Times of Oman - March 14, 2016

MONDAY March 14, 2016 5 Jumada Al Thani 1437 AH

6 085010 120010 FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

At The Opening of the Annual Session of The Council of Oman, 2010

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ One of Oman’s firm principles is co-operation al with all states and nations on the basis of mutual n respect, mutual interest and non-interference in nce the affairs of others as well as our non-acceptance of interference in our affairs by others.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 18

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FORMULA ONE HEADING TO OMAN Times News Service

Red Bull’s F1 Showrun is set to rev up Muttrah Corniche with 250kph action

MUSCAT: Muscat’s iconic Muttrah Corniche is set to be transformed into a high octane racetrack as the glitz and the glamour of Formula One heads to Oman for the first time.

Red Bull is bringing its F1 Showrun spectacle to the Sultanate on April 8 which is expected to attract up to 20,000 fans who will be able

to line the seafront to experience the ear-splitting roar of the engine, the haze of tyre smoke and aroma of burning rubber.

Red Bull Racing will be bringing one of its Constructor’s Championship winning machines, which can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 2.4 seconds. It will be a Red Bull driver behind the wheel, but the identity is being kept under wraps for now by organisers.

The car is expected to zoom along the Muttrah Corniche at speeds of up to 250kph, and will be performing donuts, burnouts and speed stretches for thousands of fans throughout the day.

The build-up to the event will begin in the days prior to April 8, with the car touring various locations in Oman, plus being ‘fired up’ at Omantel’s headquarters on April 7. >A5, C8

Formula 1 acceleration The car, which accelerates from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds

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BANGLADESH DEFEAT OMAN, ENTER SUPER TEN Bangladesh’s batsman Tamim Iqbal plays a shot against Oman during the T20 World Cup at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday. Bangladesh won the rain-interrupted match by 54 runs (D/L method) with Oman finishing at 65 for 9 in 12 overs chasing 181 for win. - PTI

Shortage of fresh milk hits Oman due to bad weather Times News Service MUSCAT: Citizens and residents are facing a severe shortage of fresh milk due to rains disrupting the road traffic from Dubai to Oman, according to distributors and supermarket chain operators in Oman.

“We only received 15 per cent of our stock over the weekend, which was exhausted within an hour’s time,” according to a senior official of a leading chain of supermarkets.

An official of Lulu Hypermarkets told the Times of Oman that they have faced shortages in fresh milk over the past few days due to the weather situation.

Poor weather “Our suppliers have told us that the recent poor weather has interrupted their delivery schedules, but things seem to be getting back to normal now,” he further added.

“Approximately fifty percent of the demand was provided in the

M U LT I - TA L E N T E D

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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National CEO Programme success remarkable

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‘National CEO Programme’ is designed to address the private sector’s need for business leaders capable of of meeting local and regional marketplace challenges. >A2

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REGION

SQU to get dinosaurs

18 killed in Yemen

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Three electric dinosaur sculptures will be installed at the SQU soon. >A4

Oman’s business confidence set to improve next year

past few days. By mid-afternoon, fresh milk started running short”, he confirmed. “We’re expecting today’s (Sunday) supply to be sufficient”, he added.

Shop owners said a large portion of the area’s fresh milk comes daily

from the United Arab Emirates.

“But as a section of Oman–UAE roads were flooded, very little milk arrived from the UAE,” a shopkeeper on Rex Road said.

Further, when warehouses of a milk supplier in Oman flooded, it caused a severe shortage, according to a supermarket chain. “But things are better now and we hope that normalcy will return this week,” the official added.

Residents said they had a difficult time purchasing fresh milk over the weekend.

“After hunting in four super markets, I managed to buy only three bottles of 200ml, and that from a small shop near a petrol pump in Aziaba,” said Shushma Adhikari, a resident of Qurum.

Others said they had to purchase long-life milk. “I didn’t had any other alternative other than to buy long-life milk, as fresh milk was just not available anywhere,” said Kumar, a Bangladeshi expatriate who lives in Ruwi.

Saudi-led helicopters attacked killed at least 18 people on Sunday. >A7

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For Marwa, IT is her first passion DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: From designing an educational e-book while still at school, representing Oman at Microsoft’s Imagine Cup, the world’s premier student technology competition organised in St Petersberg, Russia, to opening the Omani chapter of ArabWIC (Arab Women in Computing), 26-yearold Marwa Al Habsi has come a long way.

But for her dreams and aspirations, she still has miles to go.

She was also the first Omani woman, along with her friend and co-worker Asya Al Jabri, to have attended the Grace Hopper Conference in 2013, which is the world’s biggest gathering of women in technology. “The theme was ‘Think big, drive forward’.

At the conference, we got to hear from female leaders in the computing world. It was so inspirational and made me look at the world of technology in a much broader manner, with endless op-

Marwa Al Habsi. – Supplied picture

portunities,” says al Habsi.

Although all of Marwa’s achievements are fruits of her own labour, she says that her family has been the biggest support in everything she has done till now.

“I believe that if your family sup-

ports you, there is so much that you can do, and in my case, my family has supported me to the maximum and I am grateful for that,” she adds.

Marwa’s biggest success so far is to have been chosen as the ambassador for ArabWIC in Oman, which eventually made her start the ArabWIC Oman chapter last year. The organisation was originally founded during a conference on women in computing in the Arab world in 2012 in the New York University in Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), where participants unanimously agreed to create an international organisation for Arab women in computing.

“With chapters in 12 Arab countries, the goal of ArabWIC is to support, inspire, retain, encourage collaboration, increase visibility of and help elevate the status of Arab women in computing, and allow them to achieve their career goals.

Besides, it also aims to create a linkage with international women-in-Computer Science organizations,” Al Habsi says. >A6

MORNING MINUTE

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Online processes are truly transparent; we have to prepare a biography and narrate why we should get involved in it and how we can contribute to the country Aisha A Al Kharusi, Chief Marketing officer of Alizz Islamic Bank

Omani chief executives raring to go MOBIN MATHEW BLESSON

mobinmathew@timesofoman.com

The National CEO Programme is designed to address the private sector’s need for business leaders capable of meeting local and regional marketplace challenges

MUSCAT: “We want to be the change leaders and we want to contribute towards the betterment of Oman and its future,” said a member of the first group of National CEO Programme (NCP).

“It (National CEO Programme) is very beneficial,” Aisha A Al Kharusi, Chief Marketing officer of Alizz Islamic Bank told the Times of Oman on the sidelines of the launch of the Second Cohort of the programme.

She is a member of the First Cohort of the National CEO Programme. According to Al Kharusi, the initial procedures were nervewracking.

“It was a nerve-wracking experience because it was a national invitation,” Al Kharusi said.

‘Online processes’ “Online processes are truly transparent; we have to prepare a biography and narrate why we should get involved in it and how we can contribute to the country,” she added.

“But now I can say that it was a rewarding experience because I learnt a lot, not only from the IMD business school, but also from my peers,” she continued.

She also said that the 30 members of the first group belonged to different sectors and backgrounds.

“We have a synergy between us now. When we go back to work,

knowing that we have support in a different industry will help us,” Al Kharusi said.

“Maintaining this synergy is going to be an important element for any individual’s success,” she asserted.

She also said that through this programme, “we are building transparent, accountable leaders to the country.”

Cohort 2 launch The Public Private Partnership (PPP) Taskforce “Sharaka” has announced the launch of Cohort 2 of the National CEO Programme at the event as part of its commitment to contribute to the development of national leaders in the private sector.

“By developing a community of world-class Omani leaders, we are enabling the private sector to play a greater role in the socio-economic development of the country,” Dr Ali Qassim Jawad, the Advisor for Studies and Research at the Diwan of Royal Court and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee, commented at the event.

“We designed the programme to ensure achievement of national PPP priorities, and a balanced delivery of both theoretical and practical components,” Dr Jawad added.

He also said that the programme is focusing on a comprehensive range of modules, including, ‘Leading in a Global Context’, ‘Inspirational Leadership’, ‘National

Competitiveness’, and ‘Competing for the Future’. He also pointed out that this programme is for individual development, and was not an employment programme.

According to the officials, an online application process has been launched to enrol another group of 35 Omani private sector leaders, with a criterion that guarantees economic diversification by selecting participants from different economic sectors, representing different governorates, and businesses of different sizes.

They also said that participants will be involved in a cutting-edge learning journey through classroom-based delivery, experiential learning, leadership coaching, and project application.

UNESCO

Oman elected to global body MONACO: UNESCO’s General Conference elected the Sultanate as representative for the Arab Group of the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), one of the major committees of the United Nations Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO).

The committee is entrusted with a variety of tasks and objectives, including guiding the planning and implementation of strategy process of the UNESCO’s programme of activities in the area of physical education and sport, particularly the revival of games and heritage and traditional sports. Election of Oman came on the sidelines of the session, which took place in Monaco.

“CIGEPS” consists of 18 countries from around the world and several organisations including the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme and the International Olympic Committee attend its meetings as an observer. -ONA

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

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FULL TO THE BRIM: The level of retained water behind Wadi Dhaiqah Dam in Al Mazaraa village in the Wilayat of Quriyat hit 96.8 per cent or 96.8 million cubic metres yesterday. – ONA

Muscat receives 177mm rainfall The rain led to the many wadis overflowing and a huge quantity of water was retained in the dams

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman witnessed rains due to a low depression that lasted from March 6 to 10 in the northern parts.

The rain led to many wadis overflowing and a huge quantity of water was retained in the dams.

The rainfall recording stations of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources recorded that the highest amount of rainfall at 177mm was wit-

nessed in Muscat in the Wilaiyat of Quraiyat.

In Al Sharqiyah North, 150mm of rainfall was recorded in Ibra; in Buraimi, 116mm was recorded in the Wilaiyat of Sininah; and in Al Dakhiliyah, 116mm was recorded in Samael.

In Al Batinah South, 106mm of rainfall was recorded in Rustaq; in Al Batinah North, 97mm was recorded in Saham; in Al Sharqiyah South, 88mm was recorded in Al Kamil Wal Wafi; in Dhahirah

region, 84mm was recorded in Dhank; and in Musndam, 35mm of rainfall was recorded in Madha.

The level of retained water behind Wadi Dhaiqah Dam in Al Mazaraa village in the Wilayat of Quriyat hit 96.8 per cent or 96.8 million cubic meters yesterday with only 3.2 million cubic metres left to reach the overflow level, ONA reported. The total amount of water retained in dams reached 105.723 million cubic metres.

Engineer Mohsen bin Mohammed Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Muscat Municipality, carried out a field visit along with a number of officials and technicians at the municipality to check the state of roads and utilities in various parts of the governorate of Muscat.

They inspected the efficiency of the drainage system in Wattayah, Hamriya and areas close to Al Nahdha Hospital.

R A I N FA L L O U T

PACDA gets 332 rescue calls Times News Service MUSCAT: Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) operations centre received 332 rescue calls during the low depression witnessed by the Sultanate last week.

Specialised teams including firefighters, water and land rescue teams, search and rescue teams and ambulance personnel dealt with these rescue calls.

The PACDA statistics recorded ANNUAL SITTING

Majlis to hold sessions on Monday and on Tuesday MUSCAT: Majlis Al Shura will hold its eighth and ninth regular sessions of the first annual sitting (2015-2016) of the eighth term (2015-2019) on Monday and on Tuesday, Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrooqi, Secretary General of the Majlis Al Shura said yesterday.

Issues on agenda He pointed out in his statement that the first session will include a briefing on a number of laws referred by the Council of Ministers, including the draft laws of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the GCC Veterinary Products System.

Besides there will be briefings on the Arab Convention to Regulate the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues and the Arab Draft Convention to Prevent Human Cloning, in addition to the reply of the Council of Ministers on its proposal to open educational majors at the colleges of applied sciences.

Universal Postal Union The meeting will also discuss visions of the Services and Social Development Committee on the final documents of the Universal Postal Union 2012.

He explained that the Majlis Al Shura will review the replies of several ministers about some of the topics presented by members of the Majlis Al Shura as questions and inquiries about some development projects.

The session will also review the Secretariat’s report on the activities of the Majlis Al Shura’s main divisions. -ONA

255 water rescue operations, 37 land rescue operations, 29 fire extinguishing operations, 8 ambulance related calls, and four search operations.

Governorates As for calls recorded by various governorates, Al Batinah North registered the biggest number, which resulted in 95 rescue operations, followed by Al Dhakhiliyah which recorded 67 rescue operations.

Muscat came in third with 51 rescue operations, followed by Al Buraimi, which recorded 43 reports. Al Sharqiyah North recorded 27 such incidents, Al Batinah South 26, Dhahira and 23 while only one rescue operation was carried out by PACDA in Al Sharqiyah South.

The death toll from the thundershowers and flash floods which hit Oman this week has climbed to eight after two more children were found dead.

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

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

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It is also interesting for school students visiting SQU to learn about these animals while listening to their voices and watching them move Abdullah Ali Al Fahdi, technician superintendent at SQU geology department

SQU to get three new dinosaurs The new statues (Saltasaurus, Stegosaurus, eggs with a baby dinosaur) can move and make sounds, and are to be located at the College of Science

HASAN ALI SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Three electric dinosaur sculptures are expected to be installed at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in April and May, replacing the dinosaur, which was taken down last week.

Students said the old dinosaur, a Diplodocus,was damaged by heavy rains which struck many parts of Oman last week.

However, Abdullah Ali Al Fahdi, technician superintendent at the SQU geology department, said “The new sculptures have been ordered from China to replace

COMING TO TOWN: The previous Diplodocus sculpture was used by students as an icon to describe routes and paths in the College of Science. – Supplied pictures

the older dinosaur, because it was cracking and getting old.”

After it survived extreme weather conditions for more than three years, the dinosaur of the College of Science said farewell to SQU last Wednesday morning.

The new statues (Saltasaurus, Stegosaurus, eggs with a baby dinosaur) can move and make sounds, and are to be located at the College of Science, according to Al Fahdi.

The 1.7 meter-tall Saltasaurus weighs 450 kg and can open and close its mouth, move its head and swing its tail, while the 350 kg Stegosaurus makes breathing sounds, and moves its mouth and tail.

All statues are built with high quality materials, including a metal frame, high density sponge and silicone.

Importance Speaking of the importance of the project, Al Fahdi explained that students at the College of Science take courses in Paleontology, which highlights fossils through geological times and analyses dinosaur body types and skeletons.

“It is also interesting for school students visiting SQU to learn about these animals while listening to their voices and watching them move,” Al Fahdi added.

He noted that in 1990 and 1999, geologists in Oman dis-

I N I T I AT I V E

covered dinosaur bones in the Al Khoudh area, which are currently displayed at the Earth Science museum.

The previous Diplodocus sculpture was used by students as an icon to describe routes and paths in the College of Science. And as soon as it was removed, SQU media department tweeted about the dinosaur, stressing its importance.

Students have shown different reactions on social media after the dinosaur was demolished by workC A R R E N TA L C 0 M PA N Y

Muriya joins hands with NHI to empower Omani women

Oman Air, Sixt enter global partnership

Times News Service Times News Service MUSCAT: Muriya has collaborated with the National Hospitality Institute (NHI) to offer 13 young Omani women from Sifah village a two-day taster course in hospitality and tourism.

The hands-on training included a series of skills building sessions, such as English language, customer service, front office operations, culinary and barista skills’ development. The participants were nominated by the Omani Women’s Association in Muscat to provide them with an opportunity to gain the knowledge and potentially become candidates for jobs in upand-coming sectors.

Muriya’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme is designed to instil a positive impact on society and includes three main initiatives, ‘Maharati’, ‘Mahali’ and ‘Musharakati’.

The first initiative, Maharati, focuses on building the skills of local women, along with training and skills’ development in the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors.

The second initiative, Mahali, is dedicated to maximising local produce sales, opening new markets and promoting unique locally-made products. The third initiative, Musharakati, prioritises community engagement in relation to social activities, environmental conservation and community partnerships.

Issam Al Barwani, Muriya Vice President of Government Affairs noted, “Building capacity and empowering the community are deeply rooted in our ethos of corporate social responsibility. We strive to be part of initiatives that invest in people and their futures to realise more prosperity for Oman and its people.”

CAPACITY BUILDING: The participants were nominated by the Omani Women’s Association in Muscat. – Supplied photo

Issam Al Barwani added, “Throughout our history, we have strived to serve the community, aiming to instil a positive impact, and our cooperation with NHI and the Omani Women’s Association is in line with this strategy. We are confident that these young women’s dedication, hard work and commitment to advancing their careers will set a great example and inspire other members of the community to follow in their footsteps.”

The vocational training programmes offered at NHI are delivered by qualified trainers and conducted in commercial facilities that provide a realistic working environment. The Institution’s philosophy is founded on providing training requirements for the community, featuring renowned brands in a multitude of industries, including Gulf Chef School, Food Safety Academy, Hotel Management School, Gulf Travel School and Beauty School.

Robert MacLean, Principal at

National Hospitality Institute, said “We are delighted to welcome these potential hospitality students from Sifah village. We hope to be able to give them a small taste of the training we deliver to encourage them to either join full time training or source employment in the growing industry in Oman. We are pleased to be collaborating with Muriya on this project.”

Noof Hassan Almuaini, Head of Omani Women’s Association in Muscat said, “One of our main goals is to facilitate training opportunities for Omani women in various crafts and professions to improve the standard of living in our community.

“Therefore, we would like to thank both Muriya and NHI for this fruitful collaboration and we hope to hear a string of success stories, one at a time, as the female students who joined this training course continue to progress with confidence and conviction to reach their full potential.”

MUSCAT: Oman Air has signed a global co-operation agreement with Sixt, a car rental company.

The agreement was signed by Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gregorowitsch, and Senior Executive Vice President Sixt International, Regine Sixt, at a ceremony held at the International Tourism Fair (ITB) in Berlin.

It builds on Sixt’s partnership with Oman Air’s Sindbad loyalty programme, which began in 2009, and the cooperation has now been extended to include the airline’s entire service portfolio.

The agreement offers significant benefits to customers of both companies.

For example, customers can book their Sixt rental cars directly through www.omanair. com. Sindbad members will receive 500 bonus miles when they rent a car from Sixt, and booking the Sixt Limousine Service gives customers 1,000 bonus miles.

In addition, customers who rent their desired Sixt vehicle via Oman Air benefit from a best price guarantee and, depending on their Sindbad membership level, can receive up to 15 percent discount on every rental.

Alternatively, they can opt for a free upgrade to the next higher class of vehicle.

Furthermore, Oman Air’s First and Business Class passengers can use the award-winning Sixt Limousine Service when travelling to or from Germany, Singapore, Switzerland and Thailand, as the price is already included in the ticket.

ers at #The_Science_Dinosaur (in Arabic) was the most trending hashtag on Oman Twitter on Thursday. @thelight1992 said “Please bring us a replacement soon, the college isn’t nice without it,” while @rofanoman said, “It resembled one our best SQU memories.”

“Nothing can replace you (the old dinosaur) and you will always be in our hearts,” @Malikaalki1 tweeted.

It’s worth mentioning that in

November 2015, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported that a remarkable assemblage of dinosaur fossils was found in Oman.

A team of French, Omani and Dutch researchers presented their discoveries in the open-access scientific journal PLOS ONE. The bones represent the first evidence of hadrosaurian dinosaurs from Arabia. The finding of these so-called ‘duck-billed dinosaurs’ in the region was surprising, said officials.

TÜRKIYE SCHOLARSHIPS

Time to apply for Turkish scholarships Times News Service MUSCAT: Applications for Turkish Scholarships are being received until March 31 2016, the Turkish Embassy in Muscat has said.

The application form is available online and the procedure is totally free. Applications delivered by hand or by post will not be evaluated.

Candidates can apply for only one scholarship programme, in accordance with their educational background and academic goals.

Placement included Türkiye Scholarships include both, scholarship as well as university placement, at the same time. Applicants will be placed in a university and programme as per their preferences specified in the online application form.

Most programmes in Turkish universities are conducted in Turkish. However, some departments and universities offer programmes in English, French or Arabic.

The candidates who want to study in these languages need to have an internationally recognized certificate to prove their language proficiency.

Also, most of these foreign language programmes may ask for international admission test scores such as GRE, GMAT, SAT etc.

Candidates can check the language of instruction while selecting the programmes.

All Türkiye Scholarships winners who do not have C1 Level

Certificate for Turkish Proficiency (including those who are placed into English, French or Arabic-taught programmes) must attend 1-year Turkish Preparatory Course.

Art and Sports Scholarship Programmes are specifically designed to encourage the skilled international students in the fields of art and sports to study at undergraduate, masters or PhD (proficiency in art) degree levels in the prestigious Turkish universities, thanks to the opportunities that Türkiye Scholarships provide.

Applicants selected for funding have to take one-year Turkish Language Course, covered by the scholarship.

Subsequently, they receive an acceptance from the relevant faculties of Turkish universities.

Applicants are expected to have documents (official certificate, portfolio, etc.) to prove their success in the field they apply for.

The Scholarship covers a monthly stipend of (600 Turkish lira for undergraduate, 850 Turkish lira for master and 1,200 Turkish lira for PhD ), full tuition fee, one-year Turkish language course, free accommodation, round-trip air ticket, health insurance.

The application and selection process for candidates from Syria will be carried out as per a separate schedule which is different from the general schedule for Türkiye Scholarships.

Information about deadlines and implementation will be shared afterwards, the Embassy said.

COMPETITION

Three Omani entries to vie for the best project title at global telecom event Times News Service MUSCAT: Three Omani entries are competing for the ICT (information and communications technology) project prizes, at the World Summit for Information Society (WSIS) 2016, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Omani entries include the Oman Data Portal by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) in the category ‘Access to Information and Knowledge’; Invest Easy Project by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in the category ‘ICT Applications –business’; and Public Key Infrastructure Project by the Information Technology

International Telecommunication Union’s World Summit for Information Society will be held from 2 to 6 May 2016 in Geneva Authority (ITA) in the category ‘Building confidence and security in the use of ICTs’.

At the next WSIS, which will be held from 2 to 6 May 2016 in Ge-

neva, Switzerland, winners in 18 categories will be announced at the WSIS Prizes 2016 Ceremony.

WSIS focuses on building an inclusive information society to provide access to information for all people through ICT, and which puts the potential of knowledge and information technology at the service of development.

WSIS encourages governments to provide adequate access to official public information through the Internet.

The WSIS Prizes contest provides a platform to identify and showcase success stories and models that could be replicated, to empower the community at the local level, to offer an opportunity to participate in the contest and,

mainly, to recognise the efforts of stakeholders for their added value to society and commitment towards achieving WSIS goals.

The contest is open to governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, academia and others. The contest categories are directly linked to the WSIS Action Lines outlined in the Geneva Plan of Action.

The contest for WSIS Prizes 2016 is organized into five phases; submission, nomination, voting, selection, and announcement of winners. The public had the opportunity to vote for any of these projects until 10 March. Next week, experts will select the winning projects and in May the winners will be announced.

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

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RED BULL F1 SHOWRUN

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Muscat set for Formula One motoring spectacle

“We are delighted to announce that Omantel is part of this exciting event for the first time in the Sultanate. Our brands have speed, thrill and excitement as common principles, and we trust that our customers will get a closer feel of our broadband speed through this event”, said Hamdan Moosa Al Harasi Acting Vice President Corporate Strategy at Omantel.

“We are confident that everyone will mark 8th April in his calendar and we are looking forward to meet and engage with thousands of spectators expected to take part in this unique show,” Al Harasi added. The F1 Showrun team has been to every inhabited continent such as the city streets of Europe, the deserts of America, the highest road in the Himalayas and the frozen rivers of Canada performing for audiences who otherwise are unable to witness F1 racing live.

This Red Bull F1 Showrun is being held in partnership with Times of Oman, Shabiba, the Ministry of Tourism, the Royal Oman Police, Oman Automobile Association, Khimji Ramdas, HiFM and Hala FM.

ITB BERLIN 2016 ENDS

Omani, European firms seal deals at Berlin travel show BERLIN: Having attracted remarkable attention from the global tourism towards the Omani tourism sector, the Sultanate yesterday concluded its participation at (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) “ITB Berlin 2016”.

Oman has become a popular destination for the German tourists in particular and the Europeans in general due to the Sultanate’s security and stability, heritage legacies and genuine customs.

The Omani companies participating at the Sultanate’s pavilion in the world’s leading travel and trade show expressed satisfaction over the tourism deals made with the their counterparts from Germany and Europe for operating tourist groups to the Sultanate as the Governorate of Dhofar and the Governorate of Musandam have become the most popular destinations for tourists due to their unique potentials.

GOOD SHOW: Omani companies participating at the Sultanate’s pavilion in the world’s leading travel and trade show expressed satisfaction over the tourism deals made with the their counterparts from Germany and Europe. – ONA

Opportunity Haitham bin Mohammed Al Ghassani, Deputy Director General of Tourism Promotion at the Ministry of Tourism said that the Sultanate’s participation at the ITB Berlin was an opportunity

to meet with the companies operating tourist groups to the Sultanate, which look for increasing their trips to Salalah due to the increasing demand by the tourists from Germany and Italy among others. -ONA

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016 It was an issue of concern that our study showed such a high prevalence of possible antenatal depression in Oman Dr Mohammed Al Azri, Researcher Associate

OMAN CHARITY EVENT

Fundraising event held Times News Service MUSCAT: SABIS is not all about education. Its aim is to create responsible, passionate, creative, successful, and — most importantly — compassionate individuals.

On the 27th of February, ISC Muscat, led by the Student Life Organisation (SLO), decided to help those in need by organising a fundraiser in aid of Al Noor Association for the Blind. The target was to raise much needed funds and awareness for the charity, Al Noor Association for the Blind aims to give the blind community in Muscat the best possible quality of life.

The schools prefects worked hard to organise a diverse range of fun activities for all age groups, including parents, to make it a successful event.

In addition to a mouthwatering bake sale, SLO prefects provided a multitude of stands for other delectable treats. With all the activities offered, there was really no way anyone would have felt bored. Children of all ages participated in the event. For all the parents wanting to sit down and relax, prefects came up with Café Choueifat where parents and teachers alike could sit down in the delightful weather enjoying refreshments whilst getting to know each other and watching their kids having fun.

The event was a huge success, with positive reports from students, parents, and teachers alike.

The students and the SLO wish to thank all who participated in our event, and everyone who attended and donated to the worthy cause.

Look out for next year’s charity event!

Antenatal depression rate high in Sultanate Almost a quarter of women had antenatal depression, a rate higher than in other Arab and developed

Dr Mohammed Al Azri.

— Supplied picture

countries of world, a Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal study shows Times News Service MUSCAT: Omani women have a high rate of being afflicted by possible depression during pregnancy, a groundbreaking new study published in the latest issue of the Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal has revealed.

The study is the first investigation into antenatal depression in Oman.

The researchers studied 959 pregnant Omani women who were attending local primary care health centres in Muscat.

They used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale questionnaire to measure symptoms of depression in the study group.

According to the questionnaire responses, almost a quarter of

these women (24.3 per cent) had antenatal depression, a rate higher than what is reported in other Arab and developed countries around the world, including Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Australia and the UK. “It was an issue of concern that our study showed such a high prevalence of possible antenatal depression in Oman,” commented Dr Mohammed Al Azri, the study’s lead researcher and an Associate Professor in the Family Medicine and Public Health department of Sultan Qaboos University.

“If this form of depression is not diagnosed early on, these women suffer and their babies could also suffer,” he added.

In pregnant women, antenatal depression is known to increase the risk of pre-eclampsia—a serious pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure which can lead to early labour and delivery. Other complications of depression during pregnancy include Caesarean

section births, spontaneous preterm births, suicidal thoughts and the development of post-natal depression For the babies, antenatal depression has been associated with slower foetal activity, low birth weight, admission to the neonatal care unit and sudden infant death. If the depression continues after birth, these babies may receive insufficient physical and psychological care from their mothers.

Their older siblings may also suffer from the secondary effects of maternal depression.

The researchers found that the main factors associated with antenatal depression were unplanned pregnancies and marital conflict. In order to combat these issues in Oman, Dr Al Azri recommends that women should be provided with ample education about contraception and pregnancy planning. He also suggests that counselling services be provided for married couples experiencing problems within their marriage.

Dr Al Azri is concerned that antenatal depression often goes undiagnosed in Oman. “This could be for many reasons, including a lack of awareness on the part of the attending physicians that this is a common problem, a lack of experience in diagnosing antenatal depression and a lack of medical guidelines and tools to diagnose the condition.

Also, women might not be willing to talk about psychological or personal problems with their doctor,” he explained.

The study concluded that significant changes need to be made within Oman’s public health system in order to identify those affected by antenatal depression so they can be treated as soon as possible.

“Screening for the presence of antenatal depression should be included as a routine part of antenatal care,” affirmed Dr Al Azri.

“Sufficient support should be provided to all those affected women, including counselling services. Also, women with severe forms of this depression, who are not responding to counselling, should be referred to psychologists or psychiatrists as appropriate.”

Dr. Al Azri pointed out that there are limitations to this study.

For example, the study data was gathered via a questionnaire and the women were not clinically diagnosed with antenatal depression by a qualified psychiatrist, meaning the true rate of antenatal depression may have been under- or over-estimated. Although the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale used in this study is known as a reliable and sensitive indicator of ante- and post-natal depression, there may still be cultural differences which could have affected the results. In addition, some of the women included in the study may have had preexisting undiagnosed depression.

The symptoms of antenatal depression include a significant lack of energy, tearfulness, chronic anxiety, emotional detachment and feelings of isolation, guilt or suicide.

ELAJ 2016

Global health and medical treatment expo kicks off Times News Service MUSCAT: ELAJ 2016 — Oman’s International Health & Medical Treatment Exhibition kicked off today and will continue until 15 March, 2016, at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, Seeb.

The exhibition was inaugurated

by His Highness Sayyid Numair bin Salim bin Ali Al Said.

The expo is an annual and strategically important event designed to promote healthcare and wellness.

The three-day exhibition brings together prominent hospitals, medical centres, and specialised clinics from India, Thailand, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Ukraine, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and the Sultanate of Oman. The exhibition will cover areas such as Ayurveda, hair transplant, cosmetic surgery, dental, eyes and ear, skincare, spa and wellness, rehabilitation, orthopedic-knee and back, weight loss and fitness and disability.

ELAJ Expo is supported by the Ministry of Health - Department of Blood Bank Services, Oman Cancer Association, Oman Diabetes Association, Oman Hereditary Blood Disorder Association, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Iran Medical Tourism, India Tourism, Greek Medical Tourism Council, German Medical Wellness Association and Council for International Promotion of Costa Rica Medicine and Medical Tourism Association USA. ELAJ Expo is brought to the public by Muscat Expo LLC.

S QU I N I T I AT I V E

International forum focuses on major issue of water resources in arid areas Times News Service MUSCAT: International Water Conference 2016, “Water Resource in Arid Areas: the Way Forward,” organised by the Water Research Centre at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), commenced today under the patronage of Ahmed Abdullah Al Shehi, Minister of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources.

The four-day conference will discuss water resources in arid areas and their problems, ways to tackle water pollution, water governance, economic and social aspects of water, drought policies, innovation and technology to cope with water scarcity and drought, water resource management for control of drought, integrated management of water resources in arid areas and semi-arid and conservation of water resources.

The event is held in association with The Research Council (TRC), the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Haya Water and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Osman Abdalla, Director of SQU’s Water Research Centre, said the rising demand for water associated with population growth, water intensive diets and rising liv-

FOUR-DAY FORUM: The four-day conference discussed water resources in arid areas and their problems. — Supplied picture

ing standards, is stressing water resources.

“The situation is much aggravated in arid regions where natural resources are facing depletion which is attributed to low precipitation and high evaporation rates. The water budget deficit in arid regions, the high cost of water supply, the essential need for food and associated energy value among other challenges, all need to be scientifically addressed to find solutions to world’s current and future water problems,” he said.

Dr. Abdalla hoped that the present conference, which has brought together scientists, engineers and policy makers, would

share the latest knowledge in water research and explore the ways in findings solutions to water crises with emphasis on arid areas.

Delivering his keynote address on “Water Challenges and Unintended Consequences of Development in Arid Regions,” Dr. Kaveh Madani, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management at the Imperial College, London stressed on a holistic understanding of water resources systems, as a vital prerequisite for strategic decision making in water management.

“Empowerment of farmers is important; at the same time, phrases such as “food security” and “food self-sufficiency” can be

dangerous and misleading when it comes to sustainable water management. Decision makers should understand the social and political dimensions before implementing long-term strategies in water management. Considering the fact that 70 per cent of water is used for agriculture, modernisation of agriculture and revision in crop patterns can help improve sustainable water use globally.

Promoting and developing regional farming cooperatives and water management institutions, and increasing water and energy prices together with technological improvements to prevent socioeconomic pressure on rural and farmer communities, would also help to meet water challenges in the world,” he said.

The conference includes nine scientific sessions, entitled Water Management and Hydrological Systems, Flash Flood and Erosion in high-risk Areas, Water Investment in Rural Areas, Irrigation Management, Technology and Cost, Rain Water Management, Irrigation Management, Climate and Hydrology, Water Quality and Agriculture and Water Conservation and Agriculture.

The scientific committee of the ongoing conference received more than 300 abstracts on water research from water scientists across the world.

NEW HORIZONS

A1 ‘Immense potential for Omani women < FROM

to enter information technology sector’

Currently Marwa is balancing between her role in the ArabWIC and a full-time job in IT. She doesn’t let IT go too far from her, even in her free time. “When I am free, I sit with my sisters and we code and read together as well. I want to encourage them, too.”

Lots of passion for IT Marwa is aware that technology is mostly identified with men.

However, she wants to change that. “It is a problem when people connect IT or technology with only men. The fact is that women are also in leading positions in both technical and nontechnical sectors, and we are young and have lots of passion for IT. I am sure if women like us

are encouraged, it will help more females in Oman to get into the technology sector because at present they are not fully confident about the field.”

Marwa believes that Omani women have immense potential when it comes to the IT sector, but sometimes they just shy away from it. “I started ArabWIC Oman in May last year and till date, we have about 15 members I need more women to join this community and enjoy the privileges it has to offer in terms of mentoring, sharing knowledge and providing a network database.” Women in Oman wishing to join ArabWIC can log into the organisation’s website: arabwic.org

ALL SMILES: Currently Marwa is balancing between her role in the ArabWIC and a full-time job in the IT sector. — Supplied picture

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

REGION Yemen’s assault on Al Qaeda militants kills 18 The attack took place as forces supporting President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi fought to widen their control of city of Taiz

ADEN: Saudi-led helicopters attacked Al Qaeda militants in Aden overnight in an effort to dislodge them from a stronghold in the southern port city, killing at least 18 people, medics and a security official said on Sunday.

The assault took place as Saudi-backed forces supporting President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi fought to widen their control of Taiz in the southwest of Yemen after breaking a siege there on Friday. Militants from Al Qaeda and IS have exploited the conflict to expand their control, especially in areas where Hadi supporters have managed to expel Houthis, including in Aden and Lahej provinces. Witnesses and medics said Apache helicopters from the Saudi-led coalition struck armoured vehicles and a government compound used by the militants in Al Mansoura district, a stronghold in north Aden. There was no immediate comment from the coalition.

Medics said a total of 18 people have been killed — 17 suspected militants and one civilian bystander — and at least 23 civilians and militants were wounded.

Three members of the security forces were also injured.

ALL SET FOR OPERATION: Pro-government fighters ride on a truck in Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz on Sunday. – Reuters

Security forces cordoned off an area of Al Mansoura district where dozens of suspected militants are believed to be holed up, while warplanes from the Saudiled coalition dropped leaflets on the area telling residents to stay home and report any militants to authorities. A tenuous calm in the district was broken occasionally in the afternoon with bursts of gunfire. A Reuters reporter saw the rubble of a butcher’s shop and the wreckage of cars. Electricity was cut across the district and food shops remained closed.

Shops and businesses closed as security forces sealed off a block in the area, where dozens of suspected militants are believed to be holed up. The city’s governor said the operation was the second phase of a government campaign to restore state control over the city, the temporary seat of the Yemeni government.

“This stage will continue until it achieves its objectives, foremost of which to impose the authority of the state and restore security

R A I D T O C A P T U R E WA N T E D M A N

Saudi forces kill woman armed with machine gun DUBAI: Saudi security forces shot dead a woman armed with a machine gun during a raid to arrest a man suspected of involvement in attacks on minority community and on security forces, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.

The agency quoted the interior ministry as saying that the man, identified as Sweilem Al Ruwaili, had been hiding at one of his comrades from the “deviant group” in the northern Al Jawf region when he was captured in the raid on Thursday. Saudi Arabia uses the term deviant group to refer to militants from Al Qaeda or IS. Deadly bombings Ruwaili was on a list of 16 wanted people published by the kingdom last year in connection with two deadly mosque bombings claimed by IS in May. The authorities offered a cash reward of

$1.3 million (five million riyals) for information leading to their arrest. IS has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia since November 2014 that have killed more than 50 people.

Attack In August 2015, a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people in an attack on a mosque used by members of a local security force in southwest Saudi Arabia, in an assault that an online statement said was carried out by IS. A statement from the interior ministry said the woman had surprised security forces with a machine gun, and was subsequently hit in the raid and died in hospital of her wounds. She had been married to another wanted man who “is in areas of conflict abroad”, the statement said. — Reuters

and stability in all districts of the capital Aden and its suburbs and to end the security chaos,” Governor Aydaroos Al Zubaidi said.

Militants killed Zubaidi’s predecessor and several other government officials, military and security officers in a series of suicide attacks and shootings in Aden since Hadi’s forces captured the city from the Houthis last July.

The campaign took place a day after forces loyal to Hadi broke a siege by the Houthis around Taiz, Yemen’s third biggest city, about 200km (124 miles) northwest of Aden. The advance represented a breakthrough for Hadi’s government, which has been struggling to achieve a major victory against the Houthis who seized control of most of the country in 2015 in what they described as a revolution against corruption.

Residents said that more fighting was reported in eastern Taiz on Sunday between the Houthis and fighters allied to Hadi, where reinforcements from both sides have arrived. — Reuters

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

INDIA

Inclusive innovations often modify existing technologies, products or services to better meet the needs of those groups. It will only be successful if the innovations reach a much larger segment of the poor and excluded population than it currently does Pranab Mukherjee, President

Pranab pitches for speedy, affordable justice for all SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

ARTICLE, PHOTOS

Inaugurating the

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

150th anniversary celebration of Allahabad High Court, President Pranab Mukherjee said justice must be ‘accessible, affordable and quick’ for people to understand the meaning of justice

ALLAHABAD: Underlining the issue of pendency of cases in courts, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday pitched for speedy and affordable justice to all.

Inaugurating the 150th anniversary celebration of Allahabad High Court, he said justice must be “accessible, affordable and quick” for people to understand the meaning of justice. The president said as an upholder of the Rule of Law and enforcer of the right to liberty, the role of the judiciary was sacrosanct and the faith and confidence people have in it must be always maintained.

“Though the Indian judiciary has many strengths, it is yet to

ONE FOR THE ALBUM: President Pranab Mukherjee, UP Governor Ram Naik, Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav pose for a group photo at the “150th anniversary” Sesquicentennial Celebrations programme of Allahabad High Court in Allahabad on Sunday. - PTI

fully meet the aspirations of our people for speedy and affordable justice,” he said at the sesquicentennial celebration.

Mukherjee noted that the judiciary has played an important role since independence in strengthening the democratic framework of the country and maintaining rule of law.

Unique position “High Courts in particular have a unique position under the Constitution of India. They are not only guardians of people’s rights and liberty, they also have the onerous responsibility of ensuring that access to justice is not denied to any

citizen on account of economic or any other disability,” the president said. He said judiciary which is one of the three important pillars of our democracy, is the final interpreter of the Constitution and it must help maintain social order by swiftly and effectively dealing with those on the wrong side of the law.

“Our courts are today overburdened on account of number of cases pending before them. There are over three crore cases pending in various courts throughout the country. Out of these, about 3.85 million cases are pending in 24 High Courts. The pendency of cases in the High Courts has

slightly declined from 4.15 million in 2014 to 3.85 million in 2015, but still have a long way to go,” he said.

His remarks come in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on the issue during the centenary celebrations of Patna High Court on Saturday.

Modi had mooted a novel idea of courts coming out with an annual bulletin to highlight the oldest cases being tried by them to help create sensitivity on pendency of cases in the country.

Expressing concern over vacancy of judges in High Courts, the president said out of a sanctioned strength of 1,056 judges in all the High Courts, the working strength

of High Court judges through out the country was only 591, as on March 1, 2016.

“The High Court at Allahabad has only 71 judges, including the chief justice, against the sanctioned strength of 160 judges.

Approximately, 911,000 cases are pending in this court as of February 2016, a decline from 1.1 million cases in 2014,” he said.

The president said the governments, judges and lawyers must work hand in hand to make justice a living reality.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. I am sure that the central and state governments will extend all support to the Allahabad High Court in its endeavour to reduce pendencies,” he said.

Challenges Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice T. S. Thakur said judiciary as an institution was facing challenges from outside and within.

“I am referring to crisis of credibility that we face today. Judges need to be conscientious of discharge of their duties, punctuality, judicial retribute and efforts to do their best is the need of the hour,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda stressed that the Centre was committed to providing necessary assistance to states for improving judicial infrastructure. -PTI

C O O P E R AT I O N

‘Modi, Nitish bonhomie is reflection of Team India’ PATNA: The BJP on Sunday said the Centre will extend full cooperation to eastern Indian state Bihar for development works and the public display of bonhomie between arch rivals Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was a reflection of the spirit of ‘Team India’.

Stating that BJP believes in ‘healthy competition’, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here that “the prime minister and the chief minister should work together like Team India. It (their bonhomie) was a reflection of that only...When a player from south zone and north zone become part of Team India, they play together and pat each other.”

Modi along with Kumar and a host of other union ministers participated in the inaugural function of the newly constructed DighaSonepur rail-cum-road bridge at Chhoukia village in Vaishali district on Saturday.

Modi and Kumar were seen smiling and talking to each other on the dais during the function in Hajipur. Declaring that the Prime Minister has worked like a ‘statesman’, Hussain said there should not be any politics in the name of development.

In response to a query whether anything was cooking with Nitish Kumar’s party, BJP spokesman said “his alliance (NDA) remains firm”. He, however, made it clear that “We (BJP and JD(U)) have differences and will remain so...

Our party has been agitating on the issue of deteriorating law and order situation in the state.” - PTI

A N I M A L C E L L S I N A L A B O R AT O RY

Indian-American scientist develops meat in laboratory WASHINGTON: An IndianAmerican scientist-led team has developed contamination-free meat from animal cells in a laboratory that could be harvested in 9 to 21 days, a new technique that could help in stopping large scale slaughtering of animals globally.

Hoping to go in for large scale commercialisation by selling meat grown from animal cells in

the next few years, Uma S. Valeti said the popularity of such meats would help stop large scale killing of animals.

“It is sustainable as well as cruelty free,” Valeti, a cardiologist and co-founder of Memphis Meats, said. The meat grown by his team in the laboratory does not carry the health side effects like bacterial contamination, or high saturated

fat or the big environmental issues that come along with it, he said.

“We are growing meat which is safer, healthier, more sustainable,” Valeti said.

For developing this unique variety of meat without killing an animal, the Andhra-origin doctor said they took identified cells from the targeted animal that are capable of renewing themselves.

These cells are then provided with oxygen and nutrients such as sugars and minerals, Valeti said.

The meat thus can be harvested between nine and 21 days, he said.

Valeti, who recently received venture capital, said that they are working on beef, hog meat and chicken as these are the three meats that have highest consumption and also have the highest envi-

ronmental and health impact. They already had test runs for beef meat.

“We are motivated by the thought that people can buy it off the shelf,” he said, adding that Valeti said.

“Our goal is to be in restaurants in three years and retail in five years. In 2021, we want to be in retail or even earlier,” he said. While the first manufacturing base is to be

set up in the US, Dr Valeti said. He is also exploring the possibility to establish a manufacturing foot print in India and China, as there are already some interest from there.

“The meat that we are growing is identical at the molecular and cellular level,” he said, adding that his product detaches the concept of slaughter of an animal to eat a meat. - PTI

PROMOTING SELF-EMPLOYMENT

‘Indian economy needs 115 million non-farm jobs over next decade’ NEW DELHI: Asserting that boosting economic growth while making it socially inclusive was a major challenge for policy makers, President Pranab Mukherjee has said Indian economy needed to generate 115 million non-farm jobs over the next decade to reap the ‘demographic dividend’.

He said launch of the Start Up India programme by the government indicates country’s commitment towards harnessing the brilliance and creativity of its young minds for the larger benefit of society and the nation.

Addressing a conference during ‘Global Roundtable on Inclusive Innovations’ held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday, he said the country needs a model that draws in 350-400 million people who currently reside outside mainstream society.

“The Indian economy today needs to generate 115 million non-farm jobs over the next decade to gainfully employ its workforce and reap its demographic dividend. Given this context, encouraging and promoting selfemployment as a career option for young people will be of paramount importance,” the president was quoted as having said in a press release issued on Sunday.

A culture of innovation and entrepreneurship needs to be institutionalised as part of our socio-economic eco-system. Innovation and entrepreneurship need to be inclusive and focus on a variety of enterprises, such as young technology firms, upcoming manufacturing businesses and rural innovator companies, he said.

Mukherjee said policy makers in India are confronted with the challenge of boosting economic growth while at the same time

EXHIBITION: President Pranab Mukherjee with Science Minister Harsh Vardhan going round the stalls after inaugurating the Innovation Exhibition at Football Ground, near Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

making it socially inclusive.

The president said that the country needed to focus on inclusive innovation projects that directly serve the welfare of lowerincome and excluded groups.

“Inclusive innovations often modify existing technologies, products or services to better meet the needs of those groups.

It will only be successful if the innovations reach a much larger segment of the poor and excluded population than it currently does,” he said.

Mukherjee said entrepreneurs play an important role in the economic development of a country.

“India will have to encourage creation of new SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) focused on manufacturing, while spurring grassroots innovation and growth. Putting entrepreneurship at the forefront of the economic agenda is, thus the need of the hour,” the president said.

Over the years technology has become disruptive and innovation has played a major role in technological breakthroughs through product, service and

process related innovations, Mukherjee said.

The president said many of the advanced nations have capitalised on their educational network to assume leadership positions in the area of innovation, startups and research. India with an educational network of over 700 universities and 35,000 colleges is optimally placed to capitalise on its intellectual seed capital, he said.

Highlighting the issue of low levels of investment by Indian firms and businesses in Research and Development, the president said our current investment levels in R&D are a fraction of what world class companies spend.

“The major contributor of R&D expenditure is the government.

Without a substantive stepping up of these expenditures, we cannot expect to be at the higher end of the value chain,” Mukherjee said. He called upon the private sector and institutes of higher learning to devote a larger part of their resources for R&D to enable innovation and job creation across the economy. - PTI

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INDIA

All wilful defaulters to be brought to justice: Sinha “illegal or criminal” done by those classic business failures that happened because of wrong business/ financial strategies or external factors that made project or business unviable.

Cracking its whip on ‘wilful loan defaulters’, markets regulator Sebi decided to bar them from raising public funds through stocks and bonds as also from taking board positions at listed

SPELLING OUT: Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha speaks at the Advancing Asia Conference in New Delhi on Saturday. - PTI

companies

NEW DELHI: Amid a raging row over loan defaults by Vijay Mallya, the government on Sunday said “full force of the law” is being applied to bring all wilful loan defaulters to justice.

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said wilful defaulters and the corporates that are unable to repay loans as their business being hit due to global slowdown should not be commingled.

“We have some people that are wilful defaulters, that have genuinely engaged in illegal activity. As far as those are concerned, the full force of the law is being applied.

All the investigative agencies are working in that regard to ensure that they have to be brought to justice,” he told reporters here.

He, however, did not made any direct reference to Mallya who had left India on March 2, presumably for London, days before the Supreme Court heard a plea of clutch of state-owned banks seeking recovery of over Rs 9,000 crore from his group companies.

Hyderabad court issues NBW against Mallya HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: In more trouble for Vijay Mallya, a Hyderabad court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against the businessman after he failed to appear before it in a cheque dishonour case amid reports on Sunday that quoted him as having said the time is not “right” for his return to India.

The court order in the case of alleged dishonour of a Rs5 million cheque to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd came even as Union Labour Minister Bandaru

Sinha said the second set of defaulters are those corporates who because of some slowdown in global economy or because of policy failure of the previous gov-

Dattatreya said a probe will be launched to check whether there were any anomalies in the Provident Fund(PF) contributions made by Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines for its employees when it was functioning.

Mallya, 60, is facing multiple proceedings for allegedly defaulting on loans of over Rs9,000 crore from various banks. His departure from India on March 2 unhindered in the middle of the probes also triggered a political row. Amid the row involving Mallya,

ernment are facing significant financial distress.

“And we have to have appropriate resolution process as well as appropriate policy intervention

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Six of eight missing trekkers rescued SHIMLA: Eight trekkers, who had gone missing in bad weather in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, have been traced and six of them rescued by ITBP troopers, nearly 70 hours after their disappearance, officials said on Sunday.

Battling inclement weather, ITBP teams flew low in helicopters and spotted six stranded trekkers near Chanderkheni pass

at an altitude of 12,000 feet and evacuated them to safety, Hans Raj, Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, said. Two others located later will be airlifted on Monday, he said.

As bad weather forced the rescue team to call off the operation, official sources said the remaining two trekkers will be evacuated on Monday morning. Seven students of Institute of Engineering and Technology Longowal, in

Punjab, and a former student of the same institute had left Nagger on Thursday on a trekking trip and had gone missing about 70 hours ago.

Earlier in the day, five ITBP teams, comprising 50 personnel with special equipment were launched from three directions towards Chanderkheni pass despite turbulent weather conditions. - PTI

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Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha said “full force of the law” is being applied to bring all wilful loan defaulters to justice. He, however, did not name anyone. The 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) in Hyderabad issued the NBWs on March 10 against the company (airline), Mallya and another senior official of the carrier and posted the matter to April 13. The counsel for Mallya said he will move the high court seeking quashing of the non-bailable warrant. -PTI

to ensure those that are Non-Performing Assets for those kind of reasons go through orderly resolution process,” he said.

He said there wasn’t anything

Bankruptcy code “...we have to recognise that we have to ensure these problems have occurred because people have done wilfully wrong thing... (and) people who are facing business challenges do not have to go through those kind of problems again. So we have to deal with structural issues which is where bankruptcy code becomes important so that we avoid these problems in future...,” he said.

Meanwhile, cracking its whip on ‘wilful loan defaulters’, markets regulator Sebi on Saturday decided to bar them from raising public funds through stocks and bonds as also from taking board positions at listed companies — a move that would disqualify beleaguered Vijay Mallya from various posts.

Besides, Sebi (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has also decided to bar such defaulters from setting up market intermediaries such as mutual funds and brokerage firms.

These defaulters would also be not allowed to take control of any other listed company.

Addressing reporters after an important board meeting of Sebi, which was also addressed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the regulator’s Chairman U. K. Sinha said the new rules on restraining wilful defaulters would come into effect after they get notified.

“After the notification, all the persons would stand disqualified from all positions at listed companies,” Sinha said, but refused to comment on any individual.

These restrictions would apply to every individual and company declared as wilful defaulter as per the Reserve Bank norms. - PTI

C O N C L AV E

No reservation for affluent sections: RSS NAGAUR (Rajasthan): In a veiled reference to the recent Jat agitation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS) on Sunday disapproved of reservation demands by the “affluent” sections and favoured a study to ascertain whether the deserving backward classes are actually getting the quota benefits.

Pitching for social harmony, the Sangh fountainhead said members of the “Hindu community are responsible” for caste-based discrimination and “we need to eradicate it” for social justice, regarding which he invoked B. R. Ambedkar.

Disapproving of demands for quota by “affluent” sections, RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said the provisions of reservation made by Bhimrao Ambedkar were for social justice and that concept should be kept in mind by those demanding reservation today.

“It is felt that this thinking (demand by affluent class) is not in the right direction. People of such (affluent) class should give up their right and should help the weaker section of the society. But instead of that, they are demanding reservation for themselves which is not a thinking in the right direction,” he said. He did not make any direct reference to any section making such demands but appeared to be hinting at Jats who recently launched a major violent agitation in Haryana for reservation. He was addressing a press conference at the end of a three-day conclave of Akhil Bhariya Pratinidhi Sabha, the highest decision-making body of the RSS, which passed resolutions on Social Harmony as also Education and Healthcare.

“Any kind of discriminatory behaviour and evil like untouchability should be uprooted altogether.

For the smooth functioning of the society, it is utmost essential that all the social and religious institutions in the society need to steer the course based on our hoary ideals of life,” said the resolution on Social Harmony. - PTI

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

PAKISTAN TENSIONS

LAHORE FASHION WEEK Models present creations by designer Zonia Anwaar on the third day of Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) week in Lahore on Saturday. — AFP

Rangers tortured MQM workers in jails: Sattar KARACHI: Personnel of the paramilitary Rangers tortured several Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers who are imprisoned in various jails, party MNA and senior deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar said on Sunday.

“Around 40 under-trial MQM workers were beaten up in jails and were forced to give ‘favourable’ statements and after that they were locked in their cells all day. This happened day before yesterday,” Sattar said while addressing a press conference at party’s Khursheed Begum Secretariat in Azizabad.

Further, Sattar in a veiled reference to the newly-formed political party of former MQM leader Mustafa Kamal claimed his party workers were getting suspicious phone calls from unknown numbers, forcing them to switch their allegiance with “groups from the other side of the bridge.”

Iron grip The development comes over a week after former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal, who returned home from self-imposed exile on March 3, launched a blistering attack on MQM chief Altaf Hussain and challenged the ‘iron grip’ of the MQM on the city by forming a new party. — Express Tribune

STORMS TO CONTINUE

Nine killed as heavy rain lashes Balochistan QUETTA: At least nine people were killed in Balochistan over the last 48 hours as heavy rain continued to lash parts of the province.

The latest spell of rain caused havoc, disrupting life and damaging property across the province.

The Meteorological office has predicted heavy downpours in Quetta, Zhob, Sibi, Naseerabad with heavy thunderstorms.

Flash floods wreaked havoc in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman where rainwater swept away more than 100 houses, leaving many people homeless.

At least nine people lost their lives in Sherani, Mastung and Dalbandin area in rain-linked incidents.

The roof of a house collapsed in Sherani district where a woman and four children were buried under the debris.

Around eight makeshift homes were washed away in Naushki, sweeping away all household items.

Flash floods Frontier Constabulary rescue teams rushed to the affected areas in Naushki and rescued the affectees in Ghareebad, Hameed Colony, Killi Qadirabad, Killi Gaznali, Essa Chah, Kili Janu Khan Dak where mud houses have fallen in large numbers.

The flash floods have also inflicted huge losses upon the growers, washing away tracts of crop land. — Express Tribune

Government all set to pump Rs24b into ailing airline Once approved by the Economic Coordination Committee, the fresh bailout will be the second such package for Pakistan International Airlines in the last four months and fifth in the last three and a half years

ISLAMABAD: The government is finalising another bailout package for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)in a bid to help the ailing national flag carrier meet its debt obligations and keep it flying for at least four months.

The finance ministry and the Aviation Division are working out modalities of a 24-billion-rupee package for the airline which will be presented to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in the coming days, officials said on Saturday.

Once approved by the ECC, the fresh bailout will be the sec-

DEBT OBLIGATIONS: A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 747-300 passenger plane makes its final approach for landing at the airport in Islamabad in this file photo. The finance ministry and the Aviation Division are working out modalities of a 24-billion-rupee package for the airline which will be presented to the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet in the coming days, officials said on Saturday. — AFP files

ond such package for the national airline in the last four months and fifth in the last three and a half years.

Financial crunch According to the officials, the Aviation Division has demanded Rs26 billion to come out of a financial crunch till June this year. The amount is needed to repay some old debts and meet working capital requirements, they said. The final

INQUIRY REPORT

amount is expected to be around Rs24 billion A debt payment by PIA is due this Tuesday to the Export-Import Bank. The finance ministry is arranging funds to avoid a default.

Because of limitations imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there is no fiscal space in the budget to give the bleeding airline the cash it needs, sources said.

As such, most of the Rs24 billion

will be arranged from commercial banks to avoid an immediate impact on the budget, they added.

Despite a slump in global oil prices, PIA could not turn its fortunes around in the last two and half years. Due to mismanagement by its own top officers and an ill-conceived aviation policy, it lost its market share to other airlines.

The airline also lost over Rs4 billion in the recent strike by its employees, further exposing its fi-

nancial vulnerabilities. As a major shareholder, the federal government has kept PIA afloat by regular bailouts.

In January-September 2015, PIA sustained Rs20.6 billion in additional losses, according to an audited financial statement. The accounts for the last quarter of 2015 are not available, but initial results show the full year losses went up to over Rs27 billion.

The airline’s cumulative losses surged to Rs247.4 billion as of September last year while its total liabilities amounted to Rs320 billion.

The ECC had to approve a Rs9.4 billion bailout for PIA last December, which included Rs4.4 billion cash injection and Rs5 billion in borrowings from banks.

The ECC also endorsed an agreement between the finance and aviation divisions, enhancing present federal government sovereign guarantees limit from Rs141 billion to Rs146 billion.

Last November, the federal government refused to service Rs248 billion debt of PIA from the budget. The PIA Board of Directors had demanded Rs3.5 billion per month to avoid default until the airline was privatised.

In 2014-15, the finance ministry issued Rs58.8 billion fresh guarantees to help PIA arrange funds from banks and repay old loans.

PIA is on the active list of privatisation and under the revised agreement with the IMF, the Privatisation Commission is bound to invite expression of interests (EoIs) from prospective bidders by mid-May to sell a minimum 26 per cent stake. — Express Tribune

COAL MINE COLLAPSE

‘Captors freed Shahbaz Taseer of their own will’ ISLAMABAD/QUETTA: An inquiry committee has concluded that Shahbaz Taseer was not rescued in a security operation, rather he was freed by his kidnappers of their own will.

It is premature to say ransom was paid to secure the release of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s son, says the inquiry committee in a report submitted to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday.

“Facts and evidence show that Shahbaz Taseer has not been recovered through any operation, but his captors set him free on their own.”

The release of the report coin-

Shahbaz Taseer

cided with the Afghan Taliban’s denial that they played a role in either kidnapping or releasing Shahbaz. The committee recommended issuing an official rebuke

to the officers who had informed the minister that Shahbaz was rescued in an operation. “No institution has the right to claim credit for Shahbaz’s recovery.”

Shahbaz Taseer was abducted at gunpoint in Lahore on August 26, 2011, months after his father was assassinated by Mumtaz Qadri for opposing the blasphemy laws. He was found by security and intelligence officials in the Kuchlak area of Quetta on March 8.

Aitzaz Goraya, the head of Balochistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department, claimed Shahbaz was rescued during a raid on a compound in Kuchlak. — Express Tribune

DISASTER: A Pakistani relative sits alongside victims injured when a coal mine collapsed at a hospital

in Peshawar on Sunday. At least five labourers were killed when a coal mine collapsed in northwest Pakistan, officials said, with two more still missing. More than 30 miners were trapped in the far-flung mountainous Orakzai tribal district after a shaft collapsed amid heavy downpours on March 12, according to Zubair Khan, the top government official in the district. — AFP

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Extremists must understand reconciliation need: Sirisena COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has asked the Sinhala extremists to understand the need for achieving ethnic reconciliation in the country as over 700 acres of military-held land in Jaffna was returned to the original minority-Tamil owners.

“I think it is wrong for those who advocate reconciliation only to visit north. They must educate people in the south. I ask our critics to come and visit the houses of those living in poor conditions to understand the reality,” Sirisena said.

Some 650 Tamil families in Telippali, Jaffna, and 50 families in Kopay were handed back their over 701 acres of land on Saturday which the military had acquired for their use during the nearly three decade-long civil war with the LTTE that ended in 2009.

With the latest handover, all lands in Kopay have now been vested with the original owners, officials said. In Telippalai, Sirisena also released a school occupied by the military for over 25 years. After the war ended in 2009, Sri Lanka had come under international pressure to release large swathes of civilian lands in Tamil dominated northern areas, which had been occupied by the military. - PTI

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spy agency told lawmakers that North Korea had recently stepped up cyber attack efforts against the South and succeeded in hacking 40 mobile phones of national security officials

MILITARY EXERCISE: The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis arrives to join the annual Key Resolve military exercise conducted by South Korea and the US, at a port in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday. - Reuters/Cho Jung-ho/Yonhap

SEOUL: North Korea on Sunday denied that it conducted cyber attacks against officials from rival South Korea, calling the South’s accusation that it did so a “fabrication”.

South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers on Friday that North Korea had recently stepped up

cyber attack efforts against the South and succeeded in hacking the mobile phones of 40 national security officials, according to members of parliament who received a closed-door briefing.

“The South is claiming the North’s cyber attack and using it

Amid sea disputes, China to set up maritime ‘judicial centre’

NAT I O NA L S E C U R I T Y

Large jump in terrorism convictions in China BEIJING: Chinese courts convicted more than 1,400 people last year for harming national security, including taking part in terrorism and secessionist activities, China’s top judge said on Sunday, double a broadly equivalent number given for 2014.

Hundreds of people have been killed over the past few years in China’s resource-rich Xinjiang province, strategically located on the borders of central Asia, in violence between the Muslim Uighur people, who call the region home, and ethnic majority Han Chinese.

Officials have blamed the unrest on militants and separatists, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of the Uighurs is more to blame for the strife. China denies any repression in Xinjiang. In an annual report to China’s parliament, Chief Justice Zhou Qiang said Chinese courts in 2015 convicted 1,419 people for harming state security, including taking part in terrorist attacks and secessionist activities.

He did not give a comparison, but last year in his work report he said courts convicted 712 people for separatism and terrorism in 2014, up 13.3 per cent on the previous year. - Reuters

ASIA

North Korea denies cyber attacks on South officials

NAT I O NA L S T R AT E G Y

BEIJING: China plans to set up an “international maritime judicial centre” to help protect the country’s sovereignty and rights at sea, its top judge said on Sunday.

Giving a work report at the annual meeting of China’s parliament, chief justice Zhou Qiang said courts across China were working to implement the national strategy of building China into a “maritime power”. “(We) must resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty, maritime rights and other core interests,” he said. “(We) must improve the work of maritime courts and build an international maritime judicial centre.” He gave no details. It is not clear when the judicial centre may start working, where it would be located or what kinds of cases it would accept.

China disputes a group of uninhabited islets with Japan in the East China Sea, and also claims most of the South China Sea. Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, the

A11

MAKING A POINT: Zhou Qiang, President of China’s Supreme People’s Court gives a report during the third plenary meeting of the National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China, on Sunday. - Reuters

Philippines and Brunei also have competing claims there.

The Philippines has lodged a case with an arbitration court in The Hague about its dispute with China in the South China Sea, angering China which has pledged not to participate.

China’s increasingly assertive

claims in the South China Sea, along with its rapidly modernising navy, have rattled nerves around the region. Zhou said about 16,000 maritime cases were heard by Chinese courts last year, the most in the world. China has the largest number of maritime courts globally, he added. - Reuters

for its own political purpose,” an opinion piece in the Rodong Sinmun, the official daily newspaper of the North’s ruling party, said on Sunday. It accused the South of making the cyber attack claim in order to justify a controversial new “anti-terrorism” law.

“There is nothing to expect but the sound of eating corpses from a crow’s mouth. However, we cannot just overlook the South’s abrupt, provocative, and heinous accusations against its neighbor,” the article said.

Earlier in the week, South Ko-

rea’s National Intelligence Service also said North Korea had tried to hack into email accounts of South Korean railway workers in an attempt to attack the transport system’s control system, although it said had interrupted the hacking attempt against the railway workers and closed off their email accounts.

South Korea has been on heightened alert against the threat of cyber attacks by North Korea after it conducted a nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch last month, triggering new UN sanctions.

Tensions are also heightened on the Korean peninsula as South Korea and the United States conduct annual joint military exercises that the South says are the largest ever and on Sunday included the arrival in South Korea of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis.

North Korea has denounced the exercises as “nuclear war moves” and threatened to respond with an all-out offensive. - Reuters

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READERS’ FORUM AOL event shows lack of coordination among agencies This refers to the report ‘AOL to support restoration of Yamuna floodplains’ (March 13). Good news. However, in my opinion, the cultural event that the Art of Living (AOL) organisation has been displaying on the banks of river Yamuna, near the Indian capital, may not help bring happiness to the the mainstream community in the country. India being a country with diverse cultural appreciations involving various religious sentiments can never afford to accept an approach of defiance, the way the AOL organisation responded to the penalty imposed by the National Green Scan this QR code Tribunal (NGT). My question is, has the to send letters to the ecosystem been sincerely assessed before Readers’ Forum, suggesting the event, which should have containing not more than 200 words with been done by an independent agency or the full name, address NGT itself prior to granting permission to and telephone such an extravaganza involving thousands number, may be sent of people. At the same time, the event is by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com). taking away huge amount of wealth, time and human efforts that could have been diverted to some value added projects to support those who still lack basic needs in their life. The whole scenario shows that there was a lack of coordinated effort among government bodies. Such actions badly influence the ecosystem and the lives of those who live in the surrounding areas. — Ramachandran Nair, Ruwi

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“Insure with New India and be secure”

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NIELS BOHR

Iran is one of the world’s largest potential markets

MARIANA MAZZUCATO

Business sector will not enter the market until the riskiest and most capital-intensive investments have been made, or until coherent and systematic political signals have been communicated. Governments must therefore act decisively to make the needed investments and provide the right signals

espite an overwhelming win for pragmatists, at the expense of principalists, better known as ‘the hardliners’, in last month’s Iranian parliamentary elections, there are some who still question future commercial access to the Islamic Republic. The vitriol and rhetorical commentary still aimed at Iran is causing some to doubt business opportunities there.

That’s a big mistake. When sizing up Iran, newly emergent on the world stage, analysis should be pragmatic, not emotional, and should take account of Iran’s long history.

Iran is second only to China as the world’s oldest civilisation, and we should look to the East for guidance on understanding Iranian thinking.

For centuries, China traded along the Silk Road, which runs through Iran, and it is poised to do so again, through the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) exporting project, a new virtual ‘Silk Road’. The Chinese see the world in a different way than the West.

Beijing is influenced in its dealings with other nations by Tai Ji, an ancient philosophy best understood by reading Lao Tzu’s ‘Tao Ti Ching’ written around the 4th Century BC. It is best translated as meaning ‘the way of virtue, ethics, morality and integrity’.

Simply put, the Tao advocates respect; respect of your own ideas, respect of the ideas of others, and respect for the laws of nature. Harmony is at the centre of the doctrine.

This emphasis on harmony explains the balanced approach China brings to the outside world, exhibited most obviously with a long-term view of strategic interests, a vivid contrast to the pushbutton short-termism of the West. Beijing can wait, for example, as long as it takes for Taiwan to ‘drop’ back into the lap of a united China, knowing that the day will surely come, with no need to resort to force. Force would break the harmony, while patience will see a natural merger, for the good of both sides.

Building success, step by step, rather than rushing in, is China’s philosophy, and one American economist who has found favour with such thinking in Beijing is Arthur A Thompson, who preaches a strategic concept of evaluating all the factors when planning expansion, with emphasis on the long term view.

Similar processes are at work in Iran, a civilisation that has the experience of thousands of years

to fall back on for wisdom as it plans its next steps.

Those steps will be careful and comprehensive, the fruits visible in an ever-expanding network of infrastructure such as high-speed railway, hypersonic air travel, highways, oil and gas pipelines, and education for the business class of tomorrow.

All of which makes Iran and China natural partners, a partnership in fact first carved out by Marco Polo who followed that ancient Silk Road to China through ancient Iran.

Americans need to wake up to this way of thinking, and see Iran, as they see China, as a partner ready to do business with. Washington should begin by reversing its decision to keep some sanctions on Iran, notably in the banking sector, even as others are removed. The effect of this is selfdefeating, like firing up the car’s engine, only to keep the handbrake on as you move forward. These remaining compliance rules will throttle US companies as they strive to join the rush of businesses into the Islamic Republic.

For Washington, the problem is politics, not business; companies are eager to trade with Iran, but compliance laws, among the sternest on the planet, are holding them back. Remember that Washington’s decision two decades ago to give China Most Favoured Nation status set off an unprecedented boom that benefitted everyone.

A similar leap forward with Iran should come now, or anyway, from whoever wins the White House in November. Iran’s recent elections have shown, above all, that it is a dynamic society, able to think for itself, and like China, to fall back on century after century of experience and accumulated wisdom.

Rising above the “noise” of political rivalries can only benefit America, because the crinkles that remain in the Tehran-Washington relationship are best ironed out by a dose of America’s most famous export - Freedom. Which brings me back to Marco Polo, a man who could tell the present world a thing or two about engaging with the wider world.

It was no coincidence that Iranian President Rouhani chose Italy as his first stop after JCPOA’s Implementation Day, a nod to Italy and the Italian explorer’s groundbreaking achievements.

In conclusion who will America, Iran and the world benefit from; a president Clinton, a professional politician or a president Trump, a businessman?

I know which one I would choose, though I must confess neither thrill me! - Exclusive to Times of Oman.

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FROM OUR ARCHIVES MARCH 2001 Customers service course held MUSCAT: The Omani Centre for Industrial Promotion and Export Development (Ociped) held in cooperation with the CitiBank a training course on customer service at Grand Hyatt Muscat Hotel yesterday under the chairmanship of Hamoud bin Sanjoor Al Zedjali, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)’s executive president. Mahdi bin Juma, Ociped director general, gave a speech in which he said the Sultanate had witnessed during the past 30 years remarkable Renaissance which covered all aspects of life and enhanced the country’s position in the Arab region and internationally.

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1900: United States currency goes on the gold standard.

1918: An all-Russian Congress of Soviets ratifies a peace treaty with the Central Powers.

1947 The United States signs a 99-year lease on naval bases in the Philippines.

1990: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes Soviet Congress’ president.

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A13

WORLD US, France say Syria in bid to spoil peace talks Monday’s talks will coincide with next week’s fifth anniversary of a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the expansion

END GAME: High Negotiations Committee (HNC) spokesman Salem Al Meslet, right, speaks during a press conference on the eve of the second round of Syrian peace talks in Geneva on Sunday. — AFP

of the IS group

PARIS: The United States and France accused the Syrian government of trying to disrupt a new round of peace talks set to begin on Monday and said Russia and Iran would need to show the Syrian government was “living up to” what had been agreed.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid AlMoualem said on Saturday that his government would not

discuss presidential elections at peace talks in Geneva this week or hold talks with any party wishing to discuss the question of the presidency.

“It’s a provocation... a bad sign and doesn’t correspond to the spirit of the ceasefire,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told a news conference with his British, German, Italian, U.S. and EU counterparts.

Calling Moualem’s comments a clear attempt to “disrupt the pro-

cess”, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Syrian government and its backers were mistaken if they thought they could continue to test the boundaries of a fragile truce.

Accusing Syria of carrying out the most violations of the truce, Kerry said Russian President Vladimir Putin needed to look at how Assad was acting.

“So President Putin, who is invested in supporting Assad, with an enormous commitment - and

it has made a difference obviously on the battlefield - should be somewhat concerned about the fact that President Assad sent his foreign minister out yesterday to try and act as a spoiler, to take off the table something that President Putin and Iran had committed to,” Kerry said.”This is a moment of truth, a moment where all of us have to be responsible.”

He was referring to agreements over the last few months between the International Syrian Support Group - a mix of international and regional powers - who have pushed for a peace roadmap.

Monday’s talks will coincide with next week’s fifth anniversary of a war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the expansion of the IS group.

They are part of the first diplomatic push since the Russian air force intervened in September to support Assad, tilting the war the Syrian government’s way and helping Damascus reclaim significant territory in the west.

“It’s important now for those who support President Assad to make sure that he is living up to this agreement,” Kerry said. ”And therefore, as a result that they are living up to this agreement too.” — Reuters

S TAT E P O L L S

Germans vote in test for Merkel over policy on migrants B E R L I N/ W I T T E N B E R G (GERMANY): Germans turned out in force to vote in three state elections on Sunday, with the antiimmigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party looking to profit from popular angst about Chancellor Angela Merkel’s welcome of more than a million migrants.

The election is the biggest test year of the German public response to the influx, totalling more than a million last year alone and showing no sign of halting, of refugees and other migrants from the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.

Her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) have been losing support to the AfD, which has profited from the growing unease.

A poor CDU performance would weaken Merkel just as she tries to push through a deal to resolve the crisis in EU negotiations with Turkey, the country from which most migrants depart by sea to reach the EU through Greece. The AfD argues that Germans have been denied a choice over a policy that could define their country for generations, with Merkel ruling in a “grand coalition” that includes her party’s Socialist rivals.

“There is only one path, a Merkel unity path, and people want an alternative, they want a real op-

position and we want to take on that task,” Andre Poggenburg, AfD leader in Saxony-Anhalt in former East Germany, told reporters after voting. Voter turnout there and in the two other states holding elections, which with a combined population of some 17 million account for more than a fifth of Germany’s 81 million, was well up from the last regional votes five years ago.

By midday (1100 GMT), turnout was at 25 per cent in Saxony-Anhalt, some 5 per cent higher than 2011, election officials said.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, turnout - including postal votes - was at around 40 per cent, up 9 per cent from 2011.

Local media in Baden-Wuerttemberg also reported higher voter numbers. The results of exit polls for all three states are expected at around 6 p.m.(1700 GMT).

A failure to win at least two of the three would be a blow for Merkel just as she is trying to use her status as Europe’s most powerful leader to seal an EU deal with Turkey to stem the arrival of migrants.

Polls indicate that the CDU will remain the biggest party in Saxony-Anhalt, but the AfD could grab almost a fifth of the vote there and surpass the Social Democrats (SPD), Merkel’s coalition partners in Berlin. — Reuters

PSYCHOTIC DEPRESSIVE EPISODE

Doctor urged mental hospital for Germanwings pilot before crash PARIS: A doctor consulted by the German pilot who crashed a Germanwings jet into the Alps last year, killing 150 people, recommended two weeks before the disaster that he should be treated in a psychiatric hospital, French investigators said on Sunday.

The unidentified private physician was one of a number of doctors consulted by Andreas Lubitz

as he wrestled with symptoms of a “psychotic depressive episode” that started in December 2014 and may have lasted until the day of the crash, they said.

Prosecutors believe the 27-yearold co-pilot, who had a history of depression, barricaded himself into the cockpit and deliberately propelled his Airbus jet into a mountainside on March 24, 2015,

killing everyone on board.

France’s BEA air accident investigation office said in its final report that neither Lubitz nor any of his doctors had alerted aviation authorities or his employer about his illness.

It urged the World Health Organisation and European Commission to draw up clear rules to oblige doctors to inform authori-

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Trump remains defiant after campaign violence WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump refused to take responsibility on Sunday for clashes that have erupted at his campaign events, saying he was not inciting violence but giving voice to the anger of his supporters.

The real estate tycoon used a round of television appearances to beat back furious criticism from Republican rivals and Democrats alike that he was encouraging discord with divisive language disparaging Muslims and immigrants.

“I don’t accept responsibility.

I do not condone violence in any shape,” Trump said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The tension at his rallies, Trmp said, came from people being “sick and tired” of American leadership that has cost them jobs through international trade deals, failed to defeat IS terrorism and treats military veterans poorly.

“The people are angry at that - they’re not angry about something I’m saying. I’m just the messenger,” Trump said.

Trump, front-runner for the Republican nomination, appeared unchastened after simmering tensions between his supporters and protesters angry over his positions on immigration and Muslims erupted on Friday night, forcing him to cancel a Chicago rally and casting a shadow over his campaign appearances on Saturday. The disturbances erupted days before the next five presidential nominating contests on Tuesday, which could cement the New York billionaire’s lead over Republican rivals US Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Ohio Governor John Kasich.

The scenes in Chicago followed several weeks of violence at Trump rallies, in which protesters and journalists have been punched, tackled and hustled out of venues, raising concerns about security heading into the November 8 presidential election to replace Democratic President Barack Obama. Trump’s rivals

TENSIONS: Guests wait for the arrival of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a rally at the Central Illinois Regional Airport on Sunday in Bloomington, Illinois. — Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP

The people are angry at that — they’re not angry about something I’m saying. I’m just the messenger, said Republican candidate Donald Trump

for the Republican nomination, as well as Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, heaped criticism on the New York billionaire after Friday’s clashes.

A new Wall Street Journal/ NBC News/Marist poll showed Trump leading Rubio 43 per cent to 22 per cent among likely primary voters in Florida. Trump lags Ohio’s popular governor in that state, 33 per cent to Kasich’s 39 per cent, the poll showed.

The survey had a margin of error of 2.2 percentage points. Both states award all their delegates to the winner.

Sarah Palin, the vice presidential candidate in Republican John McCain’s failed 2008 campaign against Obama, planned to attend a Trump rally in Florida on Sunday.

Sanders’ disrupters On Sunday, he turned the criticism of his rallies against the protesters he called professional “disrupters” sent by Sanders, the US senator from Vermont.

“Bernie Sanders is lying when he says his disrupters aren’t told to go to my events.

Be careful Bernie, or my supporters will go to yours!” Trump said on Twitter early on Sunday.

Sanders responded by warning that Trump has been an “incredibly divisive” figure whose “rhetoric is inciting violence.” “So I really hope he tones it down.

This is not good for the country,” Sanders said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Trump showed no signs of toning down.

He accused the protesters of arriving at his rallies armed with tomatoes to throw at him or of sticking their middle finger up.

“Donald Trump on a regular basis incites his crowd,” Rubio said on ABC’s “This Week.” “There are people out there that are unbalanced.” — Reuters

ties when a patient’s health is likely to impact public safety, if necessary against the patient’s consent.

It also called for tougher inspections when pilots with a history of psychiatric problems are declared fit to fly.

None of the doctors who treated Lubitz, who had been prescribed anti-depressants and sleeping aids, agreed to speak to French or

German crash investigators, the agency said.

“In Germany and in France, doctors are very attached to this notion of medical secrecy, but I hope there will be some moves there,” BEA Director Remi Jouty told a news conference.

At the same time, the BEA called on airlines to find ways to ease the economic risks for pilots who may

fear losing their job if they declare illness and to promote peer support schemes.

Prosecutors have found evidence that Lubitz, who also had eyesight problems and may have feared losing his job, had researched suicide methods and concealed his illness from his employer, sparking a debate on supervision and medical secrecy. — Reuters

A 14

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Greece urges migrants to move to sheltered camps Greek authorities handed out leaflets urging migrants to move to buildings and hospitality centres across Greece that have been set aside for the purpose

ATHENS/IDOMENI: Greece increased efforts on Saturday to move thousands of migrants near the border with Macedonia to sheltered camps, as the spread of infection became a concern with one person in a sprawling tent city diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Stranded in filthy conditions near the northern border town of Idomeni, at least 12,000 people, among them thousands of children, were waiting to cross the frontier although Macedonia and other nations along the so-called Western Balkan route have closed their borders.

Scuffles broke out at the camp in recent days as destitute people scrambled for food and firewood, while many have been sleeping in the open, often in the rain amid low temperatures.

Greek authorities handed out leaflets in Idomeni on Saturday informing people that the main route to northern Europe was shut. The pamphlets urged them to move to buildings and hospitality centres across Greece that have been set aside for the purpose, according to a government official from the country’s refu-

STRANDED: A man carries fire wood in a makeshift camp at the Greek-Macedonian border on Sunday near the Greek village of Idomeni, where thousands of refugees and migrants are stranded by the Balkan border blockade. – AFP

gee crisis management coordination body. “Our aim is not only to relieve Idomeni from the people, our aim is that no Idomeni (camp) even exists anymore. There are structures, why should people stay in the mud?” he said.

Leaflets would also be distributed in ports and on islands to discourage people from going to Idomeni, the government official said.

“Greece will offer you accommodation, food and healthcare,” read the leaflets which were written in Arabic, Farsi and Pashtun.

Deputy Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas, in charge of coordinating Greek efforts to tackle the refugee crisis, said 400 people were moved from Idomeni to camps on Friday and the numbers would increase in the coming days. “Many of them are waiting for a decision

by the (EU) summit on March 17.

We are saying that regardless of this decision, there are three camps very close (to shelter them),” he told Greek Mega television.

EU leaders and Turkey are due to meet again on Thursday and Friday to seal a deal to try to stem illegal migrant flows from Turkey to Europe through Greece.

The squalid, overcrowded conditions of the camp in Idomeni

have given rise to infection. A nine-year old Syrian girl was diagnosed with Hepatitis A on Friday, according to Greece’s disease control agency.

According to the World Health Organisation, Hepatitis A is a virus which is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water, or through direct contact with an infectious person. It is normally associated with a lack

of safe water or poor sanitation.

“Conditions at Idomeni are indescribable... it’s a swampland created by the rain,” the head of Greece’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), Thanasis Giannopoulos, said on Sunday.

The girl being treated was in a stable condition, Giannopoulos said, adding that the centre had already taken action to prevent the disease spreading among migrants in Idomeni. Some 300 to 400 people would be vaccinated against the disease in an initial phase, he said.

To ensure water quality, seven water transportation vehicles, three deployed by the Greek army, started operating in Idomeni, the government said in an announcement late on Saturday. — Reuters

AMNESTY

‘EU-Turkey migrant plan is morally, legally flawed’ DUBAI: A draft European Union (EU) plan to send back some migrants to Turkey has legal and moral flaws and could put vulnerable people at risk, the head of Amnesty International said, calling on Europe to take in more people seeking refuge instead.

Under a tentative deal struck last Monday, Turkey agreed to take back illegal migrants who enter Europe from Turkey, in exchange for more funding, an earlier introduction of visa-free travel to Europe for Turks, and a speeding up of Ankara’s long-stalled EU membership talks. “It’s flawed, morally and legally,” Amnesty International Secretary General Salil Shetty told Reuters in Dubai.

Shetty said in an interview he would meet France’s interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, European Council President Donald Tusk and other EU officials this week “to directly express our shock and outrage at what they are coming up with.”

Leaders will meet again this week at an EU summit as they face Europe’s largest migration crisis since World War II. “They are saying it does not breach EU law because Turkey is a safe country. By what stretch of the imagination is Turkey a safe country for these people?” Shetty said.

Turkey has said the deal would not stop Syrian refugees legitimately seeking shelter in Europe.

Turkey and EU leaders say they want to discourage illegal migrants and stop smugglers.

But the United Nations and rights groups say mass returns without considering individual asylum cases could be illegal. Amnesty says Europe should take in its fair share of the millions seeking refugee and spend more on those who remain in the region.

“Most European countries are signatories to the (UN) refugee convention, so they are in direct violation,” Shetty said. — Reuters

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Thousands of Brazilians demand Rousseff’s exit Polls show that more than half of Brazilians favour the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff

RIO DE JANEIRO/BRASILIA: Tens of thousands of protestors poured onto the streets of major cities on Sunday to demand the removal of President Dilma Rousseff amid Brazil’s worst political and economic crisis in a generation.

The demonstrations are the latest in a wave of anti-government rallies that lost momentum late last year but could gain strength as a sweeping corruption investigation nears Rousseff ’s inner circle.

The magnitude of the protests on Sunday could be decisive in convincing a divided Congress to back ongoing impeachment proceedings against Rousseff. The leftist leader is blamed by many in Brazil for sinking the economy into its worst recession in at least 25 years. Polls show that more than half of Brazilians favour the impeachment of Rousseff, who was re-elected by a slim margin for a second four-year term in 2014.

Social upheaval Rousseff is the latest leftist leader in Latin America to face social upheaval as a decade-long commodities boom that fueled breakneck growth rates comes to an abrupt end.

Tensions ahead of the demonstrations were high after Sao Paulo state prosecutors requested the arrest of Rousseff ’s political men-

MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION: Demonstrators attend a protest against Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff, part of nationwide protests calling for her impeachment, at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. – Reuters

tor and predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on money-laundering charges.

Rousseff has called for calm as her government fears clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

Demonstration were peaceful with thousands clad in the national yellow and green colours and holding banners that read “Dilma out” and “Stop with corruption.”

“This government cannot stay in power any longer. This is not a

class war between the poor and the rich, but a fight against corruption,” said Andre Cerqueira, a civil engineer protesting on the ocean city of Rio de Janeiro.

In the capital Brasilia, protestors inflated a giant doll of Lula wearing a striped prison uniform and chained to a ball that read “Operation Carwash” - the name of the investigation centered on state oil company Petrobras. Police estimated about 50,000 protesters in the Brasilia alone.

Although no official nationwide figures were immediately available, authorities expect the demonstrations to be as big as the anti-government rallies of March 2015, which gathered as many as one million people.

A few hundred government supporters wearing red shirts and holding banners that read “There will not be a coup” stood outside the home of Lula in the outskirts of the city of Sao Paulo.

Popular discontent grew in recent weeks after a ruling party lawmaker reportedly used plea bargain testimony to accuse Rousseff and Lula of trying to hamper the Petrobras investigation. The probe has implicated senior politicians from Rousseff ’s coalition as well as top business executives.

The two-year-old probe has

strained Rousseff ’s ties with her main coalition partner, Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). At its national convention on Saturday, the PMDB threatened to break with her government and join the opposition.

Brazilian assets have rallied in recent weeks as investors bet that a change in government would lift business and consumer confidence and rescue an economy that contracted 3.8 per cent last year.

Rousseff, whose popularity is near record lows, has said she will not quit and blamed her opponents for creating the crisis that is sinking an economy.

Political tensions have stalled Rousseff ’s legislative agenda that included measures to limit public spending and overhaul a costly pension system to regain the trust of investors. — Reuters

F I V E - M AT C H S E R I E S

South Korean Go player beats Google programme SEOUL: South Korean Lee Sedol won his first match against a computer programme developed by a Google subsidiary on Sunday in the ancient board game Go, denying a clean sweep for the artificial intelligence in a five-match series.

Lee, one of the world’s top players and a holder of 18 international titles, recovered from three consecutive losses against the AlphaGo programme developed by DeepMind.

“This win is invaluable and I would not trade it for anything else in the world,” a jubilant Lee told reporters after the match, thanking fans for their support.

The 33-year-old professional player has admitted to underestimating AlphaGo’s skills but also said the programme was not perfect, asking supporters to keep watching the contest.

DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis told reporters the loss was a valuable learning tool and would help identify weaknesses in the programme that his team needed to address.

“It’s a real testament to Mr Lee’s incredible fighting spirit and he was able to play so brilliantly today after three defeats,” Hassabis said.

Go, most popular in countries such as China, South Korea and Japan, involves two contestants moving black and white stones on a square grid, with the aim of seizing the most territory.

Experts did not expect an artificial intelligence programme to beat a human professional for at least a decade, until AlphaGo beat a European champion player last year. Lee was considered a much more formidable opponent, however.

Google executives say Go offers too many possible moves for a machine to win simply through bruteforce calculations, unlike chess, in which IBM’s Deep Blue famously beat former world champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. — Reuters

B SULTANATE TO ATTEND MICROCREDIT SUMMIT Oman’s Ministry of Social Development will participate in the Microcredit Summit scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi between March 14 and 17. - ONA

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G O B A L C O N S U LTA N C Y

Oman seeks financial consultant for power expansion A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman on Sunday floated two tenders seeking proposals from international consultants to provide financial/commercial and legal advisory services for competitive tendering to secure an economic expansion of power

capacity to meet future demand in 2021 and beyond.

The consultant is expected to advice Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) Company on capacity enhancement programmes within the main interconnected system (MIS) areas — governorates of Muscat, Buraymi, Al Batinah North, Al Batinah

South, Al Dakhiliyah, Al Sharqiyah North, Al Sharqiyah South and Al Dhahirah — which serves over 736,000 electricity customers.

Last month, OPWP floated a similar tender seeking technical advisory service for capacity expansion to meet future power demand in 2021 and beyond. This procurement will be through using

the current established process and contract structure.

Power demand Oman Power and Water Procurement Company, a member of Electricity Holding Company, is responsible for procuring new electricity generation capacity and water in the Sultanate.

Oman’s average annual growth in power demand for the next five years within the areas of main inter-connected system (MIS) is projected at 10 per cent to 5,023 megawatt in 2020, according to a seven-year outlook for power demand released by OPWP a couple of years ago.

However, peak demand growth,

Business conditions set to improve in Sultanate As many as 43% respondents are largely optimistic about the future, expecting business conditions to ‘get better’ in a year’s time, says the survey

GROWING CONFIDENCE: As far as consumer goods are concerned, 20 per cent of Oman residents plan to purchase a ‘tablet or smartphone’ in the next six months. – ONA file picture

Times News Service

ing job site, and YouGov, a leading market research agency, among 3,905 respondents in the Middle East region. Also, 31 per cent of Oman respondents believe that business conditions are either ‘good’ or ‘very good,’ while 25 per cent believe that business conditions are ‘bad.’

Besides, 15 per cent of Oman respondents believe that the country’s economy has ‘improved’ in the last six months, while nearly half of the respondents (46 per cent) believe that it has ‘receded.’

However, almost a third of the respondents (32 per cent) expect the economy to ‘improve’ in the

MUSCAT: A large number of respondents of a survey believe that the Sultanate’s business conditions will get better by next year.

According to a latest survey on consumer confidence, 43 per cent are largely optimistic about the future, expecting business conditions to ‘get better’ in a year’s time.

As many as 38 per cent of the respondents in Oman have a positive outlook on the future of the country’s economy, according to a survey on consumer confidence.

The survey was conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leadE X PA N S I O N

Four cranes arrive at Sohar from Shanghai Times News Service MUSCAT: Four new post-Panamax quay cranes have arrived at Sohar Port and Freezone’s stateof-the-art container terminal this week, as it continues its next phase of expansion.

The facility is jointly owned

by Hutchison in Hong Kong, the Oman Government, C. Steinweg among other investors, and is operated by Oman International Container Terminal (OICT). In 2014, OICT shifted its operations to the new terminal C at Sohar in preparation for the relocation of all commercial traffic from Muscat’s Port Sultan Qaboos.

Last year saw Sohar handle nearly one million tonnes of cargo a week, a new record for the port that only saw its first ship arrive in 2004. The new cranes arrived from Shanghai (China), manufactured by quay crane specialists Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC).

The new quay cranes, each weighing hundreds of tones, will

allow the container terminal to receive even bigger container vessels in future. The huge new cranes have an outreach to serve the latest 10,000 TEU container ships that already serve Sohar — and 20.000 TEU mega container ships in the future.

The handling capacity for container traffic at OICT in Sohar has more than doubled in the last two years.

Sohar Port chief executive officer Andre Toet commented: “As more lines from Asia start to make more direct calls to Sohar, and the size of those container vessels continues to increase, Sohar Port Authority is actively working together with OICT and our other terminals to increase efficiency and help reduce costs.”

next six months, compared to the 27 per cent of the respondents who expect it to ‘get worse’.

Economic situation According to 49 per cent of poll respondents in Oman, their financial situation is the ‘same as six months ago’ (17 per cent say it is ‘better’ than it was six months ago, while 24 per cent claim that it is ‘worse’).

The outlook is somewhat positive though: 38 per cent of respondents believe that their personal financial situation will ‘improve’ in the next six months. When it comes to the cost of living in the next six months, 74 per cent of respond-

ents expect it to increase, while 14 per cent expect the cost of living to ‘remain the same’.

Nearly half of Oman respondents (49 per cent) say that their savings have ‘declined’ when compared to last year. On the other hand, 14 per cent of Oman respondents claim that their savings have ‘increased’, while 31 per cent reveal that their savings have ‘remained the same.’

Consumer spending As many as 33 per cent of those surveyed in Oman are planning to invest in a motor vehicle in the next 12 months. Of those, 43 per

cent are planning to buy a new vehicle, while 34 per cent are planning to buy a used one. More than half of (56 per cent) of respondents from are not planning on purchasing a vehicle.

When it comes to investing in property, 18 per cent of respondents in Oman are planning to invest in the next 12 months. Of those who are planning to buy property, 39 per cent will invest in an ‘apartment’, while 23 per cent plan to buy a ‘villa/townhouse/ bungalow’ and 26 per cent will purchase ‘commercial property’.

The majority (61 per cent) of the respondents who are planning to invest in property in Oman plan to buy new property in the next 12 months, while 16 per cent will invest in pre-owned property.

Regarding consumer goods, 20 per cent of Oman residents plan to purchase a ‘tablet or smartphone’ in the next six months, while one in five (20 per cent) will invest in a ‘desktop or laptop’.

Presently, 23 per cent of respondents surveyed believe that there are plenty of jobs available in the Sultanate.

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under the demand forecast, is expected at about 11 per cent per annum, from 4,455 megawatt in 2013 to 9,133 megawatt in 2020.

The consultancy tender documents for financial/commercial and legal advisory services will be available for purchase between March 13 and 24, while the last date of submission is April 21, 2016.

OUTPUT FREEZE

Tehran in ‘no mood’ to cut oil production TEHRAN: Iran plans to boost crude output to 4 million barrels a day before it will consider joining other suppliers in seeking ways to rebalance the global oil market.

“They should leave us alone” until then, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said, according to the Iranian Students News Agency.

“After that we will work with them, the minister added.

Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela and Qatar proposed an accord to freeze oil output and tackle a global surplus. Oil extended gains after their initial meeting on February 16, and has climbed more than 40 per cent since the 12-year low in January. Oil at $70 a barrel is ‘suitable’, agency cited Zanganeh saying.

Iran wants to boost output by 1 million barrels a day this year after international sanctions on its oil industry were lifted in January.

Production was 3 million barrels a day in February, according to data. Brent crude closed Friday at $40.39 a barrel.

Zanganeh will meet Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak on Monday, according to news agency, which didn’t specify the location or topics of discussion.

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and nonmembers have intermittently held discussions since November 2014, when Opec first signaled it was unwilling to cut output on its own to support prices. – Bloomberg News

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MARKET FRAUDS

China pledges more efforts to crackdown on financial crimes BEIJING: China’s judicial authorities vowed to do more to combat financial crimes in the coming year, as the economy slows and leaders remain concerned that financial risks might lead to higher unemployment and social unrest.

Chief prosecutor Cao Jianming said in his annual report to the country’s top legislature on Sunday that his department would prioritise investigations into finance, securities and insurance to “guarantee a healthy development of capital market.” The Supreme People’s Procurato rate plans to tackle financial crimes involvin illegal fundraising to protect the public and focus on contract fraud crimes to establish a “fair and orderly environment of market competition”, he said.

People’s Supreme Court President Zhou Qiang said in a separate report to the National People’s Congress in Beijing that the top court would strengthen oversight of financial crimes involving the

Internet. Chinese courts last year handled 1.4 million cases involving peer-to-peer lending worth 821 billion yuan ($126 billion), Zhou said. Over 72,000 people were convicted for crimes involving illegal fundraising and P2P lending.

Investigations The government has launched investigations involving some of the nation’s largest financial firms following a stock market collapse last year that erased $5 trillion in value.

Regulators in Beijing also have also targeted the booming online loan industry by investigating one of the largest P2P brokers, Ezubao.

Judicial authorities also pledged to punish suspected threats to state security, including terrorism, secessionism and religious extremism, with Cao vowing to fight “infiltration, subversion and sabotage by hostile forces.”

Last year, Chinese courts convicted 1,419 people accused of harming security. - Bloomberg News

Foreign direct investment touches $126b BEIJING: China, witnessing its slowest growth in 25 years, attracted $126 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, up 5.6 per cent, with the majority invested in services and high-end manufacturing sectors of the world’s second biggest economy, commerce minister said on Sunday.

China will also further ease foreign investors’ access to service and manufacturing sectors. - PTI

REAL ESTATE DEMAND: Investors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will have an opportunity to buy into the vision for Al Maryah Island, a rapidly advancing 114-hectare premier business and lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi. – Supplied picture

Prime properties set to be sold at Abu Dhabi event Cityscape Abu Dhabi will offer real estate investors from around the world the opportunity to interact with developers featuring numerous new property launches

Times News Service MUSCAT: A host of regional and international property developers are preparing to sell prime residential, retail, hospitality, mixed use and commercial units at Cityscape Abu Dhabi.

The event will offer real estate investors from around the world the opportunity to interact with developers featuring numerous new property launches as well as updates on existing developments in Abu Dhabi and beyond, directly on the show floor.

One of the highlights of the tenth edition of Cityscape Abu Dhabi to be held between April 12 and 14 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will be the opportunity for investors to buy into the vision for Al Maryah Island, a rapidly advancing 114-hectare premier business and lifestyle destination in Abu Dhabi.

“We’re continuing to drive forward with the full development of the first phase of Al Maryah Island,” said Ali Eid Al Mheiri, executive director of Mubadala Real Estate and Infrastructure.

“A number of key assets are set for delivery in the coming months and years, including the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Abu Dhabi in May 2016, expansion of the waterfront

promenade by the third quarter of 2016, and the opening of Al Maryah Central retail development expected in 2018. These will add to the vibrant mixed-use development and we are confident that this will attract further investors and developers to continue bringing Al Maryah Island to life. ” Housing opportunities Meanwhile, Bloom Properties is expecting to receive a flock of visitors to learn more about their distinctive housing opportunities in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“On the supply side, the new units coming on to the Abu Dhabi market have failed to keep pace with the existing demand because of the low availability of quality units,” Sameh Muhtadi, chief executive officer of Bloom Holdings, said.

“We seek to leverage this opportunity by developing a number of mixed-use projects in prime locations including Park View development on Saadiyat and on the Eastern Corniche in Abu Dhabi, and Stella Maris Tower in Dubai Marina,” he added.

Investors looking for unique luxury investment opportunities beyond Abu Dhabi will have a chance to discover more about The Heart of Europe, the extraordinary island resort showcased

by Kleindienst. “The Heart of

Europe includes hotel suites, The Floating Seahorse, Germany Villas and Sweden Villas furnished

by Bentley Home,” said Josef Kleindienst, chairman of Kleindienst and The Heart of Europe.

Return on investment “The island is located 4km off the coast of Dubai and the investment opportunities we offer guarantee 8 per cent rate of return for up to ten years. During Cityscape Abu Dhabi, interested investors will be able to arrange a visit to the world’s first Floating Seahorse.”

In addition to regional projects, buyers will be able to inquire about international developments, such as the Didube Tower properties showcased by United International. The tower, located in the heart of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, will grant potential investors not only a capital asset, but also a Georgian residency permit with the approval from the Georgian government.

Ammar Hussain, owner, Golden Season Property Management representing United International, said: “Cityscape has been widely regarded as the key barometer for the region’s property sector, and since it’s a main platform gathering investors and developers we look forward to liaising with potential investors and develop our relationships with local buyers.”

Visitors will also have a chance to explore a new mobile app, JustProperty, developed for iOS and Android users, which lists 90,000 properties for rent and sale.

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

MARKET Micromax now a struggling brand Micromax’s slide to second place is a tale of the promise and peril of India’s booming but hyper-competitive smartphone industry

MUMBAI: A year ago, Micromax vaulted past Samsung Electronics to become India’s leading smartphone brand. Today, its market share has nearly halved, several top executives have resigned, and the company is looking for growth outside India.

Micromax’s slide to second place is a tale of the promise and peril of India’s booming but hypercompetitive smartphone industry.

India is the world’s fastestgrowing smartphone market.

Shipments of smartphones jumped 29 per cent to 103 million units last year.

Rapid growth has helped nurture a crop of local brands, led by Micromax, that outsourced production to Chinese manufacturers. Now, as Samsung rolls out more affordable phones, the same Chinese factories are entering the Indian market with their own brands, depressing prices and forcing Indian mobile makers to rethink their strategies.

“What the Indian brands did to the global brands two years ago, Chinese phone makers are doing the same to Indian brands now, and over the next year we see tremendous competition for Micromax and other Indian smartphone makers,” said Tarun Pathak, analyst at Counterpoint Research in New Delhi.

Management Micromax, which was founded in New Delhi by four partners in 2000 but only began selling mobile phones in 2008, built its market share by working with Chinese manufacturers such as Coolpad, Gionee and Oppo to offer affordable phones quickly. In 2015, it launched more than 40 new models.

In 2014, the founders brought in outside managers to lead the company at a time when Micro-

INVESTORS’ SUMMIT

Sultanate to host conference of sovereign funds Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman, represented by the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF), is hosting the Co-Investment Roundtable of Sovereign and Pension Funds (CROSAPF) Working Committee meeting on March 22 and 23 at the ShangriLa Hotel in Muscat.

CROSAPF members are sovereign wealth and pension funds from around the world. It brings together investment professionals of public funds for presentations and in-depth discussions on global trends and recent issues related to investing.

It gives investors, from around the world, an opportunity to exchange knowledge and introduce the investment opportunities in their respective countries to co-invest. The Sultanate of Oman will have the opportunity to showcase and invite the global investors to participate in its upcoming economic, development, and production projects.

Investments In the meeting, the sovereign and investment funds will discuss a range of issues and the factors that may play a role in making investment decisions, including global trends and socio-economic variables that affect the investments in short- and long-term strategies. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for participants and members to share and exchange their experiences for the benefit of co-investments.

Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, executive president of State General Reserve Fund, stressed on the importance of such meetings that provide an opportunity to promote promising investment opportunities offered by the Sultanate, and at the same time, to look at others experiences and opportunities.

“SGRF’s joining to CROSAPF last year’s reflects our belief in

Abdulsalam Al Murshidi, Executive president of State General Reserve Fund.

– Supplied picture

the importance of knowledge, experience and information exchange with our counterparts around the world, which in return, will benefit our investments; thereby achieving a more sustainable returns for our future generations. This forum will also provide an opportunity to the Omani funds and investments institutions to get to know their counterparts in the world and build a vast network of relationships to exchange experiences,” he added.

Two meetings a year CROSAPF holds two meetings a year, the first is organised in the spring of each year and attended by a wide range of executives and representatives of international investment institutions. While the summit is held in the autumn of each year which will be attended by the heads of the members and financial institutions, and international personalities and government officials.

max was challenging Samsung to become the largest mobile phone maker in India.

But tensions arose soon after between founders and the newly hired executives, six former executives said. These conflicts undermined Micromax’s attempts to raise funds for expansion, say former executives.

Last May, Alibaba walked away from a mooted $1.2 billion purchase of a 20 per cent stake, citing a lack of clarity on growth plans, according to one executive involved in the discussion. Micromax co-founder Vikas Jain said in an interview this week that the company and Alibaba disagreed on a future roadmap. Alibaba declined to comment.

Former executives said the lack of fresh funding undermined a proposal by the new executives to move Micromax’s research and design operations, which had previously been outsourced, inhouse. The move was intended to help Micromax. - Reuters

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MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,318.86 .............. 5,292.40 ................... 5,307.99 ................... 5,290.74.................. 17.25 ................... 0.33 Financial Index .................................... 6,520.59 ...............6,473.73 ...................6,500.62 ................... 6,467.25..................33.37 ...................0.52 Industrial Index ....................................6,582.01 .............. 6,572.80 ................... 6,573.54 ................... 6,575.74..................-2.20 .................. -0.03 Services Index ...................................... 3,053.09 .............. 3,050.42 ................... 3,050.45 ...................3,053.09..................-2.64 .................. -0.09 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................826.01 .................. 825.13 .......................825.13 ...................... 826.12.................. -0.99 .................. -0.12 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 10,515,961 .................. 3,050,835 .....................695 ...............16,306,509,660 .................. 6 ..................... 10 .................... 17 .........................33

The top gainer was Bank Muscat, up 1.98 per cent, while Al Hassan Engineering, which fell

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 13

by 4.41 per cent, was the top loser ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: Recovery in heavyweight banking stocks drove the MSM 30 Index to 5,307.99 points, up by 0.33 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 825.13 points, down by 0.12 per cent.

Bank Muscat was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. The top gainer was Bank Muscat, up 1.98 per cent, while Al Hassan Engineering, which fell by 4.41 per cent, was the top loser.

As many as 695 trades were executed on Sunday, generating turnover of OMR3.1 million with 10.5 million shares changing hands. Out of 33 traded securities, six advanced, 10 declined and 17 remained unchanged.

Omani investors remained net buyers for OMR874,000 followed

by GCC and Arab investors for OMR198,000 while foreign investors were net sellers for OMR1.07 million worth of shares.

Financial Index bounced back to 6,500.62 points, up by 0.52 per cent. Bank Muscat, Ominvest, Al Anwar Holding, Ahli Bank and HSBC Bank gained by 1.98 per cent, 1.69 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 1.17 per cent and 1.04 per cent, respectively.

Al Madina Takaful, Bank Nizwa, Al Batinah Development and NBO declinedby 2.82 per cent, 1.49 per cent, 1.41 per cent and 0.75 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index was stable at 6,573.54 points, down by 0.03 per cent. Gulf International Chemicals, up by 0.67 per cent, was the only sector gainer. Al Hassan Engineering and Al Jazeera Steel declined by 4.41 per cent and 1.47 per cent, respectively.

Services Index closed negatively at 3,050.45 points, down by 0.09 per cent. Renaissance Services, OIFC, Oman Telecommunications Company and Sembcorp Salalah receded by 0.57 per cent, 0.51 per cent, 0.32 per cent and 0.20 per cent, respectively.

Dubai stocks gain Dubai stocks advanced the most among Middle Eastern equities as the European Central Bank’s monetary stimulus boosted demand for emerging-market assets, adding fuel to bullish sentiment in the emirate.

The DFM General Index climbed 1.4 per cent to 3,401.03, extending four weeks of gains, the longest streak since April.

Emirates NBD, the emirate’s biggest lender, added 4.6 per cent to the highest level in three months.

Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose 0.6 per cent in Riyadh.

“The ECB moves were taken well,” said Saleem Khokhar, the head of fund management and equities at the asset management group of National Bank of Abu Dhabi. “There’s a positive global backdrop in general and Dubai has been in risk-on mode for a while. We’re expecting this to continue.”

ECB President Mario Draghi exceeded investors’ expectations by cutting all three main interest rates and increasing monthly asset purchases, spurring investor demand for risky assets. Dubai stocks have been rallying after Brent crude prices climbed from the lowest level since 2003, lifting the emirate’s equity index into a bull market last month.

Other stock gauges in the sixnation Gulf Cooperation Council, home to about 30 percent of the world’s oil, followed.

About 566 million shares traded on Dubai’s benchmark, double the six-month average, according to data. The gauge’s 14-day relative strength index was at 70, which to some technical analysts is a sign the measure is overbought and poised to decline.

Dubai Parks & Resorts, which is building a series of theme parks in UAE, rose 14 per cent to the highest since it listed in December 2014. - United Securities/Bloomberg News

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

OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 3,217,623....1,325,599...................238 ............0.410 ........... 0.414 ...........0.410........... 0.412 .............0.404 ........... 0.008............. 1.980 ................0.412 ..............0.410...................0.412................. 944,230,910 .......0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................5,900 ...............2,832........................4 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.480 .............0.472 ........... 0.008............. 1.695 ................0.480..............0.476...................0.480 .................265,373,588........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 716,150 ...........121,673..................... 72 ............0.170 ........... 0.172 ...........0.167 ........... 0.170 ............. 0.168............ 0.002............. 1.190 ................0.168 ..............0.168...................0.170................... 25,512,750 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 125,000 ............21,665........................4 ............0.178 ........... 0.178 ........... 0.171 ............0.173 ............. 0.171 ............ 0.002............. 1.170.................0.175 ...............0.171...................0.175 ..................246,531,253........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN ......................................................34,750 ............... 3,371........................4 ........... 0.097 ...........0.097 ...........0.097........... 0.097 .............0.096 ............0.001 ............. 1.042 ................0.097..............0.097...................0.099..................194,030,341........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 136,490 ............41,146..................... 49 ........... 0.302 ...........0.308 ...........0.298........... 0.302 .............0.300 ........... 0.002............. 0.667 ................0.300 .............0.298...................0.300 ...................6,342,000..........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 258,556 ........... 47,820......................11 ............0.185 ........... 0.186 ...........0.184............0.185 ............. 0.185............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.184..............0.182...................0.184...................17,582,400 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ............................................................. 14,100 ...............4,233........................7 ........... 0.302 ...........0.302 ...........0.300 .......... 0.300 .............0.300 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.300 .............0.270...................0.300 ..................15,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................35,630 .............16,034........................3 ........... 0.450 ...........0.450 ...........0.450........... 0.450 .............0.450 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.450..............0.450...................0.000 .................148,892,720........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................19,000 ............... 1,140........................4 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.060 .............0.060 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.059...................0.060 ..................12,429,083 .........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...................................31,500 ............ 59,850........................3 ........... 1.900 ........... 1.900 ...........1.900........... 1.900 .............1.900 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.900..............1.905...................2.000 .................180,500,000 .......0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 527,224 ............ 73,811..................... 34 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.140 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.140..............0.140................... 0.141 ...................43,507,092 .........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .........3,200 ...............5,440........................2 ............1.700 ........... 1.700 ...........1.700 ............1.700 ............. 1.700............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.700 .............. 1.700...................0.000 .................117,300,000 ........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 900,000......... 112,500..................... 23 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 ..............0.122...................0.125...................25,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 930,933 ..........136,910......................17 ............0.148 ........... 0.148 ...........0.147 ............0.147 ............. 0.147............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.147 ..............0.146...................0.147..................211,891,680 ........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 546,000 ........... 33,306..................... 29 ............0.061 ...........0.062 ...........0.060........... 0.061 ............. 0.061............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.060...................0.061................... 17,688,819 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 105,500 ............71,740........................7 ........... 0.680 ...........0.680 ...........0.680........... 0.680 .............0.680 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.680..............0.676...................0.680 ................ 442,642,076 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................14,227 ............... 5,778......................15 ........... 0.406 ........... 0.410 ...........0.404 .......... 0.406 .............0.406 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.404..............0.404...................0.410...................21,315,000 .........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH..................................................4,850 .............12,104........................2 ........... 2.495 ...........2.500 ...........2.495........... 2.495 .............2.500 ...........-0.005 ........... -0.200 ...............2.500 .............2.350...................2.500 .................238,165,702 ........1.000 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 417,990..........654,794.....................44 ............1.570 ........... 1.570 ...........1.560 ............1.565 ............. 1.570............-0.005 ........... -0.318................1.560 .............. 1.550...................1.560................ 1,173,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 125,102............ 24,414........................8 ............0.197 ........... 0.197 ...........0.194............0.195 ............. 0.196............-0.001 ........... -0.510 ...............0.194 ..............0.194...................0.195 ...................39,000,000.........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 355,000 ........... 62,025......................11 ............0.176 ........... 0.176 ...........0.173 ............0.175 ............. 0.176............-0.001 ........... -0.568 ...............0.173 ............. 0.000...................0.175 ...................50,863,929.........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 247,430 ........... 65,824........................8 ........... 0.268 ...........0.268 ...........0.266........... 0.266 .............0.268 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.746 ...............0.266..............0.264...................0.266 .................356,628,927........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................27,000 ...............1,890........................2 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.070........... 0.070 ............. 0.071............-0.001 ........... -1.408 ...............0.070..............0.070...................0.073....................2,100,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ..........................35,897 ...............4,826........................7 ............0.133 ........... 0.135 ...........0.133 ........... 0.134 ............. 0.136............-0.002 ............-1.471 ................0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.137 ................... 16,736,327 .........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 326,251 ........... 22,467..................... 30 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.068........... 0.069 ............. 0.071............-0.002 ........... -2.817................0.069..............0.069...................0.070...................12,075,000 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 9,161,303 ...2,933,190...................638 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......26........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ......................2,000 .....................62........................1 ............0.031 ........... 0.031 ...........0.031 ........... 0.032 .............0.032 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.031 .............. 0.031...................0.033....................2,720,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 163,000 .............. 9,128........................7 ........... 0.056 ...........0.056 ...........0.056........... 0.056 .............0.056 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.056..............0.055...................0.056....................7,000,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE.................................................... 142,365 ............18,477........................5 ............0.130 ........... 0.130 ...........0.129........... 0.130 .............0.130............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.129 ..............0.128...................0.130................... 32,710,401 .........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 304,000............17,024......................17 ........... 0.056 ...........0.056 ...........0.056........... 0.056 .............0.056 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.056..............0.055...................0.056...................56,000,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 289,864 ...........42,869......................16 ............0.148 ........... 0.148 ...........0.147 ........... 0.148 .............0.148............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.148..................216,465,016 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 444,679 ............29,519........................9 ........... 0.067 ...........0.067 ...........0.066........... 0.066 .............0.067 ...........-0.001 ............-1.493................0.066..............0.065...................0.067...................99,000,000.........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING...................................... 8,750 .................. 565........................2 ........... 0.067 ...........0.067 ...........0.064........... 0.065 .............0.068 ...........-0.003 ........... -4.412 ...............0.064..............0.061...................0.064 ...................4,888,520 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,354,658 .......117,645..................... 57 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ECONOMY

Central banks to discuss slowing global growth FRANKFURT: Central banks take centrestage in the coming week as policymakers from Washington to London and Tokyo battle slowing global growth, heightened market volatility and deflationary pressures.

Coming after the European Central Bank’s (ECB) massive stimulus package, the United States Federal Reserve must resolve conflicting economic drivers while the Bank of England will take a cautious line ahead of a defining vote on European Union membership.

A standout in an otherwise wobbly world economy, even the United States is facing growing headwinds, primarily from trade and weak emerging markets. That is likely to stay the Fed’s hand on Wednesday and push out its next hike, possibly to June, even as it maintains a tightening bias.

“Overall, the message from the Fed will likely be a pause to assess uncertainties and gather more evidence, but no shift in strategy,

or medium term view: act soft, talk tough,” BNP Paribas said in a note. While the Fed has hinted at four 25-basis-point rate hikes this year, markets see just one increase in the second half, leaving an unusually big gap between market expectations and the central bank’s guidance.

Fuelling the doves’ case, the Cleveland Fed’s Financial Stress Indicator briefly showed its highest warning level in recent weeks, pointing to significant risk. Business surveys have also pointed to growing worries while exports are facing challenges from a strong dollar.

But unemployment continues to fall, housing activity is high, the labour market is tightening and household consumption is rising, all indicating that the real economy is performing broadly as the Fed has predicted.

Data also suggest that the labour supply will be below demand, suggesting increased competition for labour. - Reuters

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, MARCH 14, 2016

SECTION

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SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

IMES TECH STUFF

GOOGLE SOFTWARE WINS TOURNAMENT Chalk up another win for artificial intelligence. Google DeepMind’s AI system won its match against a top-ranked player of Go, as machine-learning software mastered the intricacies of the 2,500-year-old strategy board game. The programme scored its third victory against Lee Sedol Saturday, winning a fivematch tournament. — Bloomberg News

T E C H U P D AT E S

Intel plans to sell $1 billion

venture capital portfolio

WATCH OUT, MOTORISTS: United States President Barack Obama wants to spend $3.9 billion on autonomous vehicle technology over the next 10 years, according to his administration’s proposed 2017 budget. – Bloomberg News

Driverless cars closer to green signal in US In an update to US efforts to promote autonomous vehicle technology, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is planning pilot programmes across the country to test vehicles, working with states on developing new model laws

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xisting United States laws pose few barriers to adoption of autonomous vehicle technology so long as cars and trucks stick with existing designs allowing humans to take control, the agency overseeing traffic safety said on Friday.

It’s only when manufacturers push the envelope by developing vehicles without such things as traditional steering wheels and brake pedals that regulations may block new autonomous technology, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA issued the report in a briefing on its efforts to speed the adoption of driverless cars and other technology that assists human operators. It was produced by the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, which does research for the Transportation Department.

“There are certain designs for which there are relatively few current regulatory obstacles,” Gordon Trowbridge, a spokesman for NHTSA, said at the briefing. “That means that we need operational guidance, model state policy, out there to help guide the operation and deployment of vehicles that may be relatively close to the road.”

PROGRESS SO FAR

Daimler unveiled Mercedes-Benz E-Class that can steer itself in auto-pilot mode, brake in emergencies, and evade obstructions

Ford Motor has announced plans to test autonomous vehicles for better reaction to snowy conditions

Tesla Motors says it’s technically feasible that its electric cars will be capable of driving autonomously across the US within two to three years

Google operates perhaps the best-known fleet of selfdriving cars

Apple is presumed to be working on its own models

State laws The Volpe study looked at existing federal motor vehicle safety standards and whether those laws will impede the introduction of self-driving technologies. It didn’t examine state laws, which govern driver qualifications, insurance requirements, and other issues.

In an update to US efforts to promote autonomous vehicle technology, Trowbridge said NHTSA was planning pilot programmes across the country to test vehicles, working with states on developing new model laws, and evaluating federal

regulations for what changes may be required. The agency is also hosting two forums in April to gather public input on the issue, one in Washington and another at an undetermined location in California, he said.

Revolution “We are witnessing a revolution in auto technology that has the potential to save thousands of lives,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a press release on Friday. “In order to achieve that potential, we need to establish guidelines for manufacturers that clearly out-

line how we expect automated vehicles to function — not only safely, but more safely — on our roads.”

US President Barack Obama wants to spend $3.9 billion on autonomous vehicle technology over the next 10 years, according to his administration’s proposed 2017 budget.

Adding more automated safety features to cars is one strategy to reduce roadway deaths, Mark Rosekind, NHTSA’s administrator, said on Thursday at a safety forum.

The technology can help correct for human error, which the agency estimates is a factor in 94 per cent of fatal car crashes, Rosekind said.

Traditional manufacturers and technology upstarts including are rushing to develop more autonomous cars.

Snowy conditions Daimler this year unveiled a new flagship Mercedes-Benz E-Class that can steer itself in auto-pilot mode, brake in emergencies, and evade obstructions. Ford Motor has announced plans to test autonomous vehicles for better reaction to snowy conditions, one of the major technical hurdles.

Tesla Motors’ chief executive officer Elon Musk says it’s technically feasible that its electric cars will be capable of driving autonomously across the US within two to three years. Google operates perhaps the best-known fleet of self-driving cars, and Apple is presumed to be working on its own models.

In February 2014, NHTSA also promised to move forward with regulations that will require cars to be able to communicate with each other to avoid crashes. So-called vehicleto-vehicle communications may in the future save lives on the scale of earlier safety innovations like seat belts and air bags. - Bloomberg News

Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest makers of computer components, is planning to sell part of its venture capital unit, assets that could be worth as much as $1 billion, said people familiar with the matter.

The Santa Clara, California-based company is working with UBS Group to look for potential buyers for the assets, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The portfolio, which is made up of companies across the world, is housed within Intel’s corporate venture unit, Intel Capital, the people said. Intel restructured its venture capital unit in January with President Arvind Sodhani’s retirement after 35 years with the company.

He was replaced by head of mergers and acquisitions Wendell Brooks. The combination of the teams was designed to unify investment decisions across the firm, Intel said in a statement.

Discussions over the structure of the sale are at an early stage, with Intel open to selling the assets as a whole or divided by geography or sector focus, the people said. The sale is expected to attract private equity houses that specialize in buying portfolios, known as secondaries firms. Since its start in 1991, Intel Capital has invested about $11.6 billion in more than 1,440 companies in 57 countries across a range of sectors including security, wearable technology and digital media, according to the company’s website. Last year, the unit invested $514 million in 143 companies, split almost evenly between new ventures and follow-on investments.. — Bloomberg News

‘Future technology week’ to highlight $11b opportunity

With the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) catalysing a global surge in data volumes, this month’s Internet of Things Expo (IoTX) and The Big Data Show at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will explore how advanced connectivity, smart cities digitalisation and cloud-based control of devices, people and enterprise operations are poised to transform the region’s business landscape. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), public and private sector investment across the Middle East and Africa’s public safety and security, telecommunications, banking, energy, transportation, manufacturing, consumer and Smart Cities industries will drive the region’s IoT market to a valuation of $10.9 billion in 2019 – up from $5.1 billion last year. High penetration of mobile devices in the GCC combined with the broad availability of the latest generation of mobile networks are driving regional IoT projects aimed at delivering mobile services to end users and, consequently, creating unfathomable quantities of new data in the process. In this environment, regional business face a race against the clock to enhance their operations, develop new business models and deliver innovative services to their customers. — Times News Service

Samsung unveils Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge in Oman Samsung launched the newest additions to the Galaxy family of products, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge to consumers in Oman. Created for today’s consumer lifestyle, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences.

Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge deliver fast wired and wireless charging technology. Additionally, the hybrid SIM card tray allows users to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage. - Times News Service

B6

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

ROUND-UP All-new Kia Sportage comes to Oman

The Sportage in fact sets itself apart with its stunningly unique looks and sophisticated combination of clever technologies

MUSCAT: The all-new Kia Sportage was formally launched in Oman at a specially organised event. The event was attended by KIM Daesik, ambassador of the Republic of Korea, high-ranking Kia officials and special invitees. A large number of Kia enthusiasts eager to catch a glimpse of ‘hands-down the best Sportage ever’ also attended the event, says a press release.

In his keynote address, Homer Kim, deputy general manager, Middle East & North Africa - Kia Motors, underscored Kia’s rapid rise across the world. “Kia Motors has been one of the world’s fastest growing automaker since 2008, despite fierce global competition and various challenges facing the industry. In fact, our global sales have more than doubled between 2008 and 2013. Last year, our sales grew to surpass the 3 million unit sales milestone for the first time in Kia’s history.

“The brand value of Kia Motors has also grown significantly by 224 per cent since 2010. Our brand value now stands at $5.7 billion, and we have cemented our position in Interbrand’s 100 Best Global Brands. The most well-known factor behind our recent success has been the complete transformation of the design of our vehicles.

“Led by German Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, we have been the auto industry’s biggest winner of influential design awards since 2009. It is not just about skin-deep, but it is the product quality as well. The quality of our entire product line-up is rapidly improving. As per Initial Quality Study by JD Power (USA), Kia has become the best in just around

10 years. In fact, among all the volume brands, we are now in the 1st place in terms of initial quality.”

Pointing to the success of Kia in Oman, he applauded the customer care initiatives undertaken

by Reliable International Automotive. “Our distributor Reliable International Automotive continues to make large investments to ensure a world-class experience for Kia customers in Oman. The

unmatched support of sales and service centres and easily accessible parts outlets ensure absolute customer satisfaction.”

Earlier in the evening, a representative of Reliable International Automotive (RIA) greeted the gathering, “I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the launch of the All New Kia Sportage. An ‘Unmistakably Sporty’ sedan, the all-new Kia Sportage is all about

offering you more than you have expected ever before.

“You will see that with its breathtakingly distinct design, innovative technologies and advanced features, the new Sportage enhances your comfort and your active lifestyle.”

Expressing gratitude to the customers and Kia Motors, he said: “We will continue to strive for excellence and your constant ap-

MEETING

preciation. Under the guidance of Kia Motors and the inspiring vision of our chairman. Reliable International Automotive will continue to offer the people of Oman innovative, high quality and well-designed products and services. With a vast infrastructure of service centres and omnipresent parts outlets, Kia is a leading name in Oman’s auto market. We assure our customers that Kia

Oman will continue to positively engage with you with equal ease on both on-ground as well as on-line programmes. We also thank Kia Motors for their constant support and encouragement.”

Later in the evening, a RIA official shared a few of the many remarkable qualities of the all-new Sportage with the audience, “The new Sportage (5 seater AWD) is available in 2 engine sizes – 2.4 L GDI engine producing 182 horse power and 2.0L engine producing 155 horse power. Both the engines come with 6 speed automatic transmission. New Sportage will come in 3 trims with 2.4L GTL as top grade.”

Highlighting the striking appearance of the vehicle, he remarked, “The shape of the New Sportage comprises straight and strong lines with voluminous accents that create a unique and powerful look. The bold hood character lines and sharp headlamps accentuate its strong facial image.

LED daytime running lights are integrated into the headlamp assembly for a futuristic look.

“Cutting-edge technology is depicted via Sportage’s exemplary features such as wireless charging, smart tail gate, JBL audio system, blind spot detection, rear cross traffic alert and lane change alert. These are but a few of the many amazing features packed into the Sportage, making it truly a pride to own and a joy to drive.

The early buyers of the Sportage will be offered a lifestyle package, ‘absolutely free’,” he promised.

“I am extremely confident that the new Sportage will prove to be a world class Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) and that discerning buyers will make it a huge success in Oman as well,” he concluded.

The highlight of the well-attended event was the unveiling of the amazing new Sportage. As the vehicle dramatically emerged from the silken covers, it drew gasps of admiration from the audience.

Indeed, it is more than just a remarkable sight … the Sportage in fact sets itself apart with its stunningly unique looks and sophisticated combination of clever technologies. It also offers an evolutionary performance and revolutionary design. A feel of which can be had only by visiting the Kia showroom.

AVA I L A B L E AT A L F E L A I J WAT C H E S

Meethaq highlights role of Islamic I.N.O.X: Engineered finance in economic development to endure a truly MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, organised a series of meetings to highlight the role of Islamic finance in the economic development of Oman.

The Shua’a initiative by Meethaq to raise awareness on Islamic economics was attended by members of the Majlis Al Shura Economic Committee. A similar meeting held in the Higher Judicial Institute in Nizwa was attended by scholars, researchers, entrepreneurs and students, says a press release.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Islamic Banking, said: “Meethaq is happy to promote the concept of Islamic economics through the Shua’a initiative. The contributions of Meethaq Islamic Banking are not limited to products and services, but there are many benefits accruing to society and the economy as well, thereby complementing the progress and development of the Sultanate. The objective of Shua’a is envisaged to be achieved through a series of seminars, workshops and events to highlight the role of Islamic banking in the Sultanate’s economic development.”

The meetings addressed by senior Meethaq officials covered a wide gamut of areas benefiting the country and the people, including savings account, asset management and project finance.

Al Harthy added: “Meethaq Islamic Banking is contributing significantly to the growth and development of the Omani banking sector which is witnessing an upswing in Islamic finance and investment compatible with the

provisions of Shari’a laws. We see a growing interest among retail and corporate clients to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by Islamic banking and finance.”

Meethaq is the leading Islamic financial services provider in the Sultanate with many achievements contributing to the growth and development of the Sultanate’s economy. Meethaq extends support to all key economic sectors in the Sultanate. The nota-

ble finance facilities offered by Meethaq include the refinancing facility of OMR78 million signed with Oman Shipping Company for its three very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Meethaq also extended the only Sharia based aircraft finance to the national carrier Oman Air for acquiring its second Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Meethaq is focused on developing as a benchmark Islamic financial institution in Oman and the region. Within just three years of operations, Meethaq has attained the leading position in the Islamic banking industry in Oman in terms of financing receivables, branch network, products and services, IT infrastructure and human resources development.

Meethaq not only provides benchmark Islamic financial solutions to support the country’s development but also plays a key role in raising awareness and educating people on important aspects of Islamic banking and finance.

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.

adventurous life

MUSCAT: The world of Victorinox dates right back to the year 1884, when Karl Elsener opened a cutler’s workshop in Ibach-Schwyz. His revolutionary idea of manufacturing a compact knife with an array of practical functions was a success: The Swiss Army Knife was born, evolving into the iconic designs of watches.

The I.N.O.X collection is engineered to endure a truly adventurous life. It is now available at all stores of Al Felaij Watches in Oman, says a press release.

I.N.O.X. watches can handle extreme conditions such as a fall of 10 metres, driven over by 64

tonne tank or a dive down 200 metres. They were also designed to please the eye. Day or night, in the office or on a mountain, nothing beats the durable, versatile look of the I.N.O.X collection.

The only limits I.N.O.X has are the ones that we impose on it. Its perfection verges on an obsession, its performance, the stuff of records. Consequently, following the blue, black, green and red versions, there is now an I.N.O.X with a steel bracelet.

This bracelet required two years of research and development to attain the same qualities as the case and be able to also withstand 130 tests.

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BankDhofar claims yet another coveted award

ATT R AC T I V E S C H E M E S

‘We are very glad and honoured to have

India Property Festival to be held on April 15, 16

presented the ‘Best Bank Performance’ award which reflects our commitment to

MUSCAT: The 6th edition of India Property Festival will be held

by Adsync Advertising on April 15 and 16 at the Hotel Holiday Muscat, says a press release.

Property investments are always believed to be the smartest investment move and with factors such as depreciating Indian Rupee, slash in RBI lending rates and ever increasing developer initiatives such as attractive schemes and exciting deals more and more home buyers can take advantage and book their dream homes.

India Property Festival comes in at the right time and offers an unparalleled opportunity for NRIs in Oman to leverage the power of their additional income by investing in properties and thereby reap maximum benefits while making their investment decisions.

The two-day property exhibition is positioned to create the ideal platform for the affluent NRI community in the Sultanate of Oman to come face to face with top notch developers from India who would showcase an array of their real estate offerings to suit every budget of the prospective customer.

The show enables the buyers to understand the pulse of property scenario back home featuring exclusive and selected developers from Tier I, Tier II and Tier III

towns and metropolises.

With focus on cities such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Navi Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Gurgaon, Noida, Coimbatore, Kerala, etc., the choice becomes even more interesting and attractive for those looking at investment in these places. The exhibitors at the show will include best of the Indian real estate developers, estate agents and finance companies. The large Indian contingent will be represented by key developers such as Godrej Properties, Lodha, Tata Housing, L & T, Mahindra Lifespaces, Mantri Developers, Puravankara, Goel Ganga, Rustomjee, K. Raheja, Sapoorjee Palonjee and many more, and leading financial institutions such as ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda.

Spotlight on international pavilion: For the first time, Adsync Advertising has ventured to step out in the international real estate arena as the exhibition will witness lucrative investment options from Damac Properties, Emmar, Danube Properties from UAE among others.

All in all, this is a must visit show for every expatriate in Muscat as it provides a wonderful opportunity to explore the real estate market as a whole.

RECRUIT QUOTES If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.

— John Quincy Adams Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.

— Steve Jobs Management is about arranging and telling. Leadership is about nurturing and enhancing.

— Tom Peters A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.

— John C. Maxwell

excel in everything we do, and to offer the best customer experience in the market,’ said Faisal Hamad Al Wahaibi, chief retail banking officer at BankDhofar

MUSCAT: In recognition of its continuous growth and outstanding performance in all key business areas, BankDhofar has been presented the ‘Best Bank Performance’ award at the Al Roya Economic Awards 2016.

The prestigious awarding ceremony was held recently at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Muscat under the auspices of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrazi, minister of tourism, who handed over the award to Faisal Hamad Al Wahaibi, chief retail banking officer at BankDhofar, says a press release.

Commenting on the prestigious

award, Faisal stressed on BankDhofar’s commitment to continue its success journey through achieving excellence in all key business areas.

“The Al Roya Economic Awards distinguish leading organisations in the Omani public and private sectors. The awards highlight and celebrate innovative business ideas and exceptional success stories. We are very glad and honoured to have received the ‘Best Bank Performance’ award which reflects our commitment to excel in everything we do, and to offer the best customer experience in the market.

“Our diverse and wide array of best banking products and most innovative financial solutions are what distinguish BankDhofar

from the rest,” he said.

“I would like to thank the organisers for their efforts that led to the success of the awards, and I would like to reiterate our promise to always provide the best for our customers in all parts of Oman,” added Al Wahaibi.

With assets worth over OMR3.6 billion, BankDhofar is one of the fastest growing banks in the Sultanate.

The bank continues to show remarkable growth in all key areas of business and it enjoys a strong presence in corporate banking, retail banking, treasury and project finance.

The bank’s net profit for the year ended December 31, 2015 stood at OMR46.77 million ($121.48 million), showing a strong growth of

15.62 per cent year-on-year.

Aspiring to be the best bank in the region, BankDhofar caters to customers’ needs and requirements, and sets the standards for the best customers experience within the banking industry in the Sultanate through creative solutions and innovative services.

The combination of the thorough vision of the executive management, the comprehensive operational strategy that revolves around following best international banking practices and providing best customer experience, as well as commitment to community development and contribution to the growth of the national economy, placed BankDhofar on top of the list of best banks in the region.

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ahlibank picks monthly draw winner of MyHassad Scheme MUSCAT: ahlibank announced the winner of MyHassad savings scheme for the month of March.

The winner, who won OMR10,000, was Ahmed Abdulla Salim Al Balushi who invested in the MyHassad scheme when he learned about the product features and the chance to win big, says a press release.

The MyHassad savings scheme endeavours to make it easy for customers to save and win attractive prizes. Customers do not need to open a separate account.

All eligible savings account bal-

ances of customers are automatically included for the prizes.

Furthermore, customers who have salary accounts are also eligible for the prizes. In order to provide almost every customer a chance to win the exciting prizes on offer, a minimum of OMR100 in any account is all that is needed to be eligible.

Congratulating the winner, Mohamnmed Al Harthy, regional manager of ahlibank, said: “The MyHassad draw has been gaining momentum over the years as people are steadily starting to

appreciate the wealth of benefits that the account offers. This promotion embodies the bank’s firm commitment to its customers, in not only providing the very best in terms of products and services but also helping to educate people on the benefits of saving.”

Commenting on his winning Ahmed Abdulla Salim Al Balushi said: “I am very happy to have made this decision to invest my savings with ahlibank. Winning OMR10,000 has given me financial security and a great head start to prepare for next year.”

EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE

MCBS set to host seminar on Islamic Banking tomorrow MUSCAT: Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) will be organising an open seminar on Islamic Banking and Finance tomorrow at the City Seasons Hotel from 4:30pm to 6pm.

During the seminar, industry experts will offer deep insights into the history and relevance of Islamic Banking in the Sultanate. There will also be a presentation on the pioneering master’s programme in Islamic Banking and Finance offered by the college, says a press release.

“The seminar essentially offers a platform for exchange of knowledge and opinion on recent developments in Islamic Banking. It is also designed to facilitate effective networking with professionals from the banking sector.

“Further, participants will get to know about the master’s programme in Islamic Banking and Finance – the only programme of this kind in the country. The Modern College recognises its role in shaping the human capital of the Sultanate of Oman championing the introduction of relevant academic programme and training courses,” said Dr Rene Paquibut, associate dean at the college.

Guest speakers at the seminar include Azhar Hamid, the director for Sharia Compliance at ahlibank, who will speak on ‘Islamic Banking and its Development in Oman’, while Abdullah Balhadia, senior lecturer at MCBS, will examine Islamic and Conventional Banking, and their role in non-oil growth in the context of the GCC countries. His presentation will reveal findings of a research conducted recently. This will be followed by a presentation on Modern College’s master’s programme in Islamic Banking and Finance by Dr Bashir Fida, programme chair and current students pursuing the programme. The seminar will close with a Question & Answer and networking sessions.

Modern College of Business and Science, one of the leading institutions of higher education in Oman, is the first and only college in the Sultanate to offer a master’s degree in Islamic Banking and Finance.

“The Modern College recognises its role in shaping the human capital of the Sultanate of Oman, championing the introduction of relevant academic programme and training courses,” commented Dr Rene.

The degree is endorsed by the Management and Science University (MSU), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is designed in consultation with industry experts through Modern College Industry Advisory Boards which advise on the programme learning outcomes and programme contents.

“Master in Islamic Banking and Finance was designed with the aid of practitioners and experts in the banking sector, who will be the job providers for the potential graduates in Islamic banking in Oman,” said Dr Ahmed Al Naamany, dean of the college.

The programme consists of six core courses and six elective courses, and concludes with a short research paper. Classes are held only on the weekdays in the evenings.

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Tamim’s ton ends Oman’s hopes, Bangladesh make it to Super 10 SCOREBOARD

BANGLADESH

Though Oman failed

Tamim Iqbal (not out)

to make it to the Super 10 stage, they

103

Soumya Sarkar b Lalcheta

12

Sabbir Rahman b Khawar Ali

44

Shakib Al Hasan (not out)

17

Extras (lb-1, w-3)

4

gave a good account

Total (2 wkts; 20 overs)

180

of themselves in

Rahim, Mohammad Mithun, Mashrafe

Did not bat: Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Mortaza, Abu Hider, Taskin Ahmed, Al-

their historic first

Amin Hossain Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-139.

outing at the global

Bowling: Bilal Khan 4-0-16-0; Amir Ali

event and that augurs

4-0-28-0 (w-1); A. Lalcheta 3-0-35-1; M.

well for the future of

11-0; Khawar Ali 3-0-24-1; Aamir Kaleem

Ansari 4-0-50-0 (w-2); Mehran Khan 1-01-0-15-0.

Sultanate’s cricket OMAN Z. Maqsood c Mahmudullah

T.K. MOHANDOSS

sportseditor@timesofoman.com

b T. Ahmed

0

Khawar Ali c M. Mortaza b Al Amin

8

Jatinder Singh c Mithun

DHARAMSALA: Tamim Iqbal scored his maiden and first T20 century for Bangladesh and in the process snatching the game away from Oman in the Group A preliminary round match of the ICC World T20 Tournament at the HPCA ground here on Sunday.

Bangladesh won the rain-interuppted match by 54 runs (D/L method) with Oman finishing at 65 for 9 in 12 overs chasing 181 for win. More than Bangladesh’s bowling brilliance, Oman were done in by their soft dismissals.

Earlier, Oman skipper Sultan Ahmed won the toss and opted to field. May be the rain and a shortened game was in his mind, but unfortunately the weather stayed dry through out Bangladesh innings and came back when Oman started their chase.

If Tamim’s innings (103 not out, 5 sixes, 10 fours, 68 balls) was an excellent exhibition of batting, once again single-handedly taking Bangladesh to an imposing 180 for two, Shabir Rahman too had his share of runs scoring 44 off 44 balls with one six and five fours.

Former captain Shakib Al Hasan remained with Tamim till end making an unbeaten 17.

Oman made a disatstrous start losing Zeeshan Maqsood (0), Khawar Ali (8), Adnan Illyas (13) and Aamir Kaleem (0) early, the daunting task was way beyond their reach. With each rain interupptions the target became that much CRICKET

Security beefed up in Kolkata after threat to Indo-Pak tie KOLKATA: A thick security blanket has been thrown around the Eden Gardens and the hotel, where the Pakistan cricket team has been put up, in view of threat to the March 19 India-Pakistan World Twenty20 match here.

The massive security blanket has been thrown around the cricket venue and hotels where the teams, particularly the Pakistan team, are staying, Kolkata Police sources said here on Sunday. Plain clothed police personnel and intelligence sleuths have also been deployed in greater number in various places throughout the city, the sources said.

However, the sources refused to divulge further details about the security plan. Cleared by their government after days of uncertainty over their participation, the Pakistani contingent arrived here on Saturday to take part in the World Twenty20.

The Pakistan team would play its warm-up match against Sri Lanka here on Monday.

An outfit Anti-Terrorist Front of India (ATFI), which is opposed to the Pakistan cricket team playing in India, has already threatened to dig up the pitch of Eden Gardens which is slated to host a India-Pakistan match on March 19. - PTI

b M. Mortaza

25

Adnan Ilyas run out

19

Aamir Kaleem c M. Rahim b Shakib

0

Amir Ali st M. Rahim b Shakib Al Hasan 4 Mehran Khan c S. Rahman b Shakib

3

Sultan Ahmed c Mahmudullah b Shakib 1 A. Lalcheta c M. Mithun b Sabbir

1

Munis Ansari (not out)

3

Bilal Khan (not out)

1

Extras (lb-2, w-4)

6

Total (9 wkts; 12 overs)

65

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-14, 3-44, 4-45, 5-50, 6-56, 7-59, 8-59, 9-64.

Bowling: Taskin Ahmed 2-0-8-1 (w-1); Al Amin Hossain 2-0-10-1; Abu Hider 2-0-15-0 (w-1); Shakib Al Hasan 3-0-15-4 (w-1); Mashrafe Mortaza 2-0-10-1; Sabbir

DOMINANT DISPLAY: Bangladesh players celebrate during their match against Oman in the World T20 at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala

Rahman 1-0-5-1 (w-1).

on Sunday. – PTI

harder for the amateurs of Oman, who were playing against a ICC full-member team for the first time.

The D/L method kept on revising the target at each interupptions and the other Oman batsmen kept cracking under pressure.

They were also up against quality Bangladesh bowlers.

After Jatinder Singh (25) departed the batsmen who followed skied the ball attempting to send it beyond ropes.

It was a procession thereafter, but this was another learning curve for the players of Oman.

However, no pride is lost for Oman as this tournament definitely has

been historical for them.

Earlier, continuing from where he left of against Ireland, Tamim was simply superb, though starting off slowly. He was severe on every Oman bowler but for Bilal Khan, who was the pick conceding only 16 runs in his four overs.

Tamim acknowledged that Oman bowled well initially.

“They were good at the start and scoring was difficult, but once I got into the groove and felt the ball in the middle,” said the Bangladesh opener, who smashed five sixes in addition to the 10 fours in his unbeaten 103.

Bangladesh were slow to start

with Sultan opting for off-spinner Amir Ali along with Bilal Khan.

The duo did trouble the openers, especially Soumya Sarkar,who struggled to put bat to ball.

Tamim on the other hand was content to stay put, which rewarded him later when Sultan started to try out his other bowlers.

Though Ajay Lalcheta, who holds the record of bowling a maiden in the first over of a T20 match, had the batsmen in leash.

But after claiming Sarkar’s wicket he too was smashed by Tamim and Shabir.

Khawar Ali was the only other Oman bowler to pick a wicket.

S TA N D I N G S

GROUP A Bangladesh

Played

Won

Lost

Tied

N/R

Net RR

Points

3

2

0

0

1

+1.762

5

Netherlands

3

1

1

0

1

+0.154

3

Oman

3

1

1

0

1

-1.339

3

Ireland

3

0

2

0

1

-0.685

1

Afghanistan

3

3

0

0

0

+1.540

6

Zimbabwe

3

2

1

0

0

-0567

4

Scotland

3

1

2

0

0

+0.308

2

Hong Kong

3

0

3

0

0

-1.267

0

GROUP B

CRICKET

West Indies beat Australia in warm-up KOLKATA: West Indies captain Darren Sammy’s unconquered knock of 50 overshadowed Josh Hazlewood’s hat-trick as they beat Australia by three wickets in a World Twenty20 warm-up contest at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday.

The match went right down to the wire as the West Indies got over the line with only one ball to spare. For Australia, pacer Hazlewood returned with figures of three for 13.

There was no toss for the game. Australia batted first after a mutual agreement. Chasing Australia’s score of 161 for nine, the West Indies got off to a disastrous start with Hazlewood getting rid of Jason Holder (6), Marlon Samuels (0) and Dwayne Bravo (0) in three consecutive deliveries.

Johnson Charles then fell prey to Steve Smith’s leg-spinners. At the end of 10th over, the score read 56 for five.

After Andre Russell’s brisk 29, skipper Sammy and Carlos Brathwaite got together to rescue the team.

Brief scores: Australia 161/9 in 20 overs (Shane Watson 60, Steve Smith 36; Dwayne Bravo 4/21, Suleiman Benn 3/37) lost to West Indies 162/7 in 19.5 overs (Darren Sammy 50, Carlos Brathwaite 33; Josh Hazlewod 3/13, Andrew Tye 2/35). - IANS

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Netherlands bow out of tournament with consolation win over Ireland The match reduced to six overs-a-side turned out to be a slam-bang affair with Dutch scoring 59 runs for five before restricting the Irish to 47 for seven

T.K. MOHANDOSS

sportseditor@timesofoman.com DHARAMSALA: The battle for pride between the ousted teams, the Netherlands and Ireland, turned out to be a slam-bang affair after rain reduced the game into a ‘Six6’ affair in the Group A competition of the ICC World T20 match at the HPCA Stadium here on Sunday.

Being a weekend, the match saw a good turnout of spectators who were treated with some lusty hits after Ireland skipper William Porterfield won the toss and chose to bowl.

The Netherlands players celebrate their victory. – PTI

The Netherlands had different ideas, scoring ten runs per over and setting 60 for victory in six overs for Ireland to achieve.

Paul van Meekeren then claimed four wickets to take the contest out of the Irelands’s hand and helped the Dutch go home with pride.

After rain threatened to wash out the day’s play again, at least one match has been worked off with the groundsmen working their hearts out to get the ground ready in time.

Put into bat, the Netherlands were led by Stephan Myburgh’s blitzy knock which provided 27 off

18 balls with five hits to the fence.

The next best contributor to the Dutch total was skipper Peter Borren, who score 14 off nine balls studded with three fours.

The chase, however, did not appear convincing for Irelands as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Only opener Paul Stirling reached double digit scoring 15 runs which included two huge sixes.

The chief wrecker was Paul van Meekeran, who claimed two wickets in his first over and was on a hat-trick in his second over castling Ireland’s Max Sorensen and George Dockrell with consecutive balls.

He finished with with tantalising figures of four for 11, while experienced Roelof van der Merwe claimed two wickets with his slow turners.

Peter Borren after the match said it was good to have a win.

“This was like a lottery and good that we won,” said Borren.

Ireland captain William Porterfield agreed that nothing went well for them.

“I don’t want to make excuses and we were not good in this tournament,” he said.

Man of the Match Van Meekeren said his captain’s advice to bowl short of length did the trick. “The ground staff did a good job and we had a match finally,” he said.

NETHERLANDS S. Myburgh run out 27 T. Cooper c Rankin b Dockrell 0 R. van der Merwe c Murtagh b Dockrell 2 W. Barresi st N. O’Brien b Dockrell 8 P. Borren run out 14 Mudassar Bukhari (not out) 0 Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-2) 8 Total (5 wkts; 6 overs) 59 Did not bat: B.N. Cooper, P.M. Seelaar, Ahsan Malik, T. van der Gugten, P.A. van Meekeren Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-12, 3-33, 4-58, 5-59.

Bowling: T. Murtagh 1-0-9-0; G.H. Dockrell 2-0-7-3; A. McBrine 1-0-16-0 (w-1); K. O’Brien 1-0-12-0; W. Rankin 1-0-9-0.

IRELAND W. Porterfield c B. Cooper b van der Gugten 5

P.R. Stirling c van der Merwe b van Meekeren K. O’Brien c Seelaar b van Meekeren G.C. Wilson c van der Gugten b van der Merwe N. O’Brien (not out) A. Poynter c B.N. Cooper b van der Merwe M.C. Sorensen b van Meekeren G.H. Dockrell b van Meekeren A. McBrine (not out) Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-2, nb-1) Total (7 wkts, 6 overs)

15 0 4 4 0 9 0 1 9 47

Did not bat: T.J. Murtagh, W. Rankin Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-28, 3-28, 4-33, 5-33, 6-44, 7-44.

Bowling: Ahsan Malik 1-0-5-0; T. van der Gugten 1-0-17-1 (w-1); P.A. van Meekeren 2-0-11-4 (nb-1); R. van der Merwe 1-0-3-2; Mudassar Bukhari 1-0-5-0.

T R A D I T I O N A L R I VA L RY

Afridi predicts another familiar India contest KOLKATA: It has traditionally been a battle between India’s batting and Pakistan’s bowling whenever the arch-rivals have met on a cricket field and Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi reckons the trend will continue in their World Twenty20 contest on Saturday.

Pakistan were the last team to land in India, putting aside safety concerns that led to the switching of their match against India from Dharamsala to Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. With the uncertainty around their participation finally over, Afridi had no doubts that the onus, as always, will be on the Pakistani bowlers to trump an Indian lineup teeming with match-winners.

“I think this has been the case over the last 60 years,” the allrounder told reporters in Kolkata.

Pakistan, who begin their Super 10 campaign on Wednesday against Bangladesh, have never beaten India in a World Cup. Afridi was confident that his bowling unit, bolstered by paceman Mohammed Amir’s return from a fixing ban, can help break the jinx with a slightly improved performance from their inconsistent batting colleagues.

“Our bowling attack is pretty good. You have Mohammed Amir and (Mohammed) Irfan. (Mohammed) Sami is also back and then there is Wahab Riaz. The fast bowling attack overall is very strong. If our batsmen, according to team plans, can give us a defendable total, I’m confident (the bowlers can clinch it).

“We also have two quality spin-

ners in Imad Wasim and Mohammad Nawaz. If you look at the entire bowling unit, I’m very confident (of doing well),” said Afridi, who tops the wicket-takers’ list in the shortest format with 93 scalps.

The leg-spinner was also enthused by Pakistan’s record at Eden Gardens, where they have prevailed in all four matches against India. “We have good memories of the ground,” Afridi said. “We have played well at this ground, we know the conditions and the pitch suits us as well.”

“In very few countries I enjoyed cricket more than I did in India. I would always remember the love my team and I got from the fans here. We got a lot of love here, we did not get this much love even in Pakistan, I can tell you. ” - Reuters

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

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SPORTS CRICKET

Kane boosts Hotspurs’ title hopes LONDON: Harry Kane scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season to inspire Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa that boosted their Premier League title ambitions.

The England striker ended Villa’s resistance just before halftime with his 17th goal in his last 20 league appearances and then struck again just after the break, assisted on each occasion by a superb delivery from Dele Alli.

The victory for Spurs consigned bottom-placed Villa to a 20th league defeat of the season while Mauricio Pochettino’s side moved two points adrift of leaders Leicester City at the top of the table. - Reuters CRICKET

Al Hail CC to host day/ night tourney MUSCAT: Al Hail Cricket Club will organise Al Hail Day/Night Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament at their brand new grassy ground in Mabella on March 25.

According to the organisers, the matches will be played on a knockout basis with participation of 16 teams. The tournament is open to all the teams who are taking part in the Oman Cricket lower division leagues.

The organisers have decided to give some exciting prizes besides the trophy and $250 for the winners. There will be prizes for the best bowler and best disciplined team apart from the regular prizes. The tournament draw is scheduled to take place in HCT Ground in Mabella at 7.30 p.m. on March 17.

For further information contact the organisers (Ph: 95998056 and 99623536).

Oman taste success on Asian meet debut

Al Hail T10 Super Cup off to a flying start MUSCAT: Al Hail T10 Super Cup cricket tournament got off to a flying start with exciting first round matches at HCT ground in Mabella last Friday.

The draw of the tournament, which has attracted 20 teams, was held under the auspices of OCT Al Hail captain Ismail Al Balushi.

In the first match of the tournament Professional CT defeated OCT Mabela by 10 runs thanks to a well-compiled 27 from Pradeesh.

In the second match of the day, Trust Hydrotec defeated Ibrahim Al Kishri team.

Batting first, Trust Hydrotec scored 81 for 8 in 10 overs. Deson

Musab Al Hadi and Hashim Al Rashdi, Oman’s top 49er sailors who are targeting a spot at the 2020 Olympic Games, achieved their best ever result with a bronze medal

MUSCAT: Oman’s young Olympic hopefuls showed they were on a par with the best sailors in Asia after a promising round of performances at the 2016 Asian Sailing Championship which took place in Abu Dhabi from March 5 to 12.

Musab Al Hadi and Hashim Al Rashdi, Oman’s top 49er sailors who are targeting a spot at the 2020 Olympic Games, swept to victory in three of their final four races to achieve their best ever result with a bronze medal.

Their speeds in the light airs gave them the edge in the final nail biting medal race which left them trailing the Korean 49er team of Bongjin Chae and Dongwook Kim by just a single point and ten points adrift of winners Yukio Makino and Kenji Takahashi of Japan.

Coached by Gwen Gbick, the 49er pair showed they had a head for tactics and an appetite for success, said Alain Champy, Oman Sail’s Head of Performance who accompanied the squad to Abu Dhabi where 138 sailors from 21 nations competed in six Olympic classes.

“Musab and Hashim showed they had good speed in light wind and had a first rate strategy upwind,” said Champy. “They seemed to get better as the week went and

CRICKET

GREAT SHOW: Oman’s Mussab Al Hadi and Hashim Al Rashdi, right, on 49er boat. – Supplied photo

considering they have only been racing in the 49ers for one year, we were very encouraged. These two like this boat and they like to sail together so we think they have a chance of qualifying for the Olympics in the future.”

Overall third Oman’s Laser sailors Hussein Al Jabri and Ahmed Al Hasani, coached by Sam Lelievre also showed they were in contention with a 15th and 21st place respectively which placed the Sultanate in third place overall in the team table.

Top RS:X windsurfer Waleed Al Kindi was back in action after a forced 12-month break from a back injury and showed how hard he has worked to recover his fitness with an encouraging return, the light airs giving his stronger fitter rivals a clear advantage over the week.

“This was the first time they

had competed in the Asian Sailing Championships and all the coaches were impressed by the way they never gave up. They always held their focus even if they had some bad races,” Champy added.

“The Laser and the 49er have seen that they can sail with the top Asian sailors. We have to validate what they have learnt in Abu Dhabi in the coming phase. For the first time, we felt as if there was a sense of ‘Team Oman’ with everyone pulling together and doing their best. It was quite exciting.”

For some competitors, the next big event could be the Asian Games in two years in Malaysia though Musab Al Hadi and Hashim Al Rashdi will start preparing for the 49er European Championships in Barcelona in April while the Olympic squad will travel to Medemblik in May for Delta Lloyd Olympic Week.

top scored with 17 runs. In reply, Ibrahim Al Kishri managed 79 for six in 10 overs.

Adnan was the top scorer with 18 well made runs while Shakeel from Ibrahim Al Kishri claimed two wickets.

Meanwhile, AKCT defeated Mott Mac team by 27 runs and qualified for the quarterfinals.

Leighton ME defeated Yam Star XI by six wickets. Klair XI beat Beatrice CT by four wickets. In the last match of the day, Anjuman CT defeated Muscat Warriors.

The tournament is being sponsored Oasis Water, Pocari Sweat and Cricket Cottage.

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

SPORTS Imad, Eid and Saad ignored as Lopez Caro names probables Coach’s debut The 26-player list includes a number of new faces and they are Mohammed Al Rawahi of Al Nahda, Fanja’s Khalid Al Yaqoobi, Muscat’s Mohammed Al Amri and Moahmmed Al Habsi, Suwaiq’s Harib Al Saadi, Seeb’s Omar Al Malki and Salah Al Yahyai and Al Khabourah’s Mohsin Al Ghassani.

Omani captain and goalkeeping hero Ali Al Habsi heads list, which also includes Faiz Rushedi, Ahmed Al Mukhaini, Raed Ibrahim, Ahmed Mubarak ‘Kanu’, Ali Al Jabri, Qasim Said, Abdulaziz Al Maqbali.

Attacking midfielder Eid Al Farsi and defender Ali Al Busaidi were also the notable omissions

Sports Reporter MUSCAT: Star striker Imad Al Hosni as well as fellow veterans Saad Suhail and Mohammed She’eba were among the experienced players ignored as new coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro on Sunday announced a list of 26 probables ahead of the Sultanate’s two crucial World Cup/Asia Cup qualifiers.

Attacking midfielder Eid Al Farsi, defender Ali Al Busaidi and forward Al Abd Al Nofli were also the notable omissions from the squad from which Lopez Caro will pick the final team for the final two Group D qualifiers — at home against Guam on March 24 and an away game against Iran on March 29.

Iran currently occupy the top spot with 14 points while Oman are second on 11. The Sultanate

MAJOR CHANGES: Oman coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, left, speaks during a press conference at the Oman Football Association Headquarters on Sunday. – ISMAIL AL FARSI/Times of Oman

team require two outright wins to ensure their progress to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers.

While Imad Al Hosni and Eid Al Farsi are reported to be carrying injuries, it is Lopez Caro’s omission of Mohammed She’eba and Saad Suhail that has come as a big surprise to many.

However, the Spaniard justified his decision saying ‘I have selected the team according to our situation’.

Speaking at a press conference organised to announce the probables at the Oman Football Association (OFA) Headquarters,

Lopez Caro, however, said: “The doors are open for all players. At the same time no player from this list is a permanent. The players are chosen based on what we require for the team.”

Lopez Caro, who previously coached Spanish giants Real Madrid and Saudi Arabia national team, also said that he expects full commitment from the players.

“All the players need to prove their worth. They have to show a professional approach while playing at home or outside,” Lopez Caro said.

The probables: Ali Al Habsi (Reading, England), Faiz Al Rusheidi (Al Nasr), Riyad Al Alawi (Al Arouba), Ahmed Al Mukhaini (Al Arouba), Abdulsalam Al Mukhaini (Al Arouba), Mohammed Al Rawahi (Al Nahda), Khalid Al Yaqoubi (Fanja), Mohammed Al Musalami (Fanja), Basil Al Rawahi (Fanja), Mohammed Al Amri (Muscat), Raed Ibrahim (Fanja), Ahmed Mubarak (Maeedar, Qatar), Ali Al Jabri (Fanja), Harib Al Saadi (Suwaiq), Yasin Al Shiyadi (Suwaiq), Omar Al Malki (Seeb), Saud Al Farsi (Sur), Jameel Al Yahmadi (Al Shabab), Qasim Said (Dhofar), Mohammed Al Habsi (Muscat), Salah Al Yahyai (Seeb), Hussain Al Hadhari (Dhofar), Mohsin Johar (Saham), Abdulaziz Al Maqbali (Fanja), Saeed Abdulsalam (Al Khabourah), Mohsin Al Ghassani (Suwaiq).

OMAN CLINCH BRONZE MEDAL AT GCC ENDURANCE RACE Oman bagged the bronze medal at the GCC Endurance Championship in Bahrain. Oman team comprised Saleh Al Balushi, Hisham Al Farsi, Sultan Al Balushi and Faisal Al Farsi. Oman delegation included Ahmed Al Abri, team director, Mazin al Yahyaei, assistant director, and team manager Yousef Al Balushi. — Supplied photo

CHESS

Oman team to take part in Asian event in Abu Dhabi MUSCAT: Oman Chess Committee has selected a five-member team for the Asian Chess Cup to be organised in Abu Dhabi from March 28 to April 8.

As part of the preparations for the championship, the team will

be undergoing training camp in Salalah from March 20 to 24 under the supervision of coach Bashir Al Qadimi.

The Sultanate’s delegation will include team manager Waeil Al Ghurauibi.

FOOTBALL

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

Watford dump Arsenal out of FA Cup LONDON: Arsenal’s bid to win the FA Cup for a third successive year ended on Sunday when they lost 2-1 at home to Watford in a pulsating quarterfinal tie.

The defeat ended the holders’ hopes of becoming the first club since Blackburn Rovers in 1886 to lay their hands on the coveted FA Cup trophy three times in a row.

The result appears to have condemned Arsenal to end the season without a trophy as they face elimination from the Champions League next week, unless they manage to overturn a two goal deficit against Barcelona, and they trail Premier League leaders Leicester City by eight points with only nine games left.

Arsene Wenger’s men were left to rue a host of missed chances as Watford opened up a 2-0 lead in the second half with goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura.

Danny Welbeck pulled a goal back for Arsenal in the 88th minute but it was too late to change the result.

Watford go into the semifinals alongside Premier League sides Everton and Crystal Palace. - Reuters

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SECTION

LIFESTYLE

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

Gear WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Oiled air filters delivering an instant power boost extend the life of vehicles, and now K&N, the top name in high performance filters, has finally arrived in Oman.

Story Faisal Mohammed Naim

Available for all major car and motorcycle brand models Authorised distributor: Fairtrade Auto, Al Khuwair +968 9744 5272

F

or decades, the first and foremost upgrade for performance freaks on their vehicle has been the replacement of stock air filter with the oiled one.

But, what’s the big deal about air flow? Just like us humans, the respiratory system is of prime importance for cars too. At its most basic level, an engine is an air pump. More air entering the engine increases the efficiency of the combustion process creating more horsepower and torque.

Horsepower is a measure of the engine’s maximum power while torque measures how quickly you can accelerate.

The two major essentials for a car to run are fuel and air, and the importance of air (often overlooked by the average driver) is highlighted by the fact that a properly proportioned fuel charge is 14.7 parts air and one part of fuel. Ensuring clean and optimal air-flow to the engine is the air filter designed to deliver both high air intake and superior dirt protection.

The performance benefits of maximum airflow are clear, compelling and well documented.

Although stock OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) paper air filter does the job well, there is still room for considerable improvement in your vehicle’s air-

flow system. That’s where the oiled air filters step in, providing increased air-flow, while at the same providing better dirt protection. Though there are other names in the realm, the head of the pack is the American performance parts manufacturer, K&N. K&N Engineering has been manufacturing performance air filters for over 30 years. The company uses an oil-impregnated, cotton-gauze filter element surrounded by a wire mesh. The cotton material lets air pass through it easily while trapping particles in the sticky, oil-covered fibres.

The design is superior to a paper element as it allows for superior airflow while maintaining effective air filtration.

On average, the K&N replacement air filters are designed to provide up to a 4 per cent increase in horsepower and torque, though the amount of performance gain varies from vehicle to vehicle based on the overall factory air intake design. The greater the restriction created by the stock paper element, the greater the potential performance gain when you switch.

While the initial cost of a K&N filter could be higher than a standard OEM filter, but over the time K&N proves to be much more cost-effective with its 10year/1.6 million km limited warranty, with 80,000km cleaning

ever, under extreme conditions such as off-road use where dusty conditions are prominent.

Even the least mechanically inclined individual can perform the periodic 80,000km service in less than an hour.

Here is how to do it: Tap the air filter gently against a hard surface to dislodge loose dirt. Always tap a filter on its base or side and never tape filter’s edges because this may damage the element. Follow this up by gently brushing the filter with a soft bristle brush. An old toothbrush will work well.

Use a good air filter cleaner (preferably K&N) in either spray-on or liquid form. If a spray is used, be sure to coat the entire element and allow it to soak for 10 minutes. Use the liquid form by filling a pan to a level where the filter element is submerged beneath the cleaner. If a large, round element is being cleaned, rotate it through the fluid and remove it. After submerging the filter element in the cleaner, remove the filter and allow it to soak for 10 minutes.

Rinse the element with lowpressure water such as from a household faucet. Do not use high-pressure spray as this will damage the element. Always flush from the clean side to dirty.

This works to remove dirt from the filter rather than driving it

1

interval: made to last the lifetime of your vehicle. Compare this to the OEM air filters, required to be replaced every 15-20,000km.

Made for a wide range of vehicles, both two and four wheelers, the K&N filters are washable and reusable. They can be easily cleaned and oiled as many times as reasonably necessary, and perform to specification perfectly up to 100 washes.

The stock replacement K&N filters are designed to replace the originally installed air filter, and fit into the factory air box perfectly sealed with no air leakage. The filters are also emissions legal and do not void the manufacturer’s warranty (validation under process in Oman).

It is recommended to check the K&N filter every 50,000km, though under general driving conditions the filter will not require cleaning until 80,000km of continuous use. More frequent service may be necessary how-

2

3

further into the filter.

Shake excess water from the filter and allow it to air dry at room temperature (hanging the filter in the outside air works well.) Do not use compressed air or a heat source to dry the filter as these will damage the element, rubber base, and end caps.

Re-oil the filter with genuine filter oil. Use only branded oil as cheap oils can degrade the filtering ability. The filter will not function properly without sufficient oil and will require more frequent re-oiling of the filter’s clean side in between cleanings.

Spray K&N filter oil into the element’s pleats from a distance of 10 inches. Spray each section of pleats until the reddish oil colour becomes apparent. Let the filter sit for 10 minutes and spray again any areas that are still white.

You can also apply the oil from a squeeze bottle onto each pleat.

Re-instal the filter into the filter housing. Make sure the filter sits properly in the filter housing. Instal the air-filter cover and tighten.

Though a premium air filter lookalike will provide increased airflow, you’ll still risk severely compromising on dirt protection, which is as critical to engine performance as air flow. A sincere piece of advice: avoid cheap copies and imitations for the best performance. —faisal@timesofoman.com

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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

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PRAYER TIMINGS

FIND-IT-ALL @SHATTI

@PANORAMA MALL

4:15, 8:00, 11:45 PM Martyrs ( Drama | Horror | Thriller ) (18+) Cast: Troian Bellisario, Bailey Noble 10:05 PM Puthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara 11:00 PM Zootropolis (3D) ( Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba 6:45 PM London Has Fallen (Action) ( PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 6:15 PM

@AZAIBA

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Action| Adventure| Sci-Fi) PG12 Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz 3:30, 6:30, 9:00 & 11:30PM Triple 9 (Action | Crime | Drama) 15+ Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor 3:00, 6:00, 9:30 & 11:45PM The Other Side of the Door (Horror) 18+ Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto 8:15 & 11:55PM London Has Fallen (Action| Crime) PG12 Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 2:30, 4:30, 7:30 & 10:00 Zootropolis (Action | Drama | Thriller) PG12 Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman 5:15PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL The Divergent Series: Allegiant – 2D (PG12) Action| Adcenture| Sci-Fi Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, 12:15, 2:30, 7:00, 11:30 PM Gold Class – 8:30 PM Triple 9 – 2D (15+) Action | Crime | Drama Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor 9:30, 11:45 PM Gold Class – 3:30, 6:15, 11:00 PM London Has Fallen – 2D (PG12) Action| Crime | Thriller | Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, 5:00, 9:30 PM Zootropolis – 3D (PG12) Animation | Action Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba 12:30, 2:45, 5:00, 7:15 PM PANORAMA MALL London Has Fallen-2D(Action, Crime)(PG12) Cast : Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 11:30 PM

Triple 9 – 2D (Action | Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie 3:30, 6:30, 9:00, 11:30 PM

The Divergent Series: Allegiant (PG12) (Action| Adventure| Sci-Fi) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, , Theo James 3:30, 6:30, 9:00 & 11:30PM

Zootropolis (3D) (Animation, Action)(PG12) Voice Overs : Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman 2:30, 5:45 PM Triple 9-2D (Action, Crime)(15+) Cast : Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie 3:30, 6:30, 9:00, 11:30 PM Triple 9 (2D) (Action, Crime)(15+)-VIP LOUNGE Cast : Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor 3:45, 8:45, 11:00 PM The Divergent Series: Allegiant-2D (Action, Adventure)(PG12) Cast : Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Theo James 2:45, 9:00, 11:30 PM The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2D) (Action, Adventure)(PG12)-VIP LOUNGE Cast : Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Theo James 6:30 PM The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Action, Adventure)(MX4D)(PG12) Cast : Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz 3:30, 6:15, 8:30, 10:45 PM Bleeding Heart (2D) (Drama)(15+) Cast : Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet 5:15, 7:45 PM

Puthiya Niyamam (Mal) (2D) (Drama) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, Baby Ananya 7:00, 8:30 PM

AZAIBA Triple 9 (2D) (Action |Crime) (15+) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie 3:30, 6:30, 11:30 PM London Has Fallen (2D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman 3:00, 5:00, 11:45 PM The Divergent Series-Allegiant (2D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Theo James 3:30, 9:30, 11:45 PM Jai GangaaJal (2D) (Hindi) (Action) (TBC) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat 3:15, 6:00, 9:00, 11:15 PM Neerja (2D) (Hindi) (Biographical) (PG12) Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azami 6:00 PM Puthiya Niyamam (Mal) (2D) (Drama) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara 7:00, 8:30 PM Kadhalum Kandathu Pogum(2D)(Tamil) (Romantic | Comedy) (TBC) Cast: Vijay Setupathi, Madonna Sabastian 8:45 PM

RUWI Screen 1 Jai GangaaJal (Action) –PG12 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Prakash Jha, Rahul Bhat, Ayush 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM Screen 2 The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2D) (Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi) –PG12 Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James 4.00, 10.00 PM Puthiya Niyamam - (Mal) – PG12 Cast: Mammootty, Nayantara, Baby Ananya 7.00 PM Screen 3 Neerja (Action / Biography) –PG12 Cast: Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM SUR The Divergent Series - Allegiant ( Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi ) ( PG12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Theo James 4:30, 8:45 PM Triple 9 ( Action |Crime | Drama ) (15+) Cast: Casy Affleck, Kate Winslet

SOHAR London Has Fallen – 2D (Action) (PG12) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Charlotte Riley 2:45, 7:00, 11:30PM The Divergent Series: Allegiant– 2D (Action | Adventure | Sc-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, 2:45, 5:00, 9:15, 11:30PM Triple 9 – 2D (Action | Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie 2:30, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45PM Zootropolis – 3D (Animation) (PG12) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba 2:30, 4:30PM Bleeding Heart – 2D (Drama|) (15+) Cast: Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet, Joe Anderson 5:30, 7:15PM The Other Side of the Door– 2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky 4:45, 11:45PM Jai GangaaJal – 2D (Action | Drama) (PG12) Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rahul Bhat, Ayush Mahesh Khedekar 9:00PM Kadhalum Kandathu Pogum– 2D (Romantic | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Vijay Setupathi, Madonna Sabastian 6:30PM Puthiya Niyamam – 2D (Family) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara 9:00PM BURAIMI London Has Fallen (Action) (PG12)

Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Charlotte Riley 9.45PM The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Action |Adventure | Sci-Fi) ( PG-12) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz, Theo James 7.00, 9.15, 11.30PM Zootropolis 3D (Animation | Action| Adventure) ( PG12 ) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba 5.15PM Puthiya Niyamam (Malayalam) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayantara 7.15PM Triple 9 (Action | Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie 4.45, 7.15, 9.30, 11.45PM Martyrs (Drama | Horror | Thriller) (18+) Cast: Troian Bellisario, Bailey Noble 5.00, 11,45PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

30 22

Daily Daily

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur 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) 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

Programmes are subject to change

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

85-40% Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Next Change: Maheshinte Prathikaram (Mal) Kapoor & Sons (Hindi); Pugazh (Tamil)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

Puthiya Niyamam (Mal) (Thriller) Cast: Mammotty & Nayantara 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 PM Cinema Main Kadhalum Kadhandhu Pogum (Tamil) (Com) Cast: Vijay Sethupathi & Madonna Sebastion 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 PM Cinema-2 Action Hero Biju (Mal) (Act\ Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anu Emmanuel 3:45, 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -3 Kalyna Vaibhogame (Telugu) (Drama \ Com) Cast: Naga Shourya & Malavika Nair 3:45 PM Cinema -4 Neerja (Hindi) (Act\ Drama) Cast: Sonam Kapoor & Shabana Azmi 6:45, 9:45 PM Cinema -4

Minimum

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

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

0

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

STAR CINEMA

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

London Has Fallen (Action / Crime / Thriller) Cast: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart 8.00, 11.55 PM CP No: 351 (PG12) 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (Action / Drama / Thriller) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber 2.00 PM CP No: 352 (15+) Bleeding Heart (Drama) Cast: Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet, Joe Anderson 2.00, 4:00, 6:00 & 10.00 PM CP No: 353 (15+) The Divergent Series: Allegiant (Adventure) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoe Kravitz, Navomi Watts 4:30, 7:00, 9:30, 11:55PM CP No: 341 (PG12)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

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

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

SALALAH The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2D) (PG12) (Action| Adventure| Sci-Fi) Cast: Shailene Woodley, Zoë Kravitz 11:30AM, 2:45, 9:15, 11:15PM London Has Fallen (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, 2:30, 10:00PM Triple 9 (2D) (15+) (Action | Crime | Drama) Cast: Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor.12:30, 12:30, 7:00, 9:00, 11:45PM Bleeding Heart (2D) (15+) (Drama) Cast: Jessica Biel, Zosia Mamet, Joe Anderson 3:00, 7:05PM The Other Side of the Door (2D) (18+) Cast: Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky 5:00, 11:55PM 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (2D) (15+) (Action|Thrille) Cast: John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, James Badge Dale 4:30PM Zootropolis (3D) (PG12) (Animation | Action) Voice Overs: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba 12:00, 4:45PM Puthiya Nayamam (2D) (PG12) (Malayalam) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara 7:15PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.21pm 3.46pm 6.20pm 7.30pm 5.02am

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

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

C7

LIFESTYLE TACKLING THE WET DAYS Story Faisal Mohammed Naim

Driving on rainy days could be dangerous, with vehicles having less traction and braking power on a slippery surface; so tread your path with caution. Read on to know how.

A

midst the sudden change in weather, rains took us by surprise in the week gone by, and the entire country ran into chaos, with blocked roads and clogged wadis. With traffic running haywire the most unfortunate ones out on the road were the motorbike riders like me. While we might feel proud riding two wheels on most days, the emotions are totally reversed on days when the weather is not kind — forced to stay indoors or left stranded for hours seeking shelter from the downpour, at some nook nearby the road.

Even if it is not raining that hard, life becomes miserable for the twowheeled souls, as their four wheeled brothers, for no clear reason turn monsters on the road at slightest hint of droplets from above.

Such haste they make, that all traffic sense and regard of rules becomes non-existent, with sudden change of lanes and over-speeding a com-

mon sight: All this in contrast to the experts’ recommendation of going slow when it gets wet on the road. The negligence and disregard of safety warnings and rules only results in the accidents that we witnessed in big numbers even this time.

Most accidents result from drivers not realising how much driving changes in wet weather compared to dry conditions. During rains, the accumulated oil and engine fluids on the tarmac can float on the rainwater and create a slippery road surface before eventually being washed away.

Here are a few golden tips to keeping it safe on the roads and avoid landing up in any nasty situation during a downpour: Slow Down and Stay Safe Higher the speed; more the risk.

Drive at a slower pace, and brake earlier and more gradually than you would normally. Remember the signed maximum speed limit on the

road is for ideal driving conditions; you need to drive slower in wet weather. If it’s raining so hard you can’t see the road or cars in front of you, pull over and wait for the precipitation to lessen. Also use your air conditioner or demister (blower) to keep your windscreen clear of condensation, which drastically diminishes the vision.

Make Yourself More Visible Turning on the headlights will make your vehicle more noticeable to other drivers. A good rule to follow is if your wipers are on, your lights should be as well.

Maintain a Safe Distance While tailgating is not a good idea in any weather, it’s especially dangerous when roads are wet. Never tailgate during a rainstorm: it can take up to three times the distance usually required to stop your car when road surfaces are wet. Use caution when approaching trucks and bus-

es, as the spray created by their tyres can reduce visibility — both yours and theirs — and pass as quickly as possible when conditions safely allow. Double the distance than what you generally maintain, between you and the vehicle in front.

Prepare your Car for Wet Weather Check your windshield wipers to see if they need replacing and check your tyres to be sure they are in good condition. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up. Carry a supply of salt, sand or even kitty litter, as these materials can come in handy if you get stuck. If you do get stuck, place some of the materials around the drive wheels to help gain traction and slowly accelerate.

Avoid Cruise Control The feature works great in dry conditions, but using it in wet conditions increases the chance of the vehicle losing control. To prevent

loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged.

Avoid Submerged Surfaces Floods can occur almost anywhere, especially in the wadis. Do not travel in flooded areas unless it is essential. If you must drive in or near a flooded area, try to view updates on road conditions and head out only if there is a safe possible route.

More importantly, never attempt to drive across a flooded road or bridge. Floodwaters can be fast moving and contain debris. Also, there might be a pothole underneath, which could leave you stuck.

Take extra care when driving on a road or bridge that has been recently flooded, as it may be damaged.

What to do if the Car Skids Avoid slamming brakes; it would lock the wheels and eliminate any

control you have over your vehicle.

Instead, steer in the direction of the skid while pumping brakes to gradually reduce speed. If the car has antilock brakes (ABS) apply steady, even pressure to the brake pedal.

What to do if the Car Starts to Hydroplane Hydroplaning is where all four wheels of the car lose contact with the road. In such a situation strictly avoid abrupt braking or turning the wheel. Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must at all brake, do so lightly and gradually.

It is recommended to check weather forecasts and road condition updates, and plan your drive accordingly before heading out on long trips. This will help avoid unsafe driving situations. However, it is best to avoid going out on the road during inclement weather. Rains are best enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee by the window balcony. Be safe. -faisal@timesofoman.com

Sources: BIPLANEBLUES.BLOGSPOT.COM - F1.COM

Autodromo Nazionale Monza - Italy

1970

Every F1 car

World Championship

that has won the F1 Drivers

1960

1968 – Front and Rear Wings

1980

1977 – Turbo

1950

1990

2010

2000 2009 – Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) 2011 – Drag Reduction System (DRS)

behind automotive innovations.

2001 – Traction Control

later, the sport continues to evolve and remains the driving force

1991 – Traction Control

1987 – Active Suspension

THE EVOLUTION OF THE F1 CAR race took place at Silverstone, England in 1950. And even decades

sport, has come a long way, ever since the first official Formula 1

or the competitive instinct; Formula 1, the world’s most expensive

Whether it is the style of racing, the thrill of the speed,

C8 MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016

LIFESTYLE

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

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

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

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M O N D AY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

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

Near Opera Gallery.

Rent RO.900/- negotiable.

Contact - 94084335 / 96920789

WAREHOUSE AVAILABLE

2 BHK fully furnished flat at Ruwi MBD area. Contact – 93211557 / 24814853

FOR RENT IN BALADIA SANAYAH AMIRAT

Villa in Al-Khuwair 33. Quality Finishing. Consist 5 Bedrooms, 1 Living room, 3 Lounges, All with A/C, Kitchen and storage.

Contact: 90665135 3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent. 18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi. Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use.

OMR 295/- month. Call 94477222

1 & 2 BHK Flat in Al.Khuwair.

Contact - 99792181

Conditioned room with toilets in Al Khuwair. #92620858 /92605500

2 BHK flat in Ruwi.

Contact - 99792181

2 BR, 2 bath, a kitchen, a yard , with AC, separate enterance, AlKhuwair near ibis hotel. PDC. RO 250 .. Call 97056443

Office Space Available in Al Khuwair & CBD.Contact – 99792181

Warehouse in Wadi Kabir (behind Mazda showroom) covered area 450 sqm with storage racks, and open area 700 sqm, with electricity, water connection and office and accommodation facility for one person. Contact: 99006950 Spacious 4 bedroom villas in Al Khuwair 33/Qurum, CCC Area and deluxe 2 BHK flats Bousher /Al Azaiba with A/Cs, swimming pool. #99369081 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580 1BHK at Al Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy #99224748-99332297 Flats, shops and basement in MBD area and Honda road.

Contact: 92433127/96291778/ 92589235/97293708

1BHK close to Indian nursery, Darsait blog -1619, way No .1322 RO 225/-. Contact: 99476728

Rooms for rent in Al Khuwair near Ibis hotel. Contact: 95124975 Double bed room flat CBD area.

Contact: 97608564 3 Deluxe flat in Ghobrah near Chedi hotel 550 RO per monthly Contact: 90161220 2 BHK flats /office & shops valuable in a new building at Honda road .Contact: 91165807

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact – 97007934 / 92609232

Please contact: G.S.M

Commercial/ residential flat for rent in a new building. A warehouse also available, location Muttrah. For more details contact – 99364735 / 95729711

2 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 33 1 B/R Luxury Fully Furnished @ Al Khuwair 5 B/R Fully Furnished villa @ Madinat Al Ilam 5 B/R Fully Furnished villa @ Madinat Al Ilam. For Daily, Weekly, monthly or Yearly contract. Please Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent a Car LLC 99249069 / 994617563/92888376 / 24834888E mail: info@alshahiintl. com

Villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 92125648/25250300

Land (17000sqm) with office / store /shaded area for rent at Ghala industrial area –prime location.

Contact:99476728

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

99417229/92621039

2 BHK flat in Ghobrah.

Contact - 99792181

4 B/R villa in Al Ansab.

Contact – 99792181

For rent in Mabela Sanaya road no.6.show room two shutter & warehouse (900m2) & staff accommodation & office with split A.C. reasonable rent Contact: 99318152&99225067.

Industrial land in misfit for near Hal service & Al Awazi.950sq.M with 3rooms,5 bathroom, boundary wall with 2 sides road facing &large parking in front.full or part area. Contact99364007/99454425 1 & 2 B/R flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact – 99792181

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair.

Contact: 95154331

2 B/R flat in Wattaya, Mumtaz & Ruwi area. Contact – 99792181 Open land + workshop + labour camp in Ghala & Rusayl.

Contact – 99792181 Store & workshop in Ghala, Misfah & Rusayl. Contact – 99792181 Flat, 1 bedroom, kitchen, toilet in AL Khuwair family bachelors R.O 150/-. Contact: 95154331 2 Bedrooms, kitchen, toilet, car park R.O 200/- & 1 bedroom, kitchen, toilet R.O 130 in Al Khuwair. Contact: 95154331

Room Al khuwair 120 R.O Contact: 97799175 2 BHK flat with big rooms behind Bank Muscat, Near ISWK. 99373290, 24815012 Studio type in Qurum.

Contact: 92230462 -98273470 2 BHK in Wadikabir RO250.

Contact: 97799175/92144045 2 BHK in Ghobrah RO310.

Contact: 97799175/92144045 1.2BHK in Darsait .Contact: 97799175/92144045 Flats 2 bedroom Majlis, 2 toilet, kitchen balcony near Indian school Darsait new building rent R.O 275/-Contact: 99243059 4 BHK villa in Qurum.

Contact: 97799175/92144045 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

2 BR flats with 2Baths Kitchen Al Amerat Aster Hospital .

Contact: 99366142 Flats in Darsait.

94051789-97201688 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241 Flat for rent in Hamriya.

Contact 99341112 2 Bed room centrally air conditioned flat in CBD prime location.

Contact: 24714625/91173997 New flats for rent at Al Ghobrah near to atlas hospital the flats includes 2 living room , 1hall , kitchen , toilets , air conditioned room & high Quality finishing rent per flat is R.O 375/-. Interested candidates please Contact: 00968- 97093283 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 94051789-97201688 2 Room, 2 Bathroom, kitchen cat parking 200 Rails.

Contact: 92005298 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. Contact: 99342661

M O N DAY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE

1ST GRADE RUNNING ESTABLISHMENT

FOR SALE Fully equipped Signboard Fabrication workshop.

Contact – Muhammad 220 M2 SHOWROOM

FOR SALE @ Sanaya/ Hospital Road- Sohar PLEASE CONTACT:

00968 - 9898 9532/ 2471 4325 info@paramountmuscat.com

FOR RENT Four bedroom two floors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278 1BHK Flat with spilt A/C near star cinema 210/-. Contact: 99358589/95570288 /97079146 Full furniture room for rent for family monthly 200/- .

Contact: 99251975 House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with 3 room+ 5 toilet+ hall+ living room+ kitchen.

Contact 98885055/ 92744168 Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). 9405178997201688 Flat with two rooms with window A/C, with toilets & car parking way No: 1670 north Al Hail near Dosteen restaurant 1KM Inside.

Contact: 99238334 3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/Monthly. Contact: 99342661 Flats in Muttrah. Contact: 94051789-97201688 Offices in Ghala.

Contact: 94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

94051789-97201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

94051789-97201688 Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.94051789-97201688 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

94051789-97201688 For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789-97201688 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 -24834888/ 99249069/92888376/94617563 Email: info@alshahiintl.com

OFFICE SPACES

FOR RENT 230 SQ. Mtr each Ready to move in two offices for rent near Man Truck Showroom, Ghala Contact -

99269841 / 92429917 Luxury villa of 5 BHK in Al Khuwair 33 RO.650/- Contact – 91776665 Commercial flats of 3 & 2 BHK in Al Ghobra North 18 Nov street RO.650/- & 450/- Contact 91776665

CLEARANCE SALE White wood, Red wood, Manhole covers, Hard ware, Electrical items & other building materials for clearance sale (price negotiable) Location Barka – Al Rumais For further details & inspection,

90579500 Concrete Plant & Pump, Porta-cabin Office for immediate sale Working Condition Concrete Batching Plant Pemat mixer, Econocrete - full set TEKA Concrete Pump mounted on MAN Chassis Ready to use Porta-cabin Office about 450 Square Meter area, with cabins.

Contact Mr Mateen - 92892209/ Mr Sreejith - 99478263/ Mr Aqueel - 99338619 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

Please contact - 96125603 For sale Porta cabin; new & used (wooden steel p.u.panel) Contact-99318152 Email:ahastco@gmail.com A well established automotive service center is for sale in Mabela area of 2850sqm please contact Virat: 94656682

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished bedroom with attached bath and kitchen separate entrance for bachelor for RO 150 per month all inclusive in a villa, opp. Star Cinema. Contact: 99314807

Dental chair and mobile X-ray unit for sale.contact:92737149

Room with toilet for working lady.

Contact: 91450718

Flats in WadiKabir.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

Office furniture for immediate sale 15 workstation, 4 executive desk, chairs & branded 4 TVs. # 94104022

600 M2 showroom or office in Bousher in front of Dolphin complex. RO.3.5 per m2. Contact 91776665

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket.

Contact: 96202458/96761960

Expat leaving. Household items for immediate sale, 99457386

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud. Contact 9405178997201688

400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35) Contact- 9405178997201688 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 Mini Furnished Apartment in Qurum. Contact 9405178997201688 Spacious 1 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with all split A/C’s and parking. RO.300/-Contact – 91776665 Offices & Showrooms in Muttrah.

Contact - 94051789-97201688 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789-97201688 Offices in Qurum opposite City Center. Contact 9405178997201688 Duplex villa in Qurum 29.

Contact - 94051789-97201688

A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location.

Contact- 99627621, 93240949 Well established coffee shop / restaurant prime location at AL Khoud.

Contact: 92188777/98700760 Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos can be sent 95865457 Luxury Apartments in Bousher (35). 95056808-97201688 Villas in Al Khoud. 9505680897201688 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale: #99273774/ 99202278 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact: +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565

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

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

DRIVING

Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794

Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan villeage. contact 93687466

ACC.WANTED Required single room for an executive lady (non cooking) in Darsait, Ruwi, Wadi Kabir.

Contact - 98591132 Accommodation required with food for 1 month, bachelor for March month. Preferably Al Ghobrah area. Contact: 99335742

FOR LADIES Europe beauty centre offers 50% discount on beauty packages, home services, slimming & post delivery massages. CBD – 24797813 / 97082451 / 94004152. Wadi Kabir – 24815805 / 94004153 / 96761960

Urgent sale semi furnished 2BHK Kanakia properties opposite Cinemax Mira Road Mumbai contact 99009686 Flat for sale 1360 Sq.ft semi furnished 3 BHK Flat with covered car park near Vennala, Eroor North Tripunithura, with close proximity to seaport- Airport road ,info park ,vyttila hub, Ernakulum medical center, gold souk, Oberon & lulu malls-for sale. Contact: 96725458 Flats villas land for sale in Pune Contact: 95272138/918139098275

MATRIMONIAL A Graduate Syrian Christian Pentecostal boy, 27, working in Oman as Store-in-Charge seeks proposals from parents of suitable girl, preferably those working in Oman.

Contact 92411983 40 Years male divorced, working in Muscat seeks suitable proposals, Indian. Contact - 91346321

Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 93049849 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested please Contact: 92680041 Mr. Altaf

NRI

MV SALE Toyota Corolla, White, 1.6, 2011, Automatic, Warranty available, excellent condition, 63500 KM. All services at Toyota only. 3650 OMR. Contact: 96530058 Nissan Qashqai 2013 low mileage 30.000kms comprehensive insurance UAE Oman valid till 2016 .

Contact: 96665430

Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact: 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact: 96059801.

MANPOWER

Pickup for sale, model 2013, diesel engine 4x4. contact 94194399 BMW 525.I 2006.

Contact: 99336093

LOST Mohammed Abdul Karim has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. A60400648. Finder please handover to ROP. Moahmmed Katab has lost Egyptian Passport No. A17120785.

Finder please handover to ROP

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up.

Mobile no: 92927880/ 99012165

D4

M O N D AY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

OUR CENTER IS LOOKING FOR FULL TIME: Hairdressers (male/female) - Beauticians (female) Job description: Hair related treatments Must possess excellent communications skills and be able to learn the product and service knowledge by attending in house training classes.

Advises clients on hair care and use of products.

Ensures that the high standard of service is maintained.

Salary based on skills and experience.

SITUATION WANTED

REQUIRED PROJECT MANAGER For an Infra/ Bldg project in Duqm/Oman Graduate Engineer with 20+ years experience preferably in Oman/ GCC with valid D/L and transferable visa, computer literate.

Send CV to Email :

Please submit CV to info@artemishfp.com

omanproject2011@gmail.com

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

SEEKING SKILLED EMPLOYEES

A famous Italian brand is seeking for female applications for the position of “Counter Sales” which will be located in one of Muscat’s most popular malls.

Qualification required: Fluent English speaking, Arabic speaking is preferred, good communication skills, basic knowledge with computers.

Experience required: Minimum of 1 years of professional experience in sales Candidates are requested to send their CVs on recruit

nomination.sales@gmail.com

1. Skilled iron worker 2. Skilled iron welder 3. 3D sign board specialist 4. Skilled painter 5. Skilled carpenter 6. Car wash supervisor Email : creativityeast@gmail.com

ADMIN

EDUCATION/TRAINING

SALES / MARKETING

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

The Egyptian school requires chemistry Teacher for IG, English, Science & mathematics.

Teacher’s application should be submitted by hand or by email – egyptianschool98@gmail.com / 24603930

Urgently required a Marketing Executive with 2 years experience and driving license (GCC) for a reputed building material & electrical showroom in Al Khoud.

Please send CV to – startradingmuscat@gmail.com.

Contact - 94320909

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Accountant with two years of experiencerequired for building material shop .contact no.99318152 Email:ahastco@gmail.com Required Accounts Officer- ensure accurate processing of revenue data into ERP systems and invoicing module. Posting of invoices to customer SAP portal and delivery to customer offices and interface with country manager/ reporting to regional CEO. Qualifications: BSc accounting.

Relevant experience & knowledge on online accounting systems especially the customer SAP system. Submit CV to: me-job@interwell.com

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Required urgently experienced Civil Engineers having 2-3 years on building construction jobs.

Contact: 99472795 Required Site Inspector (PRO) having Omani D/L. Contact – 24291500 Email: hr16.careers@ gmail.com Required Hydraulic Mechanical.

Contact - 95251213 Civil Engineer with minimum 5/8 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615

MISCELLANEOUS

Accountant with gulf experience in construction field preferred with Oman driving license. Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Gsm: 95892831/95197615

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

CATERING

MEDICAL

Required Cook 5 yrs exp in Oman for family. Send CV fax: 24703854 or abuakram_omer69@hotmail. com. Contact: 90140203

DOMESTIC HELP Urgently required an Filipino Housemaid, interested people can forward your bio-data to careerhr1972@gmail.com Housemaid required for full-time for Indian family, Hindi/English speaking CBD area Ruwi.

Contact: 96183093 Looking for a part-time cookcum-housemaid in Azaiba.

Call 92450197.

Required Cleaners & Office boys.

Contact 24707833

DRIVER Wanted house driver cum cleaner with Oman valid license contact: 99415443 Looking for motor cycle license holders for FMCG merchandising contact: 92312112

Wanted Nurse for a dental centre in capital area. Interested may contact – 93431024 or send CV to – drasyanaseem@gmail.com Wanted male for managing a lab referral department: degree in pathology/microbiology/laboratory /science. Omani or GCC driving license. Send CV to: healthfactor@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com Required female Nurse, with MOH license for private dental clinic in Bowshar area, Muscat.

Contact: 92189807 Required house maid in Mabela.

Clearance available. Urgent Contact. 95200180.

Wanted ORTHODONTIST, IMPLANTOLOGIST with or without MOH License for a polyclinic.

Excellent Salary, Commission and Accommodation. Phone: 99006915 Email: alhinaee.clinic@yahoo.com

Trailer driver + Hiab truck .

Contact: 99332185

GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934

Required a expat driver with Omani D/L. Contact – 91409668

Nurse required for a dental clinic in Al Khuwair. Contact 95114616

Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698

Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com

Part or full time Driver Required call us 91120552

EDUCATION/TRAINING SKILLED LABOUR Required personal lady Trainer at home in Wadi Kabir.

Contact – 94100959

Screen printer in Ruwi. Contact 92831131 / 97752162

Looking for an immigration advisor who has experience in counseling for PR and migration to Canada and Australia. Email your CV at consultancyvisa82@gmail.com Require Salesman with D/L. E mail: mailcv7@gmail.com Required Sales staff 2 NOS Having experience in Cosmetics Sales.

Send your updated CV to james_kunju@yahoo.com GSM 92683688 Challenging tyres Omani companies seeking for Sales Man only an tyres division sales minimum 2 years experience send CV to saeed@liwainvestments.com 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 An Omani construction company located at Muscat looking for Marketing executive with GCC driving license & NOC send C.V to kwk585@gmail.com Required Sales Executive knowledge of building materials.

Full or part time.

Contact: 99421513

TECHNICIAN Urgently required Electronics Technician with at least 2-4 yrs exp, in network cabling, access control, telephone systems, interested send the CV to info @smartvisionoman.com Software developer with experience in asp.net, SQL Server and crystal reports required for a software development firm. Email CV to hr@promisworld.com We, the storm shield in the talented candidates for the below positions (Indian only): Maintenance Technician (male -1) should have knowledge of new mobile devices & 3 years Oman experience Contact: 94441111 Send CV to email: gshield9@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian male good experienced in Accounts, ERP Tally 9 & Admin in India & Oman, presently on visit visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact 94834687 Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available. Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Indian male B.Com Graduate, 6 yrs exp in auditing, accounts and marketing 3 yrs exp in Oman with DL looking for suitable placement.

Contact :99146287, mubarakanq@ gmail.com Indian male, 32 yrs, B.Com having 8 yrs Accounts experience in Oman, looking for suitable placement (local release + Oman D/L available). Contact 97494322 / 98093515 Accountant India male 25 yrs BBA working seeking for suitable placement: 98201244 Indian male 22 yrs B.Com with one year exp in accounting auditing with good working knowledge in tally erp-9 looking for a suitable placement now on visit visa Contact: 97189500 Indian male 25 years of age, Bachelor degree in B.Com, seeking suitable place in Oman, on visit visa.

Contact – 91240544 / 98016928 Indian female MBA Accountant, 8 yrs exp in accounts seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96117303 Indian Accountant with 30 years experience in construction (Financial & Cost ), Administration, Store Keeping and HR seek full/part time assignment anywhere in Oman or UAE. Contact 98598099

Indian male 25 B.Com (graduate) 2 years experience as accountant in country club India with ERP oracle r12, tally knowledge. On visit visa immediately available.

Email: shabi.hyd@gmail.com Contact- 9042-1161

ADMIN Indian male 25 B.B.M 4yrs experience Arabic speaking with Oman/D/L seeking suitable position in accounts Admin sales contact:91266733email: safvank.ka@gmail.com 8 years of intensive Oman experience in procurement & supply chain management looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97755488 10 yrs experienced Omani PRO looking for suitable position. Good knowledge in HR Admin ROP, all Ministries related affairs. Contact: 99588154 / 93387833 MBA professional with 5 yrs exp in the field of HR , Administration, Sales (Business Development) and accounts, holding valid UAE driving license on visit visa until end of March. Contact: 91731542/ shanoj120@gmail.com Indian female BS, 2 yrs exp looking for suitable position in HR & Administration. Contact – 94656009 Urgently required Document controller / material controller / HR job 15yrs exp. D/L available plz contact; 96777019/92386043

Indian female Accountant 8yrs exp in Oman. Contact:93726921

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

Jordanian, Senior accountant, 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accountant. Contact: 92881223 Indian male 28 yrs MBA finance/ marketing and graduate in computer experience 3 yrs seeking suitable job, now family visit visa.

Contact: 93195378 Email: faisalme.beg677@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 Accountant 10yrs Exp. in OMAN Retail & Furniture Co. (Release Available) #92564955 SENIOR ACCOUNTANT-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to finalization. Currently employed in Oman.

Having D/L & NOC. #94122464, Email: cammk13@gmail.com Indian male MBA (finance) one year exp in Oman with D/L and Noc. Looking for Suitable placement contact: 94103975 Sri Lankan Accountant CIMA Inter mediate qualified, on visit.

Contact: 90660764

Male 28 yrs looking for driver job part time / full time. Contact : 97224035

Driver job wanted. Contact: 96393082 Light driver looking for job Oman

Indian female 25 yrs, MBA HR & Marketing, with one and half years experience as accountant and 6 months experience in teaching, now on a visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 99624044, mail: np.neethu1@gmail.com.

Indian female MBA in finance currently on family visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 96471025

Part time accountant, up to finalization of accounts looking for job after 5 PM (location prefers – MSQ – to AL Hail). Contact: 95694737

DRIVER

exp. Contact :95292621

Light driver with car 3 months exp.

Contact: 97118292

Seeking driver job. Contact : 93499058 Pakistani driver with Elantra 2016 model car seeks job: 95873286 Pakistani light driver looking job 9 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact: 96048460 Light driver Indian 4yrs exp in Oman having own car looking for job, release available .

Contact: 93053917 2 Years exp in driving, seeking any job .Contact: 97460056 Driver cum electrician 7 yrs exp, seeking suitable placement.

Contact – 98255214 3 Years driving exp in Muscat, speaks English, Arabic, Hindi& Bengali. Contact- 97462781 Seeking driver job with own car.

Contact: 98031620 Looking for job light duty driver 6 years experience NOC available.

Contact: 92381696 Bangladeshi male light driver looking for job 3 exp.

Contact: 93254149 Looking for job driver 10 yrs exp.

Contact: 99035942 Indian light driver cum house cleaner. Contact: 96255558 /99415443 Light driver. Contact: 96756014

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

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 Female 24yrs, AutoCAD draftsman with 3ds max & rivet, 4yrs exp. looking for suitable vacancy in Muscat now in visit visa .

Contact: 95601266 Email: reshmanb121@gmail.com

Indian male MBA- UK 18 yrs Gulf exp in Administration/ HR & Public relationship. Fluent in Arabic/ English with D/L. Looking for suitable position. Contact - 99897280

Draughtsman , Dip in Civil Engg (certificate attested) rivet , Autocad, 3dsmax , Site exp, Expecting salary (250 OMR) now in visit visa ph : 92279784

Filipino male with 13 years HR and Administration managerial experience. MBA & CIPD holder. Currently looking for job in Oman. Interested employer Contact - 97728418.

Revit /Draughtsman experienced

Indian, 26 yrs , female , 5 yrs exp in HR/ Admin with valid Oman D/L seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98236033 Indian male MBA / HR and marketing 2 years experience in royal bank of Scotland looking for opportunities in banking operating marking and HR services excellent communication Kills.

Contact: 90661245 MCA Indian Female on a visit visa seeking suitable job.4yrs exp in office Admin &IT. Contact: 92286147 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

Part-time Accounting assignment.9am-5pm.#91126314

expected salary 200. Contact : 92279784 AutoCAD Draughtsman seeking job. Contact: 95516807 Indian Female, Bsc Fashion Designer with Oman driving Lisence, looking for any good job.

Contact 98757582 B. Arch graduate female with 1 yr experience looking for suitable placement as an architect / Interior designer Contact 95981197 email: merlnoronha@gmail.com Interior Designer Seeking suitable job. On visit visa in Oman.

Contact - 92166130 Interior designer 3 years experience 1 year in Oman and 2 years in Egypt, experience in interior design, 3D max, AutoCAD, Photoshop. Contact - 94762876 AutoCAD draftsman experience 2 years. Contact: 93738335 /95809393 Email: mammoosing@gmail.com

CATERING

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement. # 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Dynamic Indian Male Accountant with 9 Years Experience seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 96902860 Purchase/Planning & Logistics Manager MBA (Finance), 14yrs.

Oman Exp. with D/L, NOC available, looking for suitable position. Contact: 93826090 jskanchan01@gmail.com

Indian C.A finalist having 7 years exp in Finance field, looking for a suitable position with license and NOC. Contact – 98097009 25 Years/Male Indian/B.com with 2 Years Experience/Seeking Job in Finance and accounts/Skills Tally ERP9/SAP-FICO/MS Office.

Immediately Joining.

Contact No: +96897184087 Email: modi_harshal@ymail.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 Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/full time accountant job.

Contact: 95598477/98803439

7 yrs exp Dubai marina chandelier restaurant, Arabic food and grill Arabic salad. Contact: 94896474 Cooks (Arabic Indian) gulf exp looking job. Contact: 99531802

DOMESTIC HELP Housemaid (overseas) Indian family looking for job. Contact 99531802

EDUCATION/TRAINING Indian Female, MSc Maths from a central university, B.ED qualified with over 6 yrs into teaching. Distinction holder and passion for teaching, currently on family visa seeking lecturer jobs. Contact: 91360147.

Indian female 25years M.C.A on family visit required suitable placements also interested in teaching. Contact: 90417133 Email: renjitharose04@gmail.com

DRIVER Experienced Indian Driver cum Travel Coordinator, 20 yrs in Oman looking for suitable job. Contact: 95113612 (NOC available).

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

M O N DAY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Indian female Project Engineer 15 yrs experience Project Management quality data base management data analytics marketing business development having Omani driving licenses seeks suitable placement presently on family visa, having Omani experience. Contact: 95783792 Network Engineer CCNA-MCSA exp computer science with NOC. Contact : 92346191 Pakistani male Diploma in Civil Engineer 4 yrs exp in Oman building & mega projects, valid license Oman. Contact:98921022 Indian Civil Engineer in UAE seeking suitable placement in Muscat-Contact 00968 99142171 Project Engineer 14 yrs exp of project execution & operations, all kinds Mech/civil and interior decoration with license Contact: 93260559 Sudanese Civil Engineer 4 years experience –98093544 B.E Mechanical and diploma with 75%, age 28, 2yrs Hyundai Motor and 3yrs in water treatment.

Contact - +91 9003612305. prabugn28@gmil.com Male 25 age M.B.A, HRM, BE Automobile 3.4yrs exp production engineering. Contact: +91 9841873619/ vickey040890pt@gmail.com.

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer (Indian, 23yrs male) 1.5 yrs exp (IBM India &Pvt Ltd & Zeuzer Engineers (Pvt ltd) looking for suitable job.

Currently on visit visa ready to join immediately Contact: 93354092/990249660. email:eapenbijoy92@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. contact:98921022 A Pakistani Civil Engineer having 5yrs exp in consulting and building field, looking suitable job good running company with valid driving license. Contact: 91800277 BE Electrical Engineer searching for suitable job. Experience plc driver panel control wring oh crane air compressor etc.

Contact: 90628814 Mechanical Engineer having Omani driving license and 2yrs exp seeks suitable placement. email:malvindevidan@gmail.com Mechanical Diploma Engineer having 8yrs of exp seeking for suitable currently on visit visa.

Contact- 94657806 Diploma Civil 5yrs exp seeking suitable placement Email:sushbinde86@gmil.com. contact: 96938770 Indian male B.Tech civil engineer (Auto cad 3 max) 4 yrs exp in planning, designing & site Supervision seeks Suitable placement NOC available contact: 95472155 Project Engineer 9 Civil, 7.5 yrs in Oman, need suitable placement, NOC release available. #91129192 Sudanese Electrical Engineer, granted with distinction, hardworking and can adapt to different work conditions. Contact: 98133281 Electrical & Electronics Engineer with 3 years GCC exp in sales, GCC driving license. Seeking suitable placement. Contact - 90301410 26 yrs Indian Male – B.Tech (IT) - 6 yrs exp -sales & admin -seeks suitable placement 91848460 / 98304080; Email: arun9895431989@gmail.com Sudanese mechanical Engineer, 2 years experience HVAC firefighting, on visiting visa.

Contact 95630047 Sudanese civil Engineer holding bachelor with two years of experience in Oman has resident visa and valid license. Contact: 94393880

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

For your BPR, guide finance & HR & RM, advise product marketing & CRM, appraise IT system for reporting & communication.

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: Tel - 96500729 k.profitoman@gmail.com

Contact - 92789995

Contact-93361624, Email-

Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

dheerachpadikkala@gmail.com

IT

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 6 years industrial experience on visit-visa, seeking job- ready for any roles. Contact: 98750295 Email:bebala04@gmail.com Building Site Supervisor working in Oman since Mar 2010 with Oman D/L looking for suitable placement .contact:91507828 Diploma electrical candidate looking for suitable job, having 2 yrs experience in electrical utilities maintenance and plant maintenance. Contact: 94652387 B.Tech electronics & Comm.Engg with CCNA certified with 2yrs exp.

Contact-99490930. email; sujith8938@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available.

Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Civil Engineer 11 yrs exp in construction field having Oman driving license & NOC. Contact – 94194399 / shiblyrock@gmail.com Indian male 22, Chemical Engineer residing in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92379181 Engineer has 10 years local & international experience in ready mix concrete also in Oil & gas filed also in marketing & sales field , has Omani driving license.

Contact : 92534098 REVIT (ARCH), Diploma Civil 3yr , in visit visa , exp. Salary : 250 PH : 92279784 22 Years exp in Gulf civil building construction project manager.

Contact – 0097430824610 / arshadjamalkhan@rediffmail.com B.Tech Electronics & comm. Engg & MBA Degree in operation management with five years experience in optical fiber planning coordination etc. Contact: 94819139 Electrical Engineer with 18 years exp in UAE. Contact: 98148034 Email: shassalih66@gmail.com Structural Engineer, 8 yrs experienced in flat slab, post tensioned & slab-beam multi story building design & supervision with driving license. Contact: 98256860 Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 years experience HVAC design & site Engg revit MEP Auto CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.im 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 Civil Engineer (BE) having total 5 years experience in building construction looking for a suitable placement. D/L available Contact# 94450270 Sri Lankan Engineer (27 Years old) – B.Sc Engineering (Hon) Mining / Geotechnical Presently in Muscat, 1.5 years experience.

Contact 91295802 acmfaslan123@gmail.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 Bachelor Civil Engineer 6 Years in Oman experience Valid Driving License seeks suitable placement Phone 97619722 Email – golamrob@yahoo.com

Indian male 31 years Civil Engineer diploma holder 4 years experience in Oman need placement N.O.C available.

Contact: 93298395

Diploma in Mechanical Eng piping system in AutoCAD work, 21+ years experience with Driving license. Contact: 95267113 Email: rkakkaryil@gmail.com

HSE & Fire Safety Engineer 4 years experience air port operational safety, power & chemical industry. Contact: 94374241

7 Yrs Exp. PM in Mech. Engg in the field of Building Const. Oil & Gas Seeking Job.94625598

Civil Engineer 6 yrs Exp in Oman with license. Contact: 98975518

Indian History graduate with diploma in Safety with valid Oman Driving licence seeks suitable placement.

EXPERT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

Road and Construction Engineer with 5 years exp in Oman.

Contact: 97667113

Electrical diploma Engineer with 1.5 years experience in AutoCAD designing for LV constructions and diesel generator maintenance looking actively for job in Oman.

Contact: 92171858/90595609 Email: nelsondas213@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact – 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 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 (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 Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Omani HSE supervisor. Email: jeebal3000@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with 3 Yrs experience in international Oil & Gas company looking for job Contacts: Tel: 90164236 Email: mustafaoshi-62@hotmail.com Indian female, 31 yrs, 7 yrs experienced as AutoCAD civil draftsman (2 yrs experience in Oman) currently in Oman seeks suitable.

Contact 96789441 Email: simi5304@gmail.com Sudanese Telecom Engineer, 5 years experience, 3 years in Oman PMP certificate. #93391008 Email: momen.awadallam@gmail.com Indian Male 23 years B.Tech Civil having 2 years experience in quantity survey and site management looking for suitable placement. Contact:- 95042656

HOSPITALITY Indian male Graduate hotel management 12 yrs exp operations & sales oriented GCC driving license and release available. #94525463 Hospitality Degree 5 yrs exp holding Dubai driving license.

Contact - 91234870 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) #96059470

IT Indian Male, IT System Engineer having 4 yrs of experience in system administration.CCNA,MCSE, Linux. Looking for suitable job.

Contact :91272867

Indian female, 30 yrs, B.Tech & MBA(I.T), 6 yrs work exp in India & Oman exp in telecommunications, configuration & installation of automated solution systems seeking for suitable placement. Contact : 92689823, jobymees2014@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 MSC (IT) male 32 age 4 yrs networking system administrator. Seeking a suitable placement +918608247110. email:samad3301@gmail.com 24yrs Indian male B.SC Computer Science with 2 yrs networking and IT helpdesk support exp, a Cisco Certified, seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 96910605email:shaikzube@gmail.com Indian male diploma in computer 4 yrs exp in system admin, tele call support, IT hardware networking. Looking for suitable position, on visit visa. Contact - 95917613 Indian male, IT professional , BE in ECE with 2 yrs of networking and Technical Support EngineerL2’ experience with CNA certification, looking for full time job GSM 92916894 ; Email: salu.mn555@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 Omani 26(M) seeks placement, 6 yrs excellent experience networking hardware software.

Contact: 95356166 Sudanese net work Engineer holding IT BACHELOR (CCNA, CCNP, and MCSE) has one year experience and license.

Contact: 92394485

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 37 yrs X-Ray welder 7 yrs exp (ARC, TIG, ARGON, Welding) seeking suitable job.

Contact: 91360190/98223683 Diploma in computer, looking for any office job, exp in tele support and sales, on visit visa. # 95917613 B.Com Graduate with five and half yrs exp in Oman as a purchaser. NOC available. Valid driving license. Looking for suitable placement Contact: 96772166 Graduate, computer literate, experienced in sales, credit control, accounts, Omani D/L , seeks suitable placement. Gsm 98805474 A lady entrepreneur with BF Tech 1st Class (Fashion Technology) since 2006 in Kerala like to make change for better. Specialized in designing, Production Management, Fashion Art, Grading, Surface ornamentation, Garment Construction.

Email: prettyjinu08@gmail.com Mobile: +919539397097.

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 Bangladeshi male, University M.Com, Working as an Accountant & Administrator in Oman; searching better job. Phone: 94864966 Email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com

MEDICAL Staff Nurse (female) with MOH license. Looking for opportunity in Muscat. NOC / release letter available. Contact - 99433415.

MEDICAL Pharmacist have license and experience, looking for job in Sohar or Buraimi. Contact- 93878153 Indian female MBA in health care service, BSN with MOH license looking for a job in hospital. Contact : 94876041 Indian female Dentist specialized endodontic looking for a suitable placement prometric completed.

Contact: 96410448 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 Male GP Doctor with NOC 6 yrs experience in Oman for perm/locum job. Contact : 97746074 An experienced Sudanese female Dentist with MOH license looking for job. Contact 96436517 /97396088

MANAGER 10 yrs exp in procurement, tenders, importing, marketing and sales, organizing events. Have car NOC available. Contact: 94123939 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

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 23 yeas BBM & Diploma in logistic. Looking for Indore/ Outdoor sales & marketing suitable placement, currently in one month visit visa. Contact: 93180270/ faizanmck@gmail.com Sudanese B.Sc in business administration, exp 8yrs in sales, marketing & accounting. Contact: 96112453 Indian male, B.Com with Valid GCC Driving License 5-year experience in Sales. Good Arabic/ English Mob-96970027 Having more than 5 yrs exp in sales indoor & outdoor with driving license. Contact – 90126776 4 Years of experience in Sales with driving license.

Contact - 90615235 An experienced sales & marketing person having several years experience in GCC with valid D/L. Looking for a suitable position.

Contact – 92124669 Indian male with 6 yrs of GCC exp in sales and service & 1 year of exp in gym fitness instructor.

Seeking job presently in Muscat in family visit visa. Contact: 90694335/ 99438360 or email:sahildgreat99@yahoo.com Sales Executive 8yrs exp buildings materials group of company in Oman NOC available. Seeking suitable job. With D/L in Oman .email: sameermoul@gmail.com Indian female 23 diploma in tool and die making with one and half yrs exp and also interested in sales & marketing.contact:94743992email:selveena054@gmail.com

Operation & Accounts Manager.

Indian 18yrs experiences in Oman –operation, admin, fiancé, purchase, HR& sales looking for SR.position.

Contact:99889396Email: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com

SriLankan malebusiness management BA (UK) Graduate.Specializedmarketing, key Accounts,sales, and customer services .4years work experience in England .seeks opportunity in Oman. D/L available. Tell: 94820153. email:inshafmalk@yahoo.com

Indian male 35 years, mechanical engineering diploma, 15 years of total experience, 4 years in Dubai, seeking challenging assignments in business development/management & sales, on visit,phone:95990541,em ail:kckurup.v@gmail.com

MBA graduate having 6 years exp in Sales & Marketing, 4 years with PEPSI, India, having international driving license permit seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 95308167, Email : samir.pag@gmail.com

P.M/Electrical Engineer B.Sc 5yrs exp.(2yrs in PDO area)driving license looking for suitable job mob.:91175016 E.mail:elmuthana@hotmail.com

Indian male 33 yrs, 11 yrs exp in Oman in sales field, with NOC seeks suitable placement.

Contact – 96169598 / adilj.8782@gmail.com

General Manager MEP also manage civil, MBA, BE Electrical, 10 yrs exp in Oman valid D/L, release available.

Contact – 92447102

Indian Male 28 MBA Marketing with 4 years of experience in sales with good communication skills now available in Muscat on visit visa. GSM 95840153 / Mail akbarshareef786@gmail. com

MBA with 18 years of experience in Procurement, 2 years in Sohar, Oman driving license with vehicle, looking for suitable position.GSM :94047501, ahmed16071974@gmail.com Indian male, with experience in operations management, information security, purchase & stores mgmt, hold UAE driving license, on visit visa, seeks suitable job. #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 Production Manager 9 years experience in Oman manufacture and development factories .GRB. GRC. GRG rubber molds and false ceilings, fiberglass and executive at site emadadly2000@yahoo. com96149081

Indian sales marketing professional highly experienced in business development in ME India and Africa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 97897611 B.Com male 2 yrs experience in sales Computer knowledge, seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 98371144 email: nabilnazar22@gmail.com Indian male, MBA Marketing having 2.5 years Sales experience immediately looking for a suitable position. Contact: 91415145, Email: shariqs88@gmail.com Male 38 yrs Graduate 07 years experience indoor / outdoor electronic field with D/License & NOC available (as per new rule).

Contact: 92453375

SKILLED / UNSKILLED SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills. Holding Oman Driving license. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336 Executive Secretary/ assistant Indian female 9 years experience in Oman, Diploma in Business management. Valid D/L. Contact: 96684705 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761

Mason, SH / carpenter, steel fitter gulf & Indian exp looking job.

Contact: 95175192

TOURS & TRAVEL Filipinas lady having exp in ticketing and preservation, call center, secretarial and real estate is now looking for job please call.94054080 Five years in travel field B.Com. IATA & pursuing MBA including experience in the travel desk of (ITC managed) five star hotel, looking for suitable position.

Contact 9470 5767, 9465 2485, 9536 4479

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M O N D AY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMPUTER/WEBSITE

MISCELLANEOUS Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com 25 years, male B.Com and insurance Graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations related only. Driving license and NOC available. Contact- lilommca@gmail.com and 95236312.

Admin Assistant, Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). GSM. 00968-98404122, Email - panduru.jeevankumar@ gmail.com Indian Male 47 years MBAOperations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC available , seeks challenging position in SCM/ Logistics/ Procurement in any Sector. GSM-94236414. Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com IT/Telecom Manager, BE, MBA 13+ Years of experience, Valid Driving License. Available immediately. Phone: +91205211, Email: ghulamqasimali@gmail.com

INDIAN-Male 34yrs, M.Com with 14yrs Exp ( 8yrs in Oman & 6yrs in India)Presently working as PROCUREMENT OFFICER for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects in contg & Trdg co LLC, Having Oman LT D/L, NOC available & willing to join immediately within in a month M:94064650, Email: nagauae@gmail.com Indian male, 16 years Oil & Gas experience (Down Hole Tools), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob: 965 956 18.

Civil Draftsman seeking job.

Contact-95516807 Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E (CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeks suitable job.

Contact: 91170912 Email: sales2@witoman.com Sudanese male. Five years diploma in civil engineeringhave five years experience in construction industry. Mobile: 96995670 Sri Lankan female looking for a housemaid job. Please send details to s.c.balthaza@gmail.com Contact: 94036979

Indian Engineer, B. Tech (Mech), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), 23 yrs experience, 5 years in Oman in the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager with Oman Driving License seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99744612. E-mail: deleepkumarpk@gmail.com

Land surveyor Experience: 8 years. Contact: 99585265 Email: wajid.mohiuddin5251@gmail.com

Indian Male B. Tech, 10+ years of extensive work experience in various aspects like Computer Networking, Technical Support, Management and Engineering with good communications, interpersonal and technical skills seeks suitable opportunity. Now in Oman on Visit Visa GSM : 9489 8009, Email : bios4u@gmail.com

Indian male, accountant 2 year experience doing accounts in Tally and Excel. Searching for suitable job. Contact: subbayan_r@gmail. com GSM: +918098637908

Indian male network cabling technician (19-years gulf experience) Seeking for suitable placement.

Contact - 0091-8089909265 (India) email: mohithavp@gmail.com Mechanical Engineering 6 years experience. Contact: 00968998907110091-9841867534 Email: sayed.fortuner88@gmail. con Structural Engineer Education B-Tech in civil Engineering, Work Experience More than 6 yrs contact no.: +968-91431483 E-mail: mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com Indian Female Accountant, now in Oman on Visit Visa, looking for suitable placement, #94250871 Indian Female MBA Finance, 6 years Oman experience as account looking Full time/part time accounting Jobs. Contact- 99044292 BBA MBA.Male, Indian Human Resource/ Administration/ Office work1 Year Experience Knowledge in MS-Office, Photoshop Searching for suitable job E-mail: antonyshajan11@gmail.com.Contact Number: +91 9655469680 +91 8754086178 Indian male 26 years MBA finance, seeks suitable placement.

Contact – 92715032 / ajisd@yahoo.com Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com

Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact: 99514286

BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions”#90637918 / 99335742, email: aquasharath@gmail.com Looking for a part time job for drawings struc. BBS Q/S & piping/pipeline auto cad work. #92103713.

Job Wanted as a Music Teacher Classical Vocal Music, Having 3 years India Exp. #90310876 A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact: Kamran (hkamran112@gmail.com), +44 7480 1196 74. +968 93595050 25 year old male B.Com and insurance graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations.

Driving license and NOC available.

Contact-95236312. lilommca@gmail.com MCA with 13+ yrs of teaching.

Worked as PGT (Comp Sc.) in CBSE Board Schools, 2 yrs experience in s/w development. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 90477217 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com Indian male AUTO CAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job.#99070584 / email: remluvp@gmail.com

BS in Civil Engineering Experience: 3 Year (Road Projects) Omani license: 9 Years. # 97427701 Email: hassanrvc1989@gmail.com Homeopathic Doctor having 2 years experience seeks suitable placement.Contact-93615169, geethasreenathnn@gmail.com

IELTS PREPARATION Target Band 8.0

Classes for Spoken English TOEFL / GRE / GMAT / SAT Excellent Guidance and Coaching Satisfaction Guaranteed EAGLES INSTITUTE

Pakistani Male having 6 years Experience Valid Omani Driving license working as a Transport Manager looking for a suitable position. Salary is negotiable.

Mob: +96893363316 / 94202746 mohdnaveed043@gmail.com

92325542 | 93657915 | 93657917 | Email: engominst@gmail.com

Indian Male Accountant I have 2 year better experience in accounting field. I can do all my accounts in Tally and Excel searching for suitable job. Contact: +919087776759 contactsubbayan5@gmail.com GSM : +918098637908, Indian female 23 BA economics with computer knowledge looking for the post of Administration dept or day care or sales please Contact 96155921 or Email- fysal.nellaya@gmail.com.

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr with 2 yrs experience in teaching & 14 months in Administration cum Secretary, Currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 92613704/99260702 Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com Indian Male, 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 Marine Services / Business Development having more than 15 Years experience in GCC Countries with Indian Male with experience in Operations Management / Sales and Procurement / Ship Chandling / valid GCC Driving License seeks suitable job. Presently in Oman on Visit Visa. GSM : 9053 55 65, Email : rafi.vprc@gmail.com Indian Female, 35years, Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) with 6months experience and BSc & MA seeking position as Insurance Coordinator or suitable positions in pharmacy, pharmacy stores, hospital, polyclinic & pharmaceutical companies or in front office/ administration office preferably in hospital. Please contact on 90236481 Male Locum Pharmacist with MOH & Driving License. Available on request from March to April 2016; Contact #: +968 9188 5485/+968 9943 8058.

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. # 90182494 Indian male with three years of experience in IT as system administrator seeking for IT administration job placements. Presently in Muscat on visit visa.

Contact 90664136 email: szuheabikram@yahoo.com Male Indian 27, working as finance Officer having three years Oman experience with Driving license looking for Finance/ Audit/ Accounts position. Mob: 98097009, rameesnm@gmail.com

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi

• Learn in two months • Satisfaction guaranteed

Tel: 95244310 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

SIT. WANTED 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 IT professional, B.E. in IT, CCNA, MCSA, MCSE, 3yrs exp. in IT/ networking/server support/Indoor sales, valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement in IT/Network/ Server support/Retail sales.

Contact 92607532.

Indian male 28 years exp as sales executive & asst accountant. With valid Oman driving license .languages known Hindi and English.

Looking for any good job Contact# 96175176 Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. # 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@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 Iraqi civil Engineer with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq, U.A.E. and Oman) looking for a job, (N.O.C.) is available.Contact 95626218 Email- amin.sarim007@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 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (holding Oman driving license) seeking job. #90139903 Indian Male, total 8+years gulf experience in Document Controller / Coordinator / Secretary. Looking suitable position. Local release available. CONTACT: 94524259 EMAIL: madhuppnair@yahoo.com Mechanical Engineer (Indian Male, 24 Years) with three years experience, looking for suitable job. Currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. Contact 92175441, Email: ihabeeb24@gmail.com Indian female, holds LLB & Masters in business administration(MBA),2 yrs oman experience as HR & Admin, seeks suitable placement in jobs @ SOHAR. Contact: 96541959

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.

Accountant. Having 6 years experience in accounts in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available) GSM. 00968-97010584, Email usman7678@yahoo.com Indian male 23 years Diploma in Mechatronic having 3years experience in production and maintenance department looking for suitable placement #+919597008904 (sachin.valappil92@gmail.com) Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Sales coordinator cum Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job. Phone:91997605.

E mail: mohamednazrulislam2@ 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 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 B.Com 5yrs experience good command on tally, Excel sheet on family visa. Contact: 98002428 Email: lubnakanwal36@gmail.com Diploma (Electrical Engineering) from Government polytechnic.

Age 27 years, 6 years Experience in troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer. Seek suitable placement. Contact 92995899, 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.

18 years experienced in Shipping, ShipChandling& Marine services.

Valied GCC D/L. Languages Known as English, Arabic, Hindi & Malayalam.Now in Visit Visa.

GSM : 9053 5565 33 year old Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre ,now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484

9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job.

Contact 90139903 Female Interior Designer 15 months experience design and management skills ( 3D Max, AutoCAD , Photoshop, Illustrator, Coral Draw (Basic) and Sketch up (Basic) and well versed with M.S Office). 24789883 Email: sasd_shirur@yahoo.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 ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Marketing ,construction A/c & sales , 93379044 Bangladeshi Male, University M.Com, Working as an administrator in Oman; searching better job.

Phone:94864966, email: sunrisetoiqbal@gmail.com 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 Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store keeper in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@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.

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED ED ONE STOP SHOP BUSINESS SERVICES Public relation services (PRO), Formation new companies, LLC companies, investor visa, business setup, prepare business & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company.

Contact Saleh: 96723485

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, spondylitis. Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 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

Driver available with car. Contact: 96728056

TRANSPORTATION Transportation. Contact 98505294 Ruwi, Muttrah, Al Khuwair, Muscat, Qurum, seek transportation. Contact: 91132238 Transportation. Contact 99508282 /93113534 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact 92015894 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909

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

25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. Contact 99839898

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M O N D AY, M A R C H 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 SERVICES

Pest control & Building cleaning all kinds of pest control building. Cleaning tiles / Marble polishing monthly/ Yearly contracts available.

Contact: 98814733 /98814740 Al Husn Cleaning L.L.C

SERVICES We Provide Cleaners, Office boys, Cleaning Contracts, General cleaning etc.

Al Mudakhir National Est. LLC Contact : 94277020 LEGAL SERVICE An Indian lawyer Provides all legal services in company matters.

Labour issues, contracts, agreements, LLC formation, legal help for starting new business in Oman, Civil, criminal cases,.service issues.

Ibrahim Al Massalhi.legal consultancy Sarafudheen, LLB, MBA, Legal Advisor Muscat. GSM: 97351649 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 / 94285064

House shifting. Contact: 99708138

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC . contact:99344723 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. Contact:99344723 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

Building maintenance.

Contact: 96173326

House shifting packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013

Villa cleaning, shifting, marble crystallization, tiles polishing, shampooing sofa & carpet. Modern Eastern Arms. 92145560 Sahal Al Wadi White Trad. Specialist in repairing of cold store, chiller, A/C & refrigerator.

Contact – 94528546

Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC .

Contact:99344723 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability