Times of Oman - July 25, 2015

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NIKKEI GOES GLOBAL WITH ‘FINANCIAL TIMES’ TAKEOVER Nikkei’s surprise acquisition of the Financial Times for $1.3 billion underscores its goal to be the voice of Asia on economic affairs. >B3

SATURDAY, July 25, 2015 / 8 Shawwal 1436 AH

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A Renaissance Day gift to Oman SPORTS REPORTER

MUSCAT: Oman Cricket delivered a perfect Renaissance Day gift to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the nation, by clinching the World T20 Championship berth at the ongoing ICC World T20 Qualifier being jointly hosted by Scotland and Ireland on Wednesday.

On a day when Oman annually marks the advent of its glorious Renaissance, the national team scripted a new chapter in the Oman’s cricket history with a victory over the experienced Namibia, thereby sealing a spot in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament to be hosted in India next year.

Remember, no Omani national team had ever made it to the world

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

championships in recent times, make it over a decade, barring the beach soccer, handball teams and tent pegging teams.

It is truly a historic achievement, but what made it more significant is the way it was achieved.

The Sultanate squad had already made its mark at the qualifier with stirring performances, humbling fancied teams like the Netherlands and Afghanistan.

But against Namibia, it was a door-die battle for the sixth and final qualifying berth.

It was a pressure cooker situ-

1,500

the decrease in the

Number of candidates

number of candidates 1,113

21

for Shura elections to a period of normalcy

fahadnews@timesofoman.com

after the surcharged

MUSCAT: Two of the seven Emiratis, who went swimming in the sea off Al Dimr in the wilayat of Mirbat in Dhofar governorate, are still missing, said the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA).

The other five are safe, it said.

Rescue operations are still on as the PACDA has requested a helicopter from Oman’s Royal Air Force to help in the search of the two missing persons.

PACDA clarified that the two drowned due to high undertows.

In an earlier incident, an expatriate drowned in Wadi Shab in the wilayat of Tewi in Sharqiyah region recently. Thereafter, the Ministry of Tourism made the decision to station patrols at the well-known tourist attractions in Al Sharqiyah.

Rescue teams are now on-site at Mughsayl in the Dhofar governorate, and they plan to post personnel at Wadi Bani Khalid to help prevent drowning incidents during the holidays.

atmosphere of

women applied for 85 seats

674

631

174

did not meet the criteria 0

2007

2011

857

2015

nationals filed papers

2011 and the tough eligibility criteria to

9

withdrew

5 to 10 candidates

contest the elections

are contesting in some small wilayats having between 100 and 300 voters

674 candidates on the final list

Graphics

Source: Ministry of Interior

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com

TOUGH CONTEST: Tawfiq Al Lawati, a member of the Majlis Al Shura for Muttrah.

MUSCAT: A sharp decrease in the number of candidates vying for the Majlis Al Shura is not an indication that people are losing interest in Oman’s political system, according to experts.

There are 674 candidates on the final list for this year’s elections, according to the Ministry of Interior — 40 per cent fewer than the 1,113 candidates who stood for election in 2011.

While this may seem like a sign people don’t care about the elections, this is actually a return to normal after a politically-charged year in 2011, says Ahmed Al

Mukhaini, a lawyer and political analyst. In 2007 there were 631 candidates.

“If you look at the previous elections they are at the same rate.

2011 was an exception years. It was a year of political activity and people realised the role of Majlis Al Shura and they realised it can be a channel for social mobility,” Al Mukhaini told Times of Oman.

In 2011, a year which saw protests in Sohar and other places around the country, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said extended the application period for Majlis

Al Shura candidates. Providing more opportunity to run in the Majlis Al Shura elections was a way to diminish the conflict and defuse the anger, explained Al Mukhaini.

“After the 2011 events, His Majesty opened the candidacy again.

That’s why you have double the number,” he said.

This year 857 nationals applied as candidates, 21 women among them, for the 85 seats. Of those who initially applied 174 did not meet the criteria, withdrew their applications, or died, leaving a fi-

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nal list of 674 candidates, according to the Ministry of Interior.

“We know there was a lot of controversy about this, but I talked to someone from the State Council and they said there was a lot of misunderstanding around this issue. It was not necessarily related to political issues but technicalities,” explained Dr Leon Goldsmith, Professor of Political Science at SQU. The Basis Statute of Oman states that the candidate must be an Omani national by origin, at least 30 years of age, have TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

RISING DEMAND: It is a boom time for gold retailers.

ly brisk pre-holiday trading period of June and July, so the dramatic price dip has worked in our favour to reignite consumer demand and lure shoppers to our outlets.”

Muhsin P also noticed that most of the buyers were looking at it as an investment.

“We have noticed that most of them were buying gold coins and bars, which means they were buy-

ing these as investors,” he said.

For some, the low prices presented a good opportunity to plan the purchase of gold for the upcoming Indian festive season.

Varghese said, “The decline in gold price usually drives retail jewellery demand and that has been the trend over the years.

However, the sharp decline will translate into incremental sales

only if it sustains itself for a few days.”

“At the moment, the gold price is fluctuating constantly. We are yet to see if the sudden decline has encouraged retail activity substantially, and it is too early to draw any conclusions. However, we have witnessed a good response from the shoppers also because of our ‘Joyalukkas Drive Your Dream’ summer promotion,” he noted.

Varghese added, “The current plunge had been triggered by investors who turned to the US dollar, which rose on the likelihood of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates because of a stronger US economy. Investors buy gold during times of uncertainty. Monday was the first time gold traded below the level of $1,100 since March 26, 2010. The decline also comes after China’s central bank indicated its gold reserves were at half the expected levels.”

He also added, “Gold’s fall has been exacerbated by a slide in China’s stock market, as few people have the cash to buy the yellow metal.”

Innovative children’s art workshop

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Old cardboard boxes and newspaper found new life as decorations and household objects thanks to an innovative children’s art workshop held recently at Musc Art Gallery in Ghubrah. >A2

OMAN

REGION

Souqs relive heritage Turkey hits IS targets

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Oman is known for its unique souqs — the traditional markets where one can find Omani items. >A3

SATU RDAY

LIFES

B SECTION

Turkish warplanes pounded IS targets in Syria for the first time on Friday. >A4

25, 2015 , JULY

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Family SOFO WWW.TIME

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Omani Sunn y Days Summer tips

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Making the most of back-to-school shopping One skill I would like to learn ...

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, JULY 25, 2015

IT WAS 6 light rain hadin the morning and a started outside. wanted to Rabia, wake up her because she niece excitedly knew Amina Amina, and rains, she stood loved the chasing one ran around the park and conside outside Amina’s door another.

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of g the Mosopt ping Makinch l Sh oo -S -to Back

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SATU RDAY

Crosswor d Puzzle

PUZZLE

Times News Service

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Gold price dip spurs sharp rise in sales Muscat: With gold prices dipping to a five-year low early this week, there has been a big jump in jewellery sales, according to shopkeepers in Muscat.

On July 20, the gold rate for 22 carat was OMR13.850 per gram.

On Thursday, the gold price was OMR13.650.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Muhsin P, deputy head, Malabar Gold said, “We are seeing a surge in sales with the gold price remaining low. We saw a hundred per cent increase in customer flow to our showrooms compared to the same period last year. The low gold prices have been a factor in driving our sales.”

Varghese T A, manager, main shop, Joyalukkas Jewellery, said, “The steepest five-year fall in global gold prices on Monday might be a bit too late for holiday shoppers to rejoice, but it turned out to be a boon for all retailers hit by a dismal sales during the traditionally peak season of June and July. We faced an average 25 per cent plunge in sales in the normal-

completed high school, not have a criminal record, not affiliated to a security or military authority, not interdicted by a judicial judgment and not suffering from a mental illness.

“It’s the same in any country.

Candidates are vetted according to their application or if they haven’t paid the fees or they have a conflict of interest. We shouldn’t read too much into that at this stage,” Goldsmith added.

He said some potential candidates may not run because if they win, they would have to resign from their government or private sector jobs so they could be available for the sessions and to consult with their constituents for the four-year term.

Tawfiq Al Lawati, a member of the Majlis Al Shura for Muttrah, said the decrease in number of candidates doesn’t reflect a waning interest since there are still many candidates in each wilayat and there will be competition for the seats.

“Even in some small wilayats where there are only 100 voters or 300 voters, you would see there are five or 10 candidates,” he said.

Al Lawati attributes the lower number of candidates to the fact that people who may have considered running in the elections took more time to reflect on what it takes to win and thought carefully about whether they should go through the process or not, whereas in 2011 there were more people making impulsive decisions.

“I think people have become more realistic about their chances and that it takes effort,” he said.

Decline in Majlis Al Shura nominees

Political analysts see

FAHAD AL GHADANI

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of greetings to President Abdulla Yameen of Maldives on his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to the president and his country’s people further progress and prosperity.

His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of greetings to President Beji Caid Essebsi of the Tunisian Republic on his country’s Republic Day anniversary. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere greetings and wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to the president and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. —ONA

Drop in Shura candidates no sign of waning interest

Rescue operations are still continuing in Mirbat.

Two Emiratis still missing in Mirbat Sea

ation, and the tension was palpable. But these were a bunch of cricketers who, under the tutelage of Sri Lankan great Duleep Mendis, learnt to deal with all sorts of pressure.

That is not to say that the team was not affected by the situation.

They were. In both the innings, they committed some cardinal errors, but they showed character to fight back.

Initially, they dropped a few easy catches, but they managed to restrict the Namibians to 148 for nine in 20 overs.

Then they survived some tense moments in their ‘chase for glory’, which they achieved scoring 150 for five in 19 overs, thanks to some lusty blows from man of the match Zeeshan Ahmed Siddiqui. >A11

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DROWNING INCIDENT

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HM sends greetings

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A2

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015 They’ll remember this. It teaches them to recycle and make useful things or decorations for the house.

I use a lot of recycled material in my own art

OMAN

Nikos Zarras, Art instructor

Art and environment combine at workshop

L AW A N D O R D E R

DRUG HAUL: Three Asian nationals were arrested for smuggling

narcotics in Musandam on Wednesday. In another case, ROP personnel seized 947 bundles of ‘khat’ from a smuggler in Dhofar Governorate on the same day. – Supplied photo

HOLIDAY WORKSHOP: MuscArt has been holding a variety of workshops since mid-May, including weekly workshops throughout the

summer.– TIMES OF OMAN

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com

Five children aged five to eight took part in the class led by Oman-based Greek artist Nikos Zarras,who shared his passion for recycled art with the children

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MUSCAT: Old cardboard boxes and newspaper found new life as decorations and household objects thanks to an innovative children’s art workshop held recently at MuscArt Gallery in Ghubrah.

Five children aged 5 to 8 years took part in the class led by Omanbased Greek artist Nikos Zarras.

The artist shared his passion for recycled art with the children by teaching them how to make cardboard and paper mache decorative animals and serving trays.

“They’ll remember this. It teaches them to recycle and make useful things or decorations for the house. I use a lot of recycled material in my own art,” Zarras said.

Eight-year-old Laila, who was taking her very first art class, was an eager participant and quickly picked up the skills Zarras taught such as layering strips of old news-

paper with glue around half a balloon to make a pear-shaped fruit bowl. “I love art. My favourite is painting and paper mache,” she said, showing a serving tray she had already finished making that looked like a slice of watermelon.

Child artist Razan, 5, had paint all over her hands and even on her face and in her hair as she gleefully painted a paper mache cat in bright blues and green, which she said were her favourite colours. This workshop was her second at MuscArt, following a painting workshop earlier in the summer.

MuscArt has been holding a variety of workshops since midMay, including weekly workshops throughout the summer. Subjects include photography, calligraphy, painting, clay, print making, drawing and painting and even art history for children.

Instructors include art teachers

and practicing artists who are good at communicating their skills.

Alexandra Hoepfner, MuscArt Gallery Manager, said there are many benefits for children taking art classes. Small children develop hand-eye coordination, tactile skills, planning a few steps ahead, and basic colour theory.

“For that kind of development that is still in small children art can play a very important role,” she said.

Older children have been taking the classes to learn new skills which they don’t learn in school and to build up portfolios to apply for advanced art classes or because they have future plans of studying creative subjects in university.

The workshops will continue through the end of August with courses in clay, world art, calendar-making and Arabic calligraphy. For more information or to register for the classes visit www. muscart.net.

Narcotics, ‘khat’ haul in Musandam, Dhofar Times News Service MUSCAT: An attempt by three Asian nationals to smuggle narcotics in Musandam was foiled

by Royal Oman Police (ROP) on Wednesday.

In another case, ROP personnel seized 947 bundles of ‘khat’ from a smuggler in Dhofar Governorate on the same day.

The ROP has called upon citi-

zens and residents to cooperate with them to combat the narcotics scourge and convey to the police any information that could help in detecting drug smugglers.

Information can be provided by calling the emergency phone (9999) or toll-free number (1444) to contact public administration to combat drugs and psychotropic substances or go to the nearest police station.

SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP

H O S P I TA L I T Y S E C T O R

Shangri-La wins award at ‘tea challenge’ SAF shooting team wins top honours

Times News Service

MUSCAT: Demonstrating their skills at the perfect brew, ShangriLa Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, from the Sultanate of Oman, was awarded a silver medal at the final of the Dilmah Real High Tea Global Challenge 2015, held at the Hilton Residency in Sri Lanka.

Among all participants around the globe, Shangri-La Oman team was also honoured with the ‘Judges’ Choice’ award as the favourite team of Dilhan Fernando, the creator of Dilmah High Tea Challenge and son of Merrill Fernando, founder of Dilmah Tea. The team earned their place in the final back in September 2014 where they won the Dilmah Real High Tea Challenge UAE 2014 held

BREWING SUCCESS: The contest aimed at involving and initiating a new generation of culinary and mixology professionals.–Supplied photo

at the International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA), Dubai.

This prestigious competition aimed to involve and initiate a new generation of culinary and mixology professionals to the

world of tea and participants represented some of the most luxurious hotels worldwide.

The opening ceremony commenced with the participation of 21 teams from 14 countries, interna-

tional media and the judges – Presiding Judge, Bernd Uber; Culinary Judge, Simon Gault (MasterChef New Zealand); Culinary Judge, Peter Kuruvita (Award winning restaurateur and Celebrity Chef), and Tea Judge, Dilhan C. Fernando.

Along with Shangri-La Oman, representatives from five sister properties including Island Shangri-La Hong Kong, and Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur also participated in the competition.

The judging criteria for the competition was based on the creativity of a theme as well as demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the tastes of different teas, how to make a perfect brew, how to pair tea with food, sustainable ingredients as well as the overall presentation of the concept.

Times News Service MUSCAT: Commending its sterling show, BAE Systems congratulated the Sultan’s Armed Forces Shooting Team for again performing to the highest standards at the recently concluded International Military Shooting Championship, held at the Bisley Ranges in the UK. The team used 5.56mm ammunition from BAE Systems during the competition. This year, the team was successful in a number of events, including the Methuen Cup, where it achieved the highest score (1372 out of 1500) amongst competitors from

all three British services, as well as teams from countries such as the United States, Canada and Germany. Overall the team won 24 trophies, including the prestigious His Majesty’s Cup, and a number of medals.

Matthew Foster, general manager, BAE Systems Oman, said, “We have been pleased to work closely with all of the Sultan’s Armed Forces to support their training...the shooting team’s success at this prestigious international championship reflects the importance of nurturing competitive spirit and developing skills through long-term support of training for such events,” he said.

A R T A N D C U LT U R E

‘Ibn Battuta’ musical to showcase Arab history at Expo Milan Times News Service MUSCAT: Arab world’s cultural journey will be showcased as Ibn Battuta Musical is staged at the Expo Milan 2015 on Saturday and Sunday. The show will be held under the patronage of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Oman Airport Management Company, Oman Arab Bank, Oman Air and Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority.

According to Expo Milan 2015 website, “on Saturday, Expo Milano 2015 will play host to the National Day of Oman. The Sultanate will stage musical performances by the Al Majd Band, the Omani Oud Association Ensemble MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA: ‘Ibn Battuta’ is a cultural journey that reveals the strength of Arab culture in the 13th and 14th centuries when of the Royal Muscat Opera House science, literature, mathematics and architectural discoveries of the Middle East were being transferred to the West. – Photos by Khalid Al Busaidi and, in the evening, a concert by ‘Ibn Battuta’ Musical. Plus, tasting events, guided tours of the Pavilion day woman who goes back in time orchestras and a modern dance when science, literature, mathe- sented through music, he exand a round table on the beauty and with the 14th century Moroccan company,” said Ahmed Abouzahra, matics and architectural discover- plained.

The musical focuses strongly on hospitality which Oman offers its explorer to retrace some of his general manager of Arabesque In- ies in the Middle East were being Oman, which was one of the many travels through Morocco, Egypt, ternational, the company which transferred to the West. tourists, will also be held.”

He said the musical would also countries Ibn Battuta visited in his produced the show while he was in Ibn Battuta, which was staged the Levant and Oman. show the diversity of the Arab travels. Abouzahra said this will “The Arabs are not just what Muscat. in Muscat on May 30 and 31, is a Abouzahra described ‘Ibn Bat- World, since it would bring ele- help put Oman in the international musical that brings together 180 is all over the media about them. musicians, singers, and dancers. We also have a peaceful culture tuta’ as a cultural journey that re- ments of rhythm and dance from spotlight in Milan and showcase Together they will narrate an ad- and we are trying to present it in vealed the strength of the Arab cul- four different regions. The heart what a beautiful, peaceful nation it venturous story about a modern- their language, with European ture in the 13th and 14th centuries and soul of each area will be pre- is. “Our aim is to have this produc-

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tion as branding for Oman and as an ambassador for the Sultanate all over the world...to attract people to come to Oman, to get to know this culture, to get to know the country, and how peaceful the society is,” said Abouzahra, and added that he hoped to present the musical in other countries after Italy.

For the extravagant production, Arabesque International has brought together the Fondazione I Pomeriggi Musicali Orchestra from Italy with Egyptian and Omani musicians playing Middle Eastern instruments, the Sofia Ballet from Bulgaria, and the Antonine University Choir from Lebanon, in addition to the Lebanese National Conservatory Choir, and Al Mithaliya Group for Folklore from Oman.

Ibn Battuta stars Egypt’s Adbel Rahman Abou Zahra in the title role and features soloists Rehab Omar from Egypt, Ghada Shbeir from Lebanon, and Huda Al Khanbashi from Oman.

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

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OMAN

Oman’s souqs relive past heritage Oman is known for its unique souqs — the traditional markets where one can find unique Omani items.

These markets are important landmarks and active economic and tourism centres.

Times of Oman photographer A.R. Rajkumar captures the scenes from the souqs in Mutrah, Salalah, Seeb and Nizwa.

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SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

REGION

Aden International Airport was recaptured on July 14 by Gulf Arab-backed Yemeni forces as they drove Houthi forces out of the southern port city and much of the surrounding areas.

Turkey carries out first air strikes on IS group in Syria, launches raids Ankara acted hours after officials in Washington said it had agreed to let US jets launch air strikes from a base near the Syrian border

ANKARA/ELBEYLI: Turkish warplanes pounded IS militant group’s targets in Syria for the first time on Friday, with President Tayyip Erdogan promising more decisive action against both the insurgents and Kurdish militants at home.

The air strikes, which followed a phone conversation between Erdogan and US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, were accompanied by a series of police raids across Turkey to detain hundreds of suspected militants, including from Kurdish groups.

Reluctant partner Turkey has long been a reluctant partner in the US-led coalition against IS, emphasising instead the need to oust Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and saying Syrian Kurdish forces also pose a grave security threat.

But Friday’s attacks, which officials said were launched from NAT I O N AT WA R

Aircraft land in Aden with equipment to re-open airport ADEN: Two Saudi aircraft landed at Aden on Friday bringing equipment needed to re-open the city’s airport four months after the Yemeni civil war shut it down, Saudiowned Al Arabiya TV reported.

Aden International Airport was recaptured on July 14 by Gulf Arab-backed Yemeni forces as they drove Houthi forces out of the southern port city and much of the surrounding areas.

Houthi fighters allied with army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh captured Aden in March and April at the outset of the country’s four-month-old war, dealing a blow to President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi, an ally of Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Hadi and his aides fled to Riyadh as Houthi forces, who had seized the capital in September, closed in on Aden. In the wake of Aden’s recapture, his ministers are slowly returning there. If the airport resumes regular operations using the equipment carried by the plane that landed on Friday, then the city is expected to be able to expedite the import of badly needed emergency humanitarian aid.

Four months of air raids and civil war have killed more than 3,500 people in Yemen. Aden has suffered especially, with acute shortages of food, medicine and fuel.

Aden and the other southern provinces have been largely inaccessible to UN food aid, and about 13 million people - more than half the population - are thought to be in dire need of food.

A coalition of Arab states has been bombarding Houthi forces since late March in a bid to reinstate Hadi. It has also run training programmes for Yemeni soldiers loyal to Hadi and dropped arms to local forces fighting the Houthis.

UAE plane with aid The first plane to land at Aden airport since pro-Hadi government forces took over was Saudi, carrying weapons and military assistance. An aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at dawn on Friday landed at Aden airport carrying humanitarian aid, Al Arabiya TV reported.

In the latest military action, coalition warplanes bombed targets across Yemen including the capital Sanaa on Friday, according to Houthi media Saba news and security sources. — Reuters

PAIN AND GRIEF: A Turkish soldier prays during the burial ceremony of Turkish soldier Mehmet Yalcin Nane on Friday in Gaziantep. – AFP

Turkish airspace, signalled that Ankara would crack down against IS across the Syrian border, while pursuing the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) - which Ankara describes as a separatist organisation - at home.

“In our phone call with Obama, we reiterated our determination in the struggle against the sepa-

ratist organisation and the IS,” Erdogan told reporters. “We took the first step last night.”

Ankara acted hours after officials in Washington said it had agreed to let US jets launch air strikes from a base near the Syrian border, dropping an earlier refusal to allow manned American bombing raids.

Turkey has faced increasing insecurity along its 900-km (560mile) frontier with Syria. A crossborder firefight on Thursday between the army and IS, which has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, left one militant and one soldier dead.

It has also suffered a wave of violence in largely Kurdish southeast-

ern Turkey after a suspected IS suicide bombing killed 32 people, many of them Kurds, in the town of Suruc on the Syrian border this week. But Erdogan’s critics say he is more concerned with keeping Syrian Kurdish fighters in check, afraid that gains they have made against IS in the Syrian civil war will embolden Turkey’s own 14 million-strong Kurdish minority.

“Even though Erdogan has so far failed to achieve his goals in Syria the overthrow of Assad - and IS has become a problem, it is nevertheless a convenient instrument for him,” said Halil Karaveli, managing editor of The Turkey Analyst, a policy journal.

“Now he has all the excuses he needs to go after the Kurds and also it makes him look very good in the eyes of the US, which will be happy that Turkey is on board in the coalition.”

Three F-16 fighter jets took off from a base in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey, early on Friday and hit two IS bases and one “assembly point” before returning, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

“We can’t say this is the beginning of a military campaign, but certainly the policy will be more involved, active and more engaged,” a Turkish government official said. “But action won’t likely be taken unprompted.”

Police also rounded up nearly 300 people in Friday’s raids against suspected IS and Kurdish militants, Prime Minister Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said after vowing to fight all “terrorist groups” equally. Local media re-

ported that helicopters and more than 5,000 officers, including special forces, were deployed in the operation. Anti-terror police raided more than 100 locations across Istanbul alone, broadcasters CNN Turk and NTV reported.

One senior official said: “This morning’s air strike and operation against terrorist groups domestically are steps taken as preventive measures against a possible attack against Turkey from within or from outside... There has been a move to active defence from passive defence.”

Turkey has repeatedly said it would take any “necessary measures” to protect itself from attack by both IS and Kurdish militants.

US defence officials said on Thursday that Turkey has agreed to allow manned US planes to stage air strikes against IS militants from an air base at Incirlik, close to the Syrian border. US drones are already launched from the base.

Obama and Erdogan agreed in their call on Wednesday to work together to stem the flow of foreign fighters and secure Turkey’s border.

The ability to fly manned bombing raids out of Incirlik against targets in nearby Syria could be a big advantage. Such flights have had to fly mainly from the Gulf.

Turkey’s stance has frustrated some of its NATO allies, including the United States, whose priority is fighting IS rather than Assad.

The allies have urged Turkey to do more to prevent its border being used as a conduit to Syria by foreign militants. — Reuters

POST NUCLEAR DEAL

Iran to rejoin SWIFT system three months after curbs are lifted; Zarif to visit Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq VIENNA/TEHRAN: Iran expects to rejoin the international electronic payment system SWIFT three months after sanctions imposed on it are lifted and it will also become easier for foreign firms to take part in privatisations in Iran, a senior Iranian official said.

Also on Friday, Iran’s ISNA press agency said that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will visit Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq this weekend.

His remarks suggested Iran’s long isolated but high-potential, energy-based economy will be open for investment once sanctions are removed as a result of its July 14 deal with world powers placing limits on its nuclear programme.

Industry Minister Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh also said Iran’s foreign reserves total between $115 billion and $125 billion, including assets in its sovereign wealth fund.

It was one of the most detailed public descriptions of the reserves by an Iranian official. The size of the foreign reserves and the way Iran uses them will be crucial in its bid to rebuild its economy after years of international sanctions.

Iran was barred from SWIFT, crippling its ability to make international bank transfers crucial to foreign trade, due to Western sanctions.

Speaking on the sidelines of a business conference in Vienna on Friday, Nematzadeh said foreign banks would gradually be able to re-establish links with Iranian banks as sanctions relief kicks in, which he expected to happen in less than three months.

When asked to clarify the timing, he said he meant three months “from the sanctions (being removed)”.

Iran and the six powers struck the nuclear deal on July 14 and, if UN inspectors confirm Tehran is complying with provisions to curb its nuclear activity, sanctions could begin to be removed later this year.

Sanction relief Nematzadeh also said sanctions relief would smooth the way for foreign companies to take part in planned privatisations of stateowned Iranian companies.

“Some downstream (companies) like petrochemical industries or refining industries, they are all either privatised or the

MAKING A POINT: US Secretary of John Kerry speaks next to Richard Nathan Haass, left, at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the Iran nuclear agreement in New York on Friday. – AFP

‘It will be embarrassing’ and blow to American credibility if Congress rejects Iran deal: Kerry NEW YORK: US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday it would be embarrassing to him and a blow to US credibility on the world stage if Congress rejects the Iran nuclear deal.

“Do you think the ayatollah is going to come back to the table if Congress refuses this and negotiate again?” he told a well-heeled audience at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York.

Kerry has spent recent days trying to sell the hard-fought deal to skeptical Americans as the Republican-majority, 535-member Congress has 60 days to review the deal.

Congress can pass a motion of disapproval, which President Barack Obama can veto. An override of the veto

ones left are going to be privatised,” he said.

He stressed that Iran’s national oil company NIOC would not be sold and that the government would retain up to 20 percent in

requires two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate.

“Do you think that they’re going to sit there and other people in the world are going to say, ‘hey let’s go negotiate with the United States, they have 535 secretaries of state’?,” Kerry said.

“I mean please. I would be embarrassed to try to go out.

What am I going to say to people after this as secretary of state. ‘Come negotiate with us.’

‘Oh Can you deliver?’ Please.”

Blistering criticism Kerry faced blistering criticism on Thursday that he had been “fleeced” and “bamboozled” by Tehran, as he defended the Iran nuclear deal publicly on Capitol Hill.

He encountered a tsunami

companies in “important industries”. He did not give details.

Iranian officials also used the business conference to offer tax breaks and other benefits to foreign technology firms to persuade

of skepticism from Republicans on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, during a marathon four-and-a-halfhour hearing.

Kerry also said it would be a huge mistake if Israel decided to take unilateral military action against Iran over its nuclear programme in the future.

Kerry was asked in an NBC “Today” show interview if the nuclear deal reached last week between would make it more likely that Israel might attempt a military or cyber attack on Tehran.

“That’d be an enormous mistake, a huge mistake with grave consequences for Israel and for the region, and I don’t think it’s necessary,” Kerry said. — Agencies

them to set up research and development (R&D) centres in the Islamic Republic.

“The government would offer support for R&D investment by foreign firms, and they would be

treated just as domestic firms, especially if they were exporters,” Sorena Sattari, Iran’s vice president for science and technology, said.

Nematzadeh said the Iranian government had set up a $1 billion fund for such R&D support for private companies and this was already included in the national budget.

Further, the government will cover up to half of private companies’ research costs out of the running budget, he said.

The Iranian central bank’s foreign reserves, obtained from the country’s oil and gas exports, are around $90 billion to $100 billion, Nematzadeh told the Vienna conference.

The National Development Fund of Iran, which was founded in 2011 and receives a portion of oil and gas export proceeds, has around $20 billion to $25 billion.

In addition, some Iranian government companies and organisations have foreign holdings of about $5 billion to $10 billion, Nematzadeh said.

During the sanctions era, Iran was secretive about the size of its assets, apparently believing that disclosing information could make it harder to defend itself against the restrictions.

US officials have said over $100 billion of Iranian assets abroad are currently frozen by the sanctions, but deputy central bank governor Akbar Komijani disputed that on Thursday. He said only about $29 billion was blocked, of which $23 billion were central bank reserves and $6 billion belonged to the government.

Iran can already access most of the reserves and is using that money to develop its oil, petrochemical and gas industries as well as to finance nearly 60 investment projects through the Chinese government, Komijani said without elaborating.

During Zarif’s visit to Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq, the Vienna accord is expected to form the basis of discussions.

Zarif is expected to visit town of Najaf in Iraq on Sunday before heading to Baghdad, according to ISNA. The Iranian foreign minister will return to Tehran next week where he will host talks with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini before meeting his French counterpart Laurent Fabius. — Agencies

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

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PROBE ORDERED

Top level athlete dies after being thrown off train NEW DELHI: Indian Railways on Friday ordered an inquiry into the death of a national-level fencing champion who was allegedly pushed off a moving train by railway police personnel in UP’s Hathras district.

“Asking UP govt to take strictest possible action against the police. We can’t tolerate crime by uniformed police, supposed to be Protector (sic),” Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted.

“Ordered immediate action on police for this heinous crime.

Condolence to bereaved family.

Such acts can’t be tolerated,” he said.

The alleged incident took place when 27-year-old Hoshiyar Singh was travelling with his mother, wife and their 10-month -old child in Kasganj-Mathura passenger train on Thursday.

Singh and his family were returning home to Mathura after attending a function at Patiyali block in Kasganj district and had boarded the passenger train around noon.

He had boarded the general coach after seating his mother and wife in the women’s coach.

Though there was no official word as to how he died, his family members alleged that when Singh went to the women’s coach to meet his ailing wife, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel stopped him and asked for Rs 200.

When he refused to pay, he was thrown off the train by police personnel, they alleged. Since GRP is under the state government, railways has been seeking more policing power for RPF and seeking states’ cooperation in this regard.

“Constitutional provision law and order state subject. For better safety and security have requested states to give policing powers to Rail (sic),” Prabhu said

on the social networking site.

SP (Railway), Agra, Gopesh Khanna said that on the demand of his family members, an FIR was lodged against two Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel - Ram Bilas and Rajesh Kumar - who were accused of “pushing” him out of the running train.

The athlete’s younger brother Munesh Kumar Singh said all of them were returning home to Mathura after attending a function at Patiyali block in Kasganj district and had boarded the passenger train around noon.

“While the ladies sat in the women’s coach with the baby, my brother was travelling in the general coach. My sister-in- law complained of dizziness and my mother phoned my brother,” he said. Munesh claimed that his brother had alighted at the Sikandra Rao station, 40 km from Aligarh, to meet his wife when the two GRP constables stopped him from entering the women’s coach.

Demanding bribe “He pleaded that his wife was unwell, but they would not listen. They asked for Rs 200,” he alleged.

The athlete’s wife alleged that the police came and asked her husband what he was doing in the ladies’ coach.

“They pushed him and he got stuck between the train and platform,” she claimed.

Shashibala, the victim’s mother, claimed, “My son was just about to give them the money when the train began to move. The GRP constable pushed him and he was trapped between the train and platform.”

In 2005, Singh had won a bronze medal in the under-17 national championship held in Kerala. -PTI

INDIA

NDA counter-attacks, protests outside House Launching a counteroffensive against the Congress, the protesting NDA MPs demanded resignations of the chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for their role in alleged scams

NEW DELHI: Seeking to counter the opposition that has stalled Parliament, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs on Friday staged a protest in Parliament complex against the alleged corruption in Congress-ruled states.

Led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), MPs of NDA including those of Akali Dal, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staged the protest before Mahatma Gandhi’s statue holding placards that read “Parliament should function”.

Launching a counter-offensive against the Congress, the protesting NDA MPs demanded resignations of Chief Ministers of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for their role in alleged scams.

The MPs were carrying placards that read “Shame Shame. Scams and scams in Congress states” and also questioned the silence of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on scams in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.

PROTEST: BJP lawmakers hold placards during a protest near Mahatma Gandhi statue against Congress party for not allowing Parliament to function during the monsoon session, in New Delhi on Friday. -PTI

The MPs demanded that Congress should let Parliament function smoothly and discuss any issues they wanted. The protesting MPs also demanded resignation of Uttarakhand chief minister over the alleged liquor licence scam.

Deadlock prevails Parliament has not been able to transact any business for the fourth day today as deadlock prevailed between the Opposition and the ruling side over the Lalit Modi and Vyapam issues.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Government is coming forward for discussions but the opposition is not ready to discuss anything. We are, therefore, standing in front of the Gandhi statue here to show the public that the opposition is not discussing.”

She said she was ready to an-

MUMBAI BLASTS CASE

Owaisi questions death to Memon HYDERABAD/NEW DELHI: A row broke out over the death sentence for Yakub Memon in Mumbai blasts case with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday suggesting he met this fate because of his religion and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sakshi Maharaj saying those who do not respect judiciary can go to Pakistan.

BJP also accused Owaisi of doing “communal politics” over terrorism and said that nothing can be “uglier” than this.

Triggering a controversy, Owaisi questioned the capital punishment awarded to Yakub, the lone convict in the Mumbai blasts case ordered to be sent to the gallows.

He sought to know whether the perpetrators of demolition of disputed structure in Ayodhya, communal riots of Mumbai and Gujarat and other such sinister cases would get a similar punishment.

“Why have not perpetrators of demolition of Babri Masjid been convicted and will they also be given capital punishment as that is the original sin?” the Hyderabad MP asked while addressing a gathering in Hyderabad.

Alleging that the recommendations of Sri Krishna Commission have been put in cold storage both by the BJP-Shiv Sena and Congress-NCP governments in Maharashtra, he wondered how many have been convicted in the Mumbai riots of December, 1992 and January, 1993.

DOUBLE STANDARDS: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi at Parliament house during the monsoon session in New Delhi on Friday. -PTI

“1,000 people killed in communal riots of December, 1992 and January, 1993. How many are convicted?” he asked.

“Will Sadhvi Pragya, Col. Purohit and Swami Aseemanand, whose name cropped up in connection with Malegaon blasts, would get capital punishment,” he said, adding “this is up to NIA to prove to courts.”

He questioned why the assassins of former prime minister

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Rajiv Gandhi haven’t been awarded the same punishment.

“Rajiv Gandhi and Beant Singh killers have backing of respective political parties, that is why they have not been given capital punishment,” Owaisi said.

Hitting back at Owaisi, Sakshi Maharaj, a BJP MP, sparked another controversy.

“I think those who cannot respect this nation, cannot respect the national flag, cannot respect

India’s Constitution, cannot respect the judiciary such people do not have the right to live in India.

The way is open, they can easily go to Pakistan,” he said outside Parliament House.

Sakshi Maharaj said the politics of communalism must be put to an end.

“This country is not run by Owaisi. He (Memon) has been found guilty by courts not us. A terrorist is a terrorist. This politics of communalism should be stopped,” he said.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said Owaisi has done “communal politics” over terrorism.

“There cannot be an uglier form of communal politics. Owaisi sees religion in everything. The decision for execution is taken by the Supreme Court not government,” Javadekar told reporters in New Delhi.

Plea hearing The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the plea by 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts convict Yakub Memon’s plea challenging the death warrant issued against him and for the stay of his execution set for July 30.

“I have already assigned the bench. It will come by Monday,” said Chief Justice H.L. Dattu as senior counsel T.R. Andhyarujina mentioned the matter before the bench on Friday. -PTI

swer to questions in Parliament but the opposition was not allowing us to answer and was only creating obstacles.

Party leader Avinash Rai Khanna said, “We want that Parliament should be allowed to function. We also highlighted the Congress double-standards over corruption as its leaders are silent on corruption by their own leaders”.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Congress only wanted disruption and not a discussion”.

Complete washout It was a complete washout of proceedings of Lower House of Indian Parliament Lok Sabha in the first week of the Monsoon session, as the Opposition remained unrelenting on its demand for the resignation of Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and Chief Ministers of Ra-

jasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The House was adjourned for the day on Friday till Monday, minutes after it assembled this morning. No business has been transacted since the session began on July 21, witnessing adjournments after adjournments over the opposition uproar. Even the papers listed for the day were not tabled, as this is scheduled for noon every day. Two bills -- the Delhi High Court (Amendment) Bill and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, were also listed on Thursday for consideration and passage.

As soon as the House met, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan announced she had disallowed notices of adjournment motion moved

by Congress and Left leaders on Lalit Modi controversy, Vyapam scam and other issues. -PTI

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SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

INDIA SIPHONING OFF FUND

Human bomb alert for Modi’s Bihar visit The IB alert has specified that well trained women Maoists may be used as human bomb to target the prime minister during his visit to the state

PATNA: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bihar visit, the intelligence agencies have warned of a possible “human bomb attack” on the lines of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, a top police officer said.

Modi is scheduled to visit Patna on Saturday and address a rally in Muzaffarpur.

“The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has alerted Bihar government and the Special Protection Group officials camping in the state to

HIGH ALERT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a function in New

Delhi on Thursday. -PTI

be on high alert for a possible human bomb attack against Modi during his visit to Patna and Muzaffarpur on Saturday,” a top police official said.

Stating that the attack could be similar to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination by the LTTE in 1991, the IB alert has specified that well

trained women Maoists may be used as a human bomb to target the prime minister during the visit, the official added.

“IB has alerted of possible attack on Modi during his visit to Bihar. The suicide bomber may target Modi disguised as a mediaperson, police official, electrician,

High Court extends Teesta’s interim bail MUMBAI: In a breather for social activist Teesta Setalvad, the Bombay High Court on Friday extended her and her husband Javed Anand’s interim bail by two weeks.

The high court order came barely hours after a special court rejected their anticipatory bail application, paving the way for their immediate arrest.

Anticipating arrest for custodial interrogation sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation, Setalvad’s lawyers moved the Bombay High Court.

Setalvad, Anand and an associate G.M. Peshimam have been charged with committing fraud and irregularities pertaining to foreign donations received by her NGO, Sabrang Communications & Publishing Pvt. Ltd. under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act. Setalvad’s NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has been put under Prior Permission category by the Home Ministry.

The decision has been taken following an investigation by the Home Ministry which found alleged violation of various provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by CJP. “The NGO will have to take prior permission from the foreigners division of the Home Ministry before accepting or utilising the foreign contribution,” an official

an organiser, caterer or labourer,” officials said.

Modi is scheduled to arrive here to launch Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhayay Rashtriya Gramin Joyti Yojna and inaugurate the new campus of IIT-Patna.

He would also attend two other functions in Patna before leaving for Muzaffarpur, around 70 km from Patna, to address a public meeting.

He is likely to launch the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign for the forthcoming state assembly polls from Muzaffarpur.

A government official said the authorities would ensure unprecedented security.

“The Bihar government will go for unprecedented security cover during Modi’s rally in Muzaffarpur,” a state home department official said.

Though Modi’s security is looked after by the Special Protection Group, the Bihar government has directed senior officials to make special security arrangements for his rally, the official said.

Modi’s rally at Gandhi Maidan here was rocked by serial bomb blasts on October 27, 2013, leaving five people dead and nearly 100 injured. -IANS

GRENADES LOBBED

vad arrives with her lawyer at Sessions Court in Mumbai on Friday. -PTI

said. CJP, which has been fighting cases for victims of 2002 Gujarat riots, had received a total foreign contribution of around Rs 11.8 million from 2008-09 to 2013-14.

According to the notice, more than 80 per cent or nearly Rs 9.5million was spent for legal aid.

Citizens for Justice and Peace and Sabarang Trust, run by teesta and her husband Javed Anand, were served notices by the Home Ministry about two months ago asking the NGOs why their registration under FCRA would not be cancelled. -PTI R E S T O R AT I O N O F P R O P E R T Y

Militants attack cell phone centres in Srinagar SRINAGAR: Unidentified assailants on Friday attacked two mobile phone sales and service centres here and lobbed grenades to force their closure, police said.

Besides, a BSNL tower was also attacked.

The attackers hurled a grenade at the public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) tower in Shaheedgunj locality, adjacent to the civil secretariat, on Friday afternoon. One person has been injured.

“Two unidentified assailants entered an Aircel office in Karan Nagar business centre and asked the staff to close their business and leave the office,” a senior police officer told IANS in Srinagar.

“They hurled a grenade inside that damaged furniture and fixture inside,” police said.

Shahnawaz Ahmed, an autorickshaw driver, was injured in the attack on Aircel office.

After that, the assailants entered a Vodafone office and asked the staff to vacate.

They lobbed another grenade inside the office and escaped, po-

IN THE DOCK: Teesta Setal-

SECURITY CHECK: Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel of J&K police check a scooter during a search operation against militants at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Thursday. -PTI

lice said, adding that searches have been launched to nab the attackers.

Unidentified gunmen have been threatening mobile phone service providers in north Kashmir. Friday’s attack is the first

such incident in Srinagar. Posters of threat, believed to be circulated by Hizbul Mujhaideen surfaced on Friday in some areas of Pulwama district of northern Indian state of Kashmir, asking beauty parlours to shut business

and people to stay away from “immoral activities” like drug abuse.

“We are warning the people of Karimabad, Newah, Jadoora, Wahibug and Kalaan to stay away from alcohol, charas and other

unnecessary immoral activities,” read the posters.

The posters bearing the stamp and logo of Hizbul Mujahideen, appeared this morning in many areas of Pulwama district.

These also demanded the beauty parlours in the area to close down their businesses.

A police officer, while acknowledging the surfacing of the posters, said that the development can also be a handiwork of pranksters.

“We are investigating the matter... while we do not rule out possibility of Hizb being behind the posters, it seems to be handiwork of pranksters,” the officer said.

The posters have surfaced in a day when suspected militants hurled grenades inside offices of two private telecom companies in the heart of the city.

At the time of eruption of militancy in Kashmir in 1989, separatist and militant outfits forced closure of liquor shops, video parlours, cinema theatres and beauty parlours, asserting that these places promoted immorality in the society. -PTI

New initiatives to mark Pranab three years NEW DELHI: Scores of new initiatives including restoration of heritage properties in Rashtrapati Bhavan and making it accessible to over 500,000 people mark consolidation of achievements of President Pranab Mukherjee’s three years in office.

“We have started the celebrations for the conclusion of third year (of President in office) and opening of fourth year. It has been a very busy year,” Omita Paul, Secretary to the President, told reporters here while pointing out the initiatives undertaken during the past one year.

On Saturday, Mukherjee completes three years in office, a period in which he had undertaken 105 domestic visits.

She said that efforts are on to open more and more areas of the President’s estate to lakhs of visitors.

“We are seriously looking into the possibility of opening up of a nature’s trail inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan,” Paul said. -PTI

UPROAR

Love affairs behind farmers’ suicide: Minister NEW DELHI: Dowry, love affairs and impotency were among the reasons for the deaths of over 1,400 farmers in 2014, union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Friday.

“According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), causes of (farmer) suicides include family problems, illness, drugs...dowry, love affairs and impotency,” he said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question on what had caused the death of so many farmers in the country.

The minister’s reply, however, did not rule out debt as one of the reasons.

The minister also cited NCRB data to show that the total number of suicides committed by persons working in the farming or agri-

Rahul Gandhi meets the family of a farmer who committed suicide in Anantapur district on Friday. -PTI

culture sector were 13,754, 11,772 and 5,650 in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The number of suicides by farmers due to agrarian distress,

as reported by the state governments, was 1,066, 890 and 1,400 during 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Meanwhile, the minister’s reply triggered a storm with opposition parties accusing the government of “insensitivity”.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ask his ministers to visit the houses of farmers to “see what is going on”.

Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal demanded an apology from the minister, terming his remarks “irresponsible” while Communist Party of India-Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury dubbed as “ridiculous” the reasons given for the farmers suicides while the ground reality, he said, was differ-

ent. He said that the number of distress suicides had gone up by 26 per cent in the last one year since the NDA alliance came to power at the Centre and the reply was meant to “divert attention” from the actual reasons for suicides.

Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said the reply showed the government “callousness” towards farmers’ suicides, which occurred due to “unprecedented debt crisis” faced by them and demanded that the central government take steps to come to their rescue. Janata Dal-United leader K.C. Tyagi said apart from insensitivity, the statement was an “insult” to the country’s farmers. He threatened to move a privilege notice against the minister for “misleading” parliament. -IANS

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

A7

PAKISTAN Karachi artists reclaiming hate graffiti-filled city walls Those behind the new project, called ‘Reimaging the walls of Karachi’, hope that by taking art to the streets they can bring a more positive outlook for its 20 million inhabitants

KARACHI: For years Karachi’s walls have been spattered with the bloodstains of murder victims and scrawled with graffiti touting everything from hatred to quack cures.

Now a group of artists and volunteers are reclaiming the walls by painting them with cheerful designs aimed at bringing some happiness and pride back to an often violent, chaotic and corrupt city.

Karachi, Pakistan’s economic capital and biggest metropolis, has been swamped in recent years by a wave of extortion, murder and kidnapping -- for religious, criminal, ethnic and political reasons.

Those behind the new project, called “Reimaging the walls of Karachi” hope that by taking art to the streets they can bring a more positive outlook for its 20 million inhabitants.

“We are working together and taking back the city by reclaiming the walls which are filled with hate graffiti,” artist Norayya Shaikh Nabi told AFP while drawing an abstract of the city on a wall along a busy road.

Nabi, an art teacher at the Indus

ART FOR PEACE: In this photograph taken on June 8, 2015, Pakistani artists and volunteers paint

designs on a wall in the southern port city of Karachi. — AFP

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Valley School of Art and Architecture, is one of 200 artists, artisans and labourers taking part in the project.

With help from the city authorities to get the permission they need, they aim to repaint walls in 1,600 different places — from warehouses to schools to flyovers and underpasses.

The scheme is being run by I Am Karachi, a charity working for the cultural, social and literary uplift of the city, backed by funds from the US Agency for International Development.

Pakistan boasts some talented young artists, but public art is rare.

Munawar A. Syed, who is leading the team of artists, said it was a pleasure to take their work beyond the elite circles of galleries and graduate shows.

“It’s important for society to remain involved with art and music, but unfortunately such things are waning from our culture,” Syed told AFP. “In my 17-year art practice in the galleries, I have enjoyed working here the most as I am directly communicating with my viewers.”

Under Syed’s watchful eye, a team of artists use stencils to create images of boys flying kites, donkey cart races and other images of rural life.

Elsewhere, flamboyant, brightly coloured paintings of peacocks and elephants have not only radically changed the feel of Karachi but have also drawn foreigners, who usually move with extreme

caution around what is a volatile city.

Aside from daily murders, Karachi was hit by two major terror attacks in just over a year.

Attack by IS A Taliban attack on the airport left 38 people dead last year June, and in May this year gunmen slaughtered 45 members of the minority Ismaili community on a bus. It was the first attack in Pakistan to be claimed by the IS group.

The project’s coordinator Adeela Suleman said she was delighted the work had brought a “less hostile” look Schoolchildren have also been made part of the project, in the hope of shifting a sense of ownership of the city and its appearance on to the younger generations.

“We included younger people so they can carry this work on

I N C L E M E N T W E AT H E R

Flash floods wreak havoc in Chitral LONDON: Flash flooding caused by torrential monsoon rains has killed at least 28 in Pakistan and affected hundreds of thousands of people, according to aid agencies, with further downpours expected in the coming days.

In Chitral in the northwest, roads, bridges and crops were badly damaged, with more than a quarter of a million affected, the EU’s humanitarian office said.

Pakistan’s poorest province, Baluchistan in the southwest, was also badly hit.

“Some villages have been cut off from the rest of the district,” said Shah Fahad Ali Khan, 27, a university lecturer living in Zargrandeh, a village in Chitral.

People in flood-prone areas

The heavy rains started falling on July 15, and continued over the next week throughout the country, causing some urban flooding in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Pakistani Red Crescent said have been shifted to safer ground, he said on Friday in an online message.

Landslides Heavy rains are expected over the weekend, which may cause more flash flooding and could trigger landslides in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which includes Chitral, Pakistan’s me-

teorological department said earlier this week.

The heavy rains started falling on July 15, and continued over the next week throughout the country, causing some urban flooding in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the Pakistani Red Crescent said in a statement.

Deadly flooding is common in Pakistan’s monsoon season,

which runs from June to September.

Last September dozens of people in Punjab and Kashmir were killed when flash floods caused their homes to collapse.

Worst floods In 2010, the worst floods in memory affected killed more than 2,000 people in Pakistan, with damage to infrastructure running into billions of dollars, and huge swathes of crops destroyed as a fifth of the country was inundated.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced a $5 million aid package for Chitral, and visited flood relief camps in Punjab province on Friday, local media reported. — Reuters

It’s important for society to remain involved with art and music, but unfortunately such things are waning from our culture.

In my 17-year art practice in the galleries, I have enjoyed working here the most as I am directly communicating with my viewers, artist Munawar A. Syed said

further,” said Nabi, as she worked with her teenage daughter on a wall.

“When they grow up they will feel that they are comfortable in sort of working for the city -- this is like planting a seed to the next generations.”

The artists hope the project will subtly change people’s behaviour after years of violence, softening them a little.

“I believe that this will yield good results in the long term,” Syed said.

“When you see positive things around you so your behaviour becomes positive and a big change comes along in one’s life.” — AFP

DEFENCE DEAL

Pakistan to buy eight submarines from China ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Thursday agreed to a multibillion dollar deal that would see Beijing provide eight submarines to the Pakistan Navy, in an agreement that analysts are calling the largest-ever defence deal China has agreed to with any country.

Despite the magnitude of the deal, government officials did not provide any details, even declining to confirm the size of the transaction.

However, the composition of the Chinese delegation with which the agreement was reached suggests that the arrangements have been struck for purchase of eight submarines.

“Pakistan and China have reached an understanding on matters of defence cooperation relating to Pakistan Navy,” announced the finance ministry after a meeting with Chinese authorities. “Financial arrangements to this effect were also concluded.”

Largest-ever deal According to a briefing that the defence ministry gave to parliament in April this year, Pakistan was negotiating a deal for acquisition of submarines from China. In the same month, the UK-based Financial Times, citing a retired senior official, claimed in a report that the contract could be worth $4 billion to $5 billion, the largest defence deal ever by China.

Sources in the finance ministry said that Pakistan would make down payments to China in four installments and the delivery of the submarines will be made in the coming years.

Last month, both the countries had also signed an agreement for construction of six patrol vessels for the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA). The agreement had been signed by China Ship Trading Company (CSTC) and the Pakistani defence production ministry. — Express Tribune

A8

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Zardari seems to have run out of Houdini acts

NOAH SMITH

e could ride the most fearsome of storms, we thought — and he did. Pakistanis lapped up the aura of invincibility he courted, perhaps more out of fascination than admiration as the media heaped awe on Pakistan Peoples’ Party’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, declaring him the uncrowned political oracle, the uber-survivor. Analysts unabashedly lavished praise on his mythical abilities, his flair for conjuring rabbits out of thin air, his panache for stitching opposites together.

To be fair, he indeed survived a veritable buffet of crises. From Memogate to the judicial rubbishing of the NRO to the disqualification of his prime minister, a public sector eyeballing bankruptcy, the crash of governance in Sindh, Zardari attracted scandals like Don Juan did nymphets. Yet he completed his presidential term of five years, silencing all the naysayers.

Is he really the granddaddy of intrigue, the Moriarty of politics? My perverted conventional wisdom concedes that he deserves many pats on the back for navigating his ship through a more than tumultuous presidential term. Question is, how and at what cost to Pakistan? Is mere survival a praiseworthy end, the fallout notwithstanding?

Much more than any latent talents, his real benefactors have been the conspiring circumstances.

A striking confluence of events strait-jacketing the very forces that have long hewn the course for Pakistan.

Numerous factors helped Zardari survive the judicial/media onslaught despite unprecedented mismanagement. Foremost was General Kayani’s aversion to disrupting the democratic process though not necessarily out of any love for democracy. Pervez Musharraf’s disastrous fling as president, the Kargil fiasco and Osama’s discovery in its own backyard were like jabs smack in the face, leaving the establishment with a bloody nose. This effectively forced it to take a back seat, convalesce in the shadows and rebuild. The judiciary, bent on claiming space in the national discourse, through its rebukes of martial law dampened the establishment’s messianic fervour further. In addition, the military was stretched thin with its occupation on both the eastern and western fronts. Zardari had, therefore, little to worry about and could focus all his wile on neutering the rest. The West happily threw its weight behind the elected civilian government. Lastly, Zardari demonstrated great flair in keeping his greedy coalition partners satiated and was thus able to summon political support at

will. I wonder though if feeding slobbering partners is a talent at all.

Wide-eyed appreciation of Zardari’s Houdini acts blinds us to the monumental unravelling of governance during his term. What about the toll his survival instincts took on Pakistan? The question has to be eyeballed squarely to make a rational, dispassionate assessment of Zardari. The truth is Karachi drowned in blood on his watch despite the fact that the key stakeholders (MQM, PPP and ANP) were all part of the ruling coalition. Yet Karachi continued to sink in the bog of incompetency, greed and indifference of frightening proportions.

The economy cracked open as the government lived off borrowed money. Public sector enterprises like PIA, Pakistan Steel and Pakistan Railways caved in under the weight of corruption and mismanagement. Compounding national misery was the unprecedented power crisis that shut down hundreds of industrial units, rendering thousands jobless. The crowning embarrassment was the disqualification of Prime Minister Gilani who went down fighting gallantly, protecting his president in the Swiss money scandal.

The 2013 elections saw the first democratic transition of government in Pakistan. Zardari’s PPP lost massively across the country, barely mustering enough seats to assume the reins in Sindh.

For the unfortunate citizens of Sindh, the nightmare continued under the doddering leadership of Qaim Ali Shah. The leaderships of Punjab and Sindh were a strange contrast: where Shahbaz Sharif looked firm and in control, Shah looked like a threadbare puppet. Extortion, target killing, land mafia, and terrorism took over Karachi, plunging the city of lights into a deathly darkness. The PPP had to pay a heavy price for the governance collapse with a complete wipeout in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections. The party of the people, felled by its own, was a pale shadow of its former glory.

The PPP survived Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s hanging.

It survived Benazir’s assassination. It survived Ziaul Haq’s brutal martial law. The PPP did not survive Zardari. The party that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had founded is imploding, bleeding loyalists, withering at the altar of Zardari’s whimsy and cronyism. It has lost its ideological moorings. The fall of the PPP makes for an epic story of a starry-eyed beginning, of blossoming into a juggernaut and of a heartbreaking demise wrought by its own. Zardari has deprived Pakistan of the political Left, so necessary to balance the raging Right. And this is unpardonable.

He survives for sure but is irrelevant to Pakistan.

The myth of Zardari stands busted. — Express Tribune

READERS’ FORUM Authorities deserve praise for awareness drive This refers to the online report, Do not leave children in locked cars: Royal Oman Police (July 22). I offer my sincere condolences to the family of the deceased children. Sadly we often hear of youngsters playing in cars. This happens all over the world. Accidents happen as children are so inquisitive. I am glad that the authorities are doing such a good job in educating the public. Before the campaign to ‘clunk click every trip’, we in the UK never thought to wear seat belts. Now we do and many lives have been saved. Swimming was compulsory in schools when I was a child. This saved many lives. May all keep safe. — Lorraine Paton, Muscat

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Oman truly deserve to be in the Twenty20 World Cup tourney 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).

This refers to the online story, Oman make history, book World Twenty20 spot (July 23). My heartiest congratulations to the Omani cricket team for qualifying for the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in India 2016. They truly deserve the place.

— Ishtiaque Ahmad, Sohar

Need to build cricket grounds of global standards to perform well

This refers to the online story, Oman make history, book World Twenty20 spot (July 23). This is very good news indeed. Oman should now think of building on this and thus focus on building facilities that would help the team to perform well in the tournament in India in 2016. For this purpose international level cricket grounds should be built in all the major cities of the Sultanate — including Salalah, Muscat and Sohar.

— Nadeem Feroz, Muscat

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‘China has every right to drill in East China Sea’ BEIJING: China said on Friday it had every right to drill in the East China Sea close to waters disputed with Japan, adding that it did not recognise a “unilateral” Japanese median line setting out a boundary between the two in the waters.

Japan this week called on China to halt construction of oiland-gas exploration platforms in the East China Sea close to waters claimed by both nations, concerned that Chinese drills could tap reservoirs that extend into Japanese territory.

Patrol ships and aircraft from both countries have been shadowing each other in the area over the past couple of years, raising fears of a confrontation and clash.

In an escalation of the latest dispute, Japan released aerial photographs of China’s construction in the area, accusing it of unilateral development and a halfhearted attitude towards a 2008 agreement to jointly develop resources there.

China resumed exploration in the East China Sea two years ago, Japan said. In 2012, Japan’s government angered China by buying a disputed island chain there from private owners.

Before then, China had curtailed activities under an agreement with Japan to jointly develop undersea resources in disputed areas.

The platforms are being erected on the Chinese side of a median line delineating the exclusive economic zones of the two countries, according to a Japanese ministry official said.

China’s Foreign Ministry said its drilling activities in waters which are not disputed and under Chinese administration are “completely appropriate and legal”.

“China and Japan have not yet delineated maritime boundaries in the East China Sea, and China does not recognise the Japanese side’s unilateral marking out of a so-called ‘median line’,” the ministry said in a statement. — Reuters

A9

ASIA

Second round of Afghan talks in China next week Delegations from China and the United States will take part in the talks, said a senior member of Afghan High Peace Council

KABUL/ARBIL: China is likely to host a second round of peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban representatives next week, an Afghan official said on Friday, raising hopes for progress toward a political settlement to end years of bloodshed.

Also on Friday, the Pentagon said that a US air strike in Afghanistan killed a senior Al Qaeda commander in charge of suicide bombing and two other militants.

The attack, which occurred in Paktika province on July 11, killed Abu Khalil Al Sudani, a “highranking Al Qaeda operational commander”, the Pentagon said in a statement released to reporters in Iraq who were travelling with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter. China is increasingly worried about insurgency in the region spilling over into its territory and has been playing a role to broker a peace deal between Kabul and the Taliban insurgents.

“The second round of talks is most probably going to be held in Urumqi in China on July 30,” said Ismail Qasimyar, a senior member of Afghan High Peace Council.

Urumqi is the capital of China’s far-west Xinjiang region. Beijing says it faces its own radical insurrection there, members of which it believes get shelter and training

PRAYING FOR PEACE: Men sit on a hill overlooking parts of Kabul city, Afghanistan. Ismail Qasimyar, a senior member of Afghan High

Peace Council, said on Friday that the second round of talks is most probably going to be held in Urumqi in China on July 30. – Reuters

from Taliban and other militants along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Qasimyar said delegations from China and the United States would observe the talks, as they did in the groundbreaking first official meeting this month.

Inaugural talks Pakistan hosted the inaugural talks between Afghan government and the Taliban in its capital in a tentative step to end more than 13 years of fighting in Afghanistan that kills hundreds every month.

Neighbouring Pakistan is key to the process because of its historic ties to the Afghan Taliban leaders, who have used the Pakistan border region as a safe heaven.

While the budding peace process represents a step forward, its success is uncertain. The Taliban leadership is divided on whether to talk or continue fighting, and it is unclear whether those who are negotiating would be able to enforce any cease-fire.

The Afghan delegation to the talks in Pakistan said the Taliban side had raised the issues of foreign troops operating in Afghanistan, UN sanctions against its leaders and prisoners of war and those issues would be discussed further in the second round. US forces and their Afghan allies ousted the Taliban in 2001. The hardliners have been fighting since then to expel foreign troops

and overthrow the US-backed government. US-led forces formally ended their combat mission in Afghanistan at the end of last year, leaving a small contingent of about 12,000 NATO troops to train Afghan forces. However, violence has sharply increased in most parts of the country this year with Afghan forces suffering record number of casualties.

Violent extremists The Pentagon statement said, “Al Sudani was one of three known violent extremists killed in the strike. The death of Al Sudani will further degrade Al Qaeda operations across the globe.”

The Pentagon described Su-

dani as a senior shura member and head of Al Qaeda’s suicide and explosive operations, and said he was directly linked to plotting attacks against the United States.

“He also directed operations against Coalition, Afghan and Pakistani forces, and maintained a close association with Aymar Al Zawahiri, Al Qaeda’s leader,” the statement said. In the statement, Carter said the killing of Sudani underscored the work done by General John Campbell, the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, and his troops “to take the fight to Al Qaeda”.

“We will continue to counter violent extremism in the region and the world,” Carter said. — Agencies

SENTENCE CHANGED

Maldives ex-president’s jail term commuted to house arrest COLOMBO: Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has had his 13-year prison sentence commuted to a term under house arrest, his international lawyer Jared Genser said on Friday.

“The government of the Maldives has permanently moved president Nasheed to house arrest for the balance of his 13-year term in prison”, Genser told reporters in Colombo, the capital of neighbouring Sri Lanka.

SOME RELIEF: In this photograph taken on February 23, 2015, Maldives police try to move former

president Mohamed Nasheed, centre, during a scuffle as he arrives at a courthouse in Male. – AFP

H I P - H O P S TA R

Brown cleared to leave Manila MANILA: Grammy-winning hip-hop star Chris Brown was cleared to leave the Philippines late Friday, an official said, after he was temporarily barred from exiting the country over a row with a powerful religious sect.

The 26-year-old American — who was stuck in Manila for two days — secured an emigration clearance certificate (ECC) stating he has no legal obligations in

the Southeast Asian country and was free to leave, immigration spokeswoman Elaine Tan said.

“ECC was issued... today,” Tan said in a text message to AFP. In a brief video posted to his official Twitter feed on Friday night an exuberant Brown is seen walking towards a plane, apparently headed to his next gig in Macau.

“Manila it was fun, love y’all man,” the rapper says. “If you’re

free to come to Macau -- party tonight!” Brown, who performed to a packed crowd at a Manila arena on Tuesday, was barred from leaving the Philippines after the politically-connected Christian group Iglesia ni Cristo filed a fraud complaint against him.

The group said it was owed a million-dollar-plus refund after he failed to show up for a concert sponsored by them last year. — AFP

Appeal The lawyer’s comments came hours after the Maldives government said it would appeal against Nasheed’s conviction for terrorism in March which drew heavy international criticism.

A spokesman for the Maldivian High Commision in Colombo confirmed the changes to Nasheed’s sentence, but said he had no further details.

“It is correct that the jail term is now commuted to house arrest,” Hussain Mazin told AFP. Nasheed had been incarcerated in a prison on a remote island in the immediate aftermath of the sentencing in March.

Moved back But Genser said that his client had been moved back to the main island of Male to receive medical treatement and his sentence was formally commuted to house arrest on July 19.

The US-based attorney said that

his own efforts to see Nasheed had been so far thwarted by the Maldivian authorities. He told reporters that he had applied for a business visa and complied with all the requirements, but on his arrival in Male on Monday he was told that he needed another clearance from the Maldivian Supreme Court certifying that he was licenced to practise law internationally.

“There is no Maldivian law, regulation, or rule that imposes such a requirement on applicants for business visas who are lawyers - it appears the Supreme Court specially designed this requirement just for me,” he said.

“I am honoured to be considered so important, but this is unusual,” he added. — AFP

A10

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

WORLD White gunman kills two in Louisiana cinema attack It was not yet clear how John Houser — a 59-year-old white male with a criminal record — obtained his gun. Police said he tried to flee after shooting 13 rounds from a single handgun in Lafayette on Thursday evening

CHICAGO: The author of the latest mass shooting in the United States was a drifter who tried to escape after killing two women in a movie theatre, then took his life as police closed in, authorities said on Friday.

The incident came just hours after President Barack Obama said an inability to enact “common sense” gun controls was one of the greatest frustrations of his time in office.

It was not yet clear how John Houser -- a 59-year-old white male with a criminal record -- obtained his gun. Nor was his motive immediately known. Police said Houser tried to flee after shooting 13 rounds from a single handgun into the crowded cinema in Lafayette, Louisiana Thursday evening. Nine people were wounded.

“What happened is that the quick law enforcement response forced him back into the theatre, at which time he shot himself,” Lafayette police chief Jim Craft told reporters.

Houser had been staying at a nearby motel where authorities found glasses and wigs apparently intended for disguises.

“He’s kind of a drifter,” Craft said, adding that Houser -- who he said had acted alone -- had arrived in Louisiana recently from Alabama.

Craft later told CNN that Hous-

RAMPAGE: A member of police, front, stands outside a movie theatre where a man opened fire inside a crowded movie theatre in Lafayette, Louisiana on Thursday.— Reuters

er had a criminal record, including previous arrests for arson and a misdemeanor charge for selling alcohol to a minor. Louisiana state police chief Michael Edmonson said they were investigating Houser’s motive, and had spoken to his friends and family.

It is possible that he may have been inspired by a 2012 theatre massacre in Colorado that left 12 dead and 70 injured, Craft said.

Almost exactly three years ago, James Holmes opened fire on a packed screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado, in a meticulously-planned attack during which he wore body armour and used tear gas to prevent victims from escaping.

Jurors are currently considering whether Holmes, 27, should receive the death penalty. More than 100 people were in the Louisiana cinema when Houser began shooting indiscriminately into the

S C A N D A L I N V O LV I N G P R I M E M I N I S T E R

audience about 30 minutes into a screening of “Trainwreck.”

Seven people remained in hospital on Friday, one of whom is in critical condition.

Random act of violence Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said on Friday it did not appear that the victims were targeted and said residents were coming to grips with the “random act of violence.”

“There’s never a good explanation. In this case, the explanation will be less than in other cases based on what they learned by talking to family members and processing that hotel room and car,” Jindal said on CNN. He praised the “selfless heroism” of two wounded teachers.

The first threw herself in front of her friend to shield her from the bullets. The second, who was shot in the leg “had the presence

of mind to pull the fire alarm” to warn others of the danger.

Jindal, who is also vying for the Republican presidential nomination, said it was not the right time to discuss gun control and that the focus should remain on the victims.

The shooting came just hours after Obama said the issue he felt “most frustrated and most stymied” was gun control.

“If you look at the number of Americans killed since 9/11 by terrorism, it’s less than 100. If you look at the number that have been killed by gun violence, it’s in the tens of thousands,” Obama said in an interview with the BBC taped before the shooting. “And for us not to be able to resolve that issue has been something that is distressing,” he said.

The White House said the president was briefed late Thursday while en route to Kenya about

America’s latest mass shooting tragedy.

This latest incident also comes a week after Mohammad Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24, opened fire on two military centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee and killed four US Marines and a Navy sailor before dying in a shootout without police.

Television images from Lafayette showed a hectic scene at the cinema, surrounded late Thursday by dozens of emergency medical vehicles and police cars.

“It was crazy, chaos everywhere,” Jacob Broussard, who was watching a movie across the hall, told CNN. Police said Mayci Breaux, 21, died at the scene. Jillian Johnson, 33, died in hospital.

Houser’s apparent LinkedIn profile showed a varied career, with experience in investment management, real estate and short stints as a cafe owner. — AFP

LIFE TERM

Russia jails politician for hate killings MOSCOW: A Russian court on Friday sentenced a nationalist leader to life imprisonment for organising a string of hate killings including the shooting of a prominent rights lawyer in broad daylight.

Moscow City Court jailed Ilya Goryachev, a former journalist and pro-Kremlin activist, after he was found guilty of ordering the murder of 34-year-old lawyer Stanislav Markelov on a busy Moscow street in 2009 as he walked from a news conference.

A 25-year-old reporter at opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta, Anastasia Baburova, was also shot dead as she accompanied Markelov.

“Goryachev has been sentenced by the court to a term of life imprisonment,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.

A nationalist activist, Nikita Tikhonov, is serving a life sentence for shooting Markelov, while his co-accused, Yevgenia Khasis, was sent to a penal colony for 18 years.

“It was Goryachev who gave Tikhonov the assignment to murder lawyer Stanislav Markelov,” investigators said.

Anti-fascist view Goryachev felt “ideological hatred and enmity” towards Markelov due to his “professional activities in defending the rights of victims with anti-fascist views,” they added.

Russian investigators said Goryachev and Tikhonov were among the founders in 2008 of a “highly organised” and heavily armed group called the Battle Organisation of Russian Nationalists, or BORN. Goryachev, 33, studied history at a Moscow university before founding with Tikhonov a radical group called Russian Image, inspired by a Serbian ultra-nationalist movement.

He worked for a time on an Orthodox television channel and wrote articles for several newspapers.

He also claimed to have worked as an assistant to two Russian lawmakerss.

BORN committed dozens of crimes including eight murders, investigators said. Their victims included a judge, several anti-fascist campaigners and members of ethnic minorities. — AFP

H A R D L I N E FA C T I O N O F M A O I S T R E B E L S

Malaysia suspends Nepal protest against constitution top publications change turns violent; 250 arrested over graft reports KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government’s crackdown on the media and dissenters widened on Friday, as the home ministry suspended publication of two leading financial newspapers over their reporting of alleged graft at the country’s troubled state investment fund.

The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily were suspended for three months from July 27, just days after authorities blocked access to a website that has covered the scandal and has been critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government.

Two opposition lawmakers said this week that they had been issued travel bans in connection with investigations into the debtladen state fund 1MDB. Legal action Najib has also been weighing legal action against the Wall Street Journal which reported earlier this month that investigators looking into 1MDB had traced close to $700 million of deposits moving into his personal account.

Reuters has not verified the WSJ report.

Najib has denied taking any money for personal gain and said the corruption allegations are part of a malicious campaign to force him out of office.

The Edge Media Group, which has a staff of around 350 people in Malaysia, has been reporting extensively on the allegations directed at 1MDB. 1MDB, with debts of over $11 billion, is being investigated by authorities in Malaysia for financial mismanagement and graft.

The state-owned firm’s advisory

‘The Edge Weekly’ and ‘The Edge Financial Daily’ were suspended for three months from July 27, just days after authorities blocked access to a website that has covered the scandal and has been critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government board is chaired by the prime minister.

The Edge Media Group said in a statement on Friday that the ministry issued a notice that claimed the two publications’ reporting of 1MDB was “prejudicial or likely to be prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion or is likely to be prejudicial to public and national interest”.

Billions of ringgit “We don’t see how exposing the scam to cheat the people of Malaysia of billions of ringgit can be construed as being detrimental to public and national interest,” said The Edge Media Group publisher and CEO Ho Kay Tat. “This is nothing more than a move to shut us down in order to shut us up.” Ho said the matter would be taken to court in a bid to lift the suspension. — Reuters

KATHMANDU: Nepalese police arrested nearly 250 demonstrators on Friday as they torched vehicles and forced schools, shops and businesses to shut down in protest over government plans to pass a new constitution.

Police said they had arrested 247 Maoist activists over the violence and deployed heavy security during the first national strike since a devastating quake hit the country in April.

“Seven vehicles have been torched and another 19 vandalised,” police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam told AFP, adding that no casualties had been reported so far.

Bitter disagreement Nepal’s Maoists struck a deal with rival parties on a new constitution last month after years of bitter disagreement, spurred by an earthquake that killed more than 8,800 people in the Himalayan nation.

But a breakaway faction of the party says the deal betrays the principles of the Maoists, who fought a decade-long civil war with the state that ended in 2006 and led to the abolition of a centuriesold feudal monarchy.

‘People’s war’ “The draft is against the people and the spirit and hopes of the people’s war,” their spokesman Khadga Bahadur Bishwokarma told AFP, referring to the conflict.

“The constitution does not address the problems of the ethnic, racial and gender discrimination that we fought against.”

Dozens have been injured this week in clashes between police and protesters angered by the terms of the draft constitution, after a public consultation process

GENERAL STRIKE: People gather around a damaged taxi burned by demonstrators during a general strike called by the hardliner faction of former Maoist rebels, who are protesting against the first draft of the new constitution that has been published, in Kathmandu on Friday. — Reuters

The opposition is pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities

began on Monday. The opposition is pushing for new provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities.

Other parties have attacked this

model, calling it a threat to national unity.

Friday’s strike emptied Kathmandu’s usually packed roads of traffic and many Nepalis expressed frustration over the impact on

livelihoods already devastated by the quake.

“I am tired of strikes. It is people like us who suffer... whenever there is a strike, there is no work and we go hungry,” said daily wage labourer, Karma Tamang.

Earthquake Bank official Nisha Shrestha told AFP she was on her way to work in defiance of the strike.

“It makes me angry that at a time when we are trying to recover from an earthquake, these people want to trouble us more with strikes,” the 28-year-old said. — AFP

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

S P O R S

TEST SERIES

Rain washes out fourth day of first Test in Chittagong CHITTAGONG: Rain washed out the fourth day’s play in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa on Friday.

Match officials at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong called off play at 1:25pm (0725 GMT).

Rain and bad light had forced early finishes on the second and third days, eating up time and the chances of a result in the match. South Africa made a sedate start to their second innings after conceding a first innings lead of 78 runs. South Africa, who made 248 in the first innings, bowled out Bangladesh for 326 and reached 61-0 in their second knock when bad light forced an early stumps with 24.5 overs left to be bowled on the third day.

Openers Stiaan van Zyl and Dean Elgar were on 33 and 28 runs respectively.. The second and final Test of two-match series will be held in Dhaka from July 30 to August 3. - AFP

Top 10 start for ORT’s Ahmad

SAILING

Ahmad Al Harthy, plus team-mates Jonny Adam, Daniel Lloyd and squad newcomer Jonathan Venter, enjoyed a strong day at the Belgian track on Thursday

MUSCAT: Just 0.5 seconds made the difference for the Oman Racing Team during qualifying for this weekend’s Total 24 Hours of Spa – the front-running Blancpain Endurance Series team missing out on the final ‘Super Pole’ period after being impacted by slower traffic during yesterday evening’s timed sessions.

Ahmad Al Harthy, plus teammates Jonny Adam, Daniel Lloyd and squad newcomer Jonathan Venter, enjoyed a strong day at the Belgian track on Thursday, July 23 but ultimately had to settle for a best lap of 2m19.615 seconds in the late evening run courtesy of Scottish driver Adam.

Lapping within just 0.5 seconds of the cut-off for today’s Super Pole qualification finale, Adam was also little more than a second shy of the top of the times. With traffic on his quickest lap costing the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 driver a substantial chunk of time, though, the team was unfortunate to miss out on the overall top 20 shoot-out

ALL SET: Ahmad Al Harthy of

Oman Racing Team.

but will still begin the race inside the Pro-Am top 10.

“We set a respectable time in qualifying, it was very close to Super Pole and we might have made it actually – on our fastest lap, with Jonny behind the wheel, we were compromised by a slower car so we honestly feel we should have been there”, reflected Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador Ahmad.

“We all believe we have a strong car for the race, though, and we

FORMULA ONE

pit wall, Hamilton, who is seeking a record fifth Formula One win on one of his favourite circuits, recorded a best lap time of one minute and 23.949 seconds to outpace the Russian by 0.351 seconds.

“That was very good fun,” said Hamilton. But I cannot tell you how hot it is out there. The heat is so intense. It is like driving in a sauna with this racing suit on, and the thermal underwear, and so hot!

“And it is not easy. This is a challenging circuit and that is how it should be.” - AFP

TOUR DE FRANCE

Nibali wins 19th stage LA TOUSSUIRE: Reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali won the 19th stage of the Tour de France on Friday as Nairo Quintana clawed back time on race leader Chris Froome.

Italian Nibali went some way to rescuing what has been a difficult Tour defence by claiming a stunning solo victory on the 138km stage from Saint Jean de Maurienne to La Toussuire. Quintana

MUSCAT: The Hamburg racetrack, brand new to the Extreme Sailing Series in 2015, proved favourable for The Wave, Muscat who are sitting top of the table after the first day’s action while Oman Air gave the thumbs up to a ‘superb’ venue.

Leigh McMillan’s championship winning team of Nasser Al Mashari, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh and Ed Smyth on The Wave, Muscat, made a German debut to remember, winning the second race of the day outright and adding another four podium places to earn a two point lead at the top of the table.

Second placed SAP Extreme Sailing Team, who are vying with the Omani team as overall series leaders, posted some strong results to give their opponents notice of the fiercely competitive match that lies ahead over the next three days. “We are happy to be leading but frustrated because there were opportunities to in-

crease it,” said McMillan who survived the day without causing further damage to the hand he broke three weeks ago while racing GC32s in Cowes, UK. “We made a hash of the last race because we had a chance to come right back at the fleet but messed it up. We need to continue to try and improve over the weekend. We had some issues with the hydraulics for the first few races which was a bit of problem but we fixed it and were fully up to speed after that.”

Bowman Nasser Al Mashari, along with his Omani mates Ali Al Balushi, Sulaiman Al Manji and Hilal Al Zadjali, paid tribute to Sultan Qaboos bin Said and the people of Oman to mark Oman’s Renaissance Day, a celebration that had inspired their performances. “We are very happy and very proud because today is Oman’s Renaissance Day, the day our Sultan ascended the throne in 1970 so this is a big gift to His Majesty,” said Al Mashari.

ICC WORLD T20 QUALIFIER

Hamilton on top again in Hungary BUDAPEST: Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton topped the times ahead of Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull in Friday’s second free practice session ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

On an eventful day, just 72 hours after the funeral of Jules Bianchi, Hamilton led the way as the drivers demonstrated their respect for the 25-year-old Frenchman who died last Friday by pulling down their visors and showing total commitment. In searing heat that reached 50 degrees Celsius on the

can’t wait for it. Our preparations have gone well, we know what we need to do and we’re all comfortable in the Aston Martin. Jonny, Dan and Jonathan have all done a great job so far and I’m happy with my pace too – roll on the start of the race now on Saturday afternoon!”

Running just outside the ProAm top 10 in Pre-Qualifying, the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group backed squad ended the evening’s main qualifying period in 24th position overall, from a near 60 car entry, and 10th in Pro-Am. During the subsequent Night Qualifying run, the No.44 Aston Martin was an improved 14th quickest overall - just a second shy of the best time in the session – and inside the top four in Pro-Am. Due to the quicker laps in the preceding evening period, however, the team just missed the cut by fractions for Super Pole but will still line-up a competitive 10th in Pro-Am. This weekend’s Total 24 Hours of Spa, round four of the Blancpain Endurance Series campaign, is the blue riband race meeting of the season and the big event also marks the first of the year for the Oman Racing Team in the Pro-Am category, having been regraded from the Pro class. Following a warm-up session at Spa-Francorchamps at 09.05 (local time) on Saturday, the twice-round-the-clock race will get underway at 16.30 (local time).

The Wave, Muscat at top of the table

took second on the stage at 44sec but finished 30sec ahead of thirdplaced Froome to perhaps reignite the yellow jersey battle. Colombian Quintana is now 2min 38sec back from the Briton ahead of Saturday’s 20th stage finish on Alpe d’Huez.

But it was the return of the ‘Shark of Messina’ that most animated an enthralling day in the Alps. — AFP

Oman cricket team deliver A1 perfect Renaissance Day gift < FROM

Zeeshan, ‘playing his own game’, really helped the team cross the line. After his historic knock, a delighted Zeeshan said, “We were thinking that with the required run-rate being about eight we could go along at seven per over.

That was my plan when I went in.

In the penultimate over I thought I should loosen up and go for a few more shots. I took my chances and it paid off.”

“Throughout the tournament, we preferred to chase rather than set a total, and it paid off. This was the plan of our coach, so we are very happy to win today,” he said.

“We are delighted. Back in Oman, all the supporters and my family will be so happy that we have qualified. I was just playing my own game, not taking any pressure, so I am happy to have helped the team,” added Zeeshan.

Historic day Captain Sultan Ahmed, meanwhile, described the qualification as a great achievement. “It is a great achievement for us on the Renaissance Day of our country,” said an emotional skipper.

“It has been a difficult period, especially for Khawar Ali and me.

Zeeshan Ahmed Siddique.

Khawar lost his father before the tournament, and I lost my mother during the course of the tournament,” he said.

“We stuck to our plans right from the start of the tournament and have done extremely well.

Each one of us has contributed to the success. It was nice to see Zeeshan Siddiqui strike form when it mattered most,” said the skipper.

Madhu Jesrani, general secretary of Oman Cricket, who was accompanying the team, said it was a historic day for Oman cricket.

“I would like to thank everyone for supporting the Oman team. It

is a historic day for Oman cricket.

Everyone’s prayers and wishes definitely helped a lot in this greatest achievement,” he said.

“The boys played some outstanding cricket. We are proud of our team. Our coaches and officials also made outstanding contributions,” said Jesrani.

It is an achievement that has made everyone sit up and take notice of the team. Perhaps it was a performance that would have pleased one and all in this soccercrazy nation and one that will certainly change the status of the cricket in Oman.

The team, along with Duleep Mendis and his coaching staff, is sure to be accorded a grand reception, probably an unprecedented one for an Oman cricket team, when they arrive.

However, that will have to wait as the team still has some unfinished business in Dublin, where they are scheduled to take on Afghanistan on Saturday in the Qualifier’s fifth place play-off at Clontarff ground.

From there, Mendis will have to prepare the team for a tougher but more glamorous and equally satisfying sojourn in India.

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WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM SATUR DAY, JULY 25, 2015

MARKE

NIKKEI GOING GLOBAL WITHH FINANCIAL TIMES TAKEOVERR

Japanese media giant Nikkei’s surprise acquisition of the Financial Times for $1.3 billion underscores its goal to be the voice of Asia on economic affairs as part of a broader Internet-driven global expansion. >B3

FREE TRADE DEAL

What’s in a name: US, EU battle over ‘feta’ in trade talks BRUSSELS: European Union plans to seal the world’s largest free trade deal with the United States are threatened by intractable differences over food names, none more so than the right of cheese makers to use the term “feta”. Negotiators talk of accelerated progress and hope to thrash out a skeleton agreement on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) within a year, aiming for a major boost to growth in the advanced Western economies.

But geographical indications (GIs), a 1,200-long list ranging from spirits to Parma ham, present a major headache.

At the same time as euro zone leaders are ordering Greece to balance its budget and liberalise its product markets, EU trade negotiators are fighting to defend its signature cheese.

GIs are a cornerstone of EU agricultural and trade policy, designed to ensure that only products from a given region can carry a name.

To the United States, it smacks of protectionism.

ECONOMY

‘Iran’s foreign reserves total $115-125b’ VIENNA: Iran’s foreign reserves total between $115 billion and $125 billion, including assets in its sovereign wealth fund, its industry minister said on Friday in one of the most detailed public descriptions of the reserves by an Iranian official. The size of the foreign reserves and the way in which Iran uses them will be crucial in its efforts to rebuild its economy after years of international sanctions, which may be removed around the end of this year after last week’s agreement between Tehran and world powers.

The Iranian central bank’s foreign reserves, obtained from the country’s oil and gas exports, are around $90 billion to $100 billion, Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh said. The National Development Fund of Iran, which was founded in 2011 and receives a portion of oil and gas export proceeds, has around $20 billion to $25 billion. In addition, some Iranian government companies and organisations have foreign holdings of about $5 billion to $10 billion, Nematzadeh said.

He further added that only about $29 billion was blocked, of which $23 billion were central bank reserves and $6 billion belonged to the government. - Reuters

flood of US beef and pork imports.

Agriculture is not a sizeable part of either the EU or the US economy, but farmers retain political muscle, as French livestock and dairy producers showed this week by forcing the government to offer aid after protests including road blockades. Washington does not object to protection of niche items such as British Melton Mowbray pork pies.

But negotiators face a very difficult task to find a balance for widely produced feta, Parma ham or parmesan, the biggest maker of which is America’s Kraft Foods.

FOOD NAMES: Negotiators face a very difficult task to find a balance for widely produced feta, Parma ham or parmesan, the biggest maker of which is America’s Kraft Foods. — Bloomberg file picture

“For 20 years they have been fighting about it at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) even if the economic value is disputed.”

EU member states will have to approve any deal and will need food name protection as compensation for EU farmers facing a

“It’s politically extremely important in Europe. As (the EU) phases out direct agricultural support, there has to be a trade-off by promising to do more in trade policy,” said Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy.

place. Feta, it says, is so closely connected to Greece as to be identified inherently as a Greek product. In 2012 several non-European food producers and associations, many from across the Americas, formed the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) to fight what they see as Europe’s appropriation of generic food terms.

‘Nothing wrong’ “There’s nothing wrong with GIs, but is something a true GI or just a method of production?” said CCFN executive director Jaime Castaneda.”Most consumers do connect feta with Greece, but most also connect cheddar with England but it does not have to be made there.”

United States producers, he says, could lose billions of dollars in income if they are forced to rename their products.

Even before an EU-US free trade deal, Castaneda says US businesses are already affected in countries like South Korea, whose trade accord with Europe includes GI protection. — Reuters

Global economy’s second half begins on shaky note change rate fade,” said Jennifer McKeown, at Capital Economics.

The euro has sunk more than nine per cent against the dollar since the start of the year, hit by the ECB’s massive cash injection and fears a Greek exit from the bloc would bring the whole union crashing down.

Markit’s Composite Flash PMI, based on surveys of thousands of companies and seen as a good guide to growth, fell to 53.7 this month from June’s four-year high of 54.2

SLOWING DOWN: Business activity in the euro zone was weaker than expected and China’s vast factory sector appeared to be contracting at the fastest pace in 15 months in July. — Reuters

LONDON/SYDNEY: The global economy started the second half of the year on shaky ground as business activity in the euro zone was weaker than expected and China’s vast factory sector appeared to be contracting at the fastest pace in 15 months in July.

The surveys come just months after the European Central Bank (ECB) embarked on a 60 billion euro a month bond-buying programme and as Beijing said that it

would allow its yuan currency to fluctuate more widely within its trading band as a way to support the trade.

Markit’s purchasing managers’ indexes (PMI) are one of the earliest monthly economic indicators and could dampen hopes that ECB bond-buying and the tumbling euro are boosting growth and driving inflation higher in Europe.

Although Athens has accepted the conditions imposed on it by

W O R L D T R A D E O R G A N I S AT I O N

WTO members seek to seal trillion-dollar IT trade accord GENEVA/WASHINGTON: World Trade Organisation (WTO) members met in Geneva on Friday trying to finalise a deal to cut tariffs on $1 trillion of information technology products from video games to medical equipment.

The United States said a deal had been struck, but WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo postponed a press conference at which he and the talks’ chairman, European Union Ambassador Angelos Pangratis, had been due to announce the agreement.

Need more time “Some delegations needed more time to get full clearance from their capitals.

They contacted the chairman Angelos Pangratis and he rescheduled the meeting for three hours later,” WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell told Reuters.

Once finalised, the agreement to update the WTO’s 18-year-old Information Technology Agreement (ITA) will add more than 200 products to the list of goods covered by zero-tariff and duty-

6,000-year heritage It is a view echoed by Christina Onassis, marketing manager at the Lytras & Sons dairy in central Greece. She describes the unique plants and microflora of Greece’s mountainous regions and says feta “imitations” mostly use cow’s milk.

“For 6,000 years, Greece has produced continuously using milk from ewes and goats,” she said.“We also ripen the cheese for

days, which does not happen in any other feta production.” The issue is about more than just national pride for near-bankrupt Greece.

Its feta exports rose 85 per cent between 2007 and 2014 to 260 million euros, and sales to countries outside the EU more than doubled. US agricultural and trade experts generally recognise the region-specific terms such as “Gouda Holland” or “Camembert de Normandie”, meaning that US producers can still make and name their own gouda and camembert cheeses. However, they argue that the European Union has gone too far by including the likes of gorgonzola and feta - terms they say are not region-specific but generic like cheddar or mozzarella, which do not have GI status.

“Show me on the map where feta is?” asked one US trade negotiator.

In fact, under EU law, the fetaproducing region covers almost the whole of the Greek mainland plus the island of Lesbos.

The European Commission says names can be protected even if they are not linked to a particular

technology and information products, ranging from MRI machines to semiconductors to video game consoles,” Froman said in a statement issued in Washington.

WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo. — Bloomberg file picture

free trade. The US Trade Representative Michael Froman said more than $100 billion of US exports alone would be covered by the updated agreement and industry estimates showed the removal of tariffs could support up to 60,000 additional jobs.

“ITA’s expansion is great news for the American workers and businesses that design, manufacture and export state-of-the-art

Global economy Azevedo said last week that the deal, which is the first tariffcutting agreement in the World Trade Organisation for 18 years, will jump-start the global economy. “The trade covered in this agreement is comparable to annual global trade in iron, steel, textiles and clothing combined,” he further added.

Technology manufacturers like General Electric Co, Intel Corporation, Texas Instruments Inc, Microsoft Corp and Nintendo Co are among companies expected to benefit from the deal.

Additional duty-free products include computer software and software media, video game consoles, printer ink cartridges, GPS devices, medical devices such as MRI machines and next generation semiconductors, the Technology CEO Council said. - Reuters

its international lenders, and on Thursday approved a second package of reforms required to start talks on a financial rescue deal, Greece’s brush with bankruptcy meant July was a turbulent month for the euro zone.

“While the latest data suggest that the Greek crisis has not derailed the euro zone recovery altogether, growth seems to be slowing as the boosts from earlier falls in oil prices and the euro ex-

Cheaper abroad That has made the bloc’s goods cheaper abroad but done little for demand. Markit’s Composite Flash PMI, based on surveys of thousands of companies and seen as a good guide to growth, fell to 53.7 this month from June’s fouryear high of 54.2. A Reuters poll had predicted a more modest dip to 54.0. The headline index has nevertheless now been above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction since mid-2013.

Markit said the data provisionally pointed to third-quarter growth of 0.4 per cent, slightly weaker than the 0.5 per cent predicted in a Reuters poll published on Thursday.

Second-quarter growth is forecast at 0.4 per cent.

A corresponding survey due later from the United States is expected to show manufacturers increased activity at the same

modest pace as last month. Metal prices also hit multi-year lows on Friday after the weaker-thanexpected data from China and the euro zone.

Fears of faltering demand in China, the world’s largest commodity buyer, piled the pressure on resource prices, sending gold to a five-year low and copper to a six-year trough.

It also added to the woes of emerging market nations already struggling with the risk of a rise in US interest rates later this year.

The flash Caixin/Markit China PMI dropped to 48.2, the lowest reading since April last year and the fifth straight month under 50.

According to government data, industrial output is still rising.

The drop confounded forecasts for a rise to 49.7 from June’s final reading of 49.4 and slugged the Australian dollar to a six-year low.

China is Australia’s biggest export market and investors use the currency as a liquid proxy for risk in the Asian giant. - Reuters

HAVE YOUR SAY

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B2

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

MARKET China pain seen as India’s gain as foreign funds escape to Mumbai month to invest in Indian equities and raise its cash position, he said.

The Sensex tumbled 11 per cent from this year’s peak on January 29 through June 12, making it the world’s worst performer after Egypt.

International investors are pulling out of China, fuelling record outflows through the Shanghai-Hong Kong exchange link, amid a $2.8 trillion plunge in mainland equity values since June 12

STRONG DEMAND: India’s Sensex lost 0.3 per cent in Mumbai trading, poised for a weekly decline.

- Bloomberg file picture

MUMBAI: The tumult in China’s stock markets has turned into a blessing for Indian shareholders.

International investors are pulling out of China, fuelling record outflows through the ShanghaiHong Kong exchange link, amid a $2.8 trillion plunge in mainland equity values since June 12.

They’ve plowed $705 million into India over the same period, sparking a world-beating seven per cent gain in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex index.

China’s interventionist response to the rout — including unprecedented trading restrictions — has prompted foreigners to shift

their equity exposure to India, according to hedge fund Alexander Alternative Capital. The $2 trillion economy, which got a fresh boost from tumbling crude prices this month, is less exposed than its emerging-market peers to slowing growth in China, Aquarius Investment Advisors says.

“The recent travails in China make India seem like an oasis of calm in terms of volatility,” Jonathan Schiessl, the head of equities at the UK-based Ashburton Investments, which oversees $12 billion, said in an e-mail.

The fund has cut its exposure to China by one per cent in the past

IMF forecast Those concerns have been allayed by the biggest jump in indirect tax receipts in May since 2011, which gives Modi ammunition to boost expenditure. A 12 per cent decline in Brent crude prices this month has also pared government subsidy bills in a country that imports about three-quarters of its oil.

India’s economy expanded 7.5 per cent in the March quarter, beating China’s seven per cent growth, while the International Monetary Fund predicts India will outpace its neighbour in the current fiscal year.

The longer-term growth outlook is also stronger in India because of its superior demographics, according to Franklin Templeton Templeton Investments. More than 62 per cent of the nation’s 1.2 billion people are between age 15 and 59, government data show.

China’s pool of workers in this age group is expected to shrink by 61 million by 2030, according to

United Nations. That’s about the equivalent of losing the combined working populations of the UK and France.

“India is in a phase in which multiple engines of growth can drive GDP from 7-8 per cent to 9-10 per cent in the next five years,” said Sukumar Rajah, who manages about $9 billion as chief investment officer of Asian Equity at Franklin Templeton in Singapore.”For China, we expect growth to decelerate over the next few years partly because it doesn’t benefit from demographic trends the way that India does.”

State intervention Templeton is overweight India and underweight Chinese shares in Hong Kong relative to benchmark indexes, Rajah said.

He’s bullish on Indian industrial companies such Larsen & Toubro amid signs of increased spending on infrastructure.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index declined 0.8 per cent at 1:19pm in Hong Kong on Friday after a private gauge of Chinese manufacturing unexpectedly fell to the lowest level in 15 months.

India’s Sensex lost 0.3 per cent in Mumbai trading, poised for a weekly decline. - Bloomberg News

ECONOMY

Bangladesh pushes mobile phones use to move money to its rural poor DHAKA: Bangladesh, home to the world’s second-largest mobile money company, is moving to consolidate the industry as it expands financial services to the rural poor.

The central bank has proposed channeling all mobile transactions through bank-led companies with a minimum capital of 1 billion taka ($13 million), said Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman. This would force smaller providers to merge and link up with banks. “There are a lot of entrepreneurs who could never be reached by conventional banks,” Rahman said in an interview in Dhaka on Thursday.”It’s a conscious move by the central bank to bring those unserved or underserved into financial flows.”

More of Bangladesh’s 157 million people use mobile phones to transfer money than bank accounts. The nation — upgraded this year to the World Bank’s lowmiddle-income status — has a mobile network that covers 99 per cent of its population, and remittances account for more than 10 per cent of its economy.

The central bank has made it mandatory for all banks to give a minimum of 25 per cent of total loans to agriculture. Farmers can open accounts with as little as 10

stakeholders. All existing mobile money platforms would need to restructure operations within three years of the proposal being accepted and implemented.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman. — Bloomberg file picture

taka ($0.13). The new companies would need to boost capital by retaining at least 10 per cent of net profits a year, according to the central bank proposal.

Telecom companies Telecom companies would be allowed to hold stakes of as much as 30 per cent in them.

While their main role would be to provide payment services, they can also accept deposits, insurance premiums and disburse loans. The central bank will finalise the proposal after receiving comments from various

Peasants & classes While Bangladesh has long enjoyed a history of financial innovation to reach its unbanked population, Rahman has increased the pace of inclusion.

Born to a poor family in 1953, he’d briefly quit school due to a lack of funds before graduating from Dhaka University.

He then wrote a doctoral thesis titled “Peasants and Classes” at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Since taking office in 2009, the former professor of development economics has made it mandatory for banks to open a rural branch for each new urban one, raising the ratio to 1:1 from 1:5.

He also allowed mobile banking in 2011, granting licenses to 28 banks. Twenty of them have started operations.

“We have embarked on an era of new central banking which has got a distinct developmental focus,” Rahman said.”

That focus is inclusivity and environmental sustainability, which was never reflected in any mon-

etary policy anywhere in the world.” The number of mobile money users rose 1.8 per cent to 27 million in May from the previous month, and mobile cash transactions rose 6.4 per cent, Bangladesh Bank data show.

January-May mobile transactions were worth 590.03 billion taka, on pace to overtake last year’s total.

Eight million accounts BKash, run by BRAC Bank, has close to eight million accounts, behind only Vodafone Plc’s MPesa in Kenya.

Even so, the value of mobile money transactions in Bangladesh was 5.6 percent of GDP, far lower than Kenya’s 55 per cent.

Analysts say the lack of customisable payment platforms and poor user education hamper penetration.

Part of Rahman’s inclusive effort is to support the farm sector in a country where agriculture accounts for about a fifth of gross domestic product but gets less than 6 percent of total bank loans.

“Before 2009 in Bangladesh there were only threads of inclusivity and environmental sustainability,” Rahman said.”We have strengthened the focus,” he further added. — Bloomberg News

STOCK MARKET

Tokyo investors eye earnings TOKYO: US and Japanese firms’ corporate earnings will be key trading cues for Tokyo investors next week, after the benchmark Nikkei 225 index finished lower on Friday.

Asian markets broadly dropped as a fall in commodities prices and weak Chinese manufacturing figures dented confidence in the global economy, with a surging dollar taking the air out of US cor-

porate earnings so far. Next week, Facebook, Twitter and automaker Ford are among the firms reporting while, across the Pacific, Japan Airlines, Sony, Canon and Panasonic are on deck to report their latest financial results.

“With the US dollar likely to keep rising as the Fed prepares to raise rates, there’s still some sort of weakness to come in the commodity space,” said Angus Glusk-

ie, managing director at White Funds Management.

“The earnings outlook in the United States is also somewhat subdued as a result of the strong US dollar.

We’re not likely to see a massive rally in the next few months.”

On Friday, the Nikkei at the Tokyo Stock Exchange slipped 0.67 per cent, or 139.42 points, to end at 20,544.53. - AFP

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

B3

MARKET ACQUISITION

Nikkei going global with ‘Financial Times’ takeover TOKYO: Japanese media giant Nikkei’s surprise acquisition of the Financial Times for $1.3 billion underscores its goal to be the voice of Asia on economic affairs as part of a broader Internet-driven global expansion.

But the unlikely cross-border marriage — Japanese media rarely venture overseas and are routinely criticised as timid in pursuit of investigative news — has sparked concerns about editorial independence at the storied salmonpink business paper founded in 1888. “The merger of the Financial Times and Nikkei will give the group a major international presence in the media sector,” the Japanese paper said in its Friday edition, touting it as the country’s biggest-ever foreign media acquisition. President and CEO Naotoshi Okada said on the Nikkei’s website: “Our goal is nothing short of making Nikkei the leading media voice in Asia”.

In Japan, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun — or Nikkei daily — is a must-read for executives and has a strong track record of financial

scoops. About 2.7 million copies of its morning edition are printed daily while the afternoon version numbers 1.4 million copies.

FT deal The FT deal adds an internationally known brand and about 225,000 print copies to the Nikkei’s arsenal as it eyes a battle with business powerhouses the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

Online, the Nikkei-FT marriage would catapult the group past the New York Times’ 910,000 Internet subscribers. Like the FT, the Nikkei is seen as a business bible.

Its 140-year-old history is inextricably linked with Japan’s industrial sector and once-booming economy, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s benchmark index — the Nikkei 225 — takes it name from the group.

Digital domain The move into magazines, books and television, among other sectors, has left the Nikkei on solid financial ground, even as many major media struggle with their

finances in the age of the Internet.

Meanwhile, the FT has earnt a reputation as one of the most nimble media giants in the digital age, building a giant subscriber base and successfully attracting advertisers because of its upmarket readership.

“It’s a good story for the Nikkei — buying the FT offers the experience online and a foreign subscriber base in the dominant language in the world, English,” said Yasuhiro Matsuzaki, deputy chief editor at the rival media group Tokyo Keizai.

“The Nikkei is already the most advanced Japanese newspaper in the digital domain but it takes time to get subscribers,” he added.

However, the takeover could make for a rocky cultural exchange.

The FT, among other media, has strongly criticised the Nikkei’s apparently privileged access to earnings results and other company news, often weeks before it is officially announced. And the Japanese press is routinely accused of being conflict shy and self-censoring to avoid offence.

That issue came into stark focus during the Fukushima nuclear crisis when some viewed the media as soft in its criticism of company and government officials.

‘Worrying’ Nikkei is basically a PR machine for Japanese biz; it initially ignored the 2011 Olympus accounting scandal (which FT broke),” a New York Times reporter wrote on Twitter, referring to one of Japan’s worst ever accounting scandals.

Goushi Kataoka, an economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research, was blunt in his assessment of the deal.

“I’m worried that the Financial Times could become like the Nikkei, and I hope that will not be the case,” he said.

Robert Peston, former political editor and financial editor of the Financial Times and now BBC economics editor, also expressed concern at the sale.

“If I were still at FT, I’d ask if Nikkei respects culture of trying to hold all power to account (even if FT, like rest of us, often fails),” Peston wrote on Twitter. — AFP

GOING GLOBAL: Nikkei’s President and CEO Naotoshi Okada

attends a news conference in Tokyo on Friday. Nikkei’s $1.3 billion purchase of the Financial Times from Britain’s Pearson PLC marks the culmination of decades of attempts by the Japanese household name to break into mainstream Englishlanguage media. - Reuters

Ferrari files for New York public offering

Q UA R T E R LY S A L E S

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said on Thursday Ferrari, the NEW MODEL: Alan Batey, president of General Motors (GM) North America, speaks before the unveiling of the Chevrolet 2016 Camaro Convertible at the Motor City in Detroit, Michigan, US, on June 24, 2015. - Bloomberg file picture

marque famous for its ‘prancing horse’ logo and its Formula

GM earnings surge on solid sales in US

One racing team, had filed a request with US regulators for a New York initial

NEW YORK: General Motors (GM) reported on Thursday that quarterly earnings quadrupled on solid sales in the US and China as it pledged better results in the second half of 2015.

The largest US automaker benefited in the quarter ending June 30 from improved profit margins in the key North America region, as well as brisk sales in China despite worries about a slowing economy.

GM chief executive Mary Barra said Thursday’s earnings were “a proof point that we’re doing what we say we’re going to do.”

GM shares jumped 4.2 per cent to $31.58 in midday trade.

Earnings for the second quarter were $1.1 billion, up from $278 million in the year-ago period.

The 2014 second-quarter earnings were depressed by $1.2 billion in elevated costs for car recalls following an ignition-switch scandal.

Revenue dipped 3.7 per cent to $38.18 billion. GM attributed the drop to the strong dollar.

Operating earnings Operating earnings in North America were roughly double that of last year at $2.8 billion, setting a new company quarterly record due in part to robust sales of sport utility vehicles and other large cars in its home market.

The profit margin in North America, by far GM’s largest region by revenues, hit 10.5 per cent in the quarter, up from 8.8 per cent in the first quarter of the year.

Barra has promised to reach a 10 per cent profit margin in 2016.

Earnings in GM International Operations, which includes China, rose 10.8 per cent to $349 million.

GM delivered 823,000 cars in China, up 2.6 per cent from a year ago. GM chief financial officer Chuck Stevens said the company has taken a number of steps to manage the Chinese market through cost cutting, working with dealers to manage inventory levels and boosting output of popular SUV models. GM owns research and auto parts businesses in China and manufactures vehicles through a number of joint ventures with Chinese companies.

Close monitoring The automaker “will continue to closely monitor” China as growth slows, Stevens said. The company has analysed downturn scenarios for China, but believes car sales will remain healthy, he added.

“General Motors expects strong results in China will be sustained through” the second half of 2015, the company said in an investor presentation. GM had a smaller operating loss in Europe than in the year-ago quarter. Stevens said the company was on track to reach a target to return the division to profitability in 2016.

The weakest division was South America, where GM had an operating loss of $144 million, deeper than the $81 million lost a year ago.

In Brazil, sales slid 35.2 per cent to just 92,000 vehicles.

General Motors earnings were negatively affected by charges totaling $1.1 billion. - AFP

public offering

SLEEK MODEL: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said last year it would sell up to 10 per cent of Ferrari via

the share offering and would distribute the rest of its stake to its shareholders. — Bloomberg file picture

MILAN: Italian sportscar maker Ferrari has taken a step closer to a stock market listing in New York, as its parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) seeks to boost its own coffers to fund an ambitious 48 billion euro ($53 billion)investment plan.

FCA said on Thursday Ferrari, the marque famous for its “prancing horse” logo and its Formula One racing team, had filed a request with US regulators for a New York initial public offering.

The Maranello, northern Italybased maker of typically red models such as the 488 GTB and the one million euro LaFerrari, could attract a market value of at least 10 billion euros, according to Ser-

gio Marchionne, FCA chief executive and Ferrari chairman.

Some analysts said it could be half that. FCA, home to a stable of brands ranging from Fiat and Jeep to Alfa Romeo, has one of the highest debts in the industry and needs the funds from the flotation of its most prestigious brand to help finance its own plan to boost sales by 60 per cent to seven million cars by 2018 and increase net profit five-fold.

FCA said last year it would sell up to 10 per cent of Ferrari via the share offering and would distribute the rest of its stake to its shareholders.

The float is expected after mid-October while the sepa-

ration should be completed in early 2016.

Following the blueprint of Fiat’s marriage with Chrysler and a New York listing of the merged entity last year, FCA will create a Dutch-registered holding company for Ferrari and list its shares on Wall Street, according to the filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ferrari may apply for a secondary listing in Milan.

FCA currently owns 90 per cent of Ferrari, with the remaining 10 per cent held by Piero Ferrari, vice chairman and son of the founder Enzo, who died in 1988.

As in FCA’s case, Ferrari’s float will also include a loyalty

share scheme for long-term investors, set to tighten the grip on the company by Fiat’s founding Agnelli family.

The Agnellis, through their holding company Exor, and Piero Ferrari together could end up with a voting power of just under 51 percent, enabling them to thwart any unwanted takeover bid.

UBS will be the offer’s global coordinator, with BofA Merrill Lynch and Santander joint bookrunners. A successful Ferrari listing would bolster FCA’s finances at a time when its search for a merger partner to deal with falling margins and high development costs appears to have fallen on deaf ears. - Reuters

PERFORMANCE

BASF quarterly profit misses estimates FRANKFURT: BASF reported second-quarter profit that missed analyst estimates as the slump in the oil market forced the German chemical maker to cut prices and demand waned for paper ingredients. The stock dropped as much as 4.2 per cent.

Earnings before interest, tax and one-time items rose two per cent to 2.04 billion euros ($2.24

billion), the Ludwigshafen, Germany-based company said on Friday. Analysts had predicted 2.12 billion euros, according to a Bloomberg survey. The price of Brent crude oil has almost halved in the past year, prompting customers to demand that chemicals manufacturers such as BASF pass on lower raw-material costs.

The world’s largest chemical

maker, celebrating its 150-year anniversary this year, on Friday cut its prediction for the global economy, saying it now expects “somewhat weaker” growth for industrial and chemical production this year.

“The customers will have demanded that the company make some concessions,” said Heiko Feber, an analyst at Bankhaus

Lampe KG, who rates the stock hold.”The strong effect of the oil price was underestimated.”

BASF on Friday cut its growth expectations for global gross domestic product to 2.4 per cent instead of a previously predicted 2.8 per cent. Growth in chemical production will probably be 3.8 per cent instead of 4.2 per cent, the company said. - Bloomberg News

B4

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

FEATURE What Tesla has done with its 'Ludicrous mode' upgrade for the Model S maybe heralding the doom of the fuel powered cars industry

T

ESLA has rocked the world of highperformance automobiles with the introduction of its new “Ludicrous mode.” The internal-combustion engine business may never be the same.

Regular readers of mine usually know at least two things about me: First, I believe that all predictions are silly, more about marketing than actually trying to figure out what comes next. Second, I am a fan of sleek, go-fast machines, preferably beautiful ones from Italy, Germany or Britain.

Thus, I am going to break with both of these traditions to make a forecast about the future of the automotive industry. Gasoline-powered cars are toast. They are over, finito, kaput, the walking dead who have not yet realised they are goners. It is highly likely that in your lifetime, you will no longer see the mass manufacturing of gasoline-powered automobiles. My guess is that by 2035, if not sooner, the majority of automobiles sold in the US and Europe will no longer be gasoline powered.

Tesla and Toyota have been the two companies driving much of the technology changes for clean alternatives to gas-powered drivetrains. What Tesla has done with its “Ludicrous mode” upgrade for the Model S is figure out how to put almost all of the power in its system to all four wheels at once without melting its engine-management components.

The Tesla P85D with the complete 90kWh “ludicrous” upgrade costs about $100,000. The upgrade gives it a 0 to 60mph time of 2.8 seconds. To put that into context, to get that sort of acceleration from a car previously required a Porsche 918 Spyder (0-60 in 2.3 seconds) or a Bugatti Veyron (2.6 seconds) or a Koenigsegg One (2.5 seconds).

They each cost $1.1 million, $2.9 million and $3.8 million respectively.

You can save some money by buying a Lamborghini Huracan ($237,250), or the Ferrari 458 Italia ($239,340) but both are slower than the Tesla. That makes the McLaren 570s a relative bargain at $184,900, but it too, is slower than the Tesla.

Think about what this does to the high-end segment of the auto market. Tesla founder Elon Musk could put a sexier body on the Model S — low-slung, fat tires, gull-wing doors and steal share from Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Bentley and Bugatti. Or, he can sell entire drive trains to those companies and let them clad the cars with their own bodies. Or both. Whatever happens, the sports-luxury market just had a huge shot fired across its bow.

These major shifts take time. To get an idea of how long a paradigm change takes in an entrenched industry like carmakers, consider these few facts about the Toyota Prius.

It first went on sale in Japan in 1997; it wasn’t until 2000 that it was introduced outside of that country. It was the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle in the world. Originally introduced as a compact sedan — weight and power were always issues — it has grown along with the underlying technology. Now it is a midsize hatchback, rated by the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board as among the cleanest vehicles sold. Of the seven million hybrids that Toyota has sold since 1997, almost five million have been Priuses. (Toyota now sells 27 different hybrid passenger car models but only one plug-in hybrid model — also a Prius).

Toyota proved with the Prius that a reasonably priced hybrid electric could be a practical vehicle for the ordinary household. Tesla has taken the baton from Toyota, building a true, pure plug-in only electric car. The ramifications are far reaching.

This issue is more than fodder for discussion at car shows and among enthusiasts; it is going to affect many of the world’s largest companies — automakers such as GM, Ford, Fiat Chrylser, VW, BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan, and Hyundai; oil companies such Exxon Mobil, Conoco Philips, Shell, BP; and all of the many support businessess in exploration, drilling and shipping. There also are implications for tech companies such as Google and Apple, which have considered building autonomous, advanced technology vehicles.

I won’t try to predict whether Apple or Google buys Tesla (Google has been more acquisitive than Apple). Or perhaps one of the automakers ponies up the $35 billion to buy Tesla. But someone should.

How might this play out during the next few decades? The incremental changes of better reliability and longer range have reached critical mass in the 15 years since Toyota began selling the Prius worldwide. Other automakers from Porsche to Ford have to be watching for the day when Tesla can manufacture and sell a million cars per year. If they were smart, they would be playing catch-up full on.

The gas-assisted hybrid — think Prius or Chevy Volt — is a transitional vehicle to the fully electricpowered automobile.

Gasoline won’t go away anytime soon. A massive infrastructure for refueling vehicles still exists.

Diesel is still needed for long-haul truckers, whose heavy cargo loads and long-distance routes are now impractical for electric battery power. At least for now; at some point in the future, though, that too will change.

Electric-vehicle technology is no longer a novelty. It is inevitable that we will see a series of innovations that are going to invert this business — automakers, energy suppliers and the whole infrastructure that supports cars that run on fossil fuels. — Barry Ritholtz Washington Post-Bloomberg News

IS THE WAY FORWARD

B

SECTION

Family LIFESTYLE

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Making the Most of Back-to-School Shopping W

hile kids and parents alike eagerly await the fresh start of a new school year, the back-to-school season is not without its share of stressors for busy families. The start of school means new schedules, teachers, shoes, backpacks and friends; as well as new academic challenges.

Adding some fun and excitement to the newness can help smooth the way. For example, allowing kids to help choose their outfits for the first day of school can help diffuse that nervous anticipation. Similarly, the chance to put a fresh set of pens to use or show off a cool new notebook can provide a distraction from those first-day jitters.

Ease the back-to-school shopping burden, perhaps even making it a fun experience, by following a few of these tips.

Make note of your inventory. School lists often carry over each school year, so make sure you aren’t buying multiples of things you already own. Some supplies are more exciting when refreshed every year, but buying the same old boring ruler year after year is simply a waste of money. Then, put everything you need on that list. Having a complete list helps ensure nothing vital is forgotten, and the list can serve as a handy tool to keep your budget in check.

Hunt bargains before the traditional back-to-school season to get the best deals. Not only will you save some cash, shopping before the rush will give you a wider selection to choose from, so you’re sure to find the items you need in the styles you (and your kids) want. Spreading the shopping over several weeks also allows you to distribute the expense across several pay periods, helping lessen the chance that you blow your monthly budget with one mega shopping excursion.

It seems that kids are forever trading with their friends, so embrace that mindset and see what exciting new treasures you can find for your kids to call their own. Host a swap event with other moms where you can exchange clothing, backpacks, shoes, and supplies. Maybe someone overpurchased pens, but forgot paper, perhaps someone’s child rejected the brand new backpack that was purchased for her. One mom’s headache is another mom’s salvation. As a bonus, these get-togethers are a great way to build community with other parents.

Involve your kids in the back-to-school shopping process by giving them a budget. Help them allocate money for all the expenses, including clothing, school supplies, shoes and more. Use the opportunity to talk about how shopping smart for the necessities can leave room for some fun buys, too.

While it’s tempting to go for the cheapest products when your list is long, remember that sometimes quality buys actually save more in the long run. You can buy a ton of cheap pens that skip, or simply stop working, or you can look at alternatives that are affordable, but better quality.

You may find that your kids consistently run out of certain items midyear. Devote a special area of your home to keep extras in stock, and take advantage of sales, buying extra essentials during back-to-school season or buying in bulk for a better price.

Save plastic and money by encouraging kids to embrace reusable items, such as lunch boxes in place of paper sacks, and plastic containers instead of sandwich bags.

If water bottles are allowed at school, look for a durable refillable option that can be used again and again. This helps reduce waste and will save you money as well.

You can also turn barely used items into something new by decorating or adding stickers. Not only is this a fun activity that can help get the kids excited about and engaged in planning for the year ahead, it’s easy on the budget and eco-friendly. Keep leftover supplies on hand to revive the enthusiasm with fresh designs at the end of the quarter or semester.

Though back-to-school shopping can be fun, it can also be overwhelming. So ask yourself: Are you better at doing all of your shopping all at once, or would you rather make separate trips throughout a couple of weeks to ease the stress? There is no one “right” way to tackle back-to-school shopping; just go with what works best for you. — Family Features

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

B6

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

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Terminator: Genisys (Action / Adventure) Cast: Arnold Schwarznegger, Emily Clarke 3.30, 7.30, 9.45 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1714 (PG 12) The Gallows (Horror/ Thriller) Cast: Cassidy Gifford, Pfiefer Brown, Riyan Shoos 8.00 & 10.00 pm CP No: 1730 (15+) Minions ( Animation/ Comedy ) 12.00 & 5.45 pm CP No: 1731 (PG) Max (Adventure/ Family) Cast: Thomas Harden Church, Josh Wiggin 4.00 pm CP No: 1732 ( PG) Vatican Tapes ( Horror/Thriller ) Cast: Katheleen Roberston, Djimon Hounsou, Dougrey Scott 12.00, 1.45 & 11.55 pm CP No: 1835 (18+) Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! ( Horror/Sci: Fic ) Cast: Tara Reid, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 1836 (15+)

SHATTI Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Drama)(PG) Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 11:30 am, 3:30, 8:30, 11:30 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action, Adventure) (3D)PG12 Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke 9:15, 11:45 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action)(2D)PG12 2:30 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(3D) PG 1:30, 5:00 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(2D) PG 11:30 pm Hayaty Mebahdela (Comedy)(PG) Cast: Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba 7:00 pm The Gallows (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos 6:15, 10:00 pm The Vatican Tapes (Horror, Thriller) (12+) Cast: Michael Peña, Kathleen Robertson, Djimon Hounsou, 4:30, 11:45 pm Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:30, 6:30, 8:00 pm Pixels (2D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 12:15 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL A Royal Night Out 2D (Drama) Cast: Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack 3:45PM (15+) Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! 2D (Horror) (15+) Cast: Tara Reid, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz 7:45PM Terminator Genisys (3D): (Action) (PG12) 9:30 PM, 11:55 PM Gold Class: 12:30 PM, 11:15PM Terminator Genisys (2D) (Action) (PG12) 4:15 PM

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A ROYAL NIGHT OUT 2D (Drama) Cast : Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack (15+)

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Minions (3D) (Animation, Comady) (PG) 12:30 PM, 2:00PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D): ( Action) (PG) 11:00 AM, 8:45 PM, 11:45PM Gold Class: 3:00 PM, 8:15 PM Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:15, 6:45 PM Gold Class: 6:00 PM Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (Comedy)(PG) Cast : Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba, Hassan Hosny 5:45 PM

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Baahubali (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Prhabas, Rana Daggubatti, Anshka Shetty, Tamannaah & Satya Ra 3-00, 6-30 & 10-00 Pm At Cinema Main Baahubali (Telugu) (Action) 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 Pm At Cinema -2 Ivede (Mal ) (Thriller) Cast: Prithviraj, Nivin Pauly & Bhavana 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 Pm At Cinema – 3 Premam (Mal) (Rom) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anupama 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 Pm At Cinema -4 (Programmes are subject to change)

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

Daily

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

10:25

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

Ruwi

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

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

07:00

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

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

SALALAH Terminator (3D)(PG12) (Action)

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 07:30 14:30

BURAIMI Terminator Genisys - 3D (Action) (PG12) 12:30, 6:45, 11:50PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan– 2D (Drama, Action) (PG) 12:45, 2:45, 7:00, 9:00, 11:30PM Ivide– 2D (Crime/Drama) (12+) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumran, Nivin Pauly 7:30PM Minions– 3D (Animation) (PG) 12:15, 2:00, 6:00PM Baahubali: The Beginning – 2D (Thriller) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3:45PM (12+) The Vatican Tapes– 2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Pena

SUR Terminator Genisys (3D) (Action) (PG12) 6:45, 9:00 PM Minions (3D) (Animation) (PG) 12:15, 5:00 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Hindi) (Drama) (PG) 2:00, 3:30, 9:00 PM Bahubali (Hindi) (Action) (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 11:15 PM The Vatican Tapes (Horror | Thriller) (18+) Cast: Michael Peña, Kathleen Robertson 11:50 PM Ivide (Mal) (Crime | Drama) (12+) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Nivin Pauly 12:45, 06:25 PM

9:00, 11:55PM Terminator (2D)(PG12) (Action) 2:45PM Minions (3D) (PG) (Animation) 10:30, 2:15PM Minions (2D) (PG) (Animation) 1:00PM Pixels (3D)(PG12) (Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi ) 10:15AM, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00PM Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D) (PG) (Drama/Action) 10:00AM, 12:30, 4:00, 9:00, 11:15PM Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (PG)(Arabic) 5:00PM The Gallows(2D)(15+) (Horror/Thriller) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos 3:30, 11:30PM Masaan (2D)(12+) (Drama) Cast: Richa Chadda, Saurabh Chadhary, Sanjay Mishra 7:00PM Mahra Story (2D)(PG) (Drama) Cast: Salim Bahwan, Raniya alali 7:00PM Ivide (2D) (12+) (Crime/Drama) Cast: Prithviraj, Nivin Pauly, Bhavana 8:45PM

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

11:45PM Sharkando 3: Oh Hell No! (2D) (Horror) (15+) Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, 5:45, 10:00PM The Gallows– 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan 3:45, 10:00PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 20:50

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54) 14:30 14:30

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Sci-Fi ) Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan

Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo

WEATHER

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

10:15 am, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00 pm PIXELS (3D) (PG12) (Action/Comedy/

The Vatican Tapes - 2D (18+) (Horror) 1:30, 11:55 PM Nom El Talat - 2D (12+) Comedy 8:15 PM Masaan - 2D (12+) (Drama) Cast: Richa Chadda, Saurabh Chadhary, Sanjay Mishra 10:00 PM Ivide - 2D (M) (12+) (Crime, Drama) 12:45, 9:05 PM Baahubali - 2D (12+) (Action) 11:45 PM

SOHAR Terminator Genisys - 2D (PG12) (Action) 3:30 PM Terminator Genisys - 3D (PG12) (Action) 12:30, 9:00, 11:45 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 2D (PG) Drama, Action 4:00, 6:00, 8:45, 11:30 PM Minions - 2D (PG) (Animation) 11:45 AM Minions - 3D (PG) (Animation) 2:15, 5:00 PM Baahubali - 2D (Telegu)(12+) (Action) 3:15 PM Hayaty Mebahdela - 2D (Arabic)(PG) (Comedy) 6:45 PM Pixels - 2D (PG12) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi) 6:15 PM Pixels - 3D (PG12) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi) 12:15, 3:00, 7:00 PM

SCREEN 2 Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 2.30, 7.30, 10.30 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG 5.30 PM

5:45 & 10:00 pm SHARKANDO 3: OH HELL NO (2D) (Horror ) (15+)

Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Malthotra

SCREEN 3 Masaan (Romance/Drama) – (12+) Cast: Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Saurav Choudhary 3.00, 8.15, 10.30 PM Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – 12+ 5.15 PM

RUWI SCREEN 1 Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 1.00, 4.00, 7.00, 10.00 PM

1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 10:00 pm BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (Action/Drama )

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

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

B7

LIFESTYLE Learning to Listen IT WAS 6 in the morning and a light rain had started outside. Rabia, wanted to wake up her niece Amina, because she knew Amina loved the rains, she stood outside Amina’s door and considered letting her sleep instead. She raised her hand to knock on the door, and jumped with surprise when it suddenly swung open.

“Aunty, you saw the rains?” Amina said excitedly.

“Yes dear, and it reminds me of my childhood,” Rabia grinned. “Even though it hardly rained in Muscat, it rained quite a lot in Sumail where my grandparents lived.”

Rabia sat on Amina’s bed and continued. “All our friends would go out and get drenched till my mother would yell for us, saying come inside or else you will catch a cold.”

“And would you always listen to granny?’ Amina asked.

“Most of the time, but your father wouldn’t. He loved being out in the rain, especially on the stoop in front of our house. He would be there for hours until our mother would find him and force him to get in,” she said, shaking her head with a smile. “But one day he caught a terrible cold, and after that, he began to listen.

“Aunty! I have a wonderful idea,” Amina said, “Let’s plan an outing to Kalbouh Park.”

“Okay, we will go after the rain stops,” Rabia said. She picked up the phone and called some friends to join them.

Rabia and Amina spent the af-

STORY TIME

By Swati Dasgupta

ternoon savouring the rain from their covered patio, snacking on fresh baked rolls and warm milk and tea.Then, just as Rabia was beginning to doze off, Amina woke her with a jolt.

“The rain has stopped aunty! Can we go to Kalbouh Park now?”

“Okay dear, let’s go,” Rabia laughed.

When they arrived, Amina ran to meet her friend Zahara. Even through the girls studied in different schools, they have been great pals since they were born.

Rabia sat with Zahara’s mother, Mariam, and Zara, who’s two boys, Ali and Ahmed ran to meet Mohammed, who had just arrived with his mother Juweina and his new oneyear-old baby sister.

Rabia stood and called the children over. “Everyone stay close and be careful on the swings and seesaw, they are still slippery from the rain. Whatever you do, don’t go anywhere by yourself, all alone,” she said.“Okay, go play and have fun.”

Amina and Zahara walked down by the water, while the boys yelled

excitedly and ran around the park chasing one another.

“Ta’al! Come for ice cream,” Zara called. Amina and Zahara rushed back with the other children. They all excitedly ate their ice cream, chasing the drips down the cones and shrieking as the sticky drops escaped onto their hands.

“Where’s Ali?” Zara suddenly asked. Ahmed, her elder son, looked down at his feet.

“He missed the ice cream...do yo know where he is Ahmed?” she asked, her worry growing.

“He was playing with us mum.

Then suddenly he saw some boys on roller-skates and he ran behind them. I told him not to go but he didn’t listen to me,” Ahmed said quietly as thick, dark clouds began to fill the sky. “We should head off back home before it starts pouring,” said Rabia. “Ali! Time to go,” Zara called, looking around frantically.

“Wait here,” Rabia said, as she and the moms headed into the park to look for Ali. Everyone yelled out Ali’s name, but there was no reply and no trace of him. After half an hour, Zara burst into tears. “I know Ali can be naughty and disobedient, but I have never lost track of him like this. I am so worried,” she said while wiping her tears.

“Don’t worry mum we will find him,” Ahmed tried to comfort her.

It started drizzling, as they had feared. “Juweina take the other children to the car so no one falls ill,”

Rabia said. “We will stay and look for little Ali.” As they began to head for the car, Amina heard a whimper and a rustle in the bushes. She broke away from the group to go investigate.

She pushed aside the leaves and saw Ali, sitting on the ground crying.

“Ali!” she exclaimed. And the others ran over to join them.

“Where did you go? I was so worried,” his mother said, as he ran into her arms. “I’m sorry mum, I was chasing some boys on their roller skates. But I lost track of them and couldn’t find the way back,” Ali whimpered.

“Your brother told you not to go, and we told you not to go away on your own,” she scolded. “What if something bad happened to you and we couldn’t find you?”

He listened quietly.

“If you had listened, you could have been playing nicely and eating ice cream with everyone else instead of wandering alone.”

“I will listen next time, I promise,” said Ali, hugging his mother tightly. As Rabia and Amina drove away, Rabia began to laugh. “What’s funny aunty?” Amina asked.

“I think Ali is much like your father, and you are like me. Some people can learn from words and warnings and other people learn from their mistakes. But eventually we all learn to listen to those who love us.”

Amina smiled proudly the rest of the way home. swati@timesofoman.com

Omani Sunny Days Summer tips

by@winieariany

1

2

Stay hydrated

Put AC on

3 Fill the bath tub with cold water

Questions & Answers It’s better not to argue with...

Elders

I go crazy when...

My tab gets stuck

One thing that puts me off...

When I don’t get good sleep

If I win a lottery...

I would go crazy

If I met an alien I would...

Ask him to give me a tour of the galaxy

One movie/book I can watch/ read over and over again...

Fast and Furious 7

Crossword Puzzle ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

When I’m in doubt...

I search in wikipedia

The scariest thing that I have done...

Opening the car door while the car was moving

ACROSS

One skill I would like to learn...

Computer language

If I could steal one thing it would be...

Bugatti Veyron

If I have to describe myself as a flavour it would be...

Lychee

If I could go back in history, I would like to meet...

Neil Armstrong

SHIHAB MUSHTAQ

If I had treasures I would hide them...

In a dark graveyard where no one would enter

One person I would trade places with (real or ficitional) Cristiano Ronaldo

The best way to my heart is...

Play football with me and my friends

Send your contributions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com. A good quality photo is compulsory. Lifestyle reserves the right to publish the contributions.

1 Small fry 2 “Layla” performer — Clapton 3 — -do-well 4 Ran fast 5 Seismic activity 6 Home page addr.

7 Led on 8 Escapade 9 Hot time in Paris 10 Eggy drink 11 Military addr.

17 19 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 32 35

Canyon effect Simian Wrongly Mane possessor A famous 500 Tiger Woods’ org.

Opposite of wax Similar Topaz or opal Colo. neighbour Crone Evened up Flu symptom

36 39 40 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 50

Frat letter Take a sip Flight routes Loony James Bond’s school Obsolescent phone part Candied goody Novelist Umberto — Turmoil Popular shift Underhandedly clever

1 5 8 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 23 26 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 38 40 41 45 49 51 52 53 54 55 56

Backpacker’s shelter Vt. neighbour Jazzy — Horne Hydrox competitor Coffee brewer Up above Layer Hyde, to Jekyll (2 wds.)

Haunted house sound Gross!

Fuzzy fruit Back talk “Minimum” amount Sounding catty?

Ocean fish Pitch in Jedi master Fauna Racehorse, slangily Ike’s rank Main points Leo mo.

Caught cold Accounting times (hyph.)

Bluesman — Redding Heavy-metal band Bolt down Anthracite, for example Heifers’ hellos Hair salon application Merely

B8

SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2015

LIFESTYLE

Art for the Ages

Children’s Poetry

ELEPHANTA Ditsa Mukherjee

Grade X Indian School Wadi Kabir When I was a kid, Mom used to tell a story.

Something was common about this and that, As it was about an elephant named Tori.

The thought came to my mind, As I was thinking about my trip to Sri Lanka.

Seeing the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage there, You could easily name the land as ‘Elephanta’.

Vikhyat Dwivedi, Grade 2, ISM

Manya S. Talati, Grade 6, ISWK

Children up to the age of 15 who would like to have

The orphanage was established in 1975, At that time there were seven orphans.

As the time kept passing on and on, Grew the children and grandchildren.

their art considered for inclusion in “Art for the Ages” can e-mail their drawings or paintings (in jpeg or tiff format) to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

That was just the beginning, When I got to see those many.

Next day at Minneriya National Park, You will just faint on seeing them being so many.

Some were angry, some were sad.

Some were happy while some got mad.

Some were bathing here and there, Some were taking each other’s care.

Mom, dad, sister and their siblings.

Small to big and right from the trip’s beginning.

Someone just asked, “Are we in Africa?”

I just reminded, “No, we are in Sri Lanka!”

Finally, it was our turn to say them bye.

No more fears, no more crying.

Back came Tori asking, “Now can I come with you?”

“Oh, there you are! I was just waiting for you.”

Divya Soni, Grade 9, ISM

Sapthami Muthu Kumar, Grade 10, ISM

Send your contributions to lifestyle@timesofoman.com

Kaden Rodrigues, Grade 3, ISM

Sudoku How to play Fill empty cells with the numbers 1 to 9, so that each number appears once in each row, column and area.

8

3

9

5

Teleword All the words below appear in the puzzle - horizontally, vertically, diagonally, even backward. Find them and circle their letters.

The leftover word spells the Teleword.

1 2

2

6

4

3

8 3

9 1

5

5

7

7 9

8 9 6

2

3 2

5

6

Puzzle 2 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.32) SOLUTION Answer to previous puzzle

5 3 8 2 7 4 9 1 6 9 4 1 1

6

8 3 5 2 7

2 7 9 5 6 4 8 3

9 7 5 3 2 1 2 6 1

6 4 8

7 4 8 3 5 9

4 8 3 5 6 9 1 3 5 2 6 1 8 1

7 2

7 8 9 4

9 4 3 2 7 6 5

7 4 6 8 9 5 2 3 1

M E E C Y L A T Y E S H O W O

L A U G H N C N N E G K F E G

P E S N O O D I N L R A O S N

CLUE: ED MCMAHON

S M E U R R S O L A K E R R E A E T O I MU F B M F O E I B

H A N S H C H A L R R N P E S

C E R T O C H Y L I O U C A J

L P A I I N N U G C B I L E D

L I R K S E I D U M L E N N O S E I A D S A L S S I I L E A P M T E R K T S O E F I R AW

R A A X E T H A P T D T H L D

E R L R L E G A T S Y N S M E

FW C H C P B S R T O A A R D S C R A E S P T O I O N L G B

SOLUTION: 11 LETTERS

Alyce, Anchor, Announcer, Bingo, Bloopers, Books, Brigadier, Broadcasting, Carson, Clark, Claudia, Colonel, Detroit, Edward, Family, Ferrill, Film, Games, Host, Hurn, Jeffrey, Katherine, Laugh, Leon, Lex, Linda, Marines, Massachusetts, Michael, Pamela, Personality, Peter, Pilot, Publishers, Role, Search, Show, Stage, Star.

Answer: Sweepstakes

C

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M S AT U R DAY, J U LY 2 5 , 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

C2

VACANCY

C4

CARGO

C7

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

C2

S AT U R DAY, J U LY 2 5, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

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

FOR RENT

3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

FOR RENT

Building In Rusail Industrial ŶĞĂƌ ƚŽ ŵŝĂŶƟƚ KŵĂŶ comprising a store divisible area 266 sq. meters.

The building includes Studios ĂŶĚ ƌŽŽŵƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐŝnjĞ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĨŽƌ ŽĸĐĞƐ Žƌ residence.

Preferably to be leased to one company.

3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market.

Contact: 99259977 / 95033008 1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975 Villa AL Ghobrah, 6 bedroom 1200/R.O. Contact: 99340055/97557555 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005 Small old house for rent Al Ghobrah.

Contact 95112461 House for rent 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hall, kitchen Muscat Sidab opposite the sea 250/-.

Contact: 99277377 1BHK without A.C Ghubra R.O 275/.

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Contact: 97799175 3BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balconies, nr. Al Hassan W/ Kabir R.O 350/-.

Contact: 99384640 Flats shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area.

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Contact 99476728

Mob + 968 96177505 2 BHK Town house at Assarain complex Al Khuwair for rent.

Contact 96365824 Rent RO 750

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

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Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314

2 BHK, 2 bathrooms behind Abu Nabil, Honda Road R.O 240/-.

Contact: 99737562 / 93887852 2BHK, 2 bathroom behind Sana Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-.

Contact: 99737562 / 93887852 Luxurious room, fully furnished with free WIFI and gas at Ruwi.

Contact : 95586937 Shop for rent/ sale in Ruwi near Dish market good location, behind City Cinema. Contact: 91318111 Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir with 3 rooms. Contact : 98555580 / 92800007 Flat for rent 2 bedrooms, sitting room, store gym in ground floor in Mumtaz area-Ruwi.

Contact 95135445 1BHK flats at Muttrah near Oman house. Contact : 93231403 1BHK Darsait R.O 225/-.

Contact: 92144045

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879

2 bedrooms apartments for rent in Al Khuwair and Ghubra. Call Yellow Bird property on 24615375 / 97137989 or visit www.muscat-realty.com One & two bedroom apartments available for rent, near avenue mall, close to Atlas hospital next to Diwans office, South Ghobrah.

Contact 99833747 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi.

Contact 99326339 3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat.

Contact: 95755953

1BHK Wadi Kabeer, RO 225/-.

Contact: 92144045

Villa with two floors in (Hay Al Arjan) in AL Khoud with 4 bedrooms, hall, Majles, kitchen & one room in ground floor. Contact: 93219597

2BHK Darsait R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045

For rent office CBD flat in Ruwi.

Contact: 92820734 / 95345909

2BHK Ghubra R.O 350/-.

Contact: 92144045 1,2,3 BHK. Contact: 97799175

House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with three room, 5toilets, kitchen and hall 430/-.

Contact: 92747078

Spacious 2- BR flat in MBD. Contact 99713489

Room with A.C AL Khuwair R.O 120/- Contact: 97799175

For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 Flat with A/C in the South Al Mabella close to the Mosque Al Tawab consists of 2 rooms, hall, 2 bathrooms and kitchen. Contact: 99388995 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158 1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699 2 BHK flat in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.250/- Contact – 93191111 2BHK near Oman house behind Khimji, H.O. Contact: 95865686 506sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in AL Wadi Al Kabir, Suitable for carpentry / Auto workshop and / or electrical shop interested parties may.

Contact: 24703981

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

Contact: 99366624

BUYING/SELLING All type of car scanner available easy car diagnostic for professional and self use Authorize LAUNCH and Autel dealer. GSM:92393972 www.omancartools.com Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373

2BHK with split AC at Al Khuwair 33. Contact: 94057023

FOR SALE Office space at Alasfoor Plaza Qurum. Contact : 24566217 /24564686 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454 Luxury 3 BHK flat in Al Wattaya with split A/C & private parking.

RO.500/- Contact – 93191111 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240

Equipped kitchen showroom company for sale at Ghubrah, Muscat.

6 visa available, Contact owner at 96303747 Computer set up for sale. Contact 94412557 A parlour well settled / well equipped in running position at Ghobrah for sale. Contact immediately on 97498898

Flat in South Al Hail, 2 bedrooms, Majlis, 2 bathrooms, kitchen RO 250/-. Contact 93221474

Darsait near labor card Medical business furnished office for sale, rent R.O 260/- p/m.

Contact: 91211117

Flat in Ruwi Mumtaz 2 BHK RO 300 or 1 BHK 250 RO. Contact 98588240

Ladies beauty parlor sale in Muttrah, above Ahla supermarket.

Contact: 93231403

2BHK with split AC near PDO Gate no -2 at Qurum. Contact: 94057023

Used Super market Gandola RO 40.000 PER meter, double tube light RO 2.000 per piece.

Contact: 96441670

2 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet & car park in Al Khuwair R.O 200/- .

Contact 95154331 Deluxe furnished / unfurnished flats Qurum. Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 Commercial 3 BHK flat in Al Ghobra 18 Nov Street. RO 700/Contact 93191111 2 BHK flat in Al Azaiba near sea, with split A/C. RO.340/- Contact 93191111 Villa of 5 BHK in Al Ansab with split A/C. RO.650/- Contact – 93191111 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005

Total Station Survey Instrument S3 2” / Servo/ Trimble access bundle - batch 9101025 – not used.

Contact: 94282782 / 95425747 6 bedroom, 6 bath rooms, sitting & dining villa at Qurum.

Contact: 99342733 Turkish MDF door with frame for sale, size 210 x 100 Price: RO 75/-.

Contact: 95899296 / 92141514 Sale & repair of Tyres 315/80 R 22.5 & 12.00 R 24.

Contact: 97477128 Brand new 4 BHK plus Maids room in Barka, 2 Kms from Lulu.

Contact: 99347089 Commercial land for sale 3000 m in quriyat road main high way can use as a petrol station license available asking price 350,000 For more information please call on 99070701 with out name

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DAILY GUIDE

NRI

BUSINESS

3 cents plots-(12nos.) at walkable distance from Kovalm Jn.,Trivandrum,Lorry site near to main road-Bus route, for immediate sale. 3 cents- 15 lakhs only.

Call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763 or email- cfhd1@ yahoo.com

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

ACC. AVAILABLE Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis.

Contact : 99493500 Self contained furnished room for executive bachelor in a decent Ghubra North villa. Contact 92595830 1BHK sharing in Ruwi. Contact: 91214537 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206

FOR SALE

Centre For Housing DevelopmentTrivandrum: Group of senior and retired Engineers and Architects provides service in the field of Design and Supervision of buildings in Kerala.For appointments, E-mail your site location and building requirements to cfhd@ymail.com. or call 00968-95036240, 0091-9961034763.

38 cents plot with 2BHK house by the river bank in Thrissur Dist. near Irinjalakuda (Karavanoor).

Contact: 99347089 500 acre agricultural land suitable for rubber plantation for sale in Ratnagiri Maharashtra. price 2 lakh per acre, rubber board approved land, minimum purchase 20 acre.

We provide care taking by experienced Malayalee team for your plantation. please call , prasad 95760790

ACC. AVAILABLE Accommodation available with Keralite family near W.K main school. Contact: 95882866 /96575016 Rooms for rent in Seeb for couple / single/ working ladies.

Contact: 96996938

New company seek partnership.

Contact: 96996938 General Investors.

Gsm-99674870

FOR HIRE

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Silver Car, car for rent. Contact: 96166155 / 98402662 Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

ACC. WANTED Required a room in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area.

Contact: 95405033

Urgent sell KIA CERATO 2012, 63200 KM Run Expat family used,1.6L, Price R.O. 3300/-. Excellent Condition. GSM 92286477

ACC. AVAILABLE 2 Rooms & 2 bathrooms with kitchen near al meera hyper markets, azaiba for executive bachelors / family. Gsm : 942 888 63 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai.

Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

Volvo prime mover model 1998 for inspection Contact: Mr. Mohammed Al Harthy 99427071 Doctor driven, Toyota Corolla 2009, Honda CRV 2009, low mileage available at Bombay Medical, behind Ruwi Police Station.

Contact 99326339

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95345537

Furnished room AL Khuwair for Indian Sri Lankan. Contact: 96536307

Furnished room with attached bathroom in W/K. Contact: 97167857

Toyota Corolla 1.8 ltr GLI excellent condition 28,000 kms.

Contact: 97717152

Single furnished room, attached bathroom in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 92155261

Furnished room for Indian couples or family near Honda Road (Walja).

Contact 98952904

Sharing for non cooking executive bachelor in CBD area WIFI free, Advance deposit. Contact: 95094504

Touareg 2011 Oman cars, 114000 KM, silver, 8500/-R.O. Contact 92857111

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact 99834373 / 97102699

Fully furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking ex- bachelor.

Contact 94412557

Furnished room attached bath for lady in Wadikabir (Mars Hypermarket) – 95941515

Coffee shop at Liwa main road.

Contact : 99515419

Room with bath, kitchen Al Khuwair.

Contact: 99743569/ 97004265

Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970

Well established medium size construction company for sale. Equipments, 30 employees & ongoing projects.

Serious buyers only 99412020

2013 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR SALE. Single Owner,10 Months full cover Insurance (UAE & Oman), 15,000 Km only. Intrested buyers can Call/ Whatsapp on 95692099 Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093 Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285 Sportage, 2013. Contact: 99336093 Land Cruiser 2012. Contact: 99336093 2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

*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 WANTSIT. WANTED ED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ADMIN

ADVERTISING

Looking For office support staff with driving license and having good knowledge of all official duty.

Contact .. 91624908, 93540898

Looking for JOB. I have done BS Hons in Mass communication and media, Specialised in Public Relations and Advertising. I have upto 1 year of experience. Immediate Available. Open for any JOB. Sultan Zafar #97034134

Urgently required Male with 2 years’ experience in Admin Works, fluent in Arabic and English, Computer knowledge, preferably with driving license.

Working hours 6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10 pm daily Email: jayan@ra.cc or 99661980 Vacancy for lady Receptionist at Sinaw Hala Medical Center - Fluency in English and Arabic Omani or non Omani. Contact: 25524180 / 91362141 Email: halamedicalgroup@gmail.com Urgently Required: Administration with an experience minimum in 3 years in building construction, required immediately join and MUST have NOC.Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

ACCOUNTANT Urgently required Accountant B. Com with 4-6 years Gulf experience in construction field and good knowledge in FOCUS accounting software.

Send CV : pccllcoman@gmail.com Urgently required a part – time female Accountant fluent in English with 2-3 years experience in Tally.

Email: mhca@mhabibgroup.com Fax: 24564459 Urgently required female accountant with an experience minimum 3years Email CV on cv.hrcharity@gmail.com Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Required Beautician for a parlor in Ghubra. Contact: 94241385 / 97244766 Wanted experienced Beautician for beauty parlor in Al Amerat 3.

Contact: 91107337

CATERING Chinese/ Arab/ continental cook & helper wanted. Contact 95529970 Required experience Waiter / Supervisor/ Juice maker, Shawarma maker. Contact: 95395378

DESIGNER Grade”A” company in interior Designing looking for: Operations manager Sales executive Qs Interior Designer CVs to be emailed to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com Designer required for wooden joinery company with excellent knowledge of 3D Max, 2D Autocad.

Contact: 94249047 Email: mfqazi@gmail.com

DRIVER Wanted driver. Contact: 95112461 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

ENGINEER Urgently Required: Civil Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Construction Company in Oman urgently requires following candidates: BE Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 years gulf experience & Civil site foreman, minimum 5 years gulf experience, diploma not required.

Email: applyforoman@gmail.com Leading Construction Company requires Quantity Surveyor (QS) with 4-6 yrs Gulf experience. Send your CV : qsmuscat2015@gmail.com (NOC required).

Construction Company in Oman urgently requires the following: B.Sc Civil Engineer, minimum 3-5 yrs Gulf experience. Civil Site Foreman, minimum 5 yrs experience with operating knowledge of Tally.

Please Email CV ; applyforoman@gmail.com

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

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head of MNC looking for Job. NOC Available. 94047434

ENGINEER

Indian male, 30 years, CMA(Inter),M.com, 4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/ Accounts/ Finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420 , Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com

Quantity Surveyor for Mechanical, Electrical BOQ preparation and verification required for part time assignment on immediate basis. Please Contact-tgi17@omantel.net.om MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement.

Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om Urgently required: HSE Engineer with an experience minimum in 5 years in building construction, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com Urgently required Project Engineer for a reputed Construction Company in Muscat with Civil Engineering Degree/Diploma, 6 to 10 years experience, holding Oman/GCC Driving License.E.mail: assaud@omantel.net. om or FAX: 24953530 Fire and Safety Technician with NIFE or equivalent Diploma holder preference to those having D/L. Send CV to visionansara@gmail.com Required a part time steel Structural Design Engineer for a reputed steel fabrication company in Muscat. Interested person may Contact : 99451158 Required Civil Engineer (buildings) Oman experience 5+ years, BOQ+ Tendering + site supervision.

Contact: 95218004 Email: alhilalint@yahoo.com

IT IND male WEB developer 5 yrs exp B.Tech (comp science) PHP, HTML MYSQL Java script CSS. Contact: 95990529 Email: renjith341@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Mason, C.C.T.V, Technician, Electrician cum Plumber.

Contact - 99383044 Required urgently experienced Gardener and building care taker.

Contact: 99231676 Well established company in selling chocolate, Arabian sweets and fresh flowers, opening ITS first branch in Muscat seeking: 1- sweets and chocolates Sales man 2- flower arranger (Asian/ Filipino Nationality) Contact: 94490011 Email: labelleoman@gmail.com A company from UAE require 2 merchandisers in retail food supply, store keeper with English and invoicing experience. Email: yesterdaysun@hotmail.com

MANAGER Urgently Required: Male – handles overall store operations of the Supermarket, Prior Experience a MUST, knowledgeable in MSOffice. Send CV to chanda@dolphin-oman.com or fax to 244-92718.

MEDICAL Require Quality Caregiver for an elderly Mother. Contact: 99425200 Required MOH licensed lady G.P Dentist Pharmacist, Asst Pharmacist for Salalah based pharmacy and clinic. Contact: 92732491 Email: clinicrecruitment2015@gmail.com Urgently wanted Lady Ayurveda Therapist. Contact: 91590083 / 92798678 Vacancy Lab Technician for inquiry or send CV zmczahara@yahoo.com Contact 24571094 Fax: 24571097 Required Prometric passed nurse to join clinic from end August.

Contact: 99352793

SKILLED Urgently required experienced sub-contractors for Marble Flooring / Marble Cladding / Grinding / Carving works. Contact 92884177 / 99485595 Urgently required a silk Screen printer with good knowledge and release letter or NOC. Contact: 93280288 or send CV to albayanstamps@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Secretary (Female), Experience: Minimum 1 - 2 years. Forward CV to hr@barikgroup.com Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

SALES / MARKETING A vending Machine for sale of coffee products and Derivatives Company in Muscat having operations in Oman is on the lookout for quality staff for the below positions: Sales & Marketing Staff, Mechanical maintenance mechanic, General electric maintenance machines with D/L. Send CV to service@arabianvending.com Urgently required Sales Executive and interior designer for furnishing company with Valid Oman D/L and minimum 3 years experience.

Contact: 93231403/ rainbowfurnishing156@gmail.com Experience building material Salesman required in Amerat shop.

Contact : 99641900 Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact : Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Urgently required female Sales Promoters individual with pleasant personality, excellent communications & presentation skills & experience in selling perfumes cosmetics and skincare products would be preferred. Send your CV & details with recent photograph to info@mawaridoman.com or fax no 24127484/ Tel: 24127485 Tyre / Spare parts outdoor Sales Executive with experience required driving license and NOC. Send CV to ptf_25@hotmail.com Wanted part time female Sales Executive with D/L for a reputed company. Contact 94688874 A leading marketing company is looking for outdoor Sales Executives on part time or full time basis in Salalah. Contact 92760281 / 96436719 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Urgently required Sales and Marketing Executive for Graphic designing company. Contact: 96727631 mail: smartgraphic518@gmail.com Minimum 2 years of experience with valid gulf light driving license interested candidates please Contact: 99222086 /98585851 Required male or female candidate with 5 years experience in renting of properties. Interested candidates may please mail to alqurumprop@gmail.com

Indian male 32 years MBA, 6 out of 14 years experience in Oman in accounts / finance having NOC and Valid Oman driving license last date in Oman 01/AUG/2015.

Contact: 94051463 Email: gkvenkatesh83@gmail.com Indian male, B. Com having experience in Accounts or Sales on visit visa. Contact - 98295101 Indian Male B.com, 11 Year (8 Years in Oman as a Senior Accountant) experience in accounts having 5+ year experience in construction industry.

Working knowledge with SAP, AS400 & Tally –with valid Oman D/L, presently working in Qatar, will be available in Oman form 17th July-21st July-2015 looking for a suitable position in reputed organization. Contact 00974 77181323 / 98065641, email: bennybaby1982@gmail.com Finance Manager, 10 years Oman experienced MBA-Finance graduate seeking suitable placement.

Contact 97745764 Assist Accountant Indian (m) 2 years experience in Oman looking for a job immediate joining, currently working in Oman. Contact Shaheed Shamsadin : 98427810 Accountant, Indian male, 10 years experience in Oman. Can do upto finalization and knowledge of Tally ERP9 can be joined immediately with NOC. Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com Married lady 25 years, Master Accounts having 5 years experience in Indian looking for full / part time job. Contact: 95140332 /93223050 family visa holder.

Contact 95140332 Indian male, well experienced in Accounts and Admin looking for a suitable vacancy. Contact : 98717938 Indian female, M.Com Finance, DCA, 3 years experience in Accounts / finance& knowledge in ERP & Tally seeking suitable position in corporate finance / banking / consulting.

Email: prapullasuvarna@gmail.com Contact: 96953705 now in family visa.

Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available.

Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 Indian male, B.Com, Accountant, 10 yrs in Oman experience in Accounts, knowledge of Tally ERP 9, focus RT having NOC & D/L, looking for suitable job.

Contact 93086105 Male 26 yrs, MBA in Accounts and Finance, 2 years Experience in Management and Accounts Fields, and 1 year experience in Operations in Oman Looking for a suitable job.

Contact 94374745 Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780 Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Sudanese Accountant seeking job in Nizwa state experience 10 years 3 years in Saudi Arabia, 7 yrs in Sudan. # 97796394 / 94003247

SITUATION WANTED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

DRIVER

Accountant 8 yrs experience looking part time job.

Contact 99867456

Driver with 8 years experience looking for job. Contact: 98130645 / 94342106

Indian Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment.Contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com

Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 12 years experience Oman.

Contact: 98175321

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 Indian Female MBA, 3 years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com A Lady with 5 years experience in HR/Admin is looking for suitable job and can join immediately.

Contact : 94465835 Indian (male) MBA (MHA) with 5+ years of experience in HR. Looking urgently for suitable position.

Ph-96395254, 24813065 Email-shm1691@gmail.com Indian female with 1 half years experience in MBA / HR seeks suitable placement. Contact 99257214 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement.

Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com

AUTO CAD/DRAUGHTSAutoCAD Draughts man seeks Employment. Contact: 91889873 Electrical draftsman AutoCAD switch gear & MEP control panel 7 years experience Qatar.

Contact: 92546203/96228100

CATERING Indian male 38 yrs Senior Chef de.

De. Party pastry exp 15 yrs in five star hotels, 10 yrs exp Oman get NOC looking for job in hotel & bakery.

Contact: 96460519

DESIGNER Indian female B.Sc- Fashion Designer 21 years, fresher, One month internship in a garment industry 2015 University best designer award holder. Now looking for a creative job, currently on residential visa.

Contact: 98297940 / 99741604.

Email : zintasabu@gmail.com Architect and Interior designer, 8 years exp capable of managing turn key projects, design, BOQ, Execution.

NOC available. Contact : 95273166

Pakistan male (27) light driver seeking job, 4 years experience in Oman. Contact 96346582 Light duty driver with 2 yrs experience looking for job. #96342684 Light driver. Contact: 96961993 Indian (Kerala) light driver seeking for job, 5 yrs experience in Oman. Contact: 98029273 Looking for driving job.

Contact: 98219182 Driver: 15 years Driving Experience in Saudi Arabia, Looking for suitable place, Contact.. 91624908, 93540898 Driver available with car and without car Education, B. A exp. 5 years, language Hindi, Arabic, English.

Contact: 98522914 Bangladeshi male light driver seeking suitable placement 1 yr experience. Contact: 94158238 Driver available with car driver & without car. #96771598 / 94039796 Driver, 42 yrs seeks for suitable job KSA, 12 years Oman 4 years,.

Contact: 95796030 Heavy duty driver with PDO license, 5 yrs Intl. exp. # 95546585 Light driver. Contact:95779594 Driver looking for job. #99507039 Pakistani driving available.

Contact : 96913836

EDUCATION Professional Teacher Qualified M.Com Post Graduate in finance for teaching Accounting subject.

Contact: 91251210 English Teachers wanted immediately locations Muscat, Salalah, Ibri, Nizwa, Buraimi, Khabourah and Khasab. Contact : 91979343 Email: eaglesmuscat@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Mechanical Engineer, Indian 24 with 2 yrs experience in HVAC- MEP Revit – MEP, AutoCAD – MEP Navis solid works Catia PRO-E primavera.

Contact: 96975382 Email: bonny491@gmail.com 2 years experienced Electrical Engineer looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98480509 SAP – SCM.MM Consultant B.Tech.

(Chemical), from NIT, working with oil industry, seeks employment.

Contact: 98049288 Indian female 23, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics) & Diploma in Electrical CAD on Visit Visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 99278410 / 94027398, Email: renju.raghavan7@gmail.com

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C5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

HOSPITALITY

Indian Male, Diploma in Civil Engineer working as a Project engineer with 7years of experience looking for suitable job. Contact- 92636569

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.

Contacts: 91383167

BE civil Engineer with a vast experience of 18 years in Oman seeks immediate placement as General Manger /Partner. contact @ joboman2015@gmail.com.

Iraqi Civil Engineer, 12 years experience with Omani driving license.

Contact: 94695595 Degree holder Civil Engineer having 10 years experience with driving license looking for better position.

Contact 98451844 Email: zahid_ruet@hotmail.com Indian male, 38 years old, DME – Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC, VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob +968 95612870, Email: seeniselvan@gmail.com Indian male, 34 years old, DEE – Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving license light, ready to join immediately. Contact +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Ph: 95405885 Indian female, BE, Civil engineer with 1 year experience looking for suitable vacancy, on visit.

Contact 95139583, Email : aisushetty09@gmail.com Indian male Safety Officer, 4+ years experience diploma in fire & safety Eng seeks suitable post.

Contact: 98843139

IT Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Indian female MCA, 24 years seeking suitable job. Contact 93439467 IT professional MCA Oracle certified 6 months training of PLSQL data warehousing, PHP, 3 months trained seeking job at good company. Contact: 95694330 Email: monakashyap001@gmail.com B.E Computer Science, Indian male looking for suitable job in the field of software or information technology having good knowledge in Java, ASP. Net, MS Sql, MS Word.

Contact: 91986919 Email: dileep2468.a@gmail.com Indian male 25 yrs exp in Administration, Telecom, Optical Fiber Communication, Networking, MS Office.

Seeks any job. On visit visa.

Contact 91385373 / sridharbsnlma1455@gmail.com Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502

MISCELLANEOUS Electrical Engineer, B. Sc degree, Filipino, 15 years experience in oil & gas, power plant, substation, EPC projects, testing & commissioning, O & M with Oman D/L light.

Contact: 97090934 Electrical Engineer Indian male 29 years, having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.#92789995 Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com Structural Engineer of 2 years & 7 months experience, specialized in Structural Design and Site Supervision looking for a job. Contact: 94634906 / 94370767 Email: muazomer45@gmail.com Indian Civil Engineer (buildings) available immediately as supply contract. Contact: 93263834 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 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

Female Postgraduate searching suitable job. Contact 97792820 Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. Contact 91789465 Indian Female with over 9 yrs experience with good communication skills seeks jobs in customer service or sales field.

Contact : 96108289, Email - shijipaul84@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact: :98803439 13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com Male Indian BBM Graduate 8 years experience in logistics and ware housing in a reputed company valid driving license NOC available looking for suitable position.

Contact : 96311786 Email: ubinfs@gmail.com

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

B.E in ECE worked as Junior Scientist Trainee in Chennai worked as System Admin in Berik Honda Nagger coil worked at Technical Support in Samsung Service, presently in Bangalore.

Contact : 0091 7026267513

Indian male, B.com, diploma in material management, 12+ years exp in international / local purchase, ware housing 4 logistics seeks suitable placement NOC available.

Contact: 96477638 / 96477638

Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Production Manager 13 years experience in cast Aluminium fab. field and good track record seeking for a suitable job. NOC ready in Hand.

Contact: 96392319

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC. Contact 95245057

MEDICAL

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com Female Dentist Indian, Prometric passed 63%,4 years of work experience, immediately available to join.

Contact 97469553, nazianbaig@gmail.com Indian male GP doctor, 12 years experience parametric passed with 74% seeks suitable post.

Email: ppdr2020@gmail.com.

Contact 97985325 Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region.

Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

SALES / MARKETING SALES / MARKETING Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com MBA from UK with 9 yrs experience in London, Dubai & Mumbai. Specialized GCC experience in top real estate co & bank with driving license. NOC available. #968 95168205, dubaihomes1@gmail.com B. Com & MBA Graduate on visit visa seeks suitable placement.

Contact : 97372624 ,email : sivaraj.gurukripa@gmail.com Indian male 27yrs , diploma,3yrs exp in oman in sales & supervisor , oman driving license holder, looking for suitable placements.

GSM -96489211 B.Tech (MECH) MBA (Marketing) having 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, projects presently working in Oman seek suitable placement N.O.C available and ready to join immediately. Contact: 91257781 email: rajrathsing@yahoo.com Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa. Contact 93086105/33016546

Looking for Sales Assistant job (having Oman driving license).

Contact: 95872634 Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864 Indian male seeking job, 8 years experience in Qatar in clerical/administration/documents controlling fields. Willing to work in customer care or sale also. Qatar driving license available. Job preferred in Sohar and surrounding cities.

Contact 93285117 Indian male. 27, Post Graduate, 5+ yrs exp in Oman in Sales & Credit Control, with valid Oman driving License, NOC available, looking for suitable placements.

Ph: 9199 3376 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements. .

Contact 98371144 Market research / Hospitality Indian male Graduate with nearly 30 yrs experience in Market research & hospitality industry. NOC available.

Contact: 99347089

SKILLED / UNSKILLED Young Bangladeshi male 26 knowing coffee shop work as watering sandwich making juice marking etc presently in Bangladesh if any employer need please Contact behalf of candidate with his brother.

Contact: 92278538 Indian male 31 visionary business strategist having over 8+ years of global experience seeking a challenging position that utilizes my years of experience currently on visit. Contact: 91902154 Management professional experienced in profitable management with organization skills with over 21+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, UAE & in Oman11 yrs as GM Publications, Printing, Media & Advertising in entire operations, Sales marketing & etc. Looking for a reputed organization for a challenging position any industry, can Join immediately with NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com

Looking for job as Mason, pipe fitter, Electrician and Aluminum fixer available. Contact: 93015630

TOURS & TRAVELS 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing.

Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job.

Contact : 96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian male Diploma, Civil engineer 4.3 year experience at building construction and consulting company with Oman driving licence and N.O.C available seeking suitable placement Contact 95989500 email cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman. # 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

12 yrs exp FREELANCE 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license). Contact : 93790601

Indian male accountants, 12 years experience, tally also. Looking for a part time/ full time job in accounts or purchase. Contact- 98983122

Sudanese male, 31 year, have 3 year Diploma in Electrical Engineer, 6 years experience in construction and electrical plant.

Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian Female 2yrs exp. in Accountant 5 yrs exp. in Electronics, seeking suitable Job. Contact: 97162705,93705090

Freelance Graphic Designer available to assist in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Corel Draw Projects.

Contact : 95811820

Indian male, 14 years Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available #95253640 email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com

Indian Female Lawyer 36 Yrs having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman as Legal Advisor seeks placement in Legal/HR/Admin NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com

Female Candidate: Having experience (ISRO India) in Administration (seeking suitable opportunities &presently in Oman Mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com Diploma civil Engineer seeking jobs(positions suits me: civil engineer ,site engineer,qa/qc engineer,land surveyor ,total station, auto level,draftsman (autocad, microstation) mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com MOH Indian Dentist 10 years experience in Oman. Can speak Arabic, has driving license. Contact 98995321 or ventureoman007@gmail.com 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, E mail:catanalur131@gmail.com Qualified Native speaking male English Teacher with 18 years experience seeks position. Salary Negotiable. Whatsapp on +968 9334 1047 / +968 93952732 or e-mail me on nadgov@gmail.com

23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, 2 years+ experience in Audit and Finance in audit firm, Looking for suitable permanent placement, NOC release Available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264.

Email:- yashicapandya@gmail.com Indian Female 10 years exp as cook in Oman. South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job Contact 96733187.

Indian male-28 Years, Diploma in Electrical Egg, having gulf experience. Specialization on Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Operation. 7 years experience seeks for suitable placement.

Mob – 968-95334580. E-mail -sunilkumar257.sk23@gmail.com

Indian female, IATA, B. Sc, looking for suitable placement.Contact-95514305, E mail idraveendranmala@gmail.com

Seeking Teaching Position. Qualified and experienced Native English speaking teacher seeking position in Muscat, I have a Teaching Diploma , two Honours Degrees and a CELTA Certificate. Position at Language school will be suitable. Will e-mail CV. Whatsapp only +96893952732

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, 29 years, 8 years experience. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license.

NOC available seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa.

Contact :- 96259171.

Email:- bhumicapandya@gmail.com

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DAILY GUIDE

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

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

COMPUTER

WEBSITE

WANTSITUATION WANT- SITUATION MANPOWER SIT. WANTED ED Electrical Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any Oman.

Contact - 97693456.

Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com BE. Biomedical Engineer, 5 years experience in the same field (Hospital/company)looking for suitable placement. Contact:92084807 Email:bonnygeorge1005@gmail.com ELECTRICAL ENGINEER – Indian male seeking Electrical Engineer job with 2 years’ experience.

Contact: 94263445, E mail – janardhanan53@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTMATRIMONIAL Syrian CSI boy 30/184, working in a Automobile dealership at Muscat, inviting proposals.m4marry ID: 3951195 Ph: 0091- 9656439949 / 94946429292

32 years, Filipina with experience in Teleperformance, Manila call centre, now working as Waitress in Qatar seeking suitable post.

Contact 99022484

Indian male Roman Catholic Divorcee 40 yrs working in Muscat seeks suitable alliance from widow/ divorcee/single. Contact: 96059801

Sudanese/ 26 years/ master of clinical pharmacy(1st class)/ 1 year experience/live in India/excellent communication in English(IELTS Certificate) and arabic/pharmacist license/hassan_kassala@hotmail. com 00919600413966-96387227

Muslim boy, 32 years MBA, studied and working in Oman as Sales manager in a reputed organisation, Tableeg Jamath invites proposals from educated girls in Gulf preferably Malayalees. Contact 99357458 and 92656899

24 Years, indian male 2.5 Years experience in admin & accounts, dubai.

Currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement in admin & accounts.

M: 93016252 EMAIL: shahabaskp@gmail.com Indian male, MBA with 20 years of experience in back office operation, risk and operational management, financial management for Finance and Trading companies. Presently available on visit visa.

Contact 91276221 CCNA MCITP network support /network technician with 2 years experience indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. #93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

CLASSES

Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422 MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

RC SC girl (Kerala) 28 yrs, 154cm BSC Nurse working in Oman (SQUH) seeks alliances from professionaly qualified employers.

Contact: 96228192

Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites.

Contact: 98667326 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing.

Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

House shifting. Contact 99708138

Kerala Christian Orthodox boy 29/185 Staff Nurse MOH Muscat seeks suitable alliances.

Contact: 99461264

House shifting packing.

99657644 / 98518013

CLASSES Admission Open: CAMBRIDGE / BILINGUAL CURRICULUM admission started in Al Burj Private School, Azaiba for KG and Grade I to IV. Please register soonest.

Contact: 93211417 / 92887809.

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance.

Contact: 96236476

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517

IELTS preparation course, unlock your educational and career opportunities with eagles to; achieve your required band. Contact 91979343.

Pest control Treatments, termites, cockroaches, bedbugs Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723

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

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

Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722

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

AC servicing maintenance fixing.

Contact: 99540621

Carpet, Sofa Shampooing. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99884591

GOOD NEWS Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

FOR LADIES Hair dressing, facial massage & other beauty treatment for women.

Contact: 94689448

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DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

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

TOURS

DRIVING

RENT A CAR Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

TRANSPORTATION Taxi in Muscat for any where and any time just send whatssapp before one hour and we will conďŹ rm to you your appointment ,We have also travel in Muscat. what you wait for call: 99887282 Email: Awraqmuscat@yahoo.com Pick & drop anytime in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99764307 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. Contact: 97014786

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DAILY GUIDE

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