Times of Oman - June 23, 2015

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TUESDAY, June 23, 2015 / 6 Ramadan 1436 AH

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Plan to help Muscat weather the storms SAYYID ASA’AD BIDS ADIEU TO INDIAN AMBASSADOR

On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, His Highness Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said received Indian Ambassador J. S. Mukul in his office on Monday.

Sayyid Asa’ad bade him farewell at the end of his stint as his country’s ambassador to Oman. The Indian envoy thanked His Majesty the Sultan, the government and the Omani people for the support he received during his stay in the Sultanate. The ambassador wished His Majesty good health, happiness and a long life and the Sultanate further progress under the wise leadership of His Majesty. Sayyid Asa’ad expressed thanks to the ambassador for his efforts to boost relations between the Sultanate and India, wishing him success in his future assignments and the Indian people further progress and prosperity. —ONA

LUXEMBOURG

WATERLOGGED: City areas flooded during the heavy downpour in the past. - Photo: Times of Oman

ated a study on the drainage system and invited consultancy services to submit proposals for a detailed design of a storm water drainage system to be built in the capital city. A senior official of the Muscat Municipality said tenders were floated last week for areas like Mabella and Al Ansab.

Muscat Municipality has initiated a study on the drainage system and invited consultancy services to submit proposals for a detailed design of a storm water

Submission of proposal “The last date for the submission of proposal is the first week of July and fee for filling the tender for Mabella is OMR75 while that for Al Ansab is OMR 125,” said the official. The official said that they were conducting studies in phases.

“We have completed similar studies in other areas too. They include all the available information about wadis and low-lying areas, and are expected to provide a solution to the problem,” he said.

He explained that the first phase includes areas like Al Ghu-

drainage system to be built in the capital

RAHUL DAS/FAHAD AL GHADANI

rahuldas@timesofoman.com fahadnews@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Hospitals evacuated, cars swept away, lives at risk and emergency services stretched to the limit protecting citizens of Muscat.

It’s a familiar tale every time the sky darkens and rain falls on the

capital, the heavier the downpour the greater the disruption.

While the recent tropical storm Ashobaa passed by Muscat, the scenes from the last bout of bad weather remain fresh in many memories. But maybe that is all about to change.

Drainage system Muscat Municipality has initi-

bra and Al Athaiba, the two areas below sea-level with a multitude of roads and numerous wadis but without a drainage system, which often leaves the areas waterlogged and prone to flooding.

The municipality has also initiated a study for mapping the wadi networks, measuring their total volume and the amount of rainwater they receive, rating their efficiency and basically surveying the existing drainage system to prepare a new plan that fits the needs of the governorate. “We are working on something that will help us to solve the drainage problems in the governorate,” he said.

The project will also include work on a hydrological model to track the movement of storm water and finding ways to properly drain it. “Every city in the world has a process to drain the storm water and right now we are working on that plan,” he said. >A6

His Majesty sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the

Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to Duke Henri and the people of his country further progress and prosperity. -ONA

E I D A L F I T R C E L E B R AT I O N S

Royal Oman Police warns against buying firecrackers Times News Service MUSCAT: Do not purchase firecrackers to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, warned the Royal Oman Police (ROP) on Monday.

The ROP said that they are

“monitoring all official borders to prevent smuggling of firecrackers into the Sultanate based on the fact that they are widely distributed before the Eid Al Fitr holidays, which in turn could pose a threat to public safety.” >A6

M E T E O R O L O G I C A L D E PA R T M E N T F O R E C A S T

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TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Heart disease risk

1

It’s important to have a healthy lifestyle to keep cholesterol level under check as unhealthy patterns raise heart disease risk. >A2

OMAN

Seats for women

2

The Oman Women’s Association (OWA) has called for a bigger representation of women in municipal councils. >A3

Possibility of rain due to depression in Arabian Sea REJIMON K

and Ibri. Nizwa, Suwaiq and Mudhaibi, in addition to Bidiyah, Yanqul and Quriyat will also experience thunderstorms.

Issuing an alert, the Indian meteorology department has said that Sunday night’s low-pressure area over the northeast Arabian Sea has already intensified by Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Anthony Sagliani, international meteorologist at Accuweather.com, said that the system will not bring rain to Oman or impact the country.

Most of the rain will fall in southern Pakistan and Northwest India. The Joint Typhoon Warning Centre said the area of convection is located 295 nautical miles South of Karachi, in Pakistan.

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Rain clouds are moving towards the Oman coast following the formation of a depression over the Arabian Sea. “The skies will be partly cloudy along the coastal areas of Dhofar and adjoining mountains with chances of intermittent drizzle.

Areas adjoining Al Hajar Mountains may also receive isolated rain. There will be a dust storm in open areas too,” said the Oman meteorological department in its 48-hour forecast.

In its advisory, the department has predicted thunderstorms in Buraimi, Fahud, Rustaq, and Ibra, apart from Saiq, Samail, Bahla,

THUNDERSTORMS PREDICTED IN...

Buraimi Suwaiq Yanqul

MARKET

Rustaq

‘Bank assets good’

3

Loan assets of Omani banks are of high quality, but there are some areas of concern, the CBO said in its Financial Stability Report. >B1

Quriyat

Samail

Ibri

Saiq Bahla

Nizwa Ibra

Fahud

Mudhaibi

Source: Directorate General of Meteorology

Bidiyah Graphics

Two civilians killed in Afghan parliament attack

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Film on Oman beauty goes viral REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: A four-minute video titled 12 days in Oman, which has captured the beauty of Oman over 12 days, has gone viral on the web.

Directed and edited by a German freelance filmmaker and uploaded on Vimeo, the video has been seen by 58,700 viewers in eight days.

“We drove over 4,200 kilometres across the unexplored and beautiful country of Oman. We made friends with young and old Omanis, discovered absolutely stunning landscapes and captured our entire experience in this film,” Marko Roth, the German filmmaker told the Times of Oman.

“Together with my friends Lucas, Dominik and Vivi, we explored Oman in 12 days. On our way from the north to the south, we came across deserts, beautiful beaches, high mountains and amazing wadis,” said Marko, adding that he

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visited Muscat as he wanted to discover a new place.

“My favourite spots were the wadis. I have never seen something as gorgeous and natural in my life before,” added Marko.

The breathtaking beauty of Oman was captured with Canon 5D, GoPro, Iphone 6 and a Glidecam HD-4000.

According to Marko who has done similar projects in Norway, France, Tunisia, Denmark, Argentina and Brazil, the Omani people were very friendly.

“Everything was possible. Normally I have to watch all my camera equipment carefully, so it does not get stolen. In Oman, I never had to worry about my stuff. We felt really safe,” said Marko.

“More than 50,000 people have viewed our film. Two Omanis have invited us for dinner and we have received more than 60 overwhelming comments and messages and plenty of institutions, including the Ministry of Tourism, have supported this film,” added Marko.

If readers wish to contact Marko, they can go to www.markoroth.de

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 An unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and physical activity, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance are some of the factors associated with lipid disorders Dr Khalid Al Rasadi, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

OMAN INTERNAL SECURITY

PACP, ROP conduct raid in two Buraimi farms, shut workshop Times News Service MUSCAT: Public Authority of Consumer Protection (PACP) and the Royal Oman Police (ROP) teams raided two farms in Buraimi where an unlicensed carpentry workshop was found.

The teams consisted of a special unit force and personnel from the Department of Criminal Investigation and Buraimi Police. The raiding teams found expatriate workers recycling the used items to be sold as new to the public. Four expatriate workers were arrested and tools and materials for making furniture were confiscated.

Labour law violators The Directorate General of Manpower, representing the ministry in North Al Batinah, arrested 47 people for violating the labour law in different parts of the Sultanate from June 15 to June 20.

This was a result of the crackdown by the ministry on people working illegally and strict action being taken against the offenders.

Most fines were for violations of the commercial licence. Thirtyfour people were runaways from the ministry, 11 were working as agriculturists and two were in personal service. After the necessary action, the Directorate Gen-

eral confirmed that barring the 34 runaways, the remaining 13 had been released from their contracts by their employers. During the same action, 58 expatriates were deported after it was discovered they were repeat offenders. The Directorate General and the ROP is seeking to further intensify the search for offenders and increase the raids in workplaces and meeting points of expatriate labour.

Every report of an offender violating the labour law will be followed by surprise raids, it said, and added that the offender will be penalised under Article 114 of the Omani labour law.

WEBSITE

State Budget Guide unveiled by ministry MUSCAT: Ministry of Finance on Monday launched on its website the State Budget Guide, which contains a brief history of the State General Budget and objectives upon which the budget for the year 2015 is based.

A statement, issued by the Ministry of Finance, said that the guide includes details for the major items of the budget, such as oil and gas revenues and expenses of the civil ministries, as well as various types of government subsidy, such as loan interest subsidy, electricity subsidy and petroleum products subsidy.

The guide came due to the interest of all segments of the Omani society to understand the budget with all its various details and involving the community in tracking the budget figures and operations, including financial correspondence and documented information in to achieve transparency.–ONA

Healthy lifestyle curbs cholesterol Science at SQU, said that high levels of cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart diseases and is very common in Oman, the Gulf region and the Middle East in general mainly due to obesity and diabetes.

A lipid disorder is a condition in which there are high levels of bad cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood, said the head of the Lipid and LDL-Apheresis Unit at SQU Hospital and the president of Oman Society of Lipid and Atherosclerosis The specialist noted that lipid disorders are linked with a combination of nature of lifestyle and diet as well as genetic factors.

Bad cholesterol in high levels can build up on the walls of the blood vessels and increase the chances of heart disease and stroke attacks ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: It is important to have a healthy lifestyle and keep the cholesterol level under control to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, said an Omani specialist. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all the cells of the body. The body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D and substances that help a person digest food.

The body makes all the cholesterol it needs through the liver but a small amount comes from the food. The liver makes the cholesterol from saturated fatty acids. This is why if we reduce the intake of saturated fatty acid in the diet, we can control our blood cholesterol. The dietary cholesterol plays a minor role in controlling our blood cholesterol.

Simple blood test Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr Khalid Al Rasadi from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Hospital said that cholesterol levels can be checked by a simple blood test called a lipid profile.

According to him, the profile shows the total cholesterol level comprised of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) known as ‘bad’ cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) known as ‘good’ cholesterol, and

MEDICAL ADVICE: Dr Khalid

Al Rasadi from Sultan Qaboos University Hospital.

triglycerides. Bad cholesterol in high levels can build up on the walls of the blood vessels and increase the chances of heart disease and stroke. The lower the bad cholesterol levels, the lower the risk.

Children’s case Children who need cholesterol more for their growth are born with very low levels of bad cholesterol. This highlights that a growing adult should have similar levels of bad cholesterol in their blood. Good cholesterol takes the bad cholesterol out of the body and protects against cardiovascular diseases and stroke. A higher good cholesterol number means lower risk.

Triglycerides are fats carried in the blood from the food we eat.

A high triglyceride level has been associated mainly with acute abdominal pain condition called acute pancreatitis. In addition, high triglyceride level is indirectly associated with higher risk of heart conditions.

Dr Al Rasadi, head of the Department of Biochemistry at the College of Medicine and Health

Contributing factors “An unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and physical activity, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance are some of the factors associated with lipid disorders,” said Dr Al Rasadi.

He added that people are advised to have a healthy diet and limit their intake of red meat and high-fat dairy products and instead eat more fruits and fish, which contains Omega-3.

Exercising regularly is also highly recommended, which is helpful and also regulates other risk factors like obesity, hypertension and diabetes, he noted.

“Those who do not respond well to lifestyle modifications, have evidence of heart disease or stroke, diabetes or have genetic high cholesterol would need to take cholesterol-lowering medication to help reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke,” said Dr Al Rasadi, highlighting the importance of regular check-up and early diagnosis.

According to him, nowadays, lipid disorder does not only occur at the age of 40 and above and even people in their 20s are advised to take the test to prevent further complications.

Those with a family history of these disorders are urged to get themselves tested even much earlier, he added.

I TA- PA M R T I E - U P

Pact inked for job registry Times News Service MUSCAT: Public Authority for Manpower Record (PAMR) and Information Technology Authority (ITA) recently signed an agreement to implement the Job Registry Project with CrimsonLogic of Singapore at a total cost of OMR5,200,000.

The agreement was signed at the ITA building by Dr Yunis bin Khalfan Al Akhzami, CEO of PAMR, Dr Salim bin Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA and Ken Su Wei, CEO of CrimsonLogic.

Dr Yunis bin Khalfan Al Akhzami said that the project’s duration is 14 months from the day the agreement is signed.

The project, which directly links various agencies responsible for workforce data, is to establish a database that enables education, training and recruitment entities to get the data directly from the database and enable job seekers to access job opportunities, whether in the private or public sector.

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OMAN

Women call for bigger role in municipalities Representation of women Four female candidates from among the 46 who contested the

Composition of candidates by gender and age

1,429

polls for municipal

Between 45-49 years of age 82%

councils in 2012, 18%

were declared

the age group of 35 to 39 years Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Women’s Association (OWA) has called for a bigger representation of women in municipal councils.

“Women know more about municipal duties. They care about the cleanliness of the streets, the schools, and the parks. All these are areas about which women understand more. I think it is important for our citizens to recognise that,” said Nashia Al Kharusi, member of the Oman Women’s Association, while reacting to the marginal presence of women in the municipal councils.

“It all goes back to the citizens and who they elect. They usually go for someone who is aggressive or who can demand more than women. It is more of a psychological problem. But women can send a message more clearly,” she said.

“The women are educated today and are very reasonable in their thinking, but probably they do not network with men,” said Al Kharusi. She explained that

2.1 females for every 100 male members

55 years and above

elected. Most of these candidates were in

Presence in the municipal councils (2012)

188

Male

Female

46

All female candidates are between 35-39 years of age

Source: NCSI

women mostly network with other women, and if they networked with men at times, it would improve their chances in the elections.

Contesting elections “In Muscat, you have a lot of active women, but they are reluctant to contest elections. They are ready to work within the Wali’s office and within their communities, but they do not want to contest an election.”

“Another problem is the reaction of the community itself.

Some of the women are afraid to lose an election,” said Al Kharusi.

According to statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), Omani women recorded a low presence in the municipal councils that included 188 male members compared to four female members with a rate of 2.1 females for every 100 male members accord-

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4 Graphics

ing to a study of municipal councils for 2012.

The study explained that 31 per cent of male members have a general education diploma, which comprises about three quarters of all the councils’ members of both genders with such qualifications.

The four female candidates in the polls for municipal councils were declared elected from among the 46 female candidates who contested.

Most of these female candidates were in the age group of 35 to 39 years.

In contrast, 1,429 male candidates contested in the municipal council elections. Most of the members were in the age group of 45 to 49 years. Generally speaking, the percentage of female candidates was 3.1 per cent against 96.9 per cent of males.

In the age group of 55 years and above, the percentage of male candidates was 18 per cent, while

LOW PARTICIPATION: In 2012 municipal polls percentage of woman voters was 38.6.

there were no female candidates in this age group.

The Muscat governorate logged the highest percentage of female candidates at 37 per cent, while there were no female candidates from the Dhofar and Wusta governorates.

The low presence of women is not limited to female candidates and members only. It extends to female voters as well.

The percentage of male voters in municipal elections was 61.4 per cent compared to 38.6 per cent of females.

The Dhofar governorate recorded the highest turnout of female voters with 133 females for every 1,000 males, while the highest election percentage logged in the governorates was recorded in Wusta with 51 per cent of its total population.

More than half a million voters elected 192 members of the municipal councils.

WA D I K A B I R

No big losses in burglary, OAB assures customers Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Arab Bank (OAB) has assured its clients that there have been no serious losses or damages to its Wadi Kabir branch as a result of a burglary attempt on Saturday late night, a statement from the bank said.

“Investigations are underway

and we would like to thank Royal Oman Police (ROP) for their immediate response and cooperation in investigating the situation. All our branches are fully equipped with a full-fledged security system and 24-hours CCTV surveillance cameras, which will assist and help ROP in identifying the perpetrators,” the statement added.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

TODAY’S DUAA ‘Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, but grant us mercy from You. You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.’

Backbiting is a grave sin There are several ahadith that define the evil of backbiting more serious than a social crime, writes AFTAB H. KOLA

W

e often come across people, especially women, co-workers, friends, who chat constantly. Leisure chatting as such does not constitute any violation of Islamic values but when it takes the form of gossiping then the real problem surfaces. Though even idle chatting is discouraged but backbiting earns the wrath of Allah and thus is considered a sin.

The Holy Quran says in chapter 49, verse 12: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption.

Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” So, one can imagine the fate of backbiting.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is quoted as saying: “It is to say something about your brother that he would dislike.” Someone asked him, “But what if what I say is true?”

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “If what you say about him is true, you are backbiting him, but if it is not true then you have slandered him.” (Saheeh Muslim).

In a plain sense, backbiting is to speak bad about a person behind his back, including matters concerning his character, worldly affairs, physical appearance and personality. Not only is backbiting restricted to words, but also it includes every behaviour and deed, whether indicating to a person by gesturing with one’s eyes, hand or head. Buhtan or slander means saying things about a Muslim that are not true or in other words telling lies about him.

So, backbiting is to mention something about a person in his absence that he hates to have mentioned, even though these things exist in him and are true.

Writes Maulana Ubaidur Rahman Qasmi, chief editor of English-monthly Muallim magazine (http:// muallim.in/ , “Backbiting is considered amongst the most destructive and dire sins. This is so because this generates enmity and discord among the Muslim Ummah (nation) and lead to its destruction. It causes hostility between people of the same household, and between neighbours, friends and relatives. Grievously, it is so widespread that it has become the topic of our meetings and an avenue for expressing anger, envy and jealousy. It is among those forbidden things which people often take lightly.

While, the Glorious Quran declared it as abhorring and hateful, and it termed Backbiter as the flesh eater of his dead brother.”

He further states, “Backbiting is the one of the grave social evils today. Backbiting is a destructive element that devastates the social construction and spoils the tied up relations. When the ill speech reaches the one about whom it is said, it hurts him and arises feelings of hatred, distrust and enmity in him.

“Through its regulations, Islam intends to reinforce fraternity and develop mutual amicability, while it warns against any matter that roils the pure hearts or raises malice and contempt.”

Assume for once that you are the one being talked about behind your back, with others pointing out your faults and making fun of you. The Prophet (PBUH) also said: “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” (Source: Saheeh Muslim) It is not enough just to say that you are not into backbiting but when it comes to real life you indulge in it. When you are in such a situation assuming that a

Hadith of the day ABU HURAYRAH reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, The five (daily) prayers, and from one Friday prayer to the next, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiation for sins committed in between provided one stays away from the major sins.

(Al-Bukhari)

conversation is moving towards a dangerous territory, change the topic. or if you can’t, then just be honest and say that you don’t feel comfortable talking about this person when they’re not there.

There are several ahadith that define the evil of backbiting more serious than a social crime. It is reported in a Hadith that backbiting is graver even than adultery. This is because when a man commits adultery and then repents to Allah, Allah accepts his repentance, but the sin backbiting is not purged away until it is forgiven by the person who was backbitten. (Mishkatul Masabeeh by Baihaqi: 4874).

The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: “Do you know who is bankrupt?” The Companions replied, “The bankrupt amongst us is the person who has no money or property.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The bankrupt from amongst my Ummah is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection with a good record of Salah, Sawm and Zakah. But he also had cursed someone, slandered against someone, unlawfully took the property of another, killed someone or beat someone. Then all of these abused persons will receive parts of his (abuser’s) Hasanaat. When all of his (abuser’s) Hasanaat have been removed from his record after he (abuser) pays back for what he owes, then the aggrieved person’s sins will be transferred to and thrown on him (abuser) and he (abuser) will be thrown into the Fire.” (Related by Muslim and Tirmidhi) So, the Muslims must avoid to commit backbiting, so that they can save their Hasanat and good deeds, and can keep their selves away to be among the one who will be counted bankrupt on the Day of Judgement.

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OMAN

Call to preserve family structures Sheikh Dr Kahlan Nabhan Al Kharusi,

Youth are empty spiritually. They are empty intellectually.

They are fed with this sort of culture: entertainment, sexuality, consuming the appearance of other advanced society

while speaking at the 5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana voiced his concerns about the main issues he sees as threats to religious societies FOR GLOBAL PEACE: Oman’s Assistant Grand Mufti, Sheikh Dr Kahlan Nabhan Al Kharusi voiced his

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN: Oman’s Assistant Grand Mufti, Sheikh Dr Kahlan Nabhan Al Kharusi, has called upon religious leaders to tackle a number of challenges the world faces today, from the threat of aggressive atheism to military interference without religious grounds.

Al Kharusi was speaking at the 5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, last week when he voiced his concerns about five issues he sees as threats to religious societies and implored religious leaders to join him in combating them.

“I call on the participants to concentrate on five main issues that are supposed to be agreed about by all religious leaders.

“If they claim they represent faiths and different religions, then there are shared challenges that they are facing,” he said.

In an interview with Times of Oman he spoke in depth about these issues which include a rise

concerns about five issues he sees as threats to religious societies at the 5th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, Kazakhstan, last week. He implored religious leaders to join him in combating them. Al Kharusi was speaking. – TIMES OF OMAN

in militant atheism, the erosion of traditional family structures as more countries allow same-sex marriage, youth who lack spiritual fulfilment, wars that are not religiously sanctioned, and bioethics, where some scientific developments harm human dignity.

The first issue Al Kharusi addressed is what he called “militant atheism,” a more hardline form of atheism led by people such as outspoken atheist writer and academic, Richard Dawkins. He is concerned that some atheists are no longer peaceful but becoming aggressive.

Al Kharusi said atheism is a threat to religion and it should be countered by religious leaders, though in a peaceful way.

“There should be programmes, social media programmes, there should be dialogues, workshops, enlightenment for people and as I said, if religions leaders do not realise such a fact, then they wouldn’t be able to achieve what they are looking for while tack-

ling the issue of terrorism because violence will lead to violence and at least such an approach will give an excuse to extremists,” he explained.

The Sheikh also spoke of the need for religious leaders to properly reflect the core teachings of their faiths. There is more to religion than spirituality, according to Al Kharusi, such as the commandments and rules in the religious texts and tenets.

Need to speak out “If we looks (sic) at all religions and different faiths and try to examine these teachings and commandments, we are going to conclude that the two main issues addressed in these religions are first, the sexual desire, and second, the financial desire, the worldly requirements of a human being,” he said.

He said religious rules are being ignored as many countries and even some religious organisations accept same-sex marriage and give rights to homosexuals to adopt

OFFICIAL MEETING

Minister of Health discusses new organisational strategy Times News Service MUSCAT: Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, recently met with a number of senior officials of the ministry at the meeting room in the ministry’s headquarters.

The meeting reviewed the new organisational chart of the ministry, as well as functions of its various divisions.

The minister inaugurated the meeting by welcoming the attendees and pointed out that the meeting was part of the government plan to hold regular discussions to elicit views on the new chart of experts in the field of health in the governorates.

The minister also stressed that

HEALTH FIRST: The new plan has been formulated according to

the present needs, as well as its future requirements.–Supplied photo

the new plan met the requirements formulated in accordance with the current needs of the health system, as well as its future requirements.

He also praised the efforts of all those who participated in formu-

lating the new chart.

The meeting was attended by the ministry’s undersecretaries, directors general of the health services in the governorates, executive directors of the hospitals, as well as senior officials.

children. He says religious leaders need to speak out against these social changes and apply the fundamental teachings of their faiths for the good of society, or they will leave a gap for extremists to fill.

“The essence of a society is the family and we are witnessing now that there’s a great harm that is caused to the family so the religious leaders should play their role in this regard. They cannot just keep silent. They have to convey the teachings and commandments of their own faiths and religions to their people,” said Al Kharusi.

He also asked the religious leaders to remind their followers that human dignity is not based on money or status. He said nowadays many people, especially youth, are tempted by wealth at the expense of human dignity.

“Human dignity is something which has been given to all humankind equally by their Creator and they have to preserve their human dignity. Such messages are of a great importance if we really

Sheikh Kahlan Al Kharusi Oman’s assistant grand mufti

want to fulfil the requirements of our youth,” he noted.

The third issue Al Kharusi raised was the culture of consumerism which is eroding traditional values and causing youth to be lacking spiritually and intellectually void. He was worried that people from poorer backgrounds, such as young Africans, may be influenced by African-American gangster and hip-hop lifestyles and try to imitate them, thinking they are well-cultured and fashionable. He said that when the youth realise how empty this consumer culture is, they may become susceptible to people with extremist agendas as they seek to fill their spiritual needs.

“Religious leaders are doing nothing. Youth are empty spiritually. They are empty intellectually. They are fed with this sort of culture: entertainment, sexuality, consuming the appearance of other advanced society. There is nowhere here from religious leaders, let alone decision makers, call-

ing for spreading a good culture and good traditions,” explained Al Kharusi.

The fourth issue he raised was military interference undertaken by governments without regards to religious approval. He said religious leaders are not consulted by decision makers and politicians when they are about to launch a war. Instead, they are called upon after to help solve the problems and ease the misery and suffering brought about by war.

Ethical guidelines Al Kharusi said there should be religiously-based ethical guidelines to dictate when wars can be undertaken. He suggested a platform in which religious values and ethics can dictate when military inference is permissible, one which religious leaders can agree on and pass on to governments who would then have the responsibility to empower it.

“I don’t think that any military interference will not claim that they are doing so not for a good cause, but it’s not their own decision. There should be (moral-religious) standards. There should be (religious) criteria,” he said.

Finally Al Kharusi called on his fellow religious leaders to address the issue of bioethics in science. He said there have been many advancements in science that haven’t been guided by religious ethics, such as creating people from three biological parents, something recently approved by the British Parliament.

If science is not guided by ethics, especially regarding human procreation, there could be great risks such as eugenics, so there need to be bioethics applied to science or human dignity will be greatly harmed, the Sheikh explained.

“There must be morals as a reference to such practices, as a reference to the researches conducted in labs and the goals and results we are looking for. But to leave things without such an umbrella, I think is going to lead in the future, with no exaggeration, to a disaster, because this is an area of sanctity,” he said.

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015 This is a celebration that coincides with the summer solstice. It’s celebrated around the world and it’s the job of the embassy to celebrate it, too Roland Dubertrand, ambassador of France to Oman

OMAN CABLES

HM receives greetings on Holy Month of Ramadan MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received more cables of greetings on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

His Majesty received cables from President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of

Dubai, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Heir Apparent of the State of Kuwait, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Heir Apparent of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Dr. Nabil El Araby, Secretary

General of the Arab League and Iyad Ameen Madani, SecretaryGeneral of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

His Majesty the Sultan has also received cables of greetings on the blessed occasion from ministers, advisors, honourable members of the State Council, members of the Majlis Al Shura, undersecretaries,

Omani ambassadors abroad, ambassadors of the Arab and Islamic countries accredited to the Sultanate, senior officials in the Arab and Islamic world, sheikhs, dignitaries and citizens.

Long life They expressed their sincere greetings along with their best

wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to His Majesty the Sultan, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this blessed occasion on His Majesty for many years to come to achieve further progress and prosperity for the Omani people.

His Majesty the Sultan replied on the well-wishers, thank-

ing their sincere greetings and best wishes.

Blessed occasion His Majesty wished them good health, happiness and long life, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this blessed occasion on them and on the Arab and Islamic nations. -ONA

French embassy marks ‘Make Music Day’ The French envoy hosted the classical concert featuring three music instructors from SQU, flautist Daniela Pisano, pianist Rosanna Dambrosio and violinist Irina Gvozdeva CLASSICAL FRENCH MUSIC: Fête de la Musique began in 1982 and is now celebrated on June 21

each year in more than 120 countries. – Supplied photo SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Three Muscat-based musicians performed classical music by a number of French composers to mark the annual Fête de la Musique, or ‘Make Music Day’, on June 21 at the residence of the ambassador of France.

Fête de la Musique began in 1982 at the request of the then culture minister of France, Jack Lang, as a way to make music more public. It’s now celebrated on June 21 each year in more than 120 countries.

“This is a celebration that coincides with the summer solstice.

It’s celebrated around the world and it’s the job of the embassy to celebrate it, too. Tonight we’ll

have a selection of French baroque music and music from the 19th century. It’s a night of musical discovery since not all of the composers are well-known,” said Roland Dubertrand, ambassador of France to Oman.

The event was celebrated twice in Oman, first with a DJ night at the Grand Hyatt on June 11 which featured a French DJ and an Omani DJ. On Sunday evening, Dubertrand hosted the classical concert featuring three music instructors from Sultan Qaboos University, flautist Daniela Pisano, pianist Rosanna Dambrosio and violinist Irina Gvozdeva.

About 50 people gathered at the residence for the concert, which featured music by lesser-known

French composers including Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Nicolas Chédeville, Claude Bolling, Paul Dukas, Albert Perilhou and Jacques Ibert.

Perfect for the occasion The concert began with a piano and flute duet of de Boismortier’s Sonata for Flute and Harpsichord, but played on grand piano rather than a harpsichord. The piece was a light, summery composition perfect for the occasion.

Another highlight Chédeville’s Il Pastor Fido, a pretty piece highly reminiscent of music by Antonio Vivaldi. The piece is often mistakenly to Vivaldi, Pisano explained, adding that the composer was heavily influenced by his Ital-

ian colleague. The audience was also delighted by some modern music by jazz composer Claude Bolling which ties baroque and jazz rhythms in the first section, aptly titled Baroque and Blue, before shifting to a more moody and emotional piece, Sentimentale.

The piano and flute were joined by the violin for Ibert’s Two Interludes. The addition of the violin added a rich depth to the music. The first piece was hauntingly beautiful while the second was upbeat and chaotic.

The concert concluded with an encore that moved away from the French theme with a piece by Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla, a beautiful ending to the Fête de la Musique.

I N T E G R AT E D T OU R I S M P R O J E C T

Muscat Hills Residences hands over first villa of second phase Times News Service MUSCAT: Muscat Hills Residences, a real estate development in Oman overlooking a golf course, handed over its first villa of the second phase of development to Ali Al Shanfari and his family on June 21.

Around 50 per cent of the villas have been acquired by Omani nationals and the rest by Asian and western communities.

Two companies, Muscat Golf Course and Country Club and Oman Urban Development Company, have joined hands to construct these villas with the quality at each stage monitored by the Towell Construction Company. Ali Al Shanfari expressed his happiness on receiving the keys of his villa.

This project is designated as an Integrated Tourism Project, which offers absolute freehold ownership and residency status to all purchasers, Omanis, GCC R A I N WAT E R

PREMIER RESIDENCES: Around 50 per cent of the villas have been acquired by Omani nationals and the rest by Asian and western communities. – Supplied photo

nationals as well as expatriates.

Forty premier residences; comprising of four and five bedroom villas are now complete.

The villas are designed keeping in mind the homeowner’s requirements, using marble finish, high ceilings, tall veneered doors and built-in wardrobes, double

glazed windows, fully fitted kitchens, and fully ducted ACs as well as roof terraces which can be used for social gatherings. Muscat Hills also offers its residents the opportunity to walk, jog, and pursue other outdoor leisure activities around the 13 km of cart track that flows through the course.

LEGAL ACTION

A1 Drainage A1 Firecrackers to be confiscated: ROP < FROM

< FROM

The municipality is preparing a plan for the re-organisation and rehabilitation of Hamriyah and Ruwi areas and find a permanent solution to the drainage problem. “The tender is for the second phase of the project. The first phase involves construction of drainage in three places including Hamriyah,” said the official. Overflowing wadis in low-lying areas of Hamriyah, Ruwi, Wattayah and Wadi Kabir have always been of concern to residents.

The ROP will continue pursuing firecracker smugglers and those who sell firecrackers within the country and initiate legal action against them.

Meanwhile, customs officers foiled an attempt to smuggle firecrackers through Wadi Saa border post. The police confiscated 90 packets and 62 boxes of firecrackers, which were found hidden between personal belong-

ings. The firecrackers were meant to be sold to local merchants who would distribute them to customers for the Eid Al Fitr celebrations. Setting of firecrackers will signal the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Eid. However, police have warned citizens that possession of firecrackers is illegal and anyone possessing them is liable to face criminal charges.

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5 More than 20 air strikes by Saudi-led Arab coalition forces hit targets controlled by Houthi rebels across Yemen late on Sunday Yemen’s residents

REGION

Germany frees Al Jazeera journalist after two days Ahmed Mansour was released without charge after he was detained at Berlin airport at Egypt’s request

BERLIN: A prominent Al Jazeera journalist was released in Germany on Monday, the television network and German authorities said, two days after he was detained at Berlin airport at Egypt’s request.

Ahmed Mansour, one of Jazeera’s best known journalists, was released without charge, the pan-Arab television channel’s Berlin correspondent Eissa Taibi said. An official at the Berlin state prosecutor’s office confirmed his release. “I will definitely meet him today (on Monday),” Taibi said. “I do not have a lot of details about his release but the only thing I know is that he has been released and that his lawyer and Al Ja-

WARM GREETINGS: Al Jazeera’s journalist Ahmed Mansour, left is greeted by supporters after being released in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. – Reuters

zeera’s lawyer were with him a short while ago.”

Sentenced in absentia A Cairo court sentenced Mansour to 15 years in prison in absentia last year on a charge of torturing a lawyer in 2011 in Tahrir Square, the focus of the protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Mansour and Al Jazeera deny the charge.

Earlier on Monday the German government had played down the

chances of him being extradited to Egypt, citing concerns about the Egyptian legal process, including group sentencings and doubts about due process.

“All these points will definitely ... be considered in the decision,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer told a government news conference.

Schaefer stressed that since then Berlin had repeatedly voiced concern about the rule of law in

LEBANON

LONDON: Lebanon has launched a 24-hour hotline for female domestic workers to allow them to report abuse or mistreatment and receive help.

The country hosts more than 200,000 migrant domestic workers, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), employed under the “Kafala” sponsorship system, which binds them to a single employer and leaves them vulnerable to abuse.

Practical implementation Social workers operating the hotline will document complaints and provide referrals to healthcare, legal assistance and relevant government institutions. “This project is the practical implementation of the Ministry of Labour’s concern for human rights,” Sejaan Azzi, Lebanon’s minister of labour, said in a statement.

“Every domestic worker now has an address to turn to lodge a complaint in the event she is subjected to any kind of harm or vio-

Egypt under President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, amid mass arrests of his political opponents.

“The government has repeatedly asked questions about the rule of law in Egyptian criminal proceedings and has repeatedly asked the Egyptian government to respect human rights and freedom of expression,” he said.

“Against this background, you will surely understand that there are doubts in the Mansour case,” Schaefer said, stressing that for now “we are far, far away” from deciding on an extradition.

He added, on Egypt’s general use of capital punishment, that “of course no one is extradited by Germany if he is in danger of facing the death penalty”.

Schaefer also said that the German government, not just a court, would have to approve an extradition. A spokesman for the state prosecution service, Martin Steltner, told AFP that Mansour “was arrested on the basis of a national Egyptian arrest warrant”.

On Sunday a court had issued a “detention order” while his personal details were being checked, and “now the prosecution service must decided whether it requests extradition proceedings”, he said.

An Egyptian court sentenced N UC L E A R N E G O T I AT I O N S

24-hour hotline for female workers to report abuse

SAFETY MOVES: The hotline, accessible through a quick-dial number 1740 from within Lebanon, is being promoted with billboards in several languages to alert migrants. – AFP Files

lation of her dignity, and that address is the Ministry of Labour.”

Eighty three per cent of the world’s 53 million domestic workers are women, according to ILO. Often unregistered and unprotected by labour laws, they are among the most vulnerable groups of workers in the world.

The Kafala system requires migrant workers to seek permission

from employers to change jobs and excludes them from the protections of labour laws. Many of Lebanon’s domestic workers are from Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Philippines and Sri Lanka. The hotline, accessible through a quick-dial number 1740 from within Lebanon, is being promoted with billboards in several languages to alert migrants of its existence. — Reuters

A7

Good deal more important than deadline: Iran DUBAI: It is worth missing the June 30 deadline in nuclear talks between Iran and world powers by a few days in order to get a good deal, Iran’s foreign minister said on Monday.

“Reaching a good nuclear deal is more important than missing the deadline by a few days,” Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA. “There are still differences... some political and some technical.” Zarif said after arriving in Luxembourg for discussions with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. — Reuters

Mansour in absentia in 2014 to 15 years in prison, for “torturing a lawyer in 2011 on Tahrir Square” in Cairo, epicentre of an anti-regime uprising that brought down former president Hosni Mubarak.

The journalist has told Al Jazeera he rejected the “absurd” accusations, adding that he was facing rape, kidnapping and robbery charges -- accusations which he also denied.

Last year an Egyptian court jailed three Al Jazeera journalists on charges that included aiding a terrorist group. One of them, Australian Peter Greste, was released in February after 400 days in prison. Mansour’s case puts Germany in an awkward position as it tries to strike a balance between business interests and human rights.

Chancellor Angela Merkel was criticised by opposition parties and rights groups for hosting President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi earlier this month. During that visit, German industrial group Siemens signed an 8 billion euro deal with Egypt to supply it with gas and wind power plants. “I don’t think one can say this loudly enough: Of course, nobody will be extradited from Germany who risks being sentenced to death abroad,” Schaefer said. — Agencies

WA R I N Y E M E N

Jets continue to strike Houthi rebels SANAA: More than 20 air strikes

by Saudi-led Arab coalition forces hit targets controlled by Houthi rebels across Yemen late on Sunday, residents said.

An Arab military coalition has been bombing the Houthis for three months to restore the country’s exiled government.

The Houthis took over the capital Sanaa in September and spread throughout the country in a push they view as a revolution against a corrupt government. Backed up by coalition bombings and weapons drops, local fighters in Yemen’s south and its main city Aden have resisted the heavily armed militia’s advance. In Aden, residents reported three raids on the Houthi-controlled international airport while another bombing destroyed parts of the Ottomanera Seera castle, a symbol of the city and the latest cultural site in Yemen to suffer damage in the war.

Along Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia, residents in Hajja province reported five air raids on buildings housing Houthi forces and their army allies, who have repeatedly clashed with Saudi forces in recent weeks. Houthis are fighting President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi, who is exiled in Riyadh, and southern separatists, tribal factions and other political groups. — Reuters

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

INDIA

Jaitley needs to be reminded that in the past as Leader of the Opposition he had demanded action against a UPA minister when only a shadow was there. He had insisted action even when no allegations were substantiated Anand Sharma, Congress leader

Jaitley’s ‘clean chit’ to Raje’s son a ‘cover-up’: Congress actions” of converting “ill-gotten black money”.

Asked why Congress was not demanding resignation of the Finance Minister for the alleged cover-up, he said, Congress was waiting for the response from the Prime Minister as he had maintained silence on the matter so far.

“We will reveal our strategy after hearing what the Prime Minister says. Let us see what he says,” Azad said, adding the earlier the PM speaks it would be better for him as the issue could lead to resignation of several people and bring half of the Union Council of Ministers under cloud of suspicion”.

Azad wondered as to what made the finance minister give a ‘clean chit’ to Vasundhara Raje’s son and Lalit Modi, when the ED, which comes under his ministry, was probing these ‘shady transactions’

UNRELENTING: Senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and

Jai Ram Ramesh addressing media at party office in New Delhi on Monday. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress on Monday attacked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Lalit Modi controversy over his reported “clean chit” to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and the former IPL boss, terming it as a “clearcut cover-up” but stopped short of seeking his resignation.

“It is a clear-cut cover-up. We charge the Finance Minister with influencing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe in Raje’s son Dushyant Singh and Lalit Modi’s case,” Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said while addressing a joint

press conference with former Union Minister Jairam Ramesh.

Azad wondered as to what made the Finance Minister give a “clean chit” to Vasundhara Raje’s son and Lalit Modi, when the ED, which comes under his ministry, was probing these “shady trans-

‘Commercial transaction’ He asked Jaitley, who is also Leader of the Rajya Sabha, how he could describe as “commercial transaction” the Rs110 million dealing between Dushyant and Lalit Modi.

“Why he is giving clean chit to Vasundhara Raje and her son?”

This was because Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain has told Delhi High Court on January 6 that ED has already initiated action through an “open and general investigation” and it will be taken to its logical conclusion, Azad said.

“Does it mean that ED investigations have been summarily closed

against Raje’s family by the Finance Ministry? Has the Finance Minister not prejudiced and prejudged the issue proving the complicity of BJP leadership in these black money dealings?” Azad said posing five questions to PM. Dig at Modi Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, Ramesh said it was time Narendra Modi gets up from “Nidrasan” (Sleep) and say something. “Everyday new scandals are being exposed and yet Prime Minister is silent on this. So isn’t PM party to all this?” Azad asked.

Speaking separately, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma rejected Jaitley’s “commercial transaction” argument.

He asked the finance minister how could “re-routing of laundered money from a tax haven for purported investment in a company at an inflated share price of 9,000 times be seen as a normal transaction”.

“Jaitley needs to be reminded that in the past as Leader of the Opposition he had demanded action against a UPA minister when only a shadow was there. He had insisted action even when no allegations were substantiated,” Sharma told said. -PTI

CONTROVERSIAL BILL

RSS affiliates oppose NDA’s land bill NEW DELHI: RSS affiliates Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh and Akhil Bhartiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram on Monday strongly opposed a number of provisions in NDA’s land bill before a Joint Committee of Parliament that is looking into the contentious measure.

Sources said that these bodies vehemently came out against the provisions of doing way with the consent clause that was a key part of the earlier bill passed by the UPA and also felt that the clause of social impact survey, that has been removed by the Ordinance, should be brought back.

They also raised a number of questions regarding provision of land acquisition for industrial corridor and the definiton of private entity.

Swaraj Abhiyan’s Yogendra Yadav, a former AAP leader, who appeared before the panel, later told reporters that NDA’s land bill is not a Land Acquisition Ordinance, but a “land grabbing” one.

“We met the Joint Parliamentary panel and put forth our points.

The 2013 Land Acquistion Act had to be amended, but for the betterment for the farmers. The Modi government has even ended that with the Ordinance by striking off the consent clause,” Yadav said. - PTI

TA M I L NA D U B Y P O L L

Jaya seeks big win ahead of Assembly polls CHENNAI: Seeking a massive mandate as a ‘precursor’ for next year’s Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday vowed to relentlessly work for the people of RK Nagar, from where she is seeking election to the Assembly post her acquittal in a wealth case.

Addressing a huge public rally at Ennore Junction amidst frenzied slogan-shouting of ‘Hail Puratchi Thalaivi’ (Long Live Revolutionary Leader) here, Jayalalithaa said she was away from the ruling saddle for a short while “due to a politically motivated case.”

She was referring to the Rs66.66 crore disproportionate assets case in which she was convicted by a trial court in Bengaluru and subsequently acquitted by the Karnataka High Court.

“As a precursor to the Assembly elections, give the party founded

by MG Ramachandran (MGR-hailed as a messiah by the poor in Tamil Nadu) a resounding victory with a big vote margin... you are everything for me. I assure I will relentlessly work towards fulfilling your expectations,” she said.

The 67-year-old leader also took a swipe at rival CPI, a former ally which has put up a candidate against her, saying that party MLAs had heaped praise on various social welfare schemes initiated by the AIADMK. However, they were now opposing her since they had put up a candidate, C. Mahendran, she added.

RALLY CALL: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa addresses a poll rally in her RK Nagar constituency for the by poll in Chennai on Monday, as her close aide, Sasikala Natarajan looks on. - PTI

Other opposition parties, DMK and BJP among others, whom she did not name, had stayed away from the bypoll as they were aware that “AIADMK cannot be defeated,” she said while repeatedly insisting on a “grand victory” amidst loud cheering from the crowd.

Disqualification Referring to her disqualification as Chief Minister last year following her conviction, she said there was a ‘situation’ wherein

she could not be the CM due to a “politically motivated case.”

She termed the bypoll as a ‘compulsion’, recalling how the electorate had given a resounding victory to her colleague P. Vetrivel in the 2011 elections.

Vetrivel had vacated the seat in May apparently to enable Jayalalithaa seek re-election for fulfilling a constitutional requirement of getting elected as MLA within six months of becoming Chief Minister. She returned to the top post on May 23 after secur-

ing an acquittal in the wealth case.

Jayalalithaa said she was fighting the bypoll on the strength of her four-year-old government’s achievements in various sectors, including ‘Amma’ canteens (providing subsidised food) and social security schemes.

Power cut has been done away with in the state with an addition of 4992 MW, she said, adding this had further propelled industrial growth which had ushered in ‘hundreds of thousands’ of employment opportunities. - PTI

PROBE

Six undergo polygraph test in Sunanda case NEW DELHI: Six persons including three “prime witnesses” in the Sunanda Pushkar death case were put through lie detector test, Delhi Police Commissioner B. S. Bassi said amid indication that a number of other witnesses may be asked to undergo the examination.

“Our investigation is continuing and whatever is required to be done will be done. So far we have carried out polygraph tests on six persons. If there is any requirement we will conduct further tests,” Bassi said.

Last month, Delhi Police had approached a city court for permission to carry out polygraph test on Narain Singh, who is domestic help of Sunanda’s husband and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, driver Bajrangi and family friend Sanjay Dewan.

The court had later allowed the investigators to conduct the polygraph test on the three suspects with their consent.

Three others —S. K. Sharma, Vikas Ahlawat and Sunil Takru, had also undergone the polygraph test. Asked whether investigators

January 17 last year, a day after she was involved in a spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar on Twitter over the latter’s alleged affair with Tharoor.

I would not like to speculate but as and when anything of this sort is required we will let you know. But unnecessary speculation is not advisable B. S, Bassi Delhi Police Commissioner

Sunanda Pushkar

were planning to subject Tharoor to polygraph test, Bassi said he would not like to “speculate”.

“I would not like to speculate but as and when anything of this sort is required we will

let you know. But unnecessary speculation is not advisable,” he told reporters.

Tharoor has been questioned thrice in this case. Sunanda was found dead in the hotel suite on

High-profile case Investigators said they are trying hard to make breakthrough in the high-profile case and are waiting a report from Federal Bureau of Investigation to know about the kind of poison found in Sunanda’s body.

Her viscera samples were sent to the FBI lab in Washington in February after an AIIMS panel concluded that the poison cannot be detected in Indian labs.

Bassi said the report of the polygraph test on the witnesses is awaited. Police had accused Singh, Bajrangi and Dewan of concealing “material facts” like a power cut in room no. 345 at Leela Hotel on January 17, 2014 around 7pm where Pushkar was found dead around 8pm.

In January, police had claimed that Sunanda (51) was poisoned, and registered a murder case against unknown persons. -PTI

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INDIA

Under opposition fire over Ansari episode, government apologises Mayawati accuses government of ‘communalising’ Yoga Day

The Vice President has been targeted on International Yoga Day. While yoga is all inclusive, BJP has showed its divisive politics by such an action.

Ram Madhav should apologise, Congress spokesperson R. P. N. Singh told reporters NEW DELHI: The controversy over BJP leader Ram Madhav ‘targeting’ Vice President Hamid Ansari for his absence at the Yoga Day celebrations here escalated on Monday with the Congress accusing the ruling party of playing “divisive” politics.

The government on its part cited protocol to say that the Vice President can’t be invited to an event where the Prime Minister is chief guest amid reports that it is upset with the needless controversy triggered by Madhav’s tweets.

Union Minister Shripad Naik while citing the warrant of precedence also apologised for Ansari’s absence being questioned.

Seeking to downplay “Unknowingly something happens, we apologise for that. It should have been avoided. It’s a mistake, he (Madhav) agrees, he apologised. He withdrew his statement.” Naik said while seeking to downplay the controversy.

Congress accused BJP of playing “divisive politics” on the International Day of Yoga by targeting Ansari and demanded that Madhav tender an apology.

“The Vice President has been targeted on International Yoga Day. While yoga is all inclusive, BJP has showed its divisive

HEALTHY LIFE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Yoga along with other participants during a

mass yoga session on the International Day of Yoga 2015 at Rajpath in New Delhi on Sunday. - PTI

politics by such an action. Ram Madhav should apologise,” party spokesperson R. P. N. Singh told reporters.

Citing protocol, Naik said, “When the Prime Minister is chief guest, then inviting the Vice President is not proper. That is protocol.

That’s why we did not send the invite to him. President and Vice President are above the Prime Minister as per order of precedence and we cannot invite them accordingly.”

Tweet withdrawn Naik is the Minister of State for Ayush— the Ministry that organised the International Day of Yoga event at Rajpath. Asked about the controversy, Madhav said, “As far as the tweet is concerned, it was withdrawn and the matter is closed there and ends there.”

He said there is no further discussion on the issue from his side.

“I want the Yoga event to be remembered for millions and millions of people who have participated in it. I do not want any

further controversy over it or any issue,” he told reporters in Jammu.

AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmad said Madhav’s statement was unfortunate.

Statement unfortunate “Certainly it is very unfortunate and this shows the mindset of the RSS, because Ram Madhav is the representative of the RSS in the BJP, that how they are trying to divide the society or how they try to politicise Yoga” he said. “...targeting the Vice-President of this country exclusively on the basis of his name or you may call it by basis of his religion is certainly unfortunate and it shows simply the mentality of RSS and BJP, Nationalist Congress Party said it was surprised how the vice president could be excluded,” he added.

“Is it because he is Muslim? The government and the PM must answer how a vice president was not invited. It is a serious omission,” said NCP leader Majid Memon.

The Vice President’s Office said the matter is closed for them as

POWER OF YOGA

UN’s decision to mark yoga day shows India’s soft power: Sushma NEW YORK: UN’s decision to commemorate the International Day of Yoga underlines the appreciation for India and its growing soft power, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.

Sushma, who addressed the first International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UN, also attended a function marking the day at the Hindu Temple Society of North America on Sunday.

The way the day was commemorated around the globe, “the world had made the first International Day of Yoga its own,” Swaraj said at the Hindu Temple Society of North America.

While yoga is one of India’s most important gifts to the world, the UN’s decision to commemorate the day underlines the appreciation for India and its growing soft power, she said. Sushma said the colour of the skin, religious or political affiliation or the nationality did not matter for the hundreds of thousands that performed yoga in the city.

“They were all united by the awareness of the power of yoga,” she said.

Immense possibilities The External Affairs Minister said “today we have made a good beginning” and the future is filled with immense possibilities. She cited the benefits of yoga in the treatment of asthma, diabetes, drug addiction and heart disease.

“Yoga is about self discovery and self acceptance,” she said.

While addressing the International Day of Yoga on Sunday celebrations at the UN, she had said yoga should not be seen as belonging to any particular religion and the ancient spiritual practice can serve as the “perfect antidote” to

SPELLING OUT: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressing yoga enthusiasts during an event to observe the first International Day of Yoga Day at Times Square in New York on Sunday as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and India’s Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Asoke Kumar Mukerji look on. - PTI

stem “negative tendencies” and move humanity on the path of peace in a world beset by violence and conflict.

“The entire world is one family, and we can unite it with Yoga. At a time when ethnic conflicts and extremist violence are threatening to destabilise societies, Yoga can serve as the perfect antidote to stem such negative tendencies and move us on the path of harmony and peace,” she had said.

Tens of thousands yoga enthusiasts around the world on Sunday took to mats in a symbol of universality of the ancient Indian spiritual practice as they marked the maiden International Day of Yoga.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is in San Francisco to hold a round-table discussion with members of US-India Business Council, said, “Yoga, which has been an ancient art or a science as some preferred to call

it in India, over the last centuries has been codified also and the practitioners have hugely benefited from it.”

Asked about the overwhelming response to the International Day of Yoga, Jaitley said, “I would attribute it to two factors. One is the concern that everyone has about human health and human body.

The other is in a world of conflicts and tensions, people looking for calmer alternatives.”

Jaitley asserted that yoga is “defying any kind of a religious barrier, it is defying geographical barriers.” Asked if he himself paractised yoga, he said he used to.

“I, of course, walk a lot every morning, I also have some treatments like the pressure point treatment etc, which keeps you in good shape and probably hopefully I should get back to Yoga, which I earlier used to do,” Jaitley told CNBC TV18. - PTI

Naik’s statement “seems logical”.

“For us that’s the end of the matter,” it said.

Madhav had on Sunday stoked a controversy by questioning Ansari’s absence at the Yoga Day event but later apologised after he was criticised on the social media platform. Ansari’s office had said he was not invited to the Yoga Day event in the capital after Madhav questioned his absence.

Madhav had deleted the tweet about Ansari’s absence and apologised, saying he later learnt that the Vice President was unwell.

The Vice President’s office, however, said it was not correct.

Not invited as per protocol “Vice President was not sick. He was never invited for the yoga programme,” it said, adding, “the Vice President only attends those programmes in which the Minister concerned invites him as per protocol”.

According to reports, Ansari practises yoga regularly and did yoga at his residence on Sunday. - PTI

LUCKNOW: BSP chief Mayawati on Monday accused the central government of “communalising” Yoga Day celebrations and said the ruling BJP had once again proved that it was not ready to shun its “narrow mindedness”.

“Efforts to make the ‘yog diwas’ (Yoga Day) programme an official function and communalising it proves once again what people have alleged that central government and BJP were not ready to shun its narrow mindset,” Mayawati said in a party release.

The BSP supremo alleged that the BJP-led government tried to use the maiden International Day of Yoga for communal polarisation but when it failed to do so, the names of the vice-president and president were wrongly dragged in.

BJP leader Ram Madhav, had in tweets, questioned Vice-President Hamid Ansari’s absence from the mass yoga but deleted those after the Vice President’s office protested.

Alleging that the drama attached to Yoga Day was an attempt by the central government to divert people’s attention from its failures during the last one year, she said, “Neither the policy nor the intention of the Modi government to make it (Yoga Day) an official programme were right.”

“The BJP government had come to power making tall promises but the biggest achievement in national interest of this government appears to be getting an entry into the Guiness Book of World Records after conducting Yoga at the Rajpath with 35,985 people.”

“The Modi government should have worked towards fulfilling its promises on

The BJP government had come to power making tall promises but the biggest achievement in national interest of this government appears to be getting an entry into the Guiness Book of World Records after conducting Yoga at the Rajpath with 35,985 people Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party chief

providing jobs, removing poverty and among others to set a record but all this now seems remote as its policies and programmes appear to be in favour of big capitalists and industrialists,” she said. - PTI

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

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Heatwave toll tops 180 KARACHI: An intense heat wave over three days has killed more than 180 people in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, officials said on Monday, leading authorities to declare an emergency as the electricity grid crashed and bodies stacked up in the morgues.

The outages hit large portions of Pakistan’s financial heart of Karachi and home to 20 million people, where residents lit bonfires in protest.

Unclaimed bodies were being rapidly buried to create space in the morgues, Anwar Kazmi, a senior official of the charitable Edhi Foundation, told Reuters.

“We are urging people to bury their dead at the earliest in view

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of the current heat wave and poor power situation,” he said. “We have not run out of capacity at the morgue, but buried 30 unclaimed bodies this morning to create more space.”

At least 180 people had died of heat-related problems since Friday night, Sabir Memon, Sindh province’s additional secretary for health, told Reuters. Leave for all medical staff had been cancelled and authorities were distributing extra drips and rehydration salts to hospitals, he said.

Casualties were still being tallied.

“Hundreds of patients suffering from the heat wave are being treated at government hospitals,” Saeed Mangnejo, the provincial

health secretary, told Reuters.

Temperature soared to 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) on Saturday and hovered at 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit) on Sunday, coinciding with a surge of demand for power as families observed Ramadan.

Power cuts Both the federal government and K-Electric, the private company that supplies Karachi with power, had promised there would be no outages during the time when families gathered to break their fast at sunset.

But power cuts left many families without water, air-conditioning, fans and light. — Reuters

Foreign aid groups to be monitored ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior ministry will monitor the activities of international aid agencies, the government announced on Monday, after authorities sealed the offices of Save the Children and suspended its operations.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the government planned to centralise responsibility for monitoring and regulating

the activities of foreign aid organisations under his ministry.

“The government wants a comprehensive registration system of the groups to be in place to ensure a transparent system of accountability,” Khan told reporters.

“We should know funding sources of the groups and the purpose for which the money is being given.”

He said aid groups including Save the Children would be allowed to operate for the next six months but must re-register with the authorities within three months, in line with an announcement last week.

The operations of Save the Children were suspended this month for unspecified activities “against the country”. — AFP

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The fantasy that Putin wants world to believe

P

resident Vladimir Putin of Russia is not veering from the mythology he created to explain away the crisis over Ukraine. It is one that wholly blames the West for provoking a new Cold War and insists that international sanctions have not grievously wounded his country’s flagging economy.

He told the story again on Friday at a business forum whose purpose was to give weight to that fantasy. It drew at least 24 chief executives of Western companies, some of whom attended even though their governments had urged them not to.

Despite Putin’s skill at using foreign executives as props, he is looking more desperate than confident that he will win the confrontation with the West. It will be a big setback for Putin if, as expected, European Union foreign ministers formally extend sanctions on Russia by six months when they meet this week in Luxembourg. Ever since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea forced NATO and the EU to react, he has worked to split the trans-Atlantic alliance, and some believe its collapse is his real goal.

The Europeans are indeed divided over the extent to which Russia, with its huge oil and gas resources, should be isolated, but Putin’s aggression so far has ensured their unity when it counts. In addition to extending existing sanctions, the allies have prepared a new round of sanctions that could be imposed if Russian-backed separatists seized more territory in Ukraine. In the meantime, Belgium and France last week began to seize Russian assets in their countries, to enforce a 2014 international arbitration court order for Moscow to pay shareholders of the Yukos oil company $50 billion in compensation after Russian officials forced it into bankruptcy.

Although Putin insisted on Friday that Russia had found the “inner strength” to weather sanctions and a drop in oil prices, investment has slowed, capital has fled the country and the economy has been sliding into recession. Even the business forum was not all that it seemed: The heads of many Western companies stayed away for a second year.

One of the most alarming aspects of the crisis has been Putin’s willingness to brandish nuclear weapons. His announcement on Tuesday that about 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles would be added to the Russian arsenal was not a surprise. The United States and Russia are both spending billions of dollars to modernise their weapons.

But the move further alarms NATO allies near Russia’s borders and the loose talk could undermine years of efforts intended to reduce nuclear tensions and the risk of war.

If he is not careful, Putin may end up facing exactly what he has railed against - a NATO more firmly parked on Russia’s borders - not because the alliance wanted to go in that direction, but because Russian behaviour left it little choice. That is neither in Russia’s interest, nor the West’s. — The New York Times

HATE CRIME IN CHARLESTON

A millennial race terrorist strikes US CHARLES M. BLOW

Pulling up the PPP

R

ight now, the Pakistan Peoples’s Party (PPP) seems to have been flung out of the mainstream of politics and thrown virtually to the ground from where it seems to be attempting to pick itself up, bit by bit. The emotional tirade of former president and the party’s co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari, attacking the establishment has led to almost all other mainstream parties choosing to stay away from the PPP and challenge its place in the mainstream of politics. An Iftar dinner hosted on June 19 by Zardari was attended only by former allies of the party when it was in government, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, the Awami National Party, the Jamiat-e-Ulema-eIslam and the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid. Some of the leaders of these parties even arrived late while other parties, though invited, chose to stay away altogether.

Meanwhile, PPP leaders have been trying to either explain or backtrack from Zardari’s statement, stating that the PPP respected the military and the army chief, and had always backed Operation Zarbe-Azb. There will be many who will be gloating over what is being interpreted as the downfall of the PPP. These include its political opponents as well as others strongly opposed to the party for other reasons.

While Zardari’s speech was a highly ill-advised one and much of the criticism directed at his party in its aftermath is justified, the fact is that Pakistan’s political arena needs the PPP. We need it because it is a party that in the past has shown that it represents all parts of the country and is capable of pulling the federation together, even if because of its own shenanigans it is now only limited to Sindh.

We need the PPP because in many matters it offers a different ideological view from that of the current ruling party and also the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The PPP urgently needs to work towards resurrecting itself. — Express Tribune

Make all days of the year hunger-free ones Amid cheers and scepticism the International Yoga Day finally arrived and was celebrated with great fanfare. The gathering of 35,000 yoga enthusiasts at Rajpath in New Delhi is perhaps going to set a new Guinness Book Of World Record benchmark. I sincerely congratulate the member countries of United Nations and all the individuals, who with their sincere efforts made it happen. Let’s hope that this marathon international event achieves its purpose of spreading love, peace and good will and begins a new era of peace as desired by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, in my humble opinion, developing countries should observe an international hunger-free day . On that day individuals should ensure that

no one in any corner of the world goes to bed on an empty stomach and subsequently there after, we all should try to ensure that all days of the year are hunger-free.

Mohammad Osama Rawat Muscat

Pakistan move to keep an eye on aid groups unwise This refers to a report that Pakistan intends to monitor foreign aid agencies. I simply cannot understand such a move. It is hard to imagine such an approach serving any useful purpose. It will only further worsen the country’s image in the world. A better a course of action would have been to take note of the recommendations of the aid groups.

Parveen Rana Muscat

Who radicalised Roof?

Who passed along the poison? We must never be lulled into a false belief that racism is dying off with older people

T

ywanza Sanders said to the young man, who suddenly rose and drew a gun, “You don’t have to do this,” and according to witnesses, said he was there “to shoot black people.” He had been sitting in the Bible study session at Charleston, South Carolina’s, historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church for an hour, next to the pastor, debating scripture. Dylann Storm Roof, the unassuming, boyish-looking man with the bowl-cut hair, replied: “Yes. You are raping our women and taking over the country.”

Then he “took aim at the oldest person present, Susie Jackson, 87.” This according to Sanders’ cousin, Kristen Washington, as reported in The New York Times. Roof opened fire, killing nine; Jackson was the eldest slain, and her nephew, Sanders, the youngest at 26.

Four of the dead were reverends - one of whom was the church’s pastor, a South Carolina state senator, Clementa Pinckney.

This was a savage act of barbarism by a young man following the ideology of race hate.

There are so many threads to pull on this story that one hardly knows where to begin, but let’s begin here: Roof was only 21 years old.

He is a millennial race terrorist. Roof was born in 1994, 30 years after President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law.

He had a white power flag fetish. He was once pictured wearing a jacket emblazoned with an apartheid-era South African flag and another flag of “Rhodesia, as modern-day Zimbabwe was called during a period of white rule,” according to The Times. Apartheid ended the year Roof was born, and Rhodesia became Zimbabwe long before that.

Who radicalised Roof? Who passed along the poison? We must never be lulled into a false belief that racism is dying off with older people. As I’ve written in this space before, Spencer Piston, an assistant professor of political science at Syracuse University, has

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People protect what they love JACQUES YVES COUSTEAU

found that “younger (under-30) whites are just as likely as older ones to view whites as more intelligent and harder-working than African-Americans.” Racism is to social progress what cockroaches are to nuclear fallout - extraordinarily resilient.

Furthermore, there is a widely published photo of Roof sitting on his car with an ornamental licence plate with Confederate battle flags on it. That is the same Confederate flag that flies on the grounds of the state Capitol.

What signal is South Carolina sending?

There is the thread of couching his cowardice as chivalry, framing his selfish hatred as noble altruism in defence of white femininity from the black brute. So much black blood has been spilled and black necks noosed in the name of protecting white femininity, and by extension, white purity. Roof is only this trope’s latest instrument.

Then there is the question of whether to call this terrorism. Terrorism, as commonly defined, suggests that the act must have some political motivation. (By defining it this way, we conveniently exclude that long legacy of racial terrorism as a political tool of intimidation and control in this country.) And yet, this case may even reach that bar.

Reuters reported on Friday that the case “is being investigated by the Justice Department as a possible case of domestic terrorism.” But whether it reaches the legal definition of domestic terrorism (it has already passed the common sense definition), some conservatives have even been reticent to call it a hate crime, which it surely is, rather preferring to twist this massacre into their quixotic crusade to establish evidence of a war on Christianity in this country. This wasn’t a war on Christianity, but a war on black people.

Roof was a young man radicalised to race hatred who reportedly wanted to start a race war and who killed nine innocent people as his opening salvo. If that’s not terrorism, we need to redefine the term. — The New York Times

US must help prevent Kabul falling to Taliban

Humans, whales likely to be biologically linked

This refers to the Taliban attack on the Afghan parliament. It seems to me as long as President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah are ruling in tandem the rebels will keep making gains as there will be no coherent policy. The extremists have noted this and have increased the frequency and intensity of attacks. In my view, the US must intervene in a way that Kabul does not fall to Taliban as it will have repercussions throughout Central and South Asia. The regional insurgents would then likely to close ranks and destablise all in their range. Such a state of affairs would be unthinkable as their policies are nothing to look forward to. I hope the Americans will act soon.

Aasia Khalid Wadi Kabir

This is with regard to a report that Japan will continue to hunt whales. It seems Tokyo doesn’t care about the global opinion.

Whales like other cetaceans are biologically very close to humans.

Their babies, like that of humans, are totally helpless. In my view there is an evolutionary link between and these animals, which is closer that with monkey. This is something scientists should look into. Likewise the Japanese authorities should reconsider their viewpoint as, if my guess is true, eating them would amount to cannibalism. Also, scientific experiments on them is needless as no whale organs are used in study of animal models of diseases.

Solomon Hayes Sohar

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T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE Europe’s shameful response Need to steady to mounting migrant crisis Venezuela

A

few days ago I was sitting in Athens with an official from Médecins Sans Frontières discussing the migration crisis confronting Europe. She was showing me maps filled with swirling red arrows, denoting the most common and current routes across the Mediterranean. The tide of human flotsam washed up over the Greek islands sprinkled close to the borders with Turkey, then flowed through the shattered country towards safety and sanctuary in more prosperous places.

The journey these people take is one of fear, misery and violence. Not just crossing the treacherous waters that have already claimed thousands of lives this year. Some flop exhausted on uninhabited rocks.

Then they might be jailed for months; I have met them crammed below ground in sweltering conditions inside Greek police cells. Others walk along rail lines for days through forests since buses will not carry them.

One in three women endure assault; in Albania, some are held hostage until families pay ransoms, while in Serbia even the police steal their money.

The charity worker’s phone bleeped constantly with a stream of calls and messages from migrants stranded on islands or pleading for help since her number had been posted online. The organisation is doing its best, with rescue boats and medical mercy missions. But this is an unfolding tragedy of epic proportions – and just as with the recent Ebola epidemic, the political response has been sluggish and largely shameful.

It is worth recalling that each migrant is a human being. A banal and obvious fact, but all too often forgotten in the foetid and fear-filled debate. Many are doing what you or I might in their circumstances, whether fleeing maniacs in the Middle East, brutality in the Horn of Africa, or simply escaping the grind of poverty in West Africa. And when people talk of the European Union being swamped, it is worth recalling that, as Syria and Iraq, collapse almost one in four people in Lebanon are now refugees, while Turkey will soon have two million refugees within its borders.

Britain, one of the world’s wealthiest countries and a place that played a role in the Middle East meltdown, has given sanctuary to 187 Syrians under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

On Friday, the Prime Minister grudgingly said we would take “a few hundred more”, but Downing

IAN BIRRELL

One in three women endure assault; in Albania, some are held hostage until families pay ransoms, while in Serbia even the police steal their money

Street hastily said this would mean no more than 1,000. Germany is providing 30,000 places; even Switzerland, a nation with one-eighth of our population, is offering refuge to 3,500 people.

David Cameron told Parliament earlier this month that the majority of Mediterranean migrants are not asylum-seekers. In fact, as Amnesty International and others pointed out, more than half those making the lethal crossings last year were either Syrians or Eritreans, who are fleeing the most repressive state in Africa. This year, there has been a surge of Gambians, another nation under nasty despotism, along with significant numbers of Iraqis escaping IS, and Somalians whose country was devastated by Al Shebaab.

The silence of opposition parties on this moral issue demeans them, with Labour seemingly content just to score minor political points over the Government’s crass decision to stop supporting search-and-rescue services last year. The Government argues that long-term aid can stem the flow of migrants, illustrating again how it has devolved foreign policy to the spendthrift Department for International Development. Yet aid should not go near a hideously governed nation such as Eritrea or Gambia; indeed, it is part of the wider problem in the way it undermines democracy, fuels conflict and fosters corruption.

There is a desperation to the measures suggested to halt the flow of human beings, such as destroying the boats of Libyan traffickers. They may be exploiting misery, they may horrifically overload boats, but the smugglers are ultimately responding to a demand – and if they are not there, people will find other ways to reach Europe. One commentator even suggested aid for small firms in Eritrea might help solve the crisis when the problem there is a regime enslaving much of its population. There needs to be a more rational response, more desire to help at least some of the refugees, and more honesty in the debate.

Yet it is curious how little discussion there is of an issue emerging among economists: the controversial idea of removing borders. There is an arrogance in our assumption that everyone would rush here from developing nations. When the US opened access to people from impoverished Micronesia, for example, fewer than 6 per cent of its people moved. Without advocating such remedies, surely this is the sort of bold debate worth having, rather than futilely seeking to pull up the drawbridge on Fortress Europe? — The Independent

No heirs apparent for China family businesses

W

ang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group and China’s richest man, has just one child, Wang Sicong, 27. That would seem to make the question of succession at the privately-held Wanda a simple matter. The problem is, the younger Wang -- a notorious playboy with an obnoxious Sina Weibo social media feed that he keeps on behalf of his dog (including photos of the pet wearing gold Apple Watch Editions) -- doesn’t seem prepared to take up his birthright leading the conglomerate, which develops commercial property and owns AMC theaters. In 2012, the elder Wang said of his shiftless son: “If he can make himself accepted by everyone [at Wanda] in the next five to eight years, he will succeed me. If he doesn’t have that ability, he won’t.”

Wang Sicong is part of a broader challenge facing the Chinese government.

In a speech in mid-May, President Xi Jinping turned his atttention to the generation of pleasure-seeking business scions -- or “fuerdai,” as they’re known -- and called for a national effort to “make them appreciate where money comes from.”

ADAM MINTER

But tempering the habits of China’s young and rich, after a lifetime spent indulging their impulses, won’t be easy. And, unfortunately, the millions of family businesses that comprise the backbone of the Chinese economy don’t have a clear backup plan.

The fuerdai don’t just pose an economic problem. They also threaten China’s social fabric.

Their extravagance provokes the country’s less fortunate (complaints about fuerdai spending habits are a constant subject on Chinese social media) and offends the Communist Party’s value system, which emphasises public modesty, including in matters of wealth.

Last week, Chinese state media published a message from the United Front Work Department, an agency tasked with promoting the Party’s ethic among nonmembers, complaining about China’s wealthy heirs. Fuerdai “know only how to show off their wealth, but don’t know how to create wealth,” it noted.

“If this behaviour becomes a common problem for family-run businesses and makes all private entrepreneurs look bad, or affects social confidence towards private

businesses, it will no longer be simply an economic problem.”

In truth, the economic problem is a large enough challenge on its own. More than half of China’s GDP is generated by private companies and, according to a 2010 Chinese government survey, 85.4 per cent of China’s private companies are family businesses in which an individual or family controls at least 50 per cent of the firm. Over the next five to 10 years roughly three-quarters of those family companies is expected to face a leadership succession.

The most pressing question isn’t whether the fuerdai are capable of taking over the executive suite, but whether they even want to. Fortune Generation, a magazine published by an organisation of children of wealthy entrepreneurs, reports that 65 percent of the group’s members who are part of manufacturing families aren’t interested in continuing the family’s line of work. Likewise, a 2011 study from coastal Zhejiang Province, traditionally a hotbed of Chinese entrepreneurialism, revealed that only 35 per cent of the children of business owners had any interest in taking those businesses over. — Bloomberg News

JACKSON DIEHL

F

or months, Venezuelans have been reading reports that one of the most powerful figures in their autocratic and virulently anti-American government, National Assembly president Diosdado Cabello, is a principal target of a US criminal investigation into a Caracas-based drug trafficking cartel. So imagine their surprise when media linked to Cabello began displaying a photograph of the alleged kingpin meeting with a smiling senior State Department official in Haiti this month.

Why would Thomas Shannon, a senior counselor to Secretary of State John Kerry, have met and then posed for photographs on June 13 with Cabello, who according to numerous news reports has been targeted by prosecutors in New York and Miami for allegedly leading a cartel that has shipped hundreds of tons of cocaine to the United States?

Cabello and his nominal boss, President Nicolás Maduro, were quick to trumpet their versions. The meeting, Maduro said, was part of a “normalisation” of relations between his increasingly beleaguered regime and the Obama administration. Cabello offered it as proof that the reports that he is a US criminal suspect are false. US officials, meanwhile, sounded confused. Both the White House and State Department spokesmen said they were unaware that Cabello had met with Shannon.

I heard another story: That the meeting was part of what has become an increasingly urgent attempt by the administration to broker a soft landing for a collapsing Latin American state. Already deep in crisis before the collapse of oil prices last year, Venezuela now lacks the funds to pay for essential imports of food and medicine as well as its huge foreign debts. It boasts what are probably the world’s highest inflation and murder rates.

After a violent crackdown on dissent, the regime is holding more than 70 political prisoners — the most prominent of whom, Leopoldo López, is four weeks into a hunger strike.

It was the threat that López could soon die in prison that prompted the decision to have Shannon meet with Cabello, sources told me. The former ambassador to Brazil has been leading the administration’s engagement with Venezuela since April, when he was dispatched to Caracas to head off a confrontation between Maduro and Obama at a hemispheric summit meeting.

A subsequent conversation with Maduro at the summit

convinced Obama that it was worth another attempt to engage a regime that has made anti-Americanism one of its political foundations.

In the short term, the US diplomacy has a modest goal: To prevent López’s death.

Shannon told Cabello the continuance of the dialogue between the two governments depended on López remaining alive and being convinced to end his hunger strike, sources said. The former mayor and presidential candidate is demanding the release of political prisoners and the setting of a date for elections to the National Assembly, which are supposed to be held this year.

The longer term US aim is to persuade Maduro and Cabello to hold a fair legislative election, with monitoring by international observers. Since the opposition would be likely to win a fair vote, that could provide a democratic way out of a crisis that otherwise could end in revolution or mass bloodshed.

The Venezuela initiative parallels Obama’s outreach to Cuba. But the attempt to come to terms with Venezuela is more of a long shot than a deal to reopen the US embassy in Havana. Fidel Castro seeded Caracas with his hard-line cadres, who now oversee the persecution of the opposition and the catastrophic mismanagement of the economy.

If Raúl Castro represents a somewhat more pragmatic version of Cuba’s Communist regime, then it might be said that “Fidelismo” is making its last stand in Venezuela.

The Obama administration has little leverage. Maduro and Cabello want the lifting of US sanctions imposed on Venezuelan officials for involvement in human rights abuses as well as drug trafficking. But the administration’s answer is that the visa denials and asset freezes were mandated by congressional legislation and won’t be revoked without Capitol Hill’s support. The only way to win that, Maduro and Cabello were told, was to release the political prisoners and agree to an election with international monitoring.

The US criminal investigation of Cabello, too, is unstoppable — and the prospect of being ousted from his post at the National Assembly while he is subject to indictment gives him powerful reason to resist a fair election. Maduro and Cabello are known to lead different factions within an increasingly splintered regime, but it’s not evident that either is willing or able to meet Washington’s terms.

For now, Cabello and Maduro are reaping the propaganda benefits of the meeting in Haiti. If the prisoners are released in the coming days, and López ends his hunger strike, that would be evidence that the US outreach to a suspected drug lord had produced a positive result. — The Washington Post

Russia’s Armata may become first robot tank

TODAY IN HISTORY

The Armata tank – due to form the backbone of Russia’s armed forces for years to come – may evolve into a fully robotic vehicle that could operate autonomously on the battlefield, according to its designers Armata T-14 Main Battle Tank

Active protection system (APS)

Turret: Unmanned, operated by remote control.

125mm main gun fires guided missiles as well as standard shells High-resolution camera

Radar panels detect incoming enemy anti-tank munitions Slat armour Protects engine

Applique armour Covers front two-thirds of vehicle sides

Steel

Armour structure Ceramic-steel plating – much lighter and 50 % stronger than steel alone Ceramic outer layer Composite backplate

Remote weapon station Automated 7.62mm machine gun with 360° panoramic sight Engine 1,500-hp diesel

Ammunition: 45-round capacity – fed to main gun by autoload mechanism

FROM OUR ARCHIVES APS launchers: Fire explosive charges to destroy or confuse incoming munitions

Armata T-14 Specifications 48 tonnes Weight Overall length 10.8 metres Width 3.5 metres 90km/h Maximum speed 500km Operational range

Reactive armour: Shields top of hull and turret. Explodes on impact to stop projectile reaching main armour Armoured capsule Three crew isolated from ammunition and fuel Digital control system: Directs tank movement, tracks targets and activates defence systems, freeing crew from routine tasks

IT JOBS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGH OHI PORTAL

MUSCAT: OHI Telecommunication has added a new feature on its first IT portal, — ‘Your Online Window to Information Technology—The IT Jobs.’ With IT Jobs, Internet users can now post and view jobs online. Tariq Al Barawni, Internet manager of OHI Telecommunication, said: “Users can now seek online jobs through our IT portal. The new section, IT Jobs is dynamic and free.” Tariq added that apart from IT Jobs, users can also post IT classifieds. This is the first online job seeking and posting service available in Oman. It has new features for the Omani and Middle East community— the IT conference, e-commerce information, IT events, education, IT companies, magazines online and up-to-date worldwide IT news. Shopkeepers, businessmen or IT related companies can now post their classifieds absolutely free. And visitors can view and contact them directly. The IT Conference is a discussion board related to IT. Users can post questions, articles and other members can view and respond.

1777

Slavery is outlawed in England.

1910

German bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich announces a definitive cure for syphilis.

1941

Under the codename Barbarossa, Germany invades the Soviet Union.

1956

The battle for Algiers begins as three buildings in Casbah are blown up.

1980 The Soviet Union announces a

partial withdrawal of its forces from Afghanistan.

1981

Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to killing John Lennon.

HISTORYNET.COM Source: Jane’s Information Group, wire agencies

Graphic News /

Graphics

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

GLOBAL EYE

BRITAIN: The City of London seen on a rainy day in London, Britain on Monday.

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— Reuters

SUDAN: A Sudanese woman holds her baby as she waits for an

FRANCE: Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo, centre, poses with a scooter from French Cityscoot, the first worldwide company to offer a self-service rental electric scooter, in Paris on Monday. A four month experimental period started in June, with Cityscoot planning to increase its fleet to 1,000 scooters by 2016. — AFP

inoculation against measles at the Samir Medical Clinic in the Sahafa neighbourhood of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, on Monday. Sudan is facing a measles outbreak that has killed at least 38 people and infected more than 2,500 since the beginning of the year. — AFP

CRIMEA: Girls wearing red neckerchiefs, a symbol of the Soviet-era

young pioneer organisation, take part in a rally in central Simferopol, Crimea, on Monday to mark the 74th anniversary of the 1941 German invasion of the Soviet Union. — AFP

KENYA: Fire fighters throw flame-retardants on Monday at an fire that gutted a petrol depot in the Kenyan capital Nairobi’s industrial district. — AFP

TURKEY: Turkish police officers arrest protesters in front of the education ministry in Ankara on Monday as students demonstrate against the complex exams system. — AFP

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5 Allies of Philippine President Benigno Aquino in the Senate have been steering months-long probes into allegations of kickbacks, ill-gotten wealth, bid rigging and money laundering against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son who is the current Makati City mayor, and his business associates.

CORRUPT PRACTICES

Philippine vice president resigns amid graft probe MANILA: Philippine Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is running for president next year, has resigned from the cabinet in a break with President Benigno Aquino as he is investigated for corruption.

Binay is being probed by the Ombudsman’s office for alleged corrupt practices while serving as mayor of the financial district of Makati in the capital Manila.

He was mayor for two decades and his approval and trust ratings remain the highest among the country’s top five national officials, beating Aquino, according to a survey by independent pollster Pulse Asia released on Monday.

But his ranking in surveys for possible candidates in the 2016 presidential election fell to second place for the first time this month, according to Pulse Asia and another pollster, Social Weather Stations. “This is voluntary and there is nothing that can change his mind,” Mar-Len Abigail Binay, Jejomar Binay’s daughter and a member of the House of Representatives, said in a radio interview, adding her father was “very tired” of not being able to fight the accusations. Allies of Aquino in the Senate have been steering months-long probes into allegations of kickbacks, ill-gotten wealth, bid rigging and money laundering against Binay, his son who is the current Makati City mayor, and his business associates.

New patrol boats Meanwhile, official said that the Philippines is buying nearly 100 new patrol boats to protect its fisheries in a substantial expansion from its current fleet of 20 as it responds to poaching by Chinese and Taiwanese vessels. Most of the ordered vessels — 71 short-range boats for coastal patrols and 27 able to go further out to sea — will be delivered this year, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources chief Asis Perez said. — Reuters

A1 5

WORLD

Two killed in Taliban suicide attack on Afghan parliament A woman and a child were killed in the attack, which left a thick plume of smoke hanging over the parliament complex

KABUL: Two people, including a child, died when Taliban militants launched an assault on the Afghan parliament on Monday, triggering gunfire and explosions and sending lawmakers scurrying for cover in chaotic scenes relayed live on television.

The attack came as the Afghan president’s nominee for the crucial post of defence minister was to be introduced in parliament and ended two hours later when all seven attackers, including a suicide car bomber, were dead.

The assault on such a high-profile target in downtown Kabul raises fresh questions about security as Afghan forces battle a resurgent Taliban for the first time without the aid of NATO forces, who ended their combat mission in December. “First a car bomb detonated on the main road near the parliament building, then a group of attackers entered a building in front of parliament,” Kabul police spokesman Ebadullah Karimi told AFP. Police said two civilians, a woman and a child, were killed in the attack, which left a thick plume of smoke hanging over the parliament complex and tore a huge crater in an adjoining street.

Deputy interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said there were seven attackers and the health ministry reported 31 people, including five women and

UNDER ATTACK: Members of Afghan parliament are evacuated after an attack on the parliament building in Kabul, on Monday. – Reuters

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a child, wounded. Dramatic television footage of the moment the first explosion struck showed pandemonium and screams inside parliament, with Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi sitting in his chair, calmly telling lawmakers “it’s an electrical issue”.

MP Mohammad Reza Khoshak, who was in the chamber at the time, described hearing “a loud explosion, followed by several other smaller explosions”.

“In a few seconds the hall was filled with smoke and MPs began

fleeing the building,” he told AFP. The Taliban launched a countrywide offensive in late April, stepping up attacks on government and foreign targets in what is expected to be the bloodiest fighting season in a decade.

The militants recently rebuffed requests from senior Afghan clerics to halt attacks during the fasting month of Ramadan even as a

surge in violence has sent civilian casualties soaring.

A group of suicide attackers last tried to storm parliament in 2012 as they launched coordinated attacks in several parts of the capital, including several diplomatic enclaves. The Taliban, toppled from power in the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, swiftly claimed responsibility for

the latest attack. “Several mujahideen have entered the parliament building,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted on Twitter. “The attack happened at a time when the defence minister was being introduced.”

Police denied that Taliban fighters had breached the high-security complex.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) strongly condemned the raid, saying it was a “clear and deliberate affront to democracy in Afghanistan”.

President Ashraf Ghani also criticised the raid, saying in a statement that “targeting innocent people in the holy month of Ramadan is a clear act of hostility against the religion”. — AFP

A16

TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

WORLD

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VIRUS DISEASE

Two more MERS deaths in South Korea; Malyasia steps up screening SEOUL: South Korea’s health ministry reported on Monday two more deaths in the country’s Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, which the World Health Organisation said was “large and complex,” bringing the number of fatalities to 27.

Thailand, which reported its first case last week, said it had no new cases, raising hopes the virus

there had been contained.

Neighbouring Malaysia announced nonetheless that it was stepping up health screening at all entry points. The outbreak in South Korea has been traced to a 68-year-old man who returned from a trip to the Middle East in early May and sought medical help at different hospitals before being diagnosed with the MERS virus.

The health ministry in Seoul also confirmed three new cases, taking the total to 172 in an outbreak that is the largest outside Saudi Arabia, but has shown signs of slowing credited to wide-reaching control measures.

MERS was first identified in humans in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and the majority of cases have been in the Middle East.

“Today we can assure that we have found no new MERS cases,” Thai Deputy Health Minister Vachira Pengchan told a news conference.

“Overall we are able to control the virus and the risk is lower,” Vachira said, adding that the condition of the lone MERS patient was improving.

Thailand is a popular hub for

medical tourism, with around 1.4 million visitors travelling there for healthcare each year, and Vachira said the public health ministry might ask private hospitals treating foreign patients to screen those travelling from high risk areas, including South Korea and the Middle East.

Malaysia, which shares a 650km land border with Thailand, has

already begun monitoring passengers’ body temperatures at its airports, Deputy Health Minister Hilmi Yahaya said in a statement to state news agency Bernama.

“Now, we are going further to include all entry points,” he said.

South Korea’s health ministry said last week that the outbreak may have levelled off, although it said more cases were expected. - Reuters

Frenchman loses execution appeal in Indonesia Serge Atlaoui was due to be executed alongside seven other foreign drug offenders two months ago but won a temporary reprieve after Paris Serge Atlaoui

stepped up pressure JAKARTA: A French drug convict lost an appeal against his death sentence Monday, but his lawyers vowed to fight on and prevent another foreigner from facing the firing squad in Indonesia after a series of executions that generated an international uproar.

Serge Atlaoui, 51, was due to be executed alongside seven other foreign drug offenders two

months ago but won a temporary reprieve after Paris stepped up pressure, with authorities agreeing to let an outstanding appeal run its course.

The execution in April of two Australians, a Brazilian and four Nigerians sparked global anger.

But President Joko Widodo insists convicted traffickers must be harshly punished, saying Indonesia is facing a crisis due to rising drug use. On Monday the State Administrative Court in Jakarta

dismissed Atlaoui’s latest appeal, in which his lawyers argued that the president rejected the convict’s plea for clemency without proper consideration. The court upheld its previous decision from April that it did not have the jurisdiction to hear the challenge to the clemency plea, which is typically a death row convict’s final chance to avoid execution.

Disappointed “We are disappointed with the decision but we will continue to find other legal avenues,” Atlaoui’s lawyer Nancy Yuliana told reporters, adding that the legal team was still considering its next steps. “From the very beginning, we knew that he was innocent...

We are not asking for him to be set free, we are just asking for his sentence to be reduced to life imprisonment.” - AFP

B

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Muscat 6,451.75 + 0.19 + 0.01%

Dubai 4,135.37 + 39.19 + 0.96%

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Saudi Arabia

9,237.17 - 106.94 - 1.14%

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CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.25 Pound ...........................................1.62 Indian Rs .............................164.50 Pak Rs ....................................260.01 Bangla Taka.......................199.48

Indian Rs .................................. 164.80 Pakistan Rs ............................. 263.10 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 344.25 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .................................... 116.35

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.35

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ......... $61.78 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$61.38 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ......... $63.71 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$60.98 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$63.53 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$59.99

* Rates are as of June 22 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of June 22 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.80 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............ 144.75 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 137.25 * Rates as of June 22 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

M U S C AT S E C U R I T I E S M A R K E T

Phoenix Power share surges by 36% on debut trading A. E. JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Phoenix Power, which commenced trading on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) on Monday, surged ahead by 36.4 per cent to close at 150 basias, against its offer price of 110 baisas.

As many as 129 million shares were traded on the local bourse, generating a turnover of OMR19.31 million, against the total market turnover of OMR19.77 million.

There was a huge demand for the stock from financial institutions and pension funds, which received only 2.52 per cent on al-

Assets of banks are of good quality, says CBO Existing loan portfolio of Omani banks is well covered against expected losses through adequate provisions, Central Bank of Oman said in its latest report

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Loan assets of Omani banks are of high quality, but there are some areas of concern, the Central Bank of Oman said in its Financial Stability Report.

The non-performing loans (net of reserve interest) of the banking sector increased only marginally by OMR26 million or about 0.14 per cent of gross loans, thereby increasing the total stock of non-performing loans (NPLs) to OMR341 million or 1.9 per cent of the gross loans last year.

“Though the net NPLs too increased by OMR5.7 million, the net NPL ratio stayed put at 0.5 per cent.

Further, the existing loan portfolio of banks is well covered against expected losses through adequate provisions with a coverage ratio (provisions to NPLs) of 72 per cent (142 per cent including general provisions),” noted the report.

However, restructured loans swelled by OMR97 million to OMR292 million last year.

Ratio of restructured loans to gross loans increased to 1.64 per cent from 1.25 per cent a year ago.

Similarly, the ‘special mentioned’ loans — performing credit facilities but showing signs of frailty — increased sharply by OMR317 million during the year.

CBO report said that more than three-quarters of the NPLs of the banking sector were classified in the loss category and the accretion to this category continued for the last two years with little signs of improvement.

The recovery rate continued to be low. Though, banks were able to recover 14 per cent (or OMR49 million) of the identified nonperforming loans, the increase in new NPLs outpaced the quantum of recovery by the banks.

The unrated loans were about one-third of the total loans in terms of value and 80 per cent in terms of volume. >B4

CBO DECISION

Central bank approves Ominvest-ONIC merger Times News Service MUSCAT: A merger between Oman International Development and Investment Company (Ominvest) and Oman National Investment Corporation (ONIC) Holding was approved by the board of Central Bank of Oman (CBO) here on Monoday.

The decision was taken by the board at a meeting chaired by Dr Ali bin Mohammed bin Moosa, deputy chairman of the Central Bank of Oman, according to a press release.

The board also discussed the regulations of personal loans and housing loans provided by commercial banks in Oman.

In addition, the board mem-

bers reviewed the challenges and available opportunities for finance and leasing companies and proposed ways of how to develop it.

The board also reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of suggestions made by licensed finance and leasing companies and the recommendations on the same.

The board members also discussed various actions taken by the Central Bank of Oman and licensed banks operating in Oman with regard to the financing of small and medium enterprises.

Besides, the board reviewed the bank deposit insurance scheme (BDIS) annual report for the year 2014. >B4

lotment. The share issue was oversubscribed to the tune of 18 times, mopping up almost OMR1 billion bids from investors against an issue size of OMR56.3 million.

The major reasons for the surge in share price on debut trading, according to brokers, were good business model, future earnings pros-

pects and better dividend yield.

Phoenix Power Company projected an attractive 7.3 per cent dividend yield for the next five years, which is highest among listed power firms in Oman.

This compares with an average dividend yield of 5.9 per cent for other power companies listed on

the Muscat bourse.

In fact, institutional demand is driving the stock, while retail investors are selling their holdings for booking their profit on the listing day.

The company has allotted a minimum of 3,000 shares and 8.57 per cent of additional shares applied

by retail or first category investors.

As many as 49,096 investors — 48,727 retail investors and 369 institutional investors — received allotment. The share will be highly volatile in the first three days of trading and 50 per cent of floating stocks will change hands during the period.

B2

TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

MARKET UAE and Saudi continue to grow despite oil price gloom The UAE even recorded high levels of job creation, according to the latest CreditAgricole Private Banking research report

Times News Service MUSCAT: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continue to witness growth despite lower crude oil prices and that the ON GROWTH PATH: In the UAE, once again new orders and new export orders components reflected strong growth, while job creation hit UAE even recorded high levels of a three-month high. – Times file picture job creation, according to the latest CreditAgricole Private Banking research report ‘Macro com- indices has started. We can see line PMI last month (57) was at the recent softening of world provided no strong El Niño epithat the UAE’s CPI was 4.2 per its lowest level since May 2014. food prices should bring signifi- sode occurs. El Niño is a natural ment – Mena update’.

Interestingly in the UAE, once cent year-on-year in April, which Whilst the most recent data in the cant benefits to Gulf Cooperation phenomenon which is a key facagain new orders and new export is the same as in Dubai where in- PMI series still depicts a growing Council (GCC) consumers. This is tor worldwide for the agricultural orders components reflected flation can be an issue. Neverthe- non-oil private sector economy, indicated by the Food and Agricul- sector, as it contributes to extreme strong growth, while job creation less, we can say that the UAE is yet our estimate of growth in Saudi ture organisation (FAO) food price weather. A strong El Niño would to fully feel the pinch of the lower Arabia is more conservative,” Dr index in May 2015, which was put the crops of some agricultural hit a three-month high. down 20.7 per cent year-over-year commodities at risk, leading to This is reflected in the UAE’s oil price across its relatively diver- Paul added. and 1.4 per cent month-on-month. higher food prices during and afnon-oil private sector PMI which sified economy in comparison to Given the large weightage on food ter its occurrence,” the chief econdid not decline significantly in GCC peers,” said Dr Paul Wetter- First quarter GDP May (56.4) compared to 56.8 in wald, chief economist at CréditA- “For example, based inter alia on items in consumers’ baskets, this mist added. the latest Saudi Arabia Monetary lower food price scenario will be April, says the study. Input costs gricole Private Banking.

“Similarly in Saudi Arabia, out- Authority statistics, we get a first positive for consumers in the Gulf rose contrasting with a slight decline of the output prices charged put and new orders expanded but quarter of 2015 nominal GDP Cooperation Council countries HAVE YOUR SAY the rate of growth and pace of job growth estimate which is only where most of the food requireby companies.

Send us your comments at “In this background, it is too ear- creation eased somewhat during slightly positive as illustrated in ments are imported from other facebook.com/timesofoman places,” Dr Paul noted. ly to infer from this latest change the month. It was interesting to the graph below,” he said. blog.timesofoman.com “This situation will prevail “In regards to food inflation, that a downward trend in the CPI note that the Kingdom’s headhaveyoursay@timesofoman.com

SHARIA INSTRUMENT

International Finance Corp. plans sukuk WASHINGTON: International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s lender to the private sector, has started work on a return to the market for Islamic bonds, or sukuk, with plans to issue sharia-compliant debt after summer in the Gulf region.

Last year an IFC official said a deal was in the early stages of discussion, which would be the third time the World Bank’s development division issues sukuk.

“We are hoping for an issuance soon after the summer. This is very much work in progress and as you can imagine much depends on underlying assets and market conditions,” said Alexandra Klopfer, a spokeswoman for the IFC. Details such as currency, tenor and size were not yet available.

Last sukuk in 2009 The IFC, which aims to spur private investment in developing countries, last sold a $100 million five-year sukuk in 2009, listing it on the Dubai and Bahrain bourses. Its first sukuk came in 2004 in Malaysia, a 500 million Malaysian ringgit ($134 million) three-year deal.

The issue is timed for after the summer because the Gulf region’s capital markets slow down for the holy month of Ramadan, which started last week, and the long summer break away from the desert heat.

In December last year, the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), for which the World Bank acts as treasury manager, issued a $500 million debut sukuk. At the time, IFFIm also said it was open to a return to the sukuk market. – Reuters

AV I AT I O N

Saudi airline’s massive deal spurs Sharia-compliant aircraft finance RIYADH: The market for Islamic aircraft loans may have just doubled in size.

Not content with issuing two of the largest sukuk on record to fund its aviation ambitions, Saudi Arabia — via its state-owned carrier — last week placed orders for 50 planes from Airbus. The deal has a list price of $7.7 billion compared to about $5.8 billion raised globally since 2006 through Sharia-compliant aviation loans.

Airbus is selling the aircraft to the Aircraft Leasing Islamic Fund, which will lease them to Saudia.

The deal underscores the growing importance of Islamic financing to the airline industry, after Airbus helped established a fund and the UK backed an Emirates airline sukuk. Global Sharia-compliant financial assets may almost double in the four years to 2018, according to Ernest & Young. The International Air Transport Association expects Middle East passenger growth of 13 per cent this year, the fastest in the world.

“Islamic financing, particularly sukuk, is the smart way to go,” Nabil Issa, a Riyadh-based partner at law firm King & Spalding, which helps arrange Sharia-compliant deals, said June 17. “You open up to a whole new world of investors, especially in Saudi and Kuwait.”

Billion sukuk The aviation industry is a good fit for Islamic financing, which is often based on assets to help comply with the religions ban on interest.

Emirates, the world’s biggest

airline by international passenger traffic, this year raised $913 million from the sale of Islamic bonds guaranteed by the UK government to purchase aircraft, including A380s. In 2013, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation issued a 15.2 billion-riyal ($4 billion) sukuk after selling a similar amount the previous year.

“If you’re doing a lease-financing, which most aircraft financing is anyway,” then it makes sense to structure it in a Sharia-compliant way, Issa said.

The International Air Finance Corporaiton, which manages the Alif Fund, financed the Saudia deal, according to an e-mailed statement from the airline. Kuwait Airways also used the fund to pay for five A330-200 planes.

This is not the first time Saudia tapped the Islamic loan market.

The carrier, whose long-term plan is to offer shares to the public, already has a 7.2 billion-riyal Shariah-compliant loan outstanding and embarked on selling stakes in some of its units, including catering and ground-handling.

Saudia, formally known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, is seeking to increase capacity domestically and access new international routes as competition at home intensifies. Qatar Airways is set to open its own airline, Al Maha Airways, in the kingdom.

At the Paris Airshow last week, Saudia ordered 20 A330-300 Regional planes and 30 A320s, as part of plans to almost double the fleet to 200 by 2020. - Bloomberg News

CLAIM

Export Credit Guarantee Agency gives compensation to Shamal Plastic Industries Times News Service MUSCAT: Export Credit Guarantee Agency of Oman indemnified on Sunday morning a claim to its policyholder - Shamal Plastic Industries - at the agency’s headquarters at the Airport Heights against their export sales to their Saudi buyer.

Imaad Soud Al Harthy, acting general manager, handed the claim cheque to the company’s representatives alongside Ahmed Khalfan Al Balushi, head of Underwriting.

The Export Credit Guarantee

Agency of Oman has paid a total of 52 claims since its inception in 1991 till mid June of this year amounting to OMR667,704 to 14 different countries for export insured businesses of various products categories.

Export Credit Guarantee Agency of Oman works actively in supporting Omani exports through its valueed services provided to insured exporters in order to mitigate non-payment risks all over the world. With Credit Insurance Policy, ECGA indemnifies exporters against their unforeseen losses.

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

B3

MARKET Oman and Japan sign investment agreement The Japan-Oman Investment Agreement aims at promoting and protecting investment between the two countries MUSCAT: An agreement has been signed between Oman and Japan for the reciprocal promotion and protection of investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has announced.

The Japan-Oman Investment Agreement aims at further protection and promotion of investment between the two countries, said a press statement.

The agreement stipulates the treatments for investment activities when an investor (for instance a company) from one of the countries deploys funds in the other country, such as national and most-favoured-nation and fair and equitable treatments, observance of undertaking, free transfer facilities, conditions for expropriation and compensation and procedures

SIGNING SESSION: The agreement was signed by Yasuhide

Nakayama, state minister for foreign affairs of Japan, and Khalid Al Muslahi, ambassador of Oman to Japan, in Tokyo. – Supplied picture

The agreement will be effective on the thirtieth day after the date of exchange of diplomatic notes informing each other that their legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this agreement have been completed

for dispute settlements.

“Interest for investing in Oman has been rising among Japanese companies, given its rich reserves of oil and natural gas and ongoing large-scale infrastructure pro-

jects in the Sultanate.

It is expected that this agreement, which improves legal stability of investment, will contribute to promotion of the reciprocal investment and human exchang-

es, and to further development of the economic relationship between the two countries,” added the statement.

The agreement was signed by Yasuhide Nakayama, state minister for foreign affairs of Japan, and Khalid Al Muslahi, ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Japan, on June 19 in Tokyo.

The press statement added that the agreement would enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of exchange of diplomatic notes informing each other that their legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this agreement (in case of Japan, the Diet approval will be required) have been completed.

In an exclusive interview with Times of Oman ahead of the signing of the agreement, George Hisaeda, Japan’s ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, said that the agreement was expected to boost bilateral trade by attracting increased Japanese investment as a result of minimised conditions for investment in Oman as well as setting clear rules for cases of deterioration in the investment environment.

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

ECONOMY

United States’ economic growth no longer a gauge for Asian exports WASHINGTON: If you wanted to figure out where Asian exports were headed, United States manufacturing data used to be a logical place to start. Not anymore.

The US is buying more goods from neighbours such as Mexico instead of Asia, and the shale-gas boom has kept demand within the country, said Christy Tan, head of markets strategy for Asia at National Australia Bank. The recovery in the world’s biggest economy is also more servicesoriented this time, and some of the increase in wealth and employment is being used to pay off debt rather than on consumption, she said.

“Asia’s definitely lagging behind the US recovery, and so if you’re talking about an export-led recovery, I’m afraid that’s not happening in Asia,’’ said Tan. “It’s the structural shift in terms of the US recovery where demand is now more domestic oriented.’’

Export growth in China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore previously tracked a rebound in the Institute for Supply Management’s US factory index as it recovered in 2009. This year, exports from South Korea, Singapore and Chi-

ASIA’S EXPORTS FALL: This year, exports from South Korea, Singapore and China to the US rose less

in the first five months than they did during the same period in 2007 and 2010. – File picture

na to the US rose less in the first five months than they did during the same period in 2007 and 2010.

Shipments from China gained 11.2 per cent from January to May in 2015, compared to about 20 per cent in 2007, the year before the start of the global financial crisis, data showed.

While Chinese exports spiked in February this year, the 48 per cent increase from a year earlier

was skewed by distortions from the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Commodity prices Slumping commodity prices in countries like South Korea — a large oil refiner — have also affected the numbers. The smaller export growth also reflects a more general slowdown in global trade since the financial crisis.

Certainly, the US economic recovery itself remains nascent.

Growth slumped at a 0.7 per cent annualised rate in the first quarter amid severe weather, port disruptions and a stronger dollar that sapped exports.

The United States economy is poised to pick up this quarter, a survey showed. Whether that will spur exports from Asia is less certain. - Bloomberg News

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Greek exit will stunt Europe’s recovery, say corporate giants MUNICH: Executives from Siemens to Peugeot Citroen say a Greek exit from the euro could threaten the region’s economic recovery just as it’s picking up momentum. While the direct impact of a so-called Greek exit on most companies outside Greece may be small, the secondary effects could ripple through the euro-area economy in the form of reduced confidence and investment. That wouldn’t be good for earnings, said Peugeot chief executive officer Carlos Tavares.

“Anything that could destabilise the fragile European economy is a priori bad for our business,” Tavares said on the sidelines of an event in Rabat, Morocco. “Europeans are slowly regaining some confidence, this confidence is leading to an improvement in spending and thus for the auto market.”

After sputtering for years, the region’s economy is benefiting from a confluence of favourable circumstances. A weaker euro, cheaper oil prices and Mario Draghi’s €1.1-trillion ($1.25 trillion) bond-buying programme at the European Central Bank are stimulating growth. The euro-area economy expanded 0.4 per cent in the first quarter.

That progress could be undone should a Grexit lead to turbulence in financial markets — driving borrowing costs higher in parts of Europe and stock prices down.

After dropping to record lows earlier this year, 10-year sovereign bond yields in Spain and Italy have jumped by more than a percentage point as Greek negotiations went

nowhere and investors anticipated higher interest rates from the United States Federal Reserve. That’s translating into a pickup in borrowing costs for companies as well.

Debate A Greek exit could hurt the “general mood of the stock exchanges and financial markets,” said Michele Norsa, CEO of luxury goods maker Salvatore Ferragamo, adding that the Greek market itself is too small to have much impact on his sales. He said he’s still confident a Grexit can be prevented. “This doesn’t mean that the solution will be immediate -- maybe we will see months of turbulence,” he said.

As the days dwindle before Greece’s bailout agreement expires on June 30, European Union leaders called an emergency summit on Monday evening in Brussels to seek a deal. The Greek crisis ranks among Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser’s biggest worries at the moment, he said on the sidelines of an event in Sao Paulo last week.

On the positive side, the protracted nature of Greece’s descent and the long negotiations have given companies time to prepare for the worst. - Bloomberg News

B4

TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

MARKET Index rises marginally

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OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................6,456.73 .............. 6,449.30 ....................6,451.75 ................... 6,451.56.................... 0.19 ..................0.003 Financial Index .................................... 7,806.44 ............... 7,791.40 ....................7,800.15 ....................7,797.05.................... 3.10 ...................0.04 Industrial Index ................................... 8,395.45 .............. 8,380.40 ................... 8,381.49 ...................8,395.45................ -13.96 .................. -0.17 Services Index .......................................3,490.61 .............. 3,488.24 ................... 3,489.42 ...................3,490.49...................-1.07 .................. -0.03 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................998.28 .................. 997.42 .......................997.55 ...................... 998.26...................-0.71 .................. -0.07 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 130,272,509..............19,771,807 ............... 13,921 ................15,052,419,212 .................. 3 ........................8 ..................... 9 ..........................20

Top gainer was Phoenix Power with listing gains of 36.36 per cent, while Oman Fisheries,

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR MONDAY, JUNE 22

down by 3.51 per cent, was the day’s top loser ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: Trading on Muscat bourse was dominated by the initial public offering (IPO) of Phoenix Power, which closed the day OMR0.150. The MSM30 Index remained unchanged at 6,451.75 points.

The MSM Sharia Index decreased 0.07 per cent to close at 997.55 points. Phoenix Power was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Monday’s top gainer was Phoenix Power with listing gains of 36.36 per cent while Oman Fisheries, down by 3.51 per cent, was the day’s top loser.

As many as 13,291 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR19.77 million with over 130.2 million shares changing hands.

Out of 20 traded securities, three advanced, eight declined and nine remained unchanged.

Omani Investors werenetbuyers

for OMR1.9 million followed

by GCC & Arab Investors for OMR264,000 while Foreign Investors were net sellers for OMR2.2 million worth of shares.

Financial Index gained 0.04 per cent to close at 7,800.15 points.

Ahli Bank increased by 0.95 per cent to close at OMR0.213. Muscat Finance and Al Anwar Holding declined 2.03 per cent and 0.88 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index declined 0.17 per cent to end the day at 8,381.49 points. Oman Fisheries and Al Anwar Ceramics declined 3.51 per cent and 0.92 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index ended the session at 3,489.42 points, down by 0.03 per cent. Phoenix Power and OIFC gained 36.36 per cent and 0.83 per cent respectively. United Power and Al Jazeera Services declined. — United Securities

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

OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 166,815 ............ 35,493......................12 ............0.212 ...........0.228 ...........0.211 ........... 0.213 ............. 0.211............ 0.002.............0.948 ................0.211 ............. 0.206................... 0.211 ..................303,532,699 .......0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 209,982 ............50,746......................19 ........... 0.240...........0.243 ...........0.240 .......... 0.242 .............0.240 ........... 0.002............. 0.833 ................0.243..............0.243...................0.244 ..................48,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 100,000 ............33,357........................3 ........... 0.330 ...........0.334 ...........0.330........... 0.334 .............0.334 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.334..............0.332...................0.334 .................447,797,224 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING............ 52,000 ...............6,002........................3 ............0.115 ........... 0.116............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.116 .............. 0.116................... 0.119 ................... 14,015,625 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY..................................... 20,000 ............44,450........................3 ........... 2.220...........2.230 ...........2.220 .......... 2.220 .............2.220 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.230..............2.230...................0.000 .................199,134,000........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ..........................5,000 .................. 625........................1 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 ..............0.122...................0.125.................... 3,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. ....................87,500 ..............11,113........................1 ............0.127 ........... 0.127 ...........0.127 ............0.127 ............. 0.127............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.127 ..............0.124...................0.127................... 36,827,541 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO........................................................................ 25,000 .............19,600........................3 ............0.784 ........... 0.784 ...........0.784........... 0.784 .............0.784 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.784..............0.780...................0.784..................510,340,276........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION .......................... 78,215 ..........136,540..................... 25 ............1.745 ........... 1.750............ 1.745 ............1.745 ............. 1.750............-0.005 ........... -0.286 ...............1.745 ...............1.745................... 1.750 ................1,308,750,000 ......0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH..................................................... 504 ...............1,305........................1 ........... 2.590 ...........2.590 ...........2.590........... 2.590 .............2.600 ...........-0.010 ........... -0.385 ...............2.590............. 0.000...................2.625..................247,234,135 ........1.000 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................10,000 ...............3,680........................1 ........... 0.368 ...........0.368 ...........0.368........... 0.368 .............0.370 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.541 ...............0.368..............0.368...................0.378...................22,523,172 .........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER .............................................................3,000 ...............4,680........................1 ............1.560 ........... 1.560 ...........1.560 ........... 1.560 ............. 1.570............-0.010 ........... -0.637 ...............1.560 ..............1.520...................1.560....................3,120,000 ..........1.000 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 266,000 ............59,872..................... 37 ........... 0.227 ...........0.227 ...........0.223........... 0.225 .............0.227 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.881................0.227..............0.227...................0.228 ..................29,362,500.........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 100,000 ...........43,000........................4 ........... 0.430 ...........0.430 ...........0.430........... 0.430 .............0.434 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.922 ...............0.430..............0.430...................0.440 ................. 127,371,883 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,124,016.......450,463................... 114 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......14........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 128,997,13119,306,519 ...........13,797 ............0.154 ........... 0.155 ...........0.145 ........... 0.150 ............. 0.110............ 0.040............36.364 ...............0.148 ..............0.148...................0.149..................219,390,219 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA .................................................................... 1,000 .....................74........................1 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.074........... 0.073 .............0.073 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.074..............0.072...................0.074..................109,500,000 .......0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK..................................................3,000 ..................234........................2 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.078........... 0.080 .............0.080 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.078..............0.078...................0.080 ..................80,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE......................................................35,867 ............... 5,197........................2 ............0.146 ........... 0.146 ...........0.144............0.145 .............0.148............-0.003 ........... -2.027 ...............0.144..............0.144...................0.000 ..................36,484,678.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................39,034 ...............2,147........................3 ............0.055 ........... 0.055 ...........0.055........... 0.055 .............0.057 ...........-0.002 ........... -3.509 ...............0.055..............0.055...................0.059....................6,875,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 129,076,03219,314,170.......... 13,805 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 5........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

BONDS MARKET ........................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000005971 ............B.MUSCAT COMPL. CONVR. B.B.3.5 ..................... 72,461 ................7,174........................2 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.099...................0.100...................32,092,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: ....................................................................................72,461 ................7,174........................2 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

EUROPEAN UNION

‘Reasonable’ Greek offer raises hopes of averting default BRUSSELS: Euro zone officials welcomed Greek concessions on Monday as a possible step towards a deal on averting a default, but politicians dismissed expectations of a breakthrough at a summit later in the day to secure the country’s future in the euro. Hopes rose on financial markets as the officials accepted the reform proposal for the first time as a “reasonable” basis for negotiating an aid-for-reforms agreement between Athens and its creditors at the EU and IMF.

CLOSE WATCH: German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble takes part in an emergency Eurogroup finance ministers’ meeting on Greece at the European Council in Brussels, on Monday. - AFP

Greece’s bailout But Germany, the biggest European contributor to Greece’s bailout programmes, warned that the meeting in Brussels of euro zone leaders could be only “a summit of

consultations” without a detailed technical agreement.

Chancellor Angela Merkel signalled that any settlement could take days to reach and her Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he had seen nothing new from Athens, even though Greece faces a 1.6 billion euro repayment to the IMF on June 30 which it probably cannot achieve without help from its creditor institutions.

After months of acrimony, accusations and wrangling between Greece and its creditors, positive mood music in Brussels injected new hope that a long-awaited aid agreement might be near.

European shares surged and the Greek stock market jumped nearly 7 percent while the borrowing

costs of Italy, Spain and Portugal the countries most likely to be hit if Greece headed for the euro zone exit - fell sharply.

In the proposal sent early on Monday, Greece moved to acquiesce to lenders’ demands for tax increases and pension reform by offering to raise the Greek retirement age gradually to 67 and curb early retirements.

It also offered to reform the value-added-tax system to set the main rate at 23 per cent.

“This is now, for the first time, a reasonable paper on which you can have an informed and productive discussion,” one euro zone official said here. ”I cannot predict it will lead to an agreement tonight, but it is

what was expected in form and in substance from such a paper.” the official said.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed into a series of talks with figures including European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and IMF head Christine Lagarde before the summit which is due to start at 7pm.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a veteran EU dealmaker, gave Tsipras a warm welcome after he arrived in Brussels, taking him by the shoulders and patting him on the cheek.

This contrasted to earlier this month, when a frustrated Juncker rebuked Tsipras for failing to observe the “minimum rules” of friendship. - Reuters

BANKING & FINANCE

< FROM

B1 Bank assets top OMR26b Concentration in banking sector in Oman continued to remain ‘moderately high’ which was however, in line with the peer group of GCC countries though much higher than banks in the European Union, noted the apex bank in its report.

The top five banks accounted for about 78 per cent of total banking sector assets.

Significant credit concentraINDIAN STOCKS

tions were also observed in the lending portfolios of the banks.

Loans to individuals form about 40 per cent of the total credit mix of the banks raising the potentials for systemic risk.

The five largest borrower groups accounted for about seven per cent of the banks’ total credit portfolio.

The total (gross) assets of banking sector of Oman crossed

OMR26 billion at the end of 2014, registering a growth rate of 13.5 per cent over the previous year. This was predominantly (75 per cent of the growth in total assets) backed by the lending portfolio of the banking sector, which grew by 15 per cent over the last year. Both the corporate and household lending remained robust, while lending to SMEs remained subdued.

OMINVET-ONIC

< FROM

Sensex touches three-week high MUMBAI: Indian stocks advanced for a seventh day, with the benchmark index rallying the most in five weeks, as easing concerns about the monsoon’s progress spurred speculation the central bank may be willing to cut borrowing costs.

The Sensex increased 1.5 per cent to 27,730.21, its highest close since June 1. The gauge ended three weeks of declines on Friday as better-thanforecast rains allayed concern that food costs will curb the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) from paring interest rates for a fourth time this year. Emergingmarket stocks rose the most in two months on speculation European officials will break a months-long impasse in talks over Greek’s debt crisis.

India’s monsoon rainfall has been 21 per cent above normal since the start of the season on June 1, with 78 per cent of the nation receiving excess to normal showers, the weather office said after trading ended on Monday. — Bloomberg News

B1 Merger approved The board reviewed various issues, including the Economic and Financial report up to March 31, 2015, as well as the activity report of CBO’s departments during the period under review.

The board deliberated on the recommendations included in the Report of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank mission on Financial Sector Assessment Programme (FSAP) and directed CBO’s executive

management to follow up the implementation of the said recommendation as far as possible.

The Board also reviewed the CBO’s financial position as at the end of April 2015 and the performance of the CBO’s external investments during the period under review.

The Board also reviewed the financial and administrative matters of CBO and took necessary decisions.

CURRENCY MARKET

Indian rupee advances MUMBAI: India’s rupee extended its gains against the American currency for the straight fourth day, moving up by three paise to close at 63.52 per dollar on persistent selling of dollars by banks and exporters on hopes of resumption of foreign capital inflows to the country.

Sustained rise in equity market in view of progress in monsoon, mainly boosted the rupee

value against the dollar, a forex dealer said. The rupee resumed slightly higher at 63.52 per dollar as against the last weekend’s level of 63.55 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market.

It moved in a range of 63.57 and 63.46 per dollar during the day, before ending at the same opening level of 63.52, showing a gain of three paise or 0.05 per cent from its last weekend’s level. - PTI

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ROUND-UP

All-new Hyundai Genesis quick to cross 100,000 unit sales landmark The new Genesis, which had its global launch in November 2013, has reached this landmark an impressive 10 months sooner than its predecessor, a testament to the worldwide appeal of this high-quality luxury model

MUSCAT: Hyundai Motor has announced that global sales of the all-new Genesis have now exceeded the 100,000 unit figure, just over a year after the brand’s second generation premium sedan was launched across the Middle East and Africa.

The all-new Genesis, which had its global launch in November 2013, has reached this landmark an impressive 10 months sooner than its predecessor, a testament to the worldwide appeal of this high-quality luxury model, says a press release.

Built solely in Korea, the car is exported to the Middle East and Africa, Chinese, European, and North American markets, and had recorded total sales of 105,915 units by the end of May 2015. In North America it has been so well received that, so far in 2015, the model is placed third in the US midsize luxury sedan market.

Affordable luxury Jin (James) Kim, Vice President

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Designed to set new standards in its class, the all-new Genesis is the first Hyundai to feature the brand’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design concept, while also boasting significantly enhanced driving performance and stateof-the-art technologies such as a head-up display, smart trunk function and autonomous emergency braking

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

and head of operations at Hyundai Motor Company in Africa and Middle East, said: “In line with Hyundai’s modern premium brand direction the all-new Genesis is competing head-on with top-tier premium models, and these results demonstrate that it is winning the confidence of new car buyers across the world.

"Nowhere is this more so than in the Middle East and Africa region, with its highly discerning customers who are looking for luxury at affordable price points, while enjoying all the features and technologies found in high priced vehicles.”

Designed to set new standards in its class, the all-new Genesis is the first Hyundai to feature the brand’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design concept, while also boasting significantly enhanced driving performance and state-of-the-art technologies such as a head-up display, smart trunk function and

autonomous emergency braking.

The second generation of the popular sedan has accelerated the success of the Genesis name, collecting a number of notable awards, including being named 2014 Best HiTech Luxury Sedan by prestigious Middle East motoring title, Automobile. Elsewhere,

C O R P O R AT E S O C I A L R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y

in the same year it also won the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in North America, the iF Product Design Award under the transportation category, and was honoured in the 2014 Good Design Awards for its innovative and cutting-edge product design.

The first generation model, in-

troduced in 2008, went on to sell 250,000 units globally and played an important role in the rapid evolution of the Hyundai brand.

Designed to compete directly with premium European rivals, it introduced the brand to a new type of customer in domestic and foreign markets.

SEMINAR

Bank Muscat presents Braille laptops MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, as part of its commitment to sustainable social development, presented Braille laptops to visually challenged students at Sohar University.

The bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative coinciding with the Holy Month of Ramadan was aimed at supporting the visually impaired youth to enhance their skills and integrate with mainstream society. Said Al Badai, DGM, Branches, presented the customised laptops to the vision-impaired youth at the ceremony attended by senior bank and university officials, including Ali Jama, Senior Regional Manager – North Batinah, Dhahirah and Al Buraimi governorates, says a press release.

Said Al Badai said: “Bank Muscat is delighted to extend a helping hand to the visually challenged youth to develop employable skills and improve their social and economic status. The special laptops will help the visually impaired students to enhance employable skills and gain economic independence. We are optimistic that this

Al Ansari hosts top HVAC professionals will encourage them to positively participate in the service of society and development of the country. Bank Muscat is committed to contributing towards sustainable development by working closely with local communities, especially the country’s youth who represent the future of Oman, with the aim of improving living standards and enhancing skills in a manner that contributes to national development.”

Bank Muscat attaches great importance to sustainable development activities and is the first Omani bank to establish a fullfledged CSR department. Consid-

ered among core values, the CSR policy reflects the bank’s concern and care for various segments of society. The bank is of the view that its social responsibility is not merely participation in charitable works and organisation of voluntary campaigns, but responsibility towards all-round development of society and nation.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Muqbali, Deputy President of the Students Council at Sohar University, commended Bank Muscat for the support to visually impaired youth. “The generous support extended by the bank will go a long

way in equipping the youth with employable skills to embark on successful career pursuits. We are optimistic that the fine example set by the bank will be emulated by corporate institutions, benefiting various segments of society, especially the country’s youth,” Al Muqbali said.

Fauziya Khamis Al Kalbani, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the bank for the generous gesture. “We are immensely grateful to the bank for this support and look forward to gaining valuable computer skills which will add significant value to our career prospects,” Fauziya said.

MUSCAT: Al Ansari hosted top HVAC professionals of Oman at Mesan Cooling Tower seminar recently organised in Muscat.

Mesan is a reputed manufacturer of CTI Certified & Ashrae compliant ‘Mesan’ Cooling Towers having wide range of cooling tower designs and configurations. Having supplied cooling towers all over the world for the last 40 years, Mesan is one of the top names in the field of cooling towers.

Sergio Flores, director of Mesan USA, was the lead presenter covering all technical aspects of selection, installation, operation and maintenance of cooling

towers, says a press release.

Deepak Ved, senior general manager, Marketing, and his team of Al Ansari were delighted with the overwhelming response and fruitful interaction at this successful event.

Marketing Division of Al Ansari is the local agent for Mesan USA Cooling Towers in HVAC segments. Al Ansari offers chilled water pumps, valves, rubber insulation, AHU/FCU, pressurisation units and pressure vessels, dampers, sound attenuator and sand louvre, flexible ducts, connectors, tapes, vapour barriers, adhesives, plumbing and acr copper pipes and fittings, etc.

T E L E C O M M U N I C AT I O N P R O D UC T S

‘ M O S T O U T S TA N D I N G C O R P O R AT E L E A D E R ’

Napco CEO receives AIWA award Genetco partners MUSCAT: National Aluminium Products Company (Napco), one of the leading extruders of aluminium profiles in the GCC, has announced that its CEO, Robert Holtkamp, has received the award for ‘Most Outstanding Corporate Leader’ from Alam al-Iktisaad Wal A’mal (AIWA), leading Arabic business magazine published by United Media Services.

The 5th edition of the award ceremony was held recently at Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa to recognise the top achievers in Oman’s corporate world. Holtkamp was recognised for displaying exceptional foresight in spearheading his company’s growth and ex-

pansion in just a short span of time, says a press release.

Under Holtkamp’ leadership, Napco registered a 4 per cent increase in revenues in 2014 to OMR19,407.00 over previous year sales despite taking charge in the

second quarter, which is a tremendous achievement. Moreover, all production divisions, including extrusion, powder coating, anodising, wood finish, and dispatch saw a boost in output. The powder coating facility produced 605 metric tonnes in December 2014, the highest in the company’s history.

In 2015, the company increased capacity by 45 to 50 per cent from the existing capacity of the plant.

Holtkamp said: “It is a great honour to receive the award for ‘Most Outstanding Corporate Leader’ from the prestigious business magazine AIWA. To see Napco treading on the path I had envisioned for it almost a year back makes the award

more special and I am confident that it will continue to achieve all the milestones on its road to enduring success. I would like to thank the employees of Napco, who, through their hard work, sincerity and dedication, have made it easier to attain our goals. I would like to thank the Board of Directors for their trust in supporting my strategic decisions.

Rest assured, we will continue to work hard to position Napco within top five aluminium extruders in terms of capacity within the GCC.” Holtkamp has been instrumental in the recruitment and training of Omani employees to attain high levels of Omanisation at all levels of the company hierarchy.

with Gigaset AG

MUSCAT: Genetco, a leading name in technology distribution and retail in Oman, has recently partnered with Gigaset AG to showcase its range of telecommunication products in the Sultanate of Oman.

Gigaset AG, formerly known as Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices, is a multinational corporation based in Munich, Germany. Gigaset is a world leader in cordless telephony and uses Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications technology in its products. Product range includes cordless phones, corded

and combination phones which are designed for home and office use. The brand is synonymous for its innovation and heritage of about 160 years in the communication space, says a press release.

Gigaset products are designed and engineered in Germany and have won several awards for its design excellence. Gigaset products are now available through Genetco retail showrooms across Oman and other leading electronics stores and hypermarkets. Genetco is one of the oldest names in electronics distribution and retail in Oman.

B6

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

ROUND-UP All-new Honda Odyssey J arrives

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The new Odyssey J

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makes driving fun as well as provides great comfort, ample cargo space, intelligent features and exceptional utility with low fuel consumption that adds to the joy of passenger

MUSCAT: Oman Marketing & Services Co., Honda distributor in the Sultanate, announced the launch of Honda Odyssey J at a press conference on Sunday.

Available across all Honda showrooms in Oman, the all-new Honda Odyssey J exudes luxury and unrivalled comfort.

The Odyssey J is the next generation minivan that sets the bar in automobile sophistication, says a press release.

The all-new Odyssey J makes driving fun as well as provides great

comfort, ample cargo space, intelligent features and exceptional utility with low fuel consumption that adds to the Joy of passenger.

Exterior styling The Odyssey J is being launched keeping in mind the customer preferences of the Middle East region. As a fact, this will be the only region where both Odysseys’ will be available to suit different customer tastes.

Its exterior design is based on ‘Solid Streamline’ concept with an ultra-low platform to achieve an elegant and dynamically proportioned look while still mindful of the cabin space.

The ultra-low floor design which sits only 300mm above the ground helps ease passenger entry and exit, unique to the all-new Odyssey J. The incorporation of LED headlights (EX-V) , LED daytime running lights, LED tail lamps are beautifully crafted and blend with functionality and safety. The uniqueness about this advance features is to improve light distribution for better visibility.

The all-new Honda Odyssey J is also equipped with the standard power sliding doors on both sides with the addition of one touch technology at assistant side for

the EX grade and both driver and assistant side for the EX-V grade.

The one touch sliding door helps driver enter vehicle despite having both hands occupied.

Interior styling The interior design of the Odyssey J is indicative of a hotel suite as it is primarily patterned to one based on its “Modern Suite Room” concept; easily described as elegant and high-class fitted with only the finest choice of materials. Added to that, Honda’s craft and expertise in efficient packaging is also noticeable in the Odyssey J; which is able to accommodate seven passengers on the EX-V grade and eight passengers on the EX grade, comfortably with generous head, elbow and leg room. New to Hon-

da’s luxury minivan is the application of Captain Cradle Seats in the 2nd row for the EX-V Leather grade which provides the ultimate in luxury travel with adjustable ottomans and armrests. The 3rd row has individual headrests which provide comfort all around.

Further indulge in a luxurious journey with amenities and controls suited for all passengers’ comfort.

The Odyssey J is equipped with a seven inch touch screen display audio system. In addition to the above, the new Odyssey J boasts of a rear view camera, map light, Front A/c, Rear A/c and 3rd row ultra-ventswith an electrostatic touch type A/c control panel, map lights, and a whole host of other intelligent features.

Power train The Odyssey J is powered with the Earth Dreams Technology 2.4-litre, DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and continuous variable transmission. The car’s low center of gravity offers an extremely comfortable ride and smooth driving performance.

The engine combines outstanding torque of 225N-m @ 4000 rpm and generates an output of power of 173hp @ 6200 rpm. Another feature of Odyssey J is the G-Design shift that has been engineered to give the Odyssey J a more natural and sporty feel. While accelerating, this system responds to the driver demands more quickly than conventional automatics and other CVT technologies.

The Honda Odyssey utilises

Honda’s advanced compatibility engineering (ACE) body structure technology to enhance occupant protection and crash compatibility. The new Odyssey boasts of improved rigidity. It also boasts of Honda active-safety features such as the vehicle stability assist (VSA), anti-lock brake systems (ABS), electronic brake distributor (EBD) and hill start assist (HSA).

Another highlight is the blind spot information (BSI) system.

This system lets out a large beep sound if there is an approaching vehicle as well as an indicator light will appear on the side view mirror cautioning the driver to take counter measure by keeping a safe driving distance.

In addition, there are a total of 6 SRS air bags and SRS airbags in the first row as well as side curtain airbags up to the third row give the driver and all passengers the optimal protection. The new Odyssey J has received a 5 star rating from the ASEAN NCAP as well as Australian for superior Adult Occupation Protection and safety performance.

Grade, colour availability The Honda Odyssey J has introduced the base grade namely EX and the top grade EX-V with leather for the GCC region. The car will be available in these colours: White orchid pearl, super platinum metallic, crystal black pearl, modern steel metallic, glamorous mauve pearl and carnelian red pearl.

LU X U RY WAT C H M A K E R S

E X PA N S I O N

Greubel Forsey showcases Art Piece 1 in the Sultanate

Twenty4 opens outlet in Nizwa MUSCAT: After the huge success of the launch of Twenty4 in Muscat last year, the brand has now announced the continued expansion across the Sultanate with its second store opening in Nizwa.

Twenty4 offers high-end design and premium quality at an affordable price. Since its launch last year in Oman, it has been laying its own path and is now synonymous as the brand favouring style over fashion, says a press release.

Inaugurating the new outlet, Nasser Kunnummal, country head of Twenty4, said Nizwa is a potential market for Twenty4 and there is a strong demand of customers for the products offered by the brand. “The presence of retailers catering to the mid-market segment helps Oman to position itself on the global front.”

Tarique Azmi, concept head of Twenty4, said: “We are very happy opening a store in Nizwa and furthermore on the expansion of the brand into the Sultanate of Oman. The city is a popular destination for tourism due to the natural attractions of the nearby mountains. The beautiful souk is a major attraction too. Thus, opening a Twenty4

outlet and catering to the needs of customers and tourists in Nizwa was imperative.”

An introductory offer “Customers who purchase full price merchandise worth OMR15 and more will be eligible to get OMR3 voucher,” continued Nasser. He also went on to say that, “With Twenty4’s latest offering, we want to make shopping during this month even more fun and satisfying for customers. At twenty4, shoppers will find all the amazing savings on merchandise we are known for, in addition to finding our existing stores refreshed with new, bright and colourful must-have items.”

Twenty4’s chic, young, and uber-cool collection offers incredible value to fashion conscious customers of any age.

The store has already proven its mettle amongst consumers in the region, who are spoilt for choice with the brand’s exciting variety of clothes and accessories for women, men, young adults, kids and even homes.

Also noteworthy about Twenty4 is the fact that complete emphasis is given to customer convenience

by the brand — with customer friendly signage, ample and spacious trial rooms, large cashiering banks, ample parking space outside the store, to name a few.

With the fashion direction for the season now defined, rush to the twenty4 store to shop for an array of options from the brand’s spring collection.

You can also like twenty4’s Facebook page for a daily dose of high-street fashion.

Headquartered in the UAE, twenty4 is the Middle East’s fastest growing fashion retailer and part of the BMA International Group, one of the biggest retail conglomerates in the Middle East. Showcasing popular collections for men, women, kids and homes, twenty4 has a long standing affair with fashion.

As a brand Twenty4 believes in constantly being a trend-setter in the region and has successfully created a marketing portfolio and newer forms of communication.

That’s not all, the store’s worldclass design and ample retail space ensures an uncluttered, fun and cosmopolitan shopping environment and is definitely a onestop shop for all fashion needs.

MUSCAT: Greubel Forsey, the watchmaking company acclaimed for its innovative and stunning multi-tour billon watches, is all set to impress watch fanatics all over the Sultanate of Oman with their new creation, the Greubel Forsey Art Piece 1. The luxury watch makers recently showcased this stunning piece of art at Mistal boutique, their sole distributors in Oman, says a press release.

Known for their rich history of crafting the finest timepieces in the world, Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey teamed up with British artist Willard Wigan to create the entirely new co-creation –the Art Piece 1, the likes of which have never been seen before in the world of watchmaking.

The watch houses both Greubel Forsey’s signature 30 degree double tour billons and a microsculpture by Wigan, who is known for creating the world’s smallest sculptures. Nestling in the side of the white gold case of Art Piece 1 is an incredibly minute threemasted galleon called the Golden Sail. The microsculpture is handsculpted in gold and decked out in carbon fibre rigging that one can admire through a magnifier in a special crown.

The miniaturised optical system features 23x magnifying factor with adjustable focal length, along with systems to correct optical aberrations and optimise lighting. Thus the micro-sculpture, which would otherwise appear to the naked eye as just a fleck of gold, becomes visible in all its glorious detail without the need for artificial light.

The dial has a beautiful blue tone and the mainplate is engraved with names of the three artists, watchmakers, and innovators involved: Stephen Forsey, Robert Greubel, and Willard Wigan. The case of

The association with Greubel Forsey has in the past proved to be extremely fruitful and we look forward to the launch of many more such spectacular creations for our Omani clients in the future Dharmesh A. Khimji

Managing Director of Mistal

the Double Tourbillon 30° houses a hand-wound movement with a 72-hour power reserve indicator.

The hours and minutes display is visible only on request, ie by using

a push-piece.

Dharmesh A. Khimji, managing director of Mistal, said: “Greubel Forsey has always been at the forefront for producing a stunning range of luxury timepieces.

We are glad to introduce the Art Piece 1 creation to watch enthusiasts in Oman through Mistal.

This authentic creation, which is absolutely as accurate as it is alluring, can be specially ordered upon request by anyone wishing to own it. The association with Greubel Forsey has in the past proved to be extremely fruitful and we look forward to the launch of many more such spectacular creations for our Omani clients in the future.

Greubel Forsey made its foray into Oman market through their partners Mistal. A part of Ajit Khimji Group, Mistal is the ultimate luxury watch and jewellery boutique in the Sultanate that showcases some of the finest and luxurious watch brands in the world.

Mistal showrooms at Sabco Commercial Centre, Qurum and the flagship store in Darsait provide a world-class premium experience to customers and have become popular with the watch connoisseurs of the Sultanate for their exclusive array of luxury timepieces.

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Toyota cars available with attractive offer Toyota’s ‘Extra-large Benefits! Extralarge Happiness!’ campaign is valid up to August 5

MUSCAT: Toyota, one of the most trusted and well-known brands in Oman, continues to enhance customer satisfaction with its wide range of vehicles to suit varied needs, wants and aspirations. Toyota models not only perform well, they last long and command a good resale value, even after many years of use.

Currently, a buzz in town has been created by Toyota’s ‘Extralarge Benefits! Extra-large Happiness!’ campaign.

“The biggest excitement has returned with Toyota vehicles now being available with a host of exciting benefits,” exclaims an enthusiast. These benefits include a service package for up to three years / 30,000km service (whichever is earlier) covering three services at 10,000Km service interval for petrol models based on normal operating conditions and six services at 5,000km service interval for diesel models:, Insurance for one year (Oman only), 1st year of registration and 1,000 litres of fuel.

In lieu of the above, customers can choose to avail of the cash gift up to OMR750 on the passenger car range. These benefits are model specific and may vary accordingly.

To top it all, every Toyota customer gets a gift voucher and a

chance to take part in an amazing raffle which has 9 units of 16YM Camry GL Executive to be won.

“With so many cars, the chances of winning are high! In fact, the earlier one buys and enters the raffle, the more winning chances one gets,” the spokesperson adds.

Toyota’s ‘Extra-large Benefits!

Extra-large Happiness!’ campaign is valid up to August 5. Benefits are applicable for all purchases except those made by government organisations and ministries.

Weekly raffle draws are conducted on all Sundays (excepting July 19) until August 9. Customers will be eligible for raffle only upon taking delivery of the vehicle during the campaign period after completing necessary formalities and not against booking.

Conditions Apply.

Adding to the all-round excitement are the winning Passenger range models having already won over many hearts with their style, quality and value — Yaris Hatchback, Yaris Sedan, Corolla, Camry, Aurion and Avalon.

The 2016 Yaris Hatchback with a sporty design, large profile to meet the needs of consumers desiring a more spacious and

impressive design. Class-leading performance is powered by a 1.5 L VVT-i engine with a maximum output of 107 HP and a maximum torque of 14.4 Kg-m. A worthy choice, the 2016 Toyota Yaris is an exciting sedan, available in 1.5 L and 1.3 L engine choices; Toyota Yaris also has a compact 4-speed automatic gearbox delivering excellent response and a smooth gear shift.

The Toyota Corolla is a pride to own and a joy to drive. It offers two engine variants. Customers can choose a powerful 2.0 L Engine with maximum power of 143 HP (Net). The second option is a 1.6 L engine delivering 121 HP (Net).

The recently launched 2016 Toyota Camry has raised the bar yet again in the mid-size sedan segment with a bold, bumper-tobumper redesign to open a new chapter in the illustrious history of the world’s most popular midsize sedan. With a striking new design, and more dynamic handling, the new Toyota Camry is truly in a league of its own.

The luxurious Aurion is available with 6-speed multimode automatic transmission, with a 3.5 -litre engine and a maximum out-

B7

put of 268 HP, delivering top-class level fuel economy and a powerful driving experience.

The Toyota Avalon is a sedan par excellence. It utilises a 3.5-litre, six-cylinder engine that features Dual VVT-i. The V6 Engine produces 273 horsepower and provides the Avalon with remarkable acceleration. This flagship model from the Toyota stable redefines luxury and sophistication.

All specifications listed above are standard Toyota equipment.

Safety kit (fire extinguisher, warning triangle, tyre pressure gauge & first aid kit) is a dealer installed non Toyota item provided on Toyota models as standard equipment. The vehicle specifications may change without prior notice. Pictures and colours in this catalogue may differ from actual specifications of the vehicles.

The above disclaimer pertains to 2015 YM and 2016 YM vehicles, as applicable.

In Oman, Toyota’s outstanding product quality is supported by the nationwide parts and service network of Saud Bahwan Automotive. No wonder then that today, Toyota is one of the most trusted and well-known brands.

E X C LU S I V E FA C I L I T I E S

BankDhofar unveils new car loan promo MUSCAT: Celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, BankDhofar announced new car loan offer and exclusive facilities with a reduced interest rate of 4 per cent for the first three months.

The offer, which started on the first day of Ramadan and continues till July 15, brings in a bundle of added value features including competitive vehicle insurance rate, free AAA card, free Visa Silver Credit Card and a tenure of up to 10 years for nationals and five years for resident customers, says a press release.

Highlighting the great opportunity for BankDhofar customers to own their dream car and to enjoy the facilities provided by the bank, Khalid Al Amri, head of Retail Products, Business & Segments Department, said: “As we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, we want our customers to avail themselves of the exclusive offers, world-class products and instant banking services. We design all our products and banking solutions to suit our customers’ requirements. Our car loan facilities bring in a lot of value to make

it easier for our customers to own their dream cars and I personally urge them to make use of this opportunity and enjoy the exclusive benefits available.”

BankDhofar car loan gives customers the chance to buy their favourite car with competitive interest rates, quick approvals and personalised services. The bank offers special limits and rates for student, ladies and Priority Banking customers.

In addition to car loan facilities, BankDhofar also offers motor insurance options which feature lower premium rates and instant insurance policy, be it comprehensive insurance or third-party insurance cover.

BEST PRACTICES

Badr Al Samaa Group honoured by ministry

PROMOTION

Lulu picks 1st draw Dream Drive winners MUSCAT: It’s raining cars at Lulu this festive season. The winners of the 1st draw of the current dream drive promotion were picked at Lulu Hypermarket Nizwa recently.

Mofak Makhdi Mohammed Sulaiman won a swanky BMW X5 35i. Other winners of Ikon products include Jennifer Jessiah, who won a 48” LED TV, Fuhad Mubarak Khalifa won the washing machine, Rossan Hilal Athabi won the air cooler, Ali Seema Nassar won the halogen fryer and Abu Sayam won the Tablet, says a press release.

Shoppers from Lulu in the Sultanate will get a chance to win six luxurious BMW X5 35i cars and a range of marvellous and useful products from Ikon till August 5.

The Lulu Dream Drive has always been a much anticipated event with a number of exciting rewards for the customers. The now proprietary Lulu Dream Drive is now in its 15th edition and customers look forward to this campaign as it reflects dreams, hopes and aspirations. With every purchase of OMR10, customers get a raffle coupon for the lucky draw. To keep the excitement ongoing, the six draws will take place at regular intervals at different Lulu branches.

Ananth A. V., Regional Director of Lulu Hypermarkets, Oman, said, “The Lulu Dream Drive is a real driver for both our customers and us alike. The planning and the thought that goes into this promotion is unlike any other. From sourcing to inventory, the promotion is a result of meticulous plan-

Shoppers from Lulu in the Sultanate will get a chance to win six luxurious BMW X5 35i cars and a range of marvellous and useful products from Ikon till August 5. With every purchase of OMR10, customers get a raffle coupon for the lucky draw

ning. We endeavour to provide our customers a pleasant shopping experience with great value for their money. The response over the last few years has been fantastic and we are extremely thankful for the support and trust received from our valued customers.”

The 700,000 plus shoppers who patronise Lulu daily are the true testament to the popular-

ity of the Lulu brand. Lulu hypermarkets are immensely popular with all their customers for the unique shopping experience they provide throughout the country.

It is a pleasant and novel variation from the usual, run of the mill super markets. Heralded as the fastest growing retail chain in the world, the multi-faceted business conglomerate today takes extra

care in providing a considerable platform to the local brands and manufacturers to sell their. Needless to add, the Lulu brand has also evolved in terms of product offerings, display, customer conveniences and the experience it offers.

Along with the Dream Drive campaign, Lulu will also be hosting a variety of promotions on popular Ramadan essentials in addition to an array of other great offers and deals.

This promotion is another way for the brand to show its commitment towards building a world class shopping experience. Running through all its stores is a vision of being a place where the world comes to shop and hence, every one of Lulu’s promotional offerings is designed keeping the widest consumer spectrum in mind. With five more Lulu-BMW draws in the next few weeks, be a part of the excitement.

MUSCAT: Badr Al Samaa, the largest private healthcare group in the Sultanate of Oman, has been honoured by the Ministry of Health for the best practice in Infection Control and Hand Hygiene across their establishments.

Abdul Latheef, director, Badr Al Samaa group of hospitals, received award from Dr Mazen bin Jawad Al Khabouri, directorate general of Private Healthcare Establishments, Sultanate of Oman, in a ceremony held at Holiday Inn Hotel, Muscat, says a press release.

The award recognises Badr Al Samaa’s efforts in maintaining and

delivering quality healthcare. The ceremony was attended by top officials from the Ministry of Health and from private healthcare establishments. Abdul Latheef thanked the Ministry of Health for their various initiatives in promoting quality service across the private healthcare sector.

“We have received many accolades earlier from different organisations and all these are in recognition to our efforts and they are real reflection of our achievements for the entire team of Badr Al Samaa,” said V. T. Vinod and P. A. Mohammed, directors of Badr Al Samaa.

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Stellar offers on Mitsubishi Pajero As a part of the offer, the vehicle will be available with free insurance, free service, free registration and cash gifts until the offer ends on July 30 MUSCAT: With the recently launched 2015 Ramadan offer, General Automotive Company, the official distributors of Mitsubishi vehicles in Oman, has announced stellar offers on all 2015 MY Mitsubishi models including the legendary Pajero.

Facelifted just under a year ago, the 2015 Pajero offers a fresh modernised look together with class-leading on and off-road performance. As a part of the offer,

the vehicle will be available with free insurance, free service, free registration and cash gifts until the offer ends on July 30, says a press release.

In its latest iteration, the 2015 Mitsubishi Pajero offers a modern look with a revised front grille and an aggressively shaped bumper with integrated LED daytime running lamps. The legendary vehicle is packed with features that make it a pleasure to drive both on the road

and off it. From the power of its 3.5 or 3.8 litre MIVEC engine through to a comprehensive suite of safety features, the Pajero was designed from the ground-up to cope with any kind of driving condition.

Whether highway cruising, urban driving or trying more challenging off-road adventures in the wadis and dunes of the Sultanate, the Pajero has proved its mettle time and again. The roomy interior of the Pajero accommodates seven peo-

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age, 6-year unlimited mileage warranty, 6-year roadside assistance and free registration. Mitsubishi is also offering free insurance and a direct cash gift of up to OMR1,000.

In addition to the already comprehensive offer. This offer also carries over to 2015 MY Mitsubishi Lancer EX, ASX, Outlander, Pajero Sport, and L200 models.

Additionally, during the four week period of Ramadan any showroom visitor also stands a chance to win an iPhone 6, with one phone being given away each week during the holy month.

Customers who purchase a new Mitsubishi during the offer period, which will come to a close on July 30, will also be entered in an exclusive draw with a prize pool of OMR50,000. The draw will be conducted at the Mitsubishi showroom in Azaiba on August 12, 2015 and will see over nearly 100 customers strike it lucky.

PROMOTION

Malabar Gold embraces spirit of Ramadan MUSCAT: The Holy Month of Ramadan has arrived and millions of people around the world honour the month with acts of service and prayers.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the leading jewellery retailer, strengthens its CSR activities in GCC and Far East this Ramadan, embracing the spirit of giving. In Oman, it is distributing 10,000 Iftar kits at different areas such as Ruwi, Matrah, Sohar and Salalah throughout the 30 days of Ramadan, says a press release.

The jewellery group hosts Iftar events in various parts of GCC

ple and is equipped with a manual Dual AC, CD player with 4 speakers, overhead console with sunglass storage, map lamp and trip computer with an information centre.

Also available is Mitsubishi’s Multi Communication System (MMCS) with voice command via steering wheel controls, an 850-watt rockford acoustic design 12-speaker premium audio system and electrochromatic rear-view mirror. As a result of its multifaceted character-

istics the Pajero is extremely popular with families, businesses and individuals across the Sultanate.

Commenting on the capabilities of the Pajero, Rajesh Sharma, National Marketing Manager of General Automotive Company, said: “The Pajero is an extremely capable vehicle that proves itself time and time again in the harshest environments and most challenging conditions the world over; and it manages to do so while still delivering a thoroughly composed road drive. Reputed for its tough, reliable and capable character, the Pajero also sports a very affordable price tag, one that is only sweetened further with our Ramadan offer for 2015.”

As a part of the recently launched Ramadan offer from Mitusbishi, all customers who purchase a new Pajero during the Ramadan promotional period will benefit from a 2-year/30,000km free service pack-

and Far East, by organising month long activities, in association with like-minded organisations. Over 100,000 residents in GCC and Far East will benefit from their CSR initiatives this Ramadan.

In UAE, such initiatives are planned to benefit the needy and they are planning to provide over 60,000 special Iftar meals during this period. The group also associates with 14th Dubai Ramadan Forum, which is under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and provides

1,000 Iftar meals per day during this month. 500 to 800 Iftar meals will be provided per day at Sajaa Industrial area Camp with the support of Sharjah Charity International throughout the holy month.

In Bahrain, the group is planning to provide over 4,500 Iftar meals to the labourers at different parts of Bahrain such as Asker, Akker, Jau, Asari, Hamadtown, Isa Town etc. throughout Ramadan.

Like in previous years, they are associating with Discovery Islam, Al Hedaya Centre and Friendship Society for Blinds to carry out such activities in Bahrain.

Ooredoo launches ‘Join and Win’ for business customers MUSCAT: Ooredoo is giving business mobile customers a chance to win some great highvalue gadgets to keep them connected. Smartphones, laptops, iPads, and printers are all on offer with their new ‘Join and Win’ promotion. Valid throughout the holy month of Ramadan, there will be two draws with 10 prizes handed out each time, says a press release.

“We want to reward our loyal business customers, give them more value added services and help them to grow their businesses. Our strategy revolves around providing a world of choice and a customer-centric experience, and this offer reflects this aim,” stated Said Al Shanfari, director of Business Marketing at Ooredoo.

“What makes the offer exciting is the way in which cwustomers can boost their chances with each new product they activate.

Customers will get two chances to win with every Omani rial they spend to connect with us, so the more lines they connect and the higher plans they choose, the greater their chances of winning.

Purchasing Business Prepaid gives customers four chances to win and that goes all the way up

What makes the offer exciting is the way in which customers can boost their chances with each new product they activate.

Customers will get two chances to win with every Omani rial they spend to connect with us Said Al Shanfari

Director of Business Marketing at Ooredoo

to 60 chances when opting for our highest postpaid plan, Shahry Business Pack 30.”

Those who activate new business mobile products in the first two weeks will go into the first draw, while those who do so in the last two weeks of Ramadan will be drawn after the end of the promotion. All business mobile customers activating products from Ooredoo stores are eligible to enter the draw.

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DHONI NOT ‘CAPTAIN COOL’, HE NEEDS ‘YOGA’ Former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi today said Mahendra Singh Dhoni is “not ‘Captain Cool’ anymore” and suggested yoga sessions for the beleaguered cricketer to overcome the tough phase. >C2

Oman Sail’s The Wave triumphs The result at Cardiff also lifts The Wave, Muscat to the top of the leaderboard in the Extreme Sailing Series – just one point ahead of SAP Extreme Sailing Team; Oman Air placed sixth overall MUSCAT: After another day of adrenaline-fueled Extreme 40 racing in winds that topped well over 25 knots in the gusts, defending champion Leigh McMillan and his team on The Wave, Muscat put in another solid performance to claim overall victory in Cardiff for the third consecutive year.

The result also lifts them to the top of the leaderboard in the Extreme Sailing Series – just one point ahead of SAP Extreme Sailing Team.

McMillan’s team that includes Nasser Al Mashari, Pete Greenhalgh, Double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton, and Ed Smyth sailed consistently well throughout the day to record five straight podium positions.

Meanwhile team mates on Oman Air concluded the day with some equally impressive results including a second and a spectacular last race win to put them in sixth place overall.

With a lead of 15 points over SAP Extreme Sailing Team going into final seven races, McMillan and his all-star crew were under a lot of pressure to keep their rivals at bay. In the opening race they finished second to Red Bull Sailing, and one place ahead of closest rivals SAP. From there on they managed to strengthen their lead in nearly every race and finished

PROUD WINNERS: Champions The Wave Muscat, runners-up SAP Extreme Sailing Team and third-placed Red Bull Sailing Team celebrate on the podium in Cardiff after Act

4 of the Extreme Sailing Series. Oman Sail’s The Wave hold the overall series lead. – Supplied photo

the day with an 18pt clear lead over Red Bull Sailing Team who snatched second place overall in the final race.

As he stepped ashore this afternoon, a delighted McMillan commented: “We came out and everything clicked into place. We had a good game plan and we are absolutely thrilled to win in Cardiff for the third year running. We had a slightly more relaxed approach going into the event, a more freestyle attitude towards the starts and just letting everything happen as it should. I think this makes it less stressful on the boat and everyone performs well to that.”

Chatting about the venue, Mc-

Millan added: “It has been a relentless four days of racing. The wind has been really gusty so it has been pretty nerve-wracking at times with plenty of adrenaline pumping through the team. Cardiff is renowned for these conditions and it really keeps you on your toes the whole time, but it is an enjoyable challenge as a result.

Looking ahead, McMillan concluded: “SAP have been very consistent and very hard to beat so from here on we need to keep our focus on them and make sure no one else makes a big jump on us overall.”

Nasser Al Mashari who is in charge of the front end of the boat said he feels proud to have won Act

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4 for Oman and The Wave, Muscat.

“Fantastic to have won here in Cardiff for the third time. We had good team work and we are now looking forward to the next one, where we hope to repeat our performance.”

Stevie Morrison and his team on Oman Air also wowed the crowds in Cardiff with some equally impressive results. Although they were unable to achieve a podium

position overall, their final race win in the demanding, high pressure, double points race was exceptional and undoubtedly the highpoint of their event. The team, which includes Nic Asher, Ted Hackney, Ed Powys, and Ali Al Balushi achieved 10 podium positions over the weekend, including three wins.

Commenting on the highlights of racing in Cardiff Bay, Morrison said: “They say you are only as good as your last race, and that counted double, so we are doubly good.

Winning the last race certainly leaves a good taste in the mouth.”

Oman Air’s positive outlook after an exceptionally taxing weekend on Cardiff Bay means they are

well prepared for the next event in Hamburg at the end of July. “Generally, I think we are starting to sail the boat better and we feel a lot more comfortable in it, and of course we are enjoying it. When we have good starts we are able to pull away and get good results, so starting is something we are working on. Today we were also beginning to overtake some boats, which is encouraging too.

“We are looking forward to the next event in Hamburg because no one has been there before, so everyone will be fresh to the event so there could be a good chance for us.”

Next Act will be Hamburg, Germany from July 23 to 26.

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

SPORTS

Run of wins excites ‘fearless’ Bangladesh Over the last two years Bangladesh lost home ODI series to Sri Lanka and India and were also blanked 3-0 in West Indies, but an upswing in performances has seen them win 10 ODIs at home in a row

DHAKA: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza believes playing a fearless brand of one-day cricket has brought about a “significant change” in his team’s fortunes. Over the last two years Bangladesh lost home ODI series to Sri Lanka and India and were also blanked 3-0 in West Indies, but an upswing in performances has seen them win 10 ODIs at home in a row.

Bangladesh blanked Zimbabwe 5-0 in a five-ODI series before reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand for the first time, and proved that was no fluke by thumping Pakistan 3-0 in a ODI series at home.

They followed that up with their first ODI series win over two-time world champions India on Sunday with a game to spare.

“I think the boys are playing fearless cricket,” Mortaza told reporters. “This is the significant change.

“The boys are not scared to play shots. They are not scared to put the slips on so I think that sort of cricket has changed.

“Cricket is all about mind games.

I think we are all playing good cricket at the moment, especially with our head in the right place. I have always wanted to play attacking cricket.”

The Bangladesh batsmen went hard at India’s bowling in both matches while left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman ran through the vaunted Indian batting, picking up five wickets on debut and then six on Sunday.

Both victories were comfortably achieved and the margin of the wins surprised even Mortaza.

“This is one of the biggest

JUBILANT BUNCH: Bangladesh’s players celebrate their win over India during their second one-day international cricket match in Dhaka. – AP/PTI

Dhoni willing to quit ODI captaincy DHAKA: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is willing to step aside as India captain and focus on his own game if it will help the team, the 33-year-old said in the wake of their first ever one-day series defeat to Bangladesh.

The long-serving leader, who will turn 34 next month, gave up the test captaincy midway through the series in Australia in December before retiring from the longer format altogether. And with two humiliating ODI losses in the first two matches of the series against their neighbours, Dhoni was asked if he still enjoyed leading the Indian team.

“I am really enjoying my cricket,” Dhoni said after his side’s six-wicket loss at Mirpur on Sunday. “I know this question was coming. I know the media really loves me.

“Yes, if it is a justifiable thing that if you remove me and the Indian cricket will start doing

achievements. Actually I think the boys are really confident. Maybe we didn’t expect (to win) that way,” the medium paceman said.

“But we always thought that we are going to play to win and fight till the last ball. Obviously I know

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M.S. Dhoni.

really well, and if I am the reason for all the bad that is happening to Indian cricket, definitely I would love to step away and play as a player.

“Ultimately you want India to win. It doesn’t matter who is the captain. I was never really in line to become a captain. It was a job or responsibility for me. I have taken that responsibility.

If they want to take it away, I am happy to give it away.”

The wicketkeeper-batsman took over the ODI mantle from

that if we play our best cricket, it will be competitive. But we can win as well.”

While Bangladesh have surprised top teams in the past, they have suffered from a lack of consistency and Mortaza said he

Rahul Dravid after India’s group-stage exit from the 2007 World Cup in West Indies and is considered the country’s greatest skipper in limitedovers format. He has won a Twenty20 World Cup, the 2011 50-overs World Cup at home and also the Champions Trophy in England, as well as taking India to the top of world Test rankings.

“What is more important is to play for the country and contribute to the team and try to keep the dressing room atmosphere good,” said Dhoni, who promoted himself to number four in the batting order on Sunday and made a laboured 47.

“So that whenever youngsters are coming in, they can come and perform. That will be the ultimate achievement for me.

“Indian cricket had been used to players coming in toned.

Now it has changed. You have to grind it through. You can’t win every series you play.” - Reuters

hoped his team can continue delivering results.

“Our biggest problem was the consistency,” he said.

“In cricket, momentum is very important so hopefully the boys will keep it up.” - Reuters

C O M M E N TA RY

It’s pretty simple to see what’s going wrong

L

ooking a bit like a magician who was desperately trying to explain away his miserable failure to pull off a much-hyped-about trick, MS Dhoni said at the presentation ceremony on Sunday night at Mirpur that “it’s pretty simple to see what went wrong” for India, and that if ever we thought it was his captaincy that’s bringing all the bad for team India, then we were simply, madly, unfairly wrong.

Dhoni then switched himself into the “long run” mode and spoke with a fair hint of philosophy how his thoughts on the night of the great Indian depression could do a lot of good for the team, the support staff and himself.

In the long run, obviously.

Long run, as John Keynes would like us to believe, is a misleading guide to current affairs, but even if the fact is that we are all dead in the long run, what matters is the process because, in the case of the game of cricket, “you cannot win every series you play”, in the short or long run.

So, just in case you thought the Indian captain of ODI and T-20 teams might step down as skipper as well as player just as he did in the middle of the Australian series, you are far from reality, at least in the short run.

There is only one way to go about it for that to happen in the short run: take it away from Dhoni if you could.

But conditions apply: you should remove him as captain only if you could guarantee that the move would inspire Indian cricket to start doing really well.

Under the present circumstances, that’s an impossible condition to meet even if you stumble upon some extraterrestrial being that readily agrees to take up the job of Indian team coach and promises to work miracles with gravity-defying stunts.

At the moment, MS is “really enjoying” his cricket, and he believes he deserves a chance to rediscover himself as a batsman, preferably at No. 4, for his selfless service in the last five years.

And that explains why he walked out into the middle in the 13th over, at the fall of Virat Kohli.

Before the second ODI, there was talk about redoing the plan, but the one that was unveiled on Sunday looked uninspiring. Ambati Rayudu has been handed enough opportunities, but has seldom

proved that he’s the man for India in the long or short run — so the wisdom in slotting him in for the crucial match is baffling.

Dhoni proclaims “this is the best of players we have”, and that may or may not be completely true, but can’t we use the resources available in a better way?

Dhoni says Rohit Sharma is ideally a middle-order batsman — but he opens for the team — and Ajinkya Rahane, who opened for the team when needed, is either thrown in the middle or just left out.

Rahane’s lack of power to give the acceleration needed in the mid-overs is well known, but equally known is his skill to lay the foundation of the innings as an opener.

Isn’t it pretty simple to see what’s going wrong, Mr Dhoni?

Bangla bowlers seemed miles ahead of the Indians, but they don’t actually have skills that the Indian don’t have. The difference was in the matter of execution: if the team has a plan, it works only if it’s executed on the field.

Experienced bowlers like Bhuvaneshwar Kumar spraying balls down leg side despite being hit to the rope was clearly a case of failure in getting a plan executed — but whose failure was that: the bowler’s or the captain’s?

The series has been squandered, the pride has been dealt a mighty blow, but Dhoni and his boys know well that nothing is lost forever.

They could fool their fans back home with super shows in the third ODI scheduled for tomorrow, but looking at the way Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman marching off the field after the second rain interruption in the 44th over of the Indian innings, chatting, patting and always exchanging smiles, it’s doubtful if the fallen Indian stars could pull the plug on this delightful Bangla show of passion and professionalism.

The writer is a freelance contributor based in India. All the views and opinions expressed in the article are solely those of the author and do not reflect those of Times of Oman

EXPERT ADVISE

Dhoni not ‘Captain Cool’ anymore, he needs ‘Yoga’, says Bishen Singh Bedi NEW DELHI: Former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi today said Mahendra Singh Dhoni is “not ‘Captain Cool’ anymore” and suggested yoga sessions for the beleaguered cricketer to overcome the tough phase.

An agitated Dhoni said he was ready to relinquish ODI captaincy if that helps the team win matches after the Men in Blue lost their first series against Bangladesh last night. Bedi feels Dhoni is certainly ruffled by the recent losses.

“It’s the first time he is not making sense. And that is a clear indication that he is not ‘Captain Cool’ anymore. He looks ruffled. Having

said that I still don’t blame any individual but the team,” Bedi told PTI in an interview. Taking note of Dhoni’s on-pitch collision with young Mustafizur Rahman that cost the wicketkeeper-batsman 75 per cent of his match fee, Bedi criticised the veteran player for his on-field demeanour.

“Even barging into that bowler was very unbecoming of Dhoni.

Clear signs of restlessness of mind and body. Perhaps dire need for him to go through yogic exercises,” the legendary spinner said in a lighter vein.

Bedi had no doubts that the hosts played better cricket but

questioned India’s lack of spirit.

“There is no doubt that Bangladesh played better cricket but what about India’s preparation before going for the tour? They took them lightly. In my opinion complacency has no place in international cricket. Their body language looked complacent,” Bedi said. “There is no shame in defeat but there has to be some concern in defeat. The killer instinct, which is part of a professional sportsperson’s character, was missing from Team India.

Bangladesh were more committed in batting, bowling and fielding front. “Man to man India were

a better side on paper, but games are played on the ground. Before they knew it they were blown away. I can’t imagine Australia or South Africa losing to Bangladesh like that,” he added.

Bedi, 68, also questioned the think-tank’s decision to drop Ajinkya Rahane in the second game. “I saw four players get out to casual shots in the second game.

They talk about Ajinkya Rahane’s talent, but why was he dropped? I can’t figure that out,” he said.

Bedi also praised the home crowd for their vociferous support and wished the Tigers luck for the future. — PTI

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

C3

SPORTS Guptill confident tour a ‘success’ Billings keen to make his mark at Old Trafford

The Black Caps shared a two-Test series 1-1 before the World Cup finalists went down 3-2 in a thrilling one-day series that finished with England’s dramatic threewicket victory at the Riverside on Saturday AMAZING SERIES: Martin Guptill confident of winning the Twen-

ty20 match on Tuesday. – AFP

MANCHESTER: New Zealand opener Martin Guptill believes the team’s tour of England has been a success, regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s concluding Twenty20 international at Old Trafford.

The Black Caps shared a twoTest series 1-1 before the World Cup finalists went down 3-2 in a thrilling one-day series that finished with England’s dramatic three-wicket victory at the Riverside on Saturday.

Meanwhile the likes of fast bowler Matt Henry, seamer Ben Wheeler and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner have all shown promise in the early stages of their respective international careers.

“It has been a success,” Guptill, who made a fine 67 at the Riverside told reporters at Old Trafford on Monday.

“While it was disappointing to lose the one-day series and only draw the Test series, the guys that we’ve brought in — Matt Henry did very well on his Test debut and in his first couple of Tests, while Ben Wheeler and Mitch Santner have been successes for us in the oneday form,” he added.

“They’ve all got long careers ahead of them.”

Reflecting on the mood within the New Zealand camp, the 28-year-old Guptill said: “It’s a pretty amazing series we just played in and unfortunately we came out on the wrong side.

“But the guys are still pretty confident and we’ll be up for tomorrow (Tuesday) night.”

“We’ve come here to win. Hopefully we can end the tour on a high and leave with a smile on our faces.”

England and New Zealand have played in a succession of thrilling matches and Guptill, a veteran of 33 Tests and 113 ODIs, said: “The whole tour, the Test matches and the one-day series was pretty exciting.

“I had a chat with (England fast bowler) Steven Finn after the last game and we both said what an amazing series it was. It’s fantastic to have been a part of.”

New Zealand thrashed a lacklustre England by eight wickets en route to a World Cup final where they were themselves well beaten by Australia in Melbourne in

March. However, Guptill said New Zealand expected England would be harder to beat on home soil.

“We always knew they were going to be tough in their own conditions. They are very smart here in the way they play their cricket. We knew it was going to be tough.

“I don’t see that changing tomorrow so we are going to have be right on top of our game.”

All the time they’ve been in England, New Zealand have been lauded for the sportsmanlike manner in which they’ve conducted themselves as well as the quality of their cricket.

“The respect between both sides has been right up there,” said Guptill, who insisted New Zealand, under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum, did not go out of their way to create a good impression.

“We just try to go out enjoy playing cricket and having fun,” Guptill said.

“That’s the way we try and play, that’s the way we are going to continue playing — just go out there and express ourselves and have fun doing it.” - AFP

MANCHESTER: Manchester United fan Sam Billings will be looking to star for England against New Zealand at the ‘other’ Old Trafford on Tuesday after turning his back on a possible football career.

The 24-year-old Kent batsman made an important 41, the best innings of his fledgling England career so far, as the hosts beat New Zealand by three wickets at Chester-le-Street on Saturday to seal a 3-2 one-day international series win.

Now Billings is set to feature in Tuesday’s lone Twenty20 against the Black Caps, the final match of New Zealand’s tour, which takes place at Old Trafford -- the headquarters of Lancashire which shares its name with the nearby Manchester United home ground.

As a schoolboy, Billings scored a hat-trick against the Tottenham Hotspur Academy side but turned down the offer of a trial with the London club because it clashed with a cricket tour.

“I dabbled in a bit of football back in the day,” Billings told reporters at Old Trafford on Monday.

“I’d like to say I played centre attacking midfield but that’s generous. I was up front, a show pony.

“I scored a hat-trick against Tottenham Academy and managed to get a trial, but I didn’t go because I was on tour in Barbados with South of England Under-14s.

“Cricket was always going to be the only sport I was going to play to a professional level.

That was my first passion.”

Billings, like many cricketers, also enjoys golf but showed an aptitude for rackets, a sport he describes as “squash on speed” and one in which his

CRICKET

Stokes better than me, says Flintoff LONDON: Former captain Andrew Flintoff believes Ben Stokes can become one of England’s greats and rates the allrounder as a more talented player than he was.

Flintoff played a major role in England’s Ashes success in 2005 — their first for 18 years — when his 24 wickets and 402 runs drew comparisons with Ian Botham, one of the world’s all-time great all-rounders.

The 37-year-old told the BBC that the New Zealand-born Stokes has shown more talent than him since his test debut in Australia 18 months ago.

“I was a pretty unskilful cricketer,” said Flintoff, who was forced into retirement by a knee injury in 2009 after 79 tests and 141 onedayers. “I survived a lot on bravado and trying to use my size.

“It’s always hard when people get compared but I think Stokes should set his standards a little bit higher rather than think about me.

“I think Stokes has a lot more skill. He could be one of England’s greats.”

Flintoff took 226 Test wickets and also scored 3845 runs, including five centuries.

Stokes made 92 and 101 in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, which England won by 124 runs, and also took three wickets in the second innings to be adjudged man-of the-match.

Ben Stokes made 92 and 101 in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, which England won by 124 runs, and also took three wickets in the second innings to be adjudged man-of the-match.

Andrew Flintoff feels Stokes has a lot more talent than him and could be one of England’s greats

ALL-ROUNDER IN MAKING: Ben Stokes.

He is expected to be a key player for the hosts in the forthcoming Ashes series, which begins with the first test in Cardiff on July 8.

Flintoff is optimistic about

England’s prospects, despite the side being whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2013-14.

“You look at it on paper,” he said. “The captain (Alastair Cook)

is scoring runs, you have Ian Bell with 20-odd hundreds, Joe Root’s brilliant, Gary Ballance averages 50-odd, Adam Lyth has just scored a 100 and then you’ve got an all-rounder (Stokes).

“Bowling wise, you’ve got Jimmy Anderson with 400 wickets, Stuart Broad 280.

“The one area which I think they’ll be looking at is the spin department. But that’s the only one area where they might be a bit weak. Apart from that, they’re a good team.” - Reuters

Cricket was always going to be the only sport I was going to play to a professional level. That was my first passion Sam Billings England

cousin, Tom Billings, is ranked number three in the world.

However, cricket remains the priority for Billings and he has been delighted to be involved in a thrilling one-day series, which has inspired England fans disillusioned by the team’s miserable first-round exit at this year’s World Cup. “It’s been a great advert for one-day cricket and a fantastic result,” he said.

“It has been a phenomenal experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life,” added Billings.

“It is a childhood dream and it’s what you get up every day for. It has been fun, a great two weeks.

“It is a great start but it is only a start. We want to take this team further forward.

“Hopefully it has generated a bit of interest around the country and got people behind the England cricket team going into the Ashes, which can only

be a good thing.”

Although Kent’s wicketkeeper, Billings has been played as a batsman only against New Zealand, even when Jos Buttler was injured ahead of Saturday’s match in Durham.

Instead, England opted for Jonny Bairstow with the Yorkshireman scoring 83 not out and sharing a stand of 80 with Billings after England slumped to 45 for five at the Riverside.

However, Billings had no problems in giving up the gloves.

“Initially at Kent we had Geraint Jones and we all know how good a keeper he was, so the only way I could get into the team was as a batsman alone,” he said.

“It was my route into the team. You’ve got to suit what the team needs. If the team need you batting at 11 and fielding third man to third man then I’ll do it.” - AFP

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

SPORTS Tokyo 2020 organisers nominate baseball for return to Olympics The list, which will be narrowed down in August before being presented to the International Olympic Committee for a decision, comprises baseball/ softball, bowling, karate, roller sports, sports climbing, squash, surfing and martial arts TOKYO: The organisers of the 2020 Olympics on Monday nominated eight new sports for possible inclusion in the Tokyo Games, including baseball. The list, which will be narrowed down in August before being presented to the International Olympic Committee for a decision, comprises baseball/ softball, bowling, karate, roller sports, sports climbing, squash, surfing and martial arts.

“We have chosen them based on three principles the Tokyo committee has decided,” said panel chair Fujio Mitarai. According to the committee, new sports to be added to the 2020 Olympics

PREFERENCE FOR BASEBALL: Tokyo 2020 Olympics CEO Toshiro Muto, left, and Honorary President Fujio Mitarai speak during a news con-

ference in Tokyo to announce that eight sports have been shortlisted for possible addition at the Tokyo summer games. – AP/PTI

should be popular among young people and “add value to the Games by engaging the Japanese population and new audiences worldwide,” and their selection should be “open and fair.”

“There was no objection. It was decided unanimously.”

Both softball and baseball — which are combined in the nomination list — are hugely popular in Japan, where professional teams

are avidly followed. The sports last featured at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Japanese players who make it into the Major Leagues in the US are fixtures on nightly news broadcasts. Mitarai said he could not give details of why each sport was on the list, but the inclusion of pastimes like bowling and surfing was sure to be popular.

“One thing I can say is that they’re popular among young peo-

ple. Many are engaged in them globally,” Mitarai said.

The eight sports have been picked from a longlist of 26 that Tokyo 2020 organisers released earlier this month. They included tug of war, polo and the World Underwater Federation — which oversees sports such as free diving, spearfishing and submerged hockey — as well as billiards and American football.

FOOTBALL

Format Presently only sporting federations have been named, and each will now have to fill in questionnaires to help Tokyo 2020 organisers narrow down their list over the summer. “We’ll submit proposals on the kinds of events,” specifically which sport and what format it will be played in, said vice chair Toshiro Muto.

“We don’t know at the mo-

ment” how many and what kinds of events the eight federations are considering to propose, he said.

The nomination of new sports has become something of a sideshow in Tokyo, where a row is raging over who is going to pay for the centrepiece venue. Tokyo officials have balked at a central government demands that the city contribute around $400 million towards the cost of the new National Stadium. Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe has accused the national administration of “behaving like the Imperial Army,” and said hints that legislation could be passed allowing the central government to order Tokyo to pay would be “unconstitutional.”

Sports minister Hakubun Shimomura has proposed scaling back stadium plans, including scrapping the retractable roof, in a bid to control escalating costs.

But his decision to lobby Tokyo for almost 30 percent of the estimated total construction bill of $1.4 billion enraged Masuzoe.

Shimomura wants to wait until after the Olympics to add a retractable roof and has called for 30,000 of the stadium’s 80,000 seats to be temporary, to reduce the financial burden and to complete construction in time for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The Olympic stadium has faced two years of widespread criticism, with prominent Japanese architects lambasting Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid’s futuristic designs, and the budget has been slashed by 40 percent.

The old National Stadium, built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, was recently demolished and construction on the new venue is scheduled to begin in October. - AFP

N E W C O A C H B E N I T E Z S AY S

Cech would strengthen Arsenal: Terry Real squad ‘very hard to improve’ LONDON: Petr Cech will save Arsenal “12 to 15 points a season” if he joins from English champions Chelsea, according to Blues skipper John Terry.

The Gunners have long been reported as eyeing a deal to bring Cech across London from their Premier League rivals, with the goalkeeper now playing understudy to Thibault Courtois at Stamford Bridge. But there is no denying the contribution Cech has made to Chelsea’s success since his arrival from Rennes in 2004 and club captain Terry believes the 33-year-old still has plenty to offer in top-flight football.

Terry, in an interview with Britain’s talkSPORT radio from China, where the Chelsea centre-half is on a promotional tour, said of Cech: “I am sure if he does leave the club, which nobody wants to see, but we understand he wants to play football, he is going to be sorely missed.

“He will improve whatever side

TERRY IN CHINA: Chelsea’s soccer player John Terry heads a soccer ball during an event in Guangzhou. – Reuters

he goes to,” added Terry in an interview broadcast on Monday.

The former England defender added: “There is obviously talk of Arsenal signing Petr and if they do get Pete, that will strengthen them for sure. He will save them

12 to 15 points a season.”

Meanwhile Chelsea are set to be active in the transfer market themselves, amid widespread reports they will soon complete a season-long move for Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, whose tem-

porary stay at Manchester United last season proved unsuccessful.

And Terry said resting on their laurels was not an option for Chelsea. “To be top of the league the whole way through the season was an exceptional thing to do, but you can’t kind of dwell on that,” he said.

“We have to start concentrating on next season and try to improve on that again.

“When you win the league, you know teams go and spend money to buy the best.”

Meanwhile Terry said he expected Jose Mourinho’s side would face even tougher title challenges next term.

“Manchester City were a little way off this year and will strengthen. “I feel Arsenal and Manchester United are going to be very strong as well,” he added.

“We all know once you win it, everyone wants to beat you the following year, (so) it will be even harder for us to win the league again.” - AFP

MADRID: It will be “immensely difficult” for Real Madrid to improve their squad but they still plan to make more signings in the close season, new coach Rafa Benitez said on Monday. The Spaniard was brought in to replace sacked Italian Carlo Ancelotti after the world’s richest club by income failed to win any of the three major trophies in 2014-15.

Before Benitez’s arrival Real bought Brazil full back Danilo from Porto for 31.5 million euros ($36 million) while Brazilian defensive midfielder Casemiro is to return from a loan spell with the Portuguese side.

Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David De Gea is poised to join the Madrid club, according to media reports, and Real are also believed to be chasing France midfielders Paul Pogba and Marco Verratti.

“Of course,” Benitez replied

when asked in an interview published on Real’s website (www. realmadrid.com) if there would be new faces in the close season.

“Danilo and Casemiro, for example, are players who are going to be important and the club is working every day to try to raise the level of this team with the odd signing that can help us to tackle the challenges ahead of us,” added the 55-year-old.

“But let me say that improving the current Real Madrid squad is immensely difficult.”

Benitez also reacted to reports that forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were not happy with the positions they were typically played in by Ancelotti.

One of Benitez’s trickiest tasks will be to maintain harmony among the egos in the dressing room while also meeting the demands of hands-on club president Florentino Perez. — Reuters

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

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SPORTS

Majestic Murray vows to solve ‘Djoko riddle’

TENNIS

over the Serb, and insists he can close the gap if they meet again at the All England Club.

“It’s obviously a shame I’ve lost to Novak, but I’ve been close in a lot of the matches,” Murray said.

“He’s had a great year and there’s no disgrace in losing to him. But if I want to win the major competitions I have to beat him.

“I’ve done it before when I won US Open and Wimbledon and the Olympics, and I need to continue to improve and learn from those matches.

“There’s only one player in the world that’s played better than me this year. I would like to be that player and hopefully in the future I can be.”

It has been a memorable year for Murray, with an Australian Open final appearance followed by his wedding to Kim Sears in April.

Murray also won his first clay-court titles in Munich

Top seed Kvitova withdraws from Eastbourne EASTBOURNE: Wimbledon holder Petra Kvitova will begin her title defence in a week without any official grass-court matches following her Monday withdrawal from the Eastbourne International.

“I didn’t feel well when I came here last Thursdy,” said Kvitova.

“I have a sore throat.

“I have to stay in bed and drink tea and rest. I had to make this decision. I hope to be fine for Wimbledon. I’ll stay here in Eastbourne and then slowly move to London.

“Of course I wanted to play here, but it does not make sense to play and then not be ready for Wimbledon, I’m not the only one not to play before Wimbledon.”

The Czech who claimed the title at the All England club in 2011 and a year ago was top seed at the final tune-up tournament prior to the start in SW 19.

Second seed Caroline Wozniacki dropped a huge hint only minutes beofre the pullout, saying that she and Kvitova were unlikely to team up in doubles as planned.

She added that her intended

Of course I wanted to play here, but it does not make sense to play and then not be ready for Wimbledon, I’m not the only one not to play before Wimbledon.

I didn’t feel well when I came here last Thursday Petra Kvitova

Wimbledon defending champion partner had not been feeling 100 percent in recent days.

Kvitova has not played since losing in the Roland Garros fourth round. - AFP

and Madrid, and reached the French Open semifinals LONDON: Andy Murray set his sights on ending his barren run against Novak Djokovic after the world number three wrapped up his Wimbledon preparations with a sublime demolition of Kevin Anderson in the Queen’s Club final.

Murray clinched a recordequalling fourth Queen’s title in just 64 minutes as he delivered a grass-court masterclass that left world number 17 Anderson utterly bewildered.

It has been a memorable year for Murray, with an Australian Open final appearance followed by his wedding to Kim Sears in April.

Murray also won his first claycourt titles in Munich and Madrid, and reached the French Open semifinals The usually taciturn 28-yearold was so enthused by his fine week’s work in west London that he claimed he is playing even better than when he secured his historic Wimbledon triumph in 2013.

“You have to improve. If you don’t people will take your spot,” Murray said.

“Physically I’m definitely in a better place than I was then and I’m using my variety much better just now. That’s been good for me.”

But there is still one big issue

ON A ROLL: Great Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates winning the final at Queen’s Club. – Reuters

looming for Murray as he heads to Wimbledon’s practice courts before the tournament gets underway on June 29.

For all his success over the last six months, he has failed to solve the problems posed by world number one Djokovic.

Murray has lost only six of his 41

MRI CRICKET

Al Turki/NMC Cup offers attractive prizes MUSCAT: The sixth Al Turki/ NMC MRI Ball League and Knock-out Cricket Tournament 2015 will be once again organised by the Oman Indo-Pak Friends later this month.

The organisers, who will hold the draw for the tournament on June 28th at the Azaiba Beach Ground, have also announced that the last day for registration is also on the same day.

Attractive prizes are in the off-

ing for the knockout tournament with the winners walking away with a trophy $800 cash prize plus individual gifts.

The runners-up will also get a trophy in addition to $400 cash prize and individual gifts.

There are also cash prizes and gifts for best batsman, best bowler, player of the tournament and also the man of every match.

Entry fee for this tournament is OMR65. Two A Division players

of the Oman Cricket League are allowed to be part of each team.

Meanwhile, in the Independence Cup League tournament no A Division players are allowed.

The prizes in offing are almost similar to the knock-out tournament and the entry fee is OMR75.

Simultaneously there will be a ‘Bowl Out’ Tournament, which will be devoid of entry fee for all participating tournaments.

The best disciplined team will

win a Fair Play Trophy. There will also be raffle draw for fans, who are present on the ground. The prizes on offer are return tickets to Mumbai and Karachi.

A lucky family present on the ground will also get a chance to win a return ticket for the whole family to Mumbai or Karachi.

Further details can be had from Naveen Kotian (99384129),Tariq Hussain (99767598), Azhar Ali (9700031) and Asif (92508609)

RAMADAN FOOTBALL

EHC and PACI win opening encounters MUSCAT: The Ramadan football tournament for the electricity sector in the Sultanate of Oman was launched on Sunday.

The tournament is organised

by Ghobrah Power and Desalination Company (GPDCO) — Part of Nama Group — with participation from the various electricity companies as well as some government and private sector or-

C5

ganisations. The tournament has also attracted many teams and is projected as the most exciting football event to be held during the Holy month of Ramadan.

EHC win The first round of the tournament kicked-off with Electricity Holding Company (EHC) and the host of the tournament GPDCO play-

ing the first match, which ended 2-0 in favour of the latter.

Husain Al Hasni and Salim Al Shiadi scored the winning goals getting the team to lead the first group by three points The second match was played

by Suhail Bahwan Group (SBG) and Public Authority for Crafts and Industries(PACI) with the latter winning 2-1.

Ahmad Al Ghaliani scored both the goals for the Public Authority and Slaiman Al Badi scored the goal for Saud Bahwan Group.

The games ended with a round of lucky draws for the fans, where two children won the prize.

Husain Taha who was supporting Suhail Bahwan Group and Bader Al Khanjari, an EHC fan, were the winners.

matches in 2015 and four of those defeats have come against Djokovic, in the Australian Open and Miami finals and the last four in Indian Wells and Roland Garros.

Yet Murray draws strength from his performances in several of those matches, as well as his Wimbledon and US Open final wins

Blistering form Stan Wawrinka exposed a few chinks in Djokovic’s armour when he unexpectedly won their French Open final and Murray believes the reigning Wimbledon champion will still be coming to terms with a loss that denied him a career Grand Slam.

“He was very close to achieving something that very few players have done that he probably needed some time away to rest and relax and get his head right before getting prepared for another Slam,” Murray said.

The last time Murray won Queen’s in 2013 he went on to become the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles’ title for 77 years. But, despite his blistering form of late, he has no intention of taking success at the All England Club for granted.

“It’s great preparation, but there are no guarantees that winning here gives you a Wimbledon title,” he said. “It gives me that little bit of confidence going in there, but all sorts of things can happen during slams. “I need to go out there and earn it.”

Murray’s challenge will be bolstered by the return on Monday of his heavily pregnant coach Amelie Mauresmo, who handed over the reigns to Jonas Bjorkman while she took a break during Queen’s.

“It’s been a good start with Jonas, but I also have to give a lot of credit to Amelie,” he said.

“The work I’ve done with her is paying off. Hopefully a culmination of the two of them will give me more success.” - AFP

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TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

SPORTS

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Copa America quarterfinals bring Dunga face to face with old friend The two sides will meet in the southern Chilean city of Concepcion next Saturday in a repeat of the 2011 quarterfinal, which Paraguay won on penalties after holding Brazil to a goalless draw

SANTIAGO: Brazil coach Dunga says he is good friends with his Paraguay counterpart Ramon Diaz and has shared a bottle of wine or two with the Argentine, but only one of them will be in the mood to celebrate after their Copa America quarterfinal this week.

“Ramon is an experienced coach, he’s enjoyed success at many different places such at River Plate and Monaco,” Dunga said on Sunday after his side’s 2-1 win over Venezuela in their final group game.

“He’s my friend, we’ve shared good dinners together and good wine. He’s special. As a player he had a special talent and now as a coach he’s doing a very good job.

“It’ll be a finely balanced match.

It’ll be like a final.”

The two sides will meet in the southern Chilean city of Concepcion next Saturday in a repeat of the 2011 quarterfinal, which Paraguay won on penalties after holding Brazil to a goalless draw.

Dunga shrugged off compari-

ON TARGET: Brazil’s Roberto Firmino scores past Venezuela’s goalie Alain Baroja during their first round Copa America 2015 soccer match at Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Santiago. – Reuters

sons with that encounter and said he could not change the past.

“We can’t go back in time. What happened at the last Copa America happened. We weren’t there, we’re here now,” he said.

Brazil could not afford to take their opponents lightly, particularly since they had proved themselves by fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Argentina in their group.

“Paraguay showed their strength against Argentina in their first match,” Dunga added.

The coach said he was pleased with the way his side had played

against Venezuela despite the absence of striker Neymar, who has been suspended for the rest of the tournament for his role in a fracas at the end of Brazil’s second group game against Colombia.

Dunga fielded Robinho in Neymar’s place and, for much of the game, the Brazilians played with a fluidity they had lacked against Colombia.

“We always work on the basis that a team cannot be based around just one player,” Dunga said. “I think Brazil will play better as the tournament goes on - each time with more confidence.” - Reuters

Brazil will not appeal Neymar ban RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil have decided not to appeal against the four-game ban that will keep Neymar out of the Copa America but the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) hit out at CONMEBOL for their harsh treatment of the forward. “In a meeting held on

Sunday night between Neymar and the technical commission it was decided that the CBF will accept CONMEBOL’s decision to suspend the player for four games, ,” the CBF said in a statement. “The technical commission and the player hopes that CONMEBOL adopt

the same rigour they used in punishing Neymar in all their competitions.”

Neymar was banned for four matches after getting a yellow card, a straight red and then showering the referee with abuse during and after the game with Colombia. — Reuters

GOLF

Grand Slam dream alive for Spieth TACOMA: Two down and two to go — and Jordan Spieth believes that an unprecedented clean sweep of golf’s four majors in the same year is possible.

The greats of the game — Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tiger Woods — have all tried and all have failed to achieve that feat.

Spieth though has now put himself in that Grand Slam position by winning the US Open in thrilling style at Chambers Bay on Sunday two months after lifting his first major at the Masters.

It’s a mouthwatering prospect which will take him to St. Andrews for the British Open next month and to Whistling Straits in Wisconsin for the PGA Championship in August.

It’s a prospect that 21-year-old Spieth has clearly considered, but he does not want to get too far ahead of himself. “I think it’s in the realm of possibility,” he said shortly after his US Open win.

“I’m just focused on the Claret Jug (British Open) now. I think that the Grand Slam is something that I never could really fathom somebody doing, considering I watched Tiger win when he was winning whatever percentage of the majors he played in and he won the Tiger Slam, but he never won the four in one year.

“And I figured if anybody was going to do it, it would be him, which he still can.

LOVING IT: Jordan Spieth of the US poses with the trophy for photographers after winning the 115th U.S. Open Championship. – AFP

“I think we’ll just use that secret formula and see if we can maybe have it on these next two weeks — the two weeks that the majors are held. “I’ve proven to myself that I can win on a British-style golf course now. Now I take it to the truest British-style golf course of any in the world.

“And I’m just excited for the opportunity coming then, and I’m not going to think about what

could possibly happen after.”

Spieth’s two wins mean that the four golfing majors are now held by just two men - himself and 26-year-old Rory McIlroy who won the British Open and PGA Championship last year.

All the talk is of a rivalry between the two young guns that will light up golf for the forseeable future, although Spieth says he does not yet consider himself to

be in the same elevated bracket as the Northern Irishman.

“It’s kind of cool. I think to have two players holding the four majors and Rickie (Fowler) having the fifth (Players Championship).

It’s awesome that the game is in young hands. “I don’t think there is much of a rivalry. I’ve said that from the beginning. Rory has four majors and dozens of wins and I’m just starting out. Again, I’m certainly quite a bit younger than he is. I’m just happy to have this and to be chasing that number one spot that he holds. So I’m certainly focused on that.”

First up for Spieth will be his preparations for St. Andrews, a course he has played only once before, but which, like many of his peers, he holds in great reverence.

“The home of golf. I’ve played one round on St. Andrews, and it was when we were playing in the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen and we went as a team to visit St. Andrews first.

“I remember walking around the clubhouse. It’s one of my favourite places in the world.

“I remember walking around The R&A clubhouse and seeing paintings of royalty playing golf, and it was dated 14-whatever, 1460-something.

“I’m thinking, our country was discovered in 1492 and they were playing golf here before anyone even knew that the Americas existed.” - AFP

C

LIFE & STYLE

SECTION

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM T U ES DAY, J U N E 23, 2 0 1 5

Embracing embroidery

n an evening in late May, 11 women worked industriously at a workshop called “Embroidery cafe,” which was held at J.S. Pancake Cafe Aoyama store in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo.

Most of the women came to the 7pm workshop after work.

The participants received a handkerchief or other material that bore the printed outline of a teacup or other motifs. The women then intently stitched along the outline.

Embroidery is becoming more popular, particularly among young women. The traditional handicraft seems fresh to them, and the ways in which to appreciate it are diversifying. In addition to workshops at cafes, accessories with distinctive motifs and colours made by embroidery artists are on sale nowadays.

The J.S. Pancake Cafe Aoyama store has held about 100 embroidery workshops since its first one two years ago. Those taking part are mainly women in their 20s to 40s. It costs ¥3,990 (about $32), including food and materials, according to the store.

“I’m happy I can make something original just by embroidering on a small item sold at a store,” said a 31-year-old company employee of Minato Ward, Tokyo.

Another company employee, 33, who participated in the workshop with a colleague, said, “For me, embroidery looks classical and fashionable.”

Embroidery was considered unfashionable about 10 years ago. Recently, some embroidery artists have begun making products with unconventional designs, which look fashionable to young people in Japan

The workshop is organised by Junko Yazaki, who has published books and held events on embroidery. “It seems people feel calmer and less stressful by concentrating on stitching by hand,” Yazaki said.

“Needles, thread and cloth are all you need. It’s popular partly because you can start work so easily.”

Embroidery was considered unfashionable about 10 years ago, according to Yazaki. Recently, some embroidery artists have begun making products with unconventional designs, which look fashionable to young people.

The roomsShop in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, sells products from

four embroidery brands.

Brooches from tamao, a female artist’s brand, are distinct because the motifs are based on main characters of children’s tales, such as Snow White and Red Riding Hood, depicted in vivid colours such as red and pink.

The pokefasu brand by a male artist also presents brooches that are popular due to their humorous motifs such as a bear carrying shopping bags.

The prices of the brooches start at ¥2,000.

“They look somewhat unrefined, but their warm touches suggesting they are handmade products are popular,” shop manager Kanae Murakami said.

The Daikanyama Tsutaya bookstore in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, has about 70 embroidery-themed books.

Popular among them are those featuring motifs by young artists. They are bought by men, too.

Many artists today have studied at art colleges, so their works often include intriguing motifs such as insects and skulls, according to Misako Sugawara, who is in charge of the handicraft book section at the bookstore. Some of them post their creations on their own websites and Facebook, increasing their fanbase, she said.

“As motifs and colours are becoming more diversified, embroidery seems to be becoming more accessible for young people,” Sugawara said. — Sanae Nokura/The Washington Post

C8

TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

EXTRA Uhtcear e Lying awake before dawn and fretting. The word is Old English but the experience is timeless.

When afflicted by uhtceare it is best to roll over and remember what your shelf of self-help books says: that the future is full of endless, golden possibilities. (It is only the probabilities that are depressing).

Groak

n a i p m u h Callit

To stare at someone who is eating, hoping to be offered food. My great dane Juno was a most effective groaker. She would sit facing people eating their sandwiches on park benches, drooling from her flews (the fleshy lips that drooly breeds of dogs have) until they gave her food or until their aglets (the metal tips of shoelaces) rusted.

Of a noisy and discordant band. The British summer is wholly callithumpian due to the perma-bass from car stereos and barbecues but my neighbourhood is outstandingly callithumpian thanks to the scout troop marching band who practise Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound Of Silence on a Thursday evening, using tubas and xylophones.

y g o l o Amphib

Dixit A dogmatic, unsupported statement from the Latin for “he said it” (so it must be true).

“Britain cannot go it alone. Our international influence depends on EU membership, 15 million jobs depend on EU trade.” Today’s main source of trashy dixits is Brexit.

Epicarac asy The taking of pleasure in other people’s misfortune. It is a universal human emotion, identified by Aristotle and mentioned in English philosophical papers since the 1600s. One of the chief functions of social media is for us to enjoy seeing old acquaintances getting fat and watching their dreams die faster than our own so epicaracasy is more relevant than ever.

The striking ability of English phrases to carry double meanings. No matter how many times I see a cash machine with a Free Cash sign over it my subconscious mind sparks a momentary surge of hope, followed by a feeling of disappointment. But the sign commonly seen on icecream vans Caution, Children is good advice any way you read it.

Every year Webster’s, Collins and other big dictionaries announce new words that are added to the English language such as vaping, twerking and Bitcoin. They are nearly all words for new gadgets or the minor new human degradations that the gadgets make possible. The true riches of our language are in our old and neglected words. They tell us how things really are and always have been. Here are a few to try out.

Extra points for using them on a radio phone-in, a sermon or a resignation speech of any kind.

k c e r F

To move swiftly, with an implication of possible mischief. There is so much satisfaction in using this word that it’s hard to know why it fell out of currency. “Look at those frecking youths jumping across the rails to the opposite platform.”

“Goodness, they are really frecking ahead with that fracking, aren’t they?”

Jollux A Regency slang word for a fat man and suitable today for the gentle fat-shaming of obese folk: “Hey, jollux! Just because you’ve accepted your body doesn’t mean we have to!” The dictionary suggests that previous eras were easier on fatties than thinnies, witness many thin-ist words such as trypall, a tall, lanky, slovenly person, or windlestraw, a person who is tall, thin and unhealthy looking.

l i s a e D Many people know “widdershins”, that witchy sort of word meaning anticlockwise, but how many know its opposite deasil, from Scottish Gaelic meaning clockwise? Both words predated clocks and used to refer to the sun’s motion. Today they are useful for a couple who want to split up to navigate IKEA. “You go widdershins, I’ll go deasil and we’ll meet up at the lingonberry preserve.”

Cumber-gro und One who encumbers the ground, someone we would now lesseloquently describe as a “waste of space”. The meanings of words change constantly and if this fine word were brought back into currency there is a risk that it would come to mean the ground that heart-throb actor Benedict Cumberbatch has walked upon, to be worshipped by his female fans.

x u l l Ha Nidulation The anatomical term for the big toe. This is a really useful one because when you stub it you can shout HALLUX! as loud as you like and nobody can accuse you of swearing – although if you did utter a mouthful you could claim it was just coprolalia, the involuntary use of obscene language (from the Greek for poo-speech).

Emacity Gongoozler An idle spectator, originally one who gawped at goings-on by a canal.

All right, this one sounds completely made-up to me too but it’s in the OED and supposedly comes from Lincolnshire dialect. Sixty-one people have drowned in Manchester’s canals in the past five years, leading to the idea of “The Pusher” who has supposedly been committing gongoozlecide with impunity.

Ripped from the Latin emacitas it means an itch for wastefully buying things. Roman culture fully pre-empted our own consumerism. They had snack foods, knickknacks and “pimped-up” litters to be carried around in. The only thing we have that they didn’t is manic online shopping, which would no doubt be called e-macity.

m u r o l a k c o C An 18th-century word for a self-important man. The OED explains it’s “an arbitrary formation from cock”(male bird) and does not account for the “lorum”. English is rich in words for big-mouthed men. Zoilists, for example, who take pleasure in finding fault, including muculent ones, meaning that they are snotty with it. Jirble To spill a liquid from a container with a trembling, unsteady hand. A word one can brandish and enjoy as a long drinking session progresses – and use at your next GP health check: “Doctor, I seem to jirble these days if I’m low on carbs.”

The period that birds or young animals remain in the nest.

This is more relevant than ever now that children stay at home into their 30s, expect concierge services from their parents but don’t even tip. They are nothing but mammothrepts (spoilt and bratty offspring – literally meaning brought up by grandma) and it is high time they absquatulated (left abruptly).

e t s o g y l l o Sn A dishonest, self-serving politician. It is thought to derive from snallygaster, a Dutch mythical beast that preys on children and chickens. But just try searching for words meaning “honest politician” in the Oxford English Dictionary. No such animal. We do have the approving term statesman but we mostly use it to refer to retired terrorists who are now national leaders. That is how we get a kakistocracy: government run by its worst citizens. -Nigel Burke/Daily Express

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

C9

ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA Jurassic World (Action / Adventure) Cast: Chris Pratt, Judy Greer, Ty Simkins 9.30 pm CP No: 1495 (PG12)

Dead 2 India (Horror) (18+) Cast: Joseph Millson, Meenu Mishra, Anand Krishna Goyal 11:30 pm Jurassic World (Action, Adventure) (3D) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:00 /11:15 pm Spy (Action, Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy 9:15 pm He Who Dares Downing Street Siege (Action) (12+) Cast: Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister 11:45 pm ABCD 2 (Dance, Musical) (PG) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudheva, Raghav, Dharmesh 9:00 pm

Spy (2D) (Action/Comedy) (18+) Cast: Jude Law, Raad Rawi, Melissa McCarthy 11:15 pm

SCREEN 3

He Who Dares Downing Street Siege (2D) (Action) (12+) Cast: Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister 11:30 pm

Jurassic World - 3D (PG12) Action |Adventure | Sci-Fi Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:15, 11:45 pm

ABCD 2 (2D) (Dance/Romance) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudheva, Raghav, Dharmesh 9:00 pm

Premam - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy | Romance Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran, Jude Anthany Joseph 9:00 pm

The Homesman (2D) (Drama) (12+) Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Grace Gummer 11:45 pm

He Who Dares: Downing Street Siege - 2D (12+) Action Cast : Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister 11:45 pm SCREEN 1

ABCD 2 - 2D (TBC) Dance | Musical Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudheva,Raghav, Dharmesh 9:00 pm

ABCD 2 (Dance/Musical ) – PG Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudeva, Raghav and Dharmesh 9.45 pm SCREEN 2 Jurassic World (3D) (Action/Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:15 pm Gold Class: 9:00 pm

Dil Dhadakne Do (Romance/Drama/ Comedy ) – PG12 Cast: Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shefali Shetty, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra 9.45 pm

Hamari Adhori Kahani (Romance/Drama) – PG Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan and Rajkummar Rao 9.45 pm

Kaaka Muttai - 2D (T) (PG) Comedy, Drama Cast: Ramesh, Vignesh, Iyshwarya, Babu Antony, Silambarasan, Dhanush 9:15 pm Eli - 2D (T) (PG12) Comedy Cast: Vadivelu, Sadha, Pradeep Rawat, Kitty 11:15 pm

The Dead 2: India - 2D (18+) Horror Cast: Joseph Millson, Meenu Mishra, Anand Krishna Goyal 11:55 pm

Jurassic World - 3D (Action/Adventure/ Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:15 pm He Who Dares: Downing Street Siege – 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister 11:30 pm Premam – 2D (Comedy, Romance) (PG) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran, Jude Anthany Joseph 9:00 pm Manglehorn – 2D (Comedy, Romance) (12+) Cast: Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine 11:55 pm Kaaka Muttai- 2D (Comedy, Drama) (PG) Cast: Ramesh, Vignesh, Iyshwarya, Babu Antony, Silambarasan, Dhanush 9:30 pm Jurassic World - 2D (Action) (PG12) 11:30 pm

Jurassic World (3D) (Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:05, 11:15 pm

(Action ) (12+) Cast: Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister.

9:15 pm Premam (Mal) (Comedy | Romance) (TBC) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran, Jude Anthany Joseph 11:00 pm

Jurassic World (3D) (PG12) (Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi ) Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins 9:15 pm Kaaka Muttai (2D) (PG) (Comedy, Drama) Cast: Ramesh, Vignesh, Iyshwarya, Babu Antony, Silambarasan, Dhanush| 11:30 pm ABCD 2 (2D) (PG) (Dance, Musical) Cast: Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor, Prabhudheva,Raghav, Dharmesh 9:00 pm The Dead 2: India (2D) (18+) (Horror) Cast: Joseph Millson, Meenu Mishra, Anand Krishna Goyal 11:45 pm Premam (2D) (PG) (Romance, Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran, Jude Anthany Joseph 9:00 pm He Who Dares: Downing Street Siege (2D) (12+) (Action ) Cast: Tom Benedict Knight, Simon Phillips, Russell Kilmister 11:55 pm

He Who Dares Downing Street Siege

Dead 2 India (Horror ) Cast: Joseph Milson, Meenu Mishra, Anand Krishna Goyal 11.45 pm CP No: 1512 (18+) The Homesman (Drama) Cast: Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, Grace Gummer 11.45 pm CP No: 1513 (12+) Hamara Adhuri Kahani (Romance) Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Vidya Balan, Rajkumar Rao 9:30 pm CP No: 1497 (PG)

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

STARS CINEMA Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Premam (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Nivin Pauly, Anupama Parameshwaran and Sai Pallavi 10:00 pm at Cinema Main Eli (Tamil) (Action/Comedy) Cast: Vadivelu and Sadha 9:30 pm at Cinema -2 Kakka Muttai (Tamil) (Drama/Comedy) Cast: Ramesh and Silam Barasan 9:45 pm at Cinema-3 Chandrettan Evideeya (Mal ) (Romance/Comedy) Cast: Dileep, Namitha and Annu Sree 9-45 pm at Cinema -4 (Programmes are subject to change)

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

Time the play to make a contract HESIOD, an ancient Greek poet, said, “Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.”

Right on! Many things in life require good timing: Meeting a potential spouse, a golf swing, music, and making or breaking a bridge contract.

In bridge, the order in which the cards are played often makes the difference between success and failure — as in today’s deal. How should South time four spades after West leads the heart king?

In the auction, North wasn’t thrilled to bid two

spades, but he did have seven points and threecard support. South would have liked a singleton, but he had so many aces and kings that he couldn’t stop short of game.

Declarer begins by counting the losers in his hand. He has four: one spade (assuming trumps are 3-2; if they are 4-1, the contract has no chance), two hearts and one club. It is possible that clubs will be worth three tricks, but that is slightly against the odds.

Instead, South should plan to ruff his last heart in the dummy. But it requires careful timing.

Suppose declarer wins the first trick and returns a heart, West can take the trick and lead a third heart. Here, East overruffs the dummy, leads a club to his partner’s ace, and ruffs another heart, which effects an uppercut. West gets two trump tricks for down two.

Instead, declarer should duck the first trick, win the second with his heart ace, and draw two rounds of trumps before ruffing his last heart in the dummy. Even if East could overruff, it would be with his natural trump trick.

— By Phillip Alder

MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 NBA position 4 — day now 7 Depression between hills 11 Pavarotti piece 12 Bakery buy 13 Final word 14 Vast numbers 16 Eggy drinks 17 Let out, maybe 18 “The Body” Ventura 20 Really big tees 21 Overflowing 23 — -relief 26 Colorado natives 27 Off one’s rocker 28 Moved along briskly

31 33 34 35 36 38 41 43 45 47 49 50 51 52 53 54

Visitors to Scrooge With, to monsieur Alphabet enders Hair-stylist’s stuff Pitcher’s place on a diamond Vitality His and hers Hormone producer Yves’ girl friend Tangy drinks NE state Kind of system Word with pittance Merchandise markers Greek P — Nouveau

DOWN 1 Ruffle 2 Becomes limp 3 Cartoon chipmunk 4 GI address 5 Shogun’s warriors 6 Pro votes 7 Versatile vehicles 8 Simple life 9 Trouser part 10 Annapolis grad 11 Warrior at Troy 15 Fit to be tied 19 Librarian’s warning 22 Take vows 24 At the stern 25 Ave. crossers 26 Checkout ID 27 John — Passos

28 29 30 31 32 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 44 45 46 48

Zig’s opposite — been had!

Hailing Ike’s rank Living fence Swiss financial hub Pick- — -up Fuel carrier Darth of “Star Wars” Not reacting chemically Inventory wd.

Many layers Prayer-wheel turner Take the initiative Large extinct bird Low

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE

ETHAN ISSAC BINU June 23, 2010

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

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

C10

TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are always able to influence those around you in some way, but whether that way will be positive or negative, lasting or shortlived, depends in large part upon the prevailing circumstances and your own mood. If you are in high spirits and eager to get along with others, then surely you will influence people in a positive way; if you are down in the dumps or feeling in any way put upon or oppressed, then you will influence those around you accordingly — and they’re not likely to forget it any time soon! Either way, the stars will surely exert their own influence, dictating whether what you do will be a part of people’s experience for the short term or the long by presenting circumstances that you cannot completely control.

You embrace certain ideals and principles that will always form a lasting foundation for your life. You’re not the kind to drift aimlessly among contrasting and conflicting beliefs.

You know what is most important to you at any given time, and you will always give that the priority it deserves.

Also born on this date are: Randy Jackson, producer and television personality; Jason Mraz, singer-songwriter; Selma Blair, actress; June Carter Cash, singer; Wilma Rudolph, Olympic runner; Frances McDormand, actress; Bob Fosse, director and choreographer; Clarence Thomas, US Supreme Court justice; Bryan Brown, actor.

W E AT H E R

P

WORLD

Max 41 Min 33 Max 33 Min 20

Max 39 Min 25

Max 41 Min 30 Max 25 Min 12

Max 37 Min 30

Max 24 Min 16

Max 44 Min 30

Max 46 Min 31

Max 45 Min 28

Max 40 Min 31

Max 40 Min 30

[JUNE 21-JULY 22] Max 32 Min 28

Max 30 Min 18

—www.met.gov.om

Max 34 Min 28 Max 18 Min 14

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

36 42 36 40 37 41

32 31 31 30 33 24

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

29 40 28 16 27 35 31 19 30 23 17 33 23 20 16 31 26 25

18 25 22 11 18 18 26 10 27 14 1 25 18 13 8 29 20 14

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

[JULY 23-AUG. 22] You can manage to create something exciting for yourself and others. Stay on the good side of someone who can provide funds.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You’ll spend a good deal of the day trying to solve a puzzle that was handed to you by someone who is in over his or her head.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You’re feeling unusually nervy, and the result may be that you are able to talk someone into something quite unexpected.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] Generosity is the key to a harmonious and profitable day; the more you are willing to give to others, the more you’ll receive in return.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You can do a great deal to further someone else’s efforts while tending to your own needs in a new and surprising way.

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

[DEC. 22-JAN 19] You may find yourself dealing with more technical things than you were prepared for, and you may have to call in some help.

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] New ways of doing things are in development, and you are likely to get used to them more quickly than others.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] There’s no such thing as a lost cause when you are on the case! Others are looking to you to perform something of a miracle.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] Your creative energies are running high, but you may be stuck by an outdated notion of duty. Soon you can be liberated.

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20]

You must do what you can to remain on a straight course throughout the day.

Unnecessary turns and side trips must be avoided.

GEMINI [MAY 21-JUNE 20] Watch and listen to those who are in control, and you’ll see just how much you already have in common with them.

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00

CAPRICORN

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

6.56pm 5.21am

High tide Low tide

1:23am 7:22am

1:43pm 8:19pm

SEA STATE: Rough along southeastern coast with maximum wave height of 5.0 metres and slight to moderates along rest of Oman’s coast with maximum wave height of 1.5 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during rain and blowing dust.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Partly cloudy to cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains with chance of intermittent drizzle. Chances of clouds developments over Al Hajar mountains and adjoining areas during afternoon. Rough to moderate sea state over Oman Sea and the coastal areas of Musandam Governorate with maximum wave height of 2.5 metres.

Max

OMAN

LEO

12.14pm 3.32pm 7.02pm 8.24pm 3.54am

AIRLINES

artly cloudy to cloudy skies along the coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains with chance of intermittent drizzle and clear to partly cloudy skies over governorates of South Al Sharqiyah and Al Wusta. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with chance of clouds development over Al Hajar mountains and adjoining areas may give isolated rain during evening and blowing dust over deserts and open areas.

EXPECTED WINDS: Northeasterly light to moderate along the coastal areas of Oman Sea during day becoming variable light at night, and along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea wind will be southwesterly moderate to fresh, while it will be northwesterly light to moderate occasionally fresh over the rest of the Sultanate.

CANCER Take care that your flirting doesn’t go too far — unless, of course, that’s exactly where you want it to go!

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 4537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 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 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 Sifawy Hotel +968 24749111 Juweira Hotel +968 23239600 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore

Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines: 24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

TUESDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

WY406 WY648 WY676 WY682 WY914 BG021 WY916 NL768 TK774 4H583 PK281 GF560 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 FZ041 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 4H562 WY902 WY644 WY326 WY686 WY154 WY144 WY678 WY668 WY132 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY602 WY346 WY342 WY272 WY202 G9841 WY236 G9114 WY282 EK862 WY242 WY252 QR1128 IX817 EY382 9W530 WY3302 WY604 WY918 WY652 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 WY384 WY822 WY705 WY904 WY634 WY818 BG023 WY670 WY324 WY332 PA950 PK191 WY606 WY906 WY920 FZ045 WY632 WY656 QR1126 WY3304 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 WY216 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY610 WY694 GF564 TG507 SV534 G9116 WY374 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY386 WY224 WY614 WY338 FZ049 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 WY254 BA073 WY624 UL205 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 EY388 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY654 WY636 WY928 WY816 WY696 WY612

WEDNESDAY ETA

FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

CAIRO 0005 KUWAIT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 DACCA 0100 SALALAH 0120 LAHORE 0130 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 ISLAM ABBAD-SIALKOT 0300 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0515 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 JEDDAH 0645 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 KARACHI 0650 RIYADH 0655 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 MEDINA 0710 DOHA 0715 PARIS 0735 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 DUBAI 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 LAHORE 0825 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 RAS AL KHAIMA 0855 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 MANGALORE 1010 ABU DHABI 1010 TRIVANDRUM 1045 MUKHAIZNA 1050 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1125 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 MALE 1210 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 1215 SALALAH 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 BANGKOK 1220 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 SIALKOT 1310 GWADUR 1320 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 DUBAI 1535 ABU DHABI 1605 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 MUKHAIZNA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 TRIVANDRUM 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 DUBAI 1800 DAMMAM 1805 BAHRAIN 1810 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900 RIYADH 1900 SHARJAH 1905 COLOMBO 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 COCHIN 2025 DUBAI 2025 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 MADRAS 2135 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 COLOMBO 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ABU DHABI 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 BAHRAIN 2340 ABU DHABI 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

WY648 WY406 WY676 WY672 WY682 WY914 WY916 TK774 4H583 PK229 GF560 FZ035 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 WY114 WY412 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY686 G9841 WY144 WY668 WY674 WY132 WY102 FZ043 WY432 WY422 WY602 WY342 NL768 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY282 WY226 EK862 WY242 IX549 WY252 QR1128 EY382 IX443 QR8550 WY3922 WY652 9W530 WY918 WY604 WY3302 GF562 FZ037 WY372 IX337 PA450 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 WY670 WY324 WY332 WY606 WY906 WY920 WY348 G9119 FZ045 WY3304 WY656 QR1126 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY232 WY246 WY254 WY610 GF564 WY216 G9116 WY274 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY632 WY386 WY614 WY848 WY338 FZ049 AI977 KL441 WY124 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 WY717 WY328 EY388 WY414 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY636 WY654 WY928 WY816 WY612 WY696

KUWAIT 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 MEDINA 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 LAHORE 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DUBAI 0340 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0635 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 RIYADH 0655 RAS AL KHAIMA 0655 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 PARIS 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 BEIRUT 0805 DUBAI 0805 LAHORE 0825 LAHORE 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0955 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 DOHA 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1035 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KHASAB 1115 DUBAI 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 LAHORE 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 ISLAM ABBAD 1515 SHARJAH 1525 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 MADRAS 1750 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 TRIVANDRUM 1820 SHARJAH 1905 JAIPUR 1910 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 KARACHI 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 AMMAN 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 ABU DHABI 2340 BAHRAIN 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

FLT NO

DEPARTURES TO

AI986 9W539 SG062 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY685 WY201 WY643 WY251 WY345 WY271 WY601 WY341 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY325 WY901 WY241 WY667 WY383 BG022 NL769 TK775 4H584 WY331 PK282 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ042 QR1133 GF561 WY651 WY3301 WY903 4H562 WY603 WY917 WY323 WY669 FZ044 WY633 WY373 WY215 WY815 WY291 WY263 WY385 G9842 WY821 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 WY337 IX818 QR1129 EY383 WY311 WY919 9W533 GF563 WY223 WY655 FZ038 WY631 IX350 WY253 WY113 WY693 WY3303 WY663 WY131 WY143 WY645 WY101 BG024 PK192 PA951 WY927 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 FZ046 WY671 WY613 QR1127 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 SV535 WY913 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 WY411 WY421 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 AI974 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 LH617 EY381

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 AHMEDABAD 0030 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 RIYADH 0115 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 ISLAM ABBAD 0125 JAIPUR 0135 DUBAI 0145 LAHORE 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 KARACHI 0210 SALALAH 0215 DELHI 0215 DOHA 0225 MALE 0230 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0230 LAHORE 0230 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 KATHMANDU 0350 SIALKOT 0400 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0715 BAHRAIN 0730 MUKHAIZNA 0730 SALALAH 0740 DACCA 0745 DUBAI 0750 KHASAB 0815 KARACHI 0835 DOHA 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 COLOMBO 0900 TRIVANDRUM 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 RAS AL KHAIMA 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 MANGALORE 1100 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 CHITTAGONG 1140 KHASAB 1145 COCHIN 1145 BAHRAIN 1215 COCHIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 ABU DHABI 1240 CALICUT 1255 MADRAS 1255 FRANKFURT 1320 DAMMAM 1330 MUKHAIZNA 1330 DOHA 1330 PARIS 1345 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 DACCA 1400 GWADUR-TURBAT 1405 SIALKOT 1430 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 MEDINA 1705 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 RIYADH 2000 SALALAH 2000 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 AMMAN 2205 BEIRUT 2215 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 COLOMBO 2305 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355 ABU DHABI 2355

9W539 AI986 WY657 WY637 WY235 WY281 WY201 WY685 WY643 WY251 WY341 WY601 WY431 WY371 WY123 WY847 WY241 WY901 WY667 TK775 4H584 PK230 WY331 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ036 QR1133 WY651 GF561 WY3921 G9842 WY603 WY903 WY3301 WY917 WY347 WY669 WY323 FZ044 WY633 WY815 WY291 WY215 WY253 NL769 WY717 WY263 WY385 WY821 WY843 G9115 WY231 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY245 EK863 IX554 WY337 QR1129 EY383 IX442 WY311 9W533 WY919 QR8550 WY655 GF563 WY273 FZ038 WY3303 IX350 PA451 WY113 WY663 WY143 WY645 WY101 WY423 WY153 WY927 WY413 WY405 WY609 WY907 WY675 G9110 FZ046 WY631 WY613 QR1127 WY327 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 AI978 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 AI974 WY677 GF567 LX243 BA072 QR1135 WY673 EY381 LH617

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 BOMBAY 0115 RIYADH 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 LAHORE 0145 DUBAI 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 SALALAH 0215 DOHA 0225 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 LAHORE 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0645 BAHRAIN 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0740 RAS AL KHAIMA 0745 DUBAI 0750 SALALAH 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 ISLAM ABBAD 0830 DOHA 0835 KARACHI 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 TRIVANDRUM 0915 MADRAS 0915 LAHORE 0930 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 MANILA 0955 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1205 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 JAIPUR 1220 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1255 LAHORE 1315 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 BEIRUT 1415 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 AMMAN 1440 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 SHARJAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 ABU DHABI 1640 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 KARACHI 1810 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

ETD

ETA

ETD

T U E S DAY, JU N E 23, 2 0 1 5

C11

EXTRA H E A LT H

Smartphones pose threat to cardiac device wearers IF YOU WEAR a cardiac device such as a pacemaker, better keep away from smartphones, researchers say.

“Pacemakers can mistakenly detect electromagnetic interference (EMI) from smartphones as a cardiac signal, causing them to briefly stop working,” said Carsten Lennerz from German Heart Centre, Munich. “This leads to a pause in the cardiac rhythm of the pacing dependent patient and may result in syncope.” -IANS

FOOD SNOBS THROW GOOD PRODUCE INTO THE GARBAGE A study found that Americans are pretty picky about what gets to stay in their refrigerators

W

hat a drag it is, eating kale that isn’t as crisp as it was when first plucked from the ground. Squash that’s a few days old, too — it isn’t bad, but it could be better. It could be one day old. Or not old.

A new study, published this week by a team of researchers at Johns Hopkins University, found that Americans are pretty picky about what gets to stay in their refrigerators. One of the most common excuses for tossing out food is that people “want to eat only the freshest food.” The other widely cited reason is a fear of food poisoning.

Most people feel comfortable throwing out food that’s likely still edible, just because they can afford to.

This sort of fussiness over food, which has become increasingly prevalent in the United States,

can be a good thing. It has, after all, fostered a growing appreciation of fresh fruits and vegetables, which has in turn helped support smaller family farms, many of which have fallen victim to the modern day food system.

But caring too much about how green an avocado is or how many days it has been since a peach was first picked by a farmer can also be a very bad thing, especially when it encourages people to throw out perfectly edible things because they aren’t fresh enough by their newfound standards.

The amount of food that goes to waste in the United States has ballooned in recent years. In 2012, the nearest year for which estimates are available, Americans threw out roughly 35 million tonnes of food, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Most people feel comfortable throwing out food that’s likely still edible, just because they can afford to. This sort of fussiness over food, which has become increasingly prevalent in the United States, can be a good thing. However, it can also be a bad thing

That’s almost 20 per cent more food than Americans tossed out in 2000.

Roughly half of all food waste comes from families and other individuals (as opposed to businesses).

The problem is often attributed to the unreasonable standards we have set for foods sold commercially.

Several studies have pointed to this very inefficiency, whereby consumers mistake cautionary labels for full-stop warnings about foods.

This most recent research confirms that food poisoning is indeed on many people’s mind. But it also suggests that food snobbery isn’t helping either.

There are legitimate reasons, after all, to throw away food. “I am above this less than ideal apple,” however, isn’t one of them.

-Roberto A. Ferdman/The Washington Post

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

C12

TU ESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015

EXTRA Why Judi Dench is ‘in tears’ over her career Judi Dench is terrified she may never work again. In a candid interview she opens up about being dropped by James Bond and her unique dance moves

T

alking about her recent hit film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Judi Dench freely admits that she is more than willing and able to make a fool of herself.

When she was reunited with her fellow cast mates for the sequel to the 2011 smash, she revelled in the freedom the familiarity brought. It also helped that she goes back years with stars like Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy,

Penelope Wilton and Celia Imrie.

“You don’t have to worry about making a fool of yourself in front of them because they have seen you make a fool of yourself for years,” she laughs.

“Sometimes, you have to make a fool of yourself to get anywhere.”

The only star she didn’t know was Richard Gere, but then most women wouldn’t mind working with him.

That aside, it’s no surprise that Dench entered into the spirit of

the film’s climactic dance scene with gay abandon.

“It was great. They gave us a class but I kept missing one bit of the routine out. I couldn’t remember it. I could only remember it by thinking, ‘Wash the dog and clap when it is over,’” she remembers, as she mimes the dance move.

The 80-year-old also believes firmly in always trying to look forward, not back – even if she has a few sneaking regrets.

“I wish I had taken something,

which I turned down, that went on to be an enormous success. I don’t want to say what it is because the person who played it was absolutely wonderful and doesn’t know that I was offered it in the first place,” she says, dignified even in disappointment.

She also jokes that she is a little sore at being discarded by James Bond. “Don’t let her come in. Get her out,” she mimics. “I don’t like seeing pictures of the Bond cast in the Swiss Alps, or wherever doing great big fun things.”

Things certainly move at a gentler pace in the sequel to 2011’s smash hit The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Dench confesses that she had expected her character Evelyn and Nighy’s gentle Douglas to have moved things along a bit faster.

“I thought, ‘Gracious me, they haven’t moved on much!’ They are both in the slow lane,” she says.

“When you are older it has to be faster because you haven’t got much time left!”

After a dazzling career filled with extraordinary roles, Dench is showing no signs of slowing

down. Nor is she willing to rest on her laurels.

Hence her almost unbelievable admission that she still fears the offers drying up.

“I have always been afraid that the next role is not going to come,” she admits.

“Trevor Nunn once said to me when he came to wish me luck on the first night, ‘Why are you always in tears on the first night?’ “And I said, ‘Because I think I am never going to be employed again.’”

It is, perhaps, her own spin on the traditionally terrifying but energising actor’s stage fight.

“In a way, it is quite a jokey, light-hearted thing to say, but at the depths of me I do have that fear,” she says.

“Perhaps it is very healthy to be like that. Perhaps I don’t want it to change.

“It is like nerves. You need the nerves because that supplies you with an energy you can use as petrol.”

Somehow, we doubt she has too much to worry about.-Stefan Kyriazis/Daily Express

BRIEFS

Hollywood is full of petty bullies: Amanda Seyfried

ACTRESS AMANDA Seyfried believes Hollywood is “full of petty bullies” and has warned those interested in joining the film industry to “watch their back”. She shared: “This industry is just like every other industry. It’s full of petty, spoiled bullies, as much as it is full of wonderful, passionate, honest people... you just have to watch your back.”

The 29-year-old actress offered her advice to aspiring actors and directors. “You just have to be headstrong and believe in yourself, and know that there are people like that who will stab you in the back - just like high school,” she told MTV, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Sofia Vergara bans gym for Joe Manganiello

ACTRESS SOFIA Vergara threatened to leave her fiancé Joe Manganiello if he went to the gym after he injured his bicep badly on the set of his latest film Magic Mike XXL. “Sofia was there that day. We got back to my trailer and as soon as the door closed, she said, ‘If I see you at the gym tomorrow, we’re done! I’m going to leave you! That’s it’,” Manganiello told people. com. The True Blood star heard a “loud rip and a pop” during his dance routine, alerting him to the injury. “On take one of my finale routine, which we rehearsed, my dance partner did something unrehearsed, and the result was me hearing a loud rip and a pop. It was my bicep,” he added.

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West expecting a boy

REALITY TV star Kim Kardashian has revealed that she is pregnant with a son. On Sunday, Kim posted on image-sharing website Instagram a photograph of her husband Kanye West reading to their daughter North West, reports aceshowbiz. com. A message with the image read: “Precious moments like this when we were travelling on tour with you are what I live for.

You’re such a good daddy to North & you will be the best daddy to our new son too.”

50 Cent wants to work with Zayn Malik

RAPPER 50 Cent is keen to work with former One Direction star Zayn Malik because he thinks they could make each other “a lot of money”. Malik has stayed with Simon Cowell’s SyCo label despite quitting One Direction earlier this year. 50 Cent has invited him to meet and discuss a switch. “I want it to happen. I can make him a lot of money and he can make me a lot of money. The point I am making is he needs to be working with the right producers, artists, and people in the genre,” mirror.co.uk quoted the 39-year-old as saying.

“Some of the pop star rappers are a little cringe, and he doesn’t want that,” he added.-IANS

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

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

CARGO

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DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

New two B/R flat diretly from owner in bank Dhofar bldg Bausher.

Contact: 92158031 One & two bedroom apartment available for rent, near Grand Mall, close to Atlas hospital next to Diwan building. Contact: 99833747 Small old house for rent Al Ghobrah.

Contact 95112461 2 BHK commercial / residential flat at Honda Road.

Contact: 99348733/99795241 Room for rent in CBD (near Costa coffee). Contact: 96568110 Showroom available 250sqm – near bank Sohar, CBD area ideal for pharmacy, clinic, Travel agency, money exchange, fast foods, departmental store etc. Contact: Tel: 24707088 fax: 24706099 GSM: 98283633 Email: alyounistrading@gmail.com 3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

Basement Store, 146 SQM, Wadikhabeer, Opposit Al-Hassan.

99441193, 93004802 We have 2BHK flats in Ghubra North 18th November Street new Mars Hypermarket flats with 2 rooms, 3bathrooms large sitting hall & kitchen. # 93782735 / 99208033 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975 We have offices in Ghala, Ghubra, Bousher & Ruwi different type of available, open space, 2 BHK, 3 BHK. Contact 93782735 / 99208033 We have 230 sq metre show room in Ghubra main road very nice location suitable for banks, showroom, Retail shop or any business Golden opportunity. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 We have 1 BHK, 2 BHK flats in Mabela + brand new building very nice finishing on the main road, 1BHK 175/- OMR , 2BHK 200/- OMR. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 Shop /Comn /Resi building 1 & 2 bed flat available in Wadi Kabir (near Lulu). Contact: 99451168 One bed rooms flat RO 200/Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 99451168 Misfa land for rent 1000 SQM. Contact: 99451168 1 BHK flat in Al Khuwair, 2 months only. Contact 99792181 3 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181 Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99792181 2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 2 bedroom flat at Hamriya, main road with A/C. Contact 99331448 Flat in South Al Hail, 2 bedrooms, Majlis, 2 bathrooms, kitchen RO 250/-. Contact 93221474

Apartment in Al Khuwair 33/1, 4 bedroom 550/-R.O. Contact : 99340055 / 97557555 Flats, shops and basement for rent in Khuwair, behind RAWASCO. Contact: 99441122 , 95893518 We have small building commercial for staff accommodation in Bowsher.

There are 4 flats & 1 shop can be used for store or staff accommodation. Contact 93782735 / 99208033 5BHK villa available for rent, near Hamriya roundabout.

Contact-99366191 We have 1 BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK flats in Ghala very nice building on main road outside the building lot of parking available. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033 For rent brand new villa 4BD. Contact: 91963034 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240 Two bed room flat with attached bathroom near Omani Boys School Ruwi . Contact: 91214537

2BHK flat + store room in CBD, Ruwi with Split A/c’s, secured access, car parking. Rent 400/.

Contact 99603696 3BHK & 2BHK in Darsait.

Contact 94268564 We have 5 BHK villa in Al Khuwair 33, 5 rooms, 6 bathrooms, sitting hall, Majlis & large kitchen suitable for office or families. Contact: 93782735 / 99208033

1BHK flat one room, kitchen, bath room near Wadi Adai R/A. Contact : 96464598

Three bedroom flats for rent near NIT Institute Darsait.

Contact: 93494098

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

Contact 95225662

Room with bath AC furnished AL Khuwair.

Contact: 97004265/99643569

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco.

OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Ruwi near Police Station: Flats with 4 Rooms, 1 Kitchen & 2 Bathrooms.

Contact 93387962

3BHK special apartment at Al Khuwair with wardrobe and A/C. Contact : 94232344

Seeb Souq opposite HSBC: Flat with 3 Rooms, 1 Kitchen & 2 Bathrooms and Studio at Terrace.

Contact 93387962

Villa for rent (family residence) : New 4 bedroom villa with majlis, family hall and outside kitchen. With split AC in Al Khoudh phase 7 close to Seeb polyclinic. Call 99332525 (owner).

4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158

2BHK at Al Khodh commercial area 2 rooms, 1 hall, 2 bathrooms.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297

4 & 5 BHK villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

Office / shop near Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126 Furnished flats for rent in Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly.

Contact 97819981 / 93593336

Tent for wedding Iftar party for rent.

Contact: 97380496/ 96242910/ 94029752

5 BHK Villa with parking & backyard garden in Al Khuwair (House No. 1110 & Way No. 3914 ), near Radisson hotel, is available for rent @ RO. 1000/- p.m. Contact : 99024087 / 92620773

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

Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

Spacious room with bathroom (separate) available for small family or couples near Oman Boys School Ruwi. Contact : 91214537

Shops at Muttrah opposite Port Service Building on Main Road.

Contact 93387962

2BHK 230/- south Hail near Caledonian collage. Contact: 97717962 PL 24538790

Apartments near Indian School Ghubra (2 BHK with 5 split AC units).

Contact 94652485 / 99273774 / 99202278 Apartments near Al Nahdha Towers/ Vachas Hypermarket Azaiba – Ghala (1 & 2 BHK with split AC units).

Contact 94652485 / 99273774 / 99202278 3 rooms with attached bath room, hall Brand new in Mabelah near Sharahe Noor. Contact 99663905/ 99415119

2 BHK Flats for rent Muttrah near Oman house.

Contact: 97009734/92629232 500 sq mtrs office space on mezzanine floor near Royal Hospital. OMR 6.500 per sq mtr. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3BHK flat for rent in Al Khuwair.

Villa type building with only 2 flats, separate entrance, fully renovated.

Way No. 3922, building No 1839, behind Al Aktham Restaurant.

Contact: 99462980 2BHK at Azaiba 2 room, 1hall, dining, 3 bathrooms. Contact: 99224748 / 99425665 Flat for rent in CBD Ruwi.

Contact : 92820734 New flats for rent in Wadi Kabir.

Contact : 92130703 / 96045478 Flat for rent in Al Khuwair.

Contact : 98151674 1BHK R.O 190/- & 2BHK R.O 250/- & Store 140 sqm R.O 250/near Medical Darsait.

Contact: 98748925 Brand new 6 BHK villa in Al Azaiba with split A/C & lift. RO.1200/Contact – 93191111

Flat in Ruwi Mumtaz 2 BHK RO 300 or 1 BHK 250 RO. Contact 98588240 Flats for rent behind Indian School.

Contact 99777122 For rent in Darsait new flats.

Contact: 99777351 Shop/Office 68 SQM, Wadi kabeer, Opposite Al-Hassan. Contact 99441193, 93004802

Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172 For rent in Darsait, new flats.

Contact: 99311525 Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat.

Contact 99349526 Villa for rent : 4 bedroom villa with kitchen available in Azaiba. Sharing / Family. Contact : 98048207/99261773

FOR SALE

2 BHK, 2 baths, Split A/C, Wadi kabeer, Near Indian Elementary School.

Contact 99441193, 93004802 Shop/Office, 56 SQM, Wadikabeer, Opposite Al-Hassan.

Contact 99441193, 93004802 Flat in Amerat, Phase 5, 4 rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen with A/C. Contact : 95522405 Luxury 3 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking.

RO.500/- Contact – 93191111 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111

Clinic for sale in al amerat.

Contact:93753655

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

Used & refurbished Porta cabins, Toilets unit available for sales. Contact: 99215560 Email:omegaunitedoman@gmail. com

Villa for rent - Al Seeb/Al Mawelah - Block 5 - 4 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, Majlis, 2 halls, kitchen and storeroom. split Ac and carpark.

Contact 99564616

Fully decorated & Equipped kitchen cabinet and marble showroom for sale at Mabela industrial area road no – 10 only serious buyers can.

Contact: 99337670/97763560

Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

Household furniture for sale.

Contact: 97094797

Flats for rent Al Ansab (Ghala) 2 bedrooms, 2 toilets, 1sitting room & kitchen. Contact: 94229023

Villa for sale in Al Khoudh close to Dan super market, 3room , 3 bathroom , 1 hall ,1 setting room, 1 store , kitchen & maid room with garden plot 600sq with car parking selling price 135.000/-. Contact: 91010668

Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/- # 93191111

For rent 3 industrial land.

Contact 92702891/ 95490842

2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road.

Contact 97293708 / 92433127

Building material shop for sale at al Ghubrah with two clearances.

Contact: 91295985

2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/Contact – 93191111

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DAILY GUIDE

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

FOR SALE 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Furnished single /sharing room for ex bachelor at Rex Road with WIFI available. Contact 92873832

Single furnished room.

Contact: 24833609 Ice cream & juices shop in Ruwi, good location for sale, 1.5 mt fish display machine for sale.

Contact: 92150455

NRI

Single room attached toilet & bath for Executive bachelor rent including electricity & water. Contact: 99327158

Training center with license.

Contact: 91121277

Shop for sale in Ibra and Bid Bid. Contact: 95304693

Sharing for non cooking executive bachelor in CBD area WIFI free, Advance deposit. Contact: 95094504 Excellent room, with A/C kitchen available near ONTC bus station for family / bachelor (Ruwi).

Contact 95569740

Well furnished meat shop in Amerat. Contact: services customers. Contact 92454250/96374850

Super market in (Hairoon Hairithi) Thamrith road. Contact: 98189810 / 99675190

Furnished bath, attached sharing accommodation available behind AL Nahdha hospital. Contact: 99030037

Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970 Ready / under construction apartments / villas. Near guruvayur.

Contact: 00919846877773 Available Duplex flat 1900 sqmt with 3 bedroom and complete POP made at Manipal (Indrali) also fittings and accessories are branded from Gulf. Contact 96440811 / 93804434

Acc. opp. OK Center for non cooking bachelor. Contact 95126452 between 2 pm & 4 pm only.

Contact 95126452

Hyundai Accent 2004, fully automatic. Contact: 99045803

Doctor driven Yaris, manual 2006 model 125000 K.M expected price R.O 2000/-. Contact : 99747481

TATA bus make model 2012 & Peugeot boxer van make model 2013. Contact: 93895941

Yaris 2008, 1.3, 229 kkm full option 2100 expected. Contact: 93289652

2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285 General Investors. Contact 99674870

ACC. WANTED Required a room or studio flat in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area.

Contact : 95405033

ACC. AVAILABLE Rooms available with separate bathroom for executive bachelors in azaiba near al meera hyper market.

Gsm 99053844

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

TRANSPORTATION Pick & drop any time. Contact: 98522914 / 99512270 Required 40 feet open trailers to UAE, on trip basis for transporting our goods. Contact: 99352790 / 98037854 Transportation. Contact: 98178135 Transportation. Contact: 98505294

Single room with sharing kitchen available for executive bachelor near Saud Bahwan Residency Complex, Wadi Kabir. # 99024362, 93166353.

Furnished attached bathroom at Mumtaz area. Contact: 93103337 / 95212017

Expatriate driven Yaris 2008 model 100,000 kms & land rover 2005 model 93000 Kms, excellent conditions. Contact : 97094797

For Sale Toyota Echo 2004 Model, Registration up to Dec. 2015 Please Contact: 99038311

Tata bus - 66 seater model -2008 KM, 85, 673, dealer service. Contact: 99444341 & 99352790

Furnished room with attached bathroom in W/K. Contact: 97167857

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

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

Echo 2002 for sale 300.000 km only last price R.O 1000/-.

Contact: 95119655

ACC. AVAILABLE

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

BUSINESS

Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Transportation. Contact: 95190627 Pick & Drop anytime Contact: 91653903

Sharing flat in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 99335057

Furnished single rooms available for Executive bachelors at Ruwi.

Contact: 98049288

Pick & Drop any time. Contact: 97014786

One room separate bathroom for Indian Executive bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A. Contact: 99659513

Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515

Pick & drop with car & driver available any time. Contact: 9615828/ 96502406/92218001

Ford Explorer 4WD, 2010 XLT, automatic km 72000, 4 yrs old, under warranty. Agent serviced. Owned by one owner (expat) white colour, very good condition.

Contact 92824047

LOST Mohammed Mohammed Al Hadi has lost Egyptian Passport No. A09900742. Finder please hand over to ROP

CHANGE OF NAME I, MOHAMMED JAHEER (Holder of India Passport No G 7536888) Son of Mohammed Khaja Having permanent residence in Pedamatapudi (Vil) Nizampatnam (Via) Guntur (Dist) AP , India And presently residing in Flat No 12.Bldg No 466, way No 6611,Tareef,Sohar,Oman. PO Box 497, PC322.Intend to change my name from MOHAMMED JAHEER to MOHAMMED ZAHEER for all practical purpses.Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India,Muscat,Diplomatic quarters,Al Khuwair, PO.Box .No.1727 Postal Code 112, Ruwi Sultanate of Oman.

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADMIN

SALES / MARKETING

Vacancy for Omani PRO for Customs duties in Sohar. Email: arabianseabridge@gmail.com, Mob: 97990844

Marketing Executive for printing press. Contact 93201718 Email: alqariyaprintingpress@gmail.com Need crane operator having two years experience & need salesman for mobile shop having two years experience. Contact: 92891888

ACCOUNTANT Reputed Construction Company required Accountant experience in Construction Company with accountancy degree. Email: jvacancy05@gmail.com Required Accountant with 3 yrs. exp. in construction company.

Email : wadcocareers@gmail.com Urgently required Junior Accountant.

Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

CATERING Chinese / Arab / Continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970 Family in Muscat seeking to hire an experienced butler. Hotel experience is preferred. Candidate must hold a valid driver’s license. Please send CV’s on vacancyinmuscat@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Cook required for an Omani family having experience in preparing all kinds of Omani & Arabic food.

Minimum 5 years experience. Send CV to abfarsi@omtel.net.om or fax to 24706990, Tel. 24786072 Housemaid wanted for an Indian family in Al Hail. Must be able to cook and take care of baby. Full-time position. 96532872 Small Omani family wanted educated female House maid visa is available. Contact - 98500222 Urgently needed full time, live-in house maid for cooking Indian nonveg. food. Visa will be given. Maids with release will be preferred.

Contact 99349924.

Required looking for full time Housemaid for Omani family at Mabela, visa available. Contact 92454170

DRIVER Required Heavy Duty Truck Driver holding Omani driving license w/ 5 years experience please contact 92001111 Indian driver required for light vehicle with construction experience.

Contact: 92888337

DESIGNER Required Large format printer operator – for HP. Graphic Designer.

Send CV to hr.oman@yahoo.com

EDUCATION Teachers required: Teachers for KG, Grade I to IV class in English, Maths, Science, Computer & Art. Qualification: Degree in relevant subjects & B Ed; IELTS or TOFEL plus two years experience preferred. Please apply to: burj@alhakkim.com Required professional Teachers for teaching Science, Mathematics, Accountancy, Business Studies & English IELTS/ TOFEL in schools & Universities. Contact 99674870

ENGINEER Urgently required for a first grade construction company Graduate Civil Engineer (5 years experienced) shuttering carpenter mason (Block, Plaster, Tile Fixing) Civil Foreman building work. Contact: 24700373/ 99427674 Fax: 24701368 Email: rajma@omantel.net.om

HOSPITALITY Chef for Yacht. International cuisine.

Minimum 15 years chef experience. alibadawy@gmail.com

ENGINEER Leading Construction Company requires Project Engineer, Degree holder with minimum 5 to 6 years experience in building construction line. (NOC require) Send your CV to – degree.engineer2015@gmail.com Required Site Supervisor with 5 yrs. exp. in construction company, electronic technician with 3 yrs experience in gate motors systems.

Email : wadcocareers@gmail.com Leading Construction company requires HSE Officer with minimum 4 to 5 years experience in building construction line. Send your CV : hseoman2015@gmail.com (NOC require).

Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required.

Email: applyforoman@gmail.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires the following: B.Sc Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience.

Civil Site Foreman, minimum 5 yrs experience with operating knowledge of Tally. Please Email CV ; applyforoman@gmail.com

MEDICAL Required Gynecology, General Physician, Dentist, Staff Nurses, Lab technicians, Pharmacists, X Ray technicians.

Contact : 95133572 / 96064925 Email: kunoozghala@gmail.com Urgently required G.P doctor with or without MOH license for one month from 01/07/2015. Contact 93824902

MISCELLANEOUS JCB operator -2 JCB operator with GCC valid license expect Saudi Arabia & Egypt, min.3 yrs exp. Required & L/D driver-1 min, 5 yrs exp with valid GCC driving license & site Engineer civil -1 diploma with 5 to 8 years experience & foreman civil-1- 5 years experience of multistory building.

Contact: Fax: 24501448 Email: rajesh@almatllc.com or accounts@almatllc.com A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber.

Contact - 99383044 Urgently required: (1) female dermatologist with minimum 3 years experience (2) female Omani reception coordinator for a medical center in Qurum. Contact: 96062933

SKILLED Urgently required a silk Screen printer with good knowledge and release letter or NOC. Contact: 93280288 or send CV to albayanstamps@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

A leading trading company is looking for Sales Executives & outdoor sales coordinators with driving license & release /NOC. Email CV: alhajoil@omantel.net.om or fax: 24701683 Urgently required outdoor Sales Executive for furnishing company with valid Oman D/L and minimum 3 years experience. Contact 93231403 / rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com Marketing Executive for digital printing company. Contact: 94356769 / 96936564 Required male or female candidate with 5 years experience in renting of properties. Interested candidates may please mail to alqurumprop@gmail.com

Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact: 96964767 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Wanted Sales man with Oman driving license in advertising company visa ready. Contact: 96440587 / 94055643 Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Required sales man for spare parts shop preferably with driving license.

Contact : 96378289

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

SITUATION WANTED SIT. WANTED ADMIN

DRIVER

System administrator with 3 years experience hold a degree, MCITP, CCNA , CCTV biometric , seeking job in a company.

Contact: 99630084/98129845

Male driver is available 7 years in Oman 3 years experience as a driver 7 month is Muscat driving license holder. Contact: 92046159

Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in operations with D/L, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075 Male admin/ HR office 6 years exp with NOC. Contact: 93275467

Pakistani male light vehicle driver, looking for job. Contact - 94435912 Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 99704122/ 97762303 Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 96435795 Pakistani light duty driver 2 yrs experience seeks placement.

Contact: 96342684

Male 24, B.Com /PGD having 2 years experience in accounts and inventory field looking for suitable job on visit visa. Contact: 94129550

Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154

Buyer / Purchases / Administration / Stores with 7+ years local experience seeking suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact – 94045405

Light driver looking for job.

Contact: 98219599

Accounts part time, up to finalization of monthly accounts. Handled by a CA. contact 96293120

Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

Indian Male 27Yrs, Having 6+ yrs (3 India + 3 Oman) experience in HR/ Admin looking for suitable position Contact 91507099.

Light driver looking for job, 4 yrs exp in Oman. Contact: 94241385

Looking for accounting and Administration job have two and 18 years experience in United Arab Emirates in a trading company and I have bachelor degree in Administration nationality Indian. Contact: 93016252 Indian male, well experienced in accounts and Admin looking for a suitable vacancy Noc available.

Contact: 98717938 13 years exp (7.5 years gulf exp) B.Com Graduate, looking for Accountant job, GSM No:-92957064 with NOC. Indian male, 30 years, CMA (Inter), M.com.4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/Accounts/Finance.

Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com Sudanese female MBA experience 5 years in Banking sectors, 1 years exp. as Accountant in Oman seeking for a suitable job. Contact : 92962621 Email: hindkameir@gmail.com Indian male, with B.Com 1 year experience in Accounts or Sales, on visit visa, Cont... 98295101 Senior Document Controller MCA Indian male 9+ year’s total experience 5+ years experience in Gulf in oil & gas sector and construction field on visit visa in Oman.

Contact: 95388197 Email: rojanchristopher@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, well experienced in Accounts & Admin, knowledge of Tally ERP 9 experience in Oman with valid Oman driving license. NOC available, looking for suitable job in Oman, join immediately.

Contact 94245039 Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan.

Contact : 97796394 / 94003247 Accounts & finance Indian male B.com M.B.A (F) Tally ERP9, 35 years, 8 years experience 1.5 years Oman family visa N.O.C available.

Contact: 93257426 Email: sibigeorp@gmail.com Senior Accountant 13 years experience FMCG & retail Noc available.

Contact: 93473942 Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com

MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa.

Contact 99424803 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780 Accounts part time works up to finalization on monthly basis. Profit & loss A/C and financial statements, MS Reports Etc. Contact: 96247295 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting . NOC available. Contact 96209331 ACCA affiliate , BSc Honors in applied Accountancy advance diploma in Accounting and Business, CAT Affiliate 1 year hand on working experience of Oman, with Oman driving license looking for a suitable placement in Audit firm. Having NOC can join immediately. Contact : 98989970 Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization.

Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available.

Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment.Contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com Indian male, B.Com, 1 year Exp in Accounts/ Sales, on Visit Visa,..

Contact – 98295101

Indian Female 25 MBA in HR looking for a suitable opening in Admin/ Hr. Contact 97013375 Indian female 29 MBA (HR) BSc, 4 yrs exp in HR& Admin looking suitable placement.

Contact : 95619537 Over 14 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement.

Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

DRAUGHTSMAN Electrical draftsman AutoCAD switch gear & MEP control panel 7 years experience Qatar. Contact: 92546203/96228100

DESIGNER

Light driver. Contact: 99035942

Driver looking for job. Contact 94195818 Driver looking for job.

Contact: 99507039 Paksitani Driver with 6 yrs experience looking for job.

Contact: 93985087 Driver with car 3 years experience looking for job. Contact: 92041902

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male Diploma, civil engineer 4.3 year experience at building construction and consulting company with Oman driving licence and N.O.C available seeking suitable placement contact 95989500 email cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Omani Mechanical Engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500

Interior Designer: Indian male 31, 8 years exp. in GCC, NOC available.

95217586

Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certified, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952

Architect designer experience in Architecture design in 2D, 3D visiting to site : 2 years experience (in Oman), fluent Hindi & English. Email: zhussain9950@gmail.com Contact: 94253074

Electronics & communications Indian male, 2 years experience seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 99456725 / 94678625

DRIVER Light driver. Contact: 96313100 Driver available with car and without car. Contact 96771598 Pakistani male light vehicle driver with 2 yrs exp looking for job.

Contact : 96342684 Pakistani, male light vehicle driver looking for job. Contact 97943750 Driver with car. Contact: 97705694/98988208 Looking for job driving Bangladeshi. Contact: 97418036 Light driver for job.

Contact 95779594 Pakistani driving available.

Contact : 96913836

D.A.E Civil 4 years exp in land surveyor and building work worked on AutoCAD, T.S and G.P.S 1 year exp in Oman looking for placement.

Contact: 92140890 / 98780156 Email: engrsafiullah91@gmail.com Indian male, 28 yrs, Electronics & Instrumentation Engineer with 4 yrs experience in Industrial Automation (SCADA) seeking suitable job.

Contact 93154156 / 98416190 Electrical Engineer Pakistani male 4 years B. Tech & 3 years’ diploma seeking a suitable placement.

Contact: 96752080 Email: ilyasoader97@gmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Indian male 24 yrs B. Tech (Mech.

Eng) on visit 1 yr experience in production field looking for suitable placement. Contact: 98925685

T U E S DAY, J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

MISCELLANEOUS

Quantity Surveyor with 5 Years experience (one year in Oman) looking for job. Contact 91090036

Warehouse in charge with 14 years gulf experience 1.5 years in Oman NOC available looking for suitable placement contact 97440902

Indian female (MTECH) having Gulf experience in family visa seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact : 94306164 / 91001194

Indian material controller/ store keeper seeking job in Oman NOC / Release available. Contact: 91946174

Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, 24 years with Piping Engineering, Autocad, Ansys NX- Cad, pro-e, Catia & PDMS now on visiting visa seek suitable placement. Contact: 99168054 / 96684345 Email: : mbkishore@hotmail.com BE ,Electrical Engineer with 5 Years Gulf Experience in Underground cable & Overhead line in HT and LT, Distribution Substation, MEP. Oman D/L available. NOC available.

Contact: 95054644, 00918807888109, speninsam@gmail.com Diploma in Electrical Engineer exp 5 years any type of industrial maintenance and installation, building wiring system. Contact: 94544663 Email: motiurrahaman1989@gmail. com Indian male Mechanical Technician with 22 year experience (6.5 year in Oman)-as mill Wright fitter & maintenance fabrication work seeks suitable placement NOC available.

Contact: 95922696

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male, B.Tech Mechanical having 4 years experience with QA/ QC / CSWIP looking for a suitable position. Contact: 99447106 Email: dhanubhasi87@gmail.com Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Engineer with 3 yrs experience in Indian in MEP, HVAC& mechanical maintained field on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact 99191535 Email: fareed029@gmail.com Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

A male Civil Engineer is available holding 10 years experience 2.5years in Oman in Building projects, quantity canton, project billing, extension of time, variation and in execution of project interested person can. Contact: 968 91320917

English Teacher female (M. A. B. Ed) Having 14 years experience with 11 years experience in Oman with reputed institute and school.

Contact: 92289080 / 99318276 Email: babujosev@yahoo.com

Indian seeking oilfield HSE fire & safety rigs studied 10SH risk assessment fire safety on visit.

Contact: 98723292 Civil Engineer, Female, 3 years experience on visit visa seeking suitable openings. Contact: 99195433 BSc Civil Engineer, 6 months working experience in UAE as a Site Engineer currently in Oman on visit visa and looking for a job.

Contact : 98157833 Email: waqas.pasha22@gmail.com Egyptian Civil Engineer, total experience 7 years - 2 years experience in Oman. I am looking for Project Engineer, I have good experience in site & office works. Contact :91148708

Indian female MCA, Three years experience in teaching field, seeks placement currently on visit visa.

Contact: 93431567 Email: fivona.mel@gmail.com

IT Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com B.E IT Eng, 6 yrs exp TCS with oil & Gas Industry (Java /Oracle).

Contact : 97835922 Omani Citizen searching a job in the field of computer especially in data base professional in operating Oracle SQL, PL/ SQL, form6i, Report 6i. Contact 96977368 Email: talaloml@yahoo.com Indian male 26 years B.Tech (IT) M.Tech CCNA certified MCSE certified 3 yrs experience currently a visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91006851

Mech Eng 10 yrs Oman exp P&M / logistics in oil & gas industry.

Contact : 95774585

B.E Computer Science, Indian lady, with 2 years experience in Oman looking for suitable job in Muscat having valid GCC driving license.

Contact: 97738624

Project Coordinator (B.E Civil) 6.5 yrs in Oman having 9+ years relevant experience working in MOD & ROP project need suitable placement. Contact : +986 91129192 Email: azmot.uuet@gmail.com

Indian male, completed diploma in Computer technology fresher, seeking suitable position, currently on visit visa. Contact : 93596096

Indian male B.Tech (ECE), MBA (HR) 2 years of experience in CCNA, CCNP and hands on practice in Linux and MCSE, looking for suitable job.

Contact: 93487225 Quantity Surveyor or Site Engineer in civil, 5 years experience in Oman have valid Oman driving license looking for suitable posts, NOC available. Contact: 96394948/ 98294919.

Email: asvinsha@gmail.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Civil Engineer, Expatriate Female, 3 yrs experience, on visit visa seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 99195433 Iraqi Engineer specialized in telecommunication net working & PC experience in nuking network and security systems. Contact: 92898329 / 99249124

Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact :98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

EDUCATION MBA, B.Com Indian female having two yrs exp as lecturer seeks placement in teaching filed. Presently on family visit visa.

Contact – 96259171/ Email: bhumipandya@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer Indian male having valid driving license and NOC, BE 1 yrs experience sealing suitable placement.

Contact: 96347995 Email: shyjalpk@gmail.com

MCA, BCA with 2 yrs relevant experience seeking suitable opportunity.

Contact: 96377039

MEDICAL

Chemical Engineer with 04 years experience in petrochemical refinery sector seeking for & suitable position in petrochemical oil & gas, refinery EPC Companies.

Contact : 00968-91748400

Indian male Electrical Engineer seeking for a job good core technical knowledge as well as fluent communication skill. Contact: 95980857

Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field. Contact : 96108289, shijipaul84@gmail.com

Computer Networking/Facility Mgmt 5 Yrs of Exp Holds B.E(ECE), CCNA Looking for Good Opportunity, Indian - Visit Visa. Contact 91911792/ arafakdnl@gmail.com IT Desktop Support Engineer 2 years Oman 3 years in Indian Exp. Contact 91937060 Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa.

Contact: 92589502 Email: careersjegan@gmail.com

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

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Indian male Nurse, 31 years Oman prometric passed 6 yrs ICU experience. Contact : 94195150 / 92758895 Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378 Indian female looking for suitable position 2nd rank in MSC microbiology, fresher now on visiting visa.

Contact : 91633089 Email: mansytk4@gmail.com

SALES / MARKETING Content Executive, freshers with good communication skills and willingness to learn may apply on job@socioholics.com Business development Manager/ Executive. Preferably minimum of 2 years experience. Valid driving licence can apply on job@socioholics.com Omani female exp in PRO with Oman D/L. Contact: 91161736 Outdoor salesman with car looking for job. Contact 91615715 Indian male, 39 yrs having 15 yrs Gulf experience (UAE, Qatar, Oman) in sales & marketing looking for a suitable position with NOC. Contact 94054730 8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535 8 years purchase experienced Indian male looking for job. N.O.C. available. Contact: 98161323 Indian male, B.Sc (Mathematics) PGDBM (Marketing). 9 yrs of Oman experience in sales in midlevel management, NOC available.

Valid Oman D/L. Contact: 95278838 Email: anup2p4p@yahoo.com Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. .

Contact 98371144 Pakistani Female Bachelor of Information Technology with 8 years’ experience in Banking, Sales, business development, retail & customer service seeking for a suitable placement. Having valid D/L& NOC available. Contact 94699970 shehla. chohan@gmail.com Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa.

Contact 93086105/33016546

SALES / MARKETING

A Graduate degree holder 4 years experience in Marketing (mobiles) in Oman & U.A.E and as well has driving license with car. Interested person can. Contact: +968 94164657 MBA graduate having 6 years exp in sales & marketing, presently working in PepsiCo India seeks suitable placement in Oman.

Contact: + 91 9895388937 Email: samir.pag@gmail.com Indian female B.com Graduate having 8 years experience in Indian & 2 years experience in Oman as sales coordinator, secretary, customer service seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 95433987 Indian male with 5 years experience in building material sales and marketing education qualification BA electronics. Contact: 92228538 Indian male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements. Ph: 9199 3376 Indian Female having more than 8 years of experience in oil and gas industry in sales and marketing & as commercial manager, now in family visa looking for a suitable placement No. 94187012, Email mvrajagd_d@yahoo.com Sales /marketing experience 24 years old Indian male having valid Omani license seeking suitable position in FMCG company, presently working as a Supervisor of the leading hypermarket in Oman.

NOC available. Contact: 91993785 / 93089757 Indian Lady 24 yrs with five years experience as cabin crew in National & International airlines seeking suitable job vacancy in good position.

Contact: 97623267 Procurement Manager with 17 years experience looking suitable position. (Electrical Diploma Holder with Oman D/L) Contact: 95979029. pavithranmv@gmail.com Indian worked MNC 15 years Oman experience as Marketing FMCG / TRAD Purchasing with visa license.

Contact: 98796982 MBA Graduate with D/L looking for sales or marketing jobs.

Contact 94143154 Email: rinojnathen008@gmail.com Male BA with D/L having 6 years exp Oman wanted suitable job in sales, inventory, procure.

Contact : 92191026 Indian female MSc, MPHIL (Chemistry) 3 years Teaching experience currently on visit visa seeking suitable position. Contact : 96916534 / 91969756 Looking for good job 2 years experience Oman sales marketing valid driving license Indian Kerala.

Contact : 98626682 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864

SKILLED/UNSKILLED Experience skilled candidate with driver license seeks position in sales in Salalah. Contact: 98579382

TOURS & TRAVELS 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing.

Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job.

Contact 96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

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

Senior Accountant, Indian male, 29 years, presently working in oman as a senior accountant with oman driving license. NOC available. seek suitable opportunity. gsm: 97705854 Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.) on visit visa, seeking suitable post.

Contact :99534733 Email: rajesh92prince@gmail.com Civil autocad draughtsman part time work for job mob :96023726 Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer, 4 years experience in telecom field.Contact : 97783092, Email: alrsheed88@hotmail.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact: 98928220 Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Key Account Executive , currently working with a reputed FMCG company Oman is looking for a placement asap, NOC available, valid Omani driving license.

Total experience in Oman is 12yrs and particularly in Sales is 8 1/2 years. Contact 95589765 Email : agnelfrancis@yahoo.co.in

Tunisian women looking for a job, khnows english,frensh, italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Young Indian Chartered Accountant, female, Having 6 years experience in Oman and India. Accounts and Finance Manager, Auditor. Urgently seeking suitable positions.

Contact-92530131, jobcareer44@gmail.com Indian female Nurse with 5 yrs of experience, presently working in Oman, seeking for suitable placement. NOC available can join immediately. Contact: 98329941 Email: ancyanish2011@gmail.com Looking for part time jobs in Muscat, Auto cad Draughtsman (Civil). contact:-+968-99070584 email: remluvp@gmail.com Indian female MA. B.Ed. with one year three months teaching experience. Subject: English Seeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman Contact: -: 93961142, 92184408 Email: anoopkesavan78@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial field available in Muscat on visit visa seeking suitable job .

Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. # 91789465 PART TIME ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, M. Com, 35 years, 12 Years exp. in Accounts, 8 years in Oman.

Knowledge upto finalization. Having valid D/L, seeks suitable Placement.

GSM: 96249124 Egyptian Civil Engineer, total experience 7 years - 2 years experience in Oman. I am looking for Project Engineer, I have good experience in site & office works.

Contact number:91148708

Senior IT Professional, Indian Male, more than 17 yrs. of experience in software development(PB, Oracle, SAP ABAP) and IT Support with valid Oman DL and NOC available Contact : 92193867, Email : cp.prasad@gmail.com

Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license.

Ph: 91280121.

Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com.

Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa. Seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

ACCOUNTING – Indian male seeking accounting job with 2 years experience in accounting.

Contact: 94263445, E mail – contactantonyxavieranand@gmail. com

23,Male, ACCA with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil/ Gas,looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com Male, 19 years of experience in Finance and Administration currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99720132/ abidrafi33@hotmail.com Civil supervisor-8 year’s experience in commercial and residential building, including portable cabin, natural and artificial play ground’s, and Oxy petroleum field, at sultanate of Oman. GSM :91249005. Mail :sandeep88joseph@gmail.com Indian Male 28yr age having 6year gulf+ Indian experience in HR field.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com ACCA affiliate & Bsc (Oxford Brookes University), 2.5 years experience in oilfield & audit/finance in Big6 firm, seeking permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

Sudanese male: 27 yrs, 2 years experience in accounting, other experience (purchasing – HR - Coordinating and Office Management), looking for a job Omani Driving License, NOC. Contact: 94174403 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Sudanese male (B.Sc, computer science) (diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience DBA oracle PL-SQL, MS SQL - Server, MS visual studio vba, network.

Contact 91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing.

Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91055584 PRODUCTION OPERATOR – Indian male seeking production operator or related jobs with 4 years of experience in oil & gas field.

Contact: 94263445.

Email: tonyxavier4u@gmail.com

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately contact: 91991435, 93310821

Indian Keralite Male 35 looking for Scaffolding supervisor post having 5 years of Supervisor and HSE experience in GCC Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Fluent in English Arabic and Hindi .

Contact 96155921, or mail fysal.nellaya@gmail.com

Indian male 21 Diploma in Mechanical Eng with HVAC certified having 6 yrsexp and seeking job in HVAC field as a supervisor. Currently on visit visa. Contact 92835952/ 92734863

Indian Male 28 yrs, having 7 years Gulf + Indian experience in HR and Admin field, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com

D6

T U E S D AY, J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.

Contact :97914340.

Email: rajkv30@gmail.com

Indian male, 34years having 10 years of experience in Sales, Sales Coordination and Administration.

Experienced in SAP and MS Office. NOC available.

Contact # 94686594

Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer science) (diploma computer engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle plsql, MS sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network. Contact :91415886

British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable position. please contact :97175240

Indian male with 8 yrs experience in FMCG in Oman as Sales Supervisor looking for suitable placement.

NOC available. Gsm: 96495206 B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial field available in muscat on vist visa seeking suitable job .

Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com IT system and Printer engineer ME, 5Years bank IT Management exp in India looking for full time job visit visa contact 94462150 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. 9588 7051, ashwininakod@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, Indian, 2.5Years experience in Audit/ Finance in Big 6 Audit Firm and Oil Accounting in PDO, For Permanent Placement for Finance or Accounts or Audit. Release NOC Available on hand.

Contact #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Finance ACCA Affiliate, Worked as an Auditor with 2.5 Years Experience in reputed firm, Handled independent audit/finance assignments, Looking for permanent placement, NOC available. #95140445. a.saran891@gmail.com Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Indian Male, Graduate, 11 years Sales experience in Lighting / Industrial products, ready to join immediately. GSM: 9710 5356 Indian heavy duty driver with 8 years experience in oman available with NOC. GSM : 93601943 GSM : 94496457 Over 15 years experience in Gulf.

Interior Architect, Lebanese Nationality, on visit visa seeking a suitable Placement. 96268005.

Indian male, 28 yrs MBA (HR/M) 2 years experience in Indian Oman in HR & admin seeks suitable placements. NOC available.

Contact 97484159 Email: rameshkapa86@gmail.com M.Sc 3+ years exp from France & India in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & Networking / Server support / scientific system support looking for suitable positions. Indian, male on visit visa, contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com Looking for managerial post (full time ), More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training, planning, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. #91076608 / 99322748. Release & noc available

Indian Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs.

Contact: 97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com Indian, Male, 23 years, BE Electrical, having 2 years experience in Electrical Works-H.T. cabling etc, & Construction, looking for a suitable placement. # +968 96927880 (Oman), +91 9765376109 (India), Email: rahulrevi6@gmail.com Indian Female M.Com with Computer Skills and Four Month Experience as Accountant ,Currently On Family Visa Looking for a Suitable Placement, Available Immediately.

Contact : 95846642, Email : dhanyashree91@yahoo.com ACCA Affiliate, Experience in audit/finance of 2.5 years in Big 6 Firm and Oil industry, looking for suitable permanent placement, Release NOC available.

Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com B.Tech Computer Engineer Wanted job to work on(IT/Banking/Administrator/Technical/Office works) having NOC with the limited time from (04/06/2015 to 13/06/2015).

Mobile:98402389 email:naresh6672@gmail.com Highly Qualified & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees , CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFAFinancial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Profit Maximizations ( NOC available ) call 94 504505 – 94403270 27 year Indian female who has 4 years of experience with logistics function in distribution of spares for both heavy machinery & wind turbine parts. Kindly contact me on +91 9790769104 E-mail: joemohana@yahoo.co.in Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903.

Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 99486374 8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity.

GSM: 97705854 7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job.

Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com Indian female , MCA BCA, certification PL SQL , 6months training PHP, date warehouse looking for suitable placement. Contact : 95694330 Email: mondkashyapodl@gmail.com B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally.

Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com

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

Contact : 98803439 Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase.

Contact 99196621 HSE Advisor, NEBOSH IGC, Indian male, 4 years experience in construction and oil fields, seeking suitable jobs. Gsm: 97458900, Mail: miroshbabu@gmail.com Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA , Professional of Banking, Audits , ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 / 94403270 Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job.

Contact 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@ gmail.com Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available.

Contact: 99654913 MEP Quantity Surveyor-Estimation-Project, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626 Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@gmail.com Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED

ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit.

Release available Contact :95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

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

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

Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job.

Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com

Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement.

Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com

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

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

Contact : 93790601

Iraqi Pharmacist with 15 years experience as regulatory affairs and Marketing Manager seeking job in pharmaceutical co. Mobile 96720441

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

Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121.

Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com

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

26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :94501423 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years experience in audit/finance and oil company in reputed firms. Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position.

94151658 Working as Senior Accountant, 4 yrs.exp.in oman, relevant computer skills, Audit, Accounting upto finalization, valid oman driving license, languages known Arabic, Hindi.

NOC available can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599, E-mail(ahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com)

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately Contact: 91991435, 93310821

Indian male, post graduate, currently in Oman on visit visa.

Seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92388346

Electronics and instrumentation Engineer 28 year Indian male, electrical, electronic, industrial, building & automation exp of 4+ yrs in India.

Contact - 93154156

Indian male 60 years old have 30 years Muscat experience in all office works with Omani driving license.

Contact: 99024055

CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. #96760618 email: varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 year experience in different activities. Contact; +96894549609

Indian female with MBA (Finance) on visit visa, seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

More than Ten years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics& Administration.

Contact; 91076608 / 99322748

Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. Contact 9588 7051, Email: ashwininakod@gmail

Indian male, Engineer, BE Mechanical, having with 21 years of experience in India and 13 years in Oman, In production, project management, quality control and assurance and MR for ISO and API Standards looking out for a suitable placement in Oman. GSM: 00968 97311616.

E-MAIL: fahazasa@yahoo.com

Indian female BA graduate. My total experience is 4 and half year in Call Center looking for jobs in admin and HR. Contact : 96089143, Email: sharanjit_kaur2009@yahoo.com

Indian female B.ED & BCA looking for a suitable placement in school or admin office, having 5 yrs exp in same field. Contact – 97384206 / rani_sweet786@live.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 96 76 06 18 Indian male, total experience is 5 years in Retail industry. Currently supervisor in Sun and sand sports Muscat City centre.

Contact : 96994345.

Email : jsp.jsr85@gmail.com Male, 30 years Accountant, 1 year Oman experience in accountants, finance. Seeking suitable position in Muscat .Can join immediately, NOC available. Email: lalitbls1@gmail.com Call: 97903175

Key Account Executive, Indian male, currently working with a reputed FMCG company Oman is looking for a placement asap, NOC will be given. Valid Omani driving license. Total experience in Oman is 12yrs and particularly in Sales is 8 1/2 years. Contact 95589765 Email : agnelfrancis@yahoo.co.in 25 Indian female, B.Sc fashion technologist, 5 years exp in merchandising, familiar with fashion marketing & designing. Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a visual merchandising job. Contact : 96990368, email jumshi@gmail.com Indian male, MBA marketing & finance with B com & diploma in IFRS seeks job. Contact 99469726 / 99469729 Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer , 4 years experience in telecom field Contact 97783092, Email: Alrsheed88@hotmail.com Indian male, 28 years, 7 years experience in transporting & heavy equipment renting company. Having Omani driving license seeks suitable positions. Contact 94410485

T U E S DAY, J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

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

Contact : 97249449

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

Available car with driver daily, weekly and monthly basis.

Contact : 95518612

GOOD NEWS Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at Al Khuwair. Contact 24478618 / 97263637 /93309131

Ayurvedic massage backache, joint pain & neck pain etc.

Contact: 98254909

DRIVING

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

D8

T U E S D AY, J U N E 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

WE ARE PROVIDING ACCOUNTING/ AUDITING TAX/ CONSULTING CONTACT: 24 567 251 / 95 498 033

WEBSITE

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

COMPUTER

Specialist available for explosive growth in term of restructuring all modules of businesses with over 30 years of experience across continents with a decade in Oman.

Contact 96733578 Email : profitoman@gmail.com

MATRIMONIAL RC girl (28 yrs) hailing from kanjirappally dioces working in Royal Hospital looks for suitable alliances.#92801093 / 97498373 Hindu Ezhava family, settled in Muscat looking for suitable groom working within Oman for their daughter 25 yrs (MBA) working with a reputed company in Muscat. 98689663

SITUATION WANTMANPOWER

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

Contact: 93211417 / 92887809.

Learn Cup cakes, exotic cakes, Icing decorations, handicrafts.

Contact 95941515

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

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

House shifting. Contact 99708138

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact 99557080

Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815

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

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

CLASSES

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Carpet, curtain, sofa, floor, cleaning, shampooing, marble & mosaic tiles grinding, polishing and painting. Contact : 93630133 / 95821193 House shifting packing.

99657644 / 98518013 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites.

Contact: 98667326 Ramadhan Gifts with company name printable advertisement on t-shirt, clock.

Contact: 98796982 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722

AC servicing maintenance fixing.

Contact: 99540621

CLASSES