Times of Oman - February 14, 2016

SUNDAY

February 14, 2016 5 Jumada Al Ula 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

Before The Council of Oman, 2002

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’

MORNING MINUTE

We always call for the development of human resources, their scientific capabilities, technical skills and technological expertise in order to meet society’s urgent requirements and needs, and to provide opportunities for those resources to fully contribute to the Blessed Renaissance witnessed by Oman in all walks of life.

Founded 1975 . Volume 40 No. 302 | 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

Protect your children from cyber stalkers ROP has advised

SHORT PERIOD

His Majesty to visit Germany today for medical check-ups MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said will be leaving today for Germany for the periodic medical examinations, according to a statement of the Diwan of Royal Court.

The medical check-ups will

take a short time, the Diwan of Royal Court statement added, praying to the Almighty Allah to protect His Majesty the Sultan within the Sultanate and away for his sincere and loyal people. —ONA

parents to monitor

CURTAINS ON MUSCAT FESTIVAL

the electronic devices of children regularly

The month-long Muscat Festival 2016 concluded yesterday amidst appreciable presence of foreign and local visitors. Among the attractions at this year’s festival were several activities, sports contests, Heritage Village and Family Village. — ONA See also >A4

to keep them safe from the online stalkers HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI hassan@timesofoman.com Muscat: In the light of a ‘large’ number of online harassment cases involving adults targeting children in Oman through social media, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) has called upon parents to take better control of their children’s electronic devices.

Captain Ghassan Al Zadjali of the ROP economic crimes department told the Times of Oman that criminals mainly target female children, but there are cases of male children being victimised as well.

Captain Al Zadjali was talking to the Times of Oman on the sidelines

of the Telecom Laws and Regulations Forum 2016, organised by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) recently.

According to the official, in certain cases, offenders asked some children to meet them at a certain place in order to abuse them later.

“Rape cases have also been reported,” Al Zadjali confirmed.

“Parents must talk to their little ones when they suspect any suspicious behaviour because children are afraid of explaining such threats to their parents,” Al Zadjali explained.

Cyber-crimes In a world with fast-paced technology, adopting modern devices with free Internet accessibility at an early age is one of the main

causes of cyber-crimes in the Sultanate, according to Al Zadjali.

Al Zadjali said that banning children from using new technology is not the right solution. However, they should be educated on how to use the devices in a secure way under the supervision of adults.

“Parents must make sure that no unnecessary mobile apps are installed in their children’s electronic devices,” he stressed.

He also said that family plays an important role in curbing cybercrimes. “Supervision is not meant to restrain a child’s freedom; it is to protect them,” said Al Zadjali.

Asked about what action should be taken if a child has already been harassed, Al Zadjali advised parents to consult official health authorities for therapy.

BOUND FOR SOMALIA

Eight Indian sailors rescued as dhow capsizes off Oman coast REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com

Nozouh is famous for archaeological discoveries

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MUSCAT: Eight Indian sailors were rescued from their sinking dhow near the Seeb sea coast in Oman by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), which tweeted about the incident.

“All the eight sailors were rescued from their sinking dhow near Oman coast. All are in good health,” the ROP posted on its official Twitter account on Saturday afternoon.

The dhow was on its way to Somalia from Sharjah with goods, including electronic items.

“We noticed the problem by around 3 pm on Friday. We informed the shipping agent and

they alerted the ROP. As water started entering the dhow, we moved to our own rescue boat and waited for help,” Gaffar Siddique, the captain of the dhow, told the Times of Oman. “The rescue team came fast and we were saved.

However, we couldn’t salvage the sinking dhow,” Gaffar added.

All the sailors hail from the western Indian state of Gujarat.

Preparations for return “Indian embassy officials are helping us to return to India. By tomorrow we may leave Oman if the papers are ready,” Gaffar added.

Last year in May, an Indian dhow had sunk off the Salalah coast. The news of capsizing boat was revealed by another dhow,

which was headed to Salalah Port.

The ill-fated dhow, which sank, had 11 sailors on board. They were rescued by another dhow nearby.

Noore Garibe, the dhow which sank about 30 nautical miles off the Salalah coast, was on its way to Bossaso from Dubai.

The possible cause of sinking was water ingress through leakages in planking. No floating wreckage has been found.

Meanwhile, in March, a cargo vessel bound for the United Arab Emirates with around 350 cattle on board had sunk off the south coast of Oman due to strong winds. The ship was on its way from Somalia when it sank off Sur in the province of A’Sharqiyah.

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

WA N T S T O P U R S U E P H D

Studies are meant to acquire knowledge, not just getting degrees, says Al Harthy more opportunities to go outside and see the world. In fact, that has made females brave and they have dared to do things that they wouldn’t have even thought of them in the past.”

DEEBA HASAN deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: At 31, Awatif Malik Abdullah Al Harthy has achieved what many others can only dream of.

Though married and having three children, Al Harthy still managed to obtain three degrees and show a lot more exemplary achievements on the way.

She just got her Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA-Executive) from the Waljat College of Applied Sciences (WCAS) in Oman, stood first in her major, and obtained a gold medal for it.

“I now have three degrees, I started with a degree in English language and literature from the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in 2006, then I pursued my post graduate diploma in translation in 2010 and now I have got my Executive MBA from WCAS, and I feel great about it.”

This young and ambitious lady has been working for a decade now. She started working

just before graduating from the SQU, when she was able to secure a job as an instructor at the same university.

Later, she helped establish the Oman Medical Speciality Board (OMSB) with Dr. Abdullah Al Futaisi (now the Minister of Transport and Communications).

Great opportunity “Dr. Abdullah Al Futaisi was the first one to pay for my career and I worked with him, it was the very beginning, and I was the first employee. I established the entire organisation with help from Dr. Abdullah, so that was my first great opportunity,” Al Harthy said.

ACHIEVER: Awatif Malik Abdullah Al Harthy has managed

to obtain three degrees and has exemplary achievements.

When asked what had motivated her to study all these years, she said, “I enjoy studying. For me, a degree is not about getting a certificate. People are mistaken that you need a certificate to secure a job. Instead of thinking about it that way, you have to pursue your studies. You have to be thirsty for knowledge and information and that will change your way of

looking at things.”

Al Harthy thinks that the Omani female society has undergone tremendous changes for the better. “Our culture has changed. We have moved from small villages and come to Muscat. In this city, people think in a different way, women are not viewed as people sitting at home, so they have more opportunities for education,

Biggest inspiration Originally from Al Qabil in the Sharqiyah region, Al Harthy was born and raised in Muscat. Her biggest inspiration in life is her father and her MBA degree is a way of expressing her gratitude towards him.

“He is the one who fostered my mind, made me the woman that I am today. Since my childhood, he encouraged me to read and read as much as I could, he didn’t have those typical male thoughts and never told me that just because I was a female, I shouldn’t be doing this or that. He just let me free to do whatever I wanted under his guidance.”

After this big step in life, Al Harthy is now planning to pursue a PhD and is also planning to read more and more. >A6

OMAN

Unable to get the right liver, ailing girl returns

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It was a journey many in her home country Pakistan, country of residence Oman, and destination country India, anxiously followed. >A3

OMAN

Projects must reflect economic realities

2

With banks taking the leading role to finance new government projects, business ventures on the anvil must reflect the financial realities.>A5

MARKET

Borrowing aimed at supporting growth

3

Oman’s plan to borrow a higher amount from markets abroad indicates that government expenditure will be maintained. >B1

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

OMAN HAITHAM OPENS ARABIAN CAMEL RACE TRACK His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said presided over the opening of the Arabian camel race track of Al Bashair, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, in the presence of His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, advisor to president of the UAE and chairman of the GCC camel race organising committee and chairman of the UAE Camel Race Association. — ONA

H E A LT H

GCC-level seminar to begin today MUSCAT: Development of health and biostatistics frameworks and the health indicators will be discussed at a seminar beginning here today.

The seminar is being organised by the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat), in collaboration with the Executive Office of the GCC Health Ministers.

The two-day seminar, which will be opened under the auspices of Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sa’eedi, Minister of Health, will cover several themes including the GCC statistical systems, the development of health and biostatistics frameworks and the health indicators required for the development goals for (2015-2030).

The seminar aims at developing the practical knowledge related to developing and aligning the health indicators and statistics in the GCC states. -ONA

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OMAN

Unable to get the right liver, ailing girl is back Despite hunting for two months, we couldn’t find any liver that would suit her. So we came back to Oman on Thursday without undergoing the liver transplantation, said the five-year old Basma’s father

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: It was a journey many in her home country Pakistan, country of residence Oman, and destination country India, anxiously followed and prayed for to become successful.

However, for the five-yearold ailing Basma, the travel ended without achieving the desired result.

First came the floods in Chennai and she and her family had to be rescued by boats from the hospital, and then came the bad news that her father could not donate his liver, which made things difficult. Then began the hunt for another liver in India.

“Despite hunting for two months, we couldn’t find any liver that would suit her. So we came back to Oman on Thursday without undergoing the liver transplantation,” her father, Mohammad Faisal Raza, a Pakistani expatriate based in Oman, told the Times of Oman.

The child needed to undergo

a liver transplant as she has a cirrhotic liver.

“The child needed two surgeries—one in the liver and the other one in pancreas in India. But we managed to undergo only the pancreas surgery,” Raza said.

Raza, a Pakistani national, took Basma to India for a liver transplant as such facility was not available in Oman or back home in Pakistan.

On the look out An official from the Global Hospital in India said the Raza family had been registered for a transplant in case the hospital got a liver of the kind that would suit her.

“Meanwhile, the child was given medicines for a few months,” the hospital officials said.

The official also said the patient was admitted for complications and had undergone a few treatment procedures.

“The father of the baby was unfit as a donor. So they tried to arrange for a donor but could not,” the official said.

R O YA L S O C I E T Y O F C H E M I S T RY

UK accreditation for SQU chemistry master’s course

WORLD STANDARD: A team from the United Kingdom-based Royal Society of Chemistry evaluated the curriculum, the examinations and the facilities at the department. -Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: Masters in Science (MSc) programme in Chemistry offered by the Department of Chemistry at the College of Science at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has secured academic accreditation from the United Kingdom-based Royal Society of Chemistry.

Accreditation is an effective way that can be used to measure confidence in the quality of graduates from a given programme. It allows universities and students to be assured about the quality of their education.

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) was established in 1841 and is a leading society and a professional body for chemical scientists. The RSC has had a respected system of degree accreditation for many years.

Commenting on the RSC accreditation for the MSc programme in Chemistry, Dr. Haider Ahmed Al Lawati, head of the Department of Chemistry at SQU, said the department, in its efforts to assess the quality of its programmes had invited the RSC to evaluate its MSc programme last year.

“Following an application submitted by the Department of Chemistry and supported by SQU’s administration, the RSC appointed and sent a team of reviewers, who evaluated the department’s application and later

Dr. Haider Ahmed Al Lawati, head of the Department of Chemistry at SQU

visited the department in November. The team evaluated the curriculum, the examinations and the facilities at the department. Also, the team met with the staff and the students of the department, as well as with senior administrators at SQU. The RSC then conferred accreditation to the MSc in December 2015 after it found that the degree is of a very high standard,” he said.

The Department of Chemistry was established in 1986, since then it has grown considerably and is known as one the significant pillars at the College of Science at SQU. Currently, the department offers a fiveyear Bachelors in Science degree in Chemistry and Applied Chemistry and a two-year MSc programme, along with the recently initiated doctoral (PhD) degree programme.

HARD LUCK: The child needed liver as well as pancreas surgery

in India. But we managed to undergo only the latter, said five year old Basma’s father Mohammad Faisal Raza, a Pakistani expatriate based in Oman. – File photo

Raza’s elder daughter, Asfa Mohammed Faisal had died in December 6, 2004 and was also suffering from liver cirrhosis.

“At that time also, the doctors suggested a liver transplant, but we could not afford her treatment and she died,” Raza, who

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have been working in Sultanate of Oman since November 1991, said.

Basma has another elder sister, Aneeqa and elder brother, Mohammed Fawad, all students of Pakistan School, Nizwa. “But she is yet to start her studies because of her illness,” Raza said.

CONFERENCE

Focus on governance MUSCAT: A conference on Government Excellence will kick off at Muscat InterContinental Hotel today under the patronage of Mohammed bin Al Zubair, Advisor of H.M. the Sultan for Economic Planning Affairs.

It will discuss the excellence in government sector at the GCC level and present international models on improving the quality of the government sector. It will also

discuss the digital government, improving human resources in the government sector and other topics on work improvement.

It will involve experts, government and private sector officials from Oman and abroad. It is considered one of the important conferences that provides an opportunity for the participants from various countries to exchange information and expertise. -ONA

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

For detailed coverage log on to www.timesofoman.com

MUSCAT FESTIVAL COMES TO A CLOSE Muscat Festival 2016 came to an end yesterday. The festival began one month ago, amid a significant turnout of visitors from inside and outside the Sultanate.

Photos by Jun Estrada and Taleb Al Wahibi

Turkish dance enthrals visitors We enjoyed performing in Oman, said Murat Erdem, who choreographed of the dance who is from the Turkish capital of Ankara

ERIK PRINS

Erik@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Visitors at the Muscat Festival in Naseem Garden were amazed by the colourful performance of a dancing group from Turkey.

Omar Al Sawafi, from Oman, said he very much enjoyed the dance.

“It was amazing. For me it was the first time seeing a Turkish dance”, he said.

His friend Said Al Saidi agreed.

“I found it very interesting. I think it is one of the best attractions of the Muscat Festival, as you get to know other cultures,” he said.

Murat Erdem, from the Turkish capital of Ankara and choreographer of the dance told the Times of Oman that the group had enjoyed performing in Oman.

“We really like the Muscat Festival. It’s so big and diverse. And, thanks to the Muscat Municipality, we got all the facilities that made it easy for us to come and stay here. It’s cool,” he said.

Erdem explained that the dances they performed at Naseem Garden are very old and represent the diverse culture of Turkey.

He further said the dances

CULTURE CONNECT: The ancient dances include those from different regions of Turkey and some even inspired by other regional countries like Georgia and Greece. – Jun Estrada

include the Zeybek dance from Afyon, a city in the middle of Turkey, and is hundreds of years old; a Sufi Derwish dance; Artvin, named after a city on the Black sea coast and is a Georgianinspired dance; and Trabzon, named after the city on the Black sea coast. The Trabzon dance comes from the ancient Greek region of Pontos and is about farming and fishing.

Hamza Humaid Al Maerki, from Oman, hailed the dancing group.

“It was very nice to see and a great opportunity to be introduced to this rich culture,” he stated.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

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OMAN MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

C O M M E N TA RY

New government projects must take the economic realities into account SUNDAY BEAT SALEH AL SHAIBANY HAVE YOUR SAY AT TWITTER.COM/ TIMESOFOMAN OR SCAN THE CODE TO INSTANTLY POST YOUR THOUGHTS.

W

ith banks taking a leading role in financing new government projects, business ventures on the anvil must reflect on the financial realities to serve the country in its moment of need.

Local banks are being syndicated and foreign financial institutions are stepping in to give the economy a shot in the arm by providing attractive packages for project financing.

However, the government cannot afford to have standalone projects anymore that take months to plan and complete.

Departments in charge of such projects, stretching from real estate to tourism and mining, must do it right the first time.

These projects must be designed to have a faster turnaround process. In the past, repetitive processes have killed off projects in their infancy. The longer they take to implement, the costlier they will prove to be. The balance of decision making must change and so the attitudes of those, who make such decisions. There is also growing concern that projects that are deemed important lack a competitive edge. The time lapse to make them fruitful is

another challenge.

The good news at the moment is that though the government can no longer rely on its financial reserves, banks are willing to provide the funds as long as the mindset in the corridors of power is going to change for the better. Another positive for government’s projects is that interest rates at the moment are very low. It means borrowing money is easier and cheaper. This can work well for the government.

Financing is one thing, but to work with the private sector in an environment that is conducive for the economy has always been a major challenge. The fist that controls the business

regulations must lose its grip to allow innovation.

If new projects underway are to succeed, there should not be any unpredictability. The government must learn from the past. It now needs to work with partners by protecting the interests of investors, creditors and contractors. It is not the time now to dictate rigorous business terms. Flexibility is the key because potential partners now have the choice of whom to strike a deal with.

Most of the countries in the world have their backs to the ropes under the current situation. Oman is no exception, and is not among the worse

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

off. However, having said that, Oman has greater potential of steering its economy towards private entrepreneurship from its untapped natural resources.

But it needs a more refined process of change management.

These processes must be on the fast track than they have ever been before. A notable example is the process of privatisation that has not lived up to its full potential. In 1996, the government kicked off its privatisation process when the Manah power project was developed on a build, operate, own, transfer (BOOT) basis by the United Power Company. However, the privatisation process has rarely caught up with other areas outside the power generation sector. Even in the electricity sector, the process is at a standstill for the moment.

It shows how the government is reluctant to give up its hold on its assets. Oman Air’s private shareholding was sold back to government after the privatisation bid failed. It proves how the government shies away from effective business collaboration with the private sector.

If privatisation remains to be a complex issue in the last three decades, then the government can vigorously pursue partners to implement projects already identified in the industrial areas and free zones. Manufacturing and logistics projects which are still not implemented, may interest private partners if the government start looking for them. The reality of the current economic scenario favours the private sector. It is no longer the case companies have to queue up to beg the government to sign a partnership deal.

Entrepreneurs need to be lured and convinced that certain businesses are beneficial if they partner with the State. In other words, the government must do the chasing and not the other way round.

New system to help investors launched MUSCAT: A new system to enable investors develop a business action plan has been inaugurated at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Abdullah bin Ali Al Kalbani, Head of Licences Team at “Invest Easily” project said that the Licences Emulator System helps the investor to get a lot of information, requirements and regulations.

He confirmed that the data currently available in the licences emulator system are only the licences data of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

He added that the system will be provided later with data of other

business licences issued by other government agencies.

He pointed out that the system is the first of its kind in the e-government services provided to the public and will save a lot of time, cost and efforts to the investor and helps him/her to provide the requirements required before applying for a licence.

The system enables investors, sitting in their offices, to develop a business action plan by identifying the types of licenses needed, as well as documents and procedures for obtaining them before proceeding to apply for licences. -ONA

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 I am planning to get projects in any case, either from the tender board or through sub-consulting with some international company to support myself and my 14 staffers Jokha Al Husaini, CEO of Shumookh Engineering Consulting

OMAN I M P O R TA N T I N S C R I P T I O N S

Nozouh village in Rustaq famous for archaeological discoveries

STRATEGICALLY LOCATED: Nozouh village is situated at a strategic location on the road connecting Wadi Bani Ghafir and the Niyabat of Al Houqain. It is also connected to the Wilayat of Rustaq and the Wilayat of Suwaiq. It is about 30 km from the centre of the Wilayat of Rustaq. – ONA

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RUSTAQ: Located in the Wadi Bani Hinai in the Wilayat of Rustaq in the Governorate of South Al Batinah, the Nozouh village is famous for its plantations of various types of date palms, seasonal crops, oats, wheat, barleys,

legumes and fruits.

Nozouh village is situated at a strategic location on the road connecting Wadi Bani Ghafir and the Niyabat of Al Houqain. It is also connected to the Wilayat of Rustaq and the Wilayat of Suwaiq.

It is about 30 km from the centre of the Wilayat of Rustaq.

The village gained great importance due to its ancient archaeological discoveries that date back to 3000 BC. Archaeological tombs were discovered on the road lead-

WORK HARD

A1 ‘Gain knowledge’ < FROM

She advises young people to be thirsty for knowledge rather than just wanting to obtain a degree. “Anyone can obtain a certificate, but not everyone can have that knowledge and that openmindedness.”

Many problems Another thing that Al Harthy wants to highlight is the proper use of time, “I am married with three children. I used to go to work, used to take care of my children and husband during the time I was pursuing my Masters Degree. Unfortunately, at the same time, my brother had a surgery, my sister had health issues and my mother

used to depend on me, yet I managed to do everything. So don’t say that you couldn’t do this or that because you didn’t have time. Whenever you have support and are serious about your studies and want to attain something, you can do it and I am proof of that. My children are doing great at school.”

She concludes, “The only way for you is to be open minded, keep reading and working hard.

You are not working because of the salary, but because God created us to work, not to just enjoy and this is not the life of enjoyment. The more you work and struggle, the better you feel about yourself.”

ing to the Niyabat of Al Houqain.

The history of these tombs dates back to the period before Islam.

Ancient archaeological inscriptions were also discovered and those concerned believe that they might be related to the inscriptions found in Wadi A’Sahtan.

These inscriptions date back to 3000 BC, whereas some of them to 1000 BC. Such inscriptions are scattered across different places in the village. They represent littering and

drawings that depict the events and environment experienced at that time.

Citizens said that foreign experts accompanied by a team from the Ministry of Heritage and Culture frequently come to the village.

The ministry has registered these discoveries as part of its records. A visitor to the village can view such inscriptions and tombs.

Ya’aqoub bin Humaid Al Miqbali said the major archaeological landmark in Nozouh village is the

“Al Sharaf Fort,” which is located on the top of the village and overlooks it from the mountain peak.

He added that caves, archaeological tombs, inscriptions and engravings on stones affirmed the importance of this historic village.

The caves are now used by the farmers as stores for preserving agricultural crops, citizens also stay in these caves during the daytime in the Holy Month of Ramadan and during summer as these caves have cooler temperatures

due to the water flowing from the rocks that form the three springs, which are used for drinking, irrigation and remedies.

Nozouh village, as is the case with other villages and towns in different governorates and wilayats in the Sultanate, has during the prosperous reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said enjoyed a good portion of services, such as electricity, telecommunications, education, health and transport, as well as several schools. -ONA

‘2016 to be challenging for entrepreneurs’ Besides the economic challenges, the knowledge among entrepreneurs about programmes related to SMEs remains dismal, says Sherry Colbourne of Startup Oman

BABA UMAR

babaumar@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: With Oman introducing major economic reforms to make up for a huge budget deficit, the small and medium enterprises are also feeling the heat.

“The year 2016 is going to be very challenging,” entrepreneur Ayesha Al Shoily told the Times of Oman (TOO) on the sidelines of an informal monthly chat event (or Caribou Chats series), organised recently by Startup Oman - the Sultanate’s only online platform developed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs.

“It is going to be very challenging,” she said, adding, “People have to be very creative. They will have to stand on their own feet. It is not going to be better,” she said.

Al Shoily, a personality development expert and alternate therapist, plans to launch her business in March, and says the venture is going to be “very testing.”

She said she has been meeting many upcoming women entrepreneurs who were concerned about the economic situation in the Sul-

DIFFICULT TIMES: Ayesha Al Shoily, personality development expert and Jokha Al Husaini, CEO of Shumookh Engineering Consulting, at Startup Oman function. -Baba Umar

tanate and who often asked, “Do you think it is the right time to start a business? Do you think it will work?”

She said that a bigger problem in the country is “people like to copy and paste business ideas or strategies.”

“If someone has opened a cupcake business, we will have hundreds of people starting cupcake businesses the next day. If a woman opens an Abbaya shop, everyone races to start the same business,” she said.

Creative “I am not joking. Once upon a time it was a normal thing to have Karak tea (or Indian spiced tea).

Then suddenly, it became a brand, and in just a few weeks, everyone was selling Karak tea. We have to be creative and sustain whatever we do,” she said.

To Jokha Al Husaini, CEO of Shumookh Engineering Consulting, current year is difficult for her firm, too.

“2016 is a big challenge because the market is slow,” she told TOO. “I am planning to get projects

in any case, either from the tender board or through sub-consulting with some international company to support myself and my 14 staffers,” Al Husaini, who also works as quantity and land surveyor with the justice ministry, said.

SME awareness Besides the economic challenges, the knowledge among entrepreneurs about programmes related to the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) remains dismal, Sherry Colbourne of Startup Oman told the TOO. She cited a recent survey that showed the highest ranking programme in Oman from an awareness standpoint was Intilaaqah, which was recognised by only 43 per cent of the study group.

Intilaaqah is one of Shell’s social investment initiatives aimed at encouraging the development of SMEs in the Sultanate by offering professional training, guidance and business development services.

The study, conducted by the National Poll Centre in March 2015 in support of the Entrepreneurs’

Conclave, challenged the perceptions of entrepreneurs in Oman regarding their overall awareness of programs related to the SMEs. The study was conducted via an online insight community in which 206 people participated in various activities. The highest number of participants in any one activity were 75.

Only 37 per cent of the respondents were found to be aware of the entrepreneur programmes of the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development, also called Riyada.

Barely 22 per cent of the participants were aware of Bank Muscat’s al Wathbah programme that offers diverse financing and banking services to targeted sectors.

Regarding the entrepreneurs’ programme in Sultan Qaboos University, only 8 per cent of respondents were aware of it, while a mere 2 per cent of the participants were aware of the entrepreneurs programme available at Caledonian College of Engineering in Muscat.

“We believe these numbers demonstrate the gap that we (Startup Oman) anecdotally heard exists in Oman’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Colbourne said.

She added, “Startup Oman aims to close this awareness gap for the benefit of Omani SMEs and create a cohesive community of support.”

About predictions for 2016, she said, “Collectively, we need to be creative in terms of the support provided to SMEs.” She said her group will work closely with SMEs to identify the challenges they face and develop plans, in co-operation with the various stakeholders, to constructively adapt solutions to their issues.

“Lastly, we will continue to bring international content to Oman SMEs in order to develop a mind-set of innovation and resource allocation in order to improve market reach,” she added.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

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REGION ‘Syria army plans move into IS-bastion Raqqa’ have captured several positions from the IS militants at the provincial border between Hama and Raqqa in last two days

Ceasefire deal Meanwhile, Russia said on Saturday a ceasefire deal for Syria agreed by major powers was more likely to fail than succeed while Syrian government forces backed by further Russian air strikes gained more ground against rebels near Aleppo.

International divisions over

MUCH-NEEDED AID: A Red Crescent aid convoy enters Wafideen Camp, which is controlled by Syrian

government forces, to deliver aid into the rebel held besieged city of Douma, Damascus suburbs, Syria on Saturdau. — Reuters

Syria surfaced anew at a Munich conference where Russia rejected French charges that it was bombing civilians, just a day after world powers agreed on the “cessation of hostilities” due to begin in a week’s time.

The cessation of hostilities deal falls short of a formal ceasefire, since it was not signed by the warring parties — the government and rebels seeking to topple President Bashar Al Assad in a five-year-old war that has killed 250,000 people.

If its forces retake Aleppo and seal the Turkish border, Damascus would deal a crushing blow to the insurgents who were on the march until Russia intervened, shoring up Assad’s rule and paving the way to the current reversal of rebel fortunes.

Russia has said it will keep bombing IS and the Al Qaedalinked Nusra Front, which in many areas of western Syria fights government forces in close proximity to insurgents deemed moderates by Western states.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asked at a security conference in Munich on Saturday to assess the chances of the

cessation of hostilities deal succeeding, replied: “49 per cent.”

Asked the same question, his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier put the odds at 51 per cent.

The complex, multi-sided civil war in Syria, raging since 2011, has drawn in most regional and global powers, caused the world’s worst humanitarian emergency and attracted recruits to Islamist militancy from around the world.

Assad, backed on the ground by allied combatants and Hezbollah in addition to big power ally Russia, is showing no appetite for a negotiated ceasefire.

He declared this week that the government’s goal was to recapture all of Syria, though he said this could take time.

The US government said Assad was “deluded” if he thought there was a military solution to the conflict. Syrian state television announced the army and allied militia had on Saturday captured the village of Al Tamura overlooking rebel terrain northwest of Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported advances in the same area, adding that Russian jets had hit three rebel-held

P R I M E M I N I S T E R WA R N E D

Powerful cleric Sadr calls for technocrat government in Iraq BAGHDAD: Powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr said on Saturday the country needed a technocratic government, threatening to quit politics if Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi failed to carry out promised reforms.

Remarks The remarks by Sadr, whose Al Ahrar bloc holds 34 seats in parliament and three cabinet posts, were the first high-level reaction to the premier’s call for politically appointed ministers to be replaced with technocrats.

Struggling to show results from reforms he announced six months ago, Abadi said this week he wanted to make the replacements in a cabinet reshuffle, a shake-up that would alter the delicate balance of government in place since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Abadi provided few details of the planned reshuffle but he is expected to move forward with changes this week after returning to Iraq from a European trip.

Sadr called for “forming a technocrat government away from partisanship that should include all.” He added that withdrawing from politics would become “a duty” if the government did not make swift progress to implement reforms such as purging the judiciary and curbing corruption. “There is no room for slacking off,” he said in a televised address.

Sadr’s opinion holds sway over tens of thousands of supporters, including fighters who once controlled parts of Baghdad and helped defend the capital after Islamic State swept across the Syrian border in June 2014.

A few hundred followers gathered in central Baghdad following his speech to show their support.

Turkey forces shell Syrian air base held by Kurd rebels BEIRUT/ISTANBUL: Turkish forces on Saturday shelled a Syrian air base and a village captured

by Kurdish fighters from insurgents in recent days in northern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

A Kurdish official confirmed the shelling of Menagh air base in the northern Aleppo countryside, which he said had been captured by the Kurdish-allied Jaysh AlThuwwar group rather than the Kurdish YPG militia.

Both are part of the Syria Democratic Forces alliance.

There was no immediate comment from Turkey.

Government forces

BEIRUT: The Syrian army intends to advance into IS-held Raqqa province having captured positions at the provincial border of the extremists’ stronghold, a Syrian military source said on Saturday.

A move into Raqqa province would reestablish a foothold for Damascus in a region where it has had no presence since August 2014. The military source who was briefed on the matter said the operation had been going on for a number days.

The army had captured several positions from IS at the provincial border between Hama and Raqqa in the last two days.

“It is an indication of the direction of coming operations towards Raqqa. In general, the Raqqa front is open... starting in the direction of the Tabqa area,” the source said.

Tabqa is the location of an air base captured by IS in 2014.

The army had moved to within 35 km (20 miles) of the base.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, earlier reported the army’s had advanced to the provincial borders of Raqqa.

HEIGHTENING TENSIONS

Corruption and mismanagement in Iraq’s political system have made the country nearly impossible to govern and undermined the fight against IS militants controlling swathes of territory in the north and west.

Public demonstrations and calls by another prominent cleric last summer spurred Abadi to start dismantling the country’s patronage system and root out corruption. Sadr endorsed those

reforms at the time.

Abadi’s drive, however, got bogged down by legal challenges and opposition from sectors resisting change.

He has since been criticised for failing to take decisive action.

The proposed reshuffle is expected to face resistance from major political blocs and could end up costing Abadi his job, politicians and diplomats say.

— Reuters

towns near the Turkish border.

Government offensives around Aleppo have sent tens of thousands of people fleeing towards the Turkish border.

Speaking at the same conference, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Russia to stop bombing civilians in Syria, saying this was crucial to achieving peace there.

“France respects Russia and its interests...But we know that to find the path to peace again, the Russian bombing of civilians has to stop,” Valls said.

Russian Prime Minister Medvedev said that was simply not true.

“There is no evidence of our bombing civilians, even though everyone is accusing us of this,” he said. “Russia is not trying to achieve some secret goals in Syria.

We are simply trying to protect our national interests,” he said, adding that Moscow wanted to prevent extremist militants getting to Russia.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, however, accused Russia of dropping so-called “dumb bombs” in Syria that do not have a precise target, saying this has led to the killing of civilians. — Reuters

Saudi planes Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was reported as saying on Saturday that Saudi Arabia will send aircraft to NATO-member Turkey’s Incirlik air base for the fight against IS militants in Syria..

Saudi Arabia has resumed its participation in air strikes against IS in recent weeks and US Defence Secretary Ash Carter on Thursday welcomed its commitment to expand its role.

“Saudi Arabia is now sending planes to Turkey, to Incirlik.

They came and carried out inspections at the base,” Cavusoglu told the Yeni Safak newspaper, adding it was unclear how many planes would come and that the Saudis might also send soldiers.

Saudi officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Cavusoglu’s remarks.

No US ground troops US President Barack Obama has ruled out sending US ground troops to Syria.

But Saudi Arabia this month offered ground forces to fight IS and Cavusoglu said Turkey and the Saudis would support a coalition ground operation.

“We said that if there is such a strategy, Turkey and Saudi Arabia can join a ground operation,” he told the Yeni Safak paper on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich.

A wish Asked if Saudi troops could enter Syria from Turkey, Cavusoglu said: “This is a wish, not a planned thing.

Saudi Arabia is sending planes and says, ‘I can send soldiers for a ground operation when it is necessary’”. — Reuters

A8

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 Make in India has become the biggest brand India ever created. It has captured the imagination of people, business, institutions, political leaders and media Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

INDIA

Modi woos global investors at ‘Make in India’ week his Swedish and Finnish counterparts, Kjell Stefan Lofven and Juha Petri Sipila, respectively.

The two dignitaries also addressed the inaugural event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi listed a number of initiatives taken by his government to make it easier for doing business in India, along with enabling policy decisions and corrections PARLEYS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding in bilateral talks with the Prime Minister of Fin-

land Juha Sipila at the Make in India Centre in Mumbai on Saturday. — PTI

MUMBAI: Unfolding the red carpet for domestic and foreign investors, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the “Make in India Week” here on Saturday, showcased as the largest event of its kind in the country to project it as the preferred global hub for manufacturing.

The prime minister also listed a number of initiatives taken by his government to make it easier for doing business in India, along with enabling policy decisions and corrections.”I repeat, we also decided there will be no retrospective taxation,” he said at the inaugural.

“Make in India has become the biggest brand India ever created.

It has captured the imagination of people, business, institutions, political leaders and media,” he said at the National Sports Club of India’s indoor stadium that was packed beyond its 5,000 capacity.

Modi said the efforts were showing. “Our foreign direct investment inflow has gone by 48 per cent since the day my government came into office,” the prime minister said.

Intellectual property He also said concerns over intellectual property and bankruptcy laws were also being addressed.

“Almost on a daily basis we are trying to remove the bottlenecks that were affecting business,” he said. It was, therefore, not surprising that a host of multilateral institutions have said India will log even better growth that the present 7.5 per cent in the coming years, he added.

“In 2014-15, India contributed 12.5 per cent to global growth. It’s contribution to the global growth is 68 per cent higher than its

share of world economy,” he said, amid applause from the audience, which included chief ministers, ambassadors, industrialists and policy-makers.

Modi said India was particularly keen on scaling up investments in infrastructure — from roads and railways to digital networks and clean energy. Towards this, he said, interest-free bonds were the next on the agenda.

“Do not wait. Do not relax. You should take advantage of the immense opportunities in India.”

The event also saw the Time India award conferred on Tata Steel for best in class manufacturing, Hero MotoCorp for innovator of the year and Yogesh and Rajesh Agarwal of Ajanta Pharma for young maker of the year.

Earlier, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said India

was ready as a global manufacturing hub.

“The idea of the Make in India plan was to make the environment in the country from the regulated to a facilitator,” said Sitharaman, adding this has resulted in a vast improvement in ease of doing business in the country. “This is a moment India is cherishing.”

In his maiden Independence Day address on August 15, 2014, the prime minister had said India must become a global manufacturing hub, with “zero defect” in product quality and “zero affect” in its impact on environment.

The “Make in India” campaign was launched a month later on September 25.

Earlier, Modi inaugurated the Make In India Centre at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Grounds with

Attract investment Themed on innovation, design and sustainability, the centre showcases some of the country’s most trendsetting products and manufacturing processes before the world for the first time after the global launch of the Make In India initiative 17 months ago, commerce ministry officials said.

Those showcasing their respective strengths include corporate houses like the Tatas and Reliance groups, four top oil companies, as also institutions like the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Make in India Centre includes sector-specific pavilions showcasing 11 focus sectors of the sixday event, 17 state exhibitions and several country pavilions.

The area covered is some 220,000 square metres and accommodates 27 halls for 190 companies to show their prowess.

Officials said the Make in India Week is an enabling event to showcase India and attract investment, while also providing opportunities to the states.

Also planned are some 20 sector-specific seminars in areas like policy, business climate and intellectual property.

The programmes will see the participation of central and state ministers, chief ministers, senior government officials, top industrialists and businesspeople from India and overseas, and several government and business delegations from abroad. Government delegations from 49 nations and business teams from 68 countries have converged here. - IANS

M I L I TA RY A I D

India summons US ambassador, over move to sell F-16 jets NEW DELHI: Reacting strongly, India on Saturday summoned US Ambassador Richard Verma to convey its “displeasure and disappointment” over Obama administration’s decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar summoned US ambasssador to the South Block and during the 45-minute meeting told him about India’s concerns over United States military aid to Pakistan which New Delhi believes goes into anti-India activities.

According to sources, such military aids will embolden Pakistan.

External Affairs Ministry also issued a strong statement expressing its “disappointment” over the US decision. It said it disagrees with the rationale that these arms transfer to Pakistan will help in combating terrorism.

“We are disappointed at the decision of the Obama administration to notify the sale of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. We disagree with their rationale that such arms transfers help to combat terrorism. The record of the last many years in this regard speaks for itself,” the Ministry of External Affairs statement said.

The Obama administration Saturday said it has decided to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan worth nearly $700 million. The proposal has now gone to the US Congress, which has 30 days to take a decision on it.

There is a feeling in official circles here that India has turned out be the victim whenever any military aid has been given to Pakistan in past. - PTI

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CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT

Jaitley hits back at Manmohan; asks him to be ‘non-partisan’ NEW DELHI: Tearing into former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s criticism of Modi government, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the transition from UPA to NDA government has been from “policy-paralysis” to a global “bright-spot” while Congress’ stand on the crucial Good and Services Tax Bill has been motivated by “real politics”.

In a Facebook post titled ‘What Dr Manmohan Singh should advise his Party’, Jaitley said unlike in the UPA regime when poli-

cies were framed from Congress headquarters at 24, Akbar Road, in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the last word.

“Former presidents and prime Ministers rarely speak, but when they do, the nation should listen to them with rapt attention. They represent the wisdom of the nation.

“They are expected to be nonpartisan, render constructive advice and at times send a powerful message even to their own politi-

cal party to act in broader national interest,” he said.

Stating that he had consistently held Singh in high respect, he expected the same from him.

Referring to Singh’s interview to a periodical over Modi not reaching out to the opposition and government not doing enough to move up the country’s economy, he said, “I am sure if Dr Singh would dispassionately analyse the present government, he would really realize India has a government where the prime minister has the last

word, where natural resources are allocated without corruption through transparent process... “... where industrialists no longer visit North Block to push files/ decisions, where environmental clearances are dealt with in routine and not stalled on sadistic or corrupt considerations.”

Work culture Posing a question if there was any change in the work culture, the finance minister said the public sector banks were hardly run by

their own Boards or even by North Block during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

“They were run from 24, Akbar Road. In power and infrastructure areas, sectoral challenges were not addressed during the UPA. It is the present government which is clearing up these accumulated challenges,” he said.

On consultations with the opposition, he said almost all political parties except the Congress, support the GST. “The Congress has done a volte

face. Both the Parliamentary Affairs Minister and myself have discussed the GST with every senior Congress leader in Parliament,” he said. He asked if the Congress’ position on “Constitutional cap” on GST rates not “motivated by real politics?”

“The economist in Dr Singh should advice his party that tariffs are not provided for in the Constitution. This is what nation expects from the senior leaders and statesmen like former prime ministers,” he added. - PTI

PA R T N E R S H I P

DMK, Congress join hands for Tamil Nadu assembly polls CHENNAI: Burying the Lankan Tamils issue that had rocked their nine-year-old alliance in 2013, Congress and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday came together to fight the upcoming Assembly polls in the south Indian state.

The national party described the regional outfit as the “most dependable partner” as senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad formalised the alliance with DMK President M. Karunanidhi here, three years after the latter snapped ties accusing the Congress of betraying the Sri Lankan Tamils.

“The party had decided at our national level and also at Karunanidhi ji’s level and other esteemed leaders of the DMK that we will be fighting this election together; we will have an alliance,” Azad told reporters after meeting the DMK chief at his residence.

The leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha heaped praises on Karunanidhi and DMK, calling him an “esteemed leader” and describing the the party as “most dependable.”

Karunanidhi was an “esteemed leader” since the times of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, he said, adding that “DMK has always been and shall remain a most dependable partner”.

Asked what had changed between 2013 and 2016 for the two to join hands again, Azad said

BRIEFING: Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mukul

Wasnik addressing media after meeting with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Chief M. Karunanidhi at his residence in Chennai on Saturday. - PTI

there were political “compulsions and pressures”.

“It is not the first time we have gone with DMK. We’ve had partnerships on earlier occasions.

Sometimes in politics there are compulsions and pressures,” he said while expressing confidence that the DMK-led coalition would emerge victorious in the state elections, where it takes on the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK. Congress and DMK and other possible allies that join the coalition will form a “formidable combination”, he said. Asked if the “other allies” referred to actorpolitician Vijayakant’s DMDK,

actively being wooed by both DMK and BJP, the Congress leader said that decision was for DMK to take. “DMK is the principal ally under whose leadership the polls will be fought and they will decide,” said Azad.

Since Congress and DMK have joined hands, more parties could come into the alliance, he added.

In 2013, DMK had pulled out of UPA after its demand for strong amendments to a US-sponsored resolution in a UN body against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes and a resolution in the Indian Parliament were not heeded to by Congress. - PTI

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

INDIA

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Rahul Gandhi accuses NDA of suppressing students voice Drawing parallel between the actions against students in Jawaharlal Nehru University and events leading to the suicide of Dalit scholar in Hyderabad University, Rahul said the question is why a student is ‘not

PROTEST: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists protest against an event at Jawaharlal Nehru University supporting Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in New Delhi on Friday. - PTI

allowed to say what he believes in’

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused NDA government of “suppressing” students’ voice as he visited the JNU campus in the national capital to express solidarity with them, a day after the arrest of its students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case.

The Congress Vice President, who had on Friday accused the Modi government of “bullying” the institution, scaled up the at-

tack saying “most anti-national are people, who are suppressing the voice of students in this institution”. Accompanied by Delhi PCC chief and former union minister Anand Sharma, Rahul interacted with the agitating students and lauded the university for representing free voice.

Drawing parallel between the actions against students in Jawaharlal Nehru University and events leading to the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad University, he said the question is why a student is “not allowed to say what he believes in”.

Noting that India is progressing

because more and more people are raising their voice, Rahul said that everybody has a right to disagree.

Targeting Making repeated reference to Vemula’s suicide and targeting the government especially Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on the issue, he said, “A youngster expresses his views and the government says he is anti-national. Later the minister turns around and say you are not even a Dalit.”

In his speech marked by frequent disruptions, Rahul said that he will be happy to see even peo-

A9

ple from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) express their opinion.

“We respect voices that are raised in front of our voice. We also respect what is raised behind our back,” he said.

Training his guns on the government, he said, “They will not understand that in crushing you, they are making you stronger.”

The Congress Vice President had on Friday tweeted “Modi Govt & ABVP bullying an institution like JNU simply because it won’t toe their line is completely condemnable.

“While Anti-India sentiment is

unquestionably unacceptable, the right to dissent & debate is an essential ingredient of democracy.”

Kumar was arrested over an event at the JNU campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, sparking massive outrage among students and criticism from non-BJP parties which dubbed it as an “Emergency-like” situation. His visit was opposed by members of ABVP, who waved black flags when he spoke.

Taking note of it, he said, “People who showed black flags on my face, I feel proud that in my country they have the right to show black flags.”

Earlier in the day, a batch of exservicemen, alumni of the university, threatened to return their degrees as they found it “difficult” to be associated with an institution that has become a “hub of antinational activities”.

Meanwhile, the HRD ministry has sought a status report from the university on the issue. However, the varsity administration maintained that it has not received any such communication so far.

The university’s alumni association also came out in support of the agitating students saying they are pained to see the “attack on university’s image” which stands for its democratic culture.

Facing criticism for allowing police inside the campus, the varsity administration said the securitymen have been removed from the premises and there are no restrictions on the movement of students. - PTI

J NA N P I T H AWA R D E E

Eminent poet O. N. V. Kurup passes away THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jnanpith awardee and eminent Malayalam poet, lyricist and environmentalist O. N. V. Kurup on Saturday passed away at a private hospital here following a cardiac arrest.

He was 84 and is survived by wife, a son and daughter.

Kurup, who was ailing for some time, was admitted to a private hospital here two days ago and was on ventilator support.

He breathed his last at 4:49pm, hospital sources said. In addition to his valuable contributions to Malayalam literature, he is one of the leading lyricists in Malayalam film, drama and album industry.

He was part of many dramas

by Kerala People’s Arts Club (KPAC), which has made a major mark in the revolutionary movements of Kerala.

Kalam Marunnu (1956) was his first film which was also the first film by famous Malayalam composer G. Devarajan. Kurup also contributed to progressive movements in the state through his theatre songs and writings.

He has penned over 900 songs in over 200 films, besides numerous songs for plays and albums.

A recipient of several awards, the nation honoured him with Jnanpith in 2007 and also conferred on him the Padma Vibhushan in 2011.

Kurup was the fifth recipient of the country’s highest literary honour for Malayalam language, after G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkat, Thakazhi Shivashankara Pillai and M. T. Vasudevan Nair. - PTI

M U Z A F FA R NA G A R B Y- E L E C T I O N

Divisive politics return as Modi eyes make-or-break state vote MUZAFFARNAGAR (Uttar Pradesh): A year before Uttar Pradesh holds a state election that could make or break Modi’s chances of a second term, political opponents, analysts and commentators say his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is re-testing a divisive formula at a by-election on Saturday in a troubled corner of India’s most populous state.

It was here in Muzaffarnagar, in 2013, that at least 65 people were killed in communal clashes.

Around 12,000 people were driven from their homes in the surrounding villages where farmers grow sugarcane.

The following year, the BJP won 71 of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh in a general election, handing Modi India’s biggest parliamentary majority in three decades.

Despite two major state poll defeats since, the BJP recently re-appointed Amit Shah as its campaign manager, counting on him to win again in the 2017 regional vote.

Shah, who holds the rank of party president, was banned by the Election Commission of India from campaigning in 2014 for statements promoting “hatred and ill will” between religions.

A senior aide to Shah said the Muzaffarnagar campaign raised legitimate issues to expose the flaws of the state government, led by the left-wing Samajwadi Party that is widely supported by Muslim voters.

“It’s not illegal to voice the concerns of Hindus,” said the aide, who did not want to be named.

“To assume that we will only win elections by polarisation is ridiculous. Our work will prove a point and Modi’s image will work the best for us.”

At the BJP rally in Muzaffarnagar, a town of 300,000 people, a businessman chants a prayer and, to cheers, says girls should not fall for Muslim boys waging a “Love Jihad” against his community. As the party worker totters off the wobbly podium, he gets a pat on the back from Sanjeev Balyan, a federal agriculture minister who was elected as the local member of parliament in the 2014 landslide.

Balyan, 42, is being tried in a Muzaffarnagar court for rioting, disturbing the peace and unlawful assembly during the 2013 clashes, his lawyer said.

He spent 12 days in prison before being granted bail. Further

WOOING VOTERS: Sanjeev Balyan, centre, a federal agriculture minister and a member of ruling

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), addresses a by-election campaign rally in Muzaffarnagar district in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, on Tuesday. - Reuters

hearings are pending, and Balyan has pleaded his innocence. With this reporter present, Balyan gives no speech; only expressing gratitude to his voters. Asked later by Reuters about the broader significance of the Muzaffarnagar byelection for Hindu unity and for

ENCOUNTER

Five militants killed in Kupwara SRINAGAR: In a major success, army killed five suspected Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants while losing two soldiers during an overnight encounter that ended on Saturday in Kupwara district of Indian-administered-Kashmir.

The encounter in Zonreshi village started on Friday when army launched a search operation following information about presence of some terrorists there, Defence spokesman said on Saturday. He said as the Army commenced the search of a suspect house, the hiding militants resorted to a “heavy volume of fire” and threw grenades.

“Despite the disadvantage of being fired upon by terrorists from the upper floor of the house, the soldiers immediately retaliated the fire,” he said.

“As the soldiers engaged the terrorists, additional reinforcement effectively cordoned off the house to prevent escape of the terrorists,” he said.

The operation, which concluded on Saturday, led to elimination of five terrorists, the spokesman said, terming it as “yet another major blow to the terror outfits”.

TAKING POSITION: Army personnel take positions near the house where militants were hiding during an encounter in Kupwara district of Indian-administered-Kashmir on Saturday. - PTI

“Two Army soldiers also attained martyrdom”, he said.

They were Naik Shinde Shankar and Gunner Sahadev Maruti More.

Police said four army personnel including a Major, were injured in the operation. The injured have been admitted to a military hospital in Drugmulla.

The defence spokesman did not spell out the identity or group affiliation of the slain militants

but police sources said they were likely from LeT. Five AK-47 rifles and a cache of ammunition and other war like stores have been recovered from the site.

The Army spokesman said the force “lost two of its gallant soldiers who were the leading scouts and despite bearing the brunt of the initial volley of fire, stood their ground for each other and the rest of the search team”. -PTI

Uttar Pradesh, he described it as a prelude to “an all-out final attempt to protect Hindus.”

Modi must win in UP, India’s biggest electoral prize, to sustain his hope of one day gaining full control of parliament, where he lacks a majority in the upper house

that represents the federal states.

A victory there would help the 65-year-old leader advance his development agenda by passing land, tax and labour reforms that have been thwarted by the opposition.

Defeat could turn his government into a lame duck ahead of the

2019 general election. With Modi’s promise of growth and jobs yet to materialise, the temptation to shore up his political base is growing, say political analysts.

“The party has nothing to boast about on the economic or development front,” said Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, a New Delhi think-tank specialising in social sciences and opinion research.

“If polarisation works, then they will be tempted to replicate it in the 2017 state elections.”

Party leaders say the BJP is determined to keep its base intact with a message of Hindutva.

“Many people are taken aback by the directness of the BJP’s Hindutva messaging in the Muzaffarnagar by-election, but we are only speaking the truth,” Chandra Mohan, a BJP spokesman in state capital Lucknow, told Reuters by telephone.

Hindus make up nearly 80 per cent of India’s 1.3 billion people.

Uttar Pradesh, home to one in six of the population, is also predominantly Hindu. But, in the west of the state, Muslims are in a slight majority. - Reuters

A10

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

PAKISTAN Rebels using IS’ name to gain momentum: Nisar

D I R E C T TA L K S W I T H K A B U L

Afghan Taliban leaders in ‘secret visit’ plan agenda for peace dialogue

The interior minister said the country has to remain upbeat about its pledge to defeat terrorism

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top security czar Chaudry Nisar on Saturday reiterated that IS had no presence in Pakistan, saying terror outfits already functioning in the country were using the outfit’s name to further their activities.

“I have said this time and again that Daesh [IS] is a Middle Eastern organisation … Daesh does not exist in the country the way it is perceived,” he said.

The statement comes following a rare admission from Director General Intelligence Bureau Aftab Sultan who claimed IS’ presence is growing in Pakistan.

The interior minister said the country has to remain upbeat about its pledge to defeat terrorism. Further, Nisar said those using Islam’s name to foment more terrorism in the country should be treated like enemies.

Nisar said there is already a

TERRORISM: Pakistani policemen search a vehicle at a checkpoint in Karachi on June 16, 2014.

Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar’s statement comes following a rare admission from Director General Intelligence Bureau Aftab Sultan who claimed IS’ presence is growing in Pakistan. — AFP files

consensus on the registration of seminaries in Pakistan.

“We will summon a meeting of Wifaqul Madaris while also inviting the Army chief [General Raheel Sharif ],” he said.

Nisar also said: “I am speaking on the basis of facts and will not

give up relying upon the fact that the seminaries are in fact an obstruction in the way of terrorism.”

In a veiled jibe at Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), he said the opposition should at least commend the development works that the government has undertaken and

should not resort to criticism for the sake of criticism.

“I am doing everything in my constituency to build it and will continue to do so despite the fact that doctors have asked me to take some rest,” he added.

— Express Tribune

M U M TA Z Q A D R I

Jamaat leader warns government against execution of ex-governor’s killer PESHAWAR: Jamaat-e-Islami former provincial ameer Professor Ibrahim on Friday threatened the government to not execute Mumtaz Qadri and release him immediately.

Demanding the release of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s killer, Professor Ibrahim warned President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to protect themselves from the wrath of people.

In a statement issued from Markaz-e-Islami on Friday, Ibrahim said Milli Yakjehti Council

would raise its voice for Qadri from every nook and corner of the country.

“The fire that would engulf the nation after the execution of Qadri would be out of control,” Ibrahim threatened the government.

In the statement, he appealed to all prayer leaders to raise their voice from mosques. Ibrahim claimed Qadri would have never taken the law into his own hands and similar incidents would never happen if the government implemented laws. — Express Tribune

DEMAND: Pakistani supporters of former police bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri hold posters bearing his image as they gather opposite a police cordon outside the High Court in Islamabad on March 9, 2015. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: A two-member Afghan Taliban delegation, led by the head of the group’s political office in Qatar, paid a secret visit to Pakistan last week as part of preparations for the formal resumption of direct talks with the Afghan government, official sources revealed to The Express Tribune on Friday.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, who is heading the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, and Qari Din Muhammad travelled to Islamabad the same day when senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States held talks to finalise the roadmap for the Afghan reconciliation process.

The meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) was held on February 6 during which a tentative date was picked for the resumption of talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The Taliban team, according to sources, held informal discussions with senior officials of the four countries, which are part of the quadrilateral process. However, there was no official confirmation of the Taliban delegation’s visit by either side.

One source claimed that the Afghan Taliban reportedly shared a list of their representatives who would attend the formal talks.

They also discussed confidencebuilding measures for creating an environment conducive to the resumption of talks. This is the first time that Taliban’s Qatar office is taking part in the peace initiative backed by both China and the US. When first-ever direct talks between the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government took place in July last year in Pakistan, the Taliban’s political office in Qatar distanced itself from the process.

Brokered by Pakistan It was because the then head of Taliban’s political office Sayed Tayab Agha was against the peace process brokered by Pakistan.

Tayab Agha, however, resigned after Mullah Akhtar Mansoor took over as head of the insurgent group following the confirmation of the death of Mullah Omar.

Mansoor then appointed Ab-

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, who is heading the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, and Qari Din Muhammad travelled to Islamabad the same day when senior officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and the United States held talks to finalise the roadmap for Afghan reconciliation

bas Stanekzai to succeed Tayab Agha. Since Stanekazi is in favour of peace talks, his appointment means that now the Taliban’s Qatar office will have a central role in the peace talks.

A Pakistani official with knowledge of back channel activities said the visit of the Taliban delegation is clear proof that “we are walking the talk.”

The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said formal talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are likely to resume within days. Officials from Pakistan, China and the US will also attend the crucial parleys.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s new ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal, met army chief General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Friday.

According to a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations, “matters of mutual interest including measures to improve security along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border were discussed” at the meeting.

— Express Tribune

ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISCOVERIES OF THE CENTURY

Pakistan-born scholar’s part in gravitational waves finding KARACHI: Pakistani-born astrophysicist Dr Nergis Mavalvala was among the team of eagledeyed scientists who, for the first time, observed ripples in the fabric of spacetime called gravitational waves.

The detection – announced only on Thursday – confirms a major prediction of Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity and opens an unprecedented new window onto the cosmos.

Professor Mavalvala worked with researchers at the US-based underground detectors Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) Laboratory to build sophisticated sensors to detect gravitational ripples created from the collision of two black holes some 1.3 billion years ago and had been hurtling through space to reach Earth on September 14, 2015.

Dr Mavalvala, 47, was born to a Parsi family in Karachi where she did her primary schooling.

She attended the Convent of Jesus and Mary before going to the US as a teenager where she

the coveted McArthur Fellowship.

“The group I was working in was moving to another university, and so I was kind of shopping around and bumped into Rai Weiss.”

Weiss and Robert Forward had in the early 1970s proposed designs based on which LIGO was formed.

Dr Nergis Mavalvala

graduated with a BA in physics and astronomy from the Wellesley College in 1990.

During her graduation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) she started working on gravitational waves – which would lead her to one of the biggest discoveries of the century. But the tale was not so simple.

“I started graduate school working in cosmic microwave background, which is another area of astrophysics,” she told the Kavli Foundation in 2010 after receiving

Deeper into research Since meeting Weiss in 1991, Dr Mavalvala went deeper into research on gravitational waves. By the time she received her PhD in 1997, she was already working on building LIGO. She focused on instrument development for LIGO during her post-doctoral work at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) before joining LIGO as a staff scientist in 2000. She also joined MIT’s physics department as an assistant professor in 2002, rising to become the department’s associate head in February 2015.

In essence, her work on gravitational waves has spanned for over 20 years leading up to the discovery. — Express Tribune

EINSTEIN’S PREDICTION CONFIRMED: Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO)

technicians work on optics in this undated photo released by Caltech/MIT/LIGO Laboratory on February 8, 2016. — Reuters/Caltech/MIT/LIGO Laboratory/Handout via Reuters

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WORLD KAZAKHSTAN TOWER GOES UP IN FLAMES

Smoke rises from the Abu Dhabi Plaza in Astana, Kazakhstan, February 13, 2016. A fire broke out on Saturday at a construction site where Central Asia’s tallest tower is being built in the Kazakh capital Astana, the Kazakh interior ministry said. The blaze at the Abu Dhabi Plaza, being built by United Arab Emirates developer Aldar Properties and contractor Arabtec, started early in the morning and took six hours to put out, the ministry said.

Photographs on the ministry’s website showed flames leaping from several different floors of the skeleton girder structure of the building that has been built so far. When firefighters arrived, floors 11 to 25 were on fire, it said. The ministry reported no injuries, saying 150 workers had left the construction site, and the extent of damage was unclear.

— Reuters/Stringer

FISCAL WOES

Illegal banks in China did $152 billion in transactions, says regulator

Burundians rally against Rwanda, gunmen kill two

BEIJING: Underground banks in China did more than 1 trillion yuan ($152 billion) in transactions last year and the government will step up efforts to combat the problem this year, state media said on Saturday citing the foreign exchange regulator.

China’s economic slowdown and market volatility have sparked a wave of capital outflows running into hundreds of billions this year, triggering alarms for China’s foreign exchange management system.

Burundi accused

Crackdown Zhang Shenghui, head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange’s inspection division, told the official Xinhua news agency his department last year had participated in breaking up more than 60 underground banks suspected of doing more than 1 trillion yuan in transactions.

The regulator will also demand that above-board banks increase their oversight of any suspicious activities, and will also look more closely at securities, insurance and third-party payments providers, Zhang added. — Reuters

Rwandan President

seeking refuge in neighbouring Rwanda, according to the U.N. refugee agency.

Burundi accused Rwanda in December of supporting a rebel group that was recruiting Burundian refugees on Rwandan soil, a charge dismissed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Rwanda in December of supporting a rebel group that was recruiting Burundian refugees on Rwandan soil, a charge dismissed by

Paul Kagame FURIOUS: Residents participate in a rally against the Rwandan government in Burundi’s capital

Bujumbura, on Saturday. — Reuters

NAIROBI: Unidentified gunmen shot dead two people in an apparent targeted killing late on Friday in Burundi, where months of violence linked to the president’s disputed re-election have left more than 400 people dead.

The central African nation has been in turmoil since April 2015 when President Pierre Nkurunziza vowed to run for a third term, sparking protests by the opposi-

tion who said his bid was unconstitutional. His government foiled a coup in May and won reelection in July, but the poll was disputed and clashes and gun attacks have continued.

Celestin Singirankabo, the regional administrator of Gisozi commune in Mwaro province some 60 km (37 miles) east of the capital, Bujumbura, said one of

HEIGHTENED TENSIONS

North Korea to halt search for Japanese abductees TOKYO: North Korea has declared void an agreement to reopen a probe into the fate of abducted Japanese citizens after Japan imposed sanctions in the wake of Pyongyang’s rocket launch, according to North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

“The Abe regime has to hold full responsibility for causing such a grave consequence,” it said.

Japan said on Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on North Korea after a satellite launch seen

by Washington and allies, including Tokyo, as cover for development of ballistic missile technology that could be used to deliver a nuclear weapon.

Kidnapping admitted Pyongyang admitted in 2002 to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens decades ago.

Five abductees and their families later returned to Japan but Tokyo wants to know the fate of the remaining eight, who Pyong-

North Korea planned to disband a committee set up in 2014 to look into the whereabouts of Japanese abductees, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said, adding that Japan’s ‘provocative acts of hostility’ would ensure further countermeasures

yang has said are dead, and others that Japan believes were also kidnapped.

Signature pledge The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has made resolving the emotive abductees issues a signature pledge of his political career, had stressed it hoped to keep the door to dialogue open.

Japanese Foreign Minister

Fumio Kishida said on Friday it was deplorable for North Korea to unilaterally disband the committee, Kyodo news agency reported.

He also said Japan was not going to scrap the agreement made by the two countries.

Japan eased some sanctions on North Korea in July 2014 in return for the North reopening its probe into the status of the abduction issues, but little progress has been made. — Reuters

the people killed on Friday was a village administrator.

“Five people came around 9.30 p.m. and called the elected administrator by name and ordered him out of his house.

They shot at him and he died,” he told Reuters by phone on Saturday.

“After that they moved to another nearby house and also shot another person,” he said, add-

ing that three of the unidentified gunmen wore either police or army uniforms.

While it was not immediately clear who the gunmen were, activists and authorities have in the past reported a number of apparently targeted killings.

Nearly quarter of a million people have fled the violence in Burundi, with more than 70,000

Ousting Nkurunziza A confidential report to the UN Security Council accuses Rwanda of recruiting and training Burundian refugees with the aim of ousting Nkurunziza.

In a sign of the tensions, thousands of demonstrators mainly from Nkurunziza’s ruling CNDDFDD party and its UPRONA ally held peaceful marches against Rwanda on Saturday.

Demonstrators rallied in Bujumbura and elsewhere, waving placards saying “We denounce Rwanda’s open aggression against Burundi.”

“All Burundians denounce Rwanda and its president Paul Kagame for the bad plans they have been carrying out since May 2015 in training and recruiting for criminal groups some of the Burundians who are in refugee camps in that country,” Bujumbura mayor Freddy Mbonimpa, a member of Nkurunziza’s party, told demonstrators in the capital. — Reuters

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Emerging-market countries lose lustre

Location: Wadi Darbat/Photo: Younis Zahran

READERS’ FORUM China, North Korea working to boost each other This refers to the story China urges UNSC resolution to make North Korea ‘pay price’ (February 12). This statement lays bare the hypocrisy of the Beijing regime. China is the sole backer of Kim Jong-un’s isolated government and yet it has the guts to issue such a statement. The Chinese, instead was using their dominant position to put Kim in place, are simply using this ploy to give the North more time to rachet up the tensions in the region. Most likely this is all about reducing the hue and cry over China’s belligerence in the South China Sea. — Ramesh Nawan, Ruwi Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Greek farmers right in not agreeing to talks with Tsipras This refers to the story Farmers rebuff Greek premier’s offer for talks on pension reform(February 10). The agricultural sector workers are right in rebuffing Alexis Tsipras’ invitation for dialogue as he cannot be trusted anymore. Initially he had vowed not to agree to the debt terms, however, he later agreed to even harsher terms. The farmers along with pensioners have been badly let down by his inadequate leadership. In the wake of the overflowing migrant inflow, it is unlikely that Athens will be able to afford to give in to their own citizens demands . — Mureed Dawood, Seeb

BRADNEE CHAMBERS

It has long been said that we know more about the Moon than we do about the oceans. After all, 12 people have walked on the surface of the Moon, but only three have been to the deepest part of the sea. But it now seems that we know even less about the oceans than we thought – and we may well have been doing even more damage than we realised.

I

t is time to put the rise of the emerging economies in perspective. The rapid economic growth in much of the developing world since the beginning of the century was fuelled by a commodity boom and an overextension of credit. But, because the emerging-market boom was not accompanied by sufficient structural reforms, it was not sustainable.

Today, most of the major emerging economies have experienced a severe reversal of fortune. Russia and Brazil have plunged into severe crises, with double-digit inflation accompanying a 4 per cent contraction in GDP last year. South Africa is barely growing. China’s phenomenal rate of expansion has slowed to below 7 per cent. Unsurprisingly, Goldman Sachs has closed its money-losing BRIC fund for investment in Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Indeed, the future of the BRICS (including South Africa) – and that of other emerging markets – looks gloomy.

Outside of Asia, most developing economies are principally commodity exporters, and thus are highly exposed to price shocks. Plunging oil prices have cut the value of the Russian ruble by more than half against the US dollar, and further declines appear likely – especially if the US Federal Reserve continues to hike interest rates.

Commodity prices are likely to stay low for one or two decades, as they did in the 1980s and 1990s.

When it comes to oil, for example, shale gas, tight oil, liquefied natural gas, and increasingly competitive solar and wind energy are boosting energy supply, even as a decade of high prices has spurred conservation and reduced demand.

The commodity crunch is likely to prove painful to people in emerging markets, who often measure their income in US dollars. As exchange rates fall, they will quickly feel much poorer. Governments will suffer, too, as their foreign debt – boosted by fiscal and monetary expansion that yielded little growth – becomes much more burdensome, while the export stimulus from lower exchange rates will be small, owing to the absence of new capacity outside the commodity sectors. As countries come under pressure to make payments, multiple emerging-market debt crises are likely.

In the short term, Brazil arouses the most worry, given its large public debt and its vast budget deficit. In the medium term, however, China ap-

pears even more frightening. As a rule of thumb, an emerging economy’s total private- and publicsector debt should not exceed 100 per cent of GDP. China’s total debt is now more than 250 per cent of GDP. The BRICS countries’ critical shortcoming is poor governance. On its corruption perception index of 175 countries, Transparency International ranks South Africa 61st, Brazil and India 76th, China 83rd, and Russia 119th.

Poor governance limits a country’s ability to create lasting wealth and productive capacity – even if the shortcomings become evident and damaging only when booms turn to busts. To combat corruption effectively, people need to oust corrupt leaders, which is why democracy is vital. The regime changes in Ukraine and Argentina, and the opposition’s victory in Venezuela’s recent parliamentary election, are harbingers of what is to come. Brazil may be next. The emerging markets may rise again, if and when improved governance and structural reforms are implemented to boost potential growth. But that will take time. We should not be surprised to see two decades of slow global growth.

The West cannot afford to be complacent. After having focused too much on demand management, Europe should be trying to reduce the fiscal and regulatory burden of the state, so that its economies can start growing again. It should also open up stunted markets for labour, services, capital, and digital products. The West needs to work together to set global standards while it still can. Democracy, the rule of law, and market-based economies are all worth fighting for. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the wars in North Africa and the Middle East have demonstrated why NATO should be strengthened, and that Europe must become serious about defending itself – rather than simply continuing to depend on the United States.

In coordinating Western sanctions against Russia, the G7 has already achieved renewed significance. This should be followed by efforts to manage the coming stagnation. The Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership are both important initiatives in this regard.

Western-led organisations and institutional arrangements will become especially important as international organisations struggle to remain relevant. The United Nations, in particular, will likely be crippled by Russian and Chinese vetoes in the Security Council. – Project Syndicate

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1939: Germany launches the battleship Bismark.

1940: Britain announces that all merchant ships will be armed.

1973: The United States and Hanoi set up a group to channel reconstruction aid directly to Hanoi.

1985: Vietnamese troops surround the main Khmer Rouge base at Phnom Malai.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

A1 3

WORLD France rejects permanent quota system for refugees French Prime Minister Manuel Valls expressed admiration for Germany’s readiness to take on more refugees, but added: France never said ‘come to France’

M U N I C H / B R AT I S L AVA : French Prime Minister Manuel Valls rejected on Saturday the idea of a permanent quota system for distributing refugees across Europe, putting Paris at odds with Germany ahead of a summit to discuss the EU crisis over migration.

Speaking to reporters at a security conference in Munich, Valls said France would stick to its pledge to take on 30,000 of the 160,000 refugees European countries have agreed to divide among themselves, but would not accept additional numbers.

“We won’t take any more,” Valls said. He expressed admiration for Germany’s readiness to take on more refugees, but added: “France never said ‘come to France’.”

Merkel is expected to push European partners to accept socalled “contingents” of refugees at a meeting on Thursday in Brussels, shortly before European Union leaders come together for their summit.

Cobbling together a coalition of countries that is ready to accept more asylum seekers over time is crucial to Merkel’s efforts to convince Turkey to stem the tide of refugees fleeing countries in the Middle East, notably Syria.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu will attend the presummit meeting.

“France rejects this,” Valls said of the permanent quota mechanism.

He said France had already received 80,000 asylum applica-

SAFE HAVEN: Migrant children attend a lesson in a makeshift school on Wednesday, in the so-called “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais.

Inaugurated early February, the makeshift structure, which can only welcome daily a twenty children of parents coming from Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan, was installed next to the adult classroom opened in July. — AFP

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Germany had protested against plans by eastern European leaders to help Macedonia and Bulgaria seal their border with Greece, the entry point into the EU for many migrants

tions last year and was struggling with youth radicalisation and high unemployment.

In another sign of Europe’s deep divisions over the influx of migrants and refugees, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Germany had protested against plans by eastern European leaders to help Macedonia and Bulgaria seal their border with

Greece, the entry point into the EU for many migrants.

Leaders of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, known as the Visegrad Group, meet on Monday in Prague with their Macedonian and Bulgarian counterparts and could offer them manpower and other aid, diplomats said on Friday.

Closure of Greece’s northern

borders could strand migrants in Greece, which has been struggling to protect its sea borders as the huge influx of migrants and refugees arrive via Turkey.

“We want an agreement among the Visegrad Four countries that if Greece is not working, and it’s not working, it makes more sense to invest money into the protection of borders between Greece and Macedonia, Bulgaria and other countries,” Fico said.

Berlin, however, has said the countries should seek a different solution.

“We received a demarche (saying) how do we dare as V4, Bulgaria and Macedonia to discuss protection of external borders.

Germany has filed a protest with our deputy foreign affairs minister because of this summit, saying we need to seek another way,” he said.

As the European Union gave

notice to Athens on Friday that its failure to control hundreds of thousands of refugees landing via Turkey over the past year will see a long-term suspension of some passport-free travel in Europe, EU officials said they expected more border tightening by Greece’s Balkan neighbours.

Concern at a “domino effect” of border closures rippling down the Balkan peninsula to Greece and leaving large numbers of Syrians, Iraqis and others stranded in some of Europe’s poorest countries, has prompted the EU to offer aid and cooperation to those states, all of them candidates to join the bloc. — Reuters

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DANGEROUS COLD SNAP

Northeast US temperatures fall below zero BOSTON: A dangerous cold snap seized the northeastern United States on Saturday with temperatures in some areas set to fall below zero and Boston facing its coldest Valentine’s Day in almost four decades.

Officials warned people to stay indoors away from what the National Weather Service described as “life threatening” cold.

Wind chill advisories were in effect over parts of nine states extending from northern Pennsylvania to western Maine, with forecasters expecting gusts up to 45 miles per hour (72 kph).

“Wind chills will be getting colder and colder as the day goes on,” said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts.

The temperature in Boston was expected to drop to -21.7°C, but feel as cold as -34.4°C with the wind chill.

That would be below the record low of -19.4°C set in 1979.

“That one looks quite breakable,” Dunham said.

New York City was bracing for its coldest night in 20 years.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials had put on extra staff to help respond to residents who had lost their heat and had expanded efforts to bring homeless people into shelters.

“It’s so important to take this seriously, to stay indoors to the maximum extent possible, go out for as little time as possible. Do not have skin exposed. These are tough conditions,” de Blasio told reporters.”Be really careful.”

He ordered construction crews to put cranes into secure positions following the collapse of a huge crane in high winds earlier this month, which killed one person and injured three.

The lower-than-average temperatures for mid-February come after a mostly mild winter and higher-than-average temperatures in the US Northeast and Midwest.

In Boston, some were hurrying through their mornings to get outdoor chores done before the worst cold set in.

“Right now I’m going to drink a coffee” to stay warm, said Carmen Pichente, 40, en route to her at a Boston restaurant.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to stay at home all day.” — Reuters

A 14

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

WORLD SUMBA ISLAND

No victims as magnitude 6.5 quake hits Indonesia isle JAKARTA: A strong earthquake near an eastern Indonesian island knocked out telephone, radio communications and roads late on Friday, but there were no reported casualties, local residents and a government official said on Saturday.

The US Geological Survey said a 6.5 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 30 kms (18 miles) was reported about 3 kms (2 miles) from Andekantor, a town on Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara province.

“Not yet,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told Reuters on Saturday when asked whether there were any casualties.

Roads had suffered the most damage local residents said.

Nugroho said his agency would continue to monitor the situation. No tsunami warning was issued. — Reuters

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Myanmar army chief Hlaing to get five year extension The National League for Democracy’s massive poll win means it will be able to push through its presidential candidate during a vote in parliament on March 17

The military and democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi are negotiating the terms of transition that will end on April 1 when the new government’s term begins

YANGON: Myanmar’s powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy are slated to extend their terms for another five years, a local newspaper said on Saturday, as the military and democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi negotiate the terms of transition.

The move means Min Aung Hlaing has consolidated his power base among the military leadership and would allow the army to avoid a top-level reshuffle at this sensitive period.

It will also boost Min Aung Hla-

REMEMBRANCE: Myanmar people stand next to a banner showing a portrait of independence hero Aung San, responsible for the country’s independence from British rule and father of Aung San Suu Kyi, during a ceremony to mark his 101th birth anniversary at the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) headquarters in Yangon on February 13, 2016. — AFP

ing’s position in talks with Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) defeated armybacked Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) in the November election, kicking off a lengthy transition that will end on April 1 when the new government’s term begins.

The NLD’s massive election

win means it will be able to push through its presidential candidate during a vote in parliament on March 17.

Still, it has to deal with the military, which is guaranteed 25 per cent of seats in parliament and three security ministries under the junta-drafted constitution.

Details of the talks between the

NLD and the army remain murky.

“Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who is turning 60 soon, will take the duty of the commanderin-chief for five more years,” said the Voice newspaper, citing a military source based in the capital Naypyitaw. It added that Min Aung Hlaing’s deputy, Soe Win, will also get a five year extension.

“The decisions were announced at the recent quarterly meeting of top-level military officials,” said the paper citing the same source.

The Voice is typically correct when it comes to news on Myanmar’s military.

Military sources contacted by Reuters were not immediately available for comment.

The newspaper did not clarify the legal basis for the move and it did not explain whether the decision would require an approval by the president.

Need permission Myanmar’s opaque and imprecise constitution has confused lawmakers and experts over whether the army chief would need permission from the president, or a change of law, to obtain an extension.

Current regulations stipulate that the army chief has to retire at 60.

On Thursday, Myanmar’s outgoing President Thein Sein has at the last minute cancelled plans to attend the US-ASEAN summit in California next week, giving no reasons for the decision.

After two busy weeks after the NLD-dominated parliament opened on February 1, Myanmar’s lawmakers are in for a quieter week from Monday, as they undergo induction and training organised by the parliament and international organisations supporting the development of democracy in Myanmar. — Reuters

ALL FOR LOVE

Agents with US Customs and Border Protection inspect flowers that arrived to the US for Valentine’s Day, in the cargo area of the Miami International Airport on Thursday, in this picture released on Saturday. In the weeks before Valentine’s Day, Miami receives hundreds of million of flowers mainly from South America, and the inspectors have to make sure they are pest and disease free. — AFP

ANSAR DINE

Extremist rebels claim attack on UN base in Mali DAKAR: Malian extremist militant group Ansar Dine said it carried out a suicide and rocket attack on a UN base in Kidal, north Mali on Friday that killed six peacekeepers, the SITE Intelligence Group said.

Ansar Dine, led by Tuareg commander Iyad Ag Ghali, briefly seized the desert in the north alongside Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in 2012 and the two groups are involved in an intensifying insurgency that has spilled over Mali’s borders.

Ansar Dine named the suicide bomber who blew himself up with a truck bomb as Muhammad Abdullah bin Hudhayfa Al Hosni from Mauritania.

Heavy weapons fire ensued.

It was not immediately clear if Ansar Dine was also responsible for an ambush on Malian soldiers near Timbuktu on Friday that killed three.

“The (Kidal) operation is a message to the Crusader invaders and all those who support them and promise to send their soldiers to us, like the German President said in his current visit to Bamako,” according to the statement sent late on Friday.

Germany has pledged to send 650 soldiers to help support a UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA) and President Joachim Gauck visited Mali’s southern capital Bamako on Friday.

As well as UN peacekeepers, militant strikes have targeted hotels popular with Westerners, killing 30 in Ouagadougou

Ansar Dine, led by Tuareg commander Iyad Ag Ghali, briefly seized the desert in the north alongside Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in 2012 and the two groups are involved in an intensifying insurgency in January, and Malian army checkpoints.

MINUSMA has the highest rate of casualties among active UN missions and many of the dead are Africans who occupy some of the most dangerous front-line positions in the north.

The six dead peacekeepers in the Kidal attack were all from neighbouring Guinea, the UN Security Council said.

French troops, which ousted extremist militants from northern towns in 2013, are still fighting them in north Mali and neighbouring Sahel countries but casualties are rare due to superior training and equipment.

Sean Smith, Africa analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said that the threat of attacks would remain extremely high unless France expands its force or MINUSMA changes its mandate to include anti-terror operations. — Reuters

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

6.4

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WORLD

magnitude quake struck at early dawn on February 6 at the beginning of the Lunar New Year holiday, with almost all of the dead found in Tainan’s toppled Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building

Aussie hospital refuses to release refugee baby

EARTHQUAKE

The girl is facing repatriation to an offshore immigration DISASTER: In this file photograph taken on February 7, 2016,

this general view shows the Wei-kuan apartment complex on the second day of rescue operations following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake in southern Taiwan’s city of Tainan. — AFP files

detention camp in Nauru. The medical centre’s decision is

Taiwan building collapse death toll reaches 114 as rescue efforts end TAIPEI: The death toll at a building that collapsed from a strong earthquake in southern Taiwan reached 114 as rescue efforts came to an end on Saturday, a week after the temblor hit.

“The search and rescue has come to an end,” said Tainan Mayor William Lai, in remarks carried live on local television, identifying the last individual to be pulled out from the rubble as Hsieh Chen-yu, who was part of the fallen building’s management committee.

All of those believed missing in the building have now been accounted for, city officials said.

The 6.4-magnitude quake struck at early dawn on February 6 at the beginning of the Lunar New Year holiday, with almost all of the dead found in Tainan’s toppled Wei-guan Golden Dragon Building.

Rescue work has focused on the wreckage of the 17-storey building.

The building had 256 registered residents but when more than that number were pulled out in the initial days after the quake, it became clear more people were in the building when it toppled.

Of a total 289 people pulled out, 175 were alive with 96 of them taken to the hospital, Lai said.

No survivors had been brought out since Monday evening, when more than 100 were still reported missing.

Pancaked The Wei-guan was the only major high-rise building in the city of two million people to have completely collapsed. Its lower storeys, filled with arcades of shops, pancaked on top of each other before the entire U-shaped complex toppled in on itself.

Local authorities are investigating the reasons for the building’s collapse and earlier this week took into custody three individuals. — Reuters

adding to pressure on the government over its tough asylum seekers policy

PERTH: Doctors at an Australian hospital are refusing to release a baby girl facing repatriation to an offshore immigration detention camp, after she was treated for serious burns, adding to pressure on the government over its tough asylum seekers policy.

The one-year-old girl will not be released from Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in the city of Brisbane until a “suitable home environment is identified”, a hospital spokesman told Reuters on Saturday.

The girl and her parents face being returned to a camp on the tiny South Pacific island of Nauru, about 3,000 km northeast of Australia. The detention centre, which houses more than 500 people, has been widely criticised for harsh conditions and reports of systemic child abuse.

Earlier this month the High Court rejected a legal test case that challenged Australia’s right to deport 267 refugee children and their families who had been brought to Australia from Nauru for medical treatment.

UP IN ARMS: Activists hold placards and chant slogans as they protest outside the offices of the Australian Immigration Department in Sydney, Australia on February 4, 2016. — Reuters files

Earlier this month the High Court rejected a legal test case that challenged Australia’s right to deport 267 refugee children and their families who had been brought to Australia from Nauru for medical treatment

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said the asylum seekers will be treated “with compassion” and deportation will be decided “on a case by case basis.” Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the hospitals’ stance on Saturday.

Protesters opposed to the detention of asylum seekers gathered outside the hospital late on Friday

in support of medical staff and called for the closure of the offshore detention centres.

Further protests were planned for Saturday.

The baby girl was flown from Nauru to Brisbane for treatment for serious burns last month.

“All decisions relating to a patient’s treatment and discharge are made by qualified clinical staff, based on a thorough assessment

of the individual patient’s clinical condition and circumstances,” the hospital said in a statement.

The decision to only release the child to a suitable environment “is the case with every child who presents at the hospital,” it said.

Sent by boat The hospital stance, although not political, adds to pressure on the Australian government and its policy of sending asylum seekers who attempt to reach the country by boat to camps on Nauru or on Manus island in Papua New Guinea.

They are not offered resettlement in Australia.

The government says the policies are necessary to stop asylum seekers drowning aboard the unseaworthy vessels used by people smugglers to ship them from Indonesia to Australia. — Reuters

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

WORLD

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TRIDENT NUCLEAR WEAPONS SYSTEM

UK needs nuclear arms for ‘outsized’ world role: Carter LONDON: Britain must renew its submarine-borne Trident nuclear weapons system if it is to maintain its “outsized” role in world affairs, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said in comments published on Saturday.

A decision on replacing the ageing fleet of four submarines which carry nuclear warheads is due to be made this year and while Prime Minister David Cameron is committed to renewal, the issue has caused deep divisions in the opposition Labour Party.

The government has said replacing the submarines will cost 31 billion pounds while Reuters has puts the overall cost of renewing and maintaining a successor to Trident at more than $234 billion over 32 years.

Carter said the submarine fleet helped the “special relationship” Britain enjoyed with the United States, the BBC said on its website.

The deterrent allowed Britain

A decision on replacing the ageing fleet of four submarines which carry nuclear warheads is due to be made this year and while Prime Minister David Cameron is committed to renewal, the issue has caused deep divisions in the opposition Labour Party

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Colombia Zika infections rise to more than 31,000 Zika, which has spread to more than 30 countries, has

to “continue to play that outsized role on the global stage that it does because of its moral standing and its historical standing.

It’s important that the military power matches that standing and so we’re very supportive of it,” he was quoted as saying.

While most lawmakers in Cameron’s party support keeping nuclear weapons, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a veteran

left-wing and anti-war activist, supports unilateral disarmament and is holding a review of the party’s policy.

Deep divisions That has led to deep divisions among its lawmakers and earlier this week Labour’s home affairs spokesman Andy Burnham said it might be impossible for the party to agree a position. — Reuters

been linked to birth defect microcephaly and to neurological disease GuillainBarre syndrome CONTROL MEASURES: A Brazilian Army soldier inspects a house

BOGOTA: More than 5,000 pregnant Colombian women are infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, the country’s national health institute said on Saturday, as the disease continues its rapid spread across the Americas.

Cases of the virus total 31,555, the institute said in a epidemiology bulletin, among them 5,013 pregnant women.

Zika, which has spread to more than 30 countries, has been linked to birth defect microcephaly and to neurological disease GuillainBarre syndrome.

Total reported Zika cases increased by 23 per cent over last week’s figures, while the number of pregnant women with the virus was up 57.8 per cent.

Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus actually causes microcephaly.

Brazil is investigating the potential link between Zika infections and more than 4,300 suspected cases of the birth defect, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can result in developmental problems.

Researchers have confirmed more than 460 of these cases as microcephaly and identified evidence of Zika infection in 41 of these cases, but have not proven the virus can cause microcephaly.

There are so far no recorded cases of Zika-linked microcephaly in Colombia, the government has said.

No vaccine, treatment Officials are still examining figures from countries such as Brazil, but say Colombia can expect between 500 and 600 cases this year. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An esti-

for ‘Aedes aegypti’ mosquitoes during the National Day of Mobilization Zika Zero at Sao Sebastiao neighbourhood in Brasilia, Brazil, on Saturday. — Reuters

mated 80 per cent of people infected have no symptoms.

The institute said 29.4 per cent of pregnant women with Zika live in Norte de Santander province, along the eastern border with Venezuela.

Colombia’s Caribbean region,

which includes popular tourist destinations Cartagena and Santa Marta, had more than 12,488 cases of the virus, the bulletin showed.

Colombian authorities have urged women to delay pregnancy for six to eight months. — Reuters FORMER GOVERNOR

Kabul seeks Pakistan help as ex-official kidnapped ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Afghanistan’s government on Saturday appealed to Pakistan to take action to find and free a former provincial governor who has been kidnapped in Islamabad.

Fazlullah Wahidi, former governor of Afghanistan’s western Herat province, was abducted on Friday afternoon in the Pakistani capital, the Afghan foreign ministry said.

The motive for the kidnapping was not clear, but the Afghan government asked Pakistani authorities “to use all their tools and possiblities to identify the group of kidnappers and take action to free Wahidi immediately”, the foreign ministry said.

The former Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who is reportedly close to Wahidi, issued a separate statement on Facebook about the “respectable elder”, who he said had travelled to Pakistan to apply for a visa to the United Kingdom.

The UK does not issue visas to Afghans in Kabul.

An official in Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Saturday that the Afghan embassy had reported Wahidi missing, and local police were investigating.

— Reuters

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ECONOMIC GROWTH

Oman’s higher borrowing plans from abroad to support spending A E JAMES

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C A P I TA L B A S E

Muscat Electricity Distribution raises capital to OMR72m A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC), a member of Nama Group (Electricity Holding Company), has raised its capital base to OMR72 million by issuing OMR71.5 million in rights shares. The shares were issued to existing shareholders by converting their retained earnings/ shareholder loans to equity.

“MEDC restructured its balance sheet during 2015 to enable its long-term borrowing, as per the strategic financial plan,” Electricity Holding Company (EHC) said in response to Times of Oman queries.

Meanwhile, a study into the readiness of MEDC to be privatised is continuing. However, there is no link between the company’s capital enhancement programme and the study on privatisation.

The decision to identify more companies for privatisation lies with the government and not with EHC, the company added.

According to an earlier press statement, the purpose of the study is to explore privatisation options and assess the readiness of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company to be privatised.

MUSCAT: Oman’s plan to borrow a higher amount from markets abroad indicates that government expenditure will be maintained to support economic growth this year.

Earlier last week, Central Bank of Oman (CBO) Executive President, Hamoud Sangour Al Zadjali had told Al Arabiya television that the country plans to borrow anywhere between $5 billion and $10 billion from abroad to help finance the budget deficit. This is against an initial budget proposal of merely OMR900 million ($2.32 billion) foreign borrowing.

“Funds are needed to continue development projects. There may not be a big cut on government expenditure. There are a lot of big projects that are either in the planning stage or the development phase,” said Suresh Kumar, head of research at Al Maha Financial Services.

Suresh Kumar also noted that higher borrowing is needed in view of the fact that the current crude price is lower than the oil price considered for estimating budget revenue early this year, which was $45 per barrel.

Oman Crude was hovering at $27 a barrel last week.

The major projects that are either in implementation phase or the design stage include the Duqm Refinery ($6 billion), Oman National Railway ($15 billion), the Sohar refinery improvement project ($2.1 billion), the Liwa Plastics Project ($3.6 billion), the Batinah Expressway ($3.9 billion), the BidBid-Sur dual carriageway ($1 billion), Sohar port’s expansion ($600 million) and the MuscatSohar pipeline ($300 million)

Central Bank of Oman.

— Times file picture

for carrying refined petroleum products.

While some of the companies (like Orpic), which is building these projects, have reached financial closure, major infrastructure projects are being funded by the government.

Market analysts said overseas borrowing would ease pressure on both domestic liquidity and interest rates in the country.

Oman’s central bank chief added that the government plans to issue OMR600 million worth of domestic bonds this year, which is about OMR100 million every two months. Of late, the central bank has floated an OMR100 million-bond issue, which fetched a coupon of 3.5 per cent.

Also, Oman’s debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio (a common parameter used for measuring the indebtedness of a country) is around 4 per cent, which is quite low when compared to most economies in the world, Anil Kumar N, senior vice-president, Asset Management, the Financial Corporation (FinCorp), had earlier told the Times of Oman.

The country is in a comfortable position to raise funds from overseas markets. The government will be in a better position to borrow funds from wherever it is cheaper and available.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

MARKET ECONOMY

US consumer spending counters recession fears

ON RECOVERY PATH: Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity and is being supported by a tightening labour market, which is starting to lift wages. - Reuters

WASHINGTON: United States consumer spending regained momentum in January as households ramped up purchases of a variety of goods, in a hopeful sign that economic growth was picking up after slowing to a crawl at the end of 2015.

But the outlook for consumer spending was tempered by another report on Friday showing sentiment among households ebbed in early February. Still, the increase in consumer spending last month underscored the economy’s resilience and challenged the view that a recession was looming.

“The markets may have decided that the U.S. is headed for recession, but obviously no one told US consumers,” said Paul Ashworth,

chief economist at Capital Economics in Toronto. The Commerce Department said retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services increased 0.6 per cent last month after an unrevised 0.3 per cent decline in December.

These so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.

Economists had forecast core retail sales increasing 0.3 per cent last month. US stocks, which had been aggressively sold this week on concerns the economy was heading into recession, rallied on the data. Market sentiment was also buoyed by a rebound in oil prices from 12-year lows.

US Treasury debt Prices for US Treasury debt fell, while the dollar rose against a basket of currencies. Though signs of firming consumer spending are likely to be welcomed by Federal Reserve officials, the stock market turmoil and tame inflation environment make it unlikely the US central bank will raise interest rates next month. Rate hike prospects for the rest of the year have also diminished. The Fed raised its short-term interest rate in December, the first increase in nearly a decade.

“From the Fed’s perspective, any further evidence of the US economy weathering the market turmoil at the start of the year is confirmation the Fed should continue

to focus on the longer run and ignore short-term disruptions,” said Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at Stifel Fixed Income in Chicago.

Consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity and is being supported by a tightening labour market, which is starting to lift wages. Savings, which hit a threeyear high in 2015, are seen boosting future spending.

Growth in consumer spending moderated in the fourth quarter.

That, together with weak export growth due to the strong dollar, efforts by businesses to sell inventory and cuts in capital goods spending by energy firms, restrained GDP growth to a 0.7 per cent annual pace. - Reuters

ANNUAL EVENT

Interior design, and furniture exhibition from Monday MUSCAT: Third edition of Interior Design, Décor and Furniture Exhibition will start on Monday at Oman International Exhibition Centre under the auspices of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Meherzi, minister of tourism.

The three-day event is organised by Al Nimr International Exhibition Organiaers, with the participation of more than 105 local and international companies. The participating global and local companies will showcase latest products in the interior design, decor and furniture sector, The various sections of the exhibition will focus on accessories, kitchen, bath, design of house furniture, upholstery, interior and exterior design, décor, lighting, luxury style of life, surfaces and finishes, textiles, and carpets. There will be many specialised exhibitors in the field of construction and building materials.

Salim bin Omar Al Hashmi, chairman of Al Nimr International Exhibition Organisers, said that the exhibition has seen an annual large turnout of local and international companies as the number of participating companies has grown this year by a large margin. - ONA

PARTNERS IN PROGRESS: Apart from Oman, Blue Star runs international projects business through its joint ventures in Qatar and Malaysia. - SHABIN E./Times of Oman

W J Towell, Blue Star form joint venture India’s Blue Star has 51 per cent stake in the joint venture and 49 per cent holding is with W J Towell

Times News Service MUSCAT: India’s Blue Star and Oman’s W J Towell group have officially announced the formation of a joint venture — Blue Star Oman Electro-Mechanical Company. The joint venture offers mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) contracting services in the Sultanate of Oman.

“Blue Star has 51 per cent stake in the joint venture and 49 per cent holding is with W J Towell.

The chairman of the company is from W J Towell,” Vir S. Advani, executive director of Blue Star, told Times of Oman.

He said that the company has started operation (as a joint venture) in September 2015.

“We have four MEP projects running right now. These are residential projects.”

W J Towell, a renowned business group that is in operation for 150 years, has several businesses such as real estate, construction, consumer goods, automotive, engineering and services. Blue Star is one of India’s leading engineering conglomerates with core businesses of air-conditioning, commercial refrigeration, MEP contracting and after-sales service.

Advani said that his company’s equipment business (air-conditioners and refrigeration products) is not part of the joint venture’s business portfolio.

“The investment in the joint venture is very small, it is more of an operating cost-intensive business than capital intensive one.

That is the nature of the business,” added Advani.

“We are building up a small base. We feel that the strength of our local partner and our technical capability will help us grow in our business. We hope to take some market share,” noted Advani.

Apart from Oman, Blue Star runs international projects business through its joint ventures in Qatar and Malaysia. “In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, we have joint ventures in Qatar and Oman.” But the airconditioning products are sold in all GCC states, except Saudi Arabia. The company has distributes its products in 15 countries.

The international business is poised to grow multifold through new joint ventures for projects.

“Our total annual revenue is estimated at $500 million and 10 per cent of this revenue comes from our international operations,” added Advani.

Ivor Braganza, chief executive officer of Towell Property, also addressed the launch event. Several board members from W J Towell and its group companies and top-level officials from Blue Star also attended the event.

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MARKET C O R P O R AT E

RSM achieves 6 per cent fee income growth

Sultanate’s inflation rises Sultanate’s CPI based inflation registered

Times News Service MUSCAT: RSM, the adviser of choice to entrepreneurial growthfocused organisations globally, has announced a six per cent increase in global fee income, to $4.64 billion, for 2015.

RSM has also moved up one place in the global ranking and is now the sixth largest global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firm, said a company release.

Fee income was up 10 per cent in the US, 10 per cent in Europe (based on fee income in local currencies), 6 per cent in Middle East and North Africa, one per cent in Asia Pacific, and 9 per cent in Latin America. Audit and accountancy fees increased by 4 per cent to $2.27 billion, tax grew by 7 per cent to more than $1.35 billion, and consulting/advisory was up 6.9 per cent to $1.02 billion.

RSM member firms globally adopted the brand and trading.

an increase of 0.10 per cent in January compared to December 2015

MUSCAT: Oman’s CPI based inflation registered an increase of 0.10 per cent in January compared to the previous month (December 2015) while it showed a rise of 0.20 per cent on a year-on-year basis, according to the data released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels subset carrying a weightage of 26.47 per cent in the CPI basket rose by 0.01 while transport (weightage of over 19 per cent) prices went up 2.39 per cent in January against December 2015 figures.

Foods and non-alcoholic beverages saw a price fall of 1.68 per

cent in January compared to December, driven primarily by a drop of 4.25 per cent and 9.94 per cent respectively in the fruits and vegetables groups, as well as decline of 0.15 per cent in meat and 0.24 per cent in fish and seafood prices.

Bread and cereals Bread and cereals went up 0.14 per cent, while milk, cheese and eggs rose 0.20 per cent. Prices of oil and fats group, and sugar, jam, honey and confectionary group increased by 0.13 per cent and 0.06 per cent in order.

Other food products and nonalcoholic beverages posted a price rise of 0.12 per cent and 0.17 per cent, data revealed.

N E W R E G U L AT I O N

COOKING GAS: Number of licences granted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to liquefied

petroleum gas (LPG) stores in 2015 stood at seven. – ONA

LPG stores licences issued by ministry touch 420

MUSCAT: Ya’aqoub bin Shayekh Al Dhab’ouni, head of Oil Products Licences at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the ministry is revising the new executive regulation for the oil gas sale licences.

He pointed out that the number of licences granted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stores in 2015 (wholesale and

retail) stood at seven including two licences in the Governorate of Muscat, 4 stores in the Governorate of South Al Sharqiyah and two stores in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah.

Al Dhab’ouni explained that the number of final licences provided to LPG stores as of the end of 2015 stood at 420 including 41 in Muscat, 30 in Musandam, 19 in Al Buraimi, 67 in Al Dakhili-

FULL YEAR

yah, 82 in North Al Batainh, 47 in South Al Batinah, 46 in South Al Sharqiyah, 37 in North Al Sharqiyah, 37 in Al Dhahirah and 14 in Al Wusta.

He added that the Governorate of North Al Batinah topped the list of the number of licences with 82. “Fifteen applications for LPG warehouses are still under processing by the relevant authorities,” he said. — ONA C O R P O R AT E

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more stock to executives

SALES RISE: Raysut Cement’s total sales revenue stood slightly higher at OMR94.68 million for 2015, against OMR94.29 million for the previous year. - File photo

Raysut Cement’s net profit drops by 24% Times News Service MUSCAT: Raysut Cement Company, the Sultanate’s biggest cement producer, said its net profit fell by 23.62 per cent to OMR20.95 million for 2015, against OMR27.43 million for the previous year.

The company’s total sales revenue stood slightly higher at OMR94.68 million for 2015, against OMR94.29 million for the previous year, the company said in a disclosure statement

posted on Thursday.

Cost of sales was higher at OMR59.18 million compared to OMR54.87 million. There was a marked decline in investment income last year.

Raysut Cement Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share stood lower at 105 baisas by end2015, against 137 baisas for the same period of 2014.

The results are un-audited and are subject to the audit and approval from the audit committee and board of directors.

SAN FRANCISCO: Twitter chief executive officer Jack Dorsey is rewarding some of his deputies with more equity after giving them more responsibilities, as he seeks to turn around the company and retain top executives.

Adam Bain, the head of revenue recently promoted to chief operating officer with new responsibilities heading up media and human resources, was awarded 1.9 million restricted stock units. They will vest over four years, the company said in a filing. - Bloomberg News

DROP IN PRICES: Foods and non-alcoholic beverages saw a price fall of 1.68 per cent in January

compared to December, driven primarily by a drop of 4.25 per cent and 9.94 per cent respectively in the fruits and vegetables groups. – Times file

Clothing and footwear prices went up 0.18 per cent while furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance subset registered a price

rise of 0.81 per cent in January compared to December figures.

Health, and restaurants and hotels groups too recorded a price rise of 0.58 per cent and 0.19 per

cent respectively.

Education and communication groups, on the other hand, maintained price stability over the last two months. — ONA

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

MARKET NETWORK COVERAGE

Thanks to Omantel, Oman now has 13th fastest LTE speed Times News Service

Samy Ahmed Al Ghassany.

— Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Sultanate of Oman has the 13th fastest 4G LTE in the world, a recent report by Open Signal, a leading source of insight into the coverage and performance of Mobile Operators worldwide, has said.

Oman’s ranking moved 10 positions upwards in three months and surpassed even advanced nations.

Oman’s ranking is attributed solely to Omantel, the Sultanate’s leading provider of telecommunications solutions which also provides the widest Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network coverage in the country.

The results were based on data

collected from over 15 million devices around the world that constantly monitors the coverage and performance of mobile connections.

4G LTE network Omantel became the first provider in the Sultanate to introduce 4G LTE network in 2012.

The 4G Long-Term Evolution network now reaches over 80 per cent of the population in Oman, According to the report, the network has an average speed of 20mbps. In 2015, Omantel’s total network investments reached over OMR120 million.

In addition, 4.5G technology, introduced in April 2015, enables

speeds of up to 200mbps.

Commenting on the achievement, Omantel spokesperson Samy Ahmed Al Ghassany, COO Omantel, said, “It is deeply pleasing to see Oman achieve such an excellent global ranking, a fact that underscores our commitment to provide the latest and most innovative technology to our subscribers. It is very satisfying to witness the significant investments in the 4G LTE network come to fruition and benefit the Sultanate as a whole. Oman ranked above nations such as US, France, Sweden and Japan in terms of 4G LTE network speed. This is something we should all be proud of and really goes to show that we are capable

of being global leaders across multiple sectors with the right investment, strategy and commitment to innovate.”

“Our efforts are derived from our new strategy, ‘Omantel 3.0,’ which empowers us to lead Oman’s digitalisation through the technology we provide and innovate in our offerings. We will continue to invest in expanding and enhancing our networks as they are a key elements in delivering an unmatched customer experience,” Samy added.

Investing in the future of the nation, Omantel connects even the most remote communities of the Sultanate to each other and with the rest of the world. Omantel is

Oman’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 in Oman’s future development.

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I N D I A N M A R K E T S W E E K LY R E V I E W

Sensex, Nifty fall, rupee also declines MUMBAI: Markets continued to fall for the second consecutive week due to persistent selling from operators and investors on concerns over global economy and weak results from banks.

“Relentless selling in the stock market is coming from redemption pressures, margin calls, crude slumping to multi-year lows, depreciating rupee against dollar and disappointing earnings,” said Gaurav Jain, Director of Hem Securities.

Weak earnings from public and private sectors banks on account of higher provisioning for bad loans mainly affected the market sentiment, a broker said.

Putting the blame for the fall on global factors, the government sought to put a brave face saying the fall in market benchmarks this year has been just about 10 per cent as against much higher declines in other markets.

SBI reported a plunge of over 61.67 per cent in its third-quarter net profits while number of other banks have also reported weak results on worsening bad loan scenario.

Asian markets also traded weak following US Federal Reserve Janet Yellen’s testimony which suggested that the bank is likely to continue on the gradual rate hike path.

The Sensex resumed slightly higher at 24,637.41 and moved up 24,698.85 on initial buying. But, tumbled afterwards

to 22,600.39 before concluding at 21-month low of 22,986.12, showing a sharp fall of 1,630.85 points or 6.62 per cent.

The Sensex had last quoted at 22,344.04 on May 9,2014.

The Sensex has dropped by 1,884.57 points or 7.57 per cent in two weeks.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also tumbled by 508.15 points or 6.79 per cent to close at 21-month low at 6,980.95. The Nifty had last quoted at 6,858.80 on May 9, 2014. The Nifty has also lost 582.60 or 7.70 per cent in two weeks.

Forex The rupee failed to maintain its last week’s gains against the American currency, tumbling sharply by 59 paise to end the week at 68.23 on fresh dollar demand from banks and importers in view of sharp fall in equities amid sustained foreign capital outflows.

The domestic unit resumed lower at 67.85 per dollar as against the last weekend’s level of 67.64 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market and fell further to fresh 29-month low of 68.4750 before finishing at 68.23 per dollar, disclosing a loss of 59 paise or 0.87 per cent.

The rupee had gained by 14 paise or 0.21 per cent last weekend.

The domestic currency hovered in a range of 67.7775 and 68.4750 per dollar during the week. — PTI

ROBUST DEMAND: The traded value of mortgage contracts jumped 61.7 per cent to record OMR2.76 billion, compared with OMR1.70 billion during 2014.— ONA

Oman real estate sales reported to top OMR4b Fees collected from all legal transactions reached OMR48.60 million, an increase of 21.2 per cent. The traded value of selling contracts also rose 17.3 per cent to a record OMR1.36 billion.

Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in Mumbai, India. - Bloomberg file picture

MUSCAT: Total traded value of real estate activity in the Sultanate of Oman reached OMR4.14 billion in 2015, representing a 43.7 per cent increase compared to

2014, data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) revealed.

Additionally, fees collected from all legal transactions reached

e-COMMERCE GIANT

hike of 21.4 per cent, compared with OMR15.2 million in 2014.

The number of exchange contracts also recorded an increase of 21.8 per cent to reach 1,367 contracts in 2014, compared with 1,122 contracts recorded during 2014.

Further, data revealed 244,617 title deeds being issued by the end of 2015, reflecting a 9.3 per cent increase, compared with the data record in 2014, which was 223,713 title deeds.

Meanwhile, the number of title deeds issued for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ nationals witnessed a 26.5 per cent fall at the end of 2015 to reach 2,288 title deeds, compared with 3,113 title deeds recorded during 2014. — ONA

$5.4B DEBT BUYBACK

Alibaba acquires 5.6% stake in Groupon SEATTLE: Alibaba Group Holding bought 33 million shares of Groupon, making it the fourthlargest shareholder in the online deals website that has lost 86 per cent of its value since going public more than four years ago.

The Chinese e-commerce giant owned 5.6 per cent of Chicagobased Groupon as of December 31, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. Alibaba has also accumulated stakes in online retailer Jet. com, augmented-reality provider Magic Leap and car-booking company Lyft. The purchases are part of the Chinese company’s strategy to learn more about the US market as it expands internationally, said Gil Luria, an analyst at Wedbush Securities.

“They don’t want to have their own operations, so they are investing in other companies to help them learn and pave the way for more robust activity down the road,” Luria said.

A spokesman for Hangzhou, China-based Alibaba declined to immediately comment on the filing. Bill Roberts, a Groupon spokesman, said the company

OMR48.60 million, an increase of 21.2 per cent. The traded value of selling contracts also rose 17.3 per cent to a record OMR1.36 billion.

At the same time, the number of selling contracts fell by 1.1 per cent to 79,613 contracts, compared with 80,470 contracts during 2014.

The traded value of mortgage contracts jumped 61.7 per cent to record OMR2.76 billion, compared with OMR1.70 billion during 2014. Also, the number of mortgage contracts rose by 17.8 per cent to reach 22,414 contract, compared with 19,033 contracts in 2014.

The traded value of exchange contracts was OMR18.5 million during 2015, with a significant

STRATEGIC BUY: Alibaba’s stake was reported hours after Groupon had its best day in more than four years. — Bloomberg News

hadn’t been aware of Alibaba’s stake until Friday’s filing.

“Alibaba has a reputation as a long-term holder, and we’re pleased that they take the same view of Groupon’s opportunity and execution as we do,” Roberts said.

Results boost Alibaba’s stake was reported hours after Groupon had its best day with investors in more than four years. Groupon surged 29 per cent to $2.89 at the close Friday in

New York, the biggest single-day increase since November 4, 2011 — the day after its initial public offering at $20 a share.

Groupon on Thursday reported fourth-quarter results that beat analysts’ estimates, driven by purchases in North America. The company said profit excluding some costs was four cents a share, compared with the average analyst estimate for a break-even quarter.

Having struggled since its IPO to spur growth and profits, Groupon

replaced Chief Executive Officer Eric Lefkofsky in November. Since Williams took over, he increased the marketing budget in an effort to revive and reinvent the former Internet darling. Williams said his efforts are starting to bear fruit.

“If we do our jobs really well, we’ll beat our plan,” CEO Rich Williams said in an interview.

“The reality is we have a lot of work to do,” he added.

Even with Friday’s gains, the shares are down 61 percent over the past 12 months. On Bloomberg Television on Friday, Williams said his company’s stock was undervalued, but that it wasn’t looking to make any deals.

“Our focus as a team just isn’t on things like acquisitions, or being acquired,” Williams said. “Our focus is on building a great business.”

“One of the things you saw in the fourth quarter was faster-thanexpected progress on the restructuring side,” Williams said on the conference call.

Groupon has exited 17 countries and now operates in 28 as it continues to streamline its operations internationally. — Bloomberg News

Deutsche Bank buyback poised to spark backlash NEW YORK: Investors who scooped up bonds sold by Deutsche Bank last month are pushing for better terms in the bank’s $5.4 billion debt buyback plan, saying they were misled because the German lender failed to disclose its true financial position before the sale, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Some of the bondholders who participated in the $1.75 billion, two-part offering say the bank, which announced a fourth-quarter earnings loss less than two weeks after the sale, should’ve made that disclosure before selling the bonds, the people said, asking not to be identified as the discussions are private. Some investors are so upset that they may raise the issue with regulators, the people said.

The money managers are planning to hold discussions next week to explore their options on how best to challenge the bank, the people said. In addition to raising concern about disclosure,

the bondholders are pushing for greater priority and better terms in the bank’s buyback offer announced on Friday.

Kerrie McHugh, a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bank in New York, declined to comment.

Deutsche Bank’s buyback comes as the lender attempts to reassure investors who dumped European bank bonds and shares this week amid concerns over declining earnings and slowing global growth. The lender’s debt in a Bloomberg investment-grade bond index have dropped 2.7 per cent in the past month compared with a 0.4 per cent decline for all bank debt. The $750 million of 4.1 per cent notes sold in January fell 5.7 per cent. The firms that bought the biggest piece of the January offering at 100 cents on the dollar are now getting an offer to sell them back to the bank at 97.3 cents, according to calculations by Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Arnold Kakuda. The securities traded at 95.6 cents on Thursday. — Bloomberg News

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ROUND-UP

Refreshed enhancements add more style to Patrol in the centre console between the front seats.

The Nissan Patrol comes with refreshed styling enhancements that add more style to its already impressive ‘go anywhere’ versatility, technology and comfort

MUSCAT: Meticulously engineered for over 60 years, the Patrol is Nissan’s flagship SUV model with a rich heritage and passionate following in the Middle East that dates back to the 1950s.

Housed under Suhail Bahwan Automobiles in Oman, the Nissan Patrol comes with refreshed styling enhancements that add more style to its already impressive ‘go anywhere’ versatility, technology and comfort, says a press release.

Enhancements The Nissan Patrol comes with a new front bumper and new vigorous and muscular front grille pattern with chrome. New 20” machining cut alloy wheels, LED headlamps with day time running light and pop-up headlamp washer with new LED rear combination lamp and roof rails add to the range of new features. It also possesses a 3rd generation around view monitor with parking assist display and back-up collision intervention which alerts the driver when a moving object is detected behind the vehicle when in reverse mode.

Mighty Patrol The Nissan Patrol is now available with new exterior colours — grey metallic and pure white pearl — as

well as a new tan interior colour.

There are great options on board the new Nissan Patrol with all grades featuring an array of standard features including 8-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, 7-inch LCD screen, dual-zone climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels with full-size spare, side steps, front and rear parking sensors with rear view camera and keyless entry and start.

Leading performance The Nissan Patrol features the world’s-first variable 4x4 mode select switch, which allows drivers to effortlessly switch between sand, on-road and rock drive modes. The Patrol is remarkably capable in sand mode, enabling safe driving options, quickly and skilfully, as compared to professional rally drivers.

The Patrol also employs the world’s-first advanced hydraulic body motion control system (HBMC) with 4-wheel independent suspension. Along with a new chassis and body frame, it gives the vehicle superb stability on rugged arid sandy terrain, while delivering a comfortable ride in the city.

The Patrol boasts of power OVRM and body coloured with LED turn lamps and puddle lamp. It also features front fog lamp, rear view camera, audio AM/ FM / CD / MP3 + Aux Input + 6 speakers. The interiors feature leather steering and shift knob, driver seat – power with 8 ways - slide, lift (2 ways), recline, and lumber. It also has front dual airbags and rear diff lock (Std) + ISO Fix, ABS, VDC, LSD, HAS, HDC and immobiliser.

Expression of luxury The vehicle is an expression of richly crafted luxury truly worthy of a flagship. If the unmistakably bold exterior design invites you with its powerful and modern lines, the super cockpit design of the well-appointed interior provides drivers with a reinvigorating driving atmosphere.

World-class technology The class-leading navigation system features a high-resolution WVGA 8-inch touch screen that displays the destination in compass mode. It also supports Arabic language and Qiblah compass.

With the category’s first ‘Music Box’, valued customers can record up to 200-300 CDs of music or 2,900 songs. It connects to iPod, USB flash drive and other compatible devices. A Nissan first, the offroad monitor provides real-time information such as tire conditions - steer angle, slip, pressure and compass, to ensure the driver is always in control.

The Nissan Intelligent Key with a tap of a button allows unlocking the doors and trunk of the Nissan Patrol, while the keys stay inside a pocket or purse.

The multi-screen, multi-functional individual DVD entertainment system boasts 3 displays, a dashboard screen and two rearfacing TVs; one 7-inch monitor embedded into each front seat headrest that can connect to the various source of music, video and entertainment, such as the DVD, IPod and game player.

Yet another impressive Patrol feature is the cool box mounted

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Impeccable safety features The Patrol includes Nissan’s world-renowned Safety Shield concept that ‘vehicles help protect people’. The revised brake system, along with state-of-the-art safety technologies make it the safestever SUV in its class.

Incorporated in the Nissan world-renowned safety shield, the safety systems include lane departure warning and prevention, which assists the driver avoid unintended lane departure.

In addition, the Patrol also offers a hill start assist and hill descent control which can also be selected easily with the touch of a button.

The Intelligent Cruise Control reduces the driver’s burden to keep the speed or distance constant.

If the forward collision warning system senses there is a risk of a collision ahead, it warns the driver with an alarm and an indicator to brake.

The automated hazard warning signal has been added to assist in the event of a collision, where the signal comes on automatically.

The Patrol also has blind spot warning and prevention, adding further driver confidence when changing lanes.

Vehicle dynamic control combines with traction control system, helical brake LSD (Limited Slip Differential) and mechanical differential lock functions to automatically prevent the Patrol from sliding sideways on slippery road surfaces when changing lanes or negotiating a curve.

The third world-first is the tyre pressure monitor system with tyre inflation indicator.

The Patrol employs this system which beeps the horn softly to inform drivers that a suitable tyre pressure has been reached.

The Patrol is available with an advanced six-airbag configuration. SBA 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.

B A N K S AT I S FA C T I O N I N D E X

Souqalmal’s Fintech event on February 25 DUBAI: As many as 34 percent of UAE respondents would recommend their bank as a first choice to friends or colleagues. In Saudi Arabia, the number is only slightly higher at 38%, according to the latest NPS Survey by Souqalmal.com, the UAE’s No.1 financial comparison website.

The NPS Survey, the most indepth one conducted by Souqalmal, evaluates various aspects of the overall banking experience.

The parameters covered include customer service, product offering and financial education, says a press release.

The results of the survey have been used to conceptualise the inaugural Souqalmal Bank Satisfaction Index. However, the ripple effect from the findings will be discussed in greater detail at a high-profile Souqalmal Fintech event being held in collaboration with Google in the UAE on February 25.

Souqalmal.com will also be factoring in data from the NPS Survey to award the Most Recommended Bank in KSA and UAE at the event. The nominees in the UAE are Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Emirates NBD. In KSA, the nominees are National Commercial Bank, the Saudi British Bank and Alinma Bank.

Awards will also be given out for the Most Popular UAE Banking products in major five retail product categories: Credit Cards, Personal Loans, Car Loans, Home Loans and Accounts. The winners are based on the consumer portal’s viewership statistics for the period January 1 2015 to December 31 2015. When asked about areas of improvement, 36 percent of respondents in the UAE and 32 percent of respondents in KSA pointed out better customer service as the main area when dealing with their banks.

Founder and CEO of Souqalmal.com Ambareen Musa believes the situation isn’t all grim and it is noteworthy that overall bank satisfaction index at 34 percent is still visibly on the rise from 27 percent in 2014 and 15 percent in 2013 in the UAE. In her opinion, these in-depth statistics

need to be analysed and seen as impetus for further movement in the right direction.

“The need of the hour seems to be a seamless experience across all channels and customer touchpoints - branches, ATMs, call centres, online banking and mobile banking. It is, therefore, essential for banks to understand what is important to their customers and what drives their satisfaction and loyalty,” she said.

The in-depth indicators point at the need for better branch experience, clearer product information from call centre executives and faster complaint resolution. All of these features being the most common servicerelated concerns voiced by bank customers. “Banks need to take a closer look at their CRM processes, because only a happy customer is likely to stick around and recommend their bank to others,” recommends Musa.

Going deeper into the findings the numbers indicate that 25 percent of customers in the UAE and 22 percent of customers in KSA would like to see better and more custom product offering from their bank.

“Banks are moving away from the ‘one-size-fits-all’ product strategy, with newer products and promotions being introduced, targeted at specific customer segments. For example, fitness app-linked accounts for the fitness enthusiast, credit cards for frequent travellers, shoppers or parents, loans for new residents, to name a few. These are all positive steps in the right direction,” she said.

“At Souqalmal.com we have always endeavoured to understand specific customer needs and the results of our Bank Satisfaction Index are a great tool to provide feedback to our partner banks."

PROMOTION

Golden Spoon Group offers free desserts for Valentine’s Day MUSCAT: Valentine’s Day is the most indulgent time of the year and the Golden Spoon Group is making it even sweeter this year.

From February 14-16, spend OMR14 or more at select Golden Spoon Group restaurants, and get

a complimentary dessert, says a press release.

Najeeb Al Balushi, chairman, Golden Spoon Group, commented: “Valentine’s Day is a lovely time of year to remind your loved ones how much they mean to you. At Golden

Spoon Group, we are delighted to make our customers’ celebrations even more special by giving them desserts on the house when they spend OMR14 or more. We look forward to welcoming anyone celebrating the occasion to our restau-

P R I N G L E S F L AV O U R S

rants, and will be honoured to be a part of their festivities.”

This sweet Valentine’s offer is valid at Manhattan Fish Market, Golden Spoon, China Town, and the Asian.

The Golden Spoon Group was es-

tablished in the year 1993, opening its first branch in Seeb. It is engaged in activities related to the hospitality industry with a core focus on delivering maximum value for money, providing food made with the finest ingredients. Over the years, the

company has grown to include the following in its roster: The Asian, The Golden Spoon restaurant, Tropical juices and ice creams, China Town restaurant, Sidewalk bistro and health cafe, Manhattan Fish Market and Subway.

C O R P O R AT E PAC K AG E

MEC students deliver branding package for MoHC Science Club The Science Club would use the project for promoting their upcoming events and programmes

KR gives customers a taste of variety at Muscat Festival MUSCAT: As part of continuous drives to give customers a wide choice in snacks and cereals, the KR Group has introduced the newest varieties for one of its bestselling brands – Pringles.

Visitors to the Muscat Festival at Al Amerat were given a taste of three new Pringles flavours – Jalapeno, Pizza and Indian Curry, says a press release.

Rajesh George, general manager, Kelloggs, said: “We are witnessing over 500 footfalls to our tasting booth for both the Kelloggs and Pringles varieties. And from what we see, these are one of the best tasting, quality products loved by

the people of Oman.”

At the stall customers get a host of free gifts for every OMR2 worth of Kelloggs purchased.

This season Pringles is offering consumers limited edition packs on some of the most loved foods in the region - Mexican Jalapeno, Italian Pizza and Indian Curry flavours.

The KR Group, which is the sole distributor for Kelloggs in Oman, has been assisting the global brand’s efforts to serve the world a better breakfast.

The brand’s success in Oman is the result of KR’s state-of-the-art logistics capabilities combined

with strong customer business development resources covering vast multi-channels such as modern trade, groceries, mini markets, petrol stations, caterers, hotels and wholesalers. Khimji Ramdas is also one of the global distributors globally to jointly develop Kellogg’s Distributor Engagement Transformation (DET) software for real time data sharing.

Kelloggs brands - represented

by KR - include Kellogg’s corn flakes, Coco pops, Chocos, Froot loops, Honey smacks, All bran, Rasin Bran, Rice krispies, Tresor, Special K, Nutri Grain, Miel pops, Pringles, etc.

MUSCAT: A team of four students specialised in Multimedia Technology from Middle East College (MEC) designed and delivered the corporate branding package for Science Club of Ministry of Heritage and Culture (MoHC).

The main highlight of the project is an Omani character named ‘Nabhan’, in addition to designs for brochures, handbook and other publications. The Science Club would use the project for promoting their upcoming events and programmes. Students submitted the project in the presence of Huda Al Riyami, the president of Science Club and many others, says a press release.

Manal Al Hassani, one of the team members expressed her happiness of this new experience: “We are happy to complete this

project which taught us a lot of new things and gave us a sense of real life projects. It was an honour to work with the Ministry of Heritage and Culture to design a multimedia project for their Science Club. The project was full of challenges and the team worked together to overcome all the hurdles with the help of project adviser and other staff members who supported us and the outcomes were really worth it and that was appreciated by our peers.”

“I am proud to be a member of this team that worked hard to develop a project for Oman Science Club in MoHC,” Ahmed Al Farsi,

a member of the team said: “Applying what I have learned during the previous semesters at MEC in this project was really the key.

I would like to thank the MEC for providing proper opportunities and infrastructures like the multimedia studio and the lab which is well equipped.”

MEC stands hand in hand with its students in all the educational stages that they go through and help them throughout all the challenges they may face. In addition, MEC always encourages students to make use of all the opportunities and enhance their skills and knowledge.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

ROUND-UP 2016 Kia Optima named International Car of Year Road & Travel Magazine jurors praised the all-new edition of Kia’s perennial best-seller for its aggressive design, long list of available features, impressive powertrain options and great value

MUSCAT: In conjunction with the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Road & Travel Magazine (RTM) has named the 2016 Kia Optima: ‘International Car of the Year’.

RTM jurors praised the all-new edition of Kia’s perennial bestseller for its aggressive design, long list of available features, impressive powertrain options and great value, says a press release.

“The Optima is one of Kia’s best-selling vehicles and was instrumental in the transformation of the brand,” said Michael

Sprague, chief operating officer and EVP, KMA. “To win the prestigious ICOTY award four years in a row is a clear indication that our products continue to offer a worldclass balance of design, amenities, craftsmanship, safety and value for today’s savvy consumers.”

2015 marks the 20th anniversary for RTM’s annual ‘Of the Year’ judging, which includes three awards: International Car, International SUV, and International Family Vehicle of the Year. In addition to product attributes such as style, comfort and performance, award criteria also factor in how well each brand connects emotionally with consumers through its marketing efforts. The winner is chosen by the ICOTY jury, which consists of nationally renowned automotive journalists from respected publications such as Consumer Guide Automotive, MSN Autos, New Car News Syndicate and RTM.

“The new Kia Optima’s headturning design, driving dynamics, and value have and will continue to ‘make the mark’,” remarked an independent automotive expert upon hearing the news that the recently introduced Optima was already creating waves.

The all-new Kia Optima is the fourth-generation of Kia’s popular D-segment sedan, launched globally this year after its international premiere at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.

The all-new Optima features a modern, new exterior, a bold interior design with more space for all occupants, an array of new technologies and a wide choice of efficient powertrains.

Conceived under the watchful eye of Peter Schreyer, president and chief design officer of Kia Motors, the all-new Optima offers more road presence than ever, with its contemporary surface detailing, sharp body lines

LU X U RY WAT C H E S

and creases, and a more elongated sedan silhouette.

The all-new Optima integrates the brand’s hallmark ‘tiger-nose’ grille with the longer, wider, wraparound headlamps, pulled taut over the blistered wheel arches.

The bumpers swells into bold right angles around the front fog lamps, adding greater volume to the lower part of the ‘face’ and giving the car a more stable, wider look.

The new GT model – boasting higher power and a sportier drive than the standard Optima range – features a more purposeful look, in line with its dynamic intent. Differences include a bolder, more aggressive front bumper design; black high gloss side sills; a subtle rear air diffuser with integrated dual tailpipes and special GT badging.

The all-new Optima features a uniquely engineered body which combines more high-strength materials than ever before, resulting in even higher standards of crash safety. The bodyshell of the allnew Optima is stronger than ever thanks to the more extensive use of Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS). 50 per cent of the body is now made up of AHSS. As standard, the all-new Optima is fitted with a 3.8-inch mono TFT LCD audio display at the centre of the dashboard, with bluetooth handsfree connectivity and aux-in and USB ports.

Reliable International Automotive (RIA), the distributor for Kia in Oman provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers.

F U N D AY

Mass International organises staff, family get-together MUSCAT: Mass International, exclusive distributors of Schindler elevators and escalators in Oman organised staff and family get together day at Safeer Ball Room recently.

The staff from all branches of Muscat, Dhofar and Sohar along with families and their kids enjoyed light moments which was mixed with singing, music games and various other entertaining activities, says a press release.

The experience shared by some old staff during thanks giving ceremony touched every one’s

emotions. The function was followed with rewards and gifts for employees. The day also marked 42 years of the company in Oman.

Schindler elevators and escalators are commonly used in Oman in ministries, hotels, residential and commercial buildings, commercial shopping centres, hyper markets and villas along with industrial sectors.

The event was presided over

by Lateef Shahdad, company’s general manager and attended by senior staff Binod Kumar Jha, Sathish Nair and Manoj Zacharia.

SPORTS CAR

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in New Jaguar F-Type SVR to style with Khimji’s Watches make global debut at Geneva MUSCAT: Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to pamper a loved one with an everlasting token.

This month, Khimji’s Watches makes it easy to find the ideal piece with its vast array of beautifully crafted luxury watches, jewellery, accessories, and writing instruments, says a press release.

Mudhursinh Jesrani, general manager, Khimji’s Watches, com-

mented: “Valentine’s Day is one of our favourite times of the year as it gives us the opportunity to pamper our customers and make their experience a memorable one.

This year, we continue to provide a spectacular variety of luxury items which are sure to make anyone feel special.”

Representing some of the most exclusive and revered time-keep-

ing brands, Khimji’s Watches has become the premier choice for exquisite gifting.

Glittering collections Its luxurious showroom in Shatti Al Qurum is the perfect place to escape to in order to browse its glittering collections and find the piece that perfectly articulates ones sentiments.

MUSCAT: The new Jaguar FType SVR will make its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show and will go on sale in summer 2016.

Capable of 322kmph, the new FType SVR is the first Jaguar SVR and is developed to exploit the twoseat aluminium sports car’s full potential while retaining its dayto-day usability. Lighter, faster and more powerful, the new F-Type SVR takes performance, dynamics and driver involvement to a new level yet retains the comfort and duality of character inherent to all Jaguar cars, says a press release.

“The new F-Type SVR is the first series production Jaguar to be developed by Special Vehicle

Operations and benefits from everything we know about precision engineering, performance and design. The result is a 322kmph, all-weather supercar that you can drive every day – we even made a

convertible version so that enthusiasts can revel in the sound from the new titanium exhaust system,” said John Edwards, managing director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations.

ANNUAL EVENT

Intra-School Na’at Competition held at PSM MUSCAT: Pakistan School Muscat (PSM) organised an IntraSchool Na’at competition at Dr. A. Q. Khan Hall, recently.

Ayaz Hussain, ambassador of Pakistan to Oman, attended the event as the chief guest whereas the embassy officers, social dignitaries, Adnan Shahzad, the Chairman BoDs, members BoDs, Ata Ullah Niazi, the senior principal - Pakistan School System, Khalid Jadoon, principal of PSM, Munnaza Ghafoor, principal of PSM (Junior Block), faculty members and members of Pakistan community marked the occasion with their presence, says a press release.

The ceremony started in the name of Allah with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Hafiz Bilal Faisal. Khalid Jadoon welcomed the guests, participants and the audience. Students from Musannah branch, Nizwa branch, Sohar branch, Seeb branch and Muscat branch participated in the compe-

tition. Naeem Shahzad, Hafiz Mehboob Ahmad and Rahat Hussain Qadri formed the jury.

On the individual basis of junior level, Rubab Ather (Pakistan School Seeb) and Laiba Ali (Pakistan School Muscat) bagged the second prize whereas Faizan (Pakistan School Sohar) bagged the first position. For the Senior Students’ category, Hudiya Ali of PSM won the second position while Shabib ur Rehman was commended as the winner of Nasheed Khawani. Over all, Pakistan School Sohar was the winner of the competition.

The results of Fareeha Pervez Shaheed Science, Art and IT Exhibition were also announced. Pakistan School Sohar was awarded for the best stall.

The title of the best art and craft stall was won by Pakistan School Seeb and PSM and over and above, PSM was brought forward as the winner for displaying the best IT stall. The trophies were given away to all the winners by the chief guest.

Ayaz Hussain presented the check of OMR5,000 for the development of Special Education Centre of the school.

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ROUND-UP

New Mazda CX-9 now comes with cash gift

MEMORABLE EVENT

With the purchase of an all-new Mazda

HJB celebrates 41st anniversary in style

CX-9, customers will receive a massive cash gift of OMR2,501 MUSCAT: This month, Mazda enthusiasts have a huge reason to celebrate. With the purchase of an all-new Mazda CX-9, customers will receive a massive cash gift of OMR2,501.

With this offer, the CX-9 Classic now has a starting price of OMR9,999, while the best-inclass CX-9 luxury will be available from just OMR12,699. The offer begins today, and will be valid till April 13, says a press release.

A senior spokesperson of Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributors of Mazda in Oman, explains: “The CX-9 has become the seminal Mazda model. The Mazda CX-9 has been enhanced with features that make it the ideal vehicle for a family. Driving should be a luxurious and fun time

for the entire family. With this in mind, we have launched the offer of OMR2,501 cash gift. It is a small gesture from our side to make our customers feel special.”

The Mazda CX-9’s strengths are its artfully crafted spacious interior; KODO: soul of motion design; state-of-the-art features such as its Bose audio system; 20’’ inch alloy wheels Blind Spot Monitoring and Daytime running lights; cruise control; and forward obstruction warning system amongst others.

With these integrations, the Mazda CX-9 provides a purely luxurious driving experience.

“To avail of this cash gift offer, buy a Mazda during the offer period and also drive home with free 24 hours AAA roadside assistance that will be valid for the first three years from the date of purchase.

You can also book a test drive sitting at home or get more details about any of these models using the Mazda Oman mobile app for Apple, Android and BB10,” the TAC spokesperson adds.

Offering the trendiest of Japanese cars, Mazda has brought in a lot of excitement in Oman’s automobile industry with their ‘stylish, spirited, and insightful’ branding.

These three unique qualities lie at

the core of each Mazda you spot on the streets and form the brand’s DNA and TAC makes owning a Mazda extra pleasant with its efficient after sales service and quick response time.

With a network of 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is the only Mazda distributor in the world to win the Mazda Customer Service award five years in a row.

With 98.2 per cent parts deliverability, TAC also offers quick, efficient service with genuine parts available for all models and has highly trained staff who pride in their quality of service.

ONE-STOP SHOP

Al Hashar’s 3S facility in Sohar offers a variety of services under one roof

MUSCAT: Located just across the bows of the flyover in Al Wuqaiba, Sohar, Al Hashar’s 3S facility offers a host of services under one roof.

The well laid out sales area offers customers a choice of passenger cars, 15-16 seater buses, single and double cabin pickups, 3 ton to 100 ton capacity trucks, forklifts, cranes, shovels and excavators. The after sales service area is packed with a range of sophisticated equipment and trained staff, says a press release.

“Our well-equipped facility offers many advantages,” an official informed, “For example, we have five post hydraulic lifts for underbody inspection; Celette bench for accident repair; Pneumatic tools to carry out quick service and five hydraulic lifts for light vehicle under body inspection.

The official further said: “We

are proud to say that we now have one of the biggest workshops in Sohar with 30 bays for inspection, maintenance and body shop.

These are operated by qualified factory trained technicians and supervisors. We also have a dedicated heavy vehicle inspection bay and quick service bays.

“A total of 10 bays are reserved exclusively for heavy vehicles.

Similarly, for light vehicle inspection and servicing, there are 10 service and hydraulic bays. Another 10 bays for body shop and fabrication work.”

The 3S facility also has a sophisticated body-shop with dustfree paint booth for superior finish. This allows accident repair jobs on premium range of vehicles that demand highest quality of fit/finish. A well-equipped water service centre is employed for both light and heavy vehicles

- with under body wash facilities.

Customised body fabrication works are carried out on trucks as per customers’ choice, with warranty. The facility provides annual maintenance contracts for all range of light and heavy vehicles and service at site facility for equipment.

Ensuring a prompt supply of genuine parts is the warehousing operations that have a ready stock of genuine spare parts. The lubricants available are Atlantic, Petromin & Liqui Moly. The batteries brand is Koba from Korea.

The tyre centre offers a range of leading brands including Firestone, Marshal, Radar, Apollo, Solideal – in various sizes for passenger cars, trucks, forklifts and shovels. The facility is equipped with latest machines to provide wheel balancing and alignment.

The official pointed out that the

3S facility has tied up with insurance companies to undertake all sort of accident repair jobs and to carry out accident jobs on lump sum. The facility also offers customised packages for maintenance services of fleet vehicles.

Yet another dimension to the facility is the Global Rent A Car and Leasing operations that provide rental and leasing of cars and SUV’s, pickups, 15 to 66-seater buses for short and long term contracts.

The facility is open from 8am – 1pm and 3.30pm – 7pm (Sunday to Thursday). A mobile unit offers break down service in Batinah region through a single call number.

Al Hashar Group, as one of the most progressive and diversified corporations of beautiful Oman, welcomes customers to visit the facility and experience a quality of services that will exceed their expectations.

MUSCAT: Hasan Juma Backer (HJB) celebrated its 41st anniversary at their Musannah Farms recently, attended by the company’s staff, clients and dignitaries.

The event was presided over by Krishnakumar Taori, group managing director and Nagesh Vatsyayan, general manager, says a press release.

Sports and games irrespective of age enthralled the guests who participated in the events with great enthusiasm. Face painting, horse and camel rides were a treat to the children, who were seen swaying in joy, and carrying home with them the golden memories of

the day. Hourly prizes were given to the guests and HJB staff by the way of lucky dip. The aroma of delicacies in the form of lip smacking dishes erased the hunger of the guests and staff present.

Watches were presented to the HJB employees who completed 5, 10, 25 years of meritorious service in the company.

The day concluded with the distribution of prizes to the winners of various sports events and a concluding speech delivered by Nagesh.

He thanked the guests who attended the event and the staff who made the event memorable.

B8

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

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A D VA N C E D T E C H N O L O G Y

E X PA N S I O N

Nissan X-Trail re-invents compact SUV Joyalukkas opens outlet in Abu Dhabi

MUSCAT: The Nissan X-Trail from Suhail Bahwan Automobiles is a compact SUV that comes with a 2.5-litre 4 cylinder engine, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is all set to offer class-leading comfort, thoughtful technology and a rewarding driving experience with a completely refurbished interior and exterior styling, says a press release.

The X-Trail is one of the most advanced cars on the road. Fully connected, the X-Trail is equipped with the latest generation Nissan Connect in-car navigation, information and entertainment system.

Drivers will also benefit from a comprehensive suite of assistance features that make up the X-Trail’s Nissan Safety Shield system.

The Nissan Connect is one of the foremost examples of Nissan’s engineering innovation. In its latest form, Nissan Connect has evolved to offer smartphone connectivity, to keep owners connected to the outside world wherever their journey takes them. With access to a projected range of apps covering music, social networking and 7-inch colour touch screen, the new Nissan Connect is the perfect fit for new X-Trail. The system includes bluetooth audio streaming and mobile phone integration as well as Aux-in and USB slots.

In addition to mobile phone integration, the system also includes bluetooth audio streaming. The driver also benefits from one of the most advanced meter displays developed. Featuring a 5 inch TFT colour display incorporating several graphic displays accessible on rotation, offering advice and warnings covering such things as; average and actual speeds, navigation turn-by-turn instructions, audio content, eco driving advice and torque distribution settings in

and alloy wheels.

Optional features include pushengine start, better entertainment system with more speakers, bigger alloy wheels, parking sensors and automatic A/C. Standard safety features include driver and passenger airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, ABS brakes, electronic brake distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The vehicle comes in two separate variants -

5-seater and 7-seater respectively.

The 5-seater comes with 4x2 and 4x4 with only S Grades and the 7-seater comes only in 4x4 that has three grades comprising S, SV and SL. SBA 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.

4WD mode.

The design brief behind the new X-Trail was to blend the sleek and stylish lines of a modern crossover with the robust appeal of a typical SUV. In place of the rugged, squared off lines of the previous generation, the X-Trail has a premium and dynamic appearance.

Sculptured muscular lines create a distinctive silhouette framed by elegant curves and high wheel arches. Its features include a number of Nissan signature cues such as the ‘boomerang’ rear lights, structured headlights with LED daytime running lamps and the characteristic D-pillar shape.

During the X-Trail’s development; refinement, environment and economy targets were to be best in-class.

This has been achieved on all counts by reducing weight wherever possible, even though new XTrail has a larger surface area than the previous model. The tailgate, for example, is largely plastic, saving seven kilograms.

Standard features in the new Nissan X-Trail include power windows, power steering, electric mirrors, fabric seats, keyless entry with central locking, manual A/C, AM/FM radio with CD/USB/AUX

ABU DHABI: Joyalukkas, the world’s favourite jeweller, opened the latest addition to its growing number of showrooms across 10 countries recently at Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi.

An eclectic harmony of traditional and contemporary jewellery, something that Joyalukkas is synonymous with, is showcased beautifully at this grand new location.

The showroom was inaugurated by Yasser Al Yousuf, managing director of Etihad Guest in the presence of John Paul Alukkas, executive director, Joyalukkas Group, Antony Jos, director, Joyalukkas Group, Mary Antony, director, Joyalukkas Group, many local dignitaries and VIPs, says a press release.

“We are delighted to open our jewellery showroom in Mushrif Mall, Abu Dhabi and are extremely grateful to the country and it’s lovely residents for the warm welcome they have given us. Our team is eager to serve jewellery shoppers here with the best and widest range in jewellery,” said

Meethaq to provide home finance for Dhalia project

John Paul Alukkas.

Conveniently located in Mushrif Mall, the showroom features wide range and most exquisite collection of jewellery in all precious form i.e. gold, diamond, precious stone, pearls and platinum. Joyalukkas showroom will offer a choice of over one million designs from around the world to meet all the dreams and expectations of jewellery lovers in Abu Dhabi.

The Joyalukkas sales team have also been extensively trained by retail specialists to manage the superior expectation of the residents of here.

This outlet is now open with tempting inaugural offers such as a free gold coin on jewellery purchase, and the limited edition ‘Be Mine’ Heart to Heart Collection specially designed for Valentine’s Day. The Joyalukkas jewellery showroom has been designed in the signature Joyalukkas format with stylish and convenient interiors to offer the widest choice of jewellery under one roof.

S TAT E - O F - T H E -A R T FA C I L I T Y

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Islamic Banking, and Yasir Abdul Karim Al Lawati, CEO of Badr Development

A’Saffa delivers fresh, protein rich chicken

company, signed the MoU at the bank’s head office

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, and Badr Group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate attractive Meethaq home finance for Dhalia project in Al Qurum.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Islamic Banking, and Yasir Abdul Karim Al Lawati, CEO of Badr Development company, signed the MoU at the bank’s head office, says a press release.

Sulaiman Al Harthy said: “Committed to sustainable social and economic development, Meethaq is happy to be associated with Dhalia project to provide innovative home finance in line with Sharia principles.

“The real estate sector is a major component of the national economy and Meethaq Islamic Banking is committed to extending a helping hand for easy access to Shari’a based home finance.”

Yasir Abdul Karim Al Lawati said: “Badr Group is proud to join hands with Meethaq Islamic Banking in extending attractive home deals. The cooperation between the two institutions will benefit citizens to fulfil their dream homes in Dahlia project comprising 72 residential units.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.”

Meethaq offers Shara based home finance to suit everyone’s needs with simplified documen-

tation and processing across the network of branches in Oman.

The residential segment of the real estate sector in Oman is witnessing buoyant trends in light of the growth in population as well as the developing economy. The deregulation granting property ownership rights to GCC nationals and expatriates has also attracted Oman as an investment destination.

Meethaq offers a full suite of Islamic banking products and services, including savings account, current account, home finance, auto finance, credit card, mobile banking and internet banking.

Presently, Meethaq has 17 branches across the Sultanate and plans to expand the network as well as

launch new products and services to complement the unique Islamic banking experience.

The bank has invested in staff, systems and controls to ensure the service is delivered in a professional, segregated and fully Sharia compliant manner.

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 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.

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

MUSCAT: A’Saffa Foods, Sultanate’s largest fully integrated poultry and food producer, since establishment has worked on the core principle that the quality, taste, hygiene and nutrition of its chicken products is only as good as the way its chickens are naturally fed, bred and cared for in its state-of-the-art poultry facility at Thumrait in the south of the Sultanate.

One of the unique factors for A’Saffa has been its long standing commitment to providing pure natural feed to its chickens – a mix of specially produced yellow corn and soya that delivers the nutrition the chickens need and helps to ensure the final product for the consumer is tasty, fresh and packed full of nutritious protein, says a press release.

Commenting on the way that company feeds and looks after its chickens, Sidhartha Lenka, A’Saffa Foods head of Sales and Marketing, said: “We are very proud of the way that we feed and ensure the welfare of our chickens. All of our chickens are fed with 100 per cent natural feed that is manufactured in our own feed mill located on our farm premises, using the latest scientific feed management programmes to ensure the best retention of nutritional value.

“At A’Saffa we also ensure that the birds are kept without thirst, hunger or malnutrition, free from discomfort, pain, injury or disease to ensure pure and healthy product, maintaining animal welfare at all times.

As with our core principles of

following religious, healthy and ethical practices, the company also prohibits use of chicken/animal byproducts and substitutes for feeding the birds as happens in some other poultry companies.”

He explained that A’Saffa also has a highly trained on-site medical team at the Thumrait farms complex who monitor the health of the chickens daily to ensure they are kept free from disease, have the right balance of feed and water and ensuring the final product to the consumer is always safe and pure chicken meat.

“Customers who purchase A’Saffa chicken products – frozen or fresh – can be assured that in our production processes, no hormones, no steroids, no preservatives or colours or flavours are added and never inject the birds with water to artificially increase their weight,” added Lenka.

In conclusion, Lenka said: “Chicks from A’Saffa Foods, parent farms and hatchery are delivered to A’ Saffa farms and are raised cage free houses in clean and environment controlled sheds. Once the chickens reach the desired weight they are moved from the farms to the processing plant where they are processed, cleaned, chilled and packed. After passing checks for food safety and quality assurance each chicken product is transported to grocery stores and restaurants. Cooked to consumer liking, A’Saffa chicken is fresh, healthy, juicy, tender, protein rich and tasty delivering wholesome richness.”

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K E N YA N T R I A L S

Kamworor wins NAIROBI: World champion Geoffrey Kamworor won the Kenyan Cross Country trials on Saturday but pulled out of the team for next month’s African Cross Country Championships in Cameroon, saying the event did not fit in with his preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August. World silver medallist Bedan Karoki, who finished behind Kamworor, and third-placed Leonard Barsoton also said they would not take part.

- Reuters

ALL FOR FUN: Participants in Run Race of Al Amerat Challenge pose with their medals. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

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Al Amerat Challenge saw Moroccans Sameer Al Jawareh and Ameena Maheeh taking top honours in the men’s and women’s categories respectively Sports Reporter MUSCAT: Moroccan runners dominated the 2016 Al Amerat Challenge taking the top honours both in the men’s and women’s categories after a stiff competition on Saturday.

Excellence Performance successfully organised another edition of Al Amerat Challenge, the only Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) sanctioned event, with participation of a total 588 run-

ners in three different categories.

In the men’s section, which attracted 416 runners from across the world, Sameer Al Jawareh of Morocco pushed the defending champion Abdullah Al Joud of Saudi Arabia to the second place to the title.

Sameer covered the 9km race in 30 minutes and 37 seconds (30:37) to finish just ahead of Abdullah Al Joub, who timed 31.08.

Sameer’s compatriots Abdulrazaq Ar Ar and Mohammed Al Hadad finished in third and fourth places respectively. Abdulrazaq clocked 33:58 while Mohammed finished in 34:28. In the women’s category, also a 9km affair which

saw participation of 22 runners, it was Ameena Maheeh who raised the Moroccan flag finishing ahead of her competitors in 40:29.

Asta Parker of Iceland settled for second place in 42:07. Anna Christe (50:06) of USA and Maggie Muller (50:06) South Africa finished in third and fourth places respectively.

Meanwhile, in the 1.8km fun race, around 150 runners of various nationalities took part.

The organisers, despite facing shortage of sponsors, presented the winners in both categories with $1,000 and a medal each. The second and third placed runners were handed medals as well as $800 and

$500 respectively. Fourth place winners got $250 each.

The first 100 finishers in the fun race were presented with medals.

Oman Cables Industry were the Gold Sponsors of the event while the list of Silver Sponsors included Zubair Automobile Company, Tanuf, Oman Riders and Al Safa Company.

Enjoyed the outing Excellence Performance chief Rashid Al Kindi said: “The event went technically very well. I want to thank all the marshals, officials and the individuals who contributed to the success of this year’s Al Amerat Challenge.”

Expressing delight at the response to the Challenge from the runners, he said: “This year we had a good number of international and national athletes competing in the two categories. Those who took part in the Fun Race too showed a lot of enthusiasm and enjoyed their outing.”

Speaking about the plans for the next edition, he said: “We are planning from today to get more sponsorship for the event... The more sponsors we rope in the more international runners we will be able accommodate.”

“We also want to bring more kids and families in Fun Race next year,” he added.

Results Men: 1. Sameer Al Jawareh, Morroco, 30:37; 2. Abdullah Al Joud, KSA, 31.08; 3. Abdulrazaq Ar Ar, Morroco, 33.58; 4. Mohammed Al Hadad, Morroco, 34.28.

Women: 1. Ameena Maheeh, Morroco, 40:29; 2. Asta Parker, Iceland, 42:07; 3. Anna Christe, USA, 50:06; 4. Maggie Muller, South Africa, 50:06.

C2

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

SPORTS

Voges hits unbeaten ton as Aussies take big lead SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 1st innings: 183 Australia 1st innings J. Burns c Watling b Southee 0 D. Warner c Watling b Southee 5 U. Khawaja lbw Boult 140 S. Smith c&b Craig 71 A. Voges (not out) 176 M. Marsh c&b Boult 0 P. Nevill c Watling b Anderson 32 P. Siddle (not out) 29 Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb-2, w-2) 10 Total (6 wkts, 130 overs) 463 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-131, 4-299, 5-299, 6-395.

Bowling: T. Southee 28-5-76-2 (w-1); T. Boult 27-6-80-2; D. Bracewell 25-4-97-0 (nb-2); C. Anderson 14-0-68-1 (w-1); M. Craig 32-2-128-1; K. Williamson 4-0-8-0.

Voges was unbeaten on 176 at stumps with Siddle on 29 as the Australians stretched their advantage to 280 runs, snuffing out any hope New Zealand had of claiming victory in Brendon McCullum’s 100th Test

WELLINGTON: Adam Voges continued to capitalise on an early reprieve by scoring his fifth Test century as Australia eased to 463 for six by the close of the second day’s play of the first match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

Voges was unbeaten on 176 at stumps with Peter Siddle on 29 as the Australians stretched their advantage to 280 runs, snuffing out any hope New Zealand had of claiming victory in captain Brendon McCullum’s 100th Test.

The 36-year-old Voges has made the most of a lifeline when he was bowled by Doug Bracewell

UNBEATEN: Adam Voges of Australia celebrates after completing

his century on the second day of their first Test match against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Saturday. – AFP

for seven with two deliveries remaining on Friday, only for umpire Richard Illingworth to signal a no-ball. Television replays showed the delivery was legal but because the infraction had been called on the field, New Zealand were unable to ask for a review.

Voges was involved in partnerships of 168 with Usman Khawaja (140) and 96 with wicketkeeper Peter Nevill (32) to prevent New Zealand from gaining any momentum on a tough day for the hosts.

New Zealand briefly appeared to be in position to expose the Australian tail during the middle session when Trent Boult took two wickets, including Khawaja’s, in three deliveries but Voges calmly ensured that the visitors maintained their dominance.

The late-blooming Voges, who was 35 when he made his debut against West Indies last June, has scored 1,204 runs in a bountiful Test career to date, boasting a high score of 269 not out and an average of 100.33.

“He’s got an average higher than (Australian batting legend) Don (Bradman) at the moment, so I might just have to call him Sir Voges,” Khawaja joked.

Slim hope “He’s almost faultless the way he went about it. Batted very sensibly, patiently at the start, was hitting a lot of good shots straight to fielders, but didn’t get frustrated with it. The way he’s been batting lately it feels like he’s not going to get out.”

As Australia resumed on 147 for three in response to New Zealand’s 183 all out, the only excitement for locals at a sold-out Basin Reserve came during that eventful Boult over in the middle session.

Corey Anderson claimed the only other wicket of the day when he enticed Nevill to edge behind to make the score 395 for six.

While Australia have batted themselves into a position they are unlikely to lose from, New Zealand’s past record at the Basin Reserve should provide local fans with some hope. In their last two matches at the Wellington ground, they conceded large first innings leads before scoring 680 for eight to save a Test against India two years ago and 524 for five to set up a win last year against Sri Lanka.

The second Test of the twomatch series is in Christchurch from February 20 to 24. - Reuters

U-19 WORLD CUP

India primed for unprecedented fourth title MIRPUR: A seemingly invincible India are primed to win an unprecedented fourth ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup when they take on a wily West Indies in the final here on Saturday.

India breezed into their fifth final, steamrolling their opponents in the three league games as well as in the knock-outs. If they win on Sunday, India will surpass Australia for the most number of titles in the U-19 showpiece event

introduced way back in 1988. The subcontinent team last lifted the trophy in 2012 after winning it in 2008 and 2000.

The Indians seem unstoppable but they can’t afford to take it easy against the West Indians, who have upped their game as the tournament progressed. The boys from Caribbean finished second in their group before earning plaudits with a spirited showing against Pakistan and Bangladesh in the quar-

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ters and semifinals respectively.

India will once again bank on their dangerous opening duo of Rishabh Pant and captain Ishan Kishan to give them a flying start.

Kishan, who has only one 50 to his name in five innings, would love to be amongst the runs in the big final. Another IPL recruit, Pant, too, would be itching to rise to the occasion after getting out cheaply against Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

Anmolpreet Singh would be high on

confidence after making a crucial 72 against Sri Lanka and so would be power hitter Sarfaraz Khan, who is India’s leading run-getter in the competition with 304 runs at an average of 76, including four fifties in five games. Pacer Avesh Khan, with 11 scalps, has taken the most number of wickets for the team while left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, too, has impressed with eight wickets from four matches at an average of 12. - PTI

C O M M E N TA RY

Yorkers on demand, but Dhoni needs a stool to fly the copter

A

shwin opening the bowling in a match India must win to stay alive in the series. Hardik Pandya strolling out into the middle ahead of Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni with just 33 balls remaining in the innings at a stage of the game where India needed to gain back the momentum lost in the mid-overs.

Jasprit Bumrah walking up to the top of his run-up for the first time in the innings, in the 15th over, and Pandya running in to bowl the 19th over.

What do we call all this, singularly or collectively? Experimenting, perhaps. But don’t ever say that word — experimenting — within the earshot of Dhoni. Experimenting, we got to know from Dhoni at the presentation ceremony of the second T20 played at Ranchi on Friday, is a word banned from Indian cricket. If you are desperate for a word or a phrase to capture the current mood in the Indian camp, you better say that with a phrase as straight and simple as ‘doing things differently’.

The moral of the Ranchi story is that experimenting is not about doing things differently, and doing things differently is not about experimenting, but whatever it is, the experience a normal Indian cricket fan had when the game was on was pure and uncomplicated, which, incidentally, was the mood the Indian skipper was in throughout the proceedings right after Shikhar Dhawan set the tone of the night.

Of all the different things on display, what took the cake was Bumrah’s yorkers-on-demand show. The setup for the youngster was perfect. Sri Lanka were five down for just 102 — a long, almost impossible way from the imposing target of 197. Scoring 95 runs from 30 balls would have been a daunting task even for a SangakkaraJayawardene combo, with Angelo Mathews waiting for his turn in the dugout. For lesser mortals like Mirinda Siriwardana and Dasun Shanaka the task — 19 runs an over for five overs in a row — seemed taller than Everest.

Bumrah was reluctant to bowl yorkers in the Pune match, but at Ranchi he made

amends for his sins. He began with one that was described

by Matthew Hayden as absolutely perfect, and four more followed in his first two overs, all of which were a mysterious beauty to behold as the batsmen woefully tried to dig and defend or save their toes. Yorkers, carefully concealed amid an unpredictable rain of deliveries ranging from slow balls to sharp bouncers and low, full tosses outside off, didn’t allow the batsmen even to stand up and stare back.

While it was an opportunity delightfully taken up by youngsters like Pandya and Bumrah, it was another instance of why and how Dhoni fails to hit the big shots. The stage was set for the skipper to smash a couple of sixes which would have taken India to and past the 200-mark — a target within reach after Rohit Sharma and Dhawan plundered 70 runs in the first six overs, and Suresh Raina and Pandya harvested 59 from 4.1 overs to post 186 for 4 at 18.4 overs.

Dhoni tried but failed. A mighty heave at the third ball in the final over sums up the harsh reality. His bat was nowhere near the ball pitched wide outside off stump.

Helicopters don’t take off from a submarine staying underwater. They don’t take wing unless the weather is fine.

Bowlers are not offering Dhoni the right conditions to set the flight in motion, so Dhoni says the only way to hit a helicopter shot nowadays is by standing on a stool. In the unlikely event of Dhoni walking out to bat at Visakhapatnam today with a stool in hand, don’t ask what it is: doing things differently or experimenting?

The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

C3

SPORTS Almouj all set for SATT debut The crew comprises two Omani sailors Abdulaziz Al Obidani, veteran of four Sailing Arabia – The Tours, and Haitham Al Wahaibi as well as three other French sailors Christian Ponthieu, Gregory

NEW CHALLENGE: Abdulaziz Al Obaidani is one of the two Omani sailors on Almounj crew, the other being Haitham Al Wahaibi. – Supplied photo

Gendron and Thomas Rouxel, all offshore specialists

MUSCAT: Almouj is new to EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour (SATT) but an experienced crew, packed with spirit and talent, is hungry for success with plans to spring a few surprises. The Omani-French crew is skippered by French navigator Nico Lunven who has Volvo Ocean Race, Tour de France a Voile, Figaro and RORC miles under his belt.

He also knows how it feels to win the EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour having been navigator on board Sidney Gavignet’s triumphant EFG Bank Monaco in 2015.

To add to Almouj’s pedigree, Lunven has seasoned campaigner Gilles Favennec, a member of Oman Sail’s MOD 70 and M34 crew, on board as co-skipper.

“This team was put together by me and Gilles and we decided to try to build it to be happy working together during this month,” explained Lunven.

The crew comprises two Omani

sailors Abdulaziz Al Obidani, veteran of four Sailing Arabia – The Tours, and Haitham Al Wahaibi as well as three other French sailors Christian Ponthieu, Gregory Gendron and Thomas Rouxel, all offshore specialists.

With the changes to Tour de France a la Voile, EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour was the obvious choice for the crew looking to keep up their racing and training during the winter months when the inclement weather across Europe prevents a full programme.

“In Europe at this time, there is

nothing like this. We have done a lot of Tour de France a la Voile but now there is only this race if we want to do high level competitive offshore sailing,” said Favennec.

New route Busy schedules have prevented any intensive training so the crew have gathered for the first time in Dubai where the first inshore race starts on February 15 before the fleet of identical Farr 30 boats set off on the first leg to Abu Dhabi. They are big fans of this year’s new route with the second upwind leg to Doha and

OMAN CRICKET

Al Turki rout Raha, NYDT defeat Ooredoo A MUSCAT: Al Turki recorded an eight-wicket victory over Raha CT in a Muscat Pharmacy and Stores-sponsored Premier Division match at the Ministry of Sports Affairs Ground during the afternoon session on Friday.

Batting first, Raha were bowled out for 200 in 50 overs. Khurram Khan scored 75 and was ably assisted by Azhar Ali (45). Jayesh Odedra claimed three wickets for Al Turki. In reply, Al Turki batted 44.1 overs and scored 211 for two with Twinkle Bhandari and Ghulam Shaikh scoring 64 and 57 respectively. Khursheed Alam claimed two wickets for Raha.

DOMINANT SHOW: A file photo of National Youth Development Team team. – Supplied photo

Brief scores: Raha 200 in 50 overs (Khurram Khan 75; Jayesh 3/32) lost to Al Turki 211 for 2 in 44.1 overs (Twinkle Bhandari 64, Ghulam Shaikh 57; Khursheed Alam 2/410). Points: Al Turki - 2; Raha – 0.

NYDT too good In a Khimji Ramdas sponsored A Division match, National Youth Development Team (NYDT) handed Ooredoo A a five-wicket defeat at the Municipality Ground I. Batting first, Ooredoo managed to score 228 for eight in 30 overs.

Kimberley Bentick top scored with 93. Shoaib Ismail claimed three wickets for NYDT. In reply, NYDT put on 229 for five in 25.5 overs with Shoaib Ismail top scoring with 108.

Rithwik Kadankot claimed three for Ooredoo A in vain.

Brief scores: Ooredoo A 228 for 8 in 30 overs (Kimberley Bentick 93; Shoaib Ismail 3/38) lost to NYDT 229 for 5 in

FOOTBALL

13 European FAs pledge FIFA backing to Infantino BELGRADE: The football association chiefs of 13 European countries that met in Belgrade on Saturday have pledged unanimous support to Gianni Infantino in his bid to become FIFA president, the Serbian FA (FSS) said in a statement.

The FSS hosted a convention attended by UEFA secretary general Infantino and the FA chiefs of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Romania and Turkey.

Meanwhile, FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa plans to keep the world soccer body’s headquarters in Zurich and retain the name “FIFA” if he wins the race for the game’s top job later this month.

Salman also denied accusations that he used funds from the Bahrain football association he headed at the time to win a FIFA executive committee seat. - Reuters

respectively. Nishant B. claimed three wickets for PDO. Brief scores: Design Unit Engineering 156 for 5 in 20 overs (Shehbaz Nazar 46; Aadil Mohammed 3/21) lost to Fairtrade 157 for 9 in 19.5 overs (Vijay Anand 31; Nishant 3/22). Points: Fairtrade – 2, PDO – 0.

AL TURKI STARS: Twinkle Bhandari and Ghulam Shaikh.

25.5 overs (Shoaib Ismail 108; Rithwik Kadankot 3/36). Points: NYDT – 2, Ooderdoo A – 0.

Fairtrade edge Design Unit In an Al Ansari Group of Companies-sponsored B Division match, Fairtrade defeated Design Unit Engineering by one wicket.

Batting first, Design Unit Engineering put on 156 for five in 20 overs. Shehbaz Nazar top scored with 46. Aadil Mohammed claimed three wickets for PDO. In reply, Fairtrade scored 157 for nine in 19.5 overs to claim the narrow win. Vijay Anand and Aadil Mohammed scored 31 and 28

SARCO beat L&T In a Raha Poly Products-sponsored C Division match, SARCO defeated L&T by 126 runs.

Batting first, SARCO put on 223 for four in 20 overs. Hafiz Zahid top scored with an unbeaten 122. In reply, L&T were bowled out for 97 in 17.4 overs. Althaf PK top scored with 51. Hafiz Zahid claimed four wickets for SARCO. Brief scores: SARCO 223 for 4 in 20 overs (Hafiz Zahid 122 n.o) bt L&T 97 in 17.4 overs (Althaf 51; Hafiz Zahid 5/10).

Points: SARCO – 3, L&T - 0.

the marathon third leg to Khasab offering them a chance to shine.

This is where they hope to rack up the points and are serious contenders for a podium place with ambitions to dislodge favourites EFG Bank Monaco from the top spot.

“We would like play for the first place,” said Lunven. “We are especially looking forward to competing against Sidney Gavignet’s team EFG Bank Monaco.”

The 2016 EFG Sailing Arabia – the Tour, which is supported by mobile satellite communications company, Al Thuraya, is the sixth edition of the race which combines long offshore legs with high action racing ‘around the cans’ in harbours along the 780 nms course.

Oman Sail first launched the race in 2011 and since then, it has grown into the jewel in the crown of Middle East sailing, as the Gulf region’s leading offshore event.

Earlier this year, Team EFG Bank Monaco, Team Mangold, Dutch team Delft Challenge, Bienne Voile of Switzerland, Averda, Zain Kuwait, the all-female Oman Airport-Al Thuraya team and Re-

naissance Services announced they are going to participate in the 2016 edition of EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour. Kicking off on February 15 in Dubai, the five leg 750 nm challenge offers an opportunity for both professional and amateur racing teams to sustain their training and competition programmes over the winter months and showcase the GCC region as a sailing and sporting destination.

An inshore race in Dubai will be followed by the first leg to Abu Dhabi after which the fleet heads off on a tricky marathon second leg to Doha, then the most demanding leg of them all, the 200 nms passage from Doha to Khasab, Oman’s northernmost Governorate which will be a test of skill and patience.

From Khasab, they will race round the Musandam Peninsula and down the coast of Oman to Sohar, before the final leg to Al Mouj in Muscat.

Team: Gilles Favennec, Nico Lunven, Haitham Al Wahaibi, Abdullaziz Al Obidani, Christian Ponthieu, Thomas Rouxel and Gregory Gendron.

C4

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

SPORTS ISC TENNIS

CRICKET

Oman Cricket condoles sudden demise of MDC Enhance Eagles’ Sultan Sheikh UNDER-10 COMPETITION: Champion Praneeth Raj, right, runner-up Issa Al Suleimani. – Supplied photo

Praneeth lifts U-10 title MUSCAT: Praneeth Raj hit the bullseye in his very first final to capture the under-10 singles crown at the ISC/Muscat Pharmacy Open Junior Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club (ISC) Muscat.

In the final, Praneeth, the No. 2 seed was not overawed by the occasion and did his basics right to register a brilliant 8-4 victory over top seed Issa Al Suleimani to win the under-10 title, the first of his career.

The two budding prospects played true to reputation maintaining consistency in their ground-strokes. Praneeth earned the first break for a 3-1 lead. Issa nullified the lead breaking Praneeth in the sixth game.

After a keen tussle, Praneeth broke twice for a 6-3 lead. Issa kept his hopes alive with a break in the tenth game. Issa’s game suffered under pressure as Praneeth

broke yet again and served out the match for his first title.

Ibra-based Vivek Kolluru, the top seed in the boys under-12 singles took his place in the final. Vivek earned his place in the summit clash with an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 victory over M. Surya in the semifinal.

Top seed in the boys under-14 singles, Hassan Haider powered his way into the last four with a convincing 8-2 win over Vivek Kolluru in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Hassan will take on fourth seed Avigyan Bhattacharya who overcame Abdullah Al Raisi 8-4 in the quarterfinals.

The other semifinal of the boys under-14 will be contested between Ayaan Malhotra who upset second seed Muneer Al Rawahi in the quarterfinals and third seed Sanskar Dubey who scored a hardfough 8-6 win over Shlok Ail.

MUSCAT: Oman Cricket (OC) condoled the sudden demise of MDC Enhance Eagles’ young player Sultan Sheikh due to heart attack on Saturday.

According to officials, Sultan Sheikh collapsed during Oman Cricket A Division side MDC Enhance Eagles’ practice match at Al Amerat ground on Saturday. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he breathed his last after suffering a severe heart attack.

Oman Cricket officials, including Chairman Kanak Khimji and Secretary Madhu Jesrani immediately got in touch with the family members of the deceased as well as the team manager Guru Prasan-

SAD DEMISE: Sultan Sheikh

na to convey their condolences.

One minute’s silence Later in the evening, a minute’s silence was observed during Pre-

mier Division T20 match between Assarain and Muscat CT. Speaking to Times Sport, Oman Cricket Secretary Madhu Jesrani said: “We are sad to hear about

Gloom returns for Man United

COSTLY ERROR: Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea, second right, fails to save a headed

shot from Sunderland’s Lamine Koné during the English Premier League match at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Saturday. – AFP

Louis van Gaal’s side had improved since the turn of the year but the gloom descended again on a raw day in north east as they slipped to a defeat that left them six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City having played one more game

LONDON: Manchester United’s top-four hopes suffered another setback as goalkeeper David De Gea’s own goal cost them a 2-1 defeat at Premier League strugglers Sunderland on Saturday.

Louis van Gaal’s side had improved since the turn of the year but the gloom descended again on a raw day in north east as they slipped to a defeat that left them six points behind fourth-placed

Manchester City having played one more game.

Anthony Martial equalised for United shortly before halftime after Wahbi Khazri’s thirdminute free kick evaded De Gea who was embarrassed again eight minutes from time when he diverted Lamine Kone’s header into his own goal.

Defeat boosted second-frombottom Sunderland’s survival

hopes and left United looking down rather than up as Southampton closed to within a point of them in sixth after Shane Long’s goal sealed a 1-0 win at Swansea City.

West Ham United are also a point behind United after coming back from two goals down at Norwich to draw 2-2.

West Bromwich Albion eased their relegation fears, winning 1-0 at mid-table Everton, but Bournemouth’s 3-1 home defeat

by Stoke City left the south coast club too close to the bottom three for comfort.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first goal since joining Crystal Palace but could not prevent a sixth defeat in seven matches for Alan Pardew’s side who were beaten 2-1 at home by Watford.

The Premier League’s top four all play on Sunday with leaders Leicester City at third-placed Arsenal before fourth-placed Manchester City host second-placed Tottenham Hotspur. - Reuters

Sultan Sheikh’s sudden demise due to heart attack.”

“It is an irreparable loss... not only for his family and friends but for the entire cricketing fraternity.

We are shocked to lose a talented player at such a young age,” he said.

Meanwhile, MDC Enhance Eagles manager Guru Prasanna said: “I pray to the Almighty God to give enough strength to his family members to overcome this situation.”

He also thanked the Oman Cricket officials for getting in touch with the family members of the deceased and expressing their sympathies on behalf of Oman Cricket. “Thanks to all those who stood with us in this moment of grief,” he said.

LA LIGA

Real keep up pace behind Barca with win over Athletic MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao 4-2 in a thrilling match at the Bernabeu to move within a point of leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday.

Barca, at home to Celta Vigo on Sunday, have 54 points, Real are on 53 and Atletico Madrid 51 before their trip to Getafe on Sunday.

Real made a blistering start and Ronaldo opened the scoring after three minutes, attacking into the box from the left, cutting inside Xabier Etxeita and beating Gorka Iraizoz for his 15th goal in 14 matches.

Athletic replied in kind, hitting Real with a string of counter-attacks and were on level terms seven minutes later when midfielder Javier Eraso pounced on a poor back pass from Raphael Varane to Keylor Navas and made the most of the gift.

James restored Real’s lead in the 37th with a ferocious shot from the edge of the edge of the box that the Colombian, who has struggled for form and goals, celebrated with clenched fists.

Real led by two goals at halftime after Toni Kroos scored from Ronaldo’s pass in first-half added time.

Athletic were equal to Real in the first half and Aritz Aduriz hit the bar in the 28th minute but the home side controlled play after the interval and cruised to victory.

The home side had Varane sent off for a second booking after he elbowed striker Aduriz for the second time in the match as they went for a high ball.

The match ended in a flurry with Ronaldo scoring his 21st league goal in the 87th, Iraizoz denying him a hat-trick with a save a minute later and Athletic pulling one back with substitute Gorka Elustondo’s header in added time. - Reuters

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

Health WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FIGHT GUM DISEASE While we are always alert on our general health and well being most of us do not take our oral healthcare seriously. Watch out for the early warning signs like bleeding gums along with persistent bad breath, toothache, and receding gums.

S TO RY D R R I C H A R A J

G

um disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. Gum disease generally doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt because of which you may have it for years before you feel pain or discomfort. Gum disease can affect one tooth or a number of teeth. It starts when the bacteria in plaque, which is the sticky, colourless film that constantly forms on the teeth, causes the gums to become inflamed.

What are the main causes of bleeding gums?

Poor oral hygiene, crowding of teeth, systemic diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, and untreated receding gums can all lead to bleeding gums. While the main cause of gum disease is bacterial deposits, other factors can also affect the health of your gums. Recent studies indicate that tobacco use may be one of the most signiďŹ cant risk factors in the develop-

ment and progression of gum disease. In addition, research shows that stress can make it more difficult for the body to ďŹ ght off infections such as gum disease. Other risk factors that may contribute to gum disease include genetics, poor nutrition, clenching or grinding your teeth, certain medications like anti-coagulants, and anti histamines.

Is there any link between gum and heart disease?

Overall research indicates that chronic gum disease may contribute to the development of heart disease. Gum disease is one of those bacterial infections that can affect conditions outside your mouth. It can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they attach to the fatty deposits in the heart blood vessels. This condition can cause blood clots and may lead to heart attacks.

Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ",)(# Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; , ."Ĺ&#x2014;." .Ĺ&#x2014; ) -(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; go away Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ))- Ĺ&#x2014;. ."Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " (! Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;1 3Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014;. ."Ĺ&#x2014; ďŹ t together when you bite Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " (! Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; Ă°.Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; * ,.# &Ĺ&#x2014; dentures If you have any of the above signs then you should consult your dentist.

You may be suffering from gum disease which is left untreated could lead eventually to tooth loss.

Treatment The following tips can play a major role in stopping bleeding, bad breath, and maintaining your pearly whites to their shine:

Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ,/-"Ĺ&#x2014;.1# Ĺ&#x2014; #&3Ä&#x201E; Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; . ."Ĺ&#x2014; & ( Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; polished every 6 months. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ,(Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014; ,#!".Ĺ&#x2014; ' .") Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; brushing. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; #!(), Ĺ&#x2014; (3Ĺ&#x2014; & %Ĺ&#x2014; #- )&ouration (caries) over your teeth. Get caries cleaned and Common Symptoms ďŹ lled before it is too late.

Check for the following signs to determine if you have gum dis- Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; *,)&)(!Ĺ&#x2014; 3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; .))." " Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Seek professional advice for it ease receding gums that bleed as soon as you can. when you brush your teeth: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014;)& Ĺ&#x2014;Ă°&&#(!-Ĺ&#x2014; " % Ĺ&#x2014; ),Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160; Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;-1)&& (Ĺ&#x2014;),Ĺ&#x2014;. ( ,Ĺ&#x2014;!/'-Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; /'-Ĺ&#x2014; ." .Ĺ&#x2014; " 0 Ĺ&#x2014; */&& Ĺ&#x2014; 1 3Ĺ&#x2014; leaking or fractured margins. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; lifestyle@timesofoman.com from the teeth

Dr. Richa Raj is dentist at Pearly White Dental Centre, Al Khuwair Contact: + 968 9705 2624 pearlywhitedental@gmail.com

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016

C6

SUNDAY, FEBRUA RY 14, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

@RUWI

@SOHAR

SUR Navy Seal: The Battle of New Orleans (Action |Horror) (15+) Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff 7:30, 11:45 PM Fitoor (Hindi) (Romance) (TBC) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif.

5:00, 9:15 PM Pavada (Mal) (Comedy) (PG) CP Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 10:30 PM Visions (Horror | Thriller) (15+) Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount 4:45, 8:45 PM. The Finest Hour 3D (English) (Action | Drama | History) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 6:30 PM

@BAHJA

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans (Action| Horror) 15+ Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 5:00 & 7:15PM The Choice (Drama | Romance) 15+ Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 5:15PM The Pack (Horror| Thriller) 12+ Cast: Anna Lise Phillips, Jack Campbell 11:45PM How to Be Single (Comedy | Romance) 18+ Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 3:00, 7:15 & 11:30PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (Action) 18+ Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 2:45,9:15 & 11:45PM Fitoor (Hindi | Romantic| Drama) 12+ Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor , Katrina Kaif 9:15PM The Finest Hour - 3D (Action) PG12 3:30 & 9:30PM The Finest Hour - 2D (Action) PG12 7:00PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (Animation) PG 5:30PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL How to Be Single – 2D (18+) Comedy Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 7:00 PM Gold Class – 8:45, 11:00 PM Fitoor – 2D (12+) Hindi | Romantic| Drama | Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor / Katrina Kaif / Tabu 9:15 PM Gold Class – 6:15 PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies – 2D (18+) Action | Horror | Drama | Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 1:45, 9:30, 11:45 PM

Screen 3 Sanam Re (Romance / Drama) –12 + Cast : Pulkit Samrat, Yami Gautam 3.45, 9.45PM

Visions - 2D (Horror / Thriller) (15+) Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs 4:45, 11:45PM

How to Be Single: (Comedy ) (18+) Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 4.00, 6.00 & 8.00PM

Gold Class – 3:30 PM Kongu Fu Style – 2D (TBC) Comedy | Animation| Voice over: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Leslie Mann 4:00 PM The Finest Hour – 3D (PG12) Action | Drama 12:15,11:30 PM Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (Animation) (PG) 12:00, 2:30, 7:30PM Everything About Her - Taglog (PG) Comedy 4:30PM Capture the Flag – 3D (PG) (Animation) 5:45 PM

Fitoor-2D (Romantic, Drama)(TBC) VIP LOUNGE- 8:30 PM The Choice-2D (Drama, Romance) (15+) Cast: Benjamin Walker, Teresa Palmer 4:45, 7:00 PM The Finest Hour (MX4D)(PG12) 3.30, 6.15, 8.30, 10.45 PM The Finest Hour 3D (action, Drama) (PG12)VIP LOUNGE 6:15 PM The Finest Hour 3D (action, Drama) (PG12) 9:15, 11:30 PM Alvin & the Chipmunks – The Road Chip (Animation,) (2D) (PG) 3:00, 6:00 PM

PANORAMA MALL Pride & Prejudice & Zombies-2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 3:30, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies- 2D (18+) -VIP LOUNGE 3:30, 11:00PM Fitoor-2D (Romantic, Drama) (TBC) Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif , Tabu 3:45, 6:15, 8:45, 11:15 PM

AZAIBA Pride & Prejudice & Zombies (2D) (Action Horror) (18+) CP# Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 11:45 PM Fitoor (Hindi) (2D) (Romance| Drama) (12+) CP# Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Tabu 2:45, 7:30, 9:15, 11:30 PM Ghayal Once Again (2D) (Action) (PG12) CP# Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 3:45, 6:15, 11:30 PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Quriyat Sur Jaalan

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

Marmul

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

07:00

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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

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

Pavaada (Mal) (Drama/Comedy) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran & Miya George 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema Main Bangalore Naatkal (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Arya , Sri Divya & Rana Doggadathi 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema -2 Adi Kappyare Koottamani (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dhyn Sreenivasan & Namitha Pramod 6:45PM Cinema -2 2 Countries (Mal) (Com) Cast: Dileep & Mamta Mohandas 3:45 & 9:45PM Cinema -3 Jil Jung Juk (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Siddharth & Sanath Reddy 3:45, & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Airlift ( Hindi) ( Act) Cast: Akshay Kumar & Nimrat Kaur Show Time: 6.45pm at Cinema 4 Next Change: Miruthan ( Tamil), Monsoon Mangoes ( Mal), Neerja ( Hindi) Programmes are subject to change WITH LOVE

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DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

06:00 06:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100)

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

07:00

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

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

24 17

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

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

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

RUWI Screen 1 Fitoor (Romance / Drama) –12 + Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 Ghayal Once Again (Action) –PG12 3.45, 9.45 PM Sanam Re (Romance / Drama) –12 + Cast : Pulkit Samrat, Yami Gautam 6.45 PM Screen 3 Sanam Re (Romance / Drama) –12 + 3.45, 9.45 PM Ghayal Once Again (Action) –PG12 Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, 6.45 PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Sanam Re (2D) (Romance) (PG12) CP# Cast: Yami Gautam, Pulkit Samrat 3:30, 5:15, 10:00 PM Bangalore Naatkal (Tamil) (2D) (Comedy) (PG) CP# Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 6:15, 8:30 PM Pavada (Mal) (2D) (Action | Comedy(PG) CP# Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran, Anoop Menon 8:45 PM

SOHAR Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 2D (PG) Animation Voice over: Jason Lee, Jesica Ahlberg 5:45 PM The Finest Hour - 3D (PG12) Action | Drama Cast: Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster 5:00, 9:30, 11:45 PM Ghayal Once Again - 2D (PG12) Action Cast: Sunny Deol, Tisca Chopra, Om Puri 6:30 PM Bangalore Naatkal - 2D (T) (PG) Comedy Cast: Arya, Sri Divya, Bobby 6:30 PM Pride & Prejudice & Zombies - 2D (18+) Action | Horror | Drama Cast: Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston 2:45, 9:15, 11:45 PM How to Be Single - 2D (18+) Comedy Cast: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson 3:15, 7:15, 11:30 PM Fitoor - 2D (TBC) Hindi | Romantic| Drama Cast: Aditya Roy Kapoor, Katrina Kaif , Tabu 3:30, 9:15 PM Navy Seals: The Battle of New Orleans 2D (15+) Action| Horror Cast: Ed Quinn, Michael Dudikoff, Rick Fox 3:00, 7:30 PM Visions - 2D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Isla Fisher, Anson Mount, Gillian Jacobs 4:45, 11:45 PM Pavada - 2D (M) (PG) Action | Comedy Cast: Prithiviraj Sukumaran , Anoop Menon 8:55 PM

BAHJA CINEMA

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

WEATHER

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (ROUTE 36)

17:30

12.26pm 3.41pm 6.06pm 7.17pm 5.25am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

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

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

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

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

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

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

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

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

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

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

Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;ÝÞÄ&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;ßúÝÄ&#x20AC;

C7

LIFESTYLE FA M I LY A D V I C E

ASK DR. GERRY

Get Back your Confidence

Pancreatic Cancer U nlike cancers, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is difficult as there is no screening test, and symptoms can be subtle and mimic other condi.#)(-Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; ) . (Ĺ&#x2014; !) -Ĺ&#x2014; /( . . Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; the early stages, and in advanced stages, symptoms are present but non-speciďŹ c â&#x20AC;&#x201D; such as digestive issues, back pain, and weight loss.

A pancreatic cancer diagnosis can be devastating and often comes with many questions from both patients and caregivers.

Like other cancers, pancreatic cancer starts with abnormal cells that grow out of control.

With pancreatic cancer, the abnormal cells form a tumour or tumours in the head, body, or tail of the pancreas. ( , .# Ĺ&#x2014; ( ,Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; ĂŽ .Ĺ&#x2014; the functions of the pancreas that normally include help with diges-

tion and blood sugar control. )! ." ,Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; * .# (.-Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; ." #,Ĺ&#x2014; healthcare teams will create individualised treatment plans based on many factors, including the pancreatic cancerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stage and the patientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; overall health. Common treatment plans may include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, palliative care, and mental health care.

Clinical trials investigate promising new treatments and may also be a treatment option for certain pancreatic cancer patients.

Eating is often a challenge for people with pancreatic cancer because they are living with ongoing symptoms from their cancer, or from their surgery or other treatments. " - Ĺ&#x2014;."#(!-Ĺ&#x2014;' 3Ĺ&#x2014;#'* .Ĺ&#x2014;." #,Ĺ&#x2014; ability to digest foods normally, maintain good nutrition, and )&&)1Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " &."3Ĺ&#x2014; ' &Ĺ&#x2014; *& (Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ä&#x201C;-Ĺ&#x2014;

Pancreatic cancer can affect the functions of the pancreas that normally include help with digestion and blood sugar control

Dear Dr Gerry I am a 43-year-old man working in a reputed position in a corporate ďŹ rm. I have been known to be a conďŹ dent person so far but in recent times my self esteem is at its lowest ebb. I fear making mistakes at workplace, while meeting clients I get jittery, and most of the time I get this feeling that I am not good enough. I keep thinking about all the mistakes that I would possibly make.

important for patients to talk to their healthcare team about a nutritional plan. Counselling can help patients learn new ways to cope with cancer, manage emotions, and improve communications both with their healthcare teams and with their families. , Ĺ&#x2014; . & *")( Ĺ&#x2014; )/(- &&#(!Ĺ&#x2014; - ,vices, online networks and support groups can help patients and their loved ones. )*& Ĺ&#x2014; 1#."Ĺ&#x2014; ( ,Ĺ&#x2014; ) . (Ĺ&#x2014; , ceive a large number of medical bills and health insurance state' (.-Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; - 'Ĺ&#x2014; )0 ,1" &'#(!Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; /.Ĺ&#x2014; ." , Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; 1 3-Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014; ., %Ĺ&#x2014; and manage bills, statements, and payments through the creation of tracking and ďŹ ling systems. Careful management of these important documents can help reduce stress, allow patients to feel more in control, and better manage their ďŹ nances. - BPT

HOME REMEDIES

Excessive Sweating

Sweating is a normal function of the body but some of us generally sweat too much. Excessive sweating is common in adolescence and causes body odour and can also cause skin infections. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to consult dermatologist for the right solution here are few useful home treatments that can help you reduce sweating and control body odour. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ." Ĺ&#x2014;),Ĺ&#x2014;-")1 ,Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014;& -.Ĺ&#x2014;)( Ĺ&#x2014; daily in warm (butnot hot) water. Dry yourself thoroughly afterward. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ,Ĺ&#x2014; & (Ĺ&#x2014; &)." -Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; "))- Ĺ&#x2014; natural fabrics, such as cotton, particularly next to your skin.

Avoid tight clothes. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;3)/,Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014;! .Ĺ&#x2014;-1 .3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;1 ,Ĺ&#x2014; leather shoes and cotton socks, and change both regularly.. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ,#(%Ĺ&#x2014; .Ĺ&#x2014;& -.Ĺ&#x2014;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x2014;!& -- -Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014;1 ter a day, to replace lost body ďŹ&#x201A;uids. Cut down on drinks that caffeine, particularly hot drinks. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 0)# Ĺ&#x2014;-*# 3Ĺ&#x2014; )) -Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;1"# "Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; likely to make you sweat, and onion and garlic, because of the odour. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014;-1 .Ĺ&#x2014;1" (Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; (2ious, try practical techniques that reduce stress. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014;)0 ,1 #!".Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;.,3Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;&)- Ĺ&#x2014; some weight.

Consult a Doctor When.. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; " Ĺ&#x2014;-1 .#(!Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014;*,)&)(! Ĺ&#x2014; or unusual. Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; )/Ĺ&#x2014;" 0 Ĺ&#x2014; (3Ĺ&#x2014;)." ,Ĺ&#x2014;-3'*.)'-Ĺ&#x2014; associated with the excessive sweating. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;lifestyle@timesofoman.com While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to consult a medical practitioner for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ailment, it is also important to empower oneself with the right information.

Every week we will discuss about some common conditions and ways to deal with it.

Ĺ&#x2014; " 0 Ĺ&#x2014; - (Ĺ&#x2014; ."#-Ĺ&#x2014; *,) & 'Ĺ&#x2014; &&Ĺ&#x2014; .))Ĺ&#x2014; ) . (Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; )*& Ĺ&#x2014; 1")Ĺ&#x2014; 1),%Ĺ&#x2014; " , Ĺ&#x2014; #(Ĺ&#x2014; their younger years and rise up the corporate ladder suddenly seem .)Ĺ&#x2014;&)- Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ă° ( Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014;-., (!."Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; " 3Ĺ&#x2014; &Ĺ&#x2014;)0 ,1" &' Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014;1 (.Ĺ&#x2014; .)Ĺ&#x2014;, -#!(Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014;." #,Ĺ&#x2014;" , Ĺ&#x2014;1)(Ĺ&#x2014;*)-#.#)(Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; " 3Ĺ&#x2014;! .Ĺ&#x2014;#( , -#(!&3Ĺ&#x2014; pressed and anxious when facing stress they handled easily before.

3Ĺ&#x2014; ,# ( Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; . % Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; *Ĺ&#x2014; , ."Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; $/'*Ĺ&#x2014; #(.)Ĺ&#x2014; (3Ĺ&#x2014; #-#)(Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; ' ' ,Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014;1 , Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ă° (.Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014; )(Ă° (.Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; )/Ä&#x201C;, Ĺ&#x2014;-.#&&Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; same person you were in the past. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s charge the battery and get our strength back. " Ĺ&#x2014;*,) & 'Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;-., --Ĺ&#x2014;1 Ĺ&#x2014;" 0 Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014; -), #(!Ĺ&#x2014;)0 ,Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;3 ,-Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Sustained stress leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol â&#x20AC;&#x153;the stress hormoneâ&#x20AC;? and reduction in brain serotonin which leads to clinical depression and anxiety. So letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get them recharged. Exer #- Ĺ&#x2014;" &*-Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;#( , -#(!Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;- ,).)(#(Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; %#(!Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;!)) Ĺ&#x2014;")&# 3Ĺ&#x2014;" &*-Ĺ&#x2014; in regaining the balance between work and life. Sometimes symptoms persist, so meet a doctor and discuss about the need for a med# .#)(Ĺ&#x2014;." .Ĺ&#x2014;" &*-Ĺ&#x2014;#( , - Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014; , #(Ĺ&#x2014;- ,).)(#(Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; "#-Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;*,) & 'Ĺ&#x2014;1 Ĺ&#x2014; can solve. -Dr. G

Dr Gerry Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Costa has an MD in psychiatry and a special interest in the areas of anxiety, depression, addiction, and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s psychiatry. He has practiced as a specialised psychiatrist at Badr Al Samaa hospital in Ruwi for the last 9 years.

Dr Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Costa offers advice and professional insights to the readers of Times of Oman. Send your questions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

H E A LT H N O T E

E-cigarettes can cause heart disease: Study Exposure to either e-cigarette aerosol or smokeless tobacco alone can increase the potential of atherosclerosis â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a disease that leads to heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease, says a study. When atherosclerosis affects the arteries of the heart, it is known as coronary artery disease, a condition that af .-Ĺ&#x2014; '), Ĺ&#x2014; ." (Ĺ&#x2014; ÝÿĹ&#x2014; '#&&#)(Ĺ&#x2014; ' ,# (-Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; /- -Ĺ&#x2014; ÿúúÄ&#x2026;úúúĹ&#x2014; ."-Ĺ&#x2014; ((/ &&3Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; Ä? /,, (.&3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; 1 Ĺ&#x2014; )Ĺ&#x2014; ().Ĺ&#x2014; %()1Ĺ&#x2014; 1" ." ,Ĺ&#x2014; Ä&#x161; #! , .. -Ĺ&#x2014; , Ĺ&#x2014;" ,' /&Ä&#x201E;Ĺ&#x2014; " 3Ĺ&#x2014; )Ĺ&#x2014;().Ĺ&#x2014;! ( , . Ĺ&#x2014;-')% Ĺ&#x2014; -Ĺ&#x2014; do conventional cigarettes but they do generate an aerosol - the vapour that alters indoor air quality and contains toxic aldehydes,â&#x20AC;? said Daniel J. Conklin from the University of Louisville in the US. ),Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;-./ 3Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;, - , " ,-Ĺ&#x2014; 2*)- Ĺ&#x2014;)( Ĺ&#x2014;- .Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014;'# Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;0 ,3#(!Ĺ&#x2014;& 0 &-Ĺ&#x2014; of e-cigarette aerosol, tobacco smoke, smokeless tobacco or to an aldehyde produced by tobacco. -IANS

C8

SUNDAY, FEBRUA RY 14, 2016

LIFESTYLE

BRAIN FOOD

1

Like our body our mind too ages with time and it is essential to maintain its sharpness by eating the right food. So include these superfoods in your diet and stay focused.

8

Wholegrains A diet rich in wholegrain foods is very good for the brains. It includes cereals, wholewheat bread and pasta, wheatbran, and wheatgerm. We need energy to concentrate and this supply of energy comes from wholegrains.

2

Fish Being a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, fish is known to boost the brain power. The main sources of oily fish include salmon, trout, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards, and kippers. It lowers dementia and stroke risks and may help slow mental decline especially as we age.

Beets This root vegetable is sure to boost your brain power.

Scientists at Wake Forest University determined that natural nitrates in beets can increase blood flow to the brain, thereby improving mental performance. The tastiest way to eat beets? Roasted and then drizzled with honey dressing like this easy-tomake healthy side dish.

7

3

Eggs Eating protein-rich foods like eggs for breakfast can improve overall cognitive performance, according to Swiss researchers. Add these quick and easy egg recipes to your morning routine.

Blueberries Research says that consumption of blueberries may be effective in improving short term memory loss. Blueberry smoothie increases concentration by as much as 20 per cent in a single day, says UK based nutritionists. Eating blueberries also can help stave off dementia.

4

Broccoli Vitamin K helps in increase in the cognitive function and improves brain power and a very good source of this vitamin is broccoli. You can either steam or stir-fry them.

5

Nuts A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that a good intake of vitamin E might help to prevent cognitive decline, particularly in the elderly. It has also been found by scientists at Tufts University in Boston that a diet rich in walnuts may improve mental performance.

6

Pumpkin Seeds Just a handful of pumpkin seeds a day is all you need to get your recommended daily amount of zinc, vital for enhancing memory and thinking skills.

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S U N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

D2

S U N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

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

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

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

Contact

96046951 / 99332291

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

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT

•Office spaces for rent in Al Hail on the main road On the same building of Al Khamis Shoes at Al Hail

(Floor area 600sqmtrs and mezzanine of 500sqmtrs) 1100sqmts fully cover warehouse Θ ƐƚĂī ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟ ŽŶƐ

•2 bed room flats in Qurum 29 for rent next to ABA New building -split AC - Good location Modern and spacious 4 bedroom twin villa for rent in Azaiba north behind Nov 18st with detached maids room. Contact 99317349

Contact No: 96177505

One / two B/R , RES / Comm flat near Bank Muscat Bausher directly from owner. Contact: 92158031

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

Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787

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

Contact: 95076261

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

CONTACT: 93332444, 95166141

2 BHK in MSQ opposite Al Fair with split AC. Contact: 96708000

Spacious 160 sq meter office with pantry and toilet built in eagle eye view of Al Khuwair on 7th floor Jasmine Building near Radisson Blu. 1,100 RO per month. Contact 00968 92503825

Flat for rent in Al Hail south 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

Showroom, readymade office with ACs & free internet 2 B/R flats with split ACs & free internet available at Al Khuwair near KM Hypermarket. Contact: 99460330 Brand new Twin deluxe villas, excellent location in Madinat Qaboos 4 bedrooms, housemaid room, 2 kitchens, 2sitting rooms, study room, full A/C, remote control car parks. 1,600 RO each villa Contact 00968 92503825 Flat for rent south Al Mabela.

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

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

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

2 BHK in Bareeq Al Shatti with split AC. Contact: 96708000

Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq. mtr. Contact: - 91398925

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 Villa for rent in Al Hail South consist of two floor, can rent each floor separate or together. Each floor consist of two bedrooms, Majlis with dining room, living room and kitchen for every floor 400/-R.O. Contact: 99546777 Flats for rent at Mawaleh near Omantel main office opposite Lulu bandar comprises 3 rooms, 2 toilets and one kitchen OMR 250/Per month. Contact: 93131497 or 99203435 Villa is composed of 5 bedrooms and sitting toilets and 5 living room, kitchen and Seeb (North Al Hail). Contact: 91130875

Shop for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499

For Rent near ONTC Bus stop Ruwi.

Contact: 99475052/99502708 Modern office space for rent at MBD area near Atlas hospital.

Contact: 98825805/98825806 Email: info@rns-group.com 1/2/3 bedrooms flats at Al Hail including utilities bills 92817777 Commercial office at prime location in Azaiba for rent. 171sq.mtr.

Contact:- 91398925 3BHK flat for rent in Ghubra.

Contac: 99328070

Restaurant for rent or sale in Al Ghobrah with its equipments and permitions for workers. For details contact: 95094062 1B/R apartment executive fully furnished at AL Khuwair 33 & 5 B/R villa unfurnished at Madinat Al Ilam & 5 B/R villa furnished at Madinat Al Ilam. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & rent a car LLC 24834 888/99249069/92888376/94617 563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com Flats for rent in Ruwi Mumtaz area 2 bedroom. Contact: 91409667/24291500

For rent 1 B/R Apartment Executive Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 33, 5 B/R Villa – Unfurnished @ Madinat Al Ilam 5 B/R Villa – } Furnished @ Madinat Al Ilam Please Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC 24834888/ 99249069 / 92888376/94617563 / Email: info@alshahiintl.com Four bedrooms villa in Al Athaiba 300 m away from Shell Petrol Station in an excellent condition.

Contact: 97755586 1 BHK Ghubra R.O 250/.

Contact: 97799175 Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665

Please contact: G.S.M

99417229/92621039 1& 3 BHK Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99024730 2 BHK apartment in Al Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact 93252324, 99364041.

2 BHK Flats for rent, Muttrah near Oman house S/ AC. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi, MBD area & Honda road.

Contact: 92589235/ 94579531 Two bedroom flat in Al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

New flats for rent at Darsait near to ministry of sports, Mumtaz area the flats include 1 living room, 2 Bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets every room with split A/C & high Quality finishing, rent per flat is R.O 340/-.

Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 92225523 One bedroom flat with big balcony in al Ghubra near Oman Oil of 18 November street. OMR 280 Monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Brand new deluxe flats located near Seeb flyover on the right hand side the main road coming from the Seeb palace round about, 2 bedrooms family, hall, kitchen, 3 toilets & split unit.

Contact: 97755586

S U N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

D3

DAILY GUIDE

BUILDING MATERIAL SHOP FOR SALE Running shop with paint machine for sale in kadra Ͳ

WƌŝŵĞ ůŽĐĂƟ ŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ŐŽŽĚ ĚĂŝůLJ ƐĂůĞƐ 260 Square meters Warehouse facility ^ƚĂī ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟ ŽŶ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ƉĂƌƟ ĞƐ ŵĂLJ ĐĂůů 9322 3382 or mail to cs@mpesllc.com

SCRAP COMPANY

FOR RENT

FOR SALE OR RENT

INDUSTRIAL LAND FOR RENT (BARKA)

FLATS FOR RENT

1100 SQ MTR free industrial land for all purpose is available with compound and furnished office in Barka Contact:

1 BHK and 2BHK Flats with Split ACs Opp. to MOD Near Lulu Darsait

24707088, 98283896

(BARKA) An excellent Grade 1 Scrap ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͕ ĨƵůůLJ ĐĞƌƟ Į ĞĚ ŝƐ available with compound ĂŶĚ ĨƵƌŶŝƐŚĞĚ Žĸ ĐĞ͕ in Barka Industrial Area.

Contact:

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

24707088, 98283896

CONTACT :

93202733 Brand new 4 BHK villa in Al Fai compound Al Khoud. RO.475/Contact – 91776665 Villa of 3 BHK and sitting area in Al Ghobra North. RO.525/Contact – 91776665 Luxury and brand new semi furnished 2 BHK flat in Remalbowsher. RO.550/- Contact – 91776665 Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking.

RO.300/-Contact – 91776665

1 & 2 BHK Ruwi C.B.D. Contact: 99024730

Flats in Darsait.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

2 clean & spacious flats with A/C, first flat is behind City center Al Seeb consist of 2 bedroom and living room second flat is in Al Khoud 3 consist of 1 bedroom and living room. Contact: 93366421

Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

Flats & offices for rent in CBD Ruwi. Contact: 92820734 / 95345909

Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. Contact: 9405178997201688

Flats shops & store for rent in Ruwi MBD Honda road.

Contact: 92433127 / 97293708

Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

1& 2 BHK flats for rent at Hamriya Wadi Adai, Al Khoud, Mabela & shop at Al Khoud & land line Contact: 24834644 GSM 93994401/02/03 3 lines 3 BHK flat near Darsait ID medical.

RO 420/- Contact – 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 96571151 1BHK flat near Star Cinema 220/Contact 99358589 /95570288 Flats two bed room for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact: 96571151 Commercial flats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/Contact: 91776665 600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2.

Contact: 91776665 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact - 94051789-97201688

FOR SALE Carpentry workshop with all basic equipments, tools, amenities and a work force of 15. Total area 1600 SQ.M and a built up area of 800 SQ.M. Accommodation for workers within the compound. Excellent goodwill and reputation created in the market since the last 14 years.

Contact 95219895 or Email: mci.carpentry@yahoo.com Cradle lift for external Building painting, almost new height up to 100 Mts six mtr cradle. Contact : 99235701 / 90648313 Restaurant items for sale.

Contact: 96772479 /98428507

ACC. AVAILABLE Single room at Walja, opposite MBD area SPAR available for executive bachelors inclusive of electricity and water for OMR 110/-.

Contact: 98958586 Excellent room, kitchen with A/C couple / bachelor ONTC bus near Ruwi. Contact: 91657455 Flats 3 bedroom available at Ghobrah near Indian School.

Contact: 99236718

Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact: 9405178997201688

A well Established Indian restaurant with all necessary equipments well qualified staff furnished party hall (capacity 150) is up for immediate sale at MBD area.

Contact: 92978956

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. Contact: 9405178997201688

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430

Furnished room for an Indian in Al-Khuwair33 - 95234062

Sale of shop with interiors and basement go down in Wadi Kabir near to Lulu Market, on the Juma Masjid road. Contact: 99344106

Room with kitchen, bath available in Ruwi for a couple or single working lady. Contact: 91450718 / 91429608

Special Dental Center for sale.

2 Dentist room, dental lab, full brand instruments with external public pharmacy in Muscat.

Contact no. 99019144

Accommodation available at Al Hail Keralite family only.

Contact: 96234708

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

FOR SALE Fire rated portacabins and steel caravans. ContacT: 94058574 Ladies Beauty parlour for sale.

Contact: 96392978 / 96700192

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

Sharing accommodation near Hamriya flower shopping supermarket. Contact: 98985763 Single room attached bath at Mumtaz area. Contact 95212017 / 90562744

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir 9304 9849 Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera hypermarket, Azaiba 150/-R.O. Contact: 99455735

Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: Contact 99273774/ 99202278

Single room attached bath, kitchen in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99336206

Running company with construction fire & safety license.

Contact: 99319670

Accommodation for couple or working lady, near Al Nahda hospital. Contact 95871148

earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

ACC. AVAILABLE Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

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

LOST Erin Jijo has lost Indian Passport No. K 0074499. Finder please handover to ROP

D4

S U N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT URGENTLY REQUIRED

FMCG is looking for a

Mobile Technician

SALES SUPERVISOR - Bachelor ‘s degree on the same field - 5 Years experience in the (FMCG) field.

- Minimum Age 30 to 40 years - Speaks English and Arabic - Driving license Ready to directly of work Send your CV to Email : receptionist@mescooman.com

Contact: 91577519/99737812 Wanted female GP, female Gynecologist, female Staff Nurse, female X- Ray Technician With MOH license for Al Saadi Specialized Medical Centre in Musanna.

Contact -91262604 Email: chillapalli76@gmail.com

Experienced CEO required Omani Based Group of companies Running a midsized successful holding organization With multi discipline of fields is looking for an active CEO with minimum of ten years Experience who has a global Business outlook, he should have strong leadership, and be able to give clear direction and guidance to the management team.

Kindly send your emails :issa@nibras.om, kevin@nibras.om A leading company in travels & tourism, accredited by IATA requires: Sales Executive for Travels & Tourism: Experience not less than 3 years in one of the travels & Tourism, must have a driving license.

LOOKING FOR

SALES EXECUTIVES & SALES ENGINEERS WITH AT LEAST TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENTS, CRUCHERS, QUARRY & MINING INDUSTRY.

Email: applyinggchr@gmail.com

Sales Executive for Car Rental: Experience not less than 4 years in one rent a car company, must have a driving license.

Required urgently a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer for reputed law firm in Sohar, Muscat. Candidates should have 5-7 years experience as a Legal Consultant/ Lawyer with good knowledge of Computer & should be fluent in English both written & spoken.

Email C V to shejaanil66@gmail. com or Contact 99153620 between 8am to 1pm & 2pm to 5.30 pm on Sunday to Thursday

Must have at least 4 years experience in the travels, professional in GDS (Sabre, Amadeus, Galelio).

Tourism consultant: Experience not less than 5 years in tourism domain, very good knowledge in Tourism systems (DOTW,GTA…etc).Having relationships with suppliers in different countries in the world.

Notes: -You must determine which position did you applied for it as email subject -The company will not see at any demand without subject.

Email : nrtvacancies@gmail.com

Reputed organization is looking for heavy duty drivers for trailers Omani / expat (3 nos) and outdoor Sales Executive for hardware and general trading with valid D/L (1 no).

Send your CV on ocm@theocmgroup.com Urgently required one Omani driver for a reputed trading company in Ghala. Contact: 24502710 Fax: 24502609, GSM 99763251 Email: sharlu.entp@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELP ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Required experienced Accountant for group of restaurant.

Visa available. Contact: 99190190 Audit Assistants.

Email: aoabmuscat@gmail.com Accountant with knowledge of Tally. Driving license preferred.

Send C.V to info.rsttllc@gmail.com QHSSE ADVISOR - International Oilfield Services Company requires a NEBOSH qualified QHSSE Advisor (Omani National) to ensure continual improvement in our Muscat base. Main duties to include Journey Management, supporting implementation of policies and procedures, mentoring staff, training coordination, reporting, audit & inspection and risk assessment. Submit CV to me-job@interwell.com

BEAUTY Urgently required a Gulf experienced professional hair dresser cum beautician (lady) for a reputed beauty salon, immediate appointment. Contact: 99816262 / 98557585 Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair.makeup@gmail. com Wanted experienced beautician and hairdresser for the reputed ladies beauty center at Qurum.

Contact: 97453246 Email: souzawilfred@gmail.com

CATERING Required Cook, Omani food & continental experienced. Visa available. Contact: 99190190 Demi Chef needed urgently for seafood and fish and chips 2 male Filipino Waiter needed urgently with experience. Contact 92382239 / 98260306

Required Cleaners & office boys.

Contact 24707833 Urgently required House Maid Cum Cook for an Indian Business Family.

Call for Interview 99471085 Keralite house maid required for 3 hrs evening part time job at Ghubra.

Contact:92448315

Required Female Teacher to teach Physics and Maths for grade 11 girl, studying at Al Ibdaa PS. Tel 99227839)

ENGINEER Décor Company looking for an Engineer or Technician decorated with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com Senior Factory Control Room Operator Required for a Manufacturing Company in Oman. Candidate should possess a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering with minimum 5 years of experience.

Candidates who have experience in Oman are preferred. Kindly forward relevant resumes to info.companyoman@yahoo.com

IT Required Electrician ITI experienced in L.T works or M.E.P with MEDC license. Contact: 99364007 / 99454425 Developers needed with experience in .net, C#, EF Code First, WCF, MVC 4/5, WebAPI, SQL and WF 4.5 must. Work from home role for an Australian company.

Send resume to Email: atif.saad@mis.technology

MEDICAL

Wanted Driver. Contact 91025698

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Wanted female Ayurvedic therapist with or without MOH. Contact: 97263637/93309131

MISCELLANEOUS One of the leading Business Groups in Oman is looking for Secretary- male / Secretary – Female / Accountant / Driver with valid Omani license & Laborer (loading & unloading).

Interested candidates may apply to muscat.supply@gmail.com

EDUCATION

DRIVER An Indian light driver. Contact: 24705605, Ruwi

DŝŶŝŵƵŵ Ϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŐŽŽĚ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚ ŽǀĞƌ ŶŐůŝƐŚ Θ ƌĂďŝĐ͘ ^ŚŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĐĂƉĂďůĞ ŽĨ ŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͕ Ăůů ƚLJƉĞ ŽĨ ĐŽƌƌĞƐƉŽŶĚĞŶĐĞ Θ ƌŽƵƟ ŶĞ Žĸ ĐĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚ ƐŬŝůů ŝŶ D^ͲKĸ ĐĞ ŝƐ ŵƵƐƚ͘ Interested candidates may send in their CVs to Fax # 24600217 or email on:

zeeshan@starslightllc.com

SALES / MARKETING

Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization as per IFRS, Audit Preparation, Project Report, Training for Accountants, Internal Audit, Accounting System for New Companies, Contact: 96975454, email:ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687 B.Com 32 yrs male Accountant having 8 yrs Oman experience in Construction Co. seeking immediate change (NOC available).

Contact: 98624850

Indian Male Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) GSM.92564955

Urgently required Marketing Executive with driving license for sales of furniture. Contact: 97164554 / 99452755 Email: aliasgar.tarwadi@yahoo. com

Indian male Accountant having B.Com, M.Com with 7 years experience up to finalization looking job, on tourist visa ready to join immediately. Contact: 91651695 Email: danishpa2005@gmail.com

Wanted experienced Sales Person for show room related to safety products (PPE) having knowledge of computer, driving license is an added advantage.

Contact: 99344106/99893938

Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position.

Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

Vacancy dermatologist doctors & internal medicine for inquiry or send CV. Contact: 24571094/ Fax: 24571097 Email: zmczahara@yahoo.com

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

Required marketing Executives females in Muscat with Oman driving license. Email: excellentchoice1ccs@gmail.com Required male / female Marketing person for man power Supply Company with minimum 3 years experience with valid GCC / Oman driving license.

Contact: 97158893 / 94148972.

Kindly send CV at Email: rastllcmuscat@gmail.com Urgently required Marketing Executives with driving license for sales in artificial grass & steel fabrication. Contact 99104577 Email: info@greencover.net

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

TOURS/TRAVELS

Urgently required a building maintenance / cleaning person worked in gulf if Oman has already completed 2 years stay in India.

Contact: 99231676

Required Yacht Captain for a marine tour company in Muscat, English speaking and valid boat driving license. Contact: 92014572

Required experience carpenter & Gypsum worker for interior fit-out.

Contact: 98825805/98825806 Email: info@rns-group.com Need master cutter, tailor for tailor shop. Contact: 99825211 Wanted A/c Mechanic, Electrician / Plumber, Carpenters, Driver. Contact 94147874 / 97014234, globalaccessunited@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING A Leading trading group is looking for Sales executives / Outdoor sales Co-coordinator having experience in construction equipment / Building materials with driving license & Release / NOC. Email CV to alhajoil@omantel.net.om or fax: 24701683 Urgently Required Steel Fabricated Products Salesman with an experience in steel fabrication, MUST have Oman driving license, and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male, 26 with MBA (Finance / Marketing) having 2 years experience in (Accounts / Finance) on visit visa looking for suitable position immediately joining available.

Contact: 92989197 Email: abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com CA with 16 years experience in finance / audit, seeking suitable senior position and available for immediate joining. Contact: 96320588 Indian male 25 B.Com IATA diploma 2 yrs exp in accounts, good looking currently in Oman, NOC available. Contact: 99323841 Email:rohitpanam@gmail.com Part time up to finalization.

Contact: 91126314 Indian Accountant with experience in financial/cost accounting, Administration, HR and Material Management in construction (more than 30 years) seek suitable placement. Contact 98598099

Indian male having good experience in accounts and in accounting and in accounting software’s ready to join immediately Contact +91 9444965126

Accounting Services for small/ medium Businesses. Accounting from Data Entry to preparation of P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash flow and complete reports for auditing contact: 99679247 Indian male (25) B.com 3 years experience as Accountant seeking placement accountant / Admin / sales visit visa. Contact: 98437731 Email: falsalcpsy@gmail.com

Office furniture Sales Executive with minimum 5 years experience & valid Omani driving license, should have experience in handling office furniture projects, Tenders & Retail. Candidates should have NOC from the current employer. Interested candidates can apply by mail: info@smartvisionoman.con Fax: 24818818

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

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com

Building material company looking for a Marketer with experience. Contact: 95342240 & send CV to Email: venice.decoration@gmail.com

Required building material outdoor sales man with Omani driving license 3 years experience in outdoor.

Contact: 24817708

Indian male, 28, Post Graduate, 6 years exp. in Oman in Sales and Credit Control , with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements.

NOC available. Ph: 9206 6523

Indian male accountant with 7 years experience in Oman seeking for suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 95578150 Whatsapp

Ticketing consultant:

DRIVER ADMIN

URGENTLY REQUIRED HR Manager ;KŵĂŶŝ EĂƟ ŽŶĂůͿ

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian female Accountant 8 yrs exp in Oman. Contact: 93726921 Indian male, MBA in finance with more than 6 years of experience, proficiency in accounting software like tally, focus SAP (FICO) etc seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98665219 Email Id: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com Indian male 12 yrs exp in accounts location Sohar .

NOC available. Contact :91212471, Email: rennyj6@gmail.com Bangladeshi male having MBA (finance) & M.com (accounting) with 2 yrs exp. looking for suitable placement have valid D/L & NOC. Contact :968 92491009, Email: rasubiswas4@gmail.com Indian female B.Com, ACCA affiliate fresher seeking for job in Auditing finance & accounting in family visa holding Oman driving license. Contact: 92264638 / 99858867 Email: mira.somya@gmail.com Pakistani male 11 yrs experience in accounts, finance looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91479315 Email: bilalnazir65@hotmail.com Finance Manager 22 years Oman experience available. Transfer possible. Contact: 95631834 / 91302906 Indian male 7 yrs Oman exp, tally ERP 9, Accounting, Inventory controlling & IT Supports seeking suitable job. NOC Available. B.Com, PGDCA. location Sohar having Oman D/L. Contact 98317698, Email: sukuanilkumar@gmail.com Young 24, ACCA affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business, seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or audit With valid driving license.

Contact - 92430152, Email - rau_dey@yahoo.com Indian male 35 years, BBM, diploma in accounts management & banking, 5 years experience in Oman as sales executive & accountant, with valid Oman D/L, seeking suitable placement in Muscat. Contact: 98163037/ 92683606 Email: abhi.abrahan09@gmail.com Chartered Accountant - Indian, 9 yrs + Exp (7 yr in Oman & UAE) in Finance, Accounts & Auditing, seeking suitable position in Muscat/ Dubai ASAP, Can Join Immediately, NOC Available, Contact : 98707434 /casmart007@gmail.com Chief Accountant looking for full / part time job.

Contact: 95598477/98803439

M.Com & MBA finance Indian 10 years of experience in finance & accounts up to finalization currently available in Oman. #90501642, Email: bobykkj@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com with 6 years experience as an Accountant, looking for suitable placement.

Mob: 93903458 , Email : Akkandyrijesh@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, with 13yrs experience, 6 yrs Oman in manufacturing, trading & contracting Cos, capable of handling all accounting, finance, banking, L/C, import, export & finalization seeks placement. NOC Available.

Call+968-98932752, mail:jjohnmuscat@hotmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman. Having D/L & NOC. Mob: 94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com

ADMIN 26/Pakistani Male/MBA-HR having 2 years of experience in HR with MN Insurance Company and banking industry is currently in OMAN on VISIT VISA & looking for a suitable job in HR, ADMIN or FINANCE. Email ahmadraja010@gmail.com GSM 91716268/93228785 Indian female Graduate over 6 years experience in Admin operations support with excellent communication skills looking for suitable job. Contact: 94231020 Indian male MBA 33yrs having 10 yrs of exp seeking full time suitable placement in Administration/ HR/ Operations/ Coordination/ Logistics. Holding valid D/L. Contact 99054786 Indian legal adviser drafting cases / contract administrator job experience computer knowledge Oman experience / India suitable job NOC. Contact: 91171650 Indian female 27 yrs Masters in computer, 2 yrs exp in admin.

Looking for full-time or part-time jobs Contact: 99417993 Pakistani male 7 yrs experience in purchase & HR looking for suitable job with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 91020279, Email: afaiz7345@gmail.com Indian male, Graduate having more than 10 years experience in logistics & freight forwarding with GCC license, looking for a suitable job. Contact: 91714980 Email: medileep@gmail.com Looking for H.R Admin Assistant post or any related position, currently on visit visa, available for immediate placement Qualification MBA H.R. Contact: 94665450 Email: paulwesleywilliaams@yahoo.com Indian 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

S U N DAY, F E B R UA RY 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280 Indian female, Masters in HR, having 4 + years Oman experience in media management and HR, looking for openings in HR, Education, Admin, Corporate communications. Contact 98252030 young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O , Clerk helper supervisor Admin supervisor , H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license looking for H.R position or P.R.O license . Looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time. Contact: 95933288

ARCHITECTURE Architect / Site Architect 12 years experience in Supervision the implementation of major projects & design, looking for work in construction or consulting.

Contact: 96049397 Indian female diploma in architecture having 5 years of working experience in Oman (Engg Consultancy having valid Oman driving license. Contact: 96683293

BEAUTY Beautician, Indian exp. required visa. Contact 95175192

CATERING Indian Kerala male 39 well exp commis chef /cook / supervising in hotel / catering seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98137476 Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DRIVER Indian heavy duty driver having 15 years experience in Oman NOC available. Contact: 91395329 /94730087 Driver with car 2015 model, speak British English.

Contact: 94039796 Embassy experienced driver with 17 years experience seeks suitable placement. Contact: 92191698 Driver with release Oman 4 years, K.S.A 12 years exp.

Contact: 93885404 Pakistani light driver looking for job with 5 years experience.

Contact: 92617293 Looking job for driving with car.

Contact: 90436094 Looking for job car driver.

Contact: 98388947 Light driver looking for job experience 8 years. Contact: 94297563 Light driver. Contact: 99141481 Light driver looking for job.

Contact : 95494310 Light driver 10 years experience looking for suitable job, can speak English, Arabic & Hindi.

Contact: 92360040 Driver, 2 yrs exp looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97133246 Light driver need job knows Arabic & Hindi. Contact: 95145988 Looking job L.T.V with car, without car. Contact: 94436276 Driver, 5 years experience in Oman looking for job.

Contact : +968 99139890 Job for driving. Contact: 98982410

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid & Driver, valid GCC D/L (couple) overseas looking for job. Contact 95175192 Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job.

Contact 99531802

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Interior Designer 4 years experience design and supervision skills (3D Max, AutoCAD Photoshop.

Contact: 95246737 Email: yassalnajjar@gmail.com

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Finance / Project/ Program Manager Professional YƵĂůŝĮ ĐĂƟ ŽŶƐ ͗ D ͕ WDW͕ ^ŝdž ^ŝŐŵĂ Country Exposure Canada & DŝĚĚůĞ ĂƐƚ͕ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ŶLJ EĂƟ ŽŶĂůŝƚLJ Canadian, In Person Interview on Sundays

Contact No: 97203531, +923352855176

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IT

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with QA / QC piping Engineering (ASNT) level 2 (UT, RT, MPT, LRT) with experience QC Inspector in a expansion project of a refinery. Currently on visiting working for suitable job.

Contact: 00968 97697944 Email: arskpo7@gmail.com Project Engineer (Civil) Indian Male 11 years in Building Construction.

Visa release & D/L available.

Contact: 93836362/94605415, mathan.civil04@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B.Tech) with 2 and half years experience Indian male 24 years in visit visa. Contact: 96620482 / + 919605423272 Email: bijumonps@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 years experience, 4 years in Oman, driving license available. Contact number 92553263 Offshore Structural Engineer (M. Tech) Indian 27 yrs 1 year experience looking opportunity in Oman.

Contact: 93653629 Telecom Engineer, Indian, M.Tech (Communication System) 2 years exp O& M of Ericsson BSC, RNC equipments seeking suitable job, presently on visit visa.

Contact: 968 93615443 Email: shabnaspk@gmail.com Diploma Engineer looking for job (Civil) 7 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 92076339 Process Engineer Chemical Engineer, MBA certified in supply chain (MGT) 6 years experiences in operation. Contact: +968 94690325 Email: phahad.hashim@gmail.com Electrical designer Indian male 25 yrs experience of oil & gas field in Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99605127 Email: Gerard.baptist@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian male with 3 years experience skilled in the area quantity surveyor, primavera, MS Excel, AutoCAD. Contact: 00968 94853061, E mail: arunmohan.13990@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (4 years exp) (3 years HVAC 10 months Piping Engineer) job visa Indian Muslim (27). Contact: 90486758 Email: afsalhyder@gmail.com Indian Civil Eng., (BE) 16 years exp in Oman const. having driving license & NOC. Contact : 99446335 Email: sonymathew76@yahoo.com Technical Analysis Trainer with automated trading system (NSE) looking for a job. Contact: 91285811 Diploma in Civil Engineering having an experience 16 years (8 years in Oman) looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 95900744 / 98028329 Email: skalam744@gmail.com B.E .Mechanical Engineer Indian over 4 yrs of exp in HVAC design auto cad drafting on visit visa.

Contact 90305596, Email: shaikrizwan330@gmail.com Mechanical Eng. Diploma 31 years experience (22 Oman) Steel fabrication, steel furniture, Powder coating, Production and Planning.

Machine shop, looking for Managerial position in Sohar.

Contact 99314899 Seeking for Job: Male Bachelor of Science In Industrial Technology Graduate Job Exp.6yrs water safety rescue/lifeguard/scuba diving Contact: 96094260 / 96023570 Electrical Engineer B.Tech with 4 yrs experience in India available on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94741401 / 97239852 Email: sobinthomask05@gmail.com Indian male, Electronics Engineer with 16+ yrs experience in ELV systems looking for suitable position in Sales, Business Development or operations, having valid license & local release. Contact 98143907 or mazher2005@yahoo.com Indian male 26 yrs have 6 yrs exp in technical assistant in tyre production, visit visa at Ruwi.

Contact: 92600859

HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+ Diploma Safety + NEBOSH+ OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement. Contact :97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer with MBA (Mktg) having 4 and half years experience in technical commercial and marketing fields with valid GCC D/L, NOC available seeking placement. Contact: + 968 96547828 Email: deva0234@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 HSE Engineer B.Tech (safety & fire) M. Sc 8 years experience Indian 31 years presently occupied on notice period available with clean NOC, holds Oman driving license & owns car. Contact: 94616721 Email: aibelg19@gmail.com B.Sc Civil Engineer, 27 yrs Oman experience as Project Manager, Structure Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC / LOCAL transfer available. Contact: 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Civil diploma Engineer cum quantity survey male 6 years experience in Oman valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93747759 Email: jaleelvanimalkp@gmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer Experienced from Indian & Singapore, experience in QA/QC is looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98919114 Indian female (22) BE Computer Science & pursuing MBA in symbiosis, looking for a job in HR & IT with 2 years experience in IT field.

Contact: 92649477 / 96043223 Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375 Chemical Engineer Sudanese male 29 yrs. Master degree in chemical engineering , Experience 1 yrs and 2 months OSHA Course ,HACCP Course , look for suitable job in Oman. Contact 96533430 Indian male, Age 22, B.Tech, Mechanical Engineer, seeking for job on any position presently on family visa. Contact 94597785 Highly experienced Indian Civil Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 95715278 Iraqi Architect with 10 years of experience in Engineering designs and Construction Supervising professional in 3Ds Max, AutoCAD Photoshop. Contact: 96011716 Civil Engineer 4 years experience (Site Engineer). Contact: 94703391 Soft ware Engineer available, 1 year experienced in Oracle –DB, VB. Net, SQL. Interested contact: 97440378 Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Experience in the power plant and any types of the Mechanical work, looking for mechanical jobs.

Contact: 92827254 /94641669 MEP Engineer 5 years exp in Gulf driving license NOC. #97838220 Civil Engineer (Diploma) having 11 years experience in building construction, looking for a suitable placement , having Oman driving license. Noc available. # 95075365 Email: azharraaz@gmail.com

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa.

Contact: 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com Electrical Testing Engineer (B.Tech) having 7 yrs Gulf experience expertise in testing precommissioning commissioning of electrical systems, currently on visit visa seeks suitable job in Muscat.

Contact: 90188231 Mechanical Engineer male 26 yrs, with 4 yrs of experience in manufacturing oil & gas retail, brand promoting, marketing, logistics having valid Omani D/L seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 97098676 Email: ja237le@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Indian female civil engineer B.Tech having 3 years experience sound knowledge of software, REVIT STAD PRO structural detailing currently on family visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95345591 Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Sudanese Architectural Engineer 2 years experience in Oman, Revit, AutoCAD 3Ds max Archicad looking for suitable job.

Contact: 94722356 Email: maya40999@hotmail.com Indian Electrical Engineer Btech, female 24 seeking job, presently in oman having 2 year experience in design and estimation of Ht &Lt projects. Contact 968 97436557, Mail id : sibinanoop1@gmail.com Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518 Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 / acmfaslan123@gmail.com Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113 7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598 Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656 Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com

Procurement Engineer (27 years single male with Oman Driving License) having 7 years experience (UAE 2, Oman 3) with expertise in MEP, Water, Electromechanical, Instrumentation seeking suitable placements. Contact 95852033, mail: hemal1988@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate.

Contact: 93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com

EDUCATION Indian Lecturer Lady, MTECH with 5+ years teaching experience in Electrical engineering - RUWI95073922 / chithrarakeshkumar@gmail.com Looking for part time tutoring on Mathematical & Statistics.

Contact: 99229700

HOSPITALITY Hotel Management Degree holder, Indian Male, with 4 years work experience (Kuwait & India) looking for “Supervisor” position in F&B Department. Contact 96278739 or email anand786x@yahoo.com Hospitality/Hotel/ Restaurants Dynamic result oriented hospitality professional with 20 years of international exp. MBA in Hotel Management, specializing in Hotel/Restaurant start ups, concepts & Franchise development with proven records. Seeking for Challenging positions in reputed groups as GM/COO/CEO/Business Head. (NOC available) Contact: 96059470

IT IT Service Desk Management with 3 years experience now on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95917613 Email:shithin.kanakadas@gamil.com Indian male 27 yrs master in computer applications currently in Muscat with Oman driving license seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93191800 Email: vijilraj60@gmail.com Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867 Indian Female, MSC, 2.5 Yrs experience in Infosys Ltd as senior systems engineer. Currently on family visa. Area of expertiseJava, Ecommerce, IBM-Sterling, SQL, C/C++, Oracle, Java script.

Looking for suitable job opportunities. Contact: 93092729 Indian female 28 years, MCA, B.com, 3 years experience in the field of computer hardware, ERP software and windows networking where planning, implementing and troubleshooting with multiple platform of OS Microsoft XP /7/8 on visit visa. Contact: 95089170 Email: anjuretnakar@gmail.com Indian male 25 years BSC (C.S) with basic hardware and software knowledge seeks suitable placement now on visit visa.

Contact: 92319677 Email: ismabsc@gmail.com Indian male having B. Tech C.C.NA M.C.SA 3years Saudi experience in IT System Administrator, 2 years experience in Networking (routing & switching) & server administrator presently on visit visa looking suitable placement.

Contact: 92339064 Email : anshadsainullabdeen@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact : 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com

Indian male, MCA, 15 years experience in Oracle, developer, Orion Sage ERP, 5 years in Oman working as IT In charge, with NOC release and transferable visa.

Contact: 95398567, Email: anasa4@gmail.com SAP / ABAP certified Indian female (30), BCA, MCA, ASP. Net certification having 2 yrs of experience family visa, seeking placement.

Contact: 99109121 Email: ashamaryphilip@gmail.com

LOGISTICS Indian Male, 36 years, over 16 years’ Stores, Logistics and Import Export experience with US based MNC, seeks suitable placement.

Mob: 9822 6568 Indian Male, 36 years, over 16 years’ Stores, Logistics and Import Export experience with US based MNC, seeks suitable placement.

Mob: 9822 6568

MANAGER Procurement Manager / Commercial Manager / G.M Indian male having 26 years of experience in Import, procurement, logistics, Commercial activities, Warehousing, TRD & Sales. # 90502724 Email: tk.sasi@gmail.com Office Manager / personal Assistant with extensive experience in overall admin, commercial activities, purchase, accounts with driving license seeks suitable change.

Local release available. #99168054 Egyptian male finance manager 7 years experience release available. Contact: 95539923 Showroom & Office &Purchase manager with legal background and operation management-6 years experience inside Oman -An ongoing relationship with a number of customers & supplier in Oman-with valid Omani driving license. Contact: 97792871 – email : m.hossam1986@gmail.com Store Incharge / Store keeper 8 years experience in Oman, NOC & release is available looking for good job. Contact: 98178804 / 96703816 The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good experience in pricing and collect payment and cash management of the company & marketing projects & investments& tenders & real estate. Contact 92385033 MBA (marketing) with 17 years experience in freight forwarding/ logistics industry in GCC & Oman.

Presently working as branch manager in Muscat. Looking for a suitable position. Release and NOC available. Contact: 99856331 Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact 91904541 Email: naushers@yahoo.com The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, Experience 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: tenders& real estate& construction & marketing projects& investments & transportation & Marine services& companies management& develop business. Contact: :- 92385033

MEDICAL Indian male Nurse Prometric 70% with MOH license. Smart & fluent in English. Ready for immediate joining. Contact – 92194649 Female Nurse Indian, total 15 yrs experience, 6 yrs in KSA, prometric passed with 66% ready to join immediately. Contact: 95525004 / 98146565

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED MEDICAL Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074 Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail.com An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

MISCELLANEOUS Filipina lady very urgently looking job only in boutique, release available ready to join immediately.

Contact: 97122152 / 91240759 Office boy, exp, knows English/ Hindi, can work on current visa 94263603

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian male experienced Office Asst with D/L looking for suitable job. Contact: 97718658

SALES / MARKETING MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license, looking for suitable position.M:94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING MBA Indian male 4 years experience sales & marketing seeking suitable opportunities. Contact: 96931719 Male 26 BBA studied in Oman 3 yrs exp in MNC and now on visit.

Contact: 98180071 Email: nikhildasin@gmail.com Sri Lankan lady experienced in key accounts, Market Demand planning & Communications, Brand/Sales in multinationals seeks placement in Muscat.

98250829 Experienced Indian male with Oman driving license and NOC looking for sales & marketing or purchase jobs.

Contact: 97360689

MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com Indian male plumbing sanitary ware & building materials experience in outdoor sales (9 years) with valid D/L UAE. Contact: 98723456 Indian male B. Pharm 15 years sales experience MOH Pharmacist license driving license looking for opportunities in Pharmacy or Sales and marketing can get NOC. Contact: 99694865 Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com

Sudanese male 43 PHD Business Management DiPCii, CITIP, ARM54, 12 years experience in insurance field, seeking insurance post or risk management or teaching in University.

Contact: 96796630 Email: brhomalkhoozamy@yahoo.com

Indian male 27 yrs, B.Com, tally 4 years sales exp in electrical & building materials with valid D/L. Contact: 98462052 Indian male, experienced Sales Executive with D/ L seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97853426

B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Major in Animal Science, Male, 5yrs experience in poultry farm, seeking for job.

Contact 96093752.

Marketing exceutive BBA, MCOM, Tally, exp in accouting (can continue in current visa) ph : 98269281

Indian male, BBM, MBA, having 3 years experience in Sales looking for suitable job.

Contact: 92796046

A Filipina lady having experience in call center, airline booking and reservations, secretarial and real estate is now looking for a job in any fields. Contact: 93839304 Sh. Carpenter, steel fitter, helper, seeks visa. Contact 95175192, email : oman.manpower@yahoo.com Indian female on visit MBA (International Business- Marketing & Logistics), BE (Computers & Science Engg.) Trained in SAP-BI/ BW with 1 year experience seeking for job Contact: 90228586 Email:fathimasha16@gmail.com Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement.

Gsm 98805474

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE A dynamic professional, female,MBA,8 yrs MNC exp in Purchase, Secretary, Sales Coordination, Office Assistant, Logistics, Petty Cash, Stock, Dispatch, Project management, Documentation, residing in oman with valid NOC from current company, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately. Contact:-phone:94157662 Email: shiji4123@gmail.com

Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 Indian female, MBA in Garment Manufacturing Technology, having over 8years exp in Merchandising & Marketing, worked for brands Zara, H&M, DKNY, Even & Odd, Soya Concept & many more, now on family visa looking for a suitable position.

Pls contact: 95604511. email: richagandhi25@gmail.com MBA gradate (Indian male 25 yrs) having two years experience in sales and marketing looking for suitable position.

Contact: 92129799 Email: nabu096@gmail.com Indian male 23 Graduate with 1 year experience with valid Oman driving license looking for a placement. Contact: 93379169 Indian male 4 years sales experience & Business development look forward for suitable position.

NOC & Oman D/L available.

Contact: 97198976 Email: qubaisakhan@gmail.com Indian male, Graduate, experienced Sales person (FMCG) with valid UAE driving license, on visit seeks suitable position.

Contact 92419491 / 94881950, Email : pranilpp76@gmail.com Indian male 26, with more than 3 years experience in Counter Sales & Marketing with valid N.O.C Cont: 94704522, 97826454 & Emailmd.noman.mansoori@gmail.com

Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761

26 years male MBA in Marketing & Finance Graduate having 2 years exp in sales & marketing in Mitsubishi Motor seeks suitable placement. Contact: 94676974 Email: dabdulmuqsit@gmail.com

Indian female B.C.A having exp in Office Assistance cum Secretary looking for job.

Contact: 97384206 Email: rani_sweet786@live.com

Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375

TECHNICIAN /MECH. Instrumentation & controls Technician with 2-3 years experience preferably in water sector and having valid driving license call Ph:+968 99450811 Send CV to shiju@spec-link.com

TOURS/TRAVELS Indian male 26 yrs, 7 yrs experience in airfare, audit, air ticketing well verse with Microsoft Office Windows application seeking for suitable position.

Contact: 94894170 / 95618311

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female, B.Tech graduate, with one and half years experience as ‘web developer’ interested in web development and has experience working in HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript and Photoshop.

Contact 9592 7075, e-mail id: mariarosejacob90@gmail.com Indian male 26, on vist visa, 2+ yrs of experience with UAE D/L, IATA-FIATA,BBA looking for any suitable job. Contact 91324567 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store In-charge in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com 33 year old Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre ,now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. #90139903 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com, Working as an administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605. E mail: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/networking/server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532 Indian Male, 26 years, With 7 years of experience in Sales Field in shipping company in “Dubai” , looking for suitable placement.

Experienced working in safety Marine equipment and well versed with MS Office. Contact: 90182494, manojmallya999@gmail.com Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa. Contact :- 96259171. Email:bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian Male, 27 Years, MBA Finance pursuing, BCA, 6 years working in Airline Cargo Operations, Airline Passenger Ticket Auditing domain, looking for a suitable placement, currently on visit. email: jeevamal89@gmail. com, Phone:- 91713489 Assistant Manager – Planning (B.Tech EEE): Indian Male, over 10 years( 7+ Yrs in Oman & UAE) of experience in Project Planning & Scheduling, Liaison & Coordination, Budgeting and Client Interaction. Seeking a suitable Job in Muscat. Contact – 00971503529608, Email Id: saravananbe44@gmail.com B.Com 5yrs experience good command on tally, Excel sheet on family visa. Contact: 98002428 Email: lubnakanwal36@gmail.com Diploma in civil engineering having an experience 26years (22years in Oman) experience in Estimator / quantity surveyor looking for a suitable placement.

Willing to join immediately Contact : 96328687.

Indian B.Tech 37 years Project Engineer , 12 + years experience in construction, maintenance of STP, Pumping stations, sewer lines, drinking water distribution and service reservoirs & pipe lines. Contact: 99364007 / +91-887422635 Email: mdzubair01@gmail.com Indian Mech Engineer, 9+ years of Saudi experience in HVAC, MEP oil & gas and hospital projects with valid Saudi driving license can join immediately. Contact: 99364007 / +966-505899608 Email: shuebmech@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com Electrical Engineer with 11 years experience in Electrical Design (LV&HV) Villas , apartments , seek part time jobs.

Contact -91403412 Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. salary is negotiable. mail: mohdnaveed043@gmail.com, Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746 Indian male 25 yrs, MBA (Finance, Marketing), Overall 2 yrs exp in Accounts/Finance field, On Visit Visa. Immediately available.

Contact - 92989197/94786544. abdulqhizer2004@gmail.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone: 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@ gmail.com

SIT.WANTED 22, Indian BBA graduate, 1 year experience, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 91881053 Highly experienced mechanical/ steel structural fabrication engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 99860714, hussain20173@gmail.com.

Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact 98803439 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com.Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/Server support.

Contact 92607532.

Light Driver looking for job.

Contact:99594946 Sudanese Mechanical Engineer 26 years old (male) with 4 years experience as Mechanical engineer , Sales engineer and Call center agent seeking suitable placement.

Contact: +968.90644235 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Oman driving license) seeking job. #90139903

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

SIT.WANTED Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com Working as an Administrator cum Accountant in man; searching better job. Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264.

Email:- yv.dixit@yahoo.com Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com Indian Female, BE Electronics and Communication, having oman experience looking for full time or part time job. Ready to join immediately, currently on family visa.

Contact : 92115948 / 99327912 Indian male B.Eng. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/networking/server, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/ Network/Server support.# 92607532

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D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

SITUATION WANTTOURS ED

RENT A CAR

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

DRIVING

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320

MANPOWER

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Experienced 10 Shuttering carpenters, 10 Steel Fixers and 10 mason to ready to joined with our organization with release & NOC. Salary will be fair, food and accommodation is available.

Contact 90234289 / 91496549 / 24494900

MV SALE

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).Contact: 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP speciďŹ cation for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact: 99839898

Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131

TRANSPORTATION From Mabela to Mawaleh for school student. Contact: 92757673

MV SALE

Transportation. Contact: 96248040

Partner wanted 10 to 30% share handover for running Construction Company. Contact: 97491117

2008 2ltr VW Passat, good condition, 115k km, 99659946, RO 2800

2007 Nissan Tiida in good condition for sale. Contact 98241569

Toyota Haice delivery van 2015 model, high roof in condition.

Contact: 99471699 / 95339183 / 94082616

Hyundai Santafe 2010 model, 2.7 litres, Black Colour, Expat driven, well maintained, 86000 kms.

Contact - 93304439.

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

Transportation in Muscat.

Contact: 96004045

Transportation Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92711421

Transportation. Contact :98505294

Transportation. Contact 92015894

Transportation.Contact: 99099714

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

DĂƌďůĞ Ɵ ůĞƐ ŐƌŝŶĚŝŶŐ Θ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ͕ DŽƐĂŝĐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ŐƌŝŶĚŝŶŐ Θ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ͕ ĐĂƌƉĞƚ ƐŚĂŵƉŽŽŝŶŐ͕ ƐŽĨĂ ƐŚĂŵƉŽŽŝŶŐ͕ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚ Θ ŐĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ǀŝůůĂ Θ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ Express Building Cleaning Services.

Contact 98480070 / 94134784

SERVICES

House shifting. Contact: 99708138

We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ General cleaning etc. ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> Contact : 94277020

Muscat Driving School.

Contact: 97026581 House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

MATRIMONIAL LEGAL SERVICE Ŷ /ŶĚŝĂŶ ůĂǁLJĞƌ WƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ăůů ůĞŐĂů ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŝŶ ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ ŵĂƩ ĞƌƐ͘ LĂďŽƵƌ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͕ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ ĂŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ >> ĨŽƌŵĂƟ ŽŶ͕ ůĞŐĂů ŚĞůƉ ĨŽƌ ƐƚĂƌƟ ŶŐ new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, LĞŐĂů Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649

Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326 Cleaning services sofa, carpet, shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

FURNITURE SHIFTING Maintenance, Dismantling, Packing, Shifting & Fixing furniture with expert technicians.

Pest Control Treatments Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723

Contact: 99041337 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Cleaning & Carpet Shampooing Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble.# 24793614/ 99314807 Marble, Grinding, Crystallization.

Ocean Center L.L.C. Contact: 99344723 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only. Contact: 94217681 / 99210141 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130

Keralite Hindu Ezhava Parents invites suitable alliance for their son 26 yrs, Nakshtaram Rohini employed in Muscat.

Girl, resident of Oman is preferred.

Please write to: satishkumar@altesoman.com