Times of Oman - May 27, 2015

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WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2015 / 8 Sha’aban 1436 AH

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Q ATA R

HM sends greetings DOHA: His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, received yesterday, Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs.

Sayyid Badr conveyed His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s greetings and wishes of good health and happiness to the Emir of Qatar and the Qatari people further progress and prosperity.

Sheikh Tamim asked the minister to convey his greetings and wishes of good health, happiness and a long life to His Majesty the Sultan and the Omani people further progress and prosperity.—ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

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INDIA

800 die in heatwave

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At least 800 people have died in a major heatwave that has swept across India, melting roads in New Delhi as temperatures neared 50 degrees Celsius. >A9

MARKET

Salalah power plant

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Several agreements have been signed by OPWP Company with a consortium led by Mitsui & Co to build a 445 MW power project, Salalah independent power project (phase 2), and to acquire an existing 273-megawatt power plant from Dhofar Generating Company. >B1

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AGREEMENT

CALL TO REVIEW NOC RULE IN SULTANATE But the Ministry of Manpower insists that the controversial rule is not going anywhere

Rights awareness A proposal to implement a study on social awareness of human rights in Oman has been suggested by the NHRC. >A6

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FAHAD AL GHADANI

fahadnews@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: One of Oman’s most controversial labour policies has celebrated its first birthday amid calls from Omani and expatriate business leaders for its future to be reviewed.

The requirement for expats to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) if

they want to switch jobs inside the Sultanate, or face a two-year ban from the country, has fuelled debate on whether it is stabilising or stagnating the employment market in Oman.

The rule was first announced in May last year, and 12 months on, the Ministry of Manpower has no intention of ending the ban, according to an official at the ministry.

Labour market He insisted the rule was formulated only after thorough consideration to regulate the labour market and that’s why it is not logical to review it after a year.

“There is no plan to change the rule and the two-year period is likely to stay,” said the ministry source.

He added that there are no plans to form a committee to review it.

However, a member of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), said he believes the rule should be re-evaluated to determine its effectiveness over the past year.

Ahmed Al Hooti, an OCCI member, said the chamber had not been involved in formulating the two-year ban and wanted the rule to be given a second look.

“Although, I feel it is too early to take a decision, there must, at least, be some sort of re-evaluation, especially since the rule had been in force for almost a year,” said Al Hooti.

Transparency “We need more transparency from the authorities,” said Al Hooti, noting that the OCCI was informed about the rule last year from the Ministry of Manpower in the same way as ordinary citizens. >A6

Oman, Iran sign pact on maritime boundary MUSCAT: Oman and Iran on Tuesday signed an agreement to set the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Sea of Oman.

A press statement issued on the occasion stated, ‘’With the support of Allah and as an embodiment of the historic relations, good neighbourly ties and mutual respect, whose foundations were laid by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Dr Hassan Rouhani, president of Iran, a maritime boundary agreement was signed in Muscat on Tuesday 7th of Sha’aban 1436 AH corresponding to May 26, 2015, between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran

Routes for new low-floor buses demarcated

in the Sea of Oman area.’’

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Sultanate’s government by Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior, and Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Iranian government.

The agreement was signed in an atmosphere of cooperation and friendship where the delimitation of the maritime boundaries between the two countries was made in accordance with justice, fairness and relevant international laws. On signing the agreement, the two countries hailed the spirit of understanding that prevailed throughout the talks at different levels. >A5

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PRESTIGIOUS PROJECT

First part of rail project tender later this year: Minister ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI First segment Al Buraimi Second segment

Sohar

elham@timesofoman.com Railway network Muscat

Ibri Nizwa

20km Graphics

MUSCAT: Oman’s ambitious railway project is moving closer to reality as the Ministry of Transport and Communications is going ahead with the plans to float and award major contracts this year.

The contract to build the first segment of the project, which

will connect Al Buraimi to Sohar in a 207-kilometre (km) stretch, will be awarded in the second half of the year, said Minister of Transport and Communications Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi.

The second segment will link Al Buraimi to Ibri, he told reporters on the sidelines of an agreement ceremony at the ministry’s head-

quarters on Tuesday.

It was recently reported that Oman Rail had started issuing tenders for the construction of a further 1,207km of the railway network, which will have an estimated length of 2,135km.

New tenders The new tenders are for an additional three segments of the nine-

segment network. When asked if any delay is expected in the project, the minister said, “We will see when we award the contract.”

Oman-Saudi road Asked about the road linking Oman to Saudi Arabia, Al Futaisi said that no confirmed date for the inauguration of the road has been received. >A6

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 These buses are designed specifically to accommodate the nature and specifications of roads in the Sultanate, and spaces will be provided for families, women and disabled passengers Eng Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of ONTC

OMAN

Adam-Thumrait road dualisation deals signed The value of the agreement with Consolidated Contractors Company is OMR91 million and is for the second part of the road project with a total length of 119.7 km, which includes a 5.25-kilometre service road.

The project is expected to would help reduce car accidents during the Khareef season

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Two agreements totally valued at OMR201 million were signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications for the Adam-Thumrait road dualisation project, aimed at reducing accidents and enhancing the traffic flow.

The agreements were signed by Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim

SEALING THE AGREEMENT: The entire section of the road from Adam to Thumrait is divided into six segments. These are the first two segments. The other segments are still in the process of designing. – Supplied photo

Al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, and the representatives of Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting and Consolidated Contractors Company, at the ministry on Tuesday.

The agreement with Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting, worth OMR109.9 million, is for the first part of the project with a total length of 120.4 kilometres, which includes a 20.35-km service road.

RED BULL 5 PICS GALLERY

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

Photo contest awards tonight MUSCAT: More than 350 photographers from all over the country participated online in the first edition of the Red Bull 5 Pics in Oman.

Unique The top 20 finalists and winner will be announced at a unique gallery experience to be held tonight (May 27) at Bait Al Zubair at 7 p.m.

To participate in the digitalbased photography event, each photographer was required to submit a photo story online using five of their best photographs of Unseen Oman by uploading them to the Red Bull 5 Pics website.

Participants received support from the online community with

Six segments “The entire section of the road from Adam to Thumrait is divided into six segments. These are the first two segments. The other segments are still in the process of designing,” the minister told reporters after signing the agreements.

According to him, the first two segments will take three years to complete. Al Futaisi described the project as ‘very important’, noting that it would help reduce car accidents during the Khareef season.

“We are on the verge of completing the part from Izz to Adam, and these two sections will continue from Adam towards Thumrait,” he said.

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Each photographer was required to submit a photo story online. -Courtesy Sayeed Waleed

109,067 votes online during the six-week submission process. As a reward the winner will receive an OMR1,000 Nikon voucher.

The winners’ Unseen Oman

photographs will also be on DHL packages sent from Oman all across the world. The event aims to bring together talented young enthusiasts and pioneering professional photographers.

Photographers from all backgrounds and levels had the chance to reveal the inspiration that drives them, demonstrate the techniques and tricks that give them the edge and most importantly, demonstrate their ability to tell a story through their digital photographs.

Prize for Oman’s e-job system MUSCAT: For the fourth year in a row, the Sultanate has bagged a prize at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), achieving another international milestone towards the Millennium Development Goals.

The Ministry of Manpower was awarded the prize for its E-employment System, in the category ICT Applications during the WSIS Forum 2015, which began at ITU Headquarters in Geneva on May 25 and will conclude on May 29.

A large number of international government bodies and institutions, private institutions and individuals, all connected with IT are participating in the event. -ONA

TRANSPORT

Main routes for new low-floor buses identified NEW MUSCAT BUS SERVICE

Al Khoud Seeb

40 km

Muttrah

Airport Ruwi Wadi Adai

Sultan Qaboos University

Route 3

Al Khoud-SQU

Route 1

Seeb-Ruwi

Source: Oman National Transport Company

ELHAM POURMOHAMMADI

elham@timesofoman.com

MUSCAT: Main routes for the new low-floor buses that will be operating in Muscat have been identified by the Oman National Transport Company (ONTC), which will take delivery of 40 buses by the end of the year.

An agreement was signed on Sunday between the ONTC and the Netherlands-based VDL Bus & Coach Company, one of the largest bus producers in Europe, for the purchase of 40 buses.

The buses are expected to be delivered between October 15 and November 15, according to Rémi Henkemans, managing director of VDL Bus & Coach Company.

Main routes The first route will be from Seeb to Ruwi, Eng Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communications and chairman of the ONTC, told reporters after an agreement signing ceremony at the ministry on Tuesday.

The second route will be from Ruwi to Wadi Adai and then to Muttrah and back from Muttrah

Route 2

Wadi Adai-Ruwi-Muttrah

Graphics

to Wadi Adai, he said.

Al Nuaimi added that the third route will be from Al Khoud to the Sultan Qaboos University.

He said that the initiative will serve as a pilot project to assess the public demand and other aspects of the public transport network in the city.

There is a plan to establish a public transport authority, added the official.

Specifications The chairman of the ONTC had said earlier that these buses are designed specifically to accommodate the nature and specifications of roads in the Sultanate, and spaces will be provided for families, women and disabled passengers in these buses.

According to him, the ONTC is coordinating with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the Muscat Municipality to find solutions for the bus routes and stations.

In addition, Ahmed bin Ali Al Bulushi, chief executive officer of the ONTC, said on Sunday that the company seeks to prepare the necessary infrastructure and systems, including bus-tracking and auto-ticketing systems.

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

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OMAN Alawi receives Iranian minister

OMAN-IRAN

BIG DEAL: The agreement will widen the horizons of cooperation in all fields and will be a role model for countries in the region. – ONA

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Pact to boost cooperation

They hoped that this agreement would contribute to enhancing the friendship and good neighbourly ties between the two countries, which would benefit both countries and all BOOSTING TIES: Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, received at

the Ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. – ONA

The two sides discussed bilateral ties and the means of enhancing them

MUSCAT: Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, received at the Ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly Islamic Republic of Iran as part of his official visit to the Sultanate to sign the maritime boundary agreement between the

Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Salim bin Nasser Al Ismaili, chairman of the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development, a number of officials at the Foreign Ministry, the Iranian Ambassador to the Sultanate and members of the delegation accompanying the visiting Minister.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, means of enhancing them, the developments in the region and other issues of mutual interest.

Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran said in a statement that the relationship between the two countries is ideal

and that was crowned by signing the maritime boundary agreement between the Sultanate and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This is a step that aims at enhancing the cooperation between the two countries in different fields.

He said the meeting also touched on the developments in the region and issues of mutual interest.

He hailed the role played by the Sultanate under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said towards the different issues in the region and its endeavours to promote peace and reconciliation in the region.

As for the Iranian nuclear issue, the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out that the talks are under way and another round of drafting of the nuclear file agreement is being held on Tuesday. - ONA

other countries in the region.

Dr Zarif affirmed in a statement to the Oman News Agency (ONA) and Oman TV that signing this agreement is evidence of the strong relationship

between both the countries.

He pointed out that the agreement will widen the horizons of co-operation in all fields and will be a role model for countries of the region. – ONA

LUXURY

Jewellery exhibition opens

The exhibition will continue for the next five days. – Talib Al Wahibi

MUSCAT: Displaying jewellery from around the world, the sixth edition of the Muscat International Jewellery and Gold Exhibition 2015, organised by Oman International Exhibition Centre (OIEC), started at OIEC on Tuesday under the auspices of Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma’awali, chairman of Majlis Al Shura.

The exhibition will continue for the next five days. Hussain bin Ramadhan bin Sulaiman, acting general manager of OIEC, said that new exhibitors are part of this exhibition and are showcasing new items that were not there at the previous events.

Jewellery and gold companies, traders and businessmen, in addition to goldsmith professionals

and designers from Oman, Arab and Gulf countries, Lebanon and Italy apart from Thailand, Turkey, Singapore and India are taking part in the exhibition.

Ideal opportunity The United Kingdom and the United States are also a part of the exhibition. The number of visitors at the previous exhibition stood at 15,000.

This year’s version will include a number of seminars on gold, diamond and jewellery items.

The exhibition, which aims to attract lovers of jewellery and gold items, provides an ideal opportunity to review and purchase the latest designs and products. – ONA

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 There is supposed to be a big resort there. I think only now it has started to be realised. So, without that project and without big tourism activities, it will be difficult Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi, minister of transport and communications

OMAN

Sohar schoolgirl tops CBSE exams in Oman Apart from Archana CM, who came first in the Science stream, Manhar Kaur Randhava scored 95.8 per cent to come second and Amey Goyal with 95.4 per cent came third

Times News Service MUSCAT: Archana CM of Indian School Sohar emerged as the highest scoring student in Oman among all CBSE schools in the Sultanate with 491/500 marks, in the just declared results of the CBSE examinations conducted in March-April 2015.

Apart from Archana CM, who came first in the Science stream, Manhar Kaur Randhava scored 95.8 per cent to come second and Amey Goyal with 95.4 per cent

came in a close third.

In the Commerce stream, Sreelakshmi Sindhulal came first with 95 per cent, Johyena Vincent Rodrigues came second with 90 per cent and Vishal Prakash scored 89 per cent and came third.

Naturally, the excitement was palpable at the school, as students strode dazzlingly along the road to success and Team ISS expressed its delight at the performance of Archana and all the others at the remarkable performance.

A total of 70 students appeared for the Class XII CBSE examinations in both Science and Commerce streams, and the school notched up a 100 per cent success rate. The school’s pledge to emerge exceptional in academics, reflected in the brilliant show by the students.

It was an exemplary achievement that 34 out of the 40 students in the Science stream and 23 of the 30 students in the Commerce stream have notched a dis-

tinction, while all the students achieved a first division.

Talking about the success, Sanchita Verma, principal, said, “I am happy to inform you that 48 out of 70 students came first in English scoring 95 per cent marks, while the top scorers in individual subjects are, Archana CM with 100 Chemistry, 99 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics and 99 in Informatics Practices, and Manhar Kaur Randhava with 98 in Biology.

The names of the other toppers are as follows: In the Commerce Stream Economics: 95 – Sreelekshmi Sindhulal, Johyena Vincent Rodrigues and Shahala Nizar K M; Business Studies: 95 – Sreelekshmi Sindhulal, Johyena Vincent Rodrigues, Vishal Prakash and Shahala Nizar K M, in addition to Bhumika Mishra, Rahulraj and Srivatsan A; Accountancy: 95 – Sreelekshmi Sindhulal; Physical Education: 96 - Jennis Chacko John.

The school authorities said they were proud of their students who brought glory to their alma mater.

The school management committee has heaped praise on the teachers for their herculean efforts and has congratulated the principal and vice principal. They commended all the outgoing Class XII students for their stunning efforts and wished them success in their future endeavours.

The principal observed that the result was largely owing to the deep commitment of students and their supportive families. She congratulated the diligent and dedicated efforts of teachers in ensuring that their students all achieved soaring percentiles.

Most parents and toppers mentioned that their achievement was a result of the consistent teaching and dedication of the senior school teachers as well as the systematic remedial and extra classes arranged by the school.

NEW AIRPORTS

A1 Minister asks firms to follow ‘right path’ < FROM

The new road inside Oman, which has been completed, is around 160km while the stretch on the Saudi side it will be about 519km. The current distance between the two countries via the United Arab Emirates is approximately 2,000km.

Commenting on the Ras al Hadd Airport, the official said that the runway is complete but the challenge in operating the airport lies in the fact that the facility is for tourism purposes and the related projects should be implemented in the area as well.

“There is supposed to be a big resort there. I think only now it has started to be realised. So, without that project and without big tourism activities, it will be difficult,” he said.

In addition, Al Futaisi noted that no date has been finalised yet for the launch of Salalah Airport, but the first trial has given everybody the confidence that it can be operated without a problem.

The minister had said earlier that the airport will most likely be opened in June.

Asked about the arrest of more than 1,000 expatriate workers at the construction site of the new Muscat International Airport project, he said that people should not relate the quality of the work to this incident.

“We are giving quality very high importance, and we are checking

Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Salim Al Futaisi, minister of transport and communications

every part of the airport, and we are not allowing anything which is not in accordance or in compliance with the standards and specifications,” said Al Futaisi.

He explained that the arrested labourers were not involved in any work that would directly affect the quality of the project.

The minister also urged the companies to follow the ‘right path’ and not employ illegal workers as the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of Manpower have been working to meet the workforce requirements of the project through the right procedure and as quickly as possible.

Additionally, Al Futaisi noted that many investors have expressed interest in introducing a budget airline and the process has started.

INDIAN SCHOOL SALALAH

F LY I N G C O L O U R S

Salalah students repeat 100% result Times News Service

Indian School Ibri students shine Times News Service MUSCAT: The third batch of Class XII students of Indian School Ibri passed out with flying colours in the CBSE examinations held in March 2015.

Nirmal Ram Raghavan scored 93.4 per cent to top the batch, Ananthu Ajey came second with 91.6 per cent and Sivaprasad M came third with 88 per cent.

The toppers of various subjects are: English: Lydia Grace Raju

(96); Mathematics: Abijith K A (90); Biology: Munna Dey (85); Physics: Ananthu Ajey, Nirmal Ram Raghavan and Sivaprasad M (95); Chemistry: Nirmal Ram Raghavan and Sivaprasad M (95) Multimedia and Web Technology: Nirmal Ram Raghavan (95).

The school management committee and the principal congratulated the students for their outstanding performance and the teachers for their sincere efforts and dedication.

MUSCAT: There was great excitement and happiness among students and teachers at the Indian School Salalah as the results of the Class 12 CBSE examination were declared on Monday.

The school may be 1,000 kilometres away from the capital, but it is never too far away from excelling in academics. For yet another year, the school achieved a 100 per cent result in the examination that was conducted in March and April, 2015.

The school has been very consistent in securing brilliant results and this year too it has done extremely well. All the 130 students who appeared for the exam were successful.

The concerted efforts put in by the management, principal, staff and students helped the students to come out with flying colours with top scores and distinctions.

In the Science stream, Ayesha Ayaz scored 95.8 per cent (479/500), followed by Shabana T

S with 95.6 per cent (478 marks) and Ahmed Elsayed Gobba scored 94.6 per cent (473 marks). In the Science stream out of 54 students, 39 got distinctions, or above 75 per cent, and 15 secured between 60 per cent and 74 per cent.

In the Commerce stream, Radhika Rajesh Bhujwala topped with 94.8 per cent (474 marks), followed by S Shwetha Srinivasan with 92.4 per cent (462 marks) and B Gayathri with 92.2 per cent (461 marks). In the Commerce stream out of 76 students, 36 got distinction, 36 secured between 60 per cent and 74 per cent and 4 between 45 and 55.

The highlights of the results are as follows: Eighteen students se-

TWO-YEAR CURB

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in Business Statistics); Radhika Rajesh Bhujwala (95 per cent in Accountancy); Aljo James (96 per cent in Economics); Ayesha Ayaz (98 per cent in Info ‘Pract’), Suman (85 per cent in Entrepreneurship) and Shradha (91 per cent in Multimedia) Commendable performance The students and the teachers were happy and proud for having accomplished a commendable result, said the school authorities.

Ram Santhanam, president of the school management committee (SMC), other members of the SMC and T R Brown, principal, congratulated the students and the teachers for the excellent results.

M A J I D A L F U TA I M G R O U P

‘Time to re-evaluate ban’

“We were not involved, but we now want total transparency from the ministry in sharing with us, and other authorities, the reasons behind this decision and its impact after a year,” he said.

He said this is a chance to reevaluate the decision and depending on the results, the ministry, in co-operation with the authorities concerned, should formulate a new rule. “I am against tarring all expatriates with the same brush,” said Al Hooti, adding that such a decision should target unskilled workers rather than expats in general.

“Doctors, engineers, managers and other skilled workers should be treated differently, and anyway, the concerns raised were basically from unskilled expatriate workers

cured more than 90 per cent.

The results in English have been remarkable over the years and each year, the scoring average has been more than the previous years.

The highlight of the English examination result is that 76 out of 130 students topped the subject with a score of 95 per cent.

The other subject toppers are as follows: Ahmed Elsayed Gobba, Devan K S, Saif Abdul Cassim (95 per cent in Mathematics); Ahmed Elsayed Gobba (97 per cent in Physics and 97 per cent in Chemistry); Shabana T S (98 per cent in Biology); Nisali Sanara Kularatne (98 per cent in Computer Science); Fatema Naznin (97 per cent

in Oman,” he said. “I understand that an expat coming as a labourer and then becoming an investor in a couple of years after getting a sponsor who does not care about the economy of Oman is similar to carrying out business on the sly and need to be checked,” Al Hooti said.

He added, “However skilled workers should be allowed to move between companies in a free market to find better jobs, working conditions and salaries.”

Mohammed Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, general manager of New Star International Travel and Tour LLC, said that the ruling is good news for employers, but bad news for employees as they cannot change jobs.

“I think people should be allowed to change jobs,” he viewed.

Rashid Khalfan, a general manger of a construction company, said that the company has been affected by this rule.

“There is no other way for expatriate workers now to get a better job offer or environment unless they abscond from their current job,” said Khalfan, adding that two of his employees had absconded in the past year.

“The Ministry of Manpower should find ways to decrease the number of cases of absconders instead of finding more reasons to stop them,” he said. “Getting a worker from inside Oman has become almost impossible. Nobody is ready to provide NOCs, and this has led to delays in a company projects,” he added.

NHRC

Study on human rights in Oman MUSCAT: A proposal to implement a study on social awareness of human rights in Oman has been suggested by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The commission, in a meeting headed by Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Riyami, chairman of NHRC, discussed the conditions of the expatriate workers who were spotted at the airport project, which it said, was a clear violation of human rights. -ONA

‘Feel the Beat’ aims to educate women on heart ailment risks TARIQ AL HAREMI

tariqh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: ‘Feel the Beat’ campaign focusing on cardiovascular diseases in women has been launched by Majid Al Futaim Group, urging them to get a screening done either at City Centre Muscat or later at the City Centre Qurum.

Specialists from the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) are present for the screening of visitors, educating and training them on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Dr Abdul Hakim Hashim, senior consultant for critical care at the SQUH said, “The initiative is for women. It will look into the risk factors with regard to heart diseases in women by taking their height, weight, BMI and blood sugar. The women will then fill a form about their family medical history and will be advised by medical professionals on the disease.”

Cardiovascular diseases or heart attacks are the cause of 45 per cent of deaths in the Gulf, but the common belief is that it occurs more in men than women.

“What we are noticing is that women also seem to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, but they tend to get diagnosed late,” said Dr Hatim Al Lawati,

HEALTH TIPS: The public will be educated on heart disease and ways to identify its symptoms and risk factors. – Jun Estrada

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consultant international cardiologist, SQUH. “The symptoms they present are not the classic symptoms and these are often dismissed and disregarded,” he added.

Dr Hatim said the classic symptoms such as chest pains, as a result of a blocked artery in males, may not necessarily be the same for women. They could experience shortness in breath which is also associated with asthma. It explains how easily it could be disregarded as symptom for a cardiovascular disease.“They tend to be young and, therefore, their symptoms

get dismissed as non-cardiac, only for them to be diagnosed later by which time it may be too late. It can lead to severe complications,” said Dr Hatim.

The public will be educated on heart disease and ways to identify its symptoms and the associated risk factors. For those who are living with coronary heart disease, they will learn how to avoid deterioration of the condition.

When asked about how CPR could contribute to increasing the survival rate, Dr Hakim said, “It depends on a lot of conditions and not just about conducting CPR. Of course, it is good to know CPR, but you want to know what is the cause of heart stoppage. If the cause is a heart attack, you need to provide electricity to heart to improve survival chances. ”

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5 I was just shocked. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I had been in touch with my friends in Sarangkot and I just knew, there was no doubt, I just felt I had to go and help in any way I could John ONeil, American who lives in Buraimi

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OMAN

Nepal needs tourism, says Oman’s resident who helped quake victims At first ONeil, his suitcase of medical supplies and dried goods in tow, worried whether he would even make it to Nepal. Though the flight is only four hours, the airplane circled over Kathmandu for 90 minutes because of the chaos at the airport with people leaving and rescue teams arriving

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: When the Gorkha Earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, John ONeil, an American who lives in Buraimi, knew he had to help. Five days later he landed in Kathmandu with a suitcase full of supplies and a very generous heart.

ONeil has been travelling to Nepal regularly since 2008 and has a deep love of the country’s mountainous landscape and its kind, humble people. In 2009 he even helped a Nepalese family who had become his friends build a guest house in Sarangkot, a popular tourist destination.

Shocked “I was just shocked. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I had been in touch with my friends in Sarangkot and I just knew, there was no doubt, I just felt I had to go and help in any way I could,” ONeil told Times of Oman.

He contacted his Nepalese friend Laxman Chapai who agreed to open a Facebook page to collect donations, and arranged to take three weeks of unpaid leave from his teaching job at the University of Buraimi. He said his coworkers covered his classes in his absence, for which he was most grateful.

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One of ONeil’s coworkers posted a note about him on the popular Facebook page What’s Happening Muscat, Oman? and immediately there people across Oman asking how they could help him.

“The response was overwhelming. I was really touched. There were even people at the airport who were handing me money because they’d been following the What’s Happening page,” he said.

At first ONeil, his suitcase of medical supplies and dried goods in tow, worried whether he would even make it to Nepal. Though the flight is only four hours, the airplane circled over Kathmandu for 90 minutes because of the chaos at the airport with people leaving and rescue teams arriving.

When they finally landed he headed straight to the domestic airport and got a flight to Pokhara, which is about 215km northwest of the capital. From there he headed to Sarangkot, the picturesque village not far from Pokhara, where the guest house is located.

Even though the guest house only had minor damage, a few

HELPING HAND: In the big picture it’s so small, what I was able to do, because it’s such a huge area that’s been affected and so many people. But maybe through this effort it brings awareness. A lot of people have emailed and asked how to help, said John ONeil (wearing the white cap). – Courtesy John ONeil

cracks here and there, his friends had been sleeping outside for fear of another quake. But they knew there were other Nepalese much worse off than they were.

‘Let’s do it’ “The people in the village all rallied around and said, ‘Let’s do it.

Let’s see how much money we can raise’,” ONeil recalled.

Through the Sarangkot Development Tourism Committee’s Facebook page, they had raised $1,266.00 from people in Oman, Europe, and the USA. They bought 2,000kg worth of staple food items like rice, lentils, oil, chili powder, cumin and other items the people needed like pots and pans and blankets, things that had been destroyed or lost in the earthquake.

They took them to the Pokhara airport where the military delivered the goods to Gorkha, the region worst hit by the earthquake.

Then they decided to take even more supplies themselves after meeting a man whose entire village in Gorkha had been destroyed.

CRIME

Firecrackers, narcotics seized Times News Service MUSCAT: Customs officers foiled a bid to smuggle firecrackers into the Sultanate via the Wajajah border, on Monday.

The officers were doing a routine check on two vehicles when they discovered 4,816 firecrackers and six boxes of fireworks concealed inside, an official from Royal Oman Police (ROP) said.

Meanwhile, customs officers at the Muscat International Airport foiled an attempt to smuggle narcotics. After frisking the alleged traffickers, all Asian nationals, more than 1,000 capsules of different types of narcotics were found.

Department of Combating Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, Musandam Governorate, yesterday arrested an Asian for possessing large amounts of

narcotics and illegally entering Oman. The accused was spotted in Hena area in Khasab behaving suspiciously and was held.

He confessed he had entered the country illegally. He also had in his possession 15,000 Tramadol tablets and large amounts of hashish, opium and crystal meth.

He was referred to the public prosecution before being presented at the Court of Justice.

They bought more goods, rented a tractor and after six hours arrived at the remains of a village where they donated the supplies to 32 families whose homes were nothing but rubble.

The villagers were living in tents and other temporary shelters made from tarpaulins and whatever they could salvage from their homes.

ONeil said he was very hard to see the children living in such a dire situation, especially since he knew that soon the monsoon rains would come, compounding their troubles.

“It was good for us to deliver supplies personally because we knew they would get them immediately.

They were very appreciative. After everything was distributed to each of the families they gave us a ceremony, called a puja, where they gave us flower leis. It was a moving moment for me,” ONeil said.

After helping as much as he could in the Gorkha and Pokhara regions, ONeil spent six days in Kathmandu canvassing the city, visiting the tent camps and passing out money and gum. He said

the children were desperate for whatever he could give, and even amounts of money that seemed like very little to him would make a huge difference to them.

“If I pulled out 500 rupees ($5 USD) I had a huge crowd around me,” explained ONeil.

Since 2008 ONeil has visited Nepal more times than he can count, and he was saddened to see that many tourists left and the flow of tourists coming into the country quickly dried up. This was especially noticeable in Sarangkot.

‘Go, support’ Tourism is Nepal’s largest industry and ONeil said it’s important for people to continue visiting Nepal so that they can contribute to the economy.

Many of the temples and other tourist sites have been destroyed or damaged but he said the land itself is worth seeing, such as places like Sarangkot, where the views of the Annapurna Mountains take one’s breath away.

“I’d say go. Support the locals.

DEVASTATION: The villagers were living in tents and other temporary shelters made from tarpaulins and whatever they could salvage from their homes. – Courtesy John ONeil

People shouldn’t be afraid. I know most people don’t want to go earthquake-infested areas but it’s a country that needs tourism. Perhaps that’s an obligation tourists need to consider,” he reflected.

He said people can also consider making donations to organisations like the Red Cross and other NGOs that will be working for a long time helping Nepal rebuild and providing care for the people, thousands of whom have been left homeless.

ONeil plans to return to Nepal this September for the Eid Al Adha holidays and contribute to the country again in whatever way he can. As for his most recent three weeks in Nepal, ONeil said he hoped he was able to make a difference with his contributions.

“In the big picture it’s so small, what I was able to do, because it’s such a huge area that’s been affected and so many people. But maybe through this effort it brings awareness. A lot of people have emailed and asked how to help. People are more willing to help if they know someone personally,” he said.

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist, appeared in court alongside her husband and a female press photographer, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported

REGION

Coalition strike kills seven members of Yemeni family Two children and five men and women from the same family were killed in the overnight raid on their home

CAIRO/ADEN: Seven members of a family were killed in an overnight strike by Saudi-led warplanes on a border village in northern Yemen, residents said, as heavy clashes erupted across the frontier after Houthi fire killed one Saudi citizen.

In southern Yemen, the Saudiled airforce launched nearly 20 raids on Houthi fighters in the port city of Aden, while fighters allied with exiled President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi made advances near the Houthi-controlled Al Anad military base.

Saudi-led forces have been targeting fighters of the Houthi group and supporters of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh since in March, part of a campaign to restore Hadi to power.

Residents of the Al Mohssam village, in the northern Hajjah province, said two children and five men and women from the same family were killed in the overnight raid on their home.

A spokesman for the coalition was not immediately available for comment, but the alliance says it only targets Houthi militias and forces loyal to Saleh.

A spokesman for the Saudi civil service in the southern city of Najran said one citizen was killed and five wounded by projectiles fired from Yemen.

Saudi forces had earlier poundVERDICT

Kuwaiti ex-lawmaker’s citizenship restored KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti appeals court on Tuesday overturned a decision by the Gulf country’s government to revoke the citizenship of a former hardline opposition lawmaker and his family, his lawyer said.

“The court has scrapped the decision and restored the citizenship of the Barghash family,” lawyer Al Humaidi Al Subaie wrote on his Twitter account. The government had revoked the citizenship of Abdullah Al Barghash, his two brothers and sister, and their children, last July. It charged that the family had been granted citizenship on the basis of false information, something Barghash denied.

The government also revoked the citizenship of other opposition figures, including Alam Al Youm newspaper owner Ahmad Jabr Al Shemmari and Popular Action Movement spokesman Saad Al Ajmi, who was later deported. - AFP

CLASHES: People try to put out a burning fuel truck after it was set ablaze during clashes between Houthis and fighters of the Popular Resistance Committees in Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz on Monday. – Reuters

ed the Houthis after fighters from the group attacked Jabal Tweileq, a hilltop on the Saudi side of the border. The United Nations has said that more than 1,870 people have been killed and more than 7,000 wounded in the conflict since March 19.

18 sorties In the southern city of Aden, residents and fighters said that Saudiled planes conducted up to 18 sorties over Houthi forces in Khor Maksar and Crater, and that columns of smoke were seen rising over the areas hit.

The Saudi-led air force also provided cover for fighters allied with Hadi known as the Southern

Popular Resistance (SPR) as they captured Al Anad junction, a strategic intersection north of Aden from the Houthis fighters, residents and local fighters said.

They said at least six Houthis fighters were killed in the clashes with SPR forces after the southern fighters received reinforcements from Radfan area in the southern Lahj province.

In the central Al Dhalea province, residents said they had had the first night without fighting after the city of Dhalea was recaptured by local SPR fighters the day before, regarded as the Houthis’ first significant setback in two months.

But residents warned that the

Houthis had summoned reinforcements from the Yarim area in Lahj province apparently to try to recapture Dhalea. Meanwhile, relief agency Oxfam said that almost two-thirds of the population of war-torn Yemen have no access to clean water, two months into the Saudi-led air campaign against rebel forces.

“Ongoing air strikes, ground fighting and fuel shortages mean that an additional three million Yemenis are now without drinking water, raising the total number of Yemenis without a clean water supply and sanitation to at least 16 million,” the Britain-based organisation said.

“This is equivalent to the popu-

lations of Berlin, London, Paris and Rome combined,” Oxfam’s Yemen director Grace Ommer said in a statement.

Even before the escalation in fighting, half the population of the war-torn nation had no access to clean drinking water, the group said.

Weeks of air strikes and ground fighting have damaged and disrupted large parts of the water network, Oxfam said.

“People are being forced to drink unsafe water as a result of the disintegration of local water systems, bringing the real risk of life-threatening illnesses, such as malaria, cholera, and diarrhoea,” the organisation said. —Agencies

TRIAL BEGINS

Washington Post reporter appears in Iran court TEHRAN: Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian went on trial behind closed doors in Iran Tuesday on charges of spying, a case that has clouded a rapprochement with the United States.

Rezaian’s wife, Yeganeh Salehi, who is also a journalist, appeared in court alongside her husband and a female press photographer, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported. The trial is being held in Branch 15 of the Tehran revolutionary court, which usually presides over political cases or those related to national security.

The first session ended after about three hours, according to MizanOnline, a news agency linked to the judiciary. It gave no further details and said the date of the next session would be announced later.

Rezaian, an Iranian-American, has been held since July last year in a politically sensitive case that has unfolded while Iran and world powers conduct nuclear talks.

His wife, who worked for The National, an English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi, was arrested along with him but released on bail after spending two and a half months in custody.

Rezaian, 39, is accused of “espionage, collaboration with hostile governments, gathering classified information and disseminating propaganda against Iran”, according to his lawyer Leila Ahsan.

Dual nationality Tehran does not recognise dual nationality, and says the case is a purely Iranian matter. State media gave no details of Tuesday’s hearing and no indication of how long the trial might last. Rezaian’s case has been played out in the Iranian media, where he has been accused of spying and passing information about Iran to US government officials. Among the offences he is alleged to have committed is writing a letter to US President Barack Obama. — AFP

L AT E S T O P E R AT I O N

Iraqi forces close in on Ramadi to launch offensive BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces closed in on Ramadi Tuesday and launched an operation aimed at cutting off the militants in Anbar province before a major offensive to retake the city.

Ten days after the IS group’s shock capture of the capital of Iraq’s largest province, a spokesman said the latest operation was only a preparatory move before an assault on Ramadi.

The operation will see a mix of security forces and paramilitaries move south towards the city from Salaheddin province, said Hashed Al Shaabi spokesman Ahmed Al Assadi. The Hashed Al Shaabi (popular mobilisation) is an umbrella group for mostly militia and volunteers, which the government called in after the IS group captured Ramadi on May 17. “The operation’s goal is to liberate those regions between Salaheddin and Anbar and try to isolate the province of Anbar,” Assadi said.

The Hashed said 4,000 men were heading to the northern edge of Ramadi. Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi and his US allies had been reluctant to deploy mi-

DISPLACED: An Iraqi child who fled Anbar province due to the ongoing conflict between pro-government forces and IS group militants, carries jerrycans at a camp for internally displaced persons in Ameriyat Al Fallujah, Fallujah, on Monday. – AFP

litia in Anbar. Anbar’s provincial capital Ramadi had resisted IS assaults for more than a year but fell earlier this month after a massive militant offensive and a chaotic retreat by security forces.

The IS group controls most of Anbar, a huge province which bor-

ders territory also under its control in neighbouring Syria.

Pockets of government control include some eastern areas near the capital, the city of Haditha, parts of the town of Al Baghdadi and the Al Asad air base, where hundreds of US military advisers

are stationed. Regular forces and Hashed Al Shaabi paramilitaries also made progress south and west of Ramadi, an army lieutenant colonel said, and retook an area called Al Taesh. “The Iraqi security forces and Hashed Al Shaabi have now cut off all supply routes for IS in Ramadi from the south,” provincial council member Arkan Khalaf Al Tarmuz said.

Over the past week, IS is likely to have built up its defences by rigging much of Ramadi with explosives, the militant group’s weapon of choice.

Washington on Monday moved to appease Baghdad after Iraq’s leadership reacted angrily to comments by the Pentagon chief accusing Iraqi forces of “lacking the will to fight”.

Ashton Carter’s remarks to the CNN news channel were widely perceived as unfair in Iraq, where some forces have put up valiant resistance to IS assaults.

In a call to Abadi, the White House quoted Vice President Joe Biden as saying he “recognised the enormous sacrifice and bravery of Iraqi forces over the past

18 months in Ramadi and elsewhere”. The US-led coalition has carried more than 3,000 strikes against IS targets in Iraq and Syria over the past 10 months.

Baghdad and Washington had boasted that IS was a waning force after months of territorial losses but the fall of Ramadi signalled that the militant group may have been written off too soon.

Its seizure of the city prompted 55,000 residents to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. Many of them have been prevented from crossing into other provinces, for fear they have been infiltrated by IS fighters.

The International Rescue Committee said the restriction was forcing some people to return to conflict areas.

“Thousands of people fleeing Ramadi are stuck at checkpoints or being denied entry to safe areas,” IRC’s Syrian crisis response regional director, Mark Schnellbaecher, said.

“For some people the situation has become so hopeless that they are returning to the conflict in Ramadi.” — AFP

RESTRICTION EASED

Egypt opens Rafah crossing to allow Palestinians return to Gaza GAZA: Egyptian authorities opened the Rafah crossing on Tuesday, for the first time in nearly 80 days, to allow stranded Palestinians to return to the Gaza Strip, witnesses and officials said.

But it did not allow traffic the other way, leaving thousands of Gazans, some of whom need to travel for medical treatment, stuck inside the tiny enclave, authorities there said.

Registered Maher Abu Sabha, the Hamasappointed director of Gaza crossings, said more than 15,000 Palestinians, including 3,000 people seeking medical treatment, had registered with his office to travel outside the enclave.

HOMECOMING: A Palestinian man cries out of joy after retuning to Gaza through Rafah border crossing on Tuesday. – Reuters

“We still hope the Egyptian authorities would reconsider its decision and would open the crossing in the both directions,” he said.

“The situation has become intolerable for the people of Gaza.”

An Egyptian official said the crossing would also be open on Wednesday. — Reuters

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INDIA

L AT E S T S W I S S M OV E

Era of tax haven has come to an end: Jaitley AHMEDABAD: With Switzerland making public names of some Indians with Swiss accounts, Finance Minister of India, Arun Jaitely on Tuesday said the era of tax haven has come to an end and it is no longer safe to keep assets abroad illegally.

“I have been repeatedly saying that the era of tax haven has come to an end. It is no longer safe to keep your assets overseas illegally,” he said in a press conference.

The world is increasingly moving towards automatic transmission of information with regard to illegal money held up.

By 2017, the situation will arise that we will able to get information in real time, he added.

“In the Black Money Bill, which

we have brought, we have provided a provision of compliance window...you utilise this opportunity, declare your assets, pay tax and pay penalty. If you do not use this chance, then we will take strict action,” Jaitley warned.

Black money bill Earlier this month, Parliament had passed Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Bill, 2015, which seek to unearth unaccounted wealth stashed abroad.

The finance minister said persistent efforts had been made in the past one year with Swiss authorities to “break their banking secrecy”.

“I have been repeatedly saying

that the veil of secrecy with regard to assets and monies kept by Indian entities outside India is going to be lifted... This should give a sufficient indicator to those who hold assets outside India,” he said.

The names of at least seven “Indian nationals” have been made public in Switzerland’s Federal Gazette with regard to details sought about them by the Indian authorities.

Industrialist Yash Birla, as also two Mumbai-based individuals behind City Limousines scam, are among the seven Indian nationals with Swiss bank accounts whose names have been made public in Switzerland’s official gazette with regard to ongoing tax probes against them in India.

Heatwave claims 800 lives in India Hospitals were on alert to treat victims of heatstroke and authorities advised people to stay indoors, with no end in sight to the searing conditions

HYDERABAD: At least 800 people have died in a major heatwave that has swept across India, melting roads in New Delhi as temperatures neared 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit).

Hospitals were on alert to treat victims of heatstroke and authorities advised people to stay indoors, with no end in sight to the searing conditions. India’s Meteorological Department said it had issued heat warnings to several states where temperatures were forecast to top 45 degrees Celsius over the next few days.

“As of now, we don’t predict any respite from the extreme heat-

SIZZLING SUMMER: A policeman stands in the shade at the Indian Defence Ministry in New Delhi on Tuesday. Large parts of India, including national capital New Delhi, have endured days of sweltering heat, prompting fears of power cuts. - AFP

wave for the next few days,” said spokesman B. P. Yadav.

Hundreds of people — mainly from the poorest sections of society — die at the height of summer every year across the country, while tens of thousands suffer power cuts from an overburdened electricity grid.

Streets were deserted in Hyderabad, capital of the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh in southern India where 551 people have died in the last week.

“The state government has taken up education programmes through television and other media to tell people not to venture into the outside without a cap, to drink water and other measures,”

said P. Tulsi Rani, special commissioner for disaster management in the state.

“We have also requested NGOs and government organisations to open up drinking water camps so that water will be readily available for all the people in the towns.”

Large parts of India, including the capital New Delhi, have endured days of sweltering heat, prompting fears of power cuts as energy-guzzling air conditioners work overtime.

The Hindustan Times daily said the maximum temperature in the capital hit a two-year high of 45.5 degrees Celsius on Monday -- five degrees higher than the seasonal average. - AFP

The others are Gurjit Singh Kochar, son-in-law of late realty baron Ponty Chadha, a Delhibased businesswoman Ritika Sharma, Sneh Lata Sawhney and Sangita Sawhney.

“From the last one year we have had extensive negotiations with the Swiss authorities. The Swiss authorities have been moving in the direction of cooperation. I am delighted that this cooperation would not have fructified on a better day than when our government completes its one year,” the finance minister said.

“There is a G-20 initiative on this. The US has also taken initiative in this regard and India is a part of both these initiatives,” Jaitely said. -PTI

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 If someone harms my country, I have to take pro-active action....The army’s basic purpose is that if anyone attacks the country, attack him back. Pay him back in the same coin Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister

INDIA

2G SCAM CASE

SIX KILLED IN WEST BENGAL ACCIDENT

Passers-by look at the damaged pickup van and truck after an accident at National Highway in South Dinajpur district of West Bengal on Tuesday. Six people were killed and 14 others injured on Tuesday when a Howrah-bound bus from Digha turned turtle at Nimtouri. - PTI

BJP slams Congress over Baijal claims COIMBATORE: Latching onto former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal’s accusations against exPrime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with the 2G scam case, Bharatiya Janata Party ministers in the Modi government on Tuesday attacked the erstwhile UPA dispensation, calling it a “coalition in corruption”.

“The revelation makes it clear that it was a coalition in corruption....,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters in Coimbatore.

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Baijal’s claims in his book reflected how the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government functioned.

“The government of Dr Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and

Rahul Gandhi had to face lot of shame because of 2G scam.

Repeatedly they used to talk about zero loss and make fun of CAG report....now if Pradip Baijal has written this, I haven’t read his book, it is really unfortunate,” Prasad told a press conference in Bengaluru. Baijal, an accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, has alleged that Singh had warned him of “harm” if he did not cooperate.

In his self-published book, The Complete Story of Indian Reforms: 2G, Power and Private Enterprise — A Practitioner’s Diary, Baijal, who was appointed head of the telecom watchdog by the NDA government in 2003, said the 2G scam trail began under UPA’s Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran. - PTI

People’s expectations are ‘high’, much more to be done, says Modi American media critical of prime minister’s first year

Presenting the report card of his yearold government in two open letters to the people, Modi mentioned various measures and initiatives taken

NEW DELHI: On the first anniversary of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said people’s expectations are “high” and there is “much more to be done” as he enlisted the work done over the last one year, ranging from “rejuvenating” the economy to initiatives for the poor.

He said his government systematically went about addressing the challenges and its endeavour is to transform the quality of life, infrastructure and services.

Presenting the report card of his year-old government in two open letters to the people, Modi mentioned various measures and initiatives taken and said, “This is just the beginning. There is much more to be done and I know your

LISTING ACHIEVEMENTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with officers at the Prime Minis-

ter’s Office, on the occasion of the first anniversary of his government, in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI

expectations are high.” He said he had devoted “every element of my body and spirit” in fulfilling with “fullest sincerity and honesty” the responsibility and honour entrusted by people a year ago in him of serving them as “pradhan sevak” (prime worker).

“We assumed office at a time when confidence in India story was waning. Unabated corruption and indecisiveness had paralysed the government. People had been left helpless against ever-climbing inflation and economic insecurity.

Urgent and decisive action was needed,” Modi said.

Talking about his government’s work, he said, “Runaway prices were immediately brought under control. The languishing economy was rejuvenated, building on stable and policy-driven proactive

governance.” He said the economic growth has been revived and India is among the fastest in the world.

“Inflation is substantially down.

Fiscal prudence has been restored Confidence is up. Foreign investments have increased,” the Prime Minister said, adding “This positive outlook is endorsed by major rating agencies and international institutions across the world.”

The government, he said, has implemented the pending “bold reforms” like decontrol of diesel, raising Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit on insurance and defence and is moving ahead to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST).He said the Indian economy is expected to grow at over 8 per cent in the current fiscal, up from 7.4 per cent in 2014-15.

The fiscal deficit is budgeted to

come down to 3.9 per cent of the GDP this fiscal, from 4 per cent a year ago.

The prime minister said his government is dedicated to the poor, marginalised and those left behind as it is “guided by the principle of Antyodaya”.

“We are working towards empowering them to become our soldiers in the war against poverty,” he said.

The Prime Minister said “significant changes” have been brought about in the work culture, “nurturing a combination of empathy as well as professionalism, systems as well as breaking of silos.”

State governments have been made equal partners in the quest for national development, building the spirit of Team India, he said. - PTI

NEW YORK: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government marks its first year in office on Tuesday, American media has taken a critical view of his accomplishments, saying his flagship ‘Make in India’ drive is “so far mostly hype”, job growth remains sluggish amid “outsize expectations”.

“India’s Modi at One Year: ‘Euphoria Phase’ Is Over, Challenges Loom,” reads a headline in the Wall Street Journal of an article on Modi’s first year in office.

“A year after Indian voters handed Narendra Modi a once-in-a-generation mandate for change and economic revival, messy realities are sinking in,” the WSJ report said.

It said that Modi’s ‘Make in India’ drive, aimed at supercharging manufacturing growth, “is so far mostly hype”. It cited economic parameters like exports to say that the “economy is merely limping along”. Inflationadjusted lending for capital investment last year fell to a

level not seen since 2004, it said adding that exports were down for the fifth straight month in April, corporate earnings were dismal and foreign institutional investors have pulled around$2 billion out of Indian stocks and bonds in May so far.

The New York Times, in a news analysis, said Modi must face the reality that much of his agenda is still only potential.

“From abroad, India is now seen as a bright spot, expected to pass China this year to become the world’s fastestgrowing large economy. But at home, job growth remains sluggish. Businesses are in wait-and-see mode. And Modi has political vulnerabilities, as parliamentary opposition leaders block two of his central reform initiatives and brand him ‘anti-poor’ and ‘anti-farmer’,” the NYT article titled ‘After a Year of Outsize Expectations, Modi Adjusts His Political Course for India’ said. - PTI

CONTROVERSY OVER REMARK

One does not keep 1.3m strong army to preach peace: Parrikar NEW DELHI: Undeterred by the controversy over his earlier “terrorists have to be neutralised only through terrorists” remark, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has asserted that he will go to “any extent” to protect India and those who attack will be “paid back in the same coin”.

Parrikar noted that his remarks evoked a sharp reaction only from one country and, without naming Pakistan, said the question was about his reaction on the terrorist camps in Pakistan-administeredKashmir supported by Pakistan.

“So the response was based on that,” he said in an interview.

He further added that the word “neutralise” does not mean only killing but also making terrorists switch the sides and surrendering. Underlining that his remark was generic and not against anyone in particular, Parrikar maintained that only a certain part of his remarks was picked up and highlighted.

Defend country “Basically, if I have to defend my country, I will go to any extent...

Whatever is required to be done will be done. That is the basic motto which one should have.

“If someone harms my country, I have to take pro-active action....

The army’s basic purpose is that if anyone attacks the country, attack him back. Pay him back in the same coin,” Parrikar asserted,

TALKING TOUGH: Defence

Minister Manohar Parrikar during an interview with PTI in New Delhi. - PTI

underlining that one does not keep 1.3 million strong army to “preach peace”.However, he clarified that “I have not said I am going to do covert operation. I did not talk about it. The person who asked me talked about covert operation. Not me.”

During a media event last week, Parrikar, in reply to a question, had said, “We have to neutralise terrorists through terrorists only.Why can’t we do it? We should do it”.

The remarks generated sharp reaction from Pakistan which said it confirms apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism.

“This statement only confirms Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan. It must be the first time that a minister of an elected

government openly advocates use of terrorism in another country on the pretext of preventing terrorism from that country or its non-state actors,” Sartaz Aziz, Adviser to Pakistan prime minister on Foreign Affairs, has said.

“It is my duty to go to any extent. It is my oath that I have taken that I will protect the constitution. Protecting constitution means protecting the country. So obviously, for protection of my country, certain issues have to be done. Giving interpretation to it, I will not give,” Parrikar said.

The minister also said he is clear when he talks about neutralising. “The word neutralising does not mean killing all the time.

Neutralising means a person surrendering, using someone against someone, it can be through peaceful means also. Neutralising means he comes on your side.

That means intelligence,” he said.

Parrikar said he has directed the army that if someone starts firing at them, “then kill him”.

“I have told army that they should not hesitate. Don’t lose your men like Col Rai who was such a brave soldier. I can’t afford to lose such wonderful men,” Parrikar said.

Col M. N. Rai was killed in Indian-administered-Kashmir in January by a terrorist who said he was surrendering after being encircled. He fatally shot Col Rai before being gunned down. - PTI

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5 Egypt denounces any ‘interference in its internal affairs which casts a shadow on relations between the two countries,’ the foreign ministry said in a statement a day after summoning Mohamed Eijaz

MURDER CONVICTS

11 more prisoners executed

PAKISTAN

7 militants killed in Karachi Automatic weapons, about 16 kilograms of explosives, suicide vests containing seven kilograms of explosives and 500 kilograms of metal nuts and bolts were recovered

The raids, which MULTAN: Pakistan on Tuesday hanged 11 prisoners, bringing the total number put to death since executions resumed last December to 128, officials said.

Ten executions took place in several cities in the central province of Punjab while one convict was hanged at Mach jail in the southwestern province of Balochistan province. All had been convicted of murder.

A moratorium on the death penalty had been in force in Pakistan since 2008, but executions resumed last December after Taliban militants gunned down 154 people, most of them children, at a school in the restive northwest.

The moratorium was initially lifted only for those convicted of terrorism offences, but in March was extended to cover all capital offences. The European Union, the United Nations and human rights campaigners have all urged Pakistan to reinstate the moratorium. — AFP

began Monday night and continued until Tuesday morning, also saw the recovery of a major cache of weapons and explosives

SUCCESS: Members of the paramilitary Rangers stand next to

a destroyed house during a raid against militants in Karachi on Tuesday. — AFP

KARACHI: Seven militants who were plotting rocket, grenade and suicide attacks in Pakistan’s biggest city Karachi have been killed in two raids by paramilitary rangers, a spokesman for the force said Tuesday.

The raids, which began Monday night and continued till Tuesday morning, also saw the recov-

C R I T I C I S M O F M O R S I D E AT H S E N T E N C E

Egypt summons Pakistan diplomat CAIRO: Egypt summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires to protest at Islamabad’s criticism of the death sentence handed down to ousted president Mohamed Morsi, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Egypt denounces any “interference in its internal affairs which casts a shadow on relations between the two countries,” the ministry said in a statement a day after summoning Mohamed Eijaz.

Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, and more than 100 other defendants were sentenced to death by a court on May 16 for

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their role in a mass prison break during the 2011 uprising.

The sentence was criticised by human rights groups, the United States and the European Union, as well as Pakistan.

Principles of fairness “The dispensation of justice must be based on the principles of equity and fairness . This is all the more important when political prisoners especially a former elected president, who was ousted from office, is brought before the court of law,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement issued on May 19. — AFP

ery of a major cache of weapons and explosives.

Police and the paramilitary Rangers since 2013 have been carrying out a major cleanup operation in the city which has reduced the level of violent crime.

But critics accuse them of staging firefights to carry out hun-

dreds of extra-judicial killings, and neither the death toll nor the identity of those killed in the latest raids could be immediately verified.

Mominabad The first took place in the Mominabad shanty town in the city’s

west and was met by fierce resistance, according to a statement by the rangers.

It said four militants were killed, including one who blew himself up, while another was arrested.

“There were authentic intelligence reports that the terrorists

were plotting to use the explosives to carry out a big terrorist attack in Karachi,” the statement said.

Three more militants including another suicide bomber who blew himself up were killed in a second raid on Tuesday morning, the statement said. One ranger was injured.

The Rangers recovered rockets, six suicide vests, rifles, automatic weapons, 60 kilograms of explosives and three improvised explosive devices.

Pakistan has been battling a homegrown extremist insurgency which flared following the US-led invasion of neighbourhing Afghanistan in 2001.

Initially confined to the western border areas, it later spread to major cities and has claimed thousands of civilian lives since 2004.

Last June ten Taliban militants lay siege to Karachi airport, killing 27 people.

The military responded by launching a major offensive in the North Waziristan tribal district, considered a bastion of Taliban and Al Qaeda militants. — AFP

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T IME S O F O MAN

W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

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Stronger regulation of toxic chemicals needed

B

oth houses of the US Congress are moving to reform the notoriously weak Toxic Substances Control Act, which is supposed to ensure the safety of chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. The measures under consideration have strong bipartisan support and are thus likely to provide the first significant reforms to the law since it was enacted nearly four decades ago. The measures are a substantial improvement over the current abysmal lack of enforcement, but neither would provide the public with what it needs most: speedy evaluations of the most worrisome chemicals among tens of thousands that have never been tested for safety. The Environmental Protection Agency has been hindered from regulating them by adverse court decisions, a lack of resources and weak provisions in the law itself.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bipartisan bill on April 28 by a hefty 15-to-5 vote despite strenuous objections by Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, whose stronger bill gained no Republican support. The bill approved by the committee has attracted 40 co-sponsors, 20 Republicans and 20 Democrats, a remarkable feat in a Congress that is typically gridlocked by partisan warfare. The bill would allow the EPA, when assessing chemicals for safety, to consider only health and safety impacts, not the cost or burden for manufacturers, as current law requires. It would mandate special protections for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants, the elderly and chemical workers. And it would impose a new fee on chemical companies to bear more of the cost of evaluating and regulating chemicals.

Its most disappointing feature is the slow pace of designating highpriority chemicals that require safety assessments and low-priority chemicals that can be left alone. Five years after enactment, at least 25 high-priority chemicals must have been listed, an average of five a year. Agency officials say that with the extra $18 million in funding they could review 20 high-priority chemicals a year, and those chemicals would be ones that the agency considered most worrisome, not those for which the industry wanted to get the agency’s seal of approval. The Senate bill is stronger than the House draft in pushing the agency to take action, but neither is sufficient. Legislators in both houses need to ensure that the EPA evaluates at least 20 high-priority chemicals a year of its own choosing, or even a lot more if additional financing can be found. - The New York Times News Service

ONGOING WAR

Kurdish forces count the cost of fighting IS PATRICK COCKBURN

Straight talking

N

othing is ever simple, quick or transparent when it comes to our relations with Afghanistan, but that said there really does appear to be a significant shift in long-entrenched positions by both countries which aggregate to a more positive relationship overall. Much of the previous relationship that Pakistan had was characterised by implausible denial, mostly in respect of the various Taliban groups operating in Afghanistan. Conversely, the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai was accusatory, perennially peeved at what it saw as meddling in its internal affairs by a neighbour.

This continued for many years, a sterile to-and-fro that profited neither. The situation today is much changed, and Pakistan has for the first time issued a direct warning to the Afghan Taliban, saying they should call off their spring offensive or “face the consequences”. This is the diplomatic equivalent of a 180-degree turn. The consequences are unspecified and the warning was delivered via the Afghan office in Doha. It is reported that it was issued with the full knowledge and consent of the Afghan government.

At this juncture, it is important to note how various elements in Afghanistan are reacting to the warming of relations between the two countries. Mr Karzai is now out of office but continues to fulminate from the sidelines, much to the irritation of the far-from-secure government of Ashraf Ghani. He remains a potent force in Afghan politics and he is far from happy at the way relations with Pakistan are developing. In particular, he is concerned about the MoU signed between Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

It concerns proposed intelligence-sharing and Mr Karzai has made it plain that he sees this as against Afghan national interests. The NDS is attempting to pour oil on troubled waters by saying that the MoU will only be operationalised after passing through five legal steps and there appears to be a long way to go before that particular seedling bears any fruit. Mr Karzai cannot be dismissed as an irrelevance but it is the government of Mr Ghani that Pakistan now has to deal with.

The previously fractious relationship with Afghanistan was long past its sell-by date. Yesterday’s men cannot be allowed to get in the way of today’s urgent business. - The Express Tribune

Arrests, deportation will never solve the problem This refers to the news story, Mass expat arrests will ‘not delay’ new airport (May 26). The concerned ministry must hold the contracting and subcontracting companies accountable for the breach. Why did the subcontracting company allow such a breach to happen? Also, why not penalise the companies on whose work permits the workers were brought in? Obviously these companies were without business, or these workers were brought in on free visa after paying a hefty sum to the agents. The authorities should be sympathetic to the workers who may be the sole breadwinners for their families.

Now that they have been caught working at the airport illegally, why not regularise their status and allow them to work. Sticking to the

rules is not the best way illustration of professionalism. Getting the job well done with the available resources and making all people happy is the best form of professionalism and an indication of benevolent humanity. Besides, such a move will also help in avoiding the illegal entry of workers into the country in the future. This move will indeed be beneficial.

Amit Bhattacharjie Muscat

Why aren’t the companies being punished as well?

This refers to the news story, Mass expat arrests will ‘not delay’ new airport (May 26). The mass arrests of the expatriate workers found working illegally at the new airport project may not delay the completion of the work in time. However,

Ignored by the outside world, the Syrian Kurds unexpectedly achieved international notoriety when they successfully defended their city of Kobani against IS assault in a 134-day-long siege that ended earlier this year. This is the most serious defeat that IS has suffered since the fall of Mosul

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squad of Syrian Kurdish fighters was ambushed as it advanced through a grove on the outskirts of a village held by IS fighters near Al Hasakah in the Kurdish enclave in north-east Syria. Azad Judy, an 18-year-old Kurd, recalls: “We had divided into three groups that were trying to attack the village when we were hit by intense fire from behind and from the trees on each side of us.”

Azad was hit by a single bullet in the spine. He says: “After being wounded, I tried to crawl away and then another fighter came and gave me first aid and an injection.” Azad is now lying in bed in the Shahid Khavat military hospital in the Syrian Kurdish city of Al Qamishli with a despairing look on his face because he may suspect that his legs are paralysed for ever and he will never walk again.

In a week during which the Syrian and Iraqi regular armies were defeated by IS at Palmyra and Ramadi, the lightly armed Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the YPG, won an important victory.

Strategically placed mountain It captured a strategically placed mountain known as Abdulaziz in Arabic and Kazwan in Kurdish, which had been a heavily defended IS stronghold.

Supported by US air strikes, 1,000 YPG fighters surrounded the mountain whose lower slopes are covered by pine woods.

The battle started on 6 May and ended last Wednesday when the remaining IS forces withdrew after suffering heavy losses. The Kurds say they buried 300 bodies of IS fighters and believe more were carried away.

A military hospital is a good place to hear eyewitness accounts of the warfare that laps around this isolated area of Syria. It is part of Rojava, the de facto independent Kurdish state-let where several million Kurds live in three separate cantons.

Though 10 per cent of the Syrian population of 22 million, the Kurds were a persecuted minority up to the moment that the Syrian army withdrew in 2012. Discrimination was so intense that everything from babies to mountains had to be referred to by an Arabic rather than a Kurdish name.

Ignored by the outside world, the Syrian Kurds unexpectedly achieved international notoriety when they successfully defended their city of Kobani against IS assault in a 134-day-long siege that ended earlier this year. This is the most serious defeat that IS has suffered since the fall of Mosul.

Among the wounded fighters in the military

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An unpopular rule is never long maintained SENECA

hospital is a man who says he would like to be referred to only by his Kurdish name of Shiyar, but turns out to be from West Yorkshire. I have always had something of a prejudice against volunteer soldiers in war in the Middle East, suspecting them of indulging in martial fantasies and bigger on bravado than military effectiveness.

Compelling account But Shiyar, 33, turns out to be modest and selfdeprecating, giving a compelling account of recent fighting and saying that his wound from shrapnel that had hit him in the back of the head was not as serious as he had feared.

The Syrian Kurdish fighters may be brave, but they are also isolated by IS. The complex Kurdish rivalries can have unfortunate consequences for Kurds living on the front line. One of the beds in the military hospital is occupied by Jinda, a 20-year-old woman who had been shot through the right side of the chest, but this had happened in Shingal, a Kurdish-controlled area in Iraq.

Jinda says proudly that she was one of the first women to join protection units of Shingal and had been wounded during a sudden IS attack She believes she might be arrested if she went to a KRG hospital, though she had been allowed across the border from KRG to hospital in Al Qamishli.

She speaks scathingly of the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga failure to defend Shingal last August, “when they withdrew and left our women to be taken as captives and our men massacred”.

The Syrian Kurdish experience is that IS can be defeated when an effective light infantry on the ground is matched with US air power overhead.

In the case of the YPG, they simply send co-ordinates of IS positions back to the US-Kurdish operations room in Irbil, the Kurdish capital, which directs air strikes.

Notable feature But a notable feature of the past week in Syria is that the US air force did not bomb IS forces when they were advancing on Palmyra. The Americans avoided doing this because they did not want to be accused of doing anything that might lead them to be accused of helping the Syrian army or President Bashar Al Assad. Likewise in Iraq, they did not want the militias deployed to defend Ramadi and refused to supply air cover and intelligence if this did happen. But the IS victories of the past week mean that the US may now have no alternative but to give air support to all enemies of IS regardless of their identity. – The Independent

that is not the question. The issue is that these workers did not come on their own and started working unilaterally for the project. They were hired and were deployed at the construction site by some company knowing fully well that was an illegal thing to do. Why shouldn’t then these companies be hauled up as well and punitive measures taken against them? Primarily, it is their fault and workers along should not be punished.

Dennis Muscat

Israel’s debauchery has tainted our civilisation Resorting to messianic claims and reiteration of “ancestral right” to legitimise violations of human rights and crimes must not be allowed to vitiate our civilisation

and our democratic institutions.

It is time for Israelis to say no to Zionism. Had the Jews said so way back in 1967 — the day after occupation began the Israeli debauchery — it would not have smeared our civilisation in such dark hues.

Priya Kumar Muscat

Iraq is now sitting atop a huge mound of explosives Years of war, periodic outbreak of sectarian hostilities, persisting terrorism, lack of sectarian reconciliation and outstanding disputes over oil and territory have all contributed to make Iraq sit at present atop a huge mound of explosives ready to explode into myriads of fragments.

Mohammed Osama Rawat Ruwi

Letters, 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), by fax (24813153) or by e-mail (times@omantel.net.om)

T I MES O F OM AN

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE Well, it is austerity that is the only deal-breaker YANIS VAROUFAKIS

Greece has faced monetary contraction (which has recently become monetary asphyxiation), in contrast to the UK, where the Bank of England has supported the government every step of the way. The result is that Greece is continuing to stagnate, whereas the UK has been growing strongly

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common fallacy pervades coverage by the world’s media of the negotiations between the Greek government and its creditors.

The fallacy, exemplified in a recent commentary

by Philip Stephens of the Financial Times, is that, “Athens is unable or unwilling – or both – to implement an economic reform programme.” Once this fallacy is presented as fact, it is only natural that coverage highlights how our government is, in Stephens’s words, “squandering the trust and goodwill of its eurozone partners.”

But the reality of the talks is very different. Our government is keen to implement an agenda that includes all of the economic reforms emphasized

by European economic think tanks. Moreover, we are uniquely able to maintain the Greek public’s support for a sound economic programme. Consider what that means: an independent tax agency; reasonable primary fiscal surpluses forever; a sensible and ambitious privatization programme, combined with a development agency that harnesses public assets to create investment flows; genuine pension reform that ensures the socialsecurity system’s long-term sustainability; liberalization of markets for goods and services, etc.

So, if our government is willing to embrace the reforms that our partners expect, why have the negotiations not produced an agreement? Where is the sticking point?

The problem is simple: Greece’s creditors insist on even greater austerity for this year and beyond – an approach that would impede recovery, obstruct growth, worsen the debt-deflationary cycle, and, in the end, erode Greeks’ willingness and ability to see through the reform agenda that the country so desperately needs. Our government cannot – and will not – accept a cure that has proven itself over five long years to be worse than the disease.

The creditors’ insistence on greater austerity is subtle yet steadfast. It can be found in their demand that Greece maintain unsustainably high primary surpluses (more than 2 per cent of GDP in 2016 and exceeding 2.5 per cent, or even 3 per cent, for every year thereafter). To achieve this, we are supposed to increase the overall burden of value-added tax on the private sector, cut already

diminished pensions across the board; and compensate for low privatization proceeds (owing to depressed asset prices) with “equivalent” fiscal consolidation measures.

The view that Greece has not achieved sufficient fiscal consolidation is not just false; it is patently absurd. The accompanying graph not only illustrates this; it also succinctly addresses the question of why Greece has not done as well as, say, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, or Cyprus in the years since the 2008 financial crisis. Relative to the rest of the countries on the eurozone periphery, Greece was subjected to at least twice the austerity. There is nothing more to it than that.

Following Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent election victory in the United Kingdom, my good friend Lord Norman Lamont, a former chancellor of the exchequer, remarked that the UK economy’s recovery supports our government’s position. Back in 2010, he recalled, Greece and the UK faced fiscal deficits of more or less similar size (relative to GDP).

Greece returned to primary surpluses (which exclude interest payments) in 2014, whereas the UK government consolidated much more gradually and has yet to return to surplus.

At the same time, Greece has faced monetary contraction (which has recently become monetary asphyxiation), in contrast to the UK, where the Bank of England has supported the government every step of the way. The result is that Greece is continuing to stagnate, whereas the UK has been growing strongly.

Fair-minded observers of the four-month-long negotiations between Greece and its creditors cannot avoid a simple conclusion: The major sticking point, the only deal-breaker, is the creditors’ insistence on even more austerity, even at the expense of the reform agenda that our government is eager to pursue. Clearly, the creditors’ demand for more austerity has nothing to do with concerns about genuine reform or moving Greece onto a sustainable fiscal path. Their true motivation is a question best left to future historians – who, I have no doubt, will take much of the contemporary media coverage with a grain of salt. – Project Syndicate

The decline and fall of the nightingale MICHAEL MCCARTHY

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here was no moon, only the great array of the stars, with Jupiter outshining them all like a lantern hung in the dark sky; and in the stillness, the nightingale singing.

It was deep in a hedge beyond a small lake, and the water surface seemed to reflect back its notes so they were not only crystal clear but startlingly loud; our small group was spellbound.

How many hear this now?

Once everybody knew it, at least in southern England.

This most remarkable of all birdsongs is audible in the six weeks from mid-April to early June, after the birds come back from their winter quarters in Africa; but over the years it has become less and less of an experience, and more and more just a myth.

There are two reasons for this: one, of course, is that our lives have become increasingly urbanised, for many almost wholly so, and excursions to the depths of the countryside never happen, certainly at night (though nightingales sing in the daytime too.)

The other is that the UK population of nightingales has shrunk catastrophically: in 2010 the British Trust for Or-

nithology revealed that numbers had decreased by 90 per cent since 1970.

In other words, nine out of every 10 nightingales have fallen silent since our other celebrated songsters, the Beatles, went their separate ways.

The birds have gone from a number of counties where once they could be heard and are steadily retreating to England’s south-east corner, behind a line drawn roughly from the Wash to the Solent.

Yet this is the bunch of feathers about which more poems have been written than any other – “the most versified bird in the world”.

Are we concerned? Do we miss it?

Some people certainly do, such as the environmentalist Chris Rose (once deputy head of Greenpeace), who has been campaigning for the BBC to broadcast a live nightingale every spring.

Last week Chris received a reply from the series editor of Springwatch promising to try.

But until they succeed, what can you do, if you’ve never heard a nightingale but sense that its song, experienced at night, may be one of life’s most magical experiences? (And I assure you it is.) Well, there

is an answer: you can go on a nightingale safari.

Don’t thing Serengeti; think Sussex. You can go to the Knepp Estate near Horsham, which has become a remarkable piece of countryside: a “rewilding” project, where since 2001 agriculture has been abandoned in favour of letting the land return to its natural state, the way it may have been before Neolithic farmers began to reshape the landscape about 5000BC. Wildlife at Knepp has exploded since the rewilding began, with turtle doves (gone from most of Britain) and purple emperor butterflies and nightingales all present in numbers; Penny Green, the resident ecologist, thinks there are 32 to 34 pairs of nightingales – about 2 per cent of the British population. And the estate runs safaris to listen to them at night. You’ll need to be quick, because the birds will only sing for a few more weeks at most; but you have an enthralling experience in prospect, especially in fine weather – as I found last week, for it was on a Knepp safari that we heard the bird by the lake, performing its unforgettable concert in the stillness and the starlight. – The Independent

A rare period of optimism KAMAL SIDDIQI

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he International Monetary Fund tells us that Pakistan’s economy has improved due to prudent monetary and fiscal policies, strong capital inflows, robust remittances from abroad and lower oil prices.

Good news about Pakistan is always welcome.

In its analysis on the Pakistan economy, UK-based publication The Economist tells us that visitors to Pakistan are surprised to discover a strong business culture and good roads as the country is mid-table in the World Bank’s ease-of-doing-business rankings, well above India. This goes against the image of Pakistan as a place where only chaos and terrorism prevail.

The good news is that Pakistan is enjoying a rare period of optimism for its economy. While our media focuses with all that is wrong in the country, some sections of the international media talk of a thriving stock market, a stable currency and low inflation.

And that is not all. Highlighting Pakistan’s economic performance, The Economist reports that the IMF expects that Pakistan’s economy will grow by 4.7 per cent next year, the fastest rate in eight years.

Consumer prices rose by 2.5 per cent in the year to March, the smallest increase for more than a decade. At the same time, the State Bank lowered its benchmark interest rate three times this year.

Granted the state of the economy doesn’t all have to do with government performance. The fall in international oil prices has been a big boon to the economy.

In 2013-14 Pakistan’s net import bill for oil came to $12.6 billion.

But if oil prices stay low, Pakistan could save a total of $12 billion in the next three years. This money can be used elsewhere.

And then there are some things for which the government can be credited. The Nawaz Sharif government has stuck to an IMF programme agreed to in 2013.

Since then, foreign-exchange reserves have more than doubled, to $17.7 billion.

The IMF released a tranche of $501 million halfway through its threeyear programme ‘based on the solid progress’ made on Pakistan’s economic reform agenda.

So far so good. But international agencies and economists alike warn us that more is needed in terms of tax reform. Only one in 200 people who are supposed to file tax returns actually do so.

That is why the government increasingly relies on

Narendra Modi’s first year in office

FAILURES

Modi has forged closer ties with major trading powers such as US, China, Russia, Japan, Australia and Germany

Criticised for cuts in welfare spending to poorest 300m of India’s 1.25bn population, to fund infrastructure stimulus

Liberalised foreign direct investment in areas such as insurance, pensions and defence

Has failed to reform restrictive labour market, hampering attempts to turn India into global manufacturing hub

Cut corruption by holding transparent auctions for coal mining rights and mobile phone spectrum

Failed to reform school system and healthcare or improve sanitation

Abolished diesel subsidies by taking advantage of collapse in oil prices Source: Wire agencies

foreign help or on indirect taxation to balance its books.

Those who pay tax also pay more to tax officials as bribes and less to the national exchequer. It is a rotten system.

That is only one side of the story. A number of well to do Pakistanis point to the massive corruption in the government and the manner in which it spends money. Billions are spent on projects that never seem to come to fruition.

Large chunks are siphoned off. There is no check and balance on government spending. Why would they give money to a government whose officials are only looking to enrich themselves.

Some taxes are seen as daylight robbery by businessmen. Take for example the case of the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) Bill 2015.

In 2011, after the imposition of the GIDC during the Pakistan Peoples Party government, 3,500 cases were filed and the Supreme Court gave a stay order stating it was a fee and not a tax.

Last year, the government again introduced the GIDC Bill 2014, which was rejected by all chambers across the country. Yet the government promulgated an ordinance in September.

Terming GIDC as an “anti-business initiative”, trade chambers say such harsh steps raise the cost of doing business.

Many Pakistanis say they have no faith in the government.

Many spend on projects of their own — building their schools and hospitals, given that the services provided by the state are largely below standard.

It does not come as a surprise that one recent report tells us that Pakistanis remained in pursuit of real estate in Dubai, in the first quarter of 2015 as third biggest amount of foreign property transactions $379 million came from Pakistani nationals. Pakistanis purchased properties worth over $4.3 billion in 2013 and 2014 in Dubai.

The state of the economy may be improving but it must be followed by an improvement in governance.

It is a good opportunity for Pakistan to raise its economic standing but there is always the danger that some politicians will sacrifice the national good for their petty interests. - The Express Tribune

TODAY IN HISTORY

One year after being elected amid a landslide of popular support, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is having a hard time living up to his promises to tap into India’s potential and generate growth ACHIEVEMENTS

International agencies and economists alike warn Pakistan that more is needed in terms of tax reform

Suffered crushing defeat in Delhi state election in February, winning only three of 70 seats Graphic News /

Graphics

FROM OUR ARCHIVES ENERGY FORUM MEETING TO HELP DEVELOP IT

MUSCAT: ‘The Middle East IT for Energy Forum’ to be held from may 27 to 29, at the Gulf International Convention Centre in Bahrain, is expected to go a long way in the development of effective IT for energy systems and strategies in the Middle East for the new millennium. The event is being held under the patronage of the Ministry of Oil and Industry, Bahrain, and is organized by Middle East Global Advisers (MEGA). Delegates to the forum will be treated to a meeting with Nicholas Negroponte, who is credited to be the ultimate technology guru. Other keynote speakers are Dr Rlwanu Lukman, secretary general of Opec, Gerold Herrmann, secretary of uncitral and Dr Ibrahim Mishari, VP Information Technology and CIO of Saudi Aramco. Locally, interested parties can get more information regarding participation in the forum from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

1564

John Calvin, one of the dominant figures of the Protestant Reformation, dies in Geneva.

1907

The Bubonic Plague breaks out in San Francisco.

1935

The Supreme Court declares President Franklin Roosevelt’s National Recovery Act unconstitutional.

1942

German General Rommel begins a major offensive in Libya with his Afrika Korps.

1972

President Richard M. Nixon and Soviet Communist Party chief Leonid Brezhnev sign an arms reduction agreement.

HISTORYNET.COM

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

WORLD

2 2015 is a big year for Myanmar with both a referendum on its constitution and a general election. We have a responsibility to ensure that the plight of the Rohingya is not lost. We have a responsibility to persuade our international and regional aid and grant-making institutions, including the European Union, to adopt a o common position making funding the development of Myanmar conditional on the restoration of citizenship, c nationality, and basic human rights to the Rohingya. Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate n

G U N AT TA C K

HEAVY RAIN INUNDATES TEXAS

Turkish opposition candidate wounded

Vehicles left stranded on a flooded Interstate 45 in Houston, Texas, United States, on Tuesday. Heavy rains throughout Texas put the city of Houston under massive amounts of water, closing roadways and trapping residents in their cars and buildings, according to local reports. Rainfall reached up to 11 inches in some parts of the state, national forecasters reported, and the heavy rains quickly pooled over the state’s already saturated soil. — AFP

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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ISTANBUL: A female candidate from Turkey’s main opposition party running in next month’s parliamentary election was wounded in a gun attack Tuesday, as concerns grow over the levels of violence ahead of the poll.

Elif Dogan Turkmen, standing for the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the southern province of Adana, was on her way to a breakfast gathering with businessmen in Cukurova district when she was shot three times, provincial governor Mustafa Buyuk said.

“She was shot in the knees, but her injuries are not life threatening,” Buyuk told the official Anatolia news agency.

Not political Buyuk said the attack does not appear to be political, but said the authorities were investigating “all possible motives”. He said the assailants had fled with a rental car used in the attack but that the vehicle had later been found abandoned and that the suspects were at large.

CCTV images published by Dogan news agency showed a man pointing a gun at Elif, 53, at the entrance of what appears to be a restaurant.

It was the latest in a string of attacks against party members in the run-up to an increasingly tense June 7 election, with many incidents in Adana. — AFP

Malaysia unearths secrets of jungle trafficking camps SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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The Malaysian

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

government said it been common for them to be held in remote camps along the border with Malaysia until a ransom is paid for their freedom.

The IOM’s Millman said the largest camp was believed to have had a capacity of up to 1,000 people.

“If an individual’s family did not pay, those staying long in the camps were tortured, beaten and deprived of food,” he said.

was investigating whether local forestry officials were involved with the peoplesmuggling gangs believed responsible for nearly 140 graves discovered along the border with Thailand

BUKIT WANG BURMA (MALAYSIA): Malaysian police forensic teams, digging with hoes and shovels, on Tuesday began pulling out bodies from shallow graves found in abandoned jungle camps where an inter-governmental body said hundreds of victims of human traffickers may be buried.

The Malaysian government said it was investigating whether local forestry officials were involved with the people-smuggling gangs believed responsible for nearly 140 such graves discovered around grim camps along the border with Thailand.

The dense forests of southern Thailand and northern Malaysia have been a major stop-off point for smugglers bringing people to

FORENSICS TEAM: A Royal Malaysian Police forensics team exhume a grave near at an abandoned migrant camp used by people-smugglers in a jungle at Bukit Wang Burma in the Malaysian northern state of Perlis, which borders Thailand, on Tuesday. — AFP

Southeast Asia by boat from Myanmar, most of them Rohingya Muslims who say they are fleeing persecution, and Bangladesh.

Authorities took a group of journalists to one of the camps, nestled in a gully in thick jungle up a steep, well-worn path about an hour’s walk from the nearest road, where a Reuters witness saw the first body removed on Tuesday afternoon.

Malaysian police said on Monday they had found 139 graves, some containing more than one body, around 28 camps scattered along a 50-km (30 mile) stretch of the border in the northern state of Perlis.

Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), told a news briefing in Geneva that the body’s representative in the region “predicts hundreds more (bodies) will be found in the days to come”.

The grisly discoveries in Malaysia followed the uncovering of similar graves on the Thai side of the border at the beginning of May, which helped trigger a regional crisis.

The find led to a crackdown on the camps by Thai authorities, after which traffickers abandoned thousands of migrants in overloaded boats in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea.

“We don’t know if there is a link between the Thai camps and Malaysia camps,” Phuttichart Ekachan, deputy chief of Thailand’s Provincial Police Region 9, told Reuters.

Thai crackdown “It is possible that because of the Thai crackdown some of the camps moved and some of them (migrants) then walked over or escaped to the Thai side. It is possible but it isn’t something we have been able to confirm.”

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims are ferried by traffickers through southern Thailand each year, and in recent years it has

Recently abandoned State news agency Bernama quoted Malaysia’s police chief, Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar, as saying that the camps were thought to have been occupied since 2013, and two were “only abandoned between two and three weeks ago”.

Khalid told reporters on Monday that police had been “shocked by the cruelty” of the camps, where he said there were signs of torture.

The scale of the discoveries has raised questions about the level of complicity by officials on both sides of the border.

Malaysia’s Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Tuesday that initial investigations revealed links between forest rangers and smuggling syndicates, Bernama reported, adding that some had been detained by police as part of the probe.

“We suspect some of them were involved...but we are working with the forestry department in terms of enforcement as they are supposed to carry out enforcement in the area,” he said. — Reuters

VIENNA AIRPORT

Six held in Austria over smuggling of migrants VIENNA: Austrian police have arrested several security employees at Vienna airport over their alleged role in smuggling illegal immigrants to Britain and the US, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

Six people were detained, although four of them have been released, public prosecutor Friedrich Koehl told AFP. “In total, 13 people are being investigated in connection with the case, which was launched at the end of February,” he said.

Austrian Airlines The suspects, mainly Austrian and Sri Lankan nationals, worked for private security firms hired by Austrian Airlines (AUA) to carry out passport and ticket controls at the boarding gate.

Thanks to their own security clearances, the men were able to smuggle refugees from Sri Lanka past checkpoints and provide them with boarding passes, said Koehl.

In exchange, they allegedly received between 7,000 ($7,630) and 9,000 euros per migrant.

Security firm G4S confirmed one of its employees had been involved in the smuggling ring.

The suspect was “immediately fired”, the firm said, adding that it would tighten its airport control procedures and carry out more thorough background checks during the hiring process of new staff.

Meanwhile, AUA said it would address the issue internally with the security firms. — AFP

HAVE YOUR SAY

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TA R G E T I N G V U L N E R A B L E FA M I L I E S

Nepal to protect children from smugglers after earthquake KATHMANDU: Nepal banned children from travelling without parents or approved guardians on Tuesday in an unprecedented move to deter human traffickers who authorities fear are targeting vulnerable families after last month’s devastating earthquake.

Hundreds of thousands of families lost their homes in Nepal after two large earthquakes struck on April 25 and May 12, killing more

than 8,600 people and raising concerns among rights groups that trafficking rings in the region are taking advantage of the chaos.

Not allowed to travel alone Children under 16 would not be permitted to travel outside their home district without a parent or another adult approved by the district’s Child Welfare Board, a senior official said.

“If strangers are found travelling with children they will be under the watch of police,” said Radhika Aryal of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in the capital Kathmandu.

“All district officials and police units across the country have been asked to remain on high alert.”

International adoption of children from Nepal would also not be permitted for the next three

months, said Kiran Rupakheti, another official of the ministry.

The cautionary measures come one week after authorities found dozens of children from earthquake-struck areas travelling with strangers under suspicious circumstances, officials said.

Tarak Dhital of the government’s Central Child Welfare Board said 64 children from Dolakha and Dhading districts, both

of which were devastated by the earthquakes, were now under the care of a registered children’s home.

Police arrested two Indian and three Nepali adults who were travelling with 11 of the children, between 10 and 12 years old, from Dolakha to Kathmandu without the required papers, police said.

“We are investigating if this is a case of trafficking,” police official

Dan Bahadur Karki said.

Reports of suspected trafficking since the quakes have so far been limited, considering the scale of destruction and Nepal’s longrunning struggle to reign in human traffickers operating in its borders.

Thousands of Nepali children and women are trafficked into India every year to work in brothels and as child labourers, activists say. — Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

A1 5

WORLD

Pictures posted online showed a thick column of black smoke rising from behind a petrol station near the facility in China. Another displayed the blackened frame of a building, with a burnt-out wheelchair in the foreground.

Fire kills 38 at China nursing home The fire broke out in an apartment building at a privately-owned old people’s home

BEIJING: A fire at a nursing home in central China left at least 38 people dead, officials said on Tuesday, with bodies burned beyond recognition and wheelchairs reduced to charred frames.

The fire broke out on Monday evening in an apartment building at a privately-owned old people’s home in Pingdingshan, the state CHINA

Firefighters fired over on-the-job ‘selfies’ BEIJING: Firefighters in southwestern China have taken heat for snapping photos of themselves while responding to an emergency, state media reported on Tuesday.

A local fire house released a statement saying that two of its personnel had been fired while a third was given a warning over the incident, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The punishments came after photos of the three taking “selfies” during a search for a missing child after heavy rain in Yunnan province were posted online, the report said.

“The department said it will better manage its firefighters and it welcomes public supervision in the future,” Xinhua said.

The global craze for taking selfies has prompted debate about the appropriate time and place to do so, as well as whether people are becoming too selfabsorbed.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and US President Barack Obama were photographed taking a group picture with a mobile phone in December 2013 at the funeral of Nelson Mandela, prompting both criticism and sympathy. — AFP HACKERS

Iran claims foiling cyber attack on its oil ministry TEHRAN: Iran said on Tuesday it had foiled a cyber-attack on the country’s oil ministry, and that those behind the hacking attempt were based in the United States.

The Fars news agency cited Brigadier General Kamal Hadianfar, head of the cyber police, as saying the unit had thwarted “the hackers’ attack on the oil ministry”.

He said the source of the attempt was in the United States, and that the US authorities had been informed.

“The IP address for these hackers was in America,” he said, adding that “an international judicial order” had been sent to the United States, without elaborating.

Hadianfar said the hacking attempt took place over a fourday period at the start of the new Iranian year which began on March 20.

Iran’s nuclear programme was the target of a 2010 cyberattack by the Stuxnet virus, in a hack Tehran blamed on both the United States and Israel.

A February report by Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab spoke of a powerful cyberspying tool that can tap into millions of computers worldwide through secretly installed malware, with many signs pointing to a US-led effort.

Last December, US cybersecurity firm Cylance said Iranbased hackers had been engaged for two years in an operation dubbed “Cleaver”.

The report said the campaign appeared to be retaliation for the Stuxnet virus. — AFP

news agency Xinhua said. “The bodies were so badly burned, we couldn’t tell who was who,” Xinhua quoted one victim’s relative saying of the identification process.

Pictures posted online showed a thick column of black smoke rising from behind a petrol station near the facility. Another displayed the blackened frame of a building,

with a burnt-out wheelchair in the foreground. “Only myself and one other roommate managed to get out,” survivor Zhao Yulan, 82, who shared her room with 11 other people, told Xinhua.

The agency said the home had 51 residents and the blaze was extinguished less than an hour after it broke out.

Two of the injured were in critical condition in hospital, the work safety bureau of the central province of Henan said in a statement on its website.

The cause of the fire remained unclear, but a provincial television station quoted another resident blaming an electrical fault. The

building was built from steel with flammable foam fillings, the staterun China News Service said on Tuesday. Enforcement of safety standards is often lax in China, with some property and business owners paying off corrupt officials to look the other way.

The country’s vast population is ageing rapidly, with 15.5 per cent aged 60 or above by the end of last year, according to official statistics. Nursing homes are becoming more common but are often the last choice in a culture where the elderly have traditionally lived in

multi-generational households.

Care workers in such facilities are often outnumbered several times over by sick and elderly residents. Pingdingshan survivor Chen Runde, 80, told Xinhua the home had “too many” residents and the workers “cannot attend to all of us”. “We cannot find an attendant once night falls,” he was quoted as saying.

The home was set up by a local farmer and the residents were mostly old villagers whose children had sought jobs far from home as migrant workers, it added.

The incident “highlights pain in ageing China”, Xinhua said in a commentary. — AFP

A16

W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

WORLD

The Spratlys — which lie between Vietnam and the Philippines — are claimed entirely or in part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei and the archipelago has been at the centre of escalating rows

DISPUTED ISLANDS

Taiwan proposes peace plan for South China Sea Postponement of transfer of pipes affected by the projects of Muscat International $LUSRUW¶V À\RYHUV DQG FRQQHFWLQJ WKH QHZ H[SDQVLRQ WR %DUND 3ODQW Public Authority for Electricity and Water hereby announces that it will postpone the WUDQVIHU RI SLSHV DIIHFWHG E\ WKH SURMHFWV RI 0XVFDW ,QWHUQDWLRQDO $LUSRUW¶V À\RYHUV DQG connecting the new expansion to Barka Plant, which was scheduled to be implemented on Thursday, 28/5/2015, because there was a big consumption of water during the last two days, which indicates that there may be a big shortage in water supply during the scheduled transfer and connecting processes.

The Authority will work with the competent authorities to re-schedule the disconnection to another appropriate time.

TAIPEI: Taiwan launched a peace plan on Tuesday in what it said was a bid to ease growing tensions in the South China Sea, as Beijing steps up development of a disputed island chain.

But China responded by reiterating the importance of “national territorial sovereignty” and was unlikely to come to the negotiating table, analysts said.

China and Taiwan are among several claimants of parts of the South China Sea including the Spratly archipelago, where China is building artificial islands and facilities including an airstrip.

Tensions That has fuelled tension with Washington as well as regional neighbours.

“As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the countries surrounding the South China Sea should heed the lessons of his-

tory and commit themselves to advancing regional peace and prosperity,” Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou said at the opening of an international law conference in Taipei.

He called for regional cooperation to enable claimants to share natural resources, but gave no further detail on how the “South China Sea Peace Initiative” would be implemented.

Chinese claim China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters approaching the coasts of the Philippines and other Asian neighbours.

The Spratlys -- which lie between Vietnam and the Philippines -- are claimed entirely or in part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei and the archipelago has been at the centre of escalating rows.

When asked about Taiwan’s peace plan, China’s foreign min-

istry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Tuesday: “We believe that Chinese people from across the straits have the obligation to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as peace and stability of the South China Sea.” Beijing last week warned the US against “highly irresponsible and dangerous” actions after it ordered a US Navy surveillance plane out of airspace near the Spratlys.

Analysts said Ma’s announcement could also be a bid to reiterate Taiwan’s own claims.

“Few countries may take the initiative seriously, but Ma has to make it clear that Taiwan will by no means back down on territorial issues, while calling for no use of force,” said George Tsai, political science professor at Taipei’s Chinese Culture University.

“Saying it at a time when tensions are growing may capture more international exposure.” — AFP

IN THE DOCK: A 14-year-old terror suspect (face covered by

paper) and his lawyer Rudolf Mayr, right, wait for the start of his trial in St. Poelten, Austria, Tuesday. — Reuters

Teen jailed in Austria over IS plot The teenager of Turkish origin was found guilty of belonging to a ‘terrorist organisation’

SANKT-POELTEN (AUSTRIA): A 14-year-old Austrian schoolboy was convicted Tuesday of planning to bomb a Vienna train station in the name of the IS and sentenced to eight months behind bars. The teenager of Turkish origin was found guilty of belonging to a “terrorist” organisation and given an additional suspended jail sentence of 16 months by a court in his hometown of Sankt-Poelten.

According to the charge sheet, the teenager, who emigrated from Turkey in 2007, wanted to carry out the attack before travelling to join the war in Syria alongside IS. Police had said at the time of his arrest in October 2014 that the boy made “concrete enquir-

ies about buying ingredients” for a bomb and “planned to explode the devices in public places, such as the Vienna Westbahnhof,” a major train station.

His lawyer Rudolf Mayer said his client — who he said grew up “without a father” and who turns 15 in the coming days — had only been “playing with the idea” of making a bomb.

Placed in a special school for troubled children where “prospects for professional development are almost inexistent”, the boy had “looked for recognition, to belong to something,” Mayer told the court.

“Imagine the power of propaganda that says to young people who feel they are living an empty existence: ‘You can do something good, and get money and women’,” he said. It was his own family who alerted authorities to his growing radicalisation.

Police found violent images and IS propaganda on the teen’s computer, mobile phone and games console. The public prosecutor told the court that the defendant expressed “no feelings of guilt”. The baby-faced teenager appeared in court in a grey hooded top. He listened in silence to opening comments from the prosecution and his attorney before media were ejected. — AFP

INSURGENCY

Taliban raids kill 26 Afghan forces KANDAHAR (AFGHANISTAN): At least 26 Afghan police or soldiers have been killed in multiple Taliban attacks in the volatile south, including a 16hour siege of a college dormitory, officials said on Tuesday.

Taliban militants raided several police outposts in Naw Zad district in the restive opium-

rich province of Helmand late on Monday.

“Around 16 security forces have been killed in Taliban attacks in Naw Zad district,” local council chief Karim Atal said.

In Kandahar rebels stormed the dormitory of a school late Monday, triggering a 16-hour gunbattle with Afghan forces. — AFP

B

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OPWP inks pacts with consortium to construct Salalah power project Salalah water project’s initial tender to be floated by year-end

New OMR240 million natural gasfired power project

Times News Service

will have a capacity of 445MW. It will also buy an existing power plant FUELLING GROWTH: Dhofar Generating Company’s existing 273-megawatt power plant in Salalah,

A E JAMES

Appointing an advisor “We are already in the process of appointing an advisor for developing the project,” Yaqoob Said Al Kiyumi, chief operating officer of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company told journalists here on the sidelines of a signing ceremony to develop Salalah independent power project (phase 2).

Al Kiyumi said the project

Power demand The Salalah independent power project (phase 2), another 50 megawatt wind project and the existing generation plants will be able to meet power demand in Dhofar region for another 7 years, until 2022, said Al Kiyumi.

“There is a wind project coming up in Dhofar region, which will also add capacity,” he further added.

which was bought by the consortium under the agreement. — Supplied picture

businesseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Several agreements have been signed by Oman Power and Water Procurement (OPWP) Company with a consortium led

by Mitsui & Co to build a 445 megawatt power project, Salalah independent power project (phase 2), and to acquire an existing 273-megawatt power plant from Dhofar Generating Company.

At a cost of over OMR240 million, the new natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant will

MUSCAT: A request for proposal (RfQ), an initial tender for inviting bidder, for developing a 20 million-imperial gallon water per day project in Salalah will be floated before the year-end, said a senior official of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company.

would be commissioned by the first quarter of 2019 and a similar project is planned for Sharqiya region, which will also be completed at the same time.

“There are small water projects in Khasab and Duqm.”

The proposed desalination projects in Sohar and Barka are world’s biggest projects.

have an installed capacity of 445 megawatt and will be connected to the existing Salalah grid. The consortium will have a combined capacity of 718 megawatt.

The power generation from the new plant is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2018.

“This new capacity will contribute to the growing power demand to meet the needs of urban, industrial and tourism development in the governorate of Dhofar as well

as enhancing the efficiency of gas consumption,” said Eng. Ahmed bin Saleh Al Jahdhami, chief executive officer of OPWP. In Dhofar region, which covers around 77,000 electricity customers, peak demand is expected to grow at 10 per cent per year, from 420 megawatt in 2013 to 800 megawatt in 2020. However, the average demand is projected to grow from 282 megawatt in 2013 to 553 megawatt in 2020.

OPWP released a request for proposal in April 2014 for selecting a company for awarding the concession to develop the project. Several firms have competed by submitting technical and financial bids, and through evaluation and negotiation process carried out by the company, the project was awarded to the consortium consisting of Mitsui, ACWA Power, and Dhofar International Development and Investment Holding Co. >B2

B2

W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

MARKET Al Jadeed Exchange signs deal to purchase currencies Tie-ups with Bahrain Finance Company and India-based Muthoot Group will enable us to supply foreign currency at very competitive rates, said chief executive officer of Al Jadeed Exchange VITAL AGREEMENT: This arrangement will help the exchange to provide currencies at very competitive rate for both wholesale and

Times News Service

retail markets. — Supplied picture

MUSCAT: Al Jadeed Exchange, a leading exchange house in Oman, signed agreements with Bahrain Finance Company (BFC) and India-based Muthoot Group to import currencies.

BFC is a global business group offering remittance services to over 50 countries through its Ez Remit money transfer service;

while Muthoot Group is one of the world’s largest financial service providers whose services include Royal Money Global money transfer service.

“Foreign currency business in Oman holds high potential, and the demand for foreign currency is increasing by the day,” said

Sheikh Bakhit Jadeed Jadad Al Kathiri, chief executive officer of Al Jadeed Exchange. “The tieups with these two renowned companies will enable us to supply foreign currency at very competitive rates.”

“Presently, the currency market is dominated by a few major play-

ers who control the market rates.

This arrangement will help us to provide currencies at very competitive rates for both wholesale and retail markets,” noted Rajan B, the general manager of Al Jadeed Exchange. “We operate four forex counters at Muscat airport, and 15 branches all over Oman. Another

three forex counters are all set to be opened at Salalah International Airport. We believe the arrangement with BFC and Muthoot will give us a clear edge to become a major player in the Oman market,” stated Tuan Amit, manager, Business Development & Marketing at Al Jadeed Exchange.

ECONOMIC CRISIS

Greece to repay creditors as long as it can ATHENS: Struggling Greece will keep repaying its EU-IMF creditors for as long as it can, with some 300 million euros due next week and no deal in sight in talks over its remaining bailout funds, a government spokesman said on Monday.

“To the extent that we are able to pay, we will keep on repaying these obligations,” spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told reporters.

He added: “It is the government’s responsibility to be able to repay all these obligations... It is also the responsibility of the creditors to be faithful to (their) loan obligations.”

Greece’s radical-left government has been locked in negotiations with its creditors — the IMF, the European Union and the European Central Bank — for the past four months in a bid to unlock some 7.2 billion euros in bailout cash.

The IMF’s chief economist Olivier Blanchard said Monday budget reforms that Greece has proposed to its international creditors are not enough to ensure a surplus this year.

Greece was supposed to have a three-per cent budget surplus in 2015, but that now looks out of reach, Blanchard was quoted as saying by French financial newspaper Les Echos.

“Given the latest estimations show a substantial budget deficit

evision. Greece has stayed afloat by tapping into public corporation reserves and an emergency account at the IMF. On Monday, the finance ministry reported a tax revenue shortfall of 884 million euros in the first four months of the year.

Talks in Brussels over the Greek reform list will resume on Tuesday, Sakellaridis said.

He added that the two sides were still apart on tax issues, social insurance, labour rights and the size of Greece’s budget surplus, but the government’s goal was to secure a “mutually beneficial” agreement by early June at the latest.

CREDIBLE MEASURES: A man walks a wall adorned with grafitti on a street in Athens on Monday.

Struggling Greece will keep on repaying for as long as it can. EU-IMF creditors have demanded reforms and withheld release of the country’s remaining bailout funds, a spokesman said. — AFP

for the time being, credible measures are needed to transform this into a surplus and maintain a surplus in the future,” he said.

“Seeing what has been put forward so far, we are still quite far off.”

On Sunday, Greece’s Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis said Greece had “no money” to make a series of repayments to the IMF that are due from June 5.

“The instalments for the IMF in

June are (overall) 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion). This money will not be given. There isn’t any to be given. This is a known fact,” Voutsis said on Sunday.

The Syriza-led government, which was elected in January on an anti-austerity platform, has so far refused to agree to key economic reforms that the creditors want in exchange for the rescue funds.

But with a punishing debt re-

payment schedule in the next three months, the country now desperately needs those funds.

Last week, the parliamentary spokesman for Syriza had also said that the government would be unable to honour its repayments to the IMF as its priority is to pay salaries, pensions and running costs.

“No country can repay its debts with only the money from its budget,” Nikos Filis told Ant1 tel-

Austerity ‘deal-breaker’ “Austerity is the only deal-breaker,” Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis wrote in a Project Syndicate blog entry.

“Greece’s creditors insist on even greater austerity for this year and beyond... Our government cannot — and will not — accept a cure that has proven itself over five long years to be worse that the disease,” he wrote.

The outspoken Varoufakis — said to have irritated European ministers in the debt talks — could not resist taking a swipe at the country’s creditors.

“Clearly, our creditors’ demand for more austerity has nothing to do with concerns over genuine reform,” he said. - AFP

INVESTMENT PLAN

Almarai eyes $5.6b capital expenditure DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Almarai board has approved a capital investment plan which will reach SR21 billion ($5.6 billion) in the next five years, the company said on Tuesday.

The Gulf’s largest dairy firm said the 2016-2020 programme would replace their existing investment plan, and cover the capacity expansion needs in the areas of farming, manufacturing, distribution and logistics.

“The objectives set by the board include increasing further its presence in all segments and geographies where it operates, targeting to double consolidated sales, while improving the financial performance,” it said in a statement.

Its previous investment plan had foreseen spending worth SR15.7 billion between 2013 and 2017. — Agencies SALALAH POWER PROJECT

‘Project good B1 offers opportunity’ < FROM

Speaking at the ceremony, Kazuhiro Hashimura, general manager of Mitsui & Co., managing member of the consortium and Mohammed Abunayyan, chairman ACWA Power said that they are very excited to be part of the Salalah independent power project phase 2. It will give them a significant opportunity to be part of the socio-economic development of the Sultanate through their extensive business operation knowhow and delivery of reliable electricity.

Mitsui & Co., and ACWA Power each hold a 45 per cent stake in the project while DIDIC hold the remaining 10 per cent.

Agreements The agreements were signed by Shaikh Saif bin Mohammed al Shabibi, Minister of Housing and Engineer Ahmed bin Saleh Al Jahdhami, chief executive officer of Oman Power and Water Procurement Company and on behalf of the consortium Kazuhiro Hashimura, general manager of Mitsui & Co., Mohammed Abunayyan, chairman ACWA Power and Tariq Abdulhafidh Al Ujaili, vice-chairman, Dhofar International Development and Investment Holding Co. In attendance were a number of dignitaries including Shaikh Saif bin Mohammed al Shabibi, Minister of Housing; and Mohammed bin Abdullah al Mahrouqi, chairman of the Public Authority for Electricity and Water, as well as government officials, and representatives from the consortium and electricity sector in the Sultanate.

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W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

B3

MARKET Asia’s move on patent licencing dubbed as smartphone ‘Cold War’ by debates in Washington over whether patents hinder rather than spur innovation.

“The domestic debate that is supposed to be specific to our country is being latched on to by foreign governments,” said Sean Murphy, Qualcomm’s international government affairs counsel. “It’s giving them justification to take action.”

South Korea and China are adopting antitrust policies that may require companies such as Apple and Qualcomm to licence inventions to rivals more easily and cheaply

SMARTPHONE WARS: Clampdown on patents has potential to alter the balance of power in the global mobile-phone industry, which generated $412 billion last year, according to IDC. — Bloomberg file picture

WASHINGTON: A new front is opening in what’s been dubbed the smartphone wars: this one involves countries, not companies.

South Korea and China are adopting antitrust policies that may require companies such as Apple and Qualcomm to licence inventions to rivals more easily and cheaply, potentially giving Asian companies a leg up against

foreign competitors. Brazil and India are considering similar paths.

The clampdown on patents has the potential to alter the balance of power in the global mobile-phone industry, which generated $412 billion last year, according to IDC. These new rules may weaken the ability of Apple, Microsoft and Qualcomm — typically among the top 15 US patent recipients each

year — to compete in China, the world’s largest mobile-phone market, and others that follow.

“We’re going back to the Cold War and the domino theory,” said Bradley Lui, an antitrust lawyer with Morrison & Foerster in Washington. “The authorities in China see the potential use of patents that might affect companies in China, including state-owned

enterprises. It might be an impetus for drawing rules more broadly than we would in the US.” Asian regulators were spurred by the smartphone wars, in which tech giants battled over billions of dollars on four continents for more than four years. Foreign governments including Korea and China have been looking more closely at their patent policies, emboldened

I N D I A’ S S E C O N D - L A R G E S T W I R E L E S S O P E R AT O R

Vodafone Group planning to launch initial public offering for India unit LONDON: Vodafone Group is weighing an initial public offering for its Indian business, the wireless carrier’s biggest unit by customers, said a person familiar with the matter.

Investment bank Rothschild is compiling a report about the benefits of a possible IPO, set to be delivered around August, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the plan isn’t public. Vodafone will decide whether to proceed after that, and an IPO will also depend on market conditions, the person said.

An IPO would provide Vodafone with cash while allowing investors to bet specifically on India, whose wireless growth is outpacing that of more mature countries such as Vodafone’s home market, the UK Shares of Vodafone hit their highest level in more than 14 years last week after comments

by Liberty Global’s John Malone fueled expectations that the wireless carrier will take part in the industry’s consolidation.

Representatives for Vodafone and Rothschild declined to comment. CNBC-TV18 earlier reported Newbury, England-based Vodafone’s plan toward an IPO for the India unit.

The Indian division’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation reached

ROBUST DEMAND: An IPO will provide Vodafone with cash while allowing investors to bet specifically on India, whose wireless growth is outpacing that of more mature countries. — Bloomberg file picture

1.28 billion pounds ($2 billion) in the latest fiscal year on sales of 4.3 billion pounds.

Indian mobile companies trade at a median price-to-Ebitda ratio of 5.35, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That would value Vodafone’s business at approximately 6.85 billion pounds.

Vodafone shares were unchanged at 253.75 pence at 8:49am London time. The stock has advanced 14 per cent this

year, giving the company a market value of 67.3 billion pounds.

Vodafone, India’s second-largest wireless operator, was among carriers spending $18 billion in the country’s airwaves auction this year. Last year, Marten Pieters, head of Vodafone India at the time, said in an interview that the company won’t consider an IPO of the unit until it has greater certainty about its access to airwaves. The unit, which has more

than 180 million customers, accounts for 10 per cent of Vodafone’s total revenue.

Early this year, Indian authorities said they won’t appeal a court ruling that sided with Vodafone in a tax dispute as the country works to reassure foreign investors about governance rules. The dispute involved the way Vodafone reported a transfer of shares between its business in India and another unit. — Bloomberg News

‘Improve consistency’ South Korea’s restrictions on patents went into effect in December.

It’s home to Samsung, which battled Apple for years over claims it copied the iPhone’s “look and feel.” China’s rules are expected

by August 1. Brazil and India are only beginning to develop policies, a National Academies report said.

US trade officials declined to comment for this article.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission said its policy is to “improve consistency” in antitrust law enforcement and block patentlicensing firms, which are often derided as “trolls” for demanding high royalties for incremental features. The agency said in a December 24 statement that “domestic companies are expected to be protected from the abuse of patents, as the amendment will provide a ba-

sis for effectively regulating global companies’ abuse of monopoly with patents.”

China’s proposals, like South Korea’s rules, have two main components. One involves patent values for technology included in industry standards, such as Wi-Fi. The other may require unique features — like Apple’s slide-to-unlock feature, or Microsoft software that synchronises calendars — to be licenced by others if considered “dominant” or “essential.”

‘System works’ Some companies are already demanding a roll back and want a return to their ability to sue the heck out of each other. They argue that there’s been no evidence that patents are being misused, so there’s no need for regulation.

Microsoft, Apple and Intel are among the companies backing rules on standard-essential patents because it would mean lower royalties they pay out for fundamental technology. — Bloomberg News

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

B4

W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

MARKET Index rises marginally

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,390.58 ...............6,377.39 ...................6,390.32 ................... 6,377.86..................12.46 ...................0.20 Financial Index ......................................7,757.35 ............... 7,748.96 .....................7,751.76 ................... 7,754.30..................-2.54 .................. -0.03 Industrial Index ....................................8,297.33 ...............8,276.78 ................... 8,297.25 ...................8,278.47.................. 18.78 ...................0.23 Services Index .......................................3,457.59 .............. 3,452.03 ....................3,456.81 ................... 3,451.66.................... 5.15 ................... 0.15 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 987.96 .................. 985.13 .......................987.93 ...................... 985.32.................... 2.61 ...................0.26 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 8,801,536....................2,855,440 .....................565 ............... 14,794,946,721 ................ 17 ..................... 10 .................... 23 .........................50

Tuesday’s top gainer, Oman Fisheries, was up by 1.89 per cent, while National Mineral

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, MAY 26

Water, which went down by 4.05 per cent,

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

was the top loser of the day

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

OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 285,347 ........... 38,263.....................24 ............0.133 ........... 0.135 ...........0.133 ........... 0.134 .............0.132............ 0.002..............1.515.................0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.138...................41,642,502.........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 358,123.............27,812.....................22 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.078 .............0.077 ............0.001 ............. 1.299 ................0.077..............0.077...................0.078................... 16,157,808 .........0.100

MUSCAT: Supported by gains in services and industrial stocks, MSM30 Index ended with gains on Tuesday. The index closed at 6,390.32 points, gaining by 0.20 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index also gained 0.26 per cent and closed at 987.93 points. Oman & Emirates was the most active stock in terms of volume while Sharqiya Desalination stood as the highest value traded stock.

Tuesday’s top gainer, Oman Fisheries, was up by 1.89 per cent while National Mineral Water, which went down by 4.05 per cent was the top loser for the day in the trading session.

As many as 565 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR2.85 million with more than 8.8 million shares changing hands. Out of 50 traded securities, 17 advanced, 10 declined and 23 remained unchanged.

Omani investors were net buyers for OMR203,000 while Foreign investors were net sellers for OMR103,000 followed

by GCC and Arab investors for OMR100,000 worth of shares.

Financial Index Financial Index closed at 7,751.76 points, down by 0.03 per cent.

United Finance, Al Madina Investment, Oman & Emirates Investments, Global Financial Investments, and ONIC Holding increased by 1.52 per cent, 1.30 per cent, 0.93 per cent, 0.90 per cent, and 0.88 per cent respectively. Al Anwar Holding, Sharqiya Investments, Gulf Investment Services, and HSBC Bank Oman declined by 0.83 per cent, 0.77 per cent, 0.74 per cent and 0.72 per cent respectively.

Industrial Index closed at 8,297.25 points, up by 0.23 per cent. Oman Fisheries, Oman Ce-

OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION .............................. 162,722.......... 561,339..................... 10 ............3.410 ........... 3.450 ...........3.410 ........... 3.450 ............. 3.410............ 0.040..............1.173.................3.450..............3.450...................3.470................... 33,741,745 .........1.000

ment, Al Anwar Ceramic, Gulf international Chemicals, and Oman Cables increased by 1.89 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 0.95 per cent, 0.92 per cent, and 0.71 per cent respectively. National mineral Water, National Aluminium, Galfar Engineering, and Al Maha Ceramics declined by 4.05 per cent, 1.96 per cent, 0.81 per cent, and 0.76 per cent respectively.

Services Sector Index was up by 0.15 per cent before closing at 3,456.81 points. Sharqiya Desalination, Sembcorp Salalah, Al Batinah Power, Al Suwadi Power, and Sohar Power increased by 1.17 per cent, 1.04 per cent, 1.01 per cent, 1.01 per cent and 0.57 per cent respectively. OIFC and Al Jazeirah Services declined by 0.86 per cent and 0.55 per cent respectively.

OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 372,978 ........ 202,300..................... 10 ........... 0.540 ...........0.544 ...........0.540........... 0.542 .............0.536 ........... 0.006..............1.119.................0.544..............0.544...................0.560 .................179,333,009........0.100 OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH................................................ 17,604 ............42,830........................4 ........... 2.430 ...........2.450 ...........2.430........... 2.435 .............2.410 ............0.025 ............. 1.037 ................2.450..............2.450...................2.475................. 232,438,270 .......1.000 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 345,620 ........... 69,034......................17 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.198 ........... 0.200 ............. 0.198............ 0.002............. 1.010 ................0.199 .............. 0.195...................0.198..................134,977,486 ........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 688,605 .......... 137,631.....................42 ........... 0.200...........0.200 ...........0.198 ........... 0.200 ............. 0.198............ 0.002............. 1.010 ................0.199 .............. 0.195...................0.198..................142,881,268........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 130,801.............55,336........................4 ........... 0.420 ...........0.424 ...........0.420........... 0.424 .............0.420 ........... 0.004............. 0.952 ................0.420..............0.420...................0.424 .................125,594,601 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 2,253,077......245,487......................61 ............0.107 ........... 0.110............0.107 ........... 0.109 .............0.108 ............0.001 .............0.926 ................0.110 ..............0.109...................0.110 ...................13,284,375 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ...............11,700 ...............2,574........................5 ........... 0.220...........0.220 ...........0.220 .......... 0.220 .............0.218............ 0.002............. 0.917 ................0.220 .............0.219...................0.220 ...................4,620,000..........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................. 38,000 ...............4,238........................3 ............0.111 ........... 0.112............ 0.111 ............0.112 ............. 0.111 .............0.001 ............. 0.901 ................ 0.111 ...............0.111................... 0.112 .................. 22,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ............................................................37,000 .............17,020........................5 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.460........... 0.460 .............0.456 ........... 0.004............. 0.877 ................0.460..............0.456...................0.462 .................. 79,774,695 .........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY.........................................7,866 .............16,823........................3 ............2.135 ........... 2.140 ...........2.135 ........... 2.140 .............2.125.............0.015 ............. 0.706 ................2.140..............2.125...................2.140..................191,958,000........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER..............................................................14,950 ...............5,260........................6 ........... 0.350 ...........0.354 ...........0.350........... 0.352 .............0.350 ........... 0.002............. 0.571 ................0.354..............0.354...................0.358................... 77,795,520 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 475,728 ......... 371,068..................... 29 ............0.780 ........... 0.780 ...........0.780........... 0.780 ............. 0.776............ 0.004............. 0.515 ................0.780.............. 0.776...................0.780..................507,736,499 ........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK ......................................................................12,823 ...............2,749........................5 ............0.213 ........... 0.215 ...........0.213 ........... 0.214 .............0.213.............0.001 ............. 0.469 ................0.215 ..............0.213...................0.214..................304,957,735 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT .......................................................... 2,810 ...............4,374........................2 ............1.560 ........... 1.560 ...........1.555 ........... 1.560 .............1.560............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.555 .............. 1.550...................1.560................. 312,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 401,749.......... 128,559......................17 ........... 0.320 ...........0.320 ...........0.318 ........... 0.320 .............0.320 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.318 .............. 0.318...................0.320 .................429,027,280 .......0.100 OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD......................58,305 ............28,220........................8 ........... 0.484 ...........0.484 ...........0.484........... 0.484 .............0.484 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.484..............0.484...................0.490 .................119,257,600 ........0.100 OM0000001533 ............OMINVEST ........................................................................4,000 ............... 1,836........................2 ........... 0.458 ...........0.460 ...........0.458........... 0.460 .............0.460 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.460..............0.460...................0.462 .................170,391,958 ........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ............................2,000 ..................500........................1 ........... 0.250 ...........0.250 ...........0.250........... 0.250 .............0.250 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.250............. 0.242...................0.250 ..................31,224,490.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ............................. 500 .....................63........................1 ............0.125 ........... 0.125 ...........0.125 ............0.125 ............. 0.125............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.125 .............. 0.121...................0.125.................... 3,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ................................................................8,040 ...............2,219........................1 ........... 0.276 ........... 0.276 ...........0.276........... 0.276 .............0.276 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.276..............0.270...................0.276..................426,345,079 .......0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 564,763 .........306,593..................... 34 ........... 0.542 ...........0.544 ...........0.540........... 0.542 .............0.542 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.540..............0.540...................0.542 ............... 1,242,167,848 ......0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. .......10,000 ............ 21,900........................1 ............2.190 ........... 2.190 ...........2.190........... 2.190 .............2.190 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.190.............. 2.175...................2.190.................. 151,110,000 ........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ......................... 94,920 ........... 156,751..................... 28 ............1.650 ........... 1.660 ...........1.650 ............1.650 ............. 1.650............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.650 .............. 1.650...................1.655 ................1,237,500,000 ......0.100 OM0000003141 ............ACWA POWER BARKA ............................................... 11,000 ............... 9,196........................3 ........... 0.836 ........... 0.836 ...........0.836........... 0.836 .............0.836 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.836..............0.836...................0.840 .................133,760,000........0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 439,000 ............81,539......................12 ............0.186 ........... 0.186 ...........0.184........... 0.186 ............. 0.186............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.185 ..............0.184...................0.185..................268,107,840........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................96,650 ............... 8,312........................7 ........... 0.086 ...........0.086 ...........0.086........... 0.086 .............0.086 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.086..............0.086...................0.087...................15,050,000 .........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES .......................................... 137,044............ 49,894......................13 ........... 0.364 ...........0.366 ...........0.360........... 0.364 .............0.366 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.546 ...............0.360..............0.362...................0.366...................22,278,355.........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 449,068 ............61,496........................7 ............0.138 ........... 0.138 ...........0.136 ............0.137 ............. 0.138............-0.001 ........... -0.725 ...............0.138 .............. 0.136...................0.138................. 274,042,852 .......0.100

Dubai firm’s repayment Creditors to Limitless are trying to arrange a meeting amid speculation the Dubai-based developer, which wants to change terms on $1.2 billion of debt, sold land in Saudi Arabia, five people familiar with the matter said.

Limitless may have sold land in the Al Wasl project in Riyadh, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Lenders have asked Limitless for clarity on the possible deal and have yet to receive a response from the company, two of the people said. Creditors say proceeds from the possible sale should go toward settling loans owed to banks under the existing restructuring deal, three people said.

“If there are any developments, our stakeholders will be the first to know,” Limitless spokeswoman Rebecca Rees said by e-mail, declining to comment further.

OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ......................... 160,000 ........... 21,600......................18 ............0.135 ........... 0.136 ...........0.134............0.135 ............. 0.136............-0.001 ........... -0.735................0.134 .............. 0.133...................0.134.................... 7,943,834 ..........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................39,600 ............20,644........................9 ........... 0.524 ...........0.524 ...........0.520........... 0.522 .............0.526 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.760 ...............0.520.............. 0.516...................0.520 ..................27,405,000.........0.100 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING ............... 5,201 ...................671........................1 ............0.129 ........... 0.129 ...........0.129........... 0.129 .............0.130............-0.001 ........... -0.769 ...............0.129 ..............0.129...................0.130................... 11,610,000 .........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 162,950 ........... 20,086..................... 30 ............0.124 ........... 0.124 ...........0.123 ............0.123 .............0.124 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.806 ...............0.123 ..............0.122...................0.123................... 35,667,618 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING.................................................49,100 ............. 11,752......................16 ........... 0.240........... 0.241 ...........0.238........... 0.239 .............0.241 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.830 ...............0.238..............0.239...................0.240 .................. 31,189,500 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 134,027 ............30,817......................15 ........... 0.230 ........... 0.231 ...........0.229........... 0.230 .............0.232 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.862 ...............0.229..............0.229...................0.230 ................. 46,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 144,500 ........... 43,350........................7 ........... 0.300...........0.300 ...........0.300 .......... 0.300 .............0.306 ...........-0.006 ............-1.961................0.300 .............0.294...................0.300 .................. 10,071,435 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 8,188,171 .... 2,810,137...................483 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......38........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES ..................................................... 173,492...............9,383..................... 26 ........... 0.054 ........... 0.055 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.053 ............0.001 ............. 1.887 ................0.054..............0.054...................0.055....................6,750,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001368 ............CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IND. .................. 110,453 .............. 4,264........................7 ........... 0.039 ...........0.039 ...........0.038........... 0.039 .............0.039 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.038..............0.038...................0.039.................... 3,315,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001590............MUSCAT FINANCE...................................................... 45,561 ...............6,379........................4 ............0.140 ........... 0.140 ...........0.140........... 0.140 .............0.140 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.140..............0.140...................0.150...................35,226,586.........0.100 OM0000002333 ...........SALALAH PORT SERVICES .......................................... 800 ...................518........................1 ........... 0.648 ...........0.648 ...........0.648........... 0.648 .............0.648 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.648............. 0.000...................0.648..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING................................... 54,004 ...............5,336..................... 10 ........... 0.099 ...........0.099 ...........0.098........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.098..............0.099...................0.101 .................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 157,924 .............11,644......................21 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.074 ...........0.073........... 0.074 .............0.074 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.074..............0.073...................0.074..................111,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK..................................................3,000 .................. 252........................2 ........... 0.084 ...........0.084 ...........0.084........... 0.084 .............0.084 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.084..............0.077...................0.084 ................. 84,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................46,750 ...............5,330........................5 ............0.114 ........... 0.114............0.114 ............0.114 ............. 0.114............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.114 ...............0.113................... 0.114 ...................11,400,000 .........0.100 OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER ............................... 19,499 ............... 1,379........................2 ........... 0.072 ...........0.072 ...........0.070............0.071 .............0.074 ...........-0.003 ........... -4.054 ...............0.070..............0.070...................0.073.....................1,917,216...........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 611,483 ............44,484..................... 78 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 9........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

THIRD MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000002010 ...........OMAN FOODS INTERNATIONAL ............................1,677 .................. 798........................2 ............0.476 ........... 0.476 ...........0.476........... 0.476 .............0.476 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.476..............0.476...................0.000 .....................952,000 ...........1.000 .............................................SUM: .......................................................................................1,677 .................. 798........................2 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. .........1........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

B0NDS MARKET .................................................................................................................................................................................

OM0000004602 ...........BANK MUSCAT CONV. BONDS 4.5 .............................. 101 ..................... 11........................1 ............0.104 ........... 0.104 ...........0.104........... 0.104 .............0.104 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.104..............0.104...................0.106...................31,485,908 .........0.100 OM0000004867 ...........BANK MUSCAT C C B 4.5 .................................................104 ..................... 11........................1 ............0.101 ........... 0.101............0.101 ............0.101 ............. 0.101............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.101 .............. 0.101...................0.110 ...................32,283,910 .........0.100 .............................................SUM: ..........................................................................................205 .....................21........................2 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........2........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/Bloomberg News

INDIAN MARKETS

Sensex ends at one-week low; Tata Motors retreats MUMBAI: India’s benchmark stock-index declined to a oneweek low as industrials and drugmakers dropped before the expiry of monthly derivatives on Thursday.

Tata Motors, owner of Jaguar Land Rover, retreated to a two-week low before its results, while NTPC, the largest power generator, fell to its lowest level in five months. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries lost the most in two weeks and Oil & Natural Gas Corp. dropped for the first time in four days.

The S&P BSE Sensex retreated 0.4 per cent to 27,531.41, the lowest close since May 15. The measure has remained below its 200day average in all but five days since April 24 on concern about the pace of corporate earnings.

While 11 of the 21 Sensex firms that have announced results for the March quarter have beaten or matched estimates, profits will decrease for a second straight quarter, forecasts compiled by Bloomberg show.

“There are no positive surprises from corporate earnings and there’s no support for the market at higher levels,” Alex Mathews, the head of research at Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, said by telephone from Kollam in Kerala state.

“The Sensex is struggling to stay above its 200-day moving average, signaling weakness.”

Tata Motors fell 1.5 per cent.

Profit slumped 56 per cent to Rs17.2 billion ($269 million) in the March quarter from a year ago, the Mumbai-based company said in a statement after market hours. That trailed the Rs40.6 billion median of 24 analysts’ estimates compiled by

Rupee falls on dollar demand MUMBAI: India’s rupee fell the most in more than two weeks on speculation importers are stepping up purchases of the greenback to pay month-end bills.

The rupee dropped 0.6 per cent to end at 63.9775 a dollar in Mumbai, the most since May 7, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg.

The currency has declined 0.9 per cent in May, heading for a third straight monthly loss.

“The rupee’s weakness is partly due to dollar demand from importers to make month-end payments,” said Ankur Jhaveri, co-head of

Bloomberg. Profit at the Jaguar Land Rover unit fell by a third to 302 million pounds, dragged down by a drop in demand for luxury vehicles in China.

Tata Motors skipped dividend payout for the year ended March, according to the filing.

Shocking performance “The poor performance of the company’s foreign subsidiary is shocking,” Chokkalingam G., managing director at Equinomics Research, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV India on Tuesday. “Pricing and margin pressures are likely to continue in the overseas operations for a

currency and rates at Edelweiss Financial Services in Mumbai. Expectations the US is moving closer to raising interest rates are also weighing on the rupee, he said.

Increasing borrowing costs in 2015 will be “appropriate,” provided the economy meets forecasts, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said in a May 22 speech in Providence, Rhode Island. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index rose 0.5 per cent at 5:27pm in Mumbai, with the currency reaching its strongest level in more than seven years against the yen. — Bloomberg News

few more quarters as there are reports of them facing price pressures in China.”

NTPC slid 1.3 per cent to Rs132.5, the lowest level since December 17, while Sun Pharma fell 0.7 per cent, a second day of losses after jumping 6.1 per cent last week. Oil & Natural Gas lost 2.1 per cent, halting a three-day, 4.8 per cent advance.

Tech Mahindra capped its biggest two-day loss in a month. It reported a fourth-quarter profit of Rs4.72 billion, missing the Rs7.23 billion estimated in a Bloomberg survey of 35 analysts. Earnings were announced after trading ended. — Bloomberg News

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

B5

ROUND-UP ‘Kia on Tour’ set to offer finest moments to fans

PROMOTION

The latest Kia models are available for test drive at all the

‘Mighty Feast’ offers a 'party in the mouth' from Pizza Hut Oman

venues. Kia fans can also participate in ‘Kia QR Code Contest’ at the road show venues or by visiting any Kia showroom and win a Samsung S5 Mini phone

MUSCAT: The ‘Kia on Tour’ road show is all set to wind through Qurum City Centre, Lulu Hypermarket Nizwa, Safeer Mall Sohar and Gardens Mall Salalah. Indeed, the perfect opportunity for Kia fans in Oman to experience some of the finest moments with a Kia now comes from ‘Kia on Tour’, says a press release.

“Through this initiative we wish to allow our fans in Oman numerous opportunities to get up close and personal with their favourite Kia. Besides they can also look forward to winning exciting prizes on the spot,” said a Kia spokesperson.

“It’s a chance to test drive a Kia and win an Apple iPad and other exciting prizes. Why would anyone want to miss it,” asked an enthusiast.

The latest Kia models are available for test drive at all the venues.

Kia fans can also participate in ‘Kia QR Code Contest’ at the road show venues or by visiting any Kia showroom and win a Samsung S5 Mini phone.

“Participants just need to scan the QR codes and answer 3 simple questions correctly to be able to win Samsung S5 Mini phone,” added the spokesperson.

There is also another Kia Quiz contest running on Kia Oman Facebook page where one needs to just answer three simple questions correctly to win Online Roumaan vouchers upto OMR60 every week.

One can participate in the quiz on this link http://on.fb.me/1Ivxrkq.

Alongside the road shows there is also a Kia caravan which will cover Oman and impart test drives on the go.

“I am an ardent Kia fan and I often visit the Kia showroom in Wattayah,” said a Kia fan. “I got to know about the ‘Kia on Tour’ promotion from their friendly staff there and like every year, I am eagerly looking forward to this event. I wish to make the most of this opportunity both in terms of test-driving a Kia and winning prizes too.”

Kia’s range of vehicles has built a strong reputation for embracing some of the most advanced technologies and luxury. Allowing customers the privilege of indulging with the future in the present.

Many of its class-leading features

and technologies have been the subject of inspiration for many automobile manufacturers eager to enjoy a fan base as vast as Kia’s.

Take for example the all-new redesigned Sorento. It utilises Kia’s advanced safety equipment and technologies to provide a high level of occupant protection for drivers and their families as measured by the US government, earning a 5-Star rating from NHTSA, in addition to being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Sorento’s all-new platform and suspension system is powered by new V6 engine, offering more passenger room. From a styling perspective, redesigned front and rear fascias incorporate new lighting elements, the 17-inch alloy wheels have been redesigned and a larger 19-inch alloy wheel is offered on the top model. Inside, the centre rack, gearshift, instrument clusters, and soft-touch surfaces all feature a redesigned look. Other available features now include panoramic sunroof. The Sorento offers a number of powertrain options including an available 2.4 litre, four-cylinder, engine that provides class-leading horsepow-

COMPETITION

Accounting, finance students compete in inter-college events Times News Service RUSAYL: One hundred participants from 10 major colleges competed in the first inter-college competition dedicated to accounting and finance students in Oman to showcase their knowledge and their spirit for competitiveness about finances.

The event was organised by the business club in the department of management studies from Middle East College (MEC) which was inaugurated by Mohammad Jawad bin Hassan bin Suleiman, Adviser at the Ministry of Finance.

Munawar Hamed, head of marketing and public relations at Oman College of Management and Technology, said: “This event, at an intercollegiate level, is the first of its kind in the history of higher education in Oman, especially in the field of accounting and finance.”

The venue saw countless numbers of accounting and finance students attending as well as heads of departments and staff from accounting and finance departments which were there to witness 26 teams compete for the top spot.

“No such event has taken place in the history of Oman and the

idea of assembling staff and faculty of different colleges for academic purpose, from such large number of colleges, is a major contribution from MEC,” said Munawar, knowledge ambassador at Knowledge Oman, director of education at ISACA Muscat chapter, academic advocate ISAC for Oman college, as well as a faculty of accounting and finance in Oman College of Management and Technology. A group of students at MEC delivered accounting lessons to the audience through an orchestra which was directed by the chief organiser,

BLOOD DONATION

Udaya Sabarish, that happened to be the highlight of the evening.

“This type of events provides a platform for students and faculty members to interact with diverse peers. There’s need for such events to be organised among the higher educational institutions in Oman,” said Jyotikumar Chandel, head of business studies department, Waljat College.

Waljat College, Musannah College of Technology and Ibri College of Technology won the first, second and third prizes, while the other competing teams were also rewarded for their efforts.

Muscat Gujarati Samaj, Gujarati Wing of Indian Social Club, Muscat, recently organised the annual blood donation drive at temple hall, Darsait. A total of 89 people came forward to donate the blood voluntarily. — Supplied photo

er. The analysts were impressed with the Sorento engine’s responsiveness and noted the availability of another powertrain including a 3.5-litre, V6 providing 277 horsepower.

Kia’s Caravan is an experience on wheels that has long registered its significance in the hearts and minds of the people of Oman. Every year its very mention springs emotions that encourage one to look forward to its arrival in various towns, as with it come a whole lot of opportunities to celebrate, have fun, test drive Kia’s latest models and also win prizes!

Reliable International Automotive (RIA), the distributor for Kia in Oman, provides a rewarding ownership experience for customers. Excellent product attributes and unmatched facilities easily ensure their absolute satisfaction, every mile of the way. No wonder then that Reliable International Automotive has been ranked amongst the top Kia distributors worldwide and has been honoured with prestigious accolades including the ‘Good Partnership award, ‘Family Like Care’ Service award’, and ‘Kia ‘Distributor of Distinction’ award.

MUSCAT: Pizza Hut has launches the ‘Mighty Feast’, a supersized promotion that offers ‘Super Extra Large Pizza’ for the same price as a ‘Large Pizza Hut Pizza’. This first-time ever promotion, a one of a kind 18-inch pizza, will run till July 31, says a press release.

The ‘Mighty Feast’ introduces the ‘Super Extra Large Pizza’, which is 5 inches bigger than the 13-inch Large Pizza.

“We have truly gone all out on this promotion as we wish this pizza experience to be a ‘feast to the senses’ of our valued customers. Due to our innovative propositions in the past our customers have come to expect the unexpected from us, and we believe that this new pizza will indeed deliver a deliciously pleasant surprise to them,” stated Yogesh Shah, general manager, Khimji Restaurant Division.

The sheer size of the pizza establishes that it’s going to be a party in the mouth. Customers can choose from a range of toppings, namely, Garden Fresh, Exotica, Super Supreme, Hawaiian, Spicy Hot, Pepperoni, Hot ‘n’ Sweet. This super-sized pizza is also available with Chicken Fajita, Chicken Pesto, Prawn, Seafood Island and the classic Margherita versions.

The ‘Mighty Feast’ introduces the ‘Super Extra Large Pizza’, which is 5 inches bigger than the 13-inch Large Pizza. The sheer size of the pizza means customers will have more value without having to pay extra

“The ‘Super Extra Large Pizza’ is designed to be a meal in itself, one that pizza lovers can share with their family and friends.

Not only is this an interesting innovation from Pizza Hut but the price point is also highly attractive. We are offering our customers more value without having to pay anything extra, as the 18-inch pizza matches the price of a large pizza,” stated Vivek Pande, CEO, Khimji Ramdas Lifestyle Group.

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W EDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

ROUND-UP Turtle nesting adds to charm of Sharqiyah during summer Times News Service

The city of Sur and its surroundings assume more importance because of other tourist attractions such as Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid, etc

SUR: With the turtle nesting season already on, tourists’ interest in the Al Sharqiyah coast, a 42km beach, will obviously soar.

The region is known to be the nesting ground for the prized green turtles. Thousands of turtles migrate to lay eggs during the period from May to September, making Al Sharqiyah coast probably the most important nesting ground on the Indian Ocean, where the public can watch the nesting process.

The city of Sur and its sur-

roundings assume more importance because of other tourist attractions such as Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid and Wahiba Sands, to name a few.

“Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the award-winning

Desert Nights Camp at affordable prices. The Desert Nights Camp is the only luxury camp in Oman which has been rated as one of the World’s Top 10 Desert Retreats as well as one of Top 6 Desert Camps in the World,” said an official of

Oman Hotel and Tourism Company that manages Sur Plaza Hotel and the Desert Nights Camp.

The Sur Plaza Hotel and the Desert Nights Camp have various attractive accommodation packages on half board basis combining turtle watching, water sport activities in Sur; and dune bashing, quad bike riding and many other desert activities in the Wahiba Sands.

One special attraction of the package is designed especially for families with the inclusion of maximum of two kids up to 12 years staying free, sharing parents’ bedding.

SME DEVELOPMENT

Bank Muscat workshop evokes strong response MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, recently hosted a workshop on franchising for entrepreneurs at the head office.

The workshop, which evoked strong response from existing and prospective entrepreneurs, was organised by al Wathbah, Bank Muscat’s SME department, as part of activities aimed at expanding and strengthening avenues for SME development in Oman, says a press release.

Expert trainers from Potential. com, a pioneer in educational technology and a leading provider for life-long learning across emerging markets, led the workshop to familiarise participants

with key aspects of franchising.

Topics covered at the session included benefits and advantages of franchising, profile of a successful franchisor, understanding the best time to franchise a brand,

learning how to select a franchise etc. which are integral for preparing a franchising environment and landscape for SMEs in Oman.

Ilham Al Hamaid, AGM – SME Credit, Marketing and Regional

Corporates, said: “Bank Muscat regularly organises workshops and seminars to facilitate unique learning opportunities to address the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and thereby create an environment favourable for SME success. Over the years, Bank Muscat has launched several initiatives as part of its commitment to SME development in Oman.

“Serving as building blocks for entrepreneurs, these initiatives assume importance in the backdrop of the priority accorded by the government to develop the SME sector in Oman. Aimed at strengthening the SME sector and creating a successful generation of entrepreneurs, al Wath-

bah is committed to facilitating such unique opportunities for entrepreneurs.”

Speaking about the programme, Bassem Banna, Regional Sales & Partnerships Manager – MENA of Potential.com, said: “SMEs and entrepreneurs play a crucial role in creating sustainable growth and leading economic and social development. Entrepreneurs face significant challenges to building successful ventures and creating value for the wider community. Our partnership with Bank Muscat and al Wathbah Academy will stimulate the development, growth and innovation for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Oman.”

REACHING OUT

Bank Nizwa holds roadshow to raise awareness on Islamic finance MUSCAT: To empower communities with the knowledge and understanding on the benefits of Shari’a-compliant banking, Bank Nizwa recently started a roadshow to reach out to people at main shopping destinations across Muscat, before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Qualified representatives of the Retail Banking Department are meeting people on-the-go to explain the bank’s diverse valueadded solutions and how customers can utilise them to acquire homes, automobiles and other personal financing needs, says a press release.

The Bank Nizwa team kickedoff the roadshow from the Muscat Grand Mall, offering invaluable advice and sharing brochures of the bank’s product portfolio to help people lead financially secure lifestyles. Among other locations, the campaign’s next stop is the City Center Muscat at Seeb.

C E L E B R AT I O N S

PROMOTION

Al Araimi all set to host ‘Family Weekend Bazaar’ MUSCAT: The ‘Family Weekend Bazaar’ at the Al Araimi Complex this weekend will offer its customers a chance to win exciting prizes and participate in daily raffle draws where a winner will walk away with a stylish iPhone 6 which is up for grabs.

Al Araimi Complex, one of Oman’s premier and long standing shopping destinations, is hosting a ‘Family Weekend Bazaar’ for three days starting tomorrow till Saturday featuring an array of in-store activities at various outlets in the complex, says a press release.

Al Araimi continues to be a major attraction for fashion enthusiasts and brand conscious shoppers as it offers a plethora of choices when it comes to international brands in lifestyle and luxury as well as top local brands. Spanning

an area of 15,000sq. m, the mall has been popular for some of its international food chains, contemporary coffee shops, banks, etc and most of all the parking lot can accommodate over 1,000 vehicles.

Raffle draws The weekend bazaar will also include daily magic shows and visitors will have the opportunity to participate in exciting raffle draws where one lucky winner will be picked daily. The winners will walk away with a stylish iPhone 6. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy music and other games along with spot prizes to be won instantly.

A senior spokesperson from Al Araimi management said: “Al Araimi Complex will set a new benchmark for visitor experience

C O R P O R AT E JOU R N E Y

ACADEMICS

Orpic organises roadshow campaign MUSCAT: Orpic Roadshow campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness across the Sultanate about who Orpic is, what Orpic does and, importantly, how Orpic contributes to the Omani economy, started in Buraimi and has also visited Al Batinah – with many more community visits planned over the coming months.

Following the 2011 integration that led to the formation of Orpic, a clear vision and strategy for growth was established. Today, Orpic shares that journey with the community, via the Orpic Roadshow campaign, says a press release.

Dr Hilal Al Hinai - GM Corporate Support Services, explained that since 1982, Orpic has been adding value to Oman’s natural resources and fuelling the domestic market, and it’s time to share our story.

“When we established Orpic, we wanted to build an Omani integrated refining and petrochemical business we are proud of. But that pride should not stop with Orpic employees – all Omanis should be proud of the success we have achieved. Over the years, Orpic has grown and provided numerous opportunities to Oman, including employment and training for Om-

offering continuous promotions, festivals and celebrations that add value to their lifestyle. The weekend bazaar promotion will appeal to shoppers looking for various products and services, with a bonus chance to win exciting giveaways and an iphone 6.”

There will be several kiosks featuring products from a varied range of jewellery, clothes, food, etc. at various locations within the complex where visitors and families will get to enjoy individual offers and benefits. They will also get to enjoy free popcorn and face painting too.

Al Araimi Complex demonstrates its commitment in sustaining the ever-changing demands of their fashion conscious patrons by showcasing leading brands around the globe.

anis. Our current projects underway will further bolster our contribution to the local community, small businesses, and the nation as a whole by increasing our production and product diversity.”

Orpic’s corporate journey to ‘achieve, enhance and grow’ is underpinned by three major refining, petrochemicals and infrastructure growth projects underway.

“The Orpic story is about our nation and how with vision and drive, anything is possible. We want to share this story by visiting Omani communities in the hope to inspire Omanis to become part of our story,” Al Hinai concluded As one of the biggest companies in the region, Orpic recognises that it has an important role to play in the current and future success of the community.

SIS graduates its KG students SALALAH: Salalah International School (SIS) celebrated its fifth graduation ceremony for the kindergartn students. The chief guest for the occasion Dr Amal Ahmed Ajham Al Shahri, senior lecturer of marketing and quality management, was welcomed warmly and escorted to the auditorium along with Board of Directors, the principal and teachers, says a press release.

The event began ceremoniously with the National Anthem followed by the solemn recitation of the Holy Quran

by Seif Adil Abu Bakar Omar Mahfoodh Alshikh. This was followed by a cordial welcome extended by the young orators of the kindergarten including Fatima Ali Tahir Shaikh Ahmed bin Zain, Areen Ahmed Omar Abdulaziz Al Rawas and Beshr Anwar Aleissa in Arabic, English and French respectively. A rich banquet of cultural treat for the parents was all set to go. The ceremony was celebrated in all its spirit and essence of the occasion. The young kindergartners received their certificates to progress on to the next stage of learning. An ambience of ambitions , hope and heartfelt wishes for the aspiring kindergartners dwelled upon all present there.

ISC Muscat conducts yoga event MUSCAT: Indian Social Club (ISC) Muscat, recently organised a day long event at the club’s multipurpose hall, which was a curtain-raiser yoga event to welcome the first International Day of Yoga (June 21).

Saji Abraham, secretary badminton and facility enhancement, opened the event in the morning followed by free yoga sessions, yoga posture competitions, yoga consultation sessions and much more. A lot of yoga enthusiasts from different walks of life including senior citizens and specially abled children participated in the whole day programme, says a press release.

Yogacharya Prema Nagesh took the lead in conducting the event supported by Yogacharya Marxism Karki, Yogacharya Madhumati Nandakishor, Yogacharya Prema Arun and Yogacharya Katie Kriefall.

Cultural event The event concluded with a cultural show in the evening and the occasion was attended by J. S. Mukul, ambassador of India to Oman. ISC Chairman Dr Sathish Nambiar welcomed the guest. The vote of thanks was conveyed by Babu Rajendran, ISC general secretary.

Speaking on the occasion,

Mukul emphasised the relevance of yoga in today’s world.

He said that yoga helps one to make one’s individual life a pleasant experience.

“Government of India is planning to celebrate the First International Day of Yoga in all countries, including Oman,” announced Mukul.

Indian Embassy would be organising the First International Day of Yoga celebrations on June 21 at the embassy auditorium and he welcomed all to join and support this event. Prizes and mementos were given away

by Mukul as well as Dr. Sathish Nambiar to the winners.

LU C K Y D R AW

TSC awards two Chevrolet Cruze cars to winners of Spring Festival MUSCAT: The Sultan Center (TSC) gave away two Chevrolet Cruze vehicles in the final week of its Spring Festival campaign.

During the raffle finale that concluded the month long campaign, TSC put two lucky patrons Saed bin Salem Al Hadidi and Amir Ali Khlafan Al Mamari in the driver’s seat of the 2015 edition Chevrolet Cruze, says a press release.

Ziad Rayyan from TSC handed over the vehicles’ keys to the excited duo, congratulating them on their wins and hailing their continued patronage at TSC. Last month, the retail chain

launched its first ever Spring Festival inviting customers to enter into a lucky draw to win the latest edition of the Chevrolet Cruze on any purchase worth OMR10.

The winners were picked every Thursday for four consecutive weeks during raffle draws held at TSC’s Wholesale Centre in Al Khoud.

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

B7

ROUND-UP Lulu holds farewell for outgoing Indian envoy The ambassador acknowledged the wishes while recalling the pleasant relations he shared with Lulu

MUSCAT: J S Mukul, Ambassador of India to Oman, was given a fond farewell by the management and staff of Lulu Hypermarket Oman in the presence of Yusuff Ali M. A, managing director of Lulu Group, who conveyed his best

wishes to him.

The ambassador acknowledged the wishes while recalling the pleasant relations he shared with Lulu, says a press release.

“This year has been quite eventful for us. We have been guided by the ambassador, who has shown such enthusiasm in all that he does

and this is quite inspiring indeed.

He has rendered yeoman service during his tenure and has been an epitome of hard work.

“We are confident that his vision, values and leadership will greatly benefit the country he is assigned. In addition, the support of the Indian Embassy in all our

initiatives is something that we value. We believe that time will only strengthen the ties,” said Yusuff Ali. The ambassador recounted his association with the Lulu Group and reminisced his interaction with Lulu management and their dedication in providing a credible platform to the Indian products and services and also for the community support to the Indian Diaspora.

Lulu Oman is known to organize campaigns, promotions and events that continue to enthrall their diverse customers from various ethnicities. The trained staff, dedicated service and quality products have won the hearts of each of their customers. The regular festivals that celebrate each occasion, give all its customers an opportunity to experience something new every time they come to Lulu.

VA L U E D E A L S

Oman Air hails success of ‘Spring Sale’ MUSCAT: Oman Air has declared its Spring Sale, which ran between May 3 and May 7, a major success.

The campaign offered customers significant savings on both Business Class and Economy Class flights from Muscat to a wide range of destinations across the Middle East, Asia, East Africa and Europe, says a press release.

Mahfood Ali Al Harthy, chief officer, sales at Oman Air, commented: “Thousands of customers have benefited from Oman Air’s latest Spring Sale, which has met with very strong demand within the Sultanate. The discounts we offered represented outstanding value and were snapped up in record time. Customers who took advantage of this sale are now set to enjoy the ultimate in 21st Century air travel.

“Our rapidly-growing fleet of aircraft offer comfortable and spacious cabins and the latest inflight entertainment technology. These are complemented by our trade-

The campaign offered customers significant savings on both Business Class and Economy Class flights from Muscat to a wide range of destinations across the Middle East, Asia, East Africa and Europe mark Omani hospitality and delicious inflight dining. Furthermore, the convenience of services such as our online check-in, and the luxury of our airport lounges, make flying with Oman Air a joy.

“We are constantly creating new opportunities for our customers to experience our award-winning products and services. We look forward to announcing more great deals in the future, and to welcoming many more new customers to Oman Air.” The Spring Sale included many of Oman Air’s key destinations across the Middle East, Asia, East

Africa and Europe. Fares to Dubai fell as low as OMR39 for Economy Class seats. Meanwhile, bookings to Abu Dhabi, Manama and Tehran were available for OMR89 in Economy Class and OMR250 in Business Class. And flights to Amman, Beirut and Cairo were offered at just OMR99 per person in Economy Class and OMR300 in Business Class. A range of destinations in South Asia was also included within the sale.

These included Karachi for OMR79 in Economy Class and OMR250 in Business Class, with flights to Bengaluru, Goa, Colombo

RECRUIT

QUOTES Don’t limit yourself.

Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you.

What you believe, remember, you can achieve.

— Mary Kay Ash You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing and falling over.

— Richard Branson

and the Maldives all available for as little as OMR129 for Economy Class bookings and OMR400 for Business Class.

In South East Asia, Economy Class bookings to the premium destinations of Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta could be purchased for just OMR179, with Business Class seats offered for OMR550. And customers could make the most of flights to Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, in the East African nation of Tanzania, for as little as OMR149 in Economy Class, or OMR450 in Business Class.

Travellers to Europe were also able to make major savings, with flights to Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Milan and Zurich offering seats for only OMR169 in Economy Class, or OMR600 in Business Class.

All prices quoted are for return flights per person, and include taxes and surcharges. Whilst Spring Sale flights were available to buy only between May 3 and 7, travel could be taken as late as July 10.

CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT

Ooredoo leads the way in social media MUSCAT: With over 133,000 Twitter followers, 9,850 Instagram followers, 187,000 Facebook likes, 4,600 YouTube subscribers and 8,800 followers on LinkedIn, Ooredoo ranks number one among social media brands in terms of total follower base of local Omani fans in the Sultanate.

By keeping its finger on the pulse and staying in tune with customer needs and community trends, Ooredoo has become a market leader in social media and uses the channels to actively engage customers; turning followers into advocates and customers into brand ambassadors through innovative engagement initiatives and a whole load of passion, says a press release.

“It’s all about how a brand connects with its community and how it understands and delivers what customers want. Ooredoo‘s values are centred on caring for our customers, connecting with them and challenging ourselves to add value to their lives and this is where social media is key.

“The rise of various social platforms over the past few years has been astronomical and we have focused on building our presence in a unique way from the very beginning,” said Raed Dawood, Director of Corporate Affairs at Ooredoo.

Setting itself up to lead social media trends in the country, the company was one of the first in Oman to integrate social media into its customer service delivery methods and also the first telecom operator to introduce a payment portal through Facebook. It was also one of the first brands in the Sultanate to adopt new platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat to further engage with younger customers as well as showcasing Omani talent through its one-of-a-kind Instragram photography competition, which later became an exhibit in Muscat Grand Mall. Ooredoo was also behind the launch of the first national hashtag; #OurOman generating over 3,500 posts.

The company’s underlying goal is to inspire people from different walks of life to ‘do more’ and

‘be more’; to help people achieve their dreams.

Dawood added, “Social media is evolving every day and we intend to stay ahead of the curve by offering new and upgraded online customer experiences as they increasingly use social media to connect with their friends, family and communities.”

The CEO of The Online Project, Ooredoo’s partner in social media, said “From the outset our aim for Ooredoo was for the company to become number one in Oman on Social Media.

“But being number one in terms of followers is not the whole picture; being number one in customer service and engagement is the ultimate goal and we feel Ooredoo have achieved this, which sets them apart.”

Understanding the nature of this dynamic mode of communication, Ooredoo has not only focused on its customers but has also trained its employees on the latest in social media through internal workshops, teaching family members the tips and tricks to best capitalise on, and use, these influential channels.

Social media has also played a key role in Ooredoo’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, building a network of supporters during the Goodwill Journey using ‘live tracking’ and by keeping the community well-informed of developments.

B8

W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

ROUND-UP

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Omantel bags MENA Excellence Award in employee engagement Winning this award is a result of Omantel human resources strategy in the employee engagement aimed at enriching the work environment to enhance employee engagement with an aim to achieve success

MUSCAT: Omantel has achieved another impressive milestone by winning the MENA Excellence Award in Employee Engagement which was presented recently at a special gala in Dubai.

The award, organised by Naseba, is given to companies that meet stringent criteria’s within the areas of human resources. The criteria including the endeavours made by the company to develop its human resources, staff engagement, efforts to develop the skills and expertise of the employees as well as the innovative initiatives to enhance the human resources function on the whole.

Winning this award is a result of Omantel human resources strategy in the employee engagement aimed at enriching the work environment to enhance employee engagement with an aim to achieve success, says a press release.

Delighted Seif Sultan Al Abri, senior manager, Employee Engagement at

Omantel HR Unit, expressed his joy and pride on achieving the award, and said: “We at Omantel are delighted to win this award.

We are proud to be selected as one of the best companies in the area of human resources. This award comes as recognition of the several initiatives and future plans of the company to enhance and enrich employee engagement.”

ACCOLADE

“Over the past years, Omantel has adopted a new strategy towards the augmentation of employee engagement which focuses on enhancing communication and improved interaction among its staff. It also provides an environment that encourages teamwork to achieve the shared goals and objectives. Employee engagement is one of the critical game changers PA R T N E R S H I P

of our overall organisational strategy,” he added.

Al Abri affirmed that winning this award raises the bar of expectations from the company.

“This shall require us to continuously strive to enhance positive work culture and provide ideal platforms to staff for enhancing their skills and capabilities,” he added.

Over the past years, Omantel has successfully implemented a number of initiatives that aim at boosting communication, interaction and team spirit among employees such as Omantel Talents which aimed to identify and nurture talent among Omantel employees and their families.

Omantel Olympics is another of such initiative which is first of its kind in the Sultanate by a private organisation, aimed at developing sport activates among Omantel employees. Omantel also promoted a programme focusing on longserving staff and employees who have exceptional skills based in the different part of the Sultanate.

The programme encourages staff to identify ways that can develop their mental and physical skills.

Employee Engagement at Omantel, led by the HR unit, encourages staff to take part at the different national, sports and religious occasions. To this end, the company organises a number of events within the company premises.

I N N O VAT I V E P L AT F O R M

Roumaan.com, VLCC launch fashion, health week in Oman

BankDhofar bags Best Mobile Banking Oman 2015 Award MUSCAT: In yet another milestone, BankDhofar has been named the ‘Best Mobile Banking Oman 2015” by the International Finance Magazine (IFM). The award recognises bank’s commitment to enrich its customers’ experience, employing state-of-theart technology and applying the best international practices in the banking industry.

The IFM Awards celebrates excellence and recognises individuals and organisations in the international finance industry that make a significant difference and add value.

The award shines a spotlight on those who make a contribution to raising the bar in the financial industry through activities that impact the global finance community, says a press release.

Faisal Hamad Al Wahaibi, chief retail banking officer, highlighted BankDhofar’s efforts to provide unique services that are available to customers through the bank’s Mobile Banking channel.

“Embracing creativity and innovation, BankDhofar continues to lead with technology and introduces the most innovative banking solutions. We have successfully launched a wide variety of banking services that are accessible to our customers wherever they are through our Mobile Banking app.

We invest in innovative technol-

ogy and pledge to deliver the best services that are exclusively designed to fulfil the needs of our valued customers and meet their expectations,” he noted.

Value-added services The award comes in recognition of BankDhofar’s instant mobile banking services that are fast, simple, direct and super convenient.

Customers can enjoy value-added services that are available at the palm of their hands, such as instant connection to accounts and cards details, instant payment of utility bills and mobile top-up options, instant credit cards dues payment, location of nearest ATM, CDM and branch, instant money transfer to any third party’s account within BankDhofar, updated currency exchange rates, instant update on promotions and new products and services.

The mobile app also allows customers to view account details and check the balance in all their accounts, view last 10 transactions (mini-statement), view up to 150 transaction under statements with opening and closing balances.

The flagship Cardless Cash Transfer exclusive service allows BankDhofar customers to use their mobile phones as an ATM card where they can have access to their accounts and withdraw cash from any BankDhofar ATM.

Aspiring to be the best bank in the Gulf, BankDhofar has directed all its efforts and resources towards these objectives.

Today it is considered one of the best banks in the region, catering for customers’ needs and requirements, and setting the standards for the best customers experience within the banking industry in the Sultanate through creative solutions and innovation.

The combination of the thorough vision of BankDhofar’s executive management, the comprehensive operational strategy that revolves around following best international banking practices and providing best customer experience, as well as commitment to community development and contribution to the growth of the national economy, placed BankDhofar on top of the list of best banks in the region. Earlier, BankDhofar was nominated for the ‘Best Mobile E-Commerce Bank 2015’ by Global Banking & Finance Review in recognition of its commitment to provide the best banking experience through applying cuttingedge technology and following best international practices. The bank also bagged the Sultan Qaboos Award for Excellence in eGovernment 2014 for Best Mobile Service, and the Best Mobile Banking App 2014 by The Banker Middle East Awards.

MUSCAT: Roumaan.com, Oman’s first online retailer, and VLCC, a renowned wellness brand in the Middle East and South Asia, have partnered to launch a very unique online fashion and health week Roumaan.com is offering over 500 deals for online buyers during the fashion and health week that can be availed at www.roumaan.com/fashionweek. VLCC, a globally recognised holistic brand for health and beauty, is giving a voucher worth OMR35 to roumaan.com customers. A shopping discount of up to 75 per cent along with health and fitness services from VLCC is up for grabs on roumaan.com, says a press release.

“We are looking forward to this whole new concept and are excited to see that a lot of our customers will be enjoying wellness services at VLCC. “We also hope that this partnership grows and we establish a long term relation with VLCC,” said Aqeel Abdulmunam Lawati, Roumaan.com’s CEO. Customers may visit www. roumaan.com /fashionweek for more details. The Fashion Week, launched yesterday, will continue till May 31.

NBO’s ‘Souq’ sales campaign kicks off MUSCAT: National Bank of Oman has begun its annual ‘Souq’ sales campaign as it continues to connect with customers across the Sultanate. Two events have been held So far at Lulu Hypermarkets in Ghubra and Al Burj.

The honorary guests of Ghubra and Al Burj Souqs were Khalifa Al Abri, acting CEO of Public Authority of SME Development and Sheikh Ibrahim bin Yahya Al Rawahi, Wali of Seeb. These events are scheduled to tour all parts of the Sultanate, says a press release.

The ‘NBO Souq’ is an innovative platform to serve existing

customers around the Sultanate while showcasing the bank’s full offering to potential clients, with exclusive offers and rewards.

The bank’s direct sales team was available to assist customers with any enquiries they may have.

Customers can easily and instantly apply for loans, credit cards and even open an account at the Souq. Visitors can also avail a package of exclusive offers across a range of retail banking products. The ‘NBO Souqs’ will be held regularly throughout the year with the third event scheduled to take place at Safeer Mall in Sohar today and tomorrow.

S T R AT E G I C S P O N S O R

Bank Sohar supports OER Business Summit MUSCAT: Bank Sohar, a prominent institution in Oman’s financial sector, recently participated as the strategic sponsor of the OER Business Summit 2015, which was organised by United Media Services (UMS) in association with the Capital Market Authority (CMA), says a press release.

The forum, titled ‘Life at $50 per barrel’, explored the choices available to the government and the direction of the private sector in light of the current situation related to oil prices. Representing the bank in the event was Rashad Ali Al Musafir, the Acting CEO, who was also one of the panellists in the discussion session.

Held under the auspices of Sheikh Salim bin Mustahail Al Mashani, Adviser at the Diwan of Royal Court, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Business Summit brought together some of the best minds in business and select decision makers of the country to discuss and analyse various aspects of the current state of the Omani economy. The forum was attended by over 200 top-level officials from the public sector, heads of leading institutions, policy makers and corporate leaders; giving business leaders

in Oman an opportunity to deliberate on global issues and come up with localised solutions.

Commenting on the bank’s support and sponsorship of the event, Rashad Ali Al Musafir said, “We have been facing declining oil prices for some time now, and with our economy primarily dependent on oil, such a drop has a definite impact on the local market. It is essential that a proactive approach is taken to face such impact. The key decision makers and business leaders in Oman need a forum such as the OER Business Summit 2015 to debate such issues that have an impact on business and economy as a whole, and develop innovative strategies that are essential

to maintaining a sustainable and robust economy.”

Thanking Bank Sohar for their support, Sandeep Sehgal, chief executive officer, United Media Services, said: “I would like to thank Bank Sohar for supporting and coming on-board as the strategic partner of the OER Business Summit 2015. Being one of the leading banks within the financial sector, Bank Sohar recognises the value and importance of such events and the effects it can have on the economy as a whole based on the outcomes of the debates. It was an honour to have Rashad Ali Al Musafir as one of the key panellists at the event and gaining his insight into the repercussions of sliding oil prices.”

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SPOR YOUR GAME

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HISTORY-MAKER BAYLISS SET ET FOR ASHES BAPTISM OF FIREE Strong, silent and one of cricket’s quiet achievers, Trevor Bayliss may need that stoicism to accompany all his expertise when he becomes the first Australian coach to take charge of England in an Ashes series. >C3

No alarms for Nadal, easy for Djokovic Eugenie Bouchard became the highest seed to fall when the number six, the golden girl of 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final after making the semis in Paris, slumped 6-4, 6-4 to French girl Kristina Mladenovic

PARIS: The Eiffel Tower was still standing, the River Seine was flowing away to the sea and the traffic still clogged the Peripherique — and Rafa Nadal still ruled Roland Garros on Tuesday.

To all intents and purposes it was just a normal day at the French Open then as Nadal clocked up victory number 67 in western Paris since debuting in 2005.

It felt a little different though as the soon-to-be 29-year-old walked on to Court Phillipe Chatrier -- the rectangle of red clay that has been the stage for his nine titles in a decade of unprecedented domination.

Such has been Nadal’s malaise this year, with claycourt defeats piling up from Monte Carlo to Rome, that the Spaniard arrived in Paris only second favourite to claim a record-extending 10th title. Tasked with providing the first test of Nadal’s supposed fragile confidence was French teenager Quentin Halys, a wildcard making his grand slam debut. He did just that, pushing 14-times grand slam champion Nadal hard at times before succumbing 6-3, 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal often takes time to get fully into his stride at Roland Garros, so Tuesday’s one hour 50 minute workout offered few clues as to the health of his game. His racket was

WINNING START: Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a shot to Jarkko

Nieminen of Finland during their men’s singles match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros. – Reuters

equipped with computer technology meaning he can download statistics later for further analysis.

But the sixth seed will already know that he will have to rediscover his best form to win the title, having been placed in the same half of the draw as world number one Novak Djokovic and third seed Andy Murray.

Tournament favourite Djokovic, like Nadal, waited two days for his opening round match but quickly found his stride with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 defeat of Finnish veteran Jarkko Nieminen.

If Nadal was nervous, one can only imagine the thoughts going through the mind of 18-year-old Halys. He dropped his opening service game but was clearly not intimidated, striking the ball with real menace and occasionally having Nadal scrambling around behind the baseline.

Another service game went begging when he served three doublefaults but Halys broke Nadal’s serve in the sixth game, prompting loud cheers from a crowd who revere the champion but adore a homegrown youngster taking it to one of the greats. If the result was never in doubt, Nadal still looked relieved when he clinched victory on his first match point.

While professing himself pleased with the level of his game after failing to win a European claycourt event this year, Nadal sounded a little wistful when commenting on a brash and fearless display from Halys -- one of seven teenagers in the draw. “He risked on every single ball,” he said.

Earlier Nadal’s compatriot David Ferrer, the seventh seed, bustled into the second round with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 win against Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko while U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic hammered Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Ferrer, runner-up in 2013, joins Nadal as only the second active player to win 300 claycourt matches. Not that he was celebrating.

Eugenie Bouchard became the highest seed to fall when the number six, the golden girl of 2014 when she reached the Wimbledon final after making the semis in Paris, slumped 6-4, 6-4 to French girl Kristina Mladenovic.

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, beat Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 while fourth seed Petra Kvitova beat New Zealander Marina Erakovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki made short work of Italy’s Karin Knapp, the fifth seed winning 6-3, 6-0. - Reuters

FRENCH OPEN

Serena strolls past Czech qualifier Andrea Hlavackova

CRUISING: Serena Williams reacts during the women’s singles match

against Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic. – Reuters

PARIS: Twice former champion Serena Williams made a low-key start to her French Open campaign with a 6-2 6-3 victory over Czech qualifier Andrea Hlavackova on Tuesday.

The world number one, eyeing a 20th grand slam singles title, raced into a 3-0 lead but was givenm a decent workout after that by a player she beat 6-0, 6-0 in their only previous meeting, three years ago at the U.S. Open.

Hlavackova broke the mighty Williams serve in the fifth game, but the first set was otherwise mostly one way traffic as the American unloaded some heavy groundstrokes under grey skies on a cool day on court Philippe Chatrier.

Williams, who has already bagged the Australian Open title this year, last won the title in Paris in 2013 and has reached the quarter finals or better eight times, although she crashed out in round two last year to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.

Arch rival and defending champion Maria Sharapova, also looking for a third Paris win, awaits at the other end of the draw for a potential final.

Older sister Venus went out on Monday to fellow American Sloane Stephens. - Reuters

PERFECT BEGINNING: Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves to France’s Quentin Halys during the men’s first

round at the Roland Garros. – AFP

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SPORTS Tendulkar impressed with Rohit’s captaincy He (Rohit Sharma) has gone through a lot of ups and downs as MI’s captain and has faced a lot of challenges Sachin Tendulkar

Mumbai Indians mentor

Rohit Sharma took over the Mumbai Indians during IPL 2013 and led them to the title that year. He was once again at the helm when they won the 2015 edition after beating Chennai Super Kings in the final

KOLKATA: Former cricketer and Mumbai Indians icon Sachin Tendulkar has heaped praise on the IPL champion team’s skipper Rohit Sharma, saying that he has grown as a leader over the years.

“If you compare him today with what he was when he started out as

Mumbai Indians captain, he is a far better captain today. He is much more confident now. He has gone through a lot of ups and downs as MI’s captain and has faced a lot of challenges. These challenges only make you a better cricketer and a tougher person,” Tendulkar said.

Rohit led from the front in the final of IPL against Chennai Super Kings, scoring a half-century and putting on 119 runs with Lendl Simmons (68) to help Mumbai Indians post a massive 202 for five, and eventually win the trophy with a 41-run victory.

“I think his execution has been particularly good this season.

Whatever we planned in the meetings and dressing room, he has been able to execute them very well. You can tell a lot about the captain from the feedback the bowlers give you. The bowlers bowl in the areas and execute the plans that the captain asks them to,” Tendulkar told iplt20.com.

“We can plan many things behind closed doors but it is up to the captain, the bowlers and the fielders to bring it all together. Rohit has done that well,” he insisted.

Tendulkar termed Mumbai In-

dians’ amazing turnaround this season, after four straight losses, as “fantastic!”.

“We had a difficult start, really tough one. But those are the testing moments. That’s when the team stuck together and we worked hard. This victory is not a coincidence; it is the reflection of all the hard work that we have put in,” said the legendary batsman.

“All of us truly believed that we could change things around. It is not how you start but how you finish that matters,” he added.

The 42-year-old legendary batsman said his team never lost the faith and belief even when they were losing back-to-back matches.

“What stood out for me was the belief and faith we had in our ability.

At no stage any player was ready to put his head down thinking this is a difficult season and there is no future for us. We always saw the light at the end of the tunnel,” Tendulkar said.

The retired Indian batsman said former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who currently coaches Mumbai Indians, still has the same approach to the game as in his playing days.

“When we played against him,

he always came across as a serious, fearless competitor who never wanted to give up. The same applied here. At no stage did he feel that we are out of the tournament. We need positive people with good experience around, and Ricky doesn’t lack in any of those departments.”

Applauding Simmons, who seems to have solved the opening conundrum for Mumbai Indians, Tendulkar said, “I thought he batted beautifully throughout the tournament. He has been very consistent. I also felt that the other players played really well around him. He was the anchor of our team and because of him all the other players had the freedom to go and express themselves.”

Asked which Mumbai Indians players were the find of this edition of IPL, Tendulkar said: “Some of the guys that played for MI for the first time this season did extremely well for us. The likes of J Suchith and Hardik Pandya were very impressive. Also, Vinay Kumar — I know he is an experienced campaigner. “I thought he didn’t start out very convincingly but he finished brilliantly. He peaked at the right time,” he concluded. — PTI

SMARTEN UP DRIVE SAFE

A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

WEST INDIES SQUAD

Record not good enough reason to keep Chanderpaul, says Clive Lloyd BRIDGETOWN: Chief selector Clive Lloyd says allowing Shiv Chanderpaul to continue playing in order to surpass Brian Lara as the highest run-getter in West Indies cricket was not a good enough reason to retain the veteran left-hander.

Chanderpaul was on Sunday axed from the West Indies squad for next month’s two-Test series against Australia, a decision that is likely to end the player’s illustrious 21-year, 164-Test career with him 87 runs shy of overtaking Lara’s 11,953.

He has scored 11,867 runs at an average of 51, with 30 Test centuries, reports CMC. “We’ve taken that into consideration but that should never be the sole reason why you want to choose somebody,” said the legendary former West Indies captain.

“As you may notice, he has been given quite a lot of games to probably try and get close to that and he hasn’t looked the part that’s why we’ve decided that now is the time to change.”

In explaining Chanderpaul’s axing, Lloyd said the player had experienced a “rapid decline”, averaging just 16 from his last 11 innings. And with the Guyanese already in the twilight of his career at age 40, Lloyd said the panel had also taken a decision to infuse the team with younger players.

Even if Chanderpaul extended his first class career, Lloyd said the focus would remain on developing younger players.

“If he decides to continue, people have done that before.

They’ve not been selected but they’ve continued to play first

NO SUPPORT: Shiv Chanderpaul.

class cricket. Our aim as selectors is to continue to play our young players and give them that exposure and you can’t get better exposure than playing against one of the best teams in the world, probably the second best team in the world (in Australia),” Lloyd explained.

“They will be tested and that’s what it’s all about. Going forward, we want to play our youngsters and a lot of them are doing well and we feel now is the time to give them that exposure.”

Lloyd said they were several young hopefuls knocking on the door like Shai Hope, wicketkeeper-batsman Shane Dowrich and Tyrone Theophile.

The 21-year-old Hope made his debut in the third Test against England, scoring five and nine, as West Indies pulled off a series levelling five-wicket victory.

Dowrich, who averages 35 in first class cricket, and Theophile, who averages 27, are both in the President’s XI squad to face Australia in a three-day game which bowls off Wednesday in Antigua. — IANS

COACH’S VIEW

Chanderpaul ‘not treated shabbily, does not fit in’ BRIDGETOWN: New West Indies head coach Phil Simmons says veteran batsman Shiv Chanderpaul did not “fit in” with the squad to face Australia in the two-Test series next month, and does not believe that his exclusion means he has been shabbily treated.

The 40-year-old Chanderpaul was on Sunday axed from a 12-man squad named for the Australia series, despite boasting 11,867 runs at an average of 51, with 30 Test centuries. Simmons said selectors did not see it fitting to pick Chanderpaul simply to offer him a farewell series, reports CMC. “He has had a long and illustrious career and we know he’s done a lot for West Indies cricket but at the same time when we sit down to select a team, we sit down to select a team to win a game against Australia, and to play the two Tests in the series against Australia,” Simmons said.

“When we went through the process, he didn’t fit in so it’s not about giving someone two Tests to finish their career, it’s about picking the best team to play the next game.”

Simmons, along with selection chief Clive Lloyd, defended Chanderpaul’s axing, contending the Guyanese left-hander’s form had declined rapidly.

Chanderpaul averaged 48 when New Zealand toured the

Caribbean for three Tests last year and then plundered 270 runs in two Tests against Bangladesh last September without being dismissed. However, he has managed just 183 runs from his last 11 innings in series against South Africa and England, prompting selectors to overlook him.

Responding to suggestions Chanderpaul had been shabbily treated, Simmons said it was now for the West Indies Cricket Board to properly reward the long-serving batsman for his years of service.

“It depends on what you consider to be shabby. Players before were not recognised and lauded for their performances. But to say you have to play two Test matches for me to laud your performances over 164 (Tests) doesn’t make sense,” Simmons argued.

“It is a case where we need to acknowledge and laud his performances over the years by acknowledging it. There are other ways of acknowledging what he’s done for West Indies cricket and that’s in the process now with the Board, of doing things to acknowledge that this is what he’s done for West Indies cricket over the past 20 years.”

West Indies face Australia in two Tests, the first starting at Windsor Park in Dominica on June 3 and the second bowling off at Sabina Park in Jamaica on June 11. - IANS

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SPORTS COOL MAN

Farbrace keeps things simple for England

History-maker Bayliss set for Ashes baptism of fire B AY L I S S FA C T B O X

LONDON: Interim England coach Paul Farbrace emphasised the fun factor after leading his team to a thrilling 124-run victory over New Zealand in the first test on Monday.

With England poised to appoint Australian Trevor Bayliss as coach in time for the Ashes series starting in July, Farbrace looked back with great satisfaction on his team’s performance at Lord’s. “It’s been a great day,” he told a news conference. “It’s fitting that it went as long as it did. Full credit to both teams.”

England bowled out New Zealand for 220 on the last day to clinch victory after a magnificent game that fluctuated wildly over five days. “I’ve tried not to do anything differently,” said Farbrace, who was put in temporary charge of the side following the sacking of Peter Moores as coach this month.

“The key was to make it as normal as possible for the players and they have responded to that. We encouraged the lads to play good cricket and have fun and that’s what we have always tried to do. It’s been a continuation of what has been going on.

“It’s all very well about being a developing side but international sport is about the here and now and winning. There’s a lot of good players on the fringes and the people who leave the ground today will be excited about the English cricket team.”

Farbrace knows Bayliss well after working as his assistant coach with the Sri Lanka team.

“He’s an old-fashioned cricket coach, who likes working in the nets,” Farbrace said.

“He’s quiet but when he says something it counts. He’s a good man who is very knowledgeable.

He has experience all round the world. I want to be involved in the future, whatever the role is.” - Reuters

PLAYING CAREER A middle order batsman, he played 58 firstclass matches for New South Wales, scoring 3,060 runs at an average of 35.58. He scored five hundreds, 15 fifties, with his highest knock being 163. He took eight wickets as a part-time off spinner.

After 138 years of Anglo-Australian battles in one of the world’s greatest

COACHING CAREER Was in charge of Sri Lanka from 2007-11, guiding them to the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2009 and the 2011 World Cup. In his first season in charge of New South Wales, he guided them to the 2005 Sheffield Shield title. Repeated the feat during his second stint with the club in 2014. Coached Sydney Sixers when they won 2012 Big Bash League and 2012 Champions League In charge of Kolkata Knight Riders when they won the Indian Premier League in 2012 and 2014

sporting rituals, the 52-year-old Trevor Bayliss, appointed as England’s head coach on Tuesday, will find himself in a unique and challenging

OFF THE PITCH Was in Pakistan with the Sri Lanka cricket team when their buses were attacked in 2009 by gunmen in Lahore. The attack left six Pakistani policemen and a van driver dead while some players and a local umpire were injured.

position when the series begins in July

LONDON: Strong, silent and one of cricket’s quiet achievers, Trevor Bayliss may need that stoicism to accompany all his expertise when he becomes the first Australian coach to take charge of England in an Ashes series.

After 138 years of Anglo-Australian battles in one of the world’s greatest sporting rituals, the 52-year-old, appointed as England’s head coach on Tuesday, will find himself in a unique and challenging position when the series begins in July.

Bayliss comes on board at a propitious time for English cricket as it celebrates a potential turning point after a miserable run, with rejuvenated captain Alastair Cook and flamboyant all-rounder Ben Stokes inspiring a thrilling win over New Zealand at Lord’s on Monday.

Yet all that optimism could swiftly evaporate if, in the first test at Cardiff beginning on July 10, Australia swiftly continue their ascendancy over England following the 5-0 series whitewash in 2013-14 and a succession of oneday and T20 victories.

Indeed, the man who has been coaching New South Wales will be asked to help improve a shocking record which has seen England beat his home country just once in 18 matches in all forms of the game since September 2013.

It represents the toughest possible introduction to the job but there are plenty of luminaries who will attest to the New South Welshman being exactly the sort of calm, unfussy winner who will thrive in the Ashes cauldron.

“I know him well,” Shane Warne, the great Australian leg

spinner, told Sky Sports. “On all the reports, he’s done a wonderful job with the teams he’s coached, whether it be Sri Lanka, the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL (Indian Premier League), New South Wales, Big Bash.

“I think he’s more of a ‘background’ sort of coach, a bit like in the New Zealand camp. He’s not front and square all the time, but he’s not afraid to give a few rockets when they’re needed. He’s a good man, Trevor Bayliss, a really good man.

“He gets the best out of his team.

He is harsh but fair. He plays the game in the right spirit too. He likes to play an exciting brand of cricket.”

‘Exciting brand’ That new “exciting brand” was in evidence in the New Zealand test but it is also Bayliss’s exceptional

ROLE MODEL

Holder inspired by Dhoni’s leadership skills NEW DELHI: Young West Indies ODI captain Jason Holder feels that his stint at Chennai Super Kings was a well spent one as he learnt about the nuances of captaincy from none other than India’s limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

“MS is an influential figure.

In true sense, he is a leader and I found that during my stint with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. As a captain, I have always looked upto MS’s leadership qualities for inspiration,” Holder told PTI during an interaction.

Asked which qualities of Dhoni he would like to imbibe in his captaincy, Holder said,”The manner in which Dhoni handles pressure is exceptional. That is the reason he has achieved so much while leading a team with players from different countries. There is so much to learn from him.”

The 23-year-old Holder is one of three international captains that West Indies have currently.

While Holder enjoyed watching IPL from back home, he was happy playing the Test series against England during the window.

“I would only be too happy to be involved in IPL again but this time I had a different goal. I was trying to help the West Indies and solidify our position. At the international level, you will have good days and bad days but you need to have self-belief to perform,” said the tall all-rounder, refer-

HAILING THE INDIAN CAPTAIN: West Indies ODI captain Jason Holder says he always looked upto

MS Dhoni’s leadership qualities. – File photo

ring to his match-saving maiden Test hundred against England at Antigua. Holder was appointed captain last year during West Indies’ tour to South Africa replacing Dwayne Bravo and he said that he was neither weighed down by the pressures of the job nor by the presence of many senior players in the dressing room.

“During my first tour as captain to South Africa, my job was to assess the individuals. We needed to put some solid plans in place.

I needed to understand how as a team we react to certain situa-

tions. I was an U-23 captain and the situations provided me with a challenging experience,” said Holder, recollecting the experiences of his first tour as captain.

The youngster also insisted that the “change of role” hasn’t changed his equation with the senior players as he still shares a very cordial relationship with them.

Holder will be representing Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) but currently his whole focus is on the West Indies’ home series against

Australia, with the first Test starting in Roseau on June 3.

“Right now, my entire focus is the Australia series and after that I will think about the CPL,” the allrounder made his priorities clear.

On the composition of the Tridents side that has players like Kieron Pollard, Justin Ontong, Shoaib Malik, Holder termed it as a “very balanced side”.

“It’s a side which has got good players and especially with guys like Pollard and Ontong, ours is a very good fielding unit,” said Holder. - PTI

record in one-day cricket that offers England hope that, after the shambles of the recent World Cup, he may be the man to help revolutionise their fortunes in the 50over and 20-over formats.

Bayliss’s CV is laden with trophies, particularly in the one-day game, with the World Cup being the one major title to elude him after he reached the final with Sri Lanka in 2011.

He has twice guided New South Wales to the Sheffield Shield in 2005 and 2014 and also won the ING Cup, Australia’s 50-over competition. Bayliss has won the IPL twice with Kolkata Knight Riders and led Sydney Sixers to the 2012 Big Bash title.

As the ECB’s Director of England Cricket, Andrew Strauss said on Tuesday: “Trevor has an outstanding record as coach, has glob-

al experience and is very highly regarded in the game.

“He has proved himself in both domestic and international cricket, has a strong reputation for man-management and has shown how to build winning teams in all three formats.”

A decent batsman with New South Wales himself, Bayliss played 58 first-class matches between 1985 and 1993.

He played alongside Steve Waugh, one of the great Australia captains, who was so impressed by Bayliss that, during his spell playing county cricket in England at Kent, he invited his old team mate to help with coaching duties.

Now Bayliss will be charged with spearheading England’s bid to regain the Ashes and masterminding a fourth successive home series win over his home country. - Reuters

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SPORTS

ALL SET: Sevilla is seeking the Europa League title as by winning they will become the first side to

SOME SOLACE: Dnipro’s players take part in a training session at the team’s training camp in Dnipro-

win the titke four times. – Reuters

petrovsk. – Reuters

Sevilla seek history against Dnipro Victory in the Europa

Soccer team’s Euro success lifts gloom in war-weary Ukraine

League final will help Sevilla make history and at the same time it would also secure direct qualification to next season’s Champions League having missed out by just a point to Valencia in the battle for fourth place in La Liga

WARSAW: Sevilla can become the first side ever to win four Europa League or Uefa Cup titles when the holders face a Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk side playing in their first major European final on Wednesday.

Moreover, victory would also secure direct qualification to next season’s Champions League having missed out by just a point to Valencia in the battle for fourth place in La Liga.

“The growth that the team has experienced is thanks to what we feel for the Europa League,” Sevilla boss Unai Emery told Uefa.com.

“It means something. The team want the fans to feel the vibrations that this competition gives us. We’ve achieved something that makes us bigger, it gives us prestige, it gives us a place in history and recognition in Europe for our hard work. We can’t deny that we have the chance to write history.

Of course we are grateful to have that chance, to be able to pursue this. We are aiming to achieve something with this team, with Se-

DNIPROPETROVSK: Eastern Ukrainian club Dnipro are unexpectedly poised for possible European soccer glory, lifting the gloom in their warweary country, at least for a while.

With fighting raging on the doorstep of its hometown of Dnipropetrovsk, the club had to travel 500 km (310 miles) to play their Europa League home matches in the capital, Kiev, away from their fans and often at near-empty stadiums.

That sapped morale early on, they say. But despite the odds, they have fought their way to the Europa League final on Wednesday against Spain’s Sevilla, and when they run onto the pitch in Warsaw they say they will have their compatriots on the front line in mind.

“These are hard times for our state and for us too. We are hoping our sporting achievement will inspire our heroes who are defending our country from the enemy,” Dnipro defender Artem Fedetsky told Reuters.

“We know the whole of Ukraine will be with us at the stadium. We will be playing for them,” head coach Myron Markevich said.

An industrial city of just under one million, Dnipropetrovsk has avoided being sucked into the war against Russian-backed

villa. It shouldn’t feel like pressure or stop us from executing our game plan against Dnipro. It will serve more as motivation, like a dream we can achieve.”

In contrast to the late goals and two penalty shootouts that led them to glory in last season’s Europa League, Emery’s men have been rampant this campaign losing just once in 14 games and scor-

STRATEGY TALK: Dnipro’s coach Myron Markevych speaks to Artem Fedetskiy during a training session at the team’s training camp in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. – Reuters

rebels, a conflict which has killed more than 6,200 people in just over a year.

It has seen an influx of refugees and is home to an important medical centre for treating military wounded, and has come to be regarded as a bulwark against the separatist threat affecting neighbouring big cities such as Donetsk.

Many attribute this to Ihor Kolomoisky, FC Dnipro’s billionaire owner and president, who bankrolled formation of a pro-government militia to stop early signs of separatist sympathies taking root.

He later fell foul of the proWestern authorities and was dumped as regional governor,

ing 26 goals in the process.

Dnipro’s unlikely road to Warsaw has been far more hard-fought as the Ukrainians have won just seven of their 16 matches in reaching the final.

However, having already upset the likes of Olympiakos, Ajax and Napoli, coach Myron Markevich is prepared for his side’s stiffest task yet in the Polish capital.

though his Privat banking group still holds FC Dnipro.

War gives an edge The main boulevard of Dnipropetrovsk, where acacias throw off a heady scent in the evening, is still called Prospekt Karl Marx — but probably not for much longer as a national programme for dropping Soviet name tags takes hold.

As in many Ukrainian cities, a monument to Soviet state founder Vladimir Lenin was taken down in the centre last year. The team had to fly back and forth to Kiev for qualifying matches after a ruling by soccer’s organising body Uefa that the Dnipro Arena stadium was

“We’ve studied Sevilla’s matches in the national championship and Europa League thoroughly,” Markevich said.

“They’re very strong opponents.

I consider Sevilla to be among Europe’s 10 strongest clubs.

“I expect a very hard encounter in Warsaw, but we want to show our best in the final.”

Dnipro maintained their hopes

too dangerous. “We had to play all our home matches in Kiev and the stands were practically empty and without the Eurocup feel that there should be,” said Fedetsky, 30. “But we gritted our teeth, fought on and eventually people got interested. At the game with Napoli there was a full stadium.”

The war has added an edge to the support Dnipropetrovsk has shown for the team.

“I have friends and friends of friends who are fighting. They have been drafted into the army or are in volunteer battalions.

We and our fanatical fans help them as best as we can,” Fedetsky said.

“The world should know

of Champions League qualification through the Ukranian league with a 3-2 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the weekend despite Markevich resting a number of key players ahead of the final.

Yet, they could be without striker Yevhen Seleznyov, who scored both goals in the 2-1 aggregate semi-final win over Napoli, as he is a doubt with a knee injury.

about our country and know that, despite the war, life goes on and that the entertainment of football is not foreign to us,” said Oleksander Moiseyenko, a 49-year-old shopkeeper in the city.

Dnipro’s success on the pitch has been the result of waiting for errors from their opponents and moving quickly to punish them. Their outstanding player is Yevhen Konoplyanka, 25, who expertly laid on the winning second goal to clinch a 2-1 win over Napoli in the semifinal.

Football pundits say it is unlikely that Dnipro will triumph against Sevilla, who captured the Europa League trophy last year against Portugal’s Benfica and have won 10 of their 14 Europa League matches this season.

By contrast, Dnipro’s record en route to the final has been seven victories and four defeats, with five matches drawn.

No matter what happens in Warsaw, the club will celebrate triumph over adversity.

“We (have) understood that, since things are not easy for our country just now, we should strive to do better in European Cup matches so that people can see in Europe and elsewhere that, though things are difficult for us now, football is still alive in Ukraine,” Markevich said. - Reuters

Other than long-term injury absentees Nico Pareja and Sebastian Cristoforo, Sevilla have a clean bill of health with Timothee Kolodziejczak and Vitolo expected to be fit despite missing Saturday’s 3-2 win at Malaga due to injury.

And the Spaniards could have the local fans on their side too with Polish international Grzegorz Krychowiak set to start in midfield. - AFP

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS Seeb square off against Al Shabab with eye on historic GCC crown dium on Tuesday, the Syrian said: “We made it to the finals through hard work and the team will not let this opportunity to lift the crown get out of our hands.”

“The players know that they will up against a strong side. But they are ready to give in their best,” Emad added.

The coach also said the team will go for an outright victory.

“We want a win and we will go for,” he said. “I think the team needs this title as a morale booster, especially after our recent relegation from the OPL.”

Though their domestic form has been poor — they have just been relegated from the OPL — Seeb have fought bravely throughout the GCC campaign. And now it is time to cap those performances with a historic title

Sports Reporter MUSCAT: All roads lead to Seeb Sports Stadium on Wednesday as the local outfit Seeb square off against Al Shabab of the UAE in the final of the 30th GCC Clubs Football Championship.

And one question that will be on the minds of all Omani fans — not just those heading to the venue but each and everyone sitting in front of the television sets across the nation, is: ‘Will Seeb be able to end Sultanate’s long wait for only their second GCC clubs football crown?’

It was 26 years ago, to be precise on August 22 in 1989, that Fanja brought home the coveted trophy for the very first time after overcoming Bahrain’s Al Muharraq 4-2 via penalties after a keenly contested final.

That historic triumph of Fanja is now part of Oman’s football folklore. In the intervening years, disappointingly for Omani football fans, no club from Oman has come close to achieving that feat.

All that may change in Wednesday’s final, scheduled to kick off at 7.30 pm, as Seeb are just a step away from seizing the trophy.

Though their domestic form has been poor to say the least — they have just been relegated from the Oman Football Association’s Oman-

BIG DAY: Seeb Club coach Emad Dahbour, second right, speaks during a press conference on the eve of their GCC Clubs Football Champi-

onship final against UAE’s Al Shabab at Seeb Sports Stadium on Tuesday. – ISMAIL Al FARSI/Times of Oman

NOT COMPLACENT: Al Shabab coach Luiz Carlos Saroli, right,

NEW ERA: GCC football organising committee official Mirza Ahmed,

speaks during the press conference.

centre, cuts the cake to mark the launch of GCC football website.

tel Professional League to the First Division — Seeb have fought bravely throughout the GCC campaign.

Now it is time to cap that impressive performances with one final push for the title.

And to emulate Fanja, Seeb can take inspiration from the national team that won the country’s maiden Gulf Cup at home.

The fans, putting besides club

allegiances and rivalries, will surely be rooting for Seeb — as they did for Oman’s golden generation footballers back in 2009 — and hopefully to the title.

But it’s the players who have to give their best on the field to seal the title.

Interestingly both Seeb and Al Shabab advanced to the final from the same Group B — the Sultan-

BEST INDIANS CUP CRICKET SEMIFINALS ON FRIDAY

Muscat Fighters, OEC, Bisya Club, Masters XI, Al Faisal, SS Friends and HCC entered the quartersfinals of the Best Indians Cup cricket tournament after some exciting action. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will be played on Friday. Results: Muscat Fighter 124/4 bt Golden Senden 65/5; Masters XI 100/6 bt Mangalorians 67/4; Bisya Club 131/7 bt FCC 92/2; Sialkot Stallions 169/2 bt Sinaw Blues 83/4; Sialkot Stallions 87/6 lost to HCC 90 for no loss. New XI 38 all out lost to Al Faisal 39/2. Dudes of Airmech 62/7 lost to OEC 63/5; Al Faisal 115/6 bt Cheers XI Mct 77/7. — Supplied photo

ate squad finishing second behind the UAE side.

And against Al Shabab, Seeb have more than one reason to do well — the regional rivalry as well as their defeats to the same opponents in the group stage.

In the two matches, Seeb managed to score just one goal in 1-3 and 0-4 losses. In the subsequent matches, however, Seeb played su-

perbly overcoming Al Jahra of Kuwait and Al Rayyan of Qatar.

Thanks to those performances, Seeb players are now in good shape and positive mood.

Coach Emaduddin Dahbour summed up Seeb players mood in simple words: “The team will not let this opportunity slip.”

Speaking at the pre-match press conference at the Seeb Sports Sta-

Key players out Seeb, however, will be missing three key players in the title showdown due to injuries and on disciplinary grounds.

The coach said: “Striker Osama Hadid is out because of two bookings he received in our previous match.

“We will also be missing midfielders Mohammed Ibrahim and Mohammed Al Dhamri, both of whom are injured and not fit to play the final.”

The Syrian, however, refused to reveal their replacements, saying “we have not finalised yet and will take the decision later.”

“But all the players are ready to give their best and lift the title,” the coach added.

Not complacent Al Shabab coach Luiz Carlos Saroli in his remarks said his team will not take the hosts lightly.

“We have been very clinical in our performances so far. The final is a different ball game and our players are not complacent,” the Brazilian said.

“We will not take Seeb lightly.

They are a very tough team They will also have home advantage.”

“But my boys are focussed and are ready for the match. Hopefully we will emerge the champions.”

Website launched Meanwhile, the Mirza Ahmed, General Secretary of the Organising Committee for GCC Football, announced the official launch of the GCC Clubs Football Championship webisite (gcc-football.com).

Mirza marked the occasion with a cake cutting ceremony during the press conference with both coaches joining in the celebrations.

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

SPORTS ASSARAIN FELICITATES THEIR OMAN CRICKET LEAGUE TITLE-WINNING CRICKET TEAM

Assarain organised a felicitation ceremony to honour the members of Assarain Cricket Team, who recently retained the Oman Cricket A Division League title. During the ceremony, held at the company’s Head Office, Ibrahim Said Al Wahaibi, Managing Director, congratulated the team and thanked the members for their contribution. A cake-cutting ceremony was held on the occasion in the presence of other top management officials, when the team members were presented with cash incentives. The management has also announced other incentives to the players. — Supplied photo

Premier tests won’t faze rising star Neil

GCC Blue beat GCC Red at Al Yam Enterprises Summer Cup tourney

overawed by anyone or any place.

I am not silly, I know how big the task is. But we have our goals once we get there about what to do.”

Just nine months ago, Neil was a virtual

I set goals and am really determined to achieve them. I don’t get overawed by anyone or any place

unknown outside the close-knit Scottish community of south Lanarkshire where he was starting his second full season

Alex Neil

in charge of

Norwich manager

minnows Hamilton

LONDON: Norwich manager Alex Neil is relishing the prospect of pitting his wits against the best of the Premier League after his remarkable rise reached a new high with promotion at Wembley.

Just nine months ago, Neil was a virtual unknown outside the closeknit Scottish community of south Lanarkshire where he was starting his second full season in charge of minnows Hamilton. The first match of Neil’s 2014-15 campaign, a Scottish League Cup victory for Hamilton against Arbroath in August, was watched by just 730 people.

But fast forward to May and Neil suddenly found himself the toast of an 85,000 capacity crowd at Wembley as jubilant Norwich fans hailed the 33-year-old Scot, who had just underlined his growing

CRICKET

reputation as one of the brightest young managers in Britain by masterminding his club’s 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final.

After leading Hamilton’s promotion to the Scottish Premiership via the play-offs last season, Norwich persuaded Neil to come south of the border to England’s second tier following the sacking of Neil Adams in January.

At that point Norwich were languishing outside the top six in the aftermath of last season’s relegation, but Neil, whose unremarkable playing career including stops at Airdrie, Barnsley, Mansfield and Hamilton, presided over an incredible run of 17 victories from 25 games which culminated in promotion thanks to first half goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond at Wembley.

Neil’s progress from the backwaters of Scottish football to the bright lights of the Premier League, combined with a fiery temper and determination to win at all costs, has already drawn comparisons with legendary former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

And, with a single-minded focus that Ferguson would surely approve of, Neil made it clear he wouldn’t feel inferior when he locks horns with the likes of Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger and Louis van Gaal next season.

“People have made a lot of the last year, telling me I was at Arbroath in front of 700 fans at the start of the season, but it is not a huge concern to me,” Neil said.

“I set goals and am really determined to achieve them, whether it is Hamilton or Norwich. I don’t get

KNEE INJURIES

Driven personality Neil’s success has prompted Norwich fans to nickname him ‘Sir Alex’ in reference to Ferguson, while the club’s majority shareholder, the television chef Delia Smith, jokes he should be knighted.

But Neil is adamant the plaudits won’t soften the fiercely competitive personality that has driven him to such great heights.

“The thing that drives me is letting people down. The fact that Norwich showed faith in me giving me the job, being so young, a lot was made of that. So I am pleased I have made everybody happy, that means more than anything else and we have sent those fans home happy.

“You see (majority-shareholder) Delia (Smith) on the pitch at the end and it’s special. It was about making sure my family is there enjoying the day because the last thing I would want to do is lose and go home with my kids crying.”

For Middlesbrough’s Spanish manager Aitor Karanka there was frustration at missing out on promotion but also pride that his team had enjoyed a strong season.

“I want to congratulate Norwich for getting promotion, but I am so proud of my players,” he said. “When I arrived 18 months ago the team was two points above relegation.

“When you make mistakes it is difficult to win games, but I prefer not to speak about the mistakes because we achieved a lot to play here at Wembley. We win as a team and we lose as a team.” - AFP

MAN OF THE MATCH: Siddarth Pradeep receives his award from

GCC coach Dilip Warkad. – Supplied photo

MUSCAT: GCC Blue recorded a one wicket victory over GCC Red in the Al Yam Enterprises Summer Cup Cricket Tournament organised by the Gulf Cricket Centre (GCC) for the under-15 players of their academy.

The first of the three-match series was played on Friday when the GCC Blue, afer winning the toss, decided to field first and went on to restrict the Red team to 127 for nine in 25 overs.

Arjun Rajesh was the top scorer for Red team with 27 runs while Obaidullah contributed 16 valuable runs.

For the Blue team, Prathik claimed three wickets while Ankit Rao and Siddharth Pradeep

bagged two wickets each. In reply, GCC Blue successfully chased the target scoring 128 runs for nine wickets in 17 overs.

Omar scored 20 runs while Siddharth and Sounak Kelkar contributed 18 and 12 runs respectively.

For the Red team, Arjun Rajesh, Moin Hussain and Satwik Mishra took wickets apiece.

Brief scores: GCC Red 127 for 9 in 25 overs (Arjun Rajesh 27, Obaidullah 16; Prathik 3/21, Ankit Rao 2/16, Siddharth Pradeep 2/19) lost to GCC Blue 128 for 9 in 17 overs (Omar 20, Siddharth 18, Sounak Kelkar 16; Moun Hussain 2/12, Arjun Rajesh 2/21, Satwik Mishra 2/18).

F I FA P O L L S

Prince Ali’s election team informs police of approach by individual offering ‘votes’

Workshop on sports injuries begins MUSCAT: A comprehensive workshop on management of knee injuries, being organised by the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) represented by the Sports Medicine Committee, was launched at

the Sports Medicine Centre of the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Fahd bin Abdullah Al Raisi, Director General of Welfare and Development at the Ministry of

Sports Affairs, presided over the opening ceremony.

Jihad bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, member of OOC Board, and a number of Olympic officials were present on the occasion.

ZURICH: Fifa presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s election team informed police after being approached by an individual who said he could deliver 47 votes at Friday’s election, they said on Tuesday.

The approach was made in April and the individual also offered to provide “what appeared to be illegally obtained” information relating to the financial activities of Fifa president Sepp Blatter, his campaign added.

The individual was not identified, although the campaign said he was a third party, who was not part of Fifa nor connected to any national football association.

The matter was referred to Quest, a UK-based corporate intelligence firm, who were asked to contact the police and the offer was rejected. Fifa’s ethics committee, however, was not informed.

“Our goal was not to create a campaign issue but to properly react to an approach made to us that

appeared to involve criminal activity,” Prince Ali’s campaign said in a statement sent to Reuters.

“The campaign did not want to do anything that could jeopardise the investigation. Because the claims made by the individual strongly suggested criminal acts, Quest referred the matter to the proper law enforcement authorities.

“We did not engage the Fifa Ethics Committee because the individuals concerned were third parties who were not part of Fifa.” - Reuters

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SECTION

LIFE & STYLE

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM W ED N ES DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

Recent research has found evidence that the feeling of awe helps bind people together, motivating them to act in collaborative ways

H

ere’s a curious fact about goose bumps. In many nonhuman mammals, goose bumps — that physiological reaction in which the muscles surrounding hair follicles contract — occur when individuals, along with other members of their species, face a threat. We humans, by contrast, can get goose bumps when we experience awe, that often-positive feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends our understanding of the world.

Why do humans experience awe? Years ago, one of us, Keltner, argued (along with psychologist Jonathan Haidt) that awe is the ultimate “collective” emotion, for it motivates people to do things that enhance the greater good. Through many activities that give us goose bumps — collective rituals, celebration, music and dance, religious gatherings and worship — awe might help shift our focus from our narrow self-interest to the interests of the group to which we belong.

Now, recent research of ours, to be published in next month’s issue of the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, provides strong empirical support for this claim. We found that awe helps bind us to others, motivating us to act in collaborative ways that enable strong groups and cohesive communities.

For example, in one study we asked more than 1,500 individuals across the United States a series of questions to assess how much awe, among other emotions, they experienced on a regular basis. In an ostensibly unrelated part of the study, we gave each person 10 lottery tickets that would be entered in his (or her) name for a cash prize drawing. We told each person that the tickets were his to keep but that, if he wanted to, he could share a portion of them with another unidentified individual in the study who had not received any tickets.

We found that participants who reported experiencing more awe in their lives, who felt more regular wonder and beauty in the world around them, were more generous to the stranger. They gave approximately 40 per cent more of their tickets away than did participants who were awe-deprived.

Some of this research was conducted on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, which has a spectacular grove of Tasmanian blue gum eucalyptus trees, some with heights exceeding 200 feet — a potent source of everyday awe for anyone who walks by. So we took participants there and had them either look up into the trees or look at the facade of a nearby science building, for one minute.

Then, a minor “accident” occurred (actually a planned part of the experiment) — A person stumbled and dropped a handful of pens. Participants who had spent the minute looking up at the tall trees — not long, but long enough, we found, to be filled with awe — picked up more pens to help the other person.

In other experiments, we evoked feelings of awe in the lab, for example by having participants recall and write about a past experience of awe or watch a five-minute video of sublime scenes of nature. Participants experiencing awe, more so than those participants experiencing emotions like pride or amusement, cooperated more, shared more resources and sacrificed more for others — all of which are behaviours necessary for our collective life.

In still other studies, we have sought to understand why awe arouses altruism of different kinds. One answer is that awe imbues people with a different sense of themselves, one that is smaller, more humble and part of something larger. Our research finds that even brief experiences of awe, such as being amid beautiful tall trees, lead people to feel less narcissistic and more attuned to the common humanity people share with one another.

You could make the case that our culture today is awe-deprived. Adults spend more and more time working and commuting and less time outdoors and with other people.

Camping trips, picnics and midnight skies are forgone in favour of working weekends and late at night. Attendance at arts events — live music, theatre, museums and galleries — has dropped. This goes for children, too — Arts and music programmes in schools are being dismantled in lieu of programmess better suited to standardised testing; time outdoors and for novel, unbounded exploration are sacrificed for résumé-building activities. We believe that awe deprivation has had a hand in a broad societal shift . -Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner/The New York Times News Service

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

EXTRA

Scientists have shown that arachnophobia is inheritable — you don’t need to necessarily experience spiders to be fearful of them

P

sychologists believe that one reason why people fear spiders is because of some direct experience with the arachnids instilled that fear in them. This is known as the “conditioning” view of arachnophobia.

In 1991, Graham Davey at City University London ran a study to understand more about this view. He interviewed 118 undergraduate students about their fears of spiders. About 75 per cent of the people sampled were either mildly or severely afraid of spiders. Of those most were female. (This gender bias in arachnophobia has been supported subsequent research.)

There was also an effect from family.

Those people fearful of spiders reported having a family member with similar fears, but the study was unable to separate genetic factors from environmental ones.

What is surprising is that Davey found that archanophobia wasn’t the result of specific

“spider trauma”, which means there was no support for the conditioning view.

So what makes spiders so terrifying?

Surely it must be the threat of being bitten?

Davey looked at that issue too. It turns out that it is not so much a fear of being bitten, but rather the seemingly erratic movements of spiders, and their “legginess”. Davey said: Animal fears may represent a functionally distinct set of adaptive responses which have been selected for during the evolutionary history of the human species.

A criticism of Davey’s work is that perhaps “conditioning” cannot be so easily dismissed, because the spider-trauma event may have occurred during childhood, and a specific spider event may be buried deep within memories. In 1997, Peter Muris and his colleagues at the University of Maastricht tried to looked into this.

Not surprisingly, if you give kids a list of things that might be scary for them,

the vast majority check off things like not breathing, getting hit by a car, bombs, fire or burglars as quite important. Interestingly, if you give them a free option to tell researchers what sorts of things they fear the most, both boys and girls report “spiders” as their top fear (the second fear is being kidnapped, third is predators and fourth is the dark). This is surprising. Of all the things children might report, they list spiders as the number one fear. So in contrast to Davey’s work, Muris finds that the kids that were most fearful of spiders could relate that fear to specific events. Perhaps conditioning is the pathway to arachnophobia.

Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioural Genetics and his colleagues conducted twin studies to tease apart genetic factors.

Identical twins have identical DNA but tend to live in different environments in adult life, which allows researchers to find out how genes affect behaviour.

When Hettema recorded the responses of twins to “fear-relevant” images (spiders, snakes) compared to “fear-irrelevant” images (circles, triangles). Statistical analysis of the results revealed that genetic influences were “substantial”, which means that arachnophobia is inheritable. You need not necessarily experience spiders to be fearful of them.

Genes or environment?

But before we can be sure that conditioning is the main reason, we need to ensure that genetic factors are not involved too.

In 2003, John Hettema at the Virginia

Scare tactics So, to my dissatisfaction, arachnophobia is here to stay. But there may be a simple technique to reduce the fear these bugs cause. In 2013, Paul Siegel at the State

University of New York and his colleague published a study that helped volunteers lessen their arachnophobia.

They first split the volunteers into phobic and non-phobic groups, based on simple spider-fear tests. After a week of doing these tests, both the groups were then exposed to images of flowers or spiders, but the exposure was for such a very short time. The idea was that people can’t recognise the images consciously, but it has an effect on their subconscious. When the spider-fear tests were carried out on both these groups again, those who feared spiders had become less afraid.

While other general conclusions are hard to draw from the literature on arachnophobia, arachnologists like me should rejoice at the results of Hettema’s study.

If nothing else, at least sharing images of spiders may help reduce arachnophobia.

-Chris Buddle/The Independent

W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

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ENTERTAINMENT CINEMA SCHEDULE

BAHJA CINEMA San Andereas (Act, Adv)(3D) PG Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 09:15 pm /11:45 pm Mad Max Fury Road (Act)(2D) 12+ Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 9:30 & 11:45pm Piku (Comedy, Drama)(PG) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan. 4:40 pm Poltergeist (Horror, Thriller) (2D/15+) Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements. 2:45 pm Poltergeist (3D/15+) Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kennedi Clements. 9:40 & 11:30 pm Spooks The Greater Good (Action, Drama) (12+) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle. 2:00 pm Danny Collins (Comedy, Drama) (12+) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 7:20 pm Tomorrowland (Action, Adventure) (PG) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie; 3:00, 4:15, 6:45 pm Omar (Arabic) (Drama, Thriller) 12+ Cast: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany, Eyad Hourani. 5:30 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Com) (TBC) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz Khan 7:00 pm

Kennedi Clements 12:45 & 11:45 pm Gold Class: 11:15 pm Poltergeist (2D) 15+ Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 12:45 pm Tomorrowland (2D) PG Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson, Hugh Laurie.

10:15 am, 2:30, 9:15 & 11:45 pm Gold Class: 2:00 & 8:50 pm Robosapien: Rebooted (2D) PG Cast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller, Bobby Coleman. 11:00 am Spooks The Greater Good (2D) 12+ Cast: Car Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle. 5:00 pm Danny Collins (2D) 12+ Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 7:15 pm. Gold Class: 4:20 PM Tanu Weds Manu Returns (H) (2D) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 9:15 pm Gold Class: 6:20 pm Omar (2D) (Arabic) (Drama, Thriller) 12+ Cast: Adam Bakri, Leem Lubany 5:30 pm

SCREEN 1 Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom/Drama/ Comedy) – TBC Cast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan 3.30, 6.30, 9.30pm SCREEN 2

Avengers Age Of Ultron (3D) PG12 Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo. 3:00pm Mad Max Fury Road (3D) 12+ Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult. 12:45 & 7:00pm Poltergeist (3D) 15+ Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt,

Piku (Drama/Comedy) – PG Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan 3.45, 6.45, 9.45pm SCREEN 3 Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama) – PG

Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti K. Haasan, Kareena Kapoor 3:45, 9.45 pm Bhaskar the Rascal (Malayalam) (Comedy/Drama ) – PG Cast: Mammootty, Nayantara 6.45 pm

Mad Max: Fury Road - 3d (12+) Act Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 7:00, 9:20, 11:45 pm Piku - 2D (PG) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan 4:45 pm Spooks: The Greater Good - 2D (12+) Action | Drama | Thriller Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, Jennifer Ehle 5:00, 11:45 pm Danny Collins - 2D (12+) Com |Drama Cast: Al Pacino, Jennifer Garner 2:30, 5:15 pm Robosapien: Rebooted - 2D (12+) Adventure |Drama | Family Cast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller 3:30 pm Poltergeist - 2D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 4:30 pm Poltergeist - 3D (15+) Horror | Thriller Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 9:45 pm Bhaskar the Rascal - 2D (M)(PG12) Comedy Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, Isha Talwar, 6:15 pm Tomorrowland - 2D (PG) Act |Adv | Cast : George Clooney, Britt Robertson 2:30, 7:15, 9:05, 11:30 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (H) (2D) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 2:15, 9:15 pm

Demonte Colony - 2D (T) (TBC) Horror Cast: Arulnithi 7:00 pm San Andreas - 3D (PG) Act | Thriller Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 11:30 pm

San Andreas – 3D (PG) Act, Drama Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 09:20, 11:30 pm Spooks: The Greater Good - 2D (12+) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton 3:00, 11:40pm Mad Max: Fury Road – 3D (12+) (Action) Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 4:30, 9:30 pm Danny Collins – 2D (12+) (Com, Drama) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner. 2:45, 5:00 pm Robosapien: Rebooted – 2D (PG) (Adventure); 2:45, 4:15 pm Cast: Kim Coates, Penelope Ann Miller Poltergeist - 3D (15+) (Horror, Thriller) Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt 7:50, 11:50 pm Tomorrowland - 2D (PG) (Action) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 7:00, 9:30 pm Bhaskar the Rascal - 2D (PG12) (Com) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, Isha 6:45 pm Demonte Colony - 2D (TBC) Horror Cast: Arulnithi; 5:45 pm

Mad Max: Fury Road (3D) (Act ) (12+) Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 7:00 pm Spooks: The Greater Good (Act) (12+) Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton, 4:30pm Poltergeist (3D) (Horror |Thriller) (15+)

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie DeWitt, 9:15 pm Tomorrowland (Act | Adv) (PG) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 04:40, 06:30, 08:55pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Hindi) (Comedy | Romance) (TBC) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz 11:15 pm Bhaskar the Rascal (Mal) (Com) (PG12) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara, 11:00 pm

Mad Max Fury Road (Action) Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult 1:45, 7:30 & 9:45pm; CP NO: 1273 (12+) Spooks: The Greater Good ( Act ) Cast: Kit Harintion, Elyes Gabel, Jennifer Ehle 4:00, 8:00, 10:00pm; CP No: 1343 (12+) Danny Collins (Comedy/Drama ) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner 2:00 & 6:00pm; CP No: 1346 (12+) Offender (Thriller) Cast: Joe Cole, English Frank, Kimberly Nixon 3:45 & 11:55pm; CP No: 1344 (18+) Captain Masr (Arabic) (Comedy) Cast: Mohamed Emam, Edward Bayoumi Fouad 5:45pm; CP No: 1345 (PG) San Andreas (Action / Thriller) Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Deddario, Carla Gugino 11:55pm; CP No: ( PG )

Spooks: The Greater Good (2D) (12+) (Action) Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Cast: Kit Harington, Tuppence Middleton Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com 11:00 am, 5:00pm Danny Collins (2D) (12+) (Com, Music) Cast: Al Pacino, Annette Bening, Jennifer Garner; 1:00, 4:45 pm San Andreas (2D) (PG) (Action, Thriller ) Cast: Dwayne Johnson; 11:45 pm San Andreas (3D) (PG) (Action, Thriller ) Alexandra Daddario. 9:20 pm Robosapiens: Rebooted (2D)(PG) (Adv) Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Cast: Kim Coates, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm Offender (2D) (18+) (Thriller) Bhaskar The Raskal (Mal) (Rom/Com) Cast: Joe Cole, English Frank; 3:10pm Poltergeist (2D) (15+) (Horror, Thriller) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara & Isha Cast: Sam Rockwell; 3:00 pm Talwar Poltergeist (3D) (15+) (Horror, Thriller) 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema Main 7:15, 11:30 pm 36 Vayadhinile (Tamil) (Family/Drama) Tomorrowland (2D) (PG) (Act) Cast: Jyothika, Rahman & Abhirami Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 3:30, 6:30 & 9:30 pm at Cinema -2 11:15 am, 2:45, 7:00 pm Lion (Telugu) (Act/Rom) Mad Max: Fury Road (3D) (12+) (Act) Cast: Balakrishna, Trisha Krishnan, 12:30, 5:00, 11:45 pm Radhika Apte & Prakash Raj Tanu Weds Manu Returns – 2D (Com) 3:45 & 6:45 pm at Cinema -3 Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan; Piku (Hindi) (Drama\Com) 9:00 pm (PG) Cast: Amitabh Bachchan , Deepika Bhaskar the Rascal (2D) (PG12) (Co) Cast: Mammootty, Nayanthara; 9:00 pm Padukone & Irfan Khan Demonte Colony (2D) (Horror) 6:45 & 9:45 pm at Cinema -4 6:45pm Oru Vadakka Selfie (Mal) (Com\Drama) Cast: Navin Pauly, Manjima & Vineeth Sreenivasam; 3:45 pm Cinema -4, 9:45pm at Cinema 3 Next Change: Demonte Colony (Tamil)

STARS CINEMA

For More Information 24789032, 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

ACES ON BRIDGE

Look forward with your discards

T

homas Edison said, “If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”

Sometimes when defending at the bridge table, every right discard is another step toward defeating the contract — our theme this week and next.

In today’s deal, how can the defenders beat four spades?

West has a textbook three-level opening bid, and North has a textbook takeout double. Then note

South’s advance. North will assume that South has six or seven high-card points, but here South has a trick more than that, so must jump to four spades.

West leads his singleton heart. East wins with his jack and cashes the heart ace. West should anticipate making two discards — which?

West should throw first the diamond nine, then the diamond two. High-low asking his partner to shift to that suit. And if East does just that, West will ruff to defeat the contract.

If West does not discard like that, East will surely lead a fourth heart, hoping

that it promotes a trump trick for West.

Remember the advice of Andy Robson, an English expert. If a three-level-orhigher pre-emptor leads a side suit, it is a singleton. If he leads his own suit, play him for a singleton in your trump suit.

Phillip Alder is combining in May 2016 with Kalos to run a bridge and golf river cruise starting from Bordeaux, France. Details are available on Phillip’s website: www.phillipalderbridge. com.

— By Phillip Alder MARMADUKE

CROSSWORD

B I G NAT E

Answer to previous puzzle

ACROSS 1 4 7 11 13 14 15 16 18 20 21 22 23 26 30 31

Consumer org.

Half-star movie Splinter group Sir — Guinness Dazzle Popular cookie Queen of Olympus Kind of stand Like junk mail, usually Toys with tails Prefix for cycle Resinous substance Unfastened Bribes (2 wds.)

Umbrage Yellow vehicle

32 33 36 38 39 40 43 46 48 50 51 52 53 54 55

Holbrook or Roach Edges In-between state Starfish arm Wine category Kitchen tool Metric capacities Certain erratum Pro votes Back muscles Modern auto feature Seep Food holder Once named Like some glances

DOWN 1

Scrooge’s

exclamation 2 Roquefort hue 3 Capital near Zurich 4 The One-L Lama 5 Felt grateful 6 Ice, to a cat burglar 7 Seattle team 8 QED part 9 Yield territory 10 Piggies, in a tots’ rhyme 12 Golfers’ rides 17 All right 19 Sooner than anon 22 Frankenstein milieu 23 Freedom, in slogans 24 Incan treasure 25 Above, to Tennyson

26 27 28 29 31 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 47 49

Faux — German physicist “When We Was —” “Alice” waitress Exclaim Like an evening gown Corn servings Tennis official’s call Without a flaw Dentist’s request Young equine FitzGerald’s poet Comic — Rudner Brain part Deli loaves Whiskery animal John, in Glasgow Firmament

BORN LOSER

WITH LOVE DHARSAN E.

A.V.A. ABHI NANDAKUMAR

N. HARI PRIYA SATISH

SRIVIDYA

SYEDA ZAINAB FATIMA

ADITI SREEVALSAN

THUSHYANTH ARVINTH

AKSHITA ARVIND KUMAR

May 27, 2013

May 27, 2004

May 27

May 26, 2005

May 27

May 28

May 27

May 29

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

KIDSPOT

H E A LT H C A P S U L E

C10

W EDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL Y O U R B I R T H D AY

BORN today, you are an upright, forthright and, above all, honest and honourable individual with a tremendous work ethic, the ability to see things through to the end, and the sense to know when it is time to dig in even further or throw up your hands and walk away from a lost cause. Balance is the key to your success and the primary feature of your personality. You know how to walk a fine line — most of the time — between too much and too little, too high and too low, too big and too small. You understand that life is a series of compromises, yet you try at all times to work the angles so that you come out with just a little more than you otherwise might.

Relationships, to you, are the key to all manner of success in business, recreation, love and friendship.

Maintaining close ties to those who are part of your life — in all aspects of your life — is something of an art form to you, which you are always working to develop and improve.

Also born on this date are: Christopher Lee, actor; Louis Gossett Jr., actor; Todd Bridges, actor; Vincent Price, actor; Henry Kissinger, politician; Wild Bill Hickock, Old West lawman; Isadora Duncan, dancer; Paul Bettany, actor; Joseph Fiennes, actor; Hubert Humphrey, politician; Sam Snead, golfer.

W E AT H E R

C

WORLD

Max 40 Min 27 Max 27 Min 19

Max 45 Min 26

Max 41 Min 43 Max 27 Min 15

Max 45 Min 32

Max 28 Min 17

Max 43 Min 29

Max 42 Min 27

Max 42 Min 28

Max 43 Min 31

Max 37 Min 29

[MAY 21-JUNE 20] Max 33 Min 28

Max 23 Min 14

Max 34 Min 28 Max 18 Min 14

—www.met.gov.om

Min

GULF Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh

37 44 36 43 40 37

30 27 30 29 27 25

WORLD Athens Baghdad Beijing Berlin Boston Cairo Colombo Frankfurt Hong Kong Istanbul Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur Lisbon Paris Perth Singapore Tokyo Toronto

27 41 32 14 28 46 30 19 28 23 22 31 33 20 19 31 30 26

19 24 18 9 17 24 27 9 26 16 8 25 13 12 9 28 17 17

L O N G D I S TA N C E B U S T I M I N G S ( O M A N N AT I O N A L T R A N S P O R T C O M PA N Y S A O C ) * S U B J E C T T O C H A N G E

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI)

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

[JUNE 21-JULY 22] You can make the most of very little.

The competition will heat up during afternoon hours, but you’re ready for anything.

LEO [JULY 23-AUG. 22] You must be willing to respect even those boundaries you do not believe have been wisely or effectively established.

VIRGO [AUG. 23-SEPT. 22] You’ll be watching the end of one thing while preparing for the beginning of another. A coming change requires patience.

LIBRA L [[SEPT. [S S 23-OCT. 22] You may not be ready to say what most needs to be said — but you’re likely to enjoy a trial run that allows you to experiment.

SCORPIO S [[OCT. 23-NOV. 21] You’re going to have to dig deep to find the patience you need to deal with a family member who is being unreasonable.

SAGITTARIUS S [[NOV. 22-DEC. 21] You’ll gain the advantage, but what you do with it is far more important than anything else you may have up your sleeve.

CAPRICORN [DEC. 22-JAN 19] Take care that someone else doesn’t push you across a certain boundary and into a danger zone. Maintain your balance at all times!

AQUARIUS [JAN. 20-FEB. 18] You’ll want to know in some detail just what is in store for you in the coming days or weeks, but guesswork will surely play a part.

PISCES [Feb. 19-March 20] You’re looking to the wrong person for inspiration, as he or she is in a downward spiral that could possibly endanger you.

ARIES [March 21-APRIL 19] Complications arise after you unwittingly walk into a trap set for you by a rival. You’ve got to pay more attention!

TAURUS [APRIL 20-MAY 20] Are you willing to economise today?

Current cash flow is going in the wrong direction, but you can find a remedy.

Sunset Sunrise (Tomorrow)

6.46pm 5.21am

High tide Low tide

4:11pm 9:10am

3:26am 10:16pm

southwesterly moderate to fresh while over rest of the Sultanate wind will be southeasterly light to moderate.

SEA STATE: Moderate to rough along the southeastern coasts with a maximum wave height of 2.5 metres and slight along the rest of Oman’s coast with a maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during thundershowers and fog.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Chances of convective clouds development and rain over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas during afternoon. Chance of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.

Max

OMAN

CANCER

12.09pm 3.29pm 6.52pm 8.12pm 3.56am

AIRLINES

lear to partly cloudy skies over the coastal area of Dohfar governorate and adjoining mountains. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with chance of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea. Mainly clear skies over the rest of the Sultanate with chances of convective clouds development and thundershower associated with fresh downdraft and hail over Al-Hajar mountains and adjoining areas towards tomorrow afternoon that may extend to coastal areas of Oman Sea. EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be southwesterly light at night becoming northerly to northeasterly light to moderate during day and along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea wind will be

GEMINI You are likely to wear your passions very near the surface all day long. See if you can’t do something useful with those extra feelings!

PRAYER TIMINGS

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

QURIYAT - SUR - JAALAN (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Time Time 15:00 Quriyat 16:30 15:00 Sur 18:00 15:00 Jaalan 19:30 TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 06:30 Sohar 06:30 Buraimi 08:00 Buraimi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Buraimi 16.00 Sohar 16.00 Buraimi TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (Route 36) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 05:30 Sur 06:45 Daily 05:30 Quriyat 08:30 Daily 05:30 Ruwi 10:00 Daily

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

20:50

Daily

TO AL BURAIMI (Route 41) 07:00 Sohar 07:00 Ruwi 13:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 17:00 Ruwi TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

10:25

Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (Route 62) 12:30 Fahud 12:30 Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

TO MARMUL-SALALAH (Route 100) 07:00 Salalah 20:00 10:00 Marmul 20:30 10:00 Salalah 23:30 19:00 Salalah 07:40

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SALALAH -MARMUL (Route 100) 07:00 Ruwi 19:50 10:00 Marmul 13:15 10:00 Ruwi 22:30 19:00 Ruwi 07:30

Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

16:50

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00 TO DUBAI (Route 201) 06:00 Sohar 06:00 Dubai 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Dubai 15:00 Sohar 15:00 Dubai

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 07:00 Fujairah 11.45 Daily 07:00 Sharjah 13.30 Daily 07:00 Dubai 14.00 Daily

TO DUBAI (Route 201) 07:30 Sohar 07:30 Ruwi 13:00 Sohar 13:00 Ruwi 15:30 Sohar 15:30 Ruwi

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (Route 204) Dept Destination Arrival Operating Time Time Days 16:00 Sharjah 16:30 Daily 16.00 Fujairah 18.15 Daily 16.00 Ruwi 23.00 Daily

LISTINGS

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24783334; Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24782666; Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi: 24702542, Salalah: 23291635; Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra: 24503585; Ruwi 24811715 Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya. Tel: 24787766 Muscat, A Seeb Market. Tel: 24421691 Muscat, Al Khuwair. Tel: 24485740 Muscat, Al Hail South. Tel: 24537080 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel: 23291635 HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 Atlas Hospital: Ruwi: 24811743/ Ghubra: 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic: 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi: 24563641, Azaiba: 24499269, Sohar: 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital: 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory: 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre: 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre, Hamriya: 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic: 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi: 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb: 24420740 Ceregem National Raak: 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic: 24563217 Elixir Health Centre: 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre: 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100

24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128, MBD: 24799077, Al Khuwair: 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital: 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital: 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair: 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC: 22004000 ROYAL OMAN POLICE Emergencies and inquiries: 9999 General Directorate of Passport and Residence: 24569603 Directorate General of Customs: 24521109 Traffic violations inquiries: 24510228 Public Relations Admin: 24560099 ACCOMMODATION Al Bahjah Hotel: 24424400 Al Bustan Palace: 24764000 Al Khuwair Hotel Apartments: 24478171 Al Madina Holiday Inn: 24596400 Al Maha International Hotel: 24494949 Al Fanar Hotel: 24712385 Al Falaj Hotel: 24702311 Al Qurum Resort: 24605945 Azaiba Hotel Apartments: 24490979 Beach Hotel: 24696601 Bowshar Hotel: 24491105 Coral Hotel Muscat: 24692121 Crowne Plaza Muscat: 24660660 Crystal Suites: 24826100 Golden Tulip Seeb: 24510300 Grand Hyatt Muscat: 24641234 Haffa House Hotel: 24707207 Hotel Muscat Holiday: 24487123 InterContinental Muscat: 24680000 Majan Continental Hotel: 24592900 Marina Hotel: 24711711 Midan Hotel Suites: 24499565 Mina Hotel: 24711828 Muttrah Hotel: 24798401

Nuzha Hotel Apartments: 24789199 Oman Dive Centre: 24824240 Park Inn: 24507888 Qurum Beach House Hotel: 24564070 Radisson Blu Hotel: 24487777 Ramee Dream Resort Seeb: 24453399 Ramee Guestline Hotel: 24564443 Ruwi Hotel: 24704244 Safeer Hotel Suites: 24691200 Sheraton Oman Hotel: 24772772 Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa: 24776666 The Chedi Muscat: 24524400 The Treasurebox Muscat Hotel: 24502570 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours): 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot: 24704455, Air Arabia: 24700828, Air France: 24562153, Air India: 24799801, Air New Zealand: 24700732, Biman Bangladesh Airlines: 24701128, British Airways: 24568777, Cathay Pacific: 24789818, Egypt Air: 24794113, Emirates Air: 24404400, Ethiopian Airlines: 24660313, Gulf Air: 80072424, Indian: 24791914, Iran Air: 24787423, Japan Airlines: 24704455, Jazeera Airways: 23294848, Jet Airways: 24787248, Kenya Airways: 24660300, KML Royal Dutch Airlines: 24566737, Kuwait Airways: 24701262, LOT Polish Airlines: 24796387, Lufthansa: 24796692, Malaysian Airlines: 24560796, Middle East Airlines: 24796680, Oman Air: 24531111, Pakistan International Airlines: 24792471, Qatar Airways: 24771900, Qantas: 24559941, Royal Jordanian: 24796693, Saudi Arabian Airlines: 24789485, Singapore Airlines: 24791233, Shaheen Air: 24816565, SriLankan Airlines:

24784545, Swiss International Airlines: 24796692, Thai Airways: 24705934, Turkish Airlines: 24703033 MUSEUMS Bait Al Baranda: Corniche (seafront opp fish market), Open from Saturday to Thursday 9am to 1pm and 4 to 6pm Natural History Museum: Al Khuwair, Tel: 24604957, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm; Thursday: 9am to 1pm Museum of Omani Heritage: (former Omani Museum), Madinat Al Alam, Sat-Wed 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday 9am to 1pm, Tel: 24600946 Armed Forces Museum: Bait Al Falaj, Tel: 24312651, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm; Thurs 9-12pm and 3-6pm; Fri 9-11am and 3-6pm. Al Hoota Caves 24498258; Turtle Beach 96550606/96550707 Children’s Science Museum: Shatti Al Qurum, Tel: 24605368, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Oman-French Museum: near Muscat Police Station, Tel: 24736613, Open from Sat to Wed: 8am to 1:30pm, Thurs: 9am to 1pm Bait Al Zubair, Muscat: Tel: 24736688, Al Saidiya St., Muscat museum@baitalzubairmuseum.com Open from Sat to Thurs: 9:30am to 6pm.

National Museum Ruwi: Tel: 24701289, Open from Saturday to Wednesday: 8am to 1:30pm, Thursday: 9am to 1pm Sohar Fort Museum: Tel: 26844758, Open from Saturday to Wed: 8 to 1:30pm Thurs: 9am to 1pm Muscat Gate Museum: at Al Bahri Road, Muscat open from Sat to Wed 8am to 2pm

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY FLT NO

ARRIVALS FROM

KUWAIT 0005 CAIRO 0005 JEDDAH 0005 MEDINA 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 LAHORE 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DUBAI 0340 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 FRANKFURT 0515 AMMAN 0635 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 RIYADH 0655 RAS AL KHAIMA 0655 MALPENSA 0705 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 PARIS 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 TEHRAN 0805 BEIRUT 0805 DUBAI 0805 LAHORE 0825 LAHORE 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 BANGALORE 0910 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0955 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 COCHIN 1020 DOHA 1035 DUQUM OMAN 1035 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KHASAB 1115 DUBAI 1115 MUKHAIZNA 1120 BAHRAIN 1130 DUBAI 1140 COLOMBO 1140 CALICUT 1155 LAHORE 1215 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DOHA 1250 KARACHI 1300 KATHMANDU 1305 DUBAI 1340 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 ISLAM ABBAD 1515 SHARJAH 1525 DUBAI 1535 MUKHAIZNA 1550 BAHRAIN 1610 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 MADRAS 1750 DUBAI 1800 BAHRAIN 1810 TRIVANDRUM 1820 SHARJAH 1905 JAIPUR 1910 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 ABU DHABI 2005 MALE 2020 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 DUBAI 2100 BANGALORE-HYDERABAD 2105 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 MUNICH 2105 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 2250 KARACHI 2250 ABU DHABI 2300 AMMAN 2300 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 ABU DHABI 2340 BAHRAIN 2340 SALALAH 2345 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355

WY424 WY676 WY648 WY682 WY914 BG021 CV610 WY916 TK774 4H585 PK225 GF560 QR1132 EK866 ET624 EY384 PK291 MS930 FZ041 WY114 4H586 WY658 WY638 WY902 WY644 WY686 WY154 WY144 WY678 WY668 WY674 WY102 FZ043 WY602 WY346 NL768 WY272 WY202 WY236 G9114 WY226 EK862 WY210 WY242 WY212 WY252 QR1128 EY382 IX817 IX443 WY652 9W530 WY604 WY918 GF562 WY372 FZ037 IX337 WY822 WY818 WY634 WY904 BG023 WY670 WY332 PA950 CV611 WY606 WY3302 WY632 WY906 WY920 WY3922 FZ045 KU677 SV530 WY344 QR1126 WY204 WY292 WY264 WY664 EK864 WY254 WY232 WY246 WY284 WY3932 GF564 TG507 G9116 WY374 WY646 FZ047 WY908 RG125 WY614 WY848 WY338 WY434 FZ049 KL441 WY124 4H561 9W534 AI973 6.00E+81 BA073 WY624 UL205 AI907 WY312 LX242 QR1134 GF566 LH616 WY414 SG061 EY388 WY910 WY910 9W540 AI985 WY662 WY662 WY636 WY654 WY816 WY612 WY696 WY612

BEIRUT 0005 JEDDAH 0005 KUWAIT 0005 RIYADH 0010 SALALAH 0020 DACCA 0100 LUXORE 0115 SALALAH 0120 ISTANBUL 0135 DACCA 0200 KARACHI 0215 BAHRAIN 0325 DOHA 0345 DUBAI 0350 ADDIS ABABA 0350 ABU DHABI 0400 ISLAM ABBAD 0410 CAIRO 0410 DUBAI 0415 FRANKFURT 0515 DOHA 0600 BAHRAIN 0635 ABU DHABI 0640 SALALAH 0645 KUWAIT 0650 RIYADH 0655 ZURICH 0700 MALPENSA 0705 MEDINA 0710 DOHA 0715 JEDDAH 0735 LONDON HEATHROW 0740 DUBAI 0800 DUBAI 0805 ISLAM ABBAD 0815 LAHORE 0830 JAIPUR 0830 BOMBAY 0835 HYDERABAD 0900 SHARJAH 0905 COCHIN 0920 DUBAI 0930 GOA 0935 DELHI 0935 TRIVANDRUM 0950 MADRAS 0955 DOHA 1000 ABU DHABI 1010 MANGALORE 1010 COCHIN 1020 BAHRAIN 1040 TRIVANDRUM 1045 DUBAI 1115 KHASAB 1115 BAHRAIN 1130 COLOMBO 1140 DUBAI 1140 CALICUT 1155 KUALA LUMPUR-SINGAPORE 1215 BANGKOK 1220 ABU DHABI 1220 SALALAH 1230 DACCA-CHITTAGONG 1230 DOHA 1250 KATHMANDU 1305 SIALKOT 1310 MADRAS 1315 DUBAI 1340 MUKHAIZNA 1350 ABU DHABI 1355 SALALAH 1440 KHASAB 1445 DUQUM OMAN 1510 DUBAI 1535 KUWAIT-ABU DHABI 1540 JEDDAH 1550 LAHORE 1605 DOHA 1650 BOMBAY 1655 CALICUT 1710 LUCKNOW 1740 DOHA 1745 DUBAI 1745 MADRAS 1750 HYDERABAD 1750 DELHI 1750 BANGALORE 1750 SOHAR 1805 BAHRAIN 1810 BANGKOK-KARACHI 1900 SHARJAH 1905 COLOMBO 1915 KUWAIT 1920 DUBAI 1940 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2005 DUBAI 2025 JAKARTA 2035 KATHMANDU 2040 TEHRAN 2055 DUBAI 2100 AMSTERDAM-DOHA 2105 MUNICH 2105 DACCA 2115 COCHIN 2115 DELHI 2125 BOMBAY 2130 LONDON HEATHROW-ABU DHABI 2140 DUBAI 2150 COLOMBO 2155 MADRAS 2200 CHITTAGONG 2210 ZURICH-DUBAI 2225 DOHA 2225 BAHRAIN 2240 FRANKFURT-DOHA 2245 AMMAN 2300 AHMEDABAD 2300 ABU DHABI 2300 SALALAH 2310 SALALAH 2310 BOMBAY 2315 BOMBAY 2325 DOHA 2335 DOHA 2335 ABU DHABI 2340 BAHRAIN 2340 BANGKOK 2350 DUBAI 2355 DAMMAM 2355 DUBAI 2355

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BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 BANGALORE 0110 BOMBAY 0115 RIYADH 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 LAHORE 0145 DUBAI 0145 TEHRAN 0155 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 JAKARTA 0215 DELHI 0215 SALALAH 0215 DOHA 0225 ISTANBUL 0230 DACCA 0300 LAHORE 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0645 BAHRAIN 0715 DUQUM OMAN 0740 RAS AL KHAIMA 0745 DUBAI 0750 SALALAH 0750 MUKHAIZNA 0800 KHASAB 0815 ISLAM ABBAD 0830 DOHA 0835 KARACHI 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 BANGKOK 0905 CALICUT 0915 TRIVANDRUM 0915 MADRAS 0915 LAHORE 0930 ZANZIBAR-DARESSLAM 0940 LUCKNOW 0940 MALE 0945 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 MANILA 0955 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 TRIVANDRUM 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 DUBAI WORLD CENTRE-DOHA 1205 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 JAIPUR 1220 DUBAI 1225 MUKHAIZNA 1230 CALICUT 1255 LAHORE 1315 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 MALPENSA 1350 KUWAIT 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 BEIRUT 1415 ZURICH 1420 SALALAH 1430 AMMAN 1440 CAIRO 1440 DUBAI 1445 SALALAH 1540 JEDDAH 1615 SHARJAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 ABU DHABI 1640 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 KARACHI 1810 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 HYDERABAD-BANGALORE 2200 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 DELHI 2310 MEDINA 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 DOHA 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

9W539 AI986 WY657 WY637 WY225 WY235 WY211 WY685 WY201 WY643 WY251 WY345 WY601 WY371 WY123 WY901 WY241 WY847 WY667 BG022 TK775 WY209 4H585 PK226 WY331 CV610 EK867 ET625 EY385 FZ042 MS931 PK292 QR1133 WY651 4H586 GF561 WY903 WY603 WY917 WY669 FZ044 WY633 WY373 WY815 WY343 WY253 WY291 NL769 WY263 WY821 G9115 WY231 WY283 WY3301 WY905 WY605 WY203 WY631 WY245 EK863 WY337 QR1129 IX818 EY383 IX442 WY311 9W533 WY919 WY3921 WY655 GF563 FZ038 IX350 WY113 WY663 WY645 WY143 WY101 BG024 PA951 WY927 WY405 WY413 CV611 WY433 WY907 WY3931 WY675 FZ046 KU678 SV531 WY613 QR1127 WY623 WY681 WY647 WY909 GF565 EK865 WY695 WY661 WY653 G9117 WY913 TG508 WY635 FZ048 WY611 RG126 WY915 FZ050 WY411 4H561 KL442 WY817 9W529 6.00E+82 AI908 UL206 WY705 WY677 AI974 GF567 LX243 QR1135 BA072 WY673 EY381 LH617

BOMBAY 0020 BOMBAY 0020 BAHRAIN 0055 ABU DHABI 0105 COCHIN 0105 HYDERABAD 0110 TRIVANDRUM 0110 RIYADH 0115 BOMBAY 0115 KUWAIT 0120 MADRAS 0120 ISLAM ABBAD 0125 DUBAI 0145 COLOMBO 0155 MUNICH 0200 SALALAH 0215 DELHI 0215 JAKARTA 0215 DOHA 0225 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 0230 ISTANBUL 0230 GOA 0255 DOHA 0300 KARACHI 0315 KATHMANDU 0350 MADRAS 0355 DUBAI 0450 ADDIS ABABA 0450 ABU DHABI 0500 DUBAI 0510 CAIRO 0510 ISLAM ABBAD 0510 DOHA 0515 BAHRAIN 0645 DACCA 0700 BAHRAIN 0715 SALALAH 0750 DUBAI 0750 KHASAB 0815 DOHA 0835 DUBAI 0845 ABU DHABI 0900 COLOMBO 0900 BANGKOK 0905 LAHORE 0915 MADRAS 0915 CALICUT 0915 LAHORE 0930 LUCKNOW 0940 SINGAPORE-KUALA LUMPUR 0945 SHARJAH 0955 HYDERABAD 1000 BANGALORE 1000 MUKHAIZNA 1000 SALALAH 1020 DUBAI 1020 BOMBAY 1025 ABU DHABI 1030 DELHI 1040 DUBAI 1045 KATHMANDU 1050 DOHA 1100 MANGALORE 1100 ABU DHABI 1105 COCHIN 1120 CHITTAGONG 1140 COCHIN 1145 KHASAB 1145 DUQUM OMAN 1210 BAHRAIN 1215 BAHRAIN 1215 DUBAI 1225 CALICUT 1255 FRANKFURT 1320 DOHA 1330 KUWAIT 1350 MALPENSA 1350 LONDON HEATHROW 1400 CHITTAGONG-DACCA 1400 SIALKOT 1430 SALALAH 1430 CAIRO 1440 AMMAN 1440 LUXORE 1445 TEHRAN 1445 SALALAH 1540 SOHAR 1600 JEDDAH 1615 DUBAI 1620 KUWAIT 1640 MEDINA-JEDDAH 1650 DUBAI 1710 DOHA 1750 DUBAI 1840 RIYADH 1840 KUWAIT 1845 SALALAH 1850 BAHRAIN 1855 DUBAI 1910 DAMMAM 1915 DOHA 1920 BAHRAIN 1920 SHARJAH 1955 SALALAH 2000 KARACHI-BANGKOK 2005 ABU DHABI 2015 DUBAI 2025 DUBAI 2035 ABU DHABI 2045 SALALAH 2100 DUBAI 2145 AMMAN 2205 JEDDAH 2215 DOHA-AMSTERDAM 2220 BANGKOK 2225 TRIVANDRUM 2230 BOMBAY 2245 MADRAS 2300 COLOMBO 2305 DARESSLAM-ZANZIBAR 2310 MEDINA 2310 DELHI 2310 BAHRAIN 2325 DUBAI-ZURICH 2325 DOHA 2330 ABU DHABI-LONDON HEATHROW 2330 JEDDAH 2350 ABU DHABI 2355 DOHA-FRANKFURT 2355

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W E D N E S DAY, MAY 27, 2 0 1 5

C 11

EXTRA H E A LT H N O T E S

New ‘pain sensing’ gene identified by researchers EXAMINING rare individuals who are born unable to feel pain, an international team of researchers has identified a gene essential to make our brains sensitive to pain. The discovery could lead to new pain relief methods.

“We are very hopeful that this new gene could be an excellent candidate for drug development,” said the study’s first author YaChun Chen from University of Cambridge. “This could potentially benefit those who are at danger from lack of pain perception and help in the development of new treatments for pain relief,” Chen said. People who are born unable to feel pain — an inherited condition known as congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) — accumulate numerous self-inflicted injuries, often leading to reduced lifespan.

Got a pot belly? Blame it on exposure to traffic noise LIVING near an airport, highway or train station could increase your risk of developing a mid-riff bulge, indicates a new research.

Exposure to a combination of road traffic, rail, and aircraft noise may pose the greatest risk of acquiring a spare tyre — otherwise known as central obesity, the researchers said. Noise exposure may be an important physiological stressor and bump up the production of the hormone cortisol, high levels of which are thought to have a role in fat deposition around the middle of the body, the study said. “This may explain why the effects of noise were mainly seen for markers of central obesity, such as waist circumference and waist-hip ratio, rather than for generalised obesity, measured by BMI (Body Mass Index),” the study said. The researchers assessed how much road traffic, rail, and aircraft noise 5,075 people living around Stockholm, Sweden, had been exposed to since 1999.

Researchers find new way to treat diabetic blindness

Robots will always need humans The best way to get rid of human error is to get rid of humans, so goes the argument with companies that vouch for robots

“H

uman beings are ashamed to have been born instead of made,” wrote the philosopher Günther Anders in 1956. Our shame has only deepened as our machines have grown more adept.

Every day we’re reminded of the superiority of our computers. Self-driving cars don’t fall victim to distractions or road rage. Robotic trains don’t speed out of control. Algorithms don’t suffer the cognitive biases that cloud the judgements of doctors, accountants and lawyers. Computers work with a speed and precision that make us look like bumbling slackers.

It seems obvious — The best way to get rid of human error is to get rid of humans.

But that assumption, however fashionable, is itself erroneous.

Our desire to liberate ourselves from ourselves is founded on a fallacy. We exaggerate the abilities of computers even as we give our own talents short shrift.

It’s easy to see why. We hear about every disaster involving human fallibility — the chemical plant that exploded because the technician failed to open a valve, the plane that fell from the sky because the pilot mishandled the yoke — but what we don’t hear about are all the times that people use their expertise to avoid accidents or defuse risks.

Pilots, physicians and other professionals routinely navigate unexpected dangers with great aplomb but little credit. Even in our daily routines, we perform feats of perception and skill that lie beyond the capacity of the sharpest computers. Google is quick to tell us about how few

accidents its autonomous cars are involved in, but it doesn’t trumpet the times the cars’ backup drivers have had to take the wheel. Computers are wonderful at following instructions, but they’re terrible at improvisation.

Their talents end at the limits of their programming.

Human skill has no such constraints. Think of how Capt.

Chesley B. Sullenberger III landed that Airbus A320 in the Hudson River (US) after it hit a flock of geese and its engines lost power. Born of deep experience in the real world, such intuition lies beyond calculation. If computers had the ability to be amazed, they’d be amazed by us.

While our flaws loom large in our thoughts, we view computers as infallible. Their scripted consistency presents an ideal of perfection far removed from our own clumsiness. What we forget is that our machines are built by our own hands. When we transfer work to a machine, we don’t eliminate human agency and its potential for error. We transfer that agency into the machine’s workings, where it lies concealed until something goes awry.

Computers break down. They have bugs. They get hacked. And when let loose in the world, they face situations that their programmers didn’t prepare them for. They work perfectly until they don’t.

Many disasters blamed on human error actually involve chains of events that are initiated or aggravated by technological failures. Consider the 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447 as it flew from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. The plane’s airspeed sensors iced over. Without the velocity data, the autopilot couldn’t perform

Pilots, physicians and other professionals routinely navigate unexpected dangers with great aplomb but little credit.

Even in our daily routines, we perform feats of perception and skill that lie beyond the capacity of the sharpest computers its calculations. It shut down, abruptly shifting control to the pilots. Investigators later found that the aviators appeared to be taken by surprise in a stressful situation and made mistakes.

The plane, with 228 passengers, plunged into the Atlantic.

The crash was a tragic example of what scholars call the automation paradox. Software designed to eliminate human error sometimes makes human error more likely.

When a computer takes over a job, the workers are left with little to do. Their attention drifts. Their skills, lacking exercise, atrophy.

Then, when the computer fails, the humans flounder.

In 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration (US) noted that overreliance on automation has become a major factor in air dis-

asters and urged airlines to give pilots more opportunities to fly manually. The best way to make flying even safer than it already is, the research suggests, may be to transfer some responsibility away from computers and back to people. Where humans and machines work in concert, more automation is not always better.

We’re in this together, our computers and ourselves. Even if engineers create automated systems that can handle every possible contingency — far from a sure bet — it will be years before the systems are fully in place. In aviation, it would take decades to replace or retrofit the thousands of planes in operation, all of which were designed to have pilots in their cockpits. The same goes for roads and rails. Infrastructure doesn’t change overnight.

We should view computers as our partners, with complementary abilities, not as our replacements.

What we’ll lose if we rush to curtail our involvement in difficult work are the versatility and wisdom.

The world is safer than ever, thanks to human ingenuity, technical advances and thoughtful regulations. Computers can help sustain that progress. Recent train crashes, including the Amtrak derailment this month, might have been prevented had automated speed-control systems been in operation. Algorithms that sense when drivers are tired and sound alarms can prevent wrecks.

The danger in dreaming of a perfectly automated society is that it makes such modest improvements seem less pressing — and less worthy of investment. Why bother taking steps forward, if utopia lies just around the bend.

-Nicholas Carr/The New York Times News Service

US RESEARCHERS said they have found a new way to restore the eyesight in patients who have a blinding eye disease caused by diabetes. The key is to block a second blood vessel growth protein, along with one that is already well-known, when it comes to treating and preventing diabetic retinopathy, the most common diabetic eye disease, they reported in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when the normal blood vessels in the eye are replaced over time with abnormal, fragile blood vessels that leak fluid or bleed into the eye, damaging the lightsensitive retina and causing blindness. -IANS

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W EDN ESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

EXTRA BRIEFS

Women spend more than five hours a week on selfies DO YOU know how much time your peers might be taking to get her perfect selfie?

Well, it may be close to 48 minutes a day or five hours and 36 minutes a week! The time that goes up in clicking a perfect self-portrait includes make-up, getting the right lighting and perfecting the angle. One in 10 young girls was found to be storing at least 150 selfies on her computer and smartphones, taken from bathrooms or cars to their office desks. Of the 2,000 women (age 16-25) surveyed, 28 per cent admitted to taking a photo of themselves at least once a week. Over half of the women agreed that taking an attractive selfie boosts their mood. Nearly 22 per cent young women cited getting “likes” to boost their ego as the main reason for taking selfies.

Most people love being alone, says a new study IF YOU enjoy being all by yourself, then you are not alone. Most people love to spend their time being alone than being surrounded by people, new study says.

The results of a recent Pew survey found that 85 per cent of the surveyed people think it is “important” to have alone time, while 55 per cent categorised alone time as “very important”. The research, which focused on how Americans feel about security and privacy, also found that 79 per cent of respondents felt it was important that they should not be asked highly personal questions. A Harvard study found that people are more likely to form far more accurate and lasting memories when they experience them alone.

Climate engineering may better protect coral reefs WHEN IT comes to protecting coral reefs from rising seawater temperature, climate engineering could be a better method than conventional carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation strategies, new research says. Geoengineering of the climate may be the only way to save coral reefs from mass bleaching which increases coral mortality risk. Coral reefs are considered one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to future climate change due to rising sea surface temperatures and ocean acidification, which is caused by higher atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2). The geoengineering technique called Solar Radiation Management (SRM) reduces the risk of global severe coral bleaching, the researchers noted. -IANS

Indian Ocean may be key to global warming hiatus The Indian Ocean may be the dark horse in the quest to explain the puzzling pause in global warming, researchers report in ‘Nature Geoscience’

T

he study finds that the Indian Ocean may hold more than 70 per cent of all heat absorbed by the upper ocean in the past decade.

Scientists have long suspected that oceans have played a crucial role in the so-called warming hiatus by storing heat trapped in the atmosphere by rising levels of greenhouse gases. But pinpointing exactly which ocean acts as a global air conditioner has proved challenging.

Prior research suggested that a significant amount of heat moves from the atmosphere into the Pacific Ocean, where La Niñalike conditions have dominated since the turn of the century. As a result, wind patterns and ocean currents have increased the drawdown of warm surface waters in the subtropics. This process and others enhance ocean heat uptake.

But when Sang-Ki Lee, an oceanographer at the University

of Miami in Florida, and his colleagues went looking for this heat beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean, they couldn’t find it. Temperature data compiled by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) World Ocean Atlas (WOA) suggest that the upper 700 metres of the Pacific have actually cooled in recent years, Lee says.

So Lee’s team used a computer model to explore the fate of the ocean’s “missing heat.” The results suggest that easterly trade winds have strengthened during the hiatus, causing warm water to pile up in the western Pacific.

The water seeps between the islands of Indonesia and into the Indian Ocean, bringing heat with it.

In the model, this surge of water produces dramatic warming in the upper Indian Ocean starting in the early 2000s, in agreement with the WOA data, the authors write. This explanation also fits with measurements of flow

through the largest Indonesian channel — the Makassar Strait — which increased over the same period of time.

“The big story is that they’ve found the heat,” says Matthew England, an oceanographer at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He says the study solidifies the Pacific’s role in driving the hiatus. “It’s resolving a question that has a lot of people stumped.”

However, some say the case isn’t closed yet. Lee’s team only analysed trends in the upper 700 metres of the ocean, but “there’s evidence that a significant part of the heat has been going down into the mid and deeper layers,” says Gerald Meehl, a climate scientist at the US National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. Previous studies suggest that one-third or more of the total ocean warming has occurred below the depths considered in the new study.

Kevin Trenberth, also a climate scientist at NCAR, says the results

disagree with studies that use alternatives to the WOA data.

There are large observational gaps in the WOA dataset, and Trenberth says that NOAA has accounted for these without considering the long-term warming of the ocean, leading to cooler values where measurements are missing. For instance, Trenberth and his colleagues found pronounced Pacific warming during the hiatus and only modest warming in the Indian Ocean using heat content estimates derived in part from satellite measurements. Other studies have also implicated warming in the North Atlantic and Southern Ocean. For now, it seems that the hunt for the missing heat may continue. But scientists say it is important to get to the bottom of the story to fully explain the current hiatus and prepare for others that might occur in the future. “We need to understand the energy imbalance of the Earth,” Lee says.

-Julia Rosen/The New York Times News Service

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Contact: 99207840

2 BHK (with split AC) residential flat at Honda road.

Contact 98087644 / 99795241 2 BR flat for rent in Wadi Kabir Mazoon Building, behind Wadi Kabir Garden, very close to Al Maha petrol pump. Rent RO 275 PM. Call 99440826 1 Villa & 4 big apartments of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com 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 1-BHK apartment available for immediate occupancy from June 1st in Azaibah next to Al Meera hypermarket, close to highway and 18-November St. Call 93504997 for viewing.

Deluxe 3 Room Penthouse with Seaview, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 97721313 / 9507 0421

Villa for rent with 4 bedroom at Al Khodh, Rent 600/-RO.#92888115 For rent new building 2 & 3 BHK flats at Wadi Al Kabir behind Muscat Bakery. Contact: 99338133 1BHK flats at Muttrah near Oman House. Contact: 93231403 One BHK flat near Wadi Adi R/W, Hillat Assad. Contac: 98772585

Flat ( ground floor ) with living room + 2 big room & hall , big kitchen & store , 3 toilet with car parking in Mabela South with new split AC only 240/- R.O. Contact 93295953 Flat for Rent- Contact No 99315515 AL- Khuwair 33/1 3 Bedrooms.

Dining room. Family hall. 3 Bathrooms.

Kitchen with store. Split A/C units 2 bedroom flat new building in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99313274

Commercial villa 10 BHK Al Khuwair 25 near HTC. Contact: 94300909

1,2 & 3 BHK flat for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

Showroom 606 sqm Bousher height. Contact: 94300909

.2 BHK flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181

Independent villa in Darsait (Opp. KIMS Hospital, behind Khimji Mart) for rent 4 bedrooms, big hall and 1 kitchen + 1 pantry. Please call Ms Hiba Shaikh. Contact 98048210/ Mr. Anil Kumar 99261773

2 BR in Rex road.

Contact 99792181

Villa for rent in Azaiba near well roundabout & Umm AL Qura Mosque, 5 bedrooms, two hall, kitchen. Contact: Mr Sunil 92887809/ Mr. Habib 98048207

Spacious 1& 2 BH flats having good finishing A/C kitchen etc, AL Khuwair near Al Zawawi mosque. Contact: 99385074 Villa 12 rooms and a lounge Council in citrus 11 first line along with Omantel serve as a school or as liaison offices: 91256340

Flat at Darsait. Contact 99326879 3000 sq mtrs Industrial landß, in Barka Sanaiya, with electricity 400KW, shed, staff accommodation and office. Ready to start any kind of factory. Contact 99384255.

3 bedrooms flat for rent near NIT Institute Darsait. Contact 93494098 1 Bedroom bachelors, sharing K & T in Al Khuwair R.O 100/-.

Contact 95154331 506 sqm space with mezzanine available for rent in Al Wadi Al Kabir. Suitable for carpentry / auto workshop and /or electrical shop.

Interested parties may Contact 24703981

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126 Deluxe 1, 2 BHK flats in Darsait, AL Khuwair 1deal for office & residence. Contact 99369081 /99142314 Showroom for rent 200 m in Al Misfah, Bousher facing the main road. Contact 95202430 New building, residential apartments and offices, in Al Khoud Souq. Contact 95202340 2 BHK Flat in Azaiba.

Contact 99792181 Flats for rent south AL Mabela.

Contact: 95331177/95230355

Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172

For rent special price 3 BHK Al Falaj area 270/- , 3BHK South AL Hail 275/- Contact: 24707340/95282986

10 BHK Villa in Al Khuwair 25 for Executive bachelors.

Contact 99792181

2 & 3 BHK in Qurum, with split AC, Near PDO Gate 2.

Contact 94057023

2 BHK Flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181

7 BHK Flat in Azaiba for Executive Bachelors. Contact 99792181

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

D3

DAILY GUIDE

FOR RENT

MV. SALE

2 Prime Movers Man 2008 with 40 ton petrol tank each working at the moment in Al Maha. Price OMR 35 Thousand each. Contact 97000155 or 92688692

FOR RENT Labour Camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

Flat for rent 1 & 2 bedroom available behind Zaker Mall Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99530405

FOR SALE

Labour camp for Rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99797422 Room main road, Al Khuwair R.O 110/-. Contact 97799175 For rent 3 industrial land.

Contact 92702891/ 95490842 One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra with attach and common bathroom.

For Indian family.

Contact 92322096 Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact : 92800007

Furnished flats for rent in Al Buraimi, daily, weekly, monthly.

Contact 97819981 / 93593336 2 BHK with A/C Muttrah near Oman house. Contact: 99896838 2 BHK with A/C Ghobrah. Contact: 92144045 Flats for rent near Indian school in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 New 3 bedroom flats split AC, attached toilets available behind Kims Oman hospital. # 95225662 Mezzanine floor office space for rent area 200 sq. Contact 97175979 / 99001341 Flat with 2 rooms, toilet & kitchen in second floor in Souk Al Khoud behind bank Al Ahli 200/- R.O .

Contact : 99738881 Villa for rent in Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque.

Contact 99366624 2BHK flats in Al Khuwair-33 with split AC. Contact: 94057023

3 flats for rent 3 bedrooms include A/C, near the highway (Bowshar Amerat). Contact 97777911 / 95533777 1st floor flat in Amerat Phase 5, 4 rooms, bathrooms (3), kitchen with A/C for family.

Contact 95522405 1 BHK flat in Honda Road (Ruwi).

Contact 99792181 2 & 3 BHK flat in Al Khuwair.

Contact 99792181 200 Sqr mtrs office space in CBD. Contact 99792181 1st floor flat in Amerat Phase 5, 4 rooms, bathrooms (3), kitchen with A/C for family.

Contact 95522405 2BHK at Al Azaiba, 2bedrooms, 1 hall & dinning , 3 bathrooms.

Contact : 99224748 / 99425665

1/3 BHK Flat Ghubrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880 1& 2BHK for rent at Wadi Kabir, Hilal Al Sad and Al Khoud areas .

Contact Office: 24834644 Mobile: 93994401/02/03 Flat for rent, 2 BK near Kuwaiti Mosque, Wadi Kabir. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 Flat for rent 2 BK near Oman House Muttrah. Contact 97007934 / 92629232 If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through whatsapp or call 99376454 Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499 Studio flat Wadi Kabeer 160/-O.R. Contact - 99358589 / 97079146/ 95570288 1BHK flat near star cinema with split A/C 230/- O.R. Contact - 99358589/ 97079146/95570288

Nissan Tiida 2009, H/B fully automatic, expat lady driven.

Contact 99457908 Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285 Fork Lift for rent or sale Nissan 3.5 Ton. Contact: 94102899

2 BHK flat in Rex Road.

Contact 99792181 Ghubra near Al Maha hotel & Indian school (2BHK with 5 split ac units). Contact 94652485/ 99273774 / 99202278

2013 LEXUS ES350 for Sale 40,000 km Full Option Gold Color Bought from Bahwan dealership Price: 13,500 Riyals Call: 9291 2660

WANTED FOR RENT

Treadmill –motorized. Contact: 99378397

AVAILABLE

Apartments for rent Ghubra : near Indian School Ghubra & Al Maha International Hotel (2BHK with 5 split A/C units).Contact 99273774 / 99202278 /94652485

Party & Wedding equipment rentals.

Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

FOR SALE

Curtain shop for immediate sale South Al Hail with 2 clearance.

Contact: 99041337

2,560 sq mtrs industrial land 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

Used supermarket Gondolas OR 40 = 000 per meter, double tube light fittings O.R 2=000/ PC. Contact 97752395

5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Best Investment opportunity in Muscat a brand new furnished show room for electronics building, material mobiles etc available for sale at prime location. Contact : 91710624 / 98873484

23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka.

OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Running computer shops for sale Souq Sohar. Contact 99420543

3 floor commercial building in Muttrah behind Police. Generating income of OMR 18 Thousand annually. Neat and well maintained. Built on 197 sq mtrs land. 2 tailor shops on ground floor and 6 flats. OMR 207 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

2 BHK & studio flat at Darsait 1SM. Contact 99024730

Villa in Al Khuwair and Seeb.

Contact 95250300/ 99119699 / 92125648

Ice cream & Juices shop in Ruwi good location for sale, 1.5mt fish display machine unused for sale.

Contact: 92150455

Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road.

Contact 97293708 / 92433127

Industrial land for rent in Wadi Kabir 7000 Sq mtrs.

Contact 99354340

Ladies beauty parlor for sale in Muttrah, above Ahla Sceps Market.

Contact : 93231403

Shop in Ruwi OPP: OC. Contact: 99378397 A well equipped running dental clinic in Ruwi for sale. Contact 93769963 Coffee shop & BBQ running Wadi Kabir, open parking having clearance. Contact: 97161811 Shfandish & tables for sale.

Contact 99368907 Restaurant for sale well running with open area and good parking area. 3 new clearance also in Wadi Kabeer near Mars hyper market.

Contact 99656863

FOR SALE Port cabin new & refurbished – porta cabin for sale & rent.

Contact: 96723468 / 97775501 / 97775502 Restaurant for sale. Contact: 97710015 / 92934027 Coffee shop for sale in North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009 558 Sq mtrs residential land in Barka (Al Jenainah) near Lulu and near to school. OMR 32 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Residential land for sale 21000 sqm, best for housing complex at Al Harm – Barka, opp to Khimji logistic. Contact 99438397 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 27 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Shopping center for sale at Bousher by good price 400 m2 with all equipment. Reason for selling part-time. Contact 92916490

D4

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

SITUATION SITUATION WANTED VACANT

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE Indian CA with 15 yrs exp working as Finance Head for MNC looking for suitable job.

NOC available. 94047434 Indian male M.Com 6 yrs experience in accounts up to finalization in Oman having Oman D/L available to join immediately with NOC. Contact : 98363897 Email: princ9496@hotmail.com MBA Graduate seeking a suitable position as an Assistant Accountant.

Contact 94627227 Accountant having 8 yrs, experience looking for part time job.

Contact: 99867456 Jordanian, Senior accountant, 34 year old, 12 years experience in the GCC, 7 years in construction & 4 years in hospital having Oman D/L proficient in tally 9.0.

Contact 96470036

DRIVER Omani family looking for full time lady driver. Contact: 91401838

SALES / MARKETING Furniture company urgently seeks outdoor sales team, attractive salaries for right candidates. Contact: batrading2014@gmail.com

ENGINEER Urgently required Site Engineers & all kinds of civil construction workers for a reputed construction company. Interested candidates can send your CV’s to mohamed@oasisgrace. com, contact 99881459, 24826566, fax: 24812226

ADMIN Omani lady HR Manager for a leading metal fabrication company. Min. 5 yrs exp, familiar with Oman labor Laws. Responsibilities – Making HR policies, Training of Omanis, liaising with various Ministries. Contact: operation@khancogroup.com

ACCOUNTANT Reputed Construction Company required Draughtsman / Accountant experience in Construction Company with accountancy degree.

Email: jvacancy05@gmail.com

ARCHITECT / DRAFTSMAN Urgently Required: Draftsman Temporary for 1 month. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

Urgently required a junior Architect for a consultancy office.

Email: ajith@milesconsultancy.com Urgently required a Senior Draftsman for a consultancy office. Email: ajith@milesconsultancy.com Leading Construction company requires MEP Draftsman and Civil Draftsman with 5 to 7 years gulf experience with NOC available.

Send your CV to recruitment1947@gmail.com

BEAUTICIAN Urgently required Indian experience beautician, good salary + Accommodation + Food visa Available location Al Hail.

Contact: 92284899 / 92139922 Beautician required with good experience visa available.

Contact: 95867900

Engineers / Tech urgently required Civil Engineer with four years experience for a consultancy office.

Email: ajith@milesconsultancy.com

EDUCATION Teachers required (B.A, BEd, BSc, and B.ed) for Omani Pvt. School Al Hail (North). Contact 95141554/ 96653118

MEDICAL Required Nurse for a Clinic in Al Buraimi, S. Of Oman.

Contact: 00968 92737149. Send CV to drpkabbas@yahoo.co.in Urgent required staff Nurse in Mabela. Contact- 95200180.

We are looking for a Staff Nurse, who is having 60% or above in prometric exam. Contact : 99235643 /99463609 Email: abuahamedclinic@gmail.com Urgently required Staff Nurse, Pharmacist and endodontist Female Staff nurse, Pharmacist and endodntist with MOH License/ Prometric exam passed with 60% and above.

Contact 24780088, 97374459 Email : karamadental@gmail.com Immediate placement ( with or without MOH) A. Pharmacist 3 nos B. Asst.pharmacist - 2 nos Contact Tel.99338219 , 93240949 Wanted Lady Doctor GP or Gynecologist with MOH license.

Immediate opportunity.

Contact - 99310590

MISCELLANEOUS Vinyl Applicators (preferably for vehicles), Metal Fabricators.

Contact 98918344 Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact : 96964767

CATERING Shawarma /Arabic/Chinese/ cook & helper. Contact 95529970 Well trained, with military base experience catering staff available for contractual catering operation.

Cook – 08, Waiter - 6, Utility worker - 6, Supervisor-1. Contact: 97984335

DOMESTIC HELPER An Indian family in Al Ghubra requires a full time living housemaid.

Contact : 97084023 Required looking for full time Housemaid preface Indian / Sri Lanka for Omani family at Mabela, visa available. Contact: 92454170 Urgent required House maid in Mabela. Visa available.

Contact- 95200180.

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

SKILLED LABOUR Wanted experienced female tailor from Philippines.

Contact: 99466062

SALES / MARKETING Required Sales man - 1 Person Qualification. Gulf Experienced - Minimum 5 Years with Oman Driving Licence Language - English Education:- Any Degree Further Contact :Mr. Abdul Hameed Nashabat - Mobile No: 97414307 and -92807399 amn@yaqeeneng.com Salesman with driving license for company. Contact: 96440587

Required Sales Staff for a reputed insurance Broker male / Omani.

Contact at 97619595 or send CV to msaif@ace-ins.com website: ace-ins.com Marketing Representative – General items, Experience: Minimum 2 - 3 years, Should have knowledge about Oman market, Valid Oman Driving License must Forward CV to hr@barikgroup.com Urgently required out door Sales Executive for furniture company, minimum 5 years experience with Oman D/L. Contact: 93231403 Looking for smart & intelligent female Telesales Executive/Sales coordinator with IT background, 2-3 yrs experience with clear & commanding voice, good & effective communication, correspondence and coordination skills. Send your resume to 002atech@gmail.com Urgently need a Marketing Executive to develop marketing campaigns to promote company’s product &service. He/She should have 2-3 years in organizing events, product branding, Social Media marketing, Email Marketing and Web Site promotion. Send your resume to 002atech@gmail.com Looking for a Retail Sales Executive & 3-5 yrs experience in selling building material, structure cabling, Access control, and CCTV products & motivated by sales and targets.

Candidate with Omani D/L will be given preference. Send your resume to 002atech@gmail.com

Young dynamic Indian MBA having one year exp in CA Firm looking for an opening. Skills: MS Office & Tally.

Contact:+919744732896/ Email: asifakbar4@gmail.com Finance Manager (15+yrs experience) thorough knowledge on Holding Company accounts. Well versed on Trading, Investment, Insurance Brokerage, Travel & Rent A Car accounts. Ability to manage Group of companies. Contact: 92701962 : amritaa.m2002@gmail.com Indian male B.Com, 1 year experience in accounts and sales looking for suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact: 98295101 Chief Accountant / Accounts Manager, Indian male (34 years) MBA/ M.com more than 10 years experience (7 tears in Oman) with D/L NOC available seeks suitable placement. Contact: 96915438

Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com Document controller / project coordinator having 15 years experience is same Field.

Contact: 00919605635590

Indian male 29, MBA (HR & Admin), six years experience in UAE as sales coordinator and office / Administrator valid GCC driving license. Now on visit visa looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 98466505/93061079

MFA (Master of finance and accounting), B.com. 6 months experience, looking suitable position in finance and accounts. Contact: 97829315.

Email: muhsin1819@gmail.com Male 24, B.com / PGD having 2 years experience in accounts and inventory field. Looking for suitable job, on visit visa. Contact 94129550

Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Inventory Management Contact: 96975454, Email: ibfc.gcc@gmail.com

Indian female B.com Graduate over 8 years experience in Finance, customer relation, sales coordinator, secretary, Bank Office seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95433987

Indian Female, 34 yrs, B.Com, Knowledge in MS Office & Tally, exp in accounting & admin seek suitable placement 99199710/96744965

Indian male graduate B.com looking for suitable in Account Finance / sales marketing release available with 2 years working experience.

Contact: 94574596

Sr. Accountant M.com (finance) 15 years experience (2years in Oman with a reputed firm) NOC available.

Contact: 92404608 Email: jin_75@rediffmail.com

Indian male 2 years experience in account cum sales coordinator NOC available looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91298422/96458189

Indian Female 25 MBA looking for a suitable opening in Accounts, Admin/Hr. Contact 97013375

Analyst accountant knowledge & skill excel Advance misreport account & finance administration work document oracle advertising knowledge degree MBA, BBM. Contact 91840109/99783953 Email: mohd.rashid19@gmail.com

Over 15 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598

Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154

Indian female B.com 4 years experience in accountant 1 years experience in Oman having knowledge of tally seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93491124/92054531

Salesman experienced 5 yrs in Oman, in the field of industrial & oilfield service, garage equipment tools & spares, safety wears & rescue equipments. Please forward your CV to almaadhi.trd@gmail.com

ADMIN/HR

ADMIN/HR

Indian male MBA, Finance, 6 years experience in Finance & Accounting spatially in Oil & Gas , Now on visit visa . Contact: 94327063 Email: shabab3939@yahoo.com

Indian male 22 yrs B. Com Graduate 1 year exp in Accounts, currently on visit visa. Looking for suitable job.

Contact 94341848 / Email – mohdhaji7272@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED

ACCOUNT. & FINANCE

MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa.

Contact: 99424803

Required Van Salesman for a major beverages company in Qatar. Salary 1800 Qatar Riyal + free accomodation & food+ Sales commissions averaging around 2000 Qatari Riyal.

Also require key accounts supervisor. Salary negotiable. Interested candidates may send their CV to rlkekkas@gmail.com or contact 0097455096272

Urgently needed Marketing Executive for kitchens, Sales Assistant for kitchens and sanitary ware, Office Assistant ( all male) for a marketing company, graduates with 3 to 5 yrs relevant experience please email CV to yourfutureinoman@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTED

Accountant: Indian male 10 years experience, 6 years in Oman with Oman driving license, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973

Indian male 25 yrs B.com having experience in accounts for 3 yrs currently on visit looking to job.

Contact: 97937868 Email: rehman.naseer999@gmail.com Indian male, MBA finance, presently working as branch supervisor in a reputed logistics co. For past 10 years with an overall experience of 21 years in finance& logistics, looking for a suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 96567151 Email: girishlalmahadev@yahoo.com Part time Accounts job & finalization work Muscat. Contact: 92917448 Accountant Indian male 10 years experience in Oman looking for a suitable position, up to finalization NOC available can join immediately.

Contact: 94134085 Email: muscatoman95@yahoo.com An Indian lady Chartered Accountant with five years experience (including article ship) on family visa in Oman looking for a suitable job. Please Contact 9621 0347 / 9943 5346, shincycrajan@gmail.com

Finance Manager, CPA, with more than 15 yrs. of experience in GCC. Fully knowledgeable in Finance, General & Management Accounting .

NOC available. Contact 96209331 Indian male, 32 years, M. Com. 7 out of 9 years experience in Oman in Accounts/finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact 98277143, Email: anzarks@gmail.com Indian male with total 5 year experience (2 years experience in Accountant cum sales co ordinator in a FMCG Company in Oman) in accounts field and NOC available. Looking for suitable job Contact 92130188 MBA (international business) from London, 4 years of UK experience in banking operational, looking for suitable position. Contact 91710075 India Accountant: Male, M com, 7 Yrs experience in Accounts up to finalization, having knowledge of ERP, Tally, seeks suitable placment. contact 93950138 Email: lijinrajan123@gmail.com MBA Graduate with 6 yrs exp in finance/accounts/ auditing. Specialized in accounts payable dept, Oracle app user, proficient in Sap (fico) end user & tally 9.0. lean &six sigma certified trainer on visit visa.

Contact – 91967213 / 99064780

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT Autocad D man, Gulf exp in major projects, knows arch, structural, MEP, NOC available ph: 98225740 Female architect (27) 4 years experience seeking for suitable job in Oman experience in Oman, India & UK. Contact: 96146645 Email: anjuovil@gmail.com

Filipino Female, 30 yrs old, with 8yrs experience in Payroll/Admin/ HR and 2yrs experience as Technical Support/Cashier/Secretary.

Currently in Muscat on Family Visit Visa, Seeking for suitable placement.

Contact: 96708114 Email: lucy08_tm@yahoo.com Indian Female MBA, 3 Years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa.

Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com Indian female, 28 yrs, experience in Admin / sales coordination /accountant and secretarial. Knowledge in accountant software, with Oman D/L, looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 96751993 Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available.

Contact :93671437 Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR) 4 yrs exp. India & Oman in HR & Admin, seeks suitable placement.

Contact 96759820

DOMESTIC HELPER Indian, 45 years, Housekeeping working one of five star hotel 10 yrs experience and health club exp also, experience in Oman.

Contact: 99628602 /98693655

CATERING Indian male currently in Oman on visit, looking for suitable vacancy in hotel Industry as Supervisor having 8 years experience in Europe.

Contact: 97376612 Indian male 38 yrs senior chef de parst pastry & bakery 15yrs experience one of the five star hotels in Oman experience 10 yrs Oman looking job. Contact: 96460519 Email: venagovindhan@yahoo.com

DESIGNER Indian male, MA multimedia, 25 yrs presently working in Bangalore as visual layout / Graphics designer having 2 years experience, seeks suitable placement. Currently on short visit.

Contact 92368969 Email: don007james@gmail.com

DRIVER Light duty driver seeks job.

Contact : 91122145 / 95992137 Driver with car, 3 years experience part & full time looking for job.

Contact: 97456062 Light Driver needs Job. Contact: 93284327 For Driving. Contact: 95870012 Bangladeshi male looking for a light vehicle driving job.

Contact: 97751070 Pakistani male looking for a light vehicle driving job.

Contact: 95149231

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

DRIVER Driver light. Contact: 91020999 Driver looking for job.

Contact 92137431

EDUCATION English Teacher female (M. A. B. Ed) having 14 years experience with 11 years experience in Oman with reputed Institute and School. Contact: 92289080 / 99318276 Email: babvjosev@yahoo.com Qualified primary English Teacher for almost 12 years W/ experience in Qatar independent school international school & British curricular IELTS qualified looking for immediate post. Contact: 98938272 Email: me_ann_laloma@yahoo.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian male, B.E ( computer science engineer), MBA (finance), OCA certified, having 5 years of experience in oracle Dba/ oracle apps Dba, seeks a suitable position in the field of IT. Contact: 96212062 email: zubairkhan11@gmail.com Indian male 24 years, Mechanical Engineer,pdms.1 yr experience in pipeline,16years in oman seeking immediate placement # 95775742 Omani Mechanical Engineer, has 3 years experience ,has HSE, H2S, Riggers/Banks men Permit, Drawing / cad, SCBA, Safety Leadership and Initial Fire Response Courses. good with computer and English language looking for suitable job. Contact 99224319-98454500 Indian male 22 Mechanical Diploma holder Engg with HVAC certified, having 1 year exp. seeking suitable position. Currently available on visit visa. Contact - 92835952 B.Sc in civil Engineer having 2 years experience with driving license in Oman. Contact 94618906 Email: msamps988@yahoo.com BE Electric & telecom Eng: 4 yrs exp in Oman , exp in AV system design integration & telecom work with D/L , looking for better opportunity field of electronic & telecom.

Contact 97423932 Email: mzeeshanshaikh89@gmail.com Indian male, Mechanical Engineer, 2 years experience in fabrication & erection of heavy structures as Project Engineer in India, now on visiting visa seek suitable placement. Contact: 91251818 Email: krishnakumarkk9@gmail.com Indian male 26 yrs mechanical 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 Electrical Engineer : Indian male 29 years , having 5 years of experience in industrial automation and utility maintenance in India (MRF Tyres) seeking suitable placement.

Contact 92789995, Email: akhilabrahamlktr@gmail.com BE Mechanical Engineer -NDT level 2, Quality Control (Oil & Gas) . 1 year exp ph: 95908293 Sudanese Civil Engineer, 2 yrs experience. Contact 96077482, Email : ebraheemann@gmail.com Civil Engineer (B.E) 12 years experience with valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93843448 Sudanese Petroleum Engineer, 4 yrs experience looking for job, MC office, C, Exlips. Contact 96039290 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Indian female, B.Tech biotechnology with strong computer skills and 2 years experience as associate research analyst (Media Monitoring) in Nasdaq Oman seeking growth oriented jobs. Contact 92044603 /918056169148 or angeline.babithac@gmail.com.

Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp.

Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

IT

MEDICAL

SALES / MARKETING

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian female M.E power system B.E Electrical Engg, seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99842083 /99326054

Indian male fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail. com, Contact 00919567722270

Indian male 10 years experience in Welding Supervisor NDT Technician, MIG Welding specialist seeking suitable job. Contact 96771841

Keralite Comp: Engr experienced in BPO on visit seeking any type of job. Email: khais2001@gmail.com, contact 92094926

Indian female B.E 2 years of IT experience with IBM – Indian certified in oracle PL /SQL and forms developer seeking job in IT field in reputed company. Contact: 95094189 Email: bijigopu7@gmail.com

29 Indian male Nurse.B.SC prometric exam passed on a visit. 10 years experience in India & Italy seeks a suitable placement in multinational hospitals & clinics. Contact 96071773 – sanukochiparampil@gmail.com

ACCA affiliate & Bsc (Oxford Brookes University), 2.5 years experience in oilfield & audit/finance in Big6 firm, seeking permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

ENGG. / TECHNICAL

B.Com DMM logistics Telecommunication Agriculture 15 years experience 2 years Oman seeking placement. Contact: 91227198 Email: raju_poduval@rediffmail.com Indian- B.E.-MBA having 25 years Experience. Last 12 years in Oil & Gas Sector in Oman. Business Development /Sales. Looking opening in Oil Gas Trading/Drilling Service Companies as GM/ Country Manager/ Business Development Manager. Email : gmbdm2015oilandgas@gmail.com; Contact -94688594; Graduate Electrical Engineer having 6 years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Indian male, B.A, 4 years experience in Teaching 3 years experience in life insurance, 3 years experience in supermarket division UAE as Sales Promoter for the whole group.

Contact : 91968699 Indian male, (B.E) Electronics and Communication (ENC), 2 years experience in Instrument Engineer and plant supervisor in India.

Contact : 94188216 Email: azeez45ec@gmail.com Indian Civil Engineer (building) available immediately as supply contract. Contact : 95218004 Electrical Engineer 10 years experience in underground cables extension and distribution substation and terrestrial station available in Oman, on visit visa. Contact : 95471606 Civil Engineer: 5 years experience in building & structure works in Oman seeks suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact: 98180524 Engineer (ECE) seeking job.

Contact: 98584498 / 91981503 Electrical Engineer new in Oman B.Tech (Hons.) with Diploma of Electrical Engg. seeks a suitable job.

Contact: 96752080 Email: ilyasqader97@gmail.com Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 Toms Davis, 5+yrs Exp in Projects and design, 10+2+Diploma in Mech Eng, 92068508 Civil Engineer, Indian Female, 3 yrs experience, on visit visa seeking suitable placement. Contact: 99195433 Indian female 27 yrs-BSc Biotech and P.G Diploma in Quality Assurance having experience in Pharmaceutical Industry seeking immediate placement- Contact- 93218363.

Fiber design and implementation Engineer, 8+ yrs experience (6 yrs in Saudi ARAMCO) in OPS & ISP/FTTX, on visit visa till June end, with valid GCC D/L, GSM: 94769479, email: fiberoptic2011@gmail.com Indian male B.Tech marine Engineer on visit visa. Seeking suitable placement. Contact – 91991386 / prvnpurushan@gmail.com Sudanese Electrical Engineer, 2 years experience.

Contact: 91211592 Email: aymanhamza1990@gmail.com Network / system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job, currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact : 92589502 / 96216397, Email : jeganscareer@gmail.com Filipino HSE officer with 7 years and 5 months experience in MEP and civil construction works, Qatar petroleum, nakilat shipyard, super substation and high NSE building with Nebosh IGC 3, IOSH, Auditor lead course etc. Contact 98938461 Email: e.romil@yahoo.com

Indian male BCA, MCA, 2 years experience in software programming knowledge of Java, SQL, NET, C#, ASP. NET, DB2, Oracle. Contact: 99210940 IT, female fresher MCA, BCA Oracle certified 6 months PLSQL, data ware housing training PHP seeking job at good company. Contact: 95694330 Email: monakasapool@gmail.com Expat Lady (M.Sc IT), Looking for suitable position in IT/Office work.

Contact 98176793, Email : santhi.85@gmail.com IT professional with 20 years experience MBA, PMP, OCP, ITIL certified looking for suitable position.

Contact: 91829676 Indian female 27 yrs B.Tech (IT) MBA one years of experience as a software analyst. Contact 91234864 Email: ashwinirathnam2011@gmail. com Network Engineer, Female, CCNA,3 yrs exp specializing in DHCP, DNS, NTP, desktop level3 assistance in different OS, on resident visa 94525630/93215372 Indian female MCA, Experience in C#.Net, SQL Server, ORACLE with 4.5 years experience seeking suitable positions.

Contact: 96485923, 99886271 prathibhakp07@gmail.com Indian male, 20+ years experience in IT management, ERP implementation, seeks suitable opening.

Contact: 96101779 IT Network and Security Engineer with a master degree, CISCO and Linux red hat certified seeking a suitable job in a good company.

Contact 99818601 Networking technician with driving license, with Noc, having 2 experiences in data & telephone structured cubing EPABX & CCTV installation is looking for suitable jobs. Contact: 96027516 Gulf experienced Software Developer & certified professional in English looking from a Job with vast experience in sales and Management + D/L. Contact 00968 96701312 Email: farhanaslam586@yahoo.com Indian male 25, BSE computer with MBA, 3 years experience in IT, in visit visa seeking a suitable post.

Contact: 92364368 Network system Engineer B.E / ECE + CCNA & Ms certified with 4+ yrs exp looking for a job. Currently in Oman on visit visa. Contact: 92589502 Email: careersjegan@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS

Assistant Pharmacist (Indian female, 28 yrs) with MOH license.

Contact 93022787 / 99108751

Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com

Indian male, 30 yrs, 6 years Gulf experience in shipping operations and customer service, NOC available.

Contact: 93042516

Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com

8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535

Lab Technician, Civil (8yrs Gulf experience) looking for a suitable job (NOC available) Contact-93344378

Arabic – English translator having, 3 years experience currently on visit visa seeks translation or Bi-Lingual, Secretarial job. Contact: 96599601 Email: gawadjamal@gmail.com Indian (Kerala) male 37yrs, B.com graduate seeking for suitable employment one year experience.

Preferably as an office assistants.

Contact 96701495 Indian male more than 10 years Gulf experience in Office / Sales Coordinator, Admin (employees visa processes), Secretarial and purchase coordination with good computer skills. Having Driving license and NOC available. Looking for suitable placement. Contact 99709336

SALES / MARKETING Having 20 years experience in Gulf area for sales, marketing distribution, having Oman D/L looking for suitable work, speaking Arabic & English. Contact: 94639053 Indian male, B.Sc (Mathematics) PGDBM (Marketing). 9 yrs of Oman experience in sales in midlevel management, NOC available.

Valid Oman D/L. Contact: 95278838 Email: anup2p4p@yahoo.com Indian male B.com, 5 years experience in shopping center can manage purchase / sales and admin functions valid Oman driving license NOC available. Contact 95459944

TOURS & TRAVELS 25 Indian female B.S.C. Fashion Technology. 5 years experience in textile industry as a merchandiser and good in fashion marketing.

Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a suitable job.

Contact 96990368.

Email: simmy.missy@gmail.com

MISCELLANEOUS Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa. Seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089 23,Male, ACCA with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil/ Gas,looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Contact #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa, seeks immediate placement. Phone- 98430089 Female British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable situation.

Contact 97175240

P.H.D , 20 years, 2.5yrs Oman agriculture green house fertilizers marketing seeking suitable placement. Contact 93220249 Email: anthurium7777@gmail.com

Indian Male 28yr age having 6year gulf+ Indian experience in HR field.

Looking for suitable placement.

Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com

Indian male MBA (HR& marketing) 2 years experience in sales seeking suitable position now on visiting.

Contact: 96483964

Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com

Indian male Graduate in business management having work experience of 12 years looking for a suitable position.

Contact : 93431567

Cargo & logistics Manager, Indian with more than 15 years experience in UAE, seeks suitable position.

Contact: 95402099

Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements.

Contact - 9837 1144

BE computer science 6 years experience software developer and support Engineering exp sales and management Oman D/L, NOC available.

Contact: 98097722

Construction Surveyor Indian looking for suitable job.

Contact 91977142 / 95141554

Indian male 29 yrs, M.sc post graduate having 7 years experience in healthcare Industry presently working in orthopedic Implants company (MNC) in Indian ( trauma & spine ) on visiting visa seeking suitable job opening. Contact: 93083553 Email: prakash05629@yahoo.com

Indian male with 08 yrs exp in sales & marketing, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 95970204

Civil supervisor-8 year’s experience in commercial and residential building, including portable cabin, natural and artificial play ground’s, and Oxy petroleum field, at sultanate of Oman. GSM :91249005. Mail :sandeep88joseph@gmail.com

An Indian male having rich experience in procurement, Sales marketing and office administration seeking suitable position.

Contact: 93689602

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR

Indian male, 30, BSc, Food Science and Quality control, MBA 5 years experience, driving license.

Contact: 93405643

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

Graduate 1 yr experience in India, Clerk now in Oman on visit visa.

Contact 92933431, princemathew2813@gmail.com

8 years purchase experienced Indian male looking for job. N.O.C. available. Contact: 98161323

Male MBA (General) from Cardiff Metropolitan University London) looking for a suitable placement.

Contact 92819301 Email: adicbhat@outlook.com Pakistani male 34 yrs Intermediate 2 yrs exp in sales & marketing in Oman. Looking for suitable job.

Contact - 92146864 Indian male 45+ yrs , 20 yrs exp as sales supervisor in India looking for indoor sales /stores /cashier or any suitable placement can speak Hindi , English, Malayalam, Tamil, kannada can join immediately on visit visa.

Contact 93086105/33016546

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately contact: 91991435, 93310821 Indian male 21 Diploma in Mechanical Eng with HVAC certified having 6 yrsexp and seeking job in HVAC field as a supervisor. Currently on visit visa. Contact 92835952/ 92734863 Sudanese / 29 years old / Bsc English language and Translation / 3 years experience in Oman teaching & translation / have driving license.

Contact 94211377.

Email: hosam.karar.1@gmail.com

Indian Male 27, Piping Design Engineer looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll, AutoCAD. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Mechanical Engineer B.E fresher (QA, QC , Piping & NDT + 1 month practical training in production & oil field) seeking immediate placement currently on visit visa. Contact – 0096896107833, Email albinalbin.thomas@gmail.com Indian Male 58yrs, Oman experience 31yrs in Multifunctional Management, Administration, Business Development, Purchase & Operations, seeking suitable Manager/ Supervisory Position. Visa transfer/ NOC Available. GSM: 95036410 23 yrs old Pakistani bachelor in accounts and marketing 3.5 yrsexp 2 yrsexp in Oman, looking for a job.

Contact- 99374062 Indian Male 33 looking for Scaffolding Supervisor vacancy in Oil & Gas field in Oman. Having 5 years experience in CCC Qatar and 3 years in Saudi” Contact 96155921 fysal.nellaya@gmail.com or Sudanese/Bsc IT/26/2 years experience/excellent Eng-Arb speaking/ Omani driving license/96387227/ henrykarrar@gmail.com Indian male, 34 yrs, ca inter pass, with 14 yrs experience, is seeking suitable placement, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact: 95585069 or 95630747 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :93359371 ACCA affiliate,male,2.5 years experience in an audit firm in Finance & Audit, looking for suitable immediate placement. Release available.

Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Indian Female: MCA, 3 Years Exp. as Asst. Professor, Specialization in C # (sharp).net, Data Comm.& Networking, Knowledge about Web Development, ASP.Net, Oracle, SQL,VB.net.

Seek Immediate Placement. Now on Visit Visa.9588 7051 ashwininakod@gmail.com Indian male 21 IT Engineer Networking & Computer hardware course 01 yr experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact 96036273, E mail faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com Indian male, 14 yrs Experience in Maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field ( Electrical . Ac Mechanical & Plumber ) N O C available # 95253640 email: hareeshma24@yahoo.com Sales/ Marketing Executive : 35 years old Indian male, MBA, having experiences in UAE and India in sales and marketing field, presently on visit visa, looking for a suitable job in Salalah or in Oman.

Contact 91233648 Well experienced hair dresser/ beautician required, visa available.

Contact – 96524717 Indian female 25 yrs MBA finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement. Contact 9843 0089 Civil Autocad draughtsman looking for part time job. Mobile: 95218737

Indian female B.Com graduate, 4years experience in accounts & administration department looking for suitable placement. #98928220

30 years Indian male with hotel management degree, 02 years experience in F&B service at five star hotel in Dubai and 05 years in American 6 star cruiseliner as Butler . Currently in Muscat on visit visa. Contact 91075704

Indian female, B.Com. Knowledge of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in accounting & admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220

Indian male 27 years, MBA, having more than 5 yrs experience in sales and marketing, looking for suitable job. Contact no.99224057, +919824823734

D6

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

DRIVING

MISCELLANEOUS Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com

Indian female B.ED & BCA looking for a suitable placement in school or admin office, having 5 yrs exp in same field. Contact – 97384206 / rani_sweet786@live.com

Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com

Electronics and instrumentation Engineer 28 year Indian male, electrical, electronic, industrial, building & automation exp of 4+ yrs in India.

Contact - 93154156

Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement.

Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com 24 year Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Indian, 32 years, completed M.A. English, M.Sc. Psychology and B.Ed in English. Searching for suitable job in the field of teaching. To Contact: 00968 99869535 Email: sahadkeyi33@gmail.com 8 Years successful experience, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license seeks suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Female Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary with 27+ experience, worked with top management/Board in financial services with shorthand skills & Omani driving license, seeks suitable placement. call 95941515 26 years Indian male with MBA & PGDFM, Total 3.8 years experience in Administration, seeking suitable placement in any gulf region.

Holding Oman valid driving license.

Contact :94501423 8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601 Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121.

Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com Iraqi Pharmacist with 15 years experience as regulatory affairs and Marketing Manager seeking job in pharmaceutical co. Mobile 96720441 Finance ACCA Affiliate, 2.5 years experience in audit/finance and oil company in reputed firms. Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release available. Contact 95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 96760618 email: varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Key Account Executive, Indian male, currently working with a reputed FMCG company Oman is looking for a placement asap, NOC will be given. Valid Omani driving license. Total experience in Oman is 12yrs and particularly in Sales is 8 1/2 years. Contact 95589765 Email : agnelfrancis@yahoo.co.in 25 Indian female, B.Sc fashion technologist, 5 years exp in merchandising, familiar with fashion marketing & designing. Currently available on visit visa, seeking for a visual merchandising job. Contact : 96990368, email jumshi@gmail.com Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer , 4 years experience in telecom field #97783092, Email: Alrsheed88@hotmail.com

Indian female with MBA (Finance) on visit visa, seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

Indian male, 28 years, 7 years experience in transporting & heavy equipment renting company. Having Omani driving license seeks suitable positions. Contact 94410485

Indian female, IATA, Bsc, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact-95514305, email idraveendranmala@gmail.com

Civil autocad draughtsman part time work for job mob :96023726

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 year experience in different activities. Contact; +96894549609 Male, 30 years Accountant, 1 year Oman experience in accountants, finance. Seeking suitable position in Muscat .Can join immediately, NOC available. Email: lalitbls1@gmail.com Call: 97903175 CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 96 76 06 18 Indian male, post graduate, currently in Oman on visit visa.

Seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92388346 Indian male 60 years old have 30 years Muscat experience in all office works with Omani driving license.

Contact: 99024055 Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220 Indian male, total experience is 5 years in Retail industry. Currently supervisor in Sun and sand sports Muscat City centre. Contact : 96994345.

Email : jsp.jsr85@gmail.com More than Ten years of experience in Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics& Administration.

Contact 91076608 / 99322748 MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. Contact 9588 7051, Email: ashwininakod@gmail Indian male, Engineer, BE Mechanical, having with 21 years of experience in India and 13 years in Oman, In production, project management, quality control and assurance and MR for ISO and API Standards looking out for a suitable placement in Oman. GSM: 00968 97311616.

E-MAIL: fahazasa@yahoo.com

Sr. Manager, MBA, 18yrs professional exp in Building materials, interiors, tiles, sanitary wares, Gypsum in gulf, seeking job immediately/on visit/ Contact - 93364846 / mgrprofessional@hotmail.com

Indian female BA graduate. My total experience is 4 and half year in Call Center looking for jobs in admin and HR. Contact : 96089143, Email: sharanjit_kaur2009@yahoo.com

Indian Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately Contact: 91991435, 93310821

Indian male, MBA marketing & finance with B com & diploma in IFRS seeks job.

Contact 99469726 / 99469729

Working as Senior Accountant, 4 yrs.exp.in oman, relevant computer skills, Audit, Accounting upto finalization, valid oman driving license, languages known Arabic, Hindi.

NOC available can join immediately.

Tel: (+968) 96339599, E-mail(ahmedmohdkhan@gmail.com)

Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

ACC. AVAILABLE 2 Rooms with separate bathroom & kitchen for executive bachelors.

Gsm 942-888-63 Excellent room, with A/C kitchen available from June/ July 1st, near ONTC Bus station (Ruwi).

Contact 95569740 Furnished single room / sharing for Exe. bachelor at Rex Road.

Contact 92873832 Independent rooms in Qurum / Al Hail. Contact 95529970 Single room with sharing bathroom and kitchen available for rent near honda road signal.

Contact: 99562884 / 93654412 1BHK available Mumtaz area Ruwi.

Contact: 99269751 Sharing accommodation available for Indian family Ruwi high street Raymond bld. Contact : 97380459

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.) on visit visa, seeking suitable post.

Contact :99534733 Email: rajesh92prince@gmail.com

Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor - Al Falaj area & for lady at Wadi kabir (Al Maya) 95941515.

Male, 19 years of experience in Finance and Administration currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99720132/ abidrafi33@hotmail.com

Sharing accommodation available for Executive bachelor. Ruwi high street. Contact-99776193

Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer, 4 years experience in telecom field.Contact : 97783092, Email: alrsheed88@hotmail.com Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field. #98928220 Key Account Executive , currently working with a reputed FMCG company Oman is looking for a placement asap, NOC available, valid Omani driving license.

Total experience in Oman is 12yrs and particularly in Sales is 8 1/2 years. Contact 95589765 Email : agnelfrancis@yahoo.co.in Senior IT Professional, Indian Male, more than 17 yrs. of experience in software development(PB, Oracle, SAP ABAP) and IT Support with valid Oman DL and NOC available Contact : 92193867, Email : cp.prasad@gmail.com

Single room for executive bachelor near AL Falaj Hotel.

Contact 99643845 Fully furnished room with attached Bath for executive bachelor, behind Al Meera Hypermarket Azaiba R.O 150/-. Contact: 99455735 Sharing accommodation available opposite Mars at Al Ghubra for Executive bachelor or small family sharing, kitchen. Contact 94474351 / 96237050 Sharing for non-cooking Executive bachelor in CBD area wi fi free, advance deposit. Contact 95934642 Accommodation available for South Indian family, one bedroom with attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160 Sharing acc. Available in Muttrah behind Oman house.

Contact 99354340 Sharing family accommodation in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057

BUSINESS

BUSINESS Looking for a working partner to run a well established fabrication & carpentry workshop in Barka. Contact: 95120404 or mail to elmechoman@gmail.com Required business Researcher. contact 99229700 Email: kjaaraimi@hotmail.com Business Consultant, feasibility study. Contact 99229700

Software development based on requirements such as: Web development & cloud computing, SAP implementation & services. Android App development networking.

Contact 97423932

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

D7

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED CARGO

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

TOURS

RENT A CAR

TRANSPORTATION Transportation.

Contact: 91310107

Transportation available. Contact: 99867456

Driver with vehicle. Contact 99159277

Transportation. Contact 99077348

Transport to ISWK. Contact 93172589

House shifting & transporting.

Contact 92490422

Pick & Drop any time. Contact 97014786

Transportation. Contact 99508282

D8

W E D N E S DAY, M AY 2 7, 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED SERVICES

WEBSITE

ACCOUNTANTS AND CONSULTANTS

WE ARE PROVIDING ACCOUNTING/ AUDITING TAX/ CONSULTING CONTACT: 24 567 251 / 95 498 033

COMPUTER

COMPUTER

CLASSES

NRI

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price.

Contact: http//webviewoman

GOOD NEWS Ayurvedic massage backache, joint pain & neck pain etc.

Contact: 98254909

Ready / under construction apartments / villas / row houses / shops, available for sale in North / South Goa (India). tel # 95867021 E- mail tonynoronha@rocketmail.com Residential plot 47 cents, also as 10-15 cents plots at Manjapra 15kms from Nedumbassery Airport with calm and beautiful surroundings.

Price IRS.180,000/cent.

Contact 9193 6563

CHANGE OF NAME

MATRIMONIAL

I Ramandeep Singh (holder of Indian passport No. J 1342004) Son of Mohinder Singh having permanent residence in Vill- Barsal, PO - Udhopur, Distt – Jalandhar (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Ibri, PO. Box – 273, Postal Code -511 (complete postal in Oman) intend to change my name from Ramandeep Singh (old name) to Ramandeep Singh (Given name) Grewal (Sur name) (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

KERALA NAIR BOY working in Muscat, age 31 ,Height 165cm.

Seeking alliance from Nair / Nambiar girls, especially from north Malabar area. Manager visa with family status GSM: 96344388

I, Ashvini Sunil (holder of Indian Passport No. H6685906) daughter of Bindu Madhavarao Kavathekar having permanent address in 113rd main Nehru Nagar, Gokul Road Hubli Dharwad 580030 Karnataka (complete postal address in India) and presently residing at P. O. Box No. 1834, PC No. 114, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman (complete postal address in Oman), intend to change my name from Ashvini Sunil (old name) to Ashvini Sunil Hattiholi (new name) for all practical purposes. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, PC 112, Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman.

Alliance invited for a Hindu, Ezhava male 28, 5”8” working as a machinist in a well established company in Oman. Contact: 98323862 We are Muslim family seeking alliance for our son interested families. Contact 97664009 Kerala Nair girl, B.Com, 22 yrs, 5.2” very fair, slim, (Star Uthrattathi) Presently working in infosis, Chennai. Financially sound, from parents of nair boys from Trissur, Palakkad and Eranakulam & Calicut dist. .

Contact :0091 8301865688 email: raveendrandr@yahoo.com Alliance invited for a Nair girl 24 yrs, 5ft, 1”, fair, slim, B.Tech graduate reputed family of Ernakulam dist. (Star Thiruvonam Sudhajathakam) financially sound, from parents of B.Tech nair boys from Trissur, Palakkad and Eranakulam dist. . Contact :00919495924302 email: raveendrandr@yahoo.com Hindu Ezhava family, settled in Muscat looking for suitable groom working within Oman for their daughter 25 yrs (MBA) working with a reputed company in Muscat.

Contact : 98689663

Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

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