Times of Oman - July 14, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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TUESDAY, July 14, 2015 / 27 Ramadan 1436 AH

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THE GREAT EID ‘SICK’ LEAVE

FROM SAUDI ARABIA

Sayyid Haitham returns home MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said returned home from Saudi Arabia on Monday after conveying condolences of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the death of Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, minister of state, member of the council of ministers, advisor and special envoy of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Sayyid Haitham was accompanied by Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs, Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, minister of justice and others. -ONA

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MUSCAT: Where will you be next Tuesday and Wednesday? Will you be at your desk working, or will you be ‘ill’ as many workers are expected to be. The return to work between the end of the Eid holidays and the next Thursday’s day off to celebrate Renaissance Day has caught many employees by surprise, with scores already booked on ﬂights and holidays for the entire week. The solution? Many workers are expected to fake illnesses to cover their absence. However, the Ministry of Health told Times of Oman that it has put in strict rules to control doctors from issuing sick leave certiﬁcates to those trying to con their employers. Dr Ahmed Hamed Al Wahaibi, senior consultant in Family Medicine at the Ministry of Health, said that there are tight regulations and criteria regarding sick leaves, already in place and driv-

ing down the issue in general, but there are some exceptions among doctors. He said that health centres are required to send a report of the sick leaves issued to the authorities concerned for countersigning, and monitoring mechanisms are in place. Punishment If it turns out that they have ﬂouted the regulations, they will be issued warnings, which if ignored, may lead to the termination of their contract with the ministry, said Dr Al Wahaibi. He also advised people not to apply for unnecessary sick leaves and instead use their emergency or annual leaves. Dr Munnu Zain Jessim, a general practitioner at Atlas Hospital, says that they are receiving many requests for sick leave. Some may be genuinely sick but some may be requesting them to travel or be with their family during the holidays or for other reasons, she said. >A6

FRANCE

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Francois Hollande of the French Republic on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Hollande and the French people progress and prosperity. -ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Youthful Majlis Shura expected this year

According to a ministry source, the ﬁnal list of candidates for the Majlis Al Shura membership for its eighth session has 674 candidates, most of whom are youth. >A2

OMAN

‘Oman bridging West-Iran divide’

Six vehicles gutted in carrier ﬁre FAHAD AL GHADANI

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Oman is a key player in helping bridge the divide between Iran and the West. This is important for France, the main participant in the Iran nuclear talks. >A6

M A N A H I N D A K H I L I YA H R E G I O N

UAE executes woman for killing US teacher

12.18pm 3.38pm 7.02pm 8.23pm 4.03am

MUSCAT: Six vehicles were completely destroyed in a ﬁre that broke out in the brake pads of a truck and then spread to its carrier carrying eight vehicles at Manah in Dakhiliyah region on Monday morning, said the Public Authority of Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA). >A6

Oman’s first solar unit commissioned

3 IN FLAMES: The vehicles kept on a carrier on ﬁre. Photo: @ONN_1 Twitter

Oman’s ﬁrst commercial solar power project started generating electricity and will be officially inaugurated in southern Dhofar governorate in September. >B1

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015 International research has shown that 46 per cent of those with learning difficulties have the Irlen Syndrome Irlen Syndrome causes road accidents >A3

OMAN

SAYYID HAITHAM RETURNS HOME FROM SAUDI ARABIA AFTER CONVEYING HIS MAJESTY’S CONDOLENCES His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said returned home on Monday from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after conveying the condolences of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the death of Prince Saud bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.— Salim Al Hashli

Youthful, more educated Majlis expected this time 674 candidates, most of them young and educated, are in fray for the 85 Majlis seats

FAHAD AL GHADANI fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The public in the Sultanate is looking forward to the coming session of the Majlis Al Shura with renewed hope as the final list of nominees approved by the Ministry of Interior reveals that most of them are youths and hold high qualifications. According to a reliable source at the ministry, the final list of candidates for the Majlis Al Shura

membership for its eighth session has 674 candidates, most of whom are youths, competing for 85 seats. There are 431 candidates aged between 30 and 44 years, which makes them the largest chunk of candidates representing 64 per cent of the total number. The list also shows that candidates with General Education Diplomas and equivalent certiﬁcates represent only 38.1 per cent of the total number of candidates, while the remaining percentage, which

represent about 62 per cent of the candidates are those with higher qualiﬁcations. Candidates holding bachelor’s degrees represent 36.6 per cent, higher diploma 9 per cent, and those with masters’ degrees represent 12.6 per cent, while 2.8 per cent represent 431 candidates who are doctorates. As per Royal Decree 96/2011, issued on October 30, 2013, nominees should be Omanis, not younger than 30 years of age, with no criminal history, and registered in the electoral system, in addition to not belonging to any security or military units, not suffering from any mental problems and the most important, with nothing less than a general education diploma. Based on the Royal Decree, the Ministry of Interior dropped a number of candidates for the

next election, including three current members. Following reactions from citizens and Shura members, the ministry issued a statement expressing surprise at the inaccurate and exaggerated information being spread on the social media. Citing reasons ranging from criminal cases, qualifications, and withdrawals and deaths, 174 applicants were dropped from the nomination list, according to the statement. The statement clarified that 45 per cent of the prospective nominees who were dropped were involved in criminal cases, while 23 per cent did not meet the deadline of registration, and 9 per cent failed to meet the qualification requirements for the Majlis Al Shura membership.

SCIENCE AND TECH

Supreme panel reviews national innovation plan Times News Service MUSCAT: Directives to be issued with regard to the execution and methodology of the National Innovation Strategy (NIS), were discussed at the meeting of the Supreme Steering Committee NIS held on Monday, at the main building of The Research Council (TRC). The committee also gave suggestions on how to move forward with the NIS project. It discussed the methodology and stages of preparing the NIS, in addition to its execution plan that includes conducting seminars, workshops and meetings. Since the commencement of the NIS project in May 2015, the progress so far on the project in-

cludes the formation of a number of teams, framing of deﬁnitions, visions and strategic objectives for NIS pillars, as well as, analysing the recommendations of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) Review. The meeting, which was chaired by His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, advisor of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and chairman of the TRC, also discussed the proposed NIS document and the three integrated stages for innovation empowerment. The topics under review included the comprehensive ecosystem, the empowerment of affective entities, in addition to activating the current initiatives and enhancing institutional communication.

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

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Medical disorder that raises accident risks Irlen Syndrome, which is a perceptual processing disorder and not an optical problem, can affect 12 to 14 per cent of the world’s population

DANGER SIGNALS: Irlen Syndrome can create both print distortion or environmental distortion, affects a person’s driving.–Supplied photo

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Increased awareness about a syndrome which may be the cause of some accidents in Oman, as well as reading and writing difficulties among children can help save and improve many lives, says an expert. Irlen Syndrome is a problem with the brain’s ability to process visual information and affects the person’s driving, school performance in reading, writing, and mathematics, apart from listening and comprehension. It also affects work performance and behaviour. The effects of the syndrome can be reduced through simple solutions if it is diagnosed and addressed, Aisha Baabood, the ﬁrst Omani certiﬁed Irlen screener, told the Times of Oman. Baabood, who is the founder and executive director of the White Hands Centre for Assistive Technology and Rehabilitation, was speaking at an event held recently at Oman Avenues Mall to raise awareness about the syndrome. Irlen Syndrome, which is a perceptual processing disorder and not an optical problem, can affect both normal and disabled people and men and women, she said, adding that it affects 12 to 14 per cent of the world’s population. The disorder can be caused by genetic factors or brain injuries resulting from infection or accidents such as a blow or fall, said the expert. Those affected by this syndrome may experience physical symptoms or distortions, said Baabood. According to her, physical symptoms may include headache,

We screened 325 drivers from different nationalities aged between 20 and above, and 75 of them showed signs the syndrome Aisha Baabood Certified Irlen screener

migraine, dizziness, and fatigue, apart from blinking of the eyes, squinting (having eyes that look in different directions), eye irritation and constant discomfort in general. Distortion can be either print distortion or environmental distortion, she added. Baabood said that people who suffer from this syndrome are very sensitive to high contrasts of colour, shining surfaces, very bright light and sun light. When it comes to reading in general, those having this disorder experience distortions of text with letters moving, shaking, waving, trembling, jumping, in addition to ﬂoating, whirling, fading out, shadowing and many other effects. That is why some children who have this syndrome can be wrongly labelled as students with learning difficulties at school, said Baabood. International research has shown that 46 per cent of those

CORRIGENDUM

I D E A L L O C AT I O N

View Pluto’s date with NASA craft from Jabal Shams TARIQ AL HAREMI tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Astronomers says Jebel Shams is an ideal location to spot Pluto when the New Horizons spacecraft encounters the dwarf planet on Tuesday. National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) New Horizons spacecraft will reach the distant planet Pluto in a fly-by on Tuesday and will take pictures close up of the planet’s surface with hopes of new discoveries that could change the way we see the dwarf planet. Since the launch of spacecraft on January 19, 2006, this will be the first time it will fly past Pluto and study it, its moons, especially Charon, the Kuiper Belt and Kuiper Belt Objects. The spacecraft’s closest approach to Pluto will be at 7:49 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) which corresponds to 3:49 p.m. local time (MCT). Despite it being smaller than the moon, Oman-based astronomers say that people will be able to see Pluto with a telescope if they are high enough from the ground and there are no visual obstacles in the way. “If you go up to a point in Jebel Shams with a telescope, you will be able to see Pluto. But it depends on the time and day,” said Mohammad Al Hijri from the Oman Astronomical Society. People will only be able to see a dot in the night sky.

with learning difficulties have the syndrome, she noted. The situation becomes more dangerous when it comes to drivers as the syndrome may lead to an accident that would result in death or injury. “If a person having the syndrome is driving a car and is focussing for a long time, especially during daytime, he gets affected. You know how sunny the days are in Oman, so the reﬂection on the windshield hurts the driver’s eyes and it is easy for the driver to bump into something or hit a pedestrian or go to the other side of the road,” she explained. It affects the way drivers see the objects, judge distances and react. The causes of accidents in Oman have been discussed a lot but there is not enough awareness about this syndrome, said Baabood. “We did an event at the Muscat Festival 2015 and screened 325 drivers from different nationalities aged between 20

and above, and 75 of them showed signs the syndrome, which is a significant number,” she said. The effects of the syndrome can be mild, moderate and severe and the situation will deteriorate if the syndrome is not addressed. Pre-screening and screening is required to detect the syndrome, said Baabood, adding that special tests are required. She noted that the White Hands Centre is currently the only one in Oman providing the screening. According to her, the centre has created the first-of-its-kind software ‘in the world’ for pre-screening in co-operation with specialists in Cyprus. “Pre-screening is done first, and if the person shows the symptoms, we advise him or her to visit us and do proper screening which takes two hours and is done during the daytime,” she said. Baabood said that the medical history of the person is checked to make sure that the symptoms are not related to any medical condition such as diabetes which affects the vision. There are some non-verbal tests for those with communication disabilities as well. “If the case is mild, the symptoms will appear after half an hour or an hour after full concentration on something. In moderate to severe cases, the symptoms will appear after 10 minutes of focus,” she said. She added that after the severity of the disorder is known, appropriate interventions are recommended, which can significantly improve a person’s daily life. Sometimes a child’s reading difficulties can be easily reduced with the use of coloured overlays on the page of the book, which reduce eye strains and fatigue, said Baabood. “So if the right colour for the child is pink, the child can put an overlay of the same colour on the page while reading,” she explained, and added that screening determines the right colour. When it comes to writing, you have to provide the child with a notebook with pages of the same colour instead of exposing the child to normal notebooks, she said. There is no need to segregate these children at school, clarified the expert. Some modifications in the child’s room, such as changing the colour of the walls to the right colour can also provide more comfort to the child and reduce his or her frustration, aggression and hypertension, she added.

“The farthest planet you will be able to see is Saturn with its rings, but it is difficult to see Uranus or Neptune with Pluto just being a dot,” said Suleiman Al Busaidi, Curator of Petroleum Development Oman Planetarium. In July, stargazers will be able to view the faintest sight of Pluto tomorrow between 6:10 a.m. and 5:01 a.m. the next morning with a 14.1 brightness index until the last week of July, when it could be sighted from 5:06 p.m. to 3:57 a.m. The NASA mission is mainly to understand the formation of the early solar system, the formation of Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, characterise their geology and morphology, along with the atmosphere of the planet and discover an atmosphere of the moon. For the ﬁrst time ever, people will be able to see Pluto’s actual surface with hopes of discovering something new that could change textbooks on Earth. Education is also a key factor in discoveries where children and students constantly need to be updated on new discoveries or information to keep them well educated and aware of their environment. “The school curriculum in Oman still considers Pluto as a major planet when in reality it is not,” said Suleiman Al Busaidi, Curator of Petroleum Development Oman Planetarium. “We educate the children on what it really is… a dwarf planet,” he added.

Update: Geely Ramadan offer With regard to the story titled ‘Hot Ramadan deals from Chinese car brands’ featured in the ‘Round Up’ column on page C9 of the Monday Lifestyle section, dated July 13, 2015, the offer mentioned for Geely was printed in error and should be disregarded. The official offer from Geely, Towell Auto centre LLC, includes a guaranteed cash gift, AAA protection, and 24-hour roadside assistance. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

TODAY’S DUAA ‘O Allah, on this day, I ask You for what pleases You, and I seek refuge in You from what displeases You, I ask You to grant me the opportunity to obey You and not disobey You, O One who is generous with those who ask.’

Islam and environment In the Holy Quran, Allah asserts that everything has been created in balance, and warns that transgression of the balance shall have disastrous consequences, writes AFTAB H. KOLA

amadan offered a good chance to inculcate a positive change in our attitude towards the environment. But we hardly care for the environment and do all sorts of things that damage the environment. Also, reckless exploitation of natural resources is posing a grave threat to protection of environment. Global warming is threatening to pose serious problems. It is time to plant more trees to protect the environment. Proper solid waste management and sustained environmental protection awareness programmes are the other measures that would go a long way in checking adverse effects of global warming, Islam lays great emphasis on protecting the environment. The Holy Quran shows the inherent value of creatures and of life, and how each creature in nature must be respected and cherished by human beings as their fellow beings. This natural world was created by Him, for His purpose and that in itself confers upon the natural environment a sacredness which must be recognised by all believers. This, then, means that all believers must have the utmost care and respect towards nature. God has created everything in this universe in due proportion and measure both quantitatively and qualitatively. God has declared in the Quran: “Verily, all things have We created by measure” (Quran 54:49). “…Everything to Him is measured.” (Quran 13:8) “And We have produced therein everything in balance.” (Quran 55:7). Islam has attached much importance to the protection of environment asking its followers not to cut trees, pollute rivers or contaminate the atmosphere. Prophet Mohammed

Hadith of the day ABU AYUB (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whosoever fasts in Ramadan and then follows it with fasting six days of Shawwal, it is as if he fasts forever.” (Muslim)[Agreed upon] (peace be upon him) taught people to live on less, to protect animal and plant life, and to worship the Creator by being merciful to the creation. “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (Sadaqah) for him.” (Al Bukhari). In Islam, man’s relation to the earth is seen as that of a custodian mainly responsible for improving the quality of life and guaranteeing a healthy environment. “Now, behold! Your Lord said to the angels: I am placing upon the earth a human successor to steward it” (Quran, 2:30). It is required that man should work towards the conservation of earth, ensuring sustainability of natural resources for future generations. In short, to be a Muslim is to pray (worship) and to be a custodian of (to de-

velop earth). Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) declared said: “The world is beautiful and verdant, and verily God, be He exalted, has made you His stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves.” (Saheeh Muslim) All of the resources upon which life depends have been created by God as a trust in our care. He has ordained sustenance for all people and for all living beings. “And He has set within it mountains standing firm, and blessed it, and ordained in it its diverse sustenance in four days, alike for all that seek.” (Quran 41:10). Thus, in Islam the utilisation of these resources is the right and privilege of all people and all species. Hence, man should take every precaution to ensure the interests and rights of all others since they are equal partners on earth. The Holy Quran is filled with more than 6,000 verses, of which more than 500 talk about with natural phenomena. Allah repeatedly calls on us to reflect on His signs, which encompass all aspects of nature such as trees, mountains, desert, seas, animals, birds, stars, the sun and the moon – and our own hearts. The Prophet (PBUH) had declared a 30 km area around his city of Madinah a protected grove, prohibiting the cutting down of trees within its borders. He prescribed picking up litter from the streets as an act of faith. He forbade the cutting of cedar trees in the desert that provided shade and shelter to animals. He calls upon us to be what God intended us to be, which is in harmony with nature. We can sum up the importance of environment by quoting what the Prophet (PBUH) famously said, “Even if the Day of Judgment should arrive and you are holding a sapling in your hand, plant it”.

For children

good range of Islamic magazines, print as well online, are made available across the world. But this magazine promises to be different. The recently launched ‘Quest Jr’, a digital interactive magazine for children in the age group 7 to 12 years, has an interesting mix of kids’ fare. A team of parents hit upon an idea to bring out a magazine that will be highly interactive and be read on multiple devices including I Pads, Android tablets as well as desktop/laptops. And the result

is Quest Jr, a digital product that would provide appropriate and interesting content for young readers. The magazine aims to challenge and broaden the minds of curious Muslim children everywhere. With a contemporary design and enriched content packed with interesting interactive features, Quest Jr. features a gamut of topics across the spectrum of Islamic and general content. It aims to present Islam and its tenets in a balanced and more acceptable way. Using latest tech-

nology to engage young readers, this monthly magazine provides insights into topics such as Stories from the Holy Quran, Lives of the Companions and the meaning of Quranic Ayahs in an age- appropriate format. Colourful and highly interactive, it encourages children to use multiple senses and to touch, scroll and hear as they read. Says one of the promoters, “Our goal is to provide an educational and entertaining website for Muslim children in order to nourish the inquir-

ing minds and broaden their Islamic horizon. Along with the Islamic topics, other regular features include learning Arabic vocabulary, a recipe, travel, and a science page and a news bulletin. Quest Jr can be read on multiple devices including I Pads, Android tablets as well as desktop/laptops. To download your free demo copy, and to get more information, please visit at www.questjr. com. So, come let our kids enjoy reading the magazine. Subscription is just a click away. — Aftab H. Kola

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

0MAN

We want to develop and diversify the French economic presence and we want Omani exchanges with France and more Omani investments Roland Dubertrand, Ambassador of France to Oman

‘Oman playing a key role in bridging West-Iran divide’ The increasing signiﬁcance of the

Oman has a special role for holding mediation for rapprochement for the countries having problems

bilateral relationship will be highlighted by a planned visit to Oman by French President François Hollande later this year or in early 2016

Roland Dubertrand, Ambassador of France to Oman

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: An upcoming visit by French President François Hollande is a sign of the growing importance of France’s relationship with Oman, a country marked by peace and stability in a conﬂict-ridden region, says Roland Dubertrand, Ambassador of France to Oman. France, which today celebrates its 226th Bastille Day to mark its shift from a monarchy to a republic in 1789, has been increasing ties with Oman in a number of areas, from politics to trade to culture. In an exclusive interview with Times of Oman, Dubertrand spoke the ongoing developments between the two countries. “Oman is a stable and important country and we want to have more strategic cooperation with the Sultanate,” Dubertrand said. The increasing signiﬁcance of the bilateral relationship will be highlighted by a planned visit to Oman by French President François Hollande, who has accepted an official invitation to the Sultanate and will come later this year or in early 2016, the ambassador said. The French ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs will come to Oman, too, while Omani ministers will be invited to France over the next year, all with the aim of strengthening political dialogue. “The high-level visits are important and the most important are the visits of the head of state. It’s not only protocol, because you can

discuss the political issues and the very strategic issues for the two countries. You make progress by this type of visit,” Dubertrand said. In the past few years Oman has become a key player in region, helping bridge divides between Iran and the west. This is important to France, which a main participant in the nuclear talks with Iran. Oman also has a valuable job to play regarding Yemen, the ambassador explained. “Oman has a special role for holding mediation for rapprochement for the countries having problems,” he said. Growing political ties between France and Oman are being complemented by robust trade, culture and tourism, Dubertrand added. Bilateral trade reached €600 million (OMR258.8 million) and French investment in Oman is approximate €1 billion (OMR431.5). France is Oman’s third largest provider of arms, and there are French companies such as Total, Veolia, and Renault that have been operating for a long time in Oman. “We want to develop and diversify the French economic presence and we want Omani exchanges with France and more Omani investments,” the ambassador noted. There are opportunities in France for Omani investors, especially around Paris which is currently undergoing major projects

to improve its services and infrastructure. While traditionally Omanis invested in French real estate, Dubertrand said now is the time to expand investments to sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, communication, and green economy businesses. To facilitate trade relations between the countries the OmaniFrench Business Association, with Omani businesswoman Hind Bahwan as president, was established earlier this year. Dubertrand said it would allow for face-to-face interaction between businesspeople and entrepreneurs, acting as an “institutional umbrella for exchanges.” Pilot programmes Cultural ties between Oman and France have been steadily increasing, too, the ambassador said. Pilot programmes for French language classes have been introduced in a number of government schools, and more Omanis are studying French at the French-Omani Centre. Dubertrand hopes more French language classes in Oman will encourage more students to choose France as a place for post-secondary education. “If it works it will expand to other schools in the public system. I hope it will work and we try to support it strongly through the CFO and the cultural section of the

embassy. I think it will be a very good thing for the country to have the pupils have a second foreign language in the secondary school,” said Dubertrand. Very few Omanis currently study in France, but Dubertrand hopes to see this change. There are some scholarships available from the embassy and the embassy is in talks with the Ministry of Higher Education to have France included in the countries to which government scholarships are provided. Students can study in English but French helps for life in France, Dubertrand said. “We want to try to attract, in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, much more Omani students into our country. We will work on that,” he noted. For Dubertrand a highlight of the cultural ties was the July 2014 agreement by the two governments to share the costs of renovating Bait Fransa Omani French Museum, which was the French consulate in 1894. The museum needs to be refurbished and the collection, which highlights French-Omani history, will be presented in a more contemporary way. Studies are now underway for the renovations which will include display areas, a library and a cafe. “The idea is to have a more modern museum attracting more

people and being a true space of animation. You have many people visiting Old Muscat and this could be an important spot on the visit,” Dubertrand said, adding that he hoped this would encourage more people to go to the museum. While not many Omanis are travelling to France to study, more and more are heading there for tourism. In 2013 the French embassy issued 4,500 visas, a number that doubled to 9,000 in 2014. This year the number will likely rise again, Dubertrand said. Approximately two thirds of the visas are for Omani nationals, while the remainder are for expats who live in Oman. “Omanis visiting France has grown quite drastically. There is more interest by the Omani people to travel to France be it for tourism, or for business. We want really to attract more Omani tourists to our country, not only to Paris and Euro-Disney, but to other destinations,” said Dubertrand. He says France is rich in nature and heritage which should also be explored, such as the French Alps, the Mediterranean Sea in the south, the Pyrenees in the southwest, Brittany in the northwest, and Alsace in the east. “It’s really great diversity. It’s natural that when you have your ﬁrst visit to France you visit Paris... but after that if you want to appreciate the natural beauties of the country and the gastronomy and the differences of the regions from north, south, east to west, I think you have to try to organise your own trips to different regions,” Dubertrand said, adding that he would also recommend the region where he grew up, in the Pyrenees Mountains in the southwest. Dubertrand has been in Oman for a year now, and as he prepares to host his ﬁrst Bastille Day as ambassador he happily admits that all the positive things he’d been told about the Sultanate prior to coming here proved to be true. He also discovered the strong identity of the people and the history, which he has been exploring through the country’s many forts and castles. “Of course the country is beautiful but it’s not only that. The country is original with a very original and rich history, and the people are smart, elegant and welcoming,” he said.

OMAN POST

ePost launch to help secure, seamless mail exchange Times News Service MUSCAT: To overcome the challenges of the postal sector due to the advent of the Internet, the Oman Post has launched ePost for seamless communication in a secure environment. The Oman Post aims to make ePost a national hybrid mail network for citizens, businesses and the government so that they can communicate without any hiccup. ePost is a hybrid mail system merging electronic communication and printed ‘traditional’ mail into one dynamic ‘address’ through which registered users can send and receive both electronic and traditional mail items. The services of the Oman Post Office are mainly post boxbased and do not include a last mile delivery system. This means that residents of Oman use the post box numbers as their ‘address’ for receiving ‘mail’. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

First part of Al Batinah Expressway opens today MUSCAT: First part of the Al Batinah Expressway (MuscatBarka 18 km) will be opened for traffic on Tuesday. The road includes four lanes in each direction, in addition to four interchanges. The road has four lanes in each direction with 3 metre external shoulders and 2 metre internal shoulders. The road is one of the strategic projects implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. It starts from Muscat Expressway in Al Fulaij in the Wilayat of Barka and ends at Khatmat Milaha in the Wilayat of Shinas. The project includes a number intersections to meet the traffic needs of wilayats in South and North Al Batinah Governorates. -ONA

S I C K L E AV E F O R S A K E O F H O L I D AY

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A1 ‘Sick leave creates problem for employers’

Dr Munnu Zain Jessim, a general practitioner at Atlas Hospital.

that he had made it clear to employees before the announcement of the holidays that no sick leave would be accepted for those particular dates and if any one applies for sick leave, it should be supported with sufficient documents. Instead, they were asked to apply for an official leave or agree for deduction from their annual leave, he said. “That would give me an idea of how many people would like to go on leave so that I could plan my staff shortage accordingly rather than suddenly receiving a call from an employee,” said Al Busaidi.

of seeking unnecessary sick leave also creates trouble for employers. In addition, Dr Jessim said that the hospital keeps a copy of sick leaves issued as a record to avoid any problem and also submits the list to the authorities concerned on a monthly basis. Sultan Ali Al Busaidi, managing director of the United National Oilﬁeld Services (UNOS), said

Sacriﬁce There are many people who would like to take leave, but they have to understand that sometimes they have to make a sacriﬁce for the sake of others, he added. Al Busaidi said that this year part of the issue has cropped up due to the gap in Eid and Renaissance Day holidays. “In my opinion, if I have an employee from a remote place, it is not fair to bring him for one

Sometimes they insist that the doctor must issue a sick leave certificate when they are not really sick and it is difficult to argue with them, added Dr Jessim. She said that she had come across people who had demanded sick leave and refused injections saying that they were fasting, but were later seen roaming around. Very strict According to her, the hospital is very strict in handling this issue and does its best despite the fact that sometimes it is difficult to figure out who is telling the truth and who is lying. “What we do is that we tell them if they are sick, they will be given complete treatment, including injections and tests,” she said, adding, “They are also told that if they are very sick, they will be referred to another medical professional.” Also, there are people who take leave first and then visit the doctor to get sick leave signed, said Dr Jessim. “For such people, we do not issue sick leave at all,” she noted, and added that the practice

day and they let him go again,” he noted, adding that it also puts the lives of workers at risk if they have to drive long distances frequently. P Chandrasekr, group general manager, Jawad Sultan Group of Companies, said that so far he has not faced this problem and has not received any sick leave for this period. “However, I do not know whether after the holidays people will come and give their sick leave,” he said. He added, “My observation is that on these two days, we might face some difficulty because people may not be there as some have already got approval for leave and may be travelling. So, those people will not change their programme for the sake of two days.” Some had already booked their tickets and their calculations went wrong after the announcement, he said. Chandrasekr added that taking fake sick leave is ‘wrong’ and called for ‘disciplinary action’ while advising people to use other types of leave if they are unable to change their plans.

PAC D A

A1 Truck cabin, 2 vehicles saved < FROM

“There was, however, no report of injuries,” said the PACDA on its twitter account. A reliable source at the PACDA said the fire broke out when the truck was parked at the road shoulder. Initially, one of the vehicles kept on the truck caught fire which later engulfed other five vehicles . “It then spread from that vehicle to the other five,” said the source. He added the blaze completely destroyed six vehicles and

the carrier of the truck while the cabin of the truck and two other vehicles were saved. “The ﬁre caused traffic congestion on the road, as motorists refused to risk their lives and drive past the blaze in the fear that it could engulf their vehicles too,” said the source. The source also said that PACDA calls on motorists to conduct continuous checks on the consumable parts of their vehicles especially in heavy vehicles.

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015 Iraqi military sources in Anbar said they met fierce resistance from the insurgents, who deployed five suicide car bombs and fired rockets to repel their advance on the city of Fallujah.

UAE executes woman for US teacher’s killing

THE ATTACKER: A ﬁle CCTV image released on December 3, 2014 shows a fully veiled woman, Ala’a Badr Abdullah Al Hashemi, right, walking in a shopping mall in Abu Dhabi. – Photo: AFP/HO/Emirati Police

Emirati woman Ala’a Badr Abdullah Al Hashemi, 31, was sentenced to death on June 29 on terrorism charges

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) executed an Emirati woman on Monday who had been convicted of killing an American kindergarten teacher and trying to bomb an American-Egyptian doctor in militant-inspired attacks, the state news agency WAM reported. Ala’a Badr Abdullah Al Hashemi, 31, had also been found guilty of setting up a social media account to spread militant ideology with the aim of undermining the government, and of giving money to militant organisations for attacks, WAM said. The report did not disclose how Hashemi was executed but

an English daily, quoting security officials, said she was shot by ﬁring squad. Hashemi was sentenced to death on June 29 on terrorism charges for stabbing Romanianborn Ibolya Ryan, a mother of 11-year-old twins, in the toilet of an Abu Dhabi shopping mall on December 14 and for attempting to bomb an AmericanEgyptian doctor. Hashemi placed a makeshift bomb outside the front door of the doctor’s apartment hours after killing Ryan but the device was safely dismantled, according to evidence submitted at the trial. Police said last year that Hashe-

mi had become radicalised over the internet and had not been targeting an American in particular but was looking for a foreigner to kill at random. Attacks on Westerners are rare in the UAE, an oil exporter and tourism hub, but concern has been rising after a spate of hardline actions in other Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The UAE has joined air strikes in Syria against the IS militant group. The UAE is also a strong opponent of other hardline groups including the Muslim Brotherhood. Abu Dhabi-based daily The National said Hashemi had told prosecutors that she committed the crimes because state security agents had taken her husband into custody for questioning over suspected militant connections. She was seeking vengeance for her husband and wanted to create fear, especially for American, British and French expatriates, she said. — Reuters

REGION ANBAR PROVINCE

TRIAL

Iraq attacks IS militants on several fronts BAGHDAD: Iraqi troops and militia forces attacked IS militants on several fronts in the country’s largest province on Monday, saying the battle to drive the hardline insurgents out of Anbar was under way. A spokesman for the joint operations command said the offensive, which began at dawn, brought together the army, Hashid Shaabi militias, special forces, police and local tribal fighters. Military sources in Anbar said they met fierce resistance from the insurgents, who deployed five suicide car bombs and fired rockets to repel their advance on the city of Fallujah, about 50km (30 miles) west of Baghdad. There were also reports of fighting around the provincial capital Ramadi, captured by IS two months ago. Anbar “At 5 o’clock this morning operations to liberate Anbar were launched,” the military spokesman said. IS’s capture of Ramadi two months ago marked the biggest defeat for the Baghdad government since the militants swept through the north of the country last June and declared a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq straddling the border. Until Ramadi’s fall, Iraqi troops and Hashid Shaabi forces, backed by US-led air strikes, had been pushing IS back, recapturing the eastern province of Diyala and former leader Saddam Hussein’s home town of Tikrit, with the ultimate target of retaking the northern city of Mosul. Initial focus Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, angered at the army’s withdrawal from Ramadi in mid-May, initially promised a swift counter-attack. Although Ramadi remains the strategic target, military sources and militia leaders have said the initial focus will be on Fallujah, which was the first city in Iraq to fall under militant control 18 months ago. — Reuters

ENDLESS WAIT: Mary Rezaian, mother of detained Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian and Jason’s wife Yeganeh weeps, after a hearing at a court in Tehran, on Monday. – AP/PTI

Mother hopes jailed Post journalist will be freed on bail TEHRAN: The mother of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, on trial in Iran for espionage, told reporters outside a Tehran court on Monday that she hopes he will be freed on bail. Rezaian, the newspaper’s Tehran Correspondent, was detained in the capital almost one year ago. Rezaian, a dual Iranian-American citizen, is accused of spying for the United States by collecting conﬁdential information, cooperating with hostile governments and disseminating propaganda against Iran. The 39-yearold reporter’s family has said he is being used as a pawn in an internal political power struggle related to the nuclear talks. Not allowed His mother Mary, as at past hearings, was not allowed into the trial’s third session but she was quoted by the ISNA news agency as saying she believed the reporter could be granted bail. She did not know when the trial would resume, according to the brief media report. A judiciary spokesman said a date would be announced later. Rezaian denies the spying accusations. His lawyer, Leila Ah-

san, has said there is “no proof” in the case ﬁle but her past requests for bail have been refused. The journalist’s fate has been shrouded in secrecy since he was arrested along with his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, at home in Tehran on July 22 last year. Salehi was released on bail after two-and-a-half months in custody and she was present alongside Rezaian’s mother outside court on Monday. During the last session of the trial on June 8, the journalist was given his ﬁrst opportunity to defend himself. The US has criticised the trial’s “complete lack of transparency”, and says Tehran should drop the “absurd” spying charges that Rezaian’s brother called “laughable”. However, Iran does not recognise dual nationality and says the case is purely a matter for the Tehran judiciary. Rezaian’s relatives have frequently expressed fears for his health, citing his need for medication to combat high blood pressure. The California-born journalist — his late father was Iranian — is one of four Americans that President Barack Obama has urged Iran to return home. — AFP

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015 No jeweller will refuse to sell just because the customer doesn’t have a PAN card. He will ﬁnd a way to ensure the customer leaves the store with jewellery Bachhraj Bamalwa, Member of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation

INDIA

High food prices stoke June inflation to 5.4% and the upward movement in prices of agricultural items is a “blip”. The inﬂation for fruit and vegetables was 3.51 per cent and 5.37 per cent, respectively, in the month under review. Among others, milk and its products were costlier by 7.18 per cent in June over the same month last year.

Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said that the rise in June retail inﬂation is not ‘signiﬁcant’ and expected it to come down on the back of better monsoon

NEW DELHI: Retail inflation surged to eight month high of 5.4 per cent in June mainly due to costlier food items limiting the room for RBI to cut rates next month. The retail inflation measured on Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 5.01 per cent in May. It was at 6.77 per cent in June last year. The rise in inflation, a key factor considered by the RBI in deciding the bi-monthly monetary policy, comes in the backdrop of slowdown in factory output.

RISING TREND: A watchman stands next to heaps of sacks filled with paddy at a wholesale grain market in Chandigarh. India’s consumer price inflation edged up to 5.40 per cent in June, government data showed on Monday. - Reuters file

The Index of Industrial Index (IIP) in May slowed to 2.7 per cent from 5.6 per cent year ago leading to demands of rate cut from the RBI in its next policy review on August 4. As per the data released by the Statistics Office (CSO) on Monday, prices of pulses rose by 22.24 per cent in June year-on-year. The overall food inﬂation in-

creased to 5.48 per cent in June from 4.8 per cent in the previous month. The retail food inflation was however 7.21 per cent in June 2014. Finance Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi said that the rise in June retail inflation is not “significant” and expected it to come down on the back of better monsoon. He further said the structural inflation remains under control

Protein-rich items CSO data also showed that prices of protein-rich items like meat and ﬁsh rose by 6.99 per cent, while spices turned costlier by 9.71 per cent in the month. Commenting on the data, Economist with ICRA Aditi Nayar said while the hardening in vegetable prices is largely seasonal, the sharp increase in prices of protein items poses a larger concern. Prices of prepared snacks and meals rose by 7.84 per cent, clothing and footwear category by 6.34 per cent, housing by 4.48 per cent and fuel and light by 5.92 per cent. Among other categories, oils and fats prices rose by 3.06 per cent, cereals and products by 1.98 per cent, while that of egg rose by 5.09 per cent in June. The prices of sugar and confectionery items fell by 8.55 per cent in June compared to same month last year. -PTI

DISEASE

Indian-origin boy in UK develops new Alzheimer’s test LONDON: A 15-year-old Indian-origin boy in the UK has developed a potential test for Alzheimer’s which could allow the disease to be diagnosed 10 years before the first symptoms appear and even stop its progression. Krtin Nithiyanandam, of Epsom, Surrey, has developed a ‘trojan horse’ antibody which can penetrate the brain and attach to neurotoxic proteins which are present in the very first stages of the disease. ‘Trojan horse’ antibody The antibodies, which would be injected into the bloodstream are also attached to fluorescent particles which can then be picked up on a brain scan. Krtin submitted his test to the Google Science Fair Prize and learned that he had made it through to the final last week. He will find out next month if he has won a prestigious scholarship and mentoring to take his idea further. Main benefits “The main benefits of my test are that it could be used to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms start to show by focusing

on pathophysiological changes, some of which can occur a decade before symptoms are prevalent,” Krtin told The Daily Telegraph. Neurodegenerative disease like dementia are hard to diagnose and treat because of the blood-brain barrier. Krtin’s antibodies can pass through the barrier. Toxic proteins Lab tests even showed that they ‘handcuff ’ the toxic proteins, stopping them from developing further which could potentially stop Alzhiemer’s in its tracks. “Some of my new preliminary research has suggested that my diagnostic probe could simultaneously have therapeutic potential as well as diagnostic,” said Krtin who attends Sutton Grammar School. Krtin moved to Britain from India with his family when he was a baby. He suffered from hearing problems as a child and wants to study medicine when he leaves school. “I have personally seen what a difference it can make to people’s lives and I want to make a difference to the lives of others,” he said. -PTI

ECONOMY

For Indians, paper gold can’t beat the real thing MUMBAI: India is meeting stiff resistance in its drive to make the buying of gold jewellery more transparent and to channel demand into paper gold to stop the metal being used to hide billions of dollars of undeclared ‘black money’. The jewellery trade says the Narendra Modi government’s plans to trace gold deals is unworkable and won’t deter holders of black money, or hundreds of millions of Indians outside the tax net, from buying gold to keep their wealth away from the prying eyes of the authorities. If the proposals fail, gold inflows will continue unabated in a country that accounts for nearly a fifth of global demand and stymie Modi’s effort to create a new asset class that could lure savers and back investments. To track larger gold deals, this year’s budget declared that, from June 1, customers would have to disclose their tax code, or Permanent Account Number (PAN), for purchases above Rs100,000 ($1,580). But jewellers — many of whom voted for Modi — have protested, delaying the new rule. “No jeweller will refuse to sell just because the customer doesn’t have a PAN card. He will find a way to ensure the customer leaves the store with jewellery,” said Bachhraj Bamalwa of the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation. Black money A Reuters poll of a dozen jewellers and dealers found that black money generates nearly a quarter of annual gold demand that totalled some 900 tonnes that is worth nearly $34 billion at current prices. Two-thirds of gold demand comes from rural areas where jewellery is a traditional store of wealth. Under Modi, India has opened 160 million new bank accounts but half are idle, suggesting old habits die hard. And, in a country of 1.25 billion people, only 140 million have PAN

PROPOSAL: A woman tries on a gold necklace inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai, on Wednesday. India is meeting stiff resistance in its drive to make the buying of gold jewellery more transparent and to channel demand into paper gold to stop the metal being used to hide billions of dollars of undeclared ‘black money’. - Reuters

cards. The finance ministry’s tax department has forwarded the so-called ‘notification’ that would put the PAN card rule into effect to higher authorities, but “no decision has been taken so far”, a senior official said. “The final decision probably needs political approval as it could have wider ramifications,” added the official, who was not authorised to speak on the record. To try and divert some of the estimated 300 tonnes of annual demand for gold bars and coins to paper gold, the government also plans to issue bonds linked to the bullion price. That’s not an attractive option for people who park illicit wealth in physical gold, however. “It is easier to hide unaccounted money in gold compared to other asset classes like property or shares. Such people are unlikely to switch to gold bonds,” says Daman Prakash Rathod, director at Chennai-based wholesaler MNC Bullion. The government has also proposed a gold deposit scheme to mobilise some of the 21,000 tonnes of

gold held by households and temples. Though the formal notiﬁcation to enforce the PAN card rule has yet to be issued, jewellers have already found ways to beat it, by issuing many small invoices or writing informal receipts. Regulation It’s a reminder that ill-conceived regulation can have unintended consequences, as happened after India raised import taxes on gold to 10 per cent in a series of hikes to August 2013. The duty failed to curb demand, but revived smuggling networks which, the World Gold Council estimates, imported 175 tonnes of gold in 2014. The best way to curb gold demand is by reducing black money in circulation; not by restricting gold trading, says a Dubaibased bullion supplier who, like other market players, requested anonymity. “People are not accumulating black money to buy gold,” he said. “It’s the opposite. They want to have black money and gold is providing them cover.” - Reuters

I N C L E M E N T W E AT H E R

9 die in north India due to rains NEW DELHI: Nine more rainrelated deaths were reported from Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir while several rivers in North were ﬂowing in full spate after over four days of unabated rains, even as the skies in most parts of the region cleared on Monday and mercury soared. The national capital was greeted by a sunny day on Monday even as some parts received more rains. Meteorological department

recorded 7.1 mm rain. Rains were witnessed in various areas including Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge and Aya Nagar. Till Saturday, Delhi got 147.8 mm rainfall, the highest this season. The rains had brought down the temperatures signiﬁcantly. In UP, seven persons, including three children, were killed in separate rain-related incidents in the last 24 hours. While four persons died in sep-

arate incidents of house collapse due to rains and lightning in Hardoi, three children drowned after they slipped into a pit ﬁlled with water due to heavy rainfall in Lucknow on Sunday, police said. Major rivers are also rising in the state due to heavy rains. In Jammu and Kashmir , two persons are feared drowned after their vehicle skidded into a ﬂooded river around 55 km from Doda district,a police officer said. - PTI

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INDIA

India, Tajikistan to step up defence cooperation Modi said the two sides also decided to further strengthen the defence cooperation, which he described as a ‘strong pillar of our strategic partnership’

DUSHANBE: India and Tajikistan, both located in the proximity of the “main source of terror”, on Monday pledged to further deepen their cooperation to ﬁght the menace and agreed to step up defence ties besides boosting trade and investment. During the wide-ranging talks between Modi, who was here on the last leg of his eight-day sixnation tour, and Tajik President Emomali Rahamon, the two sides pitched for taking the ties to newer heights in diverse areas. Modi, who ﬂew into the Tajik capital from Kyrgyzstan on Sunday night, was accorded a ceremonial reception before getting into one-on-one and delegation-level talks with Rahamon. “We are located in the proximity of the main source of terrorism,” the prime minister said after the talks at a joint media appearance with Rahamon, in an apparent reference to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Terrorism “At a time of growing threat of terrorism, we have resolved to intensify our cooperation further,” he added. “Combating terrorism and extremism has always been an im-

ON THE SAME PAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon during a meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Monday. - PTI

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portant and productive area of cooperation,” he said. Modi said the two sides also decided to further strengthen the defence cooperation, which he described as a “strong pillar of our strategic partnership”. Turning to Afghanistan where India has strategic interests and with which Tajikistan shares border, the prime minister said the two countries support the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan for a “peaceful, stable, prosperous country”. He said India and Tajikistan have deep interest in shared security and prosperity of the region. The two leaders also discussed ways to enhance connectivity between India and Tajikistan and in this context, they agreed to promote the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor, which

proposes to link Central Asia with South Asia. “Tajikistan is nearest to India among all Central Asian countries. We are separated by a narrow corridor.... Connectivity is vital for realising the full potential of trade and commerce between our countries,” Modi said. He said other connectivity measures in the region will strengthen links and mentioned Chahbahar port of Iran which is being built with Indian investment. The prime minister said they also talked about measures to tap the rich potential in trade and commerce and to encourage joint ventures and investments. Roadmap “The Joint Commission will meet soon to ﬁnalise the roadmap for the future,” he added. He said agriculture is important for both India and Tajikistan and the two countries will cooperate in this sector. He said he also conveyed his appreciation to the Tajik president for his country’s continued sup-

CRIME

Family of six hacked to death in Odisha BHUBANESWAR: An Indian couple and four of their children were hacked to death by a mob of villagers who accused them of practicing witchcraft and making their children sick, police in the eastern state of Odisha said on Monday. The victims were asleep in their mud house in the hamlet of Lahanda in Keonjhar district, when a group of around ﬁve people armed with axes broke in.

The suspects, believed to be relatives of the family, accused the victims of being behind for a spate of frequent illnesses among infants in the village, said police. District Superintendent of Police Kavita Jalan said two surviving children alerted authorities. The police reached the village in the early hours of Monday to ﬁnd the mutilated bodies in pools of blood, an axe abandoned inside

the hut, and a young boy still alive. “The eight-year-old boy was found by police gasping between the dead bodies,” Jalan said, adding that a search was being conducted to ﬁnd the suspects, who had ﬂed the village after the incident. The practice of branding men and women as witches and assaulting or killing them remains common is some parts of rural India. - Reuters

port for India’s candidature for permanent membership of UNSC. Partnership Referring to grant of membership to India last week in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) of which Tajikistan is a member, the prime minister said it add a new dimension to India-Tajikistan partnership. He presented Rahmon a specially-commissioned miniature painting of the tomb of the 17th century Indian poet Abdul Qadir Bedil who is regarded, especially in Tajikistan, as one the greatest masters of Persian poetry. Born in 1644 in Patna, Bedil was inﬂuenced by Suﬁsm and wrote 16 books of poetry. Bedil died in Delhi where his tomb, Bagh-e-Bedil is located. The miniature painting has been done by national award-winning Delhi-based artist Jai Prakash. After the talks, Modi laid a wreath at the Ismaili Somoni Monument, built in the memory of the founder of Tajikistan. -PTI

ADMISSION AND RECRUITMENT SCANDAL

CBI takes over probe in Vyapam scam BHOPAL: The CBI on Monday took over the probe in the Vyapam scam, the massive admission and recruitment scandal, which has rocked Madhya Pradesh and dented the credibility of the state’s BJP government. Getting down to business, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team led by a Joint Director-level officer from the agency’s headquarters in Delhi began preliminary consultations with MP police’s Special Task Force (STF), which hitherto investigated the numerous cases related to the scam. Sources in the premier probe agency said it would make an assessment of the enormity of the scam before launching fresh investigation. The STF was probing the cases under day-to-day monitoring by the MP High Court-appointed Special Investigating Team before CBI was asked to step in following a huge public and political outcry over a number of deaths of people linked to the scam, some of them unexplained. Congress, which led the opposition attack on the state’s BJP government led by three-term Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has claimed 49 people associated with Vyapam in some way have died under mysterious circumstances, though official ﬁgure stands at 25. The 40-member CBI contingent headed by Joint Director R. P. Agarwal held discussions with Sudhir Sahi, head of the STF. The STF under Sahi has been probing the case since August 2013. In November last year, the Madhya Pradesh High Court constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the chairmanship of former High Court judge Chandresh Bhushan to supervise the investigation. CBI Director Anil Sinha, sources said, was himself monitoring the developments in the case with assistance from two

PROTEST: Aam Aadmi Party workers take out a protest rally against Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over Vyapam scam in Bhopal on Saturday. - PTI

Additional Directors R. K. Dutta and Y. C. Modi. Agarwal, a 1986 batch Assam-Meghalya cadre IPS officer, is posted as Joint Director, anti-corruption department, at the CBI Headquarters. A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice H. L. Dattu had on July 9 transferred the probe of all Vyapam cases, including the related deaths, to CBI, which was directed to take over the probe on Monday. Report by July 24 The premier investigative agency has been asked to ﬁle its report to the apex court on July 24 when it is likely to take a call on monitoring the investigation as demanded by some petitioners including Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh. The scam involves professionals, high-proﬁle politicians and bureaucrats with hundreds of people including aspirants and their parents in jail. Former MP Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma and several top bureaucrats are also behind the bars. The role of MP Governor Ram Naresh Yadav has also come under cloud for allegedly favouring some aspirants. The STF had registered an FIR against him but the High Court quashed it citing immunity from criminal prosecution he enjoys in office. - PTI

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PAKISTAN

No talks with India without Kashmir included: Sartaj Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, admitted the meeting between Nawaz and Modi in Russia was not a formal start of dialogue process

ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Monday said Pakistan will only engage in a formal dialogue with India if the Kashmir issue is a part of the dialogue’s agenda. “No formal dialogue between Pakistan and India will take place unless Kashmir is part of the agenda,” Aziz said while addressing a press conference at the Foreign Office in Islamabad GIVING DETAILS: Sartaj Aziz, advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on national security and foreign affairs, gestures as he briefs the on Monday. media in Islamabad on Monday, about the meeting of the premier and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Russia. — AFP Brieﬁng on the recent meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Meanwhile, issues of bilateral best promote our national interSharif and his Indian counter- important purpose to achieve a agreed that the national security part Narendra Modi, the Sharif’s better understanding that both advisers of the two countries will trade also came under discus- est and would allow the governadviser said, “PM Nawaz raised neighbours must reduce tensions ﬁrst meet in New Delhi and then sion which, Aziz said, will now be ment to focus on socioeconomic followed up through different uplift of the people,” the premier’s in Islamabad. concerns on all issues, including and hostility. senior aide added. Further, Aziz said Sharif also channels. India’s alleged interference in the Earlier, Aziz said the PM disThe advisor also reaffirmed Pasought information on the prointernal matters of Pakistan par- Boost relations ticularly its continuing support “The premier’s meeting with gress in the trial of Samjhauta kistan’s commitment to protect cussed China-Pakistan Economic Modi will help boost relations Express. While, regarding the its security and promote the na- Corridor (CPEC) with the Chifor insurgency in Balochistan.” nese president while improving Aziz admitted the meeting while reducing tensions between Mumbai trial Sharif conveyed tional interest. “The peaceful neighbourhood of bilateral relations with Rusto Modi that more evidence and between Nawaz and Modi in the two countries,” he added. The PM’s senior aide said, dur- information were needed to expe- is the centrepiece of PM’s foreign sia came under discussion with Russia was not a formal start of policy vision because it would Vladimir Putin. - Express Tribune dialogue process but it served an ing the meeting both the leaders dite the trial. MARRIAGE CLAIMS

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MONEY LAUNDERING CASE

Ayaan’s remand extended once again RAWALPINDI: A banking court on Monday extended model Ayaan Ali’s judicial remand in the money laundering case till July 27. This was the 16th time the model was sent on judicial remand since her arrest from Benazir Bhutto International Airport with $500,000 on May 14, 2015. The model was presented before Banking Court Judge Sabir Sultan since the Customs Court Judge Rana Aftab Ahmed Khan has gone on leave. Customs prosecutor Muhammad Amin Feroz requested the court to formally charge the suspect with the crime. The judge, however, said he was a duty judge and charge-sheet against the money-laundering suspect could only be presented in the Customs court. Ali’s counsel Nasir Abbas requested the court to extend the model’s judicial remand till August 3, when the Customs judge is scheduled to return to work. The judge said the judicial remand could not be extended for more than 14 days and thus ﬁxed July 27 as the next hearing. Officials have reportedly charged the model with currency smuggling. The defence team is expected to plead not guilty and will likely produce private witnesses in the case. Hearing into Customs Intelligence’s plea for registering a new money-laundering case against the suspect has also been adjourned till August 3. After the hearing, she told Daily Express that she wanted to host an Iftar for all of the inmates in Adiala Jail but was not allowed by the jail authorities. About the reports linking her to politicians, she said: “I am a professional model and have no relationship with any political personality.” — Express Tribune

SPECIALITY HANDICRAFTS

‘Rumours intended Baloch chappals leave a popular trail to create rift between Zardari and Bilawal’ ISLAMABAD: Dispelling rumours of her marriage with former president Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) USA chapter president Tanveer Zamani said the rumours were being spread to create a rift in the Zardari family. “I was married to Tahsin Javed Siddiqui and rumours of my marriage with Zardari are being spread to make Bilawal quarrel with his father,” Zamani said, while addressing the media. “My relationship with Zardari is only that of a leader and a brother.” Crticising the statements made by PPP leaders against her, Zamani furiously stated, “I sacriﬁced my name to maintain the leader’s credibility as these rumours would have resulted in the party chairman’s resignation from his post.” She alleged that instead of appreciating her efforts the party’s leaders slandered her and accused her of spreading rumours of her marriage with the former president.

Tanveer Zamani

Earlier, PPP rejected rumours of former president Zardari’s marriage to Zamani. Blaming the media for spreading the rumours, party spokesperson Farhatullah Babar had said, “A totally wrong impression is also sought to be created in the media interviews that former president Asif Ali Zardari has married this woman.” Further, Babar alleged Zamani was ‘deliberately’ aiding the rumours. “She has avoided answers to pointed questions and has spoken with a double tongue,” he added. — Express Tribune

QUETTA: Few areas or tribes in Balochistan do not have a namesake in the footwear industry. Be it the powerful Bugti or Marri clans or the ancient regions of Jhalawan or Sarawan, all have a Baloch chappal (sandal) named after them. With hundreds of different cuts and designs, the traditional handmade sandals have been representative of the Baloch culture for centuries. And amidst all the violence in the insurgency-hit province, the art of crafting the famous Baloch chappal is still thriving. As Eid draws nearer, customers are once again ﬂocking to the markets to lay their hands on the latest designs on offer by different shoemakers. One of them, 47-year-old Abdul Nabi, has been making such sandals for 35 years in Quetta. “Once a person wears a Baloch chappal, he will forget about all other shoes,” says a man who claims to have created more than 200 designs.

Trendier fashions Traditionally made with pure leather, the shoemakers have recently given way to trendier fashions of using artiﬁcial leather and suede (locally called sabir). Apart from their splendid cuts, perhaps the most striking feature of the Ba-

TRADITIONAL SKILL: Shoemakers put the ﬁnishing touches to their work in a Quetta shop. — Express Tribune

loch sandals is their soles, which are cut out of used tyres. “The leather and sabir is imported from Lahore while tyres are available in the local market,” Nabi says. Only two pairs of sandals can be made in a day that shows the amount of labour the process requires. Depending on the design and the cut, the sandals can be priced anywhere between Rs1,500 and

Rs5,000. The Sarawan, Jhalawan, Marri, Bugti and Mengal cuts are among the most soughtafter designs. While Balochistan is known for its resources, tribes and vast barren lands, Baloch sandals are a vital part of the province’s culture. The demand for the sandals skyrockets during the Eid season. “People from different cities come to Quetta for buying the Ba-

loch chappal,” shoemaker Nabi said. “This keeps our culture and traditions alive.” Mohammad Saleem Baloch, a rickshaw driver, says he buys the traditional sandals for himself and his children every Eid. Talking to The Express Tribune while on the lookout for the best sandal at a shop, he said his children always demanded these sandals for Eid and were excited to wear it. “Our Eid is incomplete without wearing the Baloch chappal,” he said. “We buy it whether it is cheap or expensive. It represents our culture and tradition.” The sandals are not exclusive for men. The ones made for women are known as “Sawas” in the Balochi language. They are made of leather sewn together with threads of different colours. These sandals are also an essential part of the Baloch women’s cultural dresses. However, most of the footwear is crafted at homes. One of such experts is 24-yearold Zargull Bibi. A resident of the Brewery Road in Quetta, the young woman has been making the Sawas sandals for almost eight years now. She had to abandon her studies after high school to support her family. — Express Tribune

TRIALS FOR TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS

Pakistani woman to debut in English football with Almira KARACHI: Almira Rafeeque will be looking to become the first Pakistan female footballer to make her debut in the English Premier League when she takes part in the trials for Tottenham Hotspurs on Tuesday. The 20-year-old old UK-based athlete represented Pakistan for the first time at the South Asian Football Women’s Championship last year, and has won the national women’s championship twice; first with Young Rising Stars in 2013 and then with Balochistan United FC the following year. Almira, who is still surprised, is thankful to Shehneela Ahmed — the first Asian women to become an Football Association-approved agent — for this opportunity and the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

“I’m still surprised this opportunity has come my way,” Almira said. “It’s been a life-long dream of mine to become a professional footballer and I’m grateful to the PFF for putting faith in me after I represented the national team, and for getting me in touch with Shehneela.” The midﬁelder, who was born in the UK, said she had returned to her home country in 2008 and started playing in Islamabad with Young Rising Stars FC the same year. She later returned to the UK for higher education but once again made her return to the footballing circuit with the same club back home in 2013. “For now I’m in Luton Town and I’ve been playing with Luton Town FC for the past two weeks,” said Almira, who returned

to the UK after the South Asian Football Federation Championship. Meanwhile, Shahneela said she believes the youngster can be a role model for many Pakistani girls back home and in other parts of the world, while adding that she was hopeful of Almira’s tryouts with Spurs. “I’ll be working with Almira and other female footballers as they need proper guidance. I’ll do what I can to help them,” said Shehneela. On the other hand, PFF official Fahad Khan said that Almira’s tryouts are just the beginning for women’s football in the country. “England is a good base to pursue a professional footballing career, and we just want our players to have this opportunity to progress,” said Fahad. — Express Tribune

STAR: Almira Rafeeque, player with the ball, represented Pakistan for the ﬁrst time at the South Asian Football Women’s Championship in November last year. - Express Tribune

Almira, who is still surprised, is thankful to Shehneela Ahmed — the first Asian woman to become an Football Association-approved agent — for this opportunity and the Pakistan Football Federation

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Rise of China shapes a new Asian order

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INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN Greece’s relationship with the euro area has been a ﬁnancial soap opera for months, and the drama is unlikely to end anytime soon. Concerns about German dominance of Europe are now more salient than they have been at any time in the past 70 years bit.ly/economiccrisespolitics

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hina’s economic rise has rattled the world’s nerves. It has also made the large Asian powers anxious about the changes in the world order that Beijing seems to be orchestrating. To understand where China has come from and where it may be going, we need to look not only at its economic performance, but also need to understand its developing political model. The Chinese economy has grown rapidly since the late 1970s, when it opened to the outside world. The economy in 2015 is 32 times larger than its size in 1979, when, after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong three years earlier, Beijing began to move away from communism with Chinese characteristics to a system that allowed more space to private entrepreneurs and private enterprise. “It is glorious to be rich,” declared Deng Xiaoping, who succeeded Mao as the great supreme leader of the Communist Party and the Chinese state. The new leader not only introduced a new style of economic governance. He also put in place a new system of political management. This had two important features: The unchallenged dominance of the party along with a systematic renewal of the party leadership every 10 years. Deng withdrew from leadership allowing the first of three sets of leaders to succeed him. He reappeared briefly to guide the country back to what he regarded as normalcy. He strongly believed that the trauma of Tiananmen Square had to be dealt with firm resolve. In 1993, Jiang Zemin was given the reins of power and he governed the country along with prime Minister Zhu Rongji. In 2003, president Hu Jintao and prime Minister Wen Jiabao succeeded the Jiang-Zhu leadership duo. The pair gave way in 2013 to the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang. Each set of leaders left its mark on the Chinese economy, its politics and its place in the world. Xi took over the reins of government when, according to one way of estimating the size of national income, China was declared to be the world’s largest economy. In October 2014, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) used the purchasing power parity method to calculate the size of large economies. According to its arithmetic, China overtook the US and became the world’s largest economy some time in 2014. China moved into the first position at a difficult time for the established economies in the West. Buffeted by the Great Recession of 2008-09 and by political developments in the Middle East, both the

US and Europe seemed to have weakened not only in economic terms. They had also lost the sense of direction they were taking in the rapidly reshaping global order. That notwithstanding, Washington — both executive and legislative branches of the government — developed strategies aimed at containing China. A number of approaches were developed with Beijing responding to each one of them in its own way. The Obama Administration wanted to increase China’s share in the IMF ‘quotas’ and the share capital of the World Bank. But that required the authorisation of Congress, which was not forthcoming. Beijing responded by establishing its own development bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The Obama Administration worked hard to persuade its European and Asian allies not to seek membership in the AIIB. Instead, most European and Asian states rushed in and became members of the new institution. The Obama Administration also worked to get 11 Pacific Rim states to join it in a trade agreement that would focus on the regulatory aspect of international trade. China was kept out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It reacted by setting up its own regional trade arrangement. Perhaps, the most troubling aspect of this titfor-tat approach to the creation of a new Asian political order is in the military area. The Chinese have concluded an agreement with Pakistan that will give it access to the deep-water port of Gwadar on the Balochistan coast. This will provide the Chinese Navy with access to a port on the western side of the Asian continent. Watching this development with some anxiety, three large Asian powers responded by moving towards a trilateral arrangement. Senior officials representing Australia, India and Japan met in New Delhi in June to explore how they could work together. In the words of Akitaka Saiki, vice foreign minister of Japan, “the three nations are on the same page with respect to China’s aggressive behaviour”. According to an assessment by David Lang, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, “that the three countries have now reconvened security-focused discussions (with potential spin-off naval activities) speak not only to a shared understanding of China’s rise and the challenges of regional security, but also to their willingness to play a greater role in Asia-Pacific security matters”. China’s economic rise and the fact that it is now led by an assertive leadership have led to the reenactment of the Cold War, Asia-style. This is unfortunate. — Express Tribune

READERS’ FORUM Expatriates should be considered as partners This refers to the online story Decision on second-hand vehicle import leaves expats wondering in Oman (July 13). In my opinion, the ban is very wrong in terms of economics. The government should have imposed stricter inspections and charged fees to generate revenues. Every policy created should consider the expatriates as partners in the economic development of the country. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case right now. Moreover, the public needs to know the reasons behind the ban. — Ammar Al Balushi , London, UK

The decline in wealth that Generation Xers have experienced, relative to their parents, has been more severe for high earners than for low earners. This is because high earners are likely to have a much higher student debt (and to delay their careers longer) bit.ly/generationxsaveless

Malala, a future visionary

Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by mail (Times of Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi).

This refers to the news story Malala celebrates birthday by opening schools for refugees (July 13). This young woman is indeed a role model for youngsters around the world. Many people in her home country, Pakistan, claim she is part of a Western agenda. I cannot believe such a conspiracy theory. For me her courage and exuberance to bring change for millions of girls facing tough times are truly features of a future visionary. — Jamila Safdar, Muscat

Why should one research what is there on Pluto This refers to the news story NASA craft discovers heart shape on Pluto rusty red surface (July 12). This news made me think of the Russian project to mine minerals from the moon. That project does seem economically worthwhile to me as the collected items can be used on earth. How can studying what is there on Pluto make any difference to us? What relevance does it have to human development? — Reshma Khanum, Ruwi

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The governorate of Muscat is the country’s political, economic and administrative centre, and it is the capital and headquarters of the government. It has an outstanding and increasing economic and commercial activity- locally and internationally. Many of the ministries, government establishment, commercial centres, banks, hotels, hospitals, Sultan Qaboos University, cultural and sport centres and clubs are located in the governorate.

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Two months into becoming a father of two after the birth of Princess Charlotte, Prince William began his ﬁrst shift with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, a charity providing emergency helicopter cover across eastern England.

Tunisia ‘wipes out’ militant group linked with Al Qaeda after attacks among the most active of hardline groups that emerged after Tunisia’s 2011 protests ousted former leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Tunisian forces have destroyed 90% of the

Najem Gharselli.

Arrested The minister said 15 people had so far been arrested in connection with the Sousse attack, and security forces had broken up other sleeper cells planning other assaults. “We have taken the security measures to better protect tourists and Tunisians, including the deployment of 100,000 police across the country,” he said. Three leaders of an Al Qaeda-linked group were killed in a raid by security forces last week, he said.

TUNIS: Tunisia’s interior minister said security forces had almost wiped out a militant group linked to Al Qaeda during a crackdown launched after two deadly attacks on tourists. Clashes last week killed leaders, including two veteran Algerian militants, from the Okba Ibn Nafaa brigade, blamed for an assault on the Bardo Museum in Tunis in March, Interior Minister Najem Gharselli told reporters

Operation “The operation carried out on Friday by our security forces in cooperation with the army in the region of Gafsa resulted in the elimination of ﬁve dangerous terrorists, including three senior leaders” of the Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigades, Gharsalli said. The three were named as Tunisian nationals Mourad Gharsalli and Hakim Hazi, and Algerian national Lounis Abou Fath. The other two people killed have not yet been identiﬁed.

hardliners’ brigade as 100,000 police personnel have been deployed to protect visitors and tourists, says Interior Minister

TOUGH ON TERROR: Tunisian Interior Minister Najem Gharsalli speaks during a press conference on Sunday in Tunis. Three leaders of an Al Qaeda-linked militant group that has been blamed for a spate of violence in Tunisia were killed in a raid by security forces last week, the country’s interior minister said. – AFP

late on Sunday. The North African country has come under growing international pressure to show it is in control of militants after a gunman also killed 38 holiday-

makers at a beach hotel in Sousse last month, an attack claimed by the IS militant group. “After we killed some of their leaders in (the central region of )

Gafsa a few days ago we have now destroyed 90 per cent of Okba Ibn Nafaa,” the minister said. Okba Ibn Nafaa, allied with Al Qaeda’s north African wing, was

INDECENCY CHARGES

Moroccan women acquitted after outcry RABAT: A Moroccan court acquitted two women who faced charges of “gross indecency” for wearing dresses in public, their lawyer said on Monday, after their case sparked a national outcry. “This is a victory not only for these two women but for all members of civil society who mobilised,” said defence attorney Houcine Bekkar Sbai. Fouzia Assouli, head of the LDDF women’s rights organisation, conﬁrmed the acquittals handed down by a court in the southern city of Agadir. “This acquittal is positive and shows that wearing this type of clothing (a dress) is not a crime,” Assouli told AFP. The women, hairdressers aged 23 and 29, were arrested on June 16 as they strolled through the

code states that anyone found guilty of committing an act of “public obscenity” such as “gross indecency” can be jailed for between a month and two years.

UP IN ARMS: Moroccans shout slogans and hold placards during a demonstration in Rabat on July 6, in protest against the arrest of two Moroccan women. – AFP

open-air market in Inezgane, a suburb of Agadir, on their way to work. Merchants accused them of wearing ﬂimsy and “immoral” clothes, surrounded and heckled them, media reported at the time.

Police intervened to wrest them away from the angry crowd but then drove them to a police station where they were charged with gross indecency. Article 483 of Morocco’s penal

NEW JOB

Prince William takes off as air ambulance pilot LONDON: Prince William started his new job as an air ambulance pilot on Monday and was swiftly in the air on an emergency mission. The Duke of Cambridge, 33, second in line to the throne, said he hoped he could juggle fatherhood, royal duties and his new role in the skies. “It’s my first day and I’m feeling the nerves,” he said at a drizzlesoaked Cambridge Airport. “I’m really looking forward to getting started.” Two months into becoming a father of two after the birth of Princess Charlotte, William began his first shift with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), a charity providing emergency helicopter cover across eastern England. William, who spent three years as a military search and rescue helicopter pilot, has gone through months of exams and training to convert to his new civilian role. Two hours after clocking in for duty, the prince and his crewmates were dispatched on his first emergency call-out. “Doing a job like this really helps me to be grounded and that’s the core of what I’m trying to become,” he said. Good guy “I’m trying to be a good guy, to do what I can and trying to be a decent individual.” He suggested there was no reason why he could not carry on flying helicopters until he becomes king. “There’s nothing to say I couldn’t do it for the rest of my life,” the duke said. “Inevitably down the line, things will probably become a little bit more difficult for me to do

NEW HORIZONS: Britain’s Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge poses by an air ambulance he begins his new job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance at Cambridge Airport on Monday. – AFP

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that. At the moment I’m juggling it and enjoying it. “While I’m still relatively young, I will manage the two jobs the best I can.” The prince will work four days on, four days off. William, his wife Kate and their young children Prince George and Charlotte split their time between their Kensington Palace apartment in London and Anmer Hall, a country mansion on Queen Elizabeth II’s private Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England. Cambridge lies between the two. George, third in line to the

throne, turns two on July 22, while Charlotte was born on May 2 this year. She was christened on July 5. Asked about the birth of Charlotte, he said: “It’s been fantastic, she’s been a little joy of heaven. Responsibility “At the same time it is more responsibility looking after two little ones, especially when George is around -- he’s a little monkey.” But he added: “It’s no more difﬁcult than what everyone else has to do.” Employed by Bond Air Services helicopter operators, he is donating his £40,000 ($62,000, 56,000euro) salary in full to charity. Road traffic crashes make up the majority of the air ambulance’s call-outs but they also have to respond to sporting injuries and other accidents. — AFP

Outcry Their case sparked an outcry in Morocco, where supporters of the two women held rallies denouncing their arrest and demanding their release, requests echoed in a petition that circulated online. Hundreds of lawyers also offered to defend them while rights organisations kept a close tab on the proceedings. Assouli said that Monday’s verdict should prompt lawmakers to revise Article 483 of the penal code and adopt a law criminalising violence against women. — AFP

A Tunisian government spokesman had previously announced Mourad Gharsalli’s death on Saturday. Abou Fath had been wanted by Algerian authorities since 1994, the minister said. Ties between the groups are often fluid and analysts say younger fighters may be increasingly drawn to IS’ gains in Iraq, Syria and neighbouring Libya. Authorities say more than 3,000 Tunisians have left the country to fight for IS and other militant groups on other battle fields. But the minister said the organisation still had no significant presence in Tunisia. “There are no IS state groups with any structure in Tunisia, but that doesn’t mean there are not some members who have allegiances with IS,” he said. IS have claimed both the Bardo and the Sousse beach resort attacks, though the government blames Okba and remnants of another local group, Ansar Al Sharia, operating across the border in Libya. Britain, which lost 30 nationals in the Sousse attack, told its tourists to leave the country last week, saying another attack was highly likely and more work was needed to protect tourists. — Agencies

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Iran deal elusive; negotiators struggle to overcome hitches

SHAKE-UP

King Salman bin Abdulaziz

Tweet conﬁrming deal deleted from Rouhani’s official account

Asked if the talks would continue for an 18th day on Tuesday, a source close to Iranian negotiators said that it would ‘depend on our work tonight’

VIENNA: Iran and major powers looked set on Monday for another late night of talks on a nuclear deal to end a 13-year standoff, as they struggled to overcome the stubborn remaining obstacles. “The work is not yet ﬁnished. We are working without respite,” a source close to Iranian negotiators said. Asked if the talks would continue for an 18th day on Tuesday, he said: “This depends on our work tonight.” Another Iranian source said the chances of a deal on Monday were “low”. Over the weekend hopes had been raised that the end might be ﬁnally in sight and that ministers from Iran and the six powers might be able to nail down the agreement on Monday. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, joining his counterparts at the Palais Coburg hotel in Vienna where the talks were being held, told reporters that there should be “no more delays”. No deal could be “perfect” but “conditions are already in place for a good agreement”, Wang said through an interpreter, before going into talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and other ministers. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said he be-

HOPEFUL: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif waves from a balcony of the Palais Coburg Hotel where the Iran nuclear talks meetings are being held in Vienna, Austria on Monday. — AFP

lieved there should be no further extension to the talks -- but added that he would negotiate as long as needed. “I always believe there shouldn’t be any extension but we could work as long as necessary to ﬁnish this,” Zarif said as he met Wang. Also present were Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany -- Philip Hammond, Laurent Fabius and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The P5+1 group -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- want Iran to scale down its atomic activities in order to make any drive to make the atomic bomb all but impossible. Lasting accord The current diplomatic effort began when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013. In November that year an interim deal was agreed but two deadlines in 2014 for a lasting accord were missed. Then in April, the parties scored a major breakthrough by agreeing the main outlines of an accord,

aiming to ﬁnalise it by June 30, a deadline since pushed back twice. The terms of the November 2013 interim deal under which Iran froze certain nuclear activities in return for minor sanctions relief were due to expire on Monday night, although they have been extended before. Much of the technical work in what will be a highly complex accord is done, but the talks have stumbled on the exact timing of sanctions relief and Iran’s desire to have a UN conventional arms embargo lifted. Earlier Monday Iranian diplomat Alireza Miryouseﬁ said on Twitter that “political will” was still needed. An Iranian source said “some important issues” remained to be resolved. If a deal can be sewn up, the prospect of a thawing of US-Iranian relations unsettles many in the Middle East, however. Many in the United States, particularly among US President Barack Obama’s Republican opponents, agree that the mooted deal is too weak. — AFP

TEHRAN: A tweet from Iran President Hassan Rouhani’s official account was deleted on Monday just moments after he indicated a deal on the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme had been reached. “#IranDeal is the victory of diplomacy & mutual respect over the outdated paradigm of exclusion & coercion. And this is a good beginning,” the message said. Having sought to end the nuclear crisis -- and with it the international sanctions that have paralysed Iran’s economy -- Rouhani’s fate is often seen as inextricably linked to the negotiations. With officials in Vienna saying the chances of an accord being agreed on Monday were slim, the tweet swiftly disappeared from Rouhani’s Twitter feed. The president’s sole English-language Twitter account -- a parallel one in Persian was also deleted -- is thought to be run by his media department. He later sent a new tweet which was more muted. “If #IranDeal, victory of diplomacy and mutual respect over outdated paradigm of exclusion and coercion. And this will be good beginning,” it said. Rouhani had been expected to address the nation on state television late Monday amid reports that a deal with world powers was close, but

Hassan Rouhani

those plans appear to have been postponed. The official IRNA news agency said Rouhani would speak when the nuclear talks have concluded, but it did not give a time. There had been optimism a deal would be clinched over the weekend, but positive statements have been followed by talk of unresolved issues between the two sides. Rouhani late Sunday raised expectations that an agreement to end the 13-year dispute about Iran’s nuclear programme was at hand. “We have come a long way. We need to reach a peak and we’re very close,” Rouhani said, quoted by the ISNA news agency on what was the 16th day of the Vienna talks. “We are so close that if you look down from below you feel as if we have got there, but when you do get there you know there are still some steps to take.” — AFP

Saudi King reshuffles cabinet RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia on Monday named a new housing minister and replaced the head of the royal court in his latest government shuffle. A decree named Minister of State Khalid bin Abdulrahman Al Issa to replace Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Suwailem as head of the royal court. Suwailem had held the post since late April when he took over from Salman’s son Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of a major shake-up which saw the king’s son named deputy crown prince and second in line to the throne. Mohammed bin Salman is also defence minister and holds other positions. The king at that time also named Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef as crown prince. A day later, King Salman further streamlined administration by merging the royal court with the crown prince’s court, based on a suggestion by Mohammed bin Nayef, official media said at the time. A separate royal decree on Monday named Majid bin Abdullah bin Hamad Al Hugail as housing minister. The decree described Hugail as a professor. The kingdom is building hundreds of thousands of homes for its citizens in an effort to address a severe shortage. Another royal decree named Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah bin Musaid bin Jalwi Al Saud as governor of the Northern Frontier Province which borders Iraq to replace the previous governor who died this month. — AFP

P R E S S U R E M O U N T S O N E M B AT T L E D V I C T O R P O N TA

Romanian PM charged with fraud, tax evasion BUCHAREST: Romanian prosecutors on Monday charged Prime Minister Victor Ponta as part of a corruption probe, piling more pressure on the embattled politician to resign. Ponta became the highestranking official to be swept up in a major drive by the DNA anti-corruption agency, which has seen dozens of former politicians and judges convicted over the past several years in one of Europe’s poorest and graft-plagued countries. Ponta was charged with fraud, tax evasion and money laundering dating back to 20072011, before he became prime minister in 2012, the DNA said on Monday, adding that some of his assets have been frozen pending the outcome of the case. The announcement came shortly after the 42-year-old hobbled on crutches through a crowd of reporters into the DNA headquarters to face prosecutors over the graft probe that was opened against him in June. Sources said he had refused to answer prosecutors’ questions. Resignation calls The investigation had sparked calls for Ponta to resign, but he has refused to do so, ﬁrmly denying the allegations and promising to cooperate with the probe. After returning to work on

ANTI-CORRUPTION PROBE: Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, centre, arrives at the National Anti-Corruption Department headquarters in Bucharest on Monday. - AFP

Thursday following a monthlong stay in Turkey for a knee operation, Ponta said on Sunday he was stepping down as head of the Social Democrat party while he fought the corruption allegations. Prosecutors also suspect Ponta of conﬂict of interest during his time as premier. But that probe was stymied when parliament, where Ponta’s party has a comfortable majority, refused last month to lift his immunity from prosecution. The centre-left prime minister’s legal troubles prompted a fresh crisis in the European

Union’s second poorest nation, where Ponta’s rival, President Klaus Iohannis, and the opposition has called on him to step down. The money laundering and tax evasion allegations relate to his activities as a lawyer. Ponta is accused of receiving the equivalent of around $61,000 (55,000 euros) from Dan Sova, a political ally and member of parliament suspected by prosecutors of abuse of power but who also enjoys immunity. It is the latest in a string of enquiries by the DNA, an anti-corruption agency within Romania’s prosecutor’s office. — AFP

CRIME

France hunts for armed robbers VILLENEUVE-LAGARENNE (FRANCE): French police on Monday were hunting armed robbers who escaped after holding up a store in a shopping mall near Paris, prompting special forces to intervene and seal off the area. The three men -- one of whom was thought to be an employee of the shop -- burst into the Primark store in Villeneuve-la-Garenne early Monday, said a police

source. An employee ﬁrst alerted her boyfriend to the hold-up at around 7:00 am (0500 GMT) when she sent him a text message saying they had been taken hostage by two armed men, another source said. The area around the Qwartz mall was shut down, all trafﬁc stopped and other stores in the vicinity closed up as special forces rushed to the scene. The mall was promptly evacuated but

according to police, 18 employees had remained inside -- some were told to stay put by the gunmen and others had managed to hide on their own. They “were evacuated around 10:30am, one of them was unwell but no-one was injured,” police said. But while security forces initially thought the gunmen were still inside the mall, they realised after searching the premises that the men had escaped. — AFP

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We don’t need the truce of (UN envoy) Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. We want an end to the siege so that aid enters the city by land and sea Mohammed Mossaed, local activist, Aden

Yemen war continues despite truce The coalition air raids targeted positions of the Houthi rebels and their allies in Aden and Lahj provinces

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ARTICLE, PHOTOS ADEN: Saudi-led warplanes bombed Yemeni rebels who clashed with pro-government ﬁghters in the south despite a UNdeclared truce aimed at delivering desperately needed aid, military sources said. The coalition air raids targeted positions of the Houthi rebels and their allies, forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, in Aden and Lahj provinces. Air strikes in support of forces loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi went on despite a six-day humanitarian truce which technically took effect just before midnight Friday. Brushed aside The coalition brushed aside the ceaseﬁre, saying it did not receive a request from Hadi’s government to halt attacks, while the leader of the Houthi rebels said he did not expect the truce to take hold.

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

COMPLETELY DESTROYED: People search for survivors at the site of a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Monday. – Reuters

Air strikes hit rebel positions on the outskirts of the port city of Aden as well as a convoy in the city’s neighbourhood of Khor Maksar, a military source said. Clashes intensiﬁed Sunday in Aden, where rebels have laid siege to many areas that are controlled by southern ﬁghters loyal to Hadi and known as the Popular Resist-

ance. The southern fighters managed to push back the rebels in the coastal Ras Amran area, west of Aden, according to General Fadhel Hasan, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance. The fighting left 17 gunmen dead, including 11 rebels, according to Hasan, who said the southern fighters have “received

sophisticated weapons from the coalition”. Three air raids struck Al Anad air base which is controlled by rebel forces in Lahj, north of Aden, another military source said. Meanwhile, six rebels were killed in a roadside bomb in Lahj, an official said. The United Nations has de-

clared Yemen a level-3 humanitarian emergency, the highest on its scale, with nearly half the country facing a food crisis. More than 21.1 million people -- over 80 per cent of Yemen’s population -- need aid, with 13 million facing food shortages, while access to water has become difficult for 9.4 million people. The UN says the conﬂict has killed more than 3,200 people, about half of them civilians, since late March. After the rebels overran Sanaa unopposed in September, they went on to seize control of several regions, and advanced on Aden where Hadi had taken refuge after escaping house arrest. Frustrated by the UN’s failure to deliver desperately needed aid, residents of Aden have started to

vent their anger at the world body and at rebels besieging their city. Houthi rebels aided by troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh have for months besieged several areas of the port city of Aden held by ﬁghters loyal to Hadi. “Aden is on the verge of famine,” said local activist Mohammed Mossaed. “We don’t need the truce of (UN envoy) Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. We want an end to the siege so that aid enters the city by land and sea,” he said, in a bitter tone. Ships carrying aid from UN relief agencies waiting off Aden have not been able to dock because of security risks. The rebels have also prevented a convoy carrying aid from Hodeida port from entering Aden, local activist Adnan Al Kaf said. “Frankly, there has not be a fundamental change on the ground that would allow aid disembarkment in Aden,” said Abeer Etefa, a spokeswoman of the UN’s World Food Programme. Three aid-loaded ships continue to wait off Aden, she said on Monday. — AFP

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23 Russian soldiers killed as military barracks collapse The latest tragedy represents a major blow to President Vladimir Putin who has made reviving the army after years of post-Soviet neglect a cornerstone of his policies

MOSCOW: Twenty-three Russian soldiers were crushed to death after their military barracks collapsed in Siberia, the latest disaster to hit a country known for shoddy construction work and lax safety standards. An entire section of military barracks, including parts of the roof and walls, collapsed on Sunday just outside the Siberian city of Omsk as paratroopers were resting, the defence ministry said.

DISASTER: A general view of a military barracks with a collapsed

briefed by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, who has been tasked with providing all necessary assistance to the victims, the Kremlin added. In footage shown on Russian television, soldiers formed a human chain to pass bricks and other debris from one to another as they cleared the mountain of rubble from the collapse. “Half of the heap has been cleared now,” acting commander of Russian paratroopers Nikolai Ignatov said in televised remarks. Nearly 350 rescue workers and search dogs have been dispatched to the scene, along with military prosecutors.

wall in Omsk, Russia, on Monday. - Reuters

“As a result of the collapse, more than 40 servicemen were injured,” Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said on Monday. “Twenty three conscripts died, the others were hospitalised with various injuries.” Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said 19 servicemen had been hospitalised. The barracks — built in 1975 and renovated in 2013 — belong to the 242nd training centre that

prepares junior officers and armoured infantry vehicle drivers, among others. President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the incident, which occurred in the village of Svetly just outside Omsk, some 2,200 kilometres east of Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman said. “The president expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the accident at the Omsk training centre,” the Kremlin said. Putin was regularly being

Rescue work “Rescue works lasted through the night,” a spokeswoman for the governor of the Omsk region told AFP. “The governor was there all night.” The ﬁrst 10 injured men have been airlifted to top hospitals in Moscow, the defence ministry said. “Another specially equipped plane of the Defence Ministry with seven servicemen of the Airborne Forces’ training centre will ﬂy out to Moscow in the coming hours,” the ministry said. About 50 relatives of the injured

or dead soldiers have already arrived in Omsk. Authorities tied the collapse of the barracks to negligence on the part of construction workers. Probe ordered The Investigative Committee, which reports directly to Putin, opened a probe into negligence, violation of safety rules and abuse of power, adding that those found guilty would face up to 10 years in prison. Markin, the committee’s spokesman, said investigators were probing several explanations for the tragedy, including possible violations during renovations in 2013. Building collapses and other infrastructure accidents are fairly frequent in Russia, especially outside Moscow and Saint Petersburg, where the enforcement of safety regulations is lax and corruption rampant. On Saturday a section of a residential building collapsed in the Urals city of Perm, killing two. The latest tragedy represents a major blow to Putin who has made reviving the army after years of post-Soviet neglect a cornerstone of his policies. The barracks has become the “paratroopers’ mass grave,” broadsheet daily Kommersant said. -AFP

L I B YA

Five elderly men among seven killed in Benghazi BENGHAZI: Two loyalist soldiers were killed on Monday in clashes with armed groups in Libya’s restive city of Benghazi, a pro-government news agency said, a day after five elderly men died in shelling. LANA news agency close to the internationally recognised government said the soldiers died during fighting in the Bouatni district of southeastern Benghazi. It gave no further details. Benghazi has been reeling from more than a year of near-daily clashes between pro-government forces and armed groups, including hardliners, battling for control of the eastern city. Indiscriminate shelling On Sunday, shells struck a residential neighbourhood killing at least five elderly men and wounding 17 people, Al Jalaa hospital said on its Facebook page. It said the victims who died in “indiscriminate shelling of Beirut street” in central Benghazi were four men in their 70s and one aged 65. Almost 1,800 people have been killed in the violence that has gripped in Benghazi since early 2014, according to the Libya Body Count watchdog. - AFP

INSURGENCY

Toll from suicide attack on Afghan base rises to 33 KHOST (Afghanistan): The death toll from a suicide attack at a military base in eastern Afghanistan rose to 33 on Monday, as casualties from the Taliban’s insurgency continue to mount despite nascent peace talks. Also on Monday, IS militant group released an audio tape it said was of the movement’s leader for Afghanistan, raising doubts over whether he was killed in a US drone strike on Friday. The Sunday evening bombing came at a military roadblock near Camp Chapman in Khost province, where both Afghan and foreign troops are stationed, shortly before Iftar. Mubarez Zadran, a spokesman for the provincial governor, and a senior police official conﬁrmed the new toll, which included 27 civilians and six Afghan security personnel — up from 18 reported killed earlier. “Twelve children and three women are among the dead,” said Zadran. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but

the Taliban -- who last week held their first face-to-face peace talks with the Afghan government -have often targeted Afghan and foreign troops. At least 12 civilians were also killed in twin roadside bomb blasts over the weekend, officials said, blaming the attacks on the Taliban. Countrywide offensive The insurgents launched a countrywide offensive in late April, stepping up attacks on government and foreign targets despite the nascent peace talks in what is expected to be the bloodiest fighting season in a decade. The UN mission in the country has said almost 1,000 civilians

were killed during the ﬁrst four months of this year, a sharp jump from the same period last year. In 2009, Camp Chapman was the target of a spectacular suicide attack claimed by Al Qaeda. Seven CIA American officials were killed in the deadliest assault on the US agency since 1983, when eight officers died in an attack on a military base in Beirut. In 2010, 24 Taliban militants, some wearing US uniforms, were killed when they tried to storm Camp Chapman and another nearby US base, Camp Salerno. The base was hit again by a suicide car bomb in 2012 that killed three Afghans in a blast powerful enough to rattle windows four kilometres (two miles) away. - Agencies

DEMINING

Life-saving elite rats sniff out deadly landmines in Cambodia SIEM REAP (Cambodia): Pit, only two and with just one eye, needed only 11 minutes before he detected a deadly mine buried in a Cambodian field, work that humans with metal detectors could have taken up to five days to investigate. But Pit is not human. He is part of a team of elite rats, imported from Africa, that Cambodia is training to sniff out landmines that still dot the countryside after decades of conflict. “Under a clear sky, he would have been quicker,” said Hul Sokheng, a veteran Cambodian deminer, who oversees training of 12 handlers on how to work with 15 large rats to clear Cambodia’s farmland and rural villages of bombs. “These are life-saving rats,” he said under rainy skies. Their work could prove vital in a country where unexploded devices, including mines and unexploded shells, have killed nearly 20,000 Cambodians and wounded about 44,000 since 1979, according to the Cambodian government. Pit is able to smell highly explosive TNT inside landmines, watched over by two handlers who tie him up to a rope as the one-eyed rat searches through the grass. Pit and his rat friends — all Gambian pouched rats — were de-

TRAINING TO SNIFF: A rat being trained by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre is pictured on an inactive landmine ﬁeld in Siem Reap province on Thursday. - Reuters

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ployed to Cambodia from Tanzania in April by a Belgian non-profit organisation, APOPO, to help clear mines. They’ve been trained since they were four weeks old. At the training ﬁeld, Pit sniffed TNT scented objects, stopped, dug a little, and was rewarded by his handler with banana. “He knows his duty: search,” said Hul Sokheng. Landmines and explosive remnants of war have taken a severe toll on Cambodians. The Cambodian Mine Victim Information

Service has recorded 19,684 people killed since 1979. Cambodia is still littered with landmines after emerging from decades of war, including the 1970s Khmer Rouge “Killing Fields” genocide, leaving it with one of the world’s highest disability rates. APOPO has used the rodents for mine-clearing projects in several countries, including Angola, Mozambique, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. One of the biggest advantages of using rats is that landmines pose no danger to them because the rats are not heavy enough to trigger an explosion. For their handlers, the rats are more than bomb detectors. - Reuters

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Muscat 6,479.00 + 20.64 + 0.32%

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CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.30 Pound ...........................................1.66 Indian Rs .............................164.42 Pak Rs ...................................259.94 Bangla Taka.......................199.52

Indian Rs .................................. 164.80 Pakistan Rs ............................ 263.50 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 346.60 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .................................... 116.85

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.90

Oman Crude............. (Spot) .........$57.20 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........ $57.00 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$58.86 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ..........$57.10 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$57.33 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ..........$51.61

* Rates as of July 13 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of July 13 Source: Bank Muscat

Oman’s first solar project commissioned Raeco’s 307-kwcapacity project in Al Mazyona is operated by Bahwan Energy Company and was built at a cost of $1 million.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s ﬁrst commercial solar power project started generating electricity and will be officially inaugurated in Al Mazyona in southern Dhofar goverorate in September this year. Rural Areas Electricity Com-

CLEAN ENERGY: Solar project is part of an initiative to raise the contribution of renewable energy in total power generation to 25 per cent within ﬁve years. — Supplied picture

pany (Raeco) will purchase electricity for twenty years from the 307 kilowatt-capacity project operated by Bahwan Astonﬁeld Solar Energy Company, which was built with a capital expenditure of $1 million in an area of 8,000 square metres. Addressing the media to announce the maiden renewable energy project, Eng Hamad Al

Maghdari, chief executive officer of Raeco, said that the solar project is part of a major initiative to substantially raise the contribution of renewable energy in total power generation to 25 per cent within ﬁve years. Raeco presently generates 680 megawatt to cater to the demand for power from different parts of the country, mainly in the rural areas. >B4

Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............ 140.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 133.75 * Rates as of July 13 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

R E N E WA B L E E N E R G Y

Tenders for three solar projects to be ﬂoated before year-end A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Tenders for building three solar power projects will be ﬂoated in the fourth quarter of this year, which is part of seven similar projects identiﬁed for development by Rural Areas Electricity Company (Raeco). “We have completed feasibility studies for three projects and tenders will be launched in the last quarter of this year,” noted Eng Hamad Al Maghdari, chief executive officer of Raeco.

Eng. Hamad Al Maghdari, chief executive officer of Raeco. — Picture by Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

Astonﬁeld Solar

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.35

Private sector investment These solar projects are planned in Duqm, Masirah and another region. These are fast-growing areas in order to reduce consumption of diesel fuel and save manpower and spare parts. Raeco earlier conducted studies

in 12 sites, which were encouraging and helped the company to move forward to use solar energy. He said the government is encouraging private sector to invest in solar project, which will reduce

burden on state budget. The use of solar energy during the day in Oman is very promising, as the Sultanate receives 7,900 gigawatts from the sun per day. This is huge but lack of adequate space for the installation of solar panels is one of the obstacles. “We can overcome this obstacle by using mountain surfaces and other non-inhabited areas. Another obstacle is the lack of systems that can be used to dispose of the excess energy produced from these stations because this energy cannot be stopped, and therefore the presence of speciﬁc systems to attach or connect these stations to the main electrical pumping networks is imperative.” Reliance on renewable energy across the world is increasing mainly because it does not cause pollution or risk to the life of people, unlike nuclear energy.

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

MARKET ISLAMIC BANKING

Meethaq okays sovereign sukuk structure, new products Times News Service MUSCAT: Bank Muscat’s Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board on Monday said it approved the structure of sovereign sukuk, which is planned by Oman government. The board also approved new products and reviewed Meethaq ﬁnancial performance in the initial months of 2015 and takaful insurance products, said a bank release. In addition, Sharia board reviewed Meethaq banking policies and approved certiﬁcates for some products and audit report. The Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board conducted its second meeting of 2015 under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr Ali

Qaradaghi in presence of all board members and Sulaiman Al Harthy, Group General Manager – Islamic Banking in Bank Muscat. The meeting was held in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as all board members participated in Al Baraka Banking Group thirty-fourth symposium for Islamic economy. Sulaiman Al Harthy said that the second meeting of Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board was a success as the members discussed important topics such as Meethaq banking policies and workﬂow. Meethaq has some of the brightest minds on board on Islamic ﬁnance to chart the way forward. The Sharia Board has made valuable contributions in establishing

across the Sultanate and plans to expand the branch network as well as launch new products and services to complement the unique Islamic banking experience

DELIBERATIONS: The Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board conducted its second meeting of 2015 under the chairmanship of Sheikh Dr Ali Qaradaghi. Supplied picture

Meethaq as the leading Islamic banking service provider in Oman. Meethaq offers a full suite of Islamic banking products. The Sharia-compliant products and LIFTING OF SANCTIONS

Iran deal will add to oil glut SINGAPORE: Any nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers loosening sanctions against Tehran could ﬂood an oversupplied oil market with more fuel, yet sectors like cement and steel would see a rise in demand as the country works to revitalise its economy. Officials involved in ongoing negotiations said they were close to a deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs to Tehran’s atomic programme, although no agreement was expected before Monday. Analysts have focused largely on oil in determining the impact on international commodities markets if sanctions are lifted. The timing of any lifting of the measures that have cut Iran’s crude exports as well as a United Nations Security Council arms embargo and ban on its ballistic missile programme have been among the major sticking points on reaching a deal. Analysts say a further swell in spot supplies will drag prices back to or below levels. - Reuters

services include savings account, current account, home ﬁnance, auto ﬁnance, credit card and mobile banking to name a few. Presently, Meethaq has 11 branches

Robust model Meethaq has adopted the best practices in Islamic banking and ﬁnance worldwide to combine a robust model which protects customers and complements the Islamic banking industry. Every Meethaq product goes through the process of Sharia compliance certiﬁcation by the Sharia Supervisory Board and is created in line with the guidelines of the Central Bank of Oman. As the pioneer of Islamic bank-

ing in Oman, Meethaq stands out for its independent Sharia Supervisory Board, separate capital allocation from shareholders’ money, unique risk management tools, complete fund segregation, separate books of account, core banking system which supports Islamic banking operations, stand-alone Islamic banking branches and proper proﬁt distribution mechanism among investment account holders/depositors. The adoption of AAOIFI (Accounting & Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) standard distinguishes Meethaq Islamic banking practices in terms of standardisation of products and services.

Athens manages to avoid euro exit Greece agreed to tough reforms after 17 hours of talks in return for a three-year bailout worth up to €86b ($96b), its third rescue programme in ﬁve years

BRUSSELS: Greece reached a desperately-needed bailout deal with the eurozone on Monday after marathon overnight talks, in a historic agreement to prevent the country crashing out of the European single currency. The country’s leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agreed to tough reforms after 17 hours of gruelling negotiations in return for a three-year bailout worth up to €86 billion ($96 billion), Greece’s third rescue programme in ﬁve years. European Union president Donald Tusk announced the deal for debt-stricken Greece on Twitter, ending a bitter six-month struggle between Tsipras’s antiausterity government in Athens and the rest of the eurozone. “Euro Summit has unanimously reached agreement,” former Polish premier Tusk said.”All ready to go for ESM (European Stability Mechanism) programme for Greece with serious reforms and ﬁnancial support.” Greece applied last week for a third programme from the eurozone’s bailout fund, the ESM, after its previous bailout expired on June 30, leaving it without in-

Alexis Tsipras. – AFP

ternational ﬁnancial assistance for the ﬁrst time in years. Greek banks’ closure Greek banks have been closed for nearly two weeks and there were fears they were about to run dry due to a lack of extra funding by the European Central Bank, meaning Athens would have had to print its own currency and effectively leave the euro. Athens had infuriated its creditors with actions including a surprise referendum on July 5 in which Greeks overwhelmingly

rejected previous bailout terms offered by its creditors. The full terms of the new deal were not immediately available but they looked set to be even tougher than those originally offered to Greece. A Greek government official had earlier said the terms drafted on Sunday by the euro finance ministers were “very bad”, amid concerns they would effectively take control of much of Greek finances away from Athens. Tough laws Under terms drawn up by eurozone finance ministers at the weekend, Athens would now have to push through new even tougher laws by Wednesday, Finnish Finance Minister Alex Stubb said. Athens would have to introduce harsh conditions on labour reform and pensions, VAT (value added tax) and taxes, and measures on privatisation, he added. Key sticking points included the involvement of the IMF and a call for Greece to park assets of up to €50 billion ($56 billion) in a fund in Luxembourg for privatisation. Arriving for what was billed as a last-chance summit Sunday, Merkel said there would be “no agreement at any price”, complaining of a loss of trust in Athens. Tsipras, who was elected in January vowing to end five years of austerity tied to two previous bailouts since 2010, had said a deal was “possible” if all sides were willing. The 40-year-old has become a standard-bearer for leftist parties across the continent who say the austerity policies championed by Brussels undercut growth and cause massive unemployment. - AFP

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

MARKET F I R S T H A L F R E S U LT

Bank Sohar net proﬁt falls to OMR14m

alizz islamic bank launches first NCR Interactive Teller

Times News Service MUSCAT: Bank Sohar on Monday said its net profit for the first half of this year declined by 14.12 per cent to OMR13.87 million from OMR16.15 million posted for the same period last year. The bank’s profit from conventional banking fell by 16.56 per cent to OMR13.57 million, while Islamic banking window operation has achieved a profit of OMR303,000 in the first half against a loss of OMR110,000 for the same period last year, according to the bank’s initial unaudited results posted on MSM website. Net loans and advances of the bank surged ahead by 15.51 per cent to OMR1,584.70 million from OMR1,371.97 million during the period under review. Likewise, deposits from customers soared by 15.97 per cent to OMR1566.59 million from OMR1350.85 million. Total assets moved up by 9.75 per cent to OMR2,085.28 million by June-end 2015. PERFORMANCE

Ominvest group profit rises 11% Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman International Development and Investment Company (Ominvest) said its group profit for the first half of 2015 moved up by 11 per cent to OMR18.32 million from OMR16.50 million achieved for the same period last year. However, the parent company’s profit was up by 22 per cent to OMR9.62 million from OMR7.90 million during the period under review, the company said in a disclosure statement posted on MSM website.

alizz islamic bank has become the ﬁrst bank in Oman to introduce this innovative technology. The machine is located at Muscat Grand Mall

Times News Service MUSCAT: alizz islamic bank, the newest full-ﬂedged Islamic bank in Oman, has become the ﬁrst bank in the Sultanate to introduce NCR Interactive Teller, from NCR Corporation, the global leader in consumer transaction technologies. Built on sleek, modern hardware with an interactive touchscreen, this new software-based technology allows a live teller to take remote control of an ATM to assist customers with majority of transactions typically completed by tellers inside a branch. The Interactive Teller is located at the Muscat Grand Mall. It provides the customer with enough privacy so other visitors in the mall cannot view the screen. In addition, the Interactive Teller provides the customer with enough privacy to interact live with the customer service agent using a handset. It also gives the same personal banking touch of a face-to-face interaction like at a branch through a live video teller. Salaam Al Shaksy, chief execu-

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY: The machine allows the alizz customer to execute all branch banking features such as cash withdrawals above the daily limit, cash deposits, cheque deposit, cheque encashment, credit card payments, and money transfers. - JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

WHAT IS NCR INTERACTIVE TELLER NCR Interactive Teller combines video banking collaboration and remote transaction processing banking technology embedded within the ATM to give the customer the choice of self-service or connecting with a remote teller in a highly personalised, two-way audio or video interaction

tive officer of alizzislamic bank, said, “We are very proud to be the ﬁrst bank in the Sultanate to launch the Interactive Teller, which will allow us to serve our customers with signiﬁcantly extended hours without losing the personal contact that we value so much. The Interactive Teller provides an effective state-of-the-art approach

to expand a bank’s network with branch transactions without the physical set up of an office.” With the Interactive Teller, alizzislamic bank customers can complete most of the typical branch transactions right at the ATM with the assistance of a live, remote teller. The Interactive Teller allows

the alizz customer to execute all branch banking features such as cash withdrawals above the daily limit, cash deposits, cheque deposit, cheque encashment, credit card payments, and money transfers. Self-service “Financial Institutions around the world continue to see this game-changing technology very pertinent to transform the bank branch and a key strategy for their retail banking network,” said Habib Hanna, managing director NCR for South Gulf and Pakistan. “alizzislamic bank customers will appreciate the increased convenience and personal services which are usually performed in branches that can be delivered through Interactive Teller.”

Interactive Teller offers more services than can be conducted on an ATM or other self-service devices. For instance, customers can perform secure transactions without using a traditional ATM card and, like branch tellers, remote tellers can provide customers access to cash in their accounts in amounts over the standard ATM daily cash withdrawal limits. The Interactive Teller at the Muscat Grand Mall will offer teller services from 10am to 10pm — seven days a week.

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STOCK EXCHANGE

Eskan Bank to list first real estate investment trust in Bahrain Times News Service MUSCAT: Eskan Bank has appointed Securities & Investment Company (SICO) as lead arranger for the first real estate investment trust (REIT) on the Bahrain Bourse, and only the second Sharia-compliant listed REIT in the Gulf region. A listed REIT is a regulated investment vehicle that invests directly in real estate with its units traded like a stock on exchanges. REITs generally provide investors with access to real estate, a regular and stable income stream, diversification, and enhance the liquidity of their portfolios. Eskan Bank’s REIT will consist of two income-generating and unleveraged properties currently owned by Bahrain Property Musharaka Trust (BPMT) formed in May 2011 in collaboration with reputable in-

stitutional investors and high net worth individuals. Commenting on this pioneering development, Khalid Abdulla, general manager of Eskan Bank said, “The initiative of listing the REIT will be the first in Bahrain by Eskan Bank, where we offer a financial instrument that will add to the breadth of investment opportunities and position the institution as an innovative bank spearheading financial sophistication and depth.” “In line with our social mandate, this new REIT gives Bahrainis the opportunity to share in Eskan Bank’s significant property de- Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al velopment activities, and benefit Khalifa. – Supplied photo from commercial and residential rental income across diversified assets. This has been made pos- concerning investing activities sible by the proactive roles of the that will lead to capital market Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) growth,” he added. As arranger, SICO is responsible and the Bahrain Bourse. Both are further developing the regulations for managing the entire process,

which includes internal property valuations along with independent real estate valuers, legal structure, regulatory submissions, and the initial public offering. The Shariacompliant REIT is expected to have a total value of BD20 million, with a tranche that will be offered to the public through the initial public offering (IPO) that is planned to take place later this year. Najla M. Al Shirawi, chief executive officer of SICO, said, “We are pleased to work with Eskan Bank to lead and manage this historic REIT listing in Bahrain. The introduction of this new alternative investment asset class will contribute in adding depth to the Kingdom’s real estate sector, while helping to improve liquidity on the Bahrain Bourse. “Our involvement illustrates our commitment to broaden the investment products offered to in-

vestors interested in the GCC markets, and reinforce SICO’s status as a leading provider of corporate finance services in the GCC since 1997,” Najla added. The chief executive of the Bahrain Bourse, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, welcomed the planned listing of Eskan Bank’s REIT. Investing in property “This underlines the keen interest we have witnessed from property developers and managers in REIT as an alternative investment option, and also among investors who would benefit from investing in property as an asset without directly owning and managing the property. The introduction of the REIT listing rules will facilitate investment in productive assets and benefit all involved stakeholders,” he noted. New listing rules for REITs is-

sued by the Bahrain Bourse came into effect on May 17, with requirements including a minimum of two properties with a combined asset value of no less than $20 million. REITs are regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, and must be authorised by the CBB before they can be listed. According to CBB regulations, the dividend pay-out ratio of a REIT has to be at least 90 per cent of its net realised income. Eskan Bank REIT properties consist of Segaya Plaza and Danaat Al Madina. Segaya is a mixed retail and residential property located in Segaya which is currently 100 per cent occupied. Daanat Al Madina, located in Isa Town, is a mixed use development inclusive of residential, retail and commercial office elements. The commercial components of Danaat Al Madina shall be transferred to the REIT.

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

MARKET Index rises marginally

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,479.30 ...............6,452.12 ................... 6,479.00 ...................6,458.36................. 20.64 ...................0.32 Financial Index ..................................... 7,951.93 ...............7,864.87 ....................7,951.92 ................... 7,868.12................. 83.80 ................... 1.07 Industrial Index ....................................8,367.09 ...............8,302.51 ................... 8,365.54 ...................8,300.15................. 65.39 ................... 0.79 Services Index .......................................3,492.79 .............. 3,478.29 ................... 3,490.68 ...................3,478.40..................12.28 ................... 0.35 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................990.12 ..................988.45 ...................... 990.05 ...................... 988.44.....................1.61 ................... 0.16 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 40,735,723 .................8,502,345 ..................1,794 ...............15,124,328,272 ................26 ........................2 .................... 17 .........................45

Top gainer was Gulf International Chemical, up by 9.44 per cent, while Al Madina

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, JULY 13

Investments, 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: Better than expected results and positive news from Europe and Iran pushed the MSM30 Index to 6,479.00 points, a gain of 0.32 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 990.05 points, up by 0.16 per cent. Al Anwar Holding was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Monday’s top gainer was Gulf International Chemical, up by 9.44 per cent, while Al Madina Investments, down by 5.56 per cent, was the top loser. As many as 1,794 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR8.5 million with over 40 million shares changing hands. Out of 45 traded securities, 26 advanced, two declined and 17 remained unchanged. GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR307,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR254,000 while Omani investors were net sellers for OMR562,000 worth of shares. Financial Index gains Financial Index showed strong gains of 1.07 per cent to close at 7,951.92 points. Al Batinah Development, Al Sharqia Investments, Oman United Insurance, Al Anwar Holding and Gulf Investment Services increased 6.67 per cent, 6.11 per cent, 5.51 per cent, 5.29 per cent and 2.86 per cent, respectively. Al Madina Investments and Bank Sohar declined 5.56 per cent and 1.03 per cent, respectively. Industrial Index ended the session at 8,365.54 points, up by 0.79 per cent. Gulf International

Chemicals, Voltamp Energy, Construction Materials, Oman Packaging and Galfar Engineering gained 9.44 per cent, 8.80 per cent, 2.56 per cent, 2.56 per cent and 2.33 per cent, respectively. Services Sector Index advanced 0.35 per cent and closed at 3,490.68 points. Sharqiyah Desalination, OIFC, National Gas, Renaissance Services and Phoenix Power gained 4.59 per cent, 4.25 per cent, 2.65 per cent, 0.72 per cent and 0.65 per cent, respectively.

REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 1,155,976.......294,545..................... 70 ........... 0.239 ...........0.256 ...........0.239........... 0.255 .............0.233 ........... 0.022............. 9.442 ................0.256..............0.256...................0.000 ...................5,355,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ....................................................... 9,923 ...............4,660........................6 ........... 0.450 ........... 0.474 ...........0.450........... 0.470 .............0.432 ............0.038 ............. 8.796 ................0.474..............0.474...................0.000 ..................28,435,000.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 1,047,275 ......134,020..................... 56 ............0.124 ........... 0.130 ...........0.124........... 0.128 .............0.120 ........... 0.008............. 6.667 ................0.130 ..............0.130................... 0.131 ....................3,840,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 1,451,057.......201,982...................122 ............0.134 ........... 0.144 ...........0.134............0.139 ............. 0.131 ............ 0.008............. 6.107 ................0.144..............0.144...................0.000 ..................12,510,000 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 182,500 ........... 52,345......................12 ........... 0.280...........0.290 ...........0.280 .......... 0.287 .............0.272 ............0.015 ............. 5.515.................0.290............. 0.290...................0.295...................28,700,000.........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 14,427,470 .3,447,046....................511 ........... 0.232 ...........0.243 ...........0.230........... 0.239 .............0.227 ............0.012 ............. 5.286 ................0.238..............0.238...................0.239...................35,867,925 .........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION .................................. 3,455 .............13,373........................5 ............3.700 ...........3.900 ...........3.700........... 3.870 .............3.700 ............0.170 ............. 4.595 ................3.900..............3.900...................4.050 ..................37,849,436 .........1.000 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 1,329,621 ..... 294,228..................... 79 ............0.212 ...........0.225 ...........0.212........... 0.221 .............0.212 ........... 0.009.............4.245 ................0.222............. 0.222...................0.223 ................. 44,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 801,909 ..........115,495..................... 54 ............0.140 ........... 0.145 ...........0.140........... 0.144 .............0.140 ........... 0.004............. 2.857 ................0.143 .............. 0.141...................0.143.................... 8,473,423 ..........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ............................................................. 96,317 .............37,434.....................20 ........... 0.388 ...........0.390 ...........0.386........... 0.388 .............0.378 ............0.010 .............2.646 ................0.390..............0.382...................0.394 ..................19,400,000.........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 2,649,644......349,869....................118 ............0.131 ........... 0.134 ...........0.129........... 0.132 .............0.129............ 0.003.............2.326 ................0.133 .............. 0.133...................0.134...................38,277,444 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 3,092,806 .....382,600..................... 96 ............0.123 ........... 0.125 ...........0.123 ........... 0.124 .............0.122 ........... 0.002............. 1.639 ................0.123 ..............0.122...................0.123................... 15,112,500 .........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................21,000 ............... 1,869........................5 ........... 0.089 ...........0.089 ...........0.089........... 0.089 .............0.088 ............0.001 ..............1.136.................0.089..............0.088...................0.089...................15,575,000 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 1,377,521 .......188,082......................11 ............0.136 ........... 0.138 ...........0.136 ............0.137 ............. 0.136.............0.001 ............. 0.735 ................0.138 .............. 0.138...................0.139................. 274,042,852 .......0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES .......................................33,000 ............... 9,172........................6 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.276........... 0.278 .............0.276 ........... 0.002............. 0.725 ................0.276..............0.276...................0.279...................78,422,258.........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,335,032 ......760,607..................... 67 ........... 0.566 ........... 0.570 ...........0.566........... 0.570 .............0.566 ........... 0.004............. 0.707 ................0.570..............0.570...................0.574................1,306,338,880 ......0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ....................................................... 21,195 ............... 3,165........................5 ............0.148 ........... 0.150 ...........0.148 ........... 0.149 .............0.148.............0.001 ............. 0.676 ................0.148 .............. 0.147...................0.148...................46,303,976.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 727,084 .........563,439..................... 54 ............0.772 ........... 0.776 ...........0.772 ............0.776 .............0.772............ 0.004............. 0.518 ................0.776 ..............0.772...................0.776..................505,132,722........0.100

Massar stake sale plan Massar Solutions has asked banks to submit proposals to manage a possible stake sale of the Abu Dhabi-based fleet manager, according to two people familiar with the plan. Massar, which postponed plans for an initial public offering this year after a shortage in demand, may award mandates for the private placement soon, the people said, asking not be identified as information isn’t public. The company’s shareholders had planned to sell 40 per cent of Massar through an IPO, or 240 million shares, at Dh2.40 in what would’ve been the first offering since 2011 on Abu Dhabi’s bourse. The fleet manager may raise a similar amount in the stake offering, the people said. That’s about Dh576 million ($157 million), according to Bloomberg calculations. The company is 51 per cent owned by Abu Dhabi Investment and the rest is held by Abu Dhabi National Energy Co.

OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 183,506 ............75,134......................15 ............0.410 ........... 0.410 ...........0.406........... 0.410 .............0.408 ........... 0.002.............0.490 ................0.406............. 0.400...................0.406 ................. 121,447,610 ........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 115,290............ 32,357......................14 ........... 0.282 ...........0.282 ...........0.280 .......... 0.281 .............0.280 ............0.001 ............. 0.357 ................0.280..............0.270...................0.280 ................... 9,433,577 ..........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................. 10,109 ...............5,674......................17 ........... 0.560 ........... 0.566 ...........0.560........... 0.562 .............0.560 ........... 0.002............. 0.357 ................0.566..............0.566...................0.568...................29,505,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ..........................................................2,000 ...............3,000........................1 ............1.500 ........... 1.500 ...........1.500........... 1.500 .............1.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.500..............1.480...................1.500................. 300,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 250,400 ...........84,334........................4 ........... 0.338 ...........0.338 ...........0.336........... 0.336 .............0.336 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.336.............. 0.318...................0.336..................450,478,644 .......0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 135,086............ 28,368........................5 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.210........... 0.210 .............0.210 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.210............. 0.202...................0.210..................299,257,590........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ..............................................5,000 ...............1,820........................2 ........... 0.364 ...........0.364 ...........0.364........... 0.364 .............0.364 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.364..............0.364...................0.398...................22,278,355.........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ................................................................2,200 ...................616........................1 ........... 0.280...........0.280 ...........0.280 .......... 0.279 .............0.279 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.280..............0.276...................0.280 ................ 430,979,264 .......0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................12,500 ...............6,000........................3 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.480 .............0.480 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.520 ..................83,243,160 .........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ......... 7,500 ............. 16,313........................1 ............2.175 ........... 2.175 ...........2.175 ............2.175 ............. 2.175............ 0.000.............0.000 ................2.175 ............. 0.000...................2.175 ..................150,075,000........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................37,000 ............ 64,740........................7 ............1.740 ........... 1.750............1.740 ............1.750 ............. 1.750............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.750 .............. 1.740................... 1.750 ................1,312,500,000 ......0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................22,523 ...............4,775........................5 ............0.212 ........... 0.212 ...........0.212........... 0.212 .............0.212 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.212..............0.212...................0.216..................143,076,135 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................24,773 ...............5,252........................6 ............0.212 ........... 0.212 ...........0.212........... 0.212 .............0.212 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.212..............0.212...................0.215..................151,454,144 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 334,419 ........... 64,314........................9 ............0.190 ........... 0.193 ...........0.190........... 0.192 .............0.194 ...........-0.002 ............-1.031................0.191 ..............0.190................... 0.191 ..................276,756,480........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 788,190 ............53,895......................41 ............0.071 ........... 0.071 ...........0.068........... 0.068 .............0.072 ...........-0.004 ........... -5.556 ...............0.068..............0.067...................0.068...................14,086,294.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 31,693,281 .7,300,521................1,428 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......33........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 117,000 ...............4,680........................5 ........... 0.040...........0.040 ...........0.040 .......... 0.040 .............0.039 ............0.001 .............2.564 ................0.040 .............0.039...................0.040 ...................3,400,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001608............OMAN PACKAGING ...................................................... 8,764 ...............2,103........................1 ........... 0.240...........0.240 ...........0.240 .......... 0.240 .............0.234 ........... 0.006.............2.564 ................0.240 .............0.245...................0.000 ................... 7,784,606 ..........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ...................................................... 64,409 ...............3,449..................... 10 ........... 0.053 ...........0.054 ...........0.053........... 0.054 .............0.053 ............0.001 ............. 1.887 ................0.054..............0.052...................0.054 ...................6,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,037,452 .........78,744..................... 35 ............0.075 ........... 0.077 ...........0.075........... 0.076 .............0.075 ............0.001 ............. 1.333 ................0.075..............0.075...................0.076..................114,000,000........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 5,293,020......823,950...................289 ............0.154 ........... 0.157 ...........0.154 ............0.156 ............. 0.155.............0.001 ............. 0.645 ................0.155 ..............0.154...................0.155 ..................228,165,828........0.100 OM0000001723 ............OMAN ORIX LEASING ............................................. 200,000...........30,000........................7 ............0.150 ........... 0.150 ...........0.150 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.150 .............. 0.147...................0.155 ...................36,207,606 .........0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES ........................................... 110 .....................70........................1 ........... 0.640 ...........0.640 ...........0.640........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.640............. 0.000...................0.648..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING................................... 30,000 .............. 2,940........................1 ........... 0.098 ...........0.098 ...........0.098........... 0.098 .............0.098 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.098..............0.099...................0.100.................... 7,370,384 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 6,750,755.......945,937...................349 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 8........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004487 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES BONDS3.75 ............ 625,677 ............90,723........................3 ............0.145 ........... 0.145 ...........0.145 ............0.145 ............. 0.145............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.145 .............. 0.145...................0.164...................61,355,543 .........0.100 OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 .........................12,161 ............... 1,301........................1 ............0.107 ........... 0.107 ...........0.107 ........... 0.107 .............0.107............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.107 ..............0.105...................0.108...................32,394,155 .........0.100 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ...........................................47,382 ...............4,823........................5 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.101 ........... 0.102 .............0.102 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.101 .............. 0.101...................0.108...................32,603,553 .........0.100 OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ................... 1,606,467 ...... 159,040........................8 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.099...................0.100...................32,092,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,291,687 ......255,887......................17 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........4........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/ Bloomberg News

CLEAN ENERGY

INDIAN MARKETS

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B1 Solar project commissioned Sensex jumps by 300 points Al Maghdari said that Al Mazyona solar project, which is connected to the grid, would save OMR824,000 by way of power subsidy during its lifetime of twenty years, besides saving 155,000 litres of diesel per year. It will also reduce harmful carbon emissions produced by conventional fuel, which are estimated at 433 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. As many as 1,617 solar panels have been installed at the site and the solar power station will meet about 60 per cent of demand for electricity from subscribers in winter season in Al Mazyona. Raeco is determined to expand the plant after carefully studying the beneﬁts of the project. He noted that ﬁndings show that 250 to 300 kilowatt produced

from solar panels located in Oman are equivalent in efficiency to a capacity of 1,000 kilowatt (kW) in Europe, which indicates the enormous amount of sunlight available. High subsidy The Oman government offers a huge subsidy of 75 per cent of the value of every kilowatt of electricity produced by Raeco and this could be reduced by setting up more and more renewable energy projects like solar. The cost of producing one kilowatt of electricity using diesel for Raeco is in the range of 89 baisas. But the cost per kilowatt power produced by solar power project is around 50 baisas. “This means that half the subsidised price can be saved as the government bears 70 baisas,

which is 75 per cent of the value of kilowatt produced.” Also, there are different segments of consumers depending on power consumption and the ﬁrst segment is those who consume zero to 3,000 kW per hour (kW/r) and the cost is estimated at ten baisas per kilowatt. If a household consumes 2,000kW/h in a month, the consumption cost will be OMR20 (subsidised price), while the real cost without subsidy would be OMR178, with the balance being provided by the government. Further, Raeco purchases diesel from local reﬁneries at a cost of 137 baisas per litre, which is three times less than its real price of 385 baisas per litre. The difference is paid by the government to reduce the cost of power.

on Greece deal; rupee declines MUMBAI: India's general index S&P BSE benchmark Sensex jumped by 300 points to end at 27,961.19 after touching 28,000 level on sustained buying after Greece managed to clinch bailout deal, triggering rally across global markets amidst fall in crude oil prices. The 50-share index Nifty managed to reclaim its crucial psychological level of 8,450 to close at 8,459.65. Shares of IT, automobile, healthcare and reﬁnery sectors shot up on good buying enquiries. Small-cap and mid-cap indices also hardened by 1.27 per cent and 1.44 per cent respectively on fresh demand. The Sensex opened higher at 27,739.32 and shot up further to 28,005.17 before ending at 27,961.19, disclosing a gain of 299.79 points or 1.08 per cent. The CNX 50-sahre Nifty also rose by 99.10 points or 1.19 per cent to end at 8,459.65 after moving in a range of 8,471.65 and 8,355.40 on Monday. Oil prices fell in Asia on Monday as Iran and major western powers said they were closer than ever to a landmark nuclear deal that would lift sanctions and see Tehran’s crude exports return to global markets. Asian stocks ended higher after eurozone leaders reached an agreement over a third bailout for Greece. Key benchmark indices

LOOKING UP: Sensex opened higher at 27,739.32 and shot up further to 28,005.17 before ending at 27,961.19. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea ended up by 0.96 per cent to 1.57 per cent . GAIL topped the gainers list among Sensex stocks by climbing 3.55 per cent, followed by HDFC, Maruti, NTPC, Wipro and Hindalco. Rupee ends lower Indian rupee ended lower by 13 paise at 63.52 against the US dollar on fresh demand for the American currency from banks and importers on a higher greenback in the overseas market amidst fall in crude oil prices. However, strong equity market restricted the rupee’s fall to some extent, forex dealers said.

Oil price drops Oil prices fell in Asian markets on Monday as Iran and major western powers said they are closer than ever to a landmark nuclear deal that would lift sanctions and see Tehran’s crude exports return to global markets. The rupee resumed lower at 63.44 as against the last weekend’s level of 63.39 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) market and hovered in a range of 63.40 and 63.53 before ﬁnishing at 63.52, showing a loss of 13 paise, or 0.21 per cent. Dollar index was trading higher by 0.42 per cent against its major global rivals on Monday. - PTI

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Fantastic offers on Mitsubishi ASX With the 2015 Ramadan offer in full swing, customers can get their very own ASX with an attractive range of beneﬁts including free insurance, free service, free registration, cash gifts and more until the offer ends on July 30

MUSCAT: With the Mitsubishi ASX, General Automotive Company, the official distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Oman, offers new car buyers the practicality and space of an SUV with the dynamic handling and on-road comfort of a passenger car at an affordable price. With the 2015 Ramadan offer in full swing, customers can get their very own ASX with an attractive range of beneﬁts including free insurance, free service, free registration, cash gifts and more until the offer ends on July 30, says a press release. Commenting on the Mitsubishi

ASX, Rajesh Sharma, the National Marketing Manager of General Automotive Company said, “Taking its place as the logical bridge between our Outlander and Lancer models, the ASX offers space, practicality, comfort and performance in abundance. It also boasts a ﬁve-star Euro-NCAP safety rating and impressive fuel economy, yet packs plenty of pulling power. And it offers all of this at an affordable price point, made even better by our 2015 Ramadan offer.” Featuring a design optimised for space, aerodynamics and efficiency, the ASX’s shares a strong family likeness with the Lancer and

Outlander. Its trapezoidal grille and sculptured bonnet, featuring a double bulge, serves the dual purpose of contributing to better pedestrian safety and also makes the body more visible to the driver, improving manoeuvrability around town. At the rear, the ASX offers a low and wide silhouette highlighted with a sharp aerodynamic lip at the bottom of the backlight and slim slanted combination lamps. Consistent with the exterior, ASX’s cabin reﬂects a clear sense of ‘dynamic quality’ as expressed through the hooded meter cluster. Stylishly restrained, ASX’s interior is also a very pleasant place to

lounge in, whether in its layout, its functionality or its features. The ASX also provides a surprisingly elevated seat position that, with the sloping hood design that gives a better view of the road for easier manoeuvring and greater safety. The raised hip point also allows for smoother entrances and exits, and greater comfort. The lounge-like cabin atmosphere continues with equipment such as; radio CD w/MP3, AUXin and 4 speakers, automatic air conditioning, 2 airbags, ﬂoor console box, rear parking sensors, power steering with audio and cruise control, bluetooth hands

C E L E B R AT I O N

free and much more. “The 5-seater ASX brings a comprehensive set of utility features well suited to both its nimble size and the likely loading needs of its lifestyle drivers; offering up to 384 litres of available cargo capacity even with ﬁve passengers on board,” added Rajesh Sharma. When it comes to performance and fuel economy, ASX is equipped with a 2.0-litre MIVEC engine that uses a lightweight aluminium block for optimum performance as it puts out 110kW (150PS), allowing it to take control of city streets and open highways alike. MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve timing Electronic Control) technology provides optimal valve timing at both low and high rev ranges, to give the most of every curve and straightaway out there. As a part of the ongoing Ramadan offer from Mitusbishi, all customers who purchase a new ASX during the Ramadan promotional period will beneﬁt from a 2-year/30,000km free service package, six-year unlimited mileage warranty, six-year roadside assistance and free registration. Mitsubishi is also offering free in-

surance and a direct cash gift of up to OMR250 on all ASX models. Additionally, during the four week period of Ramadan any showroom visitor also stands a chance to win an iPhone 6, with one phone being given away each week during the holy month. Customers who purchase a new Mitsubishi during the offer period, which will come to a close on July 30, will also be entered in an exclusive draw with a prize pool of OMR50,000. The draw will be conducted at the Mitsubishi showroom in Azaiba on August 12and will see over nearly 100 customers strike it lucky. The beneﬁts of this offer also carry over to the 2015 MY Mitsubishi Pajero, Lancer EX, Outlander, Pajero Sport, and L200 models. For more information on the new Pajero or Mitsubishi’s Ramadan offer, which comes to a close on July 30, visit the Mitsubishi website www.mitsubishioman.com or visit your nearest Mitsubishi showroom. Over the course of the holy month all Mitsubishi showrooms will be open from 9am to 1pm and 8pm – 12am from Sunday to Thursday.

LUXURY BRAND

Bank Sohar organises Qaranqasho Mistal launches Ramadan sale MUSCAT: Coinciding with the 14th day of the holy month of Ramadan, Bank Sohar organised its annual Qaranqasho celebration exclusively for the Bank Sohar family. The enjoyable evening was held recently at the Bahja Hall of the Jungle Restaurant, located next to Qurum Natural Garden, and witnessed a varied number of activities including games and liveaction cartoon characters to entertain the children while observing the spirit of the blessed month, says a press release. Bank Sohar organises the exclusive event on an annual basis, honouring the tradition of Qaranqasho, and to delight the children of bank staff. Joyous with festive spirit, the children were resplendent in traditional Omani outﬁts

and participated in fun-ﬁlled activities throughout the evening, and were delighted to receive presents and sweets from the management of the bank. Discussing the rationale of celebrating Qaranqasho, Munira Abdulnabi Macki - DGM, Human

Resources & Corporate Support at Bank Sohar, said: “We consider our staff our greatest asset and it is with great pleasure we organise events such as Qaranqasho celebrations to show our gratitude and solidarity. Qaranqasho is an age-old tradition in the Sultan-

ate and we believe that events such as these provide the perfect opportunity for us to show our acknowledgement to staff and their families by providing a memorable occasion. We were excited to see the response of the event and were pleased to see that the Bank Sohar family enjoyed this festive evening.” Observed on the 14th night of Ramadan, Qaranqasho is a joyous and a special social event and aimed at motivating and encouraging children who undertake fasting. This is a time when children visit neighbouring houses singing special songs and receiving sweets. Families prepare to celebrate the occasion with a variety of sweets and savouries to be distributed to the children and also make it an occasion to be remembered.

‘ B E S T E N T E R TA I N I N G ’ AWA R D

Lexus wins award at Milan Design Week MUSCAT: Taking impressive strides in its approach to design, Lexus has remained committed to taking the concept of design beyond just its range of vehicles. Recently at the Milano Design Award Competition Lexus won the ‘Best Entertaining’ award for its ‘Lexus – A Journey of the Senses’ exhibit at Milan Design Week, the world’s largest design event. Lexus is the ﬁrst automaker to win this award. The ‘Best Entertaining’ award highlights the project that best ‘succeeds in involving the audience in a particular dimension of recreational and/or cultural entertainment’, says a press release. Now in its 5th year, the Milano Design Award, organised by cultural association Elita, is the only official award dedicated to the best installations of Milan Design Week. The Milano Design Award recognised the best overall exhibits as well as individual winners in ﬁve categories (Entertaining, Tech, Sound, Impact, E-commerce). The winners were chosen among all exhibitors present at the Milan Design Week in the various

districts throughout the city. According to Takayuki Yoshitsugu, chief representative, Middle East and North Africa Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation, “It’s a great honour to win this award at Milan Design Week and I would like to acknowledge the brilliant collaboration between Philippe Nigro and Hajime Yoneda which contributed to winning this award. The exhibit stood out because it offered visitors a wideranging and exciting sensory experience, underlining Lexus as a brand placing great emphasis on human senses throughout our

design processes. Our customers have always been a great source of encouragement for our innovative design approach in offering attractive vehicles with amazing designs. We greatly appreciate their constant support for our initiatives and this has always encouraged us to do more in order to make ever better vehicles.” ‘Lexus – A Journey of the Senses’ exhibit consisted of 3 distinct zones: a sound and light installation featuring a special execution of the latest Lexus concept car, the LF-SA, a room dedicated to the ﬁnalists and winner of the Lexus

Design Award competition, and a succession of three cocoons constructed of an intricate wooden lattice work, titled “Rain” “Wood” and Earth”. The exhibit was designed by two internationally acclaimed artists: space designer Philippe Nigro and chef Hajime Yoneda, who added a tasting experience to the sensory journey. The fruit of this collaborative approach from very different artists created a truly unique experience that left a deep impression on many visitors. Encouraged by innovation, the process to create a Lexus vehicle is unique within the automotive industry. Taking inspiration from ﬁelds as diverse as the fashion industry, architecture, the arts and medicine, each vehicle is painstakingly crafted to meet Lexus’ exacting standards. In Oman every Lexus vehicle comes with special beneﬁts and privileges such as six years unlimited extended mileage protection and Lexus Prestige Club Card that offers 24 hours on-road assistance from AAA.

C R E AT I V E C O N T E S T

Snabo puts Snapchat in the limelight MUSCAT: The age old adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ has been given a new meaning with Snapchat, a social app in which pictures are used for communication and to build a story board. What is new is that Snapchat is time-sensitive that captures a person’s attention entirely for just a few seconds – to be precise, for 10 seconds. As it needs focus for such a short span of time, it has the ability to cut through the attention crisis that gives it an edge over the other apps. To raise awareness on how to use and make the most of it, Fahmi Al Ma’awali, owner of Eventus, held a creative and interactive competition ‘Snabo’ at Shangri La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa,

the hospitality sponsor of the event, says a press release. The competition was part of ‘Hand-in-Hand’, a charity event organised by the hotel. About 10 stalls were put up to raise funds for

orphans and people in need that was the initiative of ‘Al Rahma’, meaning ‘Mercy’. While there were quite a few spectators, seven participants vied for the title of ‘Best Snapchatter in Oman’. Each of the participants had to create a 100-second storyboard and was judged on the best use of time (seconds), quality of content, quality of presentation and creativity. Judges who presided over the event included Nabil Al Busaidy, the ﬁrst Arab to reach the magnetic North Pole; Fatma Al Nabhani, International tennis player and Areej Al Balushi, fashionista and fashion blogger, all of who have a huge fan following on social media. While Nabil has just got on

to Snapchat and hopes it will be equally enjoyable as other social media apps, Fatma has been using it for a while. “I have been using Snapchat to keep tennis fans updated on my upcoming tournaments, sharing match schedules and results as well as to send out positive messages,” says Fatma. As a token of appreciation, all three judges were presented with the new iPad mini 3 while the winner walked away with PlayStation 4 along with an extra joystick and latest games, all courtesy of Omantel. “The edge that Snapchat has over other apps is that it discards content to focus on the ‘feeling’ and not just the way the content looks,” explains Fahmi.

MUSCAT: Ramadan is a time of celebration and Mistal, the luxury watch and jewellery boutique in Oman, has yet another reason to add to the festive ambience. To make the season more special, Mistal has launched its exciting Ramadan sale. The offer which runs till August 6 gives customers an opportunity to avail up to 75% discount on some of the leading luxury brands on display at its boutique, says a press release. Finding the perfect gifts for every special occasion might be an arduous task. Hence Mistal has unveiled this Ramadan sale as an initiative to guide customers who are on the hunt for extraordinary gifts to treat their friends or loved ones this season. Be it for family, friends, colleagues or loved ones, Mistal has unique and fabulous gifts for all. The luxurious products can serve as a token of love, respect or appreciation for all seasons and occasion. Speaking about the Ramadan sale, Dharmesh A. Khimji, managing director, Mistal Watches, said, “Ramadan is a special time of the year when you can spread the love and happiness around. It is the perfect time to send out gifts to your loved ones. "Mistal offers a wide range of stunning watches, luxury pens and jewellery that customers can choose from as a lovely surprise for their loved ones during this festive season.”

“We have launched this offer to celebrate this precious time of the year with timeless gifts. The campaign is aimed to help customers celebrate Ramadan with luxury and comfort. We offer some of the most exclusive and spectacular global brands at amazing prices too. We are sure that this offer would make our customers and their dear ones feel special and we are certain that customers will take advantage of this special Ramadan offer,” he added. Mistal, the designer watch and jewellery boutique of the Ajit Khimji group, is renowned for providing a luxurious and exclusive shopping environment for customers looking for luxury products. Mistal’s highest quality luxury products perfectly complement personality and style. The astonishing collection represents the world’s most desirable brands of high-end watches and jewellery and reﬂects a perfect blend of beauty and charm. Mistal showrooms at Sabco Commercial Centre, Qurum, and the ﬂagship store at Darsait present the most comprehensive collection of international iconic brands under one roof. The boutiques have been carefully designed to give each brand its own space, offering a rare combination of opulence and elegance. Designed purely for the discerning few, Mistal boutiques have undoubtedly succeeded in adding a new dimension to the ultimate luxury and elegance of life.

G R O W T H S T R AT E G Y

Al Anwar Holdings holds strategy meet MUSCAT: Al Anwar Holdings held its strategy meet of the board and management, to brainstorm, discuss and crystallise its growth strategy for 20152020, recently at the Chedi Muscat, says a press release. Al Anwar Holdings completed 20 successful years recently. Over the past two decades Al Anwar Holdings had been successful in creating and nurturing successful entities while enhancing long term value for the stakeholders. Whilst so much has been achieved over the last 20 years one needs to be au fait with the changing market dynamics to evolve its strategy and processes for a better tomorrow. High calibre experts The session was chaired by Masoud Humaid Malik Al Harthy and supported by the Board of Directors. Mohammed Sulaiman (Head Private Equity - ONIDCO), Farhat Malik (Ex CEO PMA investment Managers) and Prof. Ravee Chittoor (Indian School of Business) were the special high calibre experts who were invited to participate and share their valuable experiences.

The experts who have accomplished noteworthy achievements in the Private Equity and Asset Management sectors in Oman and in the international markets shared their expert viewpoints on structuring the growth trajectory for Al Anwar. The management was led by Reji Joseph, the CEO. The sessions were facilitated by Eyhab Al Hajj and Mutassem Al Sharji from Prosper Consultancy – Oman. Challenges The discussion focused on, among many other issues, the opportunities of growth available for Al Anwar whilst noting the challenges and its potential headwinds on the regional economy for a proﬁtable growth in 2015-2020. The chairman said, “Al Anwar Holdings has been successful in developing Omani companies and has made a positive contribution. I am grateful to my board, the special invitees and management for the discussion and development of a strategy which I am sure will take the company forward.”

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

ROUND-UP Plethora of offers adds to Subaru’s attraction

FUN EVENT

Sohar Aluminium celebrates Father’s Day with community

Subaru believes that automobiles should be more than just a means of transportation — they should also be a source of enjoyment, and enjoyment comes from peace of mind

MUSCAT: This Ramadan, Subaru cars are easy to own with a galaxy of offers. Customers buying a Subaru have an option of getting ‘zero % interest’ and in addition cash as gift upto OMR1,000, 300 litres petrol, insurance, registration, periodic maintenance service upto three years or 50,000km (whichever is earlier), gift voucher worth OMR50 based on the model selected. Exact details of the promotion can be checked out at any of the Subaru showrooms closer to you. This is indeed the best time to own a Subaru, says a press release. Subaru believes that automobiles should be more than just a means of transportation — they should also be a source of enjoyment, and enjoyment comes from peace of mind. These two inseparable values are central to the Subaru experience.

With symmetrical all-wheel drive and cargo-carrying versatility, Subaru gives the capability for adventure, no matter the day or destination. To give each and every Subaru passenger comfort and enjoyment on the road, a range of proprietary technologies have been developed and ﬁne-tuned, including the horizontally-opposed engine and the symmetrical AWD platform. Equipped with unique Subaru Boxer engine on all models and symmetrical all-wheel drive, the Subaru product line is renowned for durability, reliability, traction and ‘active safety’. Subaru is committed to offering its customers Subaru’s distinctive ‘enjoyment and peace of mind’ driving experience through its brand statement ‘Conﬁdence in Motion’ and will continue to enhance its primary, active, passive, and pre-crash safety technologies under its ‘allaround safety’ principle. Subaru has been highly praised for its renowned safety performance in the world. While remain-

ing centred upon the unique engines and the Symmetrical AWD, safety-conscious bodies of Subaru vehicles have been made with high rigidity and less weight, and the suspension technology utilised has matured over many years. The agile yet stable performance and inherent safety achieved by the Symmetrical AWD is especially evident during high-speed even when driving in rain and in the vehicle’s linear response when cornering. Subaru’s ‘Ring-Shaped Reinforcement Frames’ are part of a body construction in which the pillars and the side frame are interconnected to form rings that protect against deformation during a crash and create survival area inside the cabin. The low height of the Subaru Boxer engine allows the engine to slide safely beneath the ﬂoor in the event of a frontal collision, making the front end of the car a ‘crushable zone’ that effectively absorbs the impact of the collision. Subaru technology is common throughout all Subaru vehicles. This is the basic philosophy of freedom of movement, with

comfort and safety, that provides ‘driving pleasure supported by a high level of overall safety performance’. Subaru attains this by improving the basic performance of each vehicle. The Subaru Forester, Legacy and Impreza all earned a recongnition of Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick Plus for front crash prevention by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). In fact, Subaru is the only manufacturer to have all of its models named Top Safety Picks by the IIHS for six consecutive years (2010-2015). Subaru’s unwavering commitment to quality, safety, performance and durability provides an unsurpassed level of conﬁdence behind the wheel for its customers. OTE Group is the exclusive dealer for Subaru in Oman, with a model line-up that include Impreza, XV, WRX, STI, Outback, Forester & Legacy models. OTE Group has a nationwide network of sales and service outlets offering excellent sales and after-sales service support.

MUSCAT: Continuing its efforts to engage with the community across all spheres, Sohar Aluminium (SA) celebrated Father’s Day by hosting an evening full of fun and learning ‘Let’s have Fun with Sohar Aluminium’ recently. Kids aged from 3 years and above had the opportunity to take part in an attractive array of fun events and to celebrate Father’s Day. The event took place from 8pm to 11.30pm according to Ramadan timing and was attended by around 500 visitors, says a press release. These family oriented events continue SA’s series of Key Stakeholder Engagement Events launched in high footfall locations since 2014 to give a personal face to the industry and constitute an excellent platform to

share the company values. Some of the earlier themes include ‘Road Safety’ and ‘Anti-littering’ with members of the surrounding community. Let’s have Fun with Sohar Aluminium is a novel experience for young ones that raises awareness on various topics that Sohar Aluminium believes in such as safety matters and environment protection in an exciting and jolly atmosphere. Through such events, SA aims to maintain its close ties with the surrounding communities and maximise its positive impact in community services. They also aim to raise awareness among the community by sharing their values on various environmental, health and safety issues.

S O C I A L G AT H E R I N G

GET-TOGETHER

TeO hosts Iftar for employees

Khimji Ramdas hosts annual Iftar MUSCAT: The Khimji Ramdas Group hosted its annual Iftar at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel recently. The event is an extension of Khimji Ramdas’s continued initiatives to unite people in kindness and love for humanity during the holy month of Ramadan, says a press release. “Iftar symbolises a coming to-

gether of different individuals under the universal theme of caring, sharing and solidarity. This may be a once-a-year event, but we are sure that memories of us coming together as an extended family will last for a lifetime,” said Sheikh Kanaksi Khimji. Khimji Ramdas Iftar brings together all company employees

and their families to celebrate this special occasion. There were over 1,000 guests who collectively broke the day’s fast in a symbolic gesture of communal togetherness, characteristic of the spirit of Ramadan. Anil Khimji, director at KR, described the event as a Khimji Ramdas family tradition and a reaffir-

mation of lasting partnerships that draw people from various walks of life into one big circle of friendship and caring. For those present, the Iftar dinner was a time to reaffirm old ties and establish new ones, to raise a toast to new and existing partnerships and above all to spread the season’s message of sharing and generosity.

MUSCAT: Integrated Telecommunications Oman (TeO) held an Iftar party for its employees at Majlis Lounge of Grand Hyatt Hotel. The celebration was attended by TeO’s senior management and the entire staff, says a press release. A senior spokesperson of TeO said: “The holy month of Ramadan is a time of togetherness and a perfect time to show our appre-

ciation to our employees who are integral to our company. “We are on the path of progress and in our journey, our employees are playing a crucial role. Our Iftar get-together was to strengthen our ties with every one of them as we move forward with our dreams and aspirations to provide the finest telecommunication experiences in Oman.”

R A M A D A N C E L E B R AT I O N

Bank Sohar hosts corporate, government clients at Iftar events MUSCAT: In celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, Bank Sohar recently held an Iftar event for its corporate and government clients. The corporate Iftar event was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel while the Iftar for government clients was organised at 360 Degree restaurant. The event aimed to bring together customers and reaffirm Bank Sohar commitment to understand customer needs and

exceed their expectations. The Iftar event was attended by Bank Sohar senior management team in addition to its valued clients, says a press release. Representing Bank Sohar at the Corporate Iftar event were, Rashad Ali Al Musaﬁr, Acting CEO, Sasi Kumar, DGM & Head Strategy and Corporate Business Division, R. Narasimhan, DGM & Head Retail Banking, Mustafa Ali Mukhtar, Sr. assistant general

manager, Large Corporate Banking in addition to other members of Bank Sohar. The second Iftar event attended by government clients saw presence from Sasi Kumar, Jeanan S. Sultan – Sr. AGM, Government Institutions & Public Sector Units, Project Finance & Syndication and in addition to other members of the Bank Sohar. Commenting on bank organising the Iftar events, Rashad Al

Musaﬁr said, “As we mark the blessed days of this holy month, we hosted this event to reiterate our appreciation to our customers for both corporate and government sector as a recognition of their continuous support. In our eighth year of operations in Oman, we have ﬁrmly established a reputation for excellence and we would not be able to arrive at where we are today without the trust of our valued clients.”

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Nissan Sunny now comes with unmatched Ramadan benefits Grand raffle draw The grand raffle draw from Nissan is being held in association with Al Wisal and Merge FM where participants can enter the draw to win a sleek Nissan Altima (2 vehicles to be won); just SMS <Nissan Altima> to 90448. The lucky winner can walk away with a brand new Nissan Altima.

As the best-selling vehicle for four years in a row in the highly competitive subcompact segment, the Sunny could rest on its reputation for value, roominess and mid-size vehicle technology without a mid-size price

MUSCAT: The Nissan Sunny from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles now comes in a refreshed appearance with subtle changes to the styling and the inclusion of new features in the cabin. As the best-selling vehicle for four years in a row in the highly competitive sub-compact segment, the Sunny could rest on its reputation for value, roominess and mid-size vehicle technology without a mid-size price. Yet the quest for constant improvement continues, says a press release.

The Nissan Sunny received an extensive makeover for 2015 that features new front and rear fascia, a range of interior reﬁnements, and new grade level and packaging content. Along with a refreshed exterior and interior styling, the vehicle features standard Bluetooth hands-free phone system. Beneﬁt highlights on Sunny • Scratch and Win (two assured gifts): Customers buying the Nissan Sunny will receive a ‘Scratch & Win’ card which will entitle

them to two assured gifts comprising of free service up to lifetime of the car (minimum assured 1 year/ 10,000km PMS) and free fuel up to OMR1,000 (minimum assured of OMR50). • Cash gifts: Customers will also walk away with assured cash gifts of OMR500 on any Sunny variants. • Unlimited beneﬁts: Nissan assures customers free registration, 6 years’ extended warranty, easy ﬁnancing options, a loan term up to eight years and attractive interest rates. • Additional Ramadan high-

SOCIAL GET-TOGETHER

A refreshed exterior Most prominent of the changes to the Sunny is the bold new front end treatment anchored by larger headlights, a more substantial look-

A refined interior For Nissan Sunny again offers five-passenger practicality with a high degree of comfort and refinement — the perfect combination for commuting on weekdays, running errands on weekends and transporting family and friends all week long. Other enhancements include a new centre stack shape, a revised meter display with white LED display and a new, more substantial, steering wheel with standard audio and Bluetooth hands-free phone system controls. The Sunny features a wide AM/FM/CD audio system with standard auxiliary-in and radio data system (RDS), standard assist grips, a passenger-side vanity mirror and new seat fabric.

CAMARADERIE

Malabar Gold holds Iftar in Salalah MUSCAT: The holy month of Ramadan entered the last week as millions of people around the world honour the month with acts of service and prayers. Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jewellery retailer strengthens its CSR activities in GCC and Far East this Ramadan, embracing the spirit of giving. In Oman, they will distribute 10,000 Iftar kits at different areas such as Ruwi, Muttrah and Salalah throughout Ramadan. As a part of this, an iftar event was organised in Salalah recently at Dhofar club and over 2,000 people were beneﬁted from the same, says a press release. Many dignitaries namely, Najeeb K., Regional Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Muhsin P., Branch Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, and Muneer M., Asst. Branch Head, made the event more blissful by their active participation.

lights: This year Nissan has introduced another exciting lineup of Ramadan beneﬁts for their valued customers. Customers who already own a Nissan model and are making a second purchase will receive additional incentives from SBA where customers enjoy 10,000km additional service, they will receive special interest privilege card and also be eligible for any trade-in beneﬁts. • Special EMI rate: Customers can avail special EMI rate starting from OMR76 on the Nissan Sunny.

Easy financing options SBA designed the Ramadan scheme to add to the pleasure and convenience of owning a Nissan model and ensure hassle and worry-free driving at all times. Nissan customers can also avail easy financing option of a loan term up to 8 years with attractive interest rates from Bank Muscat. Flexible EMIs can also be tailor made for any individual requirement from in-house auto finance team.

ing fascia and standard chrome plating on the grille – all of which strengthen the Nissan stable mates — Sentra, Altima and Maxima. Other exterior design elements include a ﬁxed roof antenna, available blacked-out B-pillars, chrome door handles and front fog lights.

Speaking on the occasion, Najeeb said, “Same like previous years, Malabar Gold & Diamonds will be organising various Iftar events which is an integral component of our CSR especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Our support team will be providing all the assistance needed to ensure the provision of refreshments for all the visitors. Malabar Group undertakes several CSR activities

during the month of Ramadan in association with like-minded organisations to ease the life of residents in the respective country.” The jewellery group hosts Iftar events in various parts of GCCand Far East, by organising a month long activities, in association with like-minded organisations. Over 90,000 residents in GCC and Far East will be beneﬁted by their CSR initiatives this Ramadan.

50 NEW DELIVERY VEHICLES

A’Saffa hosts Iftar for staff MUSCAT: A’Saffa Foods, Oman’s fastest growing and leading home-grown food producers wished their valued employees Ramadan Kareem at a special Iftar event at the Civil Aviation Club’s Marjan Hall recently. The Iftar get-together was attended by the company’s CEO, Dr Nasser Zahir Nasser Al Maawali, board members and staff members of A’Saffa Foods. The Iftar was held as part of the celebration of the holy month of Ramadan where the management took the opportunity to thank each and every staff member for their dedicated support and efforts during the entire year which helped the organisation to spearhead and diversify into new markets, says a press release. Dr Nasser Al Maawali said, “All members of the A’Saffa Food family have worked extremely hard in order to make our growth

and expansion plans a reality. As part of the Ramadan celebration, I take this opportunity to thank and honour our employees for their hardwork and appreciate the efforts they have undertaken towards A’Saffa Foods.” As a business A’Saffa Foods has always put healthy eating at the top of their agenda ensuring they deliver to the Omani public the very best quality and halal products. The company believes that

their products offer real halal to their growing customers here and in the region ensuring an authentic and credible product to families who buy our frozen and fresh range of A’Saffa Foods products. When consumers buy A’Saffa fresh and frozen chicken or from the brand’s delicacies range they are assured of giving their families the very best products to help promote and support a healthy lifestyle.

LU X U RY WAT C H

DHL Express Oman expands fleet New Rolex models: Authentic MUSCAT: In the direction of its vision of expanding services in Oman, DHL Express Oman celebrates the addition of 50 new delivery trucks to its fleet. This comes as part of DHL’s endeavour to develop and update delivery services and keep in pace with the development of transportation sector in Oman. The event was attended by Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express Middle East and North Africa, Ali Thabet, General Manager of DHL Express Oman, as well as other high ranking officials and employees, says a press release. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express Middle East and North Africa commented on the addition of 50 delivery trucks to the fleet of DHL Express Oman saying: “DHL ensures to constantly develop its fleet across all its divisions worldwide to remain the market leader in the logistic services industry. Coping with the company’s vision, today we are celebrating the addition of 50 new trucks to our fleet in Oman which will surely contribute in enhancing our services in the Sultanate in line with our strategic vision.” DHL Express ensures to im-

watchmaking masterpieces

prove its delivery system to cater the needs of clients and to keep up with the rapid development of shipping and express transportation sector. “Our celebration of the addition of 50 new delivery trucks today is a milestone in the expansion plans for the company in Oman. The expansion will keep pace with the transportation sector development in Oman,” said Ali. Ali also noted that the company provides services to different sectors including banks, oil and gas

companies, factories, individuals, and SMEs. The expansion of the ﬂeet will play a role in providing job opportunities for Omanis. DHL is a global network with of more than 100,000 employee, working in over 4,000 service center and using over 32,000 delivery trucks. DHL offers customers superior service quality delivered via over 250 large and mid-jets. DHL has three international Sort Centres that work on distributing deliveries across more than 500 airports worldwide.

MUSCAT: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Pearlmaster in new 39 mm size and 18ct yellow or white gold models masterfully combine Rolex’s watchmaking art with the captivating natural charms of gold and coloured gemstones. These exquisite jewellery watches which incorporate the new calibre 3235, are distinguished by a resplendent bezel set with a colour gradient of 48 baguette-cut sapphires – blue to fuchsia pink on the 18 ct white gold version; blue to green, or orange to yellow on the 18ct yellow gold versions. These three models with pink, green and orange sapphire bezels are offered with coloured dials featuring a diamond-set 6 and 9, or in versions with fully paved dials and diamond-set bracelets, says a press release. All sapphires and diamonds are selected according to rigorous criteria and then set in keeping with the ﬁnest traditions to ensure the most intense radiance. Rolex has its own gemmology labora-

tory where experienced specialists check the quality of precious stones using state-of-the-art equipment. The gems are then entrusted to the in-house master gem-setters, experts in the art of exalting the stones’ natural lustre. Rolex also has its own foundry, which creates 18 ct yellow, white and everose gold alloys from the purest raw materials. From casting the gold to shaping and polishing it, the entire process is conducted with extreme care in the brand’s workshops in order to respect Rolex standards of quality. Thanks to

such comprehensive in-house expertise and stringent benchmarks at all stages of production, Rolex gem-set watches shine with incomparable magniﬁcence. The new Datejust Pearlmaster is equipped with a new-generation movement, calibre 3235, entirely developed and manufactured by Rolex for a superlative level of performance. This new self-winding mechanical movement is at the forefront of the art of watchmaking. To view the various Rolex collections in Oman, visit the Khimji’s Watches showroom.

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

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Mercedes-Benz Oman records outstanding sales in Q2 2015

With models performing well across the board, the undoubted stand-out performer in Q2 2015 was the sleek and muscular S-Class Coupé

MUSCAT: Building on its incredible success in Q1 2015, Zawawi Trading Company, the Authorised General Distributor for MercedesBenz in Oman, has announced yet another quarter of outstanding sales results posting a 13% growth year-on-year and an increase of 18% year-to-date. “We are delighted to have achieved another period of tremendous growth. This success is a testament to the strength of the Mercedes-Benz line-up, the rigorous implementation of our vision of best customer experience, and a market in pursuit of luxury, with an insatiable appetite for the unparalleled Mercedes-Benz lifestyle,” commented Clive Ham-

We are delighted to have achieved another period of tremendous growth Clive Hammond CEO Zawawi Trading CompanyAutomotive

mond, CEO Zawawi Trading Company-Automotive. With models performing well across the board, the undoubted stand-out performer in Q2 2015 was the sleek and muscular SClass Coupé, which recorded an incredible 200% growth year-onyear. The iconic S-Class continued its upward trend with a 20% growth for Q2. Other star performers were the thoroughbred ‘one man, one engine’ AMG performance cars which registered an exceptional 54.2% increase compared to the same period in 2014 and a 64% growth year-to-date. Posting strong ﬁgures too this quarter were the family-friendly GL and the ‘Made for Oman’ GLK,

both up by 30% on Q2 2014. The ML also proved extremely popular achieving a 25% growth. Sales for the New Avant-Garde CLA and the ﬁrst crossover GLA, are on track to reach, and exceed, target in 2015 with the CLA ahead of our planned target and orders in the GLA gaining momentum since is market availability. The stylish C-Class, has forward orders up by almost 50% from this time last year. Two extraordinary vehicles According to Hammond, Q3 looks to be another strong period for Mercedes-Benz with the introduction of two extraordinary vehicles — the trail-blazing GLC and the dynamic GLE Coupé.

DINING EXPERIENCE

Nando’s opens 3rd outlet in Avenues Mall MUSCAT: Nando’s Oman has opened its new flagship outlet in the heart of the Oman Avenues Mall, one of the Sultanate’s most prominent commercial spaces. Depicting a strong sense of South African culture, the restaurant is the biggest and third in Oman, adorned with a natural feel and rustic concept, coupled with a worldrenowned dining experience built to international standards, says a press release. “It is important to continually bring something new to the table, and with our range of original features we have definitely added some flavour to the local food and beverage industry,” said Jannat Moosa, marketing director at Bin Mirza International. “Alongside design specialists from the United Kingdom, artists were commissioned to deliver 35 contemporary works that would complement our combination of themes through a diverse look at life in South Africa. Our latest family-friendly offering is accompanied with table service for greater convenience, in addition to a wider variety of sauces, new addition of deserts and drinks; it could be said that ‘the neighbourhood will never be the same again.” Moosa went on to explain some of the new elements of the restaurant, notably a separate café style area that serves deliciously tasty treats and soft-scoop gelato, and the restaurant’s new state-of-the-art lighting technology. For spatial efficiency and a more social option, customers can also opt to sit at a communal table at the 140 seat restaurant, surrounded by the warmth of reclaimed wood, and a stylish, custommade copper feature, flowing throughout the dining areas. Despite plans to further extend its menu later in the year, guests can already indulge in flamed grilled PERi PERi chicken.

MEMORABLE EVENT

The Wave hosts annual Suhoor MUSCAT: The Wave, Muscat, hosted its annual staff Suhoor gathering at Almouj Golf Restaurant. Marking the holy month of Ramadan, the team enjoyed a memorable evening, celebrating the thriving waterfront community’s continuous milestones. An annual event on The Wave’s calendar, the Suhoor falls within The Wave’s strategy to strengthen the ties between its employees amongst its various facilities.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM .COM TU ES DAY, JU LY 14, 20 015 15

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SPOR YOUR GAME

MUSTAFIZUR EARNS MAIDEN TEST CALL-UP Bangladesh’s teenage fast bowler Mustaﬁzur Rahman has been rewarded for his strong limited overs performances with a call-up to the squad for next week’s ﬁrst Test against South Africa. >C2

ODI SERIES

India look to sweep clean

WINNING EXIT: Oman national beach soccer team who scored their ﬁrst win on world stage. - Fifa

Oman trounce Costa Rica for maiden victory While it was a ﬁrst victory for Oman at the global ﬁnals at the sixth time of asking, Costa Rica remain without a Beach Soccer World Cup victory as both head for home

MUSCAT: Oman picked up their first ever Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Group B’s meeting of the already-eliminated sides, with the Asians seeing off Costa Rica 7-2. According to report posted on Fifa.com, a tight opening period with only Hani Al Dhabit’s goal to show for it was followed by a free-scoring final two periods, with goals from Yahya Al Araimi, Ghaith Al Alawi and Danny Johnson after the first break followed by further strikes from Al Araimi,

CELEBRATION: Yahya Al Araimi, right, celebartes with Abdullah Al Sauti after scoring a goal. – Fifa

Al Dhabat, an Ishaq Al Qassmi brace and Johnson in the final period. While it was a first victory for Oman at the global finals at the sixth time of asking, Costa Rica remain without a Beach Soccer World Cup victory as they head for home. Both sides have provided memorable moments though, least of all nine goals in this final, thrilling send-off in a packed stadium in Espinho. Costa Rica fought hard but was unable to overcome the determined Omani side Hani Dhabit opened Oman’s account in the third minute of

ﬁrst period, but thereafter there no goals. However, Yahya Al Araimi came into the picture in the early part of the second period (16th minute), but Danny Johnson of Costa Rica pulled one back two minutes later. In three seconds, Gaith Al Alawi shot one more for Oman, followed by Yahya Al Araimi’s goal in the 25th minute and immediately Hani Al Dhabit converting a penalty and Danny once again sneaking one more goal (penalty) for Costa Rica. The last period saw Ishaq Al Qasmi scoring a brace for a convincing 7-2 win for Oman.

HARARE: After suffering two back-to-back defeats against a second string Indian side, Zimbabwe know they have to somehow clinch the third and last One-Day International (ODI) and avoid a brownwash to carry some momentum into the Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) as the two teams lock horns here on Tuesday. The hosts have already lost the series but going into the dead rubber they would still have their tails up as they gave the mighty Indians a run for their money in the first game here on Friday at the Harare Sports Club. It was a thriller in which the visitors pulled of a breathtaking victory, only by four runs. Elton Chigumbura scored a valiant unbeaten 104 but failed to take his side home. However, their batting did click, and with the leather they restricted India to only 255/6. In the second ODI two days later, India put on a formidable total of 271/8. The hosts however, failed to hunt down the total as pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept chipping away at the wickets and finally ended up with figures of 4/33. India won by 62 runs. Going into the third ODI, the men in ‘tomato red’ shirts would know they have to play out of their skins to clinch the contest, as the non-regulars in the Indian side will be trying to grab hold of anything and everything that comes their way to cement their places in the team which could mean some blazing cricket from the visiting outfit. The head-to-head also favour the Indians as they have clinched 47 out of 59 games and lost only 10. The newest Indian skipper Ajinkya Rahane has so far led his side well. He has kept his cool and brought in the bowling changes as and when they were required. He has also been amongst the runs with scores of 34 and 63. Others in the top order have also performed to their potential. Sanju Samson in Baroda batsman Ambati Rayadu smashed his way to 124 runs in the first ODI and then followed it up

GOOD GOING: Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane, centre, leads his team off the ﬁeld after winning the second ODI game against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club. – AFP

Kerala’s wicketkeeperbatsman Sanju Samson has been called in as replacement for injured Ambati Rayudu with a knock of 41 but he will miss the rest of the tour due to an injury. Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has been called in as his replacement. The bowling has been a little wobbly at times, but nonetheless they have delivered the goods when required, Bhuvneshwar,

Stuart Binny and veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh have all been amongst wickets. However, the Zimbabweans with their backs to the wall and nothing to lose would come out all guns blazing, banking on their arsenal which consist of batsmen like Chigumbura, Hamilton Masakadza and Chamu Chibhabha and bowlers — Neville Madziva, Donald Tiripano and Brian Vitori — who have thus far been quite impressive with the leather. But if the Indians continue their rollicking form and pocket the third ODI too, then they would cement themselves on the second spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings for the next month. - IANS

TUE S DAY, JU LY 14, 2 015

SPORTS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

D-day for tainted teams of the IPL Cricket circles are abuzz with speculation that Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be suspended, but leading sports writer Ayaz Memon predicted that the two would get away with heavy ﬁnes

NEW DELHI: Two teams from cricket’s Indian Premier League could be banned from the glitzy Twenty20 tournament when a Supreme Court-appointed panel hands down its sentence on Tuesday on a corruption scandal. Officials from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals have already been found guilty of betting on matches and their respective teams now face heavy sanctions after an inquiry that also tainted International Cricket Council supremo Narayanaswami Srinivasan. An outright ban on the two former champions would be a devastating blow to what is only an eight-team tournament, and observers say former chief justice Rajendra Mal Lodha, who heads the three-man panel, is more likely to announce heavy ﬁnes. Lodha was appointed head of the sentencing panel in January after the Supreme Court had found Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra and CSK’s Gurunath Meiyappan guilty of betting on the outcome of matches in 2013. The court had rejected the claims of Meiyappan, who had previously been described as team principal, that he was merely an enthusiast. The court also ruled at the same time that Srinivasan, who is Meiyappan’s father-in-law, would be banned from holding any post in the

Officials from the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals have already been found guilty of betting on matches and their respective teams now face heavy sanctions after an inquiry that also tainted ICC supremo Narayanaswami Srinivasan Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), where he served as the president for three years from 2011. Stars await verdict The outcome could have major financial consequences for some of cricket’s biggest names as CSK are captained by India’s ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni while Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith is at the helm of the Rajastan Royals. The Royals are coached by Indian great Rahul Dravid. Cricket circles are abuzz with speculation that the two teams will be suspended, but leading sports writer Ayaz Memon predicted that the franchises would get away with heavy fines. “I can’t see them being banned because that could ruin the entire tournament and have a ripple effect on sponsors and broadcasters,” Memon told AFP. “There is too much at stake. My thinking is they will be fined heavily.” The 2013 IPL season was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several officials and cricketers, including former Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

The IPL, a domestic tournament which began in 2008, features the world’s top players signed up for huge fees by companies and highprofile individuals in a mix of sport and entertainment. But it has been continuously dogged by corruption allegations and Hiken Shah, a player from Mumbai, was suspended indefinitely on Monday over an approach he made to an unnamed team-mate before this year’s tournament in April-May. The hugely popular Chennai Super Kings are also the most successful team in the IPL, having won the tournament in 2010 and 2011, and finished runners-up in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015. Rajasthan won the inaugural event in 2008 under the captaincy of Shane Warne, but have failed to make the final since then. The Lodha panel has also been empowered to recommend changes in the BCCI constitution, but this is expected to be taken up at a later date. International news organisations including Agence France-Presse have suspended on-field coverage of matches hosted by the BCCI since 2012 after the board imposed restrictions on picture agencies. - AFP

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C O M M E N TA RY

Needed: At least a Sehwag lookalike

ow that India have wrapped up the ODI series against Zimbabwe 2-0, now that the second victory the tourists have posted is more convincing than the last-ball win in the first match, and now that the third and final game of the series scheduled for today is an opportunity to drive home the Indian point a bit more ruthlessly, it’s perhaps time to take a look at what has been on offer and how that’s going to help Team India plan, prepare and perform against better opponents and on bigger stages. From a cricket fan’s point of view, the last two matches were so boring to watch that one could take as many coffee breaks as one liked without really feeling guilty of missing the action. These are times we hope against hope to spot at least a Virender Sehwag lookalike walking out to the middle with whoever it’s to open the innings. There was little in terms of fun and excitement as both Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane played to their plan, which actually was about doing themselves well to send a message to Indian team selectors. Having completely messed up the opportunity in the first ODI, Vijay was so determined to hang on that he scored just 11 runs off the first 30 balls he faced in the second. Rahane, on the other hand, knew his best chance to make the selectors rethink their Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma formula was not by way of being a Sehwag but by simply being himself, trying to spend time in the company of everyone in the Indian eleven and until the last ball of the innings was delivered and dealt with.

PENALISED

BCCI suspends domestic player for fixing approach MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board suspended Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah with immediate effect on Monday for offering money to a player to influence a game in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL). Shah, who does not play in IPL, made the approach to his unidentified first-class cricket team mate who represents Rajasthan Royals in the lucrative Twenty20 league, the Indian board (BCCI) said in a statement. The player, identified by local media as Mumbai leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, reported the approach to his team, who forwarded the case to BCCI’s AntiCorruption and Security Unit. “His involvement in any form of cricket affiliated with the BCCI stands suspended till the time the disciplinary committee of the BCCI passes appropriate orders,” the board said. Shah, 30, has played 37 firstclass matches for Mumbai, averaging over 42 with six hundreds. “BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in the game of cricket,” board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said. “We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game.” Rajasthan is not alien to the threat of spot-fixing after former India paceman Sreesanth and two others from the team were arrested in 2013 on suspicion of taking money to concede a fixed number of runs. — Reuters

In the end, the strategy adopted by the openers seemed to have paid off as India went past the 100-runs-milestone without losing a wicket even after the half way mark of the innings. If anyone thinks it’s no big deal, he needs to take a glance at the scoreboard in the first game to enjoy a pleasant shock: India were five down at the end of the 25th over for a soulless, spineless 89 runs. Still, the question is: has Vijay or, for that matter, Rahane been able to wake the selectors up? Their innings were tasteless enough to put even the staunchest supporter of Team India to sleep. Such lackluster displays of purpose suck the life out of the game: it’s about winning when it’s against Australia, true, but it’s about how you win when it’s against teams like Zimbabwe. I’m not suggesting this forgetting the fact the series against Bangladesh was about losing, and how meek you could get when what you thought was lamb turned out to be lion. That shock factor, orchestrated and delivered left-handedly by that tall, lanky guy who made his debut (Mustafizur Rahman), was what spiced up the series after India had lost the first game by 79 runs chasing a target of 308. The opening pains part apart, the bench-strength being tested now showed disappointing results. Manoj Tiwary and Kedar Jadhav will need a lot more international match

experience before they come good, but how they are going to squeeze themselves even onto the bench seems to be a distant dream when guys like Rahane and Ambati Rayudu find themselves sitting in the change room visualizing themselves, as Rayudu would confess, “playing out there”. The best bet to emerge from this Zimbabwe tour experiment is that much-maligned guy called Stuart Binny. Of all those who had said, before they boarded the flight to Harare, they would make the best out of the opportunity handed to them, Binny seemed to have played his part, though not with the kind of perfection that could spice up his life in the middle. He thoroughly enjoyed the chance to get to the wicket with a mouth-watering 25 overs still to go, and used his bat to offer the best entertainment so far of the tour that, incidentally, helped India post a target in excess of 250. In the second match, his breezy knock added the needed punch to the scoreboard. If only he could do better with the ball so he could walk into the No7 slot vacated by Ravindra Jadeja. Disgusting for fans who hoped for massacres. Disappointing for the players who wanted to tweet some messages. That’s the story so far. Could today’s final ODI game and the two T20 matches put some fizz into this African soft drink? The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

BANGLADESH SQUAD

Mustafizur earns maiden Test call-up DHAKA: Bangladesh’s teenage fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been rewarded for his strong limited overs performances with a call-up to the squad for next week’s first Test against South Africa. The 19-year-old left-arm paceman made his international debut in the three-match series against two-time world champions India in June and his 13 wickets meant Bangladesh won their first series against their neighbours. Mustafizur stunned the top Indian batsmen with his control and change of pace, winning the man-of-the-series award, and on Sunday it was the South Africans who found themselves on the receiving end in their second ODI. He took 3-38 as South Africa were bundled out for 162, their lowest score against the hosts. Bangladesh went on to thrash the tourists by seven wickets and level the series at 1-1. Mustafizur will replace Abul Hasan in the squad that was named for last month’s drawn test against India. “He (Mustafizur) has shown already what he is capable of and possibly he has been the brightest find for us in recent times,” Bangladesh chairman of selectors Faruque Ahmed said. “He has also been playing all versions of cricket this season including four day games and we are confident that he will adjust quickly to the demands of test cricket. “His inclusion means that Abul Hasan has to miss out from the squad that we had in our last test but Mustafizur deserves his call.”

TEEN TALENT: Mustaﬁzur Rahman of Bangladesh

Spin-bowling all-rounder Mahmudullah, who missed the India series with a finger injury, replaced Shuvagata Hom as the only other change in the squad. “Obviously his return adds depth in the batting order and some vital experience,” Faruque added. “His off-spin can also be effective and he can do the job that was expected of Shuvagata Hom who played against India. “We have a reasonably settled squad and we prefer to give the young players a good run. “The bowling has variety in pace and spin. “As we are playing at home therefore we have the luxury of picking squads test by test but this is the best combination we have.” The first Test is in Chittagong from July 21 before the second and final match in Mirpur begins on July 30. - Reuters

T UESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

SPORTS Australia coach glad of tight turnaround The second Test at Lord’s begins

You’d hope so at the ‘home of cricket. I’d just like to see you be able to bowl a bouncer on day one. That’d be nice, but that’s okay

on Thursday and Lehmann said: “From our point of view it’s more of a case of a good, short turnaround for us”

CARDIFF: Australia coach Darren Lehmann believes the fact there are only four days between the first and second Ashes Tests will help his side recover from their heavy defeat by England in the series opener. Ashes-holders Australia lost the first Test with more than a day to spare as England won by 169 runs at Cardiff ’s Sophia Gardens on Saturday. The second Test at Lord’s begins on Thursday and Lehmann said: “From our point of view it’s more of a case of a good, short turnaround for us. “I think that’s an excellent opportunity for us to get back in to it and learn from our mistakes and play better next Test match around. Yes they’re one-up, but it’s a long series as we know,” the former Australia batsman added. Australia have not won an Ashes series after losing the first Test since their 1997 tour of England

Darren Lehmann Australia coach

and indeed haven’t won a Test series in England for 14 years. But Lehmann tried to downplay the Cardiff defeat by labelling it a “minor hiccup”, although he said Australia had been outplayed. “They (England) were better. Full stop. Better in all three disciplines -- they caught everything,” said Lehmann. “It’s a minor hiccup and now we’ve got to get back to it in four days time and play better than we have and show the discipline you require to make big runs on these type of wickets and bat a lot longer. “There was some good bowling from England, there’s no doubt about that, full credit to them. But our batters could probably stay in a little bit longer with shot selec-

tion I’d say. “But having said that, they’re quality players and they’ll come back well.” There had been talk before the series regarding the possibility of England preparing pitches to nullify the threat of Australia’s fast bowlers -- something former England wicket-keeper Matt Prior dismissed as a joke. Cardiff has long been renowned as a slow and low pitch although, if anything, it was quicker than when Australia last played a Test at Sophia Gardens in 2009. However, Lehmann hoped there would be more pace in the pitch at Lord’s. “You’d hope so at the ‘home of cricket’,” he said. “I’d just like to see you be able to bowl a bouncer

on day one. That’d be nice, but that’s okay.” Mitchell Johnson took 37 wickets at under 14 apiece during Australia’s 5-0 thrashing of England during the last Ashes campaign in 2013/14. But the left-arm fast bowler was not at his best in Cardiff, where his two wickets in the match cost 180 runs. Lehmann, however, said he saw signs of improvement throughout the match. “I think Mitch got better as the game went on. I thought he was better in the second innings (two for 69 in 16 overs compared to none for 111 in 25 in the ﬁrst).” “At the end of the day he’s a class bowler. If he gets it right, he can certainly run through sides.” - AFP

TEST SERIES

England still blinking after perfect Ashes start LONDON: England left Cardiff on Sunday in a state of surprised euphoria after producing a nearperfect performance to crush Australia in the ﬁrst Ashes test. The touring side’s shellshocked captain Michael Clarke admitted his team had been outplayed in all three facets of the game as England powered to a 169-run victory inside four days. The Australians side had been strong favourites to follow up their 5-0 drubbing of England Down Under less than two years ago with another series win but going into the second game at Lord’s this week the tables have turned sharply. England named an unchanged squad while Australia have serious question marks over injured fast bowler Mitchell Starc, lbwcursed all-rounder Shane Watson and 37-year-old wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who endured a difﬁcult game in Cardiff. Australia usually lift their game at the home of cricket, although they have lost their last two tests at Lord’s in 2009 and 2013. The touring side’s bowling attack lacked control in Cardiff and, with Ryan Harris having retired, they may be tempted to recall Peter Siddle who has the experience to utilise the famous slope at the London ground from Thursday. The Australian batsmen must also knuckle down.

GREAT START: England players are ecstatic after the win at Cardiff. – Reuters

Chris Rogers made a fluent 95 in the first innings in Cardiff and David Warner and Mitchell Johnson hit contrasting half centuries in the second but too many batters got out after making a start. The England batsmen, in stark contrast, put significant numbers on the board and in quick time. Joe Root, dropped on nought by Haddin, compiled a brilliant 134

on the first day to set the tone and Gary Ballance dug in for a gritty 61 before Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali plundered quickfire half-centuries. Second time around Ian Bell and Root passed fifty while Stokes and Mark Wood produced spirited cameos to sap the strength of the wilting Australian attack. England played aggressive cricket in the first test and, under

new coach Trevor Bayliss, they will look to continue in that vein. Cook out-manoeuvred Clarke with bold tactical decisions in Cardiff and most of them worked. The Australians must come up with a different game-plan to put pressure on the hosts, otherwise they may ﬁnd themselves 2-0 down in the series with three matches to play. - Reuters

ASHES

Bayliss tells Cook to play his own game CARDIFF: Trevor Bayliss may have told England they needed to “fight fire with fire” if they are to regain the Ashes, but the team’s new Australian coach does not want captain Alastair Cook to change his batting style. Bayliss’s first game in charge saw England thrash Australia by 169 runs in the first Test in Cardiff on Saturday with more than a day to spare as they went 1-0 up in the five-match Ashes series. Cook, often criticised for formulaic leadership, saw just about every one of his bowling and fielding changes pay off at Sophia Gardens. He also held three catches, in-

cluding a stunning effort in an unusual short mid-wicket position to dismiss Brad Haddin on Saturday. The one downside for Cook was that the opening batsman added just 32 runs in all to his tally of 9,000 which had already seen the 30-year-old left-hander become England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. Cook, as if conscious of the need to buy into the ‘attacking’ mindset which served England well during a preceding one-day series win over New Zealand for which he was not selected, appeared keener to go down the pitch to off-spinner Nathan Lyon more often than

in previous Ashes contests. But former Sri Lanka and New South Wales coach Bayliss said there was no need for either Cook or the experienced Ian Bell, who enjoyed a welcome return to form with a second-innings 60 at Sophia Gardens, to abandon the methods that had brought them a combined 49 hundreds in Test cricket. “My message to Alastair Cook is to go out and play his own way,” said Bayliss on Sunday. “Certainly, people like Alastair and ‘Belly’ have scored plenty of Test hundreds. “My advice to them would be to go out and bat like you always

have done. “Those two guys are class players and can change their game to suit any situation. The rest of the guys can bat around them.” England, looking to regain the Ashes after a humiliating 5-0 defeat in Australia in 2013/14, will head to Lord’s for the second Test on Thursday with an unchanged 13-man squad — fast bowler Steven Finn and uncapped leg-spinner Adil Rashid again joining the Cardiff XI. Bayliss believes his side will arrive at the ‘home of cricket’ having understood what he means by aggressive cricket. — AFP

TUE S DAY, JULY 14, 2 015

SPORTS Stronger, fresher Chris Froome in command as Pyrenees loom Basso quits Tour due to ailment

Starting with Tuesday’s 10th stage, three treks in the Pyrenees and four in the Alps hold the keys to a race on which Froome already has a ﬁrm grip

PAU: Chris Froome is fresher, better prepared and stronger than he was when he won the Tour de France in 2013. The Briton enters the mountainous part of this year’s race with the overall leader’s yellow jersey on his back after avoiding the pitfalls of a treacherous ﬁrst week. Starting with Tuesday’s 10th stage, three treks in the Pyrenees and four in the Alps hold the keys to a race on which Froome already has a ﬁrm grip. Froome, who crashed out of last year’s Tour, leads American Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) by 12 seconds. Spain’s Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo, +1:03), Colombian Nairo Quintana (Movistar, 1:59) and defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Astana, +2:22) are further back and will need to attack, possibly anticipate a probable brutal ac-

ENJOYING NATURE: Great Britain’s Christopher Froome poses for photographers during a rest day as part of the 102nd edition of the Tour de France cycling race. – AFP

celeration by Froome in Tuesday’s final ascent to La Pierre St Martin. “I expect Nairo Quintana to start trying to gain time, but if you’re one of those big GC (general classification) contenders and you’re losing time on an almost daily basis, it has to be quite a negative thing within the team and morale can’t be good,” a hugely confident Froome told a news conference on the first rest day of the race on Monday. “This year I feel as if I’ve come in much fresher, a lot more mentally prepared and I feel as if I’m getting stronger in this year’s race.

“Now it’s up to other teams to put the pressure on us. This is the heart of the race now. This is where all the action’s going to be happening, we’re going to see who has done their homework, who has got what in the mountains.” Quintana, second in the 2013 Tour, has been widely regarded as the best climber of the pack and he and Spain’s Alejandro Valverde, who is also in the mix in the overall standings, could play a team card to unsettle Froome. “Another Tour starts tomorrow,” Quintana told a news conference. “Starting from tomorrow the Tour

can be won and it can be lost.” Quintana, like Contador, will be expected to produce ﬁreworks and the quiet Van Garderen will be hoping to weather the storm and see where it takes him. “I don’t think my strength is going to be to wipe the road like Quintana or Contador,” he told a news conference. “Those guys to me are probably going to get nervous and are go jump, jump, jump whereas I can stay a little bit more calm and if those guys wear themselves out, in the third week, my consistency can be a factor.” - Reuters

PAU: Former Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso withdrew from the Tour de France on Monday after revealing he has testicular cancer. “Unfortunately I have a bad announcement to give to you guys,” the 37-year-old Italian told a news conference on the first rest day of this year’s Tour. “I crashed in the fifth stage and I felt pain in my left testicle and yesterday we spoke with the doctor of the Tour de France and we decided to do some analysis to the hospital and the examination gave me bad news,” said Basso, who was addressing the media ahead of his Tinkoff-Saxo team leader Alberto Contador of Spain. “I have a small cancer in the left testicle so it’s easy to understand I have to stop and go back to Italy.” Basso was to undergo surgery in Milan on Tuesday. Contador, who is attempting a rare Giro/Tour de France double, would not discuss the race, in which he sits fifth overall, one minute three seconds behind leader Chris Froome. “I have grown closer to Ivan in the past weeks and this is terrible news,” said Contador, with tears in his eyes.

Basso looked on course for Tour glory when he won the white jersey for the best Under-25 rider in 2002, in an era dominated by the disgraced Lance Armstrong, a testicular cancer survivor. “Thinking about Ivan Basso and wishing him the very best as he embarks on his cancer journey,” Armstrong said on Twitter. He never won the world’s greatest race, however, ﬁnishing third and second overall in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Basso won the Giro twice — his only grand tour titles — thanks to impressive climbing performances. His career, however, was stained with a two-year ban for his implication in the Operation Puerto blooddoping scandal. Basso admitted to “attempted doping” in 2007 and was hit by a backdated suspension. He won the Giro less than two years after his comeback from suspension but only managed seventh in the 2007 Tour. He was one of Contador’s lieutenants on this year’s Tour having helped the Spaniard win the Giro last month. - Reuters

TOUR DE FRANCE

Quintana counting on climbs to claw back time PAU: Nairo Quintana said on Monday he is banking on his strength in the mountains to claw back the time he lost to Tour de France leader Chris Froome over the first week. The Colombian climber arrived at Monday’s rest day almost two minutes behind Briton Froome at ninth in the overall standings. But the 25-year-old is widely regarded as the best climber in the world and once the mountains begin on Tuesday, he expects to start eating into Froome’s advantage. “Froome is physically very strong, but I’m also in good form and we’re going to try to do all we can to make up the difference,” said the Movistar team leader. “Up until now he’s gained small victories but on short climbs that require a lot of strength, which have nothing to do with climbs that are coming.” The first of those will be Tuesday’s hors category finish at La Pierre-Saint Martin -- a 15.3km climb at an average gradient of 7.4 percent, which is much more to Quintana’s liking. “It’s a fairly consistent climb,

STAYING FOCUSSED: Movistar rider Nairo Quintana of Colombia crosses the ﬁnish line of the 28 km (17.4 miles) team time-trial 9th stage of the 102nd Tour de France. – Reuters

very tough, in which the temperature will play an important role, and it’s expected to be very hot,” said Quintana. And he added, smiling: “I always enjoy the big climbs.” Quintana lost a handful of seconds to Froome on the opening stage individual timetrial, the third stage ﬁnish on the Mur de Huy and Sunday’s team timetrial.

But he gave up a minute and a half on the second stage in which crosswinds caused havoc as he was caught up behind a crash. Yet he managed to avoid losing any more time on the potentially perilous cobbled fourth stage. He says he is happy with his current position because he expected it to be even worse

ahead of the mountains. “I would have signed up for this gap (before the Tour started) because the ﬁrst week wasn’t easy,” he said. “Although it’s true that the cobbles weren’t as difficult as I thought. I got over them well with the help of the team who kept me calm.” - AFP

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SPORTS

AL NAFEESA JEWELLERS CLINCH 6TH AL TURKI/NMC KNOCK-OUT CUP 2015 Al Nafeesa Jewellers defeated Abu Dhabi Travel by 7 runs to clinch the 6th Al Turki/NMC Knock-out Cup 2015 and walk away with the trophy and US$800. Abu Dhabi Travel too pocketed US$400 and trophy. Osman Chandi of Al Nafeesa was adjudged the man of the ﬁnal and best batsman of the tournament, while Farhan Khan of Al Nafeesa was adjudged the man of the tournament and Lucky of the same team the best bowler. Fair Play trophy went to Martin of National Gas. In the ﬁnal Osman Chandi (37) helped Al Nafeesa to 68 for 5 and in reply Abu Dhabi Travel could manage only 61 for 4. — Supplied photo

Never thought would win Wimbledon crown: Nagal It’s fabulous winning the Wimbledon title and it’s one of the oldest and biggest tournaments, so it’s great to win the trophy, says boys singles winner Sumit Nagal of India

LONDON: After holding aloft the Wimbledon boys’ doubles trophy here, Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal said he never thought he would be able to achieve this rare feat. In the neck-and-neck summit clash on Sunday, Nagal and his Vietnamese partner Nam Hoang Ly beat Reily Opelka and Akira Santillan 7-6(4), 6-4 on No.1 Court of the All England Club. “It’s fabulous winning the Wimbledon title. It’s one of the oldest and biggest tournaments, so it’s great to win the trophy. I never thought I would be able to do anything like this ever,” Nagal was quoted as saying by television channel NDTV. “It doesn’t matter if it’s singles or doubles, I am just glad that I have won it.” The 17-year-old also said that coming from India and winning

PROUD BOY: File photo of India’s Sumit Nagal who won the boys singles crown at Wimbledon.

the title makes it even more special. “After coming from such a big country like India, winning the trophy is even more special,” the New Delhi lad said. Asked what was going through his mind in the topsy-turvy encounter, he said: “I was just worrying as to who would eventually succeed in holding the cup. I was thinking - Are we going to kiss it? I am just glad it is over.” Both pairs broke each other once to push the ﬁrst set in to the tie-breaker where Nagal and Ly proved a tad bit better to win the set and take the lead in the match. The eighth seeds were offered only one breakpoint opportunity in the second set which they grabbed with open hands to get the break of serve and win the set and the match. The New Delhi-born, righthanded player had also entered the boys’ singles competition. However, he was ousted from the category in only the opener when

he lost to Argentinean Juan Pablo Ficovich in three sets. Applause Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, current Test skipper Virat Kohli and tennis ace Mahesh Bhupati expressed their delight as three compatriots won their respective titles at Wimbledon. Leander Paes, Sania Mirza and Sumit Nagal lifted the coveted silverware in their respective categories at the All England Club over the weekend. Paes, partnering Swiss veteran Martina Hingis, beat Austrian Alexander Peya and Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-1, 6-1 to win the mixed doubles title here on Sunday. India’s Sumit Nagal, 17, etched his name in the history books the same day by winning the boys’ doubles title with Vietnamese partner Nam Hoang Ly when they beat American-Japanese fourth seeds Reilly Opelka and Akira Santillan 7-6(4), 6-4.

Mirza, on the other hand, won her maiden women’s doubles title by clinching the Wimbledon crown with Hingis when they overcame Russian second seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 5-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 on Saturday night. Indian double’s star Bhupathi tweeted: “@Leander @ MirzaSania #SumitNagal big effort making it an Indian summer at @Wimbledon.” Tendulkar, who is a regular visitor at the world’s oldest tennis tournament, tweeted: “Congratulations Sumit Nagal on the Wimbledon Junior Doubles title. This is just the beginning.... Work hard and follow your dreams. Congratulations @Leander & @mhingis! Kudos to Leander on another Grand Slam title! You have been a terriﬁc role model for youngsters.” Kohli tweeted: “Girl Power. Congratulations @MirzaSania and @mhingis. What a comeback from 1 set down #Champions #Wimbledon2015.” Even Rohan Bopanna, who lost in the men’s doubles semi-ﬁnals last week, wrote: “Saniaaaaaa wohoooooooooo, what a tremendous achievement. Congrats to Martina and you, Just brilliant. @MirzaSania @mhingis .#Wimbledon2015.” Cricketers Mohammed Kaif and Harbhajan Singh also congratulated the victors. “One person who repeatedly proves “age is just a number, Well done @Leander!” Kaif wrote while Harbhajan posted: “Congratulation to my friend @Leander for winning the mix title at Wimbledon 2015. Proud of you. Jai hind.” - Agencies

CRICKET

Rossouw ﬁned for Tamim contact DHAKA: South African batsman Rilee Rossouw has been ﬁned 50 percent of his match fee for a code of conduct breach during a one-day international against Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council said on Monday. Rossouw, 25, was found to have been involved in a shoulder barge with Bangladesh’s opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, who was walking back after being dismissed during Sunday’s second international in Dhaka. Rossouw pleaded guilty over charges of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” laid by match referee David Boon and he accepted the penalty,

the ICC said in a statement. “Rilee was very mature in discussions relating to the charge,” Boon was quoted as saying in the statement. “He felt it was inappropriate, but not deliberate, an explanation to which I agree. “However, there is no place for any form of physical contact in our game and such actions should be punished,” he said. The amount that Rossouw has to pay was not made known. Bangladesh beat South Africa by seven wickets to level three-match series 1-1. The third and ﬁnal match of the series will be held in Chittagong on Wednesday. - AFP

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Big Four to last man standing for Djokovic A decade on, Novak Djokovic is the superﬁt king of the sport, a nine-time Grand Slam champion with the promise of more to come

LONDON: Novak Djokovic was once in danger of becoming tennis’s great unfulfilled talent, the smiling Serb with a racquet in one hand and a sick note in the other. A decade on, he is the superfit king of the sport, a nine-time Grand Slam champion with the promise of more to come. Now, where once the sport lauded the Big Four, Djokovic appears to be the last man standing as his rivals falter. Djokovic swept to a third Wimbledon title on Sunday with victory over Roger Federer meaning eight of his nine majors have come since the start of 2011. By contrast, Federer, the record 17-time major winner, has not won a Slam since Wimbledon three years ago. World number three Andy Murray won the last of his two Grand Slam titles at the All England Club in 2013. And Rafael Nadal, the 14-time major champion, is trapped in a vicious spiral of decline which has sent him spinning to his lowest ranking in a decade and close to slipping out of the world top 10. By contrast, Djokovic has this year picked up a fifth Australian Open, a third Wimbledon and four Masters. His match record is a remarkable 48 wins against just three defeats. He is also the model of consist-

WIMBLEDON STARS: A handout picture shows 2015 Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles champions Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and USA’s Serena Williams posing with their trophies at the Champions Dinner in central London. – AFP

ency, making the semiﬁnals in 19 of his last 20 Grand Slams. “Novak can go to sleep tonight saying, ‘I’ve had more grand slams than (Jimmy) Connors, (John) McEnroe, (Andre) Agassi, (Boris) Becker, (Stefan) Edberg, (Mats) Wilander’... the list just goes on and on,” former world number one Andy Roddick told the BBC. “He’s marching through history. I’m not sure where this ends for Novak.” Sunday’s win levelled his career

match-up with Federer at 20-20 and he has now won ﬁve of their last seven meetings at the Grand Slams. Rivals off the pace Federer will be 34 in August and the longer Sunday’s ﬁnal went on, the further off the pace he fell. Djokovic is 19-8 to the good against fellow 28-year-old Murray, winning their last eight meetings. Despite trailing Rafael Nadal 2321, Djokovic has won six of their

last seven. Of course, the French Open continues to elude him, defeated in the final in three of the last four years including in June against an inspired Stan Wawrinka. That was one of eight Grand Slam finals he has lost. “There were some finals I should have won but then again, having said that, everything happens for a reason,” said Djokovic. “I try to learn from every experience, especially the ones that don’t end up victorious for me. I’m going to keep going. I’m 28. I feel good. I don’t feel old. I have hopefully many more years in front of me. I’m going to try to push my own limits and see how far I can go really with titles and with myself playing on this high level.” It hasn’t always been plain sailing. At one stage in his early days, Djokovic seemed too frail in temperament and physique to be considered a major leaguer, failings emphasised by occasional spats over alleged gamesmanship. At the 2005 and 2006 French Opens, the teenage Djokovic retired injured. He also pulled out of a match with Nadal at Wimbledon in 2007 and again at the Australian Open in 2009 against Roddick. Djokovic hasn’t been afraid to think outside the box in an effort to boost his career. After going three years between his first major at the 2008 Australian Open and his second, back in Melbourne in 2011, he overhauled his daily regime. Swearing by a gluten-free diet, Djokovic won three of the four Slams in 2011, putting together a 41-match win streak which was ended by Federer in the French Open semifinals. In December 2013, he drafted in six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker to work alongside long-time coach Marian Vajda who has been with him since 2006. Despite his success, Djokovic often struggles to attract the hero worship which the evergreen Federer and the modest Nadal enjoy. - AFP

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WA R M W E L C O M E

I AM HERE: Netherlands striker Robin van Persie greets support-

ers of Turkish soccer club Fenerbahce upon his arrival at Sabiha Gokcan Airport in Istanbul. – Reuters

Van Persie arrives to join Fenerbahce ISTANBUL: Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie was Sunday given a hero’s welcome by fans as he arrived in Istanbul to join Turkish football giants Fenerbahce on an eagerly-awaited transfer from Manchester United. Van Persie landed at Sabiha Gokcen airport the Asian side of Istanbul after ﬂying in on a private jet and was given a typically raucous reception by hundreds of supporters clad in the yellow and navy blue colours of the club. Accompanied by his wife Bouchra Elbali and their two children, he walked out of the airport into a cacophony of chanting from supporters, with the air thick with the smoke from ﬂares lit by the fans. Apparently unfazed by the scenes, he squeezed his way though the crowds of fans and photographers to begin his new life in Turkey. In a sign of his importance for the club, his entire arrival was covered live on the club’s in house TV channel Fenerbahce TV, including even the landing of the plane and passport control. ‘An honour’ “I have seen a lot over the years but I have never seen anything like this,” Van Persie told the supporters. “I hope that I’m going to make you happy... it’s an honour.” Before leaving Manchester airport, Van Persie had posted pic-

tures on social media of himself, already wearing a Fenerbahce scarf, and his family waving goodbye on the tarmac and also one of him at the controls of the plane. Fenerbahce’s chairman Aziz Yildirim had announced the transfer of Van Persie was a done deal and, according to Turkish press reports, his formal signing ceremony is expected on Monday. Fenerbahce — runners up to hated Istanbul rivals Galatasaray last season in the championship — have gone on a spending spree in a bid to dominate the Super Lig and be a real contender in Europe. Earlier this week, Fenerbahce signed Portuguese star Nani also from United for six million euros (£4.26m, $6.7m) and in June bought Danish centre-back Simon Kjaer from French side Lille. According to press reports, Van Persie’s transfer fee will be 4.7 million euros (£3.4m, $5.2m). Van Persie, 31, made 105 appearances and scored 58 goals during his three years at Manchester United from August 2012. But his last season was marred by an ankle ligament injury and speculation of tension between himself and Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, who had guided Van Persie and his countrymen to third place in the World Cup. The club’s new manager this season is the Portuguese Vitor Pereira. — AFP

FOOTBALL

Liverpool, City agree £49m Sterling move LONDON: Liverpool have reached an agreement with Premier League rivals Manchester City over the £49 million ($76 million, 68 million euro transfer) of England forward Raheem Sterling, the BBC and other British media reported on Monday. However, the 20-year-old’s proposed move is still subject to personal terms and a medical. Sterling was left behind by Liverpool when the club ﬂew out to Thailand for a pre-season tour on Sunday, fuelling speculation that a move to City was imminent, despite being named Saturday in a 30-man squad for a trip that also includes matches in Australia and Malaysia. Earlier this month it was reported that Liverpool had turned down a £40 million bid for Sterling from City, with only an offer closer to £50 million likely to tempt them to let the wantaway forward leave Merseyside. Sterling’s refusal to commit to Liverpool has angered the club’s supporters, who jeered him at an end-of-season awards dinner. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers’s relationship with Sterling cooled considerably when the player turned down a lucrative new contract worth £100,000 per week in January this year. In February, Rodgers said Sterling had been offered an “incredible deal”. Two months later, Sterling’s relationship with the Liverpool

BIG DEAL: Raheem Sterling’s move to Manchester City is still subject to personal terms and a medical. – File photo

hierarchy became even more strained when, in an interview with the BBC given without the club’s approval, he conﬁrmed he had rejected the Reds’ latest contract offer. Sterling’s agent, Aidy Ward, then added to the growing

rift by saying his client would not sign a new deal with Liverpool even for “£900,000 a week”. Amid the row over whether he would or should sign a new Liverpool deal, Sterling was involved in controversy after photographs

emerged of him appearing to puff on a shisha pipe, and then allegedly inhaling laughing gas, were published. But it is the contract dispute and Sterling’s recent absence from training which have angered Liverpool fans above all else. Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, Sterling’s captain at Anfield until the end of last season, was decidedly unimpressed by the behaviour of his former team-mate. “It looks very disappointing from where I’m sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too,” Gerrard told Sky Sports from Los Angeles where he made his debut for LA Galaxy on Saturday. Sterling returned to training on Friday after a two-day hiatus when he said he was ill. “I’m not happy with all that carry-on. He needs to go in and see the owners. You don’t have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour,” said Gerrard. Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR’s academy in 2010 and has since scored 23 goals in 129 senior appearances for the club. He made his senior England debut in 2012, scoring one goal in 16 appearances. Liverpool finished sixth in the Premier League last season and so missed out on the Champions League, whereas runners-up City have qualified for European football’s elite club competition. - AFP

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T U ES DAY, J U LY 14 , 2 0 1 5

Dining WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Shuwa—a traditional delicacy of tender, pit-roasted meat slathered in savoury spices—is perhaps the most anticipated part of any Omani celebration, and Eid Al Fitr is no exception.

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AL MAIDA QURUM STREET IN FRONT OF THE AL QURUM NATURAL PARK +968 9826 1999

othing says “celebration time” in Oman like shuwa, the unique Omani specialty for which meat is slathered in a thick blend of oil and spices, wrapped in palm fronds, and cooked over hot embers underground. Some villas have their own shuwa pits, but most neighbourhoods and villages have communal pits where each family can place their palm frond meat package to cook along with the others for a day or more. During Eid Al Fitr, many families in Muscat start their shuwa roasting on the first day and enjoy the celebratory meal on the second evening. For this special dish, each fam-

ily has their own custom shuwa spice blend. Some are fiery with extra crushed red pepper and chilli, while others are heady with Zanzibari cloves, and all of them share an earthy intensity thanks to a menageries of ground spices including cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and nutmeg that are mixed into a potent rub with oil and vinegar. Lamb, goat, or even camel meat may be coated with the spice rub before being wrapped in banana leaves and tucked into a palm frond roasting bag. By the time the meat parcels are hoisted out of the ground on the second or the third day of Eid, the smoky ﬂavours have permeated the

meat and a nice, crisp crust of spice will have developed on the outside of each piece. The meltingly tender meat is enjoyed with a large platter of rice and tangy Omani-style tomato sauce for one of the most anticipated meals of the year. If you want to share in this tradition, but you haven’t been invited to taste the delicacy at a local home, there are a few restaurants around the capital where you can sample authentic versions of it (see below). For the industrious types who want to make shuwa at home but lack access to a big underground pit, try our oven-roasted adaptation. Eid Mubarak. Sahtein!

Al Maida offers a good, basic shuwa served over a yellow-tinged, mandistyle rice with ghee and fresh tomato salsa. The portions are more than enough for two people. (OMR3.500 per order)

OVEN SHUWA Omani Pit-Roasted Meat In Palm Leaves SERVES 6 TO 8

This recipe is adapted for the oven for those of us without access to a smoker or cooking pit who nonetheless want to enjoy the meltingly tender texture and spice-infused ﬂavour of shuwa.

INGREDIENTS SPICE PASTE • 1/4 cup cumin seeds • 3 tbsp coriander seeds • 8 to 10 cloves garlic • 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp red pepper ﬂakes • 1 tbsp kosher salt • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon • 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper • 1 1/4 tsp ground cardamom • 1/4 tsp ground cloves • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg • 3 tbsp distilled white vinegar • 6 tbsp vegetable oil LAMB • 2 1/2-3kg of lamb shanks or other small bone-in lamb cut, about 8 pieces • Kosher salt • Palm or banana leaves, thawed if frozen • Cooked basmati rice for serving

PREPARATION

BIN ATEEQ ON THE AL KHUWAIR SERVICE ROAD, BEHIND THE MCDONALD’S AND SHELL GAS STATION +968 2447 8225

Hunks of tender, spicy roasted meat are served with a veritable mountain of rice (your choice of plain steamed basmati, kubsa, biryani, or machboos) along with a tangy Omani-style salsa. Bin Ateeq offers perhaps the most authentic version of the dish in the city, with dine-in meals served in the traditional way, on the ﬂoor of the restaurant’s run-down family rooms. Or you can take your shuwa and go. (OMR3.500 per order)

KARGEEN MSQ; BEHIND THE AL FAIR +968 9631 3313 KARGEENCAFFE.COM

Kargeen’s might not be the most authentic in terms of size or presentation — beautiful parcels of miniature shuwa, portioned out for one to two people — but their piquant spice blend is fantastic and quite authentic. The dish is served in a copper pot atop steamed rice with Omani tomato salsa, ghee, and dates on the side. It is a great introduction to the dish, and the ambiance in their lovely garden is hard to beat. (OMR4.500 per order)

Baking Blues

Recipe courtesy of TOO Executive Features Editor Felicia Campbell’s forthcoming book, The Food of Oman: Recipes and Stories from the Gateway to Arabia (Simon and Schuster, October 2015)

Most of us go on a baking spree without knowing the important baking rules. Here is a list of the most common mistakes and how to ﬁx up the common fails. By Swati Dasgupta 1 Have the right measurement. The proportions should be very precise and one should strictly follow the measuring rules for both dry and wet ingredients. The most accurate measure is by weight. 2 Each oven is different, so before starting make sure you check the temperature with an oven thermometer.

3 Sometimes we end up over beating the batter. Each recipe has its own consistency. So if the instruction say to fold or stir lightly, do just that to avoid tough texture. 4 Don’t open the oven frequently while baking as it drops the temperature and can lead to uneven baking.

5 Go ahead and mix nuts and dried fruit into your batter, but don’t add anything that will affect the liquid content, as that can ruin your dish. Struggling with a kitchen calamity of your own? Want advice? Share your horror stories and your cooking tips with swati@timesofoman.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: VENECIO DATAN (SHUWA)

KITCHEN CALAMITIES

• To make the spice paste, toast the cumin and coriander seeds in a skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Place in a blender or small food processor with the garlic cloves, red pepper ﬂakes, salt, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, vinegar, oil, and 2tbsp water; pulse or purée until relatively smooth (there can still be some texture from the seeds). Transfer to a bowl or jar, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight at room temperature. • The next day, remove the lamb from the refrigerator and allow the meat to rest at room temperature 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 177 degrees C. Generously season the lamb with salt; massage each piece with the spice paste, being sure to completely coat every surface but not slathering it on too thick (you’ll want it to harden and dry a bit as it cooks). There should be little to no paste left over. • Wrap the lamb pieces separately in banana leaves, completely enclosing each and making little parcels. Line a roasting pan or baking dish with a large whole banana leaf, letting it hang over both sides of the pan. Place the wrapped lamb parcels, seam side down, in the pan and tightly enclose with the overhanging banana leaf. • Roast until the lamb is cooked through and falling off the bone, 2.5 to 3.5 hours. • Some of the spice rub should caramelise and form a bit of a crust. Let rest 10 minutes before removing the lamb from the banana leaves. Discard the leaves and serve with steamed basmati rice.

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

LIFESTYLE FOOD NEWS

As the temperatures soar, creative salads offer the perfect dinnertime solution with their near endless combinations of crunchy, spicy, sweet, and savoury toppings and bases By Swati Dasgupta

one are the days when salads were no more than a few cut vegetables and greens tossed on a plate. Salads have come into their own as the star of many a meal thanks to creative combinations of ﬂavours, textures, and colours. For the perfect weeknight supper (no oven necessary) create your own colourful, crisp salad by mixing and matching the following great greens and toppings.

Turn Over a New Leaf Spinach: Mild and tender with slight sweentness, this is a great green to pair with fruit Romaine: Mild with major crunch, this is a classic with heavy dressings like caesar Arugula: Surprisingly spicy, this peppery green provides a ﬂavour packed base for rich cheeses Watercress: Tiny tender leaves are as beautiful as they are delicious, with a delicate, grassy ﬂavour

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Wild Greens

Smartphones push millennials to cook

If your hubby wants to cook your favourite pancake again this weekend, thank the smartphone for his changed attitude towards the kitchen. With search engines to ﬁnd howto-cook recipes just a click away, smartphones are pushing many millennials (those born after 1980) back into the kitchen, a Google study says. Millennials are ﬁnding smartphones handy to keep tab of recipes as they enter the kitchen, iDigitalTimes.com reported. Nearly 59 per cent of those between the ages of 25 and 34 admitted to taking smartphones or tablets into the cooking area. The top 10 searches for best recipe among millennials are chocolate chip cookies, banana bread, meatloaf, pancake, lasagna, mac and cheese burger, chilli and margarita, the study said.

TV shows will never replace cookbooks: Chef Milind Sovani

Veggies

Protein Beans: Kidney beans, black beans, and chickpeas add nutty flavour, hearty bite, and delicious flavour Grains: Cooked quinoa, barley, or harees (wheatberries) add toasty, warming flavour and texture Meat-alternatives: Try tossing tuna, smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs, or cooked tofu on your salad for added heft without a significant increase in calories

Fruit Berries: Raspberries, blueberries, cranberries add nice acidity and sweetness to salads and pair especially well with goat cheeses Sweet Fruits: Strawberries, grapes and pears stand up well to savoury meat and egg salad toppings Pomegranate seeds: Add a wonderful triple threat of sweet, tart, and crunch

Nutty Crunch Anything from sunﬂower seeds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) to walnuts, pecans and sliced almonds add rich ﬂavour and great crunchy texture to a salad

Dressing

Photography: Shutterstock.com

Keep a basic, homemade dressing base of 1/3 cup vinegar or lemon juice, 2/3 cup olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp sugar, and 1 clove garlic in a jar with a tight-ﬁtting lid in the refrigerator. When preparing your salad, add garlic, ginger, mustard or herbs and shaken vigorously to blend. Remember, never ‘dress’ the salad until just before serving.

Photo: Wires

Red cabbage: Adds great colour and crunch Grape or cherry tomatoes: Add juicy tartness Sun dried tomatoes: Super sweet and savoury Cucumber: Refreshingly mild ﬂavour and light crunch Mushrooms: Add a meaty, earthy element, especially when sautéed Avocado: Creamy, buttery richness Bell Peppers: Range from sweet to slightly spicy and add gorgeous colour Peas: Offer nice texture and an herbaceous sweetness There might be a surfeit of food shows on TV but they will never replace the good old cookbooks, says chef Milind Sovani, who has, in his three-decade-long career, served Bollywood stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt - and created awareness about Indian cuisine in Singapore where he worked for 13 years. “In the time of Internet and TV, printed cookery books are facing a challenge of existence...but, no, things are not all that bad yet. We have to accept the forces of change, but still there are many positives in owning and using cookery books - and of course writing them too,” Sovani told. “Cooking with the help of a cookery book in the kitchen is always the best help around. You can keep it on your table, you do not require electric connections, or WiFi and the like. You can always mark some points on them, make ear folds for important pages, make small notes on them for your future reference and pass them down to the next generation or even share them easily with friends,” added Sovani, who has worked with establishments like New Delhi’s Hotel Samrat and Hotel Jaipur Ashok. Then, books are always handy to keep, loan and borrow and have good mobility. - IANS

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I Am Soldier (Action, Thriller) (PG) Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid 9:45 pm The Hoarder (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt 11:30 pm Pressure (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Danny Huston, Matthew Goode, Joe Cole 11:45 pm Baahubali (Action, Adventure) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:45 pm

Gold Class: 11:15 pm

11:30 pm

9:45 pm

11:15 pm

9:00 pm

I AM SOLDIER (2D) (Action, War) (PG) Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid

THE HOARDER (Horror, Thriller) (15+)

BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING (Action/Adventure/History ) (12+)

THE PACT II (2D) (15+) (Horror| Mystery | Thriller)

ORU SECOND CLASS YATHRA (2D)

Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt

Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty

Cast: Caity Lotz, Camilla Luddington, Scott Michael Foster

Cast: Vineeth, Nikki Galrani, Chemban Jose, Nedumudi Venu

Baahubali (2D) ( Action /Adventure) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati , Anushka Shetty 9:00 pm

SOHAR I Am Soldier - 2D (PG) Action | Thriller | War Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid 9:30 pm

(12+) Action | Adventure | History Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 11:15 pm

RUWI SCREEN 1

The Hoarder - 2D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt 11:30 pm

BURAIMI I Am Soldier- 2D (Action, Thriller, War) (PG) Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid 9:45 pm

Baahubali: The Beginning (Action/Adventure/History ) – 12+ Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9.45 pm

MUSCAT GRAND MALL Jurassic World (3D) (Action/Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard 9:15 pm Gold Class: 9:00 pm

SCREEN 2 ABCD-2 (Dance/Musical ) – PG Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor and Prabhudeva 9.45 pm

I Am Soldier (2D) (Action, War) (PG) Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke , Alex Reid 11:50 pm Gold Class 11:15 pm

SCREEN 3 The Break Up Playlist (2D) (Drama/ Romance) (TBC) Cast: Teddy Corpuz, Sarah Geronimo, Rio Locsin 11:30 pm

Dil Dhadakne Do (Romance/Drama/ Comedy ) – PG12 Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra 9.30 pm

(PG12) (Comedy, Thriller)

Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid 9:30, 11:00 pm

Michael Foster 11:15 pm

The Hoarder (2D) (15+) (Horror, Thriller) Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt 11:15 pm

SUR I Am Soldier (Action / Thriller / War) (PG) Cast: Tom Hughes, Noel Clarke, Alex Reid 9:15 pm

Pressure (2D) (PG12) (Thriller) Cast: Danny Huston, Matthew Goode, Joe Cole 9:00, 11:45 pm

The Hoarder ( Horror / Thriller) (15+) Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt 11:45 pm

The Pact II - 2D (15+) Horror| Mystery | Thriller Cast: Caity Lotz, Camilla Luddington, Scott Michael Foster 11:50 pm

The Hoarder – 2D (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Mischa Barton, Robert Knepper, Charlotte Salt 11:30 pm

Oru Second Class Yathra - 2D (PG12) Comedy | Thriller Cast: Vineeth, Nikki Galrani, Chemban Jose, Nedumudi Venu 9:15 pm

Baahubali: The Beginning – 2D (Action, Adventure, History) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:30 pm

Baahubali: The Beginning - 2D (Hindi) (12+) Action | Adventure | History Cast : Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:00 PM

Pressure – 2D (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Danny Huston, Matthew Goode, Joe Cole 9:30 pm

Baahubali (Hindi) (Action / Adventure / History) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:00 pm

The Pact II – 2D (Horror, Mystery, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Caity Lotz, Camilla Luddington, Scott

SALALAH I Am Soldier (2D) (PG) (Action, Thriller, War )

Baahubali: The Beginning - 2D (Telugu)

Oru Second Class Yatra (Mal) (Comedy / Drama) (PG12) Cast: Vineeth, Nikki Galrani, Chemban Jose, Nedumudi Venu 11:00 pm

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Dept time

Destination

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)

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

35 30

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

60-90%

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

SINCHAN S. RAO July 14, 2006

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@ timesofoman.com

LISTINGS

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

JOSHUA JOJY July 14, 2008

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

JOEL JOJY July 14, 2005

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

ABISHEK VIJAYAKUMAR July 14, 2008

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

Baahubali (Telugu) Action, Adventure) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:30pm at Cinema Main Papanasam (Tamil) (Drama/Family/ Thriller) – PG12 Cast: Kamal Haasan, Gautami Tadimalla, Kalabhavan Mani 9:30 pm at Cinema 2 Oru Second Class Yatra (Mal) (Comedy / Drama) (PG12) Cast: Vineeth, Nikki Galrani, Chemban Jose, Nedumudi Venu 9:45 pm at Cinema 3 Premam (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran and Sai Pallavi 9.45 pm at Cinema 4 Next Change: Baahubali (Tamil), Maari (Tamil), Neena (Mal) (Programmes are subject to change)

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Baahubali: The Beginning - Telugu (2D) (12+) (Action, Adventure, History) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 11:00 pm

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

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

Baahubali: The Beginning - Hindi (2D) (12+) (Action, Adventure, History) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty 9:00 pm

STAR CINEMA

WITH LOVE

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

Oru Second Class Yathra (2D) (PG12) (Comedy, Thriller) Cast: Vineeth, Nikki Galrani, Chemban Jose, Nedumudi Venu 9:00 pm

Jurassic World (Action / Adventure ) Cast: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer, Ty Simkin 9.30 pm CP No: 1495 (PG 12)

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

Appolo 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 Hamdan Hospital 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

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE ’S CHEF E P I C RE

Grilled-Steamed Salmon with Vegetables INGREDIENTS Serving 4-6 • 2-16 ounces fresh salmon ﬁllets • 4-6 cups of slice vegetables, zucchini, onion, bell pepper, mushroom and tomatoes • 1tbsp basil • 1tbsp oregano • 1tbsp garlic, minced • 1/4-1/2 tsp red pepper ﬂakes, crushed • 2tbsp olive oil • 1tsp seasoning salt • 1tsp lemon pepper • 1tsp garlic powder • 2tbsp lemon juice • 1tbsp sesame seeds, toasted • 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

PREPARATION

PRASANNA AMARSINGHE Executive Chef, Holiday Inn Muscat

From menu planning to implementing new, modern food presentation, Chef Amarsinghe has been bringing his playful approach to the menu at the Holiday Inn Muscat since 2014. He has launched lively culinary events at the property including a Thai Festival, Sushi and Dim Sum Festival, Italian Festival, and Persian Food Festival.

Photography: Venecio Datan

• Rinse and pat dry salmon fillets. Season with a little lemon pepper and salt. • Oil large sheet of heavy duty aluminium foil. • Mix vegetables and remaining ingredients (except cheeses) in a large bowl. Combine well. • Place fillets on foil and cover with vegetable mixture. Place a few pats of butter on top. Sprinkle with cheese. • Cover with another large sheet of foil (also oiled to prevent cheese from sticking) and seal edges. • Double wrap with foil (if using grill). • Grill 10-15 minutes per side at medium heat, or bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes. • Dish is done when the fish fillets and vegetables are cooked but still firm.

FOOD NOTE

Frozen is the new fresh IN 1519, when Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the world, the technology to preserve food did not exist. As they sailed without berthing, biscuits became crumbs, fat turned rancid, protein putreﬁed. Sailors ﬁnally ate rats - sold at a ducat a piece. Over the years, people learned to pickle, salt, cure, sugar or ferment their favourite foods in order to preserve them. Canning was developed in the 19th century, and freezing was commercialised by Clarence Birdseye over a hundred years later, in 1930. Technology followed culture and vice versa. Frozen TV dinners became popular in the US in the 1950s. Helped by the microwave heating revolution of the 1970s, frozen food manufacturers tailored their offering to a variety of consumer preferences. From organic to exotic, from gourmet to gourmand - they offered all this at relatively low prices, thanks to economies of scale. Freezing is probably the healthi-

est method of preserving food. At minus 18 degrees Celsius, all enzyme activity stops and food can keep without preservatives for over a year. If frozen quickly after plucking/culling, the food retains its freshness after thawing and its nutrient value is more or less preserved. The beneﬁts of convenience, quality, variety, long shelf-life, health and taste of frozen foods are reﬂected in the sales of this category across countries. India has been a slow starter. For one, there is consumer misconception of frozen being inferior in quality. Cheap and quick availability of “fresh” cooked food from local delivery restaurants and domestic help in kitchens are further hurdles on the demand side. On the supply side, lack of standardised freezers with retailers, power cuts and poor temperature management - especially at small stores - all mean that quality frozen food is not within the

reach of the average consumer. The scenario is now changing. To quote A. J. Tharakan, president, National Seafood Exporter’s Association and a doyen of the industry in India, “Frozen food is fresher than fresh food. Frozen green peas are frozen within four hours of harvesting, whereas green peas in the pods available in the vegetable market could be three to four days old. Frozen food is convenient and always available, even during off season. With recent sales growth of 20 per cent year-on-year, one can say that frozen food is ﬁnally ﬁnding acceptance in our country.” Perceptions, too, are changing. People realise it is healthier to buy freshly frozen food processed with quality than keeping your raw or cooked food for days in your fridge. Even if you freeze your purchase, it takes over 15 hours for its core to reach minus 18 C, and the deterioration during this time can be damaging - both to taste and health. -IANS

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M T U E S DAY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

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

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

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

T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

FOR RENT

Building In Rusail Industrial ŶĞĂƌ ƚŽ ŵŝĂŶƟƚ KŵĂŶ comprising a store divisible area 266 sq. meters. The building includes Studios ĂŶĚ ƌŽŽŵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐŝǌĞ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŽĸĐĞƐ Žƌ residence. Preferably to be leased to one company.

2 BHK commercial / residential ﬂat at Honda Road. Contact: 99342733/99795241 Small old house for rent Al Ghobrah. Contact 95112461

Mob + 968 96177505

1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground ﬂoor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only. Contact: 99251975 Villa AL Ghobrah, 6 bedroom 1200/R.O. Contact: 99340055/97557555 3BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balconies, nr. Al Hassan W/ Kabir R.O 350/-. Contact: 99384640 Flats shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 2BHK at Al Khodh, 2BHK at Wadi Kabir 2 room, 1hall, dining, 2 bathrooms. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 Store in Wadi Kabir 1900 SQM. Contact: 99473751 / 91471067 1BHK Darsait R.O 225/-. Contact: 92144045 1BHK Wadi Kabeer, RO 225/-. Contact: 92144045 2BHK Darsait R.O 300/-. Contact: 92144045 2BHK Ghubra R.O 250/-. Contact: 92144045 1,2,3 BHK. Contact: 97799175 2 bedrooms apartments for rent in Al Khuwair and Ghubra. Call Yellow Bird property on 24615375 / 97137989 or visit www.muscat-realty.com

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new ﬂat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

2 bhk townhouse at Assarain complex Al Khuwair for rent. Contact 96365824 Rent RO 750 2 BHK near Kuwaiti Masjid Wadi Kabir. Contact: 24816774 / 97608564

Deluxe 1, 2 BHK ﬂats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314

2 BHK, 2 bathrooms behind Abu Nabil, Honda Road R.O 240/-. Contact: 99737562 / 93887852

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 1BHK close to ISWKG Wadi Kabir Bldg # 1690 R.O 250/-. Contact 99476728

2BHK, 2 bathroom behind Sana Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-. Contact: 99737562 / 93887852 Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimor Mosque. Contact: 99366624 Luxurious room, fully furnished with free WIFI and gas at Ruwi. Contact : 95586937 Shop for rent/ sale in Ruwi near Dish market good location, behind City Cinema. Contact: 91318111 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir with 3 rooms. Contact : 98555580 / 92800007 Flat for rent 2 bedrooms, sitting room, store gym in ground floor in Mumtaz area-Ruwi. Contact 95135445 1BHK flats at Muttrah near Oman house. Contact : 93231403 3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat. Contact: 95755953 Villa with two floors in (Hay Al Arjan) in AL Khoud with 4 bedrooms, hall, Majles, kitchen & one room in ground floor. Contact: 93219597

Residential /commercial 2 B/R near Medical College Bausher from Owner. Contact: 92158031 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi. Contact 99326339 Spacious 2- BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489 For rent office CBD flat in Ruwi. Contact: 92820734 / 95345909 House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with three room, 5toilets, kitchen and hall 430/-. Contact: 92747078 Room with A.C AL Khuwair R.O 120/- Contact: 97799175 Flats for rent near Indian school in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 One & two bedroom apartments available for rent, near avenue mall, close to Atlas hospital next to Diwans office, South Ghobrah. # 99833747 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. Contact: 99376454

3 BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th. Contact: 97147240

Three new three bedrooms ﬂats with servants rooms Al Khuwair 39. Contact: 99207840

Flat in South Al Hail, 2 bedrooms, Majlis, 2 bathrooms, kitchen RO 250/-. Contact 93221474

4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 97616158

Flat in Ruwi Mumtaz 2 BHK RO 300 or 1 BHK 250 RO. Contact 98588240

1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms & 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque. Contact: 99366624 1BHK with A/C Mumtaz. R.O 250/-. Contact 97799175

Studio Flat in Ruwi. Contact 99792181

Fabulous AC ﬂat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699

1 BHK Flat in Honda Road (Ruwi). Contact 99792181

2 BHK ﬂat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/- Contact – 93191111

1 & 2 BHK ﬂat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2BHK near Oman house behind Khimji, H.O. Contact: 95865686

Labour Camp + Store in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181

506sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in AL Wadi Al Kabir, Suitable for carpentry / Auto workshop and / or electrical shop interested parties may. Contact: 24703981

Flat with A/C in the South Al Mabella close to the Mosque Al Tawab consists of 2 rooms, hall, 2 bathrooms and kitchen. Contact: 99388995 Good flat villa type at Mobeileah Senaiya. Contact : 99879872 New building in Wadi Kabir, 2 bedroom flats. Contact: 99313274 3 bed room flat near ONTC Ruwi. Contact: 99653336 Six bed room twin villa Al Athaiba. Contact: 99207840 4 bed room flat at Al Hail South. Contact: 99207840

Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Office space at Alasfoor Plaza Qurum. Contact : 24566217 /24564686 For rent if require ﬂats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. Contact: 99376454 Luxury 3 BHK ﬂat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking. RO.500/- Contact – 93191111

2BHK with split AC at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 94057023

2BHK with split AC near PDO Gate no -2 at Qurum. Contact: 94057023 2 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet & car park in Al Khuwair R.O 200/- . Contact 95154331 Deluxe furnished / unfurnished flats Qurum. Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/Contact 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/- Contact 93191111 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005

BUYING/SELLING All type of car scanner available easy car diagnostic for professional and self use Authorize LAUNCH and Autel dealer. GSM:92393972 www.omancartools.com Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373

T U E S DAY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

NRI

BUSINESS MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

3 cents plots-(12nos.) at walkable distance from Kovalm Jn.,Trivandrum,Lorry site near to main road-Bus route, for immediate sale. 3 cents- 15 lakhs only. Call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763 or email- cfhd1@ yahoo.com Centre For Housing DevelopmentTrivandrum: Group of senior and retired Engineers and Architects provides service in the ﬁeld of Design and Supervision of buildings in Kerala.For appointments, E-mail your site location and building requirements to cfhd@ymail.com. or call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763. 38 cents plot with 2BHK house by the river bank in Thrissur Dist. near Irinjalakuda (Karavanoor). Contact: 99347089

FOR SALE

500 acre agricultural land suitable for rubber plantation for sale in Ratnagiri Maharashtra. price 2 lakh per acre, rubber board approved land, minimum purchase 20 acre. We provide care taking by experienced Malayalee team for your plantation. please call , prasad 95760790

Equipped kitchen showroom company for sale at Ghubrah, Muscat. 6 visa available, Contact owner at 96303747 House hold items. Contact: 97094797 Computer set up for sale. Contact 94412557 A parlour well settled/well equipped in running position at Ghubra for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898

6 bedroom, 6 bath rooms, sitting & dining villa at Qurum. Contact: 99342733

FOR SALE

Turkish MDF door with frame for sale, size 210 x 100 Price: RO 75/-. Contact: 95899296 / 92141514

A parlour well settled / well equipped in running position at Ghobrah for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898

Darsait near labor card Medical business furnished office for sale, rent R.O 260/- p/m. Contact: 91211117

Sale & repair of Tyres 315/80 R 22.5 & 12.00 R 24. Contact: 97477128

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & ﬁxing. Contact 99834373 / 97102699

Ladies beauty parlor sale in Muttrah, above Ahla supermarket. Contact: 93231403

Brand new 4 BHK plus Maids room in Barka, 2 Kms from Lulu. Contact: 99347089

Coffee shop at Liwa main road. Contact : 99515419

Used Super market Gandola RO 40.000 PER meter, double tube light RO 2.000 per piece. Contact: 96441670

Well established medium size construction company for sale. Equipments, 30 employees & ongoing projects. Serious buyers only 99412020

Total Station Survey Instrument S3 2” / Servo/ Trimble access bundle - batch 9101025 – not used. Contact: 94282782 / 95425747

Salon for sale in Muttrah next to Muttrah Health Center 2/500 -R.O . Contact: 99012807

Commercial land for sale 3000 m in quriyat road main high way can use as a petrol station license available asking price 350,000 For more information please call on 99070701 with out name

Urgent sell KIA CERATO 2012, 63200 KM Run Expat family used,1.6L, Price R.O. 3300/-. Excellent Condition. GSM 92286477 Volvo prime mover model 1998 for inspection Contact: Mr. Mohammed Al Harthy 99427071 New company seek partnership. Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

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. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

Doctor driven, Toyota Corolla 2009, Honda CRV 2009, low mileage available at Bombay Medical, behind Ruwi Police Station. Contact 99326339 Toyota Corolla 1.8 ltr GLI excellent condition 28,000 kms. Contact: 97717152 Touareg 2011 Oman cars, 114000 KM, silver, 8500/-R.O. #92857111

1BHK sharing in Ruwi. Contact: 91214537 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206 Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95345537 Room with bath, kitchen Al Khuwair. Contact: 99743569/ 97004265 Accommodation available with Keralite family near W.K main school. Contact: 95882866 /96575016 Fully furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking ex- bachelor. Contact 94412557

Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093 Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285 Sportage, 2013. Contact:99336093 Land Cruiser 2012. Contact: 99336093 2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

ACC. AVAILABLE Single furnished room, attached bathroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 92155261

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500

2013 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR SALE. Single Owner,10 Months full cover Insurance (UAE & Oman), 15,000 Km only. Intrested buyers can Call/ Whatsapp on 95692099

Rooms for rent in Seeb for couple / single/ working ladies. Contact: 96996938 Furnished room AL Khuwair for Indian Sri Lankan. Contact: 96536307 Full furnished single /sharing room for Exe. bachelor at Rex Road near Kamat with WIFI available. Contact 92873832 Furnished room for Indian couples or family near Honda Road (Walja). Contact 98952904 Available sharing accommodation for non cooking Executive bachelor near Indian School Al Ghoubra with Keralite family. Contact 91697955 Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515 Furnished bedroom with separate bathroom and kitchen on sharing in Darsait for Ex- bachelors. Contact: 95376096

2 Rooms & 2 bathrooms with kitchen near al meera hyper markets, azaiba for executive bachelors / family. Gsm : 942 888 63 Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai. Contact 96243086 at 5p.m. For sharing accommodation room with toilet attached, kitchen sharing near clean building next to main road near Indian school Wadi Kabir, Indian couples family or bachelor. Contact: 95345537 / 94672007 Furnished room with attached bathroom in W/K. Contact: 97167857 Sharing for non cooking executive bachelor in CBD area WIFI free, Advance deposit. # 95094504

ACC. WANTED Required a room in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area. Contact: 95405033

T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classiﬁeds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SALES / MARKETING Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Minimum 2 years of experience with valid gulf light driving license interested candidates please Contact: 99222086 /98585851

ADMIN

ENGINEER

MEDICAL

Urgently required Male with 2 years’ experience in Admin Works, ﬂuent in Arabic and English, Computer knowledge, preferably with driving license. Working hours 6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10 pm daily Email: jayan@ra.cc or 99661980

Urgently required Project Engineer for a reputed Construction Company in Muscat with Civil Engineering Degree/Diploma, 6 to 10 years experience, holding Oman/GCC Driving License.E.mail: assaud@omantel.net. om or FAX: 24953530

Wanted female doctor GP. Interested candidates can forward your CV to jayakumar.velu@alnabaholding.com

Fire and Safety Technician with NIFE or equivalent Diploma holder preference to those having D/L. Send CV to visionansara@gmail.com

Required Prometric passed nurse to join clinic from end August. Contact: 99352793

Vacancy for lady Receptionist at Sinaw Hala Medical Center - Fluency in English and Arabic Omani or non Omani. Contact: 25524180 / 91362141 Email: halamedicalgroup@gmail.com Urgently Required: Administration with an experience minimum in 3 years in building construction, required immediately join and MUST have NOC.Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

ACCOUNTANT Urgently required Accountant B. Com with 4-6 years Gulf experience in construction ﬁeld and good knowledge in FOCUS accounting software. Send CV : pccllcoman@gmail.com Urgently required a part – time female Accountant ﬂuent in English with 2-3 years experience in Tally. Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com Fax: 24564459 Urgently required female accountant with an experience minimum 3years Email CV on cv.hrcharity@gmail.com Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Required Beautician for a parlor in Ghubra. Contact: 94241385 / 97244766 Wanted experienced Beautician for beauty parlor in Al Amerat 3. Contact: 91107337

CATERING Chinese/ Arab/ continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970 Required experience Waiter / Supervisor/ Juice maker, Shawarma maker. Contact: 95395378 Traditional Omani restaurant requires: Waitress for restaurant. Delivery man with bike license preferred. Interested candidates send CV to: Email: omanhari@yahoo.com Contact: 95892831

DESIGNER Designer required for wooden joinery company with excellent knowledge of 3D Max, 2D Autocad. Contact: 94249047 Email: mfqazi@gmail.com

DRIVER

Required MEP Diploma Engineer specialized in building maintenance. Fluent in English and computer holding valid Omani driving license & NOC. Send CV to Email: info@alrabiyahrealestate.com to arrange interview Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required. Email: applyforoman@gmail.com Leading Construction Company requires Quantity Surveyor (QS) with 4-6 yrs Gulf experience. Send your CV : qsmuscat2015@gmail.com (NOC required). Required a part time steel Structural Design Engineer for a reputed steel fabrication company in Muscat. Interested person may Contact : 99451158 Required for Engineering consultancy office a Supervision Staff for road project at Ibri region: Civil Engineer (B.Sc) RE with 12 years experience & Land Surveyor (Diploma) with 8 years experience. Please email CV & certiﬁcate copy to alsarh@omantel.net.om Required Civil Engineer (buildings) Oman experience 5+ years, BOQ+ Tendering + site supervision. Contact: 95218004 Email: alhilalint@yahoo.com

EDUCATION English medium private school in Sinaw urgently required English & Science teachers. Send CV : saminternationalschoolsinaw@ gmail.com Contact: 98927055

IT IND male WEB developer 5 yrs exp B.Tech (comp science) PHP, HTML MYSQL Java script CSS. Contact: 95990529 Email: renjith341@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber. Contact - 99383044

Wanted driver. Contact: 95112461 Driver required for a Company, 2 years experience. Visa available. Contact 24479922 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

ENGINEER Looking for a Sales Engineer (Mechanical) with 2 to 3 year relevant experience in the Oman market with driving license . Please forward your CV to : mbdeast@gmail.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires the following: B.Sc Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience. Civil Site Foreman, minimum 5 yrs experience with operating knowledge of Tally. Please Email CV ; applyforoman@gmail.com

Required urgently experienced Gardener and building care taker. Contact: 99231676 Well established company in selling chocolate, Arabian sweets and fresh flowers, opening ITS first branch in Muscat seeking: 1- sweets and chocolates Sales man 2- flower arranger (Asian/ Filipino Nationality) Contact: 94490011 Email: labelleoman@gmail.com A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com

MEDICAL Required MOH licensed lady G.P Dentist Pharmacist, Asst Pharmacist for Salalah based pharmacy and clinic. Contact: 92732491 Email: clinicrecruitment2015@gmail.com

Vacancy Lab Technician for inquiry or send CV zmczahara@yahoo.com Contact 24571094 Fax: 24571097

Required male or female candidate with 5 years experience in renting of properties. Interested candidates may please mail to alqurumprop@gmail.com

TOURS Required exp. employee for travel agency in Saham. Contact :93655939 / 92900021

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ADVERTISING

MANAGER Urgently Required: Male – handles overall store operations of the Supermarket, Prior Experience a MUST, knowledgeable in MSOffice. Send CV to chanda@dolphin-oman.com or fax to 244-92718.

Looking for JOB. I have done BS Hons in Mass communication and media, Specialised in Public Relations and Advertising. I have upto 1 year of experience. Immediate Available. Open for any JOB. Sultan Zafar #97034134

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Secretary (Female), Experience: Minimum 1 - 2 years. Forward CV to hr@barikgroup.com

Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head of MNC looking for Job. NOC Available. 94047434

Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

Indian male, 30 years, CMA(Inter),M.com, 4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/ Accounts/ Finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 , Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com

SKILLED Urgently required an Electrician for an interiors ﬁtout company with NOC available. Gulf experience is must. Call 95103518 or send your CV : to.shaista@gmail.com Urgently required experienced sub-contractors for Marble Flooring / Marble Cladding / Grinding / Carving works. Contact 92884177 / 99485595 Urgently required a silk Screen printer with good knowledge and release letter or NOC. Contact: 93280288 or send CV to albayanstamps@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING A vending Machine for sale of coffee products and Derivatives Company in Muscat having operations in Oman is on the lookout for quality staff for the below positions: Sales & Marketing Staff, Mechanical maintenance mechanic, General electric maintenance machines with D/L. Send CV to service@arabianvending.com Urgently required Sales Executive and interior designer for furnishing company with Valid Oman D/L and minimum 3 years experience. Contact: 93231403/ rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com Experience building material Salesman required in Amerat shop. Contact : 99641900 Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualiﬁcation. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact : Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Urgently required female Sales Promoters individual with pleasant personality, excellent communications & presentation skills & experience in selling perfumes cosmetics and skincare products would be preferred. Send your CV & details with recent photograph to info@mawaridoman.com or fax no 24127484/ Tel: 24127485 Tyre / Spare parts outdoor Sales Executive with experience required driving license and NOC. Send CV to ptf_25@hotmail.com Wanted part time female Sales Executive with D/L for a reputed company. Contact 94688874 A leading marketing company is looking for outdoor Sales Executives on part time or full time basis in Salalah. Contact 92760281 / 96436719 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts. Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co

Indian male 32 years MBA, 6 out of 14 years experience in Oman in accounts / finance having NOC and Valid Oman driving license last date in Oman 01/AUG/2015. Contact: 94051463 Email: gkvenkatesh83@gmail.com Finance Manager, 10 years Oman experienced MBA-Finance graduate seeking suitable placement. Contact 97745764 Assist Accountant Indian (m) 2 years experience in Oman looking for a job immediate joining, currently working in Oman. Contact Shaheed Shamsadin : 98427810 Accountant, Indian male, 10 years experience in Oman. Can do upto finalization and knowledge of Tally ERP9 can be joined immediately with NOC. Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com Married lady 25 years, Master Accounts having 5 years experience in Indian looking for full / part time job. Contact: 95140332 /93223050 family visa holder. Contact 95140332 Indian male, well experienced in Accounts and Admin looking for a suitable vacancy. Contact : 98717938 Indian female, M.Com Finance, DCA, 3 years experience in Accounts / finance& knowledge in ERP & Tally seeking suitable position in corporate finance / banking / consulting. Email: prapullasuvarna@gmail.com Contact: 96953705 now in family visa. Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available. Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian male, B.Com, Accountant, 10 yrs in Oman experience in Accounts, knowledge of Tally ERP 9, focus RT having NOC & D/L, looking for suitable job. Contact 93086105 Male 26 yrs, MBA in Accounts and Finance, 2 years Experience in Management and Accounts Fields, and 1 year experience in Operations in Oman Looking for a suitable job. Contact 94374745 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job. Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa. Contact – 91967213 / 99064780

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRIVER

Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization. Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 12 years experience Oman. Contact: 98175321

Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting . NOC available. Contact 96209331 Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan. # 97796394 / 94003247 Accountant 8 yrs experience looking part time job. Contact 99867456 Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to ﬁnalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment.Contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com

ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437 Indian Female MBA, 3 years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa. Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com A Lady with 5 years experience in HR/Admin is looking for suitable job and can join immediately. Contact : 94465835

Pakistan male (27) light driver seeking job, 4 years experience in Oman. Contact 96346582 Light duty driver with 2 yrs experience looking for job. Contact: 96342684 Light driver. Contact: 96961993 Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 5 yrs experience in Oman. Contact: 98029273 Looking for driving job. Contact: 98219182 Driver: 15 years Driving Experience in Saudi Arabia, Looking for suitable place, Contact.. 91624908, 93540898 Driver available with car and without car Education, B. A exp. 5 years, language Hindi, Arabic, English. Contact: 98522914 Bangladeshi male light driver seeking suitable placement 1 yr experience. Contact: 94158238 Driver available with car driver & without car. Contact 96771598 / 94039796 Driver, 42 yrs seeks for suitable job KSA, 12 years Oman 4 years,. Contact: 95796030 Heavy duty driver with PDO license, 5 yrs Intl. exp. Contact: 95546585 Light driver. Contact:95779594

Indian female with 1 half years experience in MBA / HR seeks suitable placement. Contact 99257214 wIndian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

AUTO CAD/DRAUGHTSAutoCAD Draughts man seeks Employment. Contact: 91889873 Electrical draftsman AutoCAD switch gear & MEP control panel 7 years experience Qatar. Contact: 92546203/96228100

CATERING Indian male 38 yrs Senior Chef de. De. Party pastry exp 15 yrs in ﬁve star hotels, 10 yrs exp Oman get NOC looking for job in hotel & bakery. Contact: 96460519

DESIGNER Indian female B.Sc- Fashion Designer 21 years, fresher, One month internship in a garment industry 2015 University best designer award holder. Now looking for a creative job, currently on residential visa. Contact: 98297940 / 99741604. Email : zintasabu@gmail.com Architect and Interior designer, 8 years exp capable of managing turn key projects, design, BOQ, Execution. NOC available. Contact : 95273166

Driver looking for job. #99507039 Pakistani driving available. Contact : 96913836

EDUCATION Professional Teacher Qualiﬁed M.Com Post Graduate in ﬁnance for teaching Accounting subject. Contact: 91251210

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Mechanical Engineer, Indian 24 with 2 yrs experience in HVAC- MEP Revit – MEP, AutoCAD – MEP Navis solid works Catia PRO-E primavera. Contact: 96975382 Email: bonny491@gmail.com SAP – SCM.MM Consultant B.Tech. (Chemical), from NIT, working with oil industry, seeks employment. Contact: 98049288 Iraqi Civil Engineer, 12 years experience with Omani driving license. Contact: 94695595 Degree holder Civil Engineer having 10 years experience with driving license looking for better position. Contact 98451844 Email: zahid_ruet@hotmail.com Indian male, 38 years old, DME – Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC, VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob +968 95612870, Email: seeniselvan@gmail.com

T U E S DAY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

MEDICAL

Indian female, Ph. D in Mech. Engg, B.Sc, B.Ed, M.Sc & M.Phil in Physics having 6 yrs Malaysia University/ College teaching exp +1 yr experience for research fellow seeking good position in Oman. Contact 97793859 / 93621114, sreejayarejil@gmail.com

Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com

Indian male, 34 years old, DEE – Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving license light, ready to join immediately. Contact +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Ph: 95405885 Indian female, BE, Civil engineer with 1 year experience looking for suitable vacancy, on visit. Contact 95139583, Email : aisushetty09@gmail.com Indian male Safety Officer, 4+ years experience diploma in ﬁre & safety Eng seeks suitable post. Contact: 98843139 Electrical Engineer, B. Sc degree, Filipino, 15 years experience in oil & gas, power plant, substation, EPC projects, testing & commissioning, O & M with Oman D/L light. Contact: 97090934 Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Structural Engineer of 2 years & 7 months experience, specialized in Structural Design and Site Supervision looking for a job. Contact: 94634906 / 94370767 Email: muazomer45@gmail.com Indian Civil Engineer (buildings) available immediately as supply contract. Contact: 93263834 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained ﬁeld on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com B.E in ECE worked as Junior Scientist Trainee in Chennai worked as System Admin in Berik Honda Nagger coil worked at Technical Support in Samsung Service, presently in Bangalore. Contact : 0091 7026267513 Indian female 23, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics) & Diploma in Electrical CAD on Visit Visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99278410 / 94027398, Email: renju.raghavan7@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com. Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY 4 Years experienced (Money exchange services & Hospitality services in Oman & India) - Indian male 27 years, graduate in Hospitality science, ﬂuent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks suitable placement. Contacts: 91383167

Indian female MCA, 24 years seeking suitable job. Contact 93439467 IT professional MCA Oracle certified 6 months training of PLSQL data warehousing, PHP, 3 months trained seeking job at good company. Contact: 95694330 Email: monakashyap001@gmail.com B.E Computer Science, Indian male looking for suitable job in the field of software or information technology having good knowledge in Java, ASP. Net, MS Sql, MS Word. Contact: 91986919 Email: dileep2468.a@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs exp in Administration, Telecom, Optical Fiber Communication, Networking, MS Office. Seeks any job. On visit visa. Contact 91385373 / sridharbsnlma1455@gmail.com Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male Oman D/L 2 years Saudi experience in electrical, fire and safety one year Oman logistic management experience. Contact : 91233475 Female Postgraduate searching suitable job. Contact 97792820 Bangladeshi Post Graduate seeks a job good command in English and computer ready to take the challenge. Contact 93982627 Email: saymun.riyad@gmail.com Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. Contact 91789465 Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field. Contact : 96108289, Email - shijipaul84@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact: :98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com Male Indian BBM Graduate 8 years experience in logistics and ware housing in a reputed company valid driving license NOC available looking for suitable position. Contact : 96311786 Email: ubinfs@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Indian male, B.com, diploma in material management, 12+ years exp in international / local purchase, ware housing 4 logistics seeks suitable placement NOC available. Contact: 96477638 / 96477638

Female Dentist Indian, Prometric passed 63%,4 years of work experience, immediately available to join. Contact 97469553, nazianbaig@gmail.com Indian male GP doctor, 12 years experience parametric passed with 74% seeks suitable post. Email: ppdr2020@gmail.com. Contact 97985325 Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SALES / MARKETING Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com MBA from UK with 9 yrs experience in London, Dubai & Mumbai. Specialized GCC experience in top real estate co & bank with driving license. NOC available. #968 95168205, dubaihomes1@gmail.com Indian male 27yrs , diploma,3yrs exp in oman in sales & supervisor , oman driving license holder, looking for suitable placements. GSM -96489211 B.Tech (MECH) MBA (Marketing) having 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, projects presently working in Oman seek suitable placement N.O.C available and ready to join immediately. Contact: 91257781 email: rajrathsing@yahoo.com Young Bangladeshi male 26 knowing coffee shop work as watering sandwich making juice marking etc presently in Bangladesh if any employer need please Contact behalf of candidate with his brother. Contact: 92278538 Indian male seeking job, 8 years experience in Qatar in clerical/administration/documents controlling ﬁelds. Willing to work in customer care or sale also. Qatar driving license available. Job preferred in Sohar and surrounding cities. Contact 93285117 Management professional experienced in proﬁtable management with organization skills with over 21+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, UAE & in Oman11 yrs as GM Publications, Printing, Media & Advertising in entire operations, Sales marketing & etc. Looking for a reputed organization for a challenging position any industry, can Join immediately with NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com Looking for Sales Assistant job (having Oman driving license). Contact: 95872634 Looking for Sales Assistant job (having Oman driving license). Contact : 95872634

Production Manager 13 years experience in cast Aluminium fab. ﬁeld and good track record seeking for a suitable job. NOC ready in Hand. Contact: 96392319

Indian male MBA Graduate 10 years experience in Sales and Marketing (Tyre Industry and Electrical Industry) looking for a suitable position. Contact: 96065164 Email: pradeesh123in@yahoo.co.in

Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC. Contact 95245057

Indian male 31 visionary business strategist having over 8+ years of global experience seeking a challenging position that utilizes my years of experience currently on visit. Contact: 91902154

SALES / MARKETING Indian male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 9199 3376 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. . Contact 98371144 Indian male Graduate with 18 years experience in Sales and Marketing currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact : 91996486 / 99732070 6 years experienced male holding Masters Degree with experience in customer relationship, real estate, Sales and IT. Contact: 98823248 Email: sajjadhussain@yahoo.com Market research / Hospitality Indian male Graduate with nearly 30 yrs experience in Market research & hospitality industry. NOC available. Contact: 99347089 Indian 6 years experience as Sales Executive with 2 years visa, driving license seek suitable job. Contact 92233068 Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa. Contact 93086105/33016546 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job. Contact - 92146864

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Looking for job as Mason, pipe ﬁtter, Electrician and Aluminum ﬁxer available. Contact: 93015630

TOURS & TRAVELS 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing. Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job. Contact : 96990368. Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman. # 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

12 yrs exp FREELANCE 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license). Contact : 93790601

Indian male accountants, 12 years experience, tally also. Looking for a part time/ full time job in accounts or purchase. Contact- 98983122

Sudanese male, 31 year, have 3 year Diploma in Electrical Engineer, 6 years experience in construction and electrical plant. Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian Female 2yrs exp. in Accountant 5 yrs exp. in Electronics, seeking suitable Job. Contact: 97162705,93705090

Freelance Graphic Designer available to assist in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Corel Draw Projects. Contact : 95811820

Indian male, 14 years Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel ﬁeld (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available #95253640 email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com

Indian Female Lawyer 36 Yrs having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman as Legal Advisor seeks placement in Legal/HR/Admin NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com

Female Candidate: Having experience (ISRO India) in Administration (seeking suitable opportunities &presently in Oman Mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com Diploma civil Engineer seeking jobs(positions suits me: civil engineer ,site engineer,qa/qc engineer,land surveyor ,total station, auto level,draftsman (autocad, microstation) mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com MOH Indian Dentist 10 years experience in Oman. Can speak Arabic, has driving license. Contact 98995321 or ventureoman007@gmail.com BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings.NOC available. Mobile :92700670, E mail:catanalur131@gmail.com Qualiﬁed Native speaking male English Teacher with 18 years experience seeks position. Salary Negotiable. Whatsapp on +968 9334 1047 / +968 93952732 or e-mail me on nadgov@gmail.com

23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, 2 years+ experience in Audit and Finance in audit ﬁrm, Looking for suitable permanent placement, NOC release Available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264. Email:- yashicapandya@gmail.com Indian Female 10 years exp as cook in Oman. South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job Contact 96733187. Indian male-28 Years, Diploma in Electrical Egg, having gulf experience. Specialization on Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Operation. 7 years experience seeks for suitable placement. Mob – 968-95334580. E-mail -sunilkumar257.sk23@gmail.com

Indian female, IATA, B. Sc, looking for suitable placement.Contact-95514305, E mail idraveendranmala@gmail.com

Seeking Teaching Position. Qualiﬁed and experienced Native English speaking teacher seeking position in Muscat, I have a Teaching Diploma , two Honours Degrees and a CELTA Certiﬁcate. Position at Language school will be suitable. Will e-mail CV. Whatsapp only +96893952732

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, 29 years, 8 years experience. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170

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

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DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job Mobile 99070584, E mail: remluvp@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available, seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer Science) (Diploma Computer Engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle PLSQL , MS SQL-server, MS visual studio VBA, network. Contact :91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91033395 Indian Male, 34 years old, DEE – Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving licence light, ready to join immediately, Mob +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com 24 years, Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3 yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Indian Male, 38 years old, DME – Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob +968 95612870, seeniselvan@gmail.com BSc Graduate, INDIAN male , seeking suitable jobs. GSM: +91-8589820233. MAIL ID: prajinap45@gmail.com Young Indian Chartered Accountant, female, Having 6 years experience in Oman and India. Accounts and Finance Manager, Auditor. Urgently seeking suitable positions. Contact 92530131, jobcareer44@gmail.com Tunisian women looking for a job, khnows english,frensh, italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Indian male 25 years B.tech computers (Having 3 years of experience in customer service/Admin/IT Support) looking for suitable position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available immediate to join. Contact: 98402389, Mail: naresh6672@gmail.com Manager, Young Indian Male, MBA, BBA. Having excellent managerial experience (around 5 years) in leading Multi-National-Company. Looking for suitable positions. Contact: 92700670, fardhaan@gmail.com Available for part time accounting job, contact 99196621 Indian Female MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. Subject: EnglishSeeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman. Contact 93961142, 92184408, Email:-anoopkesavan78@gmail.com Indian Female M.Com with Computer Skills and Four Month Experience as Accountant ,Currently On Family Visa Looking for a Suitable Placement, Available Immediately. Contact : 95846642, Email : dhanyashree91@yahoo.com ACCA Affiliate, Experience in audit/ ﬁnance of 2.5 years in Big 6 Firm and Oil industry, looking for suitable permanent placement, Release NOC available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

PART TIME ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, M. Com, 35 years, 12 Years exp. in Accounts, 8 years in Oman. Knowledge upto finalization. Having valid D/L, seeks suitable Placement. GSM: 96249124 Egyptian Civil Engineer, total experience 7 years - 2 years experience in Oman. I am looking for Project Engineer, I have good experience in site & office works. Contact number:91148708 Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com. Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. # 91789465 ACCOUNTING – Indian male seeking accounting job with 2 years experience in accounting. Contact: 94263445, E mail – contactantonyxavieranand@gmail. com Sudanese male: 27 yrs, 2 years experience in accounting, other experience (purchasing – HR - Coordinating and Office Management), looking for a job Omani Driving License, NOC. Contact: 94174403 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Sudanese male (B.Sc, computer science) (diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience DBA oracle PL-SQL, MS SQL - Server, MS visual studio vba, network. Contact 91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91055584 Over 15 years experience in Gulf. Interior Architect, Lebanese Nationality, on visit visa seeking a suitable Placement. 96268005. PRODUCTION OPERATOR – Indian male seeking production operator or related jobs with 4 years of experience in oil & gas field. Contact 94263445. Email: tonyxavier4u@gmail.com Indian Keralite Male 35 looking for Scaffolding supervisor post having 5 years of Supervisor and HSE experience in GCC Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Fluent in English Arabic and Hindi . Contact 96155921, or mail fysal.nellaya@gmail.com Indian Male 28 yrs, having 7 years Gulf + Indian experience in HR and Admin field, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.#97914340. Email: rajkv30@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial field available in muscat on vist visa seeking suitable job . Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com IT system and Printer engineer ME, 5Years bank IT Management exp in India looking for full time job visit visa contact 94462150

Indian male with 8 yrs experience in FMCG in Oman as Sales Supervisor looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Gsm: 96495206 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. 9588 7051, ashwininakod@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, Indian, 2.5Years experience in Audit/ Finance in Big 6 Audit Firm and Oil Accounting in PDO, For Permanent Placement for Finance or Accounts or Audit. Release NOC Available on hand. Contact #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Finance ACCA Affiliate, Worked as an Auditor with 2.5 Years Experience in reputed firm, Handled independent audit/finance assignments, Looking for permanent placement, NOC available. Contact 95140445. a.saran891@gmail.com Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer science) (diploma computer engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle plsql, MS sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network. Contact :91415886 Indian Male, Graduate, 11 years Sales experience in Lighting / Industrial products, ready to join immediately. GSM: 9710 5356 Indian heavy duty driver with 8 years experience in oman available with NOC. GSM : 93601943 GSM : 94496457 Indian male, 28 yrs MBA (HR/M) 2 years experience in Indian Oman in HR & admin seeks suitable placements. NOC available. Contact 97484159 Email: rameshkapa86@gmail.com M.Sc 3+ years exp from France & India in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & Networking / Server support / scientific system support looking for suitable positions. Indian, male on visit visa, contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com Looking for managerial post (full time ), More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training, planning, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. Contact 91076608 / 99322748. Release & noc available Indian male, 34years having 10 years of experience in Sales, Sales Coordination and Administration. Experienced in SAP and MS Office. NOC available. Contact # 94686594 Indian Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs. Contact: 97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com Indian, Male, 23 years, BE Electrical, having 2 years experience in Electrical Works-H.T. cabling etc, & Construction, looking for a suitable placement. Contact +968 96927880 (Oman), +91 9765376109 (India), Email: rahulrevi6@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED B.Tech Computer Engineer Wanted job to work on(IT/Banking/Administrator/Technical/Office works) having NOC with the limited time from (04/06/2015 to 13/06/2015). Mobile:98402389 email:naresh6672@gmail.com British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable position. #:97175240 Highly Qualified & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees , CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFA- Financial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Profit Maximizations ( NOC available ) call 94 504505 – 94403270 27 year Indian female who has 4 years of experience with logistics function in distribution of spares for both heavy machinery & wind turbine parts. Kindly contact me on +91 9790769104 E-mail: joemohana@yahoo.co.in Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903. Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement. Contact 99486374 8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job. Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com Indian female , MCA BCA, certification PL SQL , 6months training PHP, date warehouse looking for suitable placement. #95694330 Email: mondkashyapodl@gmail.com B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally. Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com

Part- time accountant, well experience senior accountant , doing all type of accounting works, ﬁnalization, budgeting available. Contact : 98803439

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase. Contact 99196621

ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit ﬁrm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Release available Contact :95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proﬁciency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913

Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement. Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com

HSE Advisor, NEBOSH IGC, Indian male, 4 years experience in construction and oil ﬁelds, seeking suitable jobs. Gsm: 97458900, Mail: miroshbabu@gmail.com

Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA , Professional of Banking, Audits , ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 / 94403270

Female Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary with 27+ experience, worked with top management/Board in ﬁnancial services with shorthand skills & Omani driving license, seeks suitable placement. call 95941515

Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job. Contact 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@ gmail.com

B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com

Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com

Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job. Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com

MEP Quantity Surveyor-EstimationProject, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626

Indian, 32 years, completed M.A. English, M.Sc. Psychology and B.Ed in English. Searching for suitable job in the ﬁeld of teaching. To Contact: 00968 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com

Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Holding Oman valid driving license. Contact :94501423

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

TOURS

RENT A CAR

GOOD NEWS

Butter cup rent a car presents fantastic offers all vehicles are model 2016. Contact : 97249449

DRIVING

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

TRANSPORTATION

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987

Pick & drop anytime in Al Khuwair. Contact 99764307

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com

Transportation. Contact 99508282

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Silver Car, car for rent. Contact: 96166155 / 98402662

Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914

Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. # 97014786

FOR HIRE

Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

T U E S D AY, J U LY 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTED 8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job. Contact : 93790601

Video Editor 29 years Indian male with 8 years experience on visit visa looking for a suitable placement #91275969 leomoorkoth@gmail.com

24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com

10 YEAR Experienced PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER. Currently working at Kerala, India. Seeks placement. Contact: 95872030 , email: - sajith3969@gmail.com

Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years experience in audit/finance and oil company in reputed firms. Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position. 94151658 ACCOUNTANT: Indian male 25 having 4years experience in accounting & having well knowledge in tally. Contact:968094535881, 0091 9037622048 Email: vishnuraj889@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, 2.5years experience in Audit/Finance in Global Big6 Firms and Oil company in Oman, Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release NOC Available. Contact: #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any Oman. Contact - 97693456. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com BE. Biomedical Engineer, 5 years experience in the same field (Hospital/company)looking for suitable placement. Contact:92084807 Email:bonnygeorge1005@gmail.com ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – Indian male seeking Electrical Engineer job with 2 years’ experience. Contact: 94263445, E mail – janardhanan53@gmail.com 32 years, Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post. Contact 99022484 Sudanese/ 26 years/ master of clinical pharmacy(1st class)/ 1 year experience/live in India/excellent communication in English(IELTS Certificate) and arabic/pharmacist license/hassan_kassala@hotmail. com 00919600413966-96387227 24 Years, indian male 2.5 Years experience in admin & accounts, dubai. Currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement in admin & accounts. M: 93016252 EMAIL: shahabaskp@gmail.com Indian male, MBA with 20 years of experience in back office operation, risk and operational management, financial management for Finance and Trading companies. Presently available on visit visa. Contact 91276221 CCNA MCITP network support /network technician with 2 years experience indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. #93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com Omani male , BBA ,with 6 year experience in HR &Admin looking for opportunity in HR & Admin in Muscat. Joint date after one month notice period . Mobile 92223279 Having 9+ years exp. in Admin, Purchase, Stores & Warehouse in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact +968 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Innovative Indian Male 29, B.E & M.Tech Web designer / developer with over 5.5 years of work experience in HTML 5, CSS 3, SEO, Digital marketing (DFP & DCM), Magento, CMS, Photoshop and Dreamweaver. Can join ASAP. Contact 00968 9630 3055 / email: aditya.khandkar@gmail.com

COMPUTER

Indian male 48yrs with driving license looking for a job to work as driver / salesman. Residing at Al Khoudh. Contact: 99551310 Indian female Nurse with 5 yrs of experience, presently working in Oman, seeking for suitable placement. NOC available can join immediately. Contact: 98329941 Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com Looking for part time jobs in Muscat, Auto cad Draughtsman (Civil). contact:-+968-99070584 email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian female MA. B.Ed. with one year three months teaching experience. Subject: English Seeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman Contact: 93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial ﬁeld available in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable job . #95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com

WEBSITE

Indian Male MBA with two year experience in H.R as a H.R Assistant, Now in India, Seeking for an urgent suitable position. Contact:-98620260 / 93895992 , Email:-deepakmb4@gmail.com Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job mobile no: 0096899070584 email: remluvp@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTMATRIMONIAL Indian male Roman Catholic Divorcee 40 yrs working in Muscat seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/single. Contact: 96059801 Muslim boy, 32 years MBA, studied and working in Oman as Sales manager in a reputed organisation, Tableeg Jamath invites proposals from educated girls in Gulf preferably Malayalees. Contact 99357458 and 92656899 RC SC girl (Kerala) 28 yrs, 154cm BSC Nurse working in Oman (SQUH) seeks alliances from professionaly qualiﬁed employers. Contact: 96228192 Kerala Christian Orthodox boy 29/185 Staff Nurse MOH Muscat seeks suitable alliances. Contact: 99461264 Indian Kerala male 31 years Hindu Ezhava working in Muscat looking for life partner. Contact: 99893119

CHANGE OF NAME

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

CLASSES

Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422

I Jose Prakash (holder of Indian passport No. J 6418802) son of Peter Antony having permanent residence in Prakash Bhavan, Dooyappally, Kollam, Kerala Pin 691537 (complete postal address in India) & presently residing in Sultanate of Oman P.O. Box 82, C.P.O, PC 111 (complete postal in Oman) intend to change from Antony Jose Prakash (old name) to Jose Prakash Antony (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, Postal code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman. Saif Said Al Abri & his partner for Trad joint which is recorded under the commercial register in directorate general for trade industry number 1056435 is going to change its name to Eshraqat Al Noor Al Satea for Trad joint. This is to inform anybody who concerns about that.

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 House shifting. Contact 99708138 Carpet, curtain, sofa, ﬂoor, cleaning, shampooing, marble & mosaic tiles grinding, polishing and painting. Contact : 93630133 / 95821193 House shifting packing. 99657644 / 98518013

Admission Open: CAMBRIDGE / BILINGUAL CURRICULUM admission started in Al Burj Private School, Azaiba for KG and Grade I to IV. Please register soonest. Contact: 93211417 / 92887809.

Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites. Contact: 98667326 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Pest control Treatments, termites, cockroaches, bedbugs Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722 Carpet, Sofa Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99884591 AC servicing maintenance ﬁxing. Contact: 99540621

FOR LADIES Hair dressing, facial massage & other beauty treatment for women. Contact: 94689448

LOST Bimala Rimal has lost Nepalese Passport No. 5246611. Finder please handover to ROP Jehan Zeb Haji has lost Pakistani Passport No. BH 5093962. Finder please handover to ROP