Times of Oman - August 26, 2015

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WEDNESDAY, August 26, 2015 / 11 Dhul Qa’ada 1436 AH timesofoman.com

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Oman gets tough on worker safety

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Top opera singers at ROHM this season

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Classical music aficionados and opera fans will have a chance to see some of the best opera singers along with top notch orchestras, violinists and pianists thanks to the eight classical concerts and recitals scheduled for the 2015-2016 season at the ROHM. Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr Nasser Al Taee, Advisor to the ROHM Board for Education and Outreach and an expert in classical music, said the season is filled with opera stars with powerful voices and includes a number of concerts that will showcase popular operatic and classical composers. >A4

OMAN

Indonesians rescued through Sultanate

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Ambassador Sukanto was in Jakarta recently to receive an award from Retno L.P Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, for his efforts in facilitating the evacuation of Indonesian nationals from Yemen through Oman. The award was conferred on August 18, 2015, where about 24 members of the evacuation team received the award including the Indonesian ambassador to Yemen, the Ethiopian ambassador accredited to Djibouti, chargé d’affaires of Riyadh, and the consul general in Jeddah. >A6

ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company

CABLES

HM receives thanks MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has received a cable of thanks from President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt in reply to His Majesty the Sultan’s condolences cable on the death of his mother.

In his cable, President El Sisi expressed his deep appreciation for His Majesty the Sultan’s sincere feelings, praying to Allah to protect His Majesty and the Omani people against all harms.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also received a cable of thanks from President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China in reply to His Majesty’s condolences cable on victims of the explosions that shook the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin.

In his cable, President Xi Jinping expressed thanks and appreciation for His Majesty the Sultan’s sincere condolences and sympathy to him and the people of China. -ONA A L K H U WA I R

There cannot be any compromise on the safety of workers with the ministry warning of stern action against offenders

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Companies found violating safety standards with regard to workers will be penalised, said a Ministry of Manpower official following a spate of accidents reported at construction sites.

“The Labour Law and the Ministry of Manpower are strict in ensuring the safety of workers at work sites. If there are any violations, it will be probed and the offenders will be penalised,” the official told the Times of Oman.

During the last few days, six workers suffered injuries at construction sites in Seeb and Buraimi and had to be hospitalised.

In Seeb, a building under construction collapsed injuring four workers, and in Buraimi two were injured in a similar accident.

“In the Buraimi incident, 12 workers had a narrow escape.

The two who suffered injuries were rescued by the police and rushed to the hospital,” a social worker in Buraimi told Times of Oman.

In Seeb, those who were stuck

in the building after it collapsed had to be rescued by the police.

A trade union leader said that there can be no compromises with regard to the safety of workers. “We cannot risk their lives.

There should be proper safety measures. Making them work in an unsafe environment is an unpardonable offence. When we come across such cases we alert the Manpower Ministry,” said Mohammed Al Khaldi, board member of General Federation of Oman Trade Union (GFOTU).

An Indian social worker said that on an average he handles cases of at least four workers injured at work sites every month.

“We receive emergency calls mainly from construction workers. Along with the embassy officials and the police we take up the case and help the injured workers,” said Shameer PTK, a Muscat-based social worker.

“In some cases, if the injuries

are serious, we are forced to repatriate them. Unfortunately, we find that in many cases, workers risk their lives without proper safety gear,” added Shameer.

Meanwhile, Mark Pudwell, training manager at Competence HR, said that it is the right of every worker to work in a safe environment where potential hazards are mitigated through a risk assessment of their job and appropriate level of on-the-job training and safety inductions.

“This is no less important in the construction industry where the diverse nature of potential hazards is especially dangerous to employees. Everyone working in this industry should, as an absolute minimum, be given effective personal protective equipment such as safety boots, gloves, head and eye protection, and site safety training before they enter the construction site,” added Pudwell. >A6

Employees foil exchange house robbery REJIMON K TARIQ AL HAREMI

reji@timesofoman.com tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Timely action by employees foiled a robbery attempt at a money exchange house, said an official from the Al Jadeed money exchange in Al Khuwair, which was attacked by a masked burglar late on Monday evening.

“At around 8pm, a knifewielding burglar entered our shop and demanded money.

However, the exchange house employees refused to budge.

Unperturbed, they rang the emergency bell and pushed him out of the centre,” said an official from the money exchange house. >A6

S U WA I Q C O A S T

Alert Coast Guard intercepts boat, arrests 27 infiltrators

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Heavy rain reported in Samail region

Times News Service

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Heavy rain accompanied by wind and hailstorm has been reported in Samail, according to residents.

“It started at around 3:30pm. Still it’s raining heavily. Everyone, especially children, are enjoying the rain as we all were sweltering under extreme summer heat for the last few days,” Sainul Abdeen, a resident said. “Rain may cause overflowing of wadis. Already the roads are flooded and it is windy too. So, motorist on RusaylNizwa have been advised to take extra care,” Sainul added. >A7

SURVEILLANCE: Coast Guard personnel patrolling the sea.

MUSCAT: Twenty-seven illegal infiltrators were arrested by the Coast Guard unit of Royal Oman Police (ROP) while they were trying to enter Oman illegally, according to official sources.

The Coast Guard intercepted their boat in Omani territorial waters as they tried to enter the country along Suwaiq coast.

The Coast Guard also responded to a distress call made by a fishing boat with four people onboard off Khurab Island.

The boat was facing engine problems and the ROP towed it back to Seeb port.

Dhofar beckons

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TESTING PHASE

WATER SOURCES IN NORTHERN OMAN

Wadi Aday (5 wells)

Trial run of Ghubra desalination plant starts to ease Muscat’s water woes

GHUBRA

159,000

6,000

(In cubic metres per day)

Al Khoud (10 wells)

20

100,000

TARIQ AL HAREMI

15

106,

tariqh@timesofoman.com

Sohar

4, 9 8

45

250,000 Barka

281,000

2017 Quriyat

166,560 Source: Public Authority for Electricity and Water

20 16

4 31,5

26

2018

962,545

7

000

10 m

In 2018, the daily production of water will be 962,545m 3, the approximate volume equivalent to a dice with the length of a football pitch Graphics

MUSCAT: Muscat’s water scarcity is becoming less severe as the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) continues its trial run of the new Ghubra desalination plant.

“We are testing the quality of water during the trial run to provide residents with pure and clean water. The quantity that passes the test is sent into the distribution network along with the old plant’s water,” said a PAEW official.

The tanks at the old Ghubra desalination plants are gradually being emptied even as it continues to

supply water to areas in Muscat, and the new desalination plant also contributes during the test phase. The test phase will continue until September until the old desalination plant is completely drained.

Commercial operation The commercial operation of the Ghubra plant, which includes the expansion of the new Barka desalination plant, will commence by the beginning of 2016.

The plant is producing around 50,000 cubic metres of water during its trial run while gradually increasing its production until it reaches its maximum capacity

of 158,987 cubic metres per day.

The estimated production capacity of the plant in its pilot phase is 45,425 cubic metres per day and this has been greatly contributing towards increasing water production for Muscat, South Al Batinah and Dakhiliya Wilayats.

Though the water scarcity has eased, some residents are facing water shortage and sometimes during the day they do not receive any water.

“Some areas such as Hamriya and Amerat are facing a few problems during the day as some of the houses are situated at a height. It is only at night that the water flow increases,” explained the official.

“We are planning to add pumps to increase the flow to those areas,” he added.

Quriyat plant The Quriyat desalination plant, which is currently being developed, will produce 166,558 cubic metres of water per day and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2017.

In addition there is the desalination plant in Barka which should produce 281,000 cubic metres daily and the other one in Sohar with a capacity of 250,000 cubic metres daily. They are expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2018. >A6

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

OMAN

2015-16

ROHM season will see some of the best opera singers along with top notch orchestras, violinists and pianists.

Top opera stars for ROHM season The new season would have a number of concerts that will showcase some of the most popular operatic composers

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com Bamberger Symphoniker

MUSCAT: Classical music aficionados and opera fans will have a chance to see some of the best opera singers along with top notch orchestras, violinists and pianists thanks to the eight classical concerts and recitals scheduled for the 2015-2016 season at the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM).

Speaking to the Times of Oman, Dr Nasser Al Taee, Advisor to the ROHM Board for Education and Outreach and an expert in classical music, said the season is filled with opera stars with beautiful, powerful voices and includes a number of concerts that will showcase some of the most popular operatic and classical composers.

Jonas Kaufmann The season begins with what is expected to be a phenomenal recital by Jonas Kaufmann, a golden-voiced German tenor, on September 16. The handsome and versatile singer can sing both intimately and grandly, Al Taee noted, adding that he sings a wide opera repertoire and he recently recorded a 24 song cycle in German by Schubert.

“He’s one of the great tenors right now. He combines an amazing voice with a strong personality,” said Al Taee.

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American soprano Throughout October and November there will be a number of operas, musicals, ballets, and Arab music concerts, but on December 18 the Western classical series continues with Sondra Radvanovsky, an American soprano known for her interpretations of Verdi’s arias.

Al Taee said her concert will not only be beautiful, but she will sing pieces that all opera fans should be familiar with and that he hopes audiences in Oman will come to love.

“She has a great, powerful voice. She’s going to sing important works by Verdi. That should also help with cementing some of our understanding of some of the standard repertoires of Verdi and Italian operas,” he explained.

In what has become an annual New Year’s Eve tradition, the ROHM will have its Gala Celebra-

tion concert on December 31. This year it features the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra with Canadian tenor Michael Schade, Eyptian soprano Fatma Said, and Italian violinist Anna Tifu.

Fatma Said Fatma Said is making a return to the ROHM, having impressed the house last season as who was charming in the role of Nannetta in the opera Falstaff.

“We wanted Fatma Said to come back to this was a fitting event for her. The idea is also to celebrate various young talents from various parts of the world and we are looking for Arab and Middle Eastern whenever we can,” said Al Taee.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky In January there will be two won-

Fatma Said

Helene Grimaud.

Dmitri Hvorotovsky

derful classical concerts, the first starring Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky on January 19 and the second featuring Hélène Grimaud, a renowned French pianist on January 21. Hvorostovky has won numerous opera competitions and has recorded a number of albums of operatic work and traditional Russian songs. His concert will include Italian and Russian composers such as Verdi, Rossini and Rachmaninoff, whose opera arias will be something new to the ROHM. Al Taee described his voice as beautiful and strong.

“He’s a great operatic star, also, and a great interpreter of Russian opera,” he said.

will include Bach and Mozart piano concertos.

phony. “I think some of (Brahms’) harmonies are excellent because they represent late 19th century harmonic processes and it’s more colourful with bigger, more adventurous sounds. But he was a conservative composer...who stayed true to the old fashioned concept of a symphony,” explained Al Taee.

Hélène Grimaud Just two days later the pianist Hélène Grimaud, with the Kammerorchester Basel, a chamber orchestra from Switzerland, will take to the stage. Grimaud has been compared to the legendary Canadian pianist Glenn Gould thanks to her adventurous interpretations of music. The concert

Pipe Organ Concert Another annual concert at the ROHM is the Pipe Organ Concert.

While in previous years it has been held in December, this season it will take place on March 5. The concert will feature a percussion ensemble and a choir as well as organists who will play both Middle Eastern music and Western music.

“We have a great instrument and we should play it. It can play Eastern and Western types of music. It’s an imposing, powerful machine with great sounds and ranges,” Al Taee said of the pipe organ, which has more than 4,500 pipes.

Bamberg Orchestra Germany’s Bamberg Symphony Orchestra from Bamberg, Bavaria, will make its debut at the ROHM on April 22 in a concert conducted

by Christoph Eschenbach. It will also feature Palestinian pianist Saleem Abboud Ashkar. The concert includes Brahms’ 3rd Sym-

Diana Damrau The classical concerts conclude on May 18 with German soprano Diana Damrau. Though her most frequent role is the Queen of the Night from Mozart’s Magic Flute, she is also a wonderful “bel canto” singer who gives wonderful colour to the arias and duets of the 19th century Italian operas of Bellini, Rossini and Donizetti.

“It’s acrobatic in terms of leaps and showcasing the voice.

She’s a singer with great agility,” said Al Taee.

For more information about these concerts and other performances at the ROHM or to buy tickets visit its website at www. rohmuscat.org.om.

R E S E A R C H I N I T I AT I V E

W E L C O M I N G S TA F F

SQU receives new employees Shell partners with SQU for research and development

Times News Service

MUSCAT: A programme to receive new non-Omani employees for the academic year 2015-2016, which provides all basic services to them at a one-stop station, was launched by the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).

The programme is aimed at facilitating the administrative and financial procedures involved in

the induction of the new employees who have joined the university.

The one-stop station will facilitate the induction formalities of as many as 115 non-Omani employees joining different colleges, units and centres of the university during the academic year 2015-2016.

The programme, which commenced on Sunday, will continue until September 16.

The Department of Public Rela-

tions and Information at the SQU in co-operation with several other administrative units and centres has formed a working group within the one-stop station to facilitate the induction of the news staff.

The administrative units help to complete formalities related to civil status registration, distribution of identity cards, bank account opening, housing and other related services.

Times News Service MUSCAT: With the aim of encouraging Omani students to pursue masters in Science and Doctorate-level degrees in Petroleum Geosciences, the Shell Development Oman (SDO) will be supporting the Shell Chair at the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) for another year.

This comes as part of its commitment to developing Omani talents and investing in research projects.

The Shell Chair at the SQU was introduced in 2006 as part of a joint endeavour to develop research capabilities in the field of petroleum geosciences in the Sultanate and to prepare Omani youth to contribute to the future of energy in Oman.

Under the Shell Chair, students typically focus on the different aspects of limestone reservoirs from the Upper Shu’aiba Members (Lower Cretaceous age) in north-western Oman. In 2014, three Omani students completed their thesis and obtained their MSc degrees in Petroleum Geosciences under the supervision of the Shell Chair at the SQU. Every year, the Shell Chair advertises PhD positions in Petroleum Science and Engineering for Omani nationals. The PhD studies include scholarships at the SQU, which are sponsored by Shell Development Oman.

Ali Al Lawati, general manager of external affairs at the SDO stated, “The Shell Chair is part of our ongoing partnership with the SQU, and is in line with our commitment to support Oman in laying the foundations for a sustainable energy future. We are proud of this association and we are confident that there is a great opportunity to be realised through the students’ future role in sustaining Oman’s position in the energy market.”

Thus far, the biggest highlights of the Shell Chair are in the areas of the international co-operation in enhanced oil Recovery (EOR), heavy oil researches and the tight gas project.

International co-operation The high level of technical equipment in SQU is well recognized by universities worldwide, which attracts foreign students to come to Oman to conduct research.

At the initiative of Oil and Gas Research centre, the SQU signed

KNOWLEDGE MISSION: Shell Chair encourages Omani students to pursue masters in Science and Doctorate-level degrees in Petroleum Geosciences.–Supplied photo

I have conducted research on modelling the saturation profile of Khulud tight gas.

I have learnt a lot through every stage...

Amal Al Lamki SQU scholar

memorandum of understanding with Al Farabi University, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Kazakh PhD and MSc. students financed by Republic of Kazakhstan will come to the SQU for a few months to take part in joint researches in extraction, processing and upgrading of heavy oils under supervision of a Shell Chair. One of the challenging tasks in Oman is a development of Hubhub heavy oil deposit where such investigations are needed to ease oil production.

Tight gas project With the increasing demand for gas with the growing population in the Sultanate, expectations are high for the development of a Khulud tight gas-condensate field, the deepest tight gas project in the world.

The development of tight gas reservoirs differ from the conventional in the manner gas and water is flowing through the reservoir. The application of tracking operations are usually required to

produce gas otherwise trapped in rock. Therefore, the understanding of the distribution of the fluids inside of the tight gas reservoir is of a crucial importance.

The SQU MSc. student Amal Al Lamki, who is now a reservoir engineer working for the PDO, has completed her thesis in Development of Saturation-Height Profile for Khulud field under supervision of a Shell Chair. The created model will allow calculations of the gas and water distribution in the uncored wells. The results of this MSc thesis were presented at the Arabian Sea Region Oil and Gas Summit, May 2015.

Commenting on her experience with this research, Amal Al Lamki said, “I have conducted research on modelling the saturation profile of Khulud tight gas.

Conducting my research under the supervision of a Shell Chair was a unique experience. I have learnt a lot through every stage of the research.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

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Illegal bakery on rooftop busted by ROP in Salalah The arrested expatriates were baking all types of bread in unhygienic conditions

Times News Service SALALAH: Some expatriates were arrested for running an unlicensed bakery on the rooftop of an old house in the governorate.

The arrests were made by the Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) in co-operation with the Royal Oman Police (ROP). According to information received by the PACP, these expatriates were baking all types of bread in unhygienic conditions.

On getting information of this activity, PACP enhanced monitoring of the area.

After gathering leads and information, the PACP acquired a search warrant from the Public Prosecution, and in co-operation with the ROP, raided the house.

The team caught the expatriates red-handed while they were preparing dough in unhygienic conditions with insects crawling around. The water was being used from a contaminated source and they were also using expired ingredients.

Continuing the search, the inspection team seized a rusted kneading machine, rusted cutlery and dirty dish towels that were used to cover freshly produced bread. There was high risk of con-

PUBLIC SCRUTINY: The expatriates were producing bread in large quantities and were distributing it to shops in the area.

erators containing chicken on the verge of rotting were also seized.

When the expatriates were questioned, they said they had been baking for over a month without a licence.

Few days earlier, some expatriates were arrested for selling meat that was prepared in unhygienic conditions Ali Salim Al Basrawi Director general of the PACP

taminating the products, according to the PACP. Also, the flour was not stored in hygienic conditions and they were using dirty dish towels to cover it. On inspecting the bread, the team found no mention of the date of production and expiry on the packets. In addition, refrig-

Selling it directly The PACP confirmed that the expatriates were producing bread in large quantities and were distributing it to shops in the area as well as selling it directly.

Ali Salim Al Basrawi, director general of the PACP in Dhofar, said, “This arrest is proof that these people were messing with people’s food. A few days earlier, some expatriates were arrested for cheating customers for selling meat that was prepared in unhygienic conditions.”

“Today the same thing has happened with bread,” he added.

Al Basrawi explained the process prior to the raid saying that they had checked with the authorities concerned about any permit issued to the bakery and were told that the licencing authority had neither issued a permit and nor did it have any knowledge of such a bakery.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

OMAN

The total human cost for the loss of life or serious injury onsite always outweighs the cost of equipment and training Mark Pudwell, training manager at Competence HR

Oman praised for rescue of Indonesians in Yemen

S U LTA N Q A B O O S U N I V E R S I T Y

Ambassador Sukanto was in Jakarta recently to receive an award from Retno L.P Marsudi, foreign

INCUBATOR ACTIVITIES: Fifty-five university and college students from across the Sultanate are attending the workshop.

minister of Indonesia,

Applications of solar energy highlighted

for his efforts in the evacuation of Indonesian nationals from Yemen

Times News Service

through Oman HONOUR: The award was conferred on August 18, 2015. About 24 members of the evacuation team

received the award. – Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: Some 2,500 people, including 2,311 Indonesians, were evacuated from Yemen, said a senior official of the Indonesian embassy in Muscat.

Of the 2,311 Indonesians, 1,831 were evacuated through Oman.

Speaking to the Times of Oman, the official said that their operations commenced in October 2014, and is still going on.

“So, even this month the embassy officials are facilitating the evacuation,” he said.

Ambassador Sukanto was in Jakarta recently to receive an award from Retno L.P Marsudi, foreign minister of Indonesia, for his efforts in facilitating the evacuation

of Indonesian nationals from Yemen through Oman.

The award was conferred on August 18, 2015, where about 24 members of the evacuation team received the award including the Indonesian ambassador to Yemen, the Ethiopian ambassador accredited to Djibouti, chargé d’affaires of Riyadh, and the consul general in Jeddah, in addition to the honorary consul general in Djibouti,and Ambassador Sukanto. In the rescue operation, a large number of chartered and commercial flights, warships and airforce aircraft were used to evacuate the Indonesian nationals.

According to the embassy, there

were around 3,000 to 4,000 Indonesians in Yemen.

Some still left “If some Indonesians are still left there. We will continue to assist them if they are willing to leave,” said officials.

Those rescued included mostly students who had gone to Yemen for Islamic studies. According to him, all the evacuated countrymen are in good condition.

According to official sources, the Sultanate has provided passage to thousands of displaced people belonging to different nationalities including Americans and Britons from Yemen, through

NCSI

NEW STUDY

Revenues of hotels exceed OMR97 million in Sultanate MUSCAT: Revenues of hotels classified as three– five stars exceeded OMR97 million in the first six months ending June 30, according to the latest figures issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The number of hotel guests during the

the borders at Sarfait and Al Mazyouna in Oman recently. Since last year, Oman had opened its borders at Shahn and Mazyona in addition to the one at Sarfait to allow safe passage to fleeing expatriates from Yemen.

“While some entered the Oman border by road, others came by air,” said sources.

According to sources, several embassies in Oman have set up camps to assist fleeing expatriates at the Oman-Yemen border.

“There are relief camps set up at the border to welcome fleeing expatriates where they can process their papers required to fly back home,” added officials.

MUSCAT: Experts from the Energy Technology Centre, National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan are taking part in a workshop on solar energy organised by the Independent Learning Centre at the Sultan Qaboos University in association with the Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education.

The topics include introduction to solar cells, solar radiation and photovoltaic effect, solar power storage and applications, and high concentrator photovoltaic (HCPV) system along with next generation solar cells for low light intensity applications.

Taiwanese researchers Dr Yijia Chen from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Dr Wen-Chey Chang, Professional Researcher, Energy Technology Centre, are lead-

ing the sessions. As many as 55 university and college students from across the Sultanate are attending the workshop which started on August 23 and continue until August 27, 2015. Out of the 55 participants, 21 were formally nominated to attend the workshop by their institutions through the Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education at SQU. The remaining participants were selected on the basis ofa placement test conducted on August 13.

The workshop has been organised as part of the pre-innovation incubator activities in the Independent Learning Centre(ILC) at the SQU. At the end of the workshop, certificates of attendance will be distributed to the students under the patronage of Prof Amer bin Ali Al Rawas, SQU deputy vice chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research.

period also reached 556,622.

Meanwhile, NCSI data on tourists reveal that about 1.14 million visitors came to the Sultanate until the end of June, 2015.

Non-Omani Gulf tourists topped the list of visitors at 317,542 in June 2015, followed by Indian

visitors who numbered 131,341.

They were followed by the British visitors (76,520) and Germans (61,729) respectively. The total number of visitors who came to the Sultanate for tourist purposes reached two million and 491,000 persons until the end of June.

Rapid changes in newspapers Times News Service MUSCAT: Traditional and new media coexist in Oman, a new study conducted in Oman has found.

Samskrati Gulvady, assistant professor at the Faculty of Communication Studies at the College of Applied Sciences, Sohar conducted primary research on the

emerging forms of English journalism in the age of Web 2.0 from an Omani perspective.

She concluded that the English language newspapers in the Sultanate of Oman are emerging as winners during this period of transition.

She shared her research findings recently at ‘The Asian Conference on the Social Sciences–

WAT E R C R I S I S

ACSS 2015 in Kobe, Japan.

Realising the rapid changes taking place among the readers’ expectations, Times of Oman launched its e-paper, Facebook page, a readers’ forum (giving a scope for citizen journalism), the latest and the first in Oman a free downloadable mobile app WhatsNews which is updated 12, 5 pm and 10 pm.

M O R A L O B L I G AT I O N

Working Ten new wells must A1 dug in Al Khoud A1 arena be safe < FROM

< FROM

Meanwhile, 10 wells have already been dug in Al Khoud which produce 10,000 cubic metres per day, while five in Wadi Aday produce anywhere between 5,000 and 6,000 cubic metres of water per day.

According to a release Public Authority for Electricity and Water has completed the work on the first phase of the new water pipeline (1,600 mm), which extends from Al Ghubrah Desalination Plant to Al Qurum tank as the work on the rest of the phases of the project has reached 74 per cent.

This project is part of the authority’s aim at implementing a number of water projects in the Governorate of Muscat, which

include setting up water distribution networks, providing water tankers and construction of several plants to strengthen water pumping in the governorate.

The new pipeline extending from Ghubrah plant to Al Qurum tank replaces the old pipeline. The project includes provision of a line from Ghubrah plant to Wadi Adai pumping station with a gross length estimated at 13.7 km.

This line forks into another line which feeds Bausher tank.

Another line of 4.72 km length is to be constructed to transfer water from Wadi Adai plant to Ruwi tank. This vital project will boost water transmission produced at Al Ghubrah plant.

He said that the construction companies have a moral if not a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees by hiring qualified people, providing suitable and effective PPE, and additional training where required.

“This requirement clearly has a cost implication for construction company owners, but the creation of a safe working environment, with training and suitable equipment, will always enhance the reputation of that company as an ethical employer.

“Construction company clients also have a moral obligation to check the standard of safety equipment provided, and should refrain from working with a company that does not ensure adequate safety provisions for its workforce,” he said.

B U R G L A RY ATT E M P T

A1 ‘No need to panic’ < FROM

Soon after the burglar was pushed out of the shop, he burst crackers creating panic in the area.

“However, when people rushed to the site, he fled. As he was wielding a knife, everybody got scared and did not dare to overpower him,” said the official. Meanwhile, police said on Tuesday that they are

searching for the masked man.

CCTV visuals “It is an unfortunate incident.

We assure our customers that there is no need to panic. All our centres have advanced security measures. We have handed over the CCTV visuals to the police.

The burglar will soon be arrested,” added the official.

AUGUST 25 ISSUE

Corrigendum In the article titled ‘Global markets bloodbath hits Omani stocks’, published in Times of Oman on August 25, Tariq Abdel-Razaq is the deputy general manager of United Securities. The error is regretted.

Onsite inspections Local authorities should increase the number of no-notice onsite inspections throughout the country and severely reprimand companies that fail in this essential area of employee safety, added Pudwell.

“The total human cost for the loss of life or serious injury onsite always outweighs the cost of equipment and training,” he also added.

Meanwhile, a municipal council member said that companies involved in construction projects should not compromise on project standards set by the municipality when the agreement is being signed.

Keep tabs “We do follow up regularly. We also keep tabs on the projects to check whether they are violating construction standards,” said Salim Mohammed Al Ghamari, member, Muscat Municipality Council.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

OMAN

The current market is not well equipped for selling fish since it is small and the simplest facilities are unavailable.

Mohammad Al Mashari, Muttrah fish merchant

HEAVY RAINFALL IN SAMAIL BRINGS RELIEF FROM SUMMER HEAT Heavy rain accompanied by wind and hailstorm was reported in Samail yesterday. ‘It started at around 3:30pm. Still it’s heavily raining. Everyone, especially children, are enjoying the rains as we were sweltering in the heat for the last weeks days,’ Sainul Abdeen, a resident said.

‘Rain may cause overflowing of wadis. Already, roads are flooded and it is windy too. So, motorists should take extra care,’ Sainul added. — Supplied by Times of Oman readers SCAN THIS TO VISIT

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

Vendors push for fish market plan

PUBLIC FACILITIES: The new market project has been progressing and has now reached an advanced stage, Muscat Municipality said.–File photo

The project includes a ground surface area of around 1,410 square metres, which includes 120 stalls ready for selling fish and 40 locations for cutting and cleaning

Times News Service MUSCAT: Fish vendors and consumers in Muttrah are urging speedy implementation of the new fish market plan as there is a shortage of parking space in the current market and inadequate and unorganised locations for the selling and cleaning of fish.

The Muscat Municipality said that the new market project has been progressing and has now reached an advanced stage.

Mohammad Al Mashari, a merchant, said, “The current market is not well equipped for selling fish since it is small and the sim-

plest facilities are unavailable.

There are not enough parking spaces and the heat is unbearable.

During Ramadan I was not able to continue selling fish because of the heat.”

“The new market has been delayed and we have been here for four years,” he added.

Musallam Al Siyabi, one of the customers, said, “Currently, the market is unorganised and small since you can find the chopping block and fish cleaning area adjacent to the space for merchants.

There is also not enough space between each merchant. We have been waiting for years for the new

market to open but it is still under construction. We urge the authorities to speed up the process.”

The municipality told Al Shabiba, the sister publication of the Times of Oman, that the project includes a ground surface area of around 1,410 square metres,which includes 120 stalls ready for selling fish and 40 locations for cutting and cleaning the fish.

The project will also include four butcher shops, each measuring 17.2 square metres and four poultry shops of 15 square metres each. There are also three offices for staff members, 47 square metres for storage and repair, and a chill room measuring 52 square metres,in addition to a coffee shop, restrooms and an 810-square metre area for fruit and vegetable merchants with 106 stalls in place.

The current parking space in the fish market can only hold 76 vehicles. The municipality has said that it will add over 100 parking spaces specifically for customers as well as streamlining the entry and exit with signs.

‘ H AT H I H I S H A R I K AT I ’

Injaz Oman starts Sharikati programme on YouTube Times News Service MUSCAT: Injaz Oman launched the Sharikati YouTube Programme on Monday in Muscat.

The celebration was held under the patronage of Talal bin Sulaiman Al Rahbi, deputy secretary general of the Higher Council for Planning in the presence of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Zubair, chairman of Injaz Oman, Yousef bin Mohammed Al Ojaili, president of BP Oman, CEOs of public and private sector institutions, and a number of supporters of the entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Sultanate.

The show’s Arabic name ‘HathihiSharikati’ in English means ‘This is my company.’ It is the first programme of its kind across all of Injaz organisations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The programme copes with the latest developments in communication and uses new interactive platforms via the social media that have a huge

CONNECTIVITY: The show’s Arabic name ‘HathihiSharikati’ in English means ‘This is my company.’ It is the first programme of its kind across all of Injaz organisations.–Supplied photo

following and reach. The nineepisode programme highlights the achievements of the student companies participating in the Sharikati competition. It will feature the companies from the Injaz Oman foundation until final assessment. These episodes reflect the spirit and essence of Sharikati competition and programme in an innovative and interactive style and through the most popu-

lar communications platform on the Sultanate ‘YouTube’.

“At BP Oman, we aspire to develop talents and capabilities of young Omanis and encourage them to effectively join the entrepreneurship world in order to build a diversified national economy based on knowledge, innovation, and hard work,” commented Yousef Al Ojaili, president of BP Oman.

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

Labour law violators held in raids MUSCAT: A total 396 workers were found violating the labour laws, from August 16 to 22, the weekly report of the joint inspection team at the Ministry of Manpower reveals.

These workers comprise 326 commercial workers, 42 farm workers and 29 housemaids and their equivalents.

The inspection teams caught 393 workers including 138 who were absconding, 198 who had gone astray and 57 with other violations.

The largest number of 174 workers who violated the law were from Muscat Governorate followed by Al Dakhiliyah Governorate with 65.

The authorities at the Ministry of Manpower are initiating legal action against them.

The ministry’s statistics also revealed that 209 expatriates were deported for violating provisions of the labour law and ministerial decisions executing the law. -ONA

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

REGION IS GROUP BLAMED

Allegations of new chemical attack in Syria BEIRUT: Activists and medical organisations have documented an alleged chemical weapons attack on a Syrian town last week that affected dozens of civilians, with one source blaming IS group.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it had treated civilians apparently exposed to a chemical agent in Marea, without saying what type or providing overall casualty figures.

The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) said its own doctors in the northern town had identified the agent as mustard gas. Mamoun Al Khatib, a journalist and activist from Marea, said more than 50 artillery shells crashed into the centre of the town, an opposition stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo, before midday last Friday.

‘Hideous stench’ Khatib accused the IS group, which has attempted to seize Marea in recent months, of firing the shells which he said emitted a “hideous stench”.

“We went to the local field hospital, and the doctors told us there were cases of suffocation, severe coughing, redness in the eyes and face, and skin irritations,” said Khatib, who heads Shahba, an anti-regime news agency.

“In total, more than 25 people were affected, four of them serious cases that were transferred to Turkey. They were all civilians,” he said. SAMS, which supports clinics in war-torn Syria, said a field hospital it operates in Marea treated “more than 50 civilians exhibiting symptoms of chemical exposure”. -AFP

Lebanon leaders fail to agree on solution to garbage crisis gions in Lebanon, also has many Christian areas.

Failure to agree on a solution to the crisis has laid bare wider political stagnation in Lebanon, where sectarian and power rivalries have been exacerbated by Syria’s four-yearold conflict

BEIRUT: The powerful party Hezbollah and its Christian allies walked out of an emergency Lebanese cabinet meeting on Tuesday in protest at a proposed solution to a garbage disposal crisis that has ignited violent protests in Beirut.

The national unity government led by Prime Minister Tammam Salam also cancelled a tender to select new refuse collection firms, underscoring the difficulties it faces overcoming the crisis that has brought popular calls for it to step down.

Public anger that has come to a head over the trash crisis turned violent at the weekend, with scores of protesters and security forces injured. Salam has threatened to resign, expressing frustration at

NO CLARITY: Protesters peak between concrete barriers near the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Lebanon’s cabinet held an emergency meeting on Tuesday in its newly fortified headquarters after protests over trash collection spilled over into street violence and calls for the feuding government to resign. -Reuters

the failings of his cabinet, which groups Lebanon’s rival parties.

Failure to agree a solution to the crisis has laid bare wider political stagnation in Lebanon, where sectarian and power rivalries have been exacerbated by Syria’s four-year-old conflict. Ministers including members of Hezbollah and Christian politician Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement walked out of Tuesday’s emergency meeting, the information minister said. Hezbollah in a state-

ment slammed the “mounting and worsening corruption” it said the garbage crisis reflected.

A government statement released after the walkout said tenders announced on Monday to award contracts for waste disposal to private companies had “included high costs”, and had therefore been rejected.

Media reports and activists had accused the cabinet of awarding the contracts to a number of companies based on regional and

political affiliation, reflecting alleged corruption and politicisation of the issue. The government said that as a temporary measure rubbish, which has festered on the streets of Beirut, would be tipped in Akkar province in north Lebanon, in return for a $100 million “sum” that would go towards development projects in that region.

The information minister said it was the proposed sum that triggered the walkout.

Akkar, one of the poorest re-

C I V I L WA R

Deadlock, factors Beirut-based activists from the “You Stink” campaign held two large rallies over the weekend and a smaller march on Monday, with calls for a solution to the rubbish crisis quickly turning into calls for the cabinet to resign.

Protest organisers have called on Lebanese at home and abroad to join them in a large rally on Saturday. Lebanon’s army commander General Jean Kahwaji said late on Monday the armed forces would protect any peaceful demonstrations but would not tolerate “security violators or infiltrators” who sought to sow “sedition and chaos.”

Organisers of protests, which began peacefully, have blamed the violence on troublemakers whom they say are connected to rival sectarian parties. The U.N. special coordinator for Lebanon on Monday urged “maximum restraint” by all sides. Calm has prevailed since the weekend clashes, however, and later on Tuesday, workers were removing concrete blast walls erected the day before outside the cabinet headquarters which protesters had covered with colourful anti-government graffiti.

The protest campaign, which has mobilised independently of the big sectarian parties that dominate Lebanese politics, blames political feuding and corruption for the failure to resolve the crisis that has left piles of uncollected garbage stinking in the scorching sun in recent weeks.-Reuters IAEA

Red Cross stops work in Yemen’s Aden after raid

‘Got enough information from Iran’

ADEN: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday it had temporarily suspended its activities in the southern Yemeni port city of Aden after its office was raided by unidentified gunmen a day earlier.

Aden is largely lawless since it became a frontline in Yemen’s conflict between supporters of the exiled, Western-backed government of President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the northern, Iran-allied Houthi movement.

Although forces loyal to Hadi’s exiled government in Saudi Arabia retook Aden from the Houthis last month, Al Qaeda militants deployed in a western district of Aden on Saturday.

VIENNA: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Tuesday it received substantive amounts of information from Iran aimed at quelling concerns its nuclear past had military elements, although it was too early to say whether any of it is new.

The nuclear watchdog also warned that it will run out of money next month to monitor implementation of nuclear accords with Iran unless it gets more funding from member states to cover costs of the work set to reach around $10 million a year. IAEA chief Yukiya Amano told reporters the agency received a “substantive volume” of information from Iran on August 15. “At this stage it is premature to say if there is any new information or not... We are now analysing it,” Amano said.”

Saudi forces Yemeni security officials in Aden told Reuters about 50 Saudi forces had arrived in the port city on Tuesday to help rebuild the local police force, which has fallen apart in the last five months of fighting. ICRC’s Aden operation head Samer Jarjouhi said the attack on the Red Cross offices was the latest in such incident.

The attackers held staff at gunpoint and stole cars, cash and equipment, ICRC spokeswoman Dibeh Fakhr said in an emailed comment. The aid agency had relocated 14 international staff,

UNSAFE: Yemeni men walk past the rubble of a building de-

stroyed in clashes between fighters from forces loyal to Yemen’s fugitive President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels on Monday in Taez. -AFP

Fakhr told Reuters in Geneva.

Seeking to fend off what they says is Iran’s influence in Yemen, a Saudi-led coalition has been trying to defeat the Houthis with a campaign of air strikes since March. At least 4,300 people have died so far and Yemen has been plunged into a humanitarian crisis as the state has collapsed.

The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt government in league with Al Qaeda. One of the few aid agencies still operating in Aden and Yemen as a whole, the ICRC has played a key role in providing medical supplies and treatment to stricken residents.

Police and government army units have mostly disappeared from Aden since fighting erupted on its streets in March. Police stations are deserted, residents say.

Yemeni security officials told Reuters that about 50 Saudi forces had arrived in Aden to train and rebuild local forces.

Asharq Al Awsat daily quoted a Yemeni military source saying that “Saudi special forces” had arrived in Aden to help maintain peace in the city and the surrounding areas where the Houthis had been pushed back. UAE forces are also on the ground in Aden. -Reuters

Needs money Amano said he had asked member states for contributions to ensure the IAEA’s work on Iran can continue. So far, costs for its Iran activities have been met through extra-budgetary contributions from members. But Amano said the 800,000 euros ($924,000) per month the agency receives to verify current Iran nuclear agreements. -Reuters

EXTREMISM

Spain and Morocco arrest 14 suspected of recruiting for IS

A suspect, left, is led by Spanish National Police officers after being arrested in San Martin de la Vega, near Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday. -Reuters

MADRID: Spain and Morocco arrested 14 people on Tuesday suspected of planning attacks and recruiting fighters to join IS, the Spanish government said.

All the arrests were made in Morocco apart from one man detained in the small town of San Martin de la Vega, near Madrid.

Police then took the suspect to a nearby mobile phone business which was also searched, they said.

Those arrested were part of a group sending fighters to IS, Spain’s Interior Ministry said.

They were also planning attacks in Morocco and Spain, it said, without giving details.

“They wanted to replicate in

Morocco and Spain the massacres carried out by Daesh members with the aim of creating a climate of psychosis and instability,” the ministry said in a statement, referring to the group by one of its Arabic names, Daesh.

The joint operation was launched after Spanish police spotted that one suspect, the leader of the group, had strong work and social links with Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Morocco, Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz told reporters.

The operation was still under way, he said.

An interior ministry source said there was no link between the French attack and Tuesday’s arrests. -Reuters

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INDIA

BIHAR POLITICS

Sulking Shatru says a section of BJP leaders working against him PATNA: After a series of tweets, sulking BJP leader in Bihar Shatrughan Sinha on Tuesday did not hide his disappointment at being “ignored” by the party leadership and at the goings on in the organisation ahead of assembly elections in Bihar.

“Can you imagine a person who won with record margin in the last general election from Patna Saheb and who has been BJP’s star campaigner for long is not in the party core committee for election? My name and picture are missing from all party posters and hoardings even in my Lok Sabha constituency and I am either not invited in programmes or called at the eleventh hour,” Sinha, second term Lok Sabha MP, said.

Asked to elaborate, he said a section of Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are afraid of his popularity and were working against him “and even poisoning the ears of the central leadership against me” but refused to

name his detractors. “Some Bihar BJP leaders are trying to erect a wall between me and the central leadership by indulging in ‘chugli’ (whisper) against me.

“These people are afraid of my personality and fear I might overshadow them among public and thus harm them politically,” he said.

Being ignored Using a popular Hindi saying, the actor-politician said, “if I draw crowd to party functions through my presence, it ultimately helps party.” He added that he was being ignored now.

“I find state party leaders lacking sportsman spirit which I follow in professional as well as in political life,” he remarked.

“I have time and again made it clear that I am not in the race for chief ministership of Bihar and wish to stay in national politics.

But these leaders still work against me,” Sinha said.

CROWD-PULLER: Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha and actress Vidya Balan during a ‘Swachh Banega India’ programme in Patna on Monday. - PTI

Asked if he would meet either Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP President Amit Shah on going-ons in the party, he said, “I would love to meet them and explain the truth if they call me.”

He described the Prime Minister as “dashing, dynamic and

action hero” and thanked him for attending the wedding of his son at Mumbai recently. Asked if he was peeved at not being included in the central ministry, Sinha, who was Health Minister in Vajpayee’s government, said, “though my supporters and family members raise

this question, I tell them it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to choose his ministers.”

Sinha was present at the first engagement of Modi during his July 25 visit to Bihar but was not seen in his last three rallies at Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Saharsa.

Sinha described the news item about party contemplating disciplinary action against him after Bihar assembly poll scheduled for later this year as something “spread by vested interests”.

Dismissing suggestions that he had crossed the “Lakshman rekha” (red line) of the party discipline, Sinha said “show me anything I have said or done against party discipline... I had joined BJP when it was party of only two MPs and I was at the peak of my Bollywood career... I can never think of damaging it.”

Sinha’s meeting with and praise of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, comments against suspension of 24 Congress MPs and

India calls for comprehensive fight against terrorist groups In an address to a select group of Egypt’s strategic thinkers and policy makers, Swaraj talked about the threat of IS in the Gulf region and that of Taliban and Lashkare-Taiba in India’s neighbourhood

CAIRO: India on Tuesday called for a “comprehensive” fight against terror groups like the LeT and Taliban which have grown in its neighbourhood and the dreaded IS that is now emerging as a threat in the Gulf region.

Visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while voicing India’s concern over the growth of terrorism and radicalisation also said there is a need to develop a broader approach based on

BOOSTING TIES: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with President Abdel Fattah-el-Sisi of Egypt at a meeting in Cairo on Monday. - PTI

dialogue to shift from an atmosphere of “mistrust and violence” towards one which exudes confidence in peace and development.

The comments came days after the cancellation of the India-Pakistan NSA-level talks scheduled in New Delhi that would have presented India an opportunity for a bilateral dialogue on terrorism.

In an address to a select group of Egypt’s strategic thinkers and policy makers, Swaraj talked about the threat of IS in the Gulf region and that of Taliban and

Lashkar-e-Taiba(LeT) in India’s neighbourhood.

“We are today witnessing growing violence and intolerance. The growth of extremism as represented by Al Qaeda and now IS in your region and that of Taliban, Laskhar-e-Taiba and others in our neighbourhood, are manifestations of this trend.

“We have to fight radicalisation and extremism, the threat of terrorism and the emergence of non-state actors who challenge the civilised world in a collective

and comprehensive manner,” she said at the prestigious Diplomatic Club here.

Concerned Swaraj said India remained concerned about the growth of terrorism and of sectarian violence in the region and stands committed to support efforts to fight this.

“We also sense a need to develop a broader approach based on dialogue to shift from an atmosphere of mistrust and violence towards one which exudes confi-

dence in peace and development.”

Swaraj said India not only condemns all acts of terrorism but joins hands with Egypt in the fight to remove the scourge of terrorism completely.

Swaraj, who held extensive talks with Egyptian leadership on Monday, proposed to step up exchange of information and coordination to combat terrorism, both at the regional as well as global level while elaborating on importance of closer security cooperation between India and Egypt.

“Our defence relationship, which is based on our traditional and friendly ties will be upgraded further to closer cooperation across the spectrum.

“At the multilateral level, we shall strengthen coordination with the League of Arab States, work closely through the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit and further our outstanding cooperation at the United Nation and other multilateral bodies,” she said before winding up her first visit to Egypt.

Talking about the regional issues, she said the Iranian nuclear agreement can open up new vistas of cooperation and reduce frictions.

“India is a long-time friend of all the countries in the region and we have no major differences with any. We remain convinced that a new paradigm of peace, prosperity and stability will emerge.” - PTI

signing on a petition against capital punishment to Mumbai serial blast accused Yakub Menon have put BJP in a spot ahead of Bihar poll.

On praising Nitish Kumar, Sinha said his political mentors like Jayprakash Narayan, Kailashpati Mishra and Nanaji Deshmukh had taught him not to treat political opponents as “enemies”.

“Nitish Kumar is among the few good chief ministers in the country at present. He is hard working without any taint of corruption...,” he said.

Sinha was not seen at Amit Shah’s flagging off Parivaratan Rath and a function on the anniversary of B R Ambedkar recently in Patna. However, he strongly objected to the use of the word sulking to describe him.

“I am cool, calm and composed.

My blood pressure is 120/80 akin to that of a 12 year-old boy. It might be because of yoga which I practise since long,” Sinha said. - PTI C O M M U N I C AT I O N S AT E L L I T E

Countdown for launch of GSAT-6 begins on Wednesday BENGALURU: The countdown for the Thursday launch of India’s latest communication satellite GSAT-6 will begin on Wednesday, Indian Space Research Organisation said on Tuesday.

Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) have cleared the starting of the 29- hr countdown at 1152 hrs, Isro said.

The launch of Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) D6 carrying GSAT-6 is scheduled at 1652 hours on August 27 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at the spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

GSAT-6 is the 25th geostationary communication satellite of India built by Isro and 12th in the GSAT series. GSAT-6 provides communication through five spot beams in S-band and a national beam in C-band for strategic users, ISRO said.

The cuboid shaped GSAT-6 has a lift-off mass of 2117 kg.

Of this, propellants weigh 1132 kg and the dry mass of the satellite is 985 kg, it added.

One of the advanced features of GSAT-6 satellite is its S-Band Unfurlable Antenna of 6 m diameter.

This is the largest satellite antenna realised by Isro.

GSAT-6 will be positioned at 83 degree East longitudes.

The mission life of the satellite is for nine years. - PTI

CENTRAL AND EASTERN INDIA

Tribal communities trapped in crossfire in ‘Red Corridor’ GIRIDIH (Jharkhand): Growing up in a remote tribal hamlet, Rupa Hembrom used to be terrified of the wild boars that roamed nearby.

Now her biggest fear is the Maoist guerillas who prowl the jungles of India’s ‘Red Corridor’.

The left-wing extremists have been fighting to overthrow the government for decades, but the conflict has taken on a new intensity since right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election last year.

A rise in abductions of civilians and execution-style killings mean they are now regarded as India’s number one security challenge, striking fear into security forces and locals alike.

While operating mainly underground, the Maoists often descend on villages to demand everything from protection money to livestock as well as enticing young men and women to join their ranks.

“Just looking at them makes me so scared. They have machineguns and they look so powerful,” said 24-year-old Hembrom as she narrated her encounters with heavily-armed Maoist patrols in Jharkhand state.

‘We have no life’ Hembrom’s village of lush paddy fields and sparkling streams falls in the so-called “Red Corridor” straddling swathes of central and eastern India.

Hembrom belongs to one of India’s many indigenous tribes collectively known as Adhivasis, who live in abject poverty — fertile

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TIGHT VIGIL: Residents gather for a village meeting as Central Reserve Police Force (in background) patrol in the Tisro area of the Giridih district in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand in this photo taken on August 7, 2015. - AFP

recruiting ground for the Maoists, also known as Naxals, hiding out in surrounding areas.

“We have no running water, no electricity, nothing. We have no life here,” said Hembrom, who uses firewood for cooking and kerosene lamps to light her dingy hut.

The tribal people’s plight is a major challenge to the development narrative of Modi who has pledged to raise living standards at every level of society.

The insurgency started in the village of Naxalbari in West Bengal four decades ago when peasant farmers rose up against feudal landlords. Some 10,000 people

have been killed since.

While other Indian insurgencies, such as in Kashmir or Nagaland, have subsided in the last decade, Maoist attacks have intensified — inspired by the success of their fellow revolutionaries in neighbouring Nepal.

A total of 2,866 people have been killed since 2010, including 786 members of the security forces, says India’s home ministry.

The civilian death toll stands at 2,080, including 921 who were executed after being branded police informers.

Four policemen were shot dead last month and their bodies

dumped on the road after being hauled off a bus in the central state of Chhattisgarh. Modi was left redfaced in May when the Maoists briefly took 250 villagers hostage on the eve of a visit by the premier to Chhattisgarh.

Land sell-offs Tribal people have grown deeply wary of successive governments, having gained little from sell-offs of mineral-rich land to make room for giant refineries and steel plants.

Such projects are central to Modi’s plans of reviving the economy and his aim of providing electricity to every community.

Jharkhand’s Saranda forest alone contains 25 per cent of India’s iron ore deposits and around a dozen companies are running at least 50 mining projects in the area. The Maoists began building a following in Jharkhand in 2000 by promising to protect the Adivasis who had seen their land taken away and rivers polluted by mining activity.

Most estimates put the number of guerrillas at around 20,000, although details are hard to pin down as the movement shuns contact with the media.

Membership of the movement, which is classified as a terrorist organisation, carries a lengthy prison sentence.

But in a recent internal memo that appeared in Indian newspapers, party general secretary Comrade Ganapathy wrote of the new challenges under Modi’s “neo-liberal” government.

Development agenda “The aggressive promotion of Modi’s ‘development’ agenda will result in displacement on an unprecedented scale,” he wrote.

“We will have to resolutely confront and defeat this attack by uniting with all the sections that will be adversely affected.”

The heavy-handed tactics of the authorities towards anyone

identified as having far-left sympathies have played into the Maoists’ hands over the years.

Jeetan Marandi, a Jharkandbased activist and writer, spent five years on death row after being convicted of murder before being cleared by a judge.

“I was critical of the government and paid a heavy price,” he said.

Marandi said the Maoists have earned the gratitude of locals who were sick of being exploited at every turn.

“The Maoist leaders gave back land to the people...so the tribal communities began to rally behind them,” he said.

Authorities say they have become more sensitive to the tribal people’s problems, aware that winning hearts and minds is key to defeating the Maoists.

“We frequently visit them,” said Kunal, an additional police superintendent in Jharkhand’s Giridih district, ahead of a patrol in a Maoist stronghold.

“It is the tribals who are the support base of the Naxals (Maoists) so we have to understand their problems,” added Kunal, who uses one name. But for soldiers tasked with pursuing the Maoists, recent attacks have put them on edge in an environment that offers plenty of cover for guerrillas.

“We are not fighting an enemy.

We are fighting our own people,” said paramilitary officer Ajit Kumar, speaking behind a barricade of barbed wire at a base in Giridih.

“It is not easy, it takes so much out of you.” - AFP

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INDIA

They (the government) want to call a special session and they are consulting all parties it seems.

Unless we see what are the amended clauses or what is the agreement between the proposal of the standing committee and the government, unless we see the final bill, we cannot comment on that Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha

Government hints at plan to reconvene monsoon session Though the dates are yet to be finalised, the monsoon session is expected to be reconvened some time in September, sources said

NEW DELHI: The government on Tuesday said it may reconvene Parliament’s monsoon session to get key legislations, including the pending GST bill passed, maintaining it has an “open mind” on amendments to reform measures even as it began consultations with leaders of opposition parties.

With the government having failed to pass its legislative business in the Monsoon Session which was a near washout, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venakiah Naidu met Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and appealed to all political parties to cooperate in smooth functioning of Parliament in the “larger national interest”.

Naidu, who maintained that he has already consulted leaders of a number of parties on the issue, also expressed willingness to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi, if required to ensure a smooth running of Parliament.

Appeal “After discussions, the government shall, if required call the second part of Monsoon Session to pass key legislations. I appeal to all political parties to keep in mind the national interest.

“Parliament should function.

There is no substitute to healthy debate in democracy.

“The bills like GST, real estate regulation bill and land bill are very important.

“The delay in passage of the GST bill will hamper the aspirations of people of India and in particular the dreams of the youth, who are thirsty for jobs,” Naidu said at a press conference here.

SPELLING OUT: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu with MoS for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and MoS Rajiv Pratap Rudy during a press conference at Parliament House in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI

Though the dates are yet to be finalised, the Monsoon Session is expected to be reconvened some time in September, sources said.

Keen to ensure the passage of the GST bill, the government had kept open the option of reconvening the session with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs deciding not to recommend immediate prorogation of the Houses after they were adjourned sine die on July 13.

Appealing to the opposition parties to help and cooperate in passage of these bills, Naidu said the government is ready to discuss all issues and is committed to continuously reaching out to all parties to keep national interests above political interests.

Naidu’s fervent appeal to parties to help the government pass the GST bill came in the backdrop of the rupee registering a sharp fall and the benchmark Sensex witnessing the biggest single day decline on Monday.

Asking parties to think in national interest, he said, “This is even more important in the back-

drop of the current financial situation across the globe.”

Amendments Replying to questions on Congress and some other parties pressing for amendments in the GST bill and whether the government is agreeable to them, Naidu said Parliament has to function even if these have to be approved.

“Amendments cannot be approved outside (Parliament).Even if you approve outside, they do not have any relevance. They have to be approved inside. The government will be going to Parliament with an open mind. Once the session is called, we will be able to sort out these issues,” he said.

He also maintained that it was to the credit of the government and Finance Minister Arun Jaitely that most of the concerns expressed by different states — manufacturing states, and non-manufacturing states were looked into and the minister took pains to talk to each and every state.

“He consulted almost the whole spectrum of political opinion, was

agreeable on arriving at a broad consensus,” he said.

Citing a study by international rating agency Moody’s, Naidu said that India’s growth story is running the risk of being jeopardised on account of slow progress on major legislative reforms like GST and claimed that the legislation, if passed could add 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent to the GDP growth of the country.

Non-committal While the Parliamentary Affairs Minister on Tuesday met Kharge, Congress remained non-committal on its support saying it would first read the fine print.

“They (the government) want to call a special session and they are consulting all parties it seems. Unless we see what are the amended clauses or what is the agreement between the proposal of the standing committee and the government, unless we see the final bill, we cannot comment on that,” Kharge said after the meeting.

Asked whether Kharge told him to talk to Rahul Gandhi and wheth-

Floods threaten rare one-horned rhinos in Assam as toll rises to 14

Recent census A recent census estimated there were 2,400 one-horned rhinos in the park out of a global population of around 3,300.

Park officials are worried about poachers targeting them and oth-

Population of Hindus registers decline NEW DELHI: The Muslim community has registered a moderate 0.8 per cent growth to touch 172.2 million in the 10year period between 2001 and 2011, up from 138 million, while Hindus population showed a decline by 0.7 per cent at 966.3 million during the period, according to the latest census data on religion.

While the census figure on religion was released on Tuesday, more than four years after compilation of the data, the caste data is yet to be made public.

The data on socioeconomic status of the population was released on July 3.

As per the religious census data of 2011, released by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner on Tuesday, the total population in the country in 2011 was 1.21 billion.

Hindu population is 966.3 million (79.8 per cent); Muslim 172.2 million (14.2 per cent); Christian 27.8 million (2.3 per cent); Sikh 20.8 million (1.7 per cent); Buddhist 8.4 million (0.7 per cent); Jain 4.5 million (0.4 per cent), other religions and persuasions (ORP) 07.9 million (0.7 per cent) and religion not stated 2.9 million (0.2 per cent).

The proportion of Muslim population to total population has increased by 0.8 percentage point (PP) in 2011, the census data said. The proportion of Hindu population to total population in 2011 has declined by 0.7 PP; the proportion of Sikh population has declined by 0.2 PP and the Buddhist population has declined by 0.1 PP during the decade 2001-2011. There has been no significant change in the proportion of Christians and Jains.

The growth rate of population of the different religious communities in the same period was as Hindus: 16.8 per cent; Muslims: 24.6 per cent; Christians: 15.5 per cent; Sikh: 8.4 per cent; Buddhist: 6.1 per cent and Jain: 5.4 per cent.

The distribution is total population by six major religious communities namely, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain besides ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ and ‘Religion not stated’. -PTI

PAT E L C O M M U N I T Y

MONSOON RAINS

GUWAHATI : Hundreds of rare rhinos and other animals are fleeing flooding in India’s northeast, raising fears of a rise in poaching during the exodus, a senior wildlife official said on Tuesday.

A rain-flooded river has deluged the Kaziranga National Park in remote Assam state, home to the largest concentration of the world’s remaining one-horned rhinoceros.

“More than half of the Kaziranga National Park is under water.

Animals are migrating from the sanctuary to adjoining hills for safety,” Assam forest and wildlife minister Etuwah Munda said.

“We are taking all precautionary measures and I myself will be camping in the park to monitor the situation.”

The park, spread over 450 square kilometres (173 square miles), is prone to flooding during the annual monsoon rains.

Some 14 rhinos and hundreds of other animals died during floods in 2012, many of them mowed down on a nearby highway by speeding vehicles as they left the park for higher ground.

Park officials have this year taken precautions, including erecting barricades along sections of the highway.

“Forest guards are asking drivers to drive under 40km an hour as the animals use the highway to cross over to the hill to escape the floods,” the minister said.

er the government has plans to talk to the Congress President and the Congress Vice President, Naidu said that he is following the norms by meeting leaders of different parties of both Houses but has no problem in meeting either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul.

“I deal with parties and not individuals. But I have no problem in meeting Rahul also. During the last session, I had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi. If required, if they suggest, I can go to the Congress President, Vice President and even General Secretaries,” Naidu said.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that he called the press conference to set the record straight as it was being said the government did not accommodate the opposition and Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not reach out to them.

He said that five all-party meetings by him and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan were held and the government “walked the extra mile” to accommodate their concerns. - PTI

2011 CENSUS

ENDANGERED: Tourists riding on elephants look at a rhinoceros at the Indian Pobitora wildlife

sanctuary, some 55km, east of Guwahati. A rain-flooded river has deluged the Kaziranga National Park in remote Assam state, home to the largest concentration of the world’s remaining one-horned rhinoceros. - AFP file photo

er animals as they leave the sanctuary for the hills.

“Poachers have a tendency to target animals by taking advantage of the floods. We have put forest guards on alert in the hills where the animals take refuge,” Munda said.

Kaziranga has fought a sustained battle against rhino poachers who kill the animals for their horns, which fetch huge prices in some Asian countries where they are deemed to have aphrodisiac qualities.

Meanwhile, the government of Assam has sought interim relief of Rs500 crore for repair and rehabilitation works in the flood-

affected areas of the state even as 8.00,000 people were on Monday said to be affected by the crisis that has so far claimed 13 lives.

“We will seek Rs 500 crore as interim relief from the Centre...

Many areas are still under water, so the final assessment of damage will take some time,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told a press conference here.

Funds The state government, he said, has adequate funds for immediate relief operations, but central assistance will be required to carry out repair of damaged infrastructure. The Centre is, however,

yet to release the funds sought by the state government following a spell of floods last year.

As to the current flood situation, Gogoi said rainfall had stopped at most places in the state and the water level was slowly receding.

“As soon as the water level goes down, we will start assessing the damage to roads, embankments, bridges and other vital infrastructure,” said Gogoi.

Floods have claimed 14 lives so far , submerged up to 1,200 villages and displaced more than 800,000 people across Assam in recent weeks, a state government statement said Tuesday. - Agencies

Rift comes out in open as Patel leader launches hunger strike for quota AHMEDABAD: Rift between two major groups of the Patel community seeking reservation came in open on Tuesday with Sardar Patel Group (SPG), led by Lalji Patel, distancing itself from the decision of hunger strike by Hardik Patel, who is spearheading the agitation.

SPG is the biggest Patel community social group in the state which had earlier supported 22-year-old Hardik’s ‘Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti’ for organising Tuesday’s mega rally in support of their demand of inclusion of their community in Other Backward Class (OBC) category for reservation.

Hardik had earlier on Tuesday said that he will sit on a hunger strike after the rally at the venue till the Chief Minister (Anandiben Patel) does not come to take a memorandum from them.

Hunger strike “Hardik’s decision of sitting on hunger strike until the chief minister comes and takes memorandum from him is his individual decision, which is not supported by others,” Lalji Patel, leader of Sardar Patel Group, told reporters.

When asked if his group is ready for talks with the government, Patel said, “We are always ready for it and we will go if the government will invite us.”

Hardik had earlier said that Patels will not hold any talks with the government. Tuesday’s rally was marked by the young leader’s speech whereas Lalji did not address the large gathering.

When asked why he was not allowed to speak at the rally, Lalji said, “the programme was planned

by Hardik and his team and I

PROTEST RALLY: Police charge Patel community members after their agitation for reservation turned violent in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. - PTI

don’t want to make any comment on this.” Another leader of SPG, Vinod Patel, termed Hardik’s decision to sit on hunger strike as “kiddish” and said his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chief Minister were “improper”.

Patel said they will make representations before the state OBC Commission over the issue while Hardik in the rally had said the decision of hunger strike was taken unanimously by the community and that he would stick to it.

Meanwhile, Hardik said that he has support of people who want to go with the hunger strike.

“Some people (referring to Lalji Patel), who are separately doing press conference, must know that lakhs of people here (at GMDC ground) told us to sit on hunger strike until our demand is fulfilled and until the chief minister comes and takes our memorandum of demands,” he said. - PTI

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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11 killed as rebels attack checkposts in Waziristan DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least five soldiers and six Taliban militants have been killed after raids on Pakistan army checkpoints in the restive tribal area of Waziristan, security officials say, as the military presses on with an offensive in the Shawal Valley.

Pakistan began a ground offensive in the deeply forested ravines of the valley, a historical smuggling route which straddles the border between North and South Waziristan, on Friday.

Early on Tuesday morning, a group of militants attacked a checkpoint in the Pir Ghar area, adjacent to Shawal, killing at least three security personnel, security officials in the area told Reuters.

“Militants attacked with heavy weapons, including [Rocket Propelled Grenades] and machine guns. Forces replied to the attack we are checking for the militants’ casualties,” a security official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

Lieutenant colonel Hours earlier, two security forces personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed in an exchange of fire with militants in the Shawal valley, Pakistan’s military said in a statement. At least six militants were also killed in that exchange, the military said.

Both attacks were claimed by a faction of the Taliban, who the army has been battling in North Waziristan since it launched a fullscale military operation in the area in June last year.

“We will not let the army enter

The Shawal Valley offensive marks the latest phase of a military operation in Waziristan, which the army says has resulted in the deaths of more than 2,700 militants and the clearance of most of North Waziristan, a historical hotbed of militancy

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PAKISTAN

Court halts execution of teen terror suspect Peshawar High Court suspended the sentence, demanding to know from military and government officials more details on the basis on which Haider was arrested as a 14-year-old in 2009 and

Shawal under any conditions,” Azam Tariq, a Taliban spokesperson, told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that dozens of Taliban fighters had been involved in the raids.

The Shawal offensive marks the latest phase of a military operation in Waziristan, which the army says has resulted in the deaths of more than 2,700 militants and the clearance of most of North Waziristan, a historical hotbed of militancy.

Militant training camp On Tuesday, the military said it had destroyed a militant training camp and ammunition dump in gunship helicopter strikes in the Gurbaz area of Shawal.

The Taliban has been battling the Pakistani state since the group’s formation in South Waziristan in 2007. — Reuters

later convicted OVERTURNED: Pakistani paramilitary soldiers patrol on motorcycles outside the central jail in Karachi on January 13, 2015, where authorities are said to have executed a prisoner. — AFP

PESHAWAR: The execution of a civilian sentenced to death on terrorism charges by a military court in Pakistan was suspended on Tuesday, in a first challenge after the Supreme Court’s approval of such hearings.

Peshawar High Court halted the sentence, demanding to know from military and government officials more details on the basis on which Haider Ali was arrested as a 14-year-old in 2009 and later convicted, his lawyer, Malik Muhammad Ajmal, said.

The military says Ali is a “hard core terrorist”, and that he was convicted of involvement in sui-

cide bombings and acts of terrorism, according to a statement released when he was convicted in April.

The legality of military hearings has been challenged by rights activists and lawyers, who said that trying civilians there denied them the right to a fair trial.

On August 5, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of a constitutional amendment that allowed the trial of civilian terrorism suspects in military courts - clearing the way for Ali’s execution after months of legal wrangling.

Pakistan’s parliament had passed the amendment in response to an attack on a Peshawar school in December that resulted in the deaths of more than 150 people, most of them children.

September 8 Ali’s execution has been suspended until September 8, Ajmal, said.

The then schoolboy was arrested by security forces in the Swat Valley in September 2009, at a time when it was ruled by the Taliban.

Ali, now 21, was convicted on

terrorism-related charges and sentenced to death in April.

His family and lawyer say he was never told what specific charges he faced during the military trial, such as whether they were in connection to an attack or for belonging to a specific group.

“He wasn’t only a juvenile, but he didn’t know about the charges framed against him by the military authorities to hand down a death sentence.... Why have they kept him in detention for so long and under what charges?”

Ajmal said. — Reuters

IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE

NAWAZ VISITS KAZAKHSTAN A woman wearing a traditional Kazakh costume welcomes Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at an airport in Astana, on Tuesday. Sharif is on a two-day official visit to Kazakhstan. — AFP

SECURITY LAPSE

3 under trial inmates escape ISLAMABAD: At least three under trial prisoners, who were facing investigation in kidnapping and theft cases, managed to escape from Lahore Registry of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday, Express News reported.

According to reports, Asim, Javed and Ansar escaped police custody after they found out their bail pleas were rejected by the court.“The accused came out of the court room and started congratulating each other saying their bail pleas were accepted by the court,” an eyewitness said.

Easily escape Further, the police guards did not even ask the court officials about the bail pleas of the prisoners allowing them to easily escape from the court premises. The police are

The accused came out of the court room and started congratulating each other saying their bail pleas were accepted by the court, an eyewitness said

carrying out search operations to re-arrest the accused.

Karachi Central Jail as a hearing in his case was fixed for Monday.

Karachi incident On Monday, an under trial prisoner accused of possessing explosives had escaped from the premises of the Anti-Terrorism Court-IX in Karachi. Tanveer alias Jambu, who was under custody of the Special Investigation Unit was brought to the ATC from the

Remove handcuffs The accused had managed to remove his handcuffs before fleeing the court premises, according to sources. Tanveer had been under investigation over possession of explosives after he was arrested at the Ibrahim Hyderi area of Karachi in late 2014. — Express Tribune

ADB to provide $1.2b annually KARACHI: The Asian Development Bank said Tuesday it has approved a new assistance programme for Pakistan worth $1.2 billion annually, to improve infrastructure and create jobs.

The Manila-based bank said Pakistan, which has suffered sluggish growth in recent years, was on track to meet targets for cutting poverty.

But it said overall development was below potential and further

institutional reforms were needed.

Tax collection in Pakistan is tiny, severely hampering the government’s ability to manage its finances. A chronic crisis in the power sector -- made worse by poorly targeted subsidies -- is also a major brake on growth.

“The main challenge in Pakistan was to deliver higher, sustained and inclusive growth to cut poverty and create productive jobs for the growing labour force,” ADB

Pakistan country director Werner Liepach said in a statement.

The new programme, which runs until 2019, will target six sectors including energy, transport and public sector management, the ADB said.

The funds will support improvements to highways and provincial roads, as well as to power generation and transmission and bus rapid transit schemes in Karachi and other cities. — AFP

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French train saga shows what heroes are made of

Photo: O. K. Mohammed Ali

E

urope’s media is still abuzz with the extraordinary story of three Americans who tackled a suspected terrorist on Friday on a train in Northern France.

The question being asked is this: Were they displaying a distinctly American can-do spirit?

That’s probably inevitable, but a better question would be: Should Western countries consider reintroducing compulsory military service to spread some can-do spirit around?

An article published Monday by the French newspaper Le Monde focused on the attitude of the three Americans, exemplified when one, 22-year-old Oregon National Guard specialist Alek Skarlatos, said to his 23-year-old friend, U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Spencer Stone, “Let’s go.” “Will these three words become a hashtag?” the daily asks, describing the bravery and decisiveness of the men as an argument against passivity in such situations.

President Francois Hollande, awarding the Americans the Legion of Honor on Sunday along with a Briton who helped out, praised their “sang froid.” A former British Army colonel, writing in Britain’s Daily Telegraph, declared: “It’s an American thing. I salute it.”

According to Stone’s account at a press conference, he saw the gunman, widely reported to be a 26-year-old Moroccan named Ayoub El-Khazzani, struggling with his rifle and ran to tackle him. Stone put El-Khazzani in a choke hold; Skarlatos disarmed him. When ElKhazzani then pulled a pistol, Skarlatos wrestled that from him, too.

Then El-Khazzani pulled a box cutter and stabbed at Stone, nearly severing his thumb.

The two young men pummeled the Moroccan until he was unconscious, aided by their friend, Anthony Sadler, a student, and Chris Norman, a 62-year- old Briton. They tied him up.

The four Anglo-Saxons weren’t, however, the first to try to stop El-Khazzani. A man who has asked to remain anonymous reportedly threw himself at the gunman when he was still in the train’s toilet, strapping on weapons. He was overpowered. A U.S.-born university professor from Paris, Mark Moogalian, then wrestled the semi-automatic from El-Khazzani, only to be

shot with a pistol. The gunman retrieved his rifle.

If Hollywood makes a film out of this, I’m sure, “Let’s go” would be at the heart of the narrative.

The bravery of all six men is overwhelming, as is the power of their recognition that if they failed to act, everyone in the train carriage was probably going to die.

So too is the concern that El-Khazzani, who appears to have lived in Spain and France and was on a terrorist watch list in both countries, presages more such attacks as hundreds of jihadists return to Europe from Syria. El-Khazzani says he was just trying to rob people on the train and found the weapons abandoned in a park.

Soft targets -- from trains to buses to bars to shopping malls -- can be attacked. No police force can protect them all, and no intelligence service can monitor every suspect. So if this incident tells us anything useful about defending against terrorism, it is that ordinary people will sometimes be the only defense.

The key to making ordinary people effective isn’t the American spirit, it’s training. Because they knew what to do, Stone and Skarlatos were confident enough to say, “Let’s go,” and empowered to succeed.

Moogalian is still alive, his wife says, thanks to Stone. The American said he saw the professor was bleeding profusely from his neck, realized a tourniquet would do no good, and plunged two fingers of his undamaged hand into the wound to cap a burst artery. He kept his fingers there until help arrived. Without military-level first aid training, I doubt he would have had the knowledge or confidence to act so effectively.

Conscription-based militaries are out of vogue in most of Europe and in the United States, and for good reason. They’re expensive, inefficient and unpopular (I know I wouldn’t have wanted to join the army at 18). Reinstituting the draft, or national service as it used to be called in Britain, would as yet be a vast overreaction to the scale of the threat.

Even so, it’s worth considering that the most effective defense against a certain kind of attack that appears increasingly part of the jihadist tool kit, may be to make the training Stone and Skarlatos had much more widespread. — Bloomberg View

READERS’ FORUM Did not know defrosting fish is helpful This refers to the online story, Four tips to help you avoid common seafood snafus (August 25). I really love to eat seafood. However, I either have to ask my mother to cook a dish or eat out. Many of the tips given in the article make sense and make me realise the mistakes I have been making. The mistake I frequently make is cooking directly from the freezer. I did not know defrosting is necessary.

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West Indian model of five bowlers the best way to victory

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).

Failing to win Republican nomination won’t make Donald Trump irrelevant. He won’t rule out a run as independent.

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This refers to the online story, India should continue with five-bowler theory: Vaas (August 25). I completely agree with the legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler.

Whenever I see the Indian team playing I wonder why don’t they play with the West Indian model of five bowlers. This series levelling win proves this theory and I hope the Indian coach and captain would keep this point in mind.

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Sorry state of men’s tennis

This refers to the online story, Federer downs Djokovic for seventh Cincinnati title (August 24). My men’s circuit is extremely boring and totally uninspiring unlike that of the female players. It seems these two players have an ironclad hold of the game and no other players stand a chance of beating them. It actually shows the sorry state of men’s tennis.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015 Everything is on the Internet. There are Facebook pages, in Arabic, where you can find all the information. Phone numbers for smugglers in every country, even reviews on whether they are a good smuggler or a bad smuggler Hasan, IT engineer

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SPECIAL

Death boats, cuts, tear gas mark the path to Europe for migrants

IN SEARCH OF GREENER PASTURES: Migrants step in a path near the border village Roszke, at the Hungarian-Serbian border on Tuesday. Migrants who crossed the Macedonia-Greece border are now streaming into European Union member state Hungary, with a record 2,093 crossing over from Serbia on Monday. - AFP

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migrants, bigger than ever so far this year, has now reached Hungary and the numbers are bound to grow as the smugglers’ network has become highly sophisticated

ROSZKE (Hungary): Hassan, a 30-year old IT engineer from Syria, was still shaken from having been forced by smugglers to drive an overloaded boat full of fellow migrants to Greece from Turkey.

Standing in a queue for a bus inside Hungary, he had his young nephew on his back, the boy’s head bandaged after being cut by razor wire as he and his family tried to cross into the visa-free part of the European Union from Serbia.

The three-year-old had stood up as they crawled through a triplecylinder razor wire erected by Hungary on its southern border to try to keep out the streams of migrants trying to reach western Europe.

They turned back, but, like thousands of others, found another way in, defying the growing odds stacked against them by European

states who say they are being overrun. Hassan made the risky and arduous journey from Hama, Syria with his sister and brother-in-law and their three and five-year old sons to seek safety and a living in Germany.

“It’s raining bombs there. IS, the Syrian Army... death is free in Syria,” Hassan said.

“We came at night and surrendered to the Hungarian border police. But there were too many people, and the police did not want to allow us to cross the border... so we tried to jump the fence.”

When the smaller boy hurt his head, they mopped up the blood and bandaged it but were not able to treat the two-inch-cut and were worried it would get infected.

So they found an opening in the fence where a nearly defunct railway line crosses the border, and walked through, joining a crowd of migrants on the Hungarian side who were waiting to be taken in a police bus to a nearby reception centre.

While waiting for the bus, Hassan told their story.

Shots in the air “We took the normal way. A smuggler took us to Turkey, where we paid for hotels along the way. Then we took the death boat,” he said, referring to the large numbers of migrants who drown when rickety and overloaded vessels capsize.

Somewhere near Izmir in Turkey, about 50 people were told to get onto a boat that could carry no

EXHAUSTED: Migrants rest between rails near the border village Roszke, at the Hungarian-Serbian border on Tuesday. - AFP

more than 40, Hassan said, to take them to Militini on the Greek island of Lesbos.

“When the ten who were left there said they didn’t fit, the smuggler fired a round of shots in the air from his machine gun and yelled at us to go and get on the boat,” he said.

Very scary “We thought they would give us someone to drive the boat but they

RISKY AND ARDUOUS JOURNEY: Migrant families walk between rails near the border village Roszke, at the Hungarian-Serbian border on Monday. - AFP

did not. They told me to drive it. I drove the boat. It was very scary.”

Hassan said they paid $1,150 each for the boat trip, and half of that for the children. A record 50,000 migrants hit Greece by boat from Turkey in July alone.

After spending three days in Greece, where they were given food and tents, they crossed into Macedonia just as security forces began a bid to close the southern frontier.

“The police beat us and gassed us,” Hassan said. Finally, on Sunday more than 5,000 migrants entered Serbia after being let through by Macedonia, which had they crossed into from Greece.

Smugglers’ network This wave of migrants, bigger than ever so far this year, has now reached Hungary and the numbers are bound to grow as the smugglers’ network has become

highly sophisticated. “Everything is on the Internet. There are Facebook pages, in Arabic, where you can find all the information.

Phone numbers for smugglers in every country, even reviews on whether they are a good smuggler or a bad smuggler,” Hassan said.

“A good smuggler is one that will take you across. A bad one may take your money or kidnap people.Smugglers are like a mafia.” - Reuters

TIRED: A migrant family rests between rails near the border village Roszke, at the Hungarian-Serbian

border on Tuesday. - AFP

A 14

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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Turkey PM in consultations to form interim government that the CHP and MHP had so far vowed to stay out of the caretaker government.

“Escaping responsibilities and blocking the options would lead to unintended consequences,” he said.

Davutoglu said MPs needed to take their responsibility for two months to take the country to elections in an “honourable” way.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called the snap polls for November 1 which the presidency said ‘has become a necessity’ after the inconclusive June 7 legislative vote where his ruling party lost its majority PLANS: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, left, receives Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday. Reuters/Yasin Bulbul/Presidential Palace Press Office/Handout via Reuters

ANKARA: Turkey will go to the polls on November 1 in snap elections after the failure of coalition talks, the top election body ruled Tuesday, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tasked Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form a caretaker government.

Erdogan on Monday called the early election which the presidency said “has become a necessity” after the inconclusive June 7 legislative vote where his ruling party lost its overall majority.

The elections will take place on November 1, the head of the Supreme Electoral Council Sadi Guven confirmed in a statement.

Erdogan earlier asked Davutoglu to lead the caretaker government ahead of the polls as prime minister during a meeting at his presidential palace, the presidency said.

Davutoglu is now obliged within the next five days to form the government that will be in power for just two months to take Turkey towards the new elections.

The situation is unprecedented in modern Turkish history -never before have parties failed to form a coalition after elections and new polls been required.

Erdogan wants the ruling

CONFLICT

Political crisis “We are going to early elections under a caretaker government, which is unprecedented in Turkish history,” Davutoglu told reporters after meeting Erdogan.

“But we shouldn’t create the impression that Turkey is going through a political crisis,” he added.

The opposition Republican

People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have refused to take part in an election government.

This forces Davutoglu to form an interim cabinet with the proKurdish Peoples’ Democracy Party (HDP) as well as non-partisan figures outside parliament.

The prospect of forming a government -- however brief -- with the HDP is an unsettling prospect for Davutoglu who has accused the party of being a front for outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

Davutoglu expressed dismay

South Sudan peace deal ‘only a first step’: UN

Not surprised HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas meanwhile reaffirmed that his party was ready to take part in the interim administration.

But Demirtas added he would “not be surprised” if the AKP tried to form a government without the HDP. “Such an attempt would be rejected by the constitutional court,” he was quoted by the Dogan news agency as saying.

CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu has already accused Erdogan of seeking to stage a “civilian coup” with the early election plan, after the full-scale military coups of 1960, 1971 and 1980.

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations envoy to South Sudan cautioned Tuesday that a powersharing deal set to be signed by President Salva Kiir was only a first step to end the brutal conflict.

The signing is scheduled to take place in Juba on Wednesday with Kiir to be joined by the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia for the mini-summit.

South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar, a former vice president, already signed the deal on August 17, in line with a deadline to do so.

UN envoy and mission chief Ellen Margrethe Loej told the Security Council that Wednesday’s signing would be a “hopefully positive development” but that many hurdles lie ahead to implement the agreement.

“While we will do all possible to support implementation, I must remind this council that, albeit very important, this agreement is only a first step,” said Loej.

“Peace, stability and prosperity will not come to South Sudan overnight,” she warned.

Powerful presidency Erdogan is hoping to emerge stronger from the next elections, with his eyes on a powerful presidency with full executive authority like in France or the United States.

To do this, the AKP needs to win a three-fifths majority with least 330 seats in parliament to change the constitution by calling a referendum. A majority of twothirds -- 367 seats -- would allow the changes to be passed without a referendum. — AFP

Torn by fighting The world’s youngest nation, South Sudan has been torn by fighting between forces loyal to Kiir and rebels allied with Machar since December 2013 and the violence has imploded along ethnic lines.

Loej, who heads the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, said attention must turn to the inter-ethnic fighting which in some states is just as violent as the struggle opposing the two camps. — AFP

LANDMARK ELECTIONS

Russian court jails Ukrainian filmmaker on terror charges ROSTOV-ON-DON (RUSSIA): A Russian military court on Tuesday sentenced a Ukrainian filmmaker to 20 years in a prison colony on terror charges in a trial condemned by Kiev, Western rights groups and top film directors.

Oleg Sentsov, 39, was convicted of carrying out arson attacks on pro-Kremlin party offices in Crimea after Russia seized the peninsula from Ukraine in March last year, and plotting further attacks, including blowing up a Lenin statue in the main Crimean city of Simferopol.

His fellow Ukrainian defendant Alexander Kolchenko, a 25-year-old activist who also opposed Russia’s annexation of Crimea, was sentenced to 10 years after he too was found guilty of taking part in the attacks.

Russia and Ukraine have been locked in a bitter feud over Moscow’s takeover of Crimea and its support for the ongoing pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

Sentsov defiantly flicked a victory sign, and he and Kolchenko sang the Ukrainian national anthem inside their glass enclosure after the verdict.

Justice and Development Party (AKP) he co-founded to win back the overall majority it lost in June for the first time since it came to power in 2002.

C I V I L WA R

Oleg Sentsov

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who had called for the men’s immediate release, wrote on Twitter: “Hold on, Oleg. The time will come when those who organised the trial against you will find themselves in the dock.”

Witnesses tortured Defence lawyers said witnesses were tortured to produce testimony implicating the pair in activities involving Ukrainian farright organisation Right Sector, which is banned in Russia.

The two men, who have been held in Russia since last May, were tried as Russians, despite never having applied for citizenship. — AFP

Suu Kyi eyes election majority NAYPYIDAW (MYANMAR): Aung San Suu Kyi said Tuesday she was confident her opposition party would win Myanmar’s landmark elections if they are free and fair, but raised concerns over the country’s overall progress towards democracy.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner told AFP in an interview she expects her National League for Democracy (NLD) will secure a majority in November.

It will be the first nationwide poll the NLD has contested for 25 years in a country strait-jacketed for almost half a century by military rule.

The party won by a landslide in 1990 but was barred by the military from taking power.

Asked if she was confident of winning a dominant share of seats Suu Kyi replied: “If the elections are free and fair, of course.”

“I think looking at the governments which have gone before us, we should be in a position to form a better government,” she told AFP, in some of her most sanguine comments yet as Myanmar fast approaches an election many hope will be the freest in its modern history. Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myanmar’s independence hero, led her opposition party into parliament after the current quasi-civilian government replaced military rule in 2011.

But Myanmar’s junta-era constitution blocks her pathway to the

HOPEFUL: Chairperson of National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during an interview at Parliament in Naypyidaw on Tuesday. — AFP

presidency, and a recent attempt to change it was quashed by the stillpowerful military and its allies.

And the veteran campaigner said she was also “very concerned” about irregularities in the run-up to the polls, stressing that the longcloistered country still has a long way to go before it can be called democratic.

Suu Kyi said her party was concerned that it was a target of rivals “using religion for political purposes” as the Buddhist-majority nation grapples with the increasing influence of radical nationalist monks. Scant progress had been

made, she said, in two complaints filed with election authorities over cases in which political rivals started “attacking” the NLD during religious ceremonies.

“What you are asking, are we concerned about irregularities about fraud and so on and of course we are very concerned,” she said.

Internal putsch Earlier this month President Thein Sein, a former general, launched a dramatic internal putsch of the ruling party using security forces, ousting rival Shwe Mann from the party leadership

in a move seen as an effort by the army and its allies to tighten their grip ahead of the polls.

“We are supposed to be going along the path of democratisation but events over the last couple of weeks show that we are not very far along that path yet,” said Suu Kyi of the incident.

The opposition leader’s cordial political relationship with Shwe Mann, who retains his influential role as parliament speaker, had led to speculation they were planning an alliance that would have challenged the still-powerful military.

Observers fear that the NLD’s lack of an obvious heir to Suu Kyi will stoke political uncertainty, particularly in the months after the November 8 elections when parliament will select a president.

Suu Kyi, who turned 70 this year, confirmed to AFP that the NLD would reveal its candidate for the job only after the polls.

But she said the nominee would come from within the party.

The constitution excludes those with foreign spouses and children from top political office -- Suu Kyi’s two sons are British -- as well as reserving a quarter of parliamentary seats for unelected soldiers.

Reforms in recent years have sent investors swooping into longisolated Myanmar. Reflecting on the changes in the country Suu Kyi said the dramatic proliferation of mobile phones had started to have a political effect. — AFP

CHARTER CHANGE

Nepal protesters torch homes after deadly clashes with police KATHMANDU: Protestors torched homes and clashed with police in western Nepal on Tuesday, a day after an 18-month-old boy and seven police died in violent demonstrations against a new constitution.

Hundreds of demonstrators vandalised buildings in the town of Tikapur, 420 kilometres (260 miles) west of Kathmandu, defying an indefinite curfew imposed after protestors attacked police with spears, axes and knives.

“Small clashes have occurred today with a few groups defying the curfew,” said Dhan Bahadur Kathayat, deputy superintendent of Tikapur police.

“They torched a couple of houses, but our teams have put out the fires,” Kathayat told AFP. Police said they were taken by

surprise by the scale of the violence on Monday, when demonstrators turned on security forces, killing seven and prompting the government to send troops to the area.

The 18-month-old son of paramilitary officer Netra Bahadur Saud was also killed when protesters opened fire at his home in Tikapur, but police said there were no casualties among the demonstrators.

“My son was playing in front of me, all of a sudden I heard bullet fire,” Saud said.

“Within seconds my son fell to the ground with head injuries... I rushed him to hospital but he was already dead.

“The shooters targeted me... my son was innocent. Why was he killed?” he said.

Work on the new constitution began in 2008, two years after the end of the insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead and brought down the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.

IN MOURNING: Nepalese relatives of police officer Laxman Neupane comfort each other in Kathmandu on Tuesday. -AFP

Anger has been building for weeks in parts of Nepal after lawmakers struck a breakthrough deal on a new constitution, spurred by April’s devastating earthquake.

The constitution was meant to cement peace after a 10-year insurgency led by former Maoist rebels and draw a line under centuries of inequality.

Marginalised communities But plans laid out in the draft charter to divide the country into seven provinces have sparked fury among historically marginalised communities, who say the new borders will limit their political representation.

The latest clashes broke out when activists from the Tharu ethnic minority held a protest to demand their own separate province bordering India.

The Tharus have struggled to overcome decades spent as bonded slaves to high-caste landowners.

Puspa Raj KC, spokesman for the Armed Police Force, said the demonstrators outnumbered security personnel and encircled senior officers as the protest turned violent. “During this time, it was difficult for the commanders to communicate properly with the force and no decision was made to use firearms,” he told AFP. Tear gas By the time police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, more than 40 officers had sustained injuries according to KC, who said there were no casualties among the demonstrators.

“Security forces failed to assess the threat... no one expected an attack using such a huge number of home-made weapons,” he said. — Agencies

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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A15

WORLD

is the number of seats in Singapore’s parliament which was dissolved on Tuesday

Gas facility blasts leave 11 dead in Afghanistan POLITICS

Singapore to vote in snap election on September 11

It was not clear whether the blasts on the edge of the relatively peaceful Herat city, which killed mostly children, was an accident or an act of extremists

HERAT, AFGHANISTAN: At least 11 people, most of them children, were killed in a series of explosions at an Afghan gas storage facility, which triggered a massive inferno in a nearby settlement for displaced people, officials said Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear whether the blasts late Monday on the edge of the relatively peaceful western city of Herat were the result of an accident or caused by a militant attack.

“Around midnight (Monday) a gas tanker exploded which triggered blasts in a gas storage plant, killing 11 people and injuring 10 others,” Herat police spokesman Abdul Rauf Ahmadi told AFP. Plume of flames The explosions triggered a plume of flames into the night sky, which rapidly spread to a nearby settlement of mud houses for internally displaced people where most of the deaths occurred.

Ihasanullah Hayat, spokesman for the governor of Herat, confirmed the toll and said the majority of those killed were children.

A resident of the hillside set-

INCONSOLABLE: An Afghan mother, right, weeps for her son who was killed in an inferno caused by a series of explosions at a gas storage facility on the edge of the western city of Herat on Tuesday. At least 11 people including several children died when the blaze spread to a nearby camp for internally displaced people, officials said. -AFP

tlement, who lost a 9-year-old daughter in the fire, said many of the victims were trying to flee the towering flames.

“The explosions were powerful and sparked a huge fire,” said the man, who had sought refuge in Herat after fleeing the neighbouring restive province of Badghis.

“After the first explosion everyone started to flee the area and got caught up in the flames,” he added, reluctant to give his name.

Mourners gathered at the settlement for funeral prayers on Tuesday morning, with turbaned pall bearers seen carrying bodies for burial on makeshift stretchers.

Business hub Herat province, a key business hub located in western Afghanistan near the border with Iran, is a relatively peaceful province in a country convulsed by an ascendant 14-year Taliban insurgency.-AFP

Satire angers Afghan spies KABUL: The biting political satire of a Facebook page called Kabul Taxi has got under the skin of Afghanistan’s spy agency — enough so it summoned the two journalists it suspects of being behind it for a twohour grilling.

Kabul Taxi’s acerbic take on the foibles of the Afghan government, corrupt officials and bureaucrats has made it the talk of the capital in the three months since it was launched, and a leader in a burgeoning scene of online satire sites.

The latest target was

Haneef Atmar, the National Security Council adviser to President Ashraf Ghani, who Kabul Taxi mocked over the number of his advisers and their activities.

Atmar, however, did not find this funny. The National Directorate of Security, the intelligence agency that effectively reports to Atmar, hauled in two reporters and issued a statement on Monday, saying Kabul Taxi had leaked government secrets by naming some NSC staff, presenting what it deemed a “serious security risk”. -Reuters

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s parliament was on Tuesday dissolved, clearing way for a snap general election next month in which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ruling party’s 50 years of political dominance will be tested by voters amid growing immigration worries and high living costs.

President Tony Tan Keng Yam, on the advice of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, dissolved the 12th Parliament on Tuesday.

Seeking mandate The prime minister, who had until January 2017 to hold an election, has also sought support in a televised address. “I called this general election to seek your mandate to take Singapore beyond SG50 (50 years of Independence), into its next half century,” Lee said on his Facebook page.

“You will be deciding who will govern Singapore for the next five years. More than that, you will be choosing the team to work with you for the next 15-20 years, and setting the direction for Singapore for the next 50 years,” the 63-year-old prime minister said.

Lee’s PAP is expected to contest all 89 seats, as it has done for many decades. This would be the third time that Lee would be leading PAP in the general elections.

Voting is compulsory in the prosperous city-state, also a leading business hub. The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has drawn 89 seats from Singapore’s 29 constituencies.

An estimated 2.46 million eligible voters will vote on September 11, up from 2.35 million in 2011. Nomination Day for people to contest in the GE is set on September 1. Opposition political parties are also expected to contest all the 89 seats in the GE, which, according to The Straits Times, was happening for the first time since 1963.

The opposition parties have met twice recently to work out seat contesting arrangement and avoid multi-cornered contests.

But this does not prevent independent contestants. The Workers’ Party (WP) is expected to nominate 28 contestants, the largest number, up from 23 fielded in 2011 when six of its members were elected to parliament.

‘Challenges ahead’ On his Facebook page he added, “What we have achieved together in Singapore is special. Here many races live in peace, and many from humble homes make good. We will surely meet challenges ahead, but whatever the world throws at us, as one people, we will overcome.

“If you are proud of what we have achieved together, and support what we want to do for our future, please support me and my team. We have to do it with you, in order to do it for you, and for Singapore,” added Lee on his Facebook page. “Together, we can keep Singapore special for many years to come.” -PTI

B

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Muscat 5,760.29 + 24.27 + 0.42%

Dubai 3,558.37 + 156.75 + 4.61%

Abu Dhabi 4,334.17 + 69.37 + 1.63%

Kuwait 5,834.78 + 19.18 + 0.33%

Saudi Arabia

7,543.05 + 518.45 + 7.38%

Bahrain 1,303.97 - 0.54 - 0.04%

Qatar 10,694.82 + 122.32 + 1.16%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.22 Pound ........................................... 1.63 Indian Rs .............................. 171.79 Pak Rs ................................... 265.67 Bangla Taka.......................199.48

Indian Rs ....................................171.50 Pakistan Rs ............................ 268.00 Sri Lanka Rs ........................... 347.20 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso ....................................121.00

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......14.80

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........ $43.87 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$43.82 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$45.15 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........ $43.75 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$44.01

* Rates are as of August 25 Source: Bank Muscat

West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........$39.43

* Rates as of August 25 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.30 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............132.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............139.25 * Rates as of August 25 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

CRUDE OIL

Oil prices rebound from six-year low as equities advance LONDON: Oil rebounded from a six-year low as European stocks rallied with US equity-index futures following Monday’s rout though concerns persisted over China’s growth and global oversupply.

Futures gained as much as 4.2 per cent in New York as inves-

tor appetite for risk recovered and China’s central bank cut its benchmark lending rate for the fifth time since November. Crude has still slumped more than 35 per cent since this year’s closing peak in June, plunging on Monday to the lowest settlement level since February 2009.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October delivery rose as much as $1.59 to $39.83 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $39.59 at 11:39am London time. The contract fell $2.21, or 5.5 per cent, to $38.24 on Monday, the lowest close since February 2009. Prices

decreased to $32.40 in intraday trading in December 2008.

October settlement Brent for October settlement gained as much as $1.81, or 4.2 per cent, to $44.50 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. It slid $2.77 to $42.69

Liquidity management key for Islamic banking New liquidity management tool, finding manpower with the necessary knowledge and skillset in Islamic finance are crucial for Islamic banking success, said Bank Nizwa’s chief executive officer Dr Jamil El Jaroudi.— Supplied picture

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

Elham@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Islamic banks in Oman need a liquidity management tool, relaxation of certain restrictions and skilled workforce to prosper further, says a senior official at Bank Nizwa, Oman’s first fully-fledged Islamic bank.

“Islamic banks need a liquidity management tool, such as shortterm sukuk by the government.

This is not necessarily for profitability, but mainly for the proper functioning of a banking system,” DrJamil El Jaroudi, the bank’s CEO, said in an exclusive interview with Times of Oman.

Sovereign sukuk The official believes that the issuance of Oman’s first sovereign sukuk would positively affect the Islamic banking sector.

“The issuance should be well-

welcomed, as more products that rely on Islamic investment are required to support the Islamic banking sector in Oman. Given that the government is a major market player and influences the market confidence, this step will increase liquidity levels and provide a pricing benchmark that is still missing in a new market,” El Jaroudi added.

“We also need to look into relaxing certain restrictions in light

MARKETS

Fitch lowers long-term issuer default ratings of five Omani banks Times News Service MUSCAT: Fitch Ratings on Tuesday downgraded Bank Muscat’s long-term issuer default rating (IDR) to ‘BBB+’ from ‘A-’ and the same rating of National Bank of Oman, BankDhofar, Bank Sohar and Ahli Bank to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB+’.

The outlooks on all the banks’ long-term IDRs are stable. The downgrades follow a review of Fitch’s assessment of Oman’s ability to support domestic banks. At the same time, Fitch has affirmed HSBC Bank Oman’s IDR at ‘A+’ based on support from its ultimate parent, HSBC Holdings. The outlook has been revised to negative from stable.

Viability ratings are not affected by today’s rating action.

“The downgrades reflect Fitch’s view that the Omani sovereign’s ability to support the banking system has weakened, Fitch Ratings said, adding; “Lower oil prices and higher-than-budgeted government expenditure have led to a major deterioration of Oman’s fiscal position.” The IMF estimates that the fiscal deficit will reach double digits, estimated at 14.8 per cent of GDP in 2015 and 11.6 per cent in 2016, from a deficit of 1.5 per cent in 2014. The scale of the budgetary shock highlights Oman’s dependence on hydrocarbons. Fitch forecasts an annual average oil price of $65 per barrel in 2015 and $75 a barrel in 2016. > B3

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of the need and experience within the sharia-approved schemes and AAIOFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) standards,” El Jaroudi noted.

According to Bank Nizwa’s CEO, apart from the typical challenges facing Islamic banking as a new industry such as the understanding and acceptance of the concept and products, the main challenge in Oman is finding manpower with the necessary knowledge and skillset in Islamic finance.

Omanisation “It has also proven more challenging with the Omanisation policy where it would take years for the industry to develop the local talent. With that said, we are overcoming this hurdle by focusing on training programmes for our employees and support of educational institutions that specialise in this field,” he said. > B3

on Monday, the lowest close since March 2009. The European benchmark crude traded at a premium of $4.66 to WTI. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index advanced 4.4 per cent, recouping some of the losses from a 5.3 per cent retreat on Monday that was the biggest since 2008. Futures

on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose 3.9 per cent after the US benchmark entered a correction for the first time since 2011.

China’s one-year lending rate will drop by 25 basis points to 4.6 per cent effective from Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China said on its website. — Bloomberg News

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

MARKET Boeing plans ‘hundreds’ of job cuts in satellite division ‘Several hundred’ layoffs are expected due to a downturn in United States military spending and delays in commercial orders

WASHINGTON: Boeing has told its workers that it expected to cut as many as ‘several hundred’ jobs in its satellite business through the end of 2015 due to a downturn in United States military spending and delays in commercial orders.

Multiple commercial orders were being delayed by recent failures of launch vehicles and uncertainties about the future availability of financing from the US Export-Import Bank, whose government charter lapsed on June 30, the company told key managers in an internal communication.

Boeing spokesman Tim Neale

TURBULENCE: Boeing spokesman Tim Neale confirmed the reductions and said some could find work in other parts of Boeing. – Bloomberg News

confirmed the reductions and said the total number of people affected would be finalised in coming months. Some could find work in other parts of Boeing, he said. He said the reductions were “necessary to remain competitive for ongoing and future business.”

The Boeing announcement marks the latest fallout from the ongoing debate about the future

of Exim, the US government’s export credit agency, which can no longer write new loans and trade guarantees.

Agency’s charter Tea Party conservatives in the US Congress did not vote to renew the agency’s charter, arguing the trade bank provides ‘corporate welfare’ for big companies like Boeing and

General Electric. Business executives said it was unclear if the bank will be reopened.

Exim backers say the bank generates revenue for the US government, and helps level the playing field for US companies whose rivals in other countries receive similar trade credits. Boeing does not break down workforce numbers for separate business units,

but the company has about 16,800 workers in California, where Boeing builds satellites and does some commercial airplane work.

Monday’s announcement comes a little over a month after commercial satellite provider ABS cancelled a large satellite contract with Boeing due to uncertainty about the future of the EXIM bank.

Neale said officials were still working with ABS, based in Bermuda and Hong Kong, to find an alternate financing solution, but ABS was in discussions with other satellite makers that had access to government trade credits.

He said many of Boeing’s international customers relied on Exim financing to buy commercial satellites and airplanes, and uncertainty about Exim’s future was making those buyers ‘very nervous’. “In the absence of Ex-Im, Boeing may need to serve as the lender of last resort but there are real limits to how much of this the company can do,” he said. - Reuters

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FISCAL MEASURE

Lebanon plans stimulus of at least $1 billion BEIRUT: Lebanon’s central bank is planning a stimulus package of at least $1 billion next year to revive an economy rattled by political unrest and the civil war in neighbouring Syria, governor Riad Salameh said.

Economic growth in the most indebted Arab country will likely range between zero and 1 per cent this year, the slowest pace since at least 2011, Salameh said on Monday. The planned stimulus, which he said could rise to as much as $1.5 billion, brings the total of the central bank’s assistance programs to about $5 billion since 2013.

Beset by sectarian crises and regional proxy conflicts, Lebanon has been without a head of state since President Michel Suleiman’s term expired in May 2014 because lawmakers can’t agree on a successor. Parliament hasn’t convened in months, and weekend protests over the government’s inability to deal with a growing garbage disposal problem rocked central Beirut.

Additionally, more than one million refugees have flooded the nation of 4.5 million to escape the Syrian conflict, which has blocked Lebanon’s only overland trade route and kept Gulf tourists away.

The central bank will provide funds to commercial lenders at an interest rate of 1 per cent. - Bloomberg News

I T H R A A I N I T I AT I V E

Trade up seminar to discuss export procedures and rules Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman’s export promotion agency, Ithraa, will hold a full-day trade up seminar on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The topic of discussion will be the role of ‘Export Procedures, Rules and Certificates of Origin.’

“Our trade-up seminars are designed to help Omani small and medium enterprises (SMEs) network and guide them on how to improve their exports or export for the first time. We have been running these sessions for over a year and they have proven to be very popular with Omani exporters and manufacturers,” remarked Nasima Al Balushi, Ithraa director general of Export Development.

“When it comes to exploiting new markets through exports, Oman has its fair share of success. But given that two thirds of growth in global trade is coming from new entrants, there is a constant demand for business advice and support in breaking into the world’s high growth market economies and overcoming barriers,” she said.

“Understanding international export procedures is key to any Omani firm looking to break into global markets,” pointed out Saif Khamis Al Mamari, Ithraa director of Export Development.

The seminar will be led by Ma-

SEMINAR SERIES: Ithraa’s trade up seminar series was launched in 2013 and Thursday’s session will introduce local business to industry experts who will share their insights on how to export successfully. – Supplied picture

jor Hamood Saif Al Rahbi, head of Customs at Royal Oman Police; Khalid Khamis Al Kiyumi, head of Attestation Department at Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Eng. Hamed Al Mamari, industrial planning engineer at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Trade agreement Much of the seminar will focus on how meeting export procedures and rules can help businesses adopt the exact export procedures and benefit from trade agreement preferences through meeting of identified rules of origin.

Ithraa’s trade up seminar series was launched in 2013 and Thursday’s session will introduce local business to industry experts who will share their insights on how to successfully export their products considering the rules and procedures in place.

A trade up seminar attendee Mahmood Al Ajmi said:” Trade up seminars gave me and colleagues an opportunity to hear from experts on how to improve our products and understand the export procedures. We are keen to participate in such initiatives, the seminars are designed to help us discuss the challenges we face.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

B3

MARKET AT T H E H E L M

UAE Exchange names Shetty as new chairman Times News Service

Dr B. R. Shetty. – Supplied picture

BRIEFS

Renaissance starts bond repurchase MUSCAT: Renaissance Services on Tuesday said that it is repurchasing the second tranche of mandatory convertible bonds, representing 50 per cent of the remaining bonds, at a repurchase price of OMR0.151 per bond. Accordingly, the bond holders who are interested in selling their second tranche of bonds to the company can submit their sale authorisation form to Gulf Baader Capital Markets between August 26 and September 1, 2015.

The bond holders who participate in this repurchase scheme will be paid coupon of 3.75 per cent for the period from July 26, 2015 to August 25, 2015, according to a stock market filing. This coupon will be paid out on September 2, 2015. The bond holders who do not participate in this repurchase scheme will be paid annual coupon on August 6, 2016, as per the conditions in the prospectus.

MUSCAT: UAE Exchange, the leading global remittance and foreign exchange brand, on Monday announced a significant corporate restructuring exercise to pave the way for accelerated global growth and enhanced service excellence.

The board of directors of UAE Exchange unanimously appointed Dr B. R. Shetty as the chairman of the reconstituted board of directors of the UAE Exchange Group.

The company said that the top level corporate reconstitution was aimed at building its reach and spread of services further, in line with the increasing sophistication of customers.

UAE Exchange will also have a new vice -chairman on the

MUSCAT: Al Madina Insurance’s board on Tuesday recommended a cash dividend of 5 per cent on the paid-up capital for the financial period ended June 30. Dividend distribution is subject to approval from the Capital Market Authority and shareholders, says a stock market filing. - Times News Service

ments, has played a key role in the strategic development and rollout of new products and maturing of new business ideas at UAE Exchange. Earlier, UAE Exchange had announced promoting Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty as the president of the company.

Global remittances The company, further, in its statement said that as part of the strategic move, it will reconstitute the board of directors by inducting non-executive independent directors along with shareholders and management representatives.

In 2014, the firm had handled 6 per cent of the global remittances while the remittances and foreign exchange businesses in the same year were to the tune of $24 bil-

Oman-based group and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have invested in US-based firm to support the design and production of its Buoyant Airborne Turbine renewable energy and communication platform

Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman-based Suhail Bahwan Group and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a leading heavy machinery manufacturer, have invested in Altaeros Energies, a United States-based technology company. It is for supporting the design and production of its Buoyant Airborne Turbine renewable energy and communication platform.

Large projects Mitsubishi Heavy and Suhail Bahwan Group bring deep strategic expertise in developing and executing large technology projects for industrial and government customers around the world.

The Altaeros BAT offers a multi-purpose platform to supply power, telecommunication, and other sensing and security services to remote and off-grid customers.

“There are over one billion people that live without access to reliable electricity and three billion

who do not have access to the Internet. We are honoured to partner with Mitsubishi Heavy and Suhail Bahwan Group to deliver a product that can tackle this global challenge,” said Ben Glass, chief executive officer of Altaeros.

Consistent power output The BAT delivers a consistent power output from a containerised platform that is convenient to ship and install at remote sites, helping to significantly reduce reliance on diesel fuel for offgrid communities, disaster relief centers, island nations, and remote industries.

The BAT is composed of a helium-filled shell that lifts a wind turbine to harness stronger and more consistent winds 600 metres (2,000 feet) above ground, roughly three times higher than the tallest existing tower-mounted wind turbines.

Founded in the year 2010, Altaeros was formed to commercialise the world’s first high altitude wind turbine.

GLOBAL CHALLENGE: The Altaeros BAT offers a multi-purpose platform to supply power, telecommunication, and other sensing and security services to remote, off-grid customers. – Supplied picture

FITCH SURVEY

< FROM

B1 Oman’s sovereign balance sheet ‘strong’ Oman’s sovereign balance sheet is strong, which mitigates pressures from lower oil prices. However, this position will deteriorate as sovereign wealth funds are drawn down. The IMF forecasts that, without further fiscal adjustment, these buffers would be exhausted by the end of the decade, assuming government debt is contained at 25 per cent of GDP. Major reforms The government’s ability to enact major reforms to narrow the budget deficit over the medium term remains untested. According to the IMF, public expenditure has increased to an estimated 50.3 per cent of GDP in 2014 from 36.5 per cent in 2010, a level comparable to northern Europe.

lion and $25 billion, respectively.

The brand has surged ahead with operations in 31 countries and serving over 7.9 million customers with a repertoire of services like instant bank transfer, overseas cash payouts, currency exchange, salary collection, bill payments, mobile top-ups, secure savings options and travel card.

Centurion Investments, the leading investment firm in UAE, owned by Saeed bin Butti Al Qubaisi along with Infinite Investments, increased their stake in UAE exchange in 2014 to 60 per cent.

Saeed bin Butti Al Qubaisi, Dr. B R Shetty and Khaleefa Butti Omair Yousif Al Muhairi also in January 2015 completed the acquisition of Travelex, the world’s leading foreign exchange specialist.

Suhail Bahwan invests in wind energy start-up

Al Madina Insurance

recommends 5% interim dividend

board, Nabeeel Abdul Rahman who also serves as chief executive officer and vice-chairman of KBBO Group, while Promoth Manghat has been elevated to the post of chief executive officer. He was deputy CEO earlier.

As CEO, Promoth Manghat will be responsible for formulating the organisation’s global strategy, operations and business expansion of UAE Exchange across its operations globally. He will also lead the global sales, marketing and operations, including endto-end oversight of the branches and expansion plan along with the financial and operational performance, worldwide.

Promoth Manghat who is a veteran and industry expert in remittance, foreign exchange and pay-

Oman’s economic growth should remain resilient to the drop in oil prices.

The International Monetary Fund projects growth of 4.6 per cent in 2015, up from an estimated 2.9 per cent in 2014. The hydrocarbon sector will grow faster in 2015 as the government increases current oil expenditures to boost production and counteract lower oil prices. However, lower incremental returns from enhanced oil recovery techniques will slow oil production by 2016. The non-hydrocarbon sector should remain buoyant over this same period. Expansion in the building and construction sectors, underpinned by government projects, as well as personal services and tourism will support this outlook.

Key rating drivers Five Omani banks’ IDRs, support ratings and support rating floors reflect Fitch’s expectation of a high probability of support from the Omani authorities in case of need, based on the sovereign’s strong ability and willingness to do so. Fitch makes a distinction between Bank Muscat’s support rating floor and that of the other banks in Oman, because of its dominant role in the sector (about 38 per cent of sector assets and deposits), and therefore its greater systemic importance.

HSBC Bank Oman’s IDRs and support ratings are driven

by Fitch’s expectation of an extremely high probability of support available to the bank from HSBC. Fitch considers HSBC

Bank Oman to be a strategically important subsidiary of HSBC, given its importance to the group’s regional strategy and franchise.

Fitch does not consider it to be a core subsidiary as HSBC does not have full ownership of the bank (although it has board and management control) and because of its small size relative to other core HSBC subsidiaries globally.

The stable outlook on IDRs of Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman, Bank Dhofar, Bank Sohar and Ahli Bank reflects Fitch’s view that the probability of support from the Omani authorities to domestic banks is not likely to diminish significantly over the medium term.

Commenting on the development, Dr B. R. Shetty, chairman of UAE Exchange said: “UAE Exchange is going through a major transformation in its business.

While we will continue our focus on spreading the brand’s footprints across new markets, we will also continue to explore reinforcing our services through a host of new value added service platforms including online remittances. We are glad to have Promoth taking on as CEO to lead the group to achieve more revolutionary milestones. We are confident that this structural change in the organisation will further strengthen our commitment towards maintaining growth, reiterate the trust among customers and partners, and reinforce our leadership position.”

ISLAMIC BANKING

< FROM

B1

‘Oman made tremendous progress’

El Jaroudi added that other common challenges lie in the fact that the industry is considerably novice in the Oman market so it has been a steep learning curve for all.

“In addition, the local rules and regulations would take time to be adjusted to suit the specific needs to grow the industry. However, Oman, in its short history in Islamic banking, has made tremendous progress in this respect and has benefitted from other markets’ experience,” the official noted.

Both fully-fledged Islamic banks in Oman and Islamic windows combined have seen an average growth rate of over 40 per cent year-on-year in terms of total assets, he said, adding thatthe average growth for conventional banks on the other hand was around 9 per cent for the same period.

“In terms of financing portfolio growth, it is even more remarkable, as we have grown by more than 300 per cent on average during the same period compared to the conventional banks’ average of approximately 15 per cent for the same period,” El Jaroudi stated.

Public awareness In addition, the official said that public awareness about Islamic banking has definitely increased, which can be seen from the growth in its performance on all levels.

“The retail sector has been straight-forward, thus you could see the initial growth mainly stemming from that sector. The corporate and wholesale were more challenging due to the slightly more complex nature of the transactions but has since also seen tremendous growth,” added El Jaroudi.

B4

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ........................................5,760.29 ...............5,706.49 ................... 5,760.29 ................... 5,736.02................. 24.27 ...................0.42 Financial Index .....................................6,918.35 .............. 6,828.39 ....................6,918.35 ................... 6,861.37................. 56.98 ................... 0.83 Industrial Index .................................... 7,523.78 ............... 7,482.71 ....................7,513.34 ................... 7,504.19.................... 9.15 ................... 0.12 Services Index .......................................3,210.38 ...............3,172.82 ................... 3,210.38 ....................3,177.69................. 32.69 ................... 1.03 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 910.41 ..................904.59 .......................908.16 ....................... 910.11...................-1.95 .................. -0.21 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 27,209,487 ................. 5,326,332 ..................1,835 ...............14,492,299,777 ................23 ........................6 .................... 19 .........................48

Muscat Securities Market. – Times file picture

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 25 ISIN ......................................SECURITY NAME ..................................................................VOLUME..... TURNOVER............TRADES ......OPEN PRICE......HIGH ............. LOW ........ CLOSE PR. ...PREV. CLOSE...DIFF (RO).........DIFF % .............LAST PR.....LAST BID .............LAST OFFER ........MARKET CAP.PAR VALUE

MSM ends with gains

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

OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ...................... 196,500 ............19,337..................... 25 ........... 0.097 ...........0.099 ...........0.097........... 0.098 .............0.090 ........... 0.008............. 8.889 ................0.099..............0.099...................0.125....................2,940,000..........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL............................................... 62,731 ...............4,868......................12 ............0.075 ........... 0.079 ...........0.075........... 0.078 .............0.072 ........... 0.006............. 8.333 ................0.079..............0.079...................0.000 ..................13,650,000 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 710,104............ 66,666..................... 56 ........... 0.088 ........... 0.095 ...........0.088........... 0.094 .............0.087 ........... 0.007.............8.046 ................0.095..............0.095...................0.000 ..................27,258,180 .........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ........... 3,889,833 ......425,090...................103 ............0.108 ........... 0.112............0.108........... 0.109 .............0.102 ........... 0.007............. 6.863 ................0.112 ...............0.111................... 0.112 .................... 9,810,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 1,257,492 .......131,122..................... 79 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.107 ...........0.100........... 0.104 .............0.098 ........... 0.006............. 6.122 ................0.107 ..............0.106...................0.107.....................6,119,695 ..........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 3,506,329......592,245................... 251 ............0.163 ........... 0.177 ...........0.163 ............0.169 ............. 0.161 ............ 0.008.............4.969 ................0.177 .............. 0.176...................0.177 ...................25,362,675 .........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 180,000 ........... 38,985......................18 ............0.218 ........... 0.218 ...........0.214............0.217 .............0.208 ........... 0.009.............4.327 ................0.216 ............. 0.209...................0.216..................155,026,176 ........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 578,302 ..........147,725..................... 62 ........... 0.255 ...........0.260 ...........0.255........... 0.255 .............0.245 ............0.010 .............4.082 ................0.255..............0.253...................0.255...................25,500,000.........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 332,950 ............34,769..................... 36 ........... 0.098 ........... 0.106 ...........0.098........... 0.104 .............0.100 ........... 0.004.............4.000 ................0.105 ..............0.105...................0.108...................12,675,000 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 745,278 ............ 39,713..................... 49 ........... 0.052 ........... 0.055 ...........0.052........... 0.053 ............. 0.051............ 0.002............. 3.922 ................0.054..............0.055...................0.056...................10,979,023 .........0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................23,634 ...............7,404......................16 ............0.310 ........... 0.316 ...........0.310........... 0.314 .............0.304 ............0.010 ............. 3.289 ................0.316 .............. 0.316...................0.320 ..................15,700,000 .........0.100

Following the dividend announcement, OIFC

OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 3,468,189 ......568,836................... 175 ............0.161 ........... 0.169 ...........0.158 ........... 0.164 ............. 0.159............ 0.005............. 3.145 ................0.168 .............. 0.167...................0.168...................32,800,000 ........0.100

was the most active stock in terms of volume

OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER..................................................70,287 .............15,252........................9 ............0.217 ........... 0.217 ...........0.217 ............0.217 ............. 0.211............ 0.006.............2.844 ................0.217 ............. 0.209...................0.217..................146,450,572........0.100

OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ..................................... 346,012 ........... 59,309..................... 56 ............0.165 ........... 0.175............0.165 ............0.171 ............. 0.166............ 0.005............. 3.012 ................0.173 .............. 0.173...................0.174 ...................49,701,325 .........0.100

OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 1,097,938 ...... 543,183................... 174 ............0.474 ...........0.500 ...........0.474........... 0.494 .............0.484 ............0.010 .............2.066 ................0.500..............0.500...................0.510................ 1,132,160,363 ......0.100

as well as turnover.

OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 172,609 ........... 29,430.....................24 ............0.168 ........... 0.175............0.168 ............0.171 ............. 0.168............ 0.003............. 1.786.................0.174 .............. 0.173...................0.175 ................. 246,486,240 .......0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 256,726 .........420,785......................61 ............1.610 ........... 1.660 ...........1.605 ........... 1.640 .............1.620............ 0.020............. 1.235 ................1.660 ..............1.660...................1.700 ................1,230,000,000......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................24,199 .............11,549......................14 ............0.474 ...........0.500 ...........0.470........... 0.478 .............0.474 ........... 0.004.............0.844 ................0.500..............0.500...................0.510...................25,095,000.........0.100

MUSCAT: Muscat bourse witnessed a quiet session on Wednesday with most of the trading activity focused on OIFC shares. The MSM30 Index finished the day at 6,393.97 points, with marginal gains of 0.06 per cent. MSM Sharia Index also witnessed marginal gains of 0.10 per cent and closed at 988.92 points.

Following the dividend announcement, OIFC was the most active stock in terms of volume as well as turnover.

OIFC finished the day as the top gainer among MSM stocks and was up by 4.35 per cent while Al Suwadi Power, which went down by 2.50 per cent was the top loser for the day.

A total number of 793 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR3.23 million with more than 14 million shares changing hands.

Out of 42 traded securities, nine advanced, 10 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR63,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR62,000 while domestic investors’ net position was neutral.

Financial Index closed at

7,743.77 points, down by 0.10 per cent. United Finance, Oman & Emirates Investments, and Al Anwar Holding increased by 1.49 per cent, 0.92 per cent, and 0.84 per cent respectively. Prices of Bank Nizwa, Al Madina Investments, Global Financial, Takaful Oman, and National Bank of Oman declined by 1.35 per cent, 1.28 per cent, 0.89 per cent, 0.88 per cent, and 0.62 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 8,303.97 points, up by 0.08 per cent. Oman Cement, Oman Cables, and Voltamp Energy increased by 0.74 per cent, 0.70 per cent, and 0.50 per cent respectively. National Aluminium, Gulf International Chemicals, Al Maha Ceramics, and Jazeera Steels declined by 2.00 per cent, 1.36 per cent, 0.77 per cent, and 0.40 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index was up by 0.28 per cent before closing at 3,466.40 points. OIFC, Sohar Power, and Al Maha Petroleum increased by 4.35 per cent, 1.70 per cent, and 0.23 per cent respectively. Al Suwadi Power was the only share to close with negative gains on Wednesday and was down by 2.50 per cent at OMR0.195. — United Securities

OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 189,918 .............71,873......................11 ........... 0.380 ...........0.382 ...........0.370........... 0.378 .............0.376 ........... 0.002............. 0.532 ................0.370..............0.368...................0.370.................. 111,968,772 ........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ....................................................... 5,395 .............. 2,248........................7 ............0.414 ........... 0.418 ...........0.414 ............0.416 ............. 0.414............ 0.002............. 0.483 ................0.418 .............. 0.418...................0.440 ..................25,168,000 .........0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................... 1,000 .................. 160........................1 ............0.160 ........... 0.160 ...........0.160............0.165 ............. 0.165............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.160.............. 0.158...................0.160................... 15,681,600 .........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ................. 6,010 ............... 1,352........................2 ........... 0.225 ...........0.225 ...........0.225........... 0.225 .............0.225 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.225..............0.210...................0.225 ................... 7,553,576 ..........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 367,065............ 42,212.....................20 ............0.115 ........... 0.115............ 0.115 ............0.115 ............. 0.115 ............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.115 ...............0.115................... 0.117 ..................230,035,971........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................ 1,230 ...................531........................1 ........... 0.432 ...........0.432 ...........0.432........... 0.480 .............0.480 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.432..............0.432...................0.466..................177,800,304........0.100 OM0000001822............UNITED POWER .................................................................372 ................1,163........................2 ............3.125 ........... 3.125 ...........3.125 ........... 3.470 .............3.470 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................3.125 ............. 0.000...................3.125 ....................2,776,000 ..........1.000 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 261,579 ........... 54,932......................11 ............0.210 ........... 0.210 ...........0.210........... 0.210 .............0.210 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.210..............0.210...................0.218...................26,228,572.........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 900,000..........179,100........................3 ............0.199 ........... 0.199 ...........0.199 ........... 0.199 ............. 0.199............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.199 .............. 0.196...................0.210..................283,582,193........0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA .............................................. 50,000 ............ 41,600........................1 ........... 0.832 ...........0.832 ...........0.832........... 0.832 .............0.832 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.832..............0.752...................0.840 .................133,120,000........0.100 OM0000003281............TAAGEER FINANCE .....................................................4,000 .................. 572........................1 ............0.143 ........... 0.143 ...........0.143 ........... 0.143 ............. 0.143............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.143 ..............0.142...................0.145...................36,263,370.........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER.................................................................6,166 ...............2,109........................4 ........... 0.342 ...........0.342 ...........0.342........... 0.342 .............0.342 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.342..............0.342...................0.360 ..................75,585,420 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 193,041 .......... 132,937..................... 27 ............0.676 ........... 0.700 ...........0.676........... 0.688 .............0.688 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.700..............0.700...................0.728..................447,849,630........0.100 OM0000004248 ...........SMN POWER HOLDING ............................................35,000 ............ 25,480........................2 ............0.728 ........... 0.728 ...........0.728........... 0.728 .............0.728............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.728 ..............0.728...................0.752..................145,334,717 ........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION .................................. 3,542 .............14,876........................8 ........... 4.200...........4.200 .......... 4.200 .......... 4.200.............4.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ............... 4.200 ............ 4.200...................4.250 ..................41,076,907 .........1.000 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................43,709 ...........110,172........................8 ........... 2.500...........2.545 ...........2.500 .......... 2.520 .............2.520 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.520..............2.520...................2.540 .................240,552,131 ........1.000 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .......78,000 .......... 153,660........................3 ............1.970 ........... 1.970 ...........1.970 ........... 1.970 ............. 1.985............-0.015 ........... -0.756................1.970 ..............1.970...................1.985..................135,930,000........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 1,156,017 ....... 326,316..................... 72 ........... 0.280...........0.296 ...........0.277........... 0.282 .............0.288 ...........-0.006 ........... -2.083 ...............0.294..............0.294...................0.296 .................378,080,291........0.100 OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD......................10,068 ...............4,329........................6 ........... 0.430 ...........0.430 ...........0.430........... 0.430 .............0.440 ...........-0.010 ........... -2.273 ...............0.430............. 0.000...................0.430 .................105,952,000 .......0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................47,900 ............ 93,343........................8 ............1.950 ........... 1.950 ...........1.940........... 1.950 .............2.000 ...........-0.050 ........... -2.500 ...............1.945 ..............1.900...................1.945..................174,915,000 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .......................................................... 5,060 ...............6,021........................1 ............1.190 ........... 1.190............1.190 ............1.190 .............1.225............-0.035 ........... -2.857 ...............1.190 .............. 1.190...................1.440................. 238,000,000 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 20,284,185 4,421,255................1,419 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......39........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 151,788 .............13,297..................... 24 ........... 0.083 ...........0.089 ...........0.083........... 0.088 .............0.082 ........... 0.006..............7.317.................0.089..............0.088...................0.089.................... 6,618,304 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. ....................23,063 .................. 784........................6 ........... 0.034 ...........0.034 ...........0.034........... 0.034 .............0.033 ............0.001 ............. 3.030 ................0.034..............0.034...................0.036....................2,890,000..........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK................................................59,900 ...............4,013........................4 ........... 0.067 ...........0.067 ...........0.067........... 0.067 .............0.066 ............0.001 ..............1.515.................0.067..............0.066...................0.067...................67,000,000.........0.100 OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .........................................................4,000 ...................171........................4 ........... 0.045 ...........0.045 ...........0.042 .......... 0.045 .............0.045 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.042..............0.045...................0.050 ...................5,625,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE .............................. 39,051 ...............4,374........................3 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.112 ............. 0.112............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 ..............0.104................... 0.112 ...................11,200,000 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 5,520,522......810,946...................341 ............0.146 ........... 0.148 ...........0.146 ............0.147 ............. 0.147............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.147 .............. 0.147...................0.148..................215,002,415 ........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,082,334 .........67,287..................... 30 ........... 0.064 ...........0.064 ...........0.062........... 0.062 .............0.064 ...........-0.002 ............-3.125................0.064..............0.063...................0.064 ..................93,000,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 6,880,658 ......900,872...................412 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 7........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

INDIAN MARKETS

Sensex and rupee recover MUMBAI: Markets made a solid comeback from one-year lows as the benchmark BSE Sensex rebounded 291 points after the government said it’s considering reconvening a special session of Parliament for passage of the stalled GST Bill.

The BSE Sensex started the session higher, hitting a high of

26,124.83, but fell victim to the selling pressure as China equities lost over seven per cent.

Finally, it ended the day higher by 290.82 points, or 1.13 per cent, at 26,032.38.

The broad-based NSE Nifty too covered up some lost ground, up 71.70 points, or 0.92 per cent, to end the day at 7,880.70.

Rupee recovers Indian rupee regained its strength and appreciated by 55 paise — its biggest single day gain in over seven months to close at 66.10 against the US dollar following heavy selling of the greenback by exporters and banks.

Market volatility remained high on Tuesday. — PTI

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IDF Oman to be held in February

The key objective of the third edition of the Interior Design, Décor & Furniture Exhibition is to display the latest in technology, usage of materials and innovative approaches to interior design, décor and furniture

MUSCAT: Third IDF Oman — Interior Design, Décor & Furniture Exhibition which is organised by Al Nimr Expo, under the patronage of the Ministry of Housing and Public Authority for Craft Industries, Sultanate of Oman — will be held from February 15-17, 2016 at the Oman International Exhibition Centre in Seeb.

Oman’s rapid progress in the construction and the real estate

sector has witnessed the launch of numerous commercial, residential and tourism projects, thus creating a demand for interior and outdoor design, décor and furnishings.

The key objective is to display the latest in technology, usage of materials and innovative approaches to interior design, décor and furniture. IDF has created to meet the growing demand, by bringing together all the leading

M E R I T B A S E D C U LT U R E

Vastu and Fengshui, to compliment the on-going construction of major infrastructure projects in the Sultanate, making the exhibition an ‘exclusive bazaar’.

Though the exhibition is five months away, the marketing of the event has already kicked off in full swing and IDF is set to get over 100 companies from across the globe beating the previous best from the past two editions.

SPECIAL OCCASION

Al Hassan launches online Talent Assessment System MUSCAT: As a step towards integrating competencies with the talent management function and to create a more robust function, the Al Hassan Group recently launched the Talent Assessment System.

The online assessment system will strengthen the organisation’s HR function further. To mark the event and to formally introduce the assessment system, a ceremony was organised in Muscat recently, says a press release.

The event started with an introduction of the Al Hassan Talent Assessment System by Shahzad, general manager, Organisational Development. He explained the concept and benefits of the system, and how it can help the organisation build a merit based and performance driven culture.

Hassan Ali Salman, chairman, Al Hassan Group, inaugurated the online system by logging into the portal. During his address, he stressed the importance of best talent management practices to attract and retain talent. The inauguration was followed by a demonstration of the online assessment system by Abdullah Nasser Al Mahdouri, Administrator of the Talent Assessment System.

In the recent past the Organisa-

companies in the industry under one roof, says a press release.

In its third edition, IDF Oman will be showcasing the accessories and art, bathroom, building material, carpets, commercial interiors and fit out, décor, flooring, furniture and furnishings, interior design, kitchen, lightings, luxury life style, outdoor design and build, renovation, retail fit-out and eco building, surfaces and finishes, textiles,

The diamond sponsor for the event is; Kny Design GmbH; the platinum sponsor is Décor Collezione / Uday Khimji International; the gold sponsors are; MAF + Partners & Swiss Open Air Concept and the Visitor Badge Sponsors are Chiller & Vivid Security. The exhibition is also supported by Paragon International, American Hardwood Export Council, Egyptian Furniture Export Council, Association of Professional Interior Designers & AIA Middle East.

One of the main highlights of IDF will be the Italian area managed by Medinit SRL with over 45 Italian companies. Italy has long been seen as the structure of western art and design. Italian design concepts beautifully allow us to create an identity and express our chosen lifestyle and individuality.

Paragon Arts will again promote the art and the artists from both the local and international markets with their non-profit educational and entertainment CSR initiative.

tional Development (OD) division of Al Hassan facilitated the mapping of organisational competencies and conducted competency assessment programmes for the management team.

The objective of the system is to identify competencies specific to Al Hassan Group’s business needs and subsequently apply them to various talent management functions such as selection, talent development, career and succession planning, promotions

and training. What makes Al Hassan Talent Assessment System an effective tool is that it is based on Al Hassan specific competencies and it is customised to the organisation’s business requirements.

Additionally, it offers different kinds of assessment for different levels of the organisation and for each company within the group.

Al Hassan believes that this enhanced system will further enable the group to acquire, develop and retain talent.

Indian School Muladha pays tribute to former Indian president Abdul Kalam MUSCAT: Indian School Muladha organised a special meeting to pay tribute to the former late Indian president A. P. J Abdul Kalam with a variety of programmes recently.

Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, who was also known as ‘the Missile Man of India’, passed away on July 27 while addressing a gathering of students at a university in Shillong.

The programme highlighted the life and achievements of the great legend who had been a true inspiration for a large number of Indians, says a press release.

S. I. Shareef, principal, V. S. Suresh, vice principal, Dr Lekha, EC coordinator, academic supervisors, heads of various departments, teachers and students attended the function. The programme started with a silent prayer which was followed by a formal welcome speech by Amrutha Anil of Class VI B. Shareef, in his speech desolately remembered that July 27 was a ‘black day’ for all Indians as they lost one of their most beloved former presidents and a great humanitarian Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Depicting some exceptional pages from his life in his speech, principal threw light on how a

man from a humble and moderate socio-economic background reached the top most position of India and won millions’ hearts, especially students. He also mentioned the valuable contributions that Kalam had given for India’s advancement in the field of science and technology and the various missile missions. While concluding, he urged his students to be ignited and inspired and work hard to make India a better place as Dr Abdul Kalam visionised in his “Vision 2020”.

Principal congratulated John Ebenezer, HoD of science department, and his team members for organising this wonderful event.

In his speech, while praising Dr Kalam, Suresh said that his life was an example of how one

should live. His thoughts and his ideas were simple and practical and yet so ingenious.

He spoke of the multifaceted personality of this great enigmatic leader and a true patriotic who motivated youths. He urged the young generation to read and be enlightened by his immortal works like Wings of Fire, Ignited Minds, etc.

John highlighted the valuable contributions Kalam made for making the life of very common people easier. Through his life he showed how one should be simple and humble and his life was his message.

The students of Grade VIII displayed quotes that aptly depicted the life and the illustrious quotations of “people’s president”.

LUXURY SUV

Redesigned Audi Q3 arrives in Middle East DUBAI: The Audi Q3, the youngest member of the successful SUV family from Audi, is a practical companion for everyday – an urban model that feels at home anywhere. Its versatile character makes it attractive to a wide range of customers.

The redesigned Audi Q3 has now arrived in the Middle East market.

Since its market introduction in early 2012, the Q3 model series has been a successful model for the Audi brand. Over 1,920 models have been sold in the region since introduction, says a press release.

Audi is constantly improving good and successful models, therefore the new Audi Q3 model not only features a refreshed design, it also boasts a number of technical innovations.

Engine The three TFSI four cylinder engines boast higher output combined with reduced fuel consumption. CO2 emissions have been reduced as well. They displace 1.4 or 2.0 litres and produce between 150 hp and 220 hp. All are turbocharged, direct-injection units and

The base model of the new Audi Q3 has a curb weight (without driver) of 1,394 kilograms. The dimensions of the compact SUV are virtually unchanged. It measures 4.39 metres long, 1.83 metres wide and 1.59 metres high. The wheelbase is unchanged at 2.60 metres.

comply with the limits of the Euro 6 emission standard.

Chassis The chassis of the redesigned Audi Q3 combines agile handling with supreme safety, and comprehensive fine-tuning has enhanced comfort even further. Audi drive select enables the driver to adjust key technology modules, including the optional active dampers, to suit his or her personal preferences. Wheels range in size from 17 to 20 inches in diameter, and the suspension has been tuned for high rolling comfort. Hill descent assist is available as an option.

Design The premium character of the redesigned Audi Q3 is apparent at first glance. The Audi designers have honed the details of the coupe like lines with the characteristic wrap-around tailgate. Dominating horizontal lines up front and in the rear underscore the width and give the Q3 an expressive design.

The sculpted Singleframe grille is the defining element at the front of the car. At the top of the two new

Q3 trim lines design and sport are the S line sport package, the S line exterior package, the Audi exclusive design package and the Audi exclusive exterior design package.

The redesigned headlights come standard with xenon plus technology and LED daytime running lights. The optional LED headlights

are particularly bright and energy efficient. Audi offers them in combination with the dynamic turn signals integrated into the likewise redesigned LED taillights. These intuitive turn signals illuminate sequentially within two-tenths of a second from the inside out in the direction the driver intends to turn.

Versatile The Audi Q3 offers plenty of space at all five seating positions.

Its clear ergonomics and the superior workmanship underscore the premium claim. In its base configuration, the cargo compartment of the Audi Q3 has a capacity of 460 litres; by folding down the split rear seatbacks, this can be increased to 1,365 liters. Many clever options make the SUV even more versatile and easier to use.

These include the luggage compartment package, a pass-through and the power tailgate. Roof rails and a new, extensible luggage compartment cover are standard.

Equipment and trim The new Audi Q3 features a generous list of standard equipment.

This can be supplemented with

features taken directly from the luxury class, such as the LED interior lighting package and the power-adjustable front seats.

With respect to driver assistance systems, the secondary collision brake assist is standard.

Customers can order the assistance systems described below as options. With Audi side assist, a yellow LED indicator illuminates in the housing of the outside mirror if another vehicle is in the blind spot or is approaching rapidly from the rear. Audi active lane assist works with video cameras that detect the lane markings. It gently intervenes in the steering to help the driver return to the lane if he or she comes too close to a line without indicating.

MMI navigation plus is the high end infotainment solution from Audi. The ideal complement to MMI navigation plus is Audi connect, which connects the Audi Q3 to the Internet. Passengers can use the integrated WiFi hotspot to surf or e-mail. The starting price of the redesigned Audi Q3, which Audi builds at its Martorell plant outside Barcelona, Spain, is $33,400.

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McDonald’s introduces Camembert Cheese Bites

Eurostar launches new Asianet Mobile TV app The Malaylam TV Tablet is part of the Eurostar ePad range and is designed specifically for the Malayalee community with access to TV and radio channels any time anywhere

MUSCAT: Eurostar Group, the leading digital and consumer technology innovator in the Middle East, announced the launch of Asianet Mobile TV Tablet and app for the GCC — a bouquet of 20 popular Malayalam television channels that could be watched and an entire range of radio channels on mobile device on the go.

The service is launched in partnership with Asianet Mobile and Xperio Labs.

The Malaylam TV Tablet is part

of the Eurostar ePad range and is designed specifically for the Malayalee community with access to TV and radio channels any time anywhere. Priced at OMR29.9, the product is launched exclusively with Lulu hypermarkets and is available all across the GCC. The tablet comes with a free activation and two months subscription, says a press release.

The 7” High definition Tablet comes with a 8GB ROM, 3G Connectivity and a 3000 mAH battery;

E X PA N S I O N

which ensures that the users are able to get the best possible experience from all the 20 Malayalam TV and radio channels.

The Asianet mobile TV app can be directly downloaded to any Android or Apple Tablet or mobile and consumers can subscribe separately for the service and can be exclusively purchased on goeurostar.com/mobiletv. All you need is a 1 mbps or higher data connection to enjoy a great quality of video. The service works on all data connections: 4G/3G mobile connections and WiFi. The GoEurostar site has an introductory offer for a six months package which includes subscriptions across smart devices with 20 Live Malayalam TV Channels and a 20 Radio Channels for only OMR9.30.The procedure to avail the subscriptions can be obtained from the website.

Announcing the new service, Raju Jethwani, chairman of Eurostar Group, said: “Eurostar is pleased to launch the Asianet Mo-

bile TV App and Eurostar Asianet Tablet. Eurostar has always been on the forefront of introducing innovative and latest technologies in the GCC and beyond.

“We are certain that Malayalam TV Live will be a game changer in its segment. The 3G Function on the tablet will enable the customer to access their favourite channel anywhere, anytime.”

The channels that are part of the basic package of Malayalam Live TV are Asianet News, Kairali, People, Jeevan, Mathrubhumi TV, Reporter, Kappa, Rosebowl, Jai Hind, Flowers, Sakhi, Janam, Shalom, MediaOne, Amrita, WE, Kaumadi, Safari, ACV and PowerVision.

“Xperio Labs is honoured to provide its streaming media platform to power the Asianet Mobile TV service. Malayalees all over GCC can now enjoy their favourite TV and radio channels anytime, anywhere with our simple, elegant and intuitive application on their tablets and smartphones,” said Roshan D’Souza, president of Xperio Labs.

MUSCAT: McDonald’s Oman continues to bring in new surprises for customers looking for delectable tastes that are enjoyable and easy on the budget.

For the first time ever, McDonald’s introduced the Camembert Cheese Bites which is light and crispy and can be enjoyed for only 750 Baisa. It’s available for a limited time in Oman, says a press release.

Made with high quality Camembert cheese and cooked in 100 per cent vegetable oil, the new treat is served hot and fresh in five pieces, perfect for sharing with friends and loved ones.

It can be enjoyed on its own or as a delicious accompaniment to any meal.

“McDonald’s always gives customers more reasons to enjoy our menu by bringing in new high quality products that are affordable and delicious, designed to bring families and friends together. The latest addition to our menu, Camembert Cheese Bites will bring joy and satisfaction to the palates of the young and the

Made with high quality Camembert cheese and cooked in 100 per cent vegetable oil, the new treat is served hot and fresh in five pieces young at heart,” said Ali K. Daud, Development Licensee and President of McDonald’s Oman (Al Daud Restaurants).

Reflecting McDonald’s ongoing commitment to serving top quality food at an affordable price, Camembert Cheese Bites is being offered as part of the McDonald’s snack and value menu.

It promises a delightful taste and fun that customers have come to expect from McDonald’s products. Camembert Cheese Bites has a delightful taste cheese lovers will surely love.

D E V E L O P I N G O M A N I TA L E N T

Khimji Ramdas keeps supporting sports talents at grassroots level

Malabar Gold opens outlet in Karnataka MUSCAT: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, one among the world’s leading jewellery retailers and flagship company of Malabar Group has expanded its network in Karnataka with the inauguration of new world class showroom in Shivamogga. This is the 14th showroom in Karnataka.

The spacious and artistically done showroom was inaugurated by popular South Indian actor Puneeth Rajkumar in the presence of O. Asher, managing director, Malabar Gold & Diamonds recently, says a press release.

The showroom is located opposite to State Bank of Mysore, B.H. Road, Shivamogga.

Apart from displaying jewellery specific to the culture and celebrations of Karnataka, the store displays the exclusive range of sub brands from Malabar Gold & Diamonds: Mine – Diamond jewellery, Era - Uncut Diamond Jewellery, Precia - Precious Gem Jewellery, Divine - Indian Heritage Jewellery, Ethnix Handcrafted designer Jewellery Starlet – Kids’ Jewellery and Hicasual jewellery.

The showroom also has an impressive stock of platinum jewellery apart from gold and diamond and silver jewellery.

According to Asher, “Apart from showcasing latest collections in traditional as well as contemporary designs, understanding the cultural ethos and ornamental preferences of a region has played a pivotal role in making the retail jeweller popular among the masses, cutting across cultures and geographical boundaries.”

Having 134 showrooms in nine countries, expansion plans in India include new showrooms in Nellore (Andhra), Vadodara (Gu-

Apart from showcasing latest collections in traditional as well as contemporary designs, understanding the cultural ethos and ornamental preferences of a region has played a pivotal role in making the retail jeweller popular among the masses O. Asher MD, Malabar Gold & Diamonds

jarat) Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu) and on the international front more showrooms in Middle East, South Asia, USA and UK. Apart from being a successful business entity, Malabar Group has always been in the forefront of social responsibility initiatives, earmarking five percent of its annual profit for corporate social responsibilities initiatives in the field of health, education, housing, environmental conservation and women’s empowerment.

MUSCAT: The Khimji Ramdas Group has been a long-time supporter of the Itifaq Club as part of continuous efforts to develop young Omani talent in the field of sports. Its longstanding support of the organisation was recently rewarded when the football team decided to carry the KR logo on their official jersey, says a press release.

“The KR Group has been a strong supporter of sports especially since it aligns with our ideologies of building better communities through developing local talent. As a `people power’ company, driven by humanity and social welfare, we strive to act as enablers of progress and encourage potential whenever we see an opportunity to do so.

“Our support of the Itifaq Club reflects this philosophy. And it gives us great joy to see the team bear the KR logo as they proceed on to victory,” said Rajive Ahuja, head, Corporate Communications.

“We are thankful and extremely grateful to the KR Group for their continued assistance and support through various channels. The team has indeed been a fortunate beneficiary of KR’s generosity.

“We in turn show our appreciation by proudly sporting KR’s

company logo on the team’s official jersey. It is but a small token of thanks for their unconditional support,” said Ibrahim bin Saif Rudaini, vice-chairman of the Itifaq sports team.

Established in 1972, Itifaq consists of 142 members, 20 per cent (10 players) of whom are KR employees. The 26-member team participates in local (in Al Khabourah), regional (in the Al Bati-

nah North Governorate) and external matches. The football team partakes in eight tournaments each year; they are also competing in the Al Suwaiq tournament taking place in August and September.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Renault Oman’s Facebook page gains momentum MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributor of Renault vehicles in Oman, has been in the forefront of innovation and inspirational ideas. In an effort to make Renault a more viable brand in Oman its Facebook page has been receiving some rave reviews from car aficionados.

The Renault Oman Facebook page directs viewers to dedicated links which comprise Renault’s interactive car videos, pictorial galleries, aesthetic details, and weekly winner updates.

The Renault Oman Facebook page has enabled viewers to engage themselves with all the information on vehicles and a testament to that is its gradual increase in the demand for additional content and exclusive offers.

The page also provides a plethora of information on the wide range of models from Renault which is updated on a daily basis to provide the latest information at all times comprising interactive videos,

cars earning this top score, it’s more than any other manufacturer.

International approach Renault’s exponential penetration in the international market has been significant in the last few years. Along with that, its safety policies are also being modified to match stringent safety standards.

Renault engineers design hi-tech equipment to prevent risky situations, by alerting the driver and making driving easier. behind-the-scenes access, international news, pictorial galleries, aesthetic details, and unique model features. The page also regularly runs contests on all its latest models to keep viewers enticed and engaged at all times. The aim has been to be at par with customers’ requirements and needs.

Today, Renault offers a classy range of vehicles of which the best sellers are the Fluence, the strikingly good looking Safrane, the Duster and the newly launched

Captur. The SUV range also comprises the dynamic Koleos.

Highest safety rating Safety is a key priority for Renault so it is not surprising that, across the range, Renault cars have scored top marks in the Euro NCAP safety tests, carried out on each class of vehicle.

Koleos is now the 10th Renault to be awarded the top 5 star adult occupancy score and follows the Laguna, Clio and Mégane. With 12

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

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Meethaq upgrades its Islamic core banking system for better services iMAL is a Sharia-compliant core banking system certified by the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions

MUSCAT: Meethaq, the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman from Bank Muscat, as part of continuous endeavour to provide world class services through the latest technology and innovation, has upgraded its core banking system, resulting in a host of cutting edge and first-of-its-kind Islamic banking services covering ATM/

CDM, debit card and mobile banking for Meethaq customers.

Meethaq now functions with the new iMal core banking system, says a press release.

Sulaiman Al Harthy, group general manager, Islamic Banking, said: “Meethaq is delighted to successfully implement the upgrade to a state-of-the-art Islamic core banking solution incorporating the latest technology to meet the bank’s requirements of Shari’a compliance, cost-optimisation, improving profitability and serving customers faster and efficiently. With this upgrade, the bank is able to fulfil numerous new business requirements and customer demands.”

Al Harthy added: ‘The upgrade stems from Meethaq’s commitment and focus to take the lead role in offering a suite of Shari’a based banking products and services. Meethaq has adopted the best practices in Islamic banking and finance worldwide to combine a robust model which protects customers and complements the Islamic banking industry. The Meethaq strategy is to attract cus-

Meethaq is delighted to successfully implement the upgrade to a state-of-the-art Islamic core banking solution incorporating the latest technology to meet the bank’s requirements of Shari’a compliance, cost-optimisation, improving profitability and serving customers faster and efficiently Sulaiman Al Harthy Group general manager, Islamic Banking

tomers through innovative Shari’a based products and services. We thank our customers for their cooperation during the upgrade.”

Mohammed Kateeb, group chairman & CEO of Path Solutions, said:

“It is exciting to see the results of the partnership between Bank Muscat and Path Solutions, bringing the bank’s Meethaq Islamic operations to a successful upgrade to iMAL core banking. The partner-

VA L U E D E A L

ship with the flagship financial services provider and the pioneer of Islamic banking in Oman endorses the leadership position of Path Solutions as the number one provider of Islamic banking IT solutions. I

congratulate both organisations on this amazing success.” iMal is a Sharia-compliant core banking system certified by the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions. It is an integrated, modular Islamic banking suite with full functionality, including retail, corporate, investment, trade finance, and treasury modules. It supports multi-company and multi-bank environments and is truly global in scope, incorporating both multi-currency and multi-lingual capabilities. In addition, iMAL contains robust risk management and security features that provide a flexible, user-friendly interface while allowing Islamic banks to have complete control over their financial systems.

Bank Muscat is also using iMal Islamic core banking system for its subsidiaries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Industry consolidation, increasing compliance and competitive advantage are some of the key elements considered by Meethaq to upgrade its core banking system.

STRONG PERFORMANCE

Huawei Oman posts impressive growth

Al Hashar offers cash gift on Jinbei buses MUSCAT: Boasting international quality, safety and value-for-money features, Jinbei buses have become one of the fastest growing brands in the Sultanate.

Enhancing the brand’s appeal further are the OMR1,000 cash gift and other benefits offered by its exclusive dealer Al Hashar on all vehicles being purchased till September 10.

The cash back offer also includes free service for two years/35,000km, warranty for three years/100,000km, and free first year

registration, says a press release.

“Whether you choose the Jinbei standard bus or Jinbei high roof wide body bus, you get good value for money,” asserts a company spokesperson.

Customers can also rely on Al Hashar’s world-class after-sales support provided through a strong network of quality service centres located across the Sultanate. Jinbei buses are a favourite among businesses that value their proven profit-making qualities.

Driven by Toyota Technology,

Jinbei buses are manufactured by leading Chinese automaker Brilliance Auto, the ISO 9001:2000 certified company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The 16-seater H2 High Roof Wide Body Bus is fast growing in popularity in Oman.

It is powered by a 2.4 litre engine while ABS+EBD provide enhanced safety. The H2 has many other versatile features that include central locking as well as rear foldable seats, reverse parking sensors, rear defroster and

rear wipers.

For business, the bus is like a ‘Work-horse’, a reliable transport solution offering the latest in design, technology and safety. The 15-seater standard bus is powered by a 2.2 Litre engine running powerfully on 4-cylinders.

Customers use the 15-seater standard bus on a daily basis to shuttle people. The 15-seater standard bus is an efficient people mover. A favourite in particular among businesses that value their proven profit-making qualities.

RECRUIT QUOTES The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.

— Warren Bennis Focus on a few key objectives ... I only have three things to do. I have to choose the right people, allocate the right number of dollars, and transmit ideas from one division to another with the speed of light. So I’m really in the business of being the gatekeeper and the transmitter of ideas. — Jack Welch

MUSCAT: Oman remains a strong market for Chinese telecommunications manufacturer Huawei according to the company’s 2015 performance report and market survey analysis.

The brand registered an impressive Year on Year (YoY) growth of 69 per cent grossing a total revenue of $12.7 million in the Oman Consumer Business Goods sector. The report’s findings show an overall 48 per cent growth for Huawei Technologies’ Middle East segment on the back of robust revenues to the tune of $611 million for the same period, says a press release.

According to Bill Yu, director of Oman Huawei CBG, “The midto high-end smartphone devices are the major profit drivers in these markets. If you look at the sales figures, you’ll see that in the Oman CBG, the smartphone segment represents 52 per cent of the total revenue whereas the Mate7 makes up 23.7 of the seg-

ment’s total revenue.”

He attributed this success to the company’s core strategy of focusing on mid- to high-end handsets, which also significantly increased product shipment.

Huawei’s flagship device shipment crossed the five million mark, with the P7 surpassing 7 million units and the Mate 7 jumping well over 5 million units sold worldwide.

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Toyota unveils new Hilux in Oman The Eighth generation 2016 Hilux is not only a tough vehicle, but an advanced pickup with stylish cues hitherto found only on SUVs MUSCAT: The all-new Toyota Hilux was launched in Oman at a function attended by prominent personalities from the public and the private sector.

The guests of honour at the event were Koji Nagata, general manager, Middle East and North Africa Division, Toyota Motor Corporation and Osamu Tomioka, assistant chief engineer, 2016 Hilux, Toyota Motor Corporation, says a press release.

“At Saud Bahwan Automotive, it is a matter of tremendous satisfaction to note that Toyota has made rapid strides in Oman. Many of the models such as the Corolla, Camry and Hilux are household names while others such as the Land Cruiser enjoy iconic status,” said Salim Mohamed Bahwan of Saud Bahwan Group, in his message.

“The new Hilux is tougher than we can imagine and at the same time provides SUV-like comfort.

With this unmatched combination the new Hilux aims at ushering in a new era for pickup trucks. We are confident that the new Hilux will exceed expectations of our customers,” he concluded.

In his keynote address Koji Nagata highlighted TMC’s customer focus. “We are one company that really believes our customers always come first. We offer the highest levels of safety and quality. A Toyota delivers true peace of mind as well as an emotional experience.

One of our slogans is “Creating Ever-better Cars”. It’s more than just words, it’s a mission,” he said.

Speaking about the Hilux, Nagata added, “Today’s all-new Hilux is the first full model change in ten years. I think you will find it stunning in design and amenity outside and inside. Performance and safety are greatly upgraded, with a new frame and suspension and other features that are totally new. And it’s tougher than ever!

“The Hilux is one of our core products sold in over 180 countries, a major driver of our global strategy. In fact, it’s the world’s number one pickup in sales. In the Middle East, of course, the Hilux has led the field for a long time.”

Later in the evening the assis-

tant chief engineer of the all-new Toyota Hilux, Osamu Tomioka shared his experience about the development process.

He said, “Until now, a vehicle’s value was determined by how ‘tough’ it was. However, in developing Hilux, we wanted to fundamentally rethink what ‘tough’ means. We heard from people that the vehicles are the foundation of their lives, an indispensable tool, space for the family, and so on. By getting to know the roads and the people, we learned that a different kind of “tough” was needed.

Under rough road conditions, of course vehicle should be tough. In addition to that, sometimes long hour drives with family also require tough which means keeping

it comfortable and safe.”

Further highlighting what sets the Hilux apart he said, “Seeing is believing brought us more meaning to toughness. It meant high fuel efficiency for long fuel range, good riding comfort for long safe driving, noiseless cabin for communication correctly.

“To realise the development concept, we performed a lot of field tests on various roads, conditions, environments of all over the world.

The all new Hilux is all about ‘Redefining Toughness’.”

The Eighth generation 2016 Hilux is therefore not only a tough vehicle, but an advanced pick-up with stylish cues hitherto found only on SUVs. The front of the new Hilux gives a sense that the vehicle

is wider than it is. This is achieved by the horizontal bars that make up the grille and sleek headlamps that wrap around the front of the fenders. The new Hilux sports a thick, chunky Front steel bumper sculpted like a SUV vehicle, Front Fog lamps, new design Alloy wheels and wheel caps, new design rear lamp with chrome garnish apart from new side stripes which adorn the vehicle.

The vehicle’s interior continues the concept of “Tough and Emotional”, and reflects the same attention to detail as the exterior with SUV vehicle styling, accents and ornamentations. The key all new features that keep you comfortable are the Auto A/C, Steering wheel with audio switches and ad-

vanced controls, newly introduced Multi-Information Display (MID), 7” Display Audio with DVD and many more.

Equal importance has been provided to the technical superiority and safety features of the new Hilux. The noteworthy features are 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options, newly developed 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 148 HP. The all new Hilux comes equipped with a number of active and passive safety features like ABS (Anti-lock Brake System), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, SRS Airbags for the Driver and front Passenger and knee airbag for the driver.

The entertaining evening also

featured a one-of-a-kind creative performance by ‘The Queen of the Sand’ – Shayma. An Omani artist, Shayma wowed the audience with her spectacular act leaving the spectators thoroughly amazed.

This act was then followed by an exciting acrobatic performance which then led to a dramatic unveiling of the 2016 Hilux.

The all-new Hilux drew a very enthusiastic response from the distinguished guests. “This pickup is a serious expression of toughness and comfort”, remarked a young invitee. “I’m sure the Hilux will draw a very good response making it a very successful model here in Oman,” remarked another.

All-new Hilux is now on display at your nearest Toyota showroom.

BEST AFTER SALES SERVICE

Eint Automotive receives appreciation from Primax MUSCAT: Eint Automotive, a successful division of WJ Towell, has emerged as a leader in the auto care aftermarket segment.

Recognised not just locally, but drawing numerous international accolades, Eint Automotive recently received a token of appreciation from the suppliers of Primax Batteries, recognising their best after sales service to the customers in Oman compared to their other brands in the Sultanate od Oman.

Korean battery supplier and leading manufacturer in Asia has awarded Eint Automotive for their keen efforts in marketing

Primax Batteries in Oman, says a press release.

Support “We have always received a lot of support from the Primax ser-

vice engineers,” said Shajahan Azeez, Business Unit Head, Eint Automotive, PLB division. “They have made careful modifications to their batteries, undergone cautious pre-testing before they set foot in the Oman market and carried out thorough verification processes to ensure only the best of product reached its customers.

Our team, on the other hand, has capitalised on their efforts and coupled it with their industry and market knowledge to reach out to an extensive customer base.

The result was an increase in the popularity and steady escalation of demand for Primax batteries.”

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SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

FAMILY AFFAIR: Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia celebrates after winning the women’s 1,500 metres final in Beijing on Tuesday. – Reuters

S

REDS MISFIT BALOTELLI RETURNS TO AC MILAN Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli said he is ready to resurrect his career as he re-joined AC Milan on a seasonlong loan deal that has divided fans and pundits in Italy. >C4

PERFORMER OF HIGHEST CLASS: Greg Rutherford, left, of Britain poses with world record holder Mike Powell of the U.S. after winning long jump gold in Beijing on Tuesday. – Reuters

Rudisha roars, Dibaba dominantes performance,” said Dibaba, who finished in four minutes 8.09 seconds.

“My sister won the gold medal in this stadium at the (2008) Olympic Games so I wanted to share this family experience.”

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon declared Dibaba her “hero” after winning silver, while Sifan Hassan was a distant third to take bronze for the Netherlands.

Bett gave Kenya its first gold medal in the 400m hurdles with a scorching finish to clock 47.79 seconds, the fastest time of the year and his own personal best.

Running in lane nine where it is impossible to see your rivals for most of the race, the 23-year-old went past more than half the field after the final bend to pip Russia’s Denis Kudryavtsev on the line.

Since a serious knee injury in 2013, the once all but unbeatable Rudisha has looked vulnerable against fast-finishing rivals and so it was as much with relief as joy that he celebrated the return of the world title

BEIJING: David Rudisha strained every sinew to win gold and Genzebe Dibaba dominated in the way the Kenyan once did at the World Athletics Championships on Tuesday.

While Rudisha’s 800 metres victory was not a patch on the brilliant run that won him gold in a world record time at the London Olympics, there was a reminder of one of the great nights of that Games when Britain’s Greg Rutherford won long jump gold.

Nicholas Bett showed finishing speed his compatriot Rudisha would have been proud of to win a surprise gold in the 400 metres hurdles and Cuba’s Denia Caballero was a shock winner in the women’s discus courtesy of her opening throw of 69.28m.

Since a serious knee injury in

DELIGHTED: David Lekuta Rudisha of Kenya on his way to men’s 800m gold at the IAAF World Athletic Championships at the National Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday. – Reuters

2013, the once all but unbeatable Rudisha has looked vulnerable against fast-finishing rivals and so it was as much with relief as joy that he celebrated the return of the world title he also won in 2011.

“I am delighted about this gold medal,” he said after crossing the line in one minute 45.84 seconds.

“It means a lot to me. Especially after all those disappointments I had this year. During the last month I had a problem with my speed but when I got it back I knew I could win this race.”

Pole Adam Kszczot came closest to running Rudisha down and took silver, while Amel Tuka finished

third to win a first world championship medal for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Genzebe Dibaba’s family already owns 11 Olympic and world distance gold medals through her sister Tirunesh and cousin Derartu Tulu and the 24-year-old added a first at 1,500m with a stunning

display of front-running.

Slowed by the tactics of her rivals over the first 700 metres, the Ethiopian took the lead with two laps to go and destroyed her rivals with the sort of pace that claimed her the world record in Monaco last month.

“It’s great to have such a strong

Highest class Rutherford, who won Olympic gold on “Super Saturday” in London, proved himself a championship performer of the highest class by securing a full set of major titles with a leap of 8.41m, his best of the year.

“European champion, Olympic champion and now world champion, it’s unbelievable, it’s the most incredible thing,” he said after battling a severe headache to win gold. I have been dreaming of this for a long time. I can’t believe I’ve done this.”

Rutherford joined an illustrious list of Britons who have simultaneously held Olympic, world, European and Commonwealth titles in Daley Thompson, Sally Gunnell, Jonathan Edwards and Linford Christie.

Australia’s Fabrice Lapierre also fought through the pain of a hamstring injury to win silver and bronze went to the youngest of the trio of Chinese in the final, Wang Jianan. - Reuters

CONFIDENT

Bolt shrugs off Gatlin threat in 200m race Everybody knows the 200 actually means more for me than the 100 so I’m trying to get through the rounds as comfortably as possible and using as little energy as possible Usain Bolt Jamaica

BEIJING: Usain Bolt icily dismissed the threat of American Justin Gatlin after the fierce rivals cruised into the semifinals of the 200 metres at the World Athletic Championships on Tuesday.

The Jamaican superstar, who pipped two-time doping offender Gatlin to win gold in Sunday’s final in Beijing, eased up with some 50 metres to go after coming off the bend well ahead of the field to win his heat in 20.28 seconds.

Gatlin, game-face on after failing in his bid to dethrone Bolt as the king of men’s sprinting, won his heat in 20.19.

But Bolt, whose 100m victory gave athletics a boost after allegations of widespread doping plunged the sport into crisis, shrugged when asked if was confident of beating Gatlin once more to retain his double world sprint title.

“I’m always confident, man,” sniffed the six-time Olympic champion and world record-holder.

“I knew the 200 was going to be harder because I’m not in the best of fitness,” added Bolt, who struggled with pelvic joint pain earlier

in the season. “Definitely I was trying to make sure I ran at least 130 metres of the race and then I kind of shut it down.

“Everybody knows the 200 actually means more for me than the 100 so I’m trying to get through the rounds as comfortably as possible and using as little energy as possible.”

Azeri-born Turk Ramil Guliyev grabbed his moment in the spotlight to record the fastest time of the heats in a national record 20.01.

‘Difficult race’ “The race felt good,” said Gatlin, who had been unbeaten in 28 races stretching back two years to the Moscow world championships before being floored again by his nemesis Bolt.

“The 100m final was a difficult race for me, also emotionally. I made some mistakes at the end of the race but now I’m going for the 200. I have two more days to go.”

Among those who also advanced to Wednesday’s semifinals were 16-year-old Japanese schoolboy Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, who

clocked 20.35 behind Gatlin to earn the American’s respect.

“My race would have been slower but Sani pushed me so much,” said the 33-year-old Gatlin. “This young guy from Japan is phenomenal.”

Sani Brown, who shot to fame in Japan by claiming a sprint double at last month’s world youth championships, was almost lost for words.

“It’s a dream for me to run at the world championships with these stars,” he grinned.

“I’m just very grateful to be here.

I was a bit ragged at the end but I think I can go faster.”

Born to a Japanese mother and Ghanaian father, Sani Brown insisted he had not felt nervous about racing alongside Gatlin.

“To be honest I didn’t feel like I was racing him at all,” said the youngster, who was ordered by his mother to choose track over football when in elementary school. “It was just a great experience.”

The 200m final takes place on Thursday at the Bird’s Nest stadium. - AFP

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SPORTS

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CRICKET

Qatar in talks to host Pakistan Twenty20 league DOHA: Football World Cup 2022 host Qatar is poised to move into the lucrative international Twenty20 cricket market as the venue for the inaugural Pakistan Super League, officials said on Tuesday.

The head of the Qatar Cricket Association, Gul Khan said there was a “70 percent” chance Doha would host the tournament, to be played in February 2016, following three days of talks with the senior members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the weekend.

PCB officials are expected to re-

turn to Qatar in early September when a final decision will be taken.

“We want some big international tournaments here,” Khan said.

“This is a good experience for everybody. It’s good for Qatar, it’s good for cricket.”

He added that “big players, big names” would take part in the tournament.

The PCB is looking for a venue after its first choice of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) gave priority to a separate tournament involving former players.

Details of the Super League tournament have yet to be finalised, said Khan, but there will be at least five teams. Most of the players are expected to be from Pakistan but Khan added they would be looking to bring in players from other major cricket nations including India, Australia and England.

Media reports from Pakistan earlier this month claimed the PCB would in September begin the bidding process for selling team franchises, as well as broadcasting and merchandising rights.

The tournament would be played at Doha’s Asian Town Cricket Stadium, which has a 14,000 seat capacity, and it is likely all games would be day/night matches. The event should prove popular among Qatar’s huge Asian community.

There are around 90,000 people from Pakistan living in Qatar, a number which is expected to rise in the near future with the influx of more workers needed for the huge number of infrastructure projects taking place in the Gulf state.

In addition, there are large numbers of people from other strong Asian cricketing nations including more than half a million residents from India, 150,000 from Bangladesh and 100,000 from Sri Lanka.

Khan said it was hoped that the super league could attract spectators from nearby UAE. The tournament could also pave the way for Qatar to host Pakistan Test matches.

Currently Pakistan plays its Test matches outside the country because of security concerns.

Pakistan will play Ashes win-

ners England in a three-match Test series in the UAE in October and November. If the negotiations secure the tournament in Qatar, it will reinforce the Gulf state’s position as a major sporting hub.

As well as the 2022 football World Cup, Qatar is set to host the World Athletics Championships in 2019, and last year hosted the short-course World Swimming Championships. Officials will announce within the next month if Qatar will bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. - AFP

Ashes to dashes as both England and Australia fail Test exam The fifth day wasn’t needed in any of the matches, with the nearest thing to a ‘close’ contest, England’s 169-run win in the series opener in Cardiff AGGRESSIVE CRICKET: It became such an ingrained mantra, it was almost as if the thought of playing out a maiden filled some batsmen with a sense of dread. – Agencies

LONDON: One of the charms of Test cricket is that a match scheduled to last five days allows for the possibility of a fightback, even if a team falls behind early on.

It was a charm, however, completely lacking from the 2015 Ashes, which ended with England winning the five-match series 3-2 despite Australia’s innings and 46run win in the concluding Test at The Oval on Sunday.

This Ashes equalled in length the shortest five-Test series of modern times of 18 days that took place when England played the West Indies in 2000.

The fifth day wasn’t needed in any of the matches, with the nearest thing to a ‘close’ contest, England’s 169-run win in the series

opener in Cardiff. Prior to the series both sides spoke about their intention to play aggressive cricket.

It became such an ingrained mantra, it was almost as if the thought of playing out a maiden filled some batsmen with a sense of dread.

Australia rectified their approach at The Oval, where their opening boundary did not arrive until the 15th over of the match and they still piled up 481, but by then it was too late to save the Ashes.

“Full credit to England — they won the key moments in this series, they outplayed us,” said Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

“We had four of the five top wicket-takers and three of the four

top run-scorers, but we didn’t win the key moments,” the former Australia batsman added.

“It was an unbelievable series.”

Arguably the most “unbelievable” aspect of all was Australia’s collapse to 60 all out in just 111 balls on the opening morning of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge, with England paceman Stuart Broad taking eight for 15.

Home advantage The green-tinged pitch at Trent Bridge re-opened the debate about just how much home advantage is acceptable.

While the English climate produces surfaces that are generally more conducive to swing and

seam bowling than many places elsewhere in the world, there was a feeling following Australia’s 405run victory in the second Test on a docile pitch at Lord’s of groundsmen being instructed to prepare wickets that aided horizontal movement.

The irony was that it needed an Australian, in new England coach Trevor Bayliss, to point this out.

But while the WACA pitch in Perth may be quicker than many around the world, at least visiting teams know what they are going to get, whereas the suspicion remains that wickets in England can too often be made to order.

“I think Test cricket is a five-day battle...The fans of the game de-

serve to see a really good contest for five days,” said retiring Australia captain Michael Clarke.

“I think the past three Test matches have not been that case.”

Unsurprisingly, Bayliss disagreed, pointing out that playing the moving ball was a skill in itself.

“You look at the five games, if the second team had batted like the first we would have had five-day games,” said Bayliss.

“The wicket didn’t change in 10 minutes from one innings to the next and it certainly didn’t change in an hour and a half at Trent Bridge.

“I think the wickets, with a bit in them, is different to what these guys are used to. I think the bat-

TEST CRICKET

UNOFFICIAL TEST

Five-star Patel helps India A bowl out South Africa A KRISHNAGIRI: Despite an impressive 96 by opening batsman Stiaan van Zyl, South Africa A were bundled out for 260 in their first innings thanks to India A left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s outstanding five-wicket haul on Day One of the second and final fourday match at the Krishnagiri Stadium here on Tuesday.

Spinners did the job for the hosts as Axar returned with figures of five for 92 alongside Jayant Yadav’s three for 53 and Karn Sharma’s two for 36 to help them finish the day on a high after van Zyl briefly gave the visitors an upper hand during the morning session.

Opting to bat, the visitors got off to a slow start. Openers Reeza Hendricks (22) and van Zyl took time to get used to the conditions.

With the visitors scoring at below three runs per over in the first 20, India A took best advantage of their cautious approach to claim the first wicket in the 22nd over with Patel giving the hosts the breakthrough.

ters have to learn to fight a little bit harder...Just to watch batsmen belting the ball everywhere, to me, is not what Test cricket is about.”

But the fact just three of the last 14 completed Test series won by the away team — Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and Australia in the West Indies — suggests that an age of ever shorter tours and back-to-back matches is making life harder for visiting sides as never before.

“I think winning away from home for every Test country is the big thing now,” said Lehmann.

“That’s the challenge for the world game because there’s a huge advantage playing at home.” - AFP

Spinners did the job for the hosts as Axar returned with figures of five for 92 alongside Jayant Yadav’s three for 53 and Karn Sharma’s two for 36 to help them finish the day on a high

Incoming batsman Gihahn Cloete (26), partnering van Zyl, ensured that the visitors crossed the 100-run mark.

But the 49-run partnership came to an end when Yadav got

the better of Cloete with South Africa score on 107.

Centurion in the first match, Omphile Ramela (30) looked set for another big score but got himself out to put the visitors at 185 for three in the 59th over.

But the fall of wickets at the other end did not bother as van Zyl who scored freely to inch closer to an impressive ton. But to his surprise, Jadav got him clean bowled just four runs short of a century. Van Zyl struck 13 fours and one six in his innings.

Jadav gave the hosts more to celebrate about as the 25-yearold, in his next over, got the crucial wicket of in-form batsman Quinton de Kock (0).

Temba Bavuma (17), Dane Vilas (24), Dane Piedt (12), Hardus Viljoen (0), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (0) all fell quickly to end their first innings at 260 in 89.5 overs.

Brief scores: South Africa A 260 (Stiaan van Zyl 96; Axar Patel 5/92, Jayant Yadav 3/53, Karn Sharma 2/36) vs India A. - IANS

England to host Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2016 LONDON: England are to play three home Tests against Sri Lanka next year and four against Pakistan.

“Pakistan and Sri Lanka will attract strong support from their own communities in this country,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive officer Tom Harrison said in a statement on Tuesday.

The home team will bid to avenge last year’s 1-0 Test series defeat by Sri Lanka in matches in Leeds, Durham and Lord’s.

Pakistan, who are also England’s opponents in a three-test series in the UAE in October, will play Tests at Lord’s, Manchester, Birmingham and The Oval. “(Captain) Alastair Cook was absolutely right to acknowledge the contribution of England’s fans to our Ashes success,” added Harrison.

England will also take on both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in five One-day Internationals (ODIs) and a Twenty20 match. - Reuters

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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SPORTS Oman Karting Team achieve positive results in Belgium The races were badly hit by heavy rains and low temperatures added to tough conditions. However, Oman Karting Team, comprising Sanad Al Rawahi, Abdullah Al Rawahi, Shihab Al Habsi and Mohammed

RACING IN RAIN: Sanad Al Rawahi in action

Al Habsi, not only gained in experience but recorded commendable results

MUSCAT: Young Omani karting racers achieved positive results despite facing adverse weather and tough competition at the BNL Karting Series in Belgium.

The races were badly hit by heavy rains and low temperatures added to tough conditions. However, Oman Karting Team, comprising Sanad Al Rawahi, Abdullah Al Rawahi, Shihab Al Habsi and Mohammed Al Habsi, not only gained in experience but recorded commendable results.

Sanad Al Rawahi, who participate in the DD2 category, finished in the eight place. Shihab Al Habsi maintained the 11th place and Mohammed Al Habsi the sixth place in their respective categories.

In the DD2 qualifying sessions,

Sanad Al Rawahi

Abdullah Al Rawahi

Mohammed Al Habsi

Shihab Al Habsi

Sanad made it through his 14th place among the 24 competitors.

In the 16-lap first race, Sanad took 13th place. In the second race, he was in the 14th place when the organisers were forced to stop the race due to heavy rains.

Twenty minutes later, the race was resumed where he bagged the 12th place and due to the accidents he maintained the 19th place in the third round.

Eventually Sanad settled for overall eighth place with a total

of 172 points. In the Max Senior category, Abdullah Al Rawahi qualified from 12th place in a 34-strong field.

Despite doing well in all three races, Abdullah had to settle for 25th place as an accident in the third race affected his performance.

In the Max Mini, Shihab Al Habsi showed top form and qualified from fifth place from 19-competitor field. In the two races, he achieved 10th and 11th places re-

spectively. Meanwhile, in the Max Micro event, Mohammed Al Habsi qualified from seventh place in a 19-strong field.

In the first race, despite experiencing technical issues, he finished in sixth place and went on to maintain that position in the second race too.

Oman Karting Team Director Sulaiman Al Rawahi while praising the Omani racers performance said: “Despite tough competition and difficult conditions, the boys

achieved very positive results.”

“It’s good to see the way these boys performed. This experience will stand them in good stead in the future events,” he added.

He also informed that the team will now focus on the daily training sessions in preparation for the final round of the European Rotax Max Challenge Championship to be organised by The Rotax MAX in cooperation with the Commission Internationale de Karting (CIK) from September 4 to 6 in Belgium.

OMAN FACE QATAR IN GCC U-17 FOOTBALL SEMIFINAL Oman, who are unbeaten in the ongoing GCC Under-17 Football Championship in Doha, are scheduled to play hosts Qatar in the semifinals on Thursday. Oman topped Group A with two outright victories after defeating Kuwait 2-1 and Bahrain 2-0.

Yacoub Al Sabahi-coached Omanis will be take on Qatar, who finished second in Group B behind Saudi Arabia. The match will kick off 5 p.m. Oman time. The second semifinal involving Saudi Arabia and Kuwait will be played from 8 p.m. The final and the third place play-off will take place on Saturday. — Supplied photo

MOTORSPORT

FIA to carry out more closed cockpit tests LONDON: Formula One’s governing body is to carry out more tests on devices that could protect drivers’ heads from flying debris of the sort that killed British IndyCar racer Justin Wilson.

Former F1 driver Wilson suffered severe head injuries at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania on Sunday and died in hospital on Monday.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has tested various solutions, including cockpits enclosed by a fighter jet-style canopy, since Brazilian Felipe Massa was hit on the helmet by a bouncing spring in Hungary in 2009.

While none have produced anything where the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages, new ideas have been put forward that might protect the driver without obstructing his vision or trapping him in the event of the car overturning.

An FIA spokesman said the new tests were planned before Wilson’s accident and would take time. Two new ideas, one from world champions Mercedes and comprising a ‘halo’ or hoop positioned above the driver’s head, would be tried out.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting, the FIA technical head who is in charge of safety, said some sort of cockpit protection would be introduced eventually.

“We have to persevere,” he said. “We must make something, even if it’s not 100 percent in terms of protecting the driver under all circumstances. If it improves the situation, it has to be good. There must be a way.”

The debate on how to protect drivers’ exposed heads has been going on for years, and was revived after the death in July of Frenchman Jules Bianchi who suffered severe injuries when he crashed into a recovery tractor at Suzuka last October. - Reuters

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

SPORTS P R E S I D E N T I A L C A N D I D AT E

Reds misfit Balotelli returns to AC Milan Milan have made the deal official on their website and after emerging from a medical early on Tuesday morning Balotelli told reporters: “I’m happy to be back. This club is in my heart and I always hoped to play here again

HAPPY TO BE BACK: Mario Balotelli

MILAN: Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli said he is ready to resurrect his career as he re-joined AC Milan on a season-long loan deal that has divided fans and pundits in Italy.

Balotelli joined Liverpool from Milan in the summer of 2014 but after a dismal season at Anfield the controversial Italian striker has rejoined the seven-time European champions on a seasonlong loan deal.

Milan have made the deal official on their website and after emerging from a medical early on Tuesday morning Balotelli told reporters: “I’m happy to be back.

This club is in my heart and I always hoped to play here again.

“Physically, I’m in good condition, I just have to get training with the squad.”

Asked about his motivation, he said: “I’ve got plenty, but now is not the time to talk, it’s time to get to work.”

As for the future, he added: “I have to start work from today and to have a good season. Then we’ll see what happens.”

Balotelli’s failure to spark at Liverpool has also left his international career in tatters. He has yet to feature in any games for the Azzurri during qualifying for the 2016 European Championships in France next summer.

Yet it remains to be seen if the 25-year-old, who has often been accused of wasting his playing talent, can resurrect his career this season.

Balotelli, who began his career

with city rivals Inter Milan before moving to Manchester City in 2010, was feted by the vast majority of Milan fans when he joined the Rossoneri in January 2013. But the striker’s second spell at Milan is not being met with the same fervour — among fans, or in the media.

Recent polls have shown an overwhelming majority of fans to be against Balotelli’s return to the club. On Monday night a survey on the popular ‘Processo del Lunedi’ football show on Rai television indicated that close to 62 percent of fans were against Balotelli’s return.

Former Milan midfielder Zvonimir Boban, a respected pundit on Sky Sport who is often brutally honest in his opinions on football matters, called the club’s decision to take the player on loan “totally absurd”.

Boban had previously stated: “Let’s stop talking about him, he’s never achieved anything.”

Last week, the former Croatian international hit out: “I wish him all the best, but he’s never really taken off as a player. If he returns (to Milan), it is totally absurd.”

Milan, along with city rivals Inter, failed to qualify for Europe this season and both clubs face a make-or-break season after several years of underachievement.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has taken over the reins at Milan following the sacking of coach Filippo Inzaghi and he is expected to whip the Rossoneri into shape this season.

Balotelli has an opportunity to show that he is far from washed up, and the president of the Italian football federation, Carlo Tavecchio, lent the player his support.

“He seems to have forgotten what is means to suffer, to sacrifice. He gives the impression of someone who has been given everything too quickly because of his talent,” Tavecchio said.

“He has lost his way and needs to rediscover where it is now that he is back at Milan with the help of the club.

“If the Rossoneri can rebuild Balotelli, the whole of Italian football will benefit.”

Milan began the Serie A campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina on Sunday when Rodrigo Ely was sent off in the first half and fellow central defender Alessio Romagnoli gave away a penalty to La Viola in the second half.

Milan’s opening game of the season is against Empoli on Saturday. - AFP

Chung warns FIFA polls in danger of ‘being manipulated’ PARIS: FIFA presidential candidate Chung Mong-Joon on Tuesday warned the election to succeed Sepp Blatter was in danger of “being manipulated to a degree unseen even in previous notorious FIFA presidential elections”.

The 63-year-old billionaire South Korean has been subjected to attacks in the German press, who have not cited their source, since he launched his campaign to replace Blatter last week.

The 79-year-old Swiss stepped down shortly after winning a fifth term earlier this year with FIFA embroiled in allegations of corruption, 14 FIFA and sports business executives were charged by US authorities in May over more than $150 million in bribes allegedly paid for television and marketing deals.

Seven FIFA officials have been detained but Blatter has not been linked to any corruption case.

Chung, a former FIFA vicepresident, had on Saturday refuted the allegations against him in that he tried in 2010 to influence the vote in his home country’s favour for the hosting of the 2022 World Cup in violation of the body’s code of ethics -- Qatar were controversial winners and their victory along with Russia’s for 2018 is subject to one of the investigations.

However, on Tuesday Chung issued another statement in which he slammed the manner in which the campaign was being constantly affected by leaks springing from within FIFA and he said if the election was not seen to be fair then FIFA’s image would not recover.

“Whether or not the upcoming FIFA Presidential election takes place according to due process, fairness and openness will be the litmus test for whether or not genuine reform of FIFA will be possible,” read the statement.

“Only a fair and open election can resuscitate FIFA’s reputation which has been gravely undermined by scandals old and new.

“Unfortunately, there are increasing signs that the election is deteriorating into a typical FIFA affair with selective leaks of so-called ‘confidential’ information, accusations of wrong-doing based on ‘unconfirmed reports’, un-named ‘sources’ and ‘insiders’.

“The recent press reports attacking Dr. Chung’s character and integrity are based on such unconfirmed, leaked sources and full of factual distortions.”

Chung, who made an abortive bid for the Korean presidency in the 2002 race, once again emphasised that he was clean and not under threat of facing any FIFA disciplinary action.

“To be clear, contrary to recent press reports based on FIFA leaks, Dr. Chung is not facing any criminal charges or allegations of bribery, fraud, corruption, vote buying or even a breach of ‘conflict of interest’ under the FIFA Ethics Code from the Ethics Committee,” read the statement.

“Beyond that, Dr. Chung refrains from commenting on any possible Ethics Committee proceedings out of respect for confidentiality requests made by FIFA. “However, by leaking information that could only have come from within FIFA, FIFA is violating its own rules and regulations that it imposes upon others.

“Indeed, the current election is in danger of being manipulated to a degree unseen even in previous notorious FIFA presidential elections.”

Chung’s main rival to succeed Blatter is UEFA President Michel Platini — the election is to be held on February 26 next year.

Chung is a member of the family that owns the various arms of the Hyundai conglomerate. - AFP

PROBE TEAM

FIFA dismiss Indonesia claims ZURICH: FIFA have dismissed claims by Indonesia that they will visit Jakarta in October with a view to overturning the football ban on the Southeast Asian nation for government interference.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said on Friday FIFA would send an investigative team and see that all was well again in the country’s soccer governance, but the world

governing body said on Tuesday the trip was news to them.

“FIFA and AFC (Asian Football Confederation) would like to confirm that no such visit is planned,” a spokesman said.

“Nor will a FIFA/AFC mission take place until the respective governmental authorities have duly respected the principle of autonomy of sports organisations.” - Reuters

FORMULA ONE

Red Bull set to take strategic grid penalties at Monza LONDON: Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat are set to take strategic grid penalties at next week’s Italian Formula One Grand Prix to give themselves the best chance at the following race in Singapore.

“I’m fairly certain we will be taking new engines with both cars (at Monza) considering the amount of races left,” team principal Christian Horner told reporters after Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix.

“It’s inevitable that we will be staring down the barrel of our next penalty. “Strategically Monza is the most likely, we don’t want to be going into Singapore with old engines or any risk,” added Horner who saw Kvyat finish fourth in Spa while Ricciardo retired. “That’s really our next chance to shine.”

Monza is the fastest track on the

calendar and likely to favour Mercedes, whose engine has eclipsed the Renault unit in the back of the Red Bull since the V6 turbo hybrid was introduced last year.

But Singapore, a floodlit night race with a tight and twisty layout, should play more to Red Bull’s strengths after they finished second and third at equally slow Hungary and fourth and fifth in Monaco.

Red Bull finished second and third in Singapore last season.

Both Australian Ricciardo and Russian Kvyat have already had 10 place grid penalties this season, in Austria, for exceeding their allocation of four power units.

Their problems have been nothing as dramatic as Honda-powered McLaren, whose drivers collected a meaningless combined drop of

105 places on the 20-slot grid last weekend, but relations with Renault have been fractious.

Speculation in Spa suggested they may have reached breaking point already, with some claiming that the team had handed Renault a formal letter of intent to end the contract which expires in 2016 and seeking a deal with Mercedes.

Horner said the bigger question was what Renault were planning to do, with the French manufacturer assessing whether to quit the sport or become more involved as a full works outfit by buying another team.

“Hopefully that will become forthcoming in the next few weeks,” he said. “We’ve got an agreement with Renault until 2016 and anything other than that is purely speculation at the moment.” - Reuters

Strategically Monza is the most likely, we don’t want to be going into Singapore with old engines or any risk Christian Horner Red Bulls team principal

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SEASON-LONG DEAL

Chelsea’s Cuadrado on loan to Juventus MILAN: Chelsea forward Juan Cuadrado has signed for Juventus on a season-long loan deal, the Italian champions confirmed on Tuesday.

Cuadrado moved to Stamford Bridge in a 35 million euro ($40million) deal only six months ago from Fiorentina, but the Colombian international has become surplus to requirements under Blues coach Jose Mourinho.

Juventus have been looking to bolster their attacking midfield since the departure of Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) and Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) and amid the ongoing injury absence of Sami Khedira.

After completing a medical, Cuadrado was confirmed as Juve’s latest acquisition days ahead of a high-profile clash with scudetto rivals Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

“Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Juan Cuadrado has agreed terms to a season-long loan deal from English Premier League side Chelsea,” said a Juventus statement. “The Colombian winger, 27, will now link up with his new teammates in Vinovo ahead of this afternoon’s training session.”

The signing of Cuadrado has been welcomed by fans, especially after Juve’s shock 1-0 defeat to Udinese on the opening weekend of Serie A. - AFP

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SPORTS

Queiroz cautiously optimistic about future of Iran football The former Manchester United

There is no future without investment.

The future is all about how much you work today and prepare to anticipate the problems of the future

assistant boss is desperate for greater investment to help a side he led to last year’s World Cup, but spending is not easy

TEHRAN: Iran boss Carlos Queiroz is too well versed in soccer politics to accept all the issues he faces in his role will be fixed following the nuclear deal that will lift financial sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The former Real Madrid and Portugal manager has already resigned twice in his four years at the helm of the Iran side following rows with administrators on how to improve the running of the game in Asia’s best nation, according to FIFA rankings.

The former Manchester United assistant boss is desperate for greater investment to help a side he led to last year’s World Cup, but spending is not easy.

Mansour Ghanbarzadeh, an Ira-

Carlos Queiroz Iran coach

nian Football Federation committee member, said last month the IFF were still waiting on $10 million of World Cup prize money, frozen as part of international sanctions.

But that money, part of more than $100 billion of Iranian assets frozen abroad, should be unblocked soon after Iran and six major world powers reached an agreement last month imposing limits on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

“There is a lot of hope now.

There is a full field of positivity in front of us,” Queiroz said in a recent

interview of the deal. “Between the dream and reality sometimes there is a gap, but no doubt about it there is a lot of hope and everybody expects things will come much more easy for the preparation.”

One-sided marriage Queiroz complained of being in a one-sided marriage upon quitting the Iran job following the World Cup in Brazil last year, only to perform a U-turn and stay on.

He refused to name names, but hinted of continued tensions with

members of the IFF or sports ministry who didn’t agree where the money should be spent.

“Iranian football needs better fields, better facilities. We need to invest in coaching education, youth teams. A lot of areas we must invest and implement specifics,” he said.

“There is no future without investment. The future is all about how much you work today and prepare to anticipate the problems of the future. The less you do, the more problems you will face in future. The key point is not to talk

about today. But some people they are sure they are not here in 15-20 years so they don’t care about the future. This is not the right way.”

Queiroz’s main bug bear in his time in Tehran has been around preparation for tournaments. The Mozambique-born coach, 62, was unhappy with the lack of fixtures and cancelled training camps before the World Cup, where Iran came with a heart-breaking minute of holding eventual runners-up Argentina to a draw.

They played just two warmup matches, in comparison to six by other rivals, prior to January’s Asian Cup where they were knocked out by arch adversaries Iraq in the quarterfinals.

Since that tournament, though, Iran have played and beaten Chile, lost in Sweden and have Japan scheduled to visit in October.

“How it should be,” Queiroz said.

A further test of the IFF arrangement for better preparations would be next week’s joint 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers at home to Guam on September 3 and away to India five days later.

“The plan is already designed.

The vision is in place. Now they just need to execute the plan,” he said as Iran look to build on a disappointing opening 1-1 Group D draw in Turkmenistan.

“Next week we have a couple more games, we are still trying to implement the plan we designed, we will see next week the conditions that we have.” - Reuters

C O M F O R TA B L E

United’s defender Smalling enjoying new role as ‘bully’ LONDON: Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is enjoying “bullying” opposing forwards and says he is comfortable playing alongside centre-back partner Daley Blind.

Smalling and the shorter Blind have started all of United’s games this season and the team are one of only three in the Premier League who are yet to concede a goal so far.

“I have always liked that competition with the striker and obviously Daley is not that sort of centreback who is going to dominate, so

it’s a case of I take that mantle on and I am enjoying it,” the 25-yearold Smalling was quoted as saying by the British media. “I feel like I bullied quite a few players in matches in the past but hopefully I can get the consistency where it can be on show every week now.

“It’s comfortable playing next to Daley. Sometimes if there is a big opponent we will swap around. But he can handle himself as well so I am enjoying playing alongside him,” the England international added.

Smalling’s teammate Adnan

Januzaj is also revelling in a newfound toughness after spending extra hours in the gym.

The Manchester United midfielder, who failed to score in 22 appearances for the Red Devils last season, struck the winner in the club’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa on August 14.

However, the Belgian failed to make a meaningful impact as United were held to a goalless draw against Newcastle United on Saturday, and was taken off after 66 minutes.

“I’m working hard on the pitch and off the pitch as well as in the gym to work on my body. I have always been more of a technical player, trying to find spaces to create something with the ball,” the 20-year-old told the club’s website(www.manutd.com).

“But working hard in the gym gives you the plus of being stronger and more able to push people off the ball. I have started to get back to my fitness but I still need more rhythm to become even better,” he said. - Reuters

ON ALL FRONTS

Depth will help Man City: Kompany LONDON: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has hailed his team’s strength in depth following a busy summer transfer window and said the extra competition will help them challenge on all fronts this season, the British media reported.

City have made a blistering start to their league campaign and currently sit top of the table with three wins out of three and no goals conceded, a run that included a 3-0 drubbing of defending champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on August 16.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has brought in several new faces during the transfer window, including midfielder Raheem Sterling from Liverpool and defender Nicolas Otamendi from Spanish side Valencia.

“The extra competition is good, really good. You don’t play for a top team unless you have that.

“That is one of the reasons we have started so strong,” the 29 year-old Kompany said.

“You can’t really afford to do anything wrong during the week lead-

ing up to the game. Then, during the game, you can’t do anything wrong either as there is always someone looking over your shoulder, waiting, who is just as good as you,” the Belgian international added.

“If they are in a better moment and they deserve a chance, they will take your place.”

Kompany says he is back to his best after being criticised for a dip in form last season, which ended in disappointment as City finished eight points behind eventual champions Chelsea.

“It shows on the pitch that I feel good and I feel happy with myself,” he said. “I just don’t want to miss any opportunities to have a good game or have a good season.

Every game counts for me. That’s when I need to perform.”

The defender is also relishing the prospect of competing for his place in the team.

“We have got (Jason) Denayer, (Martin) Demichelis, Otamendi, (Eliaquim) Mangala and myself.

“If you want to go for every trophy, you need that to go for it,” the Belgian captain added. - Reuters

BACK TO HIS BEST: Vincent Kompany

ENJOYING IT: Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, left, vies with

Newcastle United’s Fabricio Coloccini during a recent match.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

SPORTS

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Man Utd target goals, group phase in Bruges LONDON: With the Champions League group phase beckoning in Wednesday’s play-off round second leg against Club Brugge in Belgium, Manchester United’s problems in front of goal remain a source of concern.

Though strong favourites to book a spot in the group stage after a first season out of the competition in 19 years following last week’s 3-1 win in the first leg, United’s lack of cutting edge at the sharp end of the pitch was highlighted anew in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United.

Louis van Gaal’s side have scored only twice in their three league games to date and while one of those was an own goal by Tot-

tenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker, the other was a deflected shot by Adnan Januzaj against Aston Villa.

Captain Wayne Rooney has come to symbolise United’s problems in the opposition penalty area, having gone 10 club games without finding the net, but teammate Chris Smalling believes there are no issues with the England striker’s confidence.

“I think if you see in his play, he is running in behind and he is giving himself opportunities,” Smalling said. “I think we probably had double figures in terms of chances (against Newcastle), not just to Wayne but for the whole team.

“It’s just a case of one of those falling in, but the majority of the

ISL

Riise to play for Delhi NEW DELHI: Former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise has joined Frenchman Florent Malouda and Brazil legend Roberto Carlos at the Delhi Dynamos for the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The former Norway international said on Tuesday that he was honoured to be teaming up with Carlos for the glitzy 10-week long ISL tournament.

“Roberto Carlos has been one of my heroes, growing up as a leftback,” Riise, who turns 35 next month, said in a club statement.

“I’m honoured to have him as a coach and can’t wait to give my all for him and the team.”

Carlos, Delhi’s marquee player and manager, said he had big expectations of Riise, who spent seven years at the English Premier League club before moving to Roma in 2008.

“Riise is a great player, very experienced and a true leader on the field.

He is definitely going to help on the development and evolution of the team in the competition,” he said.

Football’s popularity has been growing steadily in India and the

team is getting those opportunities so if we keep creating those chances, they will come eventually.”

The only real attacking spark United have shown this season came in the first leg against Club Brugge, when Memphis Depay scored his first two goals in the club’s colours and set up an injurytime header for Marouane Fellaini that significantly altered the complexion of the return leg in Bruges.

But Depay could not replicate that display against Newcastle, prompting Van Gaal to remark drily that his performance against Club Brugge may have given the 21-year-old “too much” confidence.

Depay is nonetheless expected to keep his place in the team at the

sold-out Jan Breydel Stadium, while Van Gaal must decide whether to keep faith with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made his full debut against Newcastle but faded badly.

Vazquez rallies supporters Club Brugge head coach Michel Preud’homme can only envy the selection dilemmas facing Van Gaal as he attempts to forge a team from a squad that has been ravaged by injury. Experienced captain Timmy Simons will miss out after injuring his thigh at Old Trafford, joining Thomas Meunier, Jose Izquierdo, Felipe Gedoz, Sander Coppman, Stefano Denswil and Lior Refaelov on the sidelines.

Centre-back Brandon Mechele

is suspended after being sent off for two bookable offences in the first leg, while striker Tom De Sutter, who has agreed to join Bursaspor, is a slight doubt after sitting out the 2-0 loss to Zulte-Waregem at the weekend through illness.

Speaking after the first leg, Preud’homme gave his side only a “small chance” of reaching the group phase for the first time since 2005.

But his team have already engineered one spectacular turnaround in this season’s Champions League, rallying to beat Panathinaikos 3-0 in the third qualifying round after a 2-1 defeat in the first leg.

And they can also take solace from historical omens.

Club Brugge are unbeaten in

their last 10 European home games and have lost only once in nine home games against English clubs, while United have lost on their last two visits to Belgium.

“I’m disappointed (by the firstleg result), that’s clear, as we held on to a great first-leg result for so long,” said Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez, whose early free-kick in Manchester yielded the Michael Carrick own goal that put the visitors in front.

“That final goal really makes it hard on us, however. But you never know in football. If we manage to score an early goal in Bruges, and our 12th man (the supporters) starts backing us 100 percent, we can go anywhere.” - AFP

Arsenal don’t need more midfielders, says Wenger The Gunners have been criticised by

Everybody has their opinion and everybody is entitled to have an opinion.

I could prove to you that it’s not necessarily right

pundits and some ‘TRUE LEADER’: John Arne Riise

ISL drew tens of thousands of supporters in its first year to watch former international stars.

A string of big names have resigned this year including former France striker Nicolas Anelka for Mumbai City FC and Brazilian great Zico, who will again manage FC Goa. Former world player of the year Alessandro Del Piero was Delhi’s marquee signing last year. But the 40-year-old struggled to keep pace and was relegated to the bench for the latter stages. Delhi finished a disappointing fifth in the inaugural season. The second edition of the eight-team league kicks off on October 3. - AFP

fans for not buying another holding midfielder to support Francis Coquelin

LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out signing a defensive midfielder before the transfer window shuts, saying he is happy with his options.

The Gunners have been criticised by pundits and some fans for not buying another holding midfielder to support Francis Coquelin, who broke into the first team last season after being recalled from a loan spell with second tier side Charlton Athletic.

The only competition for Coquelin is captain Mikel Arteta, 33, who has just returned from a calf injury after six months out, and an aging Mathieu Flamini, who has only one year left on his contract.

“Everybody has their opinion and everybody is entitled to have an opinion. I could prove to you that it’s not necessarily right,” Wenger was quoted as saying by the club’s website (www.arsenal. com) when asked about the need for more ‘powerful’ midfielders by reporters.

Arsene Wenger Arsenal manager

“When you don’t win, you’re wrong and people always find reasons why. Are they the good reasons? I think I have enough experience and intelligence to know when it’s right and when it’s wrong,” added the club’s longestserving manager.

Arsenal are still waiting for their first home win of the season after being held by Liverpool in Monday’s entertaining goalless draw following the opening day shock 2-0 defeat by West Ham United.

The hosts were unlucky not to take an early lead when Aaron

Ramsey’s effort was ruled out for offside in the eighth minute, although Liverpool were equally unfortunate not be out of sight by halftime.

New signing Petr Cech saved a Christian Benteke strike from point-blank range, while Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho also struck the woodwork twice.

Wenger was disappointed that Ramsey’s goal was disallowed.

“It was a regular goal. It was a period of the game where we maybe had the most problems defensively but it’s a regular goal,” the

65-year-old said. “I can’t see why it was cancelled. It’s clear and on that front you cannot say that Liverpool can complain,” the Frenchman added.

Wenger also conceded that his club have not been up top scratch this season after collecting just four points from their first three Premier League fixtures.

“We have started very average I must concede sharpness is missing a little bit in some players,” the former Monaco manager said.

“Our game is still not fluent enough in the final third.” - Reuters

I S C TA B L E T E N N I S

Neil beats Kavineeshwar for U-10 title MUSCAT: Neil Joseph bagged the under-10 singles title at the Annual Table Tennis Tournament organised by the Indian Social Club Muscat and cosponsored by Muscat Insurance Services (MIS) and Oman United Insurance Company (OUIC).

In the final match, Neil came from a game down to overcome the brilliance of S. Kavineeshwar in four games 9-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-7.

Neil scored delightful forehand winners to take the early lead but Kavineeshwar rallied to pip Neil and take the lead.

After six-all in the second game, Neil opened up a 906 lead and held on to win the second game. The third game was a close affair as Kavineeshwar saved three game points before Neil won the game.

Kavineeshwar tried to slow

the pace of the game while Neil continued to attack and it paid dividends.

From four-all, Neil reeled off the next seven points to win the match and the under-10 title.

Earlier in the semifinals, Neil scored a convincing 11-5. 11-5, 11-5 victory over Shree Rane.

Kavineeshwar, however, faced anxious moments before overpowering Manvi Sarawanan 11-8, 5-11, 12-10, 11-7 to enter the summit clash.

In action from the veterans singles, Rajesh Mehta staved overcame Waheed Sattikar with a 11-8, 11-9, 16-14 result, Sanjeev Vyas struggled before over powering Subramanian N 12-10, 11-4, 9-11, 11-9.

Percy Pereira defeated G.V. Sheldenkar with a convincing 111, 11-6, 11-4 margin.

FINALISTS: Neil Joseph, left, and S. Kavineeshwar. – Supplied photo

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SECTION

LIFESTYLE

Leisure WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Dhofar Beckons Story and Photography | Salim Joseph During Khareef, the annual monsoon season, all roads lead to the wild springs, lush wadis, and mist-canopied hills of Salalah.

But, up until a few weeks ago, I had avoided the siren’s call of this cool summer escape. One weekend in this fair southern city, and I’m utterly spellbound.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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W E D NE S DAY, AUGUST 26, 2 015

LIFESTYLE

‘Take nothing but memories.

Leave nothing but footprints.

Enjoy your visit to the Marneef Cave’.

Reads the board erected by the Ministry of Tourism at this popular tourist spot in Mughsayl, about 45 minutes outside of Salalah. It is an appropriate sentiment for my trip to the southern region of the Sultanate, where pristine nature and superb weather are the main attractions for the hoards of visitors who decamp to this cool oasis each year during the Khareef, or monsoon, season. Though I have lived in Oman for years, this was the first time I found myself among the south-bound crowd.

After a smooth landing at the well-designed new Salalah Airport, I emerged into the cool, misty morning, quite a shock considering that hours earlier I had been sweating in 30-plus degree heat on my way to the airport in Muscat.

I spotted Said Al Shanfari, a wildlife photographer who knows Dhofar like the back of his hand, waiting for me. I was eager to follow him into the world of wild springs, lush valleys, and misty mountains that I had heard so much about.

Before our adventure could begin, we headed for the Hilton Salalah resort, one of the most established luxury hotels in the city, opened in 1999. Offering a stunning beach front location and a wide range of facilities including a health club and wide variety of dining options, the property has been catering to both domestic and foreign travellers ever since and continues to be one of the most popular choices for returning visitors.

I met Ali, the manager when I checked in and we began chatting about tourism in Salalah.

“The general impression is that people only visit in August and September, but this is not just a Khareef destination. The weather throughout the year is much better than rest of the GCC. Salalah is ideal for the European season when it starts from October, and there’s still more room for improvement to promote Salalah as a perfect year-long destination,” he told me as he walked me to my room.

I took a minute to admire the sea view from my balcony before heading back down to meet Said for our day of exploring. Our first stop: Wadi Darbat in the Wilayat of Taqah, famed for its water pools and streams.

At the end of the winding road in Taqah, we encountered the expected “holiday crowd”. But how many tourists would it take to truly crowd such a sprawling valley? Perhaps I would feel the press at the hotel pool or one of the seaside restaurants, but not here in the rolling meadows that stretched deep into the hills. After taking in the bucolic views, it was time to drive on.

“There may be around 10 0 known T R AV E L T I P S

SAVE ON SUMMER TRAVEL VEL Summer is here, so before you load the kids into the car to escape town, there are few money-saving tips you might want to consider. Whether you are travelling by car just for the weekend or stay in a hotel, costs are going up and it is important to save on the small things.

Ways to save money on hotels: Ask your travel agent about upgrading your hotel reservation to a room with two king size beds instead of getting two hotel rooms when travelling in groups or with kids.

Ask your travel agent to find hotels where kids stay for free or cheaper when travelling with kids.

Your travel agent can suggest properties that might offer complimentary breakfast or heavy hors d’oeuvres in the afternoon.

Ask your travel agent to find a hotel room with a kitchenette so you can take care of a few meals yourself instead of eating out for every meal.

When travelling g by car: Pack the car as light as possible - the more weight, ght, the harder the car workss and the more fuel you use.

When renting a car for or a large group of people, renting ing one SUV saves on fuel mileage ileage vs. renting two smaller cars.

Make sure tyre pressure ure is accurate so that gass is spent efficiently.

Use only the grade level vel of fuel that your car owners manual calls for, nothing more. re.

Use cruise control to run the engine efficientlyy and save on fuel.

Ains in the 10-15km range in Salalah and the rest are too far and you may have to trek 4-5 kilometres to reach some. Few people have heard about many, like Ain Kheesh, which is somewhere remote, between Ain Hamran and Ain Arzat,” said Said as we got in the car.

Dhofar has around 360 Ains (natural springs) that feed its many wadis.

We are off to Ain Arzat, a birds’ paradise, about 10km north-west of Salalah. Arzat draws visitors year round thanks to the bevy of caves (more than 10) that sit along the spring trail.

I look at the dashboard and watch the temperature begin to drop as we drive uphill to As San, part of Al Qara Mountain range, which are flanked by Al Qamar and Jebel Samhan.

The fog lifted into the cloudy sky just as we reached the top of As San, allowing a panoramic view of Salalah on one side and As Saadah on the other.

We ambled into the Arzat restaurant, which seemed forlorn with so few people around, and sipped on tea as we took in the lush green views. The green had too many shades to count.

As we descended the mountain and headed for Ain Sahalnoot, we noticed a sea of makeshift camps and asked Said about them.

“It’s the way people here enjoy Khareef, with family and friends.

They take the permission from the municipality by paying a refundable deposit to set the camps, where they stay on and off during the entire Khareef season,” he explained According to Said, our next destination, Sahalnoot (around 15 kilometres away from Salalah), is the most beautiful among the known springs.

Suppressing the urge to take a dip (an activity discouraged by ministry signboards), we took a few pictures of the placid pools and then found ourselves hurled into an exciting road trip, as we cut through the thick forest on the way to Wadi Gheir.

As we rounded a misty bend, Said turned to me.“You know, Salim, three days wouldn’t be enough to see Salalah. You should stay here for at least a month,” he said.

And I knew he was right. Though we had a whirlwind of a day, taking in more natural wonders in a few hours than I’d usually see in a month, I’d only begun to scratch the surface. A trip to Dhofar isn’t complete without taking in the archaeological and historical sites, seeing a frankincense tree, drinking fresh coconut juice near the corniche, eating roadside barbecue.

The riches of Salalah had been awaiting me all these years, less than an hour by flight, but a world apart.

I sighed and looked out the window at the emerald forests cloaked in light mist, promising myself that I’d be back. - salim@timesofoman.com

TRAVEL GUIDE How to reach: By flight: Oman Air (daily 4 flights from Muscat to Salalah), GCC airlines operate direct flights from Dubai, Sharjah, Doha and Jeddah. Oman Air +968 2453 1111, Qatar Airways+968 2416 2700, Fly Dubai +968 2329 9615, Gulf Air +968 2448 2777 By bus or car: Takes around 10 hours from Muscat in car, big air conditioned buses take around 12 hours. Omani National Transportation Co +968 2329 2773, Al Nahda Al Mubarka Tans +968 2328 9823, Bin Qasim Transport +968 2329 1786, Saqir Al Shurqaya for Transport+968 2328 9392, Gulf Transport Co +968 2329 3303, Mailatan Transport +968 2329 3574, Salalah Line Transport +968 2328 9823, Malik Al Sahra Transport +968 2328 8208, Transportations of Saqr Alshargheiyah +968 2328 9392

Hilton photographs supplied

Where to stay: Hilton Salalah Resort +968 2321 1234 hilton.com/salalah Be sure to book a room with a balcony and a partial or full sea view Places to see: Archaeological Sites: Al Baleed, Ayn Homran, Khor Rori Samhuram, Lost City of Ubar (Shisr), Wadi Dokah Religious sites: Dhakh camel of Prophet Saleh, Imran shrine, Nabi Ayoub’s Tomb, The shrine of Mohammed bin Ali, The tomb of Prophet Saleh bin Hood Natural Attractions: Beaches, mountains, wadis, springs, wild life, caves, islands, Khour Reserves Forts and Castles: Mirbat Castle, Sadah Castle, Taqah Castle Museum: Frankincense Museum

Where to eat: For Kababs and Curry: Barbecue Nation, +968 2320 1350 For Chinese: Chopsticks, +968 2329 1400 For Lebanese and grills: Ba’labak Restaurant for Lebanese Food +968 2329 8834 For Local Omani Food: Bin Ateeq, +968 2329 0232 Shopping: Al-Husn Souq, Al-Haffah Market, Craftsmen Market, Gold Market, Central Market, Festival Markets Pro-tip: Plan well in advance before catching a flight or boarding a bus to Salalah during peak season in August and September.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

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LIFESTYLE THE HOBBYIST Nashwa Al Kindi Motorcycle Rider

Why do you love it?

I had fallen in love with bikes from my younger days and I had fancied owning a powerful two-wheeler when I become an adult. Now, riding makes me relaxed and happy. It’s a different feeling to be on a two-wheeler. It feels like you are a part of nature.

How did you get into it?

I used to ride bicycles and small dirt bikes when I was a kid. I had begun my career as a freelance photographer, but moved to become a driving instructor before opting for the job of a customer care agent. But I was always looking for some adventure activities like diving, snorkelling, hiking, swimming, karate and bike riding. In 2000, I became the first Omani woman to earn the licence to ride a bike and I began riding classic bikes.

How can I get into it?

Well, give it a try by pillion riding, and if you like it continue and get your own bike. My first bike was a Honda 125 CC. For a woman, it would be difficult to find an instructor. But YouTube has plenty of tutorial videos.

THE LEATHER GIRL

What’s your pro-tip?

Keep riding. Practice is important, and put on proper biking gear. Plan properly before going for a long ride. You should find out ways to tackle possible damages to the vehicle. Ride responsibly, respect the rules and enjoy.

Photos: Shutterstock.com, Supplied

Resources for riding in Oman I rode the bike to Dubai several times for the Dubai Bike Show, with groups and alone. Oman Riders organise fun rides and trips in and outside the Gulf. The Harley group too goes on rides. Hook up with the Oman Riders on FB. Phone: +968 99333075 Website: www.rideoman.com

Keep riding, put on proper biking gear, ride responsibly, respect the rules, and enjoy

Y O U R FAV O U R I T E B O O K

The Tin Drum

By Gunter Grass

It was in 1959 that Gunter Grass, Germany’s best postwar novelist, burst into the literary scene with The Tin Drum. Many will describe it as a standalone story, but no one can ignore the historical and political narratives and the underlying messages running through its pages.

The Tin Drum is the story of protagonist, Oskar Matzerath, a boy born in Nazi occupied Poland in 1924. He couldn’t grow as his mental development was complete at birth. The son of petty bourgeois shopkeepers, Oskar happens to hear two things as soon as he was

born: His father says Oskar will run the shop when he grows up while his mother promises to get him a toy drum when he turns three.

He doesn’t want to be a grocer, so he decides to stop growing. On his third birthday, he gets his toy drum, flings himself down a flight of stairs, and stops growing in order to avoid playing the cash register.

It is a grand refusal from Oskar. He remains a three-year-old drummer.

The novel is set mainly in Danzig, where Grass grew up from his childhood, and Nazism dominates a major part of the novel which is divided into three parts: The first

section deals with the life of Oskar in Danzig till 1939. War dominates the second part, while the third part shows Oskar’s experiences in postwar Germany and Europe. The novel contains plenty of metaphors, analogies, anecdotes. But what sets the novel apart is Grass’s impeccable narrative style.

Grass won the Nobel Prize for Literature 50 years after its publication (in 1999) and the Swedish Academy, which picks the laureates, aptly described Tin Drum as a book that gave German literature ‘a new beginning after decades of linguistic and moral destruction’.

Photo: Wires

Reviewed by T.A. Ameerudheen

ARE YOU A PROLIFIC READER? Which is your favourite book? Pick one and send in your thoughts on it.

Contact salim@timesofoman.com

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@SHATTI

@SOHAR

4:30PM Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation - 2D 9:30PM (Action) (PG12) All Is Well – 2D (Comedy, Romance) (PG) Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin 9:15PM Brothers (Hindi) (Thriller) 2D 11:45PM Madura Naranga – 2D (Action) (PG) 7:00PM

@RUWI

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6PM) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Hitman – Agent 47 (Action, Crime)(PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 9:30 pm The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Action)(12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 3:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 pm Fantastic Four (2D)(Action)(PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, 1:00, 5:15, 11:45 pm Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2D) (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 4:45, 9:15 pm The Nutcracker Sweet (Animation)(PG) 1:00, 3:00 pm Sinister 2 (Horror)(15+) Cast : James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon 1:00, 7:15, 11:30 pm Welad Risk (Action, Crime)(18+) Cast : Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim Qassem 3:00 pm Self/Less (Mystery,Sci fi)(18+) Cast : Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, Matthew Goode 5:00, 7:15 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL Hitman: Agent 47 2D (Action, Crime) (PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 9:45PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 2D (Action ) (12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 10:00AM, 9:45 & 11:55PM Gold Class: 4:15, 9:00 & 11:15PM The Nutcracker Sweet 2D (Animation) (PG) 10:00AM, 1:45 & 3:30PM The Love Affair 2D (Drama, Romance ) (TBC) Cast: Bea Alonzo, Richard Gomez, Eda Nolan 5:15 & 7:30PM All Is Well 2D (Comedy, Drama) (TBC)

10:00AM, 9:45 & 11:55 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Action)(12+) Cast : Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer

9:30 PM Hitman – Agent 47 (Action, Crime) (PG12) Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto

7:15PM Fantastic Four 2D (Action, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael Jordan 5:15PM Gold Class : 12:15 & 2:15PM Inside Out 3D (Animation) (PG) 11:45PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D 12:45, 2:45 & 11:45PM Gold Class: 6:30PM

6:00 PM Madhura Naranga - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy, Cast : Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon

2:50, 8:00 PM The Love Affair - 2D (12+) Drama, Romance Cast: Bea Alonzo, Richard Gomez, Eda Nolan 5:00 PM All Is Well 2D (PG) Comedy, Drama 7:15 PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation – 2D 2:00, 11:55 PM (PG12) The Nutcracker Sweet – 2D (PG) Animation 1:00, 4:30 PM Sinister 2 – 2D (15+) Horror Cast - James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon 2:30, 10:10 PM Waled Rizk– 2D (18+) Crime, Action, Thriller Cast - Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim 6:00 PM Fantastic Four – 2D (PG12) (Action) 12:00, 5:45, 11:55 pm Madhura Naranga – 2D (PG) Comedy, Cast - Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon 3:00 PM

AZAIBA Hitman: Agent 47 – 2D (PG12) Action, Crime, Cast - Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary Quinto 9:35 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. – 2D (12+) Action Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer 4:30, 6:45, 9:00, 11:15 PM Kick 2 – 2D (PG12) Action, Romance Cast: Ravi Teja, Rakul Preeti Singh, Ravi K. 12:45, 7:45, 10:30 PM Vaalu – 2D (PG) Action, Comedy, Romance Cast: Hansika Motwani, TR Silambarasan 12:00 PM Self/Less – 2D (18+) Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez,

3.30 PM All Is Well (Drama/ Comedy) – PG Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Asin and Supriya Pathak

Hitman Agent 47 (Action/Crime) – PG12 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Brothers (Drama) – 12+ 3.45 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG 6.45, 9.45 PM SCREEN 3 Karachi To Lahore - Urdu (Comedy) – PG Cast: Shehzad Sheikh, Ayesha Omer 3.45, 9.45 PM Baahubali: The Beginning (Act ) – 12+ 6.45 PM SOHAR Hitman Agent 47 - 2D (PG12) Action, Crime, Cast : Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, Zachary 9:00 PM Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - 2D (PG12) Action; 4:20, 11:55 PM Fantastic Four-2D (PG12) (Action ) 2:30, 5:15, 11:45 PM Brothers - 2D (TBC) Action, Drama 11:00 PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - 2D (12+) Action, 3:00, 7:15, 9:30, 11:45 PM Self/less - 2D (18+) Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez

RUWI SCREEN 1 All Is Well (Drama/ Comedy) – PG 3.30 PM Drishyam (Thriller/Drama ) – PG12 6.30 PM

2:15, 7:45 PM The Nutcracker Sweet - 2D (PG) Animation 2:30, 4:30 PM Sinister 2 - 2D (15+) Horror Cast: James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, 4:00, 10:00 PM All Is Well - 2D (TBC) Comedy, Drama, 9:35 PM Welad Rizk - 2D (Arb) (18+) Action, Crime, Cast: Ahmed Ezz, Amr Youssef, Karim Qassem 5:45 PM Madhura Naranga - 2D (M) (PG) Comedy, Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon 6:00 PM Kick 2 - 2D (Telugu) (TBC) Action, Romance 6:45 PM BURAIMI The Man from U.N.C.L.E – 2D (Action) 7:15, 9:30, 11:45PM (12+) Hitman Agent 47 – 2D (Action) (12+) Cast: Rupert Friend, Zachary Quinto, Hannah 11:30PM Return to Sender – 2D (Thriller) (TBC) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Nick Nolte, 5:30, 7:15PM The Nutcracker Sweet – 2D (Animation) 5:45PM (PG) Fantastic Four -2D (PG12) (Action)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

08:50 Daily 11:00 Daily 14:30 Daily via Ibri 15:45 Daily 17:40 Daily 18.35 Daily 20:20 Daily

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

SALALAH Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation (2D) 10:15AM, 5:00, 11:45PM (PG12) Hitman Agent 47 (2D) (PG12) (Action) 9:55/11:35PM Fantastic Four (2D)(PG12) (Action) 12:45, 3:15, 9:45PM The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2D)(12+) (Action) 10:15AM, 2:45, 7:30, 9:45, 11:55PM Return to Sender (2D) (12+) (Thriller) 1:30PM The Nutcracker Sweet (2D)(PG) (Animation) 10:00AM/3:15PM Pound of Flesh (2D) (15+) (Action/Thriller) Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darren 11:35AM/ 7:55PM All Is Well (2D) (PG) (Comedy/Drama) 7:30PM Brothers (2D) (12+) (Action/Drama) 12:30PM Madhura Naranga (2D) (PG) (Mal) (Comedy) 4:45PM Kick 2 (2D) (TBC) (Telugu) (Action/Romance) 5:05PM

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

37 32

07:00

Ruwi

10:25

Daily

06:00 06:00

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

40-80% Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/ her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) Sur Sur

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (ROUTE 55) 12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

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

Fahud Yibal

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Daily Daily

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

LISTINGS

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

Daily

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

11.45 13.30 14.00

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence 24569603 Directorate General of Customs 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries 24510228 Public Relations Admin 24560099 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

07:00

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

10:45 19:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Ruwi Ruwi

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

06:00 14:30

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

10:30 11:15

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

Madura Naranga (Mal) ( Rom/com ) Cast : Kunchako Boban, Biju Menon & 3-45 pm at Cinema-4; 6-30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main Vasuvum Saravananum ( Tamil ) ( Com ) Cast: Arya, Tamanna & Santhanam 3-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema -2 All Is Well (Hindi ) ( Com/Drama) Cast: Abhishek Bachan, Rishi Kapoor & Asin 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema - 3 Kick 2 ( Telugu ) ( Rom/Act) ( From Friday ) Cast: Ravi Teja & Rakul Preet Singh 3-00 pm At Cinema Main; 6-45 & 9-45 at Cinema-4 Vallu (Tamil) 6:30pm Cinema -2 Brothers (Hindi) 3:45, 6:45pm Cinema-3 NEXT CHANGE: Thani Oruvan (Tamil) Loham (Mal) Programmes are subject to change

0

ROYAL OMAN POLICE 07:30 14:30

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

Minimum

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

STAR CINEMA

0

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 2D (Action, Adventure, Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy 9.30 pm CP No: 1953 (PG12) Return To Sender (Thriller) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Nike Nolte 2.00, 4.00 & 11.55 pm CP No: 2112 ( 12+ ) The Nutcracker Sweet (Animation) Voice Overs: Alicia Silver stone, Edward 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 2119 (PG ) Brothers (Hindi )( Thriller ) Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shrof 6.30 pm CP No: 2110 (PG) MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. (Action /Adventure) Cast: Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavil 4.00, 7.45, 9.45 & 11.55 pm CP NO: 2121 (12+)

WEATHER

15:00 15:00 15:00

16:30 18:00 19:30

Film information 24540856 / Advance Booking 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

WITH LOVE

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

BAHJA CINEMA

SUR Hitman Agent 47 (Action | Crime) (PG12) 9:55 PM The Man From U.N.C.L.E (Action ) (12+) 9:45, 11:55 PM Fantastic Four (Action|Sci - Fi) (PG12) 7:45 PM Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation 5:30 PM (Action) (PG12) Brothers (Hindi) (Thriller) (12+) CP# 5:00 PM The Nutcracker Sweet ( Animation) (PG) 4:00 PM Madura Naranga (Mal)( Comedy ) (PG) Cast: Kunchacko Boban, Biju Menon, Parvathy 11:35 PM All Is Well (Hindi)(Comedy ) (PG) 7:45 PM

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Destination

12.14pm 3.41pm 6.36pm 7.49pm 4.28am

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@MGM

Dept time

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 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

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

LIFESTYLE

The Eternal Spring

Location : Ain Sahalnoot, Dhofar, 17°09’18.0”N 54°13’03.4”E Have you been able to capture the beauty of an off-the-beat en-path destination in Oman? Send your pictures with a caption & geo-locator to: salim@timesofoman.com

BRIEF

Tourism unaffected in Thailand

YOUR BIGGEST ROAD HAZARD IS IN YOUR HAND A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

BANGKOK: Thailand’s junta has insisted that the crucial tourist industry has been unaffected by last week’s bomb attack which killed 20 people, mostly foreigners, saying visitor numbers remained “at a normal level”.

The bombing at the Bangkok’s Erawan shrine was Thailand’s worst single mass-casualty attack. But the trail is growing increasingly cold as police scramble to locate a prime suspect captured on CCTV leaving a bag moments before the blast.

The majority of those killed were ethnic Chinese worshippers from across Asia, who flocked to the shrine in large numbers despite it being devoted to the deity Brahma in the belief that prayers there bring good fortune.

The attack, the first of its kind to kill large numbers of visitors to Thailand, has damaged its reputation as a welcoming and safe travel destination. -AFP

C11

C1 2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015

LIFESTYLE FIVE THINGS I CAN’T TRAVEL WITHOUT

Faiza Noor Mohammed Al Balushi is a fashion designer and the proprietor of Chiffon Style House, which deals in ladies outfits and abayas. Faiza is also a leader of the Rawafid Oman team, which works on different events to support society by doing charity work. When Faiza travels, she is always on the look out for new materials and inspiration for her fashion designs.

02

SKETCH BOOK

My sketch book - to draw an idea or design that comes to my mind immediately so that I don’t forget it later.

03

BOOK/MAGAZINE

A good book or a magazine to read.

I read a lot while travelling and I love to read them from cover to cover, so as to not skip anything.

01

MOBILE PHONE

Mobile phone, because I write a lot of notes and chat all the time with family & friends.

05

me, and I wear it all the time.

MAKEUP BAG

I’m an addict and buy a lot of makeup products on the go even though I may not use them.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK; SUPPLIED

OUD PERFUMES Oud perfumes are a favourite with 04

D

W W W.T I M E S O F O M A N . C O M W E D N E S DAY, AU G U S T 2 6, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC T H E D A I LY G U I D E

RENT

D2

VACANCY

D4

CARGO

D7

D2

W E D N E S D AY, AU G U S T 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE FOR RENT

3BHK well maintained flat (villa type) G. floor split A/C separate entrance, parking, and compound available in Al Khuwair behind Sagar Polyclinic Way no. 3922, Block 239, Villa No. 1839. Contact: 99253125 2BHK with split A/C in MSQ Opp. Al Fair. Contact : 96708000 1 BHK with split A/C in Darsait, opp. Muscat Municipality.

Contact : 96708000 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 Deluxe 1, 2, 3 bedroom flats in Wadi Kabir, Ruwi, Al Khuwair area.

Contact: 24707340 / 95282986 /99472457

Shop/ comm./ Resi building 1&2 bed flat available in Wadi Kabir (near Lulu) one bedroom flats 200/- Wadi Kabir & Misfa land for rent 1000 SQM Al Khuwair 6 bedroom villa 900/- . Contact: 99451168 3BHK Flats & 6BHK Villa in Azaibah.

Contact : 96775026 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi.

Contact 99326339 1 BR flat at Darsait, near ISM. Contact 99237971 / 99320633 2BHK at Al Khodh 2 rooms, 1hall, 2 bathrooms & kitchen.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 3 bedrooms, 1 hall at Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Masjid.

Contact: 99224748 / 99332297 2BHK villa for rent RO: 250/month, near Galfar Training Institute and beach in North Al Hail.

Contact 99745628 / 99314242 2 BHK Ghubra R.O 325/-.

Contact: 97799175 / 92144045

Readymade office space for rent (100sm) in Bank Melli Iran building, MBA area Ruwi opposite Center Point. Contact: 99011352 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 1,2,3 BHK flats. Contact: 92144045 / 97799175 2BHK Mumtaz R.O 300/-.

Contact: 92144045 /97799175 House for rent in Sidab 8 rooms, 6 toilets RO 550/-. Contact: 96606679 / 99856551 2 BHK Apartment for rent near MSQ area. Contact 92888063 Darsait next to ISM, 2 bedroom brand new building R.O 300/-.

Contact: 93393967 4 bedroom villa with 3 maid room, big compound & parking area. Ideal for kindergarten or expat tenants residency. Contact:24566217 / 24564686

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only.

Contact: 99251975

2 BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi 1BHK , Ghubra near Al Maha hotel.

Contact: 99269751

Spacious 1 BHK flat opp. Muscat Municipality Darsait with 2 bathrooms available for rent OMR 250 per month direct from owner from Sept1st onwards. Contact 97785037

Commercial / residential 2 BHK flat and 1BHK at Honda road residential 2BHK flat at opposite to Al Nadha hospital. Contact: 99342733 / 99795241 2BHK near Indian School Darsait RO 275/-. Contact: 95094028 Villa for rent, 4 spacious bath attached bed room, private swimming pool, gymnasium (common) electrical equipment with free maintenance secured command at Madinat Al Illam. Contact: 98027975 2 BHK close to Indian School Kindergarten Wadikabir RO 320.

Contact: 99476728 / 98484415

Apartments for Rent in Nizwa behind Nizwa Hospital. 99530985 92513668 Office & retail space available Alasfoor Plaza, Qurum.

Contact: 24566217 / 24564686 1bedroom attached toilet, kitchen, family in Al Khuwair RO 140.

Contact: 95154331 1BHK in Darsait, RO 220.

Contact: 99342661 2BHK in Ghubra South 330 R.O with A/C. Contact: 99342661

Flats for rent in Al Khuwair, Al hail, Wadi Kabir, Al Falaj, MBD, and Muttrah. Contact: 99119699 / 95250300 / 24813002 2 BHK pent-house having very spacious balcony with sea & city view RO 325 and 1BHK RO 240, adjacent to Indian Nursery Darsait.

Contact : 99476728 / 98484415 Showroom for rent at prime location, Ruwi. Contact 94151791 Flats in Al Khuwair 33 & Wadi Al Kabir. Contact: 92800007 Flat for rent near Al Nahdha Hospital in Hamriya. Contact: 97380548 / 99680499 Flat in Al Khuwair 3 rooms + Majlis ground floor. Contact: 99242119 3 Bedroom flat with 3 attached toilets, split A/C, brand new available, behind Kims Hospital. Contact 95225662

W E D N E S DAY, AU G U S T 2 6, 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

Basement available in MBD, Ruwi.

Contact 99713489 Shop/ office, near Khimji H.O. Muttrah. Contact 99233116 Spacious 2BHK Flat with Split A/c’s behind Sultan Center, Azaiba – RO.425/- p.m. Contact: 99824803 / 99849325 2 BHK near Khimji H.O. Muttrah.

Contact 99233116 2BK Wadi Kabir near Kuwaiti Mosque. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 Brand new bldg in Walja 1 BHK, 2 BHK & shops. Contact 98218279 2 rooms, 2 toilets, kitchen in Al Ansab. Contact 94229023 Flat 2bedrooms+majlis in Ghubra.

Contact:99242119 4 bedrooms villa with 2 halls, 4 bathrooms in Darsait behind Khimjis mart. Contact: 24700120 / 92584715 1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco.

OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 A flat for rent in Al Khuwair 33, 2 rooms and sitting room and all the necessary things. Contact:92277419 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99385835 / 99428143 3 BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balcony, nr. Al Hassan W/Kabir RO 330/-.

Contact :99384640 Flats shops & stores for rent at Al Amerat. Contact: 96278724 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair.

Contact: 97616158

Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir near Indian Primary School 2 B & 1K. Contact 92222922 Pent house for rent 1 sitting, 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen RO 225/-, location Al Khuwair, near DHL Courier. Contact 95620900 / 92976722

FOR SALE Brand new flat 2 bedrooms with 1 Majlis, 3 bathrooms, kitchen in South Ghubra behind Oman oil RO 350/-.

Contact 95367767 I BHK Flat -4 Nos at Hamriya – R.O. 200/- . 2 BHK - 2 Nos / 1 BHK- 2 Nos, at Wattayya R/A near the mosquefor Families. Contact 96457757 9 am to 7 Pm. 1 & two bedroom flats available for rent in wadi-kabir (opp: pencil bldg), ideal for company staff / families bulk corporate deal possible.

Contact 97677170 House for rent in Sidab at reasonable rent. Contact: 95555162 / 95755953 2BHK & 1BHK flats available in Darsait. Contact : 99357586 / 97500025 Flats for rent at Darsait near to Ministry of Sports.

Interested candidates please Contact : 00968-92225523 1 &2 BHK flats for rent at Wadi Kabir, Wadi Adai, Hamriya and Al Khoud areas, shop for rent at Wadi Adai Round about. Contact: 24834644, GSM 93994401 /02/03 lines For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp.

Contact: 99376454

Branded well maintained household items for immediate sale at throw away price: 99047440 Pest control and cleaning building company for sale with all permit and office. Contact : 96996938

SELL/BUY Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. # 99834373 /96642500

FOR RENT 3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat.

Contact: 95755953 3 bedrooms villa excellent area at Mobilah. Contact 99879872 Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699 Flat for rent with AC in Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95555162 /95755953 Flat for rent in Mabellah 8th.

Contact: 97147240 Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

FOR SALE JCB boom loader 540/170, 17 MTR 2008 model excellent condition.

Contact: 97677133 Fully equipped Beauty Parlor for sale in Amerat behind Sultan Center.

Contact : 98600130 / 24881211 Newly built twin villa in Al Ansab Phase 3 for rent or sale, each villa consist of 5 bedrooms, 6 toilets, drawing, dining, kitchen outside, maid room with kitchen.

Contact 96917566 Used Fabrication machinery for sale : Fabrication machinery and tools in excellent condition for immediate sale. Contact 94652485/ 99273774/ 99202278 400 sq mtrs Commercial/Residential land in Maabela Phase 5 Block 2.

OMR 140 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact: 99834373 / 96642500 2,560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Forklift sale. Contact: 99763831 Shop for sale in Ruwi High street, Contact 96078411 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

FOR SALE 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished room available in Ruwi.

Contact: 92435784 Sharing accommodation for Filipina on Seeb for couple / working ladies.

Contact: 92959251 Fully furnished room with attached bath for Executive bachelor, behind Al Meera Hypermarket, Azaiba, RO 150/-. Contact 99455735 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair RO 225/- for family only.

Contact 99251975 Single rooms with attached bath available at Ruwi.

Contact 98049288 / 8091089 Contd on Pg 7

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W E D N E S D AY, AU G U S T 2 6 , 2 0 1 5 Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

SITUATION WANTED ADMIN ACCOUNT. & FINANCE A well established organization in Muscat is looking for an experienced lady Administrative Assistant.

Candidate with around 6 years of experience and excellent command of English language is requested to send CV to: recruitmentmuscat@yahoo.com

Fresher looking for a career opportunity B.Com good physique, quick learner English speaking.

Contact: 93368464 Accountant with more than 6 years experience in SAOG company looking for middle management position.

Strong English/Arabic correspondence. Valid DL. NOC available.

Contact 91116924

ACCOUNTANT Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

BEAUTY Required experienced Hairdressers / full beauticians with exp in Ghubrah. Contact:97964519 / 94241385

BINDERS Experience in Binding works. Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com

CATERING A fast growing chain of omani fusion restaurants in Muscat is looking to hire experienced waiters and chefs (2 yrs exp).Applicants should have NOCs if applicable.

Forward resume to creativefoodsllc@gmail.com

DESIGNER Graphic designers: full knowledge of using Indesign and Illustrator programs, creative and should be able to work in pressure. Prior experience will definitely be of advantage.

Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com

DRAFTSMAN K.Design LLC requires “2d & 3d Draftsman” with minimum 3 yrs experience. Send CV to k.designoman@gmail.com

DOMESTIC HELPER Indian family required full time Indian Housemaid, visa available.

Contact : 93228657 Wanted housekeeper at a Nursery – Muscat – Amerat, skill and commitment and behavior. Fax: 24700677 Tel: 99085844 /99010504 Email: school.oman@yahoo.com Housemaid required, part time, preferably Keralite for looking after 2 yr old child at Jibroo.

Contact 98162545 Require qualify caregiver for an orderly mother. Contact 99425200

Indian CA with 15 yrs exp. working as Head of Finance for US MNC. NOC Available - 94047434

DRIVER Experienced Driver with car or without car. Visa available.

GSM 942 888 63 / 9905 3844

EDUCATION A private school located at Al Mawaleh Seeb looking for an English Teacher. Contact 98982088

ENGINEER Urgently required Network & Security Engineer with minimum experience of 5 years, valid driving license & NOC, the candidate should have experience in the following data & voice cabling design structure, network project management, Data Center cabling installation, CCTV & Security Systems installation, operation, and maintenance.

Email: hussainmrj@gmail.com

MEDICAL Urgently required for a Medical Centre GP doctor, Gynecologist, Male Nurse, female Nurses, Assistant Pharmacist with MOH license, salary negotiable. Send your CV: moc.hrd2015@gmail.com, Contact 92681842 Dental Surgeon, Orthodontist, Staff Nurses (female) with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent salary & commission. Contact 99006915, Email : alhinaee.clinic@yahoo.com

Leading construction company requires two Civil Engineer with minimum 5 years site experience in gulf. require gulf license and NOC. Send your CV to degree.engineer2015@gmail.com

Medical CARE Centre, Multi Specialty Clinic, Seeb, requires General Practioner, Medical Lab Technician & Pharmacist. Send CV at Email : sarita_h23@yahoo.com or call 97884856

Required Foreman (MEP) with 4 to 5 Years experience, for maintenance of Building, Having valid Omani Driving License.

Contact 94422083

Urgently Required Experienced GP Doctor, Gynecologist, Female Nurses with MOH license & NOC for a reputed specialized center based in Muscat. Please forward your CV to alqaimtrd@gmail.com

Automatic block factory requires qualified Engineer (Electromechanical) degree & diploma to operate new stationary block factory. Contact 97092070, email : alomranmcpllc@yahoo.com Urgently required for leading company: Civil Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Planning Engineer : 8 yrs experience, Surveyor : 8 yrs experience, Draftsman & AutoCAD : 5 yrs experience. Fax: 24478522, email : gh1.careers@gmail.com MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement.

Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om

INTERIOR DECORATING Interior design & fit-out company based on Muscat Grand Mall looking for : (part/Fulltime) Project manager , Site Engineer , Site Supervisor CVs to be sent to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Urgently required for an Insurance broker (preference will be given to Nationals) General Manager, Accountant, Marketing Manager, Marketing Executives & underwriter. Send your CV’s to enquiry@unitedinsuranceoman.com Established real estate company looking for male or female property agents for leasing and sales of the property. Applicant must be Graduate, possess Omani or GCC driving license.

Having oman market experience.

Apply with NOC. Attractive salary +commission. Send your CV: property@ labdmarkmuscat.com Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493

SALES / MARKETING Urgently required for a printing press in Wadi Kabir must have at least 5 years experience in Oman Printing press Manager, Sales Manager & Sales Reprehensive.

With well knowledge and experience in printing press, holding valid driving license. Send your CV to: info@albatnapp.com IT – pre sales & marketing in Oman Governmental organizations. Send CV to masoud@iranrayaneh.com A reputed printing & advertising firm in muscat urgently requires male / female sales executives Contact : 99619552 , email : hocsigns@gmail.com Required urgently Energetic Marketing executive for acquiring new customers. Should possess a Valid Omani DL. Contact 96545020.

Required Marketing Executive.

Contact 24816774 / 99020458 Business intelligence / Global Marketing management specialist with 9 years of experience developing brand value & managing overall projects to achieve business objectives seeking suitable position on family visit. Contact: 91902154 Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts.

Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co Sales Executive Industrial products : 2-3 yrs of exp. with good communication & computer skills. D/L is must. Send resume to salescvv@hotmail.com Accomplished Sales Executives/ Telemarketing Executives for leading Digital Media Enterprise. jobs@interacoman.com Furniture field experienced Salesman with license.

Contact - 99345159, 91398378 , E-Mail - agsan2005@gmail.com

SKILLED / UNSKILLED DRIVER IT Light duty driver. Contact: 92341826 Driver required for a Company, 2 yrs experience. Visa available. Contact 24479922 Experienced Expat Driver with valid Oman driving license required immediately for an Omani family in MSQ. Contact 24607772 / 99054998 Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

Leading IT Company in search of computer professionals with hands on experience in PC & laptop repair.

Send CV to vacancyready@gmail.com

Rig Operator/Technician/Driver/ Security Positions in Musandam.

Must have Oil field experience Good Communication Skills. Please email your resume in Arabic and English to HR@petroteloman.com

SALES / MARKETING MEDICAL Immediately required lady Doctor (DGO) or GP with Gynecology experience & lab technician.

Contact 99310590.

Email : tjmaluke@gmail.com

Sales & marketing experience needed, but does not really have to be in the printing industry. Oman driving license will be of an advantage. Send resumes to print@thaibaprintingpress.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED ED ACCOUNT. & FINANCE 12 yrs of Oman experienced Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact 99513082 7 yrs experience as Store keeper in Pakistan, 2 yrs experience as Accounts Assistant, B.Com from Karachi University, MS Office, operating system 98,2000, XP professional Windows 7, Internet.

Contact 91235746

Filipino, 29 years, Male, BS Commerce major in Financial Accounting, 5years experience: Accounts PAYABLE/RECEIVABLE/PAYROLL, Excellent Communication/MS Office/Accounting Software skills.

Contact: 95057206/ patrick110486@yahoo.com Young, energetic 24 yrs, ACCA finalist, Advanced diploma in Accounting and business, seeking suitable placement in accounts, finance or audit. Contact: 92430152 Email: rau_dey@yahoo.com M.Com female good knowledge in computer and tally 4 years experience in accounts and Administration seeks suitable placement on visit visa. Contact: 96992431 / 99450130 Accountant Indian male B.Com 7 years experience (Accounting) finance costing, auditing with NOC & valid driving license seeking placement. Contact: 96722257 Email: mudassir.pal@gmail.com Indian CA 10yrs of Oman experience in treasury, financial reporting, consolidation, ERP implementation in Trading, construction, Oil & Gas sectors. NOC available.

Email: caramdas.s5@gmail.com GSM: 91310237 10+ yrs UAE experienced Fin. Controller looking for a job change.

Contact 98006226 Email: devan801@gmail.com C.A article ship completed Indian female presently on visit visa looks for opening in Sur, finance/ Audit / Accounts. Contact: 93915733 ACCA and MBA (finance) from UK, 3.5 years experience in operation, holding D/L (Oman) looking for suitable position ready to join immediately. Contact : 95575614, Email: ahammadmds@gmail.com Indian male B.Com looking for Accounts, indoor sales, Office Assistant, Store keeper, Contact - 98295101 Indian Male MBA with Experience in Accounts, Admin, Sales, Contact – 91520930 Finance Manager, 22 yrs Oman experience. NOC available. Contact 91302906 / 91335205 Indian male MBA Graduate 24 yrs, 1 yr. experienced Accountant seeking suitable job. Contact: 94083260jithinnambiar777@gmail.com Part time accountant services available to handle all accounts related work up to finalization.

Contact 96247295 Female (Filipina) Accountant, Audit, Finance, Bookkeeper, 15 yrs experience, on tourist visa, looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96944976, email: precyr_tupasi@yahoo.com

Indian Female Chartered Accountant [ACCA] looking for suitable placement. Contact: 99342077 Indian male, 10 yrs experience, 6 yrs in Oman, with Oman driving license, having NOC, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973 Accountant, Indian male, B.Com, PGDSE with 12 yrs of experience currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact 92750853, email : vinoykjospeh@gmail.com Indian male MBA Finance / HR 1 yr experience in Indian currently on visiting visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 93416031 Email: ashin.shams@gmail.com Certified Public Accountant, Filipino Male 26 years, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 yrs. of experience now on visit visa, Looking for suitable opening.

Contact: +968 91409308 Email: kennethalcedo07@gmail.com Accounts finance Indian male 35 yrs B.Com, M.B.A tally exp 9.7 yrs exp 1.5 yr Oman family visa N.O.C available. Contact : 93257426.

Email: sibigeorgep@gmail.com Part time accountant services available. Contact:93438100 Chief Financial Officer 16 yrs of Management exp with MNCs in Pakistan, expert in financial reporting sap/oracle implementing & optimization, Treasury, taxation, team work and change Management.

Contact: 91936637/ Email : rizwanfarooq.pk@gmail.com M.com, female, good knowledge in computer & tally 1 yr experience in Sales & Accounts seeks suitable placement. Contact 99363721 Indian 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 98222753 Email - shemeejup@gmail.com Finance/ Audit professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience can work independently or head the division looking for opening. Contact 92787747 / 92168401.

FMCG professional with 18 yrs Gulf experience in commercial / operations looking for opening.

Contact 92787747 / 92168401 Indian female B.Tech (EEE) MBA finance with 1and half years experience as Bank Officer in India seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 91358676 / 98157895 Email: sujivu88@gmail.com Jordanian Accountant (ACPA) with more than 15 yrs experience in Oman (Accounts, Purchase & finance). Contact: 92881223 Email: kamal_sarhan@yahoo.com Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization.

Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

ADMIN Oman/Qatar experienced Indian lady available for immediate placement HR / Admin/ front office/ reception/document controller/ insurance coordinator.

Contact : 0097470057238 shinuemil@gmail.com

W E D N E S DAY, AU G U S T 2 6, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED ADMIN Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 14 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598 Indian male MCA, MSCE 2012 certified and Microsoft Exchange server administration with experience as System Administrator (windows) looking for a job currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92745708 Email: nabeelmmkty@gmail.com Purchase, Admin, Indian male, 15 yrs Gulf experience.

Contact 95435370

DESIGNER Indian male, 24 years Graphic designer one year experience, B. Sc Multimedia Animation on visit visa in Oman, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 93681417

Female 25, MSc (Wood Science & tech) MBA HRM, fresher well versed in English, Hindi and Malayalam, seeking for suitable placement in any related industries.

Contact: 98401389 Email: thajnakp@gmail.com An Indian lady, MBA in HR & marketing with 4 yrs experience in teaching, seeking suitable placement. Contact 91108766 / 97447825 Indian 16 yrs exp in admin, Office management and have knowledge in accounting looking for job. Release available and have D/L. Contact: 99573353 Chartered CIPD HR Professional having 5 years of experience in Oman seeking suitable job.

Call +971552071501.

Master degree HRM professional having excellent experience in finance and management and having 8 yrs experience looking for suitable placement. Contact 92955453 / 91213269 Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR) 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 95619537

DRIVER Light duty driver seeks placement.

Contact: 95032692 Light vehicle Driver 5 years of experience, with Oman driving license looking for a job. Contact: 97319805 / 92171166 Driver with car. Contact 91452930 Light Duty Driver with 2 yrs exp. in Oman. Contact 96420742 Looking for driving job driving experience more than 3 years.

Contact: 97459022 Indian light duty driver.

Contact: 94269229 Indian driver, 30 years, 8 years in Oman exp GCC, D/L with NOC. Contact: 93100297 / 92547440 Driver with car able to do documentation work & documents delivery.

Contact : 95365938 Looking for driver job English, Arabic, and Hindi Lang, 8 years Muscat experience. Contact: 98802079 Looking for a job as light driver 3 years experience in Oman, languages Arabic, Hindi, and English.

Contact 97311715 Driver light. Contact: 94182497 Light duty driver with 3 months experience requires suitable placement. Contact: 96409814 / 97384115 Driver available with car.

Contact 96771598 Light Driver. Contact 95779594, Ruwi

17 yrs Oman experienced MEP/ Civil Senior Draftsman / Designer seeking placement.

Contact 93130104, Email : designjob2014@gmail.com

House maid cum cook Keralite .

Contact: 94297839 Philippina Maid is looking for Domestic job or Baby seater with experience on Nursing age and all work in the house. Call : 96369299

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Electrical Engineer, B.Sc. degree/B. Tech, 4 years experience. Looking for suitable placement. Available in visit visa. Contact: 94739355, Email: mahin.eee@gmail.com MSC electronics, 24 years, 1 year experience in MR Scan Testing on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 91111675 B.E in Mechanical post Graduation Diploma in piping Engineering.

Contact : 94786570 Email: asim.hajwani6@gmail.com Indian job in procurement & contract, have “13” years purchase & contract experience in infrastructure & energy sector. NOC is available.

Contact-91237036 Net working & Hardware Engineer on visit looking for immediate placement. Contact: 95634573 Civil Engineer (diploma) 3.5 yrs exp, seeking for placement.

Contact: 95200650 Electrical Engr, female, B Tech (Elec), experienced in all LV/ HV systems, currently working, NOC available for local transfer. phone-92109335 Jordanian Mechanical Engineer, Expertise in Manufacturing, Design, Steel Work, AutoCad, SolidWork 3D. Nesting/ Plasma Cutting, Sales. Speaking English & Russian.

GSM#90198575/99201710 Indian fresher BE Mechanical engineer having work in project of design and development of biodiesel plant seeks immediate placement. At present on visit visa.

Mo- 96636035 email - ashishthanki14@gmail.com (BS Electronics) Electronics Engineer searching for job experience with Huawie & HNL as Intern in site maintenance. Contact: 91803545 A male Civil Engineer with 10 years experience (03 years in Oman) in building projects execution, billing, contractual correspondence & tendering of projects is available.

The interested person can Contact: 968 91320917 Indian male 24 years B.Tech computer science & Engg fresher, having valid Oman D/L fluent in English & Hindi, smart & dedicated to work seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 97327551 / 99330159 Indian Mechanical Engineer with PG diploma in Quality & Management, 3 yrs experience seeks placement. Contact: 99493890 mail: subashpalamittam@hotmail.com B.Tech Mechanical Engineer with 2 years experience in HV AC and plumbing - nikhilchandpm@gmail. com ; GSM: 97654489 Civil Engg, B.Tech fresher Indian male currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 91702450 Email: tijoct2015@hotmail.com

Indian male, looking for Heavy Driver job, holding Kuwait driving license. Contact 98136170

Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847

H.T. V Driver, Pakistani experience, 6 yrs, seeks work in company only.

Contact 93985087

B.E in Mechanical Engineering with 2 years experience seeking for suitable job. Contact 919946739156 Email: ram332096@gmail.com

Light duty driver, 8 yrs exp.

Contact: 96736744

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

Autocad Dman , Diploma in civil, exp, knows 2d, 3d, revit PH:98195161

Light Driver with 2 yrs experience looking for job with visa.

Contact 96794309

Sri Lankan driver.

Contact: 97387112

Indian male, with 8 yrs exp. in Oman (BA- Graduate) working as a project Sales Coordinator, with Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, ready to join immediately with NOC, open for Sales & Marketing also.

Contact 95245057

DRAUGHTSMAN

DOMESTIC HELPER Indian female MBA, 3 Year Experience in Admin MIS , Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com

PROJECTS

B.Tech Electrical & electronics with 1 year experience seeking for suitable job. Contact: +91 949788348 Email: rakesh1.mohan@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Pakistani B.E (Chemical) Engineer having more than 02 years experience in process Industry seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa. Contact: 94350586 / 97637840 Indian BE (Mech) Engineer having P.G diploma in oil &gas piping and level two NDT seeks immediate placement in any industry at present on visit visa.

Contact: 92013757/ 99774956 Indian male, 15 yrs experience in GCC looking for HSE job, NOC, local transfer available. Contact 93099578, Email : abdulsamad1966@yahoo.com Civil Engineer (B. Tech) Indian female, 2 yrs exp (1 yr in Oman) seeks suitable position. Contact: 93911895 Instrumentation Engineer, nearly 4 yrs experience in oil & gas industry, seeks job in Oman.

Contact 90198210, Email : terinsam@gmail.com Indian male 31yrs BE. Mech. 8 yrs exp Sales & marketing. Valid D/L NOC available. Contact : 97116858 Indian male, B.Tech, Mechanical Engineer having 2 yrs experience seeking suitable job. Contact 94768977, syedomer363@gmail.com Indian Male, 24, UK Graduate - MSc (Eng.) Environmental Engineering and Project Management with B.Eng. Biotechnology. Holding Valid Omani Driving License, looking for suitable placement. Contact +968 99452305 Civil Engineer Pakistani 12+ 2 yrs Oman exp. Oman D/L seeks placement. Contact: 94392616 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 Mechanical Engineer, 23 yrs, male, having knowledge in HVAC seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95434381, Email : shuhaibusman313@gmail.com Sudanese Electrical Engineer.

Email : mohamedkarrar.mk@gmail. com, contact 97452159 BE Mechanical Engineer, 22 yrs, Indian male on permanent visa & valid driving license looking for suitable job in Oman. Contact 91652927 / 99680181, Email : fawaris.09@gmail.com Bangladeshi male, BSC Engg in Civil, total 3 years experience, 2 years in Oman, looking for job.

Contact: 00968 94038642 ; email: shaikhhasib.ce@gmail.com Pakistani male, Diploma in civil, total 6 years experience , 4 years in Oman, with valid D/L, looking for job.

Contact: +968 98568934; Emai: eng.arfan54@yahoo.com SUPERVISOR: Indian male site supervisor (AIR CONDITIONING) 25 years of experience with valid Oman Driving license, seeking suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 93391910 Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male, Supervisor Electrician Diploma 8 yrs in Oman. NOC available. Contact 95057068, jratheesh@yahoo.com Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com Indian male, B.Tech, B.Tech (Electronics) MBA (Marketing) having 1 yr experience as Deputy Manager Sales in Fortune 100 MNC currently on visit visa seeks suitable job.

Contact 96967234, Email: lijotitus111@gmail.com Electrical Engineer, Indian male, 29 yrs having 5 yrs of experience in industrial automation & utility maintenance in India (MRF yres) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92789995, Email : akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com

Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Civil Engineer B.E, 5.5 years experience with Omani D/L. Contact 96785311 Civil Engg, B.Tech, Indian male, having 3 yrs of experience in Construction & EPB looking for suitable placement. Contact 91430851.

Indian male, 29 yrs, BE Electronics & Communication Engg (5 yrs exp. in Oman) with valid D/L. Contact 96652145 Civil Engineer BSc -7 years experience with constructions companies - 2 years in Oman - qualified as a project Engineer- Fluent in Arabic & English - Contact 98078095 Civil Engineer Indian male 10 yrs exp having Omani D/L looking for suitable placement. Contact: 94194399 (shiblyrock@gmail.com) Indian male, 30 yrs, Diploma in Civil Engineer, 5 yrs exp. at building construction & consulting company with Oman driving license. NOC available seeks suitable placement.

Contact 95989500, cv.shihabedappal@gmail.com Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available.

Looking for(Store,Coordination,Admin ,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885 Mechanical Engineer, 2 yrs experience in Automobile services.

Contact 98182081 Indian Mechanical Engineer (QA/ QC) Engineer with 5 yrs of experience in oil & gas, mining & manufacturing sector, keyskills – NDT, Welding Inspection, Quality control, inspection etc. Contact 91176122, Email : khajanaseer07@yahoo.co.in Civil Engineer BSc-Total Experience 6 years-2 years in Oman, experience in site work & Structural Design & Technical office. Contact 97983610 Civil Engineer, more than 6 yrs experience in Supervision, site management, QS, Engineering software with valid Oman driving license.

NOC available. Contact 91761364, Email : a-shaqfa@hotmail.com Electrical and Electronics Engineer with one year experience and GCC licence holder seeking a job mail – shyjalpk@gmail.com Electrical Engineer bachelor degree having 6+ years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Email: imran.engr08@gmail.com

EDUCATION M.A, B.Ed Indian female 27 yrs, looking suitable teaching profession having 2 years experience. # 95838183 Email: manslyas916@gmail.com

HOSPITALITY Diploma holder in Aviation Hospitality & travel management, Indian male seeking for suitable position, presently in Oman. Contact 97309707 4 Years experienced (Money exchange services & Hospitality services in Oman & India) - Indian male 27 years, graduate in Hospitality science, fluent in English, Hindi & Arabic seeks suitable placement.

Contact 91383167

IT NETWORK/NETWORK SECURITY ENGG. Graduate in B.Tech CS. Have 5.3 years of experience in Network and Security devices. Certified on CCNA, CCNP, MCITP and CCIE Sec. Written passed. NOC available. Can join immediately. Contact +974-55297089, e-mail: rejad.hashim@gmail.com Indian visit visa, Network / System Engineer switches, routers, servers, load balancers 5 yrs of exp holds B.E (ECE), CCNA looking for good opportunity. Contact: 91911792 Email: arafakdnl@gmail.com

IT Looking for a job as IT Administrator having 3 yrs exp in Oman.

Contact : 95850691 Indian female, B.Tech, IT (now in Muscat on visit visa) with total 2 yrs experience (1.3 yrs in TCS, India) seeks suitable placement.

Contact 93949541 / 93738083, email : joantoms91@gmail.com B.E (Computer) degree Engineer, complete schooling in Muscat, male, Indian with 1 yr experience needs job in software / networking / Java/ Web design or Marketing.

Contact 97136248 / 99313821 Sudanese female IT Tech. Support, Demographic, English fluent exp.

11.6 yrs. Contact: 96659392

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR Procurement Manager 25+ yrs experience Indian with NOC+ D/L seeks placement. Contact: 97073942 Project Program & Service Management Indian male looking for suitable placement having 15 years of experience. Contact : 9686678027 Email: dileepmnair@yahoo.com Supervisor fabrication. 30 years experienced in oil and gas industry with thorough knowledge of PDO procedures. contact 99365694, 92362946, 99208102 email: tapasroy21@yahoo . com Supervisor / Forman interior / electrical with Oman driving license.

Contact: 98767559

MEDICAL Male NURSE, FILIPINO, with MOH LICENSE and NOC. Contact: 94756418 email: rojiebrian.moral@yahoo.com M.Sc Microbiologist, Indian female, 3 yrs experience seeking suitable placement in Medical Lab food or water. Contact 92302719 Male Nurse, B.Sc Nursing, experienced, passed prometric exam PH : 93837973 Veterinary Doctor with 10 yrs experience, looking for job.

Contact 92533579 BA degree Nursing professional having excellent looking for suitable placement. Contact 92955453 /91213269

MISCELLANEOUS 29 years femaile (MBA-Finance) with 4 + years experience (India & Oman) in administration & teaching seeking suitable placement in an established organization.

Contact GSM 96371655.

WELDER, TIG, ARC, 6G experienced in GCC PH :95068064 Upholsery / Sofa makers GCC well experienced, knows Hindi and Arabic ph :99506977 Indian looking for Supervisor, Safety officer, Camp boss or Sales Executive. Contact 94003617 Management Professional accountable, responsible for profitable management can handle the entire operations, HR/Recruitment, Business development & Sales & marketing & etc, Great organizational skills with over 23+yrs exp. in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Dubai-UAE & Oman(11yrs) as General Manager - Publications, Printing,Media. open to any industry, can Join immediately w/NOC. Contact : +968 98864706/99574638 Mail : akdas_uae@yahoo.com Rent a car Incharge 39 yrs, Indian 15 yrs experience in UAE with UAE D/L seeks placement in any suitable post. Contact 99431708 36 yrs, Indian, male, X Ray, Welder looking for job, 8 yrs experience in TIG & ARC Welding, presently on visit visa.Contact 91360190 / 91843992

SKILLED/ UNSKILLED Car audio system technician with package experience in car, fibre glass & wood work designing, subwoofer box repairing & accessories installation. Contact 94346977.

Whatsapp 98818931 Building construction supervisor looking for small Omani company to handle independently or suitable placement in good company with Oman D/L. Contact 93061107

TOURS & TRAVELS Five years experience in Travel field ,BCom., IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India, looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast. pls contact 9470 5767 11 yrs experience in travel field B.Com, IATA, MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales reservation ticketing driving license & NOC available. Contact 92954613

SALES / MARKETING Indian male 8 yrs experienced construction purchase seeks suitable placement with NOC. Contact 95621614 Dynamic professional in consumer business/ sales with over 20 yrs of experience in Oman field, FMCG consumer electronics consumer telecom looking for suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact 99360975 / 99049536.

MBA (Marketing and HR) Indian male looking for a suitable job 2 years experience in Oman with a valid GCC driving license Contact : 97353936 Email: shimithpg@gmail.com US, MBA, looking for job in Sales and Hospitality, 2 years experience in Oman with driving license and NOC Currently on notice period.

Contact: 95585345 Email: jobyisaac@gmail.com Indian male with five years experience of call centre in customer service and sales looking for suitable position. Contact: 90198176 Sales and marketing - male 27 yrs, 2 years experience seeking suitable placement with Oman D/L. Contact: 95642740 Email: shaijichakkara@gmail.com Post graduate 6+ yrs of experience in credit controller marketing looking for suitable job, valid Oman driving license, own car. NOC available.

Contact 95327018 Indian male, MBA, Marketing having 5 yrs experience in Sales/ Marketing in Oman seeks suitable placement. D/L & NOC available.

Contact 93815477 Sales man, experienced , knows arabic , hindi ph : 99506977 Indian male, 30 yrs, 6 yrs Oman exp. outdoor supplier & sales with D/L. Contact 93100297 / 92547440 Indian male Graduate with 2 yrs exp in sales advertising, presently on visiting visa looking for suitable opening. Contact: 95462921 Graduate, Indian male, 39 yrs, GCC experienced 9 yrs in Sales logistics with D/L. Contact 98826959 Indian male, 2 yrs exp. in Sales with D/L seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92055093 MBA, HR & Marketing, Indian, male, 25 yrs, fresher, on visit visa seeks placement. Contact 94736649 / 98207564, Email : dvengels8191@gmail.com Indian male 27 years, B.Tech Graduate having good work experience with valid Oman D/L looking for a suitable opening as Sales Engineer.

Contact: 91472953 Email: harees.rasheed.2014@gmail.com

*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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W E D N E S D AY, AU G U S T 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SIT.WANTED MISCELLANEOUS Housemaid looking for job. Cont : 95587492 Filipino (Male), 33 yrs/old, 9 yrs. experience in marine transportation (seaman/deck crew), & 3 yrs. in sales (electronic devices) currently on visit visa & looking for a suitable employment. GSM: 94750459 Indian male, B.com, MBA, having 5 years experience (3 years in U.A.E) is currently seeking suitable opportunities within finance/ accounts/admin dept.

Contact:93953613, allen.mathew83@gmail.com B.Com graduate, 11 years experience in Accounts, 9 years Oman experience , Oman valid driving license, looking for suitable post.

Mob:92758404 NOC Available.

SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available. Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Two year experience in Oman, experience in sales, purchase and system admin, Having GCC license.

Contact number 97475860, Yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com Indian Male, 32 yrs, MBA-HR, Trainer & Faculty worked on Omanisation & nationals development activities with 10 yrs of experience seeking suitable job. Contact : 93891401 saiprasad_18@yahoo.com Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science,diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience dba oracle plsql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba,network Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic Tel: 91415886 Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll.

Contact : 97351786 / 96143708/97357143 Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available mob : 95253640 . email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com Indian-22 years Male, Mechanical Engineer, B.Tech, has done internships, born and brought up in Oman, with Omani Driving License, seeking suitable jobs. Contact 92791637.

E-mail: ashwinsureshkotturethu@gmail.com Senior Accountant Indian male Graduate CA Articleship completed 18 years of experience currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement contact.97498809,93391910 Email.hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male, 30 yrs, B.Com with Tally, 8 yrs experience with Oman driving license experience in Accounts & sales seeks suitable placement. Contact 96470171 Electrical Maintenance Engineer, 29, Indian Male, having 7+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in Oman.

Contact - 98440637. Mail ID : venkatbadri23@gmail.com Indian male 22 years, Looking for suitable placement in Hardware and Networking field, 1 year exp. in india an have done training in al ameen computers. With good communication skill, Qualification is Diploma in Electronics and Communication.

Contact : - 95632209,95068075, Email- fairozhuded13@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED Sudanese 29 male (Bsc computer science, diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience , dba oracle pl-sql , ms sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network, Omani Driver licence language English, Arabic. Email:chastity643@gmail. com, Mob:91415886 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864 Having 9+ years exp. in Admin & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement.

Contact No.: 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. Contact:95983711.Join.mtmali@gmail.com Indian male 24 years,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 2 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482, Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male 23 years, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa.

Seeking suitable placement.

Contact no. 98045482 Email: mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Male, 32, having 7 years experience in New Car sales and rental. Currently working for one of the most reputed Brand in India is seeking a suitable change.

Contact +91 9045232273 Looking for managerial post (full time ) ,More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training ,Planing, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics.

Contact 91076608 /+919048648108 NOC available Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 7 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. Having a valid D/L. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings.NOC available. mobile: 92700670, email:catanalur131@gmail.com

Accounts Head/Manager looking for job with Gulf Experience (NOC available). Contact : 94164650. email: msaleem.kr@gmail.com Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 9719 4864 Pakistani, Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, already working in Prestigious Construction Company. # 95983711.

Join.mtmali@gmail.com Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 31 years, looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 7 years of gulf experience in fasteners and building material. Having a valid driving license. Contact: 00968 92480985, Email: fayubeig@gmail.com Indian male MBA finance and marketing. Having 2 year experienced in accounting, looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit can join immediately. Cont: 94676974 Email: anfalruk@gmail.com SALES MANAGER (MECHANICAL ENGINEER)-Over 5 yrs in Oman, with experience in Industrial Products & Services with Noc & driving license looking for the challenging opportunities. Notice period Ends on 27th August -2015 . GSM - 95291830 ACCOUNTANT, Male, 8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years, Looking for suitable placement in CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES and OILFIELD INDUSTRIES. Having 5 years of gulf experience in FASTENERS and BUILDING MATERIAL. with good communication skills.

Contact: 00968 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.com INDIAN MALE 23 YEARS,B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic) having 4 years working experience as an Electrical site Engineer, currently on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact no. 98045482 21 years, B. Com, graduate male ‘fresher’ well versed in English, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam with Driving license looking for a suitable job. Contact: 96799287 24 years, ACCA affiliate, 2.5 years of experience in audit, finance in Big6 and oil industry, looking for suitable placement, NOC release available. Contact 95140445, Email: a.saran891@gmail.com

SIT.WANTED Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping & Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

GSM: 97121525 Male available for a part time accounting & admin job, Contact:99196621.

INDIAN MALE 24 YEARS, B. Tech (Electrical & Electronic).Having 2 years experience as Electrical Site Engineer in Constructions. Done IOSH & NEBOSH- IGC certifications.

Seeking for suitable placement in constructions or in any related industries.

Contact no: 98045482/ mastanshaik1008@gmail.com Indian male, 29 yrs, B.Tech Electronics & Communication Eng. + diploma in SAP, 7 years professional experience, looking for a job in Oman / other GCC countries.

Contact: 0091 973 928 5790, Email: rahul.rn198@gmail.com Indian male MBA finance and marketing having 2 year experienced in accounting. Having good knowledge in Tally ERP and advanced excel.

Looking for suitable job opportunities. Available on visit visa can join immediately. Contact:94676974, Email : anfalruk@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer : Indian , male 23 years, 2 years experience, on visit visa . Seeking suitable placement.

Contact : +968 91409712 , Email : nibin.nani@gmail.com Babar Ali Male, Pak, Exp 14 Years in Accounts, IT & Administration, looking for a better position in Oman, No need of Visa, already working in of the Omani Construction Company.

Contact:- 95983711.

Advertising/media executive with 15 years gulf experience with oman driving license. Seeks good opening.

Contact 93031168 Masters in Information Systems and IT with more than 12 years experience seeks suitable placement.

Contact: 98502793, email:jobsrs6@gmail.com Indian Female, 25 years, M.Sc Electronics + Multimedia, having one year teaching experience in Government college in India, seeks suitable placement. Contact GSM 99367448

AutoCad Civil Draftsman – Having 3 years- experience, looking for a placement.(Full- time or Part time) 99627427 / 96154564.

Indian Male, 37 Years , B Tech Graduate Electrical. Having 12 Years Experience of DCRP Works / Jobs in Oman with Driving License, Looking for an suitable opening, NOC Available. Contact – 92122338, Email saiviharvasanth@gmail.com Part- Time Accountant, well experience senior accountant ,doing all type of accounting works, Finalization, Budgeting available.

Contact : 98803439 Indian Female Lawyer having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman seeks placement in Legal/HR/ Admin etc. NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com Filipino (male), 37 yrs. old, having 8yrs. experience in Operation (Shipping&Logistics) currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

GSM: 97121525 Quantity Surveyor-MEP (Estimation/Project) ,Total 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman).

Having NOC & Oman D/L, Looking for suitable job, Contact - 97906551 Indian female with MBA in finance on visit visa seeking immediate placement. Contact :968-93316493 Sales Representative or Purchase officer. Indian male 30 years , looking for suitable placement in construction industries and oilfield industries. Having 5 years of Gulf experience in FASTENERS and building material. with good communication skills. Contact: 97756269, Email: razzakbmt@gmail.comIndian Indian male 23 years Graduate, working as a sales coordinator cum purchase & office coordination 2 YEARS in oman Having oman license & NOC looking for suitable job in Muscat. GSM:97475860 Email:yadhukrishnan08@gmail.com

ACCOUNTANT: Indian male senior Accountant, Graduate & CA Article ship completed. 18 Years of experience. Currently on visiting visa. seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97498809, 99769743, Email: hilariankj@gmail.com Indian male executive secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer seeks suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 Well qualified Indian Female Bsc, Computers diploma 9 years of experience as Executive Secretary seeks placement.

Contact 95423692,91374217 Indian male 35 yrs, 10 yrs UAE experience in FMCG, looking for a suitable position in sales and marketing, valid GCC license on visit visa.

Contact 93438747, 95723635.

Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.

Contact : 97914340.

Email: rajkv30@gmail.com

FOR HIRE Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

TRANSPORTATION Pick & drop anytime in Al Ghubra.

Contact: 97681599 Transport available in Ghala, Ruwi , Ghubra, Al Khuwair & Azaiba.

Contact: 91495819 Transportation. Contact 99664703 Transportation available.

Contact 95570429 Transport. Contact: 95190627 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914

B.E Mechanical engineer,2 years job experience in Oman in pipeline field, having ASNT level ll in UT,RT,MT and PT, fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi, with valid Omani driving license (light) searching for job.

Contact +968 92745691

Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786

W E D N E S DAY, AU G U S T 2 6, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

SITUATION WANTBUSINESS ED

Working partners required for Farm Based Trading. Contact: 94151791 Seeking financial investor / partner for short term Governmental construction project of 1.5 million Riyal Omani. Contact : 99881303

WEBSITE

COMPUTER

New company seek partnership.

Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

NRI

CLASSES

ACC. AVAILABLE Furnished room in new building for working Muslim lady/muslim couple only. Location: AINT, Darsait Contact 99008069 Room for bachelor couples, Ruwi, Mumtaz on main road. Ruwi tower 80/100. Contact 95084850/ 92230581 Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397/99493500 1 bedroom, hall, kitchen & toilet available for family near ISD Darsait (Indians only) with wi-fi facility.

RO 150/- per month + Electricity & Water. Contact 93661570 Sharing accommodation in CBD area for non cooking Executive bachelors, wifi free, advance deposit.

Contact 91852710 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206 Furnished master room Ruwi.

Contact : 99794399 Room for rent with sharing bathroom & kitchen at Al Khuwair, behind Golden Spoon Restaurant.

Contact 92994415 Furnished room for Indian Bachelor in Al Falaj area (Ruwi) & Lady in Wadi Kabir (near Al Maya).

Contact 96761960 Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai.

Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir.

Contact: 95345537

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

MATRIMONIAL House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

A respectable Sunni Muslim family from Hyderabad, India invites proposal for their daughter, 26 years, MSc, very fair. Contact 93671857 Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East.

Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

Admission started in a private school, Darsait (Mount Zion Group of Institutions CBSE 1) for KG and grade 1 to 4 please register soonest.

Contact: 92088325 / 24799938

FOR EXPATS

GOOD NEWS

From owner plot of land near Zanzibar, airport price RO 15000.

Contact 99348943

AVAILABLE Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. ww.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

Ayuredic massage backache, joint pain, neck pain etc. # 98254909 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371664 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 99250777, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit:www.islamfact.com

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

Split window cassette AC unit servicing, maintenance.

Contact: 99540621

All maintenance & repairs.

Contact Rizwan: 99429071, RMPM Trading.

One stop shop business services : Public Relation (PRO) formation new companies, LLC companies, Investor visa, business setup, prepare businesses & companies accounts, legal services, representing you and your company.

Contact: Saleh : 96723485

Civil maintenance - plumbing, electrical, painting, and tiling, interior decorations, shop furnishing and all other maintenance works.

Contact: 97897831 / 92112094 (Indian, Keralite)

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 General cleaning & Shampooing.

Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99344723 / 99357908 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance. Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Pest control Treatments, Cockroaches, Ants ,Rodents & Termites. Ocean Center LLC. Contact: 99357908 / 99344723.

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080 Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 House shifting & packing.

Contact: 99657644 /98518013 A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. # 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

DRIVING

Air condition maintenance split and window A/C split a/c ducted and package type units.

Contact: 98667326 General cleaning in buildings villas all types interior, exterior, polishing dry cleaning carpets, rugs, marble etc. #94134784 / 98598280 Maintenance working interlocks, tiles, fixing painting & others working. Contact: 92179395

Driver for Automatic Transmission. Contact: 99040813

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W E D N E S D AY, AU G U S T 2 6 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

TOURS

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

RENT A CAR

RENT A CAR

MOTOR VEHICLE FOR SALE

Car for rent. Contact: 92516090 Butter cup rent a car competitive prices new car 2016.

Contact: 97249449

Diplomat used car for sale Toyota Corolla 2010 model, mileage 19,950/, price R.O 3500 /- (negotiable).

Contact: Mohamed Azgar 95751844 / 95863739 Nissan Xterra 2010 Expat owned 90,000 k, clean car.

Contact: 93393967 Sportage, 2013. Contact 99336093 Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093

PAJERO 2015 km1400.

Contact 99336093 Mazda 3,1.6, 2008 Automatic, accident free, single owner.

Contact: 92030516 Land Cruiser 2012.

Contact 99336093 Toyota Camry 2006, new tyre & new engine, very good condition, location Sohar. Contact 91110270