Times of Oman - August 17, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

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MONDAY, August 17, 2015 / 2 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH

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FINANCE

CABLE

Why don’t expats in Oman save enough for their retirement? SALEH AL SHAIBANY

saleh@timesofoman.com

SOLUTION IN SIGHT: As per law, at least one car parking slot should be provided for each villa and each unit in multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, regardless of the size. -Jun Estrada

Is this the end of the road for parking woes? ALLOCATED LAND PLOTS FOR MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS

Mabela

Ministry of Housing

Al Khoud Airport

allocates plots for multi-storey car parks across Muscat

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Tired of circling the block desperately hoping for a parking spot to open up? Regularly dump your car on the pavement and hope the Royal Oman Police don’t swoop? Hope is at hand for thousands of frustrated motorists in Muscat. As parking becomes a growing concern in Muscat, the Ministry of Housing has allocated land plots across the city for multi-storey car parks. The allotted plots are in various locations including Mabela, Central Banking District (CBD) in Muttrah, Al Khoud, Ghala and Bausher commercial area, an official at the ministry told Times of Oman. Allocating

Express Muscat

40 km Source: Ministry of Housing

land plots for this purpose is one of the strategies the ministry has adopted to address parking problems, said Salim Al Nabhani, assistant director general of planning and survey department. Parking is becoming more and more limited due to the fact that many households have more than one vehicle these days, he said. Swelling numbers According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total number of vehicles registered until the end of June 2015 stood at 50,802. It was reported in January last year that 90 per cent of Omani households own a vehicle. “Also, when we started planning the areas in the 80s or even

CRIME

Bausher

Ghala

Graphics

before that, we thought only about two-storey or single storey (buildings), so they did not tell the people to provide parking, but now that everything is changed, there need to be more plots,” Al Nabhani said. Building rules The official noted that the land plots provided by the ministry, which will be developed by the municipality, will conform to the rules and regulations formulated for the developers. The law states that at least one car parking slot should be provided for each villa and each unit in multi-storey commercial and residential buildings, regardless of the size of the building, Al Nabhani explained. >A3 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

ROP arrests ﬁve in drug related cases

OMAN

Time for labour card correction extended

Times News Service MUSCAT: Five people were arrested from two different places in Oman on the charges of possessing or smuggling narcotics. “Three people were arrested for possession of narcotics with an intent to traffick these,” an ofﬁcial source at Royal Oman Police (ROP) said. The Directorate General of Combating Drugs and Narcotics personnel in Dhofar ROP arrested the suspects in Wilayat Raysoot and recovered seven blocks of hashish besides psychotropic tablets, hidden in their vehicle’s spare tyre. “They have been referred to the public prosecution pending further investigations,” the source said.

CBD

Sultan Qaboos St.

Narcotics seized by ROP.

The ROP has urged citizens and residents to cooperate with the Department of Narcotics Control by reporting any information about drug traffickers. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Combating Drugs and Psychotropic Substances arrested two people of Asian nationality for smuggling, being in possession of and trafficking these drugs. >A3

Leniency period for expatriate workers who have not yet had their labour card status corrected, has been extended by another three months, according to the ministry of manpower. Beyond that date they would face action, the ministry said. >A3

INDIA

Modi begins UAE trip with visit to mosque

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday began his two-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, the ﬁrst by an Indian premier in more than three decades with a visit to the historic Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque, the world’s third largest. >A8

WORLD

Missing Indonesian plane’s debris found

3 Never stop beating your best

Wreckage of a passenger plane of Indonesian carrier Trigana Air which went missing with 54 people aboard in rugged eastern Indonesia on Sunday has been found by villagers, an official said, with rescuers expected to head to the crash site. >A11

MUSCAT: Expatriates working in Oman are struggling to save money for their future, with low pay and rising inflation being the top reasons. It is an extremely worrying situation for most of them since they do realise the importance of putting away money for old age. Even those who have been working here for years do not have enough in the bank to see them off in their retirement period. “We don’t get paid enough to save money. My salary is OMR745 a month and my expenses are around OMR635 a month. I have very little left to send money back home,” Amit Gavaskar, an executive from the Oman Tours Company, told the Times of Oman. One of the biggest costs that expatriates encounter while working in Oman is house rental, according to another expatriate. “I use 40 per cent of my wages to pay the rent of my flat. My landlord has been increasing the rent every two years. By the time I pay for food, transportation, children’s school fees and bills, there is nothing left,” Fairooz Al Khadhary, a Syrian teacher working for a government school, said. Inflation also takes a big bite away from the pay packages of expatriates. In the last five years, inflation in Oman has been rising steadily at 1.75 per cent annually. “The cost of food is increasing every year. Over 35 per cent of my pay packet goes towards paying

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HM sends condolences to China MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China on victims of the explosions that shook the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin. In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Jinping, families of the victims and the friendly Chinese people, whishing the injured speedy recovery. - ONA CABLES

His Majesty sends greetings for food. School fees are a big factor. I have three children and parents at home to look after. I find it hard to save anything. The only money I send home is what I put into my parents’ account for their upkeep,” Joe Figarano, a Filipino national working in oil and gas firm, told the Times of Oman. Many expatriates come to Oman for financial gains but once here, they forget that and spend more money than they would have if they had stayed at home, according to financial experts. “Those expats have only themselves to blame. They have the opportunity to save but they go for luxuries instead of just necessity. They buy expensive cars, enrol their children in good schools, stay in luxury apartments or villas and eat out every day ,” George Raja, an Indian financial expert, explained. >A6

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Ali Bongo Ondimba of the Republic of Gabon on the occasion of his country’s national day. In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere greetings and best wishes of good health and happiness to President Ondimba and the friendly people of Gabon further progress. His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of congratulations to President Joko Widodo of Indonesia on the occasion of his country’s independence anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty expressed his sincere congratulations along with best wishes of good health and happiness to President Widodo and the friendly Indonesian people further progress. -ONA

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

OMAN

We thought of at least attending his (Modi’s) public gathering... But we came to know that the organising committee had issued an alert that registering online is not a guarantee for admission An Indian expatriate in Oman

Expats miss out on Modi’s speech

GLOBAL IMPACT: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on his arrival in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.– PTI photo

More than 2.6 million Indians are working in UAE, and their remittances are $14 billion yearly

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Indian expatriates in Oman were disappointed to miss out an opportunity to hear their prime minster, Narendra Modi’s public address in Dubai. Modi arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday as part of his two-day visit to the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UAE visit is the ﬁrst by an Indian PM in over three decades. More than 2.6 million Indians are working in the UAE, and their an-

nual remittances are estimated at some $14 billion. “We thought of at least attending his public gathering address on Monday at Dubai Cricket Stadium in Sports City Dubai. Many had registered online to attend the address. But we came to know that the organising committee had issued an alert that registering online is not a guarantee for admission. So, many are disappointed,” an expatriate in Oman said. “Indians comprise the maximum number of expatriates in this region. They have made their mark in the UAE. Bilateral trade between the two countries is around $60 billion. It would have been a great experience to listen to him if we had the chance,” he added. While the number of people who have registered online has yet to be disclosed, it was learnt that last week the number was more than 40,000, forcing the organising committee to convene an emergency meeting and issue a statement about entry to the stadium not being guaranteed.

“In any case, the last person to be allowed into the stadium will be at 6.30pm,” the statement said. Modi is paying an official visit to the UAE at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Sheikh Al Nahyan received the Indian prime minister at the airport. Modi will also meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the visit. The talks are set to focus on trade, investment and security cooperation, as well as a general discussion about the large Indian Diaspora, said sources. Before his visit, Modi tweeted that the Gulf region is vital to India’s economic, energy and security interests. According to a study, total trade between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has gone from some $ 5.55 billion in 2000–01 to $158.41 billion in 2012-13.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

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C I V I C A F FA I R S

Visa status date extended HAMOOD BRICKY MUSCAT: The leniency period for expatriate workers who have not yet corrected their labour card status, has been extended by another three months, according to the Ministry of Manpower. “The private establishments in Oman can approach the ministry to correct their workers’ status if it has not been done, until October 28 this year, without paying any ﬁne or facing any legal action. If they miss doing so, they may face action,” the ministry’s notice informed. On May 3, when the ministry announced an amnesty for the undocumented and overstaying migrant workers, it also provided

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an opportunity to have the labour card status rectiﬁed. Similarly, the ministry has extended the period for labour card status correction by three more months. During the amnesty period, undocumented and overstaying migrant workers can leave Oman without paying any ﬁne or facing any legal action for having violated the resident status and work permit in Oman. “There are a large number of expatriates who are doing a different job other than what is mentioned in their labour card. This is a chance for them to have it corrected. By doing that, they can avoid risks,” an Indian social worker said.

ROP ACTION

Parking regulations A1 ﬂouted by buildings < FROM

According to the ministry, the law calling for at least one car parking slot for each unit was introduced in 2010 and no permit will be issued for new buildings in new planning areas which do not allocate adequate parking lots in their plans. The Muscat Municipality’s local order No 23/92, which regulates the buildings in Muscat, also stipulates that one parking lot per ﬂat, office or store should be developed. Basement parking Buildings with an area exceeding 750 sqm must develop base-

ment parking and provide outdoor parking space if necessary to accommodate all the units, Al Nabhani said, adding that a basement parking is optional for smaller buildings. In addition, the official highlighted the importance of developing an efficient public transport system and promoting a culture to use it to reduce parking problems in Muscat. Allocation of land plots for multi-storey car parks is good news for people living in highly dense commercial-residential areas who face parking problems on a daily basis.

UAE’s online service for visa draws praise In mid-May, the UAE started accepting applications for visas and fee payments online. Now, it has become official

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Residents, citizens and travel agents in Oman welcomed the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) recently launched online service to allow GCC residents and their dependents to receive UAE visas at ports across the country by accessing the ‘Fawri’ portal on the ministry’s

website www.moi.gov.ae. “In mid-May this year, the UAE started to accept applications for visas and fee payments online. Now, it has become official. Through this portal, travel hassles can be reduced. However, we have not received official communications from Emirates airlines,” a travel agent in Muscat said. “It is quite easy to ﬁll out the online application and receive a visa,” the travel agent added. According to Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation, Residency and Ports in UAE, the new services are part of the Ministry of Interior’s programme to keep pace with technology advances in order to expedite passenger movement at ports and streamline the visa issuance procedure for passengers before arriving in the country, ultimately saving time and reducing efforts for travellers.

He also said that additional smart solutions will be rolled out in the future, in order to provide services that exceed customers’ expectations in record time and in accordance with the highest standards. Major General Al Khaili added that launching the online visa issuance service for GCC residents is a shift in upgrading services, and is part of an integrated strategy toward smart transformation of services and ensuring their availability through the Ministry of Interior’s website, along with smart phones. Lt. Col. Matar Kharbash, head of the e-services Department, stressed the Interior Ministry’s efforts to develop smart e-services to enhance public satisfaction, while maintaining a high level of professionalism. Major General Al Khaili also pointed out that visitors visas are issued at ports throughout the country, in accordance with Arti-

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cle 42 for GCC expats (not obtaining a prior visa or permission), allowing them to enter into the territory of the country if the visitor belongs to any of the following categories: Businessmen, investors, partners, and company managers and representatives; accountants, auditors, doctors, engineers, lawyers and legal advisers; public sector workers, other than workers and labourers; family members of the above-mentioned individuals or entities and their escort, namely the helpers, and individuals sponsored by them; foreign family members of GCC nationals, their sponsored helpers and escorts; GCC truck drivers transporting goods from any GCC countries. They are required to submit a sponsor’s letter of no objection (NOC) from the sponsoring entity in the country of issuance; sponsored citizens who have residence permits in GCC countries.

“Although it may take time for these parking lots to be built, it is a good decision to reserve land plots for future development of parking space,” said Akbar Ahmadi, who lives in the Muttrah Business District (MBD) area. “If you look at the MBD area, it seems like a huge parking lot. Most of the buildings are old, so there are not enough car parks for each building. “Apart from the inconvenience caused to the residents, there is no room left for children to play,” Ahmadi said, calling on the authorities to implement the law strictly.

< FROM

A1 Drug haul In addition to ﬁnding out that they had entered the Sultanate illegally, the Directorate General of Inquiry and Criminal Investigations also had intelligence about the two suspects that suggested that they were hand in glove with an international drug gang trying to smuggle narcotics in the Sultanate. The ROP found 330 plastic wraps of heroin and a plastic bag with 487 grams of drugs. They have been referred to the public prosecution to continue legal procedures. The ROP said citizens can report any information on drug promoters to the ROP free hotline 1444 as well as the emergency line 9999.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015 After completing his Year 6 semesters at British School Muscat, he locked himself in his house and completed 40 paintings before going to India Aparna Shere, mother of Aryan Shere

OMAN Solo art show for a cause in India

INDIAN SCHOOL FUNCTION

National pride on show at Salalah

Aryan Shere, a Times News Service

student of British School Muscat, recently held a solo art exhibition in Pune (India). Out of 40 paintings displayed, 25 were sold in two days

Times News Service MUSCAT: Aryan Shere’s paintings have been praised for blending perfectly with physical realities. Aryan, a year seven student at British School Muscat, recently held a solo exhibition in the Indian city of Pune. Out of 40 paintings that were displayed at the exhibition, 25 were sold. Aryan now wants to donate the money raised through the exhibition to a children’s charitable trust. The 40 paintings exhibited were completed at his home in Muscat. “After completing his Year 6 semesters at British School Muscat, he locked himself in his house and completed 40 paintings before going to India. He carried all these paintings to Pune in India where the exhibition was held for two days at Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery in Pune. The exhibition received an overwhelming response by various people, relatives and friends,” according to his mother, Aparna Shere, who is also an accomplished artist based in Muscat. Aryan has been painting since he was seven years old, added his mother. “Before coming to Muscat, we were in Qatar for 6 years. I started to like painting when I used to watch my mother conduct art workshops for kids, and the way they used to have fun with paint,” said Aryan.

ART CONNECT: The 40 paintings exhibited at Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery in Pune were completed by Aryan Shere at his home in Muscat.– Suppled photo

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Colorful and bright Describing his paintings as a colorful and bright combination of Zentangle with canvas modern art, Aryan says, “I like using vibrant colours and mixing them to try different styles of painting. I am also trying mini-canvases with simple objects. Next, I would like to try these bright colors on abstract painting.” “For my exhibition, I chose subjects, such as Paris scenes, New York night life, 3D art animals, and my favorite, charcoal painting. I did one of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also, a canvas painting with a chess board as a theme with toy animals I collected from McDonald’s Happy meals, which is my all-time favourite,” he says. Charcoal painting is his preferred medium. “I won ﬁrst prize with a charcoal painting I did here in Muscat of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said,” recalls Aryan.

His turning point as an artist was when, as a seven year old, he won 500 Qatari Riyal in an art competition held in Doha, Qatar. “It was thanks to my dad, who encouraged me to take part in that competition. I was really proud of myself and bought a computer with the prize money. I still use that computer,” he says. He noted that his mother has been his main source of inspiration.“I see her experimenting with her paintings and I get new ideas for my paintings. I look for new things on the internet and try them out. My mother guides me on artistic elements of painting that gel with bright colour combinations and new ideas,” Aryan says. His mother, who is a wellknown artist specialising in realistic and nature paintings said, “It has been a task to keep Aryan away from his painting experiments, but we feel happy that he copes well with his studies and homework. Along with painting, he also likes to play keyboard and tennis. He attends coaching for these twice a week. All these activities keeps him busy through the week”.

SALALAH: Indian School Salalah celebrated the 69th Independence Day of India on 15th August 2015 with great patriotic spirit and fervour on the school premises. Abdullah Aqeel Ahmad Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Governor of Governorate of Dhofar, was the chief guest on the occasion. The Scouts and Guides presented the Guard of Honour with the school band. Ram Santhanam, president of the School Management Committee (SMC), escorted by principal T.R. Brown, unfurled the National Tricolour Flag of India accompanied by the Indian National Anthem, followed by the Omani National Anthem. A salute of honour was given by the Scouts and Guides of Indian School Salalah, ﬁlling the hearts of all present with true patriotic spirit and pride. Speaking on the occasion, Santhanam quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech which marked the beginning of a new era. India today stands as a world power in terms of knowledge, technology, and human intelligence and has emerged as a rapidly advancing economic hub of world trade and commerce. Santhanam reminded the students about Dr. A P J. Abdul Kalam’s vision which states that “no Indian youth should be without either a world class higher education or a world class skills set. If that happens, then our youth can use their knowledge and skill to make the nation prosperous.’ He said he considered himself honoured to be a part of the SMC of Indian School Salalah which stands apart as a pioneering community institution for the last 34 years in Salalah. Powerful speech in English by Claudia Julius of class VIII and in Hindi by Prathyinka Prasanna of class IV added to the patriotic spirit. They highlighted the struggle and sacriﬁces made by great Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhagat Singh and many others who laid down their lives for the cause of freedom of the country. A scintillating dance perfor-

PATRIOTIC FERVOUR: Ram Santhanam, president of the Indian School Salalah Management Committee, escorted by principal T.R. Brown, unfurled the National Tricolour Flag of India.–Supplied photo

mance by the students of class III and IV enthralled the audience. Students of class VIII presented an English skit that revealed the true meaning of free India and great Indian values such as tolerance and respect for each other. Group dance by the students of class VIII was a blend of western and semi-classical dance forms which truly justiﬁed the characteristics of dance such as elegance and agility. Prize distribution Prize distribution, an integral part of the Independence Day, celebrations, left several parents beaming with joy and pride to see their wards collecting prizes in various inter-school competitions from the distinguished guest, Abdullah Aqeel Ahmad Ibrahim. The winners of poster and essay writing competitions organised by the SAI group, the drama festival organised by ISM and the Green Olympiad, were honoured by the chief guest.

C.T. Ramasamy, head of the department of English, thanked the chief guest for honouring the winners of various competitions. As a token of love and affection, Ram Santhanam, president of the School Management Committee and T.R. Brown, the principal, presented a memento to the chief guest, who extended his heartiest Independence Day greetings to the members of the Indian community in Salalah and Oman. He said, “The brotherly relationship between India and Oman has been existing for centuries and we welcome the co-operation and brotherly zest of the Indian community.” He said he was happy to know that Indian School Salalah provided education to students from 27 other nationalities. He also assured all support to the Indian School Salalah within the framework of the government rules and regulations to ensure the growth and development of the school.

I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY

Patriotic spirit at Indian School Ibri Times News Service IBRI: Patriotic spirit marked the 69th Independence Day celebrations at Indian School Ibri. The president of the School Management Committee (SMC), Abul Gafoor Quadri, along with former and present members of the SMC, were among those who attended the function, along with parents and well-wishers. The principal, staff and students also paid their respects to their home country. The programme began with the welcome address by Amina M N, the prefect of Blue House. Quadri unfurled the tricolour Indian National Flag, which was followed by the singing of the Na-

tional Anthem of India. Principal Vinoba, during his speech, quoted the former Indian President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who urged students to take care of the well being, individuality and happiness of every citizen of their country to assure the overall prosperity, peace and happiness of their nation. The address of the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on the eve of 69th Independence Day of India, was screened before the audience. This was followed by a cultural programme put on by the four houses, Blue, Green, Yellow and Red. Children paid homage to the freedom ﬁghters through their dance and singing.

CULTURAL TRIBUTES: A cultural programme paid homage to the freedom ﬁghters.–Supplied photo

INDIAN SCHOOL DARSAIT

Rich tributes paid to freedom fighters Times News Service MUSCAT: Indian School Darsait (ISD) celebrated the 69th Independence Day with patriotic fervour. The chief guest, Biju Samuel, convener, School Management Committee (SMC), unfurled the National Flag in the presence of members of SMC, principal Dr. Sridevi P. Thashnath, staff, students, parents and well wishers. Addressing the gathering, Samuel said, “We should remember the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and national leaders. We owe a lot to the courage and dedicated works of our national leaders, who literally lived to attain freedom from the

British. It is their commendable efforts that made India free”. He said that along with celebrations, comes the responsibility to make democracy and global citizenship a reality and urged students to realize their potential and work towards the prosperity of India. The principal saluted those leaders who laid down their lives for the people of India. She further said that it is the students who would carry forward India through meaningful education. She began her speech by quoting Rabindranath Tagore, “Where the mind is without fear...” She also remembered Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a great teacher and true son of India.

NATIONAL PRIDE: The highlights of the day were the singing of songs of unity and integration of India by the choir from both primary and senior sections of the school.– Supplied photo

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

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World Bank tie-up to boost fisheries Oman’s vision for ﬁsheries and aquaculture until 2040 aims to achieve a worldclass ﬁsheries sector that is ecologically sustainable and a net contributor to the economy of Oman

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: As the price of oil drops lower, the fisheries sector in Oman is becoming more important for economic diversification, so the government has been working with the World Bank to create a plan to help the industry flourish. According to the World Bank, the organisation has offered technical expertise, suggested international best practices, and worked with stakeholders at different levels to help revitalise the industry. Their work in Oman resulted in a Government of Oman vision for fisheries and aquaculture until 2040 that aimed to “achieve a profitable world-class fisheries sector that is ecologically sustainable and a net contributor to the economy of Oman.” “The government wants to improve every element of the value chain, from fish harvesting, to packaging and logistics, to marketing,” said World Bank senior envi-

ronmental specialist, Banu Setlur. Traditionally fishing was an important part of Oman’s economy, with many coastal families relying on it for their livelihood. As the economy is forced to change, it’s an area worth investing in for the future, according to the World Bank and local experts. Workshops Since 2014 the experts from the World Bank have been holding meetings and workshops with stakeholders ranging from ministers to sheikhs of coastal tribes to analyse the needs of the fisheries industry. In addition to bringing their international expertise, the World Bank is also learning about Oman’s traditional fishing practices so that it can create a plan that best suits the Sultanate. “The Bank has been asked to

link the government’s investment programme in the fisheries sector to their vision of private sector led growth, while maintaining a focus on sustainable management of the natural resource,” Setlur said. Rakesh Belwal, a business professor at Sohar University who has done extensive research on the fisheries industries in Oman, says the World Bank team will find a lot of valuable sources of information locally to assist their plans, but said it’s imperative that they localise their plans for different regions of Oman. “Indigenous knowledge can only be obtained mainly by reviewing the recent research done by the ministry and academics, and also by meeting fishermen groups, middlemen, and the extension agents of the MoAF. However, not all coasts are equal in their fishing potential and proximity to

the markets, so one stop solution might not work,” Belwal explained. Dr. Omar Al Jabri, from SQU’s Department of Natural Resource Economics, welcomed the involvement of the World Bank in shaping the future of Oman’s fisheries. He said they bring diverse international experience which can benefit the Omani fisheries industry. “That could help in improving the situation and improving the production and it’s going to help with food security,” he said. Some of the areas Al Jabri highlighted that need to be addressed include regulating overfishing practices, which can harm different species and reduce future revenues, and regulating the prices, which until recently have been quite high. He said fishermen would also benefit greatly from marketing and entrepreneurship

training. “The most important issue which our local fishermen require is the market improvement in all aspects, market and marketing issues, and supply chain management, which is very weak. This is the issue that is going to help both sides, customers and the fishermen themselves,” Al Jabri said. Better regulations Belwal added that the industry needs better organisation and regulations that are in line with the leading countries with respect to the fishermen’s education and training, their licensing, training and support, and for environmental compliance. “There must be some entry barriers so that some organisation of efforts, discipline, and integration, both forward and backward, can be obtained for effectiveness and effi-

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Oman Air expands choice through codeshare ties Times News Service MUSCAT: As Oman Air continues its fleet and network expansion programme, it has confirmed its commitment to give customers more choice by operating a range of codeshare partnerships. The national carrier of Oman is currently increasing the size of its fleet and will operate 25 wide-body and 45 narrow-body aircraft by 2020. It is also launching new services to exciting destinations around the world, most recent being Manila, Jakarta, Goa and Singapore. However, the airline aims to offer even greater choice and convenience to customers by working in partnership with other airlines which operate to similarly high quality standards as Oman Air. The resulting codeshare partnerships have in recent years seen Oman Air offer flights to many more destinations. They have also given the customers of partner airlines the opportunity to experience Oman Air’s award-winning passenger experience. Oman Air currently operates nine codeshare partnerships, which cover destinations in the Middle East, South and South East Asia, Africa and Europe. The partnership with Emirates Airlines covers services between Dubai and Muscat, whilst

ciency on all fronts,” Belwal added. One of the approaches the World Bank is taking is “to find a way to harvest more high-value fish in the most economical way,” according to Michael Arbuckle, a member of the World Bank team. Pilot projects for harvesting abalone and cuttlefish are being planned, including increasing hatchery activities for abalone and improving the environmental standards of the facilities. “Abalone is a high value species and it generates high income for locals in Salalah and the southern region. Increasing the production is really good, I believe that. I don’t know how it’s going to affect prices and incomes of locals but I believe there will be some regulations later on,” Al Jabri said. Going forward the World Bank plan includes support for business development and management training, plans for new fisheries institutions, strengthened fisheries governance with more monitoring and data collection, and more support for branding and marketing. Al Jabri said Oman’s fisheries industry would also do well to focus on adding value to the exports by not just sending fish and seafood as soon as it’s caught, but by doing some preparations and packaging so it would be ready for the consumers. This would generate higher profits and create more job opportunities in Oman, helping re-establish the fisheries as an integral part of the economy. “We do not need to rely on oil all the time. In comparison to the economy size, the fisheries and agriculture - all these food sectors - are important for diversification. But it won’t be a huge percentage of the economy...but we can’t forget these two important sectors. As long as well can use our natural resources in a sustainable way, I don’t think we can have any problems,” added Al Jabri.

Oman Air currently operates nine codeshare partnerships, which cover destinations in the Middle East, South and South East Asia, Africa and Europe COMMERCIAL BOOST: Oman Air aims to offer greater choice and convenience to customers by working in partnership with other airlines which operate to similarly high quality standards as Oman Air.–Supplied photo

that with Qatar Airways enables customers to fly to Doha from any of the 46 departure points within Oman Air’s network. A codeshare with Ethiopian Airlines allows Oman Air’s customers to book flights between Muscat and Addis Ababa. Meanwhile, a similar arrangement with Royal Jordanian enables that airline’s customers to fly with Oman Air between Muscat and Amman, and vice versa. Istanbul has been added to Oman Air’s network as a result of a codeshare partnership with Turk-

ish Airlines. The ﬂights between Muscat and Istanbul, and vice versa, can now be booked by Oman Air’s customers. Mutual booking Sri Lankan Airlines’ customers can now book to ﬂy aboard Oman Air’s aircraft between Colombo and Zurich via Muscat. At the same time, Oman Air’s customers can book with Sri Lankan Airlines from Muscat to Singapore, Male, via Colombo, and vice versa. The partnership with Malaysian Airlines enables Oman Air’s cus-

tomers to fly between Muscat and Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Kuching, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong via Kuala Lumpur and vice versa. Malaysian Airlines’ customers can enjoy non-stop flights between Kuala Lumpur and Muscat. This partnership also provides passengers with more flight options between Muscat and Dubai/Kuwait. Oman Air most recently launched codeshare operations with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. The agreement with KLM Royal Dutch Air-

lines came into effect in April 2015, enabling Oman Air’s customers to book flights operated by KLM between Muscat and Amsterdam. Launched in June 2015, the codeshare with Garuda Indonesia enables Oman Air’s customers to book flights between Jakarta and Bali, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok. Those flights are operated by Garuda Indonesia. In turn, Garuda Indonesia’s customers are able to book flights between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta or Salalah . Those services are operated by Oman Air. Codeshare agreements bring clear benefits to Oman Air’s Customers and those of its partners. They are an effective way of expanding the range of choices offered by Oman Air, and of introducing the Oman Air passenger experience to many more air travellers. The codeshares have been warmly welcomed by Oman Air’s customers, who have also appreciated the care taken by Oman Air to partner with airlines which share its commitment to quality and service. Including codeshare destinations, Oman Air now offers 56 exciting global destinations. As the expansion programme continues, Oman Air will not only be unveiling more of its own destinations, but will also be looking to develop further codeshare agreements.

Expatriates arrested for robbery in Mudhaibi Times News Service MUSCAT: Four expatriates of Asian nationality have been arrested on charges of robbery in the Wilayat of Mudhaibi of Sinaw province. The Directorate General of Criminal Investigations and Inquiry received a report of unidentiﬁed people robbing a local store, stealing cell phones and money in Sinaw. Following investigations, the accused were caught and arrested with the stolen material in their possession. The suspects confessed to their crimes when the evidence was presented against them. They were sent to the public prosecution to complete legal procedures. The ROP has urged shop owners to comply with the security requirements to maintain the safety of their shops by installing security cameras and monitors.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015 Some expatriates put themselves into debts when they buy cars or furniture. That doesn’t help to keep up with their pension funds. They need to stay away from loans to ﬁnance their excessive lifestyle George Raja, ﬁnancial expert

OMAN E X PAT L I V I N G

< FROM

A1 ‘Stay off loans’ “They need to cut down their expenditure if they need to save money for their retirement,” Raja added. “Some expatriates put themselves into debts when they buy cars or furniture. That doesn’t help to keep up with their pension funds. They need to stay away from loans to ﬁnance their excessive lifestyle,” he further said. Private pensions not enough Some expatriates go for private pension schemes but what they would get at the end of their careers in Oman would not be enough to take care of them in their old age. “I have a private pension com-

ing up when I reach 65 but it will be less than OMR350 a month. I am 40 and by the time my pension reaches maturity, inflation will take away much of its spending power,” Ali Faiz Khan, a Pakistani who works for the Ministry of Defence, told the Times of Oman. Expatriates also fail to work out that even in their country of origin, inflation is out of proportion, not just in Oman. “Even if we save some money for our retirement, most of these savings will be taken away with inflation in our home countries. In India, for example, prices of basic commodities are rising all the time,” Josh Fernandes, an Indian school teacher, said.

Dar Al Atta’a comes to aid of 5,000 students

CARE AND SHARE: The aid comes as part of the Student Care Programme, one of Dar Al Atta’a’s main programmes to support the needy families by providing their children with the basic needs for school, said Dar Al Atta’a Chairperson Maryam Al Zadjali. - Supplied photo

Times News Service

Dar Al Atta’a provides uniforms, school supplies, books and daily meals to needy children as well as full and partial scholarships

MUSCAT: In preparation for the new academic year 2015-2016, Dar Al Atta’a recently distributed school supplies to 5,000 students from 56 different schools across the Sultanate. The school bag contains all the necessary stationary, in addition to notebooks required for different grades. Dar Al Atta’a worked together with the social specialist of each school, before the end of the academic year, to prepare the lists of students in need. In addition to providing stationary, school uniforms were provided to 571 students from families

sponsored by Dar Al Atta’a, as well as students from Yiti and Boushar Educational Village. In total, 3,000 students were provided with school uniforms. Male students were given two Dishdashas each and female students two school uniforms each. The cost of stationary and school uniforms totalled OMR86,052.200 Volunteers help Maryam Al Zadjali, Dar Al Atta’a Chairperson, said, “These aids come as part of the Student Care Programme, one of Dar Al Atta’a’s main programmes to support the needy families by providing their

children with the basic needs for school. In this regard, we would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Dar Al Atta’a, as well as the corporate volunteers such as Khimji Ramdas and Al Ahlia Insurance who have helped us in securing such an immense amount of stationary. We wish all our students the best of luck in the new academic year.” Student Care Programme comes under the education care programme, under which Dar Al Atta’a provides uniforms, school supplies, books and daily meals to needy children as well as full and partial scholarships for higher education.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

REGION

The end of the proceedings in the ﬁle of Jason Rezaian has yet to be announced. The verdict has yet to be reached Gholamhossein Esmaili, Head of Tehran’s justice department

SECRETIVE TRIAL

Washington Post reporter’s spy trial in Iran yet to conclude TEHRAN: Jailed Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian’s trial in Iran on spying charges has yet to end, Tehran’s justice department chief said on Sunday, although his lawyer had said a verdict was imminent. Lawyer Leila Ahsan said last Monday that the secretive trial had had its ﬁnal session and a verdict would follow “within a week”,

in line with legal procedure in Iran. But the head of Tehran’s justice department, Gholamhossein Esmaili, said on Sunday that the court had yet to reach a decision. “The end of the proceedings in the ﬁle of Jason Rezaian has yet to be announced. The verdict has yet to be reached,” Esmaili was quoted as saying by the official ISNA news agency.

“The judge sets the date of the verdict.” “I think that the verdict will be announced by the end of this week or the next,” ISNA reported Iranian judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejeie told a later press conference. In Iran, the week starts on Saturday. “Jason Rezaian is not being tried as a journalist,” he said, but

Arab League to discuss IS action Libya’s government has called on Arab countries to bomb IS group targets in Sirte

CAIRO/TRIPOLI: Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday to discuss a Libyan request for Arab countries to take action against the IS group in Sirte, a diplomat said Sunday. Also on Sunday, Sirte residents said IS executed and displayed the bodies of four members of a rival group which had staged a revolt against the militants in the central Libyan city of Sirte. The internationally recognised Libyan government based in the country’s east asked for the meeting on Saturday urging Arab countries to “adopt measures to

confront” the militant IS group. Later that day, it issued a statement calling for Arab air strikes against the militants, but it was not clear if it submitted a formal demand to the Arab League and whether the bloc would discuss such action. Tuesday’s meeting will be held by permanent delegates to the Arab bloc, which is headquartered in Cairo, Jordan’s ambassador to Egypt and Arab League representative Bisher Khasawneh told reporters. IS militants had seized control of the Libyan coastal city of Sirte in June, gaining another foothold in the chaotic country torn between rival governments. Battles to oust the militants raged since Tuesday, although the ﬁghting was reported to have subsided on Sunday. The militants beheaded 12 local militiamen who had been battling them in the east of the city and hung their bodies on crosses, official news agency LANA reported on Saturday. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates had conducted a few air

strikes in Libya over the past few years, targeting IS militants and militias opposed to the internationally recognised government. Meanwhile, as a warning to others, IS killed four fighters from the rival side and hung their corpses on metal gibbets for public display, four residents said. Pictures on social media, whose authenticity could not be verified, showed two bodies hanging from a gibbet. IS militants also destroyed houses in Sirte belonging to rival fighters, residents said. In separate violence on Sunday, unknown gunmen fired on the airport of the main eastern city Benghazi, partly destroying a passenger terminal, the airport’s director said. The airport has been closed since last year due to ongoing fighting between forces loyal to the official government and hardline groups. Rockets also landed in a residential district in the eastern city of Derna, from which IS was expelled by a rival group in June. — Agencies

declined to go into details of the case. Rezaian, a 39-year-old Iranian-American, has been in custody more than a year and is being tried behind closed doors, drawing condemnation from his family, employer and press freedom groups. The hearing last Monday -- the trial’s fourth -- was the ﬁrst since Iran struck a nuclear deal with world powers in Vienna on July

14, and it centred on the reporter’s rebuttal of the charges. He stands accused of “espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classiﬁed information and disseminating propaganda against Iran”. The charges are thought to carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Ahsan has told AFP she expects her client’s acquittal “as

he is completely innocent”. Rezaian, the Post’s Tehran correspondent, was arrested with his wife Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist, in July 2014, along with a photographer. Although Salehi and the third individual were later released on bail, Ahsan said she expected court action against Rezaian’s wife after his verdict is announced. — AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

INDIA

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Modi lauds the UAE’s ‘unmatched vision’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has a penchant for selﬁes, has clicked them in the past with several leaders and the ‘selﬁe diplomacy’ has emerged as an integral part of his overseas trips

ABU DHABI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his ‘selfie diplomacy’ as he visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand mosque, the UAE’s largest and the world’s third largest, on his first visit to the country. Clad in a cream-coloured kurta with an orange and white stole, Modi walked around in the mosque and looked at the architecture as he was briefed on the exquisite skill that went behind creating this key place of worship. He also posed for a selfie, flashing a smile with the sheikhs during his visit, the first to the UAE by an Indian premier in 34 years. The Prime Minister, who has a penchant for selfies, has clicked them in the past with several leaders and the ‘selfie diplomacy’ has emerged as an integral part of his overseas trips. Marvelling at the United Arab Emirate’s spectacular achievements, Modi described the Gulf nation as a paradise built up in a desert with unmatched vision and remarkable skill. “I have always thought, how this paradise could come up in a desert? What vision! What remarkable skill!” Modi said of the country. Earlier, ahead of Modi’s trip, the UAE’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Prime Minister’s maiden visit to the UAE provides a strategic opportunity to draw a new blueprint for taking bilateral ties forward,including

BILATERAL TALKS: A picture made available by the United Arab Emirates’ official news agency WAM on Sunday shows Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, right, meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. - AFP

NRI team briefs Modi of business scenario in UAE Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met top Non Resident Indian (NRI) investors and got briefed about the various projects they are investing in India on Sunday. Modi is on a two-day visit to the UAE beginning on Sunday . Modi is the ﬁrst Indian Prime Minister to visit the United Arab Emirates in 34 years. Businessmen led by Abu Dhabi Chamber Director board member, Yusuffali MA, updated the PM about the prevailing business scenario in the UAE and the excellent support and cooperation extended by the rulers and authorities toward the Indian community.

in areas of counter-terrorism, defence and economy. “Our shared values and strong bilateral ties provide an important basis on which the UAE and India can elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership,” he was quoted as saying by leading daily in UAE.

MEETING: Prominent NRI businessman Yusuffali MA with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. - Supplied photo

They also updated the Indian prime minister about the challenges faced by NRIs to invest in India. The Indian prime minister urged the NRIs to renew their efforts to bring

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE provides an opportunity to chart a new course in our partnership for the 21st century. We look forward to a productive exchange of ideas covering a wide range of economic, political and security issues of mutual interest,” he said.

in more investments into their motherland especially in the infrastructure and related ﬁelds and highlighted the role of Make in India for future generation of Indians.

Noting that his visit comes at a time when bilateral ties have never been warmer, he said: “The prime minister’s visit is of strategic signiﬁcance in our bilateral relations and follows on the heels of growing diplomatic, economic, energy and defence cooperation between our two countries.” - PTI

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Industrialists praise government’s moves against black money NEW DELHI: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about steps taken to unearth black money in his Independence Day speech, the CII hailed the Centre’s efforts to fight the menace while advocating ‘stringent punishments’ for offenders. “Black money is a serious problem, which needs strict handling. The black money that is either outside the country and or inside needs to be brought into the economic mainstream for obvious reasons,” Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) director general Chandrajit Banerjee said in a statement here on Sunday. “In this context the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015’, provides for strict prosecution mechanism and also provides a one-time voluntary compliance opportunity for immunity from prosecution if appropriate taxes and penalty have been paid. “This is a step in the right direction which will help in curbing black money,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said a host of steps have been taken by his government to tackle black money — from the appointment of a special probe team to enacting a stringent law to prevent such practices and punish its perpetrators. He said that when he took over last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation was probing some 800 cases of black money. Now 1,800 cases were being examined. The CII said the government has taken several steps including agreements with countries like the US for real time sharing of information on Indian nationals holding assets abroad. Many countries across the world have adopted measures to prevent illicit financial outflows and promote disclosure of unreported income, stringent penalties are applicable under money laundering legislations globally, the industry chamber added. Addressing the nation on India’s 69th Independence Day, Modi said: “Even at the G20 meeting, I raised the issue and we have been promised cooperation.” Earlier this month, the govern-

Black money is a serious problem, which needs strict handling. The black money that is either outside the country and or inside needs to be brought into the economic mainstream for obvious reasons Chandrajit Banerjee CII director general

ment said the information provided during the one-time compliance window on black money, expiring next month-end, can be revealed in the public interest. “By and large, the information would be kept conﬁdential. Under the new law (black money), it is not the case that we will put up a public notice that so and so has availed the beneﬁt and paid tax,” Revenue Secretary Shaktikanta Das said at a “Talkathon” here with Central Board of Direct Taxes chairperson Anita Kapur. “However, the department can declare it in public interest,” he said. The department had earlier released a list of FAQs, which also said disclosures made under the said Act would have “immunity from prosecution under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), Income Tax Act, Wealth Tax Act, Companies Act and Customs Act”. An unofficial estimate of Indians’ black money puts the sum somewhere between $466 billion and $1.4 trillion. - IANS

LACKING CONFIDENCE

Modi disappoints supporters with low-key Independence Day speech NEW DELHI: After Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reforms agenda got blocked in parliament, people in his camp were hoping the famed orator will use a key Independence Day speech to renew confidence in his leadership. They were disappointed. Modi’s 90-minute-long speech, made from the ramparts of New Delhi’s Red Fort on Saturday, focused on measures his “Team India” had rolled out to include millions of poor Indians in the banking and insurance systems, policies for workers and farmers and successes in the fights against inflation and corruption. But it lacked the kind of energy and vision that helped propel him to office. He even relied on notes, something he had never needed to do before. “We expected him to hit back at the opposition and blame the opposition for the slower-than-expected reform pace, but he failed to do so,” said a minister in Modi’s government. Nalin Kohli, spokesman for Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the prime minister used the speech to report his government’s progress. “It the duty of the government to inform its citizens and the prime minister did the right thing by sharing updates,” Kohli said. A bureaucrat who is a part of Modi’s inner circle said Modi was upset about failing to further his reforms agenda and decided to “keep his head down” and focus on improving performance. Politicians and analysts expected Modi to launch a more forceful defence. He has kept silent for months, even as the opposition Congress party has stepped up its attacks

HIGH EXPECTATIONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation on Independence Day at the historic Red Fort in New Delhi. - PTI

and scandals have touched members of his cabinet. A rousing speech would have also helped his party in a tough election in a few weeks in Bihar, where the opposition is seeking to paint Modi as a pro-business politician whose policies hurt the poor. “Modi’s speech was not exciting by his own standards,” said Sanjay Kumar, director for the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies.”It lacked coherence and his trademark conﬁdence.” Last year, when Modi delivered his ﬁrst Independence Day speech, he was brimming with enthusiasm, impatient to launch reforms to boost growth and resolve many social and economic problems. For the bulk of his speech this year, Modi read out statistics to highlight the challenges he faced and rattle out achievements of 15 months in office, such as opening new bank accounts for the poor and building toilets. Neerja Chowdhury, a political analyst in New Delhi, said peo-

According to a new poll conducted for the private ABP television network, 59 per cent of respondents feel Modi has not kept his promise of a corruption-free government

ple expected Independence Day speeches to offer more. “Anyone who heard Modi’s speech last year believed that he will bring some key fundamental changes and break new ground,” she said. “It just did not feel that you were listening to the same Modi.” Mohan Guruswamy, who heads the Delhi-based Centre for Policy Alternatives think tank, said Modi had set himself an impossible task in pledging to completely eradicate corruption as it was endemic at every level of officialdom. “The common man doesn’t care so much about people at the top gobbling up millions but they are concerned about whether a policeman or another government official is taking bribes from them,” Guruswamy said. “If that doesn’t stop, nothing is going to change.” According to a new poll conducted for the private ABP television network, 59 per cent of respondents feel Modi has not kept his promise of a corruption-free government. - Agencies

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INDIA

Pakistan envoy summoned over violations of ceasefire The offensive on Independence Day came even as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying promoting friendly ties between the two neighbours was in mutual interest

There were ceaseﬁre violations by Pakistan in Poonch, Sujiyan, Balakote, Hamirpur and Mandi sectors along the Line of Control in Poonch district for the eighth consecutive day

JAMMU: A woman was killed and five persons were injured on Sunday as Pakistani troops intensified shelling on border posts and civilian area in Poonch and Rajouri in continued ceasefire violations that have claimed six lives in two days, drawing strong protest from India. There were ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Poonch, Sujiyan, Balakote, Hamirpur and Mandi sectors along the Line of Control in Poonch district for the eighth consecutive day. Thirty five-year-old Nussarat Begum died in the shelling in Behrote village in Balakote sector, where two persons were injured, officials said. Three persons were on Sunday injured in ceasefire violations in Manjakot in Rajouri, they said, adding six persons had died and 10 were injured in the shelling and firing since Saturday. Lodged protest External Affairs Ministry of India on Sunday summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit in Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the ceasefire violations.

BORDER SHELLING: Pakistani High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, leaves the External Affairs Ministry at South Block in New Delhi

on Sunday. - PTI

Basit, who was summoned by Secretary-East Anil Wadhwa, later accused India of ceasefire violations and said a more effective mechanism to determine who indulges in the “unprovoked firing”. Defence spokesman Lt Col onel Manish Mehta said that Pakistani Army indulged in “heavy firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian villages in five sectors in Poonch since this morning.” Army retaliated effectively and heavy exchanges are going on. A police officer said that 82 mm mortars were being fired by Pakistani troops in which Nussarat was killed. Thirty-two-year old Mustaq Ahmed was also injured in Sujiyan area and has been hospitalised, he said. Due to continuous shelling from across in the border belt, burial of those killed in the firing could not

take place, locals said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mendhar, Sher Singh said people in the border areas have been asked to stay indoor. “We are trying to identify safer places to shift the people,” he said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mendhar Sher Singh said, “Heavy shelling right from Mankote up to Balakote sector resumed this morning and the shells fell in interior areas of Mendhar.

heavy firing and mortar shelling in Hamirpur, Sujiyan, Mandi sectors in Poonch. “We are rushing to the areas to see how people can be evacuated from the shelling and firing zones,” Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Nisar Ahmed said. There have been 38 violations of the 2003 ceasefire accord in August.There has been over 230 ceasefire violations along IndiaPakistan border this year.

Caution People are requested to stay indoor and avoid travelling on BG-Balakote road even from Dharana side”. “It has been conveyed to all sarpanchs of border belt to advise people not to go outside in villages in Tain, Mankote, Dharana, Gholad, Basooni, Balakote, Behroot, Sandote and Langot, Dharati, Panjani and Behrooti”, he said. There has been overnight

Offensive On Independence Day, five civilians, including a sarpanch were killed and five others injured in heavy firing and mortar bomb shelling by Pakistani troops at several Indian posts and civilian areas. The offensive on Independence Day came even as Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent his greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying promoting friendly ties between the two

RAIN HITS NORMAL LIFE IN DELHI People collect articles flowing in flood after heavy rains in Faridabad on Sunday. Heavy rain lashed the national capital on Sunday afternoon, flooding many neighbourhoods and causing traffic disruptions at a number of places. The Met department said the city received 9.6 mm rainfall till Sunday evening. - PTI

E D UC AT I O N R E F O R M S

Right to education may span from nursery to class 10 NEW DELHI: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education may encompass school education from nursery to class X, if CABE, a top body advising the Centre and states on education sector reforms, accepts a proposal in this regard. The Indian Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) will consider the report of its subcommittee on extension of the RTE Act and the controversial no-detention policy at a meeting to be chaired by Human Resource Development Minister of India Smriti Irani on August 19, official sources said. The meeting, which will engage in an “exhaustive deliberation” on the two issues, will be attended by education ministers from states besides academicians and distinguished people from several ﬁelds. The Act currently applies to children between six and 14 years studying from Class I to VIII. The CABE sub-committee in its report submitted in 2012, when UPA was in power, had

identiﬁed issues such as entry age for pre-school under the extended framework, qualiﬁcation and capacity building of teachers at the pre-primary level, age of children in secondary education and duration of secondary education. Chairing the last CABE meeting on the issue, the then HRD minister M. M.Pallam Raju had said it needed comprehensive discussion before a decision on extending RTE’s purview was arrived at. On its extension to the preprimary level, the panel had suggested ensuring child-centered pedagogy, play-way method and holistic development as critical elements of pre-school education and stressed on the need for effective coordination with Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).For RTE’s extension up to the secondary level, the sub-committee had suggested assessment of existing infrastructure, appointment of additional teachers and recommended consultations with all stakeholders including the state governments.

The role and regulatory mechanism of the private sector and sharing of ﬁnancial responsibility between the Centre and states were some of the other issues highlighted by the panel for detailed discussion. CABE would also deliberate on the report of another sub-committee on no-detention policy up to class VIII. The committee headed by the then education minister of Haryana Geeta Bukkal had recommended doing away with it as automatic promotion affected learning outcomes. A few states have already repealed the policy, which had come into effect with the implementation of RTE by bringing in necessary amendments to the state rules. The RTE Act, which makes education a fundamental right of every child between the age of 6 and 14, came into effect on April 1, 2010. It requires all private schools, except for minority institutions, to reserve 25 per cent of seats for underprivileged children. - PTI

JEDDAH

Air India plans to operate 230 Haj flights NEW DELHI: National carrier of India, Air India plans to operate 230 special Haj flights to Jeddah from seven Indian cities — Delhi, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Panaji and Nagpur this year. These flights will be operated in two phases, starting on Sunday, and would fly a total of 38,000 Hajjis directly to Jeddah, Air India said in a release. In the first phase of outbound flights from India to Jeddah, that commenced on Sunday, a total of 115 special flights from these seven cities will be operated and will continue till September 17. Air India will operate special flights for Haj pilgrims from seven Indian cities — Delhi, Srinagar, Mumbai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Panaji and Nagpur. A total of 230 direct flights in two phases will fly 38,000 Hajjis directly to Jeddah. In the return phase, another 115 flights would be operated to ferry back the Haj pilgrims and such flights will continue in operations till October 28, the airline said. - PTI

neighbours was in mutual interest. The dead were identiﬁed by police as 52-year-old Karamat Hussain, who is sarpanch of Basoni, 42-year-old Abdul Rahman, a teacher, and 17-year-old Mohd Sheraj Khan Amin.

Hooch claims 6 lives in Bengal

Evacuation As people assembled at the spot for evacuating them, they also came under Pakistani ﬁre. A 10-year-old child died in shelling in Basoni alog with 18-year-old Mohmmad Amin. Among those hospitalised are Mohmmad Ramiz (15), Mohd Bashir (26), Shah Nawaz, Abdul Rehman, Amin (25), they said adding they are undergoing treatment in GMC hospital Jammu and Rajouri hospital. Last month, there were 19 ceaseﬁre violations in which four persons, including three jawans, were killed and 14 others injured. - PTI

DIAMOND HARBOUR (WB): Six perople, including a woman, died and 10 others were seriously ill after they consumed illicit liquor at Radhaballavpur in South 24 Parganas district in east Indian state of West Bengal, an official said on Sunday. Sixteen people drank the country liquor from a shop in the village under Kultali police station last night.Of them two died on the spot and as many in the near-by Nimpith hospital, Sub-divisional Officer Partha Acharya said. Ten others were admitted to the same hospital. - PTI

ILLICIT LIQUOR

A 10

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

PAKISTAN Punjab Home Minister Khanzada assassinated in suicide bombing Thirteen other people were also killed as two suicide attackers blew themselves up as Shuja Khanzada had been holding a meeting with local people who had come to express their condolences on the death of his cousin

SHADI KHAN: Two suicide attackers on Sunday killed a Pakistani provincial minister, who had campaigned against militants, and at least 13 other people, after detonating a bomb at a meeting the minister was attending. “Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada has embraced martyrdom,” said chief rescue official Mohammad Ashfaq. Khanzada, 71, had been holding a meeting with local people who had come to express their condolences on the death of his cousin. He was trapped with several others under the rubble after the blast brought down the roof of the building in the village of Shadi Khan in Attock district. “There were two suicide bombers, one stood outside the boundary wall and the second one went inside and stood in front of the minister,” Mushtaq Sukhera, provincial police chief, told reporters. “The blast by the bomber standing outside ripped the wall which caused the roof to fall flat on the minister and people gathered there,” he said. Sukhera added police were investigating whether the attacker inside the building detonated a bomb. Sukhera said that 14 people were killed and 23 others were wounded in the attack and added that he could not rule out the involvement of banned sectarian militant outfits against whom the government had launched a crackdown. Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Khanzada had been active in crackdowns on sectarian militants and Taliban insurgents in Punjab. Khanzada, a retired army colonel, had been a member of the Punjab assembly since 2002 and an active member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The prime minister, along with President Mamnoon Hussain and army chief General Raheel Sharif condemned the attack and expressed their resolve to fight terrorism. “Such dastardly coward at-

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE: An injured man walks away as rescue workers search after a blast near the home of the home minister of Punjab province, Shuja Khanzada, in Attock, Pakistan, on Sunday. — Reuters

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tempts can’t dent our national resolve to eliminate the menace,” said army spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa in a statement. “Khanzada Shaheed (martyr) was a bold officer whose sacriﬁce for the greater cause of cleansing Pakistan won’t go to waste.” Punjab’s government announced a three-day mourning period in the province starting Monday. Officials said there were up to 40 people in the compound when the suicide attack took place, causing the entire roof slab to fall in one piece -- complicating rescue efforts. A specially-trained team of army rescuers with modern equipment was working with civilian rescuers to lift and cut sections of the fallen roof to reach the victims. A police spokeswoman said two police officers were also among the dead in the attack, 70 kilometres northwest of Islamabad. In the past year authorities have cracked down hard on the myriad insurgent groups that have plagued the country for a decade. — AFP

UNDER THE RUMBLE: Pakistani rescuers search the wreckage of a collapsed building at a suicide bomb blast site in the village of Shadi Khan, some 70km north-west of Islamabad, on Sunday. — AFP

OBITUARY

HAJ PILGRIM A Pakistani Haj pilgrim, centre left, hugs a relative at an airport terminal for the ﬁrst Haj ﬂight to Saudi Arabia, in Karachi late on Saturday. — AFP

Ex-spy chief Gul dies at 79 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s former spymaster Hamid Gul, who trained Afghan resistance fighters against the Soviets and helped create the Taliban, has died at the age of 79. Gul headed Pakistan’s InterServices Intelligence (ISI) agency between 1987-89 during the final years of the Soviet occupation of neighbouring Afghanistan. But in retirement he was still seen as reflecting the mindset of Pakistan’s powerful military establishment and intelligence agency. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the country slid into anarchy. Taliban fighters trained in Pakistan gradually prised control from the Northern Alliance of commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, a national hero in Afghanistan. During this period, Gul maintained contacts with both sides in an unofficial role as mediator. Gul remained in the limelight after leaving the military and was popular among hardliners for his strong views about India and the United States.

Hamid Gul

Washington worked with him during the 1980s but later lobbied for his inclusion on a UN list of international terrorists. During an interview with AFP in June last year, the stridently anti-American Gul had said war would continue if Afghanistan signed a security pact allowing some 10,000 US-led troops to remain in the country in non-combat roles until 2016. Gul also recalled his last visit to

Hamid Gul died late on Saturday at the Combined Military Hospital in the hill resort of Murree north of Islamabad after suffering a brain haemorrhage, relatives said

Afghanistan in August 2001, when he was chief guest at the ﬁnal parade organised by the Taliban government. The administration was toppled by a US-led invasion later that year after failing to hand over Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden following the 9/11 attacks. “Fear is no policy. Surrender is no option,” reads the home page of his website generalhamidgul. com.pk. — AFP

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CRACKDOWN

Nepal arrests 112 in strike over new constitution KATHMANDU: Nepalese police arrested more than a hundred protesters on Sunday for trying to enforce a nationwide strike, the latest in a string of protests against the new constitution. “The police have arrested 112 cadres from across the country for vandalism and for forcing shops to shut down,” police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam said. Nepal’s bickering parties struck a breakthrough deal earlier this month to redraw the country’s internal borders in the draft new constitution. Under the charter, which has been held up for years by political wrangling, Nepal will be restructured as a federal state with six provinces. But several lawmakers and their supporters called the strike, saying the proposed borders discriminated against historically marginalised communities. “State reconstruction in the draft is far from the aspirations of the people,” Pampha Bhusal, spokeswoman of CPN-Maoist, a breakaway faction of the Maoist party, said. “It does not ensure political participation of marginalised groups in the state bodies.” Hundreds in Nepal’s troubled midwest and southern plains last week staged protests over the longawaited document, that ﬂared in violence and left two people dead. Tourism operators urged a halt to the strike, warning such protests would only hurt the industry already reeling from April’s devastating earthquake that claimed more than 8,800 lives. Political agreement on the borders was struck after April’s devastating earthquake helped bring a halt to the seemingly endless bickering between rival parties. The resulting uncertainty from the wrangling had left the impoverished Himalayan nation in political limbo. - AFP

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WORLD

Wreckage of Indonesian plane found by villagers Officials said that initially villagers in Okbape district of Papua reported seeing a plane crash. The transport ministry later said local residents had found the wreckage

JAYAPURA (Indonesia): The wreckage of a passenger plane which went missing with 54 people aboard in rugged eastern Indonesia on Sunday has been found by villagers, an official said, with rescuers expected to head to the crash site. The plane operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana Air lost contact with air traffic control just before 3pm (0600 GMT) after taking off from Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, the search and rescue agency said. The ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop plane was carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and five crew on the flight which was scheduled to take about 45 minutes, it said. The disappearance But the plane disappeared about 10 minutes before reaching its destination Oksibil, a remote settlement in the mountains south of Jayapura, shortly after it asked permission to start descending to land. Officials said initially that villagers in the Okbape district of

BRIEFING: Indonesia’s Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan, left, speaks while Director General for Air Transportation Suprasetyo, right, listens during a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, announcing that a missing plane carrying 54 people has crashed into a mountain in the eastern Indonesian province of Papua. - AFP

Papua reported seeing a plane crash. The transport ministry later said local residents had found the wreckage. “The plane has been found (by villagers). According to residents, the ﬂight had crashed into a mountain,” said the transport ministry’s director-general of air transportation, Suprasetyo, who goes by one name. No information of survivors Officials were still verifying the information from local residents, he said. There was no information about whether anyone may have survived. Search and rescue teams, police and the military would head to the

site as soon as possible Monday, said transport ministry spokesman J. A. Barata. After the plane failed to land, Trigana Air sent another ﬂight over the area to hunt for it but the aircraft failed to spot anything due to bad weather. Captain Beni Sumaryanto, Trigana Air’s service director of operations, said that Oksibil was “a mountainous area where the weather is very unpredictable. It can suddenly turn foggy, dark and windy without warning. “We strongly suspect it’s a weather issue. It is not overcapacity, as the plane could take 50 passengers.” Barata said the weather in the area had been “very dark and cloudy”.

Trigana Air is a small airline established in 1991 that operates domestic services to around 40 destinations in Indonesia. It has suffered 14 serious incidents since it began operations, according to the Aviation Safety Network, which monitors air accidents. The airline is on a blacklist of carriers banned from European Union airspace. Small aircraft are commonly used for transport in remote and mountainous Papua and bad weather has caused several accidents in recent years. On Wednesday a Cessna propeller plane crashed in Papua’s Yahukimo district, killing one person and seriously injuring the

five others on board. Officials suspect that crash was caused by bad weather. Indonesia has a patchy aviation safety record. In December an AirAsia plane flying from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore crashed in the Java Sea during stormy weather, killing all 162 people on board. In June an Indonesian military plane crashed into a residential neighbourhood in the city of Medan, exploding in a fireball and killing 142 people. The aviation sector in Indonesia is expanding fast as the economy booms but airlines are struggling to find enough well-trained personnel to keep up with the rapid growth. - AFP

TIANJIN TWIN EXPLOSIONS

‘Hundreds of tonnes’ of cyanide at China blasts site: Military TIANJIN (China): Hundreds of tonnes of highly poisonous cyanide were being stored at the warehouse devastated by two giant explosions in the Chinese port of Tianjin which killed 112, a senior military officer said on Sunday. The comments by Shi Luze, chief of the general staff of the Beijing military region, were the first official confirmation of the presence of the chemical at the hazardous goods storage facility at the centre of the blast. The disaster has raised fears of toxic contamination and residents and victims’ families hit out at authorities for what they said was an information blackout, as China suspended or shut down dozens of websites for spreading “rumours”. Nearly 100 people remain missing, including 85 firefighters, though officials cautioned that some of them could be among the 88 unidentified corpses so far found. More than 700 people have also been hospitalised as a result of Wednesday’s blasts — which triggered a huge fireball and a blaze that emergency workers have struggled to put out since then,

with fresh explosions on Saturday. Shi, who is a general, told a news conference that cyanide had been identiﬁed at two locations in the blast zone. “The volume was about several hundreds of tonnes according to preliminary estimates,” he said. Nuclear experts deployed A military team of 217 chemical and nuclear experts was deployed early on, and earlier Chinese reports said 700 tonnes of sodium cyanide were at the site. Officials have called in experts from producers of the material — exposure to which the US Centres for Disease Control says can be “rapidly fatal” — to help handle it, and the neutralising agent hydrogen peroxide has been used. Authorities have repeatedly sought to reassure the public, insisting that despite the presence of some pollutants at levels above normal standards, the air in Tianjin remains safe to breathe. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Tianjin on Sunday afternoon to direct rescue efforts, a move often made after major dis-

ASKING FOR INFORMATION: A policeman gestures as he tries to stop relatives, mostly of missing ﬁreﬁghters, from unfurling a banner during a protest to demand information about those missing following Wednesday’s blasts, in front of the Binhai new district government building in Tianjin, China. The words on the banner read, ‘Give missing people’s relatives explanations’. - Reuters

asters in the country, official media reported. Pictures showed the Communist Party number two within a kilometre (mile) of the blast site, dressed in an ordinary white shirt and not wearing a mask.

But the official Xinhua news agency reported late Saturday that cyanide density in waste water had been 10.9 times standard on the day following the explosions. It has since fallen but was still more than twice the normal limit.

GENERAL ELECTION

Sri Lanka steps up security on election eve COLOMBO: Sri Lanka deployed thousands of police on Sunday in stepped up security on the eve of a general election after the campaign was hit by sporadic violence that claimed four lives. Police Inspector General N.K. Illangakoon said 63,000 officers were fanning out across the country to guard polling booths and counting centres for Monday’s election, while para-military commandos were on alert in case of trouble. “We have taken additional measures to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully and there are no incidents in the postelection period too,” Illangakoon said in a statement. Two party workers were killed and a dozen others wounded when unknown gunmen opened ﬁre at a ruling United National

Former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse is seeking an unlikely comeback as prime minister at the election after his loss at the presidential poll in January to his one-time protege Maithripala Sirisena. Many observers were stunned by Sirisena’s victory over Rajapakse, who had been in power for nearly a decade and oversaw the crushing of the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in 2009. WOOING VOTERS: Supporters of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe shout slogans during a United National Party election campaign rally in Galle, on Friday. - Reuters

Party (UNP) rally in the capital Colombo two weeks ago. Illangakoon said several arrests have been made. Another two people were killed in two separate shooting incidents elsewhere

during the month-long campaign. Despite the deaths, private election monitors said there had been fewer incidents of violence compared to previous elections over the past two decades.

Results on Tuesday Although Rajapakse is reviled by large sectors of the minority Tamil community, he retains widespread support among ethnic Sinhalese voters and his rallies have drawn big crowds. Some 15 million people are eligible to vote when polls open at 7am (0130 GMT), and results are expected by late Tuesday. -AFP

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said on Sunday it had tested surface water for cyanide at four locations in the city and had not detected high levels of the chemical. “These results show that local water supplies are not currently severely contaminated with cyanide,” it said, but reiterated its call for comprehensive tests on the air and water and for publication of the results. On Saturday a three-kilometre (two-mile) radius from the site of the blasts was evacuated, staterun media reported. Officials said later the reports were inaccurate, but vehicles were turned back at barriers. On Sunday AFP saw young men, carrying personal belongings, leave FAW Toyota apartments and board a bus waiting to take them to alternative accommodation. Police in masks could be seen at one checkpoint. Steve Ra, an American who was evacuated by his employer to another area of Tianjin, said he was worried about the potential health effects of the blast.

“The main concern is just the air,” Ra said. “I’m waiting to go back to get my normal life back. But I don’t know what I’ll be breathing so that’s the biggest concern.” Tianjin residents, relatives of the victims and online commentators have slammed local authorities for a lack of transparency, and at one point tried to storm a news conference on Saturday. On Sunday, sobbing men confronted security at the hotel where officials have been brieﬁng journalists, with one shouting “Police, I will kill someone!” in what appeared to be a desperate bid to draw attention before being comforted by a policeman. Another lashed out at reporters attempting to photograph him, saying: “Don’t take my photo, it is useless. The news has no truth!” The government has moved to limit criticism of the handling of the aftermath, with a total of 50 websites shut down or suspended for “creating panic by publishing unveriﬁed information or letting users spread groundless rumours”, according to the Cyberspace Administration of China. - AFP

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Culture of neglecting children is startling

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common belief in Pakistan is that since God is the creator of kids, He is also their provider and protector. While this is true, it seems to have certainly absolved the state, communities and even many parents of their vital responsibilities when it comes to protecting children. Using Allah ki marzi as the standard line, brutal injustices and in-your-face exploitation continues unabated. The most recent expose that has yet again jolted the ‘national conscience’ (assuming there is one) is the Kasur scandal where hundreds of children were sexually abused, videotaped and coerced into silence. Even the parents were blackmailed, and ‘shame’ and ‘honour’ played overwhelming roles in the whole shameful saga. After the Kasur scandal became public knowledge, the initial response of the state was incredible. The police ﬁrst called this child pornography as some sort of a legitimate offshoot of a land dispute. Later, under pressure, it had to change the story and now some routine ‘action’ has taken place. Some stalwarts of the ruling party, the PML-N, behaved even worse. Instead of accepting that such crimes were happening right under the noses of their poster boys for good governance, the Punjab chief minister and his loyal bureaucracy, what we saw were callous, indifferent statements, which shocked everyone. We do suffer from collective amnesia. Every other day, there are reports of children, sometimes babies, being raped, molested or even killed. Each time such a report hits media headlines, there is an inquiry, which is more often than not just a PR stunt, and then it is back to business as usual. True, paedophilia is not a Pakistan-speciﬁc issue. Even advanced countries are battling with these trends. But that is no excuse for us to deny the extent of the problem in Pakistan. According to Sahil — a child rights NGO — in 2014 alone, there were 3,508 reported cases of child rape across the country. This means 10 or more children were abused every day. And these are only the reported cases. Let’s face it: there is an eerie silence, a certain level of acceptability of such vile practices. The media occasionally reports how little boys are molested in seminaries. A recent case was that of a young child, who hanged to death on the upper storey of a Lahore mosque. In some public

schools, teachers make children undertake their menial work (I have seen it myself ) and corporal punishment remains widespread. In fact, physical beating of children (at least a few slaps) is culturally considered to be important for personality development! The child pornography scandal comes a few months after the brutal massacre of at least 132 schoolchildren at the Army Public School in Peshawar, which happened to ‘avenge’ a war that these children had nothing to do with. The ‘national conscience’, apparently, woke up even then. Some key policy shifts may have come about, but it is too early to assess their results. What has, however, ensued in the wake of the December 2014 attack is further brutalisation, with the execution of nearly 200 convicts sentenced to death by a deeply ﬂawed criminal justice system. This embedded violence in our society has many progenitors. At the centre of this quagmire is a state that is neither accountable nor responsive to citizens and, worse, has embraced a permanent policy of outsourcing its powers to mullahs, militants and auxiliary maﬁa. This is why, despite the international commitments made by Pakistan, according to estimates provided by Unicef and the ILO, 10-12 million children work as labourers and some of them are slaves. Yes, slaves in a supposedly free country. The overall culture of neglecting children is startling. Nearly half of them don’t go to school as per recent estimates. Around 50 per cent drop out of school for a host of reasons. Mind you, the right to education is a constitutional right, according to Article 25-A, inserted in the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Basic campaigns, such as vaccinating children, have been difficult to administer, making Pakistan one of the few countries where poliovirus continues to afflict and endanger the futures of children. This is the moral darkness that engulfs us all. The hollowness of the formalism of constitutional mandates, international treaties, corpus of laws and rules is exposed by the everyday reality of a brutalised society. A plethora of ‘laws’ is rendered meaningless by an apathetic, if not hostile, state machinery, and tribal-feudal norms effortlessly carried over into urban spaces. Not to mention how the gatekeepers of our consciousness — fatalism — reinforce the status quo. Since the 1980s, popular culture has endorsed such inertia. — Express Tribune

READERS’ FORUM Sultanate and India share strong historical ties This refers to the news story, Indian community celebrates Independence Day with patriotic fervour (August 16). Indian community members living in Oman always celebrate Independence Day and Republic Day with great fervour. The celebration of 60 years of diplomatic ties between India and Oman this year makes the celebrations of the 69th Independence Day of India even more special. Trade, social and cultural ties between India and Oman have been there since the Indus Valley Civilisation, which shows a very strong historical relationship between the two countries. It is said that only the sea separates the two countries but practically the Indian Ocean has played a great role in bringing the people of India and Oman together. Perhaps that’s the reason why Indians are the largest expatriate community in Oman and we always all feel at Scan this QR code home here. My sincere thanks to His Majto send letters to the esty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the peoReaders’ Forum, containing not more ple of Oman for taking care of the welfare than 200 words with of the large expatriate community with so full name, address much dignity, love and honour, which is and telephone remarkable. number, may be sent by mail (Times of — Mohammad Osama Rawat, Ruwi Oman, P.O. Box 770, P.C. 112, Ruwi).

We must realise that experience does indeed count in life

This refers to the letter, ‘Experts need not keep telling us what to eat and what to avoid (August 16). It is sad to see that there are people who think that older people need not give them advice. They need to understand that experience counts in life as that is the only thing, which helps in difficult times. — Ann Olson, Mawaleh

Which is harder to believe: That in the 15th century some might have been brown, or that in 2015 there are more private-school graduates than women in the British government’s cabinet? Truth is often stranger than ﬁction ... as William Shakespeare knew bit.ly/lackofdiversitydepicted

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES AUGUST 2000 Oman Air lowers fares 10 per cent to Indian sectors MUSCAT: Oman Air yesterday affirms its ‘zero’ discount stance by lowering their market fares by 10 per cent on the Bombay, Thiruvananthapuram and Madras sectors. Their fares to these three sectors are on par with Gulf Air. Air India is yet to make a move in this direction. Oman Air was offering a fare that was 10 per cent more than Gulf Air and was paying the price for it as their fares in the now ‘zero-discount’; era was completely on the higher side.

PICTOGRAPH

OCCUPANCY AT OMANI HOTELS

3 to 5 star hotels from December 2014 to May 2015 (In thousands) December 125.4 March 110.5 January 108.7 February 101.6

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1780 American troops are badly defeated by the British at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina.

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SPECIAL

The site, which boasts exceptional facilities despite its extreme location just a thousand kilometres from the North Pole, has a unique window on climate change, the effects of which are far more pronounced in the Arctic region.

Braving the icy waters of Arctic

HELPING RESEARCHERS: Divers work in the icy waters of the Kongsfjorden, near the scientiﬁc base of Ny Alesund, on the Spitzberg island of the Norwegian Arctic Svalbard archipelago, on July 22, 2015. Ny Alesund, equipped with exceptional facilities despite its extreme latitude (1000 km from the North Pole), is a privileged post to observe climate change, which is much more pronounced in the Arctic zone. – AFP

Until the start of the 1960s, Ny-Alesund — the northernmost permanent human settlement in the world — was populated by coal miners. Today it is entirely dedicated to science

NY-ALESUND (NORWAY): How do algae react to the warming of the Arctic Ocean? How is it affecting wildlife in the fjords? To ﬁnd answers, researchers rely heavily on divers who brave the icy waters to gather samples. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to successfully complete our projects,” admits Cornelia Buchholz, a marine biologist who is working at Ny-Alesund on Spitsbergen, the largest island of the Svalbard archipelago in the heart of the Norwegian Arctic. Until the start of the 1960s, this town — the northernmost permanent human settlement in the world — was populated by coal miners. Today it is entirely dedicated to science. Between mid-April and the end of August when the sun never sets, dozens of researchers stay there. The site, which boasts exceptional facilities despite its extreme location just a thousand kilometres (600 miles) from the North Pole, has a unique window on climate change, the effects of which are far more pronounced in the Arctic region. Appearance of new species Under water at Ny-Alesund, rising sea temperatures have already led to the appearance of new species of krill (small crustaceans) and ﬁsh, such as Atlantic cod and mackerel. “The scientists give us a sort of ‘shopping list’,” explains Max Schwanitz, 52, a diver who has been working since 1994 at the French-German research station. “For example, they tell us the type, the size and the quantity of algae they want and from what depth.” At the end of July, the surface temperature of the water was between three and seven degrees

MACHINERY: German scientiﬁc diver Max Schwanitz shows to a journalist the decompression chamber in the scientiﬁc base of Ny Alesund, on the Spitzberg island of the Norwegian Arctic Svalbard archipelago, on July 22, 2015. – AFP

SPECIALLY-MADE: Diving gloves at the scientiﬁc base of Ny

Alesund. – AFP

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PROTECTIVE GEAR:: Diving masks at scientiﬁc base of Ny Alesund. – AFP

Celsius (37 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit) in the fjord. But earlier in the season, they were entering waters of less than two degrees Celsius. “Salt water freezes less easily than fresh water, at around minus 2.6 degrees C here,” he explains, and diving under the ice is rare here. Working with him are two students, Mauritz Halbach, 24, and Anke Bender, 29. Together they form the only diving team at

Ny-Alesund. “Obviously, the temperature is on the extreme side for diving in here,” explains Halbach, student at Oldenbourg in northeastern Germany. “When visibility is very bad or the currents are strong, the dives themselves can also be extreme,” he says. Although the divers wear specially made gloves, the cold is felt in the hands. “Hands are always a problem

because it’s the part of the body which is most sensitive to cold,” Halbach explains. “We generally stay 30 to 45 minutes in the water. We can stay up to 90 minutes but by that point, your hands are really cold,” adds Schwanitz. Beyond the discomfort, it can also hamper the precision of the work they are sometimes required to do in the depths, adjusting both photographic

equipment and ﬁxed underwater instruments for measuring temperature, light and water clarity, as well as gathering samples. The rest of the body is well protected against the cold with divers wearing Arctic cold-water wetsuits, which are 7-millimetres (0.2 inches) thick. “We also wear warm undergarments like for skiing,” says Bender, who has a doctorate in marine bi-

ology from Rostock in Germany. Between their bulky suits and ballast weighing 18 to 20 kilos (up to 44 pounds), the divers are each carrying a weight of around 40 kilos. Aside from the cold, security is another big worry for the trio — and for their insurers who lay down very speciﬁc demands. When one of them enters the water “another is ready to dive in in case of a problem, while the third is in charge of the boat,” Schwanitz says. In 2005, the installation of a decompression chamber -- indispensable in event of an accident -- has made procedures much simpler. Previously, they would check every morning to see if the weather was sufficiently good to allow a plane to come from Longyearbyen, the main town on Spitzberg, in case of an emergency, to ﬂy someone to mainland Norway where the nearest decompression equipment was located — a journey of some four hours. But in the 10 years since it was installed, the chamber has has only ever been used in practice exercises. “We usually dive to depths of 18-20 metres (up to 65 feet),” explains Schwanitz, patting the side of the cylindrical white chamber. “Most experiments here are done at that depth, so they are safe dives.” — AFP

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MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

GLOBAL EYE

OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Palestinians play behind a tanker spraying water during an event organised by the municipality to cool down its citizens during a heat wave on August 16, 2015 in the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah. — AFP

BRAZIL: Demonstrators protest against the government of Brazilian

President Dilma Rousseff and the ruling Workers Party (PT) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. Protesters took to the streets of Brazil, kicking off nationwide rallies expected to draw hundreds of thousands demonstrating against corruption and economic slowdown, and calling for Dilma to step down. — AFP

IRAQ: A model presents a creation by Iraqi designer Waffa Al Shathar during a fashion show at the Hunting Club in Baghdad on Thursday. Waffa said she put her models in army-inspired clothing to show solidarity with the country’s forces, who are ﬁghting IS militants. — Reuters

MEXICO: People fancy dressed as tigers take part in a traditional parade to ask for rain and plenty crops, in Chilapa, Guerrero State, Mexico, on August 15, 2015. — AFP

SOUTH AFRICA: Protesters chant and hold up a banner reading ‘Remember Marikana, Respect human rights, End police brutality’ during the commemoration of the third anniversary of the Marikana massacre, at the north beach in Durban, on Sunday. — AFP

RUSSIA: A visitor walks past the ‘Lukomorie’ sand sculpture created by Russian artists Ruslan Knyazev, Yegor Tulyakov and Oleg Molchanov based on stories of Russian poet and writer Alexander Pushkin, at the ‘Favorite Book’ thematic exhibition of sand sculptures in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Sunday. The exhibition is created by professional artists from several Siberian cities and students of the Krasnoyarsk State Arts Institute, according to organisers. — Reuters

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

A15

WORLD

New United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien held talks with government officials in Damascus on his ﬁrst trip to Syria since being appointed.

More than 80 killed in Syrian raids At least 200 people were also injured in a string of 10 strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma, said Britain-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

BEIRUT: At least 82 people were killed in Syrian regime air raids on Sunday on a town outside Damascus, a monitor said, as the UN’s top humanitarian chief held talks with government officials. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said at least 200 people were also injured in a string of 10 strikes on the rebel-held town of Douma. Civilians accounted for most of those killed, it said, and the death toll was expected to rise further because many of the wounded were in serious condition. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said locals had gathered after a ﬁrst strike hit a market in the town to help evacuate the wounded when the additional raids hit. At least six raids hit the market, with the others striking nearby in the centre of town, Abdel Rahman said. A video posted online by activists of the aftermath of the attacks showed an intersection strewn with rubble and twisted metal. Sheared off The fronts of several buildings nearby appeared to have been sheared off by the force of the blasts, and many cars lay overturned and crumpled. Douma lies in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta, a region outside the capital that is the regular target of government air strikes. Eastern Ghouta has been under government siege for nearly two years, with regime forces tighten-

DEVASTATED: Men run at a site hit by what activists said were air strikes by forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad on a marketplace in the Douma neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria on Friday. – Reuters

ing the blockade since the start of 2015. Amnesty International earlier in the week accused the government of committing war crimes in Eastern Ghouta, saying its heavy aerial bombardment of the area was compounding the misery created by the blockade. The group also accused rebels in the area of war crimes for ﬁring rockets indiscriminately at the capital. Sunday’s strikes on Douma came as new United Nations humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien held talks with government officials in Damascus on his ﬁrst trip to Syria since being appointed. O’Brien, who succeeded Valerie

Amos in May, met with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, state media reported. UN aid chief Official news agency SANA said O’Brien had expressed willingness to work with the government to alleviate humanitarian suffering in the country. Close to 12 million people have been uprooted by Syria’s conﬂict, with over four million becoming refugees and another 7.6 million internally displaced. On Saturday, O’Brien met Syria’s deputy foreign minister and visited the central city of Homs, which is now mostly under government

control. “Visited Homs today. Beyond destruction of buildings lies destruction of lives. Syria needs peace,” O’Brien wrote on his Twitter account after the visit. “We are committed to continuing to support humanitarian efforts in Syria. Equal access to all people in need (is) vital for our work,” he added. Elsewhere, fierce fighting raged in rebel-held Zabadani, near Damascus, and rebels rained rockets on two government-held villages in northwestern Syria after the collapse of a ceasefire. On Saturday, a 48-hour-old truce for Zabadani and the villages of Fuaa

PA R L I A M E N TA RY I N V E S T I G AT I O N

Senior officials Various former senior officials were also named in the report detailing the committee’s ﬁndings, which has not been publicly released. An MP on the committee said these include defence minister Saadun Al Dulaimi, army chief of staff Babaker Zebari, his deputy Aboud Qanbar, ground forces commander Ali Ghaidan, Nineveh operations command chief Mahdi Al Gharawi and the province’s governor, Atheel Al Nujaiﬁ. The report was presented on Sunday to Parliament Speaker Salim Al Juburi, who said it will be sent to the prosecutor general for legal action. “No one is above the law and the questioning of the people, and the judiciary will punish those” responsible, Juburi said in a statement. IS launched a devastating offensive on June 9 last year, overrunning Mosul the next day and then sweeping through large areas

No one is above the law and the questioning of the people, and the judiciary will punish those responsible Salim Al Juburi BLAMED: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki at the Prime Minister’s Office in Baghdad in this ﬁle photograph. – AFP ﬁles

north and west of Baghdad. Multiple Iraqi divisions collapsed during the initial assault in the north, in some cases abandoning weapons and other equipment which the militants then used to further their drive. Possible prosecutions Maliki is widely viewed as having exacerbated sectarian tensions between the country’s majority and minority communities. Widespread discontent among minority community, who say they were marginalised and targeted by Maliki’s government, played a major role in aggravating the security situation in Iraq, culminating in the militant rout. He also appointed commanders based on personal loyalty rather than competence, and was commander-in-chief of the armed forces during two years in which the Iraqi military did not carry out necessary training, leading to a decline in skills.

Al Nusra and hope that they will release in the coming hours the group’s commander and other fighters,” the statement stamped by the group’s command said. Division 30 is among the units receiving training as part of a USled programme operating from Turkey that is intended to create a force to fight the IS militant group. But after the first 54 members of the force entered Syria in July, Al Nusra kidnapped 13 of them, including a commander, and at least three more killed in clashes with the militant group. Al Nusra accused the force of serving US interests. — AFP

MEETING A KEY DEADLINE

Iraq probe finds Maliki, others responsible for the fall of Mosul BAGHDAD: An Iraqi parliamentary investigation found ex-premier Nuri Al Maliki and other officials responsible for militants overrunning second city Mosul, in a report being sent for possible legal action, lawmakers said on Sunday. While various top commanders and political leaders have long been blamed for the IS militant group’s disastrous takeover of the capital of Nineveh province, the investigative committee’s report is the first time they have been named officially. Committee member MP Abdulrahim Al Shammari said that Maliki, who was prime minister from 2006 until last year, was among those named, as did another member who declined to be identified. The inclusion of Maliki’s name — who is now vice president — was a source of controversy on the committee, with his Dawa party pushing for it to be left out.

and Kafraya collapsed after negotiators failed to reach a long-term deal. Government forces have been trying for weeks to capture Zabadani, the last rebel bastion in the area along the Lebanese border. In response, rebels have ﬁred hundreds of missiles at Fuaa and Kafraya, two Shiite-majority villages that are the last regime-held civilian areas in Idlib province. Meanwhile, a US-trained rebel group said in a statement that Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front had freed seven of its members kidnapped two weeks earlier. “We welcome this noble initiative and urge the brothers of

Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi’s office announced that he had cleared the way for the military prosecution of senior commanders responsible for a military disaster in Ramadi, a city west of Baghdad. IS seized Ramadi in May, after government forces had held out against militants there for more than a year. Abadi approved “decisions of the investigative commission on the withdrawal of the Anbar operations command and units attached to it from the city of Ramadi”, his office said in a statement. Those include “referring a number of the leaders to the military judiciary for leaving their positions without orders and contrary to instructions (and) despite the issuance of a number of orders not to withdraw”, it said. Abadi previously said that forces in Ramadi “had to resist, and if they had resisted, we would not have lost Ramadi”.

Iraq’s Parliament speaker

And a senior British military ofﬁcer in a US-led anti-jihadist coalition, Brigadier Christopher Ghika, said the city “was lost because the Iraqi commander in Ramadi elected to withdraw”. “In other words, if he had elected to stay, he would still be there today,” Ghika said. Car bomibing Meanwhile, a car bombing in an area of north Baghdad where people gather to buy and sell vehicles killed 11 people and wounded at least 68, Iraqi officials said. The blast hit Sadr City, the same district where a massive truck bomb ripped through a wholesale vegetable market just two days before, killing at least 54 people. The IS group claimed responsibility for the latest attack, according to monitoring group SITE, saying that they had targeted a gathering of soldiers, police. The militant group said more than 20 people were killed. — Agencies

Tehran submits nuclear activity documents to UN watchdog IAEA VIENNA: Iran has submitted documents linked to its past nuclear activity, the UN’s atomic watchdog has confirmed, a key condition of a probe into suspected efforts to create nuclear arms. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed a “roadmap” with Iran in July to investigate its nuclear programme, as part of an overall accord with major world powers. The historic deal is aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activity in exchange for relief on painful economic sanctions. The IAEA said Iran had met a key deadline by handing over the papers on Saturday. “Iran... provided the IAEA with its explanation in writing and related documents as agreed in the roadmap for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme,” the agency said in a brief statement published Saturday. A senior Iranian official also confirmed that the documents had been submitted. “We have achieved our commitments as part of the deadline set out in the agreement,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation. Report The IAEA is to issue a report on its investigation by December 15. The agency has long sought to probe allegations that at least until 2003 Iran’s nuclear programme had “possible military dimensions” -- that it conducted research into making a nuclear bomb. Iran has always rejected the allegations as based on faulty intelligence provided by

SHOW OF SUPPORT: A picture taken in the capital Tehran on November 23, 2014 during a demonstration by Iranian students to show support to Iran’s nuclear programme, shows a section of the Tehran Research Reactor. – AFP Files

its enemies to a gullible and biased IAEA, and a probe has been stalled since last year. A particular sticking point in the probe had been the IAEA’s desire to inspect military sites where these suspicious activities may have taken place, such as Parchin. But following the deal reached in July with the so-called P5+1 — Russia, France, China, Germany, Britain and the United States — Iran granted the IAEA tightlycontrolled “managed access” to its military bases. — AFP

A 16

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US, Germany set to pull out Patriot missiles from Turkey Germany, the United States and the Netherlands all deployed Patriots in early 2013 after Turkey asked its fellow NATO partners for help in protecting its territory amid an escalating civil war in Syria

The US Patriots, in Turkey as part of a broader NATO mission since 2013, will be redeployed to the United States for upgrades, according to a joint Turkish-US statement on Sunday

BERLIN/ISTANBUL: The United States and Germany said they will pull Patriot missile batteries from southern Turkey after a reassessment of the threats stemming from the conﬂict in neighbouring Syria. The US Patriots, in Turkey as part of a broader NATO mission since 2013, will be redeployed to the United States for upgrades, according to a joint Turkish-US statement on Sunday. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced at the weekend that Berlin would let its three-year Patriot mission lapse in January instead of seeking parliamentary approval to extend it. “The United States and NATO are committed to supporting Turkey’s security and regional stability,” the US-Turkish statement said. “If needed, the United SEARCH FOR REBELS

Tunisian soldiers kill woman TUNIS: A woman was killed and a man wounded in western Tunisia late on Saturday after soldiers opened fire on their car fearing they were armed, a defence ministry spokesman said. The army had earlier received information about a car carrying an “armed group” in the Kasserine region and had dispatched soldiers to find it, the spokesman, Belhassen Oueslati, said. The Kasserine region is located at the foot of the Chaambi mountain, where the army has since 2012 been chasing militants wanted for attacks that have killed several dozens of soldiers and policemen. The car carrying the two young people was “a little hidden” on the edge of a road at the foot of the Sammama mountain, the spokesman said. Closed zone When the military convoy passed, “the driver started the car” and drove it between the army’s first vehicle and the one following it. “They could have been undesired armed elements... a car crammed with explosives. So they (the soldiers) fired,” he said, adding that the incident happened in a “zone closed for military operations”. It was not clear whether the driver’s actions had been deliberate or if he had panicked and tried to get away, the spokesman said. “We will know from the investigation.” — AFP

ALTERED THREAT: Germany’s President Joachim Gauck, second left, listen to commander of German

troops in Turkey Colonel Stefan Drexter, as they visit Patriot missile batteries in Kahramanmaras on April 27, 2014. — Reuters ﬁle photo

States is prepared to return Patriot assets and personnel to Turkey within one week.” The decision comes less than a month after Turkey opened its air

bases to US ﬁghter jets launching air strikes against IS in Syria. Von der Leyen said the nature of the threat to Turkey from Syria had changed from one stemming

mainly from President Bashar Al Assad to that posed by extremist rebels. “The threat in this war-torn region has shifted in focus,” she said in a statement on the German defence ministry’s website. “It now stems from the terror organisation IS. “Therefore, we will remain engaged in the region in a continued effort to stabilise it.” The decision follows criticism from some German officials of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s military crackdown against

Kurdish militants and his declaration last month that the peace process he initiated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in 2012 was effectively at an end. “The Erdogan government has invested a great deal in reconciliation with the Kurds,” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. “It can’t allow all the bridges that have been built up over the course of this process to be torn down.” At the same time, Steinmeier warned against judging Turkey too quickly, noting that it was taking on more refugees from Syria and Iraq than any other country and coping with a major threat on its border from the civil war in Syria. — Reuters

WEST AFRICA CONFLICT

Boko Haram leader Shekau says he is ‘still in charge’ LAGOS: The leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram denied he had been killed or ousted as chief of the jihadist group in an audio recording released on Sunday attributed to him by security experts. In the eight-minute Hausa-language message, Abubakar Shekau rebuffed claims by Chadian leader Idriss Deby that he had been replaced. “It should be understood that this is false. This is indeed a lie. If it were true, my voice wouldn’t have been heard, now that I am speaking.” Deby declared on August 12 that efforts to combat neighbouring Nigeria’s Boko Haram extremists had succeeded in “decapitating” the group and would be wrapped up “by the end of the year”. Deby told reporters in the capital Djamena Boko Haram was no longer led by the fearsome Shekau and that his successor, whom he named as Mahamat Daoud, was open to talks. The SITE Intelligence Group veriﬁed the authenticity of the message, and an AFP correspondent with extensive experience of reporting Boko Haram said it exactly resembled Shekau’s voice in previous recordings. Shekau’s absence from Boko Haram videos in recent months has fuelled speculation that he might have been killed or wounded. He has not spoken publicly since he pledged allegiance to the IS group in an audio recording released on March 7. Shekau refers to himself in the new recording for the ﬁrst time as “leader of the West Africa wing” of IS. — AFP

G AT E WAY T O C A P I TA L

Pro-Hadi forces make advances in Taez city ADEN: Pro-government forces supported by Gulf air strikes have made key gains against rebels in Yemen’s third city Taez, seen as a gateway to the capital, military sources said on Sunday. The so-called Popular Resistance Committees, loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, have seized several strategic locations in central Taez, military officials said. However, the Houthi rebels and their allies still control entrances to Taez, including its eastern gate to Sanaa, which has been under their control since September, as well as other parts of the city, the sources said. The officials reported heavy fighting around the presidential palace in Taez and the nearby central security forces’ camp -- held by the rebels. Rashad Al Sharaabi, spokesman of the Popular Resistance Committees in Taez, said 10 rebels and four loyalist fighters were killed in the past 24 hours. However, AFP could not confirm the toll from independent sources and the rebels rarely acknowledge their losses. Intelligence headquarters Loyalist forces have retaken the intelligence headquarters and a fortress from which the rebels had been shelling Taez, as well as the highest peak overlooking the city on Jabal Sabr, Sharaabi told AFP. Saudi-led Gulf coalition warplanes, bombing rebel positions across Yemen since March, carried out several fresh air strikes in Taez early on Sunday, witnesses said. The latest advance on Taez

EYEING SANAA: People walk past a building damaged by recent ﬁghting between Houthi militants and ﬁghters of the Southern Resistance, in Yemen’s southern port city of Aden on Sunday. — Reuters/Stringer

comes after loyalist forces made sweeping gains in south Yemen, starting with their recapture of main city Aden in mid-July. On Friday, loyalists retook several facilities from rebels in Taez, including police and

civil defence headquarters, according to the government’s Sabanew.net website. In a telephone call, Hadi reassured the 35th Brigade’s commander in the city Thursday that “Taez is on its way to being liberat-

ed and support will soon reach it”. Military sources say the coalition has provided Hadi’s supporters with modern heavy equipment, including tanks and armoured personnel carriers, and Yemeni soldiers trained in Saudi Arabia.

The conﬂict has cost nearly 4,300 lives since March, half of them civilians, according to UN ﬁgures, while 80 per cent of Yemen’s 21 million people have been left in need of aid and protection. — AFP

S O U T H S U D A N C I V I L WA R

Kiir arrives for peace talks in Ethiopia as deadline looms ADDIS ABABA: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir arrived in Ethiopia on Sunday for peace talks aimed at brokering an end to civil war, reversing an earlier decision as international threats of possible sanctions mount. But the South Sudan leader, who said he had been “compelled” to join the talks alongside rebel leaders and regional presidents, warned it would not be possible to sign a lasting or full peace deal until all opposition factions could join the agreement. “A peace that cannot be sus-

tained cannot be signed,” Kiir said, before leaving Juba. “You should sign something that you will enjoy. If it is signed today and then tomorrow we go back to war, then what have we achieved?” South Sudan’s government and rebels are under intense diplomatic pressure to sign a deal by August 17 to end a 20-month civil war in which tens of thousands of people have been killed. Kiir previously said he would send his deputy after complaining it was not possible to strike an effective deal because rebel

forces have split. But on Sunday he decided to go himself after consultations with regional leaders, who have already arrived in Addis Ababa for the summit on Monday. “Even if I am not happy, I must show my face because if I don’t go, negative forces will take me as the one against the peace that was going to be signed,” Kiir added. On Sunday, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who has sent troops into South Sudan to back Kiir, held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, Sudanese President Omar

Al Bashir and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. Riek Machar South Sudan’s civil war began in December 2013 when Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that has split the poverty-stricken, landlocked country along ethnic lines. On Tuesday, rebel generals said they had split from Machar. The latest round of talks opened on August 6, mediated by the regional eight-nation bloc IGAD, the

Intergovernmental Authority on Development, as well as the United Nations, African Union, China and the “troika” of Britain, Norway and the United States. Diplomats have warned any failure to sign a peace deal could trigger “serious consequences” for the rival leaders, but South Sudan’s Cabinet Minister Elia Lomuro said such threats were not helpful. “We are not afraid of sanctions, this country belongs to us, the peace that we are talking belongs to us not to them,” Lomuro said. Britain’s minister for Africa,

Grant Shapps, warned on Friday of possible “targeted sanctions” and an arms embargo if no deal is made. Marked by widespread atrocities on both sides, the war has been characterised by ethnic massacres and rape. Recent attacks have included castration, burning people alive and tying children together before slitting their throats. More than 70 per cent of the country’s 12 million people need aid, while 2.2 million people have ﬂed their homes, the UN says, with areas on the brink of famine. — AFP

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Tender ﬂoated for integrated market in Duqm An integrated market in Duqm is part of a comprehensive development programme chalked out by the authority

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sive development programme chalked out by the authority.

MUSCAT: A tender for building an integrated market in Duqm was ﬂoated by Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority on Sunday. The integrated market in Duqm is part of a comprehen-

Massive development Duqm region, which is witnessing a massive development on various fronts, will accommodate thousands of people once the development projects are complete.

A E JAMES

Spread over an area of 23 square kms within the sprawling 1,777 square kilometre special economic zone, the town of Duqm will initially cater to a population of around 67,000 inhabitants. This could burgeon to 110,000 residents when the mammoth economic zone is substantially tenanted. The integrated market project includes civil, architectural, electro-mechanical installation, soil improvement and site development works, according to the tender announcement. The bids will be closedfor submission on October 13 and the authorities have arranged a site visit for potential bidders on September 8. > B4

MERGER

Ominvest’s acquisition to be completed on August 19 Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman National Investment Corporation (ONIC) Holding on Sunday said it would submit a ﬁnal merger application to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) on August 16, 2015. Oman International Development and Investment Company

SAOG (Ominvest) and Oman National Investment Corporation Holding (ONIC) are planning to merge into a single entity. Accordingly, the creditors’ notice period ended on July 30, without any objections being received. “According to the legal procedures, the ﬁnal approval from the MoCIfor the merger is expected to comearound August 19, 2015

and will entail ONIC being deregistered from the commercial registry,” the company said in a stock market ﬁling. “Consequently, ONIC’s shares will be suspended from being traded on the Muscat Securities Market and subsequently, ONIC’s shareholders will be issued shares in Ominvest as per agreed ratio,” the statement added.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

MARKET Solar energy in Oman ‘economically viable’ He further said that solar power is not only one technology, and there are several of them which can be used, including photovoltaic system and concentrated solar power (CSP) system. Each of them has its pros and cons but, all in all, the pros outweigh the cons, Abdulkarim noted. According to him, the maintenance cost is ‘minimal’ compared to what you get out of solar energy.

Experts say it is a myth that use of solar technology is not efficient in the Sultanate due to the dusty climate

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

CONFIDENT: Soubhi Abdulkarim, chairman and chief executive of-

elham@timesofoman.com

ﬁcer at Integrated Smart Technologies, left; and Michael Katz, chief executive officer of Oman Aqua Science. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

MUSCAT: It is a myth that use of solar technology is not efficient and economically viable in Oman due to the dusty climate, say experts who believe that more awareness about solar power is required. Soubhi Abdulkarim, chairman and chief executive officer at Integrated Smart Technologies, and Michael Katz, chief executive ofﬁcer of Oman Aqua Science, both believe that the time is gone when solar energy was considered inefﬁcient and ‘not worth the cost’ in dusty weather.

The loss of efficiency in a dusty climate is so minimal, Katz told Times of Oman on the sidelines of a seminar organised recently by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) to shed light on various aspects of sustainable manufacturing. Nanotechnology Abdulkarim said that the climate type is no longer a cause for concern as solar energy technologies have evolved over time.

“Solar energy technologies do not necessary depend on direct sunlight,” he said, adding that nanotechnology has also made a great contribution to the ﬁeld of solar energy. “Practically, now you can take one of the solar panels, spray it with nanomaterial, and when you drop anything on it, it will not stick and will slide right off,” said Abdulkarim. So dust or water will not cause any problem, he said, calling the false notion a ‘big myth’.

Hotels Katz, who put the ﬁrst commercial solar heating in place for a 370-room hotel in Manila in 1996, said that solar energy can be easily utilised at hotels in Oman. However, the biggest challenge is that it is difficult to convenience the manufacturers to engage consultants, he added. At the hotel in Manila, electricity costs were signiﬁcance reduced with only 160 square metres of panels, Katz said, adding that it can serve as a good example for hotels in Oman.

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I N S TA L L E D

KEY ELEMENT: Operated at a pressure of 160 bar, and temperature of around 400-degree Celsius, the design of Orpic’s unit includes built-in features that enable a quick response to various emergency situations. – Supplied picture

Orpic’s new hydrocracker reactor to improve efficiency Times News Service MUSCAT: Reaching a height of 42 metres, and weighing approximately 950 metric tonnes, Oman Oil Reﬁneries and Petroleum Industries Company’s (Orpic) newly installed hydrocracker reactor is one of the key elements of Orpic’s Sohar Reﬁnery Improvement Project (SRIP). Extensive preparatory works were underway two months prior to the installation of the hydrocracker, with actual installation transpiring in a single day with the assistance of two cranes, and a heavy lift team comprising 36 personnel. The hydrocracker, which is a two-stafe unit, is one of the most critical units for Orpic’s future So-

SAUDI ARABIA

DEBT

Greek premier faces revolt as eurozone okays bailout ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been battling a major revolt among members of his radical-left party who oppose the third huge bailout for the crisis-hit country. Finance ministers from the 19-member eurozone approved a package late on Friday that will see Greece receive €86 billion ($96 billion) over three years in exchange for far-reaching promarket reforms. The green light for the deal, designed to stop Athens from defaulting on its huge debts and crashing out of the euro, came hours after Greece’s parliament voted through the agreement after a bitter all-night debate. A third of members of parliament in Tsipras’s radical-left party Syriza rebelled against him and he only managed to win the vote with opposition help — prompting fresh expectations that he will be forced to call early polls. Looked into abyss But Tsipras insisted the bailout was in Greece’s best interests, saying: “The agreement will advance Greece by making its ﬁnancial system more stable, starting right now.” Syriza swept to power in January on a wave of public anger against steep tax rises, spending cuts and reforms demanded by

har Refinery operations. Operated at a pressure of 160 bar, and temperature of around 400 degrees Celsius, the design of unit includes built-in features that enable a quick response to various emergency situations. This will enable Orpic to meet increasing demand of petroleum products in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as reducing refinery emissions and improving refinery margins. The hydrocracker unit will result in increased distillates production complying with Euro V specifications. Operation of the hydrocracker unit requires a high level of skill, therefore specialist training, by a process licenser and operator, is being provided to Orpic.

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD: A third of members of parliament in Tsipras’s radical-left party Syriza rebelled against him and he only managed to win the vote with opposition help. – AFP

Athens’ creditors — the EU, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund — in exchange for two previous bailouts. Painful reforms Critics accuse Tsipras of caving to blackmail from the creditors in agreeing to more painful reforms in exchange for badlyneeded cash. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said Athens had come perilously close to tumbling out of the eurozone and into the unknown, but six months of fraught negotiations had paid off. “Together, we have looked into

the abyss. But today, I am glad to say that all sides have respected their commitments. Greece is living up to its ambitious reform commitments,” he said in a statement after six hours of gruelling talks in Brussels. Greece will receive a first instalment of €13 billion next week, helping cover a debt payment due to the ECB next Thursday. Eurozone ministers said the first main €26-billion tranche of the bailout will include an “immediate” payment of €10 billion to Greece’s banks, which are desperately short of cash after panicked customers flocked to withdraw their money. - AFP

Al Rajhi Capital launches IPO fund Times News Service MUSCAT: Al Rajhi Capital, one of the leading asset managers in Saudi Arabia, has announced the launch of Al Rajhi IPO (initial public offering) Fund. The open-ended fund will primarily invest in IPO opportunities in Saudi Arabia with the aim of providing capital appreciation for the fund investors in the mediumto long-term. The initial launch period of the fund will be from August 16 to September 10 and investors can invest with a minimum initial subscription amount of 5,000 Saudi riyals. The fund will have bi-weekly valuations. Investors in the Al Rajhi IPO Fund can expect to beneﬁt from the strong pipeline of potential initial public offerings in Saudi. Attractive opportunity Investments in well-researched IPOs present an attractive opportunity for both institutional and retail investors. As investor appetite remains high for participating in IPO’s, the fund provides an ideal access to this investment opportunity. Apart from the IPOs, the fund can also invest in secondary markets through rights issues, rump offerings- rights issue, and recently listed companies during their ﬁrst three years of listing. Al Rajhi Capital manages more than 30 billion Saudi riyals in money market, equity, multi asset class, and real estate solutions.

TA X I S S U E

Multinational firms try to avoid Australian taxes SYDNEY: Multinational firms shifting profits offshore to avoiding paying Australian taxes should be ‘named and shamed’, the chair of an Australian parliamentary inquiry into the practices said on Sunday ahead of the release of a report. The inquiry has grilled senior representatives from some of the world’s biggest firms in the technology, pharmaceutical and mining sectors on whether they were using complex corporate structures to reduce their tax burden. The push in Australia to crack down on multinational firms has been mirrored in other countries, with Britain in March introducing a so-called ‘Google tax’ on companies that divert profits overseas. “The worst tax offenders should be named and shamed, they should have to justify publicly why they’re taking the stances that they’re taking,” the inquiry’s chairman Sam Dastyari told reporters in Sydney. The inquiry’s report, to be tabled in parliament on Monday, is

set to call for the disclosure of tax avoidance settlements with the Australian Taxation Office above a certain level — such as A$100 million, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Transparency “At this point in time, you have a series of Australia’s most powerful companies fighting against any transparency measure to actually reveal what goes on behind closed doors between them and the tax office,” Dastyari added. “The more public exposure, the more pressure that’s brought upon these companies, the better the policy outcome.” One of the report’s 18 recommendations will suggest that even firms with overseas headquarters should disclose their revenue, tax paid and deductions used in Australia, the Herald said. Firms quizzed by the upper house Senate hearings, including Apple, Google, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, said they had abided by local and international tax laws.- AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

MARKET ENERGY

Gazprom faces challenges as output slumps MOSCOW: Facing a cold shoulder from Europe and increased competition at home, Russia’s Gazprom has struggled to assert dominance on the global energy market, prompting speculation the energy giant could have no choice but to splinter. With the Russian economy slipping into recession on the back of lower oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine, the economy ministry predicted Gazprom would produce 414 billion cubic metres of gas this year, an all-time low for the public company sitting atop some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves. Prior to financial crisis Gazprom’s market capitalisation has plummeted in recent years. Prior to the 2008 financial crisis, the company was worth more than $300 billion. Its value now hovers around $50 billion, trailing behind the world’s major energy firms. “Gazprom is confronted with the greatest challenge in its history,” Chris Weafer, a partner at Macro Advisory consultancy firm, said. “What remains to be seen is whether Gazprom becomes an appendage of the foreign ministry or evolves into a global energy company.” The fall in Gazprom’s value and gas output coincides with mounting tensions with the European Union, which has accused it of catering to Moscow’s geopolitical interests instead of operating according to business principles. - Bloomberg News

Mining sector in Oman to attract foreign investment Kunooz Group plans to enter capital market

Discovery of sizeable reserves of minerals,

Times News Service

gold, copper and

MUSCAT: Kunooz Group, which is the largest mining group in the country, plans to enter the capital market with an initial public offering. Kunooz group is participating in Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition and Conference, which is scheduled between December 1 and 3. “Our participation in this auspicious event (minerals and mining exhibition)

rare earths will signiﬁcantly boost mining activities in the Sultanate

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s mining sector foresees notable growth in the next few years, following the discovery of sizeable reserves of minerals, gold, copper and rare earths, which will signiﬁcantly boost mining activities and attract investment to the Sultanate. Plans are underway to set up mineral processing and reﬁning facilities in the Port of Duqm’s industrial zone mining cluster, according to a press release. Mineral, mining exhibition Oman’s largest mining group, the Kunooz Group of companies, which comprises Al Rawas Mining Company, Mihwar Al Wifaq, Majan Mining Company, Al Rawas Marble & Granite, Salalah

Readymix and Al Rawas Transport, Machinery Hiring & Trading, and two associates Majan Mining and Carmeuse Majan,will showcase its products, services and projects at the Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference. Al Rawas Mining Company mines and exports gypsum to the global market and is currently evaluating downstream value add products such as POP and gypsum board; Mihwar Al Wifaq mines and sells gabbro aggregates and sand in and around Muscat for the road and construction industry; Al

is timely such that it will enhance our market exposure and awareness strategy as we move forward to positioning the company as an initial public offering (IPO),” said Dean Cunningham, chief executive officer of Kunooz Oman. “Our subsidiaries will be present to discuss the group and individual companies, explore opportunities on selling products, and engage with potential investors and service providers,” he added.

Rawas Marble & Granite supplies cut and polished Omani marble in the form of slabs, tiles, steps and raises as well as specially ordered cut to size products to the local and international markets. Similarly, Salalah Readymix provides local readymix concrete blocks curbstones and crushed sand and stone in Salalah, Taqah and Mirbat; and Al Rawas Transport, Machinery Hiring & Trading provides transport services for its projects and moves for various customers’ food and equipment between Salalah and Muscat and a number of the key ports

The Kunooz Group of companies comprises Al Rawas Mining Company, Mihwar Al Wifaq, Majan Mining Company, Al Rawas Marble & Granite, Salalah Readymix and Al Rawas Transport, Machinery Hiring & Trading, and two associates Majan Mining and Carmeuse Majan. These companies will showcase its products, services and projects at the Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference.

across the Sultante of Oman. Omanexpo’s ﬁrst edition of Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition and Conference, supported by the Public Authority for Mining, is scheduled from December 1 to 3. 100 participants The exhibition, which will feature about 100 companies representing segments that range from mining exploration and equipment, building material, engineering and construction, information technology, and mineral resources to logistics, will take place at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in

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BANKRUPTCY

PROMOTION

Omani products expo evokes good response visitors toSalalah during Khareef season,” Raina pointed out.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Omani Products’ Exhibition witnessed a signiﬁcant turnout and overwhelming feedbacks from the visitors at the Lulu Hypermarket in Salalah, which concluded on Sunday. Organised by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), the Omani Products’ Exhibition came as part of the national campaign to promote locally manufactured products and was organised in line with Salalah Tourism Festival 2015. Abdullatif Al Ajmi, promotion specialist at PEIE’s Omani Products Department, said that the exhibition has received overwhelming feedbacks from consumers from within and outside the Sultanate. “This year, not only the products were displayed, but companies’ representatives had the opportunity to promote and highlight their products directly with the consumers,” Al Ajmi pointed out. The representatives of the companies and factories emphasised the importance of participating in such exhibitions to strengthen the role of their promotional plans on the one hand,

concurrence with the two-day conference, which will be held at the Golden Tulip Hotel Seeb. In its bid to play a central role in the government’s economic diversiﬁcation strategy to reduce oil dependence and to increase awareness about its mining and downstream capacity, apart from providing value to a comprehensive show of international exhibits, Kunooz Oman Holdings has enhanced its role and involvement in the event by being its main sponsor. “Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference is our way of contributing to the sustainable growth path for the mining industry in Oman. This comes in the heels of the government’s recent reforms and new legislation that will increase value addition and build Oman’s domestic minerals value chain,” said Indrajeet Kumar, project manager, Oman Minerals & Mining Exhibition & Conference. “We are pleased to welcome Kunooz Oman Holding to the event, which we see, is a healthy starting point in helping to develop the industry,” he added. Omanexpo is the pioneer and leading organiser of high-proﬁle trade exhibitions.

LOCAL FLAVOUR: Representatives of the companies and factories emphasised the importance of participating in such exhibitions to strengthen the role of their promotional plans. – Supplied picture

and to interact directly with the consumers on the other hand. A representative of Omani Vegetable Oils and Derivatives Company said, “The series of Omani Products’ Exhibitions are vital for any company to constantly generate awareness among the public

on the excellent quality of locally manufactured products which are characterisedwith international standards.” Rehan Raina of Salalah Macaroni noted that both producers and consumers beneﬁt from these exhibitions. “Our company and

our products have gained conﬁdence from consumers within and outside Oman, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and East Africa. Being a key player in the pasta market in the Middle East, it is vital for us to introduce our products to the

Opportunity for consumers Irfan Abdulmajeed of Sahara Company, which is specialised in juice production said, “The exhibition allows us to approach consumers directly as well as spotlight the Omani products that are marked with unique characteristics that enable them to compete at a global level.” The exhibition offered an opportunity for the citizens, residents and visitors to Dhofar governorate during the Khareef season to get acquainted with the unique features of the Omani products. The Omani Products Expo at Salalah’s Lulu Hypermarket stresses the constant cooperation between the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates and the commercial centres. The campaign of promoting locally manufactured products is a national initiative designed to encourage consumers and organisations to buy Oman made goods and services wherever possible, promote national pride in the manufacturing industry and highlight the economic importance of buying Oman made products.

More offshore drilling firms face closure HOUSTON: More deepwater drillers may follow Hercules Offshore into bankruptcy as the environment for putting rigs to work proves especially risky for those with the highest debt loads, according to Fitch Ratings. Highly levered rig contractors Vantage Drilling, Pacific Drilling and Ocean Rig are expected to be at a disadvantage competing for contracts with some of the world’s largest owners of drilling rigs as customers consider other factors such as ‘staying power’ and historical operating performance, Fitch said on Friday in a statement. “They seem to have the highest probability of default, given their leverage level, backlog and liquidity profile,” Dino Kritikos, director at Fitch Ratings in Chicago, said in a phone interview. Hercules, owners of the largest fleet of shallow-water drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, filed for bankruptcy with a plan to be taken over by senior creditors. Fitch said on Friday that may be a leading indicator for further bankruptcies among other highly levered offshore rig owners. - Bloomberg News

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,321.86 .............. 6,292.34 ...................6,292.34 ................... 6,318.62................-26.28 .................. -0.42 Financial Index ..................................... 7,689.91 ...............7,648.48 ....................7,648.51 ....................7,689.91................-41.40 .................. -0.54 Industrial Index ....................................8,079.57 ............... 8,051.01 ....................8,051.01 ................... 8,079.57................-28.56 .................. -0.35 Services Index ...................................... 3,424.43 ............... 3,410.77 ....................3,412.57 ................... 3,421.74...................-9.17 .................. -0.27 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................972.43 ..................970.08 ...................... 970.20 .......................971.95...................-1.75 .................. -0.18 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 7,262,394 ................... 3,071,803 .....................599 ............... 15,065,997,992 .................. 7 ......................16 ....................20 .........................43

MSM falls marginally

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

REGULAR MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ............................................................. 1,346 ...............2,907........................3 ............2.160 ........... 2.160 ...........2.160........... 2.160 ............. 1.965.............0.195 ............. 9.924 ................2.160..............2.160...................0.000 ................... 1,728,000 ..........1.000 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ......................................550 ...............2,255........................1 ........... 4.100 ...........4.100 ...........4.100........... 4.100 .............4.000 ............0.100 .............2.500 ................4.100..............4.100...................4.200 ..................40,098,886.........1.000 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING.............69,500 ................7,777........................6 ............0.111 ........... 0.112............ 0.111 ............0.112 ............. 0.111 .............0.001 ............. 0.901 ................0.112 .............. 0.112................... 0.114 ...................13,650,000 .........0.100 OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING ...................................61,930 ..........124,897........................7 ........... 2.000...........2.020 ...........2.000 ...........2.015 .............2.000 ............0.015 ............. 0.750 ................2.020 ............ 2.020...................2.095..................191,425,000........0.100

As many as 599 trades were executed generating a turnover of OMR3 million with more than 7.2 million shares changing hands.

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.............................................. 210,592 ......... 547,539......................51 ........... 2.600...........2.600 ...........2.600 .......... 2.600 .............2.590 ............0.010 ............. 0.386 ................2.600............. 2.500...................2.600 .................248,188,707........1.000 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ....................................................... 22,500 .............31,950........................3 ............1.420 ........... 1.420 ...........1.420........... 1.420 .............1.420 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.420.............. 1.410...................1.420................. 284,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ..................................... 1,000 .................. 326........................1 ........... 0.326 ...........0.326 ...........0.326........... 0.340 .............0.340 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.326..............0.326...................0.340 .................455,841,485........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................... 492 .................. 236........................2 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.480 .............0.480 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.000 .................177,800,304........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 50,000 ............ 25,500........................3 ............0.510 ........... 0.510 ...........0.510 ........... 0.510 ............. 0.510............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.510 ..............0.506...................0.510..................168,745,082 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................71,000 ............... 4,615........................8 ........... 0.065 ...........0.065 ...........0.065........... 0.065 .............0.065 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.065..............0.064...................0.065...................13,464,840 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ................5,000 ...............1,302........................2 ........... 0.260........... 0.261 ...........0.260 .......... 0.261 .............0.261............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.261 ..............0.261...................0.265.................... 5,481,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ........................................................... 70,000 ............ 33,600........................1 ........... 0.480 ...........0.480 ...........0.480........... 0.480 .............0.480 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.480..............0.480...................0.500 ..................83,243,160 .........0.100

MUSCAT: Prevailing negative sentiments in the markets pushed down the MSM30 Index by 0.42 per cent to close at 6,292.34 points. The MSM Sharia Index closed at 970.20 points, down by 0.18 per cent. Phoenix Power was the most active in terms of volume while Omantel was the most active in terms of turnover. United Power remained the top gainer, up by 9.92 per cent, while the top loser was once again Galfar Engineering, down by 3.57 per cent. Fall in turnover As many as 599 trades were executed during Sunday’s trading session generating turnover of OMR3 million with more than 7.2 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, seven advanced, 16 declined and 20 remained unchanged. Omani investors were net buyers for OMR552,000 while Foreign investors were net sellers for OMR317,000 followed by GCC and Arab investors for OMR235,000 worth of shares. Financial Index decreased 0.54 per cent to close at 7,648.51

points. Oman & Emirates Holding, up by 0.90 per cent, was the only sector gainer. Gulf Investment Services, Ahli Bank, Al Batinah Development, Al Sharqia Investments and Al Anwar Holding declined 3.28 per cent, 2.78 per cent, 2.65 per cent, 2.36 per cent and 0.95 per cent respectively. Industrial Index closed at 8,051.01 points, down by 0.35 per cent. Al Hassan Engineering gained 1.11 per cent to close at OMR0.091. Galfar Engineering, Construction Materials, Al Maha Ceramics, Al Anwar Ceramics and Oman Cables decreased 3.57 per cent, 2.70 per cent, 0.75 per cent, 0.51 per cent and 0.22 per cent respectively. Services Index showed losses of 0.27 per cent to ﬁnish at 3,412.57 points. United Power, Sharqiyah Desalination, Shell Oman Marketing and Sembcorp Salalah increased by 9.92 per cent, 2.50 per cent, 0.75 per cent and 0.39 per cent respectively. National Gas, Al Batinah Power, Omantel and OIFC declined by 2.26 per cent, 2.22 per cent, 1.43 per cent and 0.50 per cent respectively. — United Securities

OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .........4,426 ...............9,073........................1 ........... 2.050 ...........2.050 ...........2.050........... 2.055 .............2.055 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.050............. 0.000...................2.050 .................141,795,000 ........0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ................................................. 1,000 ..................840........................1 ........... 0.840...........0.840 ...........0.840 .......... 0.832 .............0.832 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.840..............0.832...................0.840 .................133,120,000........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 235,386 ......... 104,041......................21 ........... 0.442 ...........0.442 ...........0.442........... 0.442 .............0.442 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.442..............0.442...................0.450...................26,741,000 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 669,399 ..........514,491..................... 63 ............0.772 ........... 0.772 ...........0.764............0.768 ............. 0.768............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.764 ..............0.764...................0.768..................499,925,169........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................29,003 ...............2,557........................4 ........... 0.089 ...........0.089 ...........0.088........... 0.088 .............0.088 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.088..............0.087...................0.089...................15,400,000.........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................56,445 .......... 125,855......................14 ........... 2.230...........2.235 ...........2.220 .......... 2.230 .............2.235 ...........-0.005 ........... -0.224 ...............2.235............. 2.220...................2.235................. 200,031,000 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 240,854 ......... 124,481..................... 27 ............0.516 ...........0.520 ...........0.516 ............0.516 ............. 0.518............-0.002 ........... -0.386 ...............0.516 .............. 0.514...................0.516 ................1,182,580,460 ......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE................76,050 ............. 15,163........................9 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.198 ........... 0.199 .............0.200 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.500 ...............0.198 .............. 0.196...................0.198...................39,800,000.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 218,410............ 85,387........................8 ........... 0.392 ...........0.392 ...........0.390........... 0.390 .............0.392 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.510 ...............0.390..............0.388...................0.390 .................115,523,336 ........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE .......................................................19,000 ...............2,684........................3 ............0.131 ........... 0.145 ...........0.131 ............0.141 .............0.142 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.704 ...............0.145 ..............0.140...................0.145................... 43,817,857 .........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................. 50,757 .............27,031......................14 ........... 0.534 ...........0.534 ...........0.532........... 0.532 .............0.536 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.746 ...............0.532..............0.530...................0.532...................27,930,000.........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 396,052 ........... 82,353.....................40 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.207........... 0.208 .............0.210 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.952 ...............0.208..............0.207...................0.208 ..................31,215,600 .........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 370,903 ......... 640,135..................... 50 ............1.720 ........... 1.735............ 1.715 ............1.725 ............. 1.750............-0.025 ........... -1.429 ...............1.725 .............. 1.720................... 1.725 ................1,293,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................32,100 ............... 7,063........................9 ........... 0.220........... 0.221 ...........0.220 .......... 0.220 .............0.225 ...........-0.005 ........... -2.222 ...............0.220 ............ 0.220...................0.223 .................148,475,235 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ................................................................5,112 ................1,771........................4 ........... 0.350 ...........0.350 ...........0.344 .......... 0.346 .............0.354 ...........-0.008 ........... -2.260 ...............0.344..............0.344...................0.350...................17,300,000 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............50,256 ............... 6,216......................12 ............0.127 ........... 0.127 ...........0.122........... 0.124 ............. 0.127............-0.003 ........... -2.362 ...............0.122..............0.122...................0.127................... 11,160,000 .........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ....................... 22,500 ...............2,473........................7 ............0.110 ........... 0.110............0.109............0.110 ............. 0.113 ............-0.003 ........... -2.655 ...............0.110 ..............0.109...................0.110 ....................3,300,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 216,400 ...........45,444......................11 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.210........... 0.210 .............0.216............-0.006 ........... -2.778 ...............0.210............. 0.208...................0.210..................299,257,590........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ...........................35,584 ...............4,199........................6 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............0.118 ............0.118 .............0.122 ...........-0.004 ........... -3.279 ...............0.118 .............. 0.118...................0.120....................6,943,500 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 1,009,660 ...... 108,641..................... 68 ............0.111 ............0.111 ............0.103........... 0.108 ............. 0.112............-0.004 ............-3.571................0.106..............0.105...................0.106................... 31,317,909 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 4,303,207 .2,692,802...................460 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................... 31,692 ...............2,870..................... 10 ........... 0.090 ........... 0.091 ...........0.090............0.091 .............0.090 ............0.001 ..............1.111 .................0.090..............0.090...................0.091....................6,843,928 ..........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ...................................................3,000 ............... 1,470........................1 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.500 .............0.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.490..............0.490...................0.498...................78,750,000 .........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE............................................................988 .................. 142........................1 ............0.144 ........... 0.144 ...........0.144........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.144..............0.144...................0.000 .................. 37,742,771 .........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 685,097 ............47,667..................... 25 ........... 0.070 ...........0.070 ...........0.069........... 0.070 .............0.070 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.069..............0.069...................0.070................. 105,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................20,728 ...............2,322........................2 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.112 ............. 0.112............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 .............. 0.112................... 0.114 ...................11,200,000 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 2,076,454.......311,514..................... 87 ............0.150 ........... 0.151............0.149 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.149 ..............0.149...................0.150..................219,390,219 ........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .....................17,333 .................. 629........................4 ........... 0.037 ........... 0.037 ...........0.035........... 0.036 .............0.037 ...........-0.001 ........... -2.703 ...............0.035............. 0.000...................0.035....................3,060,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 2,835,292...... 366,613...................130 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

SMART URBAN PLANS

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Duqm integrated market to emerge as hub of city

According to earlier reports, the integrated market at Duqm will be the hub of the modern city and it will be developed in such a way as to meet the needs of the local community. This falls within the vision of the authority to develop the city of Duqm for utilising smart urban plans and to design them effectively. The authority has recently assigned this project to a specialised consultancy ﬁrm. The new integrated market will be equipped with centralised air condition and will contain several sections, including meat market, ﬁsh market, vegetables and fruits market and other stores. The

market will contain stores that are specialised in selling traditional goods in addition to other commercial shops and restaurants and administrative offices. The land area allocated to the market is 68,000 square metres, and buildings will be constructed in the ﬁrst phase on an area of 8,000 square metres. The implementation of this market falls within the authority’s efforts to make Duqm one of the most modern cities, which will be accomplished through creating a balance between social and environmental needs. Urban development is a priority as the authority is working to

make the area a model integrated economic city that combines industrial, commercial, tourism and social projects, mixes modernity with authenticity, and provides all the needs of its citizens for different services. The planned new urban design of Duqm is an opportunity to prepare model cities for coming generations, and it can be considered as the ﬁrst model of an integrated city in the Sultanate of Oman that gives great attention to urban planning and sustainable development and determines the needs of different sectors as far land and services for the residents there are concerned.

REGIONAL BOURSES

Dubai stocks retreat most in Mideast; Arabtec posts losses DUBAI: Dubai stocks fell to the lowest in more than two months, leading declines across most markets in the Middle East, after the United Arab Emirates’ biggestlisted builder reported a thirdstraight quarterly loss. Arabtec Holding slumped 5.4 per cent in Dubai to Dh2.11, the lowest since March 26, bringing the decline this year to 24 per cent, compared with a 4.2 per cent gain for Dubai DFM gauge. Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index retreated 1.3 per cent. Arabtec posted a Dh718.4 million loss ($196 million) last quarter on rising costs, compared with a proﬁt of Dh102.4 million a year earlier. Arabtec decreased 4.9 per cent to Dh2.13, bringing its decline this year to 24 per cent compared with a 4.3 per cent gain in Dubai’s gauge. Rising costs “indicate that they have been too aggressive in picking and pricing some of the projects,” Sebastien Henin, who oversees $90 million at The National Investor in Abu Dhabi, said

by phone. “Now they are thinking of project reviews, which means the Arabtec Saga continues.” Three of the companies’ top executives resigned last month as part of Arabtec’s reorganisation plan to cut costs. Their departure came 13 months after Chief Executive Officer Hasan Ismaik resigned and a number of top managers were dismissed amid speculation the construction company was losing government backing. The shakeup sparked a selloff in Dubai’s benchmark index of equities, sending the gauge tumbling more than 20 per cent in June 2014. Qatar shares rise Qatar’s QE Index advanced 0.3 per cent, led by Ezdan Holding Group’s 2.3 per cent gain. Qatar’s weight in MSCI’s emerging markets index will increase and the market will see “significant inflows” following the index provider’s quarterly review, EFGHermes said. It estimates Ezdan

and the Commercial Bank will attract a combined $138 million of passive inﬂows. Gauges in Kuwait and Bahrain fell 0.2 per cent each and Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index lost 0.1 per cent. Egypt stocks fall Egypt’s stocks dropped, spurred by concern assets owned by the chairman of the nation’s biggest producer of packaged milk could be nationalised after the government assess his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi equities also declined. Egypt’s EGX 30 Index declined 2.1 per cent to 7,712.72 at 1:07 p.m., the lowest level in a month after Juhayna Food Industries tumbled 7.5 per cent, the biggest decliner by percentage points. In Saudi Arabia, the Tadawul All Share Index fell two per cent led by Jabal Omar Development Co. Saudi Arabia is OPEC’s biggest exporter, and the nation relies on oil for about 90 per cent of its revenue. Brent crude sank to $49.03 a barrel on Friday. — Bloomberg News

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

Google’s unique plan But is there really “no model” for the kind of company Alphabet/Google wants to become? Observers have been throwing out different examples all week of what Alphabet is or should be like. Here’s a roundup

o, Alphabet isn’t really going to be like Berkshire Hathaway. That was the parallel that ﬁrst occurred to me and lots of others when Google Chief Executive Officer Larry Page announced on Monday that he and co-founder Sergey Brin would henceforth be running a holding company called Alphabet. Page had encouraged this by saying that he looks to Warren Buffett’s conglomerate as — this is the Wall Street Journal’s paraphrase of comments he made to some Google shareholders in December — “a model for how to run a large, complex company.” His Alphabet announcement also promised that he and Brin would “rigourously handle capital allocation,” and rigorous capital allocation is one of Buffett’s main claims to fame. Beyond that, as many people have pointed out this week, there isn’t much resemblance between Alphabet, with its amalgam of money-spewing Google and a bunch of potentially world-changing but money-losing start-ups, and Berkshire’s lovingly (if rigorously) curated collection of stodgy money-makers. Buffett’s adept balancing of ruthlessness and coziness might be something Page and Brin want to emulate, and maybe they pine to be as widely and durably beloved as Uncle Warren. I really don’t see them copying his high-carb eating habits, though. Here’s another Page paraphrase, this one from an interview last October with the Financial Times. But is there really “no model” for the kind of company Alphabet/ Google wants to become? Observers have been throwing out different examples all week of what Alphabet is or should be like. Here’s a roundup (although I’m sure I’m missing a few): Alphabet is like Virgin That is, as Wall Street Journal tech columnist Christopher Mims put it on Twitter, it is (or should be) a “venture conglomerate” that creates and invests in new businesses. With the exception of Virgin Galactic, though, Sir Richard Branson’s companies tend to jump into established industries with a distinctive shared approach to marketing and service. They’re not trying to change the world with new technology, as Al-

phabet aims to. Also, as innovation consultant Paul Munkholm complained to Wired, “unlike Virgin, which is clearly a parent brand to businesses like Virgin Air and Virgin Mobile, Alphabet doesn’t have that same connection.” Still, there’s surely something to this parallel — Page did get married on Branson’s private island, after all. Alphabet is like Liberty Media

Harvard Business School professor Tom Eisenmann thinks media billionaire John Malone’s approach to conglomerate-building might work for Alphabet. As he wrote on the Harvard Business Review’s website: Malone is a brilliant ﬁnancial engineer, who creates separate capital structures — each with a unique stock — for his different lines of business. Liberty Media, Malone’s holding company, owns a portion of the stock in each business. This approach allows Malone to attract equity and debt investors whose preferences regarding risk and payoff horizon match those of the business in question. A somewhat similar model that I remember from the 1990s was Thermo Electron, a Massachusetts maker of scientiﬁc equipment that would spin off new technologies as publicly traded companies to motivate employees and move research and development outlays off the parent company’s earnings statement. Alphabet is like General Electric

Thomas Edison invented the ﬁrst durable electric lightbulb, and the company he founded to manufacture it grew into a conglomerate that made all sorts of different electricity-using machines — from locomotives to X-ray machines to radios.

There’s definitely a lot to like in this parallel, which has been suggested by the New York Times’ Farhad Manjoo and many others. Where electricity was the common element that united most of GE’s different endeavours, at Alphabet it’s the power of algorithms. Over the decades GE also developed a unique management culture, which could eventually become a thing for Alphabet too. One striking difference, though, is that Edison was already doing a zillion different things even at the very beginning. As John F. Wasik writes in the book “Merchant of Power”: Imagine Microsof, in addition to writing computer operating systems, making every component of the computer and supplying the electricity to run them, wiring houses and owning and running power plants. Alphabet is like AT&T Ma Bell was a money-gushing monopoly that used some of that monopoly money to finance the worldchanging Bell Labs. Here’s Neil Irwin in the New York Times: In this example, Google’s dominant position in search advertising plays the role of the old AT&T phone monopoly. It earns a lot of money, and its managers will siphon off a portion of the profits to fund all sorts of basic research. Many Bells Labs inventions and innovations were put to work in AT&T’s core business, making it even more efficient and profitable. Some, such as the transistor, ended up transforming the world. But none of them actually became giant new AT&T businesses — telephone service remained the core through AT&T’s court-ordered breakup in

the 1980s and still is for the remnant company that bears the name today (if you deﬁne telephone service broadly enough). The much-diminished Bell Labs, meanwhile, is about to become part of Nokia. Alphabet is like Xerox This is similar to the AT&T story, but more fraught. Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Centre developed all sorts of very practical things — from laser printing to Ethernet to the personal computer to the graphical user interface that dominates modern computing and communication — that made huge fortunes for other companies but not for Xerox, which is no longer nearly the high-tech power it once was. Michael Hiltzik, author of a history of Xerox PARC, said in an interview with Vox.com this week that the company’s culture was so dominated by the copier business that it “was very hard for Xerox to get into anything that wasn’t really connected to the copier. They had 250,000 salesmen, and when they looked at the personal computer it wasn’t even clear how they made their commission off of it.” Google, Hiltzik argues, has never been that one-dimensional. Also, PARC was (and is; it’s still around) a small outpost 3,000 miles from corporate headquarters in Rochester, New York. Alphabet’s new businesses, on the other hand, seem to be what Google founders Page and Brin are most interested in. Still, the basic challenge they face, ﬁnding ways to encourage and invest in continued innovation within an organisation that’s built around a single hugely successful innovation, is a daunting one. As HBS professor David Yoffie told Bloomberg News: Alphabet is like SPECTRE That’s supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s corporation in multiple James Bond movies and books — a globe-spanning conglomeration of dastardliness with the full name of Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. It was also the model for Dr. Evil’s Virtucon Industries in the Austin Powers movies. Here’s News Corp. CEO Robert Thomson, speaking Thursday in Australia: That Google’s newly conceived parent company is to be called Alphabet has itself created a range of delicious permutations: A is for Avarice, B is for Bowdlerize, through to K for Kleptocracy, P for Piracy and Z for Zealotry. — JUSTIN FOX/Bloomberg News

TWITTER’S PERISCOPE GETS 10M USERS Over 10 million people have signed up to Twitter’s livestreaming app, Periscope, in the four months that it has been around. The app launched at the end of March, with the aim of letting everyone send livestreamed videos from their phone to the world. And now users are sending 40 years of video per day, according to Twitter, which owns Periscope.

P R O D UC T U P D AT E S

Twitter officially removes direct message limit Twitter has ﬁnally and officially removed the 140-character limit on direct messages, allowing people to send huge, long private messages to one another. The network says that the new limitless DMs are intended to make “the private side of Twitter even more powerful and fun”. Tweets have the same character limit, and that won’t be removed. “While Twitter is largely a public experience, Direct Messages let you have private conversations about the memes, news, movements, and events that unfold on Twitter,” the site said, announcing the change. Twitter has been making a number of changes to DMs in recent months. It recently rolled out group chats for the platform and the ability to send direct messages to people they don’t follow. The change is being rolled out to the apps for Android and iOS, TweetDeck and Twitter for Mac as well as Twitter.com. “It will continue to roll out worldwide over the next few weeks,” the company said in a blog post. People who send their DMs using text messages will still have the limit, since it is imposed by networks rather than Twitter itself. The limit of text messages was how Twitter’s limit came into place, so that people could send their updates before the proliferation of smartphones. Twitter conﬁrmed that nothing will change about public tweets — which are very unlikely ever to lose their limit, since they are such a famous part the service.

Facebook testing breaking news app to send out alerts Twitter DM limit removed, letting users send direct messages as long as they like Twitter has ﬁnally and officially removed the 140-character limit on direct messages, allowing people to send huge, long private messages to one another. The network says that the new limitless DMs are intended to make “the private side of Twitter even more powerful and fun”. Tweets have the same character limit, and that won’t be removed. “While Twitter is largely a public experience, Direct Messages let you have private conversations about the memes, news, movements, and events that unfold on Twitter,” the site said, announcing the change. Twitter has been making a number of changes to DMs in recent months. It recently rolled out group chats for the platform and the ability to send direct messages to people they don’t follow. The change is being rolled out to the apps for Android and iOS, TweetDeck and Twitter for Mac as well as Twitter.com. “It will continue to roll out worldwide over the next few weeks,” the company said in a blog post. People who send their DMs using text messages will still have the limit, since it is imposed by networks rather than Twitter itself.

Android Lollipop software adoption rates on the rise Almost a year after the release of Google’s latest Android software version, Android Lollipop has received a small bump in the number of consumer devices that have actually got it. A report from Google shows that the install base of devices running either Lollipop 5.0 or 5.1 has risen to 18.1 per cent, a reasonable increase from the 12.4 per cent share seen in reports this June. The increase can most likely be attributed to the wide range of high-profile flagship phones — such as Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge — running Android Lollipop out of the box as well as an increased roll-out of updates to existing Android models. Despite the increase, their previous operating system update KitKat still reigns among Android devices with a huge 39.3 per cent distribution rate, while Jelly Bean also takes a sizeable chunk of the market with a 33.6 per cent install base. Ice Cream Sandwich at 4.1 per cent, Gingerbread at 4.6 per cent and Froyo with a measly 0.3 per cent round out Google’s report. While Google will be looking to increase the amount of users upgrading to their latest software ahead of the release of their next update Android M, their current figures sit in stark contrast with those coming from their closest rivals Apple who announced in June that a staggering 83 per cent of iPhone owners are running iOS 8. — The Independent

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

ROUND-UP Infra Oman to start on October 5

Infra Oman is the largest gathering of decision makers from across the infrastructure and energy sectors including government representatives, developers and consultants

MUSCAT: Infra Oman 2015, the 5th edition of Oman’s International trade event for infrastructure and industrial projects will be held from October 5-7. It is organised by Al Nimr Expo and supported by the Ministry of Transport and Communications,

Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources and the Muscat Municipality, says a press release. The exhibition is also supported by Austrian Trade Commission, German Industry & Commerce Ofﬁce (AHK), German Near & Mid-

dle East Association (NUMOV), Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI), Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, Iran International Exhibitions Co.,Trade Promotion Organisation of Iran (TPO), Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Spanish Economic & Trade Office, Trade Promotion Agency of Andalucia (Extenda), Middle East Association, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) and Oman American Business Council (OABC). The organisers thanked the sponsors for their patronage and support for the Infra Oman exhibition. The diamond sponsors are Al Fairuz Trading & Contracting Co., Al Nahdha Overseas, Con-

PROMOTION

solidated Contractors Company Oman (CCC), Deebaj National Enterprises, Doka Muscat, Galfar Engineering & Contracting, Khalid Bin Ahmed & Sons, Larsen & Toubro (Oman), RMD Kwikform Oman, Salem Mohiyaddin Bin Saif & Bros. Trad. & Cont. Co., Sezai Turkes Feyzi Akkaya (STFA) Construction Group, Strabag Oman, Platinum Sponsors are Al Watanyiah United Engineering & Contracting Co. and Vermeer Middle East FZCO, gold sponsors are Al Maha Petroleum Products Marketing Company and Muna Noor Manufacturing & Trading. As the Sultanate of Oman is pushing ahead with its rapid development with the ongoing

construction of major infrastructure projects in many parts of the country, more development projects, costing billions of dollars, are set to be implemented in the coming years as the Sultanate takes concrete measures to diversify its economy. Much of the expansion is fuelled by the desire to alleviate pressure on Muscat’s main port and airport, transforming the capital into a more attractive tourist destination. Infra Oman is the largest gathering of decision makers from across the infrastructure and energy sectors including government representatives, developers, and consultants, offering you the opportunity to showcase your company’s abilities, develop new

business contacts and maintain market share through gaining ﬁrst-hand knowledge on upcoming projects and industry trends. Infra Oman will also comprise companies related to waste management, power & renewable energy and ﬁre safety & security. Infra Oman 2015 will feature more than 200 local and international exhibitors from countries like Australia, Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Libya, South Korea, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Infra Oman will also include country pavilions from India, Iran, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.

GRAND PRIZE

Ooredoo announces exciting Lulu hands over BMW keys offers for Nojoom members to six Dream Drive winners MUSCAT: Introducing new, innovative and inspiring offers for its customers, Ooredoo announced its latest surprise for all its Nojoom members. Every Monday starting tomorrow, Nojoom members will be able to avail of exclusive ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ deals to enjoy special moments with friends and family whether it be shopping, dining, going to the cinema or pampering themselves at some of Oman’s beautiful relaxation spas, says a press release. Feras Al Shaikh, director of Consumer Sales at Ooredoo said: “Ooredoo Mondays is our way of rewarding our valued customers and rewarding them for their loyalty throughout the years. Delivering an unparalleled customer experience is at the heart of everything we do and every service and promotion we design. “This latest offers takes our loy-

alty programme to a whole new level, with more value added deals and a world of choice, making Nojoom bigger, better and more rewarding than ever.” The new offer is available through the Ooredoo Oman app and brings with it a host of exciting new promotions. Nojoom members can beneﬁt from a range

of ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ services with Ooredoo partners, without the need to exchange their Nojoom points. Special offers will be available from Al Makhan Café, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Al Nahda Resort and Spa, Sombrero Resturant, Silkor Laser Medical Center, Horizon Fitness Gym and many more. “Customers can start receiving their Ooredoo Monday offers by simply retrieving keywords from our partners in the Nojoom section of our Ooredoo Oman App and then sending them by SMS to 80000. It’s quick, efficient, and our way of saying thank you for being part of the ever-growing Ooredoo family,” Al Shaikh added. Every prepaid and postpaid customer is eligible to join Nojoom and can subscribe by dialling *147*11# on their device for Arabic and *147*21# for English, or registering through the Nojoom section of the app.

S O F T WA R E D E V E L O P M E N T

Dgtal World launches ﬁnancial management software MUSCAT: Dgtal World, the direct channel partner for Tally. ERP 9 in the Sultanate of Oman recently launched Tally.ERP 9 release 5.0. The event was held at Ramada Muscat Hotel, says a press release. Nasrul Saiyed, head of Dgtal World, said: “Tally.ERP 9 is the most powerful ﬁnancial management software trusted by more than 950,000 businesses worldwide and so far more than 10,000

business entities in Sultanate of Oman.” During this event in presence of more than 50 senior professionals, Mohammad Salmaan, business development manager, Middle-East from Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd, demonstrated the new features in Tally.ERP 9 release 5.0. He clariﬁed various ﬁnancial queries raised by the professionals and the main highlights of the event were comprehensive postdated cheque management and

RECRUIT

on-demand data synchronisation. “If you have valid Tally license and Tally.Net subscription, this release can be downloaded at free of cost from www.dgtalworld.com and www.tallysolutions.com. In addition to that, Dgtal World has many sophisticated business applications that can be directly linked to Tally.ERP 9. We would be launching more events to demonstrate such products later this year,” added Saiyed.

MUSCAT: Lulu Hypermarket concluded their biggest annual promotion of the year, Dream Drive 2015. The end of the two-month long promotion was marked by a grand prize distribution function at Oman Avenues Mall, the largest shopping destination in the Sultanate recently. The ceremony was held in the presence of senior management and other officials from Lulu amidst an enthusiastic group of shoppers, says a press release. It was an ecstatic moment as the Lulu management team handed over the keys to all six winners who took home brand new BMW X5 35i cars in style. The six winners of the BMW X5 35i’s were Fathima Dawood, Al Muaid Ibrahim, Faizal Hussain, Issam Ahmed Abdul Aziz, Roja Gaja and Muwaﬁq Magdi Mohammed. Speaking after the event, Ananth A. V., regional director, Lulu Oman, said: “As in the past, we are overwhelmed by the response the Lulu Dream Drive promotion evokes. It is now considered to be one of the biggest in the country. This not only speaks volumes of its popularity, but to record impressive growth year on year is a testimony to the hard work and the meticulous planning that goes behind the scenes. It is particularly gratifying to see our customers coming back repeatedly and patronising us which motivates us to devise bigger, better and innovative promotions. “All our efforts are intended to strengthen our bond with our customers and reward them for the trust and conﬁdence in us.

“As the best retail chain in the Sultanate, we have are ever involved in bettering the standards of quality in all areas and consistently meeting exceeding the expectation of our customers. We look forward to continue offering them the best for many more years to come,” he added. This year’s ﬁnal Lulu Dream Drive draw saw the last of the six brand new luxurious BMW X5 35i cars, the main attraction of the promotion. The other lucky ones to win the range of products from Ikon were Mahadi Nazin who won the Ikon 48” LED TV. Moosa Rashid won the Ikon automatic washing machine, Amrik Singh took home the Ikon air cooler, Jessie A. Bienes and R. Prakash won the Ikon halogen air fryer and Ikon tablet, respectively. Customers were issued coupons against every purchase of OMR10, which entitled them to six raffle draws. Apart from the 6 BMW X5 35i, which were the main attractions of the promotion, customers had a chance to win 30 Ikon products like Ikon 48” LED TVs, Ikon automatic

washing machine, Ikon air coolers, Ikon halogen air fryers, Ikon tablets and a host of other household and electrical appliances from Ikon. Shoppers had the opportunity to try their luck in the six separate draws held across the outlets in the Sultanate during the campaign period, which ended with the sixth draw. The exclusive prizes offered as part of Dream Drive have always enabled the promotion grab much of the customer attention and this year was no exception. Lulu launches the promotion every year to coincide with the festival season in order to offer customers a festive shopping experience that is not only exciting but affordable too. For Lulu Hypermarkets, this promotion is another way to show its commitment towards building a world-class shopping experience. Each and every promotional offer of Lulu is designed keeping the widest consumer spectrum in mind, a true commitment to its tagline “Lulu-where the world comes to shop”.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

RECRUIT CAREER COACH

Key points to close an interview WHILE closing an interview, whether you are aggressive, passive and polite, or somewhere in between, will depend on your personality, the interview situation, and the job for which you are applying. Regardless of your style or how you choose to close the interview, here are some key points to keep in mind: 1. Leave your interviewer with the right picture of you: Think of at least ﬁve skills or traits you want remembered after the interview. Choose something “concrete.” When you answer with, “I have great communication skills, and I am a hard worker,” you will not stand out. Example: “I have two skills that are distinctly different but that deﬁne my personality. I am a very good pianist and an ex-

QUOTES In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it. — John Ruskin A company should limit its growth based on its ability to attract enough of the right people. — Jim Collins

cellent ‘computer guy.’ I’m known for my love of keyboards.” 2. Ask if there is anything else you can provide: Examples include references, transcripts, background information, and samples. Example: “Is there any other information that I can provide that would convince you that I am the right person for this job?” 3. State your interest in the position: Sound interested and tell what added value you can bring to the job. Example: “From what you have been telling me about this position, and from what I know about your company, I know that I have the right mix of experience and education to bring value to this position. Based on past experiences I can ‘ramp up’ quickly and be on board with pro-

jects within the ﬁrst few weeks.” 4. Ask about the next step in the process: It’s important for you to know the next step for follow up. Ask for the decision date, if possible. Example: “I’m interested in knowing what the next step in the process is and when you will be making a decision so I can follow up.” 5. Find out how to contact the interviewer: If you don’t hear back, you will need to know whom to contact and whether the employer will accept calls to check the status. Example: “I’d like to stay in touch and follow up with you in a week or two to see how the process is going and where I stand. How do you prefer that I communicate with you — email or phone?” — Carole Martin /www.quintcareers.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

ROUND-UP

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Audi Oman organises preview of all-new SUV Q7 at Bait Al Zubair

Premium SUV’s are one of the fastest growing segments in Oman thanks to their luxurious dimensions, sporty dynamics and attractive pricing. The Q7 emulates exactly these characteristics

MUSCAT: Audi Oman, represented by Wattayah Motors, recently organised a preview of their latest masterpiece — the all-new Q7 — at a glitterati ceremony at the Bait Al Zubair. The evening saw the who’s who of Oman come together to witness Audi’s latest prodigy in the premium SUV segment, says a press release. Faisal Nawaz, marketing manager of Wattayah Motors, repre-

sentatives of Audi Oman in the Sultanate said, “The new Audi Q7 is a statement of Audi’s renowned engineering and performance competence, and we are conﬁdent it will be of tremendous promise to the market. “The all-new Q7 is up to 325 kilograms less in weight and its low centre of mass makes it extremely agile. At the same time, it is the most spacious car in its segment.”

O F F I C E - R E L AT E D M E R C H A N D I S E

Explaining further, he said: “Although the exterior dimensions have gotten smaller, it offers substantially more interior room for passengers and luggage. Its innovative assistance and infotainment systems take the SUV to the front of the pack; and its efficient engines consume 26 per cent less fuel on average.” Premium SUVs are one of the fastest growing segments in Oman

thanks to their luxurious dimensions, sporty dynamics and attractive pricing. The Q7 emulates exactly these characteristics. The engines set top marks in the segment of large SUVs with quattro all-wheel drive in the Q7. The 45 TFSI with 333 hp accelerates the new Audi Q7 from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. The all-new Q7 will be available in the Sultanate shortly.

‘CASH IN ON YOUR SPENDS’

Fourth edition of Oman Office Show to Bank Sohar picks 20 final draw winners of showcase inspirational workspaces MUSCAT: The fourth edition of the Oman Office Show, scheduled to take place from September 14-16 at Oman International Exhibition Centre, Muscat, will once again showcase the very best in office systems and commercial interiors. From hi-tech furniture systems for dynamic office environments, and ergonomically designed workplace solutions, to innovations fashioned from sustainable and highly durable materials, Oman Office Show 2015 will feature a scintillating array of office-related merchandise sourced from leading manufacturers and markets around the world, says a press release. Organised by leading Omani event management firm Global Exhibitions & Conferences (GEC), this annual show has come to be billed as an outstanding opportunity for world-class vendors to present their latest technologies and solutions to a target audience comprising a wide array of corporate, government and retail customers. This year’s show aims to build on the enormous success of a trio of hugely popular events that have helped cement the Oman Office

Complementing the show’s mainstay exhibition event is, for the first time in the series, an informationpacked seminar featuring keynote presentations by leading industry and business experts

Show’s reputation as the Sultanate’s signature exposition on the ideal office equipment and interiors environment. Complementing the show’s mainstay exhibition event is, for the ﬁrst time in the series, an information-packed seminar featuring keynote presentations by leading industry and business experts. A distinguished roster of speakers will present on the best practices and technologies that will deﬁne the future of Oman’s commercial design sector. “These seminars aim at educating a wide audience of office managers and senior management on how a modern, well designed office is an essential component to creat-

ing a motivating, inspirational and effective, working environment, and how important it is to obtain professional advice to support the process,” commented C. J. Paul, chief executive officer, Global Exhibitions & Conferences. Not surprisingly, leading lights of Oman’s thriving office equipment and furnishings marketplace have already conﬁrmed their participation in this year’s Office Show, either as sponsor or exhibitor. Market heavyweights Fahmy Furniture and Teejan Furnishing are backing the show as gold sponsors. As representatives of renowned furniture, furnishing and equipment brands from around world, both players intend

QUALITY SERVICES

to make the most of this premier platform to connect with their respective customer base. Participating as associate sponsors are Kottoor International (UAE) and Al Jassar Furnishing, both specialists in workspace planning, custom-designed office furniture and interior refurbishment. Other well-known firms that have confirmed their presence as exhibitors include Saeed Bin Nasser Al Hashar, Al Hilal Furniture, BT Gallery, Bastani Trading, Faraas Trading, Al Hajiry Furnishing and Uday Khimji International, OTIF Services (UAE), Al Abrawi National Projects Trading & Construction, and Cube Design & Advertising. “From new market entrants to the latest innovations, this year’s line-up will be spectacular. Customers and visitors alike can look forward to new products across all categories, including furniture and fabrics, interior finishes, technology, and energy efficiency, among other areas. Indeed, the vast selection of product and design solutions on offer will make for yet another exciting edition of the Office Show,” added Paul.

credit card promotion SALALAH: Bank Sohar recently conducted its third and final draw of the credit card reward programme to the customers namely ‘Cash in on Your Spends’ at an event in Salalah during Khareef. The event was held as part of a VIP client gathering at the Hilton Salalah Resort under the patronage of Mohsin bin Ahmed Al Hadad, a member of State Council and saw 20 Bank Sohar Credit Card happy customers win cash prizes worth up to OMR300 each, says a press release. Commenting on the draw, R. Narasimhan, DGM and Head of Retail Banking at Bank Sohar said, “Bank Sohar Al Mumayaz Excel Credit Cards have always been one of our core products. We have always placed great emphasis on finding ways of offering greater value to our customer’s purchases made through our wide ranging of credit card products. It is because of such promotions, together with a wide range of other benefits, features and offers, that Bank Sohar Excel Credit Cards are regarded as best

amongst the card products in this market.” The promotion, introduced a rewarding way to shop using any Bank Sohar Al Mumayaz Excel Credit Card, offered customers a chance to enter into a monthly draw on every minimum purchase of OMR50. Each draw was conducted at monthly intervals with 20 winners each month of OMR300. With three draws in total, the promotion has now seen 60 winners receive cash prizes totalling up to OMR18,000.

C E L E B R AT I O N

Apollo reopens birthing department al Mazyona monthly prize draw MUSCAT: In its pursuit to associate birthing as an occasion of celebration, Apollo Muscat, a part of Apollo Hospitals Group, re-opened its birthing facility – The Department of Birthing at Apollo. The department aims at making expectant mothers’ journey through her nine months of pregnancy an unforgettable journey of good memories and joy, says a press release. The new state-of-the-art birthing department at Apollo is fully equipped with modern facilities and has two dedicated labour delivery recovery suites, two operation theatres, four fully-equipped special care baby unit to take care of premature babies and newborns requiring critical care, round the

clock pharmacy and a team of reputed experienced gynaecologists, neonatologist, anaesthesiologists and supported by a panel of full time specialist and consultants including cardiologist and endocrinologist. The newly done facility has a choice of aesthetically designed room options which includes VIP suite, deluxe, executive and single accommodation, all of which are furnished keeping in mind the requirements of the mother and the baby. Speaking about the offering, V. T. Saileswaran, MD, Apollo Muscat, said: “When I look around I feel we have made birthing look more like a medical condition but it need not be, it is the start of life and a mo-

ment associated with joy and celebration. At our newly inaugurated facility, our doctors and the care team will do everything possible to make journey of delivering special for the mother and the family.” The centre has an end-to-end approach which begins by introducing the mothers-to-be- through a structured ‘Antenatal Investigation Package’ which takes care of most of the periodic investigations which include ultrasounds, lab investigations and routine examinations. As the mother nears her date of delivery she chooses a package of her convenience covering all requirements including stay, labour/ delivery room and consultations by a team of specialists.

enlivens Salalah Festival 2015 SALALAH: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, rewarded al Mazyona customers with 45 monthly prizes totalling OMR450,000 at Salalah Festival. In keeping with the spirit of celebration linked to Salalah Festival, the bank lined up an exciting programme at the main festival venue, attended by a large turnout of public and senior bank officials, says a press release. al Mazyona customers maintaining a minimum balance of OMR1,000 get a chance to win OMR10,000 every month. For every OMR1,000 balance, customers are entitled to 10 winning chances. Forty-five monthly prizes, including one each for asalah Priority Banking and Zeinah customers, totalling OMR450,000, are reserved for customers covering all regions. The more the balance, higher the winning chances. Marking Oman’s 45th Renaissance anniversary, Bank Muscat raised the 2015 al Mazyona prize money to OMR9 million compared to OMR8 million in 2014. Structured on the thematic ‘45’ reflecting the Sultanate’s 45 years of Renaissance under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, the 2015 al Mazyona campaign reaches out with a powerful call to action ‘Save

more, Dream big’ guaranteeing more for everyone to share in the biggest prize money in Oman and the region. The enhanced 2015 prize money is to be shared by more winners as customers from all regions are guaranteed to win prizes ranging from OMR45,000 a week to OMR450,000 a month and OMR1.5 million at the end of the year. A special prize draw offering OMR450,000 in celebration of the 45th National Day is another highlight. al Mazyona scheme reﬂects innovative customer segmentation based on two principles — region and demographics — ensuring a higher winning chance to all customers across the Sultanate. The 2015 al Mazyona scheme reaches out to all individual seg-

ments with exclusive prizes earmarked for ladies, youth, children and high savings balance customers in all regions where the Bank Muscat branches are located. Winning with al Mazyona has never been simpler as customers are not required to block their money for long or wait for a long time to win big prizes. Over the years, al Mazyona has succeeded in inculcating a strong savings culture in Oman. The objective of al Mazyona is to create a lifetime change for winners and allow them to invest the prize money in things that will make a lasting difference and the wellbeing of their families. The ﬂexible scheme makes regular saving easier and is available across the largest network of 140 branches in Oman.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM M ON DAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

Guptill leads Kiwis to victory over Proteas New Zealand made 177 for seven — their highest total in a Twenty20

MARTIN GUPTILL

60 runs from 35 balls 6 fours, 3 sixes

International against the Proteas — before restricting South Africa to 145 for eight

CENTURION: Martin Guptill smashed 60 runs as New Zealand earned a share of the series by winning the second Twenty20 International against South Africa by 32 runs at SuperSport Park on Sunday. New Zealand made 177 for seven — their highest total in a Twenty20 International against the Proteas — before restricting South Africa to 145 for eight. Stand-in captain Kane Williamson, leading a side missing several key players, some injured and others resting, was delighted with what he described as “a much improved effort” following defeat by six wickets in the first match in Durban on Friday. “We touched on a few areas which we needed to improve on after Durban,” said Williamson. “We wanted a few more runs in the middle overs and we managed that. We took wickets at crucial moments but we were also quite smart with our bowling.” South Africa were never on target in the chase after losing their first three batsmen, including world stars Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, for 47 runs inside seven overs. New Zealand spinners Nathan McCullum and Ish Sodhi both took two wickets and were economical on a pitch which Williamson admitted got more difficult to bat on in the second innings. De Villiers, again captaining South Africa in the absence of an injured Faf du Plessis, said his side were well beaten. “We were definitely below par with the ball today and unfortunately we lost wickets at crucial times,” he said. The sides start a three-match

One-day International (ODI) series at the same venue on Wednesday. As in the ﬁrst match, Guptill and Williamson got their side off to a fast start, putting on 52 off 5.3 overs before Williamson was caught at third man off Kagiso Rabada for 25. The pair put on 68 for the ﬁrst wicket in Durban before the side subsided to 151 for eight. With Guptill making his 60 off 35 balls, New Zealand put up a better performance on Sunday but again there were no further major partnerships. Fast bowler Rabada took three for 30, including two wickets off successive balls in the penultimate over. Guptill was adjudged the man of the match and the series. - AFP

SCOREBOARD

NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill c Miller b Behardien 60 K. Williamson c Abbott b Rabada 25 T. Latham c Amla b Leie 3 G. Elliott lbw Phangiso 20 J. Neesham b Rabada 28 L. Ronchi c Miller b Wiese 6 C. Munro c De Villiers b Rabada 18 N. McCullum not out 1 A. Milne not out 10 Extras (lb-1, w-5) 6 Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) 177 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-70, 3-104, 4-113, 5-146, 6-166, 7-166. Bowling: Phangiso 4-0-40-1 (w-2), Abbott 4-0-44-0 (w-1), Rabada 4-0-30-3, Wiese 4-026-1 (w-1), Leie 3-0-32-1 (w-1), Behardien 1-0-4-1.

ANONYMOUS ‘DOSSIER’

UEFA asks FIFA to investigate alleged Platini smear campaign ZURICH: European soccer’s governing body have asked FIFA to investigate the alleged distribution from their headquarters of an anonymous heavily critical ‘dossier’ on UEFA President Michel Platini, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday. The existence of the dossier on Platini, who is hoping to replace outgoing FIFA chief Sepp Blatter in February’s election, has also been reported in the Swiss media. Welt am Sonntag said the document, entitled “Platini - skeleton in the closet”, was distributed out of FIFA’s headquarters and paints an unﬂattering picture of the former France international and questions his suitability for the role of FIFA president. The newspaper said the dossier was sent “directly from FIFA headquarters in Zurich to newspapers with a request for publication, but without reference to the author”. They said UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino had written to his FIFA counter-part Jerome Valcke to ask for an investigation of the dossier’s creation and distribution. “I can conﬁrm that UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino sent a letter of complaint to FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke,” a UEFA spokesman said. “We have asked FIFA to investigate the origin of this article because we are concerned by the

The document, entitled “Platini - skeleton in the closet”, was distributed out of FIFA’s headquarters and paints an unflattering picture of Platini and questions his suitability for the role of FIFA president

reports of an alleged smear campaign against the UEFA President. “Copies of this letter were also sent to Cornel Borbely and Domenico Scala for ethics and transparency reasons.” Borbely, a Swiss attorney, is FIFA’s independent chief ethics investigator and Scala is the independent chairman of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee and chairman of the ad-hoc election committee. Neither were immediately available for comment while FIFA did not respond to a request for comment on the report. FIFA will hold an election on February 26 to choose a replacement for Blatter who said in June he was standing down from his role in the wake of the corruption scandals that have hit the global soccer body. Platini is the current front runner in the election but his relationship with Blatter has deteriorated badly.

In an interview with Dutch newspaper Volkskrant on Saturday, the 79-year-old Blatter said there was an “anti-FIFA virus in Nyon”, the Swiss city which is home to UEFA. Former FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon of South Korea, ex-Brazil player Zico, former Trinidad and Tobago midﬁelder David Nakhid and Liberian FA chairman Musa Bility have also said they are running in the election. Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, beaten by Blatter in May’s election, is considering another run while South African Tokyo Sexwale has also said he is weighing up whether to stand. FIFA’s corruption troubles came to a head in May when U.S. prosecutors indicted nine soccer officials, most of whom had FIFA positions, and ﬁve marketing and broadcasting company executives over a range of alleged offences, including fraud, money-laundering and racketeering. - Reuters

SOUTH AFRICA H. Amla c Munro b Milne 14 M. van Wyk c Ronchi b McClenaghan 3 A. de Villiers c Neesham b McCullum 15 R. Rossouw c Williamson b Sodhi 26 F. Behardien c Guptill b McCullum 36 D. Miller c Munro b McClenaghan 29 D. Wiese c McCullum b Sodhi 2 A. Phangiso c Williamson b Neesham 2 K. Rabada not out 5 K. Abbott not out 9 Extras (w-4) 4 Total (8 wkts, 20 overs) 145 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-19, 3-47, 4-75, 5-112, 6-115, 7-123, 8-131. Bowling: McCullum 4-0-31-2, Milne 4-0-27-1 (w-2), McClenaghan 4-0-28-2 (w-1), Neesham 3-0-22-1, Sodhi 4-0-27-2, Elliott 1-0-10-0.

CHEN, MARIN DEFEND WORLD CROWNS China’s Chen Long produced a ﬁtting display for a top seed and defending champion to claim a second straight title at the World Championships with a 21-14, 21-17 win against Malaysian Lee Chong Wei on Sunday. >C2

C O M M E N TA RY

Not continuing with Ashwin was a mistake

ust as was feared the fourth innings turned out to be the toughest in the Galle Test match. India unfortunately having lost the toss had to bat fourth but have only themselves to blame for having to chase as many as they had to. They had the Lankans on the ropes at lunch on the ﬁrst day but allowed them to get up and add valuable runs. Ravichandran Ashwin, who had bowled splendidly and captured three out of the ﬁve wickets that had fallen was strangely not continued immediately after lunch and Harbhajan Singh brought on. Unfortunately the veteran off-spinner was unable to get the same kind of spin from the surface as his younger off-spinning team mate had. The pressure thus released, the Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal realising that the ball was not turning as much as it had before lunch launched a counterattack. When Ashwin was brought back after a little over an hour he immediately struck and by the next hour the Sri Lankan innings was over with Ashwin bagging six wickets. However, the Lankans had added 50 valuable runs by the time he was brought back. It was not as if Ashwin had bowled 20 overs on the trot before lunch and so needed a break and not continuing with him was a mistake. When Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli hit calm, collected and measured hundreds and Wriddhiman Saha chipped in with 60, it looked as if the lead would be sufficient to ensure either an innings victory or that the Indians would have to chase around 70 runs or so especially when by the end of the day’s play India had grabbed the wickets of the two lankan openers. The next morning Ashwin was again ignored and the ball was shared by the two new ball bowlers for almost an hour by which time Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews had settled down and added important runs.

The next morning Ashwin was again ignored and the ball was shared by the new ball bowlers for almost an hour by which time the Lankans had settled down

Admittedly the ball was still new but with the kind of hold Ashwin had on the Lankan batsmen it made sense to have had him bowl a few overs from the end from where he picked wickets with a seam bowler bowling from the other end. When Ashwin came on he quickly got rid of Sangakkara but by then the Lankan batsmen had realised that the way to go was to attack the bowling. Chandimal played one of the ﬁnest thrilling counterattacking innings seen in recent times and even after getting a century he carried on and ensured that the Lankans set India almost double of what had till then been the winning score in the fourth innings. With Herath getting the occasional ball to skid through and the odd one to turn, batting was impossible and India lost a match they should have won. There will be recriminations for sure as indeed they should be but patience is also needed with this young team under a young skipper. Hopefully they will show that they are quick learners and let their actions speak louder than their words. - PMG

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

SPORTS

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Chen, Marin defend world crowns Chen Long used all of his attributes to rein in the fast-starting Lee Chong Wei for a 21-14, 21-17 victory, while Carolina Marin defeated Saina Nehwal in a highclass encounter to deny India a ﬁrst world badminton title

CLASSY BATTLE: Carolina Marin, right, of Spain and Saina Nehwal of India display their medals after the women’s singles ﬁnal at World Badminton Championships in Jakarta on Sunday. – AFP

JAKARTA: China’s Chen Long produced a fitting display for a top seed and defending champion to claim a second straight title at the World Badminton Championship with a pulsating 21-14, 21-17 victory against Malaysian nearly-man Lee Chong Wei on Sunday. Lee has topped the world rankings for a record 298 weeks during a long and illustrious career but once again came up short against a Chinese player at the top of his game in a fourth world championship final defeat in as many matches. Chen has replaced Lin Dan as the top male player following his breakthrough world title triumph a year ago and the rangy 26-yearold has also replaced his compatriot as Lee’s arch nemesis after repeating last year’s win over the Malaysian. Lin has beaten Lee in four major finals, including the last two Olympics, but Chen has emerged from the shadow of a player many believe to be the greatest ever with a complete game built on his supreme agility, speed, power and fitness. At 1.87 metres, Chen also boasts a court-covering reach and used all of his attributes to rein in the fast-starting Lee, realising he was dominating when he attacked and coming off second best in the tactical rallies. Once he took the lead at 11-10, Chen Long looked unstoppable and reeled off 16-of-20 points to claim the opening game before storming out of the blocks in the second to forge a six-point lead by the interval.

PODIUM HONOURS: Gold medallist Chen Long, second left, China poses with silver medallist Lee Chong Wei, left, Malaysia and bronze medallists Kento Momota of Japan and Jan O. Jargensen, right, of Denmark pictured during the men’s singles awards ceremony of the World Badminton Championships in Jakarta on Sunday. – AFP

Lee battled gamely as Chen’s intensity levels dropped but the Malaysian was unable to get any closer than within two points of his opponent in the second game as a packed Istora Senayan roared in approval. “Lee is a good player but I was better today,” Chen said in a courtside interview. “This is a very special arena, so it feels great to win the world title here.” Marin delighted Carolina Marin also enjoyed a successful title defence, the topseeded Spaniard beating Saina Nehwal 21-16, 21-19 in a high-class encounter to deny India a ﬁrst world badminton title. The world No. 1 had been under

an injury cloud in the build up to the championships but twice relied on her ability to quickly string together points at crucial times to rally from behind in both games and secure victory in 56 minutes. “I didn’t think I would be here when I was struggling with my injuries but my coaches said I should keep training and try to play at the world championships and just do the best I could in the tournament,” Marin said. “I knew from the beginning it was going to be a very tough match because Saina is really good but I kept ﬁghting until the end and am very happy with my performance today,” she added. Earlier, top seeds Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei stormed to a third

mixed doubles world title with a comfortable 21-17, 21-11 victory over compatriots and former junior world champions Liu Cheng and Bao Yixin. Zhao returned to the court a few hours later to successfully defend another title when the 28-year-old partnered Tian Qing to a 23-25, 21-8, 21-15 win over Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl as they retained the women’s doubles crown. The home fans were then rewarded for their patience as Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan regained the men’s doubles title they won in 2013 with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over China’s Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan in the last match of the day. - Reuters

MOTORSPORT

Lorenzo triumphs at Czech MotoGP BRNO: Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo won the Czech Republic MotoGP race in Brno on Sunday to level Yamaha teammate Valentino Rossi at the top of the overall championship standings after 11 out of 18 races. Fellow Spaniard Marc Marquez, the reigning champion and winner of the previous two races, finished second ahead of Rossi. Lorenzo clocked 42 minutes and 53.042 seconds on the 22 laps of the 5.4-kilometre (3.36-mile) circuit, finishing 4.462 seconds ahead of Honda’s Marquez and 10.397 seconds clear of Rossi. Both Lorenzo and Rossi have 211 points at the top of the overall standings but Lorenzo has won five races this season against three wins for the Italian superstar. Marquez in third has 159 points following a lacklustre start to the season. “Luckily I had a little more pace than Marc and I could win this very important victory for the championship,” said Lorenzo. “Now I lead the championship with Valentino and for Marc it is more difficult now to recover.”

IMPORTANT VICTORY: Yamaha MotoGP’s Jorge Lorenzo celebrates after winning the Czech MotoGP in Brno on Sunday. – Reuters

The ﬁrst non-Honda rider to win at Brno since his own victory here in 2010, Lorenzo already dominated the free practice sessions in the southern Czech city before smashing the circuit record in qualifying on Saturday. On the hot, dry Sunday afternoon, the 28-year-old led all the way from pole position, with Marquez nestled in right behind him.

But unlike at Indianapolis last weekend, Marquez never got a chance to get past Lorenzo, who gradually started to broaden the gap. Riding on two medium compound tyres, Lorenzo said he “was a bit worried at the end of the race” as the bike slid in traction, forcing him to “be careful with the throttle.” Marquez admitted that “it was

really difficult to win the race” given Lorenzo’s pace. “But my target was try to win (finish) in front of Valentino and I did,” added the 22-year-old 2013 and 2014 champion. “In the beginning I tried to follow (Lorenzo) and I knew that with the new tyres I could do it the first five or six laps but when the tyres dropped we struggled with the grip. “I just forgot about Jorge and tried to keep the distance with Valentino. Today we did the maximum. I’m happy for the result,” added Marquez, who won at Brno in 2013. In Moto2, championship leader Johann Zarco of France took the honours ahead of Spaniards Tito Rabat and Alex Rins. And in Moto3, Italy’s Niccolo Antonelli took a maiden victory ahead of compatriot Enea Bastianini and South African rider Brad Binder in a race suspended for half an hour following a series of crashes that required a re-start. The next MotoGP event is the Great Britain grand prix at Silverstone on August 30. - AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

SPORTS RECOGNITION

BP Oman shortlisted for prestigious Beyond Sport Award MUSCAT: BP Oman has been shortlisted in the ‘Corporate of the Year’ category of this year’s Beyond Sport Awards, supported by Comic Relief, for the ‘BP Oman Sail Young Leaders Programme’. The programme, launched in September 2014 and run in partnership between BP Oman and Oman Sail, aims to teach valuable employment skills to 1,400 young Omanis through individual and group tasks on land and at sea at Oman Sail’s sailing school in Al Musannah. The BP Oman Sail Young Leaders’ Programme was selected from over 350 entries from 60 different countries to be one of the top projects this year. After nine months of the programme, over 1200 college and university students have completed the programme using Oman Sail’s expertise in developing sports teams. The programme takes place during a three-day workshop where students develop self-leadership and

teamwork values, as well as communications skills to help prepare them for employment after graduation. David Graham, Oman Sail CEO, said: “We take great pride in BP being shortlisted for this year’s Beyond Sport Awards. “Oman Sail is all about realising latent potential in the youth in the sport of sailing and extending our mission beyond sport, whilst still using sport, has worked very well. BP, Oman Sail and the country are delighted with the output, which is helping develop the next generation of leaders.” Yousuf Al Ojaili, BP Oman President, said: “As part of our commitment to the youth of Oman, the BP Oman Sail Young Leaders’ Programme has been designed to meet the needs of the local employment market with the aim of helping young Omanis develop important employment and life skills. Sailing has proven to be a very effective teaching tool and

THRILLED: BP Oman Sail Young Leaders’ Programme is aimed at the development of Omani youth.

has shown the impact that sport can have on the development of young people, and we will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the young Omanis.”

Ilya Bourtman, Vice-President for External Affairs for BP in the Middle East Region, said: “We are thrilled to be nominated for this award. BP has an active corporate

Oman junior golfers to train in Sweden The two-week camp has been arranged thanks to the cooperation between Oman Golf Committee and Zubair Corporation

MUSCAT: Oman’s junior national team, comprising ﬁve boys, departed Muscat on Sunday morning to take part in a two-week-long training camp at the world famous Volkswagen Golf Arena in Sweden. The camp has been initiated and made possible by Zubair Corporation, which has come together with the Oman Golf Committee (OGC) with the aim of developing and promoting golf in the Sultanate. The OGC has sent Rashad Al Harthy, Hamood Al Harthy, HaithamZubair, Fahad Al Kitani, Amjad Al Toky on the camp as part of the Oman junior squad’s preparation for the Asian Junior Golf Championships which will be organised in September in South Korea. Majid Al Toky, one of the board members of the OGC, will join the ﬁve young players on their Swedish journey. Al Toky said: “We have a lot of expectations from the camp in

SWEDEN BOUND: Members of the Oman junior golf team who departed for a summer training camp in Sweden. – Supplied photo

Sweden. While the summer still on, our boys will get a welcome opportunity to train for a handy period of time in cooler weather in Sweden. Also, they are getting an opportunity to train at a worldclass golf course, which itself will help them beneﬁt in several ways.” The Swedish golf club had hosted a camp for the OGC’s junior players last year as well. Rashad Al Harthy, a crucial member of the OGC’s junior development programme, said: “This is a great opportunity for me and my teammates. We do train a lot in

ALL-ROUNDER

Muscat’s golf courses. But to get to learn and train on a completely different golﬁng environment should be a wonderful experience. I am looking forward to swinging my club at the Swedish golf course. I hope to come back with two weeks of handy experience.” Amjad Al Toky, too, is excited about the prospect of taking to the course at the famous Volkswagen Golf Arena. He said: “This is very important two-week period for us, we have been waiting for this experience. I am aiming to hone my skills during

this training camp as a long golﬁng season is coming up. I intend to make the most of this trip.” Mundhir Al Barwani, the Chairman of the OGC, wished the junior players all the best, saying: “This camp will serve as the perfect build up for the upcoming season of competitions. The Swedish experience will help our young boys shape up physically, mentally and skill-wise for the coming challenges. The trip is anyway a welcome move because the summer is on in Muscat and we haven’t had a lot of golﬁng events of late.”

social responsibility programme across the Middle East — from supporting youth in Oman and the UAE, to building hospitals and roads for disenfranchised commu-

nities in Iraq. We look forward to continuing to support the communities where we operate across the Middle East.” Oman Sail and BP Oman have been invited to attend the seventh annual Beyond Sport Summit, which takes place in London in October. The event brings together the world of sport, business, government and community development under the theme ‘Beyond The Divide’, which addresses how sport can be used to reduce ignorance, discrimination and exclusion. The Beyond Sport Awards promote, support and reward the best projects around the world that use sport for positive social change. Since 2009, Beyond Sport has awarded over $4 million worth of business support and funding has been made available to over 150 winning projects for their innovations and impact through sport.

NEED TO CARRY ON

Captain Cook wants to take England cricket to next level LONDON: England skipper Alastair Cook has said that at the start of the summer he thought of quitting as captain but England’s 3-1 victory over Australia in Ashes series has made him change his mind and focus on taking his side to the next level in cricket. Hosts England won the fourth Test at Trent Bridge by an innings and 78 runs inside three days to take a 3-1 lead with one Test to go. Australia had earlier lost the ﬁrst and third Tests and are trailing the ﬁve-match series 1-3. “At the start of this summer I didn’t know what was going to happen and I wasn’t sure if I would continue beyond the Ashes. But while you’ve still got the opportunity to be England captain and you’ve still got more to give, which I now feel I have, then you need to carry on and give it your all to take England to next level,” Cook was quoted as saying by dailymail.co.uk on Saturday. Cook became the target for the bile of those enraged by the sacking of Kevin Pietersen, and took its toll on him and his family and made him think hard about his future. “There have been some really dark moments in the last year or so. There was the KP affair and that dragged English cricket through some bad periods. I bore the brunt of that negativity and it took it out of me and my family. To come through that means a lot,” he said. “This is not a ‘poor me’ thing but I felt in the really low moments that I was getting blamed

There were times when I found it very hard to deal with and was very close to giving it all up Alastair Cook for absolutely everything that had gone wrong. Even when we had a bad day and I hadn’t done anything it was still my fault. “There were times when I found it very hard to deal with and was very close to giving it all up. To stay strong through it all, I’m proud of that,” Cook said. - IANS

HELP FROM ALL QUARTERS

Binny to join Indian Satnam keen to see basketball thrive in India team before 2nd Test MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday announced that Karnataka all-rounder Stuart Binny will join the Indian Test team before the second match of the three-Test away series against Sri Lanka. “All-rounder Stuart Binny will join the Indian team before the second match of the three-match Test series in Sri Lanka,” BCCI said in a statement. However, the board didn’t in-

form about any injury and Binny will be the 16th member of the side. Opening batsman Murali Vijay, who missed the first Test due to with a hamstring niggle, is expected to return for the second Test starting in Colombo on Thursday. Binny, who has played three Tests so far, adds more balance to the squad. Captain Virat Kohli had played five bowlers in the first Test and it backfired as they crashed to a humiliating 63-run loss. - IANS

NEW DELHI: Having created history by becoming the ﬁrst Indian hoopster to feature in an NBA draft, Satnam Singh Bhamara is keen to see basketball thrive in India but believes that money and infrastructure are needed for the game to become popular. Nineteen-year-old Satnam, who was picked by Dallas Mavericks in the draft and later played in ﬁve pre-season games, wants the Indian government to help the game grow in the country. “They (budding players) need help from all quarters. They need good coaches to train them, good

food for nutrition. They need help from the government. In America, there are so many good players who get money and they succeed. If the players do not get money, it will be difficult for them to achieve success,” Satnam said in an interview. “Everything, from infrastructure to lack of facilities and good coaches. We have talent, but it goes waste without all these things. If talent is honed properly then India can also boast of good players.” The 7-feet 2-inch player also said that Indian hoopsters should not be conscious of their height

in comparison to the players in the United States. “Height, built, weight all this does not matter. I have seen short players in America playing good basketball and making an impact. It’s just about, talent, hard-work and focus,” he said. Satnam said there was no reason why basketball cannot become as popular a sport as cricket in India. “If one Satnam Singh can go and play NBA there, why can’t more players can go and play there. They can talk to the coaches there and I am sure if they see talent they will be willing to help them out. And slowly and slowly basketball

will gain ground in India and give cricket competition,” he said. Asked if he has any plans to open an academy later on, satnam said he was just focusing on improving his game and making it to the top of NBA. “At the moment there are no plans to open an academy here, I am just focused on my game at the time. My prime focus at the moment is to develop my game and get a ﬁrm footing in NBA. I see myself as a successful player two three years down the line. Playing well in the NBA and getting to the top of my game,” he said. - PTI

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

SPORTS ‘IAAF suppressed study of admitted dope cheats’ The authors of the

DOPING SCOURGE

Olympic champ Harting makes results public

study, which involved interviews with 1,800 athletes at the 2011 world championships, were told to sign a conﬁdentiality agreement a month after the information had been collected and analysed,

BERLIN: After the recent doping revelations which have rocked athletics, Germany’s Olympic discus champion Robert Harting has made his blood-test results public to remove any doubt about his performances. “When it’s clear how we work, and things are known right down to our core, then it’s out of the question that anything would show up,” Harting told German broadcaster ARD on Sunday, having given his permission to release the data. Alongside Harting, Ger-

many’s 800m runner Robin Schembera and race-walker Andre Hoehne have also made the results of their tests public. The trio have taken the step in a bid to be transparent and their blood readings have been released from the IAAF’s databank. In early August, the Sunday Times published a report on a leaked database of 12,000 blood tests from 5,000 athletes that revealed “extraordinary” levels of doping, and sent shock waves through the sporting world. The IAAF hit back at those

allegations describing them as “sensationalist and confusing” although the Sunday Times made yet more allegations this Sunday. Harting is the reigning Olympic and three-time world champion, having won discus gold medals at Berlin in 2009, Daegu in 2011 and Moscow in 2013. But the 30-year-old will sit out the Beijing world championships, which start on Saturday, as he recovers from tearing his cruciate knee ligament last September. - AFP

the report said

LONDON: World athletics’ governing body (IAAF) has suppressed a 2011 survey that reveals that up to a third of the world’s top competitors admitted using banned performance-enhancing techniques, Britain’s Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD/WDR reported. The authors of the study, which involved interviews with 1,800 athletes at the 2011 world championships in South Korea, were told to sign a conﬁdentiality agreement a month after the information had been collected and analysed, the newspaper said. The revelations are the latest in a series of damaging blows for the sport in the countdown to the start of this year’s World Athletic Championships in Beijing on August 22. Earlier investigations by ARD and the Sunday Times prompted claims that more than 800 athletes tested between 2001 and 2012 had suspicious test results that were not followed up by the IAAF. The IAAF has since initiated

disciplinary action against 28 athletes after retesting samples from the 2005 and 2007 world championships with new technology that can uncover previously undetectable substances. The organisation came under heavy fire from the authors of the 2011 study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Tuebingen in Germany and leaked to The Sunday Times and ARD/WDR. “The IAAF’s delaying publication for so long without good reason is a serious encroachment on the freedom of publication,” a statement from the researchers said. Never vetoed The statement added that the IAAF had not commissioned the survey but had used its influence to suppress the findings. Reacting to the latest accusations in a statement, the IAAF said it “had never vetoed” publication of the survey and understood it had twice been rejected for publication in a scientific journal. It also questioned the validity of the research.

“The IAAF does however have serious reservations as to the interpretation of the results made by the research group as confirmed by high-profile experts in social science who reviewed the publication on our request,” it said. “The IAAF submitted those concerns to the research group but has never heard back from them. “The IAAF is surprised that any professional team of social science researchers should choose consistently to leak research material through the media before it is published,” adding it was continuing it’s own study, started in 2011, for publication in coordination with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The results of the leaked study showed that 29-34 percent of the 1,800 competitors at the championships had violated anti-doping rules in the previous 12 months. “These findings demonstrate that doping is remarkably widespread among elite athletes and remains largely unchecked despite current biological testing programmes,” the study said. The study was financed by

WADA, which told the newspaper on Friday that they had given the IAAF the power to veto publication in return for allowing access to the athletes at the 2011 championships. According to the newspaper report the IAAF said it was negotiating with the authors and WADA about its publication. “The IAAF is extremely surprised to see WADA quoted on Friday as saying that the IAAF has a right of veto (if the quote used by the Sunday Times is in fact accurate. The quote in the article attributed from yesterday to the IAAF was never made),” the IAAF statement said. The lead author, Rolf Ulrich, said he and his fellow experts had been barred from even discussing their work. “The IAAF is blocking it,” Ulrich told the newspaper. “I think they are stakeholders with WADA and they just blocked the whole thing.” Some of the study’s headline ﬁgures were leaked in America in 2013, but the IAAF continued to prevent full publication, the newspaper said. - Reuters

OUTGOING PRESIDENT

Sport is dead when we don’t believe, warns Diack BEIJING: Doping is a “scourge” and “sport is dead” if track and field fans don’t believe what they see, outgoing IAAF President Lamine Diack has warned in an interview. Speaking ahead of the vote by the 214 member federations of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to choose either Sergey Bubka or Sebastian Coe as their new president, Diack said of his admiration for Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt, but also lamented the fact that doping remained a massive issue. “When confronted with painful issues such as doping the IAAF have always stood firm and we continue to lead the way in this global fight against cheating,” Di-

ack insisted, with the world championships due to start on August 22 after the IAAF Congress. “We will not let doping damage the credibility of our sport, and we will not stint in our crusade to have a clean sport, and to the extent of our investment and resolve in this respect athletics arguably leads the sports world’s ﬁght against this scourge. Credibility vital “The IAAF completely understand the importance of the credibility in competition. “I have said on many occasions that when the day comes where we no longer can believe what we see then sport is dead.

“But I am convinced that the majority of athletes compete clean. We have an obligation to them to root out the cheats and make sure that it is possible to win clean.” “Despite recent allegations, I have no doubt of the quality of the IAAF’s anti-doping work over many decades. It has been exceptional,” Diack said. Diack, 82, was vice-president back in 1999 when his Italian predecessor Primo Nebiolo passed away and the former Senegalese long jumper was suddenly promoted to president of the IAAF. His tenure has been enlightened by the blistering performances of Bolt, the popular Jamaican showman dominating sprints since

claiming treble gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Diack likened Bolt’s impact on track and ﬁeld to that of American sprinter Jesse Owens, who famously won four golds at the 1936 Berlin Games. “If I have to be selective then, in the period since I have been president, Usain Bolt’s outstanding performances across many competitions stand out,” he said. “His fame has transcended athletics. In that respect he is like Jesse Owens in his era. Legends both.” Diack will head into retirement in the knowledge that athletics has changed massively from the time he was elected vice-president in 1976. - AFP

MONUMENTAL TASK: Sergei Bubka and Sebastian Coe. – AFP

Two modern-day legends battle to save track & field BEIJING: Two modern-day legends of track and field will battle to take over the presidency of athletics’ world governing body next week in the knowledge that they face a major overhaul to salvage the sport’s doping-blighted face. Either Sergey Bubka or Sebastian Coe will become president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Wednesday after the body’s 214 member federations vote, with incumbent Lamine Diack stepping down after 16 years in charge at the age of 82. Facing the Ukrainian 10-time world pole vault champion and British two-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist is a monumental task of tackling the doping scourge that has rocked athletics. The IAAF has in recent weeks been at the centre of allegations of widespread cheating and suspicious blood tests involving hundreds of athletes. The Monaco-based body has responded whole-heartedly, calling the claims “sensationalist and confusing”. In much the same way as football’s world body FIFA has been torn apart by allegations of corruption, with Sepp Blatter agreeing to stand down as president as a result of the fall-out, the IAAF finds itself in turbulent waters. And rarely can someone be parachuted into a job at such a pivotal time in a sport craving more public and media interest and support in a world so dominated by football. Insiders say the race is too close to call. Bubka, 51, is standing for both the presidency and the vice-presidency, the 58-yearold Coe just the former, having announced he was also willing to step down from his role as an ambassador for US equipment company Nike. The manifestoes of the two former stars are not hugely differing to the layman, though one major divergence is Coe’s insistence that an independent drug-testing body be established. Bubka, who also won Olympic gold in 1988, would prefer to continue working with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Interestingly, Coe went for the messenger’s jugular in the wake of ARD/Sunday Times claims that more than 800 athletes recorded suspicious blood tests between 2001 and 2012. He described the finding as a “declaration of war” against athletics, adding that the coverage was “wrong” and showed “a breathtaking ignorance or a level of malevolence”. Bubka, however, avoided taking aim at the media outlets, instead reiterating his calls for more transparency and admitting that the IAAF needed to be “more proactive”. Both men have some serious experience of sports management and are masters in confidently holding their own in the public domain. Bubka, 51, has been involved with the IAAF since 2001 and has served as vice-president since 2007. He has also been president of Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee in Ukraine since 2005 and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1999. He decided, rather ambitiously, to run for IOC president in 2013, but lost to current head Thomas Bach. Coe has also accomplished much in his life since winning his second 1500m gold medal in 1984, going on to become a Conservative politician in Britain and notably overseeing the highly successful London Olympics in 2012. “I have for a long time known we had two potential candidates to lead our sport into the future who would each make good presidents,” Diack said ahead of the IAAF vote. “It was for this reason that at the 2007 IAAF elections I asked two of the four vice-presidents to voluntarily stand down to make room for Seb and Sergey to advance.” Be it Bubka or Coe who wins over the bulk of the member states that make up the IAAF, the new president faces a battle royale to rescue the credibility and integrity of track and field, the biggest Olympic sport but still a minnow in financial terms. - AFP

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Change in setup likely if City shells out $47m for De Bruyne Stationing him on the left of a front three, with £49m laughing gas enthusiast Raheem Sterling on the right would directly address several lingering problems for City — specifically, the lack of goal-scoring support in the wide areas, and the lack of flexibility in central midfield

BRILLIANT BELGIAN : Kevin De Bruyne enjoyed one of the most entertainingly productive seasons in Europe last season.

CHRIS SMITH

front three, with £49m laughing gas enthusiast Raheem Sterling on the right would directly address several lingering problems for City — specifically, the lack of goal-scoring support in the wide areas, and the lack of flexibility in central midfield.

rowing internet whispers suggest Man City are prepared to part with approximately £47m to seal the signing of Kevin De Bruyne. Wolfsburg’s director of sport, Klaus Allofs, admits the Belgian’s “head has been turned” by talk of a transfer. If De Bruyne, who enjoyed one of the most entertainingly productive seasons in Europe last season, does decide upon a return to the Premier League with City, how would his arrival affect their setup? De Bruyne was brilliant in the No. 10 role for Wolfsburg last year, and has successfully operated deeper for Belgium, but with David Silva or Yaya Toure likely to be used there at City, £47m or not, De Bruyne may have to be re-positioned in order to make the starting line-up. Stationing him on the left of a

Meagre scoring returns Meagre goal-scoring returns in the wide areas has hindered City’s attack. Pellegrini, like Roberto Mancini before him, expects his wingers to stretch the play, create chances and assist defensively, and to rarely score. James Milner, now Liverpool’s vice-captain, and Samir Nasri both prefer to be central but were/are generally used in traditional wide roles by Manuel Pellegrini, along with natural winger Jesus Navas. On average, the trio accounted for just one league goal per player per year at the Etihad. This is

simply not good enough for a title contender. It’s time City’s wide players took on goal-scoring responsibility; De Bruyne and Sterling represent a great way to tackle the problem. Decisive interventions Deployed either side of Aguero, the duo would inject the energy City consistently lack — particularly during the Argentine’s regular injury layoffs — offering lightning quick assistance on the counter. 17 goals and 27 assists combined last season (compared to Nasri and Navas’ two and 14) prove De Bruyne and Sterling’s ability to make decisive interventions — positioning them on the wings of a four-man midﬁeld is unlikely to get the best out of either. Allowing both to link with Aguero, whilst demanding they pressure out of possession, plays to their strengths and should make things easier for those further

behind. Silva and Toure can then slot into preferred positions, conserving energy and controlling the game from deeper. Of course, repositioning De Bruyne on the left isn’t without risk. He has after all played his best football centrally, and occasionally frustrated with derelictions of defensive duty out wide. This latter aspect may offer a route into the side to Fabian Delph who impressed in a left-of-centre midﬁeld role for England. A possible change With Toure likely to take one of the central spots, alongside – probably – Fernandinho, Delph is sure to ﬁnd opportunities limited given his lack of top level experience. Forging a partnership with De Bruyne, whose price tag would effectively guarantee a starting place, could be an achievable short-term goal for him.

Pellegrini’s default insistence on two central midfielders (by virtue of his two-striker tendency) has looked outdated and naïve, particularly in Europe, as control is sacrificed in midfield. His often enforced one-striker ventures have led to City’s frontmen becoming isolated — stranded in attack, easily passed around in defence. Whilst clearly not his favourite set-up, unleashing a livewire Sterling-Aguero-De Bruyne front three would tackle both problems, and buy Pellegrini time to get to grips with various arrangements of three-man central midfields — arguably his weakest area tactically. Beyond their obvious goal threat and youthful exuberance, De Bruyne and Sterling will help address deep-rooted problems at City. - o-posts.com/news (A football site about everything and anything related to the beautiful game)

LUC R AT I V E O F F E R

Sabella turns down Saudi coaching job, media report DUBAI: Former Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella has turned down a lucrative offer to take charge of three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia, local media reported on Sunday. Sabella, 60, has been out of work since stepping down as boss of Argentina after leading them to the final of last year’s World Cup and has long been linked with the role. “Alejandro Sabella excused himself from coaching the Saudi national team in the coming period,” Saudi Football Association official Adnan Al Muaebed told Emirati paper Sport360. “We went through gruelling negations with Sabella in order to persuade him but he declined the offer.” Sport360 added that Sabella’s agent had said the experienced coach had not wanted to work in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia FA President Ahmed Eid told BBC World Football on Friday they had wanted a South American coach to take charge and identified Sabella and Chile’s Copa America-winning coach Jorge Sampaoli as candidates they were speaking with. Former Chile and Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa is another who has long been linked with the vacancy. Saudi Arabia, who have qualified for four World Cups, have been without a permanent head coach since unpopular Spaniard Juan Ramon Lopez Caro was sacked following defeat at home to Qatar in the final of the Gulf Cup in December. Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu took charge for the Asian Cup in January but the Green Falcons suffered a disappointing group stage exit in Australia. The Saudis kicked off their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign under an interim coach with a narrow 3-2 win over Palestine in June and face further Group A matches at home to East Timor and away to Malaysia next month. - Reuters

I R R I TAT E D

Swansea boss Monk slams Newcastle ‘kickers’ SWANSEA: Swansea manager Garry Monk accused Steve McClaren’s Newcastle of trying to kick Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero out of the game in the Welsh side’s 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday. Goals from Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew saw the Swans beat the Magpies in the Premier League clash, but Monk was irritated by the treatment dished out to Montero. “I thought Jeff was a little more quiet today, but you could see their tactic was basically to try to kick him,” said Monk, who insisted

Newcastle full-back Daryl Janmaat was right to be sent-off for his bruising challenges on Montero. “However, all credit to the referee (Mike Jones), he spotted that early and quite rightly the player was sent off in the end. He needs to be protected.” Montero caused McClaren’s side all sorts of trouble in a ﬁrst half that saw Gomis give Swansea an eighth-minute lead. In the end referee Jones ran out of patience with Janmaat, who he booked for a crude challenge on the winger in the 16th minute. Five minutes before half-time,

the Dutchman was shown a second yellow card for tugging the 25-year-old’s shirt. McClaren was less than pleased with Jones for brandishing the second yellow card and claimed the official could have been a little less hasty. “I thought the second card was harsh. It was a long way from goal,” said McClaren. “Ok, Daryl had made his presence known — which he needed to do — but it was a little tug. I thought the referee could have been lenient. I could complain but it would be a limp one. From then on it’s very difficult.”

In response to Monk’s claim that Newcastle set out to target Montero, McCaren added: “I don’t think we are capable of doing that (kicking). I don’t think the game represents that now. Our team is a football team. We are not kickers, so I would dispute that.” Ayew, a summer signing from Marseille, continued his excellent start to life with Swansea as he bagged the second goal after 52 minutes to kill off Newcastle’s challenge. That was the Ghanaian international’s second goal in as many league games — like Gomis — after

netting in the 2-2 draw at champions Chelsea last weekend. “I knew he (Gomis) would score goals but he is contributing well all over the pitch too. It was a great build up for that goal. And Andre did exceptionally well too,” said Garry Monk. “I talked to the players all week about good teams backing up good performances with another. We got that. They were excellent.” Former England boss McClaren has yet to experience a win in his ﬁrst two league games in charge of the Magpies, and he pleaded for improved discipline from his side.

“We’ve learned nothing today apart from we need to keep 11 players on the ﬁeld. You can’t win in the Premier League with 10 players and it’s obviously very difﬁcult against a very good Swansea team,” he said. “We lost (Moussa) Sissoko as well and we had a mountain to climb. So, I don’t think you can judge us on that game and performance, which is a shame. “It’s kind of a waste of a game when we need to learn about the players and what we can do and the way we go about things,” added McClaren. - AFP

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AT H L E T I C S

Bolt skips training camp ahead of world championships KINGSTON: Six-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt will miss Jamaica’s training camp in Japan before the World Athletics Championships in Beijing later this month, the manager of the Caribbean island’s delegation said. “He’s (Bolt) the only one who is not in camp, because you know he was undergoing some amount of examination while he was preparing at the same time,” manager Ludlow Watts said by telephone from Japan. “He was to come in (camp in Japan) but at the last moment it was decided that he should not come, considering that the team is just two days away from traveling to Beijing. “It was considered necessary that he should perhaps go to the venue of the competition directly, rather than coming here.” Watts also said about 14 athletes, including reigning double sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who were having problems obtaining Chinese visas through Italy, should get them by Monday in Japan. “It is being sorted, in other words by tomorrow it will be completely sorted because it is in the process and I expect it will be completed by Monday,” Watts said. Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games 100m gold medallist Kemar Bailey-Cole has been ruled out of Beijing after suffering a torn hamstring. In a message on his Facebook page, the 23-year-old sprinter said he was ending his season. “It is with bitter emotions that I am announcing that my season has come to an end. I will not be competing at the World Championships,” read the post. “This is so as an ongoing cramp to both hamstrings at the London anniversary games now lead to one of them been torn yesterday (Aug. 15) in practice.

Jamaican team manager Ludlow Watts, speaking from a camp in Japan, said Bolt is ‘the only one who is not in camp, because you know he was undergoing some amount of examination while he was preparing at the same time’

“Thank you all for your thoughtfulness. Your generosity and support during this difficult time is greatly appreciated.” Watts said Nesta Carter will likely replace Bailey-Cole in the 100m sprint. “The technical team will determine that, but it’s like that Nesta Carter would be the one to take the 100m metre spot,” Watts said. Carer, who came fourth in the 100m sprint at the Jamaican trials, won the bronze medal in the same event at the World Championships in Moscow in 2013. “We still have a good team and I hope that things will work out well,” Watts said. “We have options in the sense that there’s a number of person in the 200m who can also be considered for the sprint relay, so we have at least three people who we could use to replace (Bailey-Cole) in the 4x100m (pool).” - Reuters

AT H L E T I C S

Chelsea sign Baba from Augsburg BERLIN: Chelsea have signed Ghana leftback Abdul Rahman Baba from Bundesliga club Augsburg, the German side said on Sunday. British and German media reported that the English champions paid £20 million ($31.29 million) for Baba. “Abdul Rahman Baba made a big leap in the past year for us,”

Augsburg CEO Stefan Reuter said on Twitter. “It is not only a recognition for his work but also ours when a top international club like Chelsea want to sign him.” The 21-year-old Ghana international joined Augsburg last year after two seasons at Greuther Fuerth. - Reuters

FIRST STRIKE: Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero scores his team’s ﬁrst goal against Chelsea during their English Premier League match at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. – Reuters

Man City crush Chelsea, Arsenal outlast Palace The well-earned

A ‘fake’ result: Mourinho

victory continued City’s impressive start to the season following their 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion

MANCHESTER: Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho scored as Manchester City crushed Chelsea 3-0 on Sunday to establish a five-point advantage over the champions in the fledgling English Premier League table. After going close several times, Aguero celebrated his return to the starting XI by wriggling through Chelsea’s defence to score a 31stminute opener before Kompany and Fernandinho made the game safe late on. The well-earned victory continued City’s impressive start to the season following their 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion and gave Manuel Pellegrini a first win over his nemesis Jose Mourinho since the Portuguese returned to Chelsea in 2013. Defeat completed a miserable

LONDON: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho described his team’s 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City on Sunday as a “fake” result. The champions trailed 1-0 at halftime to Sergio Aguero’s strike and conceded two more goals after the interval to ﬁnish with one point from their opening two games of the season. “3-0 is completely fake,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “At 1-0 Chelsea were the best

week for Mourinho, widely criticised for demoting his medics Eva Carneiro and Jon Fearn after last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Swansea City, and means Chelsea have failed to win one of their first two league games for the first time since 1998. It was also a day to forget for visiting captain John Terry, who watched the second half from the bench after being substituted at half-time — the first time Mourinho had taken him off in 177 league games. After a flurry of near-misses, Aguero broke the deadlock by ex-

team for the whole second half. The best team in the first half won the game. The best team in the second half was Chelsea for sure. We had a difficult first half, we didn’t create a lot and our goalkeeper made a few important saves. “Second half everything was different. They make a change because they feel 1-0 is in danger and we concede a second goal. If 1-1 a different story, their team is in trouble.” - Reuters

changing passes with Yaya Toure, darting into the box and placing a low shot beyond the reach of Asmir Begovic, deputising for the suspended Thibaut Courtois. Hazard forced Joe Hart into a save in the second half, but City looked more likely to add to their lead and so it proved as Kompany headed home from David Silva’s 79th-minute corner before Fernandinho drilled home from the edge of the box. Sigh of relief Earlier, Arsene Wenger breathed a sigh of relief as Arsenal got their ti-

tle challenge up and running with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Crystal Palace. After slumping to a dismal 2-0 defeat against West Ham United in their opening game, Wenger’s side had no margin for error at Selhurst Park if they wanted to avoid being cast adrift in the title race. They rose to the challenge, securing a first league win of the season thanks to Olivier Giroud’s superb 16th-minute volley and a Damien Delaney own goal in the 55th minute after Joel Ward had blasted Palace level. It was a much-needed confidence boost for the Gunners and Wenger conceded it would have been hard to recover if they had left Selhurst Park empty-handed. “I’m very pleased with the three points. If we had gone two games and zero points it would be absolutely difficult and we knew this would be a tricky one,” Wenger said. Palace manager Alan Pardew was furious with referee Lee Mason’s refusal to send off Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin, who avoided a red card despite several aggressive challenges when he had already been booked. “I said to Lee Mason: ‘Listen, that tackle before half-time is not a sending-off at that point, but that’s his last chance, you know that,’” Pardew said. “He then makes the foul and he’s (should be) off at that point. Arsene Wenger knew that and took him off. It’s a decision Lee Mason needs to be braver on.” - AFP

SUPER CUP

DRIVE SLOWER LIVE LONGER

Enrique bullish despite Barca’s four-goal deficit MADRID: Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has insisted his side can pull off a monumental fightback on Monday to add the Spanish Super Cup to their 2015 trophy haul despite trailing Athletic Bilbao 4-0 heading into the second leg. An under-strength Barca side was blown away by the Basques on Friday as they exacted revenge for defeat in May’s Copa del Rey final at the Camp Nou thanks to Aritz Aduriz’s hat-trick and a spectacular opener from just inside the Barca half by Mikel San Jose. However, a defiant Enrique insisted a goal-laden squad spearheaded by Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is capable of turning the tie around. “We are completely convinced that if we do things well we will have a chance,” Enrique said on Sunday. “There is no doubt we will try to do it. I have looked at the statistics and last season we scored four or more goals in 18 games. “When Barca play well anything can happen.” It was the first time Barca had lost by four goals against Spanish opposition for eight years and the first time in 14 years they had conceded four times in two consecutive matches. The European champions had beaten Sevilla 5-4 after extra time in energy-sapping conditions in the Georgian capital Tbilisi to win the UEFA Super Cup just three days prior to their trip to Bilbao.

Enrique had left out the likes of Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta from the start at San Mames as a result. Yet, they will be back close to full-strength for the return with only the ill Neymar and injured Jordi Alba missing out. Mental aspect “After the result you are down because no one expected it. Even though we didn’t play well the difference in the scoreline was exaggerated,” said defender Javier Mascherano. “We need to be convinced that we can do it. The difficulty is huge, the result isn’t an easy one but it is an important challenge for us. No one has ever done it in a Spanish Super Cup. “If we play well we will score goals. Hopefully, we can get enough to turn the tie around. “The most important thing in these type of games is the mental aspect. The team is well prepared in this sense. The desire to win another title makes you forget the first leg. “We all believe the possibility exists to comeback. Obviously it is a final and the opponent will be prepared, but we know we have to team capable of doing it.” Barca believe history could also be on their side. A Messi hat-trick sparked a 4-0 win over Sevilla in the 2010 Super Cup after a similarly weakened side had lost the first leg 3-1. - AFP

LIFESTYLE

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

Gear WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

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By Nishad Padiyarath

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he last time I took an Infiniti out on road was in 2012, when I was invited to review the FX-50 designed by Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel. That was a 5.0-litre V8, with 415bhp designed to “fly” on the road. Three years later and here I am, back in an Infiniti, this time to try out their flagship sedan, the Q70. >>

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SECTION

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

LIFESTYLE >> There is a freshness to the new exterior of the latest Q70, maintaining its curvaceous exterior, the sedan now comes with design options that include well-crafted touches that are either more evocative of luxury or sport. Previously known as the Infiniti M (or the M37 or M56), the Q70 was newly launched with the “Excellence and Luxury Grade,” which features a premium body design or, as an added alternative, the Sport Grade is available, featuring a specially designed front bumper that gives the car a lower, wider stance. The trapezoidal bumper intake and apron shape are inspired by race car splitters, lending an athletic presence and bold impression. Black painted turn and fog finishers as well as a rear bumper finished in high-gloss black paint reinforce the sporty feel. With its long-wheel base and premium finishes, the Q70 remains one of the most elegant and lavish large sport sedans on the market, despite stiff competitions from other automakers.

The Walk Around

Reﬂecting the sensuous lines of the exterior, the Q70 continues

The new styling of the Q70 gives the premium sedan an even more upscale image. From the front, its fluid lines are sleek and modern, and the new double arch grille has a nearly threedimensional look due to the elaborate detail of the high-quality waved mesh finish and chrome surround. At the rear, the top line of the trunk lid has been flattened while the rear bumper has been slimmed down to create a longer and lower line of sight to further emphasize the luxury sedan’s sporty feel. The distinctly shaped new tail lights create a horizontal flow, while the hardware itself is quite fresh. Reflecting the sensuous lines of the exterior, the Q70 continues to serve up a well-appointed and inviting interior with high-quality materials such as handcrafted wood accents and custom leather appointments, which house outstanding, user-centered technologies. Important controls and switches are so intuitively located that the driver does not have to change driving posture to access them. The instrument panel consists of Fine Vision gauges and a 7-inch full colour vehicle information display, while the leather driver and front passenger’s seats feature 10-way power adjustment, including 2-way lumbar support. Of all the upgraded features, the Active Noise Control feature is one of the highlights, monitoring the car cabin noise levels and generating “cancelling” sound from four door speakers to reduce noise, so it’s easier to hold conversations or enjoy music while on the road.

to serve up a well-appointed and inviting interior with high-quality materials such as handcrafted wood accents and custom leather appointments, which house outstanding user-centred technologies Speciﬁcation Inﬁniti Q70 Engine: 3.7-litre V6/5.6-litre V8 Horsepower: 329/ 402 7-speed automatic transmission Predictive Forward Collision Warning Around View Monitor System

Nishad@timesofoman.com

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>> On performance, the Q70 is well-equipped with both a 3.7-litre V6 engine, rated at 329 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 363 Nm of torque, as well as a 5.6-litre V8 option that can deliver 402 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 550 Nm of torque. Both engines are matched to an advanced 7-speed automatic transmission, which allows for a more dynamic feel when shifting during a spirited drive. Solid magnesium paddle shifters are also available to round out the track-feel option. The Q70 also comes equipped with the latest in safety advancements to help drivers avoid a collision and further help protect the vehicle occupants if one occurs. The Predictive Forward Collision Warning anticipates the speed and distance of the two vehicles in front of you to ensure that in the event of an emergency, the vehicle can come to a safe stop before running into those ahead on the road. I tested this feature on the crowded expressway, and must say that it performed really well. Another interesting innovative is the Around View Monitor System, which shows a birds-eye view of the vehicle in relation to parking lines, creating a 360-degree surrounding view to help when you are trying to squeeze into tight parking spaces on the corniche. As the great former Formula One Champion Sir Jackie Stewart once said: “It is not always possible to be the best, but it is always possible to improve your own performance” and with the Q70, Inﬁniti has done just that.

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

LIFESTYLE

Y CARMAKERS

ACCELERATE SECURITY EFFORTS AFTER HACKIN G ST

our next car might come with a great safety rating or reliability score, but how hackable will it be? Security researchers recently demonstrated several tricks for hacking into cars in order to take control of components such as the stereo and windshield wipers, and even the engine and brakes. In one example, a pair of experts remotely deactivated the braking system on a Jeep Cherokee as a journalist drove it down the road. Unsurprisingly, carmakers have begun taking computer security a lot more seriously, but they have been blindsided by the speed of technological change within the industry, and especially by how the addition of connectivity has opened cars up to attack. At the same time, they are rapidly adding new functionality that will require extra security scrutiny. The electric-car maker Tesla is ahead of the curve, with a car that is both highly computerised and connected and relatively well protected against hackers. Unlike most cars on the road, the latest Model S features an internal computer network that separates different systems, making it harder for hackers to jump from one system to the next. The experts who breached the Jeep, for instance, used the entertainment system as a way to access other vehicle components. Other carmakers are now developing similar systems, says Joshua Corman, an independent security researcher who consults with car companies. “There’s really no reason to have the stereo speak to the brakes,” he says. Carmakers are also reviewing their approach to dealing with security flaws and bugs, meaning they will invite security researchers to alert them to problems and work with them to get them fixed (rather than threatening to sue them, as has happened in the past). Tesla has offered cash bounties to those who disclose such problems. Several experts in the field say other car companies may soon do the same. Corman says two automakers had planned to reveal a new approach at Defcon, a major computer security conference in Las Vegas, but were deterred by the negative press attracted by the Jeep hack. More carmakers are also devising ways to patch the software on their cars remotely, to address problems more quickly. So far, only Tesla and BMW are capable of this, but Ford recently said it would introduce the functionality in its vehicles, although it did not specify when. Many experts say carmakers need to do much more, though. Corman also advocates, among other things, adding a “black box” to the computer network inside vehicles so that hacking attacks could be recorded and traced after the fact. Such a device, or something similar, might also be used to detect and stop an attack in progress. Academics have been hacking cars for years (see Taking Control of Cars from Afar). But the introduction of cellular connectivity has made it easier to compromise a vehicle. Craig Smith, a security researcher who tests security for many carmakers, says he has performed feats similar to the Jeep hack in that capacity. “When it comes to finding an exploit, there are only a couple of new things you need to learn,” he says. Most automakers are letting smartphones connect to the dashboard via Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto (see Rebooting the Automobile). Even if a car lacks its own cellular connection, these systems will allow a driver to view apps, maps, and messages on the console and find information online. Carmakers, as well as Google and Apple, say these systems pose no threat, because both essentially project the phone’s screen onto the car’s display. “They do not manipulate data,” says Brad Stertz, a spokesman for Audi, which is adding CarPlay and Android Auto to vehicles. But security experts aren’t so sure. -Will Knight/The New York Times News Service

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

C10

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

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

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@SHATTI

@SOHAR

SUR Fantastic Four (Action|Sci - Fi) (PG12) 4:00, 10:00, 11:55 PM Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 5:50, 8:45 PM (Action) (PG12) Brothers (Hindi) (Thriller) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth 11:15 PM Vacation ( Adventure / Comedy) (18+) 8:15 PM Inside Out (3D) (Animation) (PG) 5:15 PM The Daibolical (Horror / Sci-Fi) (15+) 7:15 PM

@RUWI

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Fantastic Four (2D)(Action)(PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan 1:15, 5:45, 9:45, 11:45 pm Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 3:15, 9:00, 11:30 pm Mr. Holmes (Crime, Drama)(PG) Cast: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki Sanada 3:00, 7:45 pm Vacation (Adventure, Comedy)(18+) Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo 1:00, 5:00, 7:00 pm The Diabolical (Horror, Sci-fi)(15+) Cast: Wilmer Calderon, Kurt Carley, Merrin Dungey 5:00, 11:45 pm Shad Agzaa (Drama, Action))(15+) Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Donia Samir 6:45 pm INSIDE OUT (Animation)(3D) PG Voice Overs: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis 1:00, 3:00 pm BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (Drama)(PG) Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor 8:45 PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL Fantastic Four 2D (Action, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael Jordan 12:15, 9:45 & 11:45PM Gold Class: 2:45, 9:15 & 11:15PM Mr. Holmes 2D (Crime, Drama) (PG) 11:15PM & 2:15PM Gold Class : 12:45PM Brothers2D (Action, Drama) (TBC ) 6:45PM The Diabolical 2D (Horror, Sci-Fi ) (15+)

11:15PM & 2:15PM Gold Class : 12:45PM

1:15, 5:45, 9:45, 11:45 pm

3:45 pm

3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

Mr. Holmes 2D (Crime, Drama) (PG) Cast: Ian McKellen, Laura Linney, Hiroyuki

FANTASTIC FOUR (Action)(PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan

Love 24x7 - 2D (M) (TBC) Romantic, Comedy Cast: Dileep, Anjali & Suhasini

Brothers (Drama/ Sports) – TBC Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sidahrth Malhotra, Jackie Shroff

Cast: Wilmer Calderon, Kurt Carley, Merrin 10:15PM Vacation 2D (Adventure, Comedy) (18+) Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo 10:15AM, 5:15PM Gold Class: 4:45PM Inside Out 3D (Animation) (PG) 1:15, 3:15PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 4:15 & 11:55PM; 2D (PG12) Gold Class: 6:45PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D) ( Action ) (PG) 7:15PM

Cast - Hansika Motwani, TR Silambarasan 9:00 PM Inside Out – 3D (PG) Animation 11:30 am, 1:20 pm The Diabolical – 2D (15+) Horror, Sci-Fi, 11:55 PM Love 24x7 – 2D (PG) Romantic, Comedy Cast - Dileep and Nikhila Vimal 6:20 PM Mr. Holmes – 2D (PG) Crime, Drama, Mystery 3:15 PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation – 2D 5:00, 9:30, 11:55 PM(PG12) Brothers – 2D (TBC) Action, Drama 12:30, 3:30, 8:45, 11:40 PM Fantastic Four – 2D (PG12) (Action) 1:00, 3:00, 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 pm Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 2D (PG) (Drama, Action) 6:30 PM

AZAIBA Vacation – 2D (18+) Adventure, Comedy 11:30AM, 7:15 PM Vasuvum Saravananum Onna Padichavanga – 2D (PG) Comedy; 1:30 PM Cast - Aarya, Tamannaah Bhatia, Brinda Das Dekh Magar Pyaar Say - 2D (PG) Comedy Cast - Humaima Malik, Amna Ilyas, Sikander 4:10 PM Shad Agza – 2D (15+) Drama, Action Cast - Mohamed Ramadan, Donia Samir 5:15 PM Vaalu – 2D (PG) Action, Comedy, Romance

3.45, 9.45 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG 6.45 PM SCREEN 3 Baahubali: The Beginning (Act ) – 12+ 3.45, 6.45 PM Dekh Magar Pyaar Se - Urdu (Comedy) – PG 9.45 PM SOHAR Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 2D (PG) Drama, Action 4:00 PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - 2D (PG12) Action; 3:55, 9:05, 11:55 PM Inside Out - 3D (PG) Animation 2:10, 4:00 PM Fantastic Four-2D (PG12) (Action ) 2:00, 7:45, 9:45, 11:45 PM Vacation- 2D (18+)Adventure, Comedy 6:00, 8:15 PM Mr. Holmes - 2D (PG) Crime, Drama, Mystery 2:00, 7:00 PM Into the Grizzly Maze- 2D (15+) Action, Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, James Marsden 10:00 PM The Diabolical - 2D (15+) Horror, Sci-Fi, 2:10, 11:45 PM Shad Agza - 2D (Arb) (15+) Drama, Action

RUWI SCREEN 1 Brothers (Drama/ Sports) – TBC Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Drishyam (Thriller/Drama ) – PG12

Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Donia Samir 6:15 PM Brothers - 2D (TBC) Action, Drama 9:00, 11:30 PM Love 24x7 - 2D (M) (TBC) Romantic, Comedy 3:45 PM Vaalu - 2D (T) (PG) Action, Comedy, Romance Cast : Hansika Motwani, TR Silambarasan, 6:15 PM BURAIMI Fantastic Four -2D (PG12) (Action) 5:30, 9:30, 11:30PM Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 2D 3:00, 8:45, 11:45PM (Action) (PG12) Inside Out - 3D (Animation, Comedy) (PG) 3:00PM Vacation – 2D (Comedy, Adventure) (18+) 5:15, 7:00PM Mr Holmes– 2D (Crime, Drama) (PG), 7:30PM The Diabolical – 2D (Horror, Thriller) (TBC) 7:30PM Brothers – 2D (Drama, Sport) (PG) 7:15, 11:15PM Vaalu – 2D (Action, Comedy) (PG) 4:30PM

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

33 29

MOHD JASIM August 17, 2013

Minimum

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

30-85%

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

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

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

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

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

Sur Sur

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (ROUTE 62) 06:30 06:30

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 06:00 06:00 13:00 13:00 15:00 15:00

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (ROUTE 100) Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (ROUTE 100) 07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om Srimanthudu (Telugu ) ( Act ) Cast: Mahesh Babu & Shruthi Hassan 3-00 pm Cinema Main Brothers ( Hindi ) (Act ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sidahrth Malhotra 6:30, 9:30 pm Cinema -2 Love 24x7 ( Mal ) ( Com ) Cast: Dileep, Anjali & Suhasini 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema- 3 Vasuvum Saravananum ( Tamil ) ( Com ) Cast: Arya, Tamanna & Santhanam 3-30 pm at Cinema-2; 6-30 & 9-30pm Cinema Main Vallu (Tamil) (Rom\Com ) From Friday Cast: Silambarasan & Hansika 3-45, 6:45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema-4 NEXT CHANGE: Madura Naranga (Mal) Kick 2 (Telugu ) 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

STAR CINEMA

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D (Action, Adventure, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 5.00, 9.30 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1953 (PG12) Vacation (Comedy / Adventure) Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Appligate, Skyler Gisondo 1.30, 4.00 & 7.30 pm CP No: 2027 ( 18+) Awol - 72 (Action) Cast: Luke Goss, LouiseMandylor, RZA 11.30 a.m. 3.30 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2026 (12+) Brothers (Hindi )( Thriller ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shrof, Sidharth Malhotra 1.00, 6.00 & 9.00 pm CP No: 2028 (PG) The Night Crew (Action/Thriller) Cast: Danny Trejo, Jason Mewes, Luke Goss 11.30 a.m.; CP No: 1886 (15+)

WITH LOVE

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

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

SALALAH Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation (2D) 2:00, 9:15, 11:45PM (PG12) Ant-Man (3D)(PG12) (Action/Sci-Fi ) 12:00PM Inside Out (3D)(PG) (Animation/Comedy) 10:00AM Fantastic Four (2D)(PG12) (Action) 12:00, 7:15, 10:05, 11:55PM Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D) (PG) (Drama/Action) 7:15PM Vacation (2D) (18+) (Adventure/Comedy) Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo 11:30AM, 8:15PM Shad Agza (2D)(15+)(Arabic) (Drama/Action) Cast: Mohamed Ramadan, Donia Samir Ghanem, Yasser Galal and Sabry 6:15PM Mr. Holmes (2D)(PG) (Crime/Drama/Mystery) Cast: Jacqueline Fernandez, Rajesh Sharma, Riteish Deshmukh 10:00AM, 5:15 PM Dekh Magar Pyaar Say (2D)(PG)(Urdu) (Comedy/Romance) Cast: Humaima Malik, Amna Ilyas, Sikander 1:15 PM AWOL-72 (2D)(12+) (Thriller) Cast: Luke Goss, RZA, Bokeem Woodbine 10:00AM, 10:00PM Brothers (2D)(TBC) (Action/Drama) 4:30, 11:30PM Srimanthudu (2D)(PG) (Action) 2:15PM Vaalu (2D)(PG) (Action/Comedy/Romance) 3:30PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

BAHJA CINEMA

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL THE IN V ENTOR OF TELEPHONE CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS: • Bell worked with Thomas Watson on the design and then patented the ﬁrst practical telephone in March 1876 • By the 1890s, Bell had begun experimenting with propellers and kites • Bell’s most optimistic project was the photophone (invented in 1980s), a wireless method of sending communication, which he predicted would one day rival the telephone. The photophone invention enjoyed some success, but could not overcome the problem of weather • Bell is credited with developing one of the early versions of a metal detector in 1881 • Bell and his assistant Frederick W. “Casey” Baldwin began hydrofoil experimentation in the summer of 1908 as a possible aid to airplanes attempting to takeoff from water. In 1910-11 they developed the ﬁrst prototype of a hydrofoil watercraft • Bell worked with two associates, his cousin Chichester Bell and Charles Sumner Tainter, at the Volta Laboratory. Their experiments soon produced such major improvements in Thomas Edison’s phonograph that it became commercially viable • Aeronautics: In 1891, Bell dipped into aeronautics, beginning experiments to develop motor-powered heavier-than-air aircraft. He was a supporter of aerospace engineering research through the Aerial Experiment Association (AEA) • Bell held 18 patents in his name alone and 12 that he shared with collaborators

lexander Graham Bell, born on March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, Scotland, was an American scientist, engineer, and innovator who was most famously credited with the birth of the telephone. The second son of Alexander Melville Bell and Eliza Grace Symonds Bell, he had two brothers, Melville James Bell and Edward Charles Bell. In the 1870s the Bells moved to Canada and, shortly after that, to Boston, Massachusetts, where Bell took a teaching

position at the Pemberton Avenue School for the Deaf. There he fell in love with Bell Mabel Hubbard and married her. While working with his deaf students, Bell became interested in the possibility of transmitting speech over wires and as he conducted experiments in an attempt to learn more about alternate ways to communicate with the deaf, he instead accidentally invented the telephone. He ﬁled for the patents in March 1876. Though he will always be remembered for the telephone, Bell

was involved in many of the great inventions of the 20th century. He worked extensively in medical research and invented techniques for teaching speech to the deaf. During his stint at the Volta Laboratory, his associates and he considered impressing a magnetic field on a record as a means of reproducing sound. The abandoned idea would one day find its use in the tape recorder, the hard disc and floppy disc drive. Bell experimented with a means to detect metal in wounds and with a vacuum-jacket respirator that led to the development of the iron lung.

He helped bring Thomas A. Edison’s phonograph to commercial practicality, and experimented with hydrofoil boats and with airplanes as early as the 1890s. He spent the remainder of his life exploring the realm of communications with scientiﬁc activities that involved kites, airplanes, tetrahedral structures, sheepbreeding, artiﬁcial respiration, desalination and water distillation, and hydrofoils. Graham died on August 2, 1922, on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia, Canada. — Mahran Shaukat Ali

JOURNAL

Facebook cancels a Harvard student’s internship for finding a privacy flaw A Harvard student’s internship for finding a flaw resulted in the cancellation of his internship. The Indian-origin student exposed a serious privacy flaw in the social media giant’s messenger service, a media report said. Aran Khanna’s application, Marauder’s Map, used data from Facebook Messenger to map users’ location when they sent messages, Boston.com reported recently. The computer science and math student at Harvard University in Massachusetts, US, posted about his app on social media sites Reddit and Medium in May this year and soon it went viral. The app caught the attention of Facebook and Khanna was asked to disable it. However, before it was disabled, the

extension was downloaded more than 85,000 times and “shared on over 200 publications”, according to Khanna. About a week later, Facebook released a Messenger app update to provide users “full control over when and how you share your location information”. Facebook cancelled Khanna’s summer internship, saying he did not meet the high ethical standards expected from the interns. The student accepted another internship with a tech start-up in Silicon Valley and later detailed the experience in a case study titled Facebook’s Privacy Incident Response: A study of geolocation sharing on Facebook Messenger in the Harvard Journal of Technology Science. -IANS

BRIEFS

Microsoft testing an app that will read out news Do you remember reading important news stories out to your ailing grandfather or illiterate neighbour in your childhood days to earn some pocket money? Well, an app is going to do this for you now. Microsoft is reportedly testing an app that will sort out the best news stories from the web and use text-to-speech technology to read out article summaries to the users. Users can save articles for reading later and view the full text of any article the app — called NewsCast pulls in using a builtin browser or a distraction-free reading view, PCWorld.com reported. It has been designed to keep users up to date with the latest news while they are commuting and do not have time to look at smartphones. According to a publicly-accessible webpage for the app, NewsCast is a proof-of-concept product from the Bing News and Speech teams and seems to only be built for testing inside Microsoft. Collecting feedback from users is a major focus of the app-developing team. A feedback button in the app opens an email that includes a three-question survey about what users like, dislike and want from it in the future. NewsCast will ﬁrst be available for Apple users.

An app that effectively expresses apologies A new app called MSTY (My Song To You) allows users to send 30-second segments of songs from among the latest chartbusters, combined with a photo and text, Telegraph reported. The British company has launched the app in 155 countries with a catalogue of 2,000 song clips, cut down to the most meaningful 30 seconds by humans rather than the computer algorithms that create previews on services such as iTunes. The songs are curated into playlists by mood or genre such as ﬂirt, celebrate, sport, pop hits and 70s music. Users can browse 2,000 curated song clips organised by category. “People have always utilised music in a very powerful way, from ﬁlm and television to advertising. Why can’t you send that emotion in a message? It seems very obvious,” the company’s founder Grant Bovey was quoted as saying. Similar messaging apps do exist — such as La-La (which sends whole songs) and Rithm (which charges users for certain functions). But MSTY combines images and text with human-curated short music clips that are legally sourced directly from the record labels. MSTY has signed licensing deals with Universal, Sony and Warner, providing it legal access to a whopping 22 million songs.

Twitter: Get ‘personal’ for better customer loyalty Brands that get personal in customer service interactions do far better than those that keep it businesslike, a study by Twitter said. When it comes to customer service, authentic humanity works very well, it said. “Customers are really looking for a humanised connection. They want to feel that they are talking to a real person and having that personalisation helps add that component,” Twitter research manager Meghann Elrhoul was quoted as saying in a Marketingland.com report. “This is an easy step that brands can take to forge the relationship,” she said. The comparison, drawn from a survey of 14,000 people who engaged with brands’ customer service Twitter accounts, is stark. When brands created personal interactions — deﬁned as conversations that included the customer’s name and the customer service representative’s signature in tweets 77 per cent of those customers were likely to recommend the brand. Customer service interactions are accelerating on Twitter. The company reports a 250 per cent increase in such conversations in the last two years. -IANS

C1 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 17, 2015

LIFESTYLE 6.9% of respondents said that they watched

BY THE NUMBERS

A Generation of Screen Addicts of iPhone users said other iPhone users would make the best romantic partners

The American Psychological Association (APA) says that an addicted individual may experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms when the source of addiction is taken away, even if that addiction happens to be to a computer or cellphone. So-called “screen-time” addiction is a growing problem, especially among youth, just look at these crazy stats.

of survey respondents would give up chocolate for their phone

of kids spend 2 hours or less watching television and using their computers each day

of iPhone users would give up their toothbrush for a week before their phone

spend nearly 4 hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost 2 additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games

According to Media Literary Clearinghouse, western teenagers spend about

91.1% youth aged or more of television each day

reported using the computer daily outside of school. That said, more than a quarter of kids said that while they do use the computer daily, they do so for less than an hour a day

a day using screens while Asian teenagers average more than 13 hours a day — including more than two hours watching TV and over three hours on mobile devices

RESEARCH

Violent video games trigger aggression Playing violent video games is linked to increased aggression in players though it is not certain if the link extends to criminal violence too, according to a latest American Psychological Association (APA) report. “Scientists have investigated the use of violent video games for more than two decades but to date, there is very limited research addressing whether violent video games cause people to commit acts of criminal violence,” said study leader Mark Appelbaum. The study showed a consistent relation between violent video game use and an increase in aggressive behaviour and aggressive cognitions and a decline in pro-social behaviour and empathy. “No single risk factor consistently leads a person to act aggressively or violently. Rather, it is the accumulation of risk factors that tends to lead to aggressive or violent behaviour,” the report said. APA has called on the industry to design

video games that include increased parental control, it also urged the developers to design games that are appropriate to users’ age and psychological development. However, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the videogame industry in the United States, has

rejected the report. “Considering the APA’s longstanding bias against attacks on video games, this slanted report is not surprising. Numerous medical professionals, researchers, and courts all debunk the fundamental thesis of their argument,” a representative of ESA said. -IANS

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DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market. Contact: 99259977 / 95033008 1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 Brand new 2 BHK flats/offices for rent behind Honda Road. Contact 91165807 Flat in Al Khuwair 3 rooms + Majlis ground floor. Contact: 99242119 Flat 2bedrooms+majlis in Ghubra. Contact:99242119 1BHK R.O 185 + 2BHK R.O 230 before Medical Darsait, Muttrah House. Contact: 98748925 Spacious 2 BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

3BHK Flats & 6BHK Villa in Azaibah. Contact : 96775026 1 BR ﬂat at Darsait, near ISM. Contact 99237971 / 99320633

Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only. Contact: 99251975

250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi. Contact 99326339 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 840 sqr mtrs Store & Staff accommodation for Rent in Misfah. Contact 99792181 Big ﬂat for rent in Al Khuwair, nr. Ibis Hotel. Contact 95724975

Flat for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital in Hamriya. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499

Brand new 3BHK apartment on 5th ﬂoor at Qurum, PDO gate 2, master bedroom with en-suite (shower) with balcony, 2 bedrooms with bath, guest washroom with shower, laundry room, luxury ﬂoorings with A/ Cs. Other amenities in the building: Gym, multi purpose room & children’s play area. Contact 24564460 / 97610908

3 bedroom ﬂat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand Kims Hospital. Contact: 95225662

A ﬂat for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 2 rooms and sitting room and all the necessary things. Contact:92277419

Large room with separate entrance, furnished at Wadi Kabir. Contact 99336206

2 B/R res./comm. Flat directly from owner near Oman Medical College Bausher. Contact 92158031

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new ﬂat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126 2BHK with A/Cs Muttrah, near Oman House. Contact: 95915154

Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422

Flats for rent in Al Khuwair, Al hail, Wadi Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD, and Muttrah. Contact: 99119699 / 95250300 / 24813002 Flats shops & stores for rent at Al Amerat. Contact: 96278724

Readymade office space for rent (100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building, MBA area Ruwi opposite Center Point. Contact: 99011352 1 & two bedroom ﬂats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible. Contact 97677170 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shop at Wadi Kabir. Contact 99024730 2 BHK, 3BHK at Qurum. Contact 99024730

A fully equipped. Well running fabrication/carpentry workshop / store (area 1800 sq.ft) at Barka Industrial area, close to main road, with all facilities such as Portacabin, Labour camp for about 20 staff. Contact 95120404, Email : elmechoman@gmail.com

3 Bedroom ﬂat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand new available, behind Kims Hospital. Contact 95225662

Villa 2 bedrooms + hall + sitting room in Al Hail South R.O 300/Monthly. Contact: 93993354

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

3 BHK ﬂat for rent in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

2 BHK near CBD & Star Cinema, Muttrah. Contact 99233116

1 & 2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2 BHK villa for rent in Azaiba, near Sultan Centre. Contact 99792181

Shop/ office near CBD & Star Cinema, Muttrah. Contact 99233116

1 BHK, 2 BHK at Al Khuwair. Contact 99024730

Flat for rent 2BR at Wadi Adai. Contact 94643380

3 & 4 BHK villa in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2BHK & 1BHK ﬂats available in Darsait. Contact : 99357586 / 97500025

3 BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balcony, nr. Al Hassan W/Kabir RO 330/-. Contact :99384640

2 BHK ﬂat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

I BHK Flat -4 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 200/- . 2 BHK - 2 Nos / 1 BHK- 2 Nos, at Wattayya R/A near the mosque- for Families. # 96457757 - 9 am to 7 Pm.

Villa for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque. Contact 99366624

1 & 2BHK ﬂat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181 250 sq mtrs office space (showroom) in CBD. Contact 99792181

Shop at Azaiba. Contact 99024730

3 BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99792181

Fully furnished 2 bedroom luxury ﬂat for rent at Ghala for short or long term basis. Contact 91786526 / 99881653

Flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports. Interested candidates please Contact : 00968-92225523

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 1 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE 4 & 5 BHK villa for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

600 sqr mtrs showroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99792181

3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair 33. Contact 99792181

Flat for rent with AC in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95555162 /95755953

2 BHK in Ghubra RO 350/-. Contact 97799175 / 92144045

Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th. Contact: 97147240

3bed room well maintained ﬂat (villa type only 2 ﬂats in one bldg) in Al Khuwair behind Al Akhtam Restaurant, Villa no 1839, Way No 3922, block No 239. Contact: 99253125

Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034

2 BHK at Mumtaz RO 300/-. Contact 97799175 / 92144045 2 BHK at Darsait RO 300/-. Contact 97799175 / 92144045 House for rent in Sidab at reasonable rent. Contact: 95555162 / 95755953 Fabulous AC ﬂat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699 3 Bedroom ﬂat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat. Contact: 95755953

For rent if require ﬂats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. Contact: 99376454 1 BHK at Ghubra RO 275/-. Contact 97799175 / 92144045 BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99385835 / 99428143 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 Email: alnehang@gmail.com

AVAILABLE 3BHK AlAmerat No.3, Rent190 pm. Contact 95113797 1bedroom in Al Hail South RO 150/monthly. Contact: 93993354 Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 2 BHK Flats for rent in Muttrah near Oman house. Contact: 97009734 / 92629232 2 & 3 BHK big Flats with Big hall, Kitchen & new split ACs at Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com 2BHK ﬂat available behind Majan College / Darsait. Contact 24705742 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 97616158 1 &2 BHK ﬂats for rent at Wadi Kabir, Wadi Adai, Hamriya and Al Khoud areas, shop for rent at Wadi Adai Round about. Contact: 24834644, GSM 93994401 /02/03 lines

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

SELL/BUY Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500

FOR EXPATS From owner plot of land near Zanzibar, airport price RO 15000. Contact 99348943

Forklift sale. Contact: 99763831 Furnished office for sale. Contact 99024272 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each. Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Restaurant for sale, Kadra Suwaiq. Contact 97433012 A well settled/ well equipped ladies beauty parlor in running position located in Ghubra for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898 Office & furniture for sale rent RO 260/- Darsait. Contact 91211117 Land for sale at prime location in Al Athaiba. Contact 91299531 / 91408005

Grand Cherokee, 1996 well maintained 70, 000 km only. Contact: 99869897

Permoglaze paint mixer (tinting machine) – 6 months old – in good condition for sale in Rustaq. interested parties may pl call 93223382 / 99874936.

Honda Accord, 2010, No. 1, 105000 kms, expat lady driven, dealer maintained, silver, expected price RO 4700/-. Contact 99330509

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & ﬁxing. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500

Mazda 3,1.6, 2008 Automatic, accident free, single owner. Contact: 92030516

An excellent grade, 8 yrs old, non residential civil construction company, having registered office in Muscat needs immediate sale. Company has considerable running projects of handsome amount. Only genuine buyers contact 92978650

Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093

Sportage, 2013. Contact 99336093 Nissan Altima 2.5S, 2008 Model, Metallic Gold Colour, Excellent condition, self driven by diplomat, only 65, 000 k.m run, available for immediate delivery, Contact 99251286. Land Cruiser 2012. # 99336093

A secured land of 1500 sqm available for keeping construction equipments, trailers, container etc. near Sohar Airport Contact: 94215208 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Shop for sale in Ruwi High street, Contact 96078411 New villa at Qurum, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, sitting, dining and open sitting on the terrace. Contact: 99342733

FOR HIRE Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

LOST Kumar Pankaj has lost Indian Passport No. G 608988. Finder please handover to ROP.

PAJERO 2015 km1400. #99336093 Hyundai Elantra 2012 1.8 top model 3800RO GSM 99883832

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully Furnished studio immediately available for couple in N.Azaiba. Contact 95450249 Independent rooms in Qurum / AL Hail. Contact 95529970 Single room with attached bathroom for an Executive bachelor at Rex road Ruwi. Contact: 99535300 Furnished room with attached bath separate entrance in Mabela. Contact :99634841 Sharing accommodation in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors, wiﬁ free, advance deposit. Contact 91852710 Room for rent in a ﬂat for Executive bachelor at Azaiba behind Al Meera Hypermarket Azaiba with attached bath with cot & A/C, rent RO 175/- per month including water & electricity. Contact 96404166 / 97433992 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 for rent with sharing bathroom & kitchen at Al Khuwair, behind Golden Spoon Restaurant. Contact 92994415 Furnished room with equipped kitchen immediately available in N. Azaiba Contact 95450249 Furnished room with sharing bathroom immediately available in N.Gubrah. Contact 95450250 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair RO 225/- for family only. Contact 99251975 Furnished room for Indian Bachelor in Al Falaj area (Ruwi) & Lady in Wadi Kabir (near Al Maya). Contact 96761960 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai. Contact 96243086 at 5p.m. Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 1 7, 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

ACCOUNTANT

ENGINEER

Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

Urgently required for leading company: Civil Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Planning Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Surveyor : 8 yrs experience, Draftsman & AutoCAD : 5 yrs experience. Fax: 24478522, email : gh1.careers@gmail.com

Seeking minimum 5 yrs Construction company experienced Accountant able to read Arabic & owning vehicle. Email : hr@greencover.net

BEAUTY

MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement. Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om

Required HAIR DRESSERS / FULL BEAUTICIANS with Gulf experience. Contact 96180078.

MEDICAL

CATERING

Immediately required lady Doctor (DGO) or GP with Gynecology experience & lab technician. Contact 99310590. Email : tjmaluko@gmail.com

Indian Cook required. Should know Omani traditional foods. Contact 99209264 Chinese/ Arab/ continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970 A fast growing chain of omani fusion restaurants in Muscat is looking to hire experienced waiters and chefs (2 yrs exp).Applicants should have NOCs if applicable. Forward resume to creativefoodsllc@gmail.com Indian Cook required. Should know Omani traditional foods. Contact 99209264

DRAFTSMAN Leading Civil construction company requires “MEP DRAFTSMAN” with 4-6 years gulf experience. Send your CV to mep.oman2015@gmail. com. (NOC required).

DOMESTIC HELPER Urgently looking for an Expatriate House Boy with Cooking knowledge and experience. Contact Immediately: 99460564 An Indian family located in Azaiba looking for a Housemaid. Contact 99384009 Require qualify caregiver for an orderly mother. Contact 99425200

DRIVER Indian Driver required. Contact 99209264. A fast food restaurant in Muscat required Drivers. (1 car and 1 motor cycle) Contact 93216008. Forward CV :- fastfoodoman2014@gmail.com Indian Driver required. Contact 99209264. Female Driving Instructor needed in Madinat Qaboos. Contact 95591068 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

EDUCATION Required female Science & IT Teachers from Pakistan, 4 grade near Ibra. Contact 95810797 A well known private school require English, Mathematics, Science, Physics & Computer Teacher. Email : staffing.oman@gmail.com, ph: 96910649

ENGINEER A grade Civil construction company in Muscat urgently requires the following person with minimum 3 yrs experience : 1) Electrical Engineer 2) AutoCAD Draughtsman 3) Purchaser. Send CV to hr.azatllc@gmail.com Civil construction company looking for fresh Civil Engineering degree holders. Send CV: awahaibitrad@gmail.com Smartphone Technician Required ftt@futuretarget.net GSM: 99110080/9669066

A well known Polyclinic in Muscat is urgently looking for a Bachelor Female Nurse. Forward your CV to hrhospitalmuscat@gmail.com Wanted GP Doctor for clinic. Ph 98115439 Medical CARE Centre, Multi Speciality Clinic, Seeb, requires Gynecologist to work on Freelance (Proﬁt Sharing) basis. Interested candidates call- 97884856 Wanted Nurse (Salary-RO 400/-) & Pharmacist (Salary RO 500/-)-MOH Licensed -Al Suwaiq Clinic Contact- 97742491 Required Nurse for A Clinic in Al-Buraimi, S. of Oman. Contact : 00968 92737149. Send CV to drpkabbas@yahoo.co.in Required prometric passed or MOH license holder for the following posts Indian male & female GP Doctor, Indian Female dentist, Female Staff Nurse & Pharmacists. Contact: 97985325 Email: polyclinicomanhr@gmail.com

MANAGER Business development Manager. company dealing in graphics, signage industry, exhibition booth fabrication looking for candidates experienced in same ﬁeld for their dubai branch. Please contact: thomasphilip24@hotmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Wanted Diesel Mechanics, foreman for cement block factory, JCB & forklift operators. Salesman for block factory, experienced salesman for logistics, labors for block factory. Email : smylackal@gmail. com, Contact 94007259 Established real estate company looking for male or female property agents for leasing and sales of the property. Applicant must be Graduate, possess Omani or GCC driving license. Having oman market experience. Apply with NOC. Attractive salary +commission. Send your CV: property@ labdmarkmuscat.com

SALES / MARKETING Urgent required Sales representative with local experience, car & Omani driving license ready with NOC. Send CV to nationalblueskyemployment@ gmail.com Required outdoor sales man in construction and oilﬁeld sector with valid GCC D/L. GSM-92830110 Email : contact@absmct.com Business intelligence / Global Marketing management specialist with 9 years of experience developing brand value & managing overall projects to achieve business objectives seeking suitable position on family visit. Contact: 91902154 Required Smart, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience in building materials. Omani Driving License and NOC is must. Apply with photograph to E-mail: jobdsint@gmail.com. Urgently required outdoor salesman for building material, shop. Contact 99867456 / 24501882

Accomplished Sales Executives/ Telemarketing Executives for leading Digital Media Enterprise. jobs@interacoman.com

Finance Manager, 21 yrs experience in Oman, Dubai, KSA, CA/ MBA, CFC, B.com worked in ERP Oracle, Tally etc. MS office internet etc Resident Visa with release, NOC letter. Email : mas1156@yahoo.com, GSM: 91195480 Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Monthly Proﬁtability Reports, Onsite Tally Training, Contact : 96975454, email :ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Accountant, Indian male, B.Com, PGDSE with 12 yrs of experience currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 92750853, email : vinoykjospeh@gmail.com Management ﬁnance professional, 36 yrs experience, 20 yrs in Oman with oil & gas & mining companies can work independently or head the division, Sudanese Nationality. Contact 98531303 Indian male, B.Com Diploma in office Automation, pursuing ICWA having 6 yrs (India, Oman) exp in Accounts, Audit Finance seeks suitable positions. Familiar with tally, ERP & focus. NOC available Contact : 94706954. E mail:ajurn33@gmail.com

Looking for a foreign staff with experience in Oman in real estate & real estate valuation. Contact 99109094, email : aburashid94dd@gmail.com

Indian male, MBA, 27 yrs, 2 yrs exp. in Oman in Accounts upto ﬁnalization of accounts, seeks suitable placement. Contact 91208799, jahafeer@yahoo.co.in

Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493

Indian male,, MBA, Finance, 10 yrs exp as Branch Supervisor in a reputed logistics company in Oman with an overall experience of 21 yrs in ﬁnance & logistics, with valid Oman D/L, on visit looks for suitable placement. Contact 96567151, girishlalmahadev@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING

Accountant Part time up to ﬁnalization on monthly basis by Indian CA. All reports, bank loan help, tax & Audit matters, affordable fee. Contact 92758370

Sales Executive Industrial products : 2-3 yrs of exp. with good communication & computer skills. D/L is must. Send resume to salescvv@hotmail.com

Finance/ Audit professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience can work independently or head the division looking for opening. Contact 92787747 / 92168401.

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRIVER

Urgently require Indian male/ female Medical sales representative for Cosmetic Company. Email CV to dania@nitrogenmedical.com

Indian male, 27 years, M. Com, having 2years experience in Accounts looking for suitable position. Presently on visit visa. Contact 93455055| gibingeorge88@gmail.com

Light Driver, 5 yrs experience looking for job. Contact 92617293

Furniture ﬁeld experienced Salesman with license. Contact - 99345159, 91398378 , E-Mail - agsan2005@gmail.com

Part time accountant services available to handle all accounts related work up to ﬁnalization. Contact 96247295

A reputed company in Muscat requires Sales Executive to promote Oil engine products. Candidate must have 2- 5 yrs experience in the related ﬁeld, with GCC driving license. Send CV with expected salary at employmentoil2015@gmail.com

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

C.C.T.V camera technician, Electrician & plumber, Driver, Mason. Contact: 99383044

Wanted: Loading and unloading people. Apply - Indians only: Contact: 95451713

Required Marketing Executive. Contact 24816774 / 99020458

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED

Fresh Graduate B.Com with CIMA . U. K. (Partly Qualiﬁed ) looking for a suitable position in the Middle east. Contact 9470 5767

SKILLED / UNSKILLED

Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts. Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co

FMCG professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience in commercial / operations looking for opening. Contact 92787747 / 92168401 B.Com Graduate 3 yrs experience in Oman driving license looking for accounts/sales. Contact 93645008 Accountant Indian male 31 yrs Accounts up to finalization, 9 yrs experience (7 yrs in Oman) with D/L & NOC seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99582979 Omani female exp. in Accounts & shipping & Secretary & PRO, job knowledge in Computer with Oman D/L. Contact 91161736 Senior Document Controller, male, Indian, MCA 9+ yrs experience as Document controller in oil & gas sector seeks job as Senior Document controller. Contact 95388197, Email : rojanchristopher@gmail.com Indian 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 9822253 Indian female B.Tech (EEE) MBA finance with 1and half years experience as Bank Officer in India seeking suitable placement. Contact: 91358676 / 98157895 Email: sujivu88@gmail.com An Indian Lady Chartered Accountant with five years experience (including articleship), on family visa in Oman looking for a suitable job. Please Contact 9621 0347 / 9943 5346, shincycrajan@gmail.com Part time Accountant with 15 yrs exp in accounts, finance audit taxation. Contact: 95857199 Indian female Accountant with 5 yrs Gulf exp in accounts, audit, Admin payroll. Contact: 96263157 Jordanian Accountant (ACPA) with more than 15 yrs experience in Oman (Accounts, Purchase & finance). Contact: 92881223 Email: kamal_sarhan@yahoo.com

ADMIN Indian Female MBA , 3 Years Experience in Admin MIS , Family Visa. Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Indian male having 17 yrs experience in Logistics, Purchase, payroll processing & office Admin, UAE D/L seeks suitable position, valid visa till 24th August’15. . Contact 91219303 Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437 Purchase, Admin, Indian male, 15 yrs Gulf experience. Contact 95435370 HSE Admin experience for 10 years in GCC with valid D/L seeking to join a reputed firm. NOC available. Contact: 99626821 Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR) 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95619537 14 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598 Master degree HRM professional having excellent experience in finance and management and having 8 yrs experience looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92955453 / 91213269 HR.Admin, Indian male..2+ Oman exp..joining immediately..# 93671437

BEAUTICIAN Beautician from India looking for job. Contact 93554741

DRIVER Indian male 2 yrs exp in (D/L in sales seeker suitable placement. Contact: 92055093 Light Driver, 9 yrs exp. (Keralite). Contact 97313562 Looking for driving job. Contact 98219182 LMV Driver, 8 yrs exp. (Keralite). Contact 93412587 Looking for a job as Driver, with 9 yrs experience in Oman, language : Arabic/ English/ Hindi. Contact 92517532

Light duty driver, 8 yrs exp. Contact: 96736744

DRAUGHTSMAN Draftsman (2D/3D) 3 yrs exp in Oman with light Oman driving license. Contact:95962384

DESIGNER Experienced Graphics Designer with 6+ years of international exposure in Middle East & Asia looking for job. Valid Omani D/L. 97615584. Sr Designer, Civil & Structural (oil & gas) / Site Supervisor Indian male, 21 years experience in design ﬁeld with driving license seeks suitable placement N.O.C available. #92684051 Email: babyshibu@yahoo.co.in

DOMESTIC HELPER Housemaid (Madras tamil speaking) from India looking job. Contact 95175192

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Keralite, Indian, Diploma in Mechatronic, PG Diploma in Industrial automation (PLC SCADA DCS) interest ﬁeld. Email : sajasvp@gmail.com Civil Engineer BSc -7 years experience with constructions companies - 2 years in Oman - qualiﬁed as a project Engineer- Fluent in Arabic & English - Contact 98078095 Civil Engineer Indian male 10 yrs exp having Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94194399 (shiblyrock@gmail.com) Civil Engg, B.Tech, Indian male, having 3 yrs of experience in Construction & EPB looking for suitable placement. Contact 91430851. Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian female, 2 yrs exp (1 yr in Oman) seeks suitable position. Contact: 93911895 Civil foreman, Civil Engineer, Indian exp overseas looking for job. Contact 95175192 BE in ECE, female looking for suitable placement. #94767662. Email: chaithanyakotian10@gmail.com Pakistani Civil Management Engineer, 12+ 2 yrs Oman experience, Oman D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact 94392616 Project Manager / Senior Engineer, Indian Male BE Civil, 21yrs experienced including Oman looking for the Job Contact +918939295181 Email I’D : sanja_bala@yahoo.co.in

Light driver 5 years exp Education B.A language English, Arabic & Hindi. Contact : 98522914 / 91615715

SAP BW Analyst : Indian male, 26 yrs, B.Tech (CS & E) from ASET, New Delhi, worked as a Business Analyst in Software Industry. Contact 98008127 / 92878708, vaisakh.bhaskar@gmail.com

Heavy & light duty driver valid GCC license looking job from India. Contact 93554741

Sudanese male Telecommunication Engineer looking for job. Contact: 94537607

Driver, 10 yrs. Contact 94260369 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

Sri Lankan driver. # 97387112

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 1 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

MISCELLANEOUS Available for a part time accounting job. Contact 99196621

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Civil Engineer, more than 6 yrs experience in Supervision, site management, QS, Engineering software with valid Oman driving license. NOC available. Contact 91761364, Email : a-shaqfa@hotmail.com

Diploma in Mech.Engg. Indian Female - with great experience in Quality Control, (QA/QC) Auto CAD, Primavera, CATIA, Pro E, seeking job. Currently in family visa Contact: 94526980/96510532

Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineer, 26 yrs, Masters from Singapore, Bachelors from India. Having 2 yrs work experience in Oman, with Valid Oman driving license. available immediately. Contact: 95498953

Civil Engineer, 10 yrs exp. in building residential M.O.E, M.O.D, Stp looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Good knowledge AutoCAD, computer MS Office, Excel, making B.O.Q. all type of civil work related, building supervision. Contact 99471944, engrzagar@gmail.com

Indian male 25yrs B.E in Electronics and Communication Engineering with 2 yrs experience D/L. Email : azee245ec@gmail.com, Contact 94188216 B Tech Mechanical Engineer HVAC Plumbing with 2 yrs exp. in India. Contact : 97654489 nikhilchandpm@gmail.com Indian female (M. Tech – power system) having Gulf experience, currently on family visa seeking suitable placement in Oman. Contact: 94306164 Mechanical Engineer with 5 yrs exp in which 3 yrs in GCC with valid D/L. looking for suitable placement. Contact :94172136, Email: allen.mathew@hotmail.com Indian male 24 yrs B Tech Electronics & communication looking for job, having 6 months exp available in Muscat on visit visa. Contact: 94756280 / 95084905, Email: vivek2573459@gmail.com Civil Engineer : Pakistani male having 4 yrs experience in Oman. Well handle site & guide workers, seeks suitable placement. All the documents available. Contact 96470310. Electrical and Electronics Engineer with one year experience and GCC licence holder seeking a job mail – shyjalpk@gmail.com Indian male, 30 yrs, Diploma in Civil Engineer, 5 yrs exp. at building construction & consulting company with Oman driving license. NOC available seeks suitable placement. Contact 95989500, cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Looking for(Store,Coordination,Admin ,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885 Indian male Electronic Technician, 7 yrs experience, CCTV Technician seeks suitable job, now on visit visa. Contact 98353542 / 99179853 Indian male, B.Tech, B.Tech (Electronics) MBA (Marketing) having 1 yr experience as Deputy Manager Sales in Fortune 100 MNC currently on visit visa seeks suitable job. Contact 96967234, Email: lijotitus111@gmail.com Indian male B.Tech Mechanical Engineer 1 year experience seeking suitable placement, available immediately. Contact: 93907707 Email: jubinkasim@gmail.com SUPERVISOR: Indian male site supervisor (AIR CONDITIONING) 25 years of experience with valid Oman Driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 93391910 Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male MBA 13 yrs exp in Oman (8 yrs in Tech Documentation 5 yrs in Project coordination) Administration, seeks suitable placement. Visa transfer / NOC available. Contact : 93069441 Civil Engineer BSc-Total Experience 6 years-2 years in Oman, experience in site work & Structural Design & Technical office. Contact 97983610 Bangladeshi male, B.Sc, Engg. in Civil total 9 yrs experience, 2.5 yrs as Contractor Engg. & 3.5 yrs as consultant Engr, total 6 yrs exp in Oman seeking a job. Contact Mobile 95540721, Email : sheikwet@gmail.com Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385

Indian male, Supervisor Electrician Diploma 8 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 95057068, jratheesh@yahoo.com BE Civil Graduate /Male – More than 18 years of experience in Infrastructure in India,UAE and Oman. looking for a suitable job in Oman. Mob :98294123 Email: sandeepj02@gmail.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Mechatronic Engineer (UK) with business operations PG Certificate (UK) & piping Engineering (IIT) looking for vacancy, with Oman driving license. Contact 99278195, email : justin_johns123@hotmail.com Mechanical Engineer, Indian male, 24 yrs, having 1 yr plant experience currently on visit visa, looking for suitable job. Contact 92835957, rafeekmohammed84@gmail.com Civil Project Engineer exp 10 yrs. Contact: 92673432 Email: arifjamalkhan8@gmail.com Telecommunication Maintenance Engineer Sudanese male 2 years experience in HUAWEI hardware field cabins good communication English & Arabic. Contact :+ 968 96433495 / +968 94756295 Email: muzamilawadalla@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 29 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF tyres) seeks suitable placement. Contact 92789995, Email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Experienced Electrical Technician, with Oman driving license looking for suitable placement. Contact 96103843 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Indian male 24 years B.E mechanical 2 years exp. or visit visa. Contact: 99247326 Civil Engineer B.E, 5.5 years experience with Omani D/L. Contact: 96785311 Electrical Engineer 2 years experience (Indian) construction (building) looking suitable placement. Contact 00968 92596672 Email: kundara.renjith@gmail.com Electrical Engineer bachelor degree having 6+ years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Email: imran.engr08@gmail.com Indian Male, Diploma in Civil Engineer working as a Project engineer with 7years of experience looking for suitable job. Contact- 92636569 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 SAP – SCM.MM Consultant B.Tech. (Chemical), from NIT, working with oil industry, seeks employment. Contact: 98049288

EDUCATION Indian lady M.Com, B.Ed looking for openings in teaching. Contact 97668603 Indian female, B.Sc, B.Ed, 3 yrs experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact 91330415

EDUCATION

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian female, M.Sc, M.Phil. Chemistry, 3 yrs Teaching experience currently on visit visa, seeks suitable position. Contact 96916534 / 91969756

Indian Male 13 years experience in Purchase/Store seeks urgent placement Contact -99609696

Indian Female, 25 years, M.Sc Electronics + Multimedia, having one year teaching experience in Government college in India, seeks suitable placement. Contact GSM 99367448

Indian female, English teacher, MA,B.Ed,CELTA, 5+years experience, looking for suitable placement. GSM 99642462, kalcky@yahoo.com

HOSPITALITY Diploma holder in Aviation Hospitality & travel management, Indian male seeking for suitable position, presently in Oman. Contact 97309707 Indian female 40 yrs, MBA, Oman driving license with experience in service industry / business development is looking for suitable job. Contact : 98007311 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. Contact 91383167

IT NETWORK/NETWORK SECURITY ENGG. Graduate in B.Tech CS. Have 5.3 years of experience in Network and Security devices. Certiﬁed on CCNA, CCNP, MCITP and CCIE Sec. Written passed. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact +974-55297089, e-mail: rejad.hashim@gmail.com B.E (Computer) degree Engineer, complete schooling in Muscat, male, Indian with 1 yr experience needs job in software / networking / Java/ Web design or Marketing. Contact 97136248 / 99313821 Sudanese female IT Tech. Support, Demographic, English ﬂuent exp. 11.6 yrs. Contact: 96659392 Indian (f) with 7 yrs exp in software development (2.5 yrs Oman exp) good knowledge in .net and MSSQL Server seeks suitable placement. Contact : 93276784 email: sanalkumar63@gmail.com Indian visit visa, Network / System Engineer switches, routers, servers, load balancers 5 yrs of exp holds B.E (ECE), CCNA looking for good opportunity. Contact: 91911792 Email: arafakdnl@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male 26 yrs Graduate, 2 yrs exp as logistics Coordinator looking for suitable placement. Contact: 96944298 Management Professional accountable, responsible for proﬁtable management can handle the entire operations, HR/Recruitment, Business development & Sales & marketing & etc, Great organizational skills with over 23+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai-UAE & Oman(11yrs) as General Manager - Publications, Printing,Media. open to any industry, can Join immediately w/NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

MEDICAL BA degree Nursing professional having excellent looking for suitable placement. Contact:: 92955453 /91213269

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Supervisor fabrication. 30 years experienced in oil and gas industry with thorough knowledge of PDO procedures. contact 99365694, 92362946, 99208102 email: tapasroy21@yahoo . com Supervisor / Forman interior / electrical with Oman driving license. Contact: 93438075 MIB Post Graduate /male – more than 9 years of experience in shipping & Logistics in middle east (Liner Section) looking for a suitable job in Oman. .Mob :( India) 91-9400043894, Oman 99899627 Email: jaise81@gmail.com

Indian Male 9 years experience in Purchase/Supply Chain with Oman D/L looking for a suitable opening in Construction/ Oil & Gas Industry. Contact 91124175

PROJECTS 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, open for Sales & Marketing also. Contact 95245057

SALES / MARKETING Indian male, Graduate with 18 yrs experience in Sales & Marketing 3 yrs in UAE currently on visit visa, seeks suitable placement. Contact 91996486 / 99732070 Bangladeshi male, looking job for salesman. Contact 97756028 Indian male, B.Com, MBA having 2 yrs experience in Marketing & advertising presently on visit visa, looking for suitable openings. Contact 96559835, rintomatam@gmail.com Sudanese young man looking for job with suitable ﬂuent in computers & experience in Sales. Contact 91318822 Indian male, 2 yrs exp. in Sales with D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact 92055093 MBA, HR & Marketing, Indian, male, 25 yrs, fresher, on visit visa seeks placement. Contact 94736649 / 98207564, Email : dvengels8191@gmail.com Marketing/Sales, 1 year experience/ Degree holder(BBA) / valid Driving license. Contact;94122944, mail; raashidjabirm@gmail.com Indian on visit visa, having 5 yrs exp. in procurement / purchase in KSA with valid Saudi driving license. Contact 95438201 Looking for job as Salesman at any shop. Contact 96930922 Male, BA with D/L, 6 yrs exp. in Oman seeks suitable job in Sales & Inventory & procure. Contact 92191026 Expert in Sales Marketing & promotions, having D/L of Oman, good communication skills in Arabic & English. Contact 92262680 Indian male 8yrs experience in Purchase looking for a suitable placement with N.O.C. Contact : 95621614 Indian male 27 years, B.Tech Graduate having good work experience with valid Oman D/L looking for a suitable opening as Sales Engineer. Contact: 91472953 Email: harees.rasheed.2014@gmail.com

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED Building construction supervisor looking for small Omani company to handle independently or suitable placement in good company with Oman D/L. Contact 93061107 TIG+ARC Welder Indian with 16 yrs Middle East exp. in Copper Nickel, Duplex, Inconel, S.S, CS Now on visit visa seeks suitable placement.. Contact : 96502282. Email: manuangola88@gmail.com

TOURS & TRAVELS Five years experience in Travel ﬁeld ,BCom., IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India, looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast. pls contact 9470 57671 1 yrs experience in travel ﬁeld B.Com, IATA, MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales reservation ticketing driving license & NOC available. Contact 92954613

Indian Male, 37 Years , B Tech Graduate Electrical. Having 12 Years Experience of DCRP Works / Jobs in Oman with Driving License, Looking for an suitable opening, NOC Available. Contact – 92122338, Email saiviharvasanth@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available. Contact : 98803439 Indian Female Lawyer having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman seeks placement in Legal/ HR/Admin etc. NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 YEARS in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat. GSM:97475860 Email:yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com INDIAN MALE 24 YEARS, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic).Having 2 years experience as Electrical Site Engineer in Constructions. Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications. Seeking for suitable placement in constructions or in any related industries. Contact no: 98045482 , Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping&Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. GSM: 97121525 Quantity Surveyor-MEP (Estimation/Project) ,Total 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, Looking for suitable job, Contact - 97906551 Pakistani male 32 years IT network + Computer Hardware professional A+ MCSE Termination Technician work Experience in salalah airport. 10+ years experience in IT field and 2 years Oman working experience valid GCC driving license available looking for a suitable placement contact no 96733205 Email - faisalzaman24@gmail.com Well qualified Indian Female Bsc, Computers diploma 9 years of experience as Executive Secretary seeks placement. Contact 95423692,91374217 Indian female with MBA in finance on visit visa seeking immediate placement. Contact :968-93316493 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years , looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 5 years of Gulf experience in FASTENERS and building material. with good communication skills. Contact: 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.comIndian B.E Mechanical engineer,2 years job experience in Oman in pipeline field, having ASNT level ll in UT,RT,MT and PT, fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, with valid Omani driving license (light) searching for job. Contact : +968 92745691 ACCOUNTANT: Indian male senior Accountant, Graduate & CA Article ship completed. 18 Years of experience. Currently on visiting visa. seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 99769743, Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286

Having exp in the following, MS Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 & E-Mail Client Administration,Linux Administration, Service Desk Administration, Network Management, Technical Support. Presently the candidate in India.Mob:97239854 Software Developer, Indian female, B.Tech (AE & I), M.Tech (VLSI Design), asp.net, C#,.net, C++, Core Java, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpkku@gmail.com Electronics / Instrumentation Engineer, Indian female, M.Tech (VLSI Design), B.Tech (applied Electronics & Instrumentation), ASP.Net, C++.Net, C++, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpktu@gmail.com Driver with car seeking suitable post. Contact : 916602662 Female from India -MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. English seeking for a urgent better placement, Now working in Oman. Contact:: 93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com. Video Editor 29 years Indian male with 8 years experience on visit visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 91275969 / leomoorkoth@gmail.com 8 yrs exp 2d, 3d Draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. # 97449630 Tunisian shoes designer wuth 40years expereince in designing and manifacturing loocking for a job in a related ﬁeld contact : 97816917 Indian male MBA + TALLY , 29 years & 7years experience in Administration and Manager level in Reputed companies, Seeking suitable placement.Contact 96297709 / +91 9066130371, Email: jomonjohnm9@gmail.com Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact: 9719 4864 Indian male post graduate.2 years experience in sales. currently in oman on visit visa.seeks suitable placement.Gsm 92388346 Civil site coordinator, Diploma, Male 25, now present in Oman, Seeking job in Oman. Contact: 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com Male Indian 27, working as ﬁnance analyst having two years Oman experience with Driving license looking for suitable position. Mob: 98097009, rameesnm@gmail.com FRESH - B.Com Graduate on Family Visa, looking for any suitable Job. Contact : 92567020 / 95322175, Email: shwayanad@gmail.com Admin Executive, Indian Female having 10 years Gulf experience in seeking suitable placement currently working in Muscat. Email: meenafajar@yahoo.com, Mobile 0096893211402 MOH Indian Dentist 10 years experience in Oman. Can speak Arabic, has driving license. Contact 98995321 or ventureoman007@gmail.com Having 9+ years exp. in Administration & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact No.: 97693456. Email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Omani , female, have diploma in quantity survey, bachelor in Constitution management, seeking situated placement at Sohar. Tel 94454180, Mail nhlmct@yahoo.com Indian male,27, IT/Telecom Engineer, 2 yrs exp in Oman, with valid Oman D/L, NOC Available. Ph: 9393 8727

Indian male 35 yrs, 10 yrs UAE experience in FMCG, looking for a suitable position in sales and marketing, valid GCC license on visit visa. Contact 93438747, 95723635.

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

Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement. Contact : 97914340. Email: rajkv30@gmail.com

Indian male having 4 years of experience in IT Support & networking. Currently on visit visa. seeking suitable opportunities. Contact 92013641.

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 1 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED MISCELLANEOUS B.Com graduate, 11 years experience in Accounts, 9 years Oman experience , Oman valid driving license, looking for suitable post. Mob:92758404 NOC Available. Indian male, B.com, MBA, having 5 years experience (3 years in U.A.E) is currently seeking suitable opportunities within finance/accounts/ admin dept.Contact:93953613, allen.mathew83@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 Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 yrs in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat Email:yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com, GSM:97475860 Indian Male, 32 yrs, MBA-HR, Trainer & Faculty worked on Omanisation & nationals development activities with 10 yrs of experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 93891401 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Female MBA gold medalist, with computer proficiency, Oman driving license looking for job opportunity in event management companies in Muscat. Ph : 99012949 Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science,diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience dba oracle plsql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba,network Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic Tel: 91415886 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 / 96143708/97357143 Indian Male 22 Years , Graduation In Electronics Seeking Jobs In Supervisory , Sales & Sales Co-ordination Fields , Good Communication Skill # 96141317, E-mail: akhilek5@gmail.com Indian female B. Com MBA finance ,5 years experience in oman as an account seeking suitable placement. Contact 99044292 DIPLOMA+B.E.(CIVIL ENGINEER), Indian, 4 years of experience, currently on visit visa; Seeking Right Position. GSM:91570703. Two year experience in Oman, experience in sales, purchase and system admin, Having GCC license. Contact number 97475860, Yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com ME. Civil Engineer, Structural Designer, 3 Years Structural Design, 6 Years Str. Engineer Experience, Looking For Structural Designer Position. Iranian Male. Contact: 93696929, Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com B-tech Electrical Engineer with more than 2 years of experience in erection and designing of HT and LT electrical systems. Seeking for suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 98269366. Email: sijincleetus@gmail.com Male Graphic designer cum animation, non linear editing VFX, seeking suitable position. Contact: 97792661 / 96229406 Indian lady 30 years Graduate having work experience in India and Oman looking for Admin or any other suitable job. Contact : 95676957

Indian Female Accountant, CA Final (Group I cleared), 5+ year’s experience in the field of Accounts, Audit and Financial ERPs. Currently available in Muscat and seeking suitable job opportunities.Ph:94704800 email id: vinithsavith@gmail.com Civil site coordinator, Diploma, Male 25, now present in Oman, Seeking job in Oman. # 92887561, jubincivileng@gmail.com Data Entry operator cum Buyer, Indian male,26years.BA, Computer proficiency :Operating system (Windows 2000xp & Windows7) E plus and Tally ERP9, 4 yrs Experience in Oman seeks suitable placements. mob:95360255 Driver looking for job exp 2 yrs. Contact: 98522914 Indian Female BSC nurse with 8+ years of experience including 3 years of GCC exp. Oman Prometric passed with 57 %. Currently in Oman. Contact : 98034384 Senior Accounts Professional, Indian Male, 36 years, M.Com, MBA (Fin) 9 years in Oman, with valid Oman DL and NOC available. Capable to handle accounts up to finalization. Contact 9602 3965. Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking, 1 year sales experience. M. Sc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121. Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com Indian female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3 yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913 Indian male 27 years B.E & MS Mechanical Engineer working in Delhi for last 4 years in Jcb India pvt. ltd., seeks placement in Oman. Contact 93393768 Indian, presently on visit visa in Salalah looking for job B.com failed UAE experience in accounts, commercial Admin & warehouse. Contact: 92754071 /93346931 Email: sathyanathanuk@gmail.com Indian male, 39 yrs, MSC Computer Science 10 years experience IT support, FMS Engineer, bank experience looking for suitable job. Contact: 94276449 MBA (Marketing /HR) with 45 years exp in business development and marketing, having valid Oman driving license seeks suitable placement currently available on family visa. Contact 97618033 Email: vjgeorge12@gmail.com Indian male 63 years have 30 years Muscat experience all office work sales business development insurance administration accounts with Oman driving license. Contact : 99249412 Driver 5 years exp know English, Arabic,& Hindi Education B.A. Contact : 91615715 / 99512270 Indian female LLB (Advocate) 2 years experience looking for suitable post legal advisor company secretary etc. Contact 93343190 / 94476387 Email: shafu1019@gmail.com Indian female, B.Sc, PGDCA, currently on family joining visa, 2 years working experience in oman as customer care / sales co-ordinator, immediate joining seeks suitable placements. Contact no. (968) 95573205 / 95949230 / 95800792

B.E (IT) 1 year exp complete schooling in Muscat needs job in software / net working / java/ WEB design or marketing. Contact: 97136248 / 99313821 Indian male 22 years ACCA affiliate , BSc, Graduate in applied accounting 2 months working experience seeking suitable placement in Finance / Accounts / audit immediately. Contact: 97378607 / 92558734 HR.Admin..indian male..2+ Oman exp..joining immediately.. Contact 93671437 Indian male Chartered Accountant having 10 years of experience in Process audit, Risk assessment and Internal Audit is urgently looking for a suitable opportunity. Cell: +96897327343 Email: cabalkrishnadubey@gmail.com. NOC available B-tech Electrical Engineer with more than 2 years of experience in erection and designing of HT and LT electrical systems. Seeking for suitable job in Muscat. Contact: 98269366. Email: sijincleetus@gmail.com Project Manager / Senior Engineer, Indian Male BE Civil, 21yrs experienced including Oman looking for the Job Contact +918939295181 Email I’D sanja_bala@yahoo.co.in Indian male 26 , graduate in mechanical engineering having 2 years experience in fabrication production filed in India, looking for a suitable job. mobile: +968-91384621 EMAIL : rmekhil@hotmail.com Sr. Sales Executive, Indian Male, Holding Valid Oman DL. Total experience in Oman of 15 years with 4 years Rent a Car Co. experience. Looking for Opportunities in any Industry for similar sales role. GSM - 95703233 email id “khetani_r@yahoo.com INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic). Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications. Looking for HSE engineer job in Oil Gas Sector, constructions or in any related industries. Contact 98045482 Indian male. M.com holder with two year working experience as an accountant in India. Now at Muscat on visiting visa. Seeks suitable placement. Gsm:96947500,99463120, Email:mohamedshafikk5@gmail. com 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 Female, Indian, 35 Yrs- house maid available for Full/Part time work in Muscat. contact- 96754303. 29 years Indian female (MBAFinance) with 4+yrs experience (Oman) in Accounts, seeking suitable placement in Accounts/Admin. Contact:96141283 Indian, male, 41 years, CA Inter, Persuing CA final. Now on express visa. 7 years of Experience in OMAN as Finance and Accounts Manager in Trading , Construction and Firefighting industry. 21 Years of exp. seeking suitable Managerial positions. No visa issues. Immediate joining. Contact 98469311 Email:sebin30@yahoo.co.in B-tech Electrical engineer with more than 2 years of experience in erection and designing of HT and LT electrical systems. Seeking for suitable job in Muscat. Contact:98269366. Email:sijincleetus@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED Indian male,Accountant, B.com, 1 yr experience in auditing and having knowledge in tally. #94733824/95769355

BSC Female Nurse having 8 years of experience ( 3 years in gulf). Prometric passed - 57%. Currently in Oman. Contact : 98034384

Indian Female B.Sc., B.Ed.(Maths), M.C.A residing in Al-Ghubra seeking a teaching position as a Math Teacher GSM.- 94231633

ACCOUNTANT, M.Com holder with 2 year working experience as an accountant in Kerela-India, seeks suitable placement. GSM NO:96947500, 9 9463120, mail: mohamedshaﬁkk5@gmail.com

INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer. Looking for suitable job in Oil Gas Sector or in related industries. Contact 98045482

8 yrs exp 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. Contact : 93790601

Indian male, ERP Functional Consultant (SCM, MM, HRMS), Seeks employment.Contact: 98478928, Email: anand.desai2408@gmail.com

Indian Male 22 Years, Graduation In Electronics Seeking Jobs In Supervisory , Sales & Sales Co-ordination Fields , Good Communication Skill Contact 96141317, E-mail: akhilek5@gmail.com

Indian male , 14 yrs Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel ﬁeld ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available mob : 95 25 36 40 . email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com

Chartered Accountant with 7 years of post qualiﬁcation experience, seeking challenging job opportunity. Experience in auditing/accounts & ﬁnance/taxation/IFRS, etc. GSM +968 95763680

Indian male 28YRS, 7Years exp. in Architectural & structural Draughtsman & 3d visualization, looking for a suitable Post GSM: +971551965944. Email:aboosuﬁyan@gmail.com

Indian Female Interior Designer, 4.5 yrs experience, seeking immediate mid-senior level position with ﬁrm having lady clearance. NOC Available. Contact 93033072

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, Email : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com

Sudanese.male 32 years.B.SC mechanical engineer.7years experience.5 years experiance in Gulf. working now in water pipeline projects.ﬂuent Arabic and English. have Omani driving license.looking for good opportunity TEl:91117089

Indian Female, M.Com & MBA with 1.5 years of experience in Reinsurance Treaty seeking a good job opportunity in Insurance & Reinsurance Accounts or General Accounts. Contact: +968 91920189, Email: neethumano.manohar@gmail.com

Indian Male 22 years, ACCA Afﬁliate with B..Sc. Degree in Applied Accounting having three months working experience seeking suitable placement in Finance / Accounts / Audit. Holding valid Oman D/L. Contact 97378607 / 92558734

CCNA MCITP network support / network technician with 2 years experience Indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. #93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com

Indian female Nurse, Prometric passed 64%, 5 years of experience, MOH licensed, presently working in Oman seeking a suitable placement in reputed Hospitals, NOC available. Contact: 98329941, Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com.

ME. Civil Engineer, Structural Designer, 3 Years Structural Design, 6 Years Str Supervising Experience, Looking For Structural Designer Position. Iranian Male. Contact : 93696929 Email: mhsaz1359@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

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

Well established infrastructure works company with full assets & huge value contracts up for immediate sale. Contact 98867530 / 95565039 Looking for Investor to start steel fabrication unit. Contact 98314531 Invite business proposals on proﬁt sharing basis. Email : contact@absmct.com/ 99221683 Canadian Consultancy Company is looking for a Partner in Oman. For more information please contact +973 39990830 New company seek partnership. Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

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M O N DAY, AU G U S T 1 7, 2 0 1 5

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RENT A CAR

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

TRANSPORTATION Transportation only in Muscat. Contact 96736975 Transportation any time. Contact 99365092 Transportation. Contact 98178135 Transportation available. Contact 95570429 Transport. Contact: 95190627 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282

Car for rent. Contact: 92516090

Transportation. Contact: 98244078

Butter cup rent a car competitive prices new car 2016. # 97249449

Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 1 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

DRIVING

CLASSES Driver for Automatic Transmission. Contact: 99040813

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

MATRIMONIAL Ezhava lady, divorcee, 37, 5.3”, Pharmacist in Muscat, suryakv2010@gmail.com +919961176066 Looking for alliance from professionally well qualiﬁed nair boy for a postgraduate nair girl working in public sector, India. Contact : Oman 99440356 and India +91 9446129845 Kerala Syro Malabar Catholic girl, 28 yrs, working in Salalah, MOH from Palakkad, seeks suitable alliance from Keralite professionals in Muscat. Contact 99357901 Malayalee Nair boy from good family(only son) – 36 yrs- B.Com, MBA (Mktg & Finance)- Associate Regional Manager in an MNC in Coimbatore- invites alliance – Contact +91 7639622079

Admission started in a private school, Darsait (Mount Zion Group of Institutions CBSE 1) for KG and grade 1 to 4 please register soonest. Contact: 92088325 / 24799938

COMPUTER

Keralite male, 34 yrs, Hindu Viswakarma (Sudha Jathakam) working as Chef in reputed Hotel in Muscat seeks suitable alliance. Contact 97097061/ 91 8547644153 23 yrs Keralite Christian girl settled in Bangalore invites alliance from well settled Christian boys. Contact 99494371 Keralite Christian Orthodox boy, 28 yrs, MBA seeks suitable alliance. Contact 91394731 RCSC boy, Kanjirapally Diocese, 36-172. Contact 93028813 / 92501521 Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East. Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

WEBSITE

NRI One stop shop business services : Public Relation (PRO) formation new companies, LLC companies, Investor visa, business setup, prepare businesses & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company. Contact: Saleh : 96723485

House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Split window cassette AC unit servicing, maintenance. Contact: 99540621

Thiruvalla at Kattode 300 mtrs .from T.K. Road, 10 cents square plot for sale. Contact: 97229763

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

9.75 cents square plot with compound wall and gate at Kovalam, Trivandrum(Kerala) for sale. Interested in NRI buyers only near to Hotel Leela. Contact: 00968 – 95210474

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

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

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 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 Water prooﬁng ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Civil maintenance - plumbing, electrical, painting, and tiling, interior decorations, shop furnishing and all other maintenance works. Contact: 97897831 / 92112094 (Indian, Keralite)

Air condition maintenance split and window A/C split a/c ducted and package type units. Contact: 98667326

Pest control Treatments, Cockroaches, Ants ,Rodents & Termites. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99357908 / 99344723.

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 Part time accountant services available. Contact:93438100 All maintenance & repairs. Contact Rizwan: 99429071, RMPM Trading. General cleaning in buildings villas all types interior, exterior, polishing dry cleaning carpets, rugs, marble etc. Contact 94134784 / 98598280 General cleaning & Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 / 99357908

For AutoCAD drawings and Civil Engg. Q.S works, please contact.92758095

GOOD NEWS Fresh ﬂowers Jasmine Roses Marigold & Garlands for Onam & other festivals, advance booking accepted. Haridas Nensey. Contact 24750784 Rakhees Raksha Bandhan available thousands Designs. Also special offer at Haridas Nensey Ruwi. Contact 24750784 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com