Times Of Oman - May 19, 2016

THURSDAY

May 19, 2016 12 Sha’aban 1437 AH

FAHD MEETS EU LEADER

FROM THE WORDS OF HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN

MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers received members of the European Parliamentary delegation led by Michele Alliot-Marie. >A7

Founded 1975 . Volume 41 No. 75

At the 4th Session of the Arab Gulf States’ Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Muscat, 1976

‘His Majesty’s Wisdom’ The Sultanate of Oman clearly recognises that it is important there should be mutual understanding so that agreement can be reached on a formula for co-operation between the states of our region.

| 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

OMAN PRIDE How the Royal Cavalry of the Sultanate of Oman brought a smile to the face of Queen Elizabeth II with an amazing show at her 90th birthday celebration. >A2

Photo by Kit Houghton

‘Illegal’ home businesses spark anger Carrying out any business on family visa without a proper licence is illegal and punishable under law, says the ROP Entrepreneur Nada Al Moosa

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Expat wives, who operate small businesses from home, could soon be on the radar of the Royal Oman Police (ROP), after online complaints about their illegal trade surfaced.

The expats, who are in the country on their spouses’ company visas, are not allowed to work, but many have started online cake baking businesses and other small-scale enterprises.

Speaking to the Times of Oman (TOO), an ROP official said they acted whenever they received a complaint of anyone working in such an illegal manner.

“The ROP has formed a joint team with the Ministry of Manpower, which takes action against the violators. They may arrest them, which might lead to deportation, a jail sentence or a fine,” he stated.

The official added that an expat found to be working without a licence on a family visa is violating the Law on Residency of Foreigners. “They are not allowed to work on a family visa,” he pointed out.

Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries’ Member, Ahmed Al Hooti backed such calls saying, “The expats running such illegal businesses should stop.”

“Such food stuff is a potential health risk and unhygienic,” he added. The issue arose on a social media site recently when the owner of a baking outlet reported the “illegal” baking business.

Local entrepreneur Nada Al Moosa, who runs a cake business in Oman, said: “If you put up a post saying you want a customised cake or something, you will definitely get about 10 to 15 responses of people sharing their links and telling you that you can contact them to get your cake baked.”

“So, everyone is trying to make a buck in this very struggling market, but honestly it’s illegal and unethical competition,” Al Moosa said. >A6 TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

UK’s new e-visa rules

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A new e-visa to enable hassle-free travel for Omanis to the UK. >A3

WORLD

150 feared dead

2

Around 150 people are feared dead in Sri Lanka landslides. >A15

MARKET Goods worth OMR165,000 destroyed in Misfa fire

Oman’s imports dip

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Oman’s total imports declined marginally by 1% to OMR11.15b. >B1

ERNST & YOUNG

VAT to bring Oman OMR250m revenue BABA UMAR

babaumar@timesofoman.com

MORNING MINUTE

MUSCAT: Omani businesses have “little time” to acclimatise to the VAT (Value Added Tax) regime, which the Sultanate plans to implement from January, 2018.

The Omani government hopes to earn revenues amounting to 1.4 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) annually, officials at Ernst & Young (EY) said.

“It has been estimated, even

at 5 per cent, which is a relatively low rate by international standards, VAT will contribute towards 1.4 per cent of the GDP, which is about OMR250 million a year. This is a significant revenue generation,” Jennifer O’Sullivan, director of Tax Advisory Services at EY told the Times of Oman (TOO).

VAT is an indirect tax imposed on the domestic consumption of goods and services, except those that are zero-rated, such as essential drugs and basic food.>A6

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

OMAN

Creating art is a fine way for children to make choices and solve problems Amna Al Hamdani, Supervisor at Bait Al Baranda Museum >A6

Oman’s Royal Cavalry participates in the Queen’s 90th birthday bash

Photos by Kit Houghton

In the four-minute colourful display, the horsemen and women put up a rousing show for the Queen, where the first riders stormed into the arena standing on their saddles before breaking off into different formations

Times News Service MUSCAT: Ten arduous months of training paid off in just four minutes for the Royal Cavalry of Oman at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

The Cavalry was among 900 horses which performed at the gala concert for the Queen’s 90th

birthday in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In the four minute colourful display, the horsemen and women put up a rousing show for the Queen, where the first riders stormed into the arena standing on their saddles before breaking off into different formations.

Towards the end of the show, the

Omani band played Happy Birthday on the bagpipes and wished HRH a wonderful birthday.

The Royal Cavalry prepared for the celebratory performance for over 10 months.

The event’s organiser, Simon Brooks-Ward, told the Telegraph, “The Omanis performed in front of the Queen on a state visit there in 2010 and were extremely well received “As a result, we invited them to England for the Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012. They provide a performance the like of which British audiences rarely see,” he added.

Horses and their riders came from as far as Chile, Canada and Azerbaijan to perform impressive stunts for The Queen. In 2010, the British Queen was hosted by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, when she toured the country.

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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UK’s new e-visa waiver for Omanis next week Unlike the first version of EVW, which relied on passengers entering their personal information exactly as it appears on their passport, the new EVW form asks passengers to upload a copy of their passport’s biographic data page so that details can be checked for accuracy prior to travel

The new electronic visa waiver will cost GBP15 from May 23

Times News Service MUSCAT: Enabling hassle-free business and tourism travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for Omanis, a new version of the electronic visa waiver scheme (EVW II) will go live on May 23, the British Embassy in Muscat said.

The new electronic visa waiver will cost GBP15 from May 23. The waivers are valid for a single entry to the UK. Passengers must obtain a new EVW each time they travel.

In early 2014, UK had introduced the EVW scheme, allowing passport holders from Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to travel to the UK for a visit of up to six months by filling an online form at least 48 hours before departure.

Tens of thousands of travellers have since benefitted from the scheme, which removed the need to provide biometrics, going to a visa application centre or hand in

passports in advance of travel.

Unlike the first version of EVW, which relied on passengers entering their personal information exactly as it appears on their passport, the new EVW form asks passengers to upload a copy of their passport’s biographic data page so that details can be checked for accuracy prior to travel. This means that input errors can be picked up, significantly reducing the risk of issues when boarding or entering the UK. EVW II also features a simpler set of questions making it easier for users in Oman, Qatar and the UAE. To cover the costs of

developing and running the new system, an administrative fee of GBP15 is being introduced, which is significantly lower than the cost of a UK visitor visa.

“Since the introduction of the scheme in 2014, tens of thousands of travellers from Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have benefited from using an electronic visa waiver to come to the UK, which reflects the growing importance of our relationship with the region,” Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said.

“The new EVW is quicker and easier to complete, while remain-

ing secure. We know that visitor numbers from Oman, Qatar and the UAE are continuing to rise, and we look forward to welcoming more travellers to the UK for business and tourism,” he added.

Travellers who visit the UK regularly, or whose plans are likely to change at the last minute, may wish to apply for visitor visas.

The UK offers a range of multientry visas, valid for six months, two years, five years or 10 years.

Anyone wishing to travel to the UK for more than six months, for study, to settle or for work must still apply for a visa.

M U S C AT

Expats arrested for illegal commercial activities Times News Service MUSCAT: Municipal authorities in Muscat arrested expatriates involved in business activities without licence and preparing mashakik at a house in Seeb.

In cooperation with authorities, the Department of Food Inspection and Monitoring at the Direc-

torate General of Muscat Municipality responded to reports from locals, which led to the arrest of the expatriate workers for indulging in commercial activities without a municipal licence.

The illegal activity was reportedly detected at a farm in Wadi Al Lawami in Wiyalat Seeb, where the workers were said to be sell-

ing foodstuff and illegal tobacco, which violates the regulations for the protection of public health.

Similarly, another group of expatriates were arrested for preparing mashakik (barbeque) inside a house in Wadi Al Bahais in Wilayat Seeb as well.

The conditions for preparation were in violation of health norms,

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which includes poor storage. The mashakik was distributed to vendors in Seeb.

The municipality seized 200 kilograms (kg) of meat, 30 kg of squid, 50 kg of fish and 20 kg of spices, as well as used equipment, which violates the Local Order (1/2006) regarding the protection of public health.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

State Council committee holds review meeting MUSCAT: Standard specifications of local and imported food and other consumer products, as well as quality control mechanisms were discussed by the State Council’s Social Committee on Wednesday.

The panel hosted Eng. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Dheeb, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Eng Sami Al Sahab, Director General of Standards and Metrology, and Sukina bint Ismail Al Mahdia, Director of the Department of Quality Control at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to learn of the efforts made by the Ministry to protect costumers.

The meeting, chaired by Dr Hamad bin Sulaiman Al Salmi, Chairman of the Committee, reviewed the most important issues related to the Ministry’s work. It addressed standard requirements and specifications of local and imported products, food and other consumer products, and discussed the stages of the control process in matching of imported and locally manufactured materials, the specifications set by the different parties, the required material and human resources to achieve this, in addition to addressing operational procedures to deal with violations of the specification. -ONA

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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Fire destroys OMR165,000 worth of goods

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MINUTES OF AGREEMENT

Oman, Saudi sign aviation pact JEDDAH: A minutes of agreement was signed in Jeddah yesterday between the civil aviation authorities of the Sultanate and Saudi Arabia to regularise air transport rights between the two countries.

The minutes of agreement was signed at the conclusion of air transport talks held between the two countries on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s meeting and the Executive Council of Arab Civil Aviation Commission’s (ACAC) meeting in Jeddah.

The agreement stipulates increasing the number of flights be-

tween the two countries as the airline firms of each side have rights to operate 112 weekly flights compared to 35 flights previously.

The agreed number flights will be distributed by 28 weekly flights between the Sultanate and each of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Ta’if. The two delegation also agreed on operating unlimited number of flights between the Sultanate and Al Madinah Al Munawwarah as per arrangements of open skies.

It was also agreed to amend air routes table between the two coun-

tries to allow airlines of each side to operate flights to all international airports in the other country, in addition to discussing several operational and technical matters between the two countries.

The minutes of agreement was signed from the Sultanate’s side

by Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za’abi, CEO of the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) whilst it was signed from the KSA side by Sulaiman bin Abdullah alHamdan, Minister of Transport, Board Chairman of the KSA Public Authority for Civil Aviation. -ONA

I ON HUNGER

Poor families receive food packets, children get toys DEEBA HASAN

deeba@timesofoman.com

GUTTED: The fire reportedly first damaged the Modern Arabian Projects’ warehouse and then

spread to the Teejan Equipment warehouse. – Shabin E

The fire broke out at around 1am and continued until 7am. The massive fire damaged warehouses of Kawthar Supplies, Teejan Equipment, Modern Wood Works and Modern Arabian Projects

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Goods worth an estimated OMR165,000 were gutted when a fire engulfed four warehouses in the Misfa area near Al Ansab early Wednesday morning, company officials said.

The fire broke out at around 1am and continued until 7am. The massive fire damaged warehouses of Kawthar Supplies, Teejan Equipment, Modern Wood Works and Modern Arabian Projects.

“Fire fighters were at the scene till the afternoon. Five fire engines and dozens of fire fighters had to put up a brave fight to contain the fire,” Shaheen Shamsudheen, an official from Kawthar Supplies, told the Times of Oman.

According to Shamsudheen, the fire reportedly first damaged

the Modern Arabian Projects’ warehouse and then spread to the Teejan Equipment warehouse.

Cooking oil “From there it spread to Modern Wood Works and then to my company’s warehouse. Big drums with cooking oil were stored near the Modern Arabian Projects’ warehouses. They all exploded and worsened the situation,” Shamsudheen, who lost goods worth OMR10,000 in the fire, added. “We had fire safety equipment in the warehouse meant for oil field projects. We have lost everything,” she said.

Anantha Narayan, general manager of Modern Wood Works, pegged their loss between OMR100,000 and 150,000.

“We had imported equipment for woodwork. Everything has

been gutted in the fire,” the general manager said.

“There were 25 workers employed at the warehouse. They are stranded now,” Narayan added.

Valerian Mathias, a senior official from Modern Arabian Projects, said their loss was estimated to be about OMR5,000.

“The fire was noticed by one of the workers. He alerted everybody and the fire teams were called, but as it was windy, the fire spread very fast,” Mathias added.

According to a report by the National Centre for Statistics and Information, a fire incident is reported every three hours in the country, and 23 per cent of them are reported from residential areas. Reports also revealed that 3,335 fire incidents were reported in Oman in 2014, with 23 per cent of the incidents being reported in residential facilities.

That year, 755 house fires, 55 building fires and 57 apartment fires were reported.

Recently, Colonel Said Al Asmi, assistant general manager for Operations at the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said fire threats remain a major challenge for establishments in Oman, especially in the summer. “Unorganised and poorly marked storage of cables and flammable materials in many buildings raises the risk of damage by fire,” he noted.

MUSCAT: More than 100 underprivileged families in Muscat received food packets and toys from the firm ‘Protiviti’ in Oman, as part of the global ‘I On Hunger’ programme. The distribution of food was conducted along with the Nidaa al Khairi charity group.

‘I On Hunger’ seeks to deliver over two million meals to the needy throughout the world.

The campaign, which was held recently, included packaging of food and toys, which were then distributed to assigned families.

Volunteers travelled throughout Muscat to distribute the packets to assist underprivileged individuals, as well as bring smiles to the faces of children.

“We foster active community support through our innate social responsibilities as humanitarian citizens. I’m pleased that we exceeded our target this year to 136 families, thanks to our employees and their families who pitched in to raise more funds for this noble cause. This year, we put smiles on the children we met, to encourage and instil hope in them that their

HELPING OUT: The campaign, which was held recently, included

packaging of food and toys, which were then distributed.- Supplied photo

future is bright, as it our moral duty to be givers,” Shatha Al Maskiry, Protiviti Managing Director said.

Raed Ali, one of the organisers, said that helping the poor is a moral obligation for everyone.

“This was an extremely rewarding day which served as a reminder to us and the community that our moral obligations demand that we serve society, as our needs and suc-

cesses are intertwined. I am happy because we exceeded our target and we are pumped to continue doing this.”

“I would like to thank everyone for their support in spreading awareness and fighting hunger and giving hope to underprivileged families. We are looking to be involved in more humanitarian causes very soon,” noted Ali.

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

OMAN

The relocation of our branches to project sites is mainly for the convenience of those customers who find it difficult to remit from remote areas Boban MP, Oman UAE Exchange CEO

Art workshop to boost the talents of children The Bait Al Baranda Museum annually draws between 100 and 120 children who learn, among many other art forms, to create drawing,

Arabic calligraphy,

photography

LEARNING IS FUN: By organising this workshop, the children will take advantage of their time to be-

come more productive during their summer break. It will also develop their talent by teaching them different forms of art. – Supplied photo

TARIQ ZIAD AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Keeping children its primary focus, the Bait Al Baranda Museum will soon commence an annual workshop dedicated to bringing out new artistic talent in children.

Marking the International Museum Day at the National Museum of Oman, Amna Al Hamdani, supervisor at Bait Al Baranda Museum, spoke about the importance of encouraging creative arts in the young.

“Arts are one of the natural channels that feed creative talent in children in different aspects, such as art, science and technology,” said Al Hamdani.

According to the Michigan State University Extension, art allows children to practice a wide range of skills that are useful in their everyday lives and also for learning. Children are then able to

< FROM

A1

‘Difficult to stop online business’

She pointed out that some people, sitting in the comfort of their homes, were saving money on costs and staff and using substandard material to take part of her “share in the market.”

“It is illegal; there are no health and safety regulation, whereas we have to pay taxes. 12 per cent of our profits go to the government,” she said.

Al Moosa further said that such businesses are illegally operated by expat women visiting Oman on spouse-sponsored visas.

However, there are others who feel that such practices are difficult to halt.

“Practically, it’s impossible to

stop an online business in Oman,” Anvwar Al Balushi, chairman of Anwar Asian Investment Group told TOO. “How can we stop it?

“Not only expatriate women, we know many Omani college girls who are involved in the online sales business. I don’t see this threatening small and medium enterprises in Oman.”

Mohammad Al Farji, a top member of the Oman Trade Union, said not everyone will have enough money to start a business with a shop or they may be afraid of risking their investments.

“It’s happening all over the world. It can’t be stopped,” he said.

CHANGES

pottery making,

recycling, and

ILLEGAL TRADE

practice fine motor skills, cognitive development, improve their language skills and math skills.

“By organising this workshop, the children will take advantage of their time to become more productive during their summer

break. It will also develop their talent by teaching them different forms of art,” said Al Hamdani.

She further added, “The children will also learn to cooperate with one another through team exercises and create a sense of

closeness between themselves by working and getting to know one another.”

The Child Development Institute also reported, “Creating art is a fine way for children to make choices and solve problems. Every step involves making a decision: what colour to use, how to make a line, what size to make something.

With every choice the object becomes more and more their own.”

The Bait Al Baranda Museum annually draws between 100 and 120 children that take part in the two-week workshop.

The workshop is divided into four sessions.

According to the museum’s data, 52 per cent of the children are from the ages of six to nine, while the remaining 48 per cent fall in the 10 to 16 years age group.

Some of the art that the children learn to create during the workshop includes drawing, pottery making, Arabic calligraphy, recycling, and photography among many other art forms.

Oman UAE Exchange shifting some branches Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Oman UAE Exchange is set to open new branches across the Sultanate and is also in the process of relocating some of them, according to company CEO Boban MP. Under the expansion plans, two branches are likely to open this year taking the total branch network in the Sultanate to 54.

Regarding relocation of branches he said, “We have always endeavoured to be one step closer to our customers.

“The relocation of our branches to project sites is mainly for the convenience of those customers who find it difficult to remit from remote areas.”

“Evolution of technology has also resulted in the evolution of customers’ needs and to cater to these evolving needs, we would be introducing new services and products. Going forward, we also plan to engage with our customers

more on the digital space through online money transfer as well as introduce the KIOSK model operation in the Sultanate, all subject to regulatory approvals,” he further stated.

Recently, the company entered into an agreement with State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of India and Federal Bank for FLASH remit, a real time account credit facility.

This facility will enable Indian expatriates residing in the Sultanate to transfer money directly to their beneficiary having account in the respective banks across borders in India in real time (24x7).

The company also plans to commence the FLASH remit facility to Bangladesh and Pakistan.

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OWFT EVENT

Omani designers to showcase creations Times News Service MUSCAT: Omani Women’s Fashion Trends (OWFT) event is due to take place on Saturday, May 21 at Hotel Muscat Holiday in Al Khuwair, where Her Highness Sayyida Basma Al Said will be attendance as the guest of honour.

The show is being organised by events management firm Light and Shadow Enterprises, and will showcase striking fashion collections from three Omani designers Hala Al Maamari, Huda Anwar Al Sabbagh and Salha Al Farsi and a Vivat jewellery collection by Shruti Chowdhary and her partner Devangee Ganatra.

Al Sabbagh said, “I am passionate about creating new fashion trends that result in women wearing elegant and classy outfits. I

Sayyida Basma Al Said

started this as a hobby and have now grown up designing for fashion loving women. It’s true that I have never taken an academic fashion designing course, but this did not stop me from finding ways to improve my designing skills. I had participated in the Oman Designers Forum organised by Hala Trading Co. in May 2015 and presented a summer collection.”

“When it comes to styling your

accessories, ladies less is more.

Buy statement pieces of jewellery, but don’t wear them all together and look like a Christmas tree! Let the focus be on one or a maximum of two pieces at a time. Clean, well cut silhouettes are classic.

Also, it’s always better to invest in good material and stitching than worrying about cost because the fall of every outfit is accentuated with clean cuts and of course a statement necklace or cuff,” said Chowdhary.

Al Mamari added, “My advice to the youth is to keep it classic and simple. Less can be more, but it still needs to retain the ethnicity of our culture.”

Al Farsi said,” I started my career as a model and then ventured into doing make up. Being around and working so closely with fashion designers I felt inspired and

then started following fashion worldwide and slowly but surely knew that is what I wanted to make a career out of and I’m blessed to be a designer myself today.”

Speaking about their signature fashion item. Al Maamari said, “For me, a long flowing garment, which accentuates femininity is a signature item. My designs are all handcrafted with a lot of attention to detail and I definitely feel that’s how it projects my signature work.”

While Chowdhary said, “My signature item would definitely be an accessory. I firmly believe jewellery can make or break your outfit. Choosing the right piece is imperative so I love my strings of pearls because they are evergreen and yet I also love my statement necklaces which add that glamour and a fun element to one’s outfits.”

TA X C O S T T O B U S I N E S S E S

< FROM

A1 Businesses should prepare for VAT regime Earlier in January, a top member of the Majlis Al Shura’s Economic Committee had told TOO that the tax will be introduced in Oman by the middle of 2017 or even earlier.

‘Go Live’ date near O’Sullivan said the ‘Go Live’ date agreed by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members is January 1, 2018 and from a business perspective “it’s very important that businesses prepare adequately for the introduction of VAT.” “It shouldn’t represent a tax cost to businesses, but if it’s not implemented properly then it could become a tax cost. It’s a transactional tax. It’s not a tax on profits. It will apply on all sales or all purchases and after the ‘Go Live’ date there will be VAT implications for each and every single transaction,” she said, adding “That’s why businesses need to prepare themselves and quickly configure their IT systems. It’s not something you can achieve in a short timeframe.”

She further stated that GCC nations have agreed that VAT will apply as any other VAT system

VAT INTRODUCTION: Businesses in Oman also agreed that the end user may feel the pinch on their pockets. – Supplied photo

anywhere in the world and it’s for those businesses that meet the VAT registration threshold provisions.

“It also means that the same rules will be applicable to all GCC businesses. There will be revenue sharing mechanisms, as well, across the GCC. It’s not an Oman tax, it’s a GCC-wide tax,” O’Sullivan explained.

Inflation?

Asked if this could trigger infla-

tion in Oman, O’Sullivan said: “Clearly the cost of living will increase because the end user is a consumer who ends up paying.

But the inflationary increase will definitely not be the full 5 per cent because a lot of basic food stuff will incur zero-rate and also there will be exemptions applicable to the healthcare and education sectors.”

During a seminar held on Wednesday, O’Sullivan sensitised scores of top business officials and

executives regarding the overall framework for VAT, specific challenges, planning opportunities and fraud risks associated with VAT regimes.

One EY speaker said the GCC VAT model is a replica of the EU VAT model and that there is no exact research on how much inflation can be seen in Oman, “but rates of petrol buying at filling stations could go up by 5 per cent.”

Businesses also agreed that the end user may feel the pinch on their pockets though.

“The orientation was an eye opener for us. Now we know there is a lot of home work to do on this. The time frame of 18 months should be ideal. We can’t just do it in two weeks,” R Vijayshankar, an official at a shipping company told TOO on the sidelines of the event.

“The business houses are just going to be the middle men. It’s not going to affect our income statement though. We are going to collect and pay (to the government), whereas the end user will feel the pinch on his pocket…,” he added.

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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OMAN

We commend PDO efforts and its role in supporting the Omani economy and its tangible contribution in the areas of corporate social responsibility Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Majlis Al Shura chairman

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Al Ma’awali hails PDO for driving growth

BOOSTING TIES: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al

Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers receives Michele Alliot-Marie, Head of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula yesterday. – ONA

Sayyid Fahd, EU leader review ties Fahd hailed the role being played by the EU in cementing friendship with the Sultanate

MUSCAT: His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers received yesterday members of the European Parliamentary delegation led by Michele Alliot-Marie.

Sayyid Fahd reviewed bilateral relations between the Sultanate and the European Union (EU) and avenues of future cooperation between the two sides. He also hailed the role being played

by EU in cementing friendship.

Sayyid Fahd also reviewed the comprehensive march of the Omani renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, which is based on an integrated system of justice, equality and respect of human rights. Conversation during the meeting touched on the means that ensure promoting cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and EU in several fields, particularly parliamentary, economic, scientific and research areas.

The discussion also reviewed the latest developments in the regional and international arenas, as well as efforts made to alleviate tensions and contain their security and economic implications to establish security and stability, enhance values of tolerance and coexistence among people.

On her turn, Michele AlliotMarie expressed her gratitude and that of her accompanying delegation to visit the Sultanate due to its good reputation and wisdom in dealing with the domestic and foreign developments. They also praised the rapid progress made in all fields, as well as the civilised landmarks they viewed.

The EU Parliamentary members also expressed their appreciation to the Majlis Al Shura’s approach.

Dr.Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, Chairman of the State Council and Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, Chairman of the Majlis Al Shura received Michele AlliotMarie, Head of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula and her accompanying delegation.

Boosting cooperation During the meeting, the leaders

reviewed bilateral relations and ways of boosting cooperation between the Sultanate and the EU. The discussions focused on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and the latest developments in the region.

Welcoming Michele AlliotMarie and her delegation, Dr Al Mantheri said that the visit strengthens cooperation between the countries and open new paths between the Sultanate and the European Union. He underlined the importance of strengthening relations in various fields between the Sultanate and the European Union especially in the economic and political fields.

He highlighted the role played by the Sultanate and its stand on many regional issues, owing to the keenness of the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who supports cooperation between the Sultanate and the European Union.

During the meeting, Al Ma’awali gave a briefing on the Majlis Al Shura and its work mechanism.

On her turn, Michele AlliotMarie hailed the wisdom and farsighted vision of His Majesty the Sultan, particularly in dealing with the political issues in the region, in addition to the Sultanate’s policy of peaceful dialogue and tolerance around the world.

She also commended the civilizational and architectural progress in the Sultanate.

The meeting was attended by Eng. Mohammed bin Abu Bakar Al Ghasani, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis, Sheikh Ali bin Nassir Al Mahrouqi, Secretary General of the Majlis Al Shura and Ambassador Adam Kolakh, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

On the sideline of the visit, Head of the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula and her accompanying delegation toured facilities of the Council of Oman. -ONA

MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) conveyed its efforts to combat the low oil price environment and spearhead Omanisation during an official visit by the Majlis Al Shura members to its Mina Al Fahal headquarters yesterday.

The group was led by its Chairman, Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, who praised the company for its work on driving economic development and social investment in the Sultanate.

A senior PDO management team, headed by Managing Director Raoul Restucci, gave an overview of the Company’s performance on a range of matters including health, safety and the environment, production, cost control and the creation of job and training op-

portunities for Omanis through its pioneering In-Country Value (ICV) and Lean efficiency programmes.

Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali praised PDO’s efforts on the economy, efficiency, new technology and on providing Omani training and employment opportunities, saying: “We commend PDO efforts and its role in supporting the Omani economy and its tangible contribution in the areas of corporate social responsibility and community development.”

He added: “We have attended a presentation on the activities of the Company and its National Objectives programme. We are pleased and proud of what we have seen of the development taking place and the technological progress made, as well as the Company’s support

for the training and employment of Omanis”.

He further said: “It is with pride and high esteem that we congratulate the company and applaud these efforts. We wish PDO’s management and staff continued further success and more outstanding achievements”.

During the three-hour engagement, the guests visited PDO’s Bait Mina Al Fahal HQ building and the hi-tech Lekhwair and Qarn Alam Collaborative Work Environment centres, which featured a live broadcast from the field with Coastal staff.

They also toured a small exhibition featuring some of PDO’s award-winning projects and challenges, including Harweel, which is one of the world’s most challenging

miscible sour gas injection projects, Miraah, one of the largest solar energy ventures and the Nimr reed beds, a pioneering energy-efficient wetland scheme to treat water from oil production.

There was a focus on how PDO had responded to the present low oil price environment and explanatory displays of oil samples, fossils, rocks, equipment and goods made by women on the Company’s “Banat Oman” vocational training programme.

The visitors were shown a film giving a corporate overview of PDO and one outlining its National Objectives programme, which has generated more than 20,000 employment, training and re-deployment opportunities for Omanis since 2011. -ONA

A10

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

REGION Sanaa citizens yearn for end to Yemen’s civil war Life was already a struggle for many residents, but the onset of the conflict more than a year ago has made mere survival the priority and extreme hardship the norm

SANAA: Anxiety reigns in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, where ordinary people await the outcome of almost a month of peace talks they hope can end a devastating war.

Life was already a struggle for many residents, but the onset of the conflict more than a year ago has made mere survival the priority and extreme hardship the norm. The crump of air strikes, power outages and the deep-seated gnawing fear that their society may never emerge intact have all become part of daily life.

Hope is hard to find, and what little exists lies with the peace delegations representing the armed Houthi movement - which controls Sanaa - its allies, and their enemies in Yemen’s exiled, Saudibacked government taking place in Kuwait.

HOPING AGAINST HOPE: Walid Murait, centre, 39, a religion teacher, poses for a photograph among his students, in Sanaa, Yemen, April 29, 2016. “I call upon all parties to give priority to the culture of wisdom, tolerance, love and building mutual trust, not the culture of exclusion,” he said. – Reuters

Seemingly a world away in Sanaa, the ancient city whose old city is clustered with majestic mudbrick towers, the past looks brighter than the future.

But flickers of hope still shine among these Sanaa residents.

“We are optimistic that we will see the Kuwait negotiations stop the war, especially in light of the decrease in the number of air strikes,” said Abdussalam Hamad Al Harethi, 39, who sells antiques, souvenirs and silverware.

Less upbeat, Ahmed Hizam Al Soudi, 75, who sells traditional

INVESTMENT

Yemeni curved daggers called jambiyas said he hoped wisdom would prevail among negotiating parties in Kuwait.

“We ask God to relieve us from this ordeal, which we were not expecting.”

“God willing, they would agree, because we are exhausted. And if they love the country, they will stop the war that brought devastation and destruction to the people of Yemen.”

The sentiment is widespread.

Youth activists fed up by the deadly feud among Yemen’s politi-

cal and military elites that has left 25 million citizens suffering the consequences have warned them on social media: “Don’t come back to Yemen unless with peace.”

Standing amidst her freshfaced students, Yemen’s future, mathematics teacher Wafaa Mansour shared a view held by many - that the conflict has been infiltrated by so many foreign powers that only diplomatic intervention from the outside can help.

“If all sides do not make concessions, I do not think that there would be a proper solution with-

out the intervention from one of the big states sponsoring the dialogue.”

In the maternity ward of a Sanaa hospital, 28-year old nurse Hindia Abdurabu Al Zubah looks after some of the country’s youngest and most vulnerable citizens and hopes the senior politicians in the land face up to the gravity of their task. “I’m optimistic that the ongoing talks in Kuwait will unify us again and put an end to a year of war and conflict, and my message to them is: ‘Yemen is your responsibility,” she said. — Reuters

E X PA N D C OA L I T I O N

Netanyahu seeks to enlist Lieberman into government OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched talks on Wednesday with far-right politician Avigdor Lieberman on recruiting him into Israel’s coalition government, where he wants to be named defence minister.

Netanyahu, who won a fourth term last year, governs by a majority of one in the 120-member Knesset, making his administration vulnerable to any falling out among his political allies.

It had appeared for the past several days that a course had been set for Isaac Herzog’s centre-left Zionist Union party, which has 24 lawmakers, to agree on an alliance with Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud. But in a surprise move, Lieberman, who heads the ultranationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, convened a news conference on Wednesday to say he was ready to negotiate a pact with Netanyahu.

Lieberman, whose party has six Knesset seats, demanded the defence portfolio as well as new legislation that would impose capital punishment on Palestinians carrying out fatal attacks.

Within minutes of the offer to talk, Netanyahu - in what one Zionist Union politician described as a humiliation for Herzog - announced he would hold talks with Lieberman, and the two convened at the prime minister’s office.

Herzog then froze his own negotiations with the prime minister.

“Until Netanyahu chooses which option he is ready for, toward which option he is headed, we will not negotiate with him in parallel,” Herzog said in a speech. — Reuters

ECONOMIC REFORMS

Italy, Libya discuss World bank approves $5b loan to Tunisia renewing accord ROME: Italy and Libya discussed late on Tuesday renewing a 2008 accord under which Italy pledged billions of dollars in investments in return for energy contracts and controlling illegal migration from North Africa, Italy’s foreign ministry said.

The original deal was struck by then-Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi before Gaddafi was ousted and the country plunged into chaos.

The breakdown of order in Libya, where human traffickers have taken advantage of the turmoil to pack people fleeing war and poverty into unseaworthy boats, has contributed to Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II. Talk of the 2008 “friendship pact” was revived by Mohammed Siyala, Foreign Minister in Libya’s new UN-backed national unity government, and his Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni in Rome on Tuesday.

“The two ministers talked... about the possibility of reactivat-

ing the tools set out in the 2008 friendship pact as soon as possible,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The West is counting on the unity government, which arrived in late March, to tackle armed violence, IS group militants and stop flows of migrants across the Mediterranean.

European officials are worried about large numbers of would-be migrants building up in Libya, but say the volatility there precludes the kind of deal struck with Turkey to block last year’s main entry point to Europe via Greece.

Libya’s new leaders still lack effective control over the capital Tripoli, and the country’s coast guard has struggled in the past to patrol its waters. Berlusconi and Gaddafi presented the 2008 pact as compensation for damage inflicted on Libya by Italians during the latter’s 1911-1943 colonial rule. Italy planned at the time to invest $200 million per year in projects including road-building and clearing mines in Libya over 25 years, for a total $5 billion. — Reuters

TUNIS: The World Bank approved a five-year plan to lend Tunisia up to $5 billion to support economic reforms aimed at reviving growth and creating jobs, the bank said on Wednesday.

The North African country is struggling with lower tourism revenue after militant attacks last year, protests over unemployment and slow progress on economic reforms that have lagged political advances made since its 2011 uprising.

Tunisia’s parliament recently approved laws on banking and on strengthening central bank autonomy to shield its board from political interference, two reforms sought by the country’s international lenders.

Five-year strategy “(The) new five-year strategy of support... will provide up to $5 billion in loans to Tunisia to restore economic growth and create jobs,” the bank said in statement.The economy has faltered since the 2011 revolt against former leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, which sparked the protests across North Africa and the Middle East. — Reuters

FISCAL BOOST: A general view shows the construction of a bridge in Tunis, Tunisia. Tunisia’s parliament recently approved laws on banking and on strengthening central bank autonomy to shield its board from political interference, two reforms sought by the country’s international lenders. – Reuters

MODIFIED VERSION

Israel to use sea-borne missile defence to guard gas fields OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said on Wednesday it had developed a version of its Iron Dome missile interceptor system that can be fired from the deck of a cruising navy ship to protect its offshore gas platforms.

The augmented defence system passed a live test two weeks ago when it shot down several short-range ballistic missiles from a moving boat, said Colonel Ariel Shir, the navy’s head of operational systems.

Israel has boosted its naval defences over the past decade after the discovery of sizeable natural gas deposits off its Mediterranean coast. While the biggest fields are far from shore, the gas flows to platforms in shallower waters that can be seen from the southern Israeli coast, putting them in range of the kinds of rockets fired by fighters in the Gaza Strip.

Iron Dome batteries have proven capable of shooting down around 90 per cent of Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza, according to Israel and the United

OPERATIONAL: A screen-shot taken from Israel Defence Forces

(IDF) handout video footage received on Wednesday shows a testfiring of a version of Israel’s Iron Dome missile interceptor. – Reuters

States, which has helped bankroll the system.

Until now Iron Dome had been a static system that was only fired from land. It has needed a series of software and algorithm adjustments to help it meet the navy’s

requirements. The latest test proved that the “the Iron Dome of the sea” is operational, Shir said, and it will improve the navy’s “capability to protect Israel’s strategic assets at sea against shortrange ballistic rockets.” — Reuters

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

NABBED

Key accused in Godhra carnage held after 14 years AHMEDABAD: On the run for 14 years, the key accused in the 2002 Godhra train carnage, in which 59 kar sevaks were killed, was on Wednesday arrested by the Gujarat ATS. The train carnage had triggered widespread riots in the state.

An ATS official said that Farooq Mohammad Bhana was one of the key accused, who hatched the conspiracy to burn the train at Godhra Railway Station on February 27, 2002. According to the Anti-Terrorism Squad officials, Bhana was a corporator in Godhra when the incident took place.

To evade arrest, he then moved to Mumbai where he became a property broker.

“Based on a tip-off, we nabbed Bhana at a toll plaza near Kalol town of Panchmahal district when he was going to Godhra from Mumbai on Wednesday. He was the key conspirator of Godhra carnage,” an ATS official said.

In the FIR, Bhana was charged with conspiracy to put the S-6 coach on fire during a meeting with others accused at the Aman Guest House near Godhra Railway Station. As many as 59 people had lost their lives when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was torched. - PTI

Kejriwal said after June 30, the final version of the draft would be prepared and a resolution would be passed by the Delhi Assembly to this effect

NEW DELHI: Opening another potential flashpoint with the Centre, the Aam Aadmi Party government on Wednesday released a draft bill on full statehood to Delhi, seeking to bring police, land and bureaucracy under its control, and invited suggestions from the public till June 30.

An all-party meeting will be held on the issue, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said while urging rivals BJP and Congress to “rise above differences” and went on to quote from old manifestos of BJP

Mamata and BJP most talked about on Facebook

Mamata Banerjee

ers, Facebook said, adding among the states, Assam was most popular with conversation of 28 per cent netizens figured around it.

Crime Crime seemed to be of utmost concern to Facebook users as one-third of election-related conversations featured the issue. Defence came a close second with 31 per cent.

Foreign affairs, education and transport were other major issues. “Facebook is making it easier for people to participate in electoral debates and have a real impact. It has become a place for people to get to know their candidates better and discuss issues they care about,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

“By providing a platform for engagement and discussion, Facebook is empowering people in India on Facebook to engage in the elections,” the spokesperson said. - PTI

INCESSANT RAINS

Ten people killed in Assam landslides GUWAHATI/SILCHAR: Ten people were killed in landslides in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts in Barak Valley in the northeastern Indian state of Assam on Wednesday following incessant rains.

Five members of a family were killed in a landslide at Sonachirra in Karimganj district in the wee hours, a police official said.

The landslip, triggered by incessant rains, buried a house on the edge of a hill killing the five people. Among the victims are a man, his wife and their daughter and two sons. The area has been hit by continuous rains for the past three days. In neighbouring Hailakandi district, two incidents of landslide killed four persons at Bilaipur and a six-year old

INDIA

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Kejriwal releases draft bill on full statehood to Delhi

A S S E M B LY P O L L S

KOLKATA: During Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was the most discussed political party while West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the most talked about political leader on Facebook.

An analysis of conversations on Facebook regarding the Assembly polls across all states done by the social media giant shows that BJP featured in 61 per cent of them, while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the top leader, figuring in 22 per cent of the conversations.

Overall, 22 million netizens discussed elections on the social media platform leading to 142 million interactions, Facebook said. The data is for the period from February 12 to May 10 and covers top political parties, politicians, states and top issues, the social media giant said.

With 47 per cent mentions, Congress was second followed by Aam Aadmi Party — 25 per cent.

Interestingly, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) featured in only 6 per cent of online conversations.

In the list of most talked about politicians, Mamata was followed

by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who featured in 20 per cent of the conversation. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, DMK patriarch M. Karunandhi and BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal were the other talked about lead-

A1 1

boy at Ramchandi area, police officials said. The debris fell on two houses where the victims were sleeping early in the morning, they said. NDRF and police have been engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Flash floods washed away a newly constructed bridge across the Izek river in Tamenglong district of Manipur on Wednesday morning, following torrential rain that hit Manipur on Tuesday night. Bailey bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs4 million, was yet to be formally inaugurated.

The washing away of the bridge has further isolated Tamenglong, which was already cut off from the rest of the state following multiple rockslides triggered by heavy rainfall. - Agencies

SEEKING SUPPORT: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal showing a copy of the draft bill seeking full statehood for Delhi, at a press conference at Delhi Secretariat on Wednesday. - PTI

wherein the party had promised full statehood.

“The BJP has struggled the most on the issue. They have consistently raised it. We are merely taking their resolve forward by inviting public opinion on this draft,” Kejriwal told a press conference here, when asked about the AAP’s action plan if the draft

is rejected by the Centre.

Kejriwal said that he will write letters and also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP President Amit Shah and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to garner support for the draft bill, which keeps the high-profile NDMC area, out of its jurisdiction.

Kejriwal said after June 30, the final version of the draft would be prepared and a resolution would be passed by the Delhi Assembly to this effect. “We will forward the resolution to the Centre which in turn will have to bring Constitutional Amendment,” he said.

“The draft has been put on the Delhi government’s website.

Through its passage, we seek to fulfil the dreams of Congress and BJP. We should rise above party lines. A special session of the Assembly may also be called for passing the resolution,” the CM said, flanked by his deputy Manish Sisodia.

To buttress his point, Kejriwal quoted from BJP manifestos from 1993 till 2014 and statements made by its leaders including Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju. “L K Advani had tabled the Delhi Statehood Bill in Parliament in 2003. It was referred to a Standing Committee chaired by Pranab Mukherjee which had backed the suggestions. But for some reason it got lapsed. Even Congress has spoken out for statehood in the past. “Kiren Rijiju spoke in favour of statehood in 2006. V.K. Malhotra raised the issue in 2011.

In its 2013 national executives, BJP reiterated its resolve in this

regard. On May 25, 2014 Harsh Vardhan had said that the first issue he would raise with the new Prime Minister would be statehood,” Kejriwal said.

Suggestions The AAP chief invited public suggestions through ‘fullstatehood. delhi@gov.in’ and ‘fullstatehood. delhi@gmail.com’, which he said will remain activated till June 30. “The draft primarily says that NDMC area will be with the Centre and the rest should come under the elected government in Delhi. It has been prepared after taking into consideration the older ones,” he said.

Granting full statehood to the national capital is one of the major electoral promises of AAP, in the absence of which it has frequently clashed with the BJP-led Centre over matters of jurisdiction since assuming office.

In its manifesto, AAP had declared that it will push for full statehood acting within the constitutional framework and using its moral and political authority.

Last year, AAP had planned to hold a referendum on the issue, which was later shelved after experts said anything of that sort would be “unconstitutional”. - PTI

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READERS’ FORUM Expectations on salary rise far from reality This refers to the story, Majority staff in Oman expect pay rise in 2016: Survey, (May 16). Expectations and reality are different. We have been waiting for salary increment for last four years and still not even got a single rial. — M Behjat Ali,Muscat via Facebook

Scan this QR code to send letters to the Readers’ Forum, containing not more than 200 words with full name, address and telephone number, may be sent by e-mail (akhtar@ timesofoman.com).

Young people decide not to marry due to financial woes This refers to the story, Marriages fall to a five-year low in Oman, (May 15).The cost of living has put many people off. Many young people cannot afford home and the thought of paying loans for half their lives is daunting. This is all because of monopoly laws where a few own majority of the land for free. — Aziza Al Busaidy,Dubai, UAE via Facebook

LEONID BERSHIDSKY

Poland avoided a downgrade from Moody’s, and the latest assessment from the International Monetary Fund is rather mild. Although the nationalist government has drawn a lot of adverse attention lately, it might get away with a version of the financial nationalism that Prime Minister Viktor Orban has implemented in Hungary

People are free to leave jobs, seek help of authorities This refers to the Facebook post‚ Plan to set minimum wage for Bangladeshi maids in Oman under study, (May 17). Take it or leave it. We are all grown ups, nobody is forced to any wage in Oman.

We are free to leave the job and get assistance from authorities in case we decide to do so. — Ali Al Amri,Muscat via Facebook

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE

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MIHALY CSIKSZENTMIHALYI

I

t is almost universally agreed that more education is good for society. But it turns out that some popular educational policies achieve very little, while others that are often overlooked can make a huge difference.

Reducing class sizes would seem to be an obvious improvement; but by itself, smaller class size has not been shown to boost educational performance.

Likewise, extending the school day seems an easy way to ensure that pupils learn more; but research finds that time spent in school matters considerably less than what happens there.

And new research for the Copenhagen Consensus Center, the think tank I direct, highlights the counter-intuitive fact that equipping classrooms with additional textbooks or computers is no educational silver bullet, either. As part of a project seeking the smartest policy choices for Bangladesh, Atonu Rabbani of the University of Dhaka shows that technology-aided teaching has a mixed record.

Providing pupils with computers made some impact in India, but little in Colombia. In the United States, introducing computers has even been detrimental when not backed by parental supervision and teacher guidance.

This finding is supported by a recent OECD study, which revealed that over the last decade there has been no “appreciable improvement” in student achievement in the rich countries that invest most in technology for education.

Surprisingly, the same is true when it comes to basic, conventional schooling improvements like providing extra textbooks and building libraries.

In assessing research relevant for policymakers in Bangladesh, Rabbani found only one study showing that additional textbooks definitely improved test scores – and only the top students benefited.

Fashionable projects such as providing laptops to pupils attract a lot of financial support, but it is not always money well spent. Peru, which has received a third of all laptops provided through the organsation One Laptop per Child, hosted the first randomised controlled trial to test whether children with a computer did better than those without.

The verdict? “There were no impacts on academic achievement or cognitive skills.”

In fact, teachers reported that children who received laptops were significantly less likely to make

an effort at school. So how can policymakers do the most good? A seminal study from Jamaica suggests that early childhood interventions can make a world of difference.

The Jamaican study focused on children suffering from stunting, or chronic malnutrition, which affected 171 million children globally in 2010.

Stunting starts before birth and is caused by poor maternal nutrition and food quality, along with frequent infections. Lifelong effects can include delayed cognitive development, lower productivity, and increased vulnerability to certain diseases.

In the mid-1980s, Jamaican social workers visited stunted children in their homes for one hour each week for two years, teaching their mothers how to play with their children to promote development. At the outset, these children lagged behind their peers in all development tests. But over the two years of home visits, the children’s development improved.

And when researchers went back 20 years later, the results were amazing.

The stunted children earned just as much as their peers. Stunted children who had not been part of the programme earned 25 per cent less.

In Bangladesh, six million children are stunted – four in ten children below the age of five years old, compared to the global average of around 25%.

Setting up early-childhood education centers in Bangladesh could transform lives, at a cost of around $300 per student. Based on the Jamaican study, income improvements would be worth around $10,000 over each child’s lifetime. In a country where per capita income is just over $1,000, this is significant. Each dollar spent would help disadvantaged children become $35 more productive.

Another educational approach that shows promise is “streaming,” whereby students are assigned to groups according to their educational levels.

This can be controversial because of its perceived marginalisation of low-achieving students. But there is increasing recognition that teachers can focus their efforts better when classes have a smaller gap between the lowest- and highest-performing kids. - Project Syndicate

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES MAY 2001 Ociped to participate in Sanaa exhibition MUSCAT: The Sultanate, represented by the Omani Centre for Investment Promotion and Export Development, will participate in the third International Commercial Exhibition at the Sanaa Exhibition Centre in Yemen tomorrow. The exhibition will last for seven days.

The Sultanate’s pavilion will cover 153 square metre area and 18 industrial firms will exhibit their products which include water heaters, building materials, household items, foodstuff, aluminium products, stationery, chemicals and other industrial products.

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20

1568: Defeated by the Protestants, Mary, Queen of Scots, flees to England where Queen Elizabeth imprisons her.

1780: Near total darkness descends on New England at noon.

No explanation is found.

1856: Senator Charles Sumner speaks out against slavery.

1967: US planes bomb Hanoi, Vietnam, for the first time.

0 Source National Centre for Statistics & Information

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

INDIA

Forest fires this season, which began in February have so far destroyed nearly 4,048 hectares of land in Uttarakhand in 1,857 incidents.

‘India, China joint fight against terror to have its own impact’ China said it wants to enhance mutual trust with India and move forward their bilateral cooperative partnership as it announced President Pranab Mukherjee’s maiden visit from May 24

NEW DELHI/BEIJING: China joining hands with India in the fight against terrorism will have “its own impact”, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday in comments that come against the backdrop of Beijing recently blocking the bid to put Masood Azhar on the UN list of proscribed terror-

FIRST VISIT: President Pranab Mukherjee will be visiting China

from May 24-27 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. – PTi file photo

ists. “India and China — both huge countries — multi-cultural, multiracial — if they come together in fighting this menace, I am sure it will have its own impact.

“And India always believes that every country should have a zerotolerance policy towards terrorism and the fight is to be all out,” he

told state-run television channel CCTV in an interview ahead of his visit to China next week.

He was replying to a question on terrorism. In March this year, China had blocked India’s bid at the UN to place Azhar, Jaish-eMohammad (JeM) chief, the mastermind of the 2001 Parliament

A1 3

and 2016 Pathankot terror attacks, on the list of global terrorists.

The president said both the countries have a “comprehensive relationship” and India considers ties with China as “important”.

“I would say that we have very comprehensive relationship with People’s Republic of China. And we consider it is a very important relationship for us.

“And that the state visit has its own significance as it provides an opportunity to the leaders to share their views, explore the possibilities of expanding cooperation between the countries’ concern and also they exchange their views, on regional, global and multilateral issues,” he said in an interview, excerpts of which were broadcast on Wednesday.

In March, China had requested the UN Sanction Committee, which is considering a ban, to keep on hold the proposal for declaring Azhar as Globally Designated Terrorist. India had told the committee that not listing Azhar would expose it and other countries in South Asia to threats from the terror group and its leader.

The US State Treasury department had designated him as Spe-

cial Designated Global Terrorist in November 2010.

Meanwhile, China on Wednesday said it wants to enhance mutual trust with India and move forward their bilateral cooperative partnership as it announced President Pranab Mukherjee’s maiden visit here from May 24.

“This will be the first visit for President Mukherjee to China.

It is also one of the high level exchanges between China and India this year,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here.

“China and India are the major emerging countries and play a major role on the international stage.

They have made great contribution for peace and stability in the world,” he said.

President Xi Jinping’s visit to India in 2014 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China last year have marked a “new era” for Sino-Indian relations, Hong said.

“We are willing to further enhance mutual trust and mutual beneficial cooperation with India so as to move forward the cooperative partnership between China and India,” he said. - PTI

BLAZE

Fresh forest fires in Uttarakhand DEHRADUN: Soaring temperatures in Uttarakhand reignited forest fires in the hill state on Wednesday, with nearly 180 hectares of green cover gutted in the fresh fire incidents in Uttarkashi district.

Currently 180 hectares of forest land spread over 111 places in the district are in flames, Uttarkashi District Magistrate Shridhar Babu Addanki said.

“Rangers and Divisional Forest Officers have been asked to rush to the spots where fires are active and extinguish the flames as soon as possible,” he said.

Divisional Forest Officer Barkot D. K. Singh and DFO Purola Sandeep Kumar said there is no dearth of funds and equipment and they expect to control the blazes soon. Uttarakhand is reeling under heat wave conditions for over a week now with most places recording temperatures which are four to five degrees above normal for this time of the year, MeT director Vikram Singh said.

Forest fires this season, which began in February have so far destroyed nearly 4,048 hectares of land in Uttarakhand in 1,857 incidents. - PTI

H I G H - S TA K E S E L E C T I O N S

Stage set for counting of votes for assembly polls today NEW DELHI: Counting of votes in the high-stakes Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry will be taken up on Thursday morning and the first trends are expected to be available after an hour.

By 12 noon, a clear picture could emerge on the winners. Election Commission officials said counting of votes, which will commence at 8am, will be over by 3pm.

According to various exit polls

shown on TV channels on May 16, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala appeared to have voted for change giving BJP its first government in the northeastern state dislodging Congress which may also lose Kerala. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has been tipped to regain power trouncing All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu.

Only West Bengal seems to have

bucked the trend in exit polls by re-electing Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who managed to hold on to power by defeating the LeftCongress alliance convincingly for a second consecutive term.

The Congress could take solace from its projected victory in the tiny Union Territory of Puducherry where it is likely to get power in alliance with the DMK. The counting of votes will de-

cide the fate of approximately 8,300 candidates including chief minister Tarun Gogoi in Assam and CM contender BJP’s Sarbananda Sonowal and Himanta Biswas, chief minister Jayalalithaa and Karunandhi in Tamil Nadu, chief minister Oommen Chandy, CPI(M) leaders V. S. Achutanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala, chief minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) Suryakanta Mishra in West Bengal and chief Minister M

Rangaswamy in Puducherry.

According to Election Commission guidelines, half-an-hour after the postal ballots are counted, the process of counting votes from the EVMs begins.

The ‘ballot unit’ is switched on in the presence of senior poll officials and counting agents of candidates and the result command keyed in to get results per machine.

Where a paper trail audit or ‘voter-verified paper audit trail’

(VVPAT) has been used, the counting agent can call for a count of the paper slips in the drop box attached to the voting machine, but a final count is taken by the returning officer.

Once the results are declared, the names of the winning candidates will find mention in the gazette. The gazette notification will initiate the process to form the next legislative assemblies in the states. - PTI

A 14

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

PAKISTAN C O O P E R AT I O N

Pakistan, Tajikistan power project may pave for fibre optic cable link DUSHANBE: The Central AsiaSouth Asia 1,000-megawatt (Casa1,000) power supply project is expected to pave the way for connecting the two regions digitally as they are deliberating on a proposal to lay a fibre optic cable along with the electricity transmission line.

“Casa-1,000 power project has cleared the way for us to connect the regions through a cable network called Digital Casa-I, which will link Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Tajikistan Deputy Energy Minister Jamshed Shoimzoda told media during a briefing.

Under this project, a fibre cable will be laid along with the power transmission line between the two regions.

“We are forging links to cooperate with Pakistan and the World Bank is also discussing the Digital Casa-I project with us to exchange information,” he said.

The existing cable takes a long route to reach Pakistan. It first goes to Russia, extends to Europe and then comes to Pakistan. “The new project will provide a good route to connect the two regions,” he said. The deputy energy minister emphasised that Tajikistan had a huge potential to produce electricity as its energy sector had attracted significant investment amounting to $2 billion.

DIGITAL LINKAGE: The existing cable takes a long route to reach

Pakistan. It first goes to Russia, extends to Europe and then comes to Pakistan. — Express Tribune

The Central Asian state has so far completed 16 large and medium-sized projects in the areas of energy production, transmission and improved service delivery.

Turning to Casa-1,000 power supply scheme, the deputy minister said it was at the initial stage and Tajikistan was keenly focusing on the sustainable energy market of South Asia, especially Pakistan,

where demand was quite high.

Calling Casa-1,000 a capacitybuilding project, he stressed that it would pave the way for laying a transmission line to supply additional electricity to Pakistan through Chitral. “This project will give knowledge about Pakistan’s market, its legal and policy requirements as well as energy regulations.”

With an installed capacity of

BLASTS ROCK PESHAWAR

(Top and Bottom) Pakistani police officials inspect the site of a roadside bomb explosion in Peshawar on Wednesday. Two bomb blasts targeting a police patrol on May 18 killed at least one policeman and wounded 10 others in the restive northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials said. — AFP

5,475 megawatts, Tajikistan will utilise the existing capacity to export electricity under the Casa project. “We want to work with Pakistan and Afghanistan; Casa provides a good opportunity to connect the regions and will help boost bilateral relations,” he said.

“We have a two-way programme that covers the technical approach and security matters; the question is how we can build and maintain the transmission line; we are considering different routes at this stage.”

Afghanistan will receive a transit fee for the power transmission line that will pass through its territory and will spend the money on the welfare of local communities.

The deputy minister recalled that in the Soviet era, there were two transmission lines, but no security problem arose at that time.

Responding to a question, he said Kabul had given sovereign guarantees for protecting the transmission line and technical teams were discussing all other routes including the Wakhan corridor.

“We are floating a tender for building the power transmission line from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan and energy supply will start in the middle of 2018,” he announced. — Express Tribune

Probe body on Panama data leaks agreed on We have decided to form a 12-member committee consisting six persons from each side, the government and opposition, to reach a conclusion on ToRs, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said

ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition have agreed to form a committee to draft joint terms of reference (ToR) for an inquiry commission, which would investigate Panama papers, Express News reported.

“We have decided to form a 12-member committee consisting six persons from each side, the government and opposition, to reach a conclusion on ToRs,” Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid announced on Wednes-

day after a meeting. He said representatives from the Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Jamaat Islami, among others attended the consultative meeting held in the chamber of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.

Grilled each other The announcement came following the National Assembly session earlier during the day when the opposition and government grilled each other over Panamagate controversy.

In his address during the assembly session, PTI chief Imran Khan had warned if their questions were not answered, his party would take it to the streets.

“If the PM doesn’t answer all questions properly, it will be my democratic right to come out on the streets to protest.”

However, the PTI has now agreed to the 12-member committee, which will be formed after a resolution in the NA on Thursday. The committee will be given a time span of two weeks to reach the agreed upon ToRs such that the judicial commission could be formed to investigate the Panama Papers allegations.”

According to Express News, Aitzaz Ahsan, Ghulam Bilour and Shah Mehmood Qureshi are among the opposition side in the committee. — Express Tribune

MAKING ENDS MEET

SALES PITCH: A Pakistani vendor sells hand-made decorated

straw stools along a street in Islamabad on Wednesday. — AFP

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

WORLD

More than 350 people were plucked to safety during rescue operations in landslide-affected areas across the country early on Wednesday, officials said.

More than 150 people feared buried in Sri Lanka landslides Torrential rains have forced more than 196,000 people from their homes, with the recovery of another 19 bodies across the South Asian country bringing the official death toll so far to 35

COLOMBO: More than 150 people are feared dead after they were buried under two landslides triggered by more than three days of heavy rain in central Sri Lanka, disaster officials said on Wednesday as rescuers raced to find survivors and recover the dead.

Torrential rains have forced more than 196,000 people from their homes, the latest official data showed, with the recovery of another 19 bodies across the South

RESCUE OPERATION: Sri Lankan military personnel take part in relief and rescue efforts following a

landslide in the village of Bulathkohupitiya, in Kegalle district on Wednesday. - AFP /STR

Asian country bringing the official death toll so far to 35.

More than 350 people were plucked to safety during rescue operations in landslide-affected areas across the country early on Wednesday, officials said.

POSITIVE STEP

PAVING WAY FOR RETURN: This file photo taken on January 12, 1994 shows Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar addressing a press conference at his headquarter in Chahar Saib, south of Kabul. Afghanistan signed a peace deal with Hekmatyar, sources said on Wednesday possibly paving the way for his political return after years in hiding despite a history of rights abuses. - AFP

Afghanistan signs draft accord with militant leader KABUL: Afghanistan signed a draft agreement with the Hezbe-Islami militant group on Wednesday in a move the government hopes could lead to a full peace accord with one of the most notorious warlords in the insurgency.

Hezb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is a veteran of decades of Afghan war and rights groups have accused his group of widespread abuses, particularly during the civil war of the early 1990s, when he briefly served as prime minister.

The United States has also linked the group to Al Qaeda and the Taliban and put Hekmatyar on its designated terrorist list.

Minor role Hezb-e-Islami has played only a minor role in the Taliban-led insurgency in recent years and the deal is unlikely to have any immediate practical impact on security.

But with little sign that the Taliban are ready to join peace talks, the deal offers President Ashraf Ghani’s government a concrete sign that it is making headway in drawing insurgent groups away from the battlefield and into the political process.

Mohammad Khan, deputy to government Chief Executive Abdullah, said the draft accord was a positive step but more work would be needed for a final deal.

“We are optimistic about this agreement and we strongly support it,” he told reporters in Kabul before the accord was signed by a delegation from Hekmatyar’s party and officials from Afghanistan’s High Peace Council.

But he added: “This doesn’t

mean it’s finalised.”

A tweet from Ghani’s deputy spokesman said the accord was at the stage of endorsement and verification but had not been signed by the president. The announcement came as officials from Pakistan, the United States, China and Afghanistan held another round of meetings, in Pakistan, aimed at laying the ground for peace talks with the Taliban, who have refused to join the talks.

Criticised move Human rights groups have criticised the move towards a deal with Hekmatyar’s group but the pressure on the government for some sign of progress in bringing peace appears to have outweighed the concerns.

Under the terms of the draft, members of Hezb-e-Islami would be offered an amnesty, similar to that offered in 2007 to warlords accused of war crimes as well as a release of prisoners held by Afghan authorities.

The government would also work to have the group removed from a UN blacklist.

The group, which for years had close ties with Pakistan, would not join the government but would be recognised as a political party and be involved in major political decisions.

In 2003, the US State Department included Hekmatyar on its terrorist list, accusing him of participating in and supporting attacks by Al Qaeda and the Taliban. His group was most recently blamed for a 2013 attack in Kabul in which two US soldiers and four US civilian contractors as well as eight Afghans were killed. - Reuters

Rescue efforts have focused on the town of Aranayaka, 100km (60 miles) northeast of the capital, Colombo, where three villages were buried late on Tuesday in the central district of Kegalle.

A Sri Lankan Red Cross official

A1 5

who attended a disaster meeting at the Aranayaka landslide site early on Wednesday said it was feared the death toll was much higher than the official figures listed so far.

“At that meeting, it was revealed

that around 300-400 people are feared to have died in the Aranayaka landslide,” Neville Nanayakkara, director general of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, said.

Nanayakkara was speaking before other officials said that about 150 people had been rescued from the Aranayaka area, leaving fears for the safety of at least another 150 people. The Red Cross has set up a welfare camp for survivors of the Aranayaka landslide.

Police said another landslide at Bulathkopitiya, also in Kegalle district, had buried at least 16 people. Military spokesman Jayanath Jayaweera said troops had recovered 13 bodies from the Aranayaka site and three from Bulathkopitiya. He said the 150 people who were rescued from Aranayaka earlier on Wednesday had been sent to six camps set up for displaced people in the area.

Troops using boats and helicopters also pulled to safety more than 200 people trapped in the northwestern coastal district of Puttalam, Jayaweera said.

Flooding and drought are cyclical in Sri Lanka, which is battered by a southern monsoon between May and September, while a northeastern monsoon runs from December to February. - Reuters

CANADA

Hot weather, winds expected to push wildfire CALGARY (Alberta): Hot and dry weather and strong winds were expected to push a massive wildfire near Fort McMurray, Alberta eastward on Wednesday, threatening facilities and work camps in the prized oil sands region.

The fire, which began in early May, forced the evacuation of thousands of workers on Tuesday, prolonging a shutdown that has cut Canadian oil output by a million barrels a day. It destroyed a 665-room lodge for oil sands workers, then blazed eastward toward other camps.

Winds forecast for Wednesday were expected to push the blaze further to the east, putting oil operations in its path, officials said late on Tuesday. Heat and lack of rain also are complicating efforts to control the 355,000-hectare (877,224-acre) fire, which was also stretching toward the Saskatchewan border.

Lack of rain “We expect the fire to spread on the easterly side,” Alberta wildfire manager Chad Morrison said on a Tuesday call. The latest forecast showed temperatures were expected to reach a high of 24 Celsius (75 Fahrenheit) in the Fort McMurray area on Wednesday, though there was also a 60 per cent chance of rain on Thursday. - Reuters

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

WORLD

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Nigerian teenager abducted

by Boko Haram rebels found Teenager Amina Ali was found on Tuesday near the Sambisa forest close to the border with Cameroon

MAIDUGURI (NIGERIA): A Nigerian teenager kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago has been rescued, the first of more than 200 girls seized in a raid on their school in Chibok town to return from captivity in the insurgents’ forest lair, officials said on Wednesday.

Soldiers rescued the girl near Damboa, army spokesman Sani Usman said, without giving details. A parents’ association said she had been found by a vigilante group. Activists named her as Amina Ali Darsha Nkeki. They quoted her saying that her schoolmates were still in the Sambisa forest, Boko Haram’s biggest stronghold

IN CAPTIVITY: A student who escaped when Boko Haram rebels stormed a school and abducted schoolgirls, identifies her schoolmates from a video released by the rebel group at the Government House in Maiduguri, Borno State on May 15, 2014. – Reuters file

in the remote north. Boko Haram captured a total of 276 girls from their school in Chibok, northeast Nigeria, in April 2014, part of a seven-year-old insurgency in the north which has killed some 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million.

Dozens of the girls escaped in the

initial melee in 2014 but more than 200 remained unaccounted for.

Parents had accused former President Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s leader at the time of the mass kidnap, of not doing enough to track them down and bring them home.

Ali’s rescue should give a boost to President Muhammadu Buhari,

a former military ruler who had made crushing the Boko Haram insurgency a central pillar of his presidential campaign in 2015.

Activists at #Bringbackourgirls, which have been campaigning for the girls’ release, confirmed her release. “She says all of the others are still in the Sambisa forest area.

That they are heavily guarded,” the group said in a statement.

Hoses Tsambido, chairman of the Chibok Community in the capital Abuja, confirmed the discovery but did not provide details.

“Her name is Amina Ali Darsha.

She was found yesterday in an area of Kulakasha at the fringes of Sambisa forest. Right now she is with the military in Damboa,” he told Reuters.

Borno state governor Kashim Shettima told reporters Ali was on her way to the state capital, Maiduguri.

Lawan Zannah, secretary of an association of parents of the missing girls, said he saw Ali sitting in a military vehicle at the area commander’s residence in Chibok but he was not allowed to question her beyond exchanging greetings in their local language, Kibaku.

Zannah said he had first heard of Ali’s rescue from Yakubu Nkeki, chairman of the parents association, who had received a call from members of a vigilante group in Chibok saying they had found one of the missing girls.

“She was carrying a baby but I do not know whether it is a boy or girl,” Zannah told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone from Chibok. — Reuters

L A B O U R L AW R E F O R M S

France hit by rail strike, demonstration PARIS: Strikes by French railway and port workers halved train services and prompted cancellation of ferry links to Britain on Wednesday as labour unions sought to force President Francois Hollande’s government into retreat on labour law reforms.

After weeks of protests in which hundreds of their number have been hurt, police held a rally of their own to vent frustration over the stresses of near daily clashes with violent youths on the fringes of the anti-reform movement.

Car set on fire As they did so, a crowd chanting “police everywhere, justice nowhere” surrounded a police patrol car, which went up in flames after the police officers inside fled the scene, a few hundred metres from where their colleagues were rallying. The public prosecutor’s office said after the incident it was opening an inquiry into attempted homicide. Wednesday’s rail strikes, set to run until Friday morning, reduced high-speed and inter-city services by 40 to 50 per cent, also heavily disrupting local and suburban commuter lines, the SNCF state railway company said.

Strike turnout, the SNCF said, was about 15 per cent, lower than in previous stoppages. — Reuters

AHEAD OF EU VOTE

Queen Elizabeth unveils British government’s reform agenda LONDON: Queen Elizabeth unveiled plans by British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday to overhaul prisons and help the poor under a social reform agenda he hopes to press after a referendum on European Union membership.

In a ceremony laden with pomp and pageantry in the upper house of parliament, the queen announced plans for more than 20

new laws, ranging from tackling extremism to making it easier for people to adopt children who are wards of the state.

Much of what was announced was already known, and some members of Cameron’s divided Conservative Party said measures had been watered down because of the June 23 vote.

The government also appeared to put off at least one measure de-

manded by those pressing to leave the European Union - a Sovereignty Bill which some Conservative lawmakers want in order to assert the sovereignty of parliament over EU laws.

The yearly Queen’s Speech is a major fixture in Britain’s political life when governments can unveil up to about 30 news laws and try to woo voters with eye-catching measures.

But this year, the ceremony, when the queen addressed an audience made up of politicians clad in crimson robes trimmed with white ermine, has been overshadowed by an increasingly bitter battle over Britain’s EU membership.

“My government will use the opportunity of a strengthening economy to deliver security for working people, to increase life chances for the most disadvantaged and to

strengthen national defences,” the queen, wearing her crown and ceremonial robes over a white dress, said at the state opening of parliament which starts the legislative year. “My ministers will continue to bring the public finances under control so that Britain lives within its means, and to move to a higher wage and lower welfare economy where work is rewarded.”

She listed some of the laws the

government planned to introduce, including reforms of prisons and adoption rules.

The queen said her “ministers will uphold the sovereignty of parliament and the primacy of the house of commons (lower house of parliament)”. But it was the lack of a specific Sovereignty Bill, mooted

by Cameron earlier this year, which triggered criticism from those in the “Out” campaign. — Reuters

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THUR SDAY, MAY 19, 2016

OMAN CRUDE FIRMS UP

MARKE

Oman Crude (July delivery) rose 4 cents to touch $45.86 per barrel on Wednesday, said Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME). The average price of Oman Crude (June delivery) also stabilised at $39.40 cents, a $3.06 per barrel over May delivery 2016. – ONA

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

Muscat 5,952.46 - 6.88 - 0.12%

Dubai 3,285.06 - 16.68 - 0.51%

Abu Dhabi 4,311.27 - 13.96 - 0.32%

Saudi Arabia

6,745.48 + 5.69 + 0.08%

Kuwait 5,363.10 - 4.18 - 0.08%

Qatar 9,968.43 - 42.24 - 0.42%

Bahrain 1,105.56 - 2.58 - 0.23%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.27 Pound ............................................1.78 Indian Rs ............................. 173.52 Pak Rs ....................................267.24 Bangla Taka........................201.61

Indian Rs ...................................173.80 Pakistan Rs ............................. 271.60 Sri Lanka Rs .................................. N/A Bangla Taka........................... 203.40 Phil Peso ................................... 120.80

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......16.30

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$45.94 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$45.74 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$45.84 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$44.99 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$48.98 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$48.20

* Rates are as of May 18 Source: Bank Muscat

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......15.65 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ........... 155.00 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............145.50 * Rates as of May 18

* Rates as of May 18 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

E X PA N S I O N P L A N

Electricity customers surge; subsidy touches OMR448m Times News Service

Eng. Omar bin Khalfan Al Wahaibi. - Picture by Jun Estrada/Times of Oman

MUSCAT: Oman’s total electricity customers have increased by 7 per cent last year, thanks to a surge in number of domestic customers by 47,815 in several governorates, according to Electricity Holding Company (popularly known as Nama group).

The growth was above an average of 6 per cent annual growth rate recorded over the past 10 years and was mainly attributed to the growth of the domestic segment driven by Muscat, South Batinah, Ad Dhakaliya and As Sharqiah governorates, which fall

E X PA N S I O N P L A N

Danube plans to open 4 new retail stores in Oman Times News Service MUSCAT: Danube group plans to open four building material retail stores, including two this year, in Oman, taking the total number of stores to five. The four retail stores are planned in Mabela, Nizwa, Sohar and Salalah with a total investment of Dh120 million, said a company release.

“Besides our presence in UAE market, we have a strong presence in Oman through our retail stores and we intend to launch two new retail stores this year, and two more retail stores early next year, taking the total number of stores in Oman to five retail stores with investments worth Dh120 million in the cities of Mabela, Nizwa, Sohar and Salalah,” said Rizwan Sajan, the founder and chairman of Danube group.

Expansion programmes Regarding expansion programmes in the GCC region, Sajan confirmed that the next two years will witness a significant expansion of Danube group in the GCC markets.

Over the years, Danube has invested Dh300 million in Saudi Arabia by establishing five building materials stores and one retail store. The month of May will see the establishment of Danube Properties’ sales office in Saudi Arabia, to meet the huge demand from Saudi investors to buy properties in Dubai. According to Sajan, this is their second sales office after establishing their first sales office abroad in India last month.

The past few years we have seen a large influx by Saudi tourists to Dubai. According to the Department of Tourism in Dubai, as many as 295,000 Saudi tourists visited Dubai during January and February month of this year while 223,000 tourists flew in from Oman to Dubai with 35 per cent growth.

According to Sajan, buyers of all Danube projects in Al Furjan and Discovery Gardens, can make 10 per cent return on their invest-

ment once they decide to rent out their property thanks to the payment of 1 per cent without any interest plan. ”If the buyer has purchased the unit (studio), for example, in one of our projects, where the cost of the studio range between Dh450,000 and Dh500,000 in Al Furjan area, which is an important strategic area as it is located in Jebel Ali, which serves as the headquarter of major international companies, near the metro line and very close to Dubai Expo location which Dubai will host in 2020.

That is why Al Furjan has become a preferred destination for real estate investors. The buyer will achieve an return on investment of Dh50,000 yearly, which is about 10 per cent of the total value of the property and when one has already Dh250,000 by the time we handover the apartment, it becomes easier from there on.”

Danube will invest Dh50 million to open their first retail store in Qatar early next year.

In Bahrain, Sajan said that they have established a building materials store as well as a retail store with a total investment of about Dh200 million.

Sajan considers UAE as Danube group’s headquarters and considered and the heart of their worldwide operations. To strengthen their business here, Danube will be opening two new retail stores this year, with an estimated investment of Dh50 million.

With regards to the real estate sector in Dubai, Sajan revealed that their Danube Properties portfolio has reached an impressive Dh1.8 billion, Sajan said that “Danube Properties” recently launched its sixth real estate project while confirming that all other five are 100 per cent sold out.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

under the operations of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC) and Mazoon Electricity Company (MZEC), the company said in a media briefing here on Wednesday.

The commercial segment growth of 18,492 customers was driven by MEDC, MZEC and Majan Electricity Company (MJEC).

The group has continued its efforts to further enhance customer service and experience by leveraging technologies through automated meter readings for 8,000-9,000 high-value customers to enable better understanding of electricity consumption, in addition to a cus-

tomer relationship management systems to enable faster complaint management and resolution, improved billing and to provide integrated services across direct and indirect channels. MEDC has also introduced Sabiq pre-paid meters as an alternative payment channel.

With a view of increasing private sector participation in the sector and to attract further investment, Nama Group has completed the sale of Dhofar Generation Company and has completed phase 1 of the study to assess the readiness of privatising MEDC. Also, the group has also completed phase one of Lamar Project im-

plementation and raised $1 billion bond from international markets for Oman Electricity Transmission Company long terms capital expenditure and arranged financing of OMR537 million for MEDC and MZEC in 2015, and MJEC in 2016. The US dollar bond also received international acclaim.

Nama group recorded OMR113 million in net profit and OMR1.1 billion revenue in 2015 in reflection to the increase in customer base and the growth in units sold by 15 per cent in 2015, which equates to OMR56.3 million, an additional sale of 3,605 GWh in 2015. > B3

VITAL STATS

Increase in gas price jacks up subsidy

Aims to reduce gas use by 22%

Major focus on distribution losses

Completes study on privatising MEDC

Automated meter reading for high-value customers

Oman’s imports slide marginally to OMR11b Drop in total imports was attributed to the plunge in commodity prices, since total imports surged ahead by 53.5 per cent to 35.57 billion tonnes

TOTAL IMPORTS: The country imported a sizable portion of products and services, which are goods and services worth OMR4.27 billion, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). - Times file picture

in terms of volume last year.

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman’s total imports declined marginally by 1 per cent to OMR11.15 billion in 2015, from OMR11.27 billion in the previous year, mainly on account of the fall in commodity prices across the globe. The drop in total imports was attributed to the plunge in commodity prices, since total imports surged ahead by 53.5 per cent to 35.57 billion tonnes in

terms of volume last year.

The country imported a sizable portion of products and services, which are goods and services worth OMR4.27 billion, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)— the major import market for the Sultanate. Other major import markets for Oman are Japan, India, China and the United States.

The Sultanate’s non-oil exports also showed a 27.2 per cent drop to OMR3,003.9 million in 2015, from OMR4,125.5 million in the previous year.

The UAE remained the leading market for Oman’s non-oil exports last year, which was followed by

Saudi Arabia, India, China and the United States, according to the latest monthly data released by National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

Total exports Further, total exports, including re-exports, from the country plunged by 34.7 per cent to OMR13.35 billion last year from OMR20.46 billion in the previous year on account of a dip in crude oil export revenues.

Export revenue from crude oil and natural gas dipped by 41.9 per cent to OMR7.78 billion in 2015 from OMR13.39 billion in the pre-

vious year. Oman’s export development agency Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (popularly known as Ithraa) is adopting several initiatives to enhance nonoil exports.

These programmes include visits of trade delegations, participation in international exhibitions, business-to-business meetings and market studies conducted in potential export markets.

The latest move was to hold a major trade exhibition of Omani products in Addis Ababa, which attracted a lot of interest from Ethiopian businessmen.

ECONOMY

Japan seeks to boost workforce by one million TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday set out a plan to get 1.17 million more people into the workforce by the fiscal year starting April 2020.

The government released a draft of the plan to tackle the nation’s aging labour force by increasing the number of women and elderly workers. Higher minimum wages and the provision of more care for children and the

elderly are key elements of the program “to promote dynamic engagement of all citizens.”

The government’s aim is to stop the total population from falling below 100 million from the current 127 million. While the labour force is currently steady at around 65 million, a failure to buck current trends could see it collapsing by more than 40 per cent by 2060, according to projection by a gov-

ernment panel. One bright spot is female participation, which has risen to around 50 per cent from 47 per cent in January 2013.

With mass immigration still off the table, Abe has touted women as key to boosting the the world’s third-largest economy, setting a target of having female workers in 30 per cent of supervisory positions in all fields by the time Tokyo hosts the 2020 Olympics.

Another challenge for Abe is that the number of people who have to leave their jobs to care for elderly relatives is set to balloon as the nearly 7 million-strong babyboomer generation moves into old age in the coming decade.

“The government’s figure is challenging but it’s not impossible,” said Masamichi Adachi, an economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. — Bloomberg News

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 5,960.50 ...............5,944.15 ................... 5,952.46 ................... 5,959.33.................. -6.87 .................. -0.12 Financial Index ..................................... 7,687.64 ...............7,660.46 .................... 7,675.17 ....................7,687.64................ -12.47 .................. -0.16 Industrial Index .................................... 7,370.21 ...............7,343.50 ................... 7,343.50 ................... 7,355.90................-12.40 .................. -0.17 Services Index ...................................... 3,339.84 ...............3,317.90 ....................3,317.90 ...................3,338.28................-20.38 .................. -0.61 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................890.05 ..................888.29 ...................... 888.97 ...................... 889.25..................-0.28 .................. -0.03 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 17,275,944...................5,831,977 .....................779 ................ 17,168,454,719 .................. 7 ..................... 22 .................... 18 .........................47

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture 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

MSM index ends lower

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

OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................ 122,184.............18,162......................12 ............0.149 ........... 0.150 ...........0.147 ........... 0.149 ............. 0.145............ 0.004............. 2.759 ................0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.149...................29,800,000.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 608,602 ..........166,013..................... 33 ........... 0.268 ........... 0.275 ...........0.268........... 0.273 .............0.266 ........... 0.007............. 2.632 ................0.270..............0.270...................0.271...................80,866,335 .........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST .................................................................... 5,397,392 .. 3,020,832......................12 ........... 0.550 ...........0.560 ...........0.550........... 0.560 .............0.550 ............0.010 ..............1.818.................0.560..............0.560...................0.566..................356,042,897 .......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ..............59,200 .............14,988......................15 ........... 0.255 ........... 0.255 ...........0.250........... 0.253 .............0.252 ............0.001 ............. 0.397 ................0.254.............. 0.251...................0.254 ................... 5,313,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ............................ 8,682 .............14,153........................7 ............1.630 ........... 1.635............1.625 ............1.630 ............. 1.625............ 0.005.............0.308 ................1.625 ..............1.620...................1.625 ................1,222,500,000......0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 309,874 ........... 82,426......................16 ........... 0.266 ...........0.266 ...........0.266........... 0.266 .............0.266 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.266..............0.262...................0.266 ..................26,600,000 ........0.100 OM0000001095............DHOFAR INSURANCE ................................................15,000 ...............3,090........................2 ........... 0.206...........0.206 ...........0.206 .......... 0.206 .............0.206 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.206............. 0.208...................0.210...................41,200,000.........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ...................................................... 124,723...........156,714......................12 ............1.250 ........... 1.260 ...........1.250............1.255 ............. 1.255............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.260..............1.260...................1.270................. 251,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 142,500 ............37,050........................7 ........... 0.260...........0.260 ...........0.260 .......... 0.260 .............0.260 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.260..............0.255...................0.260 .................383,443,132........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................ 302,000........... 75,500........................4 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.250........... 0.250 .............0.250 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.250..............0.248...................0.250 ................ 424,800,350 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 536,224 ......... 216,638..................... 48 ........... 0.404...........0.406 ...........0.404 .......... 0.404 .............0.404 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.404..............0.402...................0.404 ...............1,008,485,104 ......0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ....... 14,365 ............22,266........................3 ............1.550 ........... 1.550 ...........1.550 ............1.550 ............. 1.550............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.550 .............. 1.545...................1.550..................106,950,000 .......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 299,326 ............52,981........................6 ............0.176 ........... 0.177 ...........0.176 ............0.177 ............. 0.177............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.177 .............. 0.177...................0.179 ..................283,996,383 .......0.100

Top gainer was Global Financial Investment, up by 2.76 per cent, while the top loser was Al Batinah Development, down by 4 per cent

OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER.................................................... 1,000 .................. 210........................1 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.210........... 0.212 .............0.212 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.210............. 0.200...................0.210..................143,076,135 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ......................................................3,500 .................. 749........................2 ............0.214 ........... 0.214 ...........0.214............0.215 ............. 0.215............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.214..............0.214...................0.215..................153,597,363 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ................................................ 750,819..........324,367.....................24 ........... 0.432 ...........0.436 ...........0.430........... 0.432 .............0.432 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.430..............0.424...................0.428 ..................22,680,000 ........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ........................................................... 255,595 ..........138,815..................... 57 ........... 0.548 ...........0.554 ...........0.536........... 0.544 .............0.546 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.366 ...............0.536..............0.536...................0.538...................29,920,000.........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 111,500 .............27,196......................21 ........... 0.244...........0.244 ...........0.242 .......... 0.244 .............0.245 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.408 ...............0.242..............0.235...................0.242 ..................14,933,843 .........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ........................................................... 66,000 ............ 32,054........................7 ........... 0.488 ...........0.488 ...........0.482........... 0.486 .............0.488 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.410 ...............0.482..............0.484...................0.488..................160,804,137........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE................10,000 .............. 2,060........................1 ........... 0.206...........0.206 ...........0.206 .......... 0.206 .............0.207 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.483 ...............0.206..............0.205...................0.207 ..................41,200,000.........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 293,042 ............37,509..................... 10 ............0.128 ........... 0.128 ...........0.128........... 0.128 .............0.129............-0.001 ............-0.775................0.128 .............. 0.125...................0.129.................... 7,531,932 ..........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ....................... 183,200 ........... 45,822......................16 ............0.251 ........... 0.251 ...........0.249........... 0.250 .............0.253 ...........-0.003 ............-1.186................0.250..............0.250...................0.251...................23,760,000.........0.100

MUSCAT: Excluding a block deal, trading remained tepid with the MSM30 Index closing at 5,952.46 points, down by 0.12 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index declined by 0.03 per cent to end at 888.97 points. Oman International Investment and Development (Ominvest) was the most active in terms of volume and turnover. The top gainer was Global Financial Investment, up by 2.76 per cent, while the top loser was Al Batinah Development, down by 4 per cent.

As many as 779 trades were executed on Wednesday, generating turnover of OMR5.8 million with 17.3 million shares changing hands. Out of 47 traded securities, seven advanced, 22 declined and 18 remained unchanged.

Omani Investors were net buyers for OMR2.72 million while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR2.36 million followed by foreign investors for OMR368,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index ended at 7,675.17 points, down by 0.16 per cent. Global Finance and Investment, Ominvest and Muscat Finance gained by 2.76 per cent, 1.82 per cent and 1.67

per cent, respectively. Al Batinah Development, Al Madina Investment, Al Sharqia Investment, Oman & Emirates Holding and HSBC Bank declined by 4 per cent, 3.03 per cent, 2.60 per cent, 1.92 per cent and 1.77 per cent, respectively.

Industrial Index retreated by 0.17 per cent to finish at 7,343.50 points. Al Anwar Ceramics, National Detergent and Gulf International Chemicals increased by 2.63 per cent, 1.27 per cent and 0.40 per cent, respectively. Al Jazeera Steel, Construction Materials, Al Hassan Engineering, Galfar Engineering and Oman Cement declined by 3.14 per cent, 2.94 per cent, 2.11 per cent, 1.74 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively.

Services Index ended negatively at 3,317.90 points, down by 0.61 per cent. Oman Telecommunications Company, up by 0.31 per cent, was the only sector gainer.

Renaissance Services, Ooredoo Oman, Sembcorp Salalah, Port Services and Phoenix Power declined by 3.18 per cent, 1.56 per cent, 1.19 per cent, 1.19 per cent and 0.64 per cent, respectively.

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.............................................. 105,220 ............26,315........................6 ........... 0.250 ...........0.252 ...........0.250........... 0.250 .............0.253 ...........-0.003 ............-1.186................0.250..............0.250...................0.260 ................ 238,642,988 .......0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 904,670 ........ 208,360..................... 50 ........... 0.230 ........... 0.231 ...........0.229........... 0.230 .............0.233 ...........-0.003 ........... -1.288 ...............0.229..............0.229...................0.230 ..................34,517,250 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ......................................................... 5,650 ...................791........................1 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.142 ...........-0.002 ........... -1.408 ...............0.140..............0.140...................0.144...................45,682,446.........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 100,000 ........... 75,800......................11 ............0.760 ........... 0.760 ...........0.756 ............0.756 ............. 0.768............-0.012 ............-1.563................0.756 ..............0.748...................0.760..................492,113,838 ........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 1,076,964 .......121,757......................71 ............0.114 ........... 0.114............0.112 ............0.113 ............. 0.115 ............-0.002 ............-1.739................0.113 ...............0.113................... 0.114 ................... 32,767,812 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 155,000 ............17,205........................6 ............0.111 ............0.111 ............ 0.111 ............0.111.............. 0.113 ............-0.002 ............-1.770................ 0.111 ...............0.111................... 0.113 ................. 222,034,720 .......0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 700,000.......... 107,117..................... 34 ............0.155 ........... 0.156 ...........0.150 ............0.153 ............. 0.156............-0.003 ........... -1.923................0.150 ..............0.148...................0.150...................18,646,875 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 379,272 ............56,782..................... 33 ............0.153 ........... 0.153 ...........0.147 ........... 0.150 .............0.154............-0.004 ........... -2.597 ...............0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.149...................13,500,000.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 250,829 ............16,056......................18 ........... 0.064 ...........0.065 ...........0.064........... 0.064 .............0.066 ...........-0.002 ........... -3.030 ...............0.064..............0.064...................0.065................... 13,257,689 .........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 916,230 ..........197,916..................... 68 ........... 0.223 ...........0.223 ...........0.214........... 0.216 .............0.223 ...........-0.007 ............-3.139................0.214..............0.214...................0.215...................26,977,959 .........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 1,005,483 ......305,303..................... 65 ........... 0.308 ...........0.308 ...........0.300 .......... 0.304 ............. 0.314............-0.010 ............-3.185................0.300 .............0.298...................0.300 .................. 88,357,910 .........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 115,000............ 10,984......................14 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.095........... 0.096 .............0.100 ...........-0.004 ...........-4.000 ...............0.095..............0.093...................0.095....................2,880,000..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 15,329,046.....5,633,983...............693 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......34........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE......................................................26,633 ...............3,249........................4 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.122........... 0.122 .............0.120 ........... 0.002............. 1.667 ................0.122.............. 0.121...................0.122...................32,539,301 .........0.100 OM0000003265 ...........NATIONAL DETERGENT ........................................ 40,000 ............ 25,424........................8 ........... 0.636 ........... 0.636 ...........0.628........... 0.636 .............0.628 ........... 0.008............. 1.274 ................0.628............. 0.000...................0.628................... 10,819,950 .........0.100 OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER ................................. 4,199 .................. 252........................1 ........... 0.060 ...........0.060 ...........0.060........... 0.061 ............. 0.061............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.060..............0.061...................0.067.....................1,647,185...........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ................................................... 8,700 ............... 5,081........................2 ........... 0.584 ...........0.584 ...........0.584........... 0.584 .............0.584 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.584..............0.566...................0.584...................91,980,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................97,820 ...............6,065........................7 ........... 0.062 ...........0.062 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.062 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.062..............0.062...................0.063.................... 7,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 576,347 ........... 43,670......................14 ............0.075 ........... 0.076 ...........0.075........... 0.076 .............0.076 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.076..............0.076...................0.077..................114,000,000........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ................................5,000 .................. 625........................1 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 .............. 0.116...................0.125...................12,500,000.........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 542,763 ............84,167..................... 26 ............0.156 ........... 0.156 ...........0.154 ............0.155 ............. 0.156............-0.001 ........... -0.641 ...............0.155 ..............0.154...................0.156..................226,703,226 .......0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 255,000 ............14,790........................8 ........... 0.058 ...........0.058 ...........0.058........... 0.058 .............0.059 ...........-0.001 ............-1.695................0.058..............0.058...................0.059...................58,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................28,730 ...............2,680........................4 ........... 0.095 ........... 0.095 ...........0.093........... 0.093 .............0.095 ...........-0.002 ........... -2.105 ...............0.093..............0.087...................0.093....................6,994,344 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 360,991 ............ 11,917........................9 ........... 0.034 ...........0.034 ...........0.033........... 0.033 .............0.034 ...........-0.001 ........... -2.941 ...............0.033..............0.032...................0.033....................2,805,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,946,183 ...... 197,920..................... 84 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ...... 11........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS AND SUKUK MARKET ......................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004628 ...........BANK SOHAR BONDS 4.5 ................................................216 .....................22........................1 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.100............0.101 ............. 0.101............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.100..............0.100...................0.106....................4,814,334 ..........0.100 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 ................................................ 499 .....................52........................1 ............0.105 ........... 0.105 ...........0.105 ........... 0.106 .............0.106 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.105 ..............0.105...................0.110 ...................33,882,124 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................... 715 .....................74........................2 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

– United Securities

S E AT R A D E M A R I T I M E M I D D L E E A S T

Forum to focus on UAE and EU trade with Iran Times News Service MUSCAT: Ample opportunities for Middle East maritime industry ahead of the further lifting of economic sanctions on Iran, will be the subject of both exhibition floor and conference debate at this year’s Seatrade Maritime Middle East (SMME) industry event, which takes place in Dubai from October 31 to November 2, 2016.

One of the largest economies in the region, with an estimated nominal GDP of $397 billion in 2015, EU trade with Iran currently stands at around $8 billion, and is expected to quadruple in the next two years according to data from a first quarter 2016 Seatrade-commissioned report prepared by global legal practice Stephenson Harwood.

Investment opportunities “With the majority of US secondary sanctions and EU sanctions already removed, this is a milestone moment in the growth of our industry, opening up a wealth of trading opportunities as well as investment opportunities to support Iran’s maritime sector, particularly infrastructure development,” said Andrew Williams, General Manager, Seatrade.

The UAE is Iran’s largest nonoil trading partner and is also Iran’s largest source of imported goods worth around $27.3 billion, in fact the UAE accounted for 96.7 per cent of GCC exports to Iran in 2013. As far as GCC imports from Iran go, the UAE accounts for more than 62 per cent with Oman taking 26 per cent.

“Increased trade obviously means more shipping, extra vessels will require improved port facilities and even the offshore projects will require workboats, so this has the potential to be a defining period for the region’s maritime industry,” added James Willn, Senior Associate, Stephenson Harwood Middle East.

Financial benefits The financial benefits to the Iranian economy are significant too. By lifting energy sanctions it potentially increases Iran’s oil exports revenue to $10 billion by 2017, boosts its GDP growth from zero to 5 per cent, and allows up to $30 billion of foreign reserves, which are currently frozen, to be brought back into the country.

Indeed, Indian oil refiners alone owe Iran more than $6.5 billion.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE, and part of Dubai Maritime Week, the biannual three-day exhibition and conference returns to the Dubai International Conference & Exhibition Centre to welcome the region’s largest gathering of shipping and maritime industry decision makers.

Attracting nearly 8,000 attendees from across 69 businesses, the event is a dedicated platform at which to do business with owners, operators, managers, charterers, superintendents, senior management and other professionals involved in the procurements of equipment and services within the maritime, offshore, oil & gas and ports industries.

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

B3

MARKET S TAT E - O F - T H E -A R T FA C I L I T Y

New ‘rotating equipment workshop’ to come up in Rusyal Times News Service MUSCAT: MAN Diesel and Turbo along with their local partners OHI are setting up a state-of-theart ‘Rotating Equipment Workshop’ in Rusyal near Muscat.

The ground breaking ceremony for this workshop was done

by Chief Guest, Raoul Restucci, managing director of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) in the presence of Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Diesel and Turbo and Maqbool Hameed, chairman of OHI. MAN Diesel and Turbo has a sizeable market share for Turbo Machinery in Oman and the re-

gion. This workshop was envisioned along with OHI to cater to the needs of the local and regional market.

High speed balancing This workshop will be the centre of competence for ‘high speed balancing’ and will be a one-stop shop for all rotating machinery including high-voltage motor. The plan is to include ‘valve’ repair facility at a later stage. It will also accommodate a training centre to cater to the needs of young Omani engineers which will eventually result in knowledge transfer.

In addition, the workshop will offer high class storage facility for

‘capital spares’ ensuring that they are readily available for use, without having to spend time and money to check on its usability.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, Restucci, said, “It is a real privilege and it’s wonderful to see the commitment shown to our industry and to Oman. It is In-Country Value in action, delivering a huge opportunity with world-class capabilities and with established partners we know so well, OHI and MAN Diesel & Turbo. Wish this project all the very best and success for a wonderful venture.”

Maqbool Hameed, Chairman, OHI said; “Our corporate belief

is the power of partnerships, and we see this joint venture as an enduring partnership which will contribute to Oman and set a new benchmark with excellent service and products.”

Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Diesel & Turbo, said; “Investment in the construction of a further service shop in the region will enable us to offer PDO even better local service as a respected customer.

At the same time, we are extending our presence in the Middle East and strengthening our service capacity in a region characterised by oil and gas production.”

The workshop is estimated to be operational within 16 months.

More losses predicted for Indian currency Overseas holdings of rupee-denominated debt fell by Rs16.7b on Tuesday, the most since March 29, National Securities Depository data show. That took withdrawals for this week to Rs22.7 billion. Foreigners pulled $14.4 million from Indian shares on Monday, according to the latest figures.

LOSING ITS SHINE: The rupee is already Asia’s worst-performing currency this year, having retreated 1.1 per cent against the dollar. — Bloomberg file picture

MUMBAI: Standard Chartered is predicting more losses for the Indian rupee, which dropped to a two-month low amid outflows of foreign money from the nation’s bonds and stocks.

Overseas holdings of rupeedenominated debt fell by Rs16.7 billion ($250 million) on Tuesday, the most since March 29, National Securities Depository data show. That took withdrawals for this week to Rs22.7 billion. Foreigners pulled $14.4 million from Indian shares on Monday, according to the latest figures. Stocks and currencies in emerging markets declined on Wednesday as comments by Federal Reserve officials spurred speculation a US

local banks compiled by Bloomberg. That’s the longest losing run since December. It weakened to 66.9550 earlier, the lowest level since March 16.

“Recent domestic data hasn’t been encouraging,” Divya Devesh, the Singapore-based foreignexchange strategist for Asia at Standard Chartered, wrote in an e-mail interview. “Our view is also driven by a stronger dollar on higher expectations of a Fed rate hike as the rupee actually tends to underperform in Asia during periods of risk aversion. Equity outflows might increase if risk aversion persists.”

Devesh said the rupee could weaken to 67 to 68 per dollar “in

rate increase will happen as soon as next quarter.

The rupee is already Asia’s worst-performing currency this year, having retreated 1.1 per cent against the dollar. Recent losses have been fuelled by a May 13 report that showed Indian exports contracted 6.7 per cent in April from a year ago, a 17th month of declines, while imports dropped 23.1 per cent. The trade data “paint a gloomy picture” on both domestic and global demand, Nomura Holdings economists wrote in a note that day.

The Indian currency fell 0.1 per cent to 66.91 a dollar in a fifth day of declines as of 11:16am in Mumbai, according to prices from

SALALAH GALLERY MALL

Smile Hypermarket to open its new outlet in Salalah Times News Service MUSCAT: Smile Hypermarket will open doors at a new store in the Salalah Gallery Mall, Al Sada, Salalah on May 20.

The new store will be inaugurated by Ahmed Hassan Alawi Aldheeb Ba Omar, undersecretary

at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the formal inauguration ceremony being hosted

by Ismail Chakkarath, managing director, Smile Hypermarket, as well as JassimKuniyil, operations director, Smile Hypermarket.

The event will be attended by many important officials and

guests from the government sector, as well as local residents.

Opening of Smile Hypermarket in Salalah is in line with the Oman government’s vision to create more job opportunities for locals and support the national economy by growing non-oil industries, especially the retail sector.

the short-term.”

Odds for a June US rate hike tripled in a day to 12 per cent, Fed Funds futures show. The contracts now show a 47 per cent chance for an increase in September. Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart and San Francisco’s John Williams said on Tuesday two increases this year may be warranted, while Dallas Fed President Robert Kaplan said a boost may come soon.

Indian sovereign bonds fell, with the yield on notes due January 2026 rising one basis point to 7.46 per cent to head for its highest close since April 26, according to prices from the central bank’s trading system. — Bloomberg News

NEW FACILITY: This workshop was envisioned along with OHI to cater to the needs of the local and regional market. - Supplied picture

NAMA GROUP BRIEFING

B1 ‘Higher efficiency < FROM

in plants achieved’

The revenue growth of 36.4 per cent in 2015, which includes customer collections and government subsidies, was mainly due to the increase in subsidies to customers from OMR295 million in 2014 to OMR448 million in 2015 in view of the increase in gas price from $1.5 to $3 per MMBTU in 2015.

“Over the past 10 years, the group has recorded significant improvements in the generation systems to implement cost efficiency measures, which have led to an overall 30 per cent reduction in per unit gas consumption through the introduction of new high efficiency turbines, which enabled an increase of the share of combined cycle plants and improved our economic dispatch,” Eng. Omar bin Khalfan Al Wahaibi, Nama group CEO, said, while addressing the annual media briefing.

Nama group has also set plans to reduce an additional 22 per cent on the per unit gas consumption by 2022. In addition to overall efficiency improvements through the introduction of higher efficiency plants, the introduction of reverse osmosis desalination plants to replace the multi-stage flash technology will enable the achievement of the new target.

The distribution companies have also recorded a notable overall improvement of over 50 per cent in distribution losses over the past 10 years.

Eng. Omar highlighted a num-

ber of achievements recorded by Nama Group’s generation, procurement, transmission, distribution and supply businesses and the future plans for the group.

“The Nama brand reflects our renewed commitment ‘For Lasting Prosperity’ through the continued work in growing our network availability and generation capacity to meet the needs of over 1 million customers achieved in 2015,” he said during his presentation.

“As part of the group’s long term strategy, it has aligned its investments programme and built staff competency towards improving its operations to ensure the delivery of safe and sustainable electricity to our growing customer base and to support the economic development across all regions of the Sultanate,” Eng. Omar added.

The benefits from implementing the group strategies have been recognised by the significant improvement of 64 positions in the World Bank’s 2015 “Doing Business Report”, which has been attributed to the electricity sector in Oman. Nama Group has started fully recording the duration and frequency of outages as well as streamlining administrative processes and reducing the paperwork needed to complete transactions. The group has contributed to these positive changes alongside its partner and suppliers, which have driven by a workforce that constitutes of 91 per cent Omanis.

B4

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

FEATURE

SOCIAL COSTS OF THAI GOLD MINES T

hailand will shut down its largest gold mine by the end of the year after the government said concern that the project was damaging the environment and sickening workers outweighed its economic benefit.

Akara Resources Pcl must close and rehabilitate the Chatree mine, about 280 kilometers north of Bangkok, once the metallurgical plant ceases operations by the end of this year, Industry Minister Atchaka Sribunruang said. The company had been seeking a fiveyear renewal of Chatree’s metallurgical license, which was scheduled to expire soon. The government will allow the company to run the plant to the year-end.

The decision to shut down the facility comes after Thailand’s government ordered a review of Chatree last year following complaints from local residents. The announcement came “as a complete surprise” to Akara, which said it has “proven conclusively that we cause no harm to the health of our community or to its environment.”

“Even though there is no clear conclusion whether the environmental and health impact and problems of local residents comes from Akara’s gold mining, we need to make the decision for the public’s

benefit and to solve the conflicts,” Atchaka told reporters in Bangkok.

Chatree output The Chatree mine produces about 130,000 ounces of gold a year and has operated for 15 years, according to an April filing by Sydneybased Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd., which controls Akara. The project has generated 52 billion baht in revenue in that time, and provided the government with about 7 billion baht in royalties, Atchaka said.

A report presented to ministers last month offered a “scientific rebuttal of unsubstantiated and vexatious allegations of contamination,” Kingsgate said in the April filing.

Kingsgate was ordered to temporarily suspend output and conduct inquiries into concerns about potential arsenic and manganese contamination in nearby villages last year. The producer doesn’t use either arsenic or manganese at the site, though it does use cyanide, it said. “From the end of December, there will be no gold mine until the issues are clear,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said in response to questions over the move.

The government will need to assist more than 1,000 workers who will be affected by the decision, he said. – Bloomberg News

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ROUND-UP ANNUAL BENCHMARKING STUDY

URBAN CROSSOVER

Renault Captur getting more Ooredoo mobile data performance popular with upbeat features shows significant improvement MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors of Renault vehicles in Oman, unveiled its first urban crossover recently – The Renault Captur which is agile, dynamic and elegant, both inside and out. Drawing on Renault’s expertise, it explores new territory in terms of design, comfort, equipment and pleasure.

It is a crossover packed with a turbocharged engine for those occasional bursts of controlled fun.

The engine producing 120 BHP and 190 Nm of torque is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Made in Spain, the Renault Captur stands out from the crowd by delivering the best of three different worlds: The expressive styling and driving position of an SUV, the cabin space and modular interior of an MPV and the agility and driving enjoyment of a compact saloon car.

Since its launch in Oman last year, the Captur has gained considerable popularity and is a rave among auto enthusiasts. It is a good option for those wanting small hatchback dimensions and costs, but with a shadow of thrill.

It offers much greater personalisation with its ‘themed collection’ - The adventurous and exciting ‘Arizona’ collection, the vibrant blue ‘Miami’ collection and the urban inspired ‘Manhattan’ collection. Each of the three themes is then split into four packs – colour, exterior gloss, interior touch and style – offering abundant personalised possibilities according to each customer’s preference and interest.

The Captur draws on Renault’s

extensive expertise and long lasting history in car manufacturing, which is apparent through its superb design, functionality and the latest in terms of technology.

At almost 1,100kg, the Renault Captur is a relatively light car. Despite its SUV looks, all models are two-wheel drives. Add in the turbocharged petrol engine and the Captur is a monster to reckon.

All models are well equipped, with air conditioning, cruise control and hill assist as standard, while the top-of-range models add a TomTom-based sat-navigation system, larger wheels and heated seats. Furthermore, the Captur is equipped with a high-end audio and navigation system, Bluetooth phone and MP3 player connectivity plus removable and washable seat covers and a full keyless go option.

In terms of safety, the Captur earned a five-star crash test rating

from Euro NCAP, and was awarded very high percentage scores for adult and child occupant protection, as well as a better score for its safety systems.

A world class brand Renault is a world class brand today, focusing mainly on the important aspects such as safety, style, performance, value and reliability - keeping alive the motoring heritage of Renault.

SBA is largely committed to supporting Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 80 outlets – showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

MUSCAT: In its annual benchmarking study to analyse the network in key populated areas of the country, Ooredoo has emerged as superior for mobile network speed and quality of service. Conducted by Global Wireless Solutions (GWS), the test covered three key areas of Oman; Muscat, Salalah and Sohar, for both indoor and outdoor coverage.

The GWS report showed that mobile data performance for 3G and 4G (LTE) has improved beyond expectations in these areas.

The results came after the leading US-based network benchmarking firm completed an extensive competitive assessment on Oman’s mobile data, SMS and voice services between January 27 and February 21, 2016, says a press release.

Ooredoo’s network has seen a 60% increase in 4G coverage over the last 12 months, a 70% increase in overall network capacity and a doubling of capacity in several hotspot locations across Oman. This increased capacity allows a greater number of users to stay connected and accommodates customer demand for high bandwidth services, such as video streaming, downloads and online gaming.

Using the latest techniques available on 3G and 4G technologies, Ooredoo has been able to significantly boost speed and ultimately, customer experience, when streaming or using the internet. This boost has also allowed Ooredoo to provide some of their recent inspiring offers; including free Whatsapp using the

More Credit recharge, Ooredoo Mondays, giving exclusive ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ deals, and for business customers, the popular Shahry Business Packs, which come in a range of options to suit every business size, from SMEs to large government organisations.

Commenting on the results, Greg Young, Ooredoo Oman CEO, said: “We are very proud to have our quality of service tested and validated by such a renowned and respected independent testing institute and we wanted to share these with our customers. The results demonstrate the positive impact of our significant network investment on our customers’ quality experience. In fact, the completion of rolling out our LTE 800 spectrum in March, thanks to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, means that Ooredoo subscribers are now enjoying even faster speeds and better quality than those set out in the GWS report.”

Young added: “At Ooredoo we constantly challenge ourselves to do better, assess how we can deliver an enhanced service and not only meet our customers’ needs BLOCKBUSTER

Aurion offers enhanced driving experience The Toyota Aurion is studded with a sophisticated suite of features that promote an enhanced driving experience while making an impactful impression

MUSCAT: Toyota Aurion has made an impressive mark on customers in search of well-balanced luxury and performance.

The Aurion is studded with a sophisticated suite of features that promote an enhanced driving experience while making an impactful impression, says a press release.

A refined sedan, the Aurion is equally impressive inside. The interior is made with an empha-

sis on luxury and quality, creating a unique classy look. The cabin of the Aurion is spacious and the dashboard has an exclusive horizontal T-Shaped design, which significantly enhances the feeling of prestige. The ‘Quieter Cabin Experience’ is due to the reduced road and wind noise. The feeling of quality is enhanced with leather stitching, while the curved Woodgrain and silver accents create a sense of functional beauty.

The ECO-meter allows drivers to recognise when they are driving in a fuel efficient and economical manner. Chrome accents on the air conditioning vents and audio controls complete the sense

of prestige that extends even to the smallest of details, including the audio switches on the steering wheel and a two-seat position memory system. Available with 6-speed multi-mode automatic transmission mated to a 3.5 L, V6 engine, with Dual VVT-I, the Aurion surges forward on an awesome 268 HP. Thin, long headlamps on either side of the impressive front grille and elevated hood lend it a majestic and powerful presence.

The side of the Aurion is accented for a stronger appearance through a flared bottom section and an accented door-cross section.

The Aurion’s 17-inch alloy wheels enhance the character of

the vehicle and provide a feeling of advanced luxury. The rear of the Aurion blends into the rear combination lamps for a greater emphasis on width, with the bumper corners protruding outwards creating a wide stable feeling and a ground-hugging stance. Cuttingedge aerodynamic technology ensures that the Aurion experiences straight-line stability, while the column mounted electric power steering mechanism allows an optimum level of vehicle control.

The Aurion’s VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) plus TRC (Traction Control) technologies give it a ‘firmer footing’ while the HID (High Intensity Discharge Headlamps) help to see better in the dark, by improving night-time visibility.

The Aurion offers utility features such as front and rear parking systems, which alert the driver when approaching obstacles. The Aurion also has an audio system with a 7-inch navigation system, a USB/AUX terminal for external audio devices, advanced Bluetooth communication compatibility, smart entry and push button start, dual-zone air conditioning and a back window power sunshade.

but exceed them. The results of this rigorous independent test validate our efforts and inspire us to constantly push forward.”

Dr Paul Carter, CEO of Global Wireless Solutions commented: “At GWS, we share Ooredoo’s commitment to improving network quality by accurately measuring performance in real-world environments. To make the results of our testing as clear and meaningful as possible, we rank networks using our OneScoreTM scoring system, which combines in-depth network testing data with a real understanding of how consumers are actually using their mobile device connections.

Ooredoo’s network not only came first in Oman using our OneScoreTM ranking for mobile data performance, but also topped our overall OneScoreTM ranking which looks at both voice and data performance. Throughout our testing we have been consistently impressed with the network performance we recorded on Ooredoo’s data and voice networks, making it a clear winner.”

Ooredoo’s LTE 800 spectrum will continue to dramatically improve 4G coverage and speeds, and eliminate battery life issues previously associated with enabling 4G on smart devices. Today, Ooredoo’s network data speeds compare extremely favourably with other countries and its mobile network geographical coverage is high when measured against other countries of similar size, reaching out to serve customers even in sparsely populated areas.

Tulu movie 'Chandi Kori' to be screened tomorrow MUSCAT: Tulu movie fans in Muscat are gearing up for the first ever screening of the blockbuster Tulu movie Chandi Kori during this weekend.

The Tulu movie will be screened at Stars Cinema, Ruwi, tomorrow at 2pm (gates open at 1pm), says a press release.

Chandi Kori is a 2015 Tulu film produced by Sharmila D. Kapikad and Sachin S. Uppinangady, directed by Devadas Kapikad, who also appears in a supporting role. Arjun Kapikad and Karishma Amin star in lead roles, and Naveen D. Padil, Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, Gopinath Bhat and Aravind Bolar feature in supporting roles.

The film has successfully been

screened and running for over 240 days to packed houses in theatres in Mangalore and Udupi.

The soundtrack of the film is composed by Devadas and background score by Manikanth Kadri.

Chandi Kori is a family entertainment movie packed with comedy and action and has won the Red FM Tulu Film Awards for 2016 for Best Hero, Best Heroine, Best Lyrics, Best Stunts and Best Editing. After a huge success all over Karnataka, Mumbai and successful releases in Bahrain, Kuwait and the UK, the film is now being presented to Tulu movie buffs in Muscat, with an exclusive screening only for one show tomorrow – a not to be missed opportunity.

C E R T I F I C AT E O F A P P R E C I AT I O N

S U P P O R T I N G FA M I L I E S

NBO launches annual Iftar initiative

TTC Rental receives accolade from MTD

MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman (NBO) launched its annual Iftar Sa’im initiative to support families with essential provisions ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, with the support of the Ministry of Social Development.

A team of NBO volunteers including the bank’s senior management team will deliver more than 1,400 food hampers to low income families across the Sultanate to ensure they have all the essential food staples, says a press release.

In addition to the food parcels donated by NBO, the bank’s employees have also made personal donations of essential items to help families ahead of the holy month.

Ahmed Al Musalmi, chief executive officer of National Bank of Oman, commented: “NBO’s Iftar Sa’im initiative is part of our commitment to make a difference in the communities where we operate. We are proud that each year so many of our employees volunteer to help families across the Sultanate prepare for the holy month. With each parcel person-

MUSCAT: TTC Rental announced that it has received a certificate of appreciation from MAN Turbo and Diesel (MTD) for the RFCC Revamp Project in Sohar (Orpic Oman) for providing turnkey services which included rental equipment like generators and temporary light equipment (mobile light towers) for a period of eight months from October 2015 to May 2016.

MTD had provided Orpic with project management and comprehensive engineering services as well as supplied parts for the complete shutdown and overhaul of Sohar’s RFCC plant during a planned maintenance turnaround of the refinery in 2016. MTD had appointed TTC Rental as Supplier for all their power needs during this project and were happy to be associated with TTC Rental because of their professional approach and high quality equipment with zero disruptions.

During this period, TTC Rental ensured that there was no disruption of power in the facility which led to a smooth turnaround for

ally delivered by a NBO employee, this initiative is an opportunity for our team to connect with the local community during a special time of the year.”

The Iftar Sa’im drive is part of NBO’s wider CSR programme, which includes initiatives and partnerships that seek to create

shared value by furthering client prosperity, fuelling the growth of the national economy, and financing solutions to local challenges, as well initiatives that promote responsible banking by improving social wellbeing, developing human capital, and managing the bank’s environmental footprint.

MAN. The certificate was presented by Andreas Girlinger – project manager and Alexander Eckl – project manager - Instrumentation to Formose Pereira – divisional head - TTC Rental.

This highly competitive recognition recognises excellence within the rental industry. TTC Rental delivered high quality power supply in a cost effective manner for their turn-around activities.

Pereira said: “We feel privileged to receive this distinguished recognition from a world-class German company. We are proud

to serve MTD in a wide array of turnaround projects, and will continue to expand our support to customers in the region through new products and services, network growth and additional staff.

Our winning strategy of constant and superlative service is a key differentiator for TTC Rental.

Our customers provide input and feedback, which is rapidly implemented as enhancements in our cycle. Our customers see immediate value with us and this is why we are the number one rental company in Oman today.”

B6

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

ROUND-UP Lulu kickstarts Dream Drive Campaign 2016 The campaign offers Lulu shoppers a chance to win 6 Discovery Sports SUVs and a range of fabulous gifts from Ikon

MUSCAT: With the holy month of Ramadan just around the corner and the people of the Sultanate preparing to welcome the season of sharing, Lulu Oman has launched its much-awaited Dream Drive Campaign 2016 to boost the excitement of the season and help customers stand a chance to drive home the car of their dreams.

Commencing from May 15 and running for two whole months until July 13, the campaign offers Lulu shoppers a chance to win 6 Discovery Sports SUVs and a range of fabulous gifts from Ikon, says a press release.

To keep the enthusiasm continuing, the draws will take place at regular intervals all through the two months at different Lulu branches. The first draw will take place on May 24 with July 18 marking the last draw for the annual campaign. The campaign will go on in all the Lulu branches in the Sultanate.

With every purchase of OMR10, customers get a raffle coupon for the lucky draw. This year, Lulu has six Discovery Sports SUVs as grand prizes. Along with that, customers can also win 30 Ikon products that include cooking ranges, automatic washing machines, air coolers, halogen air fryers, smartphones and a host of other household and electrical appliances.

Speaking about the promotion, Ananth A. V., director, Lulu Hypermarkets – Oman & India said, “As Ramadan is a month of generosity and giving, we have tailored our grand promotion around this time of the year to be in line with the spirit of the season.

“The Lulu Dream Drive has always been a much anticipated event for both the organisers and the customers. The promotion is a platform for us to appreciate and thank our customers for their continued support and also an opportunity for customers to bag a range of useful products this festive season. Lulu has been successfully running the Dream Drive promotion across Oman for 16 years in a row. The campaign is truly a reflec-

tion of the spirit of the holy month of giving.”

“The feedback the promotion has generated till date is indeed remarkable. I am sure the enthusiasm and excitement will continue throughout the two months of the promotional period. Lulu constantly strives to set a benchmark by bringing extraordinary promotions and offers for its customers to suit every occasion and season.

We wish all our shoppers a blessed month ahead,” he added.

Along with the Dream Drive campaign, Lulu Oman will also be hosting a variety of promotions on popular Ramadan essentials, in addition to an array of other great offers and deals. Lulu is committed to give to their customers something new and exciting to look forward to every time they shop. Lulu operates in and strives to be the most preferred shopping destination for the multi-ethnic communities of the Sultanate in its aim to become a truly global retail brand by retaining the No. 1 position in the organised retail sector of the Sultanate. The special offers and exclusive seasonal promotions are part of Lulu hypermarket’s initiative to continuously bring the best of the world to their customers, no matter where they are.

YO G AT H E R A P Y 4 A L L

400 enthusiasts celebrate International Yoga Day

MUSCAT: Yogatherapy4all, a group founded by yoga expert Prema Nagesh, celebrated ‘International Yoga Day’ under the patronage of Indian Embassy at the Al Falaj Hotel, Ruwi, recently.

Themed ‘Health is your right’ the event witnessed 400 yoga enthusiasts join together on a weekend to inspire each other to perform 12 steps to good health.

Individuals from various walks of life attended the event including diplomats from the American, South African and Libyan, Moroccan embassies, and corporate professionals, says a press release.

Gloria Gangte, deputy head of mission at Indian Embassy, addressed the audience with regard to the importance of ancient practice of yoga and its relevance in the modern times. Dr Lalitha Balaji, a practicing medical professional spoke about the medical benefits of one of yoga’s core exercises: the 12 step

sun salutations.

Prema said, “The sun salutations give tremendous health benefits. It’s simple and the most effective way to healthy life. I have personally seen so many positive health benefits derived by my students; they have been sharing their experiences of tremendous improvements to their serious health problems such as further relapse of breast cancer, slipped discs, hormonal imbalance in the body and so on.”

One of the participants Meena V., a UN professional, said, “I was thrilled to participate in this event and take the pledge for good health. I have seen my physical, mental health improve tremendously due to simple yoga and meditation techniques that have brought a unique balance in my lifestyle. Thanks to Yogatherapy4all for creating a platform for enthusiasts like us to make a difference.”

‘BEIN MEDIA SERVER’

beIN releases new media server box for Euro Cup & Copa America MUSCAT: Mustafa Sultan Electronics (MSE), the authorised distributor of beIN announced that beIN Media Group, a major player in global sports rights through its beIN Sports brand has now released a new box ‘beIN Media Server’ commonly known as ‘Type 3’.

The new box is now available with Mustafa Sultan Electronics showroom at Al Khuwair and with their sub dealers present across the Sultanate.

BeIN Media server is an advanced high definition server solution provided by beIN. It is designed to provide a platform for the delivery of content in the connected home across a diverse range of media devices. beIN Media Server now provides users

Attractive features Comprising various attractive features, beIN media server delivers performance through wireless connectivity and 3D graphics capability with 1TB hard disk drive for media storage. With the new box, users can record up to 4 channels at a time, pause and rewind their favourite programmes and get seven days of multilingual programme guide. beIN Media Group, which is a leading provider for sports channels in broadcasting all live action of global sport events has announced five packages keeping different nationality sports view-

ers in mind and also boosting entertainment experience.

The first package is access package which has 26 HD Channels including. The second package is top entertainment which has extra 13 channels above the Access package.

Third package is top sports which contains access package + extra 14 Premium HD sports channels.

Fourth is the complete package which contains all channels of access, top movies and top sports packages. The last package is the Euro 2016 package that will be broadcasting in June/July 2016.

The Euro 2016 package is available as an add-on with at least Access package or with an active sports or sports global package expiring after July 15. Copa America football

tournament will also be available on the Euro 2016 package.

The new packages facilitate customers to choose depending upon their interest and budget.

Mustafa Sultan Enterprises Entertainment Factory (Pay-TV) division is pioneer in Pay TV business for more than 20 years and is the distributor for OSN in Oman.

Besides OSN, MSE-EF is a leading distributor for beIN Sports.

They have a showroom in Al Khuwair and six kiosks at Muscat City Centre, Qurum City Centre, Muscat Grand Mall, Panorama Mall, Nizwa Grand Mall and Sohar Safeer Mall. MSE-EF also offers the Pay TV services through their sub dealers spread across in all major towns of the Sultanate.

ACCOLADE

QUALITY NETWORK COVERAGE

Renna’s 4G services now available at affordable rates MUSCAT: Offering excellent services at affordable prices, Renna Mobile remains committed to providing quality network coverage to a growing base of customers.

In fact, Renna Mobile has now gone a step further in its commitment with the launch of 4G services, the fastest internet access for 500,000 strong customer base in Oman.

Renna mobile is the third mobile service provider to launch 4G in the market.

“The launch of our 4G service comes as a strong value added proposition in the market because now customers can access high speed internet at an affordable price tag.

Our Internet bundles come with the lowest entry point, and have varied price options for daily, weekly and monthly validity to cater all types’ data users,” commented Raed Haddadin, Renna CEO. Renna Mobile claims to offer ‘value for money’ not just in Internet bundles in the market but also for international calling and

with 400 premium HD channels, says a press release.

national calling. This includes International Minute bundles and off-peak international calling at a discounted rate, without any subscription or rental charges.

“We have varied price plans to cater all types of national and International calling,” he added.

Renna already has the varied internet offers and promotions to fit customers’ behaviour and budgets. While it offers the lowest entry point for internet bundles in Oman, it also provides a great price/data ratio in the market.

Renna Mobile offers a complete

In fact, Renna Mobile has now gone a step further in its commitment with the launch of 4G services, the fastest internet access for 500,000 strong customer base in Oman

range of internet bundles of different validities with different price points. All the exciting internet bundle offers can be accessed on Renna mobile web site www.rennamobile.com.

omanoil recognised at OER Top 20 Awards MUSCAT: Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) was recognised as one of the Sultanate’s most successful companies for the fourth year in a row after being honoured as the third largest company on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) during this year’s Oman Economic Review (OER) Top 20 Awards.

The accolade comes as a testament to the company’s continuous commitment to excellence, growth and dedication to deliver quality to customers throughout Oman, says a press release.

Accepting the award on behalf of the company, Hussain bin Jama Al Ishaqi, general manager for Retail, Fuel Card and Regional Offices, commented, “As a proud home-grown brand, our aim has always been to lead the industry in quality and service excellence, leveraging the power of ideas to spur growth. This approach has enabled us to remain aligned with the Sultanate’s ambitious vision and make significant contributions to its social and economic development. It is an honour to be recognised and we look forward to maintaining the strong work

ethic and customer loyalty that has led us this far.”

The OER’s rankings assess the Sultanate’s corporate sector based on financial indicators in-

cluding growth of profit, earnings per share, and share price growth.

Only Oman’s 20 largest companies listed on the MSM receive a coveted Top 20 Award.

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ROUND-UP

D E L E C TA B L E D I S H E S

Mango Mania at Yellow Chilli a treat for food lovers MUSCAT: Diners to The Yellow Chilli’s mango food fest had not expected so much sunshine to be on the menu and found themselves basking in the warmth as they checked out the two restaurant outlets at Almouj (The Wave) and Panorama Mall of The Yellow Chilli in Muscat.

Many of food lovers ate their

way around the special menu of the mango festival at The Yellow Chilli. Prepared from the finest handpicked mangoes, the delectable dishes at The Yellow Chilli has created an atmosphere which is a treat for gourmet food lovers.

Extraordinary dishes The Yellow Chilli has launched

Majlis team visits PDO The group was led

by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, chairman of Majlis Al Shura, who praised the company for its work on driving economic development and social investment in the Sultanate

MUSCAT: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) communicated its efforts to combat the low oil price environment and spearhead Omanisation during an official visit by the Majlis Al Shura to its Mina Al Fahal headquarters yesterday.

The group was led by Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, chairman of Majlis Al Shura, who praised the company for its work on driving economic development and social investment in the Sultanate, says a press release.

A senior PDO management team, headed by Raoul Restucci, managing director, gave an

overview of the company’s performance on a range of matters including health, safety and the environment, production, cost control and the creation of job and training opportunities for Omanis through its pioneering In-Country Value and lean efficiency programmes.

Al Maawali praised PDO’s efforts on the economy, efficiency, new technology and on providing Omani training and employment opportunities.

He said, “We commend PDO efforts and its role in supporting the Omani economy and its tangible contribution in the areas of corporate social responsibility and community development.

“We have attended a presentation on the activities of the company and its national objectives programme. We are pleased and proud of what we have seen of the development taking place and the technological progress made, as

well as the company’s support for the training and employment of Omanis. It is with pride and high esteem that we congratulate the company and applaud these efforts. We wish PDO’s management and staff further success and more outstanding achievements.”

During the three-hour official engagement, the guests visited PDO’s Bait Mina Al Fahal HQ building and the hi-tech Lekhwair and Qarn Alam Collaborative Work Environment centres, which featured a live broadcast from the field with coastal staff.

They also toured a small exhibition featuring some of PDO’s award-winning projects and challenges, including Harweel, which is one of the world’s most challenging miscible sour gas injection projects, Miraah, one of the largest solar energy ventures globally and the Nimr reed beds, a pioneering energy-efficient wet-

land scheme to treat produced water from oil production.

There was a focus on how PDO had responded to the present low oil price environment and explanatory displays of oil samples, fossils, rocks, equipment and goods made by women on the company’s Banat Oman vocational training programme. The visitors were also shown a film giving a corporate overview of PDO and one outlining its national objectives programme which has generated more than 20,000 employment, training and re-deployment opportunities for Omanis since 2011.

PDO also presented on the success of its super local community contractors, Omani-owned companies providing oilfield services, which now employ around 800 Omanis, have a capital value of more than OMR23 million and have just paid dividends of up to 15% to their 9,400 shareholders.

Restucci said: “It is a great honour for PDO to welcome our esteemed visitors from the Majlis Al Shura who have taken a keen interest in our activities over the years. We conveyed some of the steps we are taking to combat the current low oil price environment, such as maximising lower cost primary and secondary production, rigorously controlling expenditure, pursuing greater efficiency across all aspects of our business and investing in Omani talent and businesses to ensure sustainable development.”

‘mangoes all the way’ menu, a mango mania from May 1 to 31, involving the delicious feast of this luscious fruit prepared with exotic combination. Through years of culinary practice and the assimilation of the art in different styles of rare cuisines, Chef Manoj Radi from The Yellow Chilli is springing-in surprises with extraordinary dishes.

Tirthankar Basu, business head of the parent company Mazaya Oman said, “The king of fruits has just arrived and we must welcome in style the national fruits of India.

There cannot be a summer without mango and there cannot be a better way to celebrate the mango fever than the Mango Food Festival at The Yellow Chilli.”

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Meethaq hosts forum on Islamic banking contracts

NEW PROMOTION

Best of Colombian food, drinks at Rumba Lattina

The forum was organised as part of Meethaq’s Shua’a initiative to raise awareness on Islamic economics

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, hosted a forum on Islamic banking contracts under the auspices of Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, Minister of Justice.

Organised as part of Meethaq’s

Shua’a initiative to raise awareness on Islamic economics, the forum held at the head office of Bank Muscat was attended by dignitaries, senior government and private sector officials and management team members led by AbdulRazak Ali Issa, chief executive, says a press release.

Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board members and experts in Islamic banking contracts addressed the forum which covered a wide gamut of legal aspects involving Islamic banking contracts benefiting the country and the people.

Al Khalili said: “Islam espouses an economic vision that holds the key to a social order capable of providing social justice along with economic prosperity. This vision is inscribed in the objectives of Sharia. Consequently, the doctrine of Islamic economics is evolving according to perceived Islamic

teachings and principles. We commend the initiative by Meethaq Islamic Banking in exploring the benefits and challenges of developing a proper understanding of Islamic economics in Oman.”

Presentations on Islamic banking contracts were made by Sheikh Dr Ali Qaradaghi, chairman of Meethaq Sharia Supervisory Board, Sheikh Majid Al Kindi, member of Sharia Supervisory Board, Dr Hamed Al Jahwari, judge of the Court of Appeals, and Dr Ahmed Al Busafi, judge and director of the Technical Office of the Supreme Court. A panel discussion highlighted the opportunities and challenges of framing Islamic banking contracts in adherence to Sharia principles.

Ali Issa said: “Meethaq, the Islamic banking window of Bank Muscat, is making vital contributions to the growth and develop-

ment of the Omani banking sector and we are witnessing an upswing in Islamic finance and investment compatible with the provisions of Sharia laws. We see a growing interest among retail and corporate clients to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by Islamic banking and finance. Extending support to all key economic sectors in the Sultanate, Meethaq is focused on developing as a benchmark Islamic financial institution in Oman and the region.”

As the powerhouse of Islamic finance in Oman, Meethaq has mandates to finance major projects across sectors such as aviation, shipping, agriculture and industry.

The notable finance facilities recently offered by Meethaq include the refinancing facility of OMR78 million signed with Oman Shipping Company for its three very large crude carriers. Meethaq also

extended the only Sharia based aircraft finance to the national carrier Oman Air for acquiring its second Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, deputy chief executive officer – Islamic Banking, said: “Meethaq is proud to host the Islamic banking contracts forum under the auspices of Sheikh Abdulmalik bin Abdullah Al Khalili, reiterating the commitment to providing Islamic banking service excellence in Oman. The objective of Meethaq Shua’a is to highlight the role of Islamic banking and identify areas in which Islamic economics can benefit the country and the people. Meethaq is well-positioned to cope with the challenges faced by the economy and provide the required support for the government and the private sector.”

Meethaq, under the umbrella of Bank Muscat, is the centre for Islamic financial service in Oman.

MUSCAT: Heard about the latest foodie adventure in town?

This time Rumba Lattina is taking you all the way to Colombia.

Don’t miss this opportunity to come and taste the best of Colombian food and drinks accompanied by the musical rhythms of Latin bands available till May 22, says a press release.

According to Antonio Cuara, the Latin executive chef of Rumba Lattina, “Colombian food is very diverse, each region of the country having its own characteristic dishes. This wonderful cuisine offers dishes that have been handed down from generation to generation, influenced by not only indigenous Colombian culture, but Spanish, African and Arab cultures as well. Colombian food is versatile, rich, full of flavour, colourful and comforting.”

Rumba Lattina specialises in authentic Latin American cuisine from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Uruguay. It is open for lunch from 12 noon to 3pm and for dinner from 6pm to 3am. ‘ N R I T H O L S AVA M ’

Kalabhavan’s annual dance fest set to be held on May 27 MUSCAT: Kalabhavan School of Music & Arts, one of the licensed music and art training schools in Oman and a franchisee of Kochin Kalabhavan, will be celebrating its annual dance festival ‘Nritholsavam’ on May 27 at Crystal Suites Hotel, Wadi Kabir.

Kalabhavan has been conducting its annual dance festival in Oman consecutively for the past 10 years. This is an exclusive event for our classical dance students from all the branches of Kalabhavan. The chief guest of the event would be D. N. Rao, Principal, Indian School Wadi Al Kabir. The event will start at 7pm and entry is free, says a press reelase.

Apart from annual dance festival, Kalabhavan also conducts Thyagaraja Music Festival, an exclusive event for the vocal students and Fr. Abel’s Day – as a tribute to its founder Fr. Abel CMI – for the students learning different musical instruments. Kalabhavan’s annual day celebration is a mega event where more than 150 students take part every year from all the branches. Therefore, every student in the institution gets an opportunity to showcase his/her talent. The very reason for organising such events is to provide opportunity for its students to perform publicly which it feels is important to build their confidence and to mould them as good artists.

Kalabhavan will be holding a summer camp during the summer vacation for the Indian schools. This year, the camp starts from June 12 and admission for the camp has already begun.

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MUSANDAMOMAN SAIL SET FOR BUSY RACING SCHEDULE >C3

SPOR YOUR GAME

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Fatma marches ahead in South Korea tourney Omani eased to a straight sets victory over local girl Dabin Kim and set up a clash with another South Korean Sang Hee Park

Sports Reporter MUSCAT: Overcoming the disappointment of losing in the first round of the doubles competition, Omani sensation Fatma Al Nabhani stormed into the second round of the $25,000 Goyang ITF Pro Circuit tournament in South Korea on Wednesday.

In the first round of the singles, the seventh seeded Omani eased to a straight sets victory over local girl Dabin Kim. Fatma, who is currently ranked 421 in the singles, showed urgency as she conceded just two games before sealing the first set 6-2 against Dabin Kim. In the second set, however, local lass fought hard and stretched Fatma to the limit.

Dabin Kim managed to take the set into the tie-breaker but failed to stop Fatma from winning the set and the match with a final scoreline of 6-2, 7-6 (6).

In the second round, Fatma will clash with another local girl Sang Hee Park.

In her first round match, unseeded Sang Hee Park was made to toil by compatriot Sunam Jeong.

In fact, it was Sunam who won the first set at 6-3. But Sang Hee Park rallied back and dominated the next two sets before clinching the match 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

On Tuesday, Fatma Al Nabhani and her Thai partner Patcharin Cheapchandej fumbled in the first round of the doubles competition.

In their first round match, the Omani-Thai pair came up against strong local duo of Seung-Yeon Hong and Seo-Kyung Kang. Though Fatma and Patcharin gave a good fight they failed to stop the Korean

IN GOOD TOUCH: Fatma Al Nabhani bounced back from a first round loss in the doubles competition

to advance to the second round of the singles tournament at $25,000 Goyang ITF Pro Circuit tournament in South Korea on Wednesday. – Supplied photo

girls from winning 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7).

It may be mentioned that Fatma is yet to regain the form that fetched her five titles in 2015.

Last month, the Omani, whose highest career ranking of 362 came way back in 2010, took part in a highly rated $100,000 Anning ITF Pro Circuit tournament in China

where she bowed out in the first round of both singles and doubles.

In the singles, she lost 3-6, 3-6 to Australian Jessica Moore and in the doubles, Fatma and her Japanese partner Junri Naigata were beaten 3-6, 3-6 by Thailand’s Varatchaya Wongteanchai and China’s Zhaoxuan Yang.

IPL

Kohli smashes fourth century season as RCB humble Kings XI BANGALORE: Captain Virat Kohli smashed his fourth century of the 2016 Indian Premier League (IPL) as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Kings XI Punjab by 82 runs on D/L method on Wednesday.

Batting first in a rain affected match, RCB put up a mammoth 211 for three in 15 overs thanks mainly to Kohli’s century and Chris Gayle’s 32-ball 73.

In reply, Kings XI found the going tough and were restricted to 120 for nine in 14 overs.

Earlier, Virat Kohli battled immense physical pain to script yet another magnificent century to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to an imposing 211 for three.

Kohli (113 off 50 balls) notched up his fourth century in the ongoing IPL season and also became the only batsman to score more than 800 runs in a single edition.

His tally stands at 865 runs from 13 matches.

Kohli, who had sustained multiple stitches due to his split webbing on left hand during the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, gestured at it once he reached the three-figure landmark in the 14th over.

The RCB skipper blasted 12 fours and eight sixes as he piled 96 runs in 20 scoring strokes, while his opening partner Chris Gayle smashed a scintillating 32-ball 73 with the help of four boundaries and eight sixes.

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SO TO SPEAK BY SALEH AL-SHAIBANY >C7

PREVIEW

Raina returns as Lions hope to roar against Riders KANPUR: Skipper Suresh Raina’s return could not have been better-timed as Gujarat Lions, jolted by the tournament’s biggest ever defeat, seek to revive their campaign when they face off with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

The Knight Riders will be handicapped by the absence of in-from all-rounder Andre Russell, and Gujarat Lions will look to capitalise on the void at the Green Park, which will be hosting its first-ever IPL match.

In the pecking order, KKR are placed in second position with 14 points and a good positive net run rate, despite being humbled by Royal Challengers Bangalore by nine wickets in their last match.

The two-time former champions have won seven matches and lost five in 12 outings so far, and a win tomorrow will definitely bring them closer to a play-off berth.

In their maiden season, the Lions are at the moment occupying the fourth place with 14 points, but their net run rate is inferior to Knight Riders. They have also won as many games as the Gautam Gambhir-led side.

The seventh seeded

ANOTHER TON: Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli gestures to the cheering crowd as he walks back to the pavilion after being dismissed for 113 runs during their IPL match against Kings XI Punjab in Bangalore on Wednesday. – AFP

The duo butchered the Kings XI Punjab bowlers with a whirlwind 147-run opening stand to lay the foundation for a huge score.

With heavy rain delaying the start, the match was reduced to a 15-over affair and Kings XI Punjab skipper Murali Vijay won the toss and elected to bowl.

Kohli continued his rampaging form and with Gayle firing early on, the duo amassed 53 runs without loss in the Powerplay overs.

The RCB skipper reached his fifty in 28 balls and alongwith Gayle brought up the team hundred in 8.5 overs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Gayle reached

his 50 off 26 balls in the ninth over with the help of a flat six off Axar Patel over deep midwicket. However, he was dismissed in the 11th over when he was caught by David Miller at long-off.

Four balls later, AB de villiers (0) was sent back to the pavillion

by Kyle Abbott when the South African was trying to make room to play a shot only to end up dragging it back onto the stumps.

In the 14th over, Kohli blasted Sharma for a six and a four before another attempt to sent him out of the park ended with a mishit, which was safely caught by Miller at long-off. - PTI

Fatma had a great year in 2015 when she won five $10,000 titles, including two back-to-back crowns in south Indian city of Hyderabad. In 2013, she won backto-back $10,000 Sharm El Sheikh titles in Egypt and similar level tournaments in Fujairah in 2010 and 2012 respectively.

INSIDE LIFESTYLE

Blazing centuries Lions, who started the season on an impressive note and even occupied the top spot for a while, experienced their worst day when they suffered a 144-run humiliation at the hands of Royal Challengers Bangalore last Saturday.

Blazing centuries from AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli left the Lions attack bruised and battered, and a shaken batting lineup was sent packing for 104 runs.

The time has come for Lions to regroup and the presence of Raina, who missed his first-ever IPL game since its inception in 2008 because of the birth of his first child, could work in their favour, considering that the left-handed batsman has been prolific in this slam-bang league over the past nine seasons.

Half of their worries will be taken care of if the dazzling opening combo of Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum fires.

Raina, Aaron Finch and Dwayne Bravo make the middle order look quite formidable, while bits and pieces players such as Ravindra Jadeja and

Dinesh Karthik form the lower order of Lions’ batting.

Steady playing XI After a combined failure in their last appearance, Lions would be hoping for a better outing.

Lions’ bowling attack was taken to the cleaners by the duo of de Villiers and and Kohli the other day, and it would need to show more discipline. They might also try out Dale Steyn and James Faulkner, who were not part of the RCB drubbing.

As far as KKR are concerned, they are also coming off a big defeat to RCB, and Russell’s absence could hurt them.

The 28-year-old limped off the field midway through their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore with a suspected injury to his left leg and did not travel with the squad that reached the city last evening. Russell is the tournament’s third highest wicket-taker with 15 scalps, and Riders’ fourthhighest scorer with 188 runs.

Apart from that, KKR have a steady playing XI with Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Suryakumar Yadav forming the batting lineup that predominantly wears an Indian look. Shakib Al Hasan is the side’s premier all-rounder.

The bowling department will be taken care of by pace spearhead Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine, Shakib and Piyush Chawla.

Teams (from): Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (capt), Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shakib Al Hasan, Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Ankit Rajpoot, Morne Morkel, Chris Lynn, Colin Munro, Brad Hogg, Shaun Tait, Jason Holder, Umesh Yadav, Sheldon Jackson, Jaydev Unadkat and Rajagopal Sathish.

Gujarat Lions: Suresh Raina (capt), Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Dale Steyn, James Faulkner, Ishan Kishan, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shivil Kaushik, Dwayne Bravo, Sarabjit Ladda, Amit Mishra, Akashdeep Nath, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi, Shadab Jakati, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Pravin Tambe, Andrew Tye. - PTI

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SPORTS

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Improving India to keep expectations in check The hockey team have spent six-to-eight hours working on all aspects of the game, including sports psychology, for six days a week at camp

CALL FOR CONSISTENCY: Indian hockey coach Roelant Oltmans

understands very well the expectation of hockey fans.

MUMBAI: Roelant Oltmans fully understands what a men’s hockey medal would mean to India’s success-starved fans but the Dutch coach will not burden his players with the pressure of bringing one home from the Rio Games.

Once-mighty India are the most decorated nation in the sport’s Olympic history but the South Asians collected the last of their eight gold medals way back at the Moscow Games in 1980.

The sport has been in steady decline since that success 36 year ago and its popularity hit a nadir when India failed to qualify for the Beijing Games in 2008. The team rep-

resenting a nation of 1.25 billion people did recover to seal at spot at the London Games four years later but finished last among the 12 countries taking part.

“We can only learn from past mistakes,” Oltmans, who turns 62 next week, told Reuters in an interview. “Now we are going in a different direction and we are working hard to get the bit of glory back for the country and that’s what I am here for. We are moving in the right direction.”

Oltmans, who became India’s high performance director in 2013, inherited the coach’s job last July following the sacking of compatri-

ot Paul van Ass. Under Oltmans, a relatively inexperienced team finished second behind Australia at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia last month, fuelling renewed hope for a first Olympic medal in more than three decades.

“I know it’s (expectations) there, I can’t change it,” he said from the team’s training camp in Bengaluru.

“The only thing I can do is take the pressure off the players and encourage them to show the next level of quality. I only hope the billion people and more are looking at the players who have worked their hearts out for the last couple of years to get back to that level again. I have seen

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OMAN CRICKET HONOURS JUNIOR DIVISION PLAYERS AND TRIUMPHANT TEAMS

their attitude and how they work every day to make that happen and that’s what makes me happy.”

The team have spent six-to-eight hours working on all aspects of the game, including sports psychology, for six days a week at the camp.

Oltmans also believes that seventh ranked India are getting closer to the world’s top teams.

“We excelled in the last two major tournaments we played -Champions Trophy and the World Hockey League final. In those tournaments we finished in the semifinals,” he said. “But I am 100 percent sure that we need to play better than we did at those tournaments because our opponents will too, and everyone will be at their top level at the Olympics.”

India, in Pool B along with Argentina, Canada, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands in Rio, have often been hamstrung by an inability to stay competitive in the final 15 minutes, something that has been linked to a lack of fitness and stamina.

Oltmans said the team have worked to address that problem.

“We need to perform more consistently than we have done,” Oltmans said. “The final quarter is crucial for us, that’s one of the things we have worked on... improving our physical fitness. - Reuters

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

The curtain came down on the Oman Cricket Junior Division 2015-16 season with an impressive prize-distribution ceremony organised at the Muscat Club Ground when the Sultanate’s cricket body of felicitated the successful teams and individual players of under-13, Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored under-16 and Khimji Ramdas-sponsored under-19 tournaments. The awards for the under-13 Junior League and Khimji Ramdassponsored under -19 tournament were presented by Anil Khimji, while Al Turki Enterprises-sponsored by under-16 tournament were presented by Vishwanathan Iyer of Al Turki Enterprises.

List of awardees: U-13 tournament: Winners: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir; Runners-up: Indian School Muscat; Best batsman: Mohamed Sahil (ISAS) 551 runs at an average of 275.50; Best bowler: Amrith Raj (ISAS) 10 wickets for 60 runs – Avg: 6.00; Consolation Batting: Sanin Nair (ISG) 425 runs – Avg: 141.67; Consolation batting: Mohammed Sameer (ISAS) 510 runs, 3 100’s; Consolation bowling: Yash Mehta (ISWK) 123 runs, 12 wkts Average 10.25; Best all-rounder: Mohammed Sameer (ISAS) 510 runs and 11 wickets. U-16 tournament: Winners: Indian School Muscat; Runners-up: Pakistan School Muscat; Best batsman: Rohan Solomon Koshy (ISWK) 331 runs at an average of 110.33; Best bowler: Rohan Solomon Koshy (ISWK) 13 wickets for 120runs, Avg: 9.23; Consolation batting: Vikram Nabira (ISM) 283 runs – Avg: 94.33; Consolation batting: Ubaid Ullah (PSM) 335 runs – Avg 83.75; Consolation bowling: Vikram Nabira (ISM) 12 wkts for 118 runs – Avg: 9.83; Consolation bowling: Mohammed Irbas (PSM) 13 wkts for 131 runs – Avg10.08; Best all-rounder: Rohan Solomon Koshy (ISWK) 331runs and 13 wickets.

U-19 tournament: Winners: Indian School Muscat; Runners-up: Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir; Best batsman: Ivan Joseph Manjila (ISWK) 344 runs at an average of 114.67; Best bowler: Tejesh Bhupendra (ISM) 10 wickets for 69runs – Average 6.90; Best all-rounder: Ivan Joseph Manjila (ISWK) 344runs and 13 wkts.

— Supplied photos

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

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SPORTS O LY M P I C S

Tokyo 2020 bid to be investigated after report of payment TOKYO: A Japanese official who led the successful bid for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics said on Wednesday the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) plans to investigate the bidding after questions were raised about payments by the bid committee.

Media has reported the bid team made payments totalling more than $2 million to a Singapore bank account linked to Papa Massata Diack, son of disgraced former international athletics chief Lamine Diack. Japanese officials have said the payments were legitimate consultant’s fees.

Tsunekazu Takeda, president of the JOC and leader of the successful effort to win the Summer

Games, said people involved with the bid would be questioned.

“We are setting up an investigative team that includes outside lawyers,” Takeda told a parliamentary committee. “We will once again talk with people connected to the bid at the time to ascertain whether or not there was anything illegal in the suspicions that have been raised.”

Opposition lawmakers have seized on the issue, saying that a Singaporean company called Black Tidings, into whose account the Guardian newspaper said the payment was made, was a paper company.

The firm’s business address is in a government housing complex in a suburban part of Singapore.

A Reuters cameraman saw shoes

Media has reported the bid team made payments totalling more than $2 million to a Singapore bank account linked to Papa Massata Diack, son of disgraced former international athletics federation chief Lamine Diack

and umbrellas in front of the address this week, but the company has no registered phone number.

Takeda said on Monday he believed it was not a paper company.

The Singapore account into which the money was allegedly deposited was controlled by Ian Tan Tong Han, a friend of the younger Diack, the Guardian reported.

Musandam-Oman Sail set for busy racing days According to skipper Gavignet, the Myth of Malham and the Round Ireland Race offer an opportunity to compete against other MOD70s, while the Quebec to St Malo Race is more about adventure

MUSCAT: The learning curve on the Sultanate of Oman’s flagship MOD70 Musandam-Oman Sail is due for a shift in emphasis in 2016 with their early season programme of the Myth of Malham, the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race and the Transat Quebec-St Malo races designed to hand Omani crew extra roles and responsibility in the pursuit of success.

Last year French skipper Sidney Gavignet placed the focus on fitness as they racked up thousands of miles across Europe with a 50 percent Omani crew, setting a new Round Ireland record plus a new speed record at Kieler Woche 2015.

The stakes have been raised this year and the selection of the three events in May, June and July will help to prepare the Omani sailors for roles at the highest

level of offshore racing. The Myth of Malham from May 28 to 29 and the Round Ireland Race on June 18 are both organised by the UK’s Royal Ocean Racing Club and offer an opportunity to compete against other MOD70s, explained Gavignet, while the Quebec to St Malo Race is more about adventure and exploration.

“The Quebec to St Malo Race is a classic,” he said. “It is a race I have done three times and it is special. East to west across the Atlantic starting with a 400-mile section down the Saint Lawrence river which is bordered by mountains on both sides. There are lots of whales — including the Beluga Whale — and white beaked and white sided dolphins. In a sailor’s career doing this race is something you will never forget.

“It is more about adventure and the memories. Also it means two transatlantics — one going there and one coming back so it is good training for our Omani crew mates.”

Although Oman Sail and Gavignet have yet to finalise the crew for the season, he is keen to take new offshore talent Raad Al Hadi, who impressed during a recent training

FOOTBALL

Five from Oman to attend Camp Copa Coca-Cola MUSCAT: Five players from Oman were selected to represent the Sultanate at the Camp Copa Coca-Cola in Paris.

According to a press statement issued by the Oman Football Association on Wednesday, the Copa Coca-Cola concluded here recently with Rooh Al Granita Winners. OFA’s technical staff were also present at the venue to select the five best players to represent Oman at the Camp Copa CocaCola in Paris. The five selected payers are Ahmed Juma Al Mushaifri, Al Waleed Khalid Al Yahyai, Faisal Saud Al Nadabi, Nawaf Abdulaziz Al Harrasi and Karl Hemmingson.

“These players will have the unique opportunity to travel to Paris and attend Camp Copa Coca-Cola. The camp is to be held at the HEC Paris Campus and will have the French Ligue 1 Champions Paris Saint Germain supporting as the training partner,” the OFA statement said.

“The players will also get the unique opportunity to interact with football legend Xavi, who is the camp ambassador for the Camp Copa Coca-Cola. The players will also get to watch a quarterfinal match at the UEFA Euro 2016, which is also being held in Paris at that time,” it added.

FOOTBALL

Dutch FA chief wants to contest for UEFA top post BASEL: Dutch football association chief Michael van Praag said he would stand as a candidate to replace disgraced Michel Platini as head of UEFA on Wednesday after European football’s governing body announced a September election for president.

Van Praag, announcing his bid on the Dutch FA’s website, said UEFA had drifted into an impasse since Platini was suspended and he warned it faced the threat of a

breakaway league being formed from Europe’s top clubs.

The 68-year-old said he wanted to use “my experience, knowledge and networks to make UEFA a cohesive unit again.”

He said the challenges facing UEFA included “the threat of clubs who want to start their own league, the structure of the club competitions, human rights and the tremendous changes in commercial marketing in football.” - Reuters

run between Lorient and Morocco.

“Raad is good and learning quickly so we will take him from Quebec to St Malo where he will gain experience but he is still a student so we do not plan to take him on the RORC races,” Gavignet said.

Omani sailors Fahad Al Hasni, Sami Al Shukaili, Yassir Al Rahbi will also be back in action along with Irish offshore specialist Damian Foxall and France’s Jean Luc Nelias, who was navigator on Volvo winner Groupama in 2006.

The three Omani sailors have been preparing for their summer by campaigning their J80 at the 2016 Grand Prix Ecole Navale in France having raced together for EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour in February.

Gavignet’s experience will serve Musandam-Oman Sail well in the Quebec-St Malo but the Myth of Malham, a 230-mile race from Cowes to the famous Eddystone Lighthouse and back, will be a brand new experience for him.

“It is an English classic so we are looking forward to it and would love to win it. We will be up against two other MOD70s which is the main reason why we

are doing it but it will be a challenge because the other two boats Phaedo and Team Concise have done a lot of sailing over the last few months.”

Results are important, Gavignet continued but Oman Sail’s objective to develop top class sailors for world class events requires a broader focus.

“We want the guys to take on more responsibility. To be an accomplished offshore sailor, you have to think on your feet and we have some real talent on this crew so I will be working with each crewmember individually to encourage them to take responsibility, perhaps for a winch or for safety or whatever other role they might need to prepare for a major offshore race.”

The remainder of MusandamOman Sail’s summer programme will be announced later in the season but according to long standing crew member Fahad Al Hasni, racing against the other MOD70s is the highlight.

“By the end of this programme, we would like to be the leading MOD70,” he said. “It will be a challenge because the boats are all different now and the other crews have done a lot of sailing but our time together as a team on the Farr 30 at EFG Sailing Arabia – The Tour, during our training run from Lorient to Rabat and in the J80 at GP Ecole Navale has made a difference to our team work so we feel well prepared.”

MOD70 Musandam-Oman Sail Programme: Myth of Malham: Starts Cowes, Isle of Wight on May 28; Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race: Starts Wicklow, Ireland on June 18; Quebec–St Malo: Starts Quebec, Canada on July 10.

The elder Diack, a former International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, is under a French police investigation for corruption at the IAAF, athletics’ governing body. The IOC has said it has been in touch with French magistrates over the case.

Asked about the allegations of payments by the Tokyo bid committee, IOC president Thomas Bach said on Wednesday: “This is speculation. Of course we are not amused if there are allegations against an Olympic candidature and of Tokyo.

But this is about zero tolerance.

“We have in the IOC all instruments in place to fight against corruption. That does not mean we are immune to corruption but we

do everything we can to fight this evil,” he told a conference call.

“We have the statement from the Japanese side of which we took note. We will maintain our position as civil party to the French prosecution and we will continue to actively cooperate with this French inquiry,” said Bach, who is German.

Tokyo, which in 2013 beat Istanbul and Madrid to host the games, has been embarrassed by a number of woes since then, including scrapping the design for the centrepiece Olympic stadium, delaying construction.

Last month, it finally selected a new games logo after the previous one was withdrawn due to questions about plagiarism. - Reuters

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SPORTS

‘LET’S DO MORE’: The grand ceremony also marked the greening of football field of Al Shabab Sports Team in the wilayat of Baushar. – Supplied photos

Bank Muscat’s Green Sports initiative to benefit 15 teams The ceremony also marked the greening of football field of Al Shabab Sports Team in the wilayat of Baushar

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, in step with its ‘Let’s Do More’ vision to promote Oman as a sporting nation, marked a grand celebration under the auspices of Dr. Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani, Minister of Information, to announce 15 new beneficiaries for the Green Sports programme in 2016.

The ceremony, which also marked the greening of football field of Al Shabab Sports Team in the wilayat of Baushar, was attended by AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, dignitaries, senior government and private sector officials.

Marking the successful fifth year, the unique Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at greening and development of football fields has benefited a total of 64 sports teams across the country to date.

The 2016 Green Sports beneficiaries are Al Ogdah Sports Team Barka; Al Hilal Sports Team Nakhal; Al Maiha Sports Team Al Khabourah; Al Najed Sports Team Saham; Al Taawin Sports Team Shinas; Al Nahdah Sports Team Ibri; Wadi Kalbooh Sports Team Nizwa; Al Suleif Team Ibri; Al Qaryatain Sports Team Izki; Al Saqar Sports Team Izki; Al Mazin Sports Team Sumail; Wadi Al Meah Sports Team Al Amerat; Al Jawabi Sports Team Jaalan Bani bu Ali; Al Qahwan Sports Team Jaalan Bani bu Hasan and Al Shabab Sports Team Al Kamil.

Dr. Abdul Munim bin Mansour Al Hasani congratulated Bank Muscat for the success achieved by the Green Sports initiative.

Al Hasani said: “The support to develop modern sports infrastructure across the Sultanate complements the government efforts in building a sporting nation.

“The initiative benefiting communities, especially youth, contributes to sustainable development, thereby ensuring all-round progress in Oman. The availability of proper sporting infrastructure across the Sultanate is a boon for the game of football.

“The gesture by Bank Muscat to promote sports and games is a motivation for corporates to join hands with the government to strengthen the country’s sporting credentials.”

The selection of 2016 Green Sports beneficiaries followed ex-

tensive field visits by a committee which reviewed and short-listed eligible sports teams meeting the criteria for greening and infrastructure development of football

fields across the Sultanate. In all, 66 teams applied for Green Sports support in 2016, of which the facilities of 40 teams were reviewed.

The growing response to the pro-

gramme reflects the awareness among teams to be organised in applying for support.

AbdulRazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive, said: “Bank Muscat is immensely proud to enhance support for the Green Sports initiative as part of its CSR strategy to further strengthen its leadership role in social responsibility and facilitate partnership between the government and the private sector for sustainable development and progress of Oman, inspired by the directive of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to activate the role of the private sector in social responsibility and development of Omani society. We wish all the beneficiary teams success in contributing to sporting excellence in Oman.”

In 2015, the bank widened the scope of Green Sports, offering four options for sports teams to

green football fields with natural or synthetic turf, or avail support for floodlights or water desalination equipment to facilitate greening of fields in areas facing problems of water salinity. The move was aimed at providing wider representation to teams to build a sustainable sports infrastructure in all parts of the Sultanate.

The consistent progress of the Green Sports initiative confirms the bank’s commitment to the programme aimed at providing ample opportunities for young Omanis to develop their sporting talents in an ideal environment.

The programme is expected to go a long way in developing the sporting skills and talents of Omani youth, thereby promoting the game of football in Oman.

Abdullah Tamman Al Mashani, Deputy General Manager — Institutional Sales & Products Development, in the welcome address said: “The Green Sports initiative reiterates the bank’s support to Oman’s youth who represent the future of Oman.

“True to its commitment to supporting varied sporting activities in the country, Bank Muscat remains at the forefront in offering the required encouragement to youth. As the nation’s leading financial institution, Bank Muscat aims to motivate other corporates to provide the required impetus for youth to excel in all arenas.”

Established in 1972, Al Shabab Sports Team has over 500 members. Every year, the team engages in popular sports and cultural activities. The greening of the football field marks a milestone for the team.

Hamed Al Siyabi, President of Al Shabab Sports Team, said: “We are thankful to Bank Muscat for the Green Sports initiative, which has made vital contributions to creating an environment encouraging Omani sports talents.

“The unique initiative is a big support for the country’s youth and we are confident that many youngsters will benefit from this programme and become sporting heroes for the country.”

C

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

Culture WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

THE NOVELIST

Rabai Al Madhoun is a Palestinian writer, born in Al Majdal, Ashkelon, southern Palestine, in 1945. During the 1948 Nakba exodus, his family emigrated to Khan Younis in the Gaza strip. He studied at Cairo and Alexandria universities, Egypt, but was expelled from Egypt in 1970 before graduating, because of his political activities. He worked at the Palestinian Centre for Research Studies and as a journalist and editor for many newspapers and magazines, including Al Horria, Al Ufuq, Sawt Al Bilad, Al Quds Al Arabi, Al Hayat, WTN (an American TV news network), and APTN-Associated Press.

His published works include The Lady from Tel Aviv (2010), a novel shortlisted for the 2010 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, and third novel Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba (2015). The Lady from Tel Aviv was translated into English by Elliot Colla and published by Telegram Books. The book won the English PEN Writers in Translation award. He currently works as an editor for Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper in London.

Rabai Al Madhoun wins the 2016 Arab Booker Prize for narrating the Palestinian life both in occupation and exile in his novel Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba

R

KNOW THE NOVEL

Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba is a pioneering novel written in four parts. Destinies chronicles Palestinian life both in occupation and exile.

Each part representing a concerto movement, the novel looks at the holocaust, the Palestinian exodus from Israel in 1948 (known as the Nakba) and the Palestinian right to return. It is a novel of Palestine from outside and from within. It examines everyday Palestinian life, telling the story of Palestinians living under occupation and compelled to assume Israeli nationality, as well as exiled Palestinians trying to return to their nowoccupied home country.

Story: T.A. Ameerudheen Photos: Courtesy of IPAF

abai Al Madhoun, Palestinianborn British citizen, won the ninth International Prize for Arabic fiction, popularly known as the Arab Booker Prize, for his novel Destinies: Concerto of the Holocaust and the Nakba, recently.

In an exclusive e-mail interview after receiving the award in Abu Dhabi, Al Madhoun said the book narrates the story of the Palestinian life both in occupation and exile. “So the Arab Booker Prize is a great cause of celebration for the readers who live under occupation.”

added a fourth, in the Baroque style (Handel used to compose four to eight, and Vivaldi couldn’t break the year to do three seasons). I needed to use the fourth movement as conclusion.

Excerpts: How do you feel on winning the 2016 Arab Booker Prize?

It’s amazing to win the prize, despite the pressure that’s put on me. There are two sides to it: on one side, a lot of pressure from media and on the other hand, the glamour of being chosen as the best work of Arabic fiction of the year. I think the prize is a great cause for celebration for those who live under occupation.

Will Arab Booker Prize popularise Arab fiction all over the world?

I think the prize helps to open the door for a novel to be known in the wider world. However, I’m not expecting Destinies to be a bestseller. It depends on the taste of the reader and, generally speaking, it seems that, in addition to their own writers, Western readers prefer to read novels written originally in English, such as Khaled Hosseini or José Saramago, rather than reading works in translation.

How significant is this prize to you?

At the very moment I won, I thought: ‘I did it!’

I had been shortlisted before, but I couldn’t win the prize. It wasn’t easy to be longlisted and shortlisted twice. I’m 70 and I don’t think I would have another chance to win. It will take another 3-4 years to write my next novel, and who knows if I’ll still be alive. It’s time for it to be a Palestinian winner.

How do you describe your award winning book?

It is a story about the Arabs living in Israel and the effect of occupation on them. We have four stories and the novel is structured like a concerto – four movements – despite the fact a concerto is normally constructed of three. I

What do you think about the other shortlisted works?

I really enjoyed meeting other authors. Each one of these authors deserved to be a winner.

There was mutual understanding and respect for one another. It’s not easy to be shortlisted – it’s a huge event in our lives, just being nominated, and we each hoped we would win.

What is your advise to upcoming Arab writers?

Be patient, be creative, don’t use metaphors – use the form. Find your own style, your own narration, and try to think about your reader: How will they enjoy your book? Read as many novels as you can and read about novels too.

How are you planning to utilise the prize money?

I’ll be able to do some repeat research trips to Palestine for my next novel, without financial pressure. Some money will go towards my sons and I might buy a car. I can also enjoy a trip abroad during the summer with my wife.

— ameerudheen@timesofoman.com

ARAB BOOKER PRIZE – THE SELECTION PROCESS

The book was chosen by the IPAF ( International Prize for Arabic Fiction) judges as the best work of fiction published within the last 12 months, selected from 159 entries from 18 countries across the Arab World. In addition to winning $50,000, Rabai Al Madhoun is guaranteed an English translation of his novel, as well as an increase in book sales and international recognition.

The five other shortlisted finalists, including the winner, received $10,000.

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THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

PRAYER TIMINGS

@ AZAIBA

@PANORAMA MALL

3.30, 6.30 PM X-Men: Apocalypse(2D) (Action / PG12 Cast : Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn 9.00 PM Sarbjit (2D) (Drama ) –PG12 Cast : Aishwarya Rai, Randeep Hooda 11.45 PM

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68 www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45PM Our Kind of Traitor - (2D) (Thriller ) (15+) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris 3:30, 9:30 & 11:30PM Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead - (2D) (Comedy | Horror) (15+) Cast: Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradley, Leon Burchill 11:55PM Correspondence - (2D) (Comedy) (12+) Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Jeremy Irons, , Shauna Macdonald 5:30PM Hassan We Bo2loz - (2D) (Comedy) (12+) 7:30PM (Arabic) The Angry Birds Movie - (3D) (Animation) Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess 3:30 & 7:20PM (U) Captain America: Civil War - (PG) (Action) Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr 9:15PM (3D) The Jungle Book - (3D) Drama| Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 5:15PM MUSCAT GRAND MALL X-Men: Apocalypse – 3D (Pg12) Action Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 2:00, 8:45, 11:30 PM Gold Class: 3:00, 5:45, 8:30, 11:15 PM Our Kind of Traitor – 2D (15+) Thriller Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis 4.30, 9.30, 11.45 PM Ratchet and Clank – 3D (PG) Animation Cast: James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye 2:30 PM Jungle Book – 3D (PG) Drama| Family Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 12:30, 4:45 PM

X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) (Action / Adventure/ Sci Fic) –PG12 Cast : James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45PM

Our Kind of Traitor - (2D) (Thriller ) (15+) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis 3:30, 9:30 & 11:30PM

The Angry Birds Movie – 3D (U) Animation Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess 12:00, 06:45 PM Captain America: Civil War– 3D (Action ) Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr 6:45 PM (PG12) PANORAMA MALL X-Men: Apocalypse(3D) (Action) (PG12) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45PM X-Men: Apocalypse (4D) (Action) MX4D Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30PM (PG12) X-Men: Apocalypse(3D) (Action) (PG12) VIP LOUNGE 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30PM Our Kind of Traitor - (2D) (Thriller ) (15+) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis 3:30, 9:30 & 11:30PM This Time - (2D) (Tagalog) (PG12) Cast: James Reid, Nadine Lustre 7:30PM Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead - (2D) (Comedy | Horror) (15+) Cast: Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey 11:30PM The Angry Birds Movie - (3D) (Animation) 3:00 & 6:45PM

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

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

Nizwa Al Araqi

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

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

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Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

08:40 11:00

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

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

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Marmul

16:30

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15:00

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07:00

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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

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

11.45 13.30 14.00

WITH LOVE

RAJASREE SURESH May 19, 2005

ANSHIKA ARVIND KUMAR May 19, 2004

DIYA DILIP May 19, 2004

HARSHID KUMAR May 19, 2008

MAAZIN NIRAVIL May 20, 2011

IZAAN KHAN May 17, 2014

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

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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

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TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204) Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

King Liar ( Mal) (Comedy) Cast : Dileep ,Siddique & Madonna Sebastian 3-00, 6-30 & 10-00 pm Cinema Main Friday: 10-00 pm Cinema Main; 3-45 & 6-45pmCinema-3; 6-30 pm cinema-2 24 ( Tamil) (Action \ Thriller )( Only Thursday) Cast: Suriya, Samantha & Nithhya Menon 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema Jacobinte Swargarajyam ( Mal) (Comedy\ Drama) (Only Thursday) Cast: Nivin Pauly Renji Panicker 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -3 Kali (Mal) (Comedy\ Drama)(Only Thursday) Cast : Dulquar Salmaan & Sai Pallavi 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm Cinema -4 Brahmotsvam (Telugu) ( Drama) ( From Friday) Cast : Mahesh Babu, Samantha & Kajal Agarwal 6-30 pm Cinema Main\ 3-30 & 9-30 pm Cinema -2 Marudhu (Tamil) ( Act) (From Friday) Cast: Vishal & Sri Divya 3-45,6-45 &9-45 pm Cinema-4 Chandi Kori (Tulu) ( Drama) (Only Friday) Cast: Arjun Kapikad & Karisma Amin 2-00 pm Cinema Main Programmes are subject to change

0

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

Nizwa Ruwi

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

06:00 06:00

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

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

07:00

STAR CINEMA

70-15%

40 32 Minimum

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com The Trust (Crime / Thriller) Cast: Nicolas Cage, Elijah Wood, Sky Ferreira 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 p.m.

CENSOR PERMIT NO : 1119 (15+) Term Life (Crime / Drama) Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 p.m.

CENSOR PERMIT NO : 1120 (15+) Correspondence (Drama / Romance) Cast: Olga Kurylenko, Jeremy Irons, Shauna 2.00 p.m. & 6.00 p.m.

CENSOR PERMIT NO : 1125 (12+) Ratchet & Clank (Animation) Cast: James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Jim Ward 2.00 p.m. & 6.00 p.m.

CENSOR PERMIT NO : 1126 (PG)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

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

BAHJA CINEMA

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

Daily Daily Daily

SALALAH X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence 6:00, 8:45, 11:30PM X-Men: Apocalypse (2D) (PG12) (Action) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, 1:00, 3:45PM Captain America: Civil War (3D) (PG) (Action | Adventure| Sci-Fi) Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson 3:15, 11:15PM The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) (Adventure) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 2:30PM The Angry Birds Movie (3D) (U) (Animation) 12:30, 4:30, 6:30PM (Eng) Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess, Jason Sudeikis Our Kind of Traitor (2D) (15+) (Thriller) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris 1:15, 6:45, 11:55PM Sarbjit (2D) (PG12) (Biographical Drama) Cast: Shiwani Saini, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randeep Hooda 8:30PM King Liar (2D) (PG12) (Malayalam) (Comedy) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 9:00PM

WITH LOVE

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

RUWI Screen 1 Sarbjit(2D) (Drama ) –PG12 Cast : Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randeep Hooda 2.30, 5.30, 8.30 PM X-Men: Apocalypse(2D) (Action) PG12 Cast : Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn 11.30 PM Screen 2 X-Men: Apocalypse(2D) (Action) –PG12 Cast : Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn 3.30, 6.30 PM Baaghi (2D) (Action) –PG Cast :Tiger Shroff, Shraddha Kapoo 9.15 PM Sarbjit(2D) (Drama ) –PG12 Cast : Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 11.45 PM Screen 3 Baaghi(2D) (Action) –PG

SOHAR X-Men: Apocalypse PG12 (3D) (Action) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:15, 6:00, 8:45, 11:30PM Jungle Book PG (3D) (Adventure) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley.

5:00PM The Angry Birds Movie U (3D)(Comedy) Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess 3:00, 7:00PM Our Kind of Traitor 15+ (Thriller) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis 3:45, 9:15, 11:45PM Sarbjit PG 12 (Hindi)(Biographical drama) Cast : Shiwani Saini, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 11:15PM King Liar PG12 (Malayalam) (Comedy) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 9:00PM Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead 15+ (Horror) Cast: Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey 11:55PM Captain America: Civil war 3D PG12 9:00PM Captain America: Civil war 2D PG12 3:45PM Maruthu PG12(Tamil/Action/Romance) 6:15PM Brahmot Savam(Telugu/Comedy/Romance) Cast: Kajal Aggarwal, Mahesh Babu, Tanikella Bharani 6:30PM

WEATHER

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

Sarabjit (Hindi) (2D) (Sports | Drama) (PG12) Cast: Aishwarya Rai Bacchan, Shiwani Saini, Randeep Hooda 3:30, 6:15, 8:45, 11:15 PM Azhar (Hindi) (2D) (Action) (PG) Cast: Nargis Fakhri, Emraan Hashmi 10:45 PM

AZAIBA X-Men: Apocalypse (3D) (Action ) (PG12) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:15, 6:00, 9:00, 11:45 PM Our Kind of Traitor (2D) (Thriller) (15+) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie 3:45, 11:45 PM The Angry Bird Movie (3D) (Action) (U) Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess 3:45 PM Chakravyuh (Kannad) (2D) (Action (PG) Cast: Puneeth Rajkumar, Rachita Ram 6:00 PM The Jungle Book (3D) (Family) (PG) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 5:45 PM King Liar (Mal) (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 8:45 PM

BURAIMI X-Men: Apocalypse PG12 (3D) (Action) Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender 3:30, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30 PM Jungle Book PG (3D) (Adventure) Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley 5:00 PM The Angry Birds Movie U (3D)( Animation) Cast: Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess, Jason Sudeikis 3:15 & 7:00 PM Our Kind of Traitor 15+ (Thriller) Cast: Ewan McGregor, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris 3.45 & 9.15 PM Sarbjit PG 12 (Hindi)(Biographical drama) Cast : Shiwani Saini, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Randeep Hooda 6.45 & 11.15 PM King Liar PG12 (Malayalam) (Comedy) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 8:45 PM Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (Comedy) Cast: Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey, Leon 11:45 PM 15+

SUR X-Men : Apocalypse 3D (Crime ) ( PG12 ) Cast : James Mc Avoy, Michael Fassbender 3:30, 6:15, 8:45, 11:30 PM Our Kind of Traitor ( Thriller ) ( 15+ ) Cast : Ewan Mc Gregor, Damian Lewis 3:00, 7:00, 11:55 PM King Liar ( Malayalam | Comedy ) (PG12) Cast : Dileep, Madonna 9:00 PM The Angry Birds Movie - (3D) ( Animation) Cast : Peter Dinklage, Tituss Burgess ( U ) 5:00 PM

King Liar (Mal) (2D) (Comedy) (PG12) Cast: Dileep, Madonna Sebastian, Lal 8:45 PM

Captain America: Civil War - (PG) (Action) 8:45PM (3D) Cast: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. The Man Who Knew Infinity - (2D) (PG) Cast: Dev Patel, Jeremy Irons 5:30PM The Jungle Book - (3D) Drama| Family) (PG) 4:45PM Cast: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley

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

Destination

12.08pm 3.30pm 6.48pm 8.08pm 3.59am

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

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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

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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

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have no problems with people who think they know too much only if they could keep their opinions to themselves. I bumped into an old acquaintance last week and it went wrong in the first five minutes of our meeting.

After exchanging brief pleasantries, he wanted to catch up with the lost time. He asked me whether I was prospering and I said I was managing quite well. He also wanted to know how exactly I earned my living and he frowned when I told him I was a journalist.

“Do you make enough from that?”

He inquired, surprised at my choice of profession. I assured him I was making ends meet and I was quite happy with my work.

“I am sure you are,” he said, “but journalism doesn’t make much money for a man with five children.”

It was fast becoming one of those moments when you get hot under

the collar. I kept my cool and assured him that I was managing my economy fine and he had nothing to worry about.

“You could get a permanent job somewhere else and still earn extra money from the newspapers,” he kept pressing on, “what about your old job at the airport? Can’t they have you back?”

When I was lost for words for his outrageous comments, he took the opportunity to continue and added, “but you were teaching after that and now you are doing something else. You need to stick to one thing, you know.”

My mobile phone came to my rescue. I gratefully whisked it out, took my time talking to my wife, hoping he might move on. He did not and I had to end the telephone conversation as he was standing next to me.

He carried on where he had left off.

“How do you know that people

enjoy what you write? I read one or two of your stuff and they were pretty boring.”

“Yeah, I am sometimes known for that,” I told him, wishing he could shut his mouth, then quickly switched the conversation, “do you still supervise the garbage with your municipality job?”

He took that as an offence and sharply said, “I am a health inspector and not a street sweeper!”

I restrained the urge of extending the sweet revenge. As it turned out, he finally got the message. I was glad to part company with him and spared myself further embarrassments. People like him with nothing better to say get under your skin.

They think they know better and the right to pass judgement on what you do with your life. Sometimes, some tradesmen use it for their own professional advantage by deliberately trying to make you look like a fool.

An insurance salesman tried to make me buy a policy I did not need.

He stopped me in a crowded shopping mall and offered his product.

“You don’t realise how seriously you need life insurance,” he explained when I declined his offer, “how can you be sure your family will be well provided for when you die?”

I tried to side-stepped him but he blocked me. For the next five minutes, he tagged behind me like a tail, desperately trying to sell me a life cover. He pretended he knew all about my life and how badly I needed to insure myself. Luckily for me, a woman who was amusingly watching us from a distant, stepped in between the salesman and I to end it all. “Leave the poor man alone,” she barked at him. As I watched him walking away, I wondered who was going to be the next person with bad persuasive skills to ruin my day.

C8

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016

LIFESTYLE

HIGH FIVE The Royal Opera

House Muscat (ROHM) will host the best productions from around the world in its fifth anniversary year

T

he 2016-17 season at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) will commence with French composer Gounod’s opera, Romeo and Juliette, performed by the prestigious Opera de Monte-Carlo on September 29.

In its fifth anniversary year, the ROHM will continue to host top quality Omani, Arab, and international productions in various genres, including opera, ballet, concert along with special events.

According to HH Sayyid Kamil Fahad Al Said, a member of the Board of Directors, ROHM, the new season is titled as ‘Excellence in Diversity’ as the season will feature the best productions from all over the world.

“Diversity in programming is the hallmark of ROHM as we continue to implement the vision of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said,” he said.

The new season will span over eight months with over 40 different events and more than 60 performances. The season will conclude on May 20, 2017.

— lifestyle@timesofoman.com

TOP PERFORMANCES TILL DECEMBER, 2016 September 29 to October 1 Romeo & Juliette French composer Charles Gounod’s sumptuous operatic score for literature’s most famous love story, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, is the highlight of the opera, performed by Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

October 8 Mohammed Assaf with the Multi-Ethnic Star Orchestra The talented young Palestinian, who was chosen as the Arab Idol in 2013, will enthrall the audience with popular repertoire of classic Arab songs.

October 20 & 22 Lohengrin Lohengrin, by the famous German composer Richard Wagner, is a medieval tale about a mysterious knight who comes in a swan drawn boat to defend a damsel falsely accused of murder.

November 3, 4 & 5 Military Music: Oman & the World (complimentary outdoor event) Members of Oman’s Armed Forces will march on ROHM’s outdoor courtyard, playing classic military pieces with two guest bands from abroad.

November 10 Ana Moura (Fado Concert) Ana Moura’s voice traipses freely through tradition, and it flirts with pop music. Little wonder, then, that she is considered as the best Fado singer.

November 24 & 27 Don Giovanni Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart blends comedy and melodrama with supernatural elements.

December 1 Music and Dance from South Africa The concert features jazz trumpeting legend Hugh Masekela and Mahotella Queens, a women’s band with fast-paced dancing.

December 3 Jihad Akl (complimentary outdoor event) Jihad Akl is a master of mood and drama. The Lebanese violinist has an uncanny knack in creating unique experience with the exotic notes from the oriental musical instrument.

December 8 Beethoven’s 9th Symphony It is performed by RAI National Symphony Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Choir.

December 15, 16 & 17 Anna Karenina Based on Leo Tolstoy’s renowned 1877 novel, Anna Karenina, the stunning ballet vividly portrays the nuances of the novel.

December 20 Dhafer Youssef The acclaimed oud player, vocalist and composer, who hails from a Tunisian fishing village, combines world music and jazz influences with Arab lyricism.

December 31 A Broadway Gala with Simon Keenlyside The gala concert is the best way to enjoy the New Year’s Eve, as some of the world’s favourite songs from great Broadway musicals are sung by the renowned English baritone, Simon Keenlyside.

PICTURES SUPPLIED

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

FOR RENT

*Tourist visa arranged

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ŽŶƚĂĐƚ Ͳ ϵϵϰϲϵϲϵϴ

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

Commercial Space Commercial Space For Rent

OFFICES & OUTLETS IN PRIME LOCATIONS: MAIN ROAD – MIDDLE OF THE MARKET AT: WALJA – HAMRIYA – SEEB - BARKA

CALL: 99332242 / 99106193 khamisco@alkhamis.com.om We have 2BHK flats for rent in Azaiba near Sultan Center new building 350/- OMR. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 We have 1BHK, 2 BHK flats for rent in Ghala near Al Nahda towers. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 We have 2BHK flats in Ghubra.

Contact : 93782735 / 99208033 We have 1BHK, 2 BHK flats for rent in Mabela 7 new building.

Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 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 Flats for rent near Indian school in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 1 bedroom family / bachelors in Al Khuwair R.O 100/-.

Contact: 95154331 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99376454

1 BHK and 2BHK Flats available near Lulu Darsait (Main road, Opp. to Min. of Defense). Contact : 93202733 Flat for rent : flat available at Hamriya & Wadi Kabir. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 Two bedroom flat near ISM Darsait R.O 300/-. Contact: 99423273 7 rooms villa at split AC 18th November road Azaiba.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

Contact: 96775026 1BHK flat in Ruwi for family.

Contact- 92947251 1BHK Flats for rent, behind Sheraton hotel in Ruwi, rent R.O 250/per month. Contact: 96051941

Just 2 OMR / Sqm, Showroom / store for rent Ground floor & basement, area - 1100 Sqm, location Seh Al Ahmer, 20 km to Rusayl.

Contact: 97714433 / 93437982

Flats for rent at Just RO 160/- 2 Bed room, hall, kitchen , 2 toilets, location Seh Al Ahmer, 20 KM to Rusayl, including AC & roof Garden.

Contact: 97714433 / 93437982

Office space for rent. Saravana Bhavan Building. Contact 91120552.

2BHK Flat near Indian School, Wadi Kabir. Contact: 91173997 /24714625

Flats in Wadi Kabir. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Flat for rent Al Hail North to the Wave Muscat ground floor with furniture the price RO 250/-.

Contact: 99353433

New flats Wadi Al Kabir.

Contact: 92130703

For rent Gym & Health club for rent in Al Khoud near Al Ruwad International School.

Contact: 99447002 / 99352441

1 B/R Fully Furnished Luxury Apartment @ Al Khuwair 33.

2 B/R Fully Furnished Luxury Apartment @ Al Khuwair 33. 4 B/R Unfurnished Apartment with attached Split A/C @ Azaiba. Contact: Atlas Real Estate & Rent A Car LLC : 99249069 / 94617563/ 99436312, Email: info@alshahiintl.com

5 bedroom brand new villas for rent in Al Khoud, near Al Ruwad International School.

Contact: 99447002 / 99352441

Deluxe 1 & 2 bedroom flats, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 97721313 / 95070421

Well maintained 2 bedrooms flat in CBD prime location.

Contact: 24714625 / 94460790

Flat for rent 2 bedrooms in Ruwi Mumtaz area. Contact: 91409667 / 24291500

2 BHK at Mawaleh North, near Sadiq Al Amin Mosque.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

in Al Khuwair. Ideal for Coffee Shop / Restaurant / Office Space / Showroom 27sqm / 68sqm / 128sqm

1+2 BHK Ruwi, C.B.D & Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99024730 2+3 BHK Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99024730 Flat in Al Bustan in Muscat, 4 rooms, 3 bathrooms, family hall, kitchen with spilt unit air conditioner 400/- O.R. Contact: 96228232 / 92776303 2/3 B/R flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99776071 / 99057348 Flat in Al Bustan in Muscat, 3 rooms, 3 bathrooms, family hall, kitchen, store, laundry with spilt unit air condition 350/- O.R. Contact : 98919037 Flats for rent, rooms in Al Khuwair. Contact: 93830111

Ware house in Ghala for rent (400/ 800/ 1200/ 3300 SQM).

Contact: 91155779 Hotel for investment.

Contact: 91155779 2/3 BHK in Al Khuwair for rent.

Contact: 91155779

1BHK near Oman house behind Khimji HO. Contact: 95865686 Flats in Darsait. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact – 97007934 / 92609232 Brand new villas in Al Ansab.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Fully Furnished apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 94051789 / 97201688

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

1BHK at Hamriya near Muscat Pharmacy & 2 BHK at Mawaleh near Mosque Sadiq Al Amin.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

2BHK split A/C 200/- Monthly & 1BHK spilt A/C 150/- monthly new building good location Barka Market. contact 99342661

Flats, shops & store for rent in MBD area Ruwi, Mumtaz area.

Contact: 97293708 / 92433127

T H U R S DAY, M AY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

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DAILY GUIDE

AVAILABLE

INVESTOR PARTNER REQUIRED For a successfully Catering Restaurant Investor cum Partner is required.

Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

BUYING Bobcat available for rent.

Contact 97623299 Buying cars for cash.

Contact: 90202090

WANTED

FOR RENT Two bedrooms flat in Al Ghobrah near Oman Oil of 18 November Street. OMR 330 Monthly.

Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955.

Villa in Al Khoud consists of 6 bedrooms, 1 sitting & living room.

Contact: 91153933 Flats in Muttrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688 2BHK split A/C for rent Muttrah near Oman House.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 Offices and Flats in Ghala.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688 2 BHK flat at Ruwi Mumtaz area RO 320/-. Contact: 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288 Villa in Bousher consists of 5 rooms, 1 hall & living room.

Contact: 91153933 Office for rent in Mabela.

Contact: 99355330 Villa in Al Ghubra consists of 5 bedrooms, 1 hall and living room.

Contact: 91153933 Room with 9 bathrooms in Bousher for rent. Contact: 91153933 Apartment in Al Khoudh consists of 2 room & hall.Contact: 91153933 Flat for rent near Royal Hospital.

Contact: 99346793 2 bed rooms flat with hall, 2 bathrooms in Darsait near Muscat Municipality.

Contact: 92584715/ 24700120 Flat for rent in South Mabela.

Contact: 95331177 / 95230355 Studios flats starting from 120 in Qurum near Mars supermarket Call 96755180, 96755181

IELTS Coaching (academic) required nearby wadi Kabir area.

Please call on mobile or msg on Whats up. Mobile no: 92927880/ 99012165

FOR RENT

2 Shops for sale at prime location in Ghobra. Contact: 96381294 Bozlur Two properties for sale at Salalah Urban plot no 7- 44 – 006 - 06995, Residential, area 726 sqm & Abu Nakheel , Barka (near Naseem Garden) plot No 3-04-002-01-031, Agricultural, area 29, 207 sqm.

Contact: Mr. Akbar Rafay Mohd Rafay, Mobile No. 99346265, Preferred time: 8 am to 2 pm Building in Al Khuwair at prime location for sale.

Contact: 91155779

Shops / flats available in Honda Road, Ruwi & Mabellah Industrial area. Contact 24833972/ 24833974/ 99367448

Luxury Apartments in Boucher (35). Contact 95056808 / 97201688

Flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact: 92277419 1 BHK flat for rent R.O 180/Near Medical Darsait.

Contact: 24705742 2BHK split A/C for rent Muttrah near Oman House.

Contact: 97007934 / 92629232 1BHK Studio flat near Star Cinema RO 180/-. Contact: 99358589 / 97079146 / 95570288

Shop for sale near Oman House, Muttrah. Contact 99024362.

Ware house in W/K for Sale.

Contact: 91155779 Single colorful Bed and Sofa for Sale at Al Khuwair.

Contact 92881849 / What`s up No 97290565 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Mabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 165 Thousand.

Contact 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955

Flat for rent in Ruwi, Mumtaz area 2 bedrooms. Contact: 24291500 / 91409667

Steel rack sets (Godown shelf’s).

Contact: 94521205

Flat for Rent 2 bed room Near ISM muscat Indian Scoole Dar sate Tel : 00 968 95158570

Commercial /R land in Ghala (Industrial area) for sale.

Contact: 91155779

Furnished office (61M2) for sale / rent Al Khuwair near Zawawi Mosque. Contact: 95611569

Villa in Al Qurum / Azaiba/ Mawaleh for sale.

Contact: 91155779

02 BHK residential flat opposite to Al Nahdha hospital.

Contact: 99342733 /99795241

Dental chairs for sale sparingly used dental units for sale.

Contact Mr. Ansari 92616343.

Kumar 99570284

Brand new double bed room flats with two and three toilets, split ac, elevators available at Al Khoudh next to Al koudh health center.

Contact 99022675

Flats for rent, 6 brand new 3 BHK Flats with split ACs in Ruwi market. Contact: 99428284 / 98605556

Flat for rent 2 BHK 2 split A/C, 2 toilets, Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid. Contact: 97007934 / 92629232

Offices & Showrooms in Al Khood.

Contact 94051789 / 97201688

1 Bed room, sharing K& T, R.O 100, 2 bedrooms , sharing K& T R.O 200/- in AL Khuwair.

Contact: 95154331

For rent and investment Land industrial shops in Rusayl.

Contact: 99323957 / 95490842

LLC Company for sale with one investor visa approval.

Contact: 98532470, Email: ttchvac01@gmail.com

Commercial /R land in Al Khuwair for sale. Contact: 91155779

Fully furnished offices in Ghala main Street. Contact: 94300909

2BHK Big Size Flat Behind Bank Muscat, Wadi Kabir. Near ISWK. 97826454, 24815012.

FOR SALE

Flats in Ghobrah. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Warehouse at Wadikabir - total area 3500 sqm - covered warehouse (500sqm), office, accommodation (1000sqm), open area (2000sqm) please contact: 99273774 - 99202278

Flats In Qurum. Contact 94051789 / 97201688

Investor with fixed returns also welcome.

Flat in Al Khuwair opp grand mall 4 room 3 toilet + hall kitchen in 3 floor 400. Contact 99420346 Flat for rent in South AlGhubrah 3 rooms, hall and 3 toilets, kitchen rent 450/-.

Contact: 99335580

Ladies beauty parlour for sale in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 96392978 / 96700192 Steel Scrap materials for immediate sale. Contact 99273774/ 99202278 10 Shops in ground floor of 8 floor building in Bausher near Muscat Private Hospital. Have income of about 2,700 monthly. OMR 268 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 6 Villas of six bedrooms each under construction in one compound in Bausher near Muscat Private hospital. Prices range from 165 thousand to 179 thousand for each villa. Each villa has three floors and 369 sq mtrs build up area.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 or 97509955 Coffee shop for sale in Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 92994415 Working beauty parlour for sale at Al Ghubra. Contact: 98178135

Double Shutter 80 sq mtrs corner textile shop in Seeb Souq for sale.

Contact 99326339 20 x40 containers. Contact: 99354909

NRI

20 cent of Land at Irinjalakuda, Kallettumkara, Trichur Dist besides road side

Space for printing press available at wadikabir with or without machinery. Contact 99328430

for sale.

A well running pharmacy for sale at prime location.

Contact 99627621, 93240949

+968 93978378 / 0091 9947461230

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 Urgent sale of steel scrap only serious buyers kindly contact +968 96725423 for viewing the items.

Almost new beach/ garden lounge chairs /bar stools/ counter.

Photos can be sent 95865457

ACC. AVAILABLE Room with bath AC furnished at Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Room with attached bathroom for a family in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 97167857 Spacious semi furnished room with separate bathroom for executive bachelor Opp. O.C. Centre Ruwi . Call : 90611670 1 BHK appartment for rent in Al Khoud Shabiya near mazoon mosque for rent (next to alkhoud medical center and squ) MOB: 93913224 Small old house for rent in Ghobra. Contact: 97165972 Room with attached bathroom for working ladies in a flat in M.B.D. Contact: 99764307 Room with attached bathroom and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor or small family at wadikabir Contact 93049849 Furnish bedroom with attach bathroom for executive bachelor.

Contact: 97704794 Sharing accommodation near ISD. Contact: 99657340 1 BHK for rent, Ideal for small family or two bachelors, easy access to main road with AC near Sheraton hotel, CBD. Contact: 96444400 Villa for rent in South Mabellah, 3 bedrooms, sitting room, family Lounge, kitchen, three Toilets Contact 92212212 between 10 AM to 5 PM. Room available for Executive bachelor at Al Hail. Contact 96234708 Sharing Accommodation available for working ladies opposite Al Nadhah Hospital. Preferably Indians. Room with seperate toilet and sharing kitchen.RO.90.

Contact 96524717

Contact on

8 Cents of Res. land in Mannanthala Trivandrum near ST. Thomas School. Contact: 99410993

FOR HIRE Crane trailer, hiab. Contact: 99354909

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished apartment for rent, two rooms, majlis, hall, kitchen.

Near Carrefour al-mawalah.

Contact 99336776 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor, Al-Falaj Ruwi & lady Wadi Kabir near Mars hypermarket. CONTACT 96202458/96761960 Room available in Mumtaz area 1 room, 1 Bathroom, Kitchen & 1 room, common bathroom. Interested pleasecontact 92680041 Mr. Altaf Sharing acc. available for bachelor in Al Khuwair opposite Muscat Pharmacy R.O 90/- only.

Contact: 95250161

MV SALE Car for sale Mitsubishi Lancer, 2008 model, 1.3 CC. Contact: 92815138 Diesel tanker 1600 gallon, Volvo model 1987. Contact: 92836774 Nissan path finder, 2012 model.

Contact: 99467005 Lexus ES350 - 2010 Model Expat driven. Very well maintained and in good condition. RO 6000/(Negotiable). Contact for more information GSM : 99446573 Jeep – Chirokee - 2008 model, Expat driven and well maintained.

RO 3000/- (Negotiable) .

Contact for more information GSM : 99446573 Wanted Toyota Yaris 2010 or 2011, automatic white.

Contact: 99089441 Expats selling Toyota Corolla Silver, 1.6 Automatic 2008 with new tyres and manual window excellent condition 2,09,000 km.

Contact: 99759162

FOR LADIES Offer!! Treading Gold Facial & Pedicure just for 10 RO, Al Doom Parlour Ruwi: Contact 99619409 (watsup)

Please contact – 95213273

Email: muscatcoffeeshop@gmail.com

LOST Ahbiya Muhammad has lost Pakistani Passport No. DG 5198601.

Finder please handover to ROP Rajad Dann Das has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AC 442443.

Finder please handover to ROP

CHANGE OF NAME I Juliet Sultan Shaikh (holder of Indian passport No. G 5151759 ) Daughter of Mr. Fredrick castro having permanent residence in C/7 Uday Niwas , Marol military Rd, JB Nagar, Mumbai Maharashtra – 400059 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in AL Shanfari Bldg , 6th floor , flat No 609, Opp Al Khuwair Rawasco, PO Box 1676, PC -114, Muttrah, Oman (complete postal in Oman) intend to change my name from Juliet Sultan Shaikh (old name) to Juliet Sultan (new name) for all practical purpose.

Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No, 1727 postal code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

We Sultan Ahmed Umar Shaikh (name of father as per the passport holder of Indian passport No. J 5557929 and Juliet Sultan Shaikh (name of the mother, holder of Indian passport No. G 5151759 ) having permanent address in C/7 Uday Niwas , Marol military Rd, JB Nagar, Mumbai Maharashtra – 400059 ( Complete postal address in Indian) and presently residing at following address in AL Khuwair , P.B No .1676 P.C No. 114 Muttrah , Sultanate of Oman , here by solemnly affirm and declare to change the name of our child Miss Sansha Sultan Shaikh (name as per present passport), holder of Indian passport No. L 4996652 date of issue 19/12/2013 issued at Muscat. The name of our child will be henceforth known as Sansha Juliet Sultan (new name for all purposes) . Any objection towards change of name of our minor child may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, AL Khuwair, PB No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

I Sultan Ahmed Umar Shaikh (holder of Indian passport No. J 5557929 ) Son of Umar Mohamed Husain Shaikh having permanent residence in Shankar Farad Bldg , GR floor, Andheri( E) Village Mumbai ( complete postal address in India ) and presently residing in Al Shanfari Bldg, 6th floor , flat No 609, OPP Al Khuwair Rawasco, PO Box 1676, PC -114, Muttrah, Oman (complete postal in Oman) intend to change my name from Sultan Ahmed Umar Shaikh (old name) to Sultan Umar Shaikh (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No, 1727 postal code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

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SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

CANADA - Free Consultancy For Legal Job For Hotel Staff, Construction Staff, Medical, Gas & Oil Staff Free recruitment - free tickets, accommodation, work visa, contract for 2 (two) years.

Contact Number: 93392630/24618069 Pls send CV on muslimatservices@gmail.com

URGENTLY REQUIRED

FINANCE MANAGER Qualified candidate with 20+ years of experience, able to manage group of companies. Job responsibility will be managing the company finances, plan financial strategy, new investment opportunities,. new ventures, interact with banking officials and related.

Interested candidates may mail their resume on

omanjobsdcg@gmail.com

SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION WANTED

an Accountant With minimum 3-5 years Oman / GCC experience for a reputed Trading & Contracting Co. located in Azaiba.

Candidate must have Oman D/L & NOC.

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Send your CV: info@styletrading.net Fax: 244 95 411

ACCOUNTS & FINANCE Required Candidate with Masters in Finance 3 Years experience in accounting. Person should be available in Oman for interview.

Preference will be given to the candidates having knowledge in Focus accounting software. Submit CV at jobws2000@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Require Employee for Saloon in Al Amerat, should have experience.

Contact: 90600688

DOMESTIC HELPER Required Office Boy. Contact : 91120552 A full time living Housemaid required for an Indian female in Ghobrah. Contact: 97335255

DRIVER Required Omani Driver for a restaurant. Contact 95929911

Wanted driver. Contact: 97165972

ENGINEER/MECHANIC. Required for a leading Engineering Consultancy firm experienced Office Secretary. Send CV to: mail@abdullamukadam.com Fax: 24614398 Sales & Service Engineer – Air conditioning , Experience: Minimum 4 - 5 years, Should have knowledge about Oman market Valid Oman Driving License must.

Forward CV to hr@barikgroup.com An International design consultant office require qualified & experienced Staff : Quantity Surveyor / Civil Engineer / Structural Engineer. Candidates should send their CVs and summary portfolio to corduff@corduffoman. com clearly stating their expected remuneration package.

NOC availability & commencement date.

A well established Ready-mix Concrete Company needs an experienced ‘Maintenance Engineer’ to look after its multi-facility workshop and supervise / coordinate site wise operations.

vacancy052016@gmail.com

Qualified applicant may send their Curriculum Vitae (CV) at hr.asrdi@gmail.com

Urgently required

Filipino female Receptionist required for play area in Azaiba.

Good English & high energy required. Immediate start. Send CVs: playareaom@gmail.com

with Warehouse background / knowledge with valid driving license, Interested candidate may send their CV’s to

Qualifications: - 5 years minimum experienced in leasing field in Sultanate of Oman - Valid Omani driving license

Apply : hr@alraazioman.com

SALES PERSON wanted for tools and hardware shop in Barka. Must be switched on, self starter with a pleasing personality. Experienced preferred but not essential.

Contact 97472750

Required a male candidate for outdoor sales

LEASING OFFICER

General Practitioners, General Dentists, Staff Nurses, Lab Technicians, X-ray Technicians, Physiotherapists (female), Pharmacists etc for a medical group at Salalah.

Candidate with 3 years experience, Prometric and Dataflow (OMSB).

ADMIN/HR

URGENTLY REQUIRE

REQUIRED Marketing manager/ Sales Executives

Indian Accountant with 15 yrs experience / driving license 8 yrs in Oman local release available.

Contact: 93477447 Email: s4svpai@gmail.com

Indian male age 26, Accountant one year experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact Email: Anishkhan991867@gmail.Com Mobile: +968 9565 9415

Indian CA, male 34yrs and 14+ Yrs exp. in A/Cs, finance, auditing, consultancy and knows SAPB1,Tally ERP etc. , Oman D/L .Currently in Oman. NOC available.

Please contact: 94704800, Email: omanjobca@gmail.com.

Indian (Male) having 17+years Experience in Trading & Healthcare seeking senior Position in Accounts (11 years GCC Experience ) currently on Resident Visa (NOC Available ) and has a valid Omani Driving Licence. Contact: 91335026; skumartp@gmail.com

Indian male 26 years MBA experience in Accountant & Administration in a MNC company currently on visit visa ready to join.

Contact: +968 92194987 email: achal1989@hotmail.com

Experience in Sales/Marketing of Building Materials(Sanitary wares & Kitchens). Not less than 5 yrs exp Sound customer Base Contact email-

Accountant available with NOC, plus 10 years experience up to finalization of Accounting inventory control on Tally ERP9, ready to join immediately. Contact: 97667273 Email: babujashid@gmail.com

rgeorge@omantd.com & atalibus@omantd.com

IT Required Shop Sales man + Hardware Technician for IT Company with minimum 2 years experience.

Contact: 98825806 / 98825806, Email: info@rns-group.com

MEDICAL Required gynecologist GEN: practitioner lady lab Technician and pharmacologist immediately for a clinic in Suwaiq.

Contact: 95081010 Email: umchealthcare@gmail.com Care Medical Centre Al Seeb requires Gynecologist and General Practitioner.

Mail CV to:sarita_h23@yahoo.com Wanted Nurse for a dental centre at Qurum. Interested candidates may contact the below or mail : drasyanaseem@gmail.com or Contact 99458844 Urgently required GP, Gynecologist, Dentist, Staff Nurse, Lab Technician, Pharmacist, for a medical centre in Muscat.

Email ruwistar@hotmail.com.

Tel: 92603863 Urgently required Office Staff/ Manager for medical equipment import office in Ruwi. email: ruwistar@hotmail.com.

Tel: 92603863 Oman licensed GP doctor & Nurse required for a polyclinic in Sohar.

Remuneration to be best in the field.

Contact : 93828382 / 93678494, Email: alshifamodern@gmail.com Wanted Staff Nurse for a dermatology clinic in Muscat .

Must have MOH license and NOC. Attractive salary offered. Email: clinicvacancy2015@gmail.com Required Lab Technician, X- Ray Technician, Staff Nurses & Doctors.

Contact: 99681325 Email: pmsunilkumar@hotmail.com GP doctor needed for reputed clinic. Preferably with MOH license or with Dataflow & Paramatics pass Contact: 95388934 Require a qualified Nurse to take care of an elderly female.

Contact: 99425200

MISCELLANEOUS

SALES / MARKETING

Required candidates for following posts: Accountant, Storekeeper, Foreman Building Maintenance, Van-salesman (water), Helpers.

Candidates with Omani driving license preferred.

Contact 99273774/99202278

Required smart, young, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience for a reputed manufacturing company in Oman, having its Head Office in Ruwi. Experience in building materials is an added advantage. Omani Driving License and NOC is a must. Attractive remuneration package. Apply with photograph to E-mail: salesjobds@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Female Executive Secretary for MD Indian / Philippine Minimum 5years experience in HR and other administration work. Immediate appointment & attractive package.

Send your CV with passport size photo to E-mail: dsjob913@gmail.com Female Executive Secretary for MD. Minimum 5years experience in HR and other administration work. Immediate appointment & attractive package. Send your CV with passport size photo to E-mail: dsjob913@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Required Indian Mason – 5 nos., eligibility (minimum 5 yrs experience in road construction field).

Contact: 99882127 Email: georgymv@yahoo.com

SALES / MARKETING Required smart, young, dynamic Sales & Marketing Executive having 2-3 years sales experience for a reputed manufacturing company in Oman, Experience in building materials is an added advantage. Omani Driving License and NOC is a must. Attractive remuneration package.

Apply with photograph to E-mail: salesjobds@gmail.com 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 required for electrical equipments with driving license & 5/7 years working experience.

Fax your C.V 24833043 (Jinan Enterprises)

Required fresh Graduate in Sales / marketing with valid D/L. Send CV on Email : citycom213@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Interior Designer, Telecom Engineer, Finance Controller & Sales Manager with 3 to 5 years of experience in Oman with driving license who can execute and manage to get projects kindly.

Contact: gcpel16@gmail.com with monthly expected salary.

SITUATION SIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

Indian female M.Com with Oman driving license having 10+ years experience in Accounts & Administration in Oman seeking suitable job, NOC available. Contact: 91609799 Indian, Kerala Male B.COM & B.PE, Currently on Visit Visa. Looking for a suitable job in Accounts, Store Keeper, Sales etc. Ready to join as early as possible.

Contact 96988923 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Indian male 34 Yrs, Dual MBA Finance and marketing with IT skills, 7+ yrs of experience, Looking for suitable placement. contact 94879615,Emailsajan_chacko1981@yahoo.com Senior Accountant Indian male 10 years experience (8 yrs in Oman) with D/L & NOC, Accounts upto finalization. Contact: 99582979 / 97373853 Indian male M.Com, PGDCA, 10 years of experience in Oman as Senior Finance Executive good experience in finance and accounts looking for suitable placement with reputed organizations.

Indian male Accountant looking for a suitable placement in Salalah.

More than 20 yrs experience in Accounting job (upto the finalization of Accounts), 8 yrs working experience in Middle East in Dubai, Muscat & Salalah. Contact 91325029.

Sri Lankan, Senior Accountant with 6 Years experience, 2 years in Oman, BBA, Reading MBA , CA Inter Looking for Suitable Job, have Valid Oman Driving License, NOC Available. Contact 97250638 msmnaja@gmail.com Part Time Accountant for Book Keeping, Monthly Accounts & Accounts Finalizing Mob: 94073446 Omani female looking for job exp in accounts date entry customer service & PRO. Contact: 91161736 Indian male 43 yrs, M.Com – Finance with 5 yrs experience in Accounts in India, presently in visiting visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 93671785 Email: jeyan903@gmail.com Qualified CA & CS, CISA (pursuing) Indian male 10 yrs managerial experience, working in bank seeking suitable placement open to any GCC. Contact: 90788509 Email: kartirevy@gmail.com Indian/MBA/male Chief Accountant 18Yrs Experience, MIS, C.Flow, Budgeting, ERP, Cost accounting & Liasing with auditors. NOC available. Contact: 92254691/97826674 email: khader2305@gmail.com Accountant Assistant BBA, exp, Tally have 2 yr valid VISA PH : 98269281 Young Indian male ACCA finalist with B.Sc (Hons) in applied Accounting with 3 years experience & holding valid Omani driving license seeks immediate placement, NOC available. Contact: 92851056 Sudanese Accountant, Alexandria University Graduate bachelor of commerce Diploma of Marketing professional photographer worked in PR and social media for 2 years looking for a job in public relations media, social media or marketing.

Contact: 96976240 Senior Accounts Executive, B.Com, 05 years experience in India, seeking urgent job in Oman. Contact 919900077458, +968-98444359, Email:syedtou23@gmail.com.

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 25 yrs, Graduate in commerce, overall 5 yrs exp in accounts/ finance field. On visit visa.

Immediately available.

Contact 92836216 / muhammad.tausif623@gmail.com Sudanese accountant holding BSC, CIB 8 Post Graduate Diploma in financial management with Banking experience in projects finance. Contact: 99061339 Indian male Chartered Accountant with 2 years experience looking for suitable placements. NOC available. Contact: 96357827 Email: ubaiskeeran@gmail.com Indian male 28 Accountant / Senior Audit Associate ACCA finalist Having 6 years experience in accounting up to finalization currently on visit visa.

Contact: 95193650 or 99078853 Junior Accountant available (ACCA). Contact: 99854384 Email: syedimtiaz1234@gmail.com Accountant available with NOC, 7 years experience in Oman.

Ready to join immediately.

Contact 98263394 Senior Accountant/Ast. Finance Manager-M. Com Finance-Indian with 7 years experience in Finance & Accounts up to Finalization. experienced in facilitations & banking, having D/L & NOC. Contact 94122464, cammk13@gmail.com Accountant, Indian male, BBA with tally having 2 plus years of experience as an Accountant and 2 years experience in hardware networking seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 98201244 Senior Accountant MBA Finance with 7 years experience in Accountants & finance good knowledge of payroll, Peachtree tally, audit handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly Basis.

Contact: 99430421 Email: muhammadammad188@gmail.com Accountant 8Years Experience with D/L and NOC. Contact 97712084 Fresher 24, ACCA Affiliate, Advanced diploma in Accounting and Business seeking suitable placement in Accounts, Finance or Audit with Oman driving license.

Contact - 92430152 Email - raju.rd619@gmail.com

T H U R S DAY, M AY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

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WŝƚŚ ϭϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ' ĂŶĚ KŵĂŶ͘ ŽŵƉĞƚĞŶƚ ŝŶ ^ĂůĞƐ͕ DĂƌŬĞƟ ŶŐ͕ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ŽƉĞƌĂƟ ŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟ ŽŶ͘ Interested employer please call

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN

An experience Finance Manager M.Com, CA, with 13 years varied industries presently working with a reputed group in Oman looking out for a suitable change. NOC available.

Contact: 95251987 Indian male MBA (F) with 6 years of experience as an Accountant proficiency in various A/C software & SAPFI seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 95920740 Email: abdulhameed1527@gmail.com Accounts part time services, available to handle all accounts up to finalization on monthly basis.

Finalization and audit works.

Contact: 96247295 ACCA member with 6 yrs of experience in Oman looking for a suitable job in finance.

Contact: 99284193 28/male/MBA - finance/B.Com Accountant with 4 years of Dubai/ India experience looking for a suitable placement.Contact 90187483 shobinkarikkan1987@gmail.com Accountant Indian male with 7 years experience up to finalization in tally & accounts receivable SAP R/3, good knowledge of payroll having Oman D/L, NOC. #93733996 Email Id: thmsb182@gmail.com

ADMIN With 15 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin / logistics looking for suitable position. Fluent in Arabic / English with D/L. Contact: 95824598 Indian male Post Graduate in HR 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. Contact 92854993.

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 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) 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin in India & Oman looking suitable placement.

Contact: 95619537 Indian male 25 yrs BBA & Diploma in travel and tourism with India & Gulf experience seeking job in Admin and travel industry.

Contact: 95891687 Indian female with nearly 10 years of Oman experience in Administration and HR, seeking suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 99242841 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

ARCHITECT Architect looking for a private & freelance work in design & modeling in 3ds max & architecture.

Contact: 96041201 Architect female 5 years experience seeking job. Contact: 96146645, Email: anjuovil@gmail.com

CATERING South Indian, North Indian Cook having 13 yrs experience in cooking field, now on visiting visa seeking for suitable job. Contact: 94598934 / 94638875 Email: bindyaneesh4@gmail.com

DESIGNER/DRAUGHTSMAN Filipino Senior Revit/AutoCAD Draftsman with 20 years professional experience is looking for suitable job in Oman. Please Contact: 96489798, (+974) 66653780.

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Autocad works, free lancer / part time, experienced, arch, MEP, structural. Contact : 97103168 Civil Draftsman for roads skills preparation of plan & profile, XSEC Structural drawings (Culvert, Retaining wall, Line side drain etc). Contact: 94034544 / 97840515 Revit, Autocad D/man, expected salary 200 OMR PH :92279784 Architectural Draftsmen diploma 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.

DRIVER License light heavy duty, PDO license experience 8 years mechanical experience vehicle.

Contact: 92091528 3 years experience looking for job.

Contact: 96457875 Driver want job. Contact: 93822195 Light vehicle driver. Contact: 95891087 Driver with Car. Contact: 95892363 Light duty driver Pakistani more than 3 yrs exp seeks placement.

Contac: 97732728 Light driver with 6 years experience looking for job.

Contact: 92617293 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 96371945 / 94575111 Light duty driver 2 yrs exp.

Contact: 96393805 Light duty driver, vehicle license of Oman, can drive Commercial vehicle wants job. Contact: 95980506 Driver with car 3 years experience looking for job.

Contact: 92041902 Bangladeshi, looking for light driving job. Contact: 97224035 Light duty driver, 2 yrs exp seeks placement. Contact: 95207068 Driver with car. Contact: 95353830 / 91701223 Driver with car. Contact: 93346085 GCC driver 10 yrs exp.

Contact: 93722881 Driver with light duty license, 10 yrs experience.

Contact: 92742722 Family driver. Contact: 97196448

EDUCATION/TRAINING Female B. Ed English teacher, 7 yrs exp seeking suitable placement. Contact : 99739415 / 92091528 Indian, Kerala Male B.PE & B.COM ,13 yrs of exp as Sports Teacher.

Currently on Visit Visa, looking for a suitable job in Schools & Institutions etc. Ready to join as early as possible. cont:- 93301023 email:- sajith3969@gmail.com Pakistani male Graduate in Economics looking for tution up to Secondary Standard preferably in Sanaya area. Contact: 98133520 Indian female, MSc Physics, B.Ed, 5+ years experience in Oman seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 93992958 / 96203570 Teacher Female , Phd in Chemistry having 3.5 yrs of Experience in India. Staying here on Family Visa & seeking for a suitable placement.

Contact – 99675828, Email Anupam.tiwari67@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECH./MECH. Electrical B.Sc Engineer Pakistani male 24 years looking for a job.

Contact: 94049812 / 92958112

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Sr. Sales & Marketing Specialist

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ENGG. / TECH./MECH.

IT

Indian male Civil Engineer with 15 Years experience in Oman with Valid Oman driving license & NOC seeking suitable placement in reputed firms. Contact : 97643290

Diploma Engineering Instrumentation Technician, 2 years experience skills calibration & installation etc.

Contact: 98963344 / 96946408 Email: anfeeranfu4@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer, 05 years Experience, India. #+968-98444359.

Seeking urgent job in Oman.

Civil Engineer, B.Tech, 6 yrs experience with Omani driving license, local release available.

Contact: 91693008 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 24 with almost 1 year experience as Production Shift Engineer, has achieved training on HVAC Engineering design and has good hands on software like AutoCAD and HAP.Currently in Oman on a visit visa, looking for a suitable placement.Contact: 95065955 email: mjs.jazeb@gmail.com Project Manager Electrical with 6 years experience with EHV & MV substation projects. NOC available.

Contact 91398559 B.E Mechanical Engineer, age 33 with 6+ years experience in GCC in MEP building construction field (execution and design of HVAC,firefighting,plumbing), with D/L, NOC available 96978380;prajithks@gmail.com Civil & MEP Sub contractor we are doing all types of civil electrical & plumbing works. Contact: 98040451 /94109760 Auto CAD Drawings & program chart we are doing all types of civil, electrical, plumbing shop drawings & program chart for approval.

Contact: 98040451/ 94109760 Electrical Engineer Indian male 30 years having 5 years of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India, holding valid Oman D/L. Contact: 92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Civil Engineer B.E 6 years experience with Omani driving license.

Contact: 95964048 / 99554461 Email: adnan002@yahoo.com DIP Mechanical Engineer tool & die, CAD course Pro Engineering ROPE Access level 1 experience 3 years in Hyundai Motor Chennai.

Contact: 93550661 Email: feroz1391@gmail.com B.Tech in Electrical & Electronics Engineering experience 3 years in central industries Ltd Chennai as Project Engineer in oil & gas industry in installation Erection, commissioning & maintaining terminal Automation system.

Contact: 93550661 Email: rashiqrahuman@yahoo.in Electronic and instrumentation B.Tech Indian male 04 years with 2 years Indian experience looking for suitable position available in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 91228010 Indian male BE Mechanical with 11 years experience in Automotive engineering and Industrial maintenance in Oman. With valid driving license seeks suitable job.

On release in Oman. 92880593 Diploma Civil Engineer (8 years Exp.) with driving license.

Contact 92429006, francisprem123@gmail.com Sudanese Civil Engineer 6 years experience in Oman.

Contact: 95212902 Civil Engineer 6 years experience.

Contact: 90183630 Petroleum Engineering looking for job experience 4 years refinery NDT Inspector Safety (OSHA) rig tools inspection. Contact: 97927380 Electrical & Electronics Engineer 1 year experience currently on visit visa, available immediately.

Contact: 90654844 / 90491353 Email: feyizmohamed@gmail.com

tŝƚŚ ŽǀĞƌ Ϯϱ LJĞĂƌƐ ŝŶ ǀĂƌŝĞĚ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĞƐ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚůLJ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƌĞƉƵƚĞĚ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŝŶ DƵƐĐĂƚ͕ ůŽŽŬŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ĨŽƌ Ă ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘

Contact 96960991, Email : sunap1968@gmail.com

Indian Graduate Civil Engineer having over 19 years Gulf experience in contracting consultancy firms seek immediate employment. NOC available. Contact: 93251306 / 99446786

HVAC Engineer 20 yrs exp Tendering, estimation & installation.

Contact: 98532470 Email: ttchvac01@gmail.com

Ŷ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ŚĂƌƚĞƌĞĚ ĐĐŽƵŶƚĂŶƚ

Indian male, Diploma Engineer with BBA & 16 yrs experience in Oman, worked with MNC in retail (Telecom/ Lubricant sales) and with construction industry handling various products & subcontract projects.

Holding valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Civil Engineer diploma, 4 yrsexp seeks suitable position ina reputed company. NOC available.

Contact 96789711 Civil Engineer 8 years experience Structural buildings marine.

Available NOC release.

Contact: 92451323.

Email: zubairali134@yahoo.com Indian male Electrical Engineer, having 6 years gulf experience in designing, assembling, commissioning execution etc having valid GCC license too looking for a suitable.

Contact: 00968-98052942 Email: azamjeelani78@gmail.com 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 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 Telecommunication Engineer resident in the Sultanate, Sudanese Nationality. Contact : 95000024 Civil Diploma Engineer cum quantity Survey male 7 years experience in Oman valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93356736 Email: jaleelvanimalkp@gmail.com Indian male QC inspector diploma in Instrumentation, 6 yrs experience in Gulf.

Contact: 968 95930978 Email Id: savioaj@gmail.com Automobile Mechanic ITI 3 years experience marine mechanical fitter 2 yrs experience. Contact: 93674847 Electrical Power Engineer looking for an entry level in an establishing organization. Contact: 90114053 Email: umairrehan90@gmail.com B.Sc Civil Engineer, MBA experience 5 years (15 months in Oman) English & Arabic, driving license looking for a suitable job.

Contact: 94162443 Indian male 26 yrs, B.Tech Diploma in AutoCAD, Site Engineer experience in Oman. Contact: +968 92529312 / 968 98665963 Sudanese Civil Engineer 6 years Experience in roads projects.

Contact : 97942699 Senior Graduate Civil Engineer having 12 years construction experience in Oman seeking suitable position in Civil contracting company. Sound technical knowledge & managerial skills, well versed in Oman construction standards excellent commutation skills.

Contact: 98852797 Mechanical Engineer 28 years, 3 years experience 1 year in Oman with NOC looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94887665 Email: mechatron_mt@yahoo.com BE Civil Engg having 10 years Oman exp looking for a suitable job presently in India. NOC available. Contact: 0091 9963320768 Mechanical Engineer 2 years experience as HVAC design and drafting MEP Engg. Contact: 90150913 Young Indian, Engineering in Bio-technology, Bio-chemical and Chemical, looking for a challenging placement in Oman.

Contact 97607000. Email: sivasankarjayakumar@gmail.com Pakistani male Diploma Civil Engineer 4yrs exp in Oman bulling & mega projects, valid license Oman.Contact:98921022

Indian male 26 B.Tech Civil Engineer 3 year’s 8 months Experience at building construction. In Oman 2 year’s experience N.O.C available seeking suitable placement Contact : 97396269 Email : usmanshaik42@gmail.com An Iraqi civil with more than 30 years experience in (Iraq and G.C.C) looking for a job, (N.O.C) available. Contact: 96561306 Email: iq.bgd.mnsr@gmail.com 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 Electrical & Electronics Engr, knows autocad & revit.

PH: 93837973 Construction Machinery repairs Engineer, 5 years, driving license, Contact - 94001961 Indian male, Structural Engineer looking for job in structural design field. Having 6 years of experience in design field. Residing in Muscat.

Contact: 91176187 syam036@gmail.com 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 Electrical Engineer experience 9 years in Oman. Contact: 98148034 Indian 14 yrs exp SR MEP – Elect Engg with NOC, searching suitable job, in field PMC, Fire consultants , Testing & com, project supervision.

Contact: 92437865 Email: maimran.mtech@live.com Indian 24 yrs exp SR civil Engg with NOC, searching suitable job, in any project Supervision.

Contact: 96602718 mishteyaqh@yahoo.co.in 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 Site Supervisor, Diploma in Civil Engg (cert attested) knows autocad revit, salary exp: 250 Ph : 92279784

IT 10 Years experienced IT Business Development Manager with good marketing and communication skills looking for suitable position, GCC driving license holder. Contact: 96201485 Indian Male, MCA Graduate, 15 yrs exp in ERP, CSM Certified, seeking suitable role.NOC Available.

Contact : GSM : 90189284 Email: meetlibran@gmail.com IT Support Engineer, Exp 3 years in Oman 2 years in India.

Contact: 94672759 System IT Engineer with Linux & UNIX System Administration skills transferable visa. Contact: 99109332 INDIAN FEMALE(24), B.Tech (CS), having 2 yrs experience in IT firm in India for java software development, on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact number: 93617427,92635670 Omani 26(m) seeks placement 6 yrs experience IT specialist.

Contact: 99025044 Machinist I.T.I experience in lathe, engine boring, cylindrical grinding, welding and fabrication valid driving license.

NOC available. Contact: 96297691 Indian female M.Sc Computer Science seeking suitable placement in Muscat area. Contact: 98660672

Indian female M.Sc Biotechnology, 3 years experience seeking for suitable position, part / full flexible for research, teaching business development IT hospitals.

Contact: 94710931 Email: skystars.hm@gmail.com

MANAGER Workshop Manager having 30 years gulf and abroad experience in plants & machineries, heavy duty trucks, readymix batching plants & crushers, water well drill rigs, rock blasting machineries etc. kindly contact @ 97145088.

Advertising media manager trading, M.Com with 20 years GCC experience in ATL+ BTL Brandy.

Contact: 93031168

MEDICAL Indian female dentist (BDS) looking for suitable post prometric & dataflow completed.

Contact: 90377433 D- Pharm Pharmacist 17 years experience Ayurvedic Panchakarma Masseur’s 3 years experience.

Contact: 93672452 General Dentist with NOC, 5 years experience seeking for suitable job. Contact: 98956747 / 91159996 (Brother) Email: dramjad32t@gmail.com Licensed Pharmacist with experience want job in Buraimi or Sohar.

Contact 93608698 Indian female Dentist specialized Endodontist looking for suitable placement, prometric completed.

Contact: 96410448

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Female, 25 Years - MSc Biotechnology. Looking for suitable job. Mobile: 92619048, Email: anusreeg1991@gmail.com BS in Electrical Engineering, Experience: 5 years(Power Plants).

Contact: 92475206 Email: zahaibzafar007@gmail.com Indian male 34 yrs in Oman on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97702082 Food Analyst Indian 30 yrs, 4 years experience in Oman (D/L) milk and milk product, juices water, biscuits, cooking and whole types of food analysis, NOC available. Contact: 93192009 5 years experienced (Front office & Banking), Indian Male (28 years. Hotel Management graduate), searching for suitable position. English, Hindi, Malayalam, Arabic fluent.

Noc available. Contact:91383167 B. Tech Electronics with MBA in Marketing management, 27, Indian male, 3 years in oman, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 90638539 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: 92066 523

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 Lady Secretary / Sales Co-coordinator 12 years experience in Oman in reputed companies, seek immediate Employment.

Call: 95244761 Looking for part time job Secretarial / Data Entry / Documentation available every day after 5:00 pm Friday / Saturday full day area preferred Ruwi/ CBD/ MBD / Al Khuwair. Contact: 90414827

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DAILY GUIDE

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

MANPOWER

SITUATION WANTED SALES / MARKETING Indian Male 22 years, Having experience in indoor sales/site supervisor Looking for suitable Placement.GSM: 97435306.

Email: zuhebnakhwa94@gmail.com Indian male Graduate with 18 years of Marketing experience presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 96168687 Email: dhibupaul@gmail.com Graduate looking for suitable replacement. NOC available. Experience in Oman 15 + years. Field : Executive - Sales & Marketing / Executive Secretary.

Contact : 95798149 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 MBA Sales Marketing business development with 10 years of vast experience 5 years GCC 5 years India excellent communication skills presently in Oman on visit visa looking for best opportunity.

Contact: 97946069 mail: faizanahmad2308@yahoo.com Indian male BBA & aviation currently on visit looking for suitable job in logistics, travels, sales etc.

Contact: 91350188 Email: farsheennaseer@gmail.com

Required Sales Executive / Merchandiser for consumer products with minimum 3 years experience and with valid Omani driving license. Apply with full details to scorpion@alhosnigroup.com Fax : 24597945

Indian male Graduate with 18 years of marketing exp, presently in Oman on family visit visa, looking for best opportunity. Contact – 96168687 / dhibupaul@gmail.com

The Business Development Manager, Iraqi, exp. 15 Years Inside and outside Oman following activities: construction(Very strong and qualified to bringing business for civil work Or any type of the construction work for many million per year with a good exp. in pricing and collect payment and cash flow & marketing projects & investments & tenders & real estate. Contact :- 92385033

Indian male Diploma in Electronics, having 3 years of experience in the hardware and networking field, also worked in construction company Mabela for 6 months as supervisor, trying to get driving license.

Contact: - +96897017866.

10 years ICT Business development & project management exp in Oman looking for suitable senior position.

Contact: 98987654 Indian Male, 26 M.Com with 4 yrs of Experience in Accounting & Administration in a Financial Company in India, seeks suitable job, Currently in India.

Contact: India:-+918907212253 Akhil:-93626288, Email: Sumeshpsmkr1989@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

MISCELLANEOUS

MATRIMONIAL RC Girl (29) hailing from Kanjirappally Dioces working in MOH looking for suitable alliances.

Contact: 92801093 Sunni Muslim family seeks proposal for their 24 year old daughter from well settled Urdu speaking Indian family. Pls call on 93521249 / 99374371 Parent of Thrissur based Hindu Ezhava girl aged 20, Slim,Atham star, Studying for B. Pharm seeking alliance from well employed Graduates, preferably in Engineering Contact :96425102 Malankara Catholic Male Nurse (28) from Thiruvalla working in Nizwa Private Co. Alliance invites parents/nurses working in Oman.

Contact 968 98267338, 0091 9287215726

MATRIMONIAL Marriage proposal invited for Urdu speaking Muslim girl, from Chennai based family living in Muscat.

Seeking a Chennai based boy, employed in Muscat, Urdu speaking and from Muslim family. Interested parties may email their family bio data @ sirluj@yahoo.com or Contact 91761223.

Seeking Alliance for Urdu Speaking Beautiful, Intelligent and religious girl aged 23. Pursuing M.Tech, I.T. (Final) from Lucknow.

Looking for Sunni Deobandi boy working in reputed firm. North Indian Families preferred.

Interested families contact at azizdr74@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED EDUCATION/CLASSES/COMP./WEB.

Wanted Groom - Pakistani parents living in Muscat are seeking suitable alliance for their 30-year old educated and good looking divorced daughter having 3-year old girl. Pakistanis working in Oman with family joining visa can contact email: abunoor1154@gmail.com Indian male Roman Catholic 40yrs divorcee working in Muscat.

Seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/ single.

Contact 96059801.

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

^ Zs/ ^ tĞ WƌŽǀŝĚĞ ůĞĂŶĞƌƐ͕ Kĸ ĐĞ ďŽLJƐ͕ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ ĞƚĐ͘ ů DƵĚĂŬŚŝƌ EĂƟ ŽŶĂů Ɛƚ͘ >> ŽŶƚĂĐƚ ͗ ϵϰϮϳϳϬϮϬ

Spoken Arabic class for Non Arabic Speakers & English class for Malayalam Speakers

in Azaiba and Ruwi earn in two months

tion guaranteed

Tel: 95244310

WĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů Θ BƵŝůĚŝŶŐ ĐůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ăůů ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ͘ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ůĞƐ ͬ DĂƌďůĞ ƉŽůŝƐŚŝŶŐ ŵŽŶƚŚůLJͬ YĞĂƌůLJ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚƐ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ͘ ŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ ϵϴϴϭϰϳϯϯ ͬϵϴϴϭϰϳϰϬ ů ,ƵƐŶ ůĞĂŶŝŶŐ >͘>͘ Split unit & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 96236476

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

A/C Maintenance & Servicing, Fridge, Washing machine & Dish washer repairing, Painting & Cleaning services, Electrical & plumbing.

Contact 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

CAD drawings Archi/ MEP CAD – comply BIM. Contact: 91233975

Regular container transportation from Sohar sport to anywhere in Muscat area OMR 100 per container. Contact: 93731363 Marble crystallization & grinding, Ocean center LLC Contact: 99344723 A/C servicing maintenance.

Contact: 92279370 House shifting.

Contact 99708138

CCTV, Computer Services at best price. Contact 91289330 We do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663 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 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. contact 24793614/ 99314807 Split & window A/c servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 House Shifting Packing.

Contact: 99657644 / 98518013 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Al farzdaq Al Fedi Trad and Cont Maintenance services electric, plumbing and A/C. Contact: 96524904 /94285064 Pest control treatments, Ocean center LLC Contact 99344723 Marble crystallization & grinding, cleaning & carpet shampooing.

Ocean center LLC. Contact 99344723

Split unit & widow unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 95323517 / 93769089 Service & maintenance of split & window A/C. Contact: 95273713

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis, massage, steambath, obesity, Spondylitis, Ideal Care Ayurvedic Clinic, 18 November Street, Azaiba.

Contact: 99639695 / 97397320 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Coming soon in Muscat for Omani & Expatriate Students Hospital Service course (Mandatory 1700 hrs) enhanced International Accreditation & certificate options form Hussein Technical Training Al Khodh & Sohar branch locations 1st Batch from 1st August’16. Web: www.httiomn.com / Email: careers@goldenapplete.com / Contact: (Whatsapp) +968 96412252 (Mobile) + 968 93287717 / +968 96412251

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact: 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.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

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

TOURS

TOURS

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours contact 98029602, 92808636 We arrange tours & accommodation at all the beautiful places in Oman. Contact 99839898

DRIVING SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION Transportation available Ruwi to Al Khuwair, Ghubra & Azaiba.

Contact: 91103909 Transportation. Contact: 94510847 Transportation. Contact: 95190627 25 - 50 seater bus with PDO & BP speciďŹ cation for monthly rent & small car with driver.

Contact: 99839898

Transportation. Contact 9508282 Transportation.

Contact 92015894

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Picking and drop Al Khuwair to Rusayl. Contact 91287470 / 98957524

Required partner investor to build an apartment in Al Mobelah.

Contact: 99355330

Transportation required from Qurum to WadiKabir at afternoon only 1 PM. Contact - 99012165

Need investor for pure Veg. Coffee shop, Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99437869

Transportation available in Ruwi, MSQ, Al Azaiba, Al Hail, Al Khoud, Al Mabela drop & pick.

Contact: 95250161

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

Investment opportunity for lucrative building and decorative product. Contact: 99421513 Email: borderlineomn@gmail.com

RENT A CAR Best Rates for Saloon Contact: 97869042 / 95730550 sales@modernreem.com

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T H U R S D AY, M AY 1 9, 2 0 1 6

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED DINING DELIGHTS

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