Times of Oman - July 29, 2015 by Muscat Media Group

44 133

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

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

WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2015 / 12 Shawwal 1436 AH

timesofoman.com

wtimesofoman.com

facebook.com/timesofoman

twitter.com/timesofoman

blog.timesofoman.com

ISO 9001:2008 Certiﬁed Company

CABLES

GRAND WELCOME FOR OMAN CRICKET HEROES

SCAN THIS TO VISIT

Victorious Omani cricket team was accorded a rousing reception at the Muscat International Airport on Monday night. Cheering fans welcomed them to the beats of drums which lasted until the stroke of midnight. — Jun Estrada See also >C1

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

HM sends condolences to India, Saudi Arabia MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of condolences to President Pranab Mukherjee of India on the death of former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to President Mukherjee, the deceased’s family and the Indian people. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has also sent a cable of

condolences to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on the death of Princess Misha’el bint Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. In his cable, His Majesty the Sultan has expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to King Salman, praying to Allah the Almighty to rest the deceased’s soul in peace and grant her family patience. -ONA

TOP THREE INSIDE STORIES

OMAN

Alawi meets Benkirane Tributes to Kalam Moroccan PM Abdelilah Indian expats mourned the

Benkirane met Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah. >A3

death of ex-president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. >A4, 9

WORLD

Libyan court sentences Gaddafi’s son to death A Libyan court sentenced Muammar Gaddaﬁ’s son Saif Al Islam

and eight others to death over war crimes including killings of protesters during the 2011 revolution. >A11

Will Oman go UAE way on fuel subsidies? Deregulating fuel prices Experts believe it’s just a matter of

Petrol price set to increase in UAE domestic market (Dirhams)

2.14

Diesel price cut in UAE (Dirhams)

2.90

time before Oman decides to drop fuel

1.72

2.05 -29%

23.6%

subsidies, like the

Cost per barrel (US$)

Oman government petrol subsidy

June 2014 115

July 2015 51

UAE, to rein in rising deﬁcits and balance Graphics

the accounting sheet SALEH AL SHAIBANY

saleh@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Experts believe Oman will probably follow the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to end subsidies on domestic petrol as the country looks at ways to rein in its chronic deficits that have dogged its budgets in the last five years. The UAE yesterday announced that domestic petrol prices will increase 23.6 per cent from AED1.72 to AED2.14 from August 1. Oman’s neighbour said that it would revise petrol prices every month based on global average prices. That means, if international oil prices go up, drivers in the UAE would find a trip to their offices becoming dearer. “I would not be surprised if Oman contemplates doing exactly the same thing. If a much richer country like the UAE is

I would not be surprised if Oman contemplates doing exactly the same thing Said Al Shihri

Independent economist now strapping itself for a tighter ﬁscal budget then Oman will ﬁnd it hard to balance its accounting sheet if it continues with its policies of subsidies,” Said Al Shihri, an independent economist, told the Times of Oman. The UAE has already announced that it will cut its spend-

Join the club to keep cool

ing in the next budget for the first time in 13 years. Oman on the other hand, may put the brakes on spending in 2016, as international prices are at the moment trading at around $51 per barrel. Oman earned an average $115 per barrel in June 2014 before an oil glut in the world market forced prices down after heavyweight producers like Saudi Arabia kept pumping in more oil. 2016 budget “It is just a matter of time before Oman decides to drop fuel subsidies like the UAE. I have no doubt in my mind that the decision to cut subsidies in fuel will be done by the first quarter of next year. I am sure the Ministry of Finance is looking keenly at the development in the UAE while reflecting on the 2016 budget to balance the books,” said financial analyst Fareed Al Ojaili. >A6

CHILD CARE CENTRE IN AL KHOUD

Orphan children adopted swiftly Times News Service MUSCAT: Orphans ﬁnd a home as soon as they are brought in, and that is the reason why the numbers at the Child Care Centre in Al Khoud are not high, said an ofﬁcial at the centre. The number of orphaned children at the Child Care Centre in

Al Khoud largely remains low because of eager parents who are ready to adopt them, the official explained. The procedure “To adopt an orphan, parents must send a letter expressing their desire to foster a child to the Directorate of Family Devel-

opment at the Ministry of Social Development, where the procedures are initiated,” said Hamed Al Matroushi, director general of family empowerment and development at the ministry and acting director of the Child Welfare Centre, while speaking to Al Shabiba, the sister publication of the Times of Oman. >A6

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

OMAN

Total traded value of real estate activities recorded till the end of June 2015 recorded a 45.9 per cent hike, compared to ﬁgures recorded during the same period of 2014. National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI)

R O U N D TA B L E M E E T I N G

Oman, Britain dialogue’s focus on SMEs and Islamic banking Times News Service

GLOBAL TIES: The Omani British Friendship Association strength is the senior level of its members and their ability to inform key decision-makers on issues of common interests. HRH The Duke of York and HH Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said attend the event as guests of honour.–ONA

LONDON: On the occasion of the Omani British Friendship Association (OBFA) Financial Services Roundtable, The Anglo-Omani Society and OBFA hosted a reception on Monday in the presence of His Royal Highness The Duke of York and His Highness Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, patrons of OBFA. Attended by leading dignitaries and senior level business ﬁgures from both Britain and the Sultanate, the event, hosted by the AngloOmani Society and OBFA at the Society’s premises in Sackville Street, was organised on the occasion of the OBFA Financial Services Roundtable. Aimed at enhancing ﬁnancial and business co-operation, the programme included sessions on the development of public-private partnerships (PPP), SMEs, and Is-

lamic banking, with an emphasis on how the United Kingdom (UK) can assist Oman in these developments. To this end, the reception closed the programme of events offering a unique opportunity for commercial networking. Robert Alston, chairman of The Anglo-Omani Society, welcomed the attendees at the reception ,saying, “The Anglo Omani Society is pleased to partner OBFA in today’s important discussions about the further development of the economic ties between the two countries.” Decision-making The Omani British Friendship Association was formed in 1991 and welcomed Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan and Sir Sherard CowperColes as chairmen last year. Its particular strength is the senior level of its members and their abil-

ity to inform key decision-makers on issues of common interests which can help facilitate trade and investment between Oman and Britain. During the reception, Maqbool bin Ali bin Sultan stressed the importance of the diversification of the economy and the human resources development in the Sultanate. He added that there are many profitable investment opportunities in these areas and encouraged British companies to invest in feasible projects. OBFA, he said, will be pleased to provide more details on these investments. Sultan also spoke about the Financial Services Roundtable conference at the Mansion House, which was well attended by a variety of experts in finance and banking and representatives of companies from both the UK and Oman.

Real estate trade clocks OMR2.2b The fees collected for all legal transactions crossed OMR25.6 million — a 12.8 per cent increase. The traded value of sales contracts also increased 4.7 per cent to cross OMR649 million. But the number of title deeds issued witnessed a 27 per cent decrease Times News Service MUSCAT: Total traded value of real estate activities recorded until the end of June 2015 crossed OMR2.2 billion — a 45.9 per cent rise, compared to ﬁgures recorded

during the same period in 2014. In contrast, the activities in the real estate sector had crossed OMR1.52 billion until June 2014, stated the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). The fees collected for all legal

transactions crossed OMR25.6 million, a 12.8 per cent increase. The traded value of sales contracts also increased 4.7 per cent to cross OMR649 million. The number of selling contracts witnessed a 4.8 per cent decline to 42,261 compared to 44,395 during the same period of 2014. The traded value of mortgage contracts logged a 10.2 per cent increase to reach 11,585, compared to 10,514 recorded until the end of June 2014. The value of exchange contracts logged a 143.5 per cent increase until the end of June 2015 by reaching OMR11.20 million, compared to the same period of 2014, when it reached OMR4.60 million. The number of exchange contracts recorded an increase of 6.5 per cent to reach 703 by the end of last June, compared to 660

recorded during the same period of 2014.

Real estate activity

Title deeds The statistics also revealed that 126,828 title deeds were issued by the end of last June, a 5.8 per cent increase, compared to the same period of 2014, when 119,849 title deeds were issued. The number of title deeds issued for nationals of GCC countries witnessed a 27 per cent decrease by the end of June to reach 1,354 as compared to 1,854 during the same period of 2014.

Total trade value

Number of selling contracts

2,231 2014

45.9%

Collected fees of all legal transactions

25,6

42,261

2015

-4.8% Traded value of mortgage contracts 10,514

2014

11,585

2015

10.2% Traded value of sales contracts

HAVE YOUR SAY

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

44,395

2014

2015

1,529

(OMR million, end of June)

649 Source: NCSI

Exchange contracts 2014

4,200 11,600

2015

143.5% Graphics

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Fatigue leads to accidents: ROP The Royal Oman Police has advised drivers to move to the

Tourism Ministry pitches for safety

side of the road and park the vehicle in a safe place for a break, if they are feeling tired after hours of

Pakistan Social Club calls to renew membership Times News Service MUSCAT: Pakistan Social Club (PSC) has urged the Pakistani community in Oman to join the club while calling on its registered members to renew their membership as soon as possible. According to A H Raja, PSC vice-chairman, Ministry of Social Development has instructed all community clubs to hold their election within 30 days of the completion of their term on December 30, which marks an end to the official calendar year. Henceforth, the AGM must also be held on or before January 30. The ministry wants this rule to be strictly observed, said Raja. “In order to comply with the ministry directive, PSC wishes to inform all our community members and Club members to obtain new memberships or renew their existing memberships immediately in order to participate in the forthcoming PSC AGM/election scheduled to be held on or before 31/01/2016 as directed by the Ministry of Social Development,” the PSC ofﬁcial added. It may be noted that only a member having six months old membership can contest election or cast his or her vote in the AGM 2016.

Sultanate promotes global peace, regional brotherhood CAIRO: Countries should promote positive relations to achieve a common interest, said Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, at a press conference in Cairo. At a joint press conference with Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian foreign minister, the Omani minister said that the Sultanate has good relations with every country and this is one of the highlights of Oman’s’ ties with other countries. As for establishing a joint Arab force, the Omani minister said that the Sultanate hopes that this force is established to meet the current needs.

Alawi holds talks with Morocco PM

TARIQ AL HAREMI tariqh@timesofoman.com

E X PAT I S S U E S

DIPLOMACY

REGIONAL TIES

driving on long trips

MUSCAT: Motorists must be careful while driving long distances as fatigue could set in and that could lead to accidents, the Royal Oman Police has said. With most travellers driving towards Salalah for the Khareef season, safety experts have been highlighting the need for taking breaks. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) 150,000 have already visited Salalah as of July 21. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has advised people to pull over to the side of the road and park in a safe place on long trips for a break if they are feeling fatigued. “Resting during long trips from time to time will benefit the mind and body to stay awake and alert as it will also benefit the passengers on board as well as the vehicle. Pushing yourself to drive long hours, especially in the heat, could result in an accident,” said the tweeted guideline advisory from the ROP. The late Sheikh Khalfan Al Esry once said in a speech, “Your eyes can be open but your brain is sleeping, and no matter how much you rinse your face with water or drink hot coffee, your brain wants to sleep, and that will affect your concentration.” “It is better for you to have a nap, sleep for some time and be refreshed for the journey,” he said. In 2014, fatigue was the reason behind ten accidents resulting in seven deaths and nine injuries. During long trips drivers must also watch out for animals such as camels straying into the vehicle’s path. It is fairly common to spot a flock of goats or camels along the way during long drives

OMAN

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY SHARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

Share your world with us on Instagram

SAFE DRIVE: The ministry has organised awareness lectures on road safety at major tourist attractions in the Sultanate.–Supplied photo

Times News Service MUSCAT: A campaign, launched a couple of weeks ago, focuses on raising the awareness of tourists, Ministry of Tourism (MoT) staff, workers in the tourism sector and taxi drivers on safe driving, under the slogan “Drive safely and enjoy the Sultanate”. The ongoing nationwide awareness campaign on road safety, a joint initiative by the MoT and Royal Oman Police, is one among the many people-focussed efforts designed by the ministry to promote the tourism sector in the Sultanate and also to enhance public awareness of the same.

and the ROP advises drivers to slow down as animals are unpredictable and can interfere with the driver’s path. There has been a 1.7 per cent increase in road accidents across the Sultanate compared to the same period last year, according to the monthly bulletin of the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) for July. The report says that 2,958 accidents were recorded till June, compared to 2,909 for the same period in 2014. Fatalities decreased 24 per cent compared to

According to Ahmed bin Said Al Bahrani, tourist affairs researcher and a member of the Road Safety Committee at the MoT, the ministry has organised an array of programmes and events including workshops and talks about road safety, especially in tourist destinations in the Sultanate targeting its employees from regional departments across governorates. The ministry has also broadcast awareness messages via various social networking sites and tourism information centres, highlighting the signiﬁcance of a culture of road safety across tourist sites.

last year, with 307 people losing their lives in the ﬁrst half of 2015, compared to 404 last year. According to optalert.com there are two main reasons for fatigue. The ﬁrst is lack of quality or quantity of sleep, and driving during a time of day when you should be normally asleep. Symptoms for detecting fatigue range from narrowing vision, poor judgment and inability to keep your eyes open, to drifting off lane, and daydreaming, apart from yawning constantly and rubbing the eyes.

RABAT: Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane received here, on Tuesday, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, who is currently visiting Morocco. During the meeting the two leaders discussed ways of further enhancement of the bilateral relations between the two countries, issues of common concern and cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of issues of concern to the Arab and Muslim world, particularly the latest developments in the Middle East and the horizons for providing peaceful solutions to the crisis witnessed in the region. The two sides also pledged to enhance the relations and political consultations between the two countries under the Royal care of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. -ONA

He stressed the importance of ﬁnding political solutions to the problems in the Arab world and underpinned the fact that violence and power will lead to nothing. He highlighted the co-ordination with Egypt about the challenges facing the region and stressed the importance of Arab co-operation in complex Arab issues. He congratulated the Egyptian people for the opening of the new Suez Canal and hailed the digging of the canal in such a short time. The Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed the deep-rooted relations binding Egypt and the Sultanate, pointing out that the leader-

ships in both countries sought to enhance bilateral relations and co-operation. He hailed the Sultanate’s stance towards Egypt on various occasions. He also said that the meeting covered situations in Syria, Libya and exchanged views on the importance of close consultations between the two countries to ﬁnd suitable solutions for these issues, and maintain Arab national security. He also added that the proposed Arab joint force is a voluntary initiative that aims at ensuring stability and is not targeting any party. It is meant to defend Arab joint interests. -ONA

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

OMAN

Indian nationals living in Muscat will remember him from the time when he visited there a few years ago and interacted with all sections of the society Anil Wadhwa, Former Indian ambassador to Oman

Expatriates mourn Kalam’s demise

APJ Abdul Kalam, who visited Oman in 2009, left a lasting impression on the members of the Indian community and the children he addressed. During his visit to Oman, he also interacted with Omani school children. As the president of his country, he interacted with the top leaders of the world as well as youths and students

2009 VISIT

Kalam left lasting impression on Indian Diaspora in Oman MRUDU NAIK mrudu@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: Indians in Oman mourned the passing away of the country’s much loved former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who suffered a heart attack and died while delivering a lecture at a management institute in the eastern Indian city of Shillong on Monday. Kalam, who visited Oman in 2009, left a lasting impression on the members of the Indian community and the children he addressed. During his stay in Oman he also interacted with Omani school children. Ahmed Rayees, president, school management committee, Indian School Ghubra is someone who had got the opportunity to interact with Kalam a number of times. “Each time I was impressed by his wisdom and vision. On one such occasion, I met him with my sons’ and my father, when he was the President of India at his official residence. We had an appointment of 10 minutes and it lasted for more than half an hour. He was enjoying every minute he interacted with my children. The officials reminded him a number of times that he needed to close the session. He just waved them off and continued. The interaction with my children hovered from India’s future to the world politics. He even told me off when in my eagerness; I answered a question instead of my children,” said Rayees. “During the conversation, he asked my boys to join politics and to make positive changes in our nation’s future,” he said. Rayees feels, “his ideas were far ahead of his time. He had a sheer passion to inspire all of us and he succeeded. He left a mark and touched the lives of many Indians and citizens of the world”. He had a great impact on India and that will never be forgotten for a very long time. Rayees considers his speech at the European parliament on their golden jubilee celebration most

inspirational. He quoted Kaniyan Pungundranar, the Tamil poet where he said, ““When there is Righteousness in the heart, There is Beauty in the character. When there is Beauty in the character, there is Harmony at home. When there is Harmony at home, there is Order in the nation. When there is Order in the nation, there is Peace in the world.” “It was one of the most inspirational speech,” Rayees said. P.V. Venkatesh, former president, Indian Social Club, Tamil Wing said, “It is very sad to hear that Dr Kalam is no more. We had the unique privilege of hosting him in Muscat in the year 2009 .Those were the most cherished days of my life. His vision for India and the world, his passion for the cause he espoused, his profound happiness when he interacted with children, his admiration for teachers, and ﬁnally his inspired leadership, they all truly made him a statesman par excellence.” Venkatesh recalled that during his four-day visit to Muscat, among others, he met and interacted with more than 6,000 children from all nationalities and made them take the pledge for the nation’s development. Humanist, visionary Anil Wadhwa, present secretary (East), India’s Ministry of External Affairs, who was the ambassador to Oman when Kalam visited the Sultanate said, “With the passing away of Dr Kalam we have lost a humanist and a visionary who loved his country and his people dearly. He contributed immensely to the Indian society through science, his writings and his interest in education and consequent uplift of the common citizen of the country. Kalam was humble yet ﬁrm and articulate, he was compassionate yet a stickler for law or the land and rules of governance which are important for a diverse country like India to progress.” Wadhwa added, “He carved out a niche for himself in the post of

president where he interacted with the top leadership of the world as well as the youth and students with equal ease. His vision of empowerment of the youth and building solid institutions will endure forever. Indian nationals living in Muscat will remember him from the time when he visited there a few years ago and interacted with all sections of the society. The greatest tribute we can pay to him would be to follow his path for progress and prosperity of India.” Pointing out that Kalam had this amazingly different perspective of things, Giri Balasubramaniam, Quizmaster & CEO, Greycaps said, “Once we were together with some teachers from Sweden and he introduced me to them as a quizmaster and then asked, ‘Do you know what quizmaster means?’ They did not so he smiled and said, ‘Well, he too is a teacher like you all. His method of teaching is a little different and his classroom is sometimes a stadium.” The quizmaster said, “Kalam patronised us because we were messengers of knowledge and learning for children. Such was his commitment to making India a better place.” Astrin D’silva, manager - marketing and corporate communications, Travel City LLC said, “Shouldering the blame for failure and conferring credit where it is due comes rarely to most. In an era where playing the blamegame and taking undue credit to forge ahead in life has become the norm, Dr Kalam had a thought which was different. That an exemplary leader is one who gives credit and recedes into the shadow as the protégé takes centrestage.” She said, “A creative leader gives credit to his team when there is success and when there is defeat he absorbs it. Today, is the saddest day for India and for the world of science and politics. As a scientist, his vision was revolutionary. In politics he spearheaded the nation without needing to play the game.”

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

OMAN

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

Tweet all about it

Bait Muzna Gallery opens in Salalah

ART AND CULTURE: Bait Muzna Gallery in Salalah will also host exhibitions by international artists and invite them to share their expertise with the local arts community. –Supplied photos

SARAH MACDONALD sarah@timesofoman.com

One of the goals of the new gallery is to support the growing arts scene in Salalah and encourage new talent

MUSCAT: Bait Muzna Gallery, Muscat’s ﬁrst private art gallery, has opened a location in Salalah at the Salalah Beach Resort where it will promote Omani artists to the growing number of tourists who visit Dhofar. The gallery had its soft opening on July 18 under the auspices of Ahmed Al Mashikhi, Director of Omani Fine Art Society – Dho-

far Governorate, and with special guests Issam Kahlan Al Barwani, VP Operations Destination of Salalah Beach and Hossam Kamal, GM of Salalah Rotana Resort. Sayyida Susan Al Said, owner of Bait Muzna, said the local artists in and around Salalah need more space to show their work, so the gallery is welcomed by the arts community. One of the goals of the new gallery is to support the growing arts scene in Salalah and encourage new talent.

Like its location in Muscat, Bait Muzna Gallery will exhibit paintings, photographs, sculptures and other types of ﬁne arts, leaving handicrafts to the Public Authority for Craft Industries to promote. Bait Muzna Gallery in Salalah will also host exhibitions by international artists and invited them to share their expertise with the local arts community. Al Said said she hopes the gallery will be able to feature artists specialise in media such as watercolours, pas-

tels, oil painting, photography and even woodworking. “We do plan to bring international and regional artists to give workshops to inspire and further develop the skills of the local artists,” said Al Said. The new gallery will complement the new hotels and other tourist attractions that are opening in Salalah, she added. “It’s a positive move to have a presence to showcase the arts and provide the visitors with a venue that’s easily accessible and pleas-

H E A LT H I S S U E S

ant to visit,” she said. The gallery will also be able to offer framing services for the new hotels and community. It will also feature some Rajasthani furniture to help the patrons imagine how the works of art might look in a home, noted Al Said. Bait Muzna Gallery’s Salalah Branch is located in the East Block at Salalah Beach Marina, near the Juweira Boutique Hotel. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 10pm. YOU T H I N I T I AT I V E

Times News Service

Focus on youth at Arab women forum

MUSCAT: Stressing the importance of early awareness on Hepatitis C, medical experts in Oman said that tackling the disease dubbed as a “silent killer” needs close monitoring and early screenings, to mitigate the risk of the viral infection developing into mortally dangerous stages among people susceptible to the ailment. A statement from the global bio-pharmaceutical company, Bristol Myers-Squibb quoting medical experts and published reports on regional Hepatitis C infection said that across the world, about 130 to 150 million people have long-term (chronic) infection with Hepatitis C. In Arab countries, more than 20 million people have been infected with the virus, it said, adding that these numbers will continue to rise, unless something signiﬁcant is done to stop the spread of this virus, said experts. “In Oman, hospital-based local screening programmes are the norm in diagnosing Hepatitis C infection among the population. The screening is done particularly among high-risk categories of the population and these measures have helped us identify the spread of disease in the country and over the last few years the number of

SALALAH: Focus was on youth and community programmes as the second youth forum for Friends of the Arab Woman Organisation was inaugurated on Tuesday at Rotana Hotel Salalah. The two-day event is hosted by Public Authority for Craft Industries (PACI) and Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with Arab Woman Organisation. The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, minister of state and governor of Dhofar in the presence of Sheikha Aisha bint Khalfan Al Siyabiyah, PACI chairperson, and member of the Executive Council of the Arab Woman Organisation. The PACI chairperson hoped that the hosting of the forum would enhance the role of the Sultanate in the sustainable development. The forum, in which 90 personalities are taking part, will discuss a number of themes related to capacity building of youth in adopting and implementing community programmes and projects that support the comprehensive development at the regional level. The participants will also be briefed on voluntary work initiatives and case studies on women involvement and contribution.– ONA

Treatment of Hepatitis C needs early awareness In Oman, hospital-based local screening programmes are the norm in diagnosing Hepatitis C infection. The screening is done particularly among high-risk categories of the population and these measures have helped us identify the spread of disease Dr Said A Al Busaifi

Consultant, Gastroenterology, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

identified cases for both HCV and HBV has increased significantly,” said Dr Said A Al Busaifi, consultant, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. “In Oman, conducting workshops among local GPs on Hepatitis-C will also have an impact on diagnosis of new cases,” he said. Significantly, the Hepatitis-C treatment landscape has changed in Oman with the advent of direct antiviral agents (DAA). “Without any doubt, the new

anti-viral treatments are going to make the lives of patients much easier. The high-cure rate, easy course of medication, short duration and high degree of tolerance to these new drugs among patients will help us cure the disease faster,” noted Dr. Said, and added that nowadays patients in Oman are increasingly asking for the new methodology of treatment with DAAs. Hepatitis C which could severely damage the liver could turn serious or even life-threatening.

Hepatitis refers to a condition where the liver is inflamed (‘hepa’ refers to the liver and ‘itis’ refers to inflammation). The liver is the one of the largest organs in the human body that performs a variety of functions, from helping to digest food, to removing toxins from the body, to fighting diseases. The Hepatitis viruses – particularly the five Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses – are some of the main causes of Hepatitis. Some of these viruses can spread through contaminated water, but Hepatitis C is “blood-borne” which

RESEARCH AND TRAINING

SQU students get statistics training Times News Service MUSCAT: Thirteen students majoring in statistics from the Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) are being trained at the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) in various academic and practical ﬁelds of statistics. The programme started last Sunday and will continue for a month. The NCSI recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the SQU for collaborating in the ﬁelds of research and training. The MoU mandates that the Centre provide necessary information for researchers, including SQU professors and students. It also stipulates that the centre should provide practical training to university students who specialise in areas that come under the scope of the centre’s projects. By virtue of the MoU, the centre is given priority in attending various symposia and training courses held by SQU. The university provides the necessary technical support in operating the library at NCSI. It also offers academic expertise

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS: NCSI recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the SQU

for collaborating in the ﬁelds of research and training.–Supplied photo

needed by the centre and conducts joint studies and research projects. In addition, it provides specialised technical training courses for NCSI staff. NCSI has, since the beginning of 2015, trained a total of 27 students (both males and females)

from various educational institutions in the Sultanate. Of this, eight were information technology students, while seven pursued business administration and human resources. Another batch of nine was from statistics stream. Three were

from the ﬁeld of information technology. Further, employees from various government departments have also been trained in the ﬁeld of statistical analysis at the Centre’s Directorates General for Information and Economic Statistics.

means that it spreads through blood. Although millions of people across the globe have this infection, many people are not aware of it, pointed out experts. Explaining further, experts said that not everyone with a Hepatitis C infection goes on to develop severe liver disease. In fact, about 15–45 per cent of people are able to rid themselves of the virus within six months without any medication, and without even realising that they had an infection. Some people may only develop a mild infection.

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

OMAN

The steps we are taking under this new initiative are designed to both identify incidences of fraud and deter fraudsters from continuing with their criminal acts Mohammed Al Shikely, General Manager Marketing for Oman Air

NEW MEASURES

Oman Air’s initiative to prevent credit card frauds Times News Service

AWARENESS DRIVE: The campaign will see a tightening of checks on the validity of credit card transactions. -Supplied photo

MUSCAT: Oman Air has announced the launch of a new initiative to prevent credit card fraud. The campaign will see a tightening of checks on the validity of credit card transactions. It will be backed up with social media announcements, e-ﬂyers and newsletters. The move aims at raising awareness among customers about the potential for credit card fraud and the steps Oman Air is taking to

protect its customers from such fraud. Customers who use credit cards to book tickets will be required to carry the same card with them during check-ins. If a third-party card has been used for the booking and the cardholder is not present, the passenger should carry relevant authorisation from the person named on the card. Random checks by Oman Air’s staff will be carried out to ensure the legitimacy of the booking. Announcing the initiative,

Mohammed Al Shikely, General Manager Marketing for Oman Air, said: “Credit card fraud is on the rise globally. Not only does it harm businesses, but it also causes great distress and inconvenience for consumers. Oman Air is therefore taking every possible step to prevent this from happening in protection of our customers.” Deter fraudsters “The steps we are taking under this new initiative are designed to both identify incidences of fraud

‘Ibn Battuta the musical’ charms all at Expo Milan

SHOWCASING DIVERSITY: The musical showed the diversity of the Arab world and brought the elements of rhythm and dance from four different regions. – Supplied photos

Times News Service

Ibn Battuta is an adventurous story about a modern-day woman who goes back in time with the 14th century Moroccan explorer to retrace some of his travels in Morocco, Egypt, the Levant and Oman

MUSCAT: It was a journey back in time as Ibn Battuta, the musical, was staged at the Expo Milan 2015 recently with the participation of 180 artistes, including many Omanis. Ibn Battuta is an adventurous story about a modern-day woman who goes back in time with the 14th century Moroccan explorer to retrace some of his travels in Morocco, Egypt, the Levant and Oman. The musical showed the diversity of the Arab world and brought the elements of rhythm and dance from four different regions. The heart and soul of each area was presented through the music. The musical focussed strongly on Oman, which was one of the

many countries Ibn Battuta visited during his travels. The musical put the Sultanate in the international spotlight in Milan and also showcased what a beautiful, peaceful nation it is. The musical was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and was also supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Oman Airport Management Company, and Oman Arab Bank, apart from Oman Air and the Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority. Omani pavilion At the expo, the Sultanate’s delegation participated in the celebration of the Omani pavilion on the National Day and also visited the pavilions of some friendly coun-

tries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, in addition to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Federal Republic of Germany. The Sultanate’s delegation was chaired by Dr Fu’aad bin Ja’afar Al Sajwani, minister of agriculture and ﬁsheries, and member of the ministerial committee to supervise the preparations for the participation of the Sultanate in the exhibition, in the presence of Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrazi, minister of tourism, Mohsen bin Khamis Al Balushi, advisor of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and commissioner general of the Sultanate’s Pavilion in the exhibition, Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Ouﬁ, undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

and deputy commissioner general of the Sultanate’s Pavilion in the exhibition, Mohammed bin Youssef Al Zaraﬁ, undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs in the Foreign Ministry, and a number of officials from various government agencies. The delegation was briefed, during the visits to the different pavilions, on the experiences of the friendly countries in their participation at the expo and on the content in their pavilions, as well as the techniques used in their efforts to provide and translate the theme of Expo Milan “Food Planet - Energy for Life.” The Sultanate’s Pavilion enjoyed a large turnout of visitors, for its content that characterised the Omani through the ages.

and deter fraudsters from continuing with their criminal acts. We would like to thank our customers in advance for their co-operation with, and support for this vital initiative,” said Al Shikely. Oman Air’s latest anti-fraud campaign builds on a series of measures which are already in place. These include secure credit card transactions on the airline’s website, the highest levels of secure data storage and continuing review of retail transactions.

ADOPTION

< FROM

Rigorous check for parents

“The parents are subjected to a background check on social, residential, economical and medical aspects, among other things, in order to ensure an appropriate living environment for the child, keeping in mind that it is only limited to Omanis,” he added. Currently, of the 113 orphans being taken care of, there are 30 girls and 73 boys. Of the boys, 35 are over the age of 14. When asked about how they receive the children, Al Matroushi said, “Children are received via the ministry in cooperation with the directorates of social development in the governorates, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) and through the courts. The children undergo a health check-up to make sure they do not have any contagious diseases. After that their birth records are officially registered and they are welcomed into the care centre.” The children live in one of the 33 villas provided by the centre where four to ﬁve children, both boys and girls of various ages, are taken care of by the “mother” or “aunt”. Each villa contains four rooms. There is the mother’s room, three children’s rooms, of which one is for the boy or the eldest girl, and the rest are for smaller children. The boys aged over 14 years live with a “father” in separate villas which are rented by the Ministry of Social Development in Al Khuwair, Ghubra, Athaiba, Mawaleh and Al Khoud. Since education is an important aspect of any youth’s life, the orphans are sent to public and private schools. The acting parents from the orphanage continue to monitor academic progress of the children as their own. “After reaching the legal age the children can study further by enrolling in colleges and universities which will be monitored by us. However, if they do not choose to go to college we will look for job opportunities in public, private and military sectors for them,” said Al Matroushi. Since being established in December 1995, the Child Care Centre has transferred the building to Al Khoud, where they abide by four elements necessary for the child’s development. These are home, mother, siblings and community, where they teach the orphans the values of life, religion, society, and education, apart from health and psychology.

D E R E G U L AT I O N O F P E T R O L P R I C E S

END CALL SAVE LIVES

Petrol prices in Sultanate A1 among cheapest in world < FROM

A TIMES OF OMAN HANDS-FREE DRIVING INITIATIVE

Petrol sold in Oman is among the cheapest available anywhere in the world, but the government is subsidising it by as much as 50 per cent. It has remained unchanged for more than a decade. Like the UAE, Oman has been increasing spending for more than a decade to ﬁnance various infrastructure projects at the cost of rising budget deﬁcits. “Let us look at the bright side. If Oman goes for the deregulation of petrol prices, which it is more likely to do, there will be many advantages such as a cleaner environment, lower fuel consumption, reduced road congestion and support to the national economy,” Ahmed Al Habsi, economic analyst at Capital Invest-

ment Company, told the Times of Oman. But the UAE, while hiking petrol prices across the nation, has reduced diesel by 29 per cent from AED2.90 to AED2.05. “Oman would want to follow suit on this too. Dropping diesel prices makes a lot of sense since this will reduce the overheads

of local industries to make their productions cheaper. As a result, prices of goods in the local markets will be more competitive and people will save money from their shopping. It will offset higher spending for your car but get a relief on your monthly spending. This way, everybody is a winner,” added Al Shihri.

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

REGION

One in two of Yemen’s people - nearly 13 million - are now struggling to ﬁnd enough to eat Oxfam

6m on the brink of starvation in war-torn Yemen Saudi-led air raids, clashes shatter humanitarian truce LONDON: More than 6 million people in Yemen are on the verge of starvation, Oxfam warned on Tuesday, adding that months of war and a blockade on imports were pushing an additional 25,000 people into hunger every day. Also on Tuesday, a humanitarian truce has failed to take hold after Saudi-led warplanes resumed strikes against rebels, military sources said. One in two of Yemen’s people nearly 13 million - are now struggling to find enough to eat, the aid agency said. “As the warring parties continue to ignore calls for a ceasefire, the average family in Yemen is left wondering when their next meal will be,” Oxfam’s Yemen country director Philippe Clerc said. Nearly 4,000 people have been killed and more than 1.2 million displaced in a conflict between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to exiled President Abdrabbo Mansour Hadi. Four fifths of the population need help, the United Nations says. Oxfam said the number of hungry people had risen by 2.3 million to 12.9 million since March, when a Saudi-led coalition backing Hadi began bombarding the Houthis and imposed a blockade in a bid to cut off arms supplies. “In a country that has historically faced food shortages, this is the highest ever recorded number of people living in hunger,” Oxfam

MALNOURISHED: A woman holds her malnourished daughter at a

hospital in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Tuesday. – Reuters

said in a statement. It said the blockade had exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which imports up to 90 per cent of its food and the majority of its fuel. UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Johannes van der Klaauw said more than 6 million people were in an emergency food situation - the phase before famine on the internationally used food security scale. “The food situation in many governorates including Aden is very critical, but we’re not at the stage of famine,” van der Klaauw added. “In some governorates the level of criticality is such that the next level would be famine, but we’re not there and let’s hope we do not get there.” Van der Klaauw, who visited Aden at the weekend, said the United Nations hoped to scale up aid to the port city massively now that ﬁghting had moved north. Oxfam said Saada governorate in the north was the worst affected by food shortages, with nearly four in ﬁve people going hun-

gry and half at a critical level. In neighbouring Hajjah governorate families uprooted by the wars are having to sell livestock at well below market value to buy food, Oxfam said. Some displaced families in Sanaa have resorted to begging The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that 3,984 people had died and 19,347 had been injured between March 19 and July 19, according to data from health facilities. It also recorded an upsurge in cases of dengue fever in Yemen, with nearly 5,700 suspected cases reported since March, around half of them in Aden. Meanwhile, the ﬁve-day truce that began on Monday was unilaterally declared by the pro-government Arab coalition to allow the delivery of desperately needed relief supplies. The coalition, which mounted an air campaign against the Houthi rebels and their allies in late March, had reserved the right to hit any military movement by the insurgents. — Agencies

VIOLENCE

Blast kills two Bahraini policemen DUBAI: A bomb blast killed two Bahraini policemen and wounded six others on Tuesday in an area often shaken by clashes between security forces and protesters, the interior ministry said. The blast took place in Sitra island outside the capital Manama. Police blocked routes leading to the island following the explosion, witnesses said. “The explosives used in the terrorist incident are of the same quality of explosives seized recently while being smuggled,” the BNA state news agency reported. The interior ministry described the blast as a “terror” attack. Footage of the aftermath of the explosion showed a shrapnelriddled police bus with shattered windows. — AFP

SITE OF EXPLOSION: A Bahraini forensic police officer inspects the site of a bomb blast in the village of Sitra, south of capital Manama, on Tuesday. – AFP

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

INDIA

It is a proud moment for the state. Technopark now provides employment to nearly 45,000 people Oommen Chandy, Kerala Chief Minister

New bench of apex court to hear Yakub’s mercy appeal Supreme Court judges Anil R. Dave and Kurien Joseph took differing stands on Memon’s plea challenging his death penalty HIGH HOPES: Jubeda arrives in Nagpur to meet with her father Yakub Memon who is on death row in

1993 Mumbai blast case. -PTI

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Justice H L Dattu will constitute a new bench on Wednesday that will hear 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast convict Yakub Memon’s plea seeking stay of his execution slated for July 30 and quashing of death warrant on the

grounds that it was issued even before he could exhaust his legal remedies. Chief Justice Dattu said, “I will constitute a bench tomorrow” as Attorney General Mukul Ro-

hatgi informed the bench about the split verdict earlier in the day, with common order asking the court registry to place before the chief justice for reference the matter to be listed before an ap-

propriate bench. Senior counsel Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Yakub Memon, urged Chief Justice Dattu to grant stay of execution of Memon slated for Thursday.

C R E M AT I O N R O W

However, the court did not pass any order on its plea for stay of execution. Earlier on Tuesday, Supreme Court judges Anil R. Dave and Kurien Joseph took differing stands on Memon’s plea challenging his death penalty and urged the chief justice to set up “an appropriate bench” to hear the case. Recounting the sequence of the court proceedings from 1993 till the curative petition was dismissed on July 21, 2015, Justice Dave dismissed Memon’s plea. But Justice Kurien found fault with the composition of the bench which heard the curative petition, and stayed the operation of the death warrant issued by the TADA court on April 30. Justice Kurien said the case should be re-considered after constituting a bench in accordance with Supreme Court rules. The judges then referred the matter to Chief Justice H.L. Dattu. -IANS

T E C H N O PA R K

Kerala to be India’s ﬁrst digital state THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The south Indian state of Kerala, is all set to be declared as the ﬁrst digital state in the country. State Minister for IT and Industries P K Kunhalikutty said here that preparations were on to declare Kerala as digital state possibly on August 15, the nation’s Independence Day. Speaking at a function to launch the logo of IT hub Technopark here, the minister said proposal with all necessary parameters would be presented in the cabinet for approval in this regard. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy launched the logo at the function and inaugurated the one-month long silver jubilee celebrations. “It is a proud moment for the state. Technopark now provides employment to nearly 45,000 people,” he added. Located at nearby Kazhakootam, Technopark, which began operation in 1990, laid the foundation for the growth of IT and IT related industries in the state. -PTI

I N I T I A L I N V E S T I G AT I O N

Slain cop’s family seeks job, refuses last rites Punjab terror attack suspects had entered from Pakistan: Probe KAPURTHALA: The family of police officer Baljit Singh, who was killed ﬁghting terrorists in Dinanagar, on Tuesday refused to cremate him till the state government hands over appointment letters of SP rank to his son and post of tehsildar to his daughters. Kulwant Kaur, wife of the slain SP (Detective), said the family had suffered a lot at the time of the death of her father-in-law, police inspector Achhar Singh, to get appointment for her husband and he had to wait for two years to get the job. Baljit Singh was a son of a policeman, who too was killed by militants during the height of militancy in Punjab in 1984. Kaur also charged that the state government did not provide sophisticated weapon to the police force for ﬁghting militants. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ashish Chaudhary, when contacted, said he was not aware of any such demand and will inquire into it. Deputy Commissioner Daljit Singh Mangat said the issue did not pertain to him. Seven persons - four civilians and three policemen including Baljit, were killed by heavilyarmed militants who stormed a police station in the Gurdaspur district of north Indian state of Punjab on Monday. The Punjab government had announced that the next of kin

GURDASPUR: Preliminary probe into the terror strike in the district of north Indian state of Punjab that left seven persons dead indicates that the three suspected Lashker-e-Taiba militants had entered the country from Pakistan through Bamiyal village close to the International Border.

MOPPING UP OPERATION: Punjab police personnel carry body of a Home Guard after an encounter with armed militants in Dinanagar town, in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on Monday. -PTI

of each member of the police force who lost their lives in the operation would be given government job. Financial aid In addition, the deceased families would also be given ﬁnancial assistance to the tune of Rs one million each. Baljit had joined the force in

1985 as ASI following the death of his father. He served as Station House Ofﬁcer Phagwara and with Vigilance department in Mansa before taking up the post of Deputy Commandant in 7th IRB Battalion. Baljit is survived by son, Maninder Singh (24), daughters Parminder Kaur (22) and Ravinder Kaur (20).

Condoles death Union Cabinet on Tuesday condoled the death of the Punjab Police personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the Gurdaspur terror attack. Sources said a resolution was also adopted at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard. -PTI

Global Positioning System The investigators are pinning their hope on seized Global Positioning System (GPS), a compass used by travellers to reach their destinations, to ascertain the movements of the terrorists who were killed in the gunbattle. The GPS has been sent for forensic examination. As part of the probe, a highlevel forensic team on Tuesday visited the abandoned building near the Dinanagar police station where the terrorists were holed up. The four-member team led by Davinder Pal Sehgal and Ashwani Kumar started their investigations, police said. Director General of punjab Police Sumedh Singh Saini had said the terrorists were carry-

ing sophisticated weapons. “We have recovered ‘Made in China’ grenades from them. They were wearing combat fatigues,” he had said. Saini said AK 47 guns and hand grenades were recovered from the terrorists, who had attacked the sentry at the police station before engaging with the SHO and the SP. He had described the attack as “planned” as their modus operandi pointed at a speciﬁc direction. Senior Superintendent of Police Gurdaspur Gurpreet Singh said the bodies of the militants have been kept at the civil hospital and their weapons were being examined. Alert sounded An alert has been sounded along the international border in Punjab and Jammu as the terrorists are suspected to have inﬁltrated from there. Dinanagar town, which is close to Pakistan, falls in Gurdaspur district. It is sandwiched between Gurdaspur town on the one side and Pathankot on the other and lies about 260 km from capital Chandigarh. -PTI

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

INDIA

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

G R E AT S TAT E S M A N

World leaders pay glowing tributes to inspirational Kalam

FLORAL TRIBUTES: President Pranab Mukherjee paying his last respects to former President APJ Abdul Kalam at his residence at Ra-

jaji Marg in New Delhi on Tuesday. – PTI

Nation pays tributes to ‘people’s president’ Thousands visited the official residence of the ‘Missile Man’ to pay their last respects

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation on Tuesday in paying tributes to former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Thousands of people visited the ‘Missile Man’s’ official residence here to pay their last respects to the “people’s president” who collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management in Shillong on Monday evening. The two houses of Parliament were adjourned for two days as a mark of respect to Kalam as political parties gratefully recalled his contributions to the nation. Humble beginnings The union cabinet met in the morning to formally pay tributes to Kalam who rose from humble beginnings to become one of India’s leading scientists and later a popular president. Kalam’s body, wrapped in the Tricolour, arrived on Tuesday at the Palam technical area of Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 12.30 p.m. in a special Indian Air Force plane. After a ceremonial guard of

REMEMBERANCE: School girls hold candles as they sit in front of

a portrait of former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam during a prayer ceremony in Chennai, on Tuesday. – Reuters

honour at the airport in the presence of the three service chiefs, Kalam’s mortal remains were brought in an army vehicle to his official residence at 10, Rajaji Marg in central Delhi. Thousands of people visited his residence to pay homage as cries of “Abdul Kalam amar rahe” and “Long live Abdul Kalam” rent the air. The prime minister and the president went to the airport to pay tributes to the late leader. Other dignitaries present at the airport included Vice President Hamid Ansari, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. While the central government declared a seven-day mourning on Monday, the Goa government declared a seven-day mourning on Tuesday. Kejriwal announced that the Delhi government will

name its scheme providing educational loan up to Rs.10 lakh after Kalam. Modi, who addressed a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary party on Tuesday, paid glowing tributes to Kalam and said India had lost a “ratna (jewel)”. Kalam was president from 2002-2007 and assumed the highest office when BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was in power. Modi said Kalam was “rashtra ratna” (country’s jewel) and his “personality was special”. “His life inspires us; it inspires the youth,” Modi said. The former president died on Monday evening in a private hospital in Shillong after he collapsed while delivering a lecture on ‘Liveable Planet’ to students of the Indian Institute of Managment, Shillong. Kalam will be accorded a state funeral with full military

WORDS OF FORMER PRESIDENT

‘Don’t rest after victory, failure just an attempt at learning’ NEW DELHI: “Don’t take rest after your first victory because if you fail in second, more lips are waiting to say that your first victory was just luck.” These were the words of former president A P J Abdul Kalam which he lived by till the last moment. Eighty-three-year-old Kalam was a daring President who undertook a submarine sortie, flew Sukhoi jet, visited Siachen glacier, world’s highest battlefield and interacted with troops at the Line of Control. But probably none as daring as a night-time flight from Aizawl airport that took off after the runway was illuminated with lanterns and torches. This occurred one evening in 2005 when Kalam, always wearing a genial smile, had completed all his official engagements during his visit to Mizoram and was scheduled to leave the next morning. But a restless Kalam decided to take off for Delhi at night, one of his senior aides recalled. The local Indian Air Force (IAF) station’s head was summoned and informed of the Presi-

dent’s wish to fly to the national capital as his work in Mizoram was over. “But there are no facilities for taking off from the airport at night,” the IAF official said, thinking the matter was settled. However, his explanation did not cut ice with Kalam, who retorted: “What if there is an emergency? Will the IAF wait for the morning? Tell them I have to take off and all necessary arrangements should be made.” His aides went to the IAF official and conveyed the message from Kalam, who as President was also the supreme commander of the armed forces. The IAF commander immediately got in touch with his seniors in Delhi, who did not come to his rescue and instead asked him to comply with the orders of the “missile man”. Finally, Kalam had his way and IAF personnel lit up the runway with lanterns, flaming torches and bonfires to facilitate the takeoff, the aide said. President’s aides too were concerned about his decision to take off at night from an

airport that had only basic equipment and privately asked IAF officials whether such a flight would be safe. The answer from an IAF official was enough to send a chill down their spines -- “you can take off but there may be some problems if you have to return”. At around 9 pm, the Presidential Boeing took off with Kalam and his entourage of 22. “If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means “first Attempt In Learning”; End is not the end, if fact E.N.D. means “Effort Never Dies”; If you get No as an answer, remember N.O. means “Next Opportunity”. So Let’s be positive,” was another quote that he often used to mention in his pep talks to university and school students. Immediately after he became the 11th President, Vice President Krishna Kant suffered a heart attack and was admitted to AIIMS. His first visitor was Kalam, who was dressed in blue shirt and Khaki pants. This was probably the kalam’s first engagement after taking office. — PTI

honours at 11 a.m. on Thursday at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. His family had wished that his last rites be performed in his hometown. After the Lok Sabha met on Tuesday morning, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out a condolence message and said Kalam was a “real gem” of the country and a “sagacious statesman”. The members stood in silence for two minutes to pay their respects. In the Rajya Sabha, Chairman Hamid Ansari said the country had lost a true son. “His contributions to the nation as a man of technology, a teacher and a leader will be deeply cherished by a grateful nation,” he said. Both houses will now have their next sitting on July 30. The union cabinet, which met on Tuesday to pay its condolences to Kalam, said the country lost a visionary scientist, a true nationalist and a great son. “Kalam made significant contribution in developing India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle and made India an exclusive member of space club,” the resolution said, adding that strategic missile systems were developed and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests were conducted during Kalam’s term as scientific advisor to the defence minister. It said Kalam was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020. Born on October 15, 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Kalam specialised in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. - IANS

DHAKA/KUALA LUMPUR: World leaders on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to late former President A P J Abdul Kalam, hailing him as an inspirational figure in South Asia and lauding his scientific achievements. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described Kalam as “a rare combination of a great statesman, acclaimed scientist and a source of inspiration to the young generation of South Asia” and said his death is an “irreparable loss to India and beyond.” Hasina said, “We are deeply shocked at the sad demise of former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, one of the most famous sons of India and a great scientific mind of his time. He was highly respected in Bangladesh as well.” “His invaluable contribution to India’s rise in the sphere of science and technology would be remembered forever by all. He was a source of inspiration to the young generation of South Asia, someone who gave wings to their dreams,” she said. Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia said that “as a nuclear scientist, he engaged himself in the welfare of the people.”

Expressing his condolences, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said, “Saddened by the death of Dr Kalam. He was an inspirational figure to millions of people including me. We have a lot to learn from his life.” ‘Good friend’ Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala recalled Kalam’s contributions in leading India on the path of scientific advancement and progress. “Nepal has lost a good friend and I have lost an honoured and ideal personality,” Koirala said. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also expressed deep condolences on the demise of the former Indian President. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak also condoled the loss, saying, “His passing is a loss to the scientific community.” Condoling Kalam’s death, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said, “Saddened to learn of the passing of India’s former President Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. Dr Bhutanese Premier Tshering Tobgay said, “Saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Abdul kalam, India’s iconic president -- one who was loved by all people, especially the youth of India.” — PTI

A10

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

PAKISTAN PREVENTIVE CUSTODY

Three MQM workers handed over to Rangers KARACHI: Two anti-terrorism courts in Karachi handed over three workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to Rangers under 90-day preventive custody. The courts heard on Monday that Muhammad Abid was arrested from Samanabad while Abdul Waqar and Muhammad Ali were arrested from Burns Road area for their alleged involvement in targeted killings and incidents of kidnapping and extortion. The force claimed that they possessed credible evidence of the suspects’ involvement in the aforementioned criminal activities. After a brief conversation with the suspects, the courts allowed Rangers to interrogate them for 90 days. The move comes a day after the MQM staged a walk out in the National Assembly in protest against the ongoing operation by Rangers in Karachi. Party leader Farooq Sattar said that the Constitution and law were being sabotaged, and added that lawmaker Ali Raza Abidi’s restaurant had been ‘illegally’ sealed by law enforcement officials. — Express Tribune

$336m aid received to ﬁght Afghan Taliban insurgency US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving local forces to battle militants alone, but a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counterterrorism operations

Regular payments to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund programme began in 2001 when Pakistan joined the US-led coalition in Afghanistan as a ‘frontline ally’

KARACHI: Pakistan on Tuesday received some $336 million from the United States for its ongoing role in combating a Taliban insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan. The injection of cash, which comes as the Taliban steps up its annual summer offensive launched in late April, has helped Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves reach a fresh high of about $19 billion, state bank officials

FIGHTING INSURGENCY: A Pakistani container truck carries NATO vehicles as they make their way to

Afghanistan, in Peshawar on March 25, 2014.— AFP ﬁle photo

said. Regular payments to Pakistan under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) programme began in 2001 when Pakistan joined the US-led coalition in Afghanistan as a “frontline ally”. Pakistan provides use of its air

bases and other facilities in exchange for the reimbursements. The central State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in a one-line press note said it had received a total of $336.8 million under the CSF programme, which is the ﬁrst tranche

of a $1.5 billion for the current ﬁscal year ending June 2016. Pakistan has received a total of $13 billion in CSF payments since the programme began. The Afghan government meanwhile conducted its ﬁrst face-to-

face talks with Taliban cadres on July 7 in Muree, aimed at ending the 14-year insurgency. But despite the willingness to engage in talks there has been no let-up in militant attacks, which are taking a heavy toll on civilians. Almost 1,000 civilians were killed in the conﬂict during the ﬁrst four months of this year, said the United Nations. — AFP

TOWARDS SAFETY

Local farm workers help a man cross the ﬂooded Chenab river in Chinoit outside Faisalabad, Pakistan, on Tuesday. Flash ﬂooding caused by torrential monsoon rains has killed at least 28 in Pakistan and affected hundreds of thousands of people, according to aid agencies, with further downpours expected in the coming days. — Reuters

WORLD’S SECOND HIGHEST PEAK

Poor weather forces end of K2 climbing season ISLAMABAD: The second highest mountain in the world, K2, has closed its doors of hospitality for this year. Mountaineers who had come from all the world to scale the 8,611 metres peak are now heading back as bad weather engulfs the region. Wilco Van Rooijen, a mountaineer, who in 2008 was stuck for three days at the top of the Savage mountain in a climb which killed eleven of his peers, tweeted the news. Mariano Glavan of Argentina, Carlos Sarurez of Spain, teams from Estonia and Hungary, and commercial expeditions Himex and Madison Mountaineering have all retreated back to their homes, with the hopes of scaling K-2 in the years to come. Switzerland’s Mike Horn expressed his disappointment at not making it to the top of K2 in his blog. He wrote, “We are back down from our summit attempt. Base camp is not exactly where we want to be, but I am satisﬁed that we gave it our best shot. Even more important, we tried with everything we had.” Pakistani mountaineer Mirza Ali also tweeted regarding the conditions surrounding the peak. Avalanches This year bad weather has resulted in avalanches which has caused injuries and the loss of life. On July 20, at around 11 am, seven climbers were on the mountain when an avalanche ripped through the lower section below camp-1 on Broad Peak

Wilco Van Rooijen, a mountaineer, who in 2008 was stuck for three days at the top of the Savage mountain in a climb which killed eleven of his peers, tweeted the news (8,051m). It apparently crushed a Pakistani porter and injured Sumiyo Tsuzuki, a Japanese mountaineer along with a Nepali Sherpa. Pakistan-China border Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain in the world, standing tall at 8,051m. It is part of the Gasherbrum massif in Baltistan on the border of Pakistan and China, right across the glacier from K2. After hearing the news, Nepali Sherpa Lakpa from the Seven Summits Trek team, along with some other climbers, immediately mounted a rescue effort, pulling one climber out of the snow. — Express Tribune

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

A1 1

WORLD

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Gaddaﬁ’s son sentenced to death Seif Al Islam, Muammar Gaddaﬁ’s one-time heir apparent, was tried in his absence because he is held by militia opposed to the Tripoli authorities

TRIPOLI: A Libyan court on Tuesday sentenced a son and eight aides of slain leader Muammar Gaddaﬁ to death for crimes during the 2011 protests, in a verdict denounced by rights campaigners. The United Nations also said it was “deeply disturbed” by the outcome and criticised the trial for failing to meet international standards. Seif Al Islam, the strongman’s one-time heir apparent who is also wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), was tried in his absence because he is held by militia opposed to the Tripoli authorities. Former intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi and Gaddaﬁ’s last

ON TRIAL: Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaﬁ’s former aides sit dressed in prison behind the bars of the accused cell during their trial on Tuesday at court of appeals in Tripoli. – AFP

prime minister Al Baghdadi Al Mahmudi were also sentenced to death, although they can appeal to the supreme court. 37 defendants The 37 defendants were charged with crimes including murder and complicity in incitement to rape during the revolution. Libya has been wracked by conﬂict since Gaddaﬁ’s overthrow, with rival governments and powerful militias battling to control key cities and the country’s oil riches. The trial, which opened in the

capital in April last year, has been dogged by criticism from rights watchdogs and an unresolved dispute with the ICC in The Hague over jurisdiction in the case of Gaddaﬁ’s son. The UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that there were “serious issues relating to access to lawyers, claims of ill-treatment, and trials conducted in absentia”. Rights groups say the trial missed an opportunity to expose the crimes of the Gaddaﬁ regime. Amnesty International called the death sentences “appalling”.

EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF’S VISIT

UPBEAT: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, left, arrive to their meeting ahead of a joint news conference in the capital Tehran on Tuesday. – AFP

Nuclear deal will not hit roadblock, assures Iran TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif moved to dismiss concerns on Tuesday that his country’s nuclear deal with major powers could hit difficulties, saying he had “no concern or worry” about its implementation. Zarif’s remarks came during a joint news conference with visiting EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini aimed at ensuring that the historic agreement swiftly takes effect. As the European Union’s high representative, Mogherini was intricately involved in the longrunning diplomacy that culminated in a July 14 accord between Iran and six world powers. Her trip to Tehran came days after US Secretary of State John Kerry was grilled by lawmakers in Washington who effectively accused him of being duped in the talks by Zarif and Iran’s other negotiators. Republicans in the US Congress, including presidential candidates, have poured scorn on the nuclear deal but they face a monumental battle to overcome President Barack Obama’s veto power over any attempt to block it. The past week has also seen hardline elements in Iran, including the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards force and MPs, raise concerns about the agreement’s terms. Under the deal, Iran must take measures at its nuclear facilities to satisfy UN monitors of their peaceful nature. In return, the P5+1 powers in the talks -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- must ﬁnalise the mechanism for lifting UN and Western sanctions. Zarif gave a timeline of “60 to 70 days” for the deal to be settled,

DISMISSING CONCERNS: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini at press conference in Tehran on Tuesday. – AFP

following talks with Mogherini about measures that are needed. “Iran will continue to cooperate with the IAEA,” he said, referring to the UN nuclear watchdog. “I hope the EU and United States will continue to implement their commitments,” he added. Asked about accusations made in some of Iran’s conservative media that the agreement breaks supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s “red lines” for the talks, Zarif moved to allay such claims. “Iran has stuck to its obligations and Iran is going to do the same when it comes to implementing the deal,” he said, acknowledging that “some people in Iran have some doubts about some countries, particularly the US, to implement seriously and precisely”. But he added: “I have no concern or worry that the deal will be implemented. I know very well that it is going to be implemented.” MPs recently passed a law forbidding foreigners from entering Iranian military sites where international monitors have alleged

past work on developing nuclear weapons took place. Although international inspectors have visited Iran’s nuclear sites for years, critics have said such restrictions on military facilities will hamper any effective enforcement of the deal. Iran has always denied seeking an atomic bomb. Mogherini ﬂew in from talks in Saudi Arabia. Mogherini said that while the accord was on the nuclear issue it could have a broader impact as it was “not the end of a process... it’s a beginning.” “It’s going to open a new chapter in relations between Iran and the EU,” she said, before addressing possibly greater cooperation between Iran and the West on tackling IS group militants in Iraq and Syria. “It is probably one of the most difficult chapters that will be opened,” Mogherini said. “If we manage to adapt to a new understanding this can lead to beneﬁts for all in the region and beyond.” — AFP

“Instead of helping to establish the truth and ensuring accountability for serious violations during the 2011 armed conﬂict, this trial exposes the weakness of a criminal justice system which is hanging on by a thread in a war-torn country with no central authority,” Amnesty’s Philip Luther said. Human Rights Watch’s Joe Stork said the trial was “plagued by persistent, credible allegations of fair trial breaches that warrant independent and impartial judicial review”. The militia holding Seif Al Islam in the southwestern hill town of

Zintan is aligned with the internationally recognised government which fled to the remote east last August when a rival militia alliance seized Tripoli and set up its own administration. Prosecutor general Siddick Al Sour acknowledged that there was no prospect of Seif Al Islam facing the court’s sentence any time soon, but said that was a matter for politicians. “The court pronounced sentence and has nothing to do with the political conflict,” Sour said. Seif Al Islam’s sole appearances before the court were by video link and there had been none since May last year. The UN Security Council referred the conflict in Libya to the ICC in February 2011 amid Gaddafi’s repression of the popular protests against his decadesold regime. Wanted by ICC Seif Al Islam is wanted by the ICC on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. ICC prosecutors say that as part of his father’s “inner circle”, he “conceived and orchestrated a plan to deter and quell, by all means, the civilian demonstrations against Gaddafi’s regime”. Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for four decades, was captured and killed by rebels in October 2011. Three of his sons died in the pro-

tests. Another, Saadi, was extradited to Libya from Niger in March 2014. Seif Al Islam has been held in Zintan since his capture in November 2011 despite repeated ICC demands for Libya to hand him over for trial. Twenty-nine other defendants, including Senussi and Mahmudi, were in court for Tuesday’s sentencing. They were brought into the black cage in blue prison uniforms, some with their heads shaved. Most sat impassively in the dock. Senussi has been in custody since September 2012 when he was handed over by Mauritania, where he had sought refuge after the regime’s overthrow. “He has from day one had no effective legal representation, no access to his family and the outside world, and no ability to prepare any defence against the charges,” his international legal team said. His 17-year-old daughter Salma said her father had been denied a fair trial. “Even if my father did something wrong, I would ask them to put him in a real court in a place with rule of law,” she told AFP from her home in Britain. The court sentenced eight other defendants to life in prison, seven to 12 years, four to 10, three to six and one to ﬁve. Four were acquitted and one was ordered conﬁned to a psychiatric hospital. — AFP

A12

T IME S O F O MAN

W EDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

#TRENDING ONLINE HOT PICKS MOST SHARED

MOST READ

TIMESOFOMAN.COM

FACEBOOK.COM/TIMESOFOMAN

TOTAL VIEWS

TOTAL PAGE LIKES

18,583,927

193,786

1 Rain falls in many parts of

1 Oman-Saudi road link to

the country

help pilgrims

bit.ly/raininmanyparts

bit.ly/omansaudiroad

2 HM sends condolences to

India, Saudi Arabia bit.ly/condolencestoindia

3 Oman cricket team gets

rousing welcome at Muscat Airport

Founder: Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali Chairman / Editor-in-Chief: Mohamed Issa Al Zadjali Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Anees bin Essa Al Zedjali Chief Executive Officer: Ahmed Essa Al Zedjali EDITORIAL Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24813153 E-mail: editor@timesofoman.com ADVERTISING Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24812624 E-mail: advertising@timesofoman.com CIRCULATION Telephone: 24726666 Fax: 24818270 E-mail: circulation@timesofoman.com

bit.ly/omancricketteam

2 Mall of Oman set to create

5,000 jobs

4 More rain expected this

week in the Sultanate

bit.ly/mallofomanjobs

bit.ly/omanheavyrains

3 Former Indian president APJ

Abdul Kalam passes away

5 Saudi girl hit by stray bullet

in Oman in stable state

bit.ly/kalampassesaway

Printed and published by: Muscat Media Group Post Box: 770 Postal Code: 112

bit.ly/injuredsaudigirl

4 Oman’s search for missing

Emiratis continues bit.ly/emiratisearchgoeson

5 Indian ambassador-

designate to Oman meets Kerala Chief Minister

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/OPINION

bit.ly/envoytoomankerealacm

SAHAR BANDIAL MOST POPULAR VIDEO

TIMESOFOMAN.COM/VIDEOS A light plane crashed into a residential area of Tokyo on Sunday, setting ﬁre to several houses and reportedly killing three people and injuring ﬁve others, according to officials

Leonid Bershidsky

E Female members of union councils in Pakistan’s Punjab province are now to be indirectly elected to the two seats legally reserved for them, by eight (expectedly all male) returning candidates on the region’s general seats. bit.ly/pakistanwomeninpolls

TWEET WE LIKE @HalimQaed Me and Mahdy with a crazy face expressions at Wadi Madhaba & Wadi Hamad, Oman with uac_4x4… https://instagram.com/p/5rq3aptTDQ/

INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY

NOAH SMITH

INSTAGRAM.COM/TIMESOFOMAN Negative income taxes have to be phased out at some earnings level; otherwise there’s no way to raise money for the tax! But for poor people, the negative income tax provides money to live and an incentive to work. It really is a Goldilocks policy bit.ly/negativeincometax

SHARE THIS!

Location: Yiti/Photo: Soumya N Ghosh

Leaving euro-zone should be an option

CHRIS MAUME

lect far-left politicians to run a country and they will still plot a revolution. That, apparently, is what ministers from the Syriza bloc were doing while negotiations with creditors were taking place. Though none of the crazy things they planned came to pass, Greece’s radicals may someday be tempted to carry out a Syriza-style “Plan B.” Euro-zone officials need to prepare for this eventuality and work out an exit procedure — one that might still be needed. Panagiotis Lafazanis, who served as energy minister until Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras fired him for refusing to support the latest Greek bailout plan, revealed one such plot from July 14, during a meeting of the Left Platform, Syriza’s extreme wing. His alleged idea was to end all talks with the creditors, arrest central bank governor Yannis Stournaras — a well-known Grexit opponent — and seize the national mint, where the country’s cash reserves are kept. The money — 22 billion euros ($24.4 billion), Lafazanis figured — would be used to pay wages and pensions while the government printed and distributed drachmas. The plan, of course, was ridiculous (and worthy of parodies such as this one). If the government raided the mint, the European Central Bank (ECB) would probably declare the euros kept there counterfeit, and even if it somehow failed to do that, the money -- there was actually much less of it in the vaults than Lafazanis thought -- wouldn’t last long enough to allow an organised reintroduction of the drachma. Lafazanis admitted in an interview published on Sunday that he had called on the government to raid central-bank reserves in defiance of the ECB, but he denied proposing that Stournaras be arrested, calling those accusations “old-fashioned antiCommunism.” He is unashamed about the mint part: That, he said, was “for the Greek economy and Greek people to survive.” Another, more sophisticated Plan B originated with the former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis. On Sunday, the Greek newspaper Kathimerini published what it said was a transcript of Varoufakis’s July 16 phone call with a former British finance minister, Norman Lamont, in which Varoufakis described a scheme to use Greek’s tax identification numbers to set up a parallel payment system that the government would run if banks were forced to close.

The system supposedly would have enabled people to send and receive money using their tax accounts. To develop the system, Varoufakis needed access to the tax identification numbers, but, according to the article, he couldn’t get it without alerting the top tax official — technically his subordinate, but in practice an appointee approved by the creditors. Kathimerini quoted Varoufakis saying he asked a friend at Columbia University to hack the Greek tax authority to obtain the numbers: “ ‘So I authorised him -- and you can’t tell anyone that, this is totally between us...’ “Norman Lamont interrupts: ‘There are certainly others listening but they will not tell it to their friends.’ “Varoufakis (laughing): ‘I know. I know they are. And even if they do I will deny I said it, so we decided to hack into my ministry’s own software programme in order to be able break it up to just copy, just to copy the code of the tax systems website onto a large computer in his office so that he can work out how to design and implement this parallel payment system.’ “ When the story broke, Varoufakis did issue a denial of sorts, tweeting: “So, I was going to ‘hijack’ Greek citizens’ tax file numbers? Impressed by my defamers’ imagination.” Kathimerini did use the word “hijack” to describe Varoufakis’s plan, but it never attributed that word to Varoufakis. The hacking episode wasn’t mentioned in the tweet. Still, keeping the euro may not be Greece’s best option, and it’s far from certain that the country will work out, much less execute, an effective medium-term reform program acceptable to the creditors. Greece may again find itself thinking about a euro exit, a default and a devaluation. It may happen to other countries, too. It’s understandable that Europe wants to treat such situations as impossible for political reasons, but they can’t be ruled out for economic ones. The ECB and the euro-zone governments should design an orderly exit process that members could activate as a last resort — an algorithm including the printing and distribution of a national currency, all the necessary notifications, the treatment of euro balances in the currency bloc’s payment system, and perhaps financial aid to make a smooth exit possible. Yes, that amounts to creating a door that will tempt many a potential renegade, but that’s better than having eager revolutionaries devise harebrained schemes. - Bloomberg News

READERS’ FORUM Kalam’s vision for India as a superpower by 2020 will constantly inspire youth This refers to the news story, Former President APJ Abdul Kalam passes away (July 28). I offer my sincere condolences on his death, which is a great loss to all Indians. Even though he is no more among us, his vision of India becoming a superpower by 2020 will constantly inspire the youth of India. The departed soul will always be remembered for his love for children, and his passion for research, science and education. I sincerely salute the departed soul, who spent his entire life for the welfare of the country. — Mohammad Osama Rawat, Ruwi

Along, perhaps, with doctors and nurses, teachers are the most important people in Great Britain. More important, that’s for sure, than politicians, for whom education, for all their ﬁne words and conﬁdent policies, is just another theatre of war, another set of election pledges bit.ly/nickymorganukteachers

Not many leaders who speak from their hearts like Kalam This refers to the news story, Former President APJ Abdul Kalam passes away (July Scan this QR code 28). Abdul Kalam constantly reminded us to send letters to the how important it is to remain apolitical to Readers’ Forum, containing not more be a true patriot. At a time when political than 200 words with parties are stuck to age-old ideologies and full name, address vote-bank politics, most often neglecting and telephone true national and human interests, here number, may be sent by mail (Times of was a person whose ideology was primarOman, P.O. Box 770, ily anything that makes life better and P.C. 112, Ruwi). meaningful, and how Indian youths realise the immense potential of their country, However, they are perplexed as to why that paradigm shift is not really happening. The late president’s words strongly inspired India’s youths to strive to change themselves. I am deeply saddened that we aren’t left with many such leaders who can speak from their hearts and be absolutely true about what they say! — Dr M.S. Aziz, Rusayl

CLIPPINGS FROM OUR ARCHIVES JULY 2000 Insurance ﬁrms asked to cut high vehicle premiums In a move that would have far-reaching impact on the insurance industry in the Sultanate, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has asked the insurance companies to avoid charging high premiums for vehicle insurance. In a letter, addressed to all insurance companies, by Salim bin Hamed Al Mandhari, director of insurance department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the companies have been advised to rein in the premium for comprehensive insurance of private vehicles at 4 per cent and that for commercial vehicles at 4.5 per cent.

TODAY IN HISTORY

NEW INDIA ASSURANCE Protect the welfare of your workforce through New India’s WORKMEN COMPENSATION POLICY. www.newindiaoman.com

1663: British Parliament passes a second Navigation Act, requiring all goods bound for the colonies be sent in British ships from British ports. 1778: British and French fleets fight to a standoff in the first Battle of Ushant. 1944: US troops complete the liberation of Guam. 1981: William Wyler, director of Ben Hur, dies

PICTOGRAPH EXPATRIATE WORKERS BY OCCUPATION GROUPS (June 2015)

754,789

Engineering

364,321

Service

Industrial

100,750

Agriculture and stock breeding

91,766

Sales

76,946

Human matters specialists

74,424

Human subjects technicians

59,102

Administration and managers

39,478

Clerical

Total

2,482

1,564,058

Source: NSCI

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A1 3

SPECIAL Of caves that house homeless Afghans With no electricity or running water, the cave dwellers are forced to adapt to an arduous existence in these dark, dank, and musty structures NOWHERE ELSE TO GO: Hazara Afghan children sit inside their cave in the old city of Bamiyan, some 200 kilometres (124 miles)

northwest of Kabul. – AFP

MUSTY STRUCTURE: A Hazara Afghan family look on in front of their cave in Bamiyan. – AFP

MAKESHIFT SHELTER: A Hazara Afghan man stands by the entrance to his cave in Bamiyan. – AFP

BAMIYAN (AFGHANISTAN): Carved into dun-coloured cliffs, hundreds of manmade caves situated next to empty niches that once sheltered giant statues destroyed by the Taliban are home to Bamiyan’s poverty-stricken who have nowhere else to go. The ancient caves lining the Bamiyan valley in central Afghanistan were originally used by monks for meditation and retreat but now shelter landless Afghan families who cannot afford conventional housing. With no electricity or running water, the cave dwellers are forced to adapt to an arduous existence in these dark, dank, and musty structures. “It’s not a good place, it’s never been a good place to live,” said Haji Hussain, who has been living in a cave atop a cliff with his wife and three children for thirty years. “It’s very difficult to climb up here and then come back down. And as far as water is concerned, it’s a big problem. We have to carry it on our back to bring it up here,” the labourer told AFP in his cave, just a few hundred metres from the vacant niches.

Like Hussain, hundreds of families dwell in the caves of Bamiyan, a rare oasis of tranquility that has largely been spared the wrenching conﬂict that afﬂicts the rest of Afghanistan. When the Taliban captured Bamiyan in the late 1990s, some of these people lost their homes as the hardline movement burned down the houses, forcing them to take shelter in caves right next to the statues. But two years after the Taliban regime was toppled in the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan, the area was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The government came down heavily on the cave dwellers, evicting many and moving them into temporary shelters elsewhere in the city. Local authorities argue that the longer the structures are occupied, the more damage is wrought on the site as some families install doors, windows and build makeshift extensions. “If the people live here, they damage the caves and ancient murals, and we should save these structures,” said Kabir Dadras, head of Bamiyan’s information and culture department. Some 250 families have been evicted from the caves in recent years but many still remain. Once a caravan stop along the fabled Silk Road, the central Afghan city was recently named this year’s cultural capital of South Asia, igniting hopes of restoring its place on the global tourism map. But the government is struggling to revive the heyday of tourism after decades of war, including the Taliban’s 19962001 reign when they destroyed the statues, an act globally condemned as “cultural terrorism”. — AFP

DARK AND DANK: A Hazara Afghan child plays inside her cave. – AFP

HOPE IN ADVERSITY: A Hazara Afghan girl looks on as her mother DAILY COURSE: Hazara Afghan women wash dishes in front of their caves. – AFP

cooks inside their cave. – AFP

A 14

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

GLOBAL EYE

NORTH KOREA: A ﬁrework display celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the ending of the ﬁght at Korean War in Pyongyang, North Korea is seen on Monday.

— AFP/KCNA VIA KNS

PERU: Peruvian Army members ushering adults and children to

GREAT BRITAIN: Children look at a scarecrow of characters from the ‘Room on a Broom’ book during the Scarecrow Festival in Heather, Great Britain, on Tuesday. The annual event asks residents of Heather to make scarecrow’s to raise thousands of pounds for local groups and charities. — Reuters

helicopters at the Air Force base in the jungle town of Mazamari, after their liberation by the armed forces from captivity by the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path, in the central Amazonia region of Satipo in Peru. Authorities in Peru rescued 39 people, including 26 children, whom Maoist Shining Path rebels were raising in bondage as future rebel troops, the government said on Tuesday. — AFP/MINDEF/LUIS ENRIQUE SALDANHA

FRANCE: French fashion designer and artist Jean-Charles de Castelbajac draws a design on the walls of Paris-Orly airport, on Tuesday in Orly, France. — AFP

EL SALVADOR: People use different means of transportation to get to work in Apopa, Salvador, on Tuesday during a transport strike over the lack of security in the violence-plagued country. Gangs have shot dead ﬁve bus drivers in El Salvador since Sunday. — AFP

AFGHANISTAN: An Afghan man works at a traditional yarn factory in Heart province, Afghanistan on Tuesday. — Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

A1 5

WORLD DIRE STRAITS

Over 1,800 migrants rescued off Italy coast ROME/LILLE (FRANCE): More than 1,800 migrants have been picked up in the Mediterranean and 13 bodies recovered as the exodus from north Africa by boat endures, Italy’s coast guard said on Tuesday. Vessels taking part in EU border security operation Triton rescued the migrants from their rickety boats in ﬁve separate operations on Monday, following the arrival in Sicily on Saturday of 1,300 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa and Syria. The 13 bodies were recovered by an Irish military ship after it came to the aid of one of the boats, which was carrying 522 people. The cause of death was not yet known, the coast guard said, but migrants attempting the perilous crossing to Europe often suffer from dehydration and sun exposure. More than 1,900 migrants have died this year making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe, out of around 150,000 people who have made the crossing, the International Organization for Migration said earlier this month. Eurotunnel entry bid Meanwhile, About 2,000 migrants tried to enter Eurotunnel premises in the French port of Calais overnight in a desperate bid to reach England through the Channel tunnel, a spokesman said Tuesday. “It was the biggest incursion effort in the past month and a half,” said the spokesman for Eurotunnel, which is battling often deadly efforts by migrants to smuggle themselves into Britain. The migrants were trying to enter the site “between midnight and 6:00 am,” he added. “All our security personnel, that is nearly 200 people, as well as police were called in.” — AFP

Obama to African leaders: Step aside at end of terms pacity for Africans. That’s the kind of partnership America offers.” Obama said the United States was also a solid security partner that would stand by Africa in dealing with terrorism and end conﬂict. He said continent’s progress will “depend on security and peace”.

In the ﬁrst ever address to the African Union by a US president, Obama said that Africa’s democratic progress is at risk when leaders refuse to step aside when their terms end. He also urged an end to ‘the cancer of corruption’

CANDID: US President Barack Obama talks about presidential term limits during remarks at the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Tuesday. — Reuters

ADDIS ABABA: Barack Obama on Tuesday condemned African leaders who refuse to give up power and urged the continent to end “the cancer of corruption”, in the ﬁrst ever address to the African Union by a US president. But Obama said the rest of the world also needed to change its approach to Africa by boosting fair trade and not just providing aid handouts, and vowed that the United States stood with the region to defeat terrorism and end conﬂict.

“Africa’s democratic progress is also at risk when leaders refuse to step aside when their terms end,” Obama said, drawing huge applause and cheers from some sections of the audience in the AU’s Nelson Mandela hall. “No one should be president for life,” he said, explaining that he was personally relishing handing over office in 18 months. “Now let me be honest with you: I do not understand this. I am in my second term... I love my work, but under our constitution, I cannot run again. I actually think I’m a pretty good president, I think if I ran again I could win, but I can’t,” he said. “And, I’ll be honest with you, I’m looking forward to life after being president. I won’t have such a big security detail all the time, it means I can take a walk, it means I can spend time with my family. “The point is I don’t understand why people want to stay so long. Especially when they’ve got a lot of

End of tour The speech marked the end of a short tour that has seen Obama visit Kenya, his father’s birthplace, and Ethiopia, from where he ﬂew out on Air Force One after the speech. Both are key security allies in the ﬁght against Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebaab militants, but they were also challenged on concerns over democracy, human rights and graft.

money,” he said, drawing another huge cheer from the hall -- packed with diplomats but also many civil society activists. Endemic graft Obama’s keynote speech also went further on endemic and institutionalised graft, something he also pressed on in Kenya over the weekend. “Nothing will unlock Africa’s economic potential more than ending the cancer of corruption,” Obama said, before speaking at length of the need for growth to be unlocked by ending discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls. Obama singled out Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza -whose successful bid for a third term provoked weeks of unrest in the small central African nation -- as an example of the dangers of trying to stay put and risking “instability and strife”. At the same time, Obama said

INFERNO

the world needed to “recognise Africa’s extraordinary progress”, and outlined how American businesses were increasing US trade with the continent. “A half century into this independence era, it is long past time to put aside old stereotypes of an Africa forever mired in poverty and conﬂict,” the president said. Playing up his position as the ﬁrst-ever African-American US president, he also cast Washington as a trusted partner of the continent, and took a veiled swipe at resource-hungry China -- which has massively stepped up its presence in Africa, symbolised by the Chinese-built AU headquarters where he gave the speech. “Economic relationships cannot simply be about other countries building infrastructure with foreign labour, or extracting Africa’s natural resources,” Obama said. “Real economic partnerships have to be a good deal for Africa. They have to create jobs and ca-

Fight against rebels “As Africa stands against terror and conﬂict, I want you to know the United States stands with you,” he said, highlighting threats ranging from Somalia’s Shebaab, Boko Haram in Nigeria, insurgents in Mali and Tunisia, and the Ugandaled Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in central Africa. Obama said the United States was backing AU military efforts and saluted the “brave African peacekeepers” battling militants. “Because of the AU force in Somalia, Al Shebaab controls less territory, and the Somali government is growing stronger. In central Africa, the AU-led mission continues to degrade the Lord’s Resistance Army,” he said. “In the Lake Chad basin, forces from several nations -- with the backing of the AU --are ﬁghting to end Boko Haram’s senseless brutality.” Many audience members emerged impressed -- even if several African leaders may be less happy. “It was excellent, inspiring,” said Aeneas Chuma, a UN worker from Zimbabwe who said he was speaking in his personal capacity. “He touched on all challenges for Africa, like the importance of good governance, the fact that this trend of leaders staying in power cannot continue.” Addis Ababa university student Anatoli Bulti said Obama’s address was “empowering”. “He spoke about a lot of issues that don’t usually get addressed in this country: democracy, freedom. Coming from him it gives these issues a lot more weight.” — AFP

NAT I O NA L E N D O W M E N T F O R D E M O C R AC Y

Cairo furniture factory ﬁre kills 25 Russia declares US group ‘undesirable’

CAIRO: At least 25 people died in a fire that gutted an Egyptian furniture factory north of Cairo on Tuesday, a health ministry official said. Twenty-two more workers suffered from burns and smoke inhalation in the blaze in the Al Helw factory on the outskirts of the capital, health ministry spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar said. Security officials said the fire raged through the three-storey factory and its warehouse after a gas cylinder exploded. The interior ministry said 23 fire trucks were at the scene to extinguish the blaze. Alexandria fire Video footage posted on social networks showed thick smoke billowing from the factory as rescuers crowded to help the victims. Another fire at a supermarket in a town near Alexandria on Tuesday injured 12 people, security officials said. — AFP

TRAGIC: Egyptian firemen put out the flames after a fire broke out at the Al Helw furniture factory

north of the capital Cairo on Tuesday. — AFP

MOSCOW: Russian prosecutors on Tuesday declared the US Congress-funded National Endowment for Democracy the ﬁrst “undesirable” foreign group under a controversial new law to ban overseas organisations deemed a threat. The move is part of what critics say is a Kremlin drive against civil society being fuelled by growing anti-Western rhetoric over the Ukraine crisis. “Taking into account the overall aim of the Endowment’s work, prosecutors came to the conclusion that it presents a threat to the constitutional order of Russia, its defence capabilities and state security,” the prosecutors said in a statement. Prosecutors accused the American non-proﬁt organisation of using local NGOs to undermine elections and organise political rallies in the country.

“The National Endowment for Democracy participated in work to declare the results of election campaigns illegitimate, to organise political demonstrations aimed at inﬂuencing decisions taken by state institutions and to discredit service in the Russian armed forces,” the statement said. Opening offices barred The decision -- which now needs to be approved by the justice ministry -- will see the Endowment barred from opening offices in Russia or funding any groups or individuals in the country. Prosecutors said that in 2013 and 2014 the foundation gave funding worth around $5.2 million to local organisations. The move comes as Russia and the West are locked in their worst standoff since the end of the Cold War over the crisis in Ukraine. — AFP

DISCOVERY

Teen volunteer archaeologist ﬁnds 560,000 year-old tooth TOULOUSE (FRANCE): A 16-year-old French volunteer archaeologist has found an adult tooth dating back around 560,000 years in southwestern France, in what researchers hailed as a “major discovery” on Tuesday. “A large adult tooth — we can’t say if it was from a male or female — was found during excavations of soil we know to be between 550,000 and 580,000 years old, because we used different dating methods,” paleoanthropologist Amelie Viallet told AFP. “This is a major discovery because we have very few human fossils from this period in Europe,” she said. The tooth was found in the Arago cave near the village of Tautavel, one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites which has been excavated for about 50 years. It is also the site of the discovery of over 140 fossils belonging

to Tautavel Man, an early hominid that lived an estimated 450,000 years ago. Volunteer Camille, 16, was working with another young archaeologist when she found the tooth last Thursday. They were among the hundreds of young trainee archaeologists who come to work in the cave every year to study human ancestors during the lower Paleolithic era, when they ﬁrst began to use tools. The owner of the tooth -- a very worn lower incisor -- lived during a cold, dry and windy period and according to archaeological ﬁnds in the cave, hunted horses, reindeer, bison and rhinoceros. For a long time the Heidelberg jaw — including the chin and full set of lower teeth — discovered in Germany in 1907 dating to around 600,000 years ago, was the oldest fossil of human ancestors in western Europe.

MIRACLE: Volunteer archaeologists work in the Arago cave near

Tautavel village, France on Tuesday. — AFP

However some archaeological sites offered up evidence of stone tools dating back much earlier. This has left many questions and stirred debate about the life and presence of human ancestors in Europe before modern humans rose out of Africa and went on to

conquer the planet. In 2013 the discovery of a fossil tooth in southeastern Spain that dated to about 1.4 million years ago shook up the timeline of the colonisation of Europe by modern humans. Dr Matthew Skinner, a palaeo-

anthropologist from the University of Kent in Britain said that while the ﬁnd was important as there are few human fossils from this period, “a single tooth, I wouldn’t say is a major discovery, unfortunately”. “If there’s something about its shape or its size that would suggest that it is different from the other fossils we have from that time period and perhaps belongs to a different species, then that would be of course very interesting.” He said the most obvious species to which the tooth would belong would be Homo heidelbergensis — owner of the German jaw — about whom little is known. “These are certainly different from modern humans, they existed before Neanderthals. “They had quite large brains and fairly complex behaviour but weren’t modern in the way that we are. “They were quite robust, very

stocky individuals, they had really massive skulls.” However he said most fossils available came from above the neck, making it difficult to understand the species. Lots of skulls “What we need is for them to ﬁnd a skeleton...We have lots of skulls of heidelbergensis but what we don’t have are arms and legs and ribs and pelvis... not much, there’s a few pieces, but it’s really not very much.” Tony Chevalier, another paleoanthropologist from Tautavel, said the tooth would also shine a light on the current debate over Homo Heidelbergensis — owner of the German jaw and ancestor of Neanderthals. “Was Homo Heidelbergensis simply European or also African? It is a very important debate,” said Chevalier. — AFP

A16

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

WORLD

Tablet lovers add dd us on Google +

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY ADD IN GOOGLE+

NATO backs Turkey in fight against rebels in Iraq, Syria Peace process with Kurdish militants impossible, said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan BRUSSELS/ISTANBUL: NATO gave Turkey its full political support in fighting militants in Syria and Iraq at an emergency meeting on Tuesday but several nations urged Ankara not to undermine the Kurdish peace process by using excessive military force. Following a 90-minute meeting in Brussels, Turkey won the backing it sought for stepping up its role in the US-led fight against IS militant group with air strikes. Ankara made no request to its 27 allies for military help and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that it had the second-largest army in the alliance. Instead, the meeting heard how Turkey was carrying out President Tayyip Erdogan’s sudden change in strategy against IS militant group. “We all stand united in condemning terrorism, in solidarity with Turkey,” Stoltenberg told a news conference. The killing of 32 young students in a Turkish border town near Syria last week drove Ankara into battle against IS - a move NATO welcomes - shedding its previous reluctance. Turkey has a 900km (560-mile) border with Syria and is also concerned about Kurdish militants occupying the frontier area. Some European nations worry that Erdogan is using the opportunity to bomb Kurdish groups he brands a threat to the integrity of the Turkish state but which enjoy some sympathy in the West.

VOICING SUPPORT: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg chairs a meeting of the North Atlantic

Council (NAC) following Turkey’s request for Article 4 consultations, at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday. – Reuters

According to a NATO official present at the meeting, several nations called for “a proportionate use of military force” in the action against Kurdish militants. European allies, who need Turkey’s help to combat militants returning to Europe, said Turkey’s decision to hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) camps in Iraq at the weekend was justiﬁed. But they made it clear at the same time they do not want Erdogan to abandon several years of a domestic peace

process which they supported. German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in a telephone call on Sunday to respect the principle of proportionality and not to give up on the Kurdish peace process. “Reconciliation should continue,” the Netherlands’ ambassador to NATO, Marjanne de Kwaasteniet, said on Twitter. While the NATO meeting was in session, Erdogan told a news

conference it was impossible to continue the peace process with Kurdish militants who claimed responsibility for the killing of two Turkish police officers after the students’ massacre. NATO ambassadors were said not to have been aware of Erdogan’s remarks, and they did not feature in the discussion. The peace progress entailed giving Turkey’s own Kurdish population more cultural rights with the prospect, over time, of greater autonomy in the southeastern regions where they constitute a majority. The European Commission on Tuesday repeated its concern to keep the peace process alive. Turkey is a candidate negotiating for EU membership. Stoltenberg defended NATO’s limited role in the ﬁght against IS, arguing that the alliance was al-

ready active in combating terrorism across the Mediterranean, in Afghanistan, in Jordan and Iraq as part of a US-led coalition. The ability of NATO and partner nations’ armed forces to operate together due to years of joint NATO training and exercising also contributed to the campaign, he said. NATO rules provide for mutual support if an ally comes under attack, although Turkey has not invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic treaty which requires allied nations to consider military action. “If a NATO member country comes under attack, NATO would support it in every way,” Erdogan said. “At the moment, Turkey has come under attack and is exercising its right to defend itself and will exercise this right until the end... but what we’re saying is that there could be a duty for NATO, and we ask NATO to be prepared for this.” Tuesday’s meeting of ambassadors was held under Article 4 of the treaty, which permits a member of the alliance to ask for consultations with other allies when it feels its security is threatened. Ankara twice invoked this article in 2012 to ask for consultations with its NATO allies over the Syria conﬂict, notably after an aerial clash with Damascus. Erdogan said on it was impossible to continue a peace process with Kurdish militants and urged parliament to strip politicians with links to them of immunity from prosecution. “It is not possible for us to continue the peace process with those who threaten our national unity and brotherhood,” Erdogan told a news conference in Ankara before departing on an official visit to China. Saboteurs attacked a pipeline carrying natural gas from Iran to Turkey in Turkey’s eastern province of Agri late on Monday, halting the ﬂow, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz and state gas company Botas said. — Agencies

STUDY

Dinosaurs like T rex had unique serrated teeth WASHINGTON: If you want to know the secret behind the success of Tyrannosaurus rex and its meat-eating dinosaur cousins, look no further than their teeth. Scientists on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive analysis of the teeth of the group of carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods, detailing a unique serrated structure that let them chomp efficiently through the flesh and bones of large prey. Theropods included the largest land predators in Earth’s history. They first appeared about 200 million years ago and were the dominant terrestrial meat-eaters until the age of dinosaurs ended about 65 million years ago. The study involving eight theropod species revealed their previously unknown tooth complexity. Internal dental tissues were arranged in a way that reinforced the strength and prolonged the life of teeth that were serrated like steak knives for easy dismembering of other dinosaurs. Fossil evidence University of Toronto Mississauga paleontologist Kirstin Brink said fossil evidence showed that T rex’s teeth could crush bone. Its teeth have been found embedded in the bones of its prey and chunks of bone appear in its fossilized dung. “But the serrations were most efficient for piercing flesh and gripping it while ripping off a chunk of meat, called the ‘puncture and pull’ feeding style,” Brink said. The researchers analysed slices from fossil teeth using a powerful microscope and a sophisticated device that revealed tooth chemical properties. They studied teeth from: the early and relatively small Coelophysis; bird-like Troodon; large predators Allosaurus, Gorgosaurus, Daspletosaurus, Tyrannosaurus and Carcharodontosaurus; and big, semi-aquatic Spinosaurus. — Reuters

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

MARKE Muscat 6,556.74 - 11.35 - 0.17%

Dubai 4,110.00 - 35.68 - 0.86%

Abu Dhabi 4,854.63 - 18.15 - 0.37%

Saudi Arabia

9,090.84 + 10.82 + 0.12%

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH THE VIDEO

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

Kuwait 6,235.47 - 24.23 - 0.39%

Bahrain 1,334.49 - 3.07 - 0.23%

Qatar 11,831.33 - 82.25 - 0.69%

CRUDE OIL PRICE

CURRENCY RATES*

DRAFT RATES (OMR1)*

GOLD PRICES*

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

Forex rates vs OMR1* US Dollar ................................. 2.58 Euro ............................................ 2.32 Pound ........................................... 1.65 Indian Rs .............................165.98 Pak Rs ....................................260.15 Bangla Taka.......................199.20

Indian Rs .................................. 165.80 Pakistan Rs ............................ 263.40 Sri Lanka Rs .......................... 346.60 Bangla Taka.............................201.70 Phil Peso .....................................117.60

Muscat 24ct per gm (OMR) ........14.10

Oman Crude............. (Spot) ........ $52.78 Dubai Crude ............. (Spot) ........$52.58 Murban Crude ........ (Spot) ........$54.44 Arabian Light ......... (Spot) ........$52.68 N.Sea Brent............... (Spot) .........$52.77 West Texas Int ....... (Spot) .........$47.04

* Rates as of July 28 Source: Oman UAE Exchange

* Rates are as of July 28 Source: Bank Muscat

Muscat 22ct per gm (OMR) .......13.60 Dubai 24ct per gm (Dh) ............132.25 Dubai 22ct per gm (Dh) ............. 125.75 * Rates as of July 28 Source: Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Port Services eyes management contract of South Batinah dry port strategic partner at its discretion. “Meanwhile, the corporation continues overseeing the operation of the Port of Khasab on a temporary basis based on a MoU entered into with the MoTC.” While the corporation continues to provide efficient services to the cargo vessels which have been allowed to call Port Sultan Qaboos by the MoTC, the terms of the concession agreement, which has been proposed by the ministry to extend upto December 31, 2015, is under negotiation process for signing the ﬁnal extension pact.

A consortium led by PSC has been shortlisted to participate in the ‘request for proposal,’ which is expected to be ﬂoated in September 2015, said the corporation

Times News Service MUSCAT: A consortium led by Port Services Corporation (PSC) has been shortlisted to participate in bidding for a contract to operate and manage the Sultanate’s first dry port coming up at South Batinah Logistics Area. “The consortium, led by the corporation, has been shortlisted to participate in the ‘request for proposal,’ which is expected to be floated in September 2015,” PSC said in its first half result posted

on the Muscat Securities Market (MSM) website. Logistics hub According to earlier reports, South Al Batinah logistics hub, coming up in an initial area of 30 hectares, will be built in six stages. The ﬁrst stage, which will have three million square metres, is dedicated for logistic services including the dry port, which will be the ﬁrst of its kind in the Sultanate. The dry port includes spaces for custom inspection over the con-

Port Services Corporation. — Times ﬁle picture

tainers coming to and going from the land and marine ports. Referring to the operation and management of Khasab port, PSC said that the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has no comments on the joint busi-

ness proposal submitted by PSC and its strategic partner. However, the ministry has expressed its desire to contract for managing and operating Khasab port directly with the corporation, which will in turn have the right to appoint the

Drop in net profit The number of vessels called and cargo throughput achieved during the first six months of 2015 has reduced significantly compared to the same period last year on account of the shifting of the main commercial activities from PSQ with effect from September 1, 2014 to Sohar Industrial Port. Port Services Corporation said

that its net profit for the first half of 2015 dipped by 98.1 per cent to OMR73,140 from OMR3.88 million for the same period last year. The company’s turnover plummeted by 86.6 per cent to OMR1.58 million from OMR11.83 million, while total expenses were down by 45.7 per cent to OMR3.21 million during the period. “Due to transition of business volumes from PSQ, the turnover has been significantly lower than the turnover achieved during the last year by 86.6 per cent which is considered as a natural result for this period, the company said. By the end of June, 2015, the corporation employed a total of 372 employees out of which 309 are Omani nationals. “While the corporation has already terminated the services of all surplus expatriate employees, it still awaits the government directives with regard to reduction of the surplus national employees,” noted the first half result.

GAS EXPORTS

ISSUE NUMBER 422

Central Bank of Oman issues Iran plans to sell natural gas to treasury bills worth OMR12m neighbouring Oman and Iraq MUSCAT: A tender of Government treasury bills was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week. The total value of the allotted treasury bills amounted to OMR12 million, for a maturity period of 91 days, from July 29 until next October 28, 2015. The average accepted price reached 99.950 for every OMR100, while the minimum accepted price arrived at 99.945 per OMR100. Whereas the average discount rate and the average yield reached 0.20222 per cent and 0.20232 per cent, respectively. Treasury bills are short-term highly secured ﬁnancial instruments issued by the Central Bank of Oman on behalf of the Government, which helps the licenced

commercial banks to gainfully invest their surplus funds, with added advantage of ready liquidity through discounting and repurchase facilities (Repo) offered by the central bank. Furthermore, Treasury Bills promote the local money market by creating a benchmark yield curve for short-term interest rates. Additionally, the Ministry of Finance may also resort to this instrument whenever felt necessary for ﬁnancing its recurrent expenditures. The interest rate on the repo operations with CBO is one per cent for the period from July 29, 2015 to August 4, 2015, while the discount rate on the treasury bills discounting facility with Central Bank of Oman is 1.35 per cent for the same period.

Certificate of deposits Certificates of deposit tender was held at the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) this week. The total amount allotted for issue No. 927 was OMR120 million. A CBO bulletin stated that the average interest rate of these certificates was 0.10 per cent while the maximum accepted interest rate was 0.10 per cent. The tenor of these certificates is 28 days, so their maturity date is on August 26. The certificates of deposit issued to licensed banks by the CBO as a monetary policy instrument aimed at absorbing excess liquidity at the banking sector in particular and maintaining stability of the interest rate and the money market in general. The repo rate during July 29 till August 4 is one per cent. — ONA

MARKAZ REPORT

Gulf countries raise $48b from bonds, Islamic instruments Times News Service MUSCAT: Total primary issue of bonds and sukuk by GCC entities, including central banks, totalled $48.13 billion in the first half of 2015, a 15.19 per cent decrease from the total amount raised in the first half of 2014, according to a new report. Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz), in its recent research report titled GCC Bonds and Sukuk Market Survey, has highlighted the trends pertaining to aggregate issuances in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region during the first half of 2015. Fixed income securities Central bank local issuances (CBLIs) are fixed income securities issued by GCC central banks for the purpose of regulating levels of domestic liquidity. According to the report, during the first half of 2015, a total of $28.29 billion was raised by the GCC central banks, namely by the Central Bank of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. The Central Bank of Kuwait raised the highest amount with $12.85 billion, representing 48.8

per cent of the total amount raised by CBLIs through 36 issuances, followed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, which raised a total of $6.69 billion, 47.13 per cent higher from $4.55 billion raised in the first half of 2014. Bonds and sukuk market The GCC bonds and Sukuk market is composed of bonds and sukuk issued by GCC sovereign and corporate entities — including government related entities (GREs) and financial institutions (FIs) — for financing purposes and denominated in local and foreign currencies. A total of $19.83 billion was raised in the GCC bonds market in the first half of 2015, a decline of 19.29 per cent from $24.57 billion raised in the first half of 2014. Geographical allocation Issuances by UAE entities raised the largest amount in GCC bonds and sukuk market in the first half of 2015, representing 75.6 per cent of the total amount, or $14.99 billion, and were the most active in terms of issuance frequency with 99 issuances. Saudi Arabian issuers raised $1.57 billion through 3 issues.

Omani corporates raised $1.38 billion while Bahraini issuers raised $800 million. Qatari entities raised $380 million by 10 issuances. There was a single Kuwaiti corporate issue, a tier 1 perpetual $700 million bond by National Bank of Kuwait bearing an initial coupon of 5.75 per cent. During the first half of 2015, corporate issuances (which includes GREs and FIs) dominated the majority of the amount raised in the GCC bonds market, with $18.83 billion or 95 per cent of the total amount raised. The sole sovereign issue was a 10 year $1.0 billion bond issued by the emirate of Ras al Khaimah bearing a coupon of 3.094 per cent. Conventional issuances raised $15.01 billion, or 75.71 per cent of the total amount raised in GCC bonds and sukuk market during the first half of 2015. This was a decline of 16.69 per cent as compared to the first half of 2014. Sukuk issuances shrunk by 26.45 per cent from $6.55 billion to $4.82 billion raised in the first half of 2015. The financial services issuers accounted for the largest amount raised during the first half of 2015.

TEHRAN: Exporting gas to countries in the Arabian Gulf area along with Iraq, Oman and Afghanistan, tops the agenda of the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), according to its managing director Alireza Kameli. He was talking about the postsanctions plans to trade gas with neighbouring countries, according to a Mehr News Agency report. The vast distance and the cheap price together push any plan to export gas to Europe down the list, while the regional market in need of Iran’s gas is a ﬁt priority for NI-

GEC, according to Kameli. To take advantage of the gas liquefaction plants of Oman, the gas pipeline between Iran and Oman was under study, and in addition to exporting gas to Oman the two countries would form a trilateral consortium including Iran, Oman and an Iranian commissioner to produce and export LNG, said Kameli. The official reassured that the Iranian side of the Iran-Iraq gas line was 99 per cent complete and the project depended on Iraq’s domestic security.

Liqueﬁed fuel projects on the Iranian territory include a plant with an annual capacity to produce 16.2 million tonnes of gas. The project had been awarded to Shell and Repsol but they abandoned it in 2010. Total had won another project — the Pars LNG with a capacity of 10 million tonnes — but pulled out of it as well. Iran, however, is carrying on with the construction of Iran LNG, a $3.3 billion project to produce 10.5 million tonnes of liqueﬁed gas per year, after dropping a Chinese partner. — MNA

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

MARKET

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH E-PAPER

Love the newspaper? Love digital? Here’s our e-paper

DHL Express plans to strengthen presence in Oman, says top official Given the impending inauguration of Muscat International Airport, fully-ﬂedged operation of ports of Duqm and Sohar as well as Oman Rail’s plan for a national railway network, DHL Express Oman foresees a massive increase in presence through newer facilities, said the Ali Thabet, country manager at DHL Express Oman. — Supplied picture

company’s country manager

Times News Service

to making Oman a logistics hub.

MUSCAT: DHL Express plans further expansion in Oman as the government is developing the infrastructure to transform the country into a major logistics hub in the region. “The Sultanate is blessed with a strategic natural location and the government has readily developed it with high quality, accessible infrastructure,” said Ali Thabet, country manager at DHL Express Oman. Given the impending inauguration of Muscat International Airport, fully-ﬂedged operation of the ports of Duqm and Sohar and Oman Rail’s plan for a national raiway network, DHL Express Oman foresees a massive increase in presence through newer facilities, Thabet said in response to Times of Oman queries. He said that DHL Express Oman believes it safe to say that the burgeoning e-commerce market remains one of the key contributors

E-commerce “We plan to focus on promoting this, within the Sultanate. Based on a trend report focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) announced at the DHL Global Technology Conference in Dubai earlier in 2015, the e-commerce sector in 2014 saw a total revenue of a trillion US dollars – a direct 13 per cent growth of 2013. By the year 2016, we also expect e-commerce users in the Middle East region to grow up to 100 million in members and believe that Oman will be a major part of this growth trend,” the official noted. He added that according to the report, over the next decade, the logistics industry could unlock higher levels of operational efﬁciency as the web connects in real time millions of shipments being moved, tracked and stowed each day. “In warehousing, connected pallets and items will be

a driver for smarter inventory management. In freight transportation, tracking and tracing of goods becomes faster, more accurate, predictive and secure while analytics of a connected ﬂeet can help to predict asset failure and to schedule maintenance checks automatically,” he said. “Finally, connecting delivery personnel with surrounding vehicles and people can become a way of monetising and optimising the return trip to improve efficiency and service in last mile delivery. For customers, this means DHL can provide an even faster, more reliable and costeffective service – this is a snapshot of what we would like to bring to Oman,” Thabet stated. Small enterprises Commenting on the support given by DHL Express Oman to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), he said, “In Oman, DHL Express has been intent on supporting SMEs by enabling the businesses to go online and initiate a shift from an import-centered model

to an export-based one.” As a business policy, as well as in adherence with Royal Directives in the Sultanate towards the support for small enterprises, preference is given to Omani companies in the sectors of packaging, local transport, maintenance and office supplies among others, at DHL Express Oman, he added. Thabet stated that DHL Express Oman invites local suppliers to be a part of the DHL supply chain –managing region-based deliveries within the DHL umbrella. “This initiative not only allows DHL to expand its existing network into the various wilayats of the Sultanate, but also gives entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn from one of the world’s largest and most efficient logistics company,” he said. Asked about Oman’s advantages in establishing the country’s ports as transhipment centres for regional supply, the official said, “DHL ships to more than 220 countries and territories around the world. Among the destinations we cover in the Middle East region,

Oman enjoys a favourable location. Ideally situated between several rapidly developing countries, it has been connecting the world to the Gulf and serving as a regional logistics hub for more than 4,000 years.” “Today, the Sultanate has advanced from all arenas. Given its progress in recent years, and the steady growth of GDP and other economic indicators, we believe that the Omani economy will progressively continue to grow,” said Thabet. He added that the stable political climate, which is one of the basic elements needed to make a signiﬁcant development in the logistics service industry has enabled Oman to become a key centre for logistics in the world. “In reﬂection, we at DHL in Oman are investing in our infrastructure, updating our facilities with the most advanced technologies and increasing our capacity, which will keep us well prepared to handle the growth and advances in the economy,” he said. Redistribution centre Asked how successful the authorities have been in making Oman a centre for redistribution in the region, Thabet said, “As part of the 9th Five-Year Plan (2016-20), the government of Oman has developed a strategic plan for the logistics sector.” “This plan will look to build on the achievements of Oman in linking the key trading hubs in the country with Gulf, Arab, Asian and global markets through the presence of a land-transport network that includes over 32,600km of paved roads connecting the vari-

ous governorates, Wilayats and villages within the Sultanate,” he said. He added that the authorities in Oman have been paving the way by promoting initiatives that will complement the projects of the government in strengthening the infrastructure of the logistics sector to meet trade movement and the increasing volume of investment demand in the commercial and industrial sectors. “Moreover, with the Muscat International Airport expansion en route to completion, the expanded Salalah airport with a capacity of 3 million passengers already function and several other airports in the pipeline, in addition to Oman’s port infrastructure (in Duqm and Sohar) – there already exists a rather cohesive area for development,” he said. This is a huge beneﬁt to a business such as ours, as we depend on developed infrastructure and a government with a vision towards making the country a nucleus of progress, added Thabet. “The growth of the logistics sector is not limited to itself, but extends to the role it plays in supporting other sectors, and we, at DHL Express Oman are eager to make the most of the opportunities that the government is providing,” he noted. “We started our activities in Oman more than 30 years ago and in 2013, we set a budget for new investments in Oman, given the importance of the country, and the course of the development followed by the government to become a modern logistics hub in the Middle East,” the country manager at DHL Express Oman concluded.

FREE TRADE DEAL

Pacific Rim ministers optimistic on trade deal LAHAINA (Hawaii): Ministers from Pacific Rim nations hoping to finalise an ambitious free trade deal this week warned on Monday that hurdles remained including intellectual property and dairy. The United States and Japan, the two biggest economies in the talks, are both keen for strong intellectual property protections,

such as long copyright periods and data protection for next-generation drugs. Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari, arriving in Hawaii with his counterparts from the 12-nation Trans-Paciﬁc Partnership (TPP) countries, told reporters that the aim was to produce a win-win outcome for all countries.

“There are a lot of difficulties to overcome with intellectual property,” he said, noting that a series of one-on-one as well as group meetings are planned during the four days of talks ending on Friday. Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo declined to say if he backed the US call for 12 years data protection for biologic drugs

but he was conﬁdent a deal could be reached. “We are expecting to close off this agreement,” he told reporters. Another major sticking point is dairy. Mexico is under pressure to give Australia and New Zealand more access to its markets, while Canada is also so far resisting demands to open up its protected

local industry. “We are looking for what we call commercially meaningful access,” New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser told local TV 3 news. “I’m not going to be dogmatic about how to deﬁne that, but there’s nothing on the table yet that allows me to recommend to the cabinet that we should sign this deal at this point. — Reuters

Akira Amari. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

E X PA N S I O N

National Detergent investing in new unit Times News Service MUSCAT: National Detergent Company is investing in a modern state-of-the-art blending and manufacturing unit, being set up in Rusayl Industrial Estate. This plant will be able to cater to the total requirements of specialty chemicals for the oil and gas and construction sectors in the Sultanate, the company said

in a stock market ﬁling. “This manufacturing plant at a total cost of around OMR400,000 will be ready for trial production by this year end,” the statement said, adding, “The company believes that this additional business segment will gradually increase the revenue base and proﬁtability of the company in the years to come, along with the current business.”

The company has signed a technical agreement with one of the leading manufacturers of chemicals for oil and gas industry. This manufacturer is having more than 25 years of experience in this field, with whose help the company is participating in a recent Petroleum Development Oman tender for the supply of demulsifiers and other specialty chemicals for the next five years. STOCK MARKET

China shares plunge again SHANGHAI: Chinese shares fell on Tuesday, as Beijing scrambled once again to prop up a stock market whose wild gyrations have heightened fears about the financial stability of the world’s second biggest economy. After a plunge of more than eight per cent in major indexes on Monday, Chinese regulators said they were prepared to buy shares to stabilise the stock market, while the central bank injected cash into money markets and hinted at further monetary easing. But despite those moves, aimed at bolstering the confidence of the ordinary investors who dominate China’s equity markets, the CSI300 index of the largest listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.2 on Tuesday, while the Shanghai Composite Index shed 1.7 per cent. A highly volatile day — not unusual in China’s unruly stock markets — had seen both indexes lurching between losses as deep as five per cent and gains of more than one per cent. — Reuters

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

MARKET OIL SUPPLIES

Libya crude output drops as strife cuts power at oil ﬁelds

VITAL RESOURCE: Libya produced about 1.6 million barrels a day before the 2011 rebellion that ended Muammar Qaddaﬁ’s 42-year rule. - Bloomberg ﬁle picture

PERFORMANCE

– Bloomberg ﬁle picture

BP falls into loss on oil spill charge, price slumps LONDON: BP said on Tuesday it sank into the red in the second quarter, after taking a vast $10.8-billion (9.8-billion-euro) hit on costs linked to the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The British energy giant’s performance also took a heavy knock from slumping global oil prices. Losses after taxation stood at $5.82 billion between April and June, BP said in a results statement. That contrasted with net profit of $3.37 billion in the second quarter of 2014. Charge of $10.8b “In the quarter BP took a charge of $10.8 billion in total related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill — including $9.8 billion associated with the government settlements as well as charges for further business economic loss claims and other ongoing costs,” BP said in the earnings release. BP had already announced on July 2 that it would pay a record $18.7 billion to compensate the US government and five states for damages stemming from the oil spill. The British company’s total pre-tax charge for the incident now stands at $54.6 billion. The spill was sparked by a blast on the Deepwater Horizon rig which killed 11 men and sent millions of barrels of oil flowing into Gulf waters, in one of the worst environmental disasters to strike the United States. Oil price collapse weighs BP added on Tuesday that underlying replacement cost profit — a measure of earnings adjusted for one-time items and inventory charges — tumbled 64 per cent to $1.3 billion as oil prices collapsed. That missed market expectations of $1.7 billion, according to analysts polled by Bloomberg News, and compared with $3.6 billion a year earlier. Brent North Sea crude, a benchmark for more than half the world’s oil, has dived by about 50 per cent in value over the last year, slashing profitability across the sector and forcing some of the energy majors to slash investment. — AFP

TRIPOLI: Libya’s crude production dropped below 400,000 barrels a day as the conﬂict in the divided North African country cut electricity supply at oil ﬁelds, according to the state-run National Oil Corp. Output in Libya, holder of Africa’s largest crude reserves, has been hampered by a lack of security and maintenance as well as power outages, said Mohamed Elharari, an NOC spokesman. Crude production was about 411,000 barrels a day in June, according to the most recent OPEC monthly report. BP recorded $598 million in exploration write-offs and other costs in Libya in the second quarter, the company said on Tuesday.

Poor maintenance “The situation is not very good,” Elharari said Monday by phone from Tripoli.“There is poor maintenance, and there are electricity cuts at the oil fields.” Libya produced about 1.6 million barrels a day before the 2011 rebellion that ended Muammar Qaddafi’s 42-year rule. The country is today the smallest producer in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries Opec). It has failed to restore output as militias fight for the control of export terminals while tribes and workers block operations at fields and pipelines to seek jobs and better pay. The country has been divided since last year between an

internationally recognized government that operates from the east and an administration that rules over the capital Tripoli and most of the western region. Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, the nation’s largest and third-largest oil ports, have been shut down since December following attacks by militias loyal to the Tripoli government. No change “There is no change to the situation at the ports,” Elharari said. “We are trying to re-open them, but so far there is no progress.” BP, which in August declared force majeure in Libya, said “there is signiﬁcant uncertainty on when drilling operations might be able to

proceed,” in a note in its quarterly results. Force majeure remains in effect at both locations where BP was exploring, in deepwater off the coast of Sirte and onshore in the Ghadames North and South areas in the Sahara Desert, David Nicholas, a company spokesman, said Tuesday by phone from London. “We would hope to return, and we still believe in the potential of this acreage,” he said. Libya’s challenges in boosting crude production coincide with a global excess in supply over demand for the past ﬁve quarters, the most enduring oil glut since the 1997 Asian economic crisis, according to the International Energy Agency. - Bloomberg News

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

MARKET OMAN STOCKS

MUSCAT SECURITIES MARKET

INDICES Index .................................................High .................Low..................... Value ............... Prev . Value.......... Diff ...............Diff % MSM30 Index ....................................... 6,568.09 ...............6,550.57 ....................6,556.74 ...................6,568.09................ -11.35 .................. -0.17 Financial Index .....................................8,076.91 ...............8,028.76 ................... 8,028.76 ................... 8,079.65................-50.89 .................. -0.63 Industrial Index ................................... 8,320.97 ...............8,312.67 ....................8,313.73 ...................8,320.97.................. -7.24 .................. -0.09 Services Index .......................................3,527.60 ...............3,522.81 ...................3,524.93 ...................3,526.97..................-2.04 .................. -0.06 MSM SHARIAH INDEX....................... 993.11 ..................989.95 ....................... 993.11 ...................... 990.93.................... 2.18 ...................0.22 Trading Summary Volume ................Turnover ..........Trades .............. Market Cap............. Up............Down ............. Equal .........Sec. Traded 19,942,127 .................4,206,068 .................... 820 ...............15,208,078,680 .................. 6 ......................15 ....................22 .........................43

SHARE PRICE BULLETIN FOR TUESDAY, JULY 28 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 Securities Market. – Times ﬁle picture

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

MSM index ends lower

OM0000003968 ...........OOREDOO....................................................................... 334,100 .........265,724..................... 25 ............0.788 ...........0.800 ...........0.788 ........... 0.796 .............0.788............ 0.008..............1.015.................0.800..............0.792...................0.800 ................. 518,151,607 ........0.100 OM0000004669 ...........SHARQIYAH DESALINATION ......................................550 ...............2,162........................1 ........... 3.930 ...........3.930 ...........3.930........... 3.930 .............3.900 ........... 0.030............. 0.769 ................3.930..............3.930...................4.050 ..................38,436,249.........1.000 OM0000003398 ...........BANK SOHAR................................................................ 1,330,867 ......273,595......................19 ........... 0.206...........0.206 ...........0.205........... 0.206 .............0.205 ............0.001 ............. 0.488 ................0.205..............0.205...................0.209 ................ 296,936,640 .......0.100 OM0000001749 ............OMAN CEMENT .......................................................... 300,000......... 156,600........................4 ........... 0.522 ...........0.522 ...........0.522........... 0.522 .............0.520 ........... 0.002............. 0.385 ................0.522.............. 0.514...................0.530.................. 172,715,555 ........0.100 OM0000003026 ...........OMAN TELECOMMUNICATION ..........................48,968 .............85,919......................21 ............1.750 ........... 1.760............1.750 ............1.755 ............. 1.750............ 0.005.............0.286 ................1.760 ...............1.755...................1.760 ................1,316,250,000 ......0.100 OM0000001145 ............PORT SERVICES CORPORATION ........................... 2,473 .................. 472........................1 ............0.191 ........... 0.191............0.191 ............0.195 ............. 0.195............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.191 .............. 0.191...................0.195 ...................18,532,800 .........0.100 OM0000001418 ............RAYSUT CEMENT ............................................................. 200 .................. 296........................2 ............1.480 ........... 1.480 ...........1.480........... 1.500 .............1.500 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................1.480 ..............1.480...................1.500................. 300,000,000 .......0.100 OM0000001483............NATIONAL BANK OF OMAN .................................. 70,000 ............ 25,060........................2 ........... 0.358 ........... 0.358 ...........0.358........... 0.358 .............0.358 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.358..............0.346...................0.354..................479,974,270........0.100 OM0000001889............SALALAH MILLS............................................................. 8,792 .............13,144........................2 ............1.495 ........... 1.495 ...........1.495 ............1.495 ............. 1.495............ 0.000.............0.000 ................1.495 ..............1.450...................0.000 ..................72,003,781 .........0.100 OM0000001962............AL MADINA INVESTMENT ................................... 147,500............ 10,002......................17 ........... 0.068 ...........0.069 ...........0.067........... 0.068 .............0.068 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.067..............0.067...................0.068...................14,086,294.........0.100 OM0000002028 ...........GULF INTERNATIONAL CHEMICALS ............ 566,200 ......... 152,852......................19 ............0.271 ........... 0.271 ...........0.268........... 0.270 .............0.270 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.269..............0.269...................0.270 ...................5,670,000 ..........0.100 OM0000002226 ...........AL JAZEERA SERVICES ............................................90,193 ............ 32,830........................6 ........... 0.364 ...........0.364 ...........0.364........... 0.364 .............0.364 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.364..............0.358...................0.364 ..................22,278,355.........0.100 OM0000002366 ...........AL BATINAH DEV. INV. HOLDING ....................... 60,000 ...............7,320........................4 ............0.122 ........... 0.122 ...........0.122........... 0.122 .............0.122 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.122...............0.117...................0.122....................3,660,000 ..........0.100 OM0000003661 ............VOLTAMP ENERGY ........................................................1,231 .................. 554........................4 ........... 0.450 ...........0.450 ...........0.450........... 0.470 .............0.470 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.450..............0.440...................0.466...................28,435,000.........0.100

alizz islamic bank, up by 8.11 per cent, was

OM0000003711 ............SOHAR POWER................................................................ 2,210 .................. 756........................2 ........... 0.342 ...........0.342 ...........0.342........... 0.380 .............0.380 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.342..............0.342...................0.366...................83,983,800.........0.100 OM0000004925 ...........AL BATINAH POWER................................................ 484,032 ..........111,327......................14 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.230........... 0.230 .............0.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.230..............0.226...................0.230 .................155,224,109........0.100

Tuesday’s top gainer, while National Gas,

OM0000004933 ...........AL SUWADI POWER .................................................. 410,000 ...........94,300......................12 ........... 0.230 ...........0.230 ...........0.230........... 0.230 .............0.230 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.230..............0.225...................0.230 .................164,313,458 ........0.100 OM0000005005 ...........ALMAHA CERAMICS ..................................................27,384 .............15,363..................... 33 ........... 0.562 ...........0.562 ...........0.560........... 0.562 .............0.562 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.562..............0.560...................0.564...................29,505,000.........0.100

down by 4.64 per cent, was the top loser

OM0000004735 ...........SEMBCORP SALALAH.................................................. 1,245 ...............3,050........................2 ........... 2.450 ...........2.450 ...........2.450........... 2.450 .............2.455 ...........-0.005 ........... -0.204 ...............2.450..............2.450...................2.500 .................233,870,128........1.000 OM0000002168............AL ANWAR CERAMIC TILES .................................68,050 .............27,764........................8 ........... 0.408 ...........0.408 ...........0.408........... 0.408 .............0.410............-0.002 ........... -0.488 ...............0.408..............0.404...................0.408 .................120,855,182 ........0.100 OM0000003224 ...........RENAISSANCE SERVICES ...................................... 42,822 ............ 12,006........................6 ........... 0.280...........0.282 ...........0.280 .......... 0.280 .............0.282 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.709 ...............0.280............. 0.280...................0.282 ..................78,986,447.........0.100 OM0000003521 ............GALFAR ENGINEERING AND CON. .................. 604,771............ 73,292......................19 ............0.121 ........... 0.122 ...........0.121 ............0.121 .............0.122 ...........-0.001 ........... -0.820 ...............0.122..............0.120...................0.122................... 35,087,657 .........0.100

MUSCAT: Taking cues from the bearish sentiments in global and regional markets, local investors moved to risk aversion mode, causing the benchmark index to close down by 11 points or 0.17 per cent at 6556.74 points. The MSM Sharia Index increased by 0.22 per cent and closed at 993.11 points. Phoenix Power was the most active in terms of volume as well as turnover. Alizz islamic bank, up by 8.11 per cent, was Tuesday’s top gainer while National Gas, down by 4.64 per cent, was the top loser. As many as 820 trades were executed during the day’s trading session generating turnover of OMR4.2 million with around 20 million shares changing hands. Out of 43 traded securities, six advanced and 15 declined. Do-

mestic investors stood as net buyers for OMR168,000, while GCC and Arab investors were net sellers for OMR89,000 followed by foreign investors for OMR81,000 worth of shares. Financial Index had lost 0.63 per cent before closing at 8,028.76 points. Alizz islamic bank and Bank Sohar gained 8.11 per cent, and 0.49 per cent, respectively. Ahli Bank, Al Madina Takaful, Oman United Insurance, Al Anwar Holding, and Oman & Emirates Investments declined by 2.25 per cent, 2.15 per cent, 1.89 per cent, 1.75 per cent, and 1.75 per cent, respectively. Industrial Sector Index ended at 8,313.73 points, down by 0.09 per cent. Oman Cement increased by 0.38 per cent to close at OMR0.522. – United Securities

OM0000002176 ............AL JAZEERA STEEL PRODUCTS ........................ 541,238 ......... 126,370......................21 ........... 0.234 ...........0.234 ...........0.233........... 0.233 .............0.235 ...........-0.002 ............-0.851................0.233..............0.231...................0.233...................29,101,225 .........0.100 OM0000001525 ............OMAN INVESTMENT AND FINANCE.............. 105,000 ...........22,260........................2 ............0.212 ........... 0.212 ...........0.212........... 0.212 .............0.214 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.935 ...............0.212..............0.210...................0.213.................. 42,400,000 ........0.100 OM0000002796 ...........BANK MUSCAT ............................................................ 596,439 .........334,188......................41 ........... 0.562 ...........0.562 ...........0.554........... 0.560 .............0.566 ...........-0.006 ........... -1.060 ...............0.560..............0.550...................0.560 ...............1,283,420,654 ......0.100 OM0000001681 ............OMAN AND EMIRATES INV. HOLDING........... 1,344,440...... 154,487..................... 36 ............0.115 ........... 0.116............0.114 ............0.115 ............. 0.117 ............-0.002 ............-1.709................0.114 .............. 0.114................... 0.115 ................... 14,015,625 .........0.100 OM0000001772 ............AL ANWAR HOLDING............................................... 3,038,310 ......679,549...................208 ........... 0.225 ...........0.227 ...........0.220 .......... 0.224 .............0.228 ...........-0.004 ............-1.754................0.221............. 0.220...................0.221...................33,616,800 .........0.100 OM0000001087............OMAN UNITED INSURANCE ............................... 150,000 ........... 46,850........................8 ............0.314 ........... 0.314 ...........0.312 ........... 0.312 ............. 0.318............-0.006 ............-1.887................0.312 ..............0.306...................0.312...................31,200,000.........0.100 OM0000004768 ...........AL MADINA TAKAFUL...............................................83,000 ............... 7,549........................9 ........... 0.090 ...........0.092 ...........0.090............0.091 .............0.093 ...........-0.002 ............-2.151................0.092..............0.091...................0.092 ..................15,925,000 .........0.100 OM0000002200 ...........AHLI BANK .................................................................... 345,000 ............74,770......................11 ............0.214 ........... 0.218 ...........0.214............0.217 .............0.222 ...........-0.005 ........... -2.252 ...............0.218 ............. 0.202...................0.218................. 309,232,843 .......0.100 OM0000001160 ............NATIONAL GAS .............................................................98,450 ............ 36,427......................16 ........... 0.370 ...........0.370 ...........0.370........... 0.370 .............0.388 ...........-0.018 ........... -4.639 ...............0.370..............0.360...................0.370...................18,500,000.........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 10,903,465 2,846,837...................575 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ......31........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

PARALLEL MARKET ................................................................................................................................................................................. OM0000004511 ............ALIZZ ISLAMIC BANK.............................................. 244,000............19,506........................6 ........... 0.077 ...........0.080 ...........0.077........... 0.080 .............0.074 ........... 0.006............. 8.108 ................0.080..............0.073...................0.080 ..................80,000,000 ........0.100 OM0000001285 ............NATIONAL MINERAL WATER ..................................1,874 .................. 124........................1 ........... 0.066 ...........0.066 ...........0.066........... 0.066 .............0.066 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.066..............0.063...................0.070.................... 1,782,201 ..........0.100 OM0000002564 ...........AL HASSAN ENGINEERING....................................42,750 ...............4,223......................15 ........... 0.099 ........... 0.100 ...........0.098........... 0.099 .............0.099 ........... 0.000.............0.000 ................0.098..............0.098...................0.099.................... 7,445,592 ..........0.100 OM0000002671............GULF STONES..................................................................... 800 .....................90........................1 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.110 ............. 0.110............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 ............. 0.000................... 0.112 ....................3,993,000 ..........0.100 OM0000004776 ...........TAKAFUL OMAN INSURANCE ..............................40,100 ...............4,491........................3 ............0.112 ........... 0.112............0.112 ............0.112 ............. 0.112............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.112 .............. 0.112................... 0.114 ...................11,200,000 .........0.100 OM0000005963 ...........PHOENIX POWER ...................................................... 7,837,666....1,243,746...................190 ............0.159 ........... 0.160 ...........0.158 ............0.159 ............. 0.159............ 0.000.............0.000 ................0.158 .............. 0.158...................0.159..................232,553,632........0.100 OM0000001400 ...........OMAN FLOUR MILLS ....................................................7,700 ...............3,857........................3 ........... 0.500 ...........0.502 ...........0.500........... 0.500 .............0.502 ...........-0.002 ........... -0.398 ...............0.502..............0.490...................0.502 ..................78,750,000 .........0.100 OM0000004420 ...........BANK NIZWA ................................................................ 111,324 ...............8,248......................14 ........... 0.074 ........... 0.075 ...........0.074........... 0.074 .............0.075 ...........-0.001 ............-1.333................0.075..............0.074...................0.075..................111,000,000 ........0.100 .............................................SUM: .................................................................................. 8,286,214 .. 1,284,284...................233 ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ........................................................................................................................................... TRADED SEC. ........ 8........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

AV I AT I O N

Qatar Airways in talks to acquire stake in India’s IndiGo MUMBAI: Qatar Airways is in talks to purchase a stake in IndiGo, India’s biggest carrier, according to an e- mailed statement from the Gulf carrier on Tuesday. The “only airline” it is talking to is IndiGo, the Doha-based company conﬁrmed, without elaborating, denying local media reports it was negotiating with rival SpiceJet. InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., the owner of IndiGo last month ﬁled a draft red herring prospectus to sell shares in an initial public offering. “It could possibly be they take a minority stake,” Kapil Kaul, the South Asia chief executive officer (CEO) for the CAPA Centre for Aviation, said in an interview on Bloomberg TV India. But beyond that, he said he

didn’t see what “value addition” Qatar would bring to IndiGo. Low fares and economic growth that boosted incomes over the past decade helped IndiGo find firsttime fliers and become the biggest airline in the world’s second-most populous nation. The profitable carrier is a rare bright spot in India’s fiercely competitive aviation sector, where carriers have lost a combined $10 billion since 2009 and IPOs have fallen below sale prices. IndiGo, which flies mostly within the country, operates a fleet of single-aisle planes from Airbus. The carrier started operations in August 2006 just as a rash of budget airlines entered the country, challenging full-service carri-

ers like Jet Airways India Ltd. on expectations that rail passengers would trade up to ﬂights. Not interested Qatar Airways would be keen to buy up to 49 per cent of Indigo but the Indian airline has no plans to sell, Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker told reporters at a conference in Dubai in May, adding that he has a personal relationship with IndiGo’s owner. IndiGo is the best-run and mostsuccessful carrier in India and if there was an opportunity to take a stake in the airline, Qatar Airways would be very interested, Al Baker said at the time. A deal would mean a boost for Qatar Airways access into India,

where its Gulf rival Abu Dhabibased Etihad Airways, already has a 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways. Al Baker said last month that he is looking to build Qatar Airways’ global presence by buying stakes in other airlines. Always bigger “We don’t go and just do five per cent,” he said on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Miami early June.“We would always take a bigger share.” IndiGo probably had a profit of $150 million to $175 million in the fiscal year that ended March 31, according to estimates by CAPA Centre for Aviation. The airline’s domestic market

share will probably exceed 40 per cent in the current fiscal year, CAPA’s Indian unit predicts. GoAir was the only other Indian carrier to earn a profit last fiscal year, according to CAPA India. IndiGo has taken delivery of 100 A320 planes so far and has outstanding orders for 180 more. In October 2014, IndiGo signed an agreement with Airbus to buy 250 A320neo single-aisle planes in what will be Airbus’s largest order by number of aircraft. Denying talks with SpiceJet, Qatar Airways said in a statement that it doesn’t have any form of interline agreement with the budget carrier and it isn’t planning to pursue any form of arrangement in the future. — Bloomberg News

Akbar Al Baker. — Bloomberg ﬁle picture

INDIAN MARKETS

Sensex falls; rupee advances MUMBAI: Benchmark BSE Sensex fell for the fourth straight session on Tuesday by 102.15 points to 27,459.23 as realty and auto shares dropped on receding hopes of a rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India and mixed bag of corporate earnings. After resuming in the positive zone, the BSE barometer gave up all of its gains as investors preferred to remain on the sideline

ahead of the RBI’s policy review on August 4. Brokerage houses including, Morgan Stanley, RBI and DBS say the apex bank will maintain status quo key lending rate. Sector-wise, BSE realty index suffered the most by losing 2.72 per cent, followed by healthcare (0.87 per cent), metal (0.73 per cent), auto (0.69 per cent), oil & gas (0.45 per cent) and teck (0.42 per cent).

Rupee appreciates India’s rupee rose for the ﬁrst time in ﬁve days on speculation exporters repatriated overseas income to take advantage of the currency’s drop to a six-week low. The rupee gained 0.4 per cent to 63.9150 a dollar in Mumbai, prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg show. It fell one per cent in the last four days, dropping as low as 64.2050 on Monday. — Agencies

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

Lulu announces 4th, 5th Dream Drive winners

The draws were organised to coincide with the Eid holidays to enhance the season’s spirit of giving and to make festive shopping a fun-filled experience MUSCAT: As Oman celebrated the holiday season, Lulu Hypermarket gave its customers another reason to make the festivities even more memorable. Adding to the fun of the celebratory atmosphere, the hypermarket recently announced the winners of the fourth and fifth draw of its Dream Drive campaign as part of Eid celebrations. The draws were organised to coincide with the Eid holidays to enhance the season’s spirit of giving and to make festive shopping a fun-filled experience. The winners were announced to a huge group of eager customers who thronged the outlets with family and friends to enjoy the festive

shopping. A number of officials of the Lulu group were also present at the event, says a press release. The fourth draw was held on July 21 at the Darsait Lulu hypermarket outlet. The draw saw Faizal Hussain take home the fourth of the 6 brand new BMW X5 35is. Thirty other winners also took home amazing gifts products from Ikon. Vijay Kumar was lucky to win the Ikon 48” LED TV, Juma Abdul Rasool won the Ikon automatic washing machine, Hamed Al Busaidi won the Ikon air cooler, Abdul Samad took home the Ikon halogen air fryer and Mohd Salim Ali won the Ikon tablet. The ﬁfth draw took place on July 27 at the Salalah Lulu hypermarket outlet. Al Moyid Ibrahim Thani Saif became the lucky winner of the ﬁfth BMW X5 35is. Salim Al Harasi took home the Ikon 48” LED TV, Jaya Chandran won the Ikon automatic washing machine, Mohd Husai Ibrahim won the Ikon air cooler, Mahdi Mohd Al Mahroni took home the Ikon halogen air fryer and Iyada Ali Salim won the Ikon tablet. Lulu has been successfully running the Dream Drive promotion across Oman for 15 years in a row as part of its endeavor to extend exciting, value-added and customer-centric shopping experiences. With only a single draw remaining, customers can still hope to drive home a brand new BMW X5 35is or take home one of

SERVICE CENTRE

Exclusive offers at Mopar till August 15

MUSCAT: Has the recent long and tough summer taken its toll on your ride? If yes, this festive season you can take advantage of Dhofar Automotive’s offers on Mopar service, parts and customer-care, that has some great ways to help even the hardest-hit vehicles get ready for the sun and fun-ﬁlled road trip days ahead with refreshing makeovers. During the course of the campaign, vehicle owners are encouraged to follow basic maintenance procedures to make sure their rides are running at peak performance, says a press release. For customers who may have put it off until the last minute, head to a Dhofar Automotive service centre near you and avail

of free oil and ﬁlter with regular, scheduled maintenance service. You can also buy one brake pad and get the next one free, avail of a free 10-point safety inspection, free AC check-up and gas top-up on 2008 to 2015 model year vehicles, and also get a 15 per cent discount on dealer price for all maximum care extended warranty contracts. Roderick Lloyd, head of Aftersales, said: “In the spirit of the festive season, whether you are seeking to upgrade your car or buy a gift for a car enthusiast, Mopar is giving you offers like never before.” Valid till August 15, the Mopar festive season promotion covers all brands of Dhofar Automotive.

the several Ikon products. Speaking on the fourth and fifth draws, A. V. Ananth, regional director of Lulu Hypermarket, said: “We are overwhelmed by the response we’ve received so far through the Dream Drive campaign. Customers’ satisfaction and happiness have always been our top priority. We take every possible step to make every occasion and festival special for them. The Eid festive season turned out to be a perfect occasion for us to offer amazing prizes to our customers while they shop.” “We congratulate all the winners of the campaign. Through this campaign, we aim to thank our customers for their unwavering support and loyalty towards us.The last draw and the prize distribution ceremony will be held in the coming days,” he added.” Commenting after the win, the winner Faizal Hussain, said, “This is the best Eid gift ever for me and I thank Lulu for reflecting the dreams of its customers through this ‘Dream Drive’ promotion. Lulu has always offered me and my family a wonderful shopping experience like no other. All their promotions are unique and specifically organised keeping in mind the customers’ happiness. Apart from being our favourite shopping destination all through these years, Lulu has now proved to be our lucky destination too,” he added.

ROUND-UP CONVENIENCE TOOL

Panasonic launches new blender MUSCAT: Simplifying meal preparations, Panasonic has introduced an all-rounder 4-in-1 hand blender, MX-SS40 capable of multi-functions like chopping, shredding, slicing and whisking. With the latest high blending performance, cooking a variety of delicacies is now more convenient than ever. The powerful 600W motor with step-less control drives two straight and two blending blades which deliver powerful performance and quick efficient blending for smoothies, sauces, fast dips, soups, baby food, and more, says a press release. Deluxe, durable stainless-steel blender shaft easily reaches into deep bowls, pots and pitchers - safe

for hot/cold foods and beverages. The shaft goes directly into the pan for soups and sauces and the ergonomic, sure-grip handle provides safety, comfort and control. Designed for everyday cooking, with the 4-in-1 hand blender you can simply switch attachments to blend, chop, slice, shred and whisk. It is ideal for both daily meals and

special delicacies for a house party. Kei Taniguchi, director, Division Head, Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa, commented: “A smart addition for any kitchen, the new 4-in-1 hand blender from Panasonic is all you need for your meal preparations. With added slicing and shredding blade, and a large chopper bowl it is just a single hand blender which performs like multiple blenders. With an easy grip handle and multiple power settings, food preparation becomes fuss free and fast.” Oman Marketing and Services Co (Omasco) is the authorised distributor of Panasonic in Oman. The product is available across Omasco Electronic retail stores and major hypermarkets in Oman.

W EDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

ROUND-UP Third lucky Hyundai customer gets half kilo gold in Ramadan promotion A total of 12 kilos of gold was offered in gifts as part of the ‘Hyundai gives you gold’ promotion, apart from a host of other attractive beneﬁts MUSCAT: In the recently held raffle draw for half kilo gold, as part of the ‘Hyundai gives you gold’ promotion, the third lucky winner was picked up. A total of 12 kilos of gold was offered in gifts as part of the promotion, apart from a host of other attractive beneﬁts.

Muna, a lucky customer from Wattayah showroom, was the winner of the third raffle draw. Muna had very recently purchased the popular SUV model Hyundai Santa Fe from the OTE- Hyundai ﬂagship showroom at Wattayah. She was pleasantly surprised upon hearing the news of winning half kilo gold, says a press release. Santa Fe with a solid heritage as Hyundai’s most representative SUV model and with its core product concepts being ‘Smartness’ & ‘Practicality’, is enjoying outstanding consumer demand in the SUV market and offers a whole lot of luxury and comfort with its differentiated design, cutting-edge technologies and practical use of space. Santa Fe with a distinctive ‘Storm Edge’ styling captures the strong and dynamic shapes created by nature during the formation of a storm, as well as cuttingedge technologies and practical use of space in a premium quality package. It has been inﬂuenced by

Hyundai’s brand direction ‘Modern Premium’, consequently featuring luxury elements that have traditionally been reserved for more premium models. The interior design is bold and modern, especially in the front where the dashboard and centre console exude a ﬁnish akin to that of a luxury modern sedan. Usage of high quality materials throughout

the cabin and the state-of-the-art manual or automatic air conditioning ensures a comfortable journey for occupants whatever be the region’s climate. Families appreciate the remarkable versatility of the Santa Fe, which also offers class-leading amounts of leg-room. The second row seats can slide, recline and split-fold to offer a wide range of

seating set-ups, while two additional foldaway seats in the boot can also be specified. The luggage compartment itself has two neat storage areas under the floor and provides a huge storage space. Santa Fe appeals immensely to families who are looking for a tough, versatile onroad SUV. And with families in mind, Hyundai has ensured that the Santa Fe is one of the safest vehicles in the market. Cutting-edge active safety systems include Electronic Stability Control, as well as a Brake Assist System, which increases braking pressure in an emergency situation. Hyundai as a brand has made significant strides on the back of sophisticated product design, quality, safety technology and exceptional value. No wonder Hyundai has become one of the top automotive brands in the world. One has to test drive and discover what millions of satisfied Hyundai own-

BLOCKBUSTER

AUTHENTIC GUIDE

City Cinema hosts ‘Terminator’ premiere to full house Times News Service MUSCAT: City Cinema screened the premiere of Terminator Genesys to a full house of movie buffs, media and sponsors recently at its highly popular theatre in Shatti. Arnold Schwarzenegger starred Terminator Genesis is an American science action film directed by Alan Taylor and written by Laeta Kalogridis and Patrick Lussier. The film’s plot follows soldier Kyle Reese (Courtney) in the war against Skynet, an artificial general intelligence seeking to destroy the human race. In a sequence of events similar to 1984’s The Terminator, John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the Resistance, sends Reese back in time from 2029 to 1984 to protect Connor’s mother, Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke), who is being targeted by Skynet. However, once Reese arrives in the past he discovers the timeline has been altered, and Sarah has been raised by a reprogrammed Terminator, known as the Guardian (Schwarzenegger),

ers already experience and enjoy – Hyundai stands for uncompromising quality. Hyundai has a strong presence in the passenger vehicles category in Oman with its wide range of Sedans and SUVs each in various trim variants. Hyundai sedan range in Oman include: Accent, Elantra, Sonata and Azera, apart from the trendy Veloster & Veloster Turbo. Grand i10, i20, i30, i40 form the cutting edge ‘i’ series range designed to meet global customer needs. Hyundai SUV range Tucson, Santa Fe and Grand Santa Fe are deﬁnitely the pick of the lot. Centennial and Genesis in the luxury car segment have been well received and are going from strength to strength. OTE Group is the exclusive dealer of Hyundai’s range of vehicles in Oman. With a nationwide network of showrooms and service centres, OTE Group ensures that Hyundai customers are never far from getting high quality service.

BIG DRAW: Movie buffs thronged City Cinema Shatti for the ﬁrst show of 3D movie Terminator Genesys. – Jun Estrada/TIMES OF OMAN

since her childhood. Raffle game The premiere was held in association with Merge 104.8. Refreshments were supported by PepsiCo and Nabil biscuits. The ﬁrst show also saw 10 lucky ticket numbers

getting exciting prizes through a raffle game. City Cinema operated by Oman Arab Cinema Co. is the single largest motion picture exhibitor chain in Oman, with 25 screens spread in eight locations viz. CC Ruwi, CC Shatti in Muscat, CC Sur,

CC Sohar, Muscat Grand Mall in Bausher, Muscat and CC Buraimi, in Lulu Hypermarket and the newly opened CC Azaiba. All cinemas are equipped with latest sound and projection equipment and have the capability to screen 3D movies either on active system or on pas-

sive system represented by depth Q 3D technology. Since the turn of the millennium, City Cinema has been dedicated to providing blockbuster entertainment in movies ranging in all genres. Today City Cinema successfully offers online ticket booking facility.

Fortune Global leaders look to OBG for data LONDON: Over half of the companies on the newly-released 2015 Fortune Global 500 Index use the international publishing, research and consultancy firm Oxford Business Group (OBG) as a source of reference for their operations. Figures show that in total, representatives from 293, or 59% of all Fortune Global 500 companies also feature on OBG’s subscriber database, up from 246, or 49% in 2014. Of these, 141, or 70% of the top 200 firms subscribe to OBG’s report, says a press release. Stephanie Parker, OBG’s director of Digital, Marketing and PR, said she was delighted that more of the world’s top companies were drawing on data featured in the group’s investment guides and economic updates. Nine out of the top 10 companies in the 2015 index hold subscriptions with OBG, including representatives from top five companies Walmart, Sinopec, Royal Dutch Shell, China National Petroleum and Exxon Mobil. The Fortune Global 500 Index is an annually-produced list of the world’s 500 largest corporations, ranked by revenue for the fiscal year ended on or before March 31. Fortune’s latest list was published on July 22 this year. “Oxford Business Group is currently celebrating its 21st year of operations and I’m pleased that we can mark this milestone by announcing that 293 of the Fortune Global 500 now use our data,” she said. “The largest corporations in the world are known to contain a significant investor base and it makes sense to track our readership against the Fortune Global 500. I’m sure these companies, and many others, will continue to use our business intelligence on emerging economies, where information can sometimes be lacking, when making investment decisions.” OBG’s reports are a vital guide to the economies of the countries they cover, including macroeconomics, infrastructure, banking and other sectoral developments. The publications are available in print or online.

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5 SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

ROUND-UP

Bank Muscat Themaar savings products offer exciting benefits Presently two Themaar products are available, one for children’s higher education and the other for retirement

MUSCAT: Bank Muscat, the flagship financial services provider in the Sultanate, hosted a celebration to mark the first three years of Themaar savings deposit products, which are designed to help customers save for specific goals. Presently two Themaar products are available, one for children’s

higher education and the other for retirement, says a press release. Amjad AL Lawati, head Products, said: “The Themaar products were launched in line with the bank’s strategy to inculcate prudent savings habit. Many people do not plan for the future of their children as well as their retirement years. Themaar serves as a proper financial security for children’s higher education and retirement.” “The Themaar savings concept is very simple as depending on the financial status of customers, the monthly savings amount can be decided. The flexible scheme ensures that customers do not experience financial burden in earmarking a regular monthly deposit amount toward the savings plan,” he added. Themaar Higher Education Savings Plan addresses a need in Oman, providing an affordable and systematic monthly savings

plan to cover the higher education costs of children. Themaar helps customers to tap their own savings instead of resorting to loans while sending children for higher education at home or abroad. The savings plan is open for citizens and residents in Oman. Lump sum The nominal monthly amount invested on behalf of beneﬁciary children grows into a substantial lump sum. The attractive beneﬁts include a handsome bonus on maturity of the scheme. Customers can earn bonus on monthly deposits and all the monthly deposits made by them are fully protected throughout the term, even if they wish to prematurely withdraw in the middle of the term. The bonus rate is equivalent to term deposit rates prevailing at the time of opening the Themaar Higher Education Savings plan and customers

are clearly advised of the same. Themaar customers are eligible for three annual cash scholarships worth OMR10,000 each. The scheme offers waiver of future monthly deposits in the event of death of the family’s breadwinner (customer who has opened the Themaar Higher Education Savings plan), while guaranteeing a lump sum amount to the beneficiary on maturity of the savings plan which can be used at the time of admission to college. The Themaar Retirement Savings Plan allows deposits to be tailored to one’s financial needs after retirement. At a time when savings are critical to ensure a secure future for one’s family, the Themaar retirement plan helps maximise savings. The Themaar retirement savings plan is open to citizens and expatriates. The Themaar Retirement Savings Plan is especially beneficial

for sections of society who do not have access to pension schemes from employers. The flexible Themaar savings plan allows customers to decide at what age to retire and the amount of monthly pension/income they require at the time of retirement. With rising costs of living, Themaar Retirement Savings plan is an ideal way to benefit from an extra monthly income in the future. With guaranteed bonus, Themaar customers can enjoy appreciation on all monthly deposits throughout the savings term, plus an additional bonus at the end of the pension term. Themaar also provides 100 per cent protection of deposits throughout the term period and customers have access to their deposits any time during the product term. Customers also get a chance to participate in an annual prize draw for five customers to win OMR500 each.

As an added reassurance, in case of death of the customer anytime during the term, the bank will waive all future outstanding deposits and immediately start paying monthly pension/income to the beneficiary/family. The primary objective of Themaar retirement plan is to provide retirement security. With a longterm perspective, Themaar helps customers in judicious retirement planning. A timely investment in Themaar Savings Plan helps to stay financially secure when a regular source of income is not available after retirement. All Bank Muscat products and services have evolved over the years in tandem with specific customer requirements. A keen perception of customer requirements has enabled the bank to develop innovative products and services in line with the current and emerging needs.

SIGNIFICANT GROWTH

BankDhofar registers profit growth for first half of 2015 MUSCAT: BankDhofar has continued to show significant growth in all areas during the first half of 2015, with the total assets increased to OMR3.39 billion at the end of June 2015 as compared to OMR2.85 billion at the end of June 2014, recording a growth of 18.95% year on year, says a press release. According to a statement published on Muscat Securities Market (MSM) official website, BankDhofar net loans advances and financing to customers showed strong growth of 14.68% to reach OMR2.50 billion as at end of June

2015 compared to OMR2.18 billion as at end of June 2014. This growth in loans advances and ﬁnancing was supported by a corresponding growth in the customer deposits, which improved by 20.09% to reach OMR2.33 billion as at June 2015 as against OMR2.19 billion at June 2014. Non-funded income The total operating income including the non-funded income such as fees and commissions, foreign exchange proﬁt, investment income grew by 13.22% to reach

RECRUIT

OMR54.91 million for the half year ended 30th June 2015 as compared to OMR48.47 million for the same period last year. The cost to income ratio for the first half of 2015 improved to 45.21 % from 45.84% for the first half of 2014. Net provisions for loan and investment impairments increased to OMR4.45 million yearto-date June 2015 as compared to OMR3.05 million year-to-date June 2014 with impairment allowance of OMR0.90 million required for available-for-sale investments during first half 2015.

The net profits of the bank for the first half ended June 2015 reached OMR22.63 million as compared to OMR20.50 million first half of 2014 showing a growth of 10.39%. The earnings per share (EPS) for first half 2015 are OMR0.030 as compared to OMR0.027 achieved in first half 2014. Capital increase In May 2015, the bank successfully completed country’s debut Basel III compliant AT1 Perpetual Bond issue of $300 million which are listed and traded in the Irish Stock

Exchange. This capital instrument issue helped the bank enhance the capital adequacy ratio to 16.47% as at 30th June 2015 and augment the future growth. Maisarah highlights Bank’s Islamic Banking Window, Maisarah Islamic Banking Services, continued the trend of showing strong growth in assets, customer deposits and proﬁtability. The total assets have increased by 90.50% to OMR238.53 million at June 2015 from OMR125.21 million at June 2014.

The gross financing portfolio has grown from OMR89.62 million at June 2014 to OMR174.25 million at June 2015, recording a significant growth of 94.43%. Customer deposits have grown fivefold from OMR26.96 million at June 2014 to OMR144.29 million at June 2015. Maisarah’s key profitability indicators continued to record strong growth. The net financing income increased to OMR2.56 million in June 2015 compared to OMR1.12 million in June 2014, recording a growth of 128.57%.

WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

SECTION

SPOR YOUR GAME

FORMER SOUTH AFRICA SKIPPER CLIVE RICE DIES Former all-rounder Clive Rice, the ﬁrst post-apartheid captain of South Africa, died on Tuesday aged 66, an official from the national cricket association said. Rice had been suffering from a brain tumour. >C2

ROUSING RECEPTION FOR OMAN CRICKET HEROES SCAN THIS TO VISIT

The history-making

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

Oman cricketers, who had qualiﬁed for the ICC World T20, experienced an unprecedented welcome ceremony, which will be etched in the annals of Oman Cricket to cast an everlasting memory

T.K. MOHANDOSS sportseditor@timesofoman.com MUSCAT: The Muscat International Airport on Monday night was reverberating with the beating of drums and the loud cheers of cricket fans as the heroes of Oman Cricket was accorded a rousing welcome with celebrations lasting till stroke of midnight. The history-making Oman cricketers, who had qualified for the ICC World T20 to be held in India March next year and returned home from ICC World T20 Qualifier in Scotland/Ireland experienced an unprecedented welcome ceremony, which will be etched in the annals of Oman Cricket to cast an everlasting memory. Hundreds of cricket fans turned out at the airport waving Oman flags, distributing sweets, and also holding huge placards and banners. Also present were officials of the Ministry of Sports Affairs, Indian Social Club and Pakistan Social Club — all joining the team in dancing and singing to glory. Ecstatic was the general secretary of Oman Cricket Madhu Jesrani and national coach Duleep Mendis, who too put behind the tiredness of the long journey from Dublin to join the euphoric atmosphere. “It was indeed a grand reception and something we have never seen before,” Madhu Jesrani told Times Sport. “I am still excited and I am already thinking on the next step forward,” said Madhu, who hinted at Ministry of Sports Affairs felicitating the triumphant players on August 3. Oman Cricket is also likely to shower the team with cash awards, but Madhu said: “We are yet to finalise plans, but will reveal soon.” Skipper Sultan Ahmed said: “Qualifying for the world stage has been a rare experience for all of us, but we were determined to do it this time around and made it.” He went on to say, the training strategies of Sri Lankan coach Duleep Mendis and the inputs of former England bowler Derek Pringle, who was specially roped in by Oman Cricket as technical advisor ahead of the tournament, plus the hard work put in by players and officials contributed to the success story. “We went to Scotland much early to acclimatise by playing warmup games and the conditioning camps were fantastic that all of us quickly adapted to the conditions,” said Sultan, who is indeed now the veteran of Oman cricket. First from GCC Meanwhile, Oman Cricket’s senior board member Dad Mohammed Al Balushi lauded the entire team and the technical staff of the historic achievement. “We have been waiting for this kind of achievement for a long time. It is a truly historic achievement. Oman Cricket

and the entire cricket fraternity is proud of this fete. Even the fans turned up in large numbers today to greet the players which is unprecedented in Oman,” he said. “This is Oman’s greatest cricket achievement. The team has not only made the country proud but the entire GCC region as we are the only team ever from the Gulf region to qualify for the World T20 Championship,” a beaming Dad Mohammed added. The official also gave full credit to the players and coaching staff for the achievement. “Full credit to the players. They really worked hard for this and performed to their full potential throughout the tournament. Not to forget the contribution of coach Duleep Mendis and team as well as Derek Pringle,” he added. Team manager Syed Jameel Zaidi was cheerful on return and he certainly knows sweetness of the fruit of hard work. Before going for the qualifiers, he had said that the team has put in all efforts and confident to make the mark. On return, he commented: “The hard work and dedication has brought us to this level and there is no looking back from now. We dedicate this glory to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his wise leadership and benevolence.” Something special Mr. Consistent of Oman cricket, Jatinder Singh, who had the maximum following, he said: “Thanks to everyone. It’s great to see so many people turning up late night to receive us and special thanks to media.” Jatinder Singh, who scored 213 runs at 35.5 average, is one among the two Omani players — the other being slinger Munis Ansari — to feature in the Combined XI put up by ESPNcricinfo. Jatinder had been the main stay for Oman throughout the tournament. His scores of 65 not out against Netherlands and 40 against Afghanistan were the hallmarks, but his 33 and his match-winning stand with Zeeshan Ahmed Siddiqui was something special. Munis Ansari with 12 wickets (16.08 average) was fourth overall in the tournament and for skipper Sultan he has been the go-to bowler at death. Though others like Zeeshan Maqsood, Aamir Kaleem and Rajeshkumar Ranpura had their best moments in the tournament, the man who still remains in glare is Zeeshan Siddique, who filled the television screen with his man of the match performance on the historic day, which saw Oman beat the exeperienced Namibia in style. Incidentally, that was the only match of Oman televised live. He is normally called the ‘silent killer’ as he lays low more often and bursts himself to prominence when the situation demands. “I went into bat with purpose and everything I did just clicked,” said Zeeshan, who is yet to see his full knock on television. “Some of my friends have recorded it and I will take time to see it leisurely,” said the man who drove Namibia into tears. Well, one more person, who deserved applause was cricket enthusiast Guru Prasanna of Enhance, who was right at the thick of things, and provided endless inputs for the Oman media and friends. “It was amazing to be there in Dublin and to witness Oman making history,” said Guru, who played a huge part in making the reception ceremony colourful. — Photos by Jun Estrada/ TIMES OF OMAN

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

SPORTS

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY INSTALL WHATSNEWS

Stay ahead of the curve with WhatsNews

Australia experience to help India in Lanka, says Ganguly Sri Lanka will host India to play three Tests from August 12 to September 1. While the first match will be held at Galle, the last two will be played in Colombo NEW DELHI: Former India cricket captain Saurav Ganguly believes the experience of the Australia tour last winter will have matured and helped the likes of Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and others for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will host India to play three Tests from August 12 to September 1. While the first match will be held at Galle, the last two will be played in Colombo. “India will do well in the series against Sri Lanka. The away series in Australia last winter should have helped the players. The Murali Vijays, Virat Kohlis, Ajinkya Rahanes, Lokesh Rahuls should have matured from that tour and it will definitely help them against Sri Lanka, who are a tough team... but I expect India to do well,” Ganguly said on Tuesday. The tour immediately follows

FORMER CAPTAINS: Former India captain and chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth with CAB Joint Secretary Saurav Ganguly during Annual Award Ceremony of Cricket Association of Bengal. – PTI

the short limited overs trip to Zimbabwe which saw Rahane debut as captain. Though India won the One-Day International (ODI) series 3-0, Zimbabwe pulled one back to level the Twenty20 International series 1-1 earlier this month. “I don’t think we should even evaluate the team’s performance in Zimbabwe. It was a team where the seniors and other regulars were not playing. Rahane and the others should leave it behind, not be bothered and focus on the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka which will be very important,” said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)

advisory committee member. When asked about the Proteas’ 70-day tour of India starting on September 29, the 113-Tests veteran advised patience saying: “Let us go one by one and focus on the Sri Lanka series... When it is over, we can look at the South Africa series.” Ganguly added that India team director Ravi Shastri, who did not travel to Zimbabwe, will be with the side in Sri Lanka. “Ravi Shastri is going to Sri Lanka along with three other assistant coaches. Ravi is doing a great job and is going to be with the team for the time being. The chief coach

will be decided in the future,” said Ganguly, who along with cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman comprises the advisory committee of the BCCI which will also give recommendations on who the new coach will be after the departure of Duncan Fletcher following the World Cup. So much overdose of cricket is also going to bring in fatigue to the players, which happened just before Zimbabwe when regular skippers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Kohli, among others, decided not to go to Africa. But Ganguly’s take is that in

modern sport, players should get used to it. “Fatigue is going to be there. Nowadays, cricket is played throughout the year. A professional sportsperson has to manage it today. A life of a sportsperson is approximately 14-15 years long and fatigue will be a part of it, but they have to manage that,” Ganguly, who played 311 One-Day Internationals, said. “Every professional sportsperson goes through this. I was at the Wimbledon some time back and I saw Roger Federer play. He is playing throughout the year as well — at the French Open, Cincinnati Open and several other tournaments. A professional has to manage these days.” Ganguly is part of a four-member working group which will give recommendations to the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council (GC) following the suspension of two franchises. He is also on the BCCI advisory committee and a member of the IPL GC. With so many duties to perform, how does the former India left-handed batsman manage his time? “I am also the joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), so you can well imagine. It is tough trying to manage everything, all these duties. I am also nominated in honorary positions at several places,” said the 43-yearold Kolkata-resident. “To add to it, I also have to manage my personal work which takes a lot of time. I am literally running from pillar to post but in the end, I am somehow being able to manage it.” - IANS

OMAN HORSES DOMINATE NEWBERRY RACE

Horses of the Royal Cavalry and those of Sheikh Nasser bin Mohammed Al Hashar and his son Sheikh Mohammed have won the titles at the 34th Dubai International Horse Races for Arabian horses held at Newberry in England. The race comprised of eight rounds which have seen tough competition for the titles and the prizes were worth £158,000. The Royal Cavalry’s Falcon won the top place in the 2000m third round. Al Mohannad, also of the Royal Cavalry, has won the fourth round honours. Horses belonging to Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Hashar won the ﬁrst and second place in the 1400 m round eight. Karar, owned by Sheikh Nasser bin Mohammed Al Hashar, won the second place in the 1600m opening round of the race. Jet Tawi of the Royal Cavalry won the second place in the 2000m sixth round of the race. — ONA

NO MORE

Former South Africa skipper Clive Rice dies JOHANNESBURG: Former all-rounder Clive Rice, the ﬁrst post-apartheid captain of South Africa, died on Tuesday aged 66, an official from the national cricket association said. Rice, who had been suffering from a brain tumour and was admitted to hospital last weekend with severe stomach pain, played most of his cricket during South Africa’s 20-year isolation from the international game. He was selected for a 197172 tour of Australia, which was cancelled because of opposition to the South African government’s policy of apartheid. When South Africa returned to the international fold in November 1991, Rice was appointed captain of a team which played three One-day Internationals (ODIs) in India. But he was controversially omitted from the South Africa team which played in the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with the selectors placing an emphasis on youth. Former South Africa stars paid tribute to Rice, who played in 482 ﬁrst-class matches for Transvaal, Natal and Nottinghamshire, scoring 26,331 runs at an average of 40.95. He also took 930 wickets at an average of 22.49 before retiring in 1994. Pat Symcox tweeted: “Devastated ... a great friend and wonderful man. Clive Rice has passed away. The world is a poorer place”. Peter Kirsten called him “one of the most formidable, gifted and competitive all-rounders that any age of the game has ever seen”. Herschelle Gibbs tweeted: “Sorry to hear about the passing of Clive Rice’ ‘Ricey’ ... astute captain and a man that played the game hard.” Former national cricket association president and Test skipper Ali Bacher also lavished praise on Rice. “Clive Rice was a truly great all-rounder,” he said. “Had it not been for apartheid, he would have been a world great in the game of cricket. “He was in the same class as Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee. “Clive possessed huge determination and courage and was one of best cricketers South Africa has produced.” — AFP

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS England aim to overcome Mitch hitch Johnson on brink of Australia’s 300 club

Left-arm fast bowler Johnson took 37 wickets at 14 apiece as Australia thrashed England 5-0 on home soil to regain the Ashes in 2013-14 BRIMINGHAM: Joe Root is confident England’s latest collapse against an Australia pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson won’t still haunt them come the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston starting on Wednesday. Left-arm fast bowler Johnson took 37 wickets at 14 apiece as Australia thrashed England 5-0 on home soil to regain the Ashes in 2013-14. Johnson, however, was mocked by England fans while going wicketless during the first innings of Australia’s 169-run defeat in Cardiff in the opening match of the current Ashes campaign. It was though a very different story in the second Test at Lord’s, where Johnson had match figures of six for 80 during Australia’s crushing 405-run win that levelled the five-match series at 1-1. England captain Alastair Cook may be in better form than Australia counterpart Michael Clarke but that counted for little as the hosts, with Johnson taking three cheap wickets, slumped to a humiliating 103 all out in their second innings. But a defiant Root said of Johnson: “It’s wrong to single one man out. You look at Cardiff and he only got two expensive wickets so it’s about putting him under pressure.” England have responded to their drubbing at Lord’s by dropping Gary Ballance and promoting the experienced Ian Bell — himself struggling for runs — to Ballance’s position of number three, with

CAN HE HAUNT ENGLAND AGAIN?: Australia’s Mitchell Johnson during a training session. – Reuters

Jonny Bairstow coming into the side at the expense of his Yorkshire colleague. ‘Extra pace’ Australia left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc was not concerned by England’s attempts to stabilise a top order that has been 43 for three or worse seven times in their past 13 Test innings and promised there would be no let-up from the tourists’ pace attack. “I am sure we will be following suit from what Mitch (Johnson) dished up at the end at Lord’s,” said Starc. “It is great to see a few of the guys jumping about, and we got a few wickets that way. We have got extra pace in our side.” This year has seen England bounce back from defeats by the West Indies and New Zealand

with a win in their very next Test. “Throughout this summer we’ve always come back from heavy defeats well,” said Root. “There’s so much conﬁdence in the camp and we’ll be looking to put them back on the back foot on Wednesday.” The second Test defeat prompted England’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss to call for a livelier surface than the one on which England great James Anderson went wicketless at Lord’s. But Starc was unconcerned by the state of the Edgbaston pitch. “It doesn’t matter what they dish up, we’ve got all bases covered,” he said. Bell has scored just one ﬁfty in 12 Test innings since he made a hundred against the West Indies in Antigua three months ago. In welcoming his promotion to

number three, Bell — looking to become the first Warwickshire batsman to score a Test hundred at Edgbaston — said on Monday: “I know I haven’t performed to the best of my ability in the last two months. “It’s a good opportunity to take some responsibility and score some runs.” Bairstow’s recall for his first Test since he featured at Sydney last year is set to be England’s lone personnel change after fast bowler Mark Wood, who has a history of ankle trouble, came through Monday’s net session. Bairstow is averaging over a hundred in the County Championship this season, having scored five centuries, but how well that has prepared him to face Australia’s quicks remains to be seen. - AFP

ASHES

Cook backs Bell to come good at No. 3 BIRMINGHAM: England captain Alastair Cook has backed Ian Bell to return to form following the veteran batsman’s promotion to number three for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. Bell, England’s most experienced batsman, having made his Test debut 11 years ago, has struggled for runs during the Ashes thus far with scores of one, 60, one and 11 in the first two matches. There had been speculation that, with England repeatedly suffering top-order collapses, Bell might be dropped for the third Test at his Warwickshire home ground starting Wednesday after Australia levelled the five-match series at 1-1 with a crushing 405run win at Lord’s. But despite two failures in the second Test, Bell has been promoted to number three after England dropped Gary Ballance and brought in Jonny Bairstow to bat at five. Great opportunity “He’s delighted to be back at three,” Cook said Tuesday of Bell. “It’s a great opportunity to get in and make his mark on the game. He’s a proven international player and I think he’ll relish the chance to bat at three. Also being at his home ground is a really great opportunity.” There had been speculation that the in-form Joe Root might be promoted to number three and opening batsman Cook said: “The selectors would have thrown that

SUPPORT FROM CAPTAIN: England’s Alastair Cook, left, and Ian Bell take a break during a training

session. – Reuters

around in the meetings. “But they decided (to go with) the experience Ian’s got in terms of 100-odd Test matches. Belly at three and Rooty at four looks pretty good.” Bell’s recent performances have revived a longstanding criticism that, for all the technical ability that has yielded over 7,000 Test runs at an average of more than 43 with 22 hundreds, he is

rarely a man for a crisis. Bell, whose 562 runs at an average of 62 played a key role in England’s 2013 home Ashes series win, told Sky Sports: “I still believe that when I’m playing at my best I’m a world-class player. “I know that I haven’t done that to my capability over the last six or seven Test matches, and hopefully this is the start of me kicking

on and going forward again.” Root, who scored a hundred in England’s 169-run ﬁrst Test win at Cardiff, said Bell had the proven class to score runs at Edgbaston. “I think every international player is playing for his place at all times,” Root said. “Obviously some guys are scoring more consistently than others, but Ian’s record is fantastic.” - AFP

BIRMINGHAM: Mitchell Johnson heads into this week’s Ashes clash against England at Edgbaston needing just one more wicket to become only the fifth Australia bowler to take 300 in Tests. The left-arm fast bowler’s 68-Test career has not been one of uninterrupted progress, with Johnson mocked mercilessly by visiting fans when he lost control of both line and length during England’s 2010-11 Ashes series win in Australia. But it was a very different story in 2013/14 when he took 37 wickets at under 14 apiece as Australia regained the Ashes with a 5-0 rout of their arch-rivals. Johnson showed signs of that impressive form during the recent second Test at Lord’s where he led Australia’s pace attack in a 405-run thrashing of England that levelled the five-match Ashes series at 1-1 heading into Wednesday’s third Test at Edgbaston. “He’s bowling as well as I’ve seen throughout his career,” said Australia captain Michael Clarke of Johnson, in line to join Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee and Brett Lee as the only Australian bowlers to have taken 300 Test wickets. “I’ve been lucky enough to play with some really fit quicks — you think of Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath,” Clarke said. “These guys worked exceptionally hard in the gym to stay healthy and Mitch is as fit, if not fitter, than those blokes put together. He trains really hard. Hence why he’s

been able to play for such a long period of time.” England have tried to play down talk of a resurgent Johnson, with all-rounder Moeen Ali insisting Australia’s spearhead had “bowled really well in one innings out of four” in the current series to date. No qualms If the grass covering that was on the pitch at Edgbaston on Monday remains intact come the start of Wednesday’s match, it should certainly aid Johnson and his fellow Australia quicks. There have been suggestions that England and Wales Cricket Board chiefs have ordered groundsmen to prepare deliberately slow surfaces for the ﬁve-match series in a bid to blunt Australia’s impressive pace attack, although England team director Andrew Strauss has denied issuing such a request. But such a tactic, if there was one, played into Australia’s hands at Lord’s as the tourists’ pacemen are quicker than their England counterparts, who suffered more from the lack of seam movement at the ‘home of cricket’. Clarke said that if the Edgbaston pitch, which he likened to a green seamer at Brisbane’s Gabba ground, still looked the same on Wednesday morning he would have no qualms in bowling ﬁrst should he win the toss. Australia bowlers with 300 or more Test wickets (total Test wickets, bowler): 708 - Shane Warne; 563 - Glenn McGrath; 355 - Dennis Lillee; 310 - Brett Lee. - AFP

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

SPORTS

Platini to announce FIFA presidency bid Platini, a former France and Juventus midfielder, has been UEFA president since 2007 and had been widely expected to throw his hat into the ring to succeed Sepp Blatter ZURICH: Michel Platini, the head of European soccer’s governing body UEFA, is to announce in the next few days that he will stand for the presidency of FIFA, a source close to the former France international said on Tuesday. The 60-year-old Platini, a former France and Juventus midfielder, has been UEFA president since 2007 and had been widely expected to throw his hat into the ring to succeed Sepp Blatter, who announced his plan to stand down two months ago. Platini’s impending announcement, expected before the end of the week, is likely to prompt other contenders to confirm their plans to stand. South Korea’s Chung MongJoon, a former FIFA vice-president, is expected to announce his candidacy next month, while Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, beaten by Blatter in May’s presidential vote,

BOOKMAKERS’ FAVOURITE: Michel Platini

is also considering running in next February’s election. The vote will be held at a special ‘elective congress’ in Zurich on February 26. Blatter, who has been president since 1998, was re-elected for a ﬁfth term in May, but amidst the fall-out from the arrest of nine soccer officials, including some senior FIFA and former FIFA officials, he said he was “laying down” his mandate. Platini has long been the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Blatter and last week his supporters indicated that he has picked up widespread support from leaders of the continental confederations.

A former protege of Blatter’s, Platini turned into one of his biggest critics and he has said FIFA’s corruption scandal “disgusted” him and gave him “stomach trouble”. Difficult line of attack But the Frenchman’s own critics will focus on his support for the 2022 World Cup to be held in Qatar. Platini, part of the FIFA executive committee since 2002, voted for Qatar, despite FIFA’s own technical report ﬂagging up concerns about the searing heat in the Gulf state. That may be a difficult line of attack for his two possible Asian rivals to take however, given that Qatar is part of the Asian Football

Confederation. Three outsiders have also said they intend to run — Liberian Football Association chairman Musa Bility, former Brazil international Zico and exFrance winger David Ginola. Ginola had intended to stand in May’s vote but was unable to get the ﬁve nominations from football federations needed to be a candidate — a problem Zico has conceded he will probably encounter. The deadline for candidates to formally present their nominations, with support, is October 26 and they will also have to undergo integrity checks, led by Domenico Scala, head of the ad-hoc election committee. - Reuters

AT H L E T I C S

Chand eyes Olympics after gender ruling India welcomes CAS’ decision NEW DELHI: India’s Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the CAS getting Dutee Chand back to the race track. A three-member panel of the apex court in sports chaired by Justice Annabelle Claire Bennett suspended the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) regulation governing eligibility of females with naturallyoccurring hyperandrogenism. Monday’s verdict has thus allowed Chand to be “immediately and unconditionally eligible to compete after being barred from competing against women because her natural testosterone levels

were too high”. Chand challenged the September 2014 ban on her and was supported by the Indian government. “This is a great day for women sports and for Indian sports. It is a tremendous victory for India,” said Sonowal. The CAS has given the IAAF two years to present convincing scientiﬁc evidence establishing that naturally high testosterone levels provide an unfair athletic advantage to hyperandrogenic female athletes as compared to their peers. If the IAAF does not, or cannot, do so, the hyperandrogenism regulation will be rendered null and void. - IANS

‘SUPER EXCITED’: Dutee Chand

NEW DELHI: Indian sprinter Dutee Chand said on Tuesday she was “super excited” about returning to athletics after a landmark ruling on the validity of so-called gender tests. Chand’s hyperandrogenism — a condition that produces high testosterone levels — meant she fell foul of International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules on gender. But in a ruling on Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended the controversial regulation for two years, allowing her to compete again. The CAS also said the rule

would be scrapped permanently if the IAAF failed to prove that enhanced testosterone levels led to improved performance in hyperandrogenic athletes. “I am very happy and relieved,” India’s reigning under-18 100 metres champion said by telephone from the southern city of Hyderabad. I have gone through a lot of suffering and humiliation. Now I want to forget everything and start afresh,” said Chand, now 19, her voice choked with emotion. Chand, who missed the Commonwealth and Asian Games due to the ban imposed last year, had

challenged the rule, which she said did not take into account athletes who were “born this way”. “I never took any drugs, I was born like this. I really want to thank the judges,” said Chand, the third of seven children born to weavers in rural India. “It is not only me, many more athletes like me will beneﬁt from this landmark ruling.” Critics say so-called gender testing is arbitrary and psychologically damaging. The IAAF introduced the rule after a controversy over the treatment of South African runner Caster Semenya, whose ban was

lifted following an investigation. Chand, who is currently training at a sports academy in Hyderabad, said she had to deal with insensitive questions over her sex with little regard for her privacy. She said the ruling meant she could now focus on qualifying for next year’s Olympics and improving her timings in her favourite 100m and 200m races. “It is going to be very tough because my form has gone down. But it is not impossible, I still have seven months to recharge and recoup,” she said. “I am super excited. I think I have God’s blessings.” - AFP

FINANCIAL FEARS

Boston out as possible 2024 Olympic host, but LA interested NEW YORK: Boston’s troubled bid for the 2024 Olympics ended on Monday amid financial fears and local opposition, leaving the US Olympic Committee to seek a replacement candidate by midSeptember. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday it was “confident” the US could find a replacement candidate despite Boston pulling out before the nomination deadline. Boston’s bid was in trouble almost as soon as the USOC chose the New England city in January ahead of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington. It died for good shortly after Boston Mayor Martin Walsh said he wouldn’t commit taxpayers to financing any cost overruns for the quadrennial spectacle. Vocal groups of Boston residents opposed to the games had argued that taxpayers could well end up footing the bill. US Olympic Committee chief executive Scott Blackmun said resistance was too great to overcome before the September 15 deadline for submitting a bid city to the International Olympic Committee. “We have not been able to get a majority of the citizens of Boston to support hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, therefore, the USOC does not think that the level of support enjoyed by Boston’s bid would allow it to prevail over great bids from Paris, Rome, Hamburg, Budapest or Toronto,” Blackmun said in a statement. “Boston 2024 has expressed confidence that, with more time, they could generate the public support necessary to win the bid and deliver a great Games. They also recognize, however, that we are out of time if the USOC is going to be able to consider a bid from another city. “As a result, we have reached a mutual agreement to withdraw Boston’s bid,” Blackmun said. The failure of Boston’s bid leaves the USOC in the humbling position of having to pull together a short-notice plan to offer against their global rivals. The IOC said it was sure a new US candidate would come forward. “We are confident that the US will make the right choice and that they can still put forward a strong candidate by 15 September,” the IOC said in a statement from Kuala Lumpur, where it is currently meeting. The United States has not hosted the Summer Games since 1996 in Atlanta and has not hosted the Winter Olympics since 2002 at Salt Lake City. A 2012 New York bid was undone by the last-minute wipeout of the planned main stadium site while a 2016 Chicago bid was the first ousted in IOC voting. “The USOC would very much like to see an American city host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024,” Blackmun said, adding that officials “understand the reality of the timeline that is before us.” Los Angeles to the fore Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was quick to say the Southern California city was still interested, although his office has not spoken to members of the USOC. “I continue to believe that Los Angeles is the ideal Olympic city,” Garcetti said. It was not immediately clear if Washington or San Francisco would be interested in reviving their bids, and Blackmun said

IOC signs $14 billion of deals in 17 months KUALA LUMPUR: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has signed $14 billion in deals since the Sochi Winter Olympics last year, a spokesman said Tuesday highlighting the sports body’s financial strength. Eighteen contracts signed in the past 17 months include 13 broadcast deals, one for $7.65 billion with US broadcaster NBC television to show the Olympics in the United States up to 2032. Discovery Communications of the United States bought the 2018-2024 broadcasting rights for most of Europe for $1.45 billion. The IOC has also signed up Bridgestone and Toyota as top level sponsors and renewed existing accords with Atos, Panasonic and Samsung. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said the deals “represent a significant contribution to the longterm financial stability of the Olympic movement up to 2032. “The establishment of this strong and stable financial foundation allows the IOC to redistribute more than 90 percent of its revenues to support athletes and sport around the world - the equivalent of 3.25 million dollars a day, every day of the year,” Adams added. - AFP

the USOC wouldn’t comment on a potential new candidate before next month. Not only did opinion polls reveal a worrying lack of support in Boston, the bid failed to gain key political backing. Independent report Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said Friday he wouldn’t back the bid until he had reviewed an independent report on its ﬁnances that wasn’t due until August. And on Monday, Walsh said he wouldn’t sign a host agreement without strong guarantees to protect taxpayers. “If committing to signing a guarantee today is what’s required to move forward then Boston is no longer pursuing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he added. It wasn’t clear if Walsh knew as he spoke that the USOC would soon pull the plug, issuing a statement from their Colorado headquarters calling it a joint decision with the Boston 2024 Partnership. The No Boston Olympics opposition group issued a statement welcoming the decision. “We’re better off for having passed on Boston 2024,” the group said. - AFP

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

SPORTS

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH FACEBOOK PAGE

Love us on Facebook

Saina to lead 18-member Indian squad at world championships This will also be Saina’s golden opportunity to grab a medal at the Worlds which has eluded the Olympic bronze medallist ever since she started participating at the annual contest in 2009

JAKARTA: In probably the best chance to grab multiple medals, an 18-member Indian badminton contingent led by ace shuttler Saina Nehwal will vie for honours at the 22nd edition of the World Badminton Championships to be held at the 9,000-seater Istora Senayan here from August 10 to 16. This will also be Saina’s golden opportunity to grab a medal at the Worlds which has eluded the Olympic bronze medallist ever since she started participating at the annual contest in 2009. The

IN FINE FORM: India’s Saina Nehwal has had a good run this year winning Indian Grand Prix Gold and India Open Super Series and reaching the ﬁnal of the All England Open.

25-year-old has always exited the event at the quarterﬁnals stage the ﬁve times she has taken part in it. The Hyderabadi has been seeded second in women’s singles this time behind defending champion

Carolina Marin of Spain. Saina, who has got a ﬁrst round bye here, has had a good run this year winning the India Grand Prix Gold, the India Open Super Series and also reaching the ﬁnal of the All

England Open. Compatriot P.V. Sindhu, who is the most successful Indian at the global event, won two bronze medals in 2013 and 2014. This year, however, she will ﬁnd the going tough, despite having

being seeded 11th and receiving a first round bye, as her 2015 season has been injury marred. Kidambi Srikanth, meanwhile, has been seeded third in men’s singles and will be facing Australian Michael Fariman in the opener. The 22-year-old has had a strong year, winning the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold and India Open Super Series titles which has helped him maintain his World No.3 spot. He also reached the final of the India Grand Prix Gold where he lost to compatriot Parupalli Kashyap. Reigning Commonwealth Games champion Kashyap on the other hand has been seeded 10th and will take on Dutch Erik Meijs first up. Though he has beaten top players regularly, failure to win Super Series events has irked his career. However, a medal here will certainly be a big plus in his resume. Right behind Kashyap in the seedings is H.S. Prannoy at 11 who will open his campaign against Brazil’s Alex Tjong. In doubles competition, the two men’s pairs of Pranaav ChopraAkshay Dewalkar and Manu AttriB. Sumeeth Reddy will be seen in action. While Chopra and Dewalkar will open against Russian Vasily Kuznetsov and Nikita Khakimov, Attri and Reddy will start against Chinese combine of Cai Yun and Lu Kai. Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will once again be looking

to repeat their women’s doubles bronze medal-winning performance of 2011. They are only Indian doubles pair to be seeded at 13 and have got a ﬁrst round bye. The combinations of Pradnya GadreN. Sikki Reddy and Dhanya NairMohita Sahdev will also take part in the category. Sikki will then join hands with Tarun Kona in mixed doubles and the two will also be accompanied by multiple time national champions Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan. The seedings are based on rankings as of July 23. This is the third time the Indonesian capital is hosting the tournament after 1980 and 1989. India have won only four bronzes till date at the Worlds. The ﬁrst time was in 1983 when the legendary Prakash Padukone clinched the metal. India had to wait 28 years before Jwala and Ashwini broke the deadlock to take the medal in 2011. Thereafter, Sindhu won two consecutive medals in 2013 and 2014. The squad: Men’s singles: Kidambi Srikanth, Parupalli Kashyap, H.S. Prannoy. Women’s singles: Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu. Men’s doubles: Pranaav Chopra and Akshay Dewalkar, Manu Attri and B. Sumeeth Reddy. Women’s doubles: Pradnya Gadre and N. Sikki Reddy, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, Dhanya Nair and Mohita Sahdev. Mixed doubles: Arun Vishnu and Aparna Balan, Tarun Kona and N. Sikki Reddy. - IANS

FOOTBALL

Chelsea sell Brazilian winger Filipe Luis back to Atletico MADRID: Brazilian winger Filipe Luis is returning to Atletico Madrid just a year after they sold him to Chelsea, the clubs said on Tuesday. Atletico sold the long-haired AT H L E T I C S

29-year-old to the London side for a reported £15.8 million (22 million euros, $25 million) a year ago after they won the Spanish league in the 2013-2014 season. Now the Brazil international

has signed up to return to Atletico for four seasons, the club said in a statement. British media reported that Atletico paid about 15 million euros to buy him back.

Luis won the English Premier League with Chelsea and scored in their League Cup ﬁnal victory but only played 26 games overall under coach Jose Mourinho. “Happy! Glad to be coming

COACHES INSTRUCTOR

Ennis-Hill ready for Worlds LONDON: British heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill will be available for selection for the World Championships in Beijing, the Olympic champion announced on her Instagram account. Ennis-Hill conﬁrmed she was putting herself forward for a ﬁrst major tournament since her return to competition after the birth of her son, Reggie. The 29-year-old wrote: “My coach and I have made the decision that I’m going to make myself available for selection for the World Champs.” Ennis-Hill’s decision comes three days after she produced her best three performances since London 2012 at the Anniversary Games. She recorded a long jump of 6.37 metres and a 23.49 seconds in the 200m to go with the 12.79 seconds she ran over the 100m hurdles. But the Sheffield athlete maintained she would only travel to China if she felt she could challenge for a medal, with defending her Olympic title in Rio next summer the key target. “I am making progress and my times are coming down. I’m really happy with this weekend,” Ennis-Hill said. “I’m towards the end of my career. So Rio is the main thing for me and I want that to go the right way.” - AFP

GREAT OPPORTUNITY: Shihab Aldin Al Riyami

Shihab to officiate at Asian Volleyball Championships MUSCAT: Oman’s FIVB International Coaches Instructor Shihab Aldin Al Riyami has been nominated as a Technical Monitor in Technical Committee for the 18th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championships to be hosted in Tehran September 1 to 8. The invitation from the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) comes as latest feather in the cap of Shihab who has officiated in various FIVB international volleyball events and also participated in and conducted several

courses in the world. And reacting to his nomination as Technical Monitor for Asian continent’s biggest volleyball event, Shihab, who is also the Secretary of the AVC’s Coaches Committee, said: “It is a great opportunity to be there in one of the greatest volleyball events in Asia.” “Surely, we are going to watch high level of performance and exploring new teams and noticing excellent standard of volleyball,” Shihab added. Tree years ago, Shihab was also

nominated as a Technical Monitor at the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championships and interestingly there are only two officials from the Gulf region, the other being Bahrain’s Ahmed Y Hussein. “This is a big championship and I am extremely satisﬁed to be chosen for the biggest tournament of the Asian continent for third time. This is really a proud moment for me and the entire Oman volleyball fraternity,” Shihab said.

home and to be a new Atleti player,” Luis said in a Twitter message. Atletico’s sporting director, Jose Luis Perez, called Luis “one of the most talented wingers in the world”. “He already knows our

club and our way of playing so he will adapt quickly,” Perez said. A statement on Chelsea’s ofﬁcial website announced simply: “We wish him all the best for the future.” - AFP

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

SPORTS

SCAN THIS TO INSTANTLY LAUNCH TWITTER PAGE

Tweet all about it

FOOTBALL

NOT A BREAK

Vidal completes $44m move to Bayern F1 summer break? Time to get the learner plates on BERLIN: Chile midﬁelder Arturo Vidal has completed his transfer from Juventus to Bayern Munich by signing a four-year contract with the Bundesliga champions. No fee was disclosed but media reports put it at 40 million euros ($44.23 million). “I wanted to take another big step forward in my career,” the 28-year-old Vidal told the Bavarian club’s website (www.fcbayern. de) on Tuesday. “I want to keep developing as a player and win important trophies like the Champions League. I think the best opportunity to do so is with Bayern.” Vidal was a member of the Juventus team beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in last month’s Champions League ﬁnal at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

He becomes Bayern’s second major signing of the transfer window after Brazilian midﬁelder Douglas Costa joined from Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of July. Bayern have also sold Germany playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United. Vidal is no stranger to the Bundesliga having played for Bayer Leverkusen for four seasons until 2011. He also helped Chile win the Copa America title for the ﬁrst time on home soil this month. “I’m thrilled about playing in the Bundesliga again and obviously hope to win it this time,” Vidal said. “I didn’t manage it with Leverkusen back then but with Bayern there’s a very, very good chance.” - Reuters

BIG STEP FORWARD: Bayern Munich’s new recruit Chilean midﬁelder Arturo Vidal, left, and Sporting Director Matthias Sammer pose for a picture during a press meet in Munich on Tuesday. – AFP

Sreesanth to approach BCCI to get ban lifted Sreesanth said he is ‘hopeful after indication from the higher-ups of the BCCI that it would consider my request. So I want to ﬁle an application

KOCHI: He contemplated “suicide” during his time at Tihar Jail but pacer S Sreesanth is now hoping to sing the redemption song and would approach the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for lifting the life ban imposed on him from playing cricket by the Board. Sreesanth was last week exonerated in the 2013 spot-ﬁxing IPL scandal by a Delhi Court. “I have sought an appointment with BCCI Secretary Anurag

Thakur. He has told a TV channel that I can ﬁle an application requesting to lift the ban. “I am hopeful after indication from the higher-ups of the BCCI that it would consider my request. So I want to ﬁle an application. I am waiting for his (General Secretary Anurag Thakur) call. I hope the next meeting of the BCCI would take a favourable decision,” Sreesanth told reporters here. The cricketer, who has played Tests and ODIs for India, spoke

about the trauma he went through when he was arrested and put in Tihar jail after being accused of having nexus with a cricket betting racket, allegedly run by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel. “Initially I thought about suicide. I could overcome because of my devotion to Lord Ettumanoorappan (Lord Shiva in Kerala’s famouse Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple) and the support given by my family,” Sreesanth said. Asked if he expects a favourable response from BCCI, in which former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar is chief advisor to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the cricketer said: “After all he is also a human being. He has also got a heart.” Sreesanth said that if Kumar, who ordered his arrest, along with Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan when he headed the Delhi police, recalled the circumstances which

led to his arrest in the 2013 IPL spot-ﬁxing scandal, he would get a clearer picture. “I don’t think he would put any hindrance on my path. After all, BCCI is a body, not an individual,” he said. The cricketer also said he would not approach the court in case BCCI is reluctant to lift the ban. “I will wait. I don’t want to challenge any one. I want to play cricket,” he said. The cricketer rejected reports that he had a net session at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Monday evening. He said he would start practising in the ground only if his life ban is lifted. The stadium at Kaloor, owned by Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), has been partially leased out to the Kerala Cricket Association, a member of the BCCI, for 30 years for hosting Test matches. - PTI

LONDON: While Formula One rivals head to the sea or mountains at the start of the August break, Max Verstappen has some driving lessons on the horizon. The Dutch 17-year-old, fourth for Toro Rosso in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix, will have to wait for his 18th birthday in September before he can pass his test but he can at least get the tuition in. “I’m doing my lessons in the summer break,” the youngest ever grand prix driver said as the season reached the halfway point in Hungary. “With the F1 schedule it has been difficult to ﬁt everything in so I’ve had to wait for the break. “You need a minimum six or seven hours driving under the laws in Belgium, where I live, and I hope that’s all I need. We’ll see.” The conversation between driving instructor and a pupil more used to reaching speeds in excess of 300kph and braking as late as possible can only be imagined. World champion Lewis Hamilton, who had a nightmare in Hungary but increased his lead over Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg to 21 points, was already enjoying his break. The Briton posted a picture of himself on Twitter tucking into a hearty al fresco breakfast.

“It’s officially summer break, and the only day I can eat whatever I want,” he said. “So that calls for pancakes and bacon.” Ferrari team boss Maurizio Arrivabene heads into the holiday fresh from celebrating Sebastian Vettel’s win in Hungary and with every intention of getting away from the office and relaxing. There are important decisions to take, not least concerning Kimi Raikkonen’s future if that has not already been ﬁxed, but driver moves can wait. “Our goal now is to focus on the car. We have time to talk about the driver,” Arrivabene said after the race at the Hungaroring. “During the summer break you are swimming, climbing... not deciding. Otherwise it’s not a break,” he added. For Manor Marussia, the enforced time off will allow the team to rest after a traumatic week of remembrance for Jules Bianchi, their former driver whose funeral was held last week with many of the drivers present. “The factory shutdown has come at a good time to give everyone time with their families and a little time to reﬂect and to remember the good times because it was a very, very difficult weekend,” chief executive Graeme Lowdon said. - Reuters

FOOTBALL

Montpellier’s El Kaoutari moves to Italy’s Palermo MONTPELLIER: Moroccan international defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari has agreed a deal to move from French side Montpellier to Serie A outﬁt Palermo, the French club announced on their website on Tuesday. On the books when Montpel-

lier won the French title in 2012, Abdelhamid El Kaoutari came up through the youth system and has made 170 appearances for the southern club. He has now agreed a four-year deal with Palermo, although the transfer fee was not revealed. - AFP

BRIDGING GAPS

South Sudan set to join Olympic family KUALA LUMPUR: South Sudan is set to become the 206th member of the Olympic family later this week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Tuesday, despite ongoing ﬁerce ﬁghting in the African country. The IOC Session will vote on South Sudan’s membership on Sunday after a recommendation submitted by the executive board on Tuesday, spokesman Mark

Adams said. “The Olympics is all about bridging gaps, building bridges between communities. This a great signal to send to a troubled region.” Thousands have been killed and more than 2.2 million displaced since ﬁghting broke out in December 2013 between President Salva Kiir’s government and rebels commanded by Riek Machar. Both sides have been accused of

human rights abuses and indiscriminate killings, which have often been carried out along ethnic lines, with Machar’s Nuers pitted against Kiir’s powerful Dinkas. South Sudan’s marathon runner Guor Marial competed at the London 2012 Olympics but did so under the Olympic ﬂag after refusing to run for Sudan and with South Sudan not yet an IOC member. - Reuters MLS CLUB

Montreal Impact rope in Drogba MONTREAL: Canadian football club Montreal Impact who play in Major League Soccer (MLS) have announced the signing of Didier Drogba, in a trade with Chicago Fire. The Ivorian will officially join the team upon receiving his International Transfer Certificate and his Canadian work permit. As per MLS policy, the details of the deal were not released. “It’s an honour to welcome Didier Drogba to the Impact,” Impact president Joey Saputo on Monday was quoted as saying by the club’s website impactmontreal.com. “From the first conversation I had with him, I felt that he really wanted to play in Montreal. This is one of the biggest days in club history and his arrival to the club will be beneficial in every aspect.” The 37-year-old has played in 381 games with English giant Chelsea FC between 2004 and 2012, and during the 2014-15 season, ranking fourth all-time with 164 goals, adding 88 assists. He won the Premier League Golden Boot twice, following seasons of 20 goals in 2006-07 and 29 goals in 2009-10. Indian Super League (ISL) club Atletico de Kolkata too had shown interest in the talismanic striker to land him for the upcoming season. - IANS

SECTION

LIFESTYLE

Leisure WWW.TIMESOFOMAN.COM

Join the Club Keeping cool in Muscat’s members-only hotel pools

By Salim Joseph Luxury properties in Muscat have the most spectacular temperature controlled pools in town. To gain access to these urban oases you don’t have to be a guest, as most hotels now offer pool and health club memberships to residents.

W EDN ES DAY, J U LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

W EDN ESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

LIFESTYLE STROKES OF GOOD LUCK Start Swimming: The Basics YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL NEED: A swimsuit, a pair of goggles, and (at some properties) a swimming cap. START SLOW: A beginner should try swimming for 10 minutes and build up to a 30-minute swim, three to ďŹ ve times a week. REMEMBER: Always include a warm-up and a cool-down to prevent straining a muscle, and in between challenge yourself with a speciďŹ c goal, focusing on endurance, stroke efficiency or speed.

e it an azure pool shaded by palm trees, an inďŹ nity with unincumbered views of the sea, or a swanky rooftop lap pool overlooking city, there are few things that can revitalise and lift your spirits on these hot summer days like a dip in one of the beautiful, temperature controlled pools housed in Muscatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s picturesque hotels. Of course, you have to be an in-house guest to enjoy these glorious pools. Or you can opt to become a member of the hotelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health clubs to gain access. Many properties in Muscat now offer monthly or annual memberships that provide access to their pools, gyms, and various other recreational amenities. For many, the prices charged are well worth it for access to world-class facilities in which to take advantage of the cooling fun and health beneďŹ ts of swimming. Set in the rugged mountains of Qantab, Shangri-Laâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa is a premiere destination with pool facilities that include six fresh water swimming pools equipped with temperature controllers that keep the poolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; water temperatures around 28 to 30 degree Celsius. The property offers a Day Use access privilege called â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Day in Paradiseâ&#x20AC;? which enables people to use the swimming pools and beach area facilities for one whole day as well as enjoy a buffet lunch (priced at OMR25 for adults and OMR15 for children). The property also offers exclusive loyalty membership programme through Club Mataâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;am at OMR85 for 12 months. (Tel: 24776334, website: www.clubmataam.com) At the Chedi Muscat, the chic 5-star beach resort in Al Ghubra, guests can choose between three pools: the adultonly Chedi Pool, an inďŹ nity pool surrounded by cabanas with a superb seafront location; the Long Pool, the lengthiest in the region at 103-metre (also for adults only); and the familyfriendly Serai Pool, set with black mosaics and covered by an elegant canopy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our pools are temperature controlled. So the guests can enjoy these pools

throughout the day. We also offer annual Health Club memberships for access to pools which are priced at OMR1,900 per person,â&#x20AC;? says Linda Silveira, the Sales Coordinator at the resort. At Park Inn Muscat in Al Khuwair, The Summer Sky Club gym and pool membership is available for either a three or six month period (with the current promotion, they will give you an additional three or six months free). â&#x20AC;&#x153;The pool timings are from 7am to 8pm,â&#x20AC;? says Vianney Antonio, the PR & Executive Secretary at the hotel. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guests like to chill at the rooftop pool with the spectacular view of the city, surrounded by mountains and the beach.â&#x20AC;? Day passes and memberships are offered by many other luxury hotels in Muscat including The Crowne Plaza, where the day passes are priced at OMR10 for adults and OMR6 for children. The Grand Hyatt Muscat, which has one big pool for adults and one pool for kids, offers both memberships (1, 3 & 6 months and 1 year - now with a 20 per cent summer discount) and day passes priced at OMR10 for adults and OMR5 for children. The pools are open from 7am till 9pm in both the hotels. The Intercontinental Hotel, which has a leisure pool and a lap pool offers day passes to public at OMR15 for an adult and OMR10 for a child. They also offer 3-month, 6-month and one year memberships for individuals and families. Meanwhile, Al Bustan Palace Hotel has a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;day use offerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; where an individual or family can check into a â&#x20AC;&#x153;relax roomâ&#x20AC;? and have access to all facilities including the swimming pools from 10am till 6pm (rates start at OMR70). Besides, these high end properties, various other hotels across the city including Majan Continental Hotel, the Al Falaj Hotel, and Ruwi Hotel offer pool memberships for more moderate prices, around OMR40 per month. Make the most of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s left of the scorching summer heat by starting a healthy, new, cooling habit at one of Muscatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere swimming pools.

The BeneďŹ ts of Swimming Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; #(!Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;1 . ,Ĺ&#x2014;, & 2 -Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014; ) 3Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014;'#( Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; is a great way to release stress and tension Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 1#''#(!Ĺ&#x2014; ) -(Ä&#x201C;.Ĺ&#x2014; /- Ĺ&#x2014;-., #(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;-., --Ĺ&#x2014;),Ĺ&#x2014;#($/,3Ĺ&#x2014; to your joints as your movements are cushioned by the water Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; . ,Ĺ&#x2014;*,)0# -Ĺ&#x2014;ĂťĂźĹ&#x2014;.#' -Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;, -#-. ( Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014; #,Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; every direction, which helps to build strength Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; " Ĺ&#x2014;" .Ĺ&#x2014;) Ĺ&#x2014;1 . ,Ĺ&#x2014;" &*-Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;&))- (Ĺ&#x2014;'/- & -Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; joints while you workout Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 1#''#(!Ĺ&#x2014;-., (!." (-Ĺ&#x2014; &&Ĺ&#x2014;." Ĺ&#x2014;' $),Ĺ&#x2014;'/- & Ĺ&#x2014; groups, including the shoulders, back, abdominal, legs and hips Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 1#''#(!Ĺ&#x2014; (Ĺ&#x2014;" &*Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014;, )0 ,Ĺ&#x2014; ,)'Ĺ&#x2014; cidents and sickness as it is zero impact, but high intensity Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 1#''#(!Ĺ&#x2014;!#0 -Ĺ&#x2014;3)/Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014; " ( Ĺ&#x2014;.)Ĺ&#x2014;$/-.Ĺ&#x2014;, & 2Ĺ&#x2014; ( Ĺ&#x2014; forget about work, problems, and other issues Ä&#x160;Ĺ&#x2014; 2 , #-#(!Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014;1 . ,Ĺ&#x2014;#(Ĺ&#x2014; Ĺ&#x2014;*& 3 /&Ĺ&#x2014;1 3Ĺ&#x2014;#-Ĺ&#x2014; /(Ä&#x2026;Ĺ&#x2014;-)Ĺ&#x2014; you can get in your ďŹ tness while just enjoying yourself splashing around in the pool Water Workouts Water Walking Pushing forward, backward, and sideways, using a variety of steps, through waistdeep or chest-deep water. Web Resource: www.arthritis.org Water Aerobics Full body rhythmic exercises

conducted in shallow or deep water, usually in a class setting. Web Resource: www.howcast.com Water Toning/Strength Upper and lower body moves designed to strengthen, ďŹ rm, and sculpt the muscles using the resistance of the water Web Resource: www.ďŹ tday.com Water Yoga & Relaxation Gentle, easy-ďŹ&#x201A;owing moves that use the water as an aid in stretching and relaxation poses. Web Resource: www.aqua4balance.com Deep Water Running Simulating land running in the water at a depth at which the feet do not touch the bottom of the pool. Flotation devices are used to support different running styles and drills. Web Resource: www.ďŹ&#x201A;uidrunning.com Wall Exercises (Deep or Shallow) Using the pool

wall for support as you engage in moves that isolate and strengthen various body parts. Web Resource: www.swimmingpool.com Lap Swimming The best way to improve your

stroke and efficiency is to practise. There are many routines to help build power, lose weight, or improve overall cardiovascular health. Web Resource: www.100swimmingworkouts.com

T R AV E L T I P S

AVOID JET LAG

Get Some Rest

Treat Yourself Well

Nap By Destination

Close Your Eyes

It is important to get a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleep the day before you travel, so never leave things like packing your luggage, conďŹ rming ďŹ&#x201A;ights and hotel reservations, or sorting out family affairs to the last minute, as this can increase stress and inhibit sleep on the eve of your trip.

Be sure to eat and get your regular exercise in the week leading up to your trip as exercise helps to regulate sleep, even on a plane, and eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water can help you avoid uncomfortable bloating and dehydration in the sky.

Spend a bit of calculating the time differences between your origin and destination, then be sure to plan your inďŹ&#x201A;ight rest according to the destination. If you will land in the morning, have your meal and get comfortable, then try to sleep until you land.

If sleep isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t possible during the ďŹ&#x201A;ight, you can still reap restful beneďŹ ts by leaving your eyes shut and lying back in a comfortable position. Try using earplugs or an eye mask and take off your shoes (to improve circulation) for the most rejuvenating ďŹ&#x201A;ight.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SHUTTERSTOCK/FLICKR

SALIM@TIMESOFOMAN.COM

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

LIFESTYLE

YIST B B O H E

COOL AS ICE

wati Al La r n a s e as play ail H Kum hockey Ice

Just get into it and enjoy the thrill and speed of the game. All the players are very friendly and helpful. To master it you only need to focus, practise, and do it again

Why do you love it? It is a new game in the Gulf region and it it h has as a lot to do with team spirit and team work. ork k. Ice Icee Ic hockey is a unique sport in that it is the h fasthe fas asttest team sport in the world. A hockeyy player play pl ayyer er can shoot the puck at a speed of 160km/ph. All /ph. /p h. A l ll that and more make this sport challenging ingg and in aan nd unique to learn and to play.

How did you get into it? Skating was my hobby and one day I went to the ice rink at Fun Zone in the Al Qurum area and one of the players invited me to join hockey. At the beginning, it seemed like a crazy idea — imagining myself putting on all that protective gear and skating with a stick — but soon it became the greatest hobby and sport for me. Now it is part of my life and I would like to master it and help my team win regional tournaments and championships.

How can I get into it? Registration is open for everyone and we now have a new team (Muscat Team) and a new programme called LTP (Learn to Play). It’s a programme designed by International Ice Hockey Federation and Oman Ice Sports Committee to increase the number of young players in ice hockey. The programme aims to recruit children aged 4-15 in both boys and girls categories. LTP is also an academy where parents can register their children to learn skating and ice hockey in a fun environment with skilful instructors. The programme will start in September 2015 and is open for registration now.

What’s your pro-tip? Just get into it and enjoy the thrill and speed of the game. All the players are very friendly and helpful. To master it you only need to focus, practise and do it again.

Contact info/resources for ice hockey in Muscat For those who are interested in learning about ice hockey in Oman contact the Oman Ice Sports Committee. Website: www.oisc.om General information: info@oisc.om Learn to Play programme: LTP@oisc.om. Twitter: @O_I_S_C Facebook: Oman Ice Sports Committee

Photography: Supplied

What’s your favourite hobby? Want to tell us about it? Contact : salim@timesofoman.com

Photos : Supplied photos

Y O U R FAV O U R I T E B O O K S

Beloved A novel by Toni Morrison I was reading Toni Morrison’s “Beloved” for the second time — a necessary exercise for books that are so hauntingly beautiful that they demand revisiting —when news ﬂashed across my television telling of nine people gunned down in a black church in Charleston, South Carolina in the United States. It was a grim reminder of why it is so important to read and discuss books like Beloved that examine prejudice and human rights violations. Set during the time of the Civil War, Morrison’s novel tells the story of Sethe, a black female who escapes the horrors of a slave plantation (ironically called “Sweet Home”), only to become a

permanent prisoner of her nightmarish memories. When Sethe and her fellow slaves attempt to escape from the “Sweet Home” plantation, their plan goes haywire plunging them into deeper darkness. In desperation, Sethe tries to kill her children to save them from a future of slavery, and while her other children miraculously survive, her two-year-old daughter succumbs to her injuries. We never learn the young girl’s name, but she is referred to as “Beloved” at certain points in the novel, as this was the only word Sethe could afford to engrave on her daughter’s tombstone. Beloved comes back as a ghost later in the book, one

of many symbols of the torturous past that continues to haunt Sethe and other members of her small black community. As Morrison writes: “Not a house in the country ain’t packed to its rafters with some dead Negro’s grief.” Like all great books, Beloved is above all a story of human relationships. Morrison explores the powerful mother-daughter bond through the complex relationship between Sethe and Beloved as well as through Sethe’s incomplete memory of her own mother. In the end, Beloved is a tale of reconciliation and resilience—of the indomitable human spirit

that rises above personal loss and refuses to accept defeat, as put so beautifully in one of my favourite lines: “.. we got more yesterday than anybody. We need some kind of tomorrow.” Reviewed by Bhaswati

ARE YOU A PROLIFIC READER? What is your favourite book? Pick one and send in your thoughts on it. Contact salim@timesofoman.com

C10

W EDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015

FIND-IT-ALL CINEMA SCHEDULE

CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 3 YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE CINEMA | BOX-OFFICE COUNTER OPENS 30-MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCREENING OF THE FIRST SHOW

@MGM

@SHATTI

@RUWI

@BURAIMI

@SALALAH

BAHJA CINEMA

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

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

CITY CINEMA Contact (10 am to 6pm) 24567664 | 68. www.citycinemaoman.net facebook.com/citycinemaoman SHATTI Ant-Man (Action, Adventure) (PG12) Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll 8:00 pm Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Drama)(PG) Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 11:30 am, 3:30, 8:30, 11:30 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action, Adventure) (3D)PG12 Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Clarke 9:15, 11:45 pm Terminator: Genisys (Action)(2D)PG12 2:30 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(3D) PG 1:30, 5:00 pm Minions (Animation, Comedy)(2D) PG 11:30 pm Hayaty Mebahdela (Comedy)(PG) Cast: Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba 7:00 pm The Gallows (Horror, Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan Shoos 6:15, 10:00 pm The Vatican Tapes (Horror, Thriller) (12+) Cast: Michael Peña, Kathleen Robertson, Djimon Hounsou, 4:30, 11:55 pm Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:30, 6:30 Pixels (2D) (Action, Comedy) PG12 12:15 pm MUSCAT GRAND MALL A Royal Night Out 2D (Drama) Cast: Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack 3:45PM (15+) Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! 2D (Horror) (15+) Cast: Tara Reid, Bo Derek, Frankie Muniz 7:45PM Terminator Genisys (3D): (Action) (PG12) 9:30 PM, 11:55 PM

3:45 pm

8:00 pm

3:30, 6:30, 9:30 pm

5:45 & 10:00 pm

10:15am, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00 pm

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT 2D (Drama)

ANT-MAN (Action, Adventure) (PG12)

BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN (Action/Drama )

SHARKANDO 3: OH HELL NO (2D) (Horror ) (15+)

PIXELS (3D) (PG12) (Action/Comedy/

Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll

Cast : Sarah Gadon, Emily Watson, Jack (15+)

Gold Class: 12:30 PM, 11:15PM Terminator Genisys (2D) (Action) (PG12) 4:15 PM Minions (3D) (Animation, Comady) (PG) 12:30 PM, 2:00PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D): ( Action) (PG) 11:00 AM, 8:45 PM, 11:45PM Gold Class: 3:00 PM, 8:15 PM Pixels (3D) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi ) (PG12) Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle 2:15, 6:45 PM Gold Class: 6:00 PM Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (Comedy)(PG) Cast : Mohamed Saad, Nicole Saba, Hassan Hosny 5:45 PM

SCREEN 3 Masaan (Romance/Drama) – (12+) Cast: Richa Chadda, Sanjay Mishra, Saurav Choudhary 3.45, 9.45 PM Bin Roye- Urdu - Pakistani (Romance/ Drama/Comedy) – PG12 Cast: Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Armeena Rana Khan , Zeba Bakhtiar 6.45 PM

RUWI SCREEN 1 Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Action/Drama ) – PG Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali 3.30, 6.30, 9.30 PM SCREEN 2 Baahubali: The Beginning (Action) – (12+) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3.45, 6.45, 9.45 PM

LONG DISTANCE BUS TIMINGS (OMAN NATIONAL TRANSPORT COMPANY SAOC) *SUBJECT TO CHANGE

FROM MUSCAT (RUWI) Dept time

Destination

TO MUSCAT (RUWI) Arrival Operating time days

Dept time

Destination

Arrival Operating time days

FROM JAALAN-SUR-QURIYAT (ROUTE 36)

TEMPERATURE

15:00 15:00 15:00

05:30 05:30 05:30

Maximum

16:30 18:00 19:30

Daily Daily Daily

Sur Quriyat Ruwi

06:45 08:30 10:00

TO AL BURAIMI (ROUTE 41)

06:30 06:30 08:00 13:00 13:00 16.00 16.00

07:00 07:00 13:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 17:00

Sohar Buraimi Buraimi Sohar Buraimi Sohar Buraimi

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

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52) 17:30

Sinaw

Nizwa Yanqul

20:50

Daily

16:50 19:30

Daily Daily

Nizwa Al Araqi

Sur Sur

Daily Daily

Fahud Yibal

12:00 18:45

Daily Daily

Salalah Marmul Salalah Salalah

10:30 11:15

Daily Daily

20:00 20:30 23:30 07:40

Marmul

Dubai

16:50

Daily

Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai Sohar Dubai

Nizwa Ruwi

08:40 11:00

Daily Daily

15:40 15:40

Nizwa Ruwi

17:55 20:20

Daily Daily

06:00 14:30

Ruwi Ruwi

10:45 19:00

Daily Daily

12:30 12:30

Fahud Ruwi

13:15 17:30

Daily Daily

07:00 10:00 10:00 19:00

Ruwi Marmul Ruwi Ruwi

19:50 13:15 22:30 07:30

06:00

Marmul

16:30

Daily

07:00

Daily

08:30 11:30 15:30 18:30 17:35 20:55

Daily Daily Wed,Thur Wed,Thur Daily Daily

15:00

Salalah

07:00

Daily

10:50 13:40 16:15 19:10 18:45 21:35

Daily Daily Thur-Fri Thur-Fri Daily Daily

TO DUBAI (ROUTE 201) 07:30 07:30 13:00 13:00 15:30 15:30

Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

TO DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH & SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

FROM DUBAI VIA FUJIRAH/SHARJAH (ROUTE 204)

07:00 07:00 07:00

16:00 16.00 16.00

Fujairah Sharjah Dubai

Minimum

11.45 13.30 14.00

Film information 24791641 / 24786776 Website: www.isurf.co.om

Baahubali (Tamil) (Action) Cast: Prhabas, Rana Daggubatti, Anshka Shetty, Tamannaah & Satya Ra 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema Main Baahubali (Telugu) (Action) 3-30, 6-30 & 9-30 pm at Cinema -2 Ivede (Mal ) (Thriller) Cast: Prithviraj, Nivin Pauly & Bhavana 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema – 3 Premam (Mal) (Rom) Cast: Nivin Pauly & Anupama 3-45, 6-45 & 9-45 pm at Cinema -4 Next Change: Acha Din (Mal), Appatakkar (Tamil), Vallu (Tamil) (Programmes are subject to change)

WITH LOVE

JOAN VIGIL JOSEPH July 29, 2011

RELATIVE HUMIDITY

50-85%

Send us a colour photograph of the child (below 16 years) whose birthday you are celebrating, along with his/ her full name, date of birth, address, telephone number and parents’/your name to Times of Oman, With Love, PO Box 770, PC 112, Ruwi or through e-mail to extra@timesofoman.com

Daily Daily Daily

Sharjah Fujairah Ruwi

16:30 18.15 23.00

LISTINGS

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 EMBASSIES IN OMAN

Daily Daily Daily Daily

DUBAI TO SALALAH (ROUTE 102)

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

06:00 06:00

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101)

SALALAH TO DUBAI (ROUTE 102) 15:00

Daily

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

TO MARMUL (ROUTE 101) 06:00

10:25

TO YIBAL - FAHUD (ROUTE 62)

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

Ruwi

TO SUR (ROUTE 55)

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

34 32

STAR CINEMA

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54)

10:20 12:30

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

07:00

SALALAH Terminator (3D)(PG12) (Action) 11:55 PM Terminator (2D)(PG12) (Action) 2:45, 8:45 PM Ant-Man (3D)(PG12) (Action/Sci-Fi) Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll 9:00PM Minions (3D) (PG) (Animation) 10:30, 2:15 PM Minions (2D) (PG) (Animation) 1:00 PM Pixels (3D) (PG12) (Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi ) 10:15am, 12:15, 5:00, 7:00 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2D) (PG) (Drama/Action) 10:00AM, 12:30, 4:00, 9:00, 11:15 PM Hayaty Mebahdela (2D) (PG)(Arabic) 5:00 PM The Gallows (2D) (15+) (Horror/Thriller) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan 3:30, 11:30 PM Masaan (2D) (12+) (Drama) Cast: Richa Chadda, Saurabh Chadhary, Sanjay Mishra 7:00 PM Mahra Story (2D)(PG) (Drama) Cast: Salim Bahwan, Raniya Al Ali 7:00 PM

TO YANQUL (ROUTE 54)

TO IBRI (ARAQI) (ROUTE 54) 08:00 08:00

08:55 Daily 11:40 Daily 20:20 Daily via Ibri 14:55 Daily 17:40 Daily 19:20 Daily 22:15 Daily

SUR Terminator Genisys (3D) (Action) (PG12) 5:45, 11:45 PM Minions (3D) (Animation) (PG) 4:00 PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Hindi) (Drama) (PG) 4:15, 8:00 PM Bahubali (Hindi) (Action) (12+) 7:15 PM The Vatican Tapes (Horror | Thriller) (18+) 10:00 PM Ant-Man (3D) (Action/Sci-Fi) (PG12) Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey stoll 11:00 PM

TO SINAW (ROUTE 52)

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

Sohar Ruwi Ruwi Sohar Ruwi Sohar Ruwi

Daily Daily Daily

BURAIMI Terminator Genisys - 3D (Action) (PG12) 6:45, 11:50PM Bajrangi Bhaijaan– 2D (Drama, Action) (PG) 2:45, 7:00, 9:00, 11:30PM Ivide– 2D (Crime/Drama) (12+) Cast: Prithviraj Sukumran, Nivin Pauly 7:30PM Minions– 3D (Animation) (PG) 2:00, 6:00PM

Baahubali: The Beginning – 2D (Thriller) Cast: Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka 3:45PM (12+) The Vatican Tapes– 2D (Horror) (18+) Cast: Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Pena 11:45PM Sharkando 3: Oh Hell No! (2D) (Horror) (15+) Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, 5:45, 10:00PM The Gallows– 2D (Horror/Thriller) (15+) Cast: Reese Mishler, Pfeifer Brown, Ryan 3:45, 10:00PM

WEATHER

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

Pixels - 3D (PG12) (Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi) 12:15, 3:00, 7:00 PM The Vatican Tapes - 2D (18+) (Horror) 1:30, 11:55 PM Nom El Talat - 2D (12+) Comedy 8:15 PM Masaan - 2D (12+) (Drama) Cast: Richa Chadda, Saurabh Chadhary 10:00 PM Ivide - 2D (M) (12+) (Crime, Drama) 12:45 PM Baahubali - 2D (12+) (Action) 11:30 PM Ant Man - 2D (PG12) Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll 9:05 PM

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

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

Cast: Ian Ziering, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo

Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Harshaali Malthotra

Daily Daily Daily

Afghanistan Algeria Bahrain Bangladesh Brazil Brunei China Cyprus Egypt France Germany India Indonesia Iran Iraq Italy Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya South Korea Kuwait

24698 791/4 24605 593 24 605 074/133 24 698 660 24640100 24 603533 24 696782 24 699815 24 600 982/411 24681 800 24835000 24684500 2469 1050 24 696 944/7 24603642 24693727 24 601 028 24692760/1/3 24 692418 24 697664 24 691490 24 699628

Lebanon Libya Malaysia Morocco Nepal Netherlands Pakistan Palestine Philippines Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Senegal Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Switzerland Syria Tanzania Thailand Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Yemen

24 693208 24603466 24698329/643 24696152/3 24696177 24603706 24603439 24601312 24605335 24 691 153/2/4 24602894 24601705 24694139 24697977 24647300 24691101 24697841/2 24697875 24603267 24697904 24601 174 24 602684/5 24603486 24697050/1/2 24400000 24609000 24643400 24600815

PHARMACIES Round the clock Al Hashar Pharmacy, Ruwi 24783334

Appolo Medical Centre, Hamriya Muscat Pharmacy, Ruwi Salalah Atlas Pharmacy, Ghubra Muscat Region Apollo, Al Hamriya Muscat, A Seeb Market Muscat, Al Khuwair Muscat, Al Hail South Dhofar Region Muscat, Al Nahdha Road, Salalah

24782666 24702542 23291635; 24503585 24787766 24421691 24485740 24537080

23291635

HOSPITALS Al Amal Medical & Health Care Centre 24485052 Atlas Hospital Ruwi 24811743/ Ghubra 24504000 Al Musafir Specialised Medical Clinic 24706453 Hatat Polyclinic LLC, Ruwi 24563641 Azaiba 24499269 Sohar 2683006 Al Raffah Hospital 24618900/1/2 Al Massaraat Clinic & Laboratory 24566435 Al Makook Medical Coordinance Centre 24499434 Apollo Medical Centre,

Hamriya 24787766, 24787780 Capital Polyclinic 24707549 Badr Al Samaa Polyclinic, Ruwi 24799760/1/2 Capital Clinic, Seeb 24420740 Ceregem National Raak 24485633 Dr Harub’s Clinic 24563217 Elixir Health Centre 24565802 Emirates Medical Centre 24604540 1st Chiropractic Centre 24472274 Hamdan Hospital 23212340 International Medical Centre LLC 24794501/2/3/4/5 Kims Oman Hospital 24760100 24 Hrs Emergency 24760123 Lama Polyclinic, Sohar 26751128 MBD 24799077 Al Khuwair 24478818 Magrabi Eye and Ear Hospital 24568870 Muscat Private Hospital 24583600 Welcare Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Al Khuwair 24477666 Al-Hayat Polyclinc LLC 22004000 AIRLINE OFFICES Muscat Airport Flight information (24 hours) 24519456/24519223 Aeroflot 24704455 Air Arabia 24700828 Air France 24562153 Air India 24799801

Air New Zealand 24700732 Biman Bangladesh Airlines 24701128 British Airways 24568777 Cathay Pacific 24789818 Egypt Air 24794113 Emirates Air 24404400 Ethiopian Airlines 24660313 Gulf Air 80072424 Indian 24791914 Iran Air 24787423 Japan Airlines 24704455 Jazeera Airways 23294848 Jet Airways 24787248 Kenya Airways 24660300 KML Royal Dutch Airlines 24566737 Kuwait Airways 24701262 LOT Polish Airlines 24796387 Lufthansa 24796692 Malaysian Airlines 24560796 Middle East Airlines 24796680 Oman Air 24531111 Pakistan International Airlines 24792471 Qatar Airways 24771900 Qantas 24559941 Royal Jordanian 24796693 Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485 Singapore Airlines 24791233 Shaheen Air 24816565 SriLankan Airlines 24784545 Swiss International Airlines 24796692 Thai Airways 24705934

W E D N E S DAY, JU LY 2 9, 2 0 1 5

C11

LIFESTYLE

Smooth Sa’al Stones

Location: Sa’al, near Mughrah, after Rusayl and Murayrat 23°27’05.0”N 58°13’09.9”E Have you been able to capture the beauty of an off-the-beaten -path destination in Oman? Send your pictures with a caption & geo-locator to: salim@timesofoman.com

M O D E R N T R AV E L L E R

Beaches, hotsprings, & duty-free shopping make Sanya attractive FAQ:

Photos : Supplied

How to reach: Sanya is a 90-minute ﬂight from Hong Kong. It is connected to Beijing, Shanghai and other important cities across China through a number of ﬂights.

SANYA (CHINA): Beach resorts are always an attraction for holiday-loving people. But if you get hot springs and duty-free shopping too in the package, the attraction becomes much larger. The Sanya beach resort in southeast China offers just that. That Sanya is getting popular among holiday-makers is evident from the fact that top-of-the-line hotel chains, many of them international giants, have come up with lavish properties along the beaches that Sanya has to offer. Some of the big hotel chains include Mandarin Oriental (Dadong Hai Bay), Westin (Haitang Bay), MGM Grand, Hilton, Ritz-Carlton, Kempinski, Marriot, Pullman, Holiday Inn (all in the Yalong Bay area) and others. There are a number of other hotels, resorts and spas run by

leading hotel chains in China. "The tourist inflow is not only from China's mainland now. We get a lot of foreign tourists from Australia, New Zealand, European countries, Russia and even India," Flada, an executive with the MGM Grand hotel in the Yalong Bay area, said. The sun-kissed beaches, tropical weather and the greenery of the Hainan countryside offer a lot to visitors in Sanya. Being located in the southeast part of China and just a 90 minute flight away from Hong Kong gives Sanya easy access. The Sanya Phoenix International Airport may not look flashy enough to carry the tag but it caters to a number of flights, most of which originate from within China or nearby countries. Sanya is also home to open hot

spring resorts. There are a few of them located in the green countryside of the province. The Sanya Pearl River Nantian Hot Spring resort boasts of the largest open-air hot springs in China. "It is a different feeling to be sitting in open air hot springs that open into personalised small pools. One can choose the type of hot spring that one wants to and also the temperature of water (20 to 50 degrees) as per convenience," Cheng Lei, a visitor to one of the hot springs, said. But Sanya is not all about beaches and hot springs alone. One of the big attractions is the duty-free shopping that the place offers without going to an international airport. The stunning China Duty Free (CDF) Mall is the world's largest duty free shopping centre, built at a

cost of over five billion yuan ($800 million/Rs51 billion), and is located in the Haitang Bay area next to the Westin hotel. At 70,000 square metres spread over three floors, the CDF Mall integrates duty-free shopping, duty-paid shopping, restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural facilities. Top of the line international brands have big outlets at the mall. The duty-free shopping done at the mall can be collected at the mall's counters inside Sanya airport's check-in. The unique aesthetic design of the mall is inspired by the Haitang flower, the symbol of Sanya. "Its atrium is formed by four unique curved surfaced steel structures, which enable natural light to filter into the mall and create a world-class shopping environment

for the users. Its unique 3D free surfaced steel structure covers entrance arch-truss, link-bridges and other ﬁve individual skylights," the mall management notes. The mall opened in September 2014 and shuttle buses are available to ferry visitors and shoppers from hotels and resorts and even residential areas. A popular place for eating and shopping in the Yalong Bay area is the 'La Floret' shopping village. It's quite vibrant and has a number of eating joints which serve Chinese, Asian and international cuisines. Some eating joints even have open-air sitting with ﬂashy lights and music bands making the evenings even livelier. Sanya truly offers a lot as a tropical paradise and a shopping destination. - IANS

Places to see: Yalong Bay, Haitang Bay, Dadhong Bay (all beaches), CDF Mall in Haitang Bay, Buddha statute, La Floret shopping village, hot springs in the countryside. What to eat: Chinese food in abundance; there’s also Asian and continental fare to be savoured. Where to eat: La Floret shopping village, CDF Mall plus other markets (for roadside variety and cafes). Where to stay: Hotels, resorts, spas and other properties are lined up in all three popular bay areas and are located close to the beaches. From 3-star to 5-star properties - all are available and cater to all kinds of budgets. Shopping: CDF Mall, La Floret shopping village and local markets.

w w w.t i m e s o f o m a n . c o m w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

SECTION

CONNEC t h e d a i ly g u i d e

RENT

VACANCY

CARGO

*Classified Advertisement space booking with text, should be done till 12.00 noon for next dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s publication. * Subject to space availability

d 2 w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com classifieds@timesofoman.com Tel.: 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 /431 / 456 / 461

for rent

FOR RENT

3BR villa, sitting, dining & hall, Azaiba behind Al Meera H- Market. Contact: 99259977 / 95033008 1BHK, Darsait, walking distance to ISM , neat and clean building, ground floor, OMR 260/- per month rent Call IQRAR on 99076557 Fully furnished 3 BHK accommodation with all spacious rooms in a villa at Darsait near ISD. Contact: 9526 5289 / 9604 8422 Furnished room for rent at Al Khuwair R.O 225/- for family only. Contact: 99251975 Deluxe PH 1BHK at North Ghoubra. Contact: 99242218 1BHK brand new flat in Al Qurum Polo Road for rent GYM & swimming pool facility available. Contact: 92527573 / 98902216

2 BHK with split /AC in W/K behind Sana fashion. Contact: 96708000 3BHK with split AC in MSQ, opp. Al Fair. Contact: 96708000

2B/R, RES / COMM flat directly from owner Bausher near Dolphin Complex. Contact 92158031

2BHK flat near Indian School, Wadi Kabir. Contact: 94460790/24714625

2BHK near CBD & Star Cinema, Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

Coffee shop for rent, Muttrah, Mabelah (with visa). Contact: 92749464 / 92222806

Office/ storage space in new building at MBD South. Contact 94460790 / 24714625 Godown for rent Approx: 4500 sqm area with building materials in Barka for rent with workers accommodation etc. Showrooms also for building materials available. Contact: 99808868 1bedroom, kitchen, sharing toilet, parking, family R.O 110/-, 1bedroom sharing K& T family in Al Khuwair R.O 100/-. Contact: 95154331

500 sq mtrs office space on mezzanine floor near Royal Hospital. OMR 6.500 per sq mtr. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

Two shops in Muttrah Souq, for rent. For more details please contact: 99364735 / 91214849

Office / shop near Star Cinema & CBD Muttrah. Contact: 99233116

Deluxe 1, 2,3 bedroom flats in Ruwi & Wadi Kabir & Al Khuwair. Contact: 95282986 / 24707340

1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK new flat available at Mabela in front of Modern English School Contact: 96239126

2BHK, 2 Baths, Split A/C, Wadi kabeer, near Indian Elementary School. Contact 99441193, 93004801

2 rooms in Al Khuwair. Contact 99330385

BHK Flat in Azaiba. Contact 99385835 / 99428143

Mob + 968 96177505

2BHK in Al Ghubra near Indian School. Contact : 96708000

600 sqm build up office / warehouse area for rent. Consisting of basement space, ground floor and mezzanine showroom / office area. Easy access and parking space also available. Located on opposite Oman flour mills and beside to Lulu, Darsait available from 1 August 2015 onwards for lease. Contact: 99364735 / 91214849

2BHK commercial Al Khuwair R.O 400/-. Contact: 97799175

Building In Rusail Industrial near to Amiantit Oman comprising a store divisible area 266 sq. meters. The building includes Studios and rooms with diﬀerent size suitable for oﬃces or residence. Preferably to be leased to one company.

Store 2 shutter Wadi Kabir R.O 300/-. Contact 95113037 600 sqr mtrs showroom in Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99792181 A fully equipped furnished and licensed private polyclinic for sale or rent in excellent location in Sohar - Falaj al Qabail opposite to life line hospital Departments are GP clinic, Dental, Medical lab, X-ray And Working Pharmacy. Contact 95603395 3 flats, 2BHK near Ghala Church, top of Majan Hyper market Ghala. Contact: 95928800 / 98014921 Well maintained spacious 2BHK at Rex Road. Contact: 92227165

2 bed rooms, kitchen, toilet & car park in Al Khuwair R.O 200/- . Contact 95154331 2BHK near Oman house Muttrah. Contact: 99233116 250 sq mtrs restaurant for rent in Plaza Hotel, Walja Ruwi. Contact 99326339 Two bedrooms flats in Wadi Kabir near Indian School. Contact: 99313274 Commercial Space 68 SQM, Wadi kabeer, near Indian Elementary School. Contact 99441193, 93004802

3BHK, 3 bathrooms, 2 balconies, nr Al Hassan W/Kabir R.O 340/-. Contact: 99384640 Available 2 BHK flat with two bathrooms at Wadikabir near Shell petrol pump, rent RO 225/-. Contact 95708014 Villa 4 & 5 BHK for rent in Al Khuwair. Contact 99792181

2 BHK near Kuwaiti Masjid Wadi Kabir. Contact: 24816774 / 97608564

Store 2000 Sqr mtrs for rent in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99792181

Flat for rent in Wadi Kabir with 3 rooms. Contact : 98555580 / 92800007

Deluxe 3 BHK Penthouse with Seaview, ideal for office / residence at Qurum near PDO. Contact: 9772 1313 / 9507 0421

Flats for rent near Indian School in Wadi Kabir. Contact 99777122 Brand new villa Bosher 37, 4 BHK. Contact: 91936034 2 BHK flats in Rex Road. Contact: 99792181 1BHK flat at Honda road (Ruwi). Contact: 99792181 2BHK flat in Al Khuwair. Contact: 99792181

1,000 sq mtrs industrial land in Misfah Industrial area near to Khanco. OMR 1,500 Monthly. It has Electricity and boundary wall. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 For rent in Qantab European style 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, Guest toilet, fully equipped modern kitchen, covered car park for two cars, approximately 150 meters from the beach. For enquiries, please Contact: Yasser at 92606005

for sale Villa for rent - Al Seeb/Al Mawelah Block 5 - 4 bedrooms with attached bathrooms , Majlis, 2 halls, kitchen and storeroom. split Ac and car park - contact 99564616 Flats shops for rent in Ruwi MBD area Mumtaz area. Contact: 97293708 / 92433127 Fabulous AC flat at Al Khoud 3 bedrooms, hall and kitchen RO 270/for rent. Contact: 99334699

Running established for sale including industrial licenses for marble & granite, fully furnished kitchen showroom and fully equipped factory. Contact: 99337670 / 92623665 Ladies beauty Saloon for sale at Amerat on prime location with two clearances. Contact : 95867900 New villa at Qurum, 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, sitting, dining and open sitting on the terrace. Contact: 99342733

2 bedrooms apartments for rent in Al Khuwair and Ghubra. Call Yellow Bird property on 24615375 / 97137989 or visit www.muscat-realty.com

House hold items. Contact: 97094797

3 Bedroom flat in Wadi Kabeer and 2 bedroom villa in Sidab- Muscat. Contact: 95755953

Used office furniture – tables (30 Nos) and Chairs (45 Nos) for sales on as-is-where-is basis. Interested parties my contact Mr. Nagesh on GSM No. 99267273 / 92181035 at NTS Office , Rex Road , Ruwi for inspection. Sealed offers should be submitted on or before 29.07.2015

Villa with two floors in (Hay Al Arjan) in AL Khoud with 4 bedrooms, hall, Majles, kitchen & one room in ground floor. Contact: 93219597 1 Villa & 3 big Flats of 2/3 BHK with hall, Kitchen & ACs Al Khoudh 6, Close to express way, from owner. Tel 97600322 alnehang@gmail.com House in Amerat near to Makah hypermarket with three room, 5toilets, kitchen and hall 430/-. Contact: 92747078 For rent if require flats for rent in Wadi Kabir please send me messages through Whatsapp. Contact: 99376454 Bath attached room for rent Al Khuwair. Contact 99743569 4 BHK single villa in Al Khuwair. Contact: 97616158 Office space at Alasfoor Plaza Qurum. #: 24566217 /24564686 Deluxe furnished / unfurnished flats Qurum. # 24566217 / 24564686

Truck spare parts (new) for sale. Contact: 92600900

Shop for sale in Ruwi High street,Contact 96078411 Grill cafe sale Al Khuwair. Contact 97249366 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 2560 sq mtrs industrial land in Wadi Kabir main road, First line on way to Al Bustan hotel. Possible to make petrol station or hotel. OMR 990 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 60,000 Sq Mtrs Agriculture Land in Misfah, can be changed to Industrial Land. OMR 29 Per Square Meter. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360

w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

Motor Vehicle for SALE

Acc. available Sharing single room with toilet, AC kitchen at A Hail high way roadside. Contact 92968292 Furnished room in Ruwi for non cooking Executive bachelor in Ruwi, rent RO 90/- per month. Contact 94412557 Room with attached bath and sharing kitchen available for Executive bachelor, opp. O.C. Center Ruwi. Contact: 99016562 / 99296296

Acc. available New fully furnished room & attached bathroom, kitchen, Wifi, for bachelor Honda road. Contact: 98582078

for sale Vehicle automotive batteries available at cost price. Interested parties who want to buy the batteries in bulk numbers for reselling purpose may. Contact: 24794657 5 Flats of 1 bedroom for Sale in Boushar: OMR 35 Thousand each. Monthly income OMR 270 Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 23,886 Sq Mtrs Agriculture land with water well in Al Salwa, Barka. OMR 260 Thousand. Tel: 99333479 or 95215360 Turkish MDF door with frame for sale, size 210 x 100 Price: RO 75/-. Contact: 95899296 / 92141514 Wall papers, grass carpets sale & fixing. Contact: 99834373 / 97102699

Sharing accommodation available at Wadi Kabir for bachelor. Contact : 94195690 Sharing accommodation available small family behind Mars Wadi Kabir spacious room attached big bathroom, separate kitchen Indian only. Contact: 95731543 Furnished single / sharing room for Exe. bachelor at Rex Road, near Kamat Restaurant with WIFI available. Contact 92873832 Large room furnished bath attached separate entrance Wadi Kabir. Contact: 99336206

Acc. available single room, semifurnished, attached bathroom, split a/c in Nizwa. Contact 968 96616898 2BHKFlat Near Oman House, Muttrah for family/Ex Bachelor. Contact 96528069 Family sharing accommodation available in Al Khodh. Contact: 99371129 Room for rent available in CBD near Papa John’s Restaurant. Contact 96568100 Full furnished room with attached bathroom near Star Cinema for Ex. Bachelor/lady. Contact 92886715 Rooms in Seeb for couple / single ladies. Contact : 96996938 Fully furnished 1BHK with all household items in Darsait near Lulu on monthly Basis. Contact : 99378397 Sharing accommodation available for working lady or couples near Ruwi Church. Contact: 92837206

2 BHK rent R.O 200/- from 01.09.2015 location after Muscat Gate main road fully furnished for sale. Contact Francis 92251786

Room attached toilet and kitchen near Indian School Wadi Kabir. Contact: 95345537

Two room with attached toilet and small kitchen near Hamariya round about behind Noor Shopping. Contact 99728153

Fully furnished room for a decent expatriate. independent kitchen, bathroom in Wadi Adai. Contact 96243086 at 5p.m.

BUYING/SELLING Used furniture & Electronic items, office & house. Contact: 99834373

available Party & Wedding equipment rentals. Full line, from Tables, Linen & Skirting, Chairs & Chair covers, Cutlery, Crockery, Glassware, Chafing Dishes, Ice Sculptures, to Large Sound Systems and spectacular lighting. Call Andrea 9606 2222 for Catering and Croyden 9623 5555 for Sound & Light. www.tunesoman.com, E-mail: info@tunesoman.com

Toyota Echo - 1.3, Model 2001/2002, Manual, Excellent condition, lady driven and regularly serviced by Dealer. KM -190,000 . RO. 1,200/-. Contact Mobile - 92250666

Volkswagen Caddy 2013, 146,000 KM, under warranty. Contact: 99822843

Mazda 3, 2007 KM 1,43000, full automatic R.O 1900/-. Contact : 99781671

Touareg 2011 Oman cars, 114000 KM, silver, 8500/-R.O. Contact 92857111

RAV4-2009 model, silver colour, 2.4 liter, single hand use by Indian Expat. Contact 99355382

Car for sale in Muscat, single owner (doctor) driven, Mazda SUV cx-9, model 2014, low mileage (66,000 kms) in excellent condition with company warranty, for sale. Interested parties please contact in 99341156.

Nissan Sunny new / excellent condition. Contact: 95790291 Izuzu 4 ton Vehicle - 2nos (2008), Izuzu 3 ton Vehicle- 1 no (2006), Nissan UD 10 ton 1 no (2001), Mitsubishi 7 ton -1 no (2004), Toyota forklift – 1 no (2000). Contact: 99719124 Email: thekkutt@gmail.com

good news Genuine Ayurvedic treatments & massage, Ayurvedic clinic at AL Khuwair. Contact: 24478618 / 97263637 / 93309131 Ayurvedic treatment for joint pain, backache, paralysis massage, steam bath, obesity, spondylitis IDEAL , CARE Ayurvedic Clinic 18 November street, Azaiba. Contact 99639695 / 99117987 FREE INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM. If you would like to know more about Islam, please call: 99425598, 96050000, 99353988, 99253818, 99341395, and 99379133. For ladies: 99415818, 99321360, 99730723 Orvisit: www.islamfact.com Ayurvedic treatment for backache, paralysis, arthritis etc & massage, All Season (Vaidyaratnam). Contact 24475280 / 95371554 / 92504980 www.siddhayur.com

Prado ,2012. Contact : 99336093 Land Cruiser 2012. #99336093 Sportage, 2013. Contact:99336093

nri

CHANGE OF NAME

The following properties in South India are for sale. 1. 25 cent plot in Eroor, Cochin (less than 2km from Vytila hub) 2. 12 cent plot in Trivandrum opposite to Kims hospital in hill top colony. Interested parties- please send SMS “property” to 99341156. We will contact you.

I Annamma Koraha (holder of Indian passport No. G8910972) daughter of T. M. Mathew having permanent residence in Mulanthanathukuzhi, Vakathanam PO, Kottayam, Kerala Pin 686538 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Sultanate of Oman P.O Box 1222 P.C 121 (complete postal address in Oman) intend to change my name from Annamma Koraha (old name) to Blessy Annamma Thomas (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No. 1727, Postal Code 112, Ruwi , Sultanate of Oman.

Acc. wanted Required a room in Darsait / WadiKabir /Ruwi area. Contact: 95405033

Tucson automatic V-6 2007, R.O 2300/-. Contact: 99384640

Matrimonial Muslim girl, Keralite, 21, tall, fair, BBA, presently staying with parents in Oman. Contact 99047216 25 year old RC girl working as staff nurse in private hospital capital area seeks suitable alliance. Contact 99744392 / 93678941 Remarriage, Pentecostal boy, LLB 35 /170 Project Executive hailing suitable proposal. . Contact 97413778 Email: winupaul01@gmail.com Sunni Muslim girl, Indian origin, 20 yrs BA graduate from Oman, good looking homely with good religious values, seeking alliances from Muslim professionals, well settled in Oman or Middle East. Contact: 99644760 or Email: ghulamuzma23@gmail.com

I Bethel Thomas Varghis (holder of Indian passport No. M 2296679) son of Mulan Thanthukzhi Chandy Varghese having permanent residence in Bethel, Vakathanam PO, Kottayam Kerala PIN 686538 (complete postal address in India) and presently residing in Sultanate of Oman P.O Box 1222 P.C 121(complete postal in Oman) intend to change my name from Bethel Thomas Varghis (old name) to Thomas Bethel Varghese (new name) for all practical purpose. Any objection towards my name change may please be communicated to Embassy of India, Muscat, Diplomatic Quarters, Al Khuwair, P. Box No, 1727 Postal Code 112, Ruwi Sultanate of Oman.

d 4 w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 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

Urgently required Junior Accountant. Please send CV: hr.azatllc@gmail.com

beauty Wanted experienced Beautician for beauty parlor in Al Amerat 3. Contact: 91107337

Domestic Helper Urgently required housemaid. Contact: 96339339 Email CV on info@eigllcoman.com Require qualify caregiver for an orderly mother. Contact 99425200 Indian House Maid with experience required to work in Sohar, visa ready. Contact 99417418 House maid required for an Indian family at Al Ghubra (stay full time). Contact: 98622766 Full time housemaid required for Indian family in Ghubra, Nepalese preferred, call 95681350

designer Grade”A” company in interior Designing looking for: Operations manager Sales executive Qs Interior Designer CVs to be emailed to : alzahi.oman@gmail.com

driver Required heavy duty truck driver holding Omani driving license w/ 5 years experience please contact 92001111

engineer

Sales / Marketing

Required Electrical Engineer minimum 5years experience in building construction in GCC, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

Salesman required for a well established building materials company. Oman D/L required. Contact: 93698385 Email: united@omantel.net.om

MEP Engineer on urgent basis required for immediate placement. Please contact tgi17@omantel.net.om

Miscellaneous Required Indian or Pakistani calligrapher & Painter (staff accommodation) Contact# 24480487/24483493 Urgently required experienced Safety Officer with valid license for a reputed construction company. Interested candidates can send their CVs to rajesh@oasisgrace.com Contact: 99881459 / 99885931 fax: 24812226 Wanted urgently Secretary to the managing partner, Sales Executive with driving license for rent a car business & electrical Engineer, linemen, electricians. All the above vacancies are for Salalah and enough experience required. Apply soon to hr_oman1@yahoo.com

it Software developer with experience in asp.net, sql server and crystal reports required for a software development firm. Email CV to hr@ promisworld.com

medical Required Indian or Bangladesh GP Doctor with M.O.H license & N.O.C available, attractive package. Prometric passed Doctors can also apply. Contact: 97985325 Email: nooralfadayil@gmail.com

Wanted driver. Contact: 95112461

Stuff Nurse for 2 months for a clinic in Muttrah.( LOCUM). Contact: 99330385

Driver heavy duty required urgently for trailer. Oman / GCC experience must. Those ready for immediate joining. Contact: 99310859

Immediately required lady Doctor (DGO) or GP with Gynecology experience & lab technician. # 99310590. Email : tjmaluke@gmail.com

Education Kindergarten in Seeb looking for (female) English Teacher bachelor in English language. Contact: 99319259 / 93972775 Email: saif123.s171@gmail.com

engineer Project Engineer Civil with degree only need to apply with 7 to 10 years experience in Gulf. Contact: Email: omaniantrad@gmai.com Engineering company in Muscat requires HVAC Engineer, minimum 7 Years experienced, knowledge in Tendering, BOQ, Design, Supply, Installation & Supervision of all Central & Unitary A/C systems. Email: info@4dengineering.net Urgently Required: Civil Engineer minimum 5years experience in building construction in GCC, MUST have NOC and immediately join. Apply, fax 00968–24605955, emails sbc@steelbuildingsllc.com, sbeoman@yahoo.com.

14 years of Gulf experience in HR / Admin & logistics fluent in Arabic / English with D/L looking for suitable position. Contact: 95824598

13 years exp (7.5 years gulf exp) B.Com graduate, looking for Accountant job, GSM No:-92957064 with NOC.

Urgently required Jr. Accountant/ Purchasing Manager (preferably Indian) 3-5 yrs Exp. to work with food stuff market. software/hardware knowledge would be an advantage, valid Omani D/L with NOC Contact 99417418

Required Office Assistant in a market research company. Send CV to jayakumar.valiyaparambith@ nielsen.com

MBA (Finance) with NOC, 6 years accounting and finance experience in Oman, knowledge of Tally ERP9 having Omani driving license seeks suitable placement. Contact: 97205715 Email: ammar_uh@hotmail.com

Indian male (34) B.Com with computer, 11 years experience as Store Manager, Accountant, Sales Executive having Oman driving license, looking for suitable job. Contact: 92753822

Urgently required male Accountant & Office Admin. Contact: 96339339 Email CV on info@eigllcoman.com

Urgently required cash investors for company’s profitable projects. Contact: 92950082

admin

Chartered Accountant with ICWA Inter having 5 years experience in Finance, Accounts, Costing, Budgeting, Audit, Insurance, Treasury & Banking operations - NOC Available + OmanDrivingLicense Contact :97881548 Email-financecost2@gmail.com

Accountant

Reputed Construction Company require Accountant experience in Construction Company with accountancy degree. Email: jvacancy05@gmail.com

Account. & Finance

Dental surgeon, Staff Nurses (female), Dental Technician with or without MOH license for a polyclinic near Sohar. Excellent salary package. Phone: 99006915, Email : alhinaee. clinic@yahoo.com General Practitioner DR to work in Bidbid, Prometric passed,3 years of work experience, Send CV clinic@m-oman.com Urgently wanted Lady Ayurveda Therapist. Contact: 91590083 / 92798678

Secretarial & office Required Omani Receptionist / Office assistant for a company in Ghoubra. Fresher’s can apply with expected salary. Email : thomas.john@ext.gfk.com

Sales / Marketing Looking for Outdoor Salesman for heavy equipment spare parts. Contact - 93292015, Email: mail.om@gulfcenter.co

A leading marketing company is looking for outdoor Sales Executives on part time or full time basis in Salalah. # 92760281 / 96436719 A leading Tissue paper & food stuffs company requires Sales & Marketing person with minimum 5 yrs exp. in Oman with good communication skills & valid Oman D/L. Candidate with interior market knowledge & experience preferable. Send CV : allub@alhosnigroup.com, fax: 24451430 Urgently required experienced Salesman in Dairy Company with valid Oman License. salesrecruitment1090@gmail.com. For More clarification, please contact :98414736 Wanted male written & spoken Malayalam & Bengali as freelancers to conduct corporate & individual markets surveys on temporary basis, Must be fluent in English with driving license. Contact: 24701242 A leading building materials shop required Marketing Executive (Omani National only) 1No with minimum 2 years experience and driving license. Contact: 99808868 Email: aalfarsi2020@gmail.com Experienced Marketing representative – interlock blocks with light Omani driving license is required. Contact 99222086

SITUATION WANTsit. WANTED ED Account. & Finance Indian male,Accountant,B.com,1yr experience in auditing and having knowledge in tally. Contact : 94733824/95769355 Indian male 33, B.com, MBA (HR) tally having 9 yrs exp looking for suitable placement. Contact: 98181652, Email: wailsmathew@gamil.com Pakistani male 25 years male MBA finance having, 18 months experience accounts and transport seeking suitable job having valid Omani D/L /. Contact: 99191284 Indian male 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience in accounts looking for suitable job. Contact: 98222753 Email: shemeejvp@gmail.com Filipino Male 26 years old, Certified Public Accountant, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with 5 yrs of experience now on visit visa, Looking for suitable opening. Contact: +968 91278583, Email: kennethalcedo07@gmail.com

Energetic Finance & Audit Manager / Chief Accountant, C.A , MBA ,ACCA , CPA..15 yrs in GULF , Expert in Banking, Financing, Profit Maximizations, Admin, Biz Developments ,All ERPs Software’s, 15yrs Audit Exp. with Big 5 , NOC & Driving License Call 94403270 – 94504505 Accountant, Indian Male, 15 Years experience (8 Years in Oman with Driving License) seeks suitable placement with NOC, Contact 94117616, 91238272 Fresh Graduate B.Com with CIMA (partly Qualified) looking for a suitable position. Contact 94652485 32 male Pakistani Accountant B.Com having 2 years experience in Oman. Contact 99761664 Indian 24 years MBA finance 2 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 9822253 6 years experienced male having masters degree and experience in sales, accounts, customer services and IT. Contact: 98823248 Email: sajjadhussain@yahoo.com Indian female 25 yrs B.Com MBA / 3months experience looking for job in Accts /Mktg. Contact: 94657403 / 99355931 Indian female B.Com 20 yrs exp in Accounts / Insurance seeking suitable placement. Contact: 92986455 12 years Oman experienced Chief Accountant looking for immediate placement. Contact: 99513082 15 years Oman experienced Admin & Accounts Manager looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92253080 Good experienced in accounts and Admin knowledge of Tally ERP9 having NOC looking for suitable job. Contact: 98717938 Accountant Indian male 8 years experience, 6 years in Oman with Oman driving license, seeking suitable job. Contact 96012973 Indian male, M.Com & CA inter qualified seeking a suitable position in Audit/finance. Contact: 91148139 15 yrs of experience in Oman, Indian male – Accounts & finance professional with Oman driving license is looking for suitable position. Commerce Graduate with certifications in DPCS & PPGDCA. Contact 93422557 Indian male 22 years, having 1 year experience in accounts & admin looking for suitable vacancy. Contact 97375512 Accounts or sales 27 years male Graduate B.Com 2 years experience in Oman as Asst Accountant looking for suitable job currently working in Oman. Contact: 98427810 Email: shaheel9895@gmial.com Qualified Accountant 5 years experience bilingual Arabic & English, 2+ years in Oman. Contact: 95539923

Chartered Accountant with 7 years of post qualification experience in the areas of auditing/accounts & finance/taxation/IFRS, etc. seeking challenging job opportunity. Can obtain NOC. Email: sns2205@gmail. com and GSM +968 95763680.

Motivated and energetic male 25 having 4 years of experience in finance with Master’s degree in Economics and CAT Certified seeking opportunity in Accounts/finance/ audit in a reputable organization. Cell no: 00968-94626209 E-Mail: omerjawedshah@gmail.com

Indian male, 30 years, CMA (Inter),M.com.4 out of 7 years experience in Oman in Auditing/ Accounts/ Finance. Having NOC and valid Oman D/L. Contact: 96746420, Email: sijuthampi@ymail.com

Accountant, Indian male, 10 years experience in Oman, having knowledge of Tally ERP9 & able to do upto finalization and can be joined immediately with NOC. Contact: 94134085 Email: mascatoman95@yahoo.com

Indian female 24 years MBA (HR) having 3 years experience in HR Administration, payroll seeking suitable placement. Contact: 91104352 / 99012861 5 years experience in store and admin department with Omni driving license looking for suitable job, release available and can join immediately. Contact : 95860170 BSCS hons (4 years) 2 years experience female currently on visit visa looking for any vacancy. Contact: 91519478 Email: marryum.akmal@gmail.com Indian male, 15 yrs experience in Admin & Office management seeks job. Contact: 96425101 Indian female, 29 yrs, MBA (HR) 4 yrs exp in HR & Admin seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95619537 Master degree HRM professional having excellent experience in finance and management and having 8 yrs experience looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92955453 / 91213269 Male Admin office Manager, 16 years experience in Oman. Contact: 95790291 Indian female MBA, 3 Years experience in Admin MIS, Family Visa. Contact 98234427, jkjsmith01@gmail.com MSW HR female professional with 3+ years work ex, UGC net qualified, looking for a suitable position in Muscat. Contact - 99579874. Email : rubitah@gmail.com Indian male 2+yrs oman exp in HR. joing immediatly. release available. Contact :93671437

beautician Beautician exp Gulf and India looking job. Contact 93554741

Catering Indian male 33 yrs DEM, chef DE Partie (Continental, Chinese & South Indian) 14 yrs exp in hotel Industry, 7 yrs in Oman N.O.C available, seeks placement. Contact 97858956 Email: pratheesh.chef@gmail.com Indian male 33 yrs DEMI chef DE Partie Chinese South Indian, cold kitchen 13 yrs exp in Hotel industry 7 yrs in Oman, N.O.C available seeks placement. Contact: 95872464, Email: sreejith809@gmail.com

driver Experienced LTV driver available. Contact: 99514703 / 96943902 Bangladeshi male looking for job in any company or family, speak English, Hindi & Arabic, exp 3 years in Dubai taxi and 3 years in Oman in company. Contact: 93822195 Driver with car 3 yrs exp looking for part time job. Contact: 92041902 Light driver, age 3 yrs exp, KSA 7 years & Oman 5 years Education – HSC seeking job in Oman. Contact: 98474031 NOC available Driver LTV 3 years exp available local release. Contact: 98503406 Job driver light operator shawl and excavator. Contact: 91376612 Light vehicle driver NOC available, seeks suitable job with 4 yrs exp in Oman having driving license. Contact: 95683735 / 95495003 Driver 8 years exp India (Keralite). Contact: 93412587 Light driver looking for suitable placement. Contact: 95141473 Driver available with car and without car. Contact 96771598 / 92883299 Looking for driver. Contact: 91788481 Looking for driver job. Contact : 93650209 Light driver searching for job experience 5 years. Language English, Arabic & Hindi. Contact: 92458526 / 97941771 Faisal

driver Male Driver 2 years exp in Oman seeking suitable placement. Contact 96362684 Driver with 8 years experience looking for job. Contact: 98130645 / 94342106

Domestic Helper Experienced Indian lady is looking housemaid job looking full time job for European family total experience : 9 years, 2 years exp. with European family 6 years worked with Indian family language English & Hindi. Contact: 93392788 Housemaid Indian looking for Madras family house job. Contact 93554741 Housemaid (full time / part time) looking for job. Contact: 95799643

Engg. / Technical 2 years experienced Electrical Engineer looking for suitable placement. Contact: 98480509 B.Tech Computer Engineer wanted job to work on IT / Banking / sales marketing, MCITP, CCNA, Networking, having NOC. Contact: 98857689 Email: khanshoebameer@gmail.com Indian (M) B.Tech (civil) with 2 yrs exp in Structural Designing using Etabs, Staad, Safe, excel looking for suitable position. Contact: 96698342 / 98768045 Email: qadeertom@gmail.com Civil Engineer diploma holder having 7 years experience in construction / oil & gas as Site Engineer seeking for suitable placement. Contact: 93294965 Electrical Engineer, B.Sc. degree/ B.Tech, 4 years experience. Looking for suitable placement. Available in visit visa. Contact: 94739355, Email: mahin.eee@gmail.com Indian male B.E Electronic and Communication Engineering & have 2 years experience in oil & gas sector (maintenance & construction). Contact: 98848077 Indian male 25MBA having 4years Gulf experience in Coordination with contracting company .NOC Available. Looking for(Store,Coor dination,Admin,Backoffice) Jobs Ph:95405885 5+ years experience BE Electrical Engineer having knowledge in execution & basic knowledge in electrical design looking for suitable post. Contact: 99704742 / 97469689 Indian male 23 B.E mechanical & AutoCAD 1 year experience currently on visit visa looking for suitable job. Contact: 92835957 Email: rafeekmohammed84@gmail.com Indian male Electrical Engineer with 7 years experience (electrical, marine, fire fighting) valid Oman driving license seeking suitable placement. Contact 93396338 Email: syamsk2255@gmail.com Egyptian Civil Engineer-total experience 7 years - 2 years@Oman. I have good experience in Technical office & site Works. Contact: 98078095 M Tech Computer Science Engineer, female seeking suitable placement. Contact : 93035521,96439645 Email : anzilav@yahoo.co.in DIPLOMA CIVIL Eng 5 year exp in building construct (MOE) in Muscat seeking suitable job. (NOC AVAILABLE) GSM 95364183 Indian male 27 years, Mechanical Engineer (B.E) having experience seeks suitable placement holds valid Oman driving license, on visit visa. Contact: 98847638 MEP Project Engg 23 years experience out of 13 years in Gulf holding Electrical and driving license. NOC available. Contact: 98894682 Computer Engineer Iraqi Nationality 7 years experience seeking suitable placement. Contact: 94694146 Indian male diploma Civil Eng with 2 yrs experience on site as QS & AutoCAD seeking on site or - off site position. Contact: 94756183 Email: indianexpat1@gmail.com Engineer with 4 years Oman experience in telecom operations, having valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable opportunity, interested in Marketing also. Contact 98513495

w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

SITUATION WANTED

Engg. / Technical

Sales / Marketing

Indian female, Electronics and Communication Engineering Graduate presently in Salalah Oman on visit visa, fresher, seeks entry in a reputed organization. Has good communication skills both in English and Hindi and excellent computer knowledge. Contact: 93889495/ 92089906 / 98152686 Email: rukzanabavakunju@gmail.com

Indian visit visa, Network / System Engineer switches, routers, servers, load balancers 5 yrs of exp holds B.E (ECE), CCNA looking for good opportunity. Contact: 91911792 Email: arafakdnl@gmail.com

Procurement / Purchase Executive 1.6 yrs exp in Oman construction industry Indian male 27 yrs, MBA with valid Oman D/L, available for immediate placement. Contact: 96300958 / 24796010

Diploma holder in Computer Hardware and Networking with valid Oman driving license, NOC available seeking suitable placement. Contact: 95249087 / 93095329

Indian female 35 years MCA, MBA six sigma black belt, 14 years Gulf experience in business analytics, Marketing business development qualities seeks placement. NOC available, Omani driving license available. Contact: 95783792

Indian male, B.Tech Computer Science Engineering with knowledge in C, C++, Java, .Net, PHP, seeks a suitable job in Oman and can join immediately (available in Oman on family visa). Contact: 91029244 Email: mithunmatheww@gmail.com Indian m 25 yrs B.E Mechanical 3 yrs exp in oil & gas as Piping Project Engineer now on visit visa. Contact : 96487013 Email: riarun.007@gmail.com Graduate Engineer Electronics & Communication, Indian (23) M.Tech from reputed University in Bangalore, 1 year experience, currently on visit Tel. 968-99152453 mail : robin.scaria.1992@gmail.com DIPLOMA + B.E. (CIVIL ENGINEER) from India, having 4 years of experience in construction, currently on visit visa; Seeking Right Position. GSM:91570703. Email:Rizwan.mohd1@gmail.com Civil Engineer B.E 12 years experience with valid Oman driving license. Contact: 93843448 Sudanese male Engineer looking for job. Contact: 94537607 Electrical Engineer bachelor degree having 6+ years experience of Gulf and professional license available to join. Contact: 98063081 Email: imran.engr08@gmail.com Civil Engineer B.E, 5.5 years experience with Omani D/L. # 96785311 Indian 24 yrs male, 2 years experience in Site Engineer (Diploma in Civil Engineering), Now on visit visa in Oman. Contact: 94050311 Indian Male, Diploma in Civil Engineer working as a Project engineer with 7years of experience looking for suitable job. Contact- 92636569 SAP – SCM.MM Consultant B.Tech. (Chemical), from NIT, working with oil industry, seeks employment. Contact: 98049288 Indian female 23, B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics) & Diploma in Electrical CAD on Visit Visa seeks suitable placement. Contact: 99278410 / 94027398, Email: renju.raghavan7@gmail.com 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 Btech computer science graduate 2015 passout.. Android application marketing.. Having good communication skills and mindset to work in a team. Contact 91024385 B.E in ECE worked as Junior Scientist Trainee in Chennai worked as System Admin in Berik Honda Nagger coil worked at Technical Support in Samsung Service, presently in Bangalore. Contact : 0091 7026267513 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 Indian Male, IT Support Engineer, 2 yrs in Oman & 5 yrs Indian experience. Contact 97311847 Electrical Eng. Degree (MEP) need suitable job of construction 12 yrs exp. Email: mohd.ateeq.khan@gmail.com

B.Tech (CSE) Diploma Fire & safety IOSH, NEBOSH having 3.5 years exp in MNC on visit. Contact: 90260889 Male 25 B.Com with 3.5 years experience in IT and Administration excellent computer and communication skills, web developing and handling, looking for relevant job, on family visit till 5th Oct 2015. Contact: 91298960 Email: usman.ali786@hotmail.com Male BE ECE having 1 years experience CCTV, ACCESS CONTROL, Server now on visit visa, seeking suitable opportunity. Contact 96792239

Manager/ Supervisor Facility / Project Mgmt, 4+ yrs of exp holds B.E (ECE) Indian visit visa looking for suitable opening. Contact: 98580569 Email: arafacareer@gmail.com

Miscellaneous Indian material controller / store keeper with 9 years exp , seeking job in Oman NOC/ Release available. Contact: 91946174 IFAA – Indian Master Trainer (The International Fitness and aerobic academy strength & conditioning coach) looking for suitable job. Contact: 99600593 Electrician, Plumber, Driver, looking for job. Contact 95175192 Mason, still fitter, carpenter, helper, looking job. Contact 95175192 Indian male, Post Graduate in law, 15 + experience - seeks suitable position in corporate companies. Contact: 92844354

Medical If you need A GP DOCTOR now: Immediately want change placement preferably in Sohar areas . 23 yrs of uninterrupted experience in Oman .Hospital, Polyclinic & Big companies having own clinic can contact. Mobile : 95406530 . Prefer Email to get Bio-data : uneedgpdr@yahoo.com BA degree Nursing professional having excellent looking for suitable placement. Contact: 92955453 /91213269 Female Nurse - Indian, well experienced, Prometric passed – 60%, currently on visit visa, ready to join immediately. Kindly contact: 9721 9495 / 9655 0603 or jshani67@gmail.com GP Doctor Yemeni national-male, with 4 years of work experience. Mobile:00966531598754 Email: alsyaniramzy@gmail.com

Sales / Marketing Sudanese Business development Manager, long experience International trade in Oman (import /export / marketing) seeking suitable placement full / part time in reputable company. Contact: 91173146 Indian male 31 visionary business strategist having over 8+ years of global experience seeking a challenging position that utilizes my years of experience currently on visit. Contact: 91902154

MBA from UK with 9 yrs experience in London, Dubai & Mumbai. Specialized GCC experience in top real estate co & bank with driving license. NOC available. #968 95168205, dubaihomes1@gmail.com Indian ( Keralite) looking for job in sales (oilfield) 20 years experience in the Middle East with valid Omani driving license good communication skills. NOC available. #95991122 Email: muneervmd@gmail.com Sales Mechanical Engineer 14 year’s exp looking for Senior position. Contact: 0091 9600987895 Email: srameson@yahoo.co.in Indian male B.Com (Computer) looking Sales Manager. Contact: 97235819, Email: aji.roja@gmail.com Indian 44 yrs, 16 yrs Indian Army 5 and Half years in Oman exp ware house, seeks suitable placement in store, ware house or sales having Oman driving license. Contact: 94050311 B. Com & MBA Graduate on visit visa seeks suitable placement. Contact : 97372624 ,email : sivaraj.gurukripa@gmail.com 22 years Indian B.Com Graduate having 5 years experience in Sales with a valid Oman driving license looking for a suitable job. Contact: 97302353 Indian Keralite, 27 yrs, experience 3 years in sales with visa & NOC, driving license seeks suitable job. Contact: 98626682

Skilled / unskilled Welder 16 years experience Arc Tig Welding & fabrication seeks placement, NOC available. Contact: 9134547 / 91604842

Tours & Travels Five years experience in Travel field ,BCom.,IATA & pursuing MBA, Presently working in the Travel Desk of (ITC managed) Five Star Hotel in India.Looking for a suitable position in the Middleeast pl contact 9465 2485 B.Com IATA MCSE working for Qatar Airways, Sales Reservation, ticketing English, Hindi, and Malayalam, Marathi NOC is available. Contact: 92954613 Indian male B.Com MBA (Tourism) 23 years, seeks a job in any field currently on visit visa. Contact: 92363811 Email: faizekk@gmail.com

Miscellaneous CCNA MCITP network support / network technician with 2 years experience Indian male having bachelors degree on visit visa. Contact : 93080871 sean.f.peters@outlook.com Female from India -MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. English seeking for a urgent better placement, Now working in Oman. Contact: -: 93961142, 92184408 Email:anoopkesavan78@gmail.com.

Miscellaneous Video Editor 29 years Indian male with 8 years experience on visit visa looking for a suitable placement. Contact: 91275969 / leomoorkoth@gmail.com

Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91033395

8 yrs exp 2d, 3d Draughtsman (HOLDING OMANI DRIVING LICENSE) seeking job. Contact : 97449630

Chartered Accountant with 7 years of post qualification experience, seeking challenging job opportunity. Experience in auditing/accounts & finance/taxation/IFRS, etc. GSM +968 95763680

Tunisian shoes designer wuth 40years expereince in designing and manifacturing loocking for a job in a related field contact : 97816917 Indian male MBA + TALLY , 29 years & 7years experience in Administration and Manager level in Reputed companies, Seeking suitable placement. Contact : +96297709 / +91 9066130371, Email: jomonjohnm9@gmail.com Indian female MBA Finance currently on visit visa seeks immediate placement. Phone: 968-98430089 Indian male,27, IT/Telecom Engineer, 2 yrs exp in Oman, with valid Oman D/L, NOC Available. Ph: 9393 8727 ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, 29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available. Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170 Indian Male, 28, B.Com, 6+ yrs exp in Accounts, 2 yrs in Oman with Valid Oman D/L, NOC available. Contact: 9719 4864 Indian, male, 41 years, CA Inter, Persuing CA final. Now on express visa. 7 years of Experience in OMAN as Finance and Accounts Manager in Trading , Construction and Firefighting industry. 21 Years of exp. seeking suitable Managerial positions. No visa issues. Immediate joining. Contact :98469311 Email:sebin30@yahoo.co.in Indian male post graduate.2 years experience in sales. currently in oman on visit visa.seeks suitable placement.Gsm 92388346 Civil site coordinator, Diploma, Male 25, now present in Oman, Seeking job in Oman. Contact: 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com

Indian male having 4 years of experience in IT Support & networking. Currently on visit visa. seeking suitable opportunities. Contact : 92013641. Male Indian 27, working as finance analyst having two years Oman experience with Driving license looking for suitable position. Mob: 98097009, rameesnm@gmail.com FRESH - B.Com Graduate on Family Visa, looking for any suitable Job. Contact : 92567020 / 95322175, Email: shwayanad@gmail.com Admin Executive, Indian Female having 10 years Gulf experience in seeking suitable placement currently working in Muscat. Email: meenafajar@yahoo.com, Mobile 0096893211402 Having 9+ years exp. in Administration & HR in reputed companies. Presently working in Muscat and seeking for suitable placement. Contact No.: 97693456. Email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com MOH Indian Dentist 10 years experience in Oman. Can speak Arabic, has driving license. Contact 98995321 or ventureoman007@gmail.com Omani , female, have diploma in quantity survey, bachelor in Constitution management, seeking situated placement at Sohar. Tel 94454180, Mail nhlmct@yahoo.com Finance Manager / Chief Accountant / Audit Manager, C.A , MBA ,ACCA , CPA..15years in GULF , Expert in Banking ,Financing, Profit Maximizations , Admin & Management, Business Developments , ERPs Software’s, Audit Exp. with Big 5 , NOC & Driving License Call 94403270 or 94504505

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 29 years Indian female (MBAFinance) with 4+yrs experience (Oman) in Accounts is seeking suitable placement in Accounts/Admin. Contact:96141283. SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available. Seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 MEP Quantity Surveyor-Estimation-Project, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L. Looking for suitable job, contact – 98291626 Indian male Auto cad Draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job. Contact : 00968 99070584, Email: remluvp@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT, Indian Male, 25 years old, 5 years Experience (2 years in Oman & 3 years in India) Presently working in Oman. Going exit on this week with NOC. Seeking suitable opportunities. GSM : 97018783 Civil Engineer, Diploma, Male 25, 3 years experience in site, CAD, 3d, MS Project, Seeking job in Oman. # 92875345, jubincivileng@gmail.com Indian male accountants, 12 years experience, tally also. Looking for a part time/ full time job in accounts or purchase. Contact- 98983122 Indian Female 2yrs exp. in Accountant 5 yrs exp. in Electronics, seeking suitable Job. Contact: 97162705,93705090 Indian male, 14 years Experience in maintenance & Supervisor in hotel field (Electrical, Ac Mechanical & Plumber). NOC available #95253640 email = hareeshma24@yahoo.com Female Candidate: Having experience (ISRO India) in Administration (seeking suitable opportunities &presently in Oman Mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com

d 6 w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION wanted WANTED situation Miscellaneous Diploma civil Engineer seeking jobs(positions suits me: civil engineer ,site engineer,qa/qc engineer,land surveyor ,total station, auto level,draftsman (autocad, microstation) mob:97239854, Mail:asherlalitha@yahoo.com BRANCH-HEAD, MBA-BBA, Indian Male having experience in UAE, India, Oman total 5 years (including MNC), looking for similar or same openings. NOC available. #:92700670, E mail:catanalur131@gmail.com Qualified Native speaking male English Teacher with 18 years experience seeks position. Salary Negotiable. Whatsapp on +968 9334 1047 / +968 93952732 or e-mail me on nadgov@gmail.com

PART TIME ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, M. Com, 35 years, 12 Years exp. in Accounts, 8 years in Oman. Knowledge upto finalization. Having valid D/L, seeks suitable Placement. GSM: 96249124 Egyptian Civil Engineer, total experience 7 years - 2 years experience in Oman. I am looking for Project Engineer, I have good experience in site & office works. Contact number:91148708 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 female, IATA, B. Sc, looking for suitable placement.Contact-95514305, E mail idraveendranmala@gmail.com

Filipino Male looking for a job & have experience in sales, waiter, barista, technical support / customer service with good communication skills. # 91789465

ACCOUNTANT, Indian male, 29 years, 8 years experience. Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with Oman Driving license. NOC available seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 98184170

ACCOUNTING – Indian male seeking accounting job with 2 years experience in accounting. Contact: 94263445, E mail – contactantonyxavieranand@gmail. com

12 yrs exp FREELANCE 2d, 3d Draughtsman (holding Omani driving license). Contact : 93790601

Sudanese male: 27 yrs, 2 years experience in accounting, other experience (purchasing – HR - Coordinating and Office Management), looking for a job Omani Driving License, NOC. Contact: 94174403

Sudanese male, 31 year, have 3 year Diploma in Electrical Engineer, 6 years experience in construction and electrical plant. Mobile :94549609 Freelance Graphic Designer available to assist in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Corel Draw Projects. Contact : 95811820 Indian Female Lawyer 36 Yrs having 11 yrs experience presently working in Oman as Legal Advisor seeks placement in Legal/HR/Admin NOC available Contact-94436960 Email: famidakhan123@gmail.com 23, Male, ACCA Affiliate, 2 years+ experience in Audit and Finance in audit firm, Looking for suitable permanent placement, NOC release Available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com MBA - (F), M.Com, B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for part time or full time job. Presently on family visa. Contact :- 91892264. Email:- yashicapandya@gmail.com Indian Female 10 years exp as cook in Oman. South Indian & Gujarati special looking for part-time job Contact 96733187.

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 Sudanese male (B.Sc, computer science) (diploma computer engineering), 6 yrs. experience DBA oracle PL-SQL, MS SQL - Server, MS visual studio vba, network. Contact 91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91055584 Over 15 years experience in Gulf. Interior Architect, Lebanese Nationality, on visit visa seeking a suitable Placement. 96268005. PRODUCTION OPERATOR – Indian male seeking production operator or related jobs with 4 years of experience in oil & gas field. Contact 94263445. Email: tonyxavier4u@gmail.com

Indian male-28 Years, Diploma in Electrical Egg, having gulf experience. Specialization on Electrical Installation and Maintenance, Operation. 7 years experience seeks for suitable placement.:95334580. E-mail -sunilkumar257.sk23@gmail.com

Indian Keralite Male 35 looking for Scaffolding supervisor post having 5 years of Supervisor and HSE experience in GCC Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Fluent in English Arabic and Hindi . Contact 96155921, or mail fysal.nellaya@gmail.com

Seeking Teaching Position. Qualified and experienced Native English speaking teacher seeking position in Muscat, I have a Teaching Diploma , two Honours Degrees and a CELTA Certificate. Position at Language school will be suitable. Will e-mail CV. Whatsapp only +96893952732

Indian Male 28 yrs, having 7 years Gulf + Indian experience in HR and Admin field, looking for suitable placement. Contact: 97914340, Email: rajkv3086@gmail.com

Indian Female M.Com with Computer Skills and Four Month Experience as Accountant ,Currently On Family Visa Looking for a Suitable Placement, Available Immediately. Contact : 95846642, Email : dhanyashree91@yahoo.com ACCA Affiliate, Experience in audit/ finance of 2.5 years in Big 6 Firm and Oil industry, looking for suitable permanent placement, Release NOC available. Contact: #95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

Indian Male 28 years MSM, B. Com having 6years experience in Gulf and India as a HR and Admin looking for suitable placement.#97914340. Email: rajkv30@gmail.com B.Sc. Mechanical Engineer Sudanese 3 yrs of exp. In industrial field available in muscat on vist visa seeking suitable job . Contact: 95868922, Email: almouthanaosman@yahoo.com IT system and Printer engineer ME, 5Years bank IT Management exp in India looking for full time job visit visa contact 94462150

Indian male with 8 yrs experience in FMCG in Oman as Sales Supervisor looking for suitable placement. NOC available. Gsm: 96495206 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 MCA IT Professional Indian Female seek placement in Teaching/ Non Teaching field. Presently on visit visa. 9588 7051, ashwininakod@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, Indian, 2.5Years experience in Audit/ Finance in Big 6 Audit Firm and Oil Accounting in PDO, For Permanent Placement for Finance or Accounts or Audit. Release NOC Available on hand. Contact #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com Finance ACCA Affiliate, Worked as an Auditor with 2.5 Years Experience in reputed firm, Handled independent audit/finance assignments, Looking for permanent placement, NOC available. Contact 95140445. a.saran891@gmail.com Piping Design Engineer, Indian male 27, looking for suitable placement in Piping Design & Engineering. Having 7 years of experience in AutoCAD. Also familiar with PDMS (11.6 Version),CAESAR ll. Contact : 97351786 / 96143708, E-mail : mohammednazeer07@gmail.com Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer science) (diploma computer engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle plsql, MS sql-server ,ms visual studio vba, network. Contact :91415886 Indian Male, Graduate, 11 years Sales experience in Lighting / Industrial products, ready to join immediately. GSM: 9710 5356 Indian heavy duty driver with 8 years experience in oman available with NOC. GSM : 93601943 GSM : 94496457 Indian male, 28 yrs MBA (HR/M) 2 years experience in Indian Oman in HR & admin seeks suitable placements. NOC available. Contact 97484159 Email: rameshkapa86@gmail.com M.Sc 3+ years exp from France & India in IT Support Engineer / Hardware & Networking / Server support / scientific system support looking for suitable positions. Indian, male on visit visa, contact 98898781/ anoopys@gmail.com Looking for managerial post (full time ), More than Ten years of experience in Team Development ,Training, planning, Administration, Sales & Marketing, Advertisement and Credit Control and Logistics. Contact 91076608 / 99322748. Release & noc available Indian male, 34years having 10 years of experience in Sales, Sales Coordination and Administration. Experienced in SAP and MS Office. NOC available. Contact # 94686594 Indian Male MBA Marketing/HRM 3 year experience with Omani D/L, seeking suitable jobs. Contact: 97424188 email: dharwesh@gmail.com Indian, Male, 23 years, BE Electrical, having 2 years experience in Electrical Works-H.T. cabling etc, & Construction, looking for a suitable placement. Contact +968 96927880 (Oman), +91 9765376109 (India), Email: rahulrevi6@gmail.com

SITUATION situation WANTED wanted B.Tech Computer Engineer Wanted job to work on(IT/Banking/Administrator/Technical/Office works) having NOC with the limited time from (04/06/2015 to 13/06/2015). Mobile:98402389 email:naresh6672@gmail.com British Beauty Therapist looking for suitable position. #:97175240 Highly Qualified & Experienced Finance Manager Pakistani with USA , UK & Canadian Degrees , CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA ,IFA- Financial Consultants Canada , Corporate Analyst USA Professional of Banking , Audits ,ERPs & Profit Maximizations ( NOC available ) call 94 504505 – 94403270 27 year Indian female who has 4 years of experience with logistics function in distribution of spares for both heavy machinery & wind turbine parts. Kindly contact me on +91 9790769104 E-mail: joemohana@yahoo.co.in Indian male Executive Secretary having vast experience in admin, logistics & procurement well versed with computer .seek suitable placement. Contact : 99514286 Indian male MBA (U.K), 10 Years of experience in Admin, Sales, HR, stores and logistics seeks suitable placement. Contact 99271903. Indian Female MCA, 4 plus Years of experience in Web designing, Admin, P.A, seeks suitable placement. Contact 99486374 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 7 and half years experience working accounts / inventory manager looking suitable job. Contact: 96991782 Email: srinivasu.sp@gmail.com Indian female , MCA BCA, certification PL SQL , 6months training PHP, date warehouse looking for suitable placement. #95694330 Email: mondkashyapodl@gmail.com B.Com with more than 5 yrs exp. looking for an accounts part tome job work. know with tally. Email-shilpa_62@yahoo.com

Part- time accountant, well experience senior accountant , doing all type of accounting works, finalization, budgeting available. Contact : 98803439

Sudanese male, 31 year old, have 3 year Diploma in electrical engineer, 5 years experience in different activities . Mobile No ; +96894549609

Indian male, looking for a part time accounting job. Having additional knowledge & experience in HR admin & purchase. Contact 99196621

ACCA affiliate, with 2.5 years experience in Big6 audit firm and Oil industry, looking for permanent placement in Accounts/Audit. Release available Contact :95140445 a.saran891@gmail.com

Indian Female, 24yrs, M.COM (Accounts) having 3yrs experience in Accounts, HR, Administration, Customer Service. Good Computer Proficiency. Seeking Suitable Position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available. Contact: 99654913

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

HSE Advisor, NEBOSH IGC, Indian male, 4 years experience in construction and oil fields, seeking suitable jobs. Gsm: 97458900, Mail: miroshbabu@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

Highly Experienced Finance Manager, CPA ,ACCA-UK . MBA-USA , Professional of Banking, Audits , ERPs Sap , Management as Team Leader and Problem Solver call 94 504505 / 94403270

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

Indian male MBA Finance presently OMAN IN visit visa, 26 years, looking for an accountant job. Contact 95240641, email Id mohammadabdulazharuddin@ gmail.com

B.E. Civil Engineer from India with 3 years of experience looking for suitable vacancy in oman now on visit visa. Contact 9571 3441, Email . Khatrialeem@gmail.com

Admin Executive, 31, Indian Male, having 9+ years exp. in reputed companies. Seeking suitable placement in any gulf region. Contact +968 99276601 & 97693456. email : muralimahdav77@gmail.com

Indian male 21 IT Eng. networking & computer hardware diploma, 1 year experience, currently on visit visa looking for a suitable job. Contact 96036273 email: faizanfarooqui23@gmail.com

MEP Quantity Surveyor-EstimationProject, 10 Years Experience (3 years in Oman). Having NOC & Oman D/L, looking for suitable job, Contact - 98291626

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

Indian house maid looking full time job. Contact : 98254909 B.E. Civil Engineer age 27, total 3 years of experience in Mumbai looking for placement asap in oman now on visit visa of 1 month ph 9571 3441 Email. Khatrialeem@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

w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

SITUATION WANTED cargo

Dolphin Watch, Dhow Cruise with Buffet, & Land Tours Al- Ainain Marine Tours Contact- 98029602, 92808636

Tours

driving

RENT A CAR Driver for Automatic Transmission. Contact: 99040813 Learn driving with professional only automatic. Contact 94022250

Transportation Transportation. Contact: 91310107 House shifting, transporting. Contact : 94229277 Pick & drop anytime in Al Khuwair. Contact 99764307 Transportation. Contact: 96538078 Transportation. Contact:98522914 Transportation. Contact 99508282 Transportation. Contact: 98244078 Pick & Drop any time.# 97014786

For hire Silver Car, car for rent. Contact: 96166155 / 98402662

Butter cup rent a car competitive prices new car 2016. # 97249449

Volvo 12 Ton Truck for monthly rent. Contact: 98713900

w e d n e s day, j u ly 2 9, 2 0 1 5

Daily guide

Email: dailyguide@timesofoman.com Tel. 24726666 Ext: 413 / 430 431 / 456 / 461 Fax: 24812624

SITUATION WANTED services

COMPUTER

website

SITUATION WANTsit. WANTED

Business

MBA (F), B.COM. Indian female having knowledge of accounts with Tally looking for full or part time job. presently on family visit visa. Contact :- 96259171. Email:- bhumicapandya@gmail.com Indian male auto cad draughtsman (civil) 8 years experience seeking for part time job Mobile 99070584, E mail: remluvp@gmail.com SENIOR ACCOUNTANT, Indian male,29 years.8 years experience .Presently working in Oman as a Senior Accountant with oman Driving license. NOC available, seek suitable opportunity. GSM: 97705854 Sudanese male (B.Sc Computer Science) (Diploma Computer Engineering) 6 yrs. experience DBA Oracle PL-SQL , MS SQL-server, MS visual studio VBA, network. Contact :91415886 Syrian male 3yrs. exp in IT support, Networking, Security systems, Server support, IT sales and marketing. Valid Omani D/L seeking suitable placement. Contact 91033395 Tunisian women looking for a job, khnows english,frensh, italian and arabic. Contact: 91171838 Indian Male, 34 years old, DEE â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Electrical Supervisor 10 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer and valid Oman driving licence light, ready to join immediately, Mob +91 9740679094, kulasekar1980@gmail.com 24 years, Indian Chartered Accountant male with 3 yrs of experience is seeking suitable placement in Muscat, currently on visit visa & ready to join immediately. Kindly contact him on 98201476 or email at lokeshkaluri@gmail.com Indian Male, 38 years old, DME â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mechanical Maintenance Technician 11 years Oman experience. Ready for NOC , VISA transfer, ready to join immediately, Mob :95612870, seeniselvan@gmail.com Young Indian Chartered Accountant, female, Having 6 years experience in Oman and India. Accounts and Finance Manager, Auditor. Urgently seeking suitable positions. Contact 92530131, jobcareer44@gmail.com

Serious investor needed for succeeded furniture company for expansion purposes. Contact: 99041337 Established running Grade -1 tender board construction company with work force, plant, staff, credit suppliers & financial credit limit up to 335,000/- in place only serious buyers. Please Contact: civilprojects57@gmail.com Looking for financial partner or investor for running small industry. Contact : 92337002 New company seek partnership. Contact: 96996938 General Investors. Gsm-99674870

SITUATION WANTsit. WANTED ED

Indian male 25 years B.tech computers (Having 3 years of experience in customer service/Admin/IT Support) looking for suitable position. Visa Transfer/NOC Available immediate to join. Contact: 98402389, Mail: naresh6672@gmail.com Manager, Young Indian Male, MBA, BBA. Having excellent managerial experience (around 5 years) in leading Multi-National-Company. Looking for suitable positions. #92700670,fardhaan@gmail.com BSc Graduate, INDIAN male , seeking suitable jobs. GSM: +91-8589820233. MAIL ID: prajinap45@gmail.com

SITUATION WANTmanpower

Split & widow unit A.C servicing & repairing. Contact: 99557080

WEB, ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) creation and management at rock bottom price. Contact: http//webviewoman

SITUATION WANTsit. WANTED ED

Available for part time accounting job, contact 99196621

Indian Female MA. B.Ed. with One year three months Teaching experience. Subject: EnglishSeeking for a Better placement. Now working in Oman. Contact 93961142, 92184408, Email:-anoopkesavan78@gmail.com ACCOUNTANT: Indian male 25 having 4years experience in accounting & having well knowledge in tally. Contact:968094535881, 0091 9037622048 Email: vishnuraj889@gmail.com ACCA Affiliate, 2.5years experience in Audit/Finance in Global Big6 Firms and Oil company in Oman, Looking for suitable permanent placement. Release NOC Available. Contact: #95140445, a.saran891@gmail.com

Split & window unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact: 96236476 Window & split unit A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact : 93769089 / 95323517 House shifting & transporting. Contact 92490422 Marble crystallization restore the original shine of your marble. # 24793614/ 99314807 House shifting. Contact 99708138 House shifting packing. 99657644 / 98518013 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 Water proofing ABUQABASContact 99320217/24788722 Marble Restoration, Mosaic tiles polishing, carpet shampooing, maintenance.Contact ABU QABAS99320217 /24788722

Split & window A.C servicing & maintenance. Contact 93769089/95323517 GUARANTEED CLEANING: Carpet & sofa shampooing, Contact 99314807/24792998 Civil maintenance - plumbing, electrical, painting, and tiling, interior decorations, shop furnishing and all other maintenance works. Contact: 97897831 / 92112094 (Indian, Keralite) A/C Maintenance & servicing, fridge, washing machine & dish washer repairing, painting & cleaning services, electrical & plumbing. Contact: 99447257 / 97014234 / 24504281

classes