Times of Oman - May 28, 2015

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KEEPING YOUR COOL THIS SUMMER

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THURSDAY, May 28, 2015 / 9 Sha’aban 1436 AH

CABLES

HM sends greetings MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Dr Mulatu Teshome of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations along with his best wishes of good health and happiness to President Teshome and his country’s people further progress.

Azerbaijan His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of congratulations to President Ilham Heydar Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of his country’s National Day. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes of good health and happiness to President Aliyev and his country’s people further progress and prosperity. -ONA TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

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Despite the mass

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arrest of 1,000 expats on the airport project, hundreds still queue daily for illegal employment

REJIMON K

reji@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: It’s 5am and the streets of Hamriyah are packed as hundreds of desperate workers queue, hoping to get picked to work on building sites around Oman.

Some know they are breaking the law, others don’t, thinking they hold what has been dubbed ‘a free visa’ which allows them to work, in

QUEUEING FOR WORK: Workers board a bus in a hurry to reach their workplace in Muscat. - Photo: Cio Datan

reality that won’t save them from a prison cell and deportation.

It is a scene repeated daily where agents haggle for labourers for ongoing projects, the worker getting just 600 baizas per hour, while the man hiring him pockets

400 baizas. When the deal is done they board buses and cabs which flood the streets.

Less than a week has passed since the Ministry of Manpower officials swooped and arrested 1,000 Asians for illegally work-

ing on the new airport project, but when Times of Oman visited Hamriyah, the raids seemed to have made little dent in the clamour for illegal jobs.

“There are hundreds of workers in Hamriyah who are ready to

be hired on a daily basis. We come daily at around 5am. By that time agents are ready with small and big buses to hire and transport us.

According to our skills and nature of the job, we agree and take the offer. Only a few go for the jobs which are mentioned on the labour card. Majority are ready to take up any kind of offer,” a Bangladeshi worker said on the condition of anonymity.

“We get 600 baizas per hour. But actually the payment is around OMR1. The agent who hires us keeps 400 baizas,” said the worker who was waiting to be picked by his agent.

Meanwhile, another worker told Times of Oman, “I was told that it’s free visa. I paid the agent back in Bangladesh OMR1,500 for the visa. >A6

M U S C AT A I R P O R T F LY O V E R P R O J E C T S

‘Hard work pays’

Water pipe transfer plan deferred

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“I never got tuitions. But I knew what was going on at various tuitions in Sohar,” said Archana C M. >A3

Staff Reporter MUSCAT: Anticipating a water crisis, the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) has postponed the transfer of water pipelines affected by the Muscat airport flyover projects, the authority stated in a press release.

The transfer of pipelines, which

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Talks between Iran and world powers aimed at finalising a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme could go beyond June 30. >A7

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Iranian car plant

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No such thing as a ‘free visa’, illegal workers told

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An Iranian carmaker has given a proposal to build a car assembling unit in Oman. >B1

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A passion for pictures

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will connect the expanded parts of the Barka plant, was scheduled for Thursday.

“For the last two days, there has been large-scale consumption of water which indicates that there may be a big shortage during the scheduled transfer and connecting process,” said the PAEW, adding that it will work to re-schedule

the disconnection process. Many parts of the capital city are facing water shortage for the last few weeks. “There is an acute shortage of water in Wadi Kabir area and it is continuing for the last few weeks,” said a resident.

Barka residents also complained of water shortage while speaking to the Times of Oman.

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

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OMR1.7b spent so far on Duqm’s infrastructure SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY VISIT

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SEZAD is keen on

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providing facilities to investors, whether from inside or outside the Sultanate, said Ismail bin Ahmed Al Balushi, deputy CEO of SEZAD

MUSCAT: About OMR1.7 billion has so far been spent by the government on the infrastructure of Special Economic Zone Authority Duqm (SEZAD), including the dock, the port and the internal roads of the region, Ismail bin Ahmed Al Balushi, deputy CEO of SEZAD, said in an interview.

This is in addition to the sums paid by Omran for building A’Duqm Crowne Plaza and Al Madinah hotels, he added. SEZAD was established in 2011 to regularise investments in the zone, which stretches over 1,745 kilometres. It

SEZD aims to increase the contribution of the private sector in the GDP and generate job opportunities for Omanis, said Ismail bin Ahmed Al Balushi, deputy CEO of SEZAD. – ONA

has developed a master plan for 50 per cent of the zone.

He said the government is currently setting up the Special Economic Zone in Duqm or SEZD, in a bid to enhance the GDP and enhance the contribution of nonoil sectors in the GDP. The SEZD’s aim is to increase the contribution of the private sector in the GDP, in addition to generating job opportunities for Omanis and develop-

ing the Governorate of Al Wusta while ensuring balanced development in all governorates.

Regarding the industrial projects, Al Balushi said that an agreement was recently signed for the production of castor oil in an Omani - Indian partnership.

There are many other industrial projects being studied, he added.

Ismail Al Balushi said SEZAD is keen on providing facilities to investors, whether from inside or outside the Sultanate, and added that it has established two onestop stations in the governorates of Muscat and Al Wusta.

He said that officials at Iskan Oman are in the final stages of constructing a private hospital, through an Omani-Kuwaiti joint venture, which is expected to open next year.

He added that SEZAD has two applications to build two international schools with local and foreign investments, in addition to small and medium industrial projects mostly by Omani investors.

Regarding the incentives and facilities given to investors, Al

Balushi said that there are various incentives to attract local and foreign investors, including custom-free goods, 30-year tax free incentives, no minimum limit for capitals, full ownership for foreign investors and no limits on transferring capital and profits.

Regarding the contribution of SEZAD on the GDP of the Sultanate, he said that studies conducted for the projects which will be completed by 2020 indicated that the contribution will be 5 per cent.

He hoped to achieve this percentage and increase it in the future, he added.

Jobs for Omanis Regarding job opportunities for Omani youth, he said that according to the designed plan the population of the area will be 65,000, including the employees, their families and students.

He was confident that the economic situation would improve and SEZAD will be an engine for investment due to its strategic location, its logistic services and proximity to the Asian and African markets and the international trade routes, in addition to its closeness to big economic entities like India and the privileges and incentives the authorities were being given by the government.

W E E K LY R O U N D U P

53 illegal foreign workers arrested, 44 others deported Times News Service MUSCAT: A total 53 people were arrested from different wilayats for entering Oman illegally.

The arrests were made by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), in cooperation with the military and security personnel. They also deported 44 people of different nationalities who were arrested while attempting to enter the Sultanate illegally.

Drug traffickers The Directorate General of Combatting Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (DGCNPS) from the North Batinah police arrested three locals for possession, trafficking and abuse of narcotics in Shinas wilayat.

An ROP source said they arrested the suspects based on intelligence reports about their whereabouts and on being searched they were found in possession of 83 capsules of morphine.

Meanwhile, DGCNPS arrested an Asian national for possession and trafficking of narcotics. Police found a plastic bag and two plastic wraps filled with marijuana in his vehicle. Upon searching his home, they found a medium sized suit case with three large plastic wraps of marijuana.

Police arrested three citizens for possession, trafficking and abuse of narcotics in Shinas wilayat. – Supplied picture

Stealing from cars A person was arrested for stealing valuables from parked cars at a local store in Amerat.

A source from the Amerat Police said they received a tip-off that a car was about to be broken into and they rushed to the scene.

Through eyewitness accounts and statements, the ROP was able to arrest the suspect.

When the suspect was questioned on his modus operandi, he said that he pushed down the windows of the vehicles which were not completely shut, until he could reach inside and open the door. ROP advised people not to leave personal belongings or valuables in their cars.

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Hard work pays, says Indian exam topper in Oman Archana C M, an Indian School Sohar student who scored 491 out of 500 in CBSE Class XII examinations, believes consistent effort brought her success

PERSEVERING: Twelve to four-

teen hours of dedicated studies each day during study holiday has borne fruit. – Supplied photo

RAHUL DAS

rahuldas@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: At a time when even primary school students take private tuitions, this year’s Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII examination topper in Oman swears by the do-it-yourself approach.

“I never attended tuitions. But I admit that I used to stay updated on what was going on at various tuitions in Sohar,” said Archana C M, the Indian School Sohar student who scored 98.2 per cent marks.

Her scores bear a striking resemblance to what her hero, Virendra Sehwag manages in a cricket Test series when in form — a century in Chemistry, 99 in Mathematics and Informatics Practices, 98 in Physics and the lowest score of 95, in English.

Twelve to fourteen hours of dedicated studies during the study holiday time each day has

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borne fruit. Archana has beaten the competition by a mile with a grand total of 491 out of 500, going a step closer to her dream to pursue research at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore after cracking the CBSE examination 2015. The daughter of Manoj Kumar and Jerly Manoj did her entire schooling in Oman and has been in Sohar since Class 4.

“On a school day, I studied for about six hours and I used to study even before school time because I liked studying in the morning,” she told the Times of Oman in an exclusive interview on Wednesday from her hometown in India.

Her brother, Anand Krishna is in Class 7. She started her prepara-

tion in mid-March 2014 when the school opened for class 12. “All my teachers made it clear to us that we had to put in our best efforts this year,” she said.

She confessed that Physics was always challenging, adding, “I had performed poorly in Physics in Class XI when compared to the other subjects, so I invested maximum time on Physics.”

She said that during her preparation, she used to go for long walks in the park and occasionally used to dance, and added, “It was not on a daily basis but only when I got bored.” During the examinations, she said it was important to stay relaxed.

Tough paper “I was upset by my Physics examination and that affected my last minute Chemistry revision. I was able to stay on track only because of the daily prayers,” she said. Regarding the key to her success, she said it was just consistent effort.

Choosing the right reference books was also one of things that helped her on the road to success, said Archana, adding, “Rely only on one good book for each subject and develop a rapport with your teachers. It is much better to get your doubts cleared by your teachers rather than just asking your friend. They help you to stay focussed throughout the year.”

Archana also said that it was very important to try out the question papers of previous years with the same time restrictions.

“I had completed the set of papers that I had by the end of December itself. This gave me ample time to get all my doubts cleared.

After that I focussed only on revising, going through the notes I had prepared, revising the textbook etc,” she said.

OMAN

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

OMAN INVESTMENT

Stronger rial set to boost investments in European property Times News Service MUSCAT: European Union has been at the centre of financial difficulties since the Great Recession, with positive economic news from the bloc remaining limited.

With the Omani rial pegged to the US dollar and performing strongly, investment in European property is expected to rise markedly, according to leading international real estate consultancy, Cluttons.

European allure Faisal Durrani, Cluttons’ international research manager explained, “There is no doubt that the performance of the US dollar has unlocked the door for a significant potential upturn in cross border property investment. The weakening of the euro means that rial buyers are now about 23 per cent richer than this time last year, in euro terms. This clearly makes a EU-based property investment particularly attractive.

“With most GCC states main-

taining a fixed peg to the US dollar, they are all well positioned to leverage this tremendous currency advantage that does not look set to weaken in the short term, especially as the Greek financial saga lingers,” he further said.

Joanna Leverett, head of international residential agency added, “We know through our research that property is always a favourite investment asset class amongst the world’s wealthy and London, along with other key European capitals, consistently features on top of property investment hot-spot lists.”

“Our new office in Andalucia, in southern Spain has been a runaway success. British buyers in particular have been quick to sense the bottoming out of the Spanish property market and with the pound sterling retaining its edge over the euro, buyers in the United Kingdom (UK) are rapidly snapping up second homes across the sun drenched Spanish coast. And this is a pattern we are seeing echoed across southern Europe. The rich Islamic heritage of southern

Euros per Omani rial

two-year evolution May 27

2.60 The weakness of the Euro means that rial buyers are now about 23% richer than this time last year.

2.45 2.30 May 27

2.15

2.02

2.00

May 27

1.90

1.85 2013

2014

Spain is likely to add to the overall appeal to GCC buyers,” she said.

Cluttons also believes that the surprise result in the UK general election means that the country is set to enjoy an extended period of economic stability and growth, while the continuity of the governing Conservative Party is ex-

Zubair initiative reaches out to families for autism awareness Times News Service

2015 Graphics

Source: xe.com

‘FOR THEM’

MUSCAT: “For Them”, an initiative by the Zubair Corporation, designed to train parents and families of autistic children on best practices and guidance, is reaching out to parents in different governorates of Oman.

It recently held its second training course at the Majan Hall, Sohar, North Al Batinah Governorate, with an open invitation to the public, parents of autistic children and professionals and individuals interested in knowing about autism. This second training course, held under the initiative “For Them,” is supervised by the Social Advisory Committee at the Zubair Corporation.

The initiative falls within the framework of the Zubair Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to achieve social responsibility. The corporation formed a committee fully dedicated to social communication comprising a group of prominent Omani personalities from different disciplines and specialisations who have a significant role in serving the community through voluntarily work. The social advisory committee has carefully selected a number of social initiatives to be launched during this year, of which this initiative is one.

“For Them” is designed to train and qualify parents and families of

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pected to eliminate any anxieties surrounding previous worries of a hung parliament.

“The threat of a coalition government that excluded the Conservatives and one that planned to undermine the housing policies introduced under David Cameron has now dissipated, much to the

delight of the investment community. We can now safely say that the risk of an annual “Mansion Tax”, aimed at properties valued at over £2 million (OMR1.19 million) has completely dissipated. The ‘Mansion Tax’ really would have been a tax on London and the South East, where almost 90 per cent of the UK’s £2 million plus properties are concentrated”, said Leverett.

The other policy being touted before the election was a potential rent cap, but this has also quickly faded. The disadvantage for the UK from a restrictive rent cap would be the undermining of its private rented sector, which is currently driving substantial capital inflows from overseas not only into London, but up and down the country.

Durrani concluded, “The London housing market is now poised to come out of a holding pattern that stalled growth in the lead up to one of the most closely contested elections in recent history.

Vendors and investors withdrew from the market early in the year

and activity was trending downwards across the board. While we do not anticipate a sudden surge in demand this year, the stability offered by a landscape of political continuity is expected to translate into a resumption in transactional activity, which will of course remain curtailed by a general lack of supply and restrictions on mortgage lending.”

“Still, despite this domestic backdrop, GCC-based buyers are currently looking at an 8 per cent to 10 per cent currency advantage due to the strength of the US dollar. And with our forecasts showing house price growth of almost 18 per cent over the next five years, the historic capital value growth appeal of London will continue driving inward investment. In fact, net inward institutional commercial property investment into the UK during Q1 was almost 150 per cent up on the first quarter of 2014 and was led chiefly by dollar based funds, which accounted for 40 per cent of the total, according to Property Data.

He ‘clicks’ with subject before clicking camera Ahmed Al Shukaili’s latest exhibition, ‘Glistens with Grey’,

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION: The second training course, held under

the initiative ‘For Them,’ was supervised by the Social Advisory Committee at the Zubair Corporation. – Supplied Photo

opened at the Omani-French Centre

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autistic children on best practices and guidance through a group of trainees who also have autistic children and have gained a high level of training in one of the internationally recognised institutions.

The Zubair Corporation selected a group of such parents to provide them with training sessions in one of the international Institutes in the United States to qualify them as trainers and transfer their expertise to other fami-

lies with autistic children through training courses to be held in various governorates of the Sultanate.

on Tuesday

Second training in Sohar After the broad response and success of the first training session held by the Autism Initiative team in Muscat, the second was held in north Al Batinah for parents and families of autistic children, specialists and people interested in autism.

This was done to familiarise them on dealing with autistic children through the experiences of trainers who attended the workshops at the institutes in the US. It was free to the public and to all those who were interested.

SARAH MACDONALD

sarah@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Elderly men with wrinkles, white beards, and expressive eyes are a common subject for photographers in Oman, but not everyone can capture them with the passion, skill and artistry of Ahmed Al Shukaili.

Al Shukaili’s newest exhibition, “Glistens with Grey,” which opened at the Omani-French Centre on Tuesday evening, focuses solely on black and white portraits of these wizened men.

The award-winning photographer said he is fascinated by their facial expressions.

Facets of faces “I look for unique expressions.

To me those wrinkles, beards, the roughness of their face, the expressions are what attracts me.

The more lines they have, I feel like there are more stories to be told,” Al Shukaili said.

The collection of 20 photographs reveals a variety of men from different regions of Oman, from the Bedouins in Al Sharqiyah to Dhofari men. Though each is different, the lines in their faces and expressions in their eyes, which range from friendly to sad to mischievous to serious, reveal that each one has experienced many things in his life, witnessing the development of their country.

Likely places Al Shukaili goes to places where he is more likely to find older men, such as souks, camel races and shows, and festivals or celebrations. “I go to a place and I don’t have expectations but I have to work out my eyes and look around and see for the unique things. Sometimes we spend the whole day and we see nothing,” he explained. Sometimes he doesn’t find any faces that inspire him; other times he may be interested in photographing a person but that person refuses to be photographed.

The art behind the photographs is much more than Al Shukaili’s strong composition, lighting and choice of subjects. Developing a rapport with each man is also a skill and talent he has developed over the years.

Diverse reactions Though some get upset when he

DIFFERENT FOLKS: The collection of 20 photographs reveals

a variety of men from different regions of Oman — from the Bedouins in Al Sharqiyah to Dhofari men. – Shabin E/Times of Oman

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asks to photograph them, many are willing subjects. “They are really friendly, especially if you go personal with them, greet them and say hello. Have a chat about the weather, about the dates and whether it’s the harvest season,” Al Shukaili said.

Once he has found common ground with the man and spent some time visiting with him, he tells them he likes how he looks and would like to take his portrait. Assuming the man agrees, he spends some time taking a number of shots from different angles, too.

“They say it’s more important to click with the subject than to click your camera,” Al Shukaili said.

Catching the moment Sometimes to catch a certain moment, he takes the photograph first and then approaches the man and shows him. At times he has been asked to delete the photographs, which he willingly does out of respect, but other times the men are happy to see the results.

Some of Al Shukaili’s portraits have even become very special to the subjects’ families. In a couple

of instances, they were among the last photographs taken of the old men in their lifetimes. Family members have asked Al Shukaili for copies of the photos after the men had died. “[Twice] someone has approached me and wanted his father’s photo because they don’t have a good one. I feel really great,” he said. “Glistens with Grey,” which was inaugurated by Roland Dubertrand, Ambassador of France to Oman, and Ahmed Al Busaidi, Director of the Photographic Society of Oman, will be on display at the Omani-French Centre until June 18.

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 Our new non-stop service between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur will be warmly welcomed by customers in both Oman and Malaysia Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, Oman Air’s chief operating officer

OMAN NON-STOP AND DIRECT

AIRPORT RAID

Oman Air’s daily flights to Kuala Lumpur from June 21 Times News Service MUSCAT: Oman Air is to step up operations from Muscat to Kuala Lumpur by offering daily nonstop flights to the Malaysian capital from June 21.

The new service will meet the growing demand for fast and convenient flights between the two cities. Flights from Muscat will depart at 9.00 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 20.10, while flights from Kuala Lumpur will depart at 9.45 and touch down Muscat at 12.30.

Oman Air currently offers flights between Muscat and Kuala

Lumpur both as a sole operator and under codeshare partnerships with Malaysian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines. Customers have the convenience of choosing from up to six flights per day, each of which makes either one or two stops before arriving at its final destination.

From June 21, however, customers will have the opportunity to fly non-stop and direct, reducing flight time and ensuring that Oman Air’s award-winning products and services can be enjoyed to the full.

Announcing the new service, Abdulrahman Al Busaidy, Oman

Air’s chief operating officer , commented, “Oman Air is delighted to be once again increasing the convenience and range of choices that we offer. Our new non-stop service between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur will be warmly welcomed by customers in both Oman and Malaysia.”

“Malaysia is a very popular destination with passengers from both Oman and locations throughout our international network. With the holiday season starting in June, and the Eid holidays following in July, we anticipate very strong demand for flights to Malaysia,” he said.

A1 Crackdown on illegal workers < FROM

“Moreover, I pay a monthly amount to the sponsor. Some pay OMR15 and some OMR30. Now, when we are arrested for labour law violation, we are being held in prison for a certain period and sent back. We have to leave the country halfway itself. Loans will be pending back in home country.

Don’t know what the solution is for this.”

The worker showed a money deposit receipt which he claimed to be of the transaction he has made for his sponsor.

According to an official from the Bangladesh embassy, there are 564 of his countrymen among the workers who were arrested in the mass expat raid at the airport.

When officials questioned the construction workers, they were found to be having visas of tailors, barbers and restaurant staff.

“All of them are in Samayil jail.

They will be deported,” the official said, adding that the company which hired them was illegal.

The Ministry of Manpower has vowed to clamp down on the issue, with one official saying, “It is a punishable offence. More steps will be carried out to wipe out this wrong practice.”

‘Free visa’ Under the so-called “free visa” system, an expat gives a monthly payment to his sponsor who allows him to work for another job, in reality this illegal.

“The concept of free visa doesn’t exist in Oman. All those who are involved in the racket should be punished. The sponsor who is allowing a worker to work on the so-called free visa system, the companies hiring such workers and the worker who is involved in such practice should be penalised,” said Tawfiq Al Lawati,

member of Majlis Al Shura. “The authorities concerned should step up raids to nab the violators. Only through strong steps this practice can be stopped,” the Shura member added.

The Shura member, quoting an official document, said that out of 1.6 million workers, including Omanis and expatriates, only 600,000 are getting salary through banks.

Since last year, payment of workers’ salary through banks has become mandatory.

“The bank salary payment document shows that either the rest run their own business or they are on a free visa system,” the Shura member said.

The Shura member added that commercial licences of employees who are working in government and private sector should be cancelled because these people are reportedly behind the ‘free visa’ system.

A senior official from the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that hiring workers to do a job contrary to that mentioned in their labour card is wrong.

Commerce and Industry (OCCI).

“Moreover, the main contracting company should not be subletting their work to other many companies. It should be given to only one firm,” the OCCI official added.

Wrong practice “This is a wrong practice and it should be stopped. However, the business has to run. So, the government should make sure that enough visas are provided to contractors to carry out projects. The Ministry should allow companies to bring in workers on proper visas, or how will the business run? At the same time, they should develop a mechanism to stop this practice,” said Mohammed Hassan Al Ansi, vice-chairman of the Committee of Logistics and Transportation Affairs at the Oman Chamber of

Reality check Shaji Sebastin, a Muscat-based social worker, said, “The reality is that, workers from Asian countries just board the flight with whatever visa they get. They may be a good mason but will be coming on a barber visa. He won’t mind what visa he has. His aim is to just board the flight. That is why these kinds of cases happen.”

According to the Article 18 of Oman Labour Law, the employer shall not let any non-Omani worker authorised to work for him, to work with any other employer.

Not enough visas One construction company official claimed that most of the companies are not getting enough visas to carry out their projects. “This situation is continuing for the last two years. So, they are compelled to depend on the so-called ‘free visa’ holders.

Meanwhile, some of the companies see it as a good opportunity to cut their expenses.

“When they can hire such workers, they don’t need to pay for visa charges, medical care, accommodation, food, air ticket and other things. They just have to pick the workers in the morning and drop them after work. It is a wrong practice,” a construction company official said on the condition of anonymity.

A social worker said that this practice has been going on for a long time.

TENDER BOARD

Contracts worth OMR13.68m awarded MUSCAT: Contracts worth OMR13,679,252 were awarded by the Tender Board for the following projects: Development of the fishing harbour in the wilayat of Quriyat (OMR6,777,298).

Provision of supervision services for the dualisation of Jibreen/Ibri road (second part) (OMR242,325).

Construction of communication network at the Royal Camp in Saih Al Ma’ali in the wilayat of Quriyat (OMR107,000).

Additional works for the construction of bridges at Salalah–Muscat crossroad with A’ Ribat road and the dualisation of A’Ribat till A’Dahareez roundabout in Salalah(OMR5,025,960).

Work for the provision of consultancy services for the design and supervision of Saham New Hospital in North Al Batinah (OMR739,958).

Work for the extension of Xray and surgery building at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (OMR257,720).

Work for the provision of consultancy services for the design and supervision of Al Nama’a Hospital in North Al Sharqiyah (OMR209,728). Work for the provision of consultancy services for the design and supervision of accident, emergency and burns unit at Khoulah Hospital (OMR136,800). - ONA

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5 Iranian negotiators are working, making efforts, breaking sweat... to obtain what is in the interests of the country and the regime Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme leader

FINALISING DEAL

Nuclear talks to go beyond June 30 deadline: Araghchi TEHRAN: Talks between Iran and world powers aimed at finalising a deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme could go beyond a June 30 deadline, senior Iranian negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the work of his country’s nuclear negotiators after they came under heavy criticism from the camp in parliament.

Official IRNA news agency quoted Araghchi as saying: “We are not at the point where we can say that negotiations will be completed quickly — they will continue until the deadline and could continue beyond that.” “We are not bound by the schedule. We are trying to have a good agreement with all the details meeting our expectations,” Araghchi said, describing the efforts to draw up a final text as “hard work”.

Araghchi has been attending a fresh round of talks between Iranian representatives and officials from the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany -- which got under way in Vienna on Tuesday.

The two sides signed a framework agreement on April 2 and aim to seal a final deal by the end of next

NOT BOUND BY SCHEDULE:

Iran’s nuclear negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. – AFP

month to prevent Iran from developing an atomic bomb, in exchange for an easing of crippling economic sanctions. Iranian media quoted deputy oil minister Amirhossein Zamani-Nia as saying on Monday that 20 pages of the text had been written “but there are still disagreements and 30 percent of the work remains to be done.”

Meanwhile, Khamenei in a meeting with members of parliament said that the negotiators, who resumed talks with world powers in Vienna, “are working, making efforts, breaking sweat... to obtain what is in the interests of the country and the regime”.

The intervention from Khame-

DEADLY ATTACK: Smoke billows following an air-strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the headquarters of the Special Security Forces, formerly known as the Central Security, in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Wednesday. – AFP

80 killed in Yemen air raids Saudi-led coalition warplanes and ships also hammered Yemen’s largest military port in the city of Hodeida

CAIRO: Saudi-led air strikes killed at least 80 people near Yemen’s border with Saudi Arabia and in the capital Sanaa on Wednesday, residents said, the deadliest day of bombing in over two months of war in Yemen.

Wednesday’s air raids on the Bakeel Al Meer area in Hajjah province across Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen killed at least 40 people, most of them civilians, local inhabitants said.

Tribesmen aligned with the Houthis have been fighting Saudi ground forces in the area, and border clashes have escalated the conflict between the rebels and the coalition of Gulf Arab states.

“Houthi gunmen were attacking Saudi border positions from this area but the coalition’s planes failed to hit the fighters and bombed civilians (instead),” one resident said by telephone.

Special forces Several hours later, air strikes on a special forces base allied with the Houthis in central Sanaa, the Houthi-run state news agency Saba said, in an account confirmed by residents.

“Around 40 people were mar-

tyred and more than 100 others were wounded, according to a preliminary toll, in bombing by the Saudi aggression’s planes on the Sabaaeen area in the capital Sanaa,” the Saba dispatch said.

A Yemeni soldier who survived the attack said the raid hit a warehouse where soldiers and Houthi militiamen were receiving their weapons. “So far we’re not sure how many are dead,” the soldier said. “There were many people at the entrance to the warehouse, getting their weapons, farmers, cooks (and also soldiers); these poor people were standing at the entrance to the warehouse. Two strikes, two hits, (occurred) one right after the other. The warehouses are completely destroyed.”

Yemeni army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, forced from power by protests in 2011, are fighting alongside the Houthis.

Coalition warplanes and ships also hammered Yemen’s largest military port in the Red Sea city of Hodeida at dawn on Wednesday, a local official said, the most serious attack on the country’s navy in over two months of war.

Hodeida and its military bases are aligned with the Houthis, the most powerful force in Yemen’s complex conflict, which also involves southern secessionist militia, local tribal forces and militants such as Al Qaeda’s regional wing.

“The naval base was bombed by aircraft and ships. Large parts of it were destroyed and two warships were hit, and one of them, named the Bilqis, was destroyed and sank onto its side, and five gunboats shelled the administrative buildings of the base,” the official said by telephone from Hodeida. — Reuters

nei, who has the final say on all matters of state in Iran, came after several deputies accused the negotiators of having betrayed the Iran by making key concessions.

In footage filmed on a mobile phone and widely circulated on social media, MP Mehdi Kouchakzadeh went so far as to accuse Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of “treason” as leader of the negotiating team. But Khamenei, quoted on his website, said: “On nuclear issues, our positions are clear and the same as I have expressed publicly... These are the positions of the regime.”

Critics accuse negotiators of having accepted demands for international inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites, a position which Khamenei has totally ruled out.

Zarif has said “some access” could be allowed under an Additional Protocol of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but not inspections of military sites.

In his bid to restore order on the home front, Khamenei called for “mutual respect” -- without accusations and suspicions -- between parliament and the government. Members of parliament must maintain a “respectful attitude towards ministers” and the government must avoid insulting deputies, he said. — Agencies

REGION

A7

A8

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 Following a 10-day offensive, Kurdish fighters took control early this week of 14 Assyrian villages that IS had controlled since February Rami Abdel Rahman, Director, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

REGION WA R W I T H I N C O U N T RY

Kurd forces drive out IS rebels from Christian villages in Syria BEIRUT: Kurdish forces have driven the IS militant group from more than a dozen Assyrian Christian villages that the extremists had captured in northeastern Syria, a monitor said on Wednesday.

“Following a 10-day offensive, Kurdish fighters took control early this week of 14 Assyrian villages that IS had controlled since February,” said Rami Abdel Rahman,

director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Assyrian Christians have been under increasing threat since IS seized control of large parts of Syria.

Thousands of them fled an assault by the militants in the northeastern province of Hasakeh in February after a spate of kidnappings by IS, which is still holding 210 Assyrians hostage.

Assyrians number about 30,000 among Syria’s 1.2 million Christians and mostly live in 35 villages in Hasakeh, all of which are now held by Kurdish or regime forces.

Osama Edward, head of the Sweden-based Assyrian Network for Human Rights, said that the Kurds’ recapture of the villages “was made possible by intense raids by the international coalition” led by

the United States against IS. He said that photos “show a lot of destruction of houses”.

“Most people are afraid to return because they fear that IS booby-trapped their houses before fleeing,” he added.

The Observatory also reported that Kurdish militia took control of the strategic village of Al Mabrukah, southwest of the flashpoint

town of Ras Al Ain on the SyrianTurkish border. According to Abdel Rahman, the Kurdish advance could also open the road towards Tal Abyad, a border town used by IS as a gateway from Turkey.

Over the course of 20 days, the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) seized control of 4,000 square kilometres of territory from IS in Hasakeh province, Ab-

del Rahman said. The extremist group’s areas of control in Hasakeh are now limited to the province’s southern fringes and the border with neighbouring Raqa, he added.

Also on Wednesday, a rights group said the border town of Kobane -- where Kurdish forces backed by US-led air strikes pushed back IS in January -- was a “city of rubble”. — AFP

Iraqi forces battle IS on Ramadi outskirts ‘Iraqi security and Hashed forces took control of both neighbourhoods.

They also managed to enter the university but have

BATTLE-READY: Iraqi paramilitary forces riding military vehicles travel from Lake Tharthar toward Ramadi to fight against IS group militants, west of Samarra, Iraq, on Wednesday. – Reuters

yet to liberate it’

BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces took up positions around Ramadi on Wednesday, seizing two districts after clashes with militants of the IS group.

Iraqi forces fought IS militants on the southern outskirts of Ramadi, the provincial capital of Iraq’s western Anbar province which the extremists seized on May 17.

They moved into the districts of Taesh and Humeyrah and also entered the neighbouring Anbar university compound, an army colonel on the ground said.

“Iraqi security and Hashed

forces took control of both neighbourhoods. They also managed to enter the university but have yet to liberate it,” he said.

Hashed Al Shaabi is an umbrella group for mostly militias and volunteers that the government called in after Ramadi fell to IS. The recaptured areas are outside the main road circling the city from the south and government forces continued their effort to seal off Ramadi, but an assault to retake it had not started in earnest. The three-day IS blitz, which saw the city fall after a year and a half of resistance and dealt Baghdad its worst military setback in

almost a year, led to a chaotic retreat of the security forces.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi had been reluctant to send in the Hashed Al Shaabi.

With backing from the United States, he had favoured training up local tribal forces to be incorporated in the Hashed.

But the abysmal performance of the security forces in Ramadi earlier this month left him with no other options and militias are now heavily involved in operations to pin back IS in Anbar. The operation led by paramilitaries to drive IS militants was rebranded on Wednesday after criticism that

the name chosen for the push was overtly sectarian. State TV said the paramilitaries had renamed the campaign “Labeyk Ya Iraq” (At Your Service Iraq) on Wednesday, a spokesman for the Hashid Shaabi said. “Now we have opted for ‘Iraq’ and there is no problem,” Karim Al Nouri said.

Two thousand more militiamen arrived at the Habbaniya base east of Ramadi on Wednesday, as insurgents laid mines on the city’s eastern and southern outskirts.

The militia and a smaller contingent of security forces are within 6km (4 miles) of the city’s southern outskirts and about 11km (7 miles) to the east. t’s unclear when they will begin an assault on Ramadi.

The insurgents are trying to consolidate their gains in the rest of Anbar before the military campaign begins. There were also several small skirmishes, tribal fighters said.

Militants ambushed a convoy of police and tribal fighters east of Ramadi, killing six of them.

Northwest of Ramadi, clashes broke out between pro-government fighters from the Jaghaifa tribe and IS insurgents. At the nearby Haditha dam, insurgents fired four Grad rockets at a key military command centre. — Agencies

A10

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL

PRAYER TIMINGS

W E AT H E R

Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha Fajr (Tomorrow)

12.09pm 3.29pm 6.52pm 8.13pm 3.55am

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 Al Hashar, Ruwi1 24 Hr Br. Tel. 24537080 Muscat, Al Sarooj. Tel: 24695536 Belqees, Al Khoudh (OIB) Tel. 24535398 Belqees, Ma’abelah. Tel: 24454624 Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah.

Tel. 23291635

CLEAR to partly cloudy skies over the coastal areas of Dhofar governorate and adjoining mountains. Mainly clear skies over rest of the Sultanate with chance of dust raising winds over desert and open areas and chances of clouds development over Al-Hajar mountains towards afternoon. Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea. EXPECTED WIND: Along the coastal areas of Oman Sea wind will be northerly to northeasterly light to moderate during day becoming southwesterly light to moderate at night and along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea wind will be southwesterly moderate to fresh while over the rest of the Sultanate wind will be northwesterly light to moderate.

SEA STATE: Moderate to rough along the Musandam governorate and the southeastern coasts with a maximum wave height of 1.25 metres.

HORIZONTAL VISIBILITY: Good over most of the Sultanate becoming poor during dust rising.

THE NEXT 48 HOURS OUTLOOK: Chances of clouds development over Al-Hajar mountains during afternoon. Chances of late night to early morning low level clouds or fog patches along the coastal areas of Arabian Sea.

HOSPITALS 1st Chiropractic Centre: 24472274 Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre: 24485052 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 Hamdan Hospital: 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC: 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital: 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency: 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar: 26751128,

OMAN Max 41 Min 27

Max 42 Min 30

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

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

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, SatWed 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, Thursday: 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

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

Max 43 Min 31 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)

Max 42 Min 26

Max 42 Min 26

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

Max 42 Min 30

Max 42 Min 26

NEPAL: Glaciers in the Everest region could shrink by at least 70 per

cent or even disappear entirely by the end of the century as a result of climate change, scientists have warned. - AFP

Max 33 Min 28 —www.met.gov.om

WORLD

Max 27 Min 19 Max 26 Min 13

Max 46 Min 27 Max 26 Min 15

Max 20 Min 17

Max 24 Min 14

Max 37 Min 29

Max 23 Min 28

Abu Dhabi Doha Dubai Kuwait Manama Riyadh Athens Baghdad Barbados Beijing Berlin Boston Brussels Buenos Aires Cairo Chicago Colombo Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Harare Hong Kong Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg

Max

Min

38 44 36 40 38 40 25 42 30 29 18 24 15 18 38 26 30 12 13 20 25 29 18 36 22

24 25 25 30 27 23 18 26 27 18 10 17 9 13 17 18 27 9 7 9 8 26 14 14 7

Kuala Lumpur Lisbon London Madrid Manila Mexico City Miami Moscow New Delhi New York Oslo Panama Paris Perth Prague Rio de Janeiro Santiago Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Taipei Tokyo Toronto Vienna

Max

Min

31 31 26 29 33 23 27 26 46 27 15 27 18 19 18 28 19 30 30 14 20 32 28 24 19

25 13 13 13 28 14 25 15 27 19 8 21 10 9 11 23 11 17 28 8 17 26 17 14 12

EVENTS

Muscat International Jewellery Exhibition, Oman

The Home Show - Oman is a 3 day event being held from

International Exhibition Centre , Muscat, Oman , 26-30

27th October to the 29th October 2015 at the Oman

May 2015

International Exhibition Centre in Muscat, Oman.

Global PR Trends Summit, Grand Hyatt Muscat, Muscat, Iran Solo Country Exhibition 2015 - (6 - 10 Jan ’15)

Oman, 31 May-01 Jun 2015 Food & Hospitality Oman, Oman International Exhibition

International Travel and Hospitality show, 14-16 Dec 2015

Centre, Muscat, Oman, 07-09 Sep 2015

Muscat, OIEC.

TO MUSCAT (RUWI)

Operating Days Daily Daily Daily

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

08:50 11:00 14:30 15:45 17:40 18.35 20:20

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52) 17:30 Sinaw

20:50

To Yanqul (Route 54) 14:30 Nizwa 14:30 Yanqul

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 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

08:55 11:40 20:20 14:55 17:40 19:20 22:15

Daily Daily Daily via Ibri Daily Daily Daily Daily

Daily

TO SINAW (Route 52) 07:00 Ruwi

10:25

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

To Yanqul (Route 54) 06:00 Nizwa 06:00 Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 08:00 Nizwa 08:00 Al Araqi

10:20 12:30

Daily Daily

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (Route 54) 15:40 Nizwa 15:40 Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 07:30 Sur 14:30 Sur

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

TO SUR (Route 55) 06:00 Ruwi 14:30 Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

TO FAHUD - YIBAL (Route 62) 06:30 Fahud 06:30 Yibal

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

16:50

Daily

TO MARMUL (Route 101) 06:00 Marmul

16:30

Daily

SALALAH TO DUBAI (Route 102) 15:00 Dubai 07:00

Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (Route 102) 15:00 Salalah 07:00

Daily

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 LISTINGS 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

C II N NE EM MA A S SC CH HE ED DU UL LE E C

BAHJA CINEMA San Andereas (Act, Adv) (3D) PG Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 11:00 am, 5:00, 9:30 & 11:45 pm San Andereas (Act, Adventure) (2D) PG Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 1:00 pm /07:15 pm Mad Max Fury (Act, Adv)(3D) 12+ Cast : Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 5:00 pm /09:15 pm Tomorrowland (Act, Adventure) (PG) Cast : George Clooney, Britt Robertson 3:00 pm, 09:15 pm Two Faces of January (Rom) (PG12) Cast : Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst 1:00 pm, 07:15 pm Maggie (Drama, Horror) (PG12) Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardso 3:00 pm, 11:45 pm Jungle Master (Anim, Adv) (2D) PG Cast : Victoria Justice, David Spade 11:15 am Jungle Master (Animation) (3D) PG Cast : Victoria Justice, David Spade, Josh Peck 1:15 pm /3:15 pm Unfriended (Horror, Thriller) (18+) Cast : Heather Sossaman, Courtney 05:30 pm /11:30 pm Zanket Al Sittat (PG12) Cast : Hassan El Raddad, Amy Samir 11:00 am /07:15 pm

Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2D) (Comedy/Romance) (PG) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz Khan Timings: 06:55pm Gold Class: 06:30pm Tomorrowland (2D)(Sci-Fi) (PG) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson,

Hugh Laurie.

Timings: 3:15 & 9:20pm San Andereas (2D) (Act/Thriller) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 11:15 am San Andereas (3D) (Act/Thriller) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 5:45, 9:40 & 11:45 pm Gold Class: 2:15, 09:00 & 11:15 pm Jungle Master (3D) (Animation) (PG) Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade 11:30 am & 01:30 pm Always Watching (2D) (Horr) (PG12) Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Jake McDorman, Doug Jones 3:15 pm Zanket Al Sittat ( (2D) (Com) (PG12) Cast: Hassan El Raddad, Amy Samir Ghanem 5:00 pm Two Faces of January (2D) (Thr) (PG12) Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst Timings: 1:15 pm Maggie (2D): (Horror) (PG12) Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin 07:50 & 11:45pm

SCREEN 1 Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom) – PG Cast: Kangana Ranaut, R. Madhavan 3.00 pm Welcome to Karachi (Dra/Com) – TBC Cast: Arshad Warsi, Nigel Barber 6.00, 11.30 pm Masss - Tamil (Horror/Com ) – PG12 Cast: Suriya, Nayantara, Parthiban 8.30 pm SCREEN 2 Piku (Drama / Comedy) – PG Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Irrfan Khan; 3.30 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Rom) – PG 6.30, 11.30 pm Welcome to Karachi (Dra) – TBC

9.00 pm SCREEN 3 Gabbar - Hindi (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Akshay Kumar, Shruti Haasan, Kareena Kapoor; 3.30, 9.45 pm Piku (Drama / Comedy) – PG 6.30, 9.00 pm Masss - Tamil (Horror/Dr ) – PG12 11.30 pm

Mad Max: fury road - 3D (12+) Act, Cast : Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron 09:20 , 11:45 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns- 2D (PG) Comedy | Romance Cast : Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Eijaz Khan 09:00 pm San Andreas - 2D (PG) Act | Dr | Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 03:00 pm San Andreas - 3D (PG) Act | Dr Cast : Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario 7:00 , 9:15 , 11:30 pm Jungle Master - 3D (PG) Animation Cast : Victoria Justice, David Spade 5:15 pm Jungle Master - 2D (PG) Animation 3:15 pm The Two Faces of January - 2D (PG12) Romance | Thriller Cast : Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst; 2:30 , 05:00 pm Zanket Al Sitat - 2D (Arb) (PG12) Romance | Comedy Cast : Hassan El Raddad, Amy Samir 5:10 pm Maggie - 2D (PG12) Drama | Horror Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin; 7:10 , 11:50 pm Masss - 2D (T) (PG12) Com |Horror Cast : Suriya, Nayanthara, Pranitha Subhash; 6:00 , 09:00 pm

Unfriended - 2D (18+) Horror | Thriller Cast : Heather Sossaman, Courtney 4:15 , 11:30 pm Tomorrowland - 2D (PG) Act Cast : George Clooney, Britt Robertson, 2:50 , 06:50 pm

San Andreas – 3D (PG) Act, Drama Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 06:45, 09:45, 11:45 pm San Andreas – 2D (PG) Act, Thriller 3:45 pm Masss - 2D (PG12) Comedy, Horror Cast: Suriya, Nayanthara, Pranitha Subhash, 07:15, 08:45 pm Jungle Master - 3D (PG) Anim, Adv Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade; 3:00, 05:45 pm Maggie – 2D (PG12) Drama, Horror, Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 4:40, 08:05, 10:00 pm The Two Faces of January – 2D (PG12) Romance, Thriller Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Kirsten Dunst, 06:20, 11:35 pm Green Street 3: Never Back Down – 2D (12+) Action, Drama Cast: Scott Adkins, Kacey Barnfield 3:15, 11:50 pm The Dinosaur Project - 2D (PG12) Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Richard Dillane, 5:15pm

San Andreas (3D) (Act| Adv) (PG) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino 05:30, 07.30, 09:30, 11.30 pm San Andreas (2D) (Act | Adv ) (PG) 2:00pm Jungle Master (3D) (Animation) (PG) Cast: Victoria Justice, David Spade

4:00 pm Jungle Master (2D) (Animation ) (PG) 2:00 pm Maggie (Drama | Thriller) (PG12) Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson 3:45, 07.30, 11:45pm Zanket Al Sitat (Arabic)(Rom) (PG12) Cast: Hassan El Raddad, Amy Samir Ghanem; 5.30 pm Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Hindi) (Comedy | Romance) (PG) Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan 9:20 pm

San Andreas (2D) (12+) (Act, Drama) 3:00pm San Andreas (3D) (12+) (Act, Thriller) 5:00, 9:15. 11:30pm Maggie (2D) (PG12) (Drama) Breslin; 1:15, 11:45pm Mad Max: Fury Road (3D) (12+) (Action, Adventure, Thriller) 5:00, 7:00pm The Two Faces of January (2D) (PG12) (Romance, Thriller) 12:15pm Unfriended (2D) (18+) (Horror) 2:00, 11:45pm Tomorrowland (2D) (PG) (Act, Mys) Cast: George Clooney, Britt Robertson 12:00, 5:00pm Jungle Master (2D) (PG) (Animation) 11:45am Jungle Master (3D) (PG) (Animation) 3:30pm Always Watching: A Marble Hornets Story (2D) (PG12) (Horror) 7:15pm Zankat Al Sitat (2D) (PG12) (Rom) 7:20pm Welcome to Karachi (2D) (TBC) (Adventure, Comedy, Crime) 9:15 pm Masss (2D) (PG12) (Com, Horror) 2:15, 9:00 pm

Mad Max: Fury Road (Action) Cast: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult Timings : 7.45 pm; CP No : 1273 Unfriended ( Thriller ) Cast : Heather Sossaman, Mathew Bohrer, courtney Halverson Timings: 2.00, 6.00 & 11.55 pm CP No : 1383( 18+) Green Street 3: Never Back Down (Action/Drama ) Cast:Scott Adkins, Kacey Bamfield 12.00, 4.00 & 10.00 pm CP No: 1382 ( 12+ ) Two Faces of January (Rom/Thr ) Cast: Vigo Mortensen, Kristen Dunst Timings: 2.00 & 6.00 pm CP No: 1380 ( PG12 ) San Andreas (Action / Thriller) Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Alexandra Deddario, Carla Gugino Timings : 12.00, 4.00, 8.00, 10.00 & 11.55 pm; CP No: 1381 ( PG )

Film Information - 24540856 / Advance Booking - 24540855 Website: www.albahjacinemaoman.com

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T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

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Never used office to ‘enrich’ myself, says Manmohan Singh’s statement came in the backdrop of former TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal’s allegations that the ex-PM had warned

FORTHRIGHT: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh address-

es the NSUI National Convention in New Delhi on Wednesday. - PTI

him of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licences

NEW DELHI: Under attack over allegations in 2G scam, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday asserted that he had “never used” public office to “enrich” himself, his family or friends.

“As far as I am concerned, I can say in all humility that I have not used my public office to enrich myself, to enrich my family or to enrich my friends. And still the BJP government keeps on harping on this theme of corruption just because it wants to distract the attention of the people to nonissues,” he said in an uncharacteristic hard-hitting speech at a convention organised by Congress’ student wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) here.

Singh’s statement came in the backdrop of former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal’s allegations that Singh had warned him

of harm if he did not cooperate on 2G telecom licences.

Baijal, who was probed for several years in connection with the 2G spectrum allocation scam case, also claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation wanted him to “implicate” Arun Shourie and Ratan Tata in the case.

Latching onto the issue, Bharatiya Janata Party ministers had called the Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government a “coalition in corruption”.

Speaking at the event here, Singh also stoutly defended the performance of the two UPA governments under him while also lauding Rahul Gandhi saying that he has been very active both in and outside Parliament.

“There is a new life in the Congress after the election reverses in 2014. Our Vice President Rahul Gandhi is also very active and vocal both in Parliament and outside Parliament. We must sustain the momentum,” Singh said.

Lauding the NSUI workers for there “timely” agitation on the land acquisition law amendment, Singh said the youth have to play a key role now. Singh said the two-

fold task is to “expose” the failures of the Modi government and highlight the achievements of the UPA regime. Singh claimed that UPA’s policies have led to profound social transformation and unprecedented economic growth.

He also mentioned that during its rule, India had gone on to become the second fastest growing economy after China.

“Many of our programmes are now being repackaged and marketed as initiatives of the BJP government. What the BJP had opposed when we were in power are now being sold as its contribution,” he said.

He referred to the Modi government’s ‘Make in India’ programme saying it was “carbon copy” of schemes and the New Manufacturing Policy of the UPA government.

“It does not surprise us, it is a compliment if BJP takes up the constructive work done by UPA,” he said.

The BJP leadership, he said, had constantly focused on calling UPA corrupt and levelling the charge of policy paralysis, both of which were far from reality. - PTI

INDIA

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Of Afghan minerals and another US failure

Role of psychedelic drugs

O

n balance, you would not be in your right mind, as the saying goes, to voluntarily take psychedelic drugs. Though the longterm physical and psychological effects of LSD are sometimes exaggerated in the public mind, a bad “trip” carries risks. In a medical context, however, psychedelic drugs may be beneficial. That, after all, is where LSD and others have their origins, before their widespread abuse and subsequent prohibition. The British Medical Journal — hardly populated by ageing, addled hippies — carries an article by a leading psychiatrist suggesting that a change in the law should foster more research into a neglected arm of the pharmaceutical industry, and allow the legitimate prescription of LSD and other substances where they clearly do serve a medical purpose.

Public debate has long suffered from an intense politicisation of these substances — on both sides. In particular, panic-mongers have closed down examination of the failures of the “war on drugs” — and shut off debate on where illegal chemicals could in fact do good. With LSD, the case for its supervised use is rarely heard, and that is inflicting damage on patients who could benefit.

As the BMJ article’s author argues, there is no evidence that psychedelic drugs are habit forming; there is little evidence that they are harmful in controlled settings; and much historical evidence that they could have use in psychiatric disorders. The key word here is “evidence”. There is too much supposition and not enough evidence underlying the classification of drugs. An evidence-based, patientcentred, harm-limitation approach would be a good trip for our policy-makers to take. - The Independent

No country can prosper while remaining isolated This refers to the news story, Call to review NOC rule in Sultanate (May 27). No nation can prosper by remaining isolated in modern era. You need manual unskilled, skilled and technical expertise for progress and development. For that you need expatriates. Even developed western nations need expatriates, both skilled and unskilled, for growth and development.

Sam Oommen Mappilaveetil Muscat

It is time indeed to review the two-year ban rule This refers to the news story, Call to review NOC rule in Sultanate (May 27). I am teaching in one of the technical colleges here, and another technical col-

lege is interested in having me as a member of its faculty. But we are under agency, and the agency takes advantage of the two-year ban. We cannot join another company, another college. My point is even if I leave the college I am currently teaching in and join the other I will still be teaching and training the nationals. Even if a doctor changes job and moves into a new clinic or hospital he or she will still be treating and curing people, both nationals and expatriates. The same applies to other professionals who would still be contributing for the growth and development of the Sultanate. I don’t find any logic in the two-year ban. It is time indeed to review this policy and take a fresh look into its efficacy.

Randy Tongol Catacutan Muscat

THE INDEPENDENT

I

n 2010, the Pentagon and American geologists estimated that Afghanistan has $1 trillion of untapped mineral deposits, including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and industrial metals like lithium. General David Petraeus, who was then the chief of the United States Central Command, said there was “stunning potential” for the war-ravaged country, which by now should have begun to reap muchneeded revenue and equally needed jobs. That development is lagging, and there are growing concerns that $488 million in American aid could be squandered if Washington and Kabul do not take firmer charge of the extraction projects and put regulatory and other reforms in place.

America’s troubled attempts to help Afghanistan with its mineral and hydrocarbon industries were reported last month by John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction. His office found that even after America invested millions of dollars to develop infrastructure and technical skills, the Afghan government “still lacks the technical capacity to research, award and manage new contracts without external support.” Its ability to be self-sustaining in minerals and hydrocarbons seems a “very distant goal,” while many American-financed projects are incomplete. It is important for Afghanistan to move forward more quickly and smartly than it has. The country depends on foreign aid, which is declining as American troops withdraw, and needs to generate its own revenue. By some estimates, mineral development could produce $2 billion annually in royalties and taxes while oil and gas reserves could be worth $220 billion more.

But the report said that there was a lack of overall strategy by the United States and that the task force failed to establish multiyear plans or written guidelines for selecting projects or evaluating them.

There was little interagency coordination since the task force answered to the Pentagon rather than America’s ambassador in Kabul.

Sopko’s report faulted USAID for not taking over certain task force initiatives, many of which, like mineral and hydrocarbon tenders and the gas pipeline, were left incomplete. The projects were transferred to the Afghan government, but given institutional failings “there is a significant risk” that American investments “will go to waste,” the report concluded. Some projects handled by the Afghan government independently have already been marred by corruption, the report said.

It cited allegations that small mining contracts have gone to warlords and members of Parliament in contravention of Afghan law.

American officials dispute some of Sopko’s complaints — one argued the task force was intended to operate differently, and take more risks, than USAID — and say they are working on some of the weaknesses he identified. The Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, has shown more willingness to tackle management and corruption problems in this and other areas, but he has been struggling to complete his government and is butting heads even with some allies. If there is any hope of managing Afghanistan’s indigenous treasures into the future, there must be rigorous monitoring of how American aid is spent.

That’s a difficult feat to accomplish in a war zone, but it will be even harder if Sopko’s investigating staff in Kabul is cut by 40 per cent, as the State Department now intends. - The New York Times News Service

COMMENTARY

Mobility remains an unresolved issue in EU HAROLD JAMES

Britain’s anti-European United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) performed poorly in the general election earlier this month, and then promptly fractured.

Germany’s right-wing populist Alternative for Germany is also splintering and disintegrating. Italy’s Five Star Movement is in abeyance as well

T

he largest unresolved issue in the European Union is mobility. The integration process was intended to make it easier and more attractive for Europeans to move from one country to another. According to this vision, the EU’s inhabitants had the nation to lose and a continent to gain. But some recent election results indicate that they are more worried about losing the nation. Ever since the 1986 Single European Act removed restrictions on working in other member countries, the continent has been a single labour market — at least in theory.

It was a policy that fit well with other parts of the integration agenda.

The euro’s ability to function as a common currency would require a flexible labour market, in which workers could adjust to regional shocks by moving.

But it was only after the global financial crisis that European migration really took off.

And the result has been a backlash against it, first in destination countries, and now, as Poland’s just-concluded presidential election suggests, in countries of origin.

As the debate over migration has heated up, both those who moved and those who stayed behind have ended up feeling more nationalistic, not more European.

At first glance, the results of recent elections in France and England might give the impression that European migration is on the wane as a hot-button issue. The French National Front did badly in regional elections compared to the mainstream and pro-European right. It then descended into scandal and acrimonious infighting between the party’s president, Marine Le Pen, and its founder, her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen (who was ultimately expelled).

Meanwhile, Britain’s anti-European United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) performed poorly in the general election earlier this month, and then promptly fractured. Germany’s right-wing populist Alternative for Germany is also splintering and disintegrating.

Italy’s Five Star Movement is in abeyance as well. This sequence of failures has led some to predict the end of protest politics. That view is not quite right. The far-right political parties that seemed to be the main beneficiaries of the euro crisis may have stumbled. But the issue of

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Diplomacy is the art of knowing what not to say MATTHEW TRUMP

labour mobility is not going away.

Until now, the discussion about European migration has taken place mostly within rich destination countries, like France and the UK. Little attention has been given to its effects in the countries of origin.

But in Poland’s presidential election, the issue was front and center, where it generated the greatest resonance with voters and contributed to the victory of Andrzej Duda, the head of the right-wing Law and Justice Party.

It also provided the theme for the campaign of Paweł Kukiz, a rock musician who finished third in the election’s first round.

Both Duda and Kukiz complained that too many young Poles were leaving the country, and that their country was becoming an empty land of the elderly — a fact that is obvious to anyone who walks down a Polish street.

Europe might still be home to dynamic young Polish communities, but they are in London, Dublin, Paris, Oslo, and Stockholm — not in Warsaw, Krakow, or Lodz. And they are certainly not in the poor, rural communities in the east and south of the country, which have been disproportionately emptied by emigration. Debate about the damage done by emigration has also erupted in countries much more obviously affected by the economic crisis — eurozone countries like Greece, Spain, and Portugal, as well as countries outside the currency union, like Bulgaria and Romania.

And, though the issue raises obvious questions of justice and efficiency — poor countries, having invested large sums in education, now produce graduates who take jobs and pay taxes abroad — Europe has provided little in the way of an effective response. True, some migrants might eventually return, bringing skills and capital with them. But, in the meantime, they are leaving behind a population that is older, poorer, and more vulnerable.

European solutions to the problem could involve transfers of funds when local education benefits a continent-wide labour market, or assistance in addressing the problems that affect areas at risk of losing their working-age populations. The irony is obvious. European integration has sparked increased mobility — especially in the aftermath of the euro crisis. But what it has not yet done is generate the institutional framework needed to make mobility acceptable to the EU’s residents. - Project Syndicate

NOC rule has not actually worked well for Sultanate

NOC rule is not in the best interest of the country

This refers to the news story, Call to review NOC rule in Sultanate (May 27). As a matter of fact, the NOC rule has brought in no advantages. The Sultanate has lost and will lose the best of workers because of the NOC rule. In fact, the NOC rule has gone against the employees as many employers have taken advantage of the rule in denying increments to their employees. If this rule had not been there, I am sure companies would have paid better salaries and good hikes to staff while retaining their best talents and attracting new workers. Little wonder no other country in this region has such a rule, which requires NOC to change jobs.

Sambhu Ajayakosh Muscat

This refers to the news story, Call to review NOC rule in Sultanate (May 27). The two-year ban and the NOC rule slapped on the expatriates have damaged the image of the country. As the news spread, that if one joins a company, one cannot change jobs easily, people across the world, in the past one year, have started showing reluctance to come and work here. In today’s world no one wants to be treated as a slave and no one retires from the company one joins. The rules have been more in detriment to the business interests of the country than bringing any kind of tangible good. I wonder who does the NOC rule really serve?

B.K.Pujari Qurum

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

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

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PERSPEC IVE Don’t blame migrants. West helped create their plight O

n Question Time, an Asian man slams the Government for failing to stem migration, and damns migrants as “benefits tourists”. He speaks broken English and is clearly a migrant himself. Yet he smears all recent incomers and presumes to know their motives for trying to enter Britain. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, one of the panellists in last week’s edition of the programme, does the same.

Meanwhile, David Cameron tries to explain the latest immigration figures — the highest for a decade. He impugns Vince Cable and the Liberal Democrats, accuses people-traffickers and migrants themselves. These are now the established, unopposed narratives. After years of ferocious migrant-bashing, the national psyche has been successfully reprogrammed: millions of UK citizens truly believe that humans from the old Soviet Union, Africa, Asia and the Middle East are flocking to get at those gorgeous council flats and big, fat, state handouts.

So easy isn’t it? Just blame those who can’t answer back. Don’t think too deeply about why there is this movement of peoples and how they feel before, during and after they leave their homelands. The Battersea Arts Centre is currently showcasing The Siege, a raw, theatrical enactment of tense months in 2002 when the Israeli army besieged the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The church had given sanctuary to Palestinian fighters.

In the end, a deal was negotiated by European Union leaders. The Israelis pulled back and the Palestinians were sent into permanent exile.

The most moving moment comes when they talk about banishment. They live in the West, have security and life chances. But the aching pain of displacement goes on and they cannot be happy.

Most migrants carry that sense of loss, even those who went off voluntarily to seek better fortune. Those who have never felt the need or pressure to emigrate can’t empathise with them, for that would be a chink in their fortress mentality.

Fear is a terrible thing. It depletes compassion.

To many Britons, the current crisis is disconnected from history, and from global geopolitics.

Again, it is so much easier to think of “them” and “us”, and disregard Western culpabilities, past and present. In 2011, David Cameron, on a visit to Pakistan, accepted that Britain was responsi-

YASMIN ALIBHAI BROWN

Most migrants carry that sense of loss, even those who went off voluntarily to seek better fortune. Those who have never felt the need or pressure to emigrate can’t empathise with them, for that would be a chink in their fortress mentality. Fear is a terrible thing. It depletes compassion

ble for many of the world’s intractable problems.

It was the first and only time I recall a British leader accepting that colonialism left fractures and stains which have led to discord and failed states. (Margaret Thatcher, as well as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, extolled the Empire and the subjugation of millions.) Cameron was savaged by the right-wing press and Labour’s Tristram Hunt. Maybe that is why he never again spoke candidly about that history. Silence is the path of least resistance. No, you can’t just blame white people for post-colonial chaos and failures. Since independence, leaders have almost all been incompetent, corrupt and callous. Dictatorships and one-party rule, profligacy and greed, have despoiled potentially productive nations, turning them into hopeless, dependent, unsustainable entities. But the case against old European imperialists is strong and indubitable. Libya is now the export depot for hungry, frightened, distressed people. The allies who bombed the place have gone and feel no obligation for the mess they left. Many Isis insurgents are from Saddam Hussein’s old Baathist army.

When bigots tell me to go back to where I came from, I remind them I am here because the British government supported Idi Amin’s bid for power. A million or more black Ugandans fled or were killed. Some fled to the UK. Has Britain ever admitted this was a big mistake? (Don’t, please, fire off letters accusing me of hating this country.

Fair criticism is not hatred.)

Among the flotsam and jetsam of wandering humans are “economic migrants” who are seen as the biggest threat of all. They, too, are victims of Western games and unending austerity measures. We know how that affects the vulnerable and should understand why people die trying to escape poverty. Anup Shah is the editor of www. globalissues.org. He writes about the unjust trading system. The West protects its interests and pushes poorer countries to supply materials, labour and goods at the lowest costs. To be a dumping ground, too. The EU, IMF and World Bank must transform the system; our leaders need to tell more truths about the dispossessed.

Xenophobia, withdrawal of welfare and gunboats won’t stop the tide of humanity coming to our shores. They come because they have no choice. But the West does. - The Independent

How can one say Test cricket is dying?

E

ngland won the first Test against New Zealand, sending many thousands of spectators streaming out of Lord’s to clog up the roads. On reflection, although it is the obligatory cliché for a mass departure from a sporting event, they weren’t streaming at all.

They were ambling in a blissful daze, wearing the serenely joyful grins of people who have seen something they know they will never forget.

For years, the received wisdom has placed the five-day edition of cricket game on death row, reasoning that its pace and infinite subtleties condemn it to execution by lethal indifference. Apparently, it is too slow, dull and complex for the truncated attention spans of an internet-reared generation which prefers the instant gratification of Twenty20.

Yet this game illustrated why Test cricket’s alleged fatal weaknesses — the length, complexity, and the languors that punctuate it — are its saving strengths.

“Nothing happens for long periods” is a classic criticism levelled at Test cricket by the ignoramus — and for the next couple of hours as the Kiwi sixthwicket partnership clung on like barnacles, “nothing” did. That’s

MATTHEW NORMAN

assuming “nothing” translates to the absence of extravagant boundaries, flying catches and shattered stumps.

In fact this nothing was something to behold, as the batsmen’s resilience suggested the five days would end without a winner (another alleged flaw that is actually a strength; some of the most thrilling Tests ever played ended in draws), and built the tension to the verge of intolerability.

It broke when the sixth wicket fell, swiftly followed by the seventh and eighth. Even then the New Zealanders threatened to hold out. But finally it fell to the lavishly bearded Moeen Ali to clinch victory with two catches, first plucking the ball an inch above the turf off his own bowling, and then impossibly holding on to it above his head on the deep-third-man boundary.

The difference between these catches was one among the many stark contrasts (the rigid discipline of Cook’s batting, for instance, and the murderous flamboyance of Stokes) that are another of Test cricket’s unique glories.

“We are so constituted that we can gain intense pleasure only from the contrast, and only very little from the condition itself,”

said Sigmund Freud, and, as so often, the old boy was spot on.

Sometimes even a Test match is just a Test match, of course, but this one was something else, and something more, and the pleasure it gave was as intense as any played here since the 2005 Ashes.

That was reflected in the faces I studied as the car crawled through St John’s Wood. They had earned their rapture from hours and days of fierce concentration — and not just as the pendulum swung from side to side, but especially during the languid hours when it stood static in the middle. They were sated in a way no one can be by the cheap McCricket thrills of Twenty20, which leaves you craving another portion of deep-fried nuggety sixes the moment it ends.

And by no means were all of those faces elderly or middle aged. A boy of nine or 10 tugged his hand from his dad’s, and grinningly flashed an exquisite imaginary drive through cover point. I did beep the horn as they dawdled on the zebra crossing, though for once from approval rather than irritation, and in the comforting belief that the demise of Test cricket has been greatly exaggerated. - The Independent

Changing course in Afghanistan RASUL BAKHSH RAIS

W

hat happens in Afghanistan will affect Pakistan — this must be the foundational idea of Pakistan’s policy towards this unfortunate country that has gone through three cycles of war, spanning over a period of about 37 years. News coming out of Afghanistan is not good, and it must worry Pakistan. What is all this news?

The Taliban groups have established a much stronger foothold than ever before, in some of the northern provinces and have pushed the national security forces off their positions.

According to a New York Times report, the casualties of the Afghan police and national army, for the first four months of the year, were as follows: 1,800 dead and 3,400 wounded.

The repeated offences of the Taliban and their violence in many parts of the country, including the capital, Kabul, have proved to be very discouraging for the security forces.

The most disturbing news is that the Kabul government is approaching former warlords to re-organise their troops at local bases and defend local districts from the Taliban. This shows two things, firstly, the worsening security situation and in response to that, the desperation of the government.

Secondly, the lack of faith in national security forces that the international community has. Finally, calling the warlords back in action against the Taliban will reignite the civil war.

Never have non-state security actors, like ethnic, religious or regional militias, with the patronage of the state or without it, been a useful tool for national security either in Afghanistan or Pakistan. Bringing the warlords back in, for whatever objectives the Afghan authorities determine or whatever justification they put forward, will be a disaster for the country.

There has been a welcome change in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The change rests on a fundamental shift in Pakistan’s policy from supporting proxies to supporting the government in Afghanistan.

The new policy has been in the making for some time, after Pakistan calculated the cost of aggressive defence of its security interests beyond its international border with this country.

The character of the force — the Taliban — the countries are fighting is the

There has been a welcome change in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The change rests on a fundamental shift in Pakistan’s policy from supporting proxies to supporting the government in Afghanistan. The new policy has been in the making for some time, after Pakistan calculated the cost of aggressive defence of its security interests same. There is no difference between the Taliban creed across the border or either in the rationale. Moreover, any violent means to overthrow any government in the region, no matter what the nature of the grievances is, has no ethical or security justification.

Any success of violent groups in Afghanistan would only empower and strengthen similar groups on Pakistan’s side. This is the history of hundreds of years of warfare from the 18th century to modern times.

What should Pakistan do to avert a disaster in Afghanistan which will gravely impact its own security?

Firstly, reassure the Afghan president and his sceptical allies that never will Pakistan allow its enemies to use any base or territory on its side against Afghanistan.

It was heartening to hear Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declare in Kabul, earlier this month, that “enemies of Afghanistan cannot be friends of Pakistan” which was a clear reference to the Afghan Taliban.

Secondly, we need to go beyond assurances, and this is what the Afghan government legitimately demands of us.

This is a historic opportunity to turn the course of our relations with Afghanistan and we shouldn’t miss it at all. We root our primary interests in the stability, peace and unity of Afghanistan. These three words must be the practical guide to our Afghan policy.

A policy of unqualified nonintervention by both the countries will help defeat the Taliban and armed ethnic groups. - The Express Tribune

Battle of the virtual reality headsets

TODAY IN HISTORY

The E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo will be dominated by virtual reality (VR) headsets, as the market gets set to explode over the next 12 months

What Is VR?

Headset

Graphics split into two images seen from different angles – one for each eye

Move head to control point of view in 3D world

Microsoft: Hololens

HTC / Valve: Vive

Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality device different from rivals because it projects imaginary objects over real world scenes. For industry use and later PC / Xbox One gaming

HTC teamed up with game developers VALVe, who run Steam PC gaming platform, with 65m users. Difficult to set up, but said to be extremely impressive

$1000*

$500* Q2 Q3 Q1 Q4

Sony: Morpheus Designed for PlayStation 4 console.

If you own one (22m people do), simply plug in and play – no worries about PC specifications or costly upgrades

2015 Q4 2016 Q1 Q3 Q2

SEMINAR ON ‘LAW AND SOCIETY’ AT OCCI Facebook: Oculus Rift Content ahead of competition with lots of games, apps and experiences available on its Oculus Share store – playground for developers and amateurs alike

$500* Samsung: Gear VR ($200 + Note 4, out now) GALAXY Note 4 phablet slots into Oculus GEAR VR. Less powerful than PC / console, so less detailed graphics Source: gamesTM

FROM OUR ARCHIVES

$300* EXPO June 16-18: Los Angeles, California

Graphic News /

Graphics

MUSCAT: Muscat governorate will hold a seminar on ‘law and society’ at the head Quarters of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) today. Saidi Al Mutasim bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, minister of state and Muscat governor, will preside over the seminar which will be attended by walis and deputies and directors general, in addition to a number of judges and law authorities. The concluding ceremony of the two-day seminar will be held under the auspices of Sayyid Said bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi, deputy governor of Muscat. The seminar is being held to open new horizons in the administration activities to cope with the latest developments and achievements.

585BC A solar eclipse interrupts a battle

outside of Sardis in western Turkey between Medes and Lydians. The battle ends in a draw.

1805

Napoleon is crowned in Milan, Italy.

1859

The French army launches a flanking attack on the Austrian army in Northern France.

1871

The Paris commune is suppressed by troops from Versailles.

1900

Britain annexes the Orange Free State in South Africa.

HISTORYNET.COM

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

INDIA B L I S T E R I N G H E AT

Heatwave toll crosses 1,100; Andhra Pradesh worst-hit HYDERABAD: More than 1,100 people have died in a blistering heatwave sweeping India, authorities said Wednesday, as forecasters warned searing temperatures would continue.

Southern India has borne the brunt of the hot, dry conditions and many of the victims are construction workers, elderly or homeless people unable to heed official advice to stay indoors.

In the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh nearly 900 people have died since May 18 -- double the total number of heat-related deaths last summer, authorities said.

In neighbouring Telangana,

where temperatures hit 48 degrees Celsius over the weekend, more than 200 people have died in the last week compared to 31 in the whole of last year.

In New Delhi, forecasters said they expected the high temperatures to continue into next week — adding to the misery of the thousands of poor living on the capital’s streets with little shelter from the hot sun.

Residents of Gurgaon — a highrise satellite city that is home to many of the capital’s workers — suffered power cuts of up to 10 hours a day as the electricity grid struggled to cope with the demand

from millions of air conditioners.

“Nothing is working — even after taking half a dozen baths a day, you can’t beat the heat,” 34-yearold shop owner Manish Singh said in Gurgaon.

“We try to spend more time indoors to avoid heatstroke. It’s worse than previous years — we hardly get any electricity and the air conditioners become useless.”

No respite India’s power industry has long struggled to meet rapidly rising demand in Asia’s third-largest economy, which is plagued by poorly maintained transmission

lines and overloaded grids.

The streets of Gurgaon were largely deserted on Wednesday, while the few people brave enough to venture outdoors covered their heads to protect them from the strong sun.

Sugarcane juice stalls were doing a brisk trade as construction workers and rickshaw pullers desperately tried to quench their thirst. Elsewhere volunteers were giving out cold drinks to motorists stuck in traffic.

Brahma Prakash Yadav, director of the Indian Meteorological Department, said top temperatures in the capital would remain around

45 degrees Celsius -- the national benchmark for a heatwave.

“Maximum temperatures won’t fall substantially. However, major relief can be expected from June 2 as there are indications of good showers,” he said.

Hospitals in the worst-affected states were on alert to treat victims of heatstroke and authorities advised people to stay indoors and drink plenty of water.

Hundreds of people — mainly from the poorest sections of society — die at the height of summer every year across India, while tens of thousands suffer power cuts from an overburdened electric-

ity grid. Eleven people were confirmed to have died in the eastern state of Orissa and another 13 succumbed to the heat in neighbouring West Bengal, where unions urged drivers to stay off the roads during the day.

One person was killed in the western state of Maharashtra, where authorities said they did not expect conditions to improve until the arrival of monsoon rains in June.

The Hindustan Times warned that some of the hot, dry conditions could plunge the worst-affected states into drought before monsoon rains arrive. - AFP

P O S T I N G S O F B U R E AUC R AT S

Delhi assembly passes resolution against Centre’s notification NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly on Wednesday took on the central government by adopting a resolution against its order which gave Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung the final say in the postings and transfers of bureaucrats in the capital.

Passed by voice vote on the last day of the two-day special session of the assembly, called by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, the resolution termed the May 21 notification issued by the union Home Ministry as “illegal”.

It asked the senior officials to ignore the central notification and obey the decisions of the council of ministers in Delhi and work without fear.

Tussle over appointment The May 21 notification had backed Lt. Governor Jung in his tussle with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the appointment of senior officials.

The resolution has brought the AAP government in direct confrontation with the Modi-led central government. - IANS

PROPOSAL

CBSE students set to get certificates in digital format also NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education is likely to start issuing mark sheets and certificates in digital format as well along with hard copies which can be stored by students in their digital lockers, according to a top official in the IT Ministry.

“We are working with CBSE on digital certificates. The proposal is to enable students to store their CBSE certificates in their digital locker. I expect CBSE will issue these certificates within couple of months,” IT Secretary R S Sharma said.

The government launched digital lockers on February 10 and within three months over 1 lakh people have started using it.

Madhya Pradesh (over 24,000), Uttar Pradesh (over 17,000) and Gujarat (over 13,000) are top three states where people have registered for this facility.

Digital locker The concept of digital locker is to make people free from carrying files or getting copies attested.

Any person having Aadhaar number can open digital locker account for free.

“When a government depart-

ment is issuing a certificate then other government department should not make people run for verifying same document again and again. Our priority is to bring all educational institutes on board for issuing certificates that can be stored in digital locker,” Sharma said.

He added, the Department of Electronics and IT is also working with various other entities to issue digital certificates.

“Along with academic certificates we are approaching other government departments that are involved in issuing any kind of certificates. PAN Card, Voter ID are also in pipeline,” he said.

IT Ministry will soon start working with Oil PSUs to issue digital LPG books and with state governments for ration cards and state education board certificates.

“This all will be linked to Aadhaar number of people. People can choose documents which they want to share with someone.

It can be shared by e-mail by just clicking on the share option button. Department are also making changes in their system to start accepting documents online,” Sharma said. -PTI

L O S T R E L E VA N C E

125 obsolete laws repealed; 945 more to lose their place NEW DELHI: Over 120 obsolete laws have been repealed by the Narendra Modi government, while another 945 which have lost relevance are awaiting Parliamentary approval to lose their place in statute books.

According to the data compiled by the Legislative Department of the Law Ministry, with the passage of two bills in Parliament, 125 archaic laws have been repealed. Another two bills are pending Parliamentary approval.

Once these bills are cleared, another 945 laws will be repealed.

Identified “We have identified 1,871 more laws which have lost relevance today. We plan to bring bills to get them repealed,” Secretary, Legislative Department in the Law Ministry, Sanjay Singh said.

This is the first time since 2001 that such an exercise is being

undertaken by the Law Ministry in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s agenda to do away with “archaic” laws which were “hindering efficient governance”.

These bills are part of a periodical measure by which enactments that have ceased to be in force or have become obsolete or the retention as separate Act is unnecessary are repealed, the Law Ministry had said in one of the Cabinet proposals to repeal archaic laws.

Between 1950 and 2001, over 100 Acts were repealed.

A bill to repeal 758 Appropriation Acts, including Railways (Appropriation) Acts, which have lost relevance and are clogging the statute books was introduced in Lok Sabha recently. A large number of Appropriation Acts passed in the past several years have lost their meaning but these are still shown on statute books. - PTI

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

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INDIA

And now, a winning candidate is asking a losing candidate to develop his constituency — a constituency his family has been reining for over 60 years Smriti Irani, HRD minister

In UPA rule, Sonia was exercising ‘unconstitutional’ authority: Modi scheme, not outside it”. Countering Rahul’s “suit-boot ki sarkar” jibe, Modi said that the Congress had not been able to “digest” its crushing defeat in Lok Sabha polls even after one year.

We have not made any changes in the

The people have punished them for their sins of omission and commission. We thought they would learn from this, but it looks as though they are proving right the earlier saying that if con is the opposite of pro, then Congress is the opposite of progress

business rules of the government and decisions are taken by those authorised to take them, Prime Minister Narendra

Narendra Modi

Modi said

NEW DELHI: Hitting back at Sonia Gandhi for her sharp attacks on him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday suggested that she had been an “unconstitutional” authority exercising “real” power over the PMO during the United Progressive Alliance rule whereas power was now wielded only by constitutional means.

Dismissing the Congress President’s accusation that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gov-

Prime Minister

ernment was showing “obstinate arrogance” in Parliament and that it was a government by “one person”, Modi said, “Perhaps, she is referring to the fact that earlier extra-constitutional authorities were the ones really wielding power”. He went on to say that power was now “wielded only by constitutional means”.

If the charge is that “we are working through constitutional channels and not listening to any

HOLLOW PROMISES

War of words between Priyanka and Smriti

SPELLING OUT: HRD Minister Smriti Irani addresses a public meeting at Misrauli in Amethi on Tuesday. - PTI

RAE BARELI/MIDANPORE: Priyanka Gandhi and HRD Minister Smriti Irani were on Wednesday engaged in a war of words after the Congress leader said an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) was not being set up in her mother Sonia Gandhi’s Rae Bareli constituency by the union minister who hit back by saying that she has not done her “homework”.

A day after Irani attacked the Nehru-Gandhi family saying that after years of “hollow” promises Amethi and Rae Bareli will now see development, Priyanka asked what was stopping the HRD Minister from setting up an IIIT in Rae Bareli.

“She is the HRD Minister.

First she should tell us why she is not setting up an IIIT here. The youth are facing a lot of problems and this is her department. Why is she not looking into it,” Priyanka said in Rae Bareli while interacting with reporters.

Soon after, Irani, who was holding a press conference in Midnapore in West Bengal, responded by saying that “Mrs Vadra has not done her homework. There is an off campus of IIIT Allahabad in Amethi. What is astounding is that while the

Gandhi family has ruled the bastion for 60 years, they have done absolutely nothing.

“And now, a winning candidate is asking a losing candidate to develop his constituency — a constituency his family has been reining for over 60 years.”

Smriti said she was “expecting such an attack” because she was in Amethi on Tuesday.

“I have said this before, that at least due to my presence, Amethi will see more of the Gandhi family. And that statement of mine is turning out to be true,” she said responding to a question on IIIT. The union minister wondered whether Congress believes that “Mr Gandhi is not capable enough to defend his own turf that he needs additional ammunition.”

Continuing her attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family, Smriti said despite the fact that she lost to Rahul in Amethi, she paid from her pocket the first year premium of 25,000 residents of Amethi for the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojna which she initiated there. “...I paid for 25,000 citizens of Amethi the first year premium out of my own pocket. Have you ever heard of any Gandhi doing that in Amethi before,” she asked. - PTI

B I G T H R E AT

Concerted efforts needed to fight terrorism: Pranab NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday advocated concerted efforts to tackle terrorism which has assumed “serious proportions” as “trouble spots” in the world were spreading rapidly.

“Extremists appear to have access to abundant arms and resources through drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

The trouble spots in the world are spreading rapidly and many important cities are being threatened,” President’s Press Secretary quoted him as saying in his address to the 2013 batch Indian Foreign Services probationers who had called on him. Pranab said there

is not only danger to historical and civilisational relics in these cities but their collapse also becomes a symbol of political destabilisation.

Despite the Cold War having come to an end, the desired peace and tranquillity is still far from the reach of the people of the world. Describing the current global situation as extremely complex, the president said simplistic approaches will not be sufficient to understand current trends. Indian diplomats should take note of developments in the world with utmost speed. They should develop the ability and expertise to understand and analyse them. - PTI

extra constitutional authorities, then I plead guilty to that charge.”

Sharpest attack His sharpest attack yet on both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi came in the course of an interview to PTI during which he also answered questions on “concentration” of power in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), minorities, NGOs, land acquisition and GST bills, economic reforms and a wide variety of other

topics. Asked about the criticism that all powers were concentrated in the PMO, Modi responded, “Your question is loaded.

It would have been better if this question had been asked when an unconstitutional authority was sitting above the constitutional authority and exercising power over the PMO”.

He emphasised that “the Prime Minister and the PMO are very much part of the constitutional

Punished “The people have punished them for their sins of omission and commission. We thought they would learn from this, but it looks as though they are proving right the earlier saying that if con is the opposite of pro, then Congress is the opposite of progress,” he said.

Countering the charge concentrating powers in PMO, Modi said that increased powers had been delegated to individual ministries with the result that many decisions that earlier needed to come to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet can now be taken by ministries themselves.

He said that the financial delegation for ministries had been trebled and devolution to the states had been increased.

“We have not made any changes in the business rules of the government and decisions are taken by those authorised to take them,” he maintained. On land acquisition bill on which he has been charged by the opposition with

favouring the corporates, Modi said that while he did not want to get into political mudslinging, the subject of land was not with the central government which did not require lands.

All rights relating to lands are with the states.

“The 120-year-old Land Acquisition Act was amended by the previous government without even 120 minutes of discussion in Parliament. Thinking the bill was good for farmers, we also supported it at that time.

Rectify errors “Later, many complaints came from the states. One should not be so arrogant as to avoid correcting mistakes. So we brought the bill to rectify the errors, that too in response to the demands of the states. Anyone who looks at our proposed amendments without politically-tinted glasses will give us full marks,” he said.

Asked if the government was open to suggestions on the bill, the Prime Minister replied, “Gaon (village), Garib (poor), Kisan (farmer)-if the suggestions are favourable to these downtrodden groups and are in the interest of the nation, we will accept those suggestions”. - PTI

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

PAKISTAN

I have no way to pay off my loan, other than resorting to labour at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Islamabad. I don’t think I will be able to grow crops for the next three years, because it will take too long for me to clear my debt Mujtaba Khan, Farmer

Fake degree firm’s CEO arrested FBI help sought in inquiry

Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, the CEO of software house Axact, revealed the location

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has asked US authorities to help it investigate Axact, a software firm accused of earning millions of dollars from the international sale of bogus university degrees online, officials said on Wednesday.

The interior ministry wrote to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday seeking assistance. Officials said a letter had been sent to the US State Department.

of the blank degrees that were ready for printing as well as fake student ID cards during the course of an interrogation, a magistrate said

KARACHI: Pakistani investigators on Wednesday arrested the head of a firm accused of running a global fake degree empire and conducted fresh raids at the company’s Karachi headquarters where they discovered thousands of blank diplomas.

Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, the CEO of software house Axact, revealed the location of the blank degrees that were ready for printing as well as fake student ID cards during the course of an interrogation, magistrate Javed Malik told reporters.

Shaikh is currently in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and is expected to be produced before a court to be formally charged later in the day.

“We have now sufficient evidence against the firm and will proceed accordingly to file a case,” Shahid Hayat, a senior FIA official said. Two other senior FIA officials told AFP Shaikh and six other company directors would be charged under Pakistani laws relating to fraud, cheating, money laundering, and illegal electronic money transfer.

UNFOLDING SCANDAL: CEO of software house Axact Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, centre, is escorted by Federal Investigation Agency personnel as he appears at a court in Karachi on Wednesday. — AFP

Shaikh has released a series of videotaped “appeals” to the public to protest over the crackdown on Axact.

“In the last week there has been a conspiracy to shut down Axact; because of this the company that contributes to 65 percent of Pakistan’s IT exports has been reduced to zero,” Shaikh said in a message recorded shortly before he was taken in for questioning.

“I want to say this clearly: this is just a conspiracy. For God’s sake, come out on the streets against this conspiracy.”

According to Shaikh, a campaign against Axact has been led

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by Pakistani media moguls who felt threatened by Bol, a new television network that Axact was setting up.

In the last two years, Shaikh has poached several senior journalists from rival networks. Some of the most prominent have resigned in the wake of the allegations against Axact.

Pakistan began investigating

Axact after it was accused by the New York Times earlier this month of running a network of websites for phoney universities as part of an elaborate scheme that generated tens of millions of dollars annually. Islamabad has also sought the FBI and Interpol’s assistance in the probe.

Fake universities The Times report quoted former employees and analysed more than 370 websites of fake universities, accreditation bodies and other purported institutions and cited clients from the US, Britain and the United Arab Emirates who

had paid sums ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars for their degrees.

The “university” websites mainly routed their traffic through servers run by companies registered in Cyprus and Latvia, and employees would plant fictitious reports about Axact universities on CNN iReport, a website for citizen journalism.

Axact had also announced plans to launch a news channel called Bol, which had hired many of Pakistan’s leading TV anchors at above-market salaries. Many of the journalists have resigned in the wake of the scandal. — Agencies

Outside of Pakistan A senior interior ministry official, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is a scam whose victims are mostly people outside of Pakistan, in the US, Great Britain and the Middle East.

“It was inevitable for the FBI to get involved in a scam in which so many Americans have allegedly been cheated. We will also reach out to Interpol in the coming days.”

Embarrassment The allegations, which have dominated Pakistani headlines in recent days, are an embarrassment for a government already under pressure from a faltering economy, with people questioning why regulators appeared to be wrong footed. — Reuters

A LT E R E D W E AT H E R C O N D I T I O N S

THREE POLICEMEN KILLED

Pakistani security personnel collect evidence after an attack on a police vehicle in Karachi on Wednesday.

Three policemen were killed in a targeted attack early May 27, when four unidentified assailants opened fire on a police vehicle in the restive southern city. — AFP

S E C TA R I A N V I O L E N C E

Gunmen kill two Quetta shopkeepers QUETTA: Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday killed two shopkeepers from the country’s minority sect when they opened fire in a congested market in the southwest of the country, the second such attack in a week.

Police said two other minority sect shopkeepers and a passerby were wounded in the attack in central Quetta, the the capital of restive Balochistan province.

“The attackers came on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately, killing two cloth merchants and wounding two shopkeepers and a passerby,” Quetta police chief Abdul Razzak Cheema said.

Already tense Quetta was already tense following the killing of four people, three of them members of the sect, in the city on Monday.

Senior police official Aitzaz Goraya confirmed the attack and casualties and told AFP that police were searching for the attackers.

Separatists No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but Baloch separatists demanding greater

The attackers came on motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately, killing two cloth merchants and wounding two shopkeepers and a passerby, said Quetta city’s police chief autonomy have been waging an insurgency for years and the province is also riven by sectarian strife and extremist violence.

Sectarian violence has claimed thousands of lives in the country over the past decade.

This month, 45 Ismailis were massacred in Karachi. — AFP

Flattened by erratic rains, farmers across country ditch crop farming ISLAMABAD: In late April, after 28 hours of heavy rain, Noor Hussain and his two brothers surveyed his three-hectare wheat plot to see what they could save.

An earlier hailstorm had already devastated much of the crop. Now, standing on the fringes of the sodden farm, Hussain despaired.

“Look at spikes of the wheat,” he said, pointing out where the heavy weather had broken them off.

“Only the small plants in the middle of the plot have survived.”

Hussain, 39, estimated 70 per cent of the crop was ruined, with harvest only six weeks away.

Farmers all over Pakistan are suffering the same heartbreak, as a season of unusually heavy rain and cold weather continues to destroy crops across the country.

Heavily in debt and tired of struggling against the worsening effects of climate change, some farmers have decided to abandon crop farming altogether, instead turning to raising cattle and poultry as more reliable sources of income.

“How can I keep growing wheat when I have suffered so much economic damage?” asked Hussain, who said erratic rains had been hurting his harvests since 2011.

“I will grow wheat on one hectare to meet my family’s food needs and on the rest I will establish a cattle pen and poultry farm,” he said.

Speaking to the Thomson Reuters Foundation by telephone, farmers from districts southeast of Islamabad said that delayed or excessive rains, coupled with heavy hailstorms, have nearly flattened their wheat and mustard crops.

“I have no way to pay off my loan, other than resorting to labour at a brick kiln on the outskirts of Islamabad,” said 40-year-old Mujtaba Khan, who wept as he spoke.

“I don’t think I will be able to grow crops for the next three years, because it will take too long for me to clear my debt.”

Of the dozens of farmers in Punjab province who spoke with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, most have already reduced their crop farming activities and started raising animals.

A mushrooming of cattle pens

CHANGING CLIMATE: A file picture taken on August 9, 2010 shows an aerial view from a Pakistan

army rescue helicopter of a flood-affected area on the outskirts of Sukkur. — AFP file photo

If the rains come a month ahead of harvest time — usually April to mid-May — it is always disastrous Ibrahim Mughal, Pakistan Agri Forum chairperson

around towns and cities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces reflects a growing resignation among farmers that they can no longer make a living from agriculture, experts said.

As unseasonable rain continues, many farmers are still waiting to harvest their crops, three weeks behind schedule. According to farming experts, such delays, as well as hurting harvests, can increase the chances of attack by yellow rust, a fungal disease

that hampers photosynthesis and stunts the growth of grain.

Ibrahim Mughal, chairperson of the Pakistan Agri Forum, estimates that unwanted rains in northern Punjab and KyberPakhtunkhwa provinces have resulted in losses of up to 50 percent in wheat, mustard, and maize production.

The region accounts for over 65 per cent of the country’s total wheat production, according to Mughal.

“If the rains come a month ahead of harvest time - usually April to mid-May - it is always disastrous,” he said in a telephone interview from Lahore.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture had fixed the national wheat production target at 26.3 million tons for the 2014-2015 rabi season, which produces a spring harvest. But officials are pessimistic about achieving those figures.

Instead, “we estimate damages of over three million tons to the crop from this year’s odd rainy season,” said Sikandar Hayat Bosan, federal minister for National Food Security and Research.

For some of Pakistan’s farmers, this year’s damage is the last straw.

In Gujar Khan, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) from Islamabad, wheat and mustard farmer Fareed Khan lost $325,000 worth of crops to heavy rains. Now he’s converting his farmland into a cattle pen.

“How can a farmer like me afford to continue with the cultivation of wheat, when erratic weather has become the foe of farmers?” he asked. — Reuters

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5 A handout picture obtained from the Havariekommando website shows cargo vessel Purple Beach loaded with fertilizers engulfed in smoke, west of Helgoland, Germany, on Wednesday. The fire, which started on Monday in one of its cargo holds could not be extinguished and subsequently all crew has been evacuated. —Reuters/Havariekommando/Handout via Reuters

FORMER PRIME MINISTER

Thaksin Shinawatra

Prime Minister David

he would prefer to stay inside a reformed EU but isn’t ‘ruling anything out’ if it fails to change,

BANGKOK: Thailand has revoked two passports belonging to ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he gave an interview that posed a risk to national security and the country’s reputation, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Thaksin, who lives abroad to avoid a jail sentence handed down for graft in 2008, was ousted in a 2006 coup but remains a major influence over Thai politics.

Controversial interview The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said an interview Thaksin recently gave was being investigated.

It gave no details of the interview but last week Thaksin spoke to South Korean media about who he thought was behind a military coup last year in which a government loyal to him and led by his sister, former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted.

“The content of what Thaksin Shinawatra said in an interview affects national security and the reputation and honour of Thailand,” the ministry said. — Reuters COALITION TRAILING

Denmark to hold election on June 18 COPENHAGEN: Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Wednesday called a general election for June 18, as opinion polls show her centre-left coalition trailing an opposition bloc bolstered by the success of the farright. “Denmark is back on track, we are out of the crisis... It’s time to ask the Danes if they want to maintain this direction,” said Helle, who under election regulations had to hold a vote by September 14.

“I want all of Denmark with (me). The growth must benefit everyone,” she added.

A weighted average of five public opinion polls gives the opposition a lead of 6.5 percentage points over the government and its allies in parliament, according to news agency Ritzau.

The right-wing bloc, led by centre-right party Venstre, would need the support of the Danish People’s Party (DPP) to pass legislation in parliament just like it did between 2001 and 2011, in return for which the anti-immigration party was allowed to shape Danish migration policies into some of Europe’s toughest.

Some opinion polls have shown the DPP, which wants to tighten asylum rules further and raise public spending, garnering more votes than Venstre. — AFP

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WORLD

Elizabeth sets in motion UK’s EU referendum plans Cameron, who says

Thailand revokes passports of Thaksin

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was re-elected on May 7 on a pledge to reshape ties with the bloc before allowing Britons to vote

LONDON: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth set in motion on Wednesday the new government’s plans for an in-out referendum on staying in the European Union, but left open questions about when it will be and what changes to the EU the government wants beforehand.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who says he would prefer to stay inside a reformed EU but isn’t “ruling anything out” if it fails to change, was re-elected on May 7 on a pledge to reshape ties with the bloc before allowing Britons to vote on whether to stay or leave.

The 89-year-old queen outlined the plans in a speech written for her by Cameron’s Conservative government.

“My government will renegotiate the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union and pursue reform of the European Union for the benefit of all

L O N G - WA I T E D A P P R O VA L

SpaceX cleared to launch US military satellites WASHINGTON: Billionaire Elon Musk’s firm SpaceX has won long-waited approval from the US Air Force to launch military satellites, opening the way to a lucrative market that has been a virtual monopoly for a Boeing and Lockheed Martin joint venture.

As soon as next month, SpaceX could have a chance to bid for the military’s new GPS satellite launches, the air force said in a statement.

“This is a very important milestone for the air force and the Department of Defense,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.

“SpaceX’s emergence as a viable commercial launch provider provides the opportunity to compete launch services for the first time in almost a decade,” she said.

The move will reduce the costs of launches and improve the effectiveness of the military’s space programs, James added.

The certification for SpaceX will transform the military launch market, said Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute, a consulting firm with ties to the defense industry.

“For the last ten years, pretty much everything the air force lofted into orbit went on a launch vehicle made by the Boeing-Lockheed Martin United Launch Alliance,” he said.

“Now that monopoly is waning,” he said.

The market landscape is also changing after Congress told the United Launch Alliance that it must stop using Russianmade rocket engines within the next few years, he said.

“SpaceX could become the dominant supplier of military launch services, given the rock-bottom prices it charges,” he added.

Founded in 2002, SpaceX is

With the certification, California-based SpaceX can now compete against the United Launch Alliance -- the giant Boeing-Lockheed joint venture -- for defence contracts valued at about $9.5 billion over the next five years

controlled by Musk, a billionaire tech entrepreneur who started PayPal and Tesla. The company has grown rapidly to become a leader in commercial space launches and for US space agency NASA. Green light The Pentagon gave the green light after months of wrangling and a lawsuit filed by Space X, which was eventually settled.

Musk had been sharply critical of the US Air Force, accusing it of dragging its feet and failing to recognise an opportunity to bolster competition and reduce costs. — AFP

POLICY SPEECH: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth delivers her speech to

the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster in London, Britain, on Wednesday. — Reuters/Alastair Grant/Pool

member states,” the queen told an audience made up of politicians and lords clad in crimson robes trimmed with white ermine.

A law enabling a referendum

to occur by the end of 2017 will be introduced into parliament on Thursday, the day Cameron begins a European tour to try to charm sometimes reluctant

counterparts into endorsing EU reform.

The wording of the referendum question will be disclosed at the same time. Unconfirmed reports are that voters will be asked if they want to stay inside the EU. That would allow the pro-EU camp to be the “Yes” campaign, helping it avoid accusations of negative campaigning, a detail likely to irk EU opponents.

Cameron told parliament he looked forward to the referendum law passing through parliament “in extra quick time.”

His tour will include talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

Cameron has said he would be ready to hold the referendum before 2017 if he completes the renegotiation early, something some pro-EU campaigners advocate. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 The success of the plan would depend on what will be on offer in the new location and if the refugees would like to be there Onchita Shadman, UNHCR spokeswoman

WORLD

Dhaka plans to move thousands of Rohingya in camps to an island holding back tourism in Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s longest unbroken beach and where locals flock to hotels and resorts.

“The government has been paying (increasing) importance to the tourism sector. Therefore, a plan to relocate them to an isolated area is under process,” he said.

Thousands of persecuted Rohingya from Myanmar as well as Bangladeshi migrants have been attempting perilous boat journeys organised by people-smugglers to Southeast Asia.

Bangladesh is home to 32,000 registered Rohingya refugees who are living in two camps in the southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar which borders Myanmar

DHAKA: Bangladesh plans to relocate thousands of Rohingya who have spent years in refugee camps near the Myanmar border to a southern island, an official said on Wednesday, as the region faces a human-trafficking crisis.

The government has started planning the relocation to Hatiya island in the Bay of Bengal in a move backed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said additional secretary Amit Kumar Baul.

“The relocation of the Rohingya camps will definitely take place. So far, informal steps have been taken according to the PM’s directives,” Baul, head of the government’s Myanmar Refugee Cell, told AFP. A Rohingya leader urged the government to rethink, saying the plan would only make life worse for the refugees -- many of whom have been

languishing in the camps for years since they left Myanmar.

“We want the (Bangladesh) government and international organisations to resolve our issue from here,” Mohammad Islam, a community leader in one of the camps, told AFP. Bangladesh is home to 32,000 registered Rohingya refugees who are sheltering in two camps in the southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar which borders Myanmar.

The Muslim Rohingya leave Myanmar largely to escape discriminatory treatment by the Buddhist majority.

The United Nations refugee agency, which has been assisting the refugees in the camps since 1991, said such a scheme would have to be voluntary to succeed.

“The success of the plan would

ENDLESS PERSECUTION: Rohingya Muslims interact with each other

at a refugee camp outside Sittwe, Myanmar on May 21, 2015. — Reuters

depend on what will be on offer in the new location and if the refugees would like to be there,” UNHCR spokeswoman Onchita Shadman told AFP.

A forced relocation would be “very complex and controversial”, she said.

Baul said the move was partly motivated by concerns the camps were

Malaysia favourite Malaysia is a favourite destination.

Migrants often travelled to Thailand by boat, then overland to northern Malaysia.

But Thailand began a crackdown on human-trafficking and smuggling following the discovery of mass graves there, which appears to have thrown regional trafficking routes into chaos.

More than 3,500 migrants have arrived on Thai, Malaysian and Indonesian soil in recent weeks, and hundreds or thousands more are feared still trapped on boats.

Seven camps -- some with dozens of graves believed to contain the bodies of Rohingya -- have been uncovered in Thailand’s

Songkhla province close to the Malaysian border.

Rights groups say local people must have been aware of the trade, and on Wednesday Thai police said they wanted villagers to aid their investigation.

139 grave sites Malaysian media reported that police are investigating 12 of their own officers to determine whether they had links to more mass graves found within Malaysia but close to the Thai sites.

A total of 139 grave sites and 28 recently abandoned camps have been found on the Malaysian side of the frontier, but the number of dead is unclear.

Details of Bangladesh’s plans emerged just days after Hasina slammed Bangladesh’s own economic migrants, calling them “mentally sick” and accusing them of hurting the country’s image.

The island plan, reported this week in local media, has not been formally announced but officials have been tasked with preparing for the relocation.

Badre Firdaus, government administrator of Hatiya island, said 500 acres (200 hectares) had been identified as suitable for the relocation. — AFP

M O V E T O E A S E B U R D E N O N I TA LY, G R E E C E

DANGEROUS VOYAGE: A dinghy overcrowded with Afghan immigrants is seen off the coast of the Greek island of Kos while crossing a part of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece early Wednesday. — Reuters

EU asks members to admit 40,000 asylum seekers BRUSSELS: The EU on Wednesday asked its member states to admit 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea landing in Italy and Greece, which have been overstretched by an influx of migrants.

The emergency proposal, which comes atop another one to resettle in member states some 20,000 Syrian refugees, is in response to a surge in migrants making the dangerous crossing over the Mediterranean.

Both Rome and Athens, which are struggling with the wave of migrants, appealed to the 26 other EU states to share the burden.

Italy’s refugee-reception facilities are stretched to breaking point with 80,000 people currently being housed in them and local authorities are growing increasingly impatient with the demands placed upon them.

“We... have a proposal for an emergency mechanism to relocate 40,000 asylum seekers to other European (member) states,” EU migration commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos told a press conference.

Two years “Syrians and Eritreans will be relocated from Italy and Greece to other European Union member states over a period of two years,” he said.

The measure concerns people arriving in those countries after April 15 this year, the commissioner said. The commission said member states will be given about $6,500 per asylum seeker.

Clear need Repeating an earlier proposal, Avramopoulos said the European Union is also asking member states to admit over two years 20,000 Syrian refugees from outside Europe who have “a clear need for international protection”.

The proposal suggests migrants be distributed according to four criteria: Gross national product, population, unemployment and the number of asylum requests already registered in the respective country

Under the plan, a country like France would resettle 2,375 Syrian refugees.

However, EU states Britain, Ireland and Denmark can opt out of both the relocation and resettlement schemes under existing EU treaties, according to EU officials.

Avramopoulos insisted that the European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU, was not proposing a quota system for distributing people.

Many member states, which are under pressure from antiimmigrant parties during tough economic times, have strongly objected to quotas.

“It’s up to each member to decide how many (potential) refugees they will grant refugee status (to),” he added.

“If countries want to relocate or settle more, they can, but we want to insure minimum solidarity,” Avramopoulos said. — AFP

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

A1 9

B

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM THUR SDAY, MAY 28, 2015

MARKE Muscat 6,393.97 + 3.65 + 0.06%

Dubai 3,992.49 - 67.03 - 1.65%

Abu Dhabi 4,575.32 - 39.77 - 0.86%

Saudi Arabia

9,763.72 - 37.68 - 0.38%

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

DIGEST VIDEO Top stories in one minute with our new daily Digest

Kuwait 6,332.92 + 23.28 + 0.37%

Bahrain 1,365.73 - 1.21 - 0.09%

Qatar 12,228.83 - 180.30 - 1.45%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.36 Pound ........................................... 1.67 Indian Rs ..............................166.17 Pak Rs ...................................260.28 Bangla Taka.......................199.44

Indian Rs ...................................166.10 Pakistan Rs ............................ 263.50 Sri Lanka Rs ........................... 347.25 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .................................... 115.40

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) .......15.20

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........$62.24 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) .........$61.54 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) .........$63.81 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) .........$61.29 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) ........$63.84 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) ........ $58.27

* Rates are as of May 27 Source: Bank Muscat

* Rates as of May 27 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......14.65 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............143.50 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) .............136.25 * Rates as of May 27 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Iranian carmaker suggests assembly unit in Sultanate A E JAMES

businesseditor@timesofoman.com

Proposal was made

by Iran Khodro Industrial Group when officials from Oman Investment Fund visited Tehran

MUSCAT: An Iranian carmaker has mooted a proposal to build a car assembling unit in Oman to cater to domestic and regional demand.

The idea was mooted by Iran Khodro Industrial Group (IKCO) when officials from Oman Investment Fund visited Tehran recently.

A source at Oman Investment Fund said that although the proposal was mooted by Iran Khodro, the latter is yet to submit a concrete

plan for the semi knocked-down production (SKP) and visit Oman for conducting a market study on the feasibility of such a venture.

proposal. They need to come to Oman to conduct a detailed study,” said the source, who does not want to be named.

Lifting of sanctions on Iran Also, the whole plan will depend on lifting of economic sanctions on Iran by the United States and Western countries, which is expected in June this year.

“They are looking at Oman as a potential market and we have no problem. (However) this has to be forwarded to us as a detailed

Meeting the demand The plan could be for meeting the demand in Oman and larger Gulf region or even Africa, which is not yet decided.

The official said that Iran Khodro produces one million cars per annum – 600,000 in Iran and 40,000 vehicles in four to five plants in located outside Iran. So, the whole

idea for setting up a semi-knocked down production unit in Oman is for African markets.

An Iranian news agency earlier said that the plan is for semiknocked-down production of 20,000 cars a year, with 5,000 units intended for Oman and the remaining 15,000 for neighbouring markets in Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and few other countries across the world.

Iran Khodro deputy head for exports Ali Elmi was quoted by the agency as saying that the Oman

proposal may need $100 million capital investment.

Automotive industry is the second most active in Iran after oil and gas.

The country has developed its domestic car industry for more than four decades.

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

B2

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

MARKET MSM index ends higher

OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,393.97 ............... 6,387.81 ................... 6,393.97 ...................6,390.32.................... 3.65 ...................0.06 Financial Index ..................................... 7,751.64 ............... 7,739.88 .................... 7,743.77 .................... 7,751.76...................-7.99 .................. -0.10 Industrial Index ....................................8,307.91 ...............8,297.01 ...................8,303.97 ................... 8,297.25.................... 6.72 ...................0.08 Services Index ...................................... 3,466.40 ...............3,461.50 ...................3,466.40 ................... 3,456.81....................9.59 ...................0.28 MSM SHARIAH INDEX.......................989.10 .................. 987.62 ...................... 988.92 .......................987.93....................0.99 ................... 0.10 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 14,007,771 ..................3,233,300 .....................793 ...............14,793,552,247 .................. 9 ..................... 10 .................... 23 .........................42

Wednesday’s top gainer was Majan College, up by 10 per cent, while Al Jazeera Steel,

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

down by 5.96 per cent, was the top loser ISIN ..................................................SECURITY NAME ...............................................................................................VOLUME ..............TURNOVER...................TRADES ...........OPEN PRICE............. HIGH....................LOW...............CLOSE PR. ..........PREV. CLOSE..........DIFF (RO) .................DIFF %......................LAST PR...............LAST BID.....................LAST OFFER .................MARKET CAP ........PAR VALUE

MUSCAT: Muscat bourse witnessed a quiet session on Wednesday with most of the trading activity focused on OIFC shares. The MSM30 Index finished the day at 6,393.97 points, with marginal gains of 0.06 per cent. The MSM Sharia Index also witnessed marginal gains of 0.10 per cent and closed at 988.92 points. Following the dividend announcement, OIFC was the most active stock in terms of volume as well as turnover.

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

A total number of 793 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR3.23 million with more than 14 million shares changing hands. Out of 42 traded securities, nine advanced, 10 declined and 23 remained unchanged. At the session close, foreign investors were net sellers for OMR63,000 while GCC and Arab investors were net buyers for OMR62,000 while domestic investors’ net position was neutral.

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

Industrial Index closed at 8,303.97 points, up by 0.08 per cent. Oman Cement, Oman Cables, and Voltamp Energy increased by 0.74 per cent, 0.70 per cent, and 0.50 per cent respectively. National Aluminium,

Gulf International Chemicals, Al Maha Ceramics, and Jazeera Steels declined by 2.00 per cent, 1.36 per cent, 0.77 per cent, and 0.40 per cent respectively.

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

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

OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 3,476,549 ..... 834,920................... 198 ........... 0.237 ...........0.244 ...........0.236........... 0.240 .............0.230 ............0.010 .............4.348 ................0.244 ............ 0.244...................0.245 ................. 48,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER..............................................................14,530 ............... 5,189........................6 ........... 0.356 ...........0.360 ...........0.356........... 0.358 .............0.352 ........... 0.006............. 1.705.................0.360..............0.360...................0.000 .................. 79,121,580 .........0.100 OM0000002374............UNITED FINANCE ..................................................... 241,853 ........... 33,008......................18 ............0.136 ........... 0.137 ...........0.136 ............0.136 .............0.134............ 0.002............. 1.493 ................0.136 .............. 0.136...................0.137 ...................42,264,032 ........0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 2,021,163 ..... 222,269..................... 89 ............0.109 ............0.111 ............0.109............0.110 .............0.109 ............0.001 ............. 0.917 ................0.110 ..............0.109...................0.110 ...................13,406,250 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 375,992 ........... 90,480.....................44 ........... 0.239 ...........0.242 ...........0.239........... 0.241 .............0.239 ........... 0.002............. 0.837 ................0.242..............0.241...................0.242 ..................31,450,500 .........0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 236,823 ......... 129,265......................12 ........... 0.544 ...........0.550 ...........0.544........... 0.546 .............0.542 ........... 0.004............. 0.738 ................0.546..............0.546...................0.548..................180,656,500........0.100 OM0000001707 ............OMAN CABLES INDUSTRY......................................14,034 ............ 30,273........................5 ............2.150 ........... 2.160 ...........2.150............2.155 .............2.140 ............0.015 ............. 0.701 ................2.160..............2.150...................2.325..................193,303,500........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ....................................................... 8,656 ...............3,456........................3 ........... 0.398 ...........0.400 ...........0.398........... 0.400 .............0.398 ........... 0.002............. 0.503 ................0.400............. 0.400...................0.410.................. 24,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000003000 ...........ALMAHA PETROLEUM PRODUCTS MAR. ..........7,430 .............16,307........................2 ............2.190 ........... 2.195 ...........2.190............2.195 .............2.190 ........... 0.005.............0.228 ................2.195 ..............2.190...................2.195..................151,455,000 ........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ....................................................... 28,000 ............ 43,680........................6 ............1.560 ........... 1.560 ...........1.560 ........... 1.560 .............1.560............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.560 ..............1.560...................1.700 ................. 312,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001509............DHOFAR INT.DEV.AND INV. HOLD......................10,000 .............. 4,840........................ 1 ........... 0.484 ...........0.484 ...........0.484........... 0.484 .............0.484 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.484............. 0.000...................0.484 .................119,257,600 ........0.100 OM0000001517 ............HSBC BANK OMAN .................................................... 1,105,181 ....... 151,520..................... 46 ............0.137 ........... 0.138 ...........0.137 ............0.137 ............. 0.137............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.138 .............. 0.137...................0.138................. 274,042,852 .......0.100 OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS............................................................. 1,000 ............... 1,495........................1 ............1.495 ........... 1.495 ...........1.495 ............1.495 ............. 1.495............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.495 .............. 1.425...................1.500...................72,003,781 .........0.100 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES ............................... 200,982........... 85,236........................5 ........... 0.424 ...........0.426 ...........0.424........... 0.424 .............0.424 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.426..............0.426...................0.428 .................125,594,601 ........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................ 11,000 .............. 4,004........................4 ........... 0.364 ...........0.364 ...........0.364........... 0.364 .............0.364 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.364..............0.364...................0.368...................22,278,355.........0.100

Emerging stocks decline Emerging-market stocks fell to a seven-week low as speculation that the US is close to raising interest rates spurred capital outflows. Russia’s ruble weakened below its moving average of the past 200 days.

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index lost 0.9 per cent to 1,016.88 at 12:55pm in London, its third day of declines, as all the 10 industry subgroups fell. Betterthan-expected US capital-equipment orders, new-home sales and regional manufacturing on Tuesday bolstered prospects for a tighter monetary policy, with the Federal Reserve emphasizing that any rate increases will be driven by data.

The developing-nation index has gained 6.4 per cent this year and trades at 12.1 times projected 12-month earnings, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The MSCI World Index of advancednation equities has risen 4.2 per cent in 2015 and is valued at a multiple of 16.7. Swiss authorities, acting at the behest of the US Department of Justice, arrested officials of the soccer governing body FIFA as part of a criminal probe into the controversial 2010 vote that delivered the next two World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

OM0000002275 ...........SHELL OMAN MARKETING .................................. 22,000 ............44,000........................3 ........... 2.000...........2.000 ...........2.000 .......... 2.000 .............2.000 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.000 ............ 2.000...................2.090 ................ 190,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ........................10,000 ...............1,250........................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 OM0000002440 ...........AL SHARQIA INVESTMENT HOLDING .............54,219 ............... 7,014......................13 ............0.129 ........... 0.130 ...........0.129........... 0.129 .............0.129............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.130 ..............0.129...................0.132................... 11,610,000 .........0.100 OM0000002549 ...........BANK DHOFAR ............................................................. 25,000 ...............6,900........................2 ........... 0.276 ........... 0.276 ...........0.276........... 0.276 .............0.276 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.276..............0.272...................0.276..................426,345,079 .......0.100 OM0000002572 ...........OMAN OIL MARKETING ............................................ 5,500 .............12,265........................1 ........... 2.230 ...........2.230 ...........2.230 .......... 2.230 .............2.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................2.230..............2.230...................2.265 .................136,643,250........0.100 OM0000002614............ONIC. HOLDING ........................................................... 49,300 ............ 22,678..................... 10 ........... 0.460 ...........0.460 ...........0.460........... 0.460 .............0.460 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.460..............0.460...................0.470................... 79,774,695 .........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 640,828 ......... 347,829..................... 36 ........... 0.542 ...........0.544 ...........0.542........... 0.542 .............0.542 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.544..............0.542...................0.544 ............... 1,242,167,848 ......0.100 OM0000002820 ...........GULF INVESTMENT SERVICES ...........................99,000 .............13,365..................... 10 ............0.135 ........... 0.135 ...........0.135 ............0.135 ............. 0.135............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.135 .............. 0.135...................0.136.................... 7,943,834 ..........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ........................ 112,910 ..........186,308......................21 ............1.650 ........... 1.655............1.645 ............1.650 ............. 1.650............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.655 .............. 1.655...................1.660................1,237,500,000 ......0.100 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 1,029,592 .......191,466..................... 37 ............0.186 ........... 0.186 ...........0.185 ........... 0.186 ............. 0.186............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.186 ..............0.184...................0.186..................268,107,840........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 289,433 ........... 35,497..................... 43 ............0.123 ........... 0.123 ...........0.122............0.123 ............. 0.123............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.123 ..............0.122...................0.123................... 35,667,618 .........0.100 OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO........................................................................ 84,500 ............ 65,852......................14 ............0.780 ........... 0.780 ...........0.776 ........... 0.780 .............0.780 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.776 .............. 0.776...................0.780..................507,736,499 ........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................28,027 ...............2,403........................8 ........... 0.087 ...........0.087 ...........0.085........... 0.086 .............0.086 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.085..............0.085...................0.089...................15,050,000 .........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER.....................................................1,076 .................. 214........................2 ............0.199 ........... 0.199 ...........0.199 ........... 0.200 .............0.200 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.199 .............. 0.195...................0.198..................134,977,486 ........0.100 OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 444,036..........110,565......................11 ........... 0.249 ...........0.249 ...........0.249........... 0.249 .............0.250 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.400 ...............0.249............. 0.242...................0.249 ..................31,099,592 .........0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN ................................. 475,000 ..........151,050........................6 ............0.318 ........... 0.318 ...........0.318 ............0.318 .............0.320 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.625 ...............0.318 ..............0.314...................0.318................. 426,345,860 .......0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS .................................................... 5,500 ...............2,849........................3 ............0.518 ........... 0.518 ...........0.518 ............0.518 .............0.522 ...........-0.004 ........... -0.766 ...............0.518 ..............0.508...................0.518 ...................27,195,000 .........0.100 OM0000003125 ............GLOBAL FINANCIAL INVESTMENT ................. 70,000 ............... 7,770........................2 ............0.111 ............0.111 ............ 0.111 ............0.111.............. 0.112............-0.001 ........... -0.893 ............... 0.111 .............. 0.110................... 0.112 .................. 22,200,000 ........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT .....................................96,330 ...............7,424......................16 ........... 0.078 ........... 0.078 ...........0.077........... 0.077 .............0.078 ...........-0.001 ........... -1.282 ...............0.077..............0.077...................0.078................... 15,950,657 .........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 158,446 ........... 34,405......................13 ............0.219 ........... 0.219 ...........0.217 ............0.217 .............0.220 ...........-0.003 ........... -1.364 ...............0.217 ..............0.216...................0.220 ...................4,557,000 ..........0.100 OM0000001319 ............NATIONAL ALUMINIUM PRODUCTS ............. 572,500 ..........168,315........................7 ........... 0.294 ...........0.294 ...........0.294 .......... 0.294 .............0.300 ...........-0.006 ........... -2.000 ...............0.294............. 0.280...................0.294 ...................9,870,006 ..........0.100 OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER ....................................................60,072 ..............11,718........................7 ............0.199 ........... 0.199 ...........0.195 ............0.195 .............0.200 ...........-0.005 ........... -2.500 ...............0.195 .............. 0.195...................0.199..................139,309,236........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 12,086,462.....3,087,080 ..............706 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......37........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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

OM0000001566 ............OMAN FISHERIES .......................................................41,600 .............. 2,246........................6 ........... 0.054 ...........0.054 ...........0.054........... 0.054 .............0.054 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.054..............0.054...................0.055....................6,750,000 ..........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..............0.640...................0.648..................116,534,635 ........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING.................................. 228,250 ........... 22,657..................... 23 ........... 0.100 ........... 0.100 ...........0.099........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.099..............0.098...................0.099.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE .................................7,081 ..................800........................1 ............0.113 ........... 0.113............0.113 ............0.113 ............. 0.114............-0.001 ........... -0.877 ...............0.113 ...............0.113...................0.000 ..................11,300,000 .........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 1,643,578 .......119,999..................... 56 ........... 0.073 ........... 0.074 ...........0.073........... 0.073 .............0.074 ...........-0.001 ............-1.351 ................0.073..............0.072...................0.073..................109,500,000 .......0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 1,921,309 ......146,220..................... 87 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 5........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

— United Securities/Bloomberg News

CRUDE SUPPLIES

Opec backs Saudi output plan LONDON: When Saudi Arabia argues next week that Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) should keep up production to fight the rise in US shale oil levels, prices will be on its side.

Crude plunged for eight of nine weeks prior to group’s November gathering, when the kingdom faced down opposition from the majority of fellow members, who

advocated output reductions to tackle a global glut.

With oil companies around the world cutting investment, US output peaking and prices up, Saudi Arabia’s strategy will be extended at Opec’s semiannual meeting on June 5, say Societe Generale and Bank of America.

At Opec’s November 27 meeting, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar

rebuffed objections from the other eight members — in particular Iran, Venezuela and Algeria — to their plan.

While there may be resistance during the proposed June 5 conference, all but one of the 34 analysts and traders surveyed by Bloomberg said Opec will maintain its daily production target of 30 million barrels, ratifying the Saudi strategy. — Bloomberg News

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

B3

MARKET Airbus looking beyond ‘big three Gulf airlines’

KPMG SEMINAR

Taxpayers set to face more scrutiny Times News Service

Qatar Airways and FlyDubai placed record-breaking plane orders worth $162.6 billion. The event takes place every two years.

Planemaker is targeting smaller airlines from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco

The big three can grab 30 to 35 per cent of the forecast fleet demand, but the rest has to go somewhere else. I don’t see an airline ordering hundreds of aircraft every year Habib Fekih

President of Airbus Group Middle East DUBAI: Airbus Group is looking beyond the big three Gulf airlines to capture growth in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) as it predicts other carriers will account for about two-thirds of total sales in the region by 2032.

With a “bonanza” of orders in recent years from Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways unlikely to be repeated anytime soon, Airbus is targeting smaller airlines from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco, said Habib Fekih, president of Airbus Group Middle East.

“The big three can maybe grab 30 to 35 per cent of the forecast fleet demand, but the rest has to

go somewhere else,” Fekih said in a telephone interview. “I don’t see an airline ordering hundreds of aircraft every year.”

Airbus has relied on large orders from the Gulf carriers in past years, with Emirates by far its biggest buyer of the A380 superjumbo and Qatar the launch customer for the A350. The manufacturer wants to sell about 2,000 planes between 2013 and 2032 in the region, which has become a major global aviation hub at the crossroads of global flight paths.

Among prospective customers is Saudi Arabian Airlines, which is looking to expand its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2020 from 119, Saleh Al Jaser, its director general, said this month.

Well-suited The airline has a point-to-point business model suited to singleaisle planes in the A320 family as well as wide-bodies such as the A330 or A350, Fekih said.

At the most recent Dubai Airshow in 2013, Emirates, Etihad,

P R O J E C T M A N A G E M E N T & C O N S U LTA N C Y

Eleven firms vie for Musandam power project’s major contract Times News Service MUSCAT: Eleven companies are in the race for a project management and consultancy services contract for the Musandam independent power project.

These companies are Tractebel Engineering, Atlas International Engineering Consultants, Jacobs CES, and AF Consult LTS, in addition to Electricite De France, Engineering Innovation Design and Consulting, Moneco Consulting Engineers and Consolidated Consultants. Ramboll, Value Engineering Centre and Mott Macdonald & Co are the others. The project is being implemented by Musandam Power Company on a build-own-operate basis under the terms of a power purchase agreement with Oman Power and Water Procurement Company.

The project, which is going to be the first IPP in Musandam, will be able to meet the current and future power demand in Musandam, northern Oman.

The consultant, who will be ap-

Tractebel Engineering, Atlas International Engineering Consultants, Jacobs CES, AF Consult LTS, Electricite De France, Engineering Innovation Design and Consulting, Moneco Consulting Engineers and Consolidated Consultants. Ramboll, Value Engineering Centre and Mott Macdonald are in the race for the contract pointed soon, is expected to oversee construction, commissioning and testing of the 120MW-Musandam IPP project.

In fact, the Musandam Power Company, which is a joint venture between state-owned Oman Oil Company (OOC) and LG International, has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract and long-term service agreement with Wartsila Muscat for building the dual-fuel fired power plant at Tibat in Musandam in December, 2014.

According to earlier reports,

the project’s concession period is fixed at 15 years and the power plant will be ready to begin full operations by the last quarter of 2016.

Musandam Power Company was established in 2014 as Oman’s first IPP in Musandam and uses fuel gas to be processed by OOC’s wholly owned subsidiary, Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production (OOCEP) from the adjacent Musandam gas processing plant, in order to integrate the value chain and meet the growing demand for energy in Musandam.

ICAI WORKSHOP

Over 350 finance professionals to take part in ICAI’s conference Times News Service MUSCAT: Over 350 accounting, auditing and finance professionals and delegates from GCC countries are expected to attend a conference organised by the Muscat Chapter of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

The conference, titled ‘Growth and Governance – Role of Accounting Professionals’, will be inaugurated by Nasser Hamood Al Rawahy, vice chairman of State Audit Institution, at Hotel Intercontinental Muscat on May 29.

J S Mukul, Indian ambassa-

dor to the Sultanate, would be the guest of honour at the event.

The president and vice president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India would also address the gathering.

The Muscat Chapter of ICAI is sponsored by the College of Banking and Financial Studies (CBFS).

CBFS would be represented by Anees Al Lawati, assistant dean of CBFS. The conference would see prominent speakers from Oman and India making technical presentations on the topic including Bader Al Hashmi, chief audit executive of Oman Airport Manage-

ment Company and vice president of Oman chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, who will deliver the keynote address.

Speaking about the title of the conference, CA. Umesh Kumar, chairman of ICAI Muscat Chapter stated that we have selected ‘Growth and Governance’ as the theme because growth without adequate governance has historically resulted into sudden failure of the organisations.

The attendance at the conference is by invitation and registration, and non-ICAI members willing to register may contact Chapter Secretary CA.

A380 double-decker Some Middle Eastern carriers have expressed interest in the A380 double-decker, which has not gained a new customer for more than a year, and Airbus may provide an update in coming months, Fekih said, declining to identify possible customers.

Airbus shares have gained 54 per cent in Paris this year, compared with a 19 per cent advance for France’s benchmark stock index. There’s also potential for growth in Iraq and Yemen when peace returns, and in Iran when international sanctions are lifted, Fekih said.

“I’ve been in the region for more than 20 years, we passed many wars, many crises and despite that the traffic is growing higher than the average rate in the rest of the world,” he said. — Bloomberg News

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

MUSCAT: Taxpayers across the globe, including Oman, are facing increased scrutiny of their tax returns and positions taken as the pressure on governments increases to raise revenues from taxes, says an expert at KPMG. Ashok Hariharan, partner and head of tax for KPMG in the Middle East and South Asia region, made the comments at a tax seminar organised by KPMG in Oman for chief executive officers and chief financial officers.

The seminar was organised to give companies an overview of the global, regional and local developments in the field of tax.

Neil Allmark, KPMG’s tax director, gave an overview of Oman’s 2015 budget which projected an increased deficit caused by falling oil and gas revenues, an outcome of the significant reduction in oil prices compared to previous years.

The budget anticipated a 29 per cent increase in taxes and fees with revenues from income tax on companies expected to rise from OMR400 million in 2014 to OMR500 million in 2015.

As Oman had not increased the corporate income tax rates, it was likely that the increase in tax revenues would come from a more

thorough examination of tax returns and reducing the backlog in tax assessments.

Allmark pointed out that significant changes can be seen across the world in the tax environment, with United Kingdom (UK) for instance, issuing the Diverted Profits Tax to address attempts by multinational companies to divert profits from the UK to other countries. Similar unilateral actions were also being taken by other countries.

The seminar also provided the latest update on the Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) project initiated by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which was also relevant to non-OECD member states in the gulf region.

The seminar discussed measures being taken by OECD to tackle treaty abuse and artificial avoidance of Permanent Establishment (PE) status.

The steps being taken by Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to address some of the deficiencies in the current transfer pricing regulations including the much debated country-bycountry reporting were discussed.

Allmark also highlighted the key provisions of the tax treaties Oman has concluded recently with Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

B4

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

FEATURE

MEET BAXTER THE ROBOT THAT MAY EVENTUALLY TAKE YOUR JOB

HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTION

TASK PERFORMANCE BEHAVIOR BASED INTELLIGENCE

HUMAN PRESCENCE DETECTION WITH 360 SONAR AND FRONT CAMERA

USER INTERFACE THROUGH THE NAVIGATOR ON THE ARM AND DISPLAY ON THE FACE

VISION GUIDED AND OBJECT DETECTION FOR TOP PRESICION AND VERSATILITY

FULLY INTEGRATED SYSTEMS FOR STREAMLINED INTEGRATION PROCESS FORCE SENSING AND FOCE CONTROL AT EACH JOINT

7 DEGREES OF FREEDOM PER ARM FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AND RANGE

A ROBOT’S EMOTIONS BROOKS DIDN’T SENT OUT TO BUILD A HUMANOID ROBOT, BUT FOUND OUT THAT GIVING BAXTER A FACE WAS THE MOST INTUITIVE WAY TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION

NATURALLY COMPLIANT THROUGH SPRINGS AND FORCE SENSING AT EACH JOINT. CAN FEEL BUMPING INTO PEOPLE OR OBJECTS

TRAIN OBJECTS AND TASKS

BY DIRECT MOVEMENT OF THE ARMS

VISION GUIDED MOVEMENT. VISUAL OBJECT IDENTIFICATION

PEDESTAL WITH LOCKING CASTERS FOR MOBILITY AND STABILITY

NEUTRAL READY FOR TRAINING

ASLEEP ON STANDBY

CONCENTRATING LEARNING A TASK

FOCUSED WORKING AWAY WITHOUT A PROBLEM

SURPRISED A HUMAN HAS APPROACHED

SAD GIVEN UP TRYING TO COMPLETE A TASK

CONFUSED HAVING TROUBLE FINDING AN OBJECT OR COMPLETING A TASK

A

t the University of Maryland, the Baxter robot — named Julia, after chef Julia Child — watches cooking videos on YouTube and learns, step by step, what to do. The magic is in the bot's brain, which is loaded with advanced image- classification software and a reasoning system that translate what it “sees” through cameras positioned on pincher claws at the ends of its two big red arms.

Julia observes and then pours lettuce and baby tomatoes in to a bowl, adds dressing, and then imitates how a chef’s hand grasps a spoon to mix the concoction.

Julia is years away from taking over as a line chef, but lawyers are already feeling the brunt of deep-learning advances: Software is capable of scanning documents and e-mails to figure out what’s admissible in trials. “What used to take a hundred attorneys can now be done with one,” says Andy Wilson, CEO of Logikcull, which used to be a paralegal-forhire company and now sells legal automation technology.

These days AI teams are working on systems to put some of their own out of work, as Google researchers experiment with systems that can automatically check the quality of a program’s code.

“We don’t live in a world where any job last forever,” Thrun says. With technology advancing so swiftly, “people have to keep running.” Willie McTuggie looks like a photocopier on wheels. But he — it, actually — has the engineered brain of a reasonably smart human, and acts like one when when he rolls up to a nurse’s station, opens a drawer, retrieves a dose of pills and glides off to make a delivery.

Packed with more than 30 motion-detecting and other sensors, Willie and his automated buddies at the UCSF Medical Centre can open doors, avoid collisions with doctors on rounds and perceive

ON CASTERS FOR MOVEMENT WITH LOCKING FEET FOR MORE STABILITY

when to wait for a free elevator.

There are 25 mobile bots from robotics company Aethon on staff, named and decorated by mortal colleagues. Willie is wrapped in the San Francisco Giants’ team colors of orange and black, and Maybelle is designed to look like one of the city’s cable cars. They perform duties once handled by nurses, orderlies, cafeteria staff and maintenance crews, though so far no people have lost jobs to the bot corps. “It does displace certain roles, but we can put that headcount into other service roles,” says Pamela Hudson, executive director of clinical systems at the University of California, San Francisco, hospital. It is, she says, a win-win.

Not everyone is enthusiastic as contraptions and software coded with artificial intelligence invade the workplace.

The human-brain mimics are becoming so clever that, according to a study by the Oxford Martin Program on Technology, 47 per cent of all US jobs are at risk over the next two decades of being given over to computers.

Co-Founder of Rethink Robotics Rodney Brooks

They’re already writing sports stories, milking cows and reviewing X-ray results. Three-foot-tall cybernetic bellhops invented by Savioke, a robotics company, deliver room-service orders at Aloft hotels near Apple’s headquarters wearing painted-on black bow ties. The start-up Momentum Machines is building a fastfood burger-flipping apparatus. At the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, a Baxter robot from Rethink Robotics is mastering the art of making a salad.

The artificial intelligence revolution is writing a new chapter in the age-old debate over whether machines are putting people out of work or opening up new opportunities for them. “The idea of technology destroying jobs has been going on for two centuries,” says Richard Cooper, an economist at Harvard University who has studied the impact of technological advancements on employment. “Certain jobs get destroyed but other jobs get created.” The catch in the 21st century is that the technological leaps are so big and

happening so quickly, and at a time when service industry jobs are responsible for more than 40 per cent of employment growth in the US, where income inequality is widening.

“The bar to get entry in to the labor force is rising faster than people expected and the ability to stay there is falling,” says Sebastian Thrun, former head of the Google research laboratory Google X and a developer of the company’s driverlesscar technology. “The competition from machines is getting stronger and stronger.” Because they’re getting smarter and smarter. Super-fast computer-processing strengths and the information-scavenging abilities of the Web make it possible for machines to quickly process huge amounts of information, learn from it and share — like when a self-driving car is in a fender-bender after going too quickly around a turn and transmits a warning to others so they don’t make the same mistake. That future isn’t quite here yet. Androids on the payroll have varying levels of smarts and sophistication. Some, like Willie McTuggie, are loaded with navigation cunning that can follow programmed maps of a facility to get around. Others attain a refined level of dexterity and understanding of space, which is enough to replace workers on a factory floor.

Bots have been helping assemble automobiles in Detroit for decades, and other manufacturers are enlisting them to perform increasing complicated duties. In Seattle, Boeing’s planning to have KUKA AGautomatons fasten the fuselage panels of its 777 and 777X planes. The bots will handle the drilling and filing of more than 60,000 panels, which according to the aircraft maker will boost worker safety and product quality. Workers on the fuselage will transition to new roles, according to Boeing. — Washington Post-Bloomberg News

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

B5

ROUND-UP

PDO’s ‘Tell a Friend’ campaign educates people on road safety “The ‘Tell a Friend’ campaign is aimed at all sectors of society because road safety is an issue which affects us all. However, our youngsters are disproportionately affected by traffic accidents and it’s important we engage with them in a way they can understand and relate to,” said Abdul Amir bin Abdul Hussein Al Ajmi, External Affairs Director at PDO.

The five-year ‘Tell a Friend’ campaign was officially launched by PDO in Muscat in January 2013 with the aim of lowering the number of road accidents in the Sultanate

MUSCAT: The nationwide ‘Tell a Friend’ road safety campaign by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) has held two high-profile events in southern Oman as part of its ongoing campaign to educate people across the Sultanate about the importance of safe driving.

The latest roadshows in Wilayats Shaleem and Al Jazir attracted over 400 visitors, keen to learn about staying safe on Oman’s roads and to spread the message.

This year’s ‘Tell a Friend’ cam-

paign is focused on the communities living around Petroleum Development Oman’s 90,000 square kilometres concession area, says a press release.

In Wilayet Shaleem, representatives from PDO and the Omani Women’s Association joined together to deliver a session on safe driving called ‘Promise me: You Will Come Back’, in partnership with the office of the Wali of Shaleem. The two-hour event had a mixed programme targeting all

E D UC AT I O NA L P R O G R A M M E

age groups. One focus area in particular for the campaign has been raising awareness among younger people about the importance of road safety.

The audience heard from Khalef

Al Amri, corporate road safety adviser at PDO, who talked about their work dealing with traffic accidents. The programme also included giving child seats to a number of parents attending the event.

Determined “As a nation, we cannot continue with the high casualty figures we see on our roads every year and so PDO and our partners are determined to do all we can to promote safe driving and proper vehicle maintenance,” he added.

A similar two-hour session was held for Al Jazir’s community, working closely with the Wali of Al Jazir’s office. The event attracted around 150 residents and was well received by both the community and authorities.

There will be at least two other events in the North of Oman in the coming months.

“The sessions in both Shaleem and Al Jazir were very well received with many good interactions with the audience. It is very important for us to deliver our messages about safe driving in person to these communities and to spread the word about safe driving,” stated Munira Al Balushi, ‘Tell a Friend’ campaign leader.

The five-year ‘Tell a Friend’ campaign was officially launched

by PDO in Muscat in January 2013 with the aim of lowering the number of road accidents in the Sultanate. It targets important areas of road safety such as responsible driving, speed management, vehicle safety, proper seat belt usage and fatigue and has used a multimedia approach, including television, cinema, radio, newspapers, Facebook and Twitter to get its message across to all generations.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Nearbuy introduces 3D Wayfinding Solution at Oman Avenues Mall

Indian School Sohar students to leave for Nasa on Saturday MUSCAT: A group of more than 100 students of Indian School Sohar (ISS), accompanied by their principal and teachers, will be off to an educational tour to National Aeronautics and Space administration (Nasa)’s prestigious Kennedy Space Centre in Orlando, United States, as part of the school’s educational programme during the summer vacations of academic session 2015-16, says a press release.

Due to the overwhelming response, the students have been divided into three teams. The first team of 41 students led by the Principal Sanchita Verma and teachers Divya Johari and Kamal Gurang will leave on May 30 for Amsterdam from where they will head to the US. Over the 11 days, they will participate in a Nasa certification programme on space science. The second group of 26 students and third group of 34 students will fly on June 1 led by Vice-Principal Dr Vinu Kumar and teachers Nisha Aravind, Indira Vinod and Smitha Mishra.

Talking about the trip the principal said, “The aim of this tour is not only to enlighten the students with the latest aspects of science and technology but also to educate them about the cultural and regional diversity. We also want our students to get international exposure, which will help them in

the future."

This unique venture taken up for the first time by the school, has been highly appreciated by the parents and students. Many interactive sessions were organised by the school in order to acquaint the students about the weather conditions, the various time zones they would be travelling through, diverse culture, etc.

The excitement is palpable among the students, who are waiting eagerly for the trip to commence. “It will be an interactive session. We will get an opportunity to explore and learn new things. I am keen to learn how a space shuttle is made,” said Class IX student Sarthak Johari. “Children nowadays are exploring new career avenues and the Nasa trip will help them realise their dreams,” expressed many parents.

Organised in collaboration with Zahara Travels and Services Bureau, the students will also visit the world famous Universal Studios and Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, where the unforgettable thrills and magical experiences await at the all-new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The other highlights of the trip are a visit to the famous Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Hershey’s Chocolate Factory, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington DC, the iconic Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building in New York.

MUSCAT: Nearbuy Solutions announced the installation of the most intuitive and flexible 3D Wayfinding Solution in Oman Avenues Mall supporting its aim of being one of the most innovative shopping destinations in the country. The solution’s unique virtual navigation experience helps not only shoppers find their way in the mall but also engages visitors with its one of a kind 3D virtual walkways of the venue, says a press release.

Nearbuy kiosks can be found in strategic locations and offer the venue operator a unique spot to display messages including searching and locating points of interest, 3D route projection through a virtual tour, easy access to practical information, calendar of events, dynamic pop-ups of rel-

Nearbuy kiosks further provide prime digital advertising space in locations where the target audience is most likely to be receptive to these messages.

“The solution is aimed at making the Middle East a smarter shopping place,” explains Nicolas Standeart, general manager of Nearbuy.

INVESTITURE CEREMONY

Indian School Muscat instals young leaders MUSCAT: An official ceremony was conducted in the multipurpose hall of Indian School Muscat (ISM) recently, wherein the newly elected student leaders of the senior section took charge of their offices.

It was indeed a proud moment for the ISM family as the senior council members received their badges from the chief guest Captain Arjun Dev Nair, Defence Adviser, Embassy of India, Muscat.

The student council took the oath to live up to the expectations and work in sync with the mission of the school, says a press release.

Principal, Srinivas K. Naidu, vice principals, asst. vice principals, HODs, teachers, students and their parents attended the ceremony. The function commenced with the prayer song led by the school choir.

Deep Wilson, vice principal, senior section welcomed the

SPECIALIST

gathering. The opening of the ceremonial and exciting installation was marked by the marching-in of the prefects, members of the student council, house captains and the vice captains accompanied by the school band. The principal administered the oath of office to the prefects and the members of the student council.

The chief guest, Captain Arjun Dev Nair endowed the Head Boy Alen Jiji Tom, Head Girl Angela Alex, Asst. Head Boy Tisjy T. Mohan and the Asst. Head Girl Samantha Aster Pinto with their

brooch of office. The head girl received the school flag from the chief guest with pride. The principal conferred badges on the four house captains and handed their individual house flags.

The four house captains are Hensi Kara: Blue House; Prashant Mathapathi: Green House; Hannock Rajan: Red House; and Rachit Nair: Yellow House. The elected coordinators of the newly instituted student council are Alfred Menezes, Avantika Murali (Sports), Elzo Jacob, Miriyam Dominic A. (Co-curricular), Ar-

maan Waheed Sattikar and Simon Sili Akram Khan (Social Service), Yadukrishna Shankar, Aarthi Vaidyanathan (Public Relations).

Various asst. coordinators are Rohit Peri, Merrin Elza John (Public Relations), Subhash Balakrishnan Pillai, Rhea Biju (Sports), Prathyush Sivakumar, Nathasha Jimmy (Social Service), Kunal Sinha and Anjali Amarkumar (Co-curricular).

Captain Arjun Dev Nair praised the young elected leaders and gave them vital guiding principles for their success. “Leadership is about competency and it is made over time,” he observed. He counselled the young leaders through anecdotes from the Indian Navy and expressed his hope that someday a few of these young men would join the Forces and serve the nation. At the end of his address, he presented to the school a book on INS Vikramaditya.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Al Hayat welcomes back senior gynaecologist MUSCAT: Al Hayat International Hospital, Al Ghubra has expanded its gynaecology facilities with the induction of Dr A. V. Bhuwaneswari to offer excellent obstetrics and gynaecology services.

Dr Bhuwaneswari, specialist, obstetrics and gynaecology, comes with over 45 years of rich experience in India and Oman. She has served in the Ministry of Health, Oman for 30 years in various regions including Nizwa and Muscat.

She served at Khoula Hospital as a specialist for more than 15 years and is adept at performing both major and minor obstetric and gynaecological surgeries and conducting deliveries, says a press release.

Bhuwaneswari joins Hayat team of gynaecologists, Dr Maha Tamir and Dr Deema who are full-time gynaecologists. The gynaecology department functions from 9am to 9pm six days a week

evant content such as promotions and suggestions with several languages being supported.

Nearbuy kiosks not only offer information through the latest state-of-the-art touch screens but it is also fully modular which allows the kiosks to be refreshed with the latest content as per the requirements of the venue.

“Oman Avenues Mall is like no other in terms of providing an unparalleled retail experience.

We are extremely proud to be the technology partner of choice for the mall and to also introduce such technology for the first time in the country. This would not have been possible without the continued support of the Lulu Group management who are leading in the advancement of technology in the regional retail industry.”

Oman Avenues Mall, the latest project in the Lulu Group portfolio, spreads out over 105,000sq. m, and offers more than 205 retail outlets over five levels. The mall is located in one of the most sought out neighbourhoods and is set to offer a completely new way of indulging in shopping, entertainment and leisure in the region.

(except Friday).

Apart from providing general gynaecology services covering conditions from first menstrual cycle through menopause, the department provides the latest comprehensive evaluation, diagnostic procedures and health maintenance programmes. Al

Hayat is dedicated to providing complete women’s healthcare in a comfortable, relaxed and professional environment. Using the latest up-to-date information and procedures they strive to meet both the physical and emotional needs of their patients.

Also they cater to high risk pregnancy with the backup of American board certified neonatologist and paediatrician with 3 bedded neonatal ICU. “The demand for our gynaecology services has resulted in the expansion of our gynaecology department. It is our constant endeavour to make available the most modern facilities to our patients,” said Dr K. P. Raman, chairman, Al Hayat International Hospital.

Gynaecology department’s OPD functions from 9am to 9pm, Saturday to Wednesday, and 9am to 2pm on Thursdays.

Indian School Ibra holds investiture ceremony MUSCAT: The Investiture Ceremony of Students’ Council of Indian School Ibra was held on May 26 at the school campus.

The chief guest for the event was Robin Rohit Vincent, president, School Management Committee and the guest of honour was Latha Anandam, academic sub- committee chairman, says a press release.

The function was inaugurated by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries and it was followed by school prayer presented by the school choir. The dignitaries were given a floral welcome by the students.

The Principal Regi Oommen welcomed the guests. Mathew V. Skariah, the House Parent of Red House introduced the captains and vice captains of the four Houses – Red, Green, Blue

and Yellow respectively. Shafeeq V. S., the House Parent of Green house introduced the prefects of all the four houses and also made everyone aware of the selection criteria. Snehal R. Gupte, Supervisor, introduced the six main members of the Students’ Council who were selected on the basis of votes that they received from their schoolmates.

The Student Council members are as follows – Head Boy: Jelin Raphael Akkara, Head Girl: Siva Priya, Vice Head Boy: Allen Roy,

Vice Head Girl: Sharon Elizabeth, Sports Captain: Md. Nidhal O.K, Cultural Secretary: Amitha Arun.

The badges to the newly inducted council members were conferred by the chief guest and the guest of honour, and the oath was administered by the sports teacher Atul Sharma. The principal, chief guest and the guest of honour addressed the students on this occasion.

The function concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Moses Justus, supervisor.

B6

THU RSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

ROUND-UP Finest service-lane technicians at Dhofar Automotive receive awards The technical awards have been instituted with a vision to keep technicians up-todate on the technical features of models, in-depth diagnostics, and other service procedures as well as to recognise and motivate them to excel further in their jobs

MUSCAT: Dhofar Automotive recently conducted a technical contest for service technicians working with the Fiat Chrysler brands.

The technical awards have been instituted with a vision to keep technicians up-to-date on the technical features of models, in-depth diagnostics, and other service procedures; as well as to recognise and motivate them to excel further in their jobs, says a press release.

“Fiat Chrysler brands have set global benchmarks in areas of engineering and design. Oman is a growing and important market for the Group, and through this initiative we aim to continue to replicate international standards set in place.

“With this programme our goal is to develop highly skilled and trained professionals who will cater to the automobile industry and serve our customers better by ensuring end-to-end process standardisation and execution.

I am proud of my team and their achievements, in a short span of time. After looking at their success, this contest will be a part of Dhofar Automotive’s annual cal-

endar,” said Roderick Lloyd, head of aftersales, Dhofar Automotive.

After a preliminary knockout round across the Sultanate, 12 finalists were selected. The techni-

VA L U E F O R M O N E Y

cians went through a comprehensive series of tests that included: a written theory test, component examination test, mechanical test and finally, a full diagnostic procedure test. After completing the written test, technicians were put through the paces, testing their ability to examine and explain faults on individual components, diagnosing fault codes, identifying cause of failure and providing suggested corrective action.

Seven judges monitored and marked the results during the contest, with moderators from Fiat Chrysler Middle East and Dhofar Automotive, concluding the final score. The contest results were close, with only a few points separating the top three from the rest.

The ceremony saw the distribution of Master Certification Awards

by Ahmad Sallahuddin to, Chrysler training manager: Master Technician Suspension – Dangal Mariano and Emmanuel Llanera; Master Technician Chassis and Suspen-

sion – Alberto, Baiju Thekkeneth, Jerson Saguyo; Master Technician HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) – Ravi Shetty and Chaminda Ratnayeke Ruwan and Master Technician HVAC, Chassis and Suspension – Shashidhara.

The top three technicians of the year trophies were handed over

by Chris Edwards, general manger, Dhofar Automotive and Adee Matalkha, market lead — Mopar from Chrysler Middle East to Sukesha Shetty, Ravi Shetty and Shashidhara who stood in first, second and third place respectively.

“Our technicians are the superstars of the service-lane, and a big part of what keeps customers coming back to Dhofar Automotive,” said Chris Edwards.

“We thank each one of them for their and the entire aftersales department for nurturing a fantastic work environment in which technicians thrive — all to ultimately delivering excellence in customer service.”

PROPERTY SHOW

ZNA vehicles becoming more popular MUSCAT: Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile (ZNA) vehicles are gaining popularity in the Sultanate of Oman as well as in the region.

According to a report in a regional publication, manufacturers, dealers and buyers in the UAE are happy with the performance and are optimistic for significant growth of ZNA vehicles in the coming years. Even in Oman, ZNA pick-ups have become popular for their efficiency, strength and dependability. It is a workhorse equipped to meet varying business needs and is a complete value for

money, says a press release.

A senior spokesperson of Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributors of ZNA range of vehicles in Oman, commented: “ZNA single and double cabin pick-ups 4x2 and 4x4 have been performing well in terms of technology, safety, performance, quality and increasing sales volume. High on performance, affordable prices, lower cost of maintenance and safety – these are some of the factors that have made ZNA vehicles extremely popular in the region. Many people think Chinese cars are cheap and poor in quality.

This perception needs to change as ZNA vehicles are not cheap but affordable. And with Nissan’s hi-tech quality standards and ZNA’s reputation for durability, ZNA pick-ups are highly efficient.”

Established in 1993 and located in Zhengzhou in central China, Zhengzhou Nissan Automobile Co. (ZNA) is a 50-50 joint venture between the Chinese Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. and Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. Ltd which is the largest investment project of Nissan all over the world. ZNA vehicles were put through rigorous

testing before they were deemed fit for the harsh conditions of the desert environment. In order to get the highest certification for the GCC, ZNA vehicles had to run for a minimum of 50,000km in the Saudi Arabian desert for two summers on the trot. The engineers had to ensure that the vehicles could weather the elements and still be in top driving condition.

With a network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across the Sultanate, TAC is the sole distributor of the ZNA range in Oman.

U S E R F R I E N D LY

FRiENDi website now comes with improved features MUSCAT: Customer orientation has been the primary focus for FRiENDi mobile, Oman’s 3rd biggest mobile service provider, since its launch.

FRiENDi mobile’s advanced website as well as web self-care have been of immense help and benefit to customers with their improved features. Users have quick access to the required information thanks to the improved and intuitive navigation structure of the website. The web self-care provides customers with lot of options and enables them to have full management of their plans.

Customers can in one click activate or upgrade their mobile and Internet plans as well as stop a plan if they don’t wish to continue, says a press release.

Professional approach “We believe in empowering our customers and giving complete control in their hands to enjoy the mobile experience. It symbolises our professional approach to business and most importantly reflects our customer centric approach to always serve customers in the best way.

“Our main objective is to pro-

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Interactive FB page FRiENDi mobile’s social media page reflects its close connection with its customers. The highlyinteractive Facebook page is always kept alive and buzzing with activities. The page also boasts of the quickest response time.

Customer inquiries, feedbacks and comments receive due ac-

knowledgment and it simultaneously hosts an array of exciting contests too. Apart from awareness about FRiENDi mobile campaigns, the page proves to be a fun platform filled with ongoing daily ‘lifehacks’, interesting tips on everyday chores and even works as an avenue for followers to share their experiences and photos.

“The Facebook page helps us connect to our customers in an informal way,” said Adnan Al Alawi. “It helps us to add that personal touch to our services and speaks of our focus on customer-orientation.”

MUSCAT: Godrej Properties is all set to present to Tamil expats in Muscat an exclusive preview of two unparalleled projects in Chennai. Godrej Properties will be showcasing the projects at Haffa House, Hotel in Ruwi tomorrow and the day after.

The developer is a part of the Godrej Group, a brand that has been trusted world-wide for over a century, says a press release Godrej Palm Grove is situated near Poonamallee, Chennai, and is spread across 12.5 acres. It combines lush greenery, breathtaking views and modern conveniences with access to a host of world-class amenities. 1 BHK homes at this project currently offer a limited period subvention

scheme of up to Rs204000 and attract Chennai’s highest rental demand, ensuring Godrej Palm Grove is an excellent investment destination. The project also offers ready-possession of 2 and 3 BHK homes which come with exclusive furniture vouchers worth up to Rs104000.

Godrej Azure is a soon to be pre-launched project located conveniently at OMR, Chennai.

It is just minutes away from every convenience. This premium Godrej offering gives customers the opportunity to turn every moment into a lasting memory.

With exclusive pre-launch prices starting at just Rs2.1 million, Godrej Azure offers an opportunity not to be missed.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Gulf Air, S7 Airlines ink special prorate accord MANAMA: The Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has entered into a Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) with Russian carrier S7 Airlines enabling Gulf Air passengers to take flights beyond Moscow to and from any S7 Airlines domestic destination.

According to the new SPA agreement Gulf Air’s fares for flights to and from Moscow are now combined with special, more competitive fares for S7 flights to and from the Russian cities of St Petersburg, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Ufa, Sochi and Voronezh, says a press release.

With a combined fare that is more attractive than those purchased separately, this SPA agreement allows passengers to purchase only one ticket, at a more competitive fare, for their entire journey instead of separate tickets for each individual carrier.

Travellers can now benefit from a special settlement for transfer passengers arriving in Moscow and will be able to continue their trip within Russia with S7 flights while Russian passengers now have the opportunity to travel from across Russian regions to Bahrain and further to other destinations within Gulf Air’s broad route network which spans the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and

vide users with the best online experience by making it very user friendly and easy to manage their mobile accounts,” said Adnan Al Alawi, COO, FRiENDi Mobile Oman.

Godrej Properties roadshow tomorrow

Asia, covering 43 cities in 24 countries.

“Gulf Air launched direct flights from Bahrain to Moscow in October 2014. Today, with a new agreement with S7 Airlines, we are glad to provide not only Moscow citizens but also travellers from Russian regions with a unique opportunity to explore the Kingdom of Bahrain as well as experience our excellent connectivity to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Asia.

By the same token, citizens of Bahrain and Gulf countries can explore Russian regions and find out more about the country’s history and culture,” said Maher Salman Al Musallam, chief executive officer, Gulf Air. “We are confident that the agreement between Gulf Air and S7 will be beneficial for both parties. We believe that this cooperation will lead to the growth of passenger traffic for both airlines and contribute to the development of business and cultural relations between Russia and Bahrain,” added Al Musallam.

Gulf Air operates three weekly flights between Bahrain and Moscow with an Airbus A320ER that features 14 Falcon Gold flatbed seats and 96 economy class seats that offer extended legroom. Gulf Air is renowned for its traditional Arabian hospitality and quality service that has been recognised internationally.

Ex-service military man embarks on a mission to build better communities MUSCAT: A military ex-service man who has invested the best part of his life serving his country, Abdul Karim bin Surur Al Jabri, business development manager at Khimji Paints, believes that working towards the betterment of his country is a long-term commitment that is not bound by a timeframe. An active member of the community, the retired army veteran firmly believes that building a better nation means creating stronger communities.

Al Jabri retired from a 26-year military career to embark on another in the corporate world. Significantly, he would still be serving his country, perhaps not in the army’s vanguard but from the frontlines of initiatives that aim to build self-sustaining, independent communities. And he’d found a like-minded partner when he joined the Khimji Ramdas Group two years ago, says a press release.

“What I love most about working at Khimji Ramdas is that the company encourages us to be actively involved in society-based endeavours. It is very important to me to be part of an outstanding corporate citizen like the KR Group that takes an active part in developing local communities. It is like being part of an extended family,” he says.

“As a ‘people powered’ company, we give priority to enabling our em-

ployees in their respective professional portfolios and also outside their role in the company,” said Nailesh Khimji, director KR. “We encourage our staff to participate in community building initiatives and activities that focus on social development. As it is widely known, the KR Group is a strong votary of society driven endeavours, lending whole-hearted and complete support to local communities. In this respect, we admire Al Jabri and applaud him for the outstanding social work he has accomplished.”

Social and community work have always been a vocation for Al Jabri even when he was still in service in the army. He was an active member of his community in Samail which lies in the interior governorate; he was elected president of the parents’ committee at Saih

Al Rasiyat School and member of the Wilayat of Samail’s parents’ board. He started out as head of the health committee for two years and has now been elected as head of the programmes and activities committee and leader of the treasury and logistics committee.

“When I retired from my service in the army, I had every intention of continuing my work in community development, and I found the perfect partner to carry on my community service when I joined KR Paints,” he says.

His relationship with the KR Group dates back to his days in the army and actively involved in these various committees that he headed. Al Jabri recalls the number of times he has reached out to the KR Group for support towards different projects in the region

and was always welcome, with the company committing itself fully to the various social causes.

Some of the projects he completed together with the KR Group include - constructing the shade and entrance of Sah Al Rasiyat School, distributing 130 school bags and stationery to topperforming students and high achievers in the school; donating 500 Ramadan hamper boxes to the Omani Women’s Association; help in the construction of outdoor classrooms for students with special needs at Seeja School; and distributing 300 gift bags to students of Al Jeela school.

“I have enjoyed a very good rapport with the KR Group, especially Mr Nailesh Khimji. In fact, he asked me to join the company after retiring from the army, and that’s what I did.”

At Khimji Paints, Al Jabri promotes the division for the government sector. He conducts awareness sessions about the range of products that are produced in Oman in a facility managed by efficient Omani staff.

Al Jabri is always encouraging his colleagues to play a more active role in community building exercises. “I encourage them to take part in their community. I also keep them informed about the initiatives and events in which I am involved,” he said.

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MANUKA HONEY

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Captur’s features add to its universal appeal The Renault Captur stands out from the crowd by delivering the best of three

New Zealand’s natural health products hit shelves in Oman MUSCAT: Global leaders in the production of Manuka honey, Manuka Health NZ have launched new Manuka Honey Suckles, organic southern clover honey and wild flower honey in Oman during a launch meeting arranged in Hotel Ruwi in the presence of doctors and pharmacists. They will deliver their expansive range of natural health products to the consumers through partner Muscat Pharmacy & Stores Oman, says a press release.

Manuka Health are producers of a range of products, the most prominent being pure Manuka Honey, which has proven benefits for health problems and is now being sold in more than 70 countries around the world.

The key products now available in Oman include the MGO honey range, MGO 250, MGO 400, MGO 550 and functional foods such as MGO 400 + Green Tea Extract, MGO 400 + Glucose Amine and MGO 400 + Fresh Royal jelly, kids syrup and suckles. MGO refers to the levels of Methylglyoxal which is the key constituent of Manuka honey – a product that can only be found in one place on Earth – in the clean, green mountains of New Zealand.

Honey containing high levels of Methylglyoxal has been found to be very beneficial to humans

for treatment of several illnesses and discomforts and Manuka Health is the first and leading company in the world to test for its levels in the honey. Previous companies use a less accurate and inconsistent testing method and rating scale called UMF, however Manuka Health have perfected the technique.

“Doctors and pharmacists in Oman are being notified of the benefits of the Manuka Health products and how they can help you, so if you are looking out for something that is natural, healthy and extremely beneficial, then ask your local health experts for more details or look out for literature that can assist you. These products are available in selected Muscat Pharmacy outlets,” said a company official.

“Muscat Pharmacy & Stores will be bringing you several new products from Manuka Health so look out for the brand logo and ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information, or take a look at the global website www.manukahealth.co.nz for some great insights into what is coming. There are many leading researchers in the world that believe natural products are the way of the future and at Manuka Health we are striving to develop better and safer ways of giving you what you need,” he added.

different worlds: The expressive styling and driving position of an SUV, the cabin space and modular interior of an MPV

compact saloon car.

and the agility and

‘Themed collection’ The Captur is expected to be a huge success. It is a good option for those wanting small hatchback dimensions and costs, but with a shadow of thrill. It offers much greater personalisation with its ‘themed collection’ - The adventurous and exciting ‘Arizona’ collection, the vibrant blue ‘Miami’ collection and the urban inspired ‘Manhattan’ collection. Each of the three themes is then split into four packs – colour, exterior gloss, interior touch and style – offering abundant personalised possibilities according to each customer’s preference and interest.

driving enjoyment of a compact saloon car

MUSCAT: Suhail Bahwan Automobiles, the exclusive importers and distributors of Renault vehicles in Oman, unveiled their first urban crossover recently — The Renault Captur which is agile, dynamic and elegant, both inside and out.

Drawing on Renault’s expertise, it explores new territory in terms of design, comfort, equipment and pleasure, says a press release.

It is a crossover packed with a turbocharged engine for those occasional bursts of controlled fun.

The engine producing 120 BHP and 190 Nm of torque is mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Made in Spain, the Renault Captur stands out from the crowd by delivering the best of three different worlds: The expressive styling and driving position of an SUV, the cabin space and modular interior of an MPV and the agility and driving enjoyment of a

Attractive design The Captur draws on Renault’s extensive expertise and long lasting history in car manufacturing, which is apparent through its superb design, functionality and the latest in terms of technology. The Captur has an attractive design, including an original two-tone paint, giving it a strong personality.

Its compact size with high ground clearance, large wheels and underbody protection allows you to explore all facets of everyday life.

C U S T O M E R S E RV I C E C A M PA I G N

Bank Sohar’s Twitter contest to give away cash prizes worth OMR800 MUSCAT: Continuing on its path of banking excellence in the Sultanate, Bank Sohar had recently launched a bank-wide customer service campaign that will see the bank further focus on its customer service platforms across all branches and divisions within the Sultanate. Complimenting this campaign, the bank announced that it had recently launched a new Twitter competition @Banksohar_Excel under #here4u offering OMR800 in cash prizes, says a press release.

As part of the contest which will continue till June 1, all followers of the bank’s Twitter page are invited to participate in the competition by submitting their sug-

gestions and recommendation on how Bank Sohar can further improve customer service and make its overall banking experience even better. All entries will then be analysed and filtered by a panel comprising the executive management of the bank, whom will pick the top eight entries. Each of these eight entries will win an OMR100 account opening certificate from Bank Sohar, following which the bank will also strive to implement each of these suggestions in order to comply with the customers input and provide them with the banking experience they wish to experience.

Commenting on the launch of the contest, Mazin Mahmood Al

Raisi, AGM and Head of Marketing and Publicity at Bank Sohar said, “At Bank Sohar, customer service has always been the main objective of our corporate culture.

We constantly provide high importance to our customer’s feedback to further improve our products and services, and ultimately their overall banking experience with Bank Sohar.

Avenue to communicate “We also believe that social media provides a great avenue to communicate with customers directly, receive their feedback and build strong and lasting relationships. I am confident we will receive some great responses from

our followers for this competition as we have done in previous competitions and we look forward for more ideas from them.”

For those interested in participating in the competition, participants have to first log in to their Twitter account and visit Bank Sohar’s official Twitter page. Once the page has been ‘Followed’, participants can submit as many suggestions and recommendation as they wish on how Bank Sohar can further improve its customer service and make the banking experience even better using #here4u.

The eight winners will then be selected and contacted by the bank soon after the competition comes to a close on June 1.

NAT I O NA L P R I D E

NBO supports motorcyclist’s journey across 3 continents Ahmed Al Musalmi, CEO of National Bank of Oman said: “NBO is proud to invest in the dreams and ambitions of Omanis such as Mahir Al Barwani. He has set himself the incredible task of travelling to 25 countries in just two months on a motorbike to promote the Sultanate and celebrate National Day, and we wish him every success in his endeavour. We look forward to following Mahir’s progress and welcoming him safely back home later this summer.”

MUSCAT: As part of its ongoing commitment to the community, National Bank of Oman (NBO) announced its support for Mahir Al Barwani as he embarks on 5,300km journey across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe, to promote the Sultanate.

An Omani national and a member of the Oman Riders Club, Al Barwani will ride a motorcycle and will deliver messages to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said from around the world in celebration of the Sultanate’s 45th National Day. Promoting Sultanate Over approximately 60 days, Al Barwani will promote the Sultanate as he journeys across 25 countries, including the UAE, Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Croatia, Lebanon, Jordan

and Saudi Arabia.

Supporters from NBO including the CEO, Ahmed Al Musalmi, and from the Oman Riders Club including its Chairman, Yaqoub

Al Kiyumi, were on hand to send off Al Barwani as he embarked on his epic journey from the bank’s branch in the Central Business District, Muscat.

Updation on social media Regular updates on the progress of Al Barwani’s journey will be posted on the social media channels of both the Oman Riders Club and NBO over the next two months.

In 2014, Al Barwani became the first Omani to travel to 21 countries on a motorbike, covering a distance of approximately 20,000km.

At almost 1,100kg, the Renault Captur is a relatively light car. Despite its SUV looks, all models are two-wheel drives. Add in the turbocharged petrol engine and the Captur is a monster to reckon.

All models are well equipped, with air-conditioning, cruise control and hill assist as standard, while the top-of-range models add a TomTom-based sat-navigation system, larger wheels and heated seats. Furthermore, the Captur is equipped with a high-end audio and navigation system, Bluetooth phone and MP3 player connectivity plus removable and washable seat covers and a full keyless go option.

High safety protection In terms of safety, the Captur earned a five-star crash test rating from Euro NCAP, and was awarded very high percentage scores for adult and child occupant protection, as well as a better score for its safety systems.

A world class brand Renault is a world class brand today, focusing mainly on the important aspects such as safety, style, performance, value and reliability - keeping alive the motoring heritage of Renault.

The Renault principle of safety is outlined in four basic points: Prevent, correct, protect and educate. Renault provides equipment that performs auxiliary tasks automatically to promote the responsibility of drivers by warning them when they are not in a position to control their vehicle or when they put themselves in a position of potential danger.

For example, the visual and audible seatbelt reminders and tyre pressure monitoring. The inherent handling and braking qualities of a vehicle are fundamental factors of its overall dynamic, active safety and accident avoidance performance. Moreover, Renault is also known to have the maximum number of Euro-NCAP Five Star rated models globally.

SBA is largely committed to supporting Renault Oman’s growth in the Sultanate through major emphasis on customer satisfaction and by providing world-class after-sales services in Oman. With a national network of more than 80 outlets – showrooms, service centres and parts outlets, SBA has further built upon its legacy of trust, excellent customer service and providing value for money to each of its customers.

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Bank Muscat debit card offers deals and discounts at leading restaurants This is the first time a promotional campaign of this magnitude is launched in Oman, attracting the active participation of almost all popular restaurants across the Sultanate

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, has launched an exciting promotion offering attractive deals and discounts for Bank Muscat debit cardholders at

Oman’s popular food and beverage (F&B) outlets and restaurants.

The campaign brings together 45 leading F&B outlets and restaurants across Oman in rewarding Bank Muscat customers with an

attractive value proposition of discounts, beginning on May 31 and running for six months till December 31, says a press release.

The exclusive dining experience for Bank Muscat customers at 45 popular F&B outlets and restaurants reflects the bank’s year-long activities lined up to reward customers in celebration of the Sultanate’s 45 years of Renaissance under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Bank Muscat cardholders can avail discount at the F&B outlets by simply settling the bill with his/her Bank Muscat debit card.

The list of outlets offering the discounts can be viewed on the

PROMOTION

bank’s website www.bankmuscat. com/cards or any of the bank’s social media channels. This is the first time a promotional campaign of this magnitude is launched in Oman, attracting the active participation of almost all popular restaurants across the Sultanate.

“Time and again, Bank Muscat takes the lead in launching novel campaigns and promotions that continuously enhance value as well as create unique opportunities that enrich life for customers.

With the participation of almost all popular restaurants across the Sultanate, the debit card campaign offers an exclusive dining experience,” said Tariq Atiq, AGM –

Cards & eBanking.

“Bank Muscat cards, which spell convenience and security, is the preferred mode of payment in Oman. The wide range of Bank Muscat cards provides a secure option to pay for a host of transactions. The campaign reiterates the bank’s commitment to promoting tourism and the hospitality sector in Oman,” Atiq added.

Bank Muscat cards provide convenience and flexibility for customers in their day-to-day transactions at shopping malls, restaurants or holiday abroad. Embedded with an electronic chip, the cards ensure maximum protection and peace of mind.

RECOGNITION

Honda Accord now offers unmatched benefits Asda’a bags Consultancy of the Year 2015 award

MUSCAT: The 2015 Honda Accord from Omasco, their authorised distributor in the Sultanate of Oman, is one of the most dynamic intelligent sedans in its category, composed of an exhilarating efficient package in line with Honda’s philosophy of ‘man maximum machine minimum.’

The 2015 Accord boasts of luxurious modern interior combined with a sophisticated, linear and sporty exterior. It offers a 6 grade line-up with a direct-injection 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine with CVT transmission and the 3.5 litre iVTEC engine with a 6-speed Automatic Transmission for the L4 and the V6 grades respectively, says a press release.

Honda is offering a host of benefits during this week till May 31 as part of their exclusive promotion that includes free insurance (Oman only), complimentary registration, free five years / 80,000km service package and five years or 150,000km mileage extended warranty.

Exterior styling The 2015 Accord reflects its status as a dynamic, intelligent sedan with deeply sculpted sharp character lines in the exterior.

The vehicle is equipped with a boldchrome grille to enhance the

expressive character of the car keeping the local taste in mind.

All grades are equipped with daytime running lightsand LED brake lights. LED headlights for the V6 Sports grade adds to the sophistication of the modern sedan.

Amongst the key improvements, the rear is equipped with Bumper Integrated Chrome Twin Silencer which enhances exterior aesthetics.Other note worthy exterior features include Honda LaneWatch in the right side door mirror on all V6 grades, flushed rear parking sensors on EX grades and above, alloy wheels as standard.

Impeccable interior The Accord exudes luxury cou-

pled with comfortable interiors with world class cabin space. The refined cockpit of the sedan focuses on an advanced and intuitive driving interface with the full 8-inch colour Intelligent MultiInformation Display (i-MID) that offers simple access to a wide range of important functions.

New to the 2015 Accord is the Electric Parking Break which enhances convenience for the driver. The cabin space is generous and offers outstanding leg room, front and rear shoulder room, front and rear ACs, futuristic LED map and rear reading lights with a rear power sunshade adding to extra comfort for rear passengers in hot summer months.

Powertrain A new addition to 2015 Accord is advanced Earth Dreams Technology powertrains. In combination with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the DirectInjection 2.4 litre i-VTEC engine offers satisfying torque of 25.0 kg-m @ 3900rpmand a horsepower of 185 @ 6400rpm which is 8% higher versus 2013/14 MY Accord 4 cylinder sedan.

The 3.5 litre i-VTEC joins forces with a 6-speed automatic transmission generating 274hp @ 6200rpm and a torque of 34.5 kg-m @ 4900rpm. Updated suspension tuning further enhances handling and ride comfort.

The 2015 Accord Sedan Advanced Compatibility Engineering II body is designed to enhance occupant protection while mitigating damage to other vehicles. The Accord boasts of Honda activesafety features such as the Vehicle Stability Assist which enhances handling stability and predictability especially in poor traction conditions in addition to Anti-Lock Brake Systems, Electronic Brake Distributor and Hill Start Assist.

The passive-safety features include Front Dual SRS airbag, front side airbag system, side curtain airbags and 3-point ELR seatbelts for five passengers.

DUBAI: Asda’a Burson-Marsteller, the region’s leading public relations consultancy, has been named Middle East Consultancy of the Year 2015 at the SABRE Awards. The SABRE Awards, which are presented by the Holmes Group, a leading provider of insights, knowledge and recognition to public relations professionals, chose Asda’a BursonMarsteller for its impressive growth in 2014 and its commitment to its thought leadership platform, Arab Youth Survey, says a press release.

“The recognition by the SABRE Awards is testament to the pioneering efforts of the Asda’a Burson-Marsteller team. We dedicate this honour to our clients for their trust in our ability to deliver value through our public relations programmes,” said Sunil John, founder and CEO of Asda’a Burson-Marsteller.

“With a team of 150 professionals across 11 wholly-owned offices in the Middle East, Asda’a Burson-Marsteller is clearly a major player in one of the fastest-growing regions in EMEA, and indeed fee income was up by 10 per cent last year, with more than $4 million of new business

coming from the likes of Etisalat Group, the Mohammed bin Rashid Foundation, RP Global, Abu Dhabi Financial Group, LinkedIn, the Dubai Chamber, FedEx, The Walt Disney Company, and the General Secretariat of the Executive Council in Abu Dhabi, among others,” stated Paul Holmes, publisher and CEO of the Holmes Group.

“The firm’s work was equally impressive, including the Mustang Rises campaign for Ford Motor Company, which saw one of the iconic cars taken to the top of the Burj Khalifa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its launch; the cause-related “Warriors in Pink” campaign,” Paul added.

G E E LY G C 2

M E M O R A N D U M O F U N D E R S TA N D I N G

Sohar Aluminium to build new premises for OAD in Al Batinah SOHAR: Sohar Aluminium (SA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Social Development to build new premises for the Oman Association for Disabled (OAD) in the Wilayat of Sohar at a cost of OMR110,000.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Said Al Kalbani, Minister of Social Development at the recently inaugurated Al Noor Association for the Blind building in the wilayat. The MoU was signed

by Eng. Said bin Mohammed Al Masoudi, CEO of SA and Amer bin Mohammed Al Hajri, Director General of Social Development for North & South Al Batinah Governorates at the Ministry of Social Development, says a press release.

On the occasion, Said Al Masoudi, CEO of SA, said, “Sohar Aluminium is a strong believer that each and every member of society can lead a thriving and independent life if they are given the right tools for success. We are proud to take up such a project and we hope it will not only support people with

A perfect alternative to two-wheelers disabilities but also foster a culture of inclusion while encouraging more private sector companies to play a greater role in making a long-lasting positive impact in our communities.”

The new fully-equipped OAD building will serve as a training centre for the region and aims to improve the quality of life of more than 450 people with disabilities from Al Batinah North and South,

Al Dhahirah, Al Buraimi as well as Musandam governorates. The centre will offer a wealth of training programmes including Information Technology, Talent Development, specialised training courses to meet labour market demands, arts and handicrafts lessons as well as culinary classes for ladies. Construction will break ground on June 1 and is expected to be completed in one year’s time.

MUSCAT: Cars have always been a great medium of transportation.

When it comes to safety and comfort, automobilists particularly in a car-savvy country like Oman find the four–wheelers user friendly, very much convenient, fun to ride and overall efficient.

And a car like Geely GC2 is a perfect alternative to two wheelers especially for youth and the restaurant delivery boys who are always on the go, says a press release.

A senior spokesperson of Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributors of Geely range of vehicles in Oman comments: “We often see restaurant and other delivery boys on the roads riding a two-wheeler in the heat and even at night. Not only is it unsafe, it is also very uncomfortable in this foul weather.

With Geely GC2, we are offering a small quality car that too at the price of a two-wheeler. It is faster as well as less physically taxing and most importantly it is safe. Also, a two seater vehicle is not suitable when you need to make regular journeys with family members and other passengers or for those who commute with loads of luggage or other goods, but for those on a budget who need a cheap and simple way to get around, a Geely

In Geely GC2, we are offering a small quality car that too at the price of a two-wheeler. It is faster as well as less physically taxing and, most importantly, it is safe Senior spokesperson of Towell Auto Centre

GC2 makes good financial sense.”

Geely GC2 (also known as Panda), the second bionic vehicle in the world, has been in the limelight of the public since being rolled off line. The fashion-

able and cute appearance, highly reliable security guarantee and interior decorations have reflected Geely’s precise control of processes and persistent pursuit of quality. A popular sedan in the small-size segment, the Geely Panda complies with C-NCAP 5-star standard and meets UNCAP safety requirements, providing a small automobile with highest safety performance.

Having a 1.5L DOHC, 4-cylinder, Automatic Transmission, the Geely GC2 is equipped with host of comfort features such as an audio system, AM/FM radio with CD player and MP3 facility, air-conditioner, rear wiper and central locking. For safety, the car is equipped with two airbags, ABS + EBD, front and rear fog lights, 3-point pre-tightening safety belts, alloy wheels and a steering locking anti-theft device.

By bringing the Geely range to the Sultanate, TAC has reinforced its commitment to provide highquality products and services to its customers in Oman. With a network of 11 showrooms, 13 service outlets and 10 parts outlets spread across Oman, TAC is one of the leading automobile distributors in the region.

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UNDETERRED, BLATTER PE PLOTS ANOTHER ESCAPE Fifa president Sepp Blatter is a master of getting out from tight corners and his federation’s initial reaction to Wednesday’s extraordinary events in Zurich suggested he has every intention of pulling off another great escape. >C3 3

Al Shabab shatter Seeb Club’s dream

F I FA P O L L S

VISIT TO OFA OFFICE: Former Saudi Arabian star and present

coach Sami Al Jaber with OFA chairman Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi and other officials. – Supplied photo

Sayyid Khalid to attend Fifa Congress in Zurich

The match provided Seeb Club a golden opportunity to make history as Fanja Club did 26 long years ago,

MUSCAT: Oman Football Association (OFA) will take part in the Fifa Congress, due to be held at Fifa headquarters in Zurich on May 28 and 29. The OFA delegation will be led by the chairman Sayyid Khalid bin Hamad Al Busaidi, the Oman News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Oman will also cast its vote to elect the new president of Fifa.

Meanwhile, Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi received in his office, on Wednes, former Saudi Arabian player and present coach Sami Al Jaber. Sami is currently taking part in the Level A coaching course, which is being hosted by the Oman Football Association under the auspices of the Asian Football Confederation.

During the meeting they exchanged cordial conversations

and discussed latest developments in the field of training methods. Sayyid Khalid gave away the jersey of the national team to Sami Al Jaber as a commemorative gift along with the OFA shield.

The meeting was attended by Khamis bin Saleh Al Balushi, director of information and public relations at the OFA, Ali Al Ajmi, director of operations and Bader Al Maimani, administrator of the national football team.

Level A course Meanwhile, the activities of Level A coaching course, which began on Monday, will continue until June 7. The training sessions include theoretical lectures and practical training at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex.

but missed out on the penalty shootout to lose to UAE’s Al Shabab

SPORTS REPORTER MUSCAT: Dame Luck deserted Seeb as visiting UAE side Al Shabab shattered their dream of becoming the only second Omani club to lay their hands on the coveted GCC Clubs Foootball crown here on Wednesday.

In the final of the 30th edition of the regional club football championship, played at the jampacked Seeb Sports Stadium, Seeb fought their way back from one goal deficit to level the scores at 1-1. However, in the ensuing penalty shootout fortune favoured Al Shabab who went on to seal the match with a 4-3 scoreline and join Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli and Al Ettifaq as the three time winners.

The match provided Seeb a golden opportunity to make history as Fanja Club did 26 long years ago beating Bahrain’s Al Muharraq in a

CHAMPIONS: UAE’s Al Shabab Club players celebrate after winning the GCC Clubs Football Championship title beating Oman’s Seeb Club via penalties at the Seeb Sports Stadium. – Times of Oman/ISMAIL AL FARSI

similar shootout verdict.

The expectations were high ahead of the final, as it is being played at home, and as their Syrian coach Emaduddin Dahbour explained on the eve of the match Seeb were confident, especially after an exceptional performance in the regional tournament despite a poor domestic form which saw them being relegated from the Omantel Professional League.

On Wednesday, that confidence was evident in ample measure as they matched Al Shabab move for move from the beginning. Despite facing a formidable team that has

several foreign recruits among their ranks, Seeb showed character and played with confidence and commitment while being egged on by their vociferous supporters.

At one time it looked like Seeb will manage to pull it off and avenge their two defeats to the same opponents in the group stage of the competitions.

However, they were stunned by a 83rd minute attempt by Al Shabab’s Maldovan striker Henrique Luvannor.

But they refused to give up and fought bravely. And finally Haitham Masoud gave them a life-

line with an injury time equaliser.

In the shootout though it was Al Shabab players who kept their cool to clinch the issue.

For the local side, Abdulaziz Al Habashi and Omar Al Malki failed after Khalid Hamdani, Al Muhannad Al Busaidi and Mazin Al Saadi succeeded with their attempts.

Hendrique Luvannor succeeded with his team’s first attempt, there was no looking for Al Shabab with Azizbek Haydearov of Uzkeistan, Carlos Villanueva of Chile and Nasser Masoud making sure the team returned home with their third trophy.

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

SPORTS

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Top global soccer officials held in US, Swiss corruption cases Prince Ali says Fifa arrests a ‘sad day’ for football

In addition to the Swiss criminal probe, nine football officials and five sports media and promotions executives face extradition to the United States on corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes. Of those 14 indicted, seven Fifa officials, including Fifa vice president Jeffrey Webb, were arrested in Zurich

ZURICH: Swiss police arrested some of the most powerful figures in global soccer on Wednesday, announcing a criminal investigation into the awarding of the next two World Cups and plunging the world’s most popular sport into turmoil.

In addition to the Swiss criminal probe, nine football officials and five sports media and promotions executives face extradition to the United States on corruption charges involving more than $150 million in bribes, U.S. authorities said.

Those arrested did not include Sepp Blatter, the Swiss head of Fifa, but included several just below him in the hierarchy of the wealthiest and most powerful sports body on earth.

Of those 14 indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice, seven officials of soccer’s governing body Fifa, including Fifa vice president Jeffrey Webb, were arrested in Zurich. Four people and two corporate defendants had already pleaded guilty to various charges, the department said.

The Miami, Florida, headquarters of Concacaf, the soccer federation that governs North America, Central America and the Caribbean, were being searched on Wednesday, the DoJ said.

BIGGEST SOCCER SCAM: A combination of file pictures made on Wednesday shows Fifa officials, left to right from upper row, Rafael Es-

quivel, Nicolas Leoz, Jeffrey Webb, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li, Eugenio Figueredo and Jose Maria Marin. The seven men are among several soccer officials charged for allegedly receiving bribes worth millions of dollars. – AFP

“As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world,” said FBI Director James Comey.

“Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at Fifa.”

The arrests by plain-clothes Swiss police were made at dawn at a plush Zurich hotel where Fifa officials are staying ahead of a vote this week where they have been expected to easily anoint Blatter for a fifth term in office.

‘Difficult moment’ Fifa said the arrests were a “difficult moment” but Blatter would not step down and upcoming World Cups would go ahead as planned.

Separate from the U.S. investigation, Swiss prosecutors said they had opened their own criminal proceedings against unidentified individuals on suspicion of mismanagement and money laundering related to the awarding of rights to host the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Data and documents were seized from computers at Fifa’s Zurich headquarters, the Swiss prosecu-

tors said. The U.S. Department of Justice named those arrested in its case as: Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Fifa vice-president Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and José Maria Marin.

The DoJ said the defendants included U.S. and South American sports marketing executives alleged to have paid and agreed to pay “well over $150 million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments”.

“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement.

“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” she said.

Billions The international governing body of football collects billions of dollars in revenue, mostly from sponsorship and television rights for World Cups.

It has persistently been dogged by reports of corruption which it

says it investigates itself, but until now it has escaped major criminal cases in any country.

In particular, the decision to award the World Cup to Qatar, a tiny desert country with no domestic tradition of soccer, was heavily criticised by soccer officials in Western countries.

Fifa was forced to acknowledge that it is too hot to play soccer there in the summer when the cup is traditionally held, forcing schedules around the globe to be rewritten to move the cup.

Qatar’s stock market fell sharply as news of the Swiss investigation emerged. A Russian official said his country would still host the 2018 World Cup. Three years ago Fifa hired a former U.S. prosecutor to examine allegations of bribery over the awarding of the World Cups to Qatar and Russia, but last year it refused to publish his report, releasing only a summary in which it said there were no major irregularities. The investigator quit, saying his report had been mischaracterised.

Most of the arrested officials are in Switzerland for the Fifa Congress, where Blatter faces a challenge from Jordan’s Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein in an election on Friday to lead the organisation. Other po-

tential challengers to Blatter have all dropped out the race.

Prince Ali, who has promised to clean up Fifa if elected to the top job, called it “a sad day for football”.

Concacaf focus Much of the U.S. enquiry focuses on Concacaf, whose Trinidadian former boss Warner was regularly dogged by accusations of corruption before he resigned in 2011, at which point Fifa terminated its investigations of him.

U.S. law gives its courts broad powers to investigate crimes committed by foreigners on foreign soil if money passes through U.S. banks or other activity takes place there.

Damian Collins, a British member of parliament who founded the reform group New Fifa Now, said the arrests and could have a massive impact on the governing body.

“The chickens are finally coming home to roost and this sounds like a hugely significant development for Fifa,” he told Reuters.

“It proves that Sepp Blatter’s promises over the last few years to look into corruption at Fifa have not materialised and because he has totally failed to do this, it has been left to an outside law enforcement agency to do the job and take action.” - Reuters

ZURICH: Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, the man challenging Sepp Blatter for the most powerful job in world soccer, said he was saddened by the latest corruption scandal involving the sport’s governing body Fifa.

Prince Ali issued a brief statement following the news that six high-ranking soccer officials, including two Fifa vice-presidents, had been arrested by Swiss police and detained pending extradition to the United States. “Today is a sad day for football,” Prince Ali said.

The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said the arrested officials were suspected by U.S. investigators of having received or paid bribes amounting to millions of dollars.

The timing could not have come at a worse time for Blatter, who is being challenged by Prince Ali for the Fifa presidency. Blatter is attempting to secure a fifth term at the helm despite widespread criticism of his leadership during a period when the sport has been dogged by allegations of corruption.

Encouraged to stand against Blatter by colleagues disenchanted with the Swiss administrator, Prince Ali has vowed to clean up the sport if elected.

The vote will take place during the Fifa Congress on Friday with Blatter widely tipped to win.

It remains to be seen whether latest scandal will have an impact on the ballot and Prince Ali was reluctant to speculate.

“Clearly this is a developing story, the details of which are still emerging,” the Jordanian said. - Reuters

CORRUPTION PROBE

Blatter not involved, says Fifa spokesman ZURICH: Fifa president Sepp Blatter is not involved in major corruption probes launched into world football’s governing body and a presidential vote will go ahead Friday, his spokesman said.

Fifa has been rocked by the arrest of several top officials as part of a Swiss and US corruption investigation into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar and into bribe taking for sports contracts.

Blatter is “relaxed” about the fallout from the controversy, his spokesman Walter de Gregorio told a press conference at Fifa headquarters.

“The general secretary and the president are not involved in this,” De Gregorio said, referring to Blatter and Fifa secretary general

secretary Jerome Valcke.

“He isn’t dancing in his office — (not) this kind of relaxing. He is very very calm, he sees what happens. He is fully cooperative with everybody.”

De Gregorio insisted that Fifa wanted the full truth to come out and that the US and Swiss investigations would help the body in its cleanup. The spokesman said Fifa’s congress would start as scheduled on Thursday and that the vote for the body’s president would be held Friday.

De Gregorio said that for the moment there was no plan to review holding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar.

The announcements followed the dawn arrests of several top football officials in a Zurich hotel

FIFA SPOKESMAN: De Gregario

as part of a US investigation into bribe taking. Two Fifa vice presidents were among those detained an now facing extradition to the United States.

Separately, Swiss police raided the Fifa headquarters as part of a probe into the votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Fifa initi-

ated the police inquiry in November after widespread accusations of corruption.

The US Justice Department, meanwhile, unsealed an indictment against nine Fifa officials and five executives, charging them with conspiracy and corruption over a 24-year span.

The Department of Justice said it unsealed the indictment as officials raided the Concacaf soccer organisation headquarters in Miami as part of the case.

“It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in the Justice Department statement. - AFP

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS TIMELINE

The 2022 World Cup has been the subject of hot controversy from the moment late in 2010 that Qatar was given the nod

by Fifa to host the event, with Wednesday’s police raids in Zurich and Miami being the latest installments. Here is a look at the timeline of events that have split the football world and rocked to the core the world governing body.

December 2010: In a ceremony in Zurich Fifa announce to general surprise that Qatar has won the right to stage the 22nd World Cup, taking 14 of 22 votes in the fourth round.

January 2011: Fifa president Sepp Blatter, speaking in the Qatari capital Doha ahead of the Asian Cup, says that he expects the tournament “will be held in winter”.

May 2011: Allegations of corruption continue to blight the bidding process for both the 2022 and 2018 tournaments. A whistleblower, who is later revealed to be Phaedra Almajid, formerly part of the Qatari bid, claims that money was paid to Fifa’s Executive Committee in order to buy votes.

July 2011: Almajid retracts her claims of corruption and insists that she wanted to exact revenge after losing her campaign job.

December 2012: Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary general of the Qatar 2022 supreme committee, insists staging the tournament in summer is feasible. A huge investment in infrastructure will create super-cooled stadia to protect fans and players against the heat.

September 2013: Uefa’s 54 member associations back plans to move the tournament from its traditional June and July slot.

November 2013: Amnesty International uncover alleged “human rights abuses” on World Cup construction projects, releasing a report that details “an alarming level of exploitation”.

January 2014: Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke says in a radio interview that the World Cup will not take place in June-July, but the world governing body insists that a decision is yet to be made.

June/July 2014: Pressure grows on Fifa at the Brazil World Cup to order a new vote on the 2022 tournament as a probe gets under way headed by US lawyer Michael J. Garcia, but Blatter vows to fight critics trying to “destroy” Fifa October 17 2014: Fifa’s top judge says that it cannot release Garcia’s final report of the vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in full for legal reasons with Garcia later complaining that a summary of his report misrepresented his conclusions.

November 18 2014: Fifa lodges a criminal complaint with the Swiss attorney general over “possible misconduct” by individuals in connection with the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

February 24 2015: A Fifa World Cup task force recommends the 2022 World Cup in Qatar be held in winter, probably in November-December, to avoid the scorching summer temperatures in the Gulf state.

May 27 2015: Top Fifa officials are taken into custody in Zurich for alleged racketeering, conspiracy and corruption while Swiss authorities raid the Fifa headquarters looking for evidence linked to the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. - AFP

WORLD CUP

Russia 2018 will not be affected MOSCOW: The arrests of officials from soccer world governing body Fifa will not affect Russia’s hosting of the 2018 World Cup, an official at the Russian Football Union told Reuters on Wednesday.

General Secretary Anatoly Vorobyov also said that current Fifa president Sepp Blatter was likely to be re-elected for a fifth term despite the arrests.

“Looking at how things stand, Blatter is without doubt the odds-on favourite,” Vorobyov told Reuters by phone. - Reuters

Undeterred, Fifa president plots another great escape Sepp Blatter, who has repeatedly said that he does not choose his executive committee, was carrying on as usual on Wednesday and getting ready for Friday’s election

Sepp Blatter comes across as an amiable character with eccentric ideas about football but he has shown in the past that he possesses a ruthless instinct for survival and extraordinary political nous

ZURICH: Fifa president Sepp Blatter is a master of getting out from tight corners and his federation’s initial reaction to Wednesday’s extraordinary events in Zurich suggested he has every intention of pulling off another great escape.

Soccer’s governing body was thrown into disarray when several of its leading officials, including vice-president Jeffrey Webb, were arrested in a dawn raid at the luxury lakeside hotel which for years has pampered Fifa visitors.

They were detained pending extradition to the United States where they face federal corruption charges.

Swiss authorities also opened criminal proceedings against individuals on suspicion of mismanagement and money laundering related to the allocation of the 2018 and 2022 Fifa soccer World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

Blatter, Fifa’s president since 1998, was not among them.

It was a day Fifa’s detractors

had long waited for, after years of corruption allegations which critics say have not been properly dealt with.

The initial outside reaction was that, surely, Fifa’s annual Congress could not go ahead as planned amid such turmoil, and even less so the presidential election where Blatter is runaway favourite to see off a challenge from Prince Ali bin Ali Hussein of Jordan.

Yet, within hours, Fifa’s head of media Walter de Gregorio was turning the situation on its head.

The raid was a result of action that Fifa had itself taken, he told reporters. Far from being a disgrace, it was an essential, if undignified, part of a cleaning-up process Blatter began in 2011, at the start of his fourth mandate.

And, while Blatter was not in the happiest of moods, the 79-year-old was ready for Friday’s election for a fifth term.

De Gregorio said the Swiss investigation stemmed from a complaint that Fifa itself had made to Switzerland’s attorney-general’s office in November following an investigation by its ethics committee into the bidding process for the hosting of the 2018 and 2022

World Cups. “The timing may not be obviously the best but Fifa welcomes this process and Fifa co-operates fully with the attorney general of Switzerland and the Federal Office of Justice,” he said.

“Of course Congress will take place. One thing has nothing to do with the other.”

Amiable impression Blatter comes across as an amiable character with eccentric ideas about football but he has shown in the past that he possesses a ruthless instinct for survival and extraordinary political nous.

In 2001, Fifa faced potential financial ruin following the collapse of its marketing partner ISL/ ISMM and Blatter was subjected to intense pressure to reveal details of Fifa finances.

He recovered from that obstacle and today his federation boasts reserves of more than $1 billion.

Blatter faced further troubles in 2002 when Fifa’s then secretary general Michel Zen-Ruffinen claimed Blatter’s 1998 election victory was based on bribery and corruption. Blatter threatened legal action but never followed up the threat and when he beat Issa

A FT E R M AT H

‘Question mark’ over Fifa election: FA chief LONDON: England’s Football Association chairman Greg Dyke on Wednesday questioned whether Fifa’s presidential election should proceed following the arrests of seven of the world governing body’s top officials in a corruption probe.

Fifa has said that Friday’s election, when Prince Ali bin Al Hussein challenges incumbent Sepp Blatter, will go ahead despite the arrests and a separate investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

“As one of the associations who nominated Prince Ali, it will not surprise you to learn that if the election for president goes ahead, the FA will be voting for him,” Dyke said in a statement on the FA website.

“However, there must be a question mark over whether the election should take place in these circumstances.

“Clearly things are changing very quickly and our delegation to the Fifa congress in Zurich, which I am leading, will discuss the position and what we should do about it with our colleagues in (European governing body) Uefa when we meet tomorrow (Thursday) morning.”

Dyke, a vocal critic of 79-yearold Blatter, who is seeking a fifth

term in office, described the day’s events as “very serious for FIFA and its current leadership”.

A Fifa spokesman said that Blatter was not involved in the two investigations The seven Fifa officials were arrested in Zurich after the US Department of Justice issued an indictment charging 14 people with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies over a 24-year period.

The seven people, including FifaA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, now face extradition to the United States.

Swiss police also seized documents and electronic data after raiding Fifa’s Zurich headquarters as part of a probe into bribery allegations regarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Bribery in South Africa Corrupt officials at world soccer’s governing body Fifa took bribes during the process that awarded the 2010 World Cup to South Africa, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch alleged Wednesday.

“Around 2004, bidding began for the opportunity to host the 2010 World Cup, which was ultimately awarded to South Africa, the first time the tournament would be

held on the African continent,” she told a news conference.

“But even for this historic event, Fifa executives and others corrupted the process by using bribes to influence the hosting decision.”

Meanwhile, the soccer officials arrested have corrupted the international game, Lynch said.

“They corrupted the business of worldwide soccer to serve their interests and to enrich themselves,” Lynch told a news conference called to discuss indictments unsealed by US authorities. She added: “This Department of Justice is determined to end these practices to root out corruption and bring wrongdoers to justice.”

US officials would not be drawn on whether or not other senior Fifa figures not named in the indictment, such as the body’s president Sepp Blatter could be charged, but Kelly Currie, acting US attorney for the eastern district of New York, said Wednesday’s actions mark the beginning rather than the end of the probe.

Lynch also said that the US investigation into marketing kickbacks was separate but parallel to a Swiss investigation into allegations of bribery in the process of awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. — Agencies

Hayatou of Cameroon by 139 votes to 56 in that year’s election, ZenRuffinen was soon out of a job.

Four years ago, he was elected unopposed after his only rival, Mohamed Bin Hamman, was investigated in a cash-for-votes scandal and forced to withdraw.

Blatter has mastered the Fifa electoral system where the 209 member associations each hold one vote, meaning that tiny American Samoa holds the same voting rights as soccer powers like Brazil or Germany.

Fifa distributes revenue equally among its 209 members, a policy which helped the likes of Cape Verde to reach the African Nations Cup quarter-finals in 2013 and Costa Rica the World Cup quarterfinals last year.

Only Europe, which holds 53 votes, has pledged to vote against Blatter and, although some other associations may break ranks, those would be unlikely to result in more than a small dent in Blatter’s majority.

Outside Europe, federations see Blatter as the force which keeps the game truly global in the face of the growing financial power of a handful of elite European clubs

and leagues. “He understands the cultures of different parts of the world that make up Fifa, so it is no coincidence that most of the members would vote for him,” said Michel D’Hooge, 68, the honorary president of the Belgian FA and a Fifa executive committee member since 1988, told Reuters in August.

“Of course, you can say that they feel good because they receive a lot of money and grants from Fifa that is his political behaviour.”

Blatter, who has repeatedly said that he does not choose his executive committee, was said to be carrying on as usual on Wednesday and getting ready for Friday’s election.

“He is focused on the Congress and, for everybody involved, the stress factor is a little higher today than yesterday, but he is quite relaxed that he is not involved,” said De Gregorio. “He will accept what will happen.”

“He is not dancing in his office, but he is very calm, he is fully cooperative with everybody. He is not a happy man but he knows this is the consequences of what we initiated. It’s a surprise that it happened today but not a surprise that it happened.” - Reuters

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

SPORTS A I M E D AT YOU T H

Ministry of Sports Affairs to launch new events to mark decade of Summer Sports Oman programme Sports Reporter MUSCAT: The Ministry of Sports Affairs will launch four new programmes aimed at nation’s youth as part of the elaborate arragements being made to mark the 10th anniversary of the Summer Sports Oman programme, the 2015 edition of which will begin on July 9.

Since its inception back in 2006, the programme has caught the imagination of thousands of Omani youth who have been showing keen interest in various sports and cultural activities tailormade for them by the ministry to take part and enjoy during the summer vacations.

The members of the Organising Committee of the progammes unveiled their ambitious plans during a press conference organised at the Ministry of Sports Affairs on Wednesday.

Saud Ambusaidi, chairman of the organising committee, this year’s programme will be organised in two stages — the first one

AMBITIOUS PROGRAMME: The officials of the Summer Sports Oman prgamme reveal plans for the new edition. – JUN ESTRADA/Times of Oman

from June 9 to July 15 and the second from July 26 to August 26.

“But we will be including four new events to the progammes — Youth Trips, Youth Camps, Youth Activities and Encourage Your Team (EYT),” he said.

“Besides that there will be 18 sports disciplines and that in-

cludes 11 events for boys and girls.

They events will be held in sports complexes, clubs and schools.”

“Volleyball, handball, basketball, bowling, equestrian, badminton, yoga, squash, swimming, table tennis and gymnastics will be open for boys and girls while football, athletics, karate, cricket, hockey, tradi-

tional sports and cycling events are exclusively for boys,” he said.

Speaking about other activities, he said: “We are also trying to take these programmes to interior regions. We are planning to organise two major camps, one for girls in Batinah region and one for boys in Muscat.

Federer and Sharapova move up, Halep crashes

“For the first time we will also be organsing events for physically challenged and Autistic children,” he added.

Youth Camps in-charge Hisham Al Sinani informed that there will be five camps each for boys and girls which are aimed at 18 to 25 year olds.

Cash prizes Youth Trips co-ordinator Ibrahim al Mujaini said: “We are planing a total of 20 Youth Trips for both men and women. Teams of 25 members will travel to different parts of Oman to learn about the local history and customs.”

Meanwhile, Encourage Your Team (EYT) programme in charge Mohammed Al Amri said the committee is expecting 700 teams to take part in football and volleyball — the two disciplines which are open for Omanis in 16 to 40 years age group.

The preliminary events will be held accross Oman and the finals in Muscat.

The ministry will grant OMR. 1,500 to hosting clubs.

The regional competition winners will be presented with a cheque of OMR. 1,000 and the runners-up OMR. 750 while the winner of national competitions will get OMR. 3,000 and the runnersup OMR. 2,000.

D I F F I C U LT P R E C E D E N T

Swiss second seed Federer beat Marcel

HAVE A DIALOGUE: Switzerland’s Roger Federer, rigt, stands in front of the chair umpire during his match against Marcel Granollers of Spain. – Reuters

Granollers of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3

Federer and Wawrinka show no sympathy for Nadal in umpire row

in front of a packed crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen that included Angus Young, the guitarist of veteran Australian rock band AC/DC

PARIS: Roger Federer advanced to the third round of the French Open on Wednesday as Maria Sharapova brushed aside fellow Russian Vitalia Diatchenko but Simona Halep became the day’s biggest casualty.

Swiss second seed Federer beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 in front of a packed crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen that included Angus Young, the guitarist of veteran Australian rock band AC/DC. Federer got the job done in one hour and 47 minutes, although he was broken twice and his opponent made life tough in the second set in particular.

The 2009 champion eventually came through a tiebreak before running away with the third set and will now meet Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia for a spot in the last 16.

When asked about the presence of Young among the crowd on a sun-drenched Paris day, Federer said: “I have seen them twice in concert. Once when I was 15 and I even met him.

“I still had long hair at the time. I don’t know if he remembers. It is a real pleasure to see him here.”

Sharapova, who was also champion at Roland Garros in 2012 and runner-up in 2013, defeated Diatchenko 6-3, 6-1 to set up a clash with former finalist Samantha Stosur in the third round.

STRAIGHT SETS WIN: Russia’s Maria Sharapova celebrates after defeating compatriot Vitalia Diatchenko in a women’s second round match of the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Wednesday. – AFP

The second seed exchanged breaks with her Fed Cup teammate early on but went on to win the opener 6-3, Diatchenko double-faulting on set point.

Sharapova then broke right at the start of the second set to lead 2-0, and although Diatchenko saved a first match point to pull it back to 5-1, she could not stop her compatriot closing out the match in the following game.

Stosur of Australia, the runnerup in 2010 who is seeded 26th this year, breezed past French wildcard Amandine Hesse 6-0, 6-1 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Stosur and Sharapova also met in the last 16 a year ago, with the Russian prevailing in three sets.

“She’s always a tough opponent and loves playing on clay.

But I have a good record against her and I hope I can continue that,” said Sharapova of her next opponent.

Nishikori advances Romanian Halep lost to Sharapova in the final last year but the third seed was the biggest name yet to fall by the wayside in the women’s draw as she was beaten 7-5, 6-1 by veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia. “I couldn’t play my best today. But, you know, she started to hit the ball very strong at the beginning of the match. So she was better than me today, and I have just to take...this situation to handle it and just to go forward,” said Halep.

Lucic-Baroni, who last reached the third round in Paris in 2001, now faces French 29th seed Alize Cornet, who saw off Romania’s Alexandra Dulgheru 6-2, 7-5.

In other action, Federer’s compatriot Stan Wawrinka, seeded eight, ousted Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 and faces Steve Johnson of the United States next.

Kei Nishikori, the fifth seed who was the only one of five Japanese

players in the initial men’s draw to have made it through to the second round, eased past Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Next up for Nishikori is Germany’s Benjamin Becker, who eliminated Spain’s 32nd seed Fernando Verdasco, emerging from a marathon fifth set to progress 6-4, 0-6, 1-6, 7-5, 10-8. Another Spaniard, 19th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, was knocked out in straight sets by Czech Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, but four French hopes gave the home fans something to shout about.

Gilles Simon, seeded 12, dismissed Martin Klizan of Slovakia 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a former semi-finalist here who is seeded 14, overcame Israel’s Dudi Sela in three sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-1.

Benoit Paire put out Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 while Nicolas Mahut accounted for 2014 semi-finalist Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. - AFP

PARIS: Roger Federer on Wednesday admitted that allowing leading players to pick and choose who umpires their matches could set a difficult precedent for tour organisers.

After easing past Spain’s Marcel Granollers in the second round of the French Open at Roland Garros, Federer was drawn into a debate that followed Rafael Nadal’s admission that he had requested the removal of a respected umpire from officiating his matches.

“I think everybody should be treated the same way,” said the Swiss star. “It goes back to the same thing that everybody is requesting things when they want to play.

“The players understand that not every request can be granted.

So at the end of the day, you can make a request, but it doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.

“I think at the end of the day the tournament, tournament director, ATP, governing bodies, ITF, whoever, they need to take the decision, I guess, and the players need to be okay with it or then you can have a dialogue, which can be relaxed or not so relaxed.”

Nadal admitted on Tuesday that he had demanded that respected Brazilian umpire Carlos Bernandes be banned from officiating at his matches. The 28-yearold Spaniard fell out with Bernardes after the official gave him a code violation for exceeding the 25 seconds between points at a tournament earlier this year.

Nadal insisted his treatment

by Bernardes during a semifinal defeat to Fabio Fognini in Rio de Janeiro was unfair as he had put his shorts on back to front and

wanted to change them.

Federer added: “It’s very personal...you’re better off with some people and some not, you know.

So that’s why I try to really not focus on who is the umpire; try to focus on my game, so those kind of things don’t creep in my head.

But it’s hard.”

Favourable treatment Federer’s fellow Swiss star Stan Wawrinka admitted that he has aired grievances about umpires in the past but indicated that on this occasion Nadal’s request was ill-conceived and hinted that the top players receive favourable treatment from officials.

“I have already made such requests over a short period of time for direct problems and issues I had with the umpire.

“So when a player makes such a request, it should be granted only if the umpire has made mistakes or faults,” said Wawrinka, the eighth seed in Paris who won through to the third round by beating Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in four sets.

“If it’s just because you don’t like the person, this request should not be accepted.

“Umpires don’t all keep the same watch for all players because they know that if they have trouble with one of the top players and they can’t be on their match, well, tough for them, because they like being there for the finals.

“And if they have problems with top players it becomes difficult with them. Umpires are not as strict on the centre court when they are with the top players as compared to when they are on court number 17.” - AFP

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Real Madrid players ignoring Bale: Wales coach Coleman

GREAT TO BE AT SILVERSTONE: Ahmad Al Harthy is relishing the prospect of contesting his second race in as many weekends. – Supplied photo

Ahmad ready for another challenge at Silverstone Just a few days removed from the most recent outing for the Blancpain Endurance Series, Ahmad and his Oman Racing Team will once again be taking to the 3.66-mile track for the longest race of the British GT season — the Silverstone 500

SILVERSTONE: Ahmad Al Harthy is absolutely relishing the prospect of contesting his second three-hour endurance race at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in as many weekends this Sunday, when round four of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship takes place.

Just a few days removed from the most recent outing for the Blancpain Endurance Series at the home of British motorsport, the 33-year-old and his Oman Racing Team will once again be taking to the 3.66-mile track this weekend for the longest race of the British

GT season — the Silverstone 500.

Heading into round four of the campaign fifth in the championship standings, largely thanks to a fantastic second place finish during the previous event at Rockingham earlier this month, Ahmad and teammate Daniel Lloyd are determined to get their hands on more silverware a few days from now.

Vital experience Last Sunday’s Blancpain outing at Silverstone, where Ahmad and Lloyd were partnered by British GT rival Jonny Adam, certainly provid-

ed the team with a perfect opportunity to gain vital experience with its Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 and the knowledge gained could prove crucial this weekend.

As ever, the Oman Air, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Ooredoo, National Bank of Oman and Al Hashar Group-backed squad will be giving its all to try and make further progress up the points table and solidify its 2015 title challenge — especially having won the corresponding event last year.

“It’s great to be in action at Silverstone again so soon after the Blancpain race,” said Ahmad. “I’m really looking forward to being back in the car and with the memories of the Rockingham podium in British GT still fresh in our minds, we are all hungry for more of the same at the weekend.

“Obviously, last season’s win was incredible — one of the highlights of the year for us — so we want to try and repeat that if we can. Our pace in Blancpain last weekend was strong, things didn’t work out for us in the end with the result but the level of performance was good.

“The car is working well, the

A L YA M E N T E R P R I S E S C R I C K E T

GCC Red down GCC Blue to level Summer Cup series MUSCAT: GCC Reds bounced back from their one wicket loss to defeat GCC Blue by two wickets in Al Yam Enterprises Summer Cup Cricket Tournament organised by the Gulf Cricket Centre (GCC) for the under-15 players of their academy.

The victory helped Reds to level the three-match series and the title deciding match will take place on Friday.

In the second match, which was reduced to 21 overs-a-side, GCC Red won the toss and elected to field first.

The Red team bowled well to restrict the Blue team to 139 for eight in 21 overs.

For Blue team, Saunak Kelkar top scored with 31 runs while Ankit Rao contributed 25 runs.

Arjun Rajesh took three wickets for one run while Obaidullah and Divyansh Karwani claimed two each.

In reply, Red team raced to 140 for eight in just 15 overs with Ar-

MAN OF THE MATCH: Arjun Rajesh receives his award from GCC

head coach Mohammed Irshad. – Supplied photo

jun Rajesh leading the way with a well made 28 while Obaidullah contributed 16 runs.

Ankit Rao and Siddharth Pradeep took two wickets each.

Arjun Rajesh was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round performance.

Brief scores: GCC Blue 139 for 8 in 21 overs (Saunak Kelkar 31, Ankit Rao 25; Arjun Rajesh 3/1, Divyansh Karwani 2/18) lost to GCC Red 140 for 8 in 15 overs (Arjun Rajesh 28, Obaidullah 16; Ankit Rao 2/29, Siddharth Pradeep 2/28).

team is doing an incredible job as always and we know we have a great chance this Sunday.”

Aston Martin Middle East and North Africa ambassador Ahmad certainly has a strong record at Silverstone in British GT and the 2014 victory, which he secured along with then teammate Michael Caine, came with an outstanding winning margin of almost one minute.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s action, free practice will take place on Saturday, with qualifying beginning at 15.35 (UK time). On Sunday, after a brief 10-minute morning warm-up the fourth round of the British GT season – which will be screened live on Motors TV – will get underway at 12.20 (UK time).

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Driver Standings: 5. Ahmad Al Harthy/Daniel Lloyd 28 pts.

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Silver Cup Standings: 1. Ahmad Al Harthy/Daniel Lloyd 40.25 pts.

Provisional 2015 Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 Team Standings: 1. Oman Racing Team, 99.5 pts.

LONDON: Wales manager Chris Coleman has rallied to the defence of forward Gareth Bale by accusing his Real Madrid teammates of deliberately ignoring him on the pitch.

Bale, 25, has endured a difficult second season in Madrid, coming under fire from fans and the media, and lost a key ally on Monday when Carlo Ancelotti was sacked as manager. Bale came in for particularly sharp criticism after Madrid’s loss to Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals, but Coleman said the focus on the former Tottenham Hotspur player was unfair.

“He was heavily criticised after that first leg, but I am seeing him in great positions and not receiving the ball from certain players,” Coleman said in comments published by several British newspapers on Wednesday.

“My assistant Osian (Roberts) called me up and I told him, ‘I know what you are going to say — they are not giving him the ball.’

“It wasn’t Carlo Ancelotti’s fault. It is down to the players on the pitch and it looked to me like he was being overlooked.

“You can only do what you do best. With us, when he is in good positions we make sure we give it to him. In Madrid I did not see that and it was not because he was not working hard.”

Coleman added: “There is so much focus on him that if he makes one mistake, it is a big deal. If he fails to find Cristiano Ronaldo with a pass and Ronaldo reacts and makes a gesture, it gets blown up.

“I have watched many games where Ronaldo has been poor, Isco has been poor. They paid a lot of money for James Rodriguez and there is not a lot coming from there, but it is Gareth who is getting it.”

Madrid paid a reported worldrecord fee of £85.3 million ($131.3 million, 120.4 million euros) to sign Bale from Spurs in 2013.

He scored 22 goals in his first season, including decisive strikes in the Copa del Rey and Champions League finals, and although he has struggled this season, he has still found the net 17 times.

Bale has been included in Wales’s squad for their 2016 European Championship qualifier at home to Belgium on June 12. - AFP

KING’S CUP

Barca’s Suarez back in training before final MADRID: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez has returned to training with his team mates, suggesting he will be able to play a part in Saturday’s King’s Cup final against Athletic Bilbao after two weeks out with a hamstring problem.

The Uruguay international sustained the injury in the Champions League semifinal, second leg at Bayern Munich and missed Barca’s final two La Liga games, including the 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid when they secured a fifth title in seven years.

“All the available players from the first team trained,” Barca said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.es) on Wednesday. “Luis Suarez worked with them without yet being given the medical all clear.”

Barca are chasing a treble of titles and after hosting Bilbao at the Nou Camp, when they will bid for a record-extending 27th domestic cup crown, they take on Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin on June 6.

The Catalan giants are the only Spanish club to have won the treble, achieving the feat under Pep Guardiola in 2008-09.

Suarez had a slow start at Barca after his ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup expired at the end of October but has been in impressive form since the turn of the year.

The 28-year-old has scored 24 goals in 41 appearances this season and has also laid on 16 assists, developing a fine understanding with fellow Messi and Neymar. - Reuters

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Bayliss makes Australia’s Ashes job tougher: Lehmann

Darren Lehmann

SYDNEY: The appointment of Trevor Bayliss as the new England coach will make Australia’s job of winning the Ashes series much harder, his Australian counterpart Darren Lehmann said on Wednesday. The 52-year-old former Sri Lanka coach, an Australian, was handed the role on Tuesday to succeed the sacked Peter Moores and will take charge for the upcoming home series against their arch-rivals.

Bayliss is no stranger to Lehmann or Australia’s players — nine of Australia’s squad for the Ashes have played under him at New South Wales, where he was coaching before being headhunted.

He also stepped in as coach of the Australia T20 side that beat South Africa late last year while Lehmann remained with the Test squad following their 2-0 series

loss to Pakistan. His first mission will be to avenge England’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash against his home country in 2013-14, starting with the first Test in Cardiff on July 8.

Lehmann said England were fortunate to have him at the helm.

“Trevor has been a great servant of the game in Australia and has had great success with NSW in both the long and short format, as well as with the Sydney Sixers and Kolkata Knight Riders in T20s,” he told the Cricket Australia website from the West Indies.

“He did a great job for us when he took the reins in the international T20s against South Africa last year, winning the series 2-1.

Record of success “A trademark of Trevor’s teams is that they are well prepared and

this just serves as another reminder to us that this Ashes will be a tough contest,” he added. “I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him all the best.”

Bayliss will assume the role with an already solid working relationship with current caretaker coach Paul Farbrace, who steered England to a stirring 124-run win over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s on Monday.

They worked together during Bayliss’s time as coach of Sri Lanka, when he led them to the final of the 2011 World Cup. The Australian also guided New South Wales to two Sheffield Shield titles, picked up two Indian Premier League crowns with the Kolkata Knight Riders and won the Australian Big Bash and Champions League with Sydney Sixers.

Aussies aim to get up West Indies ‘noses’ Australia play the

Chanderpaul unhappy with Test squad snub

first of two Tests at Windsor Park in Dominica next week and have included uncapped leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed in the squad

MELBOURNE: Caribbean pitches may no longer have the zing to excite express pacemen but Australia will still look to soften up West Indies with a barrage of bouncers in the upcoming Test series, bowling coach Craig McDermott has said.

Australia play the first of two Tests at Windsor Park in Dominica next week and have included uncapped leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed in the squad along with front-line off-spinner Nathan Lyon in anticipation of flat, slow wickets.

However, McDermott said Australia’s pacemen could still have an impact after learning some harsh lessons from the slow pitches in the Middle East where they laboured in a 2-0 series defeat by Pakistan last year.

“We’ve just got to make sure we get enough balls in the right areas and be relentless and patient and stick two up their nose an over,” McDermott told Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au).

“Certainly I’ve been talking to (pace bowler) Josh (Hazlewood) and (all-rounder) Mitchell Marsh in particular about using the crease and creating angles if the ball’s not doing much.

“They’re both tall blokes so they’re going to get some bounce.

We’re allowed to bowl two bouncers an over so let’s use them.”

Australia’s seamers were hammered by Pakistan in both Tests in the United Arab Emirates, with Peter Siddle conceding 217 runs for two wickets and left-armer Mitchell Starc averaging 71 for his two scalps.

But McDermott expected more help from the wickets at Windsor Park and Sabina Park in Jamaica, venue for the second Test, as well as from the Duke balls to be used in the series.

“I think the ball will swing naturally here more than what it did in

GEORGETOWN: Shivnarine Chanderpaul is disappointed with the manner in which his career as a West Indies cricketer has come to an end but insists that he has not yet retired from the game.

Chairman of the West Indies Cricket Board’s selection panel, Clive Lloyd, explained the need to give younger batsmen in the region an opportunity following the announcement at the weekend that the 40-year-old veteran of 164 Tests was not included in the 12-man training squad that will be based in Barbados ahead of the first of two Tests against Australia.

Dominica hosts the first Test beginning June 3 with the second and final match getting underway in Jamaica June 11.

“My request to finish up with the Australian series is not asking too much,” Chanderpaul was quoted as saying in the local newspaper Kaiteur News on Tuesday.

“It gives me a chance to acknowledge my supporters at home...I should not be pushed into retirement.”

Confirming that he will be available for his native Guyana when the regional first-class season begins in November, Chanderpaul has found solid support from his countrymen, especially with the left-hander just 87 runs away from surpassing Brian Lara’s tally of 11,953 as the most runs by a West Indian in Test cricket.

That backing includes the Guyana Cricket Board, whose officials have condemned the decision.

However new head coach Phil Simmons emphasised that selecting a West Indies team had nothing to do with sentiment and was all about picking the best available players to compete against a formidable Australian side.

“When we went through the

the UAE (when) we had to try to smash it up,” he said.

“The seams are a lot wider and a lot bigger here. If you get your seam position right you’re able to get a leg cutter or an off-cutter by default,” he said.

DISAPPOINTED: Shivnarine Chanderpaul

process, he didn’t fit in so it’s not about giving someone two Tests to finish their career,” Simmons explained. “It’s about picking the best team to play the next game.”

Ironically, Simmons, then a West Indies opening batsman, was dropped in 1994 to accommodate Chanderpaul’s Test debut as a 19-year-old at the former Guyana Test venue of Bourda. Despite his durability and consistency —he averages 51.37 per Test innings - the former captain has endured a pre-

“Our boys have been bowling with (the Duke balls) in Brisbane.

They move around a little bit more on our Australian wickets, particularly at the NCC where we had bit of grass on them,” added McDermott of the National

cipitous drop in form over the past two series, averaging just 16.63 overall in three Tests in South Africa at the end of last year and a similar three-match duel at home to England which ended earlier this month.

West Indies’ squad for the first Test at Windsor Park is expected to be finalised on Friday evening following the Australians’ only warm-up match of the tour, a three-day fixture against a WICB President’s XI that began on Wednesday in Antigua. - AFP

Cricket Centre, Australia’s elite training facility.

“But they’re moving off the deck out here (too).”

Australia have not lost a series home or away to West Indies since 1992-93. - Reuters

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee, who played under Bayliss at the Sixers and Knight Riders, said England were “very, very lucky” to have landed his former mentor.

“Trevor Bayliss is old school,” Lee told Cricket Australia. “He’s such a calming influence over the team and I personally believe his record speaks for itself. Whatever he’s touched has turned to gold.”

Fellow Australian great Shane Warne also called Bayliss “old school”.

“Everyone is a big fan of Trevor Bayliss,” he said in The Australian newspaper. “I think he is more of a background sort of coach — he’s not front and centre all the time.

“He’s not afraid to give a few rockets when they’re needed. He’s fair, harsh and he creates a pretty good environment.” - AFP Trevor Bayliss CRICKET

AB gets paternity leave, to miss Bangladesh Tests JOHANNESBURG: AB de Villiers has been granted paternity leave and will miss the two-Test series in Bangladesh, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Wednesday.

The Proteas named four uncapped players in their Test squad for the matches in July and August. Opener Reeza Hendricks, wicketkeeper Dane Vilas, spinner Aaron Phangiso and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada have all previously represented the country in the limited overs formats.

One-day captain De Villiers, however, will play the limited over matches preceding the Tests.

“The changes have been brought about partly by the retirement of Alviro Petersen and the non-availability of AB de Villiers who has been granted paternity leave,” CSA convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement.

“Reeza and Stiaan van Zyl are both options to open the batting and Stiaan can also be used in AB’s batting position in the middle-order. Dane provides us with the wicketkeeping cover that would normally also be AB’s responsibility.

“Aaron gives us a left-arm spin bowling option and we see this as the ideal opportunity to involve Kagiso in the Test team environment once again, so he will be the back-up fast bowling option.”

Pace duo Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander have been rested for the three-match one-day series and were replaced by Rabada, Chris Morris and all-rounder Ryan McLaren.

The remainder of the squad that went to the World Cup earlier this year has been retained.

Leg-spinner Eddie Leie is the

AB de Villiers

only uncapped player included in the Twenty20 squad.

Starting from July 5, South Africa will play two T20 internationals, three one-dayers and two Tests in Bangladesh.

Test squad: Hashim Amla (captain), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Simon Harmer, Reeza Hendricks, Morne Morkel, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas.

ODI squad: AB de Villiers (captain), Kyle Abbott, Amla, Farhaan Behardien, De Kock, Duminy, Du Plessis, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Phangiso, Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Imran Tahir.

T20 squad: Du Plessis (capt), Abbott, De Kock, De Villiers, Duminy, Beuran Hendricks, Eddie Leie, Miller, Morris, Parnell, Phangiso, Rabada, Rossouw, David Wiese. - Reuters

SHORT STINT

Rhodes to give fielding tips to Lankan players COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricketers are to get fielding tips from the man who pretty much revolutionised the art after former South African player Jonty Rhodes agreed to a short stint with them.

The 45-year-old, whose diving run-out of Pakistan batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq remains one of the enduring memories of the 1992 World Cup, arrived for a 10-day stint ahead of Sri Lanka’s

home series against Pakistan next month.

“Jonty Rhodes will educate the coaches apart from the national cricketers and other national, development and junior teams on the latest techniques of fielding,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Sri Lanka will host Pakistan for three Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 Internationals from June 17-August 1. - Reuters

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SIGHT & SOUND

SECTION

’ve had such a weird career,” says Britt Robertson. “I seem to have done bits of everything” and a look at her CV bears that out — she’s been a ghost, several rebellious years as a teenager and a waitress trapped under a mysterious dome.

The 25-year-old Britt is tackling her biggest role to date as the lead in the new movie Tomorrowland: The World Beyond, a big-budget Disney spectacular co-starring George Clooney.

Once again Britt plays a rebellious teenager — this time one who becomes humanity’s last hope for salvation after she finds a way to visit a technologically advanced future. “It’s all about venturing into the unknown,” she says. “And I’ve done quite a bit of that in real life.”

She’s remembering the time when at only 14, she moved with her grandmother across the US from North Carolina to Los Angeles to audition for TV roles.

And just two years later she was living on her own in Hollywood.

“My grandmother had to go back east because of family illness and she expected me to go back with her, but I didn’t. The family were pretty cut up about it, but I’d made up my mind and they eventually agreed to let me stay.

“I know it was hard for my mother, who lost me for most of my childhood,” Britt says. “It was hard for me as well, being thousands of miles from almost everyone I knew and loved.

There were times when I would get really homesick. But I had wanted to act since I was five and knew I just had to give it my best shot.”

“People said I was crazy being on my own in Hollywood at only 16 but I survived because I knew acting was all I had ever wanted to do and Hollywood was the only place I would get the chance to do it. I did TV commercials and bit parts in movies and TV shows and managed to earn enough to get by.”

Strangely, although she gave up her childhood to move to

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

Hollywood, Britt says she’s never enjoyed living there. “I have never felt part of the place,” she says. “It’s not a community. It’s just a working environment but it’s the place everything happens in movies.

“I’ve met some awesome people, but I’ve met a lot of awful crazy people, too. I’m here to work as hard as I can and make a career that I can be really proud of.”

It hasn’t been easy. Arriving in Hollywood, she got small TV and movie roles but it has taken a decade for Britt to hit the big time with Tomorrowland.

She got her first major break in the movie Dan In Real Life in 2008 playing a sulky teenager desperate to avoid a family trip, and remembers: “The audition was down to me and two other girls and we had to act having a nervous breakdown after our boyfriend had left us.

“I got the part and was amazed to hear that my performance had moved the director to tears. I didn’t think it was that good!”

Her next big hit was the TV series Swingtown. “I loved the surprise of working in TV because

every week when you get the script you have no idea what’s going to happen next. That element of not knowing what’s going to happen next is like an actor’s boot camp and really prepares you for the rest of your career.”

Secret Circle, a supernatural series about witches in a small coastal town, was one of the hardest things Britt’s done.

“The cast became some of my best friends, which was great because it was a really tough and gruelling shoot.”

Now all the major studios are anxious to sign Britt. She’s just finished making the comedy Cake with Jennifer Aniston.

“Jennifer was really lovely to work with and is the ultimate professional.”

Britt has been dating The Maze Runner star Dylan O’Brien since they were both in the 2012 teen comedy The First Time. “He’s been in the business as long as I have and knows the strain and pressures involved,” Britt says.

“We try to keep away from all the Hollywood razzamatazz and just behave like normal people.

— John Graham/Tony James Features

THU RSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

ETCETERA

ho’s the most influential, mysterious, and uncharismatic superstar in pop? A prime candidate must surely be bald, bespectacled 49-year-old Richard Melville Hall, who has no difficulty in shopping in his local New York supermarket without ever being recognised and who hasn’t played in public for five years.

But as Moby — named after his ancestor Herman Melville, creator of white killer whale Moby Dick — Richard Melville Hall is a legend.

His first album, Play, sold over ten million and topped the charts in nearly a dozen countries without Moby making a single public appearance or promotional tour.

And his latest albums, Innocents and Wait For Me, went high in the US charts only days after their release and now Moby is planning a three-day tour later this year “just to prove that I’m still alive.”

Moby doesn’t have a group, a band or even backing singers. He creates his songs electronically in the studio of his fashionable loft in Lower Manhattan, often working all night and taking up to two years to create enough material for an album.

Now a multi-millionaire, the ex-DJ and punk guitarist insists on working alone and playing and producing everything himself. His first three albums were collector’s items for Moby’s cult following.

Then came Play, which was the block-busting sensation of the year.

Currently working on a new album Moby says he’s creating most of the songs walking around Manhattan at dawn.

“The place is really empty and quiet,” he says. “I sing my songs and there’s no one around to hear them but me. I don’t write lyrics that are about anything that has happened to me although the emotions I’ve experienced are always in the music,” he says.

Moby comes from an unlikely background. His father, with a doctorate in chemistry, died in a car crash when Moby was two and his mother took her son back to her parents’ home in Connecticut where she worked as a secretary.

“She was also a weekend hippie,” Moby says. “She encouraged me to sing, write music and play the piano. We went to a lot of festivals — who else would go to these things with their mother?”

By 18 Moby had formed a punk band called AWOL, modelled on his favourite group, Joy Division, but soon was immersing himself in electronic wizardry, doing startling remixes for top bands including Aerosmith, Blur and Guns n’ Roses.

“I just wanted to make music by myself — be a one man band if you like,” he says. That was until he met the love of his life, singer Kelly Tisdale. “She’s the only person I really trust as far as musical judgement is concerned,” he says. “But sadly we’re no longer together. I don’t have a steady girlfriend at the moment. My ideal woman is Patricia Arquette, but unfortunately she’s married to someone else.”

“And anyway, who would want to live with someone who works most of the night and sleeps most of the day?”

“What interests Moby most in life is hits,” says his friend David

Bowie. “Every CD he has bought is because it’s got a hit on it. He doesn’t want to hear the other songs. He just plays the hit over and over again. He’s fascinated by songs that are top of the charts.”

At his bank of computers and synthesizers in his loft studio, Moby electronically embroiders his songs with snatches of other people’s music from the classics to rap. His first success in this field was the international dance-club hit Go, which blended the theme from the cult TV hit Twin Peaks with samples of rock and rap.

Like most electronic composers, Moby uses systems which give access to millions of music samples through one electronic keyboard. But unlike most composers he is happy to live in acute discomfort — for five years he existed in a bare room full of sound equipment and slept on a sheet of plywood on the floor.

It never occurred to him that he needed anything else,” says a friend.

“Since then we’ve forced him to accept a few basic home comforts.”

Friends say that sometimes Moby will work for days, apparently unaware of the need to eat or sleep. For the new album he wrote over 100 songs, sending them to his manager and record bosses.

“When I start a song I’ve no idea how it will sound when finished,” he says.

“There’s no plan — it’s just intuition and accidents! I have nearly 7,000 unreleased songs going back to childhood. I must have another look at them some time. Who knows how many hits could be hiding in there?”

Moby took some persuading to agree to even a three day tour.

“When I’m away from home I can’t be making music — and that’s pretty much all I want to do.”

-Judson Bennett/Tony James Features

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

ETCETERA

KEVIN DILLON IS 49 AND, UNLIKE BIG BROTHER MATT, HE’S NEVER BEEN A MOVIE STAR

H

e became a television star in the 2000s, thanks to Entourage (20042011), but before that he had a couple of decades of near-misses to help him prepare for his character on the series Johnny Drama Chase, a failed actor.

“Oh, I can tell you stories,” Dillon said during an interview at a Beverly Hills hotel, sipping coffee and nervously adjusting his gray suit jacket. “One time I did an audition with Rhea Perlman for some TV show, and my worst voice came back to haunt me.

“I smoked in those days,” he continued, “and it was five flights down from the room where I would have to read for this part.”

He waffled, he hesitated — and eventually snuck out for a quick smoke. “Two seconds later an assistant ran down and yelled, ‘They’re calling you!,’” Dillon recalled with a grimace. “At top speed, like an Olympian runner, I sprinted up five flights and entered the room huffing, puffing and sweating.

“Rhea even said to me, ‘Sit down for a minute before you pass out,’” he continued. “She felt so bad for me. She kept saying, ‘Just catch your breath, Kevin. It will be fine.’”

Did he get the job?

“No,” Dillon admitted, hanging his head. “Rhea did pull me over and handed me some Kleenex to wipe the sweat. It was something.”

That and hundreds of other failed auditions all paid off, however, when it came time to play Drama — and now, ironically, that role has made him a movie star.

Entourage, the big-screen version of the series, will open in the US on June 3. Drama is back, as are the rest of the posse — prettyboy actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), Drama’s more-successful half brother, hangers-on Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and E (Kevin Connolly), and Vince’s frantic, screaming agent, Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven).

The film picks up right where the show left off. Ari is running a major movie studio now, and he’s signed his former prize

client, Vince, to star in and nd direct an upcoming blockbuster. uster.

Vince, in turn, has cast Drama in a key role that he may ay not be up to. Meanwhile E iss facing impending fatherhood d with his estranged wife and Turtle rtle is struggling to adapt to hiss new life as a multimillionaire.

“Ever since the show ended, ded, all I’ve heard is, ‘When is theree going to be a movie’?,” Dillon said. d. “The press has debated that question ion for years. The fans have been waiting. aiting.

Everyone I know in my lifee constantly asked about it.

“Now all I hear is, ‘When iss there going to be a sequel’?”

Most shows go off the air ir and, except for the obligatory reruns, never are heard from again. Why is Entourage different?

“I’ve thought about it a lot,” Dillon said, “and I think, at the core, it’s about the longing for or real friendship. These guys havee such big hearts. Drama might have one of the biggest hearts. He just wants to be one of the fellows. ws. And doesn’t everyone just wantt to fit into a group where everyone ne has your back?”

Hunger for stardom Despite his hunger for stardom, ardom, the actor added, Drama really ly isn’t all about Hollywood.

“As much as, on the surface, e, Drama seems to be about his career,” areer,” he explained, “his real love is his brother and the guys.”

Don’t look for any major growth in his character.

“Drama is Drama,” Dillon n said with a chuckle. “My character ter has changed the least amount. He’s e’s still striving for fame — not fortune une so much. More than anything, Drama wants to be respected as a great actor, but no one will give him a chance to act. Even though it has been decades of looking for work, he just won’t quit, which is what I love about him.”

When audiences first mett Drama, he was living with his successccessful brother, employed as Vince’s personal chef.

“Drama has grown up a bit it on a personal level,” Dillon conceded. ceded.

“He doesn’t live at Vince’s house now. Drama has evolved to the point where he can exist on his own, although he’s still at Vinny’s house all the time. Maybe he has a bed in one of the back rooms.”

Drama is doing what he believes to be his best work in his brother’s film. The only problem is that the rich son of the movie’s major investor hates him, despises his work and wants him cut out of the project.

“Being cut out is a tragedy for Drama,” Dillon said. “He’s a guy who just needs this break. He knows it’s great work.”

It wasn’t hard to slip back into Drama’s neurosis, he added.

“One take and we were back — it was instant,” Dillon said.

“The time seemed to melt away.

The day we got to the set for the first time, it was like nothing has changed. Then we got rolling. Aff ter the first take, the second one was better. “Then we started to do that Entourage thing of walking and talking,” he continued. “I was walking down some steps, and I was Drama again.”

There was a great deal of walking and, especially, talking for Dillon. Drama’s trademark long, neurotic monologues are back in spades. “It was about two or three pages of dialogue at a time for me,” Dillon said. “It was always one take with no cutting. Doug started us out tough, and we had to rise to the occasion.”

The show’s trademark was star cameos by everyone from Tom Brady to U2. The movie carries on the tradition, with Jessica Alba and Liam Neeson among those sticking their heads in.

“They’re not doing it for the money,” Dillon said. “I’ll hear, ‘We got Jon Favreau coming by today to talk to Drama. Work it out.’ Our set is always like a party where we keep adding more and more guests.”

Predictably, Entourage was a favourite show of many actors, famous and unknown alike, and Drama often was their favourite character. -Cindy Pearlman/The New York Times News Service

NEWS

B.B. King was poisoned, daughters claim LEGENDARY blues guitarist B.B. King, who died aged 89, was poisoned, according to two of the music great’s heirs. King’s daughters, Patty King and Karen Williams, made the accusations in separate, but identically worded affidavits filed over the weekend.

“I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances to induce his premature death. I believe my father was murdered,” they said in their affidavits. Both women have accused LaVerne Toney, King’s business manager, and Myron Johnson, his personal assistant, of neglect. An attorney for Toney said the daughters were chasing a check.

“This is absolutely about money,” Eric Brent Bryson, King’s attorney told CNN, adding the charges were “absolutely ridiculous” and “unfounded”.

King died on May 14 in home hospice care in Las Vegas. No investigation was conducted at the time of his death. King’s attending physician listed the cause as multi-infarct dementia, which is caused by a series of small strokes. But the daugh-

ters say that two of King’s associates gave him medication to induce diabetic shock. John Fudenberg, the coroner for Clark county in Nevada state, said that initial autopsy results found “no evidence to substantiate the allegations”. But full forensic results will take six to eight weeks. King and Williams say the associates are medically unlicensed, but were seen giving medications, fluids and for-

eign substances to the musician that were then locked away. The women say “King was sequestered from all family members” the week prior to his death, and that Toney and Johnson were the only people with him.

Bryson disputed the allegations, saying King had the best treatment possible from three doctors and 24-hour-a-day monitoring from three nursing assistants. “When the true facts come

out, I’m absolutely confident this will go away,” Bryson said.

The daughters’ lawyer, Larissa Drohobyczer, provided the affidavits to CNN, but wouldn’t comment on the case. King and Williams also refused to comment. The Las Vegas police said on Tuesday that the investigation will only move forward if the coroner’s office finds in the full report that the death wasn’t from natural causes.

The allegations are the latest in a bid by some of King’s children to wrest control of the late singer’s assets, believed to be in the millions. King had 15 children from several different relationships. Eleven children are still living.

Earlier this year, Patty King, Karen Williams and a third daughter, Rita Washington, went to court, accusing Toney — the business manager — of elder abuse and neglect. But a judge tossed out the case, for lack of evidence. In the weekend affidavits, Patty King and Williams requested a toxicology analysis or autopsy be conducted to determine the cause of their father’s death. -IANS

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C 1 0 THU RSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

ETCETERA

At 71, Lin Shaye is back as Elise Reiner in the third chapter of the horror flick, this time as the prequel’s leading lady

L

THE MOTHER OF HORROR RETURNS WITH ‘INSIDIOUS’

in Shaye is one of those character actors moviegoers recognise, but don’t necessarily know by name. She played Mrs Nuegeboren in Dumb and Dumber (1994), the uber-tanned Magda in There’s Something About Mary (1998), Granny Boon in 2001 Maniacs (2005) and the psychic Elise Reiner in the surprise-hit horror film Insidious (2011) and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013).

Now, at 71, Shaye is back as Elise Reiner in Insidious: Chapter 3, this time as the prequel’s leading lady.

Shaye isn’t a psychic, of course - she simply plays one in the movies. That’s why she never saw the success of the Insidious franchise coming her way. It happened.

Unexpectedly and fortuitously, it simply happened.

“You never know what will click and what won’t,” Shaye said, speaking by telephone from Manhattan. “You always do your best and hope for the best.

“The exciting part of the first film was James Wan, our director, working with him and getting to know him,” she continued. “James was a fan of a little cult film I did called Dead End (2003), which was with Ray Wise. So he came over and we met, and it wasn’t long after that he called me and said, ‘I have a script that I’d like you to look at’.”

That script was for Insidious, written by Leigh Whannell, with Wan set to direct. It followed Josh and Renai Lambert (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) as they fought to stop the malevolent spirits in their house from inhabiting their comatose son and dragging him to a realm called The Further.

Wan wanted Shaye to portray Elise, the psychic who, with her partners Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), tries to help the Lambert family.

“I took the script upstairs that evening,” Shaye recalled, “and it was 12:30 or 1 in the morning. I never thought I’d stay awake. But this script, it held my attention and I couldn’t put it down. When I finished reading it, I was so chilled that I took it downstairs and locked it in a closet.

“When I talked to James, I said, ‘I love the script. I love the character.

If you do it, I’d love to be a part of it,” she continued. “Cut to a few months later, and he told me that he wanted Rose Byrne, Patrick Wilson and Barbara Hershey as his first choices, along with me. And cut to a week after that, he said, ‘It’s on. Everyone wants to do it.’

“So, even if you never know for sure, I guess we all had a good feeling about Insidious,” Shaye said.

“And it obviously had a big effect on audiences once they saw it.”

Elise died at the end of Insidious. Wan wrestled with the decision before keeping the death scene. Her demise worked too well for her to be spared, he figured, and besides “dead” doesn’t necessarily mean dead in any movie, especially a ghost story.

“James said, ‘We’ll figure out some way to bring you back if we do another one’,” Shaye said. “And in the second one, they brought me in from The Further. We actually had conversations about what was different about me in The Further

from when I was alive. One scene James said, ‘Don’t use your hands.

Keep your hands by your side.’

Usually I’m very expressive with my hands. He wanted that to be a subtle difference, and it was.

“Apparently it got a big reaction when Elise showed up in Chapter 2,” she said. “James told me that happened at every screening of the movie he saw. I don’t think anyone really expected that.

Elise is an unlikely heroine. I’m not the hot, young girl. I’m this motherly person and a caring figure in the films. Someone told me something sweet the other day: They said, ‘When Elise shows up, we feel safe.’

“So, when Chapter 2 was about to open, James said, ‘If we do well with this one, I’m going to make Elise the face of the franchise’,” Shaye continued. “I think I’m going to cry, but no one ever said anything like that to me before.”

Sure enough, when it came time to brainstorm a third Insidious film, Whannell devised an origin story. He ended up writing and directing Insidious: Chapter 3, with Wan remaining involved as a producer. The film will open in the US on June 5.

“It takes place in 2008,” Shaye said. “It fills in all the gaps about Elise, everything you wanted to know, and most of it was much richer than the back story I had come up with for her. I didn’t ever see her coming from as dark a place as Leigh puts her in at the beginning of Chapter 3.

“This film has a very rich emotional theme, which is about loss,” she said. “I think it’s going to scare people in a different kind of way than they are expecting. We’ve all experienced that, whether you’re 13 years old or 113, and for Elise her connection with this young girl, Quinn (Stefanie Scott), partly has to do with that.

“Something very personal happened to Elise that took her away from being a psychic,” Shaye continued. “What’s happening to Quinn now strikes a chord in Elise, and it’s what brings her back into the present world. So it’s a very emotional, very scary movie, and I’m excited for people to see it.”

The latest Insidious installment is one of more than a dozen movies Shaye has completed and awaiting release. Most of them, as befits a woman recently dubbed The Godmother of Horror, are frightfests.

As a child, however, horror wasn’t even on her radar.

Forty years later, she said, she’s still savouring the experience.

“I love what I do,” Shaye said.

“I love the process of storytelling.

I’m obsessed and impassioned about my work. I love character, I love working with other artists.

I have a wonderful audience that knows me for my work, not for being famous.

“A lot of my fans are teenagers, the PG-13ers,” she added. “I feel a responsibility to say things that make them feel positive about themselves and what they want to do in life.

“So I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my whole life,” Shaye concluded. “This is the best ever. I’m ready for more. -Ian Spelling/The New York Times News Service

C11

T H U R S DAY, MAY 2 8, 2 0 1 5

ETCETERA CELEBRITY NEWS

No point fighting ageing, says George Clooney ACTOR George Clooney doesn’t think there’s any point trying to “fight” ageing. The 54-year-old, who married lawyer Amal Alamuddin, 37, last year, has argued that men who dye their hair and have plastic surgery usually make themselves look even older than they are. “I think for all of us, you have to come to terms with getting older and not trying to fight it,” Clooney said on a radio show. “You have a couple of options — which is get older or die.

You have to get used to that idea that your roles in films and who you are and how you’re perceived is going to change. That will disappoint people at times,” he added. Asked if he’d ever considered cosmetic surgery or dyeing his hair, Clooney added: “Clearly I haven’t. “For me it’s never been an issue or an option.”

Kanye West was almost ‘blown to bits’ on minefield RAPPER Kanye West was reportedly almost “blown to bits” while hiking on an “abandoned military minefield” in Hawaii with his trainer Harley Pasternak. The rapper’s trainer and close friend Pasternak claims they narrowly escaped death after wandering into a dangerous area during one of their outdoor workouts. The duo “luckily saw warning signs for explosives and navigated their way back to safety,” according to billboard.com. Meanwhile, Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian West’s personal trainer Gunnar Peterson claims the New slaves hitmaker “is single-handedly keeping the floral industry alive as he is always buying her bouquets”. The couple, have 23-month-old daughter North.

Zayn Malik spending ‘a lot of time in the kitchen’

The funny side of being tall The British actress known for playing Chummy in the BBC series ‘Call the Midwife’, believes life is about being silly. Now 42, she feels that she is at a crossroads

M

iranda Hart tries out her secret-agent skills in Spy. The comedy, written and directed by Paul Feig, stars Melissa McCarthy as a deskbound CIA operative named Susan Cooper who suddenly is called into the field. It will open in the US on June 5.

Hart plays Nancy, Susan’s best friend at the CIA. “Nancy is a slightly eccentric, sweet techno-wizard,” Hart said.

“She loves Susan to bits, but she’s not practical. She tries to help, but probably makes things worse.”

Until summoned to the action, Nancy works in the CIA’s rodent-plagued basement. At one point a mouse climbs onto her sweater, but she’s so busy that she doesn’t notice.

Hart noticed, though.

“That was a real mouse,” she said. “It stank, and it pooed on my shoulder. This was probably the hardest acting I’ve ever done. A mouse is on my shoulder, and now it’s nibbling on my ear, but I just carried on for Paul.”

It was Feig who sought her out for the role, having seen and appreciated her British sitcom Miranda (2009-2015), which aired in Europe but so far not in the United States.

On the show she plays a woman who is comically socially inept — a trait she shares with Nancy and, by her own admission, with Hart herself. “Anything out in the real world Nancy has trouble with,” the actress said. “I’m pretty pathetic in real life. I get anxious on the Tube.”

It’s only when she’s playing a role, Hart said, that she feels at ease. “A lot of actors have freedom when they’re someone else,”

she continued. “It’s not just to do with lack of confidence. Last year I did a standup tour, and I did five nights at the O2 (a London arena), which holds 14,000. People tell me, ‘You’re so brave,’ but I find life more frightening than performing.”

An athlete in her teen years, Hart did her own stunts in Spy. “The first scene I shot was with 50 Cent,” she recalled. “I had to run and tackle him to the ground. They had a stunt double for me, but I was determined to do it myself.”

“I love being physical in comedy,” she continued. “I was a sprinter and played lacrosse.”

She even tried out for the Queens Park Rangers Ladies Football Club.

“They saw me coming and thought, ‘She would be great in the front. We like her height,’” Hart said. “But I was hopeless, so it didn’t happen. Then I got fat and unfit in my 20s and 30s. Now I’m trying to go back to being athletic.”

Sitting in the library of a West Hollywood hotel, she resembled an excited schoolgirl on her first trip to the big city, rather than an award-winning comedian used to entertaining thousands of people.

There’s an episode of Miranda that provides insight into her own nature, she said.

“It’s set in a hotel room,” she explained, “and Miranda is very excited about the kettle, the biscuits, the sachets and room service.

That’s very me.”

Chummy, her character in Call the Midwife, shows another aspect of Hart. “Jennifer Worth, who wrote the memoir, sent me her book,” the actress said. “She told me, ‘If this ever gets made, I hope you’ll play Chummy, be-

At school I did stupid things, like hiding in a cupboard before the teacher came in.

Two minutes before the end of class, I’d walk out and say, ‘Sorry I’m late.’ I was sitting in the cupboard for 38 minutes cause you remind me of her.’”

The memoir recounts Worth’s experiences working as a young midwife in London’s East End during the late 1950s. Most of the midwives are everyday, down-toearth women, whereas Chummy comes from upper-class British society. “It was an amazing fit,” Hart said. “Chummy was this fish out of water in 1957, doing her own thing.”

She comes by Chummy’s plummy upper-crust accent naturally.

Her grandfather, Sir William Luce, was a British colonial official in the 1950s, and her father was a Royal Navy officer.

“My grandparents definitely had an upper-class kind of life,” she said. “I was brought up in an average, middle-class life. I didn’t live in Downton Abbey.

“I did understand Chummy’s

background, though,” she added.

“She’s emotionally repressed, which is British full stop. I loved her saying things like ‘Ticketyboo,’” a British expression meaning that everything is OK. Hart left Call the Midwife’s fourth season to film Spy, but hopes to return for Season 5. She also hopes that Spy will lead to more work in Hollywood. Now 42, she feels that she is at a crossroads. “You often grow out of your comedy quicker than your audience does,” she said. “With my sitcom I was wondering if she was still funny or she was too silly?

“When a character who’s clumsy and not coping with life becomes 40-plus, people will start to pity her,” Hart said. “They’ll say, ‘Please grow up.’ But I’ll always want to be that clown as much as possible.”

Hart has been making people laugh since elementary school.

“When I was 7, I had a very eccentric teacher, Mr Wolf,” she said. “He called his son Peter. Why would he do that? I imitated him and made my mother laugh. I still remember that connection.

“At school I did stupid things, like hiding in a cupboard before the teacher came in,” she continued. “Two minutes before the end of class, I’d walk out and say, ‘Sorry I’m late.’ I was sitting in the cupboard for 38 minutes.

“It wasn’t that great, but I was committed to the joke.”

Not a lot has changed since then. “I hate small talk and formality,” Hart said. “I suppose I’ve always tried to break down conventions. If someone says to me, ‘Don’t be silly,’ it’s like a red flag to a bull. Life is about being silly.”

-Nancy Mills/The New York Times News Service

FORMER One Direction star Zayn Malik has spent “a lot of time in the kitchen” since leaving the band, according to fiancée Perrie Edwards.

“It’s nice to see more of him now. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, he’s a great chef,” Edwards told The Sun newspaper. Also, Edwards said that the launch of girl group Little Mix’s new single Black magic has meant she and Malik, who got engaged in 2013, haven’t had time to prepare their “perfect” wedding. “I don’t know when the wedding will be,” she said.

-IANS

C 1 2 THU RSDAY, MAY 28, 2015

ETCETERA BRIEFS

Depp names adopted bat Jacki Sparrow

NAOMIE HARRIS

ACTOR Johnny Depp has reportedly decided to adopt an orphaned bat after it was found close to the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. He has named the creature Jacki Sparrow. The 51-year-old actor is currently filming in Australia, is said to have offered to pay for the bat’s medical care after it was rescued by the The Australian Bat Clinic. He named it Jacki Sparrow after his character Jack Sparrow. “He was very interested in it (Jacki Sparrow) and so we asked if he would like to sponsor her and he said yes.

We’re going to be sending Johnny an adoption certificate and little update photos, which is what we normally do with our sponsors,” the Bat Clinic’s director Trish Wimberley said.

Rare Marilyn Monroe images to be auctioned

The British actress is best known for playing Moneypenny in the most recent Bond film, ‘Skyfall’, and Winnie Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’

S

o who’s your favourite James Bond?

Of course it’s got to be Daniel. I really do think he’s amazing.

To come in and to reinvent the whole way that we see Bond, to add a modern twist, and to make us fall in love with the character in a different way is, I think, a huge achievement and he deserves credit for that. He is the ultimate Bond.

I heard you started the rumour that Idris Elba was next in line to play 007...

No, that is not true! Do you know what happened? A journalist said to me, ‘You’ve just finished working with Idris Elba on Mandela, do you think he’d make a

great Bond?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely, I think he would.’ And then the headline is ‘Naomie says Idris Elba to be next Bond’.

What do you think about all the fuss over having a black Bond?

I hope we get to the point where we’re not saying, ‘are we going to have a black Bond?’ That’s not the point. The point is to have somebody who fills the shoes of Bond in the way they should be filled. He’s this iconic character and whoever fits, whatever colour they are, it doesn’t matter.

It’s about their characteristics, their charisma, their humour and their physicality as well — to be able to perform all those stunts. So whoever that is, I say

good luck to them.

You’ve spoken before about coming from a working-class background and struggling to fit in at Cambridge. What led you to apply?

I had this incredible teacher called Murdoch who I will forever be indebted to. He took me under his wing and mentored me in this incredible way. It really taught me about the power of teachers. They can change the direction of a child’s life and they deserve so much more credit than they get.

What’s your favourite film?

I think, embarrassingly, it would be The Sound of Music. I’m obsessed with musicals. I’ve watched it about 30 times. In fact, there was

a singalong recently in Leicester Square and I was so tempted to go.

I couldn’t think of anything worse! I won’t have to fight you for tickets, then.

They’re all yours. Have you ever done any musical theatre?

No, I have the world’s most awful voice. It’s such a shame because if I could sing, I would be doing musicals without a doubt. I just love them. But I can’t, and I can’t dance. So there’s no hope for me.

What’s at the top of your CV? I’m really proud of playing Winnie Mandela and of the movie as a whole. I feel that was the best work that I’ve done so far. I really am very proud of representing this extraordinary moment in history.

To go back to South Africa for the premiere and to turn around at the end and see them all in tears and so thankful to us for having represented so faithfully their experiences, that was a real honour.

What would you have done if you hadn’t become an actress?

I never had a plan B. I just went gung-ho into acting. I started when I was nine, so I never experienced any such thing as unemployment. I actually got everything that I went up for as a child — I never experienced rejection.

I just assumed that the adult profession would be the same. I never had a back-up plan, but if there were anything I would do, I would write or be an architect.

-Oscar Quine/The Independent

EIGHT never-seenbefore photographs from legendary actress Marilyn Monroe’s final photoshoot are going to be auctioned here. The eight photographs are set to be sold at Dreweatts and Bloomsbury Auctions on June 4.

The images were captured

by Monroe’s photographer friend George Barris on Santa Monica beach on July 13, 1962. The eight images were taken just three weeks before she passed away at the age of 36 in her home. Barris, who met Monroe as she worked on her hit film The Seven Year Itch, originally planned to use the photographs for a book which was published in 2001 and was titled Her Life In Her Own Words: Marilyn Monroe’s Revealing Last Words and Photographs.

Demi Moore’s daughter looks her identical twin

ACTRESS Demi Moore and her daughter Rumer Willis looked like identical twins in a photograph featuring them in the similar outfits. The image was shared on photosharing website Instagram on May 25. In the photograph, Moore and her eldest daughter sport the same black jumpsuit and matching glasses.

Wearing their straight long hair down, they have posed with their hands in their pockets, smiling and leaning their heads toward one another. -IANS

D

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Showroom for rent 200 m in Al Misfah, Bousher facing the main road. Contact 95202430

2 BHK with A/C Muttrah near Oman house. Contact: 99896838

New building, residential apartments and offices, in Al Khoud Souq. Contact 95202340

2 BHK with A/C Ghobrah. Contact: 92144045 Flats for rent near Indian school in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 Labor camp available with all facilities at Sohar Falaij (Near Sohar Sea port) - Contact – 92982172

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

2 & 3 BHK in Qurum, with split AC, Near PDO Gate 2.

Contact 94057023

If require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through whatsapp or call 99376454

Mezzanine floor office space for rent area 200 sq. Contact 97175979 / 99001341

Spacious 2 BHK flats in Ruwi MBD area only on 350/- OMR. Contact – 95122188 / 96441499

Flat with 2 rooms, toilet & kitchen in second floor in Souk Al Khoud behind bank Al Ahli 200/- R.O .

Contact : 99738881

Studio flat Wadi Kabeer 160/-O.R. Contact - 99358589 / 97079146/ 95570288

Villa for rent in Khuwair 33, 8 bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms with parking area near Taimur Mosque.

Contact 99366624

Villa in Al Khuwair and Seeb.

Contact 95250300/ 99119699 / 92125648

One BHK flat for rent in Ghobra with attach and common bathroom. For Indian family. Contact 92322096

Industrial land for rent in Wadi Kabir 7000 Sq mtrs.

Contact 99354340

Flats for rent in Wadi Kabeer.

Contact : 92800007

Apartments for rent Ghubra : near Indian School Ghubra & Al Maha International Hotel (2BHK with 5 split A/C units).Contact 99273774 / 99202278 /94652485

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 2 BHK & studio flat at Darsait 1SM. Contact 99024730 Flats shops and store for rent in Ruwi, MBD Honda road.

Contact 97293708 / 92433127 Flat for rent 1 & 2 bedroom available behind Zaker Mall Al Khuwair.

Contact - 99530405 Ghubra near Al Maha hotel & Indian school (2BHK with 5 split ac units). Contact 94652485/ 99273774 / 99202278 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

FOR SALE

DRIVING

Furnished single room / sharing for Exe. bachelor at Rex Road.

Contact 92873832 Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

Running computer shops for sale Souq Sohar. Contact 99420543

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

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

1/3 BHK Flat Ghubrah, close to ISG Way 4041, building 4390.

Contact 99319880

Ice cream & Juices shop in Ruwi good location for sale, 1.5mt fish display machine unused for sale.

Contact: 92150455

1& 2BHK for rent at Wadi Kabir, Hilal Al Sad and Al Khoud areas .

Contact Office: 24834644 Mobile: 93994401/02/03

558 Sq mtrs residential land in Barka (Al Jenainah) near Lulu and near to school. OMR 32 Thousand.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Single room with AC, separate toilet, kitchen at Al Hail highway side.

Contact: 92968292

Excellent room, with A/C kitchen available from June/ July 1st, near ONTC Bus station (Ruwi). #95569740

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

Fork Lift for rent or sale Nissan 3.5 Ton. Contact: 94102899

Bath attached room for rent at Al Amerat. Contact 99008803

Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569

Port cabin new & refurbished – porta cabin for sale & rent.

Contact: 96723468 / 97775501 / 97775502

2013 LEXUS ES350 for Sale 40,000 km Full Option Gold Color Bought from Bahwan dealership Price: 13,500 Riyals Call: 9291 2660

Single room for Indian Executive bachelor near Al Khuwair R/A .

Contact 99659513

Curtain shop for immediate sale South Al Hail with 2 clearance.

Contact: 99041337

Well equiped and running condition Restaurant for sale.

Contact: 97710015 / 92934027 near Missfah Khanco Road Cement Factory

Land Cruiser 2012. Contact 99336093

Furnished /independent room with bathroom for Executive bachelor near Oman House. Contact : 98796982

Flats/villas owned by ROP pension fund available for rent in Muscat. Contact 99349526

FOR 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

ACC. AVAILABLE

1BHK flat near star cinema with split A/C 230/- O.R. Contact - 99358589/ 97079146/95570288

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

MV. SALE

Shop in Ruwi OPP: OC. Contact: 99378397 Coffee shop & BBQ running Wadi Kabir, open parking having clearance. Contact: 97161811

AVAILABLE

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 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 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each.

Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Coffee shop for sale in North Al Ghubra. Contact 95256009

FOR SALE Ladies beauty parlor for sale in Muttrah, above Ahla Sceps Market.

Contact : 93231403 Residential land for sale 21000 sqm, best for housing complex at Al Harm – Barka, opp to Khimji logistic. Contact 99438397

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 Furnished room attached bath for Indian bachelor - Al Falaj area & for lady at Wadi kabir (Al Maya) 95941515.

Sharing for non-cooking Executive bachelor in CBD area wi fi free, advance deposit. Contact 95934642 Sharing accommodation available for Executive bachelor. Ruwi high street. Contact-99776193 Single room for executive bachelor near AL Falaj Hotel. #99643845

60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 27 Per Square Meter.

Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Sharing accommodation available opposite Mars at Al Ghubra for Executive bachelor or small family sharing, kitchen.# 94474351 / 96237050

Shopping center for sale at Bousher by good price 400 m2 with all equipment. Reason for selling part-time. Contact 92916490

Accommodation available for South Indian family, one bedroom with attached toilet, kitchen, hall in a villa, Al Ghubrah. Contact 99209160

Peugeot 206-2007 Model, expat driven. Contact 99209285

ACC. AVAILABLE Sharing acc. Available in Muttrah behind Oman house.

Contact 99354340 Sharing family accommodation in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99335057 Room with attached bath, kitchen in Ghala. Contact: 99334770

WANTED Treadmill –motorized. Contact: 99378397

LOST Mohammad Nadin Miyah has lost Bangladeshi Passport No. AA 8435785. Finder please handover to ROP

CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME Salem AL Ghailani modern company for trading limited partnership, which is registered at the industrial and commercial administration in South Al Sharqiyah governorate in Sur under the number (1153014), the company is in process of modifying its trade name to Afaq Al Khuwaimah National Trading company – Limited partnership. This is a notification for all those who have any link with this modification.

CHANGE OF NAME 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 Ashwini 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.

D4

T H U R S D AY, M AY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

SITUATION 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

Tanzanian male, 25 yrs Accountant successful experience in Tanzania looking for suitable placement in any field. Contact : 96710154

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

Tunisian lady has Professorship in social and economical sciences and accounting, diploma in Experimental Sciences degree in English for media. Contact 95391050, aysser2013@gmail.com

MBA Graduate seeking a suitable position as an Assistant Accountant.

Contact 94627227

Indian male MBA, Finance, 6 years experience in Finance & Accounting spatially in Oil & Gas , Now on visit visa . Contact: 94327063 Email: shabab3939@yahoo.com

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

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 Assistant Accountant experience: 2 years. Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@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

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

ENGINEER A reputed water treatment company is looking for 10 years experienced Civil Engineer with driving license. Knowledge of civil works, QS. Apply : md.mohamed@gmail.com Electrical Engineer having 3 years gulf experience with driving license.

Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@gmail.com 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 Engineers / Tech urgently required Civil Engineer with four years experience for a consultancy office.

Email: ajith@milesconsultancy.com

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

DOMESTIC HELPER Required Salesman, Tailor and Barber. Contact : 96964767 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

SECRETARIAL & OFFICE Required Office Assistant 160+25+Acc, Contact 99454425

SKILLED LABOUR Urgent required House maid in Mabela. Visa available.

Contact- 95200180.

DRIVER Omani family looking for full time lady driver. Contact: 91401838

EDUCATION Teachers required (B.A, BEd, BSc, and B.ed) for Omani Pvt. School Al Hail (North). Contact 95141554/ 96653118 *Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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 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

SALES / MARKETING Sales man for electrical and building material Items, experience: 2 years with driving license. Contact: 24703484 / 96918100 Email: om.omanlights@gmail.com Required Indian Salesman for a Spare parts Company, Good salary package and visa will be offered for suitable candidates. Can send CV on alrabhe@omantel.net.om Salesman with driving license for company. Contact: 96440587 Furniture company urgently seeks outdoor sales team, attractive salaries for right candidates. Contact: batrading2014@gmail.com 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 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

SITUATION WANTSIT. WANTED 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 Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa. Seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

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 MBA Indian male looking for suitable position having 2 years working experience as an accountant now in Oman a visiting visa.

Contact: 99424803 Indian female B.com 4 years experience in accountant 1 years experience in Oman having knowledge of tally seeking suitable placement.

Contact: 93491124/92054531 Indian female B.com Graduate over 8 years experience in Finance, customer relation, sales coordinator, secretary, Bank Office seeks suitable placement. Contact: 95433987 Indian male graduate B.com looking for suitable in Account Finance / sales marketing release available with 2 years working experience.

Contact: 94574596 Indian male 2 years experience in account cum sales coordinator NOC available looking for suitable job.

Contact: 91298422/96458189 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 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 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 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 Accounts job & finalization work Muscat. Contact: 92917448 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 Sr. Accountant M.com (finance) 15 years experience (2years in Oman with a reputed firm) NOC available.

Contact: 92404608 Email: jin_75@rediffmail.com

Part Time Accounting, Accounts Finalization, Audit Preparation, Internal Audit, Onsite Tally Training, Inventory Management Contact: 96975454, Email: ibfc.gcc@gmail.com Indian Female, 34 yrs, B.Com, Knowledge in MS Office & Tally, exp in accounting & admin seek suitable placement. Contact: 99199710/96744965

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

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

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 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

ADMIN/HR 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 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 Over 15 years of gulf experience in Admin /HR /Logistics, fluent in Arabic & English with D/L looking for suitable position.

Contact 95824598 Indian female with 10 yrs of experience in HR/Banking/Operations seeks a suitable placement. Can be contacted on 98919015 or sherianne.coelho@gmail.com Document controller / project coordinator having 15 years experience is same Field.

Contact: 00919605635590

AUTO CAD/ARCHITECT

Indian Female 25 MBA looking for a suitable opening in Accounts, Admin/Hr. Contact 97013375

Autocad D man, Gulf exp in major projects, knows arch, structural, MEP, NOC available ph: 98225740

MFA (Master of finance and accounting), B.com. 6 months experience, looking suitable position in finance and accounts. Contact: 97829315.

Email: muhsin1819@gmail.com

Female architect (27) 4 years experience seeking for suitable job in Oman experience in Oman, India & UK. Contact: 96146645 Email: anjuovil@gmail.com

Bangladeshi male looking for a light vehicle driving job.

Contact: 97751070 Pakistani male looking for a light vehicle driving job.

Contact: 95149231 Driver light. Contact: 91020999

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 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 Instrumentation Engineer, Indian male having 2 years experience in process instruments and sales seeks suitable placement on visit visa.

Contact: 95954385 Email: irfancisinn@gmail.com 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

T H U R S DAY, M AY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

D5

DAILY GUIDE SITUATION WANTED

ENGG. / TECHNICAL Indian female M.E power system B.E Electrical Engg, seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99842083 /99326054 Keralite Comp: Engr experienced in BPO on visit seeking any type of job. Email: khais2001@gmail.com, contact 92094926 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; 0091 9768406574 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

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 Civil Engineer (B.E) 12 years experience with valid Oman D/L. Contact: 93843448 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 Indian male fresher BCA young and energetic, seeking good opportunites.email: jlaxmimenon@gmail. com, Contact 00919567722270 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 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

MISCELLANEOUS

SALES / MARKETING

13 Years UAE experienced in MNC & reputed firms logistics distribution looking for a suitable placement, on visit visa contact 99838743, gani.dawood@gmail.com

Indian male 10 years experience in Welding Supervisor NDT Technician, MIG Welding specialist seeking suitable job. Contact 96771841

B.E Biomedical Engineer, having 5 years of experience in Diagnostics division seeking suitable position.

94151658

Indian male, post graduate, currently in Oman on visit visa.

Seeks suitable placement.

Contact 92388346

Indian male MBA 7 years experience in Hospitality industry, operation, sales & marketing looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 92115860 Email vibin.py@gmail.com

Indian Male, 29 years, CCNP, MCITP having Bachelor degree and 6 years of experience in Networking looking for job. 96760618 / varghese.manthara@gmail.com

Indian male 60 years old have 30 years Muscat experience in all office works with Omani driving license.

Contact: 99024055

Indian male, 30 yrs, 6 years Gulf experience in shipping operations and customer service, NOC available.

Contact: 93042516

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

Construction Surveyor Indian looking for suitable job.

Contact 91977142 / 95141554

MANAGER/ SUPERVISOR B.Com Graduate with 12 years experience in procurement/logistics/warehouse in construction and building materials seeks suitable placement.

NOC available. Contact : 94657319 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 Cargo & logistics Manager, Indian with more than 15 years experience in UAE, seeks suitable position.

Contact: 95402099

MEDICAL 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 Assistant Pharmacist (Indian female, 28 yrs) with MOH license.

Contact 93022787 / 99108751 Indian female Dentist MOH Oman passed seeking a suitable placement in capital region. Contact– 91377681 hashimsarawat@gmail.com Well experienced MOH Licensed Indian GP Doctor looking for locum / permanent position in the Capital area. Contact 98140024 email:drgpoman@yahoo.com 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 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 Indian male MBA (HR& marketing) 2 years experience in sales seeking suitable position now on visiting.

Contact: 96483964

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

An Indian male having rich experience in procurement, Sales marketing and office administration seeking suitable position.

Contact: 93689602

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

Indian male Graduate in business management having work experience of 12 years looking for a suitable position. Contact : 93431567

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

8 years purchase experienced Indian male looking for job. N.O.C. available. Contact: 98161323 Indian male, 30, BSc, Food Science and Quality control, MBA 5 years experience, driving license.

Contact: 93405643 Indian male with 08 yrs exp in sales & marketing, seeks suitable placement. NOC available.

Contact: 95970204 Indian Male, B.Com Graduate, 23, with experience in Sales looking for suitable placements.

Contact - 9837 1144 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 BE computer science 6 years experience software developer and support Engineering exp sales and management Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact: 98097722 P.H.D , 20 years, 2.5yrs Oman agriculture green house fertilizers marketing seeking suitable placement. Contact 93220249 Email: anthurium7777@gmail.com

SECRETARIAL/OFFICE

Indian male, 20+ years experience in IT management, ERP implementation, seeks suitable opening.

Contact: 96101779

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

8 years store experience Indian male looking for placement. N.O.C available. Contact: 98456535

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

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 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 Male 34 years Mechanical Engineer 3 years of Experience seeking suitable placement immediately Contact: 91991435, 93310821 Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman.

Contact 92875345, jubincivileng@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 Electronics and instrumentation Engineer 28 year Indian male, electrical, electronic, industrial, building & automation exp of 4+ yrs in India.

Contact - 93154156 CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job.

Contact: 96760618 email: varghese.manthara@gmail.com Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office & Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact.98928220

MISCELLANEOUS

Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com Indian Female, Commerce Graduate, Total 9 yrs of experience in India. worked as Accounts Assistant and Business executive seeking for suitable placement.

Tel : 96173533/24222457 Email : topranidivya@gmail.com 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

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 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 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, MBA marketing & finance with B com & diploma in IFRS seeks job.

Contact 99469726 / 99469729 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

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

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

8 yrs exp Site supervisor cum 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license) seeking job.

Contact : 93790601

Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer , 4 years experience in telecom field #97783092, Email: Alrsheed88@hotmail.com

Indian Male 24 years, Looking for a Suitable Job in Telecom / Networking. 1 year sales experience. MSc. Communications Engineering & Valid Driving license. Ph: 91280121.

Email: jackrprasad@yahoo.com

Indian male, 28 years, 7 years experience in transporting & heavy equipment renting company. Having Omani driving license seeks suitable positions. Contact 94410485

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

Civil autocad draughtsman part time work for job mob :96023726 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)

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

Mechanical Engineer, Indian, (B.E.) on visit visa, seeking suitable post.

Contact :99534733 Email: rajesh92prince@gmail.com

Indian female with MBA (Finance) on visit visa, seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089

Male, 19 years of experience in Finance and Administration currently on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99720132/ abidrafi33@hotmail.com

Indian female, IATA, Bsc, Looking for suitable placement.

Contact-95514305, email idraveendranmala@gmail.com Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 year experience in different activities. Contact; +96894549609

Sudanese male BSC Telecommunications Engineer, 4 years experience in telecom field.Contact : 97783092, Email: alrsheed88@hotmail.com

CCNP Network Professional with 6 years experience having Bachelors degree on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 96 76 06 18

Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com

Indian male, 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

Indian female, B.Com. knowledge of MS Office &Tally, 4yrs experience in Accounts &admin dept. looking for good placement in any field.

Contact: 98928220

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T H U R S D AY, M AY 2 8 , 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

CLASSES

COMPUTER

BUSINESS

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 Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam).

Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

MATRIMONIAL 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 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

Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133.

For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Taimour Ayurvedic Clinic, Ruwi offers genuine & effective treatment for back pain, paralysis, cervical and lumbar spondylitis, osteoarthritis, joint pains, sinusitis, migraine, allergic problems, varicose vein and all other health related problems. Kerala massage and rejuvenation package available. For details please Contact 92197920/ 24799689

NRI

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

Looking for a working partner to run a well established fabrication & carpentry workshop in Barka.

Contact: 95120404 or mail to elmechoman@gmail.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

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next day’s publication. * Subject to space availability

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

Window & split unit A.C servicing & repairing.

Contact 99557080

MARBLE CRYSTALLIZATION restore the original shine of your marble. Contact 24793614/ 99314807

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476

House shifting packing.

Contact 99657644/ 98518013 Specialist available for explosive growth in term of restructuring all modules of businesses with over 30 years of experience across continents with a decade in Oman.

Contact 96733578 Email : profitoman@gmail.com Maintenance / House shift. Ng works / Labour supply on daily basis. Contact: 95696001 / 97439768

Ready / under construction apartments / villas / row houses / shops, available for sale in North / South Goa (India). tel # 95867021 E- mail tonynoronha@rocketmail.com

GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998

A/C maintenance & servicing.

Fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing. Painting & cleaning services & electrical & plumbing. Contact 99447257/97014234/ 24504281 We do building maintenance all kind of works. Contact 99247663 Carpet & sofa cleaning, house cleaning. Contact 99542979 / 98855815 P.R.O services. Contact 99368907

Carpet & sofa shampooing. Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99884591 / 92682970 Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089 / 95323517 A/C maintenance split A/C servicing. RO. 10 only. Contact 94217681/ 99210141 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.

Contact ABU QABAS- 99320217 /24788722 Carpet Shampoo, marble & tile polishing, pest control & anti-termite treatment, general cleaning painting, Plumbing, Electrical, shifting. Contact Mundhir Al-Rizaiqi trading. L.L.C. # 24810137, 99450130

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 Air condition maintenance split and window services AC specialist ducted and package type unites.

Contact: 98667326 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 House shifting.

Contact 99708138 Pest Control Treatments, Termites, Cockroaches, Bedbugs.

Contact Ocean Centre LLC. Contact 99344723

BUSINESS Software development based on requirements such as: Web development & cloud computing, SAP implementation & services. Android App development networking.

Contact 97423932

T H U R S DAY, M AY 2 8 , 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

T H U R S D AY, M AY 2 8 , 2 0 1 5

DAILY GUIDE

Indian, Arabic, Chinese dishes, BuďŹ&#x20AC;et Lunch (On Friday) Indoor & Outdoor, Catering, Party hall available Take Away & Home Delivery

Party booking & sugges ons 99320065, 99341643

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624