cast : Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3:30, 8:30, 11:30 PM Finding Dory 3D ( Animation ) (PG) 6:30 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles : Out of the Shadows 3D ( Action ) ( PG12 ) Cast : Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 5:30, 9:45 PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

36 31

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

86-77% Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/ her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

Sur Sur

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Sultan (Hindi) ( Act\Sports) Cast: Salman Khan & Anushka Shama 3-30 PM Cinema -2; 6-30 & 9-30 Pm Cinema Main Happy Wedding (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Willson Joseph, Soubin Shahir & Sharafudheen 3-30 Pm Cinema Main; 6-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema -2 School Bus (Mal) (Thriller) Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Jayasurya 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 PM Cinema -3 Kammati Paddam (Mal) (Act) Cast: Dulquer Salman & Anjali Aneesh 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -3 Next Change: Kabali (Tamil) Programmes are subject to change

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

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

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

STAR CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

The Asian Connection (Action) Cast: Steven Seagal, Michael Jai White 1.00 p.m.

CP No : 1764 (15+) The Purge: Election Year (Action/Horror/Sc:Fi:) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizebeth Mitchel 4.00, 8.00 & 11.55 pm CP No : 1810 (12+) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (Action/Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Amet, Tyler Perry 12.00, 2.00, 6.00 & 10.00 pm CP No : 1811 (PG12 ) Sultan (Hindi Film) (Action/Drama/Sport) Cast: Salman Khan, Anushka Sharma 3.00, 6.00 & 9.00pm CP No : 1812 (PG12) 30 Years Ago (Arabic Film) (Action/Thriller) Cast: Ahmed El Sakki, Mona Zaki, Sherif Mounir 11.55 pm CP No : 1813 (PG12)

WITH LOVE

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

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

SALALAH Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) (PG12) (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 10:15, 2:30, 6:00, 8:35PM Finding Dory (3D) (PG) (Animation) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 10:30, 12:30, 4:45PM Sultan (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror 2:45, 8:45, 11:15PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (3D) (PG12) (Action | Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 12:30, 9:00, 11:30PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2D) (PG12) (Action | Adventure) 4:10PM The Purge: Election Year (2D) (12+) (Action ) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti 12:05, 2:05, 11:55PM Abu Shanab (2D) (PG12)( Arabic ) (Action ) Cast: Yazmin Abdel Aziz, Dhaffer L Abidine 6:45PM Happy Wedding (2D) (PG) (Mal) (Romantic) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir 6:15PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

BAHJA CINEMA

BURAIMI Independence Day: Resurgence (3D) PG12 (Action| Adventure | Sci-Fi) Cast: Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum 2.45, 9.00 & 11:30 PM The Purge: Election Year 12+ (Action) Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell 2.00, 5.00 & 11.55 PM Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (3D) PG 12 (Action | Adventure) Cast: Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Tyler Perry 3.00, 7.00 & 9.30 PM Sultan PG12 (Hindi) (Action) Cast: Salman Khan, Marko Zaror, Anushka Sharma 4.00, 8.55 & 11.15 PM Finding Dory (3D) PG (Animation | Comedy) Voice Overs: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks 5.00 & 7.00 PM Happy Wedding PG (Malayalam) Cast: Wilson Joseph, Soubin Shahir 7.00 PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

Destination

12.18pm 3.37pm 7.02pm 8.23pm 4.03am

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

@ AZAIBA

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK) Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334 Apollo Medical Centre,

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al Hayat International Hospital, Al Ghubra 22004000, 94267068/97049520 Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

C7

LIFESTYLE IN THE NEWS

Chiang Mai voted best city in Asia by Travel + Leisure

Destination at last A few more turns in a quarter of an hour, we were at a place marked by a high bridge, tall mountains and a huge number of people.

The two hour journey seemed to have instilled an Ibn Battuta passion within us, I don’t have any other explanation for us ignoring our destination, temporarily, and going uphill to discover the village at the outskirts of the exact tourist spot.

Apart from a customary Omani village we discovered nothing different and perhaps it was time. We parked our vehicle and a large lake beyond a gravelly track welcomed us.

Hungry, we sighted a food stall and wasted no time rushing to it.

Gravelly, grassy, ups and down, the unformed path to it was just a preview for what was to come. Now I have to detail this rickety food stall, this guy had everything, from fluids to solids, chocolates to gum, the chaotic little cabin in the woods was the perfect one-stop solution to a pre Wadi Shab moment. Considering it was also the last source of nourishment before we crossed the lake into the unknown, it couldn’t have had a better location.

Into the unknown Replenishing our supplies we moved towards the boats carrying people to the other side. We purchased our return tickets securing our passage back to the safe side of the lake. The next few steps were easy, hop into a small boat along with few others and a local guide would ferry you across, which takes two minutes. That boat ride was exhilarating, not due to some rampage speed boat experience but rather an insipid smooth sailing in the middle

Location Wadi Shab, Sur Coordinates Latitude: 22°50’13.72”N, Longitude : 59°14’34.71”E Genre Hiking, swimming, boating, cliff diving Time from Muscat – 2 hours Things to carry Swimming clothes, slippers or waterproof hike shoes, sun protection, snacks, plenty of drinking water, a couple of rials to cross the lake, camera Best place to get food From home or the tiny stall just before the hike Best time to be there Early morning to evening Time taken for complete hike – 2 hours Things not to miss Hidden cave (will require good amount of swim), semidemolished houses at one of the cliffs, waterfall cave, free roam.

of the mountains is so satisfactory, I wished it never got over.

Well, it did. We docked down the other coast, jumped out of the boat and were welcomed with some very unfriendly adventurous pathways.

We just followed the gravelly track carved out in the middle of huge mountains with trees, plants and every imaginable scenic beauty complementing the view. Have you seen those documentaries on travel and dreamt to be there? If you have, there is nothing more ‘dream come true’ than a visit to Wadi Shab. It is a road in between sandstone cliffs, untouched by the sophisticated new world. The trail is open and never ending, every time you look up, the path seizes to an end until you reach there and find a dramatic steep curve that brings about a whole new series of pathways into perspective.

Loaded with energy and curious to find the end, we raced through several beautiful scenic magnificence before we found out why the place was known as Wadi Shab. In the midst of awe-inspiring mountains, naturally carved into the most beautiful shapes by the water,

there were shallow lakes surrounded by huge boulders, overlooked by narrow rugged trekking pathways attached to the mountains.

The lakes provided a great source of relaxation from a rather tedious trek as people got into their swimming cloaks and jumped into the chasm of fun and ease. I have to inform that there were several of such locations, so even though the place was inundated with people, it didn’t seem that way. Unaware of what the path held for us, we too decided to take a break and hopped into the least populated spit of water. One of the locals informed us that if we could swim well, we could get to a cave nearby through one of these lakes. But it was the trek we were looking at.

As we continued moving higher and higher, so the trek was basically a climb through the rough terrain with some beautiful sights, we crossed running rivulets, jumped over gigantic boulders until we reached a gorge. This was just splendid, in between the beautifully shaped peaks ran a stream of water. Our narrow pass had now be-

come more like a cave and we stayed nearly 20 metres above water level.

Perfect place for cliff diving. Several people swam and others walked along like us till a place where it was impossible to move further until it was a super hero movie or one was dressed for rock climbing. I must mention it here, navigating through Wadi Shab is simple. The towering mountains carve a distinct passage from the start to the end.

Return With the Sun beginning to soften, we got ourselves an alpine start and made our way back. Where the path may seem moderate while coming up, it becomes a bit hard while returning as descend aided by gravity, we tend to race away so caution is necessary especially while passing slippery and unstable conditions. The return was move tiring than we thought, starved off energy, descending down steps, gravels, streams, boulders and rocks, we somehow managed to take easiest return route possible. Throwing ourselves in the boat was even more soothing than the earlier trip.

In the next five minutes we were in the car on our way back bidding farewell to one of the most satisfying trekking experience we ever had in Oman.

Our drive back consisted of a visit to a local restaurant in Sur and nothing out of the ordinary. I also learnt that our champion off roader was probably the worst long runner with no sleep or comfort possible in it, especially with my friend driving. So arrange for comfort on the way back as you are guaranteed to be tired.

— haitham@timesofoman.com

Chiang Mai has just been named the Top City in Asia as well as ranked second for the World’s Best Cities in the Travel+ Leisure World’s Best Awards 2016 readers’ survey. The northern Thai city was nominated by the readers of the influential magazine, who also ranked Bangkok at No. 5 in Asia and at No. 14 for the World in the same poll.

The online publication’s readers were asked to judge Asian destinations on various factors including the local culture, food, shopping and landmarks as well as the friendliness of the people and overall value for money. The cities were then rated out of 100 with Chiang Mai scoring 91.25. The city was praised by the Travel + Leisure readers for its “peace and quiet” and “funky fusion restaurants, historic temples and massive markets” as well as for boasting all the conveniences of a major city. Bangkok had a score of 88.96 and was praised for its arts scene and trendy hangouts.

Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said, “Chiang Mai has always been popular with local and international tourists, and so it’s good to see that the city is receiving more international acclaim. The lovely weather and charming culture of the ancient Lanna capital make Chiang Mai a wonderful retreat the whole year round, and as it’s a culinary and arts centre, there’s always something to enjoy in the city as well as adventures in the surrounding hills.”

Chiang Mai has also been ranked highly on a recent list of best cities for Digital Nomads – people who work online and do not need to be tied to an office. The Nomad List ranks the best cities for digital nomads based on living costs, Internet speed, weather, safety and more than 50,000 other data points. Chiang Mai was recently ranked as the world’s top city for Digital Nomads with Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, taking second place in the global list. — lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Airbnb faces growing pains as it passes 100 million users “Don’t go to Paris. Don’t tour Paris. And please don’t do Paris.” The advice, offered by homesharing app Airbnb in a series of television commercials that have been airing in seven countries, promotes a vision of small-batch, artisanal travel that’s more authentic than the dull, predictable quality of big hotel chains.

“It’s the humanity that makes our business different from every other travel company,” says Airbnb’s chief executive officer, Brian Chesky. But as a company, Airbnb, which allows users to book private rooms and apartments in an eBay-like online marketplace, is anything but homespun.

With a valuation of $30 billion, Airbnb is worth about 30 percent more than the world’s biggest hotel company, Hilton, and nearly eight times more than its closest competitor, HomeAway, which Expedia bought for $3.9 billion last year. Airbnb’s 2.3 million room inventory makes it bigger than the three largest hotel chains — Hilton, Marriott, and InterContinental-combined. And its occupancy rates, while lagging the big chains, are high considering that most Airbnb hosts are part-timers. Last New Year’s Eve, the biggest night of the year for Airbnb, more than a million guests booked rooms on the platform. This summer, Airbnb has been routinely passing that figure on most evenings. (On a recent weekend in June, it hit 1.3 million guests.)

This week, Airbnb has celebrated its 100 millionth guest. Its success is forcing harder conversations about what the company is and what it should be. For years, the company, founded

by Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, and Joe Gebbia in a San Francisco apartment in 2008, operated without much regulatory scrutiny. Its hosts, as private homeowners, were not subject to traditional hotel regulation. Later, Airbnb offered to collect hotel taxes, winning over skeptical municipalities. — Bloomberg

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016

LIFESTYLE

NEED RFOR SPEED PHOTOS SHABIN E

amadan has ended and the moment is right for some serious fun. It is time to exploit the crisp tarmac of the Oman Automobile Association and enjoy sticking to lines in the fast lane. If you have a passion for motorsports, it is time for Go Karting. From amateur to the professionals, all roads for motorsports enthusiasts lead to the OAA. The track serves both types of enthusiasts alike as they have different categories of karts. The Dino is the slower kart, which is an ideal vehicle to get started with karting. The experienced can treat themselves with the faster Sodi karts as they race past the magniďŹ cent 1.2km circuit of the OAA. Location: Oman Automobile Association, Azaiba Timing- 4pm- 10pm Price: Dino Kart - OMR8 for 15 minutes Sodi Kart - OMR10 for 15 minutes (average of 11 laps, depending on your timings) For kids - OMR6 for 8 minutes. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;lifestyle@timesofoman.com

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, J U LY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

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

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W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 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

New 2B/R behind bank Muscat, Bausher directly from owner.

Contact: 92158031

1000,00 M2 Industrial plot compound wall & two room at Misfah I/A. Contact: 99342733

Ruwi office space for rent, Saravana Bhava Building.

Contact: 95729549

Flat for rent in Al Mawaleh South 3, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, hall, kitchen & store with air condition.

Contact 98575157

Commercial/Residential land (24000 sqm) at Izz for lease.

Contact 92334696

2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120

1BHK near medical Darsait R.O 175/-.

Contact: 95076261 2 bedrooms flats R.O 370/- & one bedroom flat R.O 325/- in South Ghubra, behind Asalah Bhawan building. Contact: 96202490

3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent.

18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi.

Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use. OMR 295/- month.

Call 94477222 Flats for rent, location: Darsait AENT. Contact: 99885957 / 24488075 Shop for rent good location main road behind whole sale Al Amerat space 11 MT long 4mt Wide.

Contact: 92877449 Flats shops for rent in Ruwi, MBD, Mumtaz area Al Qurum.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 2 Bedroom flat for rent in Azaiba with split AC 300/- monthly.

Contact: 92447365 Flat behind Mazoon Mosque with 3 room + 3 toilets, RO 230.

Contact 99738881 / 99420346 Luxury fully furnished 2 bedroom flat at Al Khuwair, for short or long term lease contract. Contact Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC. Contact 99436312 /92888376 / 94617563, tel: 24833848 Villa available –Built up 300m2, 3 bedrooms, sitting, family lounge, kitchen, 3 toilets, near 100 meters from Indian School SoharContact: 26843530, 95856630 3 bedroom well maintained flat (villa type only 2 flats in one bldg) in Al Khuwair, behind Al Aktham restaurant villa no 1839, Way no 3922 block 239.

Contact: 99462980 2 Bedroom, 1 sitting room, 1 toilet, 1 kitchen at Darsait.

Contact: 99022487

One & two bedroom apartments available for rent close to the Avenues mall, opposite Panorama Mall at South Ghubra. Contact: 99833747 / 24562526 6 Bedroom villas available for rent at Al Hail North close to the wave, common swimming pool & GYM available. Contact: 24562526 / 99833747 Two flats in Al Wadi Al Kabeer near to the Al Kuwaiti Mosque.

Contact: 99425958 Apartment for rent in Darsait: 3 bedrooms plus two bathrooms.

Contact : 99459342 Land 2500m2 with p/cabins at Yitti. Contact 99221683 Studio flat for rent at Al Hail.

Contact 92817777 Flat with 2 room + kitchen +hall, 3 toilets in al Quram Breeiq Al Shatti RO 650.Contact 99738881 / 99314314 1,2,3 BHK flats & villas.

Contact: 91760884 3BHK Al Khuwair R.O. 350/-.

Contact: 91760884 / 92144045 2BHK Darsait R.O 315/-.

Contact: 91760884 / 92144045 1BHK Mumtaz R.O 225/-.

Contact: 92144045 / 91760884 1 &2 BHK Ghubra 250/- , 275/& 300/-.Contact: 92144045 / 91750884 110 SQM shop for rent next to Honda Signal light.

Contact: 99061408 / 99024039 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

I BHK Flat -3 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 175/-3 Bed Room/ 3 Bath room/ Very big sitting area/ kitchen - Villa 1st floor with A/C at Al Khuwair Near Rayyan Residence.

R.O 360/-For families. Contact: 94934353 - 9 am to 7 Pm. Email – forrentksd@gmail.com

3000 Sqr mtrs compound land in Misfah. Contact 99792181 1700 sqr mtrs open Land + small store + garage for Rent in Ruwi.

Contact 99792181

1 BHK fully furnish flat in Hamriya for short terms. Contact – 99792181

Labor Camp available with all facilities near Sohar Port.

Contact: 98050654 / 99015826

5 BHK Villa in Al Khuwair, for Staff Accommodation.

Contact 99792181

Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Darsate Tel : 00 968 95158570

1 Room for sharing accommodation in Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99792181

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact 97007934 / 92629232

3 & 5 BHK villa staff accommodation in Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99792181 1 BHK flat in Al Khuwair for 2 months. Contact – 99792181 Flats, shops & store for rent in MBD area Ruwi, Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

Ghubra & Al Khuwair, 1 bed room, hall. Contact: 90991079

2BHK split A/C for rent Muttrah near Oman House.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Flats for rent in Mumtaz, 2 bedrooms , hall Way no 3352 building no. 3447 & 3668.

Contact: 90991079

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair. Contact 95154331

Two bedrooms flat behind German Embassy near to Al Nahda Hospital. Contact: 99209354

Spacious 3 BHK apartment + store room with split A/C Al Seeb, Mabelah South near Goat market, near Expressway R.O 320 negotiable. Contact: 96920789 / 98309890

Wadi Kabeer Industrial 80 sm show rooms for rent 400/- R.O. Contact: 99879939 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 Flat for rent in Al Khoud, 2 rooms & hall. Contact: 91763665 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661 Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569

1 BHK Flats are available near Lulu Darsait (Opp. to Min. of Defense) Contact: 93202733 / 94771769

FOR SALE Dental chairs for sale sparingly used dental units for sale.

Contact Mr. Ansari 92616343.

Kumar 99570284 A medical clinic located in Al Amerat is for sale. Interested parties can contact 92704439.

For sale brand new 4D ultra sound machine with in the warranty.

Iinterested candidates Contact: 91274373 / 99062817 Coffee shop with tandoor & six visa, clearance in prime location in Ghubra for sale R.O 7000/-.

Contact urgently 99803363 / 94959572 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 1No brand new containerized package type STP 100 m3/ day with blower equipments (suitable for camps). Serious Buyers may.

Contact: 99445367 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair.

Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale. Contact: 99273774/ 99202278 Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

Restaurant for sale heart of Ruwi.

Contact 93687466

2 & 3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair & Ghubra. Contact 99792181

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter.

Photos can be sent 95865457

4 BHK Villa in Bowsher Heights.

Contact 99792181

Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

FOR HIRE JCB 426 TOOL CARRIER with Operator available.

Contact 92334696

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

Contact 99336776 Single room with common bathroom and kitchen is available for rent in al khuwair near al Aktham restaurant. Contact: 99562884 / 99786172 Furnished room with bath room available in Ruwi (close to Qaboos Masjid) looking for Keralites Executive bachelor Rent: R.O 100/-.

Contact: 92683045 Fully furnished two bed flat for 4 - 6 months rent available, location KFC building, Wadi Kabir, Ruwi.

Contact: 98763645 / 93894257 Furnished rooms with kitchen at Ruwi. # 91214897 / 98049288.

One single room available for executive bachelor at CBO area fully furnished and WIFI available.

Contact 92779732 Room, bath room for executives in Wadi kabir. Contact 99336206 Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 97167857 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir. Contact 93049849 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. Contact: 96202458/96761960 1 BHK appartment for rent in Al Khoud Shabiya near mazoon mosque for rent (next to alkhoud medical center and squ) MOB: 93913224 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians.

Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90.

Contact: 96524717

W E D N E S DAY, J U LY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE SHUTTERING PLYWOOD SIZE : 4’ X 8’ X 18MM GSM: 92835445,93205253,93205423

DRIVING

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS

BUYING

Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact 90202090

WANTED Urgently required looking to immediately buy used Grit blasting & airless spray equipment 1 No each.

Contact: 968 24810930 / 93203772 / 93203773 / 93203778 IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile # 92927880/99012165

INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required.

Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com

GOOD NEWS

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. available. (Ruwi) Contact 92430239 Transportation.Contact: 94510847 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation available Al Khuwair, Ghobrah, Azaiba, Al Hail & Al Khoud. Drop & pick.

Contact 95250161 Transportation. Contact 99508282

Ayurvedic treatments & massage – Ayurvedic Clinic Al Khuwair.

Contact 97263637 / 93309131

Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation. Contact94510847

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

RENT A CAR MV SALE

30 years running clinic in Seeb .

We have Gynecology department.

If anybody interested to run the department under sponsorship can Contact: 96644371 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail.

Contact 96234708 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please contact 92680041 Mr. Altaf Sharing accommodation near ISD. Contact: 99657340

2015 Toyota Yaris sedan for sale immaculate condition like new asking price OMR 4000.

97323199 Toyota Corolla 2006, 1.3, full automatic Expat driven. # 99045803 Mazda 2; 2013 ; 4 Door Hatchback ; Grey color ; Low Mileage : 4350 Kms; Single Expat Driven; Excellent Condition; Price: 3000 OMR(Negotiable).

Contact 99857123

RENT A CAR

TOYOTA Camry for sale, 2010, 1,00,000 kms, full option, silver colour, warranty up to Sept 2016, full showroom service, Indian expat leaving the country.

Mob 97462122 TOYOTA CAMRY : Good condition,Colour White, Make 2004, Automatic Transmission, Done 236000 Kms. Contact: 93667236 Nissan Qashqai 2013 Kms 30,000 VGC comprehensive Insurance UAE / Oman.

Contact: 96995430

ACC. WANTED Accommodation Wanted for an Executive Bachelor, Single Flat / Sharing Room @ Wadi Kabir.

Pls call: 93883674 / 98103169

LOST Geiggr Haman has lost Indian Passport No. K 1468167. Finder please handover to ROP

Welcome to Salalah book your rent a car. www.salalahrentals.com. or call 93970005, 92889579 Gulf link rent car get the best rate daily weekly monthly & long term.

Contact: Tel: 24348106 G.S.M: 98265073 /96023931 Email: gulflink403@gmail.com 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver.

CONTACT 99839898

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W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 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 SITUATION WANTED VACANT

VACANCIES

ADMIN

Urgently required Receptionist (Omani National): Having Secondary Certificate with Minimum 2 years experience, good command over English & Arabic.

Should be capable of handling 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

Required Office Assistant with driving license present in Oman 175+ 25 + accommodation.

Contact: 99454425

Wanted Indian female law Graduated to join advocacy office.

Contact: 92303603 Email: lawyeroffice4all@gmail.com

ACCOUNTS

MEDICAL

Wanted experienced Assistant Finance Manager, Salesman (Ceramic, Sanitary, doors, furniture), purchase Executive for a building material showroom. Send CV to eacmd@omanmcc.com

Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

An Omani Audit firm is seeking audit partner to join the firm, the candidate should be completed any certificate course CIA,CPA, CA, ACC, and 4 years’ experience, interested candidates to submit their CVs to : auditbureau2016@gmail.com

A medical centre is looking to hire immediately a talented Nurse to join our successful team, required 3 years of experience, Oman prometric, data flow. Send your CV to- issalibi@gmail.com or Whatsapp - 91254820

CATERING

MISCELLANEOUS

House maid for Omani family.

Contact: 99773100

DRIVER Wanted a experience Driver for Capital and Interior work.

Gsm : 942-888-63 Required Omani Driver for a restaurant. Contact 95929911

ENG./TECHNICIAN Required Electrical B.Tech with 5 years of Oman experience & D/L. Electrical with ITI - Industrial & MEDC license. Contact: 99454425

EDUCATION/TRAINING Required English, computer and science female Teachers up to grad 4. Contact - 95054916, aa77345@gmail.com. contact time after 5PM

IT Required Shop Sales man + Hardware Technician for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

MEDICAL Care Medical Centre Al Seeb requires Gynecologist and General Practitioner. Mail CV to: sarita_h23@yahoo.com Physiotherapist male and female required to a clinic in Azaiba.

Contact 99470550 A private clinic in Oman requires a Pharmacist (Indian preferably).

Salary negotiable interested candidates kindly mail their resumes / CV with contact details to medicalclinic2014@gmail.com or call 00968 90990851 General Practitioner with MBBS degree, Prometric passes & dataflow completed, wants to join any hospital or polyclinic in and around Muscat, Sohar or Salalah.

Contact dr.saiful.bd@gmail.com, 960775 9159 GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com

25 BBA Male Administration officer, HR, Procurement, accounts, 5 years experience with NOC. Contact 91329571

With 15 years of gulf experience in HR- Admin logistics looking for suitable position fluent in Arabic & Eng NOC available. Contact: 95824598

ADVOCATE

DOMESTIC HELPER

Indian male MBA, BCA 2 yrs exp as HR co-ordinator, & offer documentation specialist.

Contact : 93060770, Email: vijaypm5480@gmail.com

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

ADMIN

Shawarma / grill / Salad / Asian Cook. Contact: 95529970

SITUATION WANTED

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Tailor shop requires Master Cutter & hand embroidery. Contact – 99359700 Immediate requirement cast aluminum, Stainless steel, window glass, MS, Factory Site Engineer, Supervisor, Cast Aluminum fabricator, SS fabricator, (Cast Aluminum), Site Worker, Stainless Steel Tig Welder buffing & polisher, Site Supervisor, Cast Aluminum molders. Send CVs to tdnewgates@gmail.com or Wahtsapp 99197060 / 98046537 Required Indian Mason – 5 nos., eligibility (minimum 5 yrs experience in road construction field).

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com

Indian male, 20 years experience in Oman as personal assistant / Executive Office Manager / Executive Secretary / Administration/ business development asst with Omani driving license & valid visa. local release available – 99168054 Indian female with nearly 10 years of experience in Administration and HR , in an oil industry company , seeking for a suitable placement .

NOC available. Contact: 99242841 Pakistani male MA (Economics) with 13yrs Experience in Administration, Procurement, HR & Accounts for suitable placement call@92639838 Education M.B.A (HR) experience 1 year & 11 months exp. in HR, 24 yrs. Contact: 98746259 Indian male with 11 years experience in Data Entry, Admin / HR currently on Visit visa from 9 to 23 July seeking suitable job.

Contact 95669937 7 yrs Exp Office Admin / HR/ IT Admin, MCA, BCA, MBA NOC Available, With Driving License PH: 97086686 Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817

ARCHITECT Senior Architect, Indian male 15 years exp having D/L NOC, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 92319009 Email: abdul_muq2000@yahoo.co.uk Junior Architect (female), from NIT looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 99329289 Architect Engineer seeking for suitable job, 8 years experience.

GSM : 96075000, Email : haytham_201046@yahoo.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE SALES / MARKETING Carpentry and Aluminum workshop located at Muscat looking for Marketing Executive with GCC driving license & NOC. Send C.V to kwk585@gmail.com Required following candidates in a reputed company in Oman Sales Person (Indoor & outdoor) , Accountants, Logistic Incharge, Visual Merchandiser.

Contact: 95175354 or email: tasleem77@hotmail.com Urgently required a ‘Purchase Manager’ to handle all the procurements for a reputed Readymix concrete Company, having its branches all over Oman. The candidate should possess required experience, product knowledge and excellent communication skills. Interested candidates may send their CV to sndakshin@gmail. com / Contact: 99256757 Required marketing / PR manager for a modern restaurant group in Oman , proficient in illustrator & Photoshop charismatic , proactive , creative & flexible excellent writing / Editing skills degree in relevant area fluent in English.

Send CV to marketingpr2016@gmail.com Required smart, young, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience for a reputed manufacturing company in Oman, having its Head Office in Ruwi. Experience in building materials is an added advantage. Omani Driving License and NOC is a must.

Attractive remuneration package.

Apply with photograph to E-mail: salesjobds@gmail.com

Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail.

Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415 Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email-allen.mathew83@gmail.com 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 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. # 99284193 Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact: 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Indian Male 22 , Graduate , Specialized in Tally ERP 9.0, SAP B 1& Professional in Indian & Foreign Accounting (CPIFA) with 1 year work experience , on visit visa in Muscat , Contact no:91782545

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE IND female 12 years exp in Banking, insurance customer service secretarial skills analysis communication, client handling, coordination, Team handling, qualification, M.Com looking suitable position current visit visa.

Contact: 95166496 Chief / Senior Accountant, having 12 years Oman experience looking for a job NOC / Release with D/L available.

Contact: 97385562 Indian female 24 yrs, MBA finance B.Com Computer currently on family visa looking for suitable placements. Contact: 93839846 Email: abmiesummy92@gmail.com Part Time Accounting, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Monthly Reports, Accounting set up for new companies, GSM : 96975454, email: ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian/MBA/male Chief Accountant 18Yrs Experience, MIS, C.Flow, Budgeting, ERP, Cost accounting &Liasing with auditors. NOC available.

Contact: 92254691/97826674 email: khader2305@gmail.com Indian male B.Com, MBA 4 years in Larsen & Toubro total 26 years Gulf experience English, Arabic speaking with driving license, NOC available.

Contact: 95588565 MPA- MBA Master of professional Accounting - Master of Business Administration 26 years, Indian male looking for an accounting job & recently graduated from James Cook University Brisbane, Australia currently in Oman.

Contact: 96038898 Indian male 3.5 years experience in handling key accounts looking for similar sales job, valid Oman diving license and NOC available.

Contact: 94974767 Indian female M.Com DCA having 10+ years experience in accountant & administration in Oman, with Oman driving license seeking suitable job. Contact: 91609799 Accountant Pakistani female with more than 2 years experience up to finalization tally & accounts receivables & payables having Oman D/L. Contact: +968 95287396 mail: mariamnaaz92@hotmail.com Srilankan female, 26 yrs, B.Sc, Mgt Degree, 4 yrs experience as Accounts & Admin Executive, looking for a suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or Administration fields. Contact 92544237 / 99640850 Accountant B.Com Indian male 10 yrs experience in Oman with D/L & NOC, local change is available specialized in Tally ERP9 & focus up to finalization. Contact: 99622639 Indian female 28 yrs B.Com 4 yrs experience in MNC’s currently in Muscat seeking suitable placement in Finance / Admin.

Contact :94743790 7 Years experience as Financial Analyst, MBA in finance. Responsibilities- research contributor, financial statement analysis, generating MIS & efficiency report, managing TAT, business & clients.

On visit visa in Muscat.

Contact- 90191628 / 96175780 Part time accounting workers up to finalization, on monthly basis & yearly finalization works.

Contact : 96247295

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Indian (Male) having 17+years Experience in Trading & Healthcare seeking senior Position in Accounts (11 years GCC Experience)currently on Resident Visa (NOC Available) and has a valid Omani Driving Licence. Contact: 91335026; skumartp@gmail.com

Mathematics Lecturer , Indian Female, M Sc Mathematics from a Prestigious University, B.Ed qualified, distinction holder with 7 yrs teaching experience in colleges.

Contact: 91360147.

Indian male age 24, B.Com. Accountant having 2 year experience and currently in Muscat. Looking for suitable placement in finance or Audit.

Contact: 90766307 Email: shhaazz.007@gmail.com

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Autocad works / Boq. freelance / part time, exp team in Civil, MEP, HVAC, 2d, 3d, interior.

Contact : 97103168

Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99739415 / 92091528

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. AutoCAD Draughtsman with 7 years experience in Oman in Civil & MEP with D/L & NOC. Contact: 97059394 Email: anilsunny1986@gmail.com Indian male Civil Engineer 1.6 yrs exp, having Omani D/L, looking for suitable position. NOC available.

Contact – 92157694 / mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com

Architectural Draftsmen diploma in construction technology with 6 years experience in drafting and detailing as per British standard in Oman with valid Omani license looking for suitable opportunity Noc available. Call 94375897.

B.Tech Engineer with 6 years experience & expert in AutoCAD, PDMS & other, 3D software’s (NOC Available) Contact: 93735166 Email: remisashraf@gmail.com

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

Electrical Engineer (B.SC) with 1 year experience currently seeking job on 3 month visit.

Contact: 91791568

Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

DOMESTIC HELPER Looking for job as an Office boy / light driving. Contact: 94640906

DRIVER Driver 3 years experience.

Contact: 96420742 Driver job needed.

Contact: 94435912 Job Wanted driver available with Car 1 year experience.

Contact: 97118292 Male driver exp. 1 year.

Contact 96938315 / 91895932

Architectural Engineer ( B- Arch) 25 yrs Pakistani female 4 yrs experience Architecture & Construction teaching certified AutoCAD 3D, Max , Photoshop , 3D Sketch up looking for job in Oman, visit visa.

Contact: 96654925 / 99107804 Email: fabiha-kh@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Indian male more than 18 years experience in construction & consultancy, looking for suitable position.

Contact: 92319009 Email: saleemrs2@yahoo.com Civil Engineer (B.Tech) with 10 years experience in Oman as a Project Engineer for public & private sector projects seeking suitable position, having valid driving license. NOC available.

Contact: 95992820 Email: sumeshcsss@gmail.com Driver with sales with 5 yrs in Oman Diploma in Mechanical looking suitable job in Oman for preference Sohar N.O.C available.

Contact : 96953996

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact : 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 94706179

Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact: 97712084

Looking for driving job light 2 years exp. Contact: 91625977

Diploma Civil Engineer Indian male, 14 yrs GCC experience, valid Oman D/L, NOC available, seeking suitable placement.

Contact : 99794456

Looking for job light vehicle driver. Contact : 94554216

Civil Engineer 8 years experience, Driving license, NOC, 98078095.

Light Duty Driver looking for driving job. Contact: 00968 97671459

Degree Indian male FMCG working 2 yrs at Dubai, Mobile repairing, 2 yrs at India D/L. Contact: 95797971 / 90214432 Email: nihuaz888@gmail.com

Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394

Search job as light driver, experience 3 years language Hindi, English, Arabic. Contact: 97941771

Indian Keralite, B.Com, male 25 yrs, 1.5 yrs exp.,looking for suitable job in Muscat currently on visiting visa. Contact: 90931930 Email: shijin.p450@gmail.com

L/D having 5 years exp in Oman seeks job. Contact: 94608755

Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.

Contact: 96976240

Light duty driver, 1 yr experience seeks placement. Contact: 94284645

Looking for driving job.

Contact: 91122145 / 95992137

Light Driver / Supervisor Fluent in English & Arabic, Well knowledge of Muscat Areas Looking for suitable placement.

Contact Tariq: 97950869

Diploma Civil Engineer 12 years work experience & 2 years in Oman, currently on visit visa certificate attested seeks suitable placement Contact: 00968-92360709 Email: alwinthomas1981@gmail.com Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973

W E D N E S DAY, J U LY 1 3, 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED An MBA (Marketing and Finance)

Indian Male MBA (UK),

An MBA (Marketing and Finance)

Contact -

After BCom (Office management and secretarial practice) Graduation with SAP ERP and Accounts (SAP Certified), diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards (IAAP-UK), peach tree accounting and considerable experience seeks suitable placement.

9 years experience in Dubai/London/ Mumbai in Management Consulting, Sales & Marketing, Business Development for Real Estate/Banking seeks similar placement with D/L.

With SAP erp and accounts (SAP Certified), diploma in lnternational Financial Reporting Standards (IAAP-UK), peach tree accounting and considerable experience seeks suitable placement

97281023 / 90631567

Gsm:+958 98103250

Contact: 95168205

Gsm: +968 98103247

Administrator, 30 yrs experience as Office Manager Project Executive Secretary, document Controller, Commercial Officer with driving license on release.

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Diploma in Mechanical Engg, 10 years exp in steel fabrication site work with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 94696192 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.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 Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male with 1 year experience on visit visa looking for job, qualification in QA - QC, HVAC & Piping Engineering.

Contact: 90510800 Email: muhammedjaseem07@gmail.com Electrical Engineer Indian with 4 years experience presently in Oman family visit visa.

Contact: +968 – 90921140 Email: zsebinz@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, 27 years experience in mechanical work, expert in hydraulic and pneumatic system, expert in plastic industry, juice industry, and all type of mechanical machine.

Contact: 99663174 & Email: shakil2004pk14@yahoo.com Available fresh Mechanical Engineer with Oman driving license. Contact: 97792809 / 99417584 Engineer, with Oman Driving license seeks job. Contact: 98007513 Indian male, B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering having 2 years of Sales experience looking for suitable position currently in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 97932879 Email: kuchipudisunilkumar@gmail.com Iraqi Civil Engineer with 30 years experience looking for a job, N.O.C available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male 24 Engineering Graduate in Mechanical, being a fresher searching for a suitable placement to grow up my career.

Contact: 97277067 Email: roshan_job_09@yahoo.com Power Systems Engineer experience in digsilent, Cymcap & Etap, Graduation with distinction.

Contact: 98133281 Indian, 30 yrs, male B.E (Electrical Eng) Project Engr & Design Engr total experience 6 years Gulf experience 1 year, 2 months, NOC Available. Contact: 97225924 Email: nsasi55@gmail.com Civil Engineer (Indian male) 5 years experience in Oman with valid Omani driving license & NOC looking for suitable opportunity.

Contact: 93101283 Electrical Engineer with 8 years Experience Looking for a suitable job. (Driving License and NOC available). Ph#91293519, Email: nomee987@gmail.com BE mechanical Engineer having 6+ years experience in structural and piping job looking suitable position. Contact: 96115463 Email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com Electrical Engineer: Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in Indian, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact 92157694. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Young Indian, Engineering in Bio-technology, Bio-chemical and Chemical, looking for a challenging placement in Oman.

Contact 97607000. Email: sivasankarjayakumar@gmail.com Indian male BE Mechanical with 11 years experience in Automotive Engineering and Industrial Maintenance in Oman with valid driving license seeks suitable job.

On release in Oman-92880593 Civil Engineer B.Tech with 6+ years in supervision designing planning and QC expert in Mech, civil software. Contact: 90719263 Project co-odinater & AutoCAD draftsman Indian male, 8 yrs exp in Oman in civil, interior, precasting with D/L & NOC. Contact: 92188496, Email: vimalg.kannur@gamil.com Quantity surveyor (B.E Civil) 5+ years experience in buildings and mosque N.O.C available ready to join immediately. Contact: +97826597 / +919171430681 Email: sai.praba.777@gmail.com Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat. Contact: 91176187 Email: syam036@gmail.com Civil Engineer, young Indian having almost 2 years experience looking for a challenging position seeks suitable position in Oman/ GCC. Please contact 92718490, Email ID: uvais.pk82@gmail.com Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS and Low current systems and has good knowledge about Electronic Security Systems, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact:-94737033/ mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Indian male B-tech 8 years experience as senior electrical project engineer / QC engineer on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact 94094543 Email: anwar425@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact: 98921022 Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784 Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. Contact 96570891 B.Tech Instrumentation & control (Engineer) (course completed) on family visit experience as control room operator / plant operator looking for suitable position.

Contact: 98686090 / 98423284 Email: shehinsha.k.b@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer looking for job. Contact : 93148323

Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male with 2 year experience, AREA OF INTEREST Work on Oil Rigs, Work as an QA/QC inspector, Ultrasonic testing, Radiographic testing. Contact: +91 9567526566 Email: adujohnson10@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Young, female, diploma in aviation, hospitality, travel management, with family visit visa, seeks suitable placement in airlines / hospitality / company. Gsm 9259-2487 Indian male 31yrs old with hotel management degree, 03 yrs experience in F&B services at 5 star hotel Dubai, 05 yrs in American 06 star cruiseliner has butler.

Has Oman driving license.

Contact No 99859150.

IT Indian Male, B.Tech IT, 4 years Oman Experience in IT & NETWORKING, holding Oman D/L, seeks suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 92462578 Indian male 35 yrs, 13 years experience in IT & Marketing looking for suitable job, having valid Omani D/L. Contact: 92488424 Bachelor Business Management holder, Electrical I.T.I holder 7+ years experience in F.M.C.G line, 7 years experience in sharp valid driving license. Contact: 98545572 / 98271036 Indian male 3 years experience in IT as Linux Administrator & 1 year experience in Amazon EC2 Cloud at WIPRO technologies Bangalore seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 92889678 Email: amalpathikal@gmail.com Indian female, bachelors in IT with CGPA of 8.3%, pursuing CCNA & doing Masters in IT, good knowledge in networking & Web designing. Contact: 94909075 Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area.

Contact 98660672 IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact: 94672759 Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available. Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com Indian male 4 years experience in IT as Programmer / Web Support/ CCNA/ Network on visit visa seeking placement. Contact: 93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com

MEDICAL Veterinary Doctor: Indian Female looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 96906534 / 99014885, Email: monishmajeed@gmail.com Indian male Nurse with 6.5 years experience prometric completed with 66% looking for a suitable job presently available in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 98275068 / 93519957 Email: mammenv24@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Chief Accountant/Finance Manager – Indian male, CA Finalist, having 20 years’ experience in Finance, Accounts, Audit, Finalization of Accounts, preparation of Project Reports etc., looking for immediate placement.

12 yrs. in Oman in Construction and Consultancy co., have Omani D/L, knows Tally. Contact 94041048, email: jobmuscat49@gmail.com Male - 44, MBA /CIM (UK) qualified business Manager in FMCG with 3 years’ experience across Oman and 10 years in GCC looking for a suitable position.

Contact -99160550 Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Looking for suitable job.

Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

SALES / MARKETING

Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Biotechnology, 1yr exp. in Clinical Microbiology & 6 months working exp. in international crop reserch institute of semi arid crops (ICRISAT) Looking for suitable job.

Contact 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com

Indian male 26 years of experience of sales & marketing in surgical and laboratory equipments.

Looking for good replacement.

Contact – 92015894 / 95774854

Nebosh, IOSH Occupational Management safety on family visit looking for suitable position Contact: 98686090 / 98423284 Email: shehinsha.k.b@gmail.com Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable lacements. NOC available.

Contact: 92066 523 Sudanese male bachelor geology and mining with 3 years experience in MUD logging and training in soil investigation.

Contact: 92956848 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Indian male 28yrs Bcom 3yrs exp. in warehouse operations (including pharmaceutical). Well knowledge in WMS & ERP, looking for suitable job. Ph. 95576686, E: sijofranz@gmail.com (UAE visa holder, currently in Oman)

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Sales/office coordinator, Indian male 27 yrs bsc.5yrs experience.

Contact 90649152 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Indian Male, MBA marketing 5 yrs exp. in sales & 4 yrs in FMCG sector, looking for best opportunity.

NOC available. Contact: 96001877 Indian female 29 years Post Graduate with computer Knowledge 2 years of Oman experience in coordinator & 5 years of experience in customer service, client relation officer with excellent communication skill seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95337665 Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. Conatct 95792820

MISCELLANEOUS Sr Project Engineer, 30 Years, Mechanical, 8 Yrs. experience in Oman & Qatar, Qatar Petroleum approved, Experienced in EPIC Projects Tanks, Vessels, Piping, Steel structures. Ph-00974 66772193 Mail: snu057@gmail.com.

4 Years experience as Electronics Service Engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items, looking for suitable placement.

GSM- 99105043 Female Architect on visiting visa, two years’ experience, graduated from School of Planning and Architecture (under MHRD). Proficient in AutoCAD, Google Sketchup and creative visualization. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com.

Contact 00968-94057427.

FINANCE MANAGER 6 year experienced Chartered Accountant (Sri Lankan) looking for a suitable post.

NOC available.

Email : manomuscat@gmail.com Mobile: 92194926

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male Network Cabling Technician (19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement. mobile no: 0091-8089909265 (India), email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian female (27 yrs) MBA(IT), BCA,CCNA.2year experience in IT operations in Oman. Graduated from Oman with good analytical, communicating & programming skills, presented in international conference, seeking suitable positions. contact:93672143.e-mail id: fathima.shoukath@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian, Male,5 years experience in GCC & India, looking for permanent placement in Oman. NOC Release Available. Contact: 00968-95140445; noorullahanas@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experienced senior accountant ,capable of doing all type of accounting works up to finalization, Budgeting, Bank financing requirements, taxation work etc available. Contact : : 98803439 Indian Female seeking a job in Back Office and Accountancy, 8+ years proven experience as a dynamic candidate with excellent Excel & Communication skills.

Quick learner and Team player.

Currently on Family Visa.

Contact 94093154, 91746890, Email: joyjohn_hhh@yahoo.com Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken) .

Contacts: 99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com HSE Engineer, Indian male, 5.5 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas. Working in Shclumberger.NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@gmail. com Mobile- +91 9867016808

Indian male, 28 YEARS Msc Bed Chemistry 2 years, experience In Teaching In India seeking suitable Job. Mob No-00919505671750, Email;bbroshini53@gmail.com

Sri Lankan Male, 31 years. 6 years experience as an Accounts Executive, (Languages can speak Urdu/ Arabic, English written & spoken). #99782930/ lalindra1st@yahoo.com

Indian male 13 years & 1 year Oman experience in Sales & marketing (automotive) NOC & D/L available.

Contact: 91395728

INDIAN male, 33 yrs, BSC Chemistry 8years, experience as Medical Representative In Zydus company in India, seeking suitable Job. Contact -00919505671750, Email;bbroshini53@gmail.com

Indian male, M. Com with 3 yr Oman Exp in Accounts with valid NOC & D/L on Visit Visa, available to join immediately . GSM :94744575

Pakistani male 30 yrs BBA graduate 8 yrs exp in sales & marketing having 3 yrs UK exp & 5 yrs in Pakistan presently available in Oman on visit visa, seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 95474705, Email: khuramsky@gmail.com

Electronic Systems Engineer (UK Graduate) with skills in Robotics, Programming Languages, IC, PCB Design seeking suitable position.

Indian female on Visit Visa.

Contact: 97848075 s.dinesh1508@gmail.com

BBA male Graduate seeking suitable job holds valid license currently under family visa.

Contact: 97853013

Filipino Graphic Designer / I.T. looking for a suitable job with 10 years experience. Very good in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Photography, Knowledge in CCTV & Access Controls.

Pls. Call 95098512.

SALES / MARKETING Indian male Graduate, 10 years experience Oman seeks job in Sales & Marketing.

Contact: 92133277

Indian male 26, BBA Graduate 3.5 years experience in Sales having valid Omani driving license seeks opportunity in sales and marketing, NOC available. Contact: 94743988 Email: rijaskhan09@gmail.com Indian male 24 yrs, B.Com 3 years exp in Marketing (Advertising firm) having valid Omani D/L looking for suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 98983247 35 years male, Lebanese holding British passport, 10 years of experience in procurement, Omani Government tenders, setup marketing plans & strategies, importing, Organizing events, management, have car, NOC available. #94123939 Email: 002015r@gmail.com Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India.

Contact India:-+918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@gmail.com Indian male 1 yr exp in sales automotive (TBL) looking for best opportunity , NOC available.

Contact: 97793879 Email: shyampkn@gmail.com

Indian male, Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 5Year exp. in oman both construction &Consultancy with valid oman D/L, seeking suitable job.

Contact: 96057857, Email Id: srsakku&gmail.Com Indian male Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field, also worked in construction company Mabela for 6 months as supervisor, trying to get driving license. Contact: +96897017866.

Indian Male Accountant. Completed MBA with 1 year experience, good working knowledge in Tally & Excel. Searching for suitable job. Email : jovin8910@gmail. com, Contact : 919715874548 , 918015907437 Business Management Graduate with 12 years of experience in Oman, Worked with catering, medical, IT groups seeks suitable placement in Finance/purchase/ insurance sector, NOC Available.

Email, saima.gangawali@gmail. com, Mob 94258301

B.S.C in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 Years (Power Plant).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Indian male, M.Com , 7 years oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC . Good knowledge in SAP,Tally, oracle , MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 Indian male 33 yrs, MBA-HR, worked on Recruitments, Training, OD, PMS, Site-HR, Omanisation and development plans of nationals ,10.yrs exp. seeking a job.NOC avl.

Contact 94179499 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Indian Female 10 years exp as cook in Oman, South Indian & Gujarati special .looking for job, Contact 95795971 Fire & Safety Technician, 22 Years old, Indian expatriate seeking for a suitable placement. 2 years of experience. Ready for immediate joining. Please Contact : +968-97682273, Email: maniavbah555@gmail.com MECHANICAL/PRODUCTION ENGINEER, 3 years’ experience in production industry, B tech in Mech engg, Proficiency in AutoCAD, Primavera certified, Contact arn9895@gmail.com, Mob 00919895233155 Indian female 23 ORACLE ERP Technical consultant 2+exp skills: oaf, forms reports and bipublisher.

Contact - 91156571 email: ramyaoracleapps02@gmail.com

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W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS MECHANICAL ENGINEER, Indian Male, 26 years, 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int.

Standards, B.Tech in Mech engg.

Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com, Mob-00917350860889 Indian female MCA, seeking placement in IT, Admin.

Contact: 94133849 Fresh Mechanical Engineer B.Tech with Omani driving license on visit, seeking suitable placement. Contact:: 99417584 / 97792809 Indian male, 24 yrs Civil Engineering Graduate, on visit visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 92724814 Indian male, 25 years old, (exp.)

Civil Engineer diploma, looking suitable position. Contact: 00919746443745 / 92861980 Indian, Keralite, female, M.Com, Montessori trained now on family visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93101269 Email: sreeja.l.u@gmail.com Electrical Foreman, 25 years experience, Indian male currently in Oman looking for suitable position.

Gsm – 96718013 Email: manikandan1196@gmail.com Indian Male B-Com graduate 2 year experience in various Fields Valid Oman Driving License.

Looking for any suitable post.

Please contact: 94409500 Indian Male, B.Com + Dip. Logistics 2year experience looking for a job in Accounts/Logistics Field. Presently on Visit Visa Contact 93884951 Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com Indian male 25 years- BE- Computer Engineer with CISA and CCNA, having 3 years work experience in Oman, valid Omani driving license, seeking for suitable placement in IT companies or Audit companies for IT Audit job, NOC can be obtained.

Contact:99253011 4years and 7months experienced Female seeking job related to Office Job, Data Entry and Desktop Administration. Completed diploma in Computer Science.

Contact: 94653264 Master in Aeronautical engineering (PhD) having 4 years experience. Seeking job in universities, colleges, schools and industries.

Contact 98259462 binoaero87@gmail.com Indian Male 30 year GCC driving license and past experience as project coordinator looking for a suitable position. Project coordination, Sales executive, marketing executive or any other suitable post.

Contact -97070427 Master in Aeronautical Engineering (PhD) having 4 years experience. Seeking job in universities, colleges, schools and industries.

Contact 98259462 binoaero87@gmail.com Qualified banking & Accounts management profesional seeking suitable job opportunities. Currently working in India with ICIC Bank.

Email: sheemoljohn@rediffmail.com Contact# 919755550181 Mechanical Engineer 3 years of experience in HVAC mechanical engineer one year experience in Auto Cad B.E (mechanical engineering) revit mep, auto cad, stcw, huet.mobile: +97430384909 email: kijomonc@gmail.com

Indian Male 24 years, HSE , 3 years Experienced as WELDING SUPERVISOR, PIPE FITTER, NONDESTRUCTIVE TEST, ASNT-NDT level II, per SNT-TC-LA (Radiographic Testing (RT)Penetrate testing (PT) Magnetic Particle Testing(MT)Ultrasonic Testing (UT)RTFI, looking for a suitable job. Contact 99334770 Indian Male, 22, Experienced, Looking for job in sales (no DL).

Contact: 90801420; Email: anwaar223969@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant, doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact: 98803439 Indian male 21, Graduate in commerce (B.com ) having 2 years of experience in cash counter (National trading & spare parts)looking for a suitable placement on a visit visa. Contact 95919647, 94245753/ uzairzain786@gmail.com Indian Male, 23, BBA Graduate, fresher, no D/L, looking for a suitable job. Contact: 94032041; Email: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Project Engineer, Mechanical Indian Male, 26 years 3 Years experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int.

Standards B.Tech in Mech engg Contact-rahulkunnath23@gmail. com Mob-00917350860889 25, Indian female (BCA- Computer Application). 1yr experience as teacher and graphic designer.

Knowledge in Photoshop, illustrator, in design. Looking for suitable job in office administration, teaching and graphic designing.

Contact - 98426509 Filipino Cabin steward / Linen vallet is looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: +968 91065438 or email: blonglive@gmail.com Indian male Administrative officer Four years experience in same field. Well known MS office tools, Specialization in handling back office operations, inter office correspondence, confidential mails, Quotations, Monthly billing.

Searching for suitable job in Oman.

Contact: +91 9750572088/ E-mail id: vijaypmk99@gmail.com Indian Driver, with Oman driving license having 10 years experience in Oman, looking for suitable positions. Contact-91519047 Indian male network cabling technician (19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 0091-8089909265 (India) email: mohithavp@gmail.com HSE Engineer, Indian male 5 years experience in Oil & Gas. Working in Shclumberger, NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. Contact-krish.569@gmail.com +91 9867016808 Indian male MBA, 24 yrs having experience in Sales & marketing seeks suitable placement.

Contact GSM: 93833563 email: arundulala@gmail.com.

Indian male, 24 yrs, B. Com Graduate more than 1 year experienced in accounts planning to come for a family visit in oman seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact 99334770/ 99743709 Indian male 33 years, B.Com, having 6 years experience in Oman.

Tally & ERP looking for suitable placement.

Mobile no :98492921

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.) on visit visa, seeking suitable post. Contact no: 99534733 email: rajesh92prince@gmail.com Economics Specialist: Female , MA & M.Phil/PhD_ in ECONOMICS .

10 years experience Banking/Lecturer/Customer Service/Trainer currently Looking for job Call: 97457248 Female Architect on visiting visa, two years’ experience, graduated from School of Planning and Architecture (under MHRD). Proficient in AutoCAD, Google Sketchup and creative visualization. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com.

Contact 00968-94057427.

Economist: Female, MA & M. Phil/ PhD_ in ECONOMICS. 10 years experience Banking/Lecturer/ Customer Service/Trainer, currently looking for job contact: 97457248 Indian Architectural Engineer with 2.5 yrs experience in architectural consultancy firms, currently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement Contact no: +96894955793 hassanfaizalthariq@gmail.com.

Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 2 years of experience in purchase (supply chain management) looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa. Contact: 93979084 / 97351786 / E-mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian Female 23 Years, Post Graduated in Sanskrit (language), Seeking for Suitable Jobs, (Teaching or Clerical), Knowledge in MS Office, Good Communication Skill Contact 96141317, 94614317, Email: sou93madam@gmail.com Indian male electrician (EEE), 2 years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail id ; antonyajin15@gmail. com, Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Indian male Electrician(EEE) 2 years good working experience searching for suitable job. mail ; antonyajin15@gmail.com, Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Indian male 33 yrs, MBA - HR, worked on Recruitments,Training,Site-HR, Omanisation and development plans of nationals ,10 yrs exp.

Seeking a job.NOC avl.

Contact 94179499 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Indian Male, 23, BBA Graduate, Fresher, on visit visa looking for job in sales/marketing.

Contact - 94032041; Email azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 4 years of experience in Office Administration (admin) looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa. Contact: 93979084 / 97351786 E-mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male, 30.System administrator/desktop support professional.5 years of GCC exp.

Visa status: visit (Dubai) mob: 00971565598176/ aneeshngr@gmail.com Indian male, 26 years 3 Years’ experience in Projects of Tanks, Boilers and Steel structures Aware of int. Standards, B tech in Mech Engg. Contactrahulkunnath23@gmail.com Mob-00917350860889

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 4 years of experience in same field looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa. Contact : 93979084 / 97351786, E-mail : mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male 25, Graduate in commerce (B.com) having 2 years of experience in same field looking for a suitable placement presently on a visit visa.Contact 93979084 / 97351786, mail: mohammednsr126@gmail.com Indian male Electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail id ; antonyajin15@gmail. com, Name; Antony Ajin.

G : 918148336160 / 918300136160 Female Architect on visiting visa, two years’ experience, graduated from School of Planning and Architecture (under MHRD). Proficient in AutoCAD, Google Sketchup and creative visualization. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com.

Contact 00968-94057427.

Sudanese male, 5 years experience in supply chain (warehouse management, logistics and procurement) Contact : 90644186 Indian female , M.B.A, 8 Yrs of Experience in Oil and Gas industry, Trading & contracting companies. working as an Unit Manager for MNC, HR Coordinator and Office admin for local companies. seeking suitable placement immediately. Contact 99179709.

Indian male, 44 Years, Plumbing Supervisor, holding Omani Driving license, having 14 Years of experience in Oman and 8 years in India.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 95154414 Email- pthariff@yahoo.com B.E (Mechanical) 12 years industrial sales, 1 year Muscat experience, presently in India , immediately ready to join. Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

Filipino Male, 28 years Old. Looking for job, Have experience in Rent a Car/ Cargo & Logistics / Real Estate/ Customer Care Executive / Sale Executive & Marketing/ Shop In- Charge. Hard working w/ good computer and communication skill.

GSM: 97761075 Chief Accountant, well experienced available.#95598477 Indian male 27 yrs, MBA finance with 4 years experience currently in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable placement in finance / admin.

Contact: 90921724 Indian male 43 yrs accountant presently on tourist visa looking for suitable placement in a company 18yrs experience in managing finance in Indian and abroad. Contact 90190648 Indian female having D/L with 12 years experience in corporate / retail sales & B/D. Looking for a suitable job in training / IT / Education companies. Contact: 91751077 Email: alamelusara@hotmail.com Indian male Accountant 2.5 years exp in Oman with valid D/L NOC available. Contact: 98870112 Sales & Marketing executive MBA with 3 years exp , 6 months exp in Oman with NOC , looking for suitable placement. Contact: 91345727 Sales & Marketing Executive Indian national with valid Omani D/L with good command of languages, 18 yrs exp in Middle East. Looking for suitable placement.

Contact - 98103829 Indian male 1.5 yrs exp a sales & merchandising in Oman looking for best opportunity NOC available.

Contact: 93039342 Indian male 5+ years of experience as a sales & marketing executive with valid Oman D/L. #95434902 Indian female MCA having 3 yrs experience in teaching looking for any suitable job in reputed organic station on visit skilled in programming language VB, JAVA ,C,C,TT & also WEB development.

Contact 90595322

Indian male 4 years experience in IT as programmer / Web support / CCNA / Network on visit visa seeking placement. #93069694 Email: mrabrar14@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer 2 years experience as HVAC design & drafting, CAD, MEP Engg.

Contact: 90150913 Civil Engineer with 6+ years in Supervision designing & Q.C expert in much civil softwares, NOC available. Contact: 90719263 Automobile Mechanic ITI 3 years experience marine mechanical fitter 2 yrs experience.#93674847 Indian male 24 years dynamic & professional B.Tech (Mech. Engg) with 1 year experience working on BPCL project in India seeks opening for suitable post, currently in Oman. #: 93672286 / 97772272 Mechanical Engineer experience maintenance of pumping stations production line machinery turbine for power plant good communications skills, planning follow up Engineer projects HSE awareness trained multiple design software looking for job. # 949064473 / 96654019 Accountant male Indian, 2 years experience, doing accounts in tally & excel seeks suitable job.

EMAIL – regin1690@gmail.com, Contact +91 7373387282 Indian male (B.E) Quality Controller and Supervising. 3 year good working experience. Better knowledge in quality control technique.

Searching for suitable job. Mail: muthujagadeeshjkm@gmail.com, Contact: GSM : +91 9786418033 / 968 91894487 Regin Accountant male Indian, 2 years experience doing accounts in tally and excel searching for suitable job. No : +91 7373387282 EMAIL – regin1690@gmail.com, Indian male, 25 yrs, more than 5 years experience in Dubai, Looking for a suitable placement for jobs related to sales, marketing, coordination and support. #95140445, syedfaraz97681@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED Indian Male, Post graduate with 10yrs experience in Gulf & 4.6yrs in Oil & Gas experience with SAP and ERP exposure. Finalization, MIS, Auditing, Budgeting, AP &AR, Tax, etc., with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 91743376 Pakistani Male, Land Surveyor with work experience in Dubai Seeks suitable job in Oman.

Contact 94347288 Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher, looking for a job in sales (indoor). No driving license.

Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Skilled multilingual individual with 33years of excellent experience in management and banking at a nationalized bank; seeking better job opportunities with challenging responsibilities.

E-mail: leena3857@yahoo.com, call : 97848075 Indian Male, 24, B.Com Graduate with 1 year experience in Oman looking for a job in accounting.

Contact – 96619348 Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail ; antonyajin15@gmail.com.

Antony Ajin.G, Contact: 91 8148336160 / 91 8300136160 Sri Lankan female, 27 years, qualified English Language professional with 6 years of lecturing, managerial, marketing experience, seeking suitable position in education industry. Contact (+968) 93017330, (+968) 98445287/ wijayawardane.bhagya@gmail.com Indian male 24 ,B.E ( E.C.E ) graduate with 3 years of experience in the fields of BMS ,Low current systems and has good knowledge of HV and LV, currently working in Oman, NOC Available. Contact : 94737033, mail : mohdmuhafez45@gmail.com Indian male, M.Com, 7 years Oman experience in the field of accounts and valid oman driving license & NOC. Good knowledge in SAP, Tally, Oracle, MS office and Excel seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92859733 Indian Male, Post graduate with 10yrs experience in gulf & 4.6yrs in Oil & Gas experience with SAP and ERP exposure. Finalisation, MIS, Auditing, Budgeting, AP &AR, Tax, etc., with Oman D/L seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 91743376

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Indian female B.Com, 1 year experience in Oman, experience in wings account package and knowledge of tally. Looking for Accounting job. Presently in Family visa. Contact: 93491124 & 92054531 Indian female, B.Tech Computer Science, 5 years experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable position in teaching, IT or administration.

E mail: rincy87@gmail.com Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate with approx. 2 years experience in India and UAE is looking for job in sales / marketing.

Contact 94032041; Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Senior accountant ,NOC available, more than 5 years exp., born & bought up in Oman, Accounting upto finalization, computer skills tally9, Sage ERP accpac 500(6.0A), Vcams , Audit ,valid Oman D/L, languages known English ,Arabic, Hindi. can join immediately. Tel: 96339599, mailahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com Male Indian, 8 years of experience doing desktop engineer, software implementation, system admin, searching for suitable job. Email: thiruvazhimarban.ciet@gmail. com, mobile: +919171447997 / +919894357260 Sr. Accountant, WITH Oman D/L & 8.5 yrs exp, 7.5 yrs Oman & 1 yr India in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, independently handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement, srjob12@gmail.com B.E. (Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience, Presently in India, Immediately ready to join. Contact :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support/Retail sales.

Contact 91496939

Looking for a part time accounting job, additional experience in admin & store - purchase. #99196621 ACCA affiliate, B.Sc Degree holder, 3 years experience in audit and finance at Big 6, Male, Looking for suitable placement. NOC release available. Contact:95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian Male 47 years MBA-Operations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC available , seeks challenging position in SCM/ Logistics/ Procurement in any Sector. GSM-94236414.

Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com Indian male with 5 year Oman Sales Experience with valid Oman D/L, looking for suitable position.

Mobile:97221624, Email:saileshpkhanna@gmail.com Male, Indian, 25, 5 years experience in Dubai; looking for permanent placement in Oman for jobs related to sales, coordination and marketing. Contact: +971563664701 syed97681@gmail.com Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041 Indian Male, 23, BBA graduate, fresher on visit visa, looking for a job in sales. Contact: 94032041 Mail: azzamsiddique1@gmail.com Procurement/Tender & Contract Procurement /logistics & freight Specialist /Oil Field / petrochemical/ Engineer /MBA /SAP certify / 15yrs Rich Experience/ Import &export Specialist / Oil Field experience/ coordinator / World Wide supplier network /Noc available Looking for challenging Position #97813849, Email Id:vved76@gmail.com

Electrical & Electronics diploma Engineer Indian male 23 years, 2 years experience in Electrical field/good experience in Electronics MCU projects currently in visit visa please do not hesitate to Contact; 93047707 Email: adilm89@gmail.com

Electronics Technician , 4 Years experience as Electronics service engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items. Looking for suitable placement. GSM- 99105043

BS in Electrical engineering, experience : 6 years in electrical installation and maintenance Contact 99817032, Email : engmmg24@yahoo.com

Petrochemicals Specialist, Chemical, MBA 18 YEARS EXPERIENC IN OIL FIELDS COM, RAW MATERIAL , polymer, SPACIALISED IN Procurement /COMMECIAL/ PURCHASE / LOGISTICS / SCM/Planning & sound knowledge of technical requirement for any manufacture plant Forecasting, Distribution, Vendors Development, LC opening/ establishment coordination with NOC available. Contact:97813849

Indian male electrician(EEE ).

Two years good working experience searching for suitable job.

Gmail antonyajin15@gmail. com, : Contact; 918148336160 / 918300136160 Indian male with 10+ years of working experience (security solutions, event management) on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact;97945269, hkkrishna@gmail.com SCM / LOGISTICS/ PROCUREMENT - 25 Yrs exp - Indian Male - Oil & Gas, Manufacturing Sector - Having valid Oman D/L & NOC available. Seeks Challenging senior position. GSM-94236414, Email ID - jayamurli@gmail.com

Looking for a part time accounting & admin job. Contact 99196621.

Indian Male, 24 yrs, looking for any type of job, qualification is Diploma in Electronics with 3 years of experience in the hardware an networking field an also worked in construction company Mabelah for 6 months as supervisor, having valid D/L. Contact : - +96897017866.

Indian Male: 23yrs, MBA in Marketing from UK (United Kingdom), looking for a job, currently in Muscat in visit. No: 97210361 / 95357513, Email: sharanshetty3@gmail.com

33 year old Filipina with experience in Tele performance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Local contact 99022484

Highly experienced mechanical/ steel structural fabrication engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available.Contact 99860714, hussain20173@gmail.com.

Indian Male 28 years, Mechanical Engineer (Diploma) with 2 years’ exp., Automobile ITI NCVT, CSWIPBGAS Painting QC Grade-2, NDT Level-2, ISO Lead Auditor QA (IRCA), Piping QC & Isometric Drawings, WPS & WPQR, available on Visit Visa, seeks suitable job. #90653733, libinthomaslt@gmail.com

B.E(Mechanical) 12years industrial sales one year Muscat experience ,Presently in India ,Immediately ready to join ,Mobile no :917338899372 , email id : ganesh2008sep@gmail.com

Male, 23, with experience in UAE & India, looking for job in sales / marketing. Contact: 94032041

Light Duty Driver, Fluent in English, Arabic. Well knowledge of Oman Areas looking for suitable placement. Contact 97950869

Indian male 30 yrs, holding valid driving license, having 5 years of experience in sales, looking for suitable position.

Contact # 90552942/94355626

IT Administrator with 6 yrs of GCC experience, now in Dubai (visit visa).seeking suitable placement in UAE. Contact :00971-565598176, email:aneeshngr@gmail.com

Indian Male 48 Yrs with over 25 Years Oman experience in Sales & Marketing with NOC & valid Oman D/L Also Fluency in Arabic, seeks suitable placement. Contact no.: 92210661/99224057 Indian male,B.Com + Dip. Logistic 2year experience looking for a job in Accounts/Logistics Field.

Presently on Visit Visa CONTACT 93884951, Email:mehreenraiz@gmail.com

Admin Assistant. Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available).

GSM. 00968-98404122, mail panduru.jeevankumar@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, B. Com Graduate more than 1 year experienced in accounts planning to come for a family visit in oman seeking for a suitable placement .

Contact 99339544 / 99743709 Indian male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally & ERP- looking for suitable placement ( NOC and Oman driving license available) Tel- +91 89 43 109897 Rajeev. 252002@gmail.com Import & Export professional, Experienced as Asst. Commercial Manager for 15 years, Proficient in MS office, Male Indian, Seeks suitable placement, on Visit, Contact 95484684 Indian male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally & ERP- looking for suitable placement ( NOC and Oman driving license available.

Contact +91 89 43 109897 Rajeev. 252002@gmail.com Planning Engineer, BE Mech Engg. Indian Female having total 11 yrs exp in oil & gas projects (8+ yrs in Gulf) with valid Oman D/L, Seeks a Suitable job.

Contact: 92456003 Electrical & Electronics diploma engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience currently in visit visa. Contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com Fresh B.Com Graduate in visit visa looking for a job. Contact: 93518923 / 99075027. email: sheikcok@yahoo.com Safety officer, 3 years of experience in safety certifications: BE (electrical and electronics engineering), NEBOSH, IOSH, DHSE, first aid. Contact +97474018995, mail:midhunmich@gmail.com, skype:midhunmike

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W E D N E S D AY, J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED COMPUTER/WEB./ EDUCATION/CLASSES

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

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

MANPOWER

SITUATION WANTSERVICES

WE SERVE OMAN

Manpower available: cleaning male/female staff, loading unloading and helpers staff available on contract basis. Contact- 94636086

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. #24793614/ 99314807 A/C Maintenance & Servicing, Fridge, Washing machine & Dish washer repairing, Painting & Cleaning services, Electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC Contact: 99344723 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064

MATRIMONIAL Hindu Ezhava boy 27 years, working in Ministry of defense seeking for good alliance.

Contact : 93365778 , 93365939

SERVICES

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975 Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC Contact 99344723 House shifting. Contact 99708138 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Parent of Thrissur based Hindu Ezhava girl aged 20, Slim,Atham star, Studying for B. Pharm seeking alliance from well employed Graduates, preferably in Engineering Contact :96425102

Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact 96059801.

Split unit & widow unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 95323517 / 93769089 Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. Contact 99344723 Modern stylish interior design in oman with attractive prices and guarantees best quality job for renovations room, home, garden kitchen, landscaping, decoration, offices, shops, restaurants and many variety services call 98584853.

For any 3d signboard, acrylic works with painting please contact us on 90786240 or follow us in instagram: silver_concepts Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722 Pest control Gulfa international.

Contact: 92326955

House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644/98518013 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

Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

FOR LADIES Offer!! Treading Gold Facial & Pedicure just for 10 RO, (Home service available) Contact 99619409