Times of Oman - August 24, 2015

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MONDAY, August 24, 2015 / 9 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH

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IT’S BACK TO SCHOOLS IN SULTANATE

PIA offers incentives to attract travellers

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Passengers flying to Europe, America and Asia from Oman now have an added incentive to visit Pakistan free of cost, as PIA launches a new era of restructured fares and other benefits to attract more customers in Oman. The airline has jumped into the fray with an aggressive strategy to broaden its business. >A2

There was a huge rush of students in all the schools of the Sultanate as the new academic session (2015/2016) began yesterday. About 551,867 students are enrolled in 1,077 public schools in different wilayats of the Sultanate, with an increase of 28,345 students compared to last year.

Photos by O K Mohammed Ali

REGION

See also >A4

Britain, Iran reopen their embassies

Plans to swap company grades on the radar Local businessmen say that before shifting to international grading system, companies in Oman must raise their standards to remain competitive in global markets

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI/ TARIQ AL HAREMI

MUSCAT: A proposal to replace the national corporate grading system with the international one has its own pros and cons

and should be studied properly to make sure it benefits the companies in Oman, say businessmen.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has proposed a plan to the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) to scrap the

current system of classification of the companies and instead apply the ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) grading system.

The initiative is aimed at helping registered companies in Oman, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), get better opportunities and expand their activities.

The current system classifies the companies into seven categories, namely consultancy, international, excellent, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3 and grade 4, based on the nature of the company or the size of its capital.

“We are no longer going to continue grading the companies

RISE IN BUSINESS

Boom in remittance business as rupee’s free-fall continues REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Riding on global currency volatility wave, as the Indian currency plummeted sharply by 29 paise to close at INR65.83 against the US dollar on Friday, money exchange house officials in Oman say Indian rupee may slide even further.

“It is anticipated that the rupee may fall further due to various reasons. If the rupee continues to fall, overseas investors may pull out their investments from India, which will again worsen the situation. However, the business volume for us is going up. People are remitting money to make use of the good exchange rates. Especially, high volume remittance is happening from investors,” said Philip Koshy, general manager of Modern Exchange.

RUPEES PER DOLLAR 2010-2015 28/08/2013

68.36

70 60

21/08/2015

50

65.83

40 30 20

23/08/2010

46.61

10 0 Source: Reserve Bank of India

Graphics

On Friday evening, when the India markets closed, the exchange rate for OMR1 was INR170.05.

Last time the Indian currency fell to these levels was on September 6, 2013.

“If the current bout of nervous-

ness across global markets continues, a fall back to those Rs 66 per dollar level is quite possible,” Tonny George Alexander, chief executive officer of Oman UAE Exchange, said, confirming that they are also witnessing an increase in business.

However, Tonny added that for an ordinary remitter, sending money when rupee falls is just a psychological satisfaction.

“End of the day, the gains he makes due to the rupee fall are not going to benefit the recipient as the inflation, too, will surely go up,” Tonny added.

Overseas investors have pulled out nearly Rs2,000 crore (OMR116 million) from the Indian stock markets since the beginning of the month amid concerns over Chinese economy, coupled with sharp erosion in the value of rupee. >A6 PA C P A P P R O VA L

200 baizas hike in salon shaving rate REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com

Shifting gears

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MUSCAT: Following insistence of authorities that men’s hair salons must offer singleuse shaving kits, and the consequent row over who should bear the increased cost, the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has finally directed a hike of 200 baizas over and above the rates for shaving service.

“It’s a relief that PACP has issued a notice clearing the air.

When the municipality urged us to introduce single-use shaving kit, which includes a plastic apron, razor and comb, it was not clear who would bear the extra expenses,” a hair stylist in Darsait said. >A6

according to our standards. We are going back to the international standard grading system,” said Ahmad Al Hooti, a member of the OCCI. SME grading According to the proposal, a grading system will also be introduced for the SMEs based on international standards.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Sultan Ali Al Busaidi, managing director of the United National Oilfield Services (UNOS), a new generation start-up company, said the proposal has some positive and negative aspects and should be studied thoroughly.

He called the move to adopt in-

ternational standards a ‘leap’ forward but noted that it should not put SMEs to disadvantage.

It may be good for larger companies but the issue is about how SMEs will fit into international grades and what the parameters are, said Al Busaidi.

Competitiveness According to him, SMEs in Oman still need time to develop their skills and raise their standards to become competitive and cope with international norms.

However, he said it may help foster greater competition among SMEs locally as the grade assigned to them may better represent their capabilities. >A6

2

In a reciprocal move, Britain and Iran reopened their respective embassies in each others’ capitals on Sunday, a striking signal of how Western ties with Iran have thawed. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond watched the British flag being raised in the garden of the opulent 19th century building while the national anthem played. >A7

MARKET

Oman, Gulf stocks continue to slide

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Oman shares continued its slump, along with other Gulf bourses, when the market opened on Sunday amid crude oil prices touching a six-year low. Almost all blue chip stocks declined to touch recent lows, with select shares touching even limit down amid weak sentiment due to serious concern on oil price. >B1

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

OMAN

With retail onion prices in India crossing Rs80 per kg (OMR 0.46) in many centres, the Indian government has practically banned export of the bulb from the country Indian onion set to soar in Oman >A3

ROP ACTION

Drug smugglers arrested from home in Seeb

DRUG HAUL: Police also seized 47 wraps of heroin that the offender had swallowed.–ROP

Times News Service MUSCAT: An Omani citizen was arrested from his home in Seeb for possession, use and sale of narcotics, as well as hosting guests for drug related activities at his home.

An official from the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said that following an investigation, officers from the Directorate General for Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances raided the suspect’s house and arrested him, along with guests who were using drugs.

The officers also seized 47 wraps of heroin that the offender had swallowed.

The offenders were referred to the public prosecution.

ROP impersonator held The ROP referred an Omani citizen to the public prosecution in Dhofar, after being arrested for impersonating a police officer and theft.

The Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations apprehended the suspect based upon reports from expatriates, especially Asians, about a man stopping their vehicles as a ‘police officer’ and asking for their documents. The imposter also took their wallets and jewellery.

After being presented with the

evidence, the suspect confessed his crimes and was referred to the public prosecution for further investigation.

1,300 Khat bundles seized In cooperation with the Coast Guard, the Directorate General of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances at Dhofar Royal Oman Police recently prevented the smuggling of Khat into the Sultanate.

Officers intercepted a boat off the coast of Oman’s regional waters, where three Arabs on board were arrested. The officers found 1390 bundles of Khat in the boat.

The smugglers were referred to the public prosecution.

Six infiltrators arrested Six infiltrators were arrested by the Directorate General of Inquiries and Investigations in Buraimi for entering the Sultanate illegally.

Five suspects were women, three were Africans, and the remaining two were of Arab nationalities. The sixth was a man from Asia. At the same time, an Asian expatriate was also arrested for assisting in their illegal entry into the country.

All suspects have been detained for further investigation before presenting them to the public prosecution.

‘KARAR’ WINS HONOURS AT LONDON CHAMPIONSHIP Irish apprentice jockey Ian Queally rode ‘Karar’, owned by Sheikh Nasser bin Mohammed Al Hashar, to glory to book the fifth spot in the grand finale of Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival’s Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Apprentice World Championship (IFAHR), at the Sandown Park in London.

Ten amateur riders made the lineup for this fifth round of the festival’s series to the 2000m Premier Handicap Purebred Arabian contest. ‘Man of Dreams’ came with a late run under the Swedish lady apprentice jockey, Fanny Olsson, to take second place.—ONA

GCSE

British school pupils score high grades Times News Service MUSCAT: This year has seen another year of GCSE successes at British School Muscat (BSM).

BSM students have achieved excellent GCSE results, with 90% of students achieving 5 or more A*-C grades (well above the UK national average of 69%). Equally impressive is that 45% of GCSE grades were at the top grades of A*/A (UK national average 21.2%).

Kai Vacher, BSM Principal, comments: “Congratulations to our Year 11 students for their hard work and splendid results in a wide range of subjects. These results, complemented by the many opportunities beyond the curriculum that BSM offers, represent an excellent foundation for their A Level years. BSM’s high quality education is clearly preparing our pupils for an international future.”

PIA offers fare cut, incentives to attract traffic With its revised six freedom fares, more

We have widened our network to provide convenient connecting flights to Pakistani passengers looking to continue their journey

flights in operation, better regularity and a host of incentives to passengers, PIA is confident of flying higher in the civil aviation market

Shahzad Paracha PIA’s country manager

SHAHZAD RAZA shahzad@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Passengers flying to Europe, America and Asia from Oman now have an added incentive to visit Pakistan free of cost, as Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) launches a new era of restructured fares and other benefits to attract more customers in the Sultanate.

Looking to widen its customer base, the airline has jumped back into the fray with an aggressive strategy to broaden its business, offering six freedom fares, along with a host of other attractions to woo new passengers.

The Pakistan national carrier is obviously upping the ante to wrest back business, which was dominated by PIA before other airlines joined the Pakistan route and raised the competition a few years ago. Now it’s a tight race among many players in the skies of Oman and Pakistan, particularly due to competition from Oman Air. Armed with more planes and new ambitions, the airline is counting on a fresh strategy to lure passengers back.

“We are focusing on long haul flights to attract new passengers,

and PIA has taken steps to make it possible. With stopover charges now fully abolished, PIA is offering very attractive through fares to various international destinations in the UK, Europe, New York, Canada, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Beijing and many others.

Flying to any destination PIA covers from Oman, our customers now enjoy the irresistible advantage of a stopover of a few days in Pakistan, absolutely free,” said Shahzad Paracha, the airline’s Oman country manager.

“We have done the restructuring to make PIA competitive in Oman. We have also started flying Airbus 320 aircraft, the same aircraft operated by Oman Air and Emirates. Our service standards are constantly improving, as per customer feedback.

“We now allow an increased baggage allowance of 40 kg, instead of the earlier 32kg. Lost baggage complaints are also on the wane, as PIA is trying to build up customer confidence,” Paracha added.

International passengers travelling on PIA are provided free hotel stays for 24 hours in Paki-

stan, giving them an opportunity to enjoy the stopover for sightseeing or shopping. Currently, PIA is seeing increased business on various international routes, particularly Dhaka, Mumbai and Delhi.

The other two areas where the Pakistan airline claims to have made marked improvements are flight regularity and its connecting flight network.

“PIA is now maintaining 97 percent flight regularity, with routine delays now being a rare happening. I am glad that we are getting back to our high standards. We have also widened our network to provide convenient connecting flights to Pakistani passengers looking to continue their onward journey from the three main cities of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. PIA has worked hard to improve its domestic operations,” he explained.

With its revised six freedom fares, more flights in operation, better regularity and a host of incentives to passengers, PIA is confident of flying high in the sky.

The signs, as Paracha claims, are quite encouraging.

I N T E R NAT I O NA L I M PAC T

Iran minister visits Oman pavilion MILAN: Ali Jannati, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance in the Islamic Republic of Iran and his accompanying delegation, paid a visit to the Sultanate’s pavilion in Expo Milan 2015.

During the visit, he viewed sections of the pavilion and the displayed items.

He commended the strong relations binding the two friendly countries.

Oman has chosen the prestigious show to present the ancient traditions of the country and its future plans for sustainable development. As a strategic meeting point between Asia and Africa, Oman is among the richest countries within its region, when it comes to its historical, cultural and environmental background.– ONA

REGIONAL BROTHERHOOD: Oman has chosen the prestigious show to present the ancient traditions of the country and its future plans for sustainable development.–ONA

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Indian onion to become costlier

NAT I O NA L M A N P O W E R

With retail onion prices in India EMPLOYMENT STRATEGY:The number of citizens who receive wages ranging between OMR400 and OMR500 remained unchanged at 46,547 persons. –ONA

crossing Rs80 per kg

Private sector employs more than 206,000 insured Omanis

centres, the Indian

(OMR 0.46) in many government has practically banned export of onion

MUSCAT: The number of insured Omanis working in the private sector until the end of last July had reached 206,348, showing a 0.1 per cent increase from last June’s figure.

The latest statistics issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) indicated that there were 158,950 male Omani citizens working in the private sector, while 47,398 female citizens worked in the same sector.

The category that receives insured salaries, ranging between OMR325 and OMR400, constituted the highest number — 62,461 — among the Omanis working in the private sector.

They included 42,388 males and 20,073 females. This category recorded a decrease of half a per cent compared to the figures recorded in June 2015.

The number of citizens who receive wages ranging between OMR400 and OMR500 remained unchanged at 46,547 persons, and included 40,663 males and 5,884 females. The Omani workers who fall under the category of salaries that range between OMR500 and OMR600 reached 20,640 citizens.

They included 16,878 males and 3,762 females, and overall represented a decrease of 0.2 per cent.

The percentage of workers who receive salaries ranging between

from the country

The category that receives insured salaries, ranging between OMR325 and OMR400, constituted the highest number -- 62,461 -- among the Omanis working in the private sector National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) OMR600 and OMR700 increased by 0.5 per cent to reach 13,677 citizens, of which 11,092 were males and 2,585 were females.

The category of citizens who receive salaries between OMR700 and OMR800 saw an increase of 1.2 per cent, reaching 8,976 citizens. They included 7,077 males and 1,899 females.

The category of citizens receiving salaries between OMR800 and OMR900 witnessed an increase of one per cent to reach 6,601 citizens and included 4,995 males and 1,606 females.

The percentage of Omani workers receiving salaries in ex-

cess of OMR900 but less than OMR1,000 increased by 0.1 per cent to reach 4,944 citizens. They included 3,722 males and 1,222 females.

The percentage of workers who receive salaries ranging between OMR1,000 and OMR2,000 increased by 0.3 per cent. The number of these workers reached 18,125 Omani citizens, including 14,499 males and 3,626 females.

The number of Omani workers who receive salaries of more than OMR2,000 has reached 7,064 and included 6,316 males and 748 females, reflecting a decrease of 5.1 per cent in this category. –ONA

REJIMON K reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Indian onion lovers in Oman would have to shed more tears as prices will go up again following export control measures taken by Delhi in view of the skyrocketing prices in local market.

“Last week, Indian onion’s wholesale price was around 200 baizas per kilogramme. Now, it’s 250 baizas. It may go up further if the prices in Indian market are going up again,” Salim Kutty, a vegetable trader in Mawelah market, told the Times of Oman.

“In addition to this, we have heard that the Indian government has started to control the export of the bulb from the country. However, the availability of onion from Iran, Egypt and Brazil at cheaper prices will not affect the market,” Salim, doing vegetable business in Oman for the last 35 years, said.

The wholesale price of onion from Iran, Egypt and Brazil is at 150 baiza per kilogramme.

According to the trader, around 100 tonnes of onions are sold in Mawelah market daily.

“Of the 100 tonnes, around 20

SHOPPING PANGS: Around 100 tonnes of onion are sold in Mawelah market daily. Of the 100 tonnes, around 20 tonnes will be Indian onions.–File photo

tonnes will be Indian onions. However, as the prices are shooting up, the amount of Indian onion sold is coming down. Only hypermarkets now buy Indian onions from us,” Salim added. With retail onion prices in India crossing Rs80 per kg (OMR 0.46) in many centres, the Indian government has practically banned export of the bulb from the country.

In a move aimed at augmenting domestic availability by deterring shipments, the minimum export price (MEP) of onion has been steeply raised to $700 per tonne.

This follows an earlier increase, from $250 to $425 per tonne, which was effected on June 26.

The last hike in the MEP, below which no exports are permitted, had very little impact on prices.

Between June 26 and now, wholesale prices at Lasalgaon (Maharashtra) — India’s biggest market

for onions — rose from Rs1,500 (OMR8.72620) to Rs5,700 (OMR 33.1596) per quintal.

“As Indian onions are the best and a staple for the Indians, they will miss it due to high prices.

Some of our customers prefer dishes prepared with Indian onions. They are choosy in that respect,” a hotelier in Muscat said.

Meanwhile, Indian homemakers said they are being compelled to buy onions from other countries since the Indian onions are becoming unaffordable.

“Price hike has made it unaffordable. We love its taste. However, we cannot upset the weekly vegetable purchase budget. So, we compromise on the taste and go for cheaper onions,” Aswathi Biju, an Indian homemaker, said.

India exported 12.38 lakh tonnes (lt) of onions in 2014-15 and 14.03 lt in the preceding fiscal.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

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551,867

students on Sunday enrolled at all wilayats of the Sultanate in 1,077 public schools on the first day of the new school year

It’s back to school for students About 551,867 students enrolled in 1,077 public schools in different wilayats of the Sultanate, on Sunday joined back school on the first day of the new school year (2015/2016). This year has seen 28,345 more students over last year, including 278,411 boys and 273,456 girls. The Ministry of Education had completed all preparations for the new school year.

There are 60 schools with 10-12 standards, an increase of 25 schools from last year.

The number of 11-12 standard schools is 44, a decrease of 23 schools compared to last year. The number of teachers this year stands at 56,600, an increase of 389 compared to last year. The number of administrative staff members and technicians in schools was estimated at 11,606. – PHOTOS BY OK MOHAMMED ALI/TIMES OF OMAN

MAJLIS AL SHURA

C U LT U R A L B O N D S

Jordan summit to focus on interaction of Arab youth AMMAN: Interaction of Arab youths is in focus as the Sultanate participates in the 12th Youth of the Arab Capitals Forum under the theme ‘Arab Youth and Media’. Being hosted in the Jordanian capital of Amman, the summit will last until Friday with participation of all Arab countries.

The forum stems from the belief of the Jordanian Higher Youth Council (HYC) for continuity after the success of the previous forums that made recommendations and put forth proposals to provide an opportunity for Arab youth for interaction, understanding, convergence, exchange of youth, cultural and social experiences from different Arab countries.

The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of the Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr. Abdullah Ensour, in the presence of senior officials of the HYC and ambassadors of the Arab countries to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Oman’s participation The opening ceremony began with a speech delivered by Said bin Nasser Al Rahbi, Head the Sultanate’s delegation to the forum, on behalf of the heads of participating Arab delegations.

In this speech, he said: “This forum of the Arab youth is one of the important youth meetings, which the Hashemite Kingdom of

Election committees announce initial lists MUSCAT: Initial lists of the candidates for the Majlis Al Shura’s 8th term elections were announced by the Election Committees at different wilayats of the Sultanate, on Sunday.

The lists may be reviewed at the Walis’ offices and through the internet (www.election.gov. om/shura).

The deadline to challenge names on the lists will be five days from the day these lists were announced.

ARAB BROTHERHOOD: The forum provides an opportunity to Arab youth for interaction, understanding, convergence, and exchange of youth, cultural and social experiences.

Jordan, represented by the HYC, is keen to organise annually as it yields important results through its seminars and meetings with the Arab youth to exchange experiences, in addition to important meetings with those responsible for the youth sector in Jordan.”

Activities of the 12th Youth of the Arab Capitals Forum started after the opening ceremony with a tour of Al Hussein Sports City.

On the second day, which was full of meetings, the participants paid a visit to the Jordanian Al Rai newspaper and met with its

editor-in-chief who briefed the participants on the work of various sections of the newspaper and press work.

The participants then visited Jordan Media Institute and met with its dean, who briefed them on the Institute’s role in qualifying media cadres and preparing the next generation of media people. During the evening, the participants met with the Jordanian Minister of Information who spoke about the official media and engaged with concepts of reality and ambition.–ONA

Objections deadline Anyone objecting should provide reasons for doing so as per the provision of Article No. 31 of the Majlis Al Shura Members’ Elections Law. The article of the law states that anyone having interest may submit a grievance within five days of announcement of lists. The reasons for objection should be provided, backed with supportive documents.

The Committee will take a decision within 10 days from the expiry date. –ONA

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AWA R E N E S S

omanoil launches drive for better safety at filling stations Times News Service MUSCAT: In a bid to raise awareness about the importance of implementing precautionary measures at filling stations, Oman Oil Marketing Company (omanoil) launched a new safety campaign called ‘Rehla’, meaning the journey.

Reaching out to the large number of tourists in Salalah this Khareef, dedicated omanoil staff in collaboration with a group from Salalah Jeepers, toured high footfall locations, distributing leaflets and providing advice on how best to stay safe while filling their cars.

Throughout the campaign, omanoil’s ambassadors visited tourist locations including Sahalnoot,

Darbat, Al Mughsayl, Aftelqoot and the Salalah Tourism Festival grounds. The team also inspected 10 filling stations throughout the Governorate to encourage prudence at the pump and ensure the company’s stringent HSE regulations are implemented.

Mohammed Hassan Al Moujaini, omanoil’s Senior Manager of Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE), said, “omanoil is more than just a service provider, we are proud members of the community and this campaign highlights our commitment to greatly reduce the amount of filling station accidents in the Sultanate.

Customers need to feel secure

at the pump and ‘Rehla’ was designed to ensure it. As Dhofar is presently experiencing a spike in visitors, it was integral that we launched our campaign to ensure that the message regarding filling station safety reaches as many people as possible.”

He added: “Raising awareness is the first step in maintaining allencompassing safety. Such an approach keeps everyone protected at all times and will kick-start a culture of awareness in Oman.

“Our effort to care for the community and the Sultanate’s guests goes beyond providing filling stations that adhere to the highest safety standards and Rehla is yet another expression of that fact.”

LAUDABLE EFFORT: Oman Oil Marketing Company launched a new safety campaign called ‘Rehla’, meaning the journey. -Supplied photo

The Yellow Chilli debuts what has drawn people of all nationalities since the restaurant’s soft opening, and we have already started seeing repeat customers,” stated Tirthankar Basu, Business Head of Mazaya Oman, the parent company that is introducing the brand in Oman. The restaurant already has locations in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Amman.

A popular name in Indian households, he is the most celebrated face of Indian cuisine today and one of the top five celebrity chefs in the world, alongside Henston Blumenthal, Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and Wolfgang Puck, who currently operates 50 restaurants outside India.

Many of Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s signature dishes can be savoured at The Yellow Chilli, which has opened at The Wave, Muscat

Times News Service NEW TASTE IN TOWN: Tastefully designed, the restaurant offers

MUSCAT: A chain of casual dining restaurants known for its unique menu and spearheaded by Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, The Yellow Chilli has opened at The Wave, Muscat.

Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was present yesterday at the official opening of the restaurant.

Speaking after the opening, Sanjeev Kapoor said, “At The Yellow Chillis we try to bring in more efficiency and affordability to Indian food in a friendly, comfortable environment,and at a price that does not pinch.”

“At The Yellow Chilli we say we are redefining Indian cuisine, as we try to keep the ‘Indianness’ alive in our food. We also try and keep our food as fresh as possible. We always believe freshness

spacious indoor seating for 95 people, with an additional outside space for 40 diners during cooler weather. -Shabin E/Times of Oman

comes from what is available locally. So, most of the ingredients we use are what are available here, except for some spices”.

Many of Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s signature dishes can be savoured at The Yellow Chilli, such as Peru Pyala (guava juice, lemon juice with a hint of mint and rimmed with red chillis), Lalla Mussa Dal (black lentil believed to have originated at the Lalla Mussa station in the North Western Frontier Province), Tandoori Basil Prawns and Shaam Savera (spinach koftas filled with creamed cottage cheese and served in a tomato butter gravy)

which was one of the first dishes created by Chef Kapoor on his TV show,which went on to become extremely popular.

Tastefully designed, the restaurant at The Wave offers spacious indoor seating for 95 people, with an additional outside space for 40 diners during cooler weather. The Executive Chef at the restaurant, Manoj Radi, trained under Chef Kapoor in India before running the restaurant in Muscat.

Diverse offerings “What sets The Yellow Chilli apart is its diverse offering and an element of surprise. This is

MINISTRY OF INTERIOR

Seminars to highlight Shura’s role MUSCAT: Role of Majlis Al Shura members and the importance of participating in elections, will be highlighted at seminars here.

“Shura Forum” seminars, being organised by the Ministry of Interior, will begin tomorrow and will continue until October 19 in different parts of Oman.

Walis, sheikhs, dignitaries and representatives of the public organisations, cultural centres,

civil society organisations, Omani Woman Associations, teaching staff, businessmen and university students will participate.

The first seminar will be held at the pension fund theatre affiliated to the Defence Ministry in Muscat tomorrow (Monday).

The second will be held in Salalah on August 31, third in Khasab on September 7, followed A’Rustaq on September 9, in Nizwa on Sep-

tember 14, in Sohar on September 16, in Al Buraimi on September 21, in Ibra on October 5, in Sur on October 7, in Ibri on October 12 and in Haima on October 19. -ONA

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TV host Other than being a chef and entrepreneur, Chef Kapoor is a TV host who stars on Asia’s longest running TV show, ‘Khana Khazana’, to his credit, as well as an author of best selling cookbooks and operates India’s first 24-hour cooking channel, FoodFood. This success has brought him many awards and worldwide recognition. He is also on the board of Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel. A lesser known facts about Chef Kapoor is that he is a percussionist. He believes every part of India has its own unique cuisine that is vast and extensive.

Not only does he dream of introducing cuisines from different parts of India to the people of India, but he wants to make Indian cuisine the most popular in the world.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

OMAN

Our generation should think out-of-the-box. Most of the Omanis want to be doctors, engineers, teachers, so the most important thing is to see what Oman needs Shama Al Toobi, Takatuf’s Summer Residential Programme Scholar

Skilful Takatuf scholars to shape future of Sultanate

APPROVES RAISE

Issue of A1 shaving-kit < FROM

“This had led to disputes with customers at many salons. Some salons in Barka even had to down the shutters due to this,” he said.

The Municipality had insisted that the salons must provide single-use kits from June. However, when the move was initiated, the question as to who should bear the extra cost created confusion and, eventually, the move was shelved.

“Following the dispute, running the business had become quite difficult. Now, we are happy to see that the consumer protection authority has intervened and resolved the issue,” the hair stylist added. At present, for hair cutting and beard shaving, the charge is OMR1.700, for just hair cutting, it is OMR1.000 and for beard shaving and trimming, it is OMR0.700.

Now, when the single-use shaving kit will be used, the charges will be 200 baizas more for the each of the above mentioned services.

The municipality issued an administrative circular numbered 38/2015 last March, advising barber shops to use single-use shaving kits. The circular also pointed out that if found violating the rules, salons would be fined OMR250, with the fine being doubled in case the offence is repeated.

“People should go for single-use kits at hair salons. Maintaining minimum hygiene standards at salons is a must to keep both customers and hairdressers safe from infection. This decision will help reduce the risk of infection,” Dr Shibu Mohammed, a dermatologist at Badr Al Samaa hospital in Ruwi, said.

“Everyone has bacteria on their skin, but you and your body live in harmony with it. Transfer this to another person with an open sore, and it may not be such a harmonious relationship. The infection can be as simple as a little irritation around a hair follicle, or as severe as an infection that could lead to serious illness,” the dermatologist added. A distributor of single-use kit said that a box of 100 disposable razors will cost OMR5.600 and 50 plastic aprons will cost OMR2.000.

The hope is that this generation of Omani students will be able to help the country grow, develop and take on a more prominent place in the world

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: None of them have started university yet, but the Takatuf Scholars students already have big plans to shape the future of Oman with their global skills and experience.

Over the past four years the Takatuf Scholars programme has helped numerous young Omanis acquire learning skills for the 21st century and provided scholarships for some to attend international boarding schools and universities.

The hope is that this generation of students will be able to help the country grow, develop and take on a more prominent place in the world.

“Our generation should think out-of-the-box. Most of the Omanis want to be doctors, engineers, teachers, so the most important thing is to see what Oman needs.

We need artists, we need filmmakers, we need inventors,” says Shama Al Toobi, who has just completed Takatuf’s Summer Residential Programme, the first part of being a Takatuf scholar.

Shama, a grade 11 student from Izki, is frustrated that Oman is not

ACQUIRING SKILLS: Young Omanis are learning to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and leaders who will be able to take their international knowledge and contextualise it for Oman, thanks to their understanding of the local culture and environment. – Supplied picture

well-known by much of the world and wants to change that. She hopes that Takatuf students such as herself, especially those who are able to study abroad, will be able to bring a positive spotlight to the Sultanate with their future contributions to the country and the world.

NASA award “We need to make Oman known and more popular,” says Shama, who already has some international experience. She and two classmates won an award from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for an invention they made called “Support Life on Mars,” and they got to study at Stanford University in California, an experience that has inspired Shama to set a goal of becoming an inventor or maybe even an astronaut.

Naji Al Balushi, who is a 2014 Takatuf scholar from Buraimi, will be going to boarding school in the UK for two years on a scholarship before applying to study

film in university.

He, too, believes their generation of Omanis should promote the Sultanate and help it flourish in the 21st century, not just by working here in Oman but by living overseas and drawing attention to their homeland.

“If one day I become a famous filmmaker, people will say ‘He’s Omani.’ People who have never heard of this country will try to know more and explore this country. We’re going to put a name for our country and be ambassadors.

We want to draw people’s attention to the potential that is in Oman,” says Naji.

Al Zubair Al Zaabi, one of the first Takatuf scholars, will be attending New York University this fall to study biomolecular science.

He then hopes to follow that degree with a medical degree.

He says biomedical sciences are relatively new to Oman and he wants to contribute to their development, bringing back international experience from the UK, where he went to boarding school

at Epson College, and the USA with him.

“I think coordinate both experiences to create something that will hopefully help the future of this country. I would have a background in biomolecular science and I think when I graduate I would definitely love to take a leadership role within the biotechnology sector in Oman,” says Al Zubair, who is from Saham.

Jinan Al Busaidi, who became a Takatuf scholar in 2013, says the program has meant a lot to her.

She has gained life experience and independence at boarding school in the USA and helped her broaden her horizons, considering academic options that she may not have otherwise.

“I think I want to pursue Political Science. It’s not common here.

A lot of people don’t agree with my choice to pursue it but I think it will be the best thing for me to do because personally I really like and with all the connections I’m making through the program and all the experiences I’m having

Shama Al Toobi

right now. I hope to make a change in the future,” explains Jinan, a native of Muscat. She’s not yet sure what career she’ll hope for, but believes her education and international experience will be beneficial here in Oman.

Takatuf Scholars’ staff members say the students in their programme are well worth investing in because they will have a huge return in terms of human capital for Oman in the years to come.

Prof. Kathryn Bindon, Program Director, says these young Omanis are learning to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and leaders whom she hopes will be able to take their international knowledge and contextualise it for Oman thanks to their understanding of the local culture and environment.

“These young Omanis are amazing 21st century learners. It matters that we support and develop young people who can be leaders in this kind of development and innovation for the 21st century,” she says.

I N T E R NAT I O NA L G R A D I N G S Y S T E M

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Call for tangible support to SMEs

The managing director of UNOS, a 100 per cent Omani initiative, also said the proposal may lead to larger companies ‘playing on their own ground’.

SMEs should have their own ground until they develop themselves, he noted.

Al Busaidi also called on companies and organisations in Oman to provide tangible support to SMEs through awarding them contracts instead of only helping them develop their soft skills.

Jassim Al Ma’amari, managing director of Lab Scientific & Laboratory Supplies, the first Omani company specialising in fine research chemicals, said assigning grades to SMEs is a ‘positive’ step.

It will help distinguish the SMEs which are active from those that may not be very active, he added.

Haidar, an Omani economic expert, believes that shifting to the international system can only be beneficial if it helps eliminate ‘hidden trade,’ where, for example, an Omani gets the commercial registration and sells it to a foreigner instead of

Sultan Ali Al Busaidi, managing director of the United National Oilfield Services.

Jassim Al Ma’amari, managing director of Lab Scientific & Laboratory Supplies.

running the business himself.

One challenge concerning the new proposal is the difference between the definition of a small company in Oman and other countries, he added, noting that the proposal would be good only if it benefits the businesses.

There is no need for changing the grading system if it does not help put an end to ‘hidden trade’ which is ‘killing’ the economy, said Haidar.

In addition, an Omani businessman, who wished not to be named, said the international market has

different definitions for SMEs and large companies, and if the international grading system is introduced in Oman, some large companies may be classified as SMEs. ‘Excellent’ initiative He added that it would be an ‘excellent’ initiative to classify the SMEs as it will show their progress and performance but it should be seen whether they will be classified based on their manpower or capital or the nature of the company.

It will be a ‘wonderful’ approach if they are assigned grades based on the number of Omanis they employ, said the businessman.

The board of directors of the OCCI held a meeting recently to discuss the vision for the private sector, which was chaired

by Said Al Kiyumi, the chamber’s chairman.

The meeting reviewed the proposed amendments to the chamber’s law, and Al Kiyumi asked the members to inform the authorities concerned of their suggestions about the draft law, which will be discussed in the next meetings.

The chamber said it was determined to ensure benefit for the nation and the private sector by fixing the labour market in cooperation with the ministry.

“We have a problem with the current state of Omanisation as we are not getting the results we want. Therefore, we will amend the law and procedures in a way that would ensure the demand for Omani worker rises and he is acceptable in the private sector,” said OCCI member Al Hooti.

RU P E E D E P R E C I AT I O N

POOKKALAM CONTEST AT SCHOOL A total 110 teams comprising 550 students from class III to XII, designed colourful floral carpets using flowers of different varieties in the Pookkalam Competition at Indian School Al Ghubra on August 18. - Supplied photo

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Rupee may fall further

This was in contrast to a net inflow of Rs5,319 crore (OMR309.41 million) by Foreign Portfolio Investors in equities last month.

According to RBI, foreign exchange reserves fell by $113.5 million for the week ending August 7, to $353.35 billion.

Some Indians are holding money, expecting a further weakening of Indian currency. “Even a change of INR1 will matter a lot to us. So, we are waiting for Monday’s rates,” these Indians said.

So far this month, the rupee has depreciated 2.63 per cent against the dollar, while it has declined 4.43 per cent since the beginning of the year.

“I do not think it is something to be so worried about at this point. I think it should stabilise around these levels.

But, of course, it also depends on how other currencies move,” Jose Chacko, a Muscat-based financial analyst, said.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015 What’s happening there relates to a bunch of lawless gunmen who do not constitute any danger to the city of Aden.

Brigadier General Ali Nasser Lakhsha Yemen’s Deputy Interior Minister

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Britain, Iran reopen respective embassies in a reciprocal step SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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UK Foreign Secretary

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Philip Hammond nity by some, including U.S. President Barack Obama, hardliners in Washington and Tehran have opposed it, as has Israel. Deep mistrust remains on both sides.

An electronic newsletter of the Fars news agency cast the reported re-opening of the embassy as the “Return of the Fox”.

watched the British flag being raised in the garden of the opulent 19th century building in Tehran while Iran’s chargé d’affaires in UK, Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh,

RESTORING TIES: (Left) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and his British counterpart Philip Hammond at a joint press conference in Tehran on Sunday. (Right) Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mehdi Danesh Yazdi, centre, stands with Iran’s charge d’affaires to the Iranian Embassy in London, Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh, centre right and other dignitaries during the playing of the Iranian national anthem at the charge d’affaires residency in London, on Sunday. -AFP/Reuters

and Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Danesh Yazdi attended the ceremony in London

TEHRAN/LONDON: In a reciprocal move Britain and Iran reopened their respective embassies in each others’ capitals on Sunday, a striking signal of how Western ties with Iran have thawed since protesters stormed the compound nearly four years ago.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond watched the British flag be-

ing raised in the garden of the opulent 19th century building while the national anthem played.

Iran also reopened its embassy in London on Sunday, reciprocating hours after Britain restored diplomatic ties with Tehran, a Reuters witness said. Iran’s chargé d’affaires in London, Mohammad Hassan Habibollahzadeh, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Danesh Yazdi attended the ceremony at the Iranian diplomatic residence, a few doors away from the embassy in Kensington, West London.

In 2011, attackers burned the Union Jack and ransacked the British ambassador’s residence in Tehran. “Today’s ceremony marks the end of one phase in the relationship between our two coun-

tries and the start of a new one - one that I believe offers the promise of better,” he said.

‘Step by step’ The storming was a low point in diplomacy between the two countries, he said, but the relationship had improved “step by step” since the election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013. Hammond said the nuclear deal that the Iran struck with six major world powers last month was also an important milestone.

Accompanying Hammond was a small group of business leaders, including representatives from Royal Dutch Shell, Energy and mining services company Amec Foster Wheeler and Scottish industrial

engineering firm Weir Group.

After more than a decade of casting the Islamic Republic as a rogue power seeking to sow turmoil through the Middle East, Britain has sought to improve ties with Iran, whose proven natural gas reserves are as vast as Russia’s.

“In the first instance, we will want to ensure that the nuclear agreement is a success, including by encouraging trade and investment once sanctions are lifted,” Hammond said. Under the nuclear deal, sanctions imposed by the United States, European Union and United Nations will be lifted in exchange for Iran agreeing long-term curbs on a nuclear programme the West suspected was intended to make a nuclear bomb.

C I V I L WA R

Al Qaeda wrests control of Yemen’s Aden; UAE forces free British hostage ADEN: Al Qaeda militants took control of a western district of Yemen’s main port city of Aden on Saturday night, residents said, in another sign that the group is drawing strength from five months of civil war.

The entrance of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula into Aden, once one of the world’s busiest ports and the most secular and secure parts of an otherwise restive country, would be one of its biggest gains yet.

“Dozens of al Qaeda militants were patrolling the streets with their weapons in total freedom in a number of areas in Tawahi.

At the same time, others raised the al Qaeda black flag above government buildings,” a resident told Reuters.

He said flag was also flying over the administrative building of the port, although a port official later said that the flag was flying at the gate of the port’s complex.

Meanwhile, United Arab Emir-

The hostage, earlier identified by a Yemeni police source as an oil worker abducted in February last year, was taken to the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on a military plane on Saturday night

ates forces based in Aden freed a British hostage who had been held by the group, the UAE state news agency WAM said on Sunday.

The hostage, earlier identified by a Yemeni police source as an oil worker abducted in February last year, was taken to the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi on a military plane on Saturday night, the agency said.

A Yemeni official said the hostage was rescued near a sprawling military base northwest of Aden.

Residents say al Qaeda fight-

ers have also maintained a presence in the area. Britain’s Foreign Office confirmed in a statement that the hostage was “extracted

by UAE forces in a military intelligence operation” and was “safe and well.”

Yemen’s Deputy Interior Minister Brigadier General Ali Nasser Lakhsha played down the threat posed by the gunmen in the Aden neighbourhoods.

“What’s happening there relates to a bunch of lawless gunmen who do not constitute any

danger to the city of Aden. Their behaviour shows they don’t belong to al Qaeda and that they are trying to achieve narrow, selfinterested goals,” he said, without elaborating.

Drone strike Hundreds of kilometres away in Yemen’s other Arabian Sea port city of Mukalla, residents and local officials said four al Qaeda militants - two Saudis, a Yemeni and an Afghan - were killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike.

The American bombing campaign has continued despite the power vacuum caused by the civil war that allowed al Qaeda to gain partial control of Mukalla in April, and one such attack on the city in July killed the group’s deputy leader. Forces loyal to Yemen’s exiled government in Saudi Arabia retook Aden from Houthi militia last month, with heavy backing from the kingdom and its allies. -Reuters

C I V I L WA R

12 children among 45 killed in Syria BEIRUT: The toll from heavy government bombardment of a rebel stronghold outside the Syrian capital rose on Sunday to 34 civilians including 12 children, a monitoring group said.

A separate rocket attack on Sunday in a regime-held neighbourhood northeast of Damascus killed 11 people, state television said. “There are now 34 civilians that were killed in Saturday’s attacks on Douma, among them 12 children and eight women,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Forces loyal to President Bashar Al Assad targeted the rebel-held town of Douma with shelling and air raids on Saturday.

By late evening, the Observatory said 20 civilians had been killed, but also that rescuers were still searching for more victims.

“Overnight, they found more victims underneath the rubble, and others who were wounded died,” Abdel Rahman said on Sunday.

He said some strikes killed entire families inside their homes.

Local volunteers and civil defence teams worked on Sunday morn-

DEMOLISHED: Syrian rescue workers and civilians search for victims under the rubble of collapsed buildings late on Saturday following shelling and air raids by Syrian government forces in the rebel-held area of Douma, east Damascus. -AFP

ing to locate seven people who were still unaccounted for, the Britain-based Observatory said.

The Douma Coordination Committee, a local activist group,

published the names and photos of documented casualties on Facebook. One picture showed a toddler the group said had been rescued from beneath the rub-

ble but who succumbed to his wounds shortly afterwards.

At least 11 air strikes targeted the Eastern Ghouta area, of which Douma is a part, on Sunday. The Observatory said several people had been wounded, but had no further details. On August 16, a series of regime strikes killed more than 117 people -- mostly civilians -- in Douma, sparking international condemnation of the Assad regime. Eastern Ghouta has been under a government siege for nearly two years and comes under regular air attack.

Meanwhile, northeast of Damascus at least 11 people were killed and 56 wounded by rocket fire outside Adra prison on Sunday, state television said. It said the rockets were fired by “terrorist groups” and that women and children were among the wounded. The Observatory’s Abdel Rahman said nine people were killed, including civilians.

Syria’s war, which began in March 2011 with anti-regime protests, has spiralled into a multi-front conflict that has killed more than 240,000 people. -AFP

Tehran has always denied seeking nuclear arms. Hammond told Iran’s central bank governor, Valiollah Seif, that British banks, mindful of penalties imposed in the past by U.S. authorities, wanted to ensure that they were fully compliant when they return to Iran. “There is a huge appetite both on the part of our commercial and industrial businesses to engage with the opportunity of Iran opening up and there is huge appetite on the part of our financial institutions to support that activity but of course it has to be done in the proper way,” he said.

Seif said the countries had had positive ties in the past and could build on them. While the nuclear deal is seen as a major opportu-

Too early for US embassy Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister said on Sunday it was too early to talk of reopening the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

Asked if Tehran would now countenance a restoration of the US diplomatic mission, Javad Zarif said the United States’ “illogical attitude” towards Iran meant the time was not ripe for a similar move with Washington.

“It seems that there needs to be a change in that kind of attitude and behaviour on the part of the US. So the situation is different with the US,” he said.

The US embassy was sacked in the early days of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 by students who feared a repeat of a 1953 coup, when the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Iran’s prime minister.

The ensuing U.S. hostage crisis lasted 444 days and Washington and Tehran have yet to restore diplomatic ties. US President Barack Obama has promised to exercise his veto if the US Congress, dominated by Republicans opposed to the deal. -Reuters

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We deprecate the ham-handed manner in which several aspects which I have elaborated have been handled by the government Abhishek Singhvi, Congress spokesperson

INDIA

CALAMITY

FESTIVITIES IN THE AIR Keralites decorate a huge floral Rangoli during Onam celebrations in Bhopal on Sunday. Kerala Tourism’s seven-day-long statewide Onam celebrations will be kicked off in the capital by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on August 25. Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, is on August 28. - PTI

Assam flood toll rises to 13 as 600,000 affected GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday made an aerial survey of flood affected districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Goalpara and Dhubri districts even as the death toll in the floods rose to 13.

After an aerial survey of more than two hours, the chief minister said the state government has stepped up rescue and relief operations in the state with all ministers and officials directed to visit the affected districts to monitor relief operations.

He also lauded the role of NDRF and SDRF personnel for their all out efforts in rescuing marooned people.

The chief minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary V. K. Pipersenia, Assam State Disaster Management Authority chairman P. K. Tiwari and other senior officials, a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said.

Worst hit The current wave of floods has affected 18 districts with the worst hit being Dhubri, Goalpara, Chirang, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts and claiming 13 lives so far, an official report said here.

The flood has affected a population of 616,000 people with 1,291 villages inundated.

Altogether 260 relief camps

INUNDATED: A woman crosses a flooded area over a raft made of banana tree trunks at Bura Bure in Morigaon district of Assam on Sunday. - PTI

have been opened so far with 1.79 lakh inmates taking shelter in these camps. The chief minister further said the Centre was yet to release a sizeable chunk of funds sought by the state government for infrastructure damages caused by floods last year and has only released Rs380 crore so far.

“We have submitted memoranda to the Central Government, including the prime minister and home minister, but have not received the funds sought by us for huge infrastructure damage caused by floods last year,” he said. -PTI

Cancellation of talks by Pakistan unfortunate, says Rajnath Singh Modi government played into Pakistan’s hands, says Congress

On Pakistan blaming India for the

As far as India’s intention is concerned, I want to make it clear that it is in favour of having good and cordial relationship with its neighbour

cancellation of talks, the Indian home minister said, ‘It is Pakistan which has cancelled the talks and not India’

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI: Cancellation of NSA talks by Pakistan is “unfortunate”, Union Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh said here on Sunday and made it clear that the possibility of any future dialogue will depend on the neighbour.

He underlined that India stands for dialogue and cordial relationship with Pakistan, a day after the talks between NSA Ajit Doval and his counterpart Sartaj Aziz were called off.

“The cancellation of NSA-lvel talks between India and Pakistan is unfortunate. India is in favour of dialogue,” Singh said on the sidelines of a function at Sanskrit Vidyapeeth here.

On Pakistan blaming India for cancellation of talks, the Home Minister said, “It is Pakistan which has cancelled the talks and not India.”

He said that India has always been of the view of maintaining good and cordial relationship

Rajnath Singh Home Minister

with the nighbours and its efforts would continue.

‘Deviated from agenda’ “But Pakistan should not have deviated from the agenda decided during the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (in Ufa, Russia in July),” he said.

On Pakistan’s criticism of India’s objections to Aziz’s meeting with Kashmiri separatist leaders, Singh said, “the thing was that there will be no third party in NSA-level talks. It was only NSA level talk. There was nothing like that others too will hold talks before, later or in between.”

The union minister said Pakistan should have held talks as per pre-decided agenda.

On Pakistan’s claim that Kashmir was the main agenda, the home minister said, “then why was it not decided earlier that when it would be part of NSA level talks? It was never an issue on agenda.”

India has maintained that terror was the only agenda on the talks between the two NSAs. Asked about possibility of any dialogue in future, Singh said, “go and ask Pakistan, how can I reply to it.” On being asked about the next step of India, the home minister said it was upto Pakistan to decide. As far as India’s intention is concerned, I want to make it clear that it is in favour of having good and cordial relationship with its neighbour,” he said.

Singh had said on Saturday that India “sticks to its stand” that dia-

logue must be held only on terrorism at the India-Pakistan NSAlevel talks. Noting that the agenda for the talks was set in Ufa, the minister had said Pakistan must not deviate from it.

“The agenda decided at the talks which took place between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif in Ufa was acceptable to both the sides,” he said.

“India sticks to that agenda and that cannot not be changed,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party on Sunday stood by the Narendra Modi government on the issue of NSA-level talks, saying that Pakistan’s NSA’s insistence on meeting separatistleaders was not right and talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand. - PTI

NEW DELHI: Congress on Sunday charged the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government with having played into the hands of Pakistan on the NSA-level talks issue and giving the neighbouring country an opportunity to wriggle out of a dialogue on terror. “Unfortunately, the Government of India has played into its (Pakistan’s) hands by being imprecise, by being unprepared, by lacking focus, by being ad hoc, by not doing sufficient hard-nosed groundwork, good old-fashioned diplomacy and preparation.

“We are very sad that all the gains of the last 10-odd years on Indo-Pak settlement of at least some issues, are given a setback by such aborted talks.

No such opportunity should have been given to Pakistan to wriggle out of as serious an issue as terror,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said. He said with people scoring debating points across the border after NSA-level talks were aborted by Pakistan on Saturday, it was not a good sight for the solidity of Indian foreign policy, which is based on coherence, continuity and consistency.

“I think the government needs to get its house in order.

It needs to make sure that mul-

tiple agencies which suddenly appear to have started making Indian foreign policy, either the multiplicity is eliminated or complete unity and coherence are introduced in all those multiple agencies to speak through one agency and in one voice,” he said.

He lamented that the vissisitudes of Indian domestic policy should not have allowed to make a mockery of India’s status in the world due to its proud democratic status and its humongous economic power. “We deprecate the ham-handed manner in which several aspects which I have elaborated have been handled by the government,” Singhvi said. Attacking Pakistan, he said it is clear and certain that it wants to run away from all issues relating to terrorism as it does not want any discussion on any issue or exchange of information, particularly on those serious matters on which it can be cornered. He said it is also certain that Pakistan is again trying to divert, bring new issues as it has been doing so in the past and it has done so now too. “Certainly, Pakistan’s goal is very clear. We condemn it,” the Congress leader said, adding that Pakistan is clearly using the refuge of technicalities to avoid talk on terror. - PTI

D ATA

Delhi becomes more dangerous as law and order deteriorates NEW DELHI: The law and order situation is deteriorating in the national capital, Delhi Police crime figures for the first seven months of 2015 indicate.

In fact, the number of cases recorded (106,422) breaks a 15-year record for the months of January to July.

But police says the data does not indicate “the city is becoming more dangerous”.

The number of snatching, robbery and rape cases registered by Delhi Police have witnessed an increase over the figures for the corresponding period last year.

Police data shows a 35 per cent, 28 per cent and two per cent increase in the number of snatching, robbery and rape cases over the last year’s figures for January

1 to July 31. When contacted, senior Delhi Police officers refused to comment, but asserted offthe-record that it was the police’s proactive approach in registering criminal cases that was behind the spurt in numbers and not any real increase in crime.

Police’s positive attitude “The data does not indicate that the city is becoming more dangerous. More victims are encouraged to register criminal cases because of the police’s positive attitude,” a Delhi Police officer said, requesting anonymity.

“The image of police has changed. Now people do not hesitate to approach police stations and we register each and every case. That is why the numbers of

cases are on the rise in Delhi,” he said. A total of 106,422 cases were registered in Delhi between January 1 and July 31 as compared to 84,472 cases in the corresponding period in 2014.

Of this, the number of heinous crimes registered in the city was 6,345, about 900 more than the cases registered in the same period in 2014. The capital reported 5,532 snatching, 4,219 robberies and 1,222 rapes in 2015 compared to 4,078 snatchings, 3,291 robberies and 1,196 rapes in the corresponding period of 2014.

Attempt to murder with 431 cases, incidents of riot with 71 cases, murder with 325 cases, dacoity with 52 cases and kidnapping for ransom with 25 cases are the other five general crimes which belie the

Delhi Police’s claims of making Delhi safer for its citizens.

In 2013, the city had registered 4,159 heinous crimes while the number of such cases registered in 2012 was 2,402.

The city had registered 2,171 cases in 2011 and 2,085 in 2010.

A total of 2,027 cases of heinous crime were registered in 2009 compared to 2,069 cases registered in 2008.

There was a slight soar in such crimes registered in 2007 with 2,325 cases and 2,283 cases registered in 2006.

A total of 2,210 such cases were registered in 2005 and in 2004 it was noted 2,137. In 2003, 2002, and 2001 the number of heinous crime was 1,960, 2,094 and 2,316 respectively. - IANS

RISING CRIME GRAPH: Commuters seen on Rajpath in New Delhi on Sunday. A total of 106,422 cases were registered in Delhi between January 1 and July 31 as compared to 84,472 cases in the corresponding period in 2014. - PTI

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INDIA ONE RANK ONE PENSION

THREE MILITANTS KILLED IN ENCOUNTER Security personnel inspect the arms and ammunition recovered from the three militants who were killed during an encounter in Khumhair forests of Handwara district of Indian-administered-Kashmir on Sunday. The encounter began on Saturday night after troops launched a search operation in Khumhair forests of Handwara tehsil, following information about the presence of the militants, an army official said. ‘Three terrorists have been killed while one soldier has sustained injuries during the operation,’ the official said. - PTI

Minister’s daughter joins agitation by ex-servicemen NEW DELHI: Indian Union Minister Gen (retd) V. K. Singh’s daughter on Sunday joined the agitation of ex-servicemen here to express support to their “just” demand on the long-pending ‘One Rank One Pension (OROP)’ and suggested that her father, former army chief, should also do so.

Mrinalini Singh, who is wife of a serving Army officer, joined the protest at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday morning.

“This is a just cause and the matter has been pending for many years. I have come here as the daughter of an ex-serviceman to give support to the veterans who have served the country but are now protesting for their rights for over two months,” she said .

Asked if her father, Minister of State for External Affairs Singh, had approved of her joining the protest since he is serving in the government, she said, “I have not sought his permission and neither do I need his permission.”

She said she had come straight

R A J I V G A N D H I C H A R I TA B L E T R U S T

Congress rubbishes Smriti Irani’s land grab allegations AMETHI (UP): Attacking Rahul Gandhi on his home turf, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday questioned the alleged sale of land meant for a bicycle factory here to a trust run by his family but the Congress dismissed her “land grab” allegation as “wild and baseless”.

Calling the Congress Vice President a “liar”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, who was addressing a rally here, claimed that Gandhi family had failed to deliver on their development promises to Amethi, which had to wait for all these years to get a rail line.

She claimed that 65 acres of farmers’ land, which was acquired for setting up Samrat Bicycles factory, was sold to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust on February 24 this year.

“Narendara Modi is not a liar but Rahul is. Grabbing 65 acres of farmers’ land in Amethi is a proof of it,” she said.

“Sixty five acres of farmers’ land was acquired for (bicycle) factory in the 80s. Did the factory come up, did anyone get job, what happened to the land? “...No one can dare to speak... but it is on stamp paper. The land was bought by Rajiv Gandhi Trust.”

Hitting out at Rahul, Irani later told reporters that the Congress Vice President has been saying on land bill that he will not let anyone take an inch of farmers’ land.

“He is indicating perhaps that that he wants to take the land for himself. The documents are in public domain,” she said.

Terming the allegations as “absolutely wild and baseless”, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, “I don’t understand the connection between the closure of Samrat bicycles and the purchasing and auction under court orders.” He said it showed “utterly irresponsibility” that a Union

Full faith She added that she has full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has promised the One Rank One Pension.

“Our previous governments have been promising to do something. This government looks committed towards fulfilling it. So I hope it fulfils it,” Mrinalini said.

Asked whether her father should also join the protest, she said, “I am going to meet him.

I will definitely ask him to come and join the protest.”

Ex-servicemen and their kin have been protesting for the implementation of ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme for the last over two months and are likely to meet prime minister next week to press for early implementation of their demand. - PTI

8-10 per cent growth is achievable: Jaitley Reiterating Modi’s view that the country would not grow unless the eastern states prospered, the finance minister

ON THE OFFENSIVE: Federal

HRD Minister Smriti Irani addresses a function on Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana in Amethi on Sunday. - PTI

said that political

Minister should have levelled such allegations.

In her address, HRD Minister Irani took potshots at Rahul over his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying “reading a 1.5 minutes address and talking about suit-boot is easy, but why does he shy away from open debate. If he can debate for one and a half hour, it will come to fore who is right and who is wrong.”

“Instead of taking Modi’s name, Rahul should think about road, education, employment and other issues. Our struggle in Amethi will continue till Gandhi family is ousted from here,” Irani said claiming that the work which Congress failed to do in 60 years was done by BJP in past one year.

“Gandhi family has been promising a railway line in Amethi since three generations. Even though the Congress has not been able to do anything, today I can say with pride that in the last Rail Budget, the budget for the railway line from Sultanpur-Amethi Unchahar has been accepted for the first time under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” she said. - PTI

Congress would not

differences between BJP and Trinamool come in the way of the development of West Bengal

KOLKATA: Amidst global slowdown, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday expressed confidence that 8-10 per cent growth rate is achievable on the back on increased investment and right mix of policies.

“I do believe it is (8 per cent and above growth) achievable... if we take right steps in right direction and hopefully we don’t have too many adverse global trend. It could be reasonably achievable.

In order to achieve it is extremely important that we open ourselves for investments,” he said.

In his address at the Indian Chamber of Commerce event here, Jaitley said roadmap for phasing out of exemptions to corporate will be announced soon.

India has to accept that higher

S H O R T FA L L I N D O M E S T I C O U T P U T

Robbers target onion shop in Mumbai, flee with 14 sacks MUMBAI: As onion prices hit the roof, robbers targeted a shop in suburban Mumbai and fled with 700kg of kitchen staple worth about Rs50,000, leaving the shocked owner in tears.

Fourteen sacks of onion were stolen from a shop of 55-yearold vegetable vendor Anant Naik at Prateeksha Nagar in Wadala apparently between Friday night and Saturday morning, police said.

“The sacks containing about 700kg of onions got stolen,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni said.

“Naik had covered his stock of onions at around 9.30pm on Friday and left for home. When he returned on Saturday morning,

from Hisar in Haryana “because I feel for the cause. A few years down the line, I will also become the wife of an ex-serviceman.”

STEEP RISE: Activists protest against the hike of onion price, at a park in Varanasi on Friday. - PTI

700 kg of onions kept in 14 sacks were missing,” he told the police.

The stolen onion stock was estimated to be worth Rs50,000, police said. A case has been registered in this regard under IPC section 379 (theft) at Wadala

TT police station, they added.

The wholesale onion prices on Saturday touched Rs57 per kg at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, Asia’s biggest onion market, raising the possibility of further spike in retail prices in most parts of the country adding to consumers’ woes.

In the price-sensitive Delhi market and some other parts of the country, retail onion prices have already gone up to Rs 80 per kg depending on the quality of the crop. In spite of several government measures, the prices of onion have increased unabated both in the wholesale and retail markets in the last few weeks due to tight supply following shortfall in domestic output. - PTI

CONFIDENT: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley addresses a seminar on ‘Vision India 2020’ organised by India Chamber of commerce, in Kolkata on Sunday. - PTI

direct taxes are not in larger interest of the economy, he said.

“I have announced in Budget with effect from next year over next few years I will bring down the rate of corporate tax from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. I stand by that commitment. Simultaneously, even though the rate is 30 per cent the effective rate is 22. The reason is there are as large number of exemptions,” he said.

So, slowly a number of these exemptions are going to be phased out, he said.

“Very, shortly I will be putting the first set of exemption to be phased out in public domain for discussion. And therefore returns will become simpler,” he said.

On growth potential he said, even between 6-8 per cent growth, the thinking India believes that this is not our potential.

The entire battle in terms of policy battle is to evolve ourselves

from this 6-8 per cent growth to 8 per cent growth upwards towards a double digit.”

Meanwhile, reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view that the country would not grow unless the eastern states prospered, finance minister said political differences between BJP and Trinamool Congress will not come in the way of development of West Bengal.

In the state capital here to inaugurate Bandhan Bank, the senior member of the BJP-led NDA Cabinet also lamented the “obsolete policies” of the past which, he said, should be done away with.

“Political differences will continue. But for the development of the state, that will not matter,” Jaitley said as he repeated the Prime Minister’s call for increased economic activity in the eastern states.

“Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,

Odisha and West Bengal need more economic activity,” he said, adding that West Bengal and Odisha have mineral and other natural resources, which are the fundamentals for growth.

“Breaking with some of the policies of the past and realising the potential is important,” he said, assuring that the Centre and the states would cooperate towards that end.

Jaitley also said that West Bengal, like other coal-producing states, would receive benefits arising from the coal auction and would have the fullest support of the Centre. Referring to the manufacturing sector in Bengal, he said at another event that the state government would have to be manufacturing-friendly like the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. He also felt that the industry set-up in West Bengal needed to be incentivised. - PTI

A 10

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

PAKISTAN I N T E L L I G E N C E O P E R AT I O N

LIVING DANGEROUSLY

Kidnapped Chinese cyclist freed after a year

Technicians fix cables on a power transmission tower in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: A Chinese tourist who was kidnapped in Pakistan by the Taliban more than a year ago has been freed, Pakistan’s interior minister said on Sunday.

“He was handed over to us late last night... Today, after a while, maybe after one or one-and-a-half hours, we will hand him over to the Chinese embassy,” Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters.

The Chinese man, who had been cycling through Pakistan, was abducted last May near the western city of Dera Ismail Khan.

A senior Pakistani Taliban commander, Abdullah Bahar, told Reuters soon after the kidnapping that the man was in the extremist militants’ custody.

Khan gave few details about the Chinese man’s recovery other than saying it was the result of an intelligence operation and the culmination of more than a year of effort by the Pakistani government.

Kidnappings are rising in Pakistan, although it is unusual for Chinese to be targeted. Gunmen earlier in 2014 shot dead six guards protecting a Spanish round-theworld cyclist in a remote area of western Pakistan. He escaped unhurt. China is a key ally of Pakistan and in May launched a plan for infrastructure investments there worth $46 billion. — Reuters INSURGENCY

Militants firing from Afghanistan kill 4 soldiers ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said militants firing from Afghan territory killed four of its soldiers along the border on Sunday, as tensions continued to rise between the neighbours.

Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Afghan ambassador later on Sunday to protest and demand an investigation.

Afghanistan and Pakistan accuse each other of doing too little to prevent Taliban fighters and other extremist militants from operating on their territory.

The Pakistani army’s press wing said four soldiers had “embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)” and four others had been wounded by mortars fired across the Afghan border in the 8,000 foot (2,400 metre)high Akhandwala Pass.

“Pakistani troops befittingly responded and eliminated the group of terrorists,” the statement said.

Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai was summoned for the second time in a week by the Pakistani government and told “such incidents do not augur well for the positive trajectory of relations,” a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Afghanistan recently accused Pakistan of not doing enough to arrest Afghan Taliban leaders who have been meeting to decide on a successor to the group’s founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, whose death was confirmed last month.

Kabul officials say the Taliban are meeting semi-openly in Pakistan. Islamabad insists any such meetings are held in Afghanistan. — Reuters

PTI chief Imran threatens sit-in against election body Imran Khan, in a six-page letter to the Election Commission of Pakistan chief, had asked the body to take action against those responsible for failures, breaches, and ‘illegalities’ in elections 2013

LAHORE: While celebrating the election tribunal’s verdict on National Assembly’s NA-122 seat as his party’s victory, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has warned that his party will stage another sit-in outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) if the poll body fails to respond to his July 30 letter.

Imran Khan, in a six-page letter to the ECP chief Sardar Raza Khan, had asked the commission to take action against those responsible for failures, breaches, and ‘illegalities’ in elections 2013.

The PTI chief had cited various sections of the report by the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which, according to him, had found “serious, systematic and pervasive

VINDICATED: Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, centre, addresses supporters during protest rally against the country’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz-led government in Islamabad on August 16, 2014. — AFP file photo

failures and breaches by the ECP.” “This time we will stage a dharna that will overshadow our previous 126-day long sit-in against the (alleged) rigging in May 2013 polls,” Imran said, while addressing his party workers at Zaman Park on Saturday evening.

Flanked by the party’s bigwigs, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Jehnagir Khan Tareen, Chaudhry Sarwar, Aleem Khan and Shoaib Siddiqi, the PTI chief also announced that they would contest the by-

A G I TAT I O N

election only after ‘fake umpires’ are removed. He said his party and its workers had carried out a long struggle to ensure transparency in elections. “Our purpose was to bring a democratic system in Pakistan which protects the sanctity of vote of every citizen of this country” he said.

Referring to the decision, he directly addressed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz stalwart and Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq who lost his candidacy after the tribunal

declared the election at NA-122 constituency null and said that he did not held any personal grudges against Sadiq.

“I don’t feel happy and I understand your pain but my purpose was to ensure fair and transparent elections,” he said, adding that with ‘two wickets down’, the party was looking forward to the fall of the ‘third wicket’ next week.

The real decision, he said, would come when the ECP would answers his letter written after the Joint Commission’s report, add-

ing that despite passage of three weeks the election commission had not responded to his letter. “I am giving it two more weeks after which I will stage a sit-in outside the ECP,” he said.

A triumphant Imran Khan took to criticising the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said if he had agreed to recounting in four constituencies, as demanded by the PTI earlier, so much time could have been saved. “It is my right and the responsibility of the ECP to provide us justice,” he added.

He also lambasted the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) and its chairman for ‘their role’ in the entire process.

“Chairman of NADRA should be ashamed today,” he said, “he was being paid by taxpayers and not the PML-N”.

He said despite being the chief of a political party it took him two and a half years and Rs2.6 million to get justice from NADRA. “If it took me this long time then imagine what would have happened to an ordinary citizen?”

He also lashed out at the ECP for its alleged nexus with the PML-N and involvement in rigging of the 2013 general elections.

Terming it ‘a fixed match’, he said PML-N had used returning officers in Punjab to rig the elections.

He said the ECP should have resigned by now.

He said the ECP had lost the trust of the people. “Will this tainted ECP hold local government elections in Punjab?

The same ECP against which 22 parties expressed reservations?”

— Express Tribune

STREET CRICKET

MQM launches ‘movement for separate province’ KARACHI: Along with the decision to break talks with the government and not withdraw resignations, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has officially announced the launch of its movement for a separate province.

Senior leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that they have publicly announced a movement for a separate province in lower Sindh early on Saturday. “We are now focusing on getting a separate province and we will start mobilising people.”

The MQM will not hold any negotiations with the government and will not return to the assemblies, a press release stated on Saturday.

Last week, the MQM quit the Senate and the National and Sindh assemblies, citing their reservations over the ongoing targeted operation in Karachi.

They had claimed that they were being victimised.

However, a few days later, the party agreed to talks with the government-appointed mediator, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who came to Nine Zero on Tuesday.

On Rehman’s invitation, the party agreed to hold further talks with the government in Islamabad.

However, the premier’s visit to Karachi on Thursday and the cold shoulder he extended to the MQM made its leaders rethink their de-

cision. “We have refused any talks.

There will be no talks. The prime minister did not utter a single word regarding the MQM’s issues and reservations, and we feel the government is not serious.”

The MQM is now focusing on a separate province but, Sattar admitted, the party has yet to think of a demarcation.

It will consist of lower Sindh and constitute urban parts of the province, he added.

MQM Rabita Committee member Aminul Haque said that they will hold consultations with the people of Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabashah. — Express Tribune

HAVING FUN: A boy hits a ball while playing cricket along with others on a street in Karachi, Pakistan, on Sunday. — Reuters

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

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ASIA

VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

Malaysia finds more graves near border with Thailand The new graves were found on Saturday near the peak of a hill surrounded by jungle terrain and along the Thai border, not too far from the graves unearthed in May, Perlis police chief Shafie Ismail was quoted as saying by Bernama, the country’s official news agency

Koreas resume talks to resolve border crisis

KEEPING VIGIL: South Korean marines patrol along a bank of a shore on Yeonpyeong island just south of Northern Limit Line (NLL), South Korea, on Sunday. -Reuters

South Korean defence ministry said the North had doubled its artillery units at the border and deployed two-thirds of its total submarine fleet

SEOUL: North and South Korea on Sunday resumed top-level talks on avoiding a threatened military clash, even as Seoul accused Pyongyang of undermining the process with provocative naval and land deployments.

The South Korean defence ministry said the North had doubled its artillery units at the border and deployed two-thirds of its total submarine fleet -- or around 50 vessels -- outside their bases.

“The North is adopting a twofaced stance with the talks going on,” said a ministry spokesman who described the scale of the sub movement as “unprecedented”.

“We take the situation very seriously,” he added. The discussions at the border truce village of Panmunjom resumed in the afternoon

after a marathon negotiating session the night before. Analysts saw the decision to keep talking as a positive sign, with the presidential Blue House in Seoul saying the two sides would “continue to narrow down differences”.

But the gaps to be bridged are daunting, with both militaries on maximum alert and flexing their weaponry across a border that has already seen one exchange of artillery fire. While the North moves around subs and artillery units, South Korean and US fighter jets have been carrying out simulated bombing sorties not far from the border. Pyongyang is threatening a concerted military attack unless Seoul switches off banks of loudspeakers that have been blasting high-decibel propaganda messages into North Korea for the past week.

Apology demand Seoul says Pyongyang must first apologise for landmine explosions that maimed two members of a border patrol earlier this month.

It activated the loudspeakers in retaliation. The North denies any role in those blasts and is extremely unlikely to apologise, while the South will not accept a compromise that might be seen to reward Pyongyang’s belligerence.

“The two sides may be able to come up with a statement in which some sort of ‘regret’ is expressed without explicitly naming the

North,” said Jeung Young-Tae, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

“But I don’t think such a vague statement will work this time,” Jeung said, stressing that the case of the maimed soldiers -- both of whom lost legs -- had become an emotional issue in the South.

“So I think the best outcome of this meeting will be an agreement for another high-level meeting in the future, such as defence ministerial talks,” he added.

That would leave open the issue of the propaganda broadcasts, which Seoul has vowed to continue in the face of an ultimatum from Pyongyang to desist or face military action.

The negotiations in Panmunjom, where the 1950-53 Korean War ceasefire was signed, are being led by South Korean national security adviser Kim Kwan-Jin and his North Korean counterpart Hwang Pyong-So -- a close confidant of leader Kim Jong-Un. Wide discussions They are the highest-level interKorean talks for nearly a year -- a reflection of the seriousness of the situation. “The two sides had wide-ranging discussions on ways to settle the recently-developed situation and to improve interKorean relations down the road,” South Korean presidential spokesman Min Kyung-Wook said after the night-long first session. -AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police said on Sunday they had found 24 human skeletons — all believed to be victims of trafficking — in newly discovered graves along the Thai border in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis.

The latest gruesome discovery comes after police found 139 graves and 28 abandoned “detention” camps capable of housing hundreds of people in May, laying bare the grim extent of the region’s migrant crisis.

The new graves were found on Saturday near the peak of a hill A F G H A N I S TA N

Three NATO contractors killed in blast were US citizens KABUL: Three U.S. contractors were among 12 killed by a Kabul bomb that targeted their NATO convoy, the US-led coalition said, making the attack one of the most lethal for US citizens in Afghanistan in recent years.

The suicide attack outside a hospital on a residential street at rush hour killed mainly Afghan civilians and injured scores more, heightening the anger felt in Kabul after a barrage of deadly blasts this month killed dozens. The attacker drove his car towards an armoured pickup truck belonging to contractor DynCorp International which was torn open and left twisted and blackened by the blast.

Dozens of vehicles were destroyed, including a school van. One US contractor died when the bomb exploded, and two died from their wounds, the NATO coalition known as Resolute Support said late on Saturday. It did not name them.

The US embassy in Kabul condemned the bombing.

Committed “The United States remains committed to assisting our Afghan partners in their efforts to ensure a peaceful future,” it said in a statement. Contractors such as DynCorp, which has a long involvement in the war and provided bodyguards for the last president, have frequently been targeted. Four US DynCorp employees were killed in a similar Kabul suicide attack in 2013.

The UN mission in Afghanistan called for an “immediate halt to all such disproportionate attacks” in civilian-populated areas. Fighting killed 5,000 civilians in the first half of this year, more than at any point since war started in 2001.

The violence has strained Afghanistan’s ties with Pakistan, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accusing the neighbouring country of not doing enough to stop militants planning attacks from training camps that he says lie across the border. No group has claimed responsibility. Security sources said the contractors worked for DynCorp International. The US company, which provides training, security and aviation maintenance to the NATO mission and the Afghan military, confirmed it was the target. -Reuters

surrounded by jungle terrain and along the Thai border, not too far from the graves unearthed in May, Perlis police chief Shafie Ismail was quoted as saying by Bernama, the country’s official news agency.

“It is believed that heavy rain had eroded the graves,” he said.

Fleeing persecution After May’s unearthing, the remains of 106 people were exhumed, mostly believed to be Muslim Rohingya fleeing persecution in Myanmar, as well as Bangladeshis seeking better opportu-

nities abroad. Mass graves were also discovered on the Thai side of the border.

The Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar, have for many years being seeking to escape what they say is worsening persecution by the country’s Buddhist majority population.

Fleeing abroad by the thousands each year, they typically put their lives in the hands of often brutal smugglers and traffickers who arrange a perilous passage by sea and land, usually destined for Muslimmajority Malaysia. -AFP

DISASTER

Typhoon Goni weakens, heads towards Japan MANILA: A weakened Typhoon Goni was headed towards Japan on Sunday, after leaving at least 10 dead in the northern Philippines and causing thousands of people to be evacuated in Taiwan.

By Sunday afternoon the storm was 240 kilometres ((149 miles) east of Taiwan’s capital Taipei and was moving north at 19 miles an hour, the island’s Central Weather Bureau said.

The Philippines was hit hardest by the storm, which triggered landslides and floods -- killing at least 10 and leaving 17 missing in the north of the main island of Luzon. “Pre-emptive evacuations have been conducted in most of the areas but sad to note, some of the areas did not do a preemptive (evacuation) and some did real-time evacuation when the event was already starting to happen,” said Alexander Pama, the country’s civil defence chief.

The 17 people missing were from a small mining community that was buried by landslides, police in the area said.

Although the Philippine weather station said most of the danger had now passed, 40 evacuation centres are still operational with over 4,000 people housed inside, said Tess Briones, disaster response chief at the social welfare department.

In the northern province of Ilocos Norte, an island town in the middle of a river had its bridge destroyed, leaving about 730 families stranded, officials said.

The storm is the ninth out of an average of 20 that hit the Philippines each year.

Moving northwards Goni weakened as it moved northwards off Taiwan’s east coast, but the authorities warned of heavy rainfall with particular concern for areas left damaged and waterlogged by Typhoon Soudelor earlier this month.

Thousands were evacuated from outlying islands and mountainous areas as a precaution, including 1,500 from the hot spring region of Wulai just outside Taipei, which was devastated by Soudelor. Wulai residents had piled large sandbags along the river to prevent flooding, with the area already receiving 130 millimetres (five inches) of rainfall in the last two days as Goni approached.

Some have been unable to return home since Soudelor due to

SEEKING SAFETY: A woman hikes up a mountain overlooking a landslide caused by Typhoon Goni, that damaged a portion of Kennon Road, in Baguio city in northern Philippines, on Sunday. -Reuters

blocked roads. “We all would love to go home as early as possible,” one evacuee from a tiny village in Wulai, who gave her name as Yukyu, told AFP Sunday.

She is one of 80 Wulai residents who have been living in a temporary shelter in Taipei for more than two weeks, bedding down on the floor in sleeping bags. “But any further rains could trigger landslides,” she said.

Ahead of the typhoon, 1,700 tourists were also evacuated from outlying tourist destinations, bringing the total number of evacuees to almost 4,000. Authorities warned people not to visit coastal areas due to towering waves. By Sunday afternoon, however, some evacuees were returning home as the storm moved away from Taiwan and there were no reports of serious damage. “The radius of the storm slightly contracted...and the trend is expected to go on,” the Central Weather Bureau said in a statement.

Goni was expected to move near a remote Japanese island chain called the Sakishima Islands by Sunday evening, according to the Japan Meterological Agency. The agency has issued high wave and strong wind warnings for the islands which are part of Okinawa prefecture.

The storm is expected to move toward Japan’s main islands in the coming days. -AFP

POLITICS

Nepal police arrest 30 for protesting against new constitution KATHMANDU: Nepalese police arrested 30 demonstrators in the capital on Sunday for trying to enforce a nationwide strike, the latest in a string of protests against the new constitution.

“We have arrested 30 demonstrators in Kathmandu for trying to block roads, vandalise vehicles and close shops,” police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam told AFP. The protesters were from Nepal’s Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, which called a nationwide strike against borders of new provinces proposed in the draft constitution.

Nepal’s bickering parties struck a breakthrough deal earlier this month to carve the country into six provinces in a new constitution, since modified to include a seventh province. But hundreds of

demonstrators have campaigned against the proposed internal borders, saying they fail to ensure political representation for marginalised communities, including the Madhesis and Tharus.

The demonstrations have sparked clashes with police who have shot dead three people in Nepal’s midwest and south over the last two weeks. Lawmakers from the Sadbhawana Party, which represents Madhesis from southern Nepal, walked out of the constituent assembly on Tuesday saying they had been “reduced to helpless witnesses” in the political process.

Following the unrest Nepal’s political leaders revised the sixprovince model, adding a seventh province in the new draft, but the changes have failed to appease

marginalised communities.

“This draft constitution does not ensure the rights of indigenous communities,” said Himal Dandu Sherpa, vice chairman of the federation of indigenous nationalities.

“The proposed demarcation breaks up home districts of indigenous groups in different provinces. That is not acceptable,” Sherpa added.

Political agreement on the borders was struck four months after April’s devastating earthquake helped bring a halt to the seemingly endless bickering between rival parties.

Uncertainty from the political wrangling had left the impoverished Himalayan nation in limbo.

Work on a new national constitution began in 2008 following a decade-long Maoist insurgency. -AFP

NOT ACCEPTABLE: Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities protesters chant slogans as they march during a strike against the new constitution, in Kathmandu on Sunday. -AFP

A12

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Taking IS group dirty bomb threat seriously

Photo: Marwah Al Raisi

A

mid a campaign of terror that has included beheadings and suicide bombings, recent reports from the Middle East that IS extremists may now have stolen enough material for a radioactive “dirty bomb” are chilling — but should not be shocking.

This new threat originates overseas, but the potential for disaster posed by dangerous radiological materials here at home is just as serious. Radiological materials used in medical equipment and scientific research are at risk.

Concerns have been brewing for years because the very same isotopes that can make life-saving blood transfusions and cancer treatments possible — such as cesium-137,cobalt-60 and iridium-192 — could be used to build a bomb that would spread radioactive material and contaminate significant portions of a major US city. We are exposed, and the clock is ticking.

Unlike a nuclear weapon, a radioactive dirty bomb would not cause catastrophic levels of death and injury, but depending on its chemistry, form and location, it could leave billions of dollars in damage due to the costs of evacuation, relocation and cleanup — and the inevitable follow-on threats could have severe economic and psychological repercussions. Buildings would likely have to be demolished and the debris removed. Access to a contaminated area could be denied for years as a site is cleaned well enough to meet even minimum environmental guidelines for protecting the public.

The materials that could be used to wreak such havoc are dispersed across thousands of sites in more than 100 countries, and many of them are poorly secured. Concerns about the IS are a powerful reminder of what’s at stake — and should provide impetus for governments, the medical community and industry globally to immediately secure all such materials or replace them with alternative technologies.

At home, there are a number of steps we should put on the front burner: First, although securing the materials is crucial, a better option exists for some isotopes that would result in permanent threat reduction.

Thanks to recent technological advances, it is no longer necessary to use one of the most

dangerous materials, cesium-137, in medical and scientific equipment. Cesium-based blood irradiators at hospitals can and should be replaced with technologies approved by the Food and Drug Administration that don’t use radiological material but achieve equivalent medical outcomes. All hospitals should replace these irradiators to reduce their risks and potential liability if their dangerous materials harm others.

Second, liability and insurance gaps must be carefully reviewed by those possessing and responsible for the security of radiological sources. A hospital, for instance, could be financially devastated if required to pay huge damages in the wake of a dirty bomb attack using its materials, unless the hospital specifically has insurance that covers such losses. Hospital officials should evaluate their current coverage and likely will find that eliminating their radioactive sources is more cost-efficient than paying high premiums for expanded coverage and funding proper security.

Third, we need to strengthen the regulatory framework for the security of radiological sources. As noted in a 2012 Government Accountability Office report, security requirements put forth by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are too broadly written. The NRC should provide medical facilities with specific steps they must take to develop and sustain a more effective security programme.

Fourth, states should immediately be allowed to go beyond a federal minimum security standard if they choose. As it stands, even if a state wants to voluntarily increase security for its radiological sources beyond federal minimums, the NRC regulations don’t allow it.

Finally, the international community should do more. Last year, 23 countries at the Nuclear Security Summit agreed to secure their most dangerous radioactive materials. Other countries should join this pledge.

Given the stated interest by terrorist groups and the widespread availability of potentially dangerous radiological sources, it is nothing short of a miracle that we have not yet seen a dirty bomb terrorist attack. We must act before our luck runs out. - Special to The Washington Post

READERS’ FORUM Let us drive responsibly and keep our roads safe The Royal Oman Police (ROP) advice to motorists, through social media, to be attentive and careful of the additional traffic in residential and school zones on the school reopening day was welcome. The ROP was correct to point out that roads will be safe only if everyone plays his part. Callous attitude, even for a second, can claim lives on the roads. Let us drive responsibly and keep our roads safe.

— Raees Badir, Salalah

Bolt beating Gatlin in Beijing was truly a photo finish

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

I have just realised why I dislike selfies. There is a huge gap between what the sender intends (to include you in the fun) and the receiver receives (excluded from the fun). It’s not like a postcard — a mass-produced picture whereby the sender shows his location bit.ly/oppositiontoselfies

I was waiting anxiously on Sunday for the 100m men’s final in Beijing where my all-time favourite runner Ussain Bolt won the fastest man’s title. As anticipated, he won the title even though it was by the narrowest margin and he once again proved that injuries cannot slow him down. Beating Justin Gatlin, who had been unbeaten in 28 races before the Beijing final, with a margin of by 0.01 seconds, was truly a photo finish.

— Alan Chikwa, Muscat

Hope North and South Korea avoid an immediate collision

It is a big relief to read that senior officials from North and South Korea were on Sunday holding their second day of talks meant to pull the rivals back from the brink. Even as analysts in Seoul wonder if the two countries stand too far apart to expect a quick agreement, I hope that the meeting offers a way for the rivals to avoid an immediate collision. — Zohoor Butt, Mabella

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AUGUST 2000 Coordination is essential for oil price stability: Romhi MUSCAT: Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Romhi, minister of oil and gas, said yesterday that coordination between all oil producing countries, whether Opec members or not, was essential for the stability of international crude oil prices. “The main objective of the Sultanate in its role as an oil producer is the stability of prices in the world markets,” Romhi told the local Arabic daily Al Watan.

From July 1 to August 23, 2015

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TODAY IN HISTORY

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1642 Civil war in England begins as Charles I declares war on Parliament at Nottingham.

Protect the welfare of your workforce through New India’s WORKMEN COMPENSATION POLICY.

1849: The Portuguese governor of Macao, China, is assassinated because of his anti-Chinese policies.

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1945: Soviet troops land at Port Arthur and Dairen on the Kwantung Peninsula in China.

1989: First complete ring around Neptune discovered.

July 1

July 22 Source: Muscat Securities Market

August 23

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

30,000

A13

WORLD

American firefighters and support staff are battling the blazes, supported by personnel from Canada and the US military

Australia, New Zealand firefighters head to US to battle deadly blazes Australian authorities said 71 firefighters, including 15 from New Zealand, were flying to the worst-hit state of Idaho and are also being deployed to the affected states of Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and California

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SYDNEY: Dozens of firefighters from Australia and New Zealand departed for the United States Sunday to help crews battle deadly blazes that have scorched the country’s drought-ravaged west.

Seventy-one firefighters, including 15 from New Zealand, were flying to the worst-hit state of Idaho and are also being deployed to the affected states of Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho and California, Australian authorities said.

Challenging conditions They will face challenging conditions that have already claimed the lives of three firefighters in Washington, with large blazes burning across nine other states covering some 526,000 hectares.

“They’ve had a lot of different fires burning, so trying to get con-

IN FLAMES: A makeshift fire truck puts water on a wildfire, which is part of the Okanogan Complex, as it burns through brush on Saturday near Omak, Washington. More than 60 firefighters from Australia and around 15 from New Zealand will join their US counterparts as large wildfires are currently blazing across 10 US states, with active fires burning some 1.3 million acres (526,000 hectares). - AFP

tainment on some of the fires... that’s going to be the key,” New South Wales state’s Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said.

“Our firefighters are a mixture of people who have been there before and new people, so it will be challenging for them but we are confident they will be well-

JA PA N ’ S N O B U K A Z U K U R I K I

Nobukazu Kuriki, 33, of Tokyo will make a solo attempt on the 8,850-metre Everest summit along the normal Southeast Ridge route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, the Nepal government said May killed 8,900 people in Nepal, including scores of climbers and foreign trekkers.

About 400 foreign climbers who were at the Everest base camp at the time of the earthquakes were forced to abandon their attempt after avalanches destroyed their route through the Khumbu Icefall and sherpas said the slopes were too dangerous to climb.

Thousands of tourists and trekkers, a key source of income for the impoverished Himalayan country, headed home and many hotels and trekking agencies said they had seen heavy cancellations. — Reuters

NOTORIOUS GANG

El Salvador jail riot kills 14 SAN SALVADOR: At least 14 inmates were killed in an El Salvador jail on Saturday when violence erupted between two factions of a notorious gang, an official said.

The killings at Quezaltepeque prison, about 30 kilometers north of the capital San Salvador, were linked to an internal dispute involving the feared Barrio 18 gang, a spokesman for the presidency said. The prison was placed on

the US for about a month, working up to 14 hours a day for 14 days straight before a two-day break and another 14-day deployment.

The firefighters will be involved in efforts on the frontline, in the air and be part of management teams.

“Their logistics skills will be in high demand, especially managing aircraft to fight fires and ferry sup-

plies to remote locations,” Kevin O’Connor of New Zealand’s National Rural Fire Authority said in a statement.

“They are likely to be working in rugged, mountainous terrain, which will make for a demanding deployment, especially in the very high temperatures gripping those states at the moment.”

US President Barack Obama Friday declared a wildfire emergency in Washington, which will release federal funds to help relief efforts in the state.

Almost 30,000 American firefighters and support staff are battling the blazes, supported by personnel from Canada and the US military. - AFP

BOKO HARAM SUSPECTS

First climber to attempt Everest since earthquake KATHMANDU: A Japanese climber will be the first to attempt to scale Mount Everest since a massive earthquake in April triggered avalanches that killed 18 climbers, shutting an industry that feeds thousands of people across Nepal.

Nobukazu Kuriki, 33, of Tokyo will make a solo attempt on the 8,850-metre (29,035 feet) Everest summit along the normal Southeast Ridge route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953, the Nepal government said on Sunday.

“I have chosen to come now to help Nepal, which is in troubles because of the earthquake,” Kuriki told reporters.

Kuriki will climb in the autumn season that starts next month, which is not usually popular among climbers because of extreme cold and shorter periods of daylight.

“Kuriki is climbing at a time when there is confusion in the world about the safety in Nepal after the earthquake,” Nepal’s tourism minister Kripasur Sherpa said after handing out the climbing permit.

“This will be an example for other visitors to come to Nepal which is safe for mountain climbing.”

Two earthquakes in April and

enough trained to deal with those challenges.”

Under an exchange programme, Australian firefighters have been sent to the United States 11 times since 2000. A different contingent recently returned from Canada after fighting wildfires in the country’s southwest. Rogers said the crews were expected to stay in

lockdown and security ramped up, as about 50 people with relatives in the jail descended on the facility demanding to know the identities of the dead. A state of emergency was declared for 72 hours at the jail. Officials were alerted when some members of the “Revolutionaries” faction of the gang failed to return to their cells, said Eugenio Chicas, the communications secretary for the presidency. — AFP

Nigerian army chief unharmed after rebels ambush convoy in northeast ABUJA: Suspected Boko Haram fighters ambushed a convoy carrying the head of the Nigerian army, the military said on Sunday, sparking a firefight in which 10 militants and a soldier were killed.

Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who was unharmed, was visiting troops in the northeast Saturday when insurgents attacked in Faljari village, 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Borno State capital Maiduguri, army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement.

“The terrorists encountered an overwhelming firepower from the troops in which 10 of them were killed. The troops captured five terrorists,” he said.

“During the encounter, sadly, we lost a soldier, while an officer and four soldiers sustained gunshot wounds.”

News of the attack came with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon due to arrive in Nigeria later Sunday to commemorate the fourth anniversary of a deadly attack on the global body by Boko Haram in the capital Abuja.

The extremist group has stepped up its attacks in Borno and two neighbouring states in its northeastern heartland since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in May. The fresh wave of violence has claimed more than 1,000 lives over the last three months, dealing a setback to a four-country offensive launched in February that had chalked up a number of victories against the extremists.

An 8,700-strong Multi-National Joint Task Force, drawing in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin, is expected to go into action soon.

Military officials have said it will be more effective than the current alliance in the battle to end Boko Haram’s six-year insurgency, which has claimed at least 15,000 lives.

Ban is due to hold talks with Buhari on development, climate change, human rights and coun-

LUCKY: A file photo taken on July 31, 2015 shows the new head of the five-nation Multi-National

Joint Task Force, Major-General Iliya Abbah, right, speaking, flanked by his predecessor Nigerian Army Chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai during a handover ceremony in Abuja.— AFP/STRINGER

Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, who was unharmed, was visiting troops in the northeast Saturday when insurgents attacked in Faljari village, 45 kilometres (28 miles) east of Borno State capital Maiduguri, army spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement

tering violent extremism during his two-day visit, according to his spokeswoman Eri Kaneko.

He will lay a wreath to commemorate the fourth anniversary of a car bombing at United Nations House, the headquarters for around 400 UN employees, that left 21 dead in the capital on August 26, 2011.

The visit will be Ban’s second since taking office in 2007. He last visited Nigeria in May 2011 to discuss the crises in southern Sudan and Libya with then leader Goodluck Jonathan.

The UN chief is also due to dine with captains of industry and the west African nation’s state governors during the two-day trip, a

statement from the Nigerian foreign ministry said.

Ban will visit members of “Bring Back Our Girls”, the campaign said on its website, although the announcement has not immediately been confirmed by the government or UN. The group will mark 500 days next week since the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from the northeastern village of Chibok

by Boko Haram.

The secretary-general will stop over in France on his return trip to discuss preparations for a major climate change conference to be held in Paris in December. — AFP

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A 14

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

GLOBAL EYE

RUSSIA: A participant holds smoke flares while sliding down on a float along a chute to cross a pool of water and foam during the ‘Letniy Gornoluzhnik’ (Summer mountain puddle rider) festival at the Bo-

broviy Log Fun Park near the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Sunday. The annual competition marks the end of the summer season at the Siberian ski, rest and entertainment resort. — Reuters

GREAT BRITAIN: Historical re-enactors re-create a mock battle as part of an anniversary event for the Battle of Bosworth near Market Bosworth in central Britain yesterday. The Battle of Bosworth took place in 1485 during the War of the Roses between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. King Richard III was defeated by Henry Tudor marking the end of Plantagenet rule and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. — Reuters

SPAIN: Spectators jump behind a barrier to avoid a bull during a running of the bulls through the

streets, or ‘encierro’, part of the festivities ‘Botijeras’ in Duenas in Palencia province, on Sunday. — AFP

NETHERLANDS: Dutch Princess Felicia, Princess Anastasia, Prince Lucas, Patron of the SAIL foundation Amsterdam Prince Maurits, and Princess Marilene on their yacht ‘De Groene Draeck’ (The Green Dragon) attend the final day of SAIL Amsterdam 2015 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Sunday. — AFP/ANP/ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN

SWITZERLAND: Swiss police officers inspect the wreckage of a plane involved in a collision with a second plane during an airshow on

August 23, 2015 in Dittingen, near Basel, northern Switzerland. — AFP

LEBANON: Lebanese protesters, left, and riot police, right, stand at opposite sides of a barbed wire fence during a demonstration, organised by ‘You Stink’ campaign, to protest against the ongoing country’s trash crisis yesterday in the capital Beirut. — AFP

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

A15

WORLD Turkey jails five mayors for supporting ‘self-rule’ comes as Turkey carries out its biggest operation in years against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have responded by tearing up a 2013 ceasefire

Break up Anatolia said they had been all been charged with seeking “to break up the unity of the state and integrity of the country”. It is not clear when the trials will start.

All five are members of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), which has close ties to Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish political force the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

OUTCRY: Lieutenant Colonel in Turkish Army Mehmet Alkan gestures during the funeral of his brother, Captain Ali Alkan, on August 23, 2015 in Osmaniye. — AFP/IHLAS NEWS AGENCY/ STR

The local head of the HDP in Hakkari, Ismail Sihat Kaya, has also been arrested, reports said.

Turkish media reports said they had been initially detained last week as part of an investigation into moves by some Kurdishdominated regions in Turkey to declare “self rule” since the latest crisis took hold.

Reports said that so-called people’s assemblies in districts including Silopi and Cizre in Sirnak province had declared self-rule and would no longer recognise state institutions.

Tensions are riding high in Turkey’s southeast as the military presses on with its campaign against PKK militants both within the country and in their strongholds in northern Iraq.

According to figures published Saturday by the state-run Ana-

CANCER SPREADING ACROSS BODY

Crowd packs ailing Carter’s Sunday class ATLANTA: Larger-than-usual crowds of wellwishers meant former President Jimmy Carter had to teach an extra Bible class at his rural Georgia church on Sunday, after he announced on Thursday cancer had spread to his brain.

Carter, 90, a lifelong Baptist and church deacon, has taught Sunday school for decades and the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia is used to a throng.

The church’s website asks people to line up before 9:00 a.m. and attend an orientation before the 10 a.m. class.

The theme of the lesson was love, Carter told the 300 people who filled the church’s sanctuary, after briefly alluding to his health.

“We are studying the most important aspect of Christianity,” he said.

He mentioned his conflict resolution work, including the Camp David peace agreement and negotiating a nuclear programme with North Korea, and said mediation can help resolve any conflict, be it between two countries or two people.

A smiling, comfortable-looking Carter, in a dark jacket and a bolo tie, spoke from the floor at the front of the room.

Carter taught a second Bible class before returning to the church sanctuary to pose for pho-

Woman crash lands plane after pilot collapses MADRID: A woman was seriously injured Sunday in an ultralight aircraft crash in Spain after she was forced to fly the plane — despite having no flight experience — when the pilot lost consciousness, officials said.

The woman suffered burns and multiple contusions, while the pilot died, though it was unclear if that happened before or after the plane crashed near Seville airport in southwestern Spain, an emergency services spokesperson reportedly said.

“He died, possibly before the accident, during the flight,” the spokesman said.

The investigation

ISTANBUL: Turkish courts on Sunday remanded in custody five mayors from the Kurdish-dominated southeast on charges of seeking to destroy national unity by allegedly supporting calls for regional self-rule, reports said.

The investigation comes as Turkey carries out its biggest operation in years against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have responded by tearing up a 2013 ceasefire and staging daily attacks against the security forces.

A court in the southeaster city of Diyarbakir placed under arrest the co-mayors of the city’s central Sur district, Seyid Narin and Fatma Sik Barut, the official Anatolia news agency reported.

Also remanded in custody by the Diyarbakir court was Yuksel Bodakci, mayor of the town of Silvan in the Diyarbakir region, as well as two other municipal officials from Sur. Meanwhile, a court in the extreme southeastern city of Hakkari close to the borders with Iraq and Iran placed under arrest the two co-mayors of Hakkari city, Dilek Hatipoglu and Nurullah Ciftci.

It is common in Kurdish regions of Turkey for posts to be shared between a man and a woman to promote gender equality.

NO FLIGHT EXPERIENCE

STATESMAN: Lawn signs along a sidewalk is shown in this photo taken by former US President Jimmy Carter in Plains, Georgia and tweeted by Jason carter, his grandson on August 20, 2015. — Reuters/Jimmy Carter/Carter Center

tos with people for more than a half an hour.

Pictures on the Atlanta Journal Constitution and on social media showed dozens of people lining up outside the church in the rural town of Plains, where Carter lives with his wife. One held a fan with Carter’s photograph on it.

The first person lined up at midnight, local television reported. — Reuters

tolia news agency, 812 PKK militants have been killed in the campaign while 56 members of the Turkish security forces have lost their lives.

It is not possible to independently verify the death toll for PKK militants. Turkish officials have vehemently denied claims that civilians have also been targeted.

Stinging attack Meanwhile, a Turkish soldier whose brother was killed in an attack by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants launched a stinging attack Sunday on the government’s “anti-terror” campaign at his funeral.

Ali Alkan, a captain in the Turkish army, was killed Saturday in southeastern Sirnak province in an attack blamed on PKK rebels

who have ripped up a 2013 ceasefire as the government presses a large-scale military operation.

His funeral in his home region of Osmaniye in southern Turkey was marked by immediate tensions, with thousands shouting slogans against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

But in extraordinary scenes, his elder brother Mehmet, a lieutenant colonel and dressed in full military uniform, embraced the coffin and launched into a tearful tirade against the government.

“Who has killed him? Who is the reason for this?” Mehmet Alkan yelled tearfully, casting away his military cap, according to footage broadcast by the Cihan news agency.

“It’s those who said there would be a solution who now only talk of war.”

Solution process Erdogan pursued a so-called “solution process” to make peace with Kurdish rebels but is now vowing to press the offensive until the last militant is killed.

As the coffin was led away, Mehmet Alkan lashed out at the government over comments last

week by Energy Minister Taner Yildiz that he too would like to be a martyr. The footage -- which has been widely shared on social media in Turkey -- is a huge embarrassment to the government which has tried to honour the fallen soldiers as “martyrs” who died a glorious death. The reports on state media did not mention the incident, saying only that Ali Alkan had been laid to rest.

Funerals of soldiers killed by the PKK, particularly ceremonies in Ankara, have been tightly controlled events attended by top officials and often broadcast live on television.

However there is growing concern over the extent of the military death toll, with over 50 Turkish soldiers and police killed in the last month.

Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu and Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan were both heckled when they attended funerals last week.

The region of Osmaniye -- a stronghold of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and with strong connections to the Turkish military -- has lost 6 soldiers in the last 20 days alone, according to Turkish media reports. — AFP

Guided by control tower Spanish media reported that the man and woman were married.

“The woman kept flying, she did not how to fly, so they guided her from the control tower to see if she could control the plane until landing it at the airport,” he added.

Emergency services also dispatched a helicopter and a plane to guide the light plane down.

“The plane can fly without any problem. Don’t worry the plane is not going to crash,” an air traffic controller can be heard telling the woman according to a recording of their exchange released by the online edition of local daily newspaper Diario de Sevilla.

“Don’t worry you are going to land without any problem,” he added before asking her the plane’s altitude.

Three kilometres The plane crashed about three kilometres short of the beginning of the runway at Seville airport during the attempted landing, according to Spain’s airport authority AENA. The airport remained closed for just under two hours because of the crash forcing four flights bound for Seville to be diverted to the nearby city of Jerez de la Frontera, the airport authority added.

Ultralight aircraft The ultralight aircraft had taken off from the city of Trebujena and had been scheduled to land in Coria del Rio, a small town near Seville. Seville is Spain’s 13th busiest airport. It moved 3.9 million passengers last year, according to AENA’s website. — AFP

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BANGKOK BOMBING

Thailand urges patience as lack of equipment hampers bomb inquiry BANGKOK: Authorities Sunday urged patience in their hunt for the Bangkok shrine bomber, as the police chief admitted Thailand lacks some of the “modern equipment” to find the prime suspect captured on security cameras.

Anxiety is mounting six days after the attack, which killed 20 people in the capital’s commercial heart, with the bomber still on the run. The hunt has so far focused on a suspect in a yellow T-shirt seen on CCTV placing a rucksack under a bench at the Erawan shrine minutes before the blast.

A sketch of the man has been widely circulated and a bounty of more than $300,000 has been offered for his arrest.

He is described on his arrest warrant as “foreign” but police have since said he could in fact be Thai or of mixed race.

Unverified footage, timestamped just a few minutes after Monday’s blast, shows a second man in a blue T-shirt kicking a package into water near a bridge in the same spot where a device exploded on Tuesday without injuries. But police have not publicly linked the two blasts despite pressure to reveal more.

“The slowness of the investigation is not because the police lack capacity,” national police chief Somyot Poompanmoungyot told reporters. “But it’s because we don’t have the modern equipment that supports the work.”

He did not reveal the equipment

Two people have been arrested for spreading rumours and hoaxes over social media, a junta spokesman said Sunday.

The potential perpetrators named by police and experts alike include international jihadists, members of Thailand’s southern Malay-Muslim insurgency, militants on both sides of Thailand’s festering political divide or even someone with a personal grudge.

TRIBUTE: A Thai woman lays roses for victims killed in a bomb blast at a religious shrine in Bangkok yesterday. — AFP

the police need but it is likely to be facial recognition technology or programmes to enhance security camera footage.

Overseas help Earlier in the week junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha bristled at suggestions his government should seek overseas help in a complicated inquiry, with several nations offering their expertise.

It is not clear if any offers have since been officially accepted.

Despite their technical limitations, police say the investigation is progressing but they accept that

the main suspect could have left the country.

“We cannot give details of that progress... let the police work,” police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said. “We are working around the clock.... but this kind of a case is not easy.”

The shrine bomb killed mostly ethnic Chinese tourists from across Asia. More than 50 people remain in hospital.

With no-one claiming responsibility, rumours and speculation have swirled in Thailand over the country’s worst single mass-casualty attack in living memory.

Ten people Police chief Somyot said a network of at least 10 people were behind the attack, which was likely planned at least one month in advance. But no arrests have been made over the bombing and the information flow has slowed.

To fill the gap, local and international media have done their own sleuthing, reporting on possible leads and suspects, even publishing the name of the man reportedly at the centre of the police probe -although Prawut has told AFP that name is incorrect.

Monday’s bomb came during a time of heightened concerns about the kingdom’s future, with few signs of a breakthrough in a decade-long political crisis.

The blast exposes the ruling junta, which ousted an elected government in May last year, to criticism that it cannot guarantee security. Tourism is also likely to be hit by the attack, threatening to heap more misery on an already anaemic economy. — AFP

B

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Oman, other Gulf bourses continue slide MSM 30 Index, the barometer of performance of the local bourse, plunged by 179.14 points or 2.94 per

Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture

cent to 5,910.74 on Sunday, amid weak sentiment due to serious concern on oil price dipping below $40 a barrel

A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Oman shares continued its slump, along with other Gulf bourses, when the market opened on Sunday amid crude oil prices touching a six-year low.

Almost all blue chip stocks declined to touch recent lows, with select shares touching even limit down amid weak sentiment due to serious concern on oil price dipping below $40 a barrel on Friday, which will hit the ability of regional economies to meet deficit target. The MSM 30 Index, the barometer of the performance of the local bourse, plunged by 179.14 points or 2.94 per cent to 5,910.74 on Sunday, which resulted in index losing as much as 647.44 points or 9.87 per cent from the beginning of the month.

“Omani investors are trying to avoid investment risk after crude prices dipping below the psychological level of $40 per barrel,” Joice Mathew, head of research at United Securities told Times of Oman. “Foreign institutional investors have been dumping shares on the local bourse for the

last couple of weeks. The fall in global equity markets also triggered the slump,” he added. As a result of the slump, local and foreign investors on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) have lost a whopping OMR730 million in the last twenty-three days.

In other words, the market capitalisation (the combined value of shares) of listed stocks, excluding bonds, on the bourse eroded

by OMR730 million — from OMR13.742 billion on July 30 to OMR13.012 billion on Sunday.

KanagaSundar, head of research at Gulf Baader Capital Markets, earlier said that there was an outflow of funds from GCC and Oman markets since foreign institutional investors started selling their stakes.

Most investors are losing confidence, resulting in dumping of shares across the board, and there is hardly any sign of an immediate recovery across the region.

“The sentiment is weak since the crude oil prices touched a six-and-a-half year low. This is the lowest level since the beginning of sub-prime crisis,” noted S Sureshkumar, head of research at Al Maha Financial Services.

Mathew noted that the future trend on regional bourse, including Oman, would depend on the trend in oil prices.

Gulf bourses All Gulf bourses were down on Sunday, with Dubai leading the slump in the Middle East region.

Among the Gulf markets, Dubai market witnessed maximum slump of 6.96 per cent, Saudi fell

by 4.25 per cent, Qatar by 4.77 per cent, Abu Dhabi by 5.01 per cent, Kuwait by 2.36 per cent and Bahrain by 0.37 per cent.

Egypt’s EGX 30 Index slid to the lowest level since January 2014. With oil sinking to the lowest since 2009 and a global selloff in equities after China devalued its currency sending some gauges into bear markets, regional equities are being battered on concern Gulf governments may need to cut spending to cope with declining crude prices. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council is home to about 30 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves.

Oman’s budget deficit for the first half of this year surged to OMR1,918.5 million, against a surplus of OMR250 million for the same period of 2014, mainly due to a plunge in oil prices.

“There’s indiscriminate selling across the board as regional markets follow the selloff in oil,” RamezMerhi, a Dubai-based director at Al Masah Capital Ltd., which manages $500 million, said by e-mail. “Regional economies could slow significantly if these prices are sustained.”

West Texas Intermediate slid to $39.86 per barrel on Friday before closing at $40.45 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its lowest close since 2009. WTI may decline to $32 on the persisting surplus, Citigroup Inc. said Wednesday.

Dubai stocks edged closer to a bear market, having fallen 18 percent since the benchmark measure hit 2015’s peak in April.

— With inputs from Bloomberg News

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

B2

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

MARKET VIRTUAL CURRENCY

Bitcoin chief’s arrest leaves questions unanswered TOKYO: The arrest of MtGox boss Mark Karpeles has begun to shed light on the defunct Bitcoin exchange after hundreds of millions of dollars in virtual currency vanished from its digital vaults last year. But as details of a lengthy investigation by Japanese police trickle out, at least one crucial question remains unanswered: where is the money?

On Friday, authorities issued a fresh arrest warrant for Frenchman Karpeles over claims he stole several million dollars from clients, including about $48,000 allegedly spent on a luxury canopy bed.

Karpeles, 30, who has reportedly denied the allegations, was initially taken into custody earlier this month and has been held without formal charges for three weeks, as allowed under Japanese law. A fresh warrant resets the clock on how long police can hold him and grill the self-described computer geek over Tokyo-based MtGox’s missing Bitcoins.

So far, police have accused Karpeles of manipulating data and stealing sums that amount to just a fraction of 850,000 coins — worth $480 million at the time, or $387 million at current exchange rates — that disappeared last year. - AFP

Emerging economies allow currencies to depreciate In a quest to remain competitive in the aftermath of China’s devaluation of the yuan, emerging countries let their currencies slide

LONDON: World’s emerging economies are allowing their currencies to slide in a quest to remain competitive, following China’s devaluation of the yuan and the dollar’s strength in anticipation of United States rate hikes.

The currencies of emerging nations in Asia have especially suffered in recent weeks from market speculation that the United States Federal Reserve will lift interest rates this year — possibly as soon as September.

According to Societe Generale analyst Kit Juckes, those countries “fear a resumption of sig-

FREE FLOAT: Kazakhstan has decided to cease intervention to support tenge currency, and allowed it to float freely to cope with the plunging price of oil — its primary export. The result was a historic 23 per cent drop to US dollar. – Bloomberg News

nificant capital outflows if the Fed does raise rates next month, as well as fear of further (yuan) weakness and concern about the sluggish pace of global growth” — all of which are strengthening the dollar, euro and yen.

Oil price slump Other factors, including slumping prices of oil and natural gas — exports that many emerging economies rely on heavily — are also pulling currencies lower or prompting governments to let their value drop.

On Thursday, Kazakhstan de-

cided to cease intervention to support the Central Asian nation’s tenge currency, and allowed it to float freely to cope with the plunging price of oil — its primary export. The result was an historic 23 per cent drop in value to 257 tenge to the dollar.

The objective of that move, says CMC Markets analyst Jasper Lawler, was to allow Kazakh goods to become more competitive with less expensive foreign imports.

“The government and central bank decided to let (the tenge) free float in order to compete with the declining currencies of its two

biggest trading partners — Russia and China,” explains Lawler.

This month’s surprise devaluations of the Chinese yuan — also known as the renminbi — by the country’s central bank was similarly viewed by many observers as an effort to reverse the recent slump in exports amid accumulating signs of an economic slowdown.

In response to China’s currency cut, Vietnam widened the spread its central bank allows the dong to trade, provoking a fall to its lowest ever level of 22.41 against the dollar. In doing so, say forex experts, Vietnam effectively devalued the dong for the third time this year.

Political factors In Russia, under pressure since 2014 from falling oil prices and the effects of Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, the rouble resumed its decline against the dollar this week.

The rouble’s slump as Russia’s economy sank into recession has had serious consequences for the country’s neighbours — figuring as a major factor in Kazakhstan’s devaluation.

Such weakening of currencies has been rife across the world’s emerging economies, with Lawler pointing to this week’s plunge of

the South African rand and Indonesian rupee to historic lows against the dollar as examples.

But if Indonesia’s currency dip is due largely to depressed prices for commodities it exports, Juckes says the slide of the Brazilian real and Turkish lira extend beyond pure economics. Brazil, he notes, is facing an enormous corruption scandal as well as flatlining growth, while the drop of Turkey’s lira was caused by growing security concerns and increasing political instability.

“It is the weakness of sentiment in (emerging market forex) which is striking — oil and China’s slowdown are the main factors, but the Thai baht is weaker after a deadly bomb blast, the Brazilian real’s woes are as much political as economic,” says Juckes.

Adding to that febrility is the resurgent dollar being lifted by expectations of looming US interest rate hikes. When it comes, that move will make returns on greenback investments more lucrative than foreign alternatives. —AFP

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F O R O M A N I S TA F F

Port Services’ voluntary end of service scheme gets nod Times News Service MUSCAT: Port Services Corporation on Sunday said that the Ministry of Finance has approved the corporation’s voluntary end of service payment scheme for all Omani employees.

A comprehensive compensation of one month basic sal- REDUCING STAFF STRENGTH: The Port Services Corporation has ary will be paid for every year of been reducing its staff strength after commercial activities of service of the Omani employee. Sultan Qaboos Port was transferred to Sohar. - Times file picture The Ministry of Finance has also agreed to share the total cost of tors of the corporation, the board the scheme equally with the cor- and submit their resignation. of directors notifies that the corporation, according to a discloporation will continue with its sure statement posted on Muscat Cost of the scheme The cost of this scheme, which existing operations and activities Securities Market website.

Accordingly, the corporation will be accounted by the corpo- in Port Sultan Qaboos and at the is taking all actions towards im- ration during the year ended De- same time is pursuing projects replementation of the scheme. cember 2015, will be disclosed af- lated to tourism port, dry port and The maximum share of the total ter concluding implementation of Port of Khasab in coordination cost to the corporation will be the scheme which will determine with the concerned authorities.

The Port Services CorporaOMR2,076,165.500 in case all the number of Omani staff who tion has been reducing its staff Omani employees opt to take the opt for the scheme. scheme. However, the actual cost Based on the assurance given strength after commercial acof the scheme will depend upon by the Ministerial Committee in tivities of Sultan Qaboos Port in the number of staff who will opt for their meetings with the repre- Muscat was transferred to Sohar voluntary end of service scheme sentatives of the board of direc- in August last year.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

B3

MARKET SME SECTOR

Tamkeen plans to expand activities for higher growth

Sultanate’s natural gas production grows 5.2% of Oil and Gas is responsible for supplying gas to various consumers and the obligations are set out in within the agreements.

The Sultanate’s natural gas production this year is projected at 120 million cubic metres per day, which is 15 million cubic metres higher than that of last year. Oman produced and imported 37,687 million cubic metres of natural gas last year (equivalent to 105 million cubic metres per day).

Times News Service MUSCAT: National Business Centre (NBC), which falls under the umbrella of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), is incubating successful models of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are witnessing constant and inspiring growth.

Tamkeen for Investment and Development, which is incubated at NBC, was established in 2014 through a partnership of two experienced representatives.

The idea of initiating the company arose after the two partners decided to merge two companies to come up with a firm that can benefit the market.

Abdullah Al Abri, main partner of the project, explained that Tamkeen focuses on three main sectors — real estate investment, commercial representation and business services.

“The real estate investment sector aims at promoting investment lands available in the Sultanate for investors to establish strategic business ventures. The commercial representation sector on the other hand focuses on representing global companies and institutions via communication with specialised local or regional companies to represent the global companies and promote their products locally. This sector also promotes local products abroad and explores new markets to promote them,” Al Abri said.

“The third sector – business services, aims at offering services for the entrepreneurs including transactions, issuing permits, organising field visits to the industrial estates, and investment and tourism sites. In this regard, we represent the companies whenever necessary while communicating with official and government authorities to finalise their

A sizeable portion of the natural gas in Oman is used by various mega industrial projects.

Abdullah Al Abri. – Supplied picture

It is also used in oilfields either as fuel

transactions without the need of their presence in Oman,” explained Al Abri.

Major challenges On the major challenges facing entrepreneurship and SMEs in Oman, Al Abri said, “SMEs in Oman have difficulties in executing the right marketing tools as well as winning contracts from major companies and government institutions. As for Tamkeen, we are privileged to be incubated at the National Business Centre, which provides the necessary facilities and services required by entrepreneurs. NBC provides excellent training programmes aspired at developing the administrative, financial and marketing skills of the incubated companies.”

He added that SMEs in Oman have to enhance their communication network with the government and public institutions, and he stressed that funding initiatives from both public and private institutions are vital for the entrepreneurs.

Al Abri also mentioned that participation in events like exhibitions locally and internationally is one perfect tool to get acquainted with latest products and services from all over the world.

It should be noted that Tamkeen took part in various international exhibitions in Oman and Dubai.

DEMAND ON THE RISE: While demand for gas will rise sharply over the coming five years, the rate of growth is not evenly distributed, with some regions witnessing a higher growth. – Times file picture

or for re-injection

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s natural gas production and imports rose 5.2 per cent to 22,666 million cubic metres (MNCM) for the first seven months of this year, from 21,554 MNCM for the same period last year.

Of this, while non-associated gas showed a growth of 6.5 per cent to 18,671 MNCM, associated gas production declined 0.6 per cent to 3,995 MNCM, according to statistics released by the National Centre for Statistics and Information.

A sizeable portion of the natural gas in the Sultanate of Oman is used by various mega industrial projects, which stood at 12,559 MNCM for the first seven months of 2015, against 12,018 MNCM for the same period last year. Natural gas is also used in oilfields either as fuel or for re-injection.

For instance, in the first seven months, as much as 4,920 MNCM of natural gas was used in oil fields, against 4,481 MNCM units consumed for the same period in 2014.

Other major consumers of natural gas in the country include power producers, small-scale industries and liquefied natural gas plants.

Natural gas used by power and desalination plants stood 2.7 per cent higher at 4,808 MNCM for the seven-month period of this year.

The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) estimates gas consumption in the electricity and water desalination sector will rise substantially in the next five years mainly due to higher production to support growing demand for power and water.

While the national demand for gas will rise sharply over the coming five years, the rate of increase is by no means evenly distributed, with requirements set to spike in some regions. In fact, the Ministry

Crude oil Meanwhile, the Sultanate’s average daily crude oil production crossed one million barrels mark in July for the first time. However, the average daily crude production for the first seven month period of 2015 was 975,000 barrels, against 945,600 barrels a day for the same period of last year. The average price of Oman Crude in the first seven month period of this year declined by 43.1 per cent to $59.9 per barrel, from $105.42 a barrel for the same period last year.

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B4

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

MARKET Digital news ventures on growth path

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,089.87 .............. 5,909.46 ....................5,910.74 ...................6,089.87.............. -179.13 .................. -2.94 Financial Index .................................... 7,328.30 ...............7,052.53 ....................7,055.89 ................... 7,332.37............. -276.48 .................. -3.77 Industrial Index ....................................7,807.49 ...............7,702.30 ................... 7,702.30 ................... 7,807.49..............-105.19 .................. -1.35 Services Index .......................................3,333.53 ...............3,246.21 ................... 3,246.21 ................... 3,333.53................-87.32 .................. -2.62 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................949.50 .................. 931.98 .......................931.98 ...................... 949.50................ -17.52 .................. -1.85 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 27,975,766 ...................6,687,167 ................. 1,286 ...............14,648,690,954 ...................1 ..................... 39 ..................... 6 ..........................46

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 Investors anticipate an accelerating shift away from traditional media, and new ways to generate revenue from digital news ventures

ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

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

OM0000001822............UNITED POWER ............................................................. 5,048 ..............17,515........................9 ............3.470 ........... 3.470 ...........3.465........... 3.470 ............. 3.155.............0.315 ............. 9.984 ................3.470............. 2.840...................3.385....................2,776,000 ..........1.000 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ............................ 1,340 .................. 268........................1 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.200 .......... 0.210 .............0.210 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.200 .............0.189...................0.199...................26,228,572.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER......................................................................50 .....................18........................1 ........... 0.350 ...........0.350 ...........0.350........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.350............. 0.000...................0.350...................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ..................................2,000 ...............8,400........................1 ........... 4.200...........4.200 .......... 4.200 .......... 4.200.............4.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ............... 4.200 ............. 4.115...................4.300 ..................41,076,907 .........1.000

WASHINGTON: Suddenly the online news business is red-hot.

Money is flowing into digital news ventures at an unprecedented pace, as investors anticipate an accelerating shift away from traditional media, and new ways to generate revenue from news.

BuzzFeed made news this past week with a $200 million capital injection from Comcast’s NBC Universal (NBCU), and with the announcement of a joint venture with Yahoo Japan for Japanese readers. Earlier this month, Vox Media also secured $200 million from NBCU as the startup seeks to ramp up its news websites including Vox.com, The Verge, Re/ code and Bleacher Report.

Vox and BuzzFeed joined the club of “unicorns,” or venturefunded startups worth at least $1 billion, a group which also includes Vice Media, which unveiled a $500 million funding round last year.

The flood of capital to the sector suggests confidence in the ability of digital media to connect with readers — especially younger audiences which eschew traditional media — and generate profits, say analysts.

“Right now it’s an arms race.

These are companies growing quickly and they have to grow quickly,” said Ken Doctor, a media analyst with the research firm Outsell. Doctor said a key for these organisation is capturing the attention of ‘millennials’, or young adults born after 1980 who rarely subscribe to print publications or cable television, and who get most of their content online.

“Marketers have discovered the millennial generation as they get more earning power,” he said.

Interestingly, much of the money

flowing into these organisations is coming from traditional media, seeking fresh ways to deal with a transition to digital news.

The Murdoch family’s 21st Century Fox is an investor in Vice Media, for example, while Time Warner has invested in the online news site Mashable. “It’s as much a hedge as anything else,” Doctor said. “It’s a lot of money but not a bank-breaking amount.”

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................70,634 .......... 178,626..................... 23 ........... 2.545 ...........2.550 ...........2.515 ........... 2.530 .............2.550 ...........-0.020 ........... -0.784 ...............2.520..............2.520...................2.540 .................241,506,703........1.000 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT ............................................................15,000 ............... 7,350........................1 ........... 0.490 ...........0.490 ...........0.490........... 0.490 .............0.496 ...........-0.006 ............-1.210................0.490..............0.450...................0.480 .................162,127,628 ........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ..... 191,004.......... 381,053..................... 34 ............1.995 ........... 1.995 ...........1.995 ............1.995 .............2.020 ...........-0.025 ........... -1.238................1.995 .............. 1.995...................2.000 .................137,655,000 ........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ................................................... 353,117 ...........147,510......................16 ........... 0.422 ...........0.422 ...........0.410............0.418 .............0.424 ...........-0.006 ............-1.415 ................0.414 ..............0.412...................0.414...................25,289,000.........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 442,961 ............88,146........................8 ............0.198 ...........0.200 ...........0.198 ........... 0.199 .............0.202 ...........-0.003 ............-1.485................0.200 ............ 0.200...................0.208 .................283,582,193........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ..............................................................35,000 ...............9,100........................2 ........... 0.260...........0.260 ...........0.260 .......... 0.260 .............0.264 ...........-0.004 ............-1.515 ................0.260..............0.246...................0.260 .................401,629,422........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ................................ 50,000 ............ 18,800........................6 ........... 0.378 ........... 0.378 ...........0.374........... 0.376 .............0.382 ...........-0.006 ............-1.571 ................0.374..............0.350...................0.372.................. 111,376,344 ........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................21,600 ............ 45,672........................8 ........... 2.120 ........... 2.120 ...........2.100............2.115 ............. 2.155............-0.040 ............-1.856................2.100............. 0.000...................2.100.................. 189,715,500 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .......................................................... 7,500 ............... 9,675........................1 ............1.290 ........... 1.290 ...........1.290........... 1.290 ............. 1.315 ............-0.025 ............-1.901................1.290..............1.280...................1.290................. 258,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 106,200 ........... 26,550..................... 10 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.250........... 0.250 .............0.256 ...........-0.006 ........... -2.344 ...............0.250..............0.245...................0.250 ...................5,250,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 2,676,109 ...1,328,308..................... 68 ........... 0.500 ...........0.500 ...........0.494........... 0.496 ............. 0.510............-0.014 ........... -2.745................0.494..............0.494...................0.496................ 1,136,744,008 ......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 514,368 .........849,307..................... 57 ............1.695 ........... 1.695............1.630 ............1.650 ............. 1.700............-0.050 ........... -2.941 ...............1.630 .............. 1.630...................1.690................1,237,500,000 ......0.100

Digital eats everything The analyst added that big media groups which saw troubles for print a decade ago are now waking up to digital disruption of television. With consumers slowly moving away from cable TV bundles, “you can see the fault lines,” Doctor said. “Digital eats everything, and television is not immune.”

The more successful media startups have found ways to connect and use technology better than legacy firms, say some analysts. “BuzzFeed and Vox and other high-profile startups make the claim they are not just content companies, they are tech companies,” says Nikki Usher Layser, a journalism professor at George Washington University specializing in digital media.

This means “using data science to understand how information is spreading” and being shared, she said, to better adapt news feeds and enable advertisers to reach specific segments of readers.

BuzzFeed is known for using technology to help understand how news goes viral, while Mashable uses its own system for this.

AOL, which owns news sites such as The Huffington Post and TechCrunch, is known for ad technology which measures effectiveness of online messages. - AFP

OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD..................... 40,000 .............17,600........................5 ........... 0.440...........0.440 ...........0.440 .......... 0.440 .............0.454 ...........-0.014 ........... -3.084 ...............0.440..............0.420...................0.440 .................108,416,000........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 385,590 ............82,315......................17 ............0.218 ........... 0.218 ...........0.210........... 0.213 .............0.220 ...........-0.007 ........... -3.182................0.213 ..............0.213...................0.219.................. 143,751,023 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 455,235 ............96,951.....................20 ............0.218 ........... 0.218 ...........0.210........... 0.213 .............0.220 ...........-0.007 ........... -3.182................0.213 ..............0.212...................0.219..................152,168,550 ........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 938,388 ..........160,971.....................20 ............0.178 ........... 0.178 ...........0.168 ............0.172 ............. 0.179............-0.007 ............-3.911 ................0.168 ..............0.168...................0.170..................247,927,680........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ...................................67,500 ............ 21,024........................5 ............0.310 ........... 0.316 ...........0.310........... 0.312 .............0.326 ...........-0.014 ........... -4.294 ...............0.316 ..............0.310...................0.316..................418,301,598 ........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................ 60,000 ...............9,903........................3 ............0.170 ........... 0.170 ...........0.164............0.165 ............. 0.173............-0.008 ........... -4.624 ...............0.164 ..............0.164...................0.185 ................... 15,681,600 .........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 609,000 ............70,139........................5 ............0.115 ........... 0.116............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.121............-0.006 ........... -4.959 ...............0.115 ...............0.111................... 0.114 ..................230,035,971........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 450,674 .........322,834.....................22 ............0.748 ........... 0.748 ...........0.700............0.716 ............. 0.756............-0.040 ............-5.291................0.704..............0.704................... 0.716 ..................466,076,069 .......0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS ............................................................. 12,106 ............... 3,756......................11 ........... 0.320 ...........0.320 ...........0.304 .......... 0.310 .............0.332 ...........-0.022 ........... -6.627 ...............0.304............. 0.304...................0.318...................15,500,000 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ................................. 73,491 .............19,228........................8 ........... 0.270 ...........0.270 ...........0.253........... 0.262 .............0.281............-0.019 ........... -6.762................0.260............. 0.000...................0.258.................. 26,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 234,000............12,870........................8 ............0.055 ........... 0.055 ...........0.055........... 0.055 .............0.059 ...........-0.004 ........... -6.780 ...............0.055..............0.054...................0.055................... 11,393,326 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 500,266 ........... 46,384..................... 43 ........... 0.098 ...........0.098 ...........0.090........... 0.093 .............0.100 ...........-0.007 ........... -7.000 ...............0.090..............0.090...................0.093...................26,968,199 .........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ...............10,500 ...............2,622........................5 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.243........... 0.250 .............0.270 ...........-0.020 ............-7.407................0.243............. 0.000...................0.243 ...................8,392,863 ..........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 567,896............ 56,930..................... 32 ............0.104 ........... 0.104 ...........0.098........... 0.100 .............0.108 ...........-0.008 ............-7.407................0.098............. 0.000...................0.098....................5,884,322 ..........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE............... 98,220 ............. 17,221......................19 ............0.187 ........... 0.187 ...........0.173 ............0.175 .............0.192............-0.017 ........... -8.854 ...............0.173 ............. 0.000...................0.173 ...................35,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 3,051,742 ......525,878...................134 ............0.174 ........... 0.175............ 0.171 ............0.172 ............. 0.189............-0.017 ........... -8.995 ...............0.171 ............. 0.000................... 0.171 ...................25,812,900.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 223,000 ...........22,540......................11 ............0.102 ........... 0.102 ...........0.100............0.101 ............. 0.111 ............-0.010 ........... -9.009 ...............0.100............. 0.000...................0.100...................12,309,375 .........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 948,228 ..........161,341..................... 62 ............0.172 ........... 0.172 ...........0.169 ........... 0.170 ............. 0.187............-0.017 ............-9.091................0.169 ............. 0.000...................0.169...................49,410,674 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 533,434 ............57,625..................... 36 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............0.108........... 0.108 ............. 0.119............-0.011 ........... -9.244 ...............0.108............. 0.000...................0.108....................9,720,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................. 253,000 ............19,294......................17 ........... 0.080 ...........0.080 ...........0.076........... 0.076 .............0.084 ...........-0.008 ........... -9.524 ...............0.076............. 0.000...................0.076...................13,300,000.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 102,000 .............. 9,180........................9 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.090........... 0.090 .............0.100 ...........-0.010 .......... -10.000 ..............0.090............. 0.000...................0.090 ...................2,700,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 14,106,201 4,852,903...................738 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......37........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 9,754,380 ... 1,427,093...................483 ............0.147 ........... 0.149 ...........0.144........... 0.146 .............0.148............-0.002 ............-1.351 ................0.149 ..............0.146...................0.149..................213,539,813 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 510,000 ........... 32,447......................17 ........... 0.065 ...........0.065 ...........0.062........... 0.064 .............0.066 ...........-0.002 ........... -3.030 ...............0.062..............0.062...................0.064 ..................96,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................39,482 ...............3,427........................7 ........... 0.090 ...........0.090 ...........0.085........... 0.087 .............0.090 ...........-0.003 ........... -3.333 ...............0.085..............0.083...................0.085....................6,543,096 ..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................57,884 ...............3,904........................4 ........... 0.069 ...........0.069 ...........0.067........... 0.067 .............0.072 ...........-0.005 ........... -6.944 ...............0.067..............0.065...................0.067...................67,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................54,622 ...............2,483........................7 ........... 0.046 ...........0.046 ...........0.045........... 0.045 .............0.049 ...........-0.004 ........... -8.163................0.045..............0.045...................0.050 ...................5,625,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 173,200 ..............5,456......................11 ........... 0.032 ...........0.032 ...........0.031 ............0.031 .............0.034 ...........-0.003 ........... -8.824 ...............0.031 .............. 0.031...................0.035....................2,635,000 ..........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 10,589,568 . 1,474,810...................529 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 6........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

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W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M M ON DAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

SECTION

SLOW DOWN ENJOY THE RIDE

E-

IMES TECH STUFF

Microsoft is back with Windows 10 Best part is Windows 10 itself: it is a beautifully designed operating system that gives me the best of the past and present — maintaining the usability and familiarity of the old Windows operating system, and letting apps for tablets VIVEK WADHWA

I

Microsoft Office tools But I still needed the Microsoft Office tools, because they are industrial strength and Apple still has no products that are as good. To use these, I had to load Windows and Office under VMWare on my MacBook. Instead of getting the best of both worlds, though, I got the worst: pathetically slow applications, poor battery life, and inconsistent user interfaces.

Then, last week, at an event hosted by CIO magazine, where I gave a keynote, I spoke to a group of Chief

Intel, trying to shake up the declining market for personal computers, said it is making RealSense technology available on Apple’s OS X operating system among other platforms. The company has been pushing RealSense, a system of cameras, software and sensors that provides laptops with new functions such as 3D scanning, voice recognition and taking precise realworld measurements from photos after they have been taken.

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

Galaxy Note5 and Galaxy S6 edge+ unveiled in GCC Samsung unveiled the fifth generation of the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S6 edge+ in the GCC. Smartly designed with the most advanced S Pen on the market and next-level wireless charging technology, the Galaxy Note5 is set to raise productivity to new heights, while the Galaxy S6 edge+ delivers the ultimate multimedia experience. With a 5.7” screen, the Galaxy Note5 is the latest addition to a category that Samsung pioneered in 2011 with the original Galaxy Note—the large-screen phone. On the new Note, the large Quad HD Super AMOLED screen is the window to an unparalleled set of productivity tools such as ‘SideSync,’ along with much refined S Pen capabilities to better serve the major multi-tasker. “When we designed the first Galaxy Note four years ago, we gave portability and productivity to the consumer, and redefined the mobile industry in the process. By making the display larger and redesigning the stylus, we got rid of some hard-worn crutches of the mobile industry, and developed a device that actively addressed some major pain points for consumers,” said Hayssam Yassine, Head of the IM Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics. “With the new Galaxy Note5 and the Galaxy S6 edge+, we continue that approach of matching our innovations to the needs of real consumers.” Both the Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5 blend form and function with industry-leading features. — Times News Service

ICT to accelerate digital transformation in Oman

me download slick

don’t know if I broke a law of computing or committed heresy. But I installed Windows 10 on my Macbook Pro. I had feared that this would condemn me to purgatory in the gates of computing hell. But it has been an incredibly positive experience: my favourite Microsoft Office applications — Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint — work faster than ever before, and I can still use Apple peripherals — a Thunderbolt Display and Thunderbolt external hard drives. The best part is Windows 10 itself: it is a beautifully designed operating system that gives me the best of the past and present — maintaining the usability and familiarity of the old Windows operating system, and letting me download slick apps designed for tablets.

Another Microsoft product that I had written off years ago is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The jury is still out, but Microsoft’s new browser, Edge, seems faster than Google’s Chrome. I may end up switching browsers as well.

I had thought I would never install a Microsoft operating system ever again after my experience with Windows 8. It was terrible: inelegant, difficult and expensive. It took me about 10 minutes to conclude that Microsoft had lost touch with its customers and was destined to go the way of AOL and Myspace, and I switched all I could to Apple.

INTEL EXTENDS REALSENSE TECHNOLOGY

Information Officers (CIOs) of large and mid-sized companies about technology trends. The vast majority said they were buying Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablets for their users and upgrading desktop machines to Windows 10. In this era of iPads and iPhones, why would any company install such antiquated and clumsy technology, I asked. I was surprised at the response.

Enterprise-computing Several CIOs told me that I was out of touch with Microsoft’s new products. They told me that Surface tablets integrated better with their enterprise-computing infrastructure than do iPads; have much-needed features such as USB 3.0 ports and keyboards; are more secure than iPads; and most importantly, provide a consistent user interface and experience to business users. The CIOs said that Microsoft is a much better company to deal with than Apple, which has become known for arrogance and a lack of concern for the needs of enterprise customers.

I realised that Microsoft is no longer the same “evil empire,” the monopoly, which everyone once hated. It has many loyal fans in the business world.

This didn’t jive with all the criticism that I have been reading in the press about the lack of security of Microsoft’s new operating system.

The commonly raised concerns are about Windows 10’s continual uploads and downloads of data to Microsoft servers and the default installation options — which give Microsoft all sorts of rights.

I shared these serious criticisms of Windows 10 with Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, and asked him how Microsoft planned to address them. In response, he said

Another Microsoft product that I had written off years ago is Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. The jury is still out, but Microsoft’s new browser, Edge, seems faster than Google’s Chrome

that the “core reasons for Windows 10 as a service is more assurance of continuous security updates, app compatibility and roaming of the user info across devices you use with transparency and control with the user. For any business customer there are tons of tools that provide all kinds of additional control.” He assured me that Microsoft was in touch with customer needs; and all of the CIOs I spoke with agreed with his assessment. They said that

they had customised the Windows 10 installation for their needs and believed that the new method for distributing updates would provide better security.

This is what convinced me to give Microsoft another chance and take the plunge into Windows 10.

The default options for consumers in the Windows 10 installation are indeed problematic. I would not suggest that anyone use its default installation settings. They grant Microsoft the right to use your data to market to you; to automatically connect you to WiFi networks and marketing “beacons;” and to sell some of your information. But all of these options can be turned off.

Microsoft is actually being more honest than other technology companies are that do much of this without informing customers and hide details in the lengthy contracts that no one reads.

Given that Microsoft is providing Windows 10 for free to the majority of its customers, this is a small inconvenience for people who really care about their privacy or don’t want to be marketed to.

What is clear is that Microsoft is back — in full force. This is a good thing; Apple and Google desperately need the competition that Microsoft will once again provide.

— Washington Post-Bloomberg News

* The author is a fellow at Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University, director of research at Duke University and distinguished scholar at Singularity and Emory universities. His past appointments include Harvard Law School and University of California Berkeley. This article, for The Washington Post’s Innovations site, reflects his opinion.

With Oman falling in the World Economic Forum’s Network Readiness Index in the Global Information Technology Report 2015, the country must take full advantage of the potential offered by information and communications technologies (ICTs) to drive social and economic transformation.

Out of 143 countries, Oman dropped two places to 42nd. In response, senior Cisco executives are highlighting the considerable challenge facing Oman as it seeks to develop the infrastructure, institutions, and skills needed to reap the full benefits of ICTs. Only 39 per cent of the global population enjoys access to the Internet despite the fact that more than half now owns a mobile phone, according to the World Economic Forum. In Oman, despite having one of the highest mobile phone subscription rates at 154.6 per cent, the lack of access to the Internet is depriving many Omani citizens of the opportunity to take advantage of e-learning as well as online financial, data, and health services. Ziad Salameh, managing director & general manager Gulf, Levant & Pakistan and Middle East Services Leader, Cisco Systems, said, “At Cisco, we have learned that technology helps people find innovative solutions to address societal problems. We believe there has never been a better time to combine human ingenuity and technological innovation to improve the lives of all Omani citizens.” — Times News Service

Panasonic launches new range of document scanners Proper data management keeps office productivity high and with Panasonic Middle East and Africa (PMMAF)’s newly launched KV-SL10 series (KV-SL1066 and KVSL1056) scanners, it becomes easier to convert a number of documents into electronic data. Scanning documents into data helps to consolidate information, which improves work efficiency and it lowers the cost of handling documents and reduces the space needed to store them. According to Nelson Edward, Manager, System Networks and Communication, PMMAF, “With the advanced one-touch scanning in KV-SL10 series, a single press of the button confirms the desired settings.

Duplex scanning of documents from business-card size to A4 can be done with a single scan. Plus, double-sided scanning is done at the same speed as single-sided scanning which eliminates the need to repeatedly turn the document over to the front and back to rescan, and prevents missing pages when scanning.” In addition to its double-feed prevention roller which memorises to automatically disable Double-Feed Detection for documents with the same format, the double-feed prevention system is enhanced by an ultrasonic sensor that detects the double feeding of originals during scanning. — Times News Service

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

ROUND-UP 2016 Chevrolet Cruze: A modern design icon The vehicle’s innovative design features — both interior and exterior — set it distinctly apart from the rest; reflecting a high level of craftsmanship and artistry

MUSCAT: The new 2016 Cruze is a larger and lighter car. It represents even more efficient and sophisticated evolution of the Chevrolet’s best-selling global car.

The vehicle’s innovative design features — both interior and exterior — set it distinctly apart from the rest; they reflect a high level of craftsmanship and artistry. The well-equipped Cruze is also very attractively priced — starting from OMR5,999, says a press release.

The 2016 Cruze has a wide and low stance. It comes with a new fascia and new grille design, which offer a hint of Chevrolet’s nextgeneration design identity. The balanced proportions, attention to details, and stylish appeal exudes confidence and presence.

Style and technology come together in the 2016 Cruze. LED daytime running light (DRL) positioning lamps, projection fog lamps and dual square-type taillamps strengthen the Chevrolet character while adding value to the customer. Sophisticated design accents include chrome details on the front grille and garnishes, as well as boomerang-

shaped chrome bezels.

Thanks to the Keyless start feature, Cruze can be started simply with the push of a button. With Chevrolet MyLink, all the favourite requirements are in one place, conveniently displayed on the 7-inch diagonal colour touchscreen. A range of compatible smartphones can be just connected via Bluetooth wireless technology or USB port. Using voice or steering wheel controls, the touchscreen features such as hands-free calling and texting, as well as playing music can be accessed.

With the Bringgo smartphone app that delivers plenty of easyto-use functions, one can also instantly-access the navigation features. With an iPhone, an array of hands-free tasks can also be accessed using SIRI Eyes Free - one can text, make calls, ask for directions and even send e-mails.

A new level of entertainment can also be experienced on the go with access to over 70,000 radio stations from around the world by

connecting the free Tunein app on the smartphone to the available Chevrolet MyLink system.

The new rear fascia has a more balanced taillamp design to enhance the sculpted lines of the Cruze; these gently restrained lines extend from the rear bumper to the trunk. A wide chrome bar on the upper rear bumper gives the back end a more sophisticated and luxurious look.

The trendy new Saddle Up interior colour and a choice of newly designed 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels further add to the refined character.

The Cruze is equipped with an array of technically advanced safety systems, including Sensitive Electronic Stability Control (SESC) and Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA), which alerts the driver if a vehicle is in the left- or right-side blind spot.

The Cruze, which surpassed worldwide sales of 3 million units since its introduction, has collected 39 product awards around

AWA R D C E R E M O N Y

the globe.

The Cruze received a first-class rating with a perfect score in fullfrontal and side crash tests carried out by the Korean New Car Assessment Programme (KNCAP). It received the highest crashworthiness score of 97.7 points among 13 vehicles tested in 2014.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, with operations in over 115 countries and selling more than 4.8 million cars and trucks a year.

Chevrolet range of passenger vehicles in Oman include: Spark, Aveo, Sonic, Cruze, Malibu, Impala sedans, Camaro & Corvette performance sedans, Captiva, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban & Silverado SUVs. OTE Group is the exclusive dealer for Chevrolet in Oman with 12 showrooms spread across the Sultanate and offering excellent after-sales service support at par with global standards, with a nationwide service network.

TYRE TECHNOLOGY

Goodyear claims tyre fitment on Range Rover Sport DUBAI: Goodyear has announced the fitment of Range Rover Sport with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV tyres, a fitment that represents many years of working with Jaguar Land Rover.

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV fitment complements the car’s on-road dynamics and agile handling. The tyre offers cornering control so pressure is evenly distributed and road contact is maximised when cornering at a speed. It also provides improved handling on wet roads versus its predecessor via an asymmetric design that increases contact with the road surface and channels water to prevent aquaplaning. Finally the tread pattern reduces noise for a quieter, more comfortable drive to match the luxurious interior of the car, says a press release.

“The Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV tyre was a natural fit to complement the all-terrain performance of the latest Range Rover Sport. We have worked with Jaguar Land Rover for many years on several fitments, including the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. We are proud of our fitment on the Range Rover Sport,” said Hans Vrijsen, marketing director, Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Matthias Urban, consumer sales and marketing director at Goodyear MEA added: “With a cumulative growth rate of approximately 5 per cent per annum predicted in car sales up to 2017, the GCC is expected to see a massive increase in the number of cars on the road. Our collaboration with Range Rover is aimed to cater to the growing needs of the market and the fitment of the Range Rover Sport is a step in this direction. With the wide popularity of SUV and 4X4 vehicles in the region, we are confident the

The Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV tyre was a natural fit to complement the all-terrain performance of the latest Range Rover Sport. We are proud of our fitment on the Range Rover Sport Hans Vrijsen Marketing Director, Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa

Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric SUV tires will be widely accepted and enjoyed, especially by those who drive Range Rover models in the region.”

PROMOTION

Bank Sohar extends support to Al Morouj Centre’s summer camp SALALAH: As part of its constant endeavour to support initiatives that educate and reward young students within the Sultanate, Bank Sohar recently sponsored an award ceremony for a student summer camp organised by Al Morouj Centre in Salalah region.

The camp was aimed at cultivating and enhancing various arts, cultural, sports and science skills of students in the region, says a press release.

The 10-day summer camp concluded recently with a special ceremony held on the final day at the Crowne Plaza Resort, Salalah. The event, which was held under the auspices of Sayyid Mohamed bin Saif Al Busaidi, Wali of Taqaa, saw each of the students being honoured for their participation and achievements during the camp.

Also on display during the event were the various artworks created by the students during the camp.

Amer Said Al Amri, senior chief manager of Salalah Branch represented the bank at the event and TA P P I N G O M A N I TA L E N T

received a token of appreciation from the organisers.

Commenting on sponsoring the event, Munira Abdulnabi Macki, DGM Human Resources and Corporate Support at Bank Sohar said, “Participating in camps such as Al Morouj Centre students summer camp offers a great number of benefits for children. Aside from fostering team work, it greatly assists in developing positive values and traditional principles whilst enhancing existing skills and developing entirely new ones.

“Furthermore, the pleasant weather of the Khareef season presents an opportune time to hold such an event in the region. Given its benefits to the community, we as a local bank believe it is our responsibility to support such initiatives and do our part in fostering the development of our youth. On behalf of the bank I would like to congratulate Al Morouj Centre on the successful completion of the camp and look forward to supporting more educational programmes

in the future.”

Starting from August 1, ‘Al Morouj Centre Student Summer Camp 2015’ was held at the Al Morouj Centre for girls and was attended by over 55 female students from various local schools in the region. Held under the theme ‘My Summer: Values and Achievements’ the camp included various art, cultural, sports and science courses and activities. This included the creation of artistic pieces from various simple day-to-day materials, training courses on programming, networking and web designing, and courses in a number of traditional arts and folklore.

Supporting initiatives such as these have always been at the core of Bank Sohar’s corporate philosophy. In doing so, Bank Sohar hopes to make a meaningful contribution towards the development of the youth of the country and in the lives of those in need as well as highlight the responsibility that organisations have towards their community.

Mars picks ‘Money Rain’ winners BARKA: Mars Hypermarkets, one of the leading retail chains in the Sultanate, conducted the lucky draw to conclude their mega promotion ‘Mars Money Rain’ at Mars Hypermarket in Barka.

The mega prize of OMR10,000 was won by Ahmed Saleh bin Khalfan Al Rawahi (coupon No: 241526). The first prize, OMR5,000 was won by Sudhakar (coupon No: 544053), second prize of OMR2,000 each was won

by Khalil bin Ibrahim Al Bal-

ushi (coupon No: 095066) and Sulaiman Ibrahim (coupon No: 918740). The winners of third prize of OMR1,000 for five persons each and fourth prize of 10 numbers of OMR100 were also announced, says a press release.

The event was conducted under the patronage of the delegates from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of Naveej Vinod, executive director of Mars International, Unnikrishna Pillai, general manager, Saif

Al Malki, GM (administration) of Mars International and other members of senior management and staff.

Mars is organising such promotions regularly to give the customers maximum value for money and enable them to win exciting prizes. The list of winners name and details are published in all Mars outlets across Oman for reference and they will announce the date and place of prize distribution ceremony very soon.

VA L U E A D D I T I O N

Oman LNG shares insight into work and RBG Grill Muscat adds training opportunities at SQU career fair Omani dishes to menu MUSCAT: First edition of the career fair for Omani students studying abroad organised by the Omani Students Organisation at California State University, Long Beach, California was held at the Exhibition Hall, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), recently.

The objective of the event was to tap into the Omani talent studying abroad and give the students and graduates a clear idea of the employment and training opportunities Oman LNG has to offer, says a press release.

Mahmood Al Hadidi, head of Recruitment and Resourcing, shared insight into the company and the oil and gas business. He took time to explain the range of possibilities available to enlighten the students of the various development opportunities.

MUSCAT: Park Inn by Radisson Muscat’s signature restaurant RBG ‘the thrill of the grill” introduced a sizzling Omani menu catering to Omani patrons of the outlet and Omani food lovers.

The signature outlet of the hotel is best known for its modern casual grill cuisine. Succulent steaks and gourmet burgers cooked to perfection are served with complementing side dishes to make for a truly satisfying dining experience.

The menu also features appetising starters, alternative main course, mouth watering desserts and wide variety of beverage, says a press release.

Rabih Zein, general manager for Park Inn by Radisson Muscat and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel

& Residence Duqm, says: “For almost six years, the RBG Muscat maintains the best dining experience with our guests when it comes to food, drink, ambience and service. We are open for guest’s feedback to enhance the menu and satisfy their needs.”

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ROUND-UP ‘ B AC K- T O - S C H O O L’ C A M PA I G N

A’Saffa introduces special value packs

OHI Electronics opens Bose audio showroom The flagship showroom in Qurum City Centre displays its extensive array of audio products and has also created an ambience fully dedicated to experiencing better sound

MUSCAT: OHI Electronics, the exclusive dealer for Bose in Oman has re-opened the flagship Bose audio showroom in Qurum City Centre (QCC).

Bose is the leading global name in high quality audio products.

The showroom displays its exten-

sive array of audio products and has also created an ambience fully dedicated to experiencing better sound, says a press release.

Working with the motto of ‘Better sound through research’, Bose has always been at the forefront of creating cutting-edge audio devic-

es that use patented technologies and the best materials to produce superior quality sound.

Bose has a vast array of products ranging from home entertainment speakers and systems, to Wave music systems, premium automotive music systems, noise reduction headphones, public sound systems, and much more.

Coveted award Last year Bose won its seventh Plus X Award at the world’s largest competition for technology, sports and lifestyle brands. Bose is known globally as the most respected name in sound.

It has successfully grown from two employees working from a small office in the USA, to a busi-

ness that employs 10,500 people across different continents.

Devan Thuppali, general manager of OHI Electronics, said, “OHI Electronics is the exclusive dealer for Bose in Oman. For us it has always been a pleasure handling a reputed brand like Bose, which never compromises on its levels of quality or innovation.

Over the years the brand has built a niche customer base for itself in Oman. Its customers believe in listening to only the best quality sound. The newly renovated showroom is entirely in line with the global image of the brand and will have an exclusive zone where customers can fully experience the beauty of the sound produced by Bose products.”

RECRUIT QUOTES The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and selfrestraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. — Theodore Roosevelt You need to have a collaborative hiring process.

— Steve Jobs

SEND US YOUR VIEWS AND COMMENTS editor@timesofoman.com webeditor@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: A’Saffa Foods, the nation’s largest poultry and allied food product producer, has launched a special ‘Back-toSchool’ campaign celebrating children’s return to schools by introducing special value packs on healthy and tasty food options for them, says a press release.

“It’s a very simple truth that if you don’t give children a healthy, balanced meal, you can’t expect them to concentrate and focus,” said Sidhartha Lenka, head of Marketing and Sales, A’Saffa Foods. “We are proud of the work we’ve done to encourage healthy, nutritious and fresh food in Oman by introducing new food standards.”

Balanced meal “We want to encourage children and families to enjoy the food they eat, and hence ensuring a healthy, nutritionally balanced and halal meal by way of our back-toschool campaign has been important. Eating healthy, nutritious meals have been proven to help children fare better academically and through our back-to-school special value packs we hope to make progress in ensuring more

and more pupils all over the Sultanate can enjoy these benefits,” he added.

A’Saffa’s Back-to-School range of products is produced in the state-of-the-art production plant (fully automated, untouched by hand) in Muscat and is available in supermarkets and retail outlets across the country.

A’Saffa products are made with halal chicken and contains no hormones, steroids or chicken substitutes. One of the unique factors for A’Saffa has been its long standing commitment to providing pure natural products that delivers nutrition and ensures the final product for the consumer is tasty, fresh and packed full of nutrition.

Parents can safely give their children A’Saffa’s wholesome meal and enjoy peace of mind, as each and every A’Saffa product comes with a promise of purity of natural ingredients and fresh taste. Well known as one of the largest food producers in the Sultanate — A’Saffa Foods has designed the ‘Back-to-School’ promotion to encourage students and families across Oman to make healthy food choices.

B8

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

ROUND-UP

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Meethaq’s ‘Back to school with Baraem’ promotes savings habit among children On signing up, children receive a special welcome kit comprising Baraem Recognition Card which entitles them to discounts at favourite outlets and book stores

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, hosted an event at Muscat Grand Mall to promote savings habit among children.

Coinciding with the new school session, the 2-day ‘Back to School with Baraem’ event held on August

20 and 21 included fun activities and competitions which evoked strong response from children who were presented gift kits comprising school stationery, says a press release.

Meethaq’s Baraem is the first Shari’a based children’s savings

account in Oman. Baraem savings account targeted at children below 12 years can be opened by their parents.

Baraem encourages children to save and utilise the same for gainful purposes such as buying books as well as disciplined spending for

SPECIALISED SERVICES

food and entertainment.

Baraem fulfils the desire of children to have their own bank accounts like their parents, encouraging them to make savings a regular habit. On signing up, children receive a special welcome kit comprising Baraem Recogni-

tion Card which entitles them to discounts at favourite outlets and book stores. An interesting story book and educational aids which spark creativity are also presented to account holders.

Meethaq has created a micro site for Baraem on the bank’s web-

site where children can log on to learn more about their account in a friendly environment and also play some educational games.

Aimed at motivating children, a friendly mascot named Barum is associated with the children’s account to engage them in a world of fun and learning. Barum, the banking friend of children, interacts with children at popular hypermarkets and malls, guiding them on the basic concepts of savings.

Attractive Barum coin boxes also help children to maintain the savings habit.

Meethaq is well positioned to provide Islamic financial expertise to diverse segments and thereby promote the good of society as a whole. Meethaq offers a full suite of Islamic banking products, including savings account, current account, home finance, auto finance, credit card and mobile banking. Meethaq has adopted the best practices in Islamic banking and finance worldwide to combine a robust model which protects customers and complements the Islamic banking industry.

C U LT U R A L E X C H A N G E

KIMS provides exclusive care MEC students take part in summer at neonatology department school programme at UK varsity Neonatology department at KIMS Oman is equipped with advanced medical equipment and constitutes of 4-bed Neonatal Care Unit with ventilator and CPAP support. It also offers full management of extreme pre-mature babies of 28 weeks and above

MUSCAT: KIMS Oman Hospital (KOH), a 50-bedded hospital, provides full care for pre-mature babies and critical cases at its neonatology department.

Neonatology department at KIMS Oman is equipped with advanced medical equipment and constitutes of 4-bed Neonatal Care Unit with ventilator and CPAP support. It also offers full management of extreme pre-

mature babies of 28 weeks and above, says a press release.

The department is managed by skilled medical staff, headed by the highly experienced Dr Srinivasababu Subramanian, MBBS, MD, Paediatrics, who has a Neonatal fellowship from Australia.

Dr Babu is highly experienced in neonatal intensive care, management of sick babies and neonatal monitoring, well baby OP

clinic, IP services, 24 hours pediatrics and neonatal emergency as well as immunisation and vaccination.

“KIMS Oman is very proud of its neonatal department and highly experienced and professional doctors. It consists of state-of-the-art facilities and offering full care to pre-mature babies,” said Dr Hussam Akoum, chief operating officer at KOH.

MUSCAT: A student delegation from the Middle East College (MEC) returned from their visit to Coventry University, UK after participating in the summer school programme organised by the university.

The visit lasted for two weeks from August 3 to August 16. The students took part in several courses in English language, culture and history, writing, media and several others. There were also organised trips to some amazing historical places of importance, says a press release.

Arhab Al-Rahbi, supervisor of the MEC delegation says: “Our trip to Coventry University was joyful, interesting and well organised too. We met students’ delegation from many other countries who were participating in the summer school and it was a great opportunity for us to exchange our knowledge. We had a memorable visit to London, Oxford and the historical

village Stratford.”

Sami Al Rashdi, one of the student delegates said: “The visit commenced at the beginning of this month with a team of some of the top students in Middle East College. We were received by a group of delegations from Japan, India, Germany and Russia. I am happy to say that we benefited a lot

from this visit. We learned English language, culture and many other topics including the educational and entertaining trips.”

It is worth to be mentioned that the MEC has established strong links with various academic institutions around the world to enable its students to participate in different cultural exchange programmes.

LUXURY DRIVE

BMW 5 Series continues to be a success story in Oman MUSCAT: Since it was launched in 1972, the BMW 5 Series has established itself as the undisputed global leader within the executive car segment.

Its global success is also mirrored in Oman where the BMW 5 Series has maintained its position as a market leader in its segment with more than 3,000 cars sold to date. The 5 Series continued its success in the first six months of 2015 with 29 per cent increase compared to the same time last year, says a press release.

The BMW 5 Series is available in two design specific packages: Modern and Luxury. Both encompass distinctive design personalities which shine the spotlight on selected facets of the car’s character.

Both designs include LED fog lamps, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, or 19-inch for the Gran Turismo model, B-pillar trim and exterior mirror bases in high-gloss black, illuminated door pulls with chrome trim and likewise illuminated door sill strips with aluminium inserts

bearing BMW lettering.

The BMW Luxury Line exudes a high level of elegance and exclusiveness thanks to a carefully assembled selection of further particularly high-class features for the exterior and interior.

Refined interior Added touches include chrome finish of the trim bars in the outer sections of the lower air intake,

the fronts of the black kidney grille slats, the window recess finishers, the trim strip in the rear apron and the exhaust tailpipe embellishers, which all add gleaming touches to the vehicle’s exterior design.

Leather upholstery with exclusive stitching, a black sports leather steering wheel and interior trim strips in exquisite fine line anthracite wood create a particularly refined interior ambience.

The BMW Modern Line package displays a strikingly contemporary and dynamic edge. The air intake bars, kidney grille slats, rear trim strip and tailpipe embellishers come in matt chrome, and the instrument panel and sports leather steering wheel can be specified as an option in the light colour shade Oyster. Interior trim strips in dark Pearl and exclusive stitching for the optional leather uphol-

stery ensure the interior creates an eye-catching impression.

Performance and technology have always been key areas of expertise for the BMW brand, and agility and driving dynamics remain outstanding attributes of the BMW 5 Series, offering more Efficient Dynamics technology to make the 5 Series more powerful and fuel efficient.

The BMW 5 Series is available

in the following variants; BMW 520i, BMW 528i, BMW 535i and BMW 550i. The new generation of the V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology which is found under the bonnet of the BMW 550i offers a 10 per cent rise in output yet also significantly reduces fuel consumption.

The power plant generates 330 kW/450hp and maximum torque of 650 Newton metres (479 lb-ft) from its 4.4-litre displacement.

The multi-award-winning straightsix delivers 225 kW/306 hp to the BMW 535i. The engine powering the BMW 520i develops 135 kW/184 hp, while the unit offered for the BMW 528i from the launch of the new BMW 5 Series boasts revisions to various details and delivers 180 kW/245 hp. The range of on-board BMW Connected Drive technology in the BMW 5 Series expands on an already impressive network of driver assistance systems and mobility services designed to enhance safety, convenience and in-car infotainment.

A C C R E D I TAT I O N

Swissboring gets ISO certification MUSCAT: Alfonso D’Amato, resident manager of Swissboring & Company, received ISO 9001: 2008 Certificate from AIB-Vincotte International & Partners.

Swissboring Overseas PILING Corporation LTD, based in Dubai, started its activities in the Gulf region back in 1972 and has since made Dubai the centre of operations, not only for the United Arab Emirates but also for neighbouring countries and beyond. The subsidiary company, Swissboring & Co was established in Muscat in

1984, says a press release.

Swissboring has since applied the specialised expertise on about 5,000 soil investigation, under-

pinning and grouting projects and over 1,300 piling/shoring projects in Sultanate of Oman and other Gulf countries.

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM M ON DAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

SECTION

SPOR

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YOUR GAME

NO FAIRYTALE FAREWELL FOR SANGAKKARA There was no fairytale farewell but Kumar Sangakkara left behind a slew of batting records and a rich legacy after playing his final Test knock at the P Sara Oval on Sunday. >C3

NAIL-BITING FINISH: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt, fourth right, dips his head as beats Justin Gatlin of the US to the finishline in the 100m final at the World Athletic Championships in Beijing on Sunday. – AFP

Bolt back in business The blue riband sprint was variously cast as a morality play. It pitched Bolt against Gatlin and the Jamaican delivered victory in a time of 9.79 seconds that was far from his fastest but with a gutsy performance that will rank as one of his greatest

You guys are the ones that have been saying I need to save the sport so you have to write about that. For me I came here to add to my legendary status Usain Bolt

BEIJING: Usain Bolt swept aside a year of poor form and injury to retain his world 100 metres title in nail-biting fashion on Sunday and give his beleaguered sport the boost it so badly needed after three weeks of negative headlines.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has been in crisis since the results of thousands of blood tests were leaked in early August, forcing it to defend the sport against allegations of widespread doping.

In that context, the blue riband sprint at the 15th World Athletic Championships was variously cast as a morality play, a fight between good and evil and a nine-pointsomething seconds battle for the soul of the sport.

It pitched Bolt, whose status as a sporting icon was recently compared to that of the boxer Muhammad Ali by IAAF president-elect Seb Coe, against American Justin Gatlin, who has lost five years of his career to doping bans.

On Sunday, the Jamaican delivered victory in a time of 9.79 seconds that was far from his fastest

but with a gutsy performance that will rank as one of his greatest.

Bolt had already rejected a role as the saviour of his sport and he was no more inclined to accept the mantle after beating Gatlin into second place by one hundredth of a second.

“That’s for you guys to decide,” the 29-year-old said. “You guys are the ones that have been saying I need to save the sport so you have to write about that.

“For me I came here to add to my legendary status, to win and to continue my championship rights, so that’s the focus.”

Unbeaten run The victory maintained an unbeaten run in major global sprints that goes back to his three gold medals in world record times on three humid nights in Beijing seven years ago. While those victories were won by an athlete still discovering the limits of his talent, Sunday’s triumph at the same Bird’s Nest stadium was all about character.

Joint injuries had limited his season to a handful of runs and only

in London at the end of July was he able to approach the kind of times he once ran as a matter of course.

A stumble at the start of Sunday’s semifinal might have been a crushing blow to the nerves of a less confident athlete but Bolt recovered to win his heat and then just beat Gatlin to the line in the final having trailed for most of the race.

“I’ve had a lot of doubters, it’s been a tough road,” said the Jamaican. “So for me to come to the championships and retain my title is a beautiful thing.”

Gatlin, the form sprinter of the year, was gracious in defeat after his first loss in a 100 metres since 2013, blaming an early lurch for the line.

“I gave the race away in the last five metres,” said the 33-year-old, one of four sprinters in the final who have served doping bans.

“I had the momentum to lean forward but stumbled a little bit.

Win or lose, I was happy to be in a race against a great guy.”

Fairytale return Britain’s Ennis-Hill, returning to the sport after giving birth last year and a battle with niggling injuries, was all but gift-wrapped the gold medal after Johnson-Thompson failed to post a mark in the long jump.

Last world champion in 2009, Ennis-Hill capped a remarkable two days by storming home to win the final 800 metres heat in two minutes, 10.13 seconds to finish as the runaway winner with a total of 6,669 points.

Canada’s Commonwealth Games winner Brianne Theisen-Eaton, the gold medal favourite coming into the competition, settled for silver with 6,554 while Latvian Laura

Ikauniece-Admidina took bronze with a national record 6,516.

A shell-shocked JohnsonThompson was left languishing a distant 28th on 5,039 points. The 22-year-old came unstuck after deciding to go for broke in the long jump, attacking the board aggressively in a bid to claw back some of Ennis-Hill’s overnight advantage.

But her high-risk strategy backfired as she fouled her first two attempts and was red-flagged again despite landing a huge third jump, prompting an official protest from British officials which was quickly withdrawn.

Ennis-Hill, who nailed a season’s best long jump of 6.43m, gave the young pretender a consoling hug after watching her suddenly crash out of medal contention from second overall.

Among the muscle men, Poland’s hulking hammer king Pawel Fajdek retained the title he won in Moscow with a heave of 80.88 metres to make it 16 consecutive victories in all competitions.

Tajikstan’s Dilshod Nazarov took silver with 78.55, edging Pole Wojciech Nowicki (78.55) into bronze position by dint of having a better second-best throw.

American Joe Kovacs shattered German David Storl’s hopes of a hat-trick of world titles to win the men’s shot put with a best effort of 21.93 metres. Storl had to settle for silver with a best of 21.74.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Lopez broke Chinese hearts in the men’s 20 kilometres walk early on Sunday, the European champion overpowering Olympic bronze medallist Wang Zhen, who had looked set to win the host country’s first gold medal. - Agencies

CRICKET

OMAN BEGIN CAMPAIGN WITH VICTORY OVER SAUDI ARABIA Oman began their campaign in the GCC Under-18 Volleyball Championship with a 25-21, 25-21, 25-12 victory over Saudi Arabia at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Sunday. In the other matches of the opening day, Bahrain defeated Qatar 25-22, 25-19, 25-11 while Kuwait scored 25-21, 25-20, 25-13 win over the UAE. On Monday, Kuwait play Saudi Arabia, UAE meet Bahrain while Oman square off against Qatar. The championship concludes on August 29. — JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

Nair, Ojha to replace injured Vijay, Saha COLOMBO: India’s opening batsman Murali Vijay and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha will miss the rest of the Sri Lanka Test series due to hamstring injuries, the team management said on Sunday.

Uncapped young opener Karun Nair will replace Vijay, and Naman Ojha, who is also yet to play a Test, will come in for Saha ahead of the third and final Test in Colombo from August 28.

“Vijay has sustained mild reoccurrence on a pre-existing injury in his right hamstring and will need further training to recover completely,” a team statement said.

Saha suffered a strain in his right hamstring while batting in India’s second innings on Sunday and did not take the field when Sri Lanka batted, leaving Lokesh Rahul to keep wickets. - Agencies

FOOTBALL

Cameroon player dies after collapsing during match DOUALA: A 26-year-old striker for Cameroonian second division soccer team Dynamo de Douala collapsed during a match and later died, the central African nation’s professional soccer league said on Sunday.

Leopold Angong Oben was fouled in the penalty area, earning his team a spot kick during the first half of the match against Colombe du Dja-et-Lobo

at the Reunification Stadium in the commercial capital Douala on Saturday. He received treatment on the field and resumed play but collapsed minutes later.

His cause of death has not been disclosed. Oben was the second player from Dynamo de Douala to die in the span of three weeks after 27-year-old goalkeeper Ferdinand Mbog passed away following an unspecified illness. - Reuters

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SPORTS MISCONDUCT

India’s Ishant fined COLOMBO: India’s pace spearhead Ishant Sharma was on Sunday fined 65 percent of his match fee for on-field misconduct on two occasions during the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Sharma was charged with breaching provisions of the players’ code of conduct which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which could provoke an ag-

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England lift the urn

gressive reaction from a batsman upon his dismissal,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement.

The lanky seamer was fined 15 percent for provoking Lahiru Thirimanne after dismissing him during the third day’s play on Saturday, and another 50 percent for repeating the act against Dinesh Chandimal three overs later. - AFP

SPECIAL SUMMER: England players celebrate with the urn and the trophy at The Oval on Sunday. – Reuters

Australia skipper Michael Clarke celebrated an emphatic win on a rain-disrupted fourth day of his final Test match, Peter Siddle proving the inspiration. But Cook’s ‘proud’ England team celebrated with the urn

LONDON: Australia secured a consolation victory in the final Test by an innings and 46 runs on Sunday before England captain Alastair Cook lifted the Ashes urn at the end of a dramatic and fluctuating series.

Australia skipper Michael Clarke celebrated an emphatic win on a rain-disrupted fourth day of his final Test match, Peter Siddle proving the inspiration with figures of four for 35 as England were bowled out for 286 at The Oval.

“I am proud of the way we

played here, showing grit and determination and playing cricket the Australian way,” Clarke told reporters. “Congratulations to England, they thoroughly deserved to win the series. Today was not about me but about the team and I am incredibly proud to have been their captain.”

Cook could not conceal his delight at winning the series 3-2 after losing 5-0 in Australia in 2013-14.

“We can’t let this loss take the gloss off a special summer,” a beaming Cook said before being

presented with the urn. “Credit to Australia and the character they showed to bounce back here. They have shown what a good team they are and to have beaten them three times is a credit to our guys.

“The fact we were underdogs before the series helped us. We were able to play with a bit of freedom and put them under pressure at crucial times.”

England, 203 for six overnight, lost their first wicket of the day when Mark Wood was trapped lbw by Siddle for six, the Australians winning a review after the umpire initially ruled it not out.

Jos Buttler, on 42, played a loose drive at Mitchell Marsh and was well caught low down by Mitchell Starc at extra cover before Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad dug in ahead of the forecast rain which arrived 45 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval.

The hosts resumed in the afternoon after more than two hours play was lost to the weather on 258 for eight and Siddle soon bowled Broad for 11.

Siddle had Moeen caught by

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings: 481 England 1st innings: 149 England 2nd innings: A. Lyth c Clarke b Siddle 10 A. Cook c Voges b Smith 85 I. Bell c Clarke b Marsh 13 J. Root c Starc b Johnson 11 J. Bairstow c Voges b Lyon 26 B. Stokes c Clarke b Lyon 0 J. Buttler c Starc b Marsh 42 M. Wood lbw Siddle 6 M. Ali c Nevill b Siddle 35 S. Broad b Siddle 11 S. Finn not out 9 Extras (b-12, lb-18, w-7, nb-1) 38 Total (all out, 101.4 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-62, 3-99, 4-140, 5-140, 6-199, 7-221, 8-223, 9-263.

Bowling: Johnson 16-2-65-1 (w-2); Starc 16-4-40-0 (nb-1); Lyon 28-7-53-2; Siddle 24.4-12-35-4; Marsh 16-4-56-2 (w-5); Smith 1-0-7-1.

wicketkeeper Peter Nevill for 35 to clinch victory and the Australian players gave Clarke a guard of honour as he led them off the field for the final time. - Reuters

ODI

Guptill’s unbeaten century powers New Zealand to series-levelling win POTCHEFSTROOM: An unbeaten century from opener Martin Guptill eased New Zealand to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International at Senwes Park on Set a modest 205 for victory, New Zealand cruised to their target with 33 balls to spare on the back of Guptill’s 103 not out as they finished on 207 for two.

The victory levels the three match series at 1-1, with the deciding match to be played in Durban on Wednesday.

Three run-outs After winning the toss and electing to bat, South Africa never got momentum in their innings and were bowled out in the final over for 204, not helped by losing their last three wickets to run outs.

New Zealand bowled with accuracy on a slow wicket as the Proteas batsmen reached the bound-

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH AFRICA H. Amla c Elliott b Milne 8 M. van Wyk b Milne 2 R. Rossouw c Williamson b Bracewell 39 A. de Villiers c Guptill b Elliott 31 D. Miller c Munro b Bracewell 5 F. Behardien c Williamson b Bracewell 70 D. Wiese lbw Sodhi 8 V. Philander not out 30 A. Phangiso run out 1 D. Steyn run out 2 Imran Tahir run out 4 Extras (lb-3, w-1) 4 Total (49.3 overs) 204 Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-20, 3-68, 4-76, 5-107, 6-134, 7-188, 8-192, 9-195.

Bowling: Wheeler 9.3-1-39-0 (w-1), Milne

ary rope on just 15 occasions.

Only middle-order batsman Farhaan Behardien found any sort of fluency as he accumulated a neat 70 from 87 balls to give the home

10-0-39-2, Bracewell 10-0-31-3, Sodhi 10-0-59-1, Elliott 7-0-25-1, Worker 1-0-5-0, Munro 2-0-3-0 NEW ZEALAND M. Guptill not out 103 T. Latham c Rossouw b I. Tahir 64 K. Williamson b Phangiso 7 G. Worker not out 20 Extras (lb-3, w-10) 13 Total (2 wkts, 44.3 overs) 207 Fall of wickets: 1-126, 2-140.

Bowling: Philander 6-0-21-0, Phangiso 101-37-1 (w-2), Steyn 8-1-38-0 (w-4), Wiese 4-0-23-0 (w-1), Imran Tahir 10-1-42-1 (w-1), Behardien 2-0-18-0 (w-1), Rossouw 2.3-0-14-0 (w-1), De Villiers 2-0-11-0.

side some sort of target to defend.

Rilee Rossouw (39) and AB de Villiers (31) both got starts in the top-order, but could not kick-on.

The innings ended in farce

when Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir were all run out, with Vernon Philander (30 not out) the common denominator at the other end.

Credit must go to the way the New Zealand bowlers stifled the run rate though, with seamer Doug Bracewell the pick as he recorded figures of three for 31 in his 10 overs.

The tourists never looked troubled in their reply as a 126 run opening stand between Guptill and Tom Latham (64) laid the platform for the emphatic win.

Guptill’s ninth ODI century took 134 balls and while it lacked the brutality of some of his other international hundreds, was skilful batting on a pitch most other batsmen found difficult.

Debutant George Worker finished on 20 not out as he put on 67 runs with Guptill for the third wicket. - Reuters

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

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SPORTS RICH LEGACY

No fairytale farewell for Sangakkara

SRI LANKA’S GREATEST: Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara waves his bat as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the fourth day

of their second Test match against India in Colombo on Sunday. – Reuters

India eye Test victory as Sanga falls for 18 SCOREBOARD

The hosts, set a tough victory target of 413, slumped to 33 runs for two after Sangakkara’s dismissal before closing the fourth day’s play at 72 for two wickets

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara, the fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history, was dismissed for 18 in his last international innings on Sunday to leave Sri Lanka in trouble in the second Test against India.

The hosts, set a tough victory target of 413, slumped to 33 for two after Sangakkara’s dismissal before closing the fourth day’s play at 72 for two at Colombo’s P. Sara Oval.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne was on 25 and skipper Angelo Mathews was on 23. Sri Lanka begin the final day’s play on Monday needing 341 more to win with eight wickets in hand.

India, looking to level the threematch series after losing the first

India 1st innings: 393 India 2nd innings: M. Vijay lbw Kaushal 82 L. Rahul b Prasad 2 A. Rahane c Chandimal b Kaushal 126 V. Kohli lbw Kaushal 10 R. Sharma c Mubarak b Kaushal 34 S. Binny c Thirimanne b Prasad 17 W. Saha not out 13 R. Ashwin c Chandimal b Prasad 19 A. Mishra c Mubarak b Prasad 10 U. Yadav not out 4 Extras (lb-4, w-3, nb-1) 8 Total (for 8 wkts decl) 325 Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-143, 3-171, 4-256,

Test in Galle, declared their second innings at 325 for eight in the post-tea session after Ajinkya Rahane top-scored with 126.

It left the hosts facing a little less that four sessions to achieve the huge target or bat out for a draw on a slow, wearing pitch that should favour India’s spinners.

The highest successful fourthinnings run chase at the venue is 352 for nine by the hosts against South Africa in 2006.

Sangakkara did not have to wait long to bat after Sri Lanka lost opener Kaushal Silva in the third over, tapping a full toss from Ravichandran Ashwin to the short mid-wicket fielder.

Warm ovation A full house of some 7,000 home fans applauded warmly as Sangakkara was welcomed to the crease by two guards of honour

5-262, 6-283, 7-311, 8-318.

Bowling: Prasad 15-0-43-4 (nb-1), Herath 29-4-96-0, Chameera 14-0-63-0 (w-3), Mathews 2-1-1-0, Kaushal 31-1-118-4.

Sri Lanka 2nd innings: K. Silva c Binny b Ashwin 1 D. Karunaratne not out 25 K. Sangakkara c Vijay b Ashwin 18 A. Mathews not out 23 Extras (lb-4, nb-1) 5 Total (2 wkts, 21 overs) 72 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-33.

Bowling: Ashwin 10-5-27-2, Yadav 2-0-100, I. Sharma 4-0-18-0 (nb-1), Mishra 5-1-13-0.

— one formed by young children with raised bats near the boundary and another by Indian fielders.

He hit three boundaries but fell to Ashwin for the fourth time in as many innings in the series when he edged a catch to Murali Vijay off the 18th ball he faced.

Sangakkara finished with 12,400 runs from 134 Tests at an average of 57.40. He scored 38 centuries including a best of 319 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.

The Sri Lankan great follows Sachin Tendulkar of India, Ricky Ponting of Australia, Jacques Kallis of South Africa and Rahul Dravid of India in the all-time list of leading Test scorers.

Rahane anchored the Indian innings before being dismissed shortly before tea for 126, his fourth Test century that was studded with 10 boundaries.

Rahane put on 140 for the second wicket with Vijay (82) and 85 for the fourth with his Mumbai teammate Rohit Sharma (34).

‘Patience the key’ Rahane said India must be patient on the final day to claim the remaining eight wickets.

“I think the match is poised pretty well,” he said. “Through the four days we have played some good cricket but we need to stay in the present. Tomorrow we will take it one wicket at a time. The key will be to stay patient. The pitch is getting slower. There will be some partnerships but one good session for us can win us the Test.”

Dhammika Prasad, who took four wickets in India’s second innings, said Sri Lanka had not given up hope of giving Sangakkara a winning farewell.

“If we can win this game, that is the best gift we can give him,” said Prasad. “To go out with a win is the best farewell anyone can get.”

Prasad said he was fortunate to have played with Sri Lankan greats like Muttiah Muralitharan, Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara. “These are the three best cricketers from Sri Lanka,” he said. “I gave them a lot of respect.

Hopefully I will be able to do that again tomorrow for Sanga, if the need arises.”

Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, whose suffered a hamstring strain while batting, did not take the field in Sri Lanka’s second innings. Rahul kept wicket in his absence. - AFP

COLOMBO: There was no fairytale farewell but Kumar Sangakkara left behind a slew of batting records and a rich legacy after playing his final Test knock at the P Sara Oval on Sunday. Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin cemented his status as Sri Lanka’s current public enemy number one by dismissing the home hero for the fourth time in four innings.

Ashwin once again induced an edge which Murali Vijay pouched in gully as Sangakkara, arguably the greatest Sri Lankan batsman, finished his 134-Test career with 12,400 runs with a 57-plus average.

It puts him fifth in the list of highest Test run scorers, while the 14,000-plus runs he scored in 404 one-dayers before quitting the format after this year’s World Cup, places him second in the 50-over list after Sachin Tendulkar.

Sangakkara made 32 in the first innings of the second Test against India and came out early to bat in the second after Ashwin had dismissed Kaushal Silva in the third over of the innings.

As has been the case in the first innings, the 37-year-old walked out to a guard of honour by the Indians and the umpires and the otherwise phlegmatic cricketer betrayed nerves and nearly ran himself out after a misunderstanding with Dimuth Karunaratne.

He calmed nerves by unleashing the trademark flick that sent an Ishant Sharma delivery racing to the fence. The famed straight drive also made an appearance but like in the first innings, Ashwin made sure Sangakkara did not convert the start dismissing him for 18 to groans from spectators.

The Indians rushed to shake hands with Sangakkara, who took off his helmet and turned back to acknowledge the applause from the crowd. They gave him a standing ovation as he retreated into the dressing room.

It was not the ideal exit but Sangakkara left having cemented his place as, at least statistically, the greatest batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced.

“Thank you for all the love,” Sangakkara wrote on his twitter feed @KumarSanga2 soon after play ended. “Been my privilege to play for my country and in front of all the fans.”

Sangakkara follows Sachin Tendulkar of India, Ricky Ponting of Australia, Jacques Kallis of South

“Thank you for all the love,” Sangakkara wrote on his twitter feed @KumarSanga2 soon after play ended.

“Been my privilege to play for my country and in front of all the fans”

Africa and Rahul Dravid of India in the all-time list of leading Test scorers. Tendulkar, who retired in 2013, tweeted: “Well played @ KumarSanga2. You have been a terrific ambassador for the game and a thorough gentleman. Warm welcome to the club of the retired!”

Former team-mate Mahela Jayawardene, with whom Sangakkara shared a world record partnership of 624 against South Africa in 2006, said he was proud of his close friend’s achievements.

“It wasn’t to be in this match but what he was for Sri Lanka cricket is something that you can’t take away. Very proud of you mate,” Jayawardene wrote.

Sangakkara made his Test debut 15 years ago as a shy stumper-batsman against South Africa at Galle, entering a dressing room that contained big names including Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan.

In Mahela Jayawardene, he soon found a friend. Born five months apart, their partnership on field was often the foundation on which Sri Lanka built their innings.

A law student with a silver tongue, Sangakkara could easily get under the opposition’s skin but the 2012 ICC Cricketer of the Year never crossed the line.

Like Jayawardene, Sangakkara wanted to quit international cricket soon after the World Cup but was urged to stay on, helping the side under Angelo Mathews as they embarked on a tricky transition. Sangakkara, who has scored 63 international centuries, agreed to play four Tests, two each against Pakistan and India.

His fans desperately wanted him to score one more double century to equal Don Bradman’s record of 12 but that was not to be. - Agencies

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

SPORTS Ahmad in front row start at Snetterton As the 2015 championship nears its conclusion, the Oman Racing Team driver is determined to climb back onto the rostrum for the first time since the Rockingham race meeting in May

MUSCAT: Ahmad Al Harthy produced his best and most competitive qualifying performance of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship season at Snetterton 300 Circuit on Saturday to secure a richly deserved front row start for round seven of the campaign.

As the 2015 championship nears its conclusion, with just one event remaining after this weekend’s pair of 60-minute contests in East Anglia, the Oman Racing Team driver is determined to climb back onto the rostrum for the first time since the Rockingham race meeting in May. Set to begin the first of today’s races from second on the grid, 33-year-old Ahmad — who shares driving duties in the No.2 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 this weekend with new team-mate Alex MacDowall — certainly has a tremendous opportunity to make his aim a reality.

In the fight for the round seven pole position throughout his 10

AT HIS BEST: Ahmad Al Harthy in action at Snetterton. – Supplied photo

minute qualifying session, Ahmad set a benchmark of 1m50.977 seconds before then lowering his time to a best of 1m50.150 seconds, securing provisional pole position initially before being pipped by a mere 0.026 seconds. So close was the shoot-out, only 0.056 seconds separated the top three cars.

“It’s definitely my best qualifying of the year, I’m really delighted with P2 on the grid for the first race – it’s where we want to be and where we need to be”, said the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-backed driver.

“The car felt great, we’ve moved

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

encounters, which will both be screened live on Motors TV, Ahmad holds the lead in the Silver Cup standings while he is sixth in the outright British GT title battle.

In the entrant standings, the Oman Racing Team is in second position.

“It’s been good working with Alex for the first time”, said the Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador, “The GTE Aston he normally races in World Endurance is different to our GT3 car, so there are things to adjust to, but we’re hoping for two good, strong races this weekend. Alex has a lot of experience and is a proven, quick driver — I can’t wait for the first race to begin.”

Russian GP could become night race in 2017, organisers SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: The Russian Grand Prix could become a night race as early as 2017, according to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and organisers.

“We’ve talked about it. Maybe in 2017 — So you know you can book your tickets for the next 10 years,” Ecclestone told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix.

The race in Sochi has a contract to 2020 but Alexander Saurin, vice-governor of the Krasnodar region, and Russian GP chief executive Sergey Vorobyev said an extension was already being discussed.

“Bearing in mind the significantly growing popularity of Formula One in Russia, we are considering extension of the contract,” Saurin, speaking through Vorobyev, told reporters after meeting Ecclestone.

“We are assessing the idea (of a night race) from a commercial perspective and now we are calculating the cost of that,” he added. “But we are working towards having a night race some time in the future. Not earlier than 2017.”

Last year’s race in the Black Sea resort was Russia’s debut on the calendar but it is set to move from an October slot to May 1 next year at the organisers’ request to fit in with Russia’s major holiday period.

Saurin said ticket sales for this year’s race on October 11 would exceed last year and had been boosted by the success of Red Bull’s Russian driver Daniil Kvyat, who finished second in Hungary last month.

“Even last year he was attracting a huge interest.having a local hero is transforming also the event for the people for whom Formula One is a new sport,” he said.

The race in Sochi has a contract to 2020 but Alexander Saurin, vice-governor of the Krasnodar region, and Russian GP chief executive Sergey Vorobyev said an extension was already being discussed

“We expect and are finding ways to have even more people this year. The second place for Daniil Kvyat in the previous race has helped greatly. We have seen a huge rise in ticket sales right after that.”

The Russian Grand Prix was held up as a legacy of the breathtakingly expensive 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the track snakes around the park that housed some of the venues.

Saurin said the race, and the use of the circuit for other events, had lived up to expectations for post-Olympic development.

“From the previous event (grand prix), we’ve had more than 70 big corporate and sporting events,” he said. “The circuit is constantly working so this is a major legacy.

“We believe that in 2016 we will have at least one or two other international series coming.” - Reutres

BELGIAN GP

India start preparations for match against Iran PUNE: The Indian football team will kick off their preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against continental powerhouse Iran at the DSK Dream City here on Monday.

National coach Stephen Constantine, who has called up 28 players for the camp, is hopeful of producing a fighting performance against the top-ranked team in Asia. Prior to hosting Iran at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 8, India will

it forward since the last round, and my lap was the best I could do for sure. My session was unbelievably close between the top three, we almost had pole position but the front row is fantastic and a real boost for everyone.”

Aston Martin ‘works’ driver MacDowall, drafted into the Oman Racing Team this weekend to partner Ahmad, qualified 13th quickest in the round eight session. Normally piloting a GTE specification car in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the GT3-spec Aston is a different prospect but the Briton undoubtedly brings important experience to the team.

Going into the two one-hour

FORMULA ONE

play a practice match against Nepal on August 31 at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune.

India face an uphill task in their attempt to make the grade for the 2018 World Cup after losing their second Group D encounter 2-1 away to minnows Guam in June.

They had earlier lost by a similar margin to Oman.

Constantine, who paid a visit to the training site along with his support staff, praised the facilities provided by the DSK authorities. - IANS

Hamilton cruises to dream win SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Belgian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to stretch his lead over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to 28 points with eight races remaining.

Rosberg finished 2.0 seconds behind the Briton, in a dry race despite teams anxiously studying weather maps for approaching rain in the final stages, to complete Mercedes’ seventh one-two in 11 races.

“Today was a dream and the car was fantastic all weekend,” declared Hamilton, who controlled the race from the opening lap — after an aborted first start — and never looked threatened by his German rival.

“I was never in a position where I felt nervous, I had great pace in the car. There was no real need to push more than I had to.”

The two collided at Spa last year, with Hamilton having to retire, but the risk of that happening again receded when Rosberg made a slow getaway off the front row.

“I just completely messed up the start,” said the German, who had hoped to capitalise on changed starting procedures that leave more to the driver and prevent engineers from helping remotely. Lewis did a great job, he deserved to win.”

France’s Romain Grosjean took an emotional third place for Lotus after Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, in his 150th race and the team’s 900th, suffered a right rear tyre blowout on the penultimate lap.

“It was probably one of my best races ever,” said the Frenchman,

POLE TO PODIUM: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Spa on Sunday. – AFP

back on the podium for the first time since 2013 in a boost for a financially-troubled team who arrived in Spa with the threat of having their cars impounded hanging over them.

“Being here today is special for us, it has the price of a race win.”

Hamilton has now won six races this season, and 39 in his Formula One career.

The double champion has 227 points to Rosberg’s 199 and Sunday was also his 80th podium appearance, equalling the achievement of boyhood hero and late triple world champion Ayrton Senna.

Russian Daniil Kvyat finished fourth for Red Bull after a late charge through the field with Mexican Sergio Perez, who had stormed into second place at the start, finishing fifth for Force India.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was sixth for Williams, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen seventh after starting in 16th place, and 17-year-old Belgian-born Dutchman Max Verstappen eighth for Toro Rosso.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas was ninth for Williams, after an embarrassing team error that saw him leave the pits with three soft

tyres and one medium fitted, and Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson took the final point for Sauber.

Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg caused the aborted start, and reduction of the race to 43 laps instead of 44, when he reported a loss of power and raised his hands. The German returned to the Force India garage and retired.

The McLaren pair of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, who started last after picking up a meaningless combined grid drop of 105 places — despite there being only 20 in total — finished 13th and 14th. - Reuters

I S C TA B L E T E N N I S

Sai Saran, Yash make confident start MUSCAT: Fancied P. Sai Saran and Yash Tanna made a confident start in the boys under-15 singles event of the Annual Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat. The tournament is being cosponsored by Muscat Insurance Services (MIS) and Oman United Insurance Company (OUIC).

Despite of receiving a jolt in the second game, P. Sai Saran settled down to tame Sanskar Dubey with

a 11-7, 13-15, 11-7, 11-2 victory in the round-robin league of the boys under-15 singles. Yash Tanna faced anxious moments before edging past left-hander Shounak Kelkar with a narrow 12-10, 11-9, 14-12 victory in Group-B of the same event.

M.V. Sai defeated Jeet Mehta 11-9, 11-3, 11-7 and P. Sai Saran scored his second win with a fine 11-3, 11-6, 11-4 win over R. Vignesh. Sanskar Dubey scored two back-to-back wins, first with a

hard-fought 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 3-11, 11-6 victory over R. Vignesh and followed it up with a comfortable 11-1, 11-5, 11-1 demolition of Sundar Rajan. In another match of the same event, Shounak Kelkar defeated MV Said 11-5, 11-9, 11-5.

In action from the boys under-13 singles, top seed Shounak Kelkar was ruthless in his 11-2, 11-1, 11-2 demolition of Madhav Vinod in the quarterfinals.

In other quarterfinal encoun-

ters of the same event, M V Said upset second seed Sanskar Dubey in a five-game thriller which the former won 11-7, 11-8, 8-11, 9-11, 11-5 to enter the semifinals.

Third seed Aditya Sriram was also shown the exit when Allan Thiyagaseelan send him crashing with a brilliant 11-5, 11-6, 11-6 triumph while fourth seed Prakhar Pateriya rallied from a game down to beat Vedant Bahirat 11-3, 11-9, 11-3, 11-4.

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SPORTS

The Wave, Muscat eye hat-trick and Oman Air move up in Russia A total of 10 podium places were achieved, including two outright victories for Stevie Morrison’s Oman Air and one for the crew on The Wave, Muscat

MUSCAT: The Wave, Muscat is on course to claim a hat-trick of Extreme Sailing Series wins after dominating the action on the third day of racing in St Petersburg and stretching their lead at the top of the table, while Oman Air rose two places in the rankings on an exceptional day for both Oman Sail’s Extreme 40 crews.

A total of 10 podium places were achieved, including two outright victories for Stevie Morrison’s Oman Air and one for the crew on The Wave, Muscat.

By the end of racing on Saturday, two-time Extreme champion McMillan had extended The Wave, Muscat’s lead over second placed Red Bull to a sizeable 24 points.

The lead, according to The Wave skipper, put them in a good position to secure overall victory.

“We have had a very good day and our plan is to hold firm to the end to make it three victories in

TWO PLACES UP: Oman Air has steadily improved their position on an exceptional day. – Supplied photo

MOVING CLOSER: The Wave, Muscat have moved closer to winning the top honours at the Extreme Sailing Series Act 6 in St Petersburg. – Supplied photo

a row, following our wins in Cardiff and Hamburg and match our achievements of three years ago,” said McMillan.

“Everyone was in sync today, working really well together and putting into practice what we have learned. Tomorrow is the last day and we can take nothing for granted because the wind will be blowing in a different direction which is bound to mix things up a bit.”

Spirits were high too on Oman Air, who were lying in sixth place overall at the start of the day but had risen two places to fourth by the close of racing after scooping two wins in nine races and scoring two more podium places to boost their score.

“We had a good day’s racing and, for once, our results reflected our performance!” said skipper Stevie Morrison. “Luck plays a part in

More podium places One of McMillan’s key crewmember, Sarah Ayton, said they were revelling in the conditions on the River Neva and enjoying racing together as a team.

“These results today reflect the really good teamwork on The Wave, Muscat. With Leigh and Pete Greenhalgh at the back and Nasser Al Mashari on the bow, it is really high energy and very enjoyable.”

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

this sort of racing and today a couple of gaps opened up that we were able to capitalise on so we kept chipping away. As a crew, we are definitely understanding the boat better and feel we are sailing well.”

Omani bowman Ali Al Balushi, making his debut in the Extreme Sailing Series this year, was also getting a taste for success and looking ahead to what they might be able to achieve on the last day,

in particular the final race which carries double points.

“There are 13 points between us and Lino Sonego Team Italia in third but if we sail well and post some good performances, we will be pushing for a podium place,” he said. “We feel like we are sailing well and getting better all the time.

It will be tight, but we will be doing everything we can to close the gap and win our first podium place.”

FOOTBALL

Indian Ambassador to preside ‘Man City rumours affecting over annual hockey festival De Bruyne and Wolfsburg’ MUSCAT: Team Coorg, UTSC and Friends of Naqvi Group will jointly organise the 69th Independence Day of India Hockey Festival at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex (SQSC) on August 29.

The ninth edition of the festival, to be organised under the patronage of the Indian Embassy and in coordination with the Oman Hockey Association (OHA), will take place from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm.

Indian Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey will preside the festival as chief guest while OHA chief Sheikh Mahfoodh Ali Juma Al Juma will be the guest of honour.

“It is will be a double delight for the hockey lovers as August 29 is also the National Sports Day of India which is celebrated as Dhayanchand Day as a honour to the hockey legend,” the organisers said.

Raha Poly Products, Al Ansari Group Of Companies, Al Omaniya Financial Services, Muscat Pharmacy (Pocari Sweat) and Glass Point are expected to support the

CHIEF GUEST: Indian Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey.

GUEST OF HONOUR: OHA chief Sheikh Mahfoodh Al Juma.

event. The day’s proceedings will include two matches - one for the Independence Day of India Cup between Ambassador’s XI and Indian School Al Seeb and the second for the Dhyan Chand Day Cup between Team Coorg Muscat and

Muscat Desert Fox. The organisers have appealed to all hockey lovers to turn up in large numbers and be part of the hockey festival to enjoy to the event as well as commemorate the 69th Independence Day of India

BERLIN: Constant speculation as to whether Kevin de Bruyne will join Manchester City is unsettling both VfL Wolfsburg’s midfield star and his teammates, club boss Klaus Allofs admitted on Sunday.

According to British media reports, City are poised to raise their offer to £50 million ($78.1m) to meet Wolfsburg’s asking price for the Bundesliga’s player of the year for 2014-15.

The deal would be a club record for City, surpassing the £49 million they paid for Liverpool’s England midfielder Raheem Sterling, while Wolfsburg paid Chelsea just £17 million for De Bruyne in 2014.

But after failing to shine in Wolfsburg’s season-opening 2-1 league win over Eintracht Frankfurt last Sunday, De Bruyne put in another below-par performance in Wolfsburg’s 1-1 draw at Cologne on Saturday in the Bundesliga.

Last season’s runners-up needed a late Nicklas Bendtner goal to

According to reports, City are poised to raise their offer to £50m ($78.1m) to meet Wolfsburg’s asking price for De Bruyne

equalise and Allofs, Wolfsburg’s director of sport, said the uncertainty about De Bruyne’s future has been a distraction for both the player and the team.

“It’s true that we are influenced by it, but we can’t complain and we have to learn to deal with such disturbances and distractions,” said Allofs.

“Kevin’s performances has corresponded with that of the team, but that’s a good sign that he is still part of the side.

“It doesn’t mean that he has played particularly badly, just that he hasn’t produced his best performances on two occasions.

“I will not accept it as an excuse.

We can’t just blame everything on the current situation.”

The Belgian has been outstanding for Wolfsburg since arriving from Chelsea in January last year and Allofs does not expect the City speculation to end until the transfer window closes on August 31.

Before then, fifth-placed Wolfsburg host Schalke, who are currently third, next Friday in a key league match.

“The question I’ll answer by August 31 at the latest,” Allofs replied when asked if De Bruyne will remain a Wolfsburg player.

“If you ask me now if he’ll play on Friday against Schalke, the answer as of today is ‘yes’.” - AFP

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Pedro lifts 10-man Chelsea, Man City back on summit A £21.2m signing from Barcelona earlier this week, reportedly snatched from beneath Manchester United’s noses, Pedro scored Chelsea’s opener and created a goal for Diego Costa as Jose Mourinho’s side went 2-0 up at The Hawthorns FIRST GOAL: Chelsea’s Pedro celebrates after scoring a goal against West Bromwich Albion during their English Premier League match at The Hawthorns on Sunday. – Reuters

LONDON: Debutant Pedro Rodriguez inspired 10-man Chelsea to a 3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, while Manchester City recaptured the Premier League summit by winning 2-0 at Everton.

A £21.2 million ($33.2 million) signing from Barcelona earlier this week, reportedly snatched from beneath Manchester United’s noses, Pedro scored Chelsea’s opener and created a goal for Diego Costa as Jose Mourinho’s side went 2-0 up at The Hawthorns.

Having earlier missed a penalty, James Morrison scored twice in response, but despite captain John Terry’s red card for a last-man foul, Cesar Azpilicueta’s first league goal proved enough to give Chelsea a first victory of the Premier League season.

Asked for his thoughts on Terry’s dismissal, which came after he was substituted at half-time of last weekend’s 3-0 loss at Manchester City, Mourinho told Sky Sports: “I prefer to have no views.”

“I prefer to try to keep quiet.

“I know many people are disappointed with this result. People love Chelsea to lose again. I’m so happy the players got what they deserve. Four points in three matches is not enough. The feeling is we are fighting against a lot. But today we won.”

It was Chelsea’s first win at West Brom in five attempts and saw the defending champions belatedly find their gear after a 2-2 draw with Swansea City and the chastening defeat at the Etihad Stadium. They finished the weekend in ninth place, five points below Manchester City, who replaced Leicester City at the top after second-half goals by Aleksandar Kolarov and Samir Nasri put paid to Everton.

On a dark, squally afternoon in the West Midlands, Morrison squandered an early chance to put West Brom ahead when his penalty was blocked by Thibaut

Courtois — back in the Chelsea goal following suspension — after Nemanja Matic had tripped Callum McManaman.

Fifteen minutes later, Pedro announced his arrival in English football by darting infield from the right, exchanging passes with Eden Hazard and finding the bottom-right corner with the aid of a deflection.

Chelsea’s fans launched into a chorus of “Are you watching Manchester?” and United’s supporters will have found themselves looking away again 10 minutes later when Pedro’s cross-shot was turned in by Costa.

Morrison reduced the arrears by bludgeoning home when Salomon Rondon hooked James McClean’s cross back into the box, only for Azpilicueta to restore the visitors’ two-goal cushion in the 42nd minute by rolling in a shot after Costa had chested down Cesc Fabregas’s pass.

Pulis tight-lipped Terry saw red nine minutes into the second half for pulling Rondon back as he bore down on goal before Morrison reduced the arrears with a glancing header, but Chelsea held out, Courtois thwarting Rondon in added time.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis dropped Saido Berahino from his squad after he was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Tottenham Hotspur, but the Welshman was reluctant to discuss the matter after the game.

“We’re talking about Saido because of the transfer window,” Pulis said. “Everybody here today should be talking about the game and this wouldn’t be an issue. It can be disruptive and has been.”

At Goodison Park, both sides hit the woodwork either side of halftime, with Romelu Lukaku skimming the crossbar from an Everton free-kick and David Silva rattling the post for City.

EMBOLDENED

Lukaku had earlier seen a goal ruled out for offside, but it was City who took the lead on the hour.

Raheem Sterling glided into the Everton box from the left and slipped a pass to the overlapping Kolarov, who deceived Tim Howard with a near-post finish from an almost impossible angle.

After Vincent Kompany had cleared a header from Gareth Barry off the line, Nasri sealed victory in the 88th minute by playing a one-two with Yaya Toure and neatly lobbing Howard.

Victory saw Manuel Pellegrini’s side complete a sequence of nine league wins for the first time since September 1912 and left them as the only side in the top flight with three wins to their name.

Liverpool, who won their first two games, visit Arsenal on Monday. In Sunday’s other game, Watford and Southampton were both left waiting for a first win after a 0-0 draw at Vicarage Road. - AFP

SHOCK RETURN

Milan linked with loved one Balotelli, says report MILAN: Mario Balotelli has been linked with a shock return to AC Milan after club CEO Adriano Galliani spoke of his love for the Liverpool misfit.

Balotelli’s club career has stalled at Anfield after joining the Reds from Milan last year and the 25-year-old played his last game for Italy at the Azzurri’s ill-fated World Cup campaign in Brazil.

But with former Sampdoria coach Sinisa Mihajlovic now in charge of the seven-time European champions, reports in Italy claim Balotelli is on his way back to the club.

Galliani indicated that both he and club president Silvio Berlusconi would support Balotelli’s return to the club.

“Some loved ones leave and then they return: the president and I are both romantic souls,” Galliani told Sky Sport.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Balotelli has already spoken with Mihajlovic and the club are preparing an offer that would see the striker complete a loan deal.

The possible return of the troubled star — whose offfield antics while a player with Manchester City only fuelled his notoriety — is being given a mixed reception.

In a snap poll on Gazzetta’s website 74 percent of readers believed it to be “the wrong move” for the club, with only 26 percent favour.

Balotelli began his professional career under Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan, when Mihajlovic was the coach’s assistant, in 2007.

He spent three troubled years at Manchester City in 20102013, a period marked by regular off-field antics and a poor disciplinary record that saw him fall out with Mancini.

Balotelli returned to Italy, signing for Inter’s bitter rivals Milan in January 2013, but was sold to Liverpool in the summer of 2014. - AFP

‘PILLORIED’

Liverpool out to make statement at Arsenal Blatter ‘unfairly treated’, LONDON: Emboldened by backto-back victories, Liverpool visit longstanding rivals Arsenal on Monday looking to score points in the early-season battle for position in the Premier League.

Liverpool lost 4-1 on their last trip to the Emirates Stadium in April as their challenge for a Champions League place faded, with Brendan Rodgers’s side taking just eight points from a possible 27 in the run-in.

But having beaten Stoke City and Bournemouth, and with Arsenal having lost 2-0 at home to West Ham United on the opening weekend, Liverpool return to north London with confidence at least partially restored.

“No matter when these games come in the season, they’re always good for the psychological effect,” Liverpool manager Rodgers told his pre-match press conference.

“Of course, we’ve got tough games (to come) away from home, but we’ll arrive into the game with confidence.

“We know they’re an outstanding group of players with some quality individual players, but there’s a real focus in this group for this season, a real toughness mentally,” he said.

“And we know we’ve got that ability to scrap and to fight to get a result, as well as play good football.

No matter when these games come in the season, they’re always good for the psychological effect Brendan Rodgers Liverpool manager

“So if we can go there and perform like we think we can and have that game-plan, we’re confident that we can get a result.”

Liverpool have won only once in their last 18 games at the Emirates and their 5-1 demolition of Arsenal at Anfield in February 2014 was the only success in their last eight meetings with Arsene Wenger’s side.

Both teams tend to approach games looking to dominate the ball, but Rodgers says that as far as possession is concerned, he is more interested in quality than quantity.

“If you look at Arsenal’s last 10 games that they’ve lost at home, the teams that have won there, it’s been about dangerous possession,” he said.

“The teams that have been there have only averaged around four shots on target and with 43 percent possession.

“So it tells you that you can go there and you don’t need to dominate the ball, but you can dominate the space and that’s obviously something that is important, especially in the big games away.”

‘Strong at home’ While Arsenal claimed their first points of the season by winning 2-1 at Crystal Palace last weekend, the opening loss to West Ham called their credentials as title contenders into question. A second home defeat in succession would see yet more scorn poured on Arsenal’s title chances and Wenger knows it is of paramount importance that his players put the West Ham result behind them.

“If you want to have a successful season, you want to be strong at home,” said the Frenchman. “Normally we are strong at home. This is an opportunity to show that.

“We missed our first game and we had to look at ourselves, and we responded very well. Now we need to come back to our usual strength that we have at home.

“This is a very important game where the result will of course be vital. It’s not a result that will decide (anything), but in our heads we know it’s very important.”

Arsenal have no new injury concerns, with midfielder Jack Wilshere (fractured fibula), forward Danny Welbeck and midfielder Tomas Rosicky (both knee) still sidelined.

Unlike against West Ham, Arsenal are expected to have Alexis Sanchez in the starting XI after he returned to the team at Palace. - AFP

says FIFA reform chief

GENEVA: Swiss lawyer Francois Carrard, appointed by FIFA to carry out reforms in the wake of a corruption scandal, says the federation’s chief Sepp Blatter has been “unfairly treated.”

“There is something unfair in the way he is treated. I am saying this in a completely independent capacity,” Carrard said in an interview published Sunday in Le Matin Dimanche newspaper.

“He is being pilloried. He has indeed made mistakes, but he has also made positive contributions... this man is being unfairly treated.”

Carrard, 77, was appointed by FIFA on August 11 to lead the world football governing body’s Reform Committee after the corruption scandal erupted in May, when seven football officials were arrested at a Zurich hotel on the eve of a FIFA Congress.

The seven FIFA officials were among 14 people facing charges in the United States over more than $150 million (137.87 million euros) of bribes for marketing and broadcasting contracts.

In parallel, Swiss investigators are looking into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Blatter went on to win a fifth

term in office, but under pressure he suddenly announced he would stand down next February when a new election for his post would be held.

Blatter denies any wrongdoing and Carrard appeared to back him, telling Le Matin that he had not seen a shred of evidence against his fellow Swiss.

“Since we are are talking about corruption... I have the entire American case in my possession and it contains not one single word against him,” he said.

“As it stands, I am not aware of the slightest indication of corruption on Blatter’s part.”

Carrard, who previously was in charge of implementing reforms at the International Olympic Committee in the wake of the bribery scandal-hit Winter Olympics of 2002, is due to present his reform proposals to a FIFA congress meeting on February 26, when Blatter will officially stand down.

The Reform Committee he presides, which will meet for the first time in Bern on September 2 and 3, comprises two officials from each of the six FIFA confederations. He will also consult with sponsors and other parties involved near the end of October. - AFP

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M O H A M M E D N A IM | fa i s al @ t i m e so f o m a n .c o m

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

LIFESTYLE

Gearbox/transmission consists of gears and gear trains that use power transmission systems to provide speed and torque conversion

T

he transmission of a vehicle enables the driver to change gears, effectively transferring power from the engine to the drive axle in the most efficient way possible. It does this by varying the gear ratio. In lower gears, this increases available power while reducing speed. Higher gears, on the other hand, reduce power and increase speed. This enables cars to distribute power and speed in the most efficient way for any given situation.

But whilst everyone agrees that a transmission is absolutely vital to the inner workings of any car, there remains an impassioned debate as to what kind of transmission is superior — automatic or manual.

Up until relatively recently, it was an accepted fact that manual-transmission cars were better, cheaper, had better fuel economy, and were all the more fun to drive.

But manual transmissions are becoming increasingly scarce, thanks to the drastic improve-

MYTHS ABOUT STICK SHIFTS Cars with stick shifts and clutches have their ardent defenders, but some of the reasons they cite for their superiority and desirability aren’t supported by facts.

Here are three myths about stick shifts:

The coolest sports cars only come with manual transmissions.

This depends on your definition of “cool sports car.” The seventh-generation 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and many flavours of the 2014 Porsche 911 offer a choice of a manual or automatic transmission. But if your choice is the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3, which Edmunds editors call “the baddest Porsche on the block,” you can only get an automated manual transmission.

The same goes for the 2014 Jaguar F-Type the 2013 Maserati GranTurismo,2013 Lamborghini Aventador and the 2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. No manual gear shifting ballet for you.

ments in the automatic transmission technology. Though the stick shift hasn’t yet gone the way of the passenger pigeon and the dodo, it has definitely become an endangered species, despite its ardent defenders.

Both options have unique advantages and disadvantages, but while one may be perfect in certain situations, it may end up being absolute rubbish in another.

So, before you make any decisions regarding where you stand on the transmission debate, read on to familiarise yourself with the basics, benefits, and trade-offs associated with the two.

Understanding the basics Just like that of a manual transmission, the automatic transmission’s primary job is to allow the engine to operate in its narrow range of speeds while providing a wide range of output speeds.

Without a transmission, cars would be limited to one gear ratio, and that ratio would have to

be selected to allow the car to travel at the desired top speed. If you wanted a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h), then the gear ratio would be similar to fourth gear in most manual transmission cars.

You’ve probably never tried driving a manual transmission car using only fourth gear. If you did, you would quickly find out that you had almost no acceleration when starting out, and at high speeds, the engine would be screaming along near red line. A car like this would wear out very quickly and would not be drive-able.

Basically, automatic transmissions are easier to use and more comfortable for the driver, while manual transmission vehicles are less expensive and more involving.

Of course, there are exceptions to any rule and the only way to be sure which one is right for you is to go for a test drive. After all, you may need to get from point A to point B, but it’s completely up to you how you make the journey.

Cars with manual transmissions always get better fuel economy than cars with automatics.

In the past it was pretty much a given that vehicles with manual transmissions would be more fuelefficient than their automatic counterparts. But as automatics become more advanced and gain additional gears, they are often now overtaking manuals in terms of fuel economy.

For example, with the 2014 Ford Focus, it’s the six-speed automatic version that performs better, getting 31 mpg combined (27 city/37 highway), than the conventional manual transmission variant which gets 30 mpg combined (26 city/36 highway).

And it’s not just economy cars where you can find this trend: A 2013 BMW 328i sedan will get the same combined fuel economy (26 mpg) whether you opt for the manual or automatic transmission.

Automatic transmissions are no loss. Some people are stuck on the mindset that a driver is faster with a manual box. But there’s a reason why some major performance-car manufacturers, including Ferrari and Jaguar, no longer offer traditional manual transmissions.

They just aren’t as good.

Ken Hill Professional racer, driving educator and Vice President of operations for Automotive Adventures, Bellevue, Washington

A car with a manual transmission costs less than the same model with an automatic.

In most cases, the manual version of a car will indeed cost less, but in some instances, it’s the same price as an automatic. Examples include such GM vehicles as the 2013 Cadillac CTS-V. Among BMWs, the manual is often the same price as the automatic. Further, you can’t always get the car you want with a manual transmission: 67 per cent of 2013 model-year cars came only as automatics.

PHOTOS: SUPPLIED

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MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

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LIFESTYLE BRIEFS

An app that eases office frustration, well almost Having pent up feelings about your office culture or the colleagues? There is a new avenue now where you can unload your frustrations without the risk of bumping into your boss. The app called Memo gives workers an opportunity to share their stories and post anonymous messages about their employers, SFgate.com reported. Workers from Oracle, Cisco, HP, eBay, Delta Airlines and more are already logging on to share their views and experiences on everything from workplace culture, policies, managerial style, etc. Memo users are verified through LinkedIn or a corporate e-mail address and Memo immediately deletes identifying data about a person, the company said. The app comprises a public message board that can be viewed by all users, as well as a private board that is limited to employees of a given company. The app permits users to post memos, comment on existing memos and links to websites.

Users will soon be able to upload files, including photographs and documents to the app’s public and private streams. Memo founder Ryan Janssen was reported as saying that he developed the app to create a platform for employees to share feedback about company policies and practices.

New method to help decode rare fragile manuscripts Norwegian researchers are developing new high-tech tools to unlock the secrets hidden in fragile pieces of parchment that are difficult to study because of their age, rarity and susceptibility to contamination. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s Gunnerus Library are using a novel technique called hyperspectral imaging to determine the chemical composition of the pigments used in ancient manuscripts. “The technique is quite effective for examining old manuscripts and yields much better results than other methods,” said Emilio Catelli, PhD candidate at the department of chemistry, in a statement. “Whole pages can be scanned and analysed in a matter of minutes with this technology. Fragile documents are also protected from marks and rough handling,” Catelli added. Ancient documents are very sensitive and fragile and should ideally not be touched or exposed to light. “Throughout history, many methods have been used that cause irreparable damage to manuscripts,” noted Victoria Juhlin, conservator at the library. Hyperspectral imaging uses a hyperspectral camera to scan the document. Advanced cameras can differentiate between 160 colours and have 1,600 pixel sensors.

A search engine that is more accurate than Google

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Automatic transmissions have been eclipsing their older manual cousins for the past few years.

Yet, despite their apparent popularity, automatic transmissions may not necessarily be a better choice for many drivers.

However, they do score over manual transmissions on several points.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION For drivers who prefer to be more involved with the inner workings of their vehicle, the manual transmission delegates the shifting of engine gears back to the pilot. Manual transmissions predate the newer automatic models, yet they are still favoured by many drivers due to various reasons.

Here are a few key ones:

Here are a few:

Easier to use Although there’s nothing inherently difficult about shifting gears and working a clutch, it still takes a bit of practice before most drivers are comfortable learning to use each of their limbs independently in order to control a manual transmission vehicle. Automatic transmissions, by comparison, are much simpler and take drivers significantly less time to learn.

Less expensive to purchase If you’re car shopping on a budget, then there’s really no contest between the manual and the automatic. On average, a manual transmission will cost you about a thousand dollars less than an automatic of the same model.

Less manually restrictive Most new drivers are taught that the safest way to drive is to keep both hands firmly on the wheel at all times. This is possible when driving an automatic transmission vehicle, but is not possible with a manual transmission.

Better for hilly areas If you’re a less experienced driver, you may find that navigating steep inclines in a manual transmission is difficult, especially if you’re attempting to do so from a dead stop.

Automatic transmissions take care of this issue, enabling your

car to operate efficiently no matter how steep the hill might be.

Greatly reduced risk of stalling There are few things more embarrassing and awkward than accidentally stalling your vehicle right when the traffic light changes. This isn’t a common problem for those driving automatic transmission, where stalling will only occur if there’s a mechanical problem in the vehicle Easier to use in heavy traffic Overall, more work goes into starting, accelerating, decelerating, and stopping manual transmissions.

This isn’t normally a problem, but in heavy traffic where a car isn’t able to get up to speed, drivers may notice that the constant starting and stopping becomes a difficult chore. Automatic transmissions allow the driver to move through heavy traffic without having to do more than push a single pedal.

Cheaper to maintain With all of the added machinery that goes into the automatic transmission, it can end up costing you big bikkies just to keep it running properly. Manual transmission cars require very little maintenance, and generally maintenance and repairs end up being significantly less costly.

Be warned, however, because one thing that a manual has that the automatic doesn’t have to worry about is the clutch, and if that thing quits on you, then you could be in trouble Better fuel efficiency Overall, manual transmission

engines are less complex, weigh less, and have more gears than automatics. The end result is that you’ll end up getting more kilometres out of the petrol you pump in than you would with an automatic. Manual transmissions have been known to save drivers between 5% and 15% on their fuel costs.

Better control Automatic transmissions are designed to choose the best gear for any situation, but they tend to err on the side of caution, shifting to too high of a gear and wasting engine power. At the same time, they are built to respond to conditions as they are encountered, which doesn’t allow for drivers to either anticipate an oncoming condition, or to purposely select a lower gear for an added boost of power. Manual transmissions give drivers greater control over the vehicle. faisal@timesofoman.com

Anmol Tukrel a 16-year-old Indianorigin Canadian citizen, has designed a personalised search engine which he claims is 47 per cent more accurate than Google. The young student designed the search engine as part of a high school project and also to submit to the Google Science Fair, pressexaminer.com reported. Tukrel came across the idea of a personalised search engine during an internship stint in India at Bengaluru-based adtech firm IceCream Labs. He planned to take Google’s personalised search engine idea to the next level. Tukrel said that unlike most search engines that use a person’s location or browsing history to throw relevant results, his engine tries to show the most relevant content by mapping it to a user’s personality. Tukrel’s search engine is currently restricted to one year’s news articles that appeared in The New York Times. His development kit included only a computer, a python-language development environment, a spreadsheet programme and access to Google and New York Times. To test the accuracy of his search engine, Tukrel limited the search query to this year’s articles from The New York Times.

How does Facebook decide what’s really trending?

Ever wondered how Facebook determines what you see in your news feed every time you log in? The social networking site has actually devised different algorithms for it. Apart from things like where you live and the pages you follow, it primarily looks for two broader signals — Topics that are being mentioned a lot and topics that suddenly see an increase in mentions, Re/Code reported. For example, singer Justin Bieber is mentioned often on Facebook.

So the total volume of mentions is always high and is not a good indicator of whether or not he is part of a trending topic. So, Facebook would look for a hike in mentions relative to the normal prattle around Bieber. “This means that things that trend are not just the most highly mentioned people or topics, they have to be tied to some kind of relevant event,” the report said. - IANS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

C10

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

PRAYER TIMINGS

@SHATTI

@SOHAR

Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin 9:15PM Brothers (Hindi) (Thriller) 2D 11:45PM Madura Naranga – 2D (Action) (PG) 7:15PM

@RUWI

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Action)(12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 3:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 pm Fantastic Four (2D)(Action)(PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, 1:00, 5:15, 11:45 pm Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 4:45, 9:15 pm The Nutcracker Sweet (Animation)(PG) 1:00, 3:00 pm All Is Well (Comedy, Drama)(PG) Cast : Rishi Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin 9:30 pm Sinister 2 (Horror)(15+) Cast : James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon 1:00, 11:55 pm Welad Risk (Action, Crime)(18+) Cast : Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim Qassem 3:00, 7:15 pm Self/Less (Mystery,Sci fi)(18+) Cast : Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode 5:00, 7:15 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 2D (Action ) (12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 10:15AM, 9:45 & 11:55PM Gold Class: 4:15, 9:00 & 11:15PM The Nutcracker Sweet 2D (Animation) (PG) 10:00AM, 1:45 & 3:30PM The Love Affair 2D (Drama, Romance ) (TBC) Cast: Bea Alonzo, Richard Gomez, Eda Nolan 5:15 & 7:30PM All Is Well 2D (Comedy, Drama) (TBC) Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin 12:30 & 7:15PM Fantastic Four 2D (Action, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael Jordan 5:15PM & 9:45PM

10:15AM, 9:45 & 11:55 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Action)(12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer

5:00 , 7:15 PM Self/Less (Mystery,Sci fi)(18+) Cast : Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode

Gold Class : 12:15 & 2:15PM Inside Out 3D (Animation) (PG) 11:15PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D 2:45PM & 11:45PM Gold Class: 6:30PM

7:15, 9:35 PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation – 2D 2:00, 11:55 PM (PG12) The Nutcracker Sweet – 2D (PG) Animation 1:00, 4:30 PM Sinister 2 – 2D (15+) Horror Cast - James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon 2:30, 10:10 PM Waled Rizk– 2D (18+) Crime, Action, Thriller Cast - Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim 6:00 PM Fantastic Four – 2D (PG12) (Action) 12:00, 5:45, 11:55 pm Madhura Naranga – 2D (PG) Comedy, Cast - Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon 3:00 PM

AZAIBA The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – 2D (12+) ActionCast - Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 4:30, 6:45, 9:00, 11:15 PM Kick 2 – 2D (PG12) Action, Romance Cast: Ravi Teja, Rakul Preeti singh, Ravi Kishan 12:45, 07:45, 10:30 PM Vaalu – 2D (PG) Action, Comedy, Romance Cast - Hansika Motwani, TR Silambarasan, 12:00 PM Self/Less – 2D (18+) Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast - Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode 2:50, 8:00 PM The Love Affair - 2D (12+) Drama, Romance Cast - Bea Alonzo, Richard Gomez, Eda Nolan 5:00 PM All Is Well 2D (PG) Comedy, Drama Cast - Rishi Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin

6:00 PM Madhura Naranga - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy, Cast : Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon

3.30, 9.45 PM All Is Well (Drama/ Comedy) – PG Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Asin and Supriya Pathak

SCREEN 2 Brothers (Drama) – 12+ 3.45 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG 6.45 PM All Is Well (Drama/ Comedy) – PG Timing: 9.45 PM SCREEN 3 Karachi To Lahore - Urdu (Comedy) – PG Cast: Shehzad Sheikh, Ayesha Omer 3.45, 9.45 PM Baahubali: The Beginning (Act ) – 12+ 6.45 PM SOHAR Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - 2D (PG12) Action; 04:20 , 11:55 PM Fantastic Four-2D (PG12) (Action ) 2:30, 5:15, 11:45 PM Brothers - 2D (TBC) Action, Drama 11:30 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 2D (12+) Action, Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia 3:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 PM Self/less - 2D (18+) Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, 2:15, 7:45 PM

RUWI SCREEN 1 All Is Well (Drama/ Comedy) – PG Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Asin and Supriya Pathak 3.30 PM Drishyam (Thriller/Drama ) – PG12 6.30 PM Brothers (Drama/ Sports) – 12+ Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth M 9.30 PM

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

The Nutcracker Sweet - 2D (PG) Animation 2:30, 4:30 PM Sinister 2 - 2D (15+) Horror Cast: James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, 4:00, 10:00 PM All Is Well - 2D (TBC) Comedy, Drama, 9:35 PM Welad Rizk - 2D (Arb) (18+) Action, Crime, Cast: Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim Qassem 5:45 PM Madhura Naranga - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy, Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon 6:00 PM Kick 2 - 2D (Telugu) (TBC) Action, Romance 6:45, 8:45 PM BURAIMI The Man from U.N.C.L.E – 2D (Animation) 7:15, 9:30, 11:45PM (12+) Return to Sender – 2D (Thriller) (TBC) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Nick Nolte, 5:30, 10:00PM The Nutcracker Sweet – 2D (Animation) 5:45PM (PG) Fantastic Four -2D (PG12) (Action) 4:30, 7:15PM Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 2D 11:30PM (Action) (PG12) All is Well – 2D (Comedy, Romance) (PG)

SALALAH Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation (2D) 10:15AM, 5:00, 11:30PM (PG12) Fantastic Four (2D)(PG12) (Action) 12:45, 3:45, 9:45PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2D)(12+) (Action) 10:15AM, 2:45, 7:30, 9:45, 11:55PM Return to Sender (2D) (12+) (Thriller) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Shiloh Fernandez, Nick Nolte 2:00PM The Nutcracker Sweet (2D)(PG)(Arabic) (Animation) 10:30AM, 3:15PM Pound of Flesh (2D) (15+) (Action/Thriller) Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darren 12:00, 11:35PM All Is Well (2D) (PG) (Comedy/Drama) 7:30PM Brothers (2D) (12+) (Action/Drama) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth M 12:30PM Madhura Naranga (2D) (PG) (Mal) (Comedy) Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon, Parvathy 4:45PM Kick 2 (2D) (TBC) (Telugu) (Action/Romance) 5:45, 8:35PM

Nizwa Yanqul

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

40 35

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

JOSHUA SHALOM August 24, 2004

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

40-70% 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

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

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

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

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

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

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

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

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

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

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

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

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

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

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

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

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

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Madura Naranga (Mal) ( Rom/com ) Cast : Kunchako Boban, Biju Menon & 3-45 pm at Cinema-4; 6-30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main Vasuvum Saravananum ( Tamil ) ( Com ) Cast: Arya, Tamanna & Santhanam 3-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema -2 All Is Well (Hindi ) ( Com/Drama) Cast: Abhishek Bachan, Rishi Kapoor & Asin 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema - 3 Kick 2 ( Telugu ) ( Rom/Act) ( From Friday ) Cast : Ravi Teja & Rakul Preet Singh 3-00 pm At Cinema Main 6-45 & 9-45 at Cinema-4 Vallu (Tamil) 6:30pm Cinema -2 Brothers (Hindi) 3:45, 6:45pm Cinema-3 NEXT CHANGE: Thani Oruvan (Tamil) Loham (Mal) Programmes are subject to change

0

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

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

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

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

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

STAR CINEMA

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D (Action, Adventure, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 9.30 pm CP No: 1953 (PG12) Return To Sender ( Thriller ) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Nike Nolte 2.00, 4.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2112 ( 12+ ) The Nutcracker Sweet (Animation) Voice Overs: Alicia Silver stone, Edward 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 2119 (PG ) Brothers (Hindi )( Thriller ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shrof 6.30 pm CP No: 2110 (PG) MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Action /Adventure) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavil 4.00, 7.45, 9.45 & 11.55 pm CP NO: 2121 (12+)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

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

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

SUR The Man From U.N.C.L.E (Action ) (12+) Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, 9:45, 11:55 PM Fantastic Four (Action|Sci - Fi) (PG12) 7:45 PM Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 6:00 PM (Action) (PG12) Brothers (Hindi) (Thriller) (12+) CP# Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth 5:00 PM The Nutcracker Sweet ( Animation) (PG) 4:30 PM Madura Naranga (Mal)( Comedy ) (PG) Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon, Parvathy 10:45 PM All Is Well (Hindi)(Comedy ) (PG) Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Asin.

8:30 PM

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

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.14pm 3.42pm 6.38pm 7.52pm 4.27am

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

@MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Hamdan Hospital 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

C11

LIFESTYLE C A R S PA

GLOSS FOR THE GLIDED CARZSPA, a ‘beauty clinic’ for cars in Wadi Kabir, offers unique treatments for the exteriors of high-end cars to protect and pamper them and give them a lasting new-car glow.

In the heart of Wadi Kabir, close to the Wadi Kabir traffic junction, lies a newly-opened ‘beauty clinic’ for cars, called Carzspa, which specialises in providing Titanium Ceramic Coating and Glass Coating for high-end cars to give them a glistening, showroom-like look that is guaranteed to last for at least two years.

The proprietor of Carzspa, Feroze Rasheed, who has a twodecade-old successful business in screen printing, says he took up this business after being inspired by a friend, as a challenge of sorts.

With trained personnel from India who are skilled in these advanced services for costly cars, he hopes to provide users of high-end cars in Muscat a way to protect their pricy investments.

The two key exterior makeovers for cars at Carzspa (Titanium coating and Glass coating) provide cars with a glowing new look and are processes which take about 9-10 hours to complete. So, clients need to leave their cars at the clinic for the whole day to ensure the best results. The guarantee for the treatment with branded products imported from the US is said to be two years, but Rasheed admits that is would easily last for five years without needing any touch-up.

The package cost of Titanium Ceramic Coating starts at OMR150 for sedans and goes up to OMR250 for large SUVs, while the package cost of Glass Coating starts at OMR175 for sedans up to OMR275 for large SUVs. —hubert@timesofoman.com

Other treatments • Other premium services offered at this clinic include: • Engine dressings/Tyre dressings (to give a brand new, shining look) • Headlight restoration and coating (refinishing of weathered/ scratched lenses) • Paint refinement (Repair of scratches/swirl marks/dullness) • Paint chip repair (Repair of road rash and paint chips) • Ozone treatment (interior/exterior sterilisation to rid germs) • Exterior steam and shampoo wash (for a sparkling clean look) • Leather protection/conditioning (for a new look and new smell) • Intensive interior cleaning (UV protection, dressing to vinyl/ rubber parts) • Glass treatment (Nano-coating and anti-glare to improve visibility) • Provision of ASWF window film as per Oman’s permissible specifications Contact CARZSPA +968 9119 3738/ +968 9918 2228 carzspaoman@gmail.com

TITANIUM TITANIUM CERAMIC COATING COATING CERAMIC The process involves the following steps: Steam wash of the interiors and exterior to rid it of dust, grease, and other pollutants

CHARLES BABBAGE :

Chemical wash of the exterior to remove stubborn stains and hidden pollutants

T H E FAT H E R OF P R O GR A M M A B L E C OM P U T E R S

Clay wash of the exterior (an application of clay to smoothen the body surface)

BABBAGE’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS: • Babbage was instrumental in

The ceramic coating process follows, comprising the following steps: Three steps of polish using Aquartz PPF Titanium car paint protection coating

founding the Astronomical Society in 1812, whose object was to introduce developments from the European continent into English mathematics.

• 1821 Babbage invented the

One step of polish using Aquartz T-Cera car-paint and glass titanium top coat

Difference Engine to compile mathematical tables, it was created to calculate a series of values automatically.

One step of polish using Reload premium Titanium protection coating

C

harles Babbage (1791 –1871) was an English polymath, mathematician, philosopher, inventor, and mechanical engineer. He was the son of Benjamin Babbage, a London banker who owned the Bitton Estate in Teignmouth and Betsy Plumleigh Babbage. Babbage is best remembered for inventing

Thirty minutes drying/ hardening time is left in between coats to allow the coating to solidify and set.

So, ideally, if you pick up your car the next day it will ensure good results

GLASS COATING The process involves the following steps: Steam wash of the interiors and exterior to rid it of dust, grease, other pollutants Chemical wash of the exterior to remove stubborn stains and hidden pollutants Clay wash of the exterior (an application of clay to smoothen the body surface) Chemical Guy’s four-step polish One-step Glass Coating process which involves slow and meticulous application of the glass coating (22PLE - VX PRO Signature Glass Coat) over small sections of different parts of the car exterior Thirty minutes drying/ hardening time is required for the glass coating to completely dry and harden, providing a protective shield against dust, grease, bird droppings, acid rain and other contaminants

Photos: Shabin E

BY HUBERT VAZ

• The Analytical Engine (a

forerunner to the digital computer) (1856) marked the transition from mechanised arithmetic to fully-fledged general purpose computation.

• In 1824 Babbage won the Gold

Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society “for his invention of an engine for calculating mathematical and astronomical tables”.

computers but failing to build them, because of which he is also referred to as the “father of programmable computers.”

Babbage was thought to be his own teacher in algebra, and he was well read in contemporary mathematics of his days. Upon entering Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1811, he found himself far in advance of his tutors in

• From 1828 to 1839 Babbage

was Lucasian professor of mathematics at Cambridge.

• Babbage also invented the

pilot (also called a cow-catcher), the metal frame attached to the front of locomotives that clears the tracks of obstacles in 1838. He also performed several studies on Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s Great Western Railway.

mathematics.

In 1814, Charles Babbage married Georgiana Whitmore at St. Michael’s Church in Teignmouth, Devon. His father, for some reason, never gave his approval. They lived in tranquillity at 5 Devonshire Street, Portland Place in London and had eight children.

Only three of them lived to adulthood. — Mahran Shaukat Ali

C1 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

LIFESTYLE

BY THE NUMBERS

GAMING AT A GLANCE The global video game market is estimated to be worth $93 billion today and continues to grow at a phenomenal pace. Given this immense revenue potential, it is no wonder that the gaming industry has remained extremely competitive, far from mere child’s play.

1.2 BILLION More than 1.2 billion people are playing games worldwide, according to a state of the industry report by Spil Games.

Of those, about 700 million play online games. That amounts to 44 per cent of the world’s online population, according to comScore data cited by Spil Games.

3

HOURS PER WEEK

40% Gamers who are playing ng more video games than they did three years ago are spending less time: 39% watching TV, 40% going ng to the movies and 47% watching movies at home.

Over 155 million illion n Americans Ameriicans play Ame pla week. video games, 3 hours per week

35

YEARS OLD

39% Play social games, 14 14% 4% play puzzle games/card g games/ mes/ game shows.

91%

The average male game player is 35 years old.

Parents believe parental Pa arental controls on game consoles con soles are beneficial.

111.06 In 2012, video games earned revenue of $78.87 billion. A different projection estimated that this value would grow to $93.28 billion the following year and as high as $111.06 billion in 2015.

13.3% In 2014 2014, 13.3% of all games sold in video gam the US were sports games.

17.8 An average US consumer onsum spent 17.8 minutes dail daily playing video games in 2 2008.

43

YEARS OLD The most frequent players are females p la aged 43 years old.

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

SECTION

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

RENT

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VACANCY

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CARGO

D7

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

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M O N D AY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market.

Contact: 99259977 / 95033008

Flats for rent in Al Khuwair, Al hail, Wadi Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD, and Muttrah. Contact: 99119699 / 95250300 / 24813002

1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 Darsait next to ISM, 2 bedroom brand new building R.O 300/-.

Contact: 93393967 2 BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi 1BHK , Ghubra near Al Maha hotel.

Contact: 99269751 Commercial / residential 2 BHK flat and 1BHK at Honda road residential 2BHK flat at opposite to Al Nadha hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241 2BHK near Indian School Darsait RO 275/-. Contact: 95094028 Villa for rent, 4 spacious bath attached bed room, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) electrical equipment with free maintenance secured command at Madinat Al Illam. Contact: 98027975 Spacious 1 BHK flat opp. Muscat Municipality Darsait with 2 bathrooms available for rent OMR 250 per month direct from owner from Sept1st onwards. Contact 97785037 Two flats for rent 3 bedroom & 1 setting room all with split a/c at & flat 1bedroom Al Ghubra North near Indian school (hot pargur restaurant) Tel - 99766103

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

3BHK Flats & 6BHK Villa in Azaibah.

Contact : 96775026 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi.

Contact 99326339 1 BR flat at Darsait, near ISM. Contact 99237971 / 99320633 Apartments for Rent in Nizwa behind Nizwa Hospital. 99530985 92513668 4bedroom villa with 3 maid room, big compound & parking area. Ideal for kindergarten or expat tenants residency. Contact:24566217 / 24564686

Readymade office space for rent (100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building, MBA area Ruwi opposite Center Point. Contact: 99011352 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 2 BHK close to Indian School Kindergarten Wadikabir RO 320. Contact: 99476728 / 98484415 2 BHK pent-house having very spacious balcony with sea & city view RO 325 and 1BHK RO 240, adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait.

Contact : 99476728 / 98484415

Office & retail space available Alasfoor Plaza, Qurum.

Contact: 24566217 / 24564686

1bedroom attached toilet, kitchen, family in Al Khuwair RO 140.

Contact: 95154331

1BHK in Darsait, RO 220.

Contact: 99342661

Flats in Al Khuwair 33 & Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 92800007

2BHK in Ghubra South 330 R.O with A/C. Contact: 99342661 Showroom for rent at prime location, Ruwi. Contact 94151791

Full fledge workshop/warehouse & yard with tools for rent/sales. Also 5 nos. Volvo/ Mercedes/ Man/Putsmiester concrete pump 2004/2005 model for sale.# 93681107 / 96051565

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

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

Contact: 99251975

4 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait, behind Khimji Mart. Contact 92584715 / 24700120

Single & double bedroom with toilets at Ghala Industrial area, Coco cola road (for family/ Exec bachelors). Interested parties contact on 92854747

Flat for rent in Amerat.

Contact 99209264 Flat in Al Khuwair 3 rooms + Majlis ground floor. Contact: 99242119 Flat 2bedrooms+majlis in Ghubra.

Contact:99242119 4 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis mart. Contact: 24700120 / 92584715

5 BHK villa for Rent in Azaiba near Sultan Centre. Contact 99792181 40,000 Sqr mtrs Open Land for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181 1BHK R.O 185 + 2BHK R.O 230 before Medical Darsait, Muttrah House.

Contact: 98748925

Spacious 2 BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

840 sqr mtrs Store & Staff accommodation for Rent in Misfah.

Contact 99792181

Brand new 2 BHK flats/offices for rent behind Honda Road.

Contact 91165807

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

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 A flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 2 rooms and sitting room and all the necessary things. Contact:92277419 2BHK with A/Cs Muttrah, near Oman House. Contact: 95915154 3 BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balcony, nr. Al Hassan W/Kabir RO 330/-.

Contact :99384640 3 Bedroom flat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand new available, behind Kims Hospital. Contact 95225662 2 BHK villa for rent in Azaiba, near Sultan Centre. Contact 99792181 Flats shops & stores for rent at Al Amerat. Contact: 96278724 I BHK Flat -4 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 200/- . 2 BHK - 2 Nos / 1 BHK- 2 Nos, at Wattayya R/A near the mosquefor Families. Contact 96457757 9 am to 7 Pm. Shop at Azaiba. Contact 99024730

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5

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DAILY GUIDE

Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122

FOR SALE

For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. # 99376454 3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat.

Contact: 95755953 Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699

2 rooms, 2 toilets, kitchen in Al Ansab. Contact 94229023

Spacious 2BHK Flat with Split A/c’s behind Sultan Center, Azaiba – RO.425/- p.m. Contact: 99824803 / 99849325 2 flats single bedroom available in Wadi Kabir, RO 100/- including Electricity & water. Contact 99441798 5 flats single bedroom available, including Electricity & water RO 75/in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99441798 Shop/ office, near Khimji H.O. Muttrah. Contact 99233116 2 BHK near Khimji H.O. Muttrah.

Contact 99233116

Basement available in MBD, Ruwi.

Contact 99713489 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir near Indian Primary School 2 B & 1K. Contact 92222922 Pent house for rent 1 sitting, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen RO 225/-, location Al Khuwair, near DHL Courier. Contact 95620900 / 92976722 Brand new flat 2 bedrooms with 1 Majlis, 3 bathrooms, kitchen in South Ghubra behind Oman oil RO 350/-. Contact 95367767 3 bedrooms villa excellent area at Mobilah. Contact 99879872

2BK Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Mosque. Contact 97007934 / 92629232

1 & 2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

Brand new bldg in Walja 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shops. Contact 98218279

1 BHK, 2 BHK at Al Khuwair.

Contact 99024730

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

Contact 91786526 / 99881653

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

1 & two bedroom flats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible.

Contact 97677170 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shop at Wadi Kabir.

Contact 99024730 2 BHK, 3BHK at Qurum.

Contact 99024730 House for rent in Sidab at reasonable rent. Contact: 95555162 / 95755953 1 BHK Flat in Honda Road (Ruwi).

Contact 99792181

3 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181 Flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports.

Interested candidates please Contact : 00968-92225523 4 & 5 BHK villa for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99385835 / 99428143 600 sqr mtrs showroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99792181 Flat for rent with AC in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95555162 /95755953 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240 Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

FOR SALE

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

Shop for sale in Qurum. Contact 96964767

Pest control and cleaning building company for sale with all permit and office. Contact : 96996938 Running laundry CBD. Contact 92841089 / 92868123 Newly built twin villa in Al Ansab Phase 3 for rent or sale, each villa consist of 5 bedrooms, 6 toilets, drawing, dining, kitchen outside, maid room with kitchen. Contact 96917566

3 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair 33.

Contact 99792181

Forklift sale. Contact: 99763831

1 &2 BHK flats for rent at Wadi Kabir, Wadi Adai, Hamriya and Al Khoud areas, shop for rent at Wadi Adai Round about. Contact: 24834644, GSM 93994401 /02/03 lines

Used Fabrication machinery for sale : Fabrication machinery and tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. Contact 94652485/ 99273774/ 99202278

Usman Vellaran has lost Indian Passport No. L 4412463. Finder please handover to ROP

Shop for sale in Ruwi High street, Contact 96078411

FOR SALE Branded well maintained household items for immediate sale at throw away price: 99047440

LOST

Restaurant for-sale Very good location, Al khuwayer, 300+sqm, Equipped big kitchen (+bakery), many parking, separate entrance.

OMR50,000 Call 99788291 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 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 Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2. OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 A well settled/ well equipped ladies beauty parlor in running position located in Ghubra for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898

CHANGE OF NAME I Asuly Kadakasseri Valappil Ahamed (holder of Indian Passport No. J5347617) son of Ahamed having permanent residence in AT & PO Edappal Dt Malappuram Kerala (complete postal address in India) & presently residing in Muscat, P.B.No. 268, PC 320, Sultanate of Oman (complete address in Oman) intend to change my name from Asuly Kadakasseri Valappil Ahamed (old name) to Aslam Kadakassery Valappil (new name) for all practical purposes. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

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M O N D AY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE

SITUATION WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA with 15 yrs exp. working as Head of Finance for US MNC. NOC Available - 94047434

Indian Female Chartered Accountant [ACCA] looking for suitable placement. Contact: 99342077

Filipino, 29 years, Male, BS Commerce major in Financial Accounting, 5years experience: Accounts PAYABLE/RECEIVABLE/PAYROLL, Excellent Communication/MS Office/Accounting Software skills.

Contact: 95057206/ patrick110486@yahoo.com

Indian male, 10 yrs experience, 6 yrs in Oman, with Oman driving license, having NOC, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973

10+ yrs UAE experienced Fin. Controller looking for a job change.

Contact 98006226 Email: devan801@gmail.com C.A article ship completed Indian female presently on visit visa looks for opening in Sur, finance/ Audit / Accounts. Contact: 93915733 ACCA and MBA (finance) from UK, 3.5 years experience in operation, holding D/L (Oman) looking for suitable position ready to join immediately. Contact : 95575614, Email: ahammadmds@gmail.com Indian male MBA Finance / HR 1 yr experience in Indian currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93416031 Email: ashin.shams@gmail.com Indian male B.Com looking for Accounts, indoor sales, Office Assistant, Store keeper, Contact - 98295101

ADMIN A well established organization in Muscat is looking for an experienced lady Administrative Assistant.

Candidate with around 6 years of experience and excellent command of English language is requested to send CV to: recruitmentmuscat@yahoo.com

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

DRIVER

Experienced Expat Driver with valid Oman driving license required immediately for an Omani family in MSQ. Contact 24607772 / 99054998 H.V. Driver for trailer.

Contact 92131483 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

BEAUTY EDUCATION Required experienced Hairdressers / full beauticians with exp in Ghubrah. Contact:97964519 / 94241385

A private school located at Al Mawaleh Seeb looking for an English Teacher. Contact 98982088

BINDERS

ENGINEER

Experience in Binding works. Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com

Indian Male MBA with Experience in Accounts, Admin, Sales, Contact – 91520930

Light duty driver.

Contact: 92341826

Required Foreman (MEP) with 4 to 5 Years experience, for maintenance of Building, Having valid Omani Driving License.

Contact 94422083

MEDICAL Urgently required for a Medical Centre GP doctor, Gynecologist, Male Nurse, female Nurses, Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license, salary negotiable. Send your CV: moc.hrd2015@gmail.com, Contact 92681842 Urgently Required Experienced GP Doctor, Gynecologist, Female Nurses with MOH license & NOC for a reputed specialized center based in Muscat. Please forward your CV to alqaimtrd@gmail.com A private clinic in Oman requires a Staff Nurse & Lab Technician with MOH license or prometric passed (Indian female preferably) salary negotiable. Interested candidates kindly mail their resumes / CV with contact details : medicalclinic2014@gmail. Com or call 00968 99049381 Wanted GP Doctor for clinic.

Ph 98115439

SALES / MARKETING Sales & marketing experience needed, but does not really have to be in the printing industry. Oman driving license will be of an advantage. Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com IT – pre sales & marketing in Oman Governmental organizations. Send CV to masoud@iranrayaneh.com Accomplished Sales/Business Development Executives & Lady Telemarketing Executives for leading digital media company. Send CV to: jobs@interacoman.com A reputed printing & advertising firm in muscat urgently requires male / female sales executives Contact : 99619552 , email : hocsigns@gmail.com Required urgently Energetic Marketing executive for acquiring new customers. Should possess a Valid Omani DL. Contact 96545020.

CATERING A fast growing chain of omani fusion restaurants in Muscat is looking to hire experienced waiters and chefs (2 yrs exp).Applicants should have NOCs if applicable.

Forward resume to creativefoodsllc@gmail.com Indian Cook required. Should know Omani traditional foods.

Contact 99209264

DESIGNER Graphic designers: full knowledge of using Indesign and Illustrator programs, creative and should be able to work in pressure. Prior experience will definitely be of advantage.

Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com

DRAFTSMAN K.Design LLC requires “2d & 3d Draftsman” with minimum 3 yrs experience. Send CV to k.designoman@gmail.com Leading Civil construction company requires “MEP DRAFTSMAN” with 4-6 years gulf experience. Send your CV to mep.oman2015@gmail. com. (NOC required).

DOMESTIC HELPER Housemaid required, part time, preferably Keralite for looking after 2 yr old child at Jibroo.

Contact 98162545 Urgently looking for an Expatriate House Boy with Cooking knowledge and experience.

Contact Immediately: 99460564 Require qualify caregiver for an orderly mother. Contact 99425200

Automatic block factory requires qualified Engineer (Electromechanical) degree & diploma to operate new stationary block factory. Contact 97092070, email : alomranmcpllc@yahoo.com

Wanted female Nurse for clinic in South Sharkiya. Contact 94783831, medicaljobsoman@yahoo.com

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

Urgently required for an Insurance broker (preference will be given to Nationals) General Manager, Accountant, Marketing Manager, Marketing Executives & underwriter. Send your CV’s to enquiry@unitedinsuranceoman.com

Smartphone Technician Required ftt@futuretarget.net GSM: 99110080/9669066 MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement.

Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om

MISCELLANEOUS

Established real estate company looking for male or female property agents for leasing and sales of the property. Applicant must be Graduate, possess Omani or GCC driving license.

Having oman market experience.

Apply with NOC. Attractive salary +commission. Send your CV: property@ labdmarkmuscat.com

An excellent grade company wishes to recruit for the post of Marketing Executive for science products. Male candidates only, preferred candidates with bachelors degree in life sciences. Interested candidates may send their CV’s to Email : medical@omanmed.com Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Sales Executive Industrial products : 2-3 yrs of exp. with good communication & computer skills. D/L is must. Send resume to salescvv@hotmail.com Accomplished Sales Executives/ Telemarketing Executives for leading Digital Media Enterprise. jobs@interacoman.com

INTERIOR DECORATING Interior design & fit-out company based on Muscat Grand Mall looking for : (part/Fulltime) Project manager , Site Engineer , Site Supervisor CVs to be sent to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com

IT Leading IT Company in search of computer professionals with hands on experience in PC & laptop repair.

Send CV to vacancyready@gmail.com Indian male, 31 years, looking for job IT/marketing. Experience 7 years (Microsoft certificate) with Hardware & networking.

Contact no: 95693351, Email: tmintu10@gmail.com

Required Salesman, Tailor & Barber.

Contact 96964767 Looking for a foreign staff with experience in Oman in real estate & real estate valuation. Contact 99109094, email : aburashid94dd@gmail.com Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Rig Operator/Technician/Driver/ Security Positions in Musandam.

Must have Oil field experience Good Communication Skills. Please email your resume in Arabic and English to HR@petroteloman.com

SALES / MARKETING MEDICAL Immediately required lady Doctor (DGO) or GP with Gynecology experience & lab technician.

Contact 99310590.

Email : tjmaluke@gmail.com

Required Marketing Executive.

Contact 24816774 / 99020458 Urgently required outdoor salesman for building material, shop.

Contact 99867456 / 24501882

Furniture field experienced Salesman with license.

Contact - 99345159, 91398378 , E-Mail - agsan2005@gmail.com Salesman & Merchandisers urgently required for a reputed FMCG Company engaged in manufacturing & trading in Oman. Candidate must have minimum 1-2 yrs experience in the similar field & valid Oman driving license.

Interested candidates may send their CV to sunnex3@gmail.com Business intelligence / Global Marketing management specialist with 9 years of experience developing brand value & managing overall projects to achieve business objectives seeking suitable position on family visit. Contact: 91902154

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 12 yrs of Oman experienced Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 99513082

Audit / finance partly qualified chartered accountant (ACCA), female, completed 12 papers out of 14, seeking suitable opportunity.

Contact 92615144 shincythomas02 gmail.com Finance Manager, 22 yrs Oman experience. NOC available. Contact 91302906 / 91335205 Indian male MBA Graduate 24 yrs, 1 yr. experienced Accountant seeking suitable job. Contact: 94083260jithinnambiar777@gmail.com 7 yrs experience as Store keeper in Pakistan, 2 yrs experience as Accounts Assistant, B.Com from Karachi University, MS Office, operating system 98,2000, XP professional Windows 7, Internet.

Contact 91235746 Certified Public Accountant, Filipino Male 26 years, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 yrs. of experience now on visit visa, Looking for suitable opening.

Contact: +968 91409308 Email: kennethalcedo07@gmail.com Female (Filipina) Accountant, Audit, Finance, Bookkeeper, 15 yrs experience, on tourist visa, looking for suitable placement, contact: 96944976, email: precyr_tupasi@yahoo.com Accounts finance Indian male 35 yrs B.Com, M.B.A tally exp 9.7 yrs exp 1.5 yr Oman family visa N.O.C available. Contact : 93257426.

Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com Part time accountant services available. Contact:93438100 Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Monthly Profitability Reports, Onsite Tally Training, Contact : 96975454, email :ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Chief Financial Officer 16 yrs of Management exp with MNCs in Pakistan, expert in financial reporting sap/oracle implementing & optimization, Treasury, taxation, team work and change Management.

Contact: 91936637/ Email : rizwanfarooq.pk@gmail.com M.com, female, good knowledge in computer & tally 1 yr experience in Sales & Accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact 99363721 Indian male, B.Com Diploma in office Automation, pursuing ICWA having 6 yrs (India, Oman) exp in Accounts, Audit Finance seeks suitable positions. Familiar with tally, ERP & focus. NOC available Contact : 94706954.

E mail:ajurn33@gmail.com Indian 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98222753 Email - shemeejup@gmail.com Management finance professional, 36 yrs experience, 20 yrs in Oman with oil & gas & mining companies can work independently or head the division, Sudanese Nationality.

Contact 98531303

Accountant, Indian male, B.Com, PGDSE with 12 yrs of experience currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 92750853, email : vinoykjospeh@gmail.com Fresh Graduate B.Com with CIMA .

U. K. (Partly Qualified ) looking for a suitable position in the Middle east.

Contact 9470 5767 Finance/ Audit professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience can work independently or head the division looking for opening. Contact 92787747 / 92168401.

FMCG professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience in commercial / operations looking for opening.

Contact 92787747 / 92168401 Senior Document Controller, male, Indian, MCA 9+ yrs experience as Document controller in oil & gas sector seeks job as Senior Document controller. Contact 95388197, Email : rojanchristopher@gmail.com Part time accountant services available to handle all accounts related work up to finalization.

Contact 96247295 Indian female B.Tech (EEE) MBA finance with 1and half years experience as Bank Officer in India seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91358676 / 98157895 Email: sujivu88@gmail.com Jordanian Accountant (ACPA) with more than 15 yrs experience in Oman (Accounts, Purchase & finance). Contact: 92881223 Email: kamal_sarhan@yahoo.com 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

ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 14 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598 Purchase, Admin, Indian male, 15 yrs Gulf experience.

Contact 95435370 Indian female MBA, 3 Year Experience in Admin MIS , Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com An Indian lady, MBA in HR & marketing with 4 yrs experience in teaching, seeking suitable placement. Contact 91108766 / 97447825 8 yrs exp in Admin & Accounts (3 yrs in Oman), MBA, Indian female, seeks placement. Contact 97243806 Oman/Qatar experienced Indian lady available for immediate placement HR / Admin/ front office/ reception/document controller/ insurance coordinator.

Contact : 0097470057238 shinuemil@gmail.com Indian 16 yrs exp in admin, Office management and have knowledge in accounting looking for job. Release available and have D/L. Contact: 99573353 Chartered CIPD HR Professional having 5 years of experience in Oman seeking suitable job.

Call +971552071501.

Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR) 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95619537 Master degree HRM professional having excellent experience in finance and management and having 8 yrs experience looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92955453 / 91213269

DRIVER Driver with car. Contact 91452930 Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in Oman. Contact 96420742

M O N DAY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DRIVER

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED

Looking for driving job driving experience more than 3 years.

Contact: 97459022

Car audio system technician with package experience in car, fibre glass & wood work designing, subwoofer box repairing & accessories installation. Contact 94346977.

Whatsapp 98818931

Light duty driver with 3 months experience requires suitable placement. Contact: 96409814 / 97384115 Driver available with car.

Contact 96771598 Light Driver. Contact 95779594, Ruwi Light Driver with 2 yrs experience looking for job with visa.

Contact 96794309 Indian male, looking for Heavy Driver job, holding Kuwait driving license. Contact 98136170 H.T. V Driver, Pakistani experience, 6 yrs, seeks work in company only.

Contact 93985087 Indian male 2 yrs exp in (D/L in sales seeker suitable placement.

Contact: 92055093 Looking for a job as Driver, with 9 yrs experience in Oman, language : Arabic/ English/ Hindi.

Contact 92517532 Light Driver, 5 yrs experience looking for job. Contact 92617293 Sri Lankan driver.

Contact: 97387112 Light duty driver, 8 yrs exp.

Contact: 96736744

DESIGNER Indian male, 24 years Graphic designer one year experience, B. Sc Multimedia Animation on visit visa in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93681417

DRAUGHTSMAN 17 yrs Oman experienced MEP/ Civil Senior Draftsman / Designer seeking placement.

Contact 93130104, Email : designjob2014@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Philippina Maid is looking for Domestic job or Baby seater with experience on Nursing age and all work in the house. Call : 96369299

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Electrical Engr, female, B Tech (Elec), experienced in all LV/ HV systems, currently working, NOC available for local transfer. phone-92109335

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

IT

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian job in procurement & contract have “13” years purchase & contract experience in infrastructure & energy sector. NOC is available.

Contact-91237036

Indian female MCA,24 years seeking suitable job. Contact 93439467

36 yrs, Indian, male, X Ray, Welder looking for job, 8 yrs experience in TIG & ARC Welding, presently on visit visa.Contact 91360190 / 91843992

Instrumentation Engineer, nearly 4 yrs experience in oil & gas industry, seeks job in Oman.

Contact 90198210, Email : terinsam@gmail.com Indian male 31yrs BE. Mech. 8 yrs exp Sales & marketing. Valid D/L NOC available. Contact : 97116858 Indian male, B.Tech, Mechanical Engineer having 2 yrs experience seeking suitable job. Contact 94768977, syedomer363@gmail.com Indian Male, 24, UK Graduate - MSc (Eng.) Environmental Engineering and Project Management with B.Eng. Biotechnology. Holding Valid Omani Driving License, looking for suitable placement. Contact +968 99452305 Civil Engineer Pakistani 12+ 2 yrs Oman exp. Oman D/L seeks placement. Contact: 94392616 Mechanical Engineer, 23 yrs, male, having knowledge in HVAC seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95434381, Email : shuhaibusman313@gmail.com Sudanese Electrical Engineer.

Email : mohamedkarrar.mk@gmail. com, contact 97452159 BE Mechanical Engineer, 22 yrs, Indian male on permanent visa & valid driving license looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact 91652927 / 99680181, Email : fawaris.09@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, BSC Engg in Civil, total 3 years experience, 2 years in Oman, looking for job.

Contact: 00968 94038642 ; email: shaikhhasib.ce@gmail.com Pakistani male, Diploma in civil, total 6 years experience , 4 years in Oman, with valid D/L, looking for job.

Contact: +968 98568934; Emai: eng.arfan54@yahoo.com SUPERVISOR: Indian male site supervisor (AIR CONDITIONING) 25 years of experience with valid Oman Driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 93391910 Email: hilariankj@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Civil Engineer BSc -7 years experience with constructions companies - 2 years in Oman - qualified as a project Engineer- Fluent in Arabic & English - Contact 98078095 Civil Engineer Indian male 10 yrs exp having Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94194399 (shiblyrock@gmail.com) Indian male, 30 yrs, Diploma in Civil Engineer, 5 yrs exp. at building construction & consulting company with Oman driving license. NOC available seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95989500, cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available.

Looking for(Store,Coordination,Admin ,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885 HSE Logistics Site Coordination with 10 yrs exp. in Oman seeks placement, with Oman D/L. Contact 92825053 / 92565093 Mechanical Engineer, 2 yrs experience in Automobile services.

Contact 98182081 Indian Mechanical Engineer (QA/ QC) Engineer with 5 yrs of experience in oil & gas, mining & manufacturing sector, keyskills – NDT, Welding Inspection, Quality control, inspection etc. Contact 91176122, Email : khajanaseer07@yahoo.co.in Indian male MBA 13 yrs exp in Oman (8 yrs in Tech Documentation 5 yrs in Project coordination) Administration, seeks suitable placement. Visa transfer / NOC available.

Contact : 93069441 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 Civil Engineer, more than 6 yrs experience in Supervision, site management, QS, Engineering software with valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Contact 91761364, Email : a-shaqfa@hotmail.com

Jordanian Mechanical Engineer, Expertise in Manufacturing, Design, Steel Work, AutoCad, SolidWork 3D. Nesting/ Plasma Cutting, Sales. Speaking English & Russian.

GSM#90198575/99201710

Civil Engineer BSc-Total Experience 6 years-2 years in Oman, experience in site work & Structural Design & Technical office.

Contact 97983610

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

B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 2 years experience in HV AC and plumbing - nikhilchandpm@gmail. com ; GSM: 97654489

Indian male, Supervisor Electrician Diploma 8 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 95057068, jratheesh@yahoo.com

Electrical and Electronics Engineer with one year experience and GCC licence holder seeking a job mail – shyjalpk@gmail.com

Civil Engg, B.Tech fresher Indian male currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 91702450 Email: tijoct2015@hotmail.com

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

Electrical Engineer bachelor degree having 6+ years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Email: imran.engr08@gmail.com

B.E in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years experience seeking for suitable job. Contact 919946739156 Email: ram332096@gmail.com B.Tech Electrical & electronics with 1 year experience seeking for suitable job. Contact: +91 949788348 Email: rakesh1.mohan@gmail.com Pakistani B.E (Chemical) Engineer having more than 02 years experience in process Industry seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa. Contact: 94350586 / 97637840 Indian BE (Mech) Engineer having P.G diploma in oil &gas piping and level two NDT seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa.

Contact: 92013757/ 99774956 Civil Engg, B.Tech, Indian male, having 3 yrs of experience in Construction & EPB looking for suitable placement. Contact 91430851.

Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian female, 2 yrs exp (1 yr in Oman) seeks suitable position. Contact: 93911895 Indian Civil Engineer, B.Tech, 13 yrs experience in building pipes.

Contact 91342325

Indian male, B.Tech, B.Tech (Electronics) MBA (Marketing) having 1 yr experience as Deputy Manager Sales in Fortune 100 MNC currently on visit visa seeks suitable job.

Contact 96967234, Email: lijotitus111@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 29 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF yres) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92789995, Email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Civil Engineer B.E, 5.5 years experience with Omani D/L. Contact 96785311 Indian male, 15 yrs experience in GCC looking for HSE job, NOC, local transfer available. Contact 93099578, Email : abdulsamad1966@yahoo.com Indian male, 29 yrs, BE Electronics & Communication Engg (5 yrs exp. in Oman) with valid D/L. Contact 96652145

EDUCATION M.A, B.Ed Indian female 27 yrs, looking suitable teaching profession having 2 years experience.

Contact: 95838183 Email: manslyas916@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Diploma holder in Aviation Hospitality & travel management, Indian male seeking for suitable position, presently in Oman. Contact 97309707 4 Years experienced (Money exchange services & Hospitality services in Oman & India) - Indian male 27 years, graduate in Hospitality science, fluent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks suitable placement.

Contact 91383167

IT NETWORK/NETWORK SECURITY ENGG. Graduate in B.Tech CS. Have 5.3 years of experience in Network and Security devices. Certified on CCNA, CCNP, MCITP and CCIE Sec. Written passed. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact +974-55297089, e-mail: rejad.hashim@gmail.com

Indian female, B.Tech, IT (now in Muscat on visit visa) with total 2 yrs experience (1.3 yrs in TCS, India) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 93949541 / 93738083, email : joantoms91@gmail.com B.E (Computer) degree Engineer, complete schooling in Muscat, male, Indian with 1 yr experience needs job in software / networking / Java/ Web design or Marketing.

Contact 97136248 / 99313821 Sudanese female IT Tech. Support, Demographic, English fluent exp.

11.6 yrs. Contact: 96659392 Indian (f) with 7 yrs exp in software development (2.5 yrs Oman exp) good knowledge in .net and MSSQL Server seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 93276784 email: sanalkumar63@gmail.com Indian visit visa, Network / System Engineer switches, routers, servers, load balancers 5 yrs of exp holds B.E (ECE), CCNA looking for good opportunity. Contact: 91911792 Email: arafakdnl@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Procurement Manager 25+ yrs experience Indian with NOC+ D/L seeks placement. Contact: 97073942 Project Program & Service Management Indian male looking for suitable placement having 15 years of experience. Contact : 9686678027 Email: dileepmnair@yahoo.com Supervisor fabrication. 30 years experienced in oil and gas industry with thorough knowledge of PDO procedures. contact 99365694, 92362946, 99208102 email: tapasroy21@yahoo . com Supervisor / Forman interior / electrical with Oman driving license.

Contact: 98767559 MIB Post Graduate /male – more than 9 years of experience in shipping & Logistics in middle east (Liner Section) looking for a suitable job in Oman. .Mob :( India) 91-9400043894, Oman 99899627 Email: jaise81@gmail.com Indian Male 13 years experience in Purchase/Store seeks urgent placement Contact -99609696

MEDICAL M.Sc Microbiologist, Indian female, 3 yrs experience seeking suitable placement in Medical Lab food or water. Contact 92302719 Male Nurse, B.Sc Nursing, experienced, passed prometric exam PH : 93837973 Indian Dentist couple seeking for an opportunity, both Prometric passed, BDS male (80%), BDS female (81%).

Email ppdr2020@gmail.com, Ph: 97985325 Veterinary Doctor with 10 yrs experience, looking for job.

Contact 92533579 BA degree Nursing professional having excellent looking for suitable placement. # 92955453 /91213269

MISCELLANEOUS Rent a car Incharge 39 yrs, Indian 15 yrs experience in UAE with UAE D/L seeks placement in any suitable post. Contact 99431708 Indian looking for Supervisor, Safety officer, Camp boss or Sales Executive. Contact 94003617 Management Professional accountable, responsible for profitable management can handle the entire operations, HR/Recruitment, Business development & Sales & marketing & etc, Great organizational skills with over 23+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai-UAE & Oman(11yrs) as General Manager - Publications, Printing,Media. open to any industry, can Join immediately w/NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

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

Contact 95245057

SALES / MARKETING Dynamic professional in consumer business/ sales with over 20 yrs of experience in Oman field, FMCG consumer electronics consumer telecom looking for suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact 99360975 / 99049536.

Sales and marketing - male 27 yrs, 2 years experience seeking suitable placement with Oman D/L. Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com Post graduate 6+ yrs of experience in credit controller marketing looking for suitable job, valid Oman driving license, own car. NOC available.

Contact 95327018 Indian male, MBA, Marketing having 5 yrs experience in Sales/ Marketing in Oman seeks suitable placement. D/L & NOC available.

Contact 93815477 Indian male 27 yrs, Diploma, 3 yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Supervisor, Oman driving license holder, looking for suitable placements.noc available. Contact 93725995 Marketing/Sales, having work experience of 6 years in the hotel sales and tour operations seeking for immediate job placement.

Contact 98078305 Indian male, 30 yrs, 6 yrs Oman exp. outdoor supplier & sales with D/L. Contact 93100297 / 92547440 Indian male Graduate with 2 yrs exp in sales advertising, presently on visiting visa looking for suitable opening. Contact: 95462921 Male, 29 yrs, MBA, Marketing having 9 yrs experience in Sales, Marketing, customer services seeks job. Contact 98163254, Email : shujaat_ali2014@hotmail.com Graduate, Indian male, 39 yrs, GCC experienced 9 yrs in Sales logistics with D/L. Contact 98826959 Indian male, Graduate with 18 yrs experience in Sales & Marketing 3 yrs in UAE currently on visit visa, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 91996486 / 99732070 Sudanese young man looking for job with suitable fluent in computers & experience in Sales.

Contact 91318822 MBA Graduate with 1 yr experience in Sales, having D/L seeks suitable placement. Contact 97620084, email : gautamacchu13@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, looking job for salesman. Contact 97756028 Indian male, 2 yrs exp. in Sales with D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92055093 MBA, HR & Marketing, Indian, male, 25 yrs, fresher, on visit visa seeks placement. Contact 94736649 / 98207564, Email : dvengels8191@gmail.com Indian male 27 years, B.Tech Graduate having good work experience with valid Oman D/L looking for a suitable opening as Sales Engineer.

Contact: 91472953 Email: harees.rasheed.2014@gmail.com

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED TIG+ARC Welder Indian with 16 yrs Middle East exp. in Copper Nickel, Duplex, Inconel, S.S, CS Now on visit visa seeks suitable placement..

Contact : 96502282.

Email: manuangola88@gmail.com

Building construction supervisor looking for small Omani company to handle independently or suitable placement in good company with Oman D/L. Contact 93061107

TOURS & TRAVELS Five years experience in Travel field ,BCom., IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India, looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast. pls contact 9470 5767 11 yrs experience in travel field B.Com, IATA, MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales reservation ticketing driving license & NOC available. Contact 92954613

MISCELLANEOUS Senior Accountant Indian male Graduate CA Articleship completed 18 years of experience currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement contact.97498809,93391910 Email.hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male, 30 yrs, B.Com with Tally, 8 yrs experience with Oman driving license experience in Accounts & sales seeks suitable placement. Contact 96470171 Electrical Maintenance Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact - 98440637. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com Indian male 22 years, Looking for suitable placement in Hardware and Networking field, 1 year exp. in india an have done training in al ameen computers. With good communication skill, Qualification is Diploma in Electronics and Communication.

Contact : - 95632209,95068075, Email- fairozhuded13@gmail.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science, diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience , dba oracle pl-sql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network, Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic. Email:chastity643@gmail. com, Mob:91415886 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864 Having 9+ years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement.

Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:95983711.Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian male 24 years,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 2 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482, Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement.

Contact no. 98045482 Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Male, 32, having 7 years experience in New Car sales and rental. Currently working for one of the most reputed Brand in India is seeking a suitable change.

Contact +91 9045232273 Looking for managerial post (full time ) ,More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training ,Planing, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics.

Contact 91076608 /+919048648108 NOC available Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 7 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. Having a valid D/L. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com

D6

M O N D AY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

SIT.WANTED BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings.NOC available. mobile: 92700670, email:catanalur131@gmail.com Accounts Head/Manager looking for job with Gulf Experience (NOC available). Contact : 94164650. email: msaleem.kr@gmail.com Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864 Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:95983711. Join.mtmali@gmail.com Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 7 years of gulf experience in fasteners and building material. Having a valid driving license. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com Indian male MBA finance and marketing. Having 2 year experienced in accounting, looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit can join immediately. Cont: 94676974 Email: anfalruk@gmail.com SALES MANAGER (MECHANICAL ENGINEER)-Over 5 yrs in Oman, with experience in Industrial Products & Services with Noc & driving license looking for the challenging opportunities. Notice period Ends on 27th August -2015 . GSM - 95291830 ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available seeks suitable opportunity.

GSM: 98184170 Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping & Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

GSM: 97121525 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 5 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. with good communication skills.

Contact: 00968 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.com Male available for a part time accounting & admin job, Contact:99196621.

INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482 21 years, B. Com, graduate male ‘fresher’ well versed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam with Driving license looking for a suitable job. Contact: 96799287 24 years, ACCA affiliate, 2.5 years of experience in audit, finance in Big6 and oil industry, looking for suitable placement, NOC release available. Contact 95140445, Email: a.saran891@gmail.com INDIAN MALE 24 YEARS, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic).Having 2 years experience as Electrical Site Engineer in Constructions. Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications.

Seeking for suitable placement in constructions or in any related industries.

Contact no: 98045482/ mastanshaik1008@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED Indian male, 29 yrs, B.Tech Electronics & Communication Eng. + diploma in SAP, 7 years professional experience, looking for a job in Oman / other GCC countries.

Contact: 0091 973 928 5790, Email: rahul.rn198@gmail.com Indian male MBA finance and marketing having 2 year experienced in accounting. Having good knowledge in Tally ERP and advanced excel.

Looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit visa can join immediately. Contact:94676974, Email : anfalruk@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer : Indian , male 23 years, 2 years experience, on visit visa . Seeking suitable placement.

Contact : +968 91409712 , Email : nibin.nani@gmail.com Babar Ali Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, No need of Visa, already working in of the Omani Construction Company.

Contact:- 95983711.

Advertising/media executive with 15 years gulf experience with oman driving license. Seeks good opening.

Contact 93031168 Masters in Information Systems and IT with more than 12 years experience seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 98502793, email:jobsrs6@gmail.com AutoCad Civil Draftsman – Having 3 years- experience, looking for a placement.(Full- time or Part time) 99627427 / 96154564.

Indian Female, 25 years, M.Sc Electronics + Multimedia, having one year teaching experience in Government college in India, seeks suitable placement. Contact GSM 99367448 Indian Male, 37 Years , B Tech Graduate Electrical. Having 12 Years Experience of DCRP Works / Jobs in Oman with Driving License, Looking for an suitable opening, NOC Available. Contact – 92122338, Email saiviharvasanth@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439 Indian Female Lawyer having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman seeks placement in Legal/HR/ Admin etc. NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping&Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

GSM: 97121525

Quantity Surveyor-MEP (Estimation/Project) ,Total 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman).

Having NOC & Oman D/L, Looking for suitable job, Contact - 97906551 Well qualified Indian Female Bsc, Computers diploma 9 years of experience as Executive Secretary seeks placement.

Contact 95423692,91374217 Indian female with MBA in finance on visit visa seeking immediate placement.

Contact :968-93316493 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years , looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 5 years of Gulf experience in FASTENERS and building material. with good communication skills. Contact: 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.comIndian Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 YEARS in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat. GSM:97475860 Email:yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com B.E Mechanical engineer,2 years job experience in Oman in pipeline field, having ASNT level ll in UT,RT,MT and PT, fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, with valid Omani driving license (light) searching for job.

Contact +968 92745691 ACCOUNTANT: Indian male senior Accountant, Graduate & CA Article ship completed. 18 Years of experience. Currently on visiting visa. seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 99769743, Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286

SIT.WANTED

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Available for a part time accounting job. Contact 99196621 Software Developer, Indian female, B.Tech (AE & I), M.Tech (VLSI Design), asp.net, C#,.net, C++, Core Java, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpkku@gmail.com Electronics / Instrumentation Engineer, Indian female, M.Tech (VLSI Design), B.Tech (applied Electronics & Instrumentation), ASP.Net, C++.Net, C++, Android Java, looking for suitable placement. Contact 95906935, Email : amalpktu@gmail.com

Nissan Xterra 2010 Expat owned 90,000 k, clean car.

Contact: 93393967

Mazda 3,1.6, 2008 Automatic, accident free, single owner.

Contact: 92030516

Sportage, 2013. Contact 99336093

Land Cruiser 2012.

Contact 99336093

Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093 Indian male 35 yrs, 10 yrs UAE experience in FMCG, looking for a suitable position in sales and marketing, valid GCC license on visit visa.

Contact 93438747, 95723635.

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 Having exp in the following, MS Windows Server 2003 & 2008, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 & E-Mail Client Administration,Linux Administration, Service Desk Administration, Network Management, Technical Support. Presently the candidate in India.Mob:97239854

Indian male, B.com, MBA, having 5 years experience (3 years in U.A.E) is currently seeking suitable opportunities within finance/ accounts/admin dept.

Contact:93953613, allen.mathew83@gmail.com B.Com graduate, 11 years experience in Accounts, 9 years Oman experience , Oman valid driving license, looking for suitable post.

Mob:92758404 NOC Available.

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available. Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Two year experience in Oman, experience in sales, purchase and system admin, Having GCC license.

Contact number 97475860, Yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com Indian Male, 32 yrs, MBA-HR, Trainer & Faculty worked on Omanisation & nationals development activities with 10 yrs of experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 93891401 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science,diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience dba oracle plsql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba,network Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic Tel: 91415886 Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708/97357143

PAJERO 2015 km1400.

Contact 99336093

Toyota Camry 2006, new tyre & new engine, very good condition, location Sohar. Contact 91110270

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing accommodation for Filipina on Seeb for couple / working ladies.

Contact: 92959251

Single rooms with attached bath available at Ruwi.

Contact 98049288 / 8091089

Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera Hypermarket, Azaiba, RO 150/-. Contact 99455735

Furnished room with attached bath separate entrance in Mabela.

Contact :99634841

Semi furnished 2 BHK sharing in Al Khuwair. Contact 92888337 Semi furnished 2 BHK in Al Khuwair. Contact 92888337 1 bedroom, hall, kitchen & toilet available for family near ISD Darsait (Indians only) with wi-fi facility.

RO 150/- per month + Electricity & Water. Contact 93661570 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair RO 225/- for family only.

Contact 99251975 Furnished master room Ruwi.

Contact : 99794399 Furnished room in new building for working Muslim lady/muslim couple only. Location: AINT, Darsait Contact 99008069 Room for bachelor couples, Ruwi, Mumtaz on main road. Ruwi tower 80/100. Contact :95084850/ 92230581 Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500

Sharing accommodation in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors, wifi free, advance deposit.

Contact 91852710 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206 Room for rent with sharing bathroom & kitchen at Al Khuwair, behind Golden Spoon Restaurant.

Contact 92994415 Furnished room for Indian Bachelor in Al Falaj area (Ruwi) & Lady in Wadi Kabir (near Al Maya).

Contact 96761960 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai.

Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95345537

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

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Seeking financial investor / partner for short term Governmental construction project of 1.5 million Riyal Omani. Contact : 99881303 Looking for Investor to start steel fabrication unit. Contact 98314531 Invite business proposals on profit sharing basis. Email : contact@absmct.com/ 99221683 New company seek partnership.

Contact: 96996938 General Investors.

Gsm-99674870

NRI

WEBSITE

COMPUTER

GOOD NEWS Fresh flowers Jasmine Roses Marigold & Garlands for Onam & other festivals, advance booking accepted.

Haridas Nensey. Contact 24750784

CLASSES

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807 Split window cassette AC unit servicing, maintenance.

Contact: 99540621

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

Contact 99348943

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

FOR HIRE Prime mover, 98, 4 wheel on hire.

Contact 95120774 Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

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

Contact: Saleh : 96723485

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

MATRIMONIAL A respectable Sunni Muslim family from Hyderabad, India invites proposal for their daughter, 26 years, MSc, very fair. Contact 93671857 Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East.

Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

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

Contact: 92088325 / 24799938

General cleaning & Shampooing.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 / 99357908 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Civil maintenance - plumbing, electrical, painting, and tiling, interior decorations, shop furnishing and all other maintenance works.

Contact: 97897831 / 92112094 (Indian, Keralite) Pest control Treatments, Cockroaches, Ants ,Rodents & Termites. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99357908 / 99344723.

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact 93769089 / 95323517 All maintenance & repairs.

Contact Rizwan: 99429071, RMPM Trading.

A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

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

Contact: 98667326 General cleaning in buildings villas all types interior, exterior, polishing dry cleaning carpets, rugs, marble etc. Contact 94134784 / 98598280 Maintenance working interlocks, tiles, fixing painting & others working. Contact: 92179395

Driver for Automatic Transmission. Contact: 99040813

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M O N D AY, AU G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

TOURS

SITUATION WANTCARGO

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

RENT A CAR

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

TRANSPORTATION Pick & drop anytime in Al Ghubra.

Contact: 97681599 Transport available in Ghala, Ruwi , Ghubra, Al Khuwair & Azaiba.

Contact: 91495819 Transportation. Contact 99664703 Transportation available.

Contact 95570429 Transport. Contact: 95190627 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Car for rent. Contact: 92516090

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

Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786