Times of Oman - April 18, 2016

MONDAY

April 18, 2016 10 Rajab 1437 AH

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

On the occasion of the 1st National Day,1971

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ As far as domestic policy is concerned, our plan is to build our country and provide all its people with a prosperous life.

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 48

| 40 Pages . Baisas 200 . Subscription OMR63 | ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company | Chairman/Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali | Printed & Published by Muscat Media Group

As austerity tightens its grip on Oman, airlines and travel agents report corporate bookings have dropped

GROUNDED A travel agency in Oman has reported a 20% drop in corporate bookings as companies ground their staff and halt business travel

But could the dip be good news for general fliers?

ZIMBABWE

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe on the occasion of his country’s Independence Anniversary.

In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes to President Mugabe and his country’s people. -ONA SENEGAL

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Companies across Oman are grounding their staff as corporate travel from the Sultanate has its wings clipped by austerity. Airlines serving the Sultanate and travel agents have both reported a drop in bookings from business travellers, both in economy and premium class, another sign that low oil prices continue to impact the country’s economy. However, if the corporate bookings dip continues it may prove to be good for the general passenger, with airlines saying more offers would be one tactic to tempt back fliers. >A6

U P D AT E D L I S T O F D O N ’ T S

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from President Macky Sall of Senegal in reply to His Majesty’s congratulatory cable on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, President Sall expressed his utmost thanks and appreciation for His Majesty’s congratulations, wishing His Majesty good health and success. He stressed his desire to continue strengthening relations between the two countries. -ONA

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

Heftier fines for shops violating new health, safety regulations HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Restaurants, cosmetic shops and barber shops in nine Omani governorates will face heftier fines if found violating the new health and safety regulations.

To curb the rising number of health and safety violations in local restaurants and barber shops, 29 new kinds of violations were added to the list recently, with fines reaching up to OMR500.

According to an official at the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR), the health regulations and violations list had been amended very few times since 1999.

Hamad bin Saif Al Gharibi, deputy minister of MRMWR, announced the new list of violations last week. Explaining the updated list of don’ts, Fadhila Al Bahri, director of Preventive Health Management at the ministry, said the punishments for various offences were not acting as an effective “deterrent” and violators were getting away by paying fines on the spot.

“This was leading to repeated violations which ultimately resulted in more health issues affecting

HM receives thanks cable

500

Omani rials is the fine imposed on restaurants and barber shops for 29 new kinds of violations added to the list recently

consumers,” she explained, adding coffee shops and restaurants flouting health regulations were leading to frequent cases of food poisoning.

Increased fines were being imposed in Musandam, Al Wusta, Al Buraimi, North and South Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhili-

yah and the North and South Al Sharqiyah governorates, which, all together, include 44 wilayats, which are all under jurisdiction of MRMWR. However, Muscat, Dhofar and the wilayat of Sohar are not on the list. “Sanctions in Muscat are obviously higher than in other governorates, that’s why not all new regulations apply to it,” she clarified.

The highest fine on the old list was OMR300, which was imposed on an eatery for causing a case of food poisoning. In the new law, the fine has been increased to OMR500, and the restaurant must be closed until investigations are over.

Lose permit The law reads: “In case the violation is repeated, the fine will be doubled and the owner will lose his permit for the next six months.”

The investigation is to be carried out by health inspectors who have to report any suspicious case to laboratories and take samples of the food for analysis.

Previously, working in an establishment without permit used to attract a fine of OMR30, but now it has been raised to OMR50. >A8 BURAIMI INCIDENT

ROP denies relatives of abandoned child located

MORNING MINUTE

Staff Reporter

Omani portrays happiness, joy through pictures

A2

MUSCAT: Relatives of an abandoned child have not been found, said the Royal Oman Police (ROP).

A two-year-old girl was found abandoned in a public park in Al Buraimi on Friday, the ROP had reported.

Photographs and news reports circulating on the social media claiming that the abandoned child’s relatives have been found are not true, the ROP tweeted on its official Twitter handle.

“The images and news being spread in the social media are untrue. Public should trust only official news agencies and the ROP,” the police tweet added.

In a fresh tweet, the ROP urged the child’s relatives and members of the public having any information about her, to immediately contact the Buraimi police station.

OMAN

WORLD

MARKET

Quiz prelims end

Ecuador quake toll

SPAR to open outlets

1

2

3

Preliminary rounds of the Times Quiz came to an end at Pakistan School Muscat on Sunday. >A4

The toll from Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades soared to at least 233 on Sunday. >A14

SPAR International — a Dutch multinational retail chain — plans to open 24 outlets in Oman. >B1

A2

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

OMAN

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

I aim to show happiness and smiles. The world needs more smiles and moments of joyfulness, not tears of sadness Anas Al Dheeb, Photographer

‘I want to show happiness and joy’ After Japan and UAE, Omani photographer Anas Al Dheeb will showcase his art at Bait Al Zubair

HASAN SHABAN AL LAWATI

hassan@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: ‘Journey of life’, a solo exhibition by 23-year-old Omani photographer Anas Al Dheeb, will kick off today (Monday, 18 April) at Bait Al Zubair.

After two personal galleries in Dubai and Japan, Al Dheeb has finally decided to showcase his art locally in his first personal exhibi-

tion in the Sultanate. The young photographer said the gallery will display images of people from Oman and other countries. A student of marketing at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), Al Dheeb is known for travelling to exotic parts of the world to photograph people.

In his latest charity trip to Chad, Al Dheeb clicked many portraits of refugees who, despite the hurdles, smiled for the camera.

Al Dheeb said sadness has become a common subject for photographers nowadays. “I aim to show happiness and smiles. The world needs more smiles and moments of joyfulness, not tears of sadness,” he said. Notably, many limited edition photos of Al Dheeb were sold for OMR2,000 each in Dubai during his latest exhibition. Also, he was

recently honoured by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

“I put up this exhibition in order to let more people know about my art style,” the renowned photographer said, adding that local photographers are very talented and are capable of bagging the most competitive international awards.

Al Dheeb at this young age has already won more than 35 local and international photography awards, including a gold medal in the World Cup for U21 in Germany 2014. In the same year, he bagged the first prize in the GCC in a photography contest, titled, ‘Story of light’ organised in the Middle East College. Furthermore, Al Dheeb won the top honour in the Youth Creativity Award in Dhofar.

SOOTHING SCENE: The world needs more smiles and moments of joyfulness, not tears of sadness, says Omani photographer Anas Al Dheeb. – Supplied photo

MODERN COLLEGE

TEDxMuscat Salon hosted Times News Service MUSCAT: As part of its mission to support creative thinking among the nation’s youths, the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) hosted the well-known TEDxMusact Salon on April 7.

The event was held under the theme “Breaking Through”.

TEDxMuscat is part of TEDx—an international initiative to promote innovative and out-of-the-box thinking across communities and cultures, created in the spirit of TED’s mission of encouraging, “ideas worth spreading.”

Innovative ideas The project encourages talented and ambitious members of local communities to speak about innovative ideas, in a bid to motivate audiences and contribute to nation-building.

The half-day event hosted speakers exploring the theme “Breaking Through”.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Share your world with us on Instagram

IMPRESSIVE SHIPS: These port calls in Muscat offer a great opportunity for Muscat’s residents and

their children to watch these impressive ships from Muscat Corniche. – File photo

UK cruise ships to visit Oman The port calls coincide with the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II and the British Embassy in Muscat will celebrate the event with a party alongside the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth during her call at Port Sultan Qaboos

Times News Service MUSCAT: Coinciding with the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II, Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 and its sister ship, Queen Elizabeth, will visit Oman. Officials said that Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to arrive in Muscat on April 19 at 8 am and sail at 6 pm the same day.

This will be followed by the Queen Mary 2 calling at the port on April 20 at 8 am. The ocean liner will sail at 8 pm.

“These port calls in Muscat offer a great opportunity for Muscat’s residents and their children to watch these impressive ships from Muscat Corniche,” officials said.

Similarly, Queen Elizabeth will be calling at Salalah on April 20 at 7 am and will sail at 6 pm.

AHMAD AL HARTHY RACES

Oman Air offers motorsports holiday deals Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Air Holidays is offering two packages for motorsports fans, who are invited to watch superstar Omani driver Ahmad Al Harthy race at two of Europe’s most iconic circuits.

With prices starting at OMR464, the packages have been designed to celebrate the Oman Racing Team’s eagerlyanticipated participation in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at Monza, Italy, and Silverstone in the UK. Each package includes return flights from Muscat, return airport transfers, accommodation for four nights on a twin share basis, daily buffet breakfasts, day return transfers from the hotel to the racing circuit and tickets to the race.

Motorsports fans who wish to attend the Monza race can choose from Business Class or Economy Class packages.

Business Class packages to Monza cost OMR1,175 per person, while Economy Class packages are available at OMR 464 per person.

UK packages The UK packages include return flights from Muscat to London on either of the airline’s two daily flights.

Accommodation for Business Class customers is offered at the Hilton, Park Lane in London, whilst Economy Class customers will receive reservations at the four-star Hilton London Paddington.

Business Class packages to Silverstone are available at OMR1,695, while Economy Class packages cost OMR636.

Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to arrive at Salalah on April 22 at 7 am and sail at 6 pm. “This is a unique year when both the ships are calling at both Muscat and Salalah, one after the other.”

M C Jose, chief executive officer of Khimji Ramdas, Projects and Logistics Group, said these port calls coincide with the 90th birthday celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II and they are delighted that the British Embassy in Muscat will be celebrating this event in Muscat with a party alongside the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth during her call at Port Sultan Qaboos.

The Queen Elizabeth, Cunard’s youngest ship, named in 2010 by the Queen, is the second largest Cunard ship.

She is currently on her 121 night world voyage, having left

Southampton, England on 11 January, 2016, returning on 10 May, 2016. She will have a stopover in West Africa, East Africa, Australia, Far East, Middle East and Mediterranean Coasts before returning to Southampton.

Similarly, Queen Mary 2 is crossing the Atlantic to the USA and sailing to South America before reaching Australia and New Zealand. She will go to Shanghai, Hong Kong and South East Asia before reaching the Middle East.

The liner will sail pass West and East Mediterranean coasts before reaching Southampton.

Queen Mary 2’s 2016 World Voyage got underway on 10 January, 2016, and will return to Southampton on 10 May, 2016.

They might have a chance to meet each other in UAE waters on 18 April, 2016. Khimji Ramdas Shipping, market leaders for cruise vessel handling in Oman, had a busy and successful year with approximately 275,000 passengers visiting different ports in Oman via various cruise ships.

The cruise ships visited Muscat, Salalah and Khasab. The tourists were thoroughly impressed by the authentic Arab hospitality, Arab architecture and superior hygiene. The last vessel for the season would be CS Sea Princess, calling on 6 June, 2016 in Muscat, and Seabourn Sojourn calling on 10 May, 2016 in Salalah.

OMAN

A3

A4

T IME S O F O MAN

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

T IME S O F O MAN

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

OMAN

SOME 300 PSM STUDENTS TAKE PART IN TIMES QUIZ Questions were comparatively easier than last year, and I think our team will easily qualify to the next round, said a contestant

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: Preliminary rounds of the Times of Oman Inter School Quiz Contest (TOOISQC) came to an end at Pakistan School Muscat on Sunday.

Some 300 students in two categories – Junior and Senior – participated in the final qualifier, seeking to be promoted to the next round of the Times inter school quiz.

Students rose to the challenge, answering the right mix of audio, visual and direct questions from quiz master Lloyd Saldanha.

The qualifier was easy for Hunzala Shahid and his teammate Taha Zaheer, who participated in the junior category for the second time.

“Questions were comparatively easier than last year, and I think our team will easily qualify to the next round,” Shahid said.

According to Ataullah Niazi, Senior Principal of Pakistan Schools in Oman, Times of Oman’s quiz is an important event for students.

“Times of Oman provides the perfect exposure for students, and this will help them to update their knowledge in all aspects,”

he said. “It is not easy to qualify to the next round. Participants should have a good knowledge of current affairs, and also should have good observations about the entire world,” he added.

“This makes Times of Oman’s interschool quiz special, and this is a rich learning experience for our children,” he added.

According to Niazi, quizzes create inquisitive minds, and Times of Oman is helping students to become more inquisitive.

“TOOISQC also helps schools to take students from their normal curricular activities and venture into a more knowledgeable area,” he said.

He further said that students are very enthusiastic about the TOOISQC and each year many students choose to compete.

In the senior category, participants noted that questions were challenging. “Questions were not that tough, but challenging, even though we are confident that we can easily move into the Mega prelims,” said Asjad and Farhan, class 9 students.

Students grew louder with joy when the quiz master announced answers to the questions.

According to the quizmaster, students at Pakistan School Muscat deserve full credit for their efforts. “They were a very enthusiastic crowd and made the entire preliminary round completely enjoyable for me,” Lloyd Saldanha said.

Mega prelims will be held on 19th of April at the Indian School Ghubra. Teams from 20 schools are participating in the quiz contest, while the top 12 schools will clash in the final on April 21 at City Amphitheatre.

The winning school in the Times of Oman interschool quiz will lift the Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Rolling Trophy for their school.

Photos by O.K. Mohammed Ali and Purushothaman K. /TIMES OF OMAN

PAKISTAN SCHOOL MUSCAT | JUNIORS Team Name

Participant 1

Participant 2

BOYZZ 187

OBAID KHAN

M.BASIT

PIKAA PIKAA PIKAA CHUU

HASSAN NAWAZ

ABDULLAH ABRAR

ANONYMOUS X

TAHA ZAHEER

HUNZALA SHAHID

QUIZ MAFIA

SHUJA KHALIQ HANJRA

ABDUL HANNAN RAND

SUPER FIRE

MOHAMMED ALAMIN

ALI HAIDER

BOY’S 187

HUZAIFA JUH

ABUBAKAR

XLR 8

EMMAD UDDIN MUGHAL

FALAH ADEEL

THE CHAMPIONS

MUJTABA ABBAS

ABDULLAH AMIR

ENXY V.2

USMAN NAWAZ

KHALID AKRA

QUIZ WARRIOS

AHMED ALI SHAH

M.NAZMA WASEEM

QUIZ CHALLENGER

S.ARSALAN AKHTAR

ABDUL REHMAN

GHOST RIDERS

SUFYAN RAZA

SALAH JAWAD

PAKISTAN SCHOOL MUSCAT | SENIORS Team Name

Participant 1

Participant 2

PHSYCO’S

FADI RAMI

HASAN MASOOD

THE LEGENDS

AZMEER AHMED

MUHAMMAD FAIQ FAKHAR

CLG

MUNAWAR AHMED

SHAWN FERNADES

BRO QUIZZERS

SALMAN TAHIR

ZAFEER-BIN-MUNAWAR

NOOVITA BOMBS

NOOR FATIMA

KAVITA

THE ANONYMOUS

HAMMAD MAHMOOD

M.AHMED AFTAB

THE SPY SQUAD

AIMAN ZAHRA

ROMAISHA SHAHBAZ

GLADIATORS

MOHAMMAD BUTT

ALI YOUSUF

ANGEL BEATS

TASNEEM GAMAL

SARA KADEM

#BROTHTA SQUAD

TAIMUR AHMED

FAHAD AKRA

THE INCREDIBLES

AZMAT FATIMA

XENEB SULEMANI

BLOOD WEAVERS

EHSAN SHAHID

MUHAMMAD

A5

A4

T IME S O F O MAN

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

T IME S O F O MAN

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

OMAN

SOME 300 PSM STUDENTS TAKE PART IN TIMES QUIZ Questions were comparatively easier than last year, and I think our team will easily qualify to the next round, said a contestant

STAFF REPORTER

MUSCAT: Preliminary rounds of the Times of Oman Inter School Quiz Contest (TOOISQC) came to an end at Pakistan School Muscat on Sunday.

Some 300 students in two categories – Junior and Senior – participated in the final qualifier, seeking to be promoted to the next round of the Times inter school quiz.

Students rose to the challenge, answering the right mix of audio, visual and direct questions from quiz master Lloyd Saldanha.

The qualifier was easy for Hunzala Shahid and his teammate Taha Zaheer, who participated in the junior category for the second time.

“Questions were comparatively easier than last year, and I think our team will easily qualify to the next round,” Shahid said.

According to Ataullah Niazi, Senior Principal of Pakistan Schools in Oman, Times of Oman’s quiz is an important event for students.

“Times of Oman provides the perfect exposure for students, and this will help them to update their knowledge in all aspects,”

he said. “It is not easy to qualify to the next round. Participants should have a good knowledge of current affairs, and also should have good observations about the entire world,” he added.

“This makes Times of Oman’s interschool quiz special, and this is a rich learning experience for our children,” he added.

According to Niazi, quizzes create inquisitive minds, and Times of Oman is helping students to become more inquisitive.

“TOOISQC also helps schools to take students from their normal curricular activities and venture into a more knowledgeable area,” he said.

He further said that students are very enthusiastic about the TOOISQC and each year many students choose to compete.

In the senior category, participants noted that questions were challenging. “Questions were not that tough, but challenging, even though we are confident that we can easily move into the Mega prelims,” said Asjad and Farhan, class 9 students.

Students grew louder with joy when the quiz master announced answers to the questions.

According to the quizmaster, students at Pakistan School Muscat deserve full credit for their efforts. “They were a very enthusiastic crowd and made the entire preliminary round completely enjoyable for me,” Lloyd Saldanha said.

Mega prelims will be held on 19th of April at the Indian School Ghubra. Teams from 20 schools are participating in the quiz contest, while the top 12 schools will clash in the final on April 21 at City Amphitheatre.

The winning school in the Times of Oman interschool quiz will lift the Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Rolling Trophy for their school.

Photos by O.K. Mohammed Ali and Purushothaman K. /TIMES OF OMAN

PAKISTAN SCHOOL MUSCAT | JUNIORS Team Name

Participant 1

Participant 2

BOYZZ 187

OBAID KHAN

M.BASIT

PIKAA PIKAA PIKAA CHUU

HASSAN NAWAZ

ABDULLAH ABRAR

ANONYMOUS X

TAHA ZAHEER

HUNZALA SHAHID

QUIZ MAFIA

SHUJA KHALIQ HANJRA

ABDUL HANNAN RAND

SUPER FIRE

MOHAMMED ALAMIN

ALI HAIDER

BOY’S 187

HUZAIFA JUH

ABUBAKAR

XLR 8

EMMAD UDDIN MUGHAL

FALAH ADEEL

THE CHAMPIONS

MUJTABA ABBAS

ABDULLAH AMIR

ENXY V.2

USMAN NAWAZ

KHALID AKRA

QUIZ WARRIOS

AHMED ALI SHAH

M.NAZMA WASEEM

QUIZ CHALLENGER

S.ARSALAN AKHTAR

ABDUL REHMAN

GHOST RIDERS

SUFYAN RAZA

SALAH JAWAD

PAKISTAN SCHOOL MUSCAT | SENIORS Team Name

Participant 1

Participant 2

PHSYCO’S

FADI RAMI

HASAN MASOOD

THE LEGENDS

AZMEER AHMED

MUHAMMAD FAIQ FAKHAR

CLG

MUNAWAR AHMED

SHAWN FERNADES

BRO QUIZZERS

SALMAN TAHIR

ZAFEER-BIN-MUNAWAR

NOOVITA BOMBS

NOOR FATIMA

KAVITA

THE ANONYMOUS

HAMMAD MAHMOOD

M.AHMED AFTAB

THE SPY SQUAD

AIMAN ZAHRA

ROMAISHA SHAHBAZ

GLADIATORS

MOHAMMAD BUTT

ALI YOUSUF

ANGEL BEATS

TASNEEM GAMAL

SARA KADEM

#BROTHTA SQUAD

TAIMUR AHMED

FAHAD AKRA

THE INCREDIBLES

AZMAT FATIMA

XENEB SULEMANI

BLOOD WEAVERS

EHSAN SHAHID

MUHAMMAD

A5

A6

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 We need to make education easy for the teachers, as well as for parents and school administration Ali Al Ghadani, Head of IT Development at the Ministry of Education

OMAN SMARTEN UP DRIVE SAFE

A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

Apps to help students learn maths, english The ‘Easy ways’ app aims to make it easier for students to learn basic mathematics by helping them learn

INTERACTIVE APP: The new apps gives students, parents and schools insight into the educational processes. -Supplied photo

how to multiply and memorise multiplication tables

Times News Service MUSCAT: Two new apps were launched by the Ministry of Education for the benefit of students in government schools at COMEX 2016 Exhibition last Thursday.

The “Easy ways” app aims to make it easier for students to learn basic mathematics by helping them learn how to multiply and memorise multiplication tables by heart, using their fingers.

The app offers the student in-

teractive ways to reach his desired result. The app also features games that encourage students to experiment and train in an attractive and interactive environment which uses several means, including text, voice and movement.

The app was produced by the Electronic Education department of the General Directorate of Development of Curricula.

Another app, the “English Language Book,” features English books that have been optimised with interactive features. It is designed to enable students opting for self-study by giving feedback and acquiring knowledge and skills. This app was produced by the Electronic Content Depart-

ment of the General Directorate of Education in South Al Batinah.

The new apps were launched in the context of the Ministry’s Educational Portal, an electronic portal that gives students, parents and schools insight into the educational processes.

Exchange of information Ali Al Ghadani, Head of IT Development at the Ministry of Education, told the Times of Oman that the Ministry has developed apps for both schools and parents to ensure that exchange of information between the two becomes easier.

With the app “Wali Al Amr” [parent], a parent can even get an overview of the results of his

children at school even when the children are enrolled in different schools.

“When you have three children who are in three different schools, there is no need to go to each school every time. Just go to the application and you will see all the details,” he said.

The app “Madrasati” [my school] enables teachers to share the student’s grades with the parents. Another app enables schools to organise their finances and communicate directly with the Ministry without involving physical documents. Al Ghadani said this also improves financial oversight of the Ministry over schools.

“We need to make education easy for the teachers, as well as for the parents and the school administration,” he said.

According to Al Ghadani, the apps will not replace physical meetings between parents and teachers. “If there is a problem with your children or you want to make something clear, you’ll have to be there,” he said.

Sulaiman Al Kindi, Director General of IT at the Ministry of Education, told the Times of Oman that the Ministry is communicating electronically with all government schools and with seventy per cent of the private schools.

CULINARY JOURNEY

Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah to host chef Igor Times News Service MUSCAT: Michelin-starred chef Igor Macchia will be hosted by Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa from April 21 to 23, where he will serve an exclusive Michelin dining experience at the resort’s Italian restaurant, Capri Court.

Igor Macchia has worked in many restaurants in Italy and

throughout Europe. Among the restaurants Igor has been associated with is La Credenza, which he calls his second home. After many years experimenting and creating his personal style, both as a chef and pastry chef, he entered into a co-ownership with the restaurant in 2005 and was awarded with One Michelin Star the following year.

Chef Macchia is always eager to experiment, research and rediscover. He notes that what he loves most is the passion found in the historic food culture.

Diners have been invited to join Igor at Capri Court – the resort’s Italian restaurant located in Al Bandar hotel – from April 20 to 23, where a la carte menu will be featured, including dishes such as

pumpkin risotto, beef tartar and grapefruit gelatine. Celebrating the Michelin dining experience, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort is offering Omanis and residents of Oman an opportunity to stay and enjoy Chef Igor’s signature delights for two people, starting at OMR 210 per room per night, inclusive of buffet breakfast and dinner at Capri Court.

FA L L I N G O I L P R I C E S

A1 Companies in Sultanate are < FROM

trimming travel requirements

A top official from Oman Air, the national carrier of Oman, said many companies are trimming their travel requirements to cope with the falling oil prices leading to the fall in the corporate bookings.

“Many companies are trimming their travel requirement to cope with the falling oil prices.

This has impacted Oman Air as well since there has been a dip in the corporate bookings, which constitute an important sale segment for any airline. Our sales and marketing expert teams are always monitoring the market and work on offering a suitable solution, be it with the General Sales Agents or corporate accounts directly.” Says Jamal Al Azki, country manager, Oman, Oman Air. An official from the UAE-based airline serving Oman said that low oil prices are acting as ‘a double-edged sword’.

Double-edged sword “Just like the rest of the industry, they are now saving lots of money on fuel. But low oil prices are acting as “a double-edged sword,” said Tim Clark, president of Emirates, now the world’s largest airlines in terms of international traffic.

“Bookings from companies involved in the energy sector— Emirates’ most important corporate customers—virtually disappeared with the collapse in crude oil prices,” he added.

Rajan Jayaraman, District Sales Manager-Oman, Kuwait Airways, also noted that corporate bookings were down.

“If the situation continues, we may be forced to slash prices and announce offers to maintain the budget which will be hit by dip in corporate bookings.

“After June or July the picture will be clear. We may come up with attractive prices and other packages to woo customers. Our business has to run.”

And Sami Muctar, Country Manager - Oman, Ethiopian Airlines, said that a large number of airlines will be forced to come out

with special offers as the business is suffering. Jet Airways in Oman confirmed it is witnessing a fall too, saying that they are watching the situation cautiously to adopt plans to cushion the effect.

Raji Demonte, general manager at Universal Travel and Tourism in Oman, has witnessed a 20 per cent dip in corporate bookings as all over Oman everyone are adopting austerity measures.

Dip in bookings “We have dip in corporate bookings. We are waiting to see how serious it will be. Bringing down the fares won’t help. Aviation industry earnings is a small pie now all over the world, especially in Oman. So, taking steps to grab it from a small pie won’t help,” Riyaz Kuttery, general manager at Jet Airways in Oman, said.

However, Riyaz added that they may come up with offers in the future if the situation worsens.

Another travel agent in Muscat, who declined to be named, said that the airlines may increase the price to compensate the decline in corporate sales revenue.

“More than coming up with offers to lure customers, they will increase the price,” the travel agent added.

The oil price dip has helped the airlines to save money, however, budget tightening initiated by the governments and companies in the region have put them in a fix.

Cash sales “We can see dip in corporate bookings and also in cash sales.

Many who used to travel annually are not doing so. Cash sales have come down in many of our outlets,” Raji said.

“However, I don’t see that airlines will bring down the prices to compensate for the loss due to dip in corporate bookings,” Raji added.

“More than coming up with offers to lure customers, they will increase the price,” the travel agent added Meanwhile, Jose Chacko, a financial advisor in Oman, said that cutting costs on premium class travel for their employees is one of the steps which companies can take to save money during this tough time.

“We know that many companies are adopting steps to avoid the number of travel, including in premium class, for their employees, if it can be,” Jose said, adding that many mid-level expatriate workers are pushing off their travel plans even to their home country.

Mohammed Khaldi, an oil company employee in Oman, said that companies don’t encourage providing premium travel facilities for their employees.

“It was happening in the past, but it has gone up more now,” Mohammed added.

Oman’s 2016 budget focuses heavily on austerity measures and it projects OMR3.3 billion in deficit spending for 2016. Oman posted a budget deficit of 4.5 billion riyals in 2015 as revenues declined by more than 50 per cent.

Forecast In December 2015, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), had forecast an average net profit margin of 5.1 per cent being generated with total net profits of $36.3 billion and also a revision to its airline industry outlook for 2015 upwards to a net profit of $33 billion (4.6% net profit margin) from $29.3 billion forecast in June.

According to IATA, the strengthening of industry performance in 2015 was driven by a combination of factors, mainly lower oil prices, robust demand for passenger travel, stronger economic performance in some key economies and efficiency gains by airlines While airline officials eye corporate bookings, travel agents say that both cooperate bookings and cash sales are going down.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

OMAN GCC

Investment in education discussed RIYADH: The Sultanate, represented by the Ministry of Higher Education, is taking part in the preparatory meeting for the 18th GCC Higher Education and ScientiďŹ c Research Minsters Committee, being held in Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

The Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delegation is being led by Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sarmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education.

The two-day meeting discusses topics of enhancing the GCC joint work and the joint investment in education. -ONA

A7

A8

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

OMAN

34,290

was the number of permits issued for food-related activities in 2015 in Musandam, Al Wusta, Al Buraimi, North and South Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah and the North and South Al Sharqiyah governorates.

Minister opens meeting on humanities research performed at the research centres having regional and international orientations. The conference is also meant to bring humanities research centres together and recognise important developments in humanities research, to exchange knowledge and expertise.

Additionally, the conference will enable researchers, academics and other professionals to benefit from the experiences in their respected research areas.

The conference seeks to discuss the current situation in humanities research in the Arab world and highlight the work at the research centres

MUSCAT: Conference on the study of humanities in the Arab world was opened at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) by Dr. Abdul Mon’em bin Mansour Al Hassani, Minister of Information, yesterday.

The conference, entitled ‘Humanities Research Centres in the Arab World: Challenges, Opportunities and Prospects for Cooperation”, will continue over two days and is being sponsored by the Humanities Research Centre at SQU. In his statement, the Minister of Information said the confer-

HUMANITARIAN SCIENCES: Dr. Abdul Mon’em bin Mansour Al

Hassani, Minister of Information, said the conference is being organised at the level of Arab countries because of the importnace of humanitarian sciences in general. – ONA

ence is being organised at the level of Arab countries because of the importnace of humanitarian sciences in general after the period of importnace of productive sciences.

Therefore scientific studies around the world and in the Arab

world are giving priority to the human and social system along with the productive applied sciences, he added.

The conference seeks to discuss the current situation in humanities research in the Arab world and highlight the work

Scientific research Those at the conference will discuss the roles and functions of humanities research centers in the Arab world, and seek to develop policies to raise the level of Arab scientific research in humanities. The conference will also address global and regional trends in the fields of humanities research, and discuss challenges facing the scientific research in the field of humanities and seek strategies to overcome them.

The conference will further build bridges of cooperation with the most famous research centers in humanities and social sciences in the Arab world to create a base for future research collaboration. -ONA

HONOUR: Dr. Jumana Saleh from the Department of Biochemistry

in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University won the award in Dubai. – Supplied photo

SQU academician awarded in Dubai MUSCAT: Dr. Jumana Saleh from the Department of Biochemistry in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) won the International Society of Antioxidants (ISA) Award during the 16th World Antioxidants Congress held in Dubai. Dr. Jumana said that the conference addressed a range of issues relating to the latest developments in the field of antioxidant

and dietary supplements, in addition to stimulating the oxidation factors in the human body and its relationship to cancer, obesity and other chronic diseases.

Leading scientists from France, Britain, Sweden, Italy, Australia, the United States and some Middle East countries, including Oman and the United Arab Emirates took part in the last session of the conference. -ONA

INDIAN ART EXHIBITION

C L E A N I N D I A C A M PA I G N

Indian prime minister inspires Omani poet REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com

Sultan Ahmed Al Mahmodi’s visual poem will be released at the Indian embassy in Oman officially on Tuesday. – Supplied photo

WORLD ANTIOXIDANTS CONGRESS

MUSCAT: Impressed with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swachh Bharat (Clean India) campaign and other initiatives, a young Omani poet has shot a four-minute ‘visual poem’, which will be part of a movie to be released soon.

“Indian Prime Minister Modi is a merciful person. He always puts the interests of other humans

before his own interests,” Sultan Ahmed Al Mahmodi, the 27-yearold Omani poet, said.

“We would like him to visit Oman, as he visited other countries in the region,” Sultan added.

The poem is part of a movie produced by Vijesh Mani, an Indian expatriate in Muscat.

“The movie is inspired by ‘Mann Ki Baat’, a radio programme in which Modi addresses his country’s people,” SN Gopakumar, who coordinates the movie

The Indian Contemporary Art Exhibition themed “Beyond the Realm of Beauty” was opened at the Omani Society for Fine Arts of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science under the patronage of Indra Mani Pandey, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate. -ONA

project in Oman, said.

Meanwhile, Vijesh Mani, the director of the movie, said it will be dubbed in 18 Indian languages.

“We have shot the movie in different locations in India.

“The movie is meant to inspire the younger generation,” the director said.

Sultan’s visual poem will be released at the Indian embassy in Oman officially tomorrow (Tuesday) by Indra Mani Pandey, the Indian ambassador in Oman.

C O L L E C T I O N O F D ATA

ICT survey of households, individuals in Oman starts Times News Service MUSCAT: Second survey on the ccess and Use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) by households and individuals has been launched by the Information Technology Authority (ITA), in cooperation with the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Oman.

This survey is being conducted to gauge the access to Information and Communication Technologies in Oman and measure the extent to which it has been put to use by households and individuals in Oman.

The survey targets 6,100 randomly selected households in the 11 governorates, in an attempt to ensure a diversity of data through reaching out to both urban and rural Omani households. The survey data will be collected until September 2016.

Speaking about the importance of this survey, Dr. Salim bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, said that “the 1st edition of this survey, conducted in 2013, provided a valuable set of ICT indicators which made significant contributions in the planning and execution of ICT related policies and projects.

These comprehensive results have been shared with several public and private organisations in order to bring about scientific evidence of the needs of families and individuals and the development of electronic services.”

“The ICT indicators obtained from these surveys are shared with international organisations, such as United Nations and International Telecommunication Union, which has helped to highlight efforts and progress made in the field of ICT in Sultanate, and improve its ranking in ICT-related global reports” he added.

Data collection Dr. Ruzaiqi further requests all citizens and residents to cooperate with the surveyors by providing accurate information during the survey. Measuring such data through a nationwide research assists key decision makers and

strategic planners to formulate initiatives related to ICT in households and individuals and measure the extent to which the digital divide in the Sultanate has been addressed effectively.

“The ICT survey reflects the rapid changes and advancement in ICT adoption, as the survey measures a number of indicators about use and access to the Internet, computers and smart phones, the prevalence and usage of social media, the measurements and actions taken to protect children from Cyber risks, the level of interaction and uptake of available e-services, and the extent of reliance on ecommerce in Oman”, noted Shariffa bint Mohammed Al Maskary, Director of International Relations and Information at ITA. The surveyors will be using smart devices, such as PDAs, tablets and laptop computers to collect the information that will be stored and processed in a secured environment.

ITA and NCSI assures participants of this survey that it follows the National Statistical Law and that collected information will be treated as strictly confidential and only be used for the purpose of the study.

V I O L AT I O N S

< FROM

A1

Penalties have increased

Some fines were doubled and some were increased six fold.

For example, working without a valid health card used to attract a fine of OMR5 per worker. Now, it has been increased to OMR30 per worker.

Interestingly, barbers who used “unsuitable” towels or tools were slapped with a fine of OMR5 only; now the fine has been increased to OMR50 in addition to a provison that such unfit tools be destroyed. The same punishment now goes for using unsterilized tools.

“We updated the list to ensure

high safety and health standards for consumers in Oman,” said Al Bahri.

Moreover, slaughtering cattle and chicken in traditional kitchens and unauthorised places will cost the violator OMR100, while earlier, it was only OMR30.

The MRMWR issued 34,290 permits for food-related activities in 2015 in Musandam, Al Wusta, Al Buraimi, North and South Al Batinah, Al Dhahirah, Al Dakhiliyah and the North and South Al Sharqiyah governorates.

The permits include 3,767 factories, 22,143 grocery stores,

2,442 restaurants and 5,938 coffee shops.

Of the above mentioned areas, North Al Batinah received the highest number of permits at 7,563, including 616 for factories, 5,850 for shops and grocery stores, 401 for restaurants and 725 for coffee shops.

In 2015, the rate of violations to the number of permits stood at 12.35 per cent.

Officials at the MRMWR said they were optimistic that the rate will come down next year after proper implementation of the new regulations.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

Yemen talks begin today in Kuwait Yemen’s government, Houthi officials signal optimism for talks to end conflict

KUWAIT: Yemen’s warring parties are sending conciliatory signals ahead of UN-backed talks starting on Monday, in a rare sign of mutual willingness to end a year-old conflict that has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

A deal may help defuse tensions. Air strikes and heavy combat persist in many parts of the country, while armed forces who could yet play a spoiling role loom CABINET CHANGE

Iraqis rally in support of cleric Sadr BAGHDAD: Hundreds rallied in central Baghdad in support of powerful cleric Moqtada Al Sadr who has threatened to call mass protests if the prime minister fails to name a new cabinet to fight corruption by Tuesday.

People in Tahrir Square on Sunday said many more would join them if Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi did not select a government mainly made up of technical experts to tackle what they see as widespread graft and mismanagement.

“Yes, yes to Iraq; no, no to corruption,” they chanted, carrying Iraqi flags. — Reuters

throughout Yemen’s tangled political scene.

Police said they foiled two car bomb attacks in the southern port of Aden on Sunday. In one case a policeman died when a car exploded after police opened fire on it rushing at a checkpoint at high speed. But the recent rhetoric of the main combatants has been unusually mild.

Political transition “We are ready for a political transition which excludes no one...

The world now looks to the Kuwait consultations as a landmark of peace for Yemenis, and we will give everything we can to alleviate the suffering of the people,” Foreign Minister Abdel Malek Al Mekhlafi, from the Saudi-backed government now based in Aden, told state news agency Saba.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, spokesman for the Houthi move-

ment which controls the capital Sanaa, appeared conciliatory in an interview with Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai on Saturday. “There should be a consensus authority during a definite transitional phase to decide every political dispute,” he was quoted as saying.

UN talks in June and December failed to end the war that has killed about 6,200 people, about half of them civilians. The war has allowed Al Qaeda fighters to seize territory and opened a path for IS militants to gain a foothold.

An unprecedented calm achieved between the two main antagonists beginning in March suggests that exhaustion over costs and casualties may be mounting. The Houthis agreed with Saudi Arabia to reduce attacks on the kingdom in exchange for a halt to Saudi-led air strikes on Sanaa, and the two sides carried out a prisoner exchange. — Reuters

REGION

A9

A10

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

INDIA

Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property P. P. Pandey, DGP of Gujarat

India to boost investment in Iranian oil and gas sectors oil and gas for joint ventures and foreign capital.

Countries like Japan, China, the US and a number of European nations are scrambling to take advantage of opportunities in the oil-rich nation after the sanctions were lifted in January.

India has been eying deeper energy ties with Iran and has already lined up U$20 billion as investment in oil and gas as well as in petrochemical and fertiliser sectors there.

The two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment

TEHRAN: India and Iran on Sunday decided to significantly expand engagement in their overall ties, particularly in boosting Indian investment in joint ventures in oil and gas sectors in the oil-rich nation where foreign investors from major economic powers are rushing in to get early footholds after lifting of nuclear sanctions.

In talks between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, the two sides agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis to spur trade and investment.

Enhancing energy cooperation and development of the Chabahar port were the centrepiece of talks which was mostly dominated by economic issues.

“The talks were very successful and would give new energy to our centuries old ties with Iran. In particular, the economic partner-

WARM GREETINGS: Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj being greeted by her Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Sunday. - PTI

ship will get considerable fillip as a result of today’s forward looking talks,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Sources said the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav was not at all raised by the Iranian side.

Jadhav was reportedly arrested in Balochistan after he entered from Iran and was accused by Pakistan of planning “subversive activities” in the country.

Chabahar project Both sides discussed the progress on the Chabahar project and agreed that the commercial contract on Chabahar as well as the modalities for extending $150 million credit for Chabahar Port should be signed in the “very near future”.

Decisions on this line of credit, as well as $400 million credit line for supply of steel rails from India have already been taken by India.

Swarup said both sides discussed

the energy partnership and Iran invited greater Indian participation in its oil and gas sector.

“Iran said it would be happy to participate in the refinery sector in India.”

On Farzad-B oil field project, both sides took note of the constructive discussions held during the recent visit to Iran of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“The Indian side welcomed the Iranian decision to keep the Farzad-B field outside the auction basket. The concerned companies have been directed to complete their contractual negotiations in a time bound manner. Iranian side had earlier communicated their gas pricing formula and expressed their desire for Indian investment in the Chabahar SEZ,” he said.

“In terms of connectivity, Iran said it supported India’s desire to join the Ashgabat Agreement. The two ministers reviewed the progress made in the International

North South Transport Corridor.

IRCON from India would be visiting Iran for discussions on the Chabahar-Zahedan Railway link,” said the spokesperson.

On Trade and Investment, the two sides agreed that with the lifting of sanctions, the potential for expanding these ties was immense.

“They agreed that pending agreements such as Preferential Trade Agreement, Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty should be concluded on a priority basis,” said Swarup.

India is keen to enhance its investment in Iran as there has been impressive prospect of the country’s economic growth. The size of Iran’s economy is around $400 billion, the second largest in the Middle East after Saudi Arabia, and the country is being seen as one of the world’s hottest investment destination as it has opened various critical sectors including

Counter-terrorism India is also keen to increase oil imports from Iran from current 350,000 barrels a day. Both sides decided to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism and maritime security as they agreed that concerted global effort was required to combat the menace.

They reviewed bilateral relations, in particular the progress in implementing the decisions taken at the last Joint Commission Meeting held in New Delhi in December 2015.

“Both sides took note of the good cooperation between the National Security Council structures of the two countries and agreed to intensify this engagement,” said Swarup.

In terms of cultural cooperation, both sides agreed to promote and strengthen the existing cultural exchanges, inter-alia, by observing “Weeks of Iran and India” in each other’s country, publication of manuscripts, organizing conferences and events related to language, literature and religion.

They also agreed on the establishment of a Hindi Chair in Tehran University sponsored by ICCR and to renew the Cultural Exchange Programme.

Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent exchange of visits and called for more high level exchanges to give fresh impetus to India-Iran relations.

The two ministers also reviewed global and regional issues, in particular the situation in Afghanistan. - PTI

PROTESTS

TAKING STOCK: Indian Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag arrives at Headquarters of Northern Command during his official visit in Udhampur on Sunday. - PTI

Army chief in J&K, reviews security situation JAMMU: With tension still prevailing in parts of the Valley, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh on Sunday arrived in the state to take stock of the security situation.

The army chief, who is on a oneday visit to Indian-administeredKashmir, arrived at the headquarters of Udhampur-based Northern Command, where he was received by the northern army Commander Lt Gen D. S. Hooda, a defence spokesman said.

Lt Gen Hooda briefed the Army chief about the overall security situation in the Command theatre, he said.

The army chief interacted with the Corps Commanders and took firsthand assessment of the prevailing internal security situation especially in view of the recent incidents at Handwara and Nutnusa in the Kashmir Valley.

Meanwhile, life in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir started limping back to normalcy after remaining paralysed for five days due to strikes and protests, but restrictions continued as a precautionary measure in Handwara and Kupwara towns where five persons have been killed since Tuesday.

While Internet services remained snapped across the valley, train services between Baramulla in Kashmir and Banihal, across the Pir Panjal mountain range, resumed on Sunday morning after remaining off the tracks for four days. - PTI

‘JA I L B H A R O A N D O L A N ’

Curfew clamped in Mehsana as Patel agitation turns violent MEHSANA: Curfew was on Sunday clamped in Mehsana town in west Indian state of Gujarat and mobile Internet service banned as a massive rally of the Patel community demanding reservation and immediate release of their jailed leaders turned violent with two buildings being set ablaze and some police vehicles damaged.

“We have imposed a curfew in Mehsana town till tomorrow morning. Mobile Internet service has been suspended during this period. The violent mob set ablaze two government properties....a sub-divisional magistrate and a mamlatdar (revenue officer) were injured in the stone-pelting,” said Lochan Sehra, Collector of Meh-

sana, 73km from Ahmedabad.

A godown of Food Corporation of India and a district office were set on fire, police said, adding 15 persons have been detained in this connection.

Five policemen and two officials sustained injuries in the incidents, police said while agitators claimed that 25 of their supporters were injured in police action.

In Surat, police detained 435 Patel agitators who hit the streets after learning about incidents in Mehsana. Surat police commissioner Ashish Bhatia said the situation was under control.

Mobile Internet services were banned also in Surat and Rajkot as a precautionary measure, dis-

trict authorities said.

In Mehsana, police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone- pelting.

Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the `Jail Bharo’ agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community. SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police.

A blame game erupted with police claiming they resorted to baton charge only after some started hurling stones at them while Patel alleged that agitators were targeted without any provocation.

“Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation,” said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police.

In-charge DGP of Gujarat P. P. Pandey claimed the situation deteriorated only after some people resorted to violence.

“Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property,” Pandey said. - PTI

AGITATION: Members of Patidar community pelting stones at Police during their ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ for demanding release of Hardik Patel in Surat. - PTI

H E AT WAV E

Scorching weather continues; Odisha’s Titlagarh hottest NEW DELHI: Several parts of the country continued to reel under scorching heat on Sunday as mercury hit a high of 46.3 degrees Celsius in east Indian state Odisha’s Titlagarh while premonsoon showers accompanied by squall and hailstorm created havoc in north east Indian state of Mizoram destroying hundreds of houses.

Delhiites experienced another hot day with the maximum temperature, recorded at 4.30pm, settling at 40.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, and the minimum registering 29.8 degrees Celsius, eight notches above average. The maximum temperature had on Saturday shot up to 44 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest April day in the national capital in the past six years, an MeT official said.

The heat wave sweeping across Odisha intensified in ten western districts as Titlagarh turned out to be the hottest place in the state recording 46.3 degrees Celsius while temperature fell marginally

HOT DAY: College goers cover their face to protect from heat in Bankura district in West Bengal on Saturday. - PTI

in the coastal belt.

The entire western region of the state continued to boil under blistering temperature, while the heat wave also prevailed in parts of interior Odisha.

While Titlagarh recorded the highest temperature of 46.3 degrees Celsius, it was followed by 45.8 in Sonepur, 45.5 in Jharsuguda and Taleher and 45 degrees Celsius in Sundargarh, IMD said in a bulletin.

The maximum temperature

touched 44.6 degrees Celsius in Hirakud, while it stood at 44.5 in both Bhawanipatna and Angul and 44 degrees Celsius in Bolangir, it said. The state capital of Bhubaneswar recorded a maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius as against 39.7 on Saturday, the MeT office said.

Meanwhile, 38 persons are suspected to have died of sunstroke even as the state government claimed that no one had died due to heat related incidents. - PTI

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

INDIA

Nearly 80% voter turnout in phase 2 of West Bengal polls In the second phase, over 12 million electorate will decide the fate of 383 candidates, including 33 women

KOLKATA: In a heavy turnout amid reports of sporadic violence, close to 80 per cent of the electorate cast their votes till 5pm in the election to 56 West Bengal Assembly constituencies in the second phase.

Overall, 79.70 per cent voters exercised their franchise in six districts of north Bengal and Birbhum of south Bengal till 5pm.

In Alipurduar, 82.07 per cent voting were recorded, in Jalpaiguri 77.69 per cent, Darjeeling 74, North Dinajpur 78.90, South Dinajpur 82.72, Malda 79.60 per cent and Birbhum 82.89.

In seven constituencies of Birbhum, affected by left-wing extremism, polling concluded early at 4pm as a precautionary measure. Voting went on till 6pm in the remaining seats.

After compilation and scrutiny, final voting percentage figures will be available on Sunday, sources said. Controversial Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal, who has been put under round-the-clock surveillance by the Election Commission, faced the ire of the poll panel for not following their instructions.

Two FIRs — one for going out of his constituency despite warning and another one for going to cast vote sporting party symbol on his kurta - are being lodged against him. Besides sporadic cases of

EXERCISING FRANCHISE: Voters stand in queue while waiting to cast their votes at a polling station in South Dinajpur on Sunday. - PTI

violence, poll boycott call over local developmental issues was also given at a handful of booths in Malda and Birbhum.

“But they were persuaded to vote after which normal polling proceeded,” West Bengal’s chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta said.

In the second phase, over 12 million electorate will decide the fate of 383 candidates, including 33 women. ADG (law and order) Anuj Sharma said during the day 14 arrests were made in specific cases and another 18 arrests were made under preventive sections.

Out of 13,645 polling stations during the phase, 5090 had been identified as critical ones by the EC. Altogether 16,315 voters were found to be vulnerable voters based on their complaints of being intimidated. Around 3,827 trouble makers, responsible for issuing threats, were “bound down” by the authorities.

COUNTEROFFENSIVE

Congress backs Nitish’s call for RSS-free India

FELICITATION: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar presents memento to classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj during the inauguration of ‘Panchtatva’ programme in Patna on Saturday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar’s call for an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-free India, on Sunday received support from Congress which said the saffron fountainhead was “posing a threat to the country’s unity and democracy” as BJP jumped to the defence of its mentor, saying its critics should attend its ‘shakha’ for a day to clear their “misconceptions”.

The BJP said it was unfazed by Kumar’s efforts to form a united front to counter it and that such attempts to stop the Modi government “from working for the development of the country and for the poor will not succeed”.

Maintaining that everyone was aware of the newly-elected Janata Dal(United) chief’s national ambitions, BJP spokesman Shrikant Sharma took a dig at the Congress, asking party president Sonia Gandhi to make it clear if Rahul Gandhi will lead such a front or will he be just part of it.

Congress backed Nitish Kumar’s view that the country should be made ‘Sangh-mukt’ (RSS-free) as it is “posing a threat to democracy and unity” but did not appear inclined to be a part of a broad-based alliance of secular parties to take on BJP, saying for any national-level alliance ahead of 2019 polls, parties should have

a “national existence”.

Asked if Nitish Kumar can be projected as the leader of a national-level alliance he has mooted, party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said he is “a popular chief minister” who is doing good work in Bihar.

“There is no talk of leadership (led by Nitish)...You are trying to create an imaginary alliance.

I told you first, an alliance at the national level...all parties are state specific parties. The understanding is with such parties in states.

By the time 2019 elections come, the public themselves will oust the Modi government and there will be no need for any alliance,” Ahmed said, replying to queries about the possibility of forging a Nitish-led national alliance.

Addressing an event in Patna on Saturday, Kumar had mounted a counteroffensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ slogan, saying, “Sangh-mukt Bharat banane ke liye sabhi gair BJP parties ko ek hona hoga (to usher in a Sangh-free India all non-BJP parties will have to come together).” “Uniting against BJP and its divisive ideology is the only way to save democracy,” said Kumar, who has already talked about “largest possible unity” among secular parties. - PTI

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

High-profile electoral battle in this phase was at Siliguri where its mayor and former CPI-M minister Ashok Bhattacharya is contesting against former Indian football captain and TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia.

State ministers Gautam Deb, Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury and Sabitri Mitra are also in the poll fray in this phase of election.

Fewer incidents Soumitra Ray, singer of popular Bengali band Bhoomi, actors Joy Banerjee and Locket Chatterjee and singer Suman Banerjee are also trying their luck in the electoral arena. CEO Gupta said there were fewer incidents in this phase

A1 1

because additional central security forces were despatched to the state. “The visibility (of security personnel) was very high this time. It was a conscious effort.

Mobile units were also mobilised in a bigger way and so was area domination,” he said.

About 800 companies of central forces are spread over different parts of the state for the polls.

In Malda, a clash between CPI(M) and TMC supporters took place in front of a booth in the Englishbazar Assembly seat, in which two persons, including a TMC polling agent, were injured, police said.

Trouble began when the TMC polling agent protested against alleged booth jamming by CPI(M).

The two sides clashed with lathis outside the booth with the central forces finding it difficult to control them, polling officials said.

TMC polling agent Anup Sarkar was injured and admitted to the

Malda Medical College and Hospital. TMC polling agent Asraful Hossain was beaten up at a booth in Chanchal constituency of Malda district allegedly by ex-pradhan Maqbul Hossain of Congress, polling officials said.

As a result, polling was temporarily stalled. Hossain has since been arrested, the police said.

Earlier in the morning, a clash between BJP and TMC workers left eight persons injured in Dumrut village of Birbhum at around 6am before polling began, an EC report said. Three persons were later arrested by the police.

TMC candidate from Siliguri Assembly constituency Bhaichung Bhutia complained of bogus votes being cast at Sriguru Vidyapith booth and a complaint has been registered with EC. The first phase of polling in West Bengal was held in two parts on April 4 and 11. - PTI

ELECTION COMMISSION

Over Rs600m cash seized in poll-bound five states NEW DELHI: Illegal cash of over Rs600 million has been confiscated from the five states facing Assembly polls, with south Indian state of Tamil Nadu leading the list with seizures of Rs245.5 million.

Even as polls have concluded in north-east Indian state of Assam and the second phase of voting is being held in east Indian state of West Bengal on Sunday, the Election Commission (EC)-appointed surveillance teams are taking action. The north-eastern state is still ranking second in the tally with Rs123.3 million having been seized there.

In West Bengal, the figure stands at about IRs121.4 million, while Rs104.1 million has been seized in south Indian state of Kerala.

Puducherry has seen seizures of about Rs6.88 million, the latest EC data said.

The cash seizures were made

by EC-appointed special flying squads and surveillance teams and by officials drawn from the Income Tax Department. “The total progressive figure of seizures made till now is about Rs 600.3 million.

Some cash has been released after seizures in West Bengal and the figures have been compiled after excluding that. Polls in Assam are over now,” a senior official said.

The Model Code of Conduct for these polls came into force on March 4 after EC announced the schedule for the Assembly polls in five states. The first phase of polling was held on April 4 in Assam and West Bengal while the second part of that phase was conducted on April 11. Three more phases of polls are due in West Bengal. Elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will be held in a single phase on May 16. EC, as part of its measures to curb the use of black money in the polls, has deployed expenditure observers drawn from central revenue services like Income Tax and the Customs and Excise departments. -PTI

A12

T IME S O F O MAN

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

#TRENDING ONLINE HOT PICKS MOST READ

MOST SHARED

TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

TOTAL VIEWS

TOTAL PAGE LIKES

55,926,564

368,325

1 New plan to cut Oman’s

1 Royal Oman Police

dependence on oil revenues

repeats its call to identify abandoned child

timesofoman.com/Opinion

timesofoman.com/Oman

2 Powerful earthquake kills 77

in Ecuador timesofoman.com/World

3 WhatsApp most popular

Founder: Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman / Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Anees bin Essa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali EDITORIAL Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24813153 E-mail: editor@timesofoman.com ADVERTISING Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24812624 E-mail: advertising@timesofoman.com CIRCULATION Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24818270 E-mail: circulation@timesofoman.com

chat app among youngsters in Arab world

2 Indian Schools in Oman

timesofoman.com/Oman

admit 4,700 students timesofoman.com/Oman

3 Oman plans to develop

4 Omani, Arab youth in region

reject IS ideology: Survey timesofoman.com/Oman

800MW power project in Muscat timesofoman.com/Oman

5 Times of Oman quiz at Indian

Printed and published by: Muscat Media Group Post Box: 770 Postal Code: 112

School Sohar 4 Get resident cards activated

timesofoman.com/ImageGallery

at Royal Oman Police civil service centres timesofoman.com/Oman

5 Kareena Kapoor Khan opens

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

Malabar Gold and Diamonds’ tenth showroom in Oman timesofoman.com/Oman

PAUL R. GREGORY MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS

Richard J. C. Galustian Real estate giants call for government policy encouraging expats to buy property in Oman.

Russia has been highlighting Kiev’s reluctance to implement the terms of Minsk 2 . It’s message is that Ukraine is a failed state, unable to implement an agreement to which it agreed. In this narrative, the problem is Ukraine’s political dysfunction, whereas Russia is an innocent peacemaker suffering under sanctions it does not deserve

TWEET WE LIKE @BirdingRob Lichtenstein’s sandgrouse, red-necked phalarope & Arabian babbler near Oman’s Yemen border http://www. birdingforalark.blogspot.com

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

FAYE FLAM

INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

The tree of life keeps changing as scientists discover new life forms. It’s not just scientists’ representation of the tree that grows. The tree itself is changing because evolution is still happening.

Furthermore, extinctions are pruning branches at a rate many scientists think is accelerating

«

Photo: Ashraf Khan.J

SHARE THIS!

READERS’ FORUM Experts should not generalise digestion processes This refers to the story, Benefits of being an early riser (April 15).

Latest scientific studies show that this adage does not work for everybody. Some people are unable to perform during the day after rising early. Also there are many body types which cause people to fall sick after eating a heavy breakfast. It is important for doctors and nutritionists to take this into consideration before giving medical advice. Some individuals get acidity even from small pieces of bread while others are able digest a large amount of food. This shows medical experts should not generalise cause and Scan this QR code effects and look at biochemical processes of to send letters to the each person as unique.

Readers’ Forum, — Rachel Bloom, Muscat containing not more

MEGAN MCARDLE

Food grown locally, on small-lot farms without modern chemical assistance, is really expensive.

The complex modern food-supply chain that ensures restaurants and food processors can get the same consistent mix of staple ingredients year-round also relentlessly beats down the price of food,— sourcing wherever supply is cheapest

than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Rousseff destroying Brazil by clinging onto power This refers to the story, Rousseff scrambles for votes to avert impeachment (April 16). It is a pity to see the Brazil’s leader clinging to power and destroying the country. It might be true her predecessor Lula had greatly developed the country, however, instead of accepting her dismal performing and accepting popular resentment she is needlessly being egoistic. — Tom Kane, Seeb

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

“Insure with New India and be secure”

Tel: 24838800 | Fax: 24838899 | Email: niamct@omantel.net.om | Website: www.newindiaoman.com When you make a mistake, admit it. If you don’t, you only make matters worse.

WARD CLEAVER

Western stooge Serraj clings to power in Libya L

ibya’s new designate prime minister Fayez Serraj is the Wizard of Oz of the Maghreb.

Great and powerful in the eyes of Western powers, but behind the facade, weak and helpless before the power of Tripoli’s militias.

On Monday 18th April this Wizard act will reach perfection when he addresses the powerful foreign and defence ministers of the European Union gathered at a dinner in Luxembourg, his words coming to them by video link rather than in person, as he pleads for their help.

But strip away the curtain, and you have a man so lacking in confidence that he has sent his wife and children to live in Britain, far from Libya’s chaos.

Consider: Serraj arrived with his, rather the UN’s, self-proclaimed, absurdly named, Presidential Council passing off as the Government of National Accord by Libyan warship in the capital a fortnight ago, because militias had threatened to shoot down his plane. But this arrival was a sham.

He was taken most of the way from exile in Tunis

by Italian warship, then transferred to a barely sea worthy Libyan patrol boat for the last leg of the journey to preserve the illusion that this was a Libyan operation.

Even before he left Tunis, two of his nine-strong presidency quit, accusing him of sidestepping the elected parliament in Tobruk, who’s authority is required to make his position legal. As for his cabinet of 30 ministers and 60 deputy ministers, they are nowhere to be seen, most content to stay behind in Tunis.

No matter. For Britain and America, his chief backers, both eyeing fat oil contracts if things work out, Serraj is Libya’s saviour. They have plucked an obscure Tripoli businessman to bring peace to Libya, ending the war between the Islamist National Salvation government in Tripoli and the elected parliament (HOR) in Tobruk. The plan then is for Serraj to head a united Libyan army crushing both IS and the migrant-smuggling gangs, the West’s twin Libya headaches. As if.

To preserve this illusion, western dignitaries are arriving in staged visits to the Libyan capital, a virtual Potemkin Village show in which they pretend their new guy is in control.

They arrive amid tight security at the city centre Mitega airport, guarded by the few militias who

have taken Serraj’s side, and his promise of fat pay rises. From there it is a nervy two mile dash in armoured cars down the coastal highway to the naval base. Once the dignitaries are inside, they stay long enough for the all-important photographs showing handshakes and meetings among the potted plants before scurrying away again.

On Saturday, the French and German foreign ministers completed this sham just in time: Soon after their planes flew away, a militia blew up the home of a politician who had dared object to the new government. Hours later, another militia attacked the home of deputy designate prime minister, Ahmed Maiteeg from Misrata. Neither man was home, wisely staying well clear of this militia-infested city, but the second attack saw rival militias bring tanks onto the streets in fighting that spluttered for five hours. Of Serraj there was no sign. He has spent most of the last fortnight abroad, in Cairo, Istanbul, London and Tunis, anywhere but Libya.

America’s Libya envoy Jonathan Winer tried to play down Saturday’s fighting, tweeting: “Shots fired, clash unintended & over quickly.” That might convince those in Western capitals. It does not convince those Tripolitanians who spent Saturday night cowering in their basements.

None of this will be mentioned in Monday night’s Luxembourg gala dinner. EU leaders will maintain the facade, and in fact enhance it, promising troops, aid workers and diplomats to be sent to Tripoli, with scant regard for the safety of these personel in Libya’s equivalent of Dodge City.

The fallout from this mess will be felt hard in Malta. IS will remain dug in on the coast a couple of hundred miles south, ready to carry out its threat to launch attacks on Europe. And the militias, making hundreds of millions of dollars from the operation, will continue sending tens of thousands of migrants on their precarious journey north to Europe.

And Malta’s own initiative to stop Libya’s war has been cut from under it. A few months ago, Tobruk parliament’s leader Agila Saleh and his rival in Tripoli Nuri Abu Sahmain were invited for their first face-to-face meeting in Malta, to try and sort out their differences. — Exclusive to Times of Oman

CLIPPINGS

Scan this QR for full article

PICTOGRAPH

FROM OUR ARCHIVES APRIL 2001 Council of State Office meets MUSCAT: The Council of State Office yesterday held its ninth meeting of the year under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamoud bin Abdullah Al Harthy, president of the council. After approving minutes of the past ordinary meeting, the office reviewed list of procedures taken to implement the decisions of its last meeting. The office then made a comprehensive assessment for the deliberations of the second ordinary session of the first year for the second term of the council, which concluded its deliberations in March 28.

OMAN’S GDP TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION (Million rials) 2012

2013

2014

1,574.7 1,469.2

1,500

1,378.9

1,000

TODAY IN HISTORY INVITATION TO WRITERS We invite our readers to write articles on topics related to Oman. The articles should not exceed 800 words.

Send us your article along with your picture to akhtar@timesofoman.com

1791: National Guardsmen prevent Louis XVI and his family from leaving Paris.

500

1838: The Wilkes’ expedition to the South Pole sets sail.

1853: The first train in Asia begins running from Bombay to Tanna.

1946: The League of Nations dissolves.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

A1 3

PAKISTAN Peshawar school attack woke us up as a nation, says Hina The former foreign minister said the global theatre of war having shifted to Libya and Syria had ‘moved the lens away from Afghanistan and Pakistan’, giving Pakistan room to recalibrate its approach

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar said Pakistan had missed out on the benefits of the region it found itself in. “In time, we have become part of the problems in this region,” she said.

Speaking at a session titled ‘Softening the Hard Country’, she said the global theatre of war having shifted to Libya and Syria had “moved the lens away from Afghanistan and Pakistan”, giving Pakistan room to recalibrate its approach. She also said Pakistan had finally begun facing internal challenges such as extremism and insurgency. “[The attack on (Peshawar’s) Army Public School woke us up as a nation,” she said.

Asked how Pakistan could reposition itself in a rapidly changing,

multi-powered world, Khar said Pakistan becoming involved in any war outside its territory would be a “repeat of old mistakes”.

She said the country needed to “gain ground within” while building better relationships with its neighbours.

She also commented on how Pakistan’s foreign policy goals were never truly established, saying that Pakistan always had a “seat on the table, but for the wrong reasons”.

“The single most important thing to me is that Pakistan has survived,” said author and educator Anatol Lieven, much to the audience’s amusement. Lieven is author of “Pakistan: A Hard Country”, after which the session was named.

He said that at a time when

Hina Rabbani Khar

many were discussing the collapse of the Pakistani state, four Middle-Eastern countries had in reality collapsed.

He cautiously opined that “If CPEC projects come through, and if they can be used effectively, the investment will transform Pakistan’s economy,” but added that “These were two big ifs.”

Contrary to Khar, Lieven was not as optimistic about the EastWest corridors, stating that while Iran offered much economic potential, its success would require

Referring to the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor as a North-South connection, Hina said equally important was an East-West connection, that is a link between India and Central Asia through Afghanistan

the end of the Afghan civil war.

Asked if China’s economic investments will bring stability to the region, Khar said the issue was a live topic, determined largely by geography and history.

US provocation Lieven stressed that diplomats in South Asia must ensure that old rivalries do not poison economic stability.

He said he was relieved when India refused to take part in potentially provocative US naval

exercise in the South China Sea. “Pakistan suffered much under the old Cold War, I hope it does not suffer under a new one,” he explained.

Regarding trade with Afghanistan, he said Pakistan needed to address the issue of massive smuggling across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Interrelated fears “If the Pak-Afghan relationship improves, it can lead to improved Pak-Indian relations,” he said, explaining that the fears of both countries are interrelated.

He also said the military’s role in policymaking needed to be defined and was surprised that Pakistan lacked a full-time foreign minister given the challenges before her.

To a question by The Express Tribune, Lieven said the kinship and feudal structures mentioned in his book had kept Pakistan intact during volatility while also being the country’s great retarding forces. As a professor at Georgetown University in Doha, he said he recognised the importance of kinship structures, but said an intensive cultural and economic process was needed to transcend them for Pakistan to truly progress. — Express Tribune

F O U N D AT I O N D AY

PTI allowed to hold rally on April 24 ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has cleared the decks for a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally at Islamabad’s F-9 Park in commemoration of the party’s foundation day on April 24.

“No hurdles should be created in [PTI’s] April 24 rally,” Nisar instructed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration as he asked it to settle all matters with the local PTI leadership.

There was a caveat though. The interior minister insists that PTI supporters peacefully disperse at the given time. Furthermore, he also directed the ICT administration to ensure that routine life of the citizens remains unaffected by the rally, said an interior ministry statement.

Media reports suggest that PTI chief Imran Khan persuaded the interior minister to allow the rally when the two men were travelling on a London-bound flight last week.

Imran had given the government until April 24 to constitute a judicial commission under the incumbent chief justice of the top court to probe Panama Papers leaks.

Panama Papers revealed earlier this month that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s three children had stashed away their money in offshore companies. — Express Tribune

A C T I V E T R AV E L WA R N I N G

US warns citizens to avoid Islamabad’s Marriott hotel ISLAMABAD: The United States has advised its citizens to avoid the area around Islamabad’s Marriott hotel in the wake of an imminent terror threat.

“The embassy is aware of a general but uncorroborated threat against the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. US citizens are advised to avoid the area for the next sever-

al days to allow time to assess the situation,” said an advisory posted on the website of the US embassy in Islamabad on Saturday.

The embassy reminded US citizens there was an active travel warning for Pakistan issued on April 7, 2016 and a worldwide travel alert issued on November 23, 2015.

“US citizens are urged to defer all non-essential travel to Pakistan. US citizens in Pakistan are strongly urged to avoid hotels that do not apply stringent security measures,” the statement said.

“The Mission reminds those US citizens considering travel to or remaining in Pakistan despite this warning to enroll in the

Smart Traveler Enrolment Program (STEP), keep a trusted friend informed of your movements in country, maintain vigilant situational awareness, avoid large crowds, keep a low profile, and avoid visiting locations frequented

by Westerners,” it added.

The message pointed out that official US Mission personnel and

visitors were not allowed to use public transportation and were not authorised to stay overnight in hotels in Pakistan. “US citizens should exercise caution when traveling in the country, keeping in mind the high security threat level,” the mission’s advisory said.

US travellers were also asked to vary their times and routes when

traveling anywhere in Pakistan, and to avoid travel patterns to any such locations that might allow other persons to predict when and where they will be. “US citizens are further advised to verify that travel documents, visas, and residency documents remain valid and accessible at all times,” the embassy said. — Express Tribune

A 14

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

WORLD

Share your world with us on Instagram

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Earthquake kills 233 in Ecuador The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast on Saturday, causing panic as far away as the highland capital Quito and collapsing buildings and roads in a swathe of western towns

MANTA (ECUADOR): The death toll from Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades soared to at least 233 on Sunday as rescuers using tractors and bare hands hunted desperately for survivors in shattered coastal towns.

The 7.8 magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast on Saturday and was felt around the Andean nation of 16 million people, causing panic as far away as the highland capital Quito and collapsing buildings and roads in a swathe of western towns.

President Rafael Correa, who was rushing home from a trip to Italy, said the confirmed number of fatalities rose on Sunday to 233.

“The immediate priority is to rescue people in the rubble,” he said via Tiwtter.

More than 1,500 people were injured, authorities said.

Coastal areas nearest the quake were worst affected, especially Pedernales, a rustic tourist spot with beaches and palm trees. Information was scant from there due to poor communications and transport chaos.

“There are people trapped in various places and we are starting rescue operations,” Vice President Jorge Glas said on Sunday morning before boarding a plane to the area. A state of emergency was declared in six provinces.

“There are villages totally devastated,” Pedernales’ mayor Gabriel Alcivar told local radio, adding that “dozens and dozens” had died in the rustic zone.

“What happened here in Pedernales is catastrophic.”

Aftershocks Authorities said there were 135 aftershocks in the Pedernales area.

One photo on social media purporting to be the entrance to Pedernales showed a torn up road with a crushed car in the middle and people standing behind. Local TV station Televicentro broadcast images from Pedernales showing

DESTROYED: View of a fallen building after a 7.8-magnitude quake in Portoviejo, Ecuador on Sunday. – AFP

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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

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

VIDEO

locals using a small tractor to remove rubble and also search with their hands for people buried underneath. Women cried after a corpse was pulled out.

Locals said children were trapped. One man begged for help: “Pedernales is destroyed.”

Terrifying In Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, rubble lay in the streets and a bridge fell on top of a car.

“It was terrifying, we were all scared and we’re still out in the streets because we’re worried about aftershocks,” said Guayaquil security guard Fernando Garcia.

About 13,500 security force personnel were mobilised to keep order around Ecuador, and $600 million in credit from multilateral lenders was immediately activated for the emergency, the government said. Ramon Solorzano, 46, a car parts merchant in the coastal city of Manta, said he was leaving with his family. Photos from Manta

PHOTOS

showed Red Cross workers arriving, police hunting through debris, a smashed sculpture and badlydamaged buildings.

“Most people are out in the streets with backpacks on, heading for higher ground,” Solorzano said, speaking in a trembling voice on a WhatsApp phone call. “The streets are cracked. The power is out and phones are down.”

Parts of the highland capital Quito were without power or phone service for several hours but the city government said those services had been restored and there were no reports of casualties in the city. The government called it the worst quake in the country since 1979. In that disaster, 600 people were killed and 20,000 injured, according to the United States Geological Survey. Among international aid, Venezuela and Mexico were sending personnel and supplies, the Correa government said.

A tsunami warning was lifted on Saturday night but coastal resi-

dents were urged to seek higher ground in case tides rise.

“At first it was light, but it lasted a long time and got stronger,” said Maria Jaramillo, 36, a resident of Guayaquil, describing windows breaking and pieces falling off roofs. “I was on the seventh floor and the light went off in the whole sector, and we evacuated. People were very anxious in the street ...

We left barefoot.”

The OPEC member said oil production was not affected, but closed its main refinery of Esmeraldas, located near the epicenter, as a precautionary measure.

The Ecuadorean quake followed two large and deadly quakes that struck Japan since Thursday. Both countries are located on the seismically active “Ring of Fire” that circles the Pacific, but according to the US Geological Survey large quakes separated by such long distances would probably not be related. “Even the earth’s rocky crust is not rigid enough to transfer stress efficiently over thousands of miles,” it said on its web site. Quakes can cause other big quakes within a range of hundreds of miles, but can cause only small, brief quakes at a distance of thousands of miles, it said. — Reuters

OUTSIDE FOR SAFETY: People take some rest outside a hospital in Guayaquil on Sunday. – AFP

JA PA N

Rescuers search rubble for survivors, Toyota suspends production TOKYO: Japanese rescue teams on Sunday scoured the splintered remains of buildings destroyed by a series of deadly earthquakes in southern Japan as time ran out for finding survivors and as major Japanese manufacturers face production losses from supply chain disruptions.

A 7.3 magnitude tremor struck early on Saturday, killing at least 32 people, injuring about a thousand and causing widespread damage to houses, roads and bridges, with at least one mountain highway severed in two, concrete tumbling into the valley below. In the village of Minamiaso, 11 people were “out of contact”, said public broadcaster NHK. Rescuers pulled 10 students out of a collapsed university apartment in the same settlement on Saturday. “In Minamiaso, where the damage is concentrated, there may still be people trapped under collapsed buildings, so we are focusing our attention and rescue and search efforts in this area,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

It was the second major quake to hit Kumamoto province on the island of Kyushu in just over 24 hours. The first, late on Thursday, killed nine people. Of more than 470 quakes hitting Kyushu since Thursday, 78 have been at least a four on Japan’s intensity scale, strong enough to shake buildings.

Quakes are common in Japan, part of the seismically active “Ring of Fire” which sweeps from the South Pacific islands, up through Indonesia, Japan, across to Alaska

RESCUE OPERATIONS: Japan Ground Self-Defence Force soldiers conduct search and rescue opera-

tion at a collapsed house at a landslide site caused by an earthquake in Minamiaso town, Kumamoto prefecture, southern Japan, on Sunday. – Reuters/Kyodo

and down the west coast of the United States and Central and South America.

At the other end of the ring this weekend, Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades killed at least 77 people, caused devastation in coastal towns and left an unknown number trapped in ruins.

A 6.1 magnitude quake also struck southeast of the Pacific island nation of Tonga, with no immediate

reports of damage. Three nuclear plants in the southern Japanese region were unaffected by the second quake, but the Nuclear Regulation Authority said it will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday to discuss the disaster.

A massive 9 magnitude quake and tsunami in northern Japan in March 2011 caused the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986, shutting down the nuclear

industry for safety checks and sending radiation spewing across the countryside. The first reactor to restart was Kyushu Electric’s Sendai No. 1, which is at one of the plants in the region hit on Saturday. Nearly 20,000 people were killed in the 2011 tsunami.

The Kumamoto region is an important manufacturing hub.

Toyota Motor Corp said it would suspend production at plants

across Japan after the quakes disrupted its supply chain.

Electronics giant Sony Corp said its Kumamoto image sensors plant would remain suspended.

One of the company’s major customers for the sensors is Apple.

Meanwhile, Honda Motor Co. said production at its motorcycle plant in southern Japan would remain suspended through Friday.

Suga said the government may seek a supplementary budget to cover the cost of the quakes. “We will do all that we can,” Kyodo News quoted Suga as telling a press briefing.

All commercial flights to the damaged Kumamoto airport were cancelled and Japan’s bullet train to the region suspended. Expressways are closed in wide areas because of landslides and cracks in road surfaces, hindering efforts to get supplies of water and food to survivors. Overnight, rescuers digging with their bare hands dragged some elderly survivors, still in their pyjamas, out of the rubble and onto makeshift stretchers made of tatami mats.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he would boost the number of troops helping to 25,000 and had accepted a US offer of help with air transportation. Heavy rains fuelled worries of more landslides and with hundreds of aftershocks and fears of more quakes, thousands spent the night in evacuation centres. “It’s full in there. There’s not a inch to sleep or even walk about in there. It’s impossible in there,” a resident of Mashiki town said out-

side an evacuation centre.

Firefighters handed out tarpaulins to residents so they could cover damaged roofs, but many homes were simply deserted. Around 62,700 households were without electricity, water supplies had been disrupted to more than 300,000 homes and some areas had lost their gas supply, said NHK. More than 110,000 people have been evacuated from the Kumamoto area, said Kyodo. Troops set up tents for evacuees and water trucks were being sent to the area while television footage showed people stranded after the fall of a bridge being rescued by helicopters.

Police said 32 people had been confirmed dead in Saturday’s quake. The government said about 190 of the injured were in a serious condition. The epicentre of Saturday’s quake was near the city of Kumamoto and measured at a shallow depth of 10 km (six miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said. The shallower a quake, the more likely it is to cause damage.

The city’s 400-year-old Kumamoto Castle was badly damaged, with its walls breached after having withstood bombardment and fire in its four centuries of existence. The USGS, a science organisation that provides information on ecosystems and the environment, estimated there was a 72 per cent likelihood of economic damage exceeding $10 billion, adding that it was too early to be specific.

Major insurers are yet to release estimates. — Reuters

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

A1 5

WORLD

Television images showed streets in Providencia, an upscale neighborhood of Santiago, overrun by flood waters after the Mapocho River breached its banks.

Doha oil output freeze talks fail OIL PRODUCERS SIGN UP FOR DOHA MEETING

The development

As many as 15 oil-producing countries have officially confirmed their attendance for the meeting in Doha, talking on a deal to freeze output at January levels to support the global oil market

will revive oil industry fears that

Daily oil production

major producers are

(million barrels) Attending countries

embarking again on

50

a battle for market

Russia Saudi Arabia Iraq Iran UAE Mexico Kuwait Venezuela Angola Nigeria Algeria Oman Indonesia Qatar Ecuador Bahrain

share, especially after Riyadh threatened to raise output steeply if no freeze deal were reached

DOHA: A deal to freeze oil output

by OPEC and non-OPEC producers fell apart on Sunday after Saudi Arabia demanded that Iran join in despite calls on Riyadh to save the agreement and help prop up crude prices.

The development will revive oil industry fears that major producers are embarking again on a battle for market share, especially after Riyadh threatened to raise output steeply if no freeze deal were reached.

tween OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers, in Doha, Qatar on Sunday. – Reuters

Some 18 countries, including non-OPEC Russia, gathered in the Qatari capital of Doha for what was expected to be the rubberstamping of a deal - in the making since February - to stabilise output at January levels until October 2016. But OPEC’s de facto leader Saudi Arabia told participants it wanted all OPEC members to take

SHOW OF STRENGTH: An Iranian military truck carries parts of

the S300 missile system during the Army Day parade in Tehran on Sunday. – AFP

Iran displays Russian S-300 defence system around 150km (90 miles) away.

Russia has said it cancelled a contract to deliver S-300s to Iran in 2010 under pressure from the West. President Vladimir Putin lifted the ban in April 2015, after an interim agreement that paved the way for July’s full nuclear deal with Iran that ended international sanctions.

Since then, Iran has upset the United States by carrying out four ballistic missile tests, which the United States and its European allies said were in defiance of the United Nations resolution adopted in July. Rouhani said on Sunday that during the nuclear talks Iranian negotiators also aimed to maintain and boost the country’s military capabilities.

Iran has two armies, a regular one which operates as a national defensive force, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that was created after the Revolution to protect the country against both internal and external adversaries. The army has the biggest ground force in Iran and IRGC is in control of growing arsenal of ballistic missiles. — Reuters

COPPER OUTPUT HIT

Heavy rain in Chile affect millions SANTIAGO: Heavy rains battering central Chile have left an estimated 4 million people without drinking water as landslides wreaked havoc and rivers breached their banks, leaving at least one person dead and closing the world’s largest copper mine.

A woman was killed by a landslide in the San Jose de Maipo valley, a mountainous region just southeast of capital city Santiago, while a special police force is searching for another four people in the same area, said Ricardo Toro, the head of Chile’s Onemi emergency office.

46

US China Canada Brazil Colombia Libya

TALKS: Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, Oman’s Minister of Oil and Gas, arrives to a meeting be-

A R M Y D AY PA R A D E

DUBAI: Iran showed off parts of its new Russian S-300 missile defence system during National Army Day on Sunday, where President Hassan Rouhani said the country’s armed forces were no threat to neighbouring countries.

Every year, Iran’s armed forces hold parades across the country to mark Army Day. In a ceremony in Tehran, broadcast live on state television, trucks carrying the missiles drove past a podium where Rouhani and military commanders were standing. Soldiers also marched passed the podium and fighter jets and bombers took part in an air display.

“The power of our armed forces is not aimed at any of our neighbours... Its purpose is to defend Iran and act as an active deterrent,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA, in a speech at the Army Day ceremony.

Russia delivered the first part of the S-300 missile defence system to Iran last week, one of the most advanced systems of its kind that can engage multiple aircraft and ballistic missiles

Not Attending countries

Television images showed streets in Providencia, an upscale neighborhood of Santiago, overrun by flood waters after the Mapocho River breached its banks.

Codelco, the world’s top copper producer, said the rains forced the Chilean state-owned miner to suspend production at its century-old underground El Teniente mine, likely leading to the loss of 5,000 tonnes of copper.

Global miner Anglo American Plc suspended mining activities at its flagship Los Bronces copper mine and the smaller El Soldado deposit for security reasons. — Reuters

part in the freeze, including Iran, which was absent from talks.

Tehran had refused to stabilise production, seeking to regain market share after the lifting of Western sanctions against it in January.

After five hours of fierce debate about the wording of a communique - including between Saudi Arabia and Russia - delegates and

ministers announced no deal had been reached. “We need more time to reach an agreement among all OPEC members and main producers to freeze production, which can be by June,” one OPEC source said.

The failure to reach a global deal could halt a recent recovery in oil prices. “With no deal today, markets’ confidence in OPEC’s abil-

Source: U.S. EIA

Reuters /

Graphics

ity to achieve any sensible supply balancing act is likely to diminish and this is surely bearish for the oil markets where prices had rallied partly on expectations of a deal,” said Natixis oil analyst Abhishek Deshpande.

“Without a deal, the likelihood of markets balancing are now pushed back to mid-2017. We will

see a lot of speculators getting out next week,” he added.

“The Doha meeting was an opportunity for OPEC to polish its tarnished image,” Miswin Mahesh, an analyst at Barclays Plc in London, said on April 15. “After the failure of OPEC’s December meeting, the market was uneasy about its cohesion and Doha was a chance for the group to reassert its relevance and build a circle of trust.”

Brent oil has risen to nearly $45 a barrel, up 60 per cent from January lows, on optimism that a deal would help ease the supply glut that has seen prices sink from levels as high as $115 hit in mid-2014.

Saudi Arabia has taken a tough stance on Iran, the only major OPEC producer to refuse to participate in the freeze.

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told Bloomberg that the kingdom could quickly raise production and would restrain its output only if Iran agreed to a freeze. Iran’s oil minister Bijan Zanganeh said on Saturday OPEC and non-OPEC should simply accept the reality of Iran’s return to the oil market: “If Iran freezes its oil production... it cannot benefit from the lifting of sanctions.” — Agencies

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

IMF’s COMMUNIQUE In its communique, International Monetary Fund asked member countries to refrain from competitive devaluations and all forms of protectionism as it underlined the need for global cooperation in combating corruption. — PTI

MARKE

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

DIGEST VIDEO Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

SPAR plans to open 24 outlets across the Sultanate by 2017 This year, we plan to open 14 stores. By the end of 2017, we will have 24 outlets across Oman, a senior executive of the company said

BRINGING IN VALUE FOR MONEY: Tobias Wasmuht, managing director, SPAR International. — Supplied picture

BABA UMAR

open 24 outlets in Oman by 2017, a top-level company executive told Times of Oman.

“This year, we plan to open 14 stores. By the end of 2017, we will have 24 outlets across Oman,” Tobias Wasmuht, managing director, SPAR International, told

babaumar@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Vowing to tap the largely unexploited retail outlet market in the Sultanate, SPAR International — a Dutch multinational retail chain — plans to

TOO in an exclusive interview.

He said: “I think there is considerable opportunity for multi-format retailing in Oman — which today is very much historically driven by hypermarkets. The future will show that there is not only opportunity but demand for greater vari-

NAT I O NA L O I L C O M PA N Y

LABOUR STRIKE: Kuwaiti oil sector employees sit in a shaded area on the first day of an official strike called by the Oil and Petrochemical Industries Workers’ Union over public sector pay reforms, in Ahmadi, Kuwait, on Sunday. - Reuters

Kuwait crude output drops as workers strike over pay DUBAI: Kuwait’s crude production tumbled by 60 per cent and its refineries scaled back operations as the state oil company took emergency measures to cope with the first day of an open-ended labour strike.

The Opec member’s production dropped to 1.1 million barrels a day, Saad Al Azmi, deputy chief executive for finance and spokesman at Kuwait Oil Co. (KOC), said in posts on Instagram and Twitter on Sunday when workers walked off the job. Kuwait Petroleum Corp., the parent company for KOC and other operating units, will continue providing fuel to the local market and can meet demand from international customers for exports, it said on Twitter.

Cutting spending Kuwait is among Middle Eastern oil producers that are cutting spending and benefits to plug holes that the oil-price drop of nearly 30 per cent in the past year has punched in government budgets.

Prices have fallen as rising output from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and other suppliers

has created a global glut. Kuwait produced 2.81 million barrels a day last month, making it Opec’s fourth-largest member, while worldwide supply exceeded demand by 1.6 million in the first quarter, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

‘Shocking’ decline The plunge in Kuwait’s output “is just shocking,” Edward Bell, a commodities analyst at Dubaibased bank Emirates NBD PJSC, said Sunday by phone. “That would take care of the surplus right there. There could be quite a bit of upside in oil tomorrow.”

Oil ministers from producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Opec’s largest member, and Russia are meeting in Doha on Sunday to discuss a proposal to freeze oil output to help prop up prices.

Brent crude closed at $43.10 a barrel Friday, posting gains of about 25 per cent since the freeze was proposed in mid-February.

News of a possible deal from that meeting could be overshadowed by the impact of Kuwait’s reduced production, Bell said.

Kuwait’s oil and gas refineries are processing 520,000 bar-

rels a day of crude, said Khaled Al Asousi, spokesman for Kuwait National Petroleum Co. The state-owned refinery unit reduced processing rates at the country’s three oil plants, which have a combined capacity of about 900,000 barrels a day, due to emergency measures and because less supply is available from KOC, he said.

Members of the 13,000-strong Oil & Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation are protesting cuts in their wages and benefits, Saif Al Qahtani, the union’s leader, said by phone Thursday. About 6,000 workers walked off the job when the strike began Sunday, CNBC Arabiya cited him as saying. Union officials couldn’t be reached for comment on Sunday.

Natural gas production stood at 620 million standard cubic feet a day, Al Azmi said. Kuwait’s refineries process crude into refined products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for domestic use and export.

Negotiations with the strikers were continuing, Mohammed Al Shatti, Kuwait’s representative to Opec, said in Doha. — Bloomberg News

ety of formats.” The company has united with Khimji Ramdas — the licenced SPAR Partner for Oman — operational since 1870 and one of the leading business conglomerates in the Sultanate.

“Our operations are local and all of the profit in the business is reinvested back into this country.

We are not an international conglomerate that is taking value out.

We are bringing value into Oman,” he said.

Wasmuht said his company looks forward to exploit what he said is the “fragmented” market in entire GCC. “If you look at the current market in GCC, the most concentrated market is UAE where the top three retail players have 27 per cent share of the market. In Saudi Arabia the top three players have only 12 per cent of share. In GCC, the market is pretty fragmented and our role is using our multi format retail strategy, large extensive

store network in coming years to get a major share of that market,” the SPAR official said.

Unlike other major players like Lulu and Carrefour, SPAR official said that their strength lies in offering multi-format (small, medium and big) retail outlets to diversified population at various locations.

“Which means we get penetration. Our strength is our multi-format stores,” he said, adding “They [Lulu and Carrefour] are predominantly large format stores. If we look at Oman within the GCC in terms of food retail, about seven per cent of food retail comes from Oman. Oman for SPAR will be of greater significance and importance. Oman punches above its weight and we believe we have a strong partner,” he said. Wasmuht became the Managing Director of SPAR International, assuming responsibility for the worldwide development and co-ordination

of the SPAR organisation. He says he is focused on the development of SPAR as a global retail brand through international brand communication combined with retail and supply chain development.

“In terms of how we differ from other players, we’ve diversified formats in hyper, super, convenient stores, neighborhood stores and all that. We offer retail formats from 100 square metres to 12000 square metres in over 42 countries which means Khimji Ramdas can immediately access things, tried and tested across these countries and bring them into this market.

So that’s the key. Our core value is also freshness,” he added.

The company official said their Ominisation engagement is over 50 per cent. “Our long term we want to see ourselves at the top of the market. We have potential to lead the market. We are extremely bullish and excited at what we have achieved so far,” he said.

B2

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

MARKET Regulator clears changes in rule on insurance agents junctions with the issuance of Decision No. 28/2016 which was published in the Official Gazette which granted the agents six months to adjust their situation except the provision for Omanisation which is required in three years.

The new regulation allows agents to adjust their situation within six months, except for Omanisation

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s insurance regulator Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved the new amendments to the Insurance Agents’ Regulation.

Sheikh Abullah Salim Al Salmi, executive president of Capital Market Authority has confirmed that the new amendment to the Insurance Agents’ Regulation focuses on Omanisaton of the profession to achieve added

Sheikh Abullah Salim Al Salmi, executive president of Capital Market Authority. - File picture

value to the national economy and the partnership with the private sectors.

The insurance sector grew by 14.8 per cent in the past seven years with the turnover touching OMR446 million.

The statement was made in con-

Supporting SMEs He explained that the amendment was made after assessment of the situation in light of the former version of the regulation which provides for a number of the requirements for obtaining the licence. The key changes included Omanisation of the profession and the support of the investment initiatives in establishing small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

He point out that the insurance agent plays an important role in marketing the insurance products over a large geographical area.

The insurance sector has witnessed legislative and regulatory developments this year such as the amendments to the Moto Vehicle Insurance Law, the Unified Motor Insurance Policy and the Insurance brokers regulation.

OPEX 2016

EXHIBITION: At the recently concluded Omani Products Exhibition in Ethiopia, visitors interacted

with the participating companies. More than 100 Omani firms from different sectors, government agencies and small and medium enterprises participated in the exhibition. - Supplied picture

Over 5,000 visitors flock to Omani products’ exhibition Times News Service MUSCAT: More than 5,000 visitors representing various segments of the Ethiopian business society got acquainted with Omani products, majority of whom hailed the excellent quality of the displayed Omani products at the Opex 2016 in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

At the recently concluded Omani Products Exhibition, visitors interacted with the participating companies which exceeded 100 Omani firms representing different sectors in addition to government bodies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Ayman Abdullah Al Hasani, vice-chairman for economic and branches affairs at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and chairman of Opex Organising Committee noted that initial data confirms the success of

Opex event in Addis Ababa, where Omani firms were able to sign agreements, agency contracts, and import and export contracts.

“Going beyond the borders of the GCC area serves in gaining a new experience for the companies and choosing Addis Ababa as a destination for Opex 2016 was the right decision. The exhibition shall boost trade relations between the Sultanate and Ethiopia in addition to the other African countries,” Al Hasani said.

Ayman Abdullah Al Hasani, vice-chairman for economic and branches affairs at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), and chairman of Opex Organising Committee said that the Ethiopian market is a promising one and has significant opportunities for the Omani products.

During his visit to Opex 2016, Solomon Afework, president of Ethiopian Chamber of Com-

merce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) affirmed that efforts are being made to advance the trade relations between Oman and Ethiopia. “The great interest from both sides to have bilateral business contracts is based on the competitive quality of the Omani products,” Afework said.

A field visit for the Omani firms was organised on the sidelines of the exhibition to a number of Ethiopian industrial estates to get acquainted with their experience in terms of the facilities offered by the government, challenges, and shipping, import and export mechanisms.

Omani dates The outstanding packaging and quality of Omani dates impressed the visitors to Opex 2016 platform. Abdullah Al Mardi, general manager of National United Dates Company.

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

B3

MARKET FIRST QUARTER

BankDhofar profit grows to OMR13.6m Times News Service MUSCAT: BankDhofar has achieved a 15.12 per cent growth in net profit at OMR13.56 million for the first quarter of this year, over the same period of 2015.

The bank’s net loans and advances to customers for the threemonth surged ahead by 17.39 per cent to OMR2.81 billion from OMR2.39 billion. Deposits from customers moved up by 6.19 per cent to OMR2.81 billion from OMR2.64 billion in the first quarter period under review, according to a disclosure statement posted on MSM website.

BankDhofar said its operating income surged ahead by 25.98 per cent to OMR33.76 million, while operating expenses showed a 14.36 per cent growth at OMR13.65 million.

Total assets of bank also soared by 14.25 per cent to OMR3.76 billion by March-end. The results are unaudited and are yet to get approval from the board of directors.

Two Omanis find place in the latest list of region’s richest Sheikh Suhail Bahwan and Mohammed Saud Bahwan are among the five new billionaires added to ‘Forbes Middle East’ list

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s Sheikh Suhail Bahwan and Mohammed Saud Bahwan are among the five new billionaires from the region included in the Forbes Middle East list. Altogether, the Sultanate has three billionaires, whose worth is valued at $6.2 billion.

Sheikh Suhail Bahwan started out as a trader before diversifying into several industries, whereas Mohammed Saud Bahwan’s late father became Toyota’s dealer in Oman in 1975 and built it into

OMAN STOCKS

a market leader, according to a statement from Forbes.

Other three billionaires added to the list include Hussain Sajwani of the UAE, ranked 8, with net worth of $3.2 billion; Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thaniof Qatar, ranked 18, with a net worth $2 billion; and Abdul Wahid Al Rostamaniof the UAE, ranked 28, with net worth $1.3 billion.

Prince Alwaleed of Saudi Arabia remains the No.1 Arab billionaire, even though his net worth fell by more than 20 per cent from a year ago. The net worth of the

Saudi stocks decline Saudi Arabian stocks led declines across most Gulf Arab equity markets as investors await the outcome of a gathering of major oil

producing nations in Doha.

The Tadawul All Share Index dropped 1.1 per cent to 6,439.85.

Dubai’s DFM General Index lost 0.7 per cent as the Bloomberg GCC 200 Index, which tracks the largest and most liquid shares across the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, retreated 0.6 per cent.

Abu Dhabi’s ADX General Index extended gains a seventh day, adding 0.5 per cent.

At least 16 nations representing about half the world’s oil output, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, are gathering on Sunday in the Qatari capital to discuss limiting production in a bid to shore up prices. Equities in the GCC are tied closely to the price of oil, which generates the bulk of government revenue in the region.

“Investors are apprehensive about taking new positions before the results of the meeting,” said Nabil Farhat, an Abu Dhabi-based partner at Al Fajr Securities. “We might see a spike in prices in either direction depending on the results of the meeting.”

Brent crude, a benchmark for half the world’s oil, has dropped three days in the lead up to the meeting, and closed last week at $43.10 per barrel.

Saudi stocks were led lower by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, one of the world’s biggest petrochemicals manufacturers, which fell 1.4 per cent after a fire at a plant owned by one of its units.

The blaze killed 12 and injured 11, ‘Al Sharq’ newspaper reported, citing unidentified people.

Banque Saudi Fransi declined 2.2 per cent, even after the bank reported a 2.7 per cent increase in first-quarter profit, beating analysts’ estimates. National Bank of Abu Dhabi’s brokerage unit cut the lender to hold from accumulate.

Saudi Kayan Petrochemical jumped 4.2 per cent, the most in a month, after reporting a narrower than expected loss in the first quarter. About 48 million shares traded, or more than twice the three-month full daily average.

About 275 million shares traded in the Kingdom, 11 per cent above the 20-day intraday average. The retreat came even as Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Saudi Arabia will this month announce its comprehensive plan to prepare for the post-oil era. - United Securities/Bloomberg news

HAVE YOUR SAY

Send us your comments at facebook.com/timesofoman blog.timesofoman.com haveyoursay@timesofoman.com

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 17 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 .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 261,820 ............85,391..................... 67 ........... 0.324 ...........0.330 ...........0.320........... 0.326 .............0.300 ........... 0.026............. 8.667 ................0.326..............0.326...................0.328 ..................17,930,000 .........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 503,859 ..........117,205..................... 36 ........... 0.220...........0.240 ...........0.220 .......... 0.233 .............0.222 ............0.011 ............. 4.955 ................0.230............. 0.224...................0.230 .................. 67,721,688 .........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 561,099 ........... 95,937......................51 ............0.181 ........... 0.181............0.169 ............0.171 ............. 0.166............ 0.005............. 3.012 ................0.169 .............. 0.161...................0.169................... 21,357,551 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 2,196,077 ..... 262,202...................124 ............0.118 ........... 0.123 ........... 0.117 ............0.119 ............. 0.116 ............ 0.003............. 2.586 ................0.117 .............. 0.116................... 0.117 ................... 10,710,000 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 532,000 ......... 144,281......................31 ........... 0.275 ........... 0.275 ...........0.262............0.271 .............0.268 ........... 0.003..............1.119.................0.262..............0.262...................0.265...................27,100,000 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................28,098 .............47,955........................4 ............1.710 ............1.710............1.680 ............1.705 ............. 1.695.............0.010 ............. 0.590 ................1.680 ............. 0.000...................1.680..................152,938,500........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ........................................................ 13,001 ............. 13,916........................7 ............1.070 ........... 1.100 ...........1.065 ........... 1.070 ............. 1.065............ 0.005............. 0.469 ................1.065 .............. 1.065...................1.100 ................. 214,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN .....................................2,000 ..................540........................1 ........... 0.270 ...........0.270 ...........0.270............0.271 ............. 0.271............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.270..............0.250...................0.269 .................399,665,726 ........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 435,000 ...........44,370......................16 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.102........... 0.102 .............0.102 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.102..............0.102...................0.105..................204,031,905 .......0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .............................................................. 1,800 ...................881........................2 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.488........... 0.480 .............0.480 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.488..............0.486...................0.488..................158,818,901 ........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 333,000 ............93,573........................9 ............0.281 ........... 0.281 ...........0.281........... 0.281 .............0.281............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.281 ..............0.266...................0.280 ..................83,236,045.........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 466,908 ........... 84,977........................4 ............0.182 ........... 0.182 ...........0.182........... 0.182 .............0.182............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.182 ..............0.170...................0.182..................259,356,578........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................90,700 ................7,781........................6 ........... 0.086 ...........0.086 ...........0.085........... 0.086 .............0.086 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.085..............0.085...................0.086....................2,580,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 124,000 ............31,620........................4 ........... 0.255 ........... 0.255 ...........0.255........... 0.255 .............0.255 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.255..............0.255...................0.256..................433,296,357........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 788,377 ..........313,776......................51 ........... 0.400...........0.400 ...........0.398........... 0.398 .............0.398 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.398..............0.394...................0.398..................993,507,603........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ....................4,000 ..................496........................1 ............0.124 ........... 0.124 ...........0.124............0.131 ............. 0.131 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.124..............0.120...................0.124.................. 26,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER......................................................................50 ..................... 17........................1 ........... 0.330 ...........0.330 ...........0.330........... 0.352 .............0.352 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.330.............. 0.318...................0.330 .................. 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 328,600 ......... 243,136..................... 43 ............0.740 ........... 0.740 ...........0.736 ........... 0.740 .............0.740 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.736 ..............0.736...................0.792..................481,698,730........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................19,000 ............... 1,412........................3 ............0.075 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.074 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.074..............0.073...................0.074...................12,950,000.........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ....................................................2,050 ..................820........................2 ........... 0.400...........0.400 ...........0.400 .......... 0.404 .............0.404 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.400............. 0.400...................0.404 ..................21,210,000 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 373,657 .........100,863......................61 ........... 0.274 ........... 0.274 ...........0.268........... 0.270 ............. 0.271............-0.001 ........... -0.369 ...............0.268..............0.268...................0.270 ...................5,670,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 149,889.......... 236,917..................... 25 ............1.590 ........... 1.590 ...........1.550 ........... 1.580 .............1.590............-0.010 ........... -0.629 ...............1.550 .............. 1.550...................1.580................1,185,000,000 ......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 625,792 ..........136,471..................... 67 ............0.217 ...........0.220 ...........0.217 ........... 0.218 .............0.220 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.909 ...............0.217 ..............0.217...................0.219...................32,716,350 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 242,500............51,045........................8 ............0.213 ........... 0.213 ...........0.210........... 0.210 .............0.213............-0.003 ........... -1.408 ...............0.210............. 0.202...................0.210.................. 42,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 400,000........ 200,000........................5 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.508 ...........-0.008 ............-1.575................0.500..............0.486...................0.500 .................317,895,444 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................21,470 ...............5,689........................3 ........... 0.268 ...........0.268 ...........0.258........... 0.265 ............. 0.271............-0.006 ........... -2.214 ...............0.258............. 0.244...................0.257................... 16,219,132 .........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 2,334,906 .....369,397..................... 30 ............0.158 ........... 0.161............0.157 ............0.158 ............. 0.163............-0.005 ........... -3.067 ...............0.158 .............. 0.158...................0.160................. 250,522,272 .......0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 3,964,967......366,867................... 168 ........... 0.097 ...........0.097 ...........0.090........... 0.093 .............0.096 ...........-0.003 ............-3.125................0.091 ..............0.090...................0.092 ..................26,968,199 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 306,000........... 69,265..................... 30 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.221........... 0.226 .............0.234 ...........-0.008 ............-3.419................0.222............. 0.222...................0.224 ..................21,479,040 .........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 446,500........... 55,289......................19 ............0.125 ........... 0.127 ...........0.120........... 0.124 .............0.130............-0.006 ........... -4.615................0.120...............0.117...................0.120................... 15,112,500 .........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY .....................................................10,000 .............. 4,200........................5 ........... 0.420 ...........0.420 ...........0.420........... 0.420 .............0.442 ...........-0.022 ........... -4.977 ...............0.420............. 0.400...................0.420 ..................25,410,000 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 616,022 ............38,051..................... 37 ............0.061 ...........0.063 ...........0.061 ........... 0.062 .............0.066 ...........-0.004 ........... -6.061................0.062..............0.061...................0.062 ..................12,843,386 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 16,183,142 3,224,338...................921 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......32........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 3,735,327 ...... 279,671................... 193 ............0.075 ........... 0.077 ...........0.073........... 0.075 .............0.073 ........... 0.002............. 2.740 ................0.074..............0.073...................0.074....................9,375,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ............................. 23,000 ...............2,839........................6 ............0.123 ........... 0.125 ...........0.123 ............0.123 .............0.120 ........... 0.003.............2.500 ................0.125 ...............0.115...................0.128...................12,300,000.........0.100 OM0000001046............PACKAGING CO. LTD ........................................................668 .................. 349........................1 ........... 0.522 ...........0.522 ...........0.522........... 0.522 .............0.522 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.522..............0.470...................0.000 ................... 1,566,000 ..........1.000 OM0000001053 ............OMAN TEXTILE HOLDING ....................................... 4,021 ...............1,287........................2 ........... 0.320 ...........0.320 ...........0.320........... 0.320 .............0.320 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.320..............0.320...................0.352....................1,920,000 ..........1.000 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 140,000 ............. 4,880..................... 10 ........... 0.035 ........... 0.035 ...........0.034........... 0.035 .............0.035 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.034..............0.034...................0.035....................2,975,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE.................................................... 128,950 ............15,180......................16 ............0.118 ........... 0.118............0.116 ............0.118 ............. 0.118 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.118 ...............0.117................... 0.118 ...................31,472,438 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 413,935............62,090......................14 ............0.150 ........... 0.150 ...........0.150 ........... 0.150 .............0.150............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.150 ..............0.150...................0.152..................219,390,219 ........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 1,194,800 ......... 71,618......................17 ........... 0.060 ........... 0.061 ...........0.059........... 0.060 .............0.062 ...........-0.002 ........... -3.226 ...............0.060..............0.059...................0.060 ..................60,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,403,761....... 105,392..................... 67 ........... 0.077 ........... 0.077 ...........0.073........... 0.075 .............0.078 ...........-0.003 ........... -3.846 ...............0.074..............0.074...................0.075..................112,500,000........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................77,000 ................6,111......................11 ........... 0.080 ...........0.080 ...........0.077........... 0.079 .............0.084 ...........-0.005 ........... -5.952 ...............0.077..............0.076...................0.077.................... 5,941,432 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 7,121,462....... 549,417...................337 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......10........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Saudi’s post-oil plan on April 25 the prince. The plan to transform Saudi Aramco from an oil company into an energy and industrial conglomerate, as well as the future of the Public Investment Fund, will also be part of the comprehensive vision, he said.

Saudi Arabia is seeking to overhaul the economy to reduce the kingdom’s reliance on oil after the plunge in crude prices. Prince Mohammed said in an interview late last month that the plan involves raising non-oil revenue by $100 billion by 2020 as well as

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,760.25 ............... 5,735.15 .................... 5,735.15 ................... 5,760.48................-25.33 .................. -0.44 Financial Index .....................................7,395.82 ............... 7,326.31 ....................7,326.31 ................... 7,388.21................-61.90 .................. -0.84 Industrial Index ....................................7,003.43 .............. 6,953.04 ................... 6,953.04 ...................6,978.88................-25.84 .................. -0.37 Services Index ....................................... 3,199.76 ...............3,189.60 ....................3,195.54 ................... 3,186.32....................9.22 ...................0.29 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................865.68 ..................863.39 .......................863.39 ...................... 866.89.................. -3.50 .................. -0.40 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 23,304,604 .................3,773,754 ..................1,258 ................16,746,194,018 .................. 9 ......................15 .................... 18 .........................42

C RU D E O I L I M PAC T

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will announce a comprehensive plan to prepare the kingdom for the postoil era on April 25, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said.

The ‘Vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ will encompass several developmental, economic, social and other programmes, Prince Mohammed said.

One component of the plan is the National Transformation Programme, which will be launched a month or 45 days after this month’s announcement, said

waleed of Saudi Arabia remains the No.1 Arab billionaire in the Forbes Middle East list. – Bloomberg

owning licensing rights to foreign brands, mostly American.

By country, Saudi Arabia has 6 billionaires worth $34.6 billion; the UAE has 6 billionaires worth $19.7 billion; Egypt has 6 billionaires, worth $14.2 billion; Lebanon has 7 billionaires worth $12.5 billion; Morocco has 2 billionaires with a new worth of $3.2 billion; Algeria has 1 billionaire worth $3.1 billion; Qatar also has1 billionaire worth $2 billion.

The 69-year-old Olayan Group of Saudi Arabia remains one of the largest family-owned holdings in the Middle East. It has partnerships with Kimberly Clark, CocaCola and General Foods, among other companies.

OMAN STOCKS

Muscat stocks fall MUSCAT on profit-booking SECURITIES MARKET MUSCAT: Profit taking and thin trading volumes weighed on the MSM 30 Index which closed at 5,735.15 points, down by 0.44 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index also declined 0.40 per cent to close at 863.39 points.

Galfar Engineering was the most active in terms of volume while Bank Sohar led in terms of turnover. National Gas was the day’s top gainer, up 8.67 per cent, while Al Madina Investment remained the top loser, with loss of 6.06 per cent, As many as 1,258 trades were executed on Sunday, generating a turnover of OMR3.77 million with 23.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 42 traded securities, 9 advanced, 15 declined and 18 remained unchanged. Arab and GCC investors were net buyers to the tune of OMR171,000 worth of shres, followed by Omani investors at OMR144,000. Foreign investors, who were net sellers, sold shares amounting to OMR315,000.

Financial Index retreated 0.84 per cent to close at 7,326.31 points.

Al Sharqia Investments, Takaful Oman and Oman United Insurance gained 2.59 per cent, 2.50 per cent and 1.12 per cent respectively.

Al Madina Investment, Oman & Emirates Holding, Bank Nizwa, Al Izz Bank and Bank Sohar declined 6.06 per cent, 4.62 per cent, 3.85 per cent, 3.23 per cent and 3.07 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index ended negatively at 6,953.04 points, down 0.37 per cent. Al Jazeera Steel, Oman Fisheries, Oman Cables and Raysut Cement increased 3.01 per cent, 2.74 per cent, 0.59 per cent and 0.47 per cent respectively. Al Hassan Engineering, Voltamp Energy, Galfar Engineering and Gulf International Chemicals slid 5.95 per cent, 4.98 per cent, 3.13 per cent and 0.37 per cent respectively.

Services Index gained 0.29 per cent to close at 3,195.54 points. National Gas and Renaissance Services gained 8.67 per cent and 4.95 per cent respectively. Port Services, Al Jazeera Steel, OIFC and Omantel declined 3.42 per cent, 2.21 per cent, 1.41 per cent and 0.63 per cent respectively.

THE WEALTHIEST: Prince Al-

wealthiest Arab in the list is $17.3 billion. Last year, Arab billionaires saw their net worth drop by 23.8 per cent from a year ago.

‘Forbes Middle East’ is the Middle Eastern arm of the world renowned ‘Forbes’ magazine.

Its audience includebillionaires, powerful Arabs and expats, entrepreneurs, senior corporate managers and government officials united by a belief in free enterprise and entrepreneurial values.

At 7, Lebanon has the most billionaires, making it also one the countries with the highest number of billionaires per capita in the world. Saudi billionaires are the richest with a combined net worth of $34.6 billion.

The second richest are from the UAE with a combined net worth of $19.7 billion.

Among the families, Saudi Arabia again tops the rich list, with 12 of the 15 richest families. Nine out of the 15 families made a fortune

turning the PIF into the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund for the kingdom’s most prized assets.

Saudi authorities are weighing measures that include more steps to restructure subsidies, imposing a value-added tax, and a levy on energy and sugary drinks as well as luxury items.

The National Transformation Programme will also focus on ways to boost economic growth, create jobs, attract investors and hold government offices more accountable. - Bloomberg News

B

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

EU TO SPEED UP GOOGLE’S ANDROID PROBE European Union accelerated its antitrust probe into Google’s Android mobile-phone operating system, seen as a sign that they are set to send out a formal complaint within days. EU has given Google’s critics deadlines of 24 hours to remove business secrets from evidence that could be used in the case — an indication that a statement of objections is on its way, according to three people, who asked not to be named. - Bloomberg News

T E C H U P D AT E S

YouTube funds programme to develop musical talent Google’s YouTube is developing new musical talent as part of an initiative called Foundry, as the company aims to improve strained relations with the music industry and bring more exclusive programming to the world’s most popular video site. YouTube said it has already hosted workshops with more than two dozen artists at its production facilities in Los Angeles and London to teach them how to better use the site, and will hold another in New York later this month with five artists, including hip-hop artist BJ the Chicago Kid and R&B singer Gemaine. Videos of live sessions recorded during those workshops will first appear on YouTube next week.

YouTube executives have also been reaching out to peers in the music industry and have scheduled meetings over the coming weeks to discuss a deeper collaboration, according to people familiar with the talks who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public. In meetings so far, YouTube has outlined ways to better promote artists and bring more exclusive videos to the service, the people said. — Bloomberg News

Apple shares decline on iPhone output cut report TECH EXPERTS: Programmers at Reactive Philip Irri, core engineer, (from left), David Malkin, data scientist, Philippe Remy, research engineer, and Joseph Bullard, core engineer, pose for a photograph at Tenoha Lab share office in Tokyo, Japan. The four programmers at the 18-monthold startup in Tokyo came up with an application that recognises scrawled-out Japanese with 98.66 per cent accuracy. — Bloomberg News

Artificial intelligence to be ‘more accessible’ The 18-month-old start-up in Tokyo is part of a growing global community of coders and investors who are harnessing the power of neural networks to put AI to far more practical purposes than answering trivia PAVEL ALPEYEV

R

eal-world artificialintelligence (AI) applications are popping up in unexpected places—and much sooner than you might think.

While winning a game of Go might be impressive, machine intelligence is also evolving to the point where it can be used by more people to do more things. That’s how four engineers with almost zero knowledge of Japanese were able to create software, in just a few months, that can decipher handwriting in the language.

The programmers at Reactive Inc. came up with an application that recognises scrawled-out Japanese with 98.66 per cent accuracy.

The 18-month-old start-up in Tokyo is part of a growing global community of coders and investors who are harnessing the power of neural networks to put AI to far more practical purposes than answering trivia or winning board games. “Just a few years ago, you had to be a genius to do this,” said David Malkin, who has a Ph.D. in machine learning but can barely string two Japanese sentences together. “Now you can be a rea-

sonably smart guy and make useful stuff. Going forward, it will be more about using imagination to apply this to real business situations.”

Artificial intelligence was once the exclusive playground of Google, Facebook and other tech leaders.

Now, any deep-learning start-up can access cloud-based platforms, with Microsoft, Nvidia and Amazon. com selling AI like a utility.

Reactive’s technology shows how even small teams can devise complex applications with little expertise in a given field. The hard part may be figuring out how to make money. To that end, Reactive intends to help Japanese schools grade papers—a prosaic exercise that may change the game in a country where tests are still handwritten.

Malkin and his colleagues, Joe Bullard, Philippe Remy and Philip Irri, who between them have two Master’s degrees and a PhD, are making rapid progress. Bullard showed the group’s programme to AI enthusiasts during a social gathering at Google’s Japan headquarters earlier this year, and it performed impeccably—until his own linguistic limitations got in the way.

“Just so you know I’m not cheating,

what’s your favorite character?” he asked the room. Someone called out “ba,” a phonetic character. Knowing laughter erupted as Bullard struggled to write the symbol.

While handwriting recognition might be considered deep-learning 101, Japanese is a whole other ballgame. That’s because the language includes symbolic characters such as kanji, which is composed of elements that can be read independently, making it difficult to know where one ends and another begins.

There are also more than 2,000 common pictograms made up of dozens of strokes. The trick is to tackle one squiggle at a time. Reactive’s algorithm queries the neural network for a match, adds another stroke and repeats, all the while refining the probability of an accurate hit. The start-up trained its model on about 1.8 million characters.

“The fact that this technology can side-step domain expertise gives it a big advantage in speed and scalability when it comes to business applications,” said Seishi Okamoto, a project director at Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., which is developing software to read Chinese. “Deep learning for

handwritten Chinese character recognition is already catching up to human capabilities and will probably eclipse them.” While Reactive’s technology has been shown publicly at events such as that held at Google, the data hasn’t been independently verified or peer-reviewed.

Unlike a typical programme built around rigid rules, deep-learning AI is modeled on how humans process information. Given enough data as inputs and a set of desired outputs, neural networks figure out what goes in the middle. This allows them to find solutions that have bedeviled traditional approaches, like interpreting speech or tagging images.

“There are several factors at play: high-performance computing becoming essentially a commodity, availability of massive datasets and improvements in basic science,” said Yoshua Bengio, a computerscience professor at the University of Montreal who co-authored some of the field’s founding papers.

“Democratization of tools is also making it easier for second-level users to develop new applications and products.” All of this is likely to speed up the evolution of artificialintelligence technology. Investments in AI startups tackling everything from education to retail and agriculture reached $310 million in 2015, almost a seven-fold increase in five years, according to research firm CB Insights. And once built, a neural network doesn’t have to be limited to language applications.

In their spare time, the four Reactive engineers showed the program 5,000 dresses downloaded from Google Images, then gave it a picture of a woman in a revealing outfit. “Revealing clothes,” the software responded. — Bloomberg News

Apple shares fell after it was reported that the company would extend an estimated 30 per cent cut in iPhone production for another three months.

Slower-than-expected sales of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus have prompted Apple to reduce its orders, the Nikkei Asian Review reported, citing unidentified suppliers. The shares dropped as much as 2.1 per cent and had declined 1.7 per cent to $110.22 on Friday in New York. Apple introduced a smaller, cheaper handset dubbed the iPhone SE last month in an effort to plump up sales ahead of rolling out a new flagship model later this year. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., one of the biggest suppliers of chips to Apple, on Thursday forecast revenue below analysts’ estimates for the second quarter, saying that demand for smartphones that cost more than $500 is waning. “Ahead of the iPhone 7 people are holding onto their phones a little longer,” said Walter Piecyk, a New York-based analyst at BTIG who recommends buying Apple shares. “But if this is as a result of lengthening product cycles then it could be a structural change for the industry.” In January, Apple said sales would decline for the first time in more than a decade.

Global smartphone sales will rise by less than 10 per cent this year, the smallest increase since the market’s inception, researcher Gartner Inc predicted last month. Nikkei reported that Apple cut iPhone production by an estimated 30 per cent in the January to March quarter and that the reduction is being extended for the subsequent three months. — Bloomberg News

TSMC forecasts sales below analyst’s estimate Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) forecast secondquarter sales below analyst estimates as decelerating smartphone demand and sliding personal computer shipments hit revenue.

Sales will be between NT$215 billion ($6.6 billion) and NT$218 billion in the second quarter, the world’s largest contract maker of microchips said on Thursday. That compares with analysts’ projections for NT$225 billion. TSMC, which competes with Samsung Electronics to make processors for Apple Inc., is dealing with the dual impact of slowing demand and fallout from a February earthquake that held up production. Earnings have fallen for three straight quarters as profit margins have been crimped. The company also reported first-quarter results on Thursday, with net income slumping 18 percent to NT$64.8 billion. The February temblor in southern Taiwan had prompted the company to cut margin forecasts that month. Gross margin was 44.9 per cent in the first quarter, down 4.4 percentage points and trailing the 46.8 per cent average of estimates. It blamed the quake for about half that drop. “February sales missed our expectation due to earthquake damage,” Ethan Chen, an analyst with Sinopac Financial Holdings, wrote before earnings were released. — Bloomberg News

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

B5

GHEDEX 2016

Top universities set to participate in Global Higher Education Exhibition Omani and expatriate students seeking quality education and opportunities will ďŹ nd Ghedex to be a lucrative opportunity to pursue their higher education goals

MUSCAT: Renowned global universities will set up their stalls at the 17th edition of Global Higher Education Exhibition (Ghedex), scheduled to be held from April 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 21 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an annual event which is held under the patronage of Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).

Last edition of Ghedex broke

sixteen years record by attracting over 25,000 visitors as over 200 top-notch universities and colleges from over 23 countries participated with 170 educational bodies and institutions accounting for international participation and 30 for local participation, says a press release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have already received participation for Ghedex 2016 from

a number of leading universities from UK including University of Stirling, University of Hull, University Of Liverpool, University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN), University of Salford, University of Greenwich (London), University of Exeter, University of Portsmouth

and University of Derby.

Other universities of note that have conďŹ rmed their presence at Ghedex include California State University, Fresno from USA; Aga Khan University from Pakistan; the Student Campus from Malta; and Oman Medical College & IDP

Omani and expatriate students seeking quality education and opportunities for evolvement through internships and related career planning programmes will ďŹ nd Ghedex to be a lucrative opportunity to pursue their higher education goals.

MEDIA STUDIES

TRAINING SERVICES

Amideast to highlight career development programmes MUSCAT: America-Mideast Education and Training Services, Inc. (Amideast) has been participating in Ghedex since 2008, and looks forward to doing so again in 2016. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ghedex provides an excellent opportunity for students and professionals to learn about the ways Amideast can prepare them for university or help them build their careers,â&#x20AC;? said Paul Steele, director of Training at Amideast/Oman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We specialise in work readiness programmes and education advising, and serve as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;one-stop-shopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for young people seeking higher education opportunities or needing new skills to compete in the labour market.â&#x20AC;?

As the premium international education and training organisa-

Education PtY Ltd from Oman.

Ghedex will also receive support from DAAD German Academic Exchange Service as silver sponsor and Majan College (University College) as lead sponsor,â&#x20AC;? said Ashit Barnes, Exhibition director- OITE Trade Fairs.

tion focused exclusively on the Middle East and North Africa, Amideast offers English language and professional training, including employability skills de-

velopment; entrepreneurship workshops and coaching; test administration and support; Education USA advising services; administration of scholarship and exchange programmes for individuals and institutions; and instruction in Arabic as a Foreign Language (AFL).

Visitors to Amideastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booth at Ghedex will be able to learn about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;English for the Workplaceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; courses as well as its skill-based classes â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Basic Conversationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Presentation Skills.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; They can also gather information about tests such as the TOEFL, SAT and GRE, as well as test preparation courses. Young people seeking to improve their prospects for ďŹ nding a suitable job will get information about its new

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Skills for Successâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; programme that offers instruction in English language, IT, professional skills and job search strategies. During Ghedex, Amideast would announce its weekend and summer camps, which will provide English language instruction in a fun, activity-based environment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My colleagues and I enjoy talking with visitors to our booth at Ghedex because it gives us an opportunity to demonstrate Amideastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s welcoming and professional environment,â&#x20AC;? said Munira Al Kindy, Operations and Testing manager at Amideast/Oman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our participation in Ghedex highlights the many ways we can assist young people in Oman in achieving their higher education and career goals.â&#x20AC;?

Bayan College to exhibit at Ghedex MUSCAT: Bayan College operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Higher Education and is affiliated with Purdue University â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Calumet, USA. It is the first private college in Oman offering diploma/bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Media Studies and English Studies.

Its professional, multi-culture faculty, affiliation with wellreputed American University and advanced academic programmes provide students with an excellent learning opportunity and enable them to learn and earn skills necessary to enter the labour market.

Bayan College will be looking for Omani and expatriate students seeking for higher education opportunities available in Oman and overseas colleges and universities. In Ghedex, it is looking forward to hosting two major academic departments: Department of Media Studies & Department of English Studies. Department of Media Studies offers bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and diploma in: Journalism, Broadcasting, Public Relation and Advertising. The Department of English Studies offers bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and diploma in: English literature and English professional writing.

SPECIALISED PROGRAMMES

U N I V E R S I T Y I N PA K I S TA N

Aga Khan University comes to Oman Tourism College sets Ghedex with a variety of options sights on school graduates MUSCAT: Founded by Aga Khan in 1983, Aga Khan Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (AKU) objective is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to be on the frontiers of scientiďŹ c and humanistic knowledgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; while inspiring students to be independent learners and researchers imbued with a spirit of service and respect for others.

At Ghedex, AKU would be targeting high school students who want to apply for their undergraduate programme and those who have 16 years of qualiďŹ cation after high school are eligible to apply for their graduate programme.

Since its founding, the Aga Khan Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major focus has been in the ďŹ elds of health sciences and education. AKU has programmes in eight countries on three continents. Currently, the university consists of a Medical College, a School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Institute for Educational Development in Karachi, Pakistan; and the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in the United Kingdom.

In East Africa, the Advanced

Nursing Studies diploma and bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree programmes are offered in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; the Institute for Educational Development offers a Master of Education degree from the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania campus and the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical College in East Africa offers a Master of Medicine degree in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

For the decades ahead the university plans to step beyond success in these areas and become a more diversiďŹ ed university, both geographically and scholastically through its offerings planned at its Faculty of Arts and Sciences in East Africa and Pakistan.

They offer variety of courses as below: School of nursing and midwifery: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; /,-#(! Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; )-.Ä&#x161; Ĺ&#x2014; " &),Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014; in Nursing Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; " &),Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; /,-#(! Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; )-.Ä&#x161; Ĺ&#x2014; " &),Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014; in Midwifery

Medical college: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ) .),Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; "#&)-)*"3Ĺ&#x2014; ÄĄ &."Ĺ&#x2014; Sciences) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ &."Ĺ&#x2014; )&icy and Management) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; # ( Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ *# '#)&ogy and Biostatistics) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; &."Ĺ&#x2014; ,) --#)(-Ĺ&#x2014; Education Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; " &),Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; # #( Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014; "elor of Surgery Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; #*&)' Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; (. &Ĺ&#x2014; 3!# ( Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; # #( Institute for educational development: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; ) .),Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; "#&)-)*"3Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ / tion) Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; / .#)( Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; "#&)-)*"3Ĺ&#x2014;ÄĄ / tion) Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; UK Campus: Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; -. ,Ĺ&#x2014; ) Ĺ&#x2014; ,.-Ĺ&#x2014; ÄĄ /-&#'Ĺ&#x2014; /&tures) For AKU, the objective to participate in Ghedex is to attract the talented students and provide information about its university and programmes offered.

MUSCAT: Oman Tourism College (OTC) was established in 2001 and is located in the heart of Omanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital, Muscat, opposite the Seeb International Airport.

The college offers specialised programmes and courses aimed at developing human resources for the growing tourism, hospitality, events and related sectors.

At Ghedex, OTC will be targeting school graduates and students who like to study the future industry of the country and seeking for a degree with secure career prospects to make themselves more employable.

Students can study for their undergraduate degrees in the ďŹ elds of tourism and hospitality management, event management and tourism marketing which are delivered using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, many of which are unique to the OTC. A range of professional development and vocational courses which can be tailored to meet the particular needs of clients are

H I G H E R E D UC AT I O N G OA L S

According to the new tourism strategy of the Ministry of Tourism, the tourism sector in Oman will create 500,000 jobs by 2040.

The development of the tourism industry ranks amongst the top national priorities as Oman plans for economic diversiďŹ cation into non-oil sectors. Plenty of opportunities will come up in different ďŹ elds related to tourism like transportation, leisure & recreation, airports, hotels, airlines, tour operators, cruise ship companies, event management or exhibitions.

OTC is part of Ghedex as they think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an important career and educational exhibition in Oman.

UNIVERSITY IN UK

23 American varsities coming to town MUSCAT: Twenty-three American universities will be participating in the annual Global Higher Education Exhibition (Ghedex) at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from April 19-21.

Thousands of Omani students are expected to participate and learn ďŹ rst-hand about opportunities available for study in the United States. A broad range of US university representatives â&#x20AC;&#x201D; from New York to California â&#x20AC;&#x201D; will be available to help Omani students pursue their higher education goals.

Visitors to Ghedex will also beneďŹ t from the participation of EducationUSA, which is a network of advising centres in 170 countries, where millions of international students each year ďŹ nd free, accurate, comprehensive, and current information about how to apply to accredited US colleges and universities. During Ghedex, Hania Bekdash, EducationUSA adviser, will conduct a special workshop on

also included in OTCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portfolio.

Students of OTC can enjoy an international learning environment. Staff from 18 different nationalities, moderate study fees, part-time and full-time study options or language modules in French or German are just some of the advantages of OTC. All undergraduate programmes are validated and awarded by Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), Ireland.

Currently nearly 700 students are studying at OTC to strengthen the Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism industry with an enthusiastic and forwardlooking workforce.

We are keen to have more Omanis study in the US and take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for scholarship and research across a wide range of fields Hania Bekdash EducationUSA adviser

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Studying in the USA: Options and Applicationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, providing prospective students with an overview of how to choose a university and prepare a successful application for US study. She will also be available at the EducationUSA booth throughout the exhibition to answer questions about US degree programmes, the university ad-

missions process, ďŹ nancial aid and scholarships, English language study, and test requirements.

Ghedex presents an outstanding opportunity to network with US university representatives and to learn ďŹ rsthand about higher education in the United States and the many ďŹ elds of study open to Omani students.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are keen to have more Omanis study in the US and take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for scholarship and research across a wide range of ďŹ elds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;US degree granting programmes and English language study will further prepare Omani students for the global marketplace in support of the Sultanateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;education for employment'," said Hania Bekdash.

The EducationUSA Centre in Oman, which is located at the Amideast office in Airport Heights, offers a variety of information sessions and individual counselling, in addition to a library with computers and numerous books and catalogues about higher education in the US. The centre also provides pre-departure orientations, conducts outreach to schools and universities in Oman, and facilitates visits and webinars

by US university representatives throughout the year.

Coventry University has a world of opportunities MUSCAT: Coventry University can be the ďŹ rst step towards your future career as a global graduate. With over 8,000 international students from 130 countries, you can discover a world of opportunities at Coventry University, the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s No. 15 university and winner of the coveted Times Higher Education Award: University of the Year.

With an emphasis on high quality teaching, state-of-the-art facilities, strong links with industry and an innovative and dynamic approach to learning, we ensure that graduates leave Coventry University with the skills and experience required to take the next steps in their lives.

At Ghedex, Coventry University will be targeting undergraduate and post graduate students. It offers courses in different ďŹ elds like

engineering, business, law, humanities, health and life sciences.

Its courses are full of real-life projects, external competitions, client briefs and industry/business scenarios, so that oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knowledge and skills are quickly applied and deepened. The university makes sure the lecturers and professors bring some of the excitement and leading-edge knowledge from its research, or case studies from its professional practice, into teaching to increase its relevance.

Its commitment to the future employability of its students has contributed to 95% of all Coventry University graduates gaining employment or continuing on to further study after graduating.

It works hard to deliver a great experience during your time at Coventry University.

B6

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

ROUND-UP Great offers mark opening of 10th Malabar Gold showroom in Oman Bollywood Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan inaugurated the showroom at Ruwi High Street in front of a big crowd MUSCAT: Fabulous inaugural offers were announced as Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan launched 146th outlet of Malabar Gold & Diamonds which is the 10th in Oman at Ruwi High Street, Muscat recently.

The outlet was opened in the presence of Khamis Thani Al Mandhri, director - Oman, Malabar Gold & Diamond; M. P. Ahammed, chairman, Malabar Group, Shamlal Ahamed, managing director - International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, K. P. Abdul Salam, group executive director, Malabar Group, Asher O., managing director - India Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds; S. M. Basheer; Najeeb K., regional head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds other well-wishers, invited media and guests, says a press release.

This elegant showroom conveniently located at Ruwi High Street, opposite to Ruwi Police Station, will be its third showroom at Ruwi, 10th in Oman and 63rd in the Middle East.

Like all other Malabar Gold & Diamonds outlets, this showroom will also display a significantly large collection of traditional as well as contemporary jewellery in gold, certified diamonds, platinum and precious stone jewellery from across the world that can hold you spell-bound with their awe-inspiring beauty for the jewellery lovers in Oman.

To celebrate this occasion, the

group introduced fabulous inaugural offers for its customers.

With every purchase of diamond jewellery worth OMR500, the customers will get a 1gm gold coin absolutely free and the customers can also avail a free gold coin with every purchase of gold jewellery worth OMR300. These offers are valid at their newly opened outlet in Ruwi until April 26.

A huge gathering of over 40,000 residents of Muscat thronged the venue to witness the inauguration and to see their favourite celebrity.

Partners Malabar Gold & Diamonds partnered with Majan Events, Oman and security consultants Gentur Security to ensure the event was

well organised, comfortable and convenient for the spectators and the celebrity.

The group is also planning to expand its presence in Oman by opening two more showrooms in Barka, Lulu and Muscat City Centre by July 2016.

The most important factors driving the group’s success are innovation in its strategies, designs, promotions and the trust Malabar Gold & Diamonds evokes. With a rich mix of traditional and trendy jewellery in gold, diamond and platinum, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is one of the most preferred destinations for quality jewellery.

The combination of purest jewellery and cutting edge designs combining unmatched grace and style

makes its jewellery unique.

The branded jewellery segment of Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned globally for its flawless craftsmanship and the impeccable style. The exclusive brands available at Malabar Gold & Diamonds includes Ethnix - handcrafted designer jewellery, Era - uncut diamond jewellery, Mine - diamonds unlimited, Divine - Indian heritage jewellery, Precia - precious gem jewellery, Solitaire One – An exclusive solitaire brand, NV – Trendy 18K gold jewellery, Ago Bay – pearl jewellery and Starlet - kids jewellery.

In Oman, Malabar Gold & Diamonds operates showrooms at Darsait, Bausher, Ruwi, Seeb, Salalah and Sohar.

ATT R AC T I V E O F F E R S

M U S C AT C H A M B E R M U S I C S E R I E S

Arabesque International set seaPearls launches factory sale on diamond collection to present its fifth concert MUSCAT: Arabesque International is presenting its fifth concert from the second season of Muscat Chamber Music Series on April 26.

The event will be held under the patronage of Hans-Christian Freiherr von Reibnitz, German ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, at ABA-An IB World School in Al Khuwair at 7.30pm.

This special concert will bring to the stage, the concert pianist Ahmed Abouzahra, general manager of Arabesque International, together with his wife, the pianist, Nora Emödy and their two daughters, Amira and Mariam, talented violin players, says a press release.

Ahmed and Nora have been playing together as a duo (Horus Piano Duo) for 19 years and this will be a reunion to celebrate music and their return to the stage not as a duo but as a family.

The Horus Piano Duo will be performing in Muscat for the first time since their last appearance in 2012 performances at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

This unique duo is an amalgamation of two different cultures.

Ahmed Abou-Zahra was born in Egypt while Nora Emödy was born in Hungary.

They met during their studies in Freiburg School of Music in Germany, in the early nineties and since then, they have been performing as a duo. Their versatility resulted in innovative interpretations around the world, delighting audiences with a repertoire that ranges from Baroque to today’s contemporary composers.

The two pianists naturally had an influence in their daughter’s musical journey. Amira and Mariam are both violinists’ players with inspiring performances around the world. Amira has been playing the violin since she was four, winning several competitions and performing with renowned orchestras. Mariam, the youngest musician in the family, followed the steps of her sister Amira, in her third year, when she firstly

MUSCAT: seaPearls Gold and Diamond Jewellery, Oman has launched yet another exciting factory sale on its diamond collection.

Exclusive offer Customers visiting the seaPearls stores till July 10 can avail special discounts on diamond jewellery products that include an entire range of rings, earrings, pendants, bangles and lightweight necklaces across all its stores within the Sultanate.

Customers can buy diamond or gold jewellery from seaPearls with Bank Muscat credit cards and get 12 months instalment scheme at 0 per cent interest. seaPearls Gold and Diamond Jewellery, Oman caters to the modern woman of today and is best known for the combination of precious and innovative materials and distinctive designs, for glamorous and exciting styles that fuses attempted to play the violin. She has garnered several awards and her performances were much appraised in different concert halls.

In February 2014, Amira made her debut at the Royal Opera House, where the performances were highly received from both the audience and the media alike. In the same week, Amira and Mariam gave five more concerts in various schools in Muscat.

This musical talent combined with passion will be delivered in a unique performance which promises to delight the audience.

The surprise in this concert will be the performance of a choir with 100 children from six different schools in Muscat. Arabesque International has taken the lead and invited the children from these schools to create the choir and train them under the guidance of Lisa Morgan, the choir music teacher at ABA. This performance has a special message to the world we live, promoting peace and harmony in times of tumult and conflict. The children will sing songs in English and in Arabic. These songs

reflect the concert’s commitment to peace and since children are the future generation of our society, they need to have a stable and peaceful environment in order to live and develop.

But before the concert, you can attend the performance of Mariam, at the Royal Opera House on April 20. This will be an excellent prelude to the concert that will follow on the next week.

The German ambassador in Oman has expressed his interest and unconditional support to such events.

“I cannot believe that we are in the second season already. Arabesque has added so much value to musical awareness of children in Oman with the series and the accompanying workshops.”

“The Horus Piano Duo is of outstanding quality. But having Amira and Mariam, who both have recently been awarded with first prizes of the renowned German “Jugendmusiziert” award performing with the young singers of Muscat Schools in ABA is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the season.”

classic and contemporary.

The collections of diamond and gold jewellery range from daily wear - such as light weight necklace sets, chains, rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings and bangles to more occasion-specific and exclusive designs. It houses an array of signature jewellery collections, namely Ishana, You n Me, Fella, Sol, Nava Graha, Mayoomi, Yalmaa and some unique bestsellers among others.

P. A. Riyas, general manager of seaPearls Gold and Diamond Jewellery, said: “We always have special plans for our patrons, we understand that buying a diamond ring or a gold necklace is an emotional choice and to encourage people to choose jewellery we now have over 40 designs at affordable price range.”

Riyas concluded saying, “Showcasing jewellery, exemplifying fine craftsmanship and

exquisite designs, seaPearls Gold and Diamond Jewellery with over 10 years of experience offer complete customer centric shopping experience.”

Customer service At seaPearls, passion and distinctive style is found in each of its designs as its in-house designers and craftsmen collaborate to create some of the most unique jewellery.

“When it comes to providing good service, we believe in building strong relationships with our customers. High quality customer service helps to create customer loyalty. Customers today are not only interested in the product they are being offered, but also all the additional elements of service that they receive starting from the greeting when they enter our stores,” a key spokesperson from seaPearls opined.

E X PA N S I O N

Maisarah opens new branch MUSCAT: Under the patronage of Sheikh Dr Yahya Sulaiman Al Nadabi, Wali of Amerat, Maisarah Islamic Banking Services expanded its presence with the official inauguration of its new Greater Muttrah branch.

The launch of the new branch comes within the Islamic window’s strategy to expand its branch network across the Sultanate and to provide world-class Islamic banking products and services to customers nationwide, says a press release.

The event was attended by Abdul Hakeem Omar Al Ojaili, acting CEO of BankDhofar, Faisal Hamad Al Wahaibi, chief retail banking officer, Ismail Jama Bait Isihaq, Financial Controller of Maisarah Islamic Banking Services, as well as members of BankDhofar and Maisarah’s executive management, staff, guests

and senior government officials.

Jamsheed Hamza, head of Retail commented on the Islamic banking service provider’s commitment to extend its branch network in order to cater to more customers in different parts of Oman.

“We aspire to fulfil the market demand for Islamic products and services for both retail and business banking customers. Since the establishment of Maisarah in 2013 there has been an increasing demand on Sharia-compliant

banking products and financial solutions. The wide range of options available to our customers is tailor-made to suit their requirements, fulfil their needs and meet their aspirations.”

Zahra Said Al Amry, branch manager of Greater Muttrah added, “The branch is strategically located to serve the entire south Muscat region and is easily reachable for customers anywhere from Ruwi, Darsait, Wattaya, Wadi Kabir, Muttrah and MBD area.”

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

ROUND-UP

Bank Muscat redefines Premier banking with benefits, rewards Providing personalised service catering to the complex financial needs of clients, the Premier banking segmentation reflects the customer-centric vision of the bank

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has redefined Premier banking service with global banking solutions, exclusive benefits and rewards.

Providing personalised service catering to the complex financial needs of clients, the Premier banking segmentation reflects the customer-centric vision of the bank, says a press release.

Abdulnasir Al Raisi, DGM – Premier banking, said: “Marking a long-standing and strong relationship with clients, the Premier banking strategy is a step into the

future banking in Oman, reflecting the bank’s commitment to expand innovative services to clients and remain the nation’s bank of first choice. With global financial expertise, the bank has adopted smarter strategies to stay ahead in business and provide a distinct experience for Premier banking clients.”

Al Raisi added: “Aimed at elevating Premier banking service to unparalleled heights, the bank serves all Premier customers of the bank - Private, asalah Priority and al Jawhar Privilege banking – through one department. Committed to further enhancing banking services to the premier segment, the bank’s strategy focuses on customer service and benefits with dedicated relationship managers, exclusive centres and online services. The differentiated and specialised banking experience distinguishes Premier banking clients from competitors.”

He said: “Bank Muscat Premier banking pays much attention to customer service excellence with world class products and services.

The bank will continue to focus on providing customers across Oman with special banking facilities and services that meet their personalised needs, aspirations and goals.”

Bank Muscat, through Private Banking, is one of the few banks in the Sultanate catering to the needs of high net-worth individual / ultra high net-worth individual segment,

RECRUIT QUOTES No man will be found in whose mind airy notions do not sometimes tyrannise, and force him to hope or fear beyond the limits of sober probability.

— Samuel Johnson Illusions commend themselves to us because they save us pain and allow us to enjoy pleasure instead. We must therefore accept it without complaint when they sometimes collide with a bit of reality against which they are dashed to pieces.

— Sigmund Freud Truth, as any dictionary will tell you, is a property of certain of our ideas. It means their “agreement,” as falsity means their disagreement, with “reality.”

— William James An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it.

— Mahatma Gandhi

QUOTES What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child. — George Bernard Shaw One part of knowledge consists in being ignorant of such things as are not worthy to be known. — Crates

offering exclusive banking and investment services. As the HNI segment is becoming more sophisticated and global in its requirements, the Private Banking team constantly endeavours to remain a cut above the regional banks and match up to its global peers.

Along with the best of banking services, including exclusive debit card, credit card, cheque book, which are unmatched in the Sultanate, private banking provides an exceptional breadth and depth of wealth management solutions.

The investment offerings provide exposure to most global markets and asset classes, through a robust execution platform and administered through experienced dedicated relationship managers.

Besides addressing the regular investment needs of clients, the segment addresses wealth protection, which is another important aspect of private banking, by of-

B7

fering exclusive insurance products covering property, jewellery, artefacts and household items.

Ensuring complete client confidentiality at all times, the wealth management solutions are offered to clients as per their risk appetite and comfort. asalah priority banking provides a differentiated and specialised banking experience characterised by a profound understanding of clients’ preferences. Forming a strong franchise that distinguishes it from competitors, asalah priority banking meets the requirements of the rapidly growing customer segment with focus on recognition, rewards and solutions which have set a benchmark for personal and relationship based banking in Oman.

The asalah membership comes with Bank Muscat’s commitment to delivering value. Personalised premium products and upgraded services come with preferential pricing, thereby multiplying the value of asalah membership and reducing the cost of transactions.

In the vibrant world of privilege banking, the distinctive identity says it all as al Jawhar Privilege Banking was introduced recently to serve the bank’s core customer segment. Designed around the unique lifestyle and banking requirements of the largest customer segment, al Jawhar is the first-of-its-kind privilege banking

service in Oman.

The value proposition of recognition places al Jawhar customers in a league of their own. Notably, al Jawhar Platinum debit card is the key to a world of exclusive services.

Adding value, al Jawhar credit card benefits include airport lounge access and free travel insurance.

Premier banking maintains close relations and reaches out to clients with a monthly newsletter covering the latest global, regional and local economy updates in addition to all important developments in the bank.

Bank Muscat has lined up exclusive high value al Mazyona monthly, quarterly and year-end prizes for the Premier banking segment.

The private banking clients are eligible for all al Mazyona prize draws. The exclusive prizes earmarked for asalah priority banking customers include two monthly prizes of OMR50,000 each, two quarterly prizes of OMR250,000 each and the year-end jackpot prize of OMR500,000 for one customer. The bank also offers special prizes to Al Jawhar Privilege Banking customers, including two monthly prizes of OMR25,000 each and two quarterly prizes of OMR50,000 each. Premier banking customers can participate in all other al Mazyona weekly, monthly, quarterly and special prize draws offering a total prize money of OMR10 million.

FIXED PRICE PLAN

Ooredoo Musafir Business offers a choice of roaming bundles MUSCAT: Ooredoo has introduced Musafir Business facilitating affordable and convenient voice and data roaming bundles for Oman’s business travellers.

Available from April 11, Musafir Business offers a choice of roaming bundles covering the top 42 countries visited by Oman’s business population with added attention given to those travelling to the UAE being the top most visited business destination, says a press release.

Starting at OMR2 for the daily bundle and reaching up to only OMR15 for the weekly bundles, Musafir Business bundles can be conveniently activated by the user either before or upon arrival at their destination.

“Recognising that today’s enterprises have no borders, we have designed this value-packed voice and data roaming bundle so Oman’s business community can be more productive even while they are out of Oman, be it to check their e-mail, do some online research, share some quick information via WhatsApp or a simple call to the office.

An added advantage of Musafir Business is that it’s a fixed price plan, removing all worries about unexpected charges and avoiding any bill shock for roaming charges at the end of the month,” said Said Al Shanfari, director of Business Marketing at Ooredoo.

C

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

SECTION

ROSBERG EXTENDS WIN STREAK IN CHINA, HAMILTON SEVENTH >C3

SPOR YOUR GAME

S

UNIVERSAL UPGRADE >C5

Stage set for Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition The fourth edition of the conference, where as many as five Omani stars including Ali Al Habsi will be under focus, is scheduled to be inaugurated

by Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi

Sports Reporter MUSCAT: The Ministry of Sports Affairs is all set to host the annual Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition, an event that brings together most of the stakeholders of the Sultanate’s sports, starting with the daylong conference at Grand Hyatt on Monday.

The fourth edition of the conference, where as many as five Omani stars including football legend Ali Al Habsi will be under focus, is scheduled to be inaugurated by Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad

ALL SET: Fahd Al Raisi, Director General of Sports Development and Welfare at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, had earlier revealed the details the Oman Sports Conference and Exhibition.

bin Mohammed Al Mardhouf Al Saadi, at 9am.

Oman Air and Oman LNG Development Foundation are the main sponsors of the event.

The 2016 event includes the second edition of exhibition, which will be organised at the Oman International Exhibition Centre from Tuesday to Thursday.

Fahd Al Raisi, Director General of Sports Development and Welfare at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, had earlier revealed that goalkeeping hero Ali Al Habsi and

four other Omani stars will be under focus as international experts present their views and share their experiences at the conference.

The list of Omani stars who will be under the focus includes football star Imad Al Hosni, popular motor racer Ahmad Al Harthy, tennis sensation Fatma Al Nabhani and star athlete Barakat Al Harthi.

The conference will comprise four sessions.

The key speakers during the first session — titled ‘Sports Management’ — include Khalid Al

Hachani, Advisor for Sports Planning at the Ministry of Sports Affairs, Professor Emmanuel Bayle from Institute of Sports Science at Lausanne University, and Dr Atef Abdullah Al Ruwaidan, Director of Jordan’s Al Hussain Youth City.

Jirayr Habibian, Sports Lawyer and CAS Arbitrator, Professor Waldimir Andreff of University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, Joaquin Martinez of University of Barcelona and Abduallah Taman Al Maashani, Chairman of Board of Directors of Bank Muscat, will be

presenting their papers in the second session on ‘Sports Funding’.

During the third session — ‘Display of Successful Youth in Sports’, where the focus will be on five Omani stars, Humaid Al Balushi, producer and presenter of Al Kas Qatar Sports, will be the session director.

The fourth session, titled ‘The importance of youth sector as a foundation for sports system’, will see Humaid Al Balushi as well as Qatar Aspire Academy’s Director General Ivan Bravo, Tim March, Regional FutbolNet manager at Fundacio FC Barcelona, and Oman Sail’s CEO David Graham delivering their lectures.

At the exhibition, which will be inaugurated by Minister of Sports Affairs Sheikh Saad Al Saadi at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, there will be a total of 35 exhibits, including those from the sports associations, committees and clubs who will be presenting their ideas and activities.

There will also be 30 sports companies and private sector organisations who will be presenting their concepts and promoting their products.

The prominent clubs who will be putting up stalls at the exhibition are Al Shabab, Sur, Sohar, Saham, Ibri, Oman, Seeb and Salam.

This time there will also be two cricket stalls — one by governing body Oman Cricket and Al Hail Cricket Team.

Oman Women’s Sports Committee, Oman Photography Society, Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society and Omani Society of Fine Arts will also be among the exhibitors.

TENT PEGGING

Oman team win bronze at ITPF World Cup in Cairo MUSCAT: Oman team settled for a bronze in the team event behind India and Egypt at the ITPF Tent Pegging World Cup in Cairo on Sunday.

According to information received here, Oman squad, comprising Hilal Al Balushi, Safwan Al Mamamri, Hamad Al Riyami and Ali Al Balushi won the bronze medal with 98 points.

Indian team took the gold with 103 points while hosts Egypt won the silver with 102 points.

In the lance pair event, South

Africa (23.5 points, 6.72 seconds) won the gold followed by Australia (23.5 points, 7.07 seconds) and Sudan (22 points, 5.59 seconds) in that order.

In the over all standings Egypt finished on top with 560 points.

South Africa (559.5) and Iraq (506.5) finished in second and third places respectively.

They were followed by Oman (503), Sudan (488.5), India (486.5), Yemen (485), Jordan (459), Australia (423), UAE (403) and Great Britain (331) in that order.

INSIDE LIFESTYLE

FOOTBALL

Al Khabourah, Saham in HM’s Cup title showdown

MUSCAT: Al Khabourah and Saham overcame Salalah and Al Nasr respectively to set up a final showdown in this year’s His Majesty’s Cup Football Championship on Sunday.

In their second match of the double leg semifinal, played at Sohar Sports Complex, Al Khabourah edged Salalah 1-0 to book their place in the final.

The teams played out a goalless draw in the first leg match played on April 6.

Saham and Al Nasr too entered their second leg match at Salalah Sports Complex on Sunday after sharing points after their first leg match. Saham, however, managed to edge the four-time champions Al Nasr in their own for a 1-0 victory.

The date of the final is yet to be announced by the Oman Football Association.

TENNIS

Nadal sees off Monfils MONTE CARLO: Rafa Nadal ended his four-year wait for a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title by defeating Gael Monfils 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 on Sunday in his 100th career final.

Nadal won eight consecutive titles before losing the 2013 final to Novak Djokovic and, after struggling for fitness in recent years, he demonstrated his return to form by overwhelming the home favourite in the third set to win his 28th Masters title.

“Monte Carlo has been one of the most special places in my career,” Nadal said. “It was a pleasure to play here again.” - Reuters

C2

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

SPORTS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Maxwell, openers spur Punjab to first win Pune Supergiants have now lost two consecutive matches after having won their first game in Mumbai

MOHALI: Glenn Maxwell played a scintillating cameo hitting an unbeaten 32 off 14 balls under pressure to power Kings XI Punjab to a six-wicket win over Rising Pune

Supergiants to notch up their first victory in the ninth edition of the IPL cricket tournament here on Sunday. Chasing a target of 153, Kings XI Punjab were put in a spot of bother as they slumped to 119 for 4 in the 17th over after a fluent opening stand of 97 between Manan Vohra (51) and Murali Vijay (53).But it was Maxwell who helped the team romp home in 18.4 overs as they won their first match in their third encounter.

Pune Supergiants have now lost two consecutive matches after having won their first game in Mumbai. Just when it looked that KXIP were trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, Maxwell brought his big-hitting prowess to the fore as he belted three fours and two sixes in quick time to win

MAN OF THE MATCH: Opener Manan Vohra of Kings XI Punjab

clebrates his fifty in Mohali. – PTI

a match that the home team ought to have won easily.

The fifth wicket stand between Maxwell and Wriddhiman Saha yielded 34 runs in only 2.2 overs in which India’s Test wicketkeeper

contributed only four runs.

Once KXIP skipper David Miller (7) was gone, there were ominous signs but Maxwell hit a six and four each off successive overs from the two Ashwins — leg-spinner Mu-

rugan (3/36 in 4 overs) and offspinner Ravichandran (0/27 in 4 overs) to settle the issue.

He finished the match with an imperious cover drive off Thisara Perera. However, the Kings XI coach Sanjay Bangar should be unhappy that there were tense moments especially after the start that they got.

The elegant Murali Vijay hit 53 off 49 balls with five fours and two huge sixes — an inside out lofted cover drive off Ishant Sharma and a pull off Murugan.

His partner Vohra got 51 off 33 balls with seven delectable boundaries that also earned him the Man of the Match award.

It looked as if it would be walk in the park before Vohra was trapped leg before trying to sweep left-arm

spinner Ankit Sharma. Shaun Marsh (4) was accounted by Murugan with a delivery that went straight and breached his defences.

Vijay got his first 50 of the tournament but then lost his concentration trying to play a cut shot off Murugan. Miller became Murugan’s third victim trying to hit a six but in came Maxwell and did a telling damage hitting him for a six and a boundary.

The senior Ashwin was also spanked in the next over and whatever chances of a comeback that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team harboured went up in smoke.

Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 153 for 4 (Vijay 53, Vohra 51, Maxwell 32 not out, M Ashwin 3-36) beat Rising Pune Supergiants 152 for 7 (Faf du Plessis 67, Smith 38, Mohit 3-23) by six wickets. - PTI

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

De Kock heroics spur Delhi BENGALURU: Riding on opener Quinton De Kock’s heroics, Delhi Daredevils (DD) on Sunday defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Chinnaswami Stadium here.

Leading the run chase for the visitors, De Kock hit a superblycrafted century (108 of 51 balls), first century in IPL 9, with 15 fours and three sixes to guide his team to win the match by seven wickets in 19.1 overs. The South African southpaw was a beauty to watch and a virtuoso in action with his boundaries zooming all over the ground, especially his masterclass off-side shots. From an asking rate of 87 runs in 48 balls after 12 overs,

FINE KNOCK: Delhi Daredev-

ils batsman Quinton De Kock raises his bat after scoring a century as teammate Karun Nair looks on. – AFP

the going got so easy that DD only needed 21 runs in 26 balls by the 17th over and just one run off the final six balls. Karun Nair, unbeaten at 54 off 42 balls with six fours and one six, stood by De Kock to see the victory in the 20th over.

Though DD started off their

chase of 192 runs shakily, losing Shreyas Iyer (0) and Sanju Samson (9) early, the win was comprehensive and facile. Nair reached his half century in the 17th over off 37 balls with six fours and a sixer.

Earlier, Virat Kohli, with a fighting 79 off 48 balls, was the chief architect of RCB’s 191 for 5 in 20 overs. Steadying the ship after losing swashbuckling Chris Gayle for a duck, Kohli was joined by mercurial A.B. De Villiers to build the innings.

Brief scores: Delhi Daredevils 192 for 2 (Quinton De Cock 108, Karun Nair 54; Shane Watson 2/25, Sreenath Aravind 1/32) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 191 for 5 (Virat Kohli 79, A.B. De Villiers 55; Mohammed Shami 2/34, Carlos Brathwaite 1/18). - IANS

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

C3

SPORTS Arnav, Shams, Faris, Fahad & Victor shine

FORMULA ONE

only for last eight weeks in Ras Al Hamra Golf Club was not expecting to win.

“I am surprised. This my first ever golf competition in life. I was little nervous when going out but eventually started playing well. I was playing 5 or 6 holes, first time I played a 9 hole game. In the last 3 holes I did well and won.”

In the under-9 long tee event, Faris Al Busaidi scored 16 to emerge the winner ahead of runner-up Adam Al Barwani (18).

In the under-9 medium tee category, Fahad Al Adawi won on countback with a score of 20, ahead of runner-up Jake Sanderson (20). In the under-9 short tee event, Victor Nordberg won with a score of 19, ahead of runner-up Riley Dunn (22).

been a lovely sight, to see so many youngsters taking to the course and contesting hard. We hope to produce more such competitive golfing opportunities for youngsters in Oman.”

Guests of honour Rashid Abdullah Al Nasri, Executive Vice-President of Oman LNG Development Foundation, OGC Chairman Mundhir Al Barwani, Vice-Chairman Ahmed Al Jahdhmy, board member and representative of Trowers & Hamlins Majid Al Toky graced the prize-distribution ceremony.

Later, Oman LNG’s Rashid Al Nasri said: “This is a great occasion and we are charmed by the wonderful response from the children and their parents. The success of today’s event and the players’ enthusiasm quite clearly show the huge potential that is there for continued golf development in the Sultanate. I wish everyone more success in the future.”

Jachym Sedek, playing in the under-9 long tee category, won the hole-in-one contest and was given a special prize for the rare feat.

Congratulating the winners, Al Toky said: “An event like this is a very important occasion for golf development in Oman. All over the world where golf is a successful sport, it all began at the grassroots level. Here too, these age-groups of 9-10 years are the foundation for building the sport in Oman.”

Golfing opportunities OGC Chairman Al Barwani said: “I must thank all the parents first for coming forward and pushing their kids to take part in this event and to turn it into a big success. It has

Individual winners: Above-10 years (long tee): Arnav Dixit; Above-10 years (medium tee): Shams Al Noumani; Under-9 years (long tee): Faris Al Busaidi; Under-9 years (medium tee): Fahad Al Adawi; Under-9 years (short tee): Victor Nordberg, Hole-in-one: Jachym Sedek.

The OGC organised the day-long championship DOMINANT FORCE: Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg

of Germany holds his trophy after the Chinese Grand Prix. – Reuters

in association with Oman LNG,

Rosberg extends winning streak

which has been supporting Oman’s junior development programme over the

SHANGHAI: Nico Rosberg claimed a dominant win in an action-packed Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton, who battled up to seventh with some feisty driving after starting last.

Rosberg crossed the line a mammoth 37.7 seconds ahead of German compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who recovered after colliding with his Ferrari team mate Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner, to claim his third win from three races this season. The German now leads Hamilton by 36 points in the standings and is firmly in control of the championship with 18 rounds of a record 21-race season remaining.

He certainly has history on his side with the winner of the first three races of the season having gone on to win the title each time.

CRICKET

Herath retires from short formats COLOMBO: Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath has retired from 50-over and Twenty20 internationals in order to carry on playing Test matches, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday. The 38-year-old took 74 wickets in 71 one-day internationals and another 18 in 17 T20 matches for the island nation, shouldered the burden of the slow bowling attack following the retirement of spin great Muttiah Muralitharan in 2011.

“Every cricketer has to stop at the right time, I feel it’s time to make room for fresh talent to be groomed with the 2019 World Cup in view,” Herath was quoted as saying in a statement.

Arguably the left-arm spinner’s best effort came at the 2014 World Twenty20, where he took five wickets for just three runs as Sri Lanka successfully defended a 120-run target in a must-win match against New Zealand en route to the title. — Reuters

“Well, it’s too early to make any summaries,” Rosberg told reporters. “It’s three races now and they’ve gone really well for me but it’s the longest season in F1 history with 21 races.

“Of course I’m happy with the way it’s gone and I’m feeling good and the car’s there but I don’t want to say more than that.”

Daniil Kvyat finished third to score Red Bull their first podium finish since September’s Singapore Grand Prix but the Russian had to defend himself after the race when an angry Vettel blamed him for the collision between the Ferraris.

Hamilton, who had started from dead last after failing to set a time in Saturday’s qualifying session due to an engine problem, finished seventh, running into further trouble at the start when he lost his front wing in a firstcorner collision. — Reuters

WINNERS ALL: Winners in various categories pose for a group photo along with Oman Golf Committee chief Mundhir Al Barwani.

past few years, and event partner Trowers & Hamlins

MUSCAT: Arnav Dixit, Shams Al Noumani, Faris Al Busaidi, Fahad Al Adawi and Victor Nordberg stole the show at the inaugural OGC Junior Open golf championship organised by Oman Golf Committee (OGC) at Almouj Golf course on Friday.

The OGC organised the daylong championship in association with Oman LNG, which has been supporting Oman’s junior development programme over the past few years, and event partner Trowers & Hamlins.

Thanks to a roaring response from the country’s ever enthusias-

tic young golfing community, the organisers expanded the event accepting 58 entries, four more than originally planned.

The field was open to both Omani citizens as well as expatriates, and they played in five categories: above-10 years (long tee), above-10 years (medium tee), under-9 years (long tee), under-9 years (medium tee), under-9 years (short tee).

Arnav produced a score of 36, with Cameron Henderson finishing runner-up with 39 in the above-10 long tee category.

Arnav was elated with his win and he said: “It feels nice to win this trophy. The competition was good. The conditions out there were also quite good today. I have been playing golf for a few years, and I like playing the sport. It’s been a nice experience for me.”

In the above-10 medium tee category, Shams Al Noumani scored 57, same as Ayman Al Muhrouqi but the former took the top honours on countback.

Shams who has been training

C4

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

SPORTS OMAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN RECEIVES SAUDI ARABIAN AMBASSADOR

Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) chief Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair received at his office on Sunday Eid bin Mohammed Al Thaqafi, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the Sultanate, in the presence of Taha bin Suleiman Al Kishry, General Secretary of the OOC. The meeting discussed a number of issues concerning the sports and Olympic movement in the two countries besides the ways to further enhance the sports co-operation.

Leicester and Arsenal held Leicester lead the standings with 73 points from 34 matches, followed by Spurs who have 65 from 33 matches

TENNIS

OTA successfully organises first inter-club junior tennis in Manah MUSCAT: Oman Tennis Association (OTA) successfully organised the 1st Inter-club Junior Tennis Championships in the Wilayat of Manah.

The two-day tournament, which began on April 15 and 16, took place at the Manah Recreation Centre.

In the individual category, Al Bashaer Club’s Al Abdili Mohammed Abdili won the under-10 boys title after defeating Nizwa Club’s Fayad Mahamood Al Khrousi 10-5 in a well-contested final.

In the under-12 boys final, Ahmed Ismael Al Tobi, also of Al Bashaer Club, defeated Nizwa’s Saif Ahmed Al Khrousi 10-8.

Al Tobi’s teammate Nubras Mohammed Al Abdili surved some anxious moments before defeating Nizwa Club’s Yahya Abdullah Al Rajhi 11-9 to take the under-14

boys title. In the team championships, Majees Club team comprising Abdulrahman Al Balushi, Ahmed Al Farsi, Khamis Al Jabri, emerged the champions in the under-10 boys competition. Nizwa Club, consisting of Mohammed Al Hashmi, Fayad Al Khrousi, Ahmed Al Hashmi, took the second place while Al Bashaer Club (Al Abdili Al Abdili) settled for the third place.

In the boys under-12 competition, Nizwa (Yassen Al Khrousi, Taha Al Khrousi and Saif Al Khrousi) won the title ahead of Al Bashaer (Ahmed Al Tobi and Al Abdili Mohammed Al Abdili). Majees Club (Abdulrahman Al Balushi, Mohammed Al Barmani and Moaadh Al Zadjali) won the third place.

In the boys under-14, Nizwa Club, represented by Yahya

Al Rajhi, Qusai Al Hadidi, Saif Al Khrousi and Yaseen Yahya, emerged the champions.

Quriyat Club (Qusai Al Busafi, Nasser Al Soti, Muayed Al Battashi and Hussein Al Battashi) won the second place, while Bashaer (Nibras Al Abdali, Yaqub Al Tobi, Faisal Al Masrouri and Abdullah Al Hadrami) took the third place.

LONDON: Leaders Leicester City salvaged a point with a penalty from the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 with West Ham United on Sunday and open up an eightpoint gap over Tottenham Hotspur at the top of the Premier League.

Although Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri praised his team’s “fantastic” performance built on “blood, heart and soul”, the match proved costly for the side bidding for their first English top-flight title.

Goalscorer Jamie Vardy was sent off early in the second half and he will be suspended for the next match against Swansea City.

Leicester lead the standings with 73 points from 34 matches, followed by Spurs who have 65 from 33 and play their game in hand at Stoke City on Monday.

Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace on Sunday, remained fourth on 60 points, behind Manchester City on goal difference.

Victory over West Ham and defeat for Spurs on Monday would have left Leicester 10 points clear with four games to play. Two minutes into the game, however,

Leicester were lucky not to be behind when a West Ham attempt hit both posts before being cleared.

Leicester took the lead through Vardy after 18 minutes with the striker grabbing his 22nd goal of the season to join Harry Kane of Spurs as the league’s leading scorer.

But Vardy was red-carded for a second yellow early in the second half by referee Jon Moss and although Leicester’s 10 men coped well with constant West Ham pressure, they wilted in the 84th minute when Wes Morgan fouled Winston Reid and Andy Carroll equalised from the spot.

Two minutes later West Ham were ahead thanks to a fierce shot from the edge of the penalty area from Aaron Cresswell, before Carroll fouled Jeffrey Schlupp and Moss awarded Leicester a penalty which Leonardo Ulloa converted.

“The sending off changed our match,” Ranieri said. “But I never speak about the referee.

“Our performance was fantastic, this is our soul, we play every match with this, blood, heart and soul, it was magnificent. This point is very important psychologically.”

West Ham remained sixth on 53 points, three behind Manchester United. Arsenal’s lingering title hopes appeared to end after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Crystal Palace.

Liverpool, showing 10 changes from the side that beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 to reach the Europa League semifinals, won 2-1 at Bournemouth with their goals coming at the end of the first half from Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge.

Josh King scored a late consolation for the hosts. - Reuters

OMAN OIL BEACH SOCCER

Coach Talib picks six new players after Sohar tourney

MUSCAT: Oman national beach soccer team coach Talib Hilal has picked six new players for a training camp after the Sohar leg of the ongoing Oman Oil Beach Soccer Cup. According to information provided by the Oman Football Association (OFA), Shat Al Arab team team won the top honours at the Sohar leg of the beach football tournament.

The tournament was held at the beach near the Sohar corniche and attracted a lot of attention from beach goers as people gathered around to see the players stake their claim to the beach soccer national team, an OFA statement said.

Coach Talib Hilal is on a mission to spot new talents to be called up for the national team training camp to be held ahead of

their participation in the Asian Beach Games later this year.

Talib Hilal had already picked four players at the end of the first leg organised in Sur. The next leg of the Oman Oil Beach Soccer Cup will be held in Salalah on April 23.

The fifth edition of Asian Beach Games are scheduled to be organised in Vietnam from September 24 to October 3.

C

LIFESTYLE

SECTION

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

Gear WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W WW WW W..T .T TII ME M E SO S O FO F O MA M A N.CO COM

BRANCHING OUT BEYOND TRENDSETTING SMARTPHONES, SAMSUNG HAS LAUNCHED A KILLER NEW LINE OF MODISH UNIVERSAL ACCESSORIES STORY FAISAL MOHAMMED NAIM PHOTOS S UPPLIED

A AVA IL A BL E AT

SARCO, EMAX, EXTRA, AND OTHER LEADING ELECTRONIC STORES

t the recent launch of the Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone: the Galaxy S7 (Flat and Edge), there were some cool doodads as well, catching the eyeballs, other than the flashy phones. As the phone wars intensify, it is no longer limited to just “What’s in the smartphone?” What’s with the smartphone equally matters too: The accessories.

With the S7, Samsung came up with many; from a whole array of exciting cases (as many as eight different variants) offering not just a different look, but functionalities as well ranging from keyboard cover, to lens cover, to leather, wallet, and LED covers – to interchangeable lenses, smartphone backpack, and wireless charging dock.

However, what really caught our fancy is the Gear VR, Samsung’s first virtual reality headset for everyday consumers; the really stylish Level U wireless earphones, and last but not the least, the really slim and yet powerful 5200mAh battery pack.

The Gear VR delivers amazing visual experience with 360-degree movie watching and playing super immersive games. Being able to actually

look around for things not in the scene feels a lot more interactive than just scrolling with a joystick on a normal screen.

It’s comfortable to wear for hours at a time, even if you wear glasses, and the controls are intuitive and easy to understand.

Although the video quality is not as good as the current rivals; the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and the Sony PS VR, and the controls are also not as powerful as the rest.

But then the Gear VR is priced under OMR50, while the other three are well above OMR100.

The idea is to give the consumers a good introduction to the world

of virtual reality, and it succeeds hugely at that.

Another advantage the Gear VR has over its rivals is mobility. While the rival three need to be tethered to their source, limiting the movement while in use, the Gear VR is completely cord free, allowing the user to go anywhere, anytime (although I seriously doubt if this feature is at all of any help. With the VR on your eyes, you are seeing another world, while your body is in another, making you blind for any movement.) The Gear VR is only compatible with the S6, S7 series, and Note 5.

The Level U Bluetooth headphones are another cool accessory from Samsung that we came to really like. Connecting wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet, the chic earphones are a delight for the ears.

Delivering clear high quality sound (specially the bass) with large 12mm speaker units, the earphones are top choice for music on the move. Designed for long term wear, the headphones feature a flexible urethane joint to wear around the neck and stabilising wing ear gels for in-ear comfort. Dual-microphone noise reduction and echo cancellation reduce outside sound interference and feedback during calls.

The control buttons are also very well placed. A voice prompt also informs about the active/inactive and pairing status. Battery life is pretty good with 10 hours of music playback. A very nice feature is that the back of the neckband vibrates to alert you of incoming calls.

The slim design 5200mAh Battery Pack is remarkably lightweight at less than 145g, and ultra-thin at just 9.8mm.

Sleek and slim, carrying this battery pack is fuss-free. While most of the other battery packs are a menace with their rather

bulgy dimensions, the Samsung battery pack is perfectly portable in every situation, easily slidable into your pants’ pocket.

With the same sophisticated metal looks and dimensions as that of the Galaxy S6, it is just like carrying another smartphone in your pocket.

The big 5200mAh capacity provides you with more power on the go, and the battery pack also features ‘Fast Charge’, meaning it charges the devices and gets charged real fast. What’s more with the earphones and battery pack is that they are universal, and can work with non-Samsung devices as well.

Although I might feel compelled to say that Samsung is inspired by the competition more often rather than coming up with something actually new on its own. If the Gear VR appears to be the middle path between Google Cardboard an Oculus Rift, the earphones are quite similar to LG Tone headphones, and the LED case very much seems directly taken from HTC. What Samsung has really done is gather all the goods from around and present one happy package to the smarty buffs. Nice job.

— faisal@timesofoman.com

C6

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

@PANORAMA MALL

@ MGM

SUR Fan (Hindi, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska, Ileana D’Cruz 3:15, 8:15, 11:15 PM

@ RUWI

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman

The Jungle Book (3D) (Adventure | Drama| Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley.

3:00, 5:00, 6:15 PM

SHATTI Fan (Hindi| Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 2:30, 5:30, 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30PM

Theri (Tamil) (Action) (12+) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu 7:00 PM

The Jungle Book - (3D) Adventure | Drama| Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 3:15, 5:15 & 7:15PM

The Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Adventure Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15 PM Gold Class – 6:15 PM

Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 2:45, 7:45, 9:15 & 11:30PM Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 5:00PM

Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 2:30, 8:45 & 11:15PM

The Jungle Book (MX4D) (Adventure | Drama| Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 & 9:30PM

Fan – 2D (PG12) Hindi| Thriller Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 3:30, 6:30, 8:15, 11:15 PM Gold Class – 3:15, 8:15, 11:15 PM Criminal – 2D (15+) Action|Crime | Drama Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 1:00, 9:30, 11:45 PM PANORAMA MALL Fan - (Hindi| Thriller) - VIP LOUNGE (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30PM

Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 9:00 & 11:30PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

Sur Sur

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

Daily Daily

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

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) – 2D (Fantasy, Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino 5:15, 11:45PM

Fan-2D (Crime, Drama, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska 2:45, 6:00, 8:00, 11:00PM Theri – 2D (Romance, Comedy) (12+)

11.45 13.30 14.00

Mr. Right (Action / Comedy / Romance) Cast: Anna Kendrick, Sam Rockwell, Tim Roth 6.00 PM CP No: 1094 (15+)

Criminal Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 5:15, 6:30, 9:30, 11:30PM

STAR CINEMA

Their (Tamil) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson 8:45PM

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om Theri (Tamil) (Action & Drama) Cast: Vijay & Samantha 3:00, 6:30 & 9:30PM Cinema Main

SALALAH The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) (Adventure | Drama| Family) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 1:00, 4:30, 6:30PM

Fan (Hindi) (Action\Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan & Ileana D’Cruz 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 PM Cinema -2

Fan (2D) (PG12) (Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 3:00, 6:00, 9:00, 11:15PM

Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) (Comedy \ Drama) Cast: Privthviraj & Chandini Sreedharan 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 PM Cinema -3

Criminal (2D) (15+) (Action| Crime | Drama) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 2:15, 4:30, 6:45, 9:00, 11:30PM

Sardaar Gabbar Singh ( Telugu) ( Action) Cast: Pawan Kaltan & Kajal Aggarwal 3:45 PM Cinema -4

The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) (2D) (15+) (Action | Drama) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino 2:45, 11:55PM

Maheshinte Prathikaram (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Fahad Faasil & Anusree 6:45 & 9:45 PM Cinema -4 Next Change: Kali (Mal); Sarrainodo (Telugu)

Theri (2D) (12+) (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson 8:30PM

Programmes are subject to change WITH LOVE

0

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

50-25%

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 17 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 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

06:00 06:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Daily

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Ruwi

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

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

Minimum

Criminal (Action / Crime / Drama) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 2.00, 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 PM. CP No: 1101 (15+)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

07:00

Fan (Hindi, Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Mariola Jaworska 5:15, 8:15, 11:15PM

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

33 28

Fan (Hindi) (Drama / Thriller) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Waluscha De Souza, Shriya Pilgaonkar 1.00, 3.45, 6.30, 9.15 & 11.45 PM CP No: 1100 (PG12)

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

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

BURAIMI The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) -2D (Action, Drama) Cast: JeanReno, AlbanLenoir, Caterina Murino.

11:45PM

WEATHER

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

Theri (Action) - Tamil –12+ Cast: Vijay, Samantha, Amy Jackson, Prabhu 6.45, 9.45 PM

Theri (Tamil) (2D) (Comedy | Action) (12+) Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu

The Dead Room – 2D (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Thomas Jane, Kate Bosworth 10:00, 11:55 PM

The Jungle Book – 3D (Adventure, Drama, Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 3:15, 5:45, 7:30PM

Screen 3 Rocky Handsome (Action/ Thriller) –12+ Cast: John Abraham, Shruti Haasan 3.45 PM

Sardar Gabbar Singh (2D) (Comedy|Action) (PG12) Cast: Pawan Kalyan, Kajal Agarwal 6:10 PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

Screen 2 The Jungle Book (2D) (Adventure) –PG Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba 3.45, 6.45, 9.00 PM

Darvinte Parinamam (Mal) (2D) (Action | Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran 9:00 PM

The Squad Aka (ANTI GANG) (2D) (Action, Drama) (15+) Cast: Jean Reno, Alban Lenoir, Caterina Murino 11:45PM

Fan (Hindi| Thriller) (PG12)

RUWI Screen 1 Fan (Thriller) –PG12 Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Ileana D’Cruz 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

Rocky Handsome (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: John Abraham, Shruti Hassan 3:45, 11:45 PM

Criminal (Action|Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 2:30, 8:45 & 11:15PM

Criminal– 2D (Action, Crime, Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot 3:00, 5:15, 9:30, 11:45 PM

The Jungle Book (3D) (Adventure) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 PM

Fan (Hindi) (2D) (Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Ileana D’Cruz 2:45, 5:40, 8.30, 10:00, 11:30 PM

The Jungle Book - (3D) Adventure | Drama| Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 2:45, 4:45 & 6:45PM

SOHAR Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice– 2D (Action, Adventure, Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 3:00PM

7:00, 8:55 PM

BAHJA CINEMA

Cast: Vijay, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Amy Jackson 7:00, 9:00PM

The Jungle Book (3D) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley.

4:30, 7:30PM

Criminal (Action | Crime | Drama) (15+) Cast: Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot.

9:55, 11:55 PM

Fan (Hindi| Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi, Ileana D’Cruz 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM

AZAIBA Batman vs Superman:Dawn of Justice (3D) (Action |Adventure | Fantasy) (PG12) Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams 3:45, 11:45 PM

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Joelle Koissi 3:00, 4:30, 6:00, 7:30 & 10:30PM

MUSCAT GRAND MALL The Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Adventure Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 12:15, 2:15, 4:15, 6:15 PM Gold Class – 6:15 PM

Destination

12.11pm 3.38pm 6.34pm 7.47pm 4.25am

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

CINEMA SCHEDULE

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES (ROUND THE CLOCK) Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya 24787766, 24787780

Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Lifeline Hospital Salalah 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al Hayat International Hospital, Al Ghubra 22004000, 94267068/97049520 Al Hayat Clinic, Al Hail 22009455

AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

C7

LIFESTYLE BRIEFS

Your iPhone will expire in three years, says Apple US electronic giant Apple has said the iPhones and Apple Watch have a life expectancy of three years, while AppleTV devices expire in four years. In a recent update to its environmental policy, Apple specified iPhone’s productive life cycle will be up at the three-year mark, as will the Apple Watch while the OS X, a series of operating systems developed and marketed by Apple Inc., and AppleTV devices will get an extra twelve months to reach the four-year mark.

“To model customer use, we measure the power consumed by a product while it is running in a simulated scenario,” Apple was quoted as saying. “Daily usage patterns are specific to each product and are a mixture of actual and modelled customer-use data. Years of use, which are based on first owners, are assumed to be four years for OS X and tvOS devices and three years for iOS and watchOS devices,” the company added. These numbers are in harmony with Apple’s strategy of rolling out operating system updates to older devices and the hardware offered to replace older units.

Samsung Galaxy S7

HTC 10

They are at it again. Samsung and HTC lock horns with their top end smartphones, each trying to edge out the other. With almost the same specs, loaded with the latest technology, and the biggest numbers, this duel is going to be a tough one. Finally, whoever be the winner, we believe the other is no less. It’s all about brand preferences.

Story Faisal Mohammed Naim

Design The best looking HTC so far, the 10 makes a very bold statement. Like its predecessor, (the M9), the HTC 10 feels sturdy, crafted from a single block of aluminium, featuring a new angled bevel that shimmers in the light, appearing smooth or textured depending on the environment.

Even though slightly wide for comfortable single thumb operation, the 10 finds good balance between the screen size and overall dimensions. The second speaker on the device has been moved from the front to the underside, accommodating a front-facing fingerprint sensor in its place.

The Galaxy S7 looks exotic in its glass and metal construction, but feels fragile. The seams and joints on the body also look to weaken in due course (we are sure you would have changed your phone by then anyway).

The typical camera bump (or hump) on the backside of the previous Galaxy has been considerably reduced, but the protrusion still remains. Packing a bigger battery than its predecessor, the S6, the new S7 is IP68 waterproof up to 1 metre and one hour, and dustproof as well.

S7: 10: Features Both the contenders pack a punch.

Each has the latest processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, along with 4GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 12MP rear cameras, 5MP front cameras, and a variety of value-added options.

However, the HTC storage is expandable up to a mammoth 2TB, while the Samsung can only go up till 200GB. The S7 is waterproof with no visible external seals or gaskets, and can be charged wirelessly.

CLASH OF THE TITANS On the other hand, the HTC 10 has a USB Type-C port with USB 3.1 transfer speeds, which future proofs it for many years to come.

The S7 still uses microUSB port with USB 2.0 transfer speeds, perhaps to maintain compatibility with the Gear VR. The S7 has the edge in terms of screen technology. While the 10 features the fifth generation Super LCD – one of the best LCDs currently, the S7 comes with Super AMOLED: Better in terms of vibrance, viewing angles, and brightness, especially outdoors.

Both devices have fingerprint scanners on the front, but here the HTC looks superior. The 10’s home button is more capacitive than physical, preventing future mechanical problems, and the device can be unlocked without turning the screen on, the feature absent on the S7. The HTC’s fingerprint scanner also seems faster and more responsive.

On the power front, both devices are equipped with 3,000mAh nonremovable battery, and feature almost the same backup.

S7: 10:

Camera HTC has long suffered in this segment, and while this time it has improved its performance significantly, it still is not up to the leader in mobile camera technology yet.

Both the 10 and S7 sport 12MP rear camera, but the Galaxy S7 is able to focus, expose and shoot faster than the HTC 10, in any light condition and with very little compromise.

However, Samsung lags behind the HTC in picture originality as it manipulates images applying artificial sharpening and noise reduction to make photos look crisper on the mobile screen. The flaw is however clearly exposed on bigger screens like PC or laptop. The 10, though takes more time adjusting the exposure, captures more true to life images.

Both the phones feature professional modes, which allow for manual tweaking of shutter speed, focus, exposure and light sensitivity. With a bit of tweaking, the HTC 10’s slightly larger pixels; 1.55 microns compared to S7’s 1.4 – k produce cleaner shots that are more easily editable post-production.

For the selfie camera, both are up

with 5MP camera, however, the 10 also features optical image stabilisation, a first in the industry for front cameras.

S7: 10: Software Both devices run on Android 6.0.1, but the HTC interface feels much better than Samsung. It always has: No overload of features and useless widgets, and still retains the more useful power user shortcuts, such as Motion Gestures and quick music streaming. Features like Personal Audio Profile, which optimises sound output for your specific headphones, are just awesome.

The ever overloaded Samsung has also tried to shed the unnecessary load a bit in the S7, but still nowhere close to the 10. Though the service duplication is toned down, there is still too much mirroring – from own browser to app market.

HTC’s default theme also has some of the nicest icons on any Android device, and also HTC has struck deals with Facebook to preinstal its core app plus Messenger and Instagram.

S7: 10: Conclusion If Samsung has a somewhat better screen, and little better camera results, HTC has got much better hardware, and super-awesome design. If the S7 is water and dust proof (only to a little extent), the HTC 10 has solid construction.

When it comes to premium all poisons are just great and it is all a matter of degree and taste. None of the device is going to disappoint.

TOO Verdict: Just for the sake of it, we go with the HTC 10. No camera bump and real solid construction. We let the design take it home. —faisal@timesofoman.com

Facebook to add news section to its mobile app Social media website Facebook may soon add a news section to its Android and iOS smartphone apps that may look like Facebook Paper, a standalone mobile app created only for iOS. Facebook confirmed that it is testing the new, sectioned news feed, in addition to the current format. Some screenshots surfaced on Twitter on Friday, showing a new layout of the app that highlighted multiple news sections, with topics such as world and US, sports and food.

“People have told us they would like options to see more stories on Facebook around specific topics they are interested in, and in accordance we have been testing a few feeds for people to view more and different stories from people and pages based on topic areas,” a Facebook spokesperson was quoted as saying, adding the move would encourage users to get more news from Facebook rather than other sources like Twitter or Google News. -IANS

C8

MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2016

LIFESTYLE

WORLD IN YOUR POCKET From socialising to shopping to music and photo sharing, mobile phones in their smart avatar have come a long way from being mere chatboxes. Computers in pockets, here is how the 21st century tech savvy gen is putting the smartphone to use.

55%

Navigating

76%

Emailing

54%

15%

64%

Tweeting

Watching Video

92%

Taking Photos

59%

Gaming

84%

Internet Browsing

92%

Social Networking

12%

Checking in

Text Messaging

69%

Downloading Apps

Source: Tatango.com

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

VACANCY

D2

D4

CARGO

D7

PROPERTIES FOR RENT t #FESPPN øBUT BU "M ,IVXBJS t TR NUST 4IPXSPPN BU /FBS #BES "M 4BNB $MJOJD 3VXJ OFBS 3FY SPBE !3 0 QFS NPOUI !3 0 QFS NPOUI t TR NUST 0óDF TQBDF BU t #FESPPN øBUT BU (IPCSB /FBS *OEJBO 4DIPPM !3 0 $#% #FIJOE 0NBO "SBC #BOL !3 0 QFS NPOUI QFS NPOUI OFHPUJBCMF

OFHPUJBCMF

t #FESPPN øBUT BU 8BUUBZB /FBS )POEB TIPXSPPN !3 0 QFS NPOUI OFHPUJBCMF

t TR NUST 0óDF TQBDF BU .VUUSBI BCPWF )BCJC #BOL ! QFS NPOUI OFHPUJBCMF

For enquires please contact : 24

702 666,

Fax: 24-703666. Email: manju@alhabib.om

FOR RENT Contact : 95399988, 24942600 Email - property@ikhtiar.om Showroom 2 Side Facing I CBD OPP. B.M. Showroom Space I CBD OPP. B.M. Office With Partition I CBD OPP. B.M. Flat 3 BHK I MBD Nr.Sheraton Flat 2 BHK With Terrace I MBD Nr.Sheraton Flat 1 BHK - 2 BHK I MBD Nr.Sheraton Small Offices With Partition I MBD Nr.Sheraton Villa 4 BHK+M.Room+S.Pool I Qurum 29 Nr. MSQ Flat 2 BHK I Khwair 33 Nr. Maya New building - Maintenance company provided- Caretaker Cleaner - A.C.- Multiple Elevators- Central settelite system Good Parking Space

COMEX 2016 VISIT US AT STALL

N.O: 1629 Printers, Laptops & PCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, CDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, DVDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s & Flash Drives & Cartridges

All HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung Cartridges also available.

Ruwi: 24 792 792 Sohar: 2684 2420

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

Available on very GOOD prices

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

GOOD PRICE!!!

RENT

GOOD PRICE!!!

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

SECTION

GOOD PRICE!!!

D2

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

Top Finish New- Res-5 apartments- 2 bhk/maid room 550/450, 3 bhk- 550, 1 BHK-350 2. Al Kuwair New 3 bhk, posh. Kit.fur,s.pool-700, 3 bhk +maid,ind.villa-650/3. Wadi Kabir 1/2 bhk-250/300/350 4. Al Kodh Villa 5 Bhk- Compounded 550/5. Qurum(Comm) Sama Center-Brand New 114/122/129 sq.mt 6. Azaiba (Comm) 'h dĞĐŚ ďůĚŶŐͲ ͘ ͬ͘ŇŽŽƌŝŶŐͬĐĞŝůŝŶŐ

FOR RENT

1. Qurum

Tel: 24571962/63 Mob: 94289050/ 95495281 Email: samain009@yahoo.com

DĂĚŝŶĂƚ ^ƵůƚĂŶ YĂƐ ͗^ŚŽǁƌŽŽŵͬKĸĐĞ Ăƚ 'ƌŽƵŶĚ &ůŽŽƌ͕ ϯϰϬ ^Ƌ Mtr. Facing main Road HAR Complex MSQ : 2,3-BHK Flats and 2 & 3 BHK villas with

ͬ ͕ĐĂƌ ƉĂƌŬŝŶŐ͕ ^ǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ WŽŽů ;'ĂƚĞĚ ŽŵƉůĞdžͿ Qurum : 6 BHK villa with garden, split Acs, shaded car parks, servant rooms DĂďĞůůĂ ͗ Ϯ ,< &ůĂƚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ;ďƌĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐͿ Darsait : 1 & 2-BHK Flats with AC & Shop Ruwi : 2-BHK & 3-BHK Flats and shops Al Amerat : 2 & 3-BHK Flat , 3 & 4-BHK Villa with A/C

For viewing please call 99466729, 99316410, 92841690, 91313271, 24694088 or email us on :hartc@omantel.net.om

FOR RENT

Contact

Quality Warehouses for rent at Mizfa 550 sqm to 3400 sqm.

Jacob – 99880534 Dinu - 92881410

Contact 99332291 / 96046951

Fully furnished office space available for rent at Wadi Kabir 1. First floor – 270 M2 2. Ground floor – 170 M2

*Tourist visa arranged

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35)#94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel : 00 968 95158570 3 Rooms, 2 Toilets Flat for Rent. 18 November Street. Near Mars Hypermarket and The Chedi. Ghobrah -Good for Commercial or Residential use.

OMR 295/- month. Call 94477222 Office & 2B/R with 3 toilets directly from owner, near Dolphin Complex Bausher. Contact 92158031 Flat in Wadi Al Kabir 2 bedrooms, 1 living room, 1 family hall, kitchen & 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99277787 Room for rent in Al Khuwair near Ibis hotel, very big. R.O 180/-. Contact: 95724975 Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact – 97007934 / 92609232 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabeer near India Primary School 2B & 1K. Contact: 92222922 1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin. Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 1 BHK in Azaiba. Contact: 99385835 / 99428143 2BHK flat near Wadi Adai signal R.O 280/- negotiable. #97645436 Flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz area 2 bedrooms. Contact: 24291500 / 91409667

Villa for rent Al Zahiya Muttrah, 5 rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen & big compound. Contact: 91163611

Offices in Ghala. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flats, shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD & Mumtaz. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 2BHK flat shops / ware house space available for rent behind new ROP building at Honda road. #91165807 2 BHK / 1BHK near Machi Market Ruwi. R.O 200/- & 225/-. Contact: 99354771

Brand new villas in Al Ansab. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569

Offices & Showrooms in Mutrah.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

2BHK Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-. Contact: 92144045

2 B, 1Bathroom & 1K in Al Azaiba (Behind Zubair Showroom).

RO340/- Call: 98989054

Duplex villa in QURUM 29. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-. Contact: 99335580

New flat at Al Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 96130797 / 92130703

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khoud.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

1000 sq mtrs industrial land for rent in Ghala suitable for warehouse workshop etc. Contact 24700120 / 92584715

Shops / flats available in Honda Road, Ruwi & Mabellah Industrial area. Contact 24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448

2bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality. contact 92584715 / 24700120

Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346

1000 sqm Industrial space with office and accommodation, near Grand Mosque, Ghala. #99364938

Ware houses in Hay Aseem Barka, 11000 m2 near round about new Beach road at Al Khoud location open store with office. #92959129 Office space small in Azaiba. Contact: 99428143 Flats in Qurum. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

2BHK Ghala, new bldg with A/C, 325/- R.O. Contact: 99024730 1+2+3 BHK Al Khuwair. #99024730 Available - fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment ( 12 nos) & fully furnished studio flats (10 nos) -location near Sohar Port - Contact : 94532131 2BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi.

Contact: 99269751 Available - Fully furnished labor camp and executive accommodation - ready for occupation-location near Sohar Port - Contact 94532131

New Rent house in Mabela. Contact: 99880841/96053220 1 BHK near Medical Darsait R.O 170/-. Contact: 95076261 2,200 sq mtr factory area & 800 sq mtr store with 8 accommodation rooms and 10 office cabins available for rent in Barka industrial area. Contact 91398381 / 80 / 78, email - agsan2005@gmail.com 02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241 Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street.

OMR 330 Monthly.#99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair. #95154331 New building Wattayah main road, showroom & office space. #94300909

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. #97007934 / 92629232

2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278

New flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports, Mumtaz area the flats includes, 1 living room, 2 bedroom, kitchen, 3 toilets, every rooms with split A/C high quality finishing rent per flat is R.O 340/- . Interested candidates please contact 00968 92225523

3BHK in Qurum P.D.O high 350/Monthly. Contact: 99342661 2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661

Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

GOOD NEWS

For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact:24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Four bedroom two floors luxurious and spacious residential villa in Al Hail North, near to the sea and Oman oil. Each room has its own bathroom. It has splits A/C’s and shaded car park. OMR 750 monthly. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

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

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

FOR SALE Used cars – Saloon cars, SUV 4 WD, Mini bus, Water Tanker and Pickups for sale on as-is-where- is basis. Further, used port cabins (10 nos) and steel scrap also available for sales.

These can be inspected at NTS camp in Ghala.

MANPOWER

Interested parties may contact on 99259157 / 93891398.

Sealed offers with vehicle- wise/ item number- wise quote should be submitted on or before 25th April 2016 with security deposit.

FOR SALE ACC. AVAILABLE

Restaurant for sale (Indian, Chinese, Arabic food ). contact 91181765 / 95411354

Separate entrance furnished bedroom with attached bath and kitchen for Executive bachelor in a villa opp. Star Cinema. Contact: 99314807

Pharmacy in prime location in Muttrah Souq. Contact: 95803883 Paver, ABG Titan - 4732, Bitelli tandom roller, bitelli - PTR roller, Bomag combination roller, shovel SDLG. Contact: 92964673 Dental Clinic for sale in Seeb. Contact: 96373097 / 92882209 Coffee shop for sale in Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 92994415 Villas in Al Khoud.#95056808 / 97201688 Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35). #95056808 / 97201688 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair. # 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman. com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

DRIVING

Furniture and other treatment items for Ayurvedic clinic. contact 97986525

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430 Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

HD Scaffoldings, Shuttering Jacks, Wooden Planks, Shuttering wood assorted, Tower hoist (lift), Concrete Mixer, Bending Machine, Steel Fabrication Machinery (Searing/Cutting, lathe & Welding) including tools for immediate sale: contact 99273774/ 99202278

Small old house for rent in Al Ghoubra. Contact : 97165972 Sharing for Executive females at Mumtaz area. Contact: 97094797 Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail. contact 96234708

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. CONTACT 96202458/96761960

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter. Photos can be sent 95865457

400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2.

OMR 165 Thousand. # 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen. Near Carrefour al-mawalah. #99336776

Room for rent with furniture.

Al Bustan village.contact 93687466

Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale#99273774/ 99202278

A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location. contact 99627621, 93240949

Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90. contact 96524717

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing accommodation one attached hall, small kitchen, A/C, Internet R.O 140/- E& W at Al Khuwair. Contact: 99382008 Single room available near Darsait Lulu. Contact: 92120626 Furnished flat near ABA American School near Madinat Qaboos Rent R.O 650/- P.M. Contact : 99335100 Furnished single room available for Executive bachelor or small family in Walja near Honda Road Ruwi. Contact 99016546 Big room available with AC, toilet, Kitchen at Al Hail Highway roadside preferred south Indians.

Contact: 92968292 Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794

Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir. contact 97167857 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 93049849 Single room B/K sharing Mumtaz area. Contact: 95212017 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf

FOR HIRE For rent Backhoe Loader Volvo BL71 long term. Contact: 99257975 Quality concept trading LLC Crane rental daily monthly cranes available for rent at attractive prizes .

Contact: 92870992

D3

D4

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT ARCOP & Partners

LOOKING FOR SALESMEN

(Middle East)

Engineering Consultants LLC

- Required urgently young & dynamic - Junior Sales Persons with a valid - Oman Driving license for a reputed printing and graphics company.

looking to hire minimum 3 years experienced Omani Civil Engineer, for upcoming building projects in Ibri & Buraimi. The candidate must be capable of independently handling the works, as a consultant. Resident engineer stationed at site.

Interested candidates to forward their CV’s with all the details to careers@arcop.co.om or fax to 24493446.

Contact: 96260078 / 96532284 Email: info.alsaj@gmail.com

REQUIRED ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Having B.E. in Electrical Engineering Min. 5 Years Experience in Oman With Driving License and Valid C.E.P License Contact : 95697401 Send CV to: cemec@omantel.net.om ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MISCELLANEOUS

Required urgently an experienced Accountant having 2-3 years experience. Send your resume by e-mail : sasiram@seehsarya.com

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Vansalesman (water), Helpers. Candidates with Omani driving license preferred. contact 99273774/99202278

ADMIN We are looking for Public Relations Officer. Contact: 99855604

BEAUTICIAN Very urgently required a Gulf experienced professional Hair dresser cum beautician (lady) for a reputed beauty salon. Immediate appointment visa available.

Contact: 99816262 /98557585 Fax: 24796211 Email: skin.hair. makeup@gmail.com

DRIVER Wanted driver. Contact: 91025698

DESIGNER Looking for a female fashion designer to work at Al Bawwab Textiles in Shatti Al Qurum. Contact : 94029940

SALES / MARKETING Urgently Required: Construction Company Purchaser- with experience in Oman and with NOC for immediately join. Interested candidates may call us to our office telephone: 0096824696584/24696585 or fax: 00968-24605955 or email us to sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Need salesman with driving license, having two years experience. Contact: 92891888 Required marketing / PR manager for a modern restaurant group in Oman , proficient in illustrator & Photoshop charismatic , proactive , creative & flexible excellent writing / Editing skills degree in relevant area fluent in English.

Send CV to marketingpr2016@ gmail.com Salesman for a printing press.

Contact: 99498949

DOMESTIC HELP Wanted female Muslim cook for family at Qurum, visa available.

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Engine cylinder head technician required immediately for guide changing, seat changing, seat cutting & valve lapping. call or whatsapp immediately 968-98898273 Required Civil Foreman, Carpenter Foreman & Automobile foreman.

Contact: 99453617 Email: alsawarillc@ gmail.com Required Hydraulic Mechanic. Contact 95251213

MEDICAL Urgently required female Staff Nurse (two) with or without M.O.H license, good package. Contact after 5:00 P.M on Mobile: 99253650 or send C.V on dr.kamalsaqib@yahoo.com Wanted B-Pharmacist (lady) for Sohar. Contact 99767605 Required Gynecologist, Lab technician, X Ray technician. contact 99030773 Email: kunoozghala@ gmail.com Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq. contact 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Urgently required female Gynecologist D.G.O or M.C.P.S with minimum 3 years of experience, with or without M.O.H license, very good package. Contact after 5.00 P.M on Mobile: 99253650 or Send C.V dr.kamalsaqib@yahoo. com

Looking for Salesman with experience in vegetable and fruits sales, good conduct, fluent in English.

Should have driving license. Email CV on: info@eigllcoman.com Contact - 96339339

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA, Male, 34 yrs, having14+ Yrs exp. in A/Cs, finance, auditing, consultancy and knows SAPB1,Tally ERP. Valid Oman D/L .Currently working in Oman. NOC available. Contact: 94704800, Email: omanjobca@gmail. com.

Male, 33 yrs, 14 yrs experience in Marketing, finance & accounts financial services, transaction processing, investment banking seeking suitable openings. Contact: 94697386 Sudanese female Accountant excellent knowledge, MS Office, can work under pressure. Contact: 97200130 Young ACCA finalist with Hons. degree in applied Accounting from Oxford Brooks with three years experience with valid Oman driving license looking for immediate placemen. Release NOC Available. Contact: 92851056 M.Com Accountant three years experience three star hotel Tamil Nadu India, immediately available. Contact: Contact 92831400/96051737 Indian male , 29 B.com ICWA ( pursuing) 7 years experience in accountant / audit with valid Omani D/L seeking for suitable placement, NOC available. #94706954 Email: ajurn33@gmail.com Part-time Accounting up to finalization, Auditing, Taxation and Project Finance assistance - 91044655

CMA & CIA qualified finance professional with 13 years of me experience in FMCG industries as well as various other industries available for immediate permanent job openings. #94543660

28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.#90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Indian male, 24 yrs, Graduated with specialization in Accounting 2 years experienced C.A.CPT completed. #94628086 / 97315091 Indian male well experienced in Accounts ERP, TALLY 9 & Admin NOC available looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 92650835 A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact: Kamran: hkamran112@gmail.com. +44 7480 1196 74. +968 93595050.

Email : saadest@omantel.net.om

Contact : 93392630 Send CV on muslimatservices@gmail.com

Urgently required Sales Executives, Operations Executive import & export, for a reputed freight forwarding company in Muscat candidates with Oman D/L and minimum 2 yrs experience in similar field preferred. Interested candidates may send C.V to r ecruitment.oman@yahoo.com

Indian male 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa. Immediately available. CONTACT 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com

Contact – 24704636

- For Hotel Staff, Construction Staff, Medical, Gas & Oil Staff.

- Free recruitment - free tickets, accommodation, work visa, contract for 2 (two) years.

Male Accountant M.Com (finance & accounts) having 3 years experience in accounts looking for available job on visit visa. Contact: 94648575

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

for Cosmetics Industry having experience in retail and inventory.

CANADIAN CO.- FREE CONSULTANCY FOR LEGAL JOB

Required indoor Salesman for building material shop with 3 years.

Contact: 96374344 Email: sandeepvalapad@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

Looking for Accountant

Accountant 8 Years experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 ACCA finalist with 2 years of experience in a Construction Company as an Accountant in United Kingdom here on visit visa for 3 weeks from 12 April - 3 May. Contact: 99171627 Part time accountant, up to finalization, looking for job after 5 pm (location prefer - MSQ to Al Hail). #95694737 MBA finance from Pakistan with 4 years experience in Accounts & finance department currently in Muscat on family visit visa, 27 yrs.

Contact: 90590037 Email: numanaslamcfo@gmail.com, nouman_aslam2006@yahoo.com Filipino Male, 24 Years Old.. looking for job, have experience in Cargo & Logistics/ Rent a Car/ Real Estate/ Finance & Accounts/ customer service and as Travel Agent. Hard working and with good computer and communication skills having Omani driving license. GSM: 95370052 Indian male 26 years B.Com, having 4 years experience in Accounts with valid driving license & NOC available on visit visa looking for suitable job in Accounts. Contact 90311936

Audit and accounts 5 years experienced male/25 with SAP, Tally and peachtree knowledge available for suitable placement. 97190575.

Indian male 25, 4 years experience & Arabic speaking with D/L seeking suitable opportunity interested in Sales & Marketing also. Contact: 91266733 Email: safvank.k9@gmail.com

ACCA Qualified, 26 female with 3 years work experience looking for suitable position in Accounting / finance. Contact: 91322423

Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately. contact 98263394

Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts , project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. #93953613 , Email allen.mathew83@gmail.com Male CA finalist B.Com having 5 years experience with big four audit firms looking for suitable job on visit. Contact: 92230543 Email: m.naveednaseer@gmail.com Jordanian Senior Accountant 15 yrs experience in Oman finance & accounts. Contact : 92881223

ADMIN

DRIVER

HR Manager (Indian Male – 41 Yrs) PG in HR, working for MNC having 12 years of experience in Oman.

Handling SAP-HR, Talent Acquisition, IR, Payroll, Visas & allied administration. Holding Valid Omani D/L & car. Seeks suitable placement.

Contact 96792103

Light duty driver, 3 yrs Oman experience seeks placement. Contact: 91362475

B.Com 3 years business process outsourcing. Contact: 94657273 Indian male, 25, 4+ years of experience as an Office Administrator looking for a suitable placement.

Contact: 92600859 Email: sm24blue@gmail.com Teacher female 27 yrs, MCA 5 yrs experience in teaching in India currently on visit visa seeking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96709509 Email: viyannifd@gmail.com Filipino HRD especialist / material controller supervisor with 18 yrs experience looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact: (+968) 98037142 / (+968) 92659817 Indian Female, MBA-HR having 8+ experience in Administration/HR, Customer Support, Office Coordinator with good Computer skill, Now on Visit Visa,looking for suitable position. Contact: 90196235

ARCHITECT Architect exp.7 years, 4 years in GCC Architectural design interior sites 3D Max AutoCAD, Photoshop.

Contact: 93238813 Email: mohammedbardab@gmail.com

Free lance /part time autocad works (ARCH/ MEP) 2D/3D PH: 97103168

CA finalist Indian with 7 years experience having D/L & NOC looking for Senior Accountant / Chief Accountant position. contact 98097009 Email: rameesnm@ gmail.com

in construction technology with 6 years experience in drafting and detailing as per British standard in Oman with valid Omani license looking for suitable opportunity Noc available. Call 94375897.

ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance. contact 99284193

Supervisor / Cad Draftsman with Oman light driving license 10 years experience in carpentry field. Contact: 95962384

Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com

Piping designer with 14 years experience working with PDO, OXY for 10 years NOC available.#92582356

10 yrs of Oman experience capable of handling large accounts, looking for suitable placement in senior sales / business development position. Contact : 98987654

Revit, Autocad D/man, expected

Indian, 20 years experience in Oman as personal assistant / office manager / administrator seeks change of job with release 99168054, mbkishore@hotmail.com Indian male – MBA (HR) & Engineering graduation with total 10 years of experience in HR & Admin ( 3 yrs of Oman Exp.) along with hands on experience in technical bid submission for all Government & PDO tenders ready to join immediately with NOC. # 91240251/ Email; kvaradhan@hotmail.com Indian / female, 26 yrs, MBA with 3 yrs experience in HR / Admin marketing customer relations currently in Muscat on visit visa. Contact: 97205038 Email: priya.3july@gmail.com Indian Male 19 years (8 Years in Oman) well experienced in HR / Admin in Oil & Gas, Construction fields with Oman D/L seeks suitable position. Release / NOC available call: 92854993.

Young Omani male have experience 12 years as P.R.O, CLERK Helper Supervisor Admin Supervisor, H.R Manager have diploma in H.S.E, IT and P.D.O license, looking for H.R position or P.R.O part time or full time.

Contact: 95933288 Indian female with nearly 10 years experience in administration & HR, seeking for a suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 99242841

Jordanian Graduate with experience in Administrator jobs available for immediate placement. Contact : 94662712 / 94770990 UAE/UK/Oman Experienced Graduate Male33 seeking administration Job. Diplomas in IT & Finance too.

Driving licenseTel:94496642

Bangladeshi male light driver exp 16 years need job. Contact: 99165961

Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in Muscat seeks placement. Contact: 91659265 Driver 3/6 years experience, I have 2 years experience out door sales man in led light, Pakistani, Oman experience 6 years. Contact: 94565993 / 92627855 Family driver available. contact 92943094

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. B. Tech Mechanical Engineer having 3 years experience in maintenance & commissioning experience in an engineering services company on visit visa looking for suitable. #91106765 Email: tamooraslam123@yahoo.com Indian female 23 years Engineering Electronics and communications, well knowledge in C and JAVA, presently in Muscat seeking suitable placement. Contact: 90320846 Email: kavyahiremath499@gmail. com Electrical Engineer having 8 years experience in Gulf seeking suitable placement can join immediately, have knowledge all kind of MEP project. Contact: 96535204

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

Architectural Draftsmen diploma

ADMIN

Light driver looking for job 4 yrs Exp in Oman. Contact :92681457

Revit autocad d/man , diploma cert attsd. exp salary 200-acco. ph: 9227 9784

salary 200 OMR PH :92279784

Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please #96489798, (+974) 66653780.

Indian male 22, Chemical Engineer residing in Oman looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92379181 Civil Engineer, 6 yrs experience with Omani driving license, local release available. #91693008 An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available.

Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer having 1year experience, on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact:97416564, Email:jovinmathias@gmail.com Civil Engineer 8 years experience in Oman as a project engineer for governmental & private projects.

Contact – 90164912 Building Site Supervisor since 2010 in Oman with Omani D/L looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 91507828 Electrical Engineer (B.E) 8+ yrs experience, NOC & release available with valid D/L. #968 94374735

Indian male, Technical Sales Man-

EDUCATION/TRAINING Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement.

Contact : 99739415 / 92091528

DRIVER Young Bangladeshi driver with 3 years experience available. Contact: 93143027 L/Driver, having 11 years experience in Oman looking for suitable job. Contact 96373904

ager, B.E Mech, with 11 years exp in Automotive Eng & Industrial Maintenance with Oman D/L seeks suitable job. On release to join immediately – 92880593 An electrical & electronics engineer awarded from Sunderland University with an experience in access central eyewear & rebranding of petard elations facilities have a valid visa up to year & half. Contact: 91347567 Egyptian lady have BA in Electrical power & machines & did some training looking for job in any company.

Contact: 95935181 / 91112193

Light driver 9 years experience looking for job. Contact: 95827886

Looking for a job as driver experience 9 years in Oman, Language Arabic / Hindi / English. Contact: 92517532 Need job for Driving. Contract: 94375896

Light duty driver 4 years Oman exp seeks placement. Contact: 98726383 Driver, exp 1.5 years, Language English, Arabic & Urdu, license light. Contact: 96011572 / 94484181 Experience driver looking for job.

Contact: 95113612

Light vehicle driver with 5 years exp looking for job. Contact: 92171166 Driver want job. #95892363 Light driver Pakistani wanted job.

Contact: 94182695 8 years experience in Oman. Contact: 95587206

Graduate Civil Engineer having 19 years Gulf experience seeks immediate employment in reputed firms in Muscat NOC available. Contact: 99446786 / 93251306 Female Electrical Engineer, excellent knowledge, Graduated with distinction, can work under pressure.

Contact: 98133281 Mechanical Engineer (UK), 4 yrs exp in technical, Sales Engineer in Oman having valid GCC license looking suitable placement. NOC available. Contact: 97612297 Email: ymirzall@caledonian.ac.uk Electrical Engineer having 8 years experience with valid driving license (NOC available) Ph#91293519 Email: nomee987@gmail.com Indian female M.Tech in VLSI Design B.Tech in electronics with valid IELTS score 6.5 now in family visa experience in teaching & and admin.

Contact: 90195131 Email: chinj.89@ gmail.com Civil Engineer, bachelor degree driving license & experience in Oman. Contact: 91102892

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED Indian male, 25 yrs, Accountant, 2.5 yrs in Finance & Accounts, MBA Finance & HR, exposure in SAP, Tally, ERP 9 on visit visa.

Contact 96715420 / 91265020, Email : jijosrgo@gmail.com, simonjosephjc@gmail.com

Sales & Marketing specialist with 16 yrs experience in Oman in MNC retails telecom lubes construction related industry handled various projects, holding valid Oman driving license, release available.

Contact 96960991

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Mechanical Engineer M.Tech 2 yrs, experience HAVC firefighting CAD. Contact: 90150913 Email: mahmanmechengg@yahoo.in D.A.E (civil) Engineer + safety course (OSHA & IOSH), 5 years experience in infrastructure work looking for suitable placemen. #97658602 Engineer I have driving license of Oman I need job of driving. Contact: 95980506 Mechanical Engineer is looking for a job vacancy Graduate of Malaysia, 7 years of work experience in oil & Gas fluent in both Arabic & English.

Contact: 95569430 Electrical Engineer 6 years experience in Oman experience in MEDC / projects valid D/L. Contact: 91249329 B.E Mechanical Engineer, 24, one year experience as Production Shift Engineer, achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP, presently in Oman on visit visa, looking for a suitable placement. Contact:95065955 Email: mjs. jazeb@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer (B Tech) Indian male with 1 year experience on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact : 90510800, Email : muhammedjaseem07@gmail.com Electrical and Electronics Engineer looking for a job & interested in any available role Nationality Sudanese have valid visa for 2 years.

Contact 97304565 Graduation, tool and die engineering & tool designer, have two and half years experience in pess tool and moulding , I know CAD, CATIA , PRO-E software’s now in Oman.

Contact: 95287978 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in Indian (MRF Tyres) holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer with 15 yrs Exp in steel fabrication, quality, design, material estimation, sales engineering. Contact: 97093241, Email: abdelmuhssin@gmail.com Diploma in Civil Engineer having 8 years experience in Oman with driving license, internal release available urgently. Contact: 95387537 / 90524700 Civil Engineer (B.Tech) Indian male 24 yrs having 1+ year experience in Industrial construction with good communication skills and software knowledge, looking for suitable position available on visit visa. Contact: 968 - 99779538 / 98694939 Email: arunsathyan92@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Structure Engineer 3 years looking for job in reputable company AutoCAD, Etabs, Staad Pro Omani driving license available.

Contact: 97906770 Engineer with 4 years experience in Oman in telecom operations looking for a suitable opportunity have valid driving license interested in marketing also. Contact: 98513495 B.Tech Civil Engineer 7 yrs exp having valid Oman driving license need suitable replacement. #98052924 Email: imdadulsayor@gmail.com 25 yrs, male, B.Tech Electronic & Communication Electrical design Engineer, 2+ years in Multinational company industrial automation course + Electronic AutoCAD looking for suitable placement. #99586317 Email: info.anishantony@gmail.com Road Engineer 10 years experience in Oman. Contact: 91274706 Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available. #96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine. Available NOC release. Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman. contact:98921022

Civil Engineer (B.Tech), Indian male 24 years with 1+years Indian experience,(Certified in Staad Pro/ Quantity Survey/ Auto Cad).

Looking for a Suitable position.

Available In Sultanate of Oman (Muscat) on Visit Visa. contact 92835952. E-mail: mohammedamair.bin@gmail.com Male QC inspector Mechanical, NDT 20 years experience valid Oman D/L , release available. conrtact 91001104 Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable. Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com HSE Engineer (B.E Mech+Diploma Safety+NEBOSH+OSHA) over 10yrs. Exp, (Visa Release Letter (NOC) available), seeking suitable placement, Mob:97061817, Email:jayanammu1977@gmail.com Engineer Civil & M. Arch (RED) Indian (F) 25 yrs, B.Tech (Civil), now pursuing M. Arch - RED (Real Estate Development final semester thesis) completing

by June 2016, now available till 15th of April on visit visa seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact: 968- 92743004 Email: tina.navya199ann@gmail.com Structural Engineer, ME, with 2 yrs exp proficient in ETABS, STAD, SAFE & Prokon, seeks job. # 050-9984535 NDT / QA / QC Supervisor / Radiographer DAE Mechanical piping- vessel LPG Bozer Storage tank inspection experience 10 years. #96954202 Email: nasirarain86@ yahoo.com Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 ph : 9227 9784 B. Sc Civil Engineer 27 yrs, Oman experience as Project Manager, Structural Engineer looking for suitable placement. NOC / local transfer available. Contact : 99349578 Email: farooqatm@hotmail.com Indian male B-tech 8 years experience as senior electrical project engineer / QC engineer on visit visa seeks suitable placement. contact 94094543 Email: anwar425@gmail.com Indian female Project Engineer 15 yrs experience in Project Management Quality database management data analytics marketing business development haying Omani driving license seeks suitable placement presently on family visa having Omani experience. Contact : 95783792

Indian male, MCA (Post Graduate) fresher

seeking suitable placement anywhere in Oman, now on visit visa.

Contact 92319677, Email : ismabsc@gmail.com

Electrical & electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit. PH:93837973 Sr. Electrical Engineer with17+ yrs of exceptional exp in spear heading strategic planning and project management initiatives & executing various high rise residential & commercial building as well as roads and highway project with proficiency in installation, seeking a challenging position in a dynamic organization. contact 96570891

IT INDIAN FEMALE, 23 years, BSCCS Diploma in IAD graphics, well knowledge in computer applications 6 months experience presently in Sohar seeking suitable placement. Contact: 96670907.

Email: ammuch.4@gmail.com Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact: 98660672 B.Tech (IT) experience in Networking server & desktop management in corporate environment looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92954613 Indian male, B. Sc Computer Science, CCNA, MCP, 8 years exp. in system & networking now on visit visa, seeking suitable position. Contact: 91751472, rajeshr131@gmail.com

with over 25 years in varied industries, presently working with a reputed group in Muscat, looking out for a suitable change.

96491030

IT

SALES / MARKETING

9 years of Software Test Consulting and business analysis experience in various CBS (Core Banking Solutions) and other Banking related solution implementations with deep understanding of Islamic Banking. Completed CDIF - CIMA Diploma in Islamic Finance and ADIF - Advanced Diploma in Islamic Finance conducted by CIMA, UK. NOC available. Contact: manivannanbalaji@ gmail.com GSM: 9393 8086

Sales experience of 2 years driving license diploma holding in wireless networking. Interested in Marketing, Accounts and Salesman. Contact: 98668151

Omani 26 (M) Seeks placement 6 yrs experience IT specialist. #99025044 IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.#94672759 Female 24 yrs, 3 years in IT programmer now in Oman looking for suitable job. Contact: 96350234

MANAGER Finance manager 22 years Oman experience available with NO. Contact: 91335205/91302906 Purchase/Planning & Logistics Manager, MBA (Finance), 14yrs. Oman Exp. with D/L, NOC available, looking for suitable position. Contact : 93826090, jskanchan01@gmail.com Egyptian male 36 years Warehouse Manager, 7 years in Sultanate of Oman, 1 year in UAE, and 3 years in Egypt. Contact: +968 97200468 Email: ayman_mano1979@yahoo.com

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED LABOUR Electrician with plumber and A/C tech, with D/L. Contact: 95600418 S.T.P Operator 20 years experience in Oman. Contact: 93089468

MISCELLANEOUS Qualified and experienced MBA post graduate with proven work exposure in Middle East & India, having more than 5.5 years of rich experience in accounts, project coordination and administration in (3.5 years UAE experience) oil and gas projects is currently looking for suitable job. Contact 93953613, Email allen.mathew83@gmail.com Indian male, 28, post graduate, 6+ yrs exp in Oman in sales (back office) & credit control with valid Oman D/L looking for suitable placements. NOC available. Contact: 920 66 523 BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com

MEDICAL An Electrical engineer with 4+ yrs of experience in Electrical network (MT, LT) with professional computer skills seeking for work.

Contact: 99841736 / 93955381/ +149922698343 Email: e.kmmh@hotmail.com

An experienced Chartered Accountant

Indian female staff nurse with parametric passed 10 years experience looking job Muscat regain.

Contact: 95851590 / 91510137 Indian female (MSC – Microbiologist) seeking suitable job. contact 96791162 / 90618567 Indian Bsc Female Nurse with 6.5 years exp, 4 years in KSA. Passed Oman Pro Metric with 69%, completed data flow. Presently in Muscat in visit visa looking for a suitable placement. contact 94744900, 94742834, jincyalphonese@gmail. com

SALES / MARKETING 35 years male, Lebanese holding British passport, 10 years of experience in procurement, Omani Government tenders, setup marketing plans & strategies, importing, Organizing events, management, have car, NOC available. contact 94123939 Email: 002015r@ gmail.com Indian male (25) MBA / MMS (Marketing) on visit visa valid UAE driving license exp 2 yrs sales / marketing. Contact: 98089262 Indian male, 29 years BSc, Graduate, with Omani driving license and 7 years of sales experience in home appliances, IT products, mobile and traffic safety equipments currently working on employment visa, NOC available seeking for suitable placement immediately. contact 97890607 Email: ashrafambar@ gmail.com

Wants a suitable job as Salesman & have driving license. Wants a job with good salary & have 6 years of experience & can speak in English, Arabic and Hindi. Contact: 94162434 24 years experience Sr. Manager NT professional as Profit centre head.

Industry electrical trade looking for a suitable position in Oman / UAE. Contact: 91195418 Email: ab_9616@ gmail.com Indian male 29, BHM, 3 yrs exp in Oman in sales with D/L NOC. Contact: 92594055 Indian male 23 years BSc Computer Science on visit visa seeking job opportunities for suitable placement.

Contact: 92740543 Email: aneep93@ hotmail.com Indian male B.com 10 years experience in Oman stores & warehouse, immediate job with NOC. Contact: 95192733, email: sammathe2004@ yahoo.co.in MBA (Marketing) Sales & Marketing Executive with 4 years of experience in Sales & Business Development in FMCG sector is looking for best opportunity in Muscat at present available in Muscat on visit visa.

Mail: akbarshareef786@gmail. com,GSM:95840153.

BE (Mech) MBA (UK) 32 yrs male having 7 yrs exp in Oil & Gas product / project Marketing looking for suitable placement in GCC. Contact: + 968 91104381 26 yrs Indian male MBA Marketing Sales / Marketing Executive, 3 yrs experience now available in Muscat on visit visa seeking placement for immediate joining. Contact: 95978874 Email: ansariafsar550@ gmail.com Indian male 37 years MBA graduate in marketing with 9yrs of experience in UAE in field of brand promotions & marketing with UAE D/L on a visit seeking suitable position. conatct 95792820

Qualified Certified Management Accountant (CMA-USA) and cost and management accountant (ACMAIndia) with over 25 years experience in Sultanate of Oman in finance, banking and administration is seeking a suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 95986767

Indian female, M.Sc Computer Science, Seeking suitable placement in Muscat Area. GSM : 98660672 9 yrs exp Site Engineer in Civil & Shade Structure. 2d, 3d draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. #93790601 LAND SURVEYOR: Male, more than 12 years’ experience in land/pipe line surveying in Oman and UAE. Looking for suitable placement.

NOC available. #91215843 Marketing Communications Coordinator Indian, 25 years GCC experience in Media, Advertising & Marketing ATL + BTL branding. Contact: 93031168 Email: arn14256@gmail.com Indian male physiotherapist with 3 years of experience, with (moh license and NOC available. seeking suitable placement. contact 99767528, 91317863 Indian, 32 years, passed M.A. English M.Sc Psychology, DHM & B.Ed in English with 4 years experience seeking for part time or full time job. Contact: 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com Indian male Kerala, B.com & B.PE. Currently on visit visa, looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store keeper etc. Ready to join as early as possible. Contact:-93301023, email:sajith3969@gmail.com Female Dentist with MOH license and NOC, 7 years experience 2 yrs out of them in Oman looking for a job.

Contact 97401243 27 years old Indian male looking hospitality jobs in Hotel. Experience in customer service, front desk, housekeeping supervisor, captain, cashier,guest relation manager.

Contact. +968-90351742Email. samubaid6@gmail.com 27 yearsold Indianmale looking Jobs in documents Collection executive.Experience in collection executive. Contact. +968-90358068Email wasimsaif04@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Indian Male more than 10 years gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin, Secretarial and purchase with good computer skills.

Holding Oman Driving license. Looking for suitable placement. contact 99709336

ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Communications,ITI,1.7 Years experience as Service Technician in India.

On visit Visa, Looking For a Suitable Placement. Contact :92794176, Email:prathyushkp9@gmail.com

Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment. Call: 95244761

B.Tech, MBA currently working in India in Bank. Contact: +918939857146 Email: sebimathew87@gmail.com Pharmacist M. Pharm working in Oman for 2 years with MOH license Data flow completed. #98399415

Indian male, 28 yrs B.Sc Hospitality Science with 5 yrs experience in Hospitality & banking Sectors in Oman & India seeks suitable placement, NOC available. #91383167

Pakistani male 23 years old experience in travel agency - ticketing looking for a suitable job, NOC available.

Contact: 93253759

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian with 3 years for experience in sales and marketing fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam looking for suitable job. Also hold valid Driving License, currently in oman Mob : +968-93451439

Tea boy looking for job Name: Man Bahadar Contact No. 97859837 Indian Female on a visit visa having master degree seeking suitable placement in any field, 1 ,5 year experience in HR .#+968 91467576.

Indian Female, M.Sc Computer Science, Seeking suitable placement in Muscat Area. Contact : 98660672 Indian male network cabling technician (19-years Gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact 0091-8089909265 (India), E mail: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian female, MBA, Diploma in Aviation & Hospitality mgt (IATA), having 4 yrs of exp, on family visa seeks job in Oman. Contact-9910 4529, 95679557, e-mailjkramya91@gmail.com Pakistani male having 7 years experience in General Salesman having valid D/L Looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97216830 Email: asim-samb5@yahoo.com

Contact 97351649, Email : advocatesharaf@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male, 26 years old BA Graduate having 1 year experience in accounts finance field. Looking for suitable Job On visit visa immediately available. Contact 9565 9415 Anishkhan991867@gmail. Com

HOSPITALITY

Indian Lawyer Oman experienced BA, Arabic, LLB, MBA Knows English, Arabic with over 9 yrs in legal field, now working as a legal advisor in Muscat, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Accountant cum cashier available.

Contact: 98002428

HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 Plus years exp. in Oil & Gas, Working in Shclumberger, NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. #krish.569@ gmail.com, Mobile- +91 9867016808 Indian male Physiotherapist with MOH license and NOC looking for suitable job. Contact: 92617235 Indian Male, 40 Years, B. Com, having 10 years experience in Oman, Tally &ERP- looking for suitable placement ( Local release and Oman driving license available.

Tel- 92469789 Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont. 00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm,1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India. On visit Visa, Looking For a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176 E-mail:prathyushkp9@gmail.com Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. #99514286 ELECTRONICS ENGINEER Indian/ male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Communications,ITI,1.7 Years experience as Service Technician in India, on visit Visa, looking For a Suitable Placement. #:92794176 ,E-mail: prathyushkp9@gmail.com Electrical diploma Engineer Indian male 22 years, 2 years experience in control panel contact 93047707 adilm89@gmail.com IT System Administrator 6 yrs experience, male, Filipino Desktop, Laptop and printer Support, Backup administrator, Router and switch Network, Server Administrator. +968 94134295 Female dentist with MOH license and NOC ready to join 7 years experience 2 of them in Oman.

Contact 97401243 Indian male 28 years B.com, MBA 4 yrs experience in accounts / finance currently in Oman on visit visa looking for suitable placement. Contact: 93460277 Email: shineraj786@gmail.com Having 10 years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Indian Male 42 year’s, MBA, Sr. Material controller having 12 years experience in Oman with reputed companies. Having Oman driving License, Seeks suitable replacement immediately. Available NOC. Cont. 00968-92944026, Email – charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in NOC available, Indian Male - MBA (HR) and B.E (E.I.E) with total 9 years of experience in HR & Admin and Business Development (3 yrs of Gulf exp.) can join immediately - 91240251 / kvaradhan@hotmail.com M. Sc Computer Science – 2 year Experience – in India, looking suitable Placement. Email:-elvisgt6@ gmail.com, Mob:-+91 9497482305 (INDIA), Oman:-98291626.

Indian, 30 years, B. Com with 2 years Oman experience in Tally ERP-9 available in Muscat seeking suitable positions. # on 95186652 ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN Indian/male/24Yrs,Bsc.Electronics & Comm, 1.7 Years experience as Service Engineer in India, On visit Visa, looking for a suitable placement. Contact : 92794176, Email:prathyushkp9@gmail.com B-tech Civil with honours, Civil Engineer (structures) Experience more than six years. #91431483. Email mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4 Plus years experience in Oil & Gas .Working in Shclumberger NEBOSH, IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE. CONTACT-krish.569@ gmail.com contact +91 9867016808 Indian male Network cabling technician ( 19-years gulf experience) seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian Pediatric consultant, md with 20 years experience and wife gynecologist md with 15 years plus experience seeking opportunities with reputed hospitals in Muscat. deemaild@gmail.com PROCUREMENT OFFICER, Indian-Male 34yrs,M.Com with 14 yrs work Exp.(8 yrs in Oman) working in Construction Co LLC( for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects ) and having valid LT D/L, NOC available & ready to join within a monthM:94064650,Email: nagauae@ gmail.com

D6

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMP./WEB.

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian male, 8.5 yrs experience, B.Com Graduate with GCC exp & valid driving license looking for better job opening in Muscat.

Contact: 92609935 / 94771365

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED

2 years experienced male seeking job related to safety. M. Tech in HSE, MSc in Environmental Science and IOSH certified. #94653264

MISCELLANEOUS 14 years experienced light driver with valid Oman license looking for suitable job. Contact 99442481 Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E(CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeking for the suitable job. Contact: 91170912, Email id: sales2@witoman.com Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job. mobile no: 0096899070584. email: remluvp@gmail.com Sudanese male, 5 years experience in warehouse management and logistics services#90644186 Civil Engineer (roads and structures) Education B. Tech Civil Engineering with honours experience more than six years.

Contact no 91431483 ,Email mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com Indian male 6 years exp in different field, with valid Oman driving license. Languages known Hindi, English, looking for any job(Driver for executives). Contact 98696795 HSE Engineer,Indian male, 4 Plus years Experience in Oil & Gas .Working in Shclumberger.

NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE, contact krish.569@gmail.com Mobile- +91 9867016808 Experienced B.Com graduate + IATA Diploma holder looking for Accounts/Admin/Travels related job. Mob. 91142997. NOC available .

Indian male B.A degree & diploma in hotel management with 16 years experience as restaurant & catering manager in Oman & Saudi with V/L Oman D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact : 92100141 MBA Graduate (Indian male 26 years) having 2 years experience in Qatar as admin assistant looking for suitable placement. contact 93041141 Email: mahinmehboob@ gmail.com Indian female, MBA with 9 yrs of experience in finance & procurement currently on family visa looking for suitable position in finance & supply chain. Contact 95622568 Draughtsman, 15 years’ experience, Indian male currently in Oman looking for suitable position.

Gsm – 95358115, 96977289, Email : pillairp41@gmail.com

Indian Female living in Ghubra Muscat near Emirates Shopping Center. 20 years of experience in Teaching. Able to handle all subjects till grade 6. Need suitable job.

Contact- 94406552 PART TIME ACCOUNTANT available, well experienced in accounting up to finalization. knowledge in tally also. contact. 92643875 Chief Accountant 25 years experienced looking for part/ full time accountant job. Contact: 95598477 / 98803439 Indian male,16 years Oil & Gas experience ( Down Hole Tools ), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob : 965 956 18.

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job.

Phone:91997605. email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com 8 plus years of experience in Events /Marketing Communication /conferences / Trainings / Media representation. Having UAE D/L. seeking Suitable Placement: Contact: 95792820. suheal.ma@ outlook.com Indian Male,Kerala,B.COM & B.PE having 13Years of Physical Education Teacher experience. Currently on visit visa Looking for a suitable job. Contact:- 968 94106834. email:-akhilrajkj@gmail.com.

14 years experience in 5 star hotel as sales manager in UAE & INDIA on tourist visa looking for suitable opportunity please contact mobile contact 91305978 Admin Assistant. Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). GSM. 00968-98404122, Email - panduru.jeevankumar@ gmail.com Indian Female on a visit visa having master degree seeking suitable placement in any field, 1 and half year experience in HR .Contact : +968 91467576 .

Indian Female, 24 MA Eng. Litr with 2 yrs experience in teaching & 14 months in Administration cum Secretary, Currently on visit visa, seeks suitable job.

Contact: 92613704/99260702, Email:rohinis2010@gmail.com

Female Junior Architect Graduated from School of Planning & Architecture, Vijayawada. Excellence in Autocad, Sketching & Modelling. Internship - KHAM Designs, Bangalore. Presently with Atulya Architects & Associates. Email saatvika.frozenmusic@gmail.com #00968-94057427.

Sri Lankan Male 34 BSc. (Physics) 5 years experience as a site manager and administration supervisor in Oman with valid D/L looking for a suitable position. contact 99153061 or v.chandramohan@ yahoo.co.uk Mechanical Engineering 6 years experience. contact 00968-998907110091 9841867534 Email: sayed.fortuner88@gmail.con Indian male 37 YEARS, BSC COMPUTER SCIENCE having More than 8yrs of experience with well exposure in PDO, DALEEL & OXY as IT SUPPORT / DESKTOP SUPPORT ENGINEER. Seeking suitable placement. Contact rangaraj_vck@ yahoo.co.in / 968-99758320 B.Com Graduate with 4 year experience as an Accountant in Oman. Also have Oman Driving License. Best fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi& Malayalam. Looking for Job. Currently in Oman. #+968 93943448, murshid4u@gmail.com Indian Female Electronics System Eng. UK Graduate. Programmer Micro Controller Robot, Eng. Analysis, Instrumentation & Control, Eng. Projects, Integrated Circuit Eng., Electrical and Fluid Drives, Analogue Electronics, Wireless Systems. Seeking suitable post. Contact: 97848075, s.dinesh1508@gmail.com Diploma(Electrical Engineering) From Government polytechnic.

Age 27years, 6 years Experiance in Maintenance, troubleshooting and managing and Technical in substation as a Electrical Engineer.Seek suitable placement. Contact GSM92995899,(a.abbas31@gmail.com)

Karate and self defense classes at Azaiba 18 Nov Street. RO 10 per month twice a week Monday and Tuesday 6. 30 TO 7. 30. PM. CONTACT 98294551

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Indian/male (25)/ MBA/2 years experience in channel sales and distribution management. on visit visa. available for immediate joining. Contact: 96914068, E mail: mailanasap@gmail.com

Indian male BE Mechanical Engineer having 6 yrs exp in piping and structural construction work, looking suitable position, release available. contact 96115463-email: jijoraju085@yahoo.com

32year Indian Male MSC,MBAHR having 8yrs Exp(HR / Payroll / Admin) with Oman valid DL. Seeking suitable opening in Human Resource, Payroll & Admin/ backend jobs. Contact:00968-99322978

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Indian Male, 24 years, B.Tech in computer science.3Years of experience in technical support, software development, troubleshooting and managing, seek suitable placement. # GSM- 98184170

6 YEARS EXPERIENCE HR/Finance Indian female[29Years] MBA. On family visa, Seeking suitable placement-93908191, email:aswathi.wnd@gmail.com

Indian Male,B.Com & Diploma Logistics & supply chain management 2years experience looking for job in Accounts/ logistics field. Presently on Visit Visa.

Software knows MS office & Tally7.2 .#:93884951-Email:mehreenraiz@gmail. com

Indian, BE Mechanical Engineering with 1 yr exp as service Engineer, looking for suitable positions. Contact-90637918, E mail: aquasharath@gmail.com Senior Accountant, 5 yrs Oman, 10 yrs UAE experience in manufacturing & construction valid D/L immediately available. Email: irfan_syed2000@ hotmail.com, call: 95389018 Commercial or Operation Manager 18 yrs in Oman – finance, purchase, sales, HR & Admin exp. contact 99044724.

E mail: srjobsinoman@yahoo.com Male ,MBA Finance & Marketing 28 yrs,6+ Exp, with oman D/L & NOC, Hospital ,Pharma ,Herbal ,FMCG, F&B Markeing ,construction A/c & sales , 93379044 HSE Engineer, Indian male, 4 plus years experience in oil & gas, working in shclumberger Nebosh, ISOH & NDT certified, M. Tech in HSE. contact-krish.569@gmail. com mobile+91 9867016808 BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions. #90637918 / 99335742,email: aquasharath@gmail.com Indian/male (25)/ MBA /2 years experience in channel sales and distribution management. on visit visa. available for immediate joining. #96914068, email: mailanasap@gmail.com

Indian male 31 yrs with over 10 yrs sales & marketing exp seeking suitable placement NOC & Oman D/L available in audition have proficiency in Arabic language. Contact: 95760969 Looking for QHSE – Manager / Asst. Manager job, Indian Male – 39.Yrs, With 17.Yrs Experience & NOC, NEBOSH – UK, MR – ISO 9001, 14001 & 18001, HSE Trainings, Audits, Pls Contact – haree. krishnan9944@gmail.com B.A. in Accounting, Experience: 5years of Business/Accounts tutoring and 2 years of Accounting License: 70914186. contact 96389047, Email: sharanizareen@ gmail.com Export Manager/DM Indian Male 38 Yrs B.Sc /CIPET 13 Yrs Experience in Business Development &Production with Oman D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 97221058 / 92058065, E-mail : ckabdulmajeed@gmail.com HSE Engineer: 3.8 years experience in Oil & Gas. NEBOSH,IOSH, & NDT Certified, M Tech in HSE,B Tech in Mechanical Engg.

CONTACT-krish.569@gmail.com, Mobile- +91 9867016808 Electronics service Technician , 4 Years experience as Electronics service engineer. Knowledge in all type of Electronics items. Looking for suitable placement. #99105043

MBA Indian male 2 years experience in firefighting & security systems sales & marketing. Seeking suitable job. Contact – 90634050

Indian male network cabling technician (19 years Gulf experience), seeking for suitable placement.

Contact : 0091-8089909265 (India), Email: mohithavp@gmail.com

Indian male with 1 yr exp looking for job in I.T as Web developer, presently in Muscat on visit visa. #92312978

Indian male, Kerala B.Com & B.PE, looking for suitable Job in Sales, Accounts, Admin etc.#93301023 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com

B.Com Graduate with 4 year experience as an Accountant in Oman.

Also have Oman Driving License.

Best fluency in English, Arabic, Hindi & Malayalam, looking for Job. Currently in Oman. Cont: +968 93943448, murshid4u@ gmail.com

Sr Material controller, having 13 years experience in material controlling in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). # 00968-92944026, Email charanjeet35@yahoo.co.in

Indian male at a Managerial position having 12 yrs exp in sales & marketing, Property Management looking for a suitable position, MBA qualified with Oman driving license. NOC available. #98125226

INDIAN MALE, 26 years, BBA graduate, seeks suitable position in automotive spare parts, Have 3 year experience. Phone no:96026400, Bineeshpn@gmail. com

Master’s in Petroleum Geology looking for relevant job ready to join ASAP, valid drivers license. Email : mehdi.poorjahangiri@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. contact 91997605, email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail.com 25 years, male B.Com and insurance Graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations related only. Driving license and NOC available. contact lilommca@ gmail.com and 95236312.

Admin Assistant, Having 5 years experience in admin department in reputed companies, presently working in Muscat (NOC Available). GSM. 00968-98404122, Email - panduru. jeevankumar@gmail.com IT/Telecom Manager, BE, MBA 13+ Years of experience, Valid Driving License. Available immediately.

Phone: +91205211, Email: ghulamqasimali@gmail.com Indian male network cabling technician (19-years gulf experience) Seeking for suitable placement. Contact - 0091-8089909265 (India) email: mohithavp@gmail.com Indian Engineer, B. Tech (Mech), MBA, MLM (Master of Labour Management), 23 yrs experience, 5 years in Oman in the positions of Operations Manager and Plant Manager with Oman Driving License seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99744612. E-mail: deleepkumarpk@gmail.com

WANTED IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area. Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/99012165

MATRIMONIAL Nair boy Alleppy dist, 25 Revathy 175 Cm, B.E Mech 3 yrs in Oman as planning Engineer seeks alliance.

Contact: 94232342 30 yrs, Kottayam working in Saud Bahwan Automotive L.L.C Oman.

Contact: 93049433 / 99613914 Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman. #968 98267338, 0091 9287215726 Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.contact 96059801.

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

KTT&CO LLC Customs Clearance thru Bayan System ( AIR & SEA CARGO) Freight Forwarding (both import & export) by giving best freight rates to Customers. Road Transportation, Delivery of all types of goods (within Oman). Contact : Tel : 24713288 & 24711071 ; GSM : (99597129 (MR. KISHORE

TOURS

TOURS

Moon Travel L.L.C

Saudi Arabian Government approved agent

Umrah Package by Road & Air Bus Departures- Apr 19, May 03, 17 & 31.2016 Ramadan Schedule - Jun 06, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 & 30.2016 Contact: Tariq Al Balushi - 99218069 Ahmed Maseehuddin - 99353611, Oĸce: 24790746/24706217

INDIAN RAILWAYS

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman.

Contact 99839898

Ticket Reservation Hotel & Bus Tickets

SITUATION WANTED BUSINESS

Star Travel

RENT A CAR

92820665 / 24711734

Investment Required Minimum OMR 500,000 to transfer 5 Excavators big + 5 Tippers 2015 Astra, working on good profitable Excavation projects. Assured income 36 %.

98867530 / 99120532 engrfaheem@hotmail.com

RENT A CAR 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP specification for monthly rent & small car with driver. #99839898

MV SALE Nissan sunny, year 2000, km 190k, expat lady driven in good condition, RO 700 negotiable. Suzuki alto, year 2008, km 127k, expat driven in good condition RO 600 negotiable. Call or whatsapp immediately 968-98898273

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available on rent 10 ton Hiap Trailers. #94207475 / 95649231/ 97982842 Transportation. #99508282

Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

ACC WANTED

Transportation. contact 92015894 Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. contact 94087276

Looking for a villa in Amerat area.

Contact : 95405033

Hyundai Veracruz 2011 model for sale, 4 WD color black 7 seater with engine capacity 3775CC, automatic – Steptronic with GPS. Contact 97203784 Nissan Sunny, White, 1.6, Automatic 2010, 76,750 KM, excellent condition, regular service at Nissan Service center for RO 2300 contact – 96530052

BUYING Buying cars for cash.#90202090

Bobcat available for rent. #97623299

RENT A CAR

Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

D8

M O N DAY, A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

PAL EST CONTROL TABA SERVICE LLC 100% Professional Aīordable Rate !!!

Ants, Rodent, & cleaning On monthly, Harmless & Odourless

CALL - 91464586

SITUATION WANTED SIT.WANTED

WĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů Θ BƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ MĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJͬ YĞĂƌůLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰϬ ů ,ƵƐŶ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ >͘>͘

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male 47 years MBAOperations Management with total 25 Yrs exp inclusive of 9 yrs in Oil & Gas sector in Oman, having valid Omani D/L & NOC available , seeks challenging position in SCM/ Logistics/ Procurement in any Sector. GSM-94236414. Mail id – jayamurli@gmail.com Structural Engineer Education B-Tech in civil Engineering, Work Experience More than 6 yrs contact +968-91431483 E-mail: mohsinyousuf86@rediffmail.com Indian Female Accountant, now in Oman on Visit Visa, looking for suitable placement, #94250871 Indian Female MBA Finance, 6 years Oman experience as account looking Full time/part time accounting Jobs. #99044292 Indian Male B. Tech, 10+ years of extensive work experience in various aspects like Computer Networking, Technical Support, Management and Engineering with good communications, interpersonal and technical skills seeks suitable opportunity. Now in Oman on Visit Visa GSM : 9489 8009, Email : bios4u@gmail.com BBA MBA.Male, Indian Human Resource/ Administration/ Office work1 Year Experience Knowledge in MS-Office, Photoshop Searching for suitable job E-mail: antonyshajan11@gmail.com.

Contact: +91 9655469680 +91 8754086178 Indian male, accountant 2 year experience doing accounts in Tally and Excel. Searching for suitable job. Contact: subbayan_r@gmail. com GSM: +918098637908

Indian male 26 years MBA finance, seeks suitable placement. #92715032 / ajisd@yahoo.com Indian male, 16 years Oil & Gas experience (Down Hole Tools), 3 years in Oman, Dip. Mechanical Engineer, Having D/L and NOC. Email – jajisuni@yahoo.com, Mob: 965 956 18.

Indian male: 24 years, diploma in computer science and B.E (CSE) having experience in hardware and networking seeks suitable job. #91170912 Email: sales2@witoman.com Sudanese male. Five years diploma in civil engineeringhave five years experience in construction industry. Mobile: 96995670 Sri Lankan female looking for a housemaid job. Please send details to s.c.balthaza@gmail.com Contact: 94036979 Land surveyor Experience: 8 years. Contact: 99585265 Email: wajid.mohiuddin5251@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. contact 99514286

SERVICES

CATERING SERVICES We do industrial catering service, Canteen / mess, 3 times packed meals and all types of catering events.

We Provide Cleaners, Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϰϮϳϳϬϮϬ

Contact: 92188777 / 99249899

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS A young CA (ACA & ACCA qualified) with 4 years experience in one of top audit firms in UK & KSA seeks suitable placement in Oman. Contact: Kamran (hkamran112@gmail.com), +44 7480 1196 74. +968 93595050 BE Mechanical Engineering with one year experience now on visit visa, looking for suitable positions”#90637918 / 99335742, email: aquasharath@gmail.com .

Split A/C servicing R.O 10 only.

Contact: 94217681 /99210141

CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

All MEP & Civil shop drawings.

Contact : 93070771 Email : designjob2014@gmail.com

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. contact 24793614/ 99314807

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. contact 96236476

Cleaning Services, Sofa, carpet shampoo old house or new house.

Contact: 92179395 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC #99344723

SITUATION WANTSIT.WANTED

Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing. Ocean center LLC.contact 99344723 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064

MISCELLANEOUS Job Wanted as a Music Teacher Classical Vocal Music, Having 3 years India Exp.#90310876

Looking for a part time job for drawings struc. BBS Q/S & piping/pipeline auto cad work. #92103713

MCA with 13+ yrs of teaching.

Worked as PGT (Comp Sc.) in CBSE Board Schools, 2 yrs experience in s/w development. Seek suitable placement. Contact - 90477217

25 year old male B.Com and insurance graduate with 6 year experience looking for an opening in accounts, finance or operations.

Driving license and NOC available.

Contact-95236312. lilommca@gmail.com

Bangladeshi Male, University MA, Working as Store In-charge cum Logistic Manager in Muscat; searching better job. Phone: 91997605 email: mohamednazrulislam2@gmail. com

INDIAN-Male 34yrs, M.Com with 14yrs Exp ( 8yrs in Oman & 6yrs in India)Presently working as PROCUREMENT OFFICER for ROAD,CIVIL,ELECTRO-MECHANICAL & Others Projects in contg & Trdg co LLC, Having Oman LT D/L, NOC available & willing to join immediately within in a month - M:94064650, Email: nagauae@gmail.com Indian male AUTO CAD Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience, seeking for part time job. #99070584 / email: remluvp@gmail.com

Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Split & window A/c installation & maintenance specialist package & ducted units. Contact 98667326 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting,Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. Contact: 24810137, 99450130

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & maintenance.#93769089 / 95323517 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. # 93769089 / 95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 We do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663 A/C maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. #99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC #99344723 House shifting. contact 99708138